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57Co-bleomycin kinetics in normal and tumour-bearing mice after systemic and local administration.
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In tumour-free and tumour-bearing mice the body clearance and organ distribution of 57Co-BLM was measured at different time intervals after iv., sc., and it. administration of the drug. No significant difference could be demonstrated in body clearance following different doses and routes of application of labelled BLM in tumour-free and tumour-bearing mice. The organ distribution studies showed higher concentrations following iv. compared to sc. or it. of 57Co-BLM; however, the activity in the ipsilateral injection sites was significantly increased after sc. and it. injection. In tumour-bearing mice the activity in the lymph nodes draining injection site was as high as that seen in the draining lymph nodes following iv. injection. However, on the contralateral side, the lymph node concentration was significantly reduced after it. injection. These results indicate on the basis or organ distribution of 57Co-BLM a rational basis for it. treatment of malignant tumours.
| 86,593
|
Chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Correlation of circulating lymphocyte fluctuations with disease activity in suppressed and unsuppressed animals.
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Groups of juvenile Strain 13 guinea pigs sensitized for chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) with isogeneic central nervous system (CNS) tissue in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) were either left to develop late-onset chronic EAE (unsuppressed), or given a series of injections of bovine myelin basic protein (MBP) in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) to suppress the disease. All unsuppressed animals developed disease and all suppressed animals remained healthy over a 27-month period of study. some unsuppressed and suppressed animals were rechallenged with CNS tissue in CFA 12 or 26 months post-inoculation (PI). Unsuppressed animals all became sick 2-4 weeks after rechallenge, while rechallenged, suppressed animals were protected, indicating that the suppression was permanent. Pathologic findings in the CNS complemented the clinical changes. Circulating lymphocyte studies were performed on animals from all groups. Early (active, high-affinity rosetting) T cell levels in unsuppressed animals showed significant decreases during exacerbations (P less than 0.01) and normal values during remissions. After rechallenge, circulating early T cells decreased in unsuppressed animals with the development of signs. In suppressed animals, early T cells showed significant elevations during, and for a short time after, the period of suppressive injections, and normal values afterwards. These levels did not change significantly after rechallenge. Late (total, 24 hour rosetting) T cell and B cell values showed minor fluctuations only which did not correlate with disease activity. These results indicate that chronic relapsing EAE can be successfully suppressed with MBP in IFA, that this suppression is permanent and that the immunologic findings presented correlate well with the clinical and pathologic facets of the disease. the findings are presented in terms of their relevance to multiple sclerosis.
| 86,602
|
Depression in women after perinatal death.
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Post-partum depression was studied with the Beck inventory during a 6-month period in two groups of over 300 women. The difference in prevalence of depression between women who had had live births and women whose babies were stillborn or died in the first 7 days of life was influenced by age. At 6 months, post-partum depression was just as common in women aged under 24 whose babies had survived as in women of the same age whose babies had died.
| 86,678
|
Factors associated with cardiac mortality in developed countries with particular reference to the consumption of wine.
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Deaths from ischaemic heart-disease in 18 developed countries are not strongly associated with health-service factors such as doctor and nurse density. There is a negative association with gross national product per capita and a positive but inconsistent association with saturated and monounsaturated fat intake. The principal finding is a strong and specific negative association between ischaemic heart-disease deaths and alcohol consumption. This is shown to be wholly attributable to wine consumption.
| 86,728
|
Oestrogen receptors and prognosis in early breast cancer.
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In a study of the role of oestrogen-receptor analysis in early breast cancer the oestrogen-receptor content of the tumour was estimated in 286 patients undergoing mastectomy. These patients were followed for up to 39 months, and the recurrence of disease was noted in relation to the presence or absence of oestrogen receptor.Recurrence-rates were significantly higher in patients whose tumours did not contain receptors than in those whose tumours did. This same relationship was seen when women with and without axillary metastases were considered separately. The highest rates of recurrence were in women with axillary lymph-node involvement whose tumours lacked oestrogen receptors. Women without axillary-node involvement whose tumours lacked oestrogen receptors showed the same high rate of recurrence as all women with axillary-node involvement. The oestrogen-receptor content of a primary breast cancer appears to be an independent guide to early recurrence of the disease.
| 86,771
|
Endoscopic choledochoduodenostomy for common bileduct obstructions.
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Endoscopic choledochoduodenostomy (E.C.D.S.) was done in six patients with common bileduct obstructions. After E.C.D.S., jaundice disappeared and the patient's general condition improved. There were no complications. E.C.D.S. may be a suitable alternative to conventional surgery in patients with common bileduct obstructions.
| 86,779
|
"Have you eaten laburnum?".
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In an average summer over three thousand children are admitted to hospital in England and Wales because of laburnum poisoning. It is suggested that laburnum is not as dangerous as has been thought and that many of these admissions are unnecessary.
| 86,787
|
Successful therapy of advanced arteriosclerosis obliterans with prostacyclin.
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Five patients with advanced arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower extremities, as evidenced by resting pain, ischaemic ulcers, and focal necrosis, received intra-arterial infusions of prostacyclin at doses of 5--10 ng/kg/min for 72 h. Within 2 days of termination of the infusion, pain at rest had disappeared in all patients. In three of the five, the necrosis had completely regressed and the ischaemic ulcers healed within 2 months. The other two patients showed considerable improvement. Prostacyclin therapy was not associated with changes in the radiographic appearance of the major blood-vessels. However, muscle blood-flow, as measured by xenon-133 clearance, was significantly increased both during prostacyclin infusion and for the 6 weeks of measurement after its termination.
| 86,835
|
HLA--DR typing of frozen B lymphocytes.
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In the complement dependent lymphocytotoxic microtechnique it was found that antibody-killed frozen B lymphocytes are sufficiently stained for reliable reading after 30 min of incubation with trypan blue, while the background of staining is only about 10%. During the next 30 min of incubation, however, the background of staining increases to about 30%, whereafter it remains constant for at least 24 h. Formaldehyde is able to stop the trypan blue uptake by killed or damaged lymphocytes completely. Consequently, if formaldehyde is added to the reactions 30 min after the trypan blue addition, the otherwise rapidly increasing background of staining is kept at an acceptable level of 10%, thus making HLA-DR typing of frozen stored B lymphocytes possible. The trypan blue staining seems rather independent of incubation conditions before the addition of the dye. Similar results were obtained with T lymphocytes.
| 87,024
|
HLA haplotype associations with disease.
|
Interest recently has extended to the problem of looking for HLA haplotype associations with particular diseases. Higher order interactions, that is to say of particular haplotypes with a disease, are much more complicated than individual antigen associations, with which most disease studies have so far been concerned. Our aim in this work is to explain the concept of higher order interactions and to discuss the difficulties involved when trying to measure such haplotype associations. The main emphasis is to point out that it is not easily possible to detect haplotype associations if an individual antigen association with the disease exists.
| 87,027
|
Electrophoretic evaluation of different hormonal receptor sites in the prostate during anti-hormonal treatment and in response to hormones.
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Physical separations of different receptor entities by gradient ultracentrifugation or by separations based on ionic strength are interfered with, either by contamination with non-specific binding sites or they are irrelevant because of the low yield of sites after processing. Electrophoretic separation may give a better resolution because of the different nett charges on SHBG and the specific receptors. Isoelectric microfocussing allows the additional differentiation of sites based on the individual isoelectric points of each entity. Using this method, differentiation of at least three different sites in prostate tissue has been achieved.
| 87,051
|
Penile horn: verruca vulgaris.
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A case report of penile horn is presented. It is a benign penile wart of uncertain pathogenesis characterized by excessive hypertrophy and cornification of the epithelium. Treatment consists of excision and/or application of bleomycin ointment.
| 87,057
|
Specific staining of bacilli by means of immuno-indian-ink method and immunofluorescent method.
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The possibilities for identification of B. anthracis are investigated by means of the Immuno-Indian-ink method (IIIM) and the immunofluorescent method (IFM) in their direct and indirect modifications. The specifity of sera against noncapsulated cells of B. anthrasis increases by their adsorption with antigenically related strains of B. cereus as their vegetative cells and spores are killed beforehand with performic acid. Repeated uses of the bacillus suspension for adsorption is possible by treating it with hydrochloric acid in order to restore its antigenic properties. The adsorbed sera against noncapsulated cells of B. anthracis in the direct and indirect modifications of IIIM and IFM stain specifically the 19 investigated B. anthracis strains but none of the 152 strains of saprophytic bacilli. In addition to that the possibility for differentiation of B. anthracis from saprophytic bacilli is established also by combination of cultivation on selective medium, facilitating the capsule formation of B. anthracis with IIIM and IFM, performed with sera against capsule antigens of the anthrax agent.
| 87,066
|
Acridine orange staining of urethral and cervical smears for the diagnosis of gonorrhea.
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Smears of urethral and cervical discharge for direct microscopical examination of gonococci were stained with acridine orange and methylene blue and the findings compared with culture of direct inoculated plates. These two staining methods yielded similar results. Acridine orange staining seems a valuable alternative due to its sharp image contrast.
| 87,097
|
Lens antigen development in chick embryos studied in vivo and in vitro by immunofluorescence.
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Lens antigens, detected by immunofluorescence using rabbit antiserum against adult chick lens, appear in the chick embryo at stage 16. When eye rudiments are cultured in vitro, antigens developed; but they did not when optic cups were cultured but for a few cases. Isolated presumptive lens ectoderm from stage 4 did not develop antigens when cultured, but such ectoderm from stages 7--9 developed lens antigens and also showed lens structures. Stage 4 ectoderm could be induced to lens antigen development by alcohol-killed cups from stages 9--13. The experimental system can be used for in vitro studies on lens induction.
| 87,104
|
Comparison of different antigenic preparations of Coxiella burnetii used for antibody detection in guinea pigs.
