[Survey on goiter in elementary school children in the Bisagno and Trebbia valleys (Liguro-Emilian Apennines)]. / Inchiesta sul gozzismo in età scolare primaria nelle valli Bisagno e Trebbia (Appennino Ligure-Emiliano).

The authors have made an inquiry about school-children of two villages of Northern Appennines: Bargagli and Ottone, formerly seats of endemic goiter. The disappearance of endemic goiter in the younger generations of these villages, is in accordance with previous observations by one of the writers suggesting that sheep represent an important ecologic factor in endemic areas.

Monoclonal antibody to an alveolar macrophage surface antigen in hamsters.

A conventionally produced antibody specific for hamster lung macrophages was prepared by immunizing guinea pigs with lung macrophages from LSH (inbred) hamsters. Specificity was achieved by absorbing the resulting serum with hamster blood cells and peritoneal macrophages. This antibody was used to precipitate antigen from detergent lysates of hamster lung macrophages. To produce monoclonal antibodies, F1 hybrids of Balb C X C57Bl6 mice were immunized with these immunoprecipitates. Fusion of splenic lymphocytes from these mice with NS-1 myeloma cells produced 4 hybrid cell lines. Subcloning yielded 18 lines producing antibody reacting only with lung macrophages, and 2 lines secreting nonreactive antibody. Screening used lung and peritoneal macrophages and an ELISA assay. Using gel electrophoresis and lysates of 125I-labeled lung macrophages, all 18 lines reacted with the same antigen, a protein of 102,000 daltons. Subclasses of these monoclonal antibodies included IgG2b kappa and IgG1 kappa. Quantitative ELISA assays showed that the antibody reacted with lung macrophages of LSH and LVG (outbred) hamsters, but not with hamster resident peritoneal macrophages, spleen cells, or bone marrow cells. The antibody did not cross-react with lung or resident peritoneal macrophages from mice, rats, or guinea pigs. By flow cytometry, no reaction was detected with resident, thioglycollate-elicited, or BCG-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. When frozen sections of lung and other organs were examined by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase methods, only alveolar macrophages were stained.

Correlation of lung macrophage age and surface antigen in the hamster.

A monoclonal antibody specific for a surface antigen found on hamster lung macrophages has been produced. Macrophages obtained from LSH Syrian golden hamsters by pulmonary lavage have varying amounts of this antigen on their surface. We compared the age of alveolar macrophages (using 3H-thymidine) with the amount of surface antigen. Lung macrophages were obtained by repeated saline lavage at 1, 3, 5, and 10 days after 3H-thymidine injection. Monoclonal antibody was then reacted with these cells followed by fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated protein A. Cell size and fluorescence were analyzed by flow cytometry. A wide range of fluorescent intensity was observed; the cells were sorted into four subpopulations (SPs). SP1 had the lowest fluorescence per cell, and SP4 had the highest. The sorted cells were placed on glass slides, and autoradiographs were made. The percentage of labeled macrophages in each SP was determined. At 1 day after thymidine injection, cells with a paucity of antigen (SP1) were the most highly labeled; 12.5% of SP1 macrophages were labeled, but only 1.4 and 1.1% of SP3 and SP4 were labeled, respectively. The labeling was relatively even in all four SPs at 3 days, but at 5 days the labeling of cells in SP2 and SP3 was highest. By day 10, labeled macrophages had large amounts of surface antigen and were in SP3 and SP4. These findings suggest that pulmonary macrophages that have recently synthesized DNA lack surface antigen. As time passes, cells mature and more antigen is acquired. The amount of surface antigen reflects cell age and provides a useful tool to isolate and study macrophage SPs.

Effect of silica on the proliferative behavior of human lung fibroblasts.

We show that silica enhances the proliferation of some but not all lung derived fibroblastlike cells (FLC) of fetal and adult origin. Cultures were obtained from lung biopsy and lavage of normal individuals and patients with interstitial lung disease. The responses of these cell lines were heterogeneous; some cultures were stimulated to proliferate in the presence of silica and others were not stimulated. There was no apparent correlation between source of the cell lines and the effects of silica. The proliferative capacity of the cells appeared to be an important determinant of the effect of silica on the growth of the cultures.

Methods for microcarrier culture of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells avoiding the use of enzymes.

Enzymes situated along the luminal surface of pulmonary endothelial cells interact with circulating solutes, notably with vasoactive substances, to regulate the hormonal composition of systemic arterial blood. However, it is becoming clear that the range and complexity of reactions occurring at or near the surface of endothelial cells are greater than previously recognized. In addition, evidence indicates that the quality of cell cultures used to define specific endothelial functions must be carefully controlled, together with development of improved understanding of the effects of long-term culture on pulmonary endothelial cells. We have developed new techniques for the culture of pulmonary endothelial cells which avoid exposure to proteolytic enzymes at both the isolation step and during subculture. A combination of mechanical harvest and culture on microcarrier beads has provided a system for the long-term, large-scale culture of pulmonary endothelial cells, features which to a large extent determine the scope of biochemical studies which can be undertaken.

[Endemic goiter in Nepal. Comparisons with endemic goiter in the Piedmont]. / Gozzo endemico in Nepal. Confronti con L'endemia del Piemonte

Comparison of certain features of endemic goitre in the Khumbu district of Nepal and Piedmont is reported. Cases in the younger generations were observed in both areas. In Khumbu, the incidence of goitre in schoolchildren was 75% and cases were even noted in children who had been receiving iodine prophylactic management (injections of iodised oil: 500-1000 mg/yr) for at least three years. The iodine content of drinking water and the most commonly eaten foods was determined. Values were very low and a daily intake of not more than 30 mug was calculated. The findings are in line with metabolic studies carried out by other workers in Upper Khumbu. While it is clear that ambiental iodine deficiency is much higher in Khumbu than in those areas of Piedmont where goitre is most markedly endemic, the inadequacy of preventive iodine administration measures, and environmental features common to both areas, suggest that iodine deficiency is a concomitant factor and not the prime cause of endemic goitre.

[Endemic goiter and inflammatory lesions of the hypothalamus]. / Gozzo endemico e lesioni flogistiche dell'ipotalamo

Inflammation of the hypothalamus, consisting of perivasal parvicellular sleeves between the paraventricular nucleus rostrally, the mamillary nuclei caudally, 3rd ventricle wall below the sulcus, medially and o sagittal plane taken a little beyond the column of the fornix laterally--i.e. in the space shown to include the hypophysothyrotropic structures by experimental physiopathology--was observed in a woman with endemic goitre. Reference is made to a similar finding in goitrous dogs from enzootic areas of Piedmon. Epidemiological and clinical considerations are put forwary for the view that endemic goitre is responsible for primary cerebral damage, perhaps of encephalitic origin.