Macrophage plasminogen activator: induction by asbestos is blocked by anti-inflammatory steroids

Intraperitoneal injection of asbestos fibres into mice induces the formation of exudates containing macrophages that produce plasminogen activator. Like-wise, in vitro addition of asbestos to macrophage cultures stimulates plasminogen activator secretion; the synthesis and secretion of lysozyme and lysosomal enzymes are not changed under these conditions. The enhanced secretion of plasminogen activator by macrophages exposed to asbestos is suppressed by low concentrations of anti-inflammatory steroids.

The radiological differentiation between ulcerative and granulomatous colitis by double contrast radiology

The purpose of this report is to illustrate the value of the double contrast technic for the detection of early changes of colitis and for the differentiation between ulcerative and granulomatous colitis. Fifty consecutive patients with radiologically-diagnosed nonspecific colitis are included and the radiographs, endoscopic and pathologic reports and photographs were reviewed. On radiological grounds ulcerative colitis were diagnosed in 23 patients and granulomatous colitis in 27 patients. There were no radiologically indeterminate cases. Follow-up information was obtained by colectomy in nine patients, colonoscopy in nine patients and sigmoidoscopy in the remainder. In no case did the endoscopic or pathologic diagnosis conflict with the radiological diagnosis. With the double contrast technic, very fine mucosal detail can be seen including features such as granular mucosa, "aphthoid" ulcers and discontinuous disease which are not demonstrable by the conventional single contrast barium enema. This detailed mapping of the nature and extent of disease facilitates the differential diagnosis between ulcerative and granulomatous colitis.

Macrophage plasminogen activator: modulation of enzyme production by anti-inflammatory steroids, mitotic inhibitors, and cyclic nucleotides

Plasminogen activator production by cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages can be modulated in vitro by low concentrations of various pharmacologically active molecules. Glucocorticoid hormones and their synthetic derivatives, as well as cholera toxin, colchicine, and vinblastine markedly inhibit production of this enzyme without affecting other important macrophage functions. The effect of glucocorticoids is of particular interest, both because their relative in vivo anti-inflammatory potencies correlate exactly with their effect on plasminogen activator production in culture and because this effect occurs at near physiological concentrations. In view of the correlations established in other systems between plasminogen activator production and cell migration, we have also examined the age of the macrophages in thioglycollate-induced exudates. Confirming the results of Van Furth and Cohn (1968), we have found that the majority of these cells are young, having recently replicated and arrived in the peritoneal cavity. Using a fibrinagar overlay technique which allowed us to determine the production of plasminogen activator by individual cells. we have found that the majority of these cells produce the enzyme. The potential roles of plasminogen activator in monocyte migration and the relationship of this enzyme to the anti-inflammatory effect of gluccorticoids are correlated and emphasized.

Repair of the dorsal apparatus of the finger

This paper describes a simple method of assessing the constituent features of flexion deformities of the proximal interphalangeal joints in Hansen's disease, and a simple operation to correct the anterior displacement of the lateral band and the associated contractures.

Hepatic infarction. A clinicopathologic study of seven cases

Five of the seven cases of hepatic infarction that compose this study were encountered in a series of 442 consecutive autopsies, giving an incidence of one in 88 autopsies. The clinical and laboratory features were suggestive of hepatocellular dysfunction, although in only three cases was the diagnosis considered prior to death. Morphologically, in four of the seven patients, the infarcts were regarded as massive or of submassive proportions and were directly responsible for the patients' death. The majority of infarcts were of recent origin, with the estimated ages ranging from 18 to 72 hours. One was of about two weeks' duration and was the only example in this series associated with cirrhosis.

