Deposition of retrovirus associated antigens (p30 and gp70) on cell membranes of feline and murine leukaemia virus infected cells

A quantitative estimation of retrovirus associated cell membrane antigens of murine and feline cells infected with their respective type C leukosis virus is presented. Using a radio-immune assay with three broadly reactive antisera, the minimum estimated number of retrovirus associated antigenic determinants on YAC [Moloney leukaemia virus (MuLV) infected murine] and FL-74 [feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) infected feline] cells was 1.3 x 10(6) and 1.6 x10(6) determinants per cell respectively. The virus structural proteins p27-30 and gp70 were detected by three component specific antisera on murine and feline cell surfaces in amounts which varied between cell isolates. MuLV infected cells produced as many as 1.9 x 10(5) p30 antigenic determinants and 7.5 x 10(5) gp70 determinants on infected cells. FeLV infected cells (FL-74) expressed 5.6 x 10(5) p27 and 7.5 x 10(5) gp70 antigenic determinants per single cell surface. The major core protein (p27-30) and the major envelope glycoprotein (gp70) antigens are sufficiently physically separated on cell surfaces so that binding of either of the membrane antigens with component specific antibodies does not interfere with binding of antibodies specific for the other. Despite the expression of interspecies determinants for p30, gp70, and other retrovirus associated antigens detected by antibody procedures, interspecies determinants of cell mediated immunity could not be demonstrated in immune mice bearing Moloney sarcoma virus (MSV) induced tumours. Furthermore, xenogeneic immunization of mice with FL-74 cells failed to protect mice against the growth of MSV induced lymphoma or sarcoma.

Circulating inhibitors of blood coagulation associated with procainamide-induced lupus erythematosus

We studied a patient being treated with procainamide in whom we observed a high antinuclear antibody titer and prolonged activated partial thromboplastin (PTT), prothrombin (PT), and Stypven times (ST). Serum antibody concentrations against single-stranded DNA were elevated while those aginst native DNA were not elevated, suggesting the procainamide-induced lupus syndrome. Dilution of the patient's plasma with normal plasma failed to correct the PTT and PT, indicating the presence of an inhibitor(s) to blood coagulation. The anticoagulant activity was associated with the IgG fraction of the patient's serum. Addition of purified or partially purified human factors IX, X, VIII, VII, XIa, prekallikrein, high molecular weight kininogen, or phospholipids to the patient's plasma failed to correct the PTT, PT, or ST; however, purified human factor XII and prothrombin corrected the PTT and ST, respectively. These results indicate that production of antibodies directed against antigenic determinants on coagulation proteins can be a manifestation of procainamide-induced lupus erythematosus.

Hospital managers need management information systems

A new hospital director seeking to bring his institution to the brink of solvency found himself with ten pounds of data but no "information"--at least, not the kind of information he could use as a basis for management decisions. What he needed was a system that would not only present data, but the meaning of the data. Such a system is the integrated MIS.

Energy dose for ventricular defibrillation of children

Transthoracic direct current shock is the recommended treatment for ventricular fibrillation in children as in adults. To determine the appropriate energy dose, data were collected from 71 defibrillation attempts in 27 children. Sixty-three of the 71 shocks (89%) were successful in terminating fibrillation. Fifty-seven shocks were within 10 watt-seconds (w-sec) above or below an energy dose of 2 w-sec/kg of body weight. Fifty-two (91%) of these were effective and five (9%) were ineffective. In every case, fibrillation was ultimately terminated by a shock of 4 w-sec/kg or less. The results of these studies suggest that an energy dose of 2 w-sec/kg (or approximately 1 w-sec/lb) is adequate to defibrillate most children weighing under 50 kg. We currently use 2 w-sec/kg and double the energy dose if the first defibrillation attempt is unsuccessful.

Further characterization of the circulating cell in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Peripheral lymphocytes from normal individuals and from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were cultured in vitro for 1-7 days. The growth response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was quantitated by the incorporation of tritiated uridine into RNA nucleotide during a 2-hr pulse with the radioisotope. While the maximum response in PHA-stimulated normal cultures appeared at 2-3 days, CLL cultures required 5-7 days to develop their maximal response, which was 50%-60% of the normal magnitude. Dilution of the number of normally reactive lymphocytes by culturing them with totally unreactive, mitomycin-treated cells produced a normal 72-hr maximal response, no matter what proportion of unreactive cells was included in the PHA-stimulated cultures. In addition, the response of peripheral lymphocytes from patients with myeloblastic leukemia, where large numbers of unreactive myeloblasts diluted the normal small lymphocytes, a depressed reaction occurred at the anticipated 2-3 days. Nylon fiber-adherent lymphocytes consisting of 85% immunoglobulin (Ig)-bearing cells responded minimally to PHA, but showed no evidence of a delay. When isolated from CLL patients, both fiber-adherent cells (Ig-bearing) as well as non-fiber-adherent (sheep erythrocyterosetting) cells responded to PHA in a delayed fashion. Similarly, a case of CLL, in which 93.5% of the circulating lymphocytes bore sheep red blood cell receptors, showed its peak response to PHA at 7 days. Therefore, using surface marker criteria considered characteristic of normal T cells and B cells, the delayed response to PHA on the part of CLL lymphocytes was independent of thymic or nonthymic origin.

