Indoor animal husbandry environments are inevitably contaminated with endotoxins. Endotoxin exposure is associated with various inflammatory illnesses in animals. This cross-sectional study evaluated the relationship between the degree of endotoxin exposure and the cellular and humoral immune profiles of fattening pigs. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein of 47 pigs from ten pig farms in Korea. Whole blood cell counts and plasma immunoglobulin (Ig) classes were determined. Peripheral-blood mononuclear cells were stimulated in vitro with concanavalin A for 48 h, and cytokines released into culture supernatants were measured. The barns in which the pigs lived were assessed for endotoxin levels in the total and respirable dust by using the limulus amebocyte lysate kinetic QCL method. Low and high endotoxin exposures were defined as ≤ 30 and > 30 EU/m³, respectively. Compared to pigs with low endotoxin exposure (n = 19), highly exposed pigs (n = 28) had higher circulating neutrophil and lymphocyte (particularly B cells) counts, IgG and IgE levels, interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and interleukin (IL)-4 productions, and lower IgA levels and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) production. The IL-4, IFNγ, and TNFα levels significantly correlated with endotoxin level and/or pig age. Constant exposure of pigs to high levels of airborne endotoxins can lead to aberrant immune profiles.
Agriculture ; Animal Husbandry ; Animals ; Blood Cell Count ; Concanavalin A ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cytokines ; Dust ; Endotoxins ; Horseshoe Crabs ; Housing ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukins ; Jugular Veins ; Korea ; Lymphocytes ; Methods ; Neutrophils ; Plasma ; Swine ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Microorganisms found in bioaerosols from animal confinement buildings not only foster the risk of spreading diseases among livestock buildings, but also pose health hazards to farm workers and nearby residents. This study identified the various microorganisms present in the air of swine, chicken, and cattle farms with different kinds of ventilation conditions in Korea. Microbial air samples were collected onto Petri dishes with bacterial or fungal growth media using a cascade impactor. Endotoxin levels in total dust were determined by the limulus amebocyte lysate kinetic QCL method. Prevalent Gram-positive bacteria were Staphylococcus (S.) lentus, S. chromogenes, Bacillus (B.) cereus, B. licheniformis, and Enterococcus faecalis, while the dominant fungi and Gram-negative bacteria were Candida albicans and Sphingomonas paucimobilis, respectively. Considering no significant relationship between the indoor dust endotoxin levels and the isolation of Gram-negative bacteria from the indoor air, monitoring the indoor airborne endotoxin level was found to be also critical for risk assessment on health for animals or workers. The present study confirms the importance of microbiological monitoring and control on animal husbandry indoor air to ensure animal and worker welfare.
Agriculture ; Animal Husbandry ; Animals ; Bacillus ; Bacteria* ; Candida albicans ; Cattle ; Chickens* ; Dust ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Farmers ; Fungi* ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Horseshoe Crabs ; Korea ; Livestock ; Methods ; Risk Assessment ; Sphingomonas ; Staphylococcus ; Swine ; Ventilation

Perivitelline fluid, extracted from the fertilized eggs of horseshoe crabs, has been reported to play a vital role in supporting embryogenesis as well as cell proliferation. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of PVF on the expression of COL1A1 in human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). The cells were grouped into two; untreated (control) and treated with a single dose of PVF (0.019 mg/ml). Gene expression was quantified for COL1A1 on day 1, 3 and 7 using reverse transcriptase PCR. The expression of COL1A1 on day 3 of treated group with PVF was the highest though there was a decline of COL1A1 expression on day 7. Mann Whitney test was utilized to determine the significance of COL1A1 expression between treated and untreated groups. Significant difference in the expression of COL1A1 was observed between the treated and untreated groups on day 3 though there was no significance in the expression on day 7. The present study indicates that PVF may have the potential to increase cell proliferation in human DPSCs.
Dental Pulp ; Horseshoe Crabs ; Stem Cells

