Cardiovascular manifestations in aluminium phosphide poisoning with special reference to echocardiographic changes

Twenty five patients of aluminium phosphide poisoning along with clinical evidence of peripheral circulatory failure were studied. Chief symptoms noted were vomiting and epigastric pain though subsequently three patients developed respiratory distress. Sensorium was normal in most of the patients. Three patients developed pulmonary edema. Raised JVP, feeble heart sounds and S3 gallop beside tachy and bradycardia were other cardiovascular manifestations observed in these patients. In 80% of the patients, various types of ECG changes were observed. ST-T changes were observed in 40% of the patients. Echo-cardiography on day 1 revealed marked LV systolic dysfunction (mean ejection fraction-43.52 +/- 10.18% and mean fractional shortening 17.35 +/- 4.97%) in them whereas repeat echocardiography on day 5 indicated normalisation of these values (mean ejection fraction 71.64 +/- 8.61% and mean fractional shortening 34.35 +/- 8.23%). This might be because of direct toxic action of phosphine on myocardium and later when phosphine gets excreted either through lungs or kidney leads to improvement in LV systolic function.

A study of nosocomial infection in relation to different host factors in an Indian teaching hospital

Out of a total of 422 patients studied, 164 (38.8%) developed nosocomial infection. The rate was higher (41.6%) in males than in females (34.7%). A rising trend of infection was observed with age, maximum (69.6%) being in the above 60 age group. Nosocomial infection rate was inversely proportional to the socio-economic status of the patient. At the same time some underlying diseases in the patients influenced the rate of infection to a great extent, eg infection rates in patients with anaemia (53.7%), diabetes mellitus (85.2%), hypertension (82.0%) and obesity (51.5%) were much more than in patients with no such underlying disease (17.5%).

Mutagenic activity of the Ganges water with special reference to the pesticide pollution in the river between Kachla to Kannauj (U.P.), India

Water samples from Ganga river were collected from 3 different locations viz. Kachla, Fatehgarh and Kannauj (U.P.). High performance liquid chromatography analysis of samples by liquid-liquid extraction procedure showed the presence of some pesticides like DDT, alpha-BHC, aldrin, dieldrin etc. DDT, alpha-BHC, DDD, aldrin and dieldrin were present at concentration ranges of 3.33-5.33 ppb, 1.73-3.01 ppb, 0.88-2.41 ppb, 1.17-2.81 ppb and 0.49-4.11 ppb, respectively. The organophosphorus pesticides like dimethoate and methyl parathion were also detected at the concentration levels of 0.41-0.56 ppb and 0.16-0.50 ppb, respectively. The organic substances in the test samples were extracted by XAD-resin and liquid-liquid extraction procedures, and the extracts were assayed for mutagenic potential by the Ames Salmonella/microsome test. The test samples exhibited a remarkable degree of mutagenicity with TA98, TA100 and TA97a strains with the probable role of contaminating pesticides in the river water.

Mild-to-moderate malnutrition and small intestine of young rhesus monkeys

The effect of severe malnutrition and protein deficiency on small intestine has been documented, but the literature on the effect of mild-to-moderate protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) on small intestine is scant. Mild-to-moderate PEM is most prevalent in India. Twenty-four young rhesus monkeys weighing 1.5-2.0 kg were divided into two groups, control and experimental. Mild-to-moderate PEM was induced in the experimental group by giving half of the required normal diet providing 2.42 g protein.kg-1.day-1 and 55 kcal.kg-1.day-1. Body weight, serum protein, and D-xylose were measured before starting the experiment, at PEM stage, and after rehabilitation. Experimental monkeys representing group I were killed after a 25-30% reduction in body weight along with control group 1 animals at 12 wk. The rest of the experimental animals were rehabilitated for another 10-12 wk and killed along with their respective controls (control group 2). Brush-border membrane vesicles were prepared from three parts of the small intestine. Viable vesicles were used for the uptake of [U-14C]L-proline. Alkaline phosphatase and enterokinase were also measured. Uptake of L-proline amino acid and the activity of both enzymes were found to be decreased significantly in the PEM group; a D-xylose test was abnormal. All animals recovered after rehabilitation. These results indicate that even mild-to-moderate malnutrition affects the absorptive and digestive capacity of the brush border of the small intestine, which reversed back on rehabilitation.

