Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is one of the most widespread human viruses, with over 80% of the general population exposed by young adulthood, as determined by antibody studies. Initial infection usu- ally occurs during childhood or the teenage years. It is clear that, de- pending on the age of the recipient, clinical manifestations of the primary infection can vary. It has been known for 20 years that EBV is the etiologic agent of acute infectious mononucleosis (IM) and is also closely associated with African Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) and naso- it is a pharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). There is...

Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric disorder resul t ing from liver failure. HE may be associated with fulminant (acute) hepatic failure or chronic liver disease with portal-systemic shunting. The latter condition is characterized neuropathologically by astro cytic rather than neuronal changes (Alzheimer Type II astrocytosis). The former is frequently accompanied by cerebral edema. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the pathogene sis of HE. These include: 1. A toxic action of a substance (or substances) such as ammonia on brain function 2. A deficit of cerebral...

Specific biomolecular interactions occur in practically every bio logical process, usually involving macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Thus, it is not surprising that great attention has been devoted by biologists, chemists, and physical chemists to the general phenomenon of macromolecular recognition in order to gain a better understanding of the principles, forces, and energetics that de termine the often remarkable specificities of such interactions as those of enzymes and their substrates and inhibitors, antibodies with anti gens, hormones with their receptors, and DNA...

The Fifth International Lymphokine Workshop was convened in Clearwater Beach, Florida, January 11-15, 1987. The theme chosen for the meeting was 'The Molecular Basis of Lymphokine Action," which reflected the opinion of the organizers as to how far the field had moved since the first Lymphokine Workshop only eleven years ago. As was evident at the last Lymphokine Workshop held in 1985, the contribution of molecular biology, particularly in the cloning of lymphokine genes, continues to play an important role in clarifying the structure of lymphokines, providing recombinant (read "pure")...