Patellar allografts in anterior cervical fusion - a two-year clinical and radiographic study.

Donor site morbidity, which occurs in 15% to 20% with the use of autografts for anterior cervical fusion, is eliminated with the use of allografts. While allografts from the iliac crest, ribs, fibula, femoral head and skull have been used in anterior cervical fusion, the use of patellar allografts has not been previously reported. Twenty-two patients underwent Cloward anterior cervical decompression and fusion using bicortical patellar allografts from 1993 to 1997. Fifteen patients, with a follow-up period of at least two years, were reviewed. Eleven patients (73.4%) had good or excellent results at an average of 42.8 months after surgery. Fourteen patients (93.4%) achieved union. Two patients (13.3%) developed collapse of the graft with extrusion, one of whom still achieved union. These results are comparable to those reported of anterior cervical fusion using autografts or other types of allografts.

Protein A-antibody mediated hemagglutination assay for serodiagnosis of amebic liver abscess.

A successful modification of the indirect hemagglutination test to demonstrate antibodies for serodiagnosis of amebic liver abscess has been described in the present study. In the modified test, the protein A-IMA, Staphylococcus aureus (Cowan's strain I) bearing protein A (SAPA) cells were used to enhance hemagglutination of sensitized red cells. Use of SAPA cells markedly enhanced sensitivity of the test and greatly increased the titers obtained with most of the sera. At a diagnostic antibody titer of 1:128 and above, the protein A-IHA could detect 72 (100%) of amebic liver abscess (ALA) cases. Amongst the controls, no false positive reaction was observed in non-amebic liver disease controls. However 1(2%) of sera demonstrated false positive reactions from healthy controls. The protein A-IHA was highly sensitive when compared with that of the indirect hemagglutination (IHA) for serodiagnosis of amebic liver abscess. The novel immunoassay is simple, inexpensive and requires little technical skill. It has the potential for wide application in serodiagnosis of amebic liver abscess.

Rapid indirect haemagglutination (rapid-IHA) using sensitized chick cells for serodiagnosis of amoebiasis at primary health centre level.

A successful modification of the indirect haemagglutination (IHA) test as a simple and rapid diagnostic procedure for serodiagnosis of amoebiasis at a primary health centre (PHC) level laboratory has been described in the present study. In this modified IHA test, the chick red blood cells (RBC), stabilized by the double aldehyde method, could be sensitized with amoebic antigen and then stored at 4 degrees C for up to 45 days for their subsequent use, as ready-made reagent directly in the IHA, without loss of sensitivity. The chick red cells settled quickly and their haemagglutination pattern could be determined within 30 to 45 min of incubation at room temperature with test sera. The IHA using double-aldehyde stabilized (DAS) chick cells, showed equal sensitivity and specificity with that of IHA using human O cells in diagnosing cases with different manifestations of amoebiasis. With the use of stored sensitized DAS chick cells directly in the IHA, the test could be performed and results obtained within 60 to 90 min of receipt of the sera to be tested. This makes IHA a simple and rapid procedure for its adaptation at a PHC level laboratory for the serodiagnosis of amoebiasis.

Effect of melatonin on the spermatogenesis of Rana hexadactyla (Lesson).

It has been reported that melatonin produces either progonadal or antigonadal effects in mammals, depending on the time and mode of administration. Information on the melatonin-effect on the testis in toads indicated varied changes during the breeding and hibernating seasons. The present study in Rana hexadactyla (Lesson), a continuous breeder revealed that administration of melatonin at a dosage of 50 micrograms/frog/day either in the morning or evening for a week inhibited spermatogenesis; however, when melatonin was administered for a longer period, this inhibitory effect was lost. Moreover, treatment with melatonin both in the morning and evening had no net effect on the testes.

Effect of cadmium on the spermatogenesis of Rana hexadactyla Lesson.

A single subcutaneous injection of 0.5 mg cadmium chloride in Amphibian Ringer solution caused a significant decrease in secondary spermatogonial and primary spermatocytic stages in the semineferous tubules of frogs in 7 days. B3 cells of adenohypophysis and the activities of delta 5-3 beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase and 17 beta-dehydrogenase in the Leydig cells were significantly increased in the same period. There were no significant changes in 3 days.

Serology of tuberculosis. III. Crossed immunoelectrophoretic analysis of sera from tuberculosis and leprosy patients with antigens from BCG.

