[Frequency and histopathologic features of chronic gastritis in 300 patients without endoscopic lesions]

Three gastric mucosal biopsies were obtained from 300 patients showing a normal upper digestive tract endoscopy. Histologically, in 9% of the patients the biopsies were normal: in 87%, showed a common-type chronic gastritis, and in 4% showed a reactive (chemical or reflux-type) gastritis. Helicobacter pylori was present in 25.9% of the patients without gastritis, in 33.3% of the patients with reactive gastritis, and in 87.7% of those with common-type gastritis. In 19.9% of the patients with common-type chronic gastritis there was intestinal metaplasia, consisting of type I metaplasia in 14.1%, type II in 3.1% and type III metaplasia in 2.3%. The association of type III intestinal metaplasia with the other forms of metaplasia, its lower frequency and its tendency to be present in older patients supports the hypothesis that type III incomplete colonic metaplasia represents a more advanced stage than complete and incomplete small bowed metaplasia of the gastric mucosa.

Pharmacokinetics and safety of multiple-dose valaciclovir in geriatric volunteers with and without concomitant diuretic therapy

A randomized, double-blind study was conducted to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of acyclovir following multiple-dose oral administration of valaciclovir (three times a day for 8 days) in geriatric volunteers (65 to 83 years of age). Pharmacokinetic evaluation was performed for three groups: normotensive subjects given 500-mg doses of valaciclovir (n = 11), normotensive subjects given, 1,000-mg doses of valaciclovir (n = 9), and thiazide diuretic-treated hypertensive subjects given 500-mg doses of valaciclovir (n = 9). Valaciclovir, the l-valyl ester of acylclovir, was rapidly absorbed and converted to acyclovir, with plasma valaciclovir concentrations generally undetectable or < or = 0.4 microgram/ml. The peak concentration of drug in plasma (Cmax) for acyclovir occurred at 1 to 2 h, and the half-life of acyclovir was 3 to 4 h in all three elderly groups. The Cmax and area under the concentration-time curve from 0 h to infinity (AUC0-infinity) values of acyclovir obtained on days 1 and 8 indicated no unexpected accumulation at steady state. The steady-state acyclovir Cmax (4.30 and 5.98 micrograms/ml) and daily AUC0-infinity (44 and 74 h.micrograms/ml) following dosing of valaciclovir (500 and 1,000 mg) three times a day were two to three times greater than those expected after high-dose oral acyclovir treatment (800 mg, five times daily). There were no valaciclovir-related changes or abnormalities in safety parameters and no reports of serious adverse experiences in these elderly volunteers. The plasma acyclovir concentration-time curves for the hypertensive and normotensive (500-mg valaciclovir treatment) elderly groups were almost superimposable, and acyclovir pharmacokinetic parameters for the two groups were not significantly different, indicating that concomitant thiazide diuretics do not alter acyclovir pharmacokinetics following valaciclovir dosing in the elderly. Compared with historical data for younger volunteers (creatinine clearance [CLCR] > 75 ml/min/1.73 m2), the elderly subjects (CLCR = 40 to 65 ml/min/1.73 m2) showed higher (approximately 15 to 20%) mean Cmaxs and higher (approximately 30 to 50%) mean AUC(0-infinity)s of acyclovir (P < 0.01), which were consistent with age-related decreases in CLCR. The increased acyclovir exposure from valaciclovir dosing will permit reduced dosing frequency and may result in improved efficacy in the management of herpesvirus diseases.

Novel urinary metabolite of alpha-tocopherol, 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2(2'-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman, as an indicator of an adequate vitamin E supply?

Previously, the metabolism of alpha-tocopherol was considered to involve the opening of the chroman structure because of its oxidation to tocopherylquinone. In contrast, we describe here 2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2(2'-carboxyethyl)-6-hydroxychroman (alpha-CEHC) as the major urinary metabolite of alpha-tocopherol that appears in human urine after vitamin E supplementation. It is formed directly from alpha-tocopherol without previous oxidative splitting of the chroman ring. The correlation of alpha-tocopherol intake, plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations, and urinary excretion of alpha-CEHC in human volunteers supplemented with RRR-alpha-tocopherol dosages ranging from 0 to 800 mg/d was examined. HPLC and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis revealed that alpha-CEHC was only excreted when a plasma threshold of 7-9 mumol alpha-tocopherol/g total lipid was exceeded. This concentration was obtained by a daily intake of approximately 50-150 mg alpha-tocopherol. We suggest that alpha-CEHC excretion indicates a saturated binding capacity of vitamin E in the plasma and thus may be considered to be a marker of optimum vitamin E intake.

