Follow-up of anti-IgA antibodies in primary immunodeficient patients treated with gamma-globulin

The levels of anti-IgA antibodies and the appearance of adverse reactions following gamma-globulin administration in 41 patients affected by primary antibody defects treated with intramuscular (IMGG) or intravenous gamma-globulin (IVGG), and 3 patients with the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) have been studied during a 31-month period. Anti-IgA antibodies were restricted to patients with circulating B lymphocytes and measurable amounts of IgA. The incidence of anti-IgA antibodies in the immunodeficient patients studied was 22.7%, and 2 of the 3 WAS patients also had high levels of anti-IgA antibodies. The presence of moderate levels of anti-IgA antibodies (up to 1/1,600) was not associated with adverse reactions. Our results indicate a significant relationship (p less than 0.02) between persistence of anti-IgA antibodies and IMGG administration.

Behavior of mother rats in conflict tests sensitive to antianxiety agents

Previous studies of freezing and open-field activity have demonstrated that lactating rats are less fearful or less anxious than nonpregnant ones. The purpose of this investigation was to observe the behavior of mother rats in conflict tests, which are frequently used in studies on the neurobiology of anxiety. In the punished drinking test, in which licking from a water spout is punished by electric shocks, mothers (observed on Day 1 postpartum following 24 hr of water deprivation) were found to drink more than virgins. Mothers (Day 1 postpartum) also consumed more food than controls in an unfamiliar open field. In contrast, no difference between mothers (Day 5 postpartum) and virgins was present in the exploration of an electrified shock probe. The largest maternal anticonflict effects in the drinking and feeding tests were recorded when the females were tested with their pups. Increased punished drinking was also observed in virgin rats treated with the anxiolytic benzodiazepine midazolam. Water-deprived virgins and mothers did not differ in the shock titration test, a result suggesting that diminished pain reactivity was unlikely to account for the increased punished drinking in mothers. Moreover, females in late pregnancy, which are hypoalgesic (Gintzler, 1980), did not lick more than virgins in the punished drinking test. Following 24 hr of water deprivation, unpunished drinking was higher in lactating females than in virgins, so the increased acceptance of punishment by mothers might have been due to their being more thirsty than virgins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Behavior of mother rats in conflict tests sensitive to antianxiety agents

Previous studies of freezing and open-field activity have demonstrated that lactating rats are less fearful or less anxious than nonpregnant ones. The purpose of this investigation was to observe the behavior of mother rats in conflict tests, which are frequently used in studies on the neurobiology of anxiety. In the punished drinking test, in which licking from a water spout is punished by electric shocks, mothers (observed on Day 1 postpartum following 24 hr of water deprivation) were found to drink more than virgins. Mothers (Day 1 postpartum) also consumed more food than controls in an unfamiliar open field. In contrast, no difference between mothers (Day 5 postpartum) and virgins was present in the exploration of an electrified shock probe. The largest maternal anticonflict effects in the drinking and feeding tests were recorded when the females were tested with their pups. Increased punished drinking was also observed in virgin rats treated with the anxiolytic benzodiazepine midazolam. Water-deprived virgins and mothers did not differ in the shock titration test, a result suggesting that diminished pain reactivity was unlikely to account for the increased punished drinking in mothers. Moreover, females in late pregnancy, which are hypoalgesic (Gintzler, 1980), did not lick more than virgins in the punished drinking test. Following 24 hr of water deprivation, unpunished drinking was higher in lactating females than in virgins, so the increased acceptance of punishment by mothers might have been due to their being more thirsty than virgins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Use of octadecyl silica as an alternative non-conventional solid phase in immunoradiometric assays

The use of chemically modified silica (octadecyl silica or Si-C18), a liquid chromatography stationary reverse phase, is proposed as an alternative solid phase for immunoradiometric assays (IRMAs). Si-C18 and polyvinylchloride solid phases were compared in their efficiency to detect a murine plasma protein (sex-limited protein or Slp) in a two site-two antibody IRMA. Si-C18 is at least as sensitive as PVC since Slp could be detected in plasmas diluted 1/128,000 and 1/64,000 respectively. The fact that 1 mg of Si-C18 can adsorb 5-14 times more protein than a PVC well is in agreement with the larger relative surface of Si-C18 beads (approximately 50 cm2/mg), compared with the PVC (approximately 1 cm2/well). These results strongly suggest that the Si-C18 matrix, saturated with specific antibodies, could be an exceptional probe to rescue and detect antigenic moieties diluted in large volumes of complex biological fluids.

An immunocytochemical and biochemical study of the microtubule-associated protein MAP-2 during post-lesion dendritic remodeling in the central nervous system of adult rats

A monoclonal antibody against the microtubule-associated protein MAP-2 was used to examine the fate of this molecule during post-lesion dendritic remodeling in the hippocampus and septum of adult rats. Qualitative and quantitative immunocytochemical analyses were carried out in the dentate gyrus after unilateral destruction of the entorhinal cortex (EC). An increase in MAP-2 immunoreactivity was detected in dendritic processes located in the outer 2/3 of the ipsilateral molecular layer (ML) 2 days after the lesion. whereas dendritic staining decreased considerably in the inner 1/3 of the same ML. The increase of staining was also detected 4, 6 and 8 days after the lesion; it was accompanied by an increase in the immunoreactivity in the inner 1/3 of the ML. After that period, a progressive decrease in anti-MAP-2 staining toward control levels was detected along the whole extent of the ipsilateral ML. This was concurrent with alterations in dendritic orientation, and a decrease in stained dendrites in the inner 1/3 of the ML. By 30 days post-lesion anti-MAP-2 staining was almost identical to that of the contralateral ML, although the alterations in dendritic morphology were still present in the ipsilateral ML. Changes in MAP-2 levels were also evaluated by densitometry of Western blots or dot immunobinding of hippocampal extracts obtained at different post-lesion intervals. The results obtained revealed a pattern of change in MAP-2 levels identical to that observed with the immunohistochemical stain. A similar, immunocytochemical and biochemical, analysis conducted in the lateral septal nucleus after unilateral transection of the fimbria showed no changes in the distribution and/or content of MAP-2 at any post-lesion interval analyzed (2, 10 and 20 days post-lesion). The present observations show that post-lesion dendritic remodeling is concurrent with modifications in the levels and distribution of MAP-2. These modifications suggest that the dendritic cytoskeleton is dynamically changing in response to perturbation of the synaptic environment. In addition, our results indicate that these changes may only occur in those neurons which have the capability to remodel their post-synaptic surface in response to deafferentation.

