Effect of control of blood glucose on urinary excretion of albumin and beta2 microglobulin in insulin-dependent diabetes. To study the effects of improved control of blood glucose on markers of renal glomerular and tubular function, we initially determined, by radioimmunoassay technics, urinary excretion rates of albumin and beta2 microglobulin in 17 nondiabetic subjects and in 43 insulin-dependent, clinically nonproteinuric diabetic patients. Duration of diabetes ranged from six months to 39 years, and the patients were studied while receiving conventional therapy. Mean urinary albumin excretion was significantly elevated in the diabetics, but beta2-microglobulin excretion rates were not different from those of the controls, suggesting that the increased albumin excretion was due to increased transglomerular loss of albumin. Seven patients with long-term diabetes (duration of six to 33 years), selected because of elevated albumin excretion, were studied before and during a continuous, subcutaneous insulin infusion for a period of one to three days. Urinary albumin excretion was significantly reduced during the insulin infusion, but mean beta2-microglobulin excretion did not change. Strict control of blood glucose, even in the short term, may reverse a functional renal abnormality in long-duration, insulin-dependent diabetes.


[Selective binding of tRNA by RNA dependent DNA-polymerase from Escherichia coli]. Highly purified RNA dependent DNA-polymerase was isolated recently from E. coli by Romashchenko et al. [8]. The present data demonstrate that total E. coli tRNA inhibits poly(dT) synthesis on poly (A): oligo (dT) catalyzed by the enzyme when the enzyme:tRNA ratio is about 1 : 80--100. The inhibition results from the binding of certain tRNA's by the enzyme. The enzyme tRNA complex was separated from the unbound tRNA's by gel-filtration of Sephadex G-100. The tRNA's extracted from the complex are able to inhibit completely poly(A):oligo(dT) templated synthesis of poly(dT) under the enzyme:tRNA ratio about 1 : 2--3. Aminoacylation of tRNA separated from the enzyme complex has shown that E. coli RNA dependent DNA-polymerase selectively binds tRNAThr and to a lesser extent tRNATyr and tRNALys. It is suggested that the enzyme bound tRNA's carry out the functions of natural primers which compete with oligo(dT) for the enzyme responsible for the primer binding.


Human urinary bladder carcinoma cell line (T24): immunological studies and search for oncornavirus in T24 cell population and derived clones. Cytotoxicity of mononuclear cell (MNC) preparations isolated from peripheral blood of patients with urinary bladder carcinomas of a transitional (BTCC) or squamous (BSCC) type and from blood of control subjects was examined on the target cells of T24 cell line. In pilot experiments the percentage of cytotoxic MNC preparations was found to be similar in patients with tumors of BTCC (European, 56%;African, 60%) and BSCC (54%) type. Cytotoxicity of MNC prepared from control subjects was detected in 10% of cases or less. These data suggest an antigenic cross-reactivity between urinary bladder carcinomas of transitional and squamous cell type. The cytotoxic MNC from peripheral blood of patients with BTCC and control subjects were fractionated by adherence in nylon wool columns, and the cytotoxicity of adherent and nonadherent MNC subpopulations was examined. In the majority of cytotoxic MNC preparations from both donors with and without BTCC, the cytotoxic activity was associated with nonadherent MNC. Comparison of immunosensitivity of T24 cell population with the cloned T24 subpopulations indicated that clones with various digrees of immunosensitivity are present in the T24 cell population. However, immunosensitivity of the clones was never higher than the immunosensitivity of the T24 cell population. A search for oncornavirus particles produced spontaneously or after treatment with virus production activators performed with regard to the possible association of oncornaviruses and antigens responsible for cell-mediated cytotoxicity gave thus far negative results.


Genetic determination of antibody specificity. Gene translocation and fusion, the molecular basis for the differentiation of the antibody-producing cell. The best system for the study of cell differentiation is a cell which in its differentiated state differs only by one product. This is the case in the immune system. The undifferentiated, but omnipotent stem cell differentiates into a committed B cell which produces only one type of specific antibody out of a million different, genetically fixed possibilities. Gene translocation and fusion is the basis of this differentiation process.


Isolation of alpha-1 fetoprotein.

Isolation of alpha-1 fetoprotein. A suitable method of the isolation of alpha-1 fetoprotein for the needs of enzyme immunoassay of this oncofetal antigen is described. By combining isoelectric focusing and "indirect" affinity chromatography the preparation of alpha-1 fetoprotein was obtained that was not contaminated with IgG, contrary to the isolation performed by means of "direct" affinity chromatography on a carrier with coupled anti-alpha-1 fetoprotein antibodies, or other immunochemical methods that usually yielded contaminated preparations. Neither disc electrophoresis in PAA gel, immunoelectrophoresis, double radial immunodiffusion, nor biological experiments revealed any traces of ballast proteins in the resulting preparation; it seems suitable both for the preparation of monovalent antisera of a sufficient avidity, and as a standard for enzyme immunoassay.


Improved sodium and PAH transport in the isolated fluorocarbon-perfused rat kidney. The effect of an artificial O2 carrier (emulsion of the perfluorochemical FC43 with Pluronic-F-108) on the functional capability of the isolated perfused rat kidney was tested. In control series hydroxyethyl starch (HES) instead of fluorocarbon was used. Improving O2 supply in FC 43 experiments raised Na reabsorption to 149 mumol/g x min compared to 84.1 mumol/g x min in HES experiments. In the presence of PAH, however, Na reabsorption in FC 43 experiments was only 115 mumol/g x min. In both series, perfusion flow, calculated on the basis of CPAH, remained below the directly measured flow rate, unless analysis included all metabolites of PAH. N-acetylated metabolites of PAH were released at a 5 times higher rate by kidneys perfused with FC 43 than by HES-perfused organs. These results demonstrate that sufficient O2 supply is critical both for reabsorption of Na+ and for handling of PAH. Increased tubular Na reabsorption in the absence of PAH indicates that even during perfusion with FC 43 O2 supply is marginal.


Effect of furosemide on the urinary excretion of some plasma proteins. In 30 patients with a variety of glomerular renal disorders, intravenously administered furosemide was associated with a significant increase of the urinary excretion of the protein fraction with a molecular weight higher than 50,000. The excretion of protein with a molecular weight less than 50,000 was not altered. In relation to endogenous clearance of creatinine the clearance of transferrin, IgG and alpha2-macroglobulin increased significantly. In relation to transferrin clearance, the clearance values of albumin and IgG remained unchanged, whereas that of alpha2-macroglobulin increased significantly. These results support the view that furosemide increases the permeability of the glomerular capillary for serum proteins.


Age-dependent changes in the excretion of urinary proteins by the rat. The excretion of total urinary proteins (TUP) of rats beginning at weaning and extending to 12 months of age was correlated with the output of the sex-dependent alpha2u-globulin and albumin. At puberty, 40 days of age, the excretion of TUP corresponded to the output of alpha2u-globulin. At this age, alpha2u represented 30% of the total while albumin less than 10%. From 100 to 200 days of age, TUP remained constant while the excretion of albumin steadily increased. After 150--180 days of age, the concentrations of alpha2u and albumin in TUP were approximately equal. Thereafter, the excretion of albumin and TUP increased markedly whereas alpha2u excretion remained constant. At 373 days of age, albumin represented over 50--60% of the TUP while alpha2u was only 6--7%. Female rats which excrete little or no alpha2u exhibited a much lower level of proteinuria than the male during the first year. We suggest the existence of two phases of proteinuria in the male rat, namely, an early physiologic or alpha2u-globulinuric phase and a later albuminuric phase during which increasing quantities of plasma proteins, especially albumin, are lost.


Endodermal sinus tumor of the pineal region: case report. A 13-year-old boy presented with symptoms and signs of a posterior 3rd ventricle tumor associated with raised levels of serum and cerebrospinal alpha-fetoprotein. The patient underwent subtotal resection of the tumor followed by craniospinal radiation. Histopathological examination revealed a pure endodermal sinus tumor. Endodermal sinus tumors represent a rare type of germ cell tumor, only 13 intracranial cases having been reported in the literature.


Lip biopsy in connective tissue diseases. A review and study of seventy cases. The labial salivary glands from seventy patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (twenty cases), systemic progressive sclerosis (twenty-two cases), rheumatoid arthritis (twenty-three cases), and Sjögren's syndrome (five cases) and from fifty subjects without connective tissue diseases were studied by means of light and fluorescence microscopy. The availability of the lip biopsy as a diagnostic tool is stressed, but a differential diagnosis between the different connective tissue diseases was not achieved. Yet some of the latter disclosed peculiar lesions. The role of the inflammatory and degenerative components, as well as the pathogenesis of the lesions, is discussed.


[Effects of various work loads on premature beats in infancy (author's transl)]. Exercise testing in the form of knee bends is part of routine examination of children with a tendency to show premature beats. The commonly carried out exercise tests cause psychic stress, thereby intensifying these arrhythmias and giving rise to diagnostic errors. For this reason seven children 4--14 years old were additionally examined under various sports comparable to those work loads. It could be demonstrated that these telemetrically listed ECG traces showed definitely fewer premature beats than those listed under laboratory conditions. This method enables more exact evaluation of arrhythmias by exclusion of psychic stress and helps to beware children from unnecessary restriction of way of life.


Congenital insensitivity to pain and the "morphine-like" analgesic system. Congenital insensitivity to pain remains without a satisfactory physiopathological explanation. In an electrophysiological study on a nociceptive flexion reflex of the lower limb, the effects of naloxone and of placebo were compared in 8 normal subjects and in a patient with congenital insensitivity to pain. In normal subjects, no significant change in the reflex threshold was observed with naloxone or with placebo. In contrast, two electrophysiological abnormalities characterized the patient: (1) spontaneous elevation in the nociceptive reflex threshold of 350% as compared to control, and (2) a large (67%) and rapid (2--3 min) fall of this threshold for about 10 min following the administration of naloxone. These results raise the problem of the relationship between congenital insensitivity to pain and an hyperactivity of a naturally occurring "morphine-like" pain-inhibitory system.


