Effect of human recombinant tumour necrosis factor and rat gamma interferon on nitrosomethylurea-induced mammary tumours

We have used the nitrosomethylurea-induced rat mammary tumour model to study the effects of parenteral administration of human recombinant tumour necrosis factor (rHu-TNF) and rat gamma interferon (IFN-gamma). An inbred strain of tumour bearing female Ludwig/Wistar/Olac rats were randomised to either treatment or control groups. Two independent studies showed that combined treatment with rHu-TNF and rat IFN-gamma induced significant tumour regression over 4 weeks (P = 0.004, P = 0.005 respectively). Treatment with either rHu-TNF or rat IFN-gamma given individually did not affect the overall rate of tumour growth (P = 0.157 and 0.40 respectively) although an initial reduction in tumour size was observed during the first few days after injection. Measurement of circulating oestradiol levels in groups in which maximum tumour regression was observed showed no statistically significant difference when compared to the control group. Similarly, measurement of oestrogen receptor content showed no statistically significant difference between rHu-TNF-gamma or rat-IFN-gamma treatment or combined treatment of rHu-TNF and IFN-gamma with the control group. We conclude from these observations that combined therapy with rHu-TNF and rat IFN-gamma may prove to be useful new forms of treatment for human breast cancer.

Changes in thermogenesis and brown fat activity in response to tumour necrosis factor in the rat

A single intravenous injection of recombinant human tumour necrosis factor (TNF) resulted in significant, but transient (24-48 hr) reductions in food intake and body weight, and increases in rectal temperature, resting oxygen consumption (VO2) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenic activity (mitochondrial GDP-binding). The increased VO2 was inhibited by beta-adrenergic blockade (propranolol), and activation of BAT was prevented by denervation of the tissue. In adult (4-month old) animals, TNF induced greater reductions in food intake and body weight, caused general malaise and some fatalities, but did not significantly alter VO2 or BAT activity. However, the reduction in VO2 following beta-adrenergic blockade was greater in TNF-treated rats and BAT activity was enhanced when compared to pair-fed controls. Injection of adult rats with gamma-interferon induced small changes in body weight and temperature which were slightly potentiated when injected with a low dose of TNF. The results indicate that TNF stimulates sympathetic outflow to BAT. This effect may be partly responsible for the increases in body temperature and metabolic rate associated with TNF treatment and with cancer cachexia.

Ethanol-induced analgesia

The effect of ethanol (ET) on nociceptive sensitivity was evaluated using a new tail deflection response (TDR) method. The IP injection of ET (0.5-1.5 g/kg) produced rapid dose-dependent analgesia. Near maximal effect (97% decrease in TDR) was produced with the 1.5 g/kg dose of ET ten minutes after injection. At ninety minutes post-injection there was still significant analgesia. Depression of ET-induced nociceptive sensitivity was partially reversed by a 1 mg/kg dose of naloxone. On the other hand, morphine (0.5 or 5.0 mg/kg IP) did not modify ET-induced analgesia, while 3.0 minutes of cold water swim (known to produce non-opioid mediated analgesia) potentiated ET-induced analgesic effect. The 0.5 g/kg dose of ET by itself did not depress motor activity in an open field test, but prevented partially the depression in motor activity produced by cold water swim (CWS). Thus the potentiation by ET of the depression of the TDR produced by CWS cannot be ascribed to the depressant effects of ET on motor activity.

Time-resolved spectroscopy of plasmas initiated on single, levitated aerosol droplets

Plasma spectra resulting from the irradiation of single, optically levitated glycerine droplets by an intense pulse from a Nd:YAG laser are presented. The temporal development of the plasma is studied by observing emission lines of neutral and once-ionized carbon and of once-ionized nitrogen. Stark shifts of the neutral-carbon lines are used to compute the plasma electron density. The droplet data are compared with similar data for laser-induced breakdown on a graphite surface.

