The present study was designed to determine the effect of recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpST; 5, 15, or 25 mg.pig-1.d-1 for 57 d) on a variety of immune function variables. We observed no significant effect of rpST treatment on the gross pathology of the pigs, histopathology of the immune system organs, total and differential white blood cell counts, lymphocyte blastogenic response to mitogens, or the neutrophil functions of chemotaxis, ingestion, reduction of cytochrome C, iodination, and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Those variables that were significantly affected by rpST treatment include a decreased hemoglobin and packed red blood cell volume (at some time points for all three rpST dosages), a decrease in plasma protein level at the 25-mg dose, a small increase in neutrophil random migration (at all three rpST dosages), and a decrease in IgG antibody response to tetanus toxoid at 15 d after immunization (but not at d 8, 22, or 29). Additionally, rpST treatment was associated with a decreased rate of BW gain (at 15-mg dose), increased liver and kidney weights (at all three dosage levels), and an increased incidence of renal tubular cytoplasmic vacuolation of minor severity. There were no observed differences in the overall health of the pigs due to rpST treatment, based on clinical observations as well as determination of antibody titer to, and isolation of, common swine pathogens. Therefore, there was no evidence that the observed influence of rpST treatment on immune function would be clinically relevant.
This paper discusses the use of dogs as experimental models for neuroimmunomodulation and compares immunodeficient dwarfism in dogs to that in rodents. Immunodeficient dwarfism in dogs is reviewed including description of the clinical syndrome, immunologic characteristics, neuroendocrine abnormalities, thymus histopathology, and therapy.
Background It has been claimed that F-Na PET-scan was more sensitive than technetium bone scan and MRI to detect aseptic osteitis of SAPHO syndrome, and the same might hold true for SpA enthesitis (1). Objectives We sought to study the ability of F-Na PET-scan to enhance physican’s confidence in the diagnosis of SpA and select patients who could respond to anti-TNF among those not fulfilling ASAS or other SpA criteria. Methods 32 patients referred as possible SpA were offered the possibility of a F-Na PET-scan if they had a negative MRI scan and did not fulfilled ASAS criteria for SpA (as well as Amor’s, ESSG, and CASPAR criteria). A second visit (V2) was scheduled quickly after the PET-scan, and anti-TNF was prescribed if both physician’s confidence in SpA diagnosis and patient’s expectation of anti-TNF were strong enough. Physician’s confidence in the diagnosis of SpA was recorded before F-Na PET-scan (V0), following F-Na PET-scan (V1), after V2, and, for those who tested it, after 3 months of anti-TNF (V3). FM criteria (WPI and SS scores), BASDAI, BASFI, and AS-DAS scores were collected at V0, V2 and V3. Results Na-F PET-scans showed abnormal uptake of at least one enthesis (including spinal sites) in 30/32 patients: mean of 6.0 +/- 4.67 [0 to 17] (out of the 42 possible sites). None showed signs of osteitis. Those 32 patients (12 males), were 40.3 +/- 11.7 years old, and only 7/32 (22%) were positive for HLA-B27. Mean +/- SD BASDAI at baseline was 5.99 +/- 1.76; mean BASFI 4.13 +/- 2.75 and mean AS-DAS 3.03 +/- 0.7. CRP (3.74 +/- 5.7 mg/dl) was normal in 78%. Mean WPI and SS scores were 9.1 +/- 4.2 and 5.5 +/- 2.8, respectively, and 44% patients fulfilled criteria for FM at V0. Physician’s confidence in SpA diagnosis was rather low at V0 (3.86 +/- 2.14). However, as F-Na PET-scan was abnormal in 30/32 cases, this confidence raised to 5.20 +/- 2.53 after the PET-scan, and 5.42 +/- 2.56 at the end of V2 (mean increase since V0 = 1.34 +/-2.1: increment in 24/32 cases). An anti-TNF trial was then proposed to 19 patients, of whom 17 were still willing to experiment the drug. A good response (according to ASAS criteria) was observed in only 5/17 patients at V3. Physician’s confidence in the diagnosis of SpA had dropped back to 3.54 +/- 2.4 at V3 (whole group). After 6 months, only 2/17 patients were still good responders to anti-TNF. 2/12 non-responders at V3 were reluctant to stop anti-TNF despite lack of significant changes in BASDAI/BASFI/AS-DAS, and 2 were given another anti-TNF despite failure of the first one, so that at 6 months 6/32 patients were still treated by anti-TNF, although only 2/32 had responded. Finally, 16/32 patients were diagnosed as FM (despite F-Na PET-scan uptakes in 15/16, mean = 6.1 +/- 4.4 sites), and only 2/32 as definite SpA (F-Na PET-scan uptakes in 10.5 +/- 9.2 sites). Conclusions Although F-Na PET scans showed uptakes of enthesis in 94% of patients, and transiently raised physician’s confidence in the diagnosis of SpA in 24/32 cases, only 2 of the 17 patients thereafter treated ...
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.