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The dynamics of antibody response in guinea pigs infected with Coxiella burnetii was investigated by microagglutination (MA) and complement-fixation (CF) tests with different preparations of C. burnetii antigens. At the onset of antibody response the highest antibody titres were detected by the MA test with natural antigen 2, later on by the MA test with artificial antigen 2. Throughtout the 1-year period of observation, the CF antibody levels were usually lower and, with the exception of the highest infectious doses, the CF antibodies appeared later than agglutinating antibodies. There was no difference in the appearance of agglutinating and CF antibodies directed to antigen 1. Inactivation of the sera caused a marked decrease in antibody titres when tested with artificial antigen 2, whereas the antibody levels remained unchanged when tested with natural antigen 2.
| 87,123
|
[Triaminotricarboxylic amino acid oxidation productions of actinoidin and ristomycin].
|
Aromatic acids with three benzene nuclei bound through oxygen were obtained from actinoidin and ristomycin on their oxydation with permanganates of methylated aglycones and peptides. The structures of the methyl esters of these acids were determined by spectral methods. They are the following: methyl-3,5-bis-(4-methoxycarbonyl-phenoxy)-4-methoxybenzoate (from ristomycin) and methyl-3-(2-chlor-4-methoxycarbonyl-phenoxy)-5-(4-methoxycarbonyl-phenoxy)-4-methoxybenzoate (from actinoidin). The compounds are the aromatic parts of the molecules of the unusual triaminotricarboxylic amino acids present in the aglycones of all antibiotics of the group of polycyclic glycopeptides.
| 87,147
|
BUdR as a tracer of the possible mutagenic activity of Pb++ in human lymphocyte cultures.
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The method of SCE was used as an indicator of the possible mutagenic activity of lead acetate in in vitro cultures of human lymphocytes. After determining the optimal concentration of BUdR, the cultures were treated with increasing doses of the metal. The negative results obtained with this method led us to examine other parameters, in particular the classical cytogenetic aberrations.
| 87,210
|
Cancer of the prostate: early diagnosis by zinc and hormone analysis?
|
Zinc, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone concentrations have been measured in normal prostatic tissue and in specimens obtained from untreated patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and carcinoma of the prostate (CaP). The metal--androgen relationship was examined and related to the pathological condition of the patients. The evidence suggests that discriminant analysis combining the hormonal data into a single variable is a reliable test for distinguishing between BPH and CaP patients. We have observed that the high Zn values found in BPH specimens were always associated with a DTH:T ratio greater than 1. Androgen tissue ratios less than 1 were characteristic of all CaP specimens, and these were usually preceded by a reduction in prostatic Zn concentration. Since these patterns, particularly those associated with neoplasia, precede the clinical manifestations, they may be used as an index for predicting the onset of carcinoma in the prostate gland. They may also be of value in monitoring the progress of the disease.
| 87,214
|
Dicarbocyanine fluorescent probes of membrane potential block lymphocyte capping, deplete cellular ATP and inhibit respiration of isolated mitochondria.
|
3,3'-Dipropylthiodicarbocyanine iodide, a widely used fluorescent probe of membrane potential, was found to inhibit anti-Ig antibody, induced capping of mouse lymphocytes. The dye also lowered the cell ATP content. Experiments with isolated mitochondria revealed that the probe had a potent inhibitory action at site I of the respiratory chain. This mitochondrial blockade helps to explain the ATP depletion and blockade of capping, and gives cause for caution in the use of this dye as a probe of cell membrane potential. Three related dicarbocyanine dyes had similar toxic effects, but two cyanine dyes with much longer alkyl side chains, which have been used as probes of membrane fluidity, did not.
| 87,222
|
Cobalt-57 bleomycin for imaging head and neck tumors.
|
Cobalt-57 bleomycin imaging was performed in 11 patients with a history of head and neck cancer. Clinical and scan findings concurred on the presence and extent of tumor in 9 patients (82%); tumor was present in 7 and absent in 2 of the 9. In 2 patients (18%) the scan demonstrated tumor in the neck but failed to show metastatic sites. Cobalt-57 bleomycin images were of good technical quality, with remarkably low background activity at 24 hours after administration. Cobalt-57 bleomycin imaging appears to be a promising technique for evaluating patients with head and neck tumors.
| 87,253
|
The force-interval relationship of the left ventricle.
|
We have carried out a quantitative analysis of the force-interval relationship of the human left ventricle and compared it to previous studies done in both intact subjects as well as isolated muscle. The characteristics of the force-interval relationship of the normal patient resembed those of normal isolated mammalian muscle (except when exposed to high levels of catecholamines). The relationship in group 2 (patients with increased left ventricular dimensions and normal pressure indices) resembled those obtained from isolated muscles from hypertrophied hearts. The relationship from group 3 (patients with increased left ventricular EDDs and depressed pressure indices, two of whom were in clinical heart failure) resumbled those induced in normal muscles exposed to high levels of catecholamines, and those obtained from experimentally induced heart failure. The force-interval relationships of the four patients who fell into the third group were strikingly different from the other groups. This suggests that the force-interval relationship may be useful to describe changes in the inotropic state of the patient's heart.
| 87,282
|
Passive transfer in man and the monkey of Type I allergy due to heat labile and heat stable antibody to complex salts of platinum.
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Passive transfer (P-K) tests have been performed in man and monkeys with sera from a group of six refinery workers sensitive to ammonium hexachloroplatinate and tetrachloroplatinite. Positive (P-K) prick test reactions were elicited in three human recipients and in the monkey to three of the test sera. The other three sera gave inconsistent results in man and negative results in monkeys and these differences appeared to correspond with the duration of exposure of the workers. The passive transfer tests did not correlate with the intensity of the prick test reactions in the donors or with the RAST; there was partial correlation with total levels of IgE. Antigen mediated histamine release from whole blood and washed leucocytes from two of the six subjects correlated with the RAST and P-K levels. These findings confirm the presence of specific IgE antibody to the platinum salts, and also of heat stable, short-term sensitising antibodies, presumably STS-IgG.
| 87,286
|
Effects of DAPI on human leukocytes in vitro.
|
DAPI (4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole), a fluorochrome specific for AT-rich DNA, was supplied for 24 h at various concentrations to human leukocytes in culture. This treatment caused the appearance on the chromosomes of specific areas lacking spiralization. In particular, the centromeric regions of chromosomes 1,9, and 16, a short region on the long arm of chromosomes 1 and 2, and the distal heterochromatic part of the long arm of the Y chromosome were despiralized. The despiralization pattern of DAPI is compared with those previously obtained with Hoechst 33258 and Distamycin A.
| 87,292
|
[Incidence of anaphylactoid reactions following infusion with colloid volume substitutes].
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All available colloid volume substitutes carry the risk of anaphylactoid reactions with a total incidence of 0.033%. The frequency of life threatening reactions was 0.003% for plasma protein solutions, 0.006% for hydroxyethyl starch, 0.008% for dextran and 0.038% for gelatin solutions.
| 87,295
|
Management of postoperative constipation in anorectal surgery.
|
Fifty patients who had undergone proctologic operations were given a combination of standardized senna concentrate and dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate for prevention or treatment of postoperative constipation. Two Senokot S tablets were given on the evening of the first postoperative day. Patients who had bowel movements after receiving this dose and remained in the hospital received two tablets on each of the following two days. Otherwise, dosage was increased gradually to a maximum of four tablets twice daily until defecation occurred or until the four-day treatment period was over. All patients achieved bowel movements, and in no case was it necessary to administer an enema. No hard stools were passed on the day patients were discharged from the hospital. Overall results were excellent or good in 94 per cent of cases; these results were not affected by age. Ninety-two per cent had bowel movements after the first or second dose was administered. On the day of discharge from the hospital, fecal consistency was satisfactory in 88 per cent of cases and loose in 12 per cent. Except for a single instance of diarrhea after administration of one dose, which involved a patient with a history of loose stools, no side effect occurred during the trial. In view of these responses and the virtual absence of side effects in this study group, Senokot S tablets are judged to be of demonstrated value in the postoperative management of patients undergoing proctologic operations.
| 87,299
|
An optical scan system for encoding and tabulation of visually scored sleep data.
|
A system for computer-assisted encoding, tabulation and analysis of visually scored sleep data is presented. The main features of the system are: (1) The use of computer-readable optical scan sheets for direct encoding of the sleep data. This eliminates the need for a separate transcription and/or key-punching operation. (2) The development of a visually scored data base, organized by NREM and REM periods, which contains all items of visually scored data indexed by time and/or page of occurrence in the sleep record. The advantages of this new system are: (a) the low cost per night of operation; (b) the facilitation of analysis of cycle phenomena and testing of new hypotheses that would usually involve retabulation of the data; and (c) the facilitation of analysis of real-time correlates of visually scored sleep stages.
| 87,319
|
Sequential quantitative studies on hyperplastic nodules in the liver of rats treated with carcinogenic chemicals.
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Sequential quantitative analyses were made of hyperplastic liver nodules induced by treating male Fischer rats first with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and then with N-(2-fluorenyl)acetamide (2-FAA), alpha-isomer of 1,2-3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-BHC), or phenobarbital. The test rats were injected ip with 200 mg/kg body weight of DEN, given basal diet containing 2-FAA, alpha-BHC, or phenobarbital from week 2 to 12, and subjected to partial hepatectomy at the end of week 3. From week 6, significantly higher percentage areas of hyperplastic nodules per unit area of liver were found in all experimental groups than in the control group. From week 8, significantly more hyperplastic nodules were found in all experimental groups than in the control group. Continuous administration of alpha-BHC or phenobarbital for 12 weeks with partial hepatectomy did not induce hyperplastic nodules. Continuous administration of 2-FAA did induce hyperplastic nodules, but the percentage areas and number of these nodules were significantly lower than in rats injected with DEN and then given 2-FAA orally, with partial hepatectomy.
| 87,355
|
Neutralization kinetic studies with genital cytomegalovirus isolates, an antigenically variable group.
|
Antisera were prepared in rabbits against four low-passage genital isolates, and against two established strains of human cytomegalovirus. With these sera, and seven strains of virus, 42 virus-antisera combinations were examined by kinetic neutralization procedures, and NK-values derived. No evidence accrued indicating that the five genital isolates constituted an antigenically distinct group. The findings support the view that the human cytomegaloviruses are antigenically heterogeneous, with different strains reflecting an antigenic mosaic, the elements of which are present in varying amounts.
| 87,363
|
Apparent absence of virus-specific transplantation rejection antigen in herpes simplex virus-transformed hamster cells.
|
HSV-1 sensitized hosts were not resistant to challenge with small numbers of HSV-1 transformed cells. Virus immunization did not inhibit or enhance the incidence of tumour metastases.
| 87,369
|
Qualitative analysis of proteinuria associated with bladder cancer.