A comparison of replacement and reconstruction in patients with mitral regurgitation

The factors that make mitral reconstruction an attractive alternative to valve replacement are increased anatomical valve orifice, preservation of the valvular apparatus, improved longevity over porcine xenografts, and no requirement for long-term anticoagulation. In our experience the majority of patients with mitral regurgitation have degenerative valve disease. This comparative series of patients operated on over a 10 year interval includes 72 with replacement and 112 with reconstruction. The average cross-clamp times were 69 minutes for reconstruction and 44 minutes for replacement. The hospital mortalities were 3.6% and 18.1%, respectively. Postoperative valve areas as determined by Doppler echocardiography were 2.69 cm2 for replacement and 2.67 cm2 for reconstruction (p = 0.9). The valve failure rate was 2.0% per patient-year for reconstruction and there were no failures in the replacement group. The reoperation incidence for reconstruction was 20% at 10 years. The remaining patients, although clinically well, had varying degrees of stable, nonprogressive mitral regurgitation. Forty-five percent had mild to trivial regurgitation detectable by echocardiographic studies. The decision between mitral valve reconstruction and mitral valve replacement remains a highly controversial issue. The failure of our data to demonstrate superior valve function for patients with mitral regurgitation undergoing valve reconstruction suggests a need for careful analysis of reconstruction with respect to effective valve orifice and incidence of regurgitation.

Analysis of the immunoadjuvant octadecyl tyrosine hydrochloride

A simple, rapid, high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the analysis of the immunoadjuvant octadecyl tyrosine hydrochloride is described. The HPLC procedure can be applied to the direct determination of amino acid reactants present as contaminants in the adjuvant (tyrosine, ethyl tyrosine) and from this information the content of octadecanol reactant can be estimated. Further, these same determinations provide a means of monitoring immunoadjuvant stability in any vaccine preparation.

Beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic-receptor subpopulations in nonfailing and failing human ventricular myocardium: coupling of both receptor subtypes to muscle contraction and selective beta 1-receptor down-regulation in heart failure

We used radioligand binding techniques and measurement of beta-agonist-mediated positive inotropic responses in isolated cardiac tissue to examine beta-adrenergic-receptor subpopulations in nonfailing and failing human left and right ventricular myocardium. In tissue derived from 48 human hearts the receptor subtypes identified in nonfailing ventricle by radioligand binding were beta 1 (77%) and beta 2 (23%), with no evidence of an "atypical" beta-adrenergic receptor. In failing left ventricle the beta 1:beta 2 ratio was markedly different, i.e., 60:38. This decrease in the beta 1 proportion and increase in the beta 2 proportion in the failing ventricles were due to a 62%, "selective" down-regulation of the beta 1 subpopulation, with little or no change in beta 2 receptors. In muscle bath experiments in isolated trabeculae derived from nonfailing and failing right ventricles, both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors were coupled to a positive inotropic response. In nonfailing myocardium, beta 1 responses predominated, as the selective beta 1 agonist denopamine produced a response that was 66% of the total contractile response of isoproterenol. In heart failure the beta 1 component was markedly decreased, while the beta 2 component was not significantly diminished. Moreover, in heart failure the beta 2 component increased in prominence, as the contractile response to the selective beta 2 agonist zinterol increased from a minority (39%) to a majority (60%) of the total response generated by isoproterenol. We conclude that failing human ventricular myocardium contains a relatively high proportion of beta 2 receptors, due to selective down-regulation of beta 1 receptors. As a result, in the failing human heart the beta 2-receptor subpopulation is a relatively important mediator of inotropic support in response to nonselective beta-agonist stimulation and is available for inotropic stimulation by selective beta 2 agonists.

Adjuvanticity of stearyl tyrosine on inactivated poliovirus vaccine

Preliminary studies of some of the properties of stearyl tyrosine have shown that it is non-toxic, free of adverse reactions at the sites of injection, non-pyrogenic, stable upon storage and easy to sterilize. Formalin inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) adjuvanted with stearyl tyrosine hydrochloride induced significantly higher titres of antibodies in non-human primates, after two injections, than the non-adjuvanted vaccine. Furthermore, the adjuvanted vaccine, even when diluted 1:4, showed consistently higher antibody titres as well as a longer persistence of antibodies than the non-adjuvanted undiluted vaccine. These studies suggest that stearyl tyrosine is an excellent and cost effective adjuvant for IPV. Hence further investigation with this novel synthetic compound would be worthwhile to ascertain its adjuvanticity for IPV in human subjects.

