Increase of oleic acid in erythrocytes associated with malignancies

Total lipid extracts of erythrocyte cell membranes from 60 patients with documented malignancies, 41 patients with various acute and chronic diseases, and 40 healthy subjects were analysed. The results were expressed as ratios of stearic to oleic acid, reflecting the degree of desaturation of stearic acid. The mean ratios for the healthy subjects and controls without cancer were 1.5 (SD 0.27) and 1.45 (0.28), respectively, whereas the ratios for patients with malignancies were consistently lower than the cut off point of 1.0, with a mean of 0.69 (0.15) (p less than 0.001). The desaturation ratio was also significantly lower (p less than 0.001) in the group with recurrent tumours (mean 0.75 (0.04)) compared with those with no evidence of recurrent tumours (mean 1.55 (0.27)). It is suggested that the increased unsaturation (oleic acid) in the circulating erythrocytes may be useful in the diagnosis and postoperative monitoring of patients with cancer.

Reduction in the stearic to oleic acid ratio in the circulating red blood cells: a possible tumour marker in solid human neoplasms

Gas liquid chromatography study of the 18 carbon chain length fatty acids (C18FA) of the human red blood cells (RBCs) was performed on 65 patients with various clinical disorders. It was found that the stearic to oleic acid ratio (SI) of the RBCs was significantly lower (P less than 0.001) in patients with malignant conditions (n = 20, SI = 0.62 +/- 0.16) compared with pathological non-malignant diseases (n = 10, SI = 1.19 +/- 0.2) and the normal control group (n = 35, SI = 1.57 +/- 0.5). Our early results suggest that the increased unsaturation (oleic acid) in the circulating RBCs could be used as a chemical marker in various solid neoplasms.

What determines the symptoms associated with subclavian artery occlusive disease?

Symptoms associated with subclavian artery stenosis are related to reduced cerebral or arm blood flow. A large difference in blood pressure between the two arms is associated with symptoms of arm ischemia alone and is usually caused by an anatomic variant. The presence or absence of a radiologic steal alone did not seem to determine the type or presence of symptoms. The type of cerebral symptoms seems to be determined by the location of other extracranial vascular stenosis. In patients with hemispheric symptoms there was a higher incidence of anterior circulation insufficiency and a greater reduction in the overall cerebral blood flow. In patients with nonhemispheric symptoms a higher incidence of posterior circulation insufficiency occurred. There may be a small group with nonhemispheric symptoms and a subclavian artery stenosis in whom reversed vertebral artery blood flow is the sole determinant. Perhaps more accurate delineation of other extracranial vascular stenosis would help determine what stenosis in addition to the subclavian artery occlusive disease determines the presenting symptoms. Surgical repair of these lesions may lead to an improved cure rate in this group of patients.

A chemiluminescent probe specific for singlet oxygen

We have synthesized a methoxyvinylpyrene (MVP) in order to model the mechanism for the observed microsomal chemiluminescence of benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol, the proximate carcinogenic metabolite of benzo[a]pyrene. This MVP analog has been found to be a highly efficient and specific chemiluminescent probe for picomole quantities of singlet oxygen and singlet oxygen equivalents, and it produces significant chemiluminescence when reacted with cytochrome P-450 enzymes.

The effect of tamoxifen on the growth of human malignant melanoma in Vitro

The effect of tamoxifen on the growth of malignant melanoma was investigated using human cell lines and single-cell suspensions prepared from patients' tumours cultured in soft agar. Tamoxifen stimulated both [3H]-thymidine incorporation and cell numbers in all of the cell lines tested. Cytoplasmic oestrogen receptor (ER) was detected in one of the responding lines and progesterone receptor (PR) in another. Tumour colony formation in soft agar culture was satisfactorily established from tumour cell suspensions from 13 of 21 patients, only one of which had detectable cytoplasmic ER. Greater than 50% reduction in colony formation with 5 X 10(-7) M tamoxifen occurred in two tumours, neither of which contained ER. These results indicate that tamoxifen has the potential to either retard or accelerate the growth of human malignant melanoma.