Identification of a nonameric H-2Kk-restricted CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope on the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein

Class I-restricted CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) protect mice against the rodent malaria parasite, Plasmodium yoelii, and vaccines designed to produce protective CTL against the P. falciparum CSP (PfCSP) are under development. Humans and B10.BR (H-2k) mice have been shown to have CD8+ CTL activity against a 23-amino-acid region of the PfCSP (residues 368 to 390 from the PfCSP 7G8 sequence) that is too long to bind directly to class I major histocompatibility complex molecules. To identify within this 23-amino-acid peptide a shorter peptide that binds to an H-2k class I major histocompatibility molecule, a primarily CD8+ (97.8%) T-cell line (PfCSP TCL.1) was produced by immunizing B10.BR mice with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the PfCSP and stimulating in vitro spleen cells from these immunized mice with L cells transfected with the PfCSP gene (LPF cells). PfCSP TCL.1 lysed LPF cells and L cells pulsed with peptide PfCSP 7G8 368-390. When 15 overlapping nonamer peptides spanning the 368 to 390 sequence were tested, only one peptide, PfCSP 7G8 375-383 (Y E N D I E K K I), which includes an H-2Kk-binding motif, E at amino acid residue 2, and I at residue 9, sensitized targets for lysis by PfCSP TCL.1. Furthermore, a 10(3)- to 10(4)-fold lower concentration of the nonamer than that of the 23-amino-acid peptide was required to sensitize target cells for lysis by PfCSP TCL.1. Presentation by H-2Kk was demonstrated by using 3T3 fibroblast cells transfected with the murine H-2Kk or H-2Dk genes, and only the H-2Kk transfectants were lysed by PfCSP TCL.1 after incubation with peptide PfCSP 7G8 375-383. Binding to H-2Kk was confirmed by competitive inhibition of binding of labelled peptides to affinity-purified Kk molecules. Substitution of the anchor amino acid residue, E, at position 2 with A dramatically reduced binding to Kk and eliminated the capacity of the peptide to sensitize target cells for killing. Variation of non-anchor residues did not markedly reduce binding to Kk but in some cases eliminated the capacity of the peptide to sensitize targets for cytolysis by PfCSP TCL.1, presumably by eliminating T-cell receptor-binding sites. These data suggest that similar studies with human T cells will be required for optimal development of peptide-based vaccines designed to produce protective class I-restricted CD8+ CTL against the PfCSP in humans.

Morphological and biochemical changes in lenses of guinea pigs after vitamin-C-deficient diet and UV-B radiation

The effect of ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation and a vitamin-C-deficient (VCD) diet on guinea pig lenses was investigated. The initial lens changes in the VCD group were observed by slit-lamp examination 6 weeks after the start of the VCD treatment; after 12 weeks the changes in the posterior subcapsular region became more prominent, and the dissociation around the posterior suture became wider and slightly deeper toward the posterior cortex. The high concentration of lens oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and the low ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH) to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) on the lens posterior region correlated with density changes in the corresponding layers as measured by Scheimpflug images with linear microdensitometry. It is suggested that the strong oxidative stress of the VCD diet caused the damage at the posterior part of the lens. UV-B radiation appeared to accelerate cataract progression in lenses that lack vitamin C.

Analysis of nucleotide pools in human lymphoma cells by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis is applied to determine nucleotide pool levels in human Burkitt lymphoma cells. The analysis was performed on a 65 cm x 50 microns I.D. Ucon-coated column with on-column UV detector. The method requires only nanoliters of sample and a simple sample preparation procedure. Over 12 nucleotides were separated and quantitated with high resolution and reproducibility. The whole capillary electrophoretic separation time was only 35 min. These results demonstrate that capillary electrophoresis provides a useful and easy way to analyze nucleotide pools in cells.