Clinical evaluation of radio-labelled bleomycin for tumor detection. Investigations with bleomycin labelled with radionuclides other than 57Co in patients with cancer and in tumor-bearing animals are described. In patients 57Co-bleo appears to be a better tumor-seeking radiopharmaceutical than 111In-bleo, 99mTc-bleo or 197Hg-bleo. This can be explained by a higher stability in vivo and a better tumor-seeking property of 57Co-bleo and less disturbing activity in the cardiac pool and in bone and other normal tissues when assessing the scintigram. Results with 111In-bleo labelled in acidic solution are not essentially different from those with 111In-bleo labelled in neutral solution. Results of 197Hg-bleo are almost identical with those of 197HgCl2 regarding the tumor-seeking effect as well as the distribution in normal tissues and organs. Probably the complex of 197Hg to bleomycin is not stable in vivo. The superiority of 57Co-bleo over 99mTc-bleo, 197Hg-bleo and also over 67Cu-bleo is confirmed by experiments on tumor bearing animals. We may conclude that the indication for use of bleomycin as a tumor-seeking pharmaceutical labelled with 111In, 99mTc, 197Hg or 67Cu seems to be very limited.


[Prevention of severe hypotension caused by epidural anaesthesia for transurethral resection of the prostate (author's transl)]. Severe art. hypotensions are one of the most frequent complications of epidural anaesthesia. In 62 geriatric patients undergoing transurethral prostatic resection two methods of prophylaxis for hypotension were investigated: 1. 500ml HES before epidural anaesthesia and supine position until operation. 2. Lithotomy position immediately after EDA without plasma substitute. Blood pressure, heart rate and necessity for the application of vasoactive substances show that the lithotomy position immediately after EDA is the statistically better method. The problem of plasma substitutes in transurethral prostatic resection will be discussed.


[The effects of various anaesthetic techniques on central venous pressure during transurethral prostatectomy (author's transl)]. Central venous pressure was measured in 34 persons who had transurethral prostatectomy in general or regional anaesthesia. The aim of the investigation was to ascertain to what extent measurement of the central venous pressure as a parameter of blood volume can help towards the early diagnosis of hypervolaemia caused by the leakage of irrigation fluid into the patient's circulation. During general anaesthesia blood pressure and central venous pressure reached their maximum 10 minutes later and were significantly higher than was the case in regional anaesthesia. For detecting and preventing dangerous hypervolaemia during transurethral prostatectomy in general anaesthesia routine recording of the central venous pressure is recommended. The less severe reaction during regional anaesthesia on the circulation is probably attributable to a sympathicolytic effect and peripheral pooling. The early detection of the leakage syndrome is easier in the conscious patient.


Brain-derived fibroblast growth factor: identity with a fragment of the basic protein of myelin. Fibroblast growth factors (FGF) isolated from bovine brain have been identified chemically and immunologically as components of the myelin basic protein. The intact bovine basic protein molecule (170 residues), prepared by the standard acid extraction procedure, lacked mitogenic activity (tested at concentrations up to 10 microgram/ml). However, the polypeptide FGF-2, identified as residues 44-153 of the basic protein, was maximally mitogenic for fibroblasts at 10 ng/ml and polypeptide 44-166 (FGF-1) was maximally active at 100 ng/ml. Pituitary-derived FGF is a potent a growth factor as FGF-2, but appears to be biochemically and immunologically distinct from brain-derived FGF. FGF released in the central or peripheral nervous system as a consequence of myelin damage and basic protein proteolysis could provide a physiological stimulus for wound healing and myelin repair.


Interaction of phosphatidylserine with mast cells. Phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) potentiates histamine secretion from mast cells exposed to concanavalin A and Ca2+. In order to identify the form of PtdSer that is responsible for its effect on mast cell secretion, PtdSer containing a tritium-labeled serine moiety (3H-PtdSer) was synthesized from egg yolk phosphatidylcholine. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 3H-PtdSer and the binding isotherm for 3H-PtdSer interaction with mast cells were determined. The midpoints of the binding isotherm and the dose-response curve for potentiation of secretion coincide and are 2 orders of magnitude greater than the CMC. The shape of the binding curve is explicable either in terms of simple binding of preformed PtdSer micelles or of cooperative binding of monomeric PtdSer in which the number of molecules cooperatively associating with a mast cell binding site is equal to the number of monomers in a PtdSer micelle. In either case, at equilibrium, PtdSer micelles are bound to the mast cells. The number of PtdSer molecules bound to a single mast cell at equilibrium was estimated to be 3.7 X 10(9).


Specificity and crossreactivity of idiotypes of murine antibodies induced by poly(Tyr,Glu)-poly(DLAla)-poly(Lys) and poly(Phe,Glu)-poly(DLAla)-poly(Lys). Antibodies elicited against the two synthetic polypeptides, poly(Tyr,Glu)-poly(DLAla)-poly(Lys) [(T,G)-A-L] and poly(Phe,Glu)-poly(DLAla)-poly(Lys) [(Phe,G)-A-L], are crossreactive although the humoral responses to these immunogens are under different genetic controls. The fine specificity of the antibodies elicited by the two polypeptides was studied in the present work. Antisera against (Phe,G)-A-L bind both (125)I-labeled (T,G)-A-L and iodinated modified (Phe,G)-A-L. However, while the binding to (T,G)-A-L could be inhibited completely with the two antigens, the binding to (Phe,G)-A-L was inhibited completely with (Phe,G)-A-L and only partially with (T,G)-A-L. The binding of (125)I-labeled (T,G)-A-L to antisera against (T,G)-A-L was inhibted more efficiently by the homologous antigen than by (Phe,G)-A-L although both antigens completely inhibited the binding. (T,G)-A-L specific antibodies were purified on (T,G)-A-L immunoadsorbents from antisera of high and low responder mice to (T,G)-A-L immunized with (Phe,G)-A-L. (Phe,G)-A-L specific antibodies that did not bind (T,G)-A-L were isolated from the effluent of these columns. By use of anti-idiotypic antibodies of guinea pig against C3H.SW antibodies to (T,G)-A-L it was shown that (T,G)-A-L specific antibodies isolated from antisera against (Phe,G)-A-L of C3H.SW and C3H/DiSn mice possess part of the idiotypic determinants existing on antibodies of C3H.SW obtained by immunization with (T,G)-A-L. In contrast, antibodies to (Phe,G)-A-L that did not bind (T,G)-A-L did not share idiotypic determinants with C3H.SW antibody molecules against (T,G)-A-L. These results suggest that the B cell repertoire expressed by high and low responders to (T,G)-A-L after immunization with (Phe,G)-A-L is similar and represents only part of that of high responders immunized with (T,G)-A-L.


Depolarizing agents and cyclic nucleotides regulate the phosphorylation of specific neuronal proteins in rat cerebral cortex slices. The regulation of the state of phosphorylation of two specific neuronal proteins, designated protein Ia and protein 1b, has been studied in slices of rat cerebral cortex incubated in vitro. For this purpose, a method was developed that prevents dephosphorylation of these proteins during their extraction. When the slices were incubated in a standard Krebs-Ringer solution, proteins Ia and Ib were present almost entirely in the dephosphorylated form. Incubation with cyclic AMP, 8-bromo cyclic AMP, N6-monobutyryl cyclic AMP, or with a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, increased the phosphorylation of proteins Ia and Ib in the slices. Depolarization of neuronal membranes by high K+ or by veratridine was also associated with an increased phosphorylation of proteins Ia and Ib. The effect of depolarizing agents, but not that of cyclic nucleotides or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, required the presence of external Ca2+ in the incubation medium. Tetrodotoxin blocked the stimulation of the phosphorylation of proteins Ia and Ib induced by veratridine but not that induced by the other agents tested. Incubation of the brain slices with 8-bromo cyclic AMP, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, high K+, or veratridine also increased the state of phosphorylation of two other neuronal proteins found in extracts of the slices.


Morphological types of horizontal cell in the retina of the domestic cat. Two morphologically distinct types of horizontal cell are described from Golgi-stained whole mounts of the cat retina. They are referred to as A-type and B-type cells. The two types differ in their dendritic branching pattern, their overall size and the absence or presence of an axon. At every retinal position the dendrites of B-type cells branch more densely and overlap each other more frequently than do the dendrites of A-type cells. At equivalent retinal positions the dendritic field size of A-type cells is greater than that of B-type cells by a factor of about 1.5. Only B-type cells have an axon, which branches at the end into a large axon terminal system. The axons have no preferred direction of orientation. The stain-ability of horizontal cells by different Golgi methods is discussed.


Receptor contacts of horizontal cells in the retina of the domestic cat. The terminal aggregations of A- and B-type horizontal cells, stained by the Golgi-Colonnier method, have been analysed. The pattern of the aggregations is regular and is shown to be in register with the cone mosaic. Both tyes of horizontal cell are in contact with at least 80% of the cones above their dendritic fields. Therefore, the different horizontal cell classes cannot be selective for a special kind of cone but must have at least 60% of the cone input in common. Each A-type horizontal cell makes contacts with between 120 and 170 cones, and each B-type horizontal cell with 60-90 cones. An individual A-type horizontal cell occupies an average of 20% of the lateral elements of the triads in a cone pedicle, but an individual B-type cell fills only some 13%. Each and every cone is connected with several of both types of horizontal cell. An estimation of the number of rods converging onto a single axon terminal system showed that it could be as many as 3000.


Topography of horizontal cells in the retina of the domestic cat. Neurofibrillar methods stain a class of horizontal cells in the cat retina which are shown to be identical with the A-type horizontal cell of Golgi-staining. Thus all of the A-type cells of a single retina can be observed. On this basis the changes in density and dendritic field size of A-type horizontal cells with respect to retinal eccentricity were measured. The decrease in density from centre to periphery is balanced by a corresponding increase in size of the dendritic field. Consequently each retinal point--independent of retinal position--is covered by the dendritic fields of three of four A-type horizontal cells. The nuclei and nucleoli of B-type horizontal cells could also be recognized in neurofibrillar-stained material and thus their distribution was determined. The density ratio B-type: A-type is 2.8 +/- 0.4 and does not vary much from the centre to the periphery of the retina. Each retinal point is also covered by four B-type horizontal cells. Thus a single cone can contact a maximum of eight horizontal cells. The rate of density decrease from centre to periphery is closely similar in cones and horizontal cells but greater in ganglion cells.


Computer-assisted diagnosis of orthopedic gait disorders. A computer program was developed to help diagnose orthopedic gait disorders. Designing and implementing the program, as well as the program's method of operation are described. The main features of the program include: a knowledge base of facts about orthopedic gait, organized into premise-conclusion pairs; a goal-directed reasoning chain that causally relates the facts; and a symbolic structure that allows limited English discourse between the user and the computer. Results of the project indicate that the complex area of gait analysis does lend itself to diagnosis by computer and that this prototype has potential as an aid to physical therapists in the classroom and in the clinic.


