[Decentralized high-dose cytostatic treatment with autologous stem cell support]

In the past high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell support in the treatment of certain types of cancer, was centralized to two hospitals in Norway. Almost three years ago it was decided that the treatment should be offered by all five university hospitals. In the northernmost university hospital of Norway, Tromsø, peripheral stem cells were harvested from 29 patients after successful mobilization with chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). After high-dose chemotherapy, more than 2 x 10(6) CD34-positive stem cells/kg were transplanted in 24 patients and a sign of reconstitution of bone marrow function was achieved with mean time for neutrophils > 0.5x10(9)/l, 9.8 days and for platelets > 20x10(9)/l, 10.8 days. No treatment-related deaths have occurred. Transplantation of selected CD34-positive stem cells has been performed in one patient. Recovery was comparable to the recovery of patients who had undergone transplantation with unselected products. This indicates that even small centres performing as few as ten procedures per year may offer high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell support safely and successfully.

[High-dose therapy with autologous stem cell support in malignant lymphoma and breast cancer. Experiences with hematopoietic stem cells isolate from blood]

Since 1994, 17 breast cancer patients and 16 lymphoma patients have been treated at the Norwegian Radium Hospital with high-dose therapy supported by autologous peripheral progenitor cells. All the patients were given granulocyte colony stimulating factor in the recovery phase after cytotoxic treatment in order to mobilize and harvest peripheral progenitor cells. Aphareses were successful in all patients and the mean number of CD34 cells reinfused per kilo body weight was 7.05 x 10(6) for the lymphoma patients and 11.1 x 10(6) for the breast cancer patients. The mean time to recover > or = 0.5 x 10(9)/l granulocytes and > or = 20 x 10(9)/l platelets after reinfusion of stem cells was 10 days and 11.7 days respectively for the lymphoma patients, while the breast cancer patients engrafted at day 8.6 and day 9.3. No severe treatment-related complications were observed.

Sequence-selective interaction between mercury(II) ions and the DNA dodecamer [d(GCCGATATCGGC)]2 studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy

The palindromic dodecamer [d(GCCGATATCGGC)]2 has been titrated by Hg(ClO4)2 in order to study sequence dependent HgII ion interactions. The titration pattern as monitored by 1D and 2D 1H NMR is consistent with a transition to a new conformer of the dodecamer induced by HgII ions. At intermediate stages of the titration, the proton signals from the new conformer coexist with those of the original one, indicating slow exchange between the two forms on the NMR timescale. The data clearly show that there is no major alteration in the secondary structure, e.g. B-->Z-form or duplex-->hairpin transition. The intra- and inter-residue sequential walk is completed except for a break between T6 and A7. At a concentration level r = [HgII]/[nucleobase] < 0.20 all four central imino signals are present. This definitely excludes thymine N3 as a possible mercuration site. In the imino region of the spectra HgII ions induce a large upfield shift of the thymine imino resonance T8-N3H, while the other thymine resonance T6-N3H is unperturbed. The guanine imino signal G4-N1H shows a large downfield ring current shift caused by major conformational changes in the duplex. The complete titration experiment indicates that mercury, initially, binds selectively to the A5'-T8 base pair. A tentative model is proposed where mercury is cross-linking the two strands via thymine T8-O4 and the deprotonated amino group of the complementary adenine base A5'.

Mapping of an epitope defined by a human hybridoma antibody (TrD3): a new HLA-B supertype associated with a subset of HLA-Bw6

The new human-human hybridoma TrD3 secretes a cytotoxic IgM mAb, which reacted with 28 of a panel of 56 HLA-typed lymphoblastoid cells. All 28 TrD3+ cells expressed the HLA-B supertype Bw6, whereas 10 Bw6+ cells were not recognized by the mAb. None of the 17 Bw4 homozygous cells were positive with TrD3. Thus, TrD3 divided the Bw6+ HLA-B specificities of the cell lines into two subgroups, namely, Bw6+TrD3+ and Bw6+TrD3-, and therefore defines a new HLA-B supertype. TrD3 reacted strongly with some B8+ cell lines and weakly or not at all with others, suggesting a new split of HLA-B8. Compared with cell lines, TrD3 reacted more weakly with freshly isolated T cells from blood. The Bw6-specific rat mAb SFR8-B6 partially blocked the binding of 125I-labeled TrD3 to a Bw6+ cell line. By using cell lines transfected with hybrid genes between HLA-B7 (Bw6+) and HLA-B27 (Bw6-) as targets in flow cytometry, critical residues for the TrD3 epitope could be mapped to the amino acid region 24-62 of the HLA class-I alpha 1 domain. Comparison of deduced amino acid sequences of TrD3-positive and -negative cells indicated that a tryptophane residue at position 95 destroyed the TrD3 epitope, and that one or more of the residues in positions 24, 45, and 46 may be critical, suggesting that it is a discontinuous epitope. It is notable that none of these residues are located on alpha-helixes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A supertypic HLA-DP specificity defined by two human-human hybridoma antibodies (TrB50; TrE11)

