Effect of ciclosporin on cardiac output and regional blood flow in rats: ciclosporin-induced nephropathy and its prevention with calcium channel blocker

The effect of ciclosporin (CS) on cardiac output (CO) and regional blood flow was studied using the microsphere method in heminephrectomized rats with and without renal arterial clamping prior to the administration of CS. The effect of a calcium (Ca) channel blocker, verapamil, was also examined on CS-induced nephropathy. CS at a dose of 40 mg/kg per day was given orally using a gastric tube for 7 days. Verapamil was given in the drinking water for 7 days. Significant increases in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (sCr) with a significant decrease in renal inulin clearance (CIn) were noted after 7 days of CS administration in both intact and ischemic-kidney groups, indicating the development of CS-induced nephropathy. The ischemic-kidney group showed a significantly severe nephropathy as compared with the intact-kidney group. As for change in CO and regional blood flow, CS caused a significant decrease in CO, renal blood flow (RBF) and brain blood flow, while hepatic arterial blood flow and muscular blood flow significantly increased. The renal outer cortical blood flow decreased markedly while the inner cortical blood flow remained unchanged. Although verapamil slightly but significantly decreased mean arterial blood pressure in CS-treated rats, CO and its distribution did not change. BUN and sCr were not significantly ameliorated in the intact-kidney group. However, in the ischemic-kidney group, verapamil caused a significant improvement in RBF, ameliorating CS-induced elevation of BUN and sCr, and a decrease in CIn.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Side match and overlap match vector quantizers for images

A class of vector quantizers with memory that are known as finite state vector quantizers (FSVQs) in the image coding framework is investigated. Two FSVQ designs, namely side match vector quantizers (SMVQs) and overlap match vector quantizers (OMVQs), are introduced. These designs take advantage of the 2-D spatial contiguity of pixel vectors as well as the high spatial correlation of pixels in typical gray-level images. SMVQ and OMVQ try to minimize the granular noise that causes visible pixel block boundaries in ordinary VQ. For 512 by 512 gray-level images, SMVQ and OMVQ can achieve communication quality reproduction at an average of 1/2 b/pixel per image frame, and acceptable quality reproduction. Because block boundaries are less visible, the perceived improvement in quality over ordinary VQ is even greater. Owing to the structure of SMVQ and OMVQ, simple variable length noiseless codes can achieve as much as 60% bit rate reduction over fixed-length noiseless codes.

Effects of adrenalectomy on macronutrient selection patterns in the rat

The present studies examined the effects of adrenalectomy (ADX) on nutrient selection of rats over the 24-h period, as well as during the first 2 h of the nocturnal feeding cycle. Results indicate that ADX, in rats showing generally similar preferences for carbohydrate and fat, equally suppresses intake of both of these nutrients over the 24-h period. The relative impact of ADX on carbohydrate and fat intake may shift depending upon baseline, with carbohydrate-preferring rats showing a stronger decrease in intake of this diet after ADX and fat-preferring rats exhibiting a greater decline in fat intake after ADX. Acute injections of corticosterone (CORT) and aldosterone (ALDO) are both found to restore carbohydrate as well as fat intake to ADX rats over the 24-h period. However, in the first 2 h of the dark feeding cycle, carbohydrate intake is found to be selectively suppressed after ADX, and CORT injection (0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg, SC) restores carbohydrate intake during this early dark period, while producing a small increase in fat intake only at the higher dose. This is in contrast to ALDO administration at dark onset, which has a stronger stimulatory effect on fat intake in the ADX rat but does not fully restore carbohydrate intake. These findings indicate that CORT and ALDO have differential effects on nutrient intake in ADX rats particularly at the onset of the dark cycle, and it is suggested that these effects are mediated, respectively, by the type I and type II steroid receptor systems in the brain.

Secondary hemorrhage in traumatic hyphema

We analyzed the records of 132 patients hospitalized between July 1986 and February 1989 for management of traumatic hyphema. The incidence of secondary hemorrhage was compared between patients treated with or without systemic administration of aminocaproic acid in addition to an otherwise identical protocol. Results among patients who were examined within one day of injury disclosed a 4.8% secondary hemorrhage rate in aminocaproic acid-treated patients (three of 63 patients) compared with a 5.4% rate in the patients not treated with aminocaproic acid (three of 56 patients, P = .31). All six patients sustaining secondary hemorrhage recovered visual acuities of 20/40 or better, with five of six patients achieving 20/20 visual acuities. A separate group of 13 patients who were examined more than one day after injury were found to have a secondary hemorrhage rate of 38.5% (five of 13 patients). Macular injury, not secondary hemorrhage, was most often responsible among those patients suffering permanent visual loss. In this study of a predominantly white population, patients had a relatively low incidence of secondary hemorrhage and did not demonstrate detectable benefit from aminocaproic acid administration. Because of the recognized side effects and cost of treatment, further analysis to determine which patients will benefit from treatment with aminocaproic acid is indicated.

Modeling a worker's exposure from a hand-held source in a uniform freestream

The phenomenon of boundary layer separation can be an important factor in determining a worker's exposure to toxic airborne pollutants. A conceptual model was developed to understand this phenomenon and to predict the average concentration in the reverse flow region downstream of a worker in a uniform freestream. Subsequently, the assumptions of this model were tested experimentally in wind tunnel studies. On the basis of these results, a revised model is presented and validated by using a tracer gas method. The revised model provides a reasonable estimate of the average concentration in the reverse flow region of the mannequin. Empirical models are presented that relate both the average concentration in the reverse flow region and the breathing zone concentration to the body dimensions and the freestream air velocity. Applications and limitations of the results are discussed.