Simulated exposure of hospital emergency personnel to solvent vapors and respirable dust during decontamination of chemically exposed patients

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To ascertain the breathing-zone level of organic solvents and respirable particulates in a simulated hospital patient decontamination.

DESIGN

An adult-sized, clothed plastic mannequin was contaminated with a solvent or particulate, then decontaminated. Rescuers were exposed to acetone, p-xylene, iron oxide, or zinc oxide during decontamination. We performed breathing-zone air sampling on the two rescuers. Five trials were run with each chemical.

PARTICIPANTS

Two physicians performed the decontamination.

RESULTS

Measured breathing-zone concentrations for the chemicals tested were significantly lower than their respective short-term breathing-zone limits (P = .042, .043, .001, and .001 for acetone, p-xylene, iron, and zinc oxide, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The chemicals tested during simulated hospital decontamination did not pose a respiratory health risk to rescuers. This model may be useful in the extrapolation of breathing-zone exposure to more toxic chemicals. Because ours are preliminary data, the use of respiratory protective equipment during decontamination must be recommended.

Targeted mutation of the murine goosecoid gene results in craniofacial defects and neonatal death

The goosecoid gene encodes a homeodomain-containing protein that has been identified in a number of species and has been implicated in a variety of key developmental processes. Initially suggested to be involved in organizing the embryo during early development, goosecoid has since been demonstrated to be expressed during organogenesis-most notably in the head, the limbs and the ventrolateral body wall. To investigate the role of goosecoid in embryonic development, we have inactivated the gene by gene targeting to generate mice mutant for the goosecoid gene. Mice that are homozygous for the goosecoid mutation do not display a gastrulation phenotype and are born; however, they do not survive more than 24 hours. Analysis of the homozygotes revealed numerous developmental defects affecting those structures in which goosecoid is expressed during its second (late) phase of embryonic expression. Predominantly, these defects involve the lower mandible and its associated musculature including the tongue, the nasal cavity and the nasal pits, as well as the components of the inner ear (malleus, tympanic ring) and the external auditory meatus. Although the observed phenotype is in accordance with the late expression domains of goosecoid in wild-type embryos, we suggest that the lack of an earlier phenotype is the result of functional compensation by other genes.

Venous transcranial Doppler ultrasound monitoring in acute dural sinus thrombosis. Report of two cases

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

We sought to establish the efficacy of the Doppler technique in the evaluation of the intracranial venous system and to assess its usefulness in the monitoring of venous collateral pathways in superior sagittal sinus thrombosis.

METHODS

Venous Doppler ultrasound was performed with a range-gated 2-MHz transducer in 10 healthy volunteers and in two patients with superior sagittal sinus thrombosis confirmed by cerebral angiography.

RESULTS

In normal control subjects, a venous signal was found at a depth ranging from 40 to 72 mm, which was considered to correspond to the deep middle cerebral vein and the basal vein of Rosenthal. Mean blood flow velocities ranged from 9 to 20 cm/s. In both patients with superior sagittal sinus thrombosis, Doppler studies detected elevated mean blood flow velocities (146 and 33 cm/s), which normalized after 16 weeks and 1 week, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Venous transcranial Doppler ultrasonography provides a reliable, noninvasive, and rapid technique for intracranial venous examination. It was performed without difficulty in young health volunteers, and it can be applied as a monitoring tool in the evaluation of collateral venous flow in superior sagittal sinus thrombosis.

Microscopic haematuria as a relative contraindication for tranexamic acid

Tranexamic acid has been advocated for patients with severe bleeding tendency due to thrombocytopenia not responding to platelet transfusions. Macroscopic haematuria is a well-known contraindication for its use in such patients. We present three clinical cases with microscopic haematuria, in whom tranexamic acid caused problems of clot formation in the urinary tract, indicating that microscopic haematuria should also be considered as a contraindication for tranexamic acid.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy and myotonic dystrophy in the same patient

We report on the first patient identified with myotonic dystrophy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The family of the propositus had a strong history of myotonic dystrophy, and there was an intrafamilial pathological expansion of the responsible CTG repeat between the mildly affected mother (160 repeats; normal 27 repeats) and her more severely affected son (650 repeats), and his sister (650 repeats). The propositus was an isolated case of Duchenne muscular dystrophy with marked dystrophin deficiency in muscle biopsy. The patient was still ambulatory post age 16. Myotonic dystrophy could interfere to some extent with the progression of Duchenne dystrophy. However, other interpretations are possible. Twelve percent of dystrophin revertant fibers as observed by immunohistochemistry could be sufficient to ameliorate typical DMD clinical severity, or the patient may present a somatic mosaic. The pathophysiological interactions of these two unlinked disorders are discussed at the clinical and histopathological levels.

