Inhibition of platelet GPIIb/IIIa binding to fibrinogen by serum factors: studies of circulating immune complexes and platelet antibodies in patients with hemophilia, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, human immunodeficiency virus-related immune thrombocytopenic purpura, and systemic lupus erythematosus

We have studied the conditions of in vitro binding of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) to fibrinogen and applied the results to identify and measure the serum inhibitors to the binding. For the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, platelet extract was delivered to a fibrinogen-coated microtiter plate that was incubated for 2 hours, followed by incubation with anti-GPIIb/IIIa monoclonal antibody for another 2 hours. The plate was then incubated with peroxidase-conjugated anti-mouse IgG for color development. The binding was shown to be calcium-dependent. The binding was partially blocked by treating the coated fibrinogen with anti-fibrinogen antibody. Reduction or dissociation of GPIIb/IIIa resulted in the total loss of its ability to bind to fibrinogen. Platelet extracts of patients with hemophilia showed decreased binding (25% and 14%, compared with control platelet extract), and an extract from a patient with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia showed no binding. With the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay we have measured serum inhibitors to GPIIb/IIIa binding to fibrinogen in 35 hemophilia A, 17 immune thrombocytopenic purpura, 22 human immunodeficiency virus-related immune thrombocytopenic purpura, and 29 systemic lupus erythematosus serum samples. In those patients with inhibition by serum, polyethylene glycol precipitation of circulating immune complexes (CICs) decreased the inhibition by the supernatants, and all the resolubilized CIC precipitates demonstrated inhibition, which indicates that CICs play a major role in the inhibition of GPIIb/IIIa binding to fibrinogen. This, then, provides evidence of CIC-mediated impaired GPIIb/IIIa binding to fibrinogen in hemophilia A, HIV-ITP, and SLE.

Comparative analysis of antiepileptic drugs by gas chromatography using capillary or packed columns and by fluorescence polarization immunoassay

The gas chromatographic (GC) quantification of underivatized antiepileptic drugs such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital and primidone in fused-silica capillary columns was compared with that in packed columns. Excellent correlation was demonstrated between the two column methods by slopes of 0.99 to 1.05, by Y-intercepts of -0.47 to 0.28 and by r values of 0.996 and 0.997. In addition, some of the specimens from GC analysis by both column methods were compared with data obtained for these drugs as analyzed with the Abbott TDx system. Data obtained by both GC column methods showed excellent correlation.

Nifedipine pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics in treatment of congestive heart failure

In 22 of 27 cases of congestive heart failure (CHF) treated with nifedipine (NIF), significant improvements in resting hemodynamics were noticed. The higher the basal systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and pulmonary artery end diastolic pressure (PAEDP), the greater the magnitude of reduction was achieved (r = 0.84 and 0.77, P less than 0.01, respectively). Exercise hemodynamic investigation showed that NIF lowered SVR, PAEDP and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), with an increase in stroke volume (SV) at the serum concentration of 5-10 ng/ml. Maximum effect was observed at the concentration of 20 ng/ml. No further vasodilation was attainable with serum concentrations above 20 ng/ml. No remarkable deviation of NIF pharmacokinetic parameters from the normal ranges was found in CHF patients. The plasma norepinephrine level decreased markedly 2 and 7 hours after the use of NIF. It is concluded that oral NIF is beneficial to severe CHF patients with low cardiac output and high SVR.

