Rapid Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation for Women in an HIV-1 Prevention Clinical Trial Experiencing Primary HIV-1 Infection during Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

During an HIV-1 prevention clinical trial in East Africa, we observed 16 cases of primary HIV-1 infection in women coincident with pregnancy or breastfeeding. Nine of eleven pregnant women initiated rapid combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), despite having CD4 counts exceeding national criteria for ART initiation; breastfeeding women initiated ART or replacement feeding. Rapid ART initiation during primary HIV-1 infection during pregnancy and breastfeeding is feasible in this setting.     

Intrapleural and intravenous Corynebacterium parvum in patients with resected stage I and II non-small cell carcinoma of the lung

Summary A prospective randomized trial compared the administration of intrapleural plus intravenous Corynebacterium parvum (C. parvum) versus placebo in patients with resected Stage I and Stage II non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma. Treatment consisted of 7 mg C. parvum injected into the pleural space and 7 mg C. parvum intravenously once between days 6 and 12 postoperatively and 7 mg intravenously every 3rd month during the 1st year. Intrapleural administration of 35 cc of saline served as the placebo and the flush after intrapleural C. parvum.Of the 303 patients entered into this study, 286 were evaluable, with an average follow-up time of 3.5 years. More complications, especially fever, were observed in patients receiving C. parvum. A fever greater than 38 °C was observed in 9% of the patients assigned to placebo and 76% of the patients assigned to C. parvum. There was no significant difference between the treatments with respect to disease-free interval or survival.M. Kaufmann, J. Stjernswärd**, A. Zimmermann (Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Bern Branch); K. Stanley**, M. Isley, M. Zelen (Frontier Science & Tech. Research Foundation, Brookline, MA, USA); C. Mouritzen, P. Paulsen, U. Henriques (Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and Institute of Pathology, Kommunehospital, Aarhus, Denmark); N. Konietzko, W. Maassen, W. Hartung, W. Wierich (Ruhrland Clinic, Essen-Heidhausen, and Pathology Institute, Ruhr-University, Bochum, FRG); P. Oehl (Innere Klinik und Poliklinik Tumorforschung, Essen, FRG); J. Vogt-Moykopf, H. Toomes, W. Hofmann (Rohrbach Hospital, Clinic for Thoracic Medicine and Pathology Institute, Heidelberg, FRG); F. Krause, R. Rios, R. Spanel (Klinik Löwenstein, Löwenstein, and Pathology Institute, Ulm, FRG); J. Orel, B. Hrabar, D. Ferluga, T. Rott (University Medical Center, Thoracic Surgery and Pathology, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia); H. A. Rostad, J. R. Vale, P. Lexow (Rikshospital, Oslo, Norway); S. Hagen, S. Birkeland (Ulleval Hospital, Oslo, Norway); T. Harbitz, R. Nissen-Meyer (Aker Hospital, Oslo, Norway); E. Aspevik, H. Engedal, A. Mykin (Haukeland Hospital, Bergen, Norway); V. O. Björk, L. Rodriguez, K. Böök, J. Willems (Karolinska Sjukhuset, Thoracic Surgical Clinic and Pathology Department, Stockholm, Sweden); E. Grädel, J. Hasse, P. Dalquen (Kantonsspital, Dept of Surgery, Div. of Cardiac & Thoracic Surgery & Pathology Institute, Basel, Switzerland); L. Eckmann, K. Hänni, K. Zimmermann (Tiefenauspital Surg. Clinic, Univ. of Bern, Switzerland); B. Nachbur, H. U. Würsten, H. Cottier, A. Zimmermann (Inselspital Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surg. and Pathology Institute, Bern, Switzerland); W. Maurer, M. Kaufmann (Bürgerspital, Surgical Department, Solothurn, Switzerland); H. Denck, E. Zwintz, St. Wuketich (Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien-Lainz, I. Chir. Dept., and Path. Inst., Vienna, Austria); N. Pridun, H. Hackl (Pulmonologisches Zentrum der Stadt Wien, and Path. Inst., Vienna, Austria); E. Moritz, W. Schlick, H. Holzner (II. Chir. University Clinic and Path. Inst., Vienna, Austria); K. Karrer (Institute for Cancer Research, Vienna, Austria); R. G. Crispen (ITR-Biomedical Research, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA); D. S. Freestone, R. Bomford, M. T. Scott, T. Priestman, L. Toy (The Wellcome Research Laboratories, Beckenham, England)** Present address: Cancer Unit, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland Offprint requests to: K. Stanley, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Inselspital, CH-3010 Bern, SwitzerlandLudwig Lung Cancer Study Group:     

Growth Curve and Distribution of Rous Sarcoma Virus (Bryan) in Japanese Quail

On primary infection with the Bryan strain of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), the growth curve of the virus in the brain of Japanese quail was similar to that observed in chicks and turkey poults. Infectious virus disappeared from the brain after inoculation. After an eclipse period during which no virus was detectable, infectious virus began to appear at 2 days and reached maximal titers in the brain samples at 7 days after inoculation. When Japanese quail were infected intracerebrally with RSV, relatively high titers of virus were recovered from brain tissue but not from liver, lung, kidney, or blood of moribund birds. Only tumors produced in the wing web of quail infected subcutaneously yielded high titers of virus. Other tissues yielded no virus, even though wing web tumors appeared as early as in chicks similarly infected. RSV could be propagated in the wing web of quail for at least 14 passages without any loss of infectivity. On the other hand, serial passage in quail brain resulted in a progressive loss of infectivity until virus was completely lost.     

