John P. Gusdon

Retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma

Twelve cases of retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenoma or mucinous cystadenocarcinoma in women have been reported in the literature. We report an additional case. The histogenesis of mucinous cystadenomas and mucinous cystadenocarcinomas in the retroperitoneum is not clear, but that these lesions may arise from teratomas, ectopic supernumerary or accessory ovaries, or coelomic metaplasia has been suggested. It is possible that small clusters of coelomic epithelial cells could be deposited along the route of ovarian embryonic descent and, by proliferation or metaplastic differentiation, develop into these cystic tumors. The histogenesis of the rare histologically similar lesions that have been seen in men is even less clear.

A digoxin-like immunoreactive substance in preeclampsia

A study has been undertaken of levels of an endogenous substance which immunologically cross reacts with digoxin and may be the putative natriuretic hormone. The possibility that this substance may play a role in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia has been studied by measuring the plasma concentrations in clinically healthy and preeclamptic pregnant patients. A significant difference (p less than 0.001) between these two groups has been found.

Fetal and maternal immunoglobulin levels during pregnancy

The passive transfer of maternal immunoglobulins to the fetus is of importance not only because of the protection it offers the child but also because active antibody synthesis is inhibited by passively transferred antibody and because the antibody may be detrimental to the child. Immunoglobulins have been measured in the paired maternal and fetal sera in 175 pregnancies ranging from the twelfth to the thirty-eighth week of gestation. Fetal IgG serum concentrations equaled the maternal values by the thirty-third week of gestation, and IgA and IgM were infrequently found in fetal serum. The significance of these findings is discussed.

A colorimetric method for amniotic fluid phospholipids and their relationship to the respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract A recently published work has stated that the amniotic fluid lecithin concentration is an accurate method of predicting the development of the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). We have developed a simpler method for estimating amniotic fluid phospholipids, and 204 amniotic fluids from 120 pregnancies were studied. The level of hydrolyzable phospholibids (of which lecithin represents approximately 70 per cent in the third trimester) rises in the third trimester, but a signalling surge is not seen in compiled data. Four of five cases in which RDS did occur were found to have the expected low level of amniotic fluid hydrolyzable phospholipid just prior to birth. However, RDS did not occur in a large group of infants whose amniotic fluid hydrolyzable phospholipid concentrations were low. We, therefore, believe that, though this method would be reasonably valid as a determinant of time of delivery if high levels were found, low levels are not necessarily indicative that RDS will occur.

Oncogenic transformation of rat embryo fibroblasts with photoinactivated herpes simplex virus: rapid in vitro cloning of transformed cells.

Summary Rat embryo fibroblasts (REF) were transformed in vitro with photoinactivated herpes simplex virus. Low passage (7 to 10) HSV-transformed rat cells (t-REF-line G) produced multiple tumours in 49% of newborn rats with a latent period of 20 to 24 weeks. An in vitro cloning procedure for transformants in the uncloned t-REF-line G cells produced clonal lines which varied from non-oncogenic to clonal lines producing tumours with shorter latent periods (10 to 14 weeks) compared to uncloned cells. At passage 30, t-REF-line G-clone 1 cells produced rapidly growing tumours in 100% of the newborn rats with a latent period of only 2 to 3 weeks. Tumour cells (RFS 12-22-75) established in culture produced tumours within 2 weeks after subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation of weanling rats (100% with tumours) and they were transplantable to 100% of inoculated adult rats. Histopathological examination of all tumours produced in newborn, weanling or adult rats revealed large, poorly differentiated malignant fibrosarcomas; metastatic tumours were observed in the lungs of 10 to 20% of newborn rats inoculated s.c. with RSF cells. Approx. 25 to 50% of the clonal transformed or tumour cells synthesized HSV-specific-antigens detected by immunofluorescence. HSV-transformed and tumour cells are resistent to superinfection by the homologous transforming virus. Since the in vitro cloning procedure for transformant cells can readily segregate cells producing clonal lines varying in oncogenic potential, the procedure might have useful application in elucidating HSV oncogenesis.

