Reaction patterns of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 proteins with sera of patients with uterine cervical carcinoma and matched controls

Serum from 105 individuals with diagnosed uterine cervical cancer and 231 matched controls were examined for their ability to react with a large number of herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2) proteins. Radiolabeled HSV-1 or HSV-2 proteins were mixed with test serum and immune complexes were isolated with staphylococcal protein A. Viral proteins in the immune complexes were resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and visualized by fluorography. When the frequency of precipitation for cancer and control serum was calculated for each HSV-1 and HSV-2 protein, the results demonstrated that four HSV-1 and 11 HSV-2 proteins were precipitated more frequently by cases than by controls (p less than or equal to 0.05). However, since these results could be influenced by the presence or absence of HSV-2 specific antibodies as well as social, economic, and sexual history, the data were grouped and analyzed according to these parameters. This enabled all significant differences between case and control sera in the precipitation of HSV-1 or HSV-2 proteins to be abolished except for two HSV-2 proteins with molecular weights of 38,000 and 118,000. These two proteins appear to be tumor associated and not merely covariables of past infection or risk factors alone.

Intraventricular ACTH reduces social interaction in male rats

Intraventricular ACTH (1.25 microgram), ACTH (1.6 microgram) and ACTH:D-Phe (1.6 microgram) resulted in significant reductions in the time that pairs of male rats spent in active social interaction. This decrease in social behaviour was not accompanied by a decrease in motor activity. The results are similar to those previously found with peripheral administration of ACTH and suggest that these behavioural effects of ACTH are centrally mediated. None of the ACTH fragments had a significant effect on the latency with which thirsty rats started drinking in an unfamiliar environment. The results are discussed in relation to a possible anxiogenic action of ACTH.

Effect of safety packaging on aspirin ingestion by children

The effectiveness of child-resistant closures, required under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970, in reducing the incidence of accidental ingestion of aspirin and aspirin-containing products among children less than 5 years of age has been investigated. Data from Poison Control Centers and the National Center for Health Statistics were analyzed to determine the ingestion level before and two to three years after safety closures were required. Baby aspirin and nonbaby aspirin products were analyzed separately. For baby aspirin. It is estimated that safety packaging has reduced the incidence of ingestions 45% to 55%. For nonbaby aspirin products, the reduction has been 40% to 45%.

The cryopreservation of Chlorella. 4. Accumulation of lipid as a protective factor

Following growth under sub-optimal concentrations of nutrients, cells of Chlorella emersonii accumulated lipid and became more resistant to the damage caused by freezing and thawing. These results suggest that the factor responsible for the cold hardening of some Chlorella spp is not the effect of low temperatures per se but simply that of the reduced metabolic rate. Evidence is given that the post-thaw injury observed following rapid rates of cooling is associated with the vacuole.

Ia antigenic specificities are oligosaccharide in nature: hapten-inhibition studies

We have previously reported that the Ia specificities, coded for by the I region within the H-2 complex, appear to consist predominantly of carbohydrate. This conclusion was reached by examining low molecular weight Ia-bearing oligosacharides isolated from mouse serum. We now report hapten-inhibition studies which indicate that the binding of both allogeneic and xenogeneic anti-Ia antibodies to the Ia glycoproteins found predominantly on B lymphocytes can be specifically inhibited by certain free sugars. Both inhibition assays revealed that the specificity for the following Ia antigens resides predominantly in the following sugars: (a) Ia.1: N-acetyl-D-mannosamine or related sugars; (b) Ia.3: alpha-D-galactose and related sugars; (c) Ia.7: L-fucose; and (d) Ia.15: N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. It seems likely that these sugars are found at the terminal nonreducing ends of the carbohydrate portion of the Ia-bearing glycoproteins present in the lymphocyte membrane. In contrast, several public and private H-2 antigenic specificities did not appear to be sugar defined. These studies imply that at least some of the Ia genes from both the I-A and I-C subregions of the I region code for glycosyl transferases which modify oligosaccharide structure and impart specificity to the Ia antigens by alteration of their terminal sugar residues.

