[Localization of mitochondrial cytochrome b using specific antibodies].

Specific antibody has been obtained against cytochrome b (pig heart mitochondria). It inhibits the electron transport of the respiratory chain in the intact mitochondria at the cytochrome b site of the inner mitochondrial membrane. It has no effect on the isolated submitochondrial particles which are inside-out inner membrane vescicles free of any outer membrane or outside-out inner membrane. These findings indicate a probably not transmembranous topologic localization of cytochrome b; this component of the respiratory chain seems located near the outer side of the inner mitochondrial membrane.


[Method for simultaneous study of peristaltic and pendular movements of isolated rabbit ileum].

A method is described for studying simultaneously the peristalsis and the pendular movements in the isolated pieces of rabbit ileum. At the same time, using this method it is possible to analyse the actions of drugs on the mechanisms which ensure the pendular movements and the propulsive activity, as well as their relationship. The method is relatively simple and only classical and commercially available equipments are needed. With this method the records and the volume of fluid expelled are suitable for statistical analysis.


[Distribution of 1-14C palmitic acid in brain tissue after intraventricular injection in the conscious cat].

The distribution of (1-14C) palmitic acid in the brain tissue following the injection into the cerebral ventricles of conscious cats was investigated. The radioactive material was found in the brain tissue surrounding the cerebral ventricles and in the cerebral cortex, but in varying amounts : the smallest amounts were found in the cerebral cortex, while the highest in the thalamus and in the hippocampus. Radioactive material was also found in the peripheral venous blood. The amount of the radioactive material in the grey matter lining the cerebral ventricles as well as in the cerebral cortex was time-dependant. The labelled material in the structures surrounding the cerebral ventricles and in the cerebral cortex increased within first four hours after its intraventricular administration. Thereafter, throughout subsequent 48 hours either it slowly disappeared in the caudate nucleus and in the thalamus, or it was retained in the hypothalamus and in the floor of the IV ventricle.


[Subacute alcoholic intoxication in rats: effect of an intravenous injection of glucagon or adrenaline].

We have studied the hyperglycemic effect of glucagon (20 microgram/kg) and adrenaline (5 microgram/kg/mn/3 mn) on the rat subjected to a subacute alcoholic intoxication (6,4 g/kg by day during 12 days). The hyperglycemic action of the glucagon is increased while that of the adrenaline slightly decreased. So, the alcoholic intoxication allows to dissociate the both mechanisms of the glycogenolytic action of both hormones. Two hypothesis are brought forward in the discussion.


[Construction and use of a very sensitive calorimeter adapted for biological research].

The present conduction calorimeter was assembled to study the thermogenesis of whole organs or little Vertebrates. It is constituted of three essential parts : one aluminium calorimetric block, two cylindrical cells in plexiglass of 60,80 or 100 ml volume, two flux plates : the sensitive elements which permit differential measurements on a chart recorder. The whole system is thermoregulated.


[Ultrastructure of testicular Sertoli cells in normal and dysgenesic rats, during the fetal and postnatal periods].

Electron microscopic study of Sertoli cells from normal and Misulban-treated rats has been realized during foetal and postnatal life. From 15th day of foetal life, morphological aspects of Sertoli cells plead for a steroidogen activity and protein synthesis. Ultrastructural organels of Sertoli cells are the same in sterile and normal seminiferous tubule, except the Sertoli junctions which are less numerous in sterile tubules and appear later.


[Modification of mitochondria in cultivated hepatocytes as a function of the protein content of the medium].

Embryonic liver cells of chicken have been cultivated in medium more or less supplemented with serum. With a rich medium mitochondria become larger and often ramify. Their fundamental structure remains normal. It is only a hypertrophic condition correlated to an increase of mitochondrial material synthesis, limited to liver mitochondria.


[Comparison of the survival of desialylated erythrocytes and demonstration of the presence of T-agglutinin in rabbits and ducks].

Rabbit as well duck erythrocytes desialization leads to a dramatic decrease of their survival time. Rabbit erythrocytes are trapped transiently by the liver ; in contrast splenic uptake is gradual. Serum from the two species contains a T-agglutinin directed against autologous desialyated erythrocytes. In the two cases, this T-agglutinin is from the IgM class and its immunodominant sugar is galactose in the beta configuration.


[Adaptation of blood sugar regulation during muscular activity. Effects of training].

Our aim was to study the adaptation of energetic metabolism to muscular activity and the effects of training upon these adaptations. So we realized swimming and running tests on young healthy adults, selected in "trained" and "untrained". The effects of muscular activity were reflected by a raise of serum F.F.A., clearly noted in "untrained" subjects ; the levels of glucose and growth hormone both raised, but especially in "trained" subjects. Cortisol level raised in varying degrees while insulinemia presented little changes.


[Distinction of fast fibers and slow fibers in frog abdominal muscle using certain choline esters].

We have registered the contractions of the frog's abdominal muscle in Ringer's solution. The contractions were produced either by acetylcholin or by succinyldicholin. The graphics showed that the succinyldicholin contractions were much slower than the acetylcholin ones. The tracings were not equalized by a preliminary addition of eserin. We conclude that acetylcholine excites the fast fibers and that succinyldicholin excites the slow fibers of the muscle.


[Cardiac adaptation in highly skilled swimmers and soccer player: a vectorcardiographic approach].

Nine swimmers and nine soccers have been studied by the mean of Frank lead vectorcardiographic system. According to classical criteria, both the two groups present similar marked left ventricular hypertrophy. Numerous indices suggest that right ventricular hypertrophy is also associated though more important for the swimmers. The assumption of volume overload because of special hemodynamic conditions during swimming is proposed.


[Effect of breeding temperature on the growth and composition of brown fat in the newborn rat].

The weight and the lipid, water and norepinephrine contents of the interscapular brown adipose tissue from 1, 3, 7, 11, 14 and 21 day aged rats were measured. The animals were maintained at an ambiant temperature of 16 degrees, 23 degrees or 28 degrees C from birth. It is concluded that nonshivering thermogenesis is not necessary after 3 days of age in animals kept at 28 degrees C and after 11 days of age in the ones kept at 23 degrees C. However that thermogenesis persists for all the suckling period in those kept at 16 degrees C.


[Metabolism of (1-14C)-palmitic acid in the cat's brain].

Following injection into the cerebral ventricles of conscious cats, (1-14C) palmitic acid was rapidly taken up and incorporated into a variety of brain lipids. The peak of uptake of (1-14C) palmitic acid, about 50% of injected radioactive material, into the brain tissue was obtained within the first 24 h following its administration. Thereafter, the radioactivity slowly decreased reaching the least value by the end of the second week. The most heavily labelled lipids were the phospholipids, while the free fatty acids were appreciably labelled. Small percentage of the radioactive material was found in monoglycerides, diglycerides and triglycerides. The least incorporation was into cholesterol esters.


[Research on the mechanism of the motor action of dopamine on in vitro isolated rat duodenum].

The study of the direct action of dopamine on the rat duodenum serotoninergic receptors and the parallelism of the results obtained with the motricity curves of this organ in vitro allows us to conclude that dopamine recognizes serotoninergic receptors : the excito- motor effect observed with certain dopamine concentrations on the isolated rat duodenum may be attributed to this action of dopamine on serotoninergic receptors. These results seem in agreement with the observations of other authors.


[Sensory innervation of the gastro-intestinal junction: new electrophysiological, histological and histochemical data].

The sensory innervation of the small intestine was studied in the cat with electrophysiological, histological and histochemical techniques. Thanks to the histochemical technique (peroxydase method) the exact number and proportion of splanchnic and vagal fibres was determined : the latter being about 9 times more numerous than the former. On the other hand the exact position of the corresponding cells was defined in the nodose and spinal ganglia by means of the previous technique and the microelectrophysiological method (recording of single units into the ganglia with extracellular glass microelectrodes). The splanchnic neurones were found in the T9, T10 and T11 ganglia whereas the vagal ones were chiefly located in the lower half of the nodose ganglia. The histological studies using electronic microscope showed many non-medullated endings, which were often found beneath the epithelium and in the lamina propria of the villi close to the blood vessels. This result is certainly the proof that numerous receptors (mechanoreceptors, chemoreceptors and even thermoreceptors do exist in the small intestine.


[Demonstration of pineal gland and pituitary involution in mice poisoned with carbon tetrachloride].

Ingestion of carbone tetrachloride by male C3H Orleans mice determines an involution of the pineal gland and of the hypophysis, as well as extensive lesions of the hepatic parenchyma. There may exist in these animals a higher blood-level of glucocorticoids, as this has been shown to be the case in men suffering from cirrhosis or hepatitis. Involution of the pineal gland in cases of stress, as has been shown by various authors, would result from an entirely different mechanism, that is by increased secretion of corticoadrenal hormones.


[Characterization and quantification by impulse analysis of sugar regulation disorders in man].

