Recombinant human interleukin 6 is a potent inducer of the acute phase response and elevates the blood platelets in nonhuman primates

Human interleukin 6 (IL-6) produced by molecular cloning was administered to nonhuman primates to assess its biological activities in vivo. Rhesus monkeys were treated s.c. with recombinant human (rh) IL-6 at 3 and 30 micrograms/kg body weight/day for 11 days, followed by the administration of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) at 5.5 micrograms/kg/day for 5 days. Serum levels of positively regulated acute phase proteins (APP) (C-reactive protein, alpha 1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, and ceruloplasmin) increased, whereas negatively regulated APP (prealbumin) decreased in response to rhIL-6 treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Platelet counts rose after a latent period of 4-5 days following the start of rhIL-6 treatment, resulting in a maximum twofold increase above normal levels 2-3 days after the termination of the rhIL-6 treatment. Recombinant human IL-6 treatment induced a two to threefold rise in myeloid progenitor blood cell levels. The subsequent administration of rhGM-CSF to rhIL-6-pretreated animals did not increase the progenitor cell levels in blood above those found with rhGM-CSF treatment alone, indicating that rhIL-6 compared to recombinant human interleukin 3 (rhIL-3) has a minor proliferative effect on hematopoietic precursors in vivo. In conclusion, rhIL-6 was shown to be a potent stimulator of APP and was able to increase the number of platelets in circulation in nonhuman primates.     

Accessibility of low-molecular-weight crystallins to ammonia and hydrogen chloride gases

Low-molecular-weight crystallin was isolated from bovine lenses. Its purity was established by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-gel electrophoresis. The amino-acid composition, in general, and the total available acidic and basic sites, in particular, were obtained by amino-acid analysis. The accessibility of low-molecular-weight crystallins to ammonia and hydrogen chloride vapor was obtained by high vacuum vapor sorption. The sorption and desorption isotherms were analysed regarding the gas uptake at different vapor pressures. The amount of ammonia and hydrogen chloride irreversibly sorbed and retained as well as the hysteresis imply high accessibility of crystallins to the polar gases. The results indicate that molecular self aggregation of low-molecular-weight crystallins in solid state occurs mostly through hydrophobic domains.     

Levels of antibody against Legionella pneumophila serotype 1 in healthy populations in five areas in New Zealand

Levels of antibody to Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in five areas of New Zealand were determined by indirect immunofluorescence. Both immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM levels were separately assessed. Of the 500 people studied, 2.8% had IgG titers of greater than or equal to 1:128 and 4.0% had IgM titers of greater than or equal to 1:128. Higher levels of IgG reactivity were noted in the southern part of New Zealand, but neither age nor sex appeared to be related to variations in antibody levels.     

Age dependence of freezable and nonfreezable water content of normal human lenses

The cortex, intermediate zone, and nucleus of 19 normal human lenses between the ages of 3 and 77 yr were investigated. The freezable water content of the lenses was obtained by differential scanning calorimetry. The total water content was measured by vacuum dehydration. The nonfreezable water content was calculated from these two measurements. The total water content of the nucleus and intermediate layers decrease with age, while that of the cortex does not vary appreciably. The nonfreezable water content of all three regions of normal human lenses decreases with age.     

Investigation by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay of Salmonella H Antigen-Antibody Reactions

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay has been used for the detection of Salmonella group H antibodies.     

Cooperative studies in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children in Austria--report of 10 years' experience

437 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) have been treated at 9 different institutions in Austria utilizing common protocols and central registration between 1974 and 1984. 227 patients (132 boys and 95 girls, group I) were treated between 1974 and 1980 using 3 consecutive protocols (KMK, O 76, A 78), which were essentially derived from the Memphis studies VII and VIII. Patients with a high risk of relapse were treated according to the LSA 2-L2 protocol. 210 patients (112 boys and 98 girls, group II) were consecutively treated following the BFM protocols 76/79 and 81/83. In this group, treatment intensity was adjusted to the initially determined individual risk of relapse (BFM risk score or risk factor). To date, the life table analysis demonstrates that the probability of continuous complete remission for patients in group II is 60% after 5 and 3 years (BFM 76/79 and BFM 81/83, respectively), whereas group I reaches a level of 37.3%. The prognostic difference between risk and non-risk patients in both studies of group II was eliminated. Despite a higher morbidity and non-leukaemia-related mortality in group II, the therapeutic success can be attributed to the intensification of induction therapy.