Cerebral potentials preceding unilateral and simultaneous bilateral finger movements.

Cerebral potentials preceding voluntary bilateral simultaneous finger movements were investigated in 19 right-handed young adult subjects, and were compared with unilateral right-sided finger m n the same experiment. With bilateral movements, the Bereitschaftspotential (BP) was not symmetrical or larger over the dominant hemisphere, but surprisingly, it was larger over the minor hemisphere. The BP averaged -3.66 microV (S.D. 1.96) over the left precentral region and -4.82 microV (S.D. 3.73) over the right precentral region in this condition. The difference was significant at 2P less than 0.01. This difference was pronounced in precentral leads but very small and almost missing in parietal leads. The pre-motion positivity (PMP) was well developed and even larger with bilateral than with unilateral (right-sides) movements. At the vertex it averaged +1.33 microV (S.D.4.16) with bilateral movements and only +0.15 microV (S.D. 1.42) with right-sided unilateral movements (2P less than 0.05). With bilateral movements the PMP could be observed in any record, but with unilateral movements it was missing at the left precentral lead, in accordance with previous publications (Deecke et al. 1969, 1976). The motor potential (MP), measured in a bipolar record from left and right precentral leads, was larger with unilateral (-1.25 microV, S.D. 1.33) than with bilateral movements (-0.36 microV, S.D. 0.92). Onset time differences of the BP preceding unilateral and bilateral movements were very small. However, there was a tendency towards earlier onset with unilateral than with bilateral movements (1031 msec, S.D. 358, as compared with 951 msec, S.D. 305). The averaged EMG revealed differences in movement onset. Muscular contraction tended to be earlier in the right than in the left m. flexor indicis in our right-handed subjects, on the average by 16 msec (S.D. 15). With unilateral right-sided movements, the left m. flexor indicis was not silent but showed an abortive mirror activity in the EMG, without visible movement. This activity occurred on the average 50 msec (S.D. 39) later on the non-moving side.


Possibilities of simultaneous analysis of phasic pupillary light reflex and visual evoked potentials.

A report of first results of a simultaneous analysis of the phasic pupillary light reflex and visual evoked potentials (VEP). It is shown that combination of pupillography with VEP analysis can be of some use in the diagnosis of conductive defects of the optic nerve (e.g. optic neuritis). Furthermore, the simultaneous analysis allows distinction between subclinical disturbances of the afferent and efferent arcs of the pupillary light reflex. Assuming a lesion of the afferent arc secondary to damage to the optic nerve, an increase of both the pupillomotor and the VEP latencies is seen. With lesions of the efferent arc (e.g. in the case of a third nerve palsy) only the pupillomotor latency is altered. Potentialities and disadvantages of the method are discussed.


The measurement of receptive field properties of neurones in the visual cortex of the conscious, mobile cat.

We have assessed the accuracy, reliability and ease of use of a technique for determining the receptive field properties of cells in the visual cortex of the conscious, unrestrained cat. Our tests have provided the following results: (1) Minimal behavioural training is necessary; it is often possible to train an animal in only two sessions. (2) A surprising degree of optical stability can be achieved. Measurements of receptive field properties are consequently reliable and repeatable. (3) We are not certain of the exact limits of accuracy which can be achieved, but we usually determine orientation specificity +/- 5 degrees, and measure receptive field positions +/- 1.5 degrees.


An electronic device for generating drifting grating patterns alternating with diffuse illumination of equal mean luminosity.

An electronic device for generating contrast patterns on a display unit is described. The apparatus permits the generation of spatially periodic bright and dark stripes of 5 different spatial frequencies, any desired orientation, and drifting velocities from 0 to 16 c/sec. The pattern is shown either over the whole screen or inside a window which can be shifted to any desired position in the surrounding of equal mean luminosity. The graftings can be alternated with diffuse illumination of equal mean luminosity at repetition frequencies between 0.5 and 16 Hz, with independent control of the duration of the contrast pattern.


Fine structural classification and comparative distribution of endocrine cells in normal human large intestine.

Rectosigmoid- or colonoscopy biopsies were performed at different levels of the large intestine of 16 adult subjects free from major intestinal disease. Tissue specimens were subsequently examined by electron microscopy. Four different endocrine cell types could be distinguished on the basis of the shape and ultrastructural appearance of secretory granules, of their silver affinity, and of their morphometry. Type I cells (enterochromaffin cells, 60.5%) were argentaffin and presented granules with widely different morphologies, which could correspond to several subtypes. The three other cell types were nonargentaffin. Type II (21.3%) contained granules with a diameter distribution peak of 200 to 300 nm. Type III cells, rare (3.2%), were characterized by small and infrequent granules with a diameter distribution peak of 150 to 200 nm. Type IV cells (7.4%) were characterized by large and round granules with a diameter distribution peak of 300 to 400 nm and resembled the "L cell" of the small intestine. The most endocrine cell-rich portion of the colon was the rectum (179 of 618 cells examined). Type I cells represented approximately 73% of the endocrine cell population from the cecum to the descending colon and decreased to 42% in the rectum. Both the absolute number and the percentage of type II cells increased from the cecum (8%) to the rectum (31%). Type IV cells also increased in the rectum both in absolute number and percentage (14%). The absolute number of type III cells was too small to enable significant differences to be observed.


Minoxidil in resistant hypertension.

Minoxidil in combination with propranolol and diuretics controlled the blood-pressure in a group of hypertensive patients who were resistant to treatment with large doses of standard drugs. The main problem was fluid retention but subjective side-effects were fewer than in a comparable group on other drugs.


Neuronal distribution in caudate nucleus and reticular-caudate pathways.

Methods of quantitative stereology are employed to determine the cell body diameters and the disposition of the neurons of caudate nucleus (CN) of the cat. Large neurons are more frequent in the infero-external region in a well defined zone 16 to 18 mm ahead of the interaural plane. Silver impregnations and electron microscopy after lesions in the ponto-mesencephalic reticular formation demonstrate its direct projections on the nucleus centralis medialis thalami and on the CN. Ascending fibers run along the ventral and lateral surfaces of the thalamus, some of them penetrate to the lamina medullaris medialis making contact in intralaminar nuclei and in the nucleus centralis medialis, others continue through the internal capsule to end in the infero-external region of the CN. The reticular formation of one side projects to both CN.


Treatment of cryptorchidism by intranasal synthetic luteinising-hormone releasing hormone. Results of a collaborative double-blind study.

The effect of intranasal luteinising-hormone releasing hormone (L.H.R.H.) in 84 boys with unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism was evaluated in a double-blind controlled trial. Boys with retractile testes were not studied. L.H.R.H. caused no side-effects; plasma antibodies to L.H.R.H. were never demonstrated. Four weeks' therapy with intranasal L.H.R.H. administered in six doses daily (1.2 mg/day) led to complete descent in 38% of a total of 61 testes, an improved position in 28%, and no response in 19%; 15% of testes were never palpated. After placebo the position of 25% of testes was improved; there was no response in 75% of a total of 51 testes. The success-rate seemed to be independent of age, but was related to the initial testicular position, with complete descent in only 11% of testes not previously palpated compared with 48% of testes found in the inguinal region.


Simple method for staining unmyelinated axons in rat olfactory bulb.

A simple staining method for visualizing unmyelinated axons in the rat olfactory bulb is described. A typical histological analysis of the glomerular layer showing the unmyelinated receptor axons in the olfactory bulb of the rat is presented.


Terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase levels and membrane phenotypes in diagnosis of acute leukaemia.

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (T.D.T.) has been measured in the cells of 112 leukaemia patients whose cells were characterised by membrane markers as well as by standard haematological and cytochemical criteria. The concentration of enzyme ranged from 0.1 to 1.4 units/10(8) cells in the bone-marrows of 20 patients with normal marrow or benign marrow hyperplasia. The enzyme level was raised in 30 of 31 patients with untreated acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (A.L.L.) whose cells reacted positively with an anti-A.L.L. serum (range 0.9-197, mean 59, units/10(8) cells) and in all 9 patients with thymic A.L.L. (Thy-A.L.L.) (range 1.5-95, mean 36, units/10(8) cells). All but 1 of 17 patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia gave negative results (range 0-1.5, mean 0.60, units/10(8) cells), and T.D.T. was also normal in all 7 bone-marrow samples from patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia (C.G.L.) in the chronic phase. The T.D.T. assay gave a clear distinction between 11 patients with C.G.L. in lymphoid transformation, anti-A.L.L.-serum positive (range 15-226, mean 83, units/10(8) cells), and 12 patients with C.G.L. in myeloblastic transformation, anti-A.L.L.-serum negative (range 0-1.9, mean 0.7, units/10(8) cells). Among 17 patients with otherwise unclassifiable acute leukaemia, 10 gave raised values (range 1.6-113 units/10(8) cells) and 7 gave normal values. It is concluded that the assay of T.D.T. in the peripheral blood or bone-marrow of patients with acute leukaemia is of value in differentiating lymphoid (including non-T non-B and Thy-A.L.L.) from myeloid leukaemia.


A common familial component in lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

First-degree relatives of lung-cancer patients and of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease had significantly higher age-sex-race-smoking-adjusted rates of impaired forced expiration than first-degree relatives of patients with non-pulmonary disease or community-derived comparison series (neighbourhood controls and teachers). Subclassification of the data and multiple adjustment for smoking, race, sex, and other confounding factors emphasised the consistency of the pattern. These findings strongly suggest that lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease share a common familial component other than smoking. The clinical manifestation may depend on the presence of one or more other cofactors as yet undefined.


Mediators of immediate-type hypersensitivity in sputum from patients with chronic bronchitis and asthma.

Mediators of immediate-type hypersensitivity were studied in the sputum of patients with chronic bronchitis. The same mediators were also measured in early-onset, skin-test-positive asthmatics, in late-onset, skin-test-negative asthmatics, and in patients with bronchial carcinoma, bronchiectasis, and pneumonia. Sputum eosinophilia was a feature of bronchitics and asthmatics, whereas raised blood eosinophil levels were found only in the early-onset, skin-test-positive asthmatics. Histamine and IgE were present in considerable amounts in the sputum of bronchitics and early-onset, skin-test-positive asthmatics. Smaller amounts were found in the other groups. The sputum in all the groups contained material giving an "S.R.S (slow-reacting substance) like" induced contraction of the guinea pig ileum. "Classical" S.R.S.-A., determined by arylsulphatase IIB susceptibility, was present only in bronchitics and both types of asthmatics. Since the bronchitics were, in general, skin-test negative and had normal concentrations of circulating IgE and eosinophils, it is suggested that the findings in the sputum indicate an element of local immediate-type (type I) hypersensitivity in bronchitis although its significance for pathogenesis is not known.


