bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bone marrow transplantation in the rat
Authors: RENKONEN RISTO , HÄYRY PEKKA
Published: August 2009

We have isolated inflammatory leukocytes from various lymphoid and parenchymal organs after total body irradiation and bone marrow transplantatation from either an allogeneic or syngeneic strain and tested their ability to perform lytic functions in vitro. No direct lytic activity (i.e. cytotoxic T lymphocytes, CTL) to relevant strain‐derived target cells in the lymphoid or parenchymal target organs was seen preceding or during acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGVHD). Instead, the leukocytes of the spleen and blood and the inflammatory cells of liver and lungs were efficient effector cells against recipient‐derived target cells in the presence of relevant antibody (antiboy dependent cellular cytotoxicity, ADCC). The NK activity against YAC‐1 (natural killer, NK) target cells was first high in the spleen, but when the aGHVD appeared in the allograft marrow recipients the NK activity decreased in the spleen with a concomitant increase in the liver, but not in the other parenchymal target organs. At the same time no NK activity was seen in the syngeneic marrow graft recipients' parenchymal organs. These observations suggest functional differences in the structure of inflammation in the different target organs of aGVHD.
Hemagglutination by Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: LINDAHL MATS , JONSSON PER , MÅRDH PER ANDERS
Published: August 2009

Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bovine mastitis exhibited hemagglutinating activity when cultivated on nutrient‐poor, solid medium. Out of 56 strains, 41 (73%) hemagglutinated. S. aureus agglutinated sheep erythrocytes to a greater extent than it agglutinated either human, bovine or equine erythrocytes. Hemagglutination was more conspicuous with erythrocytes from certain sheep individuals, indicating blood‐group specificity. Receptors on sheep erythrocytes were apparently of carbohydrate nature since periodate‐treated erythrocytes were not agglutinated. Hemagglutinating properties were associated with the ability to adhere to human buccal cells. Crude staphylococcal extracts were able to partially inhibit bacterial adherence to epithelial cells.
Implantation of colon cancer cells onto renal pelvic mucosa
Authors: SHIRAISHI TAIZO , HASEGAWA YASUHIRO , ITOH HIDENOBU , NAKAKUKI KAZUYA
Published: August 2009

We report here on a patient with recurrent sigmoid colon carcinoma. Postmortem examination revealed a fist‐sized tumor in the retroperitoneum, invasive to the left ureter obstructing its lumen causing hydronephrosis of the ipsilateral kidney. Histological examination of the kidney showed multiple foci of adenocarcinoma cells on the pelvic surface. Invasion into the underlying tissue was not observed, and there was no tumor in the submucosal tissue of the pelvis or in the parenchyma of the left kidney. Cancer cells on the renal pelvic mucosa showed strong immunoreactivities for CEA and CA19‐9. These findings suggest that the tumor foci in the pelvis are formed by the intraluminal implantation of colon cancer cells detached from the ureteric metastasis. Our case presents the possibility of the implantation of carcinoma cells in the human urinary tract.
Bacterial and host determinants of renal scarring
Authors: LOMBERG HELENA , DE MAN PETER , EDÉN CATHARINA SVANBORG
Published: August 2009

This review summarizes recent work examining the interaction between host and parasite in recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) and renal scarring. Virulence in uropathogenic E. coli has been defined by the severity of acute disease. Isolates from patients with acute pyelonephritic strains differ from those causing asymptomatic bacteriuria by multiple traits which contribute to virulence, and which are coexpressed in a non‐random manner. The single marker most characteristic for the pyelonephritogenic clones is bacterial adherence to uroepithelial cells binding specifically to the disaccharide Galα 1–4 Galβ within the globoseries of glycolipids. The notion that the most severe consequence of acute pyelonephritis, i.e. renal scarring, was caused by the most virulent clones, was contradicted by comparison of pyelonephritic strains isolated from children with and without scarring. The virulent clones were significantly less frequent in patients with renal scarring (22%) than in patients with recurrent pyelonephritis not developing renal scars (62%). In view of the unexpected inverse association of bacterial virulence with renal scarring lack of Galα 1–4 Galβ binding capacity of E. coli strains was found to predict the risk for renal scarring among boys with first‐time acute pyelonephritis. Vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) is widely accepted as a host determinant of susceptibility to pyelonephritis and renal scarring. In our study the frequency of renal scarring was 57% among girls with VUR as compared to 8% of those without. The reflux alone did however, not explain the selection of bacteria of low virulence. Individuals prone to UTI and renal scarring were found to be a genetically selected subgroup of the general population. A correlation between P1 blood group phenotype and susceptibility to UTI and between blood group non‐secretor state and renal scarring was found. The mechanisms behind these relationships need to be defined. The bacterial and host parameters combined indicate that host parameters are essential for the tendency to develop renal scarring after acute pyelonephritis.
Interactions between three subpopulations of Ehrlich ascites tumor and a P388 murine leukemia in mixed solid tumors in immune competent mice
Authors: AABO KRISTIAN , VINDELØV LARS L. , CHRISTENSEN IB , SPANG‐THOMSEN MOGENS
Published: August 2009