Possible ameliorating effects of erythroblastosis by promethazine hydrochloride.

Abstract Promethazine hydrochloride has been studied in animals in the laboratory and found to be an immunosuppressive drug. Its use during pregnancies affected by erythroblastosis is reported here. It has not been possible, with this small series of patients, to prove unequivocally its effectiveness in ameliorating the effects of this disease. However, it is believed that in some individual cases beneficial results have occurred at the dosage used. The probable mechanisms of action of this drug in vivo, is the metabolic suppression of the fetal reticuloendothelial system cells.

Naturally occurring antibody to placental protein in human pregnancy

Antibody activity directed against human placental lactogen (HPL) preparations has been found primarily in postpartum patients. HPL is first detected in maternal serum at about the sixth week of gestation. 10% of women tested showed agglutinating ability against HPL-sensitized cells during pregnancy while more than 80% did post partum. An explanation for this is that the antigen HPL and its source, the placenta, have disappeared. Immunochemical studies indicate that the antibody molecule is either IgA or IgM and non-complement-fixing. The antibody activity of the human anti-HPL is inactivated by 2-mercaptoethanol. This treatment has been shown to destroy essentially all IgM antibody and around 50% of the IgA activity, but has little effect upon IgG antibody. Because of the lack of maternal antibody activity against the purest preparation of HPL, it is believed that the antibody is directed against trophoblastic antigens which have not been completely separated from earlier preparations of HPL.

Immunochemical comparison of human placental lactogen and placental proteins from other species.

Abstract A study of placental proteins from species other than man was undertaken as a possible aid in elucidating the role of HPL in man. Placental proteins from term placentas of the rhesus monkeys, rat, dog, pig, horse, sheep, rabbit, and cow were extracted by the same method, and chromatographic separation performed in the same manner as for HPL. Antiserum against HPL was produced in the rabbit and a modification of hemagglutination-inhibition was used to determine the degree of cross-reactivity with HPL in each chromatographic fraction, as related to the concentration of protein. The primary activity was found to occur in the third fraction from the G-100 Sephadex eluate in each species. The order of relationship to the human placental protein, as determined by immunologic reactivity, is as stated above. These results suggest a structural similarity, thus inferring a functional similarity between the placental proteins of the different species studied.

Lymphocyte Subpopulations in Normal and Preeclampsia Pregnancies

ABSTRACT: We have made an effort to determine whether or not there is any change in subpopulations of lymphocytes in normally pregnant and preeclamptic pregnancies using monoclonal antibody markers. Eleven normally pregnant and ten women with preeclampsia were studied, both during the third trimester and again two months postpartum, and compared to eleven age‐matched nonpregnant women. Mononuclear cells were isolated from heparinized venous blood. One million cells were treated with each appropriate antibody (Ortho‐mune OKM1, OKT3, OKT4, OKT8, OKT11, OKIa), and then reacted with FITC‐antimouse IgG and examined by flow cytometry and/or fluorescence microscopy. No significant differences between these three groups were noted in the OKT3, OKT4, OKT8, OKT11, or OKIa cellular populations. The OKM1 population was significantly decreased in the third trimester of normal pregnancies but not in the preeclamptic pregnancies. No significant differences were found 2 months postpartum.

Studies of lymphocyte populations in pre-eclampsia-eclampsia

The possibility that the etiology of toxemia might be immunologic has been held for over 70 years. In the past decade, numerous studies have been instituted in attempts to verify the possible role of the immune system in this disease. The present study was undertaken as a probe to determine if a gross difference in the numbers of T and B cell lymphocyte populations might exist between pre-eclamptic and normally pregnant women. Twenty-five normally pregnant women in the third trimester were compared to 25 pre-eclamptic women, and significant differences were noted. If, indeed, there is an immunologic basis for pre-eclampsia, it is more subtle than the methodology used in this study is capable of detecting.