Non-specific factors of children protection with streptococcal tonsillitis and infected with herpes virus type 6

The aim of the work was to study the characteristics of the response of non-specific protective factors in tonsillitis of streptococcal etiology in children infected and uninfected with HHV-6 infection at different periods of the disease. Materials and research methods. In 78 children aged 3–15 years, inflammation markers and phagocytic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils (PAN) were determined using the nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test. The studies were carried out in the acute period and in the period of convalescence. Mathematical and statistical processing of the data obtained was carried out using Microsoft Excel 2003 and Statistica 6.0 programs. The significance of differences between the mean values was determined using the Student's test (t). Results. It was found that infection of children with HHV-6 leads to a decrease in the functional activity of neutrophils in the onset of streptococcal tonsillitis compared with uninfected patients (p<0.05). Also, the acute period of streptococcal tonsillitis in patients with co-infection is accompanied by a violation of the functional reserve of the oxygen-dependent mechanism of bactericidal neutrophils: minimal opportunities were found in tonsillitis on the background of HHV-6 infection (p<0.05). By the period of convalescence, a decrease in the indicators of the functional activity of neutrophils, increased in the acute period, was recorded, but in children infected with HHV-6, a complete recovery of indicators to the physiological norm did not occur. One of the features of streptococcal tonsillitis in children with HHV-6 infection is an increase in serum gamma globulin level (p˂0.05), lack of significant dynamics of decrease in the ASL-O indicator. Conclusions. The presence of VHL-6t infection in a child with streptococcal tonsillitis adversely affects the state of nonspecific protective factors, in particular PAN. The obtained data must be used to optimize the management of patients at different periods of the disease, including at the stages of dispensary observation

Assessment of immunohematological, hematological and biochemical responses in cultivable fish Cyprinus carpio exposed to an antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX)

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is a member of the sulfonamides group of antibiotics which is used extensively in aquaculture throughout the world. In this study, common carp (Cyprinus carpio) was used as the bioindicator to assess the toxicity potential of SMX. Effects were based on chronic toxicity of environmentally relevant dosages of 25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/L of SMX for 28 days. Cytotoxicity through hematology and biochemistry showed a dose–response relationship. Numerous variations were recorded in blood profile and biochemical parameters in SMX-exposed groups when compared to control. Hemoglobin, platelet, and erythrocyte levels were significantly decreased. Leukocyte level was significantly increased with values ranging from 131 to 303 (×103/μL). Changes in biochemical indices: glucose, total protein, and triglycerides showed biphasic trend, but alanine transaminase secretion was significantly increased from 25.13 to 204 U/L at higher concentration compared to control, suggesting liver damage. Spectrophotometric nitroblue tetrazolium reduction assay showed that respiratory burst activity increased as a function of SMX dose and exposure time (0.48–1.33 absorbance) ultimately leading to reduction in immunity. The present study highlights that prolonged exposure of SMX affects biochemistry, hematology, and immunohematology of fish and these biomarkers act as an effective tool for environmental risk assessment of drugs in the aquatic environment.

Activation of human neutrophils by dotriacontane from Tynanthus micranthus Corr. Méllo (Bignoniaceae) for the production of superoxide anions

The species Tynanthus micranthus Corr. Méllo, is popularly known as "Cipó Cravo" or "Craveiro", and is usually used as a stimulant and aphrodisiac, and found in the north of the State of Paraná - Brazil. The isolate the alkane dotriacontane from T. micranthus and to verify its action on the activation of human neutrophils to produce superoxide anions by the nitroblue tetrazolium reduction method (NBT), in comparison with the activation obtained by commercial dotriacontane. The ethanolic extract dried leaves was prepared by modified Soxhlet apparatus. Then the ethanolic extract was fractionated with n-hexane to obtain the hexane fraction which was submitted to the chromatographic column to obtain the compound dotriacontane. The substance was identified by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Isolated and commercial dotriacontane were evaluated by the NBT assay for verification of the activation of human neutrophils. The isolated and commercial dotriacontane activated neutrophils (10.0 μg/mL) when compared to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) (10.0 μg/mL). In the quantitative test commercial dotriacontane induced significant activation when compared to PMA (10.0 μg/mL). The substance dotriacontane, first time identified in the genus Tynanthus. The dotriacontane was shown to be important to confirm the activation of human neutrophils to produce superoxide anions.

