Mahboob Hossain

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on eosinophils is involved in eosinophil protein X release induced by cytokines.

Recent evidence suggests that adhesion molecules play important roles in eosinophil functions such as degranulation and superoxide anion production. CD11b/CD18 (Mac‐1) and CD49d/CD29 (VLA‐4) are involved in eosinophil–endothelial adhesion through their counterligands, intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1; CD54) and vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1), respectively. CD54 is also induced on eosinophils by cytokine stimulation. We hypothesized that CD54 on human eosinophils may participate in eosinophil degranulation. CD54 was induced on eosinophils by a combination of human recombinant granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (rGM‐CSF) and human recombinant tumour necrosis factor‐α (rTNF‐α) within 2 hr of incubation, as determined by flow cytometric analysis. Recombinant GM‐CSF alone induced a slight but significant CD54 expression on eosinophils. Release of eosinophil protein X, an indicator of eosinophil degranulation, was induced by rGM‐CSF and this effect was synergistically enhanced by adding rTNF‐α. To determine the role of newly expressed CD54 in eosinophil degranulation, a blocking assay was performed using monoclonal antibody (mAb) against CD54 and CD18. Anti‐CD18 mAb and anti‐CD54 mAb markedly inhibited eosinophil degranulation induced by rGM‐CSF or a combination of rGM‐CSF and rTNF‐α. On the other hand, anti‐CD54 mAb had little effect on rGM‐CSF‐ or rGM‐CSF/rTNF‐α‐induced adhesion of eosinophils, whereas anti‐CD18 mAb significantly inhibited eosinophil adhesion. These results indicate that CD54 on eosinophils plays an important role in the eosinophil degranulation and that eosinophils are capable of interacting with other β2 integrin‐positive cells.

Analysis of recombinant human tumour necrosis factor-α-induced CD4 expression on human eosinophils

We examined the hypothesis that one of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines, tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), could induce expression of the adhesion molecule CD4 on human eosinophils. We further examined the effector function of CD4 and the mechanisms regulating CD4 expression.

Cytokine Production in Patients with Mite-Sensitive Bronchial Asthma

We examined the eosinophil viability-enhancing activity (EVEA) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) obtained from mite-sensitive bronchial asthma (BA) and normal control subjects. Mite concentrations of 1 and 10 micrograms/ml significantly increased EVEA in BA patients as compared with normal controls (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively). The level of IFN-gamma in PBMNC culture supernatants was higher in BA patients than in normal controls. Dexamethasone, cyclosporin A and FK506 significantly inhibited EVEA in BA patients (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001).

Antimicrobial activity and toxicity of Quisqualis indica

SUMMARY The plant Quisqualis indica (Compositae) has ehnopharmcological reputation of being used as ahealing agent in Bangladesh. In this study, preliminary screenings were conducted to look at theantimicrobial susceptibility and cytotoxicity of the plant extract. The extractives of the plant weresubjected to screening for inhibition of microbial growth by the disc diffusion method. The zonesof inhibition demonstrated by the n-hexane, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and aqueoussoluble partitionates of the methanolic extract ranged from 8 - 15 mm, 8 - 18 mm, 12 - 20 mm and10 - 16 mm, respectively at a concentration of 400 µg/disc. All the extractives were also subjectedto brine shrimp lethality bioassay for primary cytotoxicity evaluation. Here, the carbontetrachloride soluble materials demonstrated the highest cytotoxicity with LC 50 of 0.826 µg/ml,while n-hexane, chloroform and aqueous soluble partitionates of the methanolic extract revealedthe LC 50 of 1.254, 3.866 and 5.366 µg/ml, respectively. This is the first report of the antimicrobialactivity and cytotoxicity Q. indica.Key words: Quisqualis indica; Combretaceae; Antimicrobial; Cytotoxicity; Disc diffusion; Brineshrimp lethality

Effect of herbal medicine (Sho-seiryu-to and Ryo-kan-kyo-mi-shin-ge-nin-to) on human eosinophil biological function

