Fetal intracardiac transfusions in patients with severe rhesus isoimmunisation

Six patients with pregnancies of 19-31 weeks'' duration showing evidence of erythroblastosis fetalis were treated with 25 fetal intracardiac blood transfusions. Complications related to the procedure occurred on five occasions in three patients. In two of the six patients the fetus died, but it was unlikely that death was related to the intracardiac transfusions.Fetal intracardiac blood transfusion may result in potentially severe complications but offers an alternative when transfusion cannot be performed into the umbilical cord.     

Control ofThrips tabaci [Thysanoptera: Thripidae] on glasshouse cucumber using large introductions of predatory mitesAmblyseius barkeri [Acarina: Phytoseiidae]

The phytoseiid miteAmblyseius barkeri (Hughes) (=Amblyseius mckenziei Sch. & Pr.) was used for biological control ofThrips tabaci Lind. in 7 commercial glasshouses with cucumber (a total of 5780 m²). Predatory mites were introduced 3–4 times in densities ranging from 40 to 300/m² at each release. In 6 of the 7 glasshouses, control of thrips was satisfactory throughout the growing season. Thrips densities were kept below 15 individuals per leaf. In 1 glasshouse, thrips damage was seen on the fruits at densities of 25 thrips per leaf, but the thrips population was quickly reduced and remained at low densities for the next 3 months.      

Anti-GM3-lactam monoclonal antibodies of the IgG type recognize natural GM3-ganglioside lactone but not GM3-ganglioside

Immunization of mice with a synthetic GM₃-lactam-BSA (bovine serum albumin) conjugate (designed to emulate the corresponding natural GM₃-lactone conjugate), followed by fusion of splenocytes with myeloma cells, gave rise to more than 300 monoclonal hybridomas producing antibodies to GM₃-lactam-BSA, which did not react with Glc-BSA and BSA. Eight antibody clones were randomly chosen from the positive 300 hybridomas. The eight clones, all belonging to the IgG class, were unreactive against GM₃-ganglioside, whereas two antibodies (P5-1 and P5-3, both IgG₁, ) reacted with GM₃-ganglioside lactone. Binding of these two antibodies to the GM₃-lactam-BSA conjugate was inhibited by soluble glycosides of GM₂-, GM₃-, and GM₄-lactam and by GM₃- and GM₄-lactam, respectively, but not by Gb₃ or asialo-GM₁ and GM₂-saccharides. A third antibody (P3; IgG_2b, ) was inhibited by GM₂-, GM₃-, and GM₄-lactam, but did not recognize GM₃-ganglioside lactone.     

Serum immunoassay of a small cell lung cancer associated ganglioside: development of a sensitive scintillation proximity assay

We here report an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a scintillation proximity assay (SPA) for detection of the ganglioside FucGM₁ in sera from small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. The SPA was more sensitive and reproducible than the ELISA. In this assay, monoclonal antibodies specific for FucGM₁ were bound to SPA particles and incubated with labelled FucGM₁ and 100 µl test-serum overnight, and counted in a -counter. The sensitivity was 0.2 ng. Seven out of twenty sera from SCLC patients were positive, whereas none of twenty sera from healthy individuals were positive for FucGM₁. The SPA was more sensitive than the previously reported HPTLC as well as a direct ELISA.Abbreviations MAb monoclonal antibody - SPA scintillation proximity assay - HPTLC high performance thin layer chromatography - SCLC small cell lung cancer - FucGM₁ Fuc1-2Gal1-3GalNAc1-4(NeuAc2-3)-Gal1-4Glc1-1Cer - ELISA enzyme linked immunosorbent assay - FCS foetal calf serum - PBS phosphate buffered saline     

Enterochromaffin-like cells in the rat stomach: effect of α-fluoromethylhistidine-evoked histamine depletion

Summary In the rat, gastric histamine is stored predominantly in the enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells, which are located basally in the oxyntic mucosa. The functional significance of histamine in the ECL cells is a matter of speculation. In this study the effect of depletion of histamine on the properties and ultrastructure of the ECL cells was examined. Histamine synthesis was inhibited with -fluoromethylhistidine (3 mg·kg^-1·h^-1) given via osmotic minipumps over a period of 24 h. The treatment reduced the histidine decarboxylase activity (approximately 20% remaining) and histamine concentration (less than 20% remaining) in the oxyntic mucosa, as well as the intensity of histamine- and chromogranin A-immunostaining in the ECL cells, compared to control rats. The cytoplasmic (secretory) granules/vesicles were greatly reduced in number and size following -fluoromethylhistidine administration. The histamine immunostaining of the mast cells, which occurs at the mucosal surface and in the submucosa, appeared unaffected. We conclude that ECL cell histamine accounts for at least 80% of the total oxyntic mucosal histamine in the rat and that it represents a more mobile pool than mast cell histamine. The reduction in the number and size of the ECL cell granules/vesicles following histamine depletion is in accord with the idea that they represent the storage site for histamine.     

Hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy: identification of the disease-causing mutation and specific diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction based analysis

Summary Hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy (HCCAA) is a dominantly inherited disease characterized by amyloidosis, dementia and fatal cerebral hemorrhage of young adults. A method for rapid and simple diagnosis of HCCAA is described. It is based upon oligonucleotide-directed enzymatic amplification of a 275-bp genomic DNA segment containing exon 2 of the cystatin C gene from a blood sample, followed by digestion of the amplification product with AluI. Loss of an AluI recognition site in the amplified DNA segment from HCCAA patients results in a deviating band-pattern at agarose gel electrophoresis, compared with that obtained from normal subjects or unaffected HCCAA family members. In a population of 9 patients with manifest HCCAA, 14 patients with other causes of brain hemorrhage and 16 healthy individuals, the diagnostic procedure displayed a sensitivity and specificity for HCCAA of 100%. Amplified DNA segments from 4 HCCAA patients of four different families were analyzed by nucleotide sequencing; the HCCAA-causing mutation in all families was found to be a single TA substitution in the codon for amino acid residue 68 of cystatin C.     

Changes in brain serotonergic activity during hierarchic behavior in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) are socially induced

Summary The experiment was performed in two phases. During the first phase (phase 1) the dominance hierarchy was determined in 4 groups of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.), each group consisting of 4 fish. Phase 2 was started by rearranging phase 1 fish into 4 new groups. Group 1 consisted of previously dominant fish and groups 2, 3 and 4 of fish that previously held rank 2, 3 and 4, respectively. After phase 2 telencephalon and brain stem were analyzed with regard to their contents of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), the principle metabolite of 5-HT. No correlation was found between the social rank (measured as dominance index) during phase 1 and the brain serotonergic activity (measured as the ratio 5-HIAA/5-HT) determined after phase 2. However, most important, the 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio was significantly correlated with the last experienced social rank, i.e. that acquired during phase 2. These results shows that the difference in brain serotonergic activity between dominant and subordinate fish develops through social interactions. Further, we found that previous subordinate experience inhibited aggressive behavior, an effect which, in the light of available information on stress and 5-HT, could be related to the increase in brain serotonergic activity. We hypothesize that stress induces an increased serotonergic activity which in turn inhibits the neuronal circuitry which mediates aggressive behavior.Abbreviations 5-HT serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) - 5-HIAA 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid     

Ultrastructure and immunocytochemistry of the nervous system of the larvae ofLingula anatina andGlottidia sp. (Brachiopoda)

Summary Planktotrophic brachiopod larvae ofGlottidia sp. have been investigated for the occurrence of glyoxylic acid induced fluorescence in catecholamines (CA), and serotonin-like (5-HT) and neuropeptide FMRFamidelike (FMRFamide) immunoreactivity (ir). The location of CA, 5-HT-ir and FMRFamide-ir cells and processes were compared with the location of neurons and nerve processes found by transmission electron microscopy. The apical ganglion contains 5-HT-ir and FMRFamideir cells and processes and CA processes. From the dorsal part of the apical ganglion extend dorsal 5-HT-ir and FMRFamide-ir processes; from the nine pairs of tentacles stage (9. pt) they project to the ventral ganglion. These dorsal lophophore processes follow themusculus lophophoralis and them. brachialis. The 5-HT-ir and some of the FMRFamide-ir processes project along the muscles to the tentacles. From the ventral part of the apical ganglion extend CA, 5-HT-ir and FMRFamide-ir processes which follow the ciliary band of the lophophore and project to the tentacles. An intense band of CA processes was also observed in the lophophore, but the dorsal/ventral location could not be ascertained. The ventral ganglion contains 5-HT-ir and FMRFamide-ir cells which project either caudally on the metasome or rostrally as part of the dorsal lophophore processes. The neuropil of the ventral ganglion contains CA, 5-HT-ir and FMRFamide-ir processes. The nervous system of the planktotrophic brachiopod larvae seems to consist of a ventral lophophore system innervating the ciliary bands and a dorsal lophophore system including the ventral ganglion innervating the body musculature. The latter system develops later in ontogeny and is regarded as a specialization due to the presence of shells and associated musculature. The former system is regarded as homologous with the nervous system of actinotroch larvae (Phoronida) and planktotrophic larvae of the echinoderms.     

Effect of pyridoxine on tumor necrosis factor activitiesin vitro

Clinical trials with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) as an antitumor agent have so far given rather disappointing results. In this study we show that the naturally occuring vitamin B₆ compound, pyridoxine, enhances TNF-induced cytolysis of three subclones of a mouse fibrosarcoma cell line (WEHI 164). The degree of pyridoxine-induced enhancement of TNF cytotoxicity seems to be dependent on the cells sensitivity to TNF, as the enhancement was much more pronounced in the relatively TNF resistant subclone act-R(cl.12)-WEHI 164, than in the very TNF sensitive subclone WEHI 164 clone 13. Furthermore, our study shows that pyridoxine, in contrast to its enhancing effect on TNF-induced cytotoxicity, rather inhibits TNF-induced growth of human FS-4 fibroblasts. Pyridoxine also enhances lymphotoxin (LT)-induced tumor cell killing and inhibits LT-induced fibroblast growth. Pyridoxine is a relatively non-toxic agentin vivo. Our results suggest that a combination of TNF and pyridoxine may be more efficient than TNF alone, in the treatment of cancer patients.