An experimental study of the antitumour effect of bleomycin hydrochloride microcapsules

The controlled release behaviour of bleomycin hydrochloride microcapsules was investigated by an in vitro dissolution method and an in vivo antitumour test. Bleomycin hydrochloride microcapsules prepared using the highest cooling rate exhibited sustained release characteristics and its release rate obeyed a nearly zero order release kinetics. Microcapsules containing bleomycin hydrochloride were locally injected into the solid tumour of uterine cervix carcinoma bearing nude mice. Tumour growth was markedly inhibited by treatment using bleomycin hydrochloride microcapsules compared to the control group and the group receiving direct local administration of bleomycin hydrochloride. No significant differences in the changes of body weight after treatment were found between the control group and the treated group. These results suggest that controlled release microcapsules may be applicable as a drug carrier for delivery of antitumour agents in cancer chemotherapy.

Hepatitis B virus transcripts in a human hepatoma cell line, Hep 3B

Hep 3B, a human hepatoma cell line was examined for its RNA hybridizable to the hepatitis B virus sequence. Using probes that covered different regions of the hepatitis B virus genome, five species of RNA were observed of sizes 4.0, 3.3, 2.9, 2.6 and 2.2 kilobases. The RNAs covered surface antigen gene, pre-S and X regions. None of them had a core antigen sequence. RNA with a 4.0 kilobase size was the most abundant. Using S1 nuclease analysis, its 5' end of hepatitis B virus sequence was mapped at pre-S region and its 3' end of viral sequence was mapped at DR region.

Enhancement of A23187-induced production of the slow-reacting substance on peripheral leukocytes from subjects with asthma

Peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mononuclear leukocytes from normal subjects and subjects with asthma were studied for their production of slow-reacting substance (SRS) after nonimmunologic stimulation with the calcium ionophore A23187. The amount of SRS generated was determined in both polymorphonuclear leukocyte fractions and mononuclear leukocyte fractions from four groups of subjects: 10 with extrinsic asthma, five with mixed-type asthma, 10 with intrinsic asthma, and 10 normal control subjects. In either cell type, the SRS produced was much more in cells from subjects with extrinsic asthma and less in cells from subjects with the mixed-type asthma, intrinsic asthma, and the normal subjects in order of decreasing quantity. These results indicate the amount of SRS generated by nonimmunologic stimulation with calcium ionophore is related to the degree of atopy and suggest the existence of an intrinsic cellular defect in cells from subjects with atopic asthma in addition to the effects of higher serum levels of IgE antibodies.

Hepatitis B virus DNA in leukocytes of patients with hepatitis B virus-associated liver diseases

In order to determine the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection of human white blood cells and different forms of HBV-associated liver diseases, we tested for HBV DNA in the sera and leukocytes of 11 healthy individuals without any serological markers of HBV infection and 91 patients with HBV infection and other gastrointestinal and urinary diseases by dot and Southern blot hybridization. HBV DNA was found in leukocytes of chronic HBV carriers, in acute and chronic hepatitis, and in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Between 27 and 50% of individuals in different categories of patients examined were positive for leukocyte HBV DNA. HBV DNA was also detected in the sera of some of these patients but was absent in others. Serum HBV DNA-positive rates seemed to be highest in hepatitis B e antigen-positive asymptomatic carriers (8/10, 80%), and tended to drop to lower levels as the disease progressed to liver cirrhosis (0/8) while leukocyte HBV DNA-positive rates were highest in patients with cirrhosis (4/8, 50%). The results also show that in individuals who were serologically negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and positive for antibodies to HBsAg and/or HBcAg, HBV DNA was absent in most of the sera (27/28, 96%) but it was present in leukocytes of some of these patients (7/28, 25%). In control experiments with 11 healthy individual, HBV DNA was not detected in either sera or leukocytes. In all the cases with leukocyte HBV DNA, the HBV DNA molecules were present in free forms with discrete sizes. The exceptions were a case of liver cirrhosis and a case of chronic hepatitis with possible HBV sequence integration into high molecular weight cellular DNA. Since HBV does infect human leukocytes, it may perhaps interfere with the immunological functions of the white blood cells, and thus play an important role in the pathogenesis of HBV-induced liver disease.

[Autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction in systemic lupus erythematosus]

The autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus was lower than that of normal individuals (p less than 0.05). The impairment was not due to the dysfunction of various regulatory lymphocytes, but there was a negative correlation with the B cell function. The low autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction was found in patients with high B cell function.