Proposed model offers three transfer functions answering to a second order hypothesis and allowing to study separately blood sugar evolution and insulin release or synthesis functions by cell B. The model separates subjects in several classes (normals, chemical diabetes and patent insulin-dependent or independent diabetes) and quantifies treatment efficiency by its effects on blood sugar regulation.


Induced resistance to 6-methylpurine and cycloheximide in Tetrahymena. II. Variation within vegetative cultures of micronucleate T. thermophila and amicronucleate T. pyriformis.

Resistance to 6-methylpurine and cycloheximide has been induced in both the micronucleate species Tetrahymena thermophila and the amincronucleate species T. pyriformis. Resistance follows only after mutagen treatment and vegetative growth. The frequencies with which resistant variants are induced and the independence of mutagenesis and selection are demonstrated. All evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that macronuclear subunits are assorting in both species during vegetative growth to produce new phenotypes among subclones.


[Influence of age on the modifications of cerebral electrogenesis in the curarized rat induced by acute and repeated asphyxic anoxia].

In curarized rats, acute and iterative asphyxic anoxia produced large modifications of the cerebral electrogenesis, whose intensity could be evaluated, during each anoxia, by measurements of three parameters : the resistance to anoxia, the post-asphyxic recuperation and the cerebral electric silence. Comparative trials, carried out on animals of the same stock, showed that the cerebral sensibility towards anoxia was very different according to their age : maximal sensibility in 2 or 28 months old rats, minimal sensibility between 8 to 15 months. These results are discussed in terms of choice of animal material and specially of the age of rats used for study of the cerebral anoxia, as well as for the study of cerebral anti- hypoxic drugs.


[Modifications by 1-eburnamonine and vincamine on 2,3-diphosphoglycerate blood levels in the presence or absence of histotoxic hypoxia produced by potassium cyanide in the awake rat].

The influence of 1-éburnamonine (1-E) and vincamine (Vi) on 2,3-disphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) blood level was investigated in awake rats when cyanide (KCN) induced hypoxia was present or not. Used alone, KCN, 1-E and Vi (i.p. route) increased 2,3-DPG blood level. Used with KCN, 1-E or Vi produced a very more important increase of 2,3-DPG than that observed when both drugs were used alone. In all cases, the observed increase was attributed to red cells 2,3-DPG since hematocrite, red-cells count and hemoglobin level were unmodified. The results suggest that the KCN induced increase of 2,3-DPG constitutes a response to hypoxia. On the contrary, that of 1-E or Vi seems to be the result of a metabolic stimulation and could explain in part their antihypoxic properties previously described at cerebral level.


[Role of endogenous adrenaline in cardiac arrhythmia induced by dichlorodifluoromethane (FC 12) in mammals].

During the inhalation of normally oxygenated gas mixtures containing light or middle concentrations of FC 12, the presence of perfused epinephrine is necessary to induce cardiac arrhythmia in rabbits and dogs. The only inhalation of normally oxygenated gas mixtures containing a very high concentration of FC 12 produces in rabbits and dogs an important decrease in arterial pressure, tachycardia, a fall in respiratory amplitude, an acceleration reflex of respiratory frequency and cardiac arrhythmia. The same experiments in baro and chemodenervated animals show that : respiratory depression due to FC 12 still occurs, but not through the arterial chemoreceptors ; tachycardia has a reflex origin : barodenervation reveals the negative chromotropic effect of FC 12 and increases the fall in arterial pressure, mainly due to the negative inotropic effect of FC 12 ; adrenaline is necessary for FC 12-induced arrhythmia : barodenervation suppresses tachycardia due to the release of endogenous epinephrine and abolishes any arrhythmia.


[Evolution of pulmonary diffusing capacity in man during high altitude acclimatization].

Pulmonary diffusing capacity (DLCO) has been measured at 3500 m in highlander and lowlander subjects. DLCO is more elevated in highlanders than in lowlanders. In these subjects, a transient increase of DLCO is observed during the first hours of hypoxia which is related to transient changes in pulmonary circulation.


[Influence of blood hemoglobin concentration on pulmonary diffusing capacity in man].

CO transfer factor for lungs (TLCO) was measured by a steady state method in 83 subjects (haemoglobin concentration from 60 to 270 g.l-1). TLCO was related with height (T), age (A) and with logarithm of haemoglobin concentration for a non negligeable part : TLCO = 15.45 log Hb + 33.1 T -- 0.06 A -- 51.8. The interest of this relation is discussed.


[Secondary trisomy 1 q due to a reciprocal maternal translocation].

The authors report a case of partial trisomy 1 q due to a maternal balanced translocation : t(1 ; 4) (q 32 : p 16). The evocative malformations of trisomy 1 q and monosomy 4 p are discussed and compared to seven others from the literature. Then the interest of the chromosomical prenatal diagnosis and the significance of familial genetic studies are showed.


[Effects of hypobaric hypoxia and erucic acid on mitochondrial triglycerides in rat heart].

At normal atmospheric pressure, an erucic acid-supplemented diet produces an increase of heart mitochondrial triglycerides. With the same quantity of erucic acid, hypoxia emphasizes the triglyceride overload in rat heart mitochondria. Thus, hypoxia increases the risk caused by rapeseed-oil. In hypoxia or at normal atmospheric pressure, rapeseed-oil without erucic acid does not modify the level of mitochondrial triglycerides.


[Phosphorylase and glucosyltransferases at the level of reactive astrocytes. A histochemical study].

Implantation of cobalt powder in the cerebral cortex of rat determines an epileptogenic focus where two types of reactive astrocytes are observed. The first type is mostly represented in the subcortical white matter but it does exist in the cortex around the implant. Phosphorylase and branching enzyme are both very active in these cells which are filled with glycogen. The second type is limited to the cortex and phosphorylase activity leads to an unbranched polysaccharid. These cells correspond to the "activated astrocytes" described by the authors in a previous paper and observed round irritative lesions which, in the cerebral cortex, produce epileptogenic foci.


[Histophysiological modifications of the amnion in the rat at the end of gestation].

Amniotic epithelium of the rat has been studied during the eight last days of pregnancy, by scanning electron microscope analysis. The cells of this organ progressively become larger and flatter. Changes on their surface have also been observed : density of microvilli increases but single cilia disappear. These changes are related to modifications in the exchange processes.


[Hypotensive and edematogenic effects of carrageenan in the irradiated rat].

Iota carrageenan induces the same hypotensive effect in leucopenic and thrombopenic rats as in normal animals. This hypotensive activity depends on kininogen-kinins activation. In the irradiated rats, the inflammatory response to iota carrageenan is reduced. The blood cells are thus responsible of the major part of the late inflammatory effect. There is non parallelism between this hypotensive and the oedematogen activities of iota carrageenan in the rat.


[Convulsive properties of various organoselenium compounds].

Three organo-selenium compounds have been synthetized : methyl seleno-2 benzoic acid, acetylseleno-2 benzoic acid and diselenosalicylic acid. These compounds induce convulsive seizures in the rat, the most active of them being methyl seleno 2 benzoic acid. Convulsions are stopped after anaesthesia with pentobarbitone.


[Value of Cricetomys gambianus in the study of experimental trypanosomiasis from Trypanosoma gambiense. Methods for mass preparation of antigen and purification of serum exoantigen].

Methods for mass preparation of crude antigen and exoantigen of Trypanosoma gambiense from experimentally infected Cricetomys gambianus are described. The size of this animal and the hyperparasitism obtained make it a remarkable source of trypanosomian antigens.


[Ultrastructural aspects of the degeneration of the dermal microfilaria O. volvulus under the effect of diethylcarbamazine in human onchocerciasis].

Early modifications observed by previous authors are confirmed. More over, some later modifications are described where microfilariae are completely destroyed and removed by phagocytic cells. The theory concerning the mode of action of DEC on microfilariae in vivo is not confirmed (absence of extracellular "coarse particulate material", which is actually the unique morphological finding which leads the previous authors to assess the presence of immune complexes at the surface of microfilariae).


Phosphofructokinase from Escherichia coli: further evidence for identical subunits.

A procedure for the purification of Escherichia coli phosphofructokinase by affinity chromatography is described. The results of amino acid analyses of the purified protein and tryptic peptide mapping suggest that the tetrameric phosphofructokinase is composed of chemically identical subunits. In addition, the reaction product, ADP, was observed to bind to 4.1 +/- 0.1 equal and independent sites on the enzyme.


Morphological and quantitative study of spirochetes in the feces of normal and infected SPF pigs during the incubation period of swine dysentery.

Spirochetes found in feces of normal and infected pigs during the eight days preceding the onset of the clinical signs of swine dysentery have been studied using electron and phase contrast microscopy. According to their dimensions, diameter, length and pitch, three morphological groups have been described: small, intermediate and large spirochetes. On the basis of their axial filaments arrangement, eight types have been observed. Compared to the control pigs, there was no increase in the total number of spirochetes in infected pigs, except at day 6 before the onset of clinical signs. However, infected pigs have shown a wide spectrum of different morphological types of spirochetes in comparison to control, uninfected pigs, which showed only the type "1-2-1" spirochete of axial filaments arrangement. This last type was predominant in infected swine during the entire incubation period as compared to other spirochete types described.


