The effects of cyclophosphamide and irradiation singly and in combination upon SaI growth in A/J mice

The effects of various doses of cyclophosphamide and low-dose (15 rads) radiation upon the size of tumors caused by 10(4) Sarcoma I (SaI) cells was determined. In intact A/Jax (A/J) recipients, the effect of the two agents singly and in combination was found to be dependent especially upon the dosage of cyclophosphamide and the time of its administration in relation to tumor inoculation. In cell transfer experiments to adult thymectomized, lethally irradiated, bone-marrow-restored (ATxXBM) mice, the effects of cyclophosphamide and irradiation appeared to be either overlapping (low dosages of cyclophosphamide) or additive (dosages of cyclophosphamide greater than or equal to 50 mg/kg), suggesting that the two agents exert their influence in dissimilar fashion, perhaps by injuring different cell types with the same basic function. The most pronounced conjoint effects are seen when low dosages of cyclophosphamide are given 3 days after the adoptive transfer of spleen cells from mice pretreated with low-dose irradiation. The implications of this observation with respect to immunotherapy are discussed.

Some characteristics of academic departments of pathology in the United States. Implications for training of academic pathologists

Data concerning the activities of faculty and various characteristics of academic departments of pathology were obtained from questionnaires returned by 94 chairmen and 1571 faculty members. Data concerning manpower that was the subject of a previous report indicated that the projected supply of MD pathologists for faculty positions was significantly less than the anticipated demand. This article describes the characteristics of academic departments, particularly the activities of faculty that have bearing on the training and expectations of pathologists who are seeking faculty positions.

Regional cerebral blood flow and focal cortical perfusion: a comparative study of 133Xe, 85Kr, and umbelliferone as diffusible indicators

We report that regional CBF determined by the initial slope technique using 133Xe and 85Kr in cats and rabbits can be significantly influenced by the size of the field of measurement. The clearance curves of umbelliferone, a lipid-soluble intracellular pH fluorescent indicator, from a visually avascular 80-micron field were used to cross-correlate rCBF with focal cortical perfusion. Our findings indicate that in the cat, as the gamma or beta detector's field of volume was reduced, regional CBF (rCBF) measured by intraarterially injected 133Xe or 85Kr decreased in value by 33% and 28%, respectively, and the slope of the rCBF-PaCO2 response curve became less steep by 56% and 45%, respectively. Umbelliferone, measuring a much smaller volume of tissue, showed a lower normocapnic flow and a more oblique PaCO2 response curve. In the rabbits studied, the normocarbic rCBFs and the rCBF-PaCO2 response curves measured with the three techniques corresponded to those measured in the cat. These results suggest that large field/volume measurements assess a measure of flow that is a weighted average of several distinct flow compartments and that these compartments differ in their response to changes in PaCO2.

Ectopic pregnancy in unrepaired distal tubal remnant after contralateral tubal anastomosis

A case is described in which, after a tubal sterilization procedure and subsequent unilateral tubal anastomosis, an ectopic gestation occurred in the contralateral, unrepaired, distal tubal segment. On the basis of this case and related evidence, the authors suggest that in cases in which only a unilateral tubal anastomosis is possible, strong consideration should be given to removal of the contralateral, unrepaired, distal tubal remnant.

Murine autoimmune oophoritis, epididymoorchitis, and gastritis induced by day 3 thymectomy. Immunopathology

