Measurement of local Mr 97,000 and 250,000 protein antigen concentration in sections of human melanoma tumor using in vitro quantitative autoradiography

An assay method that uses 125I-labeled monoclonal antibody (MoAb) and in vitro quantitative autoradiography was developed to determine the local concentration of tumor-associated antigens in tissue sections. Human melanoma biopsy specimens were evaluated for the expression of the Mr 97,000 and 250,000 protein antigens using MoAb-96.5 and MoAb-9.2.27, respectively. Tissue sections were incubated in solutions of increasing concentration of 125I-labeled MoAb with or without an excess of unlabeled antibody. Quantitative autoradiography was performed on the sections and compared with 125I standards to determine tumor-bound radioactivity and calculate bound pmol of MoAb per g of tumor. The total binding, nonsaturable binding, and specific binding of 125I-labeled MoAb to tumor were then computed. Specific binding of MoAbs to tumor tissue was saturable in all antigen-positive tumors. The maximal concentration of specific binding of antibody to tissue (Bmax) represented the tissue antigen concentration. Estimates of the Ka of antigen/antibody binding were also made. The reliability of the measurements was confirmed by testing sections from mixtures of antigen-positive and antigen-negative cells.     

Monoclonal antiidiotypic antibodies related to the p97 human melanoma antigen

We have made monoclonal antiidiotypic antibodies (Ab2) relating to the p97 antigen of human melanoma. This was accomplished by immunizing BALB/c mice with 96.5, a monoclonal antibody (MAb) specific for epitope p97a, hybridizing their spleen cells with NS-1 myeloma cells, and selecting for hybridomas making antibody binding to Fab fragments prepared from MAb 96.5 (Fab 96.5). The Ab2 were tested for binding to Fab 96.5, as well as for their ability to inhibit the binding between MAb 96.5 and p97. Three monoclonal Ab2 were identified which competitively inhibited the binding between p97 and MAb 96.5 when injected into either BALB/c or C3H/HeN mice; two of them induced Ab3 which expressed the same idiotype as MAb 96.5 and which were specific for p97. These two Ab2 thus appear to functionally mimic p97. They were, however, unable to induce delayed-type hypersensitivity to p97 and to protect mice against transplants of p97-positive mouse melanoma cells, suggesting that the epitope recognized by MAb 96.5 may not be a target for cell-mediated rejection of tumors.     

Psychosocial aspects of road traffic trauma--benefits of an early intervention?

PURPOSE: To assess the psychosocial consequences of traffic accidents, and to evaluate the effect of an intervention programme to reduce the occurrence and extent of psychosocial residual states. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A telephone interview was conducted with 314 individuals, 1(1/2)-2 years after the accident in 1994-1995. The effect of the intervention programme was studied for inpatients, 68 in the study group, and 89 in the control group. The structured follow-up form included the Impact of Event Scale (IES). RESULTS: Half of those injured had residual physical complaints with negative effects on their work- and economic-situation. An influence on housing or the need for practical assistance was reported by 1-7%. Mental effects were reported by 4/5. IES demonstrated that 1/5 suffered a high degree of intrusion, and this occurred twice as often among females as among males. Situational anxiety occurred more often in the intervention group than in the control group, p=0.02. More individuals in the intervention group than in the control group were satisfied with the medical certificate to the insurance company, p=0.058. CONCLUSIONS: Females were afflicted by mental effects considerably more than males. The intervention programme did not appear to reduce the psychosocial sequelae. The methods within this area need to be further developed.     

Voiding pattern and acquisition of bladder control from birth to age 6 years--a longitudinal study

PURPOSE: We describe the voiding pattern and acquisition of bladder control in healthy children up to age 6 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We determined age for daytime and nighttime dryness, voiding patterns, voiding volumes and post-void residual volume per 4 hours individually and noninvasively every 3 months up to age 3 years and every 6 months up to age 6 years in 36 female and 23 male patients using 4-hour voiding observation and uroflowmetry/ultrasound. RESULTS: Median age for attaining daytime and nighttime dryness was 3.5 and 4 years, respectively. No significant difference was found between girls and boys. All but 1 child attained daytime dryness an average of 10 months before attaining nighttime dryness. Bladder sensation was reported in 31%, 79% and 100% of patients at ages 2, 3 and 4 years, respectively. Median bladder capacity was 67 ml, 123 ml and 140 ml at years 1, 3 and 6, respectively. Median post-void residual volume was 5.5 ml, 0 ml and 2 ml at ages 1, 3 and 6 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Today bladder control is acquired at a later stage despite earlier awareness of bladder function. The occurrence of bladder sensation from age 1.5 years motivates an earlier start with toilet training. Infants with small post-void residual volume at age 6 months or large bladder capacity will probably attain daytime dryness earlier than those with large post-void residual volume at age 6 months or small bladder capacity.     

