A silver carbonate method for cell counts of neurons and glial elements on paraffin embedded brain tissue.

A modification of the Del Rio-Hortega method for the demonstration of central nervous system elements is presented. This silver impregnation technique is particularly useful for the classification of cell types for quantitative differential cell counts. Formalin fixed paraffin sections are immersed in formol-ammonium bromide for 1 1/2 hours; this solution is an excellent mordant for various silver nitrate stains. The samples are stained for 20 to 60 minutes in a silver carbonate solution (25 ml of 25% silver nitrate combined with 200 ml of 5% sodium carbonate) and then reduced in a 1% formaldehyde solution to which 20 drops of acetic acid have been added. Finally, the slides are fixed in sodium thiosulfate, rinsed in tap water, dehydrated, cleared, and mounted. This procedure will enable this investigator to identify neurons, oligodendroglia, and astrocytes on the basis of their nuclear staining as well as to demonstrate the laminae of brain tissue since the method allows differentiation of cell layers and fiber tracts.


A simple and rapid whole-mount staining method with methyl green-pyronin G applied to a molluscan brain preparation.

Subesophageal ganglia of molluscs have been stained as whole mounts with methyl green-pyronin G to display the relative location of individual neurons. Nuclei appear blue, perikarya red. Expose the ganglion cells by dissection of the connective tissue in snail Ringer. Transfer the ganglion to a fixative of 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M Na cacodylate pH 7.1 at 4 C for 12--24 hours, and wash in distilled water for 1 1/2 hours. Stain with methyl green-pyronin G for 1/2--1 hour and differentiate in 96% ethanol using many rapid changes. Transfer the ganglion to absolute ethanol for 2 1/2 hours and clear in xylene for 3 hours before embedding in Depex in a suitable dish. When the Depex has hardened, the preparation can be stored, and is readily available for subsequent examination. The method may be applicable to other invertebrate tissues, and may be useful in preparing objects for teaching purposes.


The effect of quipazine and LSD on monoamines in the rat striatum.

Rats given quipazine (5 mg/kg) or LSD (0.05 mg/kg), were decapitated at the time of maximum of behavioral effect of drugs (head twitches), resp. 30 and 15 min, or when the behavioral effects disappeared (resp. 60 and 30 min), and concentrations of dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA), serotonin (5HT) and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) were assayed in the striatum. Quipazine significantly elevated the DA level at both periods tested. LSD at the peak of its action depressed the level of 5-HIAA, and in the next period produced a significant depression of striatal levels of NA, 5HT and 5-HIAA.


Simple butyrate esterase stain for monocytes.

The esterases used to identify monocytes are best demonstrated using alpha-naphthyl butyrate as substrate. However, the reagents commonly used for this stain are time-consuming to prepare and are unstable. This report describes a quick, easy, and reproducible staining method using stable reagents which are readily available commercially but which may also be prepared in the laboratory.


Light microscopic identification and photography of Golgi impregnated central nervous system neurons during sectioning for electron microscopy.

A method is described for a rapid and systematic light microscopic documentation of Golgi impregnated neurons while they are being sectioned for electron microscopy. A drawing under the light microscope of a Golgi impregnated neuron is made first; subsequently thin sections of the tissue containing this neuron are cut in the same plane as for light microscopy. During thin sectioning the chuck containing the block is taken out of the ultramicrotome at regular intervals and placed in a special device under a light microscope. The neuron is photographed to record the stage of sectioning. Comparison of the micrographs indicates which part of the neuron and its dendritic tree are contained in the thin sections. No semithin sections are used and therefore no material is lost for reconstruction.


Electron microscopy of malachite green--glutaraldehyde fixed bacteria.

Malachite green combined with glutaraldehyde has been used recently as a fixative for preserving and revaling lipid complexes in thin sections of eukaryotic cells examined by electron microscopy. When bacteria were prefixed with the above mixture granular electron dense inclusions were revealed in all cultures tested. These inclusions were replaced by electron transparent areas in cells fixed with glutaraldehyde alone. The structures were frequently located near to or within the nucleoid and adjacent to the cell membrane in Gram-negative bacteria and were associated with the nucleoid and mesosomes in Gram-positive species. Polyhydroxybutyrate granules, generally poorly preserved in thin sections of Aquaspirillum serpens, were well preserved by the malachite green-glutaraldehyde fixative. Malachite green complexes were observed outside of the cells in all preparations. Capsules were neither preserved nor stained.


Staining with chromoxane cyanine R.

Since Pearse in 1957 introduced chromoxane cyanine R as a dual nuclear and cytoplasmic stain there have appeared numerous procedures for use of this dye. These have differed widely, sharing in common mainly the implication that each is best. A defendable procedure has been developed on an experimental basis and is reported here. Four stock solutions are needed: (1) a 0.2% solution of chromoxane cyanine R in 0.5% aqueous H2SO4 (v/v); boil this solution for 5 min, (2) 10% FeCl3 in 3% HCl, (3) 1% aqueous HN4OH, and (4) 1% HCl in 70% ethanol. The staining solution: 40 ml of dye solution, 2 ml of FeCl3 solution, 8 ml H2O. Dewax and hydrate sections and stain for 10 min. If a myelin sheath stain is desired differentiate for 1 min in solution (3). For a nuclear stain differentiate for 1 min in solution (4). The nuclear stain when counterstained with eosin closely resembles the routine hematoxylin and eosin. Histochemical tests show that the functional group for myelin staining contains nitrogen, and probably hydrogen bonding is involved. The nuclear stain involves a different functional group and possibly neither electrostatic nor hydrogen bonding.


[Differences in sensitivity of T3, T7, T4 and lambda phages to bleomycin and phleomycin].

In contrast to phage lambda the phages T3, T7 and T4 are not inhibited by as much as 150 microgram bleomycin/ml, while the chemically related antibiotic phleomycin increasingly inhibits the propagation of the phages in the order T4-T3-lambda. 20 microgram phleomycin/ml inhibit T3 by 95%. The resistance against bleomycin is surprising, because 10 microgram BM/ml block completely the colony-forming capacity of the host bacterium. The drug resistance of the phage growth correlates with the weak decrease of phage DNA synthesis, while the host cell DNA synthesis ceases rapidly. In accordance with these data is the in vivo inhibition of Escherichia coli cells and the in vitro degradation of their DNA. However, a contradiction exists between the in vivo resistance of T3 and T4 and the in vitro susceptibility of their DNA against nucleolytical fragmentation by bleomycin. The mechanism of the insensitivity of T3, T7 and T4 against bleomycin is unknown.


[Amniocentesis in prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders in twin pregnancies (author's transl)].

In 14 twin pregnancies amniocentesis was performed for prenatal detection of genetic disorders. The indications, technique of amniocentesis under control of ultrasound, results and the outcome of pregnancies were described. In all cases with two amniotic-sacs a separate amniocentesis was possible. The prenatal diagnosis was always proved after delivery.


[Problems in prenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects (author's transl)].

The determination of AFP in amniotic fluid for the prediction of neural tube defects fails in cases of myelomeningoceles which changes their status from the open to the closed form. AFP values laying in a borderline range require a fundamental clarification by ultrasound examination for the detection of spinal malformation.


[Hypothyreotic connatal struma after amniofetography (author's transl)].

It is reported on a newborn suffering from a pronounced hypothyreosis and a big goitre caused by an amniofetography during the 22. week of pregnancy using a hydrous and a oily iodiferous drug. The big goitre impeded the respiration, so that intubation was indicated. After treatment with thyroid hormones for 8 months the goitre decreased. The thyroid hormone-levels and function tests were in normal range after interruption of the thyroid drugs. Etiology and pathogenesis of this disease are discussed. It is warned of using drugs containing high iodine doses for amnio- or fetography.


The structure and cytochemistry of the neurosecretory cells in Ocypoda platytarsis Milne Edwards (Crustacea: Brachyura).

Four types of NS cells ('A', 'B', 'C' and 'D') in the brain, thoracic ganglion and four types ('alpha', 'beta', 'gamma' and 'delta') in the eye-stalk of Ocypoda platytarsis have been encountered. The cells in the brain occur in groups. Five groups have been noticed in the brain. Of the five groups the ventro-median group is unpaired and homogenous. In the other four one is unpaired and three are paired, and all are heterogenous. In the eyestalk the NS cells are distributed in 6 groups. They are MEX1, MIX1, MTX1, MTX2, MTX3 and MTX4. Of these MEX1 and MTX4 are homogenous. A battery of histochemical tests applied to NS cells revealed that the NS material is rich in carbohydrate moiety, disulfide groups, lipids, phospholipids and RNA. It contains little sulfhydryl groups, protein bound NH2 groups and no tyrosine, tryptophan and arginine.


[Our first results with cryotherapy on the prostate].

It is reported on our first experiences with the cryotherapy in 15 patients with adenomas of the neck of the bladder and carcinoma of the prostate who all on account of high quantities of residual urine underwent a permannt catheterisation and in whom an open operation of Tur were contraindicated due to severe concurring secondary diseases. 2/3 of the patients we could free from the permanent catheter, in 1/3 an undisturbed miction free from residual urine was possible In 1/3, however, the catheter had to be kept also after the end of the treatment.


[A contribution to the stabilisation of the MVA-vaccine (author's transl)].

The titre of the MVA-vaccine remains constant at -20 degrees C with human serum albumin, sorbitol, Haemaccel, Rheomacrodex and cysteine within 8 month. At -20 degrees C the stability of the MVA-virus is equivalent to the Vaccinia-virus, stabilized by peptone and sorbitol. Storing the MVA-Virus at +4 degrees C, +20 degrees C for 8 month or at 27 degrees C for 4 weeks, 1% human serum albumin and 5% sorbitol preserves the virustitre best, but the stability of Vaccinia-virus with 5% peptone and 5% sorbitol can, however, not be obtained by the MVA-virus under these conditions.


[Case report of a patient with coexistent rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis].

In simultaneous conditions of inflammatory changes in peripheral joints and in sacroiliac joints, a differential diagnosis, amongst others, of rheumatoid arthritis with involvement of the sacro-iliac joints and also ankylosing spondylitis with peripheral joint involvement should be considered. It seems that in rare cases both diseases occur together. We describe one female patient with coexistence of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. The X-rays showed sacro-iliitis, syndesmophytes and inflammatory changes of the finger and toes, which are typical for rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid factor was detected in serum and in synovial fluid. HLA B27 was negative. The results of 13 patients with coexistence of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis reported in the literature since 1975, are compared with the above described patient.


