Flow cytometric analysis of oestrogen receptors in relation to histopathologic characteristics of DMBA-induced mammary tumours in rats

Experimental DMBA (7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene)-induced mammary tumours in Sprague-Dawley rats are studied. Percentages of the distinct types of adenocarcinomas (Stevens et al. 1965) were as follows: type A (poorly-differentiated), 8.8%; type B (well-differentiated), 65.5%; type C (atrophic), 15.5% and type D (secretory), 5.4%. 51% of the mammary adenocarcinomas were seen to be positive to oestradiol receptors by means of flow cytometry; type A adenocarcinomas were found to be the most frequent positive tumours (88.9% positive cases) whereas the last adenocarcinomas to appear (type D) were negative. These results suggest that the oestradiol-sensitivity of DMBA-induced mammary adenocarcinomas decreases as the post tumour-induction period lengthens.

Effects of p-chloro-phenylalanine on the behaviors induced by apomorphine and amphetamine in adult cats

1. The effects of serotonin depletion on the behaviors evoked by apomorphine or amphetamine are analyzed. Amphetamine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) or apomorphine (2 mg/kg, s.c.) were administered to fourteen adult mongrel cats. Inhibition of tryptophan hydroxylase was achieved by intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine (100 mg/kg daily for three consecutive days). Serotonin depleted animals were tested with either apomorphine or amphetamine (same doses as above). 2. Behaviors evoked by both drugs were recorded and quantified. The following behaviors were rated: motility (locomotion), alertness, fear, indifference, olfaction and lateral head movements. 3. Biochemical analysis of the raphe dorsalis and caudate nuclei of p-CPA treated animals showed an average drop in serotonin concentration of 77%. Serotonin depletion induced statistically significant changes in the following behaviors in amphetamine-treated cats: locomotion, fear, lateral head movements and alertness. Serotonin depleted cats tested with apomorphine showed significant changes only in olfaction and indifference behaviors. 4. Serotonin appears to play a significant modulatory role in some of the behaviors evoked by amphetamine, specially locomotion. Such role is less evident for the behaviors evoked by apomorphine.

The value of the immunological subtypes and individual markers compared to classical parameters in the prognosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The value of the immunophenotypical subtypes and individual markers was compared with classical parameters in the prognosis of 150 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Regarding the immunophenotype, common-ALL had a better prognosis than T-ALL in the children's group. However, in adults the situation was different since both null and T-ALL patients had longer survival rates than the common pre-B group. Moreover, several individual markers add interesting prognostic information, either in ALL as a whole group or within the different immunophenotypes. Thus, the expression of CD10 and TdT had a significantly favourable influence in the outcome of the whole series of patients; within the T-ALL, those cases positive for CD10 also had a longer median survival (33 versus 17 months). In addition, in the common ALL patients group the expression of a relatively mature B marker--CD20--appeared to have a favourable prognosis (27 versus 13 months). Other non lineage specific markers, such as CD9 and CD38 did not seem to influence survival. Regarding the more conventional parameters, our data suggest that the classical age prognostic classification in children (less than 15 years) and adults can be improved using two cut-off points at 11 and 35 years. Moreover, the multivariate analysis showed that this variable, together with FAB morphology and WBC counts were the best combination of parameters for predicting survival. The present study shows that although the immunophenotype helps us in understanding the biological heterogeneity of ALL, having also prognostic implications, there are other clinical and hematological features that yield stronger prognostic information.

[Primary biliary cirrhosis. The clinical experience in 31 patients]

We analyzed 31 patients with a diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis, 29 of them males, aged 23 to 72 years. Liver biopsy was diagnostic in all showing initial findings of the disease in 5. Echotomography and cholangiography demonstrated a patent biliary, tract. Anti-mitochondrial antibodies were present in 94% of patients. Alkaline phosphatase and biliary acid levels were useful for diagnosis. Pruritus was present with varying intensity in all patients, with premenstrual exacerbations in 5 females who had cholestasis of pregnancy or hepatitis caused by progestin drugs before developing cirrhosis. Recurrent urinary tract infection was present in 8 patients, osteoporosis in 24, Sjogren's syndrome in 24 and Crest syndrome in 4. Survival ranged from 1 to 12 years, death being caused by ruptured esophageal varices in 12 patients and by liver failure in 7. Persistence of pruritus and altered liver function tests after cholestasis of pregnancy or hepatitis caused by progestins should lead to investigation of biliary cirrhosis.

