Showing papers by "University of Tennessee Health Science Center published in 1977"

Autoimmunity to type II collagen an experimental model of arthritis.

Abstract: We have found that intradermal injection of native type II collagen extracted from human, chick or rat cartilage induces an inflammatory arthritis in approximately 40% of rats of several strains whether complete Freund's adjuvant or incomplete Freund's adjuvant is used. Type I or III collagen extracted from skin, cartilage proteoglycans and alpha1(II) chains were incapable of eliciting arthritis, as was type II collagen injected without adjuvant. The disease is a chronic proliferative synovitis, resembling adjuvant arthritis in rats and rheumatoid arthritis in humans. Native type II co-lagen modified by limited pepsin digestion still produces arthritis, suggesting that type-specific determinants residing in the helical region of the molecule are responsible for the induction of disease. Since homologous type II collagen emulsified in oil without bacterial preparations regularly causes the disease, this new animal model of arthritis represents a unique example of experimentally-inducible autoimmunity to a tissue component.

Ultrastructural studies of vitiligo, Vogt-Koyanagi syndrome, and incontinentia pigmenti achromians.

Abstract: • Studies of early progressive vitiligo, Vogt-Koyanagi syndrome, and incontinentia pigmenti achromians were made by electron microscopy. At the periphery of the depigmented lesions, the melanocytes had several subcellular abnormalities, ie, vacuolization of the cytoplasm, aggregation of melanosomes, autophagic vacuoles, fatty degeneration, pyknosis or homogeneous cytoplasmic degeneration, and others. Numerous nerve endings were seen in close contact with the basal lamina of the epidermis or even within the epidermis. Direct continuities between Schwann cell basal lamina of nerve endings and the basal lamina of the melanocytes were observed. Nerve endings could be associated with either normal or abnormal melanocytes. ( Arch Dermatol 113:755-766, 1977)

Racial differences in the frequency of Q and C chromosomal heteromorphisms.

Abstract: THE biological and clinical implications of human chromosome heteromorphisms are poorly understood. These heteromorphisms are limited to certain groups, and are heritable1. Consistent variability between people, in both size and staining properties, is observed. This may reflect either structural or biochemical variations. Before chromosome banding procedures, the length of the Y was known to vary from person to person and from one ethnic group to another2. Some autosomal regions were also found to differ in various racial groups3,4. Using Q- and C-banding procedures, we have regions scored were (1) on the long arms (qh) of chromosomes 1,9 and 16; (2) on the short arms (P) of the acrocentric autosomes (13–15 and 21–22); and (3) on the centromere (c) of all other chromosomes. The results indicate significant differences between the samples of black and white children.

Interaction of Isoniazid and Warfarin

Abstract: ALTHOUGH isoniazid has been shown to enhance the activity of the coumarin anticoagulant bishydroxycoumarin in one animal study,1investigations and clinical case reports in humans are, to our knowledge, nonexistent. We recently observed hemorrhage associated with warfarin sodium therapy in a patient taking isoniazid. Report of a Case A 35-year-old man was admitted to the City of Memphis Hospital in August 1976, complaining of bleeding from the gums, bloody urine, and bilateral flank pain and tenderness. Approximately one month prior to admission, the patient had been hospitalized for a right middle cerebral artery embolus. He had been in his usual state of good health until three days prior to admission and was receiving no medication. Following several days of heparin sodium therapy, a warfarin regimen was started, and by the time of discharge, when the patient was receiving a maintenance dosage of 10 mg/day, the prothrombin time (PT) was

Hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs) prevalence among laboratory and nonlaboratory hospital personnel.

Abstract: HBsAg and anti-HBs positivity was determined in hospital laboratory workers and nonlaboratory hospital workers (controls) matched for race and sex and adjusted for age. The combined prevalence of antigen-antibody positivity among white female technicians was 12% versus 0 of controls (P less than 0.005). The highest prevalence (18%) among laboratory workers was found in chemistry technicians, and significantly elevated frequencies also were noted in histocytologic, hematologic, and general laboratory technicians and blood collectors; this was not explained by a history of previous blood transfusions or hepatitis. Prevalence among pathologists (16%) was significantly greater (P less than 0.05) than among radiologists not routinely performing angiography (2%). Prevalence among black female housekeepers, both laboratory (25%) and nonlaboratory (36 %), was the highest, and was significantly greater (P less than 0.05) than among black female technicians (10%). Positivity was not correlated with current residence census tract socioeconomic indicators in black or white females. The data emphasize the need for continued identification of risks and improved protection measures in hospital workers.

Morphologic effects of thio-TEPA on mouse urothelium.

Abstract: The urothelial changes induced by intravesical instillation of thio-TEPA into experimental animals were studied by cytologic, light microscopic, and electron microscopic techniques. Cells and tissue from treated and untreated groups were compared using a total of 54 discriminators. There were few consistent differences. Cells with marked nuclear atypia were not identified. The results indicate that thio-TEPA has little effect on non-diseased bladders. The atypical cells occasionally present in specimens from thio-TEPA treated bladders apparently do no emanate from normal urothelium.

Renal vasopressin clearance with reductions in renal blood flow in the dog.

Abstract: These! experiments were designed to evaluate directly the effects of a reduction in renal blood flow on the renal metabolism of vasopressin (ADH) in the anesthetized dog...

