Selective interference with class I major histocompatibility complex presentation of the major immediate-early protein following infection with human cytomegalovirus

Responses of cytotoxic T-cells (Tc) to human cytomegalovirus (CMV) represent the predominant mechanism by which hosts resist CMV infection. The CMV major immediate-early protein (IE) is present throughout the virus replicative cycle. Studies were performed to determine whether Tc specific for IE effectively lyse CMV-infected targets and are thus capable of providing protective immunity against infection. After in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with CMV-infected autologous fibroblasts, Tc specific for IE were not readily detectable in CMV-reactive polyclonal Tc lines. However, after stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with cells selectively expressing IE, weak but detectable IE-specific Tc responses were observed. The frequency of IE-specific Tc clones derived from cultures stimulated with IE-expressing cells was 50 to 100 times lower than the frequency of Tc clones specific for other CMV proteins isolated from cultures stimulated with CMV-infected cells. All of the IE-specific Tc clones, which efficiently lysed targets selectively expressing IE, demonstrated minimal lysis of CMV-infected fibroblasts, despite abundant IE expression in these target cells. In contrast to these results with IE, other viral proteins were efficiently presented during all phases of CMV infection. These data suggest that CMV has evolved a unique mechanism for selectively limiting the presentation of the potentially immunogenic IE protein, which may preclude IE-specific Tc from providing protective immunity to CMV infection.     

Outcome of different treatment mixes in a multidimensional neuropsychological rehabilitation program.

Within a clinical demonstration program, 59 traumatically brain-injured patients were treated with 1 of 3 mixes of treatment. Mix 1 included cognitive remediation (CGR), small-group interpersonal (SGI) communication training, therapeutic community activities, and personal counseling. Mix 2 was similar to Mix 1 but stressed SGI exercises and eliminated CGR. Mix 3 emphasized CGR and eliminated SGI exercises. The efficacy of the treatment mixes was evaluated with performance on neuropsychological tests, improved independence in functional activities, measures of intra- and interpersonal functioning, and vocational outcome. Ss' participation in the program, irrespective of treatment mix, yielded improvements in (1) self-image, (2) quality of interpersonal relatedness and interaction, (3) involvement with others in naturalistic settings, and (4) vocational outcome. Overall, data point to the superiority of the balanced mix (Mix 1) over Mixes 2 and 3. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Minor histocompatibility antigens as targets for T-cell therapy after bone marrow transplantation

BACKGROUND: Topical antimicrobials have been considered for treatment of secondarily infected wounds because of the potential for reduced risk of adverse effects and greater patient convenience. We compared mupirocin cream with oral cephalexin in the treatment of wounds such as small lacerations, abrasions, or sutured wounds. METHODS: In 2 identical randomized double-blind studies, 706 patients with secondarily infected wounds (small lacerations, abrasions, or sutured wounds) received either mupirocin cream topically 3 times daily or cephalexin orally 4 times daily for 10 days. RESULTS: Clinical success at follow-up was equivalent in the two groups: 95.1% and 95.3% in the mupirocin cream and the cephalexin groups, respectively (95% confidence interval [CI], -4.0% to 3.6%; P = .89). The intention-to-treat success rate was 83% in both groups. Bacteriologic success at follow-up was also comparable: 96.9% in the mupirocin cream and 98.9% in the cephalexin groups (95% CI, -6.0% to 2.0%; P = .22). The occurrence of adverse experiences related to study treatment was similar for the 2 groups, with fewer patients in the mupirocin cream group reporting diarrhea (1.1% vs 2.3% for cephalexin). CONCLUSIONS: Mupirocin cream applied topically 3 times daily is as effective as oral cephalexin given 4 times daily for the treatment of secondarily infected wounds and was well tolerated.     

