Antibodies to HTLV-1 in saliva of seropositive individuals from Japan

Secretory antibodies protect mucosal surfaces against transmission of many viruses. Human T-lymphotropic Virus, Type I (HTLV-I) is transmitted via blood products and via sexual contact across mucosal surfaces. We investigated the presence of HTLV-I-specific antibodies in whole saliva samples from 10 seronegative and 28 seropositive volunteers from a hospital in southern Japan. Antibodies directed to HTLV-I antigens were found in the salivas from 22 of 28 (79%) of the seropositive subjects. None of the seronegative individuals showed evidence of salivary antibodies. Antibodies directed to the envelope antigens of the virus were found in 21 of 22 positive saliva samples. Secretory antibodies may be important in preventing mucosal transmission.     

Prevalence of ECG changes in an unorganized population of Novosibirsk

The paper is concerned with the data on the prevalence of various ECG changes in an open male and female population (aged 25 to 64) in Novosibirsk obtained on examination of a random representative sample. The analysis permitted defining groups of persons with prognostically unfavorable ECG changes serving as a basis for further study of regularities of their appearance.     

Intestinal parasites in a rural community in Kenya: cross-sectional surveys with emphasis on prevalence, incidence, duration of infection, and polyparasitism

A cross-sectional survey of intestinal parasitic infection in a rural community, Nderu, in Kiambu District, Kenya, was carried out in 1985 by examining 1129 individuals from 203 households (about 25% of the total population). This was followed by 3 more cross-sectional surveys, in January, May and October 1986, of 56 families comprising 461 individuals, who had also participated in the first survey. In the first survey, 81.4% of the sample was positive for at least one intestinal parasite and 78% was positive for intestinal protozoa. 72.7% of those infected had multiple infections. The prevalence of most of the protozoa increased with age but that of Giardia lamblia peaked in the 0 to 4 year class at 35.5%. Females were infected more often with several of the protozoa, but males with Ascaris. People living in larger households were more often infected with Entamoeba histolytica and Iodamoeba butschlii, while the opposite was true of H. nana and tended to be for Giardia. Significant positive associations between parasite species were common at all surveys, especially among the amoebae. The majority of negative associations were for Giardia. Unformed stools were significantly associated with Giardia, Blastocystis, and trophozoites of Trichomonas hominis and Chilomastix mesnili. Endolimax nana and Entamoeba coli were found more often in formed stools. Estimates of daily incidence, and duration of infection in days, were calculated for 11 parasites. The longest mean estimated duration of infection for any species was 237 +/- S.D. 151.4 days for H. nana and the shortest was 41.6 +/- S.D. 0.4 days for T. hominis.     

Prenatal stroke suggested by intrauterine ultrasound and confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging.

Cerebral infarction is rare in premature newborns and is most commonly the result of arterial embolization from the placenta. A focal echodense area was identified on prenatal cranial ultrasonography (US) in a premature infant (34 weeks of gestation). After birth, cerebral infarction was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The clinical findings, imaging findings and pathogenesis are discussed. New diagnostic methods such as MRI show to be a useful approach in the neonatal period facilitating recognition of cerebrovascular accidents also in low-birth-weight infants.     

CO2 reactivity and autoregulation in fetal brain

Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in preterm infants is well known to be associated with the high morbidity and mortality of this group. Previous studies have suggested altered cerebral blood flow (CBF) as an important pathologic factor. We measured the CBF in nearterm rabbit fetuses using the hydrogen clearance technique. The local CBF of the rabbit fetuses was significantly low compared with that of the maternal rabbits. The response of CBF to changes in PaCO₂ was observed in rabbit fetuses. The CO₂ reactivity index of the fetal rabbit was lower than that of the maternal rabbit. This low CO₂ reactivity might reflect the immaturity of the fetal brain and its low CBF. We were unable to monitor the fetal blood pressure, but the fetal CBF remained stable when the maternal blood pressure was altered. It is well known that IVH in preterm infants originates from the subependymal germinal matrix and that this has many fragile vessels. Our observation suggests that even a small increase of CBF during hypercapnia might have a large effect towards producing hemorrhage.     

Neuropeptide levels in the basal ganglia of aged common marmosets following prolonged treatment with MPTP

Summary Aged common marmosets were treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP; 0.5–2.0 mg/kg/week i.p.) for 16 or 24 weeks, observed for a total of 30 weeks and then killed for measurement of biochemical pramaters in basal ganglia. The MPTP treatment induced a marked depletion in dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid levels in the caudate nucleus and putamen. In contrast, the concentrations of five neuropeptides: [Met⁵]-enkephalin, [Leu⁵]-enkephalin, cholecystokinin, substance P and neurotensin as measured by a combined HPLC/RIA method, remained unaltered in all basal ganglia regions examined. Enkephalin precursor levels, as reflected by cryptic [Met⁵]-enkephalin content, were increased in the putamen, but not in the caudate nucleus, as a consequence of MPTP administration. Cryptic [Leu⁵]-enkephalin content remained unchanged in the striatum of MPTP treated marmosets. Overall, these results suggest an increase in striatal [Met⁵]-enkephalin release following chronic MPTP treatment of aged marmosets. However, the chronic treatment of aged marmosets with MPTP does not reproduce the neuropeptide alterations characteristic of Parkinson's disease.     

A comparative evaluation of methods for detecting duodenogastric reflux in patients with peptic ulcer]

The duodenal contents were examined in 81 patients with gastroduodenal ulcer. Bile acid concentrations, alkaline phosphatase activity, and sodium ion concentration were measured for the detection of duodenogastric reflux. Measurements of sodium ion concentration permitted estimation of the immediate volume of the duodenogastric reflux in the gastric contents. No methods for duodenogastric reflux detection should be given preference in examinations of peptic ulcer patients. Multiple-modality studies appear to be the most effective.     

Does chronic prenatal methadone exposure affect beta-receptor subtypes in placental, fetal and maternal brain homogenates?

Computer competition analysis of 3H-DHA (3H-dihydroalprenolol, a nonselective beta-adrenergic radioligand) binding in the presence of unlabeled metoprolol (a beta 1-selective antagonist) indicates the existence of both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptor subtypes in the rat placenta and confirms previous reports that both beta-adrenoceptors are present in adult rat cortex. In the fetal brain (20th day of gestation), however, only beta 1-receptors were detected. Pregnant rats were chronically exposed to methadone from day 7 to day 20 of gestation via implanted osmotic minipumps (6.3-9.0 mg/kg/day). This treatment schedule did not induce a change in the affinity and density of either beta-receptor subtype in the placental, fetal and maternal brain homogenates. The results are discussed in terms of the reported monoaminergic and opiate receptor functional interactions.