Evidence for transmission of lymphocyte responses to tuberculin by breast-feeding.

The possibility that cell-mediated immunity could be acquired by breast-feeding was evaluated in a prospective study of 26 tuberculin positive and 9 negative puerperal mothers and their infants. 13 infants of the positive and all the infants of negative mothers were breast-fed. Tuberculin-reactive T cells were found in colostrum and early milk of most positive but in none of the negative nursing mothers. A significant number (8/13) of infants born to positive mothers had tuberculin-reactive peripheral blood T cells after 4 weeks of breast-feeding compared with bottle-fed infants (1/13) of positive mothers or breast-fed infants (0/9) of negative mothers. Examination of cord blood for tuberculin-reactive T cells provided no significant evidence of transplacental transmission of responsiveness to tuberculin. The results suggest that breast-fed infants may passively acquire T cell responsiveness to a specific antigen by ingestion of breast milk.


Impaired sphincter control in the dyspnoeic.

6 case-histories illustrate how altered control of micturition is an occasional accompaniment of dyspnoea in patients aged over 50. Recognition of this problem can be a step towards understanding the great disability of some dyspnoeic patients.


Stilboestrol (diethylstilbestrol) and the risk of ovarian cancer.

A follow-up survey of 908 women who had received 'Premarin' (conjugated equine oestrogen) for menopausal symptoms revealed 8 cases of ovarian cancer. This risk was 2 to 3 times greater than expected. The risk increased with the strength of premarin tablet usually taken, but not with the duration of use or total dose ingested. The excess risk of ovarian cancer in this group occurred primarily among 21 women who had also used stilboestrol (diethylstilbestrol). The results of this small trial are consistent with the increasing incidence of ovarian cancer in post-menopausal women in the U.S.A., and with the occurrence of stilboestrol-induced ovarian neoplasms in dogs.


Incidence of pressure-sores in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area.

A survey was made by questionnaire of the prevalence and severity of pressure-sores on a given date among all hospital inpatients and all patients visited by a district nurse within the Greater Glasgow Health Board area. 8.8% of patients had a pressure-sore. Those aged 70 and over accounted for 70% of the patients with sores. Chairfast patients consistently had a higher pressure-sore frequency than bedfast patients of a similar degree of helplessness.


The treatment of angle neovascularization with panretinal photocoagulation.

Thirty-two eyes in 28 patients with anterior chamber angle neovascularization were prospectively treated with panretinal photocoagulation. Of 17 eyes that had less than 270 degrees angle closure, with an intraocular pressure of less than 40 mm Hg prior to treatment, 16 showed complete disappearance of the angle neovascularization and stabilization of the peripheral anterior synechiae after treatment. None of the 15 patients who had angle closure of 270 degrees or greater, or an intraocular pressure of above 40 mm Hg, showed any significant improvement after treatment. These results suggest that panretinal photocoagulation offers a highly effective means of dealing with early and moderately advanced cases of angle neovascularization.


Immune response gene control of determinant selection. I. Intramolecular mapping of the immunogenic sites on insulin recognized by guinea pig T and B cells.

T-cell DNA synthesis and T-helper cell function in response to isolated insulin chains and naturally occurring insulin variants was assessed in insulin immune guinea pigs. Two distinct antigenic determinants, recognized by T cells, were defined. One localized in the B chain and the other one constituted by amino acids A8, A9, and A10 of the insulin A-chain loop. Recognition of the B-chain determinant is under the control of Ir genes linked to the strain 13 major histocompatibility complex. This was shown by studying the response to isolated insulin B chain in F1(2 x 13) guinea pigs, as well as serologically defined backcrosses and outbred animals. Insulin recognition through the A-chain loop determinant is specific for strain 2 guinea pigs. These animals recognize this region of the molecule even when displaying different amino acid sequences. The strain differences observed in those antigenic sites eliciting T-cell recognition was not found at an antibody level. No differences could be detected in the ability of the different insulin variants to inhibit the binding of 125I-labeled pork insulin to strain 2 guinea pig anti-pork insulin or to strain 13 guinea pig anti-pork insulin.


B-cell tolerance. II. Trinitrophenyl human gamma globulin-induced tolerance in adult and neonatal murine B cells responsive to thymus-dependent and independent forms of the same hapten.

Neonatal splenic B cells which are responsive to thymus-dependent antigens (TD) are exquisitely susceptible to induction of tolerance (1,2). This state of tolerance is not mediated by suppressor T cells and is not a result of suboptimal macrophage function (1 and footnote one). In adult mice, induction of B-cell tolerance is not achieved with doses of antigen 1,000-fold higher (1) than those required to produce the same degree of unresponsiveness in neonates. In contrast to these results, studies with T-independent (TI) antigens indicate that neonatal and adult splenic B cells are equally susceptible to tolerance induction (3,4). However, such studies have not ascertained whether the neonate is more resistant to tolerance induction or the adult is hypersusceptible, i.e., does the induction of tolerance in cells responsive to TI antigens resemble that of adult or neonatal cells responsive to TD antigens? The answer is pertinent to determining the relative maturity of the B cells which can be tolerized or respond to TI or TD antigens. We report here the direct comparison of tolerogen sensitivity of adult and neonatal TD and TI responses by inducing tolerance in vitro with trinitophenyl human gamma globulin (TNP(17)HgG) and assaying unresponsiveness with TD and TI forms of the TNP determinant.


The simultaneous observations of immunofluorescence and cellular morphology in viral infections: a new procedure.

A simple method for comparative observations of immunofluorescence and cellular morphology has been developed in the investigation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and oncogenesis. When cells were stained for immunofluorescence of EBV-determined nuclear antigen, early antigens, or the viral capsid antigen, followed by treatment with hematoxylin, viral marker expression and cellular morphology could be simultaneously observed in individual cells by simply changing ultraviolet illumination to visible light. In our double-staining method, hematoxylin was not counteractive to specific immunofluorescence, and pretreatment of cells with antibodies did not affect hematoxylin staining. This method may possibly be more widely applied in virology and other fields.


Characterization of an amber suppressor in Pneumococcus.

Partial revertant has been isolated, with resistance to aminopterin intermediate between wild type and mutant. This phenotype is the result of a mutation at a gene unlinked to the amiA locus. This suppressor mutation (su+) has no phenotypic characteristics by itself except a slow growth. 9 amiA mutants (belonging to 6 sites) are affected by su+ out of the 30 investigated mutants (i.e. 22 sites). The efficiency of suppression is site dependent. Two sites out of 14 mutants belonging to the thymidylate synthetase gene are suppressible. Thymidylate synthetase activity is partially restored by su+. Optochin mutants can also be suppressed. Thus su+ is not gene specific but site specific. Moreover when the str-41 allele conferring resistance to streptomycin is introduced by transformation, the suppression effect is restricted. All these properties are characteristic of an informational suppressor. The t-RNA extracted from the suppressor strain su+ but not the wild type restored the synthesis of coat protein coded by RNA from an amber mutant of bacteriophage f2. Attempts to detect ochre suppression activity gave negative results. It is suggested that the su+ gene is amber specific. Thus su+ can provide insight into the nature of suppressible mutations which should be point mutations. Both low efficiency and high efficiency mutants are affected by su+; this is additional evidence that both categories contain point mutations.


Repetitive DNA in Escherichia coli: multiple sequences complementary to small stable RNAs.

Radioactively labeled 4.5S, 6S, and 10S RNAs from Escherichia coli were hybridized to EcoRI fragments from the E. coli genome. Each of these molecules bound to more than one DNA fragment. Cot curve analysis of the kinetics of the annealing of these RNAs to denatured E. coli DNA suggests that the DNA corresponding to each of these molecules is reiterated in the genome. These experiments also suggest that these reiterated sequences are non adjacent.


The influence of natural and induced changes in chromatin on the Feulgen hydrolysis.

Numerous deviations from the smooth and continuous hydrolysis patterns of the Feulgen reaction have been described, but no correlation to the composition of the chromatine of different cells has been made. Several models of the hydrolysis have been presented, but none are so constructed as to take into account the arrangement of the different molecules that constitute the chromatin. The present paper discusses the different reactions behind the hydrolysis curve. A model embodying the main features of the chromation structure is presented. It allows for the calculation of extraction rates. The calculated extraction rate curves are compared with the results from different hydrolysis experiments. The predicted and experimentally found results agree closely under a variety of conditions. This suggests that the model describes the main principles of the Feulgen hydrolysis.


Microspectrophotometric detection of heparin in young and adult rat mast cells, human mast cells and human basophilic granulocytes stained metachromatically with toluidine blue O.

A qualitative microspectrophotometric detection method for heparin in situ has been developed, using data obtained previously with a model system of polyacrylamide films containing pure glycosaminoglycans (Tas & Roozemond 1973, and Tas 1975). This technique, based on the unique metachromatic properties of heparin with Toluidine Blue O in glycerol, has been worked out with rat peritoneal and mesenteric mast cells. After equilibration of the stained, air-dried cells in glycerol (for some days), the specific peak of the heparin-Toluidine blue O complex (as found in the model experiments at about 515 nm) could be recorded. It was found that the method can be used to detect unequivocally the presence of heparin in cells, even if they also contain up to 75 mole percent of other, lower sulphated-glycosaminoglycan. Otherwise the method might yield some information about the degree of sulphation of the heparin concerned. With this technique the presence of heparin has been proved in young and adult rat mast cells and for the first time now directly in normal human mast cells and normal human basophilic granulocytes.


Dependence of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine metabolism on its treatment schedule.

The content of cytochromes P-450 and b5 in rat liver microsomes, as well as the extent of labeling of nucleic acids and proteins of the liver and kidneys and of mucosa from different intestinal segments, was studied in rats injected daily or once a week subcutaneously with similar total doses of 1,2-dimethyl-hydrazine (SDMH) and in untreated rats. Daily SDMH administrations led to a decrease in cytochrome P-450 activity. Pretreatment of rats with unlabelled SDMH resulted in decreased labeling of DNA, RNA, proteins, and acid-soluble fractions after [3H]SDMH injection. A more pronounced effect was found after the daily treatment.


