High pulse pressure is not associated with abnormal activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in repaired aortic coarctation.

We investigated the relationship between pulse pressure (PP)--a surrogate marker of arterial stiffness-and activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in adult patients with repaired coarctation and normal left ventricular (LV) function. A total of 114 patients (44 (26-74) years, 13 (0.1-40) years at repair) and 20 healthy controls were examined with 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, echocardiography, vasoactive hormone levels and magnetic resonance of the thoracic aorta. Forty-one patients (36%) were taking antihypertensives (28 RAAS inhibitors). Fifty-one had mean 24-h blood pressures >130/80 mm Hg. Hypertension was not associated with age at repair (P=0.257). Patients had higher PP and LV mass compared with controls (52±11 vs. 45±5 mm Hg and 221±71 vs. 154±55 g, respectively; both P<0.05). Differences were more pronounced in the presence of recoarctation, but independently of RAA levels. Even normotensive patients had higher LV mass than controls. LV mass and recoarctation were correlated with PP levels. In conclusion, adult patients with repaired coarctation have increased PP and LV mass compared with controls. PP increased with increasing recoarctation. Hypertension was present also in the absence of recoarctation. These changes could not be explained by abnormal activation of the RAAS.

Rapid separation of T cell subpopulations with monoclonal antibodies and affinity chromatography.

A rapid method for isolation of highly enriched helper and suppressor T cell subsets and their corresponding helper and suppressor cell depleted cell populations is described. The method is based on the binding of monoclonal antibodies to helper and suppressor cells and subsequent affinity chromatography with covalently bound rabbit anti-mouse antibodies. As assessed by indirect immunofluorescence, purity of the enriched subpopulations exceeds 90%, whereas no contamination with helper or suppressor cells is detectable in populations depleted of the respective subsets. The cells isolated by this method show no functional defects in helper and suppressor assays and respond with increased DNA synthesis to stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) plus 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME).

Low-back pain and early retirement among Danish semiskilled construction workers.

According to new regulations Danish trade union members are able to retire earlier than normal, at the age of 60-65 a. One of the reasons for retirement might be symptoms of wear and tear, eg, low-back pain. Questionnaires were sent to 157 semiskilled construction workers and 210 members of a reference group. Forty percent of the construction workers reported low-back pain as one of the reasons for retirement, whereas the corresponding percentage of referents was 25. Low-back pain occurred in the year before retirement for 68% of the construction workers and 50% of the reference group. The relationship between low-back pain, selection, and semiskilled construction work is discussed.

Low back strain in Danish semi-skilled construction work.

Danish semi-skilled construction workers (SC-workers) perform a variety of tasks in building construction, civil engineering and rebuilding. A previous epidemiologic study indicated a high occurrence of low back pain (LBP) among these workers. The study was designed to quantify the major occupational risk factors associated with the development of LBP, i e, inclined postures, repetitive movements, heavy lifts, pushing/pulling motions, sudden unexpected strains and whole body vibrations in this group of construction workers. Firstly a study of occupational activity of 112 SC-workers on height construction sites during two separate five-days periods was carried out. This was followed by an observational study of the nine work tasks most common to SC-workers. Heavy lifts, pushing/pulling motions and sudden unexpected strain occurred most frequently in the work, while inclined postures, repetitive movements and whole body vibrations characterised different parts of the work. Assessments of the strain were made on the basis of techniques given in the literature.

Traditional healers, traditional hospitals and HIV / AIDS: a case study in KwaZulu-Natal.

