Immunosuppressive activity of staphylococcal enterotoxin B. I. Characterization of staphylococcal enterotoxin-B-induced suppressor cells

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) binds specifically to major histocompatibility complex class II molecules on the surface of accessory cells and stimulates virtually all T cells bearing certain, but not all, T cell-receptor V beta alleles. We have previously shown that this superantigen is a potent inducer of multiple regulatory T cell populations. In the present report we show that SEB induces a population of suppressor T cells which inhibits the generation of alloantigen-induced cytotoxic T cell activity. Using both negative- and positive-selection analysis, we found that this suppressor population is a CD4- CD8- CD5+ IL-2R+ T cell. This cell population inhibited both syngeneic and allogeneic cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity, but the cell population which inhibited allogeneic CTL activity was radiation sensitive. In addition, allogeneic SEB-primed cells appeared to develop cytolytic activity as a result of the additional stimulation in the mixed-lymphocyte reaction culture. The relationship of the SEB-primed CD4- CD8- CD5+ T cells to related regulatory T cell populations is discussed.

Re-endothelialization of isolated segments of the canine carotid artery with reference to the possible role of the adventitial vasa vasorum

This study was designed to determine if the adventitial vasa vasorum contribute to re-endothelialization of the canine carotid artery after removal of the endothelial flow surface. Casting studies demonstrated that vasa vasorum are present only in the adventitia of the canine carotid artery. Ninety autograft segments of the carotid artery from which the endothelium had been removed were implanted in both carotid arteries of 45 dogs. Glutaraldehyde-processed canine carotid allografts were positioned at each end to prevent pannus ingrowth and a Gore-Tex wrap to prevent periarterial tissue growth was placed into the outer wall. Three methods were used, with observations at 4 and 8 weeks. In method 1 the test segment was treated with superficial endarterectomy. In method 2 a balloon catheter was used to remove the endothelium. In method 3 balloon catheter denudation of the flow surface was also employed and, in addition, the adventitia was removed surgically as completely as possible, although a few vasa vasorum were shown to remain in some grafts. In method 1 all the patent endarterectomized arteries were partially re-endothelialized at both the 4- and 8-week intervals. In method 2, 72% of the balloon-denuded patent arteries with intact adventitial vasa vasorum were partially re-endothelialized at 4 weeks and 84% at 8 weeks. However, in method 3 the flow surfaces had no endothelium at 4 weeks and 83% still had none at 8 weeks. These findings suggest that, in the absence of pannus ingrowth, re-endothelialization of the canine carotid artery depends on not only the presence but also the number of adventitial vasa vasorum.

Dynamics of atrial peptide secretion in the coronary circulation of the conscious dog

The secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide by the heart is not simply the arterial-coronary sinus concentration difference times coronary blood flow, because only a small fraction of total coronary blood flow passes through the atria. We measured coronary sinus and arterial plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) concentrations and blood flow to each part of the heart using the radioactive microsphere technique. Before acute volume expansion, the arterial-coronary sinus ANF difference was 305 +/- 23 pg/ml and rose to 1,009 +/- 220 pg/ml during volume expansion, whereas total coronary blood flow rose from 167 to 465 ml/min. Atrial blood flow rose from 2.9% to 4.6% of total coronary blood flow during volume expansion. ANF secretion rate increased from 51 to 469 ng/min. When divided by atrial weight, ANF secretion rate increased from 4.0 +/- 0.3 to 56 +/- 12 ng/min/g atrial tissue-in other words, from 0.3% to 3.7% of tissue ANF content each minute. Dividing by atrial blood flow indicated that the concentration of ANF leaving atrial tissue was 10,000 to 29,651 pg/ml, and the additional secretion of ANF was determined by the increase in coronary blood flow. Therefore, at least two mechanisms are responsible for altering coronary sinus ANF and circulating ANF: the release rate from atrial myocytes and the washout via changes in atrial blood flow.

