Adjuvant treatment of operable stomach cancer with polyadenylic.polyuridylic acid in addition to chemotherapeutic agents. Differential effect on natural killer cell and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity

Peripheral blood lymphocytes of operable stomach cancer patients were evaluated sequentially for their natural killer (NK) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activities before and after chemotherapy in association with polyadenylic.polyuridylic acid [poly(A).poly(U)]. Their cytotoxicity was measured by 4 h-chromium release assays, using human K562 and sensitized murine L1210 cells as targets for assays of NK and ADCC respectively. The mean NK cytotoxicity of 89 patients before treatment was significantly lower than that of the 18 sex- and age-matched healthy controls, whereas assays of ADCC showed similar levels of cytotoxicity in both groups. Patients who had received postoperative chemotherapy (5 fluorouracil, 12 mg/kg and adriamycin, 40 mg/M2) once, had, 5 days after injection, NK cytotoxicity levels similar to those before treatment. For these patients, an additional administration of poly(A).poly(U) (100 mg) resulted, 2 days later, in a significant increase in the levels of NK cytotoxicity without affecting the levels of ADCC. Repeated injections of poly(A).poly(U) alternated with chemotherapy induced, consistently, exclusive enhancement of NK activity after each injection. These results suggest that the effector cells for NK and ADCC activities are of functionally different cell populations.

Cognitive and neurologic findings in subjects with diffuse white matter lucencies on computed tomographic scan (leuko-araiosis)

As part of a prospective clinicopathologic study, a cohort of 105 "normal" elderly volunteers was investigated with computed tomographic scans, psychometric testing (Extended Scale for Dementia [ESD]) and neurologic examination. Computed tomographic scans were evaluated for the presence or absence of white matter lucencies, termed leuko-araiosis. These are defined as patchy or diffuse areas of decreased attenuation involving only white matter and with no change in adjacent ventricles or sulci. The nine controls with leuko-araiosis had lower scores on the ESD than the 96 controls without leuko-araiosis (mean ESD with leuko-araiosis, 227.1 +/- 14; without leuko-araiosis, 237.1 +/- 8), and the difference remains significant even after adjusting for the possible confounding effects of age, sex, education, and infarct detected on computed tomography. Significant differences were also found comparing subjects with leuko-araiosis and those without in respect to abnormal gait, limb power, plantar response, and the rooting and palmomental reflexes. Leuko-araiosis may represent a marker for early dementia. The pathophysiology of this finding remains uncertain. Our results suggest that white matter abnormalities play a role in the development of intellectual impairment in the elderly.

An analysis of the funding to, and by, the Medical Research Council of New Zealand during the period 1973-84

Correcting for inflation, the government grant to the MRC from 1973-84 was maintained at 90% of that for 1973. Funding of units was constant at 12% of total disbursements. That for project grants decreased from 89% in 1973 to a low of 48% in 1981. Programme grants increased from 21% in 1974 to a peak of 40% in 1981. After 1981 there was a slight shift favouring project grants. Purchasing power of project grants fell to a low, in 1980, of 41.5% of that in 1974 but, from 1981-84 remained at 45%. The purchasing power of programme grants was protected and held at 90% of that in 1974. From 1982-84 expenditure on project grants running for 3 years decreased from 50-60%, to only 15% and, with the declining fraction of the budget allotted to project grants, and in their purchasing power, this may account for the perception of a shortage of funds for medical research. Sustained support for research in the main centres has changed little and reflects the number of full-time academic staff at each school.