Arthritis Associated With Ampicillin Colitis

Abstract: Diarrhea is a well-recognized complication of ampicillin therapy, with five patients reported to have pseudomembranous colitis. Although colitis is now recognized as a frequent complication of particular antibiotic usage, only one such case has been reported previously to be associated with arthritis. We report the first case, to our knowledge, of arthritis associated with ampicillin colitis, and compare it with the previous case of clindamycin-associated arthritis and colitis and with previous cases of ampicillin colitis. (Arch Intern Med137:1605-1607, 1977)

Polypeptides: Vascular Actions as Modified by Prostaglandins

Abstract: The general conclusion that prostaglandins are primarily local or tissue hormones (1), which exert their effects at or near sites of synthesis, has particular significance for the vasculature. Thus, the capacity of blood vessels to synthesize prostaglandins intramurally (2) enables these local hormones to influence vascular tone and reactivity directly by affecting the vasoconstrictor actions of angiotensin and catechol amines (3) and by modulating the release of norepinephrine from adrenergic nerves (4). The proposal that prostaglandins participate in the regulation of vascular reactivity is supported by the following observations: 1) enhanced vascular reactivity to pressor stimuli occurs in organs with low basal rates of prostaglandin synthesis and after inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in organs with high biosynthetic capacity (5); and 2) exogenous PGE2 reversibly inhibits the vasoconstrictor activity of pressor stimuli (6).

Tryptamine: bimodal actions on the EEG and behavior of rabbits.

Abstract: EEG tracings from conscious restrained rabbits were analyzed by inspection and amplitude integration (electrogenesis). Intravenously, tryptamine in doses of 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg increased electrogenesis, whereas 1 mg/kg initially decreased and subsequently increased electrogenesis. Higher doses (3, 6 and 12 mg/kg) always caused an immediate and dose-dependent decrease in electrogenesis. Neither atropine nor reserpine pretreatment prevented this decrease, whereas chlorpromazine and methysergide abolished it. Intravenous infusions of tryptamine at 1 mg/kg/min caused a nonsignificant increase in electrogenesis but 2 and 4 mg/kg/min infusions caused a sustained decrease. These results show that tryptamine has a biphasic effect on the cortical EEG: low doses enhance synchrony while high doses alert the EEG. Moreover, analysis of the behavioral, EEG and peripheral effects of tryptamine indicate that different sites of action account for the multiple responses observed. Chlorpromazine and methysergide selectively inhibit the exictatory responses.

Radium accumulation in animal thyroid glands a possible method for uranium and thorium prospecting

Abstract: A method of prospecting for uranium and thorium is proposed based on uptake of their radioactive daughters226Ra and228Ra by plants, the collection of plant material by herbivores, the concentration of the radioactive species by specific animal tissues, and the subsequent gamma-ray analysis of the tissues.

Antileukemic properties of combinations of radiation and malonato(1,2-diaminocyclohexane) platinum(ii) (NSC-224964).

Abstract: Mean survival times were increased an average of 23, 53 and 61%, when 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg, respectively, of the organoplatinum congener, malonato(1,2-diaminocyclohexane) platinum(II)(NSC-224964), was given as the only treatment modality to BDF1 mice bearing 1-day-old L1210 leukemia. When a single dose of 10 mg/kg was combined with either 300 or 100 R on day 1 only, the anticipated response (ILS = 30 and 38%, respectively) based on the additive effects of the single modalities was surpassed by 26 and 21%, respectively (i.e. extent of therapeutic synergism). When divided doses of radiation (200 R/day x 3 days) were combined with 15 or 20 mg/kg of NSC-224964, survival times were enhanced an average of 15% (extent of synergism) greater than would be expected if these modalities were acting through an additive process(es).

Changes in synthesis of DNA-binding proteins during the onset of transformation in NRK cells transformed by a temperature-sensitive mutant of Rous sarcoma virus.

Abstract: Synthesis of cytoplasmic DNA-binding proteins was investigated after a shift from the nonpermissive to the permissive temperature in NRK cells transformed by a temperature-sensitive mutant of Rous sarcoma virus [ts339(RSV)]. Cells were labeled for several generations in [3H]leucine and were pulse-labeled with [35S]methionine for 1 h at the nonpermissive temperature (39 degrees C) and at the permissive temperature (33 degrees C, 5 h after shift from 39 degrees C). Proteins binding to sequential columns of double-stranded and single-stranded DNA-cellulose were examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, and the 35S/3H ratios were obtained for each column fraction and for individual polypeptides. The protein fractions binding to single-stranded, but not double-stranded, DNA and eluting at high salt concentrations (greater than 0.60 M NaCl) showed elevated 35S/3H ratios. This indicated increased synthesis of these proteins within 5 h after the onset of transformation. The majority of the polypeptides in these fractions showed increased synthesis as a consequence of transformation. One prominent polypeptide among them constituted 0.1% of the cytosol protein and had a molecular weight of 93,000. We conclude that the synthesis of proteins binding tightly to single-stranded DNA is increased early after the onset of transformation.

Comparison of the cardiac effects of ASI-222 HCl, an aminosugar cardiac glycoside, and digoxin.

Abstract: The effects of ASI-222 HCl and digoxin on cardiac contractile force, dP/dt, heart rate and mean blood pressure in the dog were evaluated following i.v. administration. Additional studies were performed on isolated, electrically driven rabbit atria with both ASI-222 and digoxin. Our data show that ASI-222 (40 microgram/kg) in non-vagotomized dogs produced a two-fold greater increase in cardiac contractile force and dP/dt than did an equimolar dose of digoxin. ASI-222 caused a peak increase in contractile force and dP/dt 10 min after administration, whereas the peak to digoxin occurred at 30 min. ASI-222 was more effective in non-vagotomized dogs in increasing contractile force and dP/dt than in vagatonized dogs. The inotropic responses to digoxin were not reduced by vagotomy. Studies on isolated electrically driven rabbit atria indicate ASI-222 to be 7-8 times more potent than digoxin in increasing contractile force. These data demonstrate that ASI-222 produces an earlier and greater increase in contractile force and dP/dt than digoxin in equimolar doses.