噬菌体φHAU3的cos位点及其与寄主相互作用的功能位点attP和attB的定位

ＨＡＵ３是寄主范围很广的放线菌噬菌体。Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交实验表明,ＨＡＵ３可以整合到吸水链霉菌应城变种１０－２２和变铅青链霉菌６６的突变体ＺＸ１的染色体中,形成溶原,其溶原菌自发释放ＨＡＵ３,不受热激和紫外线照射的诱导。通过比较ＨＡＵ３衍生噬粒ｐＩＪ８３００的ＤＮＡ酶切片段在加热前、后电泳带谱的区别,将ＨＡＵ３的ｃｏｓ位点在ｐＩＪ８３００的图谱上得到了定位。还利用Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交的方法定位了ＨＡＵ３与宿主形成溶原时附着位点（ａｔｔＰ）,并利用脉冲电泳技术定位了在变铅青链霉菌ＺＸ７和吸水链霉菌应城变种１０－２２中形成溶原的附着位点（ａｔｔＢ）。这些信息均有利于以ＨＡＵ３为基础的载体的发展和优化。     

Gene technology-based antimetabolite design: the use of an in vitro protein expression system to facilitate antimetabolite design for virally-induced human diseases and malignant conditions

A precondition for the chemotherapeutic treatment of a variety of virally-induced human diseases and malignant conditions is a highly selective interaction of the drug molecule to be used with it's biological target. To ensure the development of novel, effective drugs, it is essential that the biological target is well characterised with regard to it's structure and activity. Such characterisation relies upon adequate amounts of pure target being available. One of the most important enzymatic importers for antimetabolites is the enzyme thymidine kinase. In this article an in vitro protein expression system is described which facilitates the production of milligram amounts of pure and biologically active thymidine kinase, from a number of important biological sources. Results have shown that the in vitro produced enzyme has the exact biochemical propeties of the in vivo enzyme. Thus the in vitro protein expression system is an ideal vechicle to facilitate an in depth investigation of the enzyme's biological properties.     

Search for the possible role of ‘immunotherapy’ in operable bronchial non-small cell carcinoma (stage I and II): A phase I study with Corynebacterium parvum intrapleurally

Summary The possibility of giving C. parvum intrapleurally (i.p.) was investigated. C. parvum was given post-operatively either i.p. only or i.p. and intravenously (i.v.) simultaneously. The dose varied from 0.1–10 mg i.p. All patients had been operated for a bronchial carcinoma. Results: (1) Subjective complaints of either dyspnoea, thoracic pain, chills or nausea occured in 31 of 63 patients. No clear dose relation was found. A feeling of discomfort and fever could occur for another 3–4 days after the above more acute symptoms had disappeared. (2) Increased fever (0.5° C) occurred in 71% of the patients injected i.p. only. (3) No anaphylactic reaction was observed. (4) Increased total white blood cell counts (<20%) occurred in 38 patients. The WBC increase was mainly due to higher number of neutrocytes and granulocytes. Total lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophilic, and basophilic granulocytes values per mm³ circulating blood remained unchanged, except at the dose of 7 mg C. parvum i.p. when monocyte values were increased significantly from 576±247 to 1100±578/mm³. (5) Moderate to severe effusions were observed radiologically in three patients after C. parvum intrapleurally.The study group is: M. Kaufmann, J. Stjernswärd (Ludwig Institut for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, Switzerland), M. Zelen, K. Stanley (Frontier Science and Technology Research Foundation, Inc. Amherst, New York, USA), D. S. Freestone, R. Bomford, M. T. Scott, T. Priestman (The Wellcome Research Laboratory, Beckenham, England), C. Mouritzen, G. Ahlbom (Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Aarhus Kommunehospital, Aarhus, Denmark), N. Konietzko, D. Greschuchna (Ruhrland Klinic, Essen-Haidhausen, Germany), P. Hilgard (Innere Klinik und Poliklinik [Tumorforschung] Essen, Germany), J. Vogt-Moykopf, D. Zeidler, H. Toomes (Thoraxchirurgische Spezial-Klinik, Heidelberg-Rohrbach, Germany), F. Krause, R. Rios (Thoraxchirurgische Abt., Fachkrankenhaus für Lungen- und Bronchialerkrankungen, Löwenstein, Germany), J. Orel, M. Benedik, B. Hrabar (Clinical Center, Dept. of Thoracic Surgery, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia), S. Plesnicar (The Institute of Oncology, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia), H. A. Rostad, J. R. Vale (Rikshospital, Oslo, Norway), S. Hagen, S. Birkeland, (Ulleval Hospital, Oslo, Norway), T. Harbitz, R. Nissen-Meyer (Aker Hospital, Oslo, Norway), L. Rodriguez, V. O. Björk, K. Böök (Karolinska Sjukhuset, Thoracic Clinic, Stockholm, Sweden), E. Gradel, J. Hasse, P. Holbro (Kantonsspital, Thoraxchirurgische Klinik, Basel, Switzerland), L. Eckmann (Tiefenauspital, Chir. Univ.-Klinik, Bern, Switzerland), B. Nachbur, T. Liechti (Inselspital, Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Bern, Switzerland), H. Cottier (Inst. of Pathology, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland), W. Maurer, M. Kaufmann, P. Froelicher (Bürgerspital, Surgical Dept., Solothurn, Switzerland), H. Denck, N. Pridun (Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien-Lainz, Chir. Abt., Vienna, Austria), K. Karrer (Institute for Cancer Research, University of Vienna, Austria) Reprint requests should be addressed to any of the members listed above, or to the Ludwig Lung Cancer Trial, Operation Office, LICR, CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland. (For Current Contents, etc., please use above address)