The role of the nucleus raphe pontis and the caudate nucleus in alfentanil rigidity in the rat

Attempts to eliminate or reduce the rigidity induced with high-dose narcotic anesthesia in the operating room have been only partially successful. Previous investigations of opioid receptor sites mediating this rigidity have implicated two central regions: the nucleus raphe pontis (NRP) within the reticular formation and the caudate nucleus (CN) within the basal ganglia. The present study used systemically administered alfentanil (ALF), a potent, short-acting fentanyl analog, and intracerebrally infused methylnaloxonium (MN), a quaternary derivative of naloxone, to elucidate further the functional role of the NRP and CN in rigidity. ALF (0.5 mg/kg s.c.) produced a reliable model of rigidity, as documented by gastrocnemius electromyography. The onset of this rigidity was within 60 s of ALF administration, with a total duration of approximately 40-50 min. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of 2.0 or 4.0 micrograms of MN 15 min prior to ALF treatment prevented rigidity, while 0.125 or 0.5 microgram had no significant effect on rigidity. MN injected directly into the NRP at doses as low as 0.125 microgram significantly antagonized ALF-induced rigidity, while injections of MN into the caudate nucleus at doses as high as 4.0 micrograms failed to antagonize ALF-induced rigidity. These observations demonstrate that injection of MN into the NRP is at least 16-fold more effective in blocking ALF-induced rigidity than MN injected into the ventricle and, more importantly, at least 32-fold more effective than MN injected into the CN. The results suggest that the NRP may be an important site for the neural control of muscular rigidity associated with high-dose narcotic administration.

Efficacy of ciprofloxacin in experimental aortic valve endocarditis caused by a multiply beta-lactam-resistant variant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa stably derepressed for beta-lactamase production

The emergence of multi-beta-lactam resistance is a limiting factor in treating invasive Pseudomonas infections with newer cephalosporins. The in vivo efficacy of ciprofloxacin, a new carboxy-quinolone, was evaluated in experimental aortic valve endocarditis caused by a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa which is stably derepressed for beta-lactamase production and is resistant to ceftazidime and multiple other beta-lactam agents. A total of 51 catheterized rabbits with aortic catheters in place were infected with this strain and then received no therapy (controls), ceftazidime (75 mg/kg per day), or ciprofloxacin (80 mg/kg per day). Ciprofloxacin sterilized all blood cultures and significantly lowered vegetation densities of P. aeruginosa by day 2 of treatment versus controls (P less than 0.0005) and animals receiving ceftazidime (P less than 0.0005). This beneficial effect of ciprofloxacin was also noted on therapy days 6 and 11. Ciprofloxacin rendered most vegetations (85%) culture negative over the 11-day treatment period and achieved bacteriologic cure in 73% of animals (P less than 0.0005 versus other therapy groups). Ciprofloxacin prevented bacteriologic relapse at 6 days posttherapy. No ciprofloxacin resistance was detected among Pseudomonas isolates from cardiac vegetations. Ciprofloxacin warrants further evaluation in vivo versus multi-drug-resistant gram-negative bacillary infections.

A reliable datagram protocol on local area networks

Most of interprocess communications in transaction oriented distributed systems are based on client-server model, in which one process communicates with several processes simultaneously. Datagram service fits this type of communication rather than virtual circuit service. Transaction oriented distributed systems sometimes need to move large data such as a file or a part of database from a machine to other. The reliable delivery is fairly important since an error might cause retransmission of a whole data. In this paper, we propose the efficient mechanism for reliable datagram service, i) the concept of semi-virtual circuit and ii) the simple error detection and recovery algorithm based on our existing transport protocol, UDSTP. We describe implementation details supporting those facilities and performance results.

Demonstration of 20K growth hormone in human plasma by gel electrophoretic-immunostaining-autoradiographic assay (GEISAA)

A variant of human growth hormone (hGH), in which 15 amino acids are missing (commonly referred to as 20K-hGH in contrast to the traditional form which is referred to as 22K-hGH), is known to exist in human pituitary glands. However, lack of a method to measure it in blood has hindered investigations of its physiopathology. We have applied a newly-developed technique called GEISAA for its detection in small volumes of human plasma. The method is based upon the lower Mr of the variant and its ability to partially crossreact with existing antibodies for 22K-hGH. It consists of retrieval of the substance from plasma by immunoprecipitation, separation from 22K-hGH by NaDodSO4-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transfer onto nitrocellulose paper by electroblotting and visualization by immunostaining and autoradiography. It revealed the 20K-hGH in plasma of some normal individuals and in that of an acromegalic patient. Furthermore, plasma concentration of the variant rose in conjunction with 22K-hGH following exercise, a natural stimulus for GH release. These results show that the 20K-hGH circulates under normal conditions and it is measurable by GEISAA using existing antibodies.

