The adjuvant activity of nonionic block polymer surfactants. I. The role of hydrophile-lipophile balance

We developed an experimental model for studying the physicochemical basis of the adjuvant activity of surface-active agents. Pluronic polyols are chemically similar but physicochemically diverse surface-active agents composed of polymers of hydrophilic polyoxyethylene and lipophilic polyoxypropylene. One of them, L121, was found to be a powerful adjuvant for increasing antibody formation to BSA in mice when injected in an oil-in-water emulsion. Another, L101, was less effective in increasing antibody formation, but was more effective in inducing granulomatous inflammation. Three others had little effect on either response. The ability of these and other surface active agents to serve as adjuvants correlated with a physicochemical parameter, the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB). All of the surfactants with strong adjuvant activity have HLB values of less than 2. They are strongly lipophilic and promote the retention of macromolecules by oil drops in oil-in-water emulsions. We propose that the adjuvant activity of these compounds is dependent on their ability to concentrate the adjuvant, immunogen, and host proteins on hydrophobic surfaces, where they are more effectively presented to cells of the immune system.

The adjuvant activity of nonionic block polymer surfactants. I. The role of hydrophile-lipophile balance

We developed an experimental model for studying the physicochemical basis of the adjuvant activity of surface-active agents. Pluronic polyols are chemically similar but physicochemically diverse surface-active agents composed of polymers of hydrophilic polyoxyethylene and lipophilic polyoxypropylene. One of them, L121, was found to be a powerful adjuvant for increasing antibody formation to BSA in mice when injected in an oil-in-water emulsion. Another, L101, was less effective in increasing antibody formation, but was more effective in inducing granulomatous inflammation. Three others had little effect on either response. The ability of these and other surface active agents to serve as adjuvants correlated with a physicochemical parameter, the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB). All of the surfactants with strong adjuvant activity have HLB values of less than 2. They are strongly lipophilic and promote the retention of macromolecules by oil drops in oil-in-water emulsions. We propose that the adjuvant activity of these compounds is dependent on their ability to concentrate the adjuvant, immunogen, and host proteins on hydrophobic surfaces, where they are more effectively presented to cells of the immune system.

Biologic properties of iscador: a Viscum album preparation I. Hyperplasia of the thymic cortex and accelerated regeneration of hematopoietic cells following X-irradiation

We demonstrated that a preparation of Viscum album (Iscador) has unusual effects on the immune system. In CD-1 mice, the mean weight of the thymus increased from 45 to 85 mg. following six daily intraperitoneal injections of 2.5 mg. of Iscador. The thymic trophic influence was maintained over a long period of time. Sprague-Dawley rats treated with Iscador for 16 weeks showed an increase of 78% in thymic weight over controls. The increased weight of the thymus was due to increased proliferation of cortical thymocytes. The number of blast cells in the outer cortex of the thymus increased within 2 days of the first injection and remained at high levels. Thymocytes of Iscador-treated animals were 29 times more responsive to Concanavalin A than those of untreated controls. Iscador increased the amount of antibody produced by animals injected with sheep red blood cells if it was injected after the antigen. Iscador also had effects on hematopoietic cells. It accelerated the recovery of hematopoietic tissue in bone marrow and spleens of irradiated animals. We believe that V. album preparations may be valuable reagents for perturbing thymus function.

Steroid secretion by the postmenopausal ovary

The concentrations of certain steroids in arterial and ovarian venous blood were measured in 42 postmenopausal women undergoing hysterectomy for uterine disease. A concentration gradient across the ovary was found for testosterone in 21 women, for androstenedione in 16, for estradiol in 15, for estrone in 8, and for dehydroepiandrosterone in 3. On the basis of postualated ovarian blood blow the gradient would result in a major contribution to the blood production rate for testosterone in about 50% of women and for estradiol in less than 20%. For androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, and estrone the gradients did not signify important ovarian secretion. There was no evidence for secretion of dihydrotestosterone, estrone sulfate, or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. There were no apparent clinical correlates to indicate in which women the ovary was secreting steroids.

Squamous carcinoma of thyroglossal duct remnants: a case report and review of the literature

The first reported case in Australia of a squamous carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct remnant is presented. This case shows the previously unreported feature of associated hyperthyroidism.

Studies on an oncofetal antigen, POA

This paper describes the purification and partial characteristics of a putative oncofetal antigen, POA, which appears to be associated with the pancreas. POA is a glycoprotein of molecular weight between 800,000 and 900,000 daltons. It is found in fetal pancreas and pancreas cancer tissue, but not in normal adult pancreas. It is clearly different from carcinoembryonic antigen, other known tumor associated antigens, acute phase reactants and normal serum proteins. A quantitative rocket immunoelectrophoresis assay was developed for POA. Its specificity was monitored routinely by double immunodiffusion against known fetal and adult standards. The assay was performed on sera from over 700 patients. The results demonstrate that POA is found in the sera of most individuals. However, by far the highest absolute levels and the highest frequency of elevated levels was found in sera of patients with carcinoma of the pancreas. Elevated levels of POA were also found in the serum of a proportion of patients with carcinomas of the lung, stomach, colon, biliary tract, and breast and in a few other individuals with benign conditions. The spectrum of patients who have elevated levels of POA in their serum is quite different from that found with CEA or other known tumor markers.

