Spectral analysis of all-night sleep EEG in healthy adults

Power and coherence spectra were computed from all-night sleep EEG records in 6 healthy adult subjects. Derivations were from F3, F4, P3, P4, O1, O2, T3, and T4 to the vertex (Cz). Records were conventionally scored into sleep stages. Average power per sleep stage was maximal at frequencies 0.4-6 c/s in stage 4, at 6-10 c/s in either stage 3 or stage 4, at 12-14 c/s in stage 2 and at 14-30 c/s in stage 1. The average power range from highest values in the lowest frequency band to lowest values in the highest frequency band showed marked differences between sleep stages: It was lowest (12-14 dB) in stage 1, followed by stage 2 (20-22 dB), and stage 3 (16-28 dB), and largest in stage 4 (29-32 dB). REM sleep (15-16 sB) was between stage 1 and 2. The waking state showed an average power range of 11-15 dB. Alpha power at 8-10 c/s in occipital and parietal leads was remarkably constant during sleep, i.e. independent of sleep stage. Coherence showed maximal values at 2-8 c/s in REM sleep, at 8-12 c/s in stage 4, at 12-17 c/s in either stage 3 or 4, and at 17-30 c/s again in stage REM. There was significant coherence increase at 2-8 and 17-30 c/s from NREM to REM sleep, most pronounced between parietal to vertex derivations. Overall coherence between both occipital-to-vertex, or between occipital and parietal-to-vertex derivations, was essentially higher than in the other derivations. The results, essentially, give a comprehensive phenomenology of the dynamic spectral structure of all-night sleep EEG. They suggest that the different brain states during sleep (e.g. stage 1 NREM vs. REM) which are associated with different functions (e.g. hypnagogic hallucinations vs. dreams) differ in EEG spectral parameters if coherence is considered. Likewise, they suggest that studies of automatic sleep staging based exclusively on EEG spectral parameters appear promising.

Increase in numbers of 6-thioguanine-resistant human lymphocytes in short-term culture

Lymphocytes from healthy young adults and from adolescent patients with cancer were examined for their ability to incorporate [3H]thymidine in short-term culture in the presence of phytohemagglutinin and 6-thioguanine (6-TG). The numbers of labeled nuclei after 72 h in culture were compared to numbers of labeled nuclei after 30 h in culture. The numbers of labeled nuclei in the presence of 6-TG increased 6-65-fold between 30 and 72 h. The increases in number could be accounted for by 3-6 cycles of cell division. The data suggest that 6-TG-resistant peripheral blood lymphocytes are capable of reproduction in short-term culture, but factors other than reproduction may also contribute to increases in numbers of 6-TG-resistant cells.

A monoclonal antibody that detects expression of transferrin receptor in human erythroid precursor cells

A monoclonal antibody, L5.1, obtained by immunizing a Balb/c mouse with HL60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells, was found to react with both HL60 cells and with the K562(S) cell line. This monoclonal antibody binds and immunoprecipitates a glycoprotein (Mr 87,000) present on the cell surface membrane of K562(S) as a disulfide bonded dimer. In competition experiments L5.1 competes with both transferrin and OKT9 (a known antitransferrin receptor antibody) for binding to target K562(S) erythroleukemia cells. Binding of both L5.1 and transferrin to the surface of K562(S) cells is inhibited by treatment with 12--O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate, and the extent and time course of inhibition is similar in both cases. Cell sorting analysis of normal human marrow cells incubated with L5.1 indicates that L5.1 reacts strongly with all the morphologically recognizable erythroid lineage precursors, from the pronormoblast to the orthochromatic normoblast, and with reticulocytes. Erythrocytes, myeloid elements, monocytes, megakaryocytes and platelets, peripheral blood B and T lymphocytes do not bind significantly with this antibody and only a small fraction of promyelocytes was reactive. Antibody L5.1 did not react with leukemic cells of patients with acute lymphoblastic, myeloblastic and promyelocytic leukemias, but it did react with some established B (1 of 5) and T (2 of 3) cell lines, and a myeloid (1 of 3) cell line, and with PHA-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes. The nonhemopoietic cell lines tested did not bind with L5.1 with the exception of a colorectal adenocarcinoma and a melanoma cell line, which were both strongly positive. The relationship of antibody L5.1 to other monoclonal antibodies that bind the transferrin receptor is discussed.