Chemical and enzymatic synthesis of glycopeptides

Progress recently made in the synthesis of biologically relevant N- and O-glycopeptides is illustrated by examples. In this context, developments in the preparation of complex saccharide side chains and in the subsequent coupling to peptide portions is described. Special emphasis is given to the synthesis of Lewis antigen-type structures. Furthermore, modern methods in solid phase peptide syntheses utilizing glycosylated building blocks are presented. Recent advances in glycopeptide syntheses employing enzymatic methods in deprotection steps as well as in peptide/saccharide chain elongation are reported.

Utilization of selenium from different chemical entities for selenoprotein biosynthesis by mammalian cell lines

Four different cell lines (Hep G2, THP-1, EL 4 6.1, and ECV 304) were grown in a selenium-deficient standard medium (5% fetal calf serum in RPMI 1640 resulting in 5.5 nM selenium of unknown bioavailability) and supplemented with increasing concentration of selenium in the form of sodium selenite, selenomethionine and serum-bound selenium. The activities of two types of glutathione peroxidases (cGPx and PHGPx) were measured to estimate the availability of selenium for selenoprotein synthesis. Only sodium selenite between 1 and 100 nM was found to consistently induce GPx activity in all cell lines, whereas selenomethionine in equal concentrations was practically ineffective. Only THP-1 cells were able to utilize selenium from serum as efficiently as sodium selenite. PHGPx activity similarly responded to selenium supplementation, but was not increased in EL 4 6.1 cells. Our data demonstrate that conventional tissue culture media require selenium supplementation to guarantee adequate selenoprotein biosynthesis in cultured cells. The chemical nature of the selenium compound used for such supplement is as critical for in vitro cultivated cells as for dietary intake.

Cytologic atypia associated with microglandular hyperplasia

Although it has long been known that microglandular hyperplasia (MGH) may be associated with cytologic atypia in cervical smears, the cytomorphology of MGH has not been described in great detail. To clarify its cytomorphology, Pap smears obtained from biopsy proven cases of MGH over a 3-yr period were reviewed. Of 122 smears containing endocervical cells, 34 (28%) showed striking glandular abnormalities. In two cases, adenocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma in situ were falsely suggested and a high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HGSIL-CIN III) was not confirmed in a conization specimen which showed only low grade SIL and MGH. Review of six cytologic diagnoses of HGSIL (CIN III) unconfirmed on biopsy suggested overcalls related to MGH related atypia in five. Cytologic features of MGH, therefore, may occasionally result in erroneous interpretations of HGSIL as well as glandular neoplasia. Although these changes may be striking, comparison with glandular atypia not associated with MGH shows that they are not entirely specific.

The macroscopic and microscopic structure of double-head antlers and pedicle bone of cervidae (Mammalia, Artiodactyla)

Ortho- and heterotopically formed double-head antlers were studied in red, fallow and roe deer. The malformation was the result of new antler growth without previous casting of the old antlers. Thus, two antler structures belonging to successive antler generations originated from one pedicle. These two structures were always separated by a horizontal groove. Histologically, signs of osteoclastic resorption were observed in the interior and at the outer circumference of the distal parts of the pedicles of the double heads. The resorptive process had, however, not been of an intensity necessary for subsequent antler casting. We also observed that the double-head's second antler generation had developed as a periosteal exostosis of the distal pedicle bone. Thus, we assume that in normogenesis formation of the bony component of subsequent antlers is also probably dependent on cells derived from pedicle periosteum. Finally, the process of antler regrowth in deer is compared with epimorphic regeneration occurring in other vertebrates.

Effects of an antiandrogen treatment on the antler cycle of male fallow deer (Dama dama L.)