Cellular interactions between three subpopulations of Ehrlich ascites tumor and between these and the P388 murine leukemia were studied during growth of solid tumors obtained by mixtures of the cells in immune competent N/D mice. An immunogenic Ehrlich cell line (E1.15) induced an immunologically based growth inhibition of the two other Ehrlich cell lines (E1.80 and E1.95) which themselves were non‐immunogenic. E1.15 was, however, unable to induce an immunological response against the P388 cell line. It is therefore suggested that when in close contact, immunologically induced cellular responses imposed by an immunogenic cell line on other cell lines require genetic and thereby close immunogenic resemblance between the cell lines. Another type of interaction was found between the E1.95 cell line and the P388 line which showed nearly identical growth characteristics as determined by tumor weight day 14, tumor growth curves, cell cycle times (per cent labelled mitoses) and cell cycle distributions (flow cytometric DNA analysis). After 2 weeks of growth of mixed P388/E1.95 tumors, flow cytometric DNA analysis on fine‐needle tumor aspirates showed nearly total dominance of P388. This type of interaction required close cellular contact of viable cells, and no cellular immune response was elicited by the host animals. A third finding was that a faster growing Ehrlich cell line E1.95 dominated the tumors when inoculated in mixture with a slower growing subpopulation E1.80. This could be explained on the basis of the cell kinetic differences between these two cell lines.
Tubuloreticular inclusions in skin biopsies from patients with HIV infection
Authors: PEDERSEN COURT , HORN THOMAS , JUNGE JETTE , HAAHR SVEN , NIELSEN JENS OLE
Published: August 2009

Skin biopsies obtained from apparently normal skin from 15 HIV infected patients and 6 anti‐HIV negative patients were examined by electron microscopy. Tubuloreticular inclusions (TRI) were detected within the cytoplasm of capillary endothelial cells in 5/5 AIDS patients and in 2/5 patients with AIDS related conditions. Biopsies from 5 asymptomatic HIV positive patients and the 6 control subjects were without ultrastructural alterations. The occurrence of TRI was related to low numbers of CD 4+ lymphocytes. 5/7 patients with TRI had elevated serum interferon activity, and in all of the patients without TRI, interferon activity was below detection level. The occurrence of TRI was not dependent on the presence of free p24 antigen in serum. It is concluded that the occurrence of TRI in entothelial cells of skin capillaries is associated with late stages of HIV infection and this may indicate a generalization of this change.
Tissue sampling and histological grading in colorectal cancer
Authors: HALVORSEN TORE B.
Published: August 2009

Microscopical sections from 50 colorectal adenocarcinomas were examined to test the representativity of routine sections with regard to histological grade. Point‐counting of drawings of microscopical fields from randomly selected parts of whole‐tumour specimens formed the basis for estimates of volumetric relationships between parts of the tumours exhibiting well, moderately and poorly differentiated glands. An overall histological grade was assigned to each tumour, and was compared with the grade obtained by examining a limited number of routine sections from the same tumour. It is concluded that if superficial and deep parts of the tumours are included, and provided that the sections measure at least 2–3 cm, colorectal adenocarcinomas may be graded with sufficient accuracy on the basis of one or two routine sections.
Serosurvey for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in Danish dogs
Authors: HANSEN KLAUS , DIETZ HANS HENRIK
Published: August 2009

To estimate the regional presence of B. burgdorferi we performed a serosurvey for antibodies to B. burgdorferi in 205 healthy dogs from representative areas of Denmark. Blood samples were collected from November 1986 to March 1987. Twenty dogs bred for research purposes served as negative controls. IgG‐antibodies to the B. burgdorferi strain DK‐ECM 1 were measured by indirect immunofluorescens assay. Antibody titers ranged from nonreactive to 640. In 33 dogs (16.1%) titres were ≥80, indicating exposure to B. burgdorferi. There were no significant differences in the prevalence rate of seropositive dogs due to place of residence, sex or age. The results indicate that dogs are exposed to tickborne B. burgdorferi in most areas of Denmark.
Nutrient and environmental growth factors for nine oral small‐sized spirochete strains containing one endoflagellum from each cell end
Authors: FIEHN NILS‐ERIK
Published: August 2009

The present investigation was carried out in order to obtain better information about the growth requirements of small‐sized spirochetes containing one endoflagellum from each cell end. Nine strains of such spirochetes were isolated from subgingival plaque in patients suffering from advanced marginal periodontitis. The strains were maintained in fluid NOS medium with 0.07% Noble Agar. The following environmental factors were studied: Oxygen in the incubation atmosphere and the pH value of the medium. The following nutrient factors were studied: Rabbit serum, heart infusion and trypticase, bovine albumine, human globulin, long‐chain fatty acids, volatile fatty acids, steroids, amino acids, carbohydrates, and Na‐bicarbonate. Growth was normally determined after 3 days' incubation at 35 °C by counting numbers of spirochete cells in a Petroff‐Hausser counting chamber. All strains tolerated 3% oxygen in the atmosphere and the pH‐optimum was 7.5. Rabbit serum was found not to be an essential nutrient factor. Human globulin stimulated growth, while bovine albumine inhibited growth. Heart infusion and trypticase influenced growth moderately. Of the remaining nutrient factors the long‐chain fatty acids inhibited growth and the volatile fatty acids did not affect growth, while certain carbohydrates, especially glucose, stimulated growth. Na‐bicarbonate in low concentrations stimulated growth, while higher concentrations inhibited growth.
A histomorphometric determination of iliac bone remodeling in patients with recurrent renal stone formation and idiopathic hypercalciuria
Authors: STEINICHE T. , MOSEKILDE L. , CHRISTENSEN M. S. , MELSEN F.
Published: August 2009

