Background: Rotavirus acute diarrhea is a common disease in children aged 6 to 24 months, accounting for 50-70% of hospitalizations in Vietnam. Vaccines recommended by the WHO are quite expensive, so vaccination for this disease isn\u2019t widely used in Vietnam. Objectives: To evaluate the immune responses of 3 human rotavirus strains in Macaca mulatta monkeys. Subjects and method: 32 healthy monkeys aged 6-12 monthswere divided into 4 groups that received orally the G1P8 strains (Master seed- MS and Working seed- WS), G1P4 strains (MS and WS), G4P6 strains (MS and WS),and placebo. All monkeys were evaluated on general status, gastrointestinal symptoms and blood samples taken for immune analysis. Results: By ELISA technique, the Master Seed (MS) and Working Seed (WS) of Rotavirus, including G1P8 (KHI008), G1P4 (2001019210) and G4P6 (2001019203) strains showed high titer of IgG antibody in monkey at least four-fold after 3 doses of immunization. Conclusion: These 3 rotavirus strains produced by the Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals could be candidates for vaccine production.
IgG immune response ; Macaca mulatta ; rotavirus ;

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relation between the dose of tumor cell inoculation (especially the doses less than minimum required to evoke tumor growth) and the anti-tumor immune system, particularly lymphoblast formation and cytotoxic activity of lymphcytes. Method: We inoculated rats with various doses of SST-2 tumor cells and examined natural killer (NK) cell activity and lymphoblast formation in vitro. Result: The results showed that the cytotoxicities against SST-2 cells and lymphoblast formation of lymphocytes were enhanced by small dose inoculation of tumor cells that could not induce tumor growth. Conclusion: It was suggested that was lymphocutes play an important role as an anti-tumor immune system at small doses of tumor inoculation, which appears to reflect an early stage of tumor growth in vivo. It was also suggested that SST-2 tumor inoculation might be a useful model for studying the anti-tumor immune response in SHR rats.
Neoplasms ; SST ; tumor growth ; Immune response ; Lymphoblast

This is a case of a 25 year old lady whose eye had been infected by cysticercosis. This case highlighted that the inflammation was due to host immune response. She was treated with oral corticosteroid and the lesions regressed.
seconds ; Oral ; Immune response ; Lesion, NOS ; Inflammation

BACKGROUND: Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by centrofacial erythema. Excess cathelicidin is suggested to be important to the pathophysiology of the disease. Recently, presence of a vitamin D response element was revealed in the cathelicidin gene promoter. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether vitamin D and cathelicidin are associated with rosacea, both serologically and histopathologically. METHODS: Subjects with rosacea and without chronic skin disorders were enrolled in the patient and control groups, respectively. Serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D and cathelicidin levels were measured. Tissue expression of cathelicidin and vitamin D receptor were measured with immunostaining-intensity-distribution index. RESULTS: The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of patients with rosacea was 12.18±5.65 ng/ml, which is lower than that of the controls (17.41±6.75 ng/ml). Mean serum cathelicidin levels in patients with rosacea and the controls were 85.0±26.1 ng/ml and 55.0±23.3 ng/ml, respectively. Cathelicidin expression in rosacea tissue was significantly higher than that in control tissue (5.21 vs. 4.03). No significant difference was observed in vitamin D receptor expression. CONCLUSION: Higher cathelicidin expression in rosacea supports the hypothesis that an abnormal inflammatory response of the innate immune system is important in pathogenesis of rosacea, but the role of high cathelicidin serum levels is complicated. Serum vitamin D was lower in patients with rosacea, although serum cathelicidin was higher than that of the controls. This suggests that the role of vitamin D level in the pathogenesis of rosacea merits further investigation.
Erythema ; Humans ; Immune System ; Receptors, Calcitriol ; Rosacea* ; Skin ; Vitamin D Response Element ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

Despite the development of modern intensive care and new antimicrobial agents, the mortality of the patients with severe sepsis and septic shock remains high. The poor outcome is considered to be a consequence of an overactive systemic inflammatory response. Sepsis is now defined as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in which there is an identifiable focus of infection. As a consequence of the overactive SIRS response, the function of various organ systems may be compromised, resulting in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and death. Systemic inflammation is a consequence of activation of the innate immune system. It is characterized by intravascular release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and other vasoactive mediators, and the concurrent activation of the innate immune cells. In addition to the pro-inflammatory reactions, the host's anti-inflammatory mechanisms are also activated and aimed at counteracting the inflammatory response. The balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory reactions is critical for the outcome of the patient. Understanding the mechanisms of acute inflammatory responses in critical ill patients is necessary for the development of urgently needed therapeutics. The aim of this review is to provide a description of the key components and mechanisms involved in the inflammatory response in patients with SIRS and sepsis.
Anti-Infective Agents ; Cytokines ; Humans ; Immune System ; Inflammation ; Critical Care ; Multiple Organ Failure ; Sepsis ; Shock, Septic ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of prophylactic effects of nasal tolerance with a dual analogue (Lys262-Ala207) on experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG).

