Clinical trial of two short-course (6-month) regimens and a standard regimen (12-month) chemotherapy in retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in Pakistan. Results 18 months after completion of treatment (Lahore Tuberculosis Study)

This study compared the efficacy and tolerability of two 6-month daily regimens of isoniazid and rifampin in combination with either pyrazinamide or ethambutol (RHZ and RHE regimens) against a standard daily regimen of streptomycin, isoniazid, and ethambutol (SHE regimen) given for 6 months followed by isoniazid and ethambutol for an additional 6 months. Only previously treated sputum positive patients suffering from active pulmonary tuberculosis were entered into the study. Three hundred and fifty-eight patients were admitted to the study and 267 (75%) completed chemotherapy. Eighty-five percent of RHZ-regimen and 82% of RHE-regimen patients achieved sputum culture negativity compared to 55% of patients in SHE regimen. Successfully treated patients were followed up for 18 months, and among these, all 3 treatment regimens showed broadly similar levels of culture negativity at the end of the follow-up period. Final therapeutic outcome was based on sputum culture results obtained throughout the follow-up period, and no statistically significant difference in relapse rate was noticed in the 3 regimens. Severe drug intolerance necessitated discontinuation of therapy in only 2 patients.

Study of duodenal ulcer disease in 100 families using total serum pepsinogen as a genetic marker

Although various markers have been used in attempts to elucidate the mode of inheritance of duodenal ulcer, they have not significantly contributed to a clear understanding of the problem. In the present study total serum pepsinogen was used as a genetic marker and its concentrations were estimated in 100 ulcer patients and their family members up to three generations. Eighty three per cent of the ulcer patients had hyperpepsinogenaemia on a familial basis, and it followed an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. Thus a large majority of ulcer patients have associated hyperpepsinogenaemia which forms a genetic basis of their disease. The remaining 17% ulcer patients did not have associated hyperpepsinogenaemia nor was the ulcer inherited by the family. Based on these observations we wish to suggest that duodenal ulcer associated with hyperpepsinogenaemia may be considered a genetic disease. This type may be termed 'primary duodenal ulcer'. In the remaining patients without hyperpepsinogenaemia or affected relatives the ulcer may be called 'secondary duodenal ulcer'. Thus total serum pepsinogen may be considered a reliable genetic marker in helping to delineate the genetic disorder from the non-genetic, thereby improving the predictive ability in duodenal ulcer.

Identical specificity of lupus antibodies and antibodies elicited in rabbits against Sm and RNP antigens

Rabbits immunized with purified Sm and RNP small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) produced precipitating and hemagglutinating antibodies against these antigens. These antibodies had immunological specificity identical to the naturally occurring SLE anti-Sm/RNP antibodies as demonstrated by immunoprecipitation results and studies involving the characterization of immunoaffinity purified antigens isolated from the rabbit immune and SLE anti-Sm/RNP IgG affinity columns.

Purification and identification of antigenic polypeptides of Sm and RNP antigens of goat liver

A ribonucleoprotein complex containing Sm and RNP antigenic activity was isolated from goat liver. The sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the complex to contain four major polypeptides of 80,000, 70,000, 30,000 and 14,000 molecular weights. When the gels were probed for antigenic polypeptides by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and fluorescent antibody method, anti-Sm sera were found to react with polypeptides of 14,000 and 30,000 molecular weights whereas anti-RNP sera recognized 70,000 and 80,000 molecular weight polypeptides with minor reactivity in the polypeptide of 14,000 molecular weight. Sera containing antibodies to both Sm and RNP reacted with all the four polypeptides.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens in systemic lupus erythematosus, with nylon as solid phase

In this enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of antibodies against extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), nylon is used as solid phase for antigen binding instead of the commonly used polystyrene surface. Optimal conditions for activation of the nylon beads, antigen coating, and other relevant factors have been investigated. We compared the incidence of anti-ENA antibodies in SLE, using chromogenic and fluorogenic enzyme substrates. Of SLE patients, 54% were positive for anti-ENA antibodies when chromogenic substrate was used as compared with 68% for fluorogenic substrate. Antibody activity against Sm and RNP antigens was distinguished on the basis of ribonuclease sensitivity of the RNP antigen. The method described offers advantages such as decreased background activity, increased surface area, facility for prolonged storage of antigen-coated solid phase, and miniaturization of the assay.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens in systemic lupus erythematosus, with nylon as solid phase

