Different colony-stimulating factors are detected by the "interleukin- 3"-dependent cell lines FDC-Pl and 32D cl-23

The cell lines FDC-Pl and 32D cl-23 have previously been used as unique indicators for the growth-promoting activity of interleukin-3. We show that FDC-Pl cells respond to granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF, CSF-2) as well as to interleukin-3. In keeping with this finding, FDC-Pl cells express the macrophage-specific marker, F4/80. FDC-Pl cells do not, however, respond to macrophage CSF (M-CSF, CSF-1). In contrast, 32D cl-23 cells do not respond to GM-CSF and lack F4/80. Instead, 32D cl-23 cells respond to an as yet undefined factor in conditioned medium (CM) from the primate T cell line, MLA-144, and CM from mitogen-stimulated human lymphocytes (HLCM). 32D cl-23 cells are Lyt-1+. Both FDC-Pl and 32D cl-23 cells consume interleukin-3, but only FDC Pl cells consume GM-CSF. Similarly, 32D cl-23, but not FDC-Pl, cells consume 32D cl-23 growth factor from MLA-144 CM and HLCM. Interleukin-3-dependent cell lines must therefore concurrently express different functional cell surface receptors for a variety of biochemically distinct growth factors.     

The ultrasound cardioscope: A hand-held scanner for real-time cardiac imaging

A miniaturized hand-held ultrasound scanner that permits two-dimensional echocardiography is described. The device has been routinely used in our emergency department, coronary care unit, wards, and outpatient department. The device has advantages in situations where rapid decisions are demanded of the expert echocardiographer. It permits improved bedside analysis of patients with puzzling cardiac conditions. An important feature is that the instrument can be used as a substitute for cardiac fluoroscopy in office practice. Tests performed in 100 consecutive patients have demonstrated that reasonable semiquantitative estimation of the sizes of left-side heart structures is possible. This new-generation instrument can make diagnostic ultrasound more readily available in emergency situations and should have considerable influence on the use of cardiac ultrasound for bedside diagnosis. It will undoubtedly affect future developments in automatic, portable, and special dedicated ultrasound equipment.     

Intra-arterial ultrasonic imaging for recanalization by spark erosion

Presently several new methods are being developed to recanalize obstructed arteries during catheterization. Intra-arterial high frequency ultrasonic imaging may be used as a guidance for these new techniques. Spark erosion is a new obstruction removal technology. Experiments have shown that this method can be applied in a selective way. An ultrasonic intra-arterial imaging system allows for the proper indication of the spark erosion catheter relative to the obstruction. The first in vitro results of this study illustrate that integration of catheter tip imaging and spark erosion is possible.     

Oblique views of the heart by magnetic resonance imaging

We describe a simple method that uses patient positioning to obtain oblique views of the human heart by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. These views provide MR images that directly correlate with conventional anterior or posterior oblique radiography.     

Distinctive lymphocyte subpopulation abnormalities in patients with congenital coagulation disorders who exhibit lymph node enlargement

The majority of patients with congenital clotting disorders who use clotting factor concentrate exhibit lymphocyte subpopulation abnormalities. A subset of these patients develop lymph node enlargement (LNE), part of the spectrum of clinical disease associated with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is therefore important to determine if these patients with LNE exhibit specific immune alterations suggestive of early infection with the AIDS agent. We used one- and two-color immunofluorescence to distinguish the lymphocyte subpopulation alterations associated with concentrate use from those associated with LNE. Patients who use concentrate had elevated levels of Leu-2+ (T suppressor phenotype) cells and Leu-7+ (phenotype of some natural killer) cells. These increased levels were largely caused by a dramatic (2.6-fold) increase in the number of lymphocytes co-expressing Leu-2 and Leu-7 (2+7+). A dose-response effect between amount of concentrate infused during the preceding year and level of 2+7+ cells was observed. Concentrate recipients, as a group, also showed increased levels of T cells expressing Dr antigen (T+Dr+ phenotype, characteristic of activated or immature T cells) and cells expressing the T10 antigen (phenotype of some null cells and activated/immature T cells). Patients with LNE showed a further increase in T10+ cells as well as a distinctive decrease in Leu-3+ (T helper phenotype) lymphocytes. All LNE patients exhibited either low Leu-3+ levels, high T10+ levels, or both. Thus, concentrate use was associated with increased levels of Leu-2+ (particularly 2+7+) cells and T+Dr+ cells, whereas LNE was associated with decreased levels of Leu-3+ cells and high levels of T10+ cells.