Protracted circulating lifetimes of mannose-terminated glycoproteins and aggregated albumin in mice infected with LDH-elevating virus. Several macromolecular homeostasis-regulating mechanisms were tested for functional integrities in mice during acute and early chronic phases of infection with lactic dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV). Fractional catabolic rates of carbodiimide-aggregated albumin and immunoglobulin G were studied to evaluate glomerular filtration and hepatic Kupffer cell phagocytic activities. Several glycoproteins (fetuin, IgG antibodies, and ovalbumin) were also compared with their deglycosylated counterparts for fractional catabolic rates and organ distributions as a basis for evaluating virus-induced modifications of saccharide-binding "receptor functions" in vivo. Findings were that normal hepatic clearance of aggregated albumin and of ovalbumin is slowed from the onset of viremia. Fractional catabolic rates of amannosyl-ovalbumin and amannosyl-IgG are similar in uninfected animals to those seen with native ovalbumin or with mannose-terminated IgG in LDV-infected animals. Ovalbumin and aggregated albumin were also found to be mutually competitive for hepatic uptake in uninfected animals. It is proposed that LDV, which replicates in cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system (reticuloendothelial system), alters the clearance functional state of fixed tissue macrophage, thereby explaining in part the protracted circulatory longevity of several enzymes, aggregated albumin and mannose-terminated ovalbumin, and IgG in LDV-infected mice.


[Scanning with bleomycin-57Co and microspheres of albumin-99mTc in the diagnosis of pulmonary thickening (author's transl)]. 152 lung scans carried out with two indicators, bleomycin labelled with 57 Co and microspheres of albumin labelled with 99mTc have been examined. The results show a high bleomycin specificity in the diagnosis of bronchogenic tumours; the association of the two indicators seems to permit improved diagnostic selectivity.


Acid mucopolysaccharide layer of the surface nasal epithelium. In the anterior tip of the inferior turbinate, the epithelium has microvilli which are covered by a mucopolysaccharide layer. This layer is about 0.8 mu in depth, well stained by ruthenium red and with a high density. The spaces between these microvilli are filled with this dense layer; therefore the movement of microvilli are suppressed, but this layer is a strong defensive line against ambient air. It is known that most inhaled particles are deposited in the anterior nares. So virus, microorganisms and antigens etc. will easily penetrate the epithelium if this layer becomes thin. Two centimeters behind the anterior tip where the epithelium is ciliated, the mucous layer over the cilia is less stained by ruthenium red and has a lower density than the anterior tip. This layer does not insert itself between the cilia. The fine filamentous mucopolysaccharide which seems flexible binds the cilias and the mucous layer. While the beat of cilia is not suppressed the inhaled particles cannot insert between cilia. In conclusion, the deep mucopolysaccharide layer over the anterior tip of the inferior turbinate and ciliary beat are important defensive mechanisms against the trauma of the ambient air.


Characterization of different regions of the normal human urinary bladder by means of scanning electron microscopy. A study of the normal human urinary bladder and the proximal urethra was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Biopsies were evaluated from 27 male patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, without history or sign of urinary tract malignancy and with cystoscopically normal mucosal finding. The specimens were obtained from the dome, the side-walls and the trigone of the bladder. The characteristic surface architecture of the transitional epithelium was observed in different anatomical regions of the human urinary bladder.


Collection and evaluation of normal exfoliated urinary bladder cells in man using scanning electron microscopy. Normal exfoliated urinary bladder cells were collected from midstream urine samples from 21 male patients. Procedures for urine filtration using Millipore filters of Nucleopore filters, cell fixation and preparation for scanning electron microscopy investigation were developed. Correlations were made between the surface morphology of exfoliated cells and that of biopsies from different anatomical regions of the urinary bladder. Scanning electron microsocopy (SEM) of exfoliated normal urinary bladder cells proved to be a more sensitive method for discovering cellular surface details than light microscopy. This information forms the basis for further SEM studies of cell surface alterations due to urothelial diseases.


[Anatomical and clinical study of a case of uveitis and multiple sclerosis (author's transl)]. Lesions of the uveal tract can be an ocular manifestation of multiple sclerosis. The authors report on a clinical and anatomical study of a severe case of uveitis in a patient with multiple sclerosis confirmed by an anatomical examination of the nervous system. They review the observations published in the literature which were concerned mainly with clinical findings.


Tests available for assessing recent exposure to inorganic lead compounds and their use for screening purposes. This paper indicates the tests available for measurement of inorganic lead uptake by the body. The tests are listed and then considered individually. In the light of recent great interest in lead as a health hazard, the best methods for screening are considered: this includes biological and biochemical tests. It is emphasized that the U.K. favours blood lead estimation, the EEC countries other than Britain use blood lead but are considering more widespread use of delta-amino laevulinic acid dehydratase estimation in blood. Some authorities in the United States of America, on the other hand, favour a free erythrocyte protoporphyrin test. The advantages and disadvantages are brought out and some tests are mentioned only in order to exclude them as unsuitable. Suitability of tests for industrial checks and general screening of the population are differentiated. The conclusion is that blood lead still provides the best overall check of lead uptake.


A method of palliation for obstructive carcinoma of the rectum. The use of the resectoscope has several advantages in treating the patient with inoperable obstructive carcinoma of the rectum, particularly when compared with fulguration. It is immediate in its results, as often testified to by the sudden outpouring of blockaded feces. It is also safer in allowing greater amounts of tissue to be resected with less depth of tissue injury by the electrical output. It does, however, require the skills of someone able to handle the instrument, and the procedure should be a joint effort by the surgeon and urologist. The use of the urologic resectoscope should prove to be a useful addition in the surgeon's armamentarium in a selected number of patients.


The comparison between normal and Epstein-Barr virus-transformed homozygous typing cells and their use for MLC, PLT and serological detection of human Ia-type alloantigens. Normal human lymphocytes isolated from freshly drawn blood were repeatedly stimulated (up to five times) in mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) with five different Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed homozygous typing cells (HTC-LCL). Each time, the same WDW-specificity was used for the restimulation. The first and the second stimulations resulted in an 2.4- to 3.1-fold increase of the original responder cell number. But after the third, fourth and fifth stimulation decreasing amounts of specifically primed lymphocytes were recovered. Primed lymphocyte typing (PLT) showed significant differences in the intensity of the stimulation depending on whether homozygous typing cells (HTC) or HTC-LCL were used as stimulators. Except for one cell type, the PLT-response was significantly stronger with HTC-LCL than with HTC. The time needed to reach the maximal PLT-response got shorter and shorter the more often the cells were reprimed by the same stimulator cell. Further differences between HTC and HTC-LCL were observed in the complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay: HTC-LCL were more sensitive towards rabbit complement and they showed an enhanced binding of anti-Ia-alloantibodies but HTC reacted more specifically with the antibodies.


B-cell alloantigens in two recombinant families: prediction of a B/D recombination using B-cell-specific alloantisera. During the VIIth Histocompatibility Workshop, 44 sera were selected that defined B-cell alloantigens showing correlation with the HLA--D antigenic determinants. The segregation of these antigens, now called DRw (HLA--D-related), was studied in a family that contained one HLA--A/B recombinant and one HLA--B/D recombinant sibling. It could be established that the DRw-1 antigenic determinants segregated with the B-D region in the A/B recombinant sibling and that the DRw-2 antigen segregated with the D region of the B/D recombinant child. In the second family, DRw typing segregated with the D region of the B/D recombinant child. In the second family, DRw typing showed that one of the children was identical with an HLA--ABC non-identical sibling. This suggested that a crossing-over had occurred. This was confirmed by mutual non-stimulation of these HLA--ABC non-identical children in the mixed lymphocyte culture. This crossing-over involved the DRw-3 alloantigen. These data confirm the assumption that serologically defined B-cell alloantigens are coded for by genes located outside the HLA--A/B region on the B-D side of chromosome. Moreover, these data suggest that, within families, serological B-cell genotype identity can predict a mutual unresponsiveness in the lymphocyte culture. However, findings in these two families indicate that discrepancies nevertheless exist between B-cell serology and mixed lymphocyte reactions and that mutual stimulation can occur despite apparent identity of serological B-cell phenotype and that B-cell phenotype identity does not necessarily predict mutual unresponsiveness in the mixed lymphocyte culture.


HLA--D typing with lymphoblastoid cell lines. IV. Allelic relationships. Responses of approximately 200 persons were measured by mixed leukocyte cultures against 41 lymphoblastoid cell lines which were thought to be homozygous for HLA--D (i.e. LCL-HTCs). These responses were standardized by computer analysis and the resultant Interaction Indices for each LCL-HTC were compared with those of every other LCL-HTC in a correlation matrix of 861 independent analyses. Only those analyses involving LCL-HTCs of defined HLA--D types are reported here. In general, these studies confirmed many allelic relationships of reputedly similar LCL-HTCs; however, several unexpected groups of correlations suggested that groups Dw1 and 3 overlap to form Groups "1a-3," "1b-3" and "true 3." The "1b-3" group also included Dw8. Segregation of the "1b-3" allelic group was also observed in a family study. These preliminary analyses suggest a working model for further investigation of HLA--D allelic relationships (Fig. 3). On the other hand, they may also be interpreted to suggest that "typing" with LCL-HTCs may be controlled by a separate HLA locus which is closely related to, but distinct from, HLA--D.


The expression of histocompatibility-2 antigens on hemopoietic stem cells. Antisera directed against histocompatibility-2 antigens of the mouse suppress the formation of spleen colonies by pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells. Of antisera which are specific for subregions of the H-2 complex, only those which contain anti-H-2K or anti-H-2D activity are effective. Specific anti-Ia sera do not react with the stem cell. If the titer of the CFU-s suppressive effect of the antisera is compared to their toxicity to spleen lymphocytes, it can be concluded that CFU-s express antigens in the same density as spleen lymphocytes. The amount of H-2 antigens expressed on the surface of CFU-s is independent of its rate of proliferation.


[Accidental intoxication with aconitine (author's transl)]. Involuntary ingestion of 3 mg of aconitine induces in a young woman multifocal extrasystoles and alternating periods of sinusal rhythm and junctional arrhythmia. The rhythmogenetic abnormalities disappear spontaneously within two hours. The physiopathology of arrhymias due to aconitine is discussed.


