Functional imaging of brain maturation in humans using iodine-123 iodoamphetamine and SPECT.

The application of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) study by means of lipophilic radiotracers and single photon emission computed (SPECT) devices in very young infants is hampered by the considerable changes of rCBF pattern as a result of the cerebral maturation process. In an attempt to determine the normal evolution of [123I]IMP SPECT pattern as a function of age, we retrospectively selected the studies of 30 babies with normal clinical examination, EEG and CT or ultrasound scans at time of SPECT. There was a marked predominance of the thalamic perfusion over cortical areas until the end of the second month.

Soluble cytokine receptors are present in normal human urine.

Affinity chromatography of crude human urinary proteins on either human rIL-6, human rIFN-gamma, or anti-IFN-gamma-R mAb yielded the two respective soluble receptors in significant quantities. A single sequence of 30 amino acid residues was obtained by NH2-terminal microsequencing of the protein peak purified in tandem by affinity chromatography on an IL-6 column and reversed-phase HPLC. This sequence was identical to the predicted NH2-terminal sequence of IL-6-R as previously reported.

The interaction between hydrogel lenses and sodium fluorescein. Theoretical and practical considerations.

The interaction between sodium fluorescein dye and hydrophilic contact lenses was assessed quantitatively by spectrophotometry. Absorption of dye into he lens matrix was found to be proportional to the exposure time and also depends on the optical power and water content of the lens. 0.

Brain single photon emission computed tomography in neonates.

This study was designed to rate the clinical value of [123I]iodoamphetamine (IMP) or [99mTc] hexamethyl propylene amine oxyme (HM-PAO) brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in neonates, especially in those likely to develop cerebral palsy. The results showed that SPECT abnormalities were congruent in most cases with structural lesions demonstrated by ultrasonography. However, mild bilateral ventricular dilatation and bilateral subependymal porencephalic cysts diagnosed by ultrasound were not associated with an abnormal SPECT finding.

A tumor necrosis factor-binding protein purified to homogeneity from human urine protects cells from tumor necrosis factor toxicity.

Unfractionated preparations of the proteins of human urine provided protection against the in vitro cytocidal effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). In certain cells, the proteins decreased expression of the receptors for TNF in a temperature-dependent way. In all cells examined, the proteins were found to interfere also with the binding of both TNF and interleukin-1 when applied directly into the binding assays.

Monoclonal antibodies to the human interferon-gamma receptor: blocking of the biological activities of interferon-gamma and purification of the receptor.

Monoclonal antibodies against the human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) receptor were developed by injecting mice with a preparation of receptor that was purified from solubilized placental membranes by ligand affinity chromatography. Three antibodies were identified by their ability to block the binding of 125I-labeled IFN-gamma to its receptor on HeLa cells at 4 degrees C. One of these antibodies blocked several biological activities of IFN-gamma, including its antiviral activity, its ability to induce HLA-DR surface antigens, and its ability to protect cells from NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

Validity of tympanometry in cases of confirmed otosclerosis.

The otoadmittence or impedance measurements are common procedures in the diagnosis of middle ear pathologies. The present study was undertaken for the purpose of studying the clinical validity of static admittance values in 42 confirmed otosclerotic ears. For both 220 Hz and 660 Hz probe tones only one third of the otosclrotic ears had low admittance values, as expected.

Low frequency air-bone gap in Menière's disease without middle ear pathology. A preliminary report.

The audiograms of some patients suffering from Meniere's disease show an unexplained conductive component, or air-bone gap (ABG), predominantly in the low frequencies. Neither the history nor physical findings support poor eustachian tube function, ossicular chain abnormalities, chronic ear disease, physical trauma, or otosclerosis as a cause of this audiometric finding. In the present study, 40 patients diagnosed as suffering from classical Meniere's disease were evaluated audiometrically.

The sensitive period for anisometropic amblyopia.

Fifty-five children with pure anisometropic amblyopia presented consecutively between 1983 and 1986. Analysis of their records was undertaken with respect to the age at presentation, the initial visual acuity after spectacle correction, and the final acuity attained after treatment. The results show that the final vision achieved does not depend on the age at presentation.