[Effects of verapamil on cyclosporine. A (CsA)-induced nephropathy in ischemic kidney model in rats: changes in systemic hemodynamics and hepatic and renal microsomal cytochrome P-450]

We have examined the effect of verapamil on CsA-induced nephropathy by measurement of systemic hemodynamics including each organ blood flow using the microsphere method in ischemic kidney model of hemi-nephrectomized Wistar rats. Hepatic and renal microsomal cytochrome P-450 contents and their enzyme activities were measured to study the correlation between CsA-induced nephropathy and induction of hepatic and renal microsomal cytochrome P-450. All rats were hemi-nephrectomized (l-nephrectomy) and were classified into the following 6 groups: 1) control groups, 2) CsA at a dose of 40 mg/kg per day orally for 7 days (CsA group), 3) Oral administration of verapamil for 7 days in the CsA group (CsA + V group), 4) 20 min clamping of the remaining right kidney pedicle (Ischemic, Is group), 5) CsA was administered in the Is group (Is + CsA group), 6) Addition of verapamil to CsA in the Is + CsA group (Is + CsA + V group). Verapamil was given in the drinking water and the average dose calculated from the amount of drinking was 4.7 +/- 1.0 mg/kg per day and 5.2 +/- 0.7 mg/kg per day for the CsA + V group and the Is + CsA + V group, respectively. CsA caused significant increases in BUN and serum creatinine (sCr) with a significant decreases in renal inulin clearance (CIn) in all groups. When compared with the Is group, CsA caused significant decreases in cardiac output and all organ blood flow especially in renal blood flow with significant increases in BUN and sCr in the Is + CsA group.2+ degree of nephropathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Airflow pattern around a worker in a uniform freestream

The effect of boundary layer separation on worker exposure is an important factor in the design of local exhaust ventilation. Three-dimensional airflow around a mannequin is examined by using flow visualization techniques and hot-film anemometry. Above the chest, a downwash effect is noted; from the chest to the elbows, a combination of downwash and vortex shedding is observed; and from the waist to the hip, vortex shedding appears to be dominant. A coherent vertical flow structure is observed close to the body. Vortex shedding frequency is determined by using hot-film anemometry. The dimensions of the reverse flow region and the area of the vortices are estimated from flow visualization videos.

Human complement component factor B rescues HIV-1-infected leukemic T cells from cytopathic death

The addition of 5-10% of fresh normal human serum (NHS) from normal individuals into a culture of primarily HIV-1-infected CD4+ leukemic T-cell lines CEM and MT4 was found to rescue the infected cells from cytopathic death, enabling the cells to achieve growth within 10 days. The HIV-1-infected cells cultured in ordinary medium with fetal calf serum (FCS) all died within 10 days. The effect of NHS was ascribed to human complement component factor B and one or more factor B-dependent heat-labile co-factors. The cells which survived in the presence of NHS rapidly lost surface expression of CD4 and became completely resistant to rechallenge by HIV-1. Viral genomes were dramatically reduced in surviving cells within 30 days, and one cell-line CEM completely expelled them during this period. The results suggest that factor B has protective and potential therapeutic significance in HIV-1 infection.

Autonomic regulation of subsidiary atrial pacemakers during exercise

Cardiac responses to graded treadmill exercise were compared in conscious dogs before and after excision of the sinoatrial node (SAN) and adjacent tissue along the sulcus terminalis. The chronotropic and dromotropic responses to dynamic exercise were compared with and without selective muscarinic (atropine) and/or beta-adrenergic (timolol) blockade. With the SAN intact, cardiac acceleration was prompt during onset of exercise and in proportion to work intensity. Immediately after SAN excision (1-7 days), pacemaker activity exhibited marked instability in rate and pacemaker location, with rapid shifts between atrial and junctional foci. Soon thereafter (1-2 wk), subsidiary atrial pacemakers (SAPs) assumed the primary pacemaker function. Although the SAP foci demonstrated stable heart rates and atrioventricular (AV) intervals at rest and during exercise, heart rates at rest and during steady-state exercise were reduced 34% from corresponding levels in the SAN-intact state, both with and without selective autonomic blockade. For control of dromotropic function, animals with SAP foci showed pronounced shortening in AV interval in conjunction with exercise that was further exacerbated by pretreatment with atropine. Eight weeks after excision of the primary SAN pacemakers, direct electrophysiological mapping localized the SAP foci to either the inferior right atrium along the sulcus terminalis or the dorsal cranial right atrium (in or near Bachmann's bundle). Animals with SAPs localized to the inferior right atrium had a more marked suppression in heart rate with a corresponding greater decrease in AV interval during exercise than dogs with SAP foci identified within the dorsal cranial right atrium.

Protease nexin-1. Localization in the human brain suggests a protective role against extravasated serine proteases

Protease nexin-1 (PN-1) is a potent thrombin inhibitor that is identical to the glia-derived neurite-promoting factor or glia-derived nexin. Here we report immunocytochemical studies of adult human cerebral cortex that revealed the presence of strong immunoreactivity for PN-1 in capillaries and in the smooth muscle cells of arteries and arterioles. Expression of PN-1 was also abundant in astroglial processes in the parenchyma and in perivascular astroglial endfeet of human cerebral cortex. In situ hybridization with an 35S-labeled RNA antisense probe for PN-1 resulted in significant labeling of astrocytes and blood vessels. Because thrombin is known to cause retraction of neurites and modification of astrocytic morphology at low concentrations, PN-1 around blood vessels may play a major protective role against extravasation of thrombin and possibly other serine protease into the human brain.