[Exfoliative cytology of the periodontium]. Under certain conditions (reproducibility of the results, standardization of the sampling sites and of the procedure of staining), the exfoliative cytology can facilitate the primary and secondary prevention of periodontal diseases. The reproducibility of the counts was tested on 114 smears by repeated determinations and confirmed by statistical analysis. The comparison of the counts from smears from the vestibular papilla 32/33 and the lingual papilla 36/37 showed that the molar region is better suited for the early detection of periodontal lesions. Due to the greater reproducibility of its results, the technique of Shorr and Pundel is recommended for the fixation and staining of the exfoliated cells. The differentiation of the superficial cells should also be based on the affinity for dyes of the cytoplasm.


Diagnosis of bilharziasis (S. haematobium and S. mansoni) by the ELISA using the homologous antigen. Sera of subjects with S. haematobium, S. mansoni and mixed infection were studied by the ELISA by means of homologous antigens. The extinction values for S. haematobium and S. mansoni cases were higher with the homologous antigen. Generally, S. haematobium cases were less reactive than S. mansoni or mixed infection.


Histochemical enzyme-staining patterns of onchocerca volvulus microfilariae and their occurrence in different onchocerciasis areas. Histochemical differentiation of Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae from 164 patients in West African rain-forest (Liberia), Sudan-savanna (Upper Volta), Guatemala and the Yemen has been carried out using a staining method for the demonstration of acid phosphatase. Intrauterine microfilariae showed considerable changes in their enzyme activity during embryonic development which are probably associated with the maturation of the parasite before migration to the tissues. Five distinct types of staining patterns could be distinguished among microfilariae from the skin according to the localization of the enzyme in specific structures of the microfilaria. Two or more types of staining patterns were found in most persons in the different geographic regions. There were significant differences in the overall distribution of the various staining patterns in persons from the different areas. At the present state of our knowledge, little is known about the nature and significance of these differences in the staining patterns of microfilariae. The question of whether they can be ascribed to an ageing process, strain differences or other factors is discussed.


[Accelerated production of permanent preparations of whole plant embryo sacs and pollen complexes]. Original methods are described for producing constant preparations of plant integral embryo sacs and pollen complexes isolated by means of tissue maceration with Helix pomatia gastric juice enzymes. The Feulgen stained preparations are put into the Canada balsam. According to this procedure there is no need of paraffin treatment and work with a microtome; it makes use of other methods which highly accelerate the production of constant preparations. In connection with putting the object in Canada balsam the method of treatment and the succession of operations are changed as compared to the routine procedure of producing total preparations of embryo sacks.


[Relationship of the pseudosatellites, morphological characteristics and the associative capacity of acrocentric human chromosomes]. A sequential G-, C- and AgAS-staining of human acrocentric chromosomes showed the presence of polymorphism for silver-stained structures (pseudosatellites). Manifestation of pseudosatellites is positively correlated with the length of the secondary strangulation, amount of constitutive heterochromatin and associative ability of human acrocentric chromosomes. Pseudosatellites are supposed to be the remains of mitotically resorbed nucleolus.


Chemotherapy in bladder carcinoma.

Chemotherapy in bladder carcinoma. In a series of patients with recurrent bladder carcinoma, treatment with various cytostatic drugs was generally unsatisfactory in cases of infiltrating carcinoma. Better results were achieved using instillation of Thiotepa for bladder papillomatosis and by instillation of Adriamycin for carcinoma in situ.


The binding of a potent synthetic androgen--methyltrienolone (R 1881)--to cytosol preparations of human prostatic cancer. The binding of 3H-R 1881 to cytosol prepared from benign and malignant prostatic neoplasms has been investigated. We have demonstrated that high affinity binding of 3H-R 1881 is present in cytosol preparations of benign prostatic hyperplasia, in specimens of prostatic cancer obtained from patients prior to hormonal therapy and in carcinoma of the prostate metastatic to lymph nodes. In addition, high affinity binding was present in all specimens of prostatic cancer from patients who had objective evidence of progressive metastatic disease after an initial response to hormonal therapy. Until greater numbers of patients have been studied the significance of these findings can only be speculative. Because the binding of 3H-R 1881 may measure androgen and progesterone receptors future investigations must include careful steroid specificity studies. Finally, because steroidal hormones exert their major influence within the nucleus of target tissues the measurement of nuclear receptor content may provide a more accurate means to predict the hormonal responsiveness of prostatic cancer.


The management of intractable pain in patients with advanced malignant disease. The Brompton mixture is a highly effective, flexible, safe and convenient means to control chronic pain of malignant disease. The mixture is a solution containing morphine, the dose of narcotic varying with the need for analgesia, and is given regularly, usually every 4 hours, with a phenothiazine. The main aims of therapy are prevention of pain rather than treatment, an unclouded sensorium and a normal effect. Terminally ill cancer patients were given the Brompton mixture and a phenothiazine in an attempt to control their pain. The mixture was administered to patients in 3 hospital environments: 1) a palliative care unit, 2) general wards and 3) private rooms. Pain was measured in 92 patients with the McGill-Melzack pain questionnaire. The Brompton mixture controlled pain in 90 per cent of patients in the palliative care unit and in 75 to 80 per cent of patients in the wards or private rooms. The differences in pain scores between patients in the palliative care unit and the other groups were significant. The mixture produced substantial decreases in the 3 major dimensions of pain: 1) sensory, 2) affective and 3) evaluative. Comparison of these results with data obtained in an outpatient pain clinic showed that the Brompton mixture was strikingly more effective than the traditional methods of managing cancer pain.


The role of radiotherapy in the treatment of metastases at the tracheostoma in cancer of the larynx. The effects of radiotherapy on metastases of the tracheostoma in cancer of the larynx are described. A group of 42 patients with tracheostoma metastases was considered; radiotherapy appeared to have some effect on the local cure of the lesion. A slight correlation was found between total dose delivered and survival time. A survival of 18.5 months corresponded to a total dose of 6000 rad. However, metastases at the tracheostoma should be considered a symptom of wider involvement. Integrated therapeutic procedures such as surgery+radiotherapy+chemotherapy, may be more effective in this disease.


[Palliative surgery in cancer of the organs of the pancreatoduodenal zone]. A modification of surgical intervention for cancer of the pancreatoduodenal zone organs aimed at the creation of a biliferous anastomosis and gastroenteroanastomosis at a time was carried out upon 26 patients. In 7 patients this was added by a temporary external bile drainage with a "plug" of interanastomotic intestinal loop. The suggested method of the simultaneous formation of biliodigestive and gastrointestinal anastomoses is functionally beneficial, easy to be carried out and favours the prophylaxis of postoperative complications.


[Soluble regulators produced by the lymphocytes]. Data are given on lymphokins, the biologically active substances lymphocytes when the latter are stimulated with specific antigens or unspecific mitogens. Discussed are their essence, antigen specificity, cell origin, and the methods of purification, standardization, and evaluation of biologic importance. It is believed that the lymphokins appear to be the products of primary activation of T lymphocytes. They possess pharmacologic activity, but have no antigenic specificity. Their function consists in mediating hypersensitive and inflammatory reactions through the activation of phagocytes. The effectiveness of cellular immunity depends on the activity of these factors.


[Agammaglobulinemia and hypogammaglobulinemia in newborn lambs depending on the time of the first suckling]. Studied were the agammaglobulinemia and the hypogammaglobulinemia in 120 newborn lambs of which 100 had sucked for the first time at the first hour following birth, 10 had sucked at the ninth hour, and the remaining 10--at the 24th hour. Blood was sampled at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 10th, 24th, and 48th hour, and was immunoelectrophoretically studied after Grabar. Precipitation was done with hyperimmune antiovine gammaglobulin serum. Part of the lambs with agammaglobulinemia were killed and the small intestine was used to prepare extracts for an immunoelectrophoretic study after Grabar and for establishing gammaglobulins. It was found that lambs that had first sucked at the 1st hour following birth the resorption of the colostral gammaglobulin at the various hours later on varied. In the blood serum of 40% of the investigated lambs at the 1st hour there were gammaglobulins; gammaglobulins in 96% of the animals at the 24th hour after they had first sucked. A delayed first sucking after birth--at the 10th and 24th hour--led to hypo- and agammaglobulinemia. In the blood of such lambs at the 48th hour after sucking the gammaglobulins were 0.70 and 0.95 g% less as against the amount of gammaglobulins in lambs that had sucked for the first time at the first hour after birth.


[Change in the proteins in the colostrum of a cow during the 1st hours after calving]. Studied were the changes taking place in the protein content of the colostrum of cows during the first six hours following calving. The protein fractions were identified by the method of disk polyacrylamide electrophoresis. It was established that the amount of the total protein dropped with the increase in the secretion time. Changes were found to take place in the gamma-globulin fractions, the casein, and the soluble proteins.


Intermediate filaments in hyaline material in alcoholic liver disease (Mallory bodies) and in cultured hepatoma cells. Antibodies specific for cytoskeletal intermediate (10 nm) filaments reacted both with the hyaline deposits in alcoholic liver disease (Mallory bodies) and with perinuclear hyaline material of cultured hepatoma cells used as a model for hyaline formation in vitro. Our results suggest that disorganization and accumulation of intermediate filaments is an important step in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver injury.


[Treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma (author's transl)]. 24 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma were treated with DTIC applied alone or in combination with other cytotoxic agents (Oncovin, Bleomycin, Adriblastin). Treatment resulted in objective improvement (3 patients), subjective improvement (2 patients), stable state (5 patients). The other patients showed further progression of their disease.


[Transurethral electroresection--an alternative to the indwelling catheter of old patients with prostatic hypertrophy]. The people become elder in this time, everywhere. The number of patients with adenoma of the prostate is increasing. Most of them have other diseases, too. A retrospective study (2646 cases in 8 years, exactly specially analysed 469 cases from 1975/1976) was done, comparing the results of TUR and open surgery. Well known is the lower risk of TUR, the lower blood loss, the lower discomfort, the lower nursing in the postoperative period ect. There are not news in this study. But it is important, to recall some things, because it's more and more difficult, to classify an old man as an "inoperable case". Nobody knows, where he should stay. The family does not like him at home (his "dripping", his incontinence etc.) In the veterans house it's the same problem, and from the hospital he is removed, because he is an "inoperable case". The situation of this old man is very bad, because he feels there isn't a place for him and nobody likes him. Each man, also if it's the strongest one, will be broken psychically and physically after a short time. Concerning these aspects, must be enlarged the indication of removal the bladder neck obstruction per transurethral resection, more and more.