Two-dimensional gel analysis of a second family of class II molecules by polymorphic HLA-DR4,5, and w9 monoclonal antibodies

Human Ia-like, class II molecules were isolated by immunoprecipitation with monoclonal antibodies from various HLA-D/DR homozygous cell lines and were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The monoclonal antibody PLM12 reacted with B cells carrying DR4, DR5, DRw6.2, and DRw9 phenotypes, and its reactivity perfectly correlated with the previously defined TB21 (MB3-like) specificity. Class II molecules detected by PLM12 were structurally distinct from those precipitated by the anti-DR monoclonal antibody NC1 on all HLA-DR4, DR5, DRw6.2, and DRw9 homozygous cell lines and showed polymorphism in heavy and light chains among these cell lines. The monoclonal antibodies PLM2 and PLM9 only reacted with B cells carrying DR5 and DRw6.2 and also detected a distinct set of class II molecules from those precipitated by NC1 but identical to those of PLM12. Thus, PLM2 and PLM9 serologically detected a new subtypic antigen of the PLM12-reactive class II molecules. Furthermore, the antibody NC1 precipitated two light chains and one heavy chain from HLA-DRw6.2 homozygous cell line EBV-Sh. The result indicated the presence of three sets of class II molecules: two in a DR family and another carrying the polymorphic determinants detected by PLM2, PLM9, and PLM12 in a second family.

Two-dimensional gel analysis of a second family of class II molecules by polymorphic HLA-DR4,5, and w9 monoclonal antibodies

Human Ia-like, class II molecules were isolated by immunoprecipitation with monoclonal antibodies from various HLA-D/DR homozygous cell lines and were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The monoclonal antibody PLM12 reacted with B cells carrying DR4, DR5, DRw6.2, and DRw9 phenotypes, and its reactivity perfectly correlated with the previously defined TB21 (MB3-like) specificity. Class II molecules detected by PLM12 were structurally distinct from those precipitated by the anti-DR monoclonal antibody NC1 on all HLA-DR4, DR5, DRw6.2, and DRw9 homozygous cell lines and showed polymorphism in heavy and light chains among these cell lines. The monoclonal antibodies PLM2 and PLM9 only reacted with B cells carrying DR5 and DRw6.2 and also detected a distinct set of class II molecules from those precipitated by NC1 but identical to those of PLM12. Thus, PLM2 and PLM9 serologically detected a new subtypic antigen of the PLM12-reactive class II molecules. Furthermore, the antibody NC1 precipitated two light chains and one heavy chain from HLA-DRw6.2 homozygous cell line EBV-Sh. The result indicated the presence of three sets of class II molecules: two in a DR family and another carrying the polymorphic determinants detected by PLM2, PLM9, and PLM12 in a second family.

Rapid expansion of human cytotoxic T cell clones: growth promotion by a heat-labile serum component and by various types of feeder cells

Culture conditions are described that result in rapid expansion of cloned cytotoxic T cells of human origin. A combination of allogeneic lymphocytes and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformed B cells (B-LCL) as irradiated feeder cells resulted in a 10-fold higher cell yield than obtained by use of either feeder cell alone. The large cell numbers obtained in a relatively short period of time facilitate in vitro and in vivo experimentation. Further enhancement of cell proliferation was obtained by the use of fresh human serum not heat-inactivated before use. This suggests the presence of a heat-labile growth stimulating factor or factors in human serum. Round-bottomed microtitre wells were found to give best culture results. Plating and harvesting of cells cultured in wells was facilitated by a specially designed culture flask. Addition of leucoagglutinin (purified phytohaemagglutinin) to the culture medium resulted in an approximately 3-fold higher cell yield. Optimal culture results were obtained when all the above factors were combined. It was possible to expand single cytotoxic T cells to up to 10(9) cells in about 30 days with full retention of cytolytic activity and target cell specificity. T cell clones have now been cultured for more than 70 generations.

A robust, brief measure of an individual's most preferred level of salt in an ordinary foodstuff

A single-session procedure to assess an individual's most preferred level of a factor in a product is justified theoretically and illustrated by the results for salt concentration in samples of bread and tomato soup tested on 30 young men who had had no previous experience of the task. Each man rated the saltiness of each sample as a distance below or above his ideal for that food type. Without the rater knowing, his stimulus set was coordinated to his rating responses in order to minimise biases in what other have shown can be a linear response mode. The Weber fraction is constant for the medium range of NaCl solutions when concentration units are used, and so Fechner's principle of direct scaling was applied: mean linear regressions between ideal-relative intensity responses and the logarithm of salt concentrations in each individual were nearly always statistically reliable with only six to 20 ratings of three to six salt levels in bread or soup. Values of the regression intercepts for bread at the initial session and five months later correlated significantly, as also did the regression slopes. Thus, a robust value for each individual's ideal salt level for each food could be interpolated from the regression equation. There was no effect of sequence of bread and soup sessions. Bread and soup salt-ideals were correlated, as were their slopes. A regression slope appears to represent an individual's tolerance of deviations from ideal. The relation of the slope to choice behaviour, and its relative dependence on intensity sensitivity and a preference motivation characteristic of the individual and test situation, remain to be elucidated. This procedure should have wide application in consumer preference measurement.

