Persistence of rubella antibodies 15 years after subcutaneous administration of Wistar 27/3 strain live attenuated rubella virus vaccine

The rubella-specific antibody levels of children vaccinated with RA27/3 rubella vaccine have been determined over the 15 years since vaccination. Over the period monitored, titres have declined at a comparable rate to those observed in children who had experienced natural rubella infection. In both cohorts the mean rate of decay was similar throughout the 15 years of the study. One in eleven vaccinated children monitored for the entire period of the study reverted to a state of susceptibility to rubella as judged by routine rubella antibody tests used in practice today. The implications of the findings for rubella prophylaxis are discussed.     

Intraepithelial antigen‐presenting cells in the keratitied mucosa around teeth and osseointegrated implants

The presence and distribution of intraepithelial antigen‐presenting cells was studied in the keratinized mucosa around healthy osseointegrated implants and teeth. Vimentin, cytokeratins, HLA‐Dr, CD18, ICAM‐I and CDla‐positive cells were assessed by a 3-stage ABC immunoperoxidase system in serial sections from clinically characterized sites. A total of 11 biopsies (7 adjacent to osseointegrated dental implants and 4 adjacent to teeth in healthy volunteers) were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. All biopsies displayed the presence of a small inflammatory infiltrate subjacent to themost coronal portion of the junctional epithelium. Intraepithelial antigen‐presenting cell markers were present both around implants and teeth. The observations were consistent with the presence of functional local major histocompatibility complex Class II restricted antigen presentation. Quantitative differences were observed by analysis of variance in terms of different locations within the same section (i.e. junctional epithelium vs oral epithelium) and in terms of the source of the biopsy (i.e. implants vs teeth). The significance, if any, of the observed quantitative difference is discussed in terms of different maturity of the local immune response and possible environmental differences. It is concluded that clinically healthy keratinized mucosa around osseointegrated dental implants shares functional similarities with normal gingiva in terms ofantigen presentation. These results further contribute to the characterization of a functional local immune response that represents the basis for long‐term clinical success of osseointegrated dental implants.     

Short Rib-Polydactyly Syndrome Type II (Majewski Syndrome): A Case Report

The Majewski type of Short Rib-Polydactyly syndrome is a rare lethal dwarfism syndrome that has recently been recognized as a distinct entity. The full range of associated anomalies remains to be described. This case report details the clinical and autopsy findings in this condition and reviews the differential diagnosis of polydactylous dwarfing syndromes.     

The role of catecholamines in central antidiuretic and pressor mechanisms

Angiotensin II (AII), when delivered intraventricularly (IVT) produces an increase in blood pressure and release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). In the experiments reported here we have investigated the role of central catecholamines in these responses. After central 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) treatment IVT, AII was less effective in producing a blood pressure increase or ADH release. Similar responses to IVT carbachol were also inhibited. Pressor responses to IVT phenylephrine were not significantly changed after 6-OHDA treatment although ADH release was decreased. In further analysis, both a dopamine blocker, haloperidol, and phentolamine, an α-adrenergic blocker inhibited the pressor response but not ADH release to IVT AII. Both effects may be explained by α-adrenergic blockade. Dopamine IVT alone was ineffective in producing either ADH release or a blood pressure increase and phenylephrine in high doses produced both effects. We conclude that noradrenergic mechanisms may be important as a common mediator of central sympathetic outflow. The ADH release produced by AII and carbachol may be by direct action of periventricular receptors which can be damaged non-specifically by 6-OHDA.     

Thrombocytopenia and its management in the surgical patient needing multiple reconstructive procedures

Thrombocytopenic patients with surgically correctable lesions such as radial clubhands are too often repeatedly transfused with randomly pooled platelets. This is followed by a clinical rejection of the foreign protein and rapid destruction of the platelets. There may be excessive bleeding episodes. Tissue typing technics now available can provide antigenically compatible platelet concentrates which elicit few of these reactions. Therefore, multiple reconstructive procedures can be achieved with a greater safety margin than previously possible.     

Repair of DNA damage in light sensitive human skin diseases

Summary Repair of UV-light induced DNA damage and changes in the semiconservative DNA synthesis were studied by in vitro autoradiography in the skin of patients with lightdermatoses (polymorphous light eruption, porphyria cutanea tarda, erythropoietic protoporphyria) and xeroderma pigmentosum as well as in that of healthy controls. In polymorphous light eruption the semiconservative DNA replication rate was more intensive in the area of the skin lesions and in the repeated phototest site, the excision repair synthesis appeared to be unaltered. In cutaneous porphyrias a decreased rate of the repair incorporation could be detected. Xeroderma pigmentosum was characterized by a strongly reduced repair synthesis.     

Assessment of DNA damage in germ cells of male rabbits treated with isoniazid and procarbazine.

The 2 hydrazine derivatives isoniazid (INH) and procarbazine hydrochloride (P) were injected intravenously into rabbits. Radioactive thymidine was injected into both testicles. Rabbits were ejaculated repeatedly, sperms were counted and incorporation of [3H] thymidine into sperm head DNA was determined by liquid scintillation counting. In P-treated rabbits (5 and 50 mg/kg) radioactivity was significantly increased in sperms that were in late phases of spermatocyte and early phases of spermatid maturation at the time of treatment. This indicates that DNA repair synthesis, (unscheduled DNA synthesis, UDS) occurred following drug-induced DNA damage in these germ cells. Normal DNA synthesis in spermatogonia was inhibited by the high dose only. INH (50 and 125 mg/kg) did not cause UDS in spermatocytes and spermatids and did not affect normal DNA synthesis in spermatogonia. The results are in agreement with literature data indicating that P is a potent mutagen and carcinogen. INH, on the other hand, has weak mutagenic and carcinogenic activities that are most apparent in mice.