Synthesis and release of glycosylated prolactin by human decidua in vitro

To determine whether human decidual tissue synthesizes and secretes a glycosylated form of PRL (G-hPRL), explants of decidua obtained after normal term delivery were cultured for up to 5 days. During each day of incubation, the decidual explants incorporated [3H]mannose and [3H]glucosamine into immunoprecipitable G-hPRL. The explants released 33-50% less G-hPRL than hPRL. The release of decidual G-hPRL was unaffected by treatment with TRH (10(-4)-10(-8) M) or dopamine (10(-5)-10(-9) M) during a 4-h incubation period. G-hPRL also was sought in samples of amniotic fluid. Glycosylated hPRL was detected in all amniotic fluid samples from normal pregnant women at 32-40 weeks of gestation. These results indicate that human decidual explants in vitro may be used as a model system to study the secretion of G-hPRL and its regulation during pregnancy.

Release of the 22,000- and the 20,000-dalton variants of growth hormone in vivo and in vitro by human anterior pituitary cells

Using a combination of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and immunoblotting with antihuman GH (anti-hGH) serum, we quantitatively and independently measured the major 22,000-dalton form of hGH (hGH22K) and the 20,000-dalton form (hGH20K). This technique was equally effective in assaying cell culture media or human sera. We studied isolated human pituitary cell cultures during a 16-day incubation period with and without stimulation by GH-releasing hormone (GHRH). Under basal conditions, the cells released 2.83 +/- 0.24 (+/- SEM) microgram hGH22K/ml . day and 0.67 +/- 0.17 microgram hGH20K/ml . day. GHRH (10(-8) M) treatment resulted in stimulation of both hGH22K and hGH20K by 24 h. We also measured both hGH22K and hGH20K in the sera of normal subjects before and after an iv bolus injection of 100 micrograms GHRH. hGH20K increased as did hGH22K. Peak concentrations of both variants occurred 45 min after GHRH administration. The results of this study indicate that the combination of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting is an accurate and effective means of separately assaying hGH22K and hGH20K. We also demonstrated that primary monolayer cultures of human pituitary cells are an excellent model system for study of the secretion of these two hGH variants.

Chronic gentamicin nephrotoxicity. Continued tubular injury with preserved glomerular filtration function

After an initial episode of acute tubular necrosis, apparent resistance to gentamicin nephrotoxicity develops in rats during prolonged drug administration. The authors studied this phenomenon by examining the autoradiographic distribution of 3H-gentamicin and 3H-thymidine during 5 weeks of gentamicin treatment and by analyzing renal structure and function after a 12-week course of treatment. These studies show that regenerating cells exclude gentamicin, but concentrate it again after maturation, and that the rate of thymidine incorporation is still high well after recovery from acute toxic injury. After 12 weeks of gentamicin, the glomerular filtration rate was only modestly diminished, whereas in vitro cortical organic ion transport was substantially impaired. Light and electron microscopy demonstrated all phases of injury and recovery among cells of most proximal tubules and evidence of chronic tubulointerstitial disease. It is concluded that "resistance" to gentamicin is a state of persistent tubular cell injury obscured functionally by preservation of the glomerular filtration rate and histologically by asynchrony of cell necrosis and regeneration.

The effect of diet on bile acid kinetics and biliary lipid secretion in gallstone patients treated with ursodeoxycholic acid

Effects of specific dietary alterations in patients with radiolucent gallstones treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA, 750 mg at bedtime) were investigated. Patients were allocated randomly to one of four diets: standard (500 mg cholesterol/day), low-cholesterol (250 mg/day), added-bran (30 g/day), or substituted medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) oil (20% of fat). Dietary intake and good compliance were verified by computerized analysis of dietary diaries. Bile-acid kinetics (26 patients) or secretion of biliary lipids (23 other patients) were determined at enrollment and at 6 and 9 mo, respectively, during treatment. Although MCT further decreased the UDCA-induced decrease in the synthesis of chenodeoxycholic acid, it did not lessen desaturation of bile. Otherwise, compared to the standard diet, no experimental diet significantly altered the UDCA-induced increase of the pools of total bile acids and UDCA or the UDCA-induced decrease in synthesis of bile acids and in biliary secretion or saturation of cholesterol. If these dietary manipulations facilitate dissolution of gallstones by UDCA, they do so by other mechanisms.

