Nonspecific alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase activity of T-lymphocytes: study in healthy newborns and children, in immune deficiencies and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

The aim of this study was to compare the E rosette-forming cells and nonspecific alpha naphthyl esterase (ANAE)-positive lymphocyte values in normal and pathologic situations. In newborns, the ANAE-positive lymphocytes represented less than 60% of the E rosette population. During the first year of life, E rosette-forming cells (E-RFC) reached normal values as soon as one month whereas only three-fourths of the T cells exhibited an ANAE-positive staining. In adult T cell populations, nearly 90% were ANAE-positive. Our observations of immune deficiencies suggested that the relative proportions of E-RFC and ANAE-positive lymphocytes were generally comparable to normal values. However, in the majority of the patients with very low or absent E-RFC (severe combined immune deficiencies, Di George syndrome, and congenital rubella), some ANAE-positive lymphocytes could be detected. Our immunologic survey shows that the ANAE-positive lymphocytes were in a normal range 2 years after a bone marrow transplantation in severe combined immune deficiencies patients. One child who exhibited a normal amount of E-RFC and whose lymphocytes failed to respond in vitro to mitogens had practically no ANAE-positive lymphocytes. An elevated amount of ANAE-positive cells in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis may reflect an augmentation of the T helper functions which permanently stimulated in vivo immunoglobulin production.

[Basic and clinical studies on cefoxitin in pediatrics (author's transl)]

Laboratory and clinical studies were performed on a newly introduced antibiotic of the cephamycin series, cefoxitin (CFX), and the results obtained were as follows: 1. Employing clinical isolates, MICs were determined and comparisons made with those of cephalosporins. The MICs of CFX against S. aureus and S. pyogenes slightly inferior to those of the cephalosporins, while the MICs of CFX against Gram-negative bacilli such as E. coli, Proteus sp. and Klebsiella sp. were considerably superior to those of CER and CET, and slightly superior to those of CEZ. 2. The peak serum concentrations were 34.7 mcg/ml and 67.6 mcg/ml at 30 minutes after an intravenous injection in doses of 12.5 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg, respectively. The peak serum concentration was 40.8 mcg/ml at the end of 60 minutes intravenous drip infusion when it was given in a dose of 25 mg/kg. In these cases, the serum half life were 25.8-51.2 minutes, and their urinary recovery were 67-90%. 3. Clinically, CFX was given to the 29 children with a total of 31 of varying bacterial infections: 6 cases of urinary tract infection (U.T.I.), 19 of respiratory tract infection (R.T.I.), 2 of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (S.S.S.S.), 2 of purulent lymphadenitis and 2 cases of soft tissue dermatological infections. Overall efficacy rate was 83.9% (26 cases). No significant adverse reaction was noted except for 1 case of rash. Abnormal laboratory findings observed were elevation of GOT and GPT in 1 patient and of GPT in 1 patient.

Neutralizing activity against Clostridium difficile toxin in the supernatants of cultured colostral cells

Human colostral specimens were obtained from 60 Japanese postpartum women within the first 3 days after delivery. Neutralizing activity against Clostridium difficile toxin was evaluated with Y1 adrenal cells in miniculture. When Y1 adrenal cells were exposed briefly to the toxin, they showed a rounding response in culture, resembling that effected by Escherichia coli enterotoxin; however, preincubation of the toxin with aqueous phase of colostrum significantly reduced its cytopathic effect on Y1 adrenal cells. Of 60 colostral specimens, 17 samples had neutralizing activity against the toxin. Cell-free supernatants of colostral cells cultured for 7 days without mitogens contained significant amounts of both immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgM, but very small amounts of IgG. Neutralizing activity of cell-free supernatants of cultured colostral cells was evaluated as described above. Neutralizing activity against the toxin was identified in five samples of culture supernatants out of 60 colostral cell specimens. In all five cases, the aqueous phase of colostrum also had a neutralizing effect against C. difficile toxin. Neutralizing activity against the toxin found in five supernatants of cultured colostral cells was completely abolished only by anti-human IgA antibody as assessed by immune precipitation.

[Neutralization of static electricity charged on running vinyl chloride sheet by the use of soft beta-ray sources (author's transl)]

The feasibility of 147Pm and 3H beta-ray sources as static eliminator was experimentally investigated. A sheet of vinyl chloride of 0.1 mm in thickness was used as an example of electrified materials. Its surface charge densities before and after beta-ray neutralization were measured as the function of electrostatic charge changing the speed of the sheet and the distance between the beta-ray source and the sheet. With a 147Pm beta-ray source of 200mCi in effective activity, almost complete neutralization was found for the sheet with the charge density less than 6 X 10(-6) C/m2 running at the speed of 0.18 m/s. In the case of the running speed of 0.5 m/s frequently used in industry, the electrostatic charge below 3 X 10(6) C/m2, where corona discharger is not so effective, was also perfectly eliminated. It was found that the optimal distance between the beta-ray source and the sheet was 10 cm in the case of 147Pm. The use of 3H beta-ray source of 1 Ci was not satisfactory. These results demonstrate that 147 Pm beta-ray source operates most efficiently as static eliminator when the charge density of material and/or its moving speed is not high.

Relationship between hepatic hemodynamics and biliary pressure in dogs: its significance in clinical shock following biliary decompression

The changes in the hepatic hemodynamics were promptly reflected in the biliary pressure in dogs. Both wedged hepatic venous pressure and portal venous pressure increased in response to the elevated biliary pressure, and conversely decreased following rapid biliary decompression, suggesting that the changes in the biliary pressure might affect the hepatic hemodynamics post-sinusoidally. It was supposed that too rapid biliary decompression might trigger the following consequences; 1) decrease in sinusoidal pressure, 2) increase in sinusoidal inflow, and 3) extravasation of intravascular fluid in the perivascular space. When these were not sufficiently compensated, they could trigger shock in the jaundiced patients.