Simian virus 40-transformed adherent cells from human long-term marrow cultures: cloned cell lines produce cells with stromal and hematopoietic characteristics

Adherent cells from long-term marrow cultures from 23 individuals were transformed with wild-type simian virus 40 (SV40). After transformation, cloned cell lines were developed that even after rigorous subcloning invariably produced both stromal cells and round cells. The stromal cells expressed cytoskeletal filaments similar to those of long-term marrow culture adherent cells and produced interstitial and basal lamina collagen types. The round cells had the electron microscopic appearance of primitive hematopoietic cells and when examined with cytochemical stains and monoclonal antibodies to hematopoietic differentiation antigens had reaction patterns suggestive of cells from several lineages. Most round cells expressed the pan- hematopoietic T-200 determinant, and lesser percentages expressed the early T cell antigens CD-1 and CD-3, HLA-DR determinants, the monocytic antigen recognized by Leu M3, and the myeloid antigens detected by monoclonal antibodies 1G10 and 12.8. In addition, when plated in semisolid medium in the presence of a source of colony-stimulating activity, up to 11% of the cells formed colonies consisting of blastlike cells that also expressed hematopoietic cell surface determinants. The data suggest that adherent cells in long-term marrow cultures contain a cell that after transformation by SV40 obligately produces cells with hematopoietic as well as stromalike features.     

Graft failure after T-cell-depleted human leukocyte antigen identical marrow transplants for leukemia: II. In vitro analyses of host effector mechanisms

To identify mechanisms potentially contributing to graft failure, 19 leukemic recipients of T-cell-depleted marrow transplants who failed to engraft following a transplant of HLA identical sibling marrow depleted of T cells by soybean agglutinin (SBA) and sheep erythrocytes (E) were evaluated. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated at the time of failure were consistently of host origin, bearing the phenotype of suppressor T cells (CD3+, CD8+, Leu 7+). A direct cytolytic effect on 51Cr-labeled donor-derived target cells was not detected, a finding that contrasts with the donor-specific cytotoxic host T lymphocytes that have been regularly observed in patients rejecting HLA nonidentical SBA -E- BMTs. However, these host T cells did exhibit a strong and specific suppressive activity against the donor marrow CFU- GM in vitro. Furthermore, in contrast to prior findings in durably engrafted recipients of SBA -E- BMTs, the lymphocytes isolated prior to or at the time of graft failure lacked natural killer surface antigen expression and effector function.     

Trends in Incidence and Age Distribution of Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas,Kingston and St Andrew,Jamaica, 1978–2007

Objective:

Several countries have reported increasing incidence of oral cavity and oropharyngeal (OCOP) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) over recent years, particularly among young men and primarily in tongue and tonsil subsites, attributed to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. This study examines trends in incidence and age distribution of OCOP SCC in Jamaica over a 30-year period.

Methods:

We extracted all cases of OCOP SCC archived in the Jamaica Cancer Registry files over the 30 year-period from 1978 to 2007 and grouped them according to anatomical site (International Classification of Diseases; ICD-9), age and gender. The data were used to calculate age-standardized rates (ASRs) and age-specific incidence rates (ASIRs).

Results:

There were 384 patients (age range 21 to 94 years; male to female ratio 2.6:1) with OCOP SCC; the majority (85.4%) was > 50 years. Age-standardized rates of all OCOP SCC combined were higher in males than in females and there was a decrease in both genders over the study period. Tongue and tonsil were the commonest subsites, and males showed decreasing ASR in both. Females showed decreasing ASR in tongue and fluctuation in tonsil SCCs. The highest ASIRs for tongue and tonsil SCC were consistently seen in patients older than 50 years of age.

Conclusion:

The incidence of OCOP SCC is decreasing and continues to predominate among older men. The decreasing trend in incidence of tongue and tonsil SCC is unlike that reported elsewhere. This may be due to differences in sexual practices, small size of this study, or a lag time in emergence of a new trend.     

Rolling in P-selectin-deficient mice is reduced but not eliminated in the dorsal skin

P-selectin-mediated rolling is believed to be important in the recruitment of leukocytes to tissue after ischemia-reperfusion injury. The dorsal skin chamber was used to examine differences in the rolling and stable adhesion of circulating leukocytes in subcutaneous (SC) vessels of P-selectin-deficient and age-matched wild-type mice, both under basal conditions and after ischemia-reperfusion. Rolling in the postcapillary venules in SC tissue of P-selectin-deficient mice was significantly lower than that in wild-type mice under the basal conditions and post-ischemia-reperfusion (P < .05), but was not eliminated by the deletion of the P-selectin gene. No significant difference between P-selectin-deficient and wild-type mice in shear rate or leukocyte-endothelial adhesion was observed up to 24 hours after ischemia-reperfusion. These results show that P-selectin-mediated rolling is not a prerequisite for ischemia-reperfusion-induced leukocyte-endothelial adhesion in the skin.     

