Production and testing of an international reference standard of short ragweed pollen extract

A lyophilized candidate International Reference Standard of short ragweed pollen extract was prepared by use of defined source material. In preliminary experiments, this extract was demonstrated by RAST inhibition and crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis assays to contain several well-characterized ragweed allergens and to contain multiple antigenic bands by crossed immunoelectrophoresis analysis. In a subsequent multinational collaborative study involving 12 laboratories in five countries, the candidate extract was compared with existing national reference or commercial ragweed extracts by a variety of immunochemical, biochemical, and physicochemical procedures. The candidate extract could be used to assign relative orders of potency to the comparison-test extracts. In separate studies, the candidate extract was demonstrated to be stable when it was stored at either -20 degrees C or +5 degrees C for at least 2 yr. The candidate extract has been accepted as an International Reference Standard with an assigned arbitrary potency of 100,000 units per ampule .     

Chronic drug treatments induce changes in the sensitivity of presynaptic autoreceptors but not of presynaptic heteroreceptors

Guinea-pigs were sensitized to ovalbumin by an intraperitoneal injection, followed 3 weeks later by daily aerosol exposure for 4 weeks. Noradrenaline-induced contractons of peripheral lung strips from sensitized and unsensitized guinea-pigs were compared. There were no differences in sensitized or unsensitized strips with respect to maximal tension generated, concentration of noradrenaline for threshold or maximal responses or EC₅₀. These results suggest that any changes in the population of α-adrenoceptors consequent upon immunological sensitization did not influence contractile responses to noradrenaline.     

Evaluation of the operative parameters for a human prolactin radioimmunoassay in serum

Summary A sensitive homologous radioimmunoassay (RIA) for human prolactin (hPRL) was evaluated. The experimental parameters of this double antibody solid phase (DASP)-hPRL-RIA are described. The RIA measures concentrations of hPRL as low as 1 ng/ml of human serum and allows repetitive measurements and accurate delineation of serum hPRL. The assay is specific for hPRL; only HGH shows a weak cross-reaction. The antigen recovery tests are quantitative. The serum concentrations of hPRL in a group of randomly selected male and female individuals averaged 6.7±3.3 ng/ml and 7.4±3.3 ng/ml, respectively. In a chronobiological study performed on 21 subjects (5 male and 16 female), a statistically significant rhythm with a 24-h period was detected. Presented at the First European Congress of Nuclear Medicine Society, May 1976.     

Rapid clearance of HBe antigen and development of anti-HBe antibody in acute viral hepatitis

Summary The behaviour of the HBe/anti-HBe system in AVH was evaluated, using Magnius technique, by testing serum samples from 47 patients; 29 of them were followed during the clinical evolution of the disease until complete remission was achieved. HBe was more frequent in samples taken from patients in the first 7 days after the onset of jaundice (18/33=54%) than in samples collected later (3/14=21%). During the clinical evolution of the disease we could always demonstrate the disappearance of HBe not later than 12 days after the onset of jaundice. In one patient studied from the incubation period HBe disappeared before any clinical or laboratory evidence of disease. In 8/29 cases (27%) anti-HBe developed starting from the 15th day of illness, but 4 of these had had no detectable HBe during the acute phase. No significant difference could be demonstrated between HBe +ve and −ve cases in the maximum values of SGPT and bilirubin and the duration of the disease. The changing pattern of the HBe/anti-HBe system could account for the different incidences of these markers reported by many authors in AVH. Our findings support the hypothesis that HBe develops in every HBsAg +ve AVH case. Therefore, it is not the presence of HBe in the early stage, but the persistence of this marker that might be important in predicting progression to chronicity. This work was supported by research contract no. 77.00295.84, ?Progetto finalizzato virus? of theConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Roma, Italy.     

Carcinofetale Antigene

Zusammenfassung Es wird über Vorkommen und Bedeutung der wichtigsten anderen carcinofetalen Antigene außer AFP und CEA berichtet. Dazu zählen das Alpha-2-H-Protein, das in der Leber gebildet wird und bei verschiedenen Tumoren im Serum vermehrt auftritt; das fetale Sulphoglykoprotein-Antigen (FSA) aus dem Magensaft von Magenkrebskranken; die carcinoplacentale alkalische Phosphatase im Serum (REGAN-Isoenzym), die sich u.a. bei Bronchial-, Mamma-, Urogenital- und Gastrointestinal-Carcinomen nachweisen läßt; das wahrscheinlich mit CRP identische Beta-S-Fetoprotein; Gamma-Fetoprotein; das carcinofetale Glia-Antigen (CFGA) aus Gliablastomen und Astrocytomen; ektope Placenta-Hormonbildung (Gonadotropin, HPL, Plasminogen-Aktivatoren); leukämie-assoziierte Antigene. Ferner wird auf weitere weniger bekannte carcinofetale Antigene hingewiesen.     

