Human neoplasm pH and response to radiation therapy: P-31 MR spectroscopy studies in situ

Thirty-five human neoplasms from various sites and of various histologic types and stages were examined with phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy in situ. The tumors included 13 squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (lymph nodes), eight Hodgkin lymphomas, six non-Hodgkin lymphomas, four carcinomas of the breast, one melanoma, one sarcoma, one neuroblastoma, and one mucoepidermoid sarcoma of the salivary glands. Thirty-four of the neoplasms had normal to slightly alkaline pH before irradiation. During fractionated radiation therapy, the pH stayed in a range of from near neutral to alkaline and rose to 7.6-8.0 at several time points of radiation therapy for some tumors. These results suggest that most tumor cells in human neoplasms are well oxygenated and that only a negligible fraction are chronic hypoxic cells. The fluctuating alkaline pH during radiation therapy occurred regardless of the responsiveness of the treated tumors.

Return to work following back surgery: a review

Nineteen articles published between 1980 and 1986 were reviewed to determine the prognosis for returning to previous employment following back surgery. Seventy-seven percent of the cases reviewed returned to their previous level of employment. Nearly 11% of cases had additional back surgery during the period of follow-up. Data from three articles suggest that 82% of patients are able to return to their previous level of employment following primary back surgery compared to 59% of patients who have had multiple back surgeries. Recommendations for work activity following back surgery should be individualized for each patient. A work-hardening program including assessment of cardiovascular fitness and task performance can be used to progressively increase activity to the highest achievable level. Prevention of back injuries in the workplace will increase employee morale and reduce employee turnover and workers' compensation costs.

Urinary gonadotrophin peptide--isolation and purification, and its immunohistochemical distribution in normal and neoplastic tissues

A urinary gonadotrophin peptide (UGP) was isolated and purified from semi-purified human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), prepared from pregnancy urine. The peptide showed hCG-B subunit activity and no hCG-alpha subunit activity as demonstrated by binding studies with the relevant antibodies. It had a molecular weight significantly less than hCG-B subunit. The peptide was linked to thyroglobulin and this conjugate used to immunise rabbits and mice. A radioimmunoassay (RIA) using 125I-UGP and the rabbit antiserum (AK12) was used to monitor chromatographed urine fractions from patients with ovarian carcinoma, seminoma and hydatidiform mole. UGP was also found in the urine extract of a healthy male, but at a much lower level. In each case the UGP detected had the same molecular weight as the pregnancy preparation and appeared to be the main gonadotrophin constituent in those urine samples. Initial immunohistochemical screening of normal and neoplastic tissues with the rabbit antibody (AK12) showed reactivity with some tumours including carcinomas of the lung, ovary, cervix and breast as well as trophoblastic and germ cell tumours. Reactions with non-neoplastic tissues were confined to some specialised epithelia and macrophage populations. A more comprehensive immunohistochemical study was made using a monoclonal antibody to UGP (2C2), with a monoclonal antibody to conformational hCG (INN 13) and another monoclonal antibody to free B subunit (1E5) as controls. Similar patterns of reactivity were produced by the AK12 and 2C2 antibodies in both neoplastic and non-neoplastic tissues. Additional tissues were investigated with the three monoclonal antibodies. The 2C2 antibody reacted with 93% (77/83) of tumours examined; the INN 13 antibody reacted with only the syncytiotrophoblast cells of choriocarcinoma, hydatidiform mole, placental site trophoblastic tumour, and in one case of seminoma; the 1E5 reactivity was confined to only choriocarcinoma syncytiotrophoblast cells.

Feasibility and efficacy of weekly intraarterial cisplatin in locally advanced (stage III and IV) head and neck cancers

Thirty-five consecutive patients with primary unresectable head and neck cancers were considered eligible for protocol treatment with neoadjuvant intraarterial cisplatin. External carotid artery catheterizations were technically feasible in 29 patients (83%). Twenty-five patients with 28 primary tumors received intraarterial cisplatin, 100 mg/m2, every seven to 14 days for three cycles. The most common toxicity was nausea and vomiting. Ipsilateral hemialopecia, transient VII nerve palsy, and blurring of vision seem to be unique to this route of administration at this dose. A complete response was seen at the primary tumor site in nine of 28 (32%), with 14 of 28 partial responses (50%). In evaluating both primary tumor and nodal disease, five of 25 patients achieved a complete response and 15 of 25 a partial response. In previous reports, one complete response was observed in 74 patients with head and neck cancer treated with neoadjuvant intravenous (IV) cisplatin every 3 weeks. The overall response of 82% reported here is comparable to that reported with combination chemotherapy and suggests an advantage to the arterial administration of cisplatin when possible in the neoadjuvant setting.

