Luciano Adorini

A microcomputer program for probit analysis of interleukin-2 (IL-2) titration data

IL-2 activity is commonly estimated in cell culture supernatants by an IL-2-dependent cell proliferation assay. This method is both reproducible and sensitive. However, it often appears from the literature that statistical analysis of the titration data either is disregarded or, when performed, is based on statistically incorrect assumptions. The proposed method is based on the principle of biological assay by parallel lines as applied to probit analysis of quantitative responses. The procedure has been embodied in a simple and interactive computer program which automatically estimates the IL-2 concentration in the biological sample, in terms of U/ml, and provides its standard error and confidence limits. This program is also suitable for quantitative determination of other biologically active substances that show a sigmoid dose/response relationship.

Computerized data analysis in cellular immunology. Enhancement and suppression of immune responses

Data obtained from assays for the evaluation of helper or suppressor activity are analyzed by statistical techniques that increase the accuracy and amount of information. The analysis is performed by a set of simple and ready to use computer programs which do not require statistical expertise and are available on request.

An Apple IIE microcomputer program for multiple non-independent comparisons by the Scheffe's test

When more than two groups of observations from the same set of experimental data are compared and pairwise tested for equality of their means, appropriate statistical treatment of the data is required. The overall variation in the set of data must be considered, and also the statistical non-independence of each pairwise comparison must be taken into account. We describe a simple Apple IIE microcomputer program that applies the Scheffes test for multiple comparisons. A numerical example and a sample output of this program are also included. The listing of the program is reported in the Appendix.

Interspersed repetitive L1 family is differentially transcribed during the murine thymus ontogeny

Repetitive L1 family in the first LINE (Long Interspersed Element) found in mammals. Structural and evolutionary studies demonstrated the capability of this family to play a functional role and several examples of L1 transcription have been reported in humans and mice especially in tumor cell lines.In this paper a general decrease in the L1 transcription level in different murine thymoma cell lines transformed by different means as compared to a normal counterpart represented by adult thymus is shown. When the same kind of analysis has been performed on normal thymus at different stages of differentiation (17th day embryos, new born, 30th day after birth) a modulated pattern of L1 transcription with a peak in the new born thymus was found. Furthermore, heterogeneous L1 transcription in all the above cases is demonstrated and its possible functional meaning discussed.