Immune reconstitution following bone marrow transplantation: comparison of recipients of T-cell depleted marrow with recipients of conventional marrow grafts

The reconstitution of hematopoietic cells and in vitro assays of immunologic function have been followed in leukemic patients after conventional bone marrow transplantation (BMT) (N = 34) and T-cell depleted BMT (N = 52) from human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling donors. No effects of the T-cell depletion could be seen on the recovery of myeloid or lymphoid cells as measured by the day to engraftment or by the absolute number of cells through day 100. Normal numbers of lytically active natural killer cells returned the earliest and were rapidly followed in both groups of patients by the appearance of circulating B cells and normalization of the responses to B-cell mitogens. However, the recovery of normal T-cell proliferative responses were more delayed in recipients of T-cell depleted grafts. Significant quantitative differences were seen only during the first 3 months after transplantation. Neither the number of CD3+ T cells nor the ratio of CD4:CD8 positive cells differed markedly between the two transplant groups. Mitogen-induced immunoglobulin production by peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from patients following T-cell depleted BMT was quantitatively less than that of conventional marrow recipients through the first year, with low normal IgM production reached by 4 to 6 months in both groups. IgG production reached low normal 7 to 9 months after conventional BMT but did not remain at this level until 1 year following either type of transplant. Assessment of the incidence of infections from the day the absolute neutrophil count reached 500 until day 180 after transplant revealed no significant differences between the two groups; indeed, the overall nonleukemic mortality was higher in the recipients of conventional bone marrow. Thus, in our series, the removal of mature cells from the marrow graft did not affect the rate or degree of recovery of myeloid and lymphoid cells but did affect the regeneration of in vitro T-cell dependent functions. We noted early quantitative differences and a delay in the normalization of the T-cell functions measured rather than prolonged absolute deficiencies. The in vitro deficiencies did not result in significant clinically apparent differences between the two groups.     

Molecular diagnostics of atypical pneumonia

The emergence of nucleic acid-based molecular techniques has significantly enhanced laboratory diagnosis and monitoring of atypical pneumonia. These techniques have not only provided rapid and sensitive detection of fastidious microbial organisms but have also played critical roles in identifying and characterizing emerging patho- gens that cause atypical pneumonia. Other benefits that molecular techniques can bring to the field include organism differentiation, quantitation, typing, and antibiotic resistance profiles. Gradually becoming standardized and widely available, the future will see some promising molecular methods become a mainstay in clinical laboratories for recognition and diagnosis of atypical pneumonia pathogens.     

Cerebrospinal fluid lactate concentration to distinguish bacterial from aseptic meningitis: a systemic review and meta-analysis

Introduction  

Making a differential diagnosis between bacterial meningitis and aseptic meningitis is a critical clinical problem. The utility of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate assay for this purpose has been debated and is not yet routinely clinically performed. To adequately evaluate this assay, a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies of the CSF lactate concentration as a marker for both bacterial meningitis and aseptic meningitis was performed.     

Anxiety and depression following pulmonary rehabilitation

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes and predictive factors of anxiety and depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) before and up to 3 months after pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). Methods: A single group longitudinal design of patients with COPD underwent a PR programme. The measurements took place at baseline (T1: N = 100), immediately before (T2: N = 66), immediately after (T3: N = 54) and 3 months after (T4: N = 43) the programme. The programme was a 6‐week outpatient programme, including education, psychosocial support and training sessions. Anxiety and depression were measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, self‐efficacy by the COPD self‐efficacy scale, lung function by spirometry and exercise capacity by incremental shuttle walking test. Mixed effect model analyses were used. Results: Results showed a tendency of less anxiety and depression immediately after (T3) compared with immediately before (T2) the PR programme, but the changes were not significant. Results also showed that female reported significantly more anxiety than male (p = 0.019), better exercise capacity predicted significantly less depression (p = 0.049), and higher self‐efficacy predicted both significantly less anxiety (p = 0.001) and less depression (p = 0.005). Conclusions: A tendency of less anxiety and depression during the PR programme was found, but the changes were not significant. Higher level of self‐efficacy and better exercise capacity are suggested to relieve anxiety and depression.