Biomedical subjects

Kathleen M Wright

Publications and source records attributed to Kathleen M Wright.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Complex patterns of regulation of chemokine secretion by Th2-cytokines, dexamethasone, and PGE2 in tuberculous osteomyelitis.

Tuberculous osteomyelitis is characterized by uncontrolled inflammation leading to bone destruction. Chemokines recruit inflammatory cells but there are no data on the mechanisms limiting cell influx. We investigated the potential down-regulators of chemokine secretion IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, dexamethasone, and PGE2, IL-10 and IL-13 down-regulate M. tuberculosis-induced IL-8, IP-10, RANTES, and MCP-1 secretion from MG-63 cells by between 48 and 94% (P < 0.05) but do not inhibit chemokine gene transcription. In contrast, IL-4 augments gene expression and secretion of IP-10 from 12,030 +/- 1070 to 24,330 +/- 1720 pg/ml/4 x 10(5) cells (P < 0.01) and RANTES secretion, from 3550 +/- 150 to 6930 +/- 400 pg/ml/4 x 10(5) cells (P < 0.01). Dexamethasone and PGE2 caused a 13-fold down-regulation of secretion of all four chemokines but only dexamethasone inhibits mRNA accumulation. Data from primary osteoblasts were similar. In summary, down-regulation of osteoblastic chemokine secretion was not uniformly observed and the control of chemokine secretion in response to M. tuberculosis is a complex process mediated by pre- and posttranscriptional mechanisms.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Differential regulation of chemokine secretion in tuberculous and staphylococcal osteomyelitis.

Bone infection or osteomyelitis is characterized by uncontrolled inflammation and destructive bone loss although little is known about immunopathogenesis of infection. We investigated control of chemokine secretion from osteoblasts infected with either Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which normally elicits a granulomatous host response, or Staphylococcus aureus, which drives a host response dominated by neutrophil influx. We show that M. tuberculosis infection of cultured and primary osteoblasts induces extensive secretion of the chemokines interleukin (IL)-8, inducible protein (IP) 10, RANTES, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP) 1 within 72 h (1630 +/- 280 pg/ml per 4 x 10(5) cells, 74,130 +/- 8480 pg/ml per 4 x 10(5) cells, 18,330 +/- 3040 pg/ml per 4 x 10(5) cells, and 138,670 +/- 13,340 pg/ml per 4 x 10(5) cells, respectively, for MG-63 osteoblasts). S. aureus infection also results in secretion of these chemokines but secretion is delayed and of lesser magnitude (210 +/- 10 pg/ml per 4 x 10(5) cells, 11,570 +/- 1240 pg/ml per 4 x 10(5) cells, 930 +/- 34 pg/ml per 4 x 10(5) cells, and 13,770 +/- 720 pg/ml per 4 x 10(5) cells for IL-8, IP-10, RANTES, and MCP-1, respectively). The minimal up-regulation of secretion of the neutrophil attractant IL-8 in staphylococcal infection is both striking and unexpected. In both infections, chemokine secretion was dependent on the presence of live organisms. Differences in kinetics and magnitude of chemokine secretion are associated with distinct patterns of mRNA expression, as assessed by ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition, nuclear localization of the transcription factor activator protein (AP) 1 in M. tuberculosis-infected osteoblasts also is distinct as compared with S. aureus-infected cells. In summary, this study shows that osteoblasts have an important pathogen-specific role in control of chemokine gene expression and secretion during the human immune response to osteomyelitis.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2002

The Department of Defense's Persian Gulf War registry year 2000: an examination of veterans' health status.

This study examined the health status of 46,633 Persian Gulf War theater veterans who received full clinical evaluations in the Department of Defense's Gulf War Comprehensive Clinical Evaluation Program (CCEP) as of spring 2000. Clinical data analyzed included demographic information, 15 health symptoms, 19 wartime exposures, and primary and secondary physician-determined medical diagnoses based on International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification, criteria. Findings and discussions are arrayed, by gender, with comparative 1996 data from the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Examination Registry Program. Many veterans reported fewer physical symptoms now than during the time of the Gulf War. Many endorsed symptoms of joint pain, fatigue, weight change, and sleep disturbances. Most reported exposure to diesel fuel and the nerve agent antidote pyridostigmine bromide; far fewer female veterans reported combat involvement. The most frequent primary or secondary diagnosed medical conditions were musculoskeletal/connective tissue diseases, ill-defined conditions, and mental disorders. Female veterans were diagnosed more frequently with mental disorders. Symptom endorsement and diagnosis rates between the CCEP and the Department of Veterans Affairs registry were not dissimilar. Overall, the self-reported general health of veterans with symptoms was much poorer (females had higher rates of "fair to poor" health than males) than that of veterans with no reported symptoms.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Psychological screening program overview.

This article reviews the literature on health surveillance conducted during military deployments, focusing on models for assessing the impact of operational deployments on peacekeepers. A discussion of the stressors and potential mental health consequences of peacekeeping operations follows with relevant examples of findings from U.S. and international military forces. Psychological screening in different peacekeeping operations conducted in U.S. Army-Europe is reviewed. The review begins with the redeployment screening of military personnel deployed to Bosnia mandated under the Joint Medical Surveillance Program, and continues through the present screening of units deployed to Kosovo. The detailed description of the screening program includes a discussion of procedures and measures and demonstrates the evolution of the program. A summary of key findings from the screening program and a discussion of future research directions are provided.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2000

DNA sequence of frog adenovirus.

The genome of frog adenovirus (FrAdV-1) was sequenced and found to be the smallest of all known adenovirus genomes. The sequence obtained was 26163 bp in size and contains a substantial direct repeat near the right terminus, implying that it was derived by recombination from a parental genome of only 25517 bp. The closest relative of FrAdV-1 proved to be turkey adenovirus 3, an avian adenovirus with no previously known near relative. Sequence comparisons showed that the two viruses have equivalent gene complements, including one gene the product of which is related to sialidases. Phylogenetic analyses supported the establishment of a fourth adenovirus genus containing these two viruses, in addition to the established genera Mastadenovirus: and Aviadenovirus: and the proposed genus Atadenovirus: Sixteen genes were identified as being conserved between these four lineages and were presumably inherited from an ancestral adenovirus.

Adenoviridae↗