Oral lesions in Mexican HIV-infected patients

One hundred and twenty-five HIV-infected patients, of whom 49 (39%) were at early stages of the infection (CDC-II & III) and 76 (61%) in CDC IV, were prospectively examined. In 100 (80%) one or more oral mucosal lesions were observed; candidiasis (51%) and hairy leukoplakia (43%) were the commonest. Erythematous candidiasis was more often seen (35%) than the pseudomembranous type (16%), and appeared with the higher values at early than later stages. The prevalence of hairy leukoplakia, oral hyperpigmentation and xerostomia were incremented in groups CDC-IV. Pseudomembranous candidiasis and exfoliative cheilitis increased significantly with severity of disease. Our study demonstrates that oral alterations associated to HIV are a frequent finding, both at early (76%) and late (83%) stages of the infection in Mexican patients.

[Biotechnological aspects in "loco" larvae]

The biology of planktotrophic larvae of Concholepas concholepas is the main bottleneck towards developing biotechnologies to rear this muricid. Data concerning planktonic larvae development, diets and environmental signals triggering larval settlement and recruitment is scarce. We have begun the study of the molecular and cell biology of embryos, larvae and recruits having as a final goal, the development of appropriate biotechnologies to rear this gastropod. First, an inverse ratio between BuChE and AChE enzyme activities was established. This ratio may be a precise developmental marker for this species. Second, for the first time a phosphoinositide related regulatory pathway is reported in a muricid, opening a new approach to the biotechnological management of larvae. Third, the relation between sulfate in sea water and larval motility was studied. Concentrations below 125 microM sulfate decreases larval motility. The sulfate is incorporated in proteoglycans which participate in different developmental phenomena. Lastly, a genomic Concholepas concholepas DNA sequence, similar to that of a human growth hormone probe was detected. This is very interesting since growth factors are key molecules during development, growth and are involved in food conversion rates in fish and also, in a variety of marine invertebrates.

[A clinical and biological study of 33 cases of polycythemia vera]

The clinical, analytical, evolutive and therapeutic aspects of 33 cases of polycythemia vera which were diagnosed according to the Polycythemia Vera Study Group criteria, are described. Mean age was 65 years with a slight predominance of females (54.5%). Hemorrhagic manifestations were the most frequent (67%) with a great number of patients with digestive manifestations consisting of GI hemorrhage, abdominal pain, portal or suprahepatic veins thrombosis. Splenomegaly was the most frequently found sign upon examination (73%). The mean hemoglobin leukocyte, and platelet levels were 18 g/dl, 16,000 mm3 and 738,000 mm3 respectively. It is note worthy the value of the erythropoietin for the differential diagnosis of secondary erythrocytosis as well as the value of the bone marrow histologic study which should be included in the diagnostic criteria of the disease. The evolution of the process is favorably altered by bleedings and chemotherapeutic cytoreduction which are often performed simultaneously.

[Study of leukemic colony-forming units (CFU-L) in non-lymphoblastic malignant hemopathies]

CFU-L is considered as the clonogenic cell of acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemias (ANLL). Twenty-five malignant myelogenous hemopathies (5 blast crisis and 20 "de novo" ANLL) were studied in order to assess the proliferative capability of these cells and its relationship to FAB types and the achievement or not of complete remission (CR). The proliferative capability was assessed by culture on methylcellulose using conditioned leucocyte medium stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin as stimulating agent. Cell proliferation was observed in 21 cases, reaching 100% of the blast crisis and 80% (i.e., 16 cases) of the "de novo" ANLL. As regards the FAB types, it was found that the leukaemias with monocytic cells showed higher cell-growth than those of granulocytic lineage (90%, vs 60%). Of the patients not achieving CR (12 cases) colonies were formed in 66.6% (8 cases), while of the 8 patients who attained CR only in 3 (37.5%) were colonies observed. It was concluded that the FAB types of ANLL show different proliferative capability, which might influence the prognosis of the disease.

[Piroxicam and fentiazac do not change the arterial pressure in hypertensives patients undergoing treatment]

We evaluated the effects of piroxicam (n = 20) or fentiazac (n = 11) in 31 hypertensive patients whose blood pressure had been controlled by treatment with propranolol, celiprolol or nifedipine, with or without associated diuretic therapy. No significant change in blood pressure was observed from pretreatment levels during or after a 4 week therapy with these drugs. We conclude that fentiazac and piroxicam do not interfere with an adequate control of high blood pressure in hypertensive patients responding to conventional therapy.

