Agonistic activity of a CD40-specific single-chain Fv constructed from the variable regions of mAb G28-5

A single-chain Fv (sFv) was expressed from the variable regions of the CD40-specific mAb G28-5. The molecule bound CD40 with a high affinity (2.2 nM) and was a monomer in solution. Surprisingly, G28-5 sFv was a potent CD40 agonist that rapidly crosslinked CD40 on the cell surface but did not crosslink CD40-Ig in solution. G28-5 sFv was a more potent agonist than G28-5 IgG and was able to stimulate CD40 responses by B cells and monocytes. G28-5 IgG partially blocked, whereas G28-5 sFv augmented CD40 responses during stimulation with natural ligand (gp39-CD8 fusion protein). These results indicate that the functional activity of ligands built from the binding site of G28-5 is highly dependent upon the size and physical properties of the molecule both in solution and on the cell surfaces.     

Interlaboratory study of the analysis of ampicillin by liquid chromatography

A liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of ampicillin was examined in a collaborative study involving seven laboratories. The method included an isocratic part, which is used in the assay. The isocratic part is similar to the assay method for ampicillin of the US Pharmacopeia XXIII Revision. When the isocratic part is combined with gradient elution, the method is suitable for purity control. Six samples of ampicillin (anhydrous, trihydrate and sodium salt) with varying purity were analysed. The main component and related substances were determined. An analysis of variance proved the absence of consistent laboratory bias. The laboratory-sample interaction was significant. Estimates of the repeatability and reproducibility of the method, expressed as standard deviations of the result of the determination of ampicillin, were calculated to be about 0.9 and 1.1 respectively.     

Characterization of peripheral blood steady-state progenitor cells preserved in liquid culture conditions with or without GM-CSF and IL2

The cellular characteristics of steady-state peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) apheresis, including total number of lymphomononuclear cells, CD34 and CFUs, was evaluated in a group of 26 chemo-radiotherapy patients as well as in a group of 23 surgically resected cancer patients. Three-to seven-day incubation in standard liquid culture conditions with growth factors (IL2, GM-CSF or both) correlated with a statistically significant increase in CD34+ and CD56+ cell populations compared with incubation without growth factors, especially when both GM-CSF and IL2 were used. In addition, an increase in CD33+, CD13+ and HLA-DR+ cell populations was observed after 3-7 days incubation with GM-CSF. The basal culture control exhibited a decrease in CD33+ and CD13+ cell populations while CD34+ and CD56+ cell populations were maintained. These results were similar in the treated and untreated groups of patients. The infusion of GM-CSF and IL2 preincubated PBPC after intensive chemotherapy was associated with a rapid hematological recovery with a median time duration for WBC < 500/uL, WBC < 1.000/uL and platelets < 20.000/uL of 7.9 days, 14.9 days and 10.7 days respectively. We conclude that a short GM-CSF and IL2 preincubation of steady-state PBPC is associated with an increase in cell populations exhibiting the immune and progenitor cell phenotypes and correlates with an early hematological recovery after intensive chemotherapy.     

Pharmacokinetics of intracerebroventricular tBuOOH in young adult and mature mice

