Circulating immune complexes in healthy, HIV-antibody positive subjects

The components of the circulating immune complexes (CICs) were characterised in asymptomatic HIV seropositive individuals. Forty four of 214 individuals (20.56%) showed the presence of CICs. Specific HIV anti-HIV CICs were detected in 33 of them (75%). The isotypic specificity of antibodies found to these CICs was measured. IgG and IgA immunoglobulin classes were detected in CICs.

Reproductive motivation: a comparison of wives and husbands in Maharashtra, India

This study compares family size preferences, ideal sex compositions, and the motivation underlying these preferences between currently married women and their husbands in a transitional rural society in India. Reasons for having children, though similar, differ in some important respects: women's family size preferences are shaped largely by their dependence on sons for old age and other support; their husbands are affected by this motive as well, but they are also influenced by a desire to continue the family line and perform ritual obligations. However, it is primarily the women who feel the constraints imposed on their time, resources, and other opportunities by large numbers of children, which affect their family size preferences negatively. Finally, both spouses are similarly concerned about the health risks to the mother imposed by frequent childbearing. The net effect of the wives' two opposing motivations results in their having family size desires almost the same as their husbands' desires. As female status improves, the old age security motive is likely to diminish, and concern with utilization of time and resources is likely to become more important, leading ultimately to a reduction in desired family size among women.

A monoclonal antibody cocktail for detection of micrometastatic tumor cells in the bone marrow of breast cancer patients

We investigated whether monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) reactive against both acidic and basic cytokeratins alone were sufficient to detect minimal numbers of contaminating epithelial tumor cells in the bone marrow of breast cancer patients. Monoclonal anti-cytokeratin antibodies (AE1 and AE3) were used to stain 14 breast carcinomas by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. Nine tumors (64.3%) showed high reactivity and five (35.7%) showed low or moderate reactivity. Nine MoAbs that proved to be unreactive to light density bone marrow cells by immunoalkaline phosphatase histochemistry were screened for reactivity to breast carcinomas having only low or moderate positivity to cytokeratin antibodies. Three of nine MoAbs showed high percentages of positivity and were selected to supplement the anti-cytokeratin antibodies for immunohistochemical detection of minimal marrow disease in breast cancer patients. A MoAb cocktail was prepared, further tested for reactivity to another five breast carcinomas, and compared with cytokeratin staining alone. The cocktail labeled 100% of carcinoma cells in all the examined specimens. To determine the sensitivity of this panel for detecting minimal numbers of contaminating tumor cells in bone marrow, in vitro mixing experiments were performed. T47D breast carcinoma cells were mixed with bone marrow mononuclear cells at ratios from one tumor cell per 10 bone marrow cells up to one tumor cell per 1 x 10(6) marrow cells, and cytospin preparations were subsequently stained with the MoAb cocktail by the immunoalkaline phosphatase method. Our approach could detect one tumor cell in 1 x 10(5) hematopoietic cells.

Reaction of trimethylsilylimidazole with 5,10 beta-epoxy-3-ketosteroids: enolization and aromatization of the A-ring

The reaction of trimethylsilylimidazole (TSIM) and 3-keto-5,10-epoxy-nor-19-methylandrostanone 3 and its 17-acetate analog 4 was examined at two different temperatures. In both compounds, reaction at 90 degrees C gave predominantly a delta 3-silyl-enol ether plus a minor product as a result of the epoxide ring opening. Under reflux conditions, besides the aforementioned products, aromatization of the A-ring was observed as a major process. The results suggest the potential use of silylation reactions with epoxyketones towards the synthesis of aromatic compounds.