Relation of HTLV-4 to simian and human immunodeficiency-associated viruses

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is the aetiologic agent of AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) in most countries and probably originated in Central Africa like the AIDS epidemic itself. Evidence for a second major group of human immunodeficiency-associated retroviruses came from a report that West African human populations like wild-caught African green monkeys had serum antibodies that reacted more strongly with a simian immunodeficiency virus (STLV-3Mac) (ref.6) than with HIV-1. Novel T-lymphotropic retroviruses were reported to have been isolated from healthy Senegalese West Africans (HTLV-4) (ref. 4) and from African green monkeys (STLV-3AGM) (ref. 7), and a different retrovirus (HIV-2) was identified in other West African AIDS patients. Genomic analysis of HIV-2 clearly distinguished it from STLV-3 (ref. 9), but restriction enzyme site-mapping of three different HTLV-4 isolates and six different STLV-3AGM isolates showed them to be essentially indistinguishable. In this report we clone, restriction map, and partially sequence three isolates of HTLV-4 (PK82, PK289, PK190) (ref. 4). We find that these viruses differ in nucleotide sequence from each other and from three isolates of STLV-3AGM (K78, K6W, K1) (ref. 7) by 1% or less. We also report the isolation of a T-lymphotropic retrovirus from the peripheral blood of a healthy Senegalese woman which hybridizes preferentially to HIV-2 specific DNA probes. We conclude that HTLV-4 (ref. 4) and STLV-3AGM (ref. 7) are not independent virus isolates and that HIV-2 is present in Senegal as it is in other West African countries.

Carbohydrate-binding proteins of human serum: isolation of two mannose/fucose-specific lectins

Two lectins with specificities for mannose and fucose have been isolated from human serum by affinity chromatography. One mannose-binding protein (MBP 1) has a native Mr of 700,000 with subunits of Mr 32,000 and has specificities for N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylmannosamine and glucose as well as for mannose and fucose. The other mannose-binding protein (MBP 2) has a native Mr of 200,000 with subunits of Mr 28,000 and is specific only for mannose and fucose. MBP 2 appears to recognize the core sugars of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides as well as the terminal sugars. Both lectins are calcium-dependent, requiring approx. 0.095 mM calcium for half-maximal binding. MBP 1 binds maximally between pH 7-9, whereas MBP 2 has a pH optimum of 6-7. The binding activity of both proteins decreases rapidly below pH 5. The apparent association constants (Ka) for binding to mannon are 2.1 X 10(8) M-1 for MBP 1 and 1.3 X 10(8) M-1 for MBP 2. These data provide further evidence of the complex nature of mammalian carbohydrate recognition systems.

