Estimation of hemopoietic potential by CFU-c and bone marrow scan in cancer patients.

The concentration of granulocyte-macrophage colonies in culture (CFU-c) in bone marrow cells was estimated, and bone marrow radionuclide scans were performed in a group of 15 cancer patients prior to bone marrow harvest for autologous transplantation. Preharvest CFU-c counts on iliac-crest bone marrow aspirates correlated very well with CFU-c counts from fresh and frozen-thawed bone marrows. Technetium-99m-sulfur colloid radionuclide scans showed that the distribution of total-body bone marrow and increased peripheral radionuclide uptake correlated with higher preharvest and harvest CFU-c counts.

Estrogen receptor analysis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Estrogen receptor (ER) determinations were performed on cytosol preparations of Ficoll-Hypaque density separated mononuclear cells from 11 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The presence of ER was noted in 8 of 11 specimens (73%). ER ranged from 431 fmole/mg to 4.

Ultrasound identification of impalpable testicle tumor.

We describe an ultrasound technique that accurately detected an occult testicular primary in a young man with a large retroperitoneal seminoma. A simple water bath system and commonly available ultrasound equipment are used to provide high resolution scans and excellent patient acceptance.

Limited digestion of guinea pig myelin basic protein and its carboxy-terminal fragment (residues 89-169) with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease.

Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease has been reported to have a strict specificity for cleavage of the Glu-X bond in ammonium bicarbonate (pH 7.9). With myelin basic protein and one of its major peptic fragments (residues 89-169) as substrates, selective cleavage of Asp(32)-Thr(33), Asp(37)-Ser(38), and Glu(118-Gly(119) bonds was observed, as well as the unusual cleavage of the Gly(127)-Gly(128) bond.

Failure of serum from recovered rats to prevent enhanced adoptive transfer of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

The rat is unique among species used for research on experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) because of the spontaneous recovery which occurs routinely after severe, almost fatal disease. The mechanism of recovery has never been adequately explained although it has been suggested that suppressor cells might play a role in this phenomenon. In another immune system (contact sensitivity) anti-idiotypic antibodies obtained during the recovery phase have been shown to have a protective effect.

Transfer of allergic encephalomyelitis with spleen cells from donors sensitized with myelin basic protein in incomplete Freund's adjuvant.

Myelin basic protein (BP) emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (BP/IFA) is relatively nonencephalitogenic in Lewis rats. Furthermore, repeated injections of BP/IFA prevent subsequent induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) by BP emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant (BP/CFA). In spite of this, spleen cells from rats injected repeatedly with BP/IFA transfer EAE after they are cultured with BP almost as effectively as BP/CFA spleen cells.

Suppression of acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in guinea pigs by prior transfer of suboptimal numbers of EAE-effector cells: induction of chronic EAE in whole tissue-sensitized guinea pigs.

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in strain 13 guinea pigs is an acute monophasic disease induced with myelin basic protein (BP) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). We report here that EAE can be effectively suppressed by transfer of a limited number of EAE-effector cells. Lymph node cells (LNC) from donors sensitized with BP/CFA are activated in vitro by incubation with BP and strain 2 peritoneal exudate cells (PEC).

Species restriction of a monoclonal antibody reacting with residues 130 to 137 in encephalitogenic myelin basic protein.

A monoclonal antibody (immunoglobulin G1) has been produced that reacts against myelin basic protein present in or extracted from the brains of many mammals-with certain important exceptions. Because of known species differences in amino acid sequences of basic protein and of certain peptide fragments, the binding site for this particular antibody appeared likely to include residues 130 to 137. Confirmation of this hypothesis was obtained by amino acid composition of the major immunoreactive peptides produced by thermolysin digestion of human basic protein and isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Detection of recurrent breast cancer.

Most clinicians attempt to identify and treat recurrent breast cancer at the earliest sign of relapse. In an effort to better define the usefulness of commonly used clinical and laboratory tools in evaluating patients after mastectomy, we retrospectively analyzed 120 cases and reviewed the literature. One hundred fifteen sites of metastatic disease were identified in 55 patients, with bone, lung, liver, and skin most common.

Enhanced transfer of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis with Lewis rat lymph node cells.

Lewis rat lymph node cells (LNC) are greatly enhanced in their ability to transfer experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) after culture with myelin basic protein (BP). As few as 10(6) LNC transfer disease after culture with antigen. In contrast to spleen cells, enhanced transfer with LNC is not seen after culture with concanavalin A.

A comparison of demyelinating and myelination-inhibiting factor induction by whole peripheral nerve tissue and P2 protein.

Sera from rabbits sensitized with whole bovine spinal roots demyelinated and inhibited myelination in both peripheral and central nervous system tissue cultures. Antisera directed against the peripheral nerve myelin basic protein, P2, demonstrated no antimyelin activity in vitro. These results suggest that demyelinating and myelination-inhibiting factors are directed against some peripheral nerve component(s) other than the P2 protein.

A neurochemical and immunocytochemical study of P2 protein in human and bovine nervous systems.

The anatomical distribution of P2 protein was studied in human autopsy tissue. Spinal cord (SC) and peripheral nerve (PN) were stained by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method with antisera to bovine P2, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and myelin basic protein (BP). P2 antiserum did not stain all of the myelin in the PN.

Bone marrow necrosis.

Extensive bone marrow necrosis is an unusual histologic finding most commonly identified after autopsy. We describe a patient with poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma who manifested pancytopenia and marrow necrosis. Bone marrow scanning with 99mTc-sulfur-minicolloid provided a noninvasive means to assess the extent of marrow damage.

Nerve conduction studies in patients treated with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II): a preliminary report.

We performed serial histories, physical examinations, and nerve conduction studies on seven cancer patients who were treated with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II). Total cumulative doses ranged from 200 to 350 mg/m2. In nerve conduction studies, three of seven patients showed subclinical, predominantly sensory, changes compatible with a peripheral neuropathy.

Enhanced transfer of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis with strain 13 guinea pig lymph node cells: requirement for culture with specific antigen and allogeneic peritoneal exudate cells.

Previously, we reported that transfer of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) with sensitized peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) in strain 13 guinea pigs is markedly enhanced if the cells are first cultured with specific antigen, myelin basic protein (BP). These cells also undergo considerable antigen-specific proliferation. In contrast, the data reported here show that lymph node cells (LNC) from sensitized animals display neither enhanced transfer nor antigen-specific proliferation after culture with BP.

Hemostatic function in cancer patients.

We performed coagulation profiles including a complete blood count (CBC), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and quantitation of fibrinogen, antithrombin III (AT III), plasminogen, and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) on 73 cancer patients. All had solid tumors with clinically documented metastases. Eleven patients had strong clinical and laboratory evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).