Age-dependent changes in the mitochondrial F0F1 ATP synthase

The age dependence of ATP hydrolase activity and oligomycin sensitive passive proton conduction in sonicated submitochondrial particles of rat brain and rat heart has been investigated. The results show an increase of Vmax of the ATP hydrolase activity and decrease of oligomycin sensitive passive proton conduction with increase of the age of rats from 3 to 6 months. Decrease of ATPase activity and increase of oligomycin sensitive proton conduction occur with further aging to 24 months. Immunoblot analysis shows that both the F(1) and F(0) contents of mitochondria vary with the age of rats, the former exhibiting relatively larger changes.     

Allergic respiratory diseases and environmental pollution: experience in the printing/paper-manufacturing industry

Several studies have shown a correlation between airborne pollutants and respiratory disorders. To determine whether professional exposure to industrial pollution might represent a risk factor for allergic respiratory diseases, we administered allergologic tests to 275 workers employed in a paper-making/printing factory and to a control population composed of 160 office workers from the same urban area. All subjects were evaluated on the basis of personal and family histories, the results of prick tests with common airborne allergens, specific serum IgE levels, pulmonary function test, and standard chest radiography. The percentage of subjects with allergies in the factory-worker group (67/275; 24.4%) was significantly higher than that observed among the office workers (20/160; 12.5%) (chi-square test: 8.17; P<0.01). Of the 67 factory workers with allergies, 94% had histories of daily exposure to aliphatic hydrocarbons. The results of this study indicate that exposure to the latter type of industrial pollutants is associated with a significantly higher prevalence of allergic respiratory diseases.     

Antigenicity and specificity of selected glycolipid fractions from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Antigenicity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis glycolipids polyphthienoyl trehalose (PPTR), phenolic glycolipid (PGL-Tb1), tetraacyl trehalose-2'-sulphate (SL-I) and diacyl trehalose-2'-sulphate (SL-IV) was examined in rabbits. PPTR did not induce production of IgG antibodies in rabbits, while PGL-Tb1, SL-I and SL-IV glycolipids were efficient in this respect. Immune sera raised in rabbits immunoreacted exclusively with the corresponding antigens, which indicated that they were remarkably specific. Specificity of the immune sera was further examined using crude extracts of representative strains of 39 mycobacterial species, and the data showed that these immune sera reacted only with extracts of M. tuberculosis and M. africanum. An antiserum raised against whole cells of M. leprae immunoreacted with the purified SL-IV antigen from tubercle bacilli.     

Distribution of acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase among human T lymphocyte subsets

Human T lymphocyte subsets, identified by means of OKT3, 4 and 8 monoclonal antibodies, were isolated by a fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS IV) and analyzed for distribution of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) activity. As compared to OKT8⁺ lymphocytes a higher proportion of OKT4⁺ lymphocytes was ANAE-positive exibiting a spot or dot-like pattern in the cytoplasm. OKT8 and 4 positive subsets showed a similar ANAE distribution in diffuse granular form. Although OKT4 and OKT8 populations presented a different ANAE dot-like reactivity, this marker did not allow as clear a distinction between them as that reported for T_G and T_M lymphocytes.     

Use of photodynamic therapy in the palliation of massive advanced rectal cancer

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a relatively new form of cancer therapy utilizing a photosensitizer such as hematoporphyrin derivative. We conducted a pilot study to determine the efficacy of its use in palliating advanced rectal cancer, to determine toxicity, and to establish objective outcome criteria. Six patients with very advanced, usually recurrent rectal cancer were treated with PDT after being photosensitized with Photofrin II^®. A protocol was established to measure clinical and radiologic response to therapy. A new intraluminal delivery system was incorporated. Five patients had both clinical and radiologic responses to therapy. In two patients we observed such significant responses that they cannot be accounted for on a photobiologic basis alone. One patient developed a significant sunburn after discharge. There was no major toxicity of bleeding or sepsis even at maximum doses (200 J/cm²). We are confident that PDT has a role to play in rectal cancer and speculate as to future applications.     

Early splenectomy and polychemotherapy versus polychemotherapy alone in chronic myeloid leukemia

The effect of early splenectomy and of polychemotherapy with hydroxyurea, busulfan, and alternate bimonthly courses of arabinosyl cytosine and vincristine plus prednisone, was evaluated in 139 previously untreated patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), consecutively admitted to 18 hospitals from March 1973 to October 1974. Fifty-six patients were splenectomized and 83 patients were not splenectomized. Splenectomy did not influence the duration of chronic and blastic phase, and did not prolong survival. The prognosis of high risk patients was not improved. During the chronic phase, high platelet counts were more frequent in splenectomy group, and five patients developed thrombotic or thromboembolic complications, 5 to 19 months after the operation. The median survival of the whole group was 50 months, with 32 of 139 patients (actuarial proportion 30%) remaining alive 72 months after diagnosis, but the slope of the survival curve was similar to that of historical controls. The results of this trial suggests that new strategies should be developed for the therapy of CML.     

Aminopenicillin allergy

Eight two children with histories of maculopapular or urticarial rashes during aminopenicillin treatment underwent skin tests, patch tests, radioallergosorbent assays and, in some cases, oral challenges. Hypersensitivity was diagnosed in eight (9.8%): immediate in four with urticarial reactions and delayed (that is cell mediated) in four with maculopapular rashes. In 49 children (38 with maculopapular eruptions, 11 with urticarial/angiooedematous reactions), negative allergologic findings were confirmed using oral challenges with the suspected drug. Maculopapular rashes may reflect delayed hypersensitivity to aminopenicillins, which can be diagnosed on the basis of late intradermal reactions and/or patch test positivity. The allergen panel must include the suspected aminopenicillin itself, as many cases are side chain specific. Most patients with urticarial reactions (more typical of immediate hypersensitivity) will also react to penicilloyl polylysine and minor determinant mixture. The time elapsed between the reaction and testing must be considered if negative results emerge, because IgE mediated sensitivity (unlike cell mediated forms) declines in the absence of antigen exposure.