The distinction of bone and liver isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase in serum using a monoclonal antibody

Out of 31 mouse monoclonal antibodies to human liver and bone ALP, one antibody coded BAP 1/9, showing a preference for binding the bone isoenzyme, and one antibody coded LAP 1/5, showing no preference, were selected to study binding of the serum forms of ALP. Using a plate capture assay format BAP 1/9 showed a 1.8-fold preference for binding purified bone versus liver ALP in the presence of 10% ALP-free serum compared with 2.1- to 2.25-fold preference in buffered salt solution. BAP 1/9 showed a preference for binding ALP from serum samples containing predominantly bone ALP compared to those containing predominantly liver ALP. Using predefined mixtures of serum forms of bone and liver ALP a linear relationship between ALP bound to BAP 1/9 and the fraction of bone ALP was obtained.     

Therapy of functional disorders of the craniovertebral joints in vestibular diseases]

Cervicogenic vertigo is caused by functional disorders of the craniovertebral joints. Improvement of vertigonous symptoms by chiropractic treatment was often described. The therapeutic effect of chiropractic treatment in 28 patients with vertigo and purely functional disorders of the upper cervical spine or with a combination of functional disorders of the upper cervical spine and the labyrinth was evaluated. Improvement of vertigonous symptoms on patients with purely functional disorders of the craniovertebral joints as well as on patients with combined functional disorders of the craniovertebral joints and labyrinth could be seen. Two of the 28 patients showed persistent relief of symptoms and normalisation of cervical motility whereas the vestibular deficit persisted. One patient with persistent vestibular dysfunction showed recurrent malfunction of the upper cervical spine and vertigo. In our opinion chiropractic treatment is mandatory for the therapy of patients with vestibular affections and functional disorders of the craniovertebral joints.     

A computerized system for image cephalometrics]

This system is composed of: (1) a perspective table, (2) TV camera, (3) a high-resolution image displayer, (4) a computer, (5) a laser printer The functions of this system are as follows: (1) It can perform cephalometries directly from image of X-ray film, (2) it can diagnose and analyse the deformity and provide treatment plan. This system is valuable for orthodontics and surgical orthodontics.     

Comparison of stress transmission in the IMZ implant system with polyoxymethylene or titanium intramobile element: a finite element stress analysis.

Using the finite element method, this study modeled a 4.0 x 13.0-mm IMZ implant, restored with a cast gold crown, to examine the influence of the polyoxymethylene (POM) intramobile element (IME) on the transmission of vertical and oblique forces. Stress concentrations in the bone and in components of the implant system were much greater under a 30-degree load than under an equal vertical load. Stress transmission to bone occurred chiefly in the crestal region, and these stresses were not reduced when the IME was modeled in POM rather than in titanium. Maximum stress concentrations occurred in the fastening screw.     

Comparison of fetal cerebellar measurements by two different techniques.

We examined 53 fetuses between 15 and 40 weeks of gestation with transverse and coronal sections of the head in order to evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of the coronal cerebellar diameter. Intraobserver coefficient of variation was less than or equal to 2.2% and the mean interobserver difference was 2.2% (range, 0 to 6%). A positive linear correlation exists between transverse and coronal measurements (coronal diameter = 1.02 x transverse diameter - 0.48; R2 = 0.99; P less than 0.0001). We conclude that the coronal cerebellar diameter is reproducible and accurate and when indicated clinically can be used instead of the transverse cerebellar diameter when the latter is not obtainable because of fetal position.     

Point mutation analysis of ras genes in spontaneous and chemically induced C57Bl/10J mouse liver tumours.

The high incidence and profile of ras gene mutations reported in spontaneous and chemically induced liver tumours of the B6C3F1 mouse provides a potential means of determining in vivo genotoxicity and its relevance to carcinogenicity. We analysed spontaneous and chemically induced [with 4-amino-biphenyl (ABP), 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) and diethylnitrosamine (DEN)] hepatocellular tumours of the C57Bl/10J mouse for H-ras, K-ras and N-ras gene mutations to see if mutational analysis of the ras genes could be useful for such a determination in this strain. Regions of DNA spanning codons 12, 13 and 61 of the ras genes were amplified from formalin fixed liver tumour sections using the polymerase chain reaction. Mutations were detected using allele specific oligonucleotide probing and confirmed by sequencing. We have found that there are few ras mutations in either spontaneous or chemically induced liver tumours in the C57Bl/10J mouse. Out of 25 spontaneous tumours two contained an A to T transversion and one contained an A to G transition in base 2 of H-ras codon 61 and two contained a G to A transition in base 2 of K-ras codon 13 (the K-ras mutations were only faintly detectable and may be present in a subpopulation of the tumour cells). In the case of the 18 ABP induced tumours one contained a C to A transversion in base 1 of H-ras codon 61, and one contained an A to T transversion in base 2 of H-ras codon 61 and one contained a G to C transversion in base 1 of K-ras codon 13. One C to A transversion in base 1 of H-ras codon 61 was detected out of eight AAF induced tumours. Of the 25 DEN induced tumours, one contained an A to G transition and one contained an A to C transversion in base 2 of H-ras codon 61. The data indicate that at least in hepatocellular tumours of the C57Bl/10J strain and using chronic dosing regimes the ras genes do not represent markers for in vivo genotoxic activity.     

