The vascular architecture and innervation of the cerebral arteries in Leiothrix lutea

The vascular architecture and innervation of the cerebral arteries in the robin-billed leiothrix, Leiothrix lutea, were studied using catecholamine fluorescence, acetylcholinesterase active staining, and immunohistochemical techniques. The cerebral arteries in Leiothrix lutea consisted of the cerebral carotid and the basilar systems. The cerebral carotid artery can be divided into the anterior and posterior rami. Due to poor development of the posterior ramus, the posterior cerebral artery originated from the anterior ramus, and an anterior communicating artery between the cerebroethmoidal arteries formed the circle of Willis. The cerebral carotid system was supplied with aminergic nerve fibers (Amn), cholinergic nerve fibers (Chn) and peptides [substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)]-like immunoreactive (LI) nerve fibers in all regions. These nerve fibers were abundant in the cerebral carotid system, but were few and scattered in the basilar system. Only neuropeptide Y (NPY)-LI nerve fibers were recognized in moderate numbers in the cerebral carotid system, but were not found in the basilar system. Innervation of the small blood vessels of the cerebral parenchyma differed from that of the cerebral superficial arteries, SP-, NKA-, CGRP- and VIP-LI nerve fibers showed a dense distribution, but Amn and NPY-LI nerve fibers showed a sparse distribution, and almost no Chn was observed. Double staining in the cerebral arteries for SP-, NKA- and CGRP-LI nerve fibers demonstrated exactly the same distribution. This suggests that SP, NKA and CGRP co-exist in the same fiber.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Solid-phase direct DNA sequencing of allele-specific polymerase chain reaction-amplified HLA-DR genes

We describe in this report a new strategy to directly sequence polymerase chain reaction-amplified human leucocyte antigen DRB genes using biotinylated allele-specific synthetic oligonucleotide primers coupled to streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. The use of allele-specific primers in the polymerase chain reaction allows for selective amplification of DNA from one haplotype, which when combined with the direct sequencing technique circumvents the need for DNA cloning prior to sequencing. We demonstrate here that this method can be used to characterize human leucocyte antigen DRB genes among heterozygous individuals. This method can be used for the rapid analysis of highly polymorphic genes among individuals heterozygous at the gene of interest.

[Clinical experience of hemiarthroplasty with Bateman bipolar endoprosthesis]

Between April 1985 and August 1986, 97 patients (101 hips) were treated with Bateman bipolar hemiarthroplasty after diagnosis of femoral neck fracture and ischemic necrosis of the femoral head at Veterans' General Hospital, Taichung. Seventy hips were followed up for an average of 44 months (range from 36 to 53 months). 58.6% of the patients had excellent or good results, 21.4% had fair results and 20% poor results. Twelve cases (17.1%) with thigh pain were diagnosed as have loosening of the stem and this was verified by X-ray and 99m Tc-MDP bone scan examination. 2 of these twelve cases received revisional total hip replacement. Wearing of the acetabulum was noted in only 2 patients (2.9%). From the short-term follow-up study, we would suggest that good results can be obtained with improved cementing technique or a special stem design to fit the different indications.

[Is synchronous hemorrhoidectomy with colonoscopy a worthwhile procedure?]

There were 201 patients receiving preoperative colonoscopy prior to hemorrhoidectomy in the meanwhile at MMH from July 1984 to June 1988. Other than rectal bleeding, they had colonic symptoms such as anemia, abdominal pain, familiar history of cancer and change of bowel habit etc. The study included 114 male and 87 female with ages ranging from 15 to 74 years (Median, 42 years). Three patients with colonic cancer and twenty-eight patients with neoplastic polyps were found by colonoscopic examination. Three cancer patients all received cancer surgery instead of hemorrhoidectomy as quickly as possible in a short time. One patient died for advanced stage and the other two patients got good results. The literatures were reviewed and discussed in accordance with the colonoscopic finding, operative time, hospital stay, post-operative morbidity and complication. There were not increase the postoperative morbidity in this series which compare with that of other series. The advantages of this procedure included: 1) Preventing suffer from twice colon preparations. 2) Preventing waiting period for Barium enema. 3) Preventing delay diagnosis of colorectal lesions especially colon cancer or precancer lesions of neoplastic polyps. 4) Performing examination and surgery at the same time-money-saving and time-saving. We thought synchronous hemorrhoidectomy with colonoscopy is a worthwhile clinical procedure.