Sequential nonsurgical and surgical staging of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The results of clinical and surgical staging in a series of 170 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are reviewed. Advanced disease (Stage IV) was established without laparotomy in 95 patients (56%), primarily through bone marrow biopsy, closed liver biopsy, and peritoneoscopy. Laparotomy revealed a high incidence of liver involvement and involvement of lymph nodes outside of conventional abdominal irradiation portals only in patients with nodular types of pathology and in patients with positive lymphangiograms. The limitations and indications for staging laparotomy are discussed in the context of these findings.


Hodgkin's disease: problems of staging.

The preferred histopathological classification of Hodgkin's disease (HD) is that suggested by Lukes and Butler as modified at the Rye Symposium; the histologic subtypes are highly reproducible and correlate well with the anatomic sites of involvement, clinical stage, and survival. The accuracy of the bipedal lymphangiogram, 67gallium scan, and ultrasonography in predicting abdominal involvement by HD is 90% , 50%, and 88%, respectively. Staging laparotomy remains the most accurate method of detecting intra-abdominal disease and has added immensely to new concepts in the management of HD. These concepts suggest that patients with nodal disease limited to the celiac axis or upper para-aortic areas (substage III1) or pathologic stage (PS) IIIS+N-A, when treated with extended field radiotherapy alone have survival rates comparable to PS IIA patients. In contrast, patients in PS IIIA with lower abdominal nodal disease (substage III2), regardless of splenic involvement, have a prognosis comparable to PS IV disease. Thus, there may only be two stages of HD, those curable with extended mantle or smaller radiotherapy fields alone, and those requiring chemotherapy with or without supplemental radiotherapy.


DNA-protein cross-linking and DNA interstrand cross-linking by haloethylnitrosoureas in L1210 cells.

Bifunctional alkylating agents are known to produce cross-links between DNA and protein and between paired DNA strands. The possibility of discriminating these two classes of cross-links in L1210 cells treated with haloethylnitrosoureas or nitrogen mustard was explored with the alkaline elution technique. Two classes of cross-links were demonstrated, based on sensitivity to proteinase K; the proteinase-sensitive cross-links appear to be DNA-protein cross-links, and the proteinase-resistant class may include interstrand cross-links. Proteinase-sensitive cross-links form more rapidly than do proteinase-resistant cross-links in cells treated with chloroethylnitrosoureas, perhaps because these agents can chloroethylate protein sulfhydryl or amino groups followed by rapid reaction of these chloroethylated groups with DNA. Although both types of cross-links produced by nitrogen mustard disappeared or were repaired after 24 hr, the removal of cross-links produced by chloroethylnitrosoureas either did not occur or was incomplete in 24 hr. In addition to cross-links, cells treated with haloethylnitrosoureas exhibited DNA strand breaks; a method is suggested for estimating the apparent frequencies of strand breaks and cross-links in the DNA.


Measurements of DNA damage in Chinese hamster cells treated with equitoxic and equimutagenic doses of nitrosoureas.

The DNA of V-79 Chinese hamster cells was examined by alkaline elution following treatment of cultures with eight different nitrosoureas. Drug incubations were performed under consistent biological conditions of equal toxicity and equal mutation induction at the hypoxanthineguanine phosphoribosyltransferase locus. The goals of this study were to determine whether DNA damage could be detected in cells treated with biologically relevant doses of nitrosoureas and to determine whether the type and number of observed DNA lesions could be correlated with the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of the drugs. All of the compounds tested produced, to some degree, lesions that were observed as DNA strand breaks upon exposure of the DNA to alkali. The levels of DNA strand breaks and/or alkali-labile lesions were comparable for all of the drugs at the equimutagenic doses. DNA cross-linking was observed at both the equitoxic and the equimutagenic concentrations of the haloethylnitrosoureas, but cross-linking was not observed with methylnitrosourea or streptozotocin. Methylnitrosourea and streptozotocin required approximately 40 times the drug concentration to produce toxicity equal to the haloethylnitrosoureas. These data suggest that the ability to cross-link DNA confers increased cytotoxicity to the haloethylnitrosoureas.


Pharmacologic disposition of chlorozotocin in mice.

Cholorozotocin is a water-soluble chloroethylnitrosourea with the cytotoxic group attached to the C2 position of glucose. The distribution of the alkylating and carbamoylating moieties of the chlorozotocin molecule was determined in mice following the ip administration of an LD10 dose: 20 mg/kg. The half-life (T 0.5) for the plasma disappearance of intact drug was 5 minutes. The plasma disappearance of the ethyl-14C group was biphasic up to 120 minutes after administration; the T 0.5 of the initial phase was 17.5 minutes and the T 0.5 of the prolonged second phase was107 minutes. The disappearance of glucose-14C chlorozotocin followed kinetics similar to the chloroethyl-labeled compound. Fifteen minutes after administration, ethyl-14C drug concentrated maximally in the liver (194 nmols/g of tissue) and the kidney (131 nmols/g of tissue). Uptake into the bone marrow at 60 minutes after ip administration of the ethyl-labeled drug was 6.6 pmols of the ethyl-14C group covalently bound to proteins and nucleic acids per 10(7) nucleated cells. The concentration of ethyl-14C drug in the brain remained at 4 mnols/g of tissue up to 2 hours after administration, reflecting the water-soluble property of this new nitrosourea.


Comparison of the effects of epidermal chalone in young and aging mice.

The ability of epidermal chalones to produce inhibition of epidermal mitotic and DNA synthetic activities was investigated in young (2 month old) and old (27 month old) mice. Extracts of epidermal chalone were prepared from the skin of mice of these diferent ages, and these extracts were then tested for their inhibitory capacities against the same age group from which they were extracted, and also against the mice of the other age group. It was found that the ability of mouse skin to produce tissue-specific agents with mitotic and DNA-synthetic inhibitory capabilities did not change significantly with increasing age. There were however, decreases in both the labeling and mitotic indices with aging in untreated mice. These data suggest that chalone-type inhibitory mechanisms are not primarily responsible for the increased cell cycle times seen to occur with aging in normal tissues.


Specificity of epidermal chalone extracts for human epidermoid tumour cells in vitro: a preliminary report.

In order to test the mitosis-inhibiting effect and the tissue specificity of the epidermal G2 chalone for tumour cells, extracts from hairless mouse epidermis were tested in short-term tissue cultures of cells from human respiratory tract epidermoid carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. The chalone inhibited strongly the mitotic activity in two cases of histologically proven epidermoid carcinoma, and had no effect in two cases of adenocarcinoma. In one case of a supposed epidermoid carcinoma, the chalone had no effect. Revision of the histology, and the result of autopsy 11 months later, showed that in this case the lesion in the lung had been a poorly differentiated metastasis from an adenocarcinoma of the ovary. Liver extracts produced in the same way as the epidermal extracts showed no mitotic inhibition in any of the cultures. These results indicate that epidermal G2 chalone produced from mouse skin is tissue specific for human epidermoid tumour cells, and also indicate that a chalone test might be used as a diagnostic tool for poorly differentiated carcinomas to see whether they are of epidermoid origin or not.


Dendritic cells in the rat spleen follicles. A combined immuno- and enzyme histochemical study.

Follicles of peripheral lymphoid organs (rat) contain a type of non-lymphoid cell which is capable of arresting antigen-antibody complexes at the cell surface. These so-called dendritic cells can be visualized in immunized rats by staining antigen-antibody complexes with immunohistoperoxidase techniques. The present study concerns a classification of these cells and comparison with known non-lymphoid cell types such as macrophages, marginal metallophils and tingible body macrophages in the rat spleen follicles. Immunoenzyme histochemical and (enzyme) histochemical techniques have been combined in the same tissue sections to correlate the functional capacity of binding immune complexes with morphological characteristics or phagocytic capacity. Dendritic cells show silver affinity but do not demonstrate a characteristic pattern of hydrolytic enzymes or phagocytosis.


Serotonin and MSH secretion: effect of parachlorophenylalanine on the pituitary cytology of the eel.

Parachlorophenylalanine (pCPA), an inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase which depletes brain serotonin in higher vertebrates, was injected into freshwater eels. After 4 or 6 injections (200 mg/kg/day) or 10 injections (100 and 140 mg/kg/day), the animals are paler, with a low melanophore index. In the pituitary gland, granules tend to accumulate in the basal part of the MSH cells and in the perinuclear area. Cells appear smaller with a decreased nuclear area (P less than 0.001). In the neurohypophysis, the amount of neurosecretory material is often reduced. Conversely, injections of 5-hydroxytryptophan induce a strong darkening, a result similar to that previously reported in some amphibian species and in one lacertilian species. These data substantiate the hypothesis of a stimulatory influence of 5-hydroxytryptamine on MSH release and possibly its synthesis in the eel and other lower vertebrates.


Effect of parachlorophenylalanine, a brain serotonin depletor, on the prolactin cells of the eel pituitary.

