Progress in Rhesus Histocompatibility Typing Resulting from the Second International Nonhuman Primate Histocompatibility Workshop (1973)

The Second International Nonhuman Primate Histocompatibility Workshop permitted comparison of rhesus monkey alloantisera developd in various laboratories on a single common panel of related and unrelated monkeys. Analysis of the data permits the conclusion that at least nine specificities are recognized by more than one laboratory, including six at the first locus and three at the second locus.     

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Urban and Rural Vietnam

Helicobacter pylori-associated diseases, such as peptic ulcer and gastric cancer, are common in Vietnam, but the prevalence of the infection is largely unknown. A validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for seroepidemiology with 971 samples from the general population, ages 0 to 88 years, with 546 samples from an urban population (Hanoi), and with 425 samples from a poor, rural province (Hatay). The overall seroprevalence of the infection was 746 per 1,000, with a prevalence of 788 per 1,000 in Hanoi and 692 per 1,000 in Hatay (P = 0.0007). The risk for infection in the rural area of Hatay was 40% lower than in the urban population of Hanoi, with the odds ratio being 0.59 (95% confidence interval, 0.43 to 0.81). The study shows that the prevalence of H. pylori infection is high in Vietnam and especially high in a large urban area, such as the city of Hanoi.     

The Gm-Pi linkage heterogeneity in view of Pi M subtypes

In this study linkage between the loci for Gm (γ-type heavy-chain immunoglobulin markers) and Pi (α₁-antitrypsin/α₁-protease inhibitor) has been shown in families segregating for the Pi M subtypes (Ml, M2, M3 and Msal) as identified by separator isoelectric focusing. The estimate for the Gm-Pi (M-type) recombination is 0-29 (95% limits 0-24-O37) at a peak lod score of 4-31 and with no sex difference. This value is not significantly different from updated recombination frequency estimates for Gm-Pi in Pi MS (0-26) and Pi MZ, SZ and FZ families (0 21). The overall Gm-Pi recombination fraction estimate of 0 26 (95 % limits O23-0-30) at a peak lod score of 20-75 must now be considered as solid. There is a significant heterogeneity within the male Pi MZ families in that the new Finnish families show a higher recombination between Gm and Pi. There is also a possible segregation distortion (Z:M = 23:8). The heterogeneity is discussed in terms of haplotypes, the behaviour of which could be determined by linked genes or chromosomal rearrangements. The possibility that the α₁-antitrypsin level influences recombination frequency has not been ruled out, but cannot explain the heterogeneity within Pi MZ families.     

Ramification of the portal vein at the porta hepatis in humans

The ramification of the portal vein at the porta hepatis was studied by anatomic dissection performed in 32 formalin fixed human livers. In all the specimens there were branches which ran towards the caudate lobe, arising from the portal vein and either from the left or the right portal branches. Tri-and quadrifurcation of the portal vein was observed. In 5 cases (16%) there were branches arising from left portal branch or portal vein and directed anteriorly to the quadrate lobe or to the region of the gall-bladder sulcus. These branches ranged from 1.0 to 6.0 mm in diameter. The portal caudate branches were divided into 3 groups.Group 1: Branches to the papillary process; 1 or 2 branches in 26 cases (82%), 3 or 5 branches in 3 cases (9%) and no branches in 3 cases (9%);     

Inhibition of the Mixed Lymphocyte Culture Response by Antibody Following Successful Human Renal Transplantation

Immunoglobulin G, appearing after several months in the serum of a recipient of a successful kidney transplant from a closely matched sibling donor, was demonstrated to progressively inhibit unidirectional mixed lymphocyte cultures when donor lymphocytes were used either in responding or stimulating cell populations. The active recipient IgG had no effect in cultures in which donor cells were not used, nor did IgG obtained from other individuals show nonspecific inhibitory effects on cultures containing donor cells. It is suggested that the MLC inhibitory immunoglobulin may serve an immunoregulatory function after renal transplantation.