The effect of recombinant interferon-alpha on lymphocyte subpopulations and HLA-DR expression on liver tissue of HBV-positive individuals

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has been reported to be beneficial in the treatment of chronic active hepatitis occurring as a result of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Treatment with IFN-alpha has been proposed as a means of reducing the high rate of allograft infection in clinical liver transplantation in patients transplanted for HBV-related chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis who are positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). We obtained resected whole livers from two groups of patients who received liver transplants. Group A consisted of 11 patients who were HBsAg+ but were not treated with IFN-alpha, and group B consisted of 10 patients who were also HBsAg+ but received IFN-alpha therapy for 29.4 +/- 5.6 days prior to orthotopic liver transplantation. No differences between the two groups existed in terms of a variety of demographic and clinical characteristics. The liver tissue was stained with monoclonal antibodies to cell surface antigens unique to different mononuclear cell populations by the avidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase technique to determine the effect of IFN-alpha on the lymphocyte subsets as well as HLA antigen expression on liver-infiltrating mononuclear cells. The number of HLA-DR+ lymphocytes in the liver was significantly increased (P less than 0.005) within the portal areas in group B compared with that found in group A (84 +/- 14 versus 33 +/- 5 per one high-power field). Moreover, the intensity of the HLA-DR antigen expression on lymphocytes in the portal areas (P less than 0.02) and in the hepatic lobule (P less than 0.05) was greater in group B than in group A. The number of natural killer (NK) cells was increased in the portal areas (P less than 0.05) of group B compared with group A. These alterations in the lymphocyte and NK cell populations present in the liver in response to IFN-alpha therapy presumably reflect an IFN-alpha-induced enhancement of the immune response to virus-infected cells.

Tissue distribution of human monoamine oxidase A and B mRNA

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) A and B play important roles in the metabolism of biogenic amines. Northern analysis using 32P-labeled subfragments of human liver MAO A and B cDNA clones detected a 5- and a 3-kb transcript, respectively, in most human tissues examined. However, fetal heart and thymus express minute amounts of MAO A transcript, whereas fetal brain, muscle, thymus, spleen, meninges, and placenta express minute amounts of MAO B transcript. Small intestine and placenta express, in addition to the MAO A 5-kb transcript, a 2-kb transcript, which may arise from an alternative polyadenylation site. MAO A and B transcripts are expressed in similar regions of adult human brain. The highest concentrations of these transcripts were located in frontal cortex and locus coeruleus. This study demonstrates the tissue-specific distribution of the MAO genes and will provide insight into the physiological functions of MAO A and B.

Frameshift suppression at tandem AGA and AGG codons by cloned tRNA genes: assigning a codon to argU tRNA and T4 tRNA(Arg)

Arginine is coded for by CGN (N = G, A, U, C), AGA and AGG. In Escherichia coli there is little tRNA for AGA and AGG and the use of these codons is strongly avoided in virtually all genes. Recently, we demonstrated that the presence of tandem AGA or AGG codons in mRNA causes frameshifts with high frequency. Here, we show that phaseshifts can be suppressed when cells are transformed with the gene for tRNA(T4Arg) or E. coli tRNA(argU,Arg) demonstrating that such errors are the result of tRNA depletion. Bacteriophage T4 encoded tRNA(Arg) (anticodon UCU) corrects shifts at AGA-AGA but not at AGG-AGG, suggesting that this tRNA can only read AGA. Similarly, comparison of the translational efficiencies in an argU (Ts) mutant and in its isogenic wild type parent indicates that argU tRNA (anticodon UCU) reads AGA but not AGG. An argU (Ts) mutant barely reads through AGA-AGA at 42 degrees C but translation of AGG-AGG is hardly, if at all, affected. Overexpression of argU+ relaxes the codon specificity. The thermosensitive mutant in argU, previously called dnaY because it is defective in DNA replication, can be complemented for growth by the gene for tRNA(T4Arg). This implies that the sole function of the argU gene product is to sustain protein synthesis and that its role in replication is probably indirect.