Quantification of soluble serum HLA class I antigens in healthy volunteers and AIDS patients

A solid-phase enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) has been used to quantify human soluble Class I histocompatibility antigens in serum samples from voluntary blood donors and AIDS patients. Statistical analysis of the results showed significantly raised levels (p less than 0.01) of free HLA Class I in sera from AIDS patients (2.95 +/- 1.80 micrograms/ml) when compared with the blood donors (1.06 +/- 0.6 micrograms/ml). The assay is specific, reproducible and easy to perform. Potential uses of this determination are discussed.

Anti-IgA antibodies in selective IgA deficiency and in primary immunodeficient patients treated with gamma-globulin

Sera from 106 blood donors, 40 patients with primary immunodeficiencies (ID) treated with gamma-globulin, and 46 patients with selective IgA deficiency were analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-IgA antibodies. Increased levels of antibodies to IgA were found in 5.6% of the blood donors, 17.5% of the ID patients, and 36.8% of the isolated IgA deficiencies. The percentage was higher in patients with IgA and IgG2 deficiencies (50%). The percentage of patients having increased levels of anti-IgA antibodies was similar to the total prevalence of the 10 other autoantibodies studied. These anti-IgA antibodies were mainly of the IgG class, except from one blood donor with IgM antibodies, and two patients, one with isolated IgA deficiency and the other with common variable immunodeficiency who had anti-IgA antibodies of the IgE class. The latter patient developed a near fatal anaphylactic reaction when intravenous gamma-globulin was administered. Most of the patients with severe adverse reactions to gamma-globulin did not present anti-IgA antibodies. Our data suggest that at least in some immunodeficient patients the elevated amounts of anti-IgA antibodies are not related to the administration of exogenous IgA. The importance of measuring anti-IgA antibodies of the IgG and IgE isotypes in IgA-deficient patients as well as in patients in treatment with gamma-globulin is emphasized.

Gamma interferon, CD8+ T cells and antibodies required for immunity to malaria sporozoites

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that T-cell effector mechanisms are required for protective immunity to malaria sporozoites. Administration of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against gamma interferon (gamma IFN) to immune hosts, reversed sterile immunity to sporozoite challenge, by allowing the growth of exoerythrocytic forms (EEF) and thus the development of parasitaemia. Immune animals also developed infections when depleted in vivo of their suppressor/cytotoxic T cells expressing the CD8 antigen (CD8+) but not when depleted of helper T cells expressing CD4 antigen (CD4+), before sporozoite challenge. Passive transfer of immune immunoglobin alone, or adoptive transfer of immune T cells alone, conferred partial protection to naive recipients. Transfer of both immune components resulted in significantly greater protection. This transferred immunity was reversed by the in vivo neutralization of gamma IFN. Thus, sterile immunity to sporozoite challenge requires the neutralization of sporozoites by antibodies and the inhibition of EEF development by gamma IFN with the participation of CD8+ cells.

Olfactory mechanisms in the control of maternal aggression, appetite, and fearfulness: effects of lesions to olfactory receptors, mediodorsal thalamic nucleus, and insular prefrontal cortex

During lactation the female rat is hyperphagic, aggressive toward adult conspecifics, and less fearful than usual. In the first experiment the importance of olfactory receptors was investigated by surgically removing the olfactory epithelium of the nasal cavity. Mother rats subjected to this treatment consumed significantly less food and weighed less than sham-operated females. Moreover, experimental subjects displayed a dramatic decrease in maternal aggression. Fear behavior (sound-elicited freezing), on the other hand, was not affected by the lesions. The mediodorsal thalamic nucleus and the prefrontal insular cortex form part of the central olfactory system. The second experiment assessed the involvement of this olfactory-related thalamocortical system and the behavioral profile of mother rats. It was found that whereas the thalamic and cortical lesions left food intake and fear behavior unaffected, they significantly decreased the frequency with which the mother would attack an intruder male placed into her home cage. The sense of smell appears, according to the present experiments, to play a crucial role in maternal aggression.

Interferon-gamma inhibits the intrahepatocytic development of malaria parasites in vitro

In this study, we examined the activity of recombinant interferon (IFN)-gamma against Plasmodium berghei exoerythrocytic forms (EEF) grown in vitro within the highly differentiated human hepatoma cell line HEPG2. We assayed the effect of IFN-gamma on parasite growth by DNA hybridization using a P. berghei specific DNA probe. The specific activity of IFN-gamma against EEF is very high, and depends upon the time of lymphokine addition. When IFN-gamma is added to HEPG2 cells containing intracellular EEF, 6 hr after sporozoite invasion, parasite DNA replication is inhibited by approximately 75% at 10(3) U/ml and 50% at 1 U/ml. This treatment can either abolish or greatly reduce the infectivity of EEF for mice. When added earlier, 3 hr after completion of sporozoite invasion, IFN-gamma inhibits parasite replication to an even greater degree. The highest levels of inhibition were obtained when IFN-gamma was added 6 hr prior to sporozoite invasion (100% inhibition at 10(2) U/ml, approximately 55% inhibition at 0.1 U/ml, and 17% inhibition at 0.001 U/ml). We found that HEPG2 cells express approximately 44,000 surface receptors for IFN-gamma. These data are consistent with the view that IFN-gamma exerts its antimalarial activity by binding to surface receptors on hepatocytes and inducing intracellular changes unfavorable for parasite development. Tryptophan starvation does not appear to be involved in this process. These findings also support the idea that IFN-gamma, released from immune T cells upon encountering sporozoite antigen, may be an important effector mechanism in sterile immunity to sporozoite challenge.

