Typing of clinical herpes simplex virus isolates with mouse monoclonal antibodies to herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2: comparison with type-specific rabbit antisera and restriction endonuclease analysis of viral DNA

A total of 122 clinical isolates of herpes simplex virus (HSV) from 107 patients were typed by using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique with commercially available type-specific rabbit antisera, recently developed mouse monoclonal antibodies to HSV types 1 and 2, and restriction endonuclease analysis of viral DNA. With the commercially available type-specific rabbit antisera, 34% of clinical HSV isolates were of indeterminate type; 63% of them were typed as HSV type 1 and 37% as HSV type 2 by using monoclonal antibody and restriction enzyme typing systems. Typing by immunofluorescence assay with the monoclonal antibodies gave identical results to those obtained by restriction enzyme analysis. Simultaneous infection with both HSV types was demonstrated by monoclonal antibody typing in five isolates from three patients. These findings were subsequently confirmed by plaque purification and restriction endonuclease analysis of viral DNA. Monoclonal antibodies were as sensitive as restriction enzyme analysis for the typing of clinical HSV isolates. Because of their simplicity, they are more amenable to use in clinical laboratories than is restriction endonuclease analysis.     

Genetic control of natural immunity to ecotropic mouse leukemia viruses: production of endogenous immunogen.

Mice of the AKR and C57L strains naturally produced low titers of antibody against ecotropic murine leukemia viruses (MuLV). The F1 hybrid of these strains produced anti-MuLV antibody in higher titer than mice of either of the parental strains. Progeny of the genetic backcross C57L X (AKR X C57L)F1 segregated for the production of infectious ecotropic MuLV (according to the Akv-1 and Akv-2 loci) and for the production of antibody against MuLV. All mice that contained infectious MuLV produced anti-MuLV antibodies. Thus, the persistent production of high-titered MuLV in these mice did not result in immunological tolerance towards viral antigens. In contrast, mice that did not contain infectious MuLV could be separated into antibody-producing and -nonproducing classes. The absence of detectable antibody to MuLV in an individual mouse was invariably associated with a virus-free phenotype. Antibody against MuLV reacted primarily with p15 and gp70 proteins of the viral envelope. It was concluded that overt production of endogenous ecotropic MuLV served as a major immunogenic stimulus for the production of anti-MuLV antibody in these mice.     

Oncornaviruses produced by murine leukemia cells in culture.

Leukemia cells from mice of the AKR and C58 strains produced leukemia viruses (MuLV) in culture that failed to induce syncytia in the XC plaque assay (XC^?), were poorly infectious for mouse embryo fibroblasts, and yielded low levels of infectious progeny upon the establishment of infection. In host range analysis the majority of these viruses were N-ecotropic, although one leukemia cell line also produced xenotropic MuLV. Viral isolates from five different leukemia cell lines were oncogenic upon inoculation into newborn AKR mice. In contrast, viruses that occurred in high titer in the tissues and sera of normal AKR mice were not oncogenic in vivo and in culture they efficiently induced (with N-ecotropism) syncytia in the XC plaque assay (XC⁺). These findings demonstrate that the transforming agent for spontaneous leukemogenesis differs in biological properties from the endogenous MuLV that is commonly observed in mice of high leukemic strains.     

Selective neutralization of ecotropic murine leukemia virus by monoclonal antibodies: localization of a site on the gp70 protein associated with ecotropism

A panel of nine monoclonal antibodies against the gp70 and p15(E) envelope proteins of MuLV were tested in parallel for their ability to bind to virus and neutralize infectivity. Although each of the antibodies bound to N-ecotropic MuLV, only antibody against the gp70^f epitope neutralized infectivity. These results were interpreted as evidence for a specific site on the gp70 protein of ecotropic MuLV, in proximity of the gp70^f epitope, which was responsible for the ecotropic-specific binding of virus to the surface of cells.     

Comminuted fracture-dislocations of the elbow treated with an AO wrist fusion plate

Comminuted fracture-dislocations of the elbow are complex injuries that can result in significant postoperative loss of motion. Rigid anatomic fixation with early range of motion is the required treatment. Because of the local anatomy of the proximal ulna, it often is difficult to achieve a rigid fixation construct. A fixation technique of a dorsally applied AO limited contact-dynamic compression wrist fusion plate contoured to fit the anatomy of the proximal ulna is presented. Advantages of the AO wrist fusion plate in comminuted olecranon fractures include the ease of contouring, a low profile, and the use of variable screw hole sizing to achieve stable fixation. The hybrid design allows for rigid 3.5-mm plate fixation distally while providing low profile 2.7-mm plate fixation over the subcutaneous olecranon. The technical and biomechanical features of this plate make it an ideal alternative for fixation of these complex injuries.     