[A monoclonal antibody against ragweed pollen cross-reacting with yellow dock pollen]

Using monoclonal antibodies with different specificity against the major allergenic components of ragweed pollen, we analyzed their cross-reactivity with two tree pollens, two grass pollens and five other weed pollens which are common in Taiwan by the immunoblot method. It was found that besides reacting with AgE and AgK of the ragweed pollen, the monoclonal antibody 48-5 also reacted with antigens of yellow dock pollen with molecular weights of 40K, 38K, 24K, and 21K. In a preliminary study, sera of two patients containing IgE antibodies to ragweed pollen antigens also reacted to the 40K component of the yellow dock pollen. Furthermore, from the results of allergenic skin testings on 109 patients with bronchial asthma, we found that of 22 patients who had a positive reaction to a crude extract of ragweed pollen, 18(81.8%) also reacted to the crude extract of yellow dock pollen. In conclusion, our results suggest that there exists a common allergenic determinant between pollens of ragweed and yellow dock. It may play an important role in the expression of the sensitivity of patients to these two kinds of pollens.

Expression of c-myc gene in human hepatoma

The level of c-myc transcript was examined in liver samples from seven hepatoma patients. Transcripts were detected in all the normal liver parts examined; in contrast, in two hepatoma parts, there was a dramatic reduction in c-myc transcripts. The restriction enzyme pattern of c-myc gene appeared the same among samples. The data suggest that c-myc gene expression might not be required for the maintenance of the tumor state in human liver carcinogenesis.

Immunological characteristics of monoclonal antibodies against human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

Four hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) of the IgG1 subclass against human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were obtained from fusion of P3-NS1/1-Ag4 myeloma cells with splenic cells from mice immunized with purified CEA. None of the MAbs showed cross-reactivity to perchloric acid extractable antigens from the normal human colon by an inhibition radioimmunoassay. However, MAb C27 showed the highest affinity to CEA. The intensity of immunofluorescence staining of human colorectal cancer cells with MAb C27 correlates well to the cellular CEA content of cancer cells. LS174T showed the highest intensity of fluorescence (95%) while COLO320DM and COLO320HRS were the lowest (0.5%). None of the normal human organs - colon, lungs, liver, spleen or kidneys-showed positive staining by immunoperoxidase anti-peroxidase (PA) techniques, while tissues from colorectal carcinoma (CRC), gastric carcinoma, hepatoma and lung cancer gave a positive rate of 100% (30/30), 96.6% (28/29), 32.1% (9/28) and 82.1% (69/84) respectively. Results suggest that MAb C27 can be used in immunodetection and radiolocalization of colorectal carcinoma.

The significance of CA19-9 tumor antigen in the serum of patients with carcinomas

The concentration of serum CA19-9TM in 101 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC), and 109 patients with carcinomas of lung, breast, stomach and pancreas and hepatoma, and 40 normal healthy controls including an equal number of smokers and nonsmokers were determined by solid phase radioimmunoassay of CA19-9 assay kits (Centocor). Of the normal sera, only 1 out of 40 (2.5%) was over 37.6 U/ml. No significant difference of CA19-9 levels was found between smokers (14.4 +/- 9.0 U/ml) and non-smokers (16.0 +/- 10.2 U/ml) of normal control. In patients sera, the mean value of CA19-9 levels was significantly higher in patients with Dukes B (P less than 0.05) and in patients with Dukes C and D (P less than 0.001) than the normal healthy control (15.2 +/- 10.2 U/ml). Analysis of serum CEA concentrations has shown a similar result in patients with all Dukes staged CRC. The CA19-9 levels was also significantly elevated in patients with gastric carcinoma, lung carcinoma, hepatoma, and especially in patients with pancreatic carcinoma (P less than 0.0001). The levels of CA19-9 elevated in 50% (22/44) of patients with advanced CRC while the elevation was 8 of 43 (18.6%) patients with localized CRC. A comparison of CA19-9 and CEA assays showed no correlation (r = 0.125) between the two assays. Although the CA19-9 assay (26.4%) was less sensitive than the CEA assay (51.7%), the specificity of CA19-9 assay (97.5%) was better than that of CEA assay (87.5%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Studies on lymphocyte subpopulations and lymphocyte transformation in response to phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, concanavalin A in systemic lupus erythematosus

