Clinical significance of antibodies to nonstructural and core proteins of hepatitis C virus in posttransfusion hepatitis patients during long-term follow-up.

To clarify the long-term clinical significance, antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) was examined using core (p22) and nonstructural (C100-3) protein assays in sera of 18 patients with non-A,non-B posttransfusion hepatitis (PTH-NANB) who were selected retrospectively. Each patient had been followed for more than 5 years after the development of the disease. They were divided into three groups according to clinical outcome: acute hepatitis that resolved within 1 year, group 1 (n = 3); chronic hepatitis that resolved within 1-4 years, group 2 (n = 4); and chronic hepatitis that persisted for 5 years or longer, group 3 (n = 11).

Identification of Tetrahymena 14-nm filament-associated protein as elongation factor 1 alpha.

Tetrahymena 14-nm filament-forming protein has dual functions as a citrate synthase in mitochondria and as a cytoskeletal protein involved in oral morphogenesis and in pronuclear behavior during conjugation. By immunoblotting using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies following two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, we demonstrated that the 14-nm filament protein fraction contained two 49-kDa proteins whose isoelectric points were 8.0 and 9.

A new tumor-associated antigen useful for serodiagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, defined by monoclonal antibody KM-2.

After immunization of mice with the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line PLC/PRF/5, we produced monoclonal antibody KM-2, which allowed us to characterize a new HCC-associated antigen (KM-2 antigen) and to develop a sandwich-type radioimmunoassay. The KM-2 antigen was strongly expressed on the cell surface of HCC cell lines. Immunofluorescence staining of frozen sections of different tissues and tumors confirmed its specific expression on the cell surface of a group of HCC.

[Thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging during adenosine-induced coronary vasodilation in patients with ischemic heart disease].

201Tl myocardial perfusion imaging during adenosine infusion was performed in consecutive 55 patients with suspected coronary artery disease. Adenosine was infused intravenously at a rate of 0.14 mg/kg/min for 6 minutes and a dose of 111 MBq of 201Tl was administered in a separate vein at the end of third minute of infusion.

Expression of the amino-terminal half of the NS1 region of the hepatitis C virus genome and detection of an antibody to the expressed protein in patients with liver diseases.

A cDNA fragment encompassing the 5'-terminal half of the NS1 region of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome was cloned. The cDNA was expressed in insect cells using a recombinant baculovirus, and a protein band of approximately 21K was identified by immunoblotting with a serum sample from a patient with chronic hepatitis C. Antibody to the protein was detected in sera from 13.

An improved method for preparing microvascular corrosion casts of rat embryos.

This paper presents an improved method for preparing microvascular corrosion casts of rat embryos (day 16.5-21.5).

Serological response and detection of viraemia in acute hepatitis C virus infection.

The serological response during acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in sequential serum samples from 13 haemophiliacs following their first exposure to factor VIII concentrates contaminated with HCV. The commercially available C100-3 peptide and a new 22 kDa recombinant protein (p22) encoded by the nucleocapsid region of the viral genome were used for antibody detection, whilst a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used for the detection of viraemia. In addition, eight sporadic cases of acute HCV infection were studied.

Improved serodiagnosis of non-A, non-B hepatitis by an assay detecting antibody to hepatitis C virus core antigen.

We examined sequential serum samples from 12 patients with well-characterized posttransfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis who had an acute, resolving self-limited type of clinical course for the presence of antibody to the hepatitis C virus nucleocapsid (core) protein (p22) expressed by a recombinant baculovirus. These sera were simultaneously examined for antibody to the hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein (C100-3) that is presently used for blood screening worldwide. In three patients, both anti-p22 and anti-C100-3 antibodies were detected, but anti-p22 was detected much earlier.

Variable cross-reactivity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide-code-specific monoclonal antibodies and its possible relationship with serotype.

The core region of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was analysed by four LPS-core-specific human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs; FK-2E7, MH-4H7, OM-1D6 and NM-3G8). Reactivity of these mAbs to about 180 P. aeruginosa strains was tested.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus nucleocapsid antibodies in patients with cryptogenic chronic liver disease.

The serological responses to two different hepatitis C virus antigens were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in a variety of chronic liver diseases and in healthy blood donors. The study population comprised 97 cases of cryptogenic chronic liver disease (40% with a history suggestive of parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis and 60% without such a history), 87 cases of other well-characterized chronic liver diseases and 96 voluntary blood donors. The commercially available C100-3 assay and a new assay utilizing a 22 kD recombinant protein (c22) from the nucleocapsid region of the virus were used for antibody detection.

