Immunocytochemical characterisation of cell cultures grown from dissociated 1-2-day post-natal rat cerebral tissue. A developmental study

A range of cell-specific markers have been employed with immunocytochemical methods to characterise and quantitate the cell types present in mixed brain cell cultures derived from dissociated 1-2-day post-natal rat cerebral hemispheres and grown in the presence of FCS. Protoplasmic astrocytes (GFAP+, A2B5-) were the major cell type to develop in culture, a confluent monolayer forming in 5-8 days. A population of smaller round cells of oligodendrocyte-like morphology appeared on this astrocyte layer. Greater than 70% of these smaller cells were GC- and thus were not oligodendrocytes. The GC- cells were A2B5+ and, in early cultures, may therefore be progenitor glial cells. Examination of GFAP and A2B5 co-expression by these smaller cells was difficult due to the dense underlying GFAP+ astrocyte layer. In less dense areas of older cultures these smaller cells with processes were GFAP+ and A2B5+: these are Type 2, fibrous astrocytes. GC+ oligodendrocytes, comprising 5-10% of the total identified cell population, were initially distributed over the astrocyte monolayer; in older cultures (after about 8 days) GC+ cells were observed in clumps over places where NF+ cells were identifiable. Such GC+ cells mostly became MBP+. Neurones accounted for about 6% of the identifiable cells in early cultures but a lower percentage in older cultures. Minor populations of ependymal cells and macrophages were present; cells displaying fibronectin, fibroblasts, were rarely identified. Use of horse serum in place of FCS gave lower yields of GC+ cells in cultures, slowed down astrocyte development, and resulted in the formation of trunks of GFAP+ cells throughout cultures. Other sera gave lower numbers of GC+ cells.

Infection of rat brain primary cell cultures with an avirulent A7 strain of Semliki Forest virus

The ability of A7 Semliki Forest Virus (SFV) to infect primary brain cell cultures has been examined using cultures prepared from 1-2-day neonatal rat cerebral hemispheres. These cultures, characterised immunocytochemically using cell-specified markers, contain mainly GFAP+ protoplasmic astrocytes and smaller multiprocessed A2B5+ cells, probably fibrous astrocytes. 10% of the cells are GC+ oligodendrocytes and some neurones are also present. These cultures support virus growth and a cytopathic effect was observed. Using double labelling techniques with the cell-specific markers and anti-SFV antibody A7 has been shown to readily infect cells which carry either the A2B5+ antigen or galactocerebroside marker. Protoplasmic astrocytes (GFAP+/A2B5-) are not readily infected under the conditions used. The protein labelling studies using [35S]methionine show that host cell protein synthesis is not completely shut off and continues in the astrocyte protein region. These results suggest that cells derived from a common A2B5+, GFAP-, GC- progenitor glial cell, i.e. GC+ oligodendrocytes and A2B5+/GFAP+ fibrous astrocytes, are more readily infected than other brain cell types including the protoplasmic astrocytes.

Anti-Jo-1 antibody: a marker for myositis with interstitial lung disease

An autoantibody known as anti-Jo-1 antibody is found in 25% of patients with myositis. Its prevalence in patients with both myositis and cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis was 68% (13 out of 19 patients), compared with 7.5% in patients with myositis alone (four of 53) and 3% in patients with cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis alone (two of 62). Anti-Jo-1 antibody may be useful in indicating patients with myositis and cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis. Raynaud's phenomenon, the sicca syndrome, and mild arthritis are also often part of the syndrome.

Variations in the histological patterns of the lesions of coal workers' pneumoconiosis in Britain and their relationship to lung dust content

The lungs of 490 British coal miners were examined for comparisons of the lesions of coal workers' pneumoconiosis with lung dust content and dust exposure. Variations were found in histological appearances that formed a range, the extremes of which indicated two separate patterns of disease. In men from high rank collieries, whose lung dust had a high carbon content and little ash, most of the nodules of simple pneumoconiosis were evenly pigmented with dust, and where progressive massive fibrosis (lesions greater than 1 cm in diameter) had developed, this appeared to be by the enlargement of a single lesion. In men from low rank collieries where the ash content of lung dust was high, the centers of the nodules were often free of dust particles and in extreme cases these lesions were very similar to silicotic nodules. If PMF developed in these cases, it often appeared to be by the fusion of closely spaced groups of smaller nodules. While there appeared to be little difference between the lung dust composition of men from high rank collieries and the dust to which they had been exposed, in men from low rank collieries the proportion of the noncoal minerals in the lungs was usually higher than it had been in the mine dust. This indicated some form of differential retention of these components, which was progressively more marked in men with the more serious grades of pneumoconiosis.

