Expression and yield in E. coli of a panel of fusion proteins containing various domains of Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigens, EBNA-1, EBNA-2, EBNA-3, EBNA-4 and EBNA-6, were scrutinized. The antigenicity of the EBNA fusion proteins against human sera was examined. Monospecific antisera to the different EBNA domains were produced by immunizing guinea pigs and rabbits. An EBNA-6 fusion polypeptide was useful for separating anti-EBNA-6 antibody from human sera by immunoaffinity purification. The applications of the fusion proteins to clinical diagnosis are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of 5-azacytidine on differentiation and growth in rat nervous system tumor cell lines.

In vitro studies with permanent cell lines derived from ENU-induced rat CNS and PNS tumors have shown that substances acting on second messenger systems as well as glucocorticoids have a cytostatic effect at high cell densities, but enhance proliferation at low densities. The nontoxic cytostatic effects are partially accompanied by the induction of differentiation monitored by immunocytochemistry with antibodies against GFAP, S-100 and PKC (alpha,beta). Cell differentiation with or without the influence of the drugs applied could be highly facilitated in some (CNS), but not all (PNS) types of tumor cells from neuroectodermal origin by pretreatment of cultures with 5-azacytidine under demethylating noncytostatic conditions. The implications of our results are relevant for molecular neurobiology and might offer new therapeutical approaches and may provide models for neurotoxicology.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fluorescence photograph of stomach cancer tumors in Wistar rats: computerized analysis.

Detection of cancer in early stages with hematoporphyrin derivatives (HpD) is highly limited by the low fluorescence quantum yield, the strong autofluorescent components of the tissue, and the low contrast between normal and tumoral tissue when fluorescent photographs are taken. A new computer analysis based on digital subtraction of photographs before and after the administration of HpD, allows a total autofluorescence extraction, resulting in a remarkable increase of contrast between tumors and normal tissue. Experiments, with this computerized imaging system in adenocarcinoma of the stomach in Wistar rats, confirms the reliability of this method.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An automated plasma collector with innovative membrane and cassette-like disposable set.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Blood Component Removal↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pharmacodynamics of FUT-175 anticoagulant in adsorbent plasma perfusion.

FUT, a new synthetic protease inhibitor, has been used recently in hemodialysis as an anticoagulant in patients with bleeding tendencies. As some new adsorbents require alternatives to heparin because of their strong adsorbing capacity for heparin, plasma perfusion with FUT anticoagulation was pharmacodynamically investigated. Blood was pumped from a dog (QB = 50-70 ml/min) into a plasma separator. The separated plasma (QP = 10-20 ml/min) passed through an adsorbent column and was reinfused into the blood that had passed through the plasma separator. FUT was continuously infused, at a flow rate of 50 mg/hr, into the blood as it left the dog and entered the extracorporeal circuit. Blood and plasma samples were taken as it exited the dog (S1), before and after the adsorbent column (S2, S3), and before reinfusion into the dog (S4). Except for that done with a charcoal-column, adsorbent plasma perfusion went well and the dog tolerated the procedure. FUT levels in S2, S3, and S4 provided anticoagulation. However, as the FUT levels in S1 remained negligible, the dog's coagulation time was within normal limits. In conclusion, FUT was pharmacodynamically proven to be a safe and reasonable anticoagulant for adsorbents that adsorb large amounts of heparin and for patients with bleeding tendencies.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fetal hydrocephalus secondary to intraventricular hemorrhage diagnosed by ultrasonography and in utero fast magnetic resonance imaging. A case report.

Although fetal hydrocephalus is commonly detected by prenatal ultrasonographic examination, posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus has rarely been observed in the fetus. We report a case of hydrocephalus secondary to intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) diagnosed by in utero magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 37 + 1 weeks of gestation. Ultrasonography revealed enlargement of the bilateral ventricles and an irregular mass measuring 20 x 12 x 10 mm in the right lateral ventricle. T1-weighted images with two-dimensional fast low-angle shot (2D-FLASH) and T2-weighted images with half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) demonstrated that an old hemorrhagic clot existed in the right lateral ventricle of the fetus. Hydrocephalus secondary to IVH was confirmed by postnatal MRI and ventriculoscopy. Fast MRI is especially useful for prenatal diagnosis of fetal brain abnormalities because it minimizes the artifact of fetal movement.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Interstitial pneumonitis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation following total body irradiation.

The records of 40 patients who received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) at Hyogo College of Medicine under the same conditioning regimen using cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation (TBI) from January 1984 to August 1989 were analyzed. The dose rate of TBI was 10 cGy per minute, and the total dose was 10 Gy (2.5 Gy daily for 4 days). Interstitial pneumonitis (IP) occurred in 13 of 40 patients, and was fatal in five patients. The probability of developing IP during the first year was 31%. We performed univariate analysis on the following factors but did not find any significant risk factors for IP: age and sex of patient, sex mismatch, ABO mismatch, grade of acute graft-versus-host disease, post immunosuppression regimen, and number of marrow cells transfused.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Surgical treatment of aneurysms of the transverse aortic arch.

Over the past four years, 21 patients have been operated for aneurysms of the thoracic aorta requiring aortic arch reconstruction. The causes of the aneurysms were dissecting aneurysms of the aorta (type A) in 16 patients and atherosclerosis in 5 patients. To prevent cerebral ischemia during operation, selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) (600 ml/min at 25 degrees C) was employed in 11 patients and hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) at 15 degrees C in 10 patients. There were three early deaths (14.3%) in the series. There were no serious neurologic complications in either group. The present data suggests that both selective cerebral perfusion SCP and HCA are useful methods for cerebral protection during resection of aortic arch aneurysms, although the latter method has the limitation of restricted cerebral arrest time.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Extracorporeal methods of liver failure treatment.

A combination of plasma exchange and dialysis, the procedure of which is easily and safely performed by our hepatic assist system, composed of a membrane plasma separator, blood and plasma pumps, hemodialyzer and controller. This may be a practical and reliable method for hepatic support at the present time, however, the results are not so satisfactory. In order to improve our system, a surfactant-free polyolefine membrane plasma separator has been developed and evaluated to be better than conventional ones in both efficiency and biocompatibility. And also, a new module of IONEX, completely saturated with heparin, has been developed as a safe and an efficient adsorbent, which selectively adsorb bilirubin and bile acids.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Relationship between the experience of steroids side effects and noncompliance with oral steroids treatment in collagen disease patients].

PURPOSE: To analyze the relationship between the experience of side effect and the compliance with oral steroids drug treatment of the patients in Collagen Disease Clinic. METHODS: A questionnaire survey through interview was conducted on 165 outpatients with various collagen disease at Saga Medical School Hospital. RESULTS: 94 patients (57%) had a history of noncompliance to the steroids drug. 49 patients (52.1%) adventitiously had forgotten to take the steroids as ordered and 45 patients (47.9%) intentionally had regulated their steroids dose or had discontinued the steroids drug treatment. Over 80% of the patients had experienced side effects of the steroids. The patients who experienced one or more of the following side effects, osteoporosis, bone fractures, menstrual disorders, moon face, central obesity, alopecia, acnelike eruption, manic-depressive state, and insomnia, intentionally regulated, or discontinued the steroids therapy. In addition, the patients who were not made cognizance about side effects of the steroids by their physicians and nurse tended to noncompliance group. CONCLUSION: To increase the compliance rate with oral steroids drug treatment, we must make conscious efforts to inform the patients on the condition of their medical states, the efficacy of the prescribed drugs, and the side effects and risk concerning discontinuation of the steroids. It is Also necessary to establish "Drug information and counseling day" in outpatient Department.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