Measurement of cytokine production by the monocytic cell line Mono Mac 6 using novel immunoradiometric assays for interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6.

Immunoradiometric assays for interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6 were developed using affinity-purified IgG fractions from antisera initially raised for radioimmunoassay. Capture and detector functions were carried out by the same antibody preparation within each assay. The assays were precise, rapid and 6-8-fold more sensitive than the RIA systems previously employed.

Interleukin-8 as a mediator of sympathetic pain.

1. The hyperalgesic effects of interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and carrageenin were measured in a rat paw pressure test. 2.

Influence of tumor-derived interleukin 1 on melanoma-endothelial cell interactions in vitro.

Human melanoma cell lines that express high constitutive levels of the metastasis-associated marker intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) were found to secrete interleukin 1 (IL-1) in vitro. Experiments with neutralizing antibodies showed that this cytokine was responsible for their expression of ICAM-1 but not that of two other progression/metastasis markers, Muc-18 and Gp IIb/IIIa. The IL-1 present in melanoma-conditioned medium induced the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule 1, and ICAM-1 on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECs) in culture and increased the rate at which melanoma cells and ECs adhered to each other.

The infant with acute, unexplained, excessive crying.

This study describes 56 infants who presented to the Emergency Department of The Children's Hospital of Denver during a 1-year period with an episode of excessive, prolonged crying, without fever and without a cause that was apparent to the parents. The final diagnoses included a broad array of conditions, of which 61% were considered serious. The history provided clues to the final diagnosis in 20% of cases.

The international standards for interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-1 beta. Evaluation in an international collaborative study.

Three ampouled preparations of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and three ampouled preparations of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) were evaluated by 13 laboratories in six countries for their suitability to serve as international standards for these materials. The preparation were assayed in in vitro and in vivo bioassays, radioreceptor assays and immunoassays. On the basis of the results reported here, with the agreement of participants in the study and with the authorization of the Expert Committee on Biological Standardization (ECBS) of the World Health Organization (WHO), one of the preparations of IL-1 alpha and one of the preparations of IL-1 beta were established as international standards for these materials.

Interleukin-1 beta production in vivo and in vitro in rats and mice measured using specific immunoradiometric assays.

Activated cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage produce two forms of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta, of which IL-1 beta is the predominant secreted form and has a wide range of modulatory effects on the endocrine system. Immunoassays of human IL-1 beta have been described, but are not suitable for measurement of rat and mouse IL-1 beta because of limited cross-reactivity. Polyclonal sheep anti-rat or sheep anti-mouse IL-1 beta antisera were used to develop sensitive and specific immunoradiometric assays for rat and mouse IL-1 beta.

Assay of pyrogens by interleukin-6 release from monocytic cell lines.

A novel in-vitro system has been developed for the detection and quantification of pyrogen in pharmaceutical products. The measured variable was evoked secretion of the pyrogenic cytokine interleukin-6 from MONO MAC 6 monocytic cells incubated with the product. The interleukin-6 was detected using a specific and sensitive ELISA developed for this purpose.

The role of the pediatrician in abolishing corporal punishment in schools. Committee on School Health, American Academy of Pediatrics.

Corporal punishment in school is allowed in 30 states in the United States. The American Academy of Pediatrics, together with numerous other child-advocacy groups, has reaffirmed its position that corporal punishment in schools should be prohibited by state statute in all states. This article provides background information and recommendations regarding the potential role for pediatricians in attaining this goal.

Isolation of a family of Drosophila POU domain genes expressed in early development.

The POU domain is a approximately 140 amino acid domain shared by several mammalian transcriptional activators. We have isolated genomic and cDNA clones from three Drosophila POU domain genes, designated pdm-1, pdm-2, and Cf1a. All three genes encode a conserved POU-specific domain and a POU homeo domain but are otherwise divergent.

Variability in LPS composition, antigenicity and reactogenicity of phase variants of Bordetella pertussis.

Comparison of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from phase variants of different strains of Bordetella phase variants of different strains of Bordetella pertussis has shown a difference in their composition, antigenicity and reactogenicity. Phase I variants of B. pertussis, with the exception of strain 134, contain a preponderance of LPS I whereas the major component of LPS of phase IV variants is LPS II.

Fate of injected interleukin 1 in rats: sequestration and degradation in the kidney.

The tissue distribution and route of clearance of human recombinant interleukin 1 alpha (IL 1 alpha) injected intravenously in rats was studied. The plasma half-life was approximately 2.5 min, and this was increased after nephrectomy, the kidney being the major organ through which the IL 1 alpha was excreted.

Storage Life of Chilled Scallops Treated with Low Dose Irradiation.

The effect of low dose irradiation on the chilled storage life of saucer scallops ( Amusium balloti ) was investigated. Scallops were packed in polythene bags and treated with doses of 1, 0.5, 1.

Recombinant interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor induce neutrophil migration "in vivo" by indirect mechanisms.

The alpha and beta forms of recombinant interleukin-1 (IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta) and of recombinant Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF alpha and TNF beta) induced dose-dependent neutrophil migration into rat peritoneal cavities. Migration induced by both IL-1s showed a bell-shaped dose-response curve and IL-1 beta was 3-fold more potent than IL-1 alpha. Pretreatment of the animals with dexamethasone or depletion of the peritoneal macrophage population, abolished the neutrophil migration induced by the four cytokines.