Uptake and processing of glycoproteins by rat hepatic mannose receptor

A linear compartmental model has been developed for the in vivo metabolism of glycoproteins. The model is applied to the interpretation of dynamic data from the rat on agalactoorosomucoid (AGOR), an N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc-)-terminated glycoprotein, and three neoglycoproteins terminating in mannose [mannose36-bovine serum albumin (Man-BSA)] or glucose [maltose29-BSA (Mal29-BSA) and maltose8-BSA (Mal8-BSA)]. All of these proteins are taken up by the Man/GlcNAc receptor on hepatic sinusoidal cells. The rate of uptake was found to be determined by sugar type (Man-BSA, 0.78 min-1 greater than Mal29-BSA, 0.13 min-1), sugar density (Mal29-BSA greater than Mal8-BSA), and the geometry of the sugar display (AGOR, 0.51 min-1 greater than Mal29-BSA). Intracellular transport from the cell membrane to the lysosomes was slower for Man-BSA (approximately 3 min) than for the other ligands (approximately 0 min), suggesting that receptor-ligand uncoupling was slower for Man-BSA for which the receptor had the highest affinity or that extralysosomal catabolism of the other ligands occurred. Catabolism was also determined by the carbohydrate moiety of the ligand; it was greater for Mal29-BSA and Mal8-BSA (greater than or equal to 0.8 min-1) than for Man-BSA (0.27 min-1), and AGOR, with a complex oligosaccharide, was most resistant to degradation (0.14 min-1). An understanding of these structural features of glycoproteins that influence hepatic uptake, transport, and catabolism will be of value in drug targeting and for enzyme replacement in lysosomal storage disorders.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mannose-binding proteins in human serum: identification of mannose-specific immunoglobulins and a calcium-dependent lectin, of broader carbohydrate specificity, secreted by hepatocytes

Human serum contains lectins which inhibit the uptake of mannose- and N-acetylglucosamine-terminated glycoproteins by isolated rat hepatic sinusoidal cells. In these experiments, calcium-dependent and calcium-independent human serum mannose-binding proteins have been isolated by affinity chromatography using mannan linked to four different supports. In electroblots both calcium-dependent and -independent serum mannose-binding proteins bound radioiodinated mannan and invertase in the presence of calcium ions, but the binding of calcium-dependent serum mannose-binding proteins was abolished by EDTA. Chicken antibodies were raised against serum mannose-binding proteins and an ELISA was developed. The principal calcium-independent serum mannose-binding protein is mannose-specific IgG as judged by immunodiffusion and electroblotting with anti-human IgG antibodies. The calcium-dependent serum mannose-binding protein is probably the secreted form of an intracellular hepatocyte mannose-binding protein since: antibodies raised against the 30 kDa subunit of the calcium-dependent serum mannose-binding protein also bound 30 kDa subunits of whole liver homogenate and purified human liver mannose-binding protein; antibodies to the human liver mannose-binding protein bound to the 30 kDa subunit of the calcium-dependent serum mannose-binding protein; and the binding specificities of the calcium-dependent serum mannose-binding protein for N-acetylglucosamine and fucose as well as mannose, and its recognition of the core region of an oligosaccharide rather than only the peripheral sugars, were identical to those reported for the hepatocyte mannose-binding protein. The physiological ligands of these serum mannose-binding proteins are unknown but they could bind noxious glycoproteins which enter the circulation prior to their removal by the sinusoidal mannose receptor.

Genetic variation in HTLV-III/LAV over time in patients with AIDS or at risk for AIDS

In a study of genetic variation in the AIDS virus, HTLV-III/LAV, sequential virus isolates from persistently infected individuals were examined by Southern blot genomic analysis, molecular cloning, and nucleotide sequencing. Four to six virus isolates were obtained from each of three individuals over a 1-year or 2-year period. Changes were detected throughout the viral genomes and consisted of isolated and clustered nucleotide point mutations as well as short deletions or insertions. Results from genomic restriction mapping and nucleotide sequence comparisons indicated that viruses isolated sequentially had evolved in parallel from a common progenitor virus. The rate of evolution of HTLV-III/LAV was estimated to be at least 10(-3) nucleotide substitutions per site per year for the env gene and 10(-4) for the gag gene, values a millionfold greater than for most DNA genomes. Despite this relatively rapid rate of sequence divergence, virus isolates from any one patient were all much more related to each other than to viruses from other individuals. In view of the substantial heterogeneity among most independent HTLV-III/LAV isolates, the repeated isolation from a given individual of only highly related viruses raises the possibility that some type of interference mechanism may prevent simultaneous infection by more than one major genotypic form of the virus.