Binding of exogenous DNA by human lymphocytes and by their isolated plasma membranes.

The binding of labeled bacterial DNA to human tonsil lymphocytes and to plasma membranes isolated from these cells involved macromolecules mainly located at the cell surface, since plasma membrane preparations showed properties in common with those of viable cells. DNA binding to lymphocytes was a dissociable, saturable, time, temperature, pH and concentration dependent process. A double reciprocal plot of the data obtained from DNA saturation curves gave an apparent dissociation constant of about 4 X 10(-10) M. The process of interaction of 3H-DNA with lymphocyte membranes gave a complex Scatchard plot, whose first slope yielded an apparent dissociation constant similar to that obtained for DNA-cell interaction. Binding was shown to be specific for DNA because RNA did not displace the bound DNA. Double stranded DNA was preferentially bound relative to single stranded DNA. Temperatures greater than 55 degrees C abolished the binding capacity. Results of experiments in which pH and salt concentration were varied point to the importance of conformational changes of the nucleic acid in the binding process.


[Plastic image and symbolization].

This paper deals with the ontogenesis of the plastic image in its different pxychobiological aspects, in the background of the symbolization process. A reference is made to the maturing of perceptive processes, including the developments of Spitz, Wallon, Melanie Klein and Fontana. The analysis of the neurophysiological correlations of the image formation process is followed by a study of the functional role of the image in psychic dynamics, its genetic relationship with sensation and speech, its role in the communication functions, in the structuring of the relationship between the internal and the external world. The symbolizing faculty of the image is shown in the fact that it connects the body, the emotions and the sensations with the objects visually perceived, and makes up a unit with all that. According with the principle of genetic continuity, the effect of disturbances in the image formation process on speech is studied, and the way this is reflected in the forms of connexion and in the characteristic discourse of the different psychopathological structures. The image as a confluence of corporal and affective sensations constitutes a basic support in the projective identification process and in the problems of fusion-differentiation with the object as something external, the predominance of the image or of that which is perceived. The items in this paper offer a detailed description of the earliest stages of development, and is completed with references to aspects in the history of man and of culture where an evidence can be found of the role of the image insofar it reflects a certain orden in human dimensions in time and space.


The effect of cyclophosphamide on a secondary ocular immune response in rabbits.

Treatment of rabbits with immunosuppressive doses of cyclophosphamide during the primary response to intravitreally injected bovine gamma globulin did not prevent priming for a secondary response to the same antigen. High antibody titers were found in the aqueous humor and serum of most of the treated rabbits. Ocular tissue plaque forming cell numbers were similar to those of the controls in many of the rabbits, and slightly lower in others. Treatment with cyclophosphamide completely suppressed the ocular immune response in many rabbits that had undergone a primary response following intravitreal injection of BGC. The response in other animals was depressed but not completely inhibited. The presence of ocular inflammation and lymphocytes in the challenged eyes of the treated rabbits suggested a differential effect of cyclophosphamide on cells stimulated to divide after challenge.


Fetal to adult hemoglobin switch in cultures of early erythroid precursors from human fetuses and neonates.

Erythroid burst colonies derived from the cord blood of nine neonates and from the blood and liver of three fetuses aborted after 20 weeks of gestation were grown in plasma clot culture. Their quantitative study revealed a higher proportion of burst-forming units (BFU-Es) in cord blood than in cord blood of normal adults. In addition, colony-forming units (CFU-Es) were present in cord blood but absent from adult blood. Study of haemoglobin synthesis in 14-day cultures of cord blood BFU-Es showed a significantly higher degree of Hb A synthesis than was found in reticulocytes from fresh cord blood; this proportion was, however, similar to that expected in vivo about three weeks after birth. These data suggest that the hemoglobin switch is already programmed in most of the early erythroid precursors present in cord blood or full-term neonates and indicate that the differentiation time is probably of the same order of magnitude in vivo and in vitro. The proportion of Hb A and F synthesis in erythroid bursts was not influenced by the concentration of erythropoietin in the range studied--ie, from 0.5 to 12 international units. Low but identical proportions of Hb A synthesis were found both in erythroid cells from liver after two hours of incubation with [3H]-leucine, and in 14-day liver bursts from fetuses aborted at 20 weeks of gestation.


Inhibitors of fibrinolysis in diabetic children, mothers, and their newborn.

Late diabetic complications are often related to vascular changes and formation of thrombi in the altered vasculature. Contributing factors to thrombosis susceptibility of diabetic patients include changes in clotting factors, platelets, and inhibition of fibrinolysis. We have measured various fibrinolytic inhibitors in the blood of diabetic children, diabetic pregnant women and their offspring, and healthy controls. Inhibitors studied included 1) fast (immediate) antiplasmin, 2) slow (progressive) antiplasmin, 3) alpha-2-macroglobulin, and 4) alpha-1-antitrypsin. It appears from our study that high fast-antiplasmin levels, and low or missing slow-antiplasmin levels are characteristic of diabetic patients and of newborn of diabetic mothers. The reason for high fast-antiplasmin levels is not clear: Levels are not connected with the age of the patient or duration of diabetes, and are not elevated in response to a fibrinolytic process (fibrin decomposition products could not be shown to be present in the serum of diabetic children). Alpha-2-macroglobulin was significantly higher and alpha-1-antitrypsin significantly lower in diabetic women than in controls. In the other groups of patients studied differences in these inhibitors from the appropriate control groups were not statistically significant.


Immunogenetic studies on wild pigs in Japan.

The variations of blood groups in the two subspecies of wild pigs in Japan (Sus scrofa leucomystax and S.s. riukiuanus) were investigated by serological techniques. S.s. leucomystax showed polymorphism in the A and F systems. S.s. riukiuanus showed a little polymorphism in the F system only. As a whole, there was a great similarity in erythrocyte antigen structures of both S.s. leucomystax and S.s. riukiuanus. In comparison with the erythrocyte antigen frequenties of wild pigs in the Eurasian Continent reported by other workers. East-West geographical clines in the frequencies of Ea, Fa, Ga, Ka, Kb and Lh antigens were clearly observed. From the results of investigation on genetic similarities among seven wild pig populations, it was made clear that the two Japanese strains were very close and were closer to Far Eastern TS.s. ussuricus) than Middle Asian (S.s. nigripes), Transcausian (S.s. attila) and European pigs (S.s. ferus).


Genetic polymorphism and close linkage of two alpha 1-protease inhibitors in horse serum.

Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of horse serum proteins was done by a first-dimension separation in agarose gel (pH 5.4) followed by a second-dimension separation in horizontal polyacrylamide gel (pH 9.0). This method resulted in improved and reproducible separation of many alpha-globulins. Two groups of alpha 1-globulins, designated Pi1 and Pi2, were found to be protease inhibitors. Preliminary studies indicated that Pi1 and Pi2 proteins differed from each other in molecular weight and in protease inhibiting spectra. Extensive polymorphism was observed for both these proteins. Family data supported the hypothesis that Pi1 and Pi2 types were controlled by autosomal codominant alleles. For both Pi1 and Pi2 systems, most of the homozygous types showed two fractions each while the heterozygous types had 4 fractions. Six Pi1 and five Pi2 alleles were observed in two breeds of Swedish horses. Complete genetic linkage was observed for Pi1 and Pi2 loci as no recombinant type was observed in 40 informative matings studied.


[Extraction of plasma lipids preserving antigenic properties of proteins and allowing quantitation of gangliosides by neuraminic acid determination (author's transl)].

A technique described by Cham and Knowles allows the extraction of plasma phospholipides, triglycerides, cholesterol and free fatty acids without denaturing the proteins. The method has been slightly modified by us. Under our conditions, the yield of lipid extraction is comparable to the method of Folch. It has the advantage of not extracting mineral phosphorous and blood glucose. Thus gangliosides can be also easily determined. We confirmed by immunoelectrophoresis that the antigenic properties of plasmatic proteins remain after lipid extraction.


[Adaptation to Gemsaec centrigugal analyser of a method of turbidimetric estimation of amylase (author's transl)].

Hydrolysis of a solution of amylopectin by serum or urinary amylase leads to a reduction of the turbidity of this solution, observed at 340 nm. Adapted to centrifugal analysis, this method permits 15 estimations in 3 minutes with a serial reproducibility of 2.7 per cent, and a daily reproducibility of 6 per cent. The correlation with a nephelemetric method of estimation gives r = 0,969, with an enzyme method r = 0,957 and with an amyloclastic method, r = 0,919.


An assessment of four methods for the assay of amylase activity.

This paper describes an investigation carried out to select a reagent kit for amylase assay to replace the Wohlgemuth method currently in use in our laboratory. The following four commercial kits were assessed: Amylochrome, Phadebas, DyAmyl-L and Amylotube. The results showed that the first three kits which employed chromogenic substrates gave better reproducibility than the Amylotube kit which used plain starch substrate and the starch-iodine reaction. Results obtained with the former methods correlated well with one another but poorly with results obtained with the latter method. Various considerations given for the recommended use of the Amylochrome method are discussed.


[Estrogen determination in the urine of heifers during natural and CAP-affected sexual cycle].

With all differences due to environmental effects and individuality, oestrogen secretion actually follows a typical line of dynamics during one normal sexual cycle. Oestrogen curves were found to rise on the seventh and ninth days of the sexual cycle and to reach a maximum level on the last day. Cycle-depending differences between oestrogen concentrations were found to be leveled on the eighth day, when the oestrus had been synchronised by means of CAP. Oestrogens then went down, in response to synchronisation, up to the 15th day. Both the curve proper and the amount of oestrogens in the given cycle, following synchronised oestrus in heifer, practically were congruent with the values recordable from a normal sexual cycle. Two daily CAP doses of 10 mg per individual did synchronise oestrus in heifer and had no side effects on ovarian function over the following sexual cycle.


[Histochemical behavior of succinate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase as well as ribonucleic acid in the epithelium of lactic ducts and alveoli of cow udder].

The activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDR) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as the ribonucleic acid levels in the epithelium of both the lactic ducts and alveoli of lactic glands were examined in heifers, close to full term, lactating cows, some of them with subclinical mastitis lesions, and udder biopsies of two cows. The activities of SDH and LDH as well as RNA levels were pronounced in the glandular epithelium of alveoli and in the epithelium of the lesser lactic ducts. All three parameters were also pronounced but at lower levels in the cells of the apical stratum of the two-layer epithelium in the greater lactic ducts. Relationships were found to exist between the enzyme activities and RNA levels and the lactation cycle. Their patterns and manifestations were more or less typical of those areas of the lactic gland which were affected by mastitis.


