Siliceous pneumoconiosis in two dogs.

A siliceous pneumoconiosis was detected in two dogs by light microscopical, transmission electron microscopical and elemental analysis methods. Aluminium and silicon were the predominant elements and were present in macrophages associated with airways and vessels. The significance and origin of the deposits are discussed.

Functional studies on macrophage populations in the airways and the lung wall of SPF mice in the steady-state and during respiratory virus infection.

Collagenase digestion of slices of lavaged and perfused murine lung from SPF animals yielded, on average, 104 x 10(6) mononuclear cells per gram tissue, including approximately 14% F4/80+ macrophages and 35% lymphocytes. The lung tissue-associated (digest) macrophage (LDM) population was 10-fold higher in number than the alveolar macrophage (AM) population recoverable by lavage. Comparative functional analysis of these populations was performed, employing assays for immune receptors (Fc and C3), complement-induced spreading, endogenous peroxidase, IL-1 secretion and tumour cytolysis; resident and activated peritoneal macrophages and blood monocytes were examined in parallel.

Pseudo-Gaucher cells preceding the appearance of immunoblastic lymphoma.

A 49-year-old white woman who presented with multiple lytic bone lesions was found to have Gaucher-like storage cells in multiple bone marrow aspirates and a percutaneous bone marrow biopsy several months before the development of overt disseminated lymphoma. Open bone biopsies of three different sites at initial presentation revealed only necrotic debris and a nondiagnostic polymorphic infiltrate. Elevated leukocyte beta-glucocerebrosidase levels ruled out the diagnosis of classic Gaucher's disease.

The effects of malnutrition on murine peritoneal macrophages.

Differences were detected between peritoneal macrophages (both resident and elicited) from mice on a low protein diet and from normal animals. The concentration of resident peritoneal macrophages was lower in animals on low protein diets than in normal controls. Although total protein (and therefore cell mass) of resident macrophages from malnourished mice was increased, their contents of thiamine pyrophosphatase, succinate dehydrogenase, and non-specific esterase were disproportionately reduced.

Hepaticojejunostomy using a mucosal graft in the treatment of carcinoma of the hepatic duct.

In eight patients who had resectable tumor of the common hepatic duct, the nonsuture mucosal graft operation was applied. One patient died of sepsis during the postoperative period. Patency of the new stoma proved to be within normal limits in all seven patients as long as they survived from the disease.

Surface charge of macrophages and their interaction with charged particles.

The distribution and concentration of surface ionogenic groups on murine peritoneal macrophages and the responses of their plasmalemma to charged markers were investigated by electron microscopy. Quantitation of the distribution of cationized ferritin (CF) as a marker for anionic groups on fixed cells revealed surface anions on invaginated parts of the plasmalemma to be fewer than those on flat or projecting segments. Cationic groups on the surface membrane, however, could not be labeled with anionized ferritin (AF).

Rett syndrome: abnormal membrane-bound lamellated inclusions in neurons and oligodendroglia.

The brain biopsy of a patient with Rett syndrome showed light microscopic evidence of white matter disease. Ultrastructurally, many neurons and oligodendroglia contained membrane-bound electron-dense inclusions with a distinct lamellar and granular substructure. This substructure suggests that part of these inclusions are derived from phospholipid.

Ultrastructural localization of IgE in peripheral blood monocytes from atopics.

Monocyte-enriched preparations derived from peripheral blood leukocytes of atopics were probed via a cocktail comprising peroxidase-conjugated (Fab1)2 fragments of two monoclonal antibodies against human IgE. Reaction product indicative of intracellular IgE was identified by electron microscopy in both large and small vacuoles, and at high magnification exhibited a characteristic granular deposition pattern consistent with highly concentrated (perhaps insolublized) material. IgE-containing vacuoles were observed with comparable frequency to those containing IgG, despite the greater than 10,000-fold relative excess of the latter in serum suggesting highly selective uptake of IgE by the monocytes.

Murine candidiasis: strain dependence of host responses after immunization.

After recovery from acute infection with live Candida albicans, both CBA/H and BALB/c mice show increased resistance to colonization by the organism. However, the 'susceptible' CBA/H mice develop much stronger protective responses than do 'resistant' BALB/c mice. This is manifested particularly as a substantial amelioration of the severity of the lesions in the brain, and a very marked reduction in the number of fungal units therein.

Quantitation of concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin binding by two strains of Trichomonas vaginalis of differing pathogenicity using gold particle-conjugated lectins.

