Effect of alpha 2-interferon on hairy cells and cell lines: a role for type I interferon receptors and RNA synthesis

The binding of alpha 2-interferon to highly purified plasma membrane proteins of malignant human lymphoid cells was assessed by Western Blotting. The human hairy cell leukemia cell line JOK-1 revealed three major alpha-interferon binding proteins with molecular weights of 120, 100, and 32 kD. Pretreatment of JOK-1 cells with alpha-interferon in vitro results in a disappearance of these proteins, which is in concordance with receptor down-regulation on JOK-1 cells. In a case of T chronic lymphocytic leukemic (CLL), a differential binding pattern of two proteins with 100 and 85 kD was observed, whereas a case of B-CLL did not yield any signal detection. In addition, mononuclear cells from patients with hairy cell leukemia and CLL were found to differ with respect to the in vitro incorporation of nucleic acid precursors. alpha 2-Interferon enhances [3H] uridine incorporation into hairy cells, whereas this phenomenon can be detected in CLL cells only to a much lesser extent.

Management of primary herpes in pregnancy complicated by ruptured membranes and extreme prematurity: case report

A case of primary herpes simplex vaginitis during pregnancy became complicated by rupture of membranes at 25.5 weeks' gestation. The patient was treated with intravenous acyclovir shortly after rupture, and managed expectantly. Genital lesions rapidly abated, and the infant was delivered by cesarean section at 26.5 weeks' gestation after labor ensued. Transplacental passage of acyclovir was documented. The infant then was treated with a ten-day course of intravenous acyclovir. The infant has remained culture negative for 12 months after delivery.

A new method for assessing right-sided heart pressures using encapsulated microbubbles--a preliminary report

A new noncatheter method for measuring pressures of the right side of the heart uses specially manufactured microbubbles of carbon dioxide injected into the peripheral venous system. Sudden expansion of these bubbles in the cardiac chambers causes bubble oscillations at a frequency that is primarily a function of surrounding pressure. The oscillations are recordable by a microphone on the chest wall. The preliminary experience has been in dogs and further development is needed before we can begin clinical testing of the method. In its current form, the potential for measuring higher systolic pressures seems better than that for lower diastolic pressures.

A dual role of calcium in release of somatostatin from canine gastric antral mucosa

We have examined the factors regulating the mucosal release of somatostatin-like immuno-reactivity (SRIF-LI) from 1-cm2 sheets of isolated canine gastric antral mucosa mounted in a Ussing chamber. SRIF-LI was released predominantly into the luminal perfusate, was maximal at pH 2.5, 1,987 +/- 319 pg X ml-1 X h-1, and reached a nadir at pH 6.0 of 89 +/- 24 pg X ml-1 X h-1. Increasing extracellular Ca2+ to 10 mM stimulated the release of SRIF-LI at both high and low pH. The Ca2+ ionophore A23187 had no apparent effect at either pH 2.5 or 7.0. LaCl3 stimulated the release of SRIF-LI at pH 7.0 but not at pH 2.5. Ouabain and TMB-8 had no significant effect on the release of SRIF-LI. At pH 7.0, trifluoperazine (TFP) stimulated release of SRIF-LI (80 +/- 10 pg X ml-1 X h-1). EGTA stimulated release of SRIF-LI at pH 2.5 (1,134 +/- 137 pg X ml-1 X h-1) and at pH 7.0 (300 +/- 57 pg X ml-1 X h-1), which was reversed by replacement of Ca2+ (22 +/- 6 pg X ml-1 X h-1). Thus Ca2+ appears to exert a dual effect on the release of SRIF-LI: both an increase and depletion of extracellular Ca2+ release SRIF-LI.

Rapid axoplasmic transport of free leucine

Axoplasmic transport of free 3H-leucine has been studied in vivo in the pike olfactory nerve following application of labeled leucine to the olfactory mucosa. A considerable amount of free 3H-leucine is transported at constant velocity along the axon in the form of a distinct peak. The maximum transport velocity for free 3H-leucine is the same as for rapidly transported 3H-protein (130 and 135 mm/day, respectively, at 19 degrees C). Microtubule inhibitors block or significantly reduce the amount of free 3H-leucine transported, but do not influence the transport velocity. Disruption of the oxygen supply abolishes free 3H-leucine transport, so that this phenomenon cannot be explained by diffusion. The amount of free leucine in the rapidly moving peak decreases with time and distance along the axon and is not detectable after 5 h or more. The transported 3H-leucine is not derived from the circulation or from proteolysis of rapidly transported proteins. This study may help to resolve the controversy over the axoplasmic transport of free amino acids since it shows that free 3H-leucine is transported rapidly but does not travel by rapid axoplasmic transport to the end of axons longer than about 30 mm.

Peripheral plasma somatostatin-like immunoreactive responses to insulin hypoglycemia and a mixed meal in healthy subjects and in noninsulin-dependent maturity-onset diabetics

We have measured peripheral plasma immunoreactive somatostatin (SRIF-LI) in 10 healthy subjects and 10 noninsulin-dependent maturity-onset diabetics (NIDDM). The mean (+/-SE) basal level of SRIF-LI in NIDDMs of 185 +/- 27 was similar to that of 174 +/- 23.5 pg/ml in age-, weight-, and sex-matched healthy subjects. Insulin hypoglycemia of equivalent magnitude induced a 113 +/- 15.8 pg/ml increase in SRIF-LI 40 min after injection in healthy subjects and no significant change in the NIDDMs. Ingestion of a mixed meal induced a biphasic rise with a mean peak of 75 +/- 30 pg/ml above basal at 15 min and a later peak of 130 +/- 35 pg/ml above basal at 120 min in healthy subjects. In NIDDM, there was no significant rise above basal, and the differences were significant at 15 and 120 min. Our findings are compatible with deficient SRIF release in these NIDDM in whom the deficient SRIF secretion may contribute to the hyperglycemia.

Tear pumping and edema with soft contact lenses

The effect of the contact lens--cornea bearing relationship on tear pumping and corneal swelling (edema) which accompanies hydrogel lens wear was determined by monitoring corneal thickness and tear replenishment rates when the base curve (back surface curvature) was varied from 7.8 to 9.0 mm. The lens movement is dependent on the bearing relationship; however, the degree of corneal swelling and the replenishment rate of tears under the lens are independent of the bearing relationship. These results indicate that the corneal edema which accompanies gel lens wear cannot be reduced by altering the lens-cornea bearing relationship.

A comparative study with indomethacin and combined indomethacin sodium-salicylate in rheumatoid arthritis

A double-blind cross-over clinical trial was performed to compare clinical effectiveness of indomethacin (3 x 25 mg/day) alone to that of a combination of indomethacin + sodium-salycylate (3 x 25 mg/day and 3 x 250 mg/day, respectively) in rheumatoid arthritis. It was established that enteral blood loss was significantly reduced by combined treatment as determined by Cr51 labelled erythrocytes in comparison to that after treatment with indomethacin alone. Therapeutic effect was maintained in both groups, no significant disparities were observed. Occurrence of subjective complaints was less frequent in the combined treatment group. It was concluded that the combined preparation consisting of indomethacin and sodium-salicylate has a favourable effect in rheumatoid arthritis.