Staphylococcus lugdunensis infections: high frequency of inguinal area carriage.

Following a change in surgical practice, we noted that the rate at which Staphylococcus lugdunensis was isolated from samples from the plastic surgery unit of our hospital increased considerably. We investigated the sources of these S. lugdunensis strains, and we found that in the case of drain colonization or surgical site infection, the strain was more likely to have come from the patient's skin bacteria when the pubic site had been shaved preoperatively. To test the hypothesis of pubic site colonization, we evaluated the prevalence of S. lugdunensis carriage among the cutaneous flora of the inguinal area. We found that 22% of 140 incoming patients carried S. lugdunensis in this area and that carriage at both inguinal folds was frequent (68% of carriers). A study of the genetic structure of the total population, including the clinical (n = 18) and the commensal (n = 53) strains, revealed that the diversity of the species was low and that the population was composed of two major groups that diverged at a distance of 35%. No particular characteristics made it possible to distinguish between clinical and commensal strains. Only isolates producing beta-lactamase were homogeneous; six of the eight beta-lactamase-positive strains displayed the same pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern.

Characterization of an established human malignant glioma cell line: LN-18.

A human malignant glioma cell line, LN-18, has been established in monolayer culture and subcultured for more than 115 passages. LN-18 cells grow in vitro as bipolar or stellate cells with pleomorphic nuclei, have a doubling time of about 72 h and a plating efficiency of 3%. The glial nature of these cells has been assessed by ultrastructural examination. The synthesis of glial fibrillary acidic and S-100 proteins could not be demonstrated, although the initial biopsy tissue and the early cultures were positive for the former. The presence of Ia-like antigens on the surface of these cells was demonstrated using allo and xeno antisera. LN-18 cells were also shown to synthesize large quantities of fibronectin. The injection of LN-18 cells into nude mice induced the formation of solid tumor masses that could be retransplanted every 3 weeks and showed a morphology comparable to that of the initial biopsy. Karyotype analysis revealed the presence of three marker chromosomes, constantly present before and after hetero-transplantation.

Immune complexes associated with brain tumors: correlation with prognosis.

The presence of circulating immune complexes in the sera of 208 patients with intracranial space occupying lesions was assayed using the C1 q binding test. Twenty-eight percent of 96 high grade glioma patients had immune complexes as compared to 14% of 28 low grade glioma patients. The incidence of immune complexes was found to decrease in the first post-operative month. The presence of immune complexes correlated with shorter survival in a group of malignant glioma patients tested preoperatively. Nineteen patients without immune complexes had a mean survival of 8.6 months as compared to 13 patients with immune complexes who had a mean survival of 4.7 months. These results confirm similar observations in other types of malignancies.

Evaluation of the humoral response of glioma patients to a possible common tumor-associated antigen(s).

Cytotoxic antibodies against glioblastoma-associated antigen(s) have been sought for in glioma patient sera. Complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) I and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) assays were used to test sera from 80 patients using 51 Cr labelled target cells derived from eight different glioblastoma lines. As more positive sera were detected with ADCC than with CDC, ADCC assay was used for the remainder of the study. Cytotoxic antibodies were detected in the sera from 8 of 80 glioma patients (10%) by CDC and in 20 of 143 (14%) by ADCC. Fourteen percent of 27 meningioma patients and 16% of 25 normal donors used as controls were found to react in ADCC against the same glioblastoma cell lines. The positive serum samples showed extensive cross-reactions with the different glioblastoma cells, but the pattern of reactivity was different for each serum tested. The antibodies detected did not seem to be directed against tumor-associated antigen(s), since the positive sera were found to have a similar ADCC reactivity against unrelated tumor cells and normal fibroblasts. Moreover, their antiglioma reactivity was absorbed by cells of unrelated tumors and by normal platelets. These results do not support previous reports of specific humoral responses in glioma patients against common tumor-associated antigen(s).

[Central nervous system tumor tissue culture, part II: Mesodermic tumors, ectodermic tumors, neurinomas, metastasis]. / Cultures de tissus des tumeurs du système nerveux central Deuxième partie: Tumers mésodermiques, tumeurs ectodermiques, neurinomes, métastases.

The authors describe monolayer culture of meningiomas, neurinomas, craniopharyngiomas, pituitary adenomas, hemangioblastomas and metastases. The very peculiar in-vitro morphology of neurinomas and craniopharyngiomas is stressed.

Evaluation of the humoral response of meningioma patients to possible common tumour-associated antigens.

The humoral response of 39 meningioma patients to possible tumourassociated antigens was studied by means of an antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity test (ADCC). Five patients were found to have cytotoxic antibodies against 1 to 10 meningioma cell lines. However, three of these were also cytotoxic against malignant glioma cell lines but not against other unrelated tumours. These results suggest the existence of surface antigens common to meningiomas and gliomas.

[Cultures of tissue from central nervous system tumors. Part 1. Neuroglial tumors]. / Cultures de tissu des tumeurs du système nerveux central. 1re partie: Tumeurs neuro-gliales.

The authors report their experience with monolayer culture of 80 neuro-glial tumors. Of these 45 were glioblastomas and 17 astrocytomas. 7 glioblastomas gave long term lines, two of which have been transplanted into nude mice and studied by electron microscopy. The morphological and biochemical characteristics of neuro-glial tumors are discussed.

HLA and glioma.

HLA typing of 80 glioma patients was determined and the antigen frequencies were compared with 176 normal controls. Increased phenotypic frequencies of Bw35 and DRw1 were observed, but when P values were corrected by the number of antigens tested (35), the results were no longer significant.

[Anti-tumor antibodies in the blood of patients with gliomas]. / Recherche danticorps anti-tumeur dans les sérums de malades atteints de gliomes.

Anti-tumor antibodies have been searched for with an antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity assay in the sera of patients with glioma. Sera from 60 patients and from 25 normal individuals have been tested against cells from 8 human glioblastoma lines. 10 patients (17%) and 5 controls (20%) were found to have antibodies against one or more tumor lines. There were extensive cross-reaction between the positive sera against the different glioma cells, but the reactivity of each serum was different. The specificity of the antibodies thus detected has been investigated. The positive patients' sera were found to have a similar cytotoxic activity against unrelated tumor and normal cells. Moreover, their activity was absorbed by cells from unrelated tumors and normal platelets. These results do not support the concept of a specific humoral response of glioma patients to a possible common tumor-associated antigen.

Studies on intracellular transport of secretory proteins in the rat exocrine pancreas. IV. Stimulation by in vivo infusion of caerulein.

Prolonged secretory stimulation of the exocrine pancreas in the rat by in vivo infusion of caerulein leads to a rapid degranulation of the organ associated with a progressive reduction in the size of the zymogen granules. During the first six to twelve hours of stimulation Golgi complexes are enlarged and several structural forms of multivesicular bodies are found indicating a lysosomal degradation of membrane material in the Golgi area. Maximum secretory activity is obtained after a 24 hour infusion, Golgi complexes appear fragmented, the secretory granules measure only 1/3 to 1/4 their normal size. Thereafter, in spite of a continuous stimulation, the exocrine cells regranulate progressively up to 72 hours of infusion. This regranulation is associated with massive enlargement of the Golgi complexes.