An improved method for the detection of HIV antigen in the blood of carriers

The measurement of HIV antigen levels in sera or plasma of HIV-infected individuals is critical for determining the existence of antigen or infectious virus before seroconversion and for prognosis. Pretreatment of sera or plasma of HIV carriers by heating at 70 degrees C for 10 min at an acidic pH enabled us to estimate antigens efficiently in immune complexes. This procedure will also be useful in determining antigen levels in HIV carriers more precisely.     

Ganglion cell density and oil droplet distribution in the retina of brown-eared bulbul (Hysipetes amaurotis)

This study was intended to determine the number and density of both retinal ganglion cells and the oil droplets of cone photoreceptor cells in brown-eared bulbul (Hysipetes amaurotis). For this study birds were killed with proper dose of anesthetic (pentobarbital, 30 mg/kg), and the eyes were removed from the orbital cavity to isolate the retina. For the ganglion cell study retinal whole-mount specimens were prepared and stained with 0.1% cresyl violet. The different types of oil droplets were counted from color microphotographs of freshly prepared retinal samples. The mean total number of ganglion cells was estimated at approximately 2.5×10⁶; with an average density of 16 523 cells/mm². Two high-density areas, namely the central area (CA) and the dorso-temporal area (DTA), are located in the central and dorso-temporal retinas, respectively, in bulbuls (24 032 cells/mm² in the CA; 23 113 cells/mm² in the DTA). Small ganglion cells persisted in the highest density areas, whereas the largest soma sizes were found in the lowest density areas of the retina. Four types of different colored oil droplets — red, orange, green and clear — were identified with an average density of 29 062/mm². Among the different colors, the green oil droplets had a significantly higher population (13 083/mm²) than the others across the retina. The central retina had a significantly higher number of all types of oil droplets, at a density of 60 552/mm². The density and size of the different colored oil droplets were inversely related across the regions of the retina. Taken together, it is concluded that the CA of the retina is an excellent quality area for visual perception due to peak density of ganglion cells and oil droplets. Moreover, each specific oil droplet makes a distinct contribution to visual perception, thereby ensuring that the bird has a retina that best matches its natural environment and feeding behavior.     

Comparison of Classical and Clozapine Treatment on Schizophrenia Using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale of Schizophrenia (PANSS) and SPECT Imaging

Many neuroimaging studies of schizophrenia have shown abnormalities in the frontal cortex, limbic system, basal ganglia, temporal and parietal lobes. These findings are not specific or consistent enough to build up a coherent theory of the origin of the brain abnormality in schizophrenia. This paper describes a state-of-the-art approach of SPECT to correlate neuropsychological evaluation. PANSS scores and different brain focal abnormalities of two groups of patients receiving Clozapine and classical antipsychotic treatments were observed. A total of 20 drug-free patients, actively psychotic schizophrenic, were selected according to the DSM-IV criteria. Pre-Post-treatment was designed using PANSS and 99mTc- ECD-SPECT to assess regional Cerebral Blood Flow (rCBF). The results showed that after treatment, differences in PANSS scores were significant in both groups, with superior scores resulting from the Clozapine therapy. Results were supported by SPECT, which showed a greater improvement in the Clozapine group. Both positive and negative symptoms were improved with Clozapine as well. Before treatment, hypofrontality was the most common (85%) finding, whereas after treatment hypofrontality was mostly cleared. However, in some areas like temporal and caudate, hyperfrontality was induced. Negative symptoms showed linkage to hypofrontality in both groups before and after treatment, and both positive and negative symptoms were improved more with Clozapine therapy than with classical treatment.     

Antibodies against the extracellular enveloped virus B5R protein are mainly responsible for the EEV neutralizing capacity of vaccinia immune globulin

In the event of smallpox bioterrorism, widespread vaccination may be required. Vaccinia immune globulin (VIG) has been used to treat complications from the smallpox vaccine. While the potency of VIG was defined by its ability to neutralize intracellular mature virus, a second form of vaccinia called the extracellular enveloped virus (EEV) is critical for virus spread in the host. The B5R-protein is one of many EEV-specific proteins. Immunoprecipitation and ELISA revealed that VIG recognizes the B5R-protein. An EEV plaque-reduction assay using a recombinant vaccinia that lacks the majority of the extracellular domain of B5R showed that the ability of VIG to neutralize EEV is principally directed at B5R. In addition, absorbing out the anti-B5R antibody present in VIG through the addition of recombinant B5R protein abrogated VIG's ability to significantly neutralize wild-type EEV. This work demonstrates the prominent role of B5R as a target of EEV-neutralizing activity of human antibodies.     

Analysis of cytogenetic aberrations in esthesioneuroblastomas by comparative genomic hybridization

Esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) are rare tumors originating from the olfactory epithelium of the superior nasal cavity. This lesion is morphologically closely related to Ewing sarcoma and other peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors (pPNET). The affiliation of ENB to the pPNET family is still under discussion. Only very limited and contradictory cytogenetic data are available on ENB and only one patient has been analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), so far. In the present study, genomic imbalances of three ENB were analyzed by CGH to evaluate (1) a recurrent pattern of imbalances, and (2) its relation to the pPNET family. The CGH analysis of three ENB revealed multiple recurrent aberrations including DNA overrepresentations of chromosomal material of the entire chromosome 19, partial gains of the long arms of chromosomes 8, 15, and 22, and deletions of the entire long arm of chromosome 4. Beside these common aberrations, several single gains and losses occurred, that is, gains on 6p, 10q, 1p, 9q, and 13q. We confirmed the former observation of amplified genetic material on chromosome 8 and found several new, currently not described recurrent genetic aberrations distinct from those described for pPNET. Our findings give evidence that ENB is not part of the pPNET family. We suggest that the combined gain of genetic material on 15q, 22q, and chromosome 8 might be indicative for ENB. To verify our findings and to define prognosis-related aberrations, a larger number of cases needs to be studied.     