PIP: Most people in South Africa with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) first seek help from traditional healers (THs). Since people with STDs are at greater risk of contracting and transmitting HIV than are those without STDs, THs comprise a good target group for HIV/AIDS education. A study was funded by the Scandinavian Institute of African Studies in which THs in Amatikulu, Ulundi, Nqutu, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, and other adjacent areas were surveyed about their HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, beliefs, and practices. Most AIDS-educated THs now acknowledge that AIDS exists and are taking protective measures, such as using disposable razor blades to avoid infecting patients with HIV during traditional treatments. However, many THs believe that AIDS has evolved from older, mystical diseases which only THs can cure. Traditional hospitals have proliferated in which HIV/AIDS patients seek treatment from what is more typically perceived by the THs and the general public as morbidity due to witchcraft and other spiritual causes. While each TH has his own blend of medicine against AIDS, the basic ingredients are common among all concoctions. One basic, common ingredient is a plant with documented anti-viral and anti-AIDS properties. The plant, however, is highly toxic and will itself kill the patient after a few days treatment. Another plant has considerable virucidal activity against several RNA and DNA attacking viruses. The traditional medicine was also found to contain plants which have traditionally been used against headaches, respiratory problems, chest and abdominal pains, colds, and dysentery. It also has documented antifungal and antimicrobial effects against common opportunistic infections, as well as being a sedative and painkiller. Traditional treatments against AIDS may help to improve patients' well-being.^ieng

Neoplastic transformation of rat embryo cells with herpes simplex virus.

Sprague Dawley rat embryo cells (REF) were transformed by inoculation with herpes simplex virus (HSV) and incubation at 42 degrees C for 8 days. The infected cultures were subsequently returned to 37 degrees C and two types of cell clone were isolated from foci of growing cells after 4 weeks. One of the clones consisted of epithelial-like cells and did not produce HSV (REF-Tep-NP). The second consisted of spindle-shaped cells and cultures of these cells persistently developed small areas of degeneration where production of infectious HSV (REF-Tsp-P) took place. An additional clone which did not produce any more HSV (REF-Tsp-NP) was isolated from REF-Tsp-P in the presence of HSV-antiserum. REF-Tsp-P and REF-Tsp-NP grew more rapidly than REF and also formed foci in soft agar. REF-Tep-NP had a growth rate between that of normal rat embryo cells and that of both REF-Tsp-NP and REF-Tsp-P and did not form foci in soft agar. REF-Tsp-NP cells, in contrast to REF-Tep-NP cells, were resistant to superinfection with HSV types 1 and 2. REF-Tsp-P and REF-Tsp-NP produced metastasizing sarcomas in rats. After inoculation of 10(3) REF-Tsp-NP cells into 1-day-old rats tumours developed rapidly. REF-Tep-NP cells did not induce tumours in rats. The parental REF cells produced no tumours, even when 10(8) cells were inoculated into the rats. Positive immunofluorescence was observed in all three transformed cells only with the hyperimmune rabbit sera but not with human anti-HSV reconvalescence immune sera.

Conserved organization of an avian histone gene cluster with inverted duplications of H3 and H4 genes.

The organization of histone gene clusters of the duck Cairina moschata was studied in the DNA inserts of two recombinant phage that overlap and feature identical histone gene arrangements but differ in sequence details and in the extent of repetition of an AT-rich motif in one of the nontranscribed spacer regions. These few but substantial differences between otherwise nearly identical histone gene groups suggest that we have independently isolated alleles of the same site of the duck genome or that this gene arrangement occurs (with slight variations) more than once per haploid genome. Within the histone gene cluster described, H3 and H4 genes are duplicated (with inverted orientation), whereas one H1 gene is flanked by single H2A and H2B genes. The arrangement of duck histone genes described here is identical to a subsection of the chicken genome but differs from any other published histone gene cluster.

Homology of the HSV-2 "a-sequence" to cellular sequences.