Thyroid dysfunction following bone marrow transplantation: long-term follow-up of 80 pediatric patients

Thyroid function was evaluated in children surviving disease-free for 2 years or more following bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for severe aplastic anemia (27 patients), acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (28 patients), and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (25 patients). Pre-BMT conditioning consisted of high dose chemotherapy and total lymphoid irradiation with 750 cGy for patients with severe aplastic anemia, and for patients with leukemia, high dose chemotherapy and single dose total body irradiation with 750-850 cGy (33 patients) or fractionated total body irradiation with 1320 cGy (20 patients). Compensated hypothyroidism (elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) with a normal thyroxine index) occurred in 20/80 patients with a median time of onset of 12.3 months post-BMT (range 4-30). No patients developed primary hypothyroidism (elevated thyroid stimulating hormone with low thyroxine index). In seven patients, compensated hypothyroidism was transient with TSH returning to normal at a median of 60 months post-BMT (range 11-75). Six patients with compensated hypothyroidism received thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Time to development of compensated hypothyroidism was associated (p = 0.03) with underlying disease and radiation (11 of 27 patients with severe aplastic anemia + total lymphoid irradiation versus nine of 53 patients with leukemia + total body irradiation). In aplastic anemia patients, but not patients with leukemia, the incidence of thyroid hypofunction 5 years post-transplant was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) in those receiving methotrexate alone (82%) as prophylaxis for graft-versus-host disease compared with those receiving a regimen of methotrexate, antithymocyte globulin and prednisone (16%).

Bone marrow transplantation for advanced acute leukemia: a pilot study of high-energy total body irradiation, cyclophosphamide and continuous infusion etoposide

Leukemic relapse following bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for acute leukemia is the most common cause of treatment failure. Because a more intensive pre-transplant preparative regimen may prevent disease recurrence we have designed a novel intensive conditioning regimen for BMT using high-energy total body irradiation (total dose 850 cGy; energy 24 MV; midplane received dose rate 26 cGy/min; day -6) followed by cyclophosphamide (dose 50 mg/kg/day; schedule 2-h infusion; days -5, -4, -3) and continuous infusion high-dose etoposide (dose 500 mg/m2/day; schedule: 22-h infusion; days -5, -4, -3). Between February 1987 and December 1988, 45 patients with advanced acute leukemia received transplants using this regimen. Twenty-five purged auto-transplants were done for B-lineage (n = 18), T-lineage (n = 6) or biphenotypic (n = 1) acute lymphoblastic leukemia, with 12 in remission and 13 in relapse at the time of transplantation. Of these, nine had non-relapse deaths and 16 have relapsed between 1 and 19 months (median 3 months) following transplantation. Of note all the T-lineage patients relapsed including two transplanted in remission and five transplanted in relapse. Nineteen patients received histocompatible allogeneic transplants and one underwent syngeneic transplantation. Of seven patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia transplanted in refractory relapse, three have had an overt relapse, three died of interstitial pneumonitis and only one survives disease free 15 months after transplantation. Of 13 patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia and variants (11 who were transplanted in relapse) three died without relapse, three have relapsed and seven survive disease free from 9 to 27 months (median 20 months) after transplantation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Double-blind studies with mefloquine alone and in combination with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in 120 adults and 120 children with falciparum malaria in Vietnam

In 120 adult Vietnamese patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria the efficacy of, and tolerance to, mefloquine (M) vs the combination of mefloquine + sulfadoxine + pyrimethamine (MSP) was studied in a double-blind, randomized comparative trial with chloroquine. Also, a double-blind dose finding study of MSP was performed in 120 Vietnamese children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria. In the adults the mean parasite clearance time with M was 3.8 d and with MSP 3.6 d. Defervescence occurred in 2.9 and 3.0 d respectively for M and MSP. There was a 36.8% resistance rate in 38 patients treated with chloroquine. 96% of the children were sensitive or showed a delayed RI response. The lowest dose of MSP (10 mg/kg M + 20 mg/kg S + 1.0 mg/kg P, 1 tablet Fansimef) was as effective as 1.5-2x this dose in children weighing 23-30 kg. Side effects were mild, except for vomiting which required alternative therapy in 4 patients.

Possible involvement of interferon alfa in the pathogenesis of fever in systemic lupus erythematosus

Serum concentrations of interferon alfa, interleukin 1, and tumour necrosis factor alpha were measured in 25 untreated patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A close correlation was found between serum concentrations of interferon alfa and the degree of fever, while no significant correlations were found between fever and interleukin 1 or tumour necrosis factor alpha. These results suggest the possible involvement of interferon alfa in the pathogenesis of fever in SLE.

Effect of alkaloids isolated from Amaryllidaceae on herpes simplex virus

Studies were carried out on the effects of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids and their derivatives upon herpes simplex virus (type 1), the relationship between their structure and antiviral activity and the mechanism of this activity. All alkaloids used in these experiments were biosynthesized from N-benzylphenethylamine; the apogalanthamine group was synthesized in our laboratory; those which may eventually prove to be antiviral agents had a hexahydroindole ring with two functional hydroxyl groups. Benzazepine compounds were neither cytotoxic nor antiviral, but many structures containing dibenzazocine were toxic at low concentrations. It was established that the antiviral activity of alkaloids is due to the inhibition of multiplication and not to the direct inactivation of extracellular viruses. The mechanism of the antiviral effect could be partly explained as a blocking of viral DNA polymerase activity.

