Interference between Neisseria meningitidis and PC-KLH induced anti-phosphorylcholine PFC responses in NZB/W autoimmune mice.

In this work, we demonstrate that the simultaneous injection of PC-KLH and Neisseria meningitidis-derived antigens [NMB or PC-(NMB)HI] induced in old NZB/W mice defective responses as does PC-KLH challenge. On the other hand, the simultaneous injection of both immunogenic preparations of N. meningitidis evoked responses similar to those shown by old mice challenged with NMB alone.

Isolation and genetic analysis of extragenic suppressors of the hyper-deletion phenotype of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae hpr1 delta mutation.

The HPR1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is involved in maintaining low levels of deletions between DNA repeats. To understand how deletions initiate in the absence of the Hpr1 protein and the mechanisms of recombination leading to deletions in S. cerevisiae, we have isolated mutations as suppressors of the hyper-deletion phenotype of the hpr1 delta mutation.

Role of reciprocal exchange, one-ended invasion crossover and single-strand annealing on inverted and direct repeat recombination in yeast: different requirements for the RAD1, RAD10, and RAD52 genes.

We have constructed novel DNA substrates (one inverted and three direct repeats) based on the same 0.6-kb repeat sequence to study deletions and inversions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Spontaneous deletions occur six to eight times more frequently than inversions, irrespective of the distance between the repeats.

Precision and accuracy of in vivo bone mineral measurement in rats using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the precision and accuracy of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for measuring bone mineral content at different sites of the skeleton in rats. In vitro the reproducibility error was very small (< 1%), but in vivo the intra-observer variability ranged from 0.9% to 6.

Increase in incidence of chromosome instability and non-conservative recombination between repeats in Saccharomyces cerevisiae hpr1 delta strains.

Null hpr1 delta strains show a large increase (up to 2000-fold) over wild type in the frequency of occurrence of deletions between direct repeats on three different chromosomes. However, we show that hpr1 delta mutations have little or no effect on reciprocal exchange, gene conversion or unequal sister chromatid exchange, as determined using intrachromosomal, interchromosomal and plasmid-chromosome assay systems. A novel intrachromosomal recombination system has allowed us to determine that over 95% of deletions in hpr1 delta strains do not occur by reciprocal exchange.

[The pectoral implant of an automatic defibrillator by cardiologists in an electrophysiology laboratory].

We have performed 2 implantations of transvenous automatic cardioverter defibrillator in a cardiac laboratory devoted to electrophysiology and pacemaker implantation. This is a preliminary experience with a novel implant strategy. Cardiologists were the primary operators.

Tumour lysis syndrome after treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with fludarabine.

Fludarabine is one of the most recent and promising therapeutic agents for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. We describe a patient who developed tumour lysis syndrome after the first course of treatment with fludarabine and call attention to this uncommon but potentially lethal complication that has not been previously taken into account in this neoplasia. It should always be anticipated when patients are treated with new and effective drugs.

[Psychiatric and social aspects of AIDS. Report of 4 cases].

A report of four AIDS-related psychiatric cases in Honduras is presented. (2,544 AIDS cases have been reported up to April '93. In the sole city of San Pedro Sula, 1,000 cases have been reported).

New in-vivo cloning methods by homologous recombination in yeast.

We have devised a new strategy to clone DNA sequences from an yeast autonomously-propagating plasmid into a non-autonomous integrative vector by in-vivo recombination. The method consists of a first step in which the replicative plasmid carrying the DNA fragment of interest forms a co-integrate with the non-replicative plasmid by an induced in-vivo reciprocal exchange accompanied by gene conversion. The dimeric plasmid obtained is then purified and cut with an appropriate restriction enzyme and ligated independently to obtain the two intact monomeric plasmids, the original autonomous plasmid plus the new non-autonomous plasmid carrying the subcloned DNA fragment.

[Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 infection in 2 seamen of the northwest of Spain].

The first two cases of HIV-2 infection in autoctonous Spanish subjects are presented. Two sailors (62 and 42 years of age) of Galician origin who travelled to east African countries are reported. The epidemiologic, clinico-evolutive characteristics--with manifestations similar to HIV-1 infection (oral candidiasis and villous leukoplasia)--, and therapeutic response to zidovudine are described.

Formamide sensitivity: a novel conditional phenotype in yeast.

Yeast mutants unable to grow in the presence of 3% formamide have been isolated in parallel with mutants sensitive to either 37 degrees or 6% ethanol. The number of formamide-sensitive mutations that affect different genes that can be identified from yeast cells is at least as large as the number of thermosensitive or ethanol-sensitive mutations. These mutations are of two types: those that are sensitive to formamide, temperature and/or ethanol simultaneously; and those that are specific for formamide sensitivity and show no temperature or ethanol sensitivity phenotype.