[Surgical procedures in inoperable tumours (author's transl)]. This paper deals with the basic surgical principles in inoperable tumours. In case of inoperability the possibilities of palliative surgery should be examined: palliative resection, quantitative tumour reduction, different bypassing procedures in the G.I-tract, amputation, exarticulatoan. It is most decisive to keep the balance between intended effect and operative risk or prognosis of the underlying disease respectively, Additional conservative measures enlarge the indications of palliative surgery.


[Determination of human IgI allotypes by using a set of stable erythrocyte antigenic diagnostica of varying specificity]. Technology of preparing a set of stable antigenic diagnostic agents of commercial type for determination of genetic determinants of human IgG and antibodies to them in the human blood sera and in the animal hyperimmune sera was worked out. Antisera against some human IgG allotypes were prepared. The frequency of detection of individual IgG allotypes and antibodies to them in human sera was studied.


[Determination of the concentration of active centers and the antibody heterogeneity index by using the precipitation in fluid reaction]. Equivalence zone in the precipitation test was characterized by the fact that the number of the antigen determinants was equal to the number of active antibodies centres, irrespective of the heterogeneity of the latter. This permits to assess the antibody concentration in the values of the antigen valency. The new method of determination of the antibody heterogeneity index is based on recording the titre of the antigen and antibodies in the equivalence zone.


[Principle of constructing polyvalent Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccines]. Dependence of the range of protective action of P. aeruginosa vaccine on the number of its composites was studied. A principle of the selection of strains who vaccines differed in vivo by immunological specificity was applied to construction of the experimental preparations and modelling a polyvalent vaccine. Increase of the number of components in the vaccine was accompanied by increase of its protective action range. However, with the increase of the number of polyvaccine components in the polyvaccine the accretion of the protective effect expressed in the mean protective index per component displayed a gradual reduction. It was calculated theoretically that a 6--7-component vaccine should provide protection from 94--96% of the P. aeruginosa strains; as to further increase of the number of components--it would induce overloading of the vaccine with a possible absence of any effect.


[T- and B-lymphocytes and an analysis of the specific reactivity in experimental brucellosis]. There was an increase of a relative and absolute T-lymphocytes content and a considerable reduction of B-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of guinea pigs infected with a high doses of brucella of vaccine strain 19-BA. There proved to be no correlation between the number of T-lymphocytes in the blood and the intensity of Burnet's test. The content of B-lymphocytes was compared with different antituberculosis antibodies in the blood serum of the infected animals.


[Production of rabbit precipitating antisera to subclasses of human IgG]. Precipitating antisera to human subclasses IgG were obtained by immunization of rabbits by whole molecules IgG2, IgG3, IgG4 and gamma 1-chains derived from IgG1H (Pr). Analysis of the antisera obtained demonstrated that rabbits produced specific antibodies to the antigenic subclass determinants IgG3 well, to IgG2, IgG4--much worse, and failed to produce specific antibodies to subclass IgG1 (in immunization with whole molecules of this protein). Antisera contained antibodies to the antigenic determinants common of IgG, and antibodies to light chains which were removed by immunosorption, for which purpose a sorbent on the basis of BrCN sepharose conjugated with IgG of the three other subclasses and Fab-fragment was used.


Biogenic amines derived from tryptophan in systemic and cutaneous scleroderma. Blood levels of serotonin (5-HT) and urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindole-acetic acid (5-HIAA), tryptamine (T), and indole-acetic acid (IAA) were determined in 39 cases of systemic scleroderma and in 7 cases of very severe cutaneous scleroderma. The T/IAA ratio was normal and serotonin elevated in mild and rather severe acrosclerosis alike, i.e. in systemic scleroderma with pronounced vascular involvement. The T/IAA ratio was increased and serotonin normal in severe acroscleroderma, representing an intermediate form or transition to diffuse scleroderma, in severe diffuse scleroderma, and in severe cutaneous scleroderma. The T/IAA ratio and serotonin level were both elevated in a few cases of systemic scleroderma and in severe generalized morphea with concomitant vascular changes. The findings suggest impaired monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in scleroderma with consequent accumulation in the organism of biogenic amines derived from tryptophan. An increased T/IAA ratio seems to be of prognostic significance in scleroderma, suggesting an adverse course of the disease.


DNA interstrand crosslinks visualized by electron microscopy in PUVA-treated psoriasis. An electron microscopic method has been used to visualize crosslinks after total denaturation of DNA isolated from epidermis and dermis in patients with psoriasis treated with 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and irradiation with ultraviolet light at 360 nm (PUVA treatment). This technique enabled accurate measurement of the number and density of DNA interstrand crosslinks. 30 biopsies were studied and a total of 9503 DNA molecules were scored in the electron microscope. 6 patients were treated topically with 8-MOP and 10 were on systemic treatment and biopsies were obtained immediately after irradiation. 1% of the total DNA molecules examined contained 3 or more crosslinks. The overall frequency of crosslinks was almost identical in the epidermis (1.1%) and in the dermis (0.9%) and, furthermore, virtually the same in patients on topical and systemic PUVA treatment. The total number of crosslinks was of the same magnitude as those previously found by us in normal human skin. Thus, though the formation of interstrand DNA crosslinks can be considered as an indicator of damage of the genetic material, we were unable to demonstrate this as being a consequence of PUVA treatment using 8-MOP.


Membrane damage caused by 8-MOP and UVA-treatment of cultivated cells. Treatment of red blood cells with a combination of 8-MOP and UVA did not cause any significant hemolysis under the experimental conditions used, and the deuterium test for identification of singlet oxygen mediated reactions was negative. However, similar experiments performed on in vitro cultivated human glia cells caused conspicuous surface membrane alterations, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. The alterations were seen at higher concentration levels than was expected and might be secondary to earlier appearing intracellular events seen at lower concentrations. The clinical significance of membrane alterations for the results obtained with PUVA therapy require further investigation.


Fibrinoid necrosis and downward motion of colloid bodies in lichen planus (apoptosis). Fibrinoid necrosis which in previous investigations was demonstrated in the epithelial cells of the skin and of the liver in certain disorders, may also appear in the colloid bodies in lichen planus. Trichrome stainings were positive for fibrinoid, staining reactions with haematoxylin variants indicated the presence of keratin and precursors, and investigations in Wood's light permitted conclusions concerning the appearance of mixed proteins, of which keratofibrinoid seems to be the most important. Circulatory disturbances are emphasized as having an important role. The colloid bodies are extruded from the epidermis, according to the observations of Kerr et al., following the rules of apoptosis.


Immunobiological aspects of Clq in sera of patients with cutaneous vasculitis and collagen diseases. Clq was comparatively quantified with CH50 or C3 in sera of patients with various types of cutaneous vasculitis and collagen diseases. The following results were found: 1) Elevated levels of Clq were seen much more frequently in cutaneous vasculitis and PSS. 2) No significant correlations were found between Clq and CH50 or C3, except for a moderate rank correlation between Clq and C3 in SLE. 3) The amount of hydroxyproline in serum (collagen-like protein) is nearly identical with the calculated value of that present in Clq.


Dermatitis herpetiformis: lymphocytes, immunoglobulins and complement factors in peripheral blood. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with dermatitis herpetiformis and healthy controls were investigated in order to determine the percentages of B-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes and cells with receptors for the Fc part of human IgG (EA-RFC). Furthermore, the serum concentrations of IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD and IgE and the complement factors C3 and C4 were also measured. An increase in the mean percentages of lymphocytes with membrane-bound IgA and IgD, as well as an increase in the mean percentage of cells with receptors for the Fc part of human IgG (EA-RFC) were found in the patient group as compared with the control group. No differences between patient group and control group were found concerning the mean percentage of B-lymphocytes or T-lymphocytes. The mean serum concentrations of the various immunoglobulins and the complement factors investigated did not differ significantly between the two groups.


On the significance of the trichophytin reactivity in atopic dermatitis. Patients with pure atopic dermatitis with and without tinea infection were investigated and compared with patients with long-lasting tinea infections and with controls, for presence of intracutaneous reactivity to trichoptin, Penicillium, Cladosporium and Alternaria antigens. RAST to Penicillium and Cladosporium was also performed. The results showed a lack of delayed reactivity, but an immediate reactivity to trichophytin in 50%/40% of atopic patients with/without tinea infection. Non-atopics infected with tinea showed 66% immediate and 33% delayed response to trichophytin. The reactivities in atopic dermatitis (but not in the non-atopic group) went general parallel with mould reactions tested intracutaneously or by RAST. It is assumed that a positive trichophytin reaction in atopic dermatitis does not necessarily mean sensitisation to dermatophytes, but is primarily the sign of a cross sensitivity to moulds.


Skin reactivity in workers with and without itching from occupational exposure to glass fibres. 98 workers at a glass-wool factory were divided into three comparable groups: those with persistent troublesome itching from the fibres, those without itching, and those who had become 'hardened' to the itching. The three groups were compared with respect to the results of patch testing with glass fibres and six chemical irritants, a rubbing test with fibres, the Trafuril test, and provocation of dermographism. Anamnestic data with respect to atopy, itching from wool and synthetic fibres, sweating, and reactions to the sun were evaluated, as also was the general skin pigmentation. No statistically significant differences between the three groups were found in respect of any of these tests or factors except for a subjectively increased sensitivity in the rubbing test with fibres for the itching group. It is possible that similar itch-provocation tests might be useful for pre-employment assessment to predict severe occupational itching from glass fibres.


Porphyria cutanea tarda associated with lymphoma. Three patients with porphyria cutanea tarda and lymphoma were seen at the Mayo Clinic. In one patient, the signs and symptoms of porphyria cutanea tarda and lymphoma occurred simultaneously, whereas in the other two, the porphyria was seen before the lymphoma occurred, three years before in one and one and a half years before in the other. Involvement of liver or marrow was not related to the development of porphyria cutanea tarda in any of the 3 patients. The porphyria cutanea tarda was not eased by radiotherapy or chemotherapy of the lymphoma, although it was probably less symptomatic after the patients were treated. While a relationship between porphyria cutanea tarda and lymphoma is speculative, confirmation will require a closer scrutiny of patients with these two diseases.