Alpha gliadin antibody levels: a serological test for coeliac disease

The diagnostic value in coeliac disease of circulating antibodies to casein, crude gliadin, and alpha gliadin was assessed using an adaption of the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay system. alpha Gliadin was the only antigen which consistently separated 26 patients with untreated coeliac disease from 26 normal controls and 13 patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The mean assay index for the 26 patients was 3.1 (SD 1.2) compared with 1.05 (0.5) for the normal controls and 1.1 (0.6) for patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The alpha gliadin antibody levels of six patients with coeliac disease who had maintained a gluten free diet for at least two years were not significantly higher than normal (1.0 (0.4)). The validity of the test was determined in 90 consecutive patients who were being investigated for the presence of coeliac disease. Levels of alpha gliadin antibody were raised in 36 out of 44 patients found to have histologically proved coeliac disease and in six out of 46 subjects whose jejunal mucosa was normal. Serial alpha gliadin concentrations were measured in 12 patients with coeliac disease who had repeat jejunal biopsies performed six months after starting a gluten free diet. The levels of antibody fell in seven of the eight patients whose jejunal mucosa improved on maintaining the diet. They remained raised in four patients who did not adhere to the diet and whose mucosa did not improve. Although a test measuring alpha gliadin antibodies is unlikely to replace jejunal biopsy in the diagnosis of coeliac disease it may be useful in screening for the disease among outpatients.

Definition of four HLA-A2 subtypes by CML typing and biochemical analysis

The population of HLA-A2-positive individuals, currently considered serologically homogeneous, can be divided into three subtypes on the basis of antigen recognition by various HLA-A2-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). When these three types of HLA-A2 antigens were analyzed biochemically, they were found to be distinct. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) of HLA antigens digested with neuraminidase (NANAse) suggested that the difference(s) reside in the polypeptide backbone of the HLA-A2 heavy chain. Biochemical analysis distinguishes three distinct categories of HLA-A2 antigens: (1) a major subtype, designated HLA-A2.I, (2) a minor subtype, designated HLA-A2.II, possessing a more basic isoelectric point (IEP) and (3) a minor HLA-A2 subtype more acidic in its IEP than HLA-A2.I, designated HLA-A2.III. A fourth HLA-A2 subtype could be defined by discordance between cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) typing and biochemical analysis. The latter HLA-A2 antigen was defined as a variant by CTL, but was biochemically indistinguishable from the major subtype HLA-A2.I.

A chemiluminescence assay specific for the microsomal metabolite, benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol

It is possible to assay for trans-7,8-dihydroxy 7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]-pyrene (BP-7,8-dihydrodiol) in complex metabolite mixtures produced during microsomal metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) because only the BP-7,8-dihydrodiol metabolite will produce significant chemiluminescence (CL) in the NaOCl-H2O2 singlet oxygen-generating system. The limiting CL sensitivity is 30 pmol in a 1-ml CL reaction mixture. CL assays for BP-7,8-dihydrodiol in microsomal reaction solutions gave concentrations identical with those determined by calibrated high-performance liquid chromatography.

Anterior to posterior variations in the concentration of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in human basal ganglia

Serial coronal sections were cut from frozen right cerebral hemispheres from five normal human brains. From each section samples of caudate nucleus, putamen, internal and external globus pallidus and substantia nigra were removed. Sampling was such that the entire structure was removed from each slice. The concentration of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity, expressed as units per mg protein, was found to vary between nuclei, and to vary along the anterior to posterior axis of some nuclei. Highest concentrations were found in the caudate nucleus, with the head and tail containing greater amounts than the body. The high concentrations in the head of the caudate may be due to contamination of samples of this region with adjacent nucleus accumbens. In a separate series of cases, the nucleus accumbens was shown to be considerably higher concentrations of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity than the head of the caudate. Concentrations in the putamen tended to decrease along the anterior to posterior axis. In the external globus pallidus, levels of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity showed the most striking changes along the anterior to posterior axis, rising 2.5 fold in the first three samples, and then falling 4 fold in the more posterior sections. The internal globus pallidus had generally lower concentrations, and these varied in a pattern opposite to that in the external globus pallidus. Levels in the substantia nigra were low compared to those in caudate and putamen.