Effects of iron loading and bacillus Calmette-Guerin on a glycoprotein recognition system on rat hepatic sinusoidal cells

Experiments were performed to determine the effects of agents that modify Kupffer cells on the mannose-N-acetylglucosamine-glycoprotein receptor on hepatic sinusoidal cells. Cells were prepared by collagenase liver perfusion, centrifugation on Percoll gradients, and centrifugal elutriation. The uptake of 125I-labeled agalacto-orosomucoid (125I-AGOR), an N-acetylglucosamine-terminated glycoprotein, was greatest (53% of total uptake) by elutriator fractions containing equal proportions of endothelial and Kupffer cells ("mixed cell" fraction). Uptake was specific and time and concentration dependent. The apparent Km (0.4 mumol/L) and the patterns of inhibition by monosaccharides were similar in all the elutriator fractions, suggesting that only one class of receptor was present. The highest apparent maximal velocity (18 pmol/hr/5 X 10(6) cells) was found in the mixed cell fraction, indicating this fraction contained the highest proportion of receptor-bearing cells. Latex (0.8 micron) and bacillus Calmette-Guerin pretreatments did not influence the hepatic uptake of the glycoprotein in vivo. Iron sorbitol significantly reduced hepatic glycoprotein uptake and caused a twofold increase in the proportion of the ligand remaining in the circulation. Uptake of 125I-agalacto-orosomucoid by cells from latex-treated rats was similar to controls, but uptake by bacillus Calmette-Guerin-treated rat cells was only 25% of control uptake. This was related to a marked increase in sinusoidal cell number caused by bacillus Calmette-Guerin. In contrast, iron sorbitol caused a selective suppression of 125I-agalacto-orosomucoid uptake (10% of control uptake) by cells in the mixed cell fraction. This study showed that maximal uptake of 125I-agalacto-orosomucoid was by elutriator fractions containing equal proportions of endothelial and Kupffer cells and that iron sorbitol suppressed ligand uptake by these cells, possibly by influencing the mannose-N-acetylglucosamine receptor on Kupffer cells.

Reconstitution of purified halorhodopsin

Asolectin lipid vesicles containing halorhodopsin show light-induced acidification in the presence of proton ionophores. This effect is abolished by triphenyltin chloride, a chloride/hydroxyl antiporter, and is greatly diminished by valinomycin in the presence of potassium ions, which collapse the membrane potential. This indicates that halorhodopsin orients in the lipid vesicles preferentially inside out, pumping chloride into the extravesicular compartment. The absorption maximum of halorhodopsin in asolectin vesicles in 3 M NaCl is at 567 nm, and the action spectrum for the light-induced pH changes followed closely the absorption spectrum. Replacement of chloride by acetate or sulfate causes a shift in the absorption maximum to approximately equal to 559 nm and renders the pump inactive. The different photocycles of the two forms were used to show that 80% of the molecules have the extracellular side exposed to the vesicle interior and that the halide-binding site(s) associated with the spectral transition is accessible from the extracellular side of the molecule. The data presented demonstrate that the purified chromoprotein is the light-driven chloride pump in Halobacterium halobium.

Evidence for a directional correspondence between eye movements and dream imagery in REM sleep

We examined the relationship between eye movement direction in REM sleep recorded by electrooculograph (EOG) and gaze direction in dream imagery. In a double-blind protocol, carefully screened and trained subjects were awakened subsequent to direct coupled EOG activity that was either predominantly horizontal or vertical. Following a target eye movement that fulfilled predetermined amplitude and directional criteria, a brief period of ocular quiescence was allowed to transpire before the subject was awakened. The dream narratives and EOG activity occurring prior to the REM awakenings were each reduced to a series of quantitatively scaled ratings. Analyses of variance demonstrated that when the confidence level of the experimenters' prediction is taken into account, statistically significant relationships exist between the number and direction of shifts of gaze in the dream report and scaled measurements of the corresponding EOG. When given dream narratives and the corresponding EOG recordings in sets of four, judges were unable to match them correctly better than by chance. However, in the above matching, judges significantly paired the dream narratives with EOG recordings that were in the same axis of gaze.

Human serum contains a lectin which inhibits hepatic uptake of glycoproteins

Human serum will inhibit the specific uptake of N-acetylglucosamine-terminated glycoproteins by isolated rat hepatic sinusoidal cells. The serum inhibitors are not glycoproteins that bind to the hepatic mannose/N-acetylglucosamine receptor but have the properties of lectins which bind to mannose/N-acetylglucosamine-terminated glycoproteins. They can be isolated from serum by affinity chromatography. The predominant lectin, with a molecular mass of less than 35 kDa, will inhibit the sinusoidal cell uptake of glycoproteins in vitro.