Monoclonal antibodies that detect differentiation surface antigens on human myelomonocytic cells

We describe here the production and characterization of several new monoclonal antibodies that recognize differentiation antigens present on human cells of the myelomonocytic lineage. The lineage and the stage specificities of our reagents (myeloid-, monocytic-, and myelomonocytic-specific) were determined on the basis of their reactivity with human cell lines and with human peripheral blood and bone marrow cells. Cross-competition experiments demonstrated that some of the antibodies react with the same or closely associated antigenic determinants. Five antigens have been identified in this way: one present on myeloid, one on monocytic, and three on both myeloid and monocytic cells. The possible relationship of our antibodies with other established monoclonal antibodies is discussed, in addition to their use in the in vitro study of the differentiation pathways of human hemopoietic cells and in the characterization of leukemias.

High-dose methotrexate and adriamycin in osteogenic sarcoma: the children's hospital of Philadelphia study

From 1975 through 1979, 25 patients with osteosarcoma received therapy with vincristine, high-dose methotrexate, citrovorum factor, and Adriamycin. Five patients had metastases prior to receiving chemotherapy, and 11 of the remaining 20 nonmetastatic patients received preoperative or preirradiation chemotherapy. Chemotherapy caused objective tumor regression in 1 of 5 patients with metastases and 1 of 11 with measurable primaries. All five patients with metastatic disease died 7-16 months from diagnosis. Of the 20 nonmetastatic patients, 4 did not have primary amputations: all died. Of 16 patients with primary amputations, 6 are alive relapse-free 24-86 months from diagnosis, and 10 are dead. The actuarial survival of 36% is not statistically different from that of historical control groups or from that of concurrent control groups treated with surgery alone. However, because most adjuvant chemotherapy studies have involved few patients, 36% survival is not statistically different from the 50-70+% survival reported in previous studies. Our data fail to demonstrate that the adjuvant chemotherapy has improved the survival rate of children with osteosarcoma. We support a randomized, controlled comparison of adjuvant chemotherapy and aggressive surgical resection.

Preleukemia in children

Six children who developed acute myelomonocytic leukemia presented with a preleukemic syndrome. The incidence of preleukemic presentation of AMML was 17% of children with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, or 2.9% of all children with acute leukemia at this institution, incidences similar to those in adults. During the preleukemic phase, which lasted from three to 35 months, all children had anemia, all had infectious complications, and three of six had hemorrhagic tendencies. Three received steroids before the diagnosis of AMML, and all had some objective response. Two patients died before receiving therapy for AMML. Four children who received AMML therapy with combinations including cytosine arabinoside and an anthracycline achieved complete remission. Ultimately, all patients died. Clues to diagnosis of preleukemia include unexplained cytopenias, either absolute or functional, peripheral blasts, progressive megaloblastosis with an elevated B12 value, dyserythropoiesis, abnormalities of nuclear segmentation, nonrandom chromosomal alterations, and reduced marrow colony to cluster ratio in vitro. Until there is a highly effective therapy for ANLL, precisely when to treat the child with preleukemia remains uncertain. However, treatment should be started before infectious complications or hemorrhagic tendencies become life-threatening.

Epstein-Barr virus-related serology in marrow transplant recipients

Serial sera from 50 marrow transplant recipients were examined for their spectra and titers of antibodies to EBV-specific antigens. Immediately before or after transplant, blood products passively transferred antibodies to EB viral capsid antigen (VCA) and EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA). In most recipients, passively-transferred antibodies were replaced by endogenous antibodies regardless of whether donor or recipient had EBV antibodies before transplantation. Commencement or resumption of endogenous EBV antibody production was not associated with signs of infectious mononucleosis or heterophil antibody responses. Antibodies to VCA rose to abnormally high titers, followed successively by antibody to early antigens (EA), and disproportionately low levels of anti-EBNA. Unusually high anti-VCA and anti-EA levels persisted when tests of immune function returned to normal. Antibodies to other herpes group viruses showed no consistent changes. We conclude that (1) EBV does not cause significant clinical problems in marrow transplant recipients; (2) persistent EBV infection can become established or reestablished in the presence of antibodies to EBV; (3) marrow transplant recipients show the same exaggerated immune response to EBV as other immunodeficient patients; and (4) the pattern of EBV-specific antibodies may be a more sensitive measure of defective cell-mediated immunity than most conventional tests of immune function.