Weekly application of the antiandrogen cyproteron acetate (CA) to 3 adult (group 1, treatment starting 3 weeks prior to the rut) and 4 subadult (group 2, treatment starting after the rut) fallow bucks led to premature antler casting after about 9 weeks (group 1) or 16 to 17 days (group 2). Variation in time span between onset of CA administration and induced casting (in late November/early December) is attributed to age- and season-dependent differences in androgen levels before and during the treatment period. Casting surfaces of the antlers were flat. In all bucks, casting was followed by a complete though shortened antler cycle, occurring under short day conditions. In February/March velvet was shed from the antlers, indicating a rise in plasma androgen levels at that time. At time of fraying, antlers exhibited signs of immaturity and were shorter than normal. In the most pronounced case of immaturity, the antlers consisted mainly of cancellous woven bone, revealing that bone remodeling and antler mineralization had not occurred to a larger extent. These observations prove that onset of fraying behaviour does not depend on prior maturation of antler bone or necrosis of velvet. Occurrence of the additional antler cycle in late autumn and winter had no negative effect on subsequent antler formation starting in the following spring.

Bacterial ventriculitis and duration of ventriculostomy catheter insertion

Invasive monitoring of intracranial pressure (ICP) plays an important role in managing many neurosurgical patients. While there are several techniques available to monitor ICP, the ventricular catheter is most commonly used and the most accurate. ICP monitoring poses potential risks to the patient. The most common and one of the most devastating complications is infection. This research study examined the rate of bacterial ventriculitis in relation to duration of ventricular catheter insertion as well as other factors which may contribute to ventriculitis. Data were collected prospectively on 78 patients with a ventriculostomy who were 14 years of age or older and admitted to the neuroscience intensive care unit. Patients were followed from the time of ventricular catheter placement to two weeks after the catheter was removed or until the patient was discharged from the hospital. A significantly higher ventriculitis rate was found in patients with a mean catheter duration of 11 days or longer (p = .004). In the group that developed ventriculitis there was a significant rise (means = 6.03592, p = .014) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate prior to the onset of ventriculitis. Neuroscience nurses should be aware of the factors which may increase the rate of ventriculitis, such as duration of catheter placement and factors which may indicate impending infection such as a rise in the CSF lactate. Future studies should compare various methods of ventriculostomy site care for efficacy of infection prevention, cost and caregiver time.

[Results of surgical treatment and prognosis of colonic neoplasms complicated by perforation]

Twenty two patients (13 males), whose ages ranged between 25 and 94 years, were subjected to surgical treatment for perforative carcinoma of the colon in a period of 10 years. Seventy three percent of tumors were localized in rectum and sigmoid colon. The perforation lied within the tumor in half of the patients and proximal to the tumor, specially in the cecum, in the rest. The perforation produced a local abscess in 5 patients and a diffuse peritonitis in 17 patients. Fifteen patients were subjected to segmental resections with a 40% operative mortality rate and 5 to a fecal diversion procedure with a 57% operative mortality. Tumor staging was similar to that of patients subjected to elective surgery. Crude 5 year survival was 18% and, excluding operative mortality, 57%.

[Colon and rectum cancer complicated with obstruction: immediate results and long-term follow-up]

Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of large bowel obstruction in Chile. The aim of this work was to assess the immediate results and long term survival of the surgical treatment of this complication. The clinical features of 113 patients (48 male and 65 female) with a mean age of 65 years, operated in a period of 10 years, were reviewed. The follow up was made by clinic appointments or home visits. The tumor was localized in the right colon in 30 cases, transverse colon in 20, splenic angle in 14, left colon in 39 and rectum in 10. Operative mortality was 34% for tumors of the right colon and 14% form tumors of the left colon. The follow up of the 89 survivors was accomplished in 97% with a mean follow up of 54 months (range 6 months-10 years). The principal prognostic factor was the initial stage of the tumor; survival was 87% for Dukes-Turnbull stage A, 70% for stage B and 32% for stage C1. The maximal survival period for stages D was 28 months. Patients subjected to an initial resective surgical procedure fared better, although not significantly, than colostomized patients. Present tendency is to perform one surgical procedure, avoiding colostomies that worsen patients quality of life and require a second intervention that increases surgical morbidity.

Nature and frequency of bony tumors in prehistoric and historic populations

The skeletons of the Merovingian population from Kleinlangheim (Southern Germany) were examined by macroscopic, radiological, endoscopic and microscopic techniques. In about 6% skull tumors could be diagnosed. All five cases reported here are examples of benign tumors. Three of these are tumors of the paranasal sinuses. A connection between sinusitis and fibro-osseous tumors of the paranasal sinuses is suggested. The etiology of these tumors and methods of diagnosis of tumors in archaeologic bone are discussed.

