Small for gestational age babies: Indian scene.

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is an important determinant of neonatal mortality, morbidity and poor neurologic outcome. The study was aimed to evaluate the magnitude of perinatal risk factors in causation and the neonatal outcome of small for gestational age (SGA) babies. One hundred and three SGA babies born over a period of one year were retrospectively analysed during their hospital stay. 3.53 per cent of the babies were SGA with mean birth weight of 1657 +/- SD 354 gm (range 600-2200 gm). 68.9 per cent were term babies and 51.5 per cent were females. Toxemia of pregnancy (30.09%), hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (HDP) excluding toxemia (5.8%), diabetes mellitus (1.94%), medical disorders including renal and cardiac (3.88%), anemia (Hb < 8 gm%) and IU infection (0.97%) were the main conditions responsible for SGA. In 56.3% pregnancies, no cause could be ascertained. The common perinatal problems were infections in 27 (26.2%), birth asphyxia in 22 (21.36%), polycythemia in 25 (24.3%), jaundice in 22 (21.36%) and hypoglycemia in 7 (6.8%). Congenital malformations in 2 (1.94%) and Hyaline membrane disease in 1 (0.97%) were uncommon problems. 5.8 per cent babies died due to various perinatal problems. Based on these findings it was concluded that idiopathic (? Constitutional) intrauterine growth retardation was the commonest cause of SGA in Indian babies. 58.3 per cent babies had neonatal problems and they had a better survival compared to their western counterparts.

Study of cell mediated immunity in chronic tonsillitis.

The cell mediated immune status (CMI) of twenty three patients with chronic tonsillitis was studied with a view to ascertain any possible role of CMI deficiency in causation of the disease. No evidence of significant CMI deficiency was detected in these cases.

Histopathological changes in reproductive organs of male Wistar rats following active immunization against LHRH.

Histopathological changes induced by immune responses generated against luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) were studied in adult male Wistar rats. Active immunization with a semisynthetic anti-LHRH vaccine, LHRH D-Lys6, (10, 40, and 80 micrograms/animal) conjugated with diphtheria toxoid, produced bioeffective antibodies as indicated by significant reduction in circulating testosterone levels. At the 14th week after immunization the animals were sacrificed and reproductive organs were evaluated. These organs were studied for histopathological changes and compared with those of nonimmunized control rats. Marked hypoplastic changes were observed in the genital organs. Testicular changes such as arrest of spermatogenesis at the spermatocyte level and atrophic changes in the interstitial Leydig cells were noticed in treated animals. Similarly attenuation of secretory epithelial cells with substantial increase in the stromal tissues was observed in the prostate and seminal vesicles. The current observation suggests the possible usefulness of this anti-LHRH vaccine under clinical conditions where reduction in androgenic response is desired as in the case of hormone-dependent prostatic carcinoma.

Semisynthetic anti-LHRH vaccine causing atrophy of the prostate.

A modified luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) analog (D-lys)6 was synthesized and linked to epsilon-amino caproic acid at the 6th position. The free amino group thus generated was used for conjugation to diphtheria toxoid. Immunogenicity and bioefficacy studies of this conjugate vaccine were carried out in rodents. All immunized animals produced antibodies reactive with native LHRH. A gradual decline in testosterone levels accompanied the rise in anti-LHRH titers. On necropsy, after 10 weeks, a significant reduction in the relative weights of testes and accessory sex organs was noticed. Of particular significance was the marked atrophy of the prostate, indicating a possible therapeutic application of this vaccine in the treatment of androgen-dependent carcinoma of the prostate.

The similarity between tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) receptors and tuftsin antibody: a case of induced molecular mimicry.

The characteristics of binding of tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) and several of its synthetic analogues, to specific membrane receptors on rabbit polymorphonuclear granulocytes, were compared with the binding characteristics of rabbit specific antibody to tuftsin. [3H-Arg4]-tuftsin was used as the principal ligand. Six analogues were studied. Two of these, Thr-Lys-Pro and Ala-Lys-tuftsin-Glu-Ala3, showed no binding affinity either to receptor or antibody. Ala-Lys-tuftsin showed less binding than tuftsin to both acceptors. Three showed stronger binding than tuftsin. The order of binding among these was tuftsin ( [Glu]2-tuftsin ( [Pro-Pro3]-tuftsin (tuftsinyltuftsin. This same order of binding was found with both receptor and antibody.

Tuftsin, a natural activator of phagocytic functions including tumoricidal activity.

Some of the properties of the tetrapeptide tuftsin, Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg, are discussed. We describe three phases of tuftsin activation of the macrophage. Tuftsinyltuftsin, the octapeptide Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg, was synthesized with a view of minimizing the formation of Lys-Pro-Arg, from tuftsin by tissue aminopeptidases. The tripeptide is a tuftsin inhibitor. The octapeptide proved to be quite effective in prolonging the life of syngeneic mice injected with L1210 leukemia cells. Its effect in our laboratory, was considerably better than we could obtain with tuftsin. A simple method for purifying tuftsin by high performance liquid chromatography is described using 0.75% trifluoroacetic acid in water. The tuftsin sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg is present in P12 protein of Rausher murine leukemia virus. A close analog Thr-Arg-Pro-Lys appears in yet another virus protein the haemagglutinin of influenza virus. A second close analog Thr-Arg-Pro-Arg forms the penultimate carboxyterminal of a pancreatic polypeptide found in human and several animals.