Serial immunologic and histopathologic studies in the treatment of necrotizing fasciitis with combined immunodeficiency by a bovine thymic extract (thymostimulin)

A 25-day-old Chinese female baby developed necrotizing fasciitis (NF) with indurated erythematous patches with superficial necrosis over two thirds of the back. Skin cultures of the lesions yielded Streptococcus pyogenes, enterococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida species. The patient had lymphopenia with low T cells and T cell subsets. The lymphoproliferative response to mitogen and macrophage migration (MIF) production were also poor. Her lymphocytes were unable to produce IgG in vitro. Also, IgG bearing cells were not demonstrable. The initial lymph node biopsy demonstrated an absence of follicular formation and depletion of lymphocytes in both thymic-dependent and thymic-independent areas. Five weeks after bovine thymic extract (Thymostimulin) treatment, a second lymph node biopsy demonstrated germinal centers containing IgG bearing cells. Three weeks later, a third lymph node biopsy showed germinal centers with cuffs of lymphocytes. Differentiation of the cortex and medulla of the node was demonstrated. IgG was also detectable in an in vitro Ig synthesis study. The total T cells, T cell subsets, lymphoproliferative response MIF production also increased gradually after Thymostimulin treatment. This investigation demonstrated the therapeutic effectiveness of Thymostimulin in NF with underlying combined immuno-deficiency, both serious and frequently fetal diseases, by the histologic and immunologic reconstitution of T and B cell function.

The biological properties of black porgy (Acanthopagrus schlegeli) sperm and its cryopreservation

This paper describes the general biology of the testes, milt and spermatozoa of the black porgy, Acanthopagrus schlegeli and reports some preliminary results in which the techniques for cryopreservation of spermatozoa were investigated. During the spawning season from December to February, the gonadosomatic index ranged from 2.0 to 3.5. The milt had an average pH value of 7.4 and osmotic pressure of 385 mOsm/kg. The head of the spermatozoon was apple-shaped and averaged at 1.6 microns in diameter. The best quality of milt was obtained only in the early spawning season. Good motility of spermatozoa could be maintained for up to 10 days in vials hanging in a water bath at 4 degrees C. For cryopreservation, an extender containing 5% glucose mixed with glycerol, serving as the cryoprotective agent (CPA), at a 4:1 ratio was used and the black porgy milt was diluted with the extender at a 1:1 ratio. After an equilibration period no longer than 10 minutes, straws containing this mixture were submerged in isopropanol at -10 degrees C and then frozen at a rate of 2 degrees C/min until the temperature reached -80 degrees C or were held in liquid nitrogen (LN) vapor (-90 to -100 degrees C) for 10 to 20 minutes. A total 720 of 0.5 ml straws were stored in LN at -196 degrees C for long term preservation. Between 50 and 90% of the post-thawed sperm were motile. After being cryopreserved for 1, 7, 7 and 342 days, sperm showed fertilities of 99.0, 93.2, 91.9 and 91.5% respectively.

Are there differences in the cell cycle of normal and malignant cells? An approach to the analysis of the clonal expansion of cells in malignant epithelial proliferations in situ

The Williams-Bjerknes model for clonal expansion of transformed cells in epithelia was used to examine a series of related questions about the growth of in situ proliferations in epidermis. Bowens disease, actinic keratosis and lentigo maligna lesions were reconstructed on a three-dimensional basis, and all were found to behave differently: the evidence supported the proposal that the 'carcinogenic advantage' enjoyed by transformed cells was proliferative in nature, and indeed varied between the three lesions. We conclude that the clonal expansion of a single cell, with different proliferative carcinogenic advantage, can explain the three-dimensional appearances of these in situ proliferations; furthermore, the well-known 'multifocality' of in situ epidermal proliferations can also be explained by the clonal expansion of a single transformed cell.

Post-laryngectomy pharyngo-cutaneous fistulae

A personal series of 66 total laryngectomy cases is presented with special reference to post-operative fistula formation. The incidence of fistulae was 7.4 per cent. We could not verify previous reports that any specific factors were significantly related to fistula formation and we feel that operative technique and the post-operative drainage of any fluid collection under the flaps, are the most important ways of reducing the complication of a fistula to a minimum.

