Depletion of CD8+ cells in human thymic medulla results in selective immune deficiency.

CD8 molecules expressed on the surface of a subset of T cells participate in the selection of class I MHC antigen-restricted T cells in the thymus, and in MHC-restricted immune responses of mature class I MHC antigen-restricted T cells. Here we describe an immune-deficient patient with lack of CD8+ peripheral blood cells. The patient presented with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and was unable to reject an allogeneic skin graft, but had normal primary and secondary antibody responses. Examination of the patient's thymus revealed that the loss of CD8+ cells occurred during intrathymic differentiation: the patient's immature cortical thymocytes included both CD4+ and CD8+ cells while the mature medullary cells expressed the CD4 but not the CD8 protein on their surface. Northern blot and polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed the presence of CD8 alpha and beta mRNA in the patient's thymus but not in the peripheral blood. Both class I MHC antigen expression and the expressed TCR V beta repertoire are normal in this patient. These data are consistent with an impaired selection of CD8+ cells in the patient's thymus and support the role of the CD8 surface protein in thymic selection previously characterized in genetically manipulated and inbred mice.

Complications of cementless total hip replacement. A retrospective study of 163 cases.

Cementless total hip implants are relatively new to the veterinary market and therefore complication rates and prognostic indicators associated with the procedure have not been thoroughly documented. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of complications and identify prognostic indicators of success or failure for the Zurich cementless total hip replacement (THR). Medical records of 163 dogs that underwent Zurich cementless-THR were reviewed; continuous and categorical variables, clinical outcomes and complications were recorded. Complications were separated into intra-operative (IOC), short-term (STC), and long-term (LTC). Bivariate and multivariate statistical analysis was used to compare complications. The clinical significance of this study was to provide surgeons with prognostic indicators of success or failure when evaluating prospective Zurich cementless-THR patients, and to report the complication rate of Zurich cementless-THR. The complication rates of Zurich cementless-THR were then compared to previously-reported complication rates of cemented-THR and other cementless-THR systems. Short-term complications, LTC, and IOC rates of Zurich cementless-THR were found to be 6.75%, 10.4%, and 11.0% respectively. The most common complications were intra-operative femoral fracture, luxation of the implant, and septic loosening of the implant. Increased body weight and prior cemented-THR or femoral head and neck ostectomy of the contra-lateral hip were identified as negative prognostic indicators. The overall complication rate identified was greater than those previously reported for other cementless- and cemented-THR systems.

Observation Is Insufficient for Discovering that the Surface of Still Water Is Invariantly Horizontal.

Among women college students who did not know that the surface of still water in a bottle is always horizontal, two types of specific task procedures designed to elicit self-discovery of the principle were ineffective. Failure to acquire the concept was reflected in inaccurate responses on the adjustment task and by inability of students to verbalize a correct strategy.

Phase I trial of murine monoclonal antibody L6 in breast, colon, ovarian, and lung cancer.

Murine monoclonal antibody (MAb) L6 binds to an antigen expressed on the surface of breast, colon, ovary, and nonsmall-cell lung cancer. This antibody effects antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) with human mononuclear cells and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) with human complement. Because of these activities, we conducted a phase I trial of MAb L6 in patients with advanced cancer. Nineteen patients whose tumors highly expressed antigen were selected for this trial. Eighteen were evaluable. MAb L6 was administered at dose levels ranging from 5 mg/m2/d to 400 mg/m2/d for 7 days and was well tolerated. The only side effects detected were fever and headaches at the highest dose levels. The serum half-life of L6 was directly related to dose and ranged from a mean of 7.7 hours at 5 mg/m2/d to 29.1 hours at 400 mg/m2/d. Peak serum concentrations ranged from 0.22 micrograms/mL to 362 micrograms/mL. Biopsies at the end of treatment showed L6 to localize well to tumor cells with apparent in vivo saturation occurring at dose levels above 100 mg/m2/d. Thirteen patients formed human antimouse antibodies (HAMA), some as early as day 13. One patient with recurrent breast cancer on the chest wall achieved a complete remission. The response was first noted at 5 weeks and a pathologic complete remission occurred at 14 weeks. Because of its favorable binding properties and the encouraging clinical effect observed, future evaluation of this MAb appears warranted.

Group 3 chromosome bin maps of wheat and their relationship to rice chromosome 1.

