Stephen Girard (1750–1831): a one-eyed American patriot

Stephen Girard trader, banker, millionaire, and patriot lived 81 full and exciting years. Apparently born with a blind or amblyopic right eye, he emigrated from Bordeaux. France, via Santa Domingo to the United States, and finally settled in Philadelphia, where he developed a successful maritime trade. Ultimately, Girard became the first multimillionaire in the United States. Extremely generous, he often walked from his home in the center of Philadelphia to his farm in what is now South Philadelphia distributing shoes to needy children. Probably Girard’s most heroic gestures were his gallant fight against the yellow fever epidemic in 1793 and his loan to the U.S. government during the War of 1812, which allowed the bankrupt country to continue the conflict and ultimately to win the war. Presented, in part, at the tenth annual meeting of the David G. Cogan Ophthalmic History Society, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, March 8 and 9, 1997.     

Origins of the projections of the superior colliculus to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus and the pulvinar in the rabbit

The origins of the projections of the superior colliculus to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus and to the pulvinar in Dutch-belted rabbits were investigated using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) methods. Following injections of HRP in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, retrogradely labeled neurons were found in the upper two-thirds of the stratum griseum superficiale of the ipsilateral superior colliculus. Most of the labeled somata were spindle-shaped, and their major axes tended to be perpendicular to the surface of the superior colliculus. In contrast, following injections of the pulvinar, labeled neurons were found in the lower third of the ipsilateral stratum griseum superficiale. In these cases, the labeled somata were larger than those labeled following dorsal lateral geniculate injections and were multipolar in shape.     

Effects of theophylline,terbutaline, and prednisone on antigen-induced bronchospasm and mediator release

Eleven subjects demonstrating clinical, skin, and inhalation sensitivity to grass or ragweed pollen underwent serial inhalation challenges, with and without orally administered theophylline, terbutaline, and prednisone. Comparisons of antigen sensitivity and mediator release were made during these challenges. All three drugs significantly reduced antigen sensitivity (PD₂₀ inhalation units increasing from 670 to ≧ 3,280). Peak plasma histamine levels after antigen challenge decreased from 11.4 ng/ml to ≦ 3.4 ng/ml during all drug administrations. Similarly, the percent increase in serum neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) also decreased, from 96% to ≦ 36% during drug administrations. However, even at antigen doses resulting in bronchospasm during drug administration the systemic appearance of NCA and histamine were reduced. We conclude that prednisone, theophylline, and terbutaline significantly reduce antigen-induced bronchospasm and mediator release. The occurrence of bronchospasm despite the inhibition of histamine and NCA suggests either that the local concentration of these mediators are critical or that other mediators produce the bronchospasm observed.     

Increased antigen-induced local and systemic mediator release in rhinitis subjects with pulmonary symptoms in the pollen season

In order to delineate parameters that might discriminate between allergic subjects who develop R or R-P symptoms during natural antigen exposure, 26 subjects allergic to grass or ragweed pollen were classified into R or R-P groups, and then the antigen sensitivity and degree of in vivo mediator release were compared. Antigen-skin sensitivity was quantitated by dilutional skin-test titration, and bronchial sensitivity was quantitated by the amount of inhaled antigen required to receive the FEV1 by 20%. Mediator release was determined by measuring the amount of histamine that was released into skin chambers during antigen incubation and the rise in plasma histamine and serum NCA during antigen-induced bronchospasm. Compared to the 13 R subjects, the 13 R-P subjects were: (1) more sensitive to antigen by both skin-test and inhalation challenge, (2) responded to inhalation of antigen with a greater fall in FEV1 and a greater rise in serum NCA and plasma histamine, and (3) released more histamine into skin chambers after antigen incubation. Even when R and R-P subjects were matched by comparing only subjects with equal skin sensitivity to antigen, greater increases in serum NCA and plasma histamine occurred after inhalation of antigen in the R-P subjects. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that allergic rhinitis subjects who develop pulmonary symptoms during natural pollen exposure are more sensitive to antigen and release more mediators in response to antigen administration. It is therefore possible that the degree of mediator release may be an important factor in determining the pattern of clinical responses to antigen exposure.     

Histologic studies of human skin test responses to ragweed and compound 48/80: III. Effects of alternate-day steroid therapy

Our previous studies have shown depressed eosinophil responses in skin test reactions to pollen antigens and compound 48/80 in those just completing a 1-wk course of daily steroids. Wheal reactions were unaffected. In this study, 6 ragweed-sensitive atopic subjects were studied before and on the seventh day (“day on”) and day 8 (“day off”) of a course of alternate-day steroids. Blood neutrophil levels rose on day 7 and were similar to baseline on day 8, whereas blood eosinophil levels were significantly reduced on both days 7 and 8. Neutrophil responses in skin test reactions were depressed on day 7 and normal on day 8. In contrast, the tissue eosinophil responses were depressed significantly, and to similar degree, on both days 7 and 8. These findings are of potential significance in evaluating the clinical effects of steroids in allergic diseases.     

Early splenectomy and polychemotherapy versus polychemotherapy alone in chronic myeloid leukemia

The effect of early splenectomy and of polychemotherapy with hydroxyurea, busulfan, and alternate bimonthly courses of arabinosyl cytosine and vincristine plus prednisone, was evaluated in 139 previously untreated patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), consecutively admitted to 18 hospitals from March 1973 to October 1974. Fifty-six patients were splenectomized and 83 patients were not splenectomized. Splenectomy did not influence the duration of chronic and blastic phase, and did not prolong survival. The prognosis of high risk patients was not improved. During the chronic phase, high platelet counts were more frequent in splenectomy group, and five patients developed thrombotic or thromboembolic complications, 5 to 19 months after the operation. The median survival of the whole group was 50 months, with 32 of 139 patients (actuarial proportion 30%) remaining alive 72 months after diagnosis, but the slope of the survival curve was similar to that of historical controls. The results of this trial suggests that new strategies should be developed for the therapy of CML.     

Bcr/abl融合基因及Ph染色体检测在慢性髓系白血病中的临床意义

目的探讨慢性髓系白血病(CML)细胞中Ph染色体阳性细胞与bcr/abl融合基因表达之间的关系及临床意义.方法用热变性姬姆萨R显带(RHG)技术和逆转录筑巢式聚合酶链反应(RT-nest-PCR)对171例CML患者的骨髓或外周血单个核细胞进行了分析,并对其中17例行异基因骨髓移植(Allo-BMT)患者进行短期随访.结果154例未经异基因造血干细胞移植(allo-PBSCT)的CML患者中142例(92.2%)为Ph染色体阳性,146例(94.8%)表达bcr/abl mRNA,2种方法结果一致者142份(92 2%).17例患者allo-BMT后1～24个月,仅1例出现Ph阳性,12月后RT-PCR分析结果10例阴性,7例阳性.结论2种方法各有其优缺点,在CML患者的诊断和治疗监测中,宜将细胞遗传学分析与PCR方法相结合.allo-BMT是目前治疗CML的最佳方法之一.