T-Cell Growth Factor Contains Activity that Supports Natural Killer Activity in Vitro

Lymphocytes from athymic and normal mice were tested and compared for cytotoxic activity after in vitro cultures supplemented with concanavalin A or T-cell growth factor (TCGF). Our results indicate that, in addition to cytotoxic T cells, natural killer (NK) activity can be recovered from lymphocytes cultured in the presence of TCGF and that this is not the result of contaminating interferon in the TCGF preparations. The NK nature of the effector cells was established by means of a panel of target cells, including a teratocarcinoma tumour cell, which enabled the distinction of T-cell- and NK-cell-mediated lysis.     

Role of the Thymus in Generation of Lymphocyte Functions

Thymuses of 14-day-old mouse embryos could be maintained in organ culture, using serum-free medium, with generation of lymphocytes that showed strong proliferate reactivity to allogeneic spleen cells in mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC). Such organ culture derived thymocytes also developed cytotoxic activity against target cells tarrying the alloantigens of the stimulating spleen cells in the MLC. The generated cytotoxic activity was, however, proportionately lower than that seen with thymocytes of young mice. A time course study showed that cells with apparent reactivity to both allogeneic spleen cells and to the mitogen Concanavalin A (Con A) first appeared in the thymus organ cultures on day 8–9.     

Enhanced platelet release reaction related to arterial plasma adrenaline and blood pressure in pre-eclampsia

Summary. The platelet release product β-thromboglobulin (BTG) in venous plasma, and arterial and venous catecholamines were measured in 13 severe pre-eclamptic and 13 normotensive pregnant women. In the pre-eclamptic group, BTG was significantly higher and the platelet count significantly lower than in the normotensive pregnant group. In the pre-eclamptic group, arterial concentrations were significantly higher for adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine, whereas in venous plasma only adrenaline and dopamine were higher. Significant positive correlations appeared in the pre-eclamptic patients between venous BTG and arterial adrenaline ( r = 0·82), arterial noradrenaline (r = 0·76) and venous adrenaline ( r = 0·55). In the pre-eclamptic group, BTG also highly correlated with systolic (r = 0·84) and diastolic blood pressure ( r = 0·77) and heart rate ( r = 0·67). These findings indicate that sympathetic nervous tone, as measured by arterial and venous plasma catecholamines, is a good predictor of in-vivo blood platelet activation. In pre-eclampsia, increased sympathetic tone may play a key role in platelet activation and consumption and thus in the activation of the coagulation system.     

Local cerebral glucose consumption in the artificially ventilated rat: influence of nitrous oxide analgesia and of phenobarbital anesthesia

The objectives of the present study, which concerns local glucose consumption (1-CMR_g1) in the rat brain as measured with the ¹⁴C-deoxyglucose technique of Sokoloff et al. (1977), were (1) to provide data for l-CMR_g1 in nitrous oxide analgesia and in phenobarbital anesthesia, allowing a comparison with previous results on oxygen consumption, and (2) to test a recent proposal that 70% N₂O markedly reduces 1-CMR_g1 in (mainly) cortical structures. Under 70% N₂O, 1-CMR_g1 in frontal and parietal cortex was close to 0.7 μmol·g^-1·min^-1. This value is in excellent agreement with previous values for “cortical” oxygen consumption. In phenobarbital anesthesia, 1-CMR_g1 was lower than that expected from oxygen consumption, probably reflecting the fact that barbiturate anesthesia is accompanied by consumption of endogenous substrates. Experiments on adrenalectomized animals that were given local anesthesia and protected from external stimuli failed to demonstrate that 70% N₂O depresses 1-CMR_g1. In fact, N₂O was found to increase 1-CMR_g1 in many structures. It is concluded that if I-CMR_g1 is lower in ventilated animals than in spontaneously breathing, conscious controls, the depression is more likely to be due to the neuromuscular blockade.     

Prevalence of chronic wounds and structural quality indicators of chronic wound care in Dutch nursing homes

The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of (infected) chronic wounds in Dutch nursing homes and to explore which signs and symptoms are used to diagnose infected chronic wounds. Moreover, it was to determine which structural quality indicators related to chronic wound care at ward and institutional levels were fulfilled. In April 2012, as part of the annual National Prevalence Measurement of Care Problems of Maastricht University [Landelijke Prevalentiemeting Zorgproblemen (LPZ)], a multi‐center cross‐sectional point‐prevalence measurement was carried out together with an assessment of relevant care quality indicators. The prevalence was 4·2%; 16 of 72 (22%) chronic wounds were considered to be infected. Increase of exudate (81·3%; n = 13), erythema (68·8%; n = 11), pain (56·3%; n = 9) and wound recalcitrance (56·3%; n = 9) were considered to be diagnostic signs and symptoms of a chronic wound infection. Although at institutional level most quality indicators were fulfilled, at ward level this was not the case. Despite the relatively low number of residents, we consider our population as representative for the nursing home population. It may be an advantage to appoint specific ward nurses and to provide them specifically with knowledge and skills concerning chronic wounds.     

Plasma Vasopressin in Hereditary Cranial Diabetes Insipidus

ABSTRACT A family comprising 46 members of 4 generations is described; 21 members suffered from incomplete diabetes insipidus (DI) of central origin. The pedigree showed a dominantly transmitted condition. The onset is gradual and starts in early infancy. The clinical symptoms are highly variable and decline in the sixth decade. Plasma vasopressin (AVP) during water deprivation was significantly lower in the DI group than in the controls (4.2±0.5 vs. 10.6±1.7 ng/l) (p<0.01), the difference being more pronounced in the high osmolality range (4.8±0.7 vs. 14.4±3.1 ng/l) (p<0.01). Urine osmolality was lower (241±36 vs. 928±46 mOsm/kg H₂O) (p<0.01) despite higher serum osmolality during water deprivation, rendering the ratio between urine and serum osmolality less than unity compared with >3:1 in the control group (p<0.001). In two affected females, addition of a nonosmotic stimulus caused no increase in plasma AVP. The findings are consistent with a partial defect in the production or release of AVP and not with a dysfunction of the intracranial osmoreceptors. The variable features of incomplete DI indicate that to define the condition by excessive urinary output alone is insufficient. The ratio between urine and serum osmolalities after an appropriate osmotic stimulus together with plasma AVP measurements may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.