Interhemispheric transfer in major psychoses

The authors studied 25 schizophrenics and 21 affectively ill, pure right-handed, male patients by using the Tactual Performance Test (TPT), a stereognosis block identification task, and an anomia task to evaluate their interhemispheric information transfer. Although both groups generally had difficulty performing the TPT, the pattern of performance deficit was not different between diagnostic groups and was not consistent with a clear-cut interhemispheric transfer problem. Schizophrenics made more naming errors and TPT preferred-hand errors than did affectively ill patients, whereas affectively ill patients were able to identify more blocks with their preferred hand than could the schizophrenics. Patient index age, illness onset age, handedness, medications received at time of testing, personal and family history of alcoholism, and family history of major mental illness did not relate to cognitive performance. It is concluded that these data are not consistent with an interhemisphere transfer deficit that is specific for schizophrenia, but they are consistent with either a nonspecific interhemisphere transfer deficit in psychoses or with a left or bilateral hemisphere impairment in schizophrenia.

The interaction of slow-release immunoadjuvants with selected antigens measured in vitro

A simple, rapid in vitro binding assay for measuring the binding of protein preparations to slow release immunoadjuvants is described. This spectrophotometric method requires no unstable radiolabelled or enzyme reagents and replaces the more tedious and subjective indirect hemagglutination procedure. Therefore, it provides a potential supplement to in vivo animal work in adsorbed vaccine production. The assay was used to study the interaction or complexation behaviour of two adjuvants with tetanus toxoid.

Comparative cardiac effects of maprotiline and doxepin in elderly depressed patients

In a double-blind study, 49 elderly patients with primary major depression, with or without cardiovascular disease, were treated with maprotiline or doxepin. Holter monitors, 12-lead ECGs, and orthostatic blood pressure measurements were used. Maprotiline was associated with decreased PVCs in patients with a "high" baseline rate, while doxepin was associated with increased PVCs in this group. There were no significant differences in orthostatic blood pressure changes between treatment and nontreatment phases or between the two drugs. Small but significant increases in heart rate and prolonged PR interval were noted with both drugs. QRS interval was prolonged by maprotiline but decreased by doxepin. Neither drug produced untoward effects in patients with stable angina or an old myocardial infarction. Maprotiline may have an antiarrhythmic effect which could be beneficial in the treatment of depression with concomitant PVCs. Conversely, doxepin may be more appropriate for depressed patients with heart block or intracardiac conduction delays. Further research is necessary to confirm these suggestions.

Metabolic changes induced by organophosphates in the piscine organs

Two common fish of commercial importance viz., Channa punctatus and Heteropneustes fossilis were exposed to sublethal concentrations of malathion and dimethoate (rogor). The exposure to malathion showed a gradual decrease in glycogen content in the liver and kidney of C. punctatus whereas the cholesterol level was increased. The protein content decreased initially, but thereafter a gradual increase was observed. However, in the exposure of H. fossilis to dimethoate, there was an increase in the glycogen content both in the liver and kidney during the second week. Thereafter a decrease was noted. The protein content showed insignificant changes. The specific activity of SDH showed a sharp rise initially for 2 weeks followed by a steep decline in both the tissues. The significance of these results are discussed in light of piscine metabolism.

Myocardial contrast two-dimensional echocardiography: comparison of contrast disappearance rates in normal and underperfused myocardium

A computer algorithm was developed and applied to measure brightness decay rates of myocardial contrast opacification observed with two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE). An agitated mixture of diatrizoate meglumine and saline (Renografin-saline) was injected into the left main coronary artery of 17 closed-chest dogs during the control state as well as after placement of an intracoronary plug to induce 85% stenosis in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in five dogs. In 12 dogs, injections were also performed distally to complete intracoronary balloon occlusion of the LAD. For each injection, up to 35 electrocardiographic-gated, end-diastolic 2DE frames were digitized into an image-processing computer that determined mean pixel brightness of each of 12 myocardial segments per 2DE short-axis cross-section. Time-activity curves for each segment were generated, and contrast decay half-life (t 1/2) was calculated. Mean t 1/2 for control-state injections was found to be 24.1 +/- 7.7 sec, as opposed to 293.8 +/- 164.5 sec after complete coronary occlusion (p less than .001). In the five dogs in which 85% LAD stenosis was induced, prolongation of contrast t 1/2 from 18.3 +/- 8.9 sec during control to 44.3 +/- 21.0 sec (p less than .001) after plug insertion occurred in myocardial segments subserved by the stenosed vessel. No significant change occurred in segments that were not supplied by the stenosed vessel (21.9 +/- 9.1 sec during control vs 24.9 +/- 11.6 after plug insertion into the LAD). A reproducibility study of injection-to-injection t 1/2 in the control state indicated a correlation coefficient of r = .84 and a standard error of the estimate (SEE) equal to 5.86 sec, while interobserver t 1/2 reproducibility was r = .91 and SEE = 5.21 sec. The t 1/2 measurement derived by computer analysis of myocardial contrast 2DE may serve as an index for characterization of regional myocardial blood flow and may be applicable to evaluate interventions that alter perfusion.

