Differences in immune elimination in inbred mice: the role of low affinity antibody

The rate of elimination of soluble protein antigen injected intravenously differs in different inbred strains of mice previously immunized to the antigen. This difference is apparently related to the affinity of the antibody they produce. Animals producing high affinity antibody eliminate antigen more effectively than those producing low affinity antibody. Passive transfer of antibody shows that the difference of antigen elimination is a property of the antibody, rather than the cellular mechanisms involved. The immunopathological significance of these findings is discussed.     

Epidemiological studies of Epstein-Barr herpesvirus infection in Western Australia.

In a study of a Caucasian population in Western Australia the prevalence of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was 41% in the 9- to 10-year age group, 80% in the 16 to 19-year age group and 92% in young adults. The age-specific annual seroconversion rates indicated two peaks of primary EBV infection in the population studied - one under 5 years of age and the other at adolescence. The geometric mean titre rose with age, from 23 at 5-6 years to 53 at 36-40 years. It was shown that in 73 families studied there was evidence of probable spread of EBV infection among siblings, particularly between those of the same sex. Serological study of patients with infectious mononucleosis indicated that 100% of those examined had antibody to EBV and the geometric mean titre was elevated to 210. Rising titres and seroconversion was demonstrated in these patients together with successful establishment of EBV-carrying cell lines from the peripheral blood in two-thirds of the cases.     

Pathogenesis of reovirus type 1 hydrocephalus in mice. Significance of aqueductal changes.

The pathogenesis of hydrocephalus following reovirus type 1 inoculation of neonatal mice has been examined by light microscopy, radiology, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy. The reovirus infection causes an acute ependymitis and leptomeningitis, followed by a fibrous arachnoiditis and arachnoid villitis. Hydrocephalus develops in proportion to the degree of inflammatory/fibrotic changes within the cerebrospinal fluid pathways. With the beginning of hydrocephalus there is radiographic evidence of basal cistern blockage. As the hydrocephalic state progresses, axial herniation and compression of the midbrain result in the appearance of aqueduct stenosis. We demonstrate that the stenosis of the aqueduct is a secondary phenomenon, not causally related to the pathogenesis of hydrocephalus, and discuss the significance of this finding to human aqueduct stenosis.     

Use of clonidine to decrease intestinal fluid losses in patients with high-output short-bowel syndrome

BACKGROUND: Some patients who have short bowel syndrome (SBS) have high intestinal outputs, which increases the risk of dehydration and fluid-electrolyte abnormalities and impairs quality of life. METHODS: We evaluated the use of clonidine, an alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonist, in 2 patients with SBS and high intestinal outputs, who were refractory to conventional therapy with antidiarrheal and antisecretory agents (loperamide, belladonna, opiates, somatostatin, histamine2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors). The first patient (case 1) was a 29-year-old woman who had 175 cm of small bowel anastamosed to 8 cm of descending colon, ending in a colostomy. The second patient (case 2) was a 22-year-old man who had 30 cm of jejunum anastomosed to 30 cm of sigmoid colon and rectum. RESULTS: The addition of clonidine, 0.1 mg per os (PO) 2 times per day, to the treatment regimen of case 1 decreased her ostomy output from approximately 4 L/day to approximately 1 L/day, eliminating the need for parenteral nutrition and fluids and decreasing the need for opiate therapy. The addition of clonidine, 0.2 mg PO 2 times per day in case 2 resulted in decreased rectal outputs from approximately 4 L/day to approximately 1.5 L/day. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that clonidine can effectively reduce intestinal fluid and electrolyte losses and should be considered as an additional treatment option in patients with SBS and high intestinal outputs.