Establishment of specific antibody producing human lines by antigen preselection and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformation.

Specific antibody producing human cell lines were established by preselecting antigen binding B-lymphocytes and subsequently transforming ("immortalizing") them with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). NNP-binding B-cells were isolated from the blood of three donors with high anti-NNP titers. EBV-transformation led to polyclonal cell lines that had 15-18% NNP receptor positive cells. A similar fraction of the cells produced NNP-specific plaques in the Cunningham-Szenberg assay. Unconcentrated culture media agglutinated NNP-coupled erythrocytes in up to an 1/2,048 dilution and inactivated NNP-coupled T4 bacteriophage in up to an 1/10,000 dilution. EBV-transformed but not similarly NNP-preselected lines of the same donors were completely negative in the rosette, plaque and antibody secretion tests. Supernatants of the antibody producing lines gave no reaction with the non-coupled erythrocytes or with a number of other hapten coupled controls. Anti-NNP antibodies secreted by all three preselected lines were of the IgM kappa type, which was in contrast to the sera of the donors that contained both IgM and IgG antibodies, with both light chain types. Cloning of one NNP-antibody producing line yielded 9 antibody producers out of 30. The positive clones formed NNP rosettes and plaques with 31-86% of the cells and produced anti-NNP of class IgM, Kappa. The cell culture contained 5-16 micrograms IgM/ml cell culture.


Evaluation of the C1q solid-phase binding assay for immune complexes. A clinical and laboratory study.

The solid-phase C1q binding assay for circulating immune complexes has been evaluated. The assay provides a rapid, sensitive (detecting as little as 1 microgram of aggregated IgG) and reproducible procedure for the detection of immune complexes in biological fluids. Using artificially prepared immune complexes, the assay detects complexes at four-times antigen-excess. Gel filtration over Sepharose 6B showed that these complexes were distributed over a range of molecular weights from greater than 4 x 10(6) to 300,000 daltons. Using radiolabelled anti-BSA, antigen (BSA) could be detected in these complexes. Screening of gel-filtered SLE showed that the assay detects complexes of both high and low molecular weight, but does not detect all complexes in the SLE sera. Clinical studies showed that immune complexes are frequently found in the sera of patients with SLE and measurement of the concentrations of complexes provides a more sensitive index of disease activity than either serum C3 or C4 concentrations or DNA binding capacity. In patients with RA concentrations of immune complexes were generally higher in synovial fluid than serum, although a patient with systemic rheumatoid disease with hypocomplementaemia had an extremely high level of circulating immune complexes. The assay only infrequently detects circulating immune complexes in glomerulonephritis and in renal transplant recipients. It is concluded that the assay provides a useful clinical tool, but detects only a limited species of immune complexes. It can be used in the detection of antigens in complexes.


The value of islet cell antibody in predicting secondary failure of oral hypoglycaemic agent therapy in Diabetes mellitus.

The sera of 160 diabetics who were well controlled by oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA) for at least three months after diagnosis were tested for pancreatic islet cell antibodies (ICAb) either at diagnosis or within two years after diagnosis. 129 were non-obese at diagnosis and of these ICAb was detected in the sera in 20 (16%). 31 were obese at diagnosis and of these ICAb was detected in the sera in three (10%). All of the 160 diabetics were insulin independent at the time of testing the serum for ICAb. The presence of ICAb was associated with a high probability of becoming insulin dependent, calculated from actuarial statistics. 86% of ICAb positive patients initially controlled on OHA may be expected to be insulin dependent at five years from diagnosis as compared to 18% of ICAb negative patients. Obesity at diagnosis did not significantly affect the probability of becoming insulin dependent. ICAb positive diabetes controlled by OHA can be regarded as a less severe form of insulin-dependent (Type I) diabetes.


Occurrence of M-proteins in the CSF of a child with prolonged meningococcal meningitis.

CSF of a 4-month-old boy with prolonged, meningococcal meningitis revealed oligoclonal immunoglobulin G about 10 weeks after hospital admission. These proteins persisted for at least 4 months. In contrast to this child, a further 10 infants and young children with bacterial meningitis, whose CSF was examined between 4 weeks and 6 3/4 months subsequent to onset of the disease, showed no such abnormality. Since the presented boy was the only patient treated with a corticosteroid, his altered immune reaction could be related to the immunosuppressive effect of this drug.


Determination of the human lymphokine leukocyte migration inhibitory factor (LIF) by a sensitive radioenzymatic assay. Inhibitory effect of cGMP on the esterolytic activity of highly purified LIF.

Indirect experiments using irreversible enzyme inhibitors have shown that the human lymphokine leukocyte migration inhibitory factor (LIF) is a serine esterase and protease exhibiting specific affinity towards arginine esters and amides. A sensitive assay for direct measurement of esterase activity using p-tosyl-L-arginine (3H) methyl ester (3H-TAME) as substrate is described. Esterolytic activities are demonstrated in crude supernatants of human lymphocytes stimulated with concanavalin A (LIF-rich) and, more pronounced, in supernatants of unstimulated cells (control). To follow the effects of purification procedures, the serine esterases of LIF-rich and control preparations were specifically labeled with the irreversible, active site directed agent (1,3-3H)di-isopropylphosphorofluoridate. Most of these enzymes, visualized by Sephadex chromatography, were removed by a gentle three-step procedure, allowing at least 50% of the initial LIF activity to be recovered. The resulting LIF-rich preparation, purified to contain serine esterases at a concentration corresponding to less than 1 ng per ml original supernatant, still showed estrolytic activity towards 3H-TAME. The optimal conditions for the radioenzymatic assay of purified LIF and the inhibitory effect of 10(-4) M cGMP, which on the basis of indirect experiments has been implicated as a specific regulator of LIF activity, are described.


Immunological features in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) of T cell origin.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia of T cell origin were studied. The thymus derived nature of these lymphocytes was confirmed by surface markers, mitogen cultures, mixed lymphocyte reaction, cytotoxicity studies, and cytochemical stains. This case is notable for several clinical and laboratory findings. Among these, the benign clinical course, the reduced rate of serum immunoglobulins, the elevated number of active E rosettes, the increased PHA-induced response to low mitogen doses, the absence of PHA mediated cellular cytotoxicity, and the thy-like positivity to ANAE should be pointed out. Emphasis should be placed, however, on the loss of stimulatory ability in MLR. This last feature supports the hypothesis that these cells proliferate as a clone.


Binding of mouse peritoneal macrophages to tumour cells by a "lectin-like" macrophage receptor.

A binding interaction is described between mouse peritoneal macrophages, tumour cells and proliferating mouse embryo fibroblasts. The interaction appears to be between a "lectin-like" receptor in the macrophage plasma membrane and carbohydrates in the plasma membrane of the target cells.


Augmented resistance to Listeria monocytogenes in mice at an early stage of aging.

Protective mechanisms against Listeria monocytogenes were studied in young (3-month-old) and old (15-month-old) mice of C3H/He strain. Cumulative mortality rates of old mice were lower than those of young mice after intravenous inoculation of the same doses of bacteria. The numbers of bacteria in the liver and spleen on days 1 and 3 were larger in young than old mice. Bacterial growth at this stage of infection is suppressed by accumulation of non-immune macrophages. On day 7, however, the numbers of bacteria in the liver were smaller in young than old mice. Bacterial elimination at this stage depends upon immune macrophages. These results suggest that the enhanced resistance to lethal effects of bacteria in old mice may be ascribed to activation of non-immune macrophages in the presence of depressed capacities to raise cell-mediated immunity.


Comparison of the cytotoxic activities of different human lymphoid tissues.

Normal human lymphoid cells from peripheral blood, spleen, tonsils and thymus were examined for their ability to mediate three different cytotoxic effector cell functions: antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC); lectin-induced cellular cytotoxicity (LICC) and natural killer activity (NK), against 51Cr labelled erythroid and tumor target cells. We found a hierarchy of cytotoxic activities in the different lymphoid tissues. Peripheral blood and spleen cells were able to mediate LICC, ADCC and NK activities. Tonsil cells showed a natural segregation of the different cytotoxic functions: NK and ADCC activity against tumor target cells were absent, whereas LICC activity was fully present. With respect to ADCC activity against erythroid targets, tonsil cells showed low, but significant, cytotoxicity. Thymus cells had no detectable ADCC, NK and LICC activities. Correlation in the different lymphoid tissues between cytotoxic activities and cell surface marker studies revealed: (a) that the presence of E-SRBC rosette forming cells was not always associated with the detection of LICC activity, as is the case with the thymus; (b) that, in the absence of detectable Eox-7S rosette forming cells (thymus and tonsils), NK and ADCC activities against tumor cells were always absent, but LICC was observed (tonsils), indicating that the presence of this Fc(7S) receptor bearing cells is strongly associated with the expression of NK and ADCC but not with LICC.


Isolation of T-cells, B-cells and macrophages by a two-stage adherence procedure.

This communication describes a method to obtain enriched populations of T-cells, B-cells and macrophages. Spleen cells were initially fractionated on nylon wool columns. The nylon wool adherent fraction was removed by mechanical agitation and further separated on the basis of adherence to a coated-plastic surface in the presence of autologous serum. The tissue flask adherent population was removed with the aid of a rubber policeman. The nylon wool non-adherent and the tissue flask non-adherent and adherent fractions were characterized for the presence of cell surface markers, size, and functional activity and were identified as T-cells, B-cells and macrophages, respectively. The two-stage adherence procedure is simple to perform and does not require sophisticated equipment or expensive reagents.


The lymphocyte stimulation test: a sensitive technique for the detection of circulating platelet antibodies.

Platelet autoantibodies are unable to react in standard immunological reactions and this makes it difficult to detect their presence in the serum. The present work shows that peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal donors are stimulated in vitro by autologous platelets sensitized with sera from patients with different types of chronic thrombocytopenia. Comparison of the lymphocyte stimulation test with the platelet factor 3 (PF3) availability assay and the serotonin (5HT) release test demonstrated that the former method was the more sensitive one. Some sera from patients with SLE and thrombocytopenia also induced both a slight lymphocyte stimulation in the absence of platelets and a complement-dependent release of serotonin, probably due to the presence of immune complexes.


