The accuracy of cytology in diagnosis and DNA analysis of canine mammary tumours

Fine-needle aspirates from 84 spontaneous canine mammary tumours were used to assess the accuracy of this method in flow cytometric DNA analysis and cytological diagnosis. Defined samples from different tumour parts were analysed for histological diagnosis and DNA ploidy as a control. The DNA ploidy in cytology specimens and those obtained from the defined tumour samples, when testing for independence, was highly significant (P = 0.0001). The total accuracy of cytology was 79 per cent, with a sensitivity of 65 per cent and a specificity of 94 per cent. The results show the possibility of combining cytology and DNA analysis of fine-needle aspirates from canine mammary tumours. The method is suitable for preoperative diagnosis of canine mammary tumours as well as for measuring DNA ploidy, which makes it useful if DNA ploidy turns out to be of diagnostic and prognostic value in these tumours.     

Xenogeneic recognition of soluble and cell surface HLA class II antigens by proliferative murine T cells

In order to characterize the murine anti-human xenogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR), we studied T cell proliferative responses against various human lymphoid cells by immunization of mice either with cellular or purified HLA-DR antigens. Data presented here indicated that small amounts of soluble HLA-DR antigen were able to prime mice, and that the xenogeneic MLR depends on the expression of HLA class II antigens on the stimulating cells. Experiments using a mutant cell line clearly showed that HLA-DP molecules were also sufficient in eliciting a primary or a secondary xenogeneic MLR while no secondary proliferative response was obtained with cells expressing only HLA class I molecules. Using a large panel of human cells with various haplotypes, our results also showed that (a) nonpolymorphic determinants of HLA class II antigens trigger dominantly the murine T cells and (b) the xenogeneic response required I-E and L3T4 accessory molecules and was not inhibited with anti I-A and monomorphic anti-HLA class II antigen monoclonal antibodies. Altogether these results suggest that HLA class II antigens act as nominal antigens in triggering a murine anti-human proliferative response.     

Effects of acute and long-term atropine treatment on levels, release and response to VIP and PHI in the submandibular gland of cat and rat.

We have studied the effects of acute and long-term treatment of cats and rats with atropine on the levels, release and effects of two peptides, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI), that probably co-exist with acetylcholine in the parasympathetic nerves supplying the submandibular gland. Atropine treatment (progressively increasing doses from 2 to 15 mg kg-1 injected s.c.) for 14 days did not alter the contents of VIP- or PHI-like immunoreactivity (-IR) in the cat submandibular gland or in three other tissues (nasal mucosa, trachea and tongue). Acute as well as long-term atropine treatment decreased the vasodilation following low-, but not high-, frequency parasympathetic nerve stimulation. During prolonged stimulation (60 min) there was a decreased vasodilatation response following both acute and long-term atropine treatment. The overflow of VIP-IR and PHI-IR following parasympathetic nerve stimulation was markedly increased by acute, but not by long-term atropine treatment. The VIP- or PHI-induced stimulation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation in the cat submandibular gland was not altered after long-term atropine treatment. Similarly, treatment of male Sprague-Dawley rats with atropine (20 mg kg-1) or imipramine (20 mg kg-1) for 14 days did not alter the sensitivity to VIP or to PHI of cAMP accumulation in the submandibular gland, nor was there any change in VIP-IR or PHI-IR content. In conclusion, although atropine treatment causes an acute increase in the overflow of VIP and PHI evoked by parasympathetic nerve stimulation, there is no depletion of peptide stores upon long-term treatment, nor is there any change in the effect of exogenous VIP and PHI on cAMP-accumulation.     

Genome diversity in temperate bacteriophages of Oenococcus oeni

Summary.  The genome structure of six bacteriophages of Oenococcus oeni was compared. Two distinct groups with no apparent restriction site conservation were defined. In members of the α group (fOgML34, fOg4029, fOg30 and fOg218) a 7.5 kb region containing the origin of DNA packaging (cos) was highly conserved. Stretches of DNA heterogeneity could also be assigned to particular regions and were mostly evident in the right area of the genomes. fOg44 and fOgPSU1 (β group) were indistinguishable in the left half of their genomes, including cos, but were markedly dissimilar in other regions. Strong labelling signals detected in cross-hybridizations involving members of different groups were confined to fragments centrally located in their physical maps. The attachment site (attP) of fOg44 was assigned to this conserved region. It is suggested that recombination events at this location may have been important in generating the observed diversity of oenophage genomes. Accepted October 15, 1997 Received August 11, 1997     

Does chronic hypoxaemia induce transformations of fibre types?

The study comprised nine patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. Quadriceps muscle biopsies were studied with respect to fibre type composition before and after haemodilution that brought haemoglobin (Hb) to within normal limits. Ten days elapsed between the two biopsy occasions. The arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) and saturation (SaO2) were depressed to 8.4 +/- 2.0 kPa and 89 +/- 11% in the patients with chronic obstructive lung disease and increased to 9.2 +/- 2.1 and 91 +/- 8% with haemodilation. The type II fibre proportion was 71 +/- 12% before haemodilation and significantly higher than normal (reference group, see Aniansson et al. 1981). Following haemodilation the proportion of type II fibres decreased significantly to 60 +/- 14%. The proportion of type II fibres was directly related to the haemoglobin content before, but not after, haemodilation and was inversely related to PaO2 and SaO2 both before and after haemodilation. In conclusion, hypoxaemia may be a factor underlying the high proportion of type II fibres found in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease.     

FN-C1q and C1 INH C1r-C1s complexes as indicators of complement activation in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

We have previously found low levels of C1 and C4 INH in the sera of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients. Hypocomplementaemia was supposed to be the consequence of a permanent activation of the classical pathway. We have compared the levels of C1 INH-C1rC1s and C1q-FN complexes in the sera of 95 CLL patients and 100 healthy controls, because these complexes are known to be formed in the early stage of classical pathway activation. A significant increase in the level of both types of complexes was found in sera of CLL patients as compared to the controls. These findings support the assumption that the classical complement pathway is activated in the patients with CLL.     

A blood-free medium for isolation of thermophilicCampylobacter species

A blood-free medium for the recovery of thermophilic Campylobacter was compared with Butzler Medium Virion during a one-year study using 2,893 human feces samples. Ninety Campylobacter strains (3.1 %) were isolated after incubation for 48 h at 42 C in a candle jar atmosphere. Three strains of Campylobacter jejuni were isolated on the blood-free medium only and one on Butzler Medium Virion only. Fecal flora was equally well inhibited on both media except for gram-positive organisms, which were completely inhibited only on the blood-free medium.