Diet, physical activity, and colorectal cancer among Chinese in North America and China

In a population-based case-control study of colorectal cancer among Chinese men and women in western North America and the People's Republic of China, a common protocol was used to assess past life-style characteristics of 905 cases diagnosed during 1981-1986 and 2,488 controls. Risks for cancers of both the colon and rectum increased with increased food energy from fat, protein, carbohydrate, and all energy sources combined, for both sexes and on both continents. Yet, in multivariate analysis, colorectal cancer risk was significantly associated only with saturated fat; no relationships were seen with other dietary sources of energy. Colon cancer risk was elevated among men employed in sedentary occupations. On both continents and in both sexes, risks for cancers of both the colon and rectum increased with increasing time spent sitting. Further, the association between colorectal cancer risk and saturated fat was stronger among the sedentary than among the active. Risk among sedentary Chinese Americans of either sex increased more than fourfold from the lowest to the highest category of saturated fat intake. Among migrants to North America, risk increased with increasing years lived in North America. These observations suggest (a) that colorectal cancer risk increases with duration of exposure to a sedentary life-style and a diet rich in saturated fat; (b) that higher incidence among Chinese-American men relative to women is due to longer duration of these habits among men, who have lived longer in North America; and (c) that higher risk among Chinese Americans of both sexes relative to risk among the general population in China is due to differences in such habits. Attributable risk calculations suggest that, if these associations are causal, saturated fat intakes exceeding 10 g/day, particularly in combination with physical inactivity, could account for 60% of colorectal cancer incidence among Chinese-American men and 40% among Chinese-American women.

Characterization of factors that direct transcription of rat ribosomal DNA

The protein components that direct and activate accurate transcription by rat RNA polymerase I were studied in extracts of Novikoff hepatoma ascites cells. A minimum of at least two components, besides RNA polymerase I, that are necessary for efficient utilization of templates were identified. The first factor, rat SL-1, is required for species-specific recognition of the rat RNA polymerase I promoter and may be sufficient to direct transcription by pure RNA polymerase I. Rat SL-1 directed the transcription of templates deleted to -31, the 5' boundary of the core promoter element (+1 being the transcription initiation site). The second factor, rUBF, increased the efficiency of template utilization. Transcription of deletion mutants indicated that the 5' boundary of the domain required for rUBF lay between -137 and -127. Experiments using block substitution mutants confirmed and extended these observations. Transcription experiments using those mutants demonstrated that two regions within the upstream promoter element were required for optimal levels of transcription in vitro. The first region was centered on nucleotides -129 and -124. The 5' boundary of the second domain mapped to between nucleotides -106 and -101. DNase footprint experiments using highly purified rUBF indicated that rUBF bound between -130 and -50. However, mutation of nucleotides -129 and -124 did not affect the rUBF footprint. These results indicate that basal levels of transcription by RNA polymerase I may require only SL-1 and the core promoter element. However, higher transcription levels are mediated by additional interactions of rUBF, and possibly SL-1, bound to distal promoter elements.

Nucleotide sequence of the sacS locus of Bacillus subtilis reveals the presence of two regulatory genes

The nucleotide sequence of 3 kb of Bacillus subtilis chromosomal DNA, including sacS, reveals that the regulatory locus for levansucrase synthesis consists of two genes, sacX and sacY. The sacX gene product is remarkably similar to sucrose-specific enzyme II of the B. subtilis phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. The product of sacY is similar, both in amino acid sequence and most probably in its function, to BglG, an Escherichia coli transcriptional antitermination factor.

Two tuberculides in one patient--a case report of papulonecrotic tuberculide and erythema induratum occurring together

A patient is described in whom erythema induratum and papulonecrotic tuberculide occurred simultaneously. Clinical and histological appearances were characteristic as was the response to antituberculous chemotherapy.

The expression of human MAO-A and B genes

Northern analysis using 32P-labeled subfragments of human liver MAO-A and B cDNA clones detected 5Kb and 3Kb transcripts, respectively in fetal tissues and adult brains. The tissue distribution of these transcripts was determined. Small intestine and placenta express, in addition to the MAO-A 5Kb transcript, a 2Kb transcript determined to lack a 3' flanking region. MAO-A appeared prior to MAO-B in the fetal brain, whereas both MAO-A and B were found in adult brain.