Parachlorophenylalanine (pCPA), an inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase depleting brain serotonin in higher vertebrates, was injected into freshwater eels. After 4 or 8 injections (200 mg/kg/day) or 10 injections (100 and 140 mg/kg/day) plasma electrolyte values were not modified. Prolactin (PRL) cells appear less active, with increased granulation after 6 and 10 injections. Their cell height (P less than 0.01) and their nuclear area (P less than 0.001) are reduced. As injections of 5-hydroxytryptophan stimulate PRL cells, these findings suggest that a serotoninergic system may participate in the regulation of PRL cell activity. Brain serotonin depletion probably decreases granule release in PRL cells, a result comparable to the lowering action of pCPA on the plasma PRL level in some mammals.


Action of caffeine on calcium transport by isolated fractions of myofibrils, mitochondria, and sarcoplasmic reticulum from rabbit heart.

We studied the effects of caffeine on calcium transport by subcellular organelles isolated from rabbit myocardium. Caffeine increased myofibrillar basic and calcium-activated ATPase activity at 20 mM but not at lower concentrations. Mitochondrial and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium accumulation was measured both by dual wavelength spectrophotometry with the calcium-sensitive dye, murexide, and by Millipore filtration with 45Ca. In mitochondria, caffeine impaired phosphate-assisted calcium transport but did not alter the closely related parameters of oxygen uptake, P/O ratio (nmol adenosine diphosphate consumed/n ats oxygen consumed, state 3 respiration) or limited calcium loading. In SR, caffeine impaired calcium accumulation. New methods were used to characterize calcium accumulation in the absence of oxalate according to first order reaction kinetics. Caffeine increased the rate constant while decreasing the calcium accumulated. It also increased the associated calcium-activated ATPase activity at low (30 mM) but not high (240 micrometer) external calcium concentration. In the presence of oxalate, caffeine decreased the rate of calcium accumulation, more with low than high calcium concentration. Net efflux of 45Ca from preloaded SR also was increased by caffeine. The findings indicate that caffeine impairs active calcium accumulation by making SR vesicle membranes more permeable to calcium.


Hyaluronate-proteoglycan complex: evidence for separate biosynthesis mechanisms of the macromolecules.

In cartilage cells biosynthesis of hyaluronate and chondroitin-4-,-6-sulfate from proteoglycan takes place via two different distinct precursor pools; the synthesis of hyaluronate appears to require the unaffected formation of nucleotides and nucleic acids, whereas that of proteoglycan is very sensitive to the modulation of protein biosynthesis.


Low temperature electron diffraction and beam effects in tendon collagen.

In the course of experiments to obtain electron diffraction from forzen rat tail tendon (RTT) collagen, a characteristic development of perforations relating to the banding pattern was observed under conditions of moderate beam intensity. This is most likely to be due to an etching process resulting from ionization or sublimation of bound or preferentially retained water molecules in the band-interband region and could provide a means of visualization of the location of such water.


Proteoglycans synthesized by fetal guinea pig chondrocytes in culture.

Short term cultures were carried out with chondrocytes and tissue fragments from fetal guinea pig epiphyseal cartilage. Proteoglycans were isolated from these cultures and their properties were compared with those of proteoglycans from adult hyaline cartilage. It was concluded that the proteoglycans synthesized in culture were essentially similar to those present in cartilage matrix in vivo. The authors therefore suggest that fetal guinea pig chondrocytes cultured in monolayer or as aggregates in suspension constitute a useful system for the study of synthesis and secretion of proteoglycans.


Connective tissue proteins of the baboon lung: concentration, content and synthesis of collagen in the normal lung.

Lung connective tissue proteins have been assayed in 12 normal juvenile baboons (Papio cynocephalus). The collagen concentration (26.8 +/- 5.1 microgram hydroxyproline per mg dry weight) is comparable to values reported for adult human lung, while the rate of collagen synthesis (0.242 +/- 0.082 nmoles hydroxyproline per mg DNA per hour) is approximately half that of human lung. Proteins other than collagen are synthesized at approximately equal rates in human and baboon lung. Elastin concentration was estimated to be 33 microgram insoluble elastin protein per mg dry weight, within the range reported for normal human lung. Values have also been calculated for the lobar contents of protein, DNA, and collagen, as well as the rates of synthesis of collagen and other proteins in the entire upper lobe of the right lung of these animals. The collagen concentrations in the lung show wide differences among various animal species. However, the baboon lung is similar to human lung. This similarity may be important in the interpretation of alterations in lung connective tissue metabolism associated with experimental diseases.


Phosphorylation of proteoglycans in human articular cartilage.

A study of human articular cartilage indicated that componenet proteoglycans can be phosphorylated. Phosphorylation, also found in a specimen of human epiphysial cartilage, occurred when [gamma-32P]-ATP or 32Pi was included in the in vitro incubation medium. Treatment of the phosphorylated proteoglycans with chondroitinase and chondrosulfatases effectively removed the chondroitin sulfate without dephosphorylating the remaining molecule. Since phosphorylation could be effected in a totally chemically defined medium, it appears that the necessary enzyme systems for this reaction are contained entirely within chondrocytes.


Role of hyaluronic acid in the in vivo aggregation of cartilage proteoglycans.

From studies of isolated cartilage proteoglycans in solution it has been inferred that they occur in the tissue as aggregates of high molecular weight which consist of proteoglycan monomers, hyaluronic acid and specific link proteins. The present investigation provides direct evidence for the existence of hyaluronic acid-containing aggregates in vivo, as indicated by the following observations: Treatment of sections of coastal cartilage from newborn rabbits with Streptomyces hyaluronidase led to complete disappearance of the electron dense granules, which have been previously identified as chondroitin sulfate proteglycans, from the extracellular matrix. Similar results were obtained on digestion with leech hyaluronidase which, like the Streptomyces enzyme, specifically degrades hyaluronic acid. Proteoglycan aggregation occurs not only in the extracellular compartment but intracellularly as well, since a portion of the hyaluronidase-senstive, electron dense proteoglycan granules are found in intracellular vesicles. It is concluded that the ability of proteoglycan monomers to form aggregates is a true reflection of the in vivo organization of these molecules and that aggregate formation is an important factor in the maintenance of the normal physiological function of cartilage tissue.


Structural organization of collagen fibrils in media aortic wall.

Small-angle X-ray diffraction patterns of bovine, human and porcine media aortic wall show meridional reflections corresponding to a periodicity which suggest a molecular packing typical of tendon collagen. However the meridional intensity distribution of stretched air dried aortic samples appears different from that of air-dried tendon, probably because of the presence of a large amount of type III collagen with the environment, which are specific for aortic tissue. The stretched wet aortic samples show a marked decrease in intensity, revealing an extensive disorder in the axially-projected structure of the fibrils. When a loading system simulating the effect of blood pressure is applied to a ring of aorta, no evidence of orientation of collagen is seen by X-ray diffraction, as would be expected if collagen fibrils had an isotropic distribution inside the aorta media. Scanning electroni microscopy supports the existence of a network of collagen fibrils surrounding elastic lamellae.


Anxiety and skin diseases.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine if a relationship exists between anxiety and skin diseases. It was hypothesized that subjects wtih different dermatoses would have different anxiety levels. Subjects with the following skin diseases were compared: atopic dermatitis, cystic acne, noncystic acne, tinea versicolor, and pityriasis rosea. Anxiety levels were measured by use of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The STAI consists of two twenty-item self-report rating scales for two types of anxiety: A-State anxiety, which is transitory or situational, and A-Trait anxiety, which is chronic or an enduring personality trait. A one-way analysis of variance revealed significant differences between the aforementioned groups in both A-State and A-Trait anxiety, with the mean elevations highest in the subjects with disfiguring acne (cystic) and intolerably prurific eczema (atopic dermatitis).


The nature of molybdenum-cofactor.

In vitro assembly of Neurospora crassa NADPH-nitrate reductase (EC1.6.6.2) could be effected by combing the nitrate induced Neurospora crassa mutant nit-1 with the extract of any known molybdenum-containing enzyme. The process involves the participation of a molybdenum-cofactor contributed by the molybdenum-enzyme fraction. This paper emphasizes two points: Firstly, the indispensable role played by EDTA in the viability of Mo-cofactor and secondly, the nature of Mo-cofactor predicated by our previous work is supported by concrete experimental results. Recent experiments with Chelax-100 column provide evidence that the in vitro formation of Neurospora NADPH-nitrate reductase involves EDTA and the latter may take part in the formation of a molybdenum, labile sulfide and EDTA complex. In addition to 10(-2) M sodium molybdate, both EDTA and reducing agent are required to activate the cofactor in the Chelax-100 column eluate. The cofactor is of low molecular weight and devoid of protein as was predicated. To substantiate those predications, concrete experimental results are provided.


The biosynthesis of the mitochondrial ADP, ATP translocator.