Purification of photochemically active halorhodopsin

We have developed a procedure for the purification of halorhodopsin in a photochemically active state. Solubilization of membranes from a bacteriorhodopsin-negative Halobacterium strain with octyl glucoside was followed by chromatography on hydroxylapatite and octyl-Sepharose gels. All steps were carried out in high-ionic-strength solutions. The procedure resulted in 270-fold enrichment with a 35% yield. The eluted pigment had an absorption maximum at 575 nm and an A280/A575 ratio of 2. On removal of the detergent by dialysis, the purified halorhodopsin was chemically bleached, regenerated with [3H]retinal, and reduced with cyanoborohydride. Such samples showed one main and one satellite band after staining or fluorography of NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gels. The apparent molecular weight of the main band was 25,000. Purified halorhodopsin underwent a photocycle after excitation with pulsed laser light and showed a 9-nm blue shift (at neutral pH) on removal of chloride ion. The pigment also underwent a photoreversible shift at alkaline pH to a form absorbing maximally at 410 nm. All three reactions closely resembled those of membrane-bound halorhodopsin.

Educational needs of hysterectomy patients

This exploratory study determined specific educational needs of hysterectomy patients. The study population consisted of patients who had successfully undergone hysterectomies performed by four gynecologists within the two years prior to the study. A questionnaire was developed, tested, revised, and subsequently returned by 146 women. Most questions were designed to elicit information on (1) what patients wanted to know, (2) when they wanted the information, and (3) whether this information was obtained. Data regarding the first two questions were examined in relation to the demographic variables of age, education, occupation, pregnancy outcomes, and employment. Results showed that hysterectomy patients wanted more explanation of all topics. The topic most often (92%) rated very important was physical effects of the surgery. Women between 31 and 40 years of age valued as most important was the sexuality topics. Ninety-four percent indicated they most wanted the information before hospitalization. Twenty percent reported receiving no information about possible psychological or sexual problems. Conclusions drawn from this study are that there is an urgent need for structured patient education about hysterectomy; that patients have a need for information on the physical, psychological, and sexual aspects of hysterectomy; and that this information is needed before entering the hospital, pre- and postsurgery, and after returning home.

Antigenic and morphologic regeneration of epidermal basement membrane in short term organ culture of human skin

In fetal life the development of bullous pemphigoid antigen is preceded by a morphologically detectable basement membrane zone (BMZ). The present study investigated the possibility that similar morphologic and antigenic changes of the BMZ occur in short term organ culture of human skin. Twenty small pieces from each of four neonatal foreskin specimens were cultured under standard conditions. At regular intervals two pieces from each specimen were removed. One piece was frozen and cryostat sections were processed for indirect immunofluorescence using a patient's serum that was proven to have circulating pemphigoid IgG antibodies. Additional sections were stained with periodic acid-Schiff and hematoxylin and eosin. The other piece was processed for electron microscopic examination. Morphologically the BMZ started degenerating after 24 hours. Regeneration started on the 4th day and reached an optimal level on the 5th day. Chance of the immunofluorescence line at the BMZ began with a slight weakening at 24 hours followed by progressive widening and breakage until the 4th day when fluorescence was no longer detectable. Except for a few punctate areas immunofluorescence remained absent on the 5th day. Sixth day specimens, however, revealed reappearance of the immunofluorescence line in a continuous pattern. By the 7th day a second morphologic and antigenic degeneration started at the BMZ. This lag between the morphologic and antigenic regeneration of the BMZ in organ culture although shorter is comparable to the one observed during the development of the BMZ in fetal life.

Preservation of specific fluorescence by sealing with nail polish

Semipermanent mounting media and postfixation of immunofluorescence (IF) slides in alcohol have been effective in preserving specific fluorescence (SF). In the present study the efficacy of such mounting was compared with a simpler technique of sealing the routinely mounted IF slides with nail polish. Frozen sections of skin lesions of systemic lupus erythematosus and lichen planus, and patients' sera known to have pemphigus or pemphigoid antibodies were used for IF procedures. SF was equally detectable with both techniques for over 8 months. Control slides similarly processed but not sealed lost most of their SF within a few weeks.

