Characterization of cloned measles virus mRNAs by in vitro transcription, translation, and immunoprecipitation

A cDNA library was constructed from poly(A)+ RNA prepared from VERO cells infected with the Edmonston strain of measles virus. Clones corresponding to five major viral-specific transcripts were identified by northern blot hybridization analysis. Probes prepared from these five clones detected an additional five minor viral RNA transcripts. The sizes and hydridization patterns of these minor RNA species are consistent with their being bicistronic transcripts arising from a viral genomic template with the gene order 3'..NP-9/C-M-F-HA-(L)..5'. To assess the coding capacity of these cDNA clones they were inserted into pSP64, transcribed in vitro, the RNA was translated in reticulocyte lysates, and the protein was immunoprecipitated with specific antisera. From this analysis the genes for NP, P/C, M, F, and HA were identified. In vitro translation of natural mRNAs and SP6 transcripts of cDNAs consistently produced smaller polypeptides that appear to be initiated at internal AUGs. The relative abundance of these various cell-free translation products reflects the probability of translational initiation at the various in-frame AUGs. The patterns observed suggest that other factors besides sequences immediately flanking the AUGs have a significant effect on the selection of translational initiation sites. An increase in translational efficiency of the F transcript was achieved by removing 450 bases of the G-C-rich 5' noncoding region.

The development of performance and cost indicators for preschool immunisation

The organisation, premises, and staffing of three child health clinics of different types in an inner city area have been studied and related to information on immunisation derived from their computerised child register and other returns, together with some simple estimates of cost. Differences were found between overall uptake of different antigens, consent rate, compliance after consent had been given, and the median age at immunisation for children allocated to each clinic. Thus consent to pertussis immunisation varied from 90% in one clinic to 69% in the other two. In the clinic with the high consent rate, however, only 66% of those whose parents had consented actually received all three doses compared with 82% and 85% in the other clinics. The median age of immunisation also showed pronounced differences between the clinics--314, 351, and 375 days, respectively, for the third dose of the triple course. There were differences in characteristics of the clientele served by each clinic and in staffing and facilities, which led to differences in costs, as well as contributing towards the variable patterns of uptake. We suggest that indicators such as these, largely available from the child health computer system, are used systematically to identify ways of improving uptake and increasing cost effectiveness.

Distribution of joint mobility in a normal population: results of the use of fixed torque measuring devices

Fixed torque measuring devices were used to measure the range of movement at three sites in 364 normal adolescents and young adults. The results confirm the findings of less reproducible measurement techniques that joint mobility at a particular site follows a Gaussian distribution with a wide range in a normal population. In addition, apart from very few individuals, mobility at one site could not predict mobility elsewhere. It seems likely that the degree of connective tissue laxity generally is of lesser importance than local factors in determining the range of joint mobility at a given site in normal individuals.

The effects of program termination on community participation by developmentally disabled adults

Funding cuts in health care programs are now commonplace, and result in termination of many valuable and needed services. One such program so affected which served adults with developmental disabilities inspired a follow-up study to see the effect of loss of the program on the clients it had served. Board and care facilities served by the habilitation program were rivisited one year later, and interviews were held with past participants to identify their current involvement in community activities and how they felt about closure of the former program. The findings point to the importance of the "benefactors" in the initial adjustment to community living and to the need for continued or extended support for individuals who have experienced long-term institutionalization.

Monoclonal antibody to human cytotrophoblast cross-reacts with basal layers of some fetal epithelial surfaces

A monoclonal antibody (I8B/A5) was generated towards human first-trimester purified trophoblast plasma membrane which, unlike others reported in the literature, reacted only against cytotrophoblast but not against syncytiotrophoblast. However, this antibody cross-reacted with certain fetal epithelial and endothelial surfaces in a well-defined manner. On such stratified epithelium as fetal skin, only the basal layers of cells were stained, and this was therefore analogous to the pattern observed in chorionic villi where only underlying cytotrophoblast and not superficial syncytiotrophoblast reacted with I8B/A5. These observations suggest that the target antigen either could be a component of certain structures at these sites, such as basement membrane, or it is a marker for proliferating and undifferentiated cells, which would make it an interesting molecule for developmental biologists.

