In vitro reconstitution of the tracheal epithelium.

We have developed a unique in vitro reconstitution system for tracheal epithelia of guinea pigs. In the system, a human amnion membrane was used as a basement membrane and the tracheal epithelial cells were cultured on the epithelial side of the membrane. Three weeks later, the tracheal fibroblasts were co-cultured on the serosal side of the amnion membrane and the culturing was continued for an additional 10 d.

Potential therapeutic efficacy of allergen-monomethoxypolyethylene glycol conjugates for in vivo inactivation of sensitized mast cells responsible for common allergies and asthma.

Skin sites of rats, which had been systemically sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) were injected intradermally with murine anti-DNP IgE mAbs or with murine polyspecific IgE to recombinant Bet v 1. Injection of OVA(mPEG)10-11 conjugates into these skin sites inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) on subsequent intravenous challenge with DNP44-BSA and rBet v 1; by contrast, neither OVA nor an unrelated mPEG conjugate affected the PCA reactions. In dogs sensitized to both OVA and ragweed pollen extract (RAG), inhalation of either allergen (AL) caused a dramatic increase in airway resistance (Rrs).

Inhibition of the effector phase of IgE-mediated allergies by tolerogenic conjugates of allergens and monomethoxypolyethylene glycol.

In this study we established that the conjugate of ovalbumin (OVA), which was used as a model allergen, with monomethoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG), i.e., OVA(mPEG)11, was not only tolerogenic and essentially non-allergenic, but also capable of inactivating mast cells sensitized with anti-OVA IgE antibodies (Abs).

Mixed cavernous angioma and glioma (angioglioma) in the hypothalamus--case report.

A 54-year-old female presented with a huge mixed cavernous angioma and astrocytoma in the hypothalamus manifesting as headache, visual field defect, gait disturbance, and convulsion. Radiological studies revealed a huge suprasellar tumor encasing all the major cerebral vessels. Craniotomy disclosed a hemorrhagic tumor poorly demarcated from the surrounding brain which was partially removed.

[Acute relapsing disseminated encephalomyelitis (ARDEM) mimicking a temporal lobe tumor].

A case of ARDEM presenting as a temporal lobe tumor is reported. A 19-year-old male was admitted to the hospital, because of headache, right homonymous hemianopsia, and general convulsion. CT scan and MR imaging revealed localized right medial temporal enhanced mass lesion with surrounding brain edema.

Antigen-specific suppressor factors of noncytotoxic CD8+ suppressor T cells downregulate antibody responses also to unrelated antigens when the latter are presented as covalently linked adducts with the specific antigen.

We had previously shown (i) that conjugates of a given antigen A (AgA) and monomethoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG) induced AgA-specific tolerance in mice which was mediated by polyclonal CD8+ suppressor T (Ts) cells, as well as by soluble factor(s) of these cells (TsF), and (ii) that clones of nonhybridized CD8+ Ts cells could be derived from the above single cells, and monoclonal AgA-specific TsF could be released from these cloned cells. In the present study, we demonstrate that mice pretolerized by injection of AgA(mPEG)n are also unresponsive to an unrelated antigen B (AgB), or to its haptenated derivative AgB-Hpn, when AgB or AgB-Hpn is injected in the form of a covalent adduct with AgA, i.e.

Suppression of human anti-mouse idiotypic antibody responses in hu-PBL-SCID mice.

Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice were engrafted with appropriate numbers of T cells and B plus mononuclear cells, which had been fractionated from normal human peripheral blood leukocytes (hu-PBLs). Treatment of these hu-PBL-SCID mice with a tolerogenic covalent conjugate of monomethoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG) and an anti-ovalbumin, IgG1 murine monoclonal antibody, Mab-2, suppressed the human anti-mouse antibody responses to both the common (gamma 1,kappa) and the idiotypic determinants of Mab-2. Moreover, the Mab-2(mPEG)36 conjugate suppressed the immune responses of hu-PBL-SCID mice to the common and idiotypic determinants of murine monoclonal antibodies to the 2,4-dinitrophenyl residue and to human CD4, consisting also of gamma 1 and kappa chains.

Specific immunosuppression of human anti-murine antibody responses in hu-PBL-SCID mice.

Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice were reconstituted with normal human peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) and were shown to produce a human anti-mouse immunoglobulin antibody response on immunization with heat-treated murine monoclonal IgG1 antibody to ovalbumin, referred to as ha-Mab-2. The human anti-mouse antibody response was proportional tot the number of B cells and mononuclear cells transferred from a given batch of PBL. However, pretreatment of hu-PBL-SCID mice with a tolerogenic covalent conjugate of monomethoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG) and Mab-2 suppressed this response on subsequent injections of ha-Mab-2, and this suppression was shown to be antigen-specific, i.

Nontraumatic intradiploic arachnoid cysts--report of five cases.

Five cases of nontraumatic intradiploic arachnoid cysts in elderly patients are reported. All cysts were located in the occipital bone and appeared as well-demarcated radiolucent lesions. The cysts were multiple in three cases.

Molecular analysis of immunoglobulin heavy chain genes coding for idiotypic and anti-idiotypic antibodies involved in B-B cellular interaction.