Differentiation of human leukemias in response to 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in vitro

Leukemic cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia underwent morphological, functional, and histochemical changes within 24-48 hr after treatment with 1.6 x 10-18 M 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). The changes included adhesion to the plastic substrate, a 4-6-fold increase in the number of phagocytic cells, and an increase in the number of alpha-naphthyl-acetate esterase (alpha-NAE) positive cells. In contrast, TPA treatment of cells from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia caused some aggregation of cells in suspension, but no changes in adhesion, phagocytosis, or alpha-NAE. Of the four cases of undifferentiated or unclassified leukemias studied, two failed to respond to TPA, one responded with a myeloid (adhesion) pattern, and one with a lymphoid (aggregation) pattern. These data suggest that leukemic myeloblasts retain the ability to express a variety of differentiated functions, and in some cases, it may be possible to use TPA as a tool to test the differentiative potential of undifferentiated human leukemias.

Sparing of the brain in neonatal undernutrition: amino acid transport and incorporation into brain and muscle

Rates of tyrosine and lysine transport and incorporation into protein were measured in control and undernourished weanling rats. Undernutrition was induced by feeding lactating dams a low protein diet (12 percent casein) from birth to day 21. At weaning, body and brain weights of undernourished rats were 50 percent and 88 percent, respectively, of control values. Lysine and tyrosine transport rates into skeletal muscle were reduced by over 75 percent, more than twice the reduction seen in brain. Rates of amino acid incorporation into muscle protein were reduced by approximately 50 percent; the change in rate of incorporation into brain protein was not statistically significant. These data indicate that, in spite of marked retardation of amino acid transport into brain, the brain seems fully capable of maintaining normal rates of protein synthesis.

Antibody responses to influenza immunization of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Antibody responses of two doses of a bivalent influenza vaccine containing A/Victoria/75 (A/Vic/75) and A/New Jersey/76 (A/NJ/76) viral antigens were studied in 22 children receiving maintenance chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 16 children no longer receiving therapy for ALL, and 50 sibling controls. Before immunization, the three groups showed no difference in titer of antibody to either antigen. After the first immunization, children off therapy showed significantly higher titers to A/NJ/76 than did either sibling controls of children receiving therapy (P less than 0.01). After the second immunization, children off therapy showed significantly higher antibody titers to both antigens than did children receiving therapy or controls (P less than 0.01 for both A/NJ/76 and A/Vic/75). Antibody titers of children receiving therapy were not significantly different from those of controls. A year later, there were no significant differences in antibody titers among the groups. Thus, children with ALL who are receiving chemotherapy respond normally to two doses of influenza vaccine, whereas children off therapy manifest abnormally high titers of antibody to both influenza virus antigens.

Research designs appropriate for service agencies

The intent of research is to inform co-workers in similar environments of new or varied approaches to problems assumed to be shared. However, narratives of reported studies neglect to identify variables necessary for reproducing environmental contigencies. If the proposition is accepted that service agencies occupy unique environments, then single organism research designs such as ABAB and multiple baseline designs may provide more valuable information than currently accepted research methodologies.

Association of human chromosome 14 with a ts defect in G1 of Chinese hamster K12 cells

Somatic cell hybrids between human lymphoblastoid cells (Raji) and temperature-sensitive Chinese hamster cells (K12) were selected from monolayer cultures in MEM at 40 degrees C. A total of 21 hybrid clones were isolated and karyotyped. All clones contained a near complete set of Chinese hamster chromosomes and 1 to 5 human chromosomes. Human chromosome 14 present in the hybrid cells of all clones; and was the only human chromosome retained in 10 clones. The presence of human chromosome 14 in hybrids was further confirmed by the demonstration of human nucleoside phosphorylase activity in the hybrid cells. Only one hybrid clone was positive for EBNA, the Epstein-Barr virus antigen present in Raji cells. These findings indicate that human chromosome 14 contains the necessary information for the K12 cells to overcome their G1 defect in the cell cycle and grow at non-permissive temperature. The present study lends strong support to the possibility that different steps in the G1 phase of the cell cycle are controlled by genes located on different chromosomes.

Transcription and circular dichroism of chromatin in lymphoblastoid cell lines during proliferation and quiescence

RNA polymerase activity of nuclei and positive circular dichroism ellipticity in the 250--300 nm region of chromatin were studied in three lymphoblastoid cell lines: HRI, an Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) positive virus-producing line; Raji, and EBV positive virus-producing line; Raji, an EBV positive non-producer line; and SU-AMB-1, and EBV negative line. Raji consistently exhibited the highest and SU-AMB-1 the lowest polymerase activity and ellipticity. All lines showed higher RNA polymerase activity and positive ellipticity when exponentially growing than when stationary. In Raji it was shown that changes in RNA polymerase activity and chromatin ellipiticity were parallel. The changes in RNA polymerase activity of nuclei and circular dichroism ellipticity correlated with those of the proliferative state but not with the number of viral genomes or the production of virus or viral antigens.

