g the anxiety-prone nature of bLRs or drug addiction proclivity

g. the anxiety-prone nature of bLRs or drug addiction proclivity of bHRs). “
“Postnatal brain development continues throughout adolescence into young adulthood. In particular, synapse strengthening and elimination are prominent

processes during adolescence. However, molecular data of this relatively late stage of synaptic development are sparse. In this study, we used iTRAQ (isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification)-based proteomics and electron microscopy to investigate the molecular composition of a synaptic membrane fraction from adolescent postnatal day (P)34 and P44 and adult (P78) rat medial prefrontal cortex. Differential expression of proteins was most prominent between early adolescence and young adulthood (35%, P34–P78), with an over-representation of cell-membrane proteins during adolescent development Dabrafenib mw (between P34 and P44), and synaptic vesicle proteins between late adolescence and young adulthood (P44–P78). Indicative of the critical period of development, we found that, between P34 and P44, a substantial number of proteins was differentially expressed

(14%), much more than during the period after adolescence, i.e. between P44 and P78 (5%). A striking observation was the developmental non-stoichiometric regulation of distinct classes of proteins from the synaptic vesicle and the presynaptic release machinery. Electron microscopy demonstrated a small change in the number of docked vesicles between P34 and P44, but not in the total number of synaptic vesicles and in the size of the vesicle cluster. We conclude that the molecular composition GSK1120212 chemical structure of synapses, and more specifically the synaptic release machinery, of the medial prefrontal cortex changes drastically during adolescent development. “
“The protective impact of exercise on neurodegenerative processes has not been confirmed, and the mechanisms underlying the benefit of exercise have not been determined in human Parkinson’s disease or in chronic animal disease models.

This research examined the long-term neurological, behavioral, and mechanistic consequences of endurance Thymidine kinase exercise in experimental chronic parkinsonism. We used a chronic 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced mouse model of Parkinson’s disease with moderate neurodegeneration and examined the effects of treadmill exercise on movement and balance coordination, changes in dopamine neuron biomarkers, mitochondrial functions, and neurotrophic factor activities in the nigrostriatal system. The exercise results were compared with those of the control and sedentary chronic parkinsonian animals. After 18 weeks of exercise training in the chronic parkinsonian mice, we observed a significant deterrence in the loss of neuronal dopamine-producing cells and other functional indicators.

Many thanks to Professor Miles Fisher (Consultant Physician, Glas

Many thanks to Professor Miles Fisher (Consultant Physician, Glasgow Royal Infirmary) and Dr Gerry McKay (Consultant Physician, Glasgow Royal

Infirmary) for their support while writing this report. There are no conflicts of interest. “
“A 44-year-old gentleman with type 1 diabetes mellitus was found collapsed with diabetic ketoacidosis. Following correction of the metabolic derangements his level of consciousness improved but he became encephalopathic, exhibiting unprecedented aggression with non-specific neurological signs. This profound neurological Daporinad order state persisted for one month. Reversible causes of encephalopathy were investigated and excluded. The patient made a slow and almost complete recovery over a period of six months. Encephalopathy is an unusual complication of hyperglycaemic emergencies with poorly understood underlying mechanisms. This case demonstrates the importance of considering and treating the numerous reversible causes of an encephalopathic state before attributing altered levels of consciousness to the acute metabolic disturbances only. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons. “
“This

chapter contains sections titled: Embryology, anatomy and physiology of the thyroid gland Foetal and neonatal thyroid metabolism Thyroid function tests (TFTs) Definition and classification of thyroid disorders PKC inhibitor Neonatal hypothyroxinaemia, hyperthyrotropinaemia and transient neonatal hypothyroidism Congenital hypothyroidism Acquired hypothyroidism Hyperthyroidism Thyroid neoplasia Miscellaneous disorders Transition When to involve a specialist centre Future developments Controversial points Common pitfalls Significant guidelines/consensus statements Useful information

for patients and parents Case histories Further reading “
“Hypoglycaemia second is a common cause of presentation to emergency departments. Intentional overdose with long-acting insulin analogues is a recognised cause of hypoglycaemia; however, rates among those with insulin dependent diabetes are not well documented. Cases of intentional insulin overdose may be misdiagnosed as accidental, and therefore under-reported. This may be in part due to the narrow therapeutic index of the drug, as well as reluctance among patients to admit their intent.1 One retrospective study found that 90% of cases of insulin overdose were suicidal or parasuicidal.2 It has previously been reported that altered time effect profile occurs with massive overdose of long-acting insulin (i.e. duration of action greater than the expected 16–35 hours).3–5 The case described here is of interest because of the scale of the overdose, and the prolonged requirement for dextrose infusion. A 42-year-old man has had known type 1 diabetes since May 1997, usually maintained on a basal bolus regimen of approximately 8–18 units of NovoRapid and 30 units of glargine at night, with normal renal function.

