Salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase and immunoglobulin a responses to a morning session of basketball or volleyball training in boys aged 14-18 years

This study investigates whether a single session of routine morning basketball or volleyball training affects saliva levels of cortisol, alpha-amylase (sAA) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in boys aged 14–18 years. Twenty-nine boys who participate in basketball or volleyball training, recruited from the Marcin Gortat’s Athletic Championship School in Lodz, were enrolled in the study. The 90-minute routine exercise program included 15 minutes of warm-up followed by basketball or volleyball practice. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected prior to and immediately after the exercise, and were analysed using ELISA. One training session resulted in a significant increase of sAA concentration in all participants, as well as in the volleyball and basketball subgroups (p=0.00022; p=0.0029; p=0.0011; respectively). Post-exercise cortisol levels were significantly lower than pre-exercise levels (p=0.00002) throughout the group, as well as in the volleyball and basketball subgroups (p=0.0048; p=0.0019; p=0.0048; respectively). The exercise protocol did not significantly affect sIgA level, either in the whole examined group or the volleyball subgroup, however a weak significant increase of sIgA was observed in the basketball subgroup (p=0.046). The routine morning training session comprising a warm-up followed by basketball or volleyball practice seems to activate the sympatho-adrenal-medullary system, with a subsequent increase of alpha-amylase, but does not affect oral immunity in 14-18-year-old boys.

The β2-adrenoreceptor gene promoter polymorphisms may modulate β2-agonist- and glucocorticoid-induced IgE synthesis

BACKGROUND

β2-adrenoreceptor (β2-AR) agonists and glucocorticoids (GCS) were shown to induce IgE synthesis in human PBMCs. Serum total IgE levels are associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the β2-AR gene. We aimed to assess the association of the effect of fenoterol (β2-AR agonist) on IL-4-driven and budesonide-induced IgE synthesis with genetic variants of β2-AR.

METHODS

The study included 25 individuals: 13 with allergic asthma and/or allergic rhinitis and 12 healthy volunteers. PBMCs were cultured with IL-4, fenoterol and/or budesonide, and IgE concentrations in supernatants were assessed. Five SNPs in positions: -47, -20, 46, 79 and 252 of β2-AR were determined by direct DNA sequencing.

RESULTS

In -47 T/T and -20 T/T patients, incubation with fenoterol resulted in decreased IgE production, whereas in -47 C/T and -47 C/C as well as in -20 C/T and -20 C/C individuals, it was enhanced. In contrast to fenoterol, budesonide-induced IgE synthesis was significantly increased in -47 T/T and -20 T/T patients as compared to -47 C/T, -47 C/C, -20 C/T and -47 C/C individuals. Polymorphisms in positions 46, 79 and 252 were not associated with fenoterol- or budesonide-modulated IgE synthesis. No differences in the distribution of IgE synthesis was seen between atopic and non-atopic individuals carrying the same alleles.

CONCLUSIONS

The differential effect of β2-agonists and GCS on IgE synthesis may be associated with genetic variants of promoter region of the β2-AR gene.

Aspirin-triggered 15-HETE generation in peripheral blood leukocytes is a specific and sensitive Aspirin-Sensitive Patients Identification Test (ASPITest)

BACKGROUND

We have previously demonstrated that aspirin triggers specific generation of 15-hydroxyeicosateraenoic acid (15-HETE) from nasal polyp epithelial cells and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) from aspirin-sensitive (AS) but not aspirin-tolerant (AT) patients with asthma/rhinosinusitis. The goal of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of ASA-induced 15-HETE generation measurement to identify AS patients.

METHODS

PBL were obtained from 43 AS patients with asthma and rhinosinusitis, 35 AT asthmatics and 17 healthy control (HC) subjects. PBL were incubated with 2-200 muM aspirin (ASA) and 15-HETE release was measured in cell supernatants with competitive ELISA.

RESULTS

Unstimulated PBL from all three groups of patients generated similar amount of 15-HETE. Incubation with 200 microM ASA resulted in an increase in an 15-HETE generation (mean increase +421%) in AS-asthmatics but small and nonsignificant response in AT-asthmatics or control subjects. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis revealed that the sensitivity of the test for confirmation of ASA-sensitivity was 83% and the specificity 82%. Positive predictive value was 0.79 and negative predictive value was 0.86. Naproxen induced a significant increase in 15-HETE only in some AS-asthmatics, but not in AT-asthmatics.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrate that ASA-induced 15-HETE generation by PBL is a specific and sensitive aspirin-sensitive patients identification test (ASPITest).

