In order to extend the knowledge of possibility of action after blunt thoracic injuries 43 patients with largely isolated collar-bone fractures, rib and serial rib fractures as well as vertebral column fractures were questioned about their posttraumatic possibility of action. Essential result: In general, there is a close correlation between the acuteness of pain, the patient's judgment of severity of the injury and the extent of his ability to act during the first posttraumatic minutes. In the further course the ability to act was limited by the extent and the developmental speed of the hematothorax and/or pneumothorax, unless it was primarily limited or completely missing due to pain. Casualties having sustained collar-bone fractures were fully able to act except for a considerably diminished arm-swing. Patients with vertebral column fractures mostly remained lying at the place of accident for fear of a deterioration of the injury sustained and because of severe pain. The casualties' deliberate behavior was the predominant posttraumatic feature. In view of the various forms of rib and/or serial rib fractures with and without a hematothorax/pneumothorax there was a varying posttraumatic clinical picture ranging from freedom from pain to severe pain and non-restricted possibility of action to complete inability to act.

Arousal↗

PubMed1991

The influenza virus-infected host cell, a target for the immune response.

The exposure of some viral antigens at the surface of infected host cells was studied as an essential stimulus for the immune response during influenza virus infections. Only antibodies directed against the HA1 of the haemagglutinin were bound to the cell surface, anti-HA2 antibodies did not gain access to the membrane. Attempts to purify the cell-associated haemagglutinin (formerly called "viromicrosomes" by, R. Rott) indicated the formation of a special form of truncated haemagglutinin. This antigen and the nucleoprotein was purified from infected chorioallantoic membranes by immunoaffinity chromatography. NP-specific epitopes could not be defined on the native NP molecule which seems to be in solution in a discoordinate and partially polymeric array. Three non-overlapping epitopes were assigned to proteolytic peptides of the NP. Purified NP could induce cross-reactive cytotoxic T-cells in mice, but these animals were not protected against a challenge infection. CTL induced by exogenous stimulation or intracellular synthesis of the NP were restricted by MHC class I in both cases. NP could be incorporated into ISCOM after amphiphatic modification of the molecule. NP-ISCOM conferred some protection to experimental mice, but did not induce CTL demonstrable in vitro.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Immunogenic properties of ISCOM prepared with influenza virus nucleoprotein.

After covalent attachment of bacterial lipopolysaccharide to the nucleoprotein of influenza A virus, this water-soluble antigen could be incorporated firmly into ISCOM. This potent "immunostimulating complex" induced the production of high antibody titers in mice and could partially protect the animals from a lethal challenge infection. After immunization with ISCOM preparations NP-specific cytotoxic T cell activity could not be demonstrated.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed1989