The biosynthesis of the ADP,ATP carrier was studied in mitochondria of Neurospora crassa. The carrier was isolated as the carboxyatractylate-protein complex and characterized in dodecylsulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to have a Mr = 33 000. Applying the inhibitors chloramphenicol for the intramitochondrial translation and cycloheximide for extramitochondrial translation, the site of synthesis of this polypeptide was found to be extramitochondrially located.


The anti-delta suppressed mouse.

The ontogeny of IgD was examined in neonatal to adult mice by immunofluorescence. The first delta-positive cells appeared in the spleen at about 3 days of age, while lymph nodes from 4 to 5-day-old mice already contained 10--20% delta-positive B cells. In order to study the function of IgD, we developed a system in which the appearance of delta-positive cells was suppressed by treatment of mice from birth with an anti-delta allotype serum. Immunofluorescence studies showed that very few delta-positive cells could be found in the spleen and lymph nodes of such suppressed mice, and also that the percentage of mu-positive cells was reduced by about 50%. The recovery from suppression was rapid, indicating that potential delta-positive cells were modulated rather than killed. Studies of the immune response of suppressed mice in vitro and in vivo showed that suppression had little effect on the IgM response but caused a definite reduction in the IgG response.


The effects of p-chlorophenylalanine, reserpine, methysergide and cyproheptadine on the dopa-induced EEG synchronization in the rat.

The actions of drugs interfering with central indolaminergic mechanisms were assessed on the Dopa-induced EEG synchronization in the rat. The increased slow wave activity observed during the first 30 min following Dopa (100 mg/kg) was significantly decreased by p-chlorophenylalanine (400 mg/kg), reserpine (4 and 8 mg/kg) and methysergide (16 mg/kg). Cyproheptadine was ineffective in this respect. Our findings lend support to the hypothesis that the initial synchronization after Dopa is related to the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine.


Responses to load disturbances in human shoulder muscles: the hypothesis that one component is a pulse test information signal.

Human motor control has been investigated by applying displacements acting to rotate the shoulder while the subject was endeavouring to maintain a constant position against a pre-existing force delivered by a system of finite stiffness. Four separate stages of the force response were distinguished. First, for the initial 100 msec, an increase in force which was attributed to the viscoelastic properties of activated muscle. Second, after approximately 100 msec, a "medium latency" increase in force accompanied by an increase in EMG activity. Third, a "long latency" increase in force consistent with voluntary action restored the arm to its original position. Fourth, some 500 msec thereafter and dependent upon the final steady force level, a tremor might develop. No changes of force were seen that were of sufficiently short latency to be attributed either to Ia monosynaptic action or immediately following (within 15 msec) polysynaptic action of muscle mechano-receptors. Even the "medium latency" response was too weak to make an appreciable contribution to restoring the arm to its original position; at the best it provided only 15% of the force required. This response is often considered as a "stretch reflex" responsible for maintaining posture in its own right; for example, by means of a servo-assisted transcortical loop (Marsden et al., 1972). Instead, it is now suggested that it might be a test signal designed to inform the central nervous system of the current loading on the muscle and thus permit the CNS to select an appropriate pre-programmed response from its repertoire of motor actions.


Inhibition of osteogenesis by bone mass in diffusion chamber cultures.

The effect of increased bone mass on osteogenesis was studied using the diffusion chamber culture of mouse distal radius as an experimental model. Two distal thirds of a mouse's radii were cultured in separate diffusion chambers in a recipient mouse; one chamber contained only a distal radius, but the other contained a distal radius plus two proximal radii and two ulnae. The DNA synthesis of osteogenetic cells was significantly inhibited in cultures with excess bone mass. The mean inhibition in labelling indices of epiphyseal plate chondrocytes was 27% and of periosteal cells 40%. The nature of this inhibition seems to be specific.


Mechanisms of immune deposition in relation to a loosened molecular structure of acid mucopolysaccharides (aMP) caused by a low calcium diet--with special regard to their negative charges.

Diets used for breeding guinea pigs usually require 1.3--1.5% calcium. In the previous paper, guinea pigs bred on a low calcium diet of 0.2% for 4--6 weeks, showed mesangiolytic changes in the glomerulus. In this experiment, after breeding guinea pigs on a low calcium diet, soluble immune complexes which have positive charges in their structure, were injected once intravenously. By electron microscopy an increased amount of deposits in the basement membrane, in the subepithelial side of it, and in the mesangial matrix where they were loosened by a low calcium diet breeding, as reported in the previous paper, was noted. In this paper, mechanisms of immune deposition in relation to a loosened molecular structure of acid mucopolysaccharides, caused by a low calcium diet--especially their negative charges--will be discussed.


A clinical and bacteriological evaluation of the effect of sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim in acne vulgaris, resistant to prior therapy with tetracyclines.

42 patients with acne vulgaris, clinically resistant to prior therapy with tetracyclines, were evaluated after therapy with sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim (400 + 80 mg) twice daily. Initially and after 6, 12 and 18 weeks of treatment in each patient the different acne lesions were counted and pus specimens from unhealed pustules were taken for bacteriological analysis. Complete remission or excellent results were obtained in 33 patients (79%) at the end of treatment despite a relative increase of Staphylococcus hominis and Propionibacterium granulosum. These species were more resistant in agar dilution test to the combination sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim (20:1) than other isolated species.


Exploration in immature rats: effects of drugs.

The effects of d-amphetamine (4 mg/kg), scopolamine (1 mg/kg), methylscopolamine (1 mg/kg), and parachlorophenylalanine (400 mg/kg) on exploration were studied in male rats at 16, 21, and 28 days of age. Amphetamine elicited stereotypy at all ages tested, reduced exploration (measured by the time spent head-dipping during a 10-min trial in a holeboard) from Day 21, but did not significantly increase rearing at the ages tested. (Reduced head-dipping, accompanied by stereotypy, is the pattern of results previously seen in adult rats with this dose of amphetamine.) An interesting difference emerged with scopolamine, which reduced head-dipping at all the ages tested, whereas in adults it produced an increase. The age-related difference in drug effects suggests that muscarinic pathways are functioning from Day 16, but that the system concerned with exploration functions differently in mature and immature rats. Both scopolamine and methylscopolamine reduced rearing which suggests that the change is due to peripheral actions of the drugs. Parachlorophenylalanine, which decreases serotonin levels, increased head-dipping, as it has been found to do in adult rats.


Clinical evaluation of the pancreatitis-like isoamylase pattern in normal persons.

Amylase isoenzyme analysis of serum and urine has been performed in 4001 normal persons and 500 patients with various disease using electrophoresis on thin layer polyacrylamide gel. Although elevation of amylase activity in amylase-1 and 2 has been reported to be the specific findings in patients with pancreatitis, 1.69% of normal persons had an elevated Amylase-2(named "Dominant Amylase-2") up to the same levels as major isoenzymes (Amylase-1 and 3), along with Amylase-1. Pedigree study confirmed an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance for Dominant Amylase-2. Knowledge of the genetic polymorphism is of importance in clinical assessment of amylase isoenzymes in patients having an elevated Amylase-2 suggestive of pancreatitis. Predominance of the pancreatic components in serum and urine has been revealed to be a specific index of pancreatic involvement. However, the existecne of an inherited trait of pancreatitis-like isoamylase pattern in healthy individuals must be borne in mind. On the basis of the present study, it may be concluded that a rise in the pancreatic type isoenzymes may not necessarily indicate underlying pancreatitis, especially in the absence of elevated amylase and lipase levels.


[Changes in the mole fraction ratio of lactate dehydrogenase subunits in the lymphocytes of Down's syndrome patients].

A comparative study of the total activity and mole quota ratio of lactate dehydrogenase subunits in lymphocytes of 14 patients with Down's syndrome (trisomy-21) and in 10 healthy persons is carried out. Differences in the total activity in both groups were insignificant. In patients with Down's syndrome the mole quota ratio of H and M subunits of LDH was found to be significantly altered (p greater than 0.999): H = 33.2%, M - 66,8%, as compared to 51.5% and 48.4% in the control (healthy) group respectively. These differences are evaluated as a result of changed gene expression of both loci controlling H and M polypeptide chains of heteromeric enzyme molecule.


Regions of constantly increased plasminogen activator activity along the intima of the normal aorta.

Histochemical studies of the aorta in newborn, young, and adult rats showed that the intima in the branching regions and at the beginning of the branches has a constantly increased plasminogen activator activity in comparison with the nonbranching regions. The aortic valve also shows constantly increased activator activity. The intimal activator activity is variable in the nonbranching regions, depending on the age and the anatomical area of the aorta. In young rats (20--30 days), the overall plasminogen activator activity in the aortic intima is higher than in adult rats (2--4 months), while the activity is variable in newborn rats. The intimal activator activity is generally higher in the thoracic aorta than in the abdominal aorta (in the nonbranching regions). The aortic wall has a low plasmin inhibitor capacity. The pattern of the endothelial plasminogen activator activity at different ages and anatomical areas of the aorta, in combination with the corresponding pattern of the aortic endothelial cell turnover, gives valuable information about the mechanism(s) of the production and normal (nonstressed) release of the endothelial plasminogen activator.


