Nucleotide sequence and transcriptional analysis of the HindIII P region of a temperature-sensitive mutant of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus

DNA sequence analysis of the HindIII P region of a temperature-sensitive mutant of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus confirmed the specific amplification of 1.4 kb of viral DNA from this region of the genome. The sequenced region included an open reading frame, translated in a counterclockwise direction, which would potentially encode a 74K protein. The amplified DNA was contained within this open reading frame, resulting in in-frame amplifications of a domain within the protein. Transcription studies revealed the presence of a ladder of viral RNA species corresponding to a 2.5 kb transcript carrying tandem repeats of about 1.4 kb. This indicated that the duplicated DNA was transcribed in the same orientation as the p10 gene. We predict that transcripts synthesized from the opposite DNA strand also consist of a ladder of related mRNAs which would be translated to produce a family of p74 proteins with multiple internal domains.

Time-resolved pulsed fluorescence immunometric assays of carcinoembryonic antigen

A time-resolved pulsed fluorescence immunometric assay (TR-PFIA) for carcinoembryonic antigen is described in which either Eu(III) or Tb(III) chelate is used as label. Described in detail is the assay involving the well-documented format of microtiter matrix and Eu(III) fluorescence enhanced with a beta-diketone and quantified in a commercial time-resolving fluorometer. We have also used the same basic assay, but one with a Tb(III) chelate as label, and we read the fluorescence signal directly off a surface without the application of enhancement solution. The Tb(III) fluorescence is then brought into solution by using an analog of dipicolinic acid in an enhancement solution. The latter approach demonstrates the scope of the methodology, which invokes the extra complexity of enhancement only when increased sensitivity might be required. The power and versatility of the enhancement methodology are demonstrated.

Time-resolved pulsed fluorescence immunometric assays of carcinoembryonic antigen

A time-resolved pulsed fluorescence immunometric assay (TR-PFIA) for carcinoembryonic antigen is described in which either Eu(III) or Tb(III) chelate is used as label. Described in detail is the assay involving the well-documented format of microtiter matrix and Eu(III) fluorescence enhanced with a beta-diketone and quantified in a commercial time-resolving fluorometer. We have also used the same basic assay, but one with a Tb(III) chelate as label, and we read the fluorescence signal directly off a surface without the application of enhancement solution. The Tb(III) fluorescence is then brought into solution by using an analog of dipicolinic acid in an enhancement solution. The latter approach demonstrates the scope of the methodology, which invokes the extra complexity of enhancement only when increased sensitivity might be required. The power and versatility of the enhancement methodology are demonstrated.

Maternal corneal thickness during pregnancy

We measured central corneal thickness in 89 pregnant women. It was increased 16 micron (P = .01) compared to the control eyes of 18 nongravid and 17 postpartum women. There was no significant difference (P = .79) in corneal thickness between the nongravid and postpartum groups. When comparing subjects by week of gestation, there was no trend over time in corneal thickness (analysis by linear regression). Intraocular pressure was lowered during pregnancy, but it did not correlate with corneal thickness for either the pregnant or nonpregnant group.

Myelopathy simulating spinal cord tumor

Three cases of demyelinating or necrotizing myelopathy are presented in which gradual onset of symptoms, slowly progressive course and widened cord shadow on myelography led to the erroneous diagnosis of intramedullary spinal cord neoplasm. Two of the cases also had inconclusive surgical explorations. We would suggest that patients who seem to have even a typical clinical and myelographic picutre of an intrinsic cord neoplasm have a period of further observation before radiotherapy is begun and that a vigorous search be made for evidence of disseminated disease.