Glomerulonephritis in procainamide induced lupus erythematosus: report of a case and review of the literature.

A 61-year-old man developed clinical lupus syndrome with positive antinuclear antibody, positive lupus erythematosus (LE) cell preparation, and diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis following 26 months of procainamide therapy. He was treated sequentially with prednisone and azathioprine (2 weeks), decreasing doses of prednisone alone (21 months), and no immunosuppressive drugs (10 months). Coincidental with this treatment, the immunopathology of the glomerulonephritis improved dramatically, dramatically, renal function returned almost to normal, and both antinuclear antibody and LE cell preparation became negative. The course of this patient's renal disease contrasts sharply with diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis of idiopathic systemic lupus, and suggests that this rare complication of procainamide therapy may have a favorable course.


Deficiency of the ninth component of complement in man.

The studies of serum from a case with C9 (the ninth component of complement) deficiency are described. A 29-year-old woman in good health was found to have low serum complement levels (CH50). C9 of her serum was undetectable by the hemolytic assay and by the immunochemical analysis but all other components were normal. It was demonstrated that low CH50 of her serum was due to the hemolysis of the sensitized sheep erythrocytes (EA) by the complement components from C1 to C8.


Evidence for glomerular modulation of complement activation.

Using indirect immunofluorescence, three regulatory proteins of the complement system, C1-inhibitor (C1-INH), C3b inactivator (C3bINA) and beta 1H globulin have been detected in the glomeruli of patients with glomerulonephritis associated with complement activation. C1-INH and beta 1H were found frequently but C3bINA was rarely detected (only 14 biopsies). beta 1H globulin and C3b inactivator which modulate C3b activity were never found in the absence of C3, but C1-INH was sometimes found in the absence of C1s. The patterns for staining for C1s and C1-INH, C3 and beta 1H were almost identical suggesting that the regulatory proteins are binding to the proteins they regulate, as has been demonstrated in vitro. Thus, in tissues undergoing complement-mediated tissue damage, the extent of complement activation is controlled by the normal regulatory mechanisms.


[The preservation of the causative agent of intestinal yersiniosis in Xenopsylla cheopis fleas].

Experimentally infected fleas of X. cheopis are capable of preserving two strains of Y. enterocolitica. One of the strains was found to belong to the 3rd, the other to the 9th serotype. The both strains actively multiplied and accumulated in great amount (up to several millions of microbial cells) in ectoparasites which were maintained at 6 to 8 degrees C. At a temperature of 18 to 21 degrees C some part of fleas gradually became free from the agent that was favoured by their periodical feeding or constant maintenance on the host. In insects infected with the strain of the 3rd serotype the decrease of the infected individuals carried out quicker and was accompanied by the reduction in the number of microbes. The strain of the 9th serotype preserved more steadily and was found in many individuals in amount exceeding the initial level.


[The proventriculus of the Xenopsylla cheopis flea studied by scanning electron microscopy].

The proventriculus of the flea X. cheopis was studied by means of scanning electron microscopy. The external surface of the proventriculus is a rigid structure with an alveolate surface ("wasp nest") formed by muscular cords. The internal surface of the proventriculus is represented by numerous acanthae which fall close together. They have a shape of bent dens with longitudinal sharply angular edges and concave spaces between them. Some edges are crenate.


[The lice of the gerbils of Tajikistan].

2606 gerbils of four species from Tajikistan were examined. On them there were found over 14 thousand sucking lice of 10 species, four of which are typical to gerbils. Hoplopleura merionidis Ferris is a Mongolian-Turkestan species, which in Central Asia parasitizes Meriones meridianus Pallas and M. unguiculatus Milne-Edw. and in Middle Asia--M. meridianus and M. erythrourus Gray, seldom M. tamariscinus Pallas. Polyplax chinensis Ferris, a parasite of M. meridianus, is a Mongolian-Turkestan species the distribution of which, apparently, corresponds to that of the host. P. paradoxa Johnson, a parasite of M. erythrourus, is an Afro-Asiatic species. P. opimi Sosnina, a parasite of Rhombomys opimus Lichtenstein, is apparently an Asiatic species, the distribution of which is closely associated with the host's distribution area.


[The relationship between the population count of black fly larvae and pupae (Simuliidae) in bodies of water and the number of attacking females].

Species of black flies, which develop in abundance in water bodies of Lower Priamurje and are potentially capable of bloodsucking, have not been registered near the blood donors. Only a few number of species developing in water attack for bloodsucking that apparently depends on unfavourable conditions of the larval development. A part of emerging females do not possess sufficient nourishing resources for completion of their gonotrophic cycle and need an additional bloodsucking. Of 35 registered species (27 of them possess morphological devices for bloodsucking) only 11 species attack. 4 species (Byssodon maculata ussuriana, Gnus malyshevi albipes, G. pavlovskii, Prosimulium ex gr. hirtipes) are mass bloodsuckers.


[The induction and disappearance of complement-fixing antibodies in the blood serum of experimental animals under the antigenic action of Trichomonas vaginalis, T. hominis and T. tenax].

For studying the dynamics of induction and disappearing of complement-fixing antibodies (CFA) specific to Trichomonas vaginalis, T. hominis and T. tenax we have immunized rabbits intravenously with live individuals of the protozoa as well as intravenously, intramuscularly and subcutaneously with individuals killed at 56 degrees C. Each method of immunization was carried out by 5 inoculations with intervals of 10 days. For carrying out quantitative complement fixation we have taken blood from the ear vein of all immunized rabbits immediately before the immunization and also after it, each 10th day during one year. The dynamics of rising and lowering of titres depended on the species of trichomonads and on the method of immunization. The antigens of T. vaginalis and T. hominis induced CFA in much higher titres as antigens of T. tenax. Titres of CFA specific for all three species of above-mentioned trichomonads rose most rapidly and to the highest level when the immunization of rabbits was carried out intravenously with live individuals of protozoa. Normalization of the titres of CFA has taken place during one year at least.


[An experimental infection of Hyalomma asiaticum and Ornithodoros papillipes ticks with a single and combined infection with Coxiella burnetii and Dermacentroxenus sibericus].

Experimental infection of H. asiaticum and O. papillipes with Coxiella burnetii and R. (D.) sibericus in different succession and individual study of these arthropods by means of the fluorescent antibodies method, ordinary microscopy and titration on laboratory animals have revealed an ambiguous outcome of the development of combined rickettsial infection in these ticks. The first agent obtained by the vector either prevents utterly the reproduction of the heterologous agent or inhibits its activity. At the concurrent infection of the ticks with two species of rickettsiae the reproduction of the both agents takes place but against a background of intersuppression of their reproduction. The development of the combined rickettsial infection in ticks is an example of "irregular competition" of species as one of the types of competitive relationships.


[The assimilation by Eimeria tenella coccidia of DNA and RNA precursors from the host cell].

The assimilation of purine and pyrimidine bases, their nucleosides and orotic acid from the host cell by coccidian E. tenella was studied by means of radioactive precursors of DNA and RNA. It has been established that within their development and reproduction the parasites use selectively different precursors of DNA and RNA from the host cell. Coccidians use intensively the purine base 14C-adenine, assimilate negligibly the pyrimidine base 14C-uracil and nucleoside 14C-uridine and do not use at all 14C-thymidine and 14C-thymine. The coccidians were found to assimilate most intensively 14C-orotic acid, the lower precursor of pyrimidine bases.


[The mechanism of action of S-methylmethionine].

S-methyl methionine was found to increase activity of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase, selectively methylating the released homocysteine. This decreased the inhibitory effect of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine and stimulated methylation processes.


[A chromatographic method of simultaneous semi-quantitative analysis of eight mycotoxins in grain].

The paper describes a modification of the method of Stoloff et al. allowing a simultaneous measurement of eight mycotoxins (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2, ochratoxin A, sterigmatocystin, citrinin, patulin) in the grain extract on standard plates Silufol. The method proved 4-5 times more sensitive than the use of silica gel G and Adrosbosil I. An additional purification of the extract with lead acetate and celit can be recommended. The yield of mycotoxins varied within 76-127%. The paper discusses peculiar features of chromatographic procedures due to Silufol.


[Vitamin E activity of some alpha-tocopherol derivatives and their effect on the ubiquinone level in rat liver in vitro].

An addition of alpha-tocopherol (I) and its synthetic derivatives (alpha-tocopheryl quinone (II), its short-chained analog (III), alpha-tocopherol lactone (IV), and short-chained alpha-tocopheryl acetate (V)) to the homogenized liver of vitamin E deficient rats resulted in a significant increase of ubiquinone after 2 hour incubation. Activity of the above derivatives (II-V) was not associated directly with their transformation into I or with a noticeable increase of the I content. There is a certain correlation between the chemical structure and the level of vitamin E activity of alpha-tocopherol derivatives that led to an increase in the ubiquinone content and prevented the decrease of tissue respiration and termination of pregnancy in rats.


[Effect of sources of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus on the synthesis of proteases from Bacillus subtilis cultures].

The paper gives data on the influence of different sources of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus on the accumulation of biomass and synthesis of neutral protease by Bacillus subtilis str. 103. The highest proteolytic activity was obtained on the medium containing maltose or hydrolyzed starch as a carbon source, monopotassium phosphate as a phosphorus source, and ammonium sulphate as a nitrogen source. The enzyme activity increased upon an addition of albumin, peptone or casein. A study of the amino acid effect showed that methionine, isoleucine and valine stimulated the protease synthesis to the greatest extent.


[Synthesis and study of biospecific sorbents for isolating and purifying L-asparaginase from Escherichia coli].

Amino acid and oligoamide derivatives of D-asparagine and L-asparaginic acid (L-asparaginase inhibitors) have been synthesized. An increase in the hydrophobic capacity of the modified inhibitor increases the inhibition constant. Once the modified inhibitor binds with Sepharose 6B, the length of the spacer (a chain of atoms attaching the inhibitor to the polymer matrix) determines affinity of the sorbent for L-asparaginase. On these sorbents affinity shifts from pH optimum of the enzyme activity to pH 4-5. The enzyme of E. coli L-asparaginase has been purified.


[Preparation and properties of trypsin modified by polysaccharides].

