In vivo activation of mouse macrophages with beta-1,3-D-glucan-derivatized plastic beads

Macrophages obtained from animals treated with beta-1,3-D-glucan-derivatized plastic beads were greatly stimulated, as judged by morphology, esterase release, and cytostatic effect on L-929 tumour cells in vitro. The pretreatment of mice with such beads conferred an apparent absolute local resistance to an otherwise lethal pneumococcal infection but had no effect on the growth of intraperitoneal AA ascites sarcoma. Moreover, peritoneal cells from animals pretreated with glucan beads did not protect the animals in a Winn assay.

The rhythmic structure of mother-infant interaction in term and preterm infants

The purpose of this study was to quantify social interaction rhythms in 3- and 5-month-old term and preterm infants and their mothers. Infant-mother dyads were videotaped in a 3-min face-to-face paradigm. For each second of the interaction, separate scores were assigned to infant and mother indicating levels of affective involvement, creating 2 180-sec time series. Spectral and cross-spectral techniques were used to quantify periodicities in each member of the dyad and to estimate the synchrony or coherence of interactional rhythms between each infant and mother. Results showed the existence of periodicities in the behavior of each infant and mother at 3 and 5 months, with most subjects showing spectral peaks between .022 and .10 Hz. Increases from 3 to 5 months in behavioral periodicities were found for infants and mothers as well as for the coherence between infant-mother dyads. Term dyads showed higher coherence than preterm dyads at both 3 and 5 months. Term infants more often led the interaction at both ages. These results were taken as evidence that behavioral periodicities, which may be biologically based, underlie early mother-infant interaction and provide a temporal structure for the organization of cognitive and affective experience. Differences in synchrony between term and preterm infants may explain later reported differences in language between these groups.

Stimulatory effect of immobilized glycans on macrophages in vitro

Mouse macrophages were cultured on chemically modified plastic dishes. On dishes covered with immobilized glycans, the macrophages were stimulated as judged by increased 14C-glucosamine incorporation, increased cytostatic and cytolytic capacities and by morphology as seen by scanning electron microscopy. The corresponding soluble glycans did not have the capacity to stimulate macrophages as measured by these criteria. Plastic surfaces covered with polyethylenimine showed stimulation of the macrophages with regard to some of the parameters measured. These results may indicate that the stimulation is a multistep process and that, contrary to earlier findings, it is not a prerequisite for stimulation that the glycan be intracellular. The results support the idea that a fixed steric arrangement of glycans is necessary for the stimulation of macrophages in vitro.

Immunological and isoelectric focusing study of beta-glucocerebrosidase from normal and Gaucher disease

Comparison of normal and Gaucher disease beta-glucocerebrosidase by agarose isoelectric focusing (IEF) demonstrated additional bands at the pI-6 area seen within the mutated enzyme, while both normal placenta and spleen enzyme preparations manifest only major activity at pI-5. Antiglucocerebrosidase antibodies precipitated both normal and pathological enzymes, however, more antibodies were needed to reach an equivalence with the normal enzymes than with the Gaucher's. Cross reactivity of the IEF isozymes were detected by direct immunodiffusion on the prefocused gel.

Sonography and computed tomography in the diagnosis of carcinoma of the gallbladder

The computed tomographic and sonographic findings of 26 patients with gallbladder carcinoma were reviewed, and the problems and pitfalls encountered with these imaging techniques are discussed. The most common finding, a mass filling or replacing the gallbladder, was seen in 42% of the patients. A mass protruding into the gallbladder was seen in 23%, and diffuse asymmetric thickening of the gallbladder wall in 15%. Recommendations are made to avoid some of the diagnostic problems encountered. With careful and meticulous technique early carcinoma of the gallbladder may be detected with greater frequency by cross-sectional imaging techniques.