|
In the present investigation molecular components associated with the urines from bladder cancer patients and normal individuals are identified. Polyacrylamide gels of urines from bladder cancer, bladder papilloma, and normal individual exhibit clear differences in banding patterns. Urine from bladder cancer patients shows gels with increased quantities of low (less than 100,000) and increased and additional high (less than 100,000) molecular weight proteins when compared to gels with urine from papilloma and normal individuals. In order to localize and identify proteins in the urine from bladder cancer, papilloma, and normal individuals, proteins were separately fractionated on Sephadex G-200 columns and each elution fraction was reacted on Ouchterlony gel diffusion against various specific antisera. The qualitative analysis of proteins in urine from bladder cancer patients is discussed in relation to their molecular weight distribution in the Sephadex G-200 profiles and their possible role in tumor host relationships.
| 87,388
|
Evaluation of T and B lymphocytes in liver infiltrates of patients with chronic active hepatitis.
|
The proportions of T and B lymphocytes in the liver infiltrates of 23 patients with chronic active hepatitis have been determined. The results were compared with the values obtained from peripheral blood and with the presence of HB virus markers and alpha-fetoprotein in liver tissue. A group of patients with chronic liver disease other than chronic active hepatitis were studied as controls. In chronic active hepatitis the percentage of hepatic T cells was 49 +/- 8 SD (control patients 61 +/- 8) (P less than 0.01), whereas the percentage of B cells was 40 +/- 10 (control patients 18 +/- 8) (P less than 0.01). No correlation was observed between hepatic T and B cells and the presence of HB virus. The numbers of T cells in liver tissue was significantly higher, the numbers of B cells lower, in patients whose biopsies were positive for alpha-fetoprotein than in those whose biopsies were negative. In peripheral blood, only the patients with chronic active hepatitis and established cirrhosis presented lower absolute values of T cells, whereas surface immunoglobulin-positive lymphocytes were within the normal range.
| 87,402
|
Detection of bacterial phosphatase activity by means of an original and simple test.
|
A new test for the detection of bacterial phosphatase activity has been devised. The test is performed using agar media containing both methyl green (MG) and phenolphthalein diphosphate (PDP); in these media phosphatase-producing strains grow deep-green-stained colonies whereas non-producing strains do not. A total of 739 different strains were tested, including 593 staphylococci, 95 micrococci, 11 streptococci, 10 corynebacteria, 14 enterobacteria, and 16 candidae. All strains found phosphatase-positive according to the conventional phosphatase test displayed deep-green-stained colonies on MG-PDP media, whereas all phosphatase-negative strains showed unstained colonies on the same media. The main advantages of the present phosphatase test as compared with other conventional ones are that it is more simple to perform, it can reveal the phosphatase activity of colonies grown in deep agar, and can be incorporated into commercial multitest kits.
| 87,403
|
Antibodies to germinating and yeast cells of Candida albicans in human and rabbit sera.
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Two major antigenic components, I and II, were detected by double immunodiffusion in sonic extracts of the germinating (G) or yeast (Y) cells of the dimorphis organism, Candida albicans group A. Component I may be a heterogeneous mixture of antigens which are stable to heating and phenol. Component II is more homogeneous but is labile to heat and phenol. Rabbit antisera, showing only precipitin to component II or certain human sera at high dilution, were found to react with G cells to give an immunofluorescence which was confined to the germ tubes. This suggested that component II is localised on the germ tubes, whereas no immunofluorescent reaction against the yeast cells could be detected under the same conditions although component II was as readily extracted from these cells as from G cells. This suggested that component II might exist in a cryptic state in the Y cells. In support of the latter contention it was shown that live Y cells did not absorb precipitin to component II nor were they capable of providing these antibodies in rabbits. Using both human and rabbit sera, it was shown that the antigenic specificity of the immunofluorescence assay where Y cells were used was related to component I and that where G cells were used it was related to both components I and II.
| 87,404
|
A quantitative assay for experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the rat based on permeability of spinal cords to 125I-human gamma-globulin.
|
We have developed a quantitative assay for experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the rat based on permeability of the spinal cord to 125I-human gamma-globulin (HGG). This assay is highly reproducible and eliminates many of the drawbacks of assaying for EAE on the basis of clinical and/or histologic criteria. Using the assay, we have shown a direct correlation between onset of histologic changes in the spinal cord and onset of permeability changes in the spinal cord. No rat without histologic lesions manifest permeability alterations, and all rats with histologic lesions did manifest increased permeability to 125I-HGG. Furthermore, strains of rats susceptible to EAE demonstrated permeability changes, whereas resistant rats did not. In addition, we demonstrated by permeability and histologic criteria that guinea pig myelin basic protein emulsified with incomplete Freund's adjuvant is encephalitogenic in the Lewis rat. We also demonstrated that recipients of passive transfer of sensitized cells develop permeability changes along with histologic lesions. We conclude that measuring permeability to 125I-HGG in the spinal cords of rats is a valid assay for EAE, and its improves upon current indices of EAE in that it is readily quantifiable.
| 87,421
|
IgE-selective and antigen-specific unresponsiveness in mice. I. Induction of the unresponsiveness by administration of ovalbumin-pullulan conjugate.
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An experimental model was demonstrated in mice for the induction of IgE-selective unresponsiveness to ovalbumin, a protein antigen. An administration of ovalbumin, conjugated with pullulan, a linear polymer of glucose, (OA-pullulan) into mice resulted in the induction of a long lasting, IgE-selective unresponsiveness to the subsequent immunization with native OA in the form optimal to elicit IgE antibody response. The IgE-selective unresponsiveness is antigen specific and is infectious to normal mice by transferring the spleen cells from mice receiving OA-pullulan conjugate at least 2 weeks before. In contrast to other modified antigens, OA-pullulan was found to elicit good IgM and IgG antibody responses, but not an IgE response, without the aid of an adjuvant.
| 87,426
|
The expression of Ia antigenic determinants on macrophages required for the in vitro antibody response.
|
A subpopulation of antigen-presenting macrophages required for an in vitro antibody response to burro erythrocytes was deleted by pretreating the splenic macrophages with anti-Ia serum and complement (C). The in vitro response of the macrophage depleted T-B cell population could not be restored by the addition of macrophages resistant to anti-Ia antibodies and C (Ia-). The response of Ia- macrophages and the macrophage-depleted T-B cells was only reconstituted by the addition of Ia+ macrophages. Macrophages pretreated with anti-Ia antibodies restricted to react with determinants of one I subregion could not support the in vitro antibody response when added to cultures whose macrophages were pretreated with anti-Ia serum and C specific for the I-J subregion. These results confirmed that Ia determinants of the I-A, the I-E, and the I-C subregions were all expressed on the I-J+ macrophage required for an in vitro antibody response.
| 87,431
|
Immune suppression in vivo with antigen-modified syngeneic cells. II. T cell-mediated nonresponsiveness to fowl gamma-globulin.
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Intravenous administration of syngeneic spleen cells coupled with the palmitoyl derivative of fowl gammma-globulin (p-F gamma G) results in a profound state of F gamma G-specific tolerance in C57BL/6 mice. Administration of p-F gamma G coupled syngeneic cells specifically reduces both the primary and secondary hapten and carrier-specific PFC responses to TNP-F gamma G. Since the haptenic response is affected, the tolerance functions at the level of the F gamma G-specific helper T cell. As few as 10(3) p-F gamma G spleen cells carrying only 1 ng of p-F gamma G can induce tolerance. At least a 2-day-induction period is required. This nonresponsiveness is long lived, lasting over 120 days. Spleen cells from tolerized mice can transfer suppression to normal syngeneic recipients. Treatment of tolerant spleens with anti-Thy 1.2 antiserum + C eliminates the suppressor cell activity. In addition, thymocytes and purified splenic T cells from tolerized mice can transfer suppression to normal recipients. Thus, at least a component of this nonresponsiveness is mediated by suppressor T cells. The requirement of antigen association with cell membrane components and the general applicability of this method of inducing T cell nonresponsiveness are discussed.
| 87,447
|
Slow reacting substance (SRS) from ionophore A23187-stimulated peritoneal mast cells of the normal rat. I. Conditions of generation and initial characterization.
|
When rat peritoneal mast cells were exposed to the ionophore A23187, a principle was released that possessed the biologic properties of slow reacting substance (SRS) from various sources. The response was dose, time, and temperature dependent with no activity being demonstrated in unstimulated cells. Supporting evidence that the mast cell product was similar or identical to SRS obtained from other sources include: 1) appropriate differential bioassay profile, 2) resistance to lipolysis and proteolysis, 3) acid lability and base stability, 4) inactivation by limpet arylsulfatase, and 5) inhibition by low concentrations FPL 55712. These data demonstrate that the isolated rat peritoneal mast cell contains the biosynthetic capacity to produce a bioreactive substance with the properties of SRS.
| 87,453
|
Regulation of IgE antibody production by serum molecules. V. Evidence that coincidental sensitization and imbalance in the normal damping mechanism results in "allergic breakthrough".
|
Experiments presented in this paper were designed to test a new concept concerning the possible pathogenesis of the allergic phenotype. This concept, termed "allergic breakthrough" considers that one of the avenues toward the allergic phenotype involves coincidental sensitization combined with an imbalance in the normal damping mechanism that serves to limit IgE antibody production. The three predictions of this concept that can be tested experimentally are: 1) manipulations that are effective in heightening or re-establishing the damping mechanism should manifest persistence insofar as IgE antibody synthesis to the relevant allergen is concerned; 2) once allergic breakthrough has occurred, the height of production of IgE antibodies specific for the sensitizing agent should remain elevated at levels characteristic of the allergic phenotype, even after the threshold of damping activity has returned to a normal level; and 3) allergic breakthrough should display specificity in that breakthrough would occur in response to subsequent exposure to the specific antigen to which coincidental sensitization initially occurred, but not for other unrelated antigens. The studies presented herein confirm each one of these predictions, thereby providing substantial support for the validity of this concept as one possible distinguishing feature between individuals manifesting the nonallergic and allergic phenotypes, respectively.
| 87,455
|
Binding studies with antibodies having phosphorylcholine specificity and fragments derived from their homologous Streptococcus pneumoniae type 27 capsular polysaccharide.
|
The capsular polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae type 27 (S-27) has been fragmented into oligosaccharides by controlled degradations. Binding of these derived small ligands with heterogeneous rabbit anti-S-27 antibody of selected phosphorylcholine affinity indicates that a major immunodeterminant of S-27 is the phosphorylcholine moiety, but that these anti-PC. antibodies are also capable of binding to the polysaccharide backbone from which the P.C. has been removed.
