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Neutrophil-activating factor (NAF), a 72-amino acid peptide produced by human monocytes, induced plasma leakage and neutrophil accumulation after intradermal injection in rabbits (10(-11) to 10(-9) mol/site). NAF was about three times more potent than fMet-Leu-Phe, but considerably less potent than endotoxin. The response to NAF was not inhibited by the endotoxin inhibitor polymyxin B or the protein synthesis inhibitor actinomycin D. Histology of NAF-induced lesions showed large numbers of neutrophils, but no monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, or lymphocytes were observed. Intravascular neutrophil accumulation, aggregate formation, and venular wall damage were also apparent. In vitro, NAF stimulated rabbit neutrophils as shown by the release of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase. This study demonstrates that NAF elicits a rapid inflammatory response in vivo with massive neutrophil emigration, which is qualitatively similar to that observed with other chemotactic agonists.

Interleukin-8 is a member of a novel cytokine family and has been found to be an activator and attractant for human neutrophils in vitro. The in vivo activity was tested in experimental animal models by intradermal and intravenous administration of IL-8. Intradermal administration of human IL-8 in rats induces a rapid and concentration-dependent neutrophil infiltration, which peaks 4 hr after IL-8 application. Injection of GRO-alpha induces a similar chemotactic response, whereas neutrophil-activating peptide-2 was significantly less active. When injected intravenously into rabbits, IL-8 induced neutrophil sequestration in the lungs and, following repeated injections, caused septal and intraalveolar edema and lung damage resembling that seen in adult respiratory distress syndrome. The fact that IL-8 is induced and secreted from many different cell types suggests its involvement in a variety of physiologic and pathologic conditions as a neutrophil chemoattractant and, possibly, as an activator of other neutrophil responses.

To assess quality of life (QOL) and psychiatric morbidity in successfully treated oral cavity squamous cell cancer (OC-SCC) survivors and their wives.Thirty-one men successfully treated for OC-SCC (mean, 3.7 years since diagnosis; UICC stages I to IV) together with their wives were assessed by questionnaires referring to QOL (WHOQOL-BREF), physical complaints (EORTC QOL-HN35), and symptoms of anxiety and depression (HADS). Prevalence of psychiatric disorders was assessed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.).Irrespective of tumor stage, a considerably high global QOL both in OC-SCC survivors and their wives could be detected when compared with an age-matched cancer-free population. No significant difference between the mean scores of 4 domains of the QOL (exception: environmental domain) was found between patients and their wives. In patients, lower QOL was associated with more physical complaints (social eating, swallowing, and pain) and higher levels of psychological distress (HADS); whereas in wives, QOL was found to be related to levels of psychological distress. In the M.I.N.I., a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety disorders, was found in wives (38.7%); but was lower in patients (16.2%). Patients and wives diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder reported significantly lower QOL.Both in OC-SCC patients and their wives a considerably high overall QOL can be found. "Social eating," "swallowing," and "sexuality" in patients and psychiatric disorders in wives seem to be strongly related to global QOL. The high prevalence of anxiety disorders in wives, however, should alert clinicians and the health care community. Thus, surgical improvement of somatic problems and treatment of psychiatric disorders should be addressed in individuals reporting an impaired global QOL.