Transferable resistance to cefotaxime, cefoxitin, cefamandole and cefuroxime in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia marcescens

In conjugational crosses, three Klebsiella pneumoniae strains and one Serratia marcescens strain have been demonstrated to transfer resistance determinants to newer types of cephalosporins. While Klebsiella strains donated cefotaxime, cefamandole and cefuroxime resistance to Escherichia coli K-12 recipients, the genetic analysis of exconjugants after the transfer of plasmids from Serratia strains to Proteus or Salmonella recipients showed that the cefoxitin resistance determinant was also co-transferred. In subsequent transfer cycles of this plasmid, cefotaxime and cefoxitin resistance determinants segregated in contrast to the relative stability of plasmids derived from Klebsiella strains in subsequent transfer cycles. From results obtained in this study, it may be concluded that in some strains of nosocomial Enterobacteriaceae, resistance to newer cephalosporins could be transmissible and thus plasmid-located.

Perinatal transmitted acute icteric hepatitis B in infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen-positive and anti-hepatitis Be-positive carrier mothers

Three infants born to mothers who were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive and had antibody to hepatitis Be antigen (anti-HBe), developed acute icteric hepatitis B within three months of birth. All three infants clinically recovered and developed circulating anti-HBs. Contrary to previous studies, these three cases indicate that mother-infant transmission of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) does occur in infants born to HBsAg-positive, HBe-Ag-negative carrier mothers, and these infants may develop severe acute icteric hepatitis. Therefore, immunoprophylaxis in such newborns may be indicated.

Two Robertsonian translocations in a boy with mental retardation

An 8-year-old boy with mental retardation was found to be a mosaic, showing three different cell lines, 46,XY/46,XY,-21,+t(q21q21)/45,XY,-13,-21,+t(q13q21) in cultured peripheral blood cells.

Delayed hypersensitivity reactions in rats and their response to clinical dextran

Four colonies of rats were tested for their ability to produce adjuvant-induced arthritis, oxazolone contact hypersensitivity and the dextran anaphylactoid reaction. Tuck Wistar and Hooded Lister rats, both of which respond to dextran, showed disseminated inflammatory lesions after adjuvant and exhibited oxazolone sensitisation, regardless of the age of the animal. Spontaneously hypertensive rats, which at all ages respond to dextran, also responded to adjuvant and oxazolone but only when they were young; as they grew older, this response to these two agents diminished. Wistar NELP rats, which at all ages do not respond to dextran, responded to oxazolone; sensitivity to adjuvant, however, was maximal only in young animals. The link between the ability of rats to resist the dextran anaphylactoid reaction and their failure to respond to adjuvant with disseminated inflammatory lesions has not been confirmed.

Search for new antiamebic agents. I. Synthesis and bioassay of new Schiff bases of 1-phenyl-2-morpholinoethylidene-1-urea

As potential agents against E. histolytica 19 new Schiff bases of 1-phenyl-2-morpholinoethylidene-1-urea were synthesized by the condensation of the parent compounds with various carbonyl compounds. Thirteen of them were tested against the axenic culture of E. histolytica at concentration 125 microgram/cm3 but no significant amoebicidal activity was observed.

Cell-mediated immune responses of synovial mononuclear cells to sexually transmitted, enteric and mumps antigens in patients with Reiter's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

3H-thymidine uptake responses by synovial mononuclear cells to stimulation with sexually transmitted, enteric and mumps antigens were studied in 12 patients with "sexually transmitted Reiter's syndrome", 5 with "enteric Reiter's syndrome", 5 with rheumatoid arthritis, 4 with ankylosing spondylitis and 10 with "indolent arthritis of one knee." The "sexually transmitted" and salmonella cases were distinguishable by the responses. Synovial responses were sometimes marked when peripheral blood responses were negligible.