The Effect of Administration of Silver Nanoparticles on the Immune Status of Chickens

The purpose of the study was to verify the hypothesis that there are doses of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) that improve immune defence in chickens without compromising their health. To verify this hypothesis, an attempt was made to determine which doses of Ag-NPs (5 nm) consumed by chickens as a result of administration of hydrocolloids during varying time periods at a concentration of 5 or 10 mg Ag/l stimulate immune defence. The experiment was performed on 296 chickens assigned to 3 treatments. Chickens from the control treatment received drinking water without experimental additives. Chickens from the T-5 and T-10 treatments received a hydrocolloid of Ag-NPs at a concentration of 5 mg/l (treatment T-5) or 10 mg/l (treatment T-10) from their second week of life. Blood for analysis was collected at the age of 42 days from 8 birds per treatment. Ceruloplasmin (Cp), leukocyte count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), interleukin IL-6, immunoglobulins IgA, IgY, phagocytic cells (% PC), phagocytic index (PI), nitroblue tetrazolium reduction (NBT), and lysozyme content in the blood was determined. Application of Ag-NPs at a concentration of 5 mg/l or 10 mg/l in the dose range of 2.87-12.25 mg/bird (administration of Ag-NPs in concentration 5 mg/l in weeks: 2; 2 and 3; 2 and 4; 2 and 5; 2 and 6 or concentration 10 mg/l in week 2) resulted in an immunostimulatory effect expressed as an increase in heterophil respiratory burst and an increased concentration of lysozyme. Higher doses of Ag-NPs exerted a pro-inflammatory effect, as indicated by elevated levels of IL-6 and ceruloplasmin, as well as a high ESR. They also stimulated B lymphocytes to produce IgA and IgA immunoglobulins.

Kinetics of reactive oxygen species produced by rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) leukocytes and the effect of the antioxidant astaxanthin

Reactive oxygen species contribute to kill of microorganisms. Their activity is usually measured by their capacity to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium into formazan. The incubation time to allow nitroblue tetrazolium reduction by reactive oxygen species usually ranges from 30 to 60 min. The aim of our study was to determine the kinetics of formazan formation, to determine the shortest incubation time possible, and to find if astaxanthin negatively affects the availability of reactive oxygen species (and defense mechanisms of fish). The blood/nitroblue tetrazolium method is based on nitroblue tetrazolium reduction into formazan by reactive oxygen species present in blood. Formazan can be spectrophotometrically measured, allowing quantification of reactive oxygen species. Reactive oxygen species were measured in blood samples from 30 trout intramuscularly injected with astaxanthin (0.3 mg/100 g of fish) (experimental group) and 30 non-injected trout (controls). Results indicated that in trout non-treated with astaxanthin, the plateau of formazan production was reached after 20 min of incubation. Trout intramuscularly injected with astaxanthin showed the following: on Day 1 after astaxanthin injection, the kinetics were slower but finally reached a plateau similar to astaxanthin-free trouts, and by Day 11 the plateau was significantly higher after 60 min incubation. In conclusion, the kinetics curves here reported allow reducing incubation time of the method to only 20 min in antioxidant-free trout and, on the other hand, our results also revealed that astaxanthin can be used to improve flesh colour in salmonids without affecting reactive oxygen species availability and therefore the defense mechanisms of trout.

Variant of X-Linked Chronic Granulomatous Disease Revealed by a SevereBurkholderia cepaciaInvasive Infection in an Infant

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by increased susceptibility to bacteria and fungi since early in life, caused by mutations in any of the five genes coding for protein subunits in NADPH oxidase. X-linked variant CGD can be missed during routine evaluation or present later in life due to hypomorphic mutations and a residual superoxide production. The case of a 10-month-old boy who died of pneumonia is reported. The isolation ofBurkholderia cepaciafrom his lung, together with a marginally low nitroblue tetrazolium reduction assay (NBT), made us suspect and pursue the molecular diagnosis of CGD. A postmortem genetic analysis finally demonstrated CGD caused by a hypomorphic missense mutation with normal gp91phoxexpression. In a patient being investigated for unusually severe or recurrent infection, a high index of suspicion of immunodeficiency must be maintained.