(2002) In this method, the plasmid pCE37 was integrated into the

(2002). In this method, the plasmid pCE37 was integrated into the FRT target sequence immediately downstream of the deleted sbmA gene by the FLP-mediated recombination. The fusion was then transduced into the MC4100 tolC strain. The acrB mutation was generated using the same methodology. In this case, the PFWacrB and PRVacrB primers (Table S2) were used to obtain the PCR product for gene deletion. The ΔsbmA∷lacZY fusion, constructed previously, was then transduced into the MC4100 acrB strain. The degP∷lacZY transcriptional fusion was first constructed in the JW0157 strain using λ Red and FLP-mediated site-specific recombination, which

was described previously (Ellermeier et al., 2002). Finally, the transcriptional fusion was transduced into MC4100 and MC4100 Gefitinib research buy tolC strains. We introduced the tolC mutation (tolC∷Tn10) into a rybB fusion strain KMT12000 (Table S1) to obtain the KMT12000 tolC strain. The rseA mutant was obtained by transduction of rseA∷aph from the strain JW2556 into MC4100 strain and the cassette was subsequently removed. The ΔsbmA∷lacZY fusion was transduced into the MC4100 rseA strain, as described previously. The strain CAG22222 contained an uncharacterized mutation that suppresses the σE essentiality (Rouviere et al., 1995). For this reason, the ΔsbmA∷lacZY fusion was transduced into this strain and all assays

with rpoE mutants were performed in this context. The β-galactosidase activities were determined following the method described by Zhou & Gottesman (1998), with a few modifications. The fusion strains PAK6 were grown to OD600 nm=0.8 and assayed for β-galactosidase activities. 3MA For this, 600-μL

aliquots of these cultures were permeabilized for at least 20 min with 0.1% SDS (24 μL) and chloroform (48 μL). Then, 100 μL of permeabilized cells were placed on 96-well microtiter plate, 100 μL of a 4 mg mL−1 solution of o-nitrophenyl-β-d-galactopyranoside in buffer Z was added and A420 nm were measured for 20 min in a SpectraMax 250 spectrophotometer. Specific activity was calculated by dividing the slope of the line over time by the corresponding OD600 nm and expressed as arbitrary units (AU). The sensitivity to microcin B17 (MccB17) was tested using a spot-on-lawn assay, as follows: doubling dilutions of a partially purified MccB17 were spotted (10 μL) onto M9 plates and dried. To test the sensitivity, stationary-phase culture aliquots (50 μL) were mixed with 3 mL of top agar (M9 containing 0.7% agar) and overlaid onto the plates. After an overnight incubation, the plates were examined for different degrees of inhibition. To compare the ability of MC4100 and MC4100 tolC to produce extracellular MccB17, they were transformed with the pMM39 plasmid carrying the microcin production and immunity genes. The transformed strains were grown on a liquid M9 medium to the stationary phase and MccB17 was partially purified as described previously (Pierrat & Maxwell, 2003).

The micromanipulator

was cemented to the skull and a copp

The micromanipulator

was cemented to the skull and a copper mesh cone was built around the entire assembly, to both protect and electrically shield the headgear. During the post-surgery recovery period of 1 week, the probe was lowered gradually until it reached the CA1 pyramidal layer. The animals were then recorded in the maze for ∼30-min sessions, one or two sessions per day. During the recording sessions, a preamplifier (Plexon, Dallas, TX, USA) was connected to the probe’s output connector. For tracking the position of the animals, two small light-emitting diodes (5 cm separation) mounted MAPK inhibitor above the headstage were recorded by a digital video camera. A blue laser (473 nm; 60 mW; Aixiz) controlled by an analog input was used for ChR2 activation. The laser was collimated into a 6-m-long single-mode optical fiber (Thorlabs custom patch cable) using a fiberport (Thorlabs no. PAF-X-11-A). The other end of the optical fiber terminated in an LC connector, and connected to the optrode’s LC connector via an LC-to-LC adapter (Thorlabs no. ADALC1). IWR1 Before implantation,