| 87,460
|
Neoantigen of the complement membrane attack complex of cytotoxic human peripheral blood lymphocytes.
|
Neoantigenic determinants (neoAg) specific for the assembling membrane attack complex (MAC) of complement were detected by immunofluorescence microscopy on the surface of cytotoxic lymphocytes during the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) reaction. This study employed antibody-sensitized chicken erythrocytes as target cells, human peripheral blood lymphocytes as effector cells, and RITC-conjugated rabbit F(ab')2-anti-neoAg. NeoAg was present on 60% of ADCC plaque-forming lymphocytes (PFL). Eight out of 182 neoAg-positive PFL were observed in direct contact with their target cells. In these cases MAC-specific neoAg was visualized at the zone of contact between the cells. Anti-neoAg Ig was found to inhibit ADCC plaque assays up to 62%; and 51Cr-release assays up to 79%. Stimulation of lymphocytes by PHA or mixed lymphocyte culture increased the expression of neoAg. In the case of PHA, increased neoAg expression was correlated with an increased incorporation of 14C-leucine into C5, C6, C7, and C8 antigens, which was detected by immunodiffusion and autoradiography.
| 87,461
|
Different D end-dependent antigenic determinants are recognized by H-2-restricted cytotoxic T cells specific for influenza and Bebaru viruses.
|
Two different BALB/c anti-CBA (H-2k)monoclonal antibodies that bind to Kk and Dk antigens blocked Tc cell-mediated lysis of L929 (Kk, Dk) target cells, but with quite different specificity. One antibody (30R3) powerfully blocked Kk-specific lysis mediated by alloreactive or Kk-restricted Tc cells immune to ectromelia, Sendai, or influenza viruses. The other antibody (27R9) blocked these anti-Kk Tc cells much less than 30R3, but in contrast, 27R9 blocked anti-Dk lysis much more than 30R3. Most importantly, 27R9 strongly blocked Dk-restricted anti-influenza Tc cells, but did not significantly block Dk-restricted anti-Bebaru (BEB) lysis. This result indicated that different H-2 determinants coded in the D end of H-2k were recognized by influenza-and BEB-immune Tc cells. These determinants may be carried on two different molecules coded by the H-2D and H-2L loci, but other possibilities are not yet excluded.
| 87,489
|
Histochemical change of the endothelial basal lamina of the diabetic lymphatic vessel.
|
Electron micrsocopic periodic acid methenamine silver staining of lymphatic endothelial basal lamina taken from diabetic patient has shown a positively changed basal lamina, which is an early sign of the changes and plays an important role in pathological tissue changes in the disease.
| 87,546
|
Oral versus intravenous high-dose steroid treatment of renal allograft rejection. The big shot or not?
|
50 episodes of renal allograft rejection were treated by oral prednisolone and 49 by intravenous methylprednisolone. Both treatments achieved reversal of rejection in approximately 60% of episodes. Morbidity-rates, as assessed by hypertension, oliguria, fluid retention, and infection, tended to be greater after oral treatment. When the results were reexamined for accelerated, acute, and chronic rejection episodes the only difference demonstrated was an increased frequency of fluid retention in patients treated by oral prednisolone for an acute rejection episode. There was no evidence that intravenous methylprednisolone was nephrotoxic.
| 87,551
|
Improvement in iron status and liver function in patients with transfusional iron overload with long-term subcutaneous desferrioxamine.
|
Subcutaneous desferrioxamine (2--4 g over 12 h) was administered 6 nights each week to 34 patients with transfusional iron overloads who continued to receive regular blood-transfusions. All 34 patients showed a fall in serum-ferritin after 5 to 12 months. In some patients serum-ferritin fell almost to normal. Liver function improved in all the patients, serum-aspartate-transaminase levels fell in all 17 patients tested, and liver-iron fell in 5 of 6 patients tested. These studies show that body-iron stores can be substantially reduced, to normal or near normal levels, by long-term subcutaneous desferrioxamine in patients with transfusional iron overload despite the need for continued blood-transfusion. They also show that removal of iron is accompanied by improved organ function.
| 87,616
|
Inhibition of sebum excretion by an H2 blocker.
|
Cimetidine, 1g orally per day, partially inhibited sebum excretion in patients with acne. Whether this was the result of H2-receptor blockade or an antiandrogen action is unknown.
| 87,835
|
Postgraduate examinations for general practice in Canada and the United Kingdom.
|
The membership examination of the Royal College of General Practitioners (M.R.C.G.P.) emphasises factual knowledge, and it is suggested that a clinical component should be included, perhaps using simulated patients as in the certificate examination of the Canadian College of Family Physicians (C.C.F.P.).
| 87,898
|
Effect of double infection of cowpox virus-infected cells with paramyxovirus (Sendai virus) on formation of cowpox virus-specific cell surface antigen.
|
The formation of cowpox virus-specific cell surface antigen (CPV S-ag) was significantly enhanced by double infection with HVJ (Sendai virus). Simultaneous double infection, superinfection with HVJ and superinfection with CPV of cells persistently infected with HVJ similarly enhanced the formation of CPV S-ag, while pre-infection with HVJ was ineffective. To be effective, cells must be infected at a m.o.i. of greater than or equal to 1.0 and HVJ gene functions had to be expressed. The HVJ-infected cell extracts had an ability to accelerate uncoating (or degradation) of CPV, causing an early increase and a subsequent decrease in the infectivity of CPV. This activity reached a maximum 4--6 hr after HVJ infection, the increase paralleling enhancement of the total activity of several cellular enzymes. Addition of puromycin abolished the increase of these activities and the formation of CPV S-ag. Thus, the double infection with HVJ of CPV-infected cells induces an enhancement of CPV S-ag formation presumably as a consequence of activation of cellular enzymes which in turn accelerates uncoating of CPV.
| 88,002
|
Isoprinosine in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
|
An open therapeutic trial of isoprinosine was conducted in 15 patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). Long-term remissions occurred in 5 (33 percent), with documented improvement sustained for 2 or more years. Another patient was in remission 9 months after starting treatment, and three patients had transient remissions or stabilization. The disease was unaltered in five patients who had rapidly progressive SSPE when treatment started. These results compare with an average remission rate of about 5 percent in several series of untreated cases of SSPE or in cases treated with other antiviral agents. Patients in remission continued to have elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IgG and measles antibody titers, with one exception. Isoprinosine was tolerated for several years without side effects, except for mild hyperuricemia.
| 88,024
|
Surface mapping of mouse thymocytes.
|
The blocking method used previously for determining the relative positions of different components of the cell surface was modified by first fixing the cells with paraformaldehyde. This technique was applied to the H-2K (K), H-2D (D), TL, Lyt-1, and Lyt-2 surface components of mouse thymocytes, and the results were compared in parallel with data obtained with the original technique with unfixed cells. Previous mapping data with unfixed cells, indicating the positions of these molecules relative to one another, were confirmed with paraformaldehyde-fixed cells, with one exception. On unfixed cells, D and TL appeared sufficiently adjacent to produce mutual interference in the attachment of anti-D and anti-TL antibodies. With paraformaldehyde-fixed cells this was not so, D and TL appearing sufficiently separated from one another to obviate interference in the attachment of anti-D and anti-TL antibodies. The previously reported close association of K with Lyt-1 and of D with Lyt-2 were demonstrable equally with unfixed and paraformaldehyde-fixed thymocytes. It is suggested that activation of D sites, and alternatively of TL sites, by antibody in the present experiments brings these two molecules into apposition and that this movement may exemplify a mechanism concerned in immunological recognition and response.
| 88,052
|
[Clinico-morphological characteristics of latent form of prostatic cancer].
|
36 cases of cancer of the prostate, diagnosed at the histological study of the tissue removed during adenomectomy, have been studied. The most common from is a highly differentiated adenocarcinoma with a well developed parenchyma. Elastic consistency and smooth surface of the tumors make difficult their clinical, diagnosis. As compared to other forms of prostatic cancer, these tumors are characterized by a more favourable clinical course and prognosis.
| 88,120
|
Peroperative fat staining of frozen sections in primary hyperparathyroidism.
|
Roth and Gallaher recently described a fat staining method for rapid peroperative differentiation between parathyroid adenoma and chief cell hyperplasia. They used Sudan IV in a solution of ethanol and acetone. This solution, however, was found to cause a considerable dissolution of small lipid droplets from the tissue; in our hands sections stained with this technique were diffcult to interpret. To diminish the loss of fat from the tissue, we have used a modification of Lillie's supersaturated ispropanol method with oil red O. This method gave a deeper staining and increased the difference between hyperfunctioning and unnivolved parathyroid tissue with respect to the amount of stainable lipid in the chief cells. It was found to be a valuable supplement, adding a functional dimension to the structural interpretation of the tissue, and it facilitated the peroperative distinction between ademona and hyperplasia. The pattern of lipid distribution within the glands from patients with nodular hyperplasia suggests that the compact nodules of such glands are autonomously hyperfunctioning, whereas the intervening parts of the parenchyma are more or less responsive to the serum calcium level.
| 88,183
|
Lidocaine (without epinephrine) does not affect the fine structure or microtubules of the trigeminal nerve in vivo.
|
The authors examined the fine structure and microtubules of unmyelinated axons and Schwann cells in the infraorbital branch of rat trigeminal nerve 1, 3.5 and 24 hours after intraneural injection of lidocaine HC1, 1--4 per cent, 0.2 ml, or saline solution, 0.2 ml; untreated control nerves were also examined. These concentrations of lidocaine are more than sufficient to block impulse conduction and rapid axonal transport in rat infraorbital nerve, but contrary to previous reports, significant structural change was not found as compared with control nerves.
| 88,193
|
Automotive exhaust and mouse activity: relationships between pollutant concentrations and decreases in wheel running.
|
Groups of male and female mice inhaled either clean air, 100 ppm carbon monoxide, or light-irradiated and nonirradiated automotive exhaust containing nominally 25, 50, 75, or 100 ppm carbon monoxide in three tests with exposure lasting from 4 to 7 days. Exhaust from a factory or lean-tuned engine in the first and third tests reversibly suppressed activity wheel running during exposure in mice of both sexes by as much as 78.3 and 83.1%, respectively. Light-irradiated exhaust suppressed running more than nonirradiated exhaust. For the second test, when the engine was tuned to be low in pollutants other than carbon monoxide, exhaust did not suppress running. Exposure to carbon monoxide alone only slightly decreased running in male mice, but increased running in female mice.
| 88,208
|
Specific uptake and retrograde flow of antibody to dopamine-beta-hydroxylase by central nervous system noradrenergic neurons in vivo.