Capillary electrophoresis of nucleotides on ucon-coated fused silica columns

Ucon-coated columns have been used to isolate nucleotides, such as ribonucleotides, deoxyribonucleotides, and pyridine nucleotides, by capillary zone electrophoresis. This neutral, hydrophilic column coating (Ucon) significantly reduced macromolecule adsorption and electroosmotic flow, which provides the maximum resolution of the nucleotides separated under moderate buffer conditions (pH about 5-6). The relative standard deviations of the nucleotides were less than 1%. Low minimum detectable concentrations (about 2-8 microM) and quantities (about 70-360 fmol) of the ribonucleotides were obtained. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the ribonucleotides in hybridoma cell extracts shows the applicability of the developed methodology for the determination of intracellular nucleotide pools under the desirable buffer conditions.

Salmonella typhi vaccine strain CVD 908 expressing the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum: strain construction and safety and immunogenicity in humans

rcsp, encoding amino acids 21-398 of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP), under control of tacP was integrated into the chromosomal delta aroC locus of attenuated delta aroC, delta aroD Salmonella typhi CVD 908. By immunoblot and ELISA, rCSP expression was greater from a multicopy plasmid than from the single chromosomal gene. CVD 908 omega (delta aroC1019::tacP-rcsp) was well tolerated by 10 volunteers who were fed two doses of 5 x 10(7) organisms 8 days apart. Seven subjects excreted the vaccine strain for 1-3 days. All subjects developed serologic responses to O and H antigens of the live vector, whereas 3 vaccinees responded to the foreign antigen: 1 developed an 80-fold rise in serum anti-sporozoite antibody, another had a 4-fold rise in antibody to a recombinant portion of CSP (residues 309-345), while a third vaccinee developed CSP-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity. This is the first report of attenuated S. typhi eliciting a human serologic or a cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to a foreign protein. Improved foreign gene expression should enhance immunogenicity.

A capillary electrophoresis method for studying apo, holo, recombinant, and subunit dissociated ferritins

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method is described for detecting and quantitating apo and holo ferritins from horse spleen (HoSF), rat liver (RLF), recombinant human light chain (rLF), recombinant human heavy chain (rHF), site-directed variants of human light chain, and Azotobacter vinelandii bacterial ferritin (AVBF). This procedure is carried out at pH 8.2, where the ferritin molecules are associated into their 24-mers. Protein mobilities as expressed as elution times were clearly resolved and could be used to distinguish one ferritin type from another, providing a means for detecting and quantitating various ferritin species in purified or partially purified states. Measurements of these and other ferritins were also conducted at pH 2.0, where dissociation into their respective subunits occurs. For HoSF and RLF, the individual L and H subunits were resolved and their relative concentrations were determined by integrating the areas of the elution peaks. HoSF gave 89.8% L and 10.2% H and RLF gave 70.7% L and 29.3% H, while rLF, rHF, and AVBF gave only a single subunit, all in agreement with reported values obtained by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. CE of HoSF, containing increasing amounts of iron in the interior, in general, showed that protein mobilities increased, reached a plateau, and then slowly decreased with increasing core size, although buffer effects altered this CE behavior to some extent. Such results indicate that species formed early during core formation have individual iron atoms present and differ from those formed later in which the oligomeric iron core has formed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The immunological indices of diabetic patients following the transplantation of a pancreatic islet cell culture]

Some indices of cell-mediated and humoral immunity were studied in 35 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus before and 7, 14 days, 3, 6, and 12 months after transplantation of pancreatic islet cell culture obtained from newborn pigs into m. rectus abdominis. It was established that the transplantation does not affect number of T- and B-lymphocytes, T-helpers, T-suppressors and level of antibodies to insulin. Clinical effect depended on the base level of transplantation immunity. Favourable results, such as liquidation of hypoglycaemia and reduction of exogenic insulin at the background of improved general condition may be expected in cases with high of heterophilic haemagglutinins low cytotoxicity index and increased number of sensibilized leukocytes.

Induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes against the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein by immunization with soluble recombinant protein without adjuvant

Immunization of mice with irradiated malaria sporozoites induces protection that is dependent on CD8+ T cells, and adoptive transfer of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones against rodent malaria circumsporozoite (CS) protein and sporozoite surface protein 2 completely protects against sporozoite challenge. Thus, there are now efforts to develop vaccines that induce CTL against the CS protein and sporozoite surface protein 2. Until recently, it was thought that induction of CTL required production of target proteins within cells, breakdown of the proteins to peptides in the cytoplasm, and transport of the peptides to the cell surface in combination with class I major histocompatibility complex molecules. It has now been shown that immunization with peptides in Freund's complete adjuvant and with soluble protein in liposomes can induce CTL. To determine whether we could induce CTL against the Plasmodium falciparum CS protein by immunization with soluble protein, B10.BR mice were immunized intravenously, intraperitoneally, or intramuscularly with a recombinant P. falciparum CS protein called RLF mixed with the adjuvant DETOX (monophosphoryl lipid A, cell wall skeleton of Mycobacteria phlei, and squalane). Two weeks after the last dose, spleen cells from mice immunized intravenously, but not intraperitoneally or intramuscularly, had peptide-specific, major histocompatibility complex-restricted, CD8+ T-cell-dependent cytolytic activity against peptide 368-390 from the 7G8 P. falciparum CS protein. To determine whether the adjuvant was required for induction of the cytolytic activity, mice were immunized with RLF without adjuvant, and similar cytolytic activity was demonstrated. The finding that we could induce CTL by administration of soluble protein without adjuvant markedly broadens the possibilities for vaccinologists working to develop methods of inducing CTL in humans.

Solute adsorption on polymer-coated fused-silica capillary electrophoresis columns using selected protein and peptide standards

Three series of basic proteins and peptides were selected for use in studying the adsorption behavior of fused-silica capillary electrophoresis columns. A comparative study of untreated and treated fused-silica columns was done. The polymers used as coating materials ranged from very hydrophobic to very hydrophilic. The average efficiency of weakly hydrophilic Ucon-coated capillaries for basic proteins was over 1 million theoretical plates at a buffer pH of 4.8. For this coating, it was found that the maximum column efficiency was obtained at a film thickness of approximately 100 nm. It was easily seen that both ionic and hydrophobic interaction forces can play important roles in protein adsorption onto the capillary walls. Furthermore, strongly hydrophilic polymer coatings may possibly lead to hydrogen-bonding interactions, which decrease column efficiency. Studies have been conducted using two series of polypeptides with varying chain lengths. One series was used to study the effect of polypeptide chain length on retention behavior. Efficient separations of bioactive peptide drugs on Ucon-coated columns were achieved. The results indicate that high efficiency and resolution of basic peptides tested can be realized on columns modified with weakly hydrophilic polymers at a pH value of about 5.

Early childhood mortality--a rural study

The present study was conducted in 9 villages of Rural Health Training Centre, Jawan, Aligarh, India, having 1792 registered families. The infant mortality rate was 79.3 per 1000 live births. Higher mortality in children between 1-2 years (29.6/1000) in comparison to 2-5 years (16.2/1000) reflected the higher vulnerability of children below 2 years. Diarrhoea (21.2%) and neonatal factors (21.2%) were the major cause of infant mortality followed by pneumonia (18.2%) and tetanus (15.1%). Diarrhoea (32.2%), pneumonia (22.6%) and malnutrition (12.9%) were the major killers in children between 1-5 years. Mortality in females was higher than males in infancy. Risk factors associated with infant mortality included extremes of maternal age (< 20+ > 35 years) primipara or multipara and illiterate mothers.

