C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase protein produced by the liver during bacterial infections and inflammation. The cytokines interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) are widely reported to induce synthesis of CRP by hepatocytes both in vitro and in vivo. We investigated the relation between CRP and its cytokine mediators in 64 critically ill patients during their treatment in the intensive-care unit. Plasma CRP and IL-6 concentrations were significantly lower in patients without any evidence of infection than in those with clinical infection; plasma IL-1 beta concentrations showed no significant difference between any of the groups, but plasma TNF concentrations were lower in patients with evidence of infection. Significant correlation was seen between plasma concentrations of CRP and IL-6 when the latter was measured by bioassay; however, IL-6 showed, at best, only a 50% predictive value for a change in CRP concentration.

C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations are increased in plasma in people with inflammatory conditions and bacterial infections. Plasma neopterin concentrations are increased in people with bacterial septicemias, viral infections, and graft vs host disease. Plasma concentrations of CRP and neopterin were measured daily in 21 bone-marrow transplant (BMT) patients, 64 patients in intensive-care units (ICU), and 12 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HN). In the BMT patients, plasma neopterin measurements in addition to CRP measurements allowed infectious episodes to be distinguished from graft vs host disease. In the ICU patients, increased concentrations of CRP were not specific for infection and the additional plasma neopterin measurements did not improve this specificity. In all three patient groups, the derivation of a neopterin/CRP ratio was of no clinical use. These three groups of patients showed patterns of CRP and neopterin concentrations characteristic of their underlying diseases, the BMT patients with the immunological activation of graft vs host disease showed predominantly increased concentrations of plasma neopterin, ICU patients with infectious and inflammatory conditions had increased concentrations of both CRP and neopterin in plasma, and the HN group with localized inflammation showed increased plasma concentrations of CRP without increases in neopterin.

EP may be conveniently and safely administered as a low-volume protracted venous infusion in the ambulatory setting. Cytotoxic plasma concentrations of etoposide are obtained at the MTD. The pharmacodynamic relationships observed suggest the possibility of pharmacologically based dosing of EP.

Two hundred and sixty four broiler breeder hens of 32 weeks of age were distributed randomly in four dietary treatments. The dietary treatments were T 0 : Broiler breeder ration containing 40 ppm zinc (basal 29.8 ppm + 10.2 ppm inorganic zinc), T 1 : T 0 + organic zinc (zinc methionine) @ 20 ppm, T 2 : T 0 + organic zinc @ 40 ppm and T 3 : T 0 + organic zinc @ 60 ppm. The experiment was continued from 32 to 48 weeks of age. At 48 weeks, the weight of lymphoid organs, zinc levels in organs and immunity response were determined. The faecal zinc level was determined at monthly interval. The weight lymphoid organs of different treatment groups (both organic and inorganic zinc fed groups) of the broiler breeders did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). The cellular immune response of breeder birds to PHA-P was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in group T 3 than the rest of treated groups. The antibody titre to SRBC differed among the treated groups. The zinc content of serum of broiler breeders of all the groups did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in all the periods of study. Zinc content in liver and tibia of broiler breeders in different dietary treatments of zinc differed significantly (P < 0.05) with higher levels were obtained on increasing zinc concentration in the diet. The zinc level in the spleen and kidney of the broiler breeders in different dietary treatments did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). The average zinc content in the faeces of broiler breeder during 35 to 43 week of age did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) among the treated groups. At 48 weeks of age, zinc content of the faeces of T 3 was found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the rest of treated groups. Similarly, during the overall experimental period analysis, it was found that zinc levels in the faeces of T 2 and T 3 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than T 1 and T 0 .

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a potent immunomodulator that has been associated with the clinical development of autoimmune disorders. However, diabetes mellitus has not been reported in patients treated with single-agent IL-2. We conducted a clinical trial of a protracted daily schedule of subcutaneously administered low-dose IL-2. A patient with advanced colorectal cancer, treated with 1.5 x 10(6) international units of IL-2 daily, developed insulin-requiring diabetes during therapy. Hyperglycemia improved during treatment interruption and recurred with reinstitution of IL-2. The diabetes in this patient developed in the context of T cell and natural killer cell expansion, and the presence of islet cell autoantibodies was documented. We postulate that, in this patient, IL-2 reversed the anergy of autoreactive T cells that had escaped clonal deletion. It is possible that prolonged daily exposure to immunomodulatory doses of IL-2 will result in the development of autoimmune phenomena not observed with other schedules of administration.

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