[Sequential combination chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, peplomycin, methotrexate, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) and adriamycin in urothelial cancer]

The VPM-CisA (vincristine (VCR), peplomycin (PLM), methotrexate (MTX), cisplatin (CDDP) and doxorubicin (ADM), regimen was used to treat 33 patients with urothelial tract tumors. Twenty-two patients had bi-dimensionally measurable disease parameters and 11 patients with locally advanced tumors were given postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. The protocol consisted of 0.6 mg/m2 VCR on days 1 and 3, 3 mg/m2 PLM on days 1 to 4, 3 mg/m2 MTX on days 2 and 4, 35 mg/m2 CDDP on day 4, and 20 mg/m2 ADM on day 5. These doses were adjusted for each case: the above mentioned dose x [(80/(40+Age]2 +[(Karnofsky's performance status/100)2]. Of these patients, 28 (86 percent) were treated adequately, including 8 (36 per cent) who achieved a complete (2) or partial (6) remission. The mean duration of survival was 65.2 weeks for complete and partial responders, and 48.8 weeks for non-responders, which was not a statistically significant difference. Of 11, who were given post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy (mean observation period: 83.5 weeks) 9 were alive without evidence of disease, 1 had a recurrence 8 months after first chemotherapy, 1 died due to pulmonary and liver metastasis 2 years after the chemotherapy. Toxicity included mild myelosupression, moderate anorexia, vomiting, and severe gastric ulcer, pulmonary fibrosis.

Cardiac output, renal blood flow and hepatic blood flow in rats with glycerol-induced acute renal failure

Cardiac output (CO), renal blood flow (RBF) and hepatic blood flow (HBF) were measured by the microsphere method before (control) and at 4 and 10 h after the induction of acute renal failure by intramuscular injection of glycerol in water-drinking, long-term saline-drinking and long-term captopril (converting enzyme inhibitor)-drinking rats. At 4 h after glycerol injection, CO, RBF and HBF significantly decreased in all three groups. At 10 h after glycerol injection, CO, RBF and HBF recovered to 88% of the respective control levels in only the saline-drinking rats, whereas CO, RBF and HBF further decreased to 53, 38 and 58% of the control levels, respectively in the captopril-drinking rats. At this time, not only acute renal failure but also hepatic disorder developed in the water-drinking and captopril-drinking rats as indicated by elevations of serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, alanine aminotransferase and other blood chemistry levels. The development of acute renal failure was not suppressed by captopril, but by long-term saline load. Thus, we conclude that the decrease in CO is an important variable of the early decrease in renal and hepatic perfusion in glycerol-induced acute renal failure, and that the early recovery of HBF as well as RBF may play an important role in preventing the development of acute renal failure.

Remission induction in children with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia using cytosine arabinoside and doxorubicin or daunorubicin: a report from the Childrens Cancer Study Group

Four hundred ninety evaluable patients were treated on an induction regimen consisting of two to four courses of cytosine arabinoside plus an anthracycline. Overall, 78% of patients went into remission, 10% died during induction, and 12% were induction failures. For the first 152 patients, courses consisted of 7 days continuous infusion with cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C, 100 mg/m2) and 3 days of doxorubicin (30 mg/m2). Because of unacceptable toxicity, particularly for children less than 3 years of age, the anthracycline was changed to daunorubicin, and the doses of both induction drugs for children under 3 was reduced. For children aged 3 years and older the change in anthracycline was associated with a significant increase in induction failures (7% to 16%, P = .04) and a decrease in deaths (15% to 8%, P = .09). For younger children, for whom doses were also changed, the effect was greater; Mortality decreased from 29% to 1% (P less than .0001), and the remission induction rate increased from 66% to 88% (P = .005). The therapy modifications also influenced survival following remission induction: Daunorubicin-treated patients, aged 3 years and over, did significantly better than those given doxorubicin (P = .03), but the opposite was seen in younger children (P = .06). Gastrointestinal and skin toxicities and septicemia were significantly more common when doxorubicin was being used, but the extent of myelosuppression was similar for the two anthracyclines.

Pulmonary nodule mimicked by ECG lead artifact

Recently, a new ECG lead has been introduced that can mimic a pulmonary nodule to the uninitiated. Alternatively, in those institutions where the lead is commonly seen, physicians may dismiss a real finding on the chest x-ray film as a lead "artifact." We describe the appearance of this new chest wall artifact.

Modification of DNA by mitomycin C in cancer patients detected by 32P-postlabeling analysis

DNA adducts of mitomycin C (MMC) were detected by 32P-postlabeling analysis in both surgical specimens and an autopsy sample of the liver of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who had received chemotherapy with MMC. Four kinds of adducts were detected in all 6 patients treated with MMC. These adducts had identical chromatographic mobilities to those of adducts in the liver of rats treated with MMC, but 1 additional adduct was detected in rat liver. In patients treated with MMC, about 3 adducts/10(8) nucleotides were found 4 days after MMC treatment, and 1 adduct/10(8) nucleotides 14 days after treatment and the latter level was maintained for up to 56 days. MMC-DNA adducts were also detected in peripheral blood leukocytes from a patient 1 and 7 days after MMC treatment, at levels of 1 and 0.6 adduct/10(8) nucleotides, respectively. These results suggest the tumor-initiating activity of MMC in humans.

Digital chest radiography: effect on diagnostic accuracy of hard copy, conventional video, and reversed gray scale video display formats

Observer performance tests were conducted to compare the effects on diagnostic accuracy of hard copy (film) versus video display and to determine the diagnostic merits of conventional negative ("white bone") versus positive ("black bone") video displays. Subjective preferences were elicited from each observer for each display modality, and diagnostic accuracy was determined with receiver operating characteristic analysis. Digitized chest radiographs were used, including normal and abnormal cases with a variety of subtle abnormalities. The hard copy was printed with a 1,024 X 1,024-matrix by a high-quality drum scanner in conventional white bone format only. The video images were displayed on a 1,023-line monitor (30 Hz, interlaced) in both white bone and black bone formats with fixed window and brightness settings. Most observers preferred hard copy to video, but preferences were sharply divided between white bone and black bone video. Diagnostic accuracy was significantly greater with hard copy than with video display, and the conventional white bone format was significantly superior in accuracy to the black bone display.

