Macula hole as a retinal complication of congenital malformation of optic disk and coloboma choroideae in the same eye (author's transl)

Case report of a 24-year-old woman with combined ocular malformation: bilateral pits in the optic disc and coloboma of choroidea. Complication: macula hole in the colobom-eye. -- Within 3 years preexistent myopia increased 2 dpt in all. Possibly combination of unphysiological retinal traction by coloboma on the one side and axial myopia on the other side is cause of macula hole.     

Characterization of the tubules associated with the replication of three different orbiviruses.

During the replication of bluetongue virus (BTV), African horsesickness virus (AHSV), and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), tubular structures are synthesized in the infected cells. These tubules were purified on sucrose gradients and characterized. BTV and EHDV tubules are large with diameters of 68, and 54 nm, respectively. They have a surface fine structure with a striking 9-nm linear periodicity along the length of the tubules, giving them a ladder-like appearance. AHSV tubules are 18 run wide and have no clearly defined surface structure. The virus tubules are of indeterminate length, contain no RNA, and appear to be empty. They are in each case composed of a virus-specified noncapsid polypeptide of about 54,000 daltons. The AHSV tubule polypeptide is slightly larger than those of BTV and EHDV. Synthesis of the BTV tubules was first observed in the period 2–4 hr postinfection. Later in the infection cycle, they are seen in close association with viral particles and “virus factories.” Virus specificity of the tubules was demonstrated by specific immune precipitation with antisera against purified virus. There is immunological cross-reaction between BTV and EHDV tubules.     

Cytotoxic effects of vitamin A in combination with vincristine, daunorubicin and 6-thioguanine upon cells from lymphoblastic leukemic patients

We studied whether isotretinoin potentiated the effects of vincristine (VCR), daunorubicin (DNR), and 6-thioguanine (6-TG) against cells obtained from 24 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Treatment with 5 micrograms/ml isotretinoin alone resulted in a leukemic cell survival of 82% +/- 28.1%. So isotretinoin is toxic to ALL cells. Dose-response curves were obtained for VCR, DNR and 6-TG in the presence and absence of isotretinoin Isotretinoin showed additive leukemic cell kills in combination with VCR and DNR. When corrected for cell kill by isotretinoin alone, it appeared that isotretinoin did not significantly enhance leukemic cell kills by VCR, DNR and 6-TG. No differences were found between samples from patients at initial diagnosis and at relapse with respect to cell kill by isotretinoin alone and with respect to a possible synergistic effect of isotretinoin and the cytostatic drugs. It is concluded that isotretinoin has additive antileukemic effects in combination with VCR or DNR. However, isotretinoin does not potentiate the antileukemic effects of VCR, DNR and 6-TG against leukemic cells obtained from patients with ALL.     

Adenosine deaminase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase in childhood lymphoblastic leukemia: relation with differentiation stage, in vitro drug resistance and clinical prognosis.

Many reports have described the relationship of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) activities with the immunological subclasses of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The clinical significance of these enzymes in leukemias is not yet completely understood. We performed a study in 83 children with untreated ALL to establish the relationships of ADA and PNP to clinical outcome, in vitro drug resistance and differentiation stage of B-cell lineage ALL. ADA and PNP activities were determined radiochemically. In vitro resistance to 6-thioguanine (6-TG) was determined with the MTT assay. ADA activity was not different between proB- and cALL cases but decreased in the sequential differentiation stages cALL----preB-ALL----B-ALL. The PNP level was not different between the four stages of B-lineage ALL. Patients with cALL/preB ALL with low ADA activities had a significantly poorer probability of survival (p = 0.005) than patients with high ADA levels. Patients with cALL/preB ALL with low PNP activities showed a non-significant trend for a poorer prognosis (0.05 less than p less than 0.10) than patients with a high PNP level. Low ADA and PNP activities were not related to in vitro resistance to 6-TG. We conclude that ADA decreases and PNP remains constant in sequential differentiation stages of B-lineage ALL. Patients with precursor B-lineage ALL with low activities of ADA have a poorer prognosis than those with high activities of these enzymes. No relationship could be detected between ADA or PNP activity and resistance to 6-TG.     

Posterior eye changes in pregnancy. Retinal punctate hemorrhage, a specific sign of EPH gestosis?

The author reports on 6 pregnant women suffering from punctate hemorrhage in either one or both eyes, in each case distal to the optic disk. Spontaneous resorption occurred post partum. This retinal sign may be specific in EPH gestosis.     

Spontaneous hyphaema in the senium (author's transl)]

Two case reports are given of "spontaneous" hyphaema in the anterior chamber of eye of two elderly women-patients. Haemorrhages as well per diapedesin as per rhexin, possibly by biotropic influence of weather, or possibly also a reflux into Schlemm's canal, too, are discussed for aetiology. There are no pathological laboratory findings.     

Purification and partial characterization of R5, R5X4, and X4 HIV-1 subtype C envelope glycoproteins expressed in insect cells

Biological properties of four recombinant HIV-1 subtype C envelope glycoproteins from viruses with different phenotypic characteristics (CCR5 and/or CXCR4-utilizing) were investigated. The gp160 genes were cloned, expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells, purified, and their biological characteristics were examined. The conformational and functional integrity of the HIV-1 subtype C rgp160 was intact since they reacted with the A32, C11, IgG1b12, 7B2, and 17b conformational dependant monoclonal antibodies (MAb), sCD4, and patient sera. Baculovirus derived rgp160 can be used for further structural, functional, antigenic, and immunological studies.     

Site-specific mutations in the NS2 protein of epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus markedly affect the formation of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies

Summary The importance of a conserved amino acid motif in the nonstructural protein NS2 of different orbiviruses was investigated with regard to virus inclusion body (VIB) formation. A number of epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus NS2 deletion and substitution mutants were prepared and expressed as baculovirus recombinants. Deletion of the motif or substitution of at least three residues within the region, had a detrimental effect on VIB formation in insect cells. Furthermore, these NS2 mutants were not complexed with single-stranded RNA in infected cells and appeared to be cytotoxic. Cumulatively, the results suggest that this motif is an essential structural determinant for NS2 function.