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This study sought to determine whether the administration in vivo of antibody to dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (AD beta H) is taken up by central noradrenergic neurons and transported by retrograde flow to the cell bodies of origin. AD beta H serum or preimmune serum (control) in volumes of 1--20 microliter were stereotaxically injected into the lateral ventricle. Rats were sacrificed at times ranging from 1 h to 8 days. Cryostat sections were stained with fluorescein conjugated IgG. After 24 h, a bilateral granular fluorescence was seen only in neuronal cell bodies corresponding to noradrenergic cell groups A1--A7 with the most intense fluorescence localized within perikarya and processes of the locus coeruleus (A6) and subcoeruleus. This technique also permitted the visualization of the ascending dorsal and ventral noradrenergic bundles as well as varicose fibers and terminals in a pattern identical to that reported with histofluorescence, autoradiographic, biochemical and classical immunofluorescence techniques for the identification of noradrenergic fiber distributions. At 3 and 6 h, the first detectable fluorescence was observed in forebrain noradrenergic terminals and in fibers of the dorsal and ventral noradrenergic bundles. At 10 h fluorescent varicosities were first visualized within the caudal dorsal bundle and some cytoplasmic fluorescent particles were seen within locus coeruleus cell bodies. After 18 h locus coeruleus and subcoeruleus cell bodies were heavily stained, whereas medullary noradrenergic cell groups and nerve fibers were not labeled until after 24 h. An intense locus coeruleus fluorescence remained for 3 days and was completely absent after 6 days. Bilateral transection of the dorsal noradrenergic bundle in the rostral mesencephalon, at the time of injection, effectively blocked the retrograde transport of fluorescing material to the locus coeruleus. The overall staining pattern suggests that, in vivo, central noradrenergic fibers are capable of taking up antibody to dopamine-beta-hydroxylase. The ability of a dorsal bundle transection to abolish locus coeruleus staining, as well as the time course of AD beta H staining in noradrenergic neurons, suggests that AD beta H is transported via a rapid retrograde flow process. This technique combines retrograde transport of a marker protein with the sensitivity and specificity of immunocytochemical procedures to provide a new tool for the neuroanatomical study of neurotransmitter systems.
| 88,246
|
In vitro synthesis of a 9 kbp terminally redundant DNA carrying the infectivity of Moloney murine leukemia virus.
|
Detergent-disrupted virions of Moloney murine leukemia virus synthesize a 9 kbp double-stranded infectious DNA. It contains mainly full-length, single-stranded DNA, and its infectivity and size are insensitive to digestion by the single-strand-specific S1 nuclease. Analysis of fragmentation of the DNA using restriction endonucleases has shown that it is indistinguishable from the linear double-stranded DNA synthesized in infected cells. On the basis of the positions of the cleavage sites for a number of enzymes, the 9 kbp DNA has a 575 base direct terminal repetition. It is longer than the viral RNA at both ends, evidently due to repetitive copying of segments of the RNA. Virions also synthesize an 8.4 kbp double-stranded circular DNA that lacks one copy of the terminal repetition, as well as viral DNA longer than 9 kbp. The enzymatic machinery in the virions of retroviruses therefore appears to be responsible for all the steps involved in making fully double-stranded linear and one form of circular DNA.
| 88,264
|
Hepatic function assessed (in rats) during chemotherapy with some anti-cancer drugs.
|
Using rats, we studied how best to assess hepatic damage after administering therapeutic doses of each of five anti-cancer drugs or of the hepatotoxin, carbon tetrachloride. As indexes, we compared measurement of the concentration of administered antipyrine in plasma with measurement in serum of alpha-fetoprotein or of the activities of five enzymes that reportedly best reflect hepatic damage. The biological half-life of antipyrine in the plasma was increased more than threefold on pretreating the rats with any of the five cytotoxic drugs or with carbon tetrachloride. In contrast, the concentrations of alpha-fetoprotein, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, or glutamate dehydrogenase were not consistently increased. Of the enzymes tested in serum, aspartate aminotransferase and ornithine carbamoyltransferase best indicated hepatic impairment resulting from the treatment with anti-cancer drugs. Our results imply that determination of the pharmacokinetics of marker drugs such as antipyrine better indicates hepatic dysfunction induced by cytotoxic agents than does measurement of the enzymes liberated into serum as a result of damage to liver mitochondria.
| 88,282
|
T antigen banding on chromosomes of simian virus 40 infected muntjac cells.
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Chromosomes were prepared from mitotic munjac cells 48 to 72 h after infection with SV40 virus. When stained for SV40 T antigen by indirect immunofluorescence, all chromosomes within an infected cell were fluorescent, indicating the presence of T antigen. Furthermore, the chromosomes were not uniformly stained but appeared to have regions of high and low fluorescence intensity. A variety of controls showed that the banding patterns are specific and highly reproducible and may indeed reflect the binding sites of T antigen. The bright, fluorescent bands T antigen were found to correspond to bands visualized by trypsin-Giesma staining (G-bands) and also by quinacrine staining (Q-bands). Current knowledge of chromosome banding indicates that Q-bands reflect the distribution of AT-rich regions along the chromosome. From the DNA sequence of SV40, it is known that one of the T antigen binding sites contains AT-rich sequences; thus, T antigen banding might be due to the base-specific binding of T antigen to chromatin. In addition, these bands have been implicated as centers for chromosome condensation and units in control of DNA replication. While the functional significance of T antigen binding has yet to be determined, the SV40-muntjac system provides an unusual opportunity to study the interaction of a known regulatory protein with mammalian chromosomes.
| 88,306
|
Light microscope analysis of meiotic prophase chromosomes by silver staining.
|
A method is described for the silver staining of the synaptonemal complex in surface-spread mammalian spermatocytes for light microscope examination. The method is quick, reliable, of broad applicability, and provides a means of making karyotype analysis at meiotic prophase. Many hundreds of suitable cells can be examined in an average preparation in a relatively short space of time. It has so far been applied only to mammalian spermatocytes, but could be used for karyotype analysis in oocytes of mammals and also applied to gonocytes of non-mammalian species.
| 88,315
|
Changes in seizure susceptibility, sleep time and sleep spindles following thalamic and cerebellar lesions.
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The present experiment attempted to clarify conflicting evidence on the relationship of sleep spindles to seizure activation. Seizure thresholds were calculated in minutes post-injection following IP administration of the convulsant drug monomethylhydrazine (MMH) to cats with lesions intended to alter the occurrence of spontaneous 12-15 c/sec sleep spindles recorded from sensorimotor cortex. Twelve cats with bilateral cortical and subcortical recording electrodes were divided into 3 groups receiving electrolytic lesions in the dentate nucleus (group I), the ventrobasal (VB) thalamus (group II), or in one of various 'control' regions (group III). Lesion sites in group III animals avoided primary afferent pathways to VB thalamus, destruction of which has been found to enhance sleep spindle activity, and included cerebellar white matter and ventral pontine tegmentum. Prior to the MMH trials, baseline EEGs were obtained during pre- and post-lesion conditions. Following the MMH trial, lesions were verified histologically. Results of the MMH trial revealed that animals with dentate and ventrobasal thalamic lesions showed elevated seizure thresholds and slow wave sleep times relative to their own pre-lesion EEG baselines and to the pre- and post-lesion baselines of control animals. Furthermore, an increased incidence of sleep spindles was associated with dentate lesions while animals with ventrobasal thalamic lesions showed a shift in frequency from 8-11 c/sec to 12-15 c/sec activity during that state. These findings are compatible with the view that sleep spindles do not facilitate seizure activation and may, in fact, exert a protective influence.
| 88,323
|
Analogue analyser for on-line eye movement detection.
|
A system of single movement detection is obtained by discriminating the velocities and orientations of eye ball displacements. The orthogonal components of eye velocity (Vx and Vy) are generated from the horizontal (X) and the vertical (Y) components of the movements by means of two derivative circuits and the velocity modulus (V) is generated through a vector operator from Vx and Vy. The onset and end of individual movements are detected on the basis of a preselected V, Vx or Vy threshold and, for every movement thus identified, the integral function of V(t), Vx(t) or Vy(t), characteristic of the type of movement, is generated in such a way that its final value represents ball displacement.
| 88,325
|
Derivation of reliable electromyograms and their relation to tension in mammalian skeletal muscles during synchronous stimulation.
|
There exists a good correlation between the measured electrical activities and isometric twitch tension in the cat soleus muscle during synchronous stimulation. For an unbiased sampling of electrical activities by averaging a number of electromyograms over the muscle concerned, a relation of the form E = 0.98T + 5.35 has been established. It is hoped that this relation will prove valuable in clinical application where EMGs are used. Electrode types for EMG pick-up differ in terms of the signal recorded due to the difference in the spatial and temporal addition of individual motor unit firing and the constructional difference of the electrodes. Fine wire pairs are the best for linearity and ease of application. Whe surface electrodes are used because of their non-invasive nature, care must be exercised to established the exact relation between EMG and tension. EMG recordings from different sites within a muscle show considerable variation. A more reliable measure can be obtained by external averaging of multiple pairs of electrodes.
| 88,333
|
Alpha and beta coma in drug intoxication uncomplicated by cerebral hypoxia.
|
Four patients who were rendered comatose or stuporous by drug intoxication, but who were not hypoxic, are described. Three patients received high doses of chlormethiazole for alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and one took a suicidal overdose of nitrazepam. The patient with nitrazepam overdose and two of those with chlormethiazole intoxication conformed to the criteria of 'alpha coma', showing non-reactive generalized or frontally predominant alpha activity in the EEG. The fourth patient who was unconscious after chlormethiazole administration exhibite generalized non-reactive activity in the slow beta range. All four recovered completely without neurological sequelae following the withdrawal of the offending agents. The similarities between the effects of structural lesions and pharmacological depression of the brain stem reticular formation are discussed. It is suggested that in both situations disturbed reticulo-thalamic interactions are important in the pathogenesis of alpha coma. It is concluded that when this electroencephalographic and behavioural picture is seen in drug intoxication, in the absence of significant hypoxaemia, a favourable outcome may be anticipated.
| 88,336
|
Inhibition in penicillin-induced epileptic foci.
