Neuraminidase- and benzalkonium chloride-dependent inhibition of basic peptide-induced rat mast cell secretion

Two types of inhibition of basic peptide-induced rat mast cell secretion are reported. Pretreatment of rat peritoneal mast cells with Vibrio comma neuraminidase, an enzyme which cleaves sialic acid from oligosaccharides, led to inhibition of 5-hydroxytryptamine release induced by the basic peptides polylysine, corticotropin_1–24 and a decapeptide sequence of human IgE. Inhibition was similarly observed when mast cells were challenged in the presence of the cationic cell membrane-active substance benzalkonium chloride. It is postulated that both of these experimental procedures inhibit basic peptide-induced secretion by depletion of cell surface negative charge. Sialic acid itself does not act as a specific receptor for basic peptides, since a molar excess of sialic acid in free solution failed to inhibit secretion by binding to basic peptides in the fluid phase.     

Lysis of grouped and ungrouped streptococci by lysozyme

Thirty strains of streptococci were tested for lysis with lysozyme, and 29 of these could be lysed by the following method: (i) suspension of the cells to a Klett reading of 200 units (no. 42 filter) in 0.01 m tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane buffer, pH 8.2, after washing twice with the buffer; (ii) addition of lysozyme to a final concentration of 250 mug/ml with incubation for 60 min at 37 C; (iii) addition of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) to a final concentration of 0.2% and incubation up to an additional 15 min at 37 C. Significant lysis was obtained only after the addition of SLS. (Strains of groups A, E, and G were treated with trypsin at a concentration of 200 mug/ml for 2 hr at 37 C before exposure to lysozyme.) These parameters for optimal lysis of streptococci by lysozyme were established by testing the group D Streptococcus faecalis strain 31 which lyses readily with lysozyme and the group H strain Challis which is less susceptible to the action of the enzyme. Viability of S. faecalis decreased 96% after 3 min of exposure to 250 mug of lysozyme per ml, whereas the more resistant strain Challis retained 27% of the initial viability after the same period. After 60 min, there was almost total loss of viability in each case. Variations of three methods of lysing streptococci with lysozyme were compared with respect to the decrease in turbidity and the release of protein and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) effected by each variation. The method presented in this paper allowed the greatest release of these cytoplasmic constituents from S. faecalis and strain Challis. Transformation experiments using DNA obtained from strain Challis (streptomycinresistant) by this method showed that the DNA released is biologically active.     

Use of antisera to epithelial membrane antigen for the cytodiagnosis of malignancy in serous effusions.

A new human antigen, designated epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), has recently been described on surface membranes of a wide variety of normal epithelium but not on connective tissue cells. The antigen is only weakly expressed on normal or reactive mesothelium. Increased expression of the antigen has been observed in most neoplasms of epithelial origin and in malignant mesothelioma. We have investigated the possibility of using this difference in the expression of the antigen to distinguish between mesothelial cells and malignant cells in cytological smears of serous effusions. This distinction cannot always be made on morphological grounds alone and problems of differential diagnosis are encountered in about 15% of all specimens of serous effusions sent for cytological examination. Using antisera to EMA we have applied an indirect immunoalkaline phosphatase technique to alcohol-fixed smears prepared from serous effusions and have found that intense staining of the antigen is confined to effusions from patients in whom there is either clinical or cytological evidence of malignancy. The technique proved to be especially useful in cytologically equivocal cases, where there were problems of differential diagnosis.     

Development of hamster tracheal epithelium: III. Illustration of statistical methods for proportional data in biology

The data in the two companion papers (McDowell et al., 1985a,b) are of a commonly occurring type in which the dependent variable takes on one of a small number of distinct values; we wish to compare the relative proportions in which these values occur. Student's test is inapplicable. We explain here in detail the linear logistic model that is appropriate, using our data as an example. Several reasonable models must first be fit. We did this by the maximum likelihood method, using a computer. We then used a chi 2 test to decide statistically between models. This process amounts to deciding directly which of the independent variables are important in determining the outcome, and thus it is the center of physiologic interest. The outcome depends on the initial choice of parametrization of the model. Generalizations are required in more complicated, but still commonly occurring, types of data.     