[Evaluation of Candida HA titer in patients with urinary tract infections]

The serum candida antibody (HA titer) was measured by means of indirect hemagglutination test in 28 patients with complicated urinary tract infections (UTI) and 11 control subjects. The peripheral lymphocytes subsets (OKT-3,4,8 and 4/8 ratio) were also examined in same patients. The 17 UTI patients who had Candida species in their urine had a higher HA titer than the other UTI patients without Candida or control subjects, but elderly UTI patients (over 71 years old) did not show higher HA titer. A positive correlation was seen between HA titer and OKT-3,4 or 4/8 ratio. On the other hand, HA titer and OKT-8 showed a negative relationship. Therefore, the ability to produce the candida antibody might be closely related to the host cellular immune responsiveness.

Submucosal choledochal emphysema after transduodenal sphincteroplasty

The widespread use of sphincteroplasty in the treatment of benign biliary obstruction requires that those physicians who must treat the complications associated with sphincteroplasty recognize the potential diagnostic pitfalls that may delay appropriate treatment. A case demonstrating one such potential pitfall is presented.

Serum levels of interferons in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Serum levels of alpha (alpha) and gamma (gamma)-interferons (IFN) were measured in 30 patients with untreated systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with a solid-phase, sandwich immunoradiometric assay using specific monoclonal antibodies. The serum levels of alpha-IFN were higher in patients with SLE than in normal subjects, and correlated with the clinical activity index (rs = 0.60, P less than 0.01), but not with renal histological activity. The serum level of alpha-IFN correlated with the serum level of immune complexes (r = 0.46, P less than 0.01) and the number of peripheral lymphocytes inversely (r = -0.49, P less than 0.01). Serum gamma-IFN levels were also higher in patients with SLE than in control subjects but no correlations were found between it and either clinical activity, renal histological activity or various laboratory parameters. Serum levels of both alpha-IFN and gamma-IFN were higher in SLE patients with erythema than in those without. These results suggested that serum levels of alpha-IFN were more closely related to clinical activity of SLE than were those of gamma-IFN, and that peripheral lymphocytes were probably not the source of the elevated serum IFN-alpha concentration.

Therapy of severe aplastic anemia in young adults and children with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

During an 8-year period, 28 young adults (median age 27 years) and 30 children (median age 10 years) with severe aplastic anemia have received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from major histocompatibility locimatched sibling donors after preparation with cyclophosphamide and total lymphoid irradiation (TLI). All recipients were previously transfused. Comparison of post-bone marrow transplantation events in adults and children reveals equivalent median time to engraftment, median duration of hospitalization, median Karnofsky assessment of activity, and equivalent low rejection rate. Although the incidence of moderate and severe acute graft-v-host disease (GVHD) and of extensive chronic GVHD was greater in adults than in children, the projected survival at 4 years of adults (67%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 49% to 85%) and of children (73%; 95% CI 57% to 89%) was equivalent. All survivors are transfusion-free and have normal peripheral blood counts. One of 28 adults and 2 of 30 children have experienced rejection, and 1 of these patients survives after a second transplant. No malignancies have been identified following transplantation. An unexpectedly high incidence of hypothyroidism has been detected and may be attributable to preparation of recipients with TLI. Therapy of severe aplastic anemia with allogeneic BMT after preparation with cyclophosphamide and TLI offers a high rate of transfusion-free survival and a low rejection rate in previously transfused young adults and children.

Comparison of autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for treatment of high-risk refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Chemoradiotherapy and transplantation of bone marrow from matched sibling donors have been useful for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in patients with a poor prognosis but are not available to some two thirds of patients who do not have a matched allogeneic donor. We undertook this study to compare autologous and allogeneic marrow transplantation in the treatment of such cases. We treated 91 patients with high-dose chemoradiotherapy and followed them for 1.4 to 5 years. Forty-six patients with an HLA-matched donor received allogeneic marrow, and 45 patients without a matched donor received their own marrow taken during remission and purged of leukemic cells with use of monoclonal antibodies. Bone marrow engraftment occurred earlier in patients who received autologous marrow. Recipients of autologous marrow had shorter hospital courses, with significantly fewer peritransplantation deaths than recipients of allogeneic marrow. Post-transplantation relapse of leukemia was the most frequent cause of treatment failure; relapses occurred in an estimated 37 percent of patients with allogeneic grafts in whom graft-versus-host disease developed, 75 percent of patients with allogeneic grafts in whom graft-versus-host disease did not develop, and 79 percent of patients who received autologous grafts. The interval before relapse was significantly shorter in the autologous-marrow group than in the allogeneic-marrow group. Recipients of autologous and allogeneic marrow whose first pretransplantation remissions were short (less than 18 months) had eventual outcomes similar to those whose first remissions were longer than 18 months. Patients with a first remission lasting less than 18 months had an outcome better than that expected with chemotherapy alone. The fractions of "cured" patients were estimated to be 20 percent in the autologous-marrow group and 27 percent in the allogeneic-marrow group--not a significant difference, but because of the limited statistical power of the study, the question of long-term disease-free survival must still be considered open.