33 normocalcemic patients (22 males and 11 females) aged 20–68 years with recurrent renal stone formation and idiopathic hypercalciuria were compared to 33 approximately sex‐ and age‐matched normal controls. Quantitative histomorphometric analysis of iliac crest biopsies were performed after intravital tetracycline double labeling in the patients and in 30 sex‐ and age‐matched normal controls. No difference was found between patients and controls in albumin adjusted serum calcium levels. Serum phosphorus was significantly reduced (p<0.01) in the patient group whereas the urinary phosphorus/creatinine ratio was increased (p<0.01). The serum calcium phosphate product (S‐CaxS‐P) was significantly reduced in the patients (p<0.05). As expected, the urinary calcium/creatinine ratio was higher in the patient group than in the controls (p<0.001). Serum parathyroid hormone was normal. The histomorphometric analysis revealed signs of a moderate mineralization defect (reduced adjusted appositional rate (p <0.05), prolonged mineralization lag time (p<0.05) and prolonged formation period (p<0.05)), and an increased extension of eroded surfaces (P<0.05) in the patients. The amount of trabecular bone and the balance between the thickness of bone resorbed and later formed per remodeling cycle and all other histomorphometric parameters were found normal in the patients. The combined histomorphometric and biochemical data are best explained by a primary renal phosphate leak leading to hypophosphataemia and a slight mineralization defect. The hypercalciuria may be explained by an enhanced renal production of 1.25‐dihydroxyvitamin D secondary to the reduced serum levels of phosphorus. No signs of secondary or primary hyperparathyroidism were observed.
Evaluation of a disk approximation test of inducible beta‐lactamases in Enterobacteriacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: THORE MAGNUS , JALAKAS KIRSTI , ERIKSSON INGE , DORNBUSCH KATHRINE
Published: August 2009

A modified disk approximation test of inducible beta‐lactamases in Enterobacteriacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated. The amount of inducer was adapted to produce the smallest possible zone of inhibition and the distance between the centre of the disks was standardized. Among several beta‐lactam antibiotic disks tested, imipenem (0.06 μg per disk) or cefoxitin (10 μg per disk) placed at a distance of 14–16 mm from a cefotaxime disk (30 μg) most efficiently revealed inducible beta‐lactamases. A positive induction test (primarily expected with Enterobacter spp, Citrobacter freundii, Serratia spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and indole positive Proteus spp) may serve as a warning of the risk of selecting mutants with beta‐lactamase mediated cross‐resistance during systemic treatment with ureidopenicillins, later generations of cephalosporins or monobactams. Such resistance was exemplified by characterization of some laboratory mutants with hyperproduction of beta‐lactamases. However, evaluation of the specificity and sensitivity of the disk approximation test (and other indirect induction tests) still remains to be done.
Reproducibility of tumour typing of lung carcinomas performed according to WHO's recommendation
Authors: DALE I. , LEXOW P. , SKJØRTEN F. , STENWIG J. T. , BRANDTZAEG P.
Published: August 2009

Tumour sections from 139 patients with bronchial carcinoma were classified blindly by a panel of three pathologists according to the WHO recommendation of 1981. Only sections from resected specimens were included. There was agreement among all reviewers with regard to the main WHO tumour type of 71% of the specimens. For the remainder, two reviewers agreed upon 19% whereas the tumour classification differed substantially in 10% of all cases. About half of the original diagnoses were maintained when the latter group was re‐evaluated blindly. Best agreement in the whole material was noted for squamous cell carcinoma. The main difficulty was differentiation between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma with a high malignancy grading score. Despite the improvements of the WHO classification system, our group of diagnostic problem cases was not reduced when compared with earlier classification studies.
Characterization of the first tick isolate of Borrelia burgdorferi from Italy
Authors: CINCO MARINA , BANFI ELENA , TREVISAN GIUSTO , STANEK GEROLD
Published: August 2009

We report on the first isolation of a spirochetal organism from Ixodes ricinus ticks of the Trieste area (Northern Italy) which was identified as Borrelia burgdorferi by its reactivity with specific monoclonal antibodies directed against the OSPA and flagella proteins.
Novel cellular interactions and networks involving the intestinal immune system and its microenvironment
Authors: MARSHALL J. S. , BIENENSTOCK J. , PERDUE M. H. , STANISZ A. M. , STEAD R. H. , ERNST P. B.
Published: August 2009

The interactions we have described enable the intestine to respond appropriately to antigenic challenge in an effective and coordinated way. This is of vital importance when one considers the dual role of the intestine as a first line of defence against harmful microorganisms and as the route by which the animal obtains nutrition. Under normal circumstances, these interactions select for an appropriate cell phenotype by providing a network of interactions that contribute to intestinal homeostasis. If there is dysfunction of any component, then other cells will be affected. For example, if down‐regulation of the mucosal immune response is not effective, damage to the epithelium, nerves and muscle may occur during an inflammatory response. Similarly, if the integrity of the epithelium is disrupted, damage to the elements of the mucosal immune system may occur. This model would suggest that these interactions must be considered if one wishes to adequately explain diseases such as IBD and design innovative therapeutic regimens. Future interdisciplinary research will shed light on the web of interactions occurring in the intestinal environment and provide a novel view of the respective contributions of the immune system and its local environment to cell differentiation, function and regulation.
Differentiation of some species of Neisseriaceae and other bacterial groups by DNA‐DNA hybridization
Authors: TØNJUM TONE , BUKHOLM GEIR , BØVRE KJELL
Published: August 2009