Rapid diagnosis of typhoid fever by co-agglutination in an Indian hospital

Detection of Salmonella typhi infection by a co-agglutination assay for specific O, H and Vi antigens and by blood culture were compared for 110 patients with suspected typhoid fever. Blood cultures were positive for S. typhi in 25.5% of patients. Co-agglutination tests with patients' serum and with blood culture supernates gave positive results in 70.9% and 67.3% of cases respectively. S. typhi antigens Hd and O9 were detected in patients' serum by co-agglutination in 96.4% of blood culture-positive, and 62.2% of blood culture-negative patients. Co-agglutination results were uniformly negative with serum samples from a control group of 50 healthy individuals, 20 patients with febrile non-typhoid infectious disease and 20 patients with non-infectious febrile disease. Of the 25 patients with suspected typhoid fever who had not received prior antibiotic treatment, 88% yielded positive blood cultures and 96% gave positive results in serum co-agglutination tests. By contrast, of the 85 patients who had received prior antibiotics, only 7% yielded positive blood cultures, but 63.5% gave positive results in serum co-agglutination tests. Co-agglutination tests with serum offer a simple, rapid, sensitive, specific and economical method for the early diagnosis of typhoid fever.

Asymptomatic Salmonella senftenberg carriage in a neonatal ward

During a 23-day period in April 1991, nine infants in a neonatal ward were found to be colonized with Salmonella senftenberg. All were asymptomatic on detection and all except one (who developed septic ileus) remained asymptomatic on follow-up. The affected babies were isolated and subsequently discharged from the ward as soon as possible. These measures, along with emphasis on handwashing and intensification of cleaning and disinfection, were able to prevent spread to other babies. Despite extensive sampling of the environment, mothers and staff, the source of the organism could not be identified.

An antitumor cardenolide with inhibitory activity against pseudomonas pseudomallei

The antibacterial activity of a new cardenolide, 7beta, 14beta - dihydroxy-5-card-20(22) enolide has been studied and it has been found to be active against Pseudomonas pseudomallei. The new cardenolide also exhibited antitumor activity in a potato disc assay.

Characterization of Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite surface protein 2

Immunization of mice with Plasmodium yoelii sporozoite surface protein 2 (PySSP2) and circumsporozoite protein protects completely against P. yoelii. The amino acid sequence of PySSP2 suggested that the thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) [Robson, K. J. H., Hall, J. R. S., Jennings, M. W., Harris, T. J. R., Marsh, K., Newbold, C. I., Tate, V. E. & Weatherall, D. J. (1988) Nature (London) 335, 79-82] is the Plasmodium falciparum homolog of PySSP2. We report data confirming that TRAP is P. falciparum SSP2 (PfSSP2). Murine antibodies against recombinant PfSSP2 identify a 90-kDa protein in extracts of P. falciparum sporozoites, recognize sporozoites and infected hepatocytes by immunofluorescence, localize PfSSP2 to the sporozoite micronemes by immunoelectron microscopy and to the surface membrane by live immunofluorescence, and inhibit sporozoite invasion and development in hepatocytes in vitro. Human volunteers immunized with irradiated sporozoites and protected against malaria develop antibody and proliferative T-cell responses to PfSSP2, suggesting that, like PySSP2, PfSSP2 is a target of protective immunity, and supporting inclusion of PfSSP2 in a multicomponent malaria vaccine.

Naturally acquired CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes against the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein

In rodent malaria model systems, protective immunity induced by immunization with irradiated sporozoites is eliminated by in vivo depletion of CD8+ T cells, and adoptive transfer of CTL clones against the circumsporozoite protein protects against malaria. We recently demonstrated that volunteers immunized with irradiated Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites produce CTL against peptide 368-390 of the P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein. To determine whether natural exposure to malaria induced similar CTL, we studied 11 adult, male, life-long residents of a highly malarious area of Kenya, who were selected because their lymphocytes had been shown to proliferate after stimulation with peptides 361-380, 371-390, or 368-390 and because nine had been resistant to malaria in previous studies. In four of the 11 individuals there was peptide-specific, genetically restricted, CTL activity. In all four individuals, this activity was unaffected by depletion of CD4+ T cells. In three volunteers the activity was eliminated or reduced by depletion of CD8+ T cells; in the fourth volunteer the CD8+ T cell depletion was uninterpretable. This first demonstration of CD8+ T cell, genetically restricted, Ag-specific CTL against a malaria protein among individuals exposed to endemic malaria provides a foundation for studying the relationship between circulating CTL and resistance to malaria infection.