We here report two human-human hybridoma antibodies: TrB50 (IgG) and TrE11 (IgM), derived from the same donor. They displayed an identical reaction pattern with 76 Epstein-Barr virus-transformed cell lines. Of these, 29 lines were completely HLA-typed and both antibodies recognized all cells expressing DPwl (six lines), DPw3 (five lines), or DPw5 (three lines). In addition, they bound to one out of four DPw2+ cells and three out of four DPblank+ cells. This specificity correlated strikingly with a characteristic DP beta amino acid sequence (DEAV) at positions 84-87 that had been determined by others. Binding of 125I-labeled TrB50 to lymphoblastoid cells was inhibited by unlabeled IVA-12 (anti-DR + DP monomorphic) and by TrE11. Furthermore, antigens in lysates from TrB50+TrE11+ cells cross-linked TrB50 and TrE11 to the monomorphic anti-DP monoclonal antibody B7/21. Collectively the data provide strong evidence that the epitopes reside on DP molecules. TrE11 can be used to type for this DP beta supertypic specificity by microcytotoxicity using isolated blood B lymphocytes as targets or by a rosette assay directly on whole blood.

A cytotoxic human-human hybridoma antibody (TrC7) specific for HLA-A29

TrC7 is a cytotoxic IgM human-human hybridoma anti-HLA Ab. Its reaction pattern with a panel of 48 HLA-typed EBV-transformed cell lines and PBMC from 348 HLA-typed individuals correlated precisely with expression of HLA-A29. TrC7 did not react with HLA-A30, -31, -32 or -w33, which, like A29, are splits of Aw19.

Multiple sclerosis patients have a high frequency of an HLA-DQ beta epitope defined by a human-human hybridoma antibody

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformed B-cells from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls were analysed for reactivity with the HLA-DQ-specific human-human hybridoma Ab TrB12 (anti-DQw6 + DQw8 + DQw9) by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). Positive results were obtained with 34 out of 35 MS patients (97.1%) and 79 out of 106 controls (74.5%) (p less than 0.005, RR = 11.6). Thus, DQ molecules that express the TrB12 epitope may contribute to the susceptibility to develop MS.

Two HLA-DQ-specific human-human hybridoma antibodies (TrG6;TrC5) define epitopes also expressed by a transcomplementing hybrid DQ molecule (DQw7 alpha/DQw4 beta)

We have generated two IgG human-human hybridoma Abs, TrG6 and TrC5, that define subsets of HLA-DQ. TrG6 combined selectively with lymphoblastoid cell lines that expressed DQw1 or DQw4. By sequential immunoprecipitation, competition with other mAbs of defined specificity for binding to antigen, and experiments where HLA antigens from cell lysates crosslinked pairs of mAbs, it was established that TrG6 bound a DQ-molecule. mAb TrC5 specifically recognized DQw2+DR3+ and DQw7+DR5+ cells. The reaction pattern of TrC5 with HLA-loss mutants indicated that TrC5 bound to DQw2 of the DQw2+DR3+ haplotype. Antigens in lysate from DQw7+DR5+ cells crosslinked TrC5 to the murine mAbs Tü22 (anti-DQ monomorphic) and IVD-12 (anti-DQw7 + DQw8 + DQw9), demonstrating that on these cells the TrC5 epitope is located on DQw7 molecules. Lysates from DQw7+DR5+/DQw4+DRw8+ heterozygous cells crosslinked TrG6 and TrC5, and available evidence indicated that the epitopes defined by these two mAbs were expressed by the transcomplementing DQ-molecule DQw7 alpha/DQw4 beta, where the DQw7 alpha chain specifies epitope TrC5 and the DQw4 beta chain specifies epitope TrG6. Taken together with published nucleotide sequences of DQ alpha and beta genes, our data are consistent with the conclusion that the amino acids at positions 69 and/or 75 of the DQ alpha chain of DQw2+DR3+ and DQw7+DR5+ haplotypes are critical for epitope TrC5. The previously reported human-human hybridoma Ab TrB12 reacts with DQw6, DQw8, and DQw9. The specificity of the murine mAb IIB3 is similar to that of TrB12, but, unlike TrB12, IIB3 also binds DQw4+ cells.

