bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Morphological and functional recovery following exposure to deoxycholic acid
Authors: MATOVELO JAYRO AMOS , SUND REIDAR BREDO , LANDSVERK THOR
Published: August 2009

Whereas many studies deal with the deleterious effects of unconjugated deoxycholic acid on epithelial morphology, few are concerned with the reversibility of these effects, the subject of the present study. Tied jejunal loops in the rat were incubated for 30 minutes with deoxycholic acid (2.5–20 mmol/litre) in isotonic solution. Immediately after this treatment, or after a subsequent recovery period of 15 or 150 minutes following wash out of the bile acid, the loops were excised, fixed and examined by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Deoxycholic acid produced epithelial lesions whose severity and reversibility depended on the concentration applied. However, even the severely affected epithelium obtained by treatment at 10–20 mmol/litre was reverted to normal within 150 minutes, and a substantial normalisation was observed already after 15 minutes. An exception to this rapid restoration of epithelial morphology and integrity was noted in villi which had suffered necrosis of lamina propria. The revertion of epithelial pathology was paralleled with a normalisation of glucose absorption, of the potassium ion and protein content of the loop fluid, and of the paracellular epithelial permeability as measured with 3‐H‐poly‐ethylenglycol. Morphometry showed that deoxycholic acid caused villous atrophy without affecting the crypt length. The extent and reversibility of this atrophy depended on dose and recovery time as above. It is suggested that the remarkably fast morphological restitution proceeds mainly by processes involving cellular remodelling and migration.
Demonstration of feline infectious peritonitis virus in conjunctival epithelial cells from cats
Authors: HÖK KRISTINA
Published: August 2009

A simple technique demonstrating the presence of feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) in cats is described. Smears from the third eyelid (membrana nictitans) were dried on microscope slides, fixed in aetone, and stained using an indirect immunofluorescence method with rabbit‐anti‐FIPV serum. By this method FIPV‐antigen could be demonstrated in the cytoplasma of epithelial cells. The results obtained with this method (M3) were compared with serological and immunohistopathological methods for confirming FIPV‐infection in cats. The results obtained by the M3 test were up to 85% in concordance with these other tests. Furthermore, the M3 test was easier and quicker to perform and should be well suited for clinical practice.
Experimental Salmonella typhimurium infections in rats
Authors: HOUGEN HANS PETTER , JENSEN ELSEBETH TVENSTRUP , KLAUSEN BJARNE
Published: August 2009

The course of experimentally induced Salmonella typhimurium infection was studied in three groups of inbred LEW rats: homozygous +/+, athymic rnu/rnu and isogeneic thymus‐grafted rnu/rnu rats. In the first experiment the animals were inoculated intraperitoneally with 108 bacteria and all animals became severely septicemic and died within a week of inoculation, irrespective of presence or absence of thymus. In the second experiment the animals were inoculated with 106 bacteria, and both euthymic and thymus‐grafted animals responded with high titres of anti bacterial antibodies while these were very low in the athymic nude animals. Polyclonal antibody production was only observed in the euthymic animals and only regarding IgG. Athymic rats were not able to clear the infection, while the thymus‐grafted animals reacted like euthymic rats: Very few animals housed the bacteria four weeks after inoculation, and no bacteria could be detected after four months. Immunohistochemical studies of lymphoid organs revealed that the infection caused a drop in the percentages of T non‐helper cells, indicating low suppressor activity. The study shows that athymic nude rats are well suited for studies of infectious diseases in immune deficient hosts, and that whole neonatally isogeneic thymus grafting is a good way of reconstituting these animals immunologically.
Increased adherence to vaginal epithelial cells and phagocytic killing of gonococci and urogenital meningococci associated with heat modifiable proteins
Authors: HAGMAN MONICA , DANIELSSON DAN
Published: August 2009

Urogenital Neisseria meningitidis were characterized with regard to serogroup, colony morphology, the presence of heat modifiable proteins (HMP), attachment to human vaginal and buccal epithelial cells, and phagocytic killing by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The findings were compared with those on gonococci, and with those on meningococci isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid, with regard to colony morphology, HMP and piliation. The opacity colony morphology characteristic could be used to predict the presence of HMP in gonococci but not in meningococci, and sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis had to be used to demonstrate this surface protein. The urogenital meningococci, serogroup Y, attached significantly more efficinetly to vaginal epithelial cells in the presence of HMP and behaved in this respect like those of gonococci. Gonococci and meningococci containing HMP were more sensitive to phagocytic killing than those without HMP. Meningococci from opaque and transparent colonies and isolated from patients with meningococcal disease had no demonstrable HMP. They showed low adherence to vaginal and buccal epithelial cells, with no difference between organisms from opaque or transparent colonies.
On mast cell‐mediated mitogenesis in normal and hyperplastic mesenterial windows in female rats
Authors: BERGSTRÖM STEFAN , SIMONSEN MAGNUS , NORRBY KLAS
Published: August 2009

