Immunogenetic aspects of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. IV. Increased risk in Chinese of nasopharyngeal carcinoma associated with a Chinese-related HLA profile (A2, Singapore 2)

The results of this study of 110 Singapore Chinese with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and 91 controls confirmed the association between the occurrence of HLA antigen Singapore 2 (Sin2) and NPC in the Chinese population, and indicated that their increased risk for NPC was confined to the joint occurrence of Sin 2 and A2 antigens. These findings suggested that the genotype of importance in susceptibility to NPC is the A2-Sin 2 haplotype.

Impaired general cell-mediated immune functions in vivo and in vitro in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

General cell-mediated immune (CMI) functions in NPC patients were investigated by the in vivo Mantoux and in vitro lymphocyte response to PHA assays. Thirty-eight (50%) of 76 untreated NPC patients were hyporesponsive in the Mantoux assay compared to 27 (25%) of 110 control patients. Forty-three (65.2%) of 66 untreated NPC patients also showed lymphocyte hyporesponsiveness to PHA compared to 15 (15.5%) of 97 control patients. Combined deficiencies were observed in 35 (42.2%) of 83 NPC patients compared to only 2 (3.3%) of 61 control patients. No difference in the frequency of immunodeficiency was observed between "early" and "late" disease patients. CMI functions of treated "remission" NPC patients were found to be impaired to the same extent as those of untreated NPC patients.

Purification and properties of ATPase inhibitor from rat liver mitochondria

(1) The ATPase inhibitior protein has been isolated from rat liver mitochondria in purified form. The molecular weight determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis is approximately 9500, and the isoelectric point is 8.9. (2) The protein inhibits both the soluble ATPase and the particle-bound ATPase from rat liver mitochondria. It also inhibits ATPase activities of soluble F1, and inhibitor-depleted submitochondrial particles derived from bovine heart mitochondria. (3) On particle-bound ATPase the inhibitor has its maximal effect if incubated in the presence of Mg2+. ATP at slightly acidic pH. (4) The inhibitor has a minimal effect on Pi-ATP exchange activity in sonicated submitochondrial particles. However, unexpectedly the inhibitor greatly stimules Pi-ATP exchange activity in whole mitochondria while the low ATPase activity of the mitochondria is not affected. The possible mechanism of action of the inhibitor on intact mitochondria is offered.

Levamisole augmentation of lymphocyte hyporesponsiveness to phytohaemagglutinin in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

Levamisole has been shown to augment the in vitro responsiveness of lymphocytes to PHA stimulation. The response of lymphocytes of 14 (42%) of 33 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was augmented by levamisole. Augmentation was observed in 9 (64%) of 14 PHA hyporesponsives lymphocytes and in 5 (26%) of 19 normo-responsive lymphocytes.

The involvement of medullary reticular formation in the hypotensive effect of extracts from seeds of Cassia tora

In pentobarbital anesthetized rats, the medial portion of the medullary reticular formation has been identified to be directly involved in the hypotensive effect of extracts from the seeds of Cassia tora. This conclusion was drawn from the observed decrease in arterial blood pressure following local injection of extracts of this herb into this reticular site and from its inability to promote hypotension when the same reticular site has been electrolytically lesioned. The role of the medullary reticular formation in the Cassia tora-induced hypotension was suggested to be one which modulates the basic cardiovascular reflexes, favoring a decrease in vasomotor tone.

A first mathematical approximation of cerebral cortical responses to cerebello-thalamic signals using a thermodynamic analogue

A mathematical approximation is developed to predict cerebral cortical responses CTX(t, x, R) at a distance R (R greater than or equal to 0) from a focal point in the cerebral cortex, at a depth x (0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 500 mu) from the cortical surface and at any time t, to thalamic signals THAL(t) whose amplitudes also vary with time t. The equation is derived from a thermodynamic analogue, which is the time dependent heating of a focus at the surface of a semi-infinite solid.

A critical reticular site involved in the spino-bulbo-spinal reflex system

1. In precollicular decerebrate cats, the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis in the medullar was identified to be critically involved in the spino-bulbo-spinal (SBS) reflex system. 2. Electrolytic lesion place in this nucleus eliminated the SBS reflex and its associated effects in the spinal cord. 3. Ascending volleys from the spinal cord were found to excite neurons within this nucleus, whereupon further direct stimulation was able to enhance the inhibitory effects of the SBS reflex on spinal motoneurons. These interactions were also facilitated by physostigmine and suppressed by atropine, indicating the cholinoceptive nature of these neurons, another criterion which qualified them as being associated with the SBS reflex. 4. The functional roles of SBS reflex and nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis in somatic and visceral activities were discussed.

Quantitative determination of phenol in ointments

A quantitative method for the assay of phenol in ointments is described. The procedure involves the formation of a blue indophenol by reacting phenol with 2,6-dibromoquinone-4-chloroimide which can be measured spectrophotometrically. The method is accurate, and interference from other active ingredients (hydrocortisone and menthol) does not occur.

Probable identification of an HL-A second-locus antigen associated with a high risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

An HL-A antigen profile comprising an increased frequency of HL-A2 and undetectable second-locus antigen(s) in Chinese patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (N.P.C.) has been reported. To investigate whether the deficit of second-locus antigen(s) had a genetic basis, sera from parous women in Singapore were screened for anti HL-A activity corresponding to the second-locus "bland". A second-locus (Singapore-2) was identified which seems to be associated with a high risk of N.P.C.