Attachment,spreading and growthin vitro of highly malignant and low malignant murine fibrosarcoma cells

Highly malignant cell lines and low-malignant cell lines isolated from three different methylcholanthrene-induced murine fibrosarcomas were examined for their ability to attach to plastic dishes and collagen-coated dishes under serumfree conditions and in the presence of serum. Most of the cells from the three highly malignant lines attached and spread under all conditions. By 72h, there was a significant increase in the number of cells indicating that at least some of the cells had undergone division (even in the absence of serum). In contrast, fewer of the cells from the three low-malignant lines attached and spread on the plastic or collagen substrates in the absence of serum or in the presence of 0.1 per cent serum. However, when 15g laminin per dish was added along with the lowmalignant cells, they then attached and spread on the plastic and collagen-coated dishes. Previous studies have indicated that the highly malignant lines express cell surface antigens that cross-react with laminin while the low-malignant cell lines do not. We speculate that the differences between the high- and low-malignant cells in the expression of cell surface laminin-like antigens contribute to the dissimilarities in attachment and spreading capacity. These differences may also contribute to the dissimilarity between these cells in malignant potential.     

A new assay for leukocyte chemotaxis using cell retrieval,electronic particle counting and flow cytometry

A new micropore membrane assay for leukocyte migration has been devised. It permits the complete retrieval in monodisperse suspension of functionally intact cells that have traversed the membrane, thus allowing the application of precise, automated techniques, including flow cytometry and electronic particle counting. Hemocytometers may also be used. Direct comparison with 2 different conventional membrane methods showed that the new method performed superiorly. It was also much more economical with regard to time and labor. This technique permitted detection of functional differences between leukocytes isolated from blood in different ways. Data on the duration of concentration gradients in chemotaxis chambers are also presented.     

Light and electron microscopy of the wall of iris vessels in eyes with and without exfoliation syndrome (pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule)

Summary A light microscopic technique is described for identifying exfoliation material in the wall of iris vessels. Iris tissue from four cataractous eyes without and eight cataractous eyes with exfoliation syndrome was studied.Of a total of 499 vessels from cataractous eyes with exfoliation syndrome, 386 appeared normal. The remaining 113 vessels showed a light blue material in the normally unstained zone adjacent to the cellular layer of the vessel wall. In the electron microscope this light blue material proved to be exfoliation material.

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Licht- und Elektronenmikroskopie der Irisgefäßwände in Augen mit und ohne Exfoliations-Syndrom

Zusammenfassung Es handelt sich hier um die Beschreibung einer lichtmikroskopischen Technik zum Nachweis von Exfoliationsmaterial in der Gefäßwand der Iris. Man untersuchte Irisgewebe von 4 kataraktbefallenen Augen ohne und 8 kataraktbefallenen Augen mit Exfoliationssyndrom.Von einer Gesamtmenge von 499 Gefäßen von kataraktbefallenen Augen mit Exfoliationssyndrom zeigten 386 ein normales Aussehen. Die übrigen 113 Gefäße wiesen ein hellblaues Material außerhalb der Cellulärschicht der Gefäßwand in der normalerweise ungefärbten Zone auf, das sich bei elektronenmikroskopischer Untersuchung als Exfoliationsmaterial erwies.

     

Growth and metastasis of hypermotile,hyperinvasive cancer cells selectedin vitro by rapid locomotion under various conditions

Cancer cells selected from a cultured murine fibrosarcoma by rapid migration through micropore membranes moved considerably faster through such membranes and invaded biological tissues much more efficiently than did the unselected parent cells [5, 8]. The present data show that populations of cells selected by unstimulated migration or by haptotaxis to laminin moved not only faster, but also in larger numbers than the parent cells. However, the selected cells were far less efficient than the parent cells in forming spontaneous lung metastases in syngeneic mice, although all cell lines were 100 per cent tumorigenic. Analysis of paired data within each group showed no relationship between the primary tumor size at any observation time and the number of lung metastases finally formed. Therefore, although the parent cell line produced primary tumors growing slightly more rapidly than did the various lines of hypermotile cells, this was probably not the main cause of the difference in spontaneous metastasis formation between the groups. Lung colonization experiments performed by intravenous injection of cells could not explain the spontaneous metastasis results.In vitro, the cells selected by rapid haptotaxis to laminin grew considerably better than the other cells in 0.1 per cent fetal bovine serum, but there were no, or only minor, differences in higher serum concentrations. Combined, these results indicate that small subpopulations of cells selected by extreme efficiency in one step of the metastasis process may be so specialized that they perform poorly in other steps. Therefore, the results do not disprove the concept that tumor cell migration plays an important part in metastasis.     

The effect of educational level on the incidence of asthma and respiratory symptoms

Few studies have examined the impact of socioeconomic status on the incidence of asthma and respiratory symptoms. Between 1985 and 1996/97, we conducted an 11-years community cohort study with 2819 subjects, aged 15-70 years at baseline, in Western Norway. We examined the cumulative incidence of asthma and respiratory symptoms by educational level (primary, secondary, and university), as well as estimating the odds ratios (ORs) of educational level on the incidences, after adjustment for sex, age, hay fever, smoking habits, pack years, and occupational exposure. For all respiratory symptoms, the incidences decreased with increasing educational level. The cumulative incidence of asthma was 5.3%, 4.1%, and 1.8%, respectively, for those with a primary educational level, secondary educational level, and university level. Subjects with a primary educational level had adjusted ORs (95% CI) from 1.4 (0.9, 2.3) for the incidence of chronic cough to 2.5 (1.6, 4.0) for the incidence of dyspnea grade 2, compared to those with a university level education. The adjusted OR (95% CI) for the incidence of asthma was 2.1 (1.01, 4.4) in subjects with a primary educational level, and 2.0 (1.04, 3.6) in subjects with a secondary educational level, compared to subjects with a university educational level. In conclusion, subjects with a lower educational level had a higher risk of developing asthma and respiratory symptoms, after adjustment for sex, age, hay fever, smoking, and occupational exposure.     

