Sjögren's syndrome: a critical review of clinical management.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is greatly under recognized in clinical practice, primarily for 2 reasons: its presentations are variable and often nonspecific and there are still no clear, uniform diagnostic criteria for this clinical entity. The prevalence, natural history, pathogenesis, and clinical taxonomy of SS are still not well understood. Potential criteria include both subjective symptoms and objective criteria such as measurements of salivary and tear flow, minor salivary gland biopsy, and an increasing variety of serological markers.

Pilocarpine tablets for the treatment of dry mouth and dry eye symptoms in patients with Sjögren syndrome: a randomized, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose, multicenter trial. P92-01 Study Group.

Background: Patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS) experience slowly progressive infiltration of lacrimal and salivary glands by mononuclear cells. This leads to diminished secretions, with resultant symptoms of xerostomia and xerophthalmia. Although pilocarpine hydrochloride tablets are currently indicated for the treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia, their effects on dry mouth or dry eyes in patients with SS are unclear.

Preclinical antitumor activity of 6-hydroxymethylacylfulvene, a semisynthetic derivative of the mushroom toxin illudin S.

6-Hydroxymethylacylfulvene (HMAF; MGI 114) is a novel semisynthetic antitumor agent derived from the sesquiterpene mushroom toxin illudin S. In vitro cytotoxicity determinations produced IC50 concentrations (concentrations required for 50% inhibition of growth) ranging from 160 nM in sensitive MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma cells to 17 microM in relatively insensitive murine B16 melanoma cells. In vivo antitumor activity was consistent with in vitro sensitivity.

Oral pilocarpine for radiation-induced xerostomia: integrated efficacy and safety results from two prospective randomized clinical trials.

Purpose: Pilocarpine hydrochloride administered in either a fixed-dose or in a dose-titration protocol three times a day for 12 weeks was evaluated for its ability to relieve symptoms of postradiation xerostomia and to improve saliva production. The studies were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trials. A total of 369 patients who had received at least 40 Gy of radiation to the head and neck with clinically significant xerostomia were enrolled in the two studies.

Oral pilocarpine for post-irradiation xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancer.

Background And Methods: We evaluated pilocarpine hydrochloride for the treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia, a common complication of irradiation of the head and neck. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken to test the safety and efficacy of pilocarpine, particularly in reversing the decrease in the production of saliva and other manifestations of xerostomia. Patients received either placebo or pilocarpine (5 mg or 10 mg orally three times a day) for 12 weeks and were evaluated at base line and every 4 weeks.

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-titration study of oral pilocarpine for treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy and safety of pilocarpine hydrochloride for symptomatic relief of postradiation xerostomia symptoms and for saliva production in patients with head and neck cancer.

Patients And Methods: One hundred sixty-two head and neck cancer patients who had received at least 40 Gy of radiation (117 patients had received > 60 Gy) with clinically significant xerostomia were enrolled onto a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical investigation. Patients received 2.

Immunization against bovine papillomavirus infection.

The two large open reading frames denoted L1 and L2 in the non-transforming region of the bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) genome have been molecularly cloned to expression in Escherichia coli. Antisera against the E. coli-derived L1 and L2 protein reacted with BPV-1 in both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunoprecipitation reactions.

Adjuvant enhancement of humoral immune response to chemically inactivated bovine viral diarrhea virus.

Potentiation of the antibody response to inactivated bovine viral diarrhea virus by immunological adjuvants was studied in guinea pigs and cattle. The inactivated bovine viral diarrhea virus alone was demonstrated to be a weak immunogen. Addition of either 2 mg per mL diethylaminoethyl-dextran or 5% alhydrogel to inactivated bovine viral diarrhea virus did not or only slightly stimulated the antibody response; the combined adjuvants induced a significantly higher titer.

Development and characterization of a monoclonal antibody (Aby 6C6) that distinguishes medullary from cortical thymocytes.

A hybridoma (6C6) producing antibodies with specificities to canine thymocyte surface antigens was produced using standard fusion techniques. The Aby 6C6 has affinity for medullary thymocytes, bone marrow cells, T- and B-peripheral lymphocytes, and monocytes. The Aby 6C6 appears to have 2 heavy chains with different molecular weights, an isoelectric focusing pattern consistent with monoclonality, and is an immunoglobulin G2b antibody with a kappa light chain.

Development and characterization of a hybridoma-derived antibody (Aby 1A1) with specificity to canine thymocytes and peripheral T lymphocytes.