Interferon-gamma inhibits the intrahepatocytic development of malaria parasites in vitro

In this study, we examined the activity of recombinant interferon (IFN)-gamma against Plasmodium berghei exoerythrocytic forms (EEF) grown in vitro within the highly differentiated human hepatoma cell line HEPG2. We assayed the effect of IFN-gamma on parasite growth by DNA hybridization using a P. berghei specific DNA probe. The specific activity of IFN-gamma against EEF is very high, and depends upon the time of lymphokine addition. When IFN-gamma is added to HEPG2 cells containing intracellular EEF, 6 hr after sporozoite invasion, parasite DNA replication is inhibited by approximately 75% at 10(3) U/ml and 50% at 1 U/ml. This treatment can either abolish or greatly reduce the infectivity of EEF for mice. When added earlier, 3 hr after completion of sporozoite invasion, IFN-gamma inhibits parasite replication to an even greater degree. The highest levels of inhibition were obtained when IFN-gamma was added 6 hr prior to sporozoite invasion (100% inhibition at 10(2) U/ml, approximately 55% inhibition at 0.1 U/ml, and 17% inhibition at 0.001 U/ml). We found that HEPG2 cells express approximately 44,000 surface receptors for IFN-gamma. These data are consistent with the view that IFN-gamma exerts its antimalarial activity by binding to surface receptors on hepatocytes and inducing intracellular changes unfavorable for parasite development. Tryptophan starvation does not appear to be involved in this process. These findings also support the idea that IFN-gamma, released from immune T cells upon encountering sporozoite antigen, may be an important effector mechanism in sterile immunity to sporozoite challenge.

An immunocytochemical and biochemical study of the microtubule-associated protein Tau during post-lesion afferent reorganization in the hippocampus of adult rats

A monoclonal antibody against the microtubule-associated protein (MAP) Tau was used to examine the fate of this molecule during post-lesion afferent reorganization in the hippocampus of adult rats. An immunocytochemical analysis was carried out in the dentate gyrus after unilateral destruction of the entorhinal cortex (EC). In the non-denervated hippocampus, Tau immunoreactivity was detected in parallel axons and mossy fibers; no staining was present in neuronal cell bodies and dendrites. A significant decrease in Tau immunoreactivity was detected in the outer 2/3 of the ipsilateral dentate gyrus molecular layer (ML) 2 days after an EC lesion, whereas staining in the inner 1/3 of the same ML increased considerably. This was followed by a very rapid recovery of Tau immunoreactivity in the outer 2/3 of the denervated ML, which by 10 days post-lesion was almost identical to that of the contralateral non-denervated ML. A similar phenomenon was observed in other regions of the hippocampus denervated by the EC lesion. The modifications in Tau immunoreactivity in the denervated hippocampus were also accompanied by changes in the polypeptide composition of this heterogeneous group of MAPs, as revealed by immunoblot analysis of hippocampal extracts obtained at different post-lesion intervals; these changes involved a rapid and significant increase in low molecular weight migrating Tau-immunoreactive polypeptides. The present observations indicate that important modifications in Tau proteins occur in the deafferented hippocampus, a phenomenon that may well be related with the regulation of microtubule polymerization during post-lesion axonal growth.

An immunocytochemical analysis of the ontogeny of the microtubule-associated proteins MAP-2 and Tau in the nervous system of the rat

The developmental distribution patterns of beta-tubulin and the microtubule-associated proteins, MAP-2 and Tau, were studied by immunocytochemistry with monoclonal antibodies. The analysis of the in situ distribution of these proteins in embryonic brain tissue revealed intense immunoreactivity for beta-tubulin in proliferative and migrating neuroblasts. On the contrary, no immunoreactivity for MAP-2 or Tau was detected in this neuroepithelium; specific immunostaining for these MAPs was only present in those neuroblasts which have reached their final destination within a developing brain area, and have initiated terminal differentiation, i.e. the sprouting of axons and dendrites. During the initial stages of neuritic outgrowth both MAPs were detected in the somatodendritic compartment of developing brain neurons; Tau was also present in axons. While the distribution of MAP-2 remained essentially the same throughout development, Tau was progressively lost from cell bodies and dendrites. This pattern of compartmentation was observed in pyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, as well as in cells of other brain regions (e.g. thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebral amygdala and tectum). It was not detected in cerebellar Purkinje cells which compartmentalize Tau to axons from the outset of neuritic differentiation, and in neurons of the Gasser ganglion which transiently express MAP-2 in axons. The expression and distribution of these MAPs was also analyzed in embryonic cerebellar and hippocampal pyramidal neurons grown in culture. Both MAPs were found in these cells as soon as 6 h after plating; they were also present in all of the neurites, axons and dendrites, that these cells extend after development in vitro for several days. With subsequence development (more than 4 days in vitro) MAP-2 was lost from axons, while Tau remained homogeneously distributed in both types of neurites. Taken collectively, the present results indicate that the development of the compartmentalized distribution of MAP-2 and Tau follows a complex pattern which is specific for each of these MAPs, and which varies as a function of the neuron type and the conditions under which the cell develops. In addition, the complex variations in the distribution of both MAPs during in situ and in vitro development make it unlikely that these proteins have a role in determining the fate of a neurite as an axon or a dendrite.

