Juxtaposition of N-myc and Ig kappa through a reciprocal t(6;12) translocation in a mouse plasmacytoma

In this study we examined the in vitro effects of alcohol on the proliferative responses of lymphocytes from healthy donors and AIDS patients to a recombinant fusion peptide, env-gag, corresponding to portions of the gp41 envelope (env) and internal core (gag) proteins of HIV. The effects of alcohol (ETOH) on the natural killer (NK) cell activities of lymphocytes from healthy donors and patients with AIDS were also investigated. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from both normal donors and AIDS patients produced significant levels of lymphocyte proliferative responses to the HIV env-gag peptide; however, these responses were significantly higher in patients with AIDS, showing the specificity of the response. The env-gag-induced proliferative responses of lymphocytes from normal subjects were significantly suppressed when cultures contained only higher levels of ETOH (0.2% and 0.3%), whereas ETOH even at a lower level (0.1%) produced significant suppression of the env-gag-induced proliferation of lymphocytes only from AIDS patients. Direct addition of ETOH at concentrations of 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% to cultures of lymphocytes from normal donors and NK target cells did not produce significant suppression of NK cell activities. However, ETOH at concentrations of 0.2% and 0.3% significantly suppressed the NK activities of lymphocytes from AIDS patients, and the suppressive effect was observed at all E:T cell ratios examined. Control peptide from the Escherichia coli expression vector did not produce any significant effect on lymphocyte proliferative responses or NK activity of both normal donors and AIDS patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Drift-free magnetic equilibrium reconstruction using the response to plasma position modulation

Inductive magnetic sensors are widely used for plasma equilibrium reconstruction and control. However, their measurements involve electronic integration and can therefore experience drift leading to inaccurate plasma positioning. For this reason, we have studied an original drift-free approach to estimate the plasma equilibrium. The principle of this correction is based on modulation of the plasma position and current at three independent frequencies and analysing the modulated magnetic signals to provide additional estimation on the equilibrium. Using a plasma model based on current wires, the accuracy of such a method is assessed for Tore Supra in terms of the signal to noise ratio. The plasma position is recovered within a precision of 5 mm for a signal to noise ratio better than 80 dB. Applying our approach to dedicated experiments performed on the Tore Supra tokamak, we confirm the quality of the result and find that we can estimate the radial and vertical positions of the plasma to 1 mm with a one standard deviation confidence interval.     

Design and performance analysis of ITER ex-vessel magnetic diagnostics

Accurate magnetic diagnostics are essential to perform reliable operation of any tokamak. The ITER magnetic diagnostics include a wide variety of sensors located on the inner and outer surfaces of the vacuum vessel, in the divertor cassettes and in the casing of the toroidal field coils. As the measurement accuracy of the inner set of magnetic sensors might be compromised by various radiation effects and high heat loads, the complementary ex-vessel set is essential to provide backup information. This paper is an overview of the ex-vessel magnetic diagnostic which consists mainly of pick-up coils, steady state sensors, Rogowski coils in the toroidal field coil casing and fibre optic current sensors. The work presented aims at designing these sensors to meet the performance requirements in spite of the constraints due to the tokamak environment. The manufacturing constraints and the positioning requirements for all the ex-vessel magnetic sensors are described. The use and expected accuracy of the entire ex-vessel magnetic diagnostic is assessed in terms of magnetic equilibrium reconstruction and plasma current measurement precision.     

Clinical impressions of enflurane

Enflurane was used in 150 non-selected patients and was found to be a most satisfactory inhalation anaesthetic. Induction and recovery times were rapid and these characteristics, together with its rather pleasant smell, made it readily acceptable to the patient. Although such features suggest that it would be an ideal agent for children, very high concentrations of enflurane were required to produce adequate anaesthesia in infants and small children. Normal sinus rhythm continued following the injection of adrenaline during enflurane anaesthesia and adequate muscle relaxation was obtained for lower abdominal surgery. The degree of metabolic breakdown of enflurane is considerably less than with other inhalation agents and, if this is reflected in terms of minimal renal and hepatic toxicity, there is every reason to believe that enflurane may be preferable to the volatile anaesthetics currently in use.     

