Chlamydial IgG antibodies at a titre of at least 32 were found to occur at approximately the same frequency (76-88%) in three groups of patients who had been treated for genital chlamydial infection. Twenty-four patients who had recovered from acute salpingitis, however, had a higher geometric mean titre (GMT; 176) than 59 pregnant women (GMT 44) or 61 patients with uncomplicated genital chlamydial infection (GMT 57). The chlamydial antibody titres thus seemed to reflect the severity of inflammatory involvement. Antibodies to the new species Chlamydia pneumoniae (previously known as Chlamydia TWAR), did not influence the frequency or titre of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis, arguing against the possibility of cross-reactivity or shared antigens. There was assumed to be no cross-immunity, since patients with Chlamydia trachomatis infection did not have a lower frequency of antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

Serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis causing postabortion salpingitis.

In a previously reported investigation, 69 women with genital chlamydial infection following legal abortion were studied prospectively. Ten cases of postabortion salpingitis and 16 cases of endometritis were identified. To ascertain whether some serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis are particularly likely to initiate an infection in the fallopian tubes and cause salpingitis, the chlamydial isolates from the patients with salpingitis and those isolates from cases free of infectious complications were serotyped using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Six of the seven different serovars demonstrated in the symptom-free group were identified in salpingitis cases. The strains associated with salpingitis seemed to reflect the overall distribution of chlamydial serovars in the entire study group. The predominant serovars were E, F and H. A protective effect associated with chlamydial serum antibodies had previously been observed in salpingitis cases. Therefore, the antibody titres subdivided according to serovar were compared. No difference in the antibody response induced by the different serovars could be verified statistically, but the B-complex strains were associated with a higher antibody titre than the C-complex strains or the intermediate strains F and G.

Abortion, Legal↗

PubMed1989

Synthesis of 8-substituted derivatives of the 2-deoxy analogue of 3-deoxy-beta-D-manno-2-octulopyranosonic acid (2-deoxy-beta-KDO) as inhibitors of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate cytidylyltransferase.

The 2-deoxy analogue of 3-deoxy-beta-D-manno-2-octulopyranosonic acid (2-deoxy-beta-KDO, 2) is a potent inhibitor of the enzyme 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate cytidylyltransferase, which is involved in the biosynthesis of lipopolysaccharide, an essential component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Since compound 2 lacks antibacterial activity, a series of 8-substituted derivatives of 2 has been synthesized in an attempt to find enzyme inhibitors suitable for modification as antibacterials. Compounds 9, 11, and 13, in which the 8-hydroxy group of 2 is replaced by F, H, and NH2, respectively, were as potent inhibitors of the enzyme as 2, but were devoid of antibacterial activity, with the exception of the amino acid 13, which showed weak activity against some strains of Salmonella typhimurium.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1989

Tubal infertility and silent chlamydial salpingitis.

Antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis (serum IgG antibodies with a titre of at least 32) were detected in 141 (86.0%) of 164 infertile women with tubal infertility (TF group) and in 20 (28.6%) in 70 infertile women with normal tubes (NTF group). The difference was highly significant (P less than 0.001), as was the difference in geometric mean titre of antibody-positive cases, 181 and 87, respectively. Pregnant, age-matched women were used as controls. Significantly fewer of these women (P less than 0.001) had antibodies, when compared with the TF group, 60 (36.6%) of 164, but not when the comparison was made with the NTF group, 31 (44.3%) of 70. There was a history of salpingitis in 64 (39.0%) of the 164 infertile women with damaged tubes. Neither the frequency nor the geometric mean titre of chlamydial antibodies differed between tubal factor infertility patients with and without a history of salpingitis. Previous chlamydial infection, reflected by serological markers, is strongly associated with tubal damage leading to tubal infertility. A large proportion of these cases run a silent course, since a majority of the antibody-positive patients with tubal infertility have never had salpingitis.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Sampling of the bovine teat for studies of defence mechanisms and inflammatory reactions based on a surgical procedure separating the teat and udder cisterns.

A surgical procedure to separate the teat and udder cisterns in the udder quarter was described. The sampling method used and its influence on the somatic cell count and bacteriological status of the teat samples were determined. The surgical procedure resulted in complete separation of the teat cistern from the udder cistern in nine out of fourteen teats in six cows. An increase in SCC was seen in one of nine teats during the sampling period of 4 to 8 days. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated in samples from three of six teats at the end of the sampling period. The described methods could be of considerable importance in future studies of inflammatory reactions and defence mechanisms in the bovine teat.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

ACE-inhibitor-induced enhancement of spontaneous and IgE-mediated histamine release from mast cells and basophilic leukocytes and the modulatory effect of capsaicin sensitive nerves.