The child with simultaneous stridor and wheezing.

We describe 25 patients with simultaneous stridor and wheezing. Twelve patients presented to the emergency department of The Children's Hospital of Denver over a two-year period; we found an additional 13 in a review of the literature. A combination of two disorders produced stridor and wheezing in six patients, with one condition in the extrathoracic airway and one in the intrathoracic airway.

Absence of correlations between indices of systemic inflammation and synovial fluid interleukin 1 (alpha and beta) in rheumatic diseases.

There are two forms of the cytokine interleukin 1 (IL1), produced by two distinct genes encoding a neutral (IL1 beta) and an acidic (IL1 alpha) peptide. They have powerful pro-inflammatory, immunopotentiating, catabolic and arthritogenic properties in vivo and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases. In this study, using specific immunoassays, we have measured both IL1 alpha and IL1 beta levels in synovial fluids (SF) from a large number of patients with different rheumatic diseases.

The relationship between the circulating concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and the acute phase response to elective surgery and accidental injury.

The possible role of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in the regulation of the acute phase response to injury was studied in thirteen subjects undergoing elective surgery or suffering from multiple accidental injuries. The temporal changes in the circulating concentrations of these cytokines were related to the circulating acute phase protein concentrations (C-reactive protein and alpha 1 antichymotrypsin), white cell count, blood loss and duration of surgery. Circulating acute phase protein concentrations rose in all subjects during a thirty hour period following injury but none of the subjects showed a detectable rise in circulating concentrations of TNF.

Expression of engrailed proteins in arthropods, annelids, and chordates.

engrailed is a homeobox gene that has an important role in Drosophila segmentation. Genes homologous to engrailed have been identified in several other organisms. Here we describe a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a conserved epitope in the homeodomain of engrailed proteins of a number of different arthropods, annelids, and chordates; we use this antibody to isolate the grasshopper engrailed gene.

Progress in densitometry for quantitation in planar chromatography.

The principal methods for obtaining quantitative information from separations performed by planar chromatographic techniques are reviewed. Recent advances in obtaining structural information for sample identification of separated components are also discussed. Reasonable expectations concerning future developments in densitometry are made.

The International Standard for Endotoxin: evaluation in an international collaborative study.

An ampouled preparation of bacterial endotoxin, coded 84/650, was evaluated in 35 laboratories in 12 countries for its suitability to serve as the International Standard for Endotoxin. The ampouled preparation was calibrated in terms of the USA National Standard, EC5, in Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate gelation, turbidimetric and chromogenic tests and in rabbit pyrogen tests. On the basis of the results reported here, with the agreement of the participants in the study, and with the authorization of the Expert Committee on Biological Standardization of the World Health Organization, the preparation coded 84/650 was established in 1986 as the International Standard for Endotoxin for Limulus Gelation Tests with an assigned unitage of 14,000 IU of endotoxin per ampoule.

Isolation and chromosomal localization of the human En-2 gene.

By low stringency hybridization we have isolated from a human cosmid genomic library sequences homologous with a probe from the Drosophila engrailed gene. Partial nucleotide sequence analysis shows a consensus splice acceptor site followed by an open reading frame (ORF) that can encode 104 amino acids; the first 94 amino acids have 71% identity with the Drosophila engrailed protein. The shared region contains a homeo domain and is within the region of engrailed shared with the Drosophila invected gene and the mouse En-1 and En-2 genes.

Autoregulation of interleukin 1 production.

Interleukin 1 (IL 1) alpha and beta are distinct cytokines with a common receptor on target cells. Both have been implicated in immunity, inflammation and connective tissue metabolism. Their production is stimulated by microbial products and also by other cytokines derived from accessory cells and lymphocytes.

Development and application of radioimmunoassays for interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-1 beta.

Specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) systems for human IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta, using sheep polyclonal antisera, have been developed. The assays, which do not require prior extraction of IL-1, have been used to quantify IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in synovial fluid and plasma and to quantify intracellular and extracellular IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta produced by human monocytes stimulated with endotoxin.

Association of the Drosophila melanogaster engrailed protein with specific soluble nuclear protein complexes.

The Drosophila engrailed protein which contains a homeobox domain and specific DNA binding activity is believed to function in the regulation of gene expression during embryogenesis. Here we show that the engrailed protein interacts stably with specific complexes of soluble nuclear proteins when expressed artificially in a cell line and in the developing embryo. The engrailed complexes have molecular masses between 10(7) and 10(8) which suggests they contain a polymeric protein component.

Pump excited-state absorption in erbium-doped fibers.

Ground-state and excited-state absorption spectra covering the wavelength range of 450-1050 nm are presented for erbium-doped silica fibers with four different core codopants: GeO(2), GeO(2)/B(2)O(3), GeO(2) /P(2)O(5), and Al(2)O(3). It is shown that the host glass influences the excited-state absorption spectra and that P(2)O(5)- or A1(2)O(3)-codoped fibers are the preferred choice for 514.5-, 655-, or 807-nm pump wavelengths owing to reduced pump excited-state absorption.