Two strains of Trichomonas vaginalis, which differed in their pathogenicity for both women and experimental animals hosts, were compared for the presence and number of concanavalin A (ConA)- and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-binding sites on their surface using gold lectin conjugates. Both strains showed a high affinity for ConA and WGA and a similar pattern of gold particle distribution on the surface coat. The gold marker was distributed over the cytoplasmic membrane sparsely as single particles but more often in groups, suggesting the presence of single and clustered sugar residues on the parasite surface.

Pancreatic abscess due to infected hydatid disease.

A 35-year-old man sought treatment for acute epigastric pain, mild jaundice, and high fever. The patient was alcoholic and had been treated for a week in another hospital, at which time the clinical findings and indirect laboratory test indicated an attack of acute pancreatitis. At admission to the surgical intensive care unit of Aretaieon Hospital, the patient was in a septic condition; a computed tomographic scan of the upper abdomen revealed an abscess at the head of the pancreas.

The nuclear DNA content of human breast carcinoma. Associations with clinical stage, axillary lymph node status, estrogen receptor status and outcome.

Using Feulgen-DNA cytophotometry, the nuclear DNA content was determined in specimens from 169 female patients with unilateral primary carcinoma of the breast. The tumors were classified as either diploid (73 cases: 43%) or hyperdiploid (96 cases), according to the ploidy of the tumor cells. Statistically significant associations were found between the DNA content and other characteristics of the patients and their tumors.

Electron microscopical studies of Strongyloides ratti infective larvae: loss of the surface coat during skin penetration.

Previous indications using radiolabelled larvae that Strongyloides ratti free-living infective larvae lose a surface coat during penetration of the skin were further investigated by transmission electron microscopy of the cuticle of S. ratti infective larvae in the free-living stage, after penetration of mouse skin, and after migration to the lungs. These studies demonstrated the presence of a faint electron-dense surface coat external to the epicuticle on free-living worms which was absent from larvae recovered from the skin and lungs.

Ependymal differentiation of a glioblastoma multiforme after heterotransplantation into nude mice.

A glioblastoma multiforme from a 64-year-old man was heterotransplanted sc into nude mice (nu/nu BALB/c out-bred). The subsequent growth of the transplanted tumor featured the appearance and eventual domination by cells with ependymal characteristics. This finding supports the view that the host's influence on heterotransplants may be substantial and should be considered when extrapolating the results of therapeutic trials on such animal models to the clinical situation.

Four permanent cell lines established from human malignant gliomas: three exhibiting striated muscle differentiation.

Twenty-two human gliomas were set up in tissue culture and inoculated into nude mice. Permanent cell lines were established from four of these and their growth characteristics, and morphological features defined and cytogenetic features described. All four failed to sustain evidence of glial differentiation while three of the four cell lines exhibited the characteristics of striated muscle, and were tumorigenic in nude mice.

Murine candidiasis. Pathogenesis and host responses in genetically distinct inbred mice.

The pathogenesis of Candida albicans infection was compared in three inbred strains of mice--CBA/H; C57B1/6J and BALB/c. CBA/H mice developed the most severe lesions, and also showed the weakest inflammatory responses in the popliteal lymph node after challenge with live organisms in the footpad. Nevertheless, this strain cleared candida from the spleen more efficiently than either C57B1/6J or BALB/c mice.

Some biological properties of respirable iron ore dust.

The respirable fraction of an ore dust from the North-West of Western Australia was tested for biological properties by inhalation and intrapleural implantation trials using rats and mice. Pulmonary histology indicated significant levels of interstitial pneumonia occasionally associated with bronchopneumonia, bronchiectasis, emphysema, and lung collapse over that found in age-matched control animals. While there was a significant increase of the incidence of tumors in general in WAG inbred rats up to 2 years following dust exposure, this did not persist into old age.

Role of macrophages in mesothelial healing.

The role of macrophages in rat mesothelial healing was evaluated in vivo and in vitro. In animals whose circulating monocytes were severely depressed, the healing rate was retarded; however, this effect was partly reversed by the introduction of macrophages into the injured site, suggesting that macrophages are of fundamental importance in the healing of mesothelial wounds. Furthermore, it was found that wound exudates stimulated DNA synthesis in normal quiescent mesothelial cells and the component principally responsible for this activity was the macrophage.

The relationship between liver-specific lipoprotein and the hepatocyte plasma membrane.

Liver-specific lipoprotein (LSP) has been the subject of intense investigation as a candidate target antigen in chronic active hepatitis. Fundamental to the interest in LSP has been the belief that it is an antigen complex of hepatocyte plasma membrane origin. In this study the physical, biochemical and antigenic relationships between LSP and isolated hepatocyte plasma membrane (HPM) were investigated.