Frequently reported adverse inflammatory skin and airway reactions have been reported in subjects being medicated with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors. Intradermally evoked wheal and flare reactions to ovalbumin, capsaicin and bradykinin, in ovalbumin sensitized guinea pigs, was previously demonstrated to be enhanced by pretreatment with the ACE-inhibitor MK 422 (the active parent diacid of enalapril). In vitro results from this study demonstrate that the ACE-inhibitor MK 422 degranulated guinea pig lung and skin mast cells as well as human basophils, and enhanced allergen-evoked histamine release. Local capsaicin pretreatment in vivo of guinea pig skin decreased spontaneous and allergen-triggered release of histamine in vitro from skin mast cells. No clear enhancing effect of MK 422 was seen on the allergen-triggered histamine release in vitro from capsaicin pretreated skin, and the spontaneous release was unaffected by the ACE-inhibitor. The allergen-triggered wheal and flare reaction in ovalbumin sensitized guinea pigs was potentiated by MK 422 and the late phase reaction of the inflammatory response was especially augmented. Capsaicin pretreatment of the guinea pigs abolished this late phase reaction as well as the inflammatory enhancing effect of MK 422. Our in vitro results from capsaicin pretreated skin indicate that the reduced inflammatory response in vivo in capsaicin pretreated skin is due not only to capsaicin induced depletion of neuropeptides from sensory nerves, but also to secondary degranulation of mast cells by one or more of these peptides.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

PubMed1989

Diagnosis of infection caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae (strain TWAR) in patients with "ornithosis" in southern Sweden 1981-1987.

Serological distinction between ornithosis and infection by Chlamydia pneumoniae (strain TWAR) was attempted by microimmunofluorescence (MIF) of 156 cases previously considered as ornithosis on the ground of a positive complement fixation test with a chlamydia group antigen. At least 23% of these cases were TWAR infections according to the results at retesting by MIF. The highest frequency of TWAR infections was demonstrated during 1981 with a decreasing number and proportion thereafter. We contend that the sudden increase in the reported number of ornithosis cases in 1981 may have been caused by TWAR infections which seem to vary in incidence over time. Family clusters of respiratory infections were much more common with TWAR infections than with ornithosis.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMed1989

A clinical and epidemiological study of "ornithosis" caused by Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia pneumoniae (strain TWAR).

Ornithosis is a notifiable disease in Sweden since 1954. In 1981 and 1982 a sharp increase in the number of notifications occurred. Since then the number has declined but is still high. A changed epidemiology characterized by no history of bird contact and no common source, raised the suspicion of a new agent. Serological data now suggest that the epidemic was to a substantial part due to Chlamydia pneumoniae (strain TWAR) (48% of the patients during 1981-1982 compared to 9% during 1984-1987). During recent years TWAR infections have thus become uncommon but reappearance can be expected in the near future. The clinical picture as well as the complications appear to be very similar in infections caused by C. pneumoniae and C. psittaci.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

Erythema nodosum--a manifestation of Chlamydia pneumoniae (strain TWAR) infection.

We describe 2 cases of erythema nodosum (EN) secondary to an infection with the TWAR strain of chlamydia, recently designated Chlamydia pneumoniae. Two young patients, 17 and 11 years old, were admitted with EN and no physical signs of pneumonia. One patient had a non-productive cough and fever. The other patient only ran a high fever. Chest radiography revealed bronchopneumonias. Infection with the C. pneumoniae species was proven by serologic testing using microimmunofluorescence technique. Serology and cultures for other bacteria known to induce EN were negative. Thus, C. pneumoniae (strain TWAR) can elicit EN.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

Lactoferrin and lysozyme in milk during acute mastitis and their inhibitory effect in Delvotest P.

Microbiological methods for detection of antibiotic residues in milk give no explanations regarding the identity of the inhibitory substance(s). Natural antibacterial substances, present at higher concentrations in mastitic milk and in colostrum, occasionally cause false positive results in antibiotic assays. In an earlier investigation, lysozyme and lactoferrin were shown to inhibit the growth of Bacillus stearothermophilus var. calidolactis spores, used as test organism in Delvotest P. To study the effect of high lysozyme and lactoferrin concentrations in milk on the Delvotest P, cows were subjected to acute experimental mastitis by infusion of Salmonella typhimurium SH 4809 endotoxin. Milk samples were collected up to 11 h postinfusion. Concentrations of lactoferrin and lysozyme, somatic cell count, and effect on Delvotest P were determined. A positive reaction in the Delvotest correlated well with an increase in lactoferrin and lysozyme concentrations. The nature of the inhibitory effect is briefly discussed.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1989