Trypsin modified by dextran preactivated with 2-amino-4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazine or ethyl chloroformate has been prepared. Properties of the resulting conjugates with respect to hydrolysis of synthetic substrates--methyl ester benzoyl L-arginine and n-nitrophenyl ester of n'-guanidine benzoic acid as well as high molecular weight substrates--casein and fibrin--have been studied. Stability of conjugates during autolysis and irreversible heat denaturation has been investigated.


[Immobilization of Bacillus subtilis proteases on a styrol copolymer with maleic anhydride with covalent and coordination bonds].

Insoluble enzymes have been obtained through an interaction of the complex preparation of proteases, protosubtilin G15x, with the sterol and maleic anhydride copolymer in aprotic dipolar solvents and as a result of formation of mixed enzyme-polymer complexes of protosubtilin G15x and the sterol and malic acid copolymer in aqueous solution in the presence of metal ions. The effect of metal ions on the yield and activity of the resultant immobilized preparation has been studied.


[Biosynthesis of penicillin upon periodic culturing of Penicillium chrysogenum with an exponentially increasing glucose supply].

Penicillium chrysogenum was cultivated under controlled conditions and at constant specific growth rates regulated by glucose supply. The rate of penicillin synthesis (units/mg dry weight.hr) and pattern of time changes of the synthesizing capacity of the culture depended on the specific growth rate (hr-1). The arrest of penicillin synthesis was induced by the inherent changes of the culture rather than by external factors, e.g. use of substrates, changed limitation, accumulation of inhibitory metabolites, etc.


[Pigments produced by Bacillus subtilis var. niger 16k].

Pigments produced by Bacillus subtilis var. niger 16k on tyrosine agar and histidine containing synthetic medium were isolated and identified. On the basis of a number of tests the pigments were classified as melanins.


[Conditions for isolation of cholesterol oxidase from Actinomyces lavendulae mycelia].

The isolation conditions, composition and certain properties of cholesterol oxidase from the mycelium Actinomyces lavendulae were studied. Selective extraction of the enzyme occurred upon the mycelium extraction by the Tween-80 containing buffer. The specific activity of cholesterol oxidase thus obtained exceeded seven-fold that of the enzyme isolated via other methods. The optimal concentration of the detergent upon extraction was 0.15%. By disc-electrophoresis it was demonstrated that the preparation isolated from disrupted cells contained, in addition to cholesterol oxidase, 16 other protein components that had no enzymatic activity whereas the Tween-80 extracted preparation included no more than 7 fractions. The study of the relationship between activity of the resultant cholesterol oxidase and the substrate concentration and pH demonstrated that optimal conditions for the enzyme action were at pH 7.0-7.5 and cholesterol oxidase concentration of 0.0316 mM.


[The effect of catecholamines on the Ca2(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the skeletal muscles in chicken ontogeny].

It has been shown that the activity of Ca(2+)-ATPase increases during development. Epinephrine in vivo increases the activity of Ca(2+)-ATPase in chick skeletal muscles. The effect of hormone is lacking at embryonic stages of development and appears only before hatching. In the presence of exogenous protein kinase, cAMP also increases the activity of the enzyme, this effect being observed also in embryonic muscles. Lack of effect of epinephrine on Ca(2+)-ATPase in embryonic muscles is associated with non-reactivity of their adenylate cyclase to catecholamines. Ca(2+)-ATPase itself already at embryonic period is ready to react to cAMP. It is concluded that Ca(2+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum is one of the sites of action of catecholamines on calcium metabolism in muscle cell and that this action is realized via the system adenylate cyclase-cAMP-protein kinase.


[A comparative study of the fatty acid composition of the sphingomyelins in the whole brain and its parts in vertebrates].

The fatty acid composition of sphingomyelin (Spm) was studied in the total brain, the forebrain and the brain stem in frogs (Rana temporaria and Rana ridibunda), the tortoise (Emys orbicularis), the hen and the cat. A typical fatty acid pattern of Spm was revealed irrespectively of the brain part examined. Regular differences in fatty acid composition of Spm between various brain parts were found irrespectively of the level of development of the nervous system. It may be concluded that corresponding changes in the fatty acid composition of Spm in the forebrain as well as in the brain stem are taking place in the course of evolution of the central nervous system.


[Preparation and study of properties of immobilized phosphodiesterases from blunt-nosed viper venom].

From gurza poison phosphodiesterase covalently bound with DEAE-cellulose via triazine dye was isolated. Immobilized phosphodiesterase retained 100% activity of the initial enzyme. The effect of pH, temperature. Mg++ concentration on the immobilized enzyme activity was studied. Preparations of the immobilized enzyme did not lose their activity upon hydrolysis of oligodeoxy- and ribonucleotides during a month and remained suitable for prolonged hydrolysis of preparative quantities of oligonucleotides.


[Gas chromatographic analysis of volatile nitrogen bases in boiled beef; possible N-nitrosamine precursors].

The composition of nitrogen-containing organic bases in the volatile substances of boiled beef has been studied. For the first time 30 compounds have been identified, including primary, secondary, and tertiary aliphatic amines, pyrazines, pyridine, piperidine and their alkyl substituted derivatives. The content of trimethyl-, diethyl-, diisopropyl-amines, and piperidine, possible precursors of N-nitrosamines, has been quantitated.


[The fatty acid composition of the gangliosides in different parts of the vertebrate brain].

Comparative studies on gangliosides from the brain of higher (mammals, birds) and lower (amphibians, cartilaginous and teleost fishes) vertebrates indicate that for each of the parts of the brain the same regularities in changes of fatty acid composition are typical as for the total brain in a series of vertebrates. All brain structures of the mammalian brain exhibit higher saturation of ganglioside fatty acids, higher content of stearic acid (C18:0) and lower relative content of long chain (C22-C24) fatty acids, especially that of C24:1, as compared to the corresponding brain structures of lower vertebrates. Fatty acid composition in birds is more close to mammalian one with respect to some of the features, while with respect to the other ones it occupies an intermediate position between lower vertebrates and mammals. In the series more phylogenetically ancient--more recent brain parts (medulla oblongata--midbrain--forebrain), the content of content of stearic acid and the degree of saturation ganglioside fatty acids increase, whereas the relative content of acids with a long chain (C22-C24) in them decreases (with the exception of amphibians). In all the brain structures of higher elasmobranch fishes, fatty acid composition of gangliosides exhibits more progressive features of chemical organization as compared to that in homologous structures of lower elasmobranch fishes.


[External brain acetylcholinesterase in the ontogeny of precocial and altricial rodents].

The share of external acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been determined in different brain structures of maturely and immaturely born rodents. It was found that in maturely born animals (guinea pigs) the share of external AChE in all the studied brain structures is the same in newborn and adult individuals. In immaturely born animals (albino rats) the share of external AChE to the moment of birth is significantly higher as that in adult organisms. During the development of the brain, the share of the external enzyme decreases, the decrease being more evident in the forebrain. It is suggested that this decrease is associated with fixation of the enzyme to the membrane, which is indicated in particular by the experiments with detergents.


[A comparative study of the stereoselectivity of cholinoreceptors].

Muscarine-sensitive cholinoreceptors (M-ChR) of higher vertebrates exhibit high stereoselectivity which is also revealed with respect to enantiomers of a very potent muscarinomimetic methyldilvasen (F-2268), the stereospecific index (SSI) being about 100. M-ChRs in the neuronal membrane of the gastropod mollusc Planorbarius corneus and in the hearts of the bivalve molluscs Mercenaria stimpsoni and Anadara broughtoni are highly sensitive to methyldilvasen (10(-9)-10(-10) M), but their sensitivity to its enantiomers is identical. In heart atria of the tortoise Testudo horsfieldi, frog Rana temporaria, and fishes Siluris glanis, Cyprinus carpio, as well as in ventricles of tadpoles, high SSI was revealed. These data are consistent with a hypothesis that during evolution of vertebrates no significant changes took place in the active center of M-ChR. Possibly, the lack of stereoselectivity in the investigated molluscan M-ChRs, together with their other peculiarities (they are not blocked by atropine), indicate "immaturity" of these receptors.


[The effect of intermittent hypoxia on leukocyte function in puppies in the first month of life].

In experiments on puppies of the first month of postnatal life, subjected to intermittent oxygen deficiency (2 hours of simulated altitude of 8.000 m daily within 12 days), studies have been made on the number of leucocytes in 1 mm3 of the peripheral blood, leucocyte formula, phagocytic and motor activities of mature neutrophils, their glycogen content, vacuolization degree and osmotic fragility. Age changes were found in the reaction of leucocytic system to intermittent hypoxia. In contrast to adult dogs, puppies react already to 3 and 6 exposures to hypoxia by the decrease of absolute content of phagocytes, phagocytic and motor activities of neutrophils. These changes are presumably due to immaturity of functional mechanisms of regulation of the blood system at the given stage of postnatal ontogenesis.


[The structural catalytic characteristics of brain acetylcholinesterase in rabbit postnatal ontogeny].

Studies have been made on structural and catalytic peculiarities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the large hemispheres of newborn, 1-month and adult rabbits. During postnatal life, no changes were found in the structure of active surface of the enzyme, although differences were revealed in macromolecular organization and sensitivity of the enzyme to allosteric ligands. It is suggested that structural organization of AChE in postnatal ontogenesis becomes more complex which provides for more precise regulation of its activity.


[An electrophysiological analysis of brain maturation in chicken embryogenesis].

Studies have been made on the development of the spontaneous bioelectrical activity in the brain of 13-21-day chick embryos and on the reactions of the brain to sonic and photic stimulation (single and rhythmic). It was shown that the onset of the evoked responses to afferent stimulation coincides with predominance of a periodic process in the bioelectrical activity (17-18th days of embryogenesis). The presence of ordered rhythmicity in the bioelectrical activity of the brain which coincides with a possibility of its transformation and synchronization with afferent stimuli is suggested to be an important index of the development of the brain.


[The correlation of the bioelectrical activity of the archistriatum and the neck muscles of chickens in ontogeny].

