Ascensión Marcos

Cytokine production by blood mononuclear cells from in-patients with anorexia nervosa.

Although protein-energy malnutrition is a common cause of immunodeficiency, the immune function in underweight anorexia nervosa (AN) patients usually seems to be better preserved than would be expected. However, a deranged cytokine production and its consequences are currently being investigated in these patients. This study was aimed at measuring, over time, the capacity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from AN in-patients to produce several cytokines involved in the regulation of immune responses. The in vitro production of interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-2, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-6 and IL-1 beta by phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated PBMC were assessed on forty female adolescents with AN. These measures were carried out twice, upon hospital admission and at discharge, which occurred on average after 1 month. Thirty-five control subjects were also studied. Cytokines were measured by ELISA kits. The production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 was lower and production of IL-1 beta higher in AN patients than in the control group at both time points of assessment. Refeeding for 1 month was not enough time to reverse these differences and patients still had a low body weight at discharge. IFN-gamma production was lower in the patients than in control subjects only at discharge and no differences were found in IL-2 production between both groups. The results suggest that a mechanism involving modifications in the secretion pattern of proinflammatory cytokines could explain some immune function findings in underweight AN patients.

Probiotics as a help in children suffering from malnutrition and diarrhoea

Malnutrition is associated with a significant impairment of cell-mediated immunity, phagocyte function, immunoglobulin A concentrations and cytokine production. This situation—which is unfortunately very frequent in infants and children from developing countries—leads to a high risk of infection, and often to episodes of diarrhoea, hence aggravating the nutritional status. Fermented milks are known to exert a beneficial influence on the hosts health. They act by modulating gut microflora, regulating any alteration of gut mucosa and stimulating immune response. A number of studies have shown that probiotics shorten the duration of diarrhoea and prevent recurrence of other episodes. Furthermore, probiotics can prevent diarrhoea from infection in infants with malnutrition. In addition, it has been shown that cytokines could be used as biological markers of both impaired immune system and the immune stimulation of probiotics. The aim of this review is to update the effect of fermented milks in situations of malnutrition and diarrhoea as a consequence of infection as well as the role of cytokines produced by fermented milks in these deficient conditions.

Olive oil-fried sardines in the prevention of dietary hypercholesterolemia in rats. Effects on some serum lipids and cell-damage marker enzymes

Abstract The prevention of hypercholesterolemia and the possible harmful effects of cholesterol-enriched diets containing 1) casein and olive oil, 2) sardines from the 1st and 2nd fryings, or 3) sardines from the 8–10th fryings were studied in growing Wistar rats. Food intake of group 3 was the lowest (7.7±0.3 vs 11.0±0.2 and 12.1±0.4 g/day in groups 1 and 2, respectively) leading to significantly (p

Immunocompetence in relation to a heat-processed diet (Maillard reaction) in weanling rats

Diets containing unheated casein (CD; control) or a casein-glucose mixture (CGD) previously heated at 140 degrees for 2 h were fed to two groups of young rats for 21 d. Differences in body weight, feed consumption, thymus, and spleen growth, protein metabolism and in vivo immune response were then determined. For this last experiment, animals were inoculated with sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) on day 15 to provide an immunological challenge. No changes were seen in body weight, feed consumption or feed conversion ratios. Neither were significant differences found in spleen weight, protein content, DNA content, DNase (EC 3.1.4.6) activity or lymphocyte count, suggesting that spleen cell growth remained similar in all the animals studied. The CGD induced marked increases in thymus DNA content whilst the protein:DNA ratio became lower. Spleen RNA content was similar in all rats, but thymus RNA content was 29% lower in the CGD group, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. This fact might be a consequence of the low RNase (EC 2.7.7.16) activity and RNase:RNA ratios in the thymus glands of CGD-fed animals. Further, the number of splenic plasma cells secreting anti-SRBC antibodies (direct plaque-forming cells) was significantly decreased in the same group. It might be concluded that both diets are adequate for rat growth and that the differences observed in the thymus of CGD-fed rats may be directed towards preserving tissue function. Nevertheless, the CGD did cause immunological disturbances affecting the humoral immune response.

Anthropometric measurements and immune responses in elite gymnasts and in patients with anorexia nervosa

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess anthropometry and immune responses in three groups of young females age 13–17 years: 24 anorexia nervosa patients (ANP), 10 elite gymnasts (GYM) who exercised for at least 48 hours per week, and 50 sedentary students who exercised for less than 12 hours per week and were assessed as controls (C). BMI, IBW, total leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, CD2, CD3, CD

Human immunodeficiency virus infection and nutritional status in female drug addicts undergoing detoxification : anthropometric and immunologic assessments

and CD8 subset counts were lower in GYM and ANP groups compared with controls. Leukocyte count was higher and lymphocyte count was lower in GYM than in ANP. CD56 counts were the lowest in ANP and were similar in GYM and C groups. The response to delayed hypersensitivity tests was lower in GYM compared to than in C group. None of the ANP subjects showed any response, thereby demonstrating complete anergy. It may be concluded that both anthropometry and immunological tests are consistent with the presence of subclinical malnutrition in GYM and ANP groups, particularly the latter. These findings should form the basis of strategies for prevention of overt malnutrition and its consequences in young elite sportswomen.