Synthetic antigens III. Antigen-binding cells to interpolymer of styrene and maleic acid PSM and sheep red blood cells in mice immunized with PSM.

Studies on the immune response in mice to a new synthetic antigen interpolymer of styrene and maleic acid (PSM) are described. The immune response was measured by determination of antigen binding cells by means of rosette test with PSM-coated SRBC, An unexpected effect was observed--besides rosette-forming cells for PSM, rosette-forming cells and agglutinating antibodies for sheep red cells were found. The results presented in this paper suggest that PSM is acting both as an immunogen and a polyclonal B-cell activator. As a polyclonal B-cell activator, PSM might stimulate the immune response to sheep red blood cells. However, in the case of PSM, in contrast to other polyclonal B-cell activators, this response is suppressed and delayed. The suppression may be caused by suppressor T-cells generated by PSM or by blockade by PSM of antigen-binding cells and antibody-forming cells for sheep red blood cells. The mechanism of the effect observed is discussed.


Rheumatoid factors bind beta 2 microglobulin. Detection of beta 2 microglobulin-complexes in rheumatoid arthritis.

beta 2 Microglobulin binding rheumatoid factors and occurrence of complexed form of beta 2 microglobulin were found in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by radioimmunological methods. 1. As related to the appropriate values of control sera and osteoarthritic synovial fluids, one of the six sera and five of the six synovial fluids of RA patients exhibited increased binding activity for 125I-beta 2 microglobulin, 2. Rheumatoid factors (RF) purified by means of immunoadsorbent bound beta 2 microglobulin; 3. Both 19S and 7S components of sera, synovial fluids and purified RF samples had beta 2 microglobulin binding activity, which was inhibited by an excess of unlabeled beta 2 microglobulin; 4. Complexed (3% PEG 6000 insoluble) beta 2 microglobulin was found in three of fourteen sera and in twelve of fourteen synovial fluids of RA patients. Level of complexed beta 2 microglobulin was independent of its total concentration in the original samples; 5. In the fraction of synovial fluids enriched immune complex the amount of beta 2 microglobulin was in positive correlation with quantity of RF. Presumable immunological and pathological significance of "anti-beta 2 microglobulin"-like cross-reactive RF antibodies is discussed.


Immunobiologic studies in hepatoma-bearing mice passively immunized to alpha-fetoprotein.

Mice bearing the BW7756 hepatoma were passively immunized using rabbit antiserum to murine alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) administered in constant or increasing doses. Control tumor-bearing mice were inoculated with saline or nonimmune rabbit serum (NRS) (constant or increasing doses), or were left untreated. The tumor growth curves from mice receiving constant or increasing doses of anti-AFP or constant doses of NRS showed suppression of hepatoma growth; but in both groups of anti-AFP-treated mice this was accompanied by gross anatomical changes, including necrosis, more extensive than in the NRS-treated or other control mice. AFP blood levels roughly paralleled the tumor growth responses. Since an immunological response against the rabbit serum was elicited in the host, it is possible that circulating immune complexes play some role in tumor suppression. Changes observed in liver- and spleen-to-body weight ratios may also reflect a response to circulating immune complexes.


Histochemical studies of mucosubstances and keratins of thymic corpuscles.

Keratin and prekeratin have been visualized histochemically by testing the reactivity of disulfide groups in the thymic corpuscles of the sheep. Rhesus monkey, rabbit and dog, and the reactivity of sulfhydryl groups in the sheep, Rhesus monkey, rabbit and rat. Ten to 50% of the thymic corpuscles showed keratinization by this method. Acidic mucosubstances were visualized histochemically in the Rhesus monkey, sheep and rat but not in the rabbit. Staining for vic-glycol groups was prominent in all species tested. Neuraminidase treatment with subsequent Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining indicated the presence of sialomucins in the thymic corpuscles of the monkey and rat, but sialomucins were not demonstrated in the rabbit.


[Differentiation in vitro of chick-embryo skin in presence of histones. Analysis of protein synthesis in toto and of keratin in particular, with the use of labeled precursors].

Six-day limb skin from a chick embryo was cultured in vitro for seven days in a complete medium either supplemented or not with histones. At the end of the incubation period, the chick embryo skin cultured in the absence of histones was found to undergo keratinization, the converse being true for the limbs cultured in the presence of histones. In the latter, when H3-leucine and C14-cystine were added to the medium, a sharp decrease in the labeled amino acid incorporation was found.


Affinity sensors for individual metabolites.

Specific metabolite sensors may be constructed for species when a specific binding agent and optically detectable competing assay ligands are available.


[Radioautographic analysis of retinofugal projections in the primitive bony fish Polypterus senegalus C].

Retinofugal pathways of Polypterus senegalus C. have been examined by means of the radioautographic method. Contralaterally the retina projects to the hypothalamus, thalamus, pretectum and tectum. An important ipsilateral component has been observed. No retinal projection to the mesencephalic tegmentum has been identified. Comparing the primary optic system of Polypterus with that of other body Fish, indicates that this species possesses a combination of characteristics which are both actinopterygian and sarcopterygian. The significance of this mozaic arrangement is discussed.


Pulsus alternans in regionally hypoxic ventricles of open-chest dogs: regional mechanical alternation of potentiation and attenuation of the inotropic state.

Sustained mechanical alternation appeared after a spontaneous premature ventricular contraction in 6 open-chest dogs during the perfusion of the left circumflex coronary artery by Krebs-Henseleit solution equilibrated with 5% CO2 and 95% N2. The animals were instrumented with a catheter in the left ventricle and ultrasonic crystals in hypoxic and control segments. Left ventricular systolic pressure was significantly higher in the strong than in the weak beats with no significant difference of end-diastolic lengths in hypoxic and control segments. In hypoxic segments, systolic shortening was significantly larger in strong beats (11.9 +/- 1.9%) as compared with weak beats (5.1 +/- 1.6%) and with control beats preceding the premature ventricular contraction (9.7 +/- 1.6%) but the postextrasystolic beat was larger (17.9 +/- 1.3%). There was no significant change of systolic shortening in control segments during mechanical alternation which appears thus as a regional phenomenon which cannot be explained by the Starling mechanism: instead, alternation is attributed to a change of excitation-contraction coupling after a premature contraction with alternation of potentiation and attenuation of the inotropic state.


[Fixation of polyunsaturated fatty acids by alpha fetoprotein and serum albumin in rats. Comparison with the accumulation of these acids in developing rat brain].

Quantitative data are presented on the fatty acid composition of rat alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and serum albumin, (SA), and of brain extracts of suckling rats. In AFP and SA preparations, 40% and 13%, respectively, of total fatty acids present are polyenoic acids. Among them, docosahexaenoic acid is quantitatively the most important in AFP, while in SA, arachidonic acid is largely predominant. Both docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids were the predominant polyenoic acids in brain extracts. The rate of accumulation of these acids in the brain of suckling rats and the rate of AFP secretion during the same period showed a maximum around 10--12 days after birth. These results suggest that AFP and SA play an important role in the transport and the incorporation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the developing brain.


[Intracellular localization of alpha-fetoprotein and serum albumin in the central nervous system of the rat during fetal and postnatal development].

The morphological localisation of alphafetoprotein (AFP), serumalbumin (SA), transferrin and immunoglobulins (IgG) has been studied in the developing central nervous system of the Rat by immunocytochemical methods. Evidence is presented of a highly selective staining for AFP and SA, both proteins exhibiting the same topographical distribution. Practically all the areas of the brain and the spinal cord are stained at a given moment of the developmental process. The labeling is cytoplasmic and in the neuronal elements extends to their axonic and dendritic prolongations. The localization of AFP and SA in the nervous system may be related to the well known binding properties of these proteins for varied substances (estrogen and/or fatty acids). The morphological data presented here suggest that both proteins may be actively involved in the uptake of such substances by the cellular structures of the nervous tissue.


Localisation of lesions in aphasia: clinical-CT scan correlations in stroke patients.

Ninety right-handed patients with present or past evidence of aphasia following a stroke were given a standard language battery and a CT scan examination. Presence and type of aphasia were correlated with the location and extent of the CT scan lesion. Most of the findings were compatible with the traditional views about the localisation of lesions in aphasia (e.g., anterior lesions in nonfluent aphasias with good comprehension, posterior lesions in fluent aphasia, etc.). The possible explanations for some unexpected findings (e.g., purely anterior lesions in global aphasia, or purely deep lesions in Broca's aphasia) are discussed. It is stressed that in establishing clinico-CT scan correlation, careful consideration must be given to the fact that both aphasia and the underlying lesion evolve with time.


[Use of antidepressants: pharmacokinetic basis (author's transl)].

It is evident from a number of studies that "antidepressants" may be effective in the treatment of various depressive disorders, but also that failures are quite common. The reasons are manifold, but an important source of variation is the pharmacokinetics of these drugs. An adequate concentration of the drug at the cerebral receptors is a reasonable prerequisite for success. This concentration is likely to be reflected by the plasma level of the drug that may display great variations in different individuals receiving the same dosage, mainly due to variations in drug metabolism. The metabolism of the drug depends both on genetic factors and on induction by other drugs such as barbiturates. Whereas most side effects have a fairly simple, linear relation to the blood level, this does not hold true for all drugs as regards their therapeutic effect. Nortriptyline and possibly also mianserin show a curvilinear relation between level and therapeutic outcome. The effect is optimal within a certain concentration range, worse with both lower and with higher concentration. Monitoring treatment by means of measuring blood concentration may thus be desirable in certain situations. -With dimethylated drugs the effects may be complicated if the drug itself and some metabolite act on different transmittor systems. This holds true for, e.g., chlorimipramine and zimelidine. However, the clinical implications are still obscure.


[Indoleamine precursors in depression (author's transl)].

Tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan have now been extensively investigated in affective disorders. There is now very good evidence that tryptophan increases the antidepressant activity of monoamine oxidase inhibitors. The antidepressant activity of tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan has also been the subject of numerous investigations. There is evidence that patients with decreased cerebrospinal fluid concentration of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid respond particularly favourably to this treatment. The therapeutic activity of tryptophan has led to the investigation of the plasma concentration of tryptophan. Free plasma tryptophan, that is tryptophan unbound to plasma protein, appears decreased. There is also evidence that tryptophan and 5-HT transported are abnormal in depression.


