Wayburn S. Jeter

EVALUATION OF CORRELATIONAL INFORMATION IN DIGITIZED CELL IMAGES

The processing of digitized cell images by computer may yield information not only about a set of cell image properties but also about their mutual dependencies. Observation of the covariance matrix of image properties of cellular material showing a response to chemotherapeutic treatment, ionizing radiation or antigenic challenge or following a developmental trend may permit a quantitative description of small trendal charges The covariance between certain cell image properties may show statistically significant changes before the mean values of the image properties are affected. Methods of reducing the dimensionality of the representation in an efficient manner are described.

A CASE REPORT OF THE SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF RECURRENT APHTHOUS STOMATITIS WITH SOME PREPARATIONS OF ORALLY ADMINISTERED TRANSFER FACTOR

A patient with severe disabling recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) was treated with four different preparations of oral human transfer factor (TF), as well as placebo, following a double-blind protocol. Two of the TF preparations had a significant effect upon the course of the patients illness by prolonging the interval between attacks and decreasing the severity of attacks. No side effects attributable to any of the preparations were noted by the patient. Thus, some but not all preparations of human transfer factor given orally are an effective therapy for RAS.

Synthesis of agglutinating substances in adult honeybees against Bacillus larvae

Abstract Adult worker honeybees, Apis mellifera, produced agglutinating substances in response to an injection of a vaccine prepared from Bacillus larvae, the causative organism of American foulbrood (AFB).

Influence of absorption on polarization effects in light scattering from human red blood cells

Abstract Polarization effects in light scattering are sensitive indicators of cell structure and structural changes in time. In the spectral regions where the optical properties of the scatterers are relatively constant, the scattering pattern scales, it contracts or expands in a predictable manner as a function of the wavelength. In the spectral regions where the optical properties are strongly wavelength dependent (near absorption bands, etc.) the scattering curves do not scale, but change drastically in phase and amplitude as the wavelength is varied. Reported here is an empirical study of the magnitude of the influence of absorption on the polarization effects in light scattering. Scattering curves have been obtained for human red blood cells in the absorption band (blue light) and far from the absorption band (red light). The scattering at these wavelengths shows very strong nonscaling differences. These observations suggest the use of polarization effects in light scattering and their wavelength dependence for the studies of structural changes in cell nuclei. Nucleoproteins have strong absorption, optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism bands in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum, whereas there is little ψ-dependence in the visible range. There is also the possibility of binding specific chromophoric dyes to cell components, thus introducing absorption bands in the visible range, where scattering instrumentation and laser light sources are more readily available.

ORAL BOVINE TRANSFER FACTOR (OTF) USE IN THE HYPER-IgE SYNDROME

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a study involving the examination of the specific immune status of two children with the hyper-IgE syndrome and the treatment of one of them with oral transfer factor (OTF). Both children (DO and DE) demonstrated remarkably similar physical features such as coarse facies; hairline, scalp, neck and foot dermatitis; short stature; knock-knees; hyperactivity; and above-average intelligence. DO was the first female child born to healthy parents on 3/15/74. DE was the first male child born to healthy parents on 9/2/74. The preliminary study neither provides conclusive evidence to identify the fundamental defect in the hyper-IgE syndrome nor does it support the use of OTF for all patients with this disease. These observations, however, suggest that an abnormality in host T-cell function, which is manifested by diminished to absent responses to specific antigens along with apparent exaggerated immediate hypersensitivity to the same antigen that is responsive to OTF, is present.

Correlation of in vivo and in vitro activity of guinea pig transfer factor

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the correlation of in vivo and in vitro activity of guinea pig transfer factor. Animals were sensitized to 1 chloro 2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) or l-fluoro-2,4 dinitrobenzene (DNFB) by painting a clipped area of the skin at the nape of the neck with 5 drops of a 2% solution of the chemical in ethanol daily for six days. Transfer factor was prepared by two different methods. The first method consisted of injecting 20 ml of sterile light mineral oil intraperitoneally into sensitive donors. Forty-eight hours later, peritoneal exudative cells and regional lymph node cells were collected in Hanks Balanced Salt Solution containing heparin and 15–20% normal guinea pig serum. After washing, cells were incubated for 4 h in HBSS without serum. The incubation fluid was collected and either injected or dialyzed. Macrophages from guinea pigs which had received plasma and the P fraction material after Sephadex G25F filtration were tested for migration inhibition in tuberculin and coccidioidin systems.

Anamnestic Antibody Response in Rabbits to Topically Applied 2,4-Dinitrofluorobenzene

Summary Most rabbits treated topically with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene produced circulating precipitins and passive hemagglutinins. Animals sensitized by a primary painting series and re-exposed topically to DNFB all demonstrated anamnestic antibody response. The time required for a peak titer to be reached after a second contact with the chemical was approximately one-half of that following the first application series. The relative titers following a skin test versus a second painting series suggested that the magnitude of the anamnestic response may have been dose dependent. The antibodies produced by this treatment were apparently directed only against the dinitrophenyl group. No precipitating antibodies against the autologous carrier were detected. No correlation was seen between the amount of precipitating antibody present and the intensity of the skin test. The development of contact hypersensitivity to a simple chemical compound in the rabbit was shown.

1034 COMBINED CMV-EBV INFECTION TREATED WITH ORAL TRANSFER FACTOR (OTF)

A 4-year old male had recurring episodes of arthritis, skin rash, abdominal pain, vomiting and atypical lymphocytosis for 1½ years following an acute illness in Jan. 1978 that included pharyngitis. No etiology was found during the first 2 months of illness; further serological testing identified the probable cause as EBV. Fluctuating CMV titers suggested a dual infection. CMV viruria was first detected in April 1978 and persisted for 15 months with a peak titer of 1010 INFU/ml in March 1979. CMV was present in a buffy coat culture during an episode in Nov. 1978. Although CMV titers were persistently increased, in vitro lymphocyte responses to CMV remained negative (SI <1.0; control >3.0); responses to mitogen were normal. A 7-month trial of levamisole was ineffective. Bovine OTF from an animal skin test positive to infectious rhinotracheitis virus (cross reacts with human CMV) was administered every three weeks for 6 months. Two months after starting OTF, symptoms and viruria ceased and CMV SI was 4.0. He has remained symptom-free with a continued positive SI for 1 year without further therapy. Recovery from this chronic CMV infection was temporally related to OTF administration. Further evaluation of treatment with OTF for chronic virus infection accompanied by abnormal cellular immunity is suggested.