Troponoids. 7. Chemistry and dopamine agonist activity of ciladopa and related aralkyltroponylpiperazines

A series of N-aralkyltroponylpiperazine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for dopaminergic activity in rats rendered hypokinetic by the bilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the anterolateral hypothalamus. Several members of the series were active, and a structure-activity relationship is presented. A few selected compounds were also evaluated with regard to their ability to induce contralateral rotational behavior in rats with a unilateral 6-OHDA-induced lesion of the nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) pathway and to suppress elevated serum prolactin levels. The compounds were compared to bromocriptine. Some of the more potent analogues were also assayed for their binding affinity to dopamine (DA) and alpha 1-adrenergic receptors. The results established that the potency of some of the compounds were comparable or superior to that of bromocriptine indicated that potent dopaminergic activity was dependent on the presence of both a substituted phenyl and a troponylpiperazine moiety, and confirmed that the dopaminergic activity depends on relative and absolute stereochemistry.

Intracellular survival of Candida albicans in peritoneal macrophages from chronic peritoneal dialysis patients

Candidal peritonitis is a tenacious infection in patients undergoing chronic peritoneal dialysis. Since little is known about host defenses of the human peritoneal cavity against fungi, we investigated the interaction of peritoneal macrophages (PM phi) from uninfected dialysis patients with Candida albicans blastospores. Chemiluminescence (CL) techniques were used to assess the respiratory burst activity of these cells, and candidacidal activity was evaluated with a fluorochrome microassay. In sharp contrast to peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) from healthy donors, which gave a brisk luminol-enhanced CL response to opsonized blastospores and killed 35% of cell-associated organisms, PM phi produced barely detectable luminol-enhanced CL and killed only 13% of intracellular Candida. These findings appeared to be associated with a decreased level of myeloperoxidase in PM phi. The mechanism of intracellular survival of C albicans also appeared to be related to relatively poor triggering of superoxide production during phagocytosis of viable blastospores. The CL response of PMNs to C albicans was opsonin-dependent, and peritoneal dialysis effluent was devoid of opsonic activity. These studies suggest that local cellular and humoral mechanisms of defense are inadequate for protection of peritoneal dialysis patients against candidal peritonitis.

Measurement of specific IgG antibody levels in serum of patients on regimes comprising high total dose beta-lactam therapy

Sera from 125 patients receiving mean total doses of beta-lactam therapy of 215 g over a mean of 14 days were assayed by radioimmunoassay. Titres of anti-penicilloyl antibodies, expressed in arbitrary units of specific IgG per microliter of serum (u/microliter), ranged from undetectable (less than 3 u/microliter) to 1,650 u/microliter. There was a higher prevalence of elevated IgG levels in patients who developed haemolytic anaemia or neutropenia compared with patients with no adverse reactions but only in those patients who developed haemolytic anaemia were the antibody titres significantly higher. A subsidiary finding was that a correlation was established between mean total dose and prevalence of positive IgG titres, on a patient group basis (r = 0.87).

The influence of hapten density on the assay of penicilloylated proteins in fluids

The use of inhibition radioimmunoassays for the measurement of penicilloylated proteins in biological fluids is compromised by the dominant influence of hapten density. Precise quantitation, and therefore assessment of antigenicity and immunogenicity, cannot be achieved in the absence of knowledge of the number and distribution of haptenic groups on the protein carrier. These assays may not, therefore, be appropriate for the measurement of potential allergenic residues in food products.

