Schistosoma mansoni: autoradiographic tracking studies of isotopically-labelled challenge parasites in naive and vaccinated CBA/Ca mice

The migration of isotopically-labelled challenge parasites of Schistosoma mansoni in naive CBA/Ca mice, and CBA/Ca mice vaccinated 4 weeks previously with about 600 radiation-attenuated cercariae, has been followed by means of compressed organ autoradiography. In naive mice, only 16% of the challenge parasites failed to migrate from the skin to the lungs, whereas up to half of the individuals that succeeded in reaching the pulmonary vasculature did not move on to the liver. The tracking technique thus revealed a total loss of 58% of the challenge parasites, which correlated well with the fact that only 50% of the challenge was recovered as adult worms by retrograde perfusion of the hepatic portal system. Challenge migration in vaccinated mice initially proceeded more slowly than in naive mice, but peak numbers of foci were eventually recorded in the lungs on the same day in both groups of individuals. We did not therefore recognize a delay in parasite migration in vaccinated mice. In the present experiments, 58.5% of the challenge failed to reach the lungs of vaccinated rodents, and 25% of those parasites that did attain the pulmonary vasculature were not recruited to the liver. The tracking technique thus accounted for a total loss of 83.5% of the parasites, which again correlated well with the fact that we recovered only 22% of the challenge as adult worms at portal perfusion. The data presented here prove conclusively that the major phase of immune-dependent challenge elimination in vaccinated CBA/Ca mice occurs in the cutaneous tissues, and that only a small proportion of the parasites are lost in the lungs. These data are entirely consistent with those we have published elsewhere for the CBA/Ca mouse using a multiplicity of different techniques; they differ however, from results reported by others for the C57 Black strain of mouse. Possible reasons for these discrepancies are discussed.     

Use of Enzymatic Activity for Design of Orally Administered Enteric Dosing Forms

Abstract— Liquid and semi-solid enteric dosage forms were prepared by entrapping drug with an appropriate partition coefficient in a lipid base vehicle which would then be released by the action of intestinal enzymes. Lipid ester derivatives such as glyceryl monocaprylate and polysorbate 80 were used as vehicles. These vehicles readily dissolved the poorly water-soluble compounds used in the study, itazigrel, indomethacin and the dye, sudan II, and were digested by lipase and esterase, releasing the test drugs with time profiles similar to those observed in dissolution studies. The vehicles released little or only a small amount of the drugs into aqueous medium in the absence of an appropriate enzyme. The enzyme-sensitive enteric vehicles when containing sudan II did not release the dye in the stomach of rats after oral administration, but released significant amounts of the dye in the small intestine.     

A Comparative Study of DCMP versus DCcMP Combination Chemotherapy for Adult Acute Leukemia

An experimental study using L-1210 mouse leukemia indicatedthat daunomycin, cyclocytidine, and 6-mercaptopurine (DCcM)combination chemotherapy was more effective than daunomycin,cytosine arabinoside, and 6-mercaptopurine (DCM). Based on theseresults, a clinical study comparing daunomycin, cytosine arabinoside,6-mercaptopurine, and predni-solone (DCMP) combination chemotherapywith daunomycin, cyclocytidine, 6-mercaptopurine, and prednisolone(DCcMP) in the treatment of adult acute nonlymphocytic leukemiawas conducted. Patients were randomly allocated to receive eitherregimen. Ten of 15 patients treated with DCMP had complete remissionfor a median duration of 43 weeks and one had partial remission.Seven of 15 patients treated with DCcMP had complete remissionfor a median duration of 18 weeks and two had partial remission.The patient characteristics before chemotherapy, the toxicityof the chemotherapeutic regimens and the causes for differencesin antitumor activity between the experimental study and theclinical study are discussed.     

A Case of Pleomorphic Adenoma of the Trachea

The extent of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation-induced DNA repairwas measured in bone marrow cells and peripheral lymphocytesof patients with refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB).Bone marrow cells from RAEB, when exposed to a 2 J/m dose ofUV, exhibited 50% lower incorporation of tritiated thymidinethan those of control subjects. A similar finding was observedin the peripheral lymphocytes. These data suggest that bonemarrow cells and peripheral lymphocytes from RAEB are deficientin repair of UV-induced lesions by DNA. Furthermore, this impairedDNA repair efficiency in RAEB was not related to the presenceor absence of a karyotype abnormality.     

Development of Glassy Carbon Electrode (Dead Sea Scroll) for Low Energy Cardiac Pacing

We have developed a new type of glassy carbon electrode whose smooth surface with scattered craters reduces its polarization voltage. It has both excellent antithrombogenicity and slight tissue reaction. The energy threshold curve was the lowest when compared to the Siemens (411S, 412S) and the Solin (S-100) electrodes.     

Effect of varicella zoster virus antigen-antibody complexes on hydrogen peroxide generation by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) generation by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) incubated with varicella zoster virus (VZV) antigen was studied by cytofluorography. Hydrogen peroxide generation was detected in the presence of VZV-seropositive sera. When seropositive sera were heat-inactivated, H₂O₂ generation was reduced. When PMN were pre-incubated with Leu-1 1b, a monoclonal antibody to the Fc receptor on PMN, H₂O₂ generation was also reduced. These results suggest that VZV antigen-antibody-complement complexes induce H₂O₂ generation by PMN after these complexes attach to Fc receptors on PMN.     

Dexamethasone and interleukin-2 combination therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma in a patient with paraneoplastic inflammatory syndrome

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in combination with dexamethasone was administered to a 48-year-old man with renal cell carcinoma accompanied by paraneoplastic inflammatory syndrome, including progressive multiple lung metastases and inferior vena caval tumor thrombus. Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs had no apparent antipyretic effect on the systemic inflammatory syndrome, oral administration of dexamethasone achieved complete antipyresis and improved his quality of life. After a 4-week period of IL-2 treatment, regression of metastasized lesions was demonstrated despite concurrent oral administration of dexamethasone. Steroids might reduce the action of immunotherapeutic drugs, but in some cases, combination therapy can achieve both alleviation of the paraneoplastic syndrome and tumor shrinkage.     

Testicular metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

We present a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the testis that metastasized from lung cancer. The patient, who had received left pneumonectomy 2 years earlier for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung, developed pulmonary metastasis, which was treated with chemotherapy. Although the recurrence regressed after treatment, the testicular tumor progressed gradually. Left radical orchiectomy was performed. Pathological examination revealed metastatic SCC. Testicular metastasis from lung cancer is a very rare disease.