[Respective position of antidepressants in therapeutics (author's transl)].

The author points out the heterogeneity of depressions and antidepressants. He stresses the need of finding predictive indicators of antidepressant activity. Genetic, "demographic", biological, biochemical and pharmacokinetic factors can help to guide antidepressant's prescription. Urinary MHPG dosage seems to be one of the most interesting in this field.


Purification of mouse interferon by sequential chromatography.

Two schemes for the purification of mouse interferon are described, based on the concerted application of various physicochemical and affinity/adsorption column chromatographic techniques. Mouse interferon was purified to a final specific activity of 1.0--8.0 x 10(8) units/mg when first precipitated with ammonium sulphate and further processed by hydrophobic chromatography and adsorption chromatography on AFFI-Gel 202 and Controlled Pore Glass. It was purified to a final specific activity of 2.5--3.7 x 10(8) units/mg when first precipitated with ammonium sulphate and further processed by gel filtration with Ultrogel AcA 54, ion-exchange chromatography with Carboxymethyl Boi-Gel Agarose, hydrophobic chromatography with AFFI-Gel 202 and adsorption chromatography with Controlled Pore Glass.


The assembly of lipid-linked oligosaccharides in plant and animal membranes.

Membrane preparations from growing regions of pea stems and actively-dividing mouse L-cells form lipid-linked saccharides from GDP-mannose and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine. These lipids have properties which are consistent with those of mono- and di-phosphoryl polyisoprenyl derivatives. In experiments using plant membranes, the monophosphoryl derivative labeled with GDP-(14C) mannose contains mannose only, while the diphosphoryl derivative labeled with the same nucleotide sugar is heterogeneous, containing oligosaccharides corresponding to mannosaccharides of 5, 7, and 9--12 residues. Only the diphosphoryl polyisoprenyl derivatives are labeled with UDP-(14C)glucosamine and these contain predominantly chitobiose and N-acetylglucosamine itself. Unlabeled GDP-mannose added after UDP-N-acetyl-(14C)glucosamine results in the formation of higher lipid-linked oligosaccharides which are apparently the same as those which are labeled with GDP-(14C)mannose alone. Incubation of the membranes with GDP-(14C)mannose in the presence of Mn2+, unlabeled UDP-glucose or unlabeled UDP-N-acetylglucosamine results in marked changes in the accumulation of both the polyisoprenyl monophosphoryl mannose and polyisoprenyl diphosphoryl oligosaccharides. Animal cell membranes synthesise lipid-linked oligosaccharides when incubated with UDP-N-acetylglucosamine and GDP-mannose. These oligosaccharides are similar in size to those synthesised by the plant membranes but their formation is more efficient. The potential roles of these compounds in glycoprotein biosynthesis in both plant and animal tissues is discussed.


Fibronectin associated with the glial component of embryonic brain cell cultures.

In the basic approach to investigations of neuronal--glial interactions during both normal brain development and its pathogenesis, embryonic brain cell populations were fractionated into purified neuronal and glial components. Using separation procedures based on differential adhesion and cytotoxicity, the isolated neuronal and glial phenotypes could be identified by distinct morphological and biochemical characteristics, including the visualization of glial fibrillary acid protein (GFA) within glial cells in immunohistochemical assays with monospecific anti-GFA serum. When unfractionated cerebrum cells dissociated from 10-day chick or 14-day mouse embryos were plated as monolayers and cultured for 1--14 days, monospecific antiserum against fibronectin (LETS glycoprotein) was found to react with many, but not all, of the cells as revealed by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. The isolated neuronal and glial components of these populations were used to determine whether the appearance of membrane-associated fibronectin was characteristic of one cell type or the other, or both, and if neuronal--glial cell interaction was required for its expression. It was found that the surfaces of glial cells, completely isolated from neurons, showed an intense fluorescent reaction to the anti-fibronectin serum. In contrast, the purified neuronal cultures showed no fluorescence with either the anti-GFA or anti-fibronectin sera. These results demonstrate fibronectin as a cell surface protein associated primarily with glial cells and independent of neuronal--glial cell interaction for its expression. Furthermore, the results indicate that the fibronectin observed on glial cell surfaces in these cultures is produced endogenously and is not due to the preferential binding of fibronectin present in the culture medium. The role of fibronectin as an adhesive molecule in neuronal--glial interactions is discussed.


Infrequency of retinal neovascularization following central retinal vein occlusion attributed to endothelial death.

48 patients with central retinal vein occlusion by clinical diagnosis and 10 eyes by histopathological documentation were studied and reviewed. Only 1 eye developed retinal neovascularization. Rubeosis iridis occurs in 14% of clinical cases and all of histopathologic cases. 10 long-standing neovascular glaucoma enucleated eyes following central retinal vein occlusion show absence of retinal endothelial cells. The absence of retinal capillary endothelial cells seems to be significant in explaining the rare occurrence of retinal neovascularization following central retinal vein occlusion. However, the small number sampling may reflect a biased result. Further prospective studies with more cases and time observation are required to draw the final conclusion.


[Differences in permeability for FITC-dextrane in cornea neovascularisation (author's transl)].

3 weeks after NaOH cauterization of rat corneas, the newly formed vessels were angiographically investigated by means of FITC dextran fractions. An angiographic picture similar to that of fluorescein Na was observed after intravenous administration of FD 3. A minimum diffusion of FD 40 could only be detected in the area of the distal terminal loops of the newly formed corneal vessels. FD 70 and FS 150 shoed an angiographically similar behaviour with no diffusion in the whole area of neovascularization.


Electronic image analysis in retinal fluoroangiography. With 1 colour plate.

The authors describe an original method of fluororetinographic densitometry based on electronic image analysis. They suggest practical applications of this method and report morphologic and quantitative results of their preliminary study.


[So-called refractory hypoxemia: treatment with acexamic acid].

Acexamic acid is currently used to avoid pulmonary fibrosis in patients treated with bleomycim. It seems to be equally effective to prevent pulmonary fibrosis in adult respiratory distress syndrome. The complications of this therapy are hypercalcemia and hypernatremia.


Foetal liver transplant in Fabry's disease.

Two patients, 33 and 26 years old, presented with Fabry's disease and minimal renal involvement. They were treated with a transplant of foetal liver cells exhibiting normal enzymatic activities, after plasma transfusions and symptomatic therapies had proved ineffective. In the first patient, objective and subjective clinical symptoms were significantly improved: sweating appeared, cutaneous lesions seemed slightly decreased and pains disappeared. In the second patient, pains were also seemingly decreased. The mechanism which may be held responsible for improvement of our patients, as of recipients of a kidney transplant, is not completely elucidated. The cells, rather than steroids or azathioprine, seemed to be responsible for the improvement.


Human gamma globulin enhances the survival of renal allografts.

Ninety seven transplant recipients participated in a controlled, clinical trial measuring the graft-enhancing property of a human gamma globulin preparation. The latter was prepared from the blood of pregnant women (RPGG) and contained antibodies with specificities for HLA locus products. Data analysis indicated that RPGG treated recipients had enhanced survival rates of their grafts if they had received one or more blood transfusions prior to transplantation.


Low molecular weight proteins as urinary markers of aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity in man.

The proteinuria of fifteen patients treated with just aminoglycoside or aminoglycoside and either penicillin or cephalosporin was studied. The proteinuria was analysed by means of immunoelectrophoresis, acetate cellulose electrophoresis, thin-layer polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and sodium dodecylsulphate acrylamide gel electrophoresis. We observed a urinary excretion of free immunoglobulin light chains and an increased urinary excretion of lysozyme in all cases. The increase in urinary excretion of beta-2-microglobulin and retinol-binding-protein appeared only in patients treated with aminoglycoside and cephalosporin. These disturbances disappeared a few days after the treatment was discontinued.


Amplification of template capacity of mammalian DNA following extraction of low molecular weight peptides.

Experiments were carried out to evaluate the physical and functional modifications of DNA from several mammalian tissues following alkaline extraction (pH 9.5). The results indicate that such extraction provokes removal of firmly bound low molecular weight non-histone peptides involved in a general mechanism regulating the template capacity of DNA.


[Cutaneous reactions to thiacetazone (TB1) (author's transl)].

Twelve cases of cutaneous reactions to TB1 (Thiacetazone associated with isoniazid) occurring on tuberculous black patients are reported: 8 of them are severe reactions (one Lyell's syndrome with fatal outcome). The different patterns of cutaneous side effects of Thiacetazone are reviewed.


Treatment of severe herpes keratitis with cryosurgery and immunotherapy.

The contrasting type of lesion produced in the first eye of non-immune and the second eye of the then immune rabbits using herpes simplex Type I virus is demonstrated. Cryosurgery may make the first eye worse but the second eye is healed. A large percentage of second eyes heal spontaneously, however, as circulating antibody titres are high. Artefacts may be mistaken for lesions in the immune eye but superficial viral growth has a characteristic plaque-like appearance. One hundred eyes with recurrent superficial, recurrent superficial stromal, disciform deep stomal, and metaherpes treated with cryosurgery and immunotherapy are discussed. An immediate cure was obtained in all cases. Seven cases recurred over the 10-year period studied, but these were all successfully re-treated. Corneal grafts were performed in twelve cases with failure in only one case.


Fundus changes in sarcoidosis. Review of 33 patients with histological confirmation.

A series of 33 patients with histological evidence of sarcoidosis and a retinopathy is reviewed. The fundus can be involved in the absence of anterior uveitis and involvement may be grossly asymmetrical. The most common lesion was a retinal periphlebitis which can progress to occlusion and neovascularization at the same site or at the optic disc. Focal chorio-retinal changes frequently occur, usually without serious visual loss. Central retinal vein or large branch vein occlusions did not occur and the disease appears primarily to affect the smaller retinal veins.


Familial exudative vitreo-retinopathy.

Two brothers aged 18 and 14 years showing the features of familial exudative vitreo-retinopathy are described and the treatment of the condition discussed. Two of their cousins aged 9 and 7 1/2 years who showed the presence of congenital retinal folds are also described, and a possible link between the two conditions is postulated. The differential diagnosis is briefly discussed.


Common heat stable protective antigen in gonococci.