Scanning electron microscopy of Setaria labiatopapillosa (Alessandrini, 1848) from cattle of Kazakhstan.

Surface structures of males and females of Setaria labiatopapillosa were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy at high magnification. It was found that the surface of buccal cavity, lateral appendages, vulva, anus and cloaca differs from the remaining cuticle. The shape of internal and external mouth papillae, amphids, deirids, postdeirid and phasmidial pore was studied. On the surface of the postdeirid are four small papillae arranged in a typical manner around the depression from which projects a needle-like formation. The ventral bands are formed by fine longitudinal parallel folds of the cuticle. Some anomalies in the localization of postcloacal papillae were observed.


[Anti-reflux plasty for oesophageal varices (author's transl)].

An operation to prevent reflux was carried out in 36 patients with oesophageal varices; its aim was to prevent ulceration of the oesophageal mucosa due to gastric or duodenal secretions. The anti-reflux plasty consists of a distal gastrectomy with orthograde, isoperistaltic interposition of 20 cm. of jejunum between the gastric remnant and the duodenum, and fixation of the fundus and fornix. During the first three months, and even somewhat later, there was a little passage of contrast from the interposed jejunum into the stomach and duodenum. The reflux from the duodenum was, however, very small and only reached the vicinity of the stoma so that a duodeno-gastric reflux could be practically excluded. The fundus-fornix fixation resulted in absence of radiologically demonstrable gastro-oesophageal reflux. The interposed jejunal loop took over in part the function of the stomach, regulated gastric emptying and acted as a valve during upper gastro-intestinal transport.


[A contribution to the radiology of cervical dysphagia (author's transl)].

Typical appearances of the pharyngo-oesophageal transition zone are described. They are discussed in relation to the available methods of examination and related to the predominantly Anglo-Saxon literature of the last two decades.


[Invagination of the oesophageal mucosa in the presence of a Schatzki ring (author's transl)].

A patient is described who suffered from prolapse of the lower oesophageal mucosa in the presence of a Schatzki ring. There was variable dysphagia culminating in total aphagia. The clinical symptoms disappeared without any treatment once the patient had overcome several years of psychological stress. The radiological appearances gave rise to a discussion of the radiological anatomy of the terminal oesophagus with a Schatzki ring since numerous similar appearances illustrated in the literature have been interpreted as axial hiatus hernias. A comparison of manometric and radiological fingings has shown that a hernia did not exist. The advantages and errors inherent in diagnosing hernias with the help of the "three rings", as  described by Hafter, are discussed. The mucosal prolapse during the stage of aphagia is demonstrated and compared with cases from the literature showing prolapse at the upper and lower vestibular margins. The mechanism leading to these appearances is discussed.


[The radiological diagnosis of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (author's transl)].

The article discusses the y-ray diagnosis of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, including 13 with multiple endocrine adenomatosis, Type I. This syndrome is governed by complex pathophysiological processes determining the x-ray symptoms. Besides the predisposition to ulcers, which will persist despite partial gastrectomy, changes at the duodenum (hypertrophy of Brunner's glands) and proximal jejunum (bulging of folds) are relatively typical. However, the final diagnosis of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a clinical one. The syndrome is caused by non-beta islet cell tumors of the pancreas, associated with hypergastrinemia. Since these tumors are often multiple and small, angiography is not very rewarding. It is frequently impossible to distinguish the benign from the malignant tumors on the grounds of histological findings, the only criterion being their biological behaviour, if the exclusion or identification of metastases.


[Changes in the mucosal pattern of the colon in the early stages of ulcerative and granulomatous colitis (author's transl)].

By paying attention to the detailed relief pattern of the colonic mucosa on double contrast films, it is possible to recognise the early changes due to inflammatory colonic disease. The presence of a granular appearance suggests an early stage of ulcerative colitis; multiple small flecks of contrast, sometimes surrounded by a clear area, indicate aphthous ulcers in an early stage of Crohn's disease.


[The radiological diagnosis of gastro-intestinal metastases from malignant melanomas (author's transl)].

Amongst 240 patients with histologically proven metastases from malignant melanomas, there were 17 cases with gastro-intestinal involvement; of these there were seven in the small bowel, five in stomach, two with multiple deposits in stomach and small bowel and one in the colon. In four patients there were deposits in the mesentery or peritoneum. Radiologically these appeared as sharply demarkated polypoid intraluminal contrast defects with central ulceration (target lesions). In the cases with known primary tumours and multiple deposits, there were no problems regarding the differential diagnosis. Accurate radiological demonstration of metastases from malignant melanomas in the gastrointestinal tract or retroperitoneal space is of importance in order to avoid extensive surgery.


[Angiographic findings in carcinoid metastases in the mesentery (author's transl)].

The angiographic findings in two patients with carcinoids of the small bowel and lymph node metastases in the mesentery are described. Variations from the typical arteriographic appearances of small bowel carcinoids are discussed.


[The haemodynamic effects of renal artery stenosis (author's transl)].

Three reasons are suggested for the difficulty of judging the haemodynamic effects of renal artery stenosis: 1. The flow characteristics in the renal arteries of dogs indicate that, at the critical level of reduction to one third of normal diameter, a further change of only 0.5 mm. will cause a 50% alteration in flow volume. Variations of this order of magnitude cannot be reliably measured on the angiogram. 2. The production of turbulence, which can increase the effect of a stenosis considerably, depends, amongst other things, on the nature of the surface of the stenosis and this cannot be judged. 3. The effect of a stenosis depends on peripheral resistance in the kidney.


[Varicosities of the renal veins, the renal pelvis and the ureteric veins (author's transl)].

Varicosities of the renal veins and of the veins of the upper urinary tract may occur with or without haematuria. The urogram may be negative. Frequently, however, there are single or multiple impressions on the ureters as a result of the venous varicosities. Arteriography, which should always be carried out in the presence of undiagnosed haematuria, is unable to demonstrate the venous abnormalities. Since the symptoms are also not characteristic, it is necessary to carry out renal vein pharmaco-phlebography. The clinical features, radiological appearances and aetiology of this rare condition are illustrated by three cases.


[Arterial catheter embolisation for bleeding from bladder carcinoma (author's transl)].

An inoperable bleeding carcinoma of the bladder is an indication for embolising the internal iliac artery. Catheter embolisation is to be preferred to surgical ligation of the internal iliac artery, since it is a simpler procedure. The desired effect, a cessation of bleeding, was immediately obtained in all patients. An additional patient with pyocystitis and a carcinoma was also helped.


[Angiographic appearance of intravenous tumor growth in the portal and hepatic veins ("thread and streaks sign") (author's transl)].

Report of two cases with the angiographic signs of tumor growth in the portal and hepatic veins in hepatocellular carcinoma. Discussion of the angiographic and pathologic-anatomic findings and review of the literature.


[Contrast media and renal function in multiple myeloma (author's transl)].

An acute deterioration of the renal function after injection of (diiodized) renal contrast media in patients with multiple myeloma was pointed out for the first time by Bartels et al. (1954). Since then only a few similar cases have been reported. Therefore in a retrospective study the records of 89 patients with multiple myeloma from 1959 to 1974 were evaluated. For 31 of these patients a total of 41 i.v. pyelographs was made. Corresponding to a previous study by Vix in none of our patients who underwent pyelography a reduction of renal function was observed in direct association with the administration of contrast media. We are in agreement with other authors that a recognized myeloma is not from the first a contra-indication for the application of contrast material containing iodine so as a dehydration of the patients can be carefully avoided.


[Experimental studies on the effect of long-term oestrogens on contrast excretion during intravenous urography (author's transl)].

The possible connection between long continued oestrogen intake and dilatation of the upper urinary tract was examined urographically in nine female rabbits. The degree of dilatation was judged on eleven parameters. The results of the study indicate that oestrogens without simultaneous mechanical influence on the urinary tract does not lead to dilatation of the pelvis or ureter. The results are illustrated graphically and are compared with the findings in the literature.


[Dose-effects of the contrast medium Iotroxinate on biliary excretion of contrast media during infusion cholegraphy (author's transl)].

In the anaesthetized pig we studied the influence of the dosage of the contrast medium Iotroxinate on the following parameters of bile secretion: bile flow, bile salt excretion, concentration, and excretion of Iotroxinate. The results demonstrate that high doses of Iotroxinate inhibit the bile salt independent fraction of bile flow in a dose-dependent manner, by analogy to organic anions like Rose Bengal, Indocyaningreen, Ioglycamite. The biliary concentration of Iotroxinate however increases slightly. That means, that high doses of Iotroxinate do not impair the quality of opacification of bile ducts in x-ray examinations, as the contrast medium concentration represents the decisive parameter for a valid cholegraphy.


Topographic relation of portal vein to extrahepatic bile ducts. A combined portographic-cholangiographic study in 25 cadavers.