(C57BL/6 X A/J) F1, (SWR/J X A/J) F1 and BALB/cBy mice, thymectomized on Day 3 (D3TX) or Day 7 (D7TX) or sham thymectomized (STX), were studied for immunopathologic changes in the ovary, testis, and gastric wall. In 95% of B6AF1, 100% of SWRAF1, and 35% of BALB/cBy mice ovarian disease developed, with onset at 5-6 weeks of age. Ovarian disease was not found in D7TX or STX mice. In D3TX mice, it was associated with mononuclear infiltration and ovarian follicle destruction, leading to atrophy. Epididymovasitis was detected in 70-90% of SWRAF1, 50% of B6AF1, and 64% of BALB/cBy mice after D3TX; whereas orchitis occurred in about 20% of SWRAF1 and B6AF1 mice. In some mice epididymovasitis also developed after D7TX, but not after STX. In contrast to the negative immunohistochemical findings in diseased ovaries, typical immune complex-like deposits of mouse IgG were detected by immunofluorescence along the basement membrane of epididymal ducts and seminiferous tubules. However, maximum incidence of epididymitis preceded immune complex detection. Gastritis developed in both female (57%) and male (50%) BALB/cBy mice after D3TX, occasionally after D7TX, but not after STX. Gastric mucosa was hypertrophic with dilated glands and heavy lymphocytic infiltrations throughout all gastric layers. BALB/cBy mice with gastritis usually did not have disease in the gonads, and vice versa. This study, therefore, confirms and extends the findings of Nishizuka and colleagues.

Murine autoimmune oophoritis, epididymoorchitis, and gastritis induced by day 3 thymectomy. Autoantibodies

In adult mice thymectomized at age 3 days (D3TX), increased incidences and/or levels of organ-specific antibodies to oocytes and/or zona pellucida, to testicular cell-sperm-differentiation antigens (TSDA), and to gastric parietal cells were detected, and these correlated significantly with oophoritis, orchitis (not epididymovasitis), and gastritis, respectively. The autoantibodies occurred in mice with the corresponding endogenous antigens. Thus, anti-oocyte/zona antibodies were detected in female, anti-TSDA antibodies in male, and anti-parietal cell antibodies in both sexes. Anti-oocyte/zona antibodies were first detected at age 5-6 weeks and were absent by 25 weeks. Serum antizona antibodies, but not anti-oocyte antibodies, inhibited mouse fertilization in vitro. In contrast, antibodies to sperm acrosome and antibodies to sperm surface did not correlate with testicular or epididymal disease. Moreover, both male and female mice had increased levels of anti-sperm surface antibodies, indicating that the sperm antigens detected may not be organ-specific. In addition, sera from 5-10% of D3TX mice reacted with a wide spectrum of epididymal and testicular antigens with defined cellular locations but of yet unknown specificity. Although the incidence of antibodies to cytoskeletal antigens was not significantly elevated after D3TX, anti-nuclear antibodies were more frequently detected in (SWR/J X A/J) F1 (SWRAF1) and (C57 BL/6J X A/J) F1 (B6AF1) mice after D3TX.

Sexual practices and risk of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus. The San Francisco Men's Health Study

The San Francisco Men's Health Study is a prospective study of the epidemiology and natural history of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in a cohort of 1034 single men, 25 to 54 years of age, recruited by multistage probability sampling. At entry, June 1984 through January 1985, the seropositivity rate for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among homosexual/bisexual study participants was 48.5%. No heterosexual participants were HIV seropositive. Among homosexual/bisexual men reporting no male sexual partners in the two years before entry into the study, seropositivity was 17.6%. For those reporting more than 50 partners, seropositivity was 70.8%. Only receptive anal/genital contact had a significantly elevated risk of HIV infection. Douching was the only ancillary sexual practice that contributed significantly to risk of infection.

Clinical, immunologic, and serologic findings in men at risk for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The San Francisco Men's Health Study

Forty-nine percent of homosexual/bisexual men were positive for antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in a population-based probability sample of 1034 single men recruited from San Francisco. All heterosexual men were negative. Among seropositive men, marked lymphadenopathy was present in 29%, and 16% had at least two other symptoms or signs suggestive of HIV infection. However, lymphadenopathy alone failed to indicate severity of immune impairment. The occurrence of two or more clinical signs and symptoms, except for marked lymphadenopathy, correlated with HIV infection, diminished skin test reactivity, and reduction in Leu 3a T cells. Twenty-nine percent of seropositive men had fewer than 400 absolute Leu 3a T helper cells per microliter (less than 0.4 X 10(9)/L). Seronegative homosexual/bisexual men did not differ from heterosexual men in any clinical or laboratory variables except for increased numbers of suppressor Leu 2a T suppressor cells per microliter.