1. Gonococci possess a common heat stable antigen that is not identical to endotoxin. 2. A model of gonococcal peritonitis is described that simulates human disease in its progression from local to disseminated infection and its milieu of mucin and hemoglobin. 3. Vaccination with the heat stable antigen protected against disseminated infection and raised the LD50s from 100 to 1000-fold. 4. Vaccination with antigen from one strain of gonococci conferred protection against heterologous infection. 5. This protection did not require pili antigens or bactericidal antibody. 6. Protection in vaccinated mice resulted from a rapid, intense, and chemotactically-mediated influx of PMNs that eradicates the local infection.


[Comparative studies of total milk protein and protein fractions in various forms of bovine mastitis].

The content of total protein was assessed in 112 milk samples and of protein fractions--in 106 samples taken from cows suffering from clinical mastitis, subclinical mastitis, secretory disturbances, latent infection, and normal milk. Total protein increased along with the rise of cell content. It increased considerably also in the secretion of cows suffering from clinical mastitis, but the rise in the milk of cows with subclinical mastitis, secretory mastitis and laten infection was insignificant. In all mastitis forms the content of serum albumins and gamma-globulin rose significantly, while alpha-lactoalbumins and beta-lactoglobulin were reduced. These changes in the protein fractions of milk can be used with certainty in the diagnosis of all forms of mastitis.


Acute toxicity of organophosphorus and organochlorine insecticides in laboratory animals.

The influence of acute poisoning with Dursban (O.P.I.) and D.D.T. (O.cl.I.) on serum enzymes and histopathological examination of the liver, kidney and testes was investigated in albino rats. Two repeated i.p. injections of Dursban in a dose of half the LD 50 resulted in a significant increase in serum GOT, GPT and alkaline phosphatase activity and a decrease of cholinesterase. In case of DDT, two doses of 150 mg/kg orally resulted in a significant increase in the activity of serum GPT only, while three doses increased serum GOT and GPT. No significant change was observed in serum alkaline phosphatase and cholinesterase activity. Regarding the pathological examination it was found that in animals treated with Dursban there was liver necrosis of mid-zonal type and fatty change at the periphery. In case of DDT the liver cells lost their radial arrangements and showed fatty change. There was cellular infiltration in the centre, mostly mononucleolar cells. In both insecticides there was necrosis of some of the seminiferous tubules of the testes and cloudy swelling of the convoluted tubules of the kidney. Histochemical study of the liver in animals treated with Dursban showed that glycogen was deposited at one side of the cell. However, there was depletion of glycogen around the central vein. In liver treated with DDT there were large globules of fat inside the liver cells, indicating increased fat content compared to control liver, where there were tiny minute droplets of fat.


[Dangers of rapid digitalization].

On the patients with moderate and severe heart insufficiency haemodynamic, clinical and electrocardiographic examinations were carried out. After the application of digitoxin at the beginning in the majority of cases no favourable effects on clinical and haemodynamic findings could be proved. In 2 patients with cor pulmonale even a drastic deterioration with increase of the pulmonary pressure and formation of a pulmonary oedema developed. The temporary analysis of the systole and the estimation of the glycoside level did not give any reliable references. The recompensation began only after 2-3 days. In 5 out of 10 patients in whom the cardiac rhythm was continuously controlled by means of a tape storage device, after the application of digoxin ventricular extrasystoles appeared. Also in these cases increased as well as subtherapeutic digoxin-plasma levels were present. In 2 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy the infundibular gradients were considerably increased by strophantin. The causes of the different reaction patters are to be sought in disease-specific peculiarities, in the degree of severity of the heart insufficiency, in the speed of the flooding of glycoside and several extracardiac factors.


Activity of pectinases, amylases, and saccharase in Pythium spp.

The activity of pectine-lyase, polygalacturonase, pectine-methyl-esterase, amylase, and saccharase in Pythium ultimum, Pythium oligandrum, and Pythium debaryanum was determined. Cultures of fungi were cultivated under different temperatures and pH-values within 24 hours and 15 days. The optimum temperature for production of the mentioned enzymes was found to be 24 degrees C. Furthermore, the influence of pH and age of culture on activity of enzyme was investigated. The same trend was found in all the fungus species examined.


[Hydroxyethyl starch--a new interesting colloidal plasma volume expander. Anaphylactoid reactions (author's transl)].

Laboratory and clinical experience shows that after i.v. infusion of colloidal plasma volume expanders not only the wanted effect but unwanted side effects are to be expected as well. Besides Dextran and Gelatine, Hydroxyethyl starch is increasingly used. The author deals especially with possible anaphylactoid reactions after application of this new volume expander.


[Carcinoma of papilla of Vater and its surgical treatment (author's transl)].

Partial pancreato-duodenectomy is in our opinion the method of choice. Mortality rate 15%; 5-years survival rate 31.5%. The results obtained by resection of Vater's papilla are less favourable: the mean survival time comes only up to less than 50%. Palliative procedures should only be practiced in cases of incurability.


[On the serology and immunbiology of listeriosis. VII. Communication: Further investigations on the agglutination-immobilization test (author's transl)].

Factor antisera oriented to different serovars of Listeria moncytogenes, expecially to serovar 7 and Murray grayi (Listeria grayi) were tested. It was found that the agglutination-immobilization test detects antibodies oriented to the H-antigen. By contrast, the growth inhibition test measures antibodies oriented to the O-antigen. Summarizingly, it can be stated that the following three seroreactions, each based on a different mode of action, are available for the determination of antibodies specifically oriented to the somatic or flagellar antigens of L. monocytogenes: 1. Bacterial agglutination reaction for the detection of O and H antibodies 2. The growth-inhibition test for the detection of O antibodies 3. The agglutination-immobilization test for the detection of H antibodies.


[Studies of acid-soluble antigens in several strains of the genus Bacillus for orienting purposes (author's transl)].

By acid hydrolysis (0.2 n HCl) it was possible to obtain extracts from nonsporulated cells of different strains of 5 species of the genus Bacillus which were composed mainly or solely of species-specific antigens. This was the result of experiments using the immunodiffusion technique after having prepared antisera from rabbits with the aid of HCl extracts. Cross-reacting antibodies were adsorbed easily. The species-specific reacting antisera revealed the existence of group- or strain-specific antigens. Therefore HCl extracts could become helpful in serotyping strains which belong to the taxa of the genus Bacillus.


Comparison of antigenic properties among various strains of Treponema hyodysenteriae.

Agglutinin-absorption and precipitin-absorption studies demonstrated that three strains of Treponema hyodysenteriae isolated from cases of swine dysentery were antigenically different from each other and also from a spirochete isolated from a clinically normal dog. Each of the strains of T. hyodysenteriae also possessed two common antigens.


The analysis of stain loading tests for the assessment of the liver function.

Stain loading curves are analysed by discriminant analysis. In this multivariate statistical method, the stain concentrations measured in the blood at defined intervals after injection are regarded as measurement vectors.


[Specificity of interactions between thymus-dependent lymphocytes and influenza viruses (author's transl)].

Destruction of influenza virus-infected target cells by cytotoxic, thymus-derived lymphocytes (CTL) and the measurement of this reaction with an 51Cr-release assay is a practicable model for studying the complicated interactions between influenza viruses and T-lymphocytes. There is abundant evidence that T-cell-mediated lysis of influenza virus-infected target cells generally requires the H-2K or H2D region histocompatibility between CTL and target cells. Two general explanation have been proposed to account the requirement of the H-2 compatibility between lymphocytes and virus-infected target cells, the "altered self" concept and the "dual recognition" hypothesis. The specificity of the cytotoxic response against influenza viruses is dependent on the viral haemaglutinin. A second, cross-reactive subpopulation of CTL recognized furthermore the M protein as the traget antigen. The role of the target cells in determining the specificity of the CTL response is therefore of special importance for the infectivity of the influenza viruses.


The keraton. A biological unit of the epidermis.

The term keraton is proposed to denote that specific subpopulation of epidermal cells that matures to form epidermis and horny layer exclusive of other functional units within the epidermis such as melanocytes, acrosyringium, acrotrichium, Langerhans' cells, and nerves.


[The use of intravenous gamma globulins in pediatrics].

In pediatrics, intravenous Gamma Globulin therapy is extremely valuable when combined with other antimicrobial therapy or when employed on its own especially in cases of viral infection. The use of the intravenous route allows the injection of large amounts of drug, intramuscular injections, which are often counter-indicated in children, particularly in children suffering from malignant blood dyscrasias, are thus avoided. Furthermore with the intravenous route, a high blood titre of gamma globulins is achieved immediately and the treatment can be maintained as long as necessary. The tolerance to this drug, in our experience, at least with the preparation used, was found to be excellent in the vast majority of cases. These preparations ought to be widely employed in all of the serious digestive disorders and in paediatrics.


Cerebral manifestations of Whipple's disease.

A case of Whipple's disease with central nervous system (CNS) involvement has been retrospectively diagnosed. At the age of 50 and after six years of recurrent bouts of pyrexia, anorexia and loss of weight, a man developed a subacute encephalitis. Two episodes of acute loss of vision were followed by changes in mental status, supranuclear ophthalmoplegia and oculo-facio-cervical myorhythmias which remained present until death, one year later. Combined light- and electron microscopic studies have demonstrated: No. 1 the presence in the CNS of nodules containing large amounts of Sieracki cells; No. 2 the existence of bacteria in various stages of degeneration in macrophages or in the neuropile. A review of CNS complications in Whipple's disease is made.


[Recording of monophasic action potentials of the right ventricle in a case of long QT and isolated alternation of the U wave].

Monophasic action potentials (MAP) of the right ventricle were recorded with suction electrodes in a case of long QTU, electrical alternans of the U wave and "torsades de pointe" by hypocalcaemia. Two electrophysiological features were observed:--a notable difference in the duration of MAPs of different zones of the right ventricle;--a change in the length and appearances of phase 3 of the longest MAPs with an inconstant bulge (delayed repolarisation) in the terminal portion of these same MAPs. These changes, which favourise focal reentry phenomena and/or reciprocal conduction are the probable explanation of the pathogenesis of episodes of "torsades de pointe". A reduction in the conductance of potassium associated or related to hypocalcaemia probably explains the second of the two changes.


[Antigen-specific T-cell factors in the regulation of the immune response (author's transl)].

We have examined in this brief review several facets of antigen-specific T-cell mediators found independently by different investigators. These factors have many common properties: (1) they are produced as a consequence of antigen stimulation; (2) they are obtained from T-cell populations and not from B cells or macrophages; their synthesis by T cells, however, has not been formally demonstrated; (3) they are antigen-specific and are selectively adsorbed by antigen-Sepharose columns; (4) they lack immunoglobulin constant region determinants of either L or H chain; (5) their estimated molecular weight by gel filtration is between 40,000 and 50,000 daltons; (6) they bear distinct I region controlled determinants; the helper factors are removed by anti-I-A immunoadsorbents; the suppressor factors in different distinct systems bear determinants coded foor by the I-J sub-region.


