Heterogeneity of mitogen-responsive lymphocytes in carp (Cyprinus carpio).

Peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) of carp respond in vitro to a variety of phytomitogens, shown to be T-cell specific or B-cell specific in mammalian systems. Some basic differences have been observed in the proliferative response of carp PBL to PHA (phytohemagglutinin), ConA ( concanvalin A) and LPS (lipopolysaccharide): (1) The response to PHA and ConA was found to be highly dependent upon the continuous presence of mitogen in the medium, in contrast to LPS, where after the initial stimulation, cells could continue to proliferate for several days without mitogen. (2) Lymphoblasts grown in long term culture with either PHA or Con A could be transferred into medium containing the other mitogen without impairing cell proliferation, but cell growth was reduced to background level following transfer into LPS-containing medium. LPS grown cells continue to proliferate independently of the mitogen content of the medium. (3) Co-stimulation with LPS+PHA or LPS+ConA results in a synergistic response, while co-stimulation with PHA+ConA results in inhibition of DNA synthesis. (4) Several morphological differences have been observed between cells proliferating in the presence of PHA and those proliferating in the presence of LPS. It is suggested that while the PHA and ConA responsive cells may belong to the same lymphocyte subpopulation, they are distinct from the LPS-responsive subpopulation.

Long term use of enalapril in the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure.

Fifty-five patients of both sexes, aged 39-72, suffering from congestive heart failure of varying aetiology were admitted to a double blind study in which enalapril given in a dose of 5-10 mg twice daily or placebo was added to existing medication. A significant increase in exercise performance (P less than 0.004) was seen in the group treated with enalapril, an improvement which was still evident after 24 weeks of therapy. No significant difference was seen between the mean ejection fractions but subjective assessment suggested improvement in the enalapril-treated group.

Unruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva: a potential source of cerebrovascular embolism.

An unruptured aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva with intraluminal thrombus that displaced the right coronary artery ostium was diagnosed in a 30 year old Omani man who was investigated for uncontrolled grand mal epilepsy and residual left hemiparesis caused by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery. Surgical intra-aortic closure of the aneurysm, which necessitated a saphenous vein graft to the right coronary artery, was successful. An aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva is an unusual cause of a thromboembolic cerebrovascular accident.

Studies on phagocytosis in fish. I. In vitro uptake and killing of living Staphylococcus aureus by peripheral leucocytes of carp (Cyprinus carpio).

The clearance and uptake of Staphylococcus aureus were studied in vitro in whole blood of immunized and non-immunized carp. Bacterial numbers were determined by : (1) counting viable cells in agar plates; (2) counting radioactivity of 14C-labelled bacteria. Similar results were obtained by these two methods. Neither the bacterial growth nor the ingestion of bacteria into the cells seem to be influences by immunization. In both immunized and non-immunized groups the number of intracellular bacteria increased rapidly during the first 120 minutes, then progressed at a slow rate during the next 60 minutes, after which there was a rapid decrease in the number of bacteria only in the immune blood. It is concluded that the phagocytic cells of immune blood are more effective in activating or killing bacteria.