A technique for accurate placement of episcleral iodine-125 plaques

Confirmation of iodine-125 plaque position was determined with a modified fiberoptic light pipe that directed light at right angles to the long axis of the fiberoptic pipe. While the examiner observed the interior of the eye with indirect ophthalmoscopy, the point source of light from the fiberoptic light pipe was moved along the margins of the episcleral plaque. The position of the plaque relative to the location of the underlying melanoma could then be verified by transillumination.

Partial characterization of a mitomycin-C resistant T cell

A cell resistant to concentrations of mitomycin-C associated with the inactivation of many in vitro immune responses is described. This cell is responsive to concanavalin A (Con A), poorly adherent to nylon wool, present in relatively greater numbers in lymph node than other lymphoid tissues, and is relatively radiosensitive. In part, the resistance of this T cell appears to relate to a reduced activity of a microsomal reductase responsible for converting mitomycin-C to its more active form. Discrepancies in reductase activity may represent a way to differentiate among subsets of lymphocytes.

Treatment of experimental focal cerebral ischemia with mannitol. Assessment by intracellular brain pH, cortical blood flow, and electroencephalography

Intracellular brain pH, cortical blood flow (CBF), and electrocorticograms were recorded in regions of severe and moderate ischemia in 10 control rabbits and 10 rabbits given mannitol, 1 gm/kg, after occlusion of a major branch of the middle cerebral artery. Pooling the data from all 20 animals, preocclusion CBF was 46.4 +/- 3.6 ml/100 gm/min and intracellular brain pH was 7.01 +/- 0.04 (means +/- standard error of the means). Although mannitol administration mildly improved CBF in regions of severe ischemia, this increase was not sufficient to prevent metabolic deterioration as assessed by brain pH. However, in regions of moderate ischemia, CBF improved significantly with mannitol and the gradual decline in brain pH observed in control animals was prevented. For example, in the treated moderate ischemia sites 4-hour postocclusion CBF and pH values were 31.8 ml/100 gm/min and 6.89 +/- 0.09, respectively, as compared to control values of 14.3 ml/100 gm/min and 6.75 +/- 0.06. These results suggest that mannitol may be of benefit in stabilizing regions of moderate, but not severe, ischemia after vessel occlusion.

Focal cerebral ischemia: pathophysiologic mechanisms and rationale for future avenues of treatment

Although approximately 500,000 patients suffer from a stroke each year in the United States, treatment of these patients to date has consisted primarily of prevention, supportive measures, and rehabilitation. The modification of experimental cerebral infarction by new pharmacologic agents, along with encouraging results from the restoration of blood flow to areas of focal ischemia in both laboratory and clinical trials, suggests that a more aggressive approach might be considered in selected patients with acute stroke.

Methods for determination of lipid peroxidation in biological samples

Interest in the pathological consequences of lipid peroxidation has led to the development of a number of analytical approaches to the quantitation of products. However, the various analytical methodologies employed often do not measure the same chemical classes of products, and apparent discrepencies have been observed, particularly in studies of lipid peroxidation in biological systems. This review provides a brief discussion of some of the strengths and weakness of methods currently used for the determination of lipid peroxidation in biological tissues.

Effect of preischemia cyclooxygenase inhibition by zomepirac sodium on reflow, cerebral autoregulation, and EEG recovery in the cat after global ischemia

Zomepirac sodium (ZS) (5 mg/kg i.v.) was used to evaluate the effects of preischemia cyclooxygenase inhibition on CBF (as assessed by 133Xe clearance), CBF-PaCO2 responsiveness, and electrophysiologic (EEG) parameters before and after a 15-min period of complete global ischemia produced by four-vessel occlusion and mild hypotension. During the 15-min period of ischemia, CBF was essentially zero. Following reflow all groups displayed an initial hyperemia as compared with control (92 +/- 11 vs. 141-146 ml/100 g/min). Saline-treated animals during reflow displayed a delayed hypoperfusion (26 +/- 3 ml/100 g/min), which showed no improvement during the 2-h reflow period prior to death. In contrast, ZS-treated animals during reflow displayed significantly higher flows during the hypoperfusion phase (72 +/- 9 ml/100 g/min). The CBF-PaCO2 response displayed an approximately sevenfold reduction in slope at 2 h after reflow in saline-treated animals. This decrease in PaCO2 reactivity was not observed in the ZS-pretreated animals. With regard to EEG, all animals showed a total flattening during the 15 min of ischemia. In saline-treated animals only one of seven showed any sign of even marginal recovery. In ZS-treated animals EEG activity showed prominent recovery in seven of seven. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials were monitored and showed prominent recovery of amplitude and latency in ZS but not saline-treated animals during reflow.