[Clonidine stimulates central nervous alpha 2 adrenoceptors not mediating Ca2+ channels]

Seven renal hypertensive (2 kidneys--2 clipped) and 8 normotensive conscious dogs were given icv clonidine. After the medication the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were lowered and the heart rate (HR) and plasma norepinephrine (NE) were decreased. The magnitude of the decrease of MAP was greater than normotensive dogs; while no differences of decrease of NE was found. Nicardipine (10 micrograms/kg) icv caused significant increases of MAP and HR in both hypertensive and normotensive groups. The decrease of MAP induced by clonidine was not changed by the pretreatment of nicardipine icv in both groups. It is thus concluded that clonidine stimulates central nervous alpha adrenoceptors not mediating Ca2+ channels.

Phenotypic characterization of mononuclear infiltrate present in liver of biliary atresia

The liver tissue of 26 children with biliary atresia was compared to that of 20 adults with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, 20 adults with chronic hepatitis due to hepatitis B infection, and 5 children with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency in terms of the number and type of mononuclear cells in portal and lobular areas of each using a panel of specific monoclonal antibodies that recognize different cell surface epitopes. All of the tissues studied were obtained at time of liver transplantation. In addition the livers of 5 adults biopsied for hepatomegaly but found to have no histologic liver disease were used as normal controls for this study. The results demonstrate that liver tissue obtained from children with end-stage biliary atresia is more like normal liver in terms of the number and type of mononuclear cells present than in either of the two types of adult liver diseases. Moreover although the liver of children with end-stage alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency is more like that of normal liver than either of the two adult liver diseases studied in terms of the number and type of mononuclear cells within the liver, it is less similar to that of normal adult liver than is liver tissue obtained from children with biliary atresia. These findings suggest that as a morphologic basis biliary atresia is unlikely to be due to either a viral or an autoimmune attack upon the liver.

The products of the reduction of doxyl stearates in cells are hydroxylamines as shown by oxidation by 15N-perdeuterated Tempone

The use of nitroxides in functional biological systems has increased greatly as it has become evident that such studies can provide valuable biophysical and metabolic data. This has led to a need to understand the nature of the metabolism of nitroxides and their products. This paper presents data indicating the value of 15N-perdeuterated Tempone specifically to indicate the amount of hydroxylamines that are present in a cellular system. Using this technique, we found that in the mammalian cells that we studied the principal or only products of reduction of doxyl stearates were the corresponding hydroxylamines.

[Effects of an ever-young pill on decreased intelligence and symptoms associated with aging]

A test was carried out to evaluate the effect of Ever-Young Pill (EYP) on decreased fluid intelligence and symptoms associated with aging. Nootropil and placebo were used as control drugs. Random, single-blind and self-control observation methods were applied. 90 days were spent for the clinical study. 154 older persons were divided into three groups (EYP 63, nootropil 60, placebo 31). The method of measuring intelligence was talking between man and computer. The computerized program was worked out by our department. The measure included eight parameters. A semi-quantitative method was used to evaluate the symptoms of aging. The main results were as follows: In the group of EYP, there were significant differences (P less than 0.01) in speed of calculation (SC, 5.92 +/- 2.5, 5.1 +/- 2.1), speed of digits and pictures (SDP, 24.2 +/- 6.2, 21.7 +/- 6.7), two digits span (2.8 +/- 1.0, 3.2 +/- 0.8) and other two parameters before and after treatment. In the group of nootropil, SDP and SC were also improved significantly. In the normal control's there was not any evident change. In the early declined health group treated with EYP and nootropil separately, four parameters were improved in each group. The best effect of EYP obtained was on Kidney Yang deficiency and Kidney and Heart Qi Yang deficiency Syndromes. In other syndromes, the results were less satisfactory. By using EYP for treating symptoms of aging the total effective rate was 96.8%, nootropil 71.7% and placebo 44.2%. There were noticeable differences in three groups. Those results suggested that EYP was one of the effective therapies for decreased fluid intelligence with aging.