Forty-eight cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were studied for lymphocyte subpopulations, and 42 cases were studied for lymphocyte response to mitogen stimulation. A decreased percentage of thymus-derived cells (T cells) and an increased percentage of bursa-equivalent derived cells (B cells), null cells (N cells), double labelled cells (D cells) were found in non-treated cases of SLE. There was no significant difference in these lymphocyte subpopulations in the treated cases in comparison with the normal control. There was an inverted linear relationship between T cells and N cells (p less than 0.001). No such relationship was found between B cells and N cells. The lymphocyte transformation in response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and concanavalin A (Con A) was expressed in three ways: (1) the net count of transformed data, (2) the difference between the square roots of the isotope incorporation in the stimulated and the non-stimulated cultures (Dsq), and (3) the stimulation index (SI). There were significantly decreased lymphocyte transformation in response to PHA, PWM stimulation in both the non-treated and the treated cases of SLE when results were expressed as net count and Dsq. But decreased counts in response to Con A was only found in non-treated cases. In contrast, no significantly lowered response to all three mitogens was found when data were expressed as stimulation index. Simultaneous study of the percentages of T cells, B cells, N cells, and D cells might be helpful in assessing the clinical activity of SLE and monitoring the effect of therapy. In the study of lymphocyte response to mitogen stimulation, Con A response was a more sensitive indicator of disease activity. The stimulation index was not a good method to demonstrate the result of lymphocyte response to mitogen stimulation in cases of SLE.

A proposed criteria for diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus used in Veterans General Hospital

An eight-point diagnostic criteria for SLE was proposed and evaluated at the Veterans General Hospital (VGH), Taipei. It consists of 8 points and 12 items, 3 points being required for an accurate diagnosis. All of 94 cases of SLE whether they could or could not be diagnosed with the ARA criteria fulfilled 3 or more points of the VGH criteria. None of the 17 cases of rheumatoid arthritis fulfilled 3 or more points of the VGH criteria.

[A follow-up survey on airborne fungal spore counts in the Taipei area (author's transl)]

The airborne fungal spore count was determined daily from 1975 to 1979 at six different stations in the Taipei Area. The count per year was 5656/cm2 in average. More than 75% of the spores could be identified microscopically and classified into 14 genera. The spore season was found from May to October in the Taipei Area. The count per month during this period reached 632/cm2. Only 311/cm2/month was found from November to April. Data collected from the six stations differed slghtly, the count was low in the city (4853/cm2/year) and high in the suburbs (8801/cm2/year). The counts were very close in the first four years (4325-4677/cm2/year), but dropped dramatically in the fifth year (2017/cm2/year). The spore count was influenced by temperature, humidity, rainfall as well as wind velocity. Among the 14 genera found by the slide method, six could not be isolated by the plate culture method. Other 24 genera isolated with plates did not appear on the slides.

[Factors contributory to suppressive effect of human suppressor T cells in vitro (author's transl)]

Factors affecting induction and expression of human blood suppressor cells including the concentration of concanavalin A (Con A), the exposure time of lymphocytes to Con A, and the ratio of suppressor cells and responder cells, were studied in Con A induced lymphocyte transformation by both the tube method and the microplate method. The most optimal concentration of Con A for suppressor cell induction was found to be 40 micrograms/ml (tube method) or 40 micrograms/well (microplate method). However, a range from 10 micrograms to 40 micrograms/ml or 10 micrograms to 80 micrograms/well was almost equally effective. At least 16 hr of incubation with Con A was required for generation of suppressor cells, but 2 hr incubation with Con A followed by 22 hr without Con A was also effective. As far as the effect of the ratio of suppressor cells to responder cells on the expression of suppressive effect is concerned, 1:1 was enough but 2:1 was more effective. There was no marked difference in results obtained by both methods. However, the microplate method is simple, quick and economic and, therefore, is highly recommended in our country.

Subnormal inhibition of active E rosette formation by isoproterenol in bronchial asthma

Three different groups of patients were studied: group A was on active attacks of asthma with bronchodilator therapy; group B was also on active attacks of asthma but free of any treatment; and group C was of remissive asthma due to hyposensitization, and free of any other treatment. Active E rosette forming populations of all the three groups showed much less reduction by beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol as comparing to normal controls, but had equal degrees of inhibition by cAMP and theophilline to normal subjects. Dysfunction of beta-adrenergic receptors in bronchial asthma, as presented in this study, was in accordance with Szentivanyi's theory of beta-adrenergic blockage. Therapy with sympathomimetic bronchodilators might have desensitizing effect on beta-adrenergic receptors. Symptom-relieving hyposensitization could'nt restore the beta-receptor functions in asthmatic patients. The significance of beta-receptor dysfunction in bronchial asthma was discussed.