Hemiparkinsonism with infarction of the ipsilateral substantia nigra

An elderly man suffering from dementia associated with hypertension developed right-sided parkinsonism marked by rigidity and flexion. At autopsy the brain showed generalized vascular changes chiefly in the white matter, diffuse plaque and neurofibrillary tangle formation in the temporal cortex, and a discrete gliotic scar in the right substantia nigra. Hemiparkinsonism with a strictly unilateral lesion confined to the substantia nigra has, to our knowledge, not been described before, and the fact that it was ipsilateral adds to its theoretical interest.

Race-related differences in peripheral blood and in bone marrow cell populations of American black and American white infants

The present study confirms that in healthy infants, a racial difference exists in peripheral blood hemoglobin levels, total leukocyte, and total neutrophil counts. Racial differences in the composition of the bone marrow are negligible. The only demonstrable difference is confined to the erythroid cell population. No significant difference exists in the incidence of myeloid cells or small lymphocytes.

The thermal decomposition of simple carbonate esters

Dimethyl carbonate does not decompose at temperatures up to 390�. At 300-400� ethyl methyl, diethyl, ethyl propyl and dipropyl carbonates yield carbon dioxide, the alkene and the alcohol at similar rates with E (kJ mol-1) 182.0, 195.0, 181.6, 182.0 and log A (s-1) 11.72, 13.06, 11.89, 11.97, respectively. With ethyl propyl carbonate, ethylene is the slightly favoured alkene.

Properties of conjugated protein immunogens which selectively stimulate delayed-type hypersensitivity

If bovine serum albumin (BSA) is covalently conjugated with dodecanoic acid, its ability to stimulate delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) is enhanced whereas its ability to stimulate antibody production is suppressed. Conjugates of BSA prepared with negatively charged succinyl groups and positively charged amidine groups were unable to stimulate any detectable DTH to BSA even though their ability to bind anti-BSA antibody in a radioimmunoassay was similar to that of dodecanoyl-BSA which stimulated strong, sustained DTH. By analyzing a series of conjugates of BSA with fatty acids of varying chain length, we found that enhancement of the ability of a preparation to stimulate DTH to BSA could be separated from the suppression of its ability to stimulate antibody formation. The ability of a preparation to stimulate DTH correlated with the covalent conjugation of a large number of hydrophobic groups whereas the suppression of the ability to stimulate antibody formation correlated with covering of antibody-combining sites as measured in a radioimmunoassay.

Fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products in cerebrospinal fluid of patients admitted to a psychiatric unit

Paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples collected from 81 of 241 patients admitted to a district psychiatric hospital during a six month period were assayed for fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) using a haemagglutination inhibition technique. FDP were found in all serum samples. Fifteen patients (18·5%) had FDP in the CSF (range 0·7-3·75 μg/ml.) and of these 13 (87%) had associated CSF protein abnormalities and 9 (60%) were hypertensive. Mean serum FDP values were the same (4·4 μg/ml.) in patients with and without FDP in the CSF. Three patients had raised serum FDP concentrations but no FDP in the CSF. The evidence suggests that the presence of FDP in CSF indicates recent central nervous system damage. In this series the most common cause was vascular disease.

Psychiatry and neurology. Psychosyndrome or brain disease

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Alzheimer's disease in one monozygotic twin

A woman of 64 died after an illness lasting 15 years and characterized by a progressive amnesic syndrome followed by global dementia. The brain showed changes typical of Alzheimer's disease. Her monozygotic twin sister was clinically not affected and died two years later of carcinoma. This is the second report of monozygotic twin sisters apparently discordant for presenile dementia of Alzheimer type.

Effect of folic acid by mouth on cerebrospinal fluid homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentration

Administration of 30 mg folic acid by mouth caused a significant fall in cerebrospinal fluid homovanillic acid concentration in 11 subjects. There was no significant change of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentration. The fall was less marked in five patients on anticonvulsant medication and failed to reach statistical significance. Neither homovanillic acid nor 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentrations changed significantly when 15 mg folic acid was given in divided dosage for one, two, and four weeks. The effect appeared to be related to the height of serum-folate levels reached and to be independent of cerebrospinal fluid-folate levels, which did not change significantly. Possible mechanisms and their potential therapeutic application are discussed.