The influence of hepatocellular function on NK and T cell tumoricidal activity

Recent studies by this group have demonstrated that hepatocellular integrity is important in the preservation of host cellular immune function. This study evaluated the effect of experimental hepatocellular dysfunction (EHD) on host antineoplastic defense mechanisms. In nonspecific immune studies, we examined the effect of EHD on Wistar Furth (WF) natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity; in specific immune studies, we assessed WF C3H/HeJ lymphocytic responsiveness to both T cell mitogen and unmodified syngeneic fibrosarcoma. In concurrent studies, we evaluated the effect of EHD on interleukin-2 (IL-2) synthesis, an important NK and T cell trophic factor. WF rats and C3H/HeJ mice were assigned to three groups: EHD induced by bile duct ligation, sham, and normal control (NC). At day 21 serum bilirubin, WF NK cytotoxicity to YAC-1 tumor cells, WF and C3H/HeJ lymphocytic responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and syngeneic MCA-fibrosarcoma (MCA-F), and WF T-helper IL-2 production were determined in respective groups. Serum total bilirubin was elevated in EHD rats and mice with respect to controls (p less than 0.01). Wistar Furth cytotoxicity to the YAC-1 tumor cells was depressed in EHD animals with respect to sham and NC groups at 12.5:1 (p less than 0.01), 25:1 (p less than 0.05), 50:1 (p less than 0.05), and 100:1 (p less than 0.05) effector/target cell ratios. WF T cell responsiveness to PHA was depressed in EHD with respect to controls (p less than 0.01). C3H/HeJ lymphoproliferative response to MCA-F tumor antigen was also depressed in EHD animals when compared with control groups with the addition of 12.5 X 10(3) (p less than 0.05) and 50 X 10(3) (p less than 0.05) MCA-F cells. These impairments in NK and T cell function in EHD could not be attributed to diminished IL-2 production (EHD vs sham and NC: 112,141 +/- 5232 vs 106,691 +/- 1419 and 120,759 +/- 3248 cpm, respectively). These results demonstrate that hepatocellular failure compromises NK and T cell tumoricidal function, an effect not resultant on diminished T helper IL-2 production.

Nucleophilic Displacements of Imidazoles. II. Displacements of Halogen by S-Nucleophiles and Displacements of Mesyl Groups Activated by Nitro; Oxidation of Imidazolethiols

In basic medium arylthiols displace bromo and iodo groups activated by nitro substituents in 5(4)-halo-4(5)- nitroimidazoles . The bromo compounds are slightly more reactive than the iodo analogues. Substituents at C5 are more readily displaced than those at C4. Methylsulfonyl groups, similarly activated by an adjacent nitro substituent, are displaced by a variety of nucleophiles. The imidazolethiol products are readily oxidized to the sulfones.

Nucleophilic Displacements of Imidazoles. I. Oxygen, Nitrogen and Carbon Nucleophiles

4(5)- Bromo - and - iodo-imidazoles, activated by an adjacent nitro substituent, undergo nucleophilic displacement with methoxide, phenoxide , cyclic secondary chines and cyanide. The regiochemistry of the reactions of 5-iodo-4-nitroimidazole with methoxide has been confirmed by spectroscopic and X-ray methods, and a number of erroneous structures from the literature have been revised. Some apparently anomalous reactions of methoxide with 5-halo-1,2-dimethyl-4- nitroimidazoles, and of cyanide with 4-halo-1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole have been noted. The crystal and molecular structure of 5-methoxy-1-methyl-4-nitroimidazole has been determine: by direct methods. Crystals are monoclinic, P21/c, a 10.929(3), b 8 899(2), c 7.290(2) �; β 92.87(2)�; Z 4. The structure was refined to R = 0.095 for 818 reflections (I > 2σI).

Cross-reactions in cell mediated immunity induced by atypical mycobacteria

Cross-reactivity in the delayed hypersensitivity response to mycobacteria of different Runyon groups was tested in Swiss white mice immunised with live mycobacteria. All the strains tested gave cross-reactions and, generally, slow growers gave stronger cross-reactions with other slow growers than with rapid growers and vice versa. Sonicates of cross-reacting mycobacteria were also tested for their ability to generate activated macrophages in mice immunised with Mycobacterium avium. All the mycobacterial sonicates generated activated macrophages but a sonicate of Salmonella typhi did not. The sonicate of M. tuberculosis H37Rv also generated activated macrophages, which indicates that there might be protective cross-reactions between M. tuberculosis and atypical mycobacteria.