The influence of protease inhibitor on the progress of bronchial asthma.

Trasylol in a single dose 100000 i.u. was administered intravenously to 22 patients suffering from bronchial asthma. Pulmonary function was evaluated by the subjects self-comfort, physical examination, spirometric measurements (VC, FEV1, FEV1%, MCBind.) and blood gas analysis (pH PCO2, PO2, SaO2). In half of the patients after Trasylol administration, a diminished dyspnoea and bronchospasm were observed. Analysis of blood gases indicated some decrease of PCO2, and an increase of PO2 and pH. In spirometric study no statistically significant differences, either before or after Trasylol administration, were noticed. Trasylol treatment may be applied for asthmatic patients especially those with severe disturbances in gas exchange.


Audiovisual self-confrontation in schizophrenia.

Only rarely have the effects of audiovisual self-confrontation on psychiatric patients been investigated experimentally and there are few specific hypotheses about the precise effects. Since we hypothesized that the method could have an effect on schizophrenic ego disturbances eight items were used to investigate these disturbances in a carefully selected single case. In contrast to group comparison studies, we used a single case analysis to register subtle individual changes. The ego disturbances of the patients underwent changes during the sessions which were represented in some fields by an increase, in others by a decrease (1% level). The fact that confrontation sessions differed significantly from interviews supported our hypothesis that ego disturbances can be influenced through audiovisual self-confrontation. In cases of acute anxiety symptoms, the danger of the increasing ego disturbance must be anticipated. For this reason, the use of self-confrontation in these cases should be avoided. Our study shows, however, that a patient in the early stages of recovery can increase his ego strength through self-confrontation. Herein lies the possibility of integrating this technique into rehabilitation programs.


Use of concanavalin A to analyse the mechanism of memory cell differentiation into killer cells.

The renewing by ConA of the cytolytic activity evaluated in a short-term chromium release assay in a population of memory cells obtained in a long-term mixed lymphocyte culture is shown to be largely dependent upon the dose of ConA used; a three staged phenomenon in terms of dose response and kinetics is analysed and suggests that at least for low concentration of ConA (0.5 micrograms/ml) the lectin acts on the same subpopulation and through the same mechanism as the specific antigen, as shown by DNA-synthesis inhibition experiments. Preincubation with ConA at doses giving the best secondary-like response strongly inhibits further response to the primary alloantigen. Experiments using mixtures of ConA and alloantigens as stimulators show that both agents can compete in differentiating memory cells into killer cells. All these data suggest an important overlap of the structures on memory cells which are triggered by ConA or specific antigen.


Phosphorylcholine antigens from Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. II.--Isolation and partial characterization of phosphorylcholine antigens from adult worm.

The phosphorylcholine antigens (C substance) were specifically isolated from Nippostrongglus brasiliensis adult worms. They formed a gorup of fairly closely related molecules, but it was not possible to evidence that the carrier molecule was unique. An indirect immunoenzymatic test using immobilized lectins (concanavalin A, phytohaemagglutinin Els, wheat germ agglutinin, recin types I and II, peanut agglutinin) gave some light on the carbohydrate composition of the carrier molecules, whereas the amino acid part of these molecules seemed to indicate an unique oligopeptide, the composition of which would be: Asx (4), Thr (2), Ser (4), Glux (6), Gly (6) Ala (3), Val (2), Ile (1), Leu (2), Phe (8), Lys (2), Arg (1). An epitope of the carrier molecules was demonstrated with anti-N. brasiliensis egg antisera. It was shared with various pathogens including Haemonchus contortus, Schistosoma mansoni and Dipetalonema vitae. It was also found on the purified pneumococcal C. polysaccharide. The C. substance from a variety of parasites can now be isolated by a combination of specific reactions using both anti-phosphorylcholine and anti-carrier molecule antibodies.


Effects of progesterone on the oestrogen-stimulated uterus: a comparative study of the mouse, guinea pig, rabbit and sheep.

To examine more closely the anti-oestrogenic action of progesterone (P), its effect on various parameters in the 17 beta-oestradiol (E2)-primed uterus of the mouse, guinea pig, rabbit and ewe was studied. Changes in uterine wet weight, rate of in vitro protein synthesis, protein : DNA and RNA : DNA ratios, peroxidase activity and the level of cytosol receptors for E2 and P were measured. Considerable between-species differences in the effect of P on these parameters were observed. The anti-uterotrophic action was greater in the mouse than in the guinea pig and was not seen in the rabbit or ewe. P inhibited protein synthesis in the mouse, was without significant effect in the guinea pig and was mildly stimulatory in the rabbit and ewe. Inhibitory effects on protein : DNA and RNA : DNA ratios were substantial in the mouse, minor in the guinea pig and absent in the rabbit and ewe. Peroxidase activity was decrease in the mouse and guinea pig, essentially lacking in the rabbit and not detectable in the ewe. In all species the level of both oestrogen and progesterone cytosol receptors was decreased, although the effect on the E2 receptor was less marked in the ewe. The results indicate that in the species studied an effect of P on the replenishment of the E2 receptor is not necessarily associated with other anti-oestrogenic actions of P and argue against the concept that initial anti-oestrogenic actions of P are mediated via a specific effect on such replenishment.


[Use of a new selective stain for demonstrating the vagal fibers in gastric surgery. Experimental study].

Scalar concentrations (0.4%-0.2%-0.1%-0.05%) of methylene blue in a 7.02% ascorbic acid solution have been used in animals and humans for visualizing vagal branches at gastric level. These solutions constitute a simplified variation of Lee's test and the most effective for determining vagal fibres proved to be the 0.1% concentration.


Preparation of liposomes of defined size distribution by extrusion through polycarbonate membranes.

Liposomes of defined size and homogeneity have been prepared by sequential extrusion of the usual multilamellar vesicles through polycarbonate membranes. The process is easy, reproducible, produces no detectable degradation of the phospholipids, and can double the encapsulation efficiency of the liposome preparation. Multilamellar vesicles extruded by this technique are shown by both negative stain and freeze-fracture electron microscopy to have mean diameters approaching the pore diameter of the polycarbonate membrane through which they were extruded. When sequentially extruded down through a 0.2 micron membrane, the resulting vesicles exhibit a very homogeneous size distribution with a mean diameter of 0.27 micron while maintaining an acceptable level of encapsulation of the aqueous phase.


Tetracaine blocks the responses of isolated acinar cells from rat parotid to carbachol but not to substance P.

Carbachol and substance P stimulated 45Ca2+ flux changes, 86Rb+ efflux, and amylase secretion from acinar cells isolated from rat parotid. The local anesthetic tetracaine blocked all of these measured responses to carbachol, but none of the responses to substance P. Tetracaine must act at either the cholinergic receptor or at a subsequent transducing step in the cholinergic stimulus-response sequence. If tetracaine acts at one of the transducing steps between cholinergic receptor occupation and the physiological responses then the action of tetracaine must be at a locus in the cholinergic reaction scheme not shared by substance P, because tetracaine did not block any response of the parotid to substance P.


Evaluation of the activity of chlorine-containing pesticides as inhibitors of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

The influence of chlorine-containing pesticides, which are representatives of various classes of chemical compounds and possess various pesticidal activities, on the NAD . H oxidase activity of the submitochondrial particles (SMP) obtained from beef heart was studied. It was found that the strongest inhibitors of NAD . H oxidase of the SMP are chloro-derivatives of aromatic hydrocarbons (DDT and its analogs DDD and DDE). Derivatives of propionic and acetic acids (propinate, dalapon, MCAA, DCAA, and TCAA) did not exhibit any appreciable inhibiting effect under the experimental conditions. Criteria were introduced (phi and Ca50) permitting a quantitative characterization of the influence of pesticides on the respiratory chain of the mitochondria. Indications were obtained of possible mechanisms of the inhibiting action of the pesticides used.


Development of metabolic shifts in structures of the spinal reflex arc in rats after space flight.

The stage of structures of the spinal reflex arc was studied by methods of quantitative cytochemistry in rats after orbital space flights lasting 19.5 and 22.5 days; the RNA and cytoplasmic protein content was determined in spinal motoneurons and sensory neurons of the spinal ganglia, the composition of soluble proteins of the gray and white matter of the spinal cord and spinal ganglia was determined; the lactate dehydrogenase (LD) isozyme spectrum also was investigated in the spinal ganglia and muscles of the hind limbs. A decrease in the content of cytoplasmic proteins in the spinal motoneurons and neurons of the spinal ganglia and a decrease in the content of water-soluble proteins in the gray and white matter of the spinal cord were found 5-11 h after space flight lasting 19.5 days and during the first day after a space flight lasting 22.5 days. Significant changes in the activity of isozyme fractions LD1 and LD2 were found in homogenates of the spinal ganglia. On the 1st and 2nd days after flight the LD isozyme spectrum of the soleus muscle changed from "cardiac" to "intermediate" type. The changes discovered were evidently the result of functional underactivity of the skeletal muscles under conditions of weightlessness. An increase in the RNA content in the sensory and motor neurons and an increase in the content of water-soluble proteins in the gray matter of the spinal cord were found 25-27 days after the end of the space flights, probably a manifestation of readaptation of the animals to terrestrial conditions.


Effect of beta-indoleacetic acid on RNA and protein synthesis in Escherichia coli.

The effect of different concentrations of beta-indoleacetic acid (IAA) on RNA and protein synthesis and the stability of associations of E. coli ribosomes at 3 mM Mg2+ was investigated. IAA in a concentration of 100 microgram/ml had a slight stimulatory effect on the incorporation of [14C]leucine into proteins and stimulated the incorporation of [14C]uracil into the RNA of intact cells more noticeably. In the presence of 2500 microgram/ml of the auxin RNA synthesis was inhibited by 65% and protein synthesis by 40-50% as compared to the control. In a cell-free system containing poly(U) IAA in concentrations of 10-100 microgram/ml increased polyphenylalanine synthesis by an average of 30%, while at high concentrations IAA noticeably inhibited its synthesis. It was found that the proportion of stable ribosomes in lysates obtained from cells incubated with IAA in concentrations of 250 and 1000 microgram/ml decreased to 18 and 3%. It is suggested that the inhibition of protein synthesis in E. coli by IAA is due to inhibition of the initiation of translation.