We recently reported that a unique B cell clone (B19-1d), specific for a cross-reactive idiotype (CRI) on MOPC104E myeloma protein (M104E), enhances Igh-restricted CRI+ antibody production. In this paper, we report the nucleotide sequences of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable regions (VH) of both M104E and B19-1d-derived hybridoma (HB19) antibodies. The sequence data revealed that both belong to the J558 germ line VH gene subfamily.

Downregulation of helper T cells by an antigen-specific monoclonal Ts factor.

The findings of previous studies in this laboratory demonstrating that conjugates of human monoclonal (myeloma) IgG (HIgG) and monomethoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG) were able to induce in mice antigen-specific tolerance and CD8+ suppressor T (Ts) cells were confirmed in the present study. An extract (TsF) of a nonhybridized clone of Ts cells (viz., clone 23.

[Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor; a case report].

The authors report a case of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor which is a new entity of glial tumor proposed by Daumas-Duport et al. A 16-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with a 5-year history of uncontrollable complex partial seizure. CT scan showed a non-enhanced homogeneous low density area without mass effect, simulating old infarction or porencephalic cyst in the right posterior temporal lobe.

Chemotherapy of brain metastases from lung carcinoma: a controlled randomized study.

A controlled randomized study was carried out to evaluate the effects of chemotherapy in patients with brain metastases from lung carcinoma. One hundred patients were randomly divided into three groups at the time of diagnosis or after surgery for metastases. Group A received radiotherapy alone; Group B received radiotherapy and chloroethylnitrosoureas (methyl-CCNU, 100-120 mg/m2, or ACNU 80-100 mg/m2, every 6-8 weeks), and Group C received radiotherapy and a combination of chloroethylnitrosoureas and tegafur (300 mg/m2, daily).

[Marked growth of arteriovenous malformation 19 years after resection: a case report].

We report a case of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) which recurred as a giant AVM 19 years after resection. At the age of 23, the patient underwent craniotomy for a small AVM with surrounding old hematoma in the right parietal lobe. The AVM was judged to have been removed completely on postoperative angiography, while abnormal small vessels were noted retrospectively.

Evidence for idiotypic- and antiidiotypic B-B cellular interaction with the use of cloned antiidiotypic B cell line.

Immunization of BALB/c mice with MOPC104E myeloma protein induces antiidiotypic B lymphocytes that have Id-specific enhancing activity on antibody production. The B-B cell interaction was restricted to both Igh and class II MHC. However, anti-Thy-1 and C-treated splenic B cells were maintained for more than 1 y in a mixture of Con A-stimulated splenocyte culture supernatant and synthetic medium.

A gemistocytic astrocytoma demonstrated high intensity on MR images. Protein hydration layer.

A gemistocytic astrocytoma demonstrating high intensity on both T1W and T2W MR images is reported. Astrocytoma usually shows low density in T1WI. This peculiar astrocytoma showed no hemorrhage, hemosiderin deposits, melanin or iron.

Epidermal growth factor receptor in human glioma.

Distribution of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in the surgical specimen of the human glioma was studied by immunohistochemical techniques using a monoclonal anti-EGF receptor antibody. Of 11 gliomas examined, EGF receptors were detected in nine glioblastomas and in one fibrillary astrocytoma. In the majority of cells, staining was observed over the cell membrane.

[Idiopathic massive osteolysis of skull bone: a case report].

A rare case of idiopathic massive osteolysis of the skull is reported. A 49 year-old male was admitted with a diagnosis of a skull tumor. The skull film taken for evaluation of the headache, showed a large lytic lesion with irregular margin in the left parietal area.

Idiotypic and anti-idiotypic B-B cell interaction is controlled by major histocompatibility complex-restricted regulation.

We have previously reported that the immunization of BALB/c mice with MOPC-104E myeloma protein (M104E) induced idiotype-specific Ly 1-negative B lymphocytes that had an ability to enhance idiotype-positive anti-dextran antibody production. It was also shown that the cell interaction between idiotypic and anti-idiotypic B lymphocytes was observed in a class II-restricted manner. The effect of monoclonal anti-class II antibody on the B-B cell interaction is investigated in this report.

Bilateral vertebral arteriovenous fistulas and atlantoaxial dislocation associated with neurofibromatosis--case report.

The authors report a rare case involving neurofibromatosis associated with bilateral vertebral arteriovenous fistulas and atlantoaxial dislocation. Multiple neurofibromas in the craniocervical junction appeared to be the cause of the atlantoaxial dislocation in this patient, and the dislocation might have contributed to the formation of the bilateral vertebral arteriovenous fistulas. The fistulas were successfully treated by a combination of balloon embolization and surgery followed by occipitocervical fusion.

[Lateral approach to the anterior foramen magnum tumor: report of two cases].

A procedure for lateral approach to the ventral portion of the foramen magnum and the upper cervical canal is described. The patient was placed in the lateral position and a curvilinear skin incision was made from the retoroauricular area down to the lateral neck across the sternocleidomastoid muscle, and underlying muscle layers were divided. A suboccipital hemicraniotomy and hemilaminectomies were performed with an air drill.

[Distribution of epidermal growth factor receptor in glioma].

A monoclonal antibody (Amersham) to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was used for immunohistochemical study to confirm the presence of EGFR in the glioma tissue. Fresh surgical material was stored at -80 degrees C, and frozen sections were stained. Positive staining was demonstrated in 8 of 9 gliomas.