Microviscosity of togavirus membranes studied by fluorescence depolarization: influence of envelope proteins and the host cell

The microviscosities of the hydrophobic regions of the membranes of intact Semliki forest and Sindbis viruses grown on BHK-21 cells, of liposomes derived from the extracted viral lipids, and of protease-treated virions were measured by fluorescence depolorization using the fluorescence probe 1, 6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. The intact virus membranes were found to have a higher microviscosity than did virus-derived liposomes, indicating the viral envelope proteins contribute to microviscosity. However, protease-treated virus, devoid of protruding spikes but with residual lipophilic peptide tails, was found to have a microviscosity more similar to that of the intact virus than to that of protein-free liposomes. Sindbis virus grown in BHK-21 cells at 37 C had a much higher microviscosity than did Sindbis virus grown on Aedes albopicuts cells at 22 C. Sindbis virus grwon in A. albopictus and BHK-21 cells also gave higher microviscosity values than did the intact host cells. These data indicate that both the virion proteins and the cellular lipids selected during viral growth and maturation contribute to the increased microviscosity of togavirus membranes.     

Lymphocytes' cytotoxicity towards cells of human lymphoblastoid lines in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus

A research study and discussion of antiinterferon immunoglobulin in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, and its possible value in the treatment of allergic diseases, autoimmune diseases and other diseases where it is presumed there may be an autoimmune genesis.     

Factors affecting the outcome of foetal hydrocephaly

In this study, the authors attempt to provide an account of the factors that affect the outcome of hydrocephaly in 26 foetuses. The hydrocephalus was related to a myelomeningocele in 35% of patients. Sixty-two percent of foetuses showed intra-uterine progression of their hydrocephalus and 50% were shunted postnatally. At a mean follow up of 2 years, the outcome was considered "fair" in 54% of patients. Our findings demonstrate that in foetal hydrocephaly a more favourable outcome is expected in patients with hydrocephalus which does not progress in utero, in whom the labour is not induced before 36 weeks of gestation, who are delivered vaginally weighing more than 2.5 kg and have a head circumference below the 95th centile and a CT cortical mantle thickness of 2 cm and more and who are treated by CSF shunting. The diagnosis of the foetal hydrocephaly at or before 28 weeks of gestation and the presence of a myelomeningocele did not affect the outcome significantly. Neurosurgeons are reminded to keep an open mind for infants with foetal hydrocephaly and to offer active treatment to patients with a potentially favourable outcome.     

Expression and distribution of leptospiral outer membrane components during renal infection of hamsters

The outer membrane of pathogenic Leptospira species grown in culture media contains lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a porin (OmpL1), and several lipoproteins, including LipL36 and LipL41. The purpose of this study was to characterize the expression and distribution of these outer membrane antigens during renal infection. Hamsters were challenged with host-derived Leptospira kirschneri to generate sera which contained antibodies to antigens expressed in vivo. Immunoblotting performed with sera from animals challenged with these host-derived organisms demonstrated reactivity with OmpL1, LipL41, and several other proteins but not with LipL36. Although LipL36 is a prominent outer membrane antigen of cultivated L. kirschneri, its expression also could not be detected in infected hamster kidney tissue by immunohistochemistry, indicating that expression of this protein is down-regulated in vivo. In contrast, LPS, OmpL1, and LipL41 were demonstrated on organisms colonizing the lumen of proximal convoluted renal tubules at both 10 and 28 days postinfection. Tubular epithelial cells around the luminal colonies had fine granular cytoplasmic LPS. When the cellular inflammatory response was present in the renal interstitium at 28 days postinfection, LPS and OmpL1 were also detectable within interstitial phagocytes. These data establish that outer membrane components expressed during infection have roles in the induction and persistence of leptospiral interstitial nephritis.     

VOUGHT F-8“十字军战士”HASEGAWA 1/48

<正>Vought F-8"十字军战士"可谓是60到70年代美国海军最优秀的战机之一。其服役生涯很长,先是在越南,而后在法国海军及菲空军服役,最后一批机型直到不前才投入使用。但在美国,1960年代就被"鬼怪"Ⅱ所取代。直到二十世纪十年代初,仅剩侦查机型还在服役中。"十字军战士"是最后一种搭载于美国海军航空母舰的战斗     

Iron-chelating therapy and the treatment of thalassemia

Iron-chelating therapy with deferoxamine in patients with thalassemia major has dramatically altered the prognosis of this previously fatal disease. The successes achieved with deferoxamine, as well as the limitations of this treatment, have stimulated the design of alternative strategies of iron-chelating therapy, including orally active iron chelators. The development of the most promising of these, deferiprone, has progressed rapidly over the last 5 years; data from several trials have provided direct and supportive evidence for its short-term efficacy. At the same time, the toxicity of this agent mandates a careful evaluation of the balance between risk and benefit of deferiprone in patients with thalassemia, in most of whom long-term deferoxamine is safe and efficacious therapy.