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Biomedical subjects

J Endres

Publications and source records attributed to J Endres.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Effector function of resting T cells: activation of synovial fibroblasts.

Synovial tissue in rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by infiltration with large numbers of T lymphocytes and APCs as well as hyperplasia of synovial fibroblasts. Current understanding of the pathogenesis of RA includes the concept that synovial fibroblasts, which are essential to cartilage and bone destruction, are regulated by cytokines derived primarily from monocyte-macrophage cells. Recently it has been found that synovial fibroblasts can also function as accessory cells for T cell activation by superantigens and other stimuli. We have now found that highly purified resting T cells, even in the absence of T cell mitogens, induce activation of synovial fibroblasts when cocultured for 6-24 h. Such activation was evident by induction or augmentation of mRNA for stromelysin, IL-6, and IL-8, gene products important in joint inflammation and joint destruction. Furthermore, increased production of IL-6 and IL-8 was quantitated by intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry. This technique, previously used for analysis of T cell function, was readily adaptable for assays of synovial fibroblasts. Resting T cells also induced synovial fibroblasts to produce PGE(2), indicating activation of expression of the cyclooxygenase 2 gene. Synergy was observed between the effects of IL-17, a cytokine derived from stimulated T cells that activates fibroblasts, and resting T lymphocytes. Various subsets of T cells, CD4(+), CD8(+), CD45RO(+), and CD45RA(+) all had comparable ability to induce synovial fibroblast activation. These results establish an Ag-independent effector function for resting T cells that is likely to be important in inflammatory compartments in which large numbers of T lymphocytes and fibroblasts can come into direct contact with each other.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2001

Dendritic cells genetically engineered to express IL-4 inhibit murine collagen-induced arthritis.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized antigen-presenting cells that migrate from the periphery to lymphoid tissues, where they activate and regulate T cells. Genetic modification of DCs to express immunoregulatory molecules would provide a new immunotherapeutic strategy for autoimmune and other diseases. We have engineered bone marrow-derived DCs that express IL-4 and tested the ability of these cells to control murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), a model for rheumatoid arthritis in which Th1 cells play a critical role. IL-4-transduced DCs inhibited Th1 responses to collagen type II in vitro. A single injection of IL-4-transduced DCs reduced the incidence and severity of CIA and suppressed established Th1 responses and associated humoral responses, despite only transient persistence of injected DCs in the spleen. In contrast, control DCs and IL-4-transduced T cells or fibroblastic cells failed to alter the course of the disease. The functional effects correlated well with the differential efficiency of DC migration from various sites of injection to lymphoid organs, especially the spleen. The ability of splenic T cells to produce IL-4 in response to anti-CD3 was enhanced after the administration of IL-4-transduced DCS: These results support the feasibility of using genetically modified DCs for the treatment of autoimmune disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Randomized trial comparing packed red cell blood transfusion with and without leukocyte depletion for gastrointestinal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Allogeneic transfusion is associated with postoperative infections that significantly prolong hospital stays and increase costs. Recent studies suggest that filtering leukocytes from blood prior to transfusion reduces the risk of postoperative infection associated with blood transfusion. We compared the incidence of postoperative infections, hospital stays, and hospital charges of gastrointestinal surgery patients transfused with packed red cells or leukocyte-depleted cells. METHODS: Consecutive patients admitted for elective gastrointestinal surgery without previous blood transfusion were randomized to receive routine packed red cells or packed red cells filtered to remove leukocytes if transfusion was required. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the significance of the relationship between leukocyte-depleted blood and postoperative infectious complications, postoperative stay, and hospital charges. RESULTS: Fifty-nine (27%) of the 221 patients were transfused. The most significant variable related to transfusion was intraoperative blood loss (P <0.0001), followed by admission hematocrit (P <0.0001) and age (P = 0.0022). Infections were noted in 16% of the patients: 11% of untransfused patients, 16% of leukocyte-depleted blood recipients, and 44% of patients transfused with packed red cells. Both operative site and nosocomial infections were significantly (P <0.001) more frequent in patients transfused with packed red cells compared with patients transfused with leukocyte-depleted red cells. Postoperative stays averaged 9 days for untransfused patients, 12 days for leukocyte-depleted recipients, and 18 days for recipients of packed red cells. Hospital charges were $19,132, $33,954, and $41,002, respectively. Both transfusion and infection were significantly (P <0.001) related to postoperative stay in multivariate analysis. Hospital charges were significantly related to postoperative stay (P <0.001), blood loss (P <0.001), age (P <0.001), infection (P = 0.007), and randomization to packed red cells (P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Filtering blood of leukocytes prior to transfusion for elective gastrointestinal surgery is associated with lower risk of postoperative infection, shorter postoperative stays, and lower hospital charges.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1996

Role of the CD6 glycoprotein in antigen-specific and autoreactive responses of cloned human T lymphocytes.

