Development of clear cell adenocarcinoma in DES-exposed offspring under observation.

Two cases of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina detected at follow-up in young women exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol are reported. One patient, aged 23, had been followed for 2 years before carcinoma was diagnosed; the second patient, aged 22, had been seen on a regular basis for 5 years, 8 months. In both instances, suspicion of the presence of carcinoma was aroused by the palpation of a small nodule in the vaginal fornix.

The role of herpes simplex virus in cervical and vulvar cancer.

This report extends the association of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) with cervical cancer to vulvar carcinoma. In addition to seroepidemiologic observations linking prior HSV2 infection to genital cancer, the new evidence involves the neoplasms themselves. Biopsies of cervical and vulvar cancers were found to contain HSV2-specified antigens.

Kinetics of human antibody responses to primary genital herpes simplex virus infection.

5 patients with primary genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection were studied prospectively for the production of serum antibody reactivity as measured by the virus micro-neutralization test (NT), micro-solid phase radioimmunometric assay (micro-SPRIA), and antibody-dependent cellular-cytotoxic (ADCC) test. ADCC antibody was detected before reactivity measured by either NT or micro-SPRIA in 2 of the patients. A 3rd patient failed to produce neutralizing antibody, whereas specific activity was detected by the other two methods.

Herpesvirus-induced antigens in squamous-cell carcinoma in situ of the vulva.

Antigens induced by herpes simplex virus Type 2 (HSV2) were found to be associated with squamous-cell carcinoma in situ of the vulva in nine of 10 patients. The HSV2-induced antigens are DNA-binding proteins that are normally present in the nuclei of infected cells, but in the cells of the carcinomas in situ they were found in the cytoplasm. Whole-virion structural antigens were not present, although there was serologic evidence of previous HSV2 infection in patients tested for the presence of antibodies.

Recurring laryngeal papillopa.

A prospective study of 31 children born of mothers with condylomata acuminata at parturition or during pregnancy was undertaken to test the hypothesis that laryngeal papilloma could be associated with venereal warts and could be acquired perinatally. None of the children born of mothers with condylomas at delivery or during their pregnancies had developed symptoms, signs, or observable lesions of laryngeal papilloma, whether delivered vaginally or by cesarean section. Nevertheless we do not know the true incidence of this disease or the infectivity of the causative micro-organism.

Mutual orientation of adenovirus hexon polypeptides in a two-dimensional crystalline array.

Three profiles of hexons were detected om two-dimensional adenovirus crystalline arrays: (i) approximately ringwise closed hexons with a roundish hole in their centres and with 2-4 electron dense spots in the wall of the rings; (ii) hexons, consisting of three approximately oblong polypeptide enclosing a triangular hole; (iii) triangular hexons, containing three main polypeptides with an Y-shaped slit, instead of a hole, in their centres. Following the examination of directly or computer corrected electron micrographs a tentative model has been developed on the possible mutual "rotation" orientation of hexon polypeptides within the two-dimensional crystalline array. The position of hexons is such that the longer side of a polypeptide of each hexon is next to the end of two polypeptides of its neighbouring hexon, i.

Electron microscopic studies on the arrangements of hexon polypeptides in a two-dimensional crystalline array.

Two distinct profiles of hexon end parts were detected in two-dimensional adenovirus hexon crystalline arrays: (i) hexons displaying three approximately oblong subunits around a triangular hole, and (ii) triangular hexons showing three main subunits with Y-shaped slits in their centers. The rest of the hexons seemed to be approximately ring-shaped with a roundish hole at their centers. Direct examination of electron micrographs and their optical diffraction patterns as well as Markham's rotational integration technique permitted the establishment of the mutual orientation of hexons and of polypeptide subunits within small, distinct parts of the crystalline array.

Connections between the hexon polypeptides in the two-dimensional hexon crystalline array.

Fine interhexonal connections were observed in high resolution electron micrographs of tight two-dimensional hexagonal crystalline arrays. Intrahexonal connections were found among the three polypeptides constituting the hexons. The length of the interhexonal connections was 2.

Urinary tract changes associated with exposure in utero to diethylstilbestrol.