Mesothelial/monocytic incidental cardiac excrescence.

Mesothelial/monocytic incidental cardiac excrescence (MICE) is a very uncommon lesion. Diagnosis is incidental and may simulate thrombotic lesions. One of the hypotheses with regard to the etiology of this lesion is a previous cardiac procedure especially mitral valve repair or commissurotomy. Herein, we describe a MICE incidentally found in a patient who underwent mitral valve replacement, as a thrombotic lesion on the left atrial auricle. Histopathologic examination suggested MICE lesions and immunohistochemical stains confirmed it.     

Expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) in primary central nervous system neoplasms.

The cellular receptor for urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is a member of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchored protein family. It is a specific cell surface receptor for its ligand, urokinase-type plasminogen activator, which catalyzes the formation of plasmin from plasminogen to generate the proteolytic cascade and leads to the breakdown of the extracellular matrix. uPAR has been shown to correlate with a propensity to tumor invasion and metastasis in several types of non-central nervous system tumors. In this study, the authors examined the immunohistochemical expression of uPAR in 65 primary brain tumors (5 pilocytic astrocytomas, 5 diffuse astrocytomas, 6 anaplastic astrocytomas, 8 glioblastomas, 5 oligodendrogliomas, 4 oligoastrocytomas, 6 anaplastic oligoastrocytomas, 4 gangliogliomas, 4 ependymomas, 5 medulloblastomas, 6 schwannomas, 5 meningiomas, 2 atypical meningiomas). The specimens were evaluated for intensity of immunostaining (0-3 scale), cellular localization of staining, and specific or unique patterns of staining. Some degree of uPAR expression was observed in all tumors. A significant positive correlation (P = 0.0006) between tumor grade and staining intensity was identified within the astrocytoma/glioblastoma subgroup, suggesting a possible correlation with anaplastic change and propensity to tumor invasion. Expression of uPAR in nonmalignant, noninvasive tumors such as schwannoma and meningioma suggests that uPAR may have other biologic functions in addition to promotion of tumor invasion.     

Effects of the fruit essential oil of Cuminum cyminum Linn. (Apiaceae) on acquisition and expression of morphine tolerance and dependence in mice

The problem of morphine tolerance and dependence is a universal phenomenon threatening social health everywhere the world. The major objective of this paper was to investigate the effects of fruit essential oil (FEO) of Cuminum cyminum on acquisition and expression of morphine tolerance and dependence in mice. Animals were rendered dependent on morphine using the well-established method in which was morphine (50, 50, 75 mg/kg; s.c.) injected three times daily for 3 days. In experimental groups, administration of FEO (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2%; 5 ml/kg; i.p.) or Tween-80 (5 ml/kg; i.p.) was performed 60 min prior to each morphine injection (for acquisition) or the last injection of morphine on test day (for expression). Morphine tolerance was measured by tail-flick before and after administration of a single dose of morphine (50 mg/kg; s.c.) in test day (4th day). Morphine dependence was also evaluated by counting the number of jumps after injection of naloxone (5 mg/kg; i.p.) on the test day. The results showed that Cumin FEO, only at the dose of 2%, significantly attenuated the development of morphine tolerance (P < 0.01) and dependence (P < 0.05) while it could be significantly effective on expression of morphine tolerance (1 and 2%) and dependence (0.5, 1 and 2%) in a dose-dependent manner. Solely Cumin FEO injection (0.001–2%) did not show any analgesic effect. In conclusion, the essential oil of Cuminum cyminum seems to ameliorate the morphine tolerance and dependence in mice.     

A Strain Device Imposing Dynamic and Uniform Equi-Biaxial Strain to Cultured Cells

The objective of this study is to design a new apparatus to allow the control of the magnitude and frequency of dynamic stretch applied uniformly to cells cultured on a silicon elastic membrane. The apparatus is designed to produce equi-biaxial dynamic stretches with area changes ranging from 0% to 55% and frequencies ranging from 0 to 2 Hz. Homogeneous finite strain analysis using triangles of markers was performed to compute the symmetric two-dimensional Lagrangian strain tensor on the membrane. Measurements of strain in both static and dynamic conditions showed that the shear component of the strain tensor (E_rc) was near zero, and that there was no significant difference between radial (E_rr) and circumferential (E_cc) components, indicating the attainment of equi-biaxial strain. Bovine aortic endothelial cells were transiently transfected with a chimeric construct in which the luciferase reporter is driven by TPA-responsive elements (TRE). The transfected cells cultured on the membrane were stretched. The luciferase activity increased significantly only when the cells were stretched by 15% or more in area. Cells in different locations of the membrane showed similar induction of luciferase activities, confirming that strain is uniform and equi-biaxial across the membrane. © 1998 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC98: 8780+s, 8745-k, 8722-q