CD6 is a 130 000 MW T-cell surface glycoprotein that can deliver coactivating signals to mature T lymphocytes. Studies using monoclonal antibodies (mAb) have defined at least four epitopes on CD6, and distinct functional responses are elicited by mAb to the different epitopes. The function of CD6 is unknown. Multiple CD6 ligands are predicted, based on data that a soluble CD6 fusion protein precipitates at least three peptides. A cDNA clone for one of these ligands, termed activated leucocyte-cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) has recently been isolated. In order to further characterize the role of CD6 in cell-cell interactions, we have examined the role of CD6 in a variety of responses by tetanus toxoid (TT) specific human T-cell clones. Anti-CD6 mAb UMCD6 (epitope 3) inhibits antigen-specific responses of such clones to TT, but not to the superantigen SEA. Responses of clones to nominal antigen are CD6-dependent using either peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or macrophage-depleted E rosette negative cells as the antigen-presenting cell (APC) population. Furthermore, these clones made autoreactive with DNA methyltransferase inhibitors express increased CD6, and autoreactivity is inhibited by UMCD6. Taken together, the data suggests the existence of a functional CD6 ligand in peripheral blood which is expressed by APC, including cells other than macrophages. Interactions between CD6 and CD6 ligands may regulate both antigen specific and autoreactive responses of human T lymphocytes.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗
PubMed1995

[Intuitive evaluation of guilt of violent offenders in relation to offender personality].

The distinction between overcontrolled and undercontrolled offenders in criminal psychology is applied to the forensic issues related to crimes of passion under German penal law. The effects of descriptions of the offenders' personality on the attribution of responsibility were studied in a judgment experiment using fictional cases. N = 193 students of law and of psychology, respectively, gave judgments on an offender's legal responsibility and related criteria. Vignettes with four different homicide case descriptions were used as stimuli. Offender personality (overcontrolled vs undercontrolled) was varied as a second stimulus factor. Higher proportions of overcontrolled offenders were judged to be not responsible for their deeds. Law students were more lenient in their judgments than students of psychology. A factor analysis of subjects' ratings of 15 diagnostic criteria yielded four dimensions: intensity of affective excitement, incomprehensibility of the offense, strangeness to the offender's personality, and inevitability.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Obstacles to and future goals of ten comprehensive community health promotion projects.

Over 100 project staff, community coalition members, and other representatives from 10 comprehensive community health promotion projects in the western United States were surveyed two years into a three year funding cycle about: (1) the problems or obstacles they judged as preventing successful completion of their current goals and objectives, and (2) future goals and objectives they envisioned for their projects. The key issues confronting respondents were diverse, although issues around the process of implementing community health promotion programs were cited more frequently than issues related to the content of health promotion. When respondents were asked to prioritize Future Goals in the second survey, consensus across communities was obtained despite broad differences in the type of community surveyed and the health problem targeted. This study identifies the common organizational and community development problems faced by newly emerging community health promotion programs and has implications for other communities involved in designing, implementing, and evaluating community-wide health promotion programs.

Community Health Services↗
PubMed1989

Diabetics in long-term care. Effect of sweetness on dietary intake.

This study reported on the dietary intake of the institutionalized diabetics consuming low-kilocalorie sweeteners or fructose. The dietary intake was comparable to that for nondiabetics and consistent with the data from NHANES II. Nutrient intakes for diabetics met 100% of the RDA when either sweetener was used. Because of the increase in carbohydrates from fructose, the percentage of calories from fat approximated more closely the 30% recommended for diabetic adults. When fructose diets were used, there was a decrease in sucrose intake, which may help keep serum glucose and insulin responses within a normal range. The additional energy from fructose probably had little negative effect on the institutionalized diabetic population (which was not obese) and may have provided energy for weight maintenance. The use of calorie-dense sweeteners with the general population of diabetics who tend to be overweight requires further study.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Dietary and exercise practices of college-aged female bodybuilders.

The college-aged female bodybuilders in this study consumed nutrient-dense, low-fat foods and participated in strenuous exercise to develop their physiques. Non-competitors maintained consistent energy intake, exercise patterns, and body weight throughout the study period. In contrast, competitors exhibited periods of caloric restriction and excess associated with the pre- and post-competition events. This study indicates that college-aged female bodybuilders have food intake and exercise patterns that are unique to the sport.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Consulting dietitians in nursing homes: time in role functions and perceived problems.