The effects were examined of Sho‐seiryu‐to and Ryo‐kan‐mi‐shin‐ge‐nin‐to on the degranulation, expression of adhesion molecules and viability of human eosinophils. Eosinophil degranulation by granulocyte/macrophage‐colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) and platelet activating factor (PAF) was significantly inhibited in a dose dependent fashion by Sho‐seiryu‐to and Ryo‐kan‐kyo‐mi‐shin‐ge‐nin‐to. Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of constitutively expressed CD11b/CD18 on eosinophils was augmented by GM‐CSF or PAF stimulation; however, the increased CD11b/CD18 expression on eosinophils was significantly down‐regulated by Sho‐seiryu‐to. Eosinophil survival in the presence of recombinant human interleukin‐5 in vitro was significantly inhibited by 1000 μg/mL of Sho‐seiryu‐to and Ryo‐kan‐kyo‐mi‐shin‐ge‐nin‐to, which possess an inhibitory effect on eosinophil function, suggesting their usefulness in the treatment of allergic diseases.

Immunological Analysis of Organized Pneumonia with Eosinophilic Pleural Effusion

A 73-year-old man developed organized pneumonia with severe right-sided eosinophilic pleural effusion (PE). CD69+ and HLA-DR+ eosinophils in PE were 90 and 31%, respectively, but were undetectable in peripheral blood (PB). CD4+, CD45RA+ (naive) and CD4+, CD45RO+ (memory) cells in PB, PE and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were 10.9, 8.4, 2.5 and 22.7, 38.3 and 16.4%, respectively. CD8+, CD45RA+ (naive) and CD8+, CD45RO+ (memory) cells in PB, PE and BAL were 3.5, 4.7, 1.0, and 8.9, 11.3 and 46.0%, respectively. The concentrations of interleukin-5 (IL-5) and IL-6 in PE were 1,680 and 2,797 pg/ml, respectively; however, these cytokines were undetectable in PB. The patient died 1 month after surgery to remove right thickened pleura. Microscopic findings showed right fibrinous pleuritis and organized pneumonia.

Physicochemical and Microbiological Qualities’ Assessment of Popular Bangladeshi Mango Fruit Juice

Introduction: Mango juice has always been considered as a delicious, nutritious popular drink, but processed juice may not always be safe due to chemical and microbial risks. Determination of physicochemical and microbiological qualities of some packed mango juices of Bangladesh will help consumers to know the present scenario. Material and Methods: Six commercially available different juice samples were collected from the market. Carbohydrate profiles were determined using HPLC, crude protein content was calculated using the Kjeldahl method and other parameters were determined by standard AOAC methods. Standard culture techniques were followed to assess the total viable count (TVC), E. coli and other fecal coliforms. Results: The highest quantity of monosaccharide (58.88%) was recorded in the AC1ME5 brand, while the lowest in Homemade (5.648%) and MN1GL2 (9.867%). The maximum content of acidity recorded was 0.24% and minimum 0.21%. The TSS content of all samples varied from 19% to 12%. The highest quantity 6.87% and the lowest 3.62% of reducing sugar were recorded. Most of the mango juices were low in protein and very low/negligible in fat content. Total viable count of different types of fruit juices varied from 1×103 - 3×103 CFU/ml. No significant amount of E. coli and fecal coliform was detected. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the locally available mango juices contain a safe level of nutritional and microbial elements for human consumption, but not highly satisfactory.

Impact of temperature and humidity on the prevalence of diseases in captive Thryonomys swinderianus (Grasscutter) colony in the University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

A study was carried out to determine the prevalence of diseases in a captive breeding colony of grasscutters (Thryonomys swinderianus) of various age groups and in different seasons from February, 2012 to June, 2014. The Grasscutters were maintained in the Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana. The diseases were diagnosed based on clinical history, clinical signs, and symptoms prior to death, lesions observed after postmortem examination of dead animals and isolation and identification of causal agents. A total of 29 dead and sick animals were examined from inside and outside of the campus. Among the diseases, wound infection was found to be the most fatal and constituted 44% of total deaths followed by deathin cages due to acute congestion of lungs, which constituted 33% of total deaths. Enterobacter cloacae was found to be the main causal agent of deaths in the cages. Of the dead in cages, 50% were males, of which 10% were lethargic and unable to move before death and 5% had malocclusion. Among the females found dead in the cages, 5% were pregnant. In general, the highest number of deaths was recorded from January to April and then decreased from May-August. There were no deaths in September. However, there was steady increase from October to December. The results indicated that there was a significant relationship between the deaths of Grasscutter with the ambient temperature and less efficient thermoregulatory mechanisms in the Grasscutter that that triggers deaths and injury in these animals.