The hypothesis that the diminished motility of human milk leukocytes is due to a decrease in adherence was tested by using a collagen gel system in which leukocyte movement is less dependent on adherence. Unfractionated human milk leukocytes (HML) or fractionated peripheral blood leukocytes were placed on collagen gels in microwells and the leading edge of migration was determined by inverted phase microscopy. The mean rates of invasion of HML, blood neutrophils, and mononuclear blood leukocytes were 14, 240, and less than 1 mu/h, respectively (p less than 0.01). We then examined the identity of motile HML by immunoperoxidase techniques using antibodies to selected cell markers. Motile HML were positive for a specific macrophage marker (cathepsin B) and a neutrophil and monocyte marker (Mac-1) but were negative for specific neutrophil (cathepsin G) or lymphocyte markers (CD3 and CD5). The directed motility of these cells was not enhanced by exposure to the chemoattractant, N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-phenylalanine, but was inhibited by a T cell lectin, phytohemagglutinin. The movement was actin dependent but was not dependent on calcium or Mac-1 surface glycoproteins. Thus, the diminished motility of milk neutrophils does not appear to be due to decreased adherence per se, and those HML that are motile are macrophages. This suggests a dichotomy for the function of HML. Neutrophils may be relegated to the lumen of th alimentary tract, whereas macrophages may penetrate into mucosal sites for host defense.

Palabras clave: audición, fonación, respiración.

A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted among school children (3300), aged 7-12 years, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the period January, 1988-February, 1990. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between asthma, allergic rhinitis, wheeze and eczema among Saudi school children. The relationship between pet-ownership and respiratory allergy was also studied. Detailed information was collected about wheeze and asthma in 3041 children and history of asthma and allergic rhinitis in their parents. The population sample had a high prevalence rate of diagnosed asthma (6.8%), history of wheeze (10.5%), allergic rhinitis (17.9%), and eczema (10.8%). Allergic rhinitis was the most frequently seen respiratory illness when compared to other respiratory symptoms. The prevalence rate of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema among parents reflected the same pattern as that seen in the children. Prevalence rate for asthma in children with pets is twice that of children without pets (OR: 2.4; 95%, Cl: 1.8-3.1). The odds of having chronic cough (OR: 3.9; 95% Cl: 2.8-5.2), chronic wheeze (OR: 4.2; 95%, 3.3-5.4), allergic rhinitis (OR: 8.0; 95% Cl: 6.3-10.3) and eczema (OR: 2.8: 95 Cl: 2.1-3.7) was higher in children with pets than in children without pets. The present study revealed that pet-ownership was associated with increased respiratory symptoms.

No abstract

Gut hormones were shown to affect the digestive process. However, little is known about their interaction with the immune system. We investigated the effect of CCK-OP on 3H-thymidine incorporation into rat splenic (SL) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) induced by Con-A. Various doses of CCK-OP (IO-*M to 1 0 -l~~) were incubated with ugIml) and lymphocytes in cell cultures (2x105 cel ls/well) for 72 hrs; 3H-thymidine (0.4pcilwell) was added and cultures harvested 18 hrs. later. Incorporation of thymidine was quantitated in a Beckmann Liquid Scintillation System (Irvine, Ca). The results (Table) suggest an enhancement of Con-A-induced lymphoproliferative response of spleen cells by up to 48%. In contrast, PBL did not show any effect of CCK-OP on Con-A induced cell proliferation. CCK-OP alone did not induce Ivmoho~roliferation. , . . CIC were studied by Raji cell assay in 23 patients with AIDS and ARC before and after IVIG. All patients had elevated CIC prior to initiative IVIG treatment. Patients were followed for an average of 20 months during which time they received biweekly infusions of Cutter IVIG. A significant reduction of CIC following IVIG was found in 13 patients, 2 of whom subsequently died during follow-up. In 10 other patients there was an increase of CIC after IVIG treatment. This group exhibited a mortality rate of 70%. There was a good correlation between elevated CIC and decreased antigenic and mitogenic responses, low T4/T8 ratio and evidence of viral infection with EBV, CMV and Herpes. Among those patients in whom CIC decreased following IVIG, 33% showed some restoration of mitogen induced proliferation. In contrast, the group that had increased CIC showed no such improvement. No correlation between the level of serum IgG and M and CIC-IgG and CIC-IgM was found and no uniform differences in CIC-IgG or CIC-IgM were observed after IVIG. The mean concentration of IgG and IgM in CIC was 54mgX and 32mg% respectively. After treatment with IVIG the molecular weight of the CIC had decreased from a pre IVIG level of 2 million. We evaluated a 14 month old white male, for recurrent bacterial otitis mcdia and sinusitis. The patient's father had similar infections as a child. The mother was normal. Father and son had normal IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, IgG1, IgCZ and IgC3. The child had undetectable IgC4 (normal 0.9-107 mgldl) and the father had IgG4(5 mg/dl (5-362) as measured by radial immunodiffusion. The family was screened for defects in PMN function measuring chemotaxis activity in response to =-endotoxin, bacteria killing against S.aureus and superoxide production with Cyto B1 FMLP. PMN chemotaxis and bacterial killing of S.aurcus were markedly impaired in father and son compared to controls.& I8O We have studied the surface ~h e n o t W e of cord blood -A lymphocytes obtained from ficoll hypaque gradients using 17 pairs of monoclonal antibodies (~ab). For this evaluation, lymphocyte gates were set based on cell volume and side scatter such that there was less than 2% monocytes. T cell characterization...