The extrahepatic course of both portal vein and bile ducts and their interrelation are analysed by simultaneous portography and cholangiography in 25 adult cadavers. The findings are correlated with the topographic anatomy in the porta hepatis, the hepatoduodenal ligament, and the duodeno-pancreatic region. Minor variations of the interspace between the bile ducts and the portal vein and superior mesenteric vein are demonstrated. The results of this investigation are discussed with respect to the clinical experience that carcinomas of the proximal part of the extrahepatic bile ducts often engage the bifurcation and the main stem of the portal vein, whereas the confluence of the portal vein and the superior mesenteric vein is more often affected by cancer of the head of the pancreas.


[The effect of urinary obstruction on the results of catheterless divided 131I hippuran clearance studies (author's transl)].

During catheterless renal 131I Hippuran clearance studies, the function of each kidney can be calculated from the area integral, which is derived from the total body curve and to segments of phase II of each nephrographic curve measured for 120 seconds after the injection. For this it is assumed that the course of this phase depends entirely on the function of the renal parenchyma and is not affected by other factors such as urinary obstruction. During investigations of obstructed kidneys, considerable discrepancies were found repeatedly between clearances calculated by this method and the operative findings of a paper thin renal parenchyma of the kidney in question. In two cases it has been shown for the first time that there is an unexpected and surprising change in phase II. It follows that urinary obstruction falsifies the results of 131I Hippuran clearance tests, leading to an overestimate of the function of the obstructed kidney.


[Scintigraphic evidence of changes in liver shape following splenectomy (author's transl)].

It has been suggested in the literature that, following splenectomy, the shape and position of the liver become altered and that this may lead to errors in the interpretation of the liver scans. For this reason, liver scans before and after splenectomy were compared in 16 patients with Hodgkin's disease. No changes in shape or position of the liver were found which could be related to the splenectomy. However, the clinical features and treatment must be known to ensure correct interpretation.


[Scintigraphy for doubtful vertebral fractures (author's transl)].

Fractures, particularly those of vertebral bodies, cannot always be demonstrated radiologically. The use of scintigraphy for this purpose is known but, in our opinion, this is not used sufficiently. Diagnosis of fractures by scintigraphy is almost 100% reliable. In the presence of degenerative changes in the spine, this is frequently the only method for differentiating between old and new fractures. By using the almost universally available substance 99mTc one has a cheap method with virtually no radiation dose. The earliest accumulation of 99mTc-MDP after fracture of a vertebral body was seen four hours after the trauma; absence of uptake three days after trauma excludes a fracture.


[Radiation dose to the finger during injection of short-lived radionucleids in nuclear medicine (author's transl)].

The increasing use of short-lived radionucleids has shifted much of the radiation from the patient to the personnel. The purpose of this investigation, therefore, was to ascertain the greatest possible radiation dose to the fingers during injection of short-lived radionucleids. Basis for radiation measurements were small ionisation chambers attached to plastic syringes filled with radio-active material. By examples of typical situations, it was shown that the legally permissable values for partial body exposure may be exceeded. The necessity for using screening of the syringes is stressed. A simple method for making screening cylinders out of Wood's metal is described.


[Familial congenital radio-ulnar synostosis (author's transl)].

Radio-ulnar synostosis is a congenital bony union between radius and ulna, usually in the vicinity of the radial tuberosity. A family is described on whom this anomaly was inherited over three generations. The rare cases described in the literature were usually bilateral, in our family it was unilateral. The following aspects are discussed: the frequency of this condition, the anatomical localisation of the synostosis, their types, local soft tissue and other abnormalities, embrylogy and the hereditory pattern. Finally, methods of treatment are discussed briefly.


[Von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis with intracranial stenosis of the internal carotid artery and orbito-sphenoidal bone dysplasia (author's transl)].

A patient with fibromatosis of the skull and a so-called "parophthalmicus syndrome" is described in whom there was hypoplasia and stenosis of the homolateral internal carotid artery and aplasia of the ophthalmic artery. The vascular changes in this phakomatosis are discussed. We suggest that the vascular changes in the carotid be included in the extended parophthalmicus syndrome.


[Computer tomography for TNM based radiation planning of urological tumours (author's transl].

From the extensive statistics concerning treatment results of urological tumours which are available from central tumour registers, a first draft of a treatment plan has been worked out, which is based on tumour spread. Since the extent of tumour invasion is documented by the TNM system of the UICC, one is justified in speaking of TNM orientated treatment planning. For planning it is necessary to consider not only tumour type and depth of infiltration of local tissues, but also the lymph node anatomy, whether the nodes are involved or not. Computer tomography assist significantly in the performance of such TNM orientated treatment planning, particularly in determining the extent of the volume to be irradiated, It must be stressed that computer tomography does not replace the use of simulators, but that it is a valuable addition. In our view, computer tomography has also an undoubted value in treatment planning of urological tumours where palliation only is the aim. It provides the possibility of checking the effect of the chosen treatment by a non-invasive diagnostic method.


[New intensifying screens in clinical radiology III: Screen-film combinations in mammography (author's transl)].

An industrial film was compared with four commercially available screen-film combinations with respect to dose, definition and signal to noise ratio. The demanded minimum resolving power requires definition of an object of 100 micrometer size. However, the defined minimum object sizes are approx. 180 micrometer with close-distance projection and approx. 240 micrometer with greater distance. In this study, therefore, the signal to noise ratios were measured at defined object sizes of 5 lp/mm and 2 lp/mm. The screen-film combinations have approximately the same values as the industrial film for a size of 250 micrometer (2 lp/mm) or are definitely higher. The signal to noise ratio of the Alpha M combination is superior by 50%, although the sensitivity of the combination is 4 to 6 times greater. The signal to noise ratio of the MinR system in 25% higher than that of the industrial film, the required dose being lower by a factor of 8. This results in skin doses of 0.7 rads instead of 6 rads with tissue layers of 4.8 cm thickness.


[Computer tomographic demonstration of an intramuscular haematoma in haemophilia (author's transl)].

Anatomical localisation of intramuscular haematomas can be achieved more accurately by computer tomography than by clinical examination in conjunction with conventional radiography. Computer tomography is able to demonstrate fresh haematomas before they become diagnosable clinically, and before secondary changes, such as calcification or bone erosions, make them visible on conventional radiographs. In this way the diagnosis is made more certain and the choice between conservative or surgical treatment is simplified. Ther period of treatment with clotting factors can, in some cases, be shortened as a result of serial examinations by computer tomography.


[Ultrasound in gall bladder diagnosis (author's transl)].

An analysis of the ultrasound findings in 104 selected patients with suspected gall bladder disease showed a high accuracy of 92%. Limiting factors in the use of ultrasound are anatomical variations, high position of the gall bladder, which prevents demonstration of the gall bladder. The primary use of ultrasound is in the demonstration of radiologically invisible gall bladders. In our clinical material 58% had stones, with occlusion of the cystic duct as a cause, in 29% there was malignant disease in the porta hepatis, with evidence of bile obstruction amongst those patients in whom there was no radiological opacification of the gall bladder.


[Percutaneous antegrade papillotomy. Preliminary experimental results and potential clinical use (author's transl)].

The possibility of percutaneous antegrade papillotomy under image intensifier control was investigated in eight dogs. It was successful in five animals. Successful papillotomy can be recognised radiologically and also by the feel of the catheter. The effect of papillotomy can be demonstrated by a fall of the pressure gradient existing between common bile duct and duodenum. The use of this method in patients is discussed.


[Emphysematous gastritis (author's transl)].

The clinical and radiological features of emphysematous gastritis are described. This is a rare, but dangerous, disease of the stomach. The diagnosis is immediately obvious radiologically, particularly when one keeps the clinical findings in mind. The cause is assumed to be penetration of gas-forming organisms through a previously damaged gastric mucosa.


[Progressive pulmonary fibrosis due to combined treatment with BCNU, cyclophosphospahmide and cytosin-arabinoside (author's transl)].

Two patients treated for acute leukaemia with BCNU, cyclophosphamide and cytosin-arabinoside are reported, in whom pulmonary fibrosis developed and progressed during therapy. The development of lung fibrosis during combined treatment, together with serological exclusion of other diseases known to be associated with pulmonary fibrosis, make a causal connection between the treatment and the fibrosis very probable.


[Functional scintigraphy during contraction of the left ventricle. III. Findings in patients with coronary heart disease (author's transl)].

Left ventricular volume curves were measured by a noninvasive technique after equilibration of 99m TC human serum albumin in 27 patients with angiographically proven coronary heart disease. Compared with normals, patients with coronary insufficiency showed a significant reduction in the ejection fraction and of maximal emptying and filling times of the left ventricle during rest. In mildly affected patients with normal ejection fractions, maximal filling was already reduced in keeping with the well known loss of compliance of the left ventricle due to coronary disease.


[Mural thrombus in the left ventricle. Frequency and radiological appearances (author's transl)].

Two hundred angiocardiograms were analysed. Twenty-two patients had mural intraventricular thrombi. The radiological appearances are described. Systemic emboli occurred in four patients. Elucidation of the source of emboli following the demonstration of peripheral embolic occlusions by means of an angiocardiogram of the left ventricle is not difficult and should be performed as an additional examination.