The aim was to describe the quality of life of people suffering from coronary artery disease. The patients had been treated with medication (n = 80), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (n = 100) and coronary artery bypass surgery (n = 100). Of the 280 patients, 189 were men and 91 women. The patients who participated in this study were seriously ill, as nearly half of them had three or more stenosed coronary arteries. Male patients were most numerous in the bypass surgery group and female patients in the angioplasty group. The quality of life was evaluated using the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) instrument relation to an age- and sex-matched general population, the background factors and the severity of the coronary disease. The NHP questionnaire consists of 38 statements on health problems, making up six dimensions of subjective health: physical mobility, pain, sleep, energy, emotional reactions and social isolation. The health-related quality of life of coronary patients before the invasive procedures was significantly poorer on all the six dimensions than the quality of life in an age- and sex-matched general population. The most obvious differences were seen on the following dimensions: energy, pain, emotional reactions, sleep and physical mobility. The smallest differences occurred in social isolation. Both males and females had the lowest value for energy and social isolation in the youngest age group (35-54 years). The index values of emotional reactions in the two youngest groups were significantly higher among females than males, which reflects poor quality of life. The women in the age group of 35-54 years found the manifestation of a serious disease extremely hard to face. Our findings clearly suggest that while choosing the mode of treatment, the patient's quality of life should be considered along with the clinical severity of the disease, especially in the case of young women. From the societal and social points of view, the patient's symptoms and quality of life are even more important than the objective medical outcome. In clinical decision-making, the goal is to integrate the results of health-related quality of life assessments with clinical decisions, and this underlines the need to evaluate whether the treatment given is congruent with the patient's quality of life. On the basis of the present findings, the NHP instrument seems to be applicable to quality of life measurements among coronary patients. It does not, however, necessarily give an accurate and profound view of an individual's overall quality of life.     

HIV-associated fulminating herpes zoster infection with alveolar necrosis and tooth exfoliation: a case report

The management of planned change is discussed using a change model. Protocols are described and defined. The process of multidisciplinary protocol development is identified. Nurses are encouraged to reflect upon the process of practice change.     

Positional firing properties of perirhinal cortex neurons

Neuronal activity in the perirhinal cortex was recorded while rats performed a spatial task on a four arm radial maze. The maze was defined by proximal multisensory cues on the arm surfaces and distal complex visual cues at the surround. During each recording session, rats were run in three conditions: baseline, a condition in which proximal and distal cues were manipulated, and a second baseline. Compared with the activity of hippocampal neurons in the same paradigm, a much smaller proportion of perirhinal neurons exhibited spatial selectivity and perirhinal place fields were larger than hippocampal place fields. Although perirhinal place fields exhibited a high degree of spatial tuning and reliability within a condition, they were not stable across conditions.     

Apparent absorption efficiency and gut morphometry of wood mice, Apodemus sylvaticus, from two distinct populations with different diets

Interpopulation variation in the diet of the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, is well documented. In this study, we examined the gut morphology and apparent absorption efficiencies of two populations of wood mice whose diet in the field was known to differ. One population inhabited sand dunes, where food availability was relatively low and the diet was dominated by invertebrates. The other population lived in deciduous woodland, with greater food availability and a diet consisting primarily of seeds. Wood mice from the woodland had longer small intestines and total digestive tract lengths than mice from the sand dunes. However, these differences had no effect on the apparent absorption efficiencies of dry mass or energy when the mice were fed mealworms, wheat grain, or All-Bran diets (apparent energy absorption efficiencies of 88%, 89%, and 65%, respectively). The population differences in gut morphometry may be linked to different resource availabilities at the two field sites.     

Human photoreceptor transplantation in retinitis pigmentosa. A safety study

OBJECTIVE: To establish the technical feasibility and safety of photoreceptor transplantation in retinitis pigmentosa. METHODS: A sheet of human photoreceptor cells was harvested from 2 human cadaveric eyes with a vibratome and transplanted into the subretinal spaces of 2 patients with advanced retinitis pigmentosa and visual acuity of no light perception by means of submacular surgery techniques. Preoperative and postoperative electrophysiologic testing, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy were performed. RESULTS: Twelve months after photoreceptor transplantation, the visual acuity of each patient remained no light perception. The temporal edge of the retinotomy in 1 patient was folded but was not associated with a retinal detachment. The patients were not immunosuppressed, and there was no evidence of rejection of the allogeneic transplant. Cystoid macular edema, uveitis, and macular pucker were not observed. CONCLUSION: A sheet of adult human photoreceptor cells can be harvested from human cadaveric eyes and safely transplanted to the subretinal spaces of patients with retinitis pigmentosa without systemic immunosuppression.