DNA‐DNA hybridization using total genomic DNA probes may represent a way of differentiating between miscellaneous bacterial species. This was studied with type and reference strains of 20 species in Moraxella, Kingella, and other selected Gram‐negative groups. Both radioactive and biotin labelling were employed. Most of the species examined were easily distinguished, such as Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis, M.(B.) ovis, M. atlantae, M. phenylpyruvica, M. osloensis, Neisseria elongata, N. meningitidis, Kingella kingae, K. indologenes, K. denitrificans. Oligella urethralis, Eikenella corrodens, Cardiobacterium hominis, Haemophilus aphrophilus, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Gardnerella vaginalis, and DF‐2. This reflected the extent of the genetic distances between them as a basis for identification by hybridization. There was some clustering in the Moraxella group. Especially the closely related Moraxella nonliquefaciens. M. lacunata and M. bovis showed strong hybridization affinities. This leads to potential problems in distinguishing these three species from each other by DNA‐DNA hybridization with total genomic probes alone.
Intraepithelial lumina in urothelial bladder neoplasms
Authors: DELLADETSIMA J. , ANTONAKOPOULOS G. N. , DAPOLLA V. , KITTAS C.
Published: August 2009

Intraepithelial lumina observed in 12 urothelial bladder neoplasms were studied histochemically, immuno‐histochemically and ultrastructurally. Both intercellular and intracytoplasmic lumina could be demonstrated showing an alcianophilic margin and containing non‐sulphated acid mucins. The presence of secretory component (SC) was identified in neoplastic urothelial cells around or adjacent to intercellular lumina as well as in cells with intracytoplasmic lumina. The cells surrounding intercellular lumina revealed ultrastructurally tight junctions, microvilli and a prominent glycocalyx while cellular remnants were found quite often within the lumen. As similar histochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural characteristics are also expressed in surface umbrella cells of normal urothelium it is suggested that a focal differentiation of neoplastic urothelial cells towards surface umbrella‐like cells takes place and that this process is intimately related to the formation of lumina.
Antibiotics and human monocyte function
Authors: NIELSEN HENRIK
Published: August 2009

The influence of thirteen commonly used antibacterial drugs on the phagocytic and oxidative burst responsiveness of human blood monocytes in vitro was investigated. Cefotaxime and rifampicin produced a significant inhibition of monocyte oxidative metabolism at therapeutic concentrations with increasing inhibition at higher concentrations. The effect of rifampicin was irreversible, which may reflect intracellular accumulation of the drug. Tetracyklin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol and tobramycin at high concentrations produced a significant inhibition of monocyte superoxide anion release after stimulation, whereas normal therapeutic concentrations produced insignificant inhibition. Benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, fusidic acid, metronidazole, ofloxacin, sulfametoxazole and trimethoprim did not alter monocyte oxidative metabolism in vitro. Phagocytosis of yeast cells was significantly suppressed by high concentrations of tobramycin, but otherwise unaffected by the drugs mentioned. These observations suggest that cefotaxime and rifampicin may interfere with blood monocyte oxidative metabolism in vivo, whereas it can be expected that at normal dosage it is unlikely that the other drugs will affect monocyte phagocytosis and oxidative burst activity.
Human milk‐fat globule membrane antigens (Mam‐3 group) in normal cycling endometrium and endometrial carcinomas – an immunohistochemical study
Authors: RAVN VIBEKE , JENSEN HELLE , HILGERS JO
Published: August 2009

The expression of Mam‐3 antigens in normal human endometrium and endometrial carcinomas was investigated employing the monoclonal antibodies 67D11 (anti Mam‐3a), 115H10 (anti Mam‐3b), and 115C2 (anti Mam‐3c). Dewaxed sections of formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded curettings of 9 proliferative‐, 6 interval‐, 13 secretory endometria, as well as 16 endometrial carcinomas were used. In normal cycling endometrium the Mam‐3a, ‐3b and ‐3c antigens were detected at the apical membrane of surface and/or glandular epithelium only, but to a different degree. The Mam‐3a antigen was only detected in the surface epithelium of 66% of proliferative and 33% of interval endometrium. The Mam‐3b antigen was detected in surface and glandular epithelium of all normal endometria, but was most widespread in proliferative endometrium. The Mam‐3c antigen was detected in surface epithelium of proliferative, and interval endometrium especially, and in glandular epithelium in 22% of endometria irrespective of the phase. Increased expression of Mam‐3a and ‐3c antigens was recorded in most carcinomas. A loss of polarity of staining was seen in grade III carcinomas especially, staining of the cytoplasma was recorded in half of the carcinomas. The expression of Mam‐3c antigen in carcinomas seemed to decline with increasing grade of anaplasia. All carcinomas expressed the Mam‐3b antigen. The present results indicate that the Mam‐3a and ‐3c antigens are tumor‐associated antigens of endometrial carcinomas and that they might be useful as diagnostic tools in endometrial pathology.
The neuropathology in toxoplasmosis‐like infection caused by a newly recognized cyst‐forming sporozoon in dogs
Authors: BJERKÅS INGE , PRESTHUS JOHN
Published: August 2009