[Simultaneous cholecystectomy with colon surgery]

Both colorectal pathology and cholecystopathy are common disorders, especially among the elderly. Postoperative cholecystitis was well known to be associated with high morbidity and mortality. The presence of gall bladder pathology has also been reported to precipitate acute cholecystitis. In addition, these patients with gall bladder pathology may eventually need a cholecystectomy because of complications. In the above cases, some authors have suggested a simultaneous cholecystectomy at the time of colon surgery. In past 4 years, a series of 28 cases with concomitant cholecystectomy and colectomy were reviewed. The male to female ratio was 11:17, and their age ranged from 41 to 83 years old (mean age 61). The main colonic pathology was adenocarcinoma of colon and rectum (26/28). All gall bladder pathologies were diagnosed preoperatively by abdominal ultrasound, and gall stones were present in 25 of 28 cases. There were no intraoperative complications and no operative mortalities. Our data suggested that a cholecystectomy can be performed safely at the time of colon surgery, if the patient's condition is stable and contamination from colon surgery is minimal.

Isolation of viable mouse primordial germ cells by antibody-directed flow sorting

The germ line represents a cell type of unique interest in mammals because it retains complete genotypic totipotency while undergoing significant phenotypic differentiation. Analysis of the mechanism that underlies the maintenance of this totipotency requires the ability to isolate and study all stages of the germ cell lineage. The primordial germ cells (PGC) are the earliest identifiable germ cells in the embryo. It has not previously been possible to isolate PGC in sufficient numbers and purity to facilitate biochemical and/or molecular analysis. We report here that the use of a monoclonal antibody in combination with flow cytometry does permit the isolation of reasonably large and pure yields of viable mouse PGC.

Trichosporon beigelii infection: a review

During a 10-year period from 1974 to 1984, 19 patients at M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute in Houston had invasive infection due to Trichosporon beigelii. Infection was manifested as either a nonspecific febrile illness or pneumonia, and the diagnosis was not suspected before death in 25% of the patients. The majority were neutropenic at the onset of infection, and recovery was directly related to resolution of myelosuppression. The overall mortality rate was 74%. The majority of patients had polymicrobial infections. Twenty-four additional cases reported in the medical literature indicate that this pathogen is an increasingly important cause of mortality in immunosuppressed patients. In both the present series and the cases reported in the literature, the majority of neutropenic patients with disseminated T. beigelii infection died, despite antifungal therapy. Only those patients whose neutropenia resolved following remission of their leukemia recovered.

In-vitro activity of cefpirome (HR-810), WIN-49375, BMY-28142 and other antibiotics against nosocomially important isolates from cancer patients

The activity of three new antimicrobial agents [cefpirome (HR 810), BMY 28142, WIN 49375], and imipenem was compared to that of four currently available agents, ceftazidime, aztreonam, timentin and piperacillin, against 253 bacterial isolates from cancer patients. The activity of all four agents not yet in clinical use at our institution was significantly greater than that of the four antibiotics already in use.

Morphological transformation, DNA strand separation, and antinucleoside immunoreactivity following exposure of cells to intercalating drugs

The intercalating drugs quinacrine and proflavine induced increases in single-stranded DNA detected in the nuclei of mouse BALB/c 3T3 1--13 cells. The denatured DNA was detected by fluorescein-labeled antinucleoside antibodies, which bind to single-stranded but not double-stranded DNA. Exposure of cells to the potent mutagen proflavine increased the fraction of immunoreactive nuclei from 0.65 to 0.8. With the weaker mutagen quinacrine, higher concentrations were needed to induce increases in immunoreactivity. Both intercalating drugs rapidly induced morphological transformation in mouse 3T3 cells. Treatment with proflavine resulted in higher transformation frequencies than were found with quinacrine. Significant increases in cell transformation frequency were observed at the concentrations which induced high levels of immunoreactivity. These results suggest that DNA strand separation is itself, or at least accompanies, an early step in cell transformation by intercalating drugs.

