Antibody to a 145-kilodalton outer membrane protein has bactericidal activity and protective activity against experimental bacteremia caused by a Brazilian purpuric fever isolate of Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius. The Brazilian Purpuric Fever Study Group.

The immunologic basis for protection against Brazilian purpuric fever, a septicemic infection associated with Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius bacteremia, is unknown. Passive immunization of infant rats with antiserum to whole bacterial cells of the homologous strain protects them from experimental bacteremia following bacterial challenge. In immunoblotting, antibody to a 145-kDa protein (P145) was present in protective antisera but not in nonprotective antisera. As judged by analysis of the antibodies eluted from whole bacterial cells and the agglutination of bacteria by antisera to P145, this protein is surface exposed. We prepared monospecific rat antisera to this protein by three methods: (i) immunization with whole bacterial cells and absorption with a Brazilian purpuric fever strain not expressing P145, (ii) immunization with gel-purified P145, and (iii) immunization with a P145-expressing transformant of a laboratory H. influenzae strain expressing this protein and absorption of the antiserum with the laboratory H. influenzae strain. These antisera had low antilipooligosaccharide antibody titers, were reactive only with P145, and had bactericidal activity in vitro. Following passive immunization, these antisera partially protected infant rats from bacteremia resulting from intraperitoneal challenge with bacteria. As assessed by immunoblotting, pooled adult human sera contained antibodies reactive with P145. Antibody to P145 may contribute to protection against Brazilian purpuric fever.     

Monoclonal antibodies to fungi of significance to the quality of foods and feeds

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised against Penicillium aurantiogriseum var. melanoconidium. Cross‐reactivity studies were carried out against 12 ‘field’ and 27 ‘storage’ fungi. Two MAbs (MAbs 32 and 37) reacted with all of the fungi tested and a third (MAb 38) with 38 out of the 39 fungi (although weakly with some). Monoclonal antibodies 32 and 37, but not MAb 38, were found to react to a degree with ‘clean’ barley. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using MAb 38 and extracts of barley inoculated with the homologous antigen showed a clear relationship between absorbance and amount of fungal growth. It is suggested that these MAbs could be used in a broad‐spectrum assay to detect fungi of significance to the quality of foods and feeds.     

Pre-clinical Study of <Superscript>213</Superscript>Bi Labeled PAI2 for the Control of Micrometastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Purpose: The urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR) are expressed by pancreatic cancer cells and can be targeted by the plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI2). We have labeled PAI2 with ²¹³Bi to form the alpha conjugate (AC), and have studied its in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo efficacy. Methods and Materials: The expression of uPA/uPAR on pancreatic cell lines, human pancreatic cancer tissues, lymph node metastases, and mouse xenografts were detected by immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity was assessed by the MTS and TUNEL assay. At 2 days post-cancer cell subcutaneous inoculation, mice were injected with AC by local or systemic injection. Results: uPA/uPAR is strongly expressed on pancreatic cancer cell lines and cancer tissues. The AC can target and kill cancer cells in vitro in a concentration-dependent fashion. Some 90% of TUNEL positive cells were found after incubation with 1.2 MBq/ml of AC. A single local injection of ~222 MBq/kg 2 days post-cell inoculation can completely inhibit tumor growth over 12 weeks, and an intraperitoneal injection of 111 MBq/kg causes significant tumor growth delay. Conclusions: ²¹³Bi-PAI2 can specifically target pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and inhibit tumor growth in vivo. ²¹³Bi-PAI2 may be a useful agent for the treatment of post-surgical pancreatic cancer patients with minimum residual disease.     

HLA PROFILE OF ETHNIC PAKISTANI POPULATION GROUPS

Acute rejection is a major determinant of chronic allograft dysfunction and graft survival. This study evaluated the effect of basiliximab (Simulect^®), a 156-kDa chimeric monoclonal antibody (human and murine) directed against the alpha chain of the interleukin (IL)-2 receptor of human lymphocytes, on acute rejection in pediatric renal transplantation. Data were collected from two pediatric renal transplantation centers. Forty transplantations (22 males and 18 females; mean age 14.8±3.6 years) were performed between 1996 and 2001. Twelve of the grafts came from cadaveric donors and 28 from living-related donors. Twenty-four of the patients were on hemodialysis, 15 were on peritoneal dialysis, and one case was a pre-emptive transplantation. All patients were placed on triple-drug immunosuppression [prednisolone + (azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil) +(cyclosporine or tacrolimus)]. Basiliximab was also administered in 17 cases. The respective rates of biopsy-proven acute rejection in the basiliximab group and the standard-regimen group were 0% vs. 17.4% ( P >0.05) at 1 month post-transplantation; 0% vs. 26.1% ( P <0.05) at 3 months; and 0% vs. 26.1% ( P <0.05) at 6 months. Thirty and 16 patients had completed 1- and 3-year follow ups, respectively, at the time of writing; the 1- and 3-year graft survival rates were 96% (29/30) and 81% (13/16), respectively.
Basiliximab significantly reduced the rates of acute rejection at 3- and 6 months post-pediatric renal transplantation. It was well tolerated by all patients, and caused no significant adverse effects. The effect of basiliximab on long-term graft survival and chronic allograft dysfunction deserves further investigation.     

Physical growth of primary school children of Lucknow

Conclusion From the above consideration we conclude that the stature of the boys and girls in all the age groups grew more rapidly than the other body segments under consideration. On the other hand, the arm girth grew very slowly. The mean values were progressively higher while the rate of growth and growth velocities were different in different age groups. The mean values of the lower extremity and biacromial indices were nearly constant in all the age groups which showed relatively equal growth of the stature in relation to lower extremity and shoulder breadth. From the Department of Anthropology, Lucknow University, Lucknow-226001.     

Relative pharmacokinetics of three amikacin brands in onco-hemotologic pediatric patients experiencing febrile neutropeina.

Three commercially available brands of amikacin were investigated in a parallel study design for the assessment of comparative pharmacokinetics in pediatric oncology patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenic febrile episode. Amikacin concentration in serum samples was determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay method using Abbott TDx system. Computer software, PK II was used for computation of pharmacokinetic parameters of amikacin. The serum concentration of all brands nonsignificantly (p > 0.05) varied at all time points, except at 1 and 2 hrs post dosing. At 1 hr post dosing, the serum concentration of brand II varied from rest of two brands. Whereas at 2 hr following I/V infusion, brands II and I were statistically different. Highest serum concentration of 38.69 +/- 1.45 microg/ml was observed in case of brand III while brands I and II showed lower but not significantly different serum concentration values, i.e., 36.30 +/- 1.65 and 37.89 +/- 1.32 microg/ml, respectively when compared with brand I. The other pharmacokinetic parameters of 3 brands found to have non-significant difference (P < 0.05) except, t(1/2)alpha and Cl of brands I and II that deviated statistically significant (p < 0.01). The relative bioavailability of brand II and III as compared with brand I, considered as standard 86.17 and 96.86%, respectively falls within the accepted limits of +/- 20% required for the bioequivalence of any two brands. Based upon findings of the present study, all these brands may be used interchangeably in oncology patients. Further studies, however are needed to determine whether the statistically elevated Cl value in brand II is of any clinical significance.