Identification of an immunodominant region on the isolated bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) major envelope protein gp51 by monoclonal antibodies presumably not exposed during natural BLV infection

A panel of newly isolated monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) is described which are specific for bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) envelope protein gp51. Epitope mapping using competition antibody binding assays and binding studies with gp51-related fusion proteins and synthetic peptides show that they are directed against seven independent antigenic determinants. Four of them are unrelated to the epitopes described earlier (Bruck et al., 1982a). We define three binding regions for the MoAbs on the gp51 molecule. The region between amino acids 170 and 217 is highly immunogenic when the isolated protein is used for immunization, and seems to be inaccessible for immune recognition when gp51 is associated with the virus envelope as it occurs during natural BLV infection.     

Continuous infusion of the anti-CD22 immunotoxin IgG-RFB4-SMPT-dgA in patients with B-cell lymphoma: a phase I study

IgG-RFB4-SMPT-dgA consists of deglycosylated ricin A chain (dgA) coupled to the monoclonal antihuman CD22 antibody, RFB4. This study determined the maximally tolerated dose (MTD) of this immunotoxin (IT) administered as a continuous 8-day infusion to 18 patients with B-cell lymphoma (30% CD22+ tumor cells) over 8 days. The MTD was 19.2 mg/m2/192 h (maximum toxicity grade 1), with vascular leak syndrome (VLS) as dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) at 28.8 mg/m2/192 h (grades 3 through 5 in 7 of 11 patients). Predictors of severe VLS included serum IT concentrations greater than 1,000 ng/mL and the absence of circulating tumor cells. Decreased urine sodium excreted in 24 hours provided evidence for mild VLS without notable changes in serum albumin. Four partial responses, 3 minor responses, 6 stable disease, and 3 progression of disease were observed. The mean maximal serum concentration (Cmax) in initial courses at the MTD (19.2 mg/m2) was 443 +/- 144 ng/mL (n = 3; range, 326 to 604). At 28.8 mg/m2/192 h, the Cmax was highly variable (n = 11; mean, 1,102 +/- 702; range, 9.6 to 2,032 ng/mL). Human antimouse or antiricin antibodies developed in 6 of 16 (37.5%) patients after one course of IT. However, 10 eligible patients received multiple courses of IT. Changes in serum cytokines and cytokine receptors did not correlate with toxicity but decreased soluble interleukin-2 receptor concentrations correlated with clinical response. Comparison to a prior study with the same IT administered by intermittent bolus infusions (Amlot et al, Blood 82:2624, 1993) suggests similar clinical response, toxicity, and immunogenicity.     

Disappearance of hypothalamic TRH asymmetry in suicide patients

Summary The aim of the present study was to investigate the functional and/ or pathological significance of the hemispherical lateralization of TRH using radioimmunoassay to determine the TRH concentration of nuclei and areas within the hypothalamus of suicide patients, with matching measurement being carried out on control subjects.In suicide patients, we found no significant difference in TRH concentration between the left and right intrahypothalamic structures, while the group used as control subjects (see Borson-Chazot, 1986) showed a significant left side predominance in the ventromedial nucleus, paraventricular nucleus and area dorsalis. As regards the TRH concentration in the right intrahypothalamic structures, no significant difference was found between the suicide patients and the control subjects.The absence of the left TRH predominance for the three intra-hypothalamic structures in question may be of pathological significance.     

Diagnosis, incidence and course of nonpuerperal mastitis

The clinic of radiology at the university of Graz has examined 158 cases of nonpuerperal mastitis. By means of mammography and during further clinical course, differentiation to the inflammatory carcinoma was possible. In 55% of the examined cases one ore more clinical symptoms, which are described as typical for the nonpuerperal mastitis, were absent. With the help of mammography in most of all cases an exact diagnosis was made.     

Modelling the action of caloric stimulation of vestibule. III. Caloric nystagmus induced by osmotic pressure variation

The properties of the membranous wall of the semi-circular canal and of the labyrinthine fluids give as a result the inflating pressure of this inflatable structure. The difference of osmotic pressure between perilymph and endolymph, which is involved in this problem, depends on temperature. Therefore, a caloric stimulation leads to a change in the inflating pressure. A numerical model, similar to the model used to study the effects of relative volume variations, gives a quantitative estimation of the transcupular pressure arising in a horizontal semi-circular canal (i.e. without gravity dependent effects) during a caloric stimulation, according to the inflating pressure change. As a consequence, it appears that rotational and caloric stimulations are not quite similar. The caloric stimulation leads not only to a transcupular pressure difference but also to a change in inflating pressure. As a result of the change in inflating pressure, the stiffness of the cupula varies. This modifies the gain and the dynamics of the vestibulo-ocular reflex, and may explain the asymmetry between hot and cold stimulations.     

Relevance of routine diagnosis of Chlamydia and HIV infections in Vienna prostitutes

At the Control Center for Veneral Diseases of the Vienna Health Office, 5000 examinations for Chlamydia infection were performed on registered and non-registered prostitutes between 1980 and 1988. During this period, we observed a continuous decrease of the rate of infections from 20.4% to 4% among registered prostitutes and from 31.4% to 12.4% among non-registered prostitutes. Between 1985 and 1988, the cumulative number of HIV infections only rose from 7 to 8 cases among registered prostitutes and from 2 to 3 cases among non-registered prostitutes. All these HIV carriers were associated with i.v. drug abuse. The correlations between these two infections as well as the implications regarding health politics are discussed.     

Subjective symptoms in temporomandibular joint osteoarthrosis.

Questionnaires about subjective symptoms were sent by post to 120 patients referred to the clinic for mandibular dysfunction. A group of 20 patients with crepitation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and a group of 19 patients with palpatory tenderness of the TMJ were compared with a reference group of 29 patients for any difference in local subjective symptoms, frequency of headache and symptoms in other joints. The patients with TMJ crepitation, which were considered to have TMJ osteoarthrosis, were older and reported a higher frequency of grating sound from the TMJ than the patients in the reference group. The patients with palpatory tenderness of the TMJ reported a higher frequency of toothgrinding, more severe symptoms of mandibular dysfunction and a higher frequency of symptoms in the hand joints. No correlation was found between subjective symptoms of mandibular dysfunction and those of other joints. The results of the study indicate that patients with TMJ osteoarthrosis do not differ from other patients with mandibular dysfunction with respect to subjective symptoms and that subjective symptoms of mandibular dysfunction in general develop independently of those in other joints.