Evaluation of medical equipment on the basis of users' experiences and hazard registration

Assessment of medical technologies is an important topic in health services research. The article describes a special aspect of user-related evaluation of devices in Norway. The Norwegian hospitals have high technical capacity and standards but the equipment is not assessed before being purchased by the hospitals. The idealistic rules for technology assessment are of no use in practical situations. The health authorities in Norway have established a national database for users' experiences and hazard registration. When assessing equipment, it is necessary to take into consideration the situation and the people handling the devices. A system-analytic perspective is proposed for better understanding. The database for experiences with devices stores information concerning maintenance, repair and service, i.e. the whole life history of the medical technology. All this information will be accessible for the hospitals through electronic mail or electronic meetings.

A cytotoxic human-human hybridoma antibody (TrH6) specific for HLA-DRw52

TrH6 is a new human-human hybridoma antibody (Ab) of IgM, lambda isotype. At concentrations of 17-5000 ng IgM/ml, TrH6 killed twelve out of fourteen lymphoblastoid cell lines that expressed DRw52, but none of the nine DRw53 homozygous lines. Both DRw52+ cells (LUY, TAB) not killed by TrH6 were DR8+, suggesting that these lines express a structural variant of DRw52 linked to DR8. The murine cytotoxic DRw52-specific mAb 7.3.19.1 (Koning et al. 1984) exhibited the same pattern of reactivity with DRw52+ cells as TrH6. However, unlike TrH6, 7.3.19.1 cross-reacted weakly with two DR7+DRw53+ homozygous cell lines, suggesting that the TrH6 epitope has a more limited distribution. The reactions with a panel of cells with known deletions in the HLA-region supported the conclusion that TrH6 is specific for DRw52. Further evidence was obtained in a competition RIA, where the murine mAbs L243 (anti-DR monomorphic) and 7.3.19.1 (anti-DRw52) inhibited binding of radiolabeled TrH6 to DRw52 homozygous cells. TrH6-coated magnetic beads provided a simple rosette-assay for typing of "buffy-coat" leukocytes for the TrH6 epitope.

Look to Norway! (But not uncritically)

The authors of the paper argue that Norway's national health service, despite public perceptions, is both inexpensive and technologically advanced. Norway has a highly regulated medical system at both the national and local levels, and many distribution issues take the form of political debate. As a result, the authors believe that medical care and equipment is equitably distributed, but perhaps over-densely, throughout the country. Although the overall picture is optimistic, there is some concern that technologies, health care priorities, and decision-making processes should be more carefully examined by consensus conferences, advisory groups, and experts in technology assessment.

A human-human hybridoma (Tr7E2) producing cytotoxic antibody to HLA-DQw1

A human-human IgM (lambda) hybridoma antibody (called Tr7E2) was constructed by fusing Epstein-Barr virus-transformed cells from a multiparous woman with the human fusion partner KR12. By eosin exclusion microcytotoxicity the monoclonal antibody killed 12 of 13 human leukocyte antigen DQw1-bearing lymphoblastoid cells. No reaction was seen with any of 19 DQw1-negative cells. The single DQw1+ cell line that was not killed by Tr7E2 was the homozygous cell called 9WS 806 TAB (DR8,8; DQw1,1) of Japanese origin. The radioimmunoassay indicated that this result was probably not because of a decreased expression by this cell of DQ antigens, and these cells were killed by the mouse monoclonal antibody Genox3.53G2a5, reported to be specific for DQw1. Thus, the Tr7E2- cell line TAB probably expresses a novel structural DQw1 variant. Of 213 Norwegians, 107 were Tr7E2+ Genox+; none expressed only one of these epitopes. The putative split is, therefore, probably very rare in this population. Monodisperse magnetic polymer beads coated with Tr7E2 formed rosettes selectively with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from DQw1-positive individuals, suggesting a new approach to typing for class II antigens.