The pathomorphological changes in the central nervous system associated with an infection with a previously reported, Toxoplasma‐like, cyst‐forming sporozoon were studied by means of light microscopy, including immunohistochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy in seven dogs, aged 4 months to 2 years. Tachyzoites (endozoites) within parasitophorous vacuoles were found in neurons, astrocytes, macrophages, vascular pericytes and probably also in fibroblasts, while cyst stages were only observed in cells showing features of neurons. Proliferating tachyzoites were associated with lesions of a necrotic/granulomatous type. Perivascular accumulations of lymphocytes and plasma cells, together with an activation of astrocytes and perivascular fibroblasts resulting in marked sclerosis, were prominent features in all cases. The grey matter was most seriously affected in the brain, while the white matter was most often the site of inflammation in the spinal cord. The structural similarity to the newly reported Neospora caninum suggests that we are dealing here with the same parasite. However, the present infection and toxoplasmosis have so many features in common, including the light microscopical morphology of the organisms and host/parasite relationship, that a definite etiological diagnosis should be based on ultrastructural and/or immunohisto‐chemical examinations.
Blood monocyte oxidative burst activity in acute P. falciparum malaria
Authors: NIELSEN H. , THEANDER T. G.
Published: August 2009

The release of superoxide anion from blood monocytes was studied in eight patients with acute primary attack P. falciparum malaria. Before treatment a significant enhancement of the oxidative burst prevailed, which contrasts with previous findings of a depressed monocyte chemotactic responsiveness. During treatment and after clinical recovery the activity of superoxide anion release normalized in all patients.
DNA‐DNA hybridization incompatibility of Campylobacter pylori with other Campylobacter and Wolinella species
Authors: BUKHOLM GEIR , NEDENSKOV‐SØRENSEN PETER , BØVRE KJELL
Published: August 2009

DNA‐DNA hybridization in solution was used to characterize 23 human isolates of Campylobacter pylori. The 23 isolates showed DNA affinity with the type strain (NCTC 11637). The relative binding ratios varied between 0.83 and 1. Type strains of C. coli (NCTC 11366), C. jejuni (NCTC 11351), C. laridis (NCTC 11352), C. sputorum subsp. sputorum (ATCC 35980), Wolinella recta (NCTC 11489) and W. succinogenes (ATCC 29543) showed relative binding ratios less than 0.01 compared to the C. pylori type strain. The results suggest that C. pylori is a homogenous taxonomic unit distinctly separated from these other species.
Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction in monocytes and monocyte‐derived macrophages
Authors: MÜLLER FREDRIK , ROLLAG HALVOR , FRØLAND STIG S.
Published: August 2009

The ability to mount an oxidative burst (OB) in response to medium, zymosan and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was assessed in human blood monocytes cultured for 1 day (MO) and monocyte‐derived macrophages cultured for 10 days (MDM). Further, the effect of recombinant interferons (IFNs) on OB generation was examined. The OB was measured as a reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT). Unstimulated and stimulated NBT reduction per cell nucleus and the ratio of stimulated/unstimulated NBT reduction was not significantly different in cells cultured for 1 and 10 days. In MO, IFN‐γ stimulated the OB when co‐stimulated with zymosan or PMA. IFN‐α reduced MO adherence. When the lower adherence was corrected for, IFN‐α enhanced NBT reduction. In MDM, a high concentration of IFN‐γ stimulated the OB without co‐stimulation, in lower concentrations the presence of a co‐stimulant was necessary for OB stimulation. IFN‐α/β enhanced the OB in response to PMA, suggesting that IFN‐α/β has a role in macrophage activation.
Parathyroid identification by ultrasonically guided aspiration cytology
Authors: GLENTHØJ A. , KARSTRUP S.
Published: August 2009

Reliable parathyroid identification is necessary before percutaneous inactivation of parathyroid tumours is carried out. Aspiration cytology is one of the methods used for this purpose. Some, but not all, investigators have found it difficult or impossible to make a cytological distinction between thyroid and parathyroid cells. In a blind morphological study of 16 parathyroid and 16 thyroid aspirations the specificity of a cytological diagnosis of parathyroid cells was 100%. The sensitivity of the same diagnosis was 9/16 = 56% if only certain diagnosis of parathyroid cells was considered, but 14/16 = 88% if also diagnoses of “probably parathyroid cells” were considered.
Luminol‐enhanced chemiluminescence of whole blood
Authors: RISTOLA MATTI , REPO HEIKKI
Published: August 2009

We studied the effects of different variables on luminol‐enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) of whole blood, induced by N‐formyl‐methionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (FMLP), opsonized zymosan particles (OZP), or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Use of correction factor based on blood neutrophil count and hemoglobin concentration decreased interindividual variation and improved normality of the frequency distributions of CL responses. In FMLP‐ and PBS‐induced CL, day‐to‐day variation was not significant, but it was significant in OZP‐induced CL. Although storage of blood samples for 8 hours decreased CL, the decrease was not evident in a study of initial activation, i.e. CL measured at one minute after application of FMLP. Our results suggest that FMLP‐induced initial activation is well suited for epidemiological studies because it is easy to determine and is affected neither by day‐to‐day variation nor by storage of the blood samples for a few hours.
Can mortality from rectal and rectosigmoid carcinoma be predicted from histopathological variables in the diagnostic biopsy?
Authors: STÅHLE E. , ENBLAD P. , PÅHLMAN L. , GLIMELIUS B.
Published: August 2009