Monoclonal antibody to human cytotrophoblast

A monoclonal antibody (18B/A5) has been generated against human first trimester trophoblast membranes which, unlike others so far reported in the literature, reacted only with cytotrophoblast and not with syncytiotrophoblast. Although the identity of the target antigen has not yet been established, the antibody could be a valuable tool for the identification and eventual separation and purification of human cytotrophoblast cells.

Occupational therapy assessment and treatment in a hospital setting for patients with epilepsy

One Reed is a unit at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute for the evaluation and treatment of patients with poorly controlled seizure disorders. Like many other patients with epilepsy, these individuals frequently experience problems in many facets of daily living. This paper describes the twofold purpose of occupational therapy on One Reed: to provide a program of activity and socialization during the extended period of medical evaluation, and to help patients identify problems in their daily life activities and develop the skills which will enable them to function better after hospitalization. The frame of reference which guides practice is identified and the methods and instruments of occupational therapy assessment for this patient population are described. Typical examples of daily living problems are given, and some occupational therapy methods for dealing with the problems are enumerated.

Mother-infant activities as providers of sensory stimulation

A descriptive study was conducted to determine types and amounts of stimulation to five sensory systems of an infant that occurred as a result of everyday mother-infant activities. The infant studied was between 4 and 6 weeks of age. Results demonstrated that, overall, the baby received more tactile stimulation than any other type, followed by proprioceptive, auditory, visual, and vestibular stimulation. When activities were compared on a daily basis, feeding was found to provide the greatest amount of stimulation followed by playing, holding/carrying, bathing and changing. When compared on a per minute basis, playing was found to provide more stimulation than any other activity, followed by holding/carrying, bathing, changing, and feeding. The manner in which the various activities were carried out had a strong influence on the types and amounts of stimulation that resulted. Characteristics of both the infant and the mother appeared to be important influences on the types and amounts of stimulation the infant received. It was concluded that both mother and infant should be considered in planning therapeutic programs.

Characterization of the phagocytic cells isolated from the human placenta

The present study has shown that the human placenta (first trimester and full term) contains a significant population of mononuclear cells (isolated by proteolytic treatment) expressing receptors for Fc(IgG) and C3 and bearing surface immunoglobulin that is probably cytophilic. The cells, as assessed by morphology, resemble macrophages and actively partake in both immune and nonimmune phagocytosis. The receptor and phagocytic characteristics of the placenta suggest that it may be regarded as an important compartment of the reticuloendothelial system and that these properties probably contribute significantly to its defensive role in utero.

Chorioretinal biopsy in a patient with leukaemia

Images

Infarction of the optic nerve head in children with accelerated hypertension

Four cases of anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy occurred in children with accelerated hypertension. The cause may have been a sudden relative fall in arterial pressure which reduced the perfusion of the optic disc, whose circulation was compromised by long-standing hypertensive vascular disease.

The eye as a sanctuary in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Leukaemic infiltration of the anterior chamber of the eye was the only sign of relapse in two children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who had been off treatment for two and four months. The malignant cells had probably been present in the eye since the onset of the disease.

Evaluation of an improved rapid coagglutination method for the serological grouping of beta-hemolytic streptococci

Grouping of beta-hemolytic streptococci was performed with the Phadebact Streptococcus Test, a coagglutination method, and the results compared with serological grouping by the standard Lancefield precipitin method. Of 171 clinical specimens examined, 169 (98.8%) were grouped correctly by the Phadebact Test after 24 h of continuous growth in Todd-Hewitt broth. In a parallel study, 96.9% of specimens that grew after only 4 h of incubation in broth were grouped correctly by the coagglutination method. In both studies, the accuracy of the coagglutination test was increased significantly by elimination of multiple-agglutination reactions through centrifugation of cultures and utilization of the supernatant fluid in the Phadebact Test.

Plasma potassium changes following suxamethonium and suxethonium in normal patients and in patients in renal failure

Fifty-four healthy patients and 21 patients with chronic renal disease received either suxamethonium 100 mg or suxethonium 150 mg for neuromuscular blockade during endotracheal intubation. A significant increase in plasma potassium concentration was observed following the administration of suxamethonium. No increase occurred in patients who received suxethonium. It is concluded that suxethonium may be preferable to suxamethonium in patients who are at risk from an increase in the plasma potassium concentration.