Characterization of rat colonic cell surface glycoconjugates by fluoresceinated lectins. I. Importance of fixation techniques

Cryostat and paraffin embedded sections from cecum, proximal and distal colonic segments of male Sherman rats were examined by fluorescence microscopy after labeling with six fluorescein-conjugated lectins. These FITC-conjugated lectins were used as specific probes to define the labeling pattern of carbohydrate containing components of the lumenal and basolateral surfaces of epithelial cells, goblet cell mucin and lumenal mucin at all three sites. Marked regional differences in labeling were detected, indicating that the various carbohydrate components of these cells differ significantly along the length of the colon. Furthermore, the patterns of labeling components with each lectin appeared to vary depending on the fixation technique employed. Cryostat preparations generally resulted in a broader distribution of label and more intense staining with these lectins than fixed paraffin sections. While the reason(s) for these variations remain unclear at this time and will require further studies, the present data emphasize the importance of the fixation method when interpreting results obtained utilizing FITC-conjugated lectins.

Benzodiazepines have high-affinity binding sites and induce melanogenesis in B16/C3 melanoma cells

We found that two markers of differentiation, tyrosinase (monophenol, dihydroxyphenylalanine:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.18.1) activity and melanin synthesis, are induced by diazepam in B16/C3 mouse melanoma cells. We also demonstrated high-affinity binding sites for [3H]diazepam in these cells by radioreceptor assay, and we visualized binding to the cell surface by fluorescence microscopy with a benzodiazepine analog conjugated to a fluorescein-labeled protein. Our studies also showed that there are differences between the binding characteristics in intact cells and in membrane fractions prepared from these cells. Scatchard analysis of the binding data from membrane fractions gave a linear plot (Kd = 9.1 X 10(-8) M). With intact cells, a curvilinear Scatchard plot was obtained. This was resolved into two components defining binding sites with affinity constants of 1.7 X 10(-9) M and 4.6 X 10(-7) M. Thus, it appears that [3H]diazepam binding in intact cells is more complex than in isolated membranes. Several related benzodiazepines, including flunitrazepam, Ro-5-4864, nitrazepam, oxazepam, lorazepam, Ro-5-3072, chlordiazepoxide, and clonazepam also induced melanogenesis. When these compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit [3H]diazepam binding, flunitrazepam, diazepam, and Ro-5-4864 were found to be the most effective inhibitors. These three compounds were also the most potent in inducing melanogenesis. Our results suggest that the benzodiazepines modulate cell differentiation. The presence of high-affinity binding sites in this homogeneous, easily grown cell line may provide a useful model for studies on the mechanism of action of these compounds.

Demonstration of Anaplasma marginale Theiler in Dermacentor variabilis (Say) by ferritin-conjugated antibody technique

Cattle were inoculated with a Virginia isolate of Anaplasma marginale Theiler and served as an infective source for laboratory-reared Dermacentor variabilis (Say) nymphs. Transstadial transmission of A marginale was demonstrated by feeding the newly molted adult ticks on susceptible cattle and by inoculation of gut homogenates collected from adult ticks at postattachment day 6. A similar gut homogenate from the same group of ticks was caused to react with A marginale-bovine antisera that had been conjugated with ferritin. The homogenate contained organisms similar to those observed in the gut of adult feeding ticks that were infected as nymphs and the labeling of the outer membrane confirmed that organisms observed were A marginale. A gut homogenate prepared from control ticks did not cause infection when inoculated into a susceptible cow and no organisms were demonstrated.

Sensitivity and specificity of virion and cell surface labeling using the unlabeled antibody-hemocyanin bridge method

The sensitivity and specificity of the unlabeled antibody-hemocyanin bridge method for immunoelectron microscopic localization of virion and cell surface antigens has been demonstrated using a hyperimmune serum to the Rauscher murine leukemia virus structural envelope glycoprotein (gp 70). The technique localized the gp70 on the viral envelope and on the infected cell surface at dilutions of greater than 10(-3) for the primary antiviral serum. Little or no nonspecific binding of hemocyanin was detected in control experiments using high concentrations of normal nonreacting or adequately absorbed antiviral primary sera and excess antibody bridge and marker; thus, the system is highly specific. Furthermore, sensitivity can be increased approximately fivefold by marked amplification steps whereby a specimen fixing only a slight amount of hemocyanin can be subsequently treated with antihemocyanin antibody, followed by hemocyanin.

Bone marrow acid phosphatase in prostate cancer: an assessment by immunoassay and biochemical methods

Comparisons of the bone marrow and serum acid phosphatase values obtained by counter-immunelectrophoresis and the Roy biochemical test were made in 72 patients with and in 13 patients without prostatic cancer. The counter-immunoelectophoresis test, when positive at more than 1 international unit per liter, showed only 4.4 per cent falsely positive results. The Roy biochemical test, which used sodium thymolphthalein monophosphate as the substrate, had 65 per cent falsely positive bone marrow acid phosphatase levels. Conflicting reports regarding the value of bone marrow acid phosphatase determinations in patients with prostatic cancer result from the use of non-specific substrates in biochemical methods for measurement and from the trauma incidental to bone marrow aspiration, which releases many non-prostatic acid phosphatase enzymes. The use of immunoassay such as counter-immunoelectrophoresis minimizes this source of error.

