A new monoclonal antibody which binds to the cytoplasm of large cell lymphomas.

We reported a new monoclonal antibody, designated FUB-1, reacting with normal and neoplastic large lymphoid cells. FUB-1 was produced using a Burkitt's lymphoma cell line (HBL-5) as an immunogen. Its immunoglobulin subtype was IgM. The determinant was not on the surface but in the cytoplasm. Western blotting analysis revealed that the molecular weight of the antigen was 52,000 dalton. In the normal lymphoid tissue, FUB-1 reacted with large lymphoid cells, but not with small or medium-sized lymphoid cells or plasma cells. In addition, the FUB-1 antigen was not found in resting cells in the peripheral blood (PB), but it was induced on mononuclear cells of PB by addition of PWM or PMA. In the B-cell lymphomas tested, FUB-1 reacted with small cleaved cell lymphomas (3/12), large cell lymphomas (7/10), Burkitt's lymphomas (4/4) and immunoblastic lymphomas (2/2), but not with small cell lymphomas (0/3) or intermediate lymphocytic lymphomas (0/8). These findings indicate that the FUB-1 antigen appears to be expressed on normal lymphoid cells during blastoid transformation and on neoplastic large lymphoid cells. FUB-1 also reacted with normal glandular epithelium and various adenocarcinomas. FUB-1 may be useful to investigate the mechanism of in vitro blastoid transformation or activation of lymphoid cells.     

Monoclonal antibodies to restricted and cross-reactive idiotopes on monoclonal rheumatoid factors and their recognition of idiotope-positive cells

Four human monoclonal rheumatoid factors (MRF) were used to raise a panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAb) which were selected in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay for binding to MRF but not normal IgM. Three mAb, each raised against a different MRF, bound to the majority of MRF and also to most polyclonal RF. Four other mAb bound selectively to the MRF against which they were raised and to no other MRF, and rarely to any polyclonal RF. Competition studies using cold and radiolabeled mAb further indicated that these mAb recognize distinct and different epitopes on MRF. RF activity of MRF was inhibited by 3 of the 4 mAb binding to a single MRF and 2 of the 3 mAb binding to multiple RF. It was thus concluded that of this panel of mAb 3 recognized cross-reactive idiotopes and the remainder demonstrated highly restricted idiotopes on MRF. These mAb identified MRF idiotopebearing cells in the peripheral blood of 3 of the MRF donors (and a further subject with type II essential cryoglobulinemia), with a frequency ranging from 0.3–10% of all mononuclear cells with the mAb to restricted idiotopes or 1.5–17% with mAb to cross-reactive idiotopes. These anti-idiotopic mAb should thus provide a highly specific means of identifying and monitoring MRF-producing cells in vivo.     

Minimal osteonecrosis as a segmental infarct within the femoral head

Minimal osteonecrosis (MON) is a small and eccentrically localized lesion of osteonecrosis (ON) of the femoral head. This form of ON shows clinically benign features, but may be indicative of the pathomechanism of ON. Of 180 patients (275 hips) with ON, 15 patients (19 hips) were found to have MON. Based on the geography of the femoral head, the lesions were grouped into four types: anterior (seven hips), superior (six hips), medial (five hips), and lateral (one hip). When the location of the lesion was compared with the normal vascular anatomy, a close correlation between the location and the segmental blood supply in the femoral head became evident. Histologic findings showed localized infarction of the trabeculae and bone marrow, but no evidence suggesting repeated episodes of infarction, which is an essential feature of typical ON. From these findings, MON may be a segmental infarct within the femoral head. Interruption of the blood flow may possibly occur not in the main trunk but in the terminal branch of the lateral epiphyseal or superior metaphyseal artery; such as ischemic event is probably a single brief attack, leading to this form of infarction in contrast to typical ON developing with prolonged or recurrent obstructions.     

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Presenting as a Varicelliform Eruption over the Entire Skin

A boy with skin eruptions resembling varicella and specific for Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is reported. At his initial visit when he was four months old, vesiculopustular lesions were present over the entire body; these had first appeared on the third day post partus. Histopathological, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopical examination confirmed the Langerhans cell phenotype and Birbeck granules in the responsible cells. He also had hydronephrosis, recurrent fever, and cutaneous bacterial infections. His parents refused further medical treatment and he died of diarrhea with cachexia about two years later. LCH may present diagnostic difficulties by manifesting as a skin eruption which resembles varicella.     