The outcome of the mast cell‐mediated mitogenesis in hyperplastic membranous mesenterial windows of lactating rats as well as in normal mesenterial windows of age‐matched and young virgin female rats was studied quantitatively in vivo and in organ culture. Besides elucidating the effect of age and tissue hyperplasia on mitogenic reponsiveness, this approach should provide some insight into the pathogenic mechanics of the previously reported supranormal mast cell‐mediated mitogenic reaction that emerges in similarly hyperplastic mesenterial windows of diabetic rats. Mast cell secretion was elicited by Compound 48/80 and the histamine release, which was quantified fluorometrically, was unaffected by lactation. The young female rats showed a statistically significant mast cell‐dependent mitogenesis taken as the mitotic index and the fraction of the predominating fibroblasts and mesothelial cells in the (S+G2) cell cycle phases after Feulgen‐DNA absorption analysis of the cells in situ. Although there was an age‐dependent decrease in mitogenesis, the older lactating and non‐lactating virgin control rats also showed mast cell‐mediated mitogenesis measured as the specific DNA activity. The hyperplastic mesenterial tissue of the lactating animals showed a virtually normal mitogenic reactivity following local mast cell secretion, but at a lower level than in the age‐matched controls. This finding suggests that the supranormal mast cell‐mediated mitogenesis previously found in the hyperplastic mesenterial windows of diabetic animals is causally related to the diabetic condition rather than to the hyperplastic state of the test tissue.
Different effects of ethanol on particle phagocytosis via different receptors in human monocytes
Authors: MØRLAND HENNING , MØRLAND BERIT
Published: August 2009

Endocytosis of test particles by human blood monocytes (Mo) was tested in the presence of ethanol (80 mM). Phagocytosis via the Fc (IgG)‐ or C3b receptors (R) was assessed by an assay in which IgG‐ or C3b coated sheep erythrocytes (E) were used as test particles. Latex particles were tested in parallel with opsonized E. Phagocytosis of IgG‐E was reduced to 67 ± 5% of control (= without ethanol), while the corresponding value for C3b‐E was 164 ± 26% of controls. Phagocytosis of latex particles was not affected by ethanol exposure (91 ± 8% of control). The receptor functions were also tested without ethanol present during the assays. In this part of the study, Mo were incubated with or without ethanol in autologous serum for 15 min at 37 °C. After washing the cells free of ethanol, binding properties of the Fc‐R or C3b‐R were assessed by a rosette assay. Preincubation with ethanol reduced Fc‐R binding, while attachment to C3b‐R seemed to be more effective. The experiments thus indicate different effects of ethanol treatment in vitro on phagocytic receptors in human Mo. Control experiments revealed no direct effect of ethanol on the test particles.
Two species of the phosphoprotein mRNA with differently edited reading frames discovered in measles virus infected Vero cells
Authors: KALLAND KARL‐H. , HÅVARSTEIN LEIV SIGVE , ENDRESEN CURT , HAUKENES GUNNAR
Published: August 2009

One cDNA clone representing the phosphoprotein mRNA sequence of the Edmonston strain of measles virus contained 4 G nucleotides at a particular position. Two other clones contained 3 G nucleotides at the same position. Otherwise the nucleotide sequences were identical. The mRNA with 3 G nucleotides codes for the 70 kD phosphoprotein. The mRNA with 4 G nucleotides may code for a putative new peptide with 231 aminoterminal amino acids in common with the P protein whereas the 68 carboxyterminal amino acids are different from any amino acid sequence of the phosphoprotein. Thus the consequence of the insertion of one additional G is a translational shift to a shorter open reading frame. There are several indications that the observation is of biological significance.
In vitro and in vivo effects of Imipenem on phagocytic activity of murine peritoneal macrophages
Authors: NÚÑEZ ROSA MARIA , RODRIGUEZ ANA B. , BARRIGA CARMEN , DE LA FUENTE MÓNICA
Published: August 2009

Imipenem, a new antibiotic β‐lactam, and Tienam (an Imipenem/Cilastatine combination) have been studied in vitro and in vivo respectively, in the phagocytic function of macrophages. In this paper we have seen the variations produced by 50 mg/1 of Imipenem and 120 mg/kg of Tienam in the adherence, spontaneous mobility, chemotaxis, opsonization, phagocytosis of Candida albicans and latex beads, candidicid effect and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction in peritoneal macrophages from BALB/C mice. This antibiotic significantly increases in vitro and in vivo the adherence, spontaneous mobility and chemotaxis, phagocytosis of latex beads and the digestion of ingested material (nitroblue tetrazolium reduction) in the above‐mentioned cells. The number of Candida albicans opsonized and ingested by the macrophages is not modified in the presence of Imipenem, and neither is the candidicid effect.
Test‐retest reliability of the nasopharyngeal culture in children
Authors: HEMLIN C. , BRAUNER A. , CARENFELT C. , WRETLIND B.
Published: August 2009

Aspects of test‐retest reliability of the nasopharyngeal culture were evaluated in children with otitis media and in ear. nose and throat (ENT)‐healthy children, in all 174 cases. The nasopharyngeal colonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Branhamella catarrhalis and β‐haemolytic streptococci was determined for a group of children with well‐defined otitis media with effusion (OME). The valitity of the results was then tested in a new group of children with OME. Despite seasonal differences and different bacteriologists analysing the specimens, high conformity was found between the two groups regarding distribution and recovery rates of the potential pathogens studied. The test‐retest reliability of the culture was also analysed by duplicate specimens in children with acute otitis media (AOM), OME and in ENT‐healthy children. The reproducibility of the findings of pathogens, whether quantitative aspects were considered or not, was found to be between 70 and 80% for children with AOM and OME.
Purification of human C‐reactive protein by barium sulfate and preparative agarose electrophoresis
Authors: KINDMARK CLAES‐OTTO L. , WILLIAMS JIM C.
Published: August 2009

