Proliferation of human malignant hematopoietic cells in immunodeficient mice: suppression by antibody to pluripotent K-562 leukemia cells involves direct cytolysis and effector cells

Six human hematopoetic cell lines were successfully heterotransplanted into athymic (nude) and asplenic-athymic (lasat) neonatal mice. The tumors arising from leukemia and lymphoma cells could then be serially transplanted into adult nude mice. Seven days after the fourth serial mouse passage, each mouse was treated with goat immune gamma globulin against K-562 cells. One control group was treated similarly, but with nonimmune (normal) gamma globulin, while another control group was not treated. The goat gamma globulin was not toxic for nude and lasat mice, and the immune, but not the normal, gamma globulin suppressed local subcutaneous growth of myelosarcomas, lymphosarcomas, and Burkitt lymphoma cells. On the other hand, the growth of lung, breast, and prostatic carcinomas and a melanoma of human origin were not altered by the immune gamma globulin. Since suppression of cell growth occurred equally well in decomplemented mice, a complement-mediated cytotoxicity apparently cannot be considered as responsible for the abrogation. The Fab fragment of the immunoglobulin did not suppress the growth of the myelosarcomas. We conclude that antibody suppression of the in vivo proliferation was specific for malignant hematopoietic cells and that the Fc portion of IgG is necessary for in vivo cytolysis of leukemia cells. The most probable mechanisms are direct antibody cytolysis and antibody-dependent macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity.     

Erg?nzung und Unterstützung zu konventionellen Tumortherapien Misteltherapie

Die anthroposophische Misteltherapie kann etablierte onkologische Standardtherapien im Sinne einer umfassenderen und ganzheitlichen Versorgung erg?nzen.     

Contact sensitizers downregulate the expression of the chemokine receptors CCR6 and CXCR4 in a skin dendritic cell line

Chemokines are involved in the control of dendritic cell (DC) trafficking, which is critical for the immune response, namely in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). In this work, we investigated by flow cytometry the effect of the contact sensitizers 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB), 1,4-phenylenediamine (PPD) and nickel sulfate (NiSO₄), on the surface expression of the chemokine receptors CCR6 and CXCR4 in DC. As an experimental model of a DC we used a fetal skin-derived dendritic cell line (FSDC), which has morphological, phenotypical and functional characteristics of skin DC. Our results show that all the skin sensitizers studied decreased the membrane expression of the chemokine receptors CCR6 and CXCR4. In contrast, 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene (DCNB), the inactive analogue of DNFB without contact sensitizing properties, was without effect on the surface expression of these receptors. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which induces the maturation of DC, also reduced surface CCR6 and CXCR4 expression.     

Neuro-ophthalmological manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus in Asian patients

Purpose : To report eight patients with diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who presented with a variety of neuro‐ophthalmological complications and outcomes. Methods : A review of the follow up, subsequent management and outcomes of the neuro‐ophthalmological complications of eight patients with SLE. Results : The patients presented with a myriad of symptoms of varying severities. The most common manifestations were that of optic neuropathy and eye movement abnormalities. The outcome was variable ranging from complete recovery to optic atrophy with navigational visual acuity. Treatment was often empirical, although early treatment with corticosteroids has been tried with varying success. Conclusions : The pathophysiology in the neuro‐ ophthalmological manifestations of SLE is thought be due to vaso‐occlusive disease of the small vessels of the nerve and brain, secondary to an autoimmune process. Ophthalmologists may need to consider the diagnosis of SLE in young women who present with a recent onset of neuro‐ophthalmological symptoms and signs.     