Bgl-II fragments of the genome of Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) HG-52 were cloned into the vector p-Neo and were used to screen the complete HSV-2 genome for regions cross-hybridizing with the genome of HEL cells. Most extensive cross-hybridizing activity was observed with a 530 bp SstII subfragment of the viral BamHI G DNA-fragment (contained in Bgl II F), which spans the joint and the viral a-sequence. From a lambda-L47 library, a cellular 15 kb HindIII DNA fragment was subcloned in pBR 322 which contained a 1920 bp SstII subfragment having strong cross-hybridizing activity with the 530 bp Sst II fragment of HSV-2 BamHI G. Within this 1920 bp Sst II fragment the cross-hybridizing activity was confined to a 230 bp Bgl I/Hpa II subfragment. This 230 bp fragment (including the flanking sequences) was analyzed in comparison to the viral a-sequence. Sequence data revealed a (G + C) content of 66% in the cellular and 81% in the viral DNA fragment, which is mainly determined by an extremely (G + C) rich 16-fold direct repeat (DR2) at the 5'-end. The homology between both DNA-fragments varies between 56% and 79% within the L-S inversion region. Both sequences, furthermore, show homology to the human c-myc protooncogene.

Immunological studies of hsv-infection of resistant and susceptible inbred strains of mice.

DBA/2 mice were found to be quite susceptible to infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) while C57BL/6 mice and F1 hybrids between the 2 strains were relatively resistant. This difference was most marked after ip infection, but could also be demonstrated after intracerebral, intravenous or subcutaneous infection. In both strains the LD50 was considerably higher after ip infection than after iv infection, and a dose of X-irradiation was required to kill the mice by sc infection. A/J and BALB/c mice were equally susceptible after ip infection but differed significantly after iv infection. C57BL/6 were made susceptible to ip infection by immunosuppression with antilymphocyte serum or cyclophosphamide. LPS, when given simultaneously with HSV also markedly increased the susceptibility of C57BL/6 mice. Susceptible DBA/2 mice which surrvived a low dose of HSV ip were not immune but C57BL/6 mice surviving a high dose were immune against rechallenge. Both strains of mice could be protected by an apathogenic, tissue-culture-attenuated strain of HSV against infection with the virulent strain. They could also be protected by iv injection of a sublethal dose against a lethal ip infection.

Experimental infection of Tupaia belangeri (tree shrews) with herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2.

The susceptibility of Tupaia belangeri (tree shrews, which are primitive prosimian primates) to infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) and the pathogenesis of HSV in these animals were investigated. Juvenile (28--45 days old) and adult (150 days old) animals were inoculated intravenously, intraperitoneally, or subcutaneously with HSV type 1 or 2 (25--10(5) plaque-forming units per animal). Clinical illness usually appeared in juvenile animals on the second day after inoculation, and the animals died between two and 14 days after inoculation. High titers of infectious HSV were recovered from liver and spleen. The histopathologic examination always showed severe liver changes with numerous necrotic areas. The morphologic events in the liver were designated as herpetic hepatitis. The next most common morphologic findings were encephalitis and fibrosis in the spleen. These results demonstrate the high pathogenicity of HSV types 1 and 2 in juvenile T. belangeri. In contrast, adult animals did not develop acute clinical disease and survived the HSV infection.

Detection of SV40 T antigen with labelled antibodies: radioimmunoassay and autoradiography.

SV40 T antigen, partially purified from SV80, a human cell line, has been used to develop a sensitive solid phase radioimmunoassay. In this assay SV40 T antigen was immobilized on microtiter plates, reacted with hamster anti-SV40 T antibody and subsequently with 14C-labelled anti-hamster IgG. The test detected approximately 20 ng of partially purified SV40 T antigen and is rapid and more convenient than the complement fixing reaction. An immunoautoradiographic method which permits the determination of the cellular localization of SV40 T antigen and which is possibly more sensitive than the indirect immunofluorescence method is also described.

Human cytomegalovirus infection: recent developments in diagnosis and epidemiology.