Decreased apoptosis and distinct profile of infiltrating cells in the nasal polyps of patients with aspirin hypersensitivity

BACKGROUND

Patients with aspirin-hypersensitive rhinosinusitis/asthma suffer from a severe form of hyperplastic rhinosinusitis with recurrent polyposis. We aimed to assess the presence of apoptotic cells in nasal polyps from aspirin-hypersensitive (AH) and aspirin-tolerant (AT) patients with rhinosinusitis as related to the characteristics of local inflammation.

METHODS

Nasal polyps obtained from 16 AH patients and 36 AT patients (17 atopic and 19 nonatopic) were stained for eosinophils and metachromatic cells, and in parallel immunocytochemistry was performed to detect CD45RO+, HLA-DR+, CD8+ and CD68+ positive cells. Apoptotic cells were detected by a nick-end labelling technique, TUNEL.

RESULTS

The density of apoptotic cells in AH polyps (5.5 + 1.5 cells/mm2) was significantly lower as compared to both atopic (18.7 + 3.8 cells/mm2; P < 0.02;) and nonatopic (21.3 + 5.2 cells/mm2; P < 0.01) AT polyps. The number of eosinophils, mast cells, and CD45RO+ cells were significantly increased in AH compared to AT polyps (P < 0.001), and the density of HLA-DR+ cells in AH patients was higher than in nonatopic (P < 0.02), but not in atopic AT patients. While in AH patients the duration of rhinosinusitis correlated inversely with the number of apoptotic cells (r = - 0.67; P < 0.04), in contrast, in AT atopic patients the duration of rhinosinusitis showed positive correlation with apoptosis (r = 0.89; P < 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude, that decreased apoptosis of inflammatory cells in nasal polyps from ASA-hypersensitive patients, reflects a distinct mechanisms of local inflammation and may be related to persistence and severity of the disease in these patients.

Serum TNF-alpha level in the neoplasm patients qualified for surgical treatment

The aim of the study was to analyze serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in patients with different neoplasm types qualified for surgical treatment and to evaluate their possible correlations with circulating immune complexes (CIC), IgG, IgM, and the complement (C) compounds: C1 inhibitor (C1i), C3c and C4 levels. Studies were performed in sera from 30 neoplasm patients before surgical treatment and in 10 persons from a control group (CG) with no malignancy. Serum TNF-alpha levels were measured with the Cytogen ELISA kit. Average TNF-alpha levels measured in neoplastic patient groups qualified for surgical treatment were not significantly different from the average TNF-alpha level in the CG group.

Pre-operative levels of serum immunoglobulins, circulating immune complexes and complement proteins in patients with different types of neoplasms

In the sera of 30 neoplasm patients without metastases, the average IgG level was higher than in the control group (CG) (18.16+/-5.10 vs. 12.62+/-2.14 g/l or 12.22+/-2.14 after excluding an outier). Average concentrations of circulating immune complexes (CIC), IgM, complement 1 inhibitor (Cli), C3c and C4 did not statistically differ between the groups. Dividing the patients' group into: breast or ovary cancer (BC), melanoma (M), digestive tract cancer (DT) and other neoplasms (ON) subgroups revealed that the IgG increase did not apply to the BC group. Relatively decreased CIC concentrations in the BC and DT group and an increased Cli in the DT group were found. Several diversities detected in the humoral immunity indices' distributions and correlations suggest activation of different mechanisms depending on the neoplasm types.