Undergraduate ophthalmology education survey of New Zealand ophthalmologists, general practitioners and optometrists

Aim : To determine what New Zealand ophthalmologists, general practitioners and optometrists consider important ophthalmic topic areas requiring emphasis in the medical undergraduate curriculum. Method : A total of 793 questionnaires related to the content and teaching of undergraduate ophthalmology were sent to ophthalmologists, general practitioners and optometrists. Results were analysed separately for the three respondent groups and as a whole. Results : Four hundred and fourteen questionnaires were returned (52% return rate). Overall responses of the three participant groups were similar and agreed favourably with the current curriculum. The ability to measure visual acuity (97%) and pupillary reflexes (93%), perform ophthalmoscopy (92%), and assess visual fields (68%) were regarded as ‘important or essential’ by the majority of respondents. Only 53% of respondents consider the ability to diagnose chronic open angle glaucoma as important. The respondents stressed the importance of the diagnosis of predominantly anterior segment disease contrasting with the traditional bias towards the teaching of ophthalmoscopy and posterior segment disease. The majority of respondents stressed the importance of graduating medical students being able to treat bacterial and allergic conjunctivitis, styes, blepharitis, corneal abrasion, and corneal and conjunctival foreign bodies, areas present but not normally emphasized in current curricula. Conclusion : The findings of this study provided additional data to facilitate curriculum design and illustrated the value of an integrated problem‐based learning approach in ophthalmology undergraduate teaching.     

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist dose-dependency of pituitary desensitization during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in IVF

The aim of this study was to find the minimal effective daily s.c. dose of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, triptorelin acetate, that suppresses the GnRH-induced release of luteinizing hormone (LH) at time of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) injection and thereby prevents spontaneous LH surges during in-vitro fertilization (IVF) stimulation cycles. Therefore, a double-blind, prospective and randomized titration study was performed. A total of 48 IVF patients were divided into four groups of 12 patients. Each group received a different dose of triptorelin acetate, namely 5, 15, 50 or 100 microg s.c. daily. Standard ovarian stimulation was carried out using urinary follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) preparations. A 500 microg GnRH test was performed 90 min before the HCG injection in order to measure the degree of pituitary desensitization. Spontaneous LH surges were not detected in any of the groups, although three patients in the 5 microg group had ovulated at the time of ovum retrieval. The pituitary LH response to the GnRH test at time of HCG, expressed as area under the curve (AUC), appeared to be dose-dependent. Thus, a daily s.c. dose of 100 microg triptorelin acetate appears to be too high, since adequate desensitization of the pituitary (i.e. no spontaneous LH surge) can be achieved with doses as low as 15 and 50 microg.      

Blood flow imaging with MR: spin-phase phenomena

Blood flow phenomena occurring when flow is within the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging plane were analyzed. In this situation, the signal intensity of vascular lumina is predominantly determined by spin-phase change phenomena, and section transition effects of moving spins can be neglected. In this paper, we develop the concepts of in-plane flow, with emphasis on the notion that the spatial variations in velocity and acceleration of blood, which mainly occur along vessel walls, are important determinants of intravascular signal loss in MR images. Flow patterns in the large mediastinal arteries were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed in six healthy subjects and 14 patients with hemodynamic abnormalities using multiple electrocardiograph-gated image acquisition; ungated studies of 30 patients were analyzed for venous flow effects. Intraluminal signal was strongly dependent on the phase of the cardiac cycle and the echo number. Signal loss was found to occur along vessel walls, in vascular bends, and at bifurcations.     

Adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Results of radiotherapy and resection, endocavitary irradiation, local excision, and preoperative clinical staging

The management of rectal cancer in 102 patients at the Jewish Hospital of St. Louis is reviewed. Therapy combining external irradiation, endocavitary irradiation, local excision, and excisional operation has been used in the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Pretreatment evaluation for tumor fixation, ulceration, palpable presacral lymph nodes, distance of tumor from dentate line, size of tumor, and histologic grades was used to assign patients to treatment groups. Local recurrence is less than 2 percent, and two-year tumor-free survival is approximately 87 percent in patients receiving 2000 R or 4500 R preoperatively. Pathologic downstaging of tumors was noted more frequently with 4500 R preoperative irradiation. Endocavitary irradiation appears adequate to treat only favorable lesions. Only tumor fixation and histologic grade of the tumor notably affected survival. A logical plan for choosing the appropriate method of treatment using combined modalities is proposed.