A national Cataract Register. I. Description and epidemiology.

In 1992 a Swedish National Cataract Register was instituted. More than 90% of all cataract surgeries are performed at community run eye clinics. All community run eye clinics in the country participated and 89% of all cataracts performed are included in this register.

Treatment of organophosphate poisoning in pigs: antidote administration by a new binary autoinjector.

The therapeutic effectiveness of a new binary autoinjector containing 500 mg HI-6 and 2 mg atropine sulphate was tested in anesthetized pigs poisoned by a lethal dose of soman i.v. (9 micrograms/kg per 20 min).

gp330 and RAP: the Heymann nephritis antigenic complex.

It is apparent that significant progress has been made in the characterization of gp330 in the years that have elapsed since its initial identification as the nephritogenic antigen of Heymann nephritis. However, there are still many gaps in our knowledge and we do not yet have a full picture of the molecular events leading to the formation of immune deposits in glomerular capillaries. Moreover, we still do not have direct information on the normal function(s) of gp330 and RAP and their trafficking in renal and other epithelia.

Assembly of rubella virus structural proteins into virus-like particles in transfected cells.

We have developed a stably transfected CHO cell line (CHO24S) that expresses the three structural proteins of rubella virus (RV). RV proteins C (capsid), E2, and E1 are secreted from CHO24S cells in the form of RV-like particles (RLPs) which form by budding into the cisterna of the Golgi complex. RLPs resemble RV virions in their size and morphology and have an identical buoyant density when purified on sucrose gradients.

Vision related daily life problems in patients waiting for a cataract extraction.

Problems in daily life activities caused by bad vision were studied in 150 patients with cataract before and 6 months after a cataract extraction. A relation was found between binocular visual acuity before surgery and the number of problems experienced (p < 0.001).

Immunocytochemical and biochemical characterization of the Heymann nephritis antigenic complex in rat L2 yolk sac cells.

Heymann nephritis in the rat is the most widely used model of human membranous glomerulonephritis. Glycoprotein (gp)330, a large (M(r) > 550,000) membrane-associated glycoprotein, has been identified as the main antigen in this autoimmune disease. Studies of gp330 and receptor-associated protein (RAP), its 44-kd subunit, have been restricted largely to rat kidney, as no stable cultured cell line has been available that expresses gp330.

Characterization of carbohydrates linked to rubella virus glycoprotein E2.

Rubella virus contains two envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2. The amino acid sequence for both glycoproteins is known, as is the number of N-glycosylation sites. This study has demonstrated the presence of O-linked carbohydrates bound to E2 and determined structural characteristics of the N-linked oligosaccharide chains.

Processing and intracellular transport of rubella virus structural proteins in COS cells.

Plasmids encoding rubella virus (RV) structural proteins C-E2-E1, E2-E1, E2, and E1 have been constructed in the eukaryotic expression vector pCMV5. The processing and intracellular transport of these proteins have been examined by transient expression of the cDNAs in COS cells. Compared to alphaviruses, processing of RV glycoprotein moieties occurred relatively slowly and the transport of glycoproteins E2 and E1 to the plasma membrane was inefficient.

Incorporation into nucleic acids of the antiherpes guanosine analog buciclovir, and effects on DNA and protein synthesis.

Using cells expressing herpes simplex virus (HSV) thymidine kinase, we investigated the metabolism of the acyclic antiherpes guanosine analog buciclovir, in relation to the effects of the drug on viral DNA and protein synthesis. In these cells the predominant metabolite of buciclovir was its triphosphate, as in the HSV-1 infected Vero cells investigated in parallel. Further metabolism of buciclovir led to incorporation into RNA and DNA.

Host cell-induced differences in the O-glycosylation of herpes simplex virus gC-1. II. Demonstration of cell-specific galactosyltransferase essential for formation of O-linked oligosaccharides.

By using a lectin-based screening method for cell-dependent variations of O-glycosylation of viral glycoprotein, we found that O-linked oligosaccharides of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoproteins in virus-infected mouse neuroblastoma (C1300) cells differed from those of HSV glycoproteins produced in other cells. Thus, O-linked oligosaccharides of HSV-1-specified glycoprotein C (gC-1), produced in GMK cells and a number of other cells, occurred mainly as trisaccharides or larger structures. In contrast, gC-1, produced in C1300 cells, contained O-linked monosaccharides and very few, if any, larger oligosaccharides of this class.

Host cell-induced differences in O-glycosylation of herpes simplex virus gC-1. I. Structures of nonsialylated HPA- and PNA-binding carbohydrates.

Lectins with narrow oligosaccharide specificities were established as probes to study the host cell influence on the biosynthesis of O-linked oligosaccharides of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-specified glycoprotein C (gC-1). We found that only gC-1 and no other glycoprotein bound to the peanut lectin (PNA), with main specificity for Gal(beta 1-3)GalNAc. Previously, we have shown that only gC-1 binds to the Helix pomatia lectin (HPA), with main specificity for terminal GalNAc.

Expression of an interferon-alpha gene variant in E. coli using tandemly repeated synthetic ribosomal binding sites.