Studies on histones and non-histone proteins from rats treated with dimethylnitrosamine.

A study has been made of the histone and non-histone chromosomal proteins of rat liver after treatment in vivo with dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) (2 mg/kg). DMN was found not to affect histone turnover, as measured by 3H-labelled amino-acids incorporation. A decrease was observed in specific activity of the histones with time after injection of [14C]DMN or [14C]-formate and this was attributable to demethylation of both abnormal and normal methylation sites in these proteins. In the case of the non-histone proteins, DMN was found to increase greatly the turnover of those non-histone proteins loosely associated with chromatin DNA and RNA; turnover of those non-histone proteins tightly bound to chromatin DNA and RNA was unaffected. Demethylation of both normal and abnormal methylation sites was found to take place from both non-histone protein fractions. In the case of the loosely bound non-histone proteins a lower rate of demethylation was observed after DMN treatment.


Age-dependent changes in tolerizability with rabbit gamma-globulin in the Biozzi high and low-responder lines of mice.

The antibody response to rabbit gamma-globulin (RGG) of high-responder, but not of low-responder Biozzi mice decreased with age. Injection with aggregate-freed RGG reduced the response of high-responder but not of low-responder mice to subsequent injections with aggregated RGG. This reduction in the antibody response, formed by high-responder mice, decreased with increasing age; aggregate-freed RGG appeared to sensitize 6-month-old low-responder mice to a subsequent injection with aggregated RGG. When animals, not pretreated with aggregate-freed RGG, were immunized with RGG and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the immune response was greatly enhanced. The response of both pretreated low and high responders was substantially smaller than that of corresponding animals which were not given aggregate-freed RGG, prior to immunization. LPS revealed an inhibitory effect on low-responder mice of aggregate-freed RGG, which was not detected upon immunization with heat-aggregated RGG alone. The involvement of nonspecific suppressor cells and of B cell tolerance in low-responder mice is discussed.


Immunologically active zones in bovine growth hormone.

Antigenic determinant areas were detected in bovine growth hormone fragments 6--124 and 125--149, the former being predominant. Reduction and carboxymethylation of disulfide bridge 53--164 destroys the immunological reactivity of the area which is little affected by reduction and carbamoylmethylation. All the activity found in fragment 6--124 seems to be concentrated in the sequence 87--124.


Demonstration of a murine cell surface component with affinity for exogenous beta 2-microglobulin.

Murine and human beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) bind to various types of mouse cells. The binding is saturable and displays a single association constant of about 1 x 10(9) liter/mol. The binding of beta 2m to splenocytes was not affected by a variety of metabolic inhibitors but was temperature-dependent. It is suggested that the beta 2m "receptor" exhibits a temperature-dependent conformational change since the "receptor", whether integrated into the membrane or solubilized by the detergent Triton X-100, binds beta 2m poorly at low temperatures. Spleen T and B lymphocytes display more binding sites than thymocytes, kidney, liver and brain cells. The relative amounts of the beta 2m-binding "receptor" on these cell types are strongly correlated to the relative amounts of H-2 antigens. This correlation is also obvious for the teratocarcinoma cell line F9, which lacks both beta 2m "receptor" and H-2 antigens, but spermatozoa, which express very small amounts of H-2 antigens, have an appreciable amount of the beta 2m "receptor". The latter observation, together with the fact that alloantisera directed against H-2 K and D antigens do not measurably affect the binding of beta 2m to the "receptor", may argue against the notion that the beta 2m "receptor" represents H-2 antigens which have lost their endogenous beta 2m. Normal mouse serum contains a component which inhibits the binding of beta 2m to splenocytes. It is likely that this serum protein is identical to a newly discovered H-2 antigen-like glycoprotein. The beta 2m "receptor" appears to be under the control of the major histocompatibility complex as splenocytes of the H-2f haplotype bind considerably more beta 2m than splenocytes of other haplotypes.


Radioimmunoassay determinations of murine beta 2-microglobulin and an H-2 antigen-like serum component.

Normal mouse serum contains H-2 antigen-like components. One such protein consists of a 40 000 dalton chain and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) and the other component contains the two H-2 antigen-like subunits and, in addition, two larger polypeptide chains with apparent molecular weights (mol. wt.) of 65 000 and 80 000. Radioimmunoassay procedures specific for the H-2 antigen-like chain and beta 2m, respectively, have been developed. Whereas free beta 2m and beta 2m associated with other polypeptide chains reacted identically in the beta 2m radioimmunoassay, the two serum forms of the H-2 antigen-like chain displayed different reactivities in the heavy-chain assay. The low mol. wt. protein complex, comprising the 40 000 dalton chain and beta 2m, inhibited in the heavy-chain assay identically with the standard. However, the high mol. wt. complex containing the H-2 antigen-like chain gave rise to a biphasic inhibition profile. This was apparently due to some antigenic determinants of the 40 000 dalton chain being buried by the 65 000 and 80 000 dalton chains. Inhibition curves parallel with the standard were, however, obtained on dissociation of the high mol. wt. protein complex with sodium dodecyl sulfate. Thus, by subjecting serum to the ionic detergent-sensitive radioimmunoassay, procedures for the two H-2 antigen-like chains could be developed. The serum levels of the H-2 antigen-like chain and of beta 2m vary with the age of the animal, and adult levels are recorded only at 6 to 7 weeks of age. The serum concentrations of the two proteins are strongly correlated. The H-2 haplotype appears to partly regulate the serum levels of the two proteins. Mice of the H-2f haplotype contain about 40-fold lower levels of the H-2 antigen-like chain than do mice of other strains.


Articular changes due to disuse in Sudeck's atrophy.

Two cases of Sudeck's atrophy of the foot occurring 16 months and 17 years after infected fractures of the leg were studied radiologically and pathologically. Various cartilaginous changes were observed, the nature and severity of which depended on the joint involved. They included superficial pannus, deep erosion, fibrous ankylosis and, at times, bony ankylosis. These changes are similar to those observed in nine cases studied by Rutishauser et al. Comparison of the pathological changes in human and experimental joint immobilization suggests that these changes are due mainly to decreased mobility of the joints of the foot in Sudeck's atrophy. These observations also suggest that physiotherapeutic mobilization in Sudeck's atrophy is important for the joints as well as for bone. From a more general point of view, they demonstrate that a condition which is nosologically different from the chronic rheumatic diseases can nevertheless cause lesions that are a fundamental part of the pathological changes in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.


[Drainage in biliopancreatic surgery].

Among the various drains used in biliary tract surgery the T-tube drain proves to be most useful as a routine drainage procedure after any intervention for common duct stones. This drain allows an undisturbed healing of the common duct incision, an intra- and postoperative control cholangiography and, if necessary, a non-operative extraction of a residual stone. For high strictures of the hepatic duct we recommend the straight transhepatic drain and for palliative procedures in cases of centrally located tumors the Y-T-drain may restore bile flow from both the left and the right liver into the duodenum. If a drain in the pancreatic duct is necessary at all, one best uses a straight catheter that is brought out through the jejunum by means of a Witzel canal. The abdominal cavity is being drained routinely also for simple biliopancreatic surgery with a Penrose drain.


The conformations of the Lewis blood group determinants, sucrose and kanamycin A.

The main purpose is to illustrate the potential, in terms of structure and conformational analysis in the general area of carbohydrate chemistry, presented by the new generation of high frequency FT nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers based in the highly stable magnetic fields generated by superconducting solenoids. In the case of the LEWIS human blood group antigenic determinants, specific interunit deshielding effects on 1H-chemical shifts and specific interunit nuclear OVERHAUSER enhancements of 1H-signals allowed specific assignments of overall conformations for these branched oligosaccharides. Furthermore, these conformations are shown to be well anticipated by way of simple hard-sphere calculations but taking into consideration important contributions by the exo-anomeric effect in the assignment of conformational preferences at the glycosidic bonds. The presence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond between OH-2g and OH-1f for sucrose dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide-d6(DMSO-d6) is demonstrated by examining the spectrum of a solution which has near 50% of the OH groups in the OD form. The 1H-signals in the structural unit Clf-O-H comes from O(C2g)-H comes from DMSO-d6 are shown to be deuterium shifted by 0.005-0.007 ppm when in the forms Clf-O-H comes from O(C2g)-D comes from DMSO-d6 (deshielded) and Clf-O-D comes from O(C2g)-H comes from DMSO-d6 (shielded). These small shifts were readily discerned at 400 MHz. The (1H)(400 MHz) and 13C (100 MHz) spectra of kanamycin A both as the free amine and the sulfate salt are presented to illustrate how modern nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy together with interpretations based in conformational analysis may allow the elucidation of the structures (except for the absolute configuration) of such substances. It is demonstrated that the effect on 13C chemical shifts of the protonation of the amino groups can provide useful clues as to their relative dispositions in three-dimensional space.


The Lewis antigens and secretor status.

The coincidence of the presence of ABH active substances in the saliva of persons with those individuals who possess either LEWIS-d or LEWIS-b antigens on epithelial cells of their stomach tissues is examined in terms of the three-dimensional conformations of the oligosaccharide structures which form the ABH and LEWIS antigenic determinants. The H activity in saliva is normally established by examining the inhibition of the agglutination of human H red cells, which possess H (Type 2) determints at their surface, by the lectin Ulex europaeus. As was to be expected, the LEWIS-d (H-Type 1) (alpha LFuc (1 leads to 2) beta DGal (1 leads to 3) beta DGlcNAcOR, R = (CH2)8COOCH3) and LEWIS-b (alpha LFuc (1 leads to 2) beta DGal (1 leads to 3) [alpha LFuc (1 leads to 4)] beta DGlcNAcOR) determinants, obtained by chemical synthesis, do not bind Ulex. However, these structures in the de-N-acetylated form proved to do so as evidenced by their ability to inhibit the agglutination. These results together with results obtained in inhibition studies involving chemically modified H (Type 1) and H (Type 2) structures are rationalized in terms of conformational analysis and raise the possibility that the LEWIS-b and d antigens in saliva are present with the determinants in the amine form. The circumstantial evidence obtained in support of this possibility is, as yet, inconclusive. The main thrust of the paper is to indicate how modern conformational analysis may play an important role in the improvement of knowledge in carbohydrate-receptor site interaction.


Isolation and characterization of the nuclear matrix from the male Xenopus laevis following estrogen administration: kinetics of [3H] uridine incorporation.