Experiments have been carried out on 14-, 18-day chick embryos and 1-day chicks. Studies were made on amplitude-frequency, temporal, integral parameters of EEG in archistriatum and EMG in neck muscles, as well as on their crosscorrelation. It was shown that archistriatum EEG may be recorded from the 14th day of incubation. From the 14th to the 18th day, rapid changes in the frequency were observed, from the 18th day--in the amplitude. EMG had a pattern of bursts of the bioelectrical activity which consists of both high and low amplitude action potentials. Between the 14th and the 18th day of incubation, more significant changes were observed in the duration of these bursts, after the 18th day--in the interval between the latter. Reliable correlation between the integral parameters of EEG in archistriatum and EMG in neck muscle was found in 18-day chick embryos and 1-day chicks. Bilateral coagulation of archistriatum resulted in significant increase in total bioelectrical activity of the muscle.


[The "staircase" phenomenon in the myocardial activity of fishes and amphibians].

Studies have been made on chrono- and inotropic effects in the heart of the frog Rana temporaria and fishes Silurus glanis and Cyprinus carpio during stationary and transitional stimulation. In contrast to data in the literature, no interspecific differences were found in changes of the amplitude of cardiac contractions induced by changes in rhythmic stimulation.


[The origin of extrachromosomal inheritance factors (plasmids) in bacteria].

Present status of the problem of origin of extra-chromosomal inheritance elements is reviewed in the light of literary data and some results obtained by the author. The role of plasmids in the ecology of bacteria, in their adaptive variability and evolution is discussed. Extra-chromosomal inheritance is regarded as a particular case of biological inheritance.


[The presence of antioxidative defense enzymes in the ascarid Ascaris lumbricoides].

Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione have been discovered in muscles of the ringworm A. lumbricoides. Superoxide dismutase activity was also revealed in eggs and larvae. Using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electrofocusing, it was shown that this enzyme exists in ringworm muscles in multiple molecular forms. Oxygen poisoning of the ringworm and aerobic incubation of muscle homogenates in the presence of Fe+2 do not result in accumulation of malonyldialdehyde. Biochemical defence mechanisms are discussed against oxygen poisoning of the organisms which live under the conditions of reduced and changing pO2.


[The histone hydrolase of the liver and kidneys in rats in postnatal ontogeny].

It has been demonstrated that total homogenates and subcellular fractions of the liver and kidneys of rats exhibit proteolytic activity which specifically digests histone at pH 8.5. The activity of histone hydrolase undergoes age changes in all the subcellular fractions of the liver and kidneys, except the nuclear fraction. Various histone fractions possess different sensitivity to the effect of histone hydrolase. The described enzyme from the liver and kidneys of rats is similar to the histone protease of other vertebrates, although in some respects its properties are somewhat different.


[The isolation and purification of insulins from the pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha and the walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma].

Crystalline insulins have been obtained from the insular tissue of the teleosts O. gorbuscha and Th. chalcogramma which is located separately from the exocrine tissue. Some tests to the homogeneity and purity of the preparations obtained were made. Biological activity of insulin as revealed by seizure tests in mice is equal to 20.1 +/- 1.19 IU/mg in O. gorbuscha and 16.9 +/- 1.99 IU/mg in Th. chalcogramma, amounting correspondingly to 83 and 70% of the activity of mammalian standard insulin. The yield of preparations calculated per wet weight of the insular tissue is equal to 2 mg/g in O. gorbuscha and 0.7 mg/g in Th. chalcogramma. It is significantly higher than the yield of mammalian insulins calculated per the weight of the pancreas. This finding may be of some interest with respect to the use of fish as a source of hormonal preparations.


[An analysis of the characteristics of the anabolic effect of insulin in rats at early periods of aging].

Studies have been made of the effects of insulin on changes in the intensity of growth of the body, skeletal muscles and some other organs, on the content of protein and glycogen in muscles, as well as on the content of glycogen in the liver in rats up to 14 days of life, when the activity of skeletal muscles exhibits mainly tonic pattern, and in rats up to 30 days when this activity is transformed into a phasic pattern. Chronic administration of insulin up to 14 days of life does not affect the growth rate and the content of protein and glycogen in muscles, but increases glycogen content of the liver. Chronic injections of insulin up to 30 days increase the growth of the body and skeletal muscles, protein and glycogen contents of muscles. Glycogen content of the liver at this period is not increased.


[The reactivity of the hypophyseal-adrenal system in the suslik Citellus erythrogenus major awaking from hibernation].

It has been shown that corticosteroid content of the blood in hibernating ground squirrels is the lowest. In spring, before the arousal, some increase in corticosteroid content is observed, although the latter remains lower than that in non-hibernating animals. During the arousal, corticosteroid content of the blood in the ground squirrels increased slowly and gradually. It is suggested that warming is not a stress factor for the arousing ground squirrels. The hypothalamo-hypophyseal-suprarenal system of hibernating ground squirrels is also insensitive to the additional stimulation of the adrenergic mechanisms by novodrin. However, functional activity of the system hypophysis-suprarenal cortex in the arousing ground squirrels is rather high: inhibition of warming by propranolol, serotonin and 5-hydroxytryptophan results in significant stimulation of this system.


[The participation of the gastrointestinal tract of desert rodents in osmoregulation].

Studies have been made on the levels of Na, K and water in the content of rectum and blind gut of the albino rat Rattus norvegicus and gerbils Rhombomys opimus, Meriones tamariscinus and M. meridianus under conventional water and salt supply and during prolonged water deprivation of animals. It was shown that under conventional conditions, the content of water, Na and K in the chymus of the blind gut is higher in gerbils than in rats. After 7-day dehydration in rats, the body weight decreased by 26.4 +/- 0.8%, the level of water in gut composition remained unchanged, whereas Na and K concentrations increased. In gerbils, 25 days after water deprivation, the loss of the body weight was equal approximately to 20%, Na concentration in rectal content decreased or remained unchanged, whereas K and water decreased. Possible role of gastro-intestinal tract in osmoregulation of desert rodents is discussed.


[The ipsi- and contralateral retinofugal projections in the frog Rana temporaria].

Using peroxidase method, additional evidence has been obtained on the existence of contralateral retinofugal projections from Bellonci nucleus, thalamic geniculate body, basal optic tract nucleus, posterior thalamic and pretectal nuclei, and midbrain tectum. Ipsilateral retinofugal fibres were followed up to the rostral thalamus (Bellonci nucleus and thalamic geniculate body), midbrain tectum and basal optic tract nucleus.


[The neuronal reactions of the nucleus isthmi area in the frog rana temporaria to visual stimuli].

Studies have been made on the neuronal reactions in the isthmic nucleus area of the frog to visual moving stimuli and to changes in total illumination. Visually activated neurons of this area are characterized by large receptive fields (located only in the visual field of contralateral eye), intensive reactions to diffuse illumination, high sensitivity to moving contrast targets (especially large ones) and evident adaptation. Approximately 23% of the neurons exhibited directional sensitivity, mainly to targets moving in temporo-nasal direction. The area of blindness (scotoma) was revealed in the antero-superior part of the receptive fields after partial visual deafferentation of the tectum produced by coagulation of the medial marginal optic tract. Preservation of specific channels of visual information in the retino-tecto-isthmic pathway is discussed.


[The characteristics of the potential of the dorsal surface of the spinal cord in week-old rat pups].

In 7-day albino rats, the negative component of the potential of the dorsal surface of the spinal cord during stimulation of the nervous trunk exhibits long latent period, low amplitude and significant duration. Slow positive potential has a low amplitude, whereas its duration is approximately the same as that in adult rats. The presence of a slow positive wave in 7-day rats indicates a possibility of presynaptic inhibition already at the beginning of postnatal life of these animals.


[The role of the autonomic nervous system in regulating the primary form of sleep in the frog Rana temporaria].

During the formation of photogenic catalepsy in the grass frog Rana temporaria, studies have been made on successive change of the main functional conditions, which are observed in these animals in natural cycle wakefulness-sleep. It was found that rhythmic illumination readily prolongs two forms of a sleep-like rest. One of them is accompanied by an increase in skeletal muscle tonus, whereas the second--by a decrease in the latter. Original data are presented which reveal the role of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system in regulation of the intensity of various forms of rest in cold-blooded animals. It in suggested that each of the forms of a sleep-like rest is developed under definite relationship between sympathetic and parasympathetic tonus.


[The adrenergic innervation of the thoracic lymphatic duct in dogs in postnatal ontogeny].

Using histochemical fluorescence technique, studies have been made on the adrenergic innervation of the wall of the thoracal lymphatic duct in postnatal development of puppies. Adrenergic fibers were found in the adventitial layer of the duct. During postnatal development of the animals, adrenergic innervation of this duct becomes more perfect, reaching the level of adult animals to the age of 2-3 months.


The economic value of breast-feeding. Food and Agriculture Organization of the the United Nations.

A request from the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1973 led to a research project funded by the Government of Norway to examine the declining use of mother's milk in developing countries. Two consultants were appointed to compile information on the subject, to develop a theoretical model to illustrate the economic value of breastfeeding, and to study the situation in two developing countries, Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Lack of data was a problem in both countries, but estimates could be made, and some of the conclusions reached are the following. Breastfeeding is still the norm in both countries, yet if it were to increase in the Ivory Coast so that every infant were breastfed for two years the savings in national goods cost could amount to US$ 16 to 28 million annually. If it declined to the level of Paris in 1955 (chosen for comparison) the annual national cost would be between US$ 33 and 55 million. At the individual level, by breastfeeding rather than artificially feeding an infant for two years the average family in either country would save between US$ 600 and 730 in the cost of goods and time, plus any savings that might result from the avoidance of disease or malnutrition caused by artificial feeding. In Ghana, changes in the infant-feeding pattern due to rural-to-urban migration would cause only a 20-percent increase in formula imports, while import increases would be more than five times as great as this if the present severe restrictions were relaxed so that formula replaced only one percent of the potential national breast-milk production. A change to artificial feeding could possibly result in considerable population growth because of loss of the contraceptive effect (through lactation amenorrhoea) of breastfeeding. In-depth studies of the economics of breastfeeding present great difficulties and would probably not justify their high cost. The report suggests that studies be carried out to establish national infant-feeding patterns, to monitor how these change and determine the factors responsible for change, and to design appropriate intervention. The report recommends that governments assign the highest possible priority to the promotion of breast-feeding based on its already proven contribution to the health and well being of the child.


Specificities of rabbit anti-human insulin receptor antibodies.

Human insulin receptors obtained from normal human placentae were highly purified by affinity chromatography and used to immunize rabbits. The immunological response was evaluated in order to reveal the presence of antibodies blocking the binding of insulin to monocytes of normal subjects. Since no blocking activity was found IgG from rabbits were coupled to agarose in order to evaluate the presence of antibodies directed to determinant(s) other than the insulin binding site. One rabbit was found to produce antibodies binding the insulin receptor on a site different from the insulin binding site.