Sera from tuberculous and leprous patients have been examined for antibody reactivities against components of BCG sonicate (BCGS) antigen. A crossed immunoelectrophoresis with intermediate gel reference system was used in which more than 40 components of BCGS could be identified. Forty (74.1%) out of 54 tuberculous sera and 68 (90.7%) out of 75 leprous sera reacted with at least 1 component of BCGS. While tuberculous sera reacted with 9 distinct components of BCGS, leprous sera reacted with at least 12. Components of BCGS precipitated by tuberculous sera were not specific as they were also precipitated by leprous sera. Overall, non-specific antibody responses were found to be dominant among tuberculous sera and by comparison, the reactivity of leprous sera with BCGS components was of a higher magnitude. Among tuberculous sera, precipitating activity was maximal among those taken from chronic treated cases with relapse followed by those obtained from treated and untreated new cases. Some components of BCGS to which both tuberculous and leprous sera showed strong reactivity have been characterized. It is concluded that immunoprecipitation methods with BCG derived antigens are not useful for the detection of a specific antibody response in tuberculosis or for discrimination between tuberculosis and leprosy.

Staphylococcus aureus protein A antibody-mediated haemagglutination assay. A study on the interaction between protein A-bound specific antibodies and red-cell-bound specific antigens.

A method has been described for the enhancement of the sensitivity of the passive haemagglutination (PHA) reaction through intact cells of Staphylococcus aureus (Cowan I) bearing protein A (SAPA) which bind Fc portion of IgG derived from many mammalian species. Interactions between Mycobacterium tuberculosis sonicate antigen-sensitized red cells and antimycobacterial antibodies derived from M. tuberculosis immunized goat, rabbit, guinea pig and mouse sera and sera from human tuberculosis patients have been used as model systems. SAPA cells were allowed to bind antibodies from sera and subsequently cross-react with antigen-sensitized red cells. Co-haemagglutination occurred only when specific antibodies were bound by SAPA cells. The sensitivity of this SAPA antibody-mediated haemagglutination assay (SAPA-AMHA) was found to be higher than that of PHA reaction and it depended upon protein A antibody affinity. The specificity of the interaction between SAPA cell-bound antibodies and red-cell-bound antigens suggests that these two reagents offer a simple and sensitive approach for the study of antigen-antibody reactions.

Adenohypophysial histophysiology of gonadectomized, fatectomized and steroid treated male frogs, Rana hexadactyla (Lesson).

Cytology of the pars distalis of unilaterally and bilaterally gonadectomized Rana hexadactyla kept for a period of 60, 75, 120, 150 and 180 days and those treated with testosterone (25 micrograms) and oestradiol (25 micrograms) was studied. Similarly adenohypophysial cytomorphology in unilaterally and bilaterally fatectomized animals and/or treated with aqueous fat body extract was also investigated. The results indicate the B2 and B3 cells of pars distalis are responsible for the gametogenetic activity. A1 and B2 cells may contain some fat mobilizing factor (FMF) for stimulating spermatogenesis.

Effect of steroids on the adenohypophyseal gonadotrophes & its relation to spermatogenesis in Rana hexadactyla lesson.

PIP: The exogenous administration of selected steroids to male Rana hexadactyla Lesson was used to investigate the hypophyseal-testicular axis and to determine their influence on the activity of the hypophyseal cell types and the impact of this activity on spermatogenic activity. The frogs were treated as follows: 1) stilbestrol (S), 1.25 in 1 ml Ringer as a single dose or in 1.25 ml Ringer in .25 ml doses every 48 hours for 15 days 2) testosterone (T), 1 mg/ml every day for 15 days; 3) estradiol (E), 5 mg in 15 ml Ringer administered in 1 ml amounts for 15 days; 4) deoxycorticosterone (DOCA), 7.5 mg in 15 ml Ringers in 1 ml amounts for the test period; and 5) cortisol (F) .5 mg in 1 ml Ringer given as a single dose for 15 days. Single dose administration of S resulted in distortion of the histoarchitecture of the par distalis. The split dose of S was ineffective in the par distalis. T reduced the size of B2 cells. In E-treated animals regression of all cell types of the par distalis was observed and increased production of secretory material was indicated. DOCA-treated frogs displayed atypical cellular morphology and cytoplasmic granulations with extensive fibrosis in the par distalis. A regression of all types of adenohypophyseal cells and cytoplasmic degranulations were observed in F-treated frogs. While all steroids cause some changes in cytomorphological features, tinctorial affinities, and secretory activity, the magnitude of change is dependent on the steroid administered. Spermatogenesis was inactivated throughout.^ieng

Cell types of the pars distalis: seasonal changes in secretory activity and effect of steroids on spermatogenesis in Rana hexadactyla.

Cytomorphological features and tinctorial affinities of the adenohypophyseal gonadotrophs have been studied in stained preparations of the pituitary of adult male frogs Rana hexadactyla Lesson, at monthly intervals during a calendar year. All the five morphologically distinct cell types showed a progressive increase in size from August of February, followed by a decrease from March to July. Extrusion of the synthetized product occurred in the summer and during this period production was low. Injection of steroids viz. stilboestrol, testosterone, oestradiol, doca and cortisol, interfered with the elaboration and secretion of gonadotropins, the adenohypophyseal feedback mechanism, and the sensitivity of the germinal epithelium. Changes in gonadotropins secretion and their impact on the testis are discussed.