A human interferon-alpha 2 gene variant was expressed in Escherichia coli under the control of the tryptophan operon promoter and of a series of synthetic partially overlapping ribosomal binding sites, which control initiation of translation. Variation in the distance between the start codon and such a set of ribosomal binding sites affected the level of interferon expression much less than previously described for single ribosomal binding sites.

Demonstration and mapping of highly carbohydrate-dependent epitopes in the herpes simplex virus type 1-specified glycoprotein C.

The carbohydrate dependence of epitopes in the herpes simplex virus type 1-specified glycoprotein C (gC) was studied using a new solid-phase assay procedure. Glycoprotein C, coated on 96-well microtitre plates, was treated with sialidase and increasing concentrations of periodate. A sequential removal of peripheral monosaccharides from the oligosaccharides of gC was ascertained by an enzyme-linked lectin assay.

Calcium-independent release of gamma-aminobutyrate from nerve processes in the developing rabbit retina.

Retinas from 3- and 10-day-old rabbits, and from young (29 days), or adult animals were used to study in parallel the development of synaptic vesicles in amacrine cells and the Ca2+ dependence of the K+-stimulated [3H]gamma-aminobutyrate release from them. Few synaptic vesicles were observed in the amacrine cell processes in retinas from the 3-day-old rabbits. The number of vesicles significantly increased between 3 and 10 days and increased further between day 10 and the adult animal.

Characterization of a herpes simplex virus type 2-specified glycoprotein with affinity for N-acetylgalactosamine-specific lectins and its identification as g92K or gG.

Extracts from herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)-infected cells were subjected to affinity chromatography with gel-bound Helix pomatia lectin (HPA). Only one HSV-2-specified glycoprotein was isolated by this procedure and the glycoprotein had an apparent molecular weight of 130 000 (130K). The HPA-binding glycoprotein was genetically mapped, using HSV-1 X HSV-2 intertypic recombinants into the short component of the HSV-2 genome.

Interleukin-2 versus phorbol-ester-induced cellular events in normal T-lymphocytes.

Activation of primary T-lymphocytes (T-cells) is dependent on interactions with the T3/T-cell antigen receptor complex which results in expression of cell surface receptors for the lymphocytotrophic growth factor interleukin-2 (IL-2). In the present communication we have compared the cellular responses to phorbol ester with IL-2-induced cellular responses. Thus, the effect of respective ligand on T-cell growth, the level of expression and composition of two distinct affinity classes of IL-2 receptors, and phosphorylation of an 80,000 mol.

The antiherpes drug (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (BVdU) interferes with formation of N-linked and of O-linked oligosaccharides of the herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein C.

In HSV-1 infected cell the antiherpes drug (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (BVdU) exerted at least three different effects on glycosylation of glycoprotein gC. First, an overall decrease of protein glycosylation occurred due to inhibition of synthesis of the lipid-linked oligosaccharides, precursors of N-linked oligosaccharides of gC. Second, an inhibition of processing of N-linked oligosaccharides occurred after the acquisition of endo H-resistance, and possibly due to inhibition of galactose incorporation.

Different populations of herpes simplex virus glycoprotein C discriminated by the carbohydrate-binding characteristics of N-acetylgalactosamine specific lectins (soybean and Helix pomatia). Brief report.

From the herpes simplex virus specified glycoprotein C two fractions were isolated with affinity either for Helix pomatia lectin (HPA) or soybean lectin (SBA). The data indicated that HPA and SBA, despite their mutual main specificity for N-acetylgalactosamine, recognize structurally different gC populations.

Glycoprotein C of herpes simplex virus type 1: characterization of O-linked oligosaccharides.

In contrast to other viral glycoproteins, the herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoprotein C(gC) binds to the N-acetylgalactosamine-specific Helix pomatia lectin (HPA). In the present paper gC was purified by affinity chromatography with monospecific antibodies and the purified glycoprotein was subjected to protease digestion. HPA-binding protease-resistant glycopeptides were isolated by lectin affinity chromatography.

330 trabeculectomies. A long time study (3-5 1/2 years).

281 eyes out of 330 were followed during 3 to 5 1/2 years after trabeculectomy. 32 eyes were drop-outs due to death and 17 eyes due to inability to participate in the examination program. The mean age at time of surgery was 66 years.

Computer densitometry of retinal nerve fibre atrophy. A pilot study.

Lack of nerve fibre layer opacity and a granular appearance of the retina are important funduscopic signs in optic atrophy. In this pilot study serially obtained fundus photographs from a case with developing optic atrophy where subjected to computer densitometry. A monotonic increase in local density variations was found during evolution of optic atrophy.

Anorexia nervosa and polymorphonuclear (PMN) granulocyte reactions.

10 patients with anorexia nervosa were compared with controls with normal weight, regarding their peripheral blood polymorphonuclear (PMN) granulocyte reactions. The anorexia patients showed a statistically significant decrease in PMN bactericidal capacity and PMN adherence. The mean chemotaxis did not differ, but in two of the anorexia patients chemotaxis was almost absent.

Atrophy of optic nerve fibres in compression of the chiasm. Observer variation in assessment of atrophy.

Different observers' assessment of atrophy according to a semi-quantitative method was analysed. Five observers scored the degree of atrophy on magnified black-and-white fundus photographs from normal controls and from patients with chiasmal lesions of different severity. Four of the five examiners achieved a reasonably uniform assessment of atrophy.