In this enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of antibodies against extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) in sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), nylon is used as solid phase for antigen binding instead of the commonly used polystyrene surface. Optimal conditions for activation of the nylon beads, antigen coating, and other relevant factors have been investigated. We compared the incidence of anti-ENA antibodies in SLE, using chromogenic and fluorogenic enzyme substrates. Of SLE patients, 54% were positive for anti-ENA antibodies when chromogenic substrate was used as compared with 68% for fluorogenic substrate. Antibody activity against Sm and RNP antigens was distinguished on the basis of ribonuclease sensitivity of the RNP antigen. The method described offers advantages such as decreased background activity, increased surface area, facility for prolonged storage of antigen-coated solid phase, and miniaturization of the assay.

Fingertip and palmar patterns in duodenal ulcer

Dermatoglyphic studies were carried out on 90 adult males suffering from duodenal ulcer. Fingertip and palmar patterns were analysed to see if there was an association between duodenal ulcer and any of the dermatoglyphic traits. The patterns which were significantly different are: (1) increased frequency of whorls; (2) reduced frequency of loops on fingertips, and (3) increased frequency of patterns in the thenar I and IV interdigital area.

A morphological study of the lungs and bronchial tree of the dog: with a suggested system of nomenclature for bronchi

The bronchial tree was investigated in 37 pairs of lungs of adult dogs using dissection and corrosion techniques. The external morphology of the lungs and their lobes has been described. The right lung was divided by deep fissures into four lobes, the apical, the middle, the diaphragmatic and the intermediate. The left lung was found to have three lobes, the apical, the middle and the diaphragmatic. The left apical and middle lobes were partially fused, being separated only by an incomplete (cranial) fissure where either of the two lobes may overlap the other. This study has confirmed the existence in the dog's lungs of 'the stem bronchus' described by Aeby (1880). Each of the lobes of dog's lungs was served by a single bronchus which has been termed the 'lobar stem bronchus' and which extended as an axial stem from the hilus to a particular end of the lobe designated as the 'distal end'. In each lobe two main series of branches and accessory branches have been described. In each main series three types of branches have been described--normal, large, and small. A system of designating the bronchi has been suggested and used. The lobar stem bronchi often bifurcated after a variable number of branches had been given off. The total number of branches arising from the lobar stem bronchus, the number in each main series, the number of accessory branches, and the sequence of origin varied to the extent that no two bronchial patterns were found to be identical. The complexity of establishing a bronchopulmonary segmental pattern in the dog has been discussed.

Bacteriophage T4-related macromolecular synthesis under restriction of plasmid Rts1

Rts1 is a plasmid which confers upon the host bacteria the capacity to restrict T4 bacteriophage growth at 32 degrees C but not at 42 degrees C. Pulse-labeling of phage-infected cells showed that Rts1 restricts the synthesis of T1 DNA. Despite efficient restriction of T4 phage growth and DNA synthesis, infected Escherichia coli 20SO harboring Rts1 synthesized both early and late T4 phage RNA. Synthesis of early T4 phage RNA under restrictive conditions (32 degrees C) was almost equal to that found under nonrestrictive conditions, and a lesser, but significant, amount of late T4 phage RNA was made in almost complete absence of T4 DNA synthesis. Moreover, very little, if any, T4 phage-coded lysozyme was detected in the infected E. coli 20SO/Rts1 at 32 degrees C, whereas normal amounts of lysozyme were present at 42 degrees C.

Effect of Photochemotherapy on Blood Chemistry of Psoriatic Patients

A detailed study of blood chemistry of psoriatic patients under photochemothempy was undertaken. No significant changes were observed in any of the parameters studied.