[The problems of early diagnosis of diffuse malignant mesothelioma from the pathologo-anatomic view]

An account is given in this paper of particular problems associated with early detection of mesotheliomatous alterations and differential diagnosis for their distinction from reactive mesothelial cell proliferations. Reference is made, in that context, to pathologico-anatomic experience obtained from postmortem and biopsy samples of human malignant mesotheliomas and animal experiments, following exposure to various asbestos-containing dusts. Diagnoses, such as "premesotheliomatous alteration" or "early mesothelioma", in other words, differentiation between benign and malignant, consequently, appear to be unjustified.

Structure of the major oligosaccharide of cobra venom factor

Cobra venom factor (CVF), the complement-activating glycoprotein in cobra venom, contains three or possibly four N-linked oligosaccharide chains per molecule and is devoid of O-linked saccharides. Analysis by lectin-affinity staining revealed the presence of complex-type oligosaccharides containing non-reducing terminal alpha-galactosyl residues and fucose residues linked to the proximal N-acetylglucosamine. Sialic acid residues could not be detected. For their structural analysis, the oligosaccharides were released by hydrazinolysis and fractionated on Bio-Gel P-4. Approximately 80% of the eluted oligosaccharides have a size equivalent of 17 +/- 2 glucose units. The major oligosaccharide representing about 45% of the total carbohydrate present in CVF was purified to homogeneity by MicroPak AX-5 HPLC and its structure was analyzed by sequential exoglycosidase digestion. The positions of the glycosidic linkages of the sugar residues were established by methylation analysis of CVF-derived glycopeptides. The data of these analyses indicated that the major oligosaccharide has a symmetrical fucosylated biantennary complex-type structure terminating with unusual alpha-galactosyl residues.

Parvovirus B19 infection of the fetus. Histology and in situ hybridization

Fetal tissues from 16 spontaneous abortions, two terminations, and one perinatal death, 18 of which were associated with maternal human parvovirus B19 infection, were examined for B19 infection by histology and in situ hybridization using a digoxigenin-labeled B19-DNA probe. In 15 spontaneous abortions and one termination, erythroblasts with intranuclear inclusions (lantern cells) reacted with B19-DNA by in situ hybridization. No internal or external fetal malformations were observed. Because 13 (86.7%) spontaneous abortions with lantern cells occurred between the 20th and 28th weeks of gestation, it is postulated that B19 infection may be a particular threat to the fetus during this stage of gestation.

Phenomenological kinetics of pharmacological response

The evaluation and quantitative analysis of the time course of drug response are difficult tasks even in uncomplicated fields of pharmacology. In an attempt to assist the analysis of the pharmacological effect, a procedure is presented which incorporates widely used intuitive-experimental practices of evaluation, and descriptive kinetic functions. The aim is to find a simple function which can approximate the time course of the response curves at different doses. Having estimated the values of parameters for each curve, valuable information can be drawn by examining the dose-parameter relationships. The method is illustrated by one possible evaluation and interpretation of the blood pressure-time curves of a drug.

Giant axonal neuropathy (GAN): an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study report of a Latin American case

Giant axonal neuropathy (GAN), a progressive childhood disorder of intermediate filaments (IF), is characterized by a peripheral neuropathy and central nervous system involvement. Twenty-eight cases have been reported while several pathogenic hypotheses have been proposed. Sural nerve biopsy of a 10-year-old Argentinian girl showed a reduced number of myelinated fibers as well as several enlarged axons up to 30 microns in diameter, thinly myelinated or devoid of myelin sheath, displaying accumulation of neurofilaments (NF), but few microtubules (MT) beneath the axolemmal membrane. There was IF accumulation in Schwann and perineural cells as well as in melanocytes, fibroblasts, pericytes, endothelial and epithelial cells in both nerve and skin biopsy. Our findings strongly support GAN as a generalized IF disorder with MT segregation from NF in giant axons. Abnormal NF phosphorylation is suggested by heavy immunostaining of enlarged axons by a monoclonal antibody to NF phosphorylated determinants (SMI 31-Sternberger's) and lack of reaction with a monoclonal antibody with different phosphoepitopes affinity (SMI 34-Sternberger's).

