Biomedical subjects

Hanna Bessler

Publications and source records attributed to Hanna Bessler.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of a BIOcocktail on the immune response at the early postoperative period in mice.

Since human subjects and laboratory animals may develop impaired immune response during surgery and the postoperative period, efforts have been made to preserve normal immune functions following surgery by the administration of nutritional supplements and probiotics. The present study was designed to examine the effect of a new nutritional supplement, BIOcocktail, on immune parameters in mice exposed to surgery. Forty mice were assigned to 4 groups containing 10 animals each. Two control groups (with and without subsequent sham laparotomy) were given tap water for 45 min every day for 2 weeks. The remaining 2 groups, with and without laparotomy, received BIOcocktail given orally for the same period of time. The proliferative response of splenic cells (splenocytes) stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was determined by [3H]thymidine uptake. Cytokine levels were measured in splenocyte supernatants and sera using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Natural killer cell activity of splenocytes was evaluated by 51Cr-release assay. Laparotomy, without BIOcocktail administration, was followed by a decreased proliferative response of splenocytes to PHA, Con A, and LPS and an increase in interleukin (IL)-6 serum level. In addition, a decreased secretion of IL-1beta, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha by the splenocytes was observed. Mice treated with BIOcocktail before laparotomy maintained a preoperative level of splenocyte proliferative response and serum concentrations of IL-12. It is concluded that BIOcocktail administered to mice for 2 weeks before operation resulted in the preservation of T- and B-cell proliferative response to mitogens and in the prevention of postoperative decrease in IL-12 serum level.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Are peripheral blood cells from patients with Alzheimer disease more sensitive to apoptotic stimuli?

One of the reasons for the increased susceptibility to infections in patients with Alzheimer disease may be enhanced apoptotic death of their peripheral leukocytes. If this is the case, the enhanced apoptosis may be due to components in the patients' sera or to an increased sensitivity of the cells to apoptotic stimuli. To examine this possibility, the percentage of apoptotic cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 12 patients with Alzheimer disease was compared with that of 12 age-matched non-demented persons and 12 middle-aged healthy control subjects. In addition, the effect of sera from subjects in the three groups on the apoptosis, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha production by peripheral blood cells from healthy control subjects was examined. It was found that the percentage of apoptotic PBMC from patients with Alzheimer disease was higher than that from the remaining two groups. However, incubation of control cells with sera from patients with Alzheimer disease and non-demented elderly persons did not affect the number of apoptotic cells. Sera from patients with Alzheimer disease and non-demented elderly subjects caused an increase in IL-2 and a decrease in IL-10 production by PBMC from middle-aged control subjects but did not affect IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNFalpha secretion, indicating alterations of the immune system related to aging.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cytokine levels and phagocytic activity in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Clinical observations indicate that patients with Alzheimer's disease show a greater susceptibility to infections. One possible explanation is that this predisposition is due to alterations in their immune system. OBJECTIVE: To investigate this assumption, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as the phagocytic activity and superoxide anion generation was examined in aged individuals with and without Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: The production of IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, TNFalpha and IL-10 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 12 patients with Alzheimer's disease was compared with that of 12 age-matched individuals without any signs of dementia and 12 middle-aged healthy volunteers who served as an additional control. The engulfing capacity of the phagocytic cells was detected by counting cells containing latex beads and the number of particles internalized by each individual cell. RESULTS: The secretion of IL-2 was markedly low in the demented patients, compared with both elderly and middle-aged subjects. IL-1beta and TNFalpha production was similar in the individuals of the 3 groups. The production of IL-6 and IL-10 was significantly lower when compared to that of the middle-aged, but did not differ between the elderly patients with and without dementia. The phagocytic function of both polymorphonuclear cells and monocytes was decreased in individuals of the elderly groups with a low number of engulfed latex particles by each individual polymorphonuclear cell. The production of superoxide anions was increased only by monocytes from the elderly groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that although the impaired immune function in patients with Alzheimer's disease is related to the aging process, the significant low IL-2 production in these patients may play a role in their increased susceptibility to infections.

Aged↗