Recombinant human epidermal growth factor precursor is a glycosylated membrane protein with biological activity

NIH 3T3 cells were transfected with cDNA corresponding to human kidney prepro-epidermal growth factor (preproEGF) under control of the inducible mouse metallothionein promoter. The synthesis of recombinant human EGF precursor by these cells has provided us with a model system for analysis of the structure and activity of this precursor. In transfected cells, the precursor was present as an intrinsic 170-kilodalton membrane protein as well as a soluble protein in the extracellular medium; both forms were N glycosylated. Glycosylation of the EGF precursor was determined by (i) the direct incorporation of [3H]mannose and [3H]glucosamine, (ii) metabolic labeling in the presence or absence of glycosylation inhibitors, (iii) enzymatic cleavage of the precursor by N-glycanase or endoglycosidase II, and (iv) lectin chromatography. Recombinant human preproEGF was purified by affinity chromatography, using wheat germ lectin and antibodies to human EGF. The intact precursor was biologically active. Purified preparations of preproEGF (i) competed with 125I-labeled EGF for binding to the EGF receptor in intact fibroblast cells, (ii) activated the intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity of the EGF receptor in membrane preparations, and (iii) sustained the growth of a mouse keratinocyte cell line that is dependent on EGF for growth. These results suggest that proteolytic processing of the precursor may not be essential for its biological function.

T-cell markers in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes of head and neck cancer

Fresh suspensions of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) from 16 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) were examined for T-cell markers including CD4 (helper-inducer), CD8 (cytotoxic-suppressor), natural killer (NK) cell, and activation surface markers using monoclonal antibodies and two-color flow cytometry. Two of 8 (25%) patients with a CD4/CD8 ratio of less than 1 developed cervical lymph node metastases; none had extracapsular spread. Six of 8 (75%) patients with a CD4/CD8 ratio of greater than 1 developed cervical metastases; 5 of 6 (83%) exhibited extracapsular spread. An increased CD4/CD8 ratio was attributable to a decrease in CD8+ cells. A CD4/CD8 ratio of greater than 1 may be a useful prognostic indicator of the development of cervical metastases.

Short rib syndrome without polydactyly

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[Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of nifedipine in patients with congestive heart failure]

Twenty-seven cases of congestive heart failure (CHF) were treated with nifedipine (Nif) 20 mg po. Significant improvements in resting hemodynamics were found in 22 cases. The higher the basal systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and pulmonary artery end diastolic pressure (PAEDP) were, the greater the magnitudes of reduction found (r = 0.84 and 0.77, P less than 0.01, respectively). Exercise hemodynamic investigation showed that Nif led to a lowering of SVR, PAEDP and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), with increases in SV and concentration of 5-10 ng/ml, with a maximum being observed at the concentration of 20 ng/ml. No further vasodilation was found when the plasma concentration exceeded 20 ng/ml. No remarkable deviations from the normal ranges of Nif pharmacokinetics were found in CHF patients. The plasma norepinephrine level decreased markedly 2 and 7 h after Nif. Thus, it is concluded that oral Nif is beneficial in severe CHF patients having low cardiac output and high SVR.

Effects of oxygen on the metabolism of nitroxide spin labels in cells

The products of the reduction of nitroxides in cells are the corresponding hydroxylamines, which cells can oxidize back to the nitroxides in the presence of oxygen. Both the reduction of nitroxides and the oxidation of hydroxylamines are enzyme-mediated processes. For lipid-soluble nitroxides, the rates of reduction are strongly dependent on the intracellular concentration of oxygen; severely hypoxic cells reduce nitroxides more rapidly than cells supplied with oxygen. In contrast, the rates of oxidation of hydroxylamines increase smoothly with increasing intracellular oxygen concentration up to 150 microM. In order to separate the effects on the rates of metabolism of nitroxides due directly to oxygen from effects due to the redox state of enzymes, we studied the cells under conditions in which each of these variables could be changed independently. Oxygen affects the metabolism of these nitroxides primarily by interacting with cytochrome c oxidase to change the redox state of the enzymes in the respiratory chain. Our results are consistent with the conclusions that in these cells reduction of lipophilic nitroxides occurs at the level of ubiquinone in the respiratory chain in mitochondria, and oxidation of the corresponding hydroxylamines occurs at the level of cytochrome c oxidase.