Lysosomal glycosidases in mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated in vitro with soluble and insoluble glycans

Mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with insoluble glycans in vitro release high amounts of acid hydrolases, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase, beta-D-glucuronidase, and beta-D-galactosidase. The most potent of the stimulatory glycans is a beta-1,3-D-glucan isolated from yeast cell walls. Up to 50% of total enzyme activity was found in the medium after stimulation with this glycan for three days. Agarose, another insoluble glycan containing an alternating sequence of the disaccharide beta-1,3-D-galactose-alpha-1,4-3,6-anhydro-L-galactose units was less potent. The soluble beta-1,3-D-glucan laminaran, which also contains small amounts of mannitol, was not able to induce release of acid glycosidases from macrophages. The release was independent of serum since macrophages cultured under serum-free conditions showed nearly the same pattern of enzyme activities, both in the cells and media. There was no increased release of the acid hydrolase alpha-D-mannosidase after stimulation with the insoluble beta-1,3-D-glucan for three days. The release of the lysosomal glycosidases was not due to cell death, since only small amounts of the cytoplasmic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase were found in the culture media. Insoluble polystyrene latex particles were not able to stimulate mouse macrophages to release lysosomal glycosidases. Tritiated glycans (amylose, dextran, laminaran, the insoluble beta-1,3-D-glucan, and agarose) and the p-nitrophenyl-glycopyranoside derivatives were used as substrates to investigate whether the macrophages contained or released glucanases capable of degrading alpha-1,4-D-glucans, alpha-1-6-D-glucans, beta-1,3-D-glucans, and agarose respectively. We conclude that the glycans were not degraded in macrophage cultures during the time period tested nor were the enzymes induced in macrophages by the glycans during in vitro culture for seven days.

A soluble beta-1,3-D-glucan derivative potentiates the cytostatic and cytolytic capacity of mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro

An aminated beta-1,3-D-glucan derivative of curdlan is reported to render macrophages cytostatic to L-929 cells and to potentiate macrophage cytotoxicity to the tumor cells in vitro.

Validity of invalid MMPI profiles: floating profiles revisited

While much literature suggested that highly elevated MMPI profiles are of questionable validity, Newmark and Sines (1972) found that even profiles with elevations ≥70 T on scales 1–9 have clinical significance. The two studies reported here were designed to investigate further such “floating profiles.” In Study I, MMPI profiles from 67 male psychiatric inpatients who produced “floating profiles” were subjected to Veldman's Hierarchical cluster analysis and five floating profile subtypes were identified. In Study II the entire sample of floaters as well as the subtypes were compared with a randomly selected sample of 40 nonfloaters in terms of a number of demographic and clinical variables. Results generally suggested that individuals who produce floating profiles differ significantly from individuals who produce more traditionally “valid” profiles. Also, results supported the assumption that the floater subtypes represent unique personality types. Findings are compared with the Newmark and Sines (1972) results, and implications of the current research are discussed.

Behavioral and cardiac rhythmicity during mother-father-stranger infant social interaction

In an effort to understand the temporal organization of infant physiologic and behavioral systems during social interaction with adults, spectral and cross-spectral analyses of infant heart rate and mother-father-stranger-infant behavioral data are described herein for a 3-month-old infant during face-to-face social interaction with her parents and a stranger. This infant's heart rate rhythms were stronger during social interaction with both mother and father than with a stranger. Infant behavioral rhythms were associated with (high coherence) the parents' behavioral rhythms, but not with those of the stranger. Furthermore, infant heart rate and infant behavioral rhythms showed high coherence with all three adults. Although these findings are preliminary, based on a case study and need replication, they generate intriguing hypotheses. This technique of studying the rhythmicity of infant social interaction with spectral analysis suggests that the 3-month-old infant's behavior and heart rate are synchronized during interaction with all three adults; however, the infant and adult behavioral rhythms are synchronous only with mother and father and not with an unfamiliar stranger.

Absolute configuration of a chiral CHD group via neutron diffraction: confirmation of the absolute stereochemistry of the enzymatic formation of malic acid

Neutron diffraction has been used to monitor the absolute stereochemistry of an enzymatic reaction. (-)(2S)malic-3-d acid was prepared by the action of fumarase on fumaric acid in D2O. After a large number of cations were screened, it was found that (+)(R) alpha-phenylethylamine forms the large crystals necessary for a neutron diffraction analysis. The subsequent structure determination showed that (+)(R) alpha-phenylethylammonium (-)(2S)malate-3-d has an absolute configuration of R at the CHD site (i.e., the C3 carbon of malate). This result confirms the absolute stereochemistry of fumarate-to-malate transformation as catalyzed by the enzyme fumarase.