Therapy of chronic myelogenous leukemia with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

From December 1982 to January 1986, 57 patients received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation as therapy for Philadelphia chromosome (Ph') positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). All patients were prepared for transplantation with cyclophosphamide 60 mg/kg (day -6, -5) and fractionated total body irradiation, 165 cGy twice daily (day -4, -3, -2, -1) and received major histocompatibility (MHC) matched donor marrow (day 0). All patients received graft-v-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis with methotrexate, prednisone, and either antithymocyte globulin (ATG) (55 patients) or OKT3 infusion (two patients). The projected survival of 29 chronic phase patients is 64% (95% confidence interval [Cl] 42% to 86%); and of 28 accelerated phase patients, 30% (95% Cl, 12% to 48%) at 30 months (P = .005). Multivariate regression analysis of pretransplant patient characteristics demonstrated that the presence of chronic phase and age less than 30 years were the only prognostic features studied that independently predicted survival. No evidence of persistent or recurrent disease has occurred in chronic phase patients; however, reappearance of the Ph' was observed in seven accelerated-phase patients, and hematologic relapse occurred in three of these seven patients. The incidence of grade II to IV acute GVHD is 63% (95% Cl, 50% to 76%) at 100 days, and that of extensive chronic GVHD is 53% (95% Cl, 33% to 74%) at 30 months. The median Karnofsky activity assessment of survivors is 100% (range, 60% to 100%), and all activity assessments less than 100% can be attributed to complications of GVHD. Bone marrow transplantation therapy for CML after preparation with cyclophosphamide and fractionated total body irradiation results in a high proportion of disease-free survival in chronic-phase patients. Survival in accelerated phase is significantly worse and is associated with relapse. GVHD has emerged as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in this study.

Postoperative radiation therapy in the management of lung cancer

Postoperative radiation therapy for lung cancer is still controversial. In a 9-year period, 69 patients with non-oat-cell carcinoma of the lung (16% stage I, 26% stage II, and 58% stage III) received such therapy. The radiation dose was less than 5,000 cGy in 42 patients, 5,000-5,900 cGy in 16, and 6,000 cGy or more in 11; follow-up ranged from 24 to 64 months. Actuarial survival at 2 and 4 years was 50% and 16%, respectively, for squamous cell carcinoma, and 40% and 26% for adenocarcinoma. The 5-year survival for stages I, II, and III cancer was 29%, 17%, and 19%, respectively. Histologic findings and type of surgery did not affect survival, but the radiation dose apparently did. The 3-year survival for patients who received less than 6,000 cGy was 35%, compared with 73% for patients who received higher doses. In eight patients, treatment failed within the irradiated volume: all had received doses of less than 6,000 cGy, and the volume in three was judged to be inadequate.

[Effect of platonin on bone wound healing in rat calvaria--with special reference to the interaction of platonin and steroid hormones]

Interaction of Platonin (PI) and dexamethasone (DM) or testosterone propionate (TP) on bone wound healing was studied by measuring the areas of wound holes which were made in the rat parietal bone. The result was compared with that of the growth of the femur. 1) No significant difference was observed between the control group and pl groups (1, 10 and 100 micrograms/kg, s.c., for 4 weeks) on the wound hole area or the length, weight, calcium content (Ca) or hydroxyproline content (HP) in the femur. 2) The bone wound healing was delayed by DM (2 mg/kg, s.c., for the first 2 weeks). The inhibition of growth was also observed in the femur length and weight, but no significant effect of DM was observed in the Ca and HP of the femur. The combination of Pl and DM promoted the recovery from delayed bone wound healing and femur weight gain caused by DM. 3) No significant effects of TP (4 mg/kg, s.c., for the first 2 weeks) were observed on the wound healing and the femur growth, but an increase of the femur weight and Ca was observed by the combination of Pl and TP. These results indicate that Pl promotes the recovery from delayed bone wound healing and femur weight gain by DM, although no significant effects were observed in bone growth and bone wound healing by the administration of Pl alone. It is also suggested that a combination of Pl and TP promotes bone growth and mineralization.

Possible regulation mechanism of potent nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase in Toxoplasma gondii

A dormant enzyme, nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase (EC 3.6.1.3) purified from the tachyzoite of Toxoplasma gondii, was activated by the treatment with dithiothreitol. The catalytic activity remained after exclusion of dithiothreitol from the enzyme solution with a Sephadex G-25 column. This activity was completely blocked by the additional treatment with N-ethylmaleimide. It was concluded that the activation occurred through the reductive cleavage of disulfide bond on the enzyme. The reduced type of thioredoxin, partially purified from mouse liver, could replace the effect of dithiothreitol. These results strongly suggest that the enzyme activity is regulated by the oxido-reduction change in the enzyme molecule.

Clinical significance of U1-RNP immune complexes in mixed connective tissue disease and systemic lupus erythematosus

We measured U1-RNP: anti-U1-RNP immune complexes (U1-RNP ICs) in patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to examine the clinical significance of circulating U1-RNP ICs. The level of U1-RNP ICs in 11 patients with MCTD was significantly higher than that in 22 normal subjects and there was a close correlation between the level of U1-RNP ICs and the clinical disease activity index of MCTD. In contrast, the level of U1-RNP ICs in 31 patients with SLE was not significantly higher than that in normal subjects and that was not correlated with the clinical disease activity index of SLE or the renal histologic activity index of lupus nephritis. We conclude that U1-RNP ICs are present in sera of patients with MCTD and SLE, and that the level of U1-RNP ICs may be closely associated with clinical disease activity in patients with MCTD.