[Focal sparing around the gallbladder in fatty liver: an useful sign in the diagnosis of borderline cases by CT]

The role of CT in the diagnosis of fatty liver is well established. CT has been proved to be a useful noninvasive tool for the demonstration of fatty infiltration of the liver. The characteristic finding is a diffuse decrease in the attenuation within the liver compared with that of the spleen. Commonly, fatty infiltration of the liver is generalized and both CT scans and sonograms can easily demonstrate changes related to this condition. Sometimes, fatty infiltration of the liver is focal and occasionally, it is generalized with focal sparing of the normal liver tissue creating some problems in the diagnosis. Recently, some reports have mentioned the appearance of a focal sparing area in the generalized fatty liver. We often found a high attenuation region around the gallbladder bed in the fatty liver patients on CT examination. There appears to be some relationship between the high density around the gallbladder area and the fatty liver. A retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship. In this paper, we presented the CT scans of 57 fatty liver cases and compared them with the CT scans of 50 normal patients to discuss the possible cause of the phenomenon and its usage in the diagnosis of the fatty liver.

[Evaluation of mailed epidemiologic inquiries]

The mailed inquiry is a economical and useful epidemiologic survey method. Comparison and discussion of data from the mailed inquiries and home interviews were done. More than 60 items which included general questions, height and weight, sources of drinking water, dietary habits, histories of smoking and alcohol consumption, physical activities, medical histories, parents medical histories and income were analysed, there was no significant difference in 45 items of the above data and a very significant relative coefficients between there two methods. Only 16 items which focused on alcohol and oil consumption, income, etc. had significant differences, but the most still had positive-relative correlation (P less than 0.05). The response rate of the mailed inquiries was 87.1 percent. In addition, the mailed questionnaire also was discussed.

Broad range DNA probes for detecting and amplifying eubacterial nucleic acids

In this report we describe and characterize two oligomer probes that are broadly homologous to conserved eubacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences not present in human 18 rRNA or human mitochondrial 12S rRNA. One or both of the probes can detect all of 23 phylogenetically diverse eubacterial nucleic acids against which they were tested by dot blot hybridization. A sensitivity of about 1 bacterium per 10 eukaryotic cells was achieved. By using these oligomer sequences or their complements as primers in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the equivalent of 1 pg of E. coli DNA was detected in the presence of a large excess of eukaryotic DNA. Information useful for partial phylogenetic classification of detected organisms may be obtained by direct sequence analysis of the amplified DNA and comparison with known sequences or catalogs. Such broadly homologous probes offer advantages over more narrowly specific probes for detecting organisms whose identity is unknown. They could thus be employed for recognizing infection by organisms that cannot be cultured as may occur, for example, in tissue culture or in plant or animal diseases of unknown cause, provided the probes fail to hybridize with host nucleic acids.

Functional and phenotypic analysis of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes isolated from human primary and metastatic liver tumors and cultured in recombinant interleukin-2

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were isolated from 40 of 51 consecutive human liver tumor samples (primary hepatocellular carcinoma, 16 of 18; metastatic, 23 of 29; benign, one of four). Functional and phenotypic characteristics of fresh and recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2)-expanded TIL were evaluated. The expansion of TIL from hepatic tumors in the presence of 1000 units/ml of rIL-2 was possible in 60% of cases. In comparison to TIL from metastatic liver tumors, TIL obtained from primary liver tumors expanded faster and better in rIL-2 cultures. Expanded TIL from primary tumors had significantly higher cytotoxicity against K562 targets, but not Raji targets, than those from metastatic tumors. Cytotoxicity against fresh autologous tumor targets was detected in seven of eight cultures tested. TIL from primary tumors retained antitumor reactivity significantly longer in culture. The optimal in vitro cytotoxicity was achieved between days 20 and 60 of culture in the presence of rIL-2. Antitumor activity was associated with the increase in these TIL cultures of a cell population expressing the Leu19 antigen with or without the CD3 antigen. The frequency of the CD3+Leu19+ population showed a bimodal distribution during culture: the first peak of CD3+Leu19+ cells occurred between days 30 and 60 and was associated with the increased antitumor activity; the second peak occurred after day 60 and was not associated with activity. These findings demonstrate that TIL from most human hepatic tumors can be successfully isolated, cultured in rIL-2, and enriched in Leu19+ effectors. In addition, these TIL upon IL-2 activation in vitro are capable of lysing fresh autologous and/or allogeneic tumor targets.