PURPOSE: Endotoxin exposure is associated with the development and pathogenesis of allergic diseases. The present study aimed to determine whether plasma endotoxins are elevated in children with atopic dermatitis (AD) and whether the plasma endotoxins are associated with the AD severity. METHODS: This study included 42 children with AD and 16 controls. The AD severity was assessed and skin prick tests were performed along with serum total IgE, total eosinophil count, and ImmunoCAP analyses for common allergens. For plasma endotoxin levels, kinetic turbidimetric assay and limulus amebocyte lysate reagent were used. RESULTS: The endotoxin levels were significantly higher in children with AD than in controls (0.039 [interquartile range {IQR}, 0.031 to 0.046] EU/mL vs. 0.031 [IQR, 0.019 to 0.035] EU/mL, P<0.05). The endotoxin levels showed a significantly inverse correlation with the disease severity in the extrinsic AD (r=-0.414, P=0.017) but not in the intrinsic AD (r=0.222, P=0.426). No significant correlation was observed between plasma endotoxin levels, serum total eosinophil count, and serum total IgE. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that plasma endotoxin level is increased in the AD subjects than in the normal controls and affects the disease severity only in the extrinsic AD subjects. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to investigate whether plasma endotoxin levels have a different effect on the AD severity depending on the presence of atopy.
Allergens ; Child* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Endotoxins ; Eosinophils ; Horseshoe Crabs ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Plasma* ; Sample Size ; Skin

Although neutrophils function in both defense and tissue destruction, their defensive roles have rarely been studied in association with periodontitis. We hypothesized that peripheral neutrophils are pre-activated in vivo in periodontitis and that hyperactive neutrophils would show enhanced phagocytic ability as well as an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Peripheral blood neutrophils from patients with aggressive periodontitis and age/gender-matched healthy subjects (10 pairs) were isolated. The levels of CD11b and CD64 expression on the neutrophils and the level of plasma endotoxin were determined by flow cytometry and a limulus amebocyte lysate test, respectively. In addition, neutrophils were subjected to a flow cytometric phagocytosis assay and luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence for non-opsonized Fusobacterium nucleatum in parallel. The neutrophilsfrom most patients expressed increased levels of both CD11b and CD64. In addition, the plasma from these patients tended to contain a higher level of endotoxin than the healthy controls. In contrast, no differences were found between the two groups with regard to phagocytosis or ROS generation by F. nucleatum. The ability to phagocytose F. nucleatum was found to positively correlate with the ability to produce ROS. In conclusion, peripheral neutrophils from patients with aggressive periodontitis are hyperactive but not hyperreactive to F. nucleatum.
Aggressive Periodontitis ; Flow Cytometry ; Fusobacterium nucleatum ; Horseshoe Crabs ; Humans ; Luminescence ; Neutrophils ; Periodontitis ; Phagocytosis ; Phenotype ; Plasma ; Reactive Oxygen Species

OBJECTIVETo detect content of bacterial endotoxin in Yuxingcao and Qingkailing injections by specific and nonspecific tachypleus amebocyte lysate technique for in order to investigate the feasibility of specific tachypleus amebocyte lysate technique for detecting bacterial endotoxin in traditional Chinese drug injections.

METHODDifferent batches of Yuxingcao and Qingkailing injections were detected by specific and nonspecific tachypleus amebocyte lysate kits.

RESULTYuxingcao injection could be detected by specific and nonspecific tachypleus amebocyte lysate technique, Whereas Qingkailing injection could be detected only by specific tachypleus amebocyte lysate.

CONCLUSIONUsing specific tachypleus amebocyte lysate as a substitute for nonspecific tachypleus amebocyte lysate is an effective method for detecting content of bacterial endotoxin in Qingkailing injection.

