Specific bioactivities of monocyte-derived interleukin 1 alpha and interleukin 1 beta are similar to each other on cultured murine thymocytes and on cultured human connective tissue cells.

In this report we compare the bioactivities of pure, human monocyte-derived interleukin 1 (IL-1) alpha and beta in the standard murine thymocyte proliferation assay, a human dermal fibroblast proliferation assay, and in an assay measuring stimulation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release from human rheumatoid synoviocytes. In each case the different species of IL-1 produced saturable stimulation and gave similar dose response curves. Half-maximal stimulation was observed at average IL-1 concentrations of 29 pM in the thymocyte assay, 2 pM in the dermal fibroblast proliferation assay, and 5 pM in the synovial cell assay. Our results show that native, monocyte-derived IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta are both potent stimulators of connective tissue cells and that the specific bioactivities of these molecules are similar to each other in tests on human connective tissue cells, as well as on murine lymphoid cells.     

Natural born killers.

This year, 30 million acres of the corn, cotton, and potatoes planted in the United States will have been genetically engineered to produce an endotoxin normally found in the microbe Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a self-contained pesticide that will be toxic only to target insects. Transgenic pest-resistant crops are a cost-effective alternative to chemical pesticides, and may offer a way to help feed the world's growing population with minimal environmental impact.     

Functional or conventional plate prebending in 90° angled blade plate osteosynthesis of intertrochanteric osteotomies

Summary The principle of prebending plates is recommended for intertrochanteric osteotomies to reach satisfactory primary stability. This can be done by conventional or functional prebending. Because of the shape of an overbent plate in conventional prebending, when the tension device is used a sliding of the medial wedge of the proximal fragment medially on the distal osteotomy plane takes place. In functional prebending, the final shape of the plate results in almost no movement of the bone fragments. Therefore the measurable interfragmentary compression of functional prebending is better than in the conventional procedure. The functional prebending also causes no loss of primary installed medialisation and there is no need for an additional- procedure for the prebending during the operation.     

Angiotensinogen gene M235T polymorphism is not associated with diabetic nephropathy

BACKGROUND.: There is agreement that a family history of hypertension (HT),is a predictor for the risk of diabetic nephropathy (DN) inpatients with type 2 diabetes, and possibly also type 1 diabetes.It follows that genes related to the risk of hypertension mustalso be considered candidate genes for DN. The 235T allele ofthe angiotensinogen gene was found to be related to primaryHT. METHODS.: To examine whether it is predictive for DN as well, we examinedthe angiotensinogen gene polymorphism in 230 healthy local controls,423 patients with type 1 diabetes (n=180 with DN; n=243 withoutDN) and 663 patients with type 2 diabetes (n=310 with DN; n=353without DN). The angiotensinogen gene M235T polymorphism wasdetermined using PCR amplification. RESULTS.: The following results were obtained (i) no significant differenceof genotype distribution (type 1: MM/MT/TT(%) 27.6/57.2/15.2vs. 27.2/56.1/16.7 (P=0.92); type 2: MM/MT/TT (%) 31.7/48.2/20.1vs. 32.9/46.8/20.3 (P=0.93)) or allele frequencies (type 1:M 0.56 vs. 0.55 (P=0.795); type 2: M 0.56 vs. 0.56 (P=0.86))was found, between diabetic patients with or without DN, (ii)no difference was found between normotensive and hypertensivediabetic patients. CONCLUSION.: The data argue against a role of the angiotensinogen gene M235Tpolymorphism in the manifestation of diabetic nephropathy orhypertension in diabetic patients.     

Microcirculatory changes in livers of mice infected with murine hepatitis virus. Evidence from microcorrosion casts and measurements of red cell velocity

Hepatitis has been considered, classically, as a diffuse hepatocellular necrosis, and little attention has been paid to the relationship of lesions to the microvasculature. In livers of mice (Balbc/J) infected with murine hepatitis virus (MHV-3), microcorrosion casts showed spherical cavities where casting compound was unable to fill sinusoids. At 48 hr postinfection such "lesions" had a mean diameter of 83 micron +/- 26 (SD) and their number/mm2 (at the surface of casts) was 0.95 +/- 1.3. Blind-ended sinusoids formed a distinct boundary between perfused and nonperfused areas, and concave impressions at their ends indicated cells blocking the lumen. In vivo microscopy of transilluminated livers in infected mice showed localized rounded areas without flow, corresponding to lesions seen in casts. RBC velocity measurements in sinusoids adjacent to lesions demonstrated that velocities fall from normal values to zero over a narrow border zone. Beginning with the most proximal sinusoid with visible flow and moving outward from the lesion to the second and third sinusoids, mean RBC velocities (micron/sec, +/- SD) were 17.4 +/- 6.7, 33.9 +/- 8.7, 66.6 +/- 27.3, respectively; this last value was not significantly different from velocities in normal liver (69.2 +/- 30.6). Transmission electron microscopy of livers of infected mice confirmed the presence of sinusoidal lumens blocked by protruding lining cells, RBCs, platelets, swollen hepatocytes, and cellular debris. This study demonstrates that the lesions are focal in origin, microvascular blockage leading to gradually increasing necrosis in all directions.     

Spontaneous cyclic contractions of the capillary wall in vivo, impeding red cell flow: a quantitative analysis. Evidence for endothelial contractility

We have videorecorded spontaneous cyclic contractions of capillary walls which often stopped the flow of blood cells, in spleens of rat and mouse. An inverted microscope and oblique lighting were key elements in obtaining images in which the boundaries of cells composing vessel walls were clearly distinguishable. Using slow motion replay, we measured the widths of endothelial cells (C), pericytes (P, when present) and capillary lumens (L; at the site of constriction; U; 15-20 micron upstream), throughout 11-12 min sequences containing many contraction/relaxation cycles. In roughly 50% of contractions L decreased to 0-1 micron, such luminal "closures" occurring within 2-12 sec and lasting for less than 1 sec to greater than 1 min. Intervals between contractions ranged from 12 sec to 3 min (average 1 min). Documentation of one such cycle by sequential photographs from the video monitor is presented, showing dramatic bulging of an endothelial cell into the lumen. Comparison of records of L and C versus time showed that almost invariably when L decreased C increased, and vice versa; highly significant correlations existed between C and L in every case (P less than 0.0005). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that changes in C were responsible for 18-77% of the total variance in L, whereas P contributed only 0-4%; changes in U, covariance between C, P, and U, and unexplained variance were responsible for 0-20, 11-30, and 11-53%, respectively, of the total variance in L. We conclude that these spontaneous capillary contractions were primarily due to endothelial contractility.     

ABH- und Lewis-Antigene der Trachealdrüsen

Zusammenfassung In 23 Sektionsfällen, bei denen am Leichenblut der erythrocytäre Typ Le (a–b–) festgestellt worden war, wurden an paraffineingebetteten Trachealwandproben immunhistochemische Studien durchgeführt. Die Antigendarstellungen erfolgten nach der indirekten Immunperoxidasemethode mit monoklonalen Antikörpern gegen Le^a, Le^b, A und B als primären Antikörpern; das H-Antigen wurde mit UEA 1 dargestellt. Das Markierungsverhalten der mukösen Drüsen für die ABH-Antigene erlaubte eine eindeutige Differenzierung zwischen Sekretoren und Nonsekretoren. Das Lewis-Markierungsverhalten war in 11 Fällen mit demjenigen Lewis-positiver Individuen identisch. Statistische Betrachtungen legen nahe, daß es sich bei dieser Gruppe tatsächlich um Lewis-positive Individuen handelt, deren erythrocytäre Lewis-Merkmale im gealterten Leichenblut nicht erfaßt wurden. Die übrigen 12 Fälle zeigten ein völlig anderes immunhistochemisches Bild: a) Die Sekretoren (n=9) waren für Le^a vollständig negativ; Le^b war in einem Falle nicht, in den übrigen Fällen innerhalb muköser Epithelien in minimaler Quantität und atypischer, granulärer Verteilung nachweisbar. b) Nonsekretoren (n=3) wiesen umgekehrt bei völliger Negativität für Le^b abortive Markierungen für Le^a auf. Diese Beobachtungen, die mit bekannten serologischen Befunden an den Sekreten gut übereinstimmen, sprechen dafür, daß auch in Abwesenheit des Le-Gens in geringer Menge Lewis-Antigene synthetisiert und sezerniert werden können: Möglicherweise kodiert das Allel le eine -4-l-Fucosyltransferase geringer Effizienz.