Surface heterogeneity of tumor cells and changes upon ionizing radiation.

Heterogeneous distribution of surface domains is a characteristic feature of the tumor cell surface and the distribution differs from that of normal cells. During the malignant transformation the heterogeneity may change or disappear. Cell lines with various metastasizing capacities show different distributions of membrane domains or other differences in membrane or surface organization.

Serine and D-serine position-1 substituted angiotensin II analogues. Synthesis using new 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl active esters and biological activities.

[Ser1]- (32), [D-Ser1]-(29), [Ser1, Leu8]-(31), and [D-Ser1, Leu8] angiotensin II (30) were synthesized by a repetitive method in solution using new protected amino acid 2,3,5,6- tetrafluorophenyl active esters. 32 and 29 were agonists, and 31 and 30 were specific antagonists to angiotensin II (AII) receptors determined by the rabbit aortic strip (RAS) and rat blood pressure (RBP) assays. It was found that the hydroxymethyl side chains of serine and D-serine in position-1 has an important influence on the agonistic activity of the analogues.

Combined zidovudine and interferon-alpha therapy in patients with Kaposi sarcoma and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Study Objective: To evaluate the toxicity and potential clinical efficacy of combined therapy with zidovudine and interferon-alpha for patients with Kaposi sarcoma and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Design: Nonrandomized, open trial study.

Setting: Outpatient clinic of a government referral-based research hospital.

The cardiovascular response of normal humans to the administration of endotoxin.

Marked abnormalities in cardiovascular function accompany septic shock, and bacterial endotoxin is believed to be one of the principal mediators of these abnormalities. To evaluate the cardiovascular effects of endotoxemia in humans, we measured hemodynamic variables in nine normal subjects given an intravenous bolus dose of endotoxin (Escherichia coli, 4 ng per kilogram of body weight) and in six normal subjects given a bolus dose of saline, before and three hours after administration. All the subjects then underwent volume loading with normal saline (mean, 2217 ml) during the fourth and fifth hours after administration of the bolus, and the measurements were repeated.

CD4 counts as predictors of opportunistic pneumonias in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Study Objective: To determine if circulating CD4+ lymphocyte counts are predictive of specific infectious or neoplastic processes causing pulmonary dysfunction.

Design: Retrospective, consecutive sample study.

Setting: Referral-based clinic and wards.

Characterization of de novo folate synthesis in Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii: potential for screening therapeutic agents.

Drug therapy studies imply that Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii possess the enzymes necessary for de novo folate synthesis. To verify this, incorporation of [3H]paraaminobenzoic acid [( 3H]PABA) into reduced folates by P. carinii and T.

Zidovudine in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and Kaposi sarcoma. A phase II randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Study Objective: To evaluate the toxicity, effects on immune function, antitumor effects, antiretroviral effects, and pharmacokinetics of zidovudine therapy in patients with early human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and Kaposi sarcoma.

Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Setting: National Institutes of Health, a referral-based research institution (single site).

Concepts of health and disease.

The paper differentiates between three levels of the notion of health - biological health, medical health, and social health - and underlines the cultural concept of health and disease, its dependence on religion, ideology, and the general view of life.

Haloperidol reductase in human and guinea pig livers.

A GC assay method for haloperidol reductase was developed. Haloperidol reductase was present in guinea pig liver cytosol as well as in the microsomes, while in human liver only the cytosol exhibited the activity. The reductase activity was NADPH dependent for both species.

[Ethical questions on randomized controlled clinical trials].

RCT, the new paradigm of modern medicine, was developed in the 40-s of this century and is considered to be the most up-to-date experimental method of our time in comparing the efficacy and value of various prophylactic and therapeutic strategies. Its use, however, poses several ethical questions. The most important of them are: Is this form of experimentation ethical at all? Is it ethically justified to continue the RCT to the stage to reach the statistically significant result between the groups? Is it ethical to assign the patients randomly to the various therapeutic strategies? What is the necessary amount and type of information which is due to the patient? The article endeavours to help to answer these questions.

[Demonstration of antibodies against gliadin using an immunofluorescence method in childhood celiac disease].