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A previous study indicated that the early surface negative component (associated with recurrent inhibition) of the evoked potential recorded from cat pericruciate cortex, subsequent to pyramidal tract stimulation, was altered after application of penicillin to the cortical surface (Van Duijn et al. 1973). This suggested that decreased effectiveness of recurrent inhibition might be the basis for epileptogenicity of penicillin. To verify that recurrent inhibition is functionally decreased in the penicillin epileptic focus and to assess alternative sites for penicillin action, this phenomenon was investigated at the cellular level. Neurons were recorded extracellularly and response to stimuli monitored throughout the transition from normal cortex to epileptogenic cortex. Stimuli employed were peduncular stimulation (to test recurrent inhibitory pathways), epicortical stimulation (to test inhibitory pathways, bypassing the recurrent collateral system), and forepaw footpad shock (to test the responsiveness ofneurons to afferent input). In normal cortex, PT cells were inhibited by peduncular or epicortical stimulation and excited by forepaw stimulation, with the excitation followed by a period of inhibition. In the penicillin focus, inhibition was not observed in response to any of the 3 stimuli, and the excitatory response to forepaw stimulation was maintained. The bursting non-PT cells, most likely candidates for interneurons, exhibited excitation in response to peduncular and epicortical stimulation, consistent with involvement in inhibitory pathways. Nonetheless, in the penicillin focus, excitatory response to peduncular and epicortical stimulation was maintained. Excitatory response to forepaw stimulation was also maintained in the penicillin focus. The results demonstrate a loss of effectiveness of recurrent inhibition measured at the PT cell body in the penicillin focus. Further, the reduction in inhibitory feedback occurs in conjunction with maintained or enhanced excitability of the neurons which are most likely candidates for inhibitory interneurons. Thus, penicillin is most likely exerting its effect at the inhibitory synapses onto PT cells in the cortex, thereby allowing excitatory input to have greater influence on neuronal firing.
| 88,338
|
Aminopyridine-induced seizure activity.
|
Typical seizure activity can be induced by applying 3-aminopyridine to the surface of the cat cortex. The well known characteristics of epileptiform discharges were readily observed by simultaneous recording from both the surface and deeper layers.
| 88,349
|
[Results of long-lasting drug intake on child development; clinical and electrophysiological study during drug withdrawal].
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The case of a child under continuous anticonvulsant medication, especially barbiturate, since the age of 8 months for atypical seizures is reported. Medication was withdrawn when the child was 7.7 years old. The child was then under care in a Day Hospital with an autistic-like syndrome associated with important disturbances of sleep-waking regulation, complete learning incapability and major EEG abnormalities. The EEG paroxysmal discharges observed in the waking and all-night sleep records gradually decreased and then disappeared as the withdrawal was pursued over a period of several months. During the same period, the child's behaviour markedly improved and his sleep disturbances disappeared. The possibility of iatrogenic effects of early and continuous anti-convulsant therapies is discussed, even though the drug plasma levels remain within ranges generally considered as non-toxic.
| 88,363
|
Kinetic complexity of nuclear poly(A)-containing RNA in normal and regenerating rat liver.
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Poly(A)-containing RNA isolated from liver nuclei of untreated rats and 3 h or 12 h after partial hepatectomy or sham operation was hybridized to the complementary DNAs (cDNAs). In the homologous reactions two major components could be seen. When compared to normal liver, the complexity of the least abundant class was lower in nuclei from livers 3 h after partial hepatectomy and was higher in those isolated 12 h after operation. The heterologous reactions revealed an increase of some abundant poly(A)-containing sequences and a loss or dilution of rare sequences 3 h after operation. The latter effect was not specific to the regeneration process but occurred after laparotomy as well. 12 h after partial hepatectomy, however, about 10% new poly(A)-containing sequences were detected, corresponding to about 5000 molecules of 4500 nucleotides length, which are unique to regenerating nuclei.
| 88,367
|
[Effect of procaine on the loss of erythrocyte phospholipids during blood preservation in ACD-AG-stabilizer].
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The phospholipid changes of erythrocytes were investigated following the storage under blood bank conditions up to 42 days (ACD-AG-stabilisator) without and with addition of procaine (25 mM). The phospholipid loss of erythrocytes is described as two-step occurrence. The rapid decrease in the first three days is followed by a further loss up to the end of the storage period. The concomitant increase of phospholipid fractions of supernatant shows that the erythrocyte membranes lose their phospholipids mainly by a passive way. For the further loss of phospholipids the action of a phospholipase A is adopted. The addition of procaine hinders strongly the phospholipid loss of erythrocytes. The clinical importance of these procaine action is shortly discussed.
| 88,385
|
Serum protein polymorphisms in a village community from the Gambia, West Africa (Hp, Tf, and Gc).
|
Serum samples from 857 inhabitants of the village of Keneba, The Gambia, West Africa, were examined by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In 203 cases no haptoglobin could be detected, whilst in the remaining 654 samples the three common haptoglobin phenotypes were found with gene frequencies of 0.651 (Hp1) and 0.349 (Hp2). The D1 transferrin variant gene was found with a frequency of 0.025. In the serum Gc system the fast variant Gc-Ab was detected, the gene frequencies being: Gc1, 0.943; Gc2, 0.044; and GcAb, 0.013.
| 88,407
|
Nucleolar organizing regions of human chromosomes.
|
Silver-stained cells from 49 parents with a history of several abortions were compared with cells from 35 parents with normal liveborn children. The modal and mean number of silver-stained NORs (Ag-NORs) observed on D- or G-group chromosomes was similar in both groups and between males and females. Ag-NORs were randomly distributed on all five acrocentric pairs. The distribution and size of Ag-NORs within an individual was not random and was fairly consistent from cell to cell. The mean number of associations per cell was similar in both males and females of the abortion group and was less than the number of associations in controls. The probability of D- or G-group chromosomes being associated was near the expected probability of 0.6 for D-association and 0.4 for G-association. The frequency of association of any chromosome combination did not differ statistically from the expected values, though the number of associations, 15/22, was higher than expected.
| 88,410
|
Localization of the nucleolar organizer by computer-aided analysis of a variant no. 21 in a human isolate.
|
A variant chromosome no. 21 consisting of two stalks and two satellites in tandem was detected during a survey of a human isolate. The variant segregated in three generations of a large kindred. One male had the variant no. 21, a metacentric Y, and a 47,XXY complement; however, no other evidence of chromosomal nondisjunction was found. Computer-aided analysis of sequentially stained variant no. 21 chromosomes indicated that silver-stained material corresponded to the proximal stalk region (as defined by Giemsa), but often covered both the distal stalk and satellite (also as defined by Giemsa). These data support the hypothesis that human nucleolar organizers are localized to the stalks of acrocentric chromosomes.
| 88,411
|
[Cancer en cuirasse, induced by a malignant mixed salivary gland tumor].
|
A case of cancer en cuirasse is reported, deriving from a metastasizing malignant mixed tumor of the lacrimal gland. Based on histological criteria, the primary benigne prognosis of mixed tumors of lacrimal glands is discussed. According to sensitivity testing to cytostatic agents treatment with 375 mg of bleomycin achieved a recurrence-free interval of eight months. Pathogenesis of secondary effects are discussed (so-drug-induced called bleomycin-lung).
| 88,426
|
Aldehyde-fuchsin: historical and chemical considerations.
|
The staining mechanisms of Gomori's aldehyde-fuchsin are not yet fully understood. It seemed therefore timely to review the history of this dye class in context with current dye and aldehyde chemistry. In 1861 Lauth treated basic fuchsin with acetaldehyde. This dye became known as Aldehyde Blue, but consisted of violet and blue dyes. Schiff (1866) studied several aldehyde-fuchsins; these compounds contained two molecules of dye and three molecules of aldehyde. Acetaldehyde-fuchsin prepared according to Schiff's directions showed staining properties similar to those of Gomori's aldehyde-fuchsin. This dye class was soon superseded by new dyes more suitable for textile dyeing, and chemical investigations of aldehyde-fuchsins ceased around the turn of the century. Gomori's aldehyde-fuchsin has been regarded as a Schiff base. However, according to chemical data, low molecular aliphatic aldehydes and aromatic amines tend to form condensation products. Correlations of chemical and histochemical observations suggest such processes during aging of dye solutions. Models of dimers and polymers of aldehyde-fuchsin could be built without steric hindrance. The nature of the bonds formed by various components of aldehyde-fuchsin solutions is not clear. However, cystine in proteins, e.g. in basement membranes, apparently does not play a role in the binding of aldehyde-fuchsin by unoxidized Carnoy- or methacarn-fixed sections.
| 88,428
|
New maltose Blu mutations in Escherichia coli K-12.
|
Mutations in the genes pgi, pfkA, and ptsG resulted in a maltose Blu phenotype in Escherichia coli K-12, bringing the number of known Blu alleles to six. The Blu phenotype, as visualized by staining with iodine vapor, is a convenient mutant isolation technique.
| 88,439
|
What makes a difference in learning from media.
|
Media design and selection decisions are often made solely on the basis of how information is to be delivered to the learner. With reference to recent and current research, this paper stresses the need to base such decisions on the compatibility of media with the content to be presented and with the learners. Application of these factors in the design of mediated instruction and the selection of materials is also considered.
| 88,441
|
Epithelioid cell cultures from rat small intestine. Characterization by morphologic and immunologic criteria.
|
Rat small intestinal epithelial cell lines have been established in vitro and subcultured serially for periods up to 6 mo. These cells have an epithelioid morphology, grow as monolayers of closely opposed polygonal cells, and during the logarithmic phase of growth have a population doubling time of 19--22 h. Ultrastructural studies revealed the presence of microvilli, tight junctions, an extensive Golgi complex, and the presence of extracellular amorphous material similar in appearance to isolated basement membrane. These cells exhibit a number of features characteristic of normal cells in culture; namely, a normal rat diploid karyotype, strong density inhibition of growth, lack of growth in soft agar, and a low plating efficiency when seeded at low density. They did not produce tumors when injected in syngeneic animals. Immunochemical studies were performed to determine their origin using antisera prepared against rat small intestinal crypt cell plasma membrane, brush border membrane of villus cells and isolated sucrase-isomaltase complex. Antigenic determinants specific for small intestinal epithelial (crypt and villus) cells were demonstrated on the surface of the epithelioid cells, but they lacked immunological determinants specific for differentiated villus cells. An antiserum specifically staining extracellular material surrounding the cells cultured in vitro demonstrated cross-reactivity to basement membrane in rat intestinal frozen sections. It is concluded that the cultured epithelioid cells have features of undifferentiated small intestinal crypt cells.
