Effect of MHC class-I transfection on local tumor growth and metastasis in an H-2-negative clone derived from a chemically induced fibrosarcoma.

GR9 is a chemically induced fibrosarcoma composed of clones with different H-2 class-I expression. These clones differ with respect to local growth and spontaneous metastasis. The B9 clone (H-2 negative) is highly tumorigenic (local growth) but of low metastatic potential (spontaneous metastasis assay). We have analyzed the effect that transfection of H-2Dd and H-2Kd genes on this clone have upon local growth, lung colonization after i.v. injection and ability to form spontaneous metastases. The results showed that the effect on local growth of transfection of the Kd-gene was stronger than that of the Dd gene. In addition, B9 co-transfected with H-2Kd and Dd genes showed the highest immunogenic properties in syngeneic BALB/c mice. Interestingly, the pSV2-neo transfected clone gave almost the same result as that obtained with Dd transfection. Lung colonization after i.v. injection of the different clones (experimental metastasis), paralleled the results obtained for local growth: the number of lung nodules followed the cadence KdDd less than Kd less than Dd less than pSV2. Survival of mice was always inversely correlated with local growth, e.g., all mice injected with 5 x 10(5) B9 H-2KdDd transfected cells survived. In contrast, no mice injected with the B9 control did. These differences were abrogated in irradiated and nude BALB/c mice. Finally, all transfected clones remained non-metastatic in a spontaneous metastasis assay, behaving as the control, non-transfected B9 cells.     

Acute and chronic ethanol alter somatosensory-evoked potentials in conscious rats.

This study examined the effects of acute and chronic ethanol on cortical somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) of laboratory rats. Evoked potentials were recorded following stimulation of the left hindpaw before and after injection of either saline or ethanol. Animals were then chronically exposed to ethanol in vapor inhalation chambers for five weeks. Recordings of SEPs before and after acute ethanol injection were then obtained 24 h and again seven days after withdrawal from ethanol exposure. The results indicate that acute ethanol produced a dose-dependent reduction in SEP amplitude, but did not alter peak latencies. Chronic ethanol exposure and withdrawal resulted in a significant increase in preinjection baseline response amplitudes when measured at 24 h after withdrawal, but not at seven days, and this treatment did not alter response latency or the effects of acute ethanol administration.     

Nephrogenic adenoma of the bladder: report of 10 cases

Nephrogenic adenoma is an uncommon metaplastic lesion of the lower urinary tract that usually is associated with antecedent inflammation or surgical procedures. We report 10 new cases, 8 of which followed renal transplantation and 1 of which followed partial cystectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder. No predisposing factors could be identified in 1 patient. The nephrogenic adenomas, all of which were located in the bladder, were treated by either biopsy with fulguration or transurethral resection. The lesion recurred locally in 1 patient.     

Blue nevus of the prostate: report of two new cases with immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic studies.

Two new cases of prostatic blue nevus are studied with routine histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural methods. Both cases showed a chronic lower urinary tract obstruction due to a benign prostatic hyperplasia with spindle-shaped stromal cells loaded with melanin pigment. These cells were positive for S-100 and negative for HMB-45 antibodies, being, to the best of our knowledge, the first time that this antibody has been tested in prostatic pigmented lesions. The electron-microscopy study was performed in the first case, confirming the nature of these pigmented cells as melanocytes derived from the neural crest showing melanosomes in all the stages of differentiation and without complete basal cell membrane. The histogenesis of pigmented lesions of the prostate and the differences between blue nevus and melanosis are discussed, and the literature is reviewed.     

Participation of human epididymal sperm coating antigens in fertilization

A polyclonal antiserum directed against human sperm coating proteins of epididymal origin (anti-KCl) was tested for its ability to alter sperm function. Spermatozoa from normal ejaculates were selected by swim-up separation and capacitated by overnight incubation at room temperature. Exposure of these cells to anti-KCl (0.39 mg protein/ml), prior to their use in the hamster ova penetration test, reduced the penetration of denuded oocytes by 65% (P less than 0.005). Significant inhibitions of lesser magnitude were observed at lower serum concentrations (to 0.098 mg/ml). In an effort to understand the mechanism of this inhibition, other sperm function parameters thought to be related to oocyte penetration were studied. The inhibitory effect was exerted without noticeable changes in sperm motility (determined by the percentage of motile cells and their linear velocity), and in the absence of major sperm agglutination. Anti-KCl did not inhibit the occurrence of spontaneous or induced (by human follicular fluid) acrosome reaction in capacitated spermatozoa. In contrast, exposure to anti-KCl reduced the ability of capacitated spermatozoa to bind tightly to the hamster oolemma. None of these effects were elicited by a control preparation obtained from pre-immune rabbit sera. Exposure of zona-free oocytes to the antiserum did not alter their penetrability by normal sperm. These results suggest that the antigens recognized by anti-KCl participate in some specific step of the sperm-ovum interaction.     

Strategies for understanding. A case study of occupational therapists' communication behaviour

This study focuses on the communication strategies of occupational therapists. Many recent studies in occupational therapy emphasize the importance of having a client-oriented perspective; the needs and wishes of the patient should form the basis for treatment. Such a perspective brings to the fore the capacity of the therapist to enter into the life-world of the patient. Communication, dialogue between patient and therapist, is the basic source of such knowledge. In this paper, understanding verbal acts is seen as fundamentally problematic. The purpose is to analyse what strategies and tactics occupational therapists use to create a basis for their interpretation of patients' messages. What kinds of questions and other forms of verbal behaviour are utilized to check and verify these interpretations? A case-study of communication behaviour during five meetings between patients and therapists in the homes of the patients was undertaken. Seven types of tactics were observed and categorized as belonging to two different strategic dimensions: active-passive and abstract-concrete. Although active strategies were predominant, only one therapist consistently used a combination of ‘asking open questions’ and ‘verifying’ interpretations, the two most active tactics. Most therapists also asked the patients to concretely ‘show in action’ what they meant, but to a varying degree. A consistent use of active-concrete strategies is arguably an ideal way of seeking knowledge and understanding. Empirically, therapists differ in how closely they fit this ideal. This may be a result of training and experience, but also of degree of empathy. This study points to the importance of carefully developing communication strategies in order to fully understand the problems of the patients. Copyright © 1997 Whurr Publishers Ltd.     

Composite tissue (limb) allografts in rats. III. Development of donor-host lymphoid chimeras in long-term survivors

Eight LEW rat recipients possessing long-term-surviving (206-701 days) LBN vascularized hind limb allografts (CTAs) were tested for donor-host lymphoid chimerism. The recipients received various cyclosporine (CsA) treatment protocols in order to induce indefinite CTA acceptance. Histological examination of long-term-surviving CTAs demonstrated normal-appearing bone marrow in the donor limb. Lymphocytes isolated from host hemopoietic tissues (peripheral blood and/or spleen) by ficoll-hypaque density gradient centrifugation were tested against LEW-anti-BN antisera. Comparisons were made to standard curves employing various known concentrations of LBN and LEW cell combinations. The level of lymphocyte agglutination (dependent variable) showed a significant (P less than 0.025-0.005) linear relationship to the concentration of LBN donor cells (independent variable) present. Lymphocyte suspensions isolated from long-term CTA host peripheral blood and/or spleen showed a mean of 19.7% (+/- 9.7-95% confidence interval) donor LBN mononuclear cells present. Thus, it appeared that lymphoid cells originated from, and/or were released from LBN donor bone marrow into the circulation, resulting in chimeric repopulation of hemopoietic tissues. The presence of donor immunocytes in these limb allograft recipients may have been beneficial, and thus could have helped contribute to the long-term CTA survival observed.