the power of the laser at the tip of the optrode was measured with a power meter (no. 13PEM001; Melles Griot). The eNpHR (version 2.0)-GFP fusion protein was cloned into an AAV cassette containing the mouse synapsin promoter, a woodchuck post-transcriptional regulatory element (WPRE), SV40 polyadenylation sequence and two inverted terminal repeats. rAAV-FLEX-rev-eNpHR-GFP (Atasoy et al., 2008) was assembled using a modified helper-free system (Stratagene) as a serotype 2/7 (rep/cap genes) AAV, and harvested and purified over sequential cesium chloride gradients as previously described (Grieger et al., 2006). Using the same procedure as described for rats, the dorsal hippocampus of parvalbumin (PV)-Cre (Hippenmeyer et al., 2005) transgenic mice (3–5 weeks old) were injected (Fig. 3) at three sets of coordinates: 2.2, 2.4 and 2.7 mm posterior to bregma, and 2.1 mm from midline. Virus

(10–20 nL) was injected every 150 μm from 1.55 to 0.95 mm below pia. The pipette was held at 0.95 mm for 3 min before being completely retracted from the brain. Mice were prepared for chronic recordings Selleckchem Osimertinib and trained to run for water reward with their heads fixed via a mounted head-plate into a stereotaxic device. Under isofluorane anesthesia two small watch-screws were driven into the bone above the cerebellum to serve as reference and ground electrodes. A custom-fabricated platinum head-plate with a window opening above the left hippocampus was cemented to the skull with dental acrylic. After this surgery, the mice were trained for 3 days to be head-fixed, and then for 2 weeks to run on a custom-built treadmill with their head fixed (one 40-min session per day). A water reward was delivered through a licking port after every completed belt rotation. The recordings were performed 3–6 weeks after the virus injection.

The possibility cannot be excluded that the bilayer structure of

The possibility cannot be excluded that the bilayer structure of phospholipids with a hydrophobic alkyl region (interface), which is generated by EPA-containing phospholipids, affects the efflux pumping activity Barasertib clinical trial of compounds including growth inhibitors through the membranes. The hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity of microbial cells varies between microbial species, and these properties are associated with various functions (see Rosenberg & Doyle, 1990). IK-1 cells had a higher hydrophobicity than did IK-1Δ8

cells. No difference in the phospholipid composition was observed between IK-1Δ8 and IK-1 cells (Nishida et al., 2007), suggesting that fatty acid composition (i.e. the presence of EPA) leads to higher hydrophobicity of IK-1 cells. Phospholipid bilayers with a hydrophobic interfacial region are permeable to hydrophobic molecules, and the permeability is greater for more hydrophobic solutes (Cohen & Bangham, 1972). This would be applicable primarily to the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, where the lipid bilayer is formed, because the outer leaflet comprises mainly lipopolysaccharide and the inner leaflet comprises mainly phospholipids (Nikaido & Vaara, 1985), and to the cell membrane (inner membrane), where the outer and inner leaflets comprise phospholipids. The membrane-shielding effect of EPA-containing

phospholipids would operate in both the outer and the inner cell membranes. The lower Nutlin-3 cost MICs of CCCP and DCCD (Table 1) for IK-1 demonstrate that these hydrophobic compounds tend to remain and to operate in Temsirolimus mw the more hydrophobic cell membrane. These data indicate that the fatty acid composition of the outer and inner membranes should

be analysed separately. According to Allen et al. (1999), a deep-sea EPA-producing bacterium, Photobacterium profundum SS9, includes almost similar levels of EPA (∼5% of total fatty acids) in the outer and inner membranes. Interestingly, enhanced EPA producing mutants of the eukaryotic monocellular alga eustigmatophyte, Nannochloropsis oculata, become more resistant to higher concentrations of cerulenin and erythromycin, both of which are slightly water soluble, compared with the wild type (Chaturvedi & Fujita, 2006). For example, the growth of wild-type cells was inhibited completely by cerulenin at a concentration of 25 μM, but cerulenin, at 75 μM, had no effect on the growth of the mutant (CER1). Although the involvement of the membrane-shielding effect of EPA has not been investigated, it may be operative even in eukaryotic organisms. The wild type of this alga contains 16 : 0 (17% of total), 16 : 1 (17%), and EPA (38%) as the major fatty acids, and the contents of EPA and 16 : 0 and 16 : 1 fatty acids increase in antibiotic-resistant mutants. The authors thank Dr Y.

