Clinical significance of detecting organ-specificsensitization in patients with long-term chronic posttraumatic uveitis

Purpose: to assess the clinical significance of detecting organ-specific sensitization in chronic posttraumatic uveitis (CPTU) based on a comparative analysis of data from the leukocyte migration inhibition test (LMIT) and histological examination.Materials and methods. We examined 54 patients aged 17-82 with CPTU who underwent surgical removal of the eyeball (by enucleation/evisceration). To detect organ-specific sensitization, the LMIT in whole blood with extracts of corneal, lens, and uvearetinal tissue antigens was used. The eyes were subjected to histological examination after removal.Results. A positive response in LMIT was detected in 35.2 % of patients with CPTU. Pathomorphological signs of immune inflammation were found in 55.5 % of cases (30 eyes). In 23 eyes (42.6 %), the morphological picture was characterized by atrophic, fibrous and dystrophic changes in tissues. Based on the data from a comparative analysis of LMIT results and histological studies, we showed that in 16 cases out of 30 (53.3 %), morphologically confirmed immune inflammation was accompanied by sensitization to antigens of eye shells.Conclusions. In half of the cases, a productive inflammation, detected in CPTU during histological examination, was associated with the development of specific sensitization to eye tissue antigens. This result is important and should be considered when choosing how the patient should be managed, including targeted diagnostics and immunotropic therapy. The negative organ-specific response of LMIT in patients with chronic CPTU and intraocular inflammation confirmed by pathomorphological signs suggests a possible involvement of additional mechanisms of the inflammatory process, which requires further research.

Evaluation of immunopotentiating effect of medicinal plant products in commercial layer flock vaccinated against Newcastle disease

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the immunopotentiating effect of medicinal plant products such as Withania somnifera, Tinospora cordifolia, Allium sativum and Azadirachta indica in commercial layer flock vaccinated against Newcastle disease and production parameters. The Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titre values in all the groups were above the protective level throughout the study period. Similar results were obtained in ELISA. The cell mediated immune response was assessed by Leukocyte Migration Inhibition Test (LMIT) and there was a significant mean per cent inhibition in treatment groups. There was no change in egg production, egg shell thickness, albumen index, Haugh unit and yolk index between treatment and control groups. In conclusion, W. Somnifera (Ashwagandha, Amukkara kizhangu), (1%), T. Cordifolia (Guduchi, Seendhil kodi), (1%), Azadirachta indica (Neem, Veembu) (0.2%) and A. Sativum (Garlic, Poondu), (0.3%) can be used as an immunostimulant in poultry against Newcastle disease vaccination without affecting the egg production and egg qualities.

Cell-mediated immune response in gonococcal infection

A peripheral leukocyte migration inhibition test has been used to demonstrate cellular immunity to a protein component of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Human leukocytes served as effector cells in an agarose method to distinguish antigen-sensitive from nonsensitive individuals. Leukocytes, preincubated with antigen, were placed in wells in medium 199 agarose. After 18 h of incubation the migration index was calculated by dividing the area of migration of cells preincubated with antigen by the area of migration of the control cells.Significant migration inhibition was demonstrated for 16 of the 30 patients with uncomplicated gonorrhoea. Maximum inhibition was obtained 7–10 days following the onset of symptoms and the duration of that response varied from 14 to more than 40 days. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the number of previous infections and migration inhibition. A control group, which included individuals with Neisseria meningitidis infection, showed an insignificant response to this gonococcal antigen.Although these results indicate the presence of cell-mediated immunity, the significance of this response in the protection of the host or in the pathogenesis of gonococcal disease has yet to be determined.