The release of eosinophil chemotactic activity and eosinophil chemokinesis inhibitory activity by mononuclear cells from atopic asthmatic and non-atopic subjects

The goal of our study was to assess the chemotactic activity for eosinophils (ECA) and neutrophils (NCA) and histamine releasing activity (HRA) in crude supernatants of mononuclear cells in monosensitized atopic asthmatics and healthy controls. Chemotactic activity for ECA and neutrophils was measured in supernatants of cultured mononuclear cells with modified Boyden's chamber and HRA was assessed on healthy donor basophils. With respect to ECA generation two distinct subgroups of subjects were distinguished: releasers [ECA (+)] and non-releasers [ECA (-)]. In atopic and non-atopic ECA (+) the mean ECA index was 3.78 +/- 0.49 and 2.47 +/- 0.27 respectively (P > 0.05). Supernatants from the remaining subjects (seven of 22 atopic and five of 11 non-atopic) did not express ECA, but revealed significant inhibitory activity for chemokinesis of eosinophils (mean chemotactic index 0.25 +/- 0.16 and 0.48 +/- 0.22 for atopic and non-atopic non-releasers respectively). Stimulation with antigen of MNC from atopic and with PHA from non-atopic ECA (-) restored cells ability to release ECA. Sephadex gel chromatography revealed that supernatants of MNC contained chemotactic and chemokinesis inhibitory activity in different fractions. The spontaneous productions of NCA and HRA by mononuclear cells was similar in ECA releasers and non-releasers, although the HRA was higher following stimulation with PHA in the non-atopic ECA (+) subgroup. Our study demonstrated, for the first time, that MNC are capable of generating not only chemotactic activity but also chemokinesis inhibitory activity for eosinophils.

Expression of cyclooxygenase in nasal polyps from atopic and nonatopic subjects

Cyclooxygenase (COX) 1 and 2 are two isoforms of a crucial enzyme in the metabolism of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins, thromboxanes and prostacyclin. It is now clear that COX-1 is expressed in the majority of cells constitutively, and COX-2 appears after stimulation. The role of cyclooxygenase expression in the pathophysiology of the airways has not been elucidated. In this study we aimed to compare cyclooxygenase expression in nasal polyps removed from well-defined atopic and nonatopic subjects. Monoclonal antibodies against COX-total (detecting both COX-1 and COX-2 epitopes) and anti-COX-2 combined with peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) visualizing system were used to assess COX-total and COX-2 expression in cryostat sections of nasal polyps from both groups of patients. Chromotrope R2 or toluidine blue staining were used to detect the presence of eosinophils and mast cells, respectively. We demonstrated that cryostat sections of nasal polyps from both groups of patients revealed COX-total and COX-2 expression with similar intensity. There were no significant differences in distribution of COX-total or COX-2 immunoreactivity in nasal polyps tissue between atopic and nonatopic group. No correlation between density of cells expressing COX-2 and the number of mast cells and eosinophils was found. Our data indicate that COX-2 is expressed in nasal polyps from both atopic and nonatopic patients.

[The effect of nedocromil sodium on spontaneous production of histamine releasing factor (HRF) by mononuclear blood cells in patients with nonatopic bronchial asthma]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of 28-days antiinflammatory treatment with nedocromil sodium (Ned.sod.) (Tilade-8 mg/24 hours) on nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity (PC20H in mg/ml) and spontaneous HRF activity production by mononuclear blood cells in patients with nonatopic bronchial asthma treated with beclomethasone dipropionate. The correlation between PC20H and HRF was also examined. The study was performed in 10 subjects with mild and moderate chronic, stable asthma in a double-blind, placebo-controlled way. Placebo and Ned. sod were given through 4 weeks in a randomized way with 8 weeks wash-out period. It was shown that Ned. sod. did not influence clinical asthma symptom scores, ventilatory parameters and PC20H. No changes in the spontaneous production of HRF activity were observed. The correlation between HRF activity and PC20H assessed 4 times was not significant. The authors conclude that studies with Ned. sod. in nonatopic asthma should be continued, but the dosage of the drug ought to be bigger and the time of treatment should to be longer.

Culture of human nasal epithelial cells from nasal polyps on collagen matrix

Epithelial cell cultures became an experimental model employed for both animal and human studies. We established a modified method of culture of human nasal epithelial cells from nasal polyps using serum-free, hormonally supplemented Ham's F-12 medium and Vitrogen 100 collagen matrix. Cells reached confluent monolayer structures in 5 to 7 days (mean time 6 +/- 0.89 days) of culture. The confluent cultures consisted of pure epithelial cells, which was confirmed by light and electron microscopy, and immunohistochemical staining with anticytokeratin antibody. The success ratio of cultures was 61.5%. The culture system described is efficient enough to provide pure epithelial cells for further functional studies.