The Neuman Systems Model: application to a patient with a cervical spinal cord injury

Neuman's Systems Model provides a framework for holistic neuroscience nursing practice. Utilizing Neuman's assessment format, results are presented for a patient who sustained a cervical spinal cord injury. Nursing diagnoses are identified and a sample plan of care is included.

Site-specific mutagenesis of PRD1 DNA polymerase: mutations in highly conserved regions of the family B DNA polymerase

The PRD1 DNA polymerase is a small multifunctional enzyme containing three major conserved amino acid sequences shared by family B DNA polymerases. Thus, the PRD1 DNA polymerase provides an useful model system with which to study structure-function relationships of DNA polymerase molecules. In order to investigate the functional and structural roles of the highly conserved amino acid sequences, we have introduced mutations into each of the 3 conserved regions of the PRD1 DNA polymerase. Genetic complementation study as well as DNA polymerase assay indicated that each mutation inactivated DNA polymerase catalytic activity, but not the 3' to 5' exonuclease activity.

Induction of heterotypic virus resistance in adult inbred mice immunized with a variant of Coxsackievirus B3

Infection of adult male C3H/HeJ mice with a host range variant of Coxsackievirus B3 (CB3W-RD) induced resistance in these mice to an otherwise lethal dose of Coxsackievirus B1 (CB1). The protective effect induced by CB3W-RD was detectable as early as 1 day post-vaccination and was still present 10 weeks later. While untreated mice infected with CB1 died within 5 days because of massive hepatic necrosis, the liver was spared in mice immunized with CB3W-RD and then challenged with CB1. In general, CB1 titers in heart, liver, and pancreas of CB3W-RD-vaccinated animals were lower than that found in unvaccinated animals. Virus neutralizing antibody was not a mediator of this heterotypic, virus-induced protective effect. In addition, the outcome of CB1 infection could be modified if superinfection with CB3W-RD took place within 1-4 days following CB1 infection. In this regard, maximum therapeutic efficacy was observed when CB1 infected mice were superinfected 2 days after CB1 infection. CB1-infected mice that survived as a result of treatment with CB3W-RD exhibited liver regeneration but did develop myocardial necrosis.

[Results of osteologic studies of medieval pediatric skeletons with special reference to the population of Anatolia]

Causes and frequency of diseases during childhood in populations of the Middle Ages were studied. The infant skeletons of ten populations from Central Europe and Anatolia were examined by macroscopical, radiological, endoscopical, histological, and scanning-electron microscopical techniques. Because only little is known about Anatolian populations, more attention was paid to the Byzantine populations. The infant skeletons are very well preserved. Therefore, the morbidity and the mortality could be studied in detail. The following disorders were diagnosed: anemia, C-avitaminosis, D-avitaminosis, osteomyelitis, meningitis-meningoencephalitis, otitis media and mastoiditis, perisinusitis, inflammation of the cavum nasi, inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, stomatitis, periodontal diseases, caries, pleuritis, trauma, and malformations. The frequency of diseases and the mortality depended on the type and the intensity of particular external life conditions. These may have been quite different in several social groups of the same population. In summary, these studies provide new information on the etiology and the epidemiology of diseases during childhood in the Middle Ages.

Pathogenesis of acute myocardial necrosis in inbred mice infected with coxsackievirus B3

The pathogenesis of myocardial necrosis due to CB3W infection was studied in BALB/c and C3H/HeJ mice. BALB/c mice infected with 5 x 10(4) pfu were found to die of massive hepatic coagulative necrosis before myocardial changes occurred. Reducing the inoculum size to 5 x 10(2) pfu resulted in sublethal hepatic involvement and multifocal myocardial coagulative necrosis by day 7 p.i. In contrast, C3H/HeJ mice survived infection and developed multifocal myocardial coagulative necrosis, but not liver disease following inoculation with as much as 5 x 10(6) pfu of CB3W. As with BALB/c mice infected with 5 x 10(2) pfu, myocardial lesions became apparent in C3H/HeJ mice a few days after peak cardiac virus titer was attained. Minimal inflammatory infiltrate was seen following development of cellular necrosis and was restricted to the areas of virus-induced pathologic change. However, no evidence was found for virus-specific cytotoxic T cell activity or for delayed type hypersensitivity responses. Furthermore, myocardial necrosis in CB3W-infected, T cell-depleted C3H/HeJ mice was as severe as in CB3W-infected, immunocompetent mice. These data have led us to conclude that cardiac lesions were due to virus-induced cytopathology rather than immunopathogenic mechanisms.