Neuralgic amyotrophy: a long term follow-up of four cases

Neuralgic amyotrophy or brachial plexus neuralgia is a condition of uncertain etiology. It needs to be differentiated from the usual brachial plexus injuries. Nerves outside the plexus especially the spinal accessory nerve are involved. Neuralgia is also a feature. Four cases were followed-up in detail over a period of two years. The condition usually resolves almost completely on its own.

The effects of testicular trauma on fertility in the Lewis rat and comparisons to isoimmunized recipients of syngeneic sperm

Adult male Lewis (LEW) rats were used to investigate the effects of unilateral testicular trauma on fertility. Comparisons were made between normal and experimental rats immunized with syngeneic sperm in Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA). Matings within the three groups yielded offspring to all normal males, no offspring to the immunized rats, and 27% (3/11) fertility in the trauma group (p less than 0.001). The contralateral testis demonstrated decreased volumes, various degrees of aspermatogenesis and smaller seminiferous tubular diameters, in both the trauma and immunized groups compared to the controls. Similar histopathologic findings of chronic granulomatous inflammation within contralateral testes in both the trauma and immunized groups suggested a common immune etiology for infertility via possible disruption of the blood-testis barrier.

Antilens antibodies in cataract and inflammatory eye disease: an evaluation of a new technique

A new technique measuring serum antoantibodies to lens proteins, employing antigen linked to magnetisable cellulose particles and fluorescent end-point detection, was used to examine patients with senile cataract and inflammatory eye disease. 40% of patients with senile cataract had antibodies to lens proteins, as did 28% of patients with heterochromic cyclitis and 20% of patients with uveitis, while there were no positive sera from patients with scleritis. The single patient with lens-induced uveitis had a high titre, but so did some patients with senile cataract. With the incorporation of a standard curve this technique offers a reliable quantitative assay for lens autoantibodies. It may provide a valuable tool for the investigation of pathogenetic mechanisms in cataract and inflammatory eye disease.

CT appearance of an oncocytic papillary cystadenoma of the larynx

The CT appearance of an oncocytic papillary cystadenoma of the right laryngeal false cord is presented. This unusual tumor of the larynx with similar CT appearance to that of a cyst of the laryngeal saccule is discussed.

Protein C deficiency in a black South African family. A case report

Protein C is a vitamin K-dependent anticoagulant that functions by inhibiting the activity of factors Va and VIIIa. An inherited deficiency of this protein may enhance the risk of thrombosis. The first kindred with levels of protein C that averaged 50% of normal in association with recurrent thrombotic events were described in 1981. A black South African family with an inherited deficiency of this protein is reported.

Regulation of c-fgr proto-oncogene expression in Epstein-Barr virus infected B-cell lines

We and others have previously shown that in vitro conversion of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-negative Burkitt lymphoma (BL) cell lines with the immortalizing B95-8 strain of EBV results in a marked elevation in levels of c-fgr proto-oncogene mRNA. We now show, using a nuclear run-off assay, that this induction results from an increase in the rate of transcription of the c-fgr gene. We also show that BL cell lines freshly converted with the non-immortalizing HR-I strain of EBV do not accumulate higher levels of c-fgr mRNA, suggesting that EBNA-2 and/or LMP, the genes which are deleted in the HR-I strain, may be involved in the pathway which leads to changes in c-fgr gene expression. In order to assess the generality of a role for the c-fgr gene in the response of B-lymphocytes to EBV-infection, which is controversial, we have analysed c-fgr expression in 6 freshly immortalized cell lines established by EBV (B95-8) infection of B-lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of normal adults and of adults with rheumatoid arthritis, from cord blood, and from foetal liver. All 6 cell lines expressed c-fgr mRNA at elevated levels compared to EBV-negative BL cell lines.