Primarily this may reflect a declining number of immigrants from

Primarily this may reflect a declining number of immigrants from high-prevalence regions entering Germany over time. This would have the effect that HIV is increasingly diagnosed in the prevalent pool of ageing migrants in later

stages of HIV infection. Given the high probability of late presentation and a trend towards later presentation in this group, there is clearly a need to identify and lower individual, cultural, and language- and community-related, as well as structural barriers to disease-related knowledge, awareness, and diagnosis in migrant populations in Germany. In the group of patients with IDU, a clear trend towards later presentation was noted. Given the declining number of new diagnoses, this could again reflect increasing diagnosis in an ageing pool of patients. In MSM, Neratinib cell line the probability Ixazomib ic50 of late presentation for diagnosis marginally decreased from approximately 45% to just above 40% in 2010. Absolute numbers of reported HIV diagnoses doubled from 2001 to 2010. At the same time, new diagnoses among MSM tripled

and the proportion of younger MSM below the age of 35 years remained high at approximately 50%. This is in agreement with the assumption of a coincidental increase of HIV infection incidence and uptake of HIV testing in MSM in the period 2001 to 2005. This would explain the declining proportion of late presentation for diagnosis until 2005, because the early-diagnosed fraction of the increased number of incident infections would be preferentially reported. With infection incidence levelling off after 2005, an increasing proportion of newly diagnosed infections in recent years would thus represent infections acquired during the previous period of increasing incidence, leading again to a slight RVX-208 increase in late presentation for diagnosis. Living in smaller cities or rural areas was associated with a higher probability of late HIV diagnosis, although the impact differed among transmission risk groups. Female sex was associated with lower probabilities in heterosexuals and migrants. This has been noted in other European countries and is

thought to be a result of effective antenatal testing [21]. Our results are consistent with those of several studies from other countries such as Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland and the USA, which identified older age and migration status to be among the most important risk factors for late HIV diagnosis. However, many of these studies found other risk factors such as hepatitis coinfection and non-Caucasian ethnicity, probably reflecting epidemiological differences in these countries [4, 9-12, 23-26]. This study also investigated risk factors and trends for late presentation for care in the multi-institutional ClinSurv cohort. In Germany, monitoring of HIV disease is not confined to specialized treatment centres such as those participating in the cohort study.

For example, when phytoplasma was maintained by grafting

For example, when phytoplasma was maintained by grafting CX-4945 molecular weight or tissue culture, its insect-transmissibility was easily lost and genes involved in the phytoplasma-insect interactions were mutated (Oshima et al., 2001; Ishii et al.,2009a, b). Based on this difference of modes of transmission between WX and PoiBI and on the genome plasticity of phytoplasmas, the membrane proteins of the two phytoplasmas may have evolved

in different ways. Further analyses of the diversity and functions of Imps are expected to reveal the evolution and biology of phytoplasmas. This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (21248004) and the Funding Program for Next Generation World-Leading Researchers of Japan Society for the Promotion Science, and also by the Program for Promotion of Basic Research Activities for Innovative Bioscience of Bio-oriented Technology