Statistical analysis of the prostatic cancer patients detected from 1985 to 1989 in and around Gunma prefecture]

Prostatic cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the field of urology. The number of patients is increasing rapidly and its importance as a mortal disease is gathering attention. In 1985, we organized a registration system for prostatic cancer patients found in and around Gunma prefecture. In this study, we analyzed the clinical characteristics of the 730 patients registered from 1985 to 1989. The results were as follows. Mean age was 74.0 years old and the number of the patients was the greatest in the eighth decade. Voiding disturbance was the most common chief complaint, followed by pollakisuria, gross hematuria and miction pain. Stage and grade distribution were as follows. Stage A 16.2%, B 21.1%, C 17.0%, D 45.7%, well differentiated 27.4%, moderately differentiated 48.2% and poorly differentiated 24.5%, respectively. A statistically significant relationship between stage and grade was observed. Bone was the most common metastatic site. The highest incidence of bone metastasis was in lumbar vertebra, followed by ribs, ilium, thoracic vertebra and ischium. The value of PAP, ALP and ESR tended to be higher in high stage patients, and that of Hb was lower. Fifty two patients were detected by mass screening. Most of these patients were in an early stage. Most of the patients were treated by hormonal therapy. LH-RH agonists constituted 39.2% of the cases given hormonal therapy.     

Serum immunoreactive beta-glucuronidase determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in patients with hepatic diseases.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for human beta-glucuronidase, using a specific polyclonal antibody raised against the purified enzyme. beta-Glucuronidase from human liver consisted of three subunits with molecular mass of 76, 64 and 18 kDa. The assay offered a specific, sensitive and convenient means of measuring immunoreactive beta-glucuronidase in human sera. beta-Glucuronidase activity determined by the conventional method appeared to be extremely low, indicating that in human sera beta-glucuronidase exists in an enzymatically inactive form. The sensitivity of the assay permitted the detection of 1-100 ng of purified beta-glucuronidase. A mean serum level in normal subjects was 108 +/- 25 ng/ml (mean +/- S.D.). A high level of beta-glucuronidase was found in sera of patients with severe hepatocellular necrosis, including liver cirrhosis (152 +/- 130 ng/ml) and chronic active hepatitis (220 +/- 99 ng/ml), whereas no significant increase of the enzyme protein was observed in chronic persistent hepatitis (102 +/- 42 ng/ml). beta-Glucuronidase was also increased in sera of patients with primary hepatoma (156 +/- 125 ng/ml). The immunoreactive beta-glucuronidase determined in this assay was thought to be a supplementary serological indicator for hepatocellular necrosis.     

Bipolar prosthetic replacement for the treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Eighty-three hips in 66 patients with nontraumatic avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) showing evidence of severe collapse or secondary osteoarthritic changes were treated with surgical implantation of bipolar hip prostheses either with or without cement fixation of femoral stems. The cases were observed for more than three years (range, three to ten years seven months; average, five years seven months) and assessed in terms of functional and roentgenographic results. These data were compared with the results of classic hemiarthroplasties using fixed head prostheses (Austin-Moore-type with curved or straight stem) that were performed at the authors' institutions before 1980. The results confirm that the clinical outcome is improved with use of the bipolar prosthesis. Satisfactory results (a score of 80 or greater on a hip function scoring system proposed by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association) were maintained throughout the follow-up period in most cases (71 of 83 hips) with the bipolar prosthetic replacements. In a group of patients with unsatisfactory results (12 hips), proximal migration of prosthetic head was seen in two cases. The incidence of proximal migration of bipolar heads, including those exhibiting minimal movement, was significantly lower when compared with that observed in an Austin-Moore-type head-fixed prosthesis group (7/83 versus 12/19) during a comparable postoperative follow-up period. It is noteworthy that the proximal migration of the bipolar head was not progressive, and, in most cases observed more than five years, the cartilaginous spaces of acetabulum were preserved, whereas in the Austin-Moore-replaced group, the migration was evident and progression occurred within three years of surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)