Oxygen free radicals and pelvic adhesion formation: I. Blocking oxygen free radical toxicity to prevent adhesion formation in an endometriosis model.

Intraperitoneal superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were used to block the toxic effects of superoxide anion (O2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), associated with the production of endometriosis and inflammation in a rabbit model. In a two-part animal study, the combined instillation of SOD and catalase significantly reduced the formation of intraperitoneal adhesions at endometriosis sites.     

Monoclonal antibodies to restricted and cross-reactive idiotopes on monoclonal rheumatoid factors and their recognition of idiotope-positive cells

Four human monoclonal rheumatoid factors (MRF) were used to raise a panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAb) which were selected in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay for binding to MRF but not normal IgM. Three mAb, each raised against a different MRF, bound to the majority of MRF and also to most polyclonal RF. Four other mAb bound selectively to the MRF against which they were raised and to no other MRF, and rarely to any polyclonal RF. Competition studies using cold and radiolabeled mAb further indicated that these mAb recognize distinct and different epitopes on MRF. RF activity of MRF was inhibited by 3 of the 4 mAb binding to a single MRF and 2 of the 3 mAb binding to multiple RF. It was thus concluded that of this panel of mAb 3 recognized cross-reactive idiotopes and the remainder demonstrated highly restricted idiotopes on MRF. These mAb identified MRF idiotopebearing cells in the peripheral blood of 3 of the MRF donors (and a further subject with type II essential cryoglobulinemia), with a frequency ranging from 0.3–10% of all mononuclear cells with the mAb to restricted idiotopes or 1.5–17% with mAb to cross-reactive idiotopes. These anti-idiotopic mAb should thus provide a highly specific means of identifying and monitoring MRF-producing cells in vivo.     

A sensitive non-radioactive assay for pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography

A new sensitive assay for pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase using non-radioactive substrates is described. With the natural substrate uridine (UR) and the analog, 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'dFUR) conditions have been optimized to measure the product formation with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Using automated injection large series of samples may be analyzed. The assay for UR phosphorylase appeared to be comparable to existing methods with radiolabeled UR as substrate regarding sensitivity and linearity. The assay has been used to measure kinetic parameters for 5'dFUR and UR in two cell lines from intestinal origin.     

Mammographic evaluation of the postsurgical and irradiated breast

Mammography is important in women who elect lumpectomy and radiation therapy for breast carcinoma: to record the preoperative state, to assess the completeness of resection, and to detect recurrences and second primaries. Mammography of these patients, however, is difficult since surgery and irradiation may cause changes simulating carcinoma. This article describes the findings in the postsurgical and irradiated breast and the difficulty of differentiating the changes from recurrent carcinoma. It also illustrates the findings in recurrences and second primaries.     

99Tcm-HMPAO labelled leucocytes: comparison with 111In-tropolonate labelled granulocytes

The lipophilic complex, 99Tcm-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) is an efficient leucocyte label, and labels granulocytes with more stability than mononuclear leucocytes. The recovery of 99Tcm-HMPAO granulocytes, expressed as the percentage of injected granulocyte-associated activity circulating as granulocyte-associated activity 40-45 min after injection, was 37% (S.E. 3%), similar to the recovery of 111In-labelled granulocytes isolated and labelled in plasma using tropolone. The T1/2 of 99Tcm-HMPAO labelled granulocytes in blood was 4.4 h (S.E. 0.4 h), less than that of 111In-labelled granulocytes, although when a correction was made for 99Tcm elution, it was 6.4 h. The initial biodistribution of 99Tcm-labelled leucocytes was similar to 111In-labelled granulocytes, with a rapid initial lung transit, prominent splenic activity, bone marrow activity and minimal hepatic activity, although, unlike 111In, 99Tcm activity was also seen in urine, occasionally in the gallbladder, and, from about 4 h, consistently in the colon. Bone marrow activity was particularly prominent with 99Tcm. About 6% of 99Tcm was excreted in the faeces up to 48 h after injection, and about 17% in urine up to 24 h. The time-activity curves of reticuloendothelial activity up to 24 h were broadly similar for the two labelled cell preparations, and the differences that were observed can be explained on the basis of a higher rate of 99Tcm elution. Clinical information given by the two agents was similar in 27 of 30 patients who received both. Of the three who gave different information, one received 111In-labelled granulocytes which were considered to be functionally suboptimal and two, with inflammatory bowel disease, showed different distributions of abnormal bowel activity. We conclude that with respect to granulocyte kinetics and clinical data, 99Tcm-HMPAO labelled leucocytes are comparable with 111In-tropolonate labelled granulocytes.