Research Advancement Institution. “
“Arthrobacter arilaitensis is one of the major microorganisms responsible for the coloration of cheese surface, particularly in smear-ripened cheeses. This study investigated the occurrence of pigment synthesis among A. arilaitensis MK-8669 manufacturer strains in several aspects covering (1) UV-Vis absorption spectra and HPLC chromatograms of pigment extracts, (2) diversity of pigment production among strains, (3) influence of light on the production of pigment, and (4) kinetic of pigment synthesis. Based on absorption spectra and HPLC analysis, the 14 A. arilaitensis strains studied could be divided into two groups depending on their ability to produce carotenoids, carotenoid-producing, and nonpigmented strains. The methanolic extracts prepared from eight carotenoid-producing strains contained at least four carotenoids represented mainly as polar molecules. The diversity of pigment concentrations among these

strains was low, with carotenoids ranging from 0.40 to 0.76 mg L−1 culture and specific productivities from 0.14 to 0.25 mg pigment per g dry biomass, under light condition. When cultivating these A. arilaitensis strains under darkness condition, carotenoid biosynthesis was lower within a 0.17–0.25 mg L−1 range. The pigment production time curve of a representative colored A. arilaitensis D-malate dehydrogenase strain displayed a sigmoid shape which paralleled cell growth, probably indicating a growth-associated pigmentation. “
“A series of gemini quaternary ammonium salts (chlorides and bromides), with various hydrocarbon chain and spacer lengths, were tested. These compounds exhibited antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and were not mutagenic. The strongest antibacterial effect was observed for TMPG-10 Cl (against Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853) and TMPG-12 Br (against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Escherichia coli ATCC 11229 and clinical ESBL(+) isolate 434) surfactants.

”[45] The concurrent applications of commercially available insec

”[45] The concurrent applications of commercially available insect repellents and sunscreens are also of special significance Selumetinib research buy for travelers to temperate and tropical areas where both UV exposures and arthropod-borne infectious diseases pose health risks. Although

few investigations have studied the potential for adverse effects following concurrent applications of insect repellents and sunscreens, concurrent applications of commercially available insect repellents containing N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) and sunscreens containing oxybenzone have been studied in animal models and demonstrated that DEET permeation is potentiated by sunscreens and could promote DEET neurotoxicity, especially in children.[54, 55] According to the American

Academy of Pediatrics, insect repellents containing DEET should not be applied to children under 2 months of age, and DEET concentrations ranging from 10% to 30% are recommended for all other children.[56] As the broad-spectrum sunscreens were designed for their transdermal as well as topical effects, they should be applied prior to the application of insect repellants.[56] Single-product combinations of insect repellents and sunscreens are not recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) because the www.selleckchem.com/products/CAL-101.html instructions for applying sunscreens and insect repellents usually differ.[57] In most cases, insect repellents

offer longer protection and do not need to be reapplied as frequently as sunscreens.[57] Dark-skinned persons are protected from UV radiation by increased epidermal melanin and have significantly lower annual incidence rates of NMSCs.[58] Epidermal melanin in dark-skinned persons filters twice as much UVB radiation as does that in Caucasians.[58] Dark epidermis transmits 7.4% of UVB and 17.5% of UVA rays to the dermis, compared with 24 and 55% in white epidermis, respectively.[58] The six skin types, their definitions, and the recommended Alanine-glyoxylate transaminase SPF for sunscreens appropriately applied by skin type are listed in Table 6.[59] (Celtic) (European) (Dark European) (Mediterranean) Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that regular sunscreen use can prevent the development of AK.[60] As AK is a precursor of SCC, sunscreens can prevent the development of SCC arising in AK.[60] In 1999, Green and colleagues in Queensland reported their results of a 4.5-year community-based randomized controlled trial among 1,621 adult residents of Nambour, a subtropical Australian township in Queensland.[61] Compared to those randomized to using sunscreen at their discretion if at all, study subjects randomized to the daily use of a broad-spectrum SPF 15+ sunscreen showed a 40% reduction in SCC.


“Paraneoplastic arthritis (PA) may mimic rheumatic disease


“Paraneoplastic arthritis (PA) may mimic rheumatic diseases. While presenting the demographic and laboratory features of the patients diagnosed with PA, this study also aims to provide possible appropriate tools to differentiate the PA cases from early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA). Sixty-five patients with PA (male/female: 43/22) from 15 different rheumatology clinics and 50 consecutive patients with ERA (male/female: 13/37) fulfilling the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for the diagnosis if the RA from Gaziantep Rheumatology