The prognostic information provided by histopathological variables in the diagnostic biopsy was evaluated retrospectively in 276 consecutive patients “potentially curable” by surgery, using criteria recently proposed by Jass et al. concerning the main specimen. In 252 (91%) cases, the biopsy material was appropriate for the intended assessment. The majority of tumours were tubular (67%), tubular configuration mostly irregular (76%) and the tumour cells usually had small nuclei (81%). Remnants of adenomatous structures were identified in 21%. Most tumours were moderately differentiated (57%), and poorly differentiated tumours were somewhat more common (27%) than highly differentiated ones (16%). There was no real correlation between these histopahtological variables, as expressed in the biopsy, and Dukes' stage. Patients with a well‐differentiated tumour had somewhat better survival than those with a moderately or poorly differentiated one (p = 0.04). Tumour type tended to influence cancer‐specific mortality in that patients with a papillary tumour had a slightly better prognosis than those with a different type. An attempt was also made to classify the patients into two groups on the basis of the observers' subjective impression of the tumour pattern and the expected outcome. Among the 143 patients in whom the over‐all subjective impression was an “aggressive tumour pattern”, 43% died (median follow‐up 47 months). The cancer‐specific death rate in patients in whom the tumour pattern was “non‐aggressive” was 27% (p = 0.04). In summary, the extent to which these variables predicted mortality was far from clinically useful.
Survival periods in male and female Wistar rats with steroid‐induced Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
Authors: SETTNES O. P. , GENNER J.
Published: August 2009

Rats treated with corticosteroids developed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Male rats showed the same mortality (100%) as female rats, but the female rats survived on average 11.7 days longer than the male Wistar rats.
Effects of interferon‐gamma and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha on clonogenic growth of cell lines and primary cultures from human gliomas and brain metastases
Authors: HELSETH EIRIK , TORP SVERRE , DALEN ARE , UNSGAARD GEIRMUND
Published: August 2009

In this study we tested the effect of interferon‐gamma (IFN‐gamma), tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐alpha) and a combination of these immunotherapeutics on clonogenic growth of cell lines and primary cultures of malignant human brain tumors. Out of 29 primary cultures studied, 5 were inhibited 50% or more by IFN‐gamma (10 ng/ml), 6 were inhibited 50% or more by TNF‐alpha (10 ng/ml) and 14 were inhibited 50% or more by a combination of IFN‐gamma (10 ng/ml) and TNF‐alpha (10 ng/ml). The doses of the immunotherapeutics used in this in vitro study are achievable in serum after intravenous administration of IFN‐gamma and TNF‐alpha without causing unacceptable side effects. We believe that some glioma patients and some patients with brain metastases will benefit from receiving treatment with IFN‐gamma, TNF‐alpha or a combination of these immunotherapeutics. The patients should be selected for treatment with these immunotherapeutics according to in vitro sensitivity results.
The effect of cholesterol on the morphology and reactivity of the mixture of lipids used in syphilis serology
Authors: ØRum OLE , Nielsen JØRN RIIS , Birch‐Andersen AKSEL
Published: August 2009

The effect of increasing amounts of cholesterol on the morphology of the liposomes constituting the VDRL‐antigen was studied. The morphological parameters examined were the shape of the lipoidal particles and especially the number of lamellae on each particle in the various mixtures of lipids studied. Cholesterol in the presence of cardiolipin and lecithin is observed as rhomboid crystals, indicating that the majority of the cholesterol is located exterior to the lamellar membranes of lecithin and cardiolipin. It is shown that the effect of cholesterol is to reduce the number of individual lamellae per liposome, mainly by mechanically dispersing the cardiolipin and lecithin on the surface of the cholesterol crystals. It is suggested that cholesterol has no effect on the structure of the epitopes which react with antibodies in sera from patients with syphilis, but that, as a result of the mechanical dispersion of cardiolipin and lecithin, it creates liposomes with more accessible epitopes.
Pregnancy and delivery characteristics of women whose infants develop child cancer
Authors: Forsberg JOHN‐GUNNAR , KÄLlÉN BENGT
Published: August 2009

Data on all cancers among children born 1973–1984 were extracted from the Swedish Cancer Registry and linked to data in the Medical Birth Registry (1,268 cancer cases). For each case, two controls were selected, matched for maternal age, parity, county, and month of birth. A marginally increased risk of childhood malignancy was seen in the offspring of teenage mothers and at parity 1 and 4+. There was an excess among cases of the diagnosis physiological icterus. No statistically significant associations were found between childhood malignancy and infant sex, twinning, birthweight, non‐chromosomal malformations, maternal smoking, or complications during pregnancy.
Legionellaantibodies in human and animal populations in Kenya
Authors: Phakkey ANURAG , Lindqvist KÅRE JULIAN , Omland TOV , Berdal BJØRN PETER
Published: August 2009

Using a microagglutination method, domestic and wild animal sera, together with human patient and healthy blood donor sera, have been analysed for titres against variousLegionellaspecies, comprising fourteen different serogroups. Generally, the level of moderately elevated titres, i.e. ≥ 64, was low for all the aforementioned serum groups. Within the domesticated animals, cattle, pigs and dogs presented a much lower prevalence in Kenya than found elsewhere, whereas it was the other way round for goats. Human sera, either from patients or from healthy donors, did not react againstL. pneumophilaserogroups 1, 6, or 3, which in that sequence are the most commonL. pneumophilaserogroups in Europe, and in other geographic areas where legionellosis is common. High titres of ≥ 256 againstL. pneumophilaserogroup 6 (two cattle) or againstL. bozemaniistrain Mi‐15 (two cattle, one dog) indicate that although the epidemiological picture may be different from other parts of the world,Legionellainfections exist in Kenya as well.
Adhesion of Yersinia enterocolitica to human epithelial cell lines and to rabbit and human small intestinal tissue
Authors: PæRregaard ANDERS , Espersen FRANK , Larsen JØRGEN HANNOVER , HØIby NIELS
Published: August 2009