Use of recombinant interferon-alpha in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals.

Rationale And Objective: Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) has anti-retroviral activity and is a possible HIV infection-limiting factor. The aim of this work is to prevent or delay disease progression in asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) carriers.

Design And Interventions: Recombinant IFN alpha-2b (3 x 10(6) IU 3 times weekly) was compared to no treatment (control) in a randomized trial.

Low diagnostic yield of sural nerve biopsy in patients with peripheral neuropathy and primary amyloidosis.

Patients with primary amyloidosis may develop peripheral neuropathy as an early feature. Sural nerve biopsy is reported to be a sensitive method for diagnosing amyloidosis in such patients. We identified nine patients, ultimately diagnosed as having amyloidosis, who were referred for peripheral neuropathy of undetermined etiology.

[Benzathine penicillin G and miocamycin in the treatment of children with streptococcal pharyngitis: a controlled therapeutic trial].

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and bacteriologic effectiveness of miocamycin (Miocamin, Merck) as compared to benzathine penicillin G in the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis. One hundred forty nine patients (aged 2 to 15 years) with culture proven Group A streptococcal pharyngitis were randomly assigned to receive miocamycin (15 mg/kg/day bid per os) or one injection of 600,000 or 1,200,000 units of benzathine penicillin G. The clinical response was similar in both groups, in terms of fever duration (16 +/- 14 hours with miocamycin vs 13 +/- 13 hours with penicillin) and normalization of appetite (87.

HTLV-I/II infections in Spain. The HTLV-I/II Spanish Study Group.

Antibodies to HTLV-I/II were investigated in sera from 7521 individuals living in Spain. They were classified in four major groups: a) subjects at high risk of retroviral infections e.g.

Efficacy of various non-oily adjuvants in immunization against the Aujeszky's disease (pseudorabies) virus.

Standard oil and various non-oily adjuvants were compared for use in immunization against the Aujeszky's disease (pseudorabies) virus, both in mice and swine, and using either inactivated virions or purified glycoproteins as antigen. Mineral oil, sodium alginate, aluminium hydroxide, and saponin were assayed in mice as adjuvants for inactivated virions, saponin being the most efficient. The addition of Mab anti-CD3 did not improve either immune response or protection achieved in mice using viral particles with oil or sodium alginate.

Comparison of the protective efficacy of Aujeszky's disease (pseudorabies) virus glycoproteins obtained from different sources.

The immunogenic properties of a series of glycoprotein preparations are compared using inactivated conventional vaccines as reference. Serological response and protective efficacy of vaccination of mice and pigs are evaluated for glycoprotein immunogens obtained from various sources. BHK-21 cell cultures were infected with Aujeszky's disease virus and used as antigenic source.

[Evaluation of various criteria for the interpretation of western blot for the diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection. Spanish Group for the Study of HIV-2].

Background: The Western blot (WB) is the most commonly used test to confirm the presence of antibodies against the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Different criteria of interpretation of the band profile have been proposed with there being no unanimity as to its reliability. The sensitivity and specificity of several criteria proposed for the interpretation of WB were evaluated and the individual significance of the reactivity of each band of the WB was analyzed.

[A multicenter study of infection with human immunodeficiency virus type-2 (HIV-2) in Spain (1991). The Spanish Group for the Study of HIV-2].

Background: To January 1991 thirteen cases of HIV-2 infection had been reported in Spain. Paradoxically, neighboring countries, i.e.

[Multicenter study of HTLV-I and HTLV-II infection in Spain. Spanish Group for the Study of HTLV-II/II Infection].

Background: Human T-lymphotropic viruses type I (HTLV-I) and type II (HTLV-II) infections have been related to lymphoproliferative disorders and subacute neurological diseases. Screening blood donors for specific HTLV-I/II antibody has been implemented in Japan, United States, and recently in France. Should be it recommended in Spain?

Methods: Antibodies to HTLV-I/II were investigated in sera from 7,884 individuals living in Spain.

Contact Inhibition: Also a Control for Cell Proliferation in Unicellular Algae?

According to traditional views, the proliferation of unicellular algae is controlled primarily by environmental conditions. But as in mammalian cells, other biological mechanisms, such as growth factors, cellular aging, and contact inhibition, might also control algal proliferation. Here we ask whether contact inhibition regulates growth in several species of unicellular algae as it does in mammalian cells.