A syringe modification for the simple and rapid dissociation of post-natal rat cerebral tissue for preparing primary cultures of mixed glial cells

Mechanical disruption of 2-day post-natal rat cerebral tissue without enzyme pretreatment through 21-gauge and 23-gauge hypodermic needles on a 1 ml disposable plastic syringe, gives dissociated preparations which contain between 1.7 and 2.1 X 10(7) cells/100 mg wet tissue. At a plating density of between 7.1 and 9.2 X 10(5)/cm2 in culture, between 2 X 10(5) and 2 X 10(6) cells are recovered after 7 days. Use of needles finer than 23-gauge resulted in lower cell yields and loss of galactocerebroside-positive oligodendrocytes. The method described is convenient for the routine preparation of mixed primary glial cultures on a regular basis where many cerebra need to be processed.

The clinical value and cost of a district hospital urodynamic unit

A retrospective review has shown that urodynamic studies were useful in the diagnosis of 87% of our patients and were diagnostic in 43%. The cost per patient was 43 pounds, which compares favourably with urography (35 pounds) an in-patient cystoscopy (104 pounds). Provided that more than 200 patients a year are studied, the expense and effort of running the urodynamic unit are justified. We now perform urodynamic studies routinely in patients with complex lower urinary tract symptoms, prior to intravenous urography and cystoscopy.

Normal human serum contains a factor(s) capable of inhibiting megakaryocyte colony formation

Growth of megakaryocyte colonies from human bone marrow progenitors has been achieved in plasma clot culture. Megakaryocyte colonies were identified either by cytological examination or by immunofluorescent labelling using a monoclonal antiplatelet antibody (J 15). No significant differences were observed in the quantitation of the colonies by these two methods. In the absence of a stimulating factor, MK colonies were detectable when high cellular concentrations were seeded. Among the numerous conditioned media tested for their ability to stimulate MK colony formation, conditioned medium from leukocytes stimulated by PHA (PHA-LCM) was the most effective. However, under standard conditions of culture corresponding to 20% normal human sera, colony formation was not related linearly to seeding density even when cultures were stimulated by PHA-LCM. Upon reduction of the concentration of serum (2.5-5%) in the culture medium, colony formation displayed a linear relationship seeding density only when PHA-LCM was used as the stimulating factor. At the same time, the size of the colonies increased. Such inhibition was observed with all the human sera tested but it varied in extent from one batch to another. Replacement of serum by albumin, iron-saturated transferrin, alpha-thioglycerol and low density lipoproteins at physiological concentration but in the presence of bovine plasma provided a culture system whose ability to support colony formation equalled that of low concentrations of whole serum; spontaneous MK colony formation still occurred. Our results provide evidence for the presence of an inhibitor(s) of MK colony formation in normal human sera, and demonstrate the role of cellular factors in stimulating MK colony formation.

A simple controlled method for the clinical evaluation of antidiarrheal drugs

A castor oil model induced diarrhea was used to evaluate dose regimens of the standard antidiarrheal polycarbophil. The study population consisted of 100 healthy volunteers, divided into five groups of 20 each, in whom diarrhea was induced by 120 ml flavored 36.4% castor oil. The polycarbophil dose regimens evaluated were 1, 1.5, 2, or 3 gm at 30-min intervals after castor oil to total the usual prescribed dose of 6 gm/day. One gram taken every 30 min for six doses lowered the number of bowel movements and also induced the least number of cramps and lowest cramp severity rating (reported by subjects). The same total dose over a different dosing interval was no more effective then placebo.

