Showing papers by "Hasanuddin University published in 2000"

Strong Association of Interleukin-6 and Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein with Severity of Adverse Reactions after Diethylcarbamazine Treatment of Microfilaremic Patients

Abstract: To assess the involvement of inflammatory mediators in the development of adverse reactions in filarial patients undergoing treatment, 29 microfilaremic subjects were treated with diethylcarbamazine (DEC). Before and at serial time points after initiation of treatment, plasma levels of inflammatory mediators and DEC were measured, and adverse reactions were recorded. Patients experienced no or mild, moderate, or severe adverse reactions. Increasing pretreatment microfilarial counts were associated with escalating severity of adverse reactions. Plasma concentrations of DEC were not different among patients suffering from varying degrees of illness. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNF-Rs) increased after treatment. IL-6 and LBP, however, showed the strongest association with adverse reactions. Increasing levels of these molecules were closely correlated with the mounting severity of adverse reactions, which raises the possibility that they play an important role in systemic inflammation that arises after DEC treatment of filarial patients.

Clustering of Brugia malayi infection in a community in South-Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Abstract: The present study was undertaken in village Karondang in South-Sulawesi, Indonesia, to investigate the influences of genetic, household and environmental factors on Brugia malayi infection. Infection status was determined by measuring both microfilariae in night blood and anti-filarial IgG4, as a marker for detection of active filarial infection. A total of 171 residents participated in the study; familial relationships between subjects were registered to construct pedigrees and distances between households were measured. The data were analysed using a test statistic for familial aggregation. For distribution of microfilariae over the study population a genetic influence on infection susceptibility was favoured over the household and environmental effects. For anti-filarial IgG4, all 3 clustering models gave significant results, suggesting that genetic, household and/or environmental factors influence specific IgG4 antibodies.

The development of specific IgG4 and IgE in a paediatric population is influenced by filarial endemicity and gender.

Abstract: We set out to study how anti-filarial IgG4 and IgE, which have been studied extensively in adult populations, are influenced by gender and by the degree of filarial endemicity during childhood. Development of specific IgG4 and IgE was examined in 502 children aged 3 months to 12 years, who were resident in 3 villages in South-Sulawesi with microfilaria prevalences of 6, 23 and 42 %. Specific IgG4 and IgE could be detected as early as 18 months after birth, in low amounts, and increased to levels comparable to those produced by adults at the age of 3 years. A higher prevalence of anti-filarial IgG4 in boys, indicating higher filarial infection compared to girls, became apparent after the age of 7. The specific IgG4 response was strongly influenced by the degree of filarial endemicity and production of this antibody was considerably delayed in the low transmission village. With respect to IgE, it was noted that specific IgE was consistently higher in boys from infancy onwards indicating a predisposition for high IgE production in males. The influence of filarial endemicity was less profound on IgE thaon on IgG4. In conclusion, reactivity to filarial antigens begins early in life and is differentially influenced by gender and transmission intensity.

Variations in the Contents of Crude Protein, Total and Free Amino Acids of Arctic Charr (Salvelinus alpinus) Reared at Different Stocking Densities

Abstract: The contents of crude protein and total and free amino acids of fillets of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) stocked at 40, 50, and 75 kg/m3, were determined. Results indicate that as the fish grew their protein content increased. Statistical analyses indicated that protein contents of fish varied significantly (p < 0.05) among density groups, but no relationship existed between stocking density and protein contents of fish (r = −0.5394). The contents of total amino acids of fish varied significantly (p < 0.05) according to stocking density and sampling dates. Aspartic acid, glutamic acid, leucine and lysine were most abundant, whereas hydroxyproline was the least abundant amino acid present. The content of free amino acids of fish also varied significantly with stocking density (r = −0.9441) and sampling date. The major free amino acids and related compounds present in the fillets were glycine, alanine, anserine and taurine.

Introduction of a rapid dipstick assay for the detection of Leptospira-specific immunoglobulin m antibodies in the laboratory diagnosis of leptospirosis in a hospital in Makassar, Indonesia.

Abstract: An easy, rapid and robust dipstick assay for detection of leptospira-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies was evaluated on 403 patients admitted for hospitalization because of fever. The clinical symptoms and signs of 35 patients were consistent with leptospirosis. The final diagnosis for the remaining patients was as follows: 136 with typhoid fever, 82 with hepatitis, 74 with malaria, 48 with infections of the respiratory tract, and 20 with fever of unknown origin. The clinical diagnosis of leptospirosis was confirmed for 24 (68.6%) patients by the combined results of the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), the reference test for leptospirosis, and of IgM ELISA, a standard laboratory test for the serodiagnosis of leptospirosis. In addition, serum specimens from 8 (2.2%) patients with a final clinical diagnosis other than leptospirosis were found to be positive in MAT and/or IgM ELISA. Compared with the results of MAT and IgM ELISA a sensitivity of 91.6% and specificity of 93.6% was calculated for the dipstick assay. Most of the serum samples from the laboratory confirmed patients gave a moderate to strong staining intensity of the antigen band of the dipstick and were easy to read. The results demonstrate that the dipstick assay is convenient to use and allows the rapid and accurate confirmation of patients with clinical suspicion of leptospirosis in areas where the disease is endemic.

The inotropic effect of isoniazid on isolated atria of guinea-pigs

Abstract: The incidence of heartfailure is increasing every year, while there is no ideaL inotropic agent yet available. Therefore the searchfor an ideaL inotropic agent is still needed. Isoniazid (INH) has been wideLy used as an anti-tuberculosis agent that htts similar structure to the K+ channel blocker 4-aminopyridine. Considering tlnt K* channel blocker may prolong depolarization leading to a more influx of Ca** into the cell and increase cardiac contractility, the effect of INH on cardiac contractility were investigated. In guinea' pig isoiated atria preparations, INH produced concentration-dependeitt increase contractility. The maximal concentration of INH in 'increasing force of contractility is 100 mM. This is approximately an equieffective concenffation compared to I uM of adrenaline induced cardiac contractility. The difference is that INH has no effect on the rate of contraction. A non-selective beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol (I uM) inhibits the inotopic action of adrenaline (1 uM) but with no effect on INH (100 mM) induced rdiac contractility. It is speculated that INH possesses a positive inotropic effcct. This effect is not associated with the activation of cardiac beta-adrenoceptoi by catecholamine as a consequence of monoamine oxidase inhibition, but may be through the prolongation of depolarization of the myocardial cells by blocking of Kt channels.