Effect of hyperglycemia on brain pH levels in areas of focal incomplete cerebral ischemia in monkeys

The adverse effect of a minimal cerebral blood flow (CBF) in models of global ischemia has been noted by many investigators. One factor believed important in this situation is the level of blood glucose, since a continued supply of this metabolite results in increased tissue lactate, decreased brain pH, and increased cell damage. The authors have extended these observations to a model of focal incomplete ischemia. Brain pH was measured in fasted squirrel monkeys in regions of focal incomplete ischemia after transorbital occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). In both control and hyperglycemic animals, CBF was reduced to less than 30% of baseline. At 3 hours after MCA occlusion, brain pH in the control group was 6.66 +/- 0.68 as compared to 6.27 +/- 0.26 in the glucose-treated group. This difference was statistically significant by Student's unpaired t-test (p less than 0.05). Thus, hyperglycemia results in decreased tissue pH in regions of focal incomplete cerebral ischemia in monkeys.

Adrenal steroid responses to continuous intravenous adrenocorticotropin infusion compared to bolus injection in normal volunteers

We compared the adrenal steroid responses after synthetic ACTH-(1-24) (Cosyntropin) administration given by either continuous iv infusion or bolus injection in 11 normal women and 6 normal men. Each subject received 250 micrograms Cosyntropin as a bolus iv injection on 1 occasion and as a continuous 2-h iv infusion on another occasion, in random order. There was a 1-week interval between the studies. We measured the plasma levels of cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, progesterone, pregnenolone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, delta 5-androstenediol, androstenedione, and testosterone by RIA 15 and 0 min before and 30, 45, 60, and 120 min after administering ACTH. The steroid concentrations and their increments, ratios, or areas above baseline did not differ significantly between the bolus injection and the continuous infusion. Thus, at the dose of 250 micrograms, a bolus ACTH injection stimulates adrenal steroid secretion as effectively as a 2-h continuous ACTH infusion.

Humoral and ionic regulation of osteoclast acidity

Regulation of the acidity of osteoclasts was determined in situ on the endocranial surfaces of mouse calvaria using acridine orange, a fluorescent weak base. Osteoclasts could be identified by large size, multiple nuclei, relatively small numbers of cells, and the way and the extent to which they took up the dye. Nonosteoclastic cells were stained mainly in their nuclei and occasionally in a few lysosomes surrounding their nuclei, which were uniformly single in nonosteoclasts. Nuclei in osteoclasts were also stained, but the staining of the nuclei was partially masked by the intensity and completeness of the staining of the cytoplasm. In some cells the cytoplasmic staining appeared to be in discrete granules, giving the cytoplasm a bright, frothy appearance. This fluorescence was present in both treated and untreated cells and aided in identifying the osteoclasts. Acridine orange fluorescence at 624 nm intensity, and hence, osteoclast acidity, was increased by parathyroid hormone and prostaglandin E2. Parathyroid hormone-induced increases in acidity were inhibited by calcitonin, cortisol, sodium fluoride, and prostaglandin E2. Furthermore, osteoclast acidity was dependent largely or partially on maintenance of K+ and Na+ gradients, patent Na+ channels, chloride-bicarbonate exchange, and H+, K+-ATPase. These findings demonstrate that osteoclasts become acidified by mechanisms similar to those occurring in gastric parietal cells.

Inhibition of electrically induced seizures by a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker

Nimodipine, a calcium channel blocker with high affinity for central dihydropyridine Ca2+ channels, produced a dose-dependent suppression of electrically induced seizures in the rabbit. Verapamil, a diphenylalkylamine which acts at peripheral Ca2+ channels, was ineffective. Phenytoin was less effective than nimodipine. These results suggest that calcium flux into neurons may be a biochemical precipitant for seizure genesis. Centrally acting calcium channel blockers may prove to be a new class of anticonvulsants.