Relation between renal and hepatic excretion of drugs: X. Excretion of nalorphine in young and adult rats pretreated with hormones or xenobiotics

Different processes are involved in renal and hepatic excretion of organic anions and cations. In contrast to our knowledge of anion excretion, information about cation transport in kidney and liver is relatively scarce. In this study, the elimination of nalorphine was investigated to characterize the relation between renal and hepatic excretion of organic cations. Nalorphine is excreted effectively both via kidney and liver. However, its hepatic excretion dominates in adult rats. In young, 20-day-old animals biliary nalorphine elimination is immature and the excreted amounts are significantly lower. Renal excretion of nalorphine is quite similar in rats of both ages. After bile duct ligation renal excretion of nalorphine increases significantly in adult rats whereas it remains unchanged in young ones. Remarkably, after bilateral nephrectomy hepatic elimination of nalorphine is even diminished in both age groups. In further experiments renal excretion of nalorphine could be stimulated in adult rats after repeated administration of trometamol, triiodothyronine, or dexamethasone; these treatments had no consequences on biliary secretion of nalorphine.

Problems of experimental tumourigenesis by fibrous dusts, especially by asbestos (with regard to stanton's hypothesis)

Asbestos dust has got a very great importance because cancerogenicity is imputed into it in occupational and, perhaps, in common environmental conditions too. The short review deals with general problems in experimenting with fibrous dusts, especially the modes of its application, the transferability of results to human pathology and the cause and pathway of cancerisation by fibres and crystals.

Cobra venom factor and human C3 share carbohydrate antigenic determinants

As tools to study structural relationships of cobra venom factor (CVF) and human complement component C3, murine monoclonal antibodies to CVF were produced. In this paper we describe two of these monoclonal anti-CVF antibodies designated GV1.8 and GV1.10, both of which bind to carbohydrate epitopes. On immunoblotting, antibody GV1.8 binds to both the alpha- and beta-chains of CVF, whereas antibody GV1.10 binds only to the alpha-chain of CVF. After enzymatic deglycosylation of CVF with N-glycanase (peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) asparagine amidase), both antibodies lose their ability to bind to the deglycosylated protein. Additionally, the free oligosaccharide chains of CVF are able to inhibit the binding of antibodies GV1.8 and GV1.10 to CVF on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, further demonstrating their carbohydrate specificity. Both monoclonal antibodies to CVF cross-react with human C3. Antibody GV1.8 binds to both chains of human C3 indicating that the shared antigenic epitope present on the two glycosylated chains of CVF is also present on the two chains of human C3. Antibody GV1.10 cross-reacts only with the beta-chain of human C3 which is the homologous chain to the alpha-chain of CVF. After enzymatic deglycosylation of human C3 by N-glycanase, both antibodies lose their ability to bind to the deglycosylated protein consistent with the carbohydrate nature of the recognized epitopes. These results indicate that CVF and human C3 share carbohydrate epitopes on their homologous and nonhomologous chains.

Cobra venom factor and human C3 share carbohydrate antigenic determinants

As tools to study structural relationships of cobra venom factor (CVF) and human complement component C3, murine monoclonal antibodies to CVF were produced. In this paper we describe two of these monoclonal anti-CVF antibodies designated GV1.8 and GV1.10, both of which bind to carbohydrate epitopes. On immunoblotting, antibody GV1.8 binds to both the alpha- and beta-chains of CVF, whereas antibody GV1.10 binds only to the alpha-chain of CVF. After enzymatic deglycosylation of CVF with N-glycanase (peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) asparagine amidase), both antibodies lose their ability to bind to the deglycosylated protein. Additionally, the free oligosaccharide chains of CVF are able to inhibit the binding of antibodies GV1.8 and GV1.10 to CVF on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, further demonstrating their carbohydrate specificity. Both monoclonal antibodies to CVF cross-react with human C3. Antibody GV1.8 binds to both chains of human C3 indicating that the shared antigenic epitope present on the two glycosylated chains of CVF is also present on the two chains of human C3. Antibody GV1.10 cross-reacts only with the beta-chain of human C3 which is the homologous chain to the alpha-chain of CVF. After enzymatic deglycosylation of human C3 by N-glycanase, both antibodies lose their ability to bind to the deglycosylated protein consistent with the carbohydrate nature of the recognized epitopes. These results indicate that CVF and human C3 share carbohydrate epitopes on their homologous and nonhomologous chains.