Geographical variation in incidence of prostate cancer in Sweden

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the geographical variation in prostate cancer incidence in Sweden, in particular the incidences of screening-detected tumours and curative treatment of prostate cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were retrieved from the National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden for all cases of prostate cancer diagnosed in the year 2000-01. There were a total of 14 376 cases of prostate cancer and the mean total annual age-adjusted incidence was 197/100 000 men. There were 3318 cases in tumour category T1c, i.e. non-palpable tumours diagnosed during work-up for an elevated serum level of prostate-specific antigen, 1006 of which (30%) were asymptomatic and detected at a health check-up. RESULTS: The difference between the counties with the lowest and highest age-adjusted incidences per 100 000 men of total prostate cancer was almost twofold (128 vs 217). The corresponding variation in incidence of category T1c tumours was more than fourfold (13 vs 60); the difference in incidence of T1c tumours detected in asymptomatic men was up to 10-fold (2 vs 20); and there was more than a fourfold variation in incidence of curative treatment between counties (13 vs 67). Measured incidences were mostly highest in urban regions and in counties with university hospitals. CONCLUSION: There are large geographical variations in prostate cancer incidence and in the frequency of curative treatment for prostate cancer in Sweden and there appear to be large geographical variations in the uptake of prostate cancer screening.     

Perceptions of school toilets as a cause for irregular toilet habits among schoolchildren aged 6 to 16 years

Irregular bladder and bowel habits can contribute to urinary and bowel problems. Schoolchildren undergoing treatment for these problems often do not follow the recommendation of regular toilet visits at school, claiming negative perceptions of school toilets. This study examined 6- to 16-year-old schoolchildren's perceptions of school toilets and whether the perceptions affect bladder and bowel habits at school Some 385 Swedish schoolchildren aged 6 to 16 years were surveyed using a semistructured questionnaire. Children aged 13 to 16 years had the most negative perceptions. Twenty-five percent (overall 16%) of older children reported never using the school toilet to urinate, and 80% (overall 63%) never used it to defecate. Perceptions of sight and smell and emotional constraints hindered children from using the school toilets. Children generally based their perceptions of school toilets on physical appearance, offensive smell, and feelings of insecurity. Children's perceptions affected their toilet habits and would rather endure physical discomfort than the psychological and social discomfort of using the school toilet. Children already suffering from urinary tract or intestinal problems face particular difficulties without regular toilet visits during the day.     

The aluminum content of bone increases with age, but is not higher in hip fracture cases with and without dementia compared to controls

Aluminum is considered a potentially toxic metal, and aluminum poisoning may lead to three types of disorders: aluminum-induced bone disease, microcytic anemia and encephalopathy. This is well known in patients with chronic renal failure, but since healthy subjects with normal renal function retain 4% of the aluminum consumed, they are also at risk of long-term low-grade aluminum intoxication. Included in this study were a total of 172 patients (age range 16–98 years) with the aim of examining whether aluminum accumulates in bone with increasing age. Additionally, we aimed to investigate whether the aluminum content of bone differs between controls and hip fracture cases with and without dementia, in particular in those with Alzheimers disease. During operations for all cases, bone biopsies were taken with an aluminum-free instrument from the trabecular bone. The samples were measured for their content of aluminum using an inductively coupled mass spectrometer. We found an exponential increase in aluminum content of bone with age. The average aluminum values, adjusted for age, were similar in men and women (P=0.46). No significant differences in sex- and age-adjusted mean aluminum values between the controls and the hip fracture cases with (P=0.72) and without (P=0.33) dementia could be detected. The average aluminum concentration among cases with Alzheimers disease was also similar to the values of hip fracture patients with other types of dementia (P=0.47). Odds ratios of hip fracture for each quartile of aluminum content in bone were also estimated to detect non-linear effects, but we did not find any statistically significant association remaining after age and sex adjustment. Thus, our results indicate that we accumulate aluminum in bone over our life span, but this does not seem to be of major pathogenetic significance for the occurrence of hip fracture or dementia.