Mechanism of escape of exoerythrocytic forms (EEF) of malaria parasites from the inhibitory effects of interferon-gamma

We have studied the mechanism of inhibition by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) of the development of exoerythrocytic forms (EEF) of Plasmodium berghei in the livers of rats. At the time corresponding to the maximum development of EEF (44 hr after injection of sporozoites), the livers of the IFN-gamma-treated rats contained less parasite DNA as compared with controls. Twenty-four to 72 hr later, the livers of both groups of animals were free of parasites; that is, IFN-gamma treatment does not delay the development of the EEF. The decrease in parasite DNA observed in the IFN-gamma-treated rats was due to a diminution in the number, but not the size, of EEF. It appears, therefore, that treatment with the lymphokine either destroys the parasites or does not affect their replication. To study the mechanism of resistance to IFN-gamma of a small population of EEF, we subjected the parasites to four cycles of selection by IFN-gamma. The parasites from the "selected" and "nonselected" populations were equally susceptible to inhibition by IFN-gamma, indicating that the escape from IFN-gamma activity is not inherited.

Mechanism of escape of exoerythrocytic forms (EEF) of malaria parasites from the inhibitory effects of interferon-gamma

We have studied the mechanism of inhibition by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) of the development of exoerythrocytic forms (EEF) of Plasmodium berghei in the livers of rats. At the time corresponding to the maximum development of EEF (44 hr after injection of sporozoites), the livers of the IFN-gamma-treated rats contained less parasite DNA as compared with controls. Twenty-four to 72 hr later, the livers of both groups of animals were free of parasites; that is, IFN-gamma treatment does not delay the development of the EEF. The decrease in parasite DNA observed in the IFN-gamma-treated rats was due to a diminution in the number, but not the size, of EEF. It appears, therefore, that treatment with the lymphokine either destroys the parasites or does not affect their replication. To study the mechanism of resistance to IFN-gamma of a small population of EEF, we subjected the parasites to four cycles of selection by IFN-gamma. The parasites from the "selected" and "nonselected" populations were equally susceptible to inhibition by IFN-gamma, indicating that the escape from IFN-gamma activity is not inherited.

Evaluation of two community-wide smoking cessation contests

The Pawtucket (Rhode Island) Heart Health Program is designed to effect a community-wide change in heart disease morbidity and mortality by reducing smoking prevalence and other behavioral risks for this disease. The initial emphasis of the Pawtucket Heart Health Program was on the development of risk factor programs within specific churches, work sites, and other organizations in the community. At the end of 9 months of programming, however, only one organization had elected to begin a stop-smoking program. Given the community smoking prevalence of 43.4%, it was decided that larger-scale interventions would be required if a significant public health impact was to be realized. Therefore, a community-wide campaign was mounted to recruit as many participants as possible into the "Up in Smoke" cessation program. A lottery was attached to this program, with the contingency based on program attendance rather than cessation per se. One hundred three participants, including residents of neighboring communities, enrolled in three Up in Smoke lottery groups. At a 3-month follow-up, only 11 (7%) of smokers from the Up in Smoke lottery reported that they were not smoking (10% of those actually contacted). For a variety of reasons, the "Quit and Win" approach was later adopted by the Pawtucket Heart Health Program as the primary smoking intervention. One month after the end of the contest, 20% of those contacted reported not smoking. The percentage of quitters for the Up in Smoke program increased while the Quit and Win rate decreased over longer periods of follow-up. These and other data were compared with those of participants of a screening program conducted concurrently. Lotteries in general and face-to-face recruitment in large crowds were shown to be effective recruiting methods for large-scale smoking cessation programs.

Use of a DNA probe to measure the neutralization of Plasmodium berghei sporozoites by a monoclonal antibody

A specific DNA probe has been used to quantify the neutralizing effects of monoclonal antibodies (3D11) against the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium berghei sporozoites. The amount of parasite DNA was measured in the livers of Norway Brown rats at the peak of proliferation of the exoerythrocytic forms (EEF). In vitro treatment of 1.5 X 10(5) sporozoites with 0.36 microgram/0.5 ml of whole 3D11 IgG neutralized about 90% of the sporozoite infectivity. When the dose was 3.6 micrograms no signal was detected, indicating that less than ten sporozoites developed into EEF in the liver. In contrast, 3.6 micrograms of Fab obtained from 3D11 neutralized sporozoite infectivity by only 60%. Although the neutralizing effect of 3D11 was very marked, the infected rats developed parasitemias after a prolonged delay in patency, suggesting that a small proportion of sporozoites was resistant to the effects of 3D11. The sporozoites were subjected to four cycles of 3D11-mediated selection, each one involving treatment of sporozoites with the antibodies, injection of the mixture into rats, infection of hamsters with blood stage parasites obtained from the rats, feeding of Anopheles stephensi on these hamsters, and obtaining sporozoites from the salivary glands of the infected mosquitoes. After four cycles of selection, the susceptibility of the resulting sporozoites to different concentrations of 3D11 was compared with that of nonselected sporozoites. No differences were detected, indicating that the capacity of a few sporozoites to escape the neutralizing effect of 3D11 antibodies is not inherited.