Infiltrating periductal neoplasm mimicking biliary dilatation on computed tomography

A case is reported in which hypodense linear structures on postcontrast computed tomography were not intrahepatic biliary dilatation but periductal extension of pancreatic carcinoma.

The value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of popliteal artery aneurysms

Although popliteal artery aneurysms are among the most common type of peripheral artery aneurysm, they may be difficult to diagnose until complications such as peripheral embolization, acute thrombosis and rupture occur. Pressure on adjacent structures may cause neurological symptoms and venous thrombosis. The diagnosis of peripheral artery aneurysms is usually made by physical examination and arteriography. Recently, ultrasound of the popliteal space has been found to be very useful in the diagnosis of popliteal artery aneurysms. It is therefore important to recognize the value of ultrasound for imaging popliteal artery aneurysms and to use this readily available non-invasive modality in patients in which physical examination and/or angiography of the popliteal fossa is equivocal. We present one case of a popliteal artery aneurysm which was missed by angiography and physical examination in which ultrasound was very important in diagnosing this aneurysm pre-operatively, and two cases in which the ultrasound examination confirmed the presence of the popliteal artery aneurysm but better delineated its size than did angiography.

Mechanisms of anticoagulant effects of some sulphated polysaccharides

The anticoagulant activity of a partially reduced sulphated alginic acid, a partially reduced aminated and sulphated alginic acid and sulphated guaran have been studied. The anticoagulant activities in the APTT assay were 28, 39 and 70 IU/mg respectively. None showed any activity in anti-factor Xa assay. Studies on binding to Antithrombin III - Sepharose showed that sulphated guaran and a fraction of the aminated and sulphated alginic acid was bound, whereas no binding occurred with sulphated alginic acid. The inhibition of thrombin activity by these polysaccharides was studied in purified systems with or without added Antithrombin III, using both fibrinogen clotting and chromogenic peptide substrate assays. The two alginic acid preparations showed Antithrombin III-dependent inhibition of thrombin, whereas the sulphated guaran inhibits both by Antithrombin III-dependent and independent mechanisms.

An evaluation of the initial treatment of acute asthma

Two treatment regimens for the initial treatment of acute asthma in 50 patients between the ages of 12 and 20 years seen in the emergency room were evaluated. The treatments were randomized such that 26 patients received 2.5 mg of the beta 2-agonist fenoterol by nebulizer and 24 patients received 0.3 mg of epinephrine followed by 0.75 mg of Sus-Phrine. Clinical assessment and spirometry were performed over a two-hour period. Both groups responded within ten minutes and peak improvement was reached within one hour. Peak expiratory flow and clinical score were better following fenoterol treatment in the first hour (P less than .05). The one-second forced expiratory volume and the forced expiratory flow in the middle half of the vital capacity were greater at 20 minutes with fenoterol (P less than .05). Those with more severe obstruction (forced expiratory volume less than 30%) receiving aerosol therapy also had significantly greater improvement in the first 20 minutes compared with those who received injections. Four patients failed to respond to epinephrine whereas all patients showed improvement with fenoterol (P less than .05). These results demonstrated that an inhaled beta 2-agonist is effective in the initial treatment of acute asthma in children, regardless of severity, and avoids the need for injections.

Pharmacokinetics of cisplatin regional hepatic infusions

Cisplatin (DDP), a potent antineoplastic agent, is usually administered via a peripheral vein. Recently, there has been considerable interest in intraarterial regional infusions of DDP. The pharmacokinetics of DDP when administered by this technique have not been explored in detail. We studied DDP pharmacokinetics in dogs given DDP by infusion and bolus injection in the hepatic artery (H.A.), portal vein (portal V), and peripheral vein (P.V.). Blood and biliary platinum concentrations ([Pt]) were assayed by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. During an infusion into the H.S., peak [Pt] in the vessel were markedly higher (mean value 19 micrograms/ml) than those found, simultaneously, in the portal V or superior vena cava. Following a bolus injection of DDP into the H.A., higher H.A. [Pt] were also seen, but [Pt] rapidly (within 5-10 minutes) equilibrated in all sites sampled. During the H.A. infusion, most [Pt] was in its free (active) form. Bile and hepatic tissue were also sampled. Hepatic artery infusions of DDP give high drug concentrations in the perfusing blood, while systemic [Pt] are much lower. During the infusion, the majority of DDP is in its active (unbound) state.

Intramolecular integration within Moloney murine leukemia virus DNA

By screening a library of unintegrated, circular Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) DNA cloned in lambda phage, we found that approximately 20% of the M-MuLV DNA inserts contained internal sequence deletions or inversions. Restriction enzyme mapping demonstrated tht the deleted segments frequently abutted a long terminal repeat (LTR) sequence, whereas the inverted segments were usually flanked by LTR sequences, suggesting that many of the variants arose as a consequence of M-MuLV DNA molecules integrating within their own DNA. Nucleotide sequencing also suggested that most of the variant inserts were generated by autointegration. One of the recombinant M-MuLV DNA inserts contained a large inverted repeat of a unique M-MuLV sequence abutting an LTR. This molecule was shown by nucleotide sequencing to have arisen by an M-MuLV DNA Molecule integrating within a second M-MuLV DNA molecule before cloning. The autointegrated M-MuLV DNA had generally lost two base pairs from the LTR sequence at each junction with target site DNA, whereas a four-base-pair direct repeat of target site DNA flanked the integrated viral DNA. Nucleotide sequencing of preintegration target site DNA showed that this four-base-pair direct repeat was present only once before integration and was thus reiterated by the integration event. The results obtained from the autointegrated clones were supported by nucleotide sequencing of the host-virus junction of two cloned M-MuLV integrated proviruses obtained from infected rat cells. Detailed analysis of the different unique target site sequences revealed no obvious common features.

[Cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate in macrophages, intestinal mucosa, and blood plasma of germ-free and ordinary animals]

The level of cAMP in macrophages, intestinal mucosa and blood plasma as well as its formation in intestinal mucosa of germfree animals under the effect of lipopolysaccharide E. coli 055 (LPS) were studied in experiments on germfree and ordinary mice and guinea-pigs. The concentration of cAMP in intestinal mucosa of ordinary guinea-pigs was 5-fold higher than in germfree animals. LPS induced an increase in cAMP level in intestinal mucosa, but this level did not reach that in ordinary animals. The levels of cAMP in blood plasma of germfree guinea-pigs in macrophages of germfree mice increased 2-fold and 4-fold, respectively, 30 minutes following the treatment with LPS. The increased level of cAMP was accompanied by its intensive secretion into the exocellular medium. Macrophages of ordinary animals had a moderate output of cAMP. A conclusion is made about the relationship between cAMP formation and microbial contamination of the microorganism as well as about an important role of the cyclic nucleotide in the mechanism of nonspecific resistance and homeostatic reactions of the body to microbial exposure.

Structural studies of the lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella typhimurium 902 (ColIb drd2)

Salmonella typhimurium infected with the plasmid ColIb drd2 gave rise to changes in the composition of the bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Bacteria carrying the wild-type ColIb, the revertant of drd2 to the wild type, or the noncolicinogenic strain resulting from the elimination of ColIb drd2, showed no changes in the sugar composition of the lipopolysaccharide. The structure of the O-specific side chains of the lipopolysaccharide produced by S. typhimurium 902, infected with derepressed ColIb mutants has been investigated. As a result of these studies, it is proposed that the O-specific side chains are composed of chemical repeating units with the following structure: (formula: see text).

Effects of attributions for success and failure on the performance of retarded adults

Seventy-two TMR adults were given success and failure experiences at a coding task, as well as one of three causal attributions (ability, effort, or task difficulty [ease]). The data revealed that causal ascriptions interacted with outcome in influencing speed of performance and that success enhanced performance only when coupled with an ability ascription. The data suggested that some of the contradictions in the success-failure literature may be due to differential causal attributions elicited across the various investigations. The implications of these data for training programs also were discussed.

Mutation affecting thermostability of sigma subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase lies near the dnaG locus at about 66 min on the E. coli genetic map

The Escherichia coli strain, ts-rnp5, originally described in 1975 by G. D. Burdick and H. Berger, is shown to possess an RNA polymerase (RNA nucleotidyltransferase) sigma subunit with an activity 4--6 times less thermostable at 45 degrees than sigma from wild-type strains. This defect remains associated with the sigma polypeptide through a variety of purification stages, including renaturation of sigma after its elution from sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels. The mutation responsible for decreased thermostability of sigma, called rpoD1, cotransduces with dnaG and therefore is located at about 66 min of the E. coli genetic map.

A rapid in vitro method for measuring cell proliferation in human breast cancer

A method has been developed for studying in vitro the cell proliferation kinetics of human breast cancer, Surgical specimens from primary tumors were studied in 56 patients. Viable cell suspensions for assay were obtained by the dissociation of tumor tissue with collagenase. Mean Labeling indices of 2.43 +/- S.D 2.05 and 4.48 +/- S.D. 3.73, respectiviely, were found after incubation with 3HTdR for 2 hours and 24 hours. Mean S-times of 21.9 +/- S.D. 4.3 hours were estimated by 3H and 14C-TdR double-labeling. The kinetic data have been validated by parallel labeling studies in vivo and in vitro in four patients. The processing of autoradiographs using gold latensification provided slides for kinetic analysis within 3 days. The assay offers a method that is useful in the planning and monitoring of drug therapy.

The proliferative patterns of human breast cancer cells in vivo

The cell proliferation pattern in human breast cancer has been studied in eight patients in vivo using intravenously administered 3HTdR as a pulse and as a continous label. Two to 4% of the tumor cells were engaged in DNA synthesis in six patients, and 7% and 11%, respectively, in two others. From the composite percent labeled mitosis curve the estimated time for G1 + (M/2) was about 4 hours and for DNA synthesis about 24 hours. Many cells which entered the cycle spent longer intervals in DNA synthesis and in the post-DNA synthetic phase before entering mitosis. There was a wide range of intermitotic times among the tumor cells. These findings are of significance in the planning of drug therapy.

Structural studies of the polysaccharide antigen of Eubacterium saburreum, strain 49

The polysaccharide antigen produced by Eubacterium saburreum, strain L 49, is composed of D-glycero-D-galacto-heptose and a new sugar, tentatively identified as 6-deoxy-D-altro-heptose. It contains chains of alternating (1 leads to 3)- and (1 leads to 6)- linked beta-D-glycero-D-galacto-heptopyranosyl residues, the latter being substituted with 6-deoxy-alpha-heptofuranosyl groups at O-3. The polysaccharide further contains 0-acetyl groups, linked to O-7 of part of the heptosyl residues and to O-2 of part of the 6-deoxyheptosyl groups.

Insulin adsorbance to polyvinylchloride surfaces with implications for constant-infusion therapy

Because of the current interest in constant intravenous infusions of insulin for hyperglycemic conditions, we have re-examined the problem of insulin adsorption to the solid surfaces of commonly used infusion sets. Using both labeled and unlabeled insulin, we have compared solutions with and without albumin through various methods of delivery. An infusion system incorporating a 50-ml. wash-out with a solution of 25 U. regular insulin in 500 ml. normal saline permits delivery of at least 75 per cent of expected insulin for the first 50 ml. of the infusion and 100 per cent thereafter. After the first 20 ml. of the infusion, the per cent insulin recovered from the system is identical to that observed when albumin was added to the infusion solution at a concentration of 1.25 gm. per cent. From these date, we conclude that if an insulin concentration of at least 25 U./500 ml. is used, and if 50 cc. is washed through the infusion apparatus before treatment of a hyperglycemic patient is instituted, no extra protein additives are necessary.

Growth and regrowth of an autogenous rat sarcoma: effects of nitrogen mustard

Immediate and delayed effects of nitrogen mustard (HN2) (0.1 mg/kg/day for 4 days) on the growth and cell proliferation patterns of the 3-methylcholanthrene-induced autogenous rat sarcoma were studied. Tumor cells were labeled continuously with 0.5 muCi tritiated thymidine/g for 24 hours. The labeling index fell from 36.4 to 14.0% and the mitotic index from 0.88 to 0.67% after two treatments with HN2. At that time, tumor growth stopped and remained arrested during HN2 administration. After four injections of HN2, the labeling index was reduced further to 0.73% and the mitotic index to 0.36%. After the drug was withdrawn, tumor growth resumed at the pretreatment rate, even though the labeling index on day 3 was only 15.5% (or 40% of the control). The percent labeled mitosis curves and DNA contents, before and 4 days after HN2 was given, were similar. It was concluded that a subpopulation of cells of predominantly short intermitotic times caused tumor growth before and after drug treatment.