Dose-response relationship after immunization of volunteers with a new, surface-antigen-adsorbed influenza virus vaccine

Volunteers (15 per group) were given inoculations of various doses (5-400 international units [IU]) of surface-antigen-adsorbed influenza virus A/Port Chalmers/73 vaccine; this vaccine was prepared from purified virus hemagglutinin and neuraminidase antigens and adsorbed to alhydrogel. The titers of hemagglutination-inhibiting (HAI) and neuraminidase-inhibiting antibodies in serum after immunization showed a clear dose-response relationship. Thus, for volunteers given 400, 100, 25, or 5.0 IU of vaccine, the titers of HAI antibody in serum increased 174-, 32-, 12-, and eightfold, respectively. A similar dose response was observed for production of local neutralizing antibody. Immunization with A/Port Chalmers/73 virus vaccine also induced serum HAI antibody to influenza viruses A/Scotland/74, A/England/72, and A/Hong Kong/68; the increase in titers of antibody to these viruses corresponded directly to the degree of cross-reactivity between the virus tested and the vaccine virus. Four weeks after immunization, all volunteers were challenged with attenuated WRL-105 influenza virus. Evidence of viral infection was found in one, two, and two volunteers in each group of 15 subjects previously immunized with 400, 100, and 25 IU of vaccine, respectively; in six of the 15 volunteers given 5.0 IU of vaccine; and in 10 of 15 control subjects. The results suggest that equivalent immunity was induced in volunteers given greater than or equal to 25 IU of vaccine.

Haematemesis: a new syndrome?

Three patients presented with symptoms suggesting a Mallory-Weiss tear. Endoscopy showed a localized, clearly demarcated area of bright red mucosa near the gastro-oesophageal junction; this was thought to have arisen by retrograde intussusception of the stomach during vomiting or retching and may have caused the haemorrhage.

Immunity following intranasal administration of an inactivated, freeze-dried A/England/42/72 vaccine

A group of 23 student volunteers were each inoculated intranasally with 400 IU of inactivated, freeze-dried A/England/42/72 vaccine. Only one volunteer showed a four-fold rise in serum HI antibody following immunization, and the mean increase in serum HI antibody (gmt) for all volunteers did not increase two-fold. Thirteen of the volunteers developed detectable levels of nasal wash neutralizing antibody after immunization; local antibody was most commonly found in volunteers who produced a detectable but less than four-fold fise in serum antibody titre, and who produced nasal washings with relatively high concentrations of protein and secretory IgA. Four weeks after immunization, the vaccinees and a matched group of control subjects were inoculated with attenuated A/England/42/72 (MRC-7) virus. Evidence of infection was found in 14 of 23 (61 per cent) of control subjects and in seven of 23 (30 per cent) of immunized volunteers. This result showed a significant protection (P = 0.04) against challenge virus infection for volunteers given intranasal vaccine.

Herpes zoster in general practice

Eighty-seven patients with the clinical diagnosis of herpes zoster were seen during a one-year period in eight general practices in Glasgow, the rate per 1,000 practice population being approximately 2.4. Of these, 78 (90 per cent) had serological evidence of active infection with herpes zoster. The anatomical location of the skin eruption was most common in the areas of the fifth cranial nerve, middle and lower trunk and thigh. A possible reactivating agent (trauma four, steroids two, irradiation one) was found in only seven patients. The illness as assessed by systemic upset and dissemination of lesions was generally not severe. Post-herpetic neuralgia was the most troublesome complication, found in 44 per cent of 64 patients revisisted 3-18 months after the acute illness.

Orthotopic transplantation of the pig heart

Orthotopic transplantation of the pig heart is described, with success in the last 12 of 23 studies, leading to survival until rejection in the last two. The pig heart was found to be easily damaged by cold. In contrast, organ viability was not appreciably affected when the warm ischaemic time was shortened by making the aortic anastomosis the initial manœuvre of implantation. The advantages of the pig as a model for the study of orthotopic cardiac allografts would appear to be its tolerance of long periods of cardiopulmonary bypass, immediate clotting after heparin reversal and ability to maintain the circulation without drug or pacemaker support. These factors have contributed to the relative simplicity of post-operative management.