A procedure is described for the purification of C‐reactive protein (CRP) from human serum. The methods described take advantage of the barium sulfate adsorption property of CRP and the unique biophysical property of CRP migration during electrophoresis in agarose gels containing Ca2+. The purified CRP had an apparant molecular weight of 28,000 as determined by migration of the reduced protein during SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The described procedure has the advantage of not requiring either molecular sieve or affinity chromatography for purification of homogenous CRP from human sera.
In vitro activity of vancomycin against enterococci
Authors: POULSEN PATRICIA N. , HARTZEN SUSANNE H. , RASMUSEN HANNE
Published: August 2009

The in vitro activity of vancomycin against 40 clinical isolates of enterococci was determined by a macro‐tube dilution method and by quantitative killing curve procedures employing the standard medium of our department, i.e. a filtered ox broth. An attempt to remove the influence of technical factors on the MBC determination was made by using an inoculum in the early logarithmic growth phase and ensuring the exposure of all the organisms to the antibiotic. Vancomycin showed a good inhibitory activity for the enterococci tested (MIC90 of 1.6 μg/ml, 3.1 μ/ml and 1.6 μg/ml for S. faecalis, S. faecium and S. durans, respectively), but no bactericidal effect could be demonstrated as measured by the MBCs (> 100 μg/ml) and killing curve procedures.
Alteration of macrophage function in AKR/J leukemic mice
Authors: DE LA FUENTE M.
Published: August 2009

Peritoneal macrophages from AKR/J leukemic mice, a strain which spontaneously develops a virally induced T‐cell lymphoma between the age of 8–12 months, were used to study any possible changes in adherence, opsonization, phagocytosis, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction and antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Increased adherence, opsonization and phagocytosis of particles and impaired ADCC were found when these macrophages were compared with those from tumor‐free BALB/c mice. Moreover, phagocytosis and NBT reduction in macrophages from AKR/J leukemic mice were also found to be increased when compared with macrophages from AKR/J mice in their preleukemic stage. The possibility that the decline in ADCC observed, in spite of the fact that the macrophages were activated and showed an increase in other functional aspects, may be responsible for the defective surveillance of macrophages in tumor development is also discussed.
Serum HDL2 distribution in patients with coronary heart disease and controls as estimated by a precipitation reaction between HDL2 and an extract of Staphylococcus capitis
Authors: OSLAND A. , HØSTMARK A. T. , SIMONSEN S. , LEVORSTAD K.
Published: August 2009

Serum HDL2 concentration has been shown to be lowered in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Since we previously reported that serum HDL2 can be estimated by single radial diffusion in agar containing an extract of Staphylococcus capitis, it seemed of interest to study whether serum HDL2 as estimated by this method is different in CHD patients and controls. It was shown that relative activity of HDL2, assessed by the method, was appreciably lower in 40 men with angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD) than in a control group of 39 men of the same age. Also apolipoprotein A (apo A) concentration was lower in the CAD group, but group difference in HDL2 activity was greater than separation based upon apo A. It is suggested that precipitation with an extract of Staphylococcus capitis might be a useful approach to estimate serum HDL2 levels.
Types of interpretive errors in susceptibility testing
Authors: BJÖRKLIND ANDERS , RINGERTZ SIGNE , KRONVALL GÖRAN
Published: August 2009

A total of 548 strains of the eleven most common urinary tract pathogens were investigated for possible errors in norfloxacin susceptibility tests comparing MIC determinations with disk diffusion assays. Most strains were found to be sensitive with MIC‐90 values below 1.0 for the Enterobacteriaceae while the classical nalidixic acid resistant species, the gram‐positive bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were less susceptible to norfloxacin with MIC‐90 above 1.0 mg/l. MIC‐values close to interpretive MIC‐limits were recorded for S. faecalis and S. agalactiae using the recommendations of the national Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) (susceptible, S ≤ 4.0) and for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus using the Swedish Reference Group for Antibiotics (SRGA) standards (S ≤ 1.0). Susceptibility interpretations for these species showed a lack of accuracy consistent with methodological problems of reproducibility, an error called type I. The changes in the MIC‐limits required for these strains to correct the error would be S ≤ 4 for P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, S ≤ 8 for S. agalactiae and S ≤ 0.5 for S. faecalis. A type II error, occurring when a bacterial species shows a regression line different from the regular line, was also identified for S. saprophyticus. The use of breakpoints derived from single strains regression analysis corrected this error and also reduced the frequency of similar misinterpretations in other species. The term “species‐specific MIC‐limits” should be introduced along with the established concept of “species‐specific interpretive zone breakpoints” to allow for the correction of type I interpretive errors. Type II errors can be corrected by using species‐specific interpretive breakpoints, either issued by reference laboratories or derived by calculations from single‐strain regression analysis in the individual laboratory.
A comparison between stereological estimates of mean nuclear volume and DNA flow cytometry in bladder tumours
Authors: NIELSEN KARSTEN , PETERSEN STEFFEN ELLEBÆK , ØRNTOFT TORBEN
Published: August 2009

