Tissue distribution of lymphocytes in rheumatic heart valves as defined by monoclonal anti-T cell antibodies

Fresh cardiac valvular tissues and atrial appendages removed from 106 Indian patients with rheumatic heart disease at the time of corrective cardiac surgery were examined to determine the characteristics of valvular interstitial lymphocytic infiltrates using conventional histologic staining along with indirect immunofluorescent techniques. Precise identification of the phenotypic profiles of inflammatory mononuclear cells was attempted using anti-IgG, anti-Ia, and monoclonal mouse hybridoma reagents identifying T cells (OKT3) as well as T cell subsets (OKT4 helper/inducer and OKT8 suppressor/cytotoxic cells). A similar group of 21 patients undergoing cardiac valvular resection in Albuquerque was studied. The mean age of Indian patients providing valve tissues was 27.7, whereas in those in Albuquerque, it was 52 years. Twenty-five percent of rheumatic heart valves in Indian patients showed significant interstitial lymphoid infiltrates, and one third of the rheumatic valves from patients in Albuquerque showed similar mononuclear cell collections. Lymphoid infiltrates contained a predominance of T cells (70 to 80 percent) and only occasional B cells. Most of the T cells were OKT4-positive, with only a minor representation of suppressor/cytotoxic OKT8-positive T cells. In many instances, OKT4-positive helper T cell collections were closely juxtaposed to fibroblasts and collagen fibrils. These findings suggest that the chronic rheumatic scarring process may involve helper/inducer T cells as an ancillary factor in the indolent contracture and fibrosis of deformed cardiac valvular structures. Attempts to demonstrate residual streptococcal antigens by indirect immunofluorescence using a wide panel of heterologous rabbit F(ab')2 reagents with specificity for group A streptococcal membranes, cell wall mucopeptide, or group A carbohydrate gave negative results.

Studies on the intestinal disaccharidases of the pigeon. II. Subcellular localization and solubilization

In the pigeon, 70-80% of the activities of maltase (alpha-D-glucoside glucohydrolase EC 3.2.1.20), sucrase (alpha-glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.48), isomaltase (dextran 6-alpha-D-glucan hydrolase, EC 3.2.1.10) and glucoamylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.3) were found to be localized in the brush-border membrane of intestinal epithelial cells. Of the total glycosidase activities in the mucosal homogenate, nearly 60 to 70% were recovered in the microsomal (105 000 X g) fraction, about 30% in the mitochondrial (22 000 X g) fraction and less than 5% from the cytosol (105 000 X g supernatant) fraction. The hydrolases were solubilized by digestion with papain but not with trypsin, and the phosphate ion had a protective effect in the solubilization. Amongst detergents, Triton X-100 but not sodium deoxycholate, was found to truly solubilize these enzymes.

Molecular cloning and chromosomal mapping of a human locus related to the transforming gene of Moloney murine sarcoma virus

Human DNA was analyzed for the presence of sequences homologous to the transforming gene (v-mos) of Moloney murine sarcoma virus. A single 2.5-kilobase pair (kbp) EcoRI-generated fragment of human DNA was identified by using cloned v-mos as probe. This DNA was molecularly cloned in a bacteriophage vector. By heteroduplex and restriction enzyme analyses, this human DNA fragment, designated c-mos (human), contained a 0.65-kbp region of continuous homology with v-mos and was present as a single copy in human DNA. By testing for the presence of c-mos (human) in somatic cell hybrids possessing various numbers of human chromosomes, as well as in subclones of such hybrids, it was possible to assign c-mos (human) to human chromosome 8.

Changes in T-lymphocyte subsets during acute rheumatic fever

Relative proportions and numbers of helper [OKT4(+)] and suppressor [OKT8(+)] peripheral blood lymphocytes were examined in 32 young patients during the acute phase of rheumatic fever. No significant decrease in percentage T cells during acute rheumatic fever was noted in comparison to normal children controls from the same population. A decrease in absolute numbers of OKT4(+) T cells was also noted in acute rheumatic subjects not receiving corticosteroids (P less than 0.05). In addition, a significant decrease was documented in both proportions and total numbers of OKT8(+) putative suppressor cells during acute rheumatic attacks. C-reactive protein binding to T-lymphocyte subsets showed no preferential reactivity in vivo for suppressor or helper T cells. Antigen-reactive T lymphocytes identified with the T29 mouse hybridoma reagent showed similar proportions and numbers in rheumatic children as were noted in controls. The present data indicate profound alterations in both helper- and suppressor-cell types in the peripheral blood profile of children with acute rheumatic fever.

A planned prospective evaluation of the anti-infective property of varying quantities of expressed human milk

This paper comprises 261 low birth weight infants who were divided into four groups with different feeding schedules. Group I--expressed human milk for all the feeds; Group II--human milk for half the feeds and the nursery formula for the rest; Group III--colostrum, 20 ml three times a day along with the nursery formula; and Group IV--control--only the nursery formula. The groups were matched by means of a randomized block design for identifiable factors which could predispose to the occurrence of infection. Infections were found to be significantly less in the groups which received human milk (p less than 0.001).

Partial supplementation with expressed breast-milk for prevention of infection in low-birth-weight infants

In a prospective controlled study the anti-infective properties of breast-milk were evaluated in 70 high-risk low-birth-weight infants. 32 babies (group I) were given fresh expressed breast-milk during the day and milk formula at night. 38 infants (group II) received only milk formula and served as controls. The two groups were matched for other factors that could influence the occurrence of infection. The incidence of infections was significantly less (p < 0.01) in babies who received breast-milk.

Controlled field trial of a high-dose oral killed typhoid vaccine in India

A controlled field trial of a modified vaccine containing Salmonella typhi, TY 2 strain, in a dose of 400 x 10(9) killed organisms per capsule, was carried out in schoolchildren aged 6-17 years. The children were followed up for 6-8 months. There were 66 cases of typhoid fever in the vaccine group (7312 children) and 54 in the control group (7292 children who had received a placebo). This difference is not statistically significant. The results confirm that, as found in earlier trials, oral typhoid vaccine, in the dosages used so far, gives no protection.

Ineffectiveness of an oral killed typhoid vaccine in a field trial

A field trial was carried out with a vaccine containing 300x10(9) killed S. typhi (strain Ty58) per tablet. A total of 12 564 children aged 1-15 years were given 3 tablets of the vaccine or a placebo at the rate of one tablet on each of 3 consecutive days. The results indicated that the vaccine, in its present form and at this dosage, gives no protection.

Effectiveness of oral killed typhoid vaccine

A controlled field trial of oral killed typhoid vaccine was carried out in Delhi, India in 1968-69. Altogether, 13 374 children below the age of 17 years were included in the study. Two comparable groups of children were given either placebo or vaccine. Each tablet of vaccine contained 100x10(9) killed Salmonella typhi, and 3 tablets of vaccine or placebo were administered to each child. The vaccinated subjects were followed up from 10 June 1968 to 31 August 1969. The effectiveness of the vaccine was measured by comparing the incidence of typhoid fever (based only on bacteriologically positive cases) in the two groups. It was found that the difference in incidence of the disease in the two groups was not statistically significant. The oral killed typhoid vaccine in the dosage schedule used in the present trial was found not to be effective against the disease.