| 88,453
|
Antibodies detectable by counterimmunoelectrophoresis against Bacteroides antigens in serum of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
|
Heat-extracted antigens from seven species of Bacteroides were used in passive hemagglutination and counterimmunoelectrophoretic tests. Sera from 87 normal persons (group I) and 15 patients with ulcerative colitis (group II) were of low and equal reactivity in passive hemagglutination tests; all positive tests were eliminated by 2-mercaptoethanol reduction of the sera. When these same sera were tested by counterimmunoelectrophoresis with six of the Bacteroides antigens, no significant difference in the percentage of positive reactions was noted. However, using the chi-square test, the seventh antigen, prepared from Bacteroides vulgatus, successfully distinguished the two populations at the 0.025 level. Counterimmunoelectrophoretic tests with the B. vulgatus antigen also provided a means to separate the patients in group II with active disease from those in remission at a P value of 0.01. All the sera from 12 patients with defined Crohn's disease activity indexes reacted with the B. vulgatus antigen in counterimmunoelectrophoretic tests. Reduction and alkylation of patient sera with 2-mercaptoethanol and iodoacetamide removed detectable antibody in 78% of the samples, which suggested a dominant role of immunoglobulin M in the response to Bacteroides antigens.
| 88,458
|
The clinical significance of autoantibodies to a soluble cytoplasmic antigen in systemic lupus erythematosus and other connective tissue diseases.
|
Seventy-two patients were studied whose sera contained antibodies to a cytoplasmic antigen, RO. The majority had clinical features typical of systemic lupus erythematosus and there appeared to be an overlap with Sjögren's syndrome. Of interest is that certain patients with lupus respond predominantly to cytoplasmic antigens and in some cases were ANA negative. Demonstration of this system is important in enlarging the serologic spectrum characteristic of SLE patients, and also may be an important marker for systemic disease in patients with predominantly cutaneous involvement.
| 88,520
|
Patterns of inflammation in prostatic hyperplasia: a histologic and bacteriologic study.
|
In a series of 162 cases of surgically resected hyperplastic prostates the incidence of inflammation is 98.1%. Six morphologic patterns of inflammation are described: 1) segregated glandular inflammation, 2) periglandular inflammation, 3) diffuse stromal inflammation, 4) isolated stromal lymphoid nodules, 5) acute necrotizing inflammation and 6) focal granulomatous inflammation. The most common pattern, segregated glandular inflammation, is characterized by intraluminal neutrophils and foamy macrophages and by chronic inflammatory cells in the surrounding stroma. No significant morphological differences are found among groups of cases with positive and negative evidence by culture of bacterial prostatic infection. Quantitative but not qualitative morphologic differences are found between cases of gram-negative infections and infection by gram-positive organisms that often are considered non-pathogens.
| 88,527
|
Immunospecificity of nuclear nonhistone protein-DNA complexes in colon adenocarcinoma.
|
Tumor-specific antisera against dehistonized chromatin isolated from transplantable colon adenocarcinoma (from male noninbred Sprague-Dawley rats) were produced. The specificities of these antisera were determined by complement fixation. In the presence of these antisera, only chromatin from colon adenocarcinoma significantly fixed complement, whereas chromatins isolated from normal rat colon epithelia were inactive. Administration of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine to rats produced an early change in the immunospecificity of colon epithelial chromatin similar to that for colon adenocarcinoma. Several lines of experimental evidence indicated that nuclear antigen was not a carcinoembryonic antigen-like substance. Common antigens were also present in human colon adenocarcinomas.
| 88,536
|
Heterogeneity of HLA-BW35 based on the diallelic BW4-BW6 system.
|
Utilizing the diallelic BW4-BW6 system of antigens and antibodies, we divided subjects possessing HLA-BW35 into two groups, depending on the association of their BW35 antigens with BW4 or BW6, and demonstrated in family studies that the associated antigens appeared to be inherited together. Absorption experiments were performed to establish the validity of the typings. Anti-human beta2-microglobulin was used in an effort to "map" the location of the BW4 and BW6 antigenic determinants on the HLA molecule.
| 88,551
|
Combined management of malignant teratoma of the testis.
|
Intensive chemotherapy with bleomycin and vinblastine was used as initial treatment in patients with advanced testicular teratoma and after relapse following lymph-node irradiation in patients with early-stage disease. Between January, 1976, and March, 1978, 84 patients, 28 with early disease and 56 with advanced disease, were treated. All 28 men with early-stage disease are alive and disease-free. Patients with advanced disease were divided into two groups. Patients with bulky multiple lung metastases and those with liver involvement did poorly, only 4 of 23 (17.4%) being disease-free. Conversely, patients with bulky abdominal nodes and those with limited lung disease did well, 17 of 21 previously untreated patients (80.9%) being alive and disease-free. Within the latter group, 16 patients were managed with chemotherapy and radiotherapy and/or surgery. Of these, 15 (93.4%) are disease-free.
| 88,606
|
Aspiration cytology and outpatient excision of breast lumps.
|
Fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed in 30 consecutive women with clinically non-malignant breast lumps. All aspirates were shown to be benign on cytology and the lumps were excised under local anaesthetic at the outpatient department. Frozen section and paraffin section histology of the excised lump confirmed the diagnosis. Follow-up at the outpatient department and a postal questionnaire revealed the following wound complications: redness (70%), bruising (55%), and discharge (35%). Outpatient excision of solid breast lumps is a safe, rapid, and economical method of treating non-malignant breast lumps, if it is preceded by an accurate cytological interpretation of a technically satisfactory aspirate.
| 88,619
|
Suppression and reversal of allergic encephalomyelitis in rhesus monkeys with basic protein and peptides.
|
We have extended earlier studies on the suppression of clinically evident experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in monkeys, repeated injections of human basis protein. The results confirm that after suppressive treatment, recovered animals remain clinically normal and do not show spontaneous recurrence of symptoms. However, recovered animals are susceptible to EAE upon renewed challenge, and they develop the disease more rapidly and more severely than after the initial challenge; resuppression is also accomplished in these cases by the same methods used previously. The results indicate further that the basic protein or peptide T administered without mycobacteria is effective in suppressing the development of basic protein-induced EAE regardless of the species from which it was derived.
| 88,679
|
Fuorescent retrograde neuronal labeling in rat by means of substances binding specifically to adenine-thymine rich DNA.
|
Six fluorescent substances, binding specifically to adenine-thymine rich DNA, were injected in rat caudate-putamen. This resulted in retrograde axonal transport and fluorescent retrograde labeling of neurons in center-medium parafascicular nucleus, substantia nigra and dorsal raphe. Two of these substances, i.e. "True Blue' and 'Granular Blue', give a very striking blue fluorescent retrograde neuronal labeling. Mid-thoracic spinal injections of these two substances in rat also resulted in a pronounced retrograde fluorescent labeling of neurons of the descending brainstem pathways and of neurons in the sensori-motor cortex.
| 88,697
|
[Immunochemical study of the water-soluble lens proteins in the embryo of Xenopus laevis with the mutation of periodic albinism].
|
The crystallins of ap mutants of Xenopus laevis have been studied in comparison with those of normal embryos and adults using the complex of immunochemical methods (immunoelectrophoresis, immunodiffusion, immunoadsorption, immunofluorescence, isoelectrofocusing with immunoidentification). The analysis was carried out with antisera to electrophoretic fractions of the mutant lens. 11 organ-specific antigens were found in the lens of both the normal and mutant animals. These proteins are heterogenous by electrophoretic mobility, isoelectrical point, antigenic and species specificity. Each class of crystallins contains antigens which are specific: a) for amphibians only, b) for lower vertebrates, c) for vertebrates in general. No qualitative differences were found between crystallins of the normal and mutant animals. Immunofluorescence analysis has shown that crystalins appear in the normal and mutant embryos practically at the same time. No significant differences in the appearance of specific immunofluorescence between the normal and mutant embryos were found (with various antisera). gamma-crystallins and, perhaps, a part of the primary lens fibers. Alpha-crystallins appear later. gamma-crystallins are first identified the synthesis of which manifests itself at the advanced developmental stages. The quantitative predominance of some beta--gamma-crystallins in the mutant lens detected by us (electrophoresis, isoelectrofocusing) is not related to their earlier synthesis in the embryogenesis.
| 88,703
|
Effects of ethidium bromide on the production of ribosomal RNA in cultured mouse cells.
|
A treatment of primary mouse kidney cell cultures with 5 microM Ethidium Bromide (Eth Br) reduces the transcription of nuclear-coded genes and especially of ribosomal RNA genes. This effect was consistently observed when comparing drug-treated and control cells for (i), the incorporation of 3H uridine into total nuclear and B RNA polymerases as determined in isolated nuclei. It became more pronounced with exposure time; however, after removal of the drug, there was a progressive recovery of RNA synthesis culminating in the complete reversal of the drug effect. That this effect is probably not due only to the suppression of mitochondrial protein synthesis by the drug, is shown by a comparative study of the effects of chloramphenicol treatment. In addition, in the cytoplasm Eth Br depresses the labeling of 28 S rRNA more than that of 18 S whereas no abnormal accumulation of 28 S rRNA is observed in the nucleus. It is suggested that Eth Br may affect either the stability of the 28 S rRNA or its rate of formation from the 32 S precursor.
| 88,722
|
B cell antigens of Black Americans.
|
Fourty-four unrelated North American Blacks and one Black family were tested for B-cell specific antigens with 7th International Workshop antisera. DR specificities were clearly defined in this group, but were generally less frequent than reported for Black Americans in the 7th Workshop report and were most similar in frequency to those reported for African Blacks. Five new B-cell specificities (DuB40-43, 45) were identified. In contradistinction to Caucasians, Black Americans type for HLA-D with homozygous typing cells failed to exhibit strong linkage disequilibrium between D and DR types.
| 88,776
|
Combination chemotherapy with vinblastine, bleomycin and methotrexate in DTIC-resistant metastatic melanoma.