Positive interaction between alpha-1 adrenergic and dopamine-2 receptors in locomotor activity of normo and supersensitive mice.

In normosensitive mice either the D1 antagonist SCH 23390 or the D2 antagonist sulpiride inhibited the reversion of reserpine-induced akinesia elicited by the mixed D1/D2 agonist pergolide. In mice rendered supersensitive by a five days' reserpine treatment, sulpiride did not prevent the pergolide-induced reversal of akinesia while SCH 23390 disclosed two subpopulations of mice. One population responded to pergolide with marked locomotor activity whereas in the other subpopulation this response was absent.

The myeloid blood cell differentiation-inducing protein MGI-2A is interleukin-6.

The mouse myeloid blood cell differentiation-inducing protein, macrophage and granulocyte inducer, type 2A (MGI-2A), was purified, and the amino acid sequence of a CNBr cleavage peptide (22 residues) was determined. This amino acid sequence is identical to the sequence found in positions 73 to 94 of mouse interleukin-6 (IL-6). Recombinant mouse IL-6 protein induces differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemic cells that are induced to differentiation by MGI-2, and monoclonal antimouse-MGI-2 antibody, which neutralizes MGI-2, also completely neutralizes this IL-6-induced differentiation.

Recombinant interferon-beta 2 (interleukin-6) induces myeloid differentiation.

Human IFN-beta 2 cytokine produced in E. coli was purified to homogeneity by immunoaffinity and ion-exchange chromatography. The cytokine inhibits the growth of myeloleukemic M1 cells and induces their morphological and functional differentiation into macrophages.

Alveolar soft part sarcoma of the nasal cavity: report of a case and a review of the literature.

A case of alveolar soft part sarcoma of the nasal cavity is presented. Alveolar soft part sarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm, which often affects females (ratio 2 to 1) in their second decade. It occurs most frequently in the extremities, with an unusual predilection to involve the right side of the body.

Single photon emission computed tomography in seizure disorders.

Fourteen children with various seizure disorders were studied using a cerebral blood flow tracer, 123I iodoamphetamine (0.05 mCi/kg), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). In the five patients with radiological lesions, SPECT showed congruent or more extensive abnormalities.

Multiple compression and plasto-elastic behaviour of paracetamol and microcrystalline cellulose mixtures.

Radial tensile strength, friability, ER/PC (elastic recovery/plastic compression) ratio and energy ratio analyses were evaluated for various mixtures of paracetamol and microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel). A good correlation occurred between the energy ratio and the other variables. Linear relationships were found between log tensile strength and percentage energy ratio and also between radial tensile strength and stress relaxation energy.

Results after knee replacement with a posterior cruciate-substituting prosthesis.

From 1979 to 1984, eighty patients (119 knees) were arbitrarily selected for treatment with knee arthroplasty in which a posterior cruciate-substituting replacement was used. The average age of the forty-nine women and thirty-one men was 66.9 years (range, twenty-two to eighty-four years).

Chronic labyrinthine ischemia.

The purpose of the present study was to describe the audiological and vestibular deficit in patients presumed to suffer from chronic impairment of the blood supply to the labyrinth. Thirty-nine subjects affected by various pathologies often impairing systemic blood circulation, which also presented labyrinthine damage of unclear origin, were evaluated for a possible relationship between these two conditions. At the time of this study 80 per cent of the subjects showed also a certain degree of increased blood viscosity.

Cochlear hypoxia and the compound action potentials.

A relatively restricted area, including the ear, was perfused in guinea pigs with hypoxic blood having a pO2 of 10, 20, and 30 mm Hg, respectively. The changes induced to the cochlear action potentials were analyzed and the results compared with those obtained in a previous study in which the guinea pigs were rendered hypoxemic by ventilating them with air entrapped in a closed circuit from which the CO2 was continuously absorbed. The changes induced to the cochlear action potentials by both methods were very similar.