Use of a DNA probe to measure the neutralization of Plasmodium berghei sporozoites by a monoclonal antibody

A specific DNA probe has been used to quantify the neutralizing effects of monoclonal antibodies (3D11) against the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium berghei sporozoites. The amount of parasite DNA was measured in the livers of Norway Brown rats at the peak of proliferation of the exoerythrocytic forms (EEF). In vitro treatment of 1.5 X 10(5) sporozoites with 0.36 microgram/0.5 ml of whole 3D11 IgG neutralized about 90% of the sporozoite infectivity. When the dose was 3.6 micrograms no signal was detected, indicating that less than ten sporozoites developed into EEF in the liver. In contrast, 3.6 micrograms of Fab obtained from 3D11 neutralized sporozoite infectivity by only 60%. Although the neutralizing effect of 3D11 was very marked, the infected rats developed parasitemias after a prolonged delay in patency, suggesting that a small proportion of sporozoites was resistant to the effects of 3D11. The sporozoites were subjected to four cycles of 3D11-mediated selection, each one involving treatment of sporozoites with the antibodies, injection of the mixture into rats, infection of hamsters with blood stage parasites obtained from the rats, feeding of Anopheles stephensi on these hamsters, and obtaining sporozoites from the salivary glands of the infected mosquitoes. After four cycles of selection, the susceptibility of the resulting sporozoites to different concentrations of 3D11 was compared with that of nonselected sporozoites. No differences were detected, indicating that the capacity of a few sporozoites to escape the neutralizing effect of 3D11 antibodies is not inherited.

Olfactory mechanisms in the control of maternal aggression, appetite, and fearfulness: Effects of lesions to olfactory receptors, mediodorsal thalamic nucleus, and insular prefrontal cortex

During lactation the female rat is hyperphagic, aggressive toward adult conspecifics, and less fearful than usual. In the first experiment the importance of olfactory receptors was investigated by surgically removing the olfactory epithelium of the nasal cavity. Mother rats subjected to this treatment consumed significantly less food and weighed less than sham-operated females. Moreover, experimental subjects displayed a dramatic decrease in maternal aggression. Fear behavior (sound-elicited freezing), on the other hand, was not affected by the lesions. The mediodorsal thalamic nucleus and the prefrontal insular cortex form part of the central olfactory system. The second experiment assessed the involvement of this olfactory-related thalamocortical system and the behavioral profile of mother rats. It was found that whereas the thalamic and cortical lesions left food intake and fear behavior unaffected, they significantly decreased the frequency with which the mother would attack an intruder male placed into her home cage. The sense of smell appears, according to the present experiments, to play a crucial role in maternal aggression.

The use of volunteers in mass screening for high blood pressure

This paper describes the effectiveness of an incentive-based approach to screening for hypertension by comparing it to two more typical on-site screenings. In the "bounty system," adolescents were trained and certified in blood pressure assessment to enable them to conduct door-to-door blood pressure screenings. The youths received incentives for various phases of their training and the screenings. The two other screenings were conducted in a worksite and a public "community" setting. It was evident that incentives played a major role in recruiting adolescents to volunteer as screeners. The final results, however, revealed that this contact did not result in an increase in the number of persons screened as had been predicted. This was due in part to the reluctance of residents to admit teenagers into their homes and related problems.

Sensory control of maternal aggression in Rattus norvegicus

Female rats become aggressive toward adult conspecifics during lactation. This change in social affect is dependent on the presence of the offspring, because maternal aggression disappears when the pups are removed. It was found that a similar decline occurs when the litter is placed in a glass flask while remaining in the home cage. In contrast, maternal aggression persists following placement of the pups in a nylon mesh bag. The pups did not vocalize while being in the mesh bags, so it appears that olfactory cues from the offspring constitute a critical element in the maintenance of maternal aggression in the rat. It has been suggested that the odor not only of the pups but also of the intruder may contribute to eliciting aggressive behavior in lactating rodents. In line with this proposal, it was found that mother rats spend about one third of the time preceding the first attack sniffing the body of the intruder. In contrast to findings in mice, housing of the prospective intruder behind a double wire mesh partition in the lactating female's home cage failed to reduce her aggressiveness toward him. Rats, then, may require more intimate contact with an individual than do mice for the aggression-reducing effect of familiarization to be observed.

Effects of bicuculline infusions in the ventromedial hypothalamus and amygdaloid complex on food intake and affective behavior in mother rats

The mother rat is hyperphagic, aggressive toward other adults, and less fearful than non-maternal rats. The present experiments were conducted to examine whether GABAergic (gamma-aminobutyric acid) mechanisms in the ventromedial hypothalamus and amygdala participate in the control of these behavioral changes. Unilateral infusions of the GABA receptor blocker bicuculline (60 ng/0.5 microliter) into the ventromedial hypothalamus depressed food intake and lowered aggression. Similar infusions into the amygdaloid complex did not affect eating, but they did reduce aggressive behavior. Freezing behavior, a natural fear response, was not affected by the hypothalamic or the amygdaloid bicuculline infusions. These data support previous evidence suggesting a role for GABA in the regulation of postpartum changes in food intake and affective behavior.

Inhibition of development of exoerythrocytic forms of malaria parasites by gamma-interferon

A specific DNA probe was used to study the effect of recombinant rat, mouse, and human gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN) on the course of sporozoite-induced malaria infections. In mice and rats infected with sporozoites of Plasmodium berghei, mouse and rat gamma-IFN's strongly inhibited the development of the exoerythrocytic forms in the liver liver cells of the hosts, but not the development of the erythrocytic stages. The degree of inhibition of the exoerythrocytic forms was proportional to the dose of gamma-IFN administered, but was independent of the number of sporozoites used for challenge. A 30 percent reduction in the development of exoerythrocytic forms in rat liver was achieved when 150 units (about 15 nanograms of protein) of rat gamma-IFN were injected a few hours before sporozoite challenge; the reduction was 90 percent or more with higher doses of gamma-IFN. The effect was less pronounced if the gamma-IFN was administered 18 hours before or a few hours after challenge. Human gamma-IFN also diminished the parasitemia in chimpanzees infected with sporozoites of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax. The target of gamma-IFN activity may be the infected hepatocytes themselves, as shown by in vitro experiments in which small doses of the human lymphokine inhibited the development of exoerythrocytic forms of Plasmodium berghei in a human hepatoma cell line. These results suggest that immunologically induced interferon may be involved in controlling malaria infection under natural conditions.