Ascorbate is the principal reductant of chromium(VI) in rat lung ultrafiltrates and cytosols, and mediates chromium-DNA binding in vitro.

Chromium(VI) reductase activity was measured in ultrafiltrates of rat lung after various pretreatments in vitro at 37 degrees C and pH 7.0. Pretreatment of ultrafiltrates with L-ascorbate oxidase (EC 1.10.3.3), which specifically eliminated ascorbate, blocked approximately 95% of chromium(VI) reductase activity in ultrafiltrates. Preincubation of ultrafiltrates with heat-denatured ascorbate oxidase or the sulfhydryl-blocking agent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) had no significant effect on Cr(VI) reductase activity. In rat lung cytosols, L-ascorbate oxidase blocked approximately 95% and NEM blocked approximately 15% of Cr(VI) reductase activity. The extent of inhibition of Cr(VI) reductase activity in cytosols by L-ascorbate oxidase was significantly decreased to approximately 75% after addition of 1.0 mM NADPH. When Cr(VI) was incubated with salmon sperm nuclei suspended in rat lung cytosol for 15 min, Cr became bound to nuclear DNA. This Cr-DNA binding was completely inhibited by preincubation of rat lung cytosols with L-ascorbate oxidase and inhibited approximately 60% by preincubation with NEM. Taken together these data suggest that ascorbate and/or ascorbate-dependent factors are the principal reductants of Cr(VI) in both ultrafiltrates and cytosols prepared from rat lung and ascorbate-dependent metabolism of Cr(VI) results in Cr binding to nuclear DNA in vitro. Although sulfhydryl-containing factors and NADPH-dependent factors only make a minor contribution to Cr(VI) reduction in rat lung cytosols, sulfhydryls may be significantly involved in the binding of Cr to nuclear DNA.     

Activation of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte subsets by streptozotocin in the popliteal lymph node assay. II. Comparison with acute graft-vs-host reaction in H-2 incompatible F1 mouse hybrids.

Changes in lymphocyte subsets during an acute GVH reaction were compared to STZ-induced PLN response in mice. The GVH reaction was induced locally by sc injection of parental C57Bl/6 [B6] spleen cells into (C57Bl/6 x DBA/2) F1 footpad [B6D2F1]. Early cell activation and time-related changes in T- and B-lymphocyte subsets were monitored during the onset of the GVH reaction by flow cytometry and immunophenotyping. Examination of cell size and chromatin decondensing for T- and B-cell subsets showed differences in activation profile during the early phase of the GVH reaction. The present study provides direct evidence for early in vivo activation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. Our data confirm the central role of T-cell activation in the induction of a GVH reaction and suggest that recirculatory host B-cells can play an important role in early GVH node enlargement. Overall, our comparative analysis supports the concept of polyclonal T-cell activation for both STZ-related and GVH-induced lymphoproliferation. Chemicals-induced lymphoproliferation leading to autoimmune reactions is a challenging issue. A number of drugs and chemicals have been tested in the PLNA assay for lymphoproliferative potential. We previously reported the activation and proliferation of T-cell subsets following STZ injection into murine footpads. The STZ-induced PLN enlargement and proliferation characteristics of T- and B-cell subsets were postulated to be similar to those of an acute allogeneic GVHR. In the present study, a cytometric analysis of T- and B-cell subsets in PLNs was performed during an acute allogeneic GVHR, for comparison purposes. Such a reaction results in a massive node enlargement five to ten times that seen after stimulation with conventional antigens. Acute GVHR is believed to be a direct consequence of the high frequency of alloreactive donor T-cells inducing a massive proliferation of B-cells, almost exclusively of host origin, in GVHR nodes. It is now widely accepted that donor T-cells activated as the result of exposure to foreign MHC antigens in the recipient, secrete various cytokines which assist the host B-cells and bypass the normal B-T cell cooperation. Induction of an acute GVHR, as in the parental B6--->recipient B6D2F1 model, requires the injection of CD4+ and CD8+ donor T-cells into an F1 recipient that differs from the parent at both MHC class I and II loci.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Effect of diltiazem on silent myocardial ischemia]

Thirty-four patients with coronary heart disease who had silent myocardiac ischemic episodes as evidenced by long-term ECG monitoring were examined. Silent ST-segment elevations and depressions were encountered 2.7- and 4.9-fold as compared to manifest ones. The fact that the CHD patients had silent ST-segment depressions and/or prolonged high-amplitude silent ST-segment elevations suggests a grave severity of abnormal myocardial processes. There was a reduction in the number, duration of silent ST-segment elevations and depression episodes and in the amplitude of silent ST-segment depressions. This may indirectly indicate that the agent affects predominantly coronary blood flow and coronary vascular tone.