Productivity and maximal oxygen consumption in sugar cane cutters

Vo2max and daily productivity (metric tons/day) have been measured in 46 sugar cane cutters 18 to 34 years of age. A multiple regression analysis demonstrated that productivity was simultaneously related to VO2max, height and body fat (r=0.685;P less than 0.001). The multiple regression equation was: productivity (tons/day)=0.81 VO2max-0.14 percent fat +0.03 height -1.96. The data indicate that productivity is affected indirectly by nutritional status through the influence of the latter on height, fat content and VO2max. The decrease in VO2max that occurs with age was similar to that reported in the literature. Evidence is presented that, as the worker ages, a higher percent VO2max has to be utilized to maintain productivity.     

HLA antigens and erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency in Sardinia

Wind enhances the carcinogenic effect of chronic Iltraviolet radiation (UVL). This was demonstrated in hairless mice that were irradiated for 42 weeks with mercury are lamps. One group of animals was exposed to continuous wind flow of 2.7 m/s except for the daily I-2 min time interval when they were removed from the wind tunnel and irradiated. Another group of animals received identical irradiation but were protected from wind. The first tumour appeared in the UVL and wind group after 105 days of irradiation, and at 164 days of irradiation all surviving mice in the group had developed tumours. The group of mice receiving identical irradiation but protected from wind had their first tumour appear at 154 days of irradiation, and by 164 days of irradiation only 40% of the mice had developed tumours.     

Microflora of the nasal cavity and its sensitivity to antibiotics in patients with chronic rhinitis treated by cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is used in treatment of chronic rhinitis and pharyngitis. The effect of cryotherapy on the qualitative and quantitative composition of the microflora was studied. Staphylococci prevailed in the rhinitis patients, streptococci, Clebsiella and Neisseria being registered more rarely. The staphlococcal isolates were highly sensitive to monomycin, neomycin, erythromycin and levomycetin. The results of the dynamic study showed that the flora composition did not significantly change during cryotherapy and the sensitivity level of the staphylococcal isolates to the antibodies remained unchanged.     

The structure of L-lactate oxidase from Mycobacterium smegmatis

1. An improved purification was developed for L-lactate oxidase from Mycobacterium smegmatis. 2. The mol.wt. of the native enzyme by a sedimentation-equilibrium analysis was 345 000, and other ultracentrifuge methods gave values in the range 345 000-350 000. 3. An amino acid analysis, determinations of protein and flavin, a sedimentation-velocity analysis and an approach to equilibrium analysis gave values for the subunit mol.wt. in the range 43 500-47 000. 4. It was concluded that L-lactate oxidase contains eight subunits of mol.wt. 43 500. 5. Cross-linking of the subunits with dimethyl suberimidate and electron-microscopy studies were consistent with an octameric structure.     

Contrast media-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging visualizes myocardial changes in the course of viral myocarditis

BACKGROUND: The course of tissue changes in acute myocarditis in humans is not well understood. Diagnostic tools currently available are unsatisfactory. We tested the hypothesis that inflammation is reflected by signal changes in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS AND RESULTS: We assessed 44 consecutive patients with symptoms of acute myocarditis. Nineteen patients met the inclusion criteria revealing ECG changes, reduced myocardial function, elevated creatine kinase, positive troponin T, serological evidence for acute viral infection, exclusion of coronary heart disease, and positive antimyosin scintigraphy. We studied these patients on days 2, 7, 14, 28, and 84 after the onset of symptoms. We obtained ECG-triggered, T1-weighted images before and after application of 0.1 mmol/kg gadolinium. We measured the global relative signal enhancement of the left ventricular myocardium related to skeletal muscle and compared it with measurements in 18 volunteers. The global relative enhancement was higher in patients on days 2 (4.8+/-0.3 [mean+/-SE] versus 2.5+/-0.2; P<.0001); 7 (4.7+/-0.5, P<.0001); 14 (4.6+/-0.5, P<.0002); and 28 (3.9+/-0.4, P=.009) but not on day 84 (3.1+/-0.3; P=NS). On day 2, the enhancement was focal, whereas at later time points, the enhancement was diffuse. In patients with evidence of ongoing disease, the values remained elevated. CONCLUSIONS: Acute myocarditis evolves from a focal to a disseminated process during the first 2 weeks after onset of symptoms. Contrast media-enhanced MRI visualizes the localization, activity, and extent of inflammation and may serve as a powerful noninvasive diagnostic tool in acute myocarditis.