A hybridoma (1A1)-producing antibody with reactivity to canine T-lymphocyte surface antigens was produced, using standard fusion techniques. Antibody secreted from this hybridoma was tested for specific anti-canine lymphocyte activity, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, an indirect-fluorescent antibody assay, and cytotoxicity assay. Antibody 1A1 reacted with canine T lymphocytes, but not with B lymphocytes, and with brain tissue and connective tissue.

Protection of calves against fatal enteric colibacillosis by orally administered Escherichia coli K99-specific monoclonal antibody.

A monoclonal antibody (MCA) to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K99 antigen agglutinated K99+ enterotoxigenic E. coli strains B44 (O9:K30;K99;F41:H-) and B41 (O101:K99;F41:H-) grown at 37 degrees C but not at 18 degrees C. The MCA, which was characterized as immunoglobulin G1, reacted specifically with K99 antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and precipitated radiolabeled K99 antigen.

Immunoprophylaxis of an ocular solid malignant tumor in cattle.

Individual Hereford cows bearing benign precursor lesions of ocular squamous cell carcinoma were treated by intralesional injection of mycobacterial cell walls in an oil-in-water emulsion in an attempt to interrupt neoplastic progression. Thirty-one months after treatment, statistical analysis of data indicated that intralesional BCG cell wall vaccine can interrupt this process and provides effective immunoprophylactic prevention of malignant disease.

Application of indomethacin as a potentiator of lymphocyte blastogenesis in Brucella abortus exposed cattle.

Lymphocytes from Brucella abortus field strain infected, strain 19 vaccinated, non-exposed and field strain infected, but immunologically unresponsive cattle were incubated with B. abortus antigen and indomethacin. There were significant increases (P less than 0.

Detection of cell-surface antigens of bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma.

A serologic study was conducted to identify surface antigens on cultured cells of bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma. Sera from cattle with various stages of disease were tested for reactivity with surface antigens of cultured autologous and allogeneic cells. Radioiodine-labeled protein A assays were conducted to determine the presence of antibodies for tumor cells.

Tumor associated antigens of bovine cancer eye.

A study was conducted to determine the presence of surface antigens on cultured cells of bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma (BOSCC) by serological testing. Serum from cattle with plaque and malignant stages of disease were tested for reactivity with surface antigens of cultured autologous and allogeneic cells. Indirect immune fluorescence assays were conducted to determine the presence of antibodies towards these tumor cells.

Cytotoxic effect of Pasteurella haemolytica on bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes and impaired production of chemotactic factors by Pasteurella haemolytica-infected alveolar macrophages.

Pasteurella haemolytica exerted a cytotoxic effect on bovine polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes. This effect was less than that seen with cultured alveolar macrophages or peripheral blood monocytes. When alveolar macrophages were cultured with Pasteurella haemolytica, macrophages produced less chemotactic factors for polymorphonuclear leukocytes than did noninfected controls.

Levamisole potentiation of antigen specific lymphocyte blastogenic response in Brucella abortus exposed but nonresponsive cattle.

Incubation of Brucella abortus (field strain) infected and strain 19 vaccinated bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes with B. abortus antigen and levamisole caused a consistently significant increase in [3H] thymidine uptake when compared to cultures without levamisole. Levamisole did not potentiate B.

Development of a migration inhibitory factor assay under agarose of bovine mononuclear leukocytes, using an antigen of Brucella abortus.

A study was conducted to develop a migration inhibitory factor assay under agarose of bovine mononuclear leukocytes, with an antigen of Brucella abortus. Different concentrations of mononuclear leukocytes were prepared by the Ficoll-Hypaque technique from the blood of nonvaccinated calves and from calves previously vaccinated with strain 19. Concentrations of 0.

Evidence of species specificity in the cytocidal effects of Pasteurella haemolytica.

Pasteurella haemolytica was found to have a cytotoxic effect on the peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes of cattle, sheep, and goats, but no effect on the mononuclear leukocytes of swine, horses, or humans. In contrast, Escherichia coli caused marked cell death among mononuclear leukocytes of all species tested.

Anchorage-dependent culture of line 10 guinea-pig hepatoma cells.

A simple method for the anchorage-dependent culture of line 10 guinea-pig hepatoma cells is described.

Kinetics of interaction and fate of Pasteurella hemolytica in bovine alveolar macrophages.

To study the role of pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) in phagocytizing Pasteurella hemolytica, we developed an in vitro cultivation method for preparing them. This procedure provided an adherent monolayer of PAMs which were nonspecific esterase-positive and phagocytized latex beads. The phagocytosis and fate of P.