The major aeroallergens in Guangxi, China

Over a 2-year period we have identified pollen grains from 48 families of grasses, as well as mould spores and mite particles during air sampling in Guangxi Province. The major aeroallergens were Artemisia, Moraceae and Euophoribiacea, and the spores of Aspergillus, Penicillinum, Cephalosporium and Helminthosporium. Mites were probably also one of the major outdoor aeroallergens. Our investigations also included inspection of the vegetation of the geographical area involved, as well as skin testing on 774 subjects using extracts of 37 aeroallergens. We believe that this work has provided fundamental information on seasonal allergy in Southern China and South-east Asia.

Bulk Superconductivity at 122 K in T1(Ba,Ca) 2 Ca 3 Cu 4 O 10.5+δ with Four Consecutive Copper Layers

The observed increase of superconducting transition temperature (T(c)) with the number of copper oxide planes continues in the four-[CuO(2)](-2) layer (single TI layer) oxide superconductor, which has been prepared with > 80% purity and was magnetically aligned for crystallographic identification. A master scaling curve is proposed, which ties together the T(c)'s of virtually all known Bi and Tl oxide superconductors, and shows that the Tl(Bi) layers play an essential role in the superconductivity. publication 350 of the Barnett Institute.

Kinetics of enzyme-mediated reduction of lipid soluble nitroxide spin labels by living cells

Nitroxide spin labels can be reduced to the corresponding hydroxylamines in cells. The selective action of inhibitors, and thermal and chemical inactivation demonstrate that the reduction of nitroxides in cells is an enzymatic or enzyme-mediated process. The kinetics of reduction of doxylstearates are affected by the position of the doxyl moiety along the stearic acid chain. The doxyl moiety of 5-doxylstearate is close to the membrane surface, and its reduction is first order with respect to the nitroxide, whereas the doxyl moieties of 10- and 12-doxylstearate are in the membrane hydrocarbon region and their reduction is a zero-order process. The reduction of 16-doxylstearate which usually has a mixture of first- and zero-order kinetics becomes zero order with addition of an extracellular broadening agent, potassium trioxalatochromiate(III). These results suggest that the rate of reduction of doxyl moieties is controlled by their accessibility to reducing equivalents, i.e., the rate-limiting step for the reduction of the doxyl moiety deep in the membrane is the diffusion of reducing equivalents within or into the membrane. The reduction of doxylstearates in cells is inhibited by rotenone but not antimycin A, cyanide, propyl gallate or SKF-525A. It appears that the reduction of doxylstearates takes place at the level of the ubiquinone in the respiratory chain in mitochondria in these cells.

Oxidation of hydroxylamines to nitroxide spin labels in living cells

In the presence of oxygen, cells can oxidize hydroxylamines, which are the products of the reduction of nitroxides in cells, back to nitroxides. Lipid-soluble hydroxylamines are oxidized much more rapidly than water-soluble ones, and most of this oxidation is inactivated by heat or trichloroacetic acid, indicating that the principal mechanism is enzyme-linked. The rates of oxidation of some lipophilic hydroxylamines are comparable to the rates of reduction of the corresponding nitroxides. Hydroxylamines formed by reduction of aqueous soluble nitroxides are not oxidized by cells, except for slight oxidation of some pyrrolidine derivatives. The latter is due to autoxidation. The kinetics of oxidation of reduced lipid-soluble nitroxides are all first-order with respect to hydroxylamines, regardless of the position of the nitroxide group along the carbon backbone, indicating that the oxidation occurs within the membrane. The oxidation of hydroxylamines in cells in inhibited by cyanide but not by antimycin A or SKF-525A. We also describe an effective method to oxidize hydroxylamines and follow this reaction; the method is based on the use of perdeuterated [15N]Tempone.