Studies on the quaternary structure of class I major histocompatibility complex antigens. Effect of different agents on the interaction between subunits

The effect of temperature, urea, guanidine HCl, ionic and nonionic detergents, organic solvents, chaotropic salts, pH, and divalent cations has been investigated on purified human histocompatibility antigens solubilized by papain (HLApap) or solubilized by sodium cholate (HLAchol). HLApap and HLAchol are fairly stable proteins to agents acting predominantly on hydrogen bonds (temperature, urea) or hydrophobic forces (ionic and nonionic detergents). However, agents which affect ionic interactions (pH, salts, divalent cations) dissociate the molecules into subunits. A single binding site for beta 2-microglobulin with an affinity constant of 1.0 X 10(7) M-1 was found for the alpha chain of HLAchol. The dissociated subunits can be separated by affinity chromatography on Sepharose-rabbit IgG anti-human beta 2-microglobulin and reassociate in vitro when incubated under the appropriate conditions. The results point toward an important role of ionic interactions between subunits in the stabilization of the quaternary structure of HLA.

Infectivity of Plasmodium berghei sporozoites measured with a DNA probe

A 2.3 kb, 32P-labeled repetitive DNA probe of Plasmodium berghei was used to measure the amount of parasite DNA in the liver of Norway Brown rats and mice infected with sporozoites. Standard hybridization curves were obtained by probing different amounts (100 pg to 1 microgram) of P. berghei DNA immobilized on nitrocellulose filters. Host DNA did not interfere with hybridization specificity and sensitivity. A 100-fold increase in hepatic parasite DNA was detected between 25 h post-infection and the peak of parasite proliferation, detected at 44 h. The amount of parasite DNA increased with the number of injected sporozoites. At 5 h post-infection, a large proportion of parasite DNA was found in the spleen. However, this diminished with time and was negligible in amount at 25 h. A significant number of viable sporozoites were probably cleared in the spleen, since considerably more parasite DNA was found in the livers of splenectomized rats than in sham-operated counterparts. Although older rats develop much lower parasitemias upon inoculation of sporozoites, no significant differences were observed in the amount of parasite DNA in rats, 43 and 152 days old, injected with equal numbers of sporozoites. The higher resistance to malaria displayed by older rats is probably controlled by post-hepatic events. The infectivity of sporozoites for A/J mice was calculated to be about 1/20th that of Norway Brown rats.

Organizational and community approaches to community-wide prevention of heart disease: the first two years of the Pawtucket Heart Health Program

The Pawtucket Heart Health program (PHHP) is a federally funded research and demonstration project for the primary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) in a community. This article presents a discussion of the first 26 months of this intervention, divided into its three phases. PHHP staff initially approached the intervention city through local organizations to accomplish risk-factor behavior change in the population. After 11 months, PHHP complemented its programs in organizations with activities open to all city residents, in order to accelerate participation by the population. Seven months into this phase, it was decided that community activities should be the major focus of the intervention approach to assure a level of participation adequate to make a measurable impact. The third has shown the greatest percentage of public participation, demonstrating the complementary nature of organization and community interventions and of the translation of social learning theory into principles for primary prevention in a community.

Food intake, aggression, and fear behavior in the mother rat: control by neural systems concerned with milk ejection and maternal behavior

Mother rats eat more, are more aggressive, and show less fear behavior (freezing) than during other stages of the reproductive cycle. Electrolytic lesions in the peripeduncular area of the lateral midbrain made nursing mother rats eat less and interact peacefully with male intruders. This midbrain area forms part of the ascending milk-ejection pathway, so it seems plausible that the suckling stimulus maintains hyperphagia and aggression in mother rats. Because no alteration in fear behavior was observed in mothers with lesions, it was predicted that the reduction in freezing was related primarily to maternal responsiveness to pup cues other than suckling. In line with this hypothesis, it was found that the experimental induction of maternal behavior in ovariectomized, hormone-treated females was associated with a significant decrease in fear behavior, with no concomitant changes in food intake or aggression.

Effects of bicuculline infusions in the ventromedial hypothalamus and amygdaloid complex on food intake and affective behavior in mother rats

The mother rat is hyperphagic, aggressive toward other adults, and less fearful than non-maternal rats. The present experiments were conducted to examine whether GABAergic (gamma-aminobutyric acid) mechanisms in the ventromedial hypothalamus and amygdala participate in the control of these behavioral changes. Unilateral infusions of the GABA receptor blocker bicuculline (60 ng/0.5 microliter) into the ventromedial hypothalamus depressed food intake and lowered aggression. Similar infusions into the amygdaloid complex did not affect eating, but they did reduce aggressive behavior. Freezing behavior, a natural fear response, was not affected by the hypothalamic or the amygdaloid bicuculline infusions. These data support previous evidence suggesting a role for GABA in the regulation of postpartum changes in food intake and affective behavior.