The functional anatomy of the hindlimb of some African Viverridae (Carnivora)

The functional anatomy of the hindlimb of 12 species of viverrids was studied with relation to locomotion. The animals were allocated to primary locomotor categories on the basis of their anatomy and locomotion. The climbing, arboreal walking category (Nandinia binotata) is characterized by a small sacroiliac articulation, the iliopsoas inserts onto a medially located lesser trochanter and the femoral condyles are not posteriorly placed. The hindfoot is plantigrade and its structure permits considerable movement. The pads are soft and the claws retractile. Representatives of the arboreal and terrestrial walking and jumping category (Genetta genetta, G. servalina, G. tigrina) have a plantigrade forefoot and digitigrade hindfoot. The lesser trochanter is more posteriorly placed than in the climbing category. A previously undescribed muscle, the caudofemoralis profundus extends from several anterior caudal vertebrae to the femur. The tibio-astragular joint restricts supination of the foot. There is little mediolateral movement in the digitidgrade foot. The claws are retractile. In the general terrestrial walking and scrambling group (Helogale parvula, Mungos mungo, Atilax paludinosus, Bdeogale crassicauda, Herpestes ichneumon, H. sanguineus) the animals have essentially similar hindlimbs except for size differences and modifications to the feet. Helogale and Mungos have large medial epicondyles on the humerus and large terminal phalanges. Bdeogale has a vestigial first metatarsal, while Atilax can splay its digits. In all species the distal phalanges are non-retractile. The trotting category (Civettictis civetta, Ichneumia albicauda) is characterized by longer epipodials and metapodials and a more proximal position of muscle bellies. Most of the adaptations minimize rotation, adduction and abduction of the leg and supination of the foot. The metatarsals are closely adjoined and the distal phalanx is stout and non-retractile. There appear to be two levels of locomotory adaptation. Major adaptations affect the whole appendicular skeleton and are used to assign animals to primary locomotor categories. Minor adaptations occur mainly in the foot and indicate the more specific habits of the animal.

Differential perceptions of environmental esthetics

This research investigated attributes of groups of employees differing in sensitivity to the esthetic features of a modern office building. Hypotheses that young workers and workers having shorter exposure to the building would exhibit greater sensitivity to esthetic features of the work environment were upheld, but the hypothesis that female workers would be more sensitive than male workers was not supported. Workers of greater esthetic sensitivity were more likely to indicate that the building contributed to their productivity and efficiency and influenced their attitudes toward works of art in general.

Follow-up of cases of opiate addiction from the time of notification to the Home Office

Follow-up of 108 opiate addicts for a period of six to seven years showed that 35 were still being prescribed opiates, 25 were off drugs, 19 were dead, and for 29 it was not certain whether they were on or off drugs. Most patients who came off drugs did so in the first two years after notification to the Home Office. Clearly treatment is more likely to be successful if given early in the life history of the addict, when it is appropriate to give treatment based on withdrawal of drugs rather than substitution.

Bone diseases and fractures in East African Viverridae

A sample of 308 viverrids was collected between 1966 and 1969. Nine genera and 12 species are represented, including 28 Genetta genetta, 80 Genetta tigrina, 97 Herpestes sanguineus, and 68 Ichneumia albicauda. Complete skeletons were prepared and catalogued. Many of the bones were found to have been fractured or diseased and further examination showed that about 15% of the animals had some skeletal pathology. The diseased and fractured bones are described. The effect of predation or lack of it on the family is discussed and the use of the study as an aid to behavioral studies mentioned.

Precambrian Mollusc-like Fossils from Inyo County, California

Probable molluscan fossils have been discovered in the Reed Dolomite, White-Inyo Mountain area, Inyo County, California. They consist of small orthoconic shells with relatively large bilaterally symmetrical protoconch-like initial termini. Some individuals have a 'U-shaped" (in transverse section) internal structure. The fossils occur at least 900 meters below the strata containing the earliest known olenellid trilobites and are therefore considered Precambrian.