Inhibition of leucyl-tRNA synthetase in Escherichia coli by the cytostatic 5,8-dioxo-6-amino-7-chloroquinoline.

At concentrations of 1-1.6 mug/ml, 5,8-dioxo-6-amino-7-chloroquinoline causes auxotrophy for leucine in Escherichia coli MRE 600. With increasing concentrations of this quinone additional amino acids are required for growth. The amount of leucine in the pool of free amino acids is not decreased after treatment of E. coli with the quinone. Transfer RNALeu, however, is charged with leucine less than 10% in quinone-treated cells of E. coli, whereas in control cells the degree of aminoacylation is about 85%. From these data we conclude that the quinone causes auxotrophy for leucine by interacting with the charging process of tRNALeu. Quinone was found to inhibit leucyl-tRNA synthetase activity in purified extracts of E. coli with E. coli tRNA as substrate.


[Liver steatogenic power of high doses of rifampicin in rats].

The possible induction of fatty liver by Rifampicin has been investigated by oral administration of two different doses (200 and 400 mg/kg/24 h) of this antibiotic for a period of 8 days to male and female Rats. The results obtained are more constant and more coherent in male than in female. It is the 400 mg/kg/24 h dose which is more effective, leading to an increase of lipids, triglycerides and cholesterol in the liver and a decrease of serum triglycerides. A dose-effect relationship may exist. These preliminary data lead us to believe that Rifampicin may inhibit the synthesis of the protein moiety of lipoproteins, such as alpha-Amanitin, which is also a RNA-polymerase inhibitor.


[The oxygen affinity of hemoglobin in the reindeer Rangifer tarandus before and after labor].

It has been demonstrated that the affinity of hemoglobin to oxygen in the reindeer Rangifer tarandus decreases with ageing. The value of P50 for hemoglobin of 2-3 month foetuses is equal to 22.0 +/- 0.8 mm Hg, newborn animals--to 24.5 +/- 0.5 and adult ones--to 28.0 +/- 0.5 mm Hg. After dialysis, these values are equal correspondingly to 12.2 +/- 0.5, 19.3 +/- 0.4 and 23.6 +/- 0.6 mm Hg. Therefore foetal hemoglobin exhibits significantly higher oxygen affinity as compared to the adult type.


[The mechanism of adenine nucleotide biosynthesis from adenine in Corynebacterium species].

The mechanism of ATP biosynthesis from adenine was studied on the cell-free extract of Corynebacterium species that produces ATP from exogenous adenine, using labeled substrates. As a source of the ribosyl component of the ATP molecule, phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate (PRPP) and ribose-5-phosphate (P5P) were tested. The experiments with PRPP showed adenine phosphoribosyl transferase (EC 2.4.2.7) activity in the extract responsible for the AMP formation from PRPP and adenine. The minimal reaction mixture based on R5P was found to include only magnesium ions, in addition to R5P, adenine, and the extract. This mixture provided the synthesis of not only C14-AMP but also C14-ADP and C14-ATP from C14-adenine. Phosphorylation of C14-AMP to yield C14-ATP was related to the presence of R5P in the mixture. The synthesis of C14-ATP from C14-adenine also took place when R5W was substituted for glucose in the minima mixture.


[Precipitating immunoenzyme revealed tests on cellulose acetate. Use of ELIEDA (enzyme-linked-immuno-electro-diffusion assay) and ELIDEPA (enzyme-linked-immuno-double-electrophoresis-assay) in parasitology].

Precipitating tests carried out on cellulose acetate membrane were revealed by treating the immune complexes with enzyme linked anti-immunoglobulin antibodies. We insist on the importance of ELIEDA (enzyme-linked-immuno-electro-diffusion-assay) and ELIDEPA (enzyme-linked-immuno-double-electro-phoresis-assay) for the study of antibody classes involved in the immune response.


[Immunocytochemical location of the centrosphere of human cancer cells using natural rabbit antibodies].

Sera of 40 normal nonimmunized rabbits were eprouved by immunoperoxidase on cultural human cells. Four sera contain centrosphere-reactive antibodies and for the strongest serum the centrospheres were still stained with the 1/600 dilution. This last serum visualized the centrospheres within the height human cell lines eprouved, whatever the phase of the mitotic cycle. The staining was not inhibited after serum absorption by tubulin.


[Luteolytic action of LHRH in women].

Several subcutaneous administrations of 250 microgram of LHRH (4 or 5 adminstrations at 4-hourly intervals per day) between the 2nd and 7th day post-ovulation in 4 normal women led to early luteolysis as demonstrated by a fall in serum progesterone concentration and early onset (2 to 3 days earlier) of menstruation.


[Levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in guinea pig sex canals during embryonic life].

At the undifferentiated stage, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels were comparable in sexual ducts of both sexes. An hormonal sexual dimorphism appeared at the time of differentiation: while testosterone rapidly decreased in the female ducts, it considerably increased in those of the male. Testosterone rather than DHT seems to be responsible for the wolffian duct stabilization in the male foetus.


[Primary asymmetry in the distribution of primordial germ cells during colonization of gonadal buds in chick embryo].

Analysis of the numerical data obtained from a population of 529 chick embryos, selected according to their stage of development, shows that the primary distribution of PGC is asymmetric with a bias towards the left side. The kinetics of the colonisation process are in conformity with the law of logistic growth: the number of PGC settling in the germinal epithelia tends to an upper limit not exceeding the number of PGC identifiable in the anterior germinal crescent. Taking the embryo population as a whole, the degree of primary asymmetry at the end of colonisation is such that 56% of the total number PGC fixed in the gonadial primordia are found in the left epithelia.


[Morphology of ribosomal RNA in chicken fibroblasts].

It is shown with the electron microscope that the 28 S RNA component of the ribosomal RNA extracted from Chicken fibroblasts contains secondary structures which are not present in the 18S component.


[Preservation of hematopoietic stem cells by slow freezing and elimination of the heat of fusion].

Previous experiments, in dogs with fresh bone marrow or bone marrow frozen with a modified freezing system have demonstrated a 100% recovery of frozen stem cells, stored for periods up to 5 months. Five patients, three with drug resistant acute leukemia  and two with metastic carcinomas, have been treated with a high dose combination chemotherapy regimen (TACC) followed by reinfusion of marrow cryopreserved with the same modified freezing system. Following the reinfusion of marrow, autologous engraftment was demonstrated on bone marrow aspiration between days 5 and 10.


[Demonstration of erythroblastic differentiation after 14 days in blood in vitro during Vaquez's disease without addition of erythropoietin].

Leucocytes of normal individuals and patients with polycythemia vera were isolated from the peripheral blood by Ficoll-Hipaque density gradient centrifugation and cultured in vitro suing the bovine plasma clot culture technique with a minor modification: the addition of fresh normal serum. After 14 days in the presence of sheep erythropoïetin (3U/ml) erythropoïetic bursts containing between 3 and 10 subcolonies were observed in normal and polycythemia vera cultures. Blood leucocytes of patients with polycythemia vera rise to these erythropoïetic bursts without addition of erythropoïetin to the culture. This behavior was never observed in the blood of normal individuals. These results indicate that in polycythemia vera commited erythroïd stem cells of high proliferative capacity closely resembling the murine erythroïd burst forming unit have an abnormal sensitivity to erythropoïetin as well as the immediate precursors of the proerythroblasts. The culture of these cells from the peripheral blood offers some practical advantages.


[The role of cysteine in the detoxification of an herbicide].

The methyl 2-chloro-3 (4-chlorophenyl) propionate is quickly hydrolysed through coleoptiles of wheat (coleoptile test). Then, depending on the concentration of the compounds, one observes mainly a further degradation (at 0,01 mM) of the acid or conjugation (at 0,1 mM) of it with cystein in vivo. This second type of physiological neutralisation appears to be more efficient than the catabolism which give derivatives of benzoic acid.


[Inhibition by the enterotoxin of Vibrio cholerase of meiosis reinitiation of the Xenopus laevis oocyte induced in vitro by progesterone].

Progesterone reinitiates in vitro meiosis in Xenopus laevis oocytes. This action of the hormone can be abolished by the exotoxin of vibrio cholerae. The concentration of toxin which inhibits 50% of the progesterone (10 muM) action in about 2.5 pM. Binding experiments using 125I labelled toxin demonstrated the existence of high affinity binding sites (KD approximately 0.2 nM) located probably on the surface of the oocytes.


[Oxygen consumption of hibernating worker ants Dolichoderus quadripunctatus as a function of temperature and level of population].

The oxygen consumption of "hibernating" ants shows a grouping effect translated by a significant decrease in the level of oxygen consumption as a function of grouping effect. The general relation between oxygen consumption and the living body mass is the same, if the living material belongs to a single animal, or a social community of ants.


[Aminergic innervation of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system in Gambusia sp. (Teleost, Poecilidae) studied by two fluorescence techniques].

Using fluorescence techniques (Falck-Hillarp, de La Torre and Surgeon) 2 paired groups of perikarya were observed in the hypothalamus of Gambusia, one in the nucleus recessus lateralis (NRL) and the other in the nucleus recessus posterioris (NRP). No fluorescent neuron could be detected in the nucleus recessus preopticus (NRPO) nor in the nucleus lateralis tuberis (NLT). Fluorescent aminergic fibers demonstrated in the rostral neurohypophysis and in the neurointermediate lobe might originate from the NRL. These two techniques are complementary, but the last one, more rapidly performed, appears promising.


[Modification of rat polymorphonuclear chemotaxis during an acute inflammatory reaction].

The appearance of a serum factor which inhibited the chemotaxis of polymorphonuclears was demonstrated during various acute inflammatory reactions. The activity of this factor was studied in vivo and in vitro.


[Host-parasite relation between Carcinus mediterraneus and Sacculina carcini; immunochemical analysis and demonstration of antisacculin precipitin].

The hemolymph from both healthy and parasitised Carcinus mediterraneus are immunochemically analysed. The study confirms the presence in the blood of the infested Crab of a supplementary fraction which was already observed by electrophorsis. Moreover, some infested Crabs develop an anti sacculin precipitin reaction, not visible on healthy animals. The relations between these proteic fractions are discussed.


