Oligoclonal immunoglobulins in cerebrospinal fluid in acute cerebrovascular disease

Oligoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) bands were found in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by agarose gel electrophoresis and thin-layer polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing in 10 patients with cerebral infarction and 2 patients with transient ischemic attacks. Immunofixation revealed that the oligoclonal Ig was of the G class. One patient also had a band of free lambda light chains. The appearance of oligoclonal IgG during the course disease was observed in one patient, and the disappearance in six patients. Only three patients had elevated CSF IgG levels or abnormal synthesis rate of IgG in the nervous system. The oligoclonal reaction observed in acute cerebrovascular disease may reflect a polyclonal B-cell activation within the central nervous system after brain tissue damage.

Survival after 40 minutes; submersion without cerebral sequeae

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and rewarming were successful in a 5-year-old boy who had been submerged for 40 minutes in ice-cold fresh water. Severe metabolic acidosis was corrected by intravenous infusion of sodium bicarbonate solution before spontaneous circulation could be re-established. Fulminant pulmonary oedema developed after re-establishment of spontaneous circulation. This was efficiently reversed by positive-end-expiratory-pressure ventilation. During 2 days of treatment of a respiratory the patient gradually regained consciousness; the endotracheal tube was then removed and the patient immediately started talking intelligently. The patient went through a period of slow cerebration and motor dysfunction but recovered rapidly, and on examination 13 months after the accident all findings were normal.

The location of the nucleolus organizer regions in Drosophila hydei

The positions of the nucleolus organizer regions in metaphase chromosomes of Drosophila hydei were detected by in situ hybridization experiments. In agreement with earlier conclusions the nucleolus of the X chromosome was found to originate in a terminal region of the heterochromatic arm. The Y chromosome contains two nucleolus organizers, one in a terminal postion of the long arm, and the other in the short arm. The implications with respect to the evolution of the Y chromosome are discussed.