Correlation of endoscopy and double-contrast radiography in the early stages of ulcerative and granulomatous colitis

Early radiological changes in ulcerative colitis include (a) finely granular mucosa due to hyperemia and edema, (b) mucosal stippling due to adherence of barium to superficial ulcers, and (c) coarsely granular mucosa due to ingrowth of granulation tissue. In granulomatous colitis, early changes include discrete, superficial ulcers, often against a background of normal mucosa, seen best en face. All of these changes can be demonstrated by the double-contrast technique. The radiological and endoscopic findings were in agreement in 95% of the examinations in the authors' series. The importance of the technical aspects of the examination is stressed.

Efficacy of hepatitis B immune serum globulin after accidental exposure. Preliminary report of the Veterans Administration Cooperative Study

A randomised, double-blind, controlled trial has been undertaken to compare the efficacy of hepatitis B immune globulin (H.B.I.G.) with that of immune serum globulin (I.S.G.) for the prophylaxis of viral hepatitis. Participants in the trial were individuals exposed accidentally to material infectious for hepatitis (primarily viral B hepatitis). Preliminary evaluation of the first 302 of the 561 individuals entered into the study indicates that H.B.I.G. significantly reduced the frequencies of both clinical and subclinical hepatitis during the first 3--4 months after the injection. Less than 10% of H.B.I.G. recipients had detectable anti-HBs at the sixth month after the injection, suggesting that H.B.I.G. might need to be given every 3--4 months to continually exposed individuals. Further long-term evaluation is required in order to define more clearly those most likely to benefit from H.B.I.G.

Reproductive performance of male and female phenotypes in three sex chromosomal genotypes(XX, XY, YY) in the killifish, Oryzias latipes

The present study investigates the juvenile and adult reproductive performance of Japanese killifish, Oryzias latipes, which were successfully sex-reversed by feeding them male or female sex hormones during the fry stage. Sexual maturation of these laboratory grown fish of three known genotypes (XX, SY, YY) occurred earliest in untreated genotypes, next in genotypes treated with male hormone (methyl testosterone) and female hormone (estrone), respectively. The delay in sexual maturation caused by early exogenous, sex-hormone treatment may represent a disturbance in the delicate neural-gonadal axis. However, the degree of response was also strongly influenced by the animal's sex chromosomal genotype. XX fish, normally phenotypic females, were affected more by the male hormone than by the female hormone. XY and YY fish, normally phenotypic males, were delayed more by the female hormone than by the male hormone. This specific sex hormone-sex genotype interaction also influenced adult reproductive performance (sperm or egg production). Differences in the metabolism of male and female sex hormones by the XX, XY, and YY fish are probably responsible for these interesting findings.

The diagnostic accuracy of barium studies of the stomach and duodenum--correlation with endoscopy

Radiologic and endoscopic diagnoses were compared in 240 patients. In 175 patients examined by a standard barium contrast technique there were 39 radiological errors (22%). The most common causes of error were failure to detect an abnormality on the radiograph and prominent mucosal folds which could either mask or simulate small lesions. In 65 patients examined by a formal double contrast technique using effervescent pills and a thick barium suspension, there were 4 radiological errors (6%). In addition, superficial gastric erosions were demonstrated in 7 patients. Double contrast radiography appears to offer the potential for significant improvements in diagnostic accuracy.

Demonstration of superficial gastric erosions by double contrast radiography

Superficial gastric erosions were found in 30 of 267 patients undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy. In 13 of these patients, and in 7 others not submitted to endoscopy, superficial gastric erosions were demonstrated radiologically by the double contrast technique. These may appear as flat, linear streaks, as dots of barium, or as target-like lesions with a central fleck of barium surrounded by a radiolucent halo. In 1 patient, a ring-shaped density was demonstrated due to a small blood clot adherent to a gastric erosion. Although patients presenting with acute hemorrhagic gastritis should still be examined first by endoscopy, double contrast radiography has been of value in patients presenting after the cessation of bleeding and in patients with vague digestive complaints. Because of our experience with the diagnosis of standard methods, and because of the Japanese experience with diagnosis of superficial gastric carcinoma, it is recommended that this technique be applied more widely to facilitate the detection of early and small lesions in the stomach.