Cytomegalic inclusion disease (CID) is caused by a horizontally or vertically transmitted human herpes virus infection and may persist for life without obvious clinical symptoms. A serious course of horizontal primary and recurrent infections, however, is often observed in immunocompromised persons such as recipients of organ transplants and patients receiving fresh blood transfusions. Vertical infection may cause fetopathies. The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is thought to inherit an oncogenic potential as lately discussed for AIDS and M. Kaposi. Laboratory diagnosis of HCMV infection is performed by light microscopy (inclusion bodies), electron microscopy, virus isolation in cell culture, demonstration of viral DNA and antigen in clinical specimens, by histochemical methods (e.g. immunoperoxidase technique) and by DNA and peptide analysis for identification of different isolates and viral finger prints. Evaluation of cell-mediated immunity in HCMV infection is performed quantitatively (assessment of Thelper/Tsuppressor ratios) or qualitatively (specific lymphocyte stimulation by the antigen). In most cases laboratory diagnosis is achieved by serological methods, i.e. demonstration and quantitation of HCMV-specific antibodies. In this context, a number of liquid- and solid-phase immunoassays have been developed, of which immunofluorescence and ELISA are most commonly used, besides complement fixation and passive haemagglutination. These procedures on the one hand allow the use of different antigen preparations as early and late viral proteins, and on the other hand permit a specific determination of different Ig classes and subclasses. A variety of assays has been established especially for determination of virus-specific IgM antibodies, which are predominantly found in active infection. These, however, at least in part may show non-specific results caused by interference of rheumatoid factor or IgG competition. Such problems have now been dealt with and are avoided by IgG precipitation or IgM immunosorption ("mu-capture" technique). These recent methods allow an exact epidemiological identification of risk groups for CMV infection. Results from our laboratory revealed 13% HCMV-IgM positive patients among pregnant women, 16% IgM positive patients among renal transplant recipients, 4% IgM positive cases in patients after cardiosurgery and 1.7% IgM positives among prostitutes. The prevalence of HCMV infection as indicated by specific IgG antibodies was 56%, 90%, 83%, and 90%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Alterations in protein and glycoprotein composition of rat embryo fibroblasts transformed by herpes simplex virus type 2.

Total and superficially exposed plasma membrane components of tumorigenic herpes-simplex-virus (HSV)-transformed fibroblasts were studied. As a result of oncogenic HSV transformation, a significant decrease of polypeptides 230,000, 180,000, 56,000 and 43,000 daltons was found. These changes were accompanied by a significant increase in superficial exposition of several sialopeptides and two peptides of 30,000 and 15,000 daltons. It was suggested that these two peptides may represent virus-coded components of HSV-transformed fibroblasts. The present results indicate that the HSV-transformed tumorigenic cell clone meets all previously described criteria for oncogenically transformed cells.

Replication of herpes simplex virus in mouse spleen cell cultures stimulated by lipopolysaccharide.

Replication of HSV was demonstrated in spleen cell cultures of D2 and several other strains of mice after prestimulation with mitogenic doses of LPS for 2 days. No viral replication occurred in unstimulated cultures or in cultures prestimulated with PHA and Con A, whereas there was some viral replication in spleen cell cultures of D2 mice after prestimulation with Poly I-C. Spleen cells of B6 mice did not support replication of HSV under any of the conditions we have tested thus far. The reasons for this defect are not clear, but it was obviously not caused by a defective lymphoproliferative response to LPS or by an active anti-viral principle elaborated by B6 spleen cells. F1 hybrids between B6 and D2 mice were capable of HSV replication to the same extent as were spleen cells of D2 mice. Several strains of both HSV-1 and HSV-2 could be replicated in D2 spleen cells cultures. Nylon column treatment of D2 spleen cells removed the ability to replicate HSV, whereas macrophage removal from the spleens by plastic adherence was without effect. Purified peritoneal exudate cells from D2 mice did not support replication of HSV. Together these data suggest that B cells activated by LPS represent the target cell of HSV replication in mouse spleen cell cultures.

Scanning electron microscopic studies of herpes simplex virus transformed cells.

The surface morphology of herpes simplex virus transformed cells was examined by scanning electron microscopy in exponentially growing and density inhibited rat embryo fibroblast cultures. The cell surface of oncogenically-transformed cells became more villated and many microvilli showed branching. C-type virus particles budding from the cell surface were commonly observed. Virus induced cytopathic effects observed by scanning electron microscopy, included rounding up and detachment of degenerating cells from the substrate.