The focus of this study was to analyze the content, distribution, and comparative genome relationships of 996 chromosome bin-mapped expressed sequence tags (ESTs) accounting for 2266 restriction fragments (loci) on the homoeologous group 3 chromosomes of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Of these loci, 634, 884, and 748 were mapped on chromosomes 3A, 3B, and 3D, respectively. The individual chromosome bin maps revealed bins with a high density of mapped ESTs in the distal region and bins of low density in the proximal region of the chromosome arms, with the exception of 3DS and 3DL. These distributions were more localized on the higher-resolution group 3 consensus map with intermediate regions of high-mapped-EST density on both chromosome arms. Gene ontology (GO) classification of mapped ESTs was not significantly different for homoeologous group 3 chromosomes compared to the other groups. A combined analysis of the individual bin maps using 537 of the mapped ESTs revealed rearrangements between the group 3 chromosomes. Approximately 232 (44%) of the consensus mapped ESTs matched sequences on rice chromosome 1 and revealed large- and small-scale differences in gene order. Of the group 3 mapped EST unigenes approximately 21 and 32% matched the Arabidopsis coding regions and proteins, respectively, but no chromosome-level gene order conservation was detected.

A 2600-locus chromosome bin map of wheat homoeologous group 2 reveals interstitial gene-rich islands and colinearity with rice.

The complex hexaploid wheat genome offers many challenges for genomics research. Expressed sequence tags facilitate the analysis of gene-coding regions and provide a rich source of molecular markers for mapping and comparison with model organisms. The objectives of this study were to construct a high-density EST chromosome bin map of wheat homoeologous group 2 chromosomes to determine the distribution of ESTs, construct a consensus map of group 2 ESTs, investigate synteny, examine patterns of duplication, and assess the colinearity with rice of ESTs assigned to the group 2 consensus bin map. A total of 2600 loci generated from 1110 ESTs were mapped to group 2 chromosomes by Southern hybridization onto wheat aneuploid chromosome and deletion stocks. A consensus map was constructed of 552 ESTs mapping to more than one group 2 chromosome. Regions of high gene density in distal bins and low gene density in proximal bins were found. Two interstitial gene-rich islands flanked by relatively gene-poor regions on both the short and long arms and having good synteny with rice were discovered. The map locations of two ESTs indicated the possible presence of a small pericentric inversion on chromosome 2B. Wheat chromosome group 2 was shown to share syntenous blocks with rice chromosomes 4 and 7.

A 2500-locus bin map of wheat homoeologous group 5 provides insights on gene distribution and colinearity with rice.

We constructed high-density deletion bin maps of wheat chromosomes 5A, 5B, and 5D, including 2338 loci mapped with 1052 EST probes and 217 previously mapped loci (total 2555 loci). This information was combined to construct a consensus chromosome bin map of group 5 including 24 bins. A relatively higher number of loci were mapped on chromosome 5B (38%) compared to 5A (34%) and 5D (28%). Differences in the levels of polymorphism among the three chromosomes were partially responsible for these differences. A higher number of duplicated loci was found on chromosome 5B (42%). Three times more loci were mapped on the long arms than on the short arms, and a significantly higher number of probes, loci, and duplicated loci were mapped on the distal halves than on the proximal halves of the chromosome arms. Good overall colinearity was observed among the three homoeologous group 5 chromosomes, except for the previously known 5AL/4AL translocation and a putative small pericentric inversion in chromosome 5A. Statistically significant colinearity was observed between low-copy-number ESTs from wheat homoeologous group 5 and rice chromosomes 12 (88 ESTs), 9 (72 ESTs), and 3 (84 ESTs).

Development of an expressed sequence tag (EST) resource for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): EST generation, unigene analysis, probe selection and bioinformatics for a 16,000-locus bin-delineated map.

This report describes the rationale, approaches, organization, and resource development leading to a large-scale deletion bin map of the hexaploid (2n = 6x = 42) wheat genome (Triticum aestivum L.). Accompanying reports in this issue detail results from chromosome bin-mapping of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) representing genes onto the seven homoeologous chromosome groups and a global analysis of the entire mapped wheat EST data set. Among the resources developed were the first extensive public wheat EST collection (113,220 ESTs). Described are protocols for sequencing, sequence processing, EST nomenclature, and the assembly of ESTs into contigs. These contigs plus singletons (unassembled ESTs) were used for selection of distinct sequence motif unigenes. Selected ESTs were rearrayed, validated by 5' and 3' sequencing, and amplified for probing a series of wheat aneuploid and deletion stocks. Images and data for all Southern hybridizations were deposited in databases and were used by the coordinators for each of the seven homoeologous chromosome groups to validate the mapping results. Results from this project have established the foundation for future developments in wheat genomics.