The correlation between stereological estimate of mean nuclear volume and DNA‐content was studied in 55 human urinary bladder tumours. The DNA‐content was determined by flow cytometry on isolated nuclei stained with ethidium bromide. Trout erythrocytes were used as a biological internal standard providing an accurate determination of the DNA‐histogram. An unbiased estimate of the mean nuclear volume (V̄v) was obtained after standard formaline fixation, paraffin‐embedding, sectioning and hematoxylin‐eosin staining using the equation . Here I0 is the length of an intercept measured in a random direction through a test point, which hit a nucleus. A highly significant correlation was found between V̄v and mean DNA‐content of nuclei (2p = 0.0004). A highly significant correlation was also found between V̄v and the highest DNA‐content present in tumours having cell populations with different DNA content (2p = 0.0016). The mean nuclear volume and the DNA‐content also correlated well with the pathologic grade. Although significant the correlations were far from perfect, which indicates that DNA content and mean nuclear volume may provide partly independent biological information. The methods provide objective, unbiased and reproducible data which may improve the possibility of grading and predicting the disease course of human urinary bladder tumours.
Effects of sodium nitroprusside on blood glucose concentration, B‐cell morphology and islet glutamate dehydrogenase activity in mice
Authors: BOQUIST LENNART
Published: August 2009

Mice injected with sodium nitroprusside (NaNP) exhibited a marked, transient hyperglycemia and enhanced activity of glutamate dehydrogenase in the pancreatic islets. Ultrastructurally, the islet B‐cells of NaNP‐treated mice showed expanded granular endoplasmic reticulum, prominent Golgi complex, increased amount of secretory granules, mitochondrial enlargement and vacuolation, and mitochondrion‐secretory granule complexes. Stereological analyses disclosed increased volume of endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex and mitochondria, and increased number of secretory granules in the B‐cells 1 h after the injection of NaNP. Isolated mouse islets exposed to NaNP showed stimulated activity of glutamate dehydrogenase both in the presence of 2 and 18 mM glucose, whereas the release of insulin was stimulated at 2 mM glucose, but inhibited at 18 mM glucose. The observations demonstrate that NaNP induces transiently altered structure and function in mouse islet B‐cells.
Collaboration between human blood dendritic cells and monocytes in antigen presentation
Authors: RÄSÄNEN LIISA , LEHTO MAILI , HYÖTY HEIKKI , LEINIKKI PAULI
Published: August 2009

We compared human blood dendritic cells and monocytes for their capacity to produce secreted and membrane interleukin 1 (IL‐1), stimulate mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) and augment microbial antigen‐induced T lymphocyte proliferation. Our enriched dendritic cell and monocyte fractions contained > 80% and > 93% dendritic cells and monocytes, respectively. Monocytes produced about ten times higher amounts of membrane and secreted IL‐1 than dendritic cells, which in turn were more potent in presenting HLA‐DR antigens in MLR. Both accessory cell types presented purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) equally well, whereas monocytes were better with fixed Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) bacteria. Processing of BCG was chloroquine‐sensitive. Coculture experiments suggested that there was collaboration or synergy between dendritic cells and monocytes in antigen processing and presentation.
New receptor for human plasminogen on gram positive cocci
Authors: ULLBERG MÅNS , KRONVALL GÖRAN , WIMAN BJÖRN
Published: August 2009

180 bacterial strains representing 17 different species of gram positive cocci were tested for the ability to interact with human plasminogen. Receptors for plasminogen could be detected on 23/24 strains of S. pyogenes, 15/15 strains of S. equisimilis, 14/16 strains of human group G streptococci and 14/14 strains of S. pneumoniae. Eight of nineteen strains representing five species of alpha‐hemolytic streptococci were also positive. S. equisimilis demonstrated the highest uptake with a median value of 58 per cent (20%‐67%). On the other hand, all strains of S. agalactiae, the majority of S. faecalis and all S. aureus, S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus strains tested were negative. The concentration of unlabelled plasminogen causing a 50 per cent reduction of bound tracer was between 50 and 150 nM. These estimates of the dissociation constant confirmed the specific nature of the interaction. Binding of plasminogen could be blocked by addition of plasmin‐aprotinin complex, suggesting that plasminogen and plasmin bind to the same receptor. Binding was also blocked by the plasminogen fragment kringle 1–3, but not by miniplasminogen, a fragment containing kringle 5 and the B‐chain region. As streptokinase interacts mainly with the B‐chain of plasmin it is clear that the bacterial receptor for plasminogen is not identical to streptokinase.
Vasculitis of the breast
Authors: ØRBO ANNE , BOSTAD LEIF
Published: August 2009

A case of isolated vasculitis in the mammary gland of a 68‐year‐old female is described. Over a few months tender lumps occurred in both breasts. There were no signs of generalized disease. The sedimentation rate was normal and mammographic examination revealed no signs of malignant disease. The tumours were removed and histological examination showed inflammation, thrombosis and necrosis of medium and small arteries. We discuss the possibility of an isolated polyarteritis nodosa localized to the breast.
Ependymoma of the ovary
Authors: CARLSSON B. , HAVEL G. , KINDBLOM L.‐G. , KNUTSON F. , MARK J.
Published: August 2009

A case of primary malignant ovarian ependymoma is described. The course of the tumor disease was extremely prolonged with a 50 year history. The diagnosis is supported by immunohistochemical and ultrastructural evidence of ependymal differentiation. The histogenesis and the origin from a possible preexisting ovarian teratoma are discussed.
Penicillin‐binding proteins in Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: GUTKIND GABRIEL O. , MOLLERACH MARTA E. , DE TORRES RAMON A.
Published: August 2009

The Penicillin‐Binding Proteins (PBP) of Listeria monocytogenes 29‐CCM‐A: 454 (ATCC 15313) are described by the use of 125I‐Penicillin X as radiotracer. The membranes of this tolerant bacilli contained at least five proteins with different affinities for the radiotracer or Dicloxacillin. The molecular weights of these proteins were estimated as 76, 74, 67, 66 and 47 KDa. Dicloxacillin induced the formation of straight filaments when present at sub‐inhibitory concentrations, while Penicillin G did not induce any visible alteration in the morphology of this microorganism.
Trends in cardiac metastasis
Authors: KARWINSKI B. , SVENDSEN E.
Published: August 2009