PURPOSE: We conducted this study to assess the effect of oral application of bovine colostrum on the plasma endotoxin and TNF-alpha following the abdominal surgery. METHODS: 46 patients who underwent the abdominal surgery were evenly enrolled in a prospective, randomized, double blind and placebo-controlled study. The patients were preoperatively managed by oral application of 20 g of a bovine colostrums or placebo (nonfat dried milk) per a day for 3 days. In both groups, endotoxin was sequentially determined pre-, intra- and postoperatively by a modified limulus amebocyte lysate test. TNF-alpha and CRP were also measured. The clinical course was followed and compared in both groups. RESULTS: The colostrum group showed significantly lower level of endotoxin and TNF-alpha compared to the placebo group. CRP did not differ in both groups. Clinical event did not occur in both group until the discharge. Colostrum group tends to have a lower incidence of fever and leukocytosis without statistic significance. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic preoperative oral application of bovine colostrum lower the plasma level of perioperative endotoxin and TNF-alpha. Further studies were needed for the relation of clinical effect and preoperative oral application of bovine colostrum.
Colostrum* ; Endotoxemia* ; Fever ; Horseshoe Crabs ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukocytosis ; Plasma ; Prospective Studies ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the epidemic pyrogenic reactions that occurred hospital-widely in 51 patients on 30-31 Mar. 1995 at a tertiary, educational, and acute care hospital. METHODS: The remained intravenous (IV) drugs and IV fluids that were infused to patients (N=51) who developed pyrogenic reactions were cultured and tested pyrogenic matter. Pyrogenic test was done by Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (PyrotellRMA,USA). RESULTS: IV normal saline 50 cc bottles (AAXSAT and AAX5AV) those were collected being used from case patients, and new bottles stocked in the drug storage were positive to pyrogenic test. Used normal saline collected from case patients were cultured coagulase-negative Staphylococus. Moreover the company, manufacturer of these fluids reported the positive pyrogenic test on these IV fluids (AAXSAT and AAX5AV). CONCLUSION: This epidemic was a pyrogenic reaction for infused the intrinsic contaminated fluid with pyrogen. We could prevent not the additional pyrogenic reactions in study hospital but national wide epidemics to apply the rapid and well-designed epidemic investigation and infection control.
Bacteremia ; Cross Infection ; Drug Storage ; Horseshoe Crabs ; Humans ; Infection Control

PURPOSE: Household endotoxin exposure in allergy and asthma has been gaining attention for its dual potential to exacerbate these conditions in individuals with established disease and to abrogate atopy before disease onset. The aim of this work was to analyze associations between current exposure to bacterial endotoxin in house dust and allergic sensitization in adults with asthma. METHODS: From the homes of 52 adults with asthma and 28 normal controls, house dust endotoxin (detected with a Limulus Amebocyte Lysate QCL-1000) and house dust mite allergens (Der f 1 and Der p 1) were quantified. Allergen sensitization was measured by skin prick test. RESULTS: The endotoxin levels from mattresses were lower in the home of adults with asthma than in that of normal controls. The endotoxin levels from mattresses detected in the home of adults with asthma were positively correlated with Der p 1 levels and wheal size to housedust mite allergens on skin prick tests. Furthermore, the endotoxin levels in living room floor dust were positively correlated with Der f 1 levels, but didn't relate with wheal size to house dust mite allergens. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that current exposure to house dust endotoxin might be positively associated with allergic sensitization in adults with asthma.
Adult ; Allergens ; Asthma ; Beds ; Dust* ; Family Characteristics ; Horseshoe Crabs ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin ; Social Conditions*

BACKGROUND: Antitumor drugs such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are known to induce intestinal damages and bacterial translocation. The present studies examined whether or not bovine colostrum protects against gut barrier damage, bacterial translocation and endotoxemia from these antitumor drugs. METHODS: Rat received either no drug, chemotherapy alone (5-FU, 300 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection) or bovine colostrum (4 g/day per os) for 5 days prior to 5-FU and for 5 days afterward. Intestinal permeability, enteric aerobic bacterial counts, serum albumin and protein levels, and pathologic findings of ileum were measured. Bacterial translocation to systemic blood, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and spleen were measured. Systemic plasma endotoxin levels were quantified by the chromogenic limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) technique. RESULTS: 5-FU increase intestinal permeability and plasma endotoxin levels, and decreased serum levels of total protein and albumin. Also 5-FU induced bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and spleen, not to systemic blood, but did not induce changes of enteric bacterial numbers and mucosal damages of small intestine. Combined administration of bovine colostrum with 5-FU reduced an increase in intestinal permeability and declines in serum albumin and protein levels by 5-FU. Bovine colostrum supplements also reduced bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and spleen, and endotoxemia. CONCLUSION: Bovine colostrums may beneficial effects in preventing 5-FU induced gut barrier damage, bacterial translocation and intestinal endotoxemia.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Bacterial Load ; Bacterial Translocation* ; Colostrum* ; Drug Therapy ; Endotoxemia* ; Endotoxins ; Fluorouracil* ; Horseshoe Crabs ; Ileum ; Intestine, Small ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Permeability ; Plasma ; Rats* ; Serum Albumin ; Spleen