Effects of chronic dietary lithium on behavioral indices of dopamine denervation supersensitivity in the rat

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that chronic lithium (Li) treatment could alter the behavioral manifestations of dopamine (DA) denervation supersensitivity. Rats were maintained on a Li diet continuously for 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after bilateral chemical denervation of DA terminal fields in the nucleus accumbens (N.Acc.) and the caudate nucleus (CN). We examined the behavioral responses of these animals to apomorphine (0.1 mg/kg s.c.) treatment 2 and 4 weeks postdenervation. Animals exposed to similar chemical denervation but maintained on a control diet exhibited well-documented "supersensitive" behavioral responses to apomorphine: N.Acc. denervated animals demonstrated increases in ambulatory sniffing, rearing and locomotor activity; CN-denervated animals demonstrated increases in rearing and focused sniffing in one location but no increases in locomotor activity. Compared to these control-fed animals, Li-diet animals receiving either CN- or N.Acc-denervation demonstrated a significantly decreased "supersensitive" behavioral response to apomorphine. N.Acc.-denervated animals receiving Li showed less apomorphine-induced locomotor activity. CN-denervated animals receiving Li showed less focused behavior which became evident as actual increases in locomotor activity after apomorphine. These results suggest that chronic dietary Li modifies postsynaptic mechanisms to suppress elements of the behavioral manifestations of supersensitive mesolimbic and nigrostriatal DA activity.

Effect of dietary cholesterol on biliary lipids in patients with gallstones and normal subjects

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of dietary cholesterol on biliary lipids in subjects with and without gallstones. Twelve patients with asymptomatic gallstones (six men, six women) were assigned diets containing 500, 750, and 1000 mg cholesterol daily for 3-wk periods in random sequence. Seven healthy women similarly were assigned diets containing 500 and 1000 mg cholesterol daily. With increasing dietary cholesterol in patients with gallstones, biliary saturation indices and molar percents of cholesterol and phospholipids increased significantly while molar percent of biliary bile acids decreased significantly. With increasing dietary cholesterol in healthy women, the biliary saturation index and molar percent of cholesterol increased significantly; the mean saturation index exceeded unity on the diet containing 1000 mg cholesterol daily. In conclusion, augmented dietary cholesterol for brief periods increased biliary cholesterol saturation in subjects with and without gallstones.

Long-term survivors after breast cancer

A retrospective analysis of two groups of patients, one surviving 16-20 years and the other dying within 10 years after diagnosis and treatment of primary breast cancer has been undertaken to determine whether there were particular clinical or histological features associated with long-term survival. The striking histological difference between the tumours of the two groups of patients was the prevalence of tumours of 'special' invasive types (cribriform, tubular, lobular and medullary) in the long-term survivors. Micro-invasive and non-invasive carcinomas were also more common in the survivors. The tumours of the surviving group which were not of a 'special' type more commonly had a better histological grade than those tumours of patients dying early from breast cancer. In the overall group elastosis was present in significantly more tumours of the survivors whereas tumour necrosis, vascular and lymphatic invasion were all significantly more common in the short-term survival group. Although there was a significantly increased incidence of earlier stage tumours in the long-term survivors, the histological distinctions between the two groups were independent of the differences in clinical features.

Carcinoma of the breast in women 80 years of age and older: still a lethal disease

Cancer of the breast is a frequent and potentially lethal problem in women 80 years of age and older. In our experience, many present with advanced disease which indicates the continuing need for patient and doctor education concerning the significance of a breast lump in the elderly. Although many of these patients have other diseases, only a small number, if thoughtfully managed, will not be fit for appropriate standard methods of treatment. In the majority of patients who died, death was due to the breast cancer and many who did die from other causes had the added misery of persisting or metastatic breast cancer. In those patients with potentially curable cancer, we recommend either wide local excision, axillary node dissection and irradiation, or modified radical mastectomy. When simple mastectomy alone is used, there is a very high local recurrence rate. Although the patients studied were treated before the era of tamoxifen therapy, it is noteworthy that hormone manipulation would be of value in many of these patients and in selected cases, chemotherapy should also be considered.

