Clinicopathologic characterization of naturally occurring diabetes mellitus in vervet monkeys.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of chronic metabolic diseases characterized by persistent fasting hyperglycemia, and it can be of either polygenic or monogenic origin. Animal models have played an important role in elucidating the pathophysiology of the polygenic Type 1 and type 2 DM forms; however, useful animal models of the monogenic forms do not exist. The authors describe 4 cases of naturally occurring DM in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus), 1 of which has clinicopathologic findings consistent with type 2 DM, including persistent hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, islet amyloidosis, and reduced islet insulin immunostaining. In contrast, the 3 remaining animals have clinicopathologic similarities to a monogenic form of the disease, including a lack of islet amyloidosis and hypertriglyceridemia, as well as normal islet insulin immunostaining. In addition, pedigree analysis conducted on one of these animals is consistent with either an autosomal dominant or mitochondrial inheritance pattern, which supports a monogenic form of DM. The authors thus hypothesize that a naturally occurring monogenic form of diabetes may occur in vervet monkeys, making them a potential animal model for future studies.

Hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis in neurogenetic syndromes.

There are conflicting reports on the relationship between cerebellar vermal lobule hypoplasia and autism. Using quantitative magnetic resonance image analysis, we measured the cerebellar vermis in 125 normal individuals with a broad age range and 102 patients with a variety of neurogenetic abnormalities. We conclude that hypoplasia of cerebellar vermal lobules VI and VII is a nonspecific finding that even occurs in several conditions with-out autistic behavior. This suggests that it is not a specific neuroanantomical marker for autism, nor is cerebellar dysgenesis likely to be solely responsible for clinical autistic behaviors.

Adaptive behavior of institutionalized individuals with Down syndrome.

Institutional residents with Down syndrome (N = 413) were matched with an equal number of residents in other diagnostic categories with respect to sex, age, length of hospitalization, and IQ. The two groups were compared on 62 items of the Client Development Evaluation Report, and significant differences were found on 19 of these items. The subjects with Down syndrome tended to show greater social competence (except in the clarity of their speech) and less maladaptive behavior. To account for these differences, we offer the speculative hypothesis that the favorable expectations of service providers for their clients with Down syndrome may come to serve as self-fulfilling prophecies.

Evaluation of purified H and M antigens of histoplasmin as reagents in the complement fixation test.

Complement-fixation (CF) tests were performed with purified H and M antigens, histoplasmin, and Histoplasma capsulatum whole cell yeast phase antigen using sera of 126 patients with proven or suspected histoplasmosis. Specific titers for either H or for M antibody were obtained with the individual purified antigens; the highest titers were comparable to those obtained with histoplasmin. However, in sera containing only anti-M antibody, the titers obtained with the purified M antigen were 2 to 16 times those obtained with the histoplasmin or yeast phase antigens. The CF test for either H or M antibody was 4 to 32 times as reactive as the agar-gel microimmunodiffusion test; in general precipitin lines were obtained with either H or M antigens from sera with CF titers greater than or equal to 8. With sera containing H antibody, there was an excellent correlation between the CF titers obtained with purified M antigen and histoplasmin. The correlations of CF titers with H antigen and either histoplasmin or yeast phase antigen were very low.

H and M antigens of Histoplasma capsulatum: preparation of antisera and location of these antigens in yeast-phase cells.

Antiserum has been prepared in rabbits against the H and M antigens of H. capsulatum with immunoelectrophoretic precipitin arcs used as vaccines. The antiserum is specific for H. capsulatum in the immunodiffusion test and can be used as reference serum for identifying antibodies to these antigens in sera from suspected cases histoplasmosis. We found that (1) hand m antigens are not located on the surface of yeast-phase cells and (ii) complement fixation releases the antigens reactive in the complement fixation test from yeast-phase cells.

Stability of fluorescent antibody conjugates stored under various conditions.

Two experiments were carried out to determine the stability of fluorescent antibody conjugates. In experiment 1, Francisella tularemia conjugates in the lyophilized state retained their original staining titer for 1,294 days when stored at 25, 4 to 5, and -20 C; at 37 C the conjugates were stable for at least 65 days. In the liquid state at pH 7.4 and 8.0 these conjugates were stable for 1,294 days at 4 to 5 and -20 C, whereas those stored at 25 C remained stable through days 473 and 160 of storage, respectively, after which the staining titer gradually dropped. In experiment 2 five previously lyophilized conjugates were rehydrated with three different diluents and stored at 4 to 5 C for up to 600 days at their working dilutions. All of these conjugates retained their original staining titer during the test period except an anti-human globulin conjugate rehydrated with phosphate-buffered saline. Recommendations are made for the long-term storage of fluorescent antibody conjugates.

Reuse of Salmonella and Shigella absorbing cells for preparing monospecific Salmonella O and Shigella antisera.

Salmonella and Shigella organisms used as absorbing cells for preparing group-or type-specific Salmonella O or Shigella antisera may be reused four or more times without qualitatively reducing their capacity to remove undesired antibodies. The cells may be reclaimed by heating in flowing steam or by treatment with N/5 HCl. The former method is preferred.