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Biomedical subjects

C Griffin

Publications and source records attributed to C Griffin.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Growth factor requirements of childhood acute leukemia: establishment of GM-CSF-dependent cell lines.

Eight permanent cell lines were established from cells of 50 consecutive patients with childhood acute leukemia. Three cell lines required growth factor-containing conditioned media. Analysis using blocking antisera and recombinant granulocytic macrophage (GM) colony-stimulating factor (CSF) identified GM-CSF as a growth factor required to establish the latter three cell lines and necessary for their continuous proliferation in chemically defined medium. Two of the GM-CSF-dependent cell lines were derived from patients with undifferentiated T- and a biphenotypic B-myelomonocytic leukemia, which suggests that GM-CSF might maintain proliferation of leukemias originating from immature progenitor cells. Cytogenetic analysis indicated that all established leukemic cell lines were aneuploid, with six lines containing chromosomal alterations related to those observed in the leukemic cells of the patient. Two patients did not have an abnormal clone identified in the marrow but did yield an aneuploid cell line. These studies indicate that GM-CSF-dependent leukemic cell lines can be established in a fraction of childhood leukemia. These cell lines lend themselves to studies aimed at the evaluation in vitro of the role of growth factors in controlling proliferation and differentiation of leukemic cells.

Acute Disease↗

A novel glycoprotein for detection of herpes simplex virus type 1-specific antibodies.

A novel herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-specific glycoprotein reactive with monoclonal antibody H1379 was purified by affinity chromatography. This glycoprotein, provisionally designated as gG-1, forms two sets of bands with molecular weights of 40-44,000 and 60-88,000. When used in an immunodot enzymatic assay, gG-1 reacted strongly with rabbit antisera to HSV-1, but not with sera hyperimmune to HSV-2. Specificity of the assay was further established by the lack of reactivity of convalescent sera collected from 20 patients with primary genital HSV-2 infections, and from 100 sero-negative individuals. In contrast, antibodies to gG-1 were detected in 9 of 10 patients with primary HSV-1 infection, and in 63/67 patients with culture-positive, recurrent oral or genital HSV-1 infection. Reproducibility of the gG-1 immunodot assay for HSV-1 antibody detection was 96%. Serological assay with purified gG-1, done in parallel with the assay using purified gG-2 described in an earlier report, provides simple and reliable methods to detect type-specific HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies for seroepidemiological studies.

Animals↗

Adaptation of a commercially available indirect fluorescent antibody slide test for measuring measles-specific immunoglobulins.

A commercially available indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test was evaluated for the determination of measles-specific immunoglobulins G and M (MIgG, MIgM). The IFA test detected fourfold rises of MIgG in 34 of 35 (97%) cases of measles confirmed by complement fixation or hemagglutination inhibition. In determining immune status, MIgG-IFA correlated with hemagglutination inhibition in 22 of 23 (96%) cases. The IFA test detected MIgM in only 11 of 34 acute-phase sera collected within 5 days of the reported onset of rash and in the convalescent specimens of another 13 of the 35 specimens. The IFA test is an effective method for the conventional diagnosis of measles and for determining immune status. This IFA test has a limited role as a rapid diagnostic test for measles when used to detect measles-specific MIgM in acute-phase sera obtained from patients with suspected measles.

Agglutination Tests↗

Neurologic complications in oral polio vaccine recipients.

Between April 1982 and June 1983 four children 3 to 24 months of age were referred for evaluation of neurologic abnormalities found to be compatible with vaccine-related poliovirus infection, which had not been suspected by referring physicians. Patients were epidemiologically unrelated residents of Indiana, and none had prior symptoms suggestive of immunodeficiency. All had received poliovirus vaccine orally (first dose in three, fourth dose in one) and a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis injection in the left anterior thigh within 30 days of symptoms. A vaccine-like strain of poliovirus was isolated from each patient, and each had symptoms (left leg paralysis in three; developmental regression, spasticity, and progressive fatal cerebral atrophy in one) persisting for at least 6 months. Immune function was normal in two with poliovirus type 3 infection, and abnormal (hypogammaglobulinemia, combined immunodeficiency) in two with type 1 and type 2 infection, respectively. The incidence of observed vaccine-related poliovirus infection in Indiana recipients of orally administered poliovirus vaccine was 0.058 per 100,000 per year, significantly greater (P less than 0.001) than predicted.