Multiple C4/Slp genes distinguished by expression after transfection

The S region of the murine major histocompatibility complex contains two closely related genes: C4, encoding the fourth component of complement, and Slp, encoding sex-limited protein. We cloned these genes from a cosmid library of the B10.W7R strain that does not show androgen regulation of the Slp protein. Restriction site polymorphisms revealed at least four C4-like genes within the Sw7 locus, indicating evolutionary amplification of this region. Transfection of these genes into L cells resulted in expression, processing, and secretion of immunologically correct C4 and Slp proteins. At least two different Slp genes and one C4 gene were capable, after transfection, of expressing C4 and Slp indistinguishable from macrophage-derived protein. A third Slp gene exists within this locus whose recombinant cognate did not express in L cells. Thus, the B10.W7R S region includes one C4 gene and at least three Slp-like genes.

Food intake, aggression, and fear behavior in the mother rat: Control by neural systems concerned with milk ejection and maternal behavior

Mother rats eat more, are more aggressive, and show less fear behavior (freezing) than during other stages of the reproductive cycle. Electrolytic lesions in the peripeduncular area of the lateral midbrain made nursing mother rats eat less and interact peacefully with male intruders. This midbrain area forms part of the ascending milk-ejection pathway, so it seems plausible that the suckling stimulus maintains hyperphagia and aggression in mother rats. Because no alteration in fear behavior was observed in mothers with lesions, it was predicted that the reduction in freezing was related primarily to maternal responsiveness to pup cues other than suckling. In line with this hypothesis, it was found that the experimental induction of maternal behavior in ovariectomized, hormone-treated females was associated with a significant decrease in fear behavior, with no concomitant changes in food intake or aggression.

Idiopathic fluctuating dystonia: a case of foot dystonia and writer's cramp responsive to L-dopa

A forme fruste of progressive idiopathic dystonia is reported in a girl, starting at eight years and followed to 24 years of age. The first symptom was isolated dystonia of the left foot and later writer's cramp developed in the hands. Fluctuations of the dystonia occurred later in the course of the disorder, which were not related to the sleep-walking cycle. Complete remission of symptoms was obtained with low dosage of L-dopa. This case broadens the spectrum of fluctuating dopa-sensitive progressive childhood dystonias and provides evidence for writer's cramp being a form of focal dystonia.

Adolessente dogters moet voorligting oor die ondersoek van die mamma en menstruasie kry

Due to the anatomical and physiological changes which take place during puberty the adolescent girl is very aware of her own body. Therefore, puberty is the ideal time for teaching her about menstruation and self-examination of the breast. In this study it was found that a group of adolescent girls did not have enough information about these two subjects. It was found that the nurse has an important role in this regard because she is equipped to give the necessary information to both parents and their daughters.

Conserved group-specific epitopes of the circumsporozoite proteins revealed by antibodies to synthetic peptides

The immunogenic properties of sporozoites are associated mainly with the circumsporozoite (CS) protein that covers the surface of mature sporozoites. This stage-specific protein has an immunodominant region with repetitive epitopes. Rabbits that are repeatedly immunized with sporozoites of Plasmodium knowlesi, a monkey malaria parasite, also recognize two synthetic peptides (N2 and C2) representing other polar domains of the CS protein. We show in this report that antibodies to the N2 and C2 synthetic peptides react not only with P. knowlesi but also with conserved regions of the surface membrane of other human, monkey, and rodent (but not avian) malaria sporozoites. Moreover, antibodies to N2 partially neutralize the infectivity of sporozoites of P. berghei, a rodent malaria parasite. In contrast, antibodies to synthetic peptides representing the repetitive epitope of P. knowlesi were strictly species specific.

Conserved group-specific epitopes of the circumsporozoite proteins revealed by antibodies to synthetic peptides

The immunogenic properties of sporozoites are associated mainly with the circumsporozoite (CS) protein that covers the surface of mature sporozoites. This stage-specific protein has an immunodominant region with repetitive epitopes. Rabbits that are repeatedly immunized with sporozoites of Plasmodium knowlesi, a monkey malaria parasite, also recognize two synthetic peptides (N2 and C2) representing other polar domains of the CS protein. We show in this report that antibodies to the N2 and C2 synthetic peptides react not only with P. knowlesi but also with conserved regions of the surface membrane of other human, monkey, and rodent (but not avian) malaria sporozoites. Moreover, antibodies to N2 partially neutralize the infectivity of sporozoites of P. berghei, a rodent malaria parasite. In contrast, antibodies to synthetic peptides representing the repetitive epitope of P. knowlesi were strictly species specific.

Multiple non-repeated epitopes on the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium knowlesi

The Plasmodium knowlesi circumsporozoite (CS) protein contains a repetitive immunodominant epitope. Here we show that the serum of rabbits repeatedly immunized with P. knowlesi sporozoites contains antibodies which bind to immobilized synthetic peptides ('C2', 'N2', and 'charged') representing two different polar regions of the CS polypeptide. These reactions are specific since the binding is inhibited only by the homologous peptides. Antisporozoite antibodies were isolated from the rabbit serum by affinity chromatography on Sepharose beads coupled to two synthetic peptides, 'C2' and 'charged'. Both purified antibodies recognized the CS protein and the intracellular precursors as shown by Western blotting analysis using sporozoite extracts. These results demonstrate that the corresponding areas of the native CS molecule are immunogenic, accessible to interaction with antibody, and therefore constitute potential targets for vaccine development. In addition, the present findings confirm the published amino acid sequence of a large portion of the CS protein which has been deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the corresponding gene.

Does the mouse C4-binding protein gene (C4BP) map in the H-2 region?

A previous study on the genetics of mouse C4-binding protein (C4-bp) indicated the existence of a genetic polymorphism. Two genetic variants were reported and their segregation used to determine the mapping position of the C4BP locus to the H-2D-Qa interval of the mouse H-2 system. We show here, however, that purified C4-bp does not display the previously reported polymorphism. The mapping position of C4BP in the mouse therefore remains undetermined.