Structure of the complete human c-fgr proto-oncogene and identification of multiple transcriptional start sites

Here we report the isolation of cosmid clones containing the whole of the human c-fgr proto-oncogene. We have used these to determine the organization and nucleotide sequence of the exons upstream of exon 4, which have not previously been analysed. We show that, like exons 4 to 12, exon 3 closely resembles its counterpart in the avian c-src and murine lck genes. In contrast, the organization of the upstream exons of c-fgr differs markedly. In particular, the 5' untranslated regions of the c-fgr gene is interrupted by an extra intron. We have also mapped multiple transcriptional start sites within the 5' flanking region of the c-fgr gene and present an analysis of the nucleotide sequences within this region which may be responsible for regulating c-fgr expression.

Isolated growth hormone deficiency: analysis of the growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone gene and the GH gene cluster

Isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) cannot be distinguished on the grounds of anti-human (h) GH antibodies and stunted growth response to exogenous hGH. DNA analysis was proposed to classify children with IGHD. Genomic DNA was extracted and studied by restriction endonuclease analysis after extraction from the circulating lymphocytes of 53 children with IGHD. These children included 5 pairs of siblings and 5 individuals from 10 families, whose parents (n = 20) and brothers and sisters (n = 5) were also analyzed. Twenty-five adults, including individuals from 3 families of normal height, were studied as controls. No deletion within the hGH gene cluster was identified using a [32P]hGH cDNA clone as a probe. A compound heterozygosity for a hGH-1 deletion or a mutation have not been found. The allelic frequencies for 5 common restriction fragment length polymorphisms were similar in patients and controls. The distribution and frequency of the distinct haplotypes in the hGH gene family revealed no differences between IGHD (n = 30 chromosomes) and controls (n = 48 chromosomes). No deletion or restriction fragment length polymorphisms could be found using a hGH-releasing hormone cDNA clone as a probe in patients or controls. This large volume of data gathered from a caucasian population indicates that the great majority of patients with IGHD has no structural abnormalities of the hGH gene cluster, particularly no hGH-1 gene deletion. In addition, they have no gross deletions within the hGH-releasing hormone gene.

Characterization of peptidyl-nucleoside antifungal antibiotics from fermentation broth

Characterization of sinefungin related antifungal antibiotics from fermentation broth was accomplished by coupling photodiode array (PDA) detection to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). From the combined HPLC-PDA evaluation of broth filtrate, we detected five sinefungin related components. Fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectroscopic evaluations, mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectra (MIKES) and collision activated (CA) MIKES of these components confirmed their respective identities. Our findings from the combination of HPLC photodiode array acquisition and FAB-mass spectrometry suggest we have detected the presence of a previously unreported sinefungin analogue.

Androgen receptors--a method to measure functional behaviour in human prostatic cancer

Androgen receptors were measured in soluble and nuclear fractions of tissues obtained from 25 patients. A method using mibolerone, a synthetic androgen, as a ligand is described. This method, which includes the presence of excess ORG 2058 to eliminate interaction with progesterone receptors, gives a reliable determination of androgen receptor content and has been used to predict response to hormonal treatment. However, the results suggest that the presence of functional receptor is not, in itself, a sufficient index of hormonal dependence of the tumour.

A meta-analysis of acupuncture for chronic pain

Results of 14 randomized controlled trials of acupuncture for chronic pain were pooled in a meta-analysis and analysed in three subgroups according to site of pain; and in two subgroups each according to type to trial, type of treatment, type of control, 'blindness' of participating agents, trial size, and type of journal in which results were published. While few individual trials had statistically significant results, pooled results of many subgroups attained statistical significance in favour of acupuncture. Various potential sources of bias, including problems with blindness, precluded a conclusive finding although most results apparently favoured acupuncture.

AT2433-A1, AT2433-A2, AT2433-B1, and AT2433-B2 novel antitumor antibiotic compounds produced by Actinomadura melliaura. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological properties

Compounds AT2433-A1 (A1), AT2433-A2 (A2), AT2433-B1 (B1), and AT2433-B2 (B2) were isolated from the cultured broth of Actinomadura melliaura sp. nov. (SCC 1655). Structurally these materials are closely related to rebeccamycin (1), an indolocarbazole antitumor antibiotic. A1, A2, B1, and B2 were active against Staphylococcus aureus A9537, Streptococcus faecalis A20688, Streptococcus faecium (ATCC 9790), Micrococcus lutea (ATCC 9341), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633). A1 and B1 were active against P388 leukemia in mice.