Tumour stage of mycosis fungoides treated with bleomycin and methotrexate: report from the Scandinavian mycosis fungoides study group. The Scandinavian Mycosis Fungoides Study Group have treated 19 patients with mycosis fungoides in tumour stage by systemic chemotherapy. Nine patients were treated with Bleomycin 15 mg i.m. twice weekly for 7 weeks and 10 patients with the same dose of Bleomycin in combination with Methotrexate 15 mg i.m. per m2 body surface each week for 7 weeks. No maintenance treatment was given. The immediate therapeutic effect of Bleomycin alone was considered good in half of the patients. Bleomycin and Methotrexate together produced a better initial effect. In both treatment series the remission was short-lived in the absence of maintenance therapy. The mortality rate was high, especially in combination treatment. Lethal complications occurred in 6 patients during the treatment, 3 of which were thromboembolic, one pancytopenia, one lung fibrosis with pulmonary insufficiency, and one bronchopneumonia. The conclusion is that these two forms of therapy cannot be recommended.


Mycosis fungoides plaque stage treated with topical nitrogen mustard with and without attempts at tolerance induction: report from the Scandinavian mycosis fungoides study group. The Scandinavian Mycosis Fungoides Study Group has treated 21 patients with mycosis fungoides in plaque stages with topical, whole-body application of nitrogen mustard, 20 mg in 40 ml water per square metre. Ten patients were treated after previous attempts at intravenous tolerance induction ad modum van Scott & Kalmanson and eleven without. Complete remission was initially achieved in 10 patients and partial remission in 9 patients. Contact dermatitis to nitrogen mustard developed in 2/10 after tolerance induction and in 1/11 without tolerance induction. It is concluded that topical, whole-body application of nitrogen mustard gives high remission rates. In this series, however, many relapses occurred, due to inadequacy of the maintenance treatment. Tolerance induction has not been found of any value.


Excretion of 5-s-cysteinyldopa in humans with genetically dark skin. Urinary excretion of 5-S-cysteinyldopa was investigated in 12 genetically dark-skinned men living in Sweden. Ten subjects showed excretion values in the same range as persons of Swedish origin, whereas the excretion was higher in 2 subjects.


Graft-vs-host reaction in skin: histological immunological and ultrastructural studies. A case of graft-vs-host reaction after bone marrow transplantation is described. Histopathologic and ultrastructural findings in involved skin showed necrotic keratinocytes and abnormal melanocytes with satellite lymphocytes. No deposits of immunoglobulins or complement were found. These data provide direct evidence that chronic graft-vs-host disease in humans may be related to cellular hypersensitivity rather than to serum factors.


A study of Sézary cells in peripheral blood and skin lesions. A patient with Sézary syndrome is presented. By phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy Sézary cells were demonstrated in peripheral blood and in skin tissue. Investigation of atypical mononuclear cells seen in the peripheral blood showed that these cells lack receptors for sheep erythrocytes. C3 and Fcgamma. Similarly, an examination of dermal mononuclear cell infiltrates showed that most of the cells lack receptors for sheep erythrocytes, C3 and Fcgamma.


Antinuclear antibodies during Puva therapy. During PUVA therapy 7 patients out of 34 with severe psoriasis developed circulating antinuclear antibodies (ANA) (21%). Before treatment only 3 patients of 50 (6%) considered for PUVA had detectable ANA. The ANA titres were usually low. Antibodies against native DNA as studied with the Crithidia luciliae test, were not found, and blood and urinary screening for collagenosis was negative. All 7 patients responded well to the PUVA treatment. The significance of these findings remains to be determined.


HLA antigens in localized granuloma annulare. HLA antigen frequencies were studied in 46 patients with localized granuloma annulare. The results do not support the hypothesis of an association between this condition and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.


The usefulness of the nonspecific skin hyperreactivity (the pathergy test) in Behçet's disease in Turkey. 49 of 58 (84%) patients with Behçet's disease in Turkey had a positive pathergy test; the same test proved positive in 3 of the 90 (3%) of healthy and diseased contols.


Immunoglobulins in alopecia areata.

Immunoglobulins in alopecia areata. Serum immunoglobulin levels (IgA, IgM, IgG) were measured by radial immunodiffusion in 57 subjects with varying degrees of alopecia areata. Both IgA and IgM fell with increasing severity of disease as judged by the area of scalp involved. IgM in subjects with extensive disease was significantly lower than that of an age- and sex-matched control group.


Disseminated superficial "actinic" porokeratosis. An 81-year-old Finnish female had a 10-month history of a very pruritic eruption. In the clinical examination porokeratosis was suspected and histologically verified with the typical cornoid lamellae. The eruption involved also the unexposed areas of the skin. The patient had always avoided sunshine because it made her feel uncomfortable. The patient's sister, too, had a solitary lesion of porokeratosis. The pathomechanism of DSAP is discussed.


Epipodophyllotoxin (VP-16-213) in mycosis fungoides: A report from the Scandinavian mycosis fungoides study group. Epipodophyllotoxin (VP-16-213) was administered to 9 patients with mycosis fungoides in various stages, most of them in the advanced tumour stage. In 4 of the patients VP-16 was combined with cyclophosphamide. VP-16 alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide was capable of inducing remission initially in all cases, complete in 2, partial in 3 and improvement to a lesser degree in the remaining 5 patients, but it was unable to maintain the remission. The induced remission has to be upheld by other agents, possibly added to VP-16.


Prednimustine in mycosis fungoides: a report from the Scandinavian mycosis fungoides study group. Prednimustine, a chlorambucil ester of prednisolone, was administered orally to 5 patients with mycosis fungoides in advanced tumour stage. Partial remission was obtained in 2 of the patients. However, we do not consider the agent to be particularly advantageous for the treatment of mycosis fungoides.


Serum alkaline phosphatase activity in acrodermatitis enteropathica: an index of the serum zinc level. A significant positive correlation between serum zinc and serum alkaline phosphatase levels was demonstrated in four patients suffering from acrodermatitis enterophathica for which they received oral zinc sulphate therapy. In one of the male patients a significant inverse relation between serum zinc and serum copper was found.


Penetration of 65Zn through the skin of rats. A study has been made of the penetration of 65Zn from various zinc chloride solutions, from a zinc oxide suspension and from a zinc tape containing zinc oxide through the intact skin of rats. 65Zn rapidly appeared in the blood and other tissues. The maximum 65Zn activity in serum occurred within or around the first hour after the application of both zinc chloride and zinc oxide almost completely independent of the zinc concentration applied and the pH. A greater total penetration of 65Zn was found from a carrier-free 65Zn-zinc chloride solution at pH 1 than from the same solution made less acidic (pH 4) and from a zinc oxide suspension at pH 8 (125 microgram Zn/ml). The 65 Zn penetration from the carrier-free solution was slightly (though not significantly) higher than that from the same solution with zinc chloride added to bring the total zinc concentration to 125 microgram/ml. Autoradiographically, 65Zn activity was seen in both dermis and panniculus carnosus. The activity was most concentrated on and near the epidermis and around hair follicles in dermis. No differences were observed between animals treated with zinc chloride (pH 1 and pH 4) and animals treated with a zinc oxide suspension.


Binding specificity of rabbit anti-guinea pig epidermal cell sera: comparison of their receptors with those of concanavalin A and pemphigus sera. Rabbit anti-guinea pig epidermal cell sera (AES) which were prepared by immunizing rabbits with enzymatically dispersed viable guinea pig epidermal cells were shown to react to the intercellular substances of stratified squamous epithelia of guinea pigs and monkeys in a pattern similar to that seen with concanavalin A (ConA) or pemphigus sera (PS) by immunofluorescence. Reciprocal blocking tests were performed on guinea pig lip mucosa after removal of the non-specific binding substances between preincubated substances and subsequently incubated ones. No definite inhibition was noted in the subsequent reactions upon preincubation with AES or PS. However, preincubation with ConA weakened the subsequent reaction with PS, but did not block the reaction with AES. Effects of solvents on the receptors for AES, ConA and PS were also examined. ConA receptor was resistant to both saline solution and ethanol (95% and 99%). PS receptor was labile to both saline solution and ethanol, while AES receptor was labile to ethanol, but resistant to saline solution. These observations suggest that the receptor for AES differs from that for ConA or PS.


Diisopropylfluorophosphate-evoked inhibition of anaphylactic histamine release from human skin: decrease of the inhibition by storing the skin specimens. Antigen-induced histamine release from human skin slices passively sensitized with reaginic serum in vitro was inhibited by DFP, suggesting involvement of serine esterase activation in the reaction. The magnitude of DFP-evoked inhibition of the histamine release was not the same in each skin sample and no correlationship was observed between the magnitude of the DFP-evoked inhibition of the histamine release and that of the histamine release in the absence of DFP. The magnitude of the histamine release in the presence of DFP was smaller in the fresh skin than in the stored skin, whereas that in the absence of DFP was greater in the former than in the latter. The inhibitory effect of cytochalasin B on the anaphylactic histamine release from fresh and stored human skin was the reverse of the effect of DFP. The present results indicate that the magnitude of anaphylactic histamine release from human skin does not match that of the activation of serine esterase in the reaction, suggesting the possibility that there may be some factor modulating the activation of serine esterase in the anaphylactic reaction in human skin.


Occurrence of immunoglobulins and complement in the skin of patients undergoing topical treatment of mycosis fungoides. Deposits of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM) and complement were occasionally found in lesional skin of mycosis fungoides patients. However, after complete remission of the skin lesions, deposits of immunoglobulins and complement were found, corresponding to previous infiltrates or tumours, in about half of the patients. These deposits appeared as globular bodies in the upper part of the dermis closely connected with the basement membrane.


Measurement and differentiation of the cellular infiltrate in expermiental allergic contact dermatitis. We describe a quantitative method for the grading of contact allergic reactions in guinea pigs. These reactions are characterized by marked cellular infiltration, and the method is based on total and differential counting of cells in the upper corium. A varying and objectively gradable increase in mononuclear and basophil polymorphonuclear cells was found. In naked-eye-positive reactions this increase was highly significant 24, 48, and 72 hours after epicutaneous application of dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). The degree of cellular infiltration reflects aspects of a cell-mediated immune response other than the visible reaction ordinarily made use of. The method can be used to study how systemically or topically administered drugs affect cellular features in contact allergy.