Aortic pulse wave velocity, elasticity, and composition in a nonhuman  primate model of atherosclerosis.

Aortic pulse wave velocity was determined in Macaca fascicularis monkeys fed either atherogenic or control diets for 36 months. The foot-to-foot velocity and apparent phase velocities of the second through seventh Fourier harmonics at a given diastolic pressure in the atherosclerotic monkeys were 1.5 to 2.0 times the values for the control animals. More than 80% of the aortic intimal surface of the atherosclerotic monkeys was covered with fibrous or fatty plaque, which approximately doubled wall thickness and wall thickness to radius ratio. Angiochemical evaluations showed no difference in collagen or elastin concentration (as a fraction of lipid and mineral-free dried aorta), but the atherosclerotic aortas were 1.5 to 2.0 times that of control in collagen and elastin content (defined as the absolute quantity beneath a square centimeter of intimal surface). Total cholesterol and calcium concentrations in the atherosclerotic aortas were more than 10 times the values for the control aortas. The static circumferential distensibility of the excised atherosclerotic aortas was significantly less than control, but there was no difference in incremental (Young's) modulus of elasticity. The in vitro pressure-strain elastic modulus of the atherosclerotic aortas was more than twice that of control, which was predicted from the enhanced wave velocity. The significantly increased stiffness of the atherosclerotic arteries appeared to be due mainly to the increased wall thickness caused by the atherosclerotic plaques rather than to material changes described by Young's modulus. Extensive medial damage, however, also was present and could have had a major influence on stiffness. Atherosclerosis therefore can result in increased aortic stiffening, detectable by pulse wave velocity, even if there is no change in the overall Young's modulus of elasticity.


Two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography for the screening of disorders of purine and pyrimidine metabolism.

A method is presented for the two-dimensional thin-layer chromatographic screening of purines, pyrimidines and their nucleosides in the urine. Prior to chromatography, isolation of these substances from the urine is performed by anion-exchange column chromatography. Purines and pyramidines are quantitatively eluted with formic acid 0.01 M and 4 M respectively. The results of recovery and stability experiments are given. Normal excretory patterns are presented. Also results in patients with various diseases are shown: ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, adenosine deaminase deficiency, purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency, adenine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency, xanthine oxidase deficiency and hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase deficiency. Finally the pattern of a patient on treatment with allopurinol is given.


Interpretation of laboratory tests of thyroid function in chronic active hepatitis.

Because the incidence of thyroid disorder is much greater than expected in chronic active hepatitis we have evaluated routine in vivo and in vitro tests of thyroid function in forty one clinically euthryoid patients with chronic active hepatitis and in five patients with chronic active hepatitis and concomitant or previous clinical thyroid disease. Serum thyroxine, thyroid hormone binding, triiodothyronine, thyrotrophin releasing hormone tests and thyroidal uptake of radio-iodine all gave misleading information in some clinically euthyroid patients with chronic active hepatitis. However, the free thyroxine index calculated from the serum thyroxine and thyroid hormone binding level gave results that accorded with the clinical impression in all but two of the euthyroid patients whose results were borderline and subsequently normal and in all but one of those with past or current thyroid disorder. This suggests that anomalies of protein binding accounted for abnormal results in thyroxine and thyroid hormone binding levels.


Effects of beta-mercaptoethanol and chelating agents on the stability and activation of creatine kinase in serum.

We investigated the effects of sulfhydryl compounds on the stability of creatine kinase (CK) in unfrozen human serum and found that both beta-mercaptoethanol and N-acetylcysteine led to accelerated loss of the endogenous serum enzyme activity. This is in contrast to the results of others who have either studied the stability of exogenous enzyme added to human serum or studied endogenous enzyme in frozen serum. The addition of cation chelators to serum markedly improved the stability of the endogenous CK activity. The enhanced stability was independent of chelation of calcium, iron, manganese, copper, or zinc. In addition, cation chelators caused a 16% increase in the CK activity of fresh samples. This latter effect was independent of the activation of CK by BME and could be accounted for by chelation of calcium ions during the assay. The data suggest that addition of cation chelators prior to storage may be useful in enhancing the stability of CK in serum whereas sulfhydryl compounds should be added prior to assay rather than prior to storage.


Two variant hexosaminidase beta-chain alleles segregating in a South African family.

A family is described in which alleles for two different hexosaminidase beta-chain variants are segregating. When they co-exist in the same individual Sandhoff disease results. In the heterozygous state one of the variant alleles results in the production of an unstable Hex B and a Hex A with an altered Km for the substrate 4-MU-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-galactopyranoside. The other allele when heterozygous with a normal allele does not produce unstable isozymes with altered kinetics. Like many rare recessive diseases the affected children in this family would appear to have been compound heterozygotes and not true homozygotes.


Isolation of fibrin(ogen) degradation products from normal plasma by affinity chromatographic study.

An attempt was made to develop a method to isolate directly the fibrinogenfibrin (FDP and/or fdp) degradation products from plasma by means of small chromatographic columns of activated Sepharose 4-B coupled with antifibrinogen serum. The study of the material adsorbed was performed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (PAGE-SDS). Four electrophoretic bands with antigenic capacity against antifibrinogen serum were observed. The study of their molecular weights, of their polypeptide composition after reduction, and of their immunological response against antisera anti-D and anti-E allowed their identification as fibrinogen, D-dimer fragment, and fragment E, respectively. The possibility of using this technique for the differential diagnosis between a primary fibrinogenolysis and a secondary fibrinolysis in a thrombotic process is suggested, as well as its use in the control of thrombolytic therapy.


Isolation and properties of a succinylated subunit of human thyroglobulin.

A subunit of succinylated (40:1 molar ratio, succinic anhydride:lysine residues) human thyroglobulin (Tg) was prepared by gel filtration on 6% and 4% agarose. This subunit (S-8) had a sdegrees20, w of 7.6S, Ddegrees20, w of 2.96 x 10(7) and an equilibrium molecular weight of 165,000 after correction for bound succinic anhydride (SA). The S-8 component was suggested to be a quarter unit of intact Tg. The S-8 and intact Tg had nearly identical amino acid compositions with differences only in glutamic acid, glycine and proline. The iodine content of both components was similar. The succinylated S-8 subunit, as well as material which sedimented with a value of 2S or less, retained some but not all heteroantigenic and autoantigenic sites in immunodiffusion and inhibition of passive hemagglutination.


A new pattern of non-organ- and non-species-specific anti-organelle antibody detected by immunofluorescence: the mitochondrial antibody number 5.

About 0.1% of the sera in human pathology produce a peculiar, cytoplasmic, non-organ- and non-species-specific fluorescence. This may easily be differentiated from the already described anti-organelle antibodies and, more particularly, from the mitochondrial antibodies of primary biliary cirrhosis. Should rat tissues be used in the immunofluorescence test, fluorescence predominates over the first two portions of the renal proximal tubules (P1 and P2) and the mucous neck cells of the stomach. This pattern may be atrributed to mitochondria, and in particular to their inner membranes by fluorescent staining of the ellipsoid region of the rods and cones of the eyes, and by absorption with purified organelles. To distinguish this antibody from the already described mitochondrial antibodies, this one will be called mitochondrial antibody number 5 (M5). The seven carriers of this antibody suffer from systemic lupus erythematosus or autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. In these cases no diseases of the liver were observed, contrary to other classical mitochondrial antibodies.


Protection of mice against haemoprotozoan Babesia microti with Brucella abortus strain 19.

When Brucella abortus strain 19 is given intraperitoneally to mice it protects them against subsequent infection with large doses of Babesia microti. The protection obtained was more effective when B. abortus was given intraperitoneally than when it was injected subcutaneously. This non-specific protection seems to be best explained by the stimulation of macrophages so as to release a mediator which limits the intracellular replication of the parasites.


Functional morphology of forelimb joints in the woolly monkey Lagothrix lagothricha.

This gross anatomical study of embalmed forelimb joints of the South American woolly monkey Lagothrix lagothricha focuses on the problem of determining in osteoligamentous preparations how the disposition of the capsular apparatus and the geometry of the articular surfaces govern the amount and types of movement permitted at a joint, and then correlates these findings with the use of the forelimb in the positional capabilities of captive wooly monkeys observed by this author. Data collection was by dissection, quantitative range of motion studies on osteoligamentous preparations, and by qualitative manipulations of these preparations and of disarticulated bones. Supplemental evidence was obtained from radiographs and from an estimate of angular values of articular surfaces. Presented for the shoulder, elbow, radioulnar, and hand joint complexes are the functional anatomy of the capsular apparatus and articular surfaces, the quantitative range of motion data, and proposed mechanisms of movement that combine the functional morphology with the observed use of the forelimb in activities by the animal. The structurofunctional framework of MacConaill is the basis for the joint analysis. The evidence suggests that the functional anatomy of these joints correlates well with the possible positional capabilities of Lagothrix. The morphology of the capsular apparatus and joint surfaces reflect both the arboreal quadrupedalism and forelimb suspension of the woolly monkey. The positions of maximum congruency and close-pack approximate the forelimb's weight-bearing stance during palmigrade arboreal quadrupedalism. During forelimb suspension, the taut and twisted capsular apparatus of close-packed joints maintains the integrity of forelimb links in tension. This is the first known report of the internal band of the collateral ligament of the proximal interphalangeal joints of the second through fifth digits being incorporated into the terminal tendon of the extensor assembly. This author believes this is a mechanism not only for maintaining the integrity of these joints during forelimb suspensory activities when the body is supported by the middle phalanges, but also for helping to coordinate the flexion-extension actions of the phalanges for smooth grasping and release maneuvers in an arboreal environment. When sufficient comparative data have been collected, such correlations of the functional morphology of joints with positional behavior may be used to postulate positional capabilities of fossil primates.


Neurocutaneous syndromes.

The neurocutaneous syndromes are a diverse group of diseases characterized by widespread abnormalities in structures of ectodermal origin, including the skin, eye, and central and peripheral nervous systems. These syndromes are particularly interesting to the clinician because they often present with cutaneous signs at birth or very early in life. These skin markers may be clues to widespread abnormality that may later develop in the nervous system and other areas of the body, making early diagnosis from careful assessment of cutaneous signs a particularly challenging task. Six of the most common of these syndromes are reviewed.