Chronic middle ear disease and auditory perceptual deficits: is there a link?

Data are presented indicating a correlation between chronic recurrent otitis media of early childhood and in increased likelihood of subsequent auditory processing deficits in a group of children referred for evaluation of impaired learning. Helpful appendices are added for a better understanding a central auditory processing skills.

CELL DOUBLING TIME IN THE APICAL MM OF ELONGATING LATERAL ROOTS OF VICIA FABA L

Cell doubling time was determined in several ways in the apical mm of newly emerged, 0·2, 1 and 4 cm long lateral roots of Vicia faba L. and in every case it tended to decrease with increase in root length. Similar values were obtained in the roots of each length investigated when cell doubling time was calculated from the rate of passage of cells into the period of DNA synthesis (S) in both control and colchicine treated roots and from the rate of accumulation of cells in metaphase in the presence of colchicine, assuming cell number increased exponentially, i.e. colchicine had not affected the rate of entry of cells into mitosis or S during the 3 to 6 h period over which measurements were taken. A discrepancy was found, however, between the values determined for cell doubling time obtained from these rates and those calculated on the basis of the method devised by Evans and his co-workers (Evans, Neary and Tonkinson, 1957). Possible reasons for such a discrepancy are discussed.

Retention of fluoride from diets containing materials produced during aluminium smelting

1. Using male rats, the availability of fluoride from five by products of the aluminium smelting industry was tested. This was done by considering the balance between fluoride administered in controlled diets and the total fluoride content of waste products eliminated over an experimental period of 1 week. 2. Results indicated that yields of available fluoride expressed as percentage weight of original material were cryolite (Na3ALF6), 45.9%; sodium fluoride (NaF), 41.7%; aluminium fluoride (AFL3.H20), 9.1%; mist eliminator grid solids (with CaF2), 9.4%; reclaimed alumina with adsorbed F, 0.27%. 3. Of the various tissues analysed for fluoride content, only the kidney and femur showed any significant correlation with the amounts of fluoride absorbed or retained.

English schoolchildren and illegal drugs. II. Changes over one year

Part I of this paper described levels of familiarity with drugs of fifth form pupils in 29 schools in England. In Part II, changes in reported levels of drug use over 1 year are described in two sets of pupils. First, changes in drug use reported between a 1973 forth form group and a matched fifth form group from the same schools 1 year later (follow-up study); and second, differences in reported levels of use between the 1973 fourth form and a matched group of 1974 fourth forms from the same schools (trend study). It is concluded that there was no evidence of any substantial general increase or decrease in familiarity with drugs in the schools studied during the 1-year period of study.

English schoolchildren and illegal drugs. I. Levels of familiarity with drugs

Questionnaires were given to groups of fifteen and sixteen-year-old students in 29 schools in various parts of England, and their reported familiarity with illegal drugs is presented here: those students who have no drug-using acquaintances, those who have such acquaintances but have never been offered an illegal drug, those who have had offers and rejected them all, and those who have ever accepted an offer are distinguished. Levels of acceptance of illegal drugs, which averaged 10.5% across the schools sampled, are compared with levels found in other English surveys. It is concluded that levels of familiarity with illegal drugs varies so much from school to school that attempts to establish a national average figure would not be useful for predicting levels of familiarity in any particular school. Part II of this paper, forthcoming, will discuss changes over the 1-year period 1973-1974.

Rat lymphocyte differentiation antigens detected by rabbit antiserum to thymocytes and leukaemic cells

The lymphocyte differentiation antigens detected by rabbit antisera to rat thymocytes and leukaemic cells have been investigated. Thy-1 was the only such antigen detected by the anti-thymocyte serum, which was predominately directed to two xenoantigenic determinants rather than the Thy-1.1 determinant on this molecule. Two additional antigens were recognized by the anti-leukaemia serum. One of these was found on thymocytes and peripheral lymphocytes, but only on 1 per cent of bone marrow cells. The other was found not only on lymphocytes, but also on the nucleated myeloid and erythroid cells of bone marrow.