A human-human hybridoma antibody (TrB12) defining subgroups of HLA-DQw1 and -DQw3

We have constructed an IgG, kappa human--human hybridoma Ab(TrB12), which precipitates a molecule consisting of two polypeptides of about 33 and 27 kD in size. TrB12 reacted with; (1) 7 out of 10 DQw1-positive cell lines in IIF, and all 10 in a rosette-assay; (2) 5 out of 12 DQw3-positive cells, both in IIF and the rosette-assay; (3) none of 4 DQw2 homozygous cells. Detergent cell lysate of DQw1 homozygous cell lines contained antigens that cross-linked the mouse monoclonal antibody Genox 353 G2a-5 (anti-DQw1) and TrB12. TrB12 competed with the mouse DQw3-specific monoclonal antibody IVD-12 for binding to DQw3 homozygous cells. The data imply that the TrB12 epitope is associated with molecules that carry DQw1 and DQw3 serological specificities. By radioimmunoassay, TrB12 and the mouse monoclonal antibody IIB3 divided both DQw1- and DQw3- bearing cell lines into three phenotypic groups: (1) TrB12+IIB3hi, (2) TrB12-IIB3lo, and (3) TrB12-IIB3-. For DQw1 the results suggest that the first two groups represent structural variants but the third group may reflect low expression of DQw1. For DQw3 the evidence suggests that all three phenotypes represent structural variants. DQw3 has previously been divided into two serologically defined alleles, TA10+IIB3- and TA10-IIB3+. The TrB12+IIB3hi and TrB12-IIB3lo variants of DQw3 described in this study probably represent novel subgroups of the TA10-IIB3+ allele.

A human-human hybridoma producing cytotoxic antibody to HLA-B15, cross-reacting with B17, B5, B35 and B18

Mononuclear blood cells from a multiparous woman were transformed with Epstein Barr virus, and a cell line (Tr2D8) producing anti-HLA antibody was obtained. This cell line was immortalized by hybridization to the human fusion partners KR4 and KR12. While the EBV line died after 7 months, the hybridomas have remained stable for 13 months. The EBV line supernatant (40 micrograms IgM/ml) lysed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) bearing B15, B17, B5 and B35. Consistent lysis of B18 bearing cells was only observed with lymphoblastoid cell lines. The supernatant from the Tr2D8 (EBV line X KR4) hybridoma (2.7 micrograms IgM/ml) only lysed B15 bearing PBMC. At a concentration of 13.5 micrograms IgM/ml, the hybridoma antibody lysed lymphoblastoid cell lines bearing B15, B17, B5, B35 and B18.

Antibodies to granulocytes detected by an indirect immunofluorescence method not requiring chemical modification of cells

IgG antibodies to neutrophil polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) were detected by a simple indirect immunofluorescence method that did not require chemical or enzymatic modification of the cells. Based on recent information about the human PMN Fc gamma-receptor, nonspecific binding of IgG to PMNs was virtually completely prevented by incubating cells at 37 degrees C with human serum diluted 1 to 3 in the presence of a high concentration of rabbit IgG. This also facilitated distinction of sera with weak anti-PMN activity from normal sera. On the other hand, nonspecific staining remained on a fraction (10-25%) of mononuclear leukocytes. Following first-time transfusion of 0.5 to 5 units of whole blood or red cell concentrate, 4 of 27 patients (15%) developed anti-leukocyte antibodies. Anti-leukocyte antibodies were detected in 51 percent of 47 patients with reported febrile transfusion reactions; the IgG antibodies bound to PMNs in 38 percent of these 47 patients. Since only about one in three patients with febrile transfusion reactions had detectable IgG anti-PMN antibodies, fever may be caused by lysis of leukocytes other than PMNs.

Epidemiology of blindness in Nepal

This report presents the major findings of the Nepal Blindness Survey, the first nationwide epidemiological survey of blindness, which was conducted in 1979-80. The survey was designed to gather data that could be used to estimate the prevalence and causes of blindness in the country. Ancillary studies were conducted to obtain information on socioeconomic correlates and other risk factors of blinding conditions and patterns of health care utilization.The nationwide blindness prevalence rate is 0.84%. Cataract is the leading cause of blindness, accounting for over 80% of all avoidable blindness. Trachoma is the most prevalent blinding condition, affecting 6.5% of the population. Very few cases of childhood blindness were detected.The implications of the survey findings for programme planning, health manpower development, and health education are discussed.

