Trypanosoma congolense: proliferative responses and interleukin production in lymph node cells of infected cattle

T-cell-mediated immune responses to defined antigens of Trypanosoma congolense were measured in cattle undergoing primary infection. The antigens used were the variable surface glycoprotein and two invariant antigens, a 33-kDa cysteine protease (congopain) and a recombinant form of a 69-kDa heat-shock protein. Proliferative responses were highest during the second week postinfection and were detected in cells obtained from the lymph node draining the site of infection but not in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma was measured in supernatants from antigen-stimulated lymph node cell cultures. Expression of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma mRNA was detected in antigen-stimulated lymph node cells by reverse transcription-polymerase chain amplification.

The Björk-Shiley Monostrut valve. Clinical experience in 647 patients

A total of 647 consecutive patients underwent valve replacement with a Björk-Shiley Monostrut valve (Shiley, Inc., Irvine, Calif.) from January 1, 1984, through December 31, 1988. A total of 135 patients (20.8%) had had a previous cardiac correction. Overall hospital mortality was 6.8%. Preoperative functional class, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic crossclamping time, and cause of valve replacement influenced in-hospital mortality significantly (univariate analysis). The median follow-up was 30 months. Overall actuarial survival was 81% +/- 4% at 6 years. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis showed that preoperative functional class, total cardiopulmonary bypass time, size of mitral prosthesis, and pure mitral insufficiency significantly influenced total mortality after valve replacement. Additional coronary bypass grafting and redo valve replacement did not. The actuarial rate of freedom from thromboembolism was 86% +/- 4% at 6 years. There were no cases of valve thrombosis. Patients having a thromboembolic event showed a higher probability of late death after native valve replacement.

Risk factors for arrhythmia and death after Mustard operation for simple transposition of the great arteries

From 1965 to 1980, 249 consecutive patients underwent a Mustard procedure for simple transposition of the great arteries. Hospital mortality was 23 of 249 (9.2%); follow-up for 24 years (mean, 11.7 +/- 6.1 yr) revealed 50 of 249 (20%) late deaths, of which seven were noncardiac, six were in the hospital, and 37 were sudden (27 patients with poor hemodynamics and 10 unexplained). Actuarial survival after 1, 10, and 20 years was 85, 75, and 67%. The instantaneous risk of death decreased rapidly after surgery but showed a second peak from 8 to 15 years postoperation. When last seen 87% were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I; 69% had sinus rhythm, 20% nodal rhythm, 10% atrial flutter, and 1% paced. Survival in uninterrupted sinus rhythm after 5, 10, and 20 years was 75, 62, and 47%. Nodal rhythm detected by annual ECG occurred in 69 patients. Excluding the early experience, the risk of loss of sinus rhythm was constant in time and constant throughout the experience (2.4%/yr). Atrial flutter was observed in 36 patients. Occurrence of atrial flutter was limited to two discrete surgical periods: the first operations (26 with atrial flutter of the first 50) and an ill-defined period in the middle of the experience. Patients not operated on during these two periods were very unlikely to develop atrial flutter (one of 104, p less than 0.001). As for death, the hazard function showed a bimodal curve, the second peak appearing earlier from 5 to 11 years. If nodal rhythm was noted on the yearly routine ECG, the risk for developing subsequent atrial flutter increased by a factor of 2.1 (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Transcortin and alpha 2u-globulin messenger RNA activities during turpentine-induced inflammation in the rat

Previously we have shown that the serum concentration of transcortin and alpha 2u-globulin markedly decreases during turpentine-induced inflammation. In the present study transcortin and alpha 2u-globulin mRNA from healthy rats and from animals with inflammation was translated in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system. Female rats had higher levels of translatable transcortin mRNA than male animals and the level of mRNA for transcortin and alpha 2u-globulin decreased rapidly during inflammation. These results indicate that the sex difference in the serum level of transcortin and the changes in serum transcortin and alpha 2u-globulin during inflammation are mainly determined by differences in the mRNAs in the liver.

Heterogeneity of alpha 2u-globulin gene products in different translational systems, plasma and urine

alpha 2u-Globulin, an androgen dependent rat urinary protein, displays considerable microheterogeneity. To explore whether this microheterogeneity of alpha 2u-globulin in male rat urine is related to the heterogeneity at the level of the genes encoding this protein, or whether it is due to post-translational processing we studied the alpha 2u-globulin mRNA translation products in rabbit reticulocyte and Xenopus oocytes. Comparison of the alpha 2u-globulin species produced in these two heterologous systems with those observed in plasma and urine indicates that the heterogeneity of this protein in urine is mainly due to heterogeneity at the level of the corresponding mRNAs.

Different forms of alpha 2u-globulin in male and female rat urine

alpha 2u-Globulin is usually considered to be present only in male rat urine. This study demonstrates that a very similar protein exists in female rat urine and compares its properties with those of the male form. Isoelectric focusing followed by immunofixation reveals considerable microheterogeneity of alpha 2u-globulin in male and female rat urine. Important sex differences are noted in the banding pattern. The isoelectric point of the major male component (pI approximately equal to 5.3) is considerably higher than that of the major female components (pI approximately equal to 4.6). In addition, the female form of alpha 2u-globulin has a somewhat higher mobility on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis than its male counterpart. These sex differences are preserved after purification of alpha 2u-globulin from male and female rat urine by affinity chromatography and enrichment of the major male and female components by ion-exchange chromatography. Immunologically no differences are observed between these purified components and their amino acid composition reveals only minor differences. A slightly higher carbohydrate content is observed in the major female component than in the major male component. Finally evidence is presented that oestrogen treatment suppresses the male forms of alpha 2u-globulin but has no effect on the female forms. The observed differences between the male and female forms and their different hormonal control suggest that they are encoded by different genes.

Inhibition of acetate and propionate formation upon aeration of resting cells of the anaerobic Propionibacterium shermanii: evidence of the Pasteur reaction

When resting cell suspensions of the anaerobic P. shermanii were brought to an oxygen concentration of 0.64 mumoles/ml, acid formation was completely inhibited. The cells started to respire on the propionic acid previously accumulated furing anaerobiosis. Glucose consumption was concomitantly decreased to about 60 percent of the rate during anaerobiosis. As the viability of the cells was not affected by the transition to aerobic conditions, the changes observed upon aeration were ascribed to the regulatory properties of the Pasteur reaction. Damage inflicted by oxygen was encountered in the rapid inactivation of propionate respiration. This damage outlived the time of oxygenation, and was manifested during the subsequent anaerobiosis in the decreased activity to form propionate. This indicates that oxygen may inactivate one (or more) enzyme(s) involved in the metabolism of propionate. The viability of cells in buffer, and glucose-containing buffer, was found to be only insignificantly decreased by oxygen in the range from 0 to 500 mumoles of oxygen per g of wet cells.