In assays to determine adherence of Yersinia enterocolitica, virulence plasmid‐containing (pYV+) strains and strains of their plasmid‐cured (pYV−) derivatives adhered equally efficiently to HeLa cells and fetal intestinal epithelial INT 407 cells. Non‐pathogenic strains of Y. enterocolitica did not adhere. In contrast, pYV+ strains adhered more efficiently to rabbit and human intestine than did pYV−‐strains, as evaluated by an in vitro assay, measuring adhesion of radiolabeled bacteria to disks of intestinal tissue. Thus, even if pathogenic strains of Y. enterocolitica are able to adhere to cultured epithelial cell lines and intestinal tissue by means of chromosome‐encoded properties alone, properties encoded by the pYV plasmid significantly enhance and contribute to adhesion to intestinal tissue.
DNA‐index and stereological estimation of nuclear volume in primary and metastatic malignant melanomas: A comparative study with analysis of heterogeneity
Authors: SØRensen FLEMMING BRANDT , Kristensen INGRID BAYER , Grymer FRANTS , Jakobsen ANDERS
Published: August 2009

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical nuclear volume and ploidy level in malignant melanomas, and to analyse the heterogeneity of these two parameters among primary and corresponding secondary tumours. Unbiased stereological estimates of nuclear volume can be obtained objectively by point‐sampled intercepts. Using this approach, the volume‐weighted mean nuclear volume, nuclear v̄v, was estimated in ordinary histological sections from 34 primary cutaneous malignant melanomas and their corresponding 62 metastatic lesions. For comparison, DNA‐indices (DI) were determined by flow cytometry in adjacent sections from the same paraffin‐embedded tumours. Only a poor correlation was found between nuclear v̄v and DI (Kendall's τ=+0.21). The variability of nuclear v̄v among metastatic lesions was increased as compared to primary melanomas, whereas averaged mean values of nuclear v̄v did not differ significantly between the two types of neoplasms. Aneuploidy was not significantly associated with increased nuclear v̄v. Pronounced intra‐patient heterogeneity of nuclear v̄v was disclosed among metastases and between the primary melanoma and the metastatic lesions. Likewise, no significant association between DI of primary and metastatic melanomas was demonstrated. Heterogeneity of nuclear v̄v and DI in malignant melanomas is in agreement with the theory of polyclonality.
Demonstration of lipid A‐binding proteins on murine lymphoma cells using R‐mutant Gram‐negative bacteria as a detector
Authors: Nakashima I. , Kubota T. , Zhang Y. , Yoshida T. , Inagi R. , Isobe K. , Nagase F. , Ohta M. , Kato N. , Yokochi T.
Published: August 2009

Some R‐mutant Escherichia coli and Salmonella heavily adhered to murine lymphoma cells of B cell and T cell lineages. This adhesion was primarily mediated by membrane‐localized proteins on tumor cells, which bind the polymyxin B‐reactive hydrophilic structure of lipis A on bacteria. SDS‐PAGE analysis of tumor cell membranes showed that proteins or glycoproteins of MW = around 45Kd, 25‐35Kd and around 15Kd preferentially bind lipid A. Various lymphoma cell lines binding the bacteria at different levels possessed lipid A‐binding proteins of slightly different compositions. We conclude that lymphoma cells carry not a single but a group of lipid A‐binding proteins in their membranes.
Increased oxygen radical production determined by whole blood chemiluminescence in patients with previous yersinia arthritis
Authors: Ristola MATTI
Published: August 2009

Luminol‐dependent whole blood chemiluminescence (CL) was studied in patients with previous yersinia arthritis (YA). Patients showed significantly higher CL responses compared to healthy controls regardless of HLA‐B27 antigen when either N‐formyl‐methionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine or opsonized zymosan particles were used a stimulus. This hyperreactivity may well play a role in the development of inflammatory injury in YA.
Tumours in Iceland. 13. Malignant tumours of the testis
Authors: Gudlaugsson EINAR , Magnusson BJARKI , Hallgrmsson JONAS
Published: August 2009

Data from 76 patients with malignant tumours of the testis registered with the Icelandic Cancer Registry during the period 1955–1984 were analyzed and classified histologically according to the WHO criteria. In 55 patients the tumours were of one histological type (72% of total). In the order of frequency, seminoma was diagnosed in 35 (46%), embryonal carcinoma in 14 (18%) and teratoma in 6 patients (8%). Twenty patients had tumours of more than one histological type (26%), i.e. a combination of embryonal carcinoma and teratoma (teratocarcinoma) in nine (12%) and combined tumours (seminoma component with other tumours) in seven (9%). Two patients had choriocarcinomas and three had yolk sac (endodermal sinus) tumours, both of them in combination with other neoplasms. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma was the only malignant non‐germ cell tumour diagnosed. The age‐adjusted incidence of malignant testis tumours increased by 48% from 1.6 per 100,000 per annum in 1955–1964 to 3.1 per 100,000 in 1975–1984. The increase affected both seminoma and non‐seminomatous tumours (NSGCT). There has been an improvement in survival with time. Sixteen deaths were related to testis tumours and all occurred within four years of diagnosis. The incidence of testicular tumours in Iceland is intermediate between “high risk” and “low risk” countries.
Histological evaluation of prostatic cancer (III): Reproducibility of assessment of tumour volume and its possible significance for prognosis
Authors: Svanholm H. , Starklint H. , Barlebo H. , Olsen S.
Published: August 2009