Hematoporphyrin derivative photocytotoxicity of human glioblastoma in cell culture

The parameters of hematoporphyrin-derivative (HpD) photocytotoxicity of human glioma cells in cell culture were studied to determine the optimum wavelength and power density of light, to investigate the influence of tissue oxygenation, and to evaluate the role of singlet oxygen and free radicals in producing cell death. Cell survival curves demonstrated a relative killing efficiency of 12:1 for violet compared to red light. Eighty joules of red light were required to produce 100% cell kill at an HpD concentration of 10 micrograms/ml, a level of HpD that has been quantitated in biopsies from patients receiving HpD photoradiation therapy. No difference in cellular killing efficiency was observed for power densities of red light varying from 10 to 100 mW/cm2. Cytotoxicity was directly related to O2 tension from 12 to 490 torr with a slight but consistent increase in cell kill at O2 tensions from 7 to 12 torr. Cytotoxicity was effectively quenched by beta-carotene, whereas mannitol had no effect, indicating that cytotoxicity is probably mediated via a mechanism involving singlet oxygen. This information may serve as a basis for more effective application of HpD photoradiation therapy and for designing protocols to study the efficacy of such therapy.

Induction of new carbonic anhydrase II following treatment with acetazolamide in DBA and C57 mice

The mechanism by which animals develop tolerance to the antiepileptic effects of the carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitor, acetazolamide, was explored using a quantitative immunocytochemical method. Cerebral cortex sections of DBA/2J mice susceptible to audiogenic seizures and of C57BL/6J nonsusceptible mice were stained with antibody to mouse CA II in controls and following treatment with acetazolamide (40 and 200 mg/kg) for 1, 3, and 5 days. The percentage increases in CA II fluorescent intensity of cells from C57 mice treated with 40 and 200 mg/kg acetazolamide over those of untreated mice were 22 and 36%, respectively, after 1 day, 32 and 40%, respectively, after 3 days, and 17 and 40%, respectively, after 5 days of treatment. The corresponding percentage increases in fluorescent intensity of cells from DBA mice over controls were 13 and 32%, respectively, after 1 day, 17 and 41%, respectively, after 3 days, and 26 and 58%, respectively, after 5 days of treatment. The fluorescent intensity of cells from untreated DBA mice was 35% greater than those of untreated C57 mice. In C57 mice the maximum amount of CA II per cell at each dose occurred 24 h after acetazolamide treatment, whereas the amount in DBA mice continued to increase with time and dose up to 5 days. The differences between the two strains can be explained by changes in distribution of CA II to subcellular locations or by defects in phosphorylation of the molecule.

Correlation between effects of acute acetazolamide administration to mice on electroshock seizure threshold and maximal electroshock seizure pattern, and on carbonic anhydrase activity in subcellular fractions of brain

The relationships between inhibition of carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity in cytoplasmic, microsomal, and myelin subcellular fractions obtained from cerebral cortex, subcortex, and cerebellum and electroshock seizure threshold (EST) and modification of the extension/flexion (E/F) ratio following maximal electroshock seizures (MES) were ascertained in Swiss-Webster mice given 40 and 200 mg/kg acetazolamide. The parameters were determined at 1, 4, and 24 h after administration of acetazolamide. The results showed that changes in the E/F ratio induced by acetazolamide correlated linearly (r = 0.90) with changes in CA activity in the cytoplasm of the subcortex. However, there was an inverse power function correlation (r = 0.92) between EST and CA activity in the myelin fraction of the cerebral cortex. The time course of acetazolamide inhibition of CA activity in these two fractions also paralleled the time course of its effects on EST and E/F ratio. Thus, acetazolamide decreases susceptibility to seizures (raises EST) by inhibiting myelin CA and prevents spread of seizure activity by inhibiting CA in the cytoplasm of glial cells. The CO2 that accumulates as a result of CA inhibition in these two fractions causes profound changes in brain function.