At various times following estrogen administration, the nuclear matrix was isolated from the liver of male Xenopus laevis by sucrose gradient centrifugation of nuclei treated with a high-salt buffer and DNase I in the presence of a proteolytic inhibitor (PMSC--phenylmethyl sulfonyl chloride). Electron micrographs of the nuclear matrix demonstrate a sponge-like network attached to a well-defined inner envelope with a ribosome-free outer envelope. Chemical analyses show that the HSB-DNase-treated nuclei consist of 16% DNA, 2% RNA, and 82% protein, a composition that is consistent with that of nuclear matrices isolated from other species. The specific activity of the matrix-associated RNA following estrogen treatment appears to be maximally enhanced after 5 h and decreases until approximately 12 h, when the activity begins to increase again.


Actions of quinacrine on RNA and casein syntheses in mouse mammary gland explants.

Quinacrine at concentrations of 0.025 mM and greater significantly reduced or abolished the prolactin stimulation of RNA synthesis in mouse mammary gland explants. At concentrations of 0.01 mM or greater, the stimulatory action of prolactin on [3H]-leucine incorporation into a casein-rich protein fraction was also reduced or abolished. The possible relationship of these actions of quinacrine to its inhibition of phospholipase A2 and/or prostaglandin biosynthesis is discussed.


Effects of ascorbate on leucocytes: Part II. Effects of ascorbic acid and calcium and sodium ascorbate on neutrophil phagocytosis and post-phagocytic metabolic activity.

The effects of ascorbic acid and calcium and sodium ascorbate at a concentration range of 10(-6)M - 10(-1)M on polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) phagocytosis of Candida albicans and post-phagocytic nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction, hexose monophosphate shunt (HMS) activity and myeloperoxidase-mediated iodination of ingested protein were investigated. Phagocytosis of C. albicans was unaffected by ascorbate concentrations of 10(-6)M - 10(-2)M; however, progressive inhibition was observed at concentrations of 10(-2)M upwards. Enhancement of resting and stimulated HMS activity and NBT reduction was evident at ascorbate concentrations of 10(-5) M - 10(-2)M. The stimulations of HMS activity and NBT reduction was independent of myeloperoxidase iodination of ingested protein and this latter function was strongly inhibited by ascorbate. Concentrations of ascorbic acid and calcium and sodium ascorbate which caused inhibition of phagocytosis and HMS activity were the same as those which mediated stimulation of cell motility, indicating that independent cellular mechanisms may govern motility and phagocytosis.


An improved cobalt labeling technique with complex compounds.

Results of axonal labelings with CoCl2, cobaltous lysine and cobaltic lysine complexes are compared on dorsal roots and nerves of the spinal cord and brain stem in the living frog. The most satisfactory staining of fibres and terminals is given by CoCl2; its application however, is limited by its rather short (6--10 mm) axonal transport. Cobaltous lysine is transported somewhat better, but it gives a poor fibre staining in the spinal cord. The axonal transport of cobaltic lysine is the best, covering a distance of 40--50 mm. Combination of cobaltic lysine with 2--5% dimethyl sulphoxide greatly enhances the axonal uptake of cobalt and extends the distance of transport to 70--80 mm. It is assumed that better transport of cobalt complexes is achieved by their less toxic effect on the nerve cell.


Diurnal rhythm of hypophyseal cells in mich. II. Pars intermedia.

By the use of Mac Conaill's lead hematoxylin, periodic acid and Schiff's reagent (PAS, PbH-positive and PAS-positive cells were distinguished in the pars intermedia of the hypophysis in mice. Nuclear volume in PbH-positive and PAS-positive cells in the pars intermedia of the hypophysis in male and female mice under conditions of 12 h light and 12 h darkness shows distinct diurnal rhythmicity. Maximum nuclear volume in PbH-positive cells of the pars intermedia in both sexes was observed at 1800 h, and minimum at 2400 h. In the Pas-positive cells in females maximum nuclear volume was observed at 600 h, and minimum at 2400 h. In males maximal nuclear volume in these cells appears at 2400 h, and minimum at 1800 h. Maximum number of vacuoles in the nuclei of PbH-positive cells in the pars intermedia in both sexes appeared at 1800 h, and minimum at 2400 h. Maximum numbers of vacuoles in the nuclei of PAS-positive cells in females was noted at 1200 h, and minimum at 2400 h. In males the maximum number of vacuoles appeared at 600 h, and minimum at 1200 h. Differences in the number of vacuoles in the nuclei of PAS-positive cells between males and females were also noted.


[Structural and immunochemical studies of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) immunoglobulin. V. Tryptic fragments of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) immunoglobulin M].

Carp IgM, isolated from normal serum is more sensitive to trypsinization compared to a human myeloma protein IgMGo. Under the same conditions (treatment with trypsin at 56 degrees C for 30 min) carp IgM was degraded to small, mostly dialysable peptides to a larger extent than IgMGo. In both cases the fragmentation resulted in immunoelectrophoretically pure Fab mu and Fc mu fragments. The Fab mu fragments of human IgM (yield: 20% of used IgM material) had a molecular weight of 54,000, the Fc mu fragments (yield: 30%) were a heterogenous mixture as far as molecular sizes concerned with values of about 300,000. For the corresponding fragments of carp IgM we could analyze a molecular weight of about 43,000 for Fab mu (yield: 8%) and for Fc mu (yield 10%) three fractions of 160,000, 130,000 and 90,000. The reductive subunits of Fc mu fragments showed different molecular weights: 39,000 for IgMGo and 45,000 for carp IgM. The anti-fragment antisera prepared in rabbits were monospecific as demonstrated by immunodiffusion.


Combination chemotherapy of malignant histiocytosis.

Three patients with malignant histiocytosis treated with combination chemotherapy are reported. Induction treatment included bleomycin, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone (BACOP). Complete response was obtained in one patient who is alive and well 32 months after diagnosis. A partial response was obtained in the second patient, who is alive and well 35 months after diagnosis. The third patient died with drug-induced agranulocytosis and sepsis.


Distribution of the A blood group activity on lipid and nonlipid fractions of pig organs.

Lipids and protein-containing nonlipids of pig erythrocytes, serum and several organs were tested for A blood group activity. Both lipids and nonlipids of brain, myocardium, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue show no A activity. The way of distribution of A activity on lipids and nonlipids of other tissues and serum differs among individual pigs. With respect to the acquisition of A activity of erythrocytes in a postnatal period, it seems likely that the lipidic A substance Tor part of it containing the A determinant) is transferred from plasma to the erythrocyte membrane.


Enhancement of the amylase-creatinine clearance ratio in pregnancy.

The renal clearance of amylase, expressed as a proportion of simultaneous creatinine clearance (Cam/-Ccr), was determined in 131 women in various stages of pregnancy. No abnormal serum levels of amylase were found. A moderate but significant increase in Cam/Ccr occurred during the last 15 weeks of pregnancy. Possible causes for this change were investigated in smaller groups of subjects. No increase in rapidly cleared isoamylase could be detected. No modification in renal tubular handling of protein could be evidenced, as assessed by measurements of the renal clearance of beta 2 microglobulin, expressed as a proportion of simultaneous creatinine clearance. An incrased glomerular permeability to amylase probably accounts for elevated Cam/Ccr in pregnancy.


Nucleic acids and protein changes in normal and pre-eclamptic placentae.

DNA and RNA assayed in the placentae of three groups of pregnant women: normal second trimester (16-28), normal third trimester (28 weeks up to term) and in preeclampsia. The protein level in the placentae of the three groups was also assayed. The proteins, DNA and RNA all decreased after 28 weeks and up to term in normal pregnancy. In pre-eclampsia DNA and RNA showed a significant increase compared with cases of normal third trimester pregnancy. Whereas the proteins also showed an increased level, this was still less than its concentration during the second trimester of pregnancy. Protein/DNA and RNA/DNA ratios were calculated for the three groups. These ratios showed a gradual decrease during normal pregnancy from 16 weeks up to term, but with a sharper decrease in pre-eclampsia.


National programme for prevention of the recurrence of neural tube defects.

Mothers who since 1970 gave birth to children with anencephaly or spina bifida in Hungary are informed about the recurrence risk, the possibility of prevention and about the four institutes where alpha-feto-protein determination is done. In one of these institutes the examination was recommended to 175 women of whom 158 availed themselves of the opportunity. The outcome of their pregnancy is now known in 131 cases. Of these, in 101 the examination was performed because of previous occurrence of anencephaly-spina bifida. High concentration (400, 200, 140 micrograms/ml) were found in 3 cases; they were due to anencephaly (selective induced abortion), severe spina bifida (liveborn) and macerated fetal death. The examination yielded values above the 99% confidence limit in the given gestational week in further 9 cases. The elevated values were due to twinning in 2 cases, to closed spina bifida in 1, and to fetal death in 1 case. The slightly elevated alpha-fetoprotein in 4 of them may have been due to chance.


Melanin granule in skin window macrophages.

Pigment granules have been studied in macrophages of skin window preparations. These granules usually appeared blue with Romanowsky stains, and stained positively for melanin but negatively for iron. There were significantly more pigment granules per macrophage in sun-tanned individuals and in coloured subjects and in the latter, the granules were usually larger and darker. Presumably, the source of the melanin is damaged or degenerating pigment cells of the skin and reflects a normal in vivo phenomenon.


[Behavior of some acute phase reactant proteins during phlogosis and neoplasms and their correlation with erythrocyte sedimentation rate].

Alpha 2 macroglobulin, haptoglobin and fibrinogen plasma levels were simultaneously determined, as well as E.S.R., to test if a significant difference could be found among cancer, inflammatory diseases and control subjects. Haptoglobin was higher in the cancer group and fibrinogen in inflammatory diseases, but these selective increases are not believed to be enough to suggest the widespread determinations of these proteins. A significant correlation was found between alpha 2 macroglobulin and E.S.R., as well as between fibrinogen and E.S.R.


Fluorescence analysis of cells using a laser light source.

A quantitative microfluorometric instrument is described that employs a helium cadmium laser (442 nm) as the illumination source. The instrument consists of a double grating monochromator in front of a gallium arsenide photomultiplier that is interfaced with a desktop computer. The versatility of the instrument in making quantitative nucleic acid measurements on acridine orange and Feulgen-Schiff stained cells is demonstrated. The ploidy levels of several populations are easily determined, and the Feulgen fluorescent emissions are considerably greater than those obtained with a standard mercury lamp.