METHODSClinical and immunological changes were observed in Lewis rats administered with dual analogue Lys262-Ala207 nasally, to compare the effects between the rats with predetermined dosage of Lys262-Ala207 and control peptides at two different time points, before the day (Group A or C) or on the day (Group B or D) of immunization with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) in complete Freud's adjuvant for 10 consecutive days. The clinical scores was evaluated for 50 days post immunization. Numbers of MNC expressing IFN-gamma, IL-4 or IL-10 and CD4+ and/or CD25+ from lymph nodes were enumerated by flow cytometry. Proliferative response, expressed as stimulation index (SI), was suppressed in response to antigen-specific stimulation in the rats receiving dual analogue, as compared with the rats receiving saline buffer only.

RESULTSGroup A and group B of Lewis rats developed EAMG with reduced severity, as compared to the control groups. Number of cells synthesizing IFN-gamma, IL-4 or IL-10 decreased, whereas numbers of CD4+CD25+ cells increased in group A and B than those in the control groups. Proliferative response was suppressed in response to antigen-specific stimulations in the rats receiving dual analogue Lys262-Ala207.

CONCLUSIONSNasal administration with a dual analogue Lys262-Ala207 at two different time points, before the day and on the day of immunization, could delay symptoms of muscular weakness in EAMG rats, which was associated with suppression of immune function in AChR antigen-specific T cells and lay a scientific foundation for treatment of human MG with nasal dual analogue.

Administration, Intranasal ; Animals ; Antibody Affinity ; Autoantibodies ; immunology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic ; Female ; Immune Tolerance ; drug effects ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Myasthenia Gravis ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Nasal Mucosa ; immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the immune response of anti-tetrodotoxin vaccine, including its dose-response, and to select optimal immunization dose so as to enhance antitoxic effect of the anti-tetrodotoxin vaccine.

METHODSTetrodotoxin (TTX) was coupled to Tachypleus tridentatus hemocyanin (TTH) chemically to form artificial antigen (TTX-TTH), and with which Balb/c mice were immunized. Influence of different immunization doses [100 microg as the higher (H) and 25 microg as the lower (L) dose group] on the protective effects of TTX vaccine was compared. The quality of antisera and effects of vaccine in anti-TTX poisoning were observed.

RESULTSThe sera antibody quality increased more quickly in group L than that in group H after immunization. The dose at which the half of immunized mice survived when challenged once with TTX were 16 x LD (1 LD = 13.5 microg/kg, i.p.) in group L and 11 x LD in group H. When TTX was used time and again, the half of immunized mice could tolerate as high as 40 x LD and 22 x LD of accumulated dose, and the maximum tolerable cumulated dose was 104 x LD and 90 x LD for group L and H respectively. The scheme L was better both in antibody quality and effect of protecting against TTX toxicity than that in scheme H.

CONCLUSIONSThe experimental vaccine of TTX could effectively protect animal from TTX intoxication. The lower immunization dose in this study is selected as the optimal immunization scheme.

Animals ; Antibodies ; blood ; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hemocyanins ; immunology ; Horseshoe Crabs ; Immune Sera ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Tetrodotoxin ; immunology ; toxicity ; Toxicity Tests ; Vaccination ; methods ; Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; immunology

Animals ; Caffeine/adverse effects* ; Central Nervous System Stimulants/adverse effects* ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation/chemically induced* ; Immune System Diseases/chemically induced* ; Male ; Organ Size/drug effects* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications/immunology* ; Rats ; Spleen/growth & development*

Because of its officinal value, strychnos is widely used by clinic and individual. Since toxic dose and therapeutic dose are very close, strychnos poisoning cases are frequently reported. In this paper the chemical component, toxic dose, mechanisms of toxicity, poisoning symptom and pathological changes after strychnos poisoning are reviewed.
Alkalies/poisoning* ; Animals ; Central Nervous System/drug effects* ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Immune System/drug effects* ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry* ; Seeds/chemistry* ; Strychnine/poisoning* ; Strychnos/toxicity*

Atopic diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD) are very common in industrialized countries. Up to 15%-30% of all children and 2%-10% of all adults suffer from AD. Already in early disease stages, a defective epidermal barrier is known to contribute to the pathogenesis of AD. Central elements in the epidermal barrier are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are secreted by keratinocytes, sweat gland cells but also infiltrating immune cells. AMPs function as endogenous antibiotics and are able to kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Furthermore AMPs act as immune modulators with effects on the innate and adaptive immune system. The probably best studied AMPs in human skin are the defensins and cathelicidin. In atopic diseases the functions of AMPs such as cathelicidin might be impaired and microbial superinfections could serve as cofactors for allergic sensitization. Hence, induction of AMPs could be beneficial in these patients. Cathelicidin which is often referred to its peptide form hCAP18 or LL-37 can be induced by ultraviolet light B (UVB) irradiation and is upregulated in infected and injured skin. The cathelicidin gene carries a vitamin D response element and the vitamin D pathway could therefore be targeted for cathelicidin regulation. As the development and course of atopic diseases might be influenced by vitamin D signaling these pathomechanisms could explain the growing evidence connecting vitamin D to allergic diseases, including AD, allergic rhinitis, food allergies and asthma. In this review the role of vitamin D and the AMP cathelicidin in the pathogenesis of atopic diseases with impaired barrier function will be discussed.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; Asthma ; Bacteria ; Child ; Defensins ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Developed Countries ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immune System ; Keratinocytes ; Peptides ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Skin ; Superinfection ; Sweat Glands ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Vitamin D ; Vitamin D Response Element ; Vitamins