Immunomodulation of Delayed Hypersensitivity to Methylated Bovine Serum Albumin (MBSA) in Mice Using Subliminal and Normal Sensitization Procedures

Delayed hypersensitivity (DH) was induced in the footpads of mice sensitized to methylated bovine serum albumin (MBSA). The magnitude of this DH response increased with increasing sensitizing concentration of MBSA. Levamisole administered 1 hr prior to MBSA challenge stimulated the DH response and this was optimal using subliminal sensitizing concentrations of antigen. A number of antirheumatic agents, immunomodulators mediator antagonists and antiallergies were subsequently examined using the subliminal sensitizing concentration of MBSA. The same drugs were also evaluated using a normal sensitizing procedure. These studies indicate that the sensitizing concentration of antigen is critical in establishing whether a drug will stimulate or suppress a DH response.     

Varicocele and its surgical management

A discussion of the present role of varicocele in the management of the subfertile couple is presented, with emphasis on detection techniques and the increasing awareness of the presence of bilateral varicocele. The indications and techniques of surgical management are discussed, with particular emphasis on the use of the operating microscope to dissect the spermatic cord at the level of the external inguinal ring under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis with significant cost savings to the patient.     

Combination therapy: lonidamine, hyperthermia, and chemotherapy against the RIF-1 tumor in vivo.

Lonidamine enhances the cytotoxicity in vitro of several conventional antitumor drugs as well as that of hyperthermia (HT). We have investigated the possibility that such enhancement can also be demonstrated in vivo against the RIF-1 tumor system. Two assays were used to examine antitumor activity: tumor growth delay and clonogenicity of cells obtained from tumors from treated animals. We used drug (and HT) doses that by themselves did not achieve significant cell killing. The drugs whose interaction with lonidamine was tested were: cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP), mitomycin C (MMC), bleomycin, 5-fluorouracil, and nitrosourea. Of these only CDDP and MMC yielded positive data. Both assays gave essentially the same results, showing that antitumor activity reflected direct cell killing. CDDP and MCC activity was also enhanced by HT. When we combined all three modalities, however, the results of the trimodality therapies were no better than that of individual bimodality treatments. These last results suggest that lonidamine and HT have similar mechanisms, most likely inhibition of repair of DNA damage. Our data do suggest that lonidamine may have a role in multidrug therapies that include either CDDP or MMC as a component of the treatments.     

Otogenic Fusobacterium necrophorum meningitis

A case of meningitis secondary to acute suppurative otitis media in a previously healthy child is reported. The only organism isolated from blood after aerobic and prolonged anaerobic culture was identified as Fusobacterium necrophorum. Complete recovery followed treatment with surgery and prolonged antibiotic therapy. The role of anaerobes in the development of meningitis, the isolation and identification of Fusobacterium necrophorum, the clinical presentations of F. necrophorum infection and the choice of antibiotics in the treatment of these infections are discussed.