In vitro recombination of bacteriophage T7 DNA: further characterization of the reaction using plasmid DNA

We have used a plasmid which contains a cloned fragment of T7 DNA to study the properties of general recombination of phage T7 in vitro. It was shown that T7-infected cell extracts promote recombination by the exchange of double strands of DNA. While both products of these double-strand exchanges were detected, we were unable to show that they were formed during a single recombination event.

Etodolac: effect on prostaglandin concentrations in gastric mucosa of rats

Etodolac is a structurally novel compound exhibiting potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory animals and man, with excellent G. I. tolerance. Like other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) etodolac inhibits prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis. In view of the cytoprotective role of PGE2, we have investigated in normal rats the effect of etodolac on the gastric mucosal concentration of PGE2 as well as of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, the stable metabolite of prostacyclin; naproxen and piroxicam served as reference NSAIDs. The orally effective anti-inflammatory doses in the chronic arthritic rat model (3 mg/kg for etodolac and naproxen; 0.5 mg/kg for piroxicam), and their arbitrarily selected multiples of 10 were used. Rats were killed at 1, 2, 6 and 24 hr after single doses and the PG concentrations were measured by RIA. With the low dose, 2 and 6 hr after dosing, etodolac diminished the PGE2 concentration by 20-25% (vs control) while naproxen and piroxicam caused a fall of 53-65%; the difference between etodolac and the untreated control group is not statistically significant but the difference between etodolac and both piroxicam and naproxen is significant (p less than 0.001). At the high doses, the lowering in PGE2 was similar after all three drugs, i.e. about 70% at 1 and 2 hr; 50% at 6 hr, and 20-50% at 24 hr after dosing. Except for the consistently smaller reduction of concentrations after etodolac, the effects on 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentration followed a similar pattern but the differences are not significant. The lack of the G.I. irritation of etodolac in rats and man at therapeutically effective doses may be attributed to the benefits of the relatively short-lived and slight decrease in gastric mucosal PGE2 concentrations found in this study.

Cleaved prolactin: evidence for its occurrence in human pituitary gland and plasma

A form of PRL that is cleaved in its large disulfide loop has been reported in rat and mouse pituitary glands, but it is not known whether it exists in the human pituitary gland and whether it circulates in blood. Recently, we developed an immunoelectrophoretic technique which is capable of measuring immunoreactive variants of PRL and other hormones in plasma. We describe here detection of cleaved PRL in normal and tumor pituitary tissue from a prolactinoma patient and in the plasma of pregnant women.

The Effect of Cutting Speed on Chip Formation Under Orthogonal Machining

Orthogonal machining experiments were conducted at different cutting speeds ranging from 8.5 × 10−2 cm/s (0.17 ft/min) to about 2.5 × 102 cm/s (492.1 ft/min) with 6061-T6 aluminum, 4340 steel, and Ti-6A1-4V titanium to examine the chip formation process. The most pronounced effect of the cutting speed on chip morphology was observed with the titanium alloy; the chips remained segmented at all speeds, but became continuous macroscopically at high cutting speeds. The steel chip also became continuous and oxidized, showing the effect of localized heating. The changing chip morphology that is accompanied with decreasing normal force at the high cutting speed is rationalized on the basis of localized adiabatic heating, which is dependent on the thermal-mechanical properties of each material.

Dynamic approach in the diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome using somatosensory evoked responses

The clinical diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is controversial. Objective documentation of this disorder is often unobtainable, even with electrodiagnostic techniques. This preliminary report describes an objective diagnostic method of evaluating TOS using somatosensory evoked potential testing (SEP) and dynamic arm positioning. Evoked potentials were recorded over the brachial plexus (N9) and C7 cervical vertebra (N13) after distal stimulation of the median and/or ulnar nerves. This was performed with the arm both at the side (anatomic position), and then positioned in abduction and external rotation. Absolute and interpeak latencies were measured in both positions. Of 14 patients clinically suspected of having TOS, six showed normal N13 evoked responses in the anatomic position despite a disappearance of this potential when tested with the symptomatic arm in the dynamic position of abduction and external rotation. Fourteen control subjects had normal responses with the arm tested in both positions. The SEP coupled with the dynamic stress of the nerves coursing through the thoracic outlet may be helpful as a new objective aid in the diagnosis of TOS.