Isolation of amyloplasts from developing maize endosperm

Methods for the formation of protoplasts from developing maize endosperm and for the aqueous isolation of intact amyloplasts from such protoplasts are described. Protoplasts were obtained after incubating endosperm slices in a medium containing cellulase and pectolyase for 5 days at 4 degrees C or 5 hours at 30 degrees C. After purification in a Ficoll density gradient, the protoplasts were reptured by forcing the suspension through a Nitex mesh (20 micrometer) positioned at the lower end of a modified disposable syringe. The resulting filtrate was layered on a discontinuous Ficoll density gradient of 30, 15, and 10%. Each Ficoll solution contained 0.7 molar sucrose, 10 millimolar arginine, 10 millimolar dl-dithiothreitol, 50 millimolar 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (pH 5.6), and 2 millimolar CaCl(2). After 3 hours in the cold, an amyloplast fraction 50 to 93% intact and free from cytoplasmic, mitochondrial, and glyoxysomal contamination was recovered in the 15% Ficoll layer. Amyloplast intactness was estimated by fluorescent microscopy and activity of certain amyloplast marker enzymes before and after rupture of the amyloplast membrane. Starch branching enzyme, ADPG-pyrophosphorylase, and nitrite reductase were used as amyloplast marker enzymes.

Effect of glass wool filtration on ultrastructure of human spermatozoa

The results of this study strongly suggest that filtration by glass wool can induce damage to the membrane and acrosome of the heads of some spermatozoa in a population. It is possible that the potential fertilizing capacity of a population of human spermatozoa may be reduced as a consequence of these alterations, especially those to the acrosome. The results suggest that sufficient clinical applications of glass wool filtration in artificial insemination is the only way to evaluate both the potential benefits of this process and the potential drawbacks to efficiency that may be caused by a degree of ultrastructural damage.

Minute tubular forms in soil

Large numbers of minute, flat, long, straight, but often broken structures were observed in aqueous extracts of soil. We have applied the purely descriptive term 'tubules' to these structure, because they apparently became flattened during preparation for electron-microscopic viewing. The tubules appeared to be composed of parallel fibers held together by protein. Most of the tubules fell within a ranged of 10 to 50 nm in width. Lengths (of broken pieces) ranged from 0.2 to 1 micron or more. A few unbroken ends were found. They were rounded. Tubular structures of similar dimensions were found surrounding lysed cells in sectioned preparations of bacteria that had been separated from soil. The tubules were present in surface soils but not a subsurface sample. Their numbers decreased during bacterial multiplication in soil or broth containing soil. No evidence was found of cleared areas or increase in number of tubules when the tubules were plated with a heterogeneous microbial flora from soil.

Acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis in Hong Kong 1971-1975

Acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis occurred in epidemic in Hong Kong in 1971 and 1975 respectively. Two picornaviruses, the Enterovirus type 70 and an antigenic variant of Coxsackie virus type A24, were isolated during the 1971 outbreak, while only the latter virus was detected in the 1975 outbreak. In 1972 and 1974, sporadic cases of conjunctivitis associated with Enterovirus type 70 were observed. Serological survey in late 1975 showed a high proportion of the population might still be susceptible to both viruses. Recrudescence of the disease is conceivable when environmental condition is favourable for the spread of these viruses.

Colonization of soil by Arthrobacter and Pseudomonas under varying conditions of water and nutrient availability as studied by plate counts and transmission electron microscopy

Arthrobacter globiformis and a Pseudomonas soil isolate were incubated separately and in combination in soil that had been presterilized by autoclaving. Growth and other responses of the cells in situ in this soil were monitored by plate counts and transmission electron microscopy examinations of cell sections. During the soil incubations, some of the samples were first allowed to dry and then were remoistened with water or with a dilute or a concentrated nutrient solution. Based on plate counts and ultrastructural analysis. Arthrobacter seemed to be in a non-multiplying coccoid-rod resting state and to be virtually immune to soil drying. Addition of a dilute nutrient solution helped maintain cell ultrastructure and prevent a low level of lysing that occurred in the absence of nutrient addition. Addition of a concentrated nutrient solution brought on cell multiplication as both coccoid-rods and long rods, but the ultimate form with further incubation was the coccoid-rod. The Pseudomonas strain suffered death and ultrastructural deterioration as water became less available. It responded by cell multiplication to an equal extent when either water or dilute nutrients were added, but possibly was able to give a growth response to nutritive amendment when a concentrated nutrient addition was made. The Arthrobacter was not affected by the presence of Pseudomonas in dual culture. The Pseudomonas, however, possibly suffered a nutritive deficiency under these conditions.