The properties of monoclonal antibodies to HIV gag gene proteins]

Immunization of BALB/c mice with natural purified HIV antigen, fusion of spleen cells with myeloma cells and subsequent selection of hybrid clones using recombinant gag antigen of HIV gave hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies (MCA) to HIV. The immune blotting method demonstrated that 3 clones interacted with protein p24 and 4 clones with protein p17 of HIV. Competitive EIA led to a conclusion that the resulting MCA detected at least 3 antigenic determinants in proteins, products of gag gene of HIV. The potentials of using these MCA for the detection of viral antigen in HIV-infected continuous cell lines were demonstrated.     

The role of the psychiatrist in the team treatment of the adult patient with burns.

Improved survival rates for patients with major burn injuries and the consistent finding of significant long-term psychologic disability among survivors of burn trauma call for a redefinition of the role of the psychiatric consultant in the care of patients with burns. In addition to the traditional functions of diagnosis and treatment of discrete psychiatric disorders in patients with burns, this expanded role includes assisting the patient's normal process of psychologic adaptation after injury, assessing and managing burn pain, and facilitating communication among all members of the burn team. The functions of the psychiatrist are most effectively carried out when the psychiatrist is able to participate on a regular basis in the care of every patient as a member of the burn team.     

The characteristics of cardiomyopathy in different geographical regions]

Region-specific characteristics of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DC) were compared for 108 relevant patients living in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Moscow (Russia). Out of 49 citizens of Dubai 17 had HC, 32 DC, and 59 Moscow patients had HC in 23, DC in 36 cases. It was found that HC in Dubai tends to run a silent latent course, involving mainly basal septum and right ventricle. Apical lesions were more typical for Moscow citizens who also display more severe myocardial impairment. DC in Dubai produces weaker cardiac insufficiency and arrhythmia. Incidence of idiopathic and periportal DC proved higher in Dubai, while alcohol and virus infection underlie DC more frequently in Moscow.     

A case of juvenile chronic myeloid leukemia with XX/XXX mosaicism.

Cytogenetic abnormalities are rarely found in patients with juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia (JCML). In patients with chromosomal abnormalities, chromosomes 7 and 8 are usually involved. A case of JCML with 47 XXX and a 46 XX karyotype is described and the literature is reviewed. To our knowledge, this is the first case ever to have been reported.     

Effect of mechanical pressure on the blood flow in human palatal mucosa measured by temperature controlled thermoelectrical method

Mucosal blood flow in the human palate was measured by a temperature controlled thermoelectrical method based on the thermal conductivity of mucosal tissue using a blood flow monitor and a non-invasive surface probe. The effect of mechanical pressure on the palatal mucosal tissue was studied. Mechanical pressure (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 or 15.0 g mm-2) to the mucosal surface was exerted circumferentially around the surface probe. In five out of seven subjects, the blood flow showed a tendency to be almost constant under the mechanical pressures which are 10.0 g mm-2 or higher. The effect of the duration of the pressure (10.0 g mm-2) exertion on the blood flow was also investigated and it was revealed that the blood flow tended to be constant after 60s in every subject. In the present study, it was also demonstrated that the temperature controlled thermoelectrical method is appropriate for studying the blood flow dynamics in oral mucosa.     

Role of phagocytes in antimicrobial defence of the middle ear.

The role of phagocytes in the antimicrobial defence of the middle ear was investigated in this experiment, using Hartley strain guinea pigs with an experimental otitis media. Otitis media was induced with an inoculation of Streptococcus pneumoniae into the tympanic cavity through the ear drum. For depletion of peripheral blood phagocyte population such as monocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), whole body irradiation (250 rad or 500 rad) was carried out on guinea pigs three days before S. pneumoniae inoculation into the middle ears. Carrageenan was also used for selective depletion of mononuclear cells, to distinguish their role from polymorphonuclear neutrophils. In control animals, otitis media was induced reproducibly with middle ear inoculation of more than 10(6) S. pneumoniae. In irradiated animals, which underwent 10(2) or 10(4) S. pneumoniae inoculation, the incidence of otitis media because of S. pneumoniae infection became higher in accordance with the dosage of irradiation. However, no significant difference was seen in the occurrence of otitis media and the number of viable bacteria recovered from bulla washings between controls and carrageenan-treated animals. These results suggest that phagocytes, particularly neutrophils, are essential for antimicrobial defense at the early phase of the middle ear infection with S. pneumoniae.     

Corpus callosum: interactive effects of infantile handling and testosterone in the rat

Previous research found that the corpus callosum of male rats is larger than that of females; handling rats in infancy enhances this sex difference; and female rat pups, when handled in infancy and given 1 injection of testosterone propionate (TP) on Day 4 of life, will have callosa as large as those of males. In 2 experiments, male pups were castrated on Day 1 or received sham surgery; female pups were injected with TP on Day 4 or received an oil injection. Litters were handled or nonhandled. The previous finding that females, when handled and given TP in infancy, have a larger callosum was confirmed; however, a TP effect when administered to nonhandled females was not found. Because handling is known to cause a corticosterone release, these findings were interpreted as evidence of a developmental interaction between adrenal and gonadal hormones at the cortical level.     

Epstein-Barr virus DNA in Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin''s disease is frequently associated with CR2 (EBV receptor) expression

We studied 44 cases of Hodgkin's disease for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA, its localization and the expression of the EBV receptor on the tumour cells. EBV DNA was found in 52% (16/31) of the Hodgkin's lymphomas using the polymerase chain reaction. With a very sensitive non-radioactive DNA in situ hybridization technique in combination with immunohistochemistry for CD 30 or CD 15 antigens, EBV DNA was localized to Reed-Sternberg cells and its mononuclear variants. The relationship between the presence of EBV DNA and the expression of the EBV-receptor CR2 (CD 21) on Reed-Sternberg cells was studied using the same techniques and two different monoclonal anti-CD 21 antibodies. CR2 could be detected on a substantial number of the Reed-Sternberg cells in EBV DNA positive Hodgkin's lymphomas (9/12; 75%), whereas in EBV negative cases positivity with anti-CD 21 was rare (1/13; 8%). The results indicate that CR2 expression on Reed-Sternberg cells and the presence of EBV DNA sequences are frequently associated in Hodgkin's lymphomas.