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The serum lipoprotein fractions from 5 Morgan and 5 Thoroughbred horses were isolated by preparative ultracentrifugation, chemically analyzed for lipid composition, and studied by 2 methods of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to determine electrophoretic mobility. Breed differences were not seen in the relative percentages of the lipid classes found in the various fractions. Normally, horses, like most animals, carry the majority of their lipid in high-density lipoproteins. Electrophoretically, the only difference seen between breeds occurred on disc electrophoresis where the extra band, which is characteristic of lipoprotein profiles of Morgans, was found in the high-density lipoprotein fraction.

During the last decade the use of various biologic therapeutics/biological response modifiers in hematological malignancies has increased dramatically. Alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) alone has clearly a substantial antitumoral effect in many hematological diseases. During the coming decade an improved effect will probably be seen by combination of alpha-IFN with cytostatics and other biologic therapeutics as well as by finding the optimal conditions when alpha-IFN should be used. Using unconjugated mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAb) only, an overall response rate of 38% was noted in patients with advanced disease. MAb therapy might be improved by using other Ig molecules, combination with cytokines and by finding an optimal dosage schedule. Only a few patients with hematological malignancies have been treated with IL-2/LAK cells. An overall response rate of 41% was seen in heavily pretreated patients. In all biologic therapeutics, an improved efficacy will be noted if patients with a low tumor burden and an intact immune system are treated. Immunization/vaccination with "tumor antigen" will probably contribute to an improved prognosis, especially in patients with minimal residual disease. There are several good candidates to be used as tumor antigens in hematological malignancies i.e. the idiotypic receptors on T and B cells. Biotherapy in hematological tumors has come to stay. However, due to the complexity of the effector system it will take a long time before an effective treatment concept is developed.

Concentrations of serum phospholipids, triglycerides, total cholesterol, nonesterified fatty acids, and glucose were determined for 9 months (September, 1972, to May, 1973) in 19 fasting horses and ponies (8 Morgan horses, 7 Thoroughbred horses, and 4 Shetland Ponies). Morgan horses had higher concentrations of total lipid than did Thoroughbreds, although the relative proportions of each type of lipid were similar in the 2 breeds. Shetland Ponies had higher nonesterified fatty acid and lower glucose concentrations than did either breed of horse. In both breeds of horses, concentrations of serum triglycerides in the cold months (December to March) were lower than those in the warm months. In the Shetland Pony, there was no seasonal variation in triglycerides, but a significant increase was seen in concentration of nonesterified fatty acids in the cold months. The significance of these findings is discussed.

A murine anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody (mAb), F1, (IgG2a) was produced against the variable part of the T-cell receptor for antigen (Ti, alpha/beta) on the tumor cells of a patient with T-cell chronic lymphatic leukemia (CD3+,8+,4-). The molecular weight of the protein reactive with mAb F1, comodulation and coprecipitation with anti-CD3 antibody, and the restricted tumor-cell reactivity strongly support the anti-idiotypic nature of mAb F1. MAb F1 also stained less than or equal to 4% of peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy donors. MAb F1 did not stimulate the tumor cells to DNA synthesis, but stimulated a fraction of the normal peripheral blood lymphocytes, mAb F1 did not mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity or complement lysis to any significant degree in vitro. Three infusion of 1-10 mg anti-idiotypic mAb were given over a period of 4 weeks. The plasma half-life for mAb F1 was 3 h in the first 2 h after infusion and 44 h from 2 h to 120 h after infusion. After each treatment a rapid decrease of circulating tumor cells was seen. During the observation period an 80% reduction of the total circulating tumor cells was noted. After the second infusion, IgM and IgG antimouse antibodies were detected. Side-effects from therapy were fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tachycardia, increase in systolic blood pressure and shortness of breath. Thus, in T-cell malignancies a major reduction of circulating tumor cells can be accomplished by low doses of anti-idiotypic mAb. Anti-idiotypic mAb might be a therapeutic agent of significant importance.

Two-thirds of 258 fruit species from Peruvian tropical forest belong to one of two classes: large orange, yellow, brown, or green fruits with a husk; or small red, black, white, blue, purple, or mixed-color fruits without a husk. The characteristics of the two fruit classes match the size, visual ability, and jaw morphology of mammals and birds, respectively, and the animals also prefer to eat one class of fruits. Thus, most plants in this forest seem to be adapted to seed dispersal by either of two distinct broad arrays of animal taxa.