Heterogeneous myocardial distribution of iodine-123 15-(p-iodophenyl)-3-R,S-methylpentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

IT has been proposed that iodine-123 15-(p-iodophenyl)-3-R,S-methylpentadecanoic acid (123I-BMIPP) is an agent for myocardial fatty acid metabolism in animal models. The aim of the present study was to determine whether alterations in fatty acid uptake and/or utilization in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) could be detected by 123I-BMIPP. Myocardial imaging with 123I-BMIPP and thallium-201 (201Tl) was performed in 14 fasted patients.

Identification of epitopes associated with different biological activities on the glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus by use of monoclonal antibodies.

Thirteen monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to the glycoprotein (G) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) serotype Indiana were prepared and examined for their effects on various biological activities of VSV, including in vitro infection, hemagglutination, adsorption to cells, and mediation of cell fusion. Competitive binding assays with these MAbs revealed the presence of at least seven distinct antigenic determinants (epitopes) on the G protein. In some cases, overlappings among epitopes to various degrees were observed as partial inhibition or binding enhancement.

Simultaneous assessment of left ventricular wall motion and myocardial perfusion at rest and during exercise by technetium-99m methoxy isobutyl isonitrile.

First-pass radionuclide ventriculography followed by myocardial SPECT with technetium-99m methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (Tc-99m MIBI) was performed on 12 patients with suspected coronary artery disease at rest and during exercise. Left ventricular wall motion and myocardial perfusion were assessed simultaneously and compared on a segment-by-segment basis. Segmental agreement between Tc-99m MIBI and Tl-201 with regard to the presence of perfusion defects was 95% (57/60) at rest and 93% (37/40) during exercise.

Role of the gag and pol genes of human immunodeficiency virus in the morphogenesis and maturation of retrovirus-like particles expressed by recombinant vaccinia virus: an ultrastructural study.

An ultrastructural study was performed on rabbit epithelial RK-13 cells and CD4+ human T lymphocyte lines infected with various recombinant vaccinia viruses (RVVs) expressing genes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): the mature p17 or p24 gag domain alone, the entire or truncated gag gene, the reverse transcriptase domain, or the gag-pol genes with a frameshift mutation. Cells infected with RVVs that produced the gag polyprotein with a predicted Mr of more than 48K showed budding and release of HIV-like particles into the extracellular space. These particles were not observed in cells expressing a truncated gag gene (p17 and p24 regions).

Functional recovery of hibernating myocardium after coronary bypass surgery: does it coincide with improvement in perfusion?

To determine the relationship between functional recovery and improvement in perfusion after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), 49 patients were studied. Radionuclide angiography was performed before, 1 month after, and 6 to 12 months after CABG to evaluate regional wall motion. Exercise thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging was done before and 1 month after CABG to assess regional perfusion.

Vesicular stomatitis virus-mediated cell fusion subsequent to virus adsorption at different pH values.

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-mediated cell fusion from without can be induced by transient exposure to low pH, subsequent to adsorption of VSV at neutral pH. To study the mechanism of VSV-induced cell fusion, we examined the effect of pH condition at virus adsorption on acid-inducible VSV-mediated cell fusion. Although the binding of VSV to BHK-21 cells was most efficient under acidic condition (pH 5.

Serodiagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with an HCV core protein molecularly expressed by a recombinant baculovirus.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for serological diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, using HCV core protein (p22) synthesized by a recombinant baculovirus. Among 58 clinically well-defined chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) patients, 49 (84.5%) were positive for p22 antibody (anti-p22), whereas 42 (72.

Preferential generation of monoclonal IgG-producing hybridomas by use of vesicular stomatitis virus-mediated cell fusion.

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-mediated cell fusion was recently proposed as an alternative fusion technique to generate monoclonal antibody (MAb)-producing hybridomas. In order to further examine this technique, we made direct comparative experiments among VSV, Sendai virus (SV) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated cell fusion in generating MAb-producing hybridomas. The distribution of immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes secreted by the hybridomas obtained, as well as hybridoma yield and specific hybridoma yield, was compared.

Production of monoclonal antibodies by the use of pH-dependent vesicular stomatitis virus-mediated cell fusion.

To explore an alternative fusion method to generate monoclonal antibody (MAb)-producing hybridomas, we have tested whether pH-dependent vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-mediated cell fusion is applicable for generation of hybridomas. VSV-mediated cell fusion induced by acid treatment resulted in several specific MAb-producing hybridomas, almost all of which stably produced MAbs. This method is quite simple and offers a potential alternative to other fusion methods.