Endorphins in several regions of rat brain: large differences between radioimmunoassay and radioreceptor assay

During a one-year period, 31 trabeculectomies were done in 25 patients. Of these procedures, 27 (87%) were done for chronic open angle glaucoma, three (10%) for congenital glaucoma, and one for chronic open angle glaucoma in an aphakic patient. Our overall success rate was 87%. Complications were few: only two of 31 flat anterior chambers persisted postoperatively. Visual acuity dropped significantly (two lines on the Snellen visual acuity chart) in only one patient.     

Structure of the large subunit rDNA from a diatom, and comparison between small and large subunit ribosomal RNA for studying stramenopile evolution

We introduce a method which allows partial-volume irradiation of live cells using synchrotron-produced ultrasoft X rays and micro-fabricated irradiation masks. The masks were made by X-ray lithography at the University of Wisconsin Synchrotron Radiation Center, and they consist of 1.85-microm-wide stripes of gold 1.35 microm apart plated onto thin silicon nitride membranes. When placed adjacent to Mylar on which live cells are plated, these masks allow cells to be irradiated in a striped pattern with dimensions much smaller than the cell nuclei. Using 1340 eV synchrotron-produced X rays, we compare the survival of cells subjected to uniform irradiation and cells subjected to partial-volume irradiation. Our results show that, at equal mean dose to the nucleus (i.e. equal total energies deposited), survival is not statistically different for the two treatments over a wide range of doses. Thus imparting equal energies to smaller intranuclear volumes does not appear to enhance cell killing.     

Cloning and characterization of the guinea pig eosinophil eotaxin receptor, C-C chemokine receptor-3: blockade using a monoclonal antibody in vivo

Certain C-C chemokines, signaling via the eotaxin receptor C-C chemokine receptor-3 (CCR3), are thought to be central mediators of eosinophil accumulation in allergic inflammation. To investigate the role of CCR3 in vivo, we cloned the guinea pig eotaxin receptor (guinea pig CCR3) from a genomic DNA library. We isolated a single-exon open reading frame coding for a 358-amino acid chemokine receptor protein with 67 and 69% homology to human and murine CCR3, respectively. When expressed in stable transfectants, this receptor bound 125I-labeled guinea pig eotaxin, 125I-labeled human monocyte chemotactic protein-3, and 125I-labeled human RANTES. In chemotaxis assays, guinea pig CCR3 transfectants responded only to guinea pig eotaxin, with a maximal effect at 100 nM. mAbs were raised that bound selectively to both guinea pig CCR3 transfectants and guinea pig eosinophils. One of these mAbs, 2A8, blocked both ligand binding to transfectants and their chemotaxis in response to eotaxin. The Ab also inhibited chemotaxis and the elevation of cytosolic calcium in guinea pig eosinophils in response to eotaxin. F(ab')2 fragments of 2A8 were prepared that retained the ability to inhibit eosinophil calcium responses to eotaxin. Pretreatment of (111)In-labeled eosinophils in vitro with F(ab')2 2A8 selectively inhibited their accumulation in response to eotaxin in vivo. These data demonstrate that functional blockade of eosinophil chemokine receptors can be achieved in vivo and provide further support for the development of novel anti-inflammatory drugs targeting eosinophil recruitment through chemokine receptor antagonism.     

Diagnosing renal artery stenosis: a comparison between conventional renography, captopril renography and ultrasound Doppler in a large consecutive series of patients with arterial hypertension

PROBLEM: Comparison and characterisation of different lymphocyte subsets in the endometrium of endometriosis patients and in healthy women on every day of the menstrual cycle with special emphasis on the CD4:CD8 ratio in the endometrium. METHOD: Immunohistochemical staining of 253 endometrial biopsies of infertile women with and without endometriosis with Anti-Leu4 (CD3), Anti-Leu3a (CD4), Anti-Leu2a (CD8), Anti-Leu7 and Anti-Human-B-cell (CD22) using the immune peroxidase reaction. Identification and counting of positive lymphocyte were performed on cryostat sections. RESULTS: Endometrial lymphocyte subsets show equal quantity and distribution in endometriosis patients and in the control group. After a peak in the early proliferative phase the absolute number of T lymphocytes decreases while a predominance of T-suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8) compared to T-helper/inducer lymphocytes (CD4) occurs towards the end of the menstrual cycle. CONCLUSION: Endometrium as the potential parent epithelia of endometriosis lesions seems not to be altered in its lymphatic cell content compared to healthy women. Furthermore, endometrium is clearly characterised as part of the mucosa associated lymphatic tissue (MALT). T lymphocytes show specific quantitative changes due to different phases of the menstrual cycle.     

Concurrent cisplatin, prolonged oral etoposide, and vincristine plus chest and brain irradiation for limited small cell lung cancer: a phase II study of the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG-9229)

PURPOSE: The primary objectives of the study were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of prolonged oral (PO) etoposide as part of cisplatin-based chemotherapy plus concurrent chest/brain irradiation induction, followed by CAV consolidation, in the treatment of patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC-LD) within a cooperative group setting. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fifty-six eligible patients with SCLC-LD received three 28-day cycles of cisplatin 50 mg/m2 i.v. (days 1, 8; 29, 36; and 57, 64), PO etoposide 50 mg/m2 (days 1-14, 29-42, and 57-70), and vincristine 2 mg i.v. (days 1, 29, and 57). Thoracic irradiation (TRT) was administered at 1.8 Gy in 25 daily fractions to a total dose of 45 Gy via an AP:PA arrangement, to begin concomitantly with induction chemotherapy. Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) was started on day 15 of induction therapy. Fifteen daily fractions of 2.0 Gy were administered to the entire brain to a total dose of 30 Gy to finish at approximately the same time as TRT. Two 21-day cycles of consolidation cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 i.v., doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 i.v., and vincristine 2 mg i.v. (all on days 1 and 22), were given beginning on day 106 or week 16, from the start of induction therapy. RESULTS: Among 56 eligible patients, 93% had SWOG performance status 0-1. All had adequate organ function and had not received prior therapy. The overall confirmed response rate was 46%, including 16% complete responders and 30% partial responders. After a minimum follow-up duration of 17 months, the Kaplan-Meier median progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 10 and 15 months, respectively. Two-year survival is 28%. Only 28 of 56 patients (50%) completed chemotherapy per protocol, while 52 of 56 patients (93%) completed radiation per protocol. Eleven patients (20%) discontinued secondary to toxicity and two patients died from treatment. The major toxicity was hematologic. The two deaths were secondary to infection. Of the nonhematologic toxicities, there were 10 cases of pulmonary fibrosis (including one Grade 3) and six cases of pneumonitis (including one Grade 3). CONCLUSION: Concomitant chemoradiation with oral etoposide as part of a platinum-based chemotherapy and TRT induction regimen is toxic. The CR rate is not better than our prior best group-wide experience. The progression-free and overall survival are similar to published trials utilizing short-course i.v. etoposide. As in chemotherapy for extensive-stage SCLC, there is no apparent advantage to prolonged exposure to etoposide, and toxicity resulted in an inferior therapeutic index compared to programs with shortened exposure.