The variable pattern of circulating lymphocyte subpopulations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The percentages of T and B lymphocytes in 13 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia were determined at two-week intervals. One patient with "B-cell predominant" disease showed a decrease from 77 to 49 in the percentage of circulating B cells, which bind heat aggregated immunoglobulin and anti-human immunoglobulin. This patient had a comparable increase in T cells, which form rosettes with sheep erythrocytes. The lymphocytes of three other patients, who originally had equal percentages of cells that bound heat-aggregated immunoglobulin and anti-human immunoglobulin, lost lg determinants from 47 to 63 per cent of cells without changing the proportion of cells with receptors for heat-aggregated immunoglobulin or for sheep erythrocytes. The characterization of lymphocytes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia should include sequential determination of cell-surface markers for both T and B cells, since the disease does not represent a proliferation of B cells alone.

Electron microprobe analysis of particle deposited in lungs

A technique that is based on the combined use of a conventional transmission electron microscope and a conventional electron probe x-ray microanalyzer permits an unambiguous identification of titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles in lung tissue and cells. Quite probably, many other inorganic particles can be identified with the use of this technique.

Immune response of monkeys to lymphotrophic herpesvirus antigens

Herpesvirus saimiri induces leukemia and/or malignant lymphoma when inoculated into different species of nonhuman primates including marmosets and owl monkeys. No malignant disease, however, has been recognized in the natural host for this virus, the squirrel monkey, although a high percentage of these monkeys are chronically infected with H. saimiri. Furthermore, one species of marmosets, as well as capuchin and some owl monkeys, fail to develop lymphoma following experimental virus infection but developed a chronic infection similar to that noted in the natural host. The availability of susceptible and resistant species made it possible to attempt to delineate those humoral and cellular immune parameters that might correlate both with tumor induction and resistance. The findings from these investigations are reviewed and discussed in relation to vaccine studies in this system as a model for a human herpesvirus vaccine.

Genetic control of the murine cell-mediated immune response in vivo. II. H-2 linked responsiveness to the synthetic polypeptide poly(Tyr,Glu)-poly(DL-Ala)--poly(Lys)

Cell-mediated immunity in response to (T,G)-A-L was studied with a radioisotopic footpad assay. It appears that in vivo cell-mediated immune responsiveness to (T,G)-A--L is linked to the H-2 complex, as was demonstrated previously for specific antibody snythesis. Evidence is presented in this report which indicates that the cell-mediated immunity measured is a function of a population of T cells. The apparent controversy between results obtained by analyzing antibody formation and cell-mediated immunity can be explained by assuming the need for cell cooperation between helper T cell and effector T cell, because efficient purely cellular immunity is analogous to T-B cell cooperation needed for antibody production.

Prehatch color stimulation effects on color pecking preferences and color discrimination learning in white leghorn chicks

Four experiments assessed the effects of stimulating chick embryos with colored light at 2 intensity levels. Both posthatch color pecking preferences (Experiments 1 and 2) and color discrimination learning (Experiments 3 and 4) were unaffected. These results affirm and extend a prior finding of no pre- and posthatch colored light stimulation effect on posthatch color preferences in ducklings. The color pecking preferences found replicated prior findings with chicks. However, they differed from the approach color preferences observed in color discrimination learning.

Pigmented villo-nodular synovitis: bone involvement of the fingers

Pigmented villo-nodular synovitis may occur in either diffuse or nodular form. In the latter the fingers are the commonest site to be involved. The disease is rare, and in only 15% is there bone involvement. Two cases showing bone involvement of the fingers are presented. One of the cases (Case 2) adds radiological support to the theory of Scott (1968), based on pathological studies, that suggested that the bone changes are due to invasion by the villo-nodular tissue through and along the nutrient foramina. The site of these bone changes appears sufficiently typical to be a radiological diagnostic aid. The differential diagnosis of the radiological appearances of the disease in the digits is discussed.

Hypothesis: differentiation of the human lymphoid system based on cell surface markers

Human lymphocytes can be separated into distinct populations based upon receptors on their cell surface. Thymus-derived (T-cell) lymphocytes can be identified by their ability to form rosetts with sheep erythrocytes (SRBC); bone marrow-derived (B-cell) lymphocytes bear characteristic surface markers for immunoglobulin, complement, and the Fc portion of IgG. Recently, populations of lymphocytes having either multiple markers or no detectable markers (null cells) have been observed. Based on studies of cell surface markers, a scheme is proposed that expands the known differentiation of the lymphod cell to include subpopulations which represent developmental stages. It is suggested that lymphocyte maturation involves alloantigenic changes in a circulating stem cell-drived nill cell, leading to a cell bearing markers for both T- and B-cells. It is from this latter cell that the classic T- and B-cells ultimately arise. Maturational defects which may explain the origin of primary lymphoproliferative diseases are discussed.

