Immunofluorescence analysis of immunoglobulin bearing lymphocytes in the Indian fruit bat: Pteropus giganteus.

The immunologic cell types of the Indian fruit bat, P. giganteus, were characterized on the basis of cell surface Ig markers. Rabbit anti-rat IgM and IgG demonstrated IgM or IgG bearing cells in the nylon wool adherent lymphocyte population, thereby suggesting their equivalence to the B cells of recently evolved mammals including man.

Renal mucormycosis: computerized tomographic findings and their diagnostic significance.

Isolated renal involvement by mucormycosis has been reported rarely in immunocompromised individuals. We describe four patients with mucormycosis confined to the kidneys, three of whom did not exhibit any predisposing factors. Only one patient had acute viral hepatitis with fulminant hepatic failure as the preceding disease.

Delta virus infection in cirrhotics in a north Indian hospital.

Forty patients of HBV related cirrhosis of the liver were studied for the presence of delta infection and subsequently the clinical features, course and outcome of these delta infected cases was compared with those of delta uninfected cases. Out of 40 patients studied, only four patients (10%) were reactive for anti-delta antibodies. The incidence of delta infection was common in the younger age group (31.

Central histaminergic involvement during stress in rats.

Effects of some drugs modulating central histaminergic (HA) transmission were evaluated on restraint stress (RS)-induced gastric ulcerogenesis, plasma corticosterone and immune responses in rats. RS for (i) 6 hr or (ii) 24 hr at room temperature, and (iii) 3 hr at 4 degrees C (CRS) all induced gastric mucosal erosions and elevated plasma corticosterone levels, the effects with the latter two RS procedures being most consistent. Pretreatment of rats with neuronal HA depletor, alpha-FMH (100 mg/kg, ip) attenuated both ulcer severity and corticosterone response, during both 24 hr RS and CRS.

Effects of some imidazoles on cellular immune responses--an experimental study.

Effects of some imidazole compounds were studied on two animal models of cellular immune responses. Metronidazole in doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg and cimetidine 200mg/kg (ip), significantly suppressed the delayed type of hypersensitivity reaction, as evidenced by the footpad thickness method in mice. No significant alteration in the response could be observed however, in tinidazole treated groups.

Role of histaminergic mechanisms in the regulation of some stress responses in rats.

The involvement of histaminergic mechanisms in the regulation of some stress responses was studied in rats. The brain neuronal histamine (HA) depletor, alpha-fluoromethyl histidine (alpha-FMH), at doses (50 or 100 mg/kg) which markedly lower brain HA, significantly attenuated the gastric ulcer formation and the elevation in plasma corticosterone in response to cold restraint stress (CRS). alpha-FMH also appreciably reduced gastric mucosal HA content.

Analysis of immunocompetent cells in the bat, Pteropus giganteus: isolation and scanning electron microscopic characterization.

Immunocompetent cells of the Indian fruit bat (P. giganteus) were characterized by differential surface adhesiveness and surface topography. We observed three cell types: (1) plastic adherent with pseudopodia; (2) nylon wool adherent with small microvilli and pits; and (3) a nylon wool nonadherent with comparatively smooth surfaces.

Retino-cephalic vascular malformation.

Unilateral vascular malformation of the retina, brain and parts of the face constitute a rare syndrome named after Wyburn-Mason or as Bonnet-Dechaume-Blanc syndrome. We report this case because of its rarity.

Fetal echocardiography--norms for M-mode measurements.

M-mode echocardiography was performed in 110 normal fetuses to study the norms for various cardiac parameters at varying gestational ages. The measurements were done in normal pregnancies with gestation varying from 14-38 weeks. The parameters studied were aortic root diameter, left atrial and right ventricular outflow tract dimensions, left and right ventricular cavity dimensions, and left ventricular, septal and right ventricular wall thickness.

Incapacitation of fibrosarcoma cell by polyclonally activated murine T cell.

A piece of lymph node containing polyclonally-activated lymphocytes when transplanted in the anterior eye chamber of mouse along with solid piece of fibrosarcoma from syngeneic Swiss mice, dramatically inhibited the tumour-induced-vasodilatation and neo-vascularization. If the tumour explants were incubated in vitro with activated lymphocytes prior to transplantation, such angiogenic reactions was significantly reduced. These explants were incapable of incorporating radioactive thymidine in vitro.

An investigation into the role of antigen presenting cells in immunoglobulin synthesis in vitro.

Controversy surrounds the respective roles of the monocyte-macrophage series of cells and dendritic (veiled) cells (DC) in the processes involved in antigen presentation. To try to examine this question we have investigated the influence of these accessory cell populations in vitro on pokeweed mitogen (PWM) driven IgG synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM). Macrophages and dendritic cells obtained by Percoll and hypertonic metrizamide density gradient centrifugation respectively were cultured with lymphocytes and their role in inducing IgG synthesis examined.

Zinc release from irradiated yeast alcohol dehydrogenase.

The release of Zn2+ from gamma-irradiated yeast alcohol dehydrogenase has been measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. Radiolysis is accompanied by release of Zn2+ at a rate which is dependent on the nature of the free radicals available for reaction. Hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen atoms readily cause zinc release with G values of 0.

Analysis of suppressor factor in delayed immune responses of a bat, Pteropus giganteus.

Bat spleen and mesenteric lymph node cell cultures treated with varying doses of LPS showed significant blastogenic and DNA synthetic responses between 72-96h. Peak responses were not different when the cell culture medium was supplemented either with autologous serum or heterologous serum indicating the absence of any significant suppressor factor in autologous bat serum. In contrast, blastogenesis and DNA synthesis peaks appeared early, at 48h, in lymphocytes depleted of suppressor T cells by pretreatment with cyclophosphamide.