Cell mediated immunity cross-reactions of mycobacteria: polymorphism of target bacterial antigens

Swiss white mice were immunized with different mycobacteria and delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses were studied by the foot-pad swelling technique of Gray and Jennings (1955). Extensive cross-reactions in DTH, outside the limits of Runyon's groups were observed. As a general trend slow growing mycobacteria showed greater cross-reactivity with slow growers than with rapid growers and vice versa. The implied cross-protective significance of DTH cross-reactions was further confirmed by demonstration of the ability of DTH cross-reacting sonicates to generate activated macrophages in M. avium immunized mice. An antiserum was raised against the earlier reported DTH eliciting antigen of M. tuberculosis H37Rv (DTH-H37Rv). The sero-reactivity of anti-DTH-H37Rv against the sonicates of different mycobacteria was studied with the objective of investigating the molecular basis of DTH cross-reactivity. Immunoprecipitation reactions of different mycobacterial sonicates with anti-DTH-H37Rv showed that the antigen was shared by all the mycobacteria tested irrespective of their cross-reactivity in a DTH response. All of the slow growers showed reactions of total identity with DTH-H37Rv. However with rapid growers DTH-H37Rv showed only a partial identity. From these data it was concluded that an antigen participating in DTH response is shared by all mycobacteria and that it is polymorphous, having genus specific and group specific (as slow and rapid grower groups) determinants.

The Bromination in Aqueous-Solution of Imidazole Coordinated to Co(NH3)5(3+)

Bromination of imidazole coordinated to (NH3)5Co3+ (abbreviated Co) has been studied in aqueous Br- media, I = 0.1, 0.5 mol dm-3, 25.0°C; Co(4,5- Br2ImH)3+ and Co(2,4,5-Br3ImH)3+ result from treatment with Br2(aq). Co(4-BrImH )3+ has also been prepared and characterized. Rate data correspond to reaction of the conjugate base of the imidazole complex, Co(BrxIm)2+ (x = 0, 1, 2), with Br2, with successive bimolecular rate constants 6×109, 3×108 and 3.5×103 mol-1 dm3 s-1. Possible mechanisms are discussed.

Pseudoaneurysm of anterior tibial artery after occlusion from blunt trauma: nonoperative management

The angiographic finding of occluded isolated tibial artery after blunt trauma to the leg generally is ignored. A case of pseudoaneurysm and arteriovenous fistula that evolved from an occluded anterior tibial artery is presented. The pathology was treated successfully by percutaneous transfemoral placement of Gianturco coils in the tibial artery proximal and distal to the aneurysm. The nonsurgical approach in this patient avoided the risks of anesthesia, blood loss associated with a surgical procedure, the dilemma of the surgical approach in the presence of medial and lateral fasciotomy wounds, and of contamination and destabilization of the comminuted tibia-fibular fractures. This report raises the question of the proper management and followup procedures of occlusions of noncritical arteries found on angiography immediately after trauma.

The New Milky Way

Our understanding of the large-scale structure of the Milky Way has undergone considerable revision during the past few years. The Galaxy is larger and much more massive than was previously supposed; the newly discovered mass consists of nonluminous matter which is likely to be the dominant form of matter in the universe. New analyses of the atomic hydrogen gas show that the disk of the Galaxy is about twice as extended as was previously thought. Beyond the sun, the gas is concentrated in large-scale, coherent spiral arms indicative of a regular four-armed spiral pattern. The outer edge of the disk has a remarkable scalloping.

A comparison of EMG and SCL in normal and depressed subjects

Skin conductance level (SCL) and electromyograms (EMGs) recorded from three muscle sites were compared for 15 female hospitalized psychiatric patients meeting diagnostic criteria for primary affective disorder and 15 age-and race-matched controls. The depressed subjects had significantly lower SCL and significantly higher resting EMG levels recorded from one muscle site. Electromyogram and SCL were not found to be significantly correlated with each other or with measures of anxiety or depression for the patients with primary affective disorder. Normal controls, however, showed significant correlations between a measure of depression and both EMG and SCL. These results are discussed with suggestions for future research.