A mail survey was conducted to describe Illinois consultant dietitians' perceptions of time adequacy for fulfilling role responsibilities and to identify dietary problems in nursing homes. Approximately three-fourths (74%) of the 43 respondents reported insufficient time at nursing homes, although all met or exceeded state consulting time requirements. Role functions receiving the greatest time investments were in the categories of foodservice management and nutrition care. Resident nutrition care issues were often rated as major problems. Dietitians' perceptions of nutrition care problems and inadequacy of time to perform role functions indicate a need to re-evaluate priorities for role performance and to obtain increased service hours. Methods to increase consulting time should include effective marketing of services and involvement in legislative and regulatory processes.

Dietary Services↗
PubMed1987

Dietary sodium intake of infants fed commercially prepared baby food and table food.

Sodium intake of infants varies widely with the type of food consumed. However, few reports are available describing the nutrients, including sodium values, of dietary intakes of infants receiving supplemental foods. The purpose of this study was to determine the sodium, energy, and nutrient values of diets for infants from low-income families participating in the WIC program. The sample consisted of 306 infants, aged 4 through 7 months, who were seen in well-child clinics. Approximately 200 of the infants were reportedly fed commercially prepared baby food as the only solid food; 55 received 50% or more of their energy from table foods. The dietary intakes of infants receiving supplemental foods and consuming commercially prepared baby foods included significantly less sodium than the intakes of infants fed primarily table foods. As a group, all infants met the RDAs for most nutrients but had higher sodium values than reported by other researchers. The group of infants for whom consumption of table foods was reported had values above the acceptable range for sodium primarily because the caregivers failed to provide low-sodium, nutrient-dense, supplemental foods in the quantities prescribed but instead substituted sodium-dense meat and vegetable products.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Older pregnant women and adolescents: nutrition data after enrollment in WIC.

Although there has been an increase in pregnancy in women over 35 years of age, the literature contains no information on dietary intakes of older pregnant women. Several studies have reported the nutritional status of pregnant adolescents who are considered to be at nutritional risk. This study investigated the energy, nutrient, and food intake patterns of 63 low-income pregnant women over 35 compared with 526 pregnant adolescents. Nutrient intake was assessed using a standardized 24-hour dietary recall protocol. Energy values for both groups were below recommended levels, and neither group gained the recommended amount of weight. Obesity may have been the reason for the lack of weight gain by the older pregnant women, since more than 50% of the older pregnant women were calculated to be obese prior to pregnancy. The younger women reported consuming less milk but more snack foods with lower nutrient densities, which significantly increased their energy values over those of the older group. In comparison with diets reported in other studies, the diets of the older pregnant women were more nutrient dense for most nutrients. Although all participants were enrolled in WIC, an equal number of women from both groups stated that they did not have the supplemental foods in their households at the time of interview.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Knowledge, attitudes, and dietary practices of female athletes.

The relationship between the nutrition knowledge and attitudes and dietary practices of adolescent female athletes was studied, using a 24-hour recall and a 48-hour food record with a modified version of the self-administered knowledge and attitude questionnaire of Werblow et al. Analysis indicated that the diets were similar to those of other teenage girls in the United States. The calculated mean values for vitamins A and C were more than 100% of the RDAs, while those for calcium and iron were less than 67% of the allowances. The mean energy value was less than recommended and may have been inadequate for the active subjects. Food consumption analysis showed that of total servings, the milk and meat groups accounted for only about 10% each and that more than 30% came from the "others" group. Although the subjects had some common misconceptions about nutrition, they were generally knowledgeable as well as positive in their attitudes toward nutrition. Nutrition knowledge and attitudes were positively correlated, indicating that the more nutrition knowledge a subject had, the more positive was the attitude toward nutrition, and vice versa. However, no significant correlation was found between nutrition knowledge or attitudes and dietary intake, suggesting that factors other than nutrition knowledge and attitudes, such as a concern for weight and a dependence on others for food selection, played a role in determining the food practices of the subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Energy and nutrient calculations using an Optical Character Reader system.

A new application of the Optical Character Reader (OCR) system for dietary data tabulation has been presented. Comparison of the reproducibility of energy and nutrient values, when hand calculation, on-line computer, and OCR methods of calculation are used, revealed no significant differences. The OCR system increased turn-around time for obtaining results, but use of a clinician's time was greatly reduced in comparison to either the hand calculation or the on-line computer method. Once the initial investment for an OCR system had been made, a significant reduction was realized in the cost of a clinician's time used for energy and nutrient calculations. When the factors of reproducibility, time, and cost were considered, this study found the OCR method for dietary calculations as acceptable as either hand calculation or on-line computer methods. Clinicans using the OCR or hand calculation method did not need computer facilities, but computer keyboard terminals were required for the on-line method.

Computers↗