Survival of Vibrio cholerae in African domestic water storage containers

Although much has been published about growth of Vibrio cholerae in natural sources of water, little or nothing has been written on its survival in common household water storage containers. This study compared the behaviour of the El Tor and Classical biotypes of V. cholerae in different containers commonly used in Africa for domestic water storage. These included traditional clay pots, wooden barrels, galvanised iron drums (corroded and non-corroded) and plastic (polyethylene) drums. The findings are considered to be of public health interest with reference to selection of the most suitable containers for the storage of water drawn from a treated source. Although survival of V. cholerae was much shorter in clay pots than in any of the other containers, the numbers of viable V. cholerae were higher than in non-corroding iron drums and plastic drums. The clay pots, being porous, also showed a tendency to constant outward seepage of water which, when collected, was also shown to harbour cholera bacilli. These containers are therefore considered hazardous as pathogens in the stored water are easily disseminated to contaminate either hands or food prepared in the vicinity. The longest survival occurred in damaged metal drums. Presence of other bacteria greatly inhibited survival of V. cholerae. The response of the two biotypes was much the same in all the experiments.

Sch 38519, a novel platelet aggregation inhibitor produced by a Thermomonospora sp. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, physico-chemical properties, structure and biological properties

The complex containing a new platelet aggregation inhibitor, Sch 38519, was recovered from the fermentation filtrate of Thermomonospora sp. SCC 1793. A chemically defined medium was developed which favored the production of Sch 38519. The antibiotic was isolated from the fermentation filtrate by absorption on macroreticular resin and further purified by ion exchange chromatography and reverse phase HPLC. Sch 38519 is an isochromanequinone structurally related to medermycin, lactoquinomycin and granaticin. It inhibits thrombin-induced aggregation of human platelets with an IC50 of 68 micrograms/ml. Sch 38519 is also active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Cerebral vasculitis and hemorrhage in an adolescent taking diet pills containing phenylpropanolamine: case report and review of literature

Phenylpropanolamine is consumed by millions of persons annually and is sold in varying dosages and combinations for different ailments. Adolescents are an especially susceptible group influenced by its action as an anorexiant. During the past 6 years, several cases have been reported of patients in whom intracerebral hemorrhage developed, with and without concomitant angiographic evidence of vasculitis, after taking phenylpropanolamine. In this report, the 11th documented case of phenylpropanolamine-associated intracerebral hemorrhage with vasculitis is described. This is the first case in an adolescent following the ingestion of an overdose of diet-aid pills. Cases of intracerebral hemorrhage with vasculitis have also been described in users and abusers of amphetamine, methamphetamine, and ephedrine, all sympathomimetics with chemical structures similar to that of phenylpropanolamine. This report should alert pediatricians to the potential use by their patients of nonprescription medications containing phenylpropanolamine whenever unexplained acute cerebral symptoms are present.

Dysphoric and depressive symptoms in chronic schizophrenia

This study suggests that depressive symptoms are less common in severe, chronic, schizophrenic inpatients than would be predicted if these symptoms were manifestations of negative symptoms or drug-induced parkinsonism. The findings further suggest that depressive symptoms in such patients are independent phenomena which conform to a depressive syndrome. This depression does not represent a misidentification of the negative symptoms affective flattening and alogia, as measured by the SANS, or parkinsonism or akathisia. The study findings fail to support the view that long-term depot antipsychotic medication plays an important role in the genesis of depression and dysphoria in chronic schizophrenic patients. Depressive symptoms were found to occur as frequently, and dysphoria more frequently, in schizophrenic patients in the year after drug withdrawal compared with patients continuing on maintenance drug treatment for the same period.