Associations among cataract prevalence, sunlight hours, and altitude in the Himalayas

The relationship between cataract prevalence, altitude, and sunlight hours was investigated in a large national probability sample survey of 105 sites in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, December 1980 through April 1981. Cataract of senile or unknown etiology was diagnosed by ophthalmologists in 873 of 30,565 full-time life-long residents of survey sites. Simultaneously, the altitude of sites was measured using a standard mountain altimeter. Seasonally adjusted average daily duration of sunlight exposure for each site was calculated by a method which took into account latitude and obstructions along the skyline. Age- and sex-standardized cataract prevalence was 2.7 times higher in sites at an altitude of 185 meters or less than in sites over 1000 meters. Cataract prevalence was negatively correlated with altitude (r = -0.533, p less than 0.0001). However, a positive correlation between cataract prevalence and sunlight was observed (r = 0.563, p less than 0.0001). Sites with an average of 12 hours of sunlight exposure had 3.8 times as much cataract as sites with an average of only seven hours of exposure. Sunlight was blocked from reaching certain high altitude sites by tall neighboring mountains.

Monolayered explants in the study of retinal pigment epithelial behavior in culture

A technique that permits removal of viable retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) explants of determined size from Bruch's membrane, and the transfer of such explants with maintained apico-basal polarity to cell culture dishes is presented. The RPE is a polarized tissue where the apical surface is involved in the interchange of material between the choroid and sensory retina and in phagocytosis of visual receptor outer segments. The maintenance of this polarity is of importance in studies aimed at elucidating these functions on pure RPE explants in early primary culture. No previous work has presented a method that permits this maintenance. The possibility of standardizing the size of these explants should facilitate quantitative studies on phagocytosis and uptake of markers and labelled compounds. The described dissection procedure is also currently used to separate the RPE as a pure cell population from surgically removed chorio-retinal biopsies for cell culture purpose.

Reactive changes in the human retinal pigment epithelium in vitro

Explants from the retinal pigment epithelium and the underlying choroid and sclera were dissected from human eyes and transferred to culture wells. The mechanical trauma caused by the dissection and removal of the explants, and the changes in biological milieu caused by transfer of the tissue to an in vitro system causes injury, necrosis and detachment of cells from Bruch's membrane. In the retinal pigment epithelium, cells adjacent to damaged, spherical and detaching cells and smaller cell free zones from rosettes. At the periphery of big defects, the cells spread out to cover the denuded areas of Bruch's membrane. The present work has shown that cell injury in the human retinal pigment epithelium is followed by reactive cellular changes in vitro. The result of these reactive changes are increased variation in cellular form and magnitude and in pigment concentration per unit area.

Organ cultured donor material for penetrating corneal grafts. A preliminary report

Fresh and undamaged cornea had unchanged endothelial cell density for four weeks in culture, while eyes removed at autopsy suffered a cell loss. Acceptable cell density was found in eyes removed within eight hours, and this was confirmed by the results of 55 penetrating grafts using cultured autopsy material. Storage in culture for more than one week seemed to influence the results unfavourably. Immune reactions were not seen.

The use of contact lenses in children with unilateral traumatic aphakia

Seveteen children under the age of ten years with unilateral traumatic aphakia, who had been fitted with contact lenses, were reviewed by an ophthalmologist and an orthoptist, on average three years after the injury. Thirteen children were still using their lenses. Of the seventeen, none were deeply amblyopic. Only one had orthophoria. Twelve of the seventeen had heterotropia, which in most cases was moderate. Six of the children achieved stereopsis in the synoptophore, only four by the Titmus sterotest, all of these were six years old or more at the time of the injury, and had had lenses fitted within the first six months of the injury. All the patients, as well as their parents, were motivated for lens-wearing, and the lens played an important part in the treatment of amblyopia. It is concluded that the sooner the contact lens is supplied, the better are the changes of obtaining binocular function. Beginning with a soft lens a few weeks after achieving clear pupil is recommended.