Immune response in patients during and after Plasmodium falciparum infection

Article Abstract:

Malaria produces complicated changes in the immune system. In order to determine if the T-cell growth factor, interleukin-2, plays a role in some of these changes, measurements were made on 30 patients with malaria and 15 control subjects. Of the patients who had malaria, 16 had experienced two or fewer previous attacks and 14 had experienced three or more attacks during the preceding three years. All the patients had acute malaria resulting from infection with Plasmodium falciparum at the time of the study. Measurement of the soluble interleukin-2 receptor revealed that the patients with two or fewer attacks had significantly elevated levels, while the patients with three or more attacks had somewhat less elevated levels. The patients with one or two attacks also showed an increase in the number of cells positive for the interleukin-2 receptor. Both patient groups were found to have a striking decrease in the number of circulating T cells positive for the CD4 antigen, as has been previously observed. During the acute phase of the attack, the patients experienced a decrease in the level of interleukin-2, which slowly returned to within normal limits. The results suggest that there is pronounced immunosuppression during acute malaria. These effects are more pronounced among patients with few previous episodes of acute malaria, since the patients have not yet developed the partially protective immunity to malaria which results from repeated attacks. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Measurement, Malaria, Interleukin-2

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Energy metabolism in acute and chronic renal failure

Article Abstract:

The metabolic processes leading to the production of energy for body functions may be altered in diseases involving organs with metabolic functions. Renal (kidney) failure is associated with a reduced metabolic state and decreased body temperatures due to abnormalities in cell metabolism. However, acute or sudden renal failure is associated with an increased metabolic state. Hence, the conditions of energy metabolism in renal failure remain unclear. Energy metabolism was measured in 86 patients with various types of renal failure and 24 normal subjects. The consumption or use of oxygen, the production of carbon dioxide, and the energy expenditure at rest were increased in patients with acute renal failure with septicemia (infection of the blood). These measurements did not differ between normal subjects and patients with other forms of renal failure, such as chronic failure, acute failure without sepsis, and severe untreated azotemia (the presence of nitrogen-containing substances in the blood). The presence of nitrogen from urea was decreased in patients with chronic renal failure, patients with severe untreated azotemia, and patients undergoing dialysis. These results suggest that renal failure does not influence energy expenditure, except in cases associated with septicemia. In patients with chronic renal failure, wasting, or loss of strength and weight, results from decreased food intake rather than increased metabolism. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Energy metabolism, Control, Chronic kidney failure, Acute renal failure, Acute kidney failure, Septicemia

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Effect of alcohol on acute ventilatory adaptation to mild hypoxia at moderate altitude

Article Abstract:

The consumption of alcohol at moderate altitudes may have a modest effect on blood gas levels and breathing frequency. Researchers tested breathing frequency and oxygen and carbon dioxide levels of 10 young adult male mountain climbers after rapidly consuming either one liter beverage mixed with 50 grams of alcohol or one liter of the beverage only. These tests were performed at both low (171 meters) and moderate (3000 meters) elevations. There were no significant changes in these values at either the low or higher altitude for the control group drinking the non-alcoholic beverage. At the lower elevation, there were also no significant changes in the blood gas levels or breathing frequencies after the consumption of alcohol. Consuming alcohol at the higher elevation, however, resulted in a moderate decrease in the level of oxygen, a moderate increase in the level of carbon dioxide, and a lowering of breathing frequency from 15 to 14 breaths-per-minute.

Health aspects, Drinking of alcoholic beverages, Drinking (Alcoholic beverages), Alcohol use, Mountaineers, Acclimatization, Acclimatization (Biology)

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