Intranasal challenge with aspirin induces cell influx and activation of eosinophils and mast cells in nasal secretions of ASA-sensitive patients

BACKGROUND

Although the mechanism of aspirin-sensitivity seems to be related to inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase by aspirin (ASA), the chain of biochemical events leading to the ASA-induced adverse reaction is not clear, and the contribution of particular mediators and inflammatory cells has not been elucidated.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the involvement of secretory, vascular and cellular mechanisms in the pathophysiology of nasal reactions to aspirin.

METHODS

Six patients with ASA-sensitive asthma/rhinosinusitis and seven ASA-tolerant patients were challenged intranasaly with saline and lysine-acetylsalicylic acid (Lys-ASA) 12 mg, on separate occasions. Nasal lavages were obtained before, and then every 15 min after challenges, and analysed for biochemical and cellular composition.

RESULTS

Lys-ASA challenge caused rhinorrhoea, sneezing and nasal congestion with parallel increases in total protein and albumin concentration, albumin % and lysozyme activity in the nasal secretions of ASA-sensitive patients. Concomitant with clinical symptoms, an influx of leucocytes into nasal secretions occurred with significant enrichment in eosinophils (mean prechallenge: 24 +/- 12%, postsaline 27 +/- 9%, postLys-ASA 51 +/- 10%; P < 0.03). The influx of eosinophils into nasal secretions was associated with a remarkable increase in Eosinophil Cationic Protein (ECP) immunoreactivity in five of six patients (mean 9.3 +/- 3.8 micrograms/L and 140.9 +/- 45.8 micrograms/mL before and after Lys-ASA, respectively). At the peak of ASA-induced symptoms an increase in the tryptase level was also observed in five of six patients (mean pre-challenge: 2 +/- 0.1 U/L; postLys-ASA 16 +/- 5 U/L; P < 0.01) suggesting activation of mucosal mast cells. In ASA-tolerant patients Lys-ASA did not induce significant symptoms or changes in the biochemical and cellular composition of nasal secretions.

CONCLUSION

The results show that the ASA-induced nasal adverse reaction involves changes in vascular permeability and serous cell secretion. Both activated eosinophils and mast cells may contribute to the pathophysiology of the ASA-induced reaction in the nasal mucosa.

The mental health of offspring of patients suffering from endogenous affective disorder (II follow-up study)

In the offspring of patients with affective disorder various psychological disorders were found in 25% subjects. In offspring of healthy persons only 10% were found to have psychological disorders.

Aspirin-induced neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) in patients with aspirin-sensitive urticaria after desensitization to the drug

The increase in neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) is related to mast cell degranulation. This study was performed in 10 patients in whom aspirin-induced urticaria was connected with increased NCA. A state of tolerance to aspirin (ASA) was achieved by administering incremental doses of acetylsalicylic acid. In none of the examined patients was an increase in NCA observed after 600 mg of ASA given after desensitization. The authors conclude that in patients with ASA-induced urticaria, mast cell degranulation does not occur after ASA desensitization.

Neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) in nasal secretions from atopic and nonatopic subjects. Effect of antigen challenge

In order to elucidate the mechanism responsible for infiltration of nasal mucosa by granulocytes, we tested neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) in nasal lavages, by the modified Boyden chamber method, in 16 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (AR), six ASA-sensitive patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and seven normal, nonatopic control subjects (NC). Nasal secretions from all three groups showed significant NCA (mean 157.1 +/- 54.0, 62.2 +/- 20.7, and 39.4 +/- 11.4% of FMLP chemotactic activity for AR, CRS, and NC subjects, respectively). Nasal secretions from patients with AR expressed significantly higher NCA (P < 0.02) than did secretions from NA patients. NCA was unchanged by heating at 56 degrees C for 60 min and was not susceptible to degradation by trypsin. Nasal challenge with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen induced clinical symptoms and resulted in significant increases in total protein and albumin concentrations in nasal lavages in AR patients, but failed to change the mean NCA activity for up to 40 min after the challenge. These results indicate that nasal secretions from both atopic and nonatopic patients express NCA, but its relation to allergic inflammation remains to be established.