|
Fifteen patients with metastatic DTIC-resistant malignant melanoma were treated with vinblastine, bleomycin and methotrexate combination chemotherapy. Three patients showed an objective response (one complete response). The therapy was well tolerated and easy to administer. This combination appears to produce in DTIC-resistance patients a response rate similar to that obtained with DTIC.
| 88,784
|
[Effect of axoplasmic flow elimination and denervation on the contents of protein, nucleic acids and glycogen in rat muscle].
|
Disturbance of the axoplasmic flow was evoked by ligation of the sciatic nerve with a silk thread moistened with 0.05 solution of colchicine (exposition for 30 s). No intoxication was observed in the animals, the motor function of the operated extremety was preserved. Two weeks after elimination of the axoplasmic flow practically the same changes in the content of contractile and sarcoplasmic proteins, glycogen, DNA and RNA were observed in musculi gastrocnemius as with surgical denervation. The data obtained evidence for an important role of the axoplasmic flow to maintain the normal metabolism in muscles.
| 88,785
|
[Joint use of thyroid and antithyroid preparations].
|
On the model of the mammary gland cancer, induced by a carcinogen in rats, it is shown that thyroxine (in a dose approximately equal to the physiological one, which per se would stimulate neoplasia or renders no effect) increases the antineoplastic action of the thyroid function inhibitors when administered simultaneously. Thus, they may be considered a positive compensation factor. Simultaneous application of the thyroid hormone with a hypolipidemic preparation--cetamiphene seems to be mostly advantageous.
| 88,805
|
Subtypic linearity in the bovine B blood group system.
|
The technique of proteolytic digestion employing the enzymes trypsin, chymotrypsin, and protease was used to investigate the physical order of subtypic determinants occurring on bovine erythrocytes. In the B system subgroup Y1, Y2, the determinants behaved as if linearly arranged in the same order as predicted from their serological behavior; furthermore, the differences between the two subtypes appeared to be quantitative rather than qualitative. In the E'1, E'2, E'3 subgroup, however, the subtypic determinants did not appear to be physically linear, although they are serologically linear.
| 88,814
|
Regulatory mechanisms of alpha-fetoprotein production in injured rat liver.
|
The role of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-suppressing factor(s) in the increased production of AFP in liver injury was investigated with carbon tetrachloride and ethionine-treated rats. Elevated concentrations of serum AFP induced by these treatments decreased upon administration of prednisolone. However, injections of methionine and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), which significantly accelerated the rapid fall of serum AFP levels after birth, produced no such effects on increased AFP levels in hepatic injury. This ineffectiveness of methionine and ATP may suggests that their metabolisms are impaired in the injured liver.
| 88,859
|
Suppressor cells for in vivo cytotoxic responses--regulation of the in vivo activation of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes by suppressive cells.
|
A significant in vivo activation of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) against trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified autologous cells and of a DNA-synthesis response in the peripheral lymphnodes is observed in cyclophosphamide (CyP) treated mice after skinpainting with trinitrochlorbenzene (TNCB) or after injection of TNP-coupled spleen cells (TNP-Spl) into the footpads. The activation of these responses can be suppressed by the transfer of spleen cells or lymphnode cells from skinpainted normal mice, but not from skinpainted mice that had been pretreated with CyP. Suppressive activity is also induced by injections of TNP-Spl i.p. or trinitrobenzosulfonate (TNBS) i.v. Optimal activation of suppression occurs with 3--4 days. The suppressive activity is antigen-specific at least in respect to its activation. Suppressor cells of this kind also suppress the induction of delayed hypersensitivity (DH) responses and the priming for in vitro secondary responses. However, these two responses are less sensitive to the suppression, and their in vivo activation is accordingly much less restricted with the in vivo activation of DNA-synthesis and primary CTL responses. DH and CMC memory can be activated ty TNCB skinpainting without pretreatment with CyP.
| 88,878
|
Immunological relationships of Long Island isolates of Babesia microti.
|
Studies to detect strain differences among two rodent-derived and one human-derived Babesia microti isolates from Long Island were undertaken, using various methods. Superinfection experiments using the homologous and heterologous isolates showed cross-protection. All hamsters were resistant to superinfection challenges of increasing dosages of both the homologous and heterologous isolates. Attempts to infect other laboratory animals with the Long Island isolates of B. microti were successful in intact and splenectomized Sprague-Dawley rats and questionable in Swiss mice. Nylar and CFW mice as well as CFW and Wistar intact and splenectomized rats were refractory to B. microti isolates from Long Island. Indirect fluorescence tests using convalescent sera from six Long Island cases of babesiosis showed no titer differences with tests using the three Long Island antigens as well as the Gray strain antigens. The rise of hamster IgG anti-B. microti antibody was followed by indirect immunofluorescence done at different parasitemia levels. The IgG antibody in hamsters was detected early in the course of infection, rose rapidly concurrent with increasing parasitemia, and became stable at high titers for the duration of the infection. IgG antibody titers were unaffected by homologous superinfection challenges.
| 88,904
|
Copper stains and the syndrome of primary biliary cirrhosis. Evaluation of staining methods and their usefulness for diagnosis and trials of penicillamine treatment.
|
Use of Shikata's stain was found to be a sensitive method for the demonstration of copper-protein complexes, but use of the rhodamine stain may be more reliable. Interobserver agreement was slightly better with Shikata's stain. Hepatic copper increased with the histologic progression of chronic nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis (CNDC). All specimens that contained Mallory bodies and most specimens (91%) that contained bile yielded positive copper stains. No correlation was found between positive copper stains and other histologic features. A strongly positive copper stain aided in the diagnosis of CNDC. All specimens with negative copper stains contained less than 250 microgram of copper per gram of dry weight. From a strongly positive copper stain, the chemical copper content could not be predicted with certainty. Shikata's method seemed adequate to evaluate penicillamine treatment trials.
| 88,927
|
[Compartmentation of gramicidin 5 in membranes of sensitive bacteria and protein-lipid interactions].
|
Gramicidin S is sorbed on the isolated membranes of granicidin-sensitive Micrococcus lysodeikticus strain. The antibiotic inhibits the membrane malate dehydrogenase within the temperature range of 9--42 degrees C, i.e. under conditions of gel and liquid-crystalline lipid state; however its effect at 10 degrees C is 10 times as low as is observed at 42 degrees C. The inhibitory effect of gramicidin S on malate dehydrogenase can be eliminated and the antibiotic can be removed from the membrane by an excess of different phospholipids. No transfer of the membrane components on exogenous phospholipids is observed. A prolonged (about 2 hrs, 30 degrees C) incubation of the membranes with gramicidin S results in irreversible inactivation of malate dehydrogenase, although the antibiotic can be still eliminated by an addition of phospholipid emulsions. It is suggested that gramicidin S forms complexes with phospholipids, in which the antibiotic is oriented to water. These complexes disturb the lipid-protein interactions, resulting in relaxation of the binding between the boundary phospholipids and proteins, in the loosening of near-protein lipid zones and simultaneous condensation of acid phospholipids in the whole membrane. Destruction of the lipid zone is accompanied by changes in the enzyme activity, by separation of lipid and protein regions and by transphase enzyme transitions (expulsion or immersion). A slow formation of secondary protein-protein associates may be irreversible.
| 88,965
|
[Modifications of the maternal immune response associated to pregnancy (author's transl)].
|
The author reviews the literature on the immune status of pregnant women. No major alteration of the immune response was observed. If any, the modifications are not important and involve the synthesis of immunoglobulins, the presence of circulating immune complexes, some sub-populations of mononuclear cells and the in vitro lymphocyte response to T dependent antigens. Phagocytosis, the number of B and T cells and mitogen lymphocyte response are normal. Studies on the immuno-suppressive effect of both pregnant women sera and serum substances (hormones, pregnancy associated or specific proteins, carcino-embryonic antigens) are reported. Discrepancies are observed between conclusions drawn by various authors: they relate to the efficiency of the measurement and to the observed effect. The contradictory results obtained with alpha-foetoprotein provide an illustration of the critical analysis of these studies. Finally, the in vivo immune status of pregnant women is reported as observed in cutaneous tests, transplantations and auto-immune diseases. The most relevant observations are: a defect of the expression of delayed hypersensitivity reaction, a facilitating effect of pregnancy in kidney transplantation similar to that obtained after transfusion and an inconstant and mild defect of graft immunity. Therefore, pregnancy produces a specific immune status about which tests presently available give few relevant results, similar to those obtained in some cancers.
| 88,974
|
beta 2-Microglobulin: methods and clinical applications.
|
beta 2-Microglobulin is a low molecular weight protein that is found in most biological fluids. It was originally isolated from urine of cadmium-poisoned patients. Its amino acid sequence was established and shown to be structurally related to immunoglobulin constant domains. With the aid of antibodies specific against beta 2-microglobulin, the protein was detected on the membranes of all nucleated cells, normal and neoplastic. Measuring the quantity of beta 2-microglobulin showed that high levels are present in patients with renal tubular deficiencies and several other pathological conditions including neoplastic diseases. Extremely high levels were detected in seminal fluid and colostrum. Despite the structural relationship to immunoglobulins, no immunological relationship was demonstrated with these proteins using antibodies specific for beta 2-microglobulin. However, such antibodies are cytotoxic to all cells carrying beta 2-microglobulin on their surfaces. The discovery that beta 2-microglobulin is an integral part of the histocompatibility antigens of human and murine origin stimulated further research and interest in this molecule. Several groups of investigators have shown that beta 2-microglobulin is the low molecular weight chain and is noncovalently bound to a high molecular weight chain which carries the histocompatibility antigens. The structure of the histocompatibility antigens of lymphocytes (HLA) was shown by immunochemical as well as biological methods, and it is now well accepted. The antibodies against beta 2-microglobulin are extremely useful in the isolation of the histocompatibility antigens for sequence studies. Furthermore, the antibody to beta 2-microglobulin revealed that other structures may be bound to beta 2-microglobulin such as phytohemoagglutimin (PHA) receptors, mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) antigens, etc. Murine thymus leukemia (TL) antigen also contains beta 2-microglobulin as an integral part of its structure; other tumor antigens may have a similar structure. Through all these studies, beta 2-microglobulin emerged as the best known membrane protein that can serve as a model for study of the arrangement and the function of the cell membrane.
| 89,022
|
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