Fas及Fas-L在宫颈腺癌组织中的表达

目的 探讨Fas及Fas-L在宫颈腺癌中表达的意义。方法 36例宫颈腺癌组织及其癌旁正常宫颈腺上皮用免疫组织化学方法进行Fas及Fas-L检测,DNA原位末端标记（TUNEL）检测凋亡细胞。结果 TUNEL标记指数与肿瘤分化程度呈正相关趋势,低分化腺癌明显低于高、中分化腺癌（P＜0.05）,高、中分化腺癌间差异无显著性（P＞0.05）。Fas在宫颈腺癌组织中的表达阳性率为86.1%,在癌旁正常宫颈腺上皮仅3例有低表达,其余均为阴性;宫颈腺癌组织Fas表达强度与肿瘤分化程度呈负相关（P＜0.05）。Fas-L在宫颈腺癌组织中的表达阳性率为100％,在癌旁正常宫颈腺上皮仅1例有低表达,其余均为阴性;Fas-L的表达与肿瘤分化程度无显著相关性（P＞0.05）。结论 宫颈腺癌Fas的表达与肿瘤的恶性程度呈正相关,Fas-L的表达可能与逃避免疫监视有关。     

妊娠高血压综合征患者血清可溶性白细胞介素6受体和可溶性糖蛋白的检测

目的　观察妊娠高血压综合征（妊高征）患者血清可溶性白细胞介素6受体（sIL-6R）和可溶性糖蛋白(sgp130)的变化。方法　应用酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测40例妊高征患者（妊高征组）和20例正常非孕妇女（对照组I）、20例正常妊娠妇女（对照组II）血清sIL-6R和sgp130水平。结果妊高征组血清sIL-6R为(196.7±12.9)μg/L,sgp130为(379.4±79.3)μg/L;对照组I血清sIL-6R为(174.8±46.2)μg/L,sgp130为(273.6±28.3)μg/L;对照组II血清sIL-6R为(174.4±48.3)μg/L,sgp130为(254.4±34.7)μg/L。妊高征组血清sIL-6R和sgp130水平均高于对照组I和对照组II,差异有极显著性（P<0.01）。妊高征组中,随病情加重,血清sIL-6R、sgp130水平逐渐升高。差异有极显著性（P<0.01）。对照组II血清sIL-6R和sgp130水平与对照组I比较,差异无显著性（P>0.05）。结论　血清sIL-6R和sgp130水平变化与妊高征的病情发展有关。     

CA_(125)、CA_(19.9)、CEA在卵巢上皮性交界性肿瘤中的临床价值

目的 :探讨测定血清CA12 5、CA19.9、CEA在诊断卵巢上皮性交界性肿瘤中的临床价值。方法 :回顾分析卵巢交界性肿瘤 5 0例血清CA12 5、CA19.9、CEA水平与临床资料。结果 :浆液性及粘液性肿瘤中CA12 5的阳性率分别为 5 3.85 %和 60 % ,差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,临床分期晚者CA12 5阳性率有增高趋势 ;粘液性肿瘤中CA19.9的阳性率为 4 3.75 % ;CEA阳性率为 12 % ,仅见于粘液性或以粘液性为主的肿瘤中 ;与术前相比 ,术后CA12 5、CA19.9水平及阳性率均显著下降 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :CA12 5、CA19.9对卵巢上皮性交界性肿瘤的术前诊断及疗效监测有一定价值 ,CEA则在鉴别组织学类型中有一定价值。     

T cell-mediated antigen presentation

Differentiation of the T cell repertoire and the physiology of T cell-mediated antigen presentation are reviewed in relation to mechanisms of self-tolerance. Recent research has indicated that T cell development is a continual process that optimizes partial recognition of self as a homeostatic set-point. Specific T cell antigen recognition of partial agonists is intrinsically linked to expression of class II MHC glycoproteins on T cells. Even ligands that act as TCR antagonists in IL-2 production assays have sufficient agonistic strength to induce expression of class II MHC glycoproteins on T cells. Thus, the intrinsic self-reactivity of the T cell repertoire may promote T-APC activity in vivo and may explain why thymic and peripheral T cells express low but significant levels of class II MHC glycoproteins. T-APC activity induces extensive apoptosis among responder T cells, causes desensitization among surviving responders, and has been implicated in the adoptive transfer of tolerance in the Lewis rat model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Overall, these findings support a relationship between the partial recognition of self MHC ligands, expression of class II MHC glycoproteins on mature peripheral T cells, tolerogenic T cell-mediated antigen presentation, and desensitization of pathogenic self-reactive T cells.