Megakaryocyte cultures in the chronic phase and in the blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukaemia: studies on the differentiation of the megakaryocyte progenitors and on the maturation of megakaryocytes in vitro

Megakaryocyte (MK) colony formation has been studied in the chronic phase and in the blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Blood cells were grown in plasma clot for 13 d. MKs were subsequently identified by immunofluorescent techniques using two monoclonal antiplatelet antibodies (AN51 and J15). The maturation process was studied by ultrastructural methods. A marked increase in the number of circulating CFU-MK was observed in all the 10 cases studied prior to chemotherapy (70-fold increase per ml of blood). No significant modification in the regulation of MK colony formation as compared to that of normal subjects was observed. The predominant abnormality in maturation in culture was the occurrence of many hypoploid MKs (microMKs). However, the cytoplasmic maturation of the MKs was identical to that of normal subjects with occasional platelet shedding. Since microMKs predominated in some patients, scoring of MK colonies in CML necessitated immunofluorescent labelling to permit identification of MKs. During the blast crisis, MK colony formation occurred in four out of five patients with an extremely high plating efficiency in the case of promegakaryoblastic transformation. In contrast, MK colonies could not be grown from blood samples of patients with acute leukaemia, including two cases of promegakaryoblastic leukaemia. Maturation of MKs in blast crisis was identical to that of the chronic phase. Furthermore, after short periods of culture in liquid medium, circulating promegakaryoblasts from patients in blast crisis matured with the consequent production of alpha-granules and demarcation membranes. These results confirm the contention that CML represents a pluripotent stem-cell disease, involving the MK lineage, and suggest that the block in maturation during the acute phase can be overcome in vitro.

Chronic cold haemagglutinin disease due to an anti-M-like autoantibody

A case of chronic cold haemagglutinin disease due to an IgM monoclonal (kappa) autoantibody with anti-M-like specificity is described in a patient with the MN phenotype. The autoantibody was present in very high titre and active at body temperature, but haemolysis was only mild. The direct antiglobulin test was positive due to C3d on the patient's red cells, and the autoantibody was able to bind complement to normal MM and MN cells with a marked dosage effect.

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis: report of a case

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Haemolytic disease of the newborn due to Rhesus anti-e antibody

Haemolytic disease of the newborn due to rhesus anti-e alone is a rare occurrence. This condition is described in the second child of an R2R2 mother who had not previously been transfused. The antibody was of IgG subclasses IgG1 + IgG3 and was detectable on the baby's cells for 4 months after birth. The anaemia was mild and persisted for the same period.

Secondary lambda attachment site in the threonine operon attenuator of Escherichia coli

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of a secondary gamma attachment (att) site which overlaps the Escherichia coli threonine (thr) operon attenuator. The secondary att site shows uninterrupted homology (8 out of 15) with the 15 base-pair "common core" sequence found in gamma and at the primary bacterial attachment site. These 8 base paired also overlap the thr operon attenuator. Comparison of the secondary att site with the flanking prophage sites shows that the crossover site for gamma integration lies within the -7 to 0 region of the core. Sequences on both sides of the core show no obvious homology with analogous sequences of the gamma or primary bacterial att sites. The core sequences of the left prophage att site is completely homologous to the wild-type core and also shows the same 8-base pair overlap with the thr operon attenuator. The position of the thr operon attenuator, relative to the left prophage att site, indicates that ribonucleic acid transcripts, initiated at a gamma promoter, are terminated efficiently at the thr attenuator. It is also possible that this prophage att site is able to undergo int dependent site-specific recombination which with another nearby secondary att site. Evidence is also presented which suggests that a base or sequence to the left of position -6 in the core is necessary fo excisive recombination.

The integration of subjective and objective data in the animation of human movement

Animation of human movement can be based either on analog inputs derived directly from actual movements or on symbolic inputs chosen to produce the desired movement. The former type of input can be quite accurate and objective but is a description of the required movement whereas the latter is often quite imprecise and subjective but provides an analysis of the required movements. Two existing systems for a computer based animation are being used to explore the problems involved in integrating such inputs. Specifically, animation driven by analog signals from electro-goniometers is integrated with animation derived from Labanotation commands; the results are illustrated with a short movie.