Naturally acquired CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes against the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein

In rodent malaria model systems, protective immunity induced by immunization with irradiated sporozoites is eliminated by in vivo depletion of CD8+ T cells, and adoptive transfer of CTL clones against the circumsporozoite protein protects against malaria. We recently demonstrated that volunteers immunized with irradiated Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites produce CTL against peptide 368-390 of the P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein. To determine whether natural exposure to malaria induced similar CTL, we studied 11 adult, male, life-long residents of a highly malarious area of Kenya, who were selected because their lymphocytes had been shown to proliferate after stimulation with peptides 361-380, 371-390, or 368-390 and because nine had been resistant to malaria in previous studies. In four of the 11 individuals there was peptide-specific, genetically restricted, CTL activity. In all four individuals, this activity was unaffected by depletion of CD4+ T cells. In three volunteers the activity was eliminated or reduced by depletion of CD8+ T cells; in the fourth volunteer the CD8+ T cell depletion was uninterpretable. This first demonstration of CD8+ T cell, genetically restricted, Ag-specific CTL against a malaria protein among individuals exposed to endemic malaria provides a foundation for studying the relationship between circulating CTL and resistance to malaria infection.

Parathyroid hormone-related peptide: expression in fetal and neonatal development

Hypercalcaemia frequently complicates the clinical management of cancer. Many factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of this humoral hypercalcaemia of malignancy, the most recent candidate being parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP). Until now, this peptide has been detected only in some normal and transformed adult tissues. In recent years, it has become apparent that tumours are capable of expressing and secreting factors previously elaborated only during fetal life. Many of these factors act to stimulate the growth of both tumour and fetal cells in an autocrine manner. The data presented here demonstrate that PTHrP is expressed in the human and rat fetus throughout gestation. Immunocytochemistry reveals a gestationally related, changing pattern of expression which is paralleled by changes in mRNA transcription. These data support the hypothesis that PTHrP may function as a fetal growth factor.

Skin testing with recombinant Mycobacterium intracellulare antigens

The immunoreactivity of four recombinant Mycobacterium intracellulare beta-galactosidase fusion proteins, which correspond to 22, 40, 43 and 85 kDa M. intracellulare antigens, was assessed. Lymphoproliferative assays demonstrated that Escherichia coli lysates containing each of the fusion proteins stimulated T cells in vitro. Purified preparations of three of these recombinant M. intracellulare antigens (22, 43 and 85 kDa) also induced delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions in sensitized guinea pigs. However, the skin test responses evoked by each of these antigens was not species-specific. Given these results, the potential utility as skin test reagents of the purified antigens or peptides derived from these proteins is discussed.

Significance of cord problems at birth

Cord problems at birth were prospectively studied in 12,000 singleton deliveries, of which 258 (2.15%) babies had cord abnormalities. Nearly 32% of these cases had fetal distress and 20.5% had 1 minute Apgar score less than 6. Of the various cord problems nuchal cord was noted in 79.1%, cord prolapse in 12.4% and true knots in 3.9% cases. Perinatal mortality rate with cord problems was 85.27/1000 births. Neonatal problems noted were septicemia (4.56%), aspiration syndromes (13.48%), hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (7.30%), neonatal convulsions (2.14%) and hyperbilirubinemia (2.14%). Although mean Hb and PCV were lower in those with cord round the neck as compared to normal controls, this difference was not significant. Seven babies had Hb less than 13 g/dl with nuchal cords. Neonates born with cord around the neck or with other cord abnormalities should be carefully followed up for morbidity.

A discordance between the human muscle NCAM sequence and those seen in other NCAM cDNA clones

A cDNA clone, designated NC7, has been isolated from human foetal kidney that partially codes for the 140 kDa isoform of human NCAM. This clone contains a 6 bp insert that is not present in the human muscle cDNA clone lambda 4.4. This same sequence has also been found in both a cDNA clone obtained from a human Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (SCLC) line and in human genomic DNA. Furthermore, an equivalent sequence to the 6 bp region identified in the above samples is present in mouse, rat and chicken NCAM. The 6 bp insertion does not lie at a predicted intron/exon boundary as extrapolated by homology studies with the chicken and, therefore, the mechanism by which the sequence is deleted from the human muscle clone lambda 4.4 remains unclear.