Cell-mediated immune responses of synovial mononuclear cells in Reiter's syndrome against ureaplasmal and chlamydial antigens

Cell-mediated immune responses of cultured synovial mononuclear cells against ureaplasmal, chlamydial, Mycoplasma hominis and mumps antigens were measured by the 3H-thymidine uptake method. Specific responses against ureaplasmal or chlamydial antigens were found in 3 of 4 patients with venereally-acquired Reiter's syndrome, but not in 3 patients with arthritis after episodes of diarrhea and 4 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Simplified method of determining fetal brain weight in utero

Analysis of autopsy data shows that, from the 26th through the 38th gestational weeks, fetal brain weight (BrW) is a function of the 3.124 power of the largest head circumference (HC). Because there is excellent correlation between prenatal ultrasound measurement and postnatal tape measurement of the HC, it is possible to determine fetal BrW in utero. An alteration of the BrW:somatic weight (SW) relationship is an important physical stigma of asymmetric intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). The value of longitudinal studies of fetal BrW and SW as a means of discriminating between normal and asymmetric growth is tested in a population at risk for IUGR.

Toxic effect of cadmium nitrate on the liver of Channa punctatus

Exposure of a fresh water fish, Channa punctatus, in a medium containing as low as 0.01 ppm of cadmium nitrate, resulted in the necrosis of hepatic cells. A temporary recovery of these cells was however observed when the animals were exposed to lower concentrations.

Hazards of amniocentesis: an unidentifiable fragment

A 38-year-old woman had amniocentesis performed for advanced maternal age. The karyotype of the cultured amniotic fluid cells showed a minute fragment in all cells analyzed, 47,XY+Fg. The fragment could not be identified. For medical reasons the pregnancy had to be terminated at 34 weeks. Both skin and blood cultures from the aborted fetus showed a 47,XY,21+ karyotype.

Autonomic dysreflexia: an unusual radiologic complication

Two cases of autonomic dysreflexia are reported in which patients with high spinal cord lesions developed untoward effects during a diagnostic radiologic procedure. One patient had a retrograde cystogram and the other had a femoral angiogram. Radiologists should be aware of this potentially hazardous complication which could occur in any patient with a spinal cord lesion at or above T6. It can precipitate severe acute hypertension, acute myocardial failure or intracranial hemorrhage. We reviewed clinical features, etiologies, pathophysiology, treatment and prophylaxis.

Alterations in plasma sialyltransferase associated with successful chemotherapy of a disseminated tumor. Case report

Levels of plasma sialyltransferase were measured in a patient with disseminated carcinoma of the testes. Initial enzyme values, elevated six fold above those in normal controls, were among the highest thus far encountered in a population of patients with various stages and types of malignancy. During a remarkable respose to chemotherapy with cis-diaminodichloroplatinum, plasma sialyltransferase levels fell markedly. Serial measurement of this enzyme may aid in evaluation of tumor responsiveness to therapy in patients whose disease is not readily measurable.

Incidence of bacterial endocarditis in ventricular septal defects

In summary, the population figures presented place the risk of bacterial endocarditis for cases of ventricular septal defect in the 5 to 14-year age group as 1 in 470 patient years, or 2.1 per 100 cases in 10 years. The estimated risks for the 5-year-old and 15-year-old patient up to the age of 70 years would be 13.6% and 11.5% respectively. In the city of Toronto, only four cases were seen in 10 years in the general population of over half a million, while in metropolitan Toronto with the population of 1.3 million, eight cases were seen in a similar period. If the clinical experiences of the various authors reported in the literature are pooled with that at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, one would have 21 cases of bacterial endocarditis in 11,328 patient years. This would place the incidence as approximately 1 in 500 patient years.

It is suggested that the surgery for ventricular septal defect may itself initiate bacterial endocarditis as noted in three of our cases.

On the basis of the available data, there is insufficient evidence to designate the risk of future bacterial endocarditis as an adequate reason for surgical closure of the defect.