Electrocardiographic differentiation of the causes of left ventricular diastolic overload.

Left ventricular hypertrophy due to diastolic overload is characterized by the following in lead V6: (a) tall R wave; (b) prominent initial Q wave; (c) minimally elevated concave-upward ST segment; and (d) relatively tall symmetrical T wave. Reciprocal deep S waves are seen in lead V1. This study reflects a further evaluation of these parameters in the four main causes of left ventricular diastolic overload: mitral incompetence, aortic incompetence, patent ductus arteriosus, and ventricular septal defect. An S wave in lead V1 which is equal to or greater than the R wave in lead V6 excludes the diagnosis of mitral incompetence.

Recurrent and persistent vulvovaginal candidiasis: treatment with ketoconazole.

Forty-two women were administered ketoconazole, an orally absorbed antifungal agent. The symptoms of vulvar pruritus, burning, pain, and dysuria and the signs of vulvar erythema and fissures and vaginal erythema were associated with Candida albicans. Although ketoconazole relieved symptoms and signs seven days after therapy, a high recurrence rate occurred by 28 days after therapy.

Preterm labor associated with subclinical amniotic fluid infection and with bacterial vaginosis.

Maternal genital infection, particularly subclinical amniotic fluid infection, may cause preterm labor and a premature delivery. The prevalence of subclinical amniotic fluid infection was studied in 54 consecutive afebrile women in preterm labor with singleton gestations and intact fetal membranes. Microorganisms were recovered from the amniotic fluid by transabdominal amniocentesis in 13 (24%) of 54 patients. Bacteria or Candida albicans were recovered from six (11%), and genital mycoplasmas from seven (13%). Compared with women with sterile amniotic fluid, patients whose amniotic fluid contained bacteria or Candida organisms had a shorter interval from onset of preterm labor until delivery (0.6 versus 34.3 days, P less than .01), were less responsive to tocolytic therapy (0 versus 81% success rate, P less than .005), and more frequently developed subsequent intrapartum fever (83 versus 2.4%, P less than .005). In contrast, women whose amniotic fluid contained genital mycoplasmas did not differ in these parameters from those with sterile fluid. Also compared was cervical-vaginal infection among these patients in preterm labor with matched control subjects without preterm labor. In this analysis, bacterial vaginosis was identified in 43% of patients with and 14% of women without preterm labor (P = .02), yielding a relative risk of preterm labor for patients with bacterial vaginosis of 3.8. These data underscore the importance of amniotic fluid bacterial infections in preterm labor and premature delivery, and suggest that bacterial vaginosis is associated with prematurity.

Surgical correction for one pulmonary artery arising from ascending aorta--report of five cases.

Over a 10-year period we encountered 5 infants with a pulmonary artery branch arising from ascending aorta. Surgical re-implantation of this vessel was carried out at ages 2.5, 5, 8, 9, and 19.5 months. Pre-operative cardiac catheterization demonstrated severely raised pulmonary artery pressures in all, equal to systemic in 3, and suprasystemic in 2. Four patients had origin of the right pulmonary artery from ascending aorta with a left aortic arch, and the remaining patient had an anomalous left pulmonary artery associated with a right-sided aortic arch. All patients had substantial reduction in pulmonary artery pressures immediately following surgery. One patient died 18 days post-operatively from extensive lung disease. In all 4 of the survivors, post-operative cardiac catheterization (11 to 85 months after surgery) has shown a drop in pulmonary artery pressures. One patient has been left with mildly elevated systolic values but normal diastolic levels. In 2 of the children, mild stenosis has been found at the site of reimplantation of the pulmonary artery. This anomaly should always be considered as a cause in the setting of a large left to right shunt with tricuspid incompetence and severe right ventricular hypertrophy. Prompt surgical repair, after confirmation of the diagnosis, should prevent death from heart failure or the development of irreversible pulmonary vascular disease.

Performance and nutrient metabolism by nursing calves supplemented with limited or unlimited corn or soyhulls.