Operative risks and long-term results of operation for left ventricular aneurysm

A review of 336 consecutive patients who underwent repair of left ventricular aneurysm from 1978 to 1989 disclosed that partial resection of the aneurysm and conventional closure of the ventriculotomy was performed in 281 patients, inverted T closure in 17, and endocardial patch in 38. These two latter techniques were developed in an attempt to restore normal left ventricular geometry. The operative mortality was 6.8% (23 patients). A stepwise logistic regression analysis of various preopeative clinical, hemodynamic, and angiographic variables revealed that left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.20 or less, age greater than 60 years, previous myocardial revascularization, lack of angina, and New York Heart Association functional class IV were independent predictors of operative mortality. The technique of repair was not a predictor of outcome, but when patients with poor left ventricular function were analyzed separately, the operative mortality was reduced from 12.5% to 6.5% when newer techniques were employed. Patients were followed up during a mean of 6.3 years. There have been 51 late deaths, 45 cardiac. Cox regression analysis indicated that poor left ventricular function and left main coronary artery stenosis were the only two predictors of late mortality. The actuarial survival at 10 years was 63% +/- 4%. Most patients (88%) are in New York Heart Association class I or II. These data indicate excellent long-term results after repair of left ventricular aneurysm. Newer techniques of repair are valuable in patients with poor left ventricular function.

Human cytotoxic T lymphocytes against the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of malaria sporozoites protect against malaria in rodents. Although there is interest in developing human vaccines that induce CTL against the Plasmodium falciparum CS protein, humans have never been shown to produce CTL against any Plasmodium species protein or other parasite protein. We report that when peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from three of four volunteers immunized with irradiated P. falciparum sporozoites were stimulated in vitro with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the P. falciparum CS protein or a peptide including only amino acids 368-390 of the P. falciparum CS protein [CS-(368-390)], the PBMC lysed autologous Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells transfected with the P. falciparum CS protein gene or incubated with CS-(368-390) tricosapeptide. Activity was antigen specific, genetically restricted, and dependent on CD8+ T cells. In one volunteer, seven peptides reflecting amino acids 311-400 were tested, and, as in B10.BR mice, CTL activity was only associated with the CS-(368-390) peptide. Development of an assay for studying human CTL against the CS and other malaria proteins and a method for constructing target cells by direct gene transfection provide a foundation for studying the role of CTL in protection against malaria.

Detection of endothelin-like immunoreactivity in epithelium and fibroblasts of the human umbilical cord

We studied tissue sections of freshly obtained full-term and premature human umbilical cords using polyclonal antibody to endothelin and immunocytochemistry. Endothelin immunoreactivity was detected in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells and primitive fibroblasts, but not in the endothelial cells of both full-term and premature umbilical cords. Immunoelectron microscopy using indirect immunogold staining technique localized endothelin immunoreactivity to the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells and fibroblasts but not confined to any particular structures. No endothelin immunoreactivity was detected in the nucleus or on the cell membrane. Pre-absorption tests with synthetic endothelin-1, -2, and -3 independently established that the immunoreactivity represented endothelin-1 and -2, but not -3. The presence of endothelin-1 and -2-like immunoreactive materials in epithelial cells and fibroblasts of human umbilical cord suggests a role of endothelin in parturition.

Characterisation of plasmids extracted from AIDS--associated Mycobacterium avium isolates

The plasmid profiles of 12 Mycobacterium avium strains isolated from 12 different patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome were analysed. Plasmids were identified in 9 of these strains. Plasmids were isolated from all 7 serovars 4 and 8 strains, a serovar 20a strain and an untypeable strain, but were not detected in either of 2 serovar 3b strains or an untypeable isolate. Southern blot hybridisations revealed that extracts derived from all of the plasmid-containing strains hybridised to a DNA probe prepared from known mycobacterial plasmid sequences. However, restriction analyses suggest that native plasmids which hybridised to the DNA probe and were similar in mass were not identical.