A case of interstitial deletion of 10q25.2----q26.1.

A de novo interstitial deletion of chromosome 10, del(10)(pter----q25.2::q26.1----qter), was detected in a newborn female with facial anomalies, failure to thrive, and subsequent developmental delay. This case is compared with 10 previous reports of monosomy 10q within the q25----qter region.     

Poliomyelitis in intraspinally inoculated poliovirus receptor transgenic mice

Mice transgenic with the human poliovirus receptor gene develop clinical signs and neuropathology similar to those of human poliomyelitis when neurovirulent polioviruses are inoculated into the central nervous system (CNS). Factors contributing to disease severity and the frequencies of paralysis and mortality include the poliovirus strain, dose, and gender of the mouse inoculated. The more neurovirulent the virus, as defined by monkey challenge results, the higher the rate of paralysis, mortality, and severity of disease. Also, the time to disease onset is shorter for more neurovirulent viruses. Male mice are more susceptible to polioviruses than females. TGM-PRG-3 mice have a 10-fold higher transgene copy number and produce 3-fold more receptor RNA and protein levels in the CNS than TGM-PRG-1 mice. CNS inoculations with type III polioviruses differing in relative neurovirulence show that these mouse lines are similar in disease frequency and severity, demonstrating that differences in receptor gene dosage and concomitant receptor abundance do not affect susceptibility to infection. However, there is a difference in the rate of accumulation of clinical signs. The time to onset of disease is shorter for TGM-PRG-3 than TGM-PRG-1 mice. Thus, receptor dosage affects the rate of appearance of poliomyelitis in these mice.     

A new presenilin Alzheimer's disease case confirms the helical alignment of pathogenic mutations in transmembrane domain 5

In a case of familial early onset Alzheimer's disease, a mutation was detected in exon 7 of the presenilin 1 gene at codon 226 with a resultant amino acid change from leucine (CTC) to arginine (CGC) (L226R). This is a novel finding, yet is consistent with the previously reported mutations at codons 222, 229, 233 and 237 in transmembrane domain 5 which show a helical alignment of mutations in this domain. We conclude that the cause of Alzheimer's disease in this patient is an authentic PS1 gene abnormality responsible for the patient's early onset Alzheimer's disease.     

Practice parameters for the indications for polysomnography and related procedures: an update for 2005

These practice parameters are an update of the previously-published recommendations regarding the indications for polysomnography and related procedures in the diagnosis of sleep disorders. Diagnostic categories include the following: sleep related breathing disorders, other respiratory disorders, narcolepsy, parasomnias, sleep related seizure disorders, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement sleep disorder, depression with insomnia, and circadian rhythm sleep disorders. Polysomnography is routinely indicated for the diagnosis of sleep related breathing disorders; for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration in patients with sleep related breathing disorders; for the assessment of treatment results in some cases; with a multiple sleep latency test in the evaluation of suspected narcolepsy; in evaluating sleep related behaviors that are violent or otherwise potentially injurious to the patient or others; and in certain atypical or unusual parasomnias. Polysomnography may be indicated in patients with neuromuscular disorders and sleep related symptoms; to assist in the diagnosis of paroxysmal arousals or other sleep disruptions thought to be seizure related; in a presumed parasomnia or sleep related seizure disorder that does not respond to conventional therapy; or when there is a strong clinical suspicion of periodic limb movement sleep disorder. Polysomnography is not routinely indicated to diagnose chronic lung disease; in cases of typical, uncomplicated, and noninjurious parasomnias when the diagnosis is clearly delineated; for patients with seizures who have no specific complaints consistent with a sleep disorder; to diagnose or treat restless legs syndrome; for the diagnosis of circadian rhythm sleep disorders; or to establish a diagnosis of depression.