'Rusters'. The corrosive action of palmar sweat: I. Sodium chloride in sweat. Sweat from 8 'rusters' and 8 control persons was examined for its sodium concentration. Sweating was induced by iontophoresis of pilocarpine on the distal forearm. In no case did the concentrations exceed the normal upper limit for this procedure, and no difference was found between the two groups. In this way the study failed to confirm earlier reports of elevated sodium chloride concentrations in sweat from 'rusters'. Proposals of a relationship between 'rusters' and patients with pancreatic cystic fibrosis were not substantiated. Hyperhidrosis of the palms and volar surfaces of the fingers was present in all 'rusters'. This seemed to be the main cause of the corrosive tendency, and patients referred for palmar hyperhidrosis were found to produce corrosion similar to the 'rusters'. Topical application of aluminium chloride hexahydrate in a 25% solution in absolute ethyl alcohol proved effective against both hyperhidrosis and the corrosive tendency.


'Rusters'. The corrosive action of palmar sweat: II. Physical and chemical factors in palmar hyperhidrosis. When measuring sweating rates, close correspondence was found with the clinical estimation of hyperhidrosis. Corrosion was seen to increase with increasing sweat rates, reaching its maximum after an assumed rise in the actual sodium chloride concentration on the skin surface due to evaporation of water. The findings confirm that hyperhidrosis is of primary importance in the constitution of a 'ruster', and are also in good agreement with experimental reports. The small variations in palmar skin pH had no influence on the degree of corrosion; nor had the character of the metal surface. Of the two types of metal studied. corrosion was much more severe on the type having the lowest concentration of copper, thus confirming that increasing copper concentrations have a positive effect in reducing corrosion rates. At 50--60% relative humidity (RH) corrosion increased as time elapsed, whereas at 40% RH no corrosion developed on a sweat-contaminated plate. When exposed to 75% RH, metal samples became severely corroded in the course of a few days. Protective methods for the avoidance of rust are mentioned, with special emphasis on frequent handwashing.


Decreased blood flow in a papaverine-induced passive vascular bed in sclerodermal skin. Blood flow was measured in the form of 133Xenon washout rate constants in a cutaneous vascular bed made passive by intracutaneous injection of a 133Xenon-papaverine mixture. Experiments were performed using injection volumes of 0.005, 0.02, 0.1 and 0.2 ml in 7 normals and 15 patients suffering from generalized scleroderma. Blood flow was closely related to the volume of fluid injected, probably reflecting dilution of tissues and increased diffusion distances when injection volumes were increased. When using injection volumes of 0.005 and 0.02 ml, blood flow was significantly reduced in the patients, as compared with normals, probably because of a decreased capillary density in cutaneous tissue in generalized scleroderma.


Lack of dermal changes in uninvolved skin after photochemotherapy of psoriasis: biochemical studies. Low Hyp and Hyl values were found in psoriatic lesions. Treatment with PUVA achieved a return to normal values. No effect of PUVA on the collagen of uninvolved skin of psoriatic patients could be demonstrated after 4 months. There were no age-related differences in the content of Hyp and Hyl between samples of uninvolved skin of psoriatics.


Mucinosis follicularis provoked by light exposure. The present paper reports a study on a case of follicular mucinosis exacerbated by sunlight exposure. Provocation with standardized light testing was carried out on both normally pigmented skin and on areas of hypopigmentation representing a residual state after earlier skin lesions but without any signs of active mucinosis follicularis. Typical clinical and histologically verified lesions were provoked by the light test procedure, best seen in hypopigmented areas but with similar changes in normally pigmented skin. Characteristic findings developed gradually, assuming an appearance identical with that of the observed spontaneously elicited lesions after 3--4 weeks. Treatment with carotenoids periodically over several years has provided a proper light protective effect, as only minimal lesions have been noted during these periods, compared with extensive changes during similar periods without treatment.


Hormonal analysis and delayed hypersensitivity reactions in identical twins with severe acne. Identical twins aged 17 and another pair aged 21 are described. One pair had febrile ulcerative conglobate acne; the other, cystic acne. The location of acne, the type of the lesions and the course of the disease were very similar in the two twins of each pair. The testosterone levels of the 17-year-old pair varied and their acne was in the active stage, while the 21-year-old pair had high testosterone levels and their acne was abating. The 17-year-old pair had negative Mantoux reactions and they reacted negatively to DNCB sensitization. The authors suggest that acne skin may have a certain genetically determined local factor, e.g. hormone receptor, which gives rise to acne in a certain hormonal situation.


Enzyme histochemistry of the small intestine in inherited ichthyosis. Enzyme histochemistry of biopsies from the small intestine of 5 patients with different forms of inherited ichthyosis and of 2 normal volunteers was performed. Two of the patients had ichthyosis vulgaris, two had non-bullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma and one had X-linked ichthyosis. The following enzymatic activities were examined: G6P-D, 6PG-D, NADPH2-TR, ALD-A, L-D, C-A, IC-D, S-D, M-D, NADH2-TR, ATP-AI, ATP-A II, ATP-A III, ATP-A IV, R5P-A, DHO-D, alphaGP-D, betaHOB-D, MAO, GL-D alphaGP-A I, alphaGP-A II, betaGP-A II, N.EST-A. No significant variations in the different enzymatic activities were found for the ichthyosis vulgaris and non-bullous C.I.E. cases. More pronounced variations were found in X-linked ichthyosis, with a decrease in C-A, IC-D, R5P-A, betaHOB-D, GL-D, alphaGP-A II and N.EST-A activity. Succinic dehydrogenase activity has been reported in the literature to be reduced in ichthyosis vulgaris and bullous C.I.E. However, the results obtained for our patients showed equal or higher reaction levels than in the controls.


Abnormal glucose tolerance associated with lichen planus. A study was made of 52 patients with lichen planus. Abnormal oral glucose tolerance was found in 19 (36%), including 5 with overt diabetes. The criteria for abnormality were based on an age-related score method. A family history of diabetes was found to be present in 14 (26%). The most common abnormality observed in the glucose tolerance test was an elevation of the blood glucose level 2 hours after administration of the glucose. These results further support the supposition of a disorder in carbohydrate metabolism associated with lichen planus.


Treatment of parapsoriasis en plaques, mycosis fungoides, and Sézary's syndrome with trioxsalen baths followed by ultraviolet light. Three patients with parapsoriasis en plaques (PEP), fifteen with mycosis fungoides (MF), and one with Sézary's syndrome (SS) were given a bath to which a small amount of trioxsalen solution had been added, and then exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from a bank of dysprosium lamps. Within 2--6 months of this treatment the skin lesions healed completely or almost completely in all 3 patients with PEP, in all 7 with MF stage II and in 4 of 5 with MF stage III. Two patients with MF stages IV--V showed a fair degree of improvement. One with erythrodermic form of MF responded, but poorly. The patient with SS and the one with erythrodermic MF responded with severe phototoxic reactions.


Quantitative analysis of catecholamines in skin and serum. A quantitative method for the analysis of noradrenaline and adrenaline by means of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and electrochemical detection is described. The method is applicable to tissues as well as serum.


Chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood. A case of chronic bullous dermatosis of childhood in a 3-year-old boy is described. Immunoflourescence tests were negative and biopsy of the jejunal mucosa showed marked villous atrophy. The dermatosis was brought under control by a combination of diaminodiphenylsulphone and systemic steroids. The relationship with other bullous eruptions of childhood such as dermatitis herpetiformis and bullous pemphigoid is discussed.


Multiple glomus tumours: a report of a family in Denmark. In a family affected by multiple glomus tumours, one of the members had approximately 500 tumours spread over the entire skin. The histopathological similarity to cavernous haemangioma is emphasized. We consider that multiple glomus tumour is a more common skin disease than is assumed today.


Scleredema of Buschke with IgA deficiency. We describe here a case of Scleredema of Buschke in a female patient aged 63 with IgA deficiency. The disorder appeared after an acute episode of tonsillitis, followed by non-pitting, woody hardness of the skin of the face, neck, shoulders and upper part of the trunk. The disorder resolved after 5 months of penicillin treatment.


Dermabrasion in Darier's disease.

Dermabrasion in Darier's disease. Dermabrasion was carried out in 5 patients with severe Darier's disease. All patients improved significantly within the treated areas. In general, over 75% of the dermabraded skin remained free of disease for more than 2-1/2 years after surgery. It is suggested that skinplaning should include the entire papillary dermis in order to obtain the beneficial effect.


Distribution of tritium-labelled 8-methoxypsoralen in the rat, studied by whole body autoradiography. The distribution of 3H-8-methoxypsoralen has been studied in rats by whole body autoradiography. The highest organ concentration were seen 1 hour after dosing. The most pronounced accumulation was found centriblobular in the liver, corticomedullary in the kidneys, and in the cortex of the adrenals. The concentrations in these organs were approximately six times higher than in the blood. Other organs showed concentrations similar to blood levels. Illumination with UVA (10 J/cm2) increased the concentrations in the subcutis.


Feulgen hydrolysis at refrigerator temperature. In order to search for the better FEULGEN hydrolysis conditions, the 2 kinds of hydrolysis with 5 N HCl - at room temperature and at refrigerator temperature - were comparatively studied on rat liver imprints. 2 reactions were used: with the SCHIFF reagent binding to aldehyde groups and with methylene blue staining phosphate groups of DNA. Cytophotometry was coupled with morphological examination of stained nuclei. It was found that 1. cold hydrolysis has no substantial advantage when revealing DNA with the SCHIFF reagent but 2. it has undoubtful profit to reveal DNA, and in particular its acid-labile fraction, when staining with methylene blue. With the cold hydrolysis-methylene blue technique at least 3 categories of DNA with different acid-lability can be revealed and characterized morphologically in rat liver nuclei.


Comparative immunological studies in ITP. Twelve splenectomized and 16 non-splenectomized patients with ITP were studied for autoimmune complement fixation (AICF), indirect immunofluorescence (IF), platelet "immuno-injury" (T-3), antinuclear antibody (ANA), and serum electrophoresis. AICF was found positive in 50%, IF in 81%, T-3 in 50%, ANA in 69% of splenectomized cases. No significant difference in any of above parameters or in the gamma globulin levels was found between the splenectomized and the non-splenectomized groups. These observations are less favourable than those reported by other workers in post-splenectomy cases of ITP. The results, in agreement with those of earlier lymphocyte-transformation studies of the authors, are consistent with the primary mechanical role of the spleen in ITP, and make it justified to connect the failure of ITP to respond adequately to splenectomy, and the persistent seropositivity in these cases, with an excessive IgG production by the bone marrow.