Five-month-old Angus x Hereford reciprocal crossbred nursing steer calves on fescue pasture were used to determine the effects of 1) limiting supplemental feed intake and 2) soyhulls and corn as sources of supplemental (creep) feed in an 84-d study. The treatments were 1) control (no creep feed), 2) limited intake of corn (1 kg/d), 3) unlimited intake of corn, 4) limited intake of soyhulls (1 kg/d), and 5) unlimited intake of soyhulls. Before weaning, there were no differences in supplemental feed efficiency ([supplemented gain--control gain]/supplement intake) or calf gain between corn or soyhulls. Calf gain before weaning increased linearly (P < .05) as intake of creep feed increased, but supplemental feed efficiency did not differ between limited and unlimited supplements. Feedlot performance by the calves was not affected by any of the previous treatments. Calves that consumed an unlimited level of creep feed had greater (P < .05) quality grades than the control group that did not consume creep feed, but no other carcass traits were influenced by treatment. In a metabolism study, fescue DM intake decreased linearly (P < .001) with increasing levels of creep feed, whereas milk DM intake was not affected by level of creep feed. Digestible DM intake increased linearly (P < .001) with increasing intake of creep feed. No differences (P < .18) were observed in digestible DM intake as a result of creep feed source. Apparent total tract DM digestibility increased (P < .05) with increasing level of creep feed intake but did not differ between sources.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anatomy of an ADA case. Chatoff v. City of New York.

This article addresses plaintiff and defense strategies in the context of an ADA case and is intended to serve as a ready reference to employer's counsel when faced with ADA litigation. In an ADA case, it is essential that counsel humanize the employer by keeping the "Our Business Supports Diversity" theme before the trier of facts at all times. This theme should be accompanied by the proposition that plaintiff's demands are not reasonable because they impose an undue burden on the employer or a risk to the safety of the employee or others in the workplace. It is also crucial for defense counsel to become familiar with the plaintiff's attorney's strategic considerations. ADA litigation strategy is illustrated by reference to Chatoff v. City of New York, a landmark ADA case instituted on behalf of the approximately 200,000 hearing-impaired residents of the City of New York, demanding equal and direct access to Emergency 911 services.

Use of a large-scale Triticeae expressed sequence tag resource to reveal gene expression profiles in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

The US Wheat Genome Project, funded by the National Science Foundation, developed the first large public Triticeae expressed sequence tag (EST) resource. Altogether, 116,272 ESTs were produced, comprising 100,674 5' ESTs and 15 598 3' ESTs. These ESTs were derived from 42 cDNA libraries, which were created from hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its close relatives, including diploid wheat (T. monococcum L. and Aegilops speltoides L.), tetraploid wheat (T. turgidum L.), and rye (Secale cereale L.), using tissues collected from various stages of plant growth and development and under diverse regimes of abiotic and biotic stress treatments. ESTs were assembled into 18,876 contigs and 23,034 singletons, or 41,910 wheat unigenes. Over 90% of the contigs contained fewer than 10 EST members, implying that the ESTs represented a diverse selection of genes and that genes expressed at low and moderate to high levels were well sampled. Statistical methods were used to study the correlation of gene expression patterns, based on the ESTs clustered in the 1536 contigs that contained at least 10 5' EST members and thus representing the most abundant genes expressed in wheat. Analysis further identified genes in wheat that were significantly upregulated (p < 0.05) in tissues under various abiotic stresses when compared with control tissues. Though the function annotation cannot be assigned for many of these genes, it is likely that they play a role associated with the stress response. This study predicted the possible functionality for 4% of total wheat unigenes, which leaves the remaining 96% with their functional roles and expression patterns largely unknown. Nonetheless, the EST data generated in this project provide a diverse and rich source for gene discovery in wheat.

A comparative report on an on-line retrieval service employing two distinct software systems.

A subjective evaluation comparing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration RECON and National Library of Medicine ELHILL 2 on-line information retrieval systems is presented as they relate to the delivery of a major service dealing with a collection of toxicological bibliographic references (TOXLINE). Comparisons of file structure, response time, command language, system environment, and other relevant features are made based upon actual experience with both systems.

[Population census and the problems of accompanying research]. / Volkszahlung und die Probleme der Begleitforschung.

PIP: This article focuses on a research project carried out at the University of Cologne to investigate participation in and attitudes toward the 1987 population census in the Federal Republic of Germany. The goals, methods, and selected results of the study are evaluated.^ieng