The granulomatous response of leprosy patients to lepromin and killed BCG

The volunteers studied included 6 tuberculoid and 11 lepromatous leprosy patients (Ridley and Jopling). Each received intradermally 0.1 ml of lepromin (Wade method) and 0.1 ml of autoclaved BCG (grown on Dubos medium) at 2 separate sites on the left upper arm. Observations were made at weekly intervals, and biopsy specimens were taken at the fourth wk. Within 3 to 4 wk all 6 tuberculoid patients responded to lepromin with typical granulomas (5 of which measured 5 mm or more in diameter) composed of epithelioid cells, lymphocytes and giant cells. In contrast, 8 of the 11 lepromatous patients remained negative; the other 3 developed tiny papules less than 3 mm in diameter which disappeared after 2 wk. Biopsy specimens taken from injection sities at the fourth wk showed essentially normal histology. All 1 patients developed typical granulomas to heat-killed BCG (non were less than 5 mm in diameter and most were larger) consisting of epithelioid cells, many lymphocytes and a few giant cells. The reaction in tuberculoid leprosy was stronger than that in lepromatous leprosy and the reaction to BCG in tuberculoid leprosy was stronger than that to lepromin, but the differences were not very remarkable.

[Tissue typing of blood lymphocytes in normal Chinese and diseases (author's transl)]

The histocompatibility antigens were determined in 170 normal Chinese by a modified micro-lymphocytotoxicity test of Terasaki using 26 typing sera obtained from Behring Laboratories and Stanford University, and the data were compared with those obtained from 36 systemic lupus erythematosus, 30 rheumatoid arthritis, 17 ankylosing spondylitis as well as 45 leprosy patients. In normal individuals HLA-A2,A11 and A9 were dominant in locus A, the frequency were 42.35%, 41.76% and 32.35% respectively. HLA-Bw17, B13 and B5 were dominant in locus B, the frequency were 55.29%, 19.41% and 14.70% respectively. In systemic lupus erythematosus, the frequency of B8, Bw38 and A3 were slightly higher than normal (relative risk > 2); the frequency of Bw21 and B7 were little lower (risk of Bw21 < 0.5, frequency of B7 > 5% in normals but none in patients). In rheumatoid arthritis, the frequency of A28 and A10 (Aw25+26) were slightly lower than normal (risk < 0.5). In ankylosing spondylitis, the frequency of B27 was extremely high (risk = 44.92), Aw24 was also rather high (risk > 2); the frequency of B5, Bw35 and A10 (Aw25+26) was low (risk < 0.5), Bw15 and Bw21 > 5% in normals but none in patients. In leprosy, the frequency of B18 was relatively high (risk > 2); A3, Aw30+31+32, B27 and Bw35 were somewhat low (risk < 0.5). Because of the small sample size, however, the differences were not significant by Chi square analysis except the high frequency of B27 in ankylosing spondylitis (corrected P < 0.001).

Conversion of reactions to leprolin and lepromin in patients with lepromatous leprosy by the transfer factor

Conversion of leprolin and early lepromin reactions was achieved by two injections of transfer factor made of lymphocytes from lepromin-positive tuberculoid leprosy patients. However, the late reaction to lepromin remained unchanged. The importance of the degree of sensitivity of the cell donor was demonstrated, and a booster dose was also found to be useful. The feasibility of using transfer factor in treatment of lepromatous leprosy is briefly discussed.

[The value of serum salicylate determination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (author's transl)]

Thirty-one patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the Veterans General Hospital from July 1978 to June 1979 were treated with acetylsalicylic acid. The serum salicylate level was determined twice a week. The dose of acetylsalicylic acid was adjusted to keep the serum salicylate level around 15-30 mg%. All patients were started with an initial dose of 65 mg/kg/day. The serum salicylate levels at the 4th day varied greatly from 5.6 to 29.5 mg%. Tinnitus was noted in 24 patients. It occurred when the serum salicylate level reached 28.41 +/- 1.84 mg%. Abnormal liver function was noted in 19.35% (6/31) patients during treatment. It returned to normal after withdrawal of acetylsalicylic acid in 3 cases, after decrease of the dosage in 2 cases and on the same dosage in 1 case. Patients with positive FANA and RF were more prone to develop abnormal liver function during treatment. Monitoring of serum salicylate level may decrease the incidence of hepatic toxicity and maintain the dosage of acetylsalicylic acid in optimal range.

The effect of infant death on subsequent fertility in Korea and the role of family planning

This paper studies the effect of infant death on subsequent fertility in a developing country, examining spacing of children and additional births following the survival or death of the preceding infant. The material is provided by the 1971 National Fertility Survey of Korea, 23,635 retrospective birth records of 6,285 women. The findings suggest that prior to the introduction of a national family planning program, the influence of infant death was limited to the biological effect resulting from a shortened lactational period. Since fertility regulation methods have been made available throughout the country, motivational effects to replace the lost child appeared to emerge. The proportion of excess births attributable to infant deaths has increased in recent years. However, because of the lowered infant mortality, the overall impact of infant death on the national fertility level appears to be small.