[The psychological health of offspring of patients suffering from endogenous affective disorder (II a follow-up study)]

In the off-spring of patients with affective disorder various psychological disorders were found in 25% subjects. In the off-spring of healthy persons only 10% were found to have psychological disorders.

[Siblings of children with a serious mental handicap (psychologic-psychiatric evaluation)]

A group of 150 siblings of children with serious mental handicap was examined. It was established, that frequency of occurrence of psychiatric disorders in this group was no more often than in general population.

[Characteristics of the development and mental status of siblings of neurotic children]

150 children were examined. They were divided into two groups. The first group was composed of the children hospitalized with the diagnosis of neurotic disorder, the second one of their brothers and sisters of similar age (7-13) nontreated psychiatrically. There were statistically significant differences between these two groups in the following ways: 1) pathology of the pre- and postnatal periods, 2) psychomotor development and somatic state during the infantile age, 3) emotional development during the preschool period.

Eosinophil and basophil hypersensitivity to deuterium oxide in atopic asthmatic patients

Reaction of basophils and eosinophils obtained from venous blood of 35 atopic asthmatics to deuterium oxide was examined "in vitro". Eosinophils were isolated on sodium metrizoate according to Day. Preparation of basophils by centrifuging and washing in Tyrod's solution was performed according to Benveniste. Eosinophils and basophils were degranulated in D2O at the concentration of 44%. Cells were counted in a Fuch-Rosenthal haemacytometer. Basophil degranulation was observed in almost all (25) of patients in which degranulation of eosinophils had been stated. Marked correlation of reaction to D2O between both types of granulocytes was found.

Deuterium-oxide-induced degranulation of human eosinophils in allergic asthmatic patients in vitro

The aim of the study was to trace the response of eosinophil granulocyte to deuterium oxide in a group of atopic asthmatic patients. The study was performed in 20 asthmatic patients and 10 healthy subjects. Eosinophils were isolated on sodium metrizoate and then degranulated in deuterium oxide at the concentrations of 5, 25, 44, 50, 75 and 100%. Eosinophils were counted in a Fuchs-Rosenthal haemocythometric. In 7 of 20 patients eosinophil reaction did not differ from this in normal subjects. In 13 asthmatic patients the eosinophil degranulation in 44% D2O or more was stated. The results suggest that eosinophils are hyperresponsive to non-allergic stimuli in atopic asthmatics.

Serum neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) during aspirin-induced bronchoconstriction

In order to determine mast cell involvement in aspirin-induced bronchoconstriction, 16 aspirin-sensitive asthmatics and 18 control patients were studied for serum neutrophil chemotactic activity, using Nelsons method, before and after oral aspirin administration. A significant increase in NCA was observed in 6 aspirin-sensitive asthmatics during aspirin bronchoconstriction. In two persons the increase was lower. In the remaining 8 persons, no increase in NCA was observed during aspirin bronchoconstriction. None of the control patients exhibited an increase in NCA. The authors assume that, in some of the patients with aspirin-induced bronchoconstriction mast cells are really involved.

"In vitro" basophil degranulation by polymyxin B in asthmatic patients

Polymyxin B is a potent mast cell degranulator. Inhalation of polymyxin B produces bronchoconstriction in atopic asthmatic patients. The study was undertaken to find the influence of polymyxin B on human basophils. Thirty atopic asthmatic patients and 10 healthy controls participated in the study. Preparation and counting of basophils taken from the whole venous blood was performed with the human basophils degranulation test (method by Benveniste). No significant degranulation was observed in the group of healthy subjects. Degranulation of basophils by polymyxin B was stated in 24 from 30 atopic asthmatic patients with dose-reaction dependency. Our results point out, that there exists "basophil releasability" to polymyxin B in atopic asthmatic patients.

Bronchial and basophil reaction to polymyxin B in asthmatic patients

The hypothesis that increased reactivity to polymyxin B in asthmatic patients is not limited to the bronchi but also exists in basophils was investigated in 26 atopic asthmatic subjects. Quantification of basophil degranulation induced by polymyxin B was performed using a flow-cytometric method. Significant degranulation was noted in 17 patients, but in none of 10 healthy controls. There was close relationship between basophil "releasability" to polymyxin B and bronchial reactivity to inhaled polymyxin B. These findings support the hypothesis.