Diagnostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen in exudative pleural effusions.

Elevated pleural fluid (PF) and plasma (PL) carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels (ng/ml) were more frequently found with malignant than benign exudative effusions, but with a low true-positive rate for malignancy in general. Adenocarcinomatous effusions differed from other malignant and benign effusions in the frequency and degree of elevation of PF and PL CEA levels. A PF > 20 had a sensitivity of 91 percent and a specificity of 92 percent as a screening test for adenocarcinomatous effusions. A PF CEA > 55 or PL CEA > 10 were present only with malignancy and 98 percent specific for adenocarcinoma.

Assessment of cerebral damage during open-heart surgery. A new experimental model.

A new experimental technique for the assessment of cerebral cellular damage during extracorporeal circulation is described. It is based upon the direct measurement of the enzyme creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and the brain-specific isoenzyme CPK-B in cerebrospinal fluid of dogs submitted to conventional techniques of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Highly significant elevations occur during a 60 min period of CPB in CSF levels of total CPK and CPK-B isoenzyme. These elevated levels persist at 24 hours postoperation, despite full clinical recovery in the dogs. In a comparative study of the effects of introducing a 40 micrometer arterial line screen filter during the period of CPB, there was a highly significant reduction in total CPK and CPK-B levels in the filtered group (p < 0.005).

Ultrastructural identification of mast cells obtained from human bronchial lumens.

We have investigated the morphology of mast cells in human bronchial lavage fluid. Under light microscopy, these cells were seen to contain discrete metachromatically positive granules that were indistinguishable from those present in mast cells and basophils from other sources. With electron microscopy, the bronchial mast cells were shown to be mononucleated and to contain granules which primarily consisted of particulate materials. Complex structures such as scrolls and crystalloids were also found in the granules. In order to delineate the relationship between bronchial mast cells and mast cells from other anatomic sites, we studied the ultrastructure of tissue mast cells from bronchial, lung parenchymal, and bone marrow biopsy specimens, and that of basophils from peripheral blood. There were similarities as well as differences in these cells from different sources--in their size, shape, lobes of nuclei, nuclear chromatin distribution, and structure of special, presumably histamine-containing, cytoplasmic granules. Based on the electron microscopic data, we believe the intralumenal cells previously described in human beings can be classified as mast cells. The presence of viable, immunoreactive mast cells in the lumen of bronchi may have a significance in relation to respiratory allergic reactions, especially the immediate-type respiratory response.

Potential of kidney cell cultures from nonhibernating thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Citellus tridecemlineatus) for virus propagation.

Kidney cells were cultured in vitro from nonhibernating thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Citellus tridecemlineatus). These primary ground squirrel kidney cultures were tested for the ability to support the replication of 13 viruses representing nine virus groups. The cultures were shown to be susceptible to every virus tested, either by an increase in infectious virus or by the cytopathic effect produced.