A review of 8571 autopsies disclosed 2833 patients with malignant tumours from 1975 to 1984 at the Department of Pathology, The Gade Institute. Cardiac metastases were found in 130 cases. An increase of cardiac involvement was shown in the autopsy material from 1.2% in 1975–1979 to 1.8% in 1980–1984. The same trend was seen if cardiac metastases were related to malignant tumours. Numerically, lung cancer accounted for most of the metastases seen, but the increase was made up by other tumours than lung cancer, especially malignant melanoma, mesothelioma, breast cancer and sarcomas. These tumours have a high frequency of heart metastases and the increased incidence of these cancers in the material explains the rise of cardiac metastases. Cardiac metastases increased with rising number of distant metastases. This study shows that mesotheliomas have the highest percentage of cardiac spread. The importance of autopsy for detecting metastatic spread in sites that are difficult to detect clinically is emphasized.
Immunophenotype analysis of B‐CLL lymphoma and immunocytoma
Authors: MARTINSSON ULLA , SUNDSTRÖM CHRISTER , GLIMELIUS BENGT
Published: August 2009

The differential diagnosis between lymphocytic lymphoma of the B‐CLL type and immunocytoma (IC) can be difficult when it is based only upon morphological criteria. With the aim of improving the distinction between these subgroups, frozen sections of lymph nodes or other biopsied tissues from 14 cases of B‐CLL and 16 cases of IC were investigated according to immunophenotype. A panel of 13 B cell‐associated and 2 T cell‐associated monoclonal antibodies was used. All but one of the B‐CLL cases were FMC7, while 14/16 IC cases were FMC7+ (p < 0.001). The two negative IC cases were both of the lymphoplasmacytic type, claimed to be “more differentiated” than the lymphoplasmacytoid type. We suggest that the cells in these cases are mature enough to have lost their FMC7 positivity, similar to plasma cells. There was also a statistically significant (p < 0.01) difference, although not as pronounced, for the anti‐CD38 antibody (Leu‐17, B‐CLL: 3/14, IC: 10/16 positive). No significant difference in expression of determinants was found for any of the other antibodies.
B cell associated monoclonal antibody L26 may occasionally label T cell lymphomas
Authors: HAMILTON‐DUTOIT S. J. , PALLESEN G.
Published: August 2009

Monoclonal antibody L26 has been shown to be a very sensitive marker for B lymphocytes in formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissue. Most studies have found that the antibody is also highly specific for B cells, although a few examples of L26‐positive T cell lymphoma (TCL) have been reported. We have studied L26 reactivity in 50 TCLs (all previously extensively immunophenotyped on frozen sections) and found positive labelling in 4 cases (3 pleomorphic, medium and large cell type with surface membrane staining; 1 T‐anaplastic large cell type with cytoplasmic staining). The finding that L26 may give surface labelling in occasional TCLs (particularly of the pleomorphic, medium and large cell type) indistinguishable from that seen in B cell lymphomas emphasises the importance of always using diagnostic MAbs in combination if the risk of misinterpretation of lymphoma cell lineage is to be minimised.
Gas chromatography of mycobacterial fatty acids and alcohols: Diagnostic applications
Authors: JANTZEN ERIK , TANGEN TORILL , ENG JAN
Published: August 2009

Capillary gas chromatography of cellular fatty acids and alcohols has been used as a routine method for a period of two years in the mycobacterial diagnostic laboratory of Statens institutt for folkehelse, Oslo, Norway. All mycobacteria (165 isolates) other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MOTT) and 24 randomly selected M. tuberculosis isolates were studied. Twelve characteristic lipid constituents allowed the construction of a diagnostic scheme. Without exceptions, all 36 examined isolates belonging to the M. tuberculosis‐complex were characterized by a relatively high concentration level of hexacosanoic acid (mean: 4%, range: 1–13%), low level of tetracosanoic acid (mean: 1%, range: 0.1–3%), lack of methylbranched acids other than tuberculostearic acid, and lack of fatty alcohols. Members of the MAIS‐complex (73 isolates) were all characterized by the general presence of the fatty alcohols 2‐octadecanol (mean: 2%, range: 0.1–5%) and 2‐eicosanol (mean: 7%, range: 2–21%), relatively high levels of tetracosanoic acid (mean: 5%, range: 1–15%) and lack (or trace) of hexacosanoic acid and methylbranched acids other than tuberculostearic acid. All 16 isolates of M. gordonae were easily recognized by their unique lack of tuberculostearic acid and their content of 2‐methyl‐tetradecanoic acid (mean: 5%, range: 2–12%), and the M. xenopi isolates were the only examined strains containing the fatty alcohol 2‐docosanol (mean: 9%, range: 2–13%). The six M. malmoense strains contained the two unique constituents 2‐methyl eicosanoic acid (mean: 3%, range: 1–4%) and 2,4,6‐trimethyl tetracosanoic acid (mean: 3%, range: 2–4%). The ten strains of M. kansasii were characterized by 2,4‐dimethyl tetradecanoic acid (mean: 5%, range: 1–11%), whereas the seven strains of M. marinum shared 2,4‐dimethyl hexadecanoic acid (mean: 4%, range 0.2–12%) as a specific marker.
Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in simulated clinical samples by Polymerase Chain Reaction
Authors: JENSEN JORGEN SKOV , SONDERGÅD‐ANDERSEN JAN , ULDUM SØREN A. , LIND KLAUS
Published: August 2009