Explanations for weight loss after ileojejunal bypass in gross obesity

Twenty grossly obese patients underwent ileojejunal bypass operations. Measurements of calories lost in faeces showed that the malabsorption could not account for the weight loss. Furthermore, the malabsorption was not decreased two years after bypass, when weight was no longer being lost. Dietary restriction is therefore largely responsible for the weight loss and increased food intake for weight maintenance.

Effect of changes in feeding schedule on the diurnal rhythms and daily activity levels of intestinal brush border enzymes and transport systems

The activities of rat intestinal enzymes, sucrase, lactase, maltase, trehalase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, leucylnaphthylamide-hydrolyzing activity, and the transport system for glucose follow diurnal rhythms on ad libitum and restricted feeding regimes. In response to 6 days of restricted feeding, food available between 1400 and 1800 Eastern Standard Time, all rhythms shifted in time and the daily levels of activities were changed. Alkaline phosphatase activity followed a diurnal rhythm only in restricted fed animals. In restricted fed rats several activity patterns were observed, some with short periods of maximum activity, 3 h or less, and some with plateaus of maximum activity, 5-9 h long. In respect to the time of day of the synchronizer, sucrase peaked before feeding, glucose transport peaked during feeding, alkaline phosphatase peaked after feeding, and the other enzymes had higher levels of activity before, during and after feeding. The effect of restricted feeding on the daily activity levels were: a decrease in leucylnaphthylamide-hydrolyzing activity, no change in alkaline phosphatase, and increases in the others. These enzyme and transport systems exhibit a large amount of individual regulation or control as reflected by the lack of a uniform activity pattern and response to the synchronizer, and the variation in direction and magnitude of the adaptations to restricted feeding.

Treatment of gross obesity by jejunal bypass

Jejunal bypass operations were performed on 47 grossly obese patients. The results were disappointing in three patients who had a standard "14 in/4 in" Payne and DeWind procedure and therefore a more radical operation was performed, joining four inches (10.2 cm) of proximal jejunum to 10 inches (24.4 cm) of terminal ileum. Two years after the modified operation a mean of 44.2 kg had been lost and the weight tended to stabilize. This weight loss was due mainly to inadequate calorie intake. The appetite became more controlled so that if weight was regained this was small in amount. Metabolic sequelae and their symptoms also settled by two years. The physical, psychological, and social outcome was good. The postoperative period was stormy and required close medical and psychiatric supervision. There were two deaths.

Dietary diabetes. The influence of a low carbohydrate diet on forearm metabolism in man

Forearm glucose uptake and lactate balance across the forearm were determined in normal subjects during 100-gm. oral glucose tolerance tests (GTT) before and after a lowcarbohydrate diet; in addition, β-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetateresponses were measured following carbohydrate restriction. After a low-carbohydrate diet, glucose tolerance was significantly impaired (dietary diabetes) and the rise in seruminsulin levels was frequently, but not invariably, delayed. Forearm glucose utilization, however, was not significantly decreased at any phase of the GTT or during the GTT as a whole.

With a normal diet, lactate levels rose immediately after glucose loading, reaching peak concentrations at sixty minutes and falling progressively thereafter; this rise was associated with lactate utilization by the forearm and the subsequent fall in plasma concentrations with lactate release. In contrast, following carbohydrate restriction lactate concentrations were initially reduced by glucose administration, this reduction taking place despite continuing lactate release from the forearm. These results suggest that after glucose loading the shape of the lactate response curve is not determined primarily by changes in peripheral lactate balance.

Marked elevation in basal FFA, β-hydroxybutyrate, and acetoacetate levels accompanied carbohydrate restriction. FFA and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were immediately decreased and acetoacetate levels initially increased by glucose loading, the latter declining only during the second hour of the GTT; throughout the test, acetoacetate was taken up by the forearm while β-hydroxybutyrate was released. Basal FFA and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were not correlated with the degree of glucose intolerance induced in the volunteers.

The results show that the impairment of glucose tolerance following carbohydrate restriction is not the result of decreased peripheral glucose utilization. It is suggested that the major cause of dietary diabetes is a delay in the hepatic uptake of the glucose load and that this is primarily the. result of low hepatic glucokinase activity rather than delayed insulin secretion.