Evaluation of therapeutic potential of interleukin 2-expanded tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were isolated from surgically excised squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Immunohistology showed that the tumor was infiltrated by T-lymphocytes, many of which were activated as judged by the expression of the following surface antigens: HLA-DR, transferrin receptor, and receptors for interleukin 2 (IL2). Fresh TILs were unable to lyse natural killer cell (NK)-resistant and NK-sensitive tumor cell targets in chromium-release cytotoxicity assays. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes as well as autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes were cultured in media containing natural IL-2. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes proliferated better than autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes and exhibited sustained growth and antitumor effector function in long-term cultures. The IL2-expanded culture of TILs contained mostly CD8+ (suppressor/cytotoxic) T-lymphocytes with the morphology characteristic of lymphokine-activated killer cells. The ability to expand TILs with augmented antitumor activity in long-term cultures indicates that these cells could be therapeutically useful. Potential application of human TILs to adoptive immunotherapy of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is discussed, and recent advances in immunotherapy with IL2-activated TILs are reviewed.

Comparison of a noninvasive measurement of optic nervehead mechanical compliance with an invasive method

We have postulated that abnormal mechanical support of the optic nervehead at the level of the lamina cribrosa could be the precursor of glaucomatous damage. Recent studies have shown deformations of the lamina cribrosa to be among the earliest changes in glaucoma. To evaluate the support of the nervehead, we have developed a noninvasive optical method to measure the optic nervehead compliance, namely, the displacement of the optic nervehead induced by an artificial increase in intraocular pressure. To test the validity of the method, we have compared noninvasive measurements obtained in post-mortem enucleated human eyes with those recorded using an invasive technique. Both methods had a reproducibility better than 6 microns and induced no damage capable of interfering with the results. The displacements measured by both methods were similar, thus indicating that our optical method is capable of measuring bulk motion of the optic nervehead. Our results were identical with those obtained by other authors using a third method. The data obtained also established the normal range of optic nervehead displacements induced by a range of intraocular pressure increments.

Further evidence that the pigment in the Dubin-Johnson syndrome is not melanin

The pigment in the Dubin-Johnson syndrome (DJS) is shown unequivocally not to be a typical melanin or closely related polymer. In electron spin resonance (ESR) studies of DJS pigment from a hepatoma, it is shown that, unlike true melanins, the pigment associated with the DJS syndrome has no free radical in the absence of light. Exposure to even low levels of visible light over a broad frequency range induces a free radical in the DJS pigment. Previous studies did not appreciate the sensitivity to light of this pigment and therefore erroneously concluded that the DJS pigment had a permanent free radical. The light induced ESR signal in DJS tissue has spectroscopic properties that differ significantly from any known melanins. The pigment is not extracted by lipophilic solvents and is centrifuged down at 50,000g, but not at 5,000g.

[[Age composition and population cycles]]

The author attempts to correlate the endogenous population cycle with changes in age composition by examining population trends in Taiwan. "It is argued that while the size of parental cohort is related to the size of offspring cohort by the renewal process, fluctuations in size are correspondingly transmitted and averaged time after time." The concepts of population cycles as a key factor in population change is also examined. (SUMMARY IN ENG)

Fatal infection in neonates of 26 weeks' gestation due to Streptococcus milleri: report of two cases

Fatal sepsis due to a particular biotype of Streptococcus milleri occurred in two neonates born at 26 weeks' gestation. The clinical importance of this biotype in association with premature labour and neonatal sepsis is discussed.