Intravenous pyelograms were performed on 128 women who had been exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol (DES). For comparison, intravenous pyelograms (IVPs) of 48 non-exposed women were reviewed: No difference in urinary tract abnormalities was noted. There was no significant increase in urinary tract abnormalities in women with upper genital tract abnormalities demonstrated by hysterosalpingogram as compared to a group of women whose x-rays of the uterus were normal.

Asymptomatic virus shedding after herpes genitalis.

Samples of cervical and vaginal secretions obtained daily from five women were studied for the presence of active virus and/or viral antigens. In women with a history of recurrent genital herpes, either infectious virus or viral antigen in exfoliated cells was repeatedly detected in the absence of overt clinical symptoms. The epidemiologic and obstetric importance of the observations is discussed.

Upper genital tract changes and pregnancy outcome in offspring exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol.

Hysterosalpingography (HSG) was performed on 267 diethylstilbestrol (DES)-exposed women. One hundred eighty-five (69%) of these women demonstrated an abnormality and 82 women had normal findings. A relationship between abnormal x-ray findings and structural abnormalities of the cervix and vaginal epithelial changes was noted.

Electron microscopic studies on the crystallization of adenovirus hexon capsomers.

Highly purified soluble adenovirus type 1 hexons were crystallized by dialyzing against 0.5 M acetate buffer, pH 4.5, for 3 days.

The culture of tissue from the ovary of the goldfish Carassius auratus.

Small pieces of ovarian tissue derived from immature goldfish have been maintained in culture periods of up to three months. The progress of the culture was monitored by light and electron microscopy and showed that although degenerative changes occurred in the large oocytes the small oocytes and oogonia survived for the duration of the culture. Quantitative studies indicate that both oogonia and small oocytes increase in number during the first three weeks of culture and observations from experiments using 3H-thymidine support the idea that a limited proliferation can occur using the relatively simple technique described.

Persistence of virus shedding in asymptomatic women after recovery from herpes genitalis.

One hundred seventeen women were reexamined within 6 months after presenting with genital herpes. Swabs for virus isolation were taken from the cervix whether or not lesions were observed. Herpesvirus type II was isolated from 30 of 67 patients with recurrent disease, but also from 5 of 50 women during periods when there were no signs or symptoms of illness.

Hexagonal crystalline arrays of adenovirus type 1 hexons.

Separated, highly purified and concentrated adenovirus type 1 soluble hexon capsomers were crystallized by dialysis against 0.5 M acetate buffer. The crystallization process was followed electron microscopically.

Two- and three-dimensional hexon crystals.

Soluble hexon of type 1 adenovirus was highly purified with different techniques and dialysed against 0.5 M acetate buffer. With this procedure tetrahedral crystals were produced from the soluble hexon capsomers of the virus capsid.

Cervical cancer cell lines containing herpesvirus markers.

Five epithelioid cell lines were established from invasive cervical carcinoma tissue and were examined for herpes simplex virus (HSV) antigens or virus-induced changes. Immunofluorescence studies with antiserum to an HSV type 2 nonstructural polypeptide detected perinuclear antigens. In these cell lines, concentrations of a membrane fucopeptide that is regularly present in normal cells were reduced to levels similar to those previously observed in virus-transformed cells.

Detection of herpesvirus type-specific antibody by a micro solid phase radioimmunometric assay.

A micro solid phase radioimmunometric assay has been developed which measures type-specific antibody in human sera to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). The test is performed by coating wells of microtiter plates with purified HSV-specified glycoproteins, VP123 and VP119, derived from HSV-1- and HSV-2-infected cells, respectively. The coated wells are then incubated with diluted unadsorbed sera and subsequently with radioiodinated goat anti-human IgG reagent.

Treatment of genital herpes simplex virus infection with photodynamic inactivation.

A double-blind randomized study to evaluate the effect of proflavine in the treatment of genital herpesvirus infection was conducted. One hundred fifty-seven women were studied, of whom 75 were treated with proflavine (treated women) and 82 were treated with placebo (control group). There were 62 women with primary disease and 95 with recurrent infection.