Counterimmunoelectrophoretic studies of serum prostatic acid phosphatase

A counterimmunoelectrophoretic (CIEP) assay for the specific determination of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) is described. PAP was obtained from benign human prostatic tissue and a specific antiserum to this enzyme was produced in rabbits and goats. The lowest detectable activity of PAP was at 0.3 IU/l or 4 ng./0.1 ml. This CIEP method was compared to a standard biochemical method (Roy) on a wide spectrum of prostatic and nonprostatic disease. Nonprostatic malignancies and other disorders associated with hyperacidphosphatasemia by the biochemical method were found to be nonreactive for PAP by CIEP. Patients under treatment with various stages of prostatic carcinoma showed comparable elevations by both methods (35%). In untreated patients, the CIEP was statistically most sensitive in stage A (39% by CIEP and 14% by chemical).

An unlabeled antibody macromolecule technique using hemocyanin for the identification of type B and type C retrovirus envelope and cell surface antigens by correlative fluorescence, transmission electron, and scanning electron microscopy

The present resolution (75-100 A) of the conventional scanning electron microscope (SEM) and its ability to image the surfaces of large numbers of whole cells in situ permit the approach of problems such as viral and cell surface antigen localization by immunological labeling with visual markers. Identification of virus and cell surface antigens in situ has been accomplished in indirect reactions by unconjugated markers. Hemocyanin (Hcy) from whelk, Busycon canniculatum, has been developed as an immunospecific marker for virion and cell surface labeling in the electron microscope. Its size (30 x 50 nm) and distinct cylindrical shape permit easy visualization in the SEM and the transmission electron microscope (TEM). The Hcy method involves the preparation of antisera to Hcy in appropriate hosts for use in an unlabeled antibody macromolecule procedure based exclusively on antigen-antibody affinity to couple the macromolecule to the antigen site. Further correlative data from fluorescence microscopy can be obtained from similarly labeled samples by binding fluorescein to the bridging antibodies used in the Hcy technique. The usefulness of the Hcy marker system was demonstrated by employing highly specific antisera to the major envelope and cell surface glycoprotein (gp70) of Rauscher murine leukemia virus (R-MuLV), a type C retrovirus. The antiserum was shown to bind to the virion and cell surfaces of virus-infected cells in the homologous virus-infected cell system. It also demonstrated the expression of R-MuLV gp70-related antigens on a murine cell line Mm5mt/c1 which produces mouse mammary tumor virus (MuMTV), a type B retrovirus. Furthermore, when used in the Hcy marker system the anti-gp70 serum was able to distinguish type B from type C budding virus on the same cell. Methods for the preparation of immunoreagents and labeling of cells are discussed.

Counter immunoelectrophoresis for detection of human prostatic acid phosphatase

An immunochemical method for detection of prostatic acid phosphatase is described. Acid phosphatase was obtained from benign human prostatic tissue. A specific antiserum to this enzyme was produced in rabbits. A counter immunoelectrophoretic method utilizing the specific antiserum with a chemical staining technique has been developed. Clinical trials have indicated the usefulness of this method for the specific determination of prostatic acid phosphatase.

Ultrastructural localization of anaplasmal antigens (Pawhuska isolate) with ferritin-conjugated antibody

Antibodies from a cow with an experimentally induced infection of the Pawhuska isolate of bovine anaplasmosis were conjugated with ferritin and used to label antigenic sites in preparations of parasitized erythrocytes. Intact erythrocytes did not label on the extracellular surface. Ferritin-conjugated antibody did not pass through the intact erythrocyte to label the parasite, probably due to the large molecular size of the antibody. Damage to erythrocytic plasmalemma and inclusion body in the hemolyzed erythrocytes and complement-fixation antigen allowed labeling of anaplasmal inclusion structures. The positively labeled structures were outer surface of the pellicle, chromatin of the initial body, and inclusion appendage. Unlabeled structures included inner organismic membrane of the initial body, inclusion membrane, fibrillar protoplasmic network of the initial body, and small electron-dense bodies derived from the initial body.