Comparison between the effects of dexamethasone and indomethacin on bone wound healing

The area of wound holes made in the parietal bone of 4-week-old rats was measured at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after the operation using Alizarin red S staining without the use of histological sections. Dexamethasone and indomethacin were administered s.c. after the operation every day except Sunday. The inhibitory action of dexamethasone on bone wound healing was stronger than that of indomethacin, as was its inhibitory action on skin wound healing. Inhibition of the age-related decrease in radiolucency of femurs and some changes in serum calcium level were also observed by dexamethasone administration, but not by indomethacin. These results suggest that dexamethasone inhibits bone wound healing through its effects on calcium metabolism in addition to its general inhibitory action on wound healing which is shared with indomethacin. Dexamethasone also strongly inhibited the decrease in Alcian blue stainability which occurs with an increase in age, both in the normal portion and in the wound hole portion of the calvaria, whereas indomethacin showed a weak inhibitory effect only in the wound hole portion. This result suggests that one of the mechanisms by which dexamethasone inhibits bone wound healing may be based on the retardation of mineralization caused by the inhibition of removal of acid mucopolysaccharide.

Do protozoa conceal a high potency of nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis present in Toxoplasma gondii?

ATP hydrolytic activity in whole cell homogenates of some protozoa was assayed in the presence or absence of dithiothreitol. The activities in all protozoan cell homogenates, except Toxoplasma gondii, ranged from 0.6 to 32 mumol/mg protein/hr, irrespective of the presence or absence of dithiothreitol. A remarkably higher activity, 11,690 mumol/mg protein/hr, was observed for T. gondii in the presence of dithiothreitol. These results indicate that the higher ATP hydrolytic potency observed for T. gondii is not universal to protozoa, rather it is unique to T. gondii.

Autologous bone marrow transplantation for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in second or subsequent remission: results of bone marrow treated with monoclonal antibodies BA-1, BA-2, and BA-3 plus complement

Autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was utilized as therapy for 23 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in second or greater remission. Bone marrow was treated in vitro with a combination of monoclonal antibodies, consisting of BA-1, BA-2, BA-3, and baby rabbit complement (BRC'). All patients were prepared for transplantation with cyclophosphamide and fractionated total body irradiation. Engraftment occurred in all 23 patients. Seven of 23 patients remain relapse-free from six to 32 months (median, 21.4 months) posttransplant. Failures were due to relapse with the exception of one patient who died of infection. This study demonstrates that autologous BMT using in vitro marrow treatment with BA-1, BA-2, BA-3, and BRC' is safe, allows engraftment, and results in prolonged survival for some patients with ALL in second or greater remission.

Genetic predisposition to acute lymphocytic leukemia in American blacks. A Pediatric Oncology Group study

Recent reports have shown an association between genes lying within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), particularly HLA and factor B (Bf), and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in white children. The frequencies of Bf and complement component C4 phenotypes in 90 black American children with ALL were examined to determine if a genetic association existed. The Bf and C4 results for the black children with ALL were compared with frequencies in healthy black Americans from the same geographic region. The BfF allele was carried by 95.6% of the black ALL patients compared with 86.1% of the controls (P = 0.017; relative risk = 3.5). In contrast, only 2.2% of the patients with ALL were homozygous for BfS compared with 9.8% of the controls (P = 0.043; relative risk = 0.2). These findings are similar to those observed in white American children. The C4A6 phenotype was found in 11.9% of the black children with ALL compared with 0.6% of the controls (P = 0.0026; relative risk = 22.7). These findings represent the first reported association of a particular allele whose gene lies within the MHC with ALL in black American children. The results suggest that the occurrence of ALL in black American children may be partially due to a genetic influence.

Bone marrow transplantation for acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in first remission: analysis of prognostic factors

Prognostic factors were reviewed retrospectively for 39 children and adults aged 1 to 40 years (median 14 years) with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) who attained a first remission and underwent bone marrow transplantation from November 1976 to July 1983. The preparation regimen for transplantation was cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg/d for two days) followed by total body irradiation (either 750 cGy single dose at 26 cGy/min, n = 37, or 1,320 cGy fractionated at 10 cGy/min, n = 2). Twenty-three patients are surviving disease free with a median followup of three years. The three-year estimated disease-free survival is 55% +/- 17% (+/- 2 SE). Five patients have relapsed from 92 to 756 days after transplantation for an estimated relapse rate of 21% +/- 18%. Two factors, the white blood cell (WBC) count and the French-American-British (FAB) classification at leukemia diagnosis were found to be of prognostic importance. Patients with a WBC of less than 20,000/microL at diagnosis had a three-year estimated disease-free survival of 74% +/- 18% v 26% +/- 24% for those with a WBC of greater than or equal to 20,000 (P = .008). The estimated relapse rate was 6% +/- 12% for patients with a WBC at diagnosis less than 20,000 v 53% +/- 38% for patients with a WBC at diagnosis of greater than or equal to 20,000 (P = .01). Patients with myeloid morphology at diagnosis (FAB M1,2,3) had an estimated relapse rate of 9% +/- 12% v patients with monocytoid morphology (FAB M4,5a) whose estimated relapse rate was 58% +/- 44% (P = .05). Our data suggest that a high WBC count at poor prognostic factors for patients with ANLL who undergo bone marrow transplantation in first remission after conditioning with cyclophosphamide plus total body irradiation.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation with related donors other than HLA MLC-matched siblings, and the use of antithymocyte globulin, prednisone, and methotrexate for prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease

Fifteen patients ranging in age from 1-29 years (median age 9 years) had bone marrow transplantations (BMT) from related donors other than HLA mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) identical siblings. Donors were selected on the basis of HLA similarity and low reactivity in the MLC. Posttransplant immunosuppression consisting of methotrexate (MTX), antithymocyte globulin (ATG), and prednisone was used in an effort to decrease graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Seven children were treated for aplastic anemia, 7 for hematologic malignancy, and 1 for osteopetrosis. Primary engraftment failure contributed to death in 3 patients, all of whom had aplastic anemia. Nine of 12 engrafted patients developed moderate-to-severe acute graft-versus-host disease. Of the 15 patients, 7 developed interstitial pneumonitis. Three patients demonstrated mixed chimerism (at or beyond 3 months posttransplant). Two of the seven patients treated for aplastic anemia are currently alive six months and more than five years posttransplant; the latter patient has chronic GVHD. Four of the seven patients treated for hematologic malignancy are currently alive more than 500 days posttransplantation. Three have chronic GVHD. Analysis of patient outcome according to the degree of similarity in histocompatibility testing revealed that patients with low reactivity in the MLC (less than 5% relative response in both directions) had a better prognosis (5/6, 83% long-term survival) than patients with maximum donor vs. recipient mixed lymphocyte culture relative response greater than 5% (1/9, 12% long-term survival), P = .016.

Radiation therapy for advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using twice-a-day fractionation. A long-term follow-up

Twenty-one patients with massive advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck received radiation therapy under the twice-a-day fractionation regimen. One hundred ten rad tumor dose was delivered twice daily with a 4-hour gap between the fractions, 5 days/week, to a total tumor dose of 7480 rad. The purpose was to increase the therapeutic ratio by minimizing sublethal radiation damage to normal tissue while allowing reoxygenation of radioresistant hypoxic tumor cells. Fifty-three percent of the patients showed no evidence of primary tumor at the end of the therapy and 60% showed complete regression of massive cervical lymphadenopathy. The 2-year recurrent-free rates for patients with tumors of the tonsillar region were 36% of T4 (4/11) and 33% (2/6) of N3a. The experience with conventional fractionation in similar cases was previously reported by others from this institution. They reported 2-year recurrent-free rates of 0% of T4 (0/10) and 17% (1/6) of N3. The higher recurrent-free rates in our series suggests better local and regional tumor control by the twice-a-day fractionation.

Acid-fast bacilli in sputum smears of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Prevalence and significance of negative smears pretreatment and positive smears post-treatment

We studied 977 patients with culture-proved pulmonary tuberculosis retrospectively to determine the frequency with which patients were sputum smear negative but culture positive (S-C+) prior to treatment, the frequency with which patients developed the smear positive but culture negative (S+C-) status during treatment, and the implication of these 2 phenomena to the success of treatment. One fourth (25.6%) of the patients were repeatedly S-C+ prior to treatment; the frequency of this phenomenon was inversely proportional to the extent of disease and the presence of cavities. Patients who were S-C+ prior to treatment, and whose organisms were drug-sensitive, had the fastest sputum culture conversion rate. Patients who were S+C+ without far-advanced cavitary disease had a significantly slower conversion rate after 1 month of treatment, and those with far-advanced cavitary disease had the slowest conversion rate. Patients with drug-resistant organisms had slower conversion rates than did their counterparts with drug-sensitive organisms, but in all but 4 of these, sputum smears and cultures ultimately converted to negative. The S+C- phenomenon was observed in 20.4% of patients; its frequency was related to the extent of disease and to treatment regimens that contained rifampin. In all patients who exhibited the S+C- phenomenon, sputum smears converted to negative with continuation of the same treatment regimen.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation as treatment for accelerating chronic myelogenous leukemia

Sixteen patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) when they presented with or developed objective signs suggesting acceleration of disease. Patients have been followed for a median of 515 days (range 216-806 days). Seven patients are alive from 319 to 732 days (median 538 days). Four patients are in complete remission 501-732 days after BMT. Three patients have developed cytogenetic evidence of relapse after BMT; however, these patients are alive and not dependent on therapy and have normal activity levels at 319, 515, and 550 days following BMT. Three additional patients have developed cytogenetic and hematologic evidence of relapse after BMT, progressed to blast crisis, and died. Six patients have died of other causes. Allogeneic BMT can eradicate the abnormal clone and provide normal hematopoiesis when performed during the accelerated phase of CML; however, this approach is associated with relapse and with relatively high mortality. The long-term efficacy of this approach and the relative efficacy of transplant during acceleration rather than during the chronic phase of CML have yet to be established.

Effect of synthetic chicken vasoactive intestinal peptide on pancreatic blood flow and on exocrine and endocrine secretions of the pancreas in dogs

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of synthetic chicken vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on pancreatic blood flow, exocrine and endocrine secretions of the pancreas, and biliary secretion in dogs. The effect of synthetic chicken VIP on pancreatic blood flow and systemic arterial pressure was identical to that of natural chicken VIP in dogs. The present study demonstrated that synthetic chicken VIP induces significant increases in pancreatic blood flow, pancreaticobiliary secretion, and blood levels of insulin and glucose in dogs. Both the volume of pancreatic juice and blood levels of insulin were increased in consonance with the increase of pancreatic blood flow. This study suggests that the stimulatory effects of synthetic chicken VIP on exocrine and endocrine secretions of the pancreas may be related to the increased pancreatic blood flow elicited by synthetic chicken VIP.

Thyroid neoplasm after high-dose radiotherapy

A female patient is described who developed papillary-follicular carcinoma of the thyroid 8 years after receiving high-dose external radiotherapy to the head and neck. This malignant neoplasm developed while she was taking suppressive doses of thyroid medication. Although it has long been thought that high-dose radiotherapy is not associated with the occurrence of thyroid tumor, it is becoming increasingly apparent that this concept is not necessarily true. Clinicians should be aware of the possible sequelae of neoplastic thyroid disease after any amount of external radiotherapy to the head and neck. Careful periodic follow-up of patients who have received such treatment is strongly advised.