[Follow-up study of eleven autistic children originally reported in 1943. 1971]. / Etude de l'évolution de onze enfants autistes initialement rapportée en 1943.

The destinies of the 11 children first reported in 1943 as suffering from autistic disturbances of affective contact are brought up to date. Their life histories are summarized succinctly in terms of developmental data, family constellations, clinical observations in the course of the years, the varieties of professional planning, and present status. Attention is called to the subsequent scientific studies of early infantile autism with ever-increasing facilities for research in nosology, biochemical and general systemic implication, and therapeutic amelioration. The need for continued follow-up studies of autistic children is emphasized.

Identification of major metabolites of the catechol-O-methyltransferase-inhibitor nitecapone in human urine.

Metabolites of nitecapone [3-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-nitrobenzylidene)-2,4-pentanedione], a potent new catechol-O-methytransferase-inhibitor, were isolated from human urine both after hydrolysis with beta-glucuronidase and as intact conjugates. Seven phase-I metabolites and corresponding glucuronides were identified using electron ionization and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy, and proton NMR spectrometry. The most abundant metabolite in urine was the glucuronide of unchanged nitecapone, representing 60-65% of the metabolites found. The main phase-I metabolic reaction was reduction of the side chain double bond and carbonyl groups. One of the major metabolites was formed by cleavage of the side chain by retro aldol condensation. All phase-I metabolites were present mainly as their glucuronic acid conjugates. The 3-nitrocatechol-structure of nitecapone seems to hinder nitro-reduction, catechol-O-methylation, and sulfation reactions.

Synergistic inhibition of lymphoid tumor growth in vitro by combined treatment with the iron chelator deferoxamine and an immunoglobulin G monoclonal antibody against the transferrin receptor.

Data are presented indicating that the growth of 5 out of 5 murine lymphoid tumors can be inhibited in a synergistic fashion in vitro by combined treatment with the iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) and an immunoglobulin G (IgG) monoclonal anti-transferrin receptor antibody (ATRA). A two-way dose/response analysis shows that the ATRA becomes more efficient as an inhibitor with increasing doses of DFO. Flow cytometric studies further support the view that IgG ATRAS impair transferrin receptor (TR) function by causing TR down-modulation and degradation, even when the presence of DFO acts to promote increased cell surface TR expression. It is also shown that an IgG ATRA is nearly as effective as an IgM ATRA in inhibiting tumor cell growth when used in combination with DFO. Finally, studies with the iron chelator picolinic acid show that it produces only additive, or very slightly supra-additive, effects when used in combination with the ATRA. Therefore, these studies not only continue to suggest that combination chelator/ATRA therapy warrants further investigation as a tool in the therapy of hematopoietic malignancies, but also make the following new points: (1) the clinically familiar iron chelator deferoxamine, but not all iron chelators, produces synergistic inhibition of tumor growth in vitro with ATRAS; and (2) IgG ATRAS, which may be clinically more attractive reagents than IgA or IgM ATRAS because of better access to extra vascular tissue spaces, have unexpectedly been found to function as powerful growth inhibitors when used in combination with DFO.