Genetic control of the murine cell-mediated immune response in vivo. I. H-2-linked responsiveness to the terpolymer L-glutamic acid-60-L-alanine-30-L-tyrosine-10

Various inbred and congenic strains of mice were immunized with the linear terpolymer L-glutamic acid-60-L-alanine-30-L-tyrosine-10 (GAT). Using a radioisotopic footpad assay to measure cell-mediated immunity in vivo, mice with H-2-a, H-2-b, H-2-d, and H-2-k histocompatibility alleles showed a positive reaction, whereas mice with H-2p and H-2-s alleles failed to respond. The ability of "responder" lymphocytes to show an immune response resides in the thymus-derived (T) lymphocyte population. Unfractionated spleen cells from H-2-q nonresponder mice, on transfer, showed no reactivity, whereas T-cell-enriched preparations were active.

Computerized EEG: predictor of outcome in schizophrenia

Based on a double blind cross-over study, it was determined that schizophrenic patient who have more high frequency fast activity and a lesser degree of alpha and slow waves in computerized EEG before the treatment have a better therapeutic outcome to the major tranquilizer (neuroleptic) treatment. The correlation between pretreatment high frequency computer EEG measurements and better therapeutic outcome reached the level of statistical significance. "Therapy resistant" schizophrenic patients were characterized by a lesser degree of very fast beta activity, more alpha waves and slow waves, higher amplitudes in computer EEG, and a lesser degree of acute (florid) psychotic symptomatology but more "negative" symptoms such as motor retardation and blunted affect. One of the most striking results of the study is the finding that schizophrenic patients with certain psychopathological profiles also have similar computer EEG profiles.

Moloney sarcoma virus-induced tumors in athymic (nude) mice: growth pattern and antibody responses

Tumor growth and antibody production were evaluated in nude (nu/nu) mice and their heterozygous normal (+/nu) littermates after inoculation of Moloney sarcoma virus (MSV). Sarcoma-bearing nude mice developed progressively growing tumors, whereas 53 percent of their normal counterparts showed tumor regressions. By indirect membrane fluorescence, significant amounts of IgG antibody to MSV could be detected in thymus-bearing but not in nude mice.

Inhibition of the cellular immune response to simian virus 40 tumor cells in tumor-bearing and tumor-immune mice by concanavalin A

The effects of in vivo-administered concanavalin A (Con A) on the kinetics of the primary and secondary cellular immune responses to simian virus 40-transformed tumor cells were investigated in BALB/c mice. Either a single initial dose of 400 mug Con A or daily doses of 50 mug depressed the cell-mediated immune response to tumor cells during the progressive growth of tumors, as determined by a radioisotopic foot-pad assay. The immune depression correlated with an increase in ultimate tumor weight. Similarly, Con A suppressed the antitumor cellular immune response in tumor-immune animals. Immune reactivity returned within 6 days after a single injection of 400 mug Con. Continuous administration 50 mug Con A resulted in a gradual decline in antitumor cellular immune responsiveness, which reached a plateau by the 5th day. Splenic lymphocytes from Con A-treated, immune mice failed to elicit a local adoptive transfer reaction; their immune responsiveness tended to return after incubation with alpha-methyl-D-pyranosyl sugars.

Enhancement of Moloney sarcoma virus-induced tumor growth by concanavalin A

Adult mice injected intraperitoneally with concanavalin A (con-A) commencing with the onset of 6mm. Moloney sarcoma virus (MSV)-induced tumors showed a marked enhancement of tumor growth compared to untreated control mice; whereas, treatment with con-A beginning on day 0 relative to MSV inoculation had no effect. Antibody production as measured by indirect membrane fluorescence was not affected by con-A. Since in vivo administered con-A has a specific suppressive effect on T-lymphocytes it is suggested that the primary immunologic response to MSV antigens is a function of T-cells.

Children's attention to mathematically ordered transforming stimuli

Two instances each of 5 geometric transformations which were mathematically ordered were shown by means of a 3-min. movie to 55 children, aged 1 to 3 yr. The children's visual attention to each of the 10 17-sec. transforming stimuli was recorded. The results show that there was good discrimination of the transformations. There was selective attention by Ss to the various transformations, and the order of attention tended to be related to the mathematical order of the stimuli. Theories which predict an inverse function of familiarity appeared not to be supported by the data.

Isothermal cavity, blackbody radiation source

A prototype blackbody radiation source has been developed which incorporates a double cone cavity of extremely uniform surface temperature. This uniformity of surface temperature is the result of a unique method of supplying heat to the cavity. The principle of operation is based on heat pipe techniques which transfer heat by change of phase and mass transfer. The cavity is heated by serving as the condenser section of the heat pipe which is inherently a nearly isothermal device. Optical tests show that the isothermal cavity has a lambertian distribution over an inclusive angle of better than 60 degrees while operating between 419 degrees C and 760 degrees C.