Impaired Lymphocyte Proliferative Response to Mitogen in Alcoholic Patients. Absence of a Relation to Liver Disease Activity

Concanavalin A-induced lymphocyte proliferation was studied in 25 patients with alcoholic hepatitis or compensated alcoholic cirrhosis. Nine alcoholics without evidence of liver disease were also evaluated. A nonlinear correlation equation, which was natural logarithmic, was applied to individual dose-response proliferation curves and permitted comparisons between patient groups and controls. The proliferative response in all patient groups was significantly lower when compared to healthy controls and was independent of the presence or absence of liver disease. This suggests that some changes in immune function observed in alcoholics may be linked to the direct effects of alcohol on the immune system rather than to the associated liver disease.     

Evidence that the Receptor for Soluble CD14:LPS Complexes may not be the Putative Signal-Transducing Molecule Associated with Membrane-Bound CD14

Membrane-bound CD14 acts as a receptor for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils. Studies have suggested that the activation of monocytes/macrophages by the binding of LPS to membrane-bound CD14 may require the association of a signal-transducing molecule with membrane-bound CD14. The observation that non-CD14 expressing cells, such as endothelial cells, can nevertheless be activated by a complex of LPS and a soluble form of CD14 (sCD14) suggests that the receptor for this complex may be identical to the signal transducing molecule associated with membrane-bound CD14. The studies described show that two CD14-specific MoAb are able to block the LPS-induced activation of endothelial cells but do not affect the response of monocytes to LPS. This suggests that the interaction of the sCD14:LPS complex with endothelial cells is distinct from the interaction of membrane-bound CD14 with its putative signal-transducing molecule.     

The effect of palytoxin on neuromuscular junctions in the anococcygeus muscle of the rat

Palytoxin, a highly toxic natural product isolated from zoanthids of the genus Palythoa, is accumulated by a wide range of fishes and marine invertebrates used as food in the Indo-Pacific. It is responsible for many incidents of human morbidity and mortality. The toxin is a potent smooth muscle spasmogen. The cause of the contraction of smooth muscle is unclear, but recent work strongly suggests that it is primarily initiated by the release of neurotransmitters from the motor innervation of the smooth muscle. We show here that palytoxin caused the swelling of the muscle cells and some internal organelles of the anococcygeus muscle of the rat, but no substantial structural damage to the tissue. Axons and Schwann cells were also swollen but the most dramatic feature was the depletion of synaptic vesicles from putative release sites in the axons. Some axons were physically damaged following exposure to the toxin, but this was relatively uncommon (<10% of all axons studied). In the majority of axons there was no damage to nerve terminal membranes, but there was damage to mitochondria. The depletion of vesicles involved all types – clear, dense-cored, large and small. Our observations and pharmacological data gathered elsewhere, provide a neuropathological basis for the spasmogenic activity of palytoxin.     

Cadmium treatment and lead-induced suppression of splenic erythropoiesis.

Young adult female mice were injected with lead acetate (d 0). Following injection, determinations were made of the percentages of radioactive iron (59Fe) uptake into the hemoglobin of erythrocytes produced by spleen. Control 59Fe uptake percentage vacillated between 4.2 and 5.5 within the 7-d period of observation. On d 4 following lead treatment, splenic percentages were dramatically reduced below those of the saline-injected controls; by d 6 the splenic 59Fe uptake of lead-treated mice was comparable to that of controls. For rodents injected with cadmium chloride on 0, the 59Fe uptake values showed a statistically significant elevation by d 2, which was extended beyond that of the controls' d 4 value. For those animals receiving both lead and cadmium (d 0), the uptake percentages paralleled those of the controls throughout the 7-d period of observation. These data suggest that the inhibitory effect of lead on erythropoiesis of the spleen is blocked by a concurrent cadmium treatment. Results are interpreted in regard to a possible vulnerable target and competition for the target by lead and cadmium.     

Estimates of disease incidence in women based on antenatal or neonatal seroprevalence data: HIV in new york city

Piecewise constant incidence models were developed to estimate the force of infection in women from age-and time-specific antenatal or neonatal seroprevalence data. Differential inclusion of infected women in sero-surveys compared to uninfected women was taken into account, with respect to both changes in inclusion rate following infection, and changes in relative inclusion rate over calendar time. These models were applied to anonymous HIV seroprevalence data collected from neonates born to black and Hispanic women in New York City 1988-1992, with incidence and fertility parameters estimated by maximum likelihood. Estimates of inclusion rate parameters accorded well with what is known about the natural history of HIV. The data could not distinguish between additive and multiplicative combination of the effects of age and time on incidence. Incidence was strongly dependent on age with the highest incidence in women aged 20-34 years. There was strong evidence that incidence had been falling in Hispanic women since 1982-1984. The results illustrate the extent to which trends in incidence over time may be confounded by changes in the relative inclusion rate of infected and uninfected women.     