[A clinical and biological study of 11 cases of essential thrombocythemia]

11 patients diagnosed as suffering from essential thrombocytosis at "Hospital Xeral de Lugo" between 1978 and 1986, are presented. 7 patients were female and 4 were male with a median age of 63 years. 6 patients had thrombotic manifestation, 6 had hemorrhagic symptoms, 2 had both manifestations and only one had no thrombo-hemorrhagic clinical symptoms. Spleen enlargement was found in 6 cases and liver enlargement in 5. The median count of platelets were 1.585.000 ml; there was no relationship between the amount and their function with the major or minor complications incidence. There was a good response to treatment with hydroxyurea and/or busulfan associated to platelets aggregation inhibitor in some cases. 4 patients died, all of them due to thrombotic complications.

Detection of soluble class I molecules (non HLA-A or HLA-B) in serum, spleen membranes and lymphocytes in culture

Soluble major histocompatibility complex class I molecules (sHLA) present in human serum can be resolved by gel filtration into two different peaks with an apparent molecular mass of about 200 kDa (30% of the total) and 50-60 kDa (60%-70%). The serological analysis of the peaks shows that A or B specificities can only be detected in the 200 kDa peak while both are recognized by the monomorphic W6/32 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and anti-beta 2-microglobulin mAb. Such sHLA (non HLA-A or -B) molecules are released from human spleen membranes upon incubation at 37 degrees C and have been purified by affinity chromatography with mAb W6/32 bound to Sepharose. The molecular mass analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the sHLA (non HLA-A or -B) and of the classical HLA-A or -B antigens still bound to the membranes and purified from the same membranes after detergent solubilization does not show a significant difference, indicating that sHLA do not represent proteolytic fragments of the classical HLA-A or -B antigens. The presence of sHLA (non HLA-A or -B) has also been detected in the supernatants of lymphocyte cultures and increases dramatically upon stimulation by mitogens. The effect of pokeweed mitogen, phytohemagglutinin, Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate on the secretion of sHLA has been studied. The molecular mass of the secreted sHLA (detected using [14C]leucine) is compared with the classical transmembrane proteins.

[Acute polyarthritis in a patient with AIDS. Clinical report]

A homosexual patient known to be HIV positive for 2 years developed fever, herpes labialis, salmonellosis and symmetric polyarthritis. No specific cause was documented for the arthritis which was ascribed to the AIDS syndrome. Partial improvement in symptoms was observed after therapy with cotrimoxazole and indomethacin. Musculoskeletal complications of AIDS are reviewed.

[Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome; a model of autoimmune neurosensory hypoacusia]

The immunological disorders appearing in several kinds of autoimmune sensorineural hearing loss, are not unusual in daily practice. We present a case with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada's disease with hearing impairment, and describe its clinics aspects, and the diagnosis and therapeutics methods we used.

Cell-mediated immunity in healthy and uremic adults assessed by in vivo and in vitro techniques. Validation of delayed hypersensitivity skin testing

Cell-mediated immunocompetence was assessed in 16 healthy and 10 uremic subjects by "in vivo" and "in vitro" techniques, simultaneously. PHA-induced lymphocyte transformation, Multitest and classical skin testing with a panel of 7 antigens have been used. Similar cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) results were obtained when using either Multitest or the classical panel, both in healthy subjects (R = 0.66) and in uremic patients (R = 0.61). The results were the same for both the total scores and the number of positive responses per subject. The two DTH methods were of similar accuracy in the evaluation of normal DTH responses and hypoergy in both populations but the sensitivity in detecting anergy among the uremics was higher for the classical panel (80%) than for Multitest (60%). However, no method proved to be more prone to classify a healthy subject as anergic. Anergy was more frequent among uremic patients both with Multitest (60%) and the conventional panel (80%) but was unusual among healthy controls (6.3% and 7.1%, respectively) (p less than 0.0001 for both). Depressed DTH reactivity in uremia was correlated with longer blood transfusion-free intervals (p less than 0.05) and influenced by the duration of haemodyalisis and the number of blood transfusions. Similar CMI impairment rates were found in uremic patients with Multitest (76.9%), the classical panel (63.8%) and "in vitro" techniques (63.7%). Therefore, cutaneous DTH testing proved to be a useful mean of evaluating CMI. Moreover, the high cost and technical complexity of "in vitro" techniques are major drawbacks against their use and strenghthen the role of DTH skin testing as a useful clinical tool to measure CMI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)