The aim of this study was to evaluate the INTER‐ and INTRA‐observer reproducibility of prostatic cancer volume defined as the percentage of chips with carcinoma in transurethrally resected tissue. All histological slides from 80 consecutive cases of prostatic cancer were blindly evaluated on two independent occasions by each of four pathologists. The correlation was expressed by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (R). Both the overall INTER‐ and mean INTRA‐observer correlation of tumour volume were high with R being respectively 0.905 and 0.918. With reference to stage A1 and A2, data were transformed to an ordinal scale with 2 categories (< = 5%, > 5%). The overall INTER‐ and mean INTRA‐observer agreement of this classification were 0.926 and 0.943 respectively – the corresponding kappa coefficients being 0.68 and 0.74. It is concluded that in transurethrally resected tissue a highly reproducible index of the resected prostatic cancer volume can be given by the percentage of chips with tumour. The prognostic significance of this parameter is discussed.
HC‐IgA antibodies of different specificities are normally present in serum: quantitation by ELISA and relationship to the major Ig classes
Authors: Truedsson LENNART , Karypidis ANNA‐HELENA , Eberhardt KERSTIN , Grubb ANDERS
Published: August 2009

Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were developed for direct measurement of protein HC‐IgA complexes (HC‐IgA) in serum with antibody specificity for rabbit IgG (rheumatoid factor (RF) activity), lipopolysaccharide from Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3 (Y3) and tetanus toxoid (TT). About 80% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis had increased concentrations of HC‐IgA‐RF. The values were correlated with the concentrations of IgA‐RF and IgM‐RF. HC‐IgA anti‐Y3 was measured in 45 sera with anti‐Y3 antibodies of IgM, IgG and IgA class. The HC‐IgA anti‐Y3 levels were correlated with those of anti‐Y3 of IgG and IgM class, but not of IgA class. For HC‐IgA anti‐Y3, the closest correlation was that with the specific IgM antibody concentration, rs= 0.63 (p < 0.001). In 25 normal sera, significant correlations were observed between HC‐IgA anti‐TT and specific antibodies of IgG and IgA class, but not of IgM class. In 107 sera containing IgA M‐components, the total concentration of HC‐IgA correlated poorly with both protein HC and with IgA concentrations. It was concluded that specific HC‐IgA antibodies are normal constituents of serum, and that their concentrations are not directly related to the serum content of specific IgA antibodies.
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Acinetobacter strains identified by DNA‐DNA hybridization
Authors: Tjernberg I.
Published: August 2009

The in vitro activity of 21 antimicrobial agents aginst 143 Acinetobacter strains (belonging to 12 different DNA hybridization groups) was studied. Of the antibiotics tested, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, doxycycline and imipenem had the lowest MICs. For most antibiotics there was a considerable overlap of the MICs between the DNA groups; however, some differences in antimicrobial susceptibility between DNA groups were found. Strains of DNA groups 2 (A. baumannii) and 13 (unnamed) were most resistant, and strains of DNA groups 8 (A. Iwoffii) and 5 (A. junii) less resistant. Many DNA groups contain both saccharolytic and non‐saccharolytic strains but in the present study no differences in antimicrobial susceptibility were found between strains of a particular DNA group with regard to this property.
Severe degeneration of rabbit vastus intermedius muscle immobilized in shortened position
Authors: Michelsson JARL‐ERIK , Aho HEIKKI J. , Kalimo HANNU , Haltia MATTI
Published: August 2009

The authors have previously shown that passive daily mobilization of the rabbit hind limb immobilized with the knee in extension leads to necrosis of the deep thigh muscles and myositis ossificans‐like periosteal bone formation. In this study the effect of immobilization alone on the rabbit hind limb muscles was examined similarly to that of immobilized limbs. Serum creatine kinase activities increased significantly and intravenously administered Evans blue albumin showed increased vascular permeability in the deep vastus intermedius muscle even on day 1. Necrotic fibers were clearly present in the deep part of the vastus intermedius muscle on day 5 in light and electron microscopy and in enzyme histochemistry. Fibrosis and atrophy were found later. The superficial portion of the vastus intermedius and the deep contralateral nonimmobilized vastus intermedius showed degenerative changes. Bone formation was not noted. The conclusion was that the deep vastus intermedius muscle composed almost exclusively of type I fibers is exceptionally prone to damage when immobilized in a shortened position. Contact of the necrotic muscle with the underlying periosteum is not alone sufficient to induce heterotopic ossification. The additional trauma caused by daily mobilization is needed for the myositis ossificans‐like bone formation.
Studies on beta‐lactamases from Escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract infections
Authors: Togsverd EVA , Mansa BENDT , Keiding JENS
Published: August 2009

The beta‐lactamase types present in 75 ampicillin and carbenicillin resistant E. coli were characterized using isoelectric focusing (IEF). The strains were isolated from patients with urinary tract infections from two geographically different areas of Denmark: 38 strains from Copenhagen and 37 strains from North Jutland. For 19 of the strains from Copenhagen and 18 of the strains from North Jutland, their beta‐lactamase activity against nitrocefin and ampicillin, carbenicillin, benzylpenicillin, cloxacillin and cephaloridine was examined by a micro‐iodometric and an UV‐spectrophotometric assay. The strains from Copenhagen showed greater activity (p < 0.001) against nitrocefin than the strains from North Jutland. The rate of hydrolysis of ampicillin was greater for the strains from Copenhagen than for the strains from North Jutland. Ninety‐three per cent of the strains produced plasmid‐mediated beta‐lactamases, of which the most prevalent, TEM‐1, was produced by 97 per cent of these strains, and OXA‐1 by 3 per cent.