Does bronchial hyperresponsiveness in childhood predict active asthma in adolescence?

Rationale: Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is an important, but not specific, asthma characteristic. Objectives: We aimed to assess the predictive value of BHR tested by methacholine and exercise challenge at age 10 years for active asthma 6 years later. Methods: From a Norwegian birth cohort, 530 children underwent methacholine challenge and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) test (n = 478) at 10 years and structured interview and clinical examination at age 16 years. The methacholine dose causing 20% reduction in FEV(1) (PD(20)) and the reduction in FEV(1) (%) after a standardized treadmill test were used for BHR assessment. Active asthma was defined with at least two criteria positive: doctor's diagnosis of asthma, symptoms of asthma, and/or treatment for asthma in the last year. Measurements and Main Results: PD(20) and EIB at 10 years of age increased the risk of asthma (β = 0.94 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.92-0.96] per μmol methacholine and β = 1.10 [95% CI, 1.06-1.15] per %, respectively). Separately the tests explained 10 and 7%, respectively, and together 14% of the variation in active asthma 6 years later. The predicted probability for active asthma at the age of 16 years increased with decreasing PD(20) and increasing EIB. The area under the curve (receiver operating characteristic curves) was larger for PD(20) (0.69; 95% CI, 0.62-0.75) than for EIB (0.60; 95% CI, 0.53-0.67). Conclusions: BHR at 10 years was a significant but modest predictor of active asthma 6 years later, with methacholine challenge being superior to exercise test.     

Prevalence and predictors of undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a Norwegian adult general population

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and predictors of undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Norway. Methods: An age and gender stratified random sample of all adults aged 47–48 and 71–73 years in Bergen, Norway, were invited. The 3506 participants filled in questionnaires including symptoms of COPD, smoking, socio‐economic status, self‐rated health and cardiac co‐morbidity. Spirometry was performed before and after inhalation of 400 µg of salbutamol. COPD was defined as post‐bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) / forced vital capacity (FVC) < 0.7 whereas diagnosed COPD was defined as having received treatment for obstructive lung disease the last year. Results: Three hundred‐three persons (9%) were classified as having COPD, and the undiagnosed fraction was 66%. In multiple logistic regression analysis, including multiple imputation, predictors of undiagnosed COPD were absence of COPD symptoms [odds ratio (OR) 6.92, P = 0.001], and self‐report of being in good/excellent health (OR 2.39, P = 0.005). When post‐bronchodilator FEV1 was added to the analysis, undiagnosed disease was predicted by pack years [OR 1.21 (1.01–1.47) per 10 pack‐year increase, P = 0.043], and close to normal lung function [OR 1.48 (1.22–1.80) per 10% increase in post‐bronchodilator FEV1 % predicted, P < 0.001]. Anthropometrical variables, socio‐economic status and cardiac co‐morbidity were not associated with having undiagnosed COPD. Conclusion: Two out of three COPD patients in Norway are undiagnosed. Risk factors for being undiagnosed are moderate reduction in lung function, absence of COPD symptoms and self‐report of being in good health. Please cite this paper as: Hvidsten SC, Storesund L, Wentzel‐Larsen T, Gulsvik A and Lehmann S. Prevalence and predictors of undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a Norwegian adult general population. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2009; DOI:10.1111/j.1752‐699X.2009.00137.x.     

Field contamination of the starfish Asterias rubens by metals. Part 1: Short- and long-term accumulation along a pollution gradient

The accumulation of Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu in the starfish Asterias rubens was studied in a Norwegian fjord characterized by a gradient of metal pollution in the sediments, ranging from very high metal concentrations at its head to much lower levels at its opening. The concentrations of metals in starfish from natural populations along the gradient (long-term accumulation) and in starfish that were transferred up the gradient (short-term accumulation) were compared. At long-term, Cd and Pb accumulations by starfish living at normal salinity (30/1000) were related to the level of contamination of the environment while Cu and, to a lesser extent, Zn accumulations appeared strictly controlled. At short-term, Pb was accumulated steadily, Cd and Zn were accumulated transiently in the pyloric caeca (fast compartment), and Cu was not accumulated at all. Depuration experiments (transfer down the gradient) showed that Cd and Pb were efficiently eliminated from the pyloric caeca but not from the body wall (slow compartment). It is concluded that Pb is chronically accumulated, without apparent control, Cd is subjected to a regulating mechanism in the pyloric caeca which is overwhelmed over the long-term; Zn is tightly controlled in the pyloric caeca and Cu in both pyloric caeca and body wall. A distinct color variety of starfish is restricted to the low salinity (22-26/1000) superficial water layer. This variety showed a different pattern of metal accumulation over the long-term. This pattern is attributed to the particular hydrological conditions prevailing in this upper layer.