Polarographical measurement of local cerebral blood flow in the conscious and anesthetized primate

This study was undertaken to evaluate the brain hemodynamics of the primate ( Macaca mulatta ) in the conscious and anesthetized state. A polarographical circuit was utilized for repetitive measurements of local and average total cerebral blood flow in the conscious state, during analgesia/paralysis, and in the anesthetized state. The electrochemical considerations and in vitro testing are described. Blood flow values were highest in sensory and motor cortex (92.5 ± 3.5 ml/100 gm per minute and 86.2 ± 2.6 ml/100 gm per minute), while there were no significant differences found between other regions of association cortex. Mean deep gray matter blood flow values ranged between 57.6 ± 3.8 and 69.2 ± 3.4 ml/100 gm per minute. The mean local blood flow for the centrum semiovale was found to be 19.5 ± 1.2 ml/100 gm per minute and that for pontine tegmentum was 58.1 ± 3.5 ml/100 gm per minute. At any one electrode locus, at steady state levels of arterial blood gases, the reproducibility of blood flow ranged between 11% and 18%. Seventy-five percent nitrous oxide/25% oxygen in combination with a paralytic agent produced a questionably significant drop in caudate nucleus blood flow. The depressant effects of anesthetic doses of sodium pentobarbital on cerebral blood flow, however, were significant at most electrode sites. These data indicate that the measured blood flow rates within small brain volumes are critically affected by barbiturate anesthesia and seriously question the value of published reports in which these agents were utilized.

Successful treatment of Pseudomonas cepacia endocarditis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole

A patient with a history of alcoholism and drug abuse who developed Pseudomonas cepacia endocarditis is described. The organism was found to be resistant in vitro to all common antimicrobial agents except chloramphenicol and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Treatment failed with penicillin and streptomycin and later with chloramphenicol. Orally administered trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, however, resulted in sterilization of the patient's blood and aortic valve which was resected 27 days after the start of therapy. A 6-week course of therapy was completed and, to date (6 months after treatment), there has been no recurrence.

Cell-to-cell interaction in the immune response. VII. Requirement for differentiation of thymus-derived cells

Experiments were designed to test the possibility that thymus-derived (T) cells cooperate with nonthymus derived (B) cells in antibody responses by acting as passive carriers of antigen. Thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL) from fowl gammaG-tolerant mice were incubated in vitro with fowl anti-mouse lymphocyte globulin (FALG), which was shown not to be immunosuppressive in mice. On transfer into adult thymectomized, irradiated, and marrow protected (TxBM) hosts together with a control antigen, horse RBC, a response to horse RBC but not to fowl gammaG was obtained. By contrast, TxBM recipients of nontolerant, FALG-coated TDL responded to both antigens and the antibody-forming cells were shown to be derived from the host, not from the injected TDL. These findings suggested that, under the conditions of the experiment, triggering of unprimed B cells in the spleens of TxBM hosts was not achieved with antigen-coated tolerant lymphocytes. Another model utilized the ability of B cells to bind antibody-antigen complexes. Spleen cells from TxBM mice, incubated in vitro with anti-fowl gammaG-fowl gammaG.NIP, were injected with or without normal TDL (a source of T cells) into irradiated hosts. Only mice given both cell types could produce an anti-NIP antibody response. In a further experiment, spleen cells from HGG.NIP-primed mice were injected together with NIP-coated B cells (prepared as above) into irradiated hosts. A substantial anti-NIP antibody response occurred. If, however, the T cells in the spleens of HGG.NIP-primed mice were eliminated by treatment with anti-theta serum and complement, the NIP response was abolished. It was concluded that antigen-coated B cells could not substitute for T cells either in the primary or secondary response. Treatment of T cells from unprimed or primed mice with mitomycin C impaired their capacity to collaborate with B cells on transfer into irradiated hosts. Taken together these findings suggest that before collaboration can take place T cells must be activated by antigen to differentiate and in so doing may produce some factor essential for triggering of B cells.