Behavioural similarities between mother rats and benzodiazepine-treated non-maternal animals

Mother rats nursing large litters are hyperphagic, aggressive towards conspecifics, and show less freezing behaviour than non-maternal animals. These naturally occurring adaptations resemble those elicited by benzodiazepine treatment in virgin rats, indicating a common neurochemical change in the brains of mother rats and benzodiazepine-treated virgins. In line with this hypothesis, it was found that three functional benzodiazepine antagonists (FG 7142, pentylenetetrazol, caffeine) decreased food intake, lowered aggression and strengthened freezing in lactating mother rats. These psychopharmacological observations support the idea that GABA neurotransmission is enhanced during motherhood in the rat.

Transverse testicular ectopia corrected by a modified Ombrédanne operation

We report a case of transverse testicular ectopia. The patient previously had undergone an operation for a left inguinal hernia and the right testis was absent. Each testis was placed in its respective side but the right vas deferens traversed the left inguinal canal (a modified Ombrédanne operation).

EGG hypersensitivity as measured by RAST and a reverse enzyme-immunoassay

The application of a reverse enzyme-immunoassay (REIA) to measure specific anti-egg IgE is described. The results obtained with the REIA and the RAST are shown. The REIA is economical, easy and fast to perform when the conjugate has been made, non-radioactive and offers a new alternative for the in vitro evaluation of egg white-specific IgE.

High resolution isoelectric focusing of immunoprecipitated proteins under denaturing conditions. A simple analytical method applied to the study of complement component polymorphisms

A simple analytical method for the study of structural protein polymorphisms is described. It consists of the immunoprecipitation of non-radiolabeled proteins using monospecific polyclonal antibodies followed by isoelectric focusing (IEF) under completely denaturing conditions in vertical polyacrylamide slab gels. The method uses small amounts of sample (usually unfractionated plasma or serum), requires no sophisticated equipment and allows the screening of large numbers of samples with comparatively small effort. This method has been applied in the identification of 2 human complement-component polymorphisms, C4-binding protein (C4-bp) and factor H (beta 1H).

Use of the ELISA to detect and quantify histocompatibility antigens and their subunits

A solid phase enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) has been developed for the detection and quantification of human histocompatibility antigens and their subunits. The assay involves the binding to a microELISA plate of a mouse monoclonal antibody reacting with a common antigenic determinant to all HLA (A, B, C) antigens. The standard conditions for the assay and the curves obtained for the quantification of total HLA, free beta 2m, and free heavy chain subunit (alpha) present in a biological sample are described and the sensitivity and potential uses of the method are discussed.

Genetic polymorphism of human C4-binding protein

Two different forms of human C4-bp, C4-bp A and C4-bp B, have been identified by isoelectric focusing (IEF) of neuraminidase-treated EDTA-plasma samples. Family studies demonstrate Mendelian segregation of these forms, indicating that they are under gentic control. This conclusion is supported by IEF analysis of the two variants purified by affinity chromatography. Under completely denaturing conditions, C4-bp B was found to be composed of two subunits that focused at different pH, whereas C4-bp A contains only the more basic one. These results suggest that a single autosomal locus with at least two codominant alleles coding for the subunits controls the IEF variation of C4-bp in humans. The allele designated C4BP*1 codes for a subunit that, after neuraminidase treatment, focuses at pH = 6.65. The allele C4BP*2 codes for a different subunit that focuses at pH = 6.60. The C4-bp A phenotype corresponds to the genotype C4BP*1,C4BP*1 and the phenotype C4-bp B to the genotype C4BP*1,C4BP*2. The phenotype corresponding to the C4BP*2,C4BP*2 homozygous genotype has not been encountered thus far. Initial linkage data indicate that the C4BP locus is not closely linked to either the HLA or to the C3 loci.

Genetic polymorphism of human C4-binding protein

Two different forms of human C4-bp, C4-bp A and C4-bp B, have been identified by isoelectric focusing (IEF) of neuraminidase-treated EDTA-plasma samples. Family studies demonstrate Mendelian segregation of these forms, indicating that they are under gentic control. This conclusion is supported by IEF analysis of the two variants purified by affinity chromatography. Under completely denaturing conditions, C4-bp B was found to be composed of two subunits that focused at different pH, whereas C4-bp A contains only the more basic one. These results suggest that a single autosomal locus with at least two codominant alleles coding for the subunits controls the IEF variation of C4-bp in humans. The allele designated C4BP*1 codes for a subunit that, after neuraminidase treatment, focuses at pH = 6.65. The allele C4BP*2 codes for a different subunit that focuses at pH = 6.60. The C4-bp A phenotype corresponds to the genotype C4BP*1,C4BP*1 and the phenotype C4-bp B to the genotype C4BP*1,C4BP*2. The phenotype corresponding to the C4BP*2,C4BP*2 homozygous genotype has not been encountered thus far. Initial linkage data indicate that the C4BP locus is not closely linked to either the HLA or to the C3 loci.

Murine sex-limited protein (Slp) antigenic sites in human complement component C4

Human complement component C4 is encoded by two HLA-linked loci, A and B. In the mouse, the H-2 region contains structural genes for two serum proteins that react with antibodies to human C4, but one of these proteins (Slp) has no C4 hemolytic activity. Because the product of C4-A locus in man has low hemolytic activity, a previous report suggests it may be the homologue of murine Slp. We show here that Slp antigenic determinants are found in human C4. However, they are expressed in the products of both loci A and B, that is, C4A and C4B, since both proteins were specifically immunoprecipitated by the IgG fraction of alloantisera to mouse Slp. Therefore, Slp-associated structural features are preserved in evolution, although they do not seem to be relevant to the hemolytic properties of C4.