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect Mycoplasma (M) pneumoniae DNA in simulated clinical samples. Throat swabs were mixed with known amounts of broth‐grown M. pneumoniae cells. An estimated detection limit of less than 40 colony forming units (cfu) was obtained without the need for time‐consuming hybridization. The PCR is completed in one day and may be useful for the early detection of M. pnuemoniae in clinical samples.
Evaluation of Stuart's transport medium containing penicillinase
Authors: ANDREASEN JAN JESPER , THOMSEN VILLY FRØLUND , POULSEN PATRICIA NUNEZ , NIR MARTA
Published: August 2009

An in vitro study was performed to evaluate the value of penicillinase in Stuart's transport medium. Swabs were taken from serum broth cultures of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Proteus rettgeri, incubated with cefuroxime. Following 24 hours' storage in the transport medium, the recovery of P. rettgeri was significantly higher from Stuart's transport media containing penicillinase in a concentration of 100000 units/ml, than from swabs stored in Stuart's medium without penicillinase. Although susceptible to cefuroxime, we did not find the same effect on S. aureus and E. coli, presumably because these strains had higher MIC values than the P. rettgeri strain tested.
Expression of a new mucin‐type glycoprotein in select epithelial dysplasias and neoplasms detected immunocytochemically with Mab A‐80
Authors: SHIN SUNG SIK , GOULD VICTOR E. , GOULD JAMES E. , WARREN WILLIAM H. , GOULD KAREN A. , YAREMKO M. LISA , MANDERINO GEORGE L. , RITTENHOUSE HARRY G. , TOMITA J. T. , JANSSON DESIREE S. , STAREN EDGAR D. , CHEJFEC GREGORIO , GOOCH GARY T.
Published: August 2009

We studied by immunocytochemistry 573 tissue and 106 cytologic samples of human tumors, non‐neoplastic proliferative lesions and normal tissues with the monoclonal antibody (Mab) A‐80 that recognizes a mucinous glycoprotein from the colon carcinoma cell line LS‐174T. The spectrum of benign and malignant breast lesions was studied as were epithelial tumors of the colon, stomach, pancreas, lung, salivary glands, thyroid, prostate, kidney, endometrium, skin and mesothelium; non‐epithelial tumors included lymphomas, melanomas, gliomas, meningiomas, and sarcomas of soft tissue and bone. With a single exception, breast carcinomas regardless of histologic type were reactive while few fibroadenomas stained weakly and focally. In fibrocystic disease, the presence and intensity of the reactivity paralleled the severity of the epithelial proliferation, e.g. staining was strong in foci of severe or atypical hyperplasia, borderline lesions and carcinomas in situ; apocrine metaplasia stained often but less strongly. Barrett's mucosa, colonic polyps and most gastric and colonic carcinomas stained regardless of glandular features while small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas did not. Adenocarcinomas of the pancreas and lung, and a subset of large cell lung carcinomas reacted whereas neuroendocrine carcinomas of those sites did not. Carcinomas of endometrium, ovary and prostate reacted variably whereas thyroid and renal carcinomas and mesotheliomas were either negative or weakly reactive despite the presence of glands. Lymphomas, skin adnexal tumors, nevi, schwannomas, melanomas, gliomas and sarcomas generally did not react but occasional A‐80‐positive cells were seen in rare sarcomas and meningiomas. Immunostaining patterns in cytologic specimens were similar to the aforementioned. We conclude that Mab A‐80 is an excellent marker for breast carcinomas, and for certain proliferative forms of fibrocystic disease that may precede or be associated with carcinomatous transformation. In colonic, pulmonary and gastric carcinomas, staining with Mab A‐80 revealed exocrine features regardless of the absence of glands whereas in renal and thyroid carcinomas and in mesotheliomas staining was focal and weak or absent irrespective of glandular features. We suggest that Mab A‐80 is a very promising immunolabel for select exocrine carcinomas, and for some of the dysplasias that may precede their development; its ease of application on tissue sections and cytologic specimens should broaden its usefulness.
Effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa rhamnolipid on human neutrophil and monocyte function
Authors: KHARAZMI ARSALAN , BIBI ZOUHAIR , NIELSEN HENRIK , HØIBY NIELS , DÖRING GERD
Published: August 2009

The effect of rhamnolipid purified from culture supernatant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on human peripheral blood neutrophil and monocyte function was studied. It was shown that rhamnolipid at concentrations of up to 100 μg/ml did not affect neutrophil and monocyte chemotaxis towards various chemoattractants. The rhamnolipid by itself did not show chemotactic activity and did not induce any oxidative burst response. Preincubation of monocytes with rhamnolipid enhanced the oxidative burst response of these cells to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and to opsonized zymosan by 2 to 5 fold. The priming effect was observed both in a superoxide assay and in a chemiluminescence assay. However, rhamnolipid did not prime the neutrophil oxidative burst response. Monocytes/macrophages are involved in the inflammatory process in the lung infections caused by P. aeruginosa and oxygen radicals are known to cause tissue damage. Therefore the priming by rhamnolipid of monocytes for enhanced generation of oxygen radicals may play a role in the pathogenesis of tissue damage in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients with P. aeruginosa infections.
CEA in colonic adenocarcinomas and precancerous lesions
Authors: TORMO BLANCA R. , GAVILONDO JORGE V. , DOMINGUEZ CARLOS , FREYRE MILAGROS , RODRIGUEZ TERESITA , BIBERFELD PETER
Published: August 2009

