Antibody to Mac-1 or monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 inhibits monocyte recruitment and promotes tumor growth

Human tumors are frequently infiltrated by numerous monocytes/macrophages, which can be found within the tumor mass (intratumoral) or surrounding the tumor (peritumoral). The functional role that these monocytes/macrophages play in tumor growth is controversial. To address this issue we inhibited intratumoral monocyte/macrophage recruitment with mAbs that either blocked integrin function or neutralized a tumor-produced chemotactic protein. Both treatments significantly increased tumor formation and accelerated tumor growth. Surprisingly, the same results were obtained when recruitment of peritumoral or intratumoral monocytes/macrophages was blocked. Our findings are contrary to one of the purported roles of monocytes/macrophages, particularly in the peritumoral area, since we found no evidence for monocyte/macrophage-supported tumor growth. These results provide direct evidence that intratumoral as well as peritumoral monocytes/macrophages act to limit tumor size in the early stages following tumor inoculation and provide a mechanism that accounts for monocyte/macrophage recruitment to human tumors.     

Operative hysteroscopy. American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists 1991 membership survey

The 1991 American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists membership survey on operative hysteroscopy had a total of 630 respondents (almost double the 1988 number) who reported performing 17,298 procedures as compared to 7,293 in 1988. Directed biopsy and endometrial ablation were the procedures reported most commonly. Endometrial ablation increased fivefold since 1988, and myomectomy increased fourfold. The majority of operative hysteroscopies were performed for a complaint of abnormal bleeding (73%). The most frequently reported complication was uterine perforation not requiring transfusion (11 per 1,000 procedures). The rate of water intoxication or pulmonary edema dropped from 3.4/1,000 in 1988 to 1.4/1,000 in 1991. However, some serious complications (eight laparotomies for bowel injury, three CO2 embolisms and three deaths) were reported for 1991.     

Solution structure of oxidized Saccharomyces cerevisiae iso-1-cytochrome c

The solution structure of oxidized Saccharomycescerevisiae Cys102Ser iso-1-cytochromechas been determined using 1361 meaningful NOEs (of 1676 total) after extending the published proton assignment [Gao, Y., et al. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 6994-7003] to 77% of all proton resonances. The NOE patterns indicate that secondary structure elements are maintained upon oxidation in solution with respect to the solid state and solution structures of the reduced species. Constraints derived from the pseudocontact shifts [diamagnetic reference shift values are those of the reduced protein [Baistrocchi, P., et al. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 13788-13796]] were used in the final stages of structure calculations. After restrained energy minimization with constraints from NOEs and pseudocontact shifts, a family of 20 structures with rmsd values of 0.58 +/- 0.08 and 1.05 +/- 0.10 A (relative to the average structure) for the backbone and all heavy atoms, respectively, was obtained. The solution structure is compared with the crystal structure and the structures of related systems. Twenty-six amide protons were detected in the NMR spectrum 6 days after the oxidized lyophilized protein was dissolved in D2O (pH 7.0 and 303 K); in an analogous experiment, 47 protons were observed in the spectrum of the reduced protein. The decrease in the number of nonexchanging amide protons, which mainly are found in the loop regions 14-26 and 75-82, confirms the greater flexibility of the structure of oxidized cytochrome c in solution. Our finding of increased solvent accessibility in these loop regions is consistent with proposals that an early step in unfolding the oxidized protein is the opening of the 70-85 loop coupled with dissociation of the Met80-iron bond.     

Cross reaction pattern of 26 acrylic monomers on guinea pig skin

The cross reaction pattern of acrylic monomers was investigated in 20 groups of animals sensitized to a different acrylic monomer. Animals sensitized to one monoacrylate tend to react to other monoacrylates. Reactions to corresponding monomethacrylates (same alcohol group in the ester) or other monomethacrylates did not occur. Some reactions to di(meth)acrylates were observed. A number of animals sensitized to one monomethacrylate reacted to some other monomethacrylates and to monoacrylates. Reactions to di(meth)acrylates were observed. Animals sensitized to di(meth)acrylates showed hardly any positive cross reaction. A universal screening allergen to detect acrylic monomer sensitizations does not exist. The composition of (industrial) products should be made accessible to the occupational dermatologist in order to prevent the undesirable situation in which a patient suspected of having an acrylic monomer sensitization must be tested with a large series of potent allergens in order to detect the real origin of the sensitization.     

Detection of Salmonella typhi in the blood of patients with typhoid fever by polymerase chain reaction

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based test was developed for the detection of Salmonella typhi in the blood specimens from patients with typhoid fever. Two pairs of oligonucleotide primers were designed to amplify a 343-bp fragment of the flagellin gene of S. typhi. Amplified products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and Southern blot hybridization by using a 32P-labeled 40-base probe internal to the amplified DNA. The nested PCR with two pairs of primers could detect 10 organisms of S. typhi as determined by serial dilutions of DNA from S. typhi. The peripheral mononuclear cells from 11 of 12 patients with typhoid fever confirmed by blood culture were positive for DNA fragment of the flagellin gene of S. typhi, whereas 10 blood specimens of patients with other febrile diseases were negative. With the nested PCR, S. typhi DNAs were detected from blood specimens of four patients with suspected typhoid fever on the basis of clinical features but with negative cultures. We suggest that the PCR technique could be used as a novel diagnostic method of typhoid fever, particularly in culture-negative cases.     

Lateralized lexical decisions and the effects of hemifield masks: a study of interhemispheric inhibition and release

A lateralized tachistoscope experiment using 40 normal, right-handed men tested the predictions of three different theories of interhemispheric interactions. Lexical decision for function words was measured for each visual field under several conditions of simultaneous stimulation in the contralateral hemifield. When a nonsense word was presented simultaneously to the contralateral hemifield, performance decreased, especially for words in the weaker field, an effect which is inconsistent with the predictions of the direct access model. When the contralateral nonsense word was immediately masked, there was a significant improvement in performance over the nonmasked condition. Analysis of the masking effect showed that the data are inconsistent with a callosal relay model, but are consistent with a model of transcallosal inhibition.     

A new series of C3-aza carbocyclic influenza neuraminidase inhibitors: synthesis and inhibitory activity

The synthesis and influenza neuraminidase inhibitory activity of a new series of C3-aza carbocyclic neuraminidase inhibitors are described. Analogues 3c and 3j, bearing a 3-pentyl group, exhibit influenza A inhibitory activities comparable to that of 1.     

Expression of endogenous retroviruses in blood mononuclear cells and brain tissue from multiple sclerosis patients

To help clarify the complex association between negative childhood experiences and somatization, the authors examined the possible relationship between self-reported childhood sexual abuse, dysfunctional family background and several types of somatization in a nonclinical sample. Three anonymous questionnaires were completed by 202 female university students (average age 22 years). The findings confirm that severe or repeated childhood sexual victimization and a familial deficiency syndrome in childhood may be important in the pathogenesis of somatization.     

Mass transfer effects on ZrO2 oxygen concentration cells exposed to non-equilibrium H2-O2 mixtures

We report further studies of ZrO₂ oxygen concentration cells exposed to non-equilibrium gas mixtures. Substantial shifts of cell voltage-(H₂/O₂) composition curves are produced by changes in the gas flow rate past the cell. At high flow rates, there is an abrupt voltage step at about 2.2 times the H₂/O₂ stoichiometric ratio. At low flow rates this voltage step occurs at stoichiometry. These findings are understood on the basis of mass transfer to a heterogeneous catalyst/electrode surface.