[The angiographic and morphologic features of angiomyolipoma of the kidney (author's transl)].

The angiographic and morphologic findings of angiomyolipomas of the kidney are described in three patients. These benign tumours contain three types of vessel in addition to fat and smooth muscle. One vessel type is thick-walled with fibrosis of its walls and no internal elastic lamina. The second type consists of sinuses with considerable variations in calibre. The third type resembles capillaries and is found in the muscular parts of the tumour. Because of the abnormal structure of their walls, these vessels are easily damaged and may cause massive bleeding.


[The differential projection index as a sign of metastases in lymph nodes (author's transl)].

Five hundred and fourty-four lymph nodes seen in 107 lymphograms were examined at operation and histologically. According to our findings the differential projection index (Px) of Wiljasalo has a high degree of accuracy. The index is calculated from the maximal (a) and minimal (b) diameter of the node in various projections, expressed as a percentage formula: see text. Even considering technical sources of error, such as varying degrees of magnification of lymph nodes on oblique projections, the accuracy of the index is very high at 80%. It can be considered as the most accurate sign of metastases during lymphography.


[Xerography in the facio-maxillary region (author's transl)].

The basis and characteristics of xerography, which was introduced into medicine in 1971 for examining bones and soft tissues, are described. The advantages and disadvantages as compared with conventional film techniques are mentioned. The application of xeroradiography in the facio-maxillary region is discussed in relation to our own experience.


[The radiological findings in septic Candida arthritis (author's transl)].

There are very few reports of bacteriologically proven Candida arthritis. With the increasing number of cases of immune deficient infants being treated now, one must expect an increase in frequency of fungus infections, including Candida arthritis. We have observed three cases of fungus arthritis in infants with reduced resistance. The radiological changes were indistinguishable from bacterial arthritides. During the acute phase the accumulation of pus and exudate showed widening of the joint space on the radiograph, with increase of the peri-articular soft tissues. In two patients a central bone abscess was seen in the metaphysis which later showed a sclerotic margin. In one patient with a gonarthritis there was complete healing, but in two fungus infections of the hip there was persistent late demage. One patient developed a deformed hip joint with subluxation, which had to be treated surgically after ineffective medical treatment. In the other case there was considerable flattening of the femoral head.


[The coincidence of Paget's disease and an immunoblastic sarcoma (author's transl)].

Malignant change is to be expected in about 1% of patients with Paget's disease. Usually these are osteosarcomas. Fibrosarcomas, benign and malignant giant cell tumours and chondrosarcomas are less common. The present case concerns the development of an immunoblastic sarcoma in the humerus, which was affected by Paget's disease. Only one other similar case is recorded in the literature. Other myelogenous tumours, such as plasmocytomas, are very rare in association with Paget's disease. Consequently there is no evidence for a causal connection between Paget's disease to these tumours, whereas sarcomas arising from bine tissue may be regarded as a form of malignant degeneration of Paget's disease.


[Non-traumatic myositis ossificans circumscripta (author's transl)].

The clinical, pathological and radiological features and the differential diagnosis of the very rare condition of non-traumatic myositis ossificans circumscripta are illustrated by one patient. The characteristic radiological appearances make a correct diagnosis of this localised, non-malignant process possible.


[Discoid meniscus (author's transl)].

The discoid meniscus is a developmental varient which can produce symptoms resembling those of a meniscus lesion. Two cases are described and the literature is reviewed. The clinical features, diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment of discoid meniscus is discussed.


[Kaposi sarcoma of the breast with osseous and pulmonary involvement (author's transl)].

The authors report on a rare case of a Kaposi-Sarcoma of the mamma with osseous and pulmonary participation. The angiographic findings of a Kaposi-Sarcoma of the right mamma is demonstrated.


[Radiological changes following mammoplasty (author's transl)].

We describe the radiological changes in 16 female patients following mammoplasty and demonstrate that calcification and solitary dense shadows are a cause of difficulty in the differential diagnosis of carcinomas.


[Phantom experiments and early clinical experience with a mammogram apparatus using a grid (author's transl)].

The effect of a grid on film quality and dose was investigated in a newly developed mammographic apparatus (Mammo Diagnost U--C. H. F. Müller). It was shown that available film-screen combinations used with a grid produced practically the same picture quality as Definix Medical used without screen or grid. Although the dose required is almost doubled by the use of the grid, the latter, nevertheless, produces a reduction of surface dose to about a quarter (4 cm. plexiglass phantom). Using a film-screen combination not at present commercially available, there was some improvement in the demonstration of microcalcification, but the improvement resulted in an increase in the required radiation dose.


[Radiation dose during mammography using various recording systems (author's transl)].

Patient dose during mammography for various recording systems, such as films, film-screen combination and xeromammography was measured by thermoluminescent densitometers. In the first set of experiments we measured dose per exposure, in a second set total surface dose at five points on the breast, using the following combinations: a) Two industrial film exposures and one xeromammographic exposure. b) two film-screen exposures and one xeromammographic exposure. c) One industrial film and two xeromammographic exposures.


Encephalitozoon cuniculi antibodies in a specific-pathogen-free rabbit unit.

We describe our discovery of Encephalitozoon cuniculi antibodies in a specific-pathogen-free rabbit colony. Small-sized samples had failed to reveal the presence of infection with a prevalence of about 5%. Using an India ink immunoreaction test by which we were able to visualize both negative and positive reactions, we were able to undertake a 100% screen of the colony of more than 700 rabbits and to repeat this 4 weeks later when we had culled the positive reactors. By collating the results of those tests with the results of tests on previously collected samples, we have been able to discuss and observe age and sex susceptibilities and the mode of transmission of the naturally occurring disease.


Growth regulation in X-irradiated mouse skin; the possible role of chalones.

Extracts of hairless mouse skin were tested for their content of epidermal G1 inhibitor and G2 inhibitor at daily intervals after X-irradiation with 4 500 or 2 250 rad. After either dose the skin extracts lacked G1 inhibitory activity on days 5 and 6 respectively after irradiation. This coincided with the time when the epidermal mitotic rate again became normal and started a period of over-shoot. The time interval of 5-6 days corresponds to the turnover time of the differentiating cells in hairless mouse back epidermis. The findings indicate that the proliferating cells in epidermis can respond to changes in local chalone concentration, even after X-irradiation at the tested doses, and that the irradiated epidermal cell population still retains some important properties inherent in a cybernetically regulated system. The local G2-inhibitory activity also varied after irradiation, but these variations could not be directly related to the corresponding mitotic rates.


Conduit and renal pelvic pressures after ileal and colonic urinary diversion in dogs.

In dogs pressures in the renal pelvis and the conduit were studied in nine ileal conduit urinary diversions with refluxing ureteroileal anastomosis and in seven colonic conduit urinary diversions with antireflux ureterocolonic anastomosis. In the non-diuretic state, increased pressure waves in the non-stomal obstructed ileal conduit were not transmitted to the renal pelvis. With diuresis, higher renal pelvic pressures were noted with both ileal conduit and the colonic conduit. With complete stomal obstruction in the ileal conduit, pressure waves in the conduit were readily transmitted to the renal pelvis. This was not present in the colonic conduits with the antireflux anastomosis.


A cystostomy cannula for dogs.

A practical, durable cystostomy cannula for the collection of urine samples for prolonged periods in awake dogs with intact bladder or hemibladder has been devised. The specifications, method of implantation, complications, and results of its use in nine dogs are described.


Thickness measurements of skeletal muscle sections using the light microscope.

A new device is described for improving the accuracy of measuring the thickness of cryostat sections by the focusing technique in the light microscope. The necessity of such measurements is demonstrated by the great variation (range 2.55 micrometer--11.93 micrometer) in the thickness of serial cross-sections of frozen muscle biopsies from 12 healthy men. The final dehydration of the sections was found to reduce the thickenss of fresh sections by 47%. However, dehydration caused the cross-sectional area to be reduced by only 2.8%.


Nutritional requirements of anaerobic coryneforms.

The nutritional requirements of three species of anaerobic coryneforms and their serotypes (Propionibacterium acnes types I and II, P. avidum types I and II, and P. granulosum) were determined. Strains of P. avidum would consistently grow to a transmittance of 1 to 3% at 560 nm in a basal salts medium supplemented with glucose, pantothenate, biotin, thiamine, and 12 amino acids (alanine, arginine, cysteine, glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, methionine, phenylalanine, serine, tyrosine, and tryptophan). Strains of P. acnes and P. granulosum, however, failed to grow in this medium unless six additional amino acids were present (asparagine, leucine, lysine, proline, threonine, and valine). All three species grew equally well whether the 18 amino acids were supplied in the form of a casein hydrolysate supplemented with tryptophan or were added separately. Nicotinamide enhanced growth of P. acnes but had no effect on growth of P. avidum and P. granulosum. Other nutrients which were not absolute requirements, but which significantly improved growth of these species, included the purines guanