Efficacy and safety of atropine in myopic children: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of atropine for childhood myopia and further explore the optimal concentration of atropine, so as to provide more reference for clinical application.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov were comprehensively searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to October 14, 2021. The efficacy outcomes were progression of spherical equivalent (SE) and axial length (AL). The safety outcomes included accommodation amplitude, pupil size and adverse effects. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3.

RESULTS

Eighteen RCTs involving 3002 eyes were included. The results showed that at 6-36 months of treatment, atropine was effective in slowing the progression of myopia in children. At 12 months, the WMD of SE and AL of low-dose atropine was 0.25 diopters (D) and 0.1 millimeter (mm), moderate-dose atropine was 0.44 D and 0.16mm, high-dose atropine was 1.21 D and 0.82mm, respectively, compared with the control group. Similarly, at 24 months, low-dose atropine was 0.22 D and 0.14mm, moderate-dose atropine was 0.60 D, high-dose atropine was 0.66 D and 0.24mm, respectively. Interestingly, we also found that there was no significant difference in the effects of low-dose atropine on accommodation amplitude and photopic pupil size compared with the control group, and the rate of photophobia, allergy, blurred vision and other side effects was similar between the low-dose atropine group and the control group. In addition, atropine appears to be more effective in myopic children in China than in other countries.

CONCLUSIONS

Atropine in various concentrations can effectively slow myopia progression in children, and its effect is dose-dependent, while low-dose atropine (0.01% atropine) appears to be safer.

[Efficacy of mini nutritional assessment short-form in predicting the risk of acute exacerbation in old chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients]

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-form (MNA-SF) in predicting acute exacerbation of old chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Methods: The clinical data and Nutritional assessment of 202 outpatients who were given treatment in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2017 to May 2019 were analyzed. According to the frequency of acute exacerbation in the last year, patients were divided into high-risk group and low-risk group. The dependent variable was the risk of the acute exacerbation of COPD while the predicting model was established by using multivariate Logistic regression. Finally, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the model was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Among the 202 COPD patients, 131 patients (64.9%) were brought into the high-risk group and 71 patients (35.1%) were brought into the low-risk group. MNA-SF scores in high-risk group were significant lower than those in low-risk group [(9.4±2.1) vs (11.6±1.9), P<0.001]. The logistic regression analysis showed that MNA-SF score [OR=0.556(95%CI: 0.445-0.695), P<0.05] was an independent factor of acute exacerbation. The obtained model was Logit(P)=4.413-0.586×MNA-SF scores. The accuracy of model for the risk of the acute exacerbation of COPD was 77.4%, with a sensitivity of 79.7%, a specificity of 72.1%. Conclusion: MNA-SF is qualified for predicting the acute exacerbation of COPD patients in stable stage.

[The CT image features of ethmomaxillary sinus and their significance in endoscopic surgery]

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and radiographic characteristics of ethmomaxillary sinus (EMS) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients by CT scan, as well as their endoscopic surgical significance in antrostomy. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 111 CRS patients who were prepared for surgery in Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery of Peking University People's Hospital from February to December of 2017 was performed. In all CRS patients, 79 patients were bilateral CRS and 32 were unilateral. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had history of surgery. Only the sides with CRS were analyzed. There were 98 patients (167 sides) in the non-surgical history group and 13 patients (23 sides) in the surgical history group. The prevalence of EMS in CRS sides in the two groups was counted by analyzing the CT images. The CT image features and anatomical variations associated with EMS in CRS sides in the non-surgical history group were also analyzed. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistic analysis. Results: The prevalence of EMS in CRS sides was 21.7% (5/23) in the surgical history group and 12.0% (20/167) in the non-surgical history group. No statistically significant difference in the prevalence of EMS was found between the two groups (χ(2)=0.940, P>0.05). The medial-lateral diameters of the EMS ranged from 8.50 to 14.10 mm with an average of (10.38±1.69) mm (Mean±SD). The shape of the bony septum between the EMS and maxillary sinus was divided into three types: convex toward to the EMS (2 sides), convex toward to maxillary sinus (5 sides) and flat (13 sides). The Lund-Mackay (LM) scores of the maxillary sinuses in patients with and without EMS showed no statistically significant difference (1.60±0.50 vs 1.40±0.62, Z=1.285, P>0.05). The EMS obstructed the drainage of maxillary sinus posteriorly, medially and superiorly. All the EMS in diseased sides were dissected endoscopicly to improve drainage. In the non-surgical history group, the EMS coexisting anatomic variations were the Onodi cell (7/20), Haller cell (3/20), concha bullosa (6/20) and maxillary sinus hypoplasia (3/20). Conclusions: There is relatively high prevalence of the EMS in CRS patients. This is adjacent to the orbit, overpneumatizes laterally and obstructs the drainage of the maxillary sinus. Complete dissection of the EMS is helpful to improve the drainage of maxillary sinus.

[Expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in the peripheral blood of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients and its implications]

Objective: To investigate the expression of programmed death 1(PD-1) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) on T lymphocyte and monocyte from peripheral blood of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and its potential role in immune escape of NSCLC. Methods: Forty-eight patients with advanced NSCLC (Lung Cancer Group) were included from the Department of Respiratory Diseases in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from June 2014 to June 2015. Thirty-six healthy volunteers who received health examination at the same time, matching in sex, age were also enrolled as controls. The expression of PD-1 on peripheral blood CD4(+)T cells and CD8(+)T cells and PD-L1 on monocytes were detected by flow cytometry. Patients who received chemotherapy alone for 2-4 cycles and received sequential sampling were assessed with Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1 (RECIST 1.1). Seven cases of patients with significant response to treatment were selected as partial response (PR) group and ten patients with poor response to treatment were treated as progression disease(PD) group. The differences in the expression of PD-1 on the surface of CD4(+)T cells, CD8(+)T cells, and PD-L1 on the surface of monocyte before and after treatment were analyzed. Results: Compared with healthy control group, PD-1 expression level on both CD4(+) T and CD8(+) T cells from peripheral blood in lung cancer group were significantly increased [(25.9±7.4)% vs (20.6±6.2)%, (19.9±9.8)% vs (14.0±5.6)%, both P<0.05]. A higher level of PD-L1 expression on monocyte in lung cancer group was also found compared with the control group [(33.1±15.1)% vs (13.6±5.3)%, P<0.001]. The expression level of PD-1 on CD4(+)T and CD8(+)T cells and PD-L1 on monocytes in lung cancer group with good response to treatment was relatively lower than the baseline level of before treatment [(22.8±8.5)% vs (25.9±7.8)%, (17.1±8.4)% vs (20.4±8.6)%, (18.1±6.9)% vs (31.3±13.2)%, all P<0.05], but in lung cancer group with poor response to treatment, it was higher than the baseline level of before treatment [(33.5±6.5)% vs (23.9±4.2)%, (25.2±9.1)% vs (19.1±8.8)%, (43.1±18.3)% vs (29.7±10.6)%, all P<0.05]. Conclusion: Abnormal expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 exists in T cells and monocytes respectively, prompting PD-1/PD-L1 pathway may inhibit T cell proliferation during the interaction of T cell and monocyte, which may lead to non-small cell lung cancer immune escape.

[Level of soluble programmed death-1 ligand 1 in peripheral blood of patients with advanced epidermal growth factor receptor mutated lung adenocarcinoma and its clinical implications]

Objective: To analyze the expression of soluble programmed death ligand 1 (sPD-L1) in the serum of patients with advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutated lung adenocarcinoma and to explore its clinical implications. Methods: Seventy-two patients with EGFR mutated advanced lung adenocarcinoma (EGFR mutation group) were included from the Department of Respiratory Diseases in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from May 2015 to July 2016. Thirty-one patients with advanced EGFR wild type (WT) lung adenocarcinoma [EGFR WT group, diagnosed via mini specimens from bronchoscopy or transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy (TNAB), matching in sex, age and tumor stage with EGFR mutation group] were also enrolled as controls. The sPD-L1 protein expression in serum was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. According to the clinical response of two-month EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment, all patients were divided into two groups: 36 cases in disease progression groups (PD group) and 36 cases in disease control group (DC group). The sPD-L1 level in peripheral blood between the two groups was analyzed. In EGFR mutation group, the relationship of serum sPD-L1 with TNM staging was analyzed. At the same time, the value of serum sPD-L1 and cancer embryo antigen (CEA) in clinical evaluation of advanced EGFR mutated lung adenocarcinoma was evaluated by analyzing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: A lower level of sPD-L1 level in EGFR mutation group [0.75(0.15-2.78) μg/L] was found compared with the control group [1.56(0.85-3.29) μg/L] (P<0.001). The expression of sPD-L1 in PD group was significantly higher than that in DC group [1.175(0.62-2.78) μg/L vs 0.625(0.15-2.27) μg/L, P<0.001]. High expression of sPD-L1 in the serum of patients with advanced EGFR mutated lung adenocarcinoma was closely correlated to lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis (χ²=10.985, 4.662; both P<0.05). The area under ROC curve of serum sPD-L1 and CEA was 0.893 (95%CI: 0.830-0.956) and 0.745(95%CI: 0.652-0.839) respectively. Youden index was the maximum when the cutoff value of sPD-L1 was set to 0.815 μg/L, and the sensitivity and specificity were 77.8% and 91.4%, respectively. Conclusions: After EGFR-TKI treatment, the level of sPD-L1 in the serum of patients with advanced EGFR mutated lung adenocarcinoma is lower, which suggests that sPD-L1 expression may depend on the regulation of EGFR signaling pathway. The level of sPD-L1 can reflect the clinical response of EGFR mutated lung adenocarcinoma to EGFR-TKI.

[Risk factor analysis of the patients with solitary pulmonary nodules and establishment of a prediction model for the probability of malignancy]

Objective: This study aims to analyze the relationship among the clinical features, radiologic characteristics and pathological diagnosis in patients with solitary pulmonary nodules, and establish a prediction model for the probability of malignancy. Methods: Clinical data of 372 patients with solitary pulmonary nodules who underwent surgical resection with definite postoperative pathological diagnosis were retrospectively analyzed. In these cases, we collected clinical and radiologic features including gender, age, smoking history, history of tumor, family history of cancer, the location of lesion, ground-glass opacity, maximum diameter, calcification, vessel convergence sign, vacuole sign, pleural indentation, speculation and lobulation. The cases were divided to modeling group (268 cases) and validation group (104 cases). A new prediction model was established by logistic regression analying the data from modeling group. Then the data of validation group was planned to validate the efficiency of the new model, and was compared with three classical models(Mayo model, VA model and LiYun model). With the calculated probability values for each model from validation group, SPSS 22.0 was used to draw the receiver operating characteristic curve, to assess the predictive value of this new model. Results: 112 benign SPNs and 156 malignant SPNs were included in modeling group. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that gender, age, history of tumor, ground -glass opacity, maximum diameter, and speculation were independent predictors of malignancy in patients with SPN(P<0.05). We calculated a prediction model for the probability of malignancy as follow: p=e(x)/(1+ e(x)), x=-4.8029-0.743×gender+ 0.057×age+ 1.306×history of tumor+ 1.305×ground-glass opacity+ 0.051×maximum diameter+ 1.043×speculation. When the data of validation group was added to the four-mathematical prediction model, The area under the curve of our mathematical prediction model was 0.742, which is greater than other models (Mayo 0.696, VA 0.634, LiYun 0.681), while the differences between any two of the four models were not significant (P>0.05). Conclusions: Age of patient, gender, history of tumor, ground-glass opacity, maximum diameter and speculation are independent predictors of malignancy in patients with solitary pulmonary nodule. This logistic regression prediction mathematic model is not inferior to those classical models in estimating the prognosis of SPNs.

[Effects of anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody and EGFR-TKI on the expression of PD-L1 and function of T lymphocytes in EGFR-mutated lung cancer cells]

Objective: To investigate the effects of anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody and EGFR-TKI on expression of soluble PD-L1 and function of T lymphocytes in EGFR-mutated lung cancer cells. Methods: Flow cytometry was used to analyze the expression of membrane PD-LI. ELISA was performed to detect the level of sPD-L1 in the supernatant of cultured EGFR-mutated and wild type lung cancer cells before and after erlotinib treatment.After treated with anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody alone and in combination with erlotinib, the proliferation of T lymphocytes in co-culture system was measured using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The expression levels of PD-LI and IFN-γ in tumor cells and T lymphocytes treated with erlotinib in co-culture system were analyzed by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. Results: PD-L1 was highly expressed in EGFR-mutated lung cancer PC9 cells (78.7±3.1)% and HCC827 cells (82.7±2.6)%.After treated with erlotinib, the expression rates of membrane PD-L1 in PC9 and HCC827 cells were down-regulated (64.7%±3.1% and 73.0%±2.6%, respectively), significantly lower than that in the two cell lines without erlotinib treatment (P<0.05), and the expression levels of sPD-L1 in the supernatant of PC9 and HCC827 cells were also down-regulated (0.680±0.120)ng/ml and (0.903±0.047)ng/ml, respectively, significantly lower than that in the two cell lines without erlotinib treatment (P<0.01). However, no significant changes of membrane PD-L1 and sPD-L1 expression were found in EGFR wild type lung cancer cells (H1299 and A549) before and after erlotinib treatment. In the co-culture system composed of T cells and EGFR-mutated lung cancer cells, treatment with erlotinib alone promoted the proliferation of T lymphocytes (P<0.05), and combined treatment of anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody with erlotinib had a stronger effect (P<0.05). In the co-culture system composed of T cells and EGFR wild type cell lines, the proliferation of T cells was not changed after using erlotinib alone or combination of erlotinib and anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (P>0.05). Before and after treatment with erlotinib, the secretion levels of IFN-γ were (856.0±70.3)pg/ml and (1 697.3±161.0)pg/ml, respectively, showing a significant difference (P<0.001). The expression rates of membrane PD-L1 were (76.2±0.5)% and (50.9±0.9)%, respectively, also showing a significant difference (P<0.001). However, no significant changes in the expression of IFN-γ and membrane PD-L1 were found in the co-culture system composed of T cells and A549 cells. Conclusions: Anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody combined with EGFR-TKI can effectively promote the proliferation and secretion function of T lymphocytes in the microenvironment of EGFR-mutated lung cancer cells.

[Evaluation of high-resolution images application for wild medicinal plants macro monitoring: a case of Apocynum]

To investigate the resources of medicinal plant, such as wild Apocynum, supervised classification based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and texture feature were used to monitor wild medicinal plants from image captured by ZY-3 and World-view-2 and compare which satellite Image are more appropriate to monitor the wild medicinal plants. The research results shows that: for more complex growth conditions wild medicinal plants Apocynum, high-resolution images Worldview-2 is more suitable for its remote identification, the low-resolution satellite ZY-3 can only recognizes the wild medicinal plants which distributed intensively. If the study target distribution is more intensive and larger scale, and cultivated type medicinal plants, the use of satellite ZY-3 in low resolution remote sensing data to identify the target can be a good choice, it is not necessary to buy high-resolution data, in order to avoid waste of expenditure, for the scattered distribution, the high-resolution satellite imagery data may be indispensable to identify targets.

[Measurement of sown area of safflower based on PCA and texture features classification and remote sensing imagery]

To improve accuracy of estimation in planted safflower acreage,we selected agricultural area in Yumin County, Xinjiang as the study area. There safflower was concentrated planted. Supervised classification based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and texture feature were used to obtain the safflower acreage from image captured by ZY-3. The classification result was compared with only spectral feature and spectral feature with texture feature. The research result shows that this method can effectively solve the problem of low accuracy and fracture classification result in single data source classification. The overall accuracy is 87.519 1%, which increases by 7.117 2% compared with single data source classification. Therefore, the classification method based on PCA and texture features can be adapted to RS image classification and estimate the acreage of safflower. This study provides a feasible solution for estimation of planted safflower acreage by image captured by ZY-3 satellite.

Collecting aerosol in airflow with a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed

A magnetically stabilized fluidized bed (MSB) is a highly efficient filter that takes the advantage of both fluidized beds and fixed beds. This paper presents the research to collect aerosol in airflow with a MSB. The filtering model of MSB is established with its parameters including magnetic field intensity, gas superficial velocity, average grain-size, and bed height on the collection efficiency of MSB. The model is verified by experiments.

Characteristics of local electrograms with diastolic potentials: identification of different components of return pathways in ventricular tachycardia

BACKGROUND

Diastolic potentials are often sought as a possible site for catheter ablation in post-infarct ventricular tachycardia. However, delivery of energy at such sites is often unsuccessful. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of local electrograms with diastolic potentials and to identify activation pattern which might indicate the critical portion of the return path of the ventricular tachycardia reentry circuit.

METHODS

In 17 patients with post-myocardial infarction ventricular tachycardia, 30 ventricular tachycardias were mapped with an 112 bipolar endocardial balloon at the time of surgery. Diastolic mapping of the return tract in ventricular tachycardia was performed. Four activation patterns were observed (15 figure 8 patterns, 2 circular patterns, 2 biregional patterns and 11 monoregional patterns). Of 3,360 local electrograms, 207 (6.2%) demonstrated a diastolic potential in ventricular tachycardia. They were classified into following four categories, based on the appearance and timing of the systolic component. Type A-1 electrogram: systolic activation was of low amplitude (< 2 mV) and was prolonged (> or = 100 msec), but preceded the onset of the surface QRS in ventricular tachycardia. Type A-2 electrogram: systolic activation was of low amplitude, was prolonged, but followed the onset of the surface QRS. Type B electrogram: systolic electrogram was fractionated, but relatively normal amplitude (2.0-3.6 mV). Type C electrogram: systolic electrogram was almost normal.

RESULTS

Of all electrograms with diastolic potentials, three type A-1 electrograms (1.4%) were located at the exit of the return pathway, 11 type A-1 electrograms (5.3%) were located at the pre-exit site. No type A-1 was found at an entrance/bystander area. 21 type A-2 electrograms (10.1%) were at the pre-exit and 83 type A-2 electrograms (40.2%) were located at the entrance/bystander area, but such electrograms were never found at the exit site. 71 type B electrograms (34.3%) and 18 type C electrograms (8.7%) were located at the entrance/bystander area. To distinguish the type A-2 electrograms at the pre-exit site from those at the entrance/bystander area, the diastolic potential to QRS interval was measured. This interval at the pre-exit was significantly shorter than that at the entrance/bystander area (-47.2 +/- 10.7 vs -96.3 +/- 31.3 msec, p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Type A-1 electrograms indicated the exit or pre-exit site of return pathway. Type A-2 electrograms with diastolic potential to QRS interval < -50 msec indicated the pre-exit site. However, the other types of local electrograms with diastolic potential did not indicate the critical portion of the ventricular tachycardia circuit. These observations may be helpful during catheter mapping and ablation of patients with post-infarct ventricular tachycardia.

CONDENSED ABSTRACT

Diastolic potentials are often sought to direct catheter ablation in post-infarct ventricular tachycardia. We investigated the characteristics of local electrograms showing diastolic activity in an attempt to determine whether critical portions of the ventricular tachycardia circuit could be identified by a typical "signature." In 17 patients with a remote myocardial infarction, 30 ventricular tachycardias were mapped with 112 bipolar endocardial balloon at the time of surgery. Diastolic potentials in association with low amplitude (< 2 mV) and prolonged (> or = 100 msec) systolic electrograms preceding the onset of QRS were found at the exit site and pre-exit site of return pathway. A similar systolic electrogram occurring after QRS onset with a diastolic potential to QRS interval of < -50 msec was found at the pre-exit site. However, other local electrograms with diastolic activity were at sites remote from the exit or pre-exit of the return pathway. These observations may be helpful during catheter mapping and ablation in patients with ventricular tachycardia.

[Investigation on the rate of urinary excretion of leptospires among cattle naturally infected with Leptospira interrogans]

Urine samples of Leptospires from cattle were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and isolation. Positive rates by Southern-blot and agarose gel electrophoresis of PCR amplification productions were 13% and 11% respectively. Positive rate of isolation was 3.1%. Various positive rates by PCR for cattle urine from different areas were discovered. Average rate of urinary excretion of Leptospires among cattle that naturally infected with Leptospira interrogans was 13.2%. Data showed that cattle was a major source of infection of Leptospirosis in some parts of China. According to the comparsion of results between PCR and isolation, we believe that PCR is a sensitive, rapid and simple method for the investigation on source of infection of Leptospirosis.

[Study on geographical distribution of leptospirosis in China]

Since 1955, Leptospirosis has been recognized as a notifiable infectious disease in China. According to the data gathered from 26 provinces of China (except for Taiwan) in 1955-1993, the average morbidity and mortality were 7.08/10(5) and 1.02% respectively. Distribution of the disease involved 26 provinces in China (not including Taiwan). The trend of the disease has been steady for recent years but outbreaks occasionally occurred, especially in several southern provinces of China. Potential risk factors may exist in these areas. Distribution of endemic areas of this disease is located between 25 degrees-35 degrees latitude and 100 degrees-120 degrees longitude i, e. those provinces along with drainage areas of the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River.

Cellular localization of the target structures recognized by the anti-Jo-1 antibody: immunofluorescence studies on cultured human myoblasts

Antibodies to Jo-1 (alpha Jo-1) are most characteristically detected in patients with the idiopathic inflammatory muscle disease polymyositis (PM). The Jo-1 antigen has previously been identified as histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HRS). In order to clarify the cellular localization of the antigenic targets recognized by the alpha Jo-1 antibody, immunofluorescence (IF) studies were performed with cultured human myoblasts. Incubation with alpha Jo-1 positive sera demonstrated granular cytoplasmic as well as nuclear staining, but only the cytoplasmic fluorescence was specifically inhibited by preabsorbing the sera with recombinant histidyl-tRNA synthetase (rHRS). A polyclonal rabbit anti-rHRS sera demonstrated granular cytoplasmic IF which was also specifically inhibited by preincubation with rHRS protein. Alpha Jo-1 negative healthy control or patient sera demonstrated nonspecific low intensity staining. 35S methionine biosynthetically labelled myoblast cell extracts immunoprecipitated with alpha Jo-1 positive sera and analyzed by SDS-PAGE revealed a specific band of the same molecular weight as the rHRS antigen. Our studies demonstrate that alpha Jo-1 specifically binds to antigen in the cytoplasm of cultured myoblasts. Alpha Jo-1 has been shown to inhibit HRS activity in vitro. Given the importance of aminoacyl tRNA synthetases such as HRS to intracellular protein assembly, intracytoplasmic binding and enzyme inhibition in vivo may potentially contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune muscle damage in PM.

Characterization and taxonomic significance of lipopolysaccharides of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo

Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) from Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo (reference strain hardjoprajitno and strain hardjobovis) were prepared by the hot phenol-water procedure. High yields of LPSs were found in the phenol phase. Gel electrophoresis of the phenol phase LPSs showed similar patterns for all strains in contrast to the different patterns found in the water phase LPSs. Sugar composition was also similar among all strains with rhamnose as the predominant sugar. Mannosamine was detected by high performance thin layer and gas-liquid chromatography. 2-Keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid (KDO) was comparable with authentic KDO by paper chromatography. Periodate oxidation at near neutral pH with or without prior hydrolysis showed that most of the KDO was substituted. The fatty acid composition of strain hardjobovis LPS was slightly different from that of the reference strain hardjoprajitno. Myristic and 3-hydroxymyristic acid were not detected in any of the LPS preparations. In conjunction with genetic and other data, the two strains are sufficiently different to be regarded as members of two separate species sharing common antigens. There is sufficient evidence to rename the hardjoprajitno strain type L. interrogans hardjo-p, and the hardjobovis strain type L. borgpeterseni hardjo-b.

Protective monoclonal antibodies from mice vaccinated or chronically infected with Schistosoma mansoni that recognize the same antigens

An IgM monoclonal antibody, designated mAb 1.G1, has been generated from spleen cells of mice immunized with irradiated Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. As determined by indirect immunofluorescence, mAb 1.G1 binds to the surface membrane of schistosomula and to the ciliated plates of miracidia. mAb 1.G1 also binds to the protonephridial systems of live adult worms and denuded, acetone-fixed schistosomula. Western blot analysis shows that the target epitope of this mAb is found on Nonidet P-40-solubilized schistosomular antigens ranging in molecular size from 85 to 130 kDa and ciliated plate antigens of miracidia at 92, 95, and 102 kDa. The recognized epitope in an 8 M urea adult worm extract is found on a 97-kDa molecule. In addition, mAb 1.G1 mediates a high level of complement-dependent cytotoxic activity against schistosomula when used in an in vitro assay. In passive immunization experiments, approximately 40% protection was provided mice when mAb 1.G1 was administered either at the time of challenge or when given 8 days postchallenge. However, when administered 15 days postchallenge, mAb 1.G1 failed to mediate passive protection. The ability of mAb 1.G1 to mediate protection in vivo correlates with its recognition of epitopes on the surfaces of live schistosomula up to 8 days but not at 15 days. Western blot analysis showed that the antigens were contained within Nonidet P-40 extracts of schistosomula during the same time period. Furthermore, a second monoclonal antibody (mAb 4.4B) derived from mice chronically infected with S. mansoni exhibits the identical properties as described for mAb 1.G1.

Protective monoclonal antibodies from mice vaccinated or chronically infected with Schistosoma mansoni that recognize the same antigens

An IgM monoclonal antibody, designated mAb 1.G1, has been generated from spleen cells of mice immunized with irradiated Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. As determined by indirect immunofluorescence, mAb 1.G1 binds to the surface membrane of schistosomula and to the ciliated plates of miracidia. mAb 1.G1 also binds to the protonephridial systems of live adult worms and denuded, acetone-fixed schistosomula. Western blot analysis shows that the target epitope of this mAb is found on Nonidet P-40-solubilized schistosomular antigens ranging in molecular size from 85 to 130 kDa and ciliated plate antigens of miracidia at 92, 95, and 102 kDa. The recognized epitope in an 8 M urea adult worm extract is found on a 97-kDa molecule. In addition, mAb 1.G1 mediates a high level of complement-dependent cytotoxic activity against schistosomula when used in an in vitro assay. In passive immunization experiments, approximately 40% protection was provided mice when mAb 1.G1 was administered either at the time of challenge or when given 8 days postchallenge. However, when administered 15 days postchallenge, mAb 1.G1 failed to mediate passive protection. The ability of mAb 1.G1 to mediate protection in vivo correlates with its recognition of epitopes on the surfaces of live schistosomula up to 8 days but not at 15 days. Western blot analysis showed that the antigens were contained within Nonidet P-40 extracts of schistosomula during the same time period. Furthermore, a second monoclonal antibody (mAb 4.4B) derived from mice chronically infected with S. mansoni exhibits the identical properties as described for mAb 1.G1.