Natural Killer Cells may be the Only Cells in Normal Mouse Lymphoid Cell Populations Endowed with Cytolytic Ability for Antibody-Coated Tumour Target Cells

Mouse normal lymphoid cells were analysed as to their ability to perform in three cytolytic systems: Ability to act as 'natural killer', NK, cells against a NK sensitive tumour target, YAC; as effector cells against IgG-coated 815 cells, or to function as effector cells against IgG-coated CRBC. NK activity and ADCC against the IgG-coated P815 cells were found to vary in parallel as affected by age, organ distribution and genotype of the effector cells. On the other hand, ADCC against CRBC was largely carried out by effector cells distinct from those functioning as NK cells or in ADCC against P815. Temperature pretreatment schedules at 37 degrees C showed both NK cells and ADCC ability against P815 to be highly sensitive on contrast to ADCC against CRBC. Likewise, inoculation of Corynebacterium parvum intraperitoneally will lead to reduction in ADCC ability against CRBC but increase in ADCC against P815 and NK activity. Blocking experiments using 'cold' inhibitor cells in the cytolytic assays indicated that NK cells and effector cells against IgG-coated P815 cells are the very same cells. We thus conclude that NK cells in the mouse also have the ability to express K cell activity against IgG-coated tumour target cells. In fact, our data suggest that the NK cells may be the only cell type in the mouse equipped with cytolytic potential for antibody-coated murine nucleated cells     

The crisis in the distribution of health personnel in Nigeria

Health personnel resources in Nigeria are severely maldistributed.This paper highlights this issue and stresses the urgent needfor data on the number of active personnel at professional,technical and auxiliary levels, and their geographical and specialtydistributions. The development of health information systemsto collect and produce the appropriate health personnel statisticsis vital if health planning is to be more rational and effective.     

Coronary Sinus Aneurysm and Left Ventricular‐Coronary Sinus Fistula. Implantation of CRT Device

We describe a 72‐year‐old man referred for implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy device who had previously undergone repeated operations to replace the mitral valve. Retrograde venography of the coronary sinus (CS) to implant the left ventricular (LV) pacing lead revealed aneurysmal dilatation of the CS with LV‐CS fistula that hindered—but did not prevent—complete implantation of the system. (PACE 2013; 36:e38–e40)     

Mitotic phase distribution in oral epithelial hyperplasia and neoplasia

Assessment of mitotic phase distribution in oral epithelial lesions has shown closely similar features in two categories of hyperplastic condition. By contrast, squamous cell carcinomas showed a significantly different mitotic phase distribution with an increased proportion of metaphases suggesting delay or blockage at this phase. Squamous cell papillomas showed an increased proportion of prometaphase mitoses.     

Severe Suppression of the B-cell System has No Impact on the Maturation of Natural Killer Cells in Mice

Mice were treated with a heterologous anti-IgM serum to obtain B-cell-deprived mice. Spleen cells from normal and B-cell-deprived mice were tested in three different cytolytic systems: natural killer cells (NK); antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytolysis (ADCC) against an NK-sensitive tumour, P815; and ADCC against chicken erythrocytes. The impact of administration of an interferon-inducing NK enhancing agent, Tilorone, was also investigated. Whereas the cell population from B-cell-deprived mice was significantly suppressed in antibody-producing cells, the capacity to function in NK or ADCC was largely unimpaired both before and after administration of Tilorone. Our results would imply that mature B cells play no significant role in either the maturation of the NK cells or the expression of their cytolytic ability. Furthermore, effector cells for both NK and ADCC against antibody-coated tumour target cells were found to be distinct from those functioning in ADCC against chicken erythrocytes.     

Corynebacterium parvum-Induced Peritoneal Exudate Cells with Rapid Cytolytic Activity against Tumour Cells are Non-Phagocytic Cells with Characteristics of Natural Killer Cells

Peritoneal exudate cells taken from mice 3 days after intraperitoneal treatment with Corynebacterium parvum (Cp) have been shown to kill specifically certain tumour targets in vitro. We have analysed in detail such Cp-induced cytotoxic cells as to their cellular characteristics, considering the fact that size and charge characteristics of cellular subgroups are useful markers in describing their representative characteristics. We could thus show that the cytolytic cell could not be classified as a macrophage. They behaved, in every manner analysed, exactly as the previously defined natural killer cells found in the lymphoid organs of normal mice.     

Absence of the Superior Vena Cava: Difficulties for Pacemaker Implantation

Endocardial pacemaker electrode implantation can be difficult in patients with anomalous superior vena cava (SVC). Venography and CAT scan showed that the patient lacked SVC venous drainage and that systemic veins drained into the inferior vena cava through the azygos vein. A temporary stimulation electrode was placed by puncture of the femoral vein, permanent stimulation by venotomy of the epigastric vein, with the electrode inserted through the external iliac vein.     

Plasma high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol levels during long-term use of an oral contraceptive in Nigerian women

Summary. Total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were estimated in 131 blood samples obtained from women who had been taking the oral contraceptive Noriday 1+50Fe (one packet contains 21 tablets of 1 mg of norethindrone +0·05 mg of mestranol, and 7 of 75 mg of ferrous fumarate) for 1–60 months. Thirty five women who had never used oral contraception (OC) formed the control group. There was a significantly higher mean HDL cholesterol level, and HDL cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio but not total cholesterol level in the women who had been using OC for 19–60 months. The values in women who had been using OC for 1–18 months were not significantly different from those in the control group. The increase in the HDL cholesterol level may not depend on the oestrogen content of the oral contraceptive but on the duration of its intake.