Atrophy↗

Hydrochlorothiazide-induced thrombocytopenic purpura.

A case of thrombocytopenic purpura caused by hydrochlorothiazide is reported. A 65-year-old man received hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg/d to control his mild hypertension. Approximately one year after initiation of therapy, the patient developed epistaxis and generalized malaise with anorexia. A peripheral blood smear showed a reduction in platelets. The drug was discontinued; two weeks later the patient's symptoms resolved completely and his platelet count returned to normal. The results of several experiments suggest a mechanism of sensitivity, i.e., an antigen-antibody type of reaction. Hydrochlorothiazide therapy should be stopped if thrombocytopenic purpura develops. If recognized early, the symptoms will resolve spontaneously. The use of corticosteroids may aid in shortening the duration of thrombocytopenia.

Aged↗

Phase II trial of vindesine in patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck.

Fifteen patients with advanced squamous cell cancer of the head and neck received weekly vindesine at doses of 3 mg/m2. No patient had received prior chemotherapy, though all had received either radiotherapy or radiotherapy and surgery. Fourteen patients were evaluable for response. Two patients had documented partial remissions. Dose-limiting neutropenia was the primary toxic effect observed. It was frequent and occasionally life-threatening. Vindesine has minor but real activity in this group of patients with advanced head and neck cancer who have not received prior chemotherapy.

Aged↗

Differences in repair in heterogeneous cell populations in vivo and in vitro following high LET irradiation (neutrons).

The shape of cell survival curves following X-irradiation when the X-rays were given immediately after neutron irradiation has been examined in two cell lines in vitro (Ehrlich ascites and V79) and in the stem cells of the mouse jejunum. The changes in the shape of the X-ray survival curve following neutron irradiation are different in all the cell systems examined. Some of the changes observed may be associated with a change in the cell profile following neutron irradiation due to the more even cell age killing pattern of neutrons through the cell cycle compared with X-rays. It is unlikely that this can account for all changes in shape observed and it is postulated that some cells following neutron irradiation are more sensitive to X-rays than the unirradiated population or than X-irradiated cells at the same level of survival. This increased sensitivity may be associated with a non-reversible sublethal damage or a saturation of the repair potential caused largely by the alpha or heavy recoil (HR) particles produced by the neutrons in the cell nucleus. The damage is observed when the probability of alpha or HR particles being produced within the cell nucleus, without killing the cell, is high.

Animals↗

Cutaneous atypical mycobacteriosis in cats.

Cutaneous infection with atypical mycobacteria was observed in 6 cats. All cats had cutaneous or subcutaneous masses, with or without fistulous tracts. Diagnosis was determined by microbial culture. Transmission studies were done in 1 case. Treatment, which included antibiotics or surgery, or both, was usually unsuccessful, but remission without treatment did occur. In 3 cats available for long-term evaluation, there has been no recurrence of disease.

Animals↗

Effect of citrate and aminotriazole on matrical plates induced in hepatic microbodies.

Feeding of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), clofibrate and dimethrin induces formation of matrical plates in heptaic microbodies. Administration of sodium citrate prevents formation of matrical plates in rats fed ASA, but not in rats treated with clofibrate or dimethrin. Propionate has a similar effect on rats fed ASA but not those fed clofibrate. Feeding of aminotriazole prevents formation of matrical plates in rats fed ASA without inhibiting the proliferation of microbodies. Sodium citrate and aminotriazole and feeding decrease also the activity of hepatic catalase in rats fed ASA.

Amitrole↗