Pharmacokinetics of intravenous procaine infusion in humans

Pharmacokinetic data during and following the continuous intravenous infusion of procaine are lacking. We studied 12 women undergoing hysterectomy during N2O-O2 and narcotic anesthesia. A constant infusion of 2% procaine was administered at a rate of 1 mg/kg/min to six patients (group I) and at a rate of 1.5 mg/kg/min to the other six (group II). Procaine plasma levels were determined by flame ionization gas-liquid chromatography. Using a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model, disposition kinetics were studied. Steady-state plasma levels were achieved within 20 to 30 minutes after commencement of the infusion. Following termination of the infusion the drug disappeared with a distribution half-life (t1/2 alpha) of 2.49 +/- 0.36 minutes and an elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) of 7.69 +/- 0.99 minutes at both infusion rates. In group I, the fraction of drug in the central compartment was 65%, the volume of distribution at steady-state was 0.79 +/- 0.14 L/kg, and total body clearance 0.08 +/- 0.01 L/kg/min. In group II, the fraction of drug in the central compartment was 82%, the volume of distribution at steady-state 0.34 +/- 0.07 L/kg, and the total body clearance 0.04 +/- 0.01 L/kg/min. These data indicate that procaine is a drug of limited distribution and tissue uptake with a short duration of action.

Haematological features of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinaemia

A study of seven patients with AILD has confirmed previously reported cytological and immunological changes in the peripheral blood. In themselves these changes should not be considered as specific. Histological examination of the bone marrow may show more characteristic lesions which involve haemopoietic, lymphoid, and stromal cells. Three patients had bone marrow features similar to myelofibrosis, which are considered to be diagnostic of AILD.

The treatment of ACTH Paraneoplastic syndrome with aminoglutethimide

A 60-year-old white female with oat-cell carcinoma of the lung presents with a recurrent pulmonary nodule and Cushing syndrome. The tumor is uncontrollable with MeCCNU and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), consequently the symptoms of Cushing disease become severe. Cushing syndrome is documented by laboratory examinations. Aminoglutethimide, an anticonvulsant, is used to reverse the symptomatology and also the laboratory values. When aminoglutethimide is discontinued, the laboratory findings return to pretreatment levels.

Exposure of council and forestry workers to 2,4,5-T

The exposure of council and forestry workers to 2,4,5-T, a plant poison, has been monitored for a period of two years. It was found that the excessive urine levels of 2,4,5-T fell dramatically once the exposure was minimized. Therefore, the use of protective clothing and adoption of measures to prevent inhalation exposure are essential.

An intensive support unit for parent-infant distress

Integration of the young infant with his parent(s), in the days and weeks after birth, should be as stress free as possible. In many families considerable distress is experienced in the parent-infant relationship. There is increasing evidence that distress of significant degree may have complex sequelae, particularly for the infant, and may affect growth and development in many areas. Child abuse is another expression of this distress. A unit aimed at providing intensive support for such distressed situations is described and evaluated on a short-term basis. The evaluation suggests that this unit is successful in alleviating many of the outcomes of such situations.

Closed catheter drainage and urinary infection--a comparison of two methods of catheter drainage

The incidence of urinary infection following urological operations is compared using 2 methods of closed catheter drainage in 214 patients. No significant difference was observed. The overall infection rates for the whole series were 32%. The most significant influence on the rate of infection appears to be the duration of catheter drainage. Failure of chemotherapy to eradicate infection while the catheter was still in situ was mostly due to the use of inappropriate antimicrobials. Only 2 of the 35 cases with infected urine had succeeded in clearing their infection at the 4-week follow-up without chemotherapy.

Management of an infected Hancock prosthesis after repair of truncus arteriosus

This report described a case in which purulent mediastinitis involving a Hancock prosthesis developed after repair of truncus arteriosus in a 6-year-old boy. The graft and surrounding area became sterilized after having been irrigated with povidone-iodine and antibiotic solutions for 6 weeks. At his most recent visit, the child was completely active and asymptomatic.

Child's play is therapy

Play can be a simple, effective way of helping the preschool child to deal with the strange and sometimes painful hospital world and to master situations that might otherwise be overwhelming. This type of play can be incorporated easily into the nursing care plan and can become an essential aspect of the care of the hospitalized preschool child. The results are rewarding in terms of happier, less anxious children, parents, and nursing staff.

Immunocompetent cells of the chicken. I. Specific surface antigenic markers on bursa and thymus cells

Specific antisera to chicken thymus and to bursa of Fabricius were obtained in rabbits. After appropriate absorption and dilution all four anti-thymus sera, in the presence of guinea pig C', killed >90% of thymus and <==12% of bursa cells. They were cytotoxic for approximately 50% of spleen cells and did not affect antibody-forming cells. The surface antigen detected by these antisera was named chicken T-lymphocyte antigen (CTLA). Two of four anti-bursa sera, under similar conditions, killed >90% of bursa cells and <==10% of thymus cells. These antisera were cytotoxc for a large percentage of antibody-forming cells and killed approximately 30% of spleen cells The other two anti-bursa sera were somewhat less potent but showed similar specificity. The surface antigen detected by these antisera was named chicken bursa-derived lymphocyte antigen (CBuLA). Rabbit antisera to chicken immunoglobulin were cytotoxic for bursa but not for thymus cells and killed a similar percentage of spleen cells as did anti-bursa sera. They were also cytotoxic for antibody-forming cells.

