In vivo and in vitro macrophage activation by systemic adjuvants

Six systemic adjuvants of immunity were tested for their ability to induce macrophage activation. Four of them: living BCG, hydrosoluble extracts from BCG (HIU II) and from M.smegmatis (IPM), and lipopolysaccharide from E.coli (LPS), when administered to normal mice render macrophages non-specifically cytotoxic for tumor cells in vitro. The intensity of this phenomenon varied according to the route and time of adjuvant administration. In contrast, lentinan extracted from Lentinus edodes, and levamisole which is a synthetic chemical compound, depressed macrophage cytotoxic potential. BCG, IPM and LPS were shown to have a direct action on macrophages. After in vitro exposure to these agents, the cytotoxic potential of normal macrophages was greatly increased. Levamisole was unable to stimulate this macrophage function directly in vitro. On the other hand, such a macrophage activation has been induced in vitro when normal macrophages were cultivated in the presence of MIF coming from the supernatant of human lymphoblastoid cell lines.     

A boxer dog with chronic hypertrophic gastritis resembling Menetrier's disease in man

Chronic hypertrophic gastritis in a 7-year-old Boxer dog is described. This gastritis resembles Menetrier's disease in man. The dog was emaciated, lethargic, vomiting and had a poor appetite over a 4-month period. There was anaemia, and the blood smear was characterized by hypochromasia, strong anisoplania and striking poikilocytosis. There was a protein loss and at a later stage of the disease, a hypoalbuminaemia. On gastroscopic examination the plicae gastricae were numerous and strongly marked; moreover, they were granulated with numerous small haemorrhages. Radiographically, the stomach had a marked folding, primarily at the greater curvature. The passage of contrast medium from the stomach into the duodenum was strongly retarded. The pathological findings included macroscopical folding caused by local gland cell hyperplasia in the body as well as the pylorus, foveolar hyperplasia and, in the fundus and in the corpus near the greater curvature, folding of the muscularis mucosae and the submucosa. A superficial gastritis was found particularly in the fundus and corpus, whereas the pyloric antrum showed a more diffuse inflammation.     

Studies on human plasma antithrombin isolated on heparin gel

1. A study has been made of peptide excretion in twenty cases of Wilson's disease, ligand-exchange column chromatography being used to separate peptides from free amino acids. Previous reports of excess of peptide output in the disease were confirmed and the excess was shown to be highly significant statistically. 2. A considerable fraction of the excess of peptide output was shown to consist of hydroxyproline-containing peptides derived from collagen degradation. 3. The method of rank correlation showed that the difference both in free amino acid and peptide-bound amino acid output in cases of Wilson's disease and in control subjects was mainly quantitative; the pattern of amino acid excretion was qualitatively similar in both groups. 4. Evidence is presented that the increase copper output in the urine in the disease is not secondary to peptiduria.     

Simultaneous incidence of chronic dissecans aortic aneurysm and bidirectional tachydardia

In a 68-year-old patient during a therapy with digitalis and saluretics with maintenance doses a severe cardiac insufficiency develops. After intravenous injection of K-strophantoside temporarily a bidirectional tachycardia developed which enforced a discontinuation of the K-strophantoside therapy. A deterioration of the cardiac insufficiency caused the resumption of the strophantine treatment under the protection of novocamide (procainamide) and panangine (magnesium asparagin. anhydr. and calcium asparagin. anhydr.) without reappearance of a bidirectional tachycardia. The patient died of a severe cardiovascular insufficiency. If the bidirectional tachycardia appears in severe cardiac insufficiency a continuation of the treatment with K-strophantoside can be tried under the protection of antiarrhythmic drugs.     

Metastatic melanoma of the parotid gland (author''s transl)

An electronic measuring instrument, which automatically calculates the rectal potential difference, has been developed to determine mineralocorticoid activity in patients with primaroid disorders. A special probe with a disposable tip enables measurements to be made on successive patients without prior cleaning of the probe. The technique, results and their clinical implications are discussed. A highly significant correlation between plasma aldosterone and rectal potential difference is demonstrated.     

An electron-microscopic study of Herpetomonase sp. (Leptomonas pessoai)

The fine structure of the promastigotes of Herpetomonas sp. (Leptomonas pessoai) kept in a defined medium at 28 degrees C is described. This portozoon reveals several features in common with other trypanosomatids. A membrane-bounded organelle measuring 0.2 to 0.8 mum in diameter, similar to that described as peroxisome in Crithidia fasciculata, was also observed. A large cavity, located between the nucleus and the kinetoplast and containing vesicles and small particulate material is discussed in this paper.     

Anatomical, histological, and physiological factors in experienced downhill skiers

1. (Methyl-3H)decamethonium dichloride was injected intravenously into the tail vein of dystrophic and normal mice of the Bar Harbour strain 129 ReJ/dy in paralysing doses. 2. Scintillation counts were made of 1 mm sections of diaphragm and tibialis anterior which showed a normal distribution of tritiated decamethonium in the dystrophic animals. 3. Intraperitoneal injections of L-(gamma-3H)leucine were made into dystrophic and normal mice. Examination of diaphragm and tibialis anterior by scintillation counting showed the abnormal uptake typical of dystrophic involvement of murine muscle. 4. The normal distribution of (methyl-3H)decamethonium dichloride uptake by the dystrophic muscle does not support the concept of active denervation in this disease.