Total proteins and electrophoretic patterns in seminal plasma of normospermic, azoospermic and oligospermic men. The mean values for total-protein, pre-albumin, albumin and gamma-globulin levels of azoospermic men were significantly lower than those of controls. In the oligospermic group the total protein, and gamma-globulin levels were higher than those on the azoospermic group and lower than those of controls. Pre-albumin and albumin levels were significantly higher than in the azoospermic group and showed nonsignificant differences from controls. A/G ratio was significantly increased in the oligospermic group compared to controls and in the group of azoospermic men.


Intraepithelial lymphocytes in the excurrent ducts of the testis of the domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus). Cells considered to be lymphocytes are reported in the epithelial lining of the excurrent ducts of the testis of normal and vasoligated domestic fowl. They resemble those already reported in the rat and monkey epididymal epithelium, the human intestinal mucosa, and in the bursa of Fabricius. The cytoplasm is usually less dense than that of adjacent epithelial cells, and contains only a few organelles. The nucleus is highly heterochromatic and with no definite nucleolus. Cytoplasmic processes are found to extend from the cell in between epithelial cells. The possible role of these cells in the reproductive tract of the cockerel is discussed.


Histochemical study of the myelin-associated carbohydrates. Myelin-associated carbohydrates were studied by means of histochemical techniques in the central nervous system of birds and mammals. Polianions in the surface of myelin and in interfascicular oligodendroglia were detected using histochemical techniques. Glycoproteins were studied by means of concanavalin A. The Con-A-PO-DAB sequence was used. Concanavalin-A-binding sites were detected in oligodendroglia and on the myelin surface. Similar results were observed in both birds and mammals. The processes of the interfascicular oligodendroglia also contain carbohydrates. A close association between the carbohydrates of these glial processes and the myelin surface carbohydrates was demonstrated, and their probable identity is assumed.


Cerebrospinal fluid beta 2-microglobulin in neurological disorders. Beta-2-microglobulin was measured in specimens of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected from 167 patients classified in 14 diagnostic categories at an outpatient Department of Neurology. In the control group of 29 subjects without any obvious disease of the nervous system, the concentration of beta-2-microglobulin was 1.15 +/- 0.37 mg/1 (M +/- s.d.). The concentration was almost significantly elevated in the groups with fresh brain infarct, central nervous system infection, and polyneuropathy. The serum concentrations of beta-2-microglobulin did not differ significantly among these diagnostic categories. The mean ratio between CSF and serum beta-2-microglobulin was 0.79 +/- 0.32 in the control group and more than 1.0 in the patients with brain infarcts, CNS infections and spinal paresis, but the differences were not statistically significant.


Effect of various routine cytopreparatory techniques on normal urothelial cells and their nuclei. Nuclear and cytoplasmic sizes of cells in permanent, stained smear preparations differ from those in unfixed unstained cells. In air-dried MGG-stained smears the area of the nucleus is 50% larger and that of the cytoplasm 30% larger. In wet-fixed Papanicolaou-stained smears the nucleus is 10--30% and the cytoplasm is 15--55% smaller. The shrinkage in the wet fixation method is dependent on the concentration of the ethyl alcohol applied. The staining method has relatively little influence on nuclear and cytoplasmic size. The three-dimensional appearance of the smeared, stained cells is also dependent on the cytopreparatory technique applied:in the methods with air-drying the nuclei and cells are flat and in the wet fixation method more spherical. In the methods with air-drying the nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio is larger than that seen with the wet fixation methods.


Some immunohistochemical experiments aiming at the electron-microscopic in situ identification of a dental plaque microorganism--Streptococcus mutans. The aim of the present investigation was to test a procedure useful for the electron-microscopic in situ identification of the presumptive cariogenic microorganism Streptococcus mutans (serotype d) growing in the human dental plaque. For this purpose, different parameters of an indirect immunohistochemical method were tested in three sets of experiments. In experiment set I, all serological and histochemical procedures were performed en bloc on specimens fixed only with glutaraldehyde before embedding in Vestopal W. Different marking substances, such as ferritin, alkaline phosphatase and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were tested. The en bloc method using HRP-labelled antibodies was found useful for staining of in vitro-grown bacteria but failed when applied to dental plaque. In experiment set II, ultrathin sections of glutaraldehyde-fixed and glycol methacrylate-embedded in vitro-grown bacteria were section-stained. The bacteria became outlined with a highly electron-dense HRP reaction product which accumulated on top of the cell envelope. The same type of HRP reaction product was found on some bacteria in the 2-day-old dental plaque after section-staining. This system was further tested in a series of controls also using consecutive serial sections. In exp. set III, a number of different stationary and transient oral bacteria were immunohistochemically section-stained. A cross-reaction with bacteria belonging to S.salivarius was discovered and removed by absorbing the anti-S.mutans serotype d serum with S.salivarius (NCTC 8618).


Decline and disappearance of taste response after interruption of the chorda tympani proper nerve of the rat. The response amplitude in the chorda tympani proper nerve of rats to taste stimulation has been studied at different times after interruption of the nerve in the middle ear. The results show that the reponse in the nerve declined and disappeared completely within 15 h after the nerve was interrupted. As a first sign of deteriorating function a stage of hypersensitivity was observed. Results obtained during applications of local anesthetic or colchicine and section at different distances from the tongue indicate that the decreased response was the result of an interruption of axoplasmic flow from the nerve cell bodies in the geniculate ganglion to the taste buds.


Serologic and structural comparisons of rabbit IgA allotypes. Serologic and structural comparisons of the rabbit IgA-g allotypes revealed that 1) the IgA-g allotypes have multiple allotypic determinant sites, 2) the g74, g76 and g77 allotypic specificities have several allotypic determinants in common whereas g75 molecules do not appear to have allotypic determinants in common with g74, g76 and g77 molecules, 3) the partial amino acid sequence of alpha chain from g75 and g76 Fc2alpha fragments differ by at least one amino acid residue, and 4) the g74 alpha-chains may have the "extra" intradomain disulfide bond in the Calpha2 domain whereas the g75 and g76 alpha chains lack this disulfide bond. Thus, multiple mutational events must have occurred during the evolution of g74, g75 and g77 genes.


Wall carbohydrate antigens of A. israelii. 1) A. israelii strains carry common carbohydrate determinants. 2) Type strains NCTC 4860, ATCC 10048 and ATCC 12102 only carry the common determinants. 3) More recent isolates of A. israelii/1 can carry additional antigenic determinants in the cell wall. 4) These additional antigens can be separated by chromatography on Sephadex G-200.


Fimbriae of Actinomyces viscosus t14v: their relationship to the virulence-associated antigen and to coaggregation with Streptococcus sanguis 34. 1) Fimbriae from A. viscosus T14V may be similar to those found on other bacteria. 2) The antigenic difference between virulent and avirulent A. viscosus T14 appears to be of a quantitative rather than a qualitative nature and is related to fimbriae and not to the cell wall polysaccharide. 3) Coaggregation between A. viscosus T14V and S. sanguis 34 is mediated by fimbriae on the former which have specificity for beta-linked galactosyl residues.


The effects of H2-receptor antagonists on anaphylaxis in the guinea-pig. Histamine has been shown to inhibit a variety of immune responses including the antigen-induced, IgE mediated, release of histamine from sensitized human leucocytes and from sensitized monkey and dog mast cells. The inhibitory action of histamine appears to be mediated by action at a histamine H2-receptor. In in vitro experiments the H2-receptor antagonist metiamide has been shown to block this histamine effect and it has been suggested that H2-receptor antagonists could intensify immediate hypersensitivity reactions in vivo. The effects of the H2-receptor antagonist metiamide and cimetidine have been studied in in vitro and in vivo models of anaphylaxis in the guinea-pig. The amount of extracellular histamine found after antigen challenge is greater when an H2-receptor antagonist is present during the incubation of mast cells with antigen. Bronchoconstriction induced by antigen in sensitized guinea-pig is exacerbated only by high doses of cimetidine. Possible explanations for the mechanism of action involved are discussed.


Separation of beta2-microglobulin from transfer factor in dialyzable leukocyte extracts. Dialyzable leukocyte extracts prepared according to the original method of LAWRENCE contain 4 X 10(4) molecules of beta2-microglobulin per lymphocyte equivalent. The negative skin test converting biological activity (transfer factor) is separable by means of Sephadex G-25 gel chromatography from the beta2-microglobulin component of the extracts. This finding does not support the hypothesis of SHIFRINE and SCIBIENSKI on beta2-microglobulin being the nonspecific anchor of specific transfer factor to nonsensitized lymphocytes.


[Investigations of the methodology of lymphocyte transformation test by application to lymph-node cells of guinea pigs (author's transl)]. An apparatus derived from data in the literature about different sample harvesters and constructed in our workshop is described. The advantages for the analysis of lymphocyte transformation test of lymph-node cells of guinea pigs is demonstrated. We could show the reproducibility of results after stimulation of cells by mitogens and antigens (bovine gamma globulin, human serum albumin). The optimal experimental conditions for the culture of lymph-node cells of guinea pigs are described.


The occurrence of homoreactant factors and the examination of their influence on IgG synthesis. Authors studied the occurrence of antibodies agglutinating IgG determinants with Rh positive red blood cells covered with IgG molecules of anti-Rh(D) activity treated with papain, pepsin, and trypsin. The occurrence of Fab antibodies was studied in the sera of newborn and of 1-6 years old healthy children, further on quantitative immunoglobulin assays were performed in these to determine whether homoreactant antibodies influence IgG production. Based on their results authors conclude that homoreactant antibodies do not influence IgG production. Authors assume a role in the IgG catabolism viz., they are involved in the elimination of antigen-antibody complexes.


Modified Steiner method for the demonstration of spirochetes in tissue. The substitution of lead nitrate for uranium nitrate as used in the Steiner silver impregnation method for demonstrating spirochetes in tissue sections is described. The use of lead nitrate provides a chemical substitute free of any potential radiation hazard without loss of staining specificity. The use of lead nitrate in place of uranium nitrate in the Dieterle method for staining Legionnaires' disease organisms is proposed.