Visual imagery and motor phenomena in acute schizophrenia

This paper deals briefly with a few clinical observations made in the course of studies of changes in subjective experience reported by young patients in the early stages of schizophrenia. These studies aimed at delineating the early schizophrenic clinical picture in as specific a manner as possible with a view to later experimental validation, and the clinical findings concerning a group of forty young schizophrenics have been reported elsewhere (Chapman, 1966). The observations on which this paper is based were obtained by the same method of examination and interview technique as previously reported, the observer deliberately identifying with the patient, adopting his particular style of communication and encouraging him in the direct projection of his experiences. Thus these observations have been taken out of a matrix of abnormalities in cognitive function found in schizophrenic patients, and have to do chiefly with their visual imagery and motility. Before proceeding to present and discuss these observations it may be worth while to provide a background against which to view them, by referring first to what we know of normal imagery, and second to the breakdown in perception and cognition found in the patients from whom these observations were derived.

Distractibility in schizophrenia and organic cerebral disease

Recent investigations of cognitive disorder in schizophrenia (Payne and Hewlett, 1960; Payne, Caird and Laverty, 1964) have indicated that schizophrenic performance in cognitive tests is characterized by a tendency to use very loose, “overinclusive” concepts. This phenomenon which Cameron (1944) termed “overinclusive thinking”, has been re-interpreted by Payne (1961) in terms of an impairment of a hypothetical filter mechanism which normally excludes irrelevant stimuli from consciousness and so allows attention to be directed towards the task in hand. McGhie and Chapman (1961) and Chapman (1966) have presented clinical evidence based on the subjective reports of schizophrenic patients supporting the hypothesis that a primary disorder in this disease is an impairment in the selective and inhibitory functions of attention. Chapman and McGhie (1962) and McGhie, Chapman and Lawson (1965a and b) have substantiated and elaborated this clinically derived hypothesis in an experimental setting where the subjects were required to perform various psychomotor and short-term memory tasks with and without distracting stimuli. The results of these investigations, while supporting the hypothesis in a general way, were nevertheless equivocal. The distraction effect in schizophrenia appeared to be confined to those situations where adequate performance involved the processing of a substantial amount of information. This finding was explained in terms of Broadbent's (1958) theory of the human operator as a limited capacity information channel. It appeared that distraction affected the performance of schizophrenic patients only in situations where the limited information channel was fully occupied in handling relevant aspects of the task—for example, in tracking and short term memory tests. Under these conditions the assimilation of irrelevant information produces overloading of the information channel and a consequent breakdown of performance. On the other hand, in those tasks requiring little information processing—for example, in repetitive psychomotor tasks—the channel is operating well below capacity, the assimilation of irrelevant information does not lead to overloading, and consequently does not have any detrimental effect on performance. An analogue of this situation occurs in normal subjects, in whom division of attention between two sources does not necessarily lead to impairment of performance if the informational requirements of each source are small and total information load does not exceed the critical limit (Broadbent and Herron, 1962). For the schizophrenic patient attention tends to be divided between the relevant and the irrelevant, yet impairment in performance need not occur if the informational requirements of the task are kept small.

Impurities in halothane: their identities, concentrations and determination

The following impurities arising during the manufacture of a proprietary halothane have been identified by gas chromatographic, mass spectrometric, nmr and infrared techniques: 2-chloro-, 2,2-dichloro-, 2-bromo-, 2,2-dibromo-, 2,2-dibromo-2-chloro- and 2-bromo-2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethanes, 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, 1,2-dichloro-1,1-difluoroethane, 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1-difluoroethylene, bromodichlorofluoromethane, chloroform, trans-2-bromo-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene and the trans and cis isomers of 2-chloro- and 2,3-dichloro-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-enes. Gas chromatographic methods using chlorinated biphenyl, dinonyl phthalate and polyethylene glycol as liquid phases have been developed for their determination at the ppm level.