Normative Clinical Relationships Between Orientation and Memory: Age as an Important Moderator Variable

The present study examined the relationship between memory and orientation to time, place, and personal and general information, as moderated by age, education, and simple attentional ability. A heterogeneous sample of 312 clinical referrals was divided into four groups, according to delayed memory functioning. Patients with globally good, globally poor, poor visual, and poor auditory memory were at differential risk of being disoriented, with the globally poor memory patients having the greatest risk. Overall, poorly oriented patients were older and less educated, with worse recall of digits backward. Discriminant Function Analysis selected visual and auditory memory and age as predictors of orientation. Normative tables stratified by age and memory performance are presented.     

Early release of interalveolar synechiae under general anesthesia through fiberscopic nasal intubation

This article presents a treatment strategy for early release of interalveolar synechiae, aiming to facilitate early oral feeding and prevent temporomandibular joint ankylosis.The treatment results of 2 patients with van der Woude syndrome were retrospectively studied. Both patients underwent early surgical release of interalveolar synechiae under general anesthesia through fiberscopic nasal intubation. The 2 patients were treated at the ages of 6 and 14 days, respectively. The interincisival distances increased from 5 and 6 mm preoperatively to 11 and 10 mm immediately after surgery. This was increased further to 25 and 20 mm at long-term follow-up (6 and 24 months).In conclusion, synechiae between the upper and lower jaws can be safely treated at a very early age under general anesthesia with fiberscopic nasotracheal intubation. The purpose of early intervention in these cases is to facilitate oral feeding and prevent temporomandibular joint ankylosis.     

CCN2 is transiently expressed by keratinocytes during re-epithelialization and regulates keratinocyte migration in vitro by the ras-MEK-ERK signaling pathway

Background

CCN2 (previously known as connective tissue growth factor) is a multifunctional matricellular protein that has numerous effects on cell life and cell interactions with the connective tissue. Although the importance of CCN2 for the fibrotic process in wound healing has been well studied, the involvement of CCN2 in keratinocyte function has not yet been explored. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of CCN2 in the epidermis during wound healing.

Materials and methods

Immunohistochemistry was done on sections from full-thickness porcine wounds. The effect of CCN2 on the migration of cultured human keratinocytes exposed to scratch wounds, the effect on phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK), and the effect of adding inhibitors to the ERK/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway to human keratinocytes were studied.

Results

The CCN2 protein was transiently expressed in vivo at the leading keratinocyte edge during re-epithelialization of full-thickness porcine wounds. In vitro, exogenous addition of CCN2 to human keratinocyte cultures regulated keratinocyte migration and resulted in phosphorylation of ERK. The addition of inhibitors of ERK/mitogen-activated protein kinase counteracted the effect of CCN2 on migration.

Conclusions

CCN2 was transiently expressed at the leading keratinocyte edge in vivo. The biologic importance of this was supported in vitro, because CCN2 regulated human keratinocyte migration through activation of the Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-ERK signal transduction pathway.     

Correlations between initial cleft size and dental anomalies in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients after alveolar bone grafting

Objective To determine in individuals with unilateral cleft lip and palate the correlation between initial cleft size and dental anomalies, and the outcome of alveolar bone grafting.

Methods A total of 67 consecutive patients with non-syndromic unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCLP) were included from the cleft lip and palate-craniofacial center, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden. All patients were operated by the same surgeon and treated according to the Uppsala protocol entailing: lip plasty at 3 months, soft palate closure at 6 months, closure of the residual cleft in the hard palate at 2 years of age, and secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) prior to the eruption of the permanent canine. Cleft size was measured on dental casts obtained at the time of primary lip plasty. Dental anomalies were registered on radiographs and dental casts obtained before bone grafting. Alveolar bone height was evaluated with the Modified Bergland Index (mBI) at 1 and 10-year follow-up.

Results Anterior cleft width correlated positively with enamel hypoplasia and rotation of the central incisor adjacent to the cleft. There was, however, no correlation between initial cleft width and alveolar bone height at either 1 or 10 years follow-up.

Conclusions Wider clefts did not seem to have an impact on the success of secondary alveolar bone grafting but appeared to be associated with a higher degree of some dental anomalies. This finding may have implications for patient counseling and treatment planning.