Formation of thrombin-antithrombin III complex using polyamide and hemophan dialyzers.

The recently developed ELISA for the thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) is a sensitive, specific, and simplified means of detecting intravascular coagulation. For further evaluation of the thrombogenicity of a polyamide (P) and a Hemophan (H) hollow-fibre dialyzer a cross-over study was done in ten stable patients on maintenance hemodialysis. At the same doses of heparin (mean bolus of 30 U/kg bw and maintenance doses of 86 U/kg bw), thrombin time and partial thromboplastin time were significantly lower using H. At the end of dialysis TAT was significantly higher in H (mean +/- SEM before HD 3.57 +/- .56, at 240 min 14.9 +/- 6.5 ng/ml, p less than 0.05, Wilcoxon-test) than in P (before HD 4.36 +/- .98, at 240 min 8.95 +/- 3.0 ng/ml, p less than 0.05 H 240 vs. P 240, Wilcoxon-test). Visible clotting was more pronounced in the H filter. Among other favourable features of blood compatibility the polyamide/polyvinylpyrrolidone copolymer with a hydrophilic/hydrophobic microdomain structure has less thrombogenicity. The modified cellulosic membrane H has advantages in complement activation and leukocyte depression, but thrombogenicity seems less favourable since the incorporated diethyl-amino-ethyl groups with their positive charge bind and inactivate negatively charged heparin.     

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma in the area of the head and neck]

Although malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of adult life, it is fairly rare in the head and neck region (3-6%). Between 1983 and 1991 8 patients with MFH in the head and neck region have been observed and treated at the ENT-department of the University of Tübingen. 5 patients have been operated (laryngopharyngeal localization), 2 patients underwent irradiation (unresectable fast growing T4-tumors of the pharynx and thyroid) and one female patient refused further therapy after two resections elsewhere. Operated patients showed no evidence of disease 2-8 years after resection (all margins have been controlled histologically). Both irradiated patients died 4 respectively 2 months after full (70 Gy) and incomplete (17 Gy) radiotherapy without visible positive effects. Both patients developed pulmonary metastasis. Since MFH can grow in thin layers along musculaoponeurotic structures the exact size is not always demonstrable by ultrasound, CT or MR scans. Metastasis occur in up to 40%, preferentially in regionary lymph nodes, in lung, liver and skeletal system. These phenomenon requires a full pretherapeutic staging. Histologically MFH is sometimes hard to distinguish from other tumors as for example various sarcomas and pleomorphic carcinoma. Therefore, immunohistochemical (mesenchymal markers) and electron microscopical investigations are advised. Resection with exact histological controll of all margins is the therapy of choice. We experienced that laryngeal MFH (n = 3) can be resected without laryngectomy under certain circumstances. Although unsuccessfull in our two cases, according to the literature, radiotherapy should be administered in unresectable cases. Depending on localization and size of MFH long survival, in single cases healing, of this disease is possible by surgical treatment.     

Histology as a prognostic factor in early gastric cancer.

Of 431 patients with gastric cancer observed in our institution, 23 (5.3%) had early gastric cancer (EGC). Macroscopic presentation, histology, depth of invasion, and lymph node involvement were evaluated in all the cases. All patients underwent surgery and an intensive follow-up was performed. Five of the 23 patients progressed, and the risk factors were examined. Histology seemed to be the main prognostic factor in our study, since intestinal type of EGC was associated to a significantly better prognosis. Total gastrectomy is indicated in the proximal localization of EGC, and should perhaps be performed also in cases presenting undifferentiated histology.     

Factors associated with levels of physical activity at work and during leisure time]

Factors associated with levels of physical activity at work and during leisure time were analyzed among 577 subjects who had been selected as population controls for a case-control study by random selection from telephone directories. The intensity of physical activity at work was inversely associated with body mass index, the proportion of professionals & managers, consumption of western style breakfast, coffee, butter/margarine, and whisky; and positively associated with rice intake. Frequency of physical activities during leisure time was positively associated with consumption of vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, milk, cheese and coffee, and moderation in eating; and inversely associated with rice intake and the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and medication. The association of physical activity with these factors should be considered in studying its relationship to disease risk.