Using a new anti‐CEA (CB‐CEA‐1) murine monoclonal antibody, the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was studied in normal, premalignant and malignant human adult tissues with particular emphasis on colorectal mucosa. The CB‐CEA‐1 epitope was poorly expressed in normal adult tissues but was consistently found in colon cancers and adenomas in distinctive immunohistochemical patterns. Some apical staining was found with CB‐CEA‐1 in cells of normal colon mucosa whereas colon adenocarcinomas had a predominantly cytoplasmic staining pattern. Colonic adenomas presented a varied staining pattern. Some showed apical staining, others a CEA distribution pattern similar to that of adenocarcinomas, particularly those with a villous component. Our findings indicate a differential expression of CB‐CEA‐1 in adenoma cells in relation to their potential for malignant transformation. The possible usefulness of this Mab defined epitope for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes is indicated.
Surface hydrophobicity and electrophoretic mobilities of staphylococcal exotoxins with special reference to toxic shock syndrome toxin‐1
Authors: ERIKSSON KJELL‐OVE , NAIDU A. SATYANARAYAN , KILÁR FERENC , WADSTRÖM TORKEL , HJERTÉN STELLAN
Published: August 2009

The surface hydrophobicities of eleven staphylococcal toxins were estimated and compared with those of standard proteins on an octyl agarose column by high‐performance hydrophobic‐interaction chromatography (HP‐HIC). Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) D, C3, C2, C1 and B showed a low surface hydrophobicity whereas alpha‐toxin and gamma‐toxin had a moderate surface hydrophobicity. SEA, toxic shock syndrome toxin‐1 (TSST‐1) and staphylococcal epidermolytic toxin (SET) showed high surface hydrophobicity and delta‐toxin was the most hydrophobic protein. The electrophoretic mobility of the toxins was determined by free zone electrophoresis (FZE). All toxins except SEC1 and one of the two SEA species showed negative charge at pH 8.6. Charge heterogeneity was observed in SEA, SEC1, SEC3 and TSST‐1: SEA and SEC1 had two overlapping components, whereas SEC3 and TSST‐1 were resolved into two distinct components. The mobilities of the two TSST‐1 components were estimated at ‐2.12 times 10‐5 and ‐3.60 times 10‐5 cm2v‐1s‐1, respectively, at 10 °C, and both fractions were immunologically indistinguishable as tested by specific TSST‐1 antibodies with ELISA. An asymmetric peak was obtained in hydrophobic‐interaction chromatography of TSST‐1, indicating heterogeneity.
Spindle cell carcinoma of the larynx
Authors: HELLQUIST HENRIK , OLOFSSON JAN
Published: August 2009

The clinicopathological features of 14 laryngeal neoplasms consisting of spindle‐shaped cells are presented. Light microscopy showed a variety of morphological patterns from that of pleomorphic sarcoma and fibrosarcoma to more loose vascular patterns. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the spindle‐shaped cells had a positive keratin immunoreactivity in 8 of 14 cases, and also that some cases had a dual expression of keratin and vimentin filaments. Electron microscopy showed that spindle‐shaped cells had epithelial ultrastructures. The results support the hypothesis that the spindle cell carcinomas are true carcinomas with mesenchymal metaplasia and that the spindle‐shaped cells are part of the neoplasm and not benign, reactive fibroblasts. These lesions occurred mainly on the true vocal cords in elderly patients. The neoplasms were nearly all polypoid, and many also ulcerated. There is no significant difference in clinical behaviour between laryngeal spindle cell carcinomas and ordinary squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx, and the same treatment policy is therefore advocated. Being polypoid and therefore able to be surgically removed with relative ease, they may even present a more favourable clinical course.
Protective properties of a human IgG preparation rich in antibodies to a wide spectrum of lipopolysaccharides
Authors: FOMSGAARD ANDERS , GALANOS CHRIS
Published: August 2009

Naturally occurring human IgG, rich in antibodies to different lipopolysaccharides was investigated for possible protective effects against lethal endotoxin shock and lethal gram‐negative infection in mice. The IgG preparation was obtained from pooled serum of selected blood donors with high concentrations of antibodies to 11 different LPS as measured by ELISA. The human IgG (5 mg/mouse) protected C3H/TifF mice against an otherwise lethal infection with Salmonella typhimurium. The human IgG also inhibited the lethality induced by purified LPS in D‐galactosamine sensitized C57B1/6 mice. The protection was dependent on the IgG dose given. However, protection was not obtained against all the LPS preparations tested. Absorption of the IgG with different LPS, showed the protection to be caused by serotype‐specific anti‐LPS antibodies. Protection against a given LPS was not related directly to the corresponding anti‐LPS titer as measured by ELISA and passive hemolysis. The interpretation of these results is discussed.
Vascular protein deposits in temporal arteritis with special reference to failure of histological findings
Authors: FISCHER SIMON , BALSLEV EVA
Published: August 2009