Bronchodilator effect of disodium cromoglycate administered as a dry powder in exercise induced asthma

A double-blind, placebo controlled study of the effects of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG), administered as a dry powder via the spinhaler, in established exercise-induced asthma, was carried out. DSCG resulted in an increase in the rate of recovery compared with placebo. The findings confirm that DSCG has bronchodilator properties.

Glucuronidation and elimination of diflunisal in the isolated perfused rat liver: effect of pretreatment with phenobarbitone, clofibric acid and spironolactone

The effects of pretreatment of rats with phenobarbitone, clofibric acid and spironolactone on the metabolism and biliary excretion of the salicylate derivative diflunisal have been studied using the isolated perfused liver. The clearance of diflunisal was increased significantly by pretreatment with each of the drugs. Biliary excretion of diflunisal acyl and phenolic glucuronides followed apparent first-order and Michaelis-Menten kinetics, respectively. Pretreatment with clofibric acid or spironolactone resulted in a significant increase in the biliary excretion of the phenolic glucuronide. Pretreatment with phenobarbitone or spironolactone enhanced biliary excretion of the acyl glucuronide, particularly during the first 2 hr. The concentration of the phenolic glucuronide in the perfusate increased steadily during the 6 hr perfusions, whereas the acyl glucuronide concentration was relatively stable, reflecting the ease of hydrolysis of acyl glucuronides under physiological conditions.

BK virus-plasmid expression vector that persists episomally in human cells and shuttles into Escherichia coli

We describe a novel expression vector, pBK TK-1, that persists episomally in human cells that can be shuttled into bacteria. This vector includes sequences from BK virus (BKV), the thymidine kinase (TK) gene of herpes simplex virus type 1, and plasmid pML-1. TK+-transformed HeLa and 143 B cells contained predominantly full-length episomes. There were typically 20 to 40 (HeLa) and 75 to 120 143 B vector copies per cell, although some 143 B transformants contained hundreds. Low-molecular-weight DNA from TK+-transformed cells introduced into Escherichia coli were recovered as plasmids that were indistinguishable from the input vector. Removal of selective pressure had no apparent effect upon the episomal status of pBK TK-1 molecules in TK+-transformed cells. BKV T antigen may play a role in episomal replication of pBK TK-1 since this viral protein was expressed in TK+ transformants and since a plasmid that contained only the BKV origin of replication was highly amplified in BKV-transformed human cells that synthesize BKV T antigen.

Late response in exercise-induced asthma

Eight subjects induced bronchospasm by free-range running. Four of these demonstrated a late response at 5-6 hr after exercise. When compared to the other group of four subjects, who also developed an early response but no late response, the difference in FEV1 at 5-6 hr was highly statistically significant. Although the phenomenon is not universally manifest it should no longer be held that there is no late response in exercise-induced asthma.

Detection of a high molecular weight variant of prolactin in human plasma by a combination of electrophoretic and immunologic techniques

We have developed a method for detecting in human plasma a form of prolactin (PRL) with an apparent molecular weight (MW) of approximately 25,000, distinct from traditional human PRL (hPRL) which has a MW of 23,000. The method is based upon the higher MW of the variant and its ability to partially cross-react with antibody to 23K hPRL. It consists of retrieval of the protein from plasma by immunoprecipitation, its separation from 23K hPRL by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transfer onto nitrocellulose paper by electroblotting, followed by detection with immunostaining and autoradiography. The method is sensitive enough to detect hPRL and its 25K variant in 100 microliter of human plasma. All plasma tested so far has shown the presence of the new form. The method has also revealed another protein in human plasma that cross-reacts with a specific antibody to 23K hPRL. This protein may constitute an additional post-translational variant of hPRL. The 25K variant reported here most likely represents the glycosylated form of the hormone recently detected in ovine and human pituitary glands. The method described can be adapted to detect other plasma components for which an antibody is available.