Stress-induced chemiluminescence from nylon 66 fibers

The emission of visible light during the tensile deformation of medium- and high-tenacity nylon 66 yarns in air has been studied at strain rates of 0.63–200%/min and at temperatures of 20–110°C. Emission is observed only in an oxidative atmosphere and increases with temperature according to an Arrhenius relation. The activition energy decreases with applied stress. The intensity at any temperature can be described by the sum of a component linear with stress and another exponential in stress above ～60% of the ultimate strength. These results and the measured spectral distribution suggest that light emission arises from bimolecular termination of alkyl peroxy macroradicals. The chemiluminescence growth curves indicate that the applied stress increases the oxidation rate of the fiber due to internal and external frictional heating while, at high strains, stress-induced main-chain scission occurs up to fiber failure. The growth curve is sensitive to the load history of the fiber. The chemiluminescence decay curves are a sensitive probe of radical reactions such as cage termination and stabilizer scavenging in the amorphous region of the polymer.     

Determination of polymer-solvent interaction parameters using piezoelectric crystals,with reference to the sorption of chemical warfare agents

Polymeric materials which show sensitivity to certain classes of organic vapors and give minimal responses from interferents are being sought for use as coatings on piezoelectric mass detection devices. The present work illustrates some simple methods for the determination of fundamental properties such as polymer-solvent interaction parameters and diffusion constants, and relates these to the sensitivity and response time of the sensor. Polymers with a controlled variation in crosslink density were exposed to a variety of common solvents and vapors covering a range of solubility parameters. Seven non-crosslinked amorphous polymeric materials were also assessed for their suitability as selective coatings for the detection of a range of chemical warfare vapors. Gross differences in the response characteristics of coated crystals immersed in liquids can be predicted, and an approximate guide to the relative rates of solvent penetration can also be obtained. More accurate predictions are hampered by the lack of knowledge of the specific interactions which occur within polymer–solvent pairs. Crosslinking the polymer film to enable operation in strongly solvating liquids has the effect of reducing the extent of swelling to a larger degree than expected on the basis of existing theories. The operation of coated crystals in the gas phase at very high vapor concentrations leads to a dual site adsorption process which can be described by the BET equation. At much lower vapor concentrations Henry's law appears to determine the response, and a simple solution model developed from partition theory for stationary phases in gas–liquid chromatography can be used to interpret the sensitivity of three non-crosslinked amorphous polymeric films to DMMP, GA, GB, and GD. While adequately describing the responses of the organophosphorus esters, the model is not as satisfactory in predicting the interactions with HD. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Comparison of measures of visual acuity in infants: Teller acuity cards and sweep visual evoked potentials

PURPOSE: This study compares the development of acuity in the same infants during one testing session using Teller acuity cards (TAC) and sweep visual evoked potentials (sVEP). We asked whether different testing methods in two centers would produce different developmental time courses. METHODS: Forty-eight infants were tested in two centers. The standard procedure for TAC was used. For sVEP acuity, the amplitude response curve derived from time-locked cortical activity was used to extrapolate to zero response, giving an acuity estimate for each infant. RESULTS: sVEP acuity was generally higher than TAC acuity. The rate of development was steeper for TAC than sVEP acuity with TAC starting at a much lower level. The ratio of sVEP to TAC acuity decreased exponentially with age reaching an asymptote of about 1.44 at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Results were indistinguishable between centers suggesting that comparison of acuity measures obtained using variations of these methods across centers is possible.     

LAND USE AND FLOOD RISK THROUGH CATCHMENT FLOOD-MANAGEMENT PLANS

Catchment Flood Management Plans involve a high-level assessment of current flood risk and attempt to demonstrate how this risk could change with time. An influencing factor will be the changes to rural and urban land use on catchment hydraulics. By assessing a range of land use and urban-growth scenarios catchment wide, a 'catchment flood management plan' can demonstrate the cumulative effect on downstream flood-risk areas. 'Catchment flood management plan' methods also indicate how long-term land-use and climate changes can expose new areas to more frequent flooding. Techniques to assess these issues, up to a 50-year horizon, have been established as part of these pilot studies. In addition to briefly describing how land-use concerns are integrated into such concepts, this paper outlines how flood-management planning must evolve as a dynamic tool, to fulfil an on-going requirement for future development assessment.