IgA and IgG type antibodies against gliadin were demonstrated in 396 serum samples of 350 patients with immunofluorescence method. The procedure was used in cases of clinically suspected celiac disease and for the control of the diet of patients with diagnosed celiac disease. The sensitivity of the patient material was 83% in the case of antibodies against IgA and 85% with antibodies against IgG.

Monokine regulation of human immunodeficiency virus-1 expression in a chronically infected human T cell clone.

A T cell clone (ACH-2) derived from T cells infected with HIV-1 was found to produce HIV-1 in response to stimulation with a monokine-enriched supernatant prepared by culturing human monocyte/macrophages with bacterial LPS (LPS-MO SN). Monokine induction of ACH-2 cells resulted in augmented virus production reflected by an increase in reverse transcriptase activity and in the synthesis of all major viral proteins. Examination of the cells by indirect immunofluorescence revealed that 10 to 15% of uninduced cells constitutively expressed HIV proteins, whereas 100% showed positive immunofluorescence in response to LPS-MO SN.

Gas-gangrene following arthroscopic surgery.

An arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament repair was followed by gas-gangrene and the development of a compartment syndrome. Treatment consisted of extensive fasciotomy, debridement, and antibiotic therapy with penicillin G, cefotiam, and metronidazole. The patient was also treated with five sessions of hyperbaric oxygen in a pressure chamber for a duration of 2 h per session.

Quantitative aspects of cellular autophagocytosis. Morphometric and cell fractionation studies.

The mode of action of agents and treatments known to induce the appearance of autophagic vacuoles (AV) were studied in mouse liver, pancreatic and seminal vesicle cells by morphometric evaluation of the time-dependent changes in the volume fraction of AVs following suppression of sequestration by cycloheximide. Rapid decrease of the AV compartment was observed in cells of animals pretreated with agents including Triton X-100, pilocarpine, leupeptin and estron acetate. The half-life of AVs, estimated from the decay, range between 5.

Combined effects of fasting and vinblastine treatment on serum insulin level, the size of autophagic-lysosomal compartment, protein content and lysosomal enzyme activities of liver and exocrine pancreatic cells of the mouse.

1. The volume fraction of autophagic vacuoles in liver parenchymal and exocrine pancreatic cells was smallest and the serum insulin level highest in the 24 hr prestarved mouse immediately after 3 hr feeding period. 2.

Monoclonal antibodies to Pneumocystis carinii: identification of specific antigens and characterization of antigenic differences between rat and human isolates.

To increase understanding of the antigenic structure of Pneumocystis carinii, we developed monoclonal antibodies to rat and human P. carinii. The specificity of the antibodies was demonstrated by immunofluorescence and immunoblot studies.

Use of a monoclonal antibody to detect Pneumocystis carinii in induced sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid by immunoperoxidase staining.

We evaluated the utility of a monoclonal antibody that recognizes Pneumocystis carinii as a diagnostic tool in specimens of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and sputum from patients in whom a diagnosis of P carinii pneumonia was being considered. In addition to routine processing for diagnosis by morphologic recognition of P carinii on a Diff-Quik-stained specimen, the specimen was reacted with a monoclonal antibody to P carinii and visualized in an avidin-biotin horseradish peroxidase technique. Of 50 specimens evaluated, there was 94% agreement between results of conventional Diff-Quik staining and immunoperoxidase staining.

Anti-retroviral effects of interferon-alpha in AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma.

21 patients with AIDS and Kaposi's sarcoma were enrolled in an open therapeutic trial to determine the in vivo anti-retroviral activity of recombinant interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). 8 (38%) showed a complete or partial anti-tumour response. The mean pretreatment CD4 count for the responders was 399 cells/microliter vs 154 cells/microliter for the non-responders.

Efficacy of trimetrexate, a potent lipid-soluble antifolate, in the treatment of rodent Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

Trimetrexate is a lipid-soluble antifolate that has been shown in vitro to be a much more potent inhibitor of Pneumocystis carinii dihydrofolate reductase than the conventionally used inhibitor trimethoprim. To evaluate the in vivo efficacy of trimetrexate, steroid-treated rats which spontaneously develop P. carinii pneumonia were used.