The object of an immunohistochemical search for vascular protein deposits in temporal arteritis is to assess the diagnostic possibilities in cases which are clinically typical but unconfirmed by biopsy results. In a group of older patients with arteritis, however, vascular aging may give rise to intimal thickening and a broad‐spectrum deposition of protein. In an inter‐ and intra‐individual comparison of vascular segments with and without arteritis we, however, found a few protein markers in arteritis which are essentially different from those in vascular aging. The intimal thickening and immune reaction in 9 selected marker proteins were graded 0‐2, using the tunica media as reference for both properties. Of the nine proteins studied, α‐2‐macroglobulin was significantly increased, not only in segments affected with arteritis, but also in unaffected segments from the same biopsy as compared with biopsies from patients not suffering from this disease. 79% of patients with biopsy‐confirmed arteritis also showed a significantly elevated serum α‐2‐macroglobulin as compared to 27% of those having only changes attributed to aging. In conclusion, immunohistochemical demonstration of deposits in the arterial wall and elevated serum levels of α‐2‐macroglobulin substantiate the clinical suspicion of arteritis in the absence of histological and inflammatory changes.
A comparative study of two lipases from different strains of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: ROLLOF JAN , HEDSTRÖM SVEN ÅKE , NILSSON‐EHLE PETER
Published: August 2009

In order to compare lipases from two different Staphylococcus aureus strains (FN 37 and TEN 5), the enzymes from the respective strains were purified using octyl‐Sepharose chromatography and characterized with regard to chemical, immunological and enzymatic properties. Differences in the size of the lipases in their native forms necessitated modifications of the purification process, but after purification identical subunits of about 43 kD were found in SDS‐PAGE, and both lipases had an apparent molecular weight of 110 kD when subjected to gel chromatography on Sephadex G‐200. Analysis of the amino acid compositions of the lipases showed considerable differences. Serine was the predominant amino acid in the FN 37 lipase, whereas glycine was most abundant in the TEN 5 lipase. Nevertheless, the two lipases were similar when tested with double immune diffusion against an antiserum raised against the TEN 5 lipase, and inactivation of enzyme activities by the antiserum followed the same patterns. Enzymatically, the enzymes were similar with regard to salt inhibition, ion dependency and heat inactivation. The substrate specificities, tested against glyceride substrates, were similar. Thus, the two staphylococcal lipases seem to be similar but not identical.
Evaluation of the combination effects of ampicillin or vancomycin combined with streptomycin, gentamicin, tobramycin or netilmicin against enterococci
Authors: FUURSTED K.
Published: August 2009

Seven strains of Streptococcus faecalis, of which two possessed highlevel resistance to streptomycin (MIC ≥ 2000 mcg/ml), and two strains of Streptococcus faecium were evaluated with respect to killing‐effect and duration of post‐antibiotic effect (PAE) of ampicillin and vancomycin in combination with streptomycin, gentamicin, tobramycin and netilmicin. No synergistic combination effects were seen with the two strains highly‐resistant to streptomycin or with the two Streptococcus faecium strains to netilmicin and tobramycin. When these strains were excluded, no significant difference in average killing could be detected between the four aminoglycosides. The mean prolongation in recovery period of susceptible strains was significantly longer with combinations of ampicillin and netilmicin or streptomycin as compard with either gentamicin or tobramycin. A similar relationship was seen for combinations of vancomycin with the four aminoglycosides.
Synergism and mechanism of subinhibitory concentration of streptomycin on Streptococcus faecalis
Authors: FUURSTED K.
Published: August 2009

The influence of various incubation conditions on synergism with cell wall‐active agents combined with streptomycin was studied in a Streptococcus faecalis strain. It could be shown that both a synergistic increased killing effect and a synergistic prolongation of post‐antibiotic effect (PAE) were not dependent on an active process, as they occurred both in an anaerobic atmosphere and when an electron transport inhibitor (sodium azide) was added to the media. Moreover, it was demonstrated that if a drug, alone or in combination with streptomycin, had a PAE, there was an increased susceptibility to a subinhibitory concentration of streptomycin (1/4xMIC) when added to a culture recovering from its PAE. These findings confirm the commonly held belief in a mechanistic mechanism of synergism: That cell wall‐active agents modify in some way the cell‐envelope, thereby enhancing aminoglycoside uptake and killing in Streptococcus faecalis.
Susceptibility testing of Danish isolates of Capnocytophaga and CDC group DF‐2 bacteria
Authors: BREMMELGAARD ANNIE , PERS CHARLOTTE , KRISTIANSEN JETTE E. , KORNER BENT , HELTBERG OLE , FREDERIKSEN WILHELM
Published: August 2009

Twelve Capnocytophaga and seven DF‐2 strains were tested for their susceptibility to 14 antimicrobial agents using an agar dilution and an agar diffusion method. Twenty‐three other antibiotics were evaluated using the diffusion test only. All strains were fully susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, erythromycin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, doxycycline, rifamycin and ofloxacin using both methods. Clindamycin, rifamycin and cefotaxime were most active. Using agar dilution some strains were susceptible to gentamicin, but agar diffusion showed total resistance. One Capnocytophaga strain was susceptible and another moderately susceptible to metronidazole, other strains were resistant. The agar diffusion test showed that both Capnocytophaga and DF‐2 were resistant to most other aminoglycosides, to fosfomycin, polymyxin and trimethoprim. All strains of both taxa were fully susceptible to piperacillin, cefoxitin, imipenem and fusidic acid and showed different susceptibilities to the other agents. Susceptibility testing by means of agar diffusion using an enriched chocolate agar and 5% CO2 atmosphere could be used to test Capnocytophaga and DF‐2 strains and gives sufficient accuracy for routine use, when revised inhibition zone breakpoints are employed.