YAP-TEAD Inhibitor 1 price Early Arthritis Trial (GREAT) as controls who were diagnosed at least 12 months before, were enrolled into study. Mean ages of the patients with PA and ERA were 50.2 ± 15.3, and 42.7 ± 12.3,

respectively, and the mean ages of the patients with PA were significantly higher than the ERA. Unlike the ERA patients, in our case series PA was predominantly observed among males. Oligoarthritis was significantly higher in solid tumors in contrast to ERA (P = 0.001). Polyarthritis and symmetric arthritis were significantly higher in the ERA selleck inhibitor group in contrast to all malignancies (P = 0.001). Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP) positivity were significantly higher in the ERA group (each P = 0.001). Lactic dehydrogenase levels of hematologic malignancies were significantly higher than other groups (each, P = 0.001). ERA patients had more symmetric joint involvement than PA; laboratory markers could be also an alternative where there is high RF and anti-CCP positivity with antibody levels among the ERA patients. Finally, the demographic features can be used as differentiating factors; ERA was seen predominantly among females aged 40–59 years which refers to young adults. “
“To develop Australian

and New Zealand evidence-based recommendations for pain management PLEK2 by pharmacotherapy in adult patients with optimally treated inflammatory arthritis (IA). Four hundred and fifty-three rheumatologists from 17 countries including 46 rheumatologists from Australia and New Zealand participated in the 2010 3e (Evidence, Expertise, Exchange) Initiative. Using a formal voting process, rheumatologists from 15 national scientific committees selected 10 clinical questions regarding the use of pain medications in IA. Bibliographic fellows undertook a systematic literature review for each question, using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL and 2008–09 EULAR/ACR abstracts. Relevant studies were retrieved for data extraction and risk of bias assessment. Rheumatologists from Australia and New Zealand used the evidence to develop a set of national recommendations. These recommendations were then formulated and assessed for agreement and the potential impact on clinical practice. The Oxford Levels of Evidence and Grade of Recommendation were applied to each recommendation.

One bacterial pneumonia event among 365 patients was reported fro

One bacterial pneumonia event among 365 patients was reported from Thailand which recruited the majority of patients of Asian ethnicity. Rates of PcP prophylaxis were lower in Thailand (0.8%) compared with other countries (6.7%) in which study participants

were enrolled, and this lower use of PcP prophylaxis, if anything, could potentially favour an increased risk of bacterial pneumonia; geographical and other country characteristics are potential confounders. In ESPRIT, more recent receipt of rIL-2 was associated with Selleck Ceritinib a greater risk of bacterial pneumonia, although the confidence intervals were very wide. The reasons why more recent receipt of rIL-2 is associated with increased risk of pneumonia are uncertain, but there are a number of potential STA-9090 solubility dmso mechanisms. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are a major effector cell against pathogenic bacteria, including those causing pneumonia; the T-cell response [17] is also thought to be important in the normal immune response to pneumococci. IL-2 may activate PMNs by inducing the secretion of tumour necrosis factor alpha [15], thus contributing to protective immunity, but at higher doses (600 000 IU/kg) IL-2 causes a chemotaxis defect which impairs neutrophil function. Recent data in mice show that exogenous

IL-2 can impair sequestration of neutrophils into the peritoneal cavity, although the same effect Tyrosine-protein kinase BLK was not seen in the lung in response to lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation [18]. In ESPRIT, as in the SMART study, detectable HIV viraemia was associated with an increased risk of bacterial pneumonia event. Gordin et al. [12] suggested that increased inflammatory markers (IL-6 and D-dimer) in patients with detectable HIV replication might be associated with higher rates of bacterial pneumonia, although there was no direct evidence in support of this. Porter et al. [19] have recently demonstrated that, in a group

of patients exposed to rIL-2 with cART, there were significant increases in high-sensitivity C Reactive Protein and D-dimer occurring by the end of the initial rIL-2 cycle and these increases were independent of changes in VL, CD4 cell count and T-cell proliferation. These findings suggest the following might in part explain the increased hazard of bacterial pneumonia associated with very recent receipt of rIL-2. First, the inflammatory surge associated with recent interleukin-2 receipt [19–24], second, the transient burst of HIV-viraemia known to occur around rIL-2 dosing cycles [20] and last, impairment of neutrophil function associated with rIL-2 exposure. Overall, however, it is harder to explain why the increased risk associated with rIL-2 receipt should continue for several months after the dosing cycle and long after the die-back of secondary cytokines and the reduction in immune activation that occur following rIL-2 exposure [20,25].