Longitudinal study of Epstein-Barr virus antibody titers and excretion in pediatric patients with Hodgkin's disease

Nineteen pediatric patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) who had experienced primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) before, or in one case after, diagnosis, were studied longitudinally for changes in the titers and spectra of EBV-related antibodies, excretion of EBV into the oropharynx, the number of EBV-carrying lymphoid cells in the peripheral blood, and clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of reactivation of the latent virus. The incidence and geometric mean titers of IgG antibodies to viral capsid antigen (VCA) in the HD patients at the time of diagnosis and in the controls were similar. The anti-VCA titers of the patients rose above control levels during and after therapy and remained elevated for up to 7 years of observation. At no time were heterophil or VCA-specific IgM antibodies detected. Antibodies to EBV-induced early antigens were more common in patients (ultimately 80%) than in controls (9%). In contrast, antibody levels to EBV-associated nuclear antigen were disproportionally low in the patients. Excretion of EBV was noted at increased frequency in the patients but the number of circulating, EBV-carrying lymphoid cells was the same as in controls. No discrete clinical syndrome was associated with rising antibody titers or viral excretion. While these results are best explained by a presumed reactivation of the persistent EBV infection by immunosuppressive effects of HD or its therapy, they have not provided direct evidence for this suggestion.

Treatment of advanced Hodgkin's disease in pediatric patients

From 1970 to 1976, twenty patients with stage II E or II B to IV B Hodgkin's disease were treated at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Initially, four of the stage II or III patients received planned total nodal irradiation (TNI) alone; three patients developed progressive disease during irradiation, and one relapsed after 18 months. These results with TNI led to the use of combined modality therapy. Sixteen patients (4, stage II E or B; 8, stage III; 4, stage IV) were treated with COPP (cyclophosphamide, Oncovin, prednisone, and procarbazine) and radiation therapy. In 14 patients treatment was started with COPP. Patients with disease below L2 received TNI; the rest received involved field (IF) or extended field (EF) irradiation. No patient treated with combination therapy encountered life-threatening toxicity. Relapse-free survival in 12 stage II or III patients is 100% with a median follow-up of 28 months (range, 24 to 91 months). Only one of four stage IV patients is alive. Combined modality therapy is effective, tolerable therapy for children with stage II B--III Hodgkin's disease. No relapses occurred in 10 patients given less that potentially curative radiation. Smaller radiation fields and lower doses are planned for the future.

Studies on EEG activities in the beta band

A report on first findings of quantitative investigations of beta activity in the frequency domain is presented. Spectral analysis techniques were applied in three parallel still ongoing clinical studies, i.e. (1) an exploration of beta activities in a broad clinical material, (2) a study of the possible use of quantitative beta assessment in antiepileptic drug therapy, and (3) an investigation of special patterns with harmonic components in the beta band. Several clearly distinguishable types of spectral shapes, different coherence characteristics, significant alterations by changes of drug composition and a rich variation of harmonic patterns indicate a large and fascinating new field for clinical EEG research.

A simple system for mechanical and electrical recordings from frog nerve-muscle preparation

A device is described which can be used for simultaneous measurement of the muscle action potential and the contraction of the frog gastrocnemius nerve-muscle preparation. The apparatus is characterized by ease of construction, good accuracy and reliability.

[Over-additive increase of the toxicity of lidocaine by pethidine]

The influence of LD50 of lidocain by preliminary treatment with pethidin, aminophenazone or diazepam, respectively, is examined at the mouse. When pethidine is given within 1/100 to 1/10 of its LD50 develops a dose-dependent increase of toxicity for lidocaine. In 10 mg pethidin/kg the LD50 for lidocain decreases about the half. Under the conditions chosen amino phenazone and diazepam had no influence on the toxicity of lidocaine. It is referred to clinical aspects when pethidine and lidocain are simultaneously applied.

Evaluation of a live, attenuated recombinant influenza vaccine in high school children

A live, attenuated, recombinant influenza vaccine (Alice strain) administered intranasally was evaluated in high school students and compared with intranasal placebo and subcutaneous, inactivated, bivalent influenza vaccine. The Alice strain was antigenic, increasing the geometric mean titer (GMT) from a prestudy level of 30.2 to a postvaccine level of 189.6. The inactivated vaccine increased the GMT from 32.9 to 361.8. There was no increase in the GMT among the placebo recipients. The Alice strain produced little reaction. With an antigenic, safe, acceptable, live, attenuated influenza vaccine available, immunization on a widespread basis should be considered.