Naturally Occurring Humoral Cytotoxicity Against Neuroblastoma (NB) Cells in Healthy Persons and Nb Patients

A novel cytotoxic mechanism against neuroblastoma (NB) cells based on natural immunoglobulin M serum antibodies is described. The occurrence of these antibodies, which are able to induce complement-mediated cytolysis of NB cells, has been investigated in several age groups of healthy persons and in patients with NB. The cytotoxicity of serum samples has been measured in terms of propidium iodide DNA incorporation using a FACScan. The prevalence ofanti-NB IgM antibodies shows a strong age dependence characterized by a nearly complete lack in the first year of life and a steep rise up to 82% beginning with the second year of life. In the sera of 11 NB-bearing patients no cytotoxicity has been found, despite the fact that 8 of these patients were older than 1 year. These findings lead to the hypothesis that natural IgM antibodies could play a role as an immunological control mechanism against NB.     

Long-term effects of the estrogen-gestagen combination preparation Ovosiston on glucose level in the insulin tolerance test

Blood glucose levels were studied during an insulin tolerance test in 18 healthy, non-diabetic women treated with Ovosiston for 4 years and 3 months. Mean fasting blood glucose levels were significantly higher than levels during menstruation and after 2 years and 6 months of treatment. Glucose assimilation was not altered. Rate of recovery from hypoglycemia was better than after 6 months of Ovosiston treatment. The long-term safety of Ovosiston is again recommended.     

Brain stem auditory evoked potentials are related to interaural time discrimination in patients with multiple sclerosis

In a combined psychophysical-electrophysiological study on 29 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a compromised ability to make interaural time discriminations was nearly always found to be associated with ‘abnormal’ brain stem potentials evoked by clicks to at least one ear. However, no obvious relationships were found between evoked brain stem potentials and several other auditory behavioral measures such as interaural intensity discrimination, pure-tone thresholds and speech discrimination.     

Detection of interleukin 1 with human dermal fibroblasts

A fibroblast proliferation assay was developed for the detection of interleukin 1 (IL 1). Proliferation was measured by thymidine incorporation and by staining of cellular proteins with crystal violet. Response of fibroblasts was optimal at cell numbers of 4,000 to 9,000 cells/culture and an incubation period of four days. Serum content of the culture medium, ranging from 1 to 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), enhanced the proliferative response in a concentration-dependent manner, while higher concentrations of FCS did not lead to further increase. Both detection methods were equally suitable for the measurement of IL 1 biological activity in purified and crude preparations. In contrast to the conventional thymocyte comitogenic assay, the fibroblasts in this assay did not proliferate in response to IL 2 or IL 6. Fibroblasts were weakly stimulated by recombinant (rec) tumor necrosis factor (rec TNF-alpha); they did, however, not proliferate in response to mitogens, lipopolysaccharide, rec granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rec GM-CSF), macrophage-CSF, rec interferon-gamma, insulin or transferrin. The detection of IL 1 activity by crystal violet staining of human dermal fibroblasts was easier and faster than by measurement of thymidine incorporation of fibroblasts or mouse thymocytes; without loss of sensitivity, the sample capacity of the IL 1 assay could be enhanced, and the use of experimental animals was avoided.     

Cardiovascular effects of paroxetine

In a double-blind clinical study, electrocardiogram, blood pressure and systolic time intervals were measured in 40 depressive patients treated with either paroxetine (30 mg/day) or amitriptyline (150 mg/day) for 6 weeks. While amitriptyline significantly increased the heart rate, the QTc interval and the PEP/LVET ratio, paroxetine did not alter any of the cardiovascular parameters measured.     

Lung function and symptoms in employees of poultry farms

Zusammenfassung In verschiedenen Hühnerhaltungssystemen wurden die Stallklimafaktoren gemessen. Der Gesamtstaub betrug auf Kopfhöhe des Menschen im Mittel 5.0 mg/m³, der Ammoniakgehalt 13 ppm mit Spitzenwerten um 50 ppm. Um eventuelle respiratorische Probleme bei den Hühnerhaltern festzustellen, wurde bei 26 Personen (7 Frauen, 19 Männer) die dynamische Lungenfunktion gemessen und eine Befragung in bezug auf arbeitsassoziierte respiratorische Symptome durchgeführt. Eine hohe Prävalenz (38%, 10 von 26) von obstruktiven Ventilationsstörungen wurde gefunden. Das FEV₁ der exponierten Männer ist signifikant tiefer als der Sollwert (EGKS). Es wurde eine Beziehung zwischen der Expositionsdauer und der Lungenfunktion festgestellt.

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Lung function and symptoms in poultry farmers

Summary Environmental measurements were made in different types of poultry confinement buildings. Levels of total dust 1.6 meters above the ground averaged 5.0 mg/m³. Ammonia levels averaged about 13 ppm with peak values of about 50 ppm. To study possible respiratory problems of the people working in these confinement buildings, the ventilatory lung function was measured and an interrogation concerning respiratory symptoms was carried out by 26 (7 females, 19 males) poultry farmers. A very high prevalence (10 of 26) of obstructive ventilatory lung function changes was found. The FEV₁ values of the exposed men were significantly lower than the predicted normal values (ECCS). An association between duration of exposure and pulmonary function exists.

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Fonction pulmonaire et symptômes chez des éleveurs de volaille

Résumé Les conditions du milieu ambiant ont été mesurées dans différents types de poulaillers. La moyenne de la poussière totale prise à la hauteur de la tête humaine est de 5,0 mg/m³, celle de l'ammoniaque de 13 ppm avec des valeurs extrêmes de 50 ppm. Pour évaluer un éventuel problème respiratoire des éleveurs de poules, la fonction pulmonaire a été mesurée et un questionnaire concernant les symptômes respiratoires a été rempli par 26 (7 femmes et 19 hommes) éleveurs. Nous avons trouvé une prévalence très haute d'obstruction ventilatoire pulmonaire de 38%. Les valeurs FEV₁ des hommes exposés sont considérablement plus basses que les valeurs normales (ECCS). Il existe une relation significative entre la durée de l'exposition et la fonction pulmonaire.

     

Transplantables Talgdrüsenadenom der Maus mit elektronenmikroskopischem Virusnachweis

Zusammenfassung Ein transplantables Talgdrüsenadenom — entstanden nach i.p.-Injektion von 0,1 ml DNS, isoliert aus den Zellen einer unreifen myeloischen transplantablen Leukämie der NMRI-Maus — wurde licht und elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Ausgangstumor und alle nachfolgenden Transplantationstumoren behalten die gewebliche Differenzierung bei. Alle Tumoren enthalten Viruspartikeln. Struktur und Verhalten der intracytoplasmatisch nachweisbaren A-Partikeln ähneln morphologisch den entsprechenden Strukturen des Mamma-Tumor-Virus der Maus. Die extracellulär nachweisbaren C-Partikeln sind mit dem Leukämie-Virus der Maus in ihrer Ultrastruktur identisch. Es kann angenommen werden, daß Mamma-Tumor-Virus und Leukämievirus entweder nicht spezifisch sind oder daß es sich im vorliegenden Falle um ein bisher unbekanntes Virus handelt.

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Transplantable Sebaceous Adenoma of the Mouse with Virus Particles Studied by Electron Microscopy

Summary Histology and ultrastructure of a sebaceous adenoma of the mouse-derived from i.p.-injection of 0.1 ml DNA, isolated from cells of a transplantable mouse-leukemia-were studied. The original tumour and all transplantated tumours display the same tissular differentiation. In all tumours virus particles were found. Structure and behaviour of the intracytoplasmic A-particles resemble those of the mouse mammary tumour virus while the C-particles found extracellular were identical with the leukemia viruses of the mouse.It might be suspected that mammary tumour virus and leukemia viruses are either non specific or that a new virus is present in the sebaceous adenoma.

     

Reversal of experimental acute hepatic failure in the rat

A suitable animal model of acute fulminant hepatic failure was developed in the rat by the administration of the selective hepatotoxin, galactosamine hydrochloride. A dosage of 2.6 g/kg given intraperitoneally to Lewis rats resulted in reproducible, potentially reversible hepatic necrosis and high mortality. The ability of dispersed single-cell suspensions of syngeneic hepatocytes, allogeneic hepatocytes, and bone marrow to provide “support” so that liver recovery could occur was explored in this model. Syngeneic hepatocytes (4 × 10⁷ cells) given intraperitoneally 48 and 60 hr after toxin administration increased survival to 70 and 66%, respectively, compared to a control of 0%. Hepatocytes prepared from Fischer strain animals which differ from Lewis strain at minor histocompatibility loci similarly improved survival (62.5%). Syngeneic bone marrow cells (4 × 10⁷ cells) given intraperitoneally 24 hr after toxin administration improved survival to 62.5% compared to a control group of 0%. This effect is not mediated by a mature macrophage or lymphoid cell population, but is specific to the cells derived from bone marrow, since single-cell suspensions of splenocytes, thymocytes, and peritoneal exudate cells had no effect on increasing survival. The mechanism of action of hepatocytes and bone marrow cells and whether they act by the same or different mechanisms remain to be defined. Cellular transplantation may offer a new simple measure in the treatment of acute hepatic failure.     

SH reactivity of cigarette smoke and its correlation with carcinogenic effects on hamster lung cultures

After hamster lung cultures were exposed repeatedly to puffs of fresh smoke from 7 types of cigarettes containing variable amounts of particulate and gas vapour phase components, atypical growth and/or malignant cell transformation were observed within a period of 3–6 months. A positive correlation was demonstrable between high SH reactivity and high NO content of the gas vapour phase and malignant transformation. There was no positive correlation for the other analyzed components of the smoke, including tar content.