Relative effect of surgery and radiotherapy on the internal jugular vein following functional neck dissection

We examined the internal jugular veins in three groups of patients who had undergone (1) a functional neck dissection and radiotherapy, (2) a functional neck dissection alone, or (3) radiotherapy alone, using a noninvasive color Doppler ultrasound scan. The internal jugular veins were ultrasonically bilaterally normal in 18% of patients who had undergone a functional neck dissection and radiotherapy, in 88% of patients who had undergone a functional neck dissection alone, and in 57% of patients who had undergone radiotherapy alone. The combination of a functional neck dissection and radiotherapy significantly affected the internal jugular vein when compared with a functional neck dissection alone.     

Respiratory failure in mice caused by a hybridoma making antibodies to the 15 kDa surfactant apoprotein

Hybridoma cells were obtained by fusing spleen cells from mice, immunized against the 15 kDa porcine surfactant apoprotein, with a myeloma cell line. Adult mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with this hybridoma; mice that were not inoculated or were inoculated with myeloma cells served as controls. Lung-thorax compliance was measured at various intervals after inoculation. The animals were then killed for histologic-morphometric evaluation of alveolar air expansion, inflammatory reaction in the pulmonary parenchyma, and intraalveolar edema. In the hybridoma group, the mice developed respiratory failure 9 days after inoculation, with markedly reduced lung-thorax compliance, lung congestion, alveolar collapse, hemorrhagic pulmonary edema, and hyaline membranes. Morphometric data from the same animals showed reduced volume density of alveolar air, and increased volume densities of intraalveolar "fluid" (edema) and tissue components. These lung lesions are similar to those in the adult respiratory distress syndrome.     

Pure partial trisomy for long arm of chromosome 9.

A case of a 4-year-old boy with trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 9 is described (46,XY, der (9), t (9;9) (q32;q12)). The trisomy is probably the result of a translocation of the long arm of the chromosome from one homologue to the other in a parental gonad. The clinical features of the child which include severe developmental retardation, bird-like facies, tapered fingers, and flexion contractures of the legs are similar to those of the few cases described of trisomy of the whole chromosome.     

Protection from pathogenic SIV challenge using multigenic DNA vaccines

To assess DNA immunization as a strategy for protecting against HIV infection in humans, we utilized SIVmne infection of Macaca fascicularis as a vaccine challenge model with moderate pathogenic potential. We compared the efficacy of DNA immunization alone and in combination with subunit protein boosts. All of the structural and regulatory genes of SIVmne clone 8 were cloned into mammalian expression vectors under the control of the CMV IE-1 promoter. Eight M. fascicularis were immunized twice with 3 mg of plasmid DNA divided between two sites; intramuscular and intradermal. Four primed macaques received a further two DNA immunizations at weeks 16-36, while the second group of four were boosted with 250 microg recombinant gp160 plus 250 microg recombinant Gag-Pol particles formulated in MF-59 adjuvant. Half of the controls received four immunizations of vector DNA; half received two vector DNA and two adjuvant immunizations. As expected, humoral immune responses were stronger in the macaques receiving subunit boosts, but responses were sustained in both groups. Significant neutralizing antibody titers to SIVmne were detected in one of the subunit-boosted animals and in none of the DNA-only animals prior to challenge. T-cell proliferative responses to gp160 and to Gag were detected in all immunized animals after three immunizations, and these responses increased after four immunizations. Cytokine profiles in PHA-stimulated PBMC taken on the day of challenge showed trends toward Thl responses in 2/4 macaques in the DNA vaccinated group and in 1/4 of the DNA plus subunit vaccinated macaques; Th2 responses in 3/4 DNA plus subunit-immunized macaques; and Th0 responses in 4/4 controls. In bulk CTL culture, SIV specific lysis was low or undetectable, even after four immunizations. However, stable SIV Gag-Pol- and env-specific T-cell clones (CD3+ CD8+) were isolated after only two DNA immunizations, and Gag-Pol- and Nef-specific CTL lines were isolated on the day of challenge. All animals were challenged at week 38 with SIVmne uncloned stock by the intrarectal route. Based on antibody anamnestic responses (western, ELISA, and neutralizing antibodies) and virus detection methods (co-culture of PBMC and LNMC, nested set PCR- of DNA from PBMC and LNMC, and plasma QC-PCR), there were major differences between the groups in the challenge outcome. Surprisingly, sustained low virus loads were observed only in the DNA group, suggesting that four immunizations with DNA only elicited more effective immune responses than two DNA primes combined with two protein boosts. Multigenic DNA vaccines such as these, bearing all structural and regulatory genes, show significant promise and may be a safe alternative to live-attenuated vaccines.     

Comparison of selective media for isolation of Campylobacter jejuni/coli

A comparison of Skirrow's, Butzler's, Blaser's, Campy-BAP and Preston media for Campylobacter spp was made using human, animal and environmental specimens. Butzler's medium gave the lowest isolation rate and Preston medium, which was the most selective, the highest isolation rate. Enrichment culture using Preston enrichment broth gave a higher isolation rate than direct plating onto Preston medium.     

Advantages of branched peptides in serodiagnosis. Detection of HIV-specific antibodies and the use of glycine spacers to increase sensitivity.

The reactivities of antibodies with branched and monomeric peptides were compared in ELISA assays. We found that lower amounts of antibodies could be detected with branched peptides than with monomeric peptides. This was observed with a monoclonal antibody and with antibodies in the sera of various HIV-positive individuals. To investigate the physical aspects of branched peptides important for the observed increase in sensitivity, glycine spacers of different lengths were introduced between the branched lysine core and the epitope reacting with the monoclonal antibody. The effect of the number of glycine residues, both on the sensitivity of antibody detection and on the amount of branched peptide needed to produce a given signal, was studied and the optimum was found at 4-5 residues. We discuss the basis for these findings and conclude that the routine use of branched peptides for serodiagnosis will give both greater sensitivity and appreciable cost savings.     

Improvement in the specificity of assays for detection of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen.

Reducing agents dramatically alter the specificity of competitive assays for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). A specificity improvement was demonstrated with a new assay which utilizes microparticle membrane capture and chemiluminescence detection as well as a current radioimmunoassay procedure (Corab: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill.). The effect was most noticeable with elevated negative and weakly reactive samples. In both systems, reductants increased separation of a negative population (n = 160) from assay cutoffs. With a selected population (n = 307), inclusion of reductant eliminated apparent anti-HBc activity in 54 of 81 samples in the 30 to 70% inhibition range. Reductant-stable anti-HBc samples were strongly associated with the presence of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (21 of 27). The association persisted below the detection limits of current assays to 0.3 to 0.4 Paul Ehrlich Institute units per ml. Only 1 of 54 reduction-sensitive borderline samples was confirmed to be positive for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen. The modified procedures had unchanged or slightly improved sensitivity for immunoglobulin G (IgG)-associated anti-HBc activity. Although IgM anti-HBc detection was reduced from four- to eightfold in the presence of reductants, sensitivities remained at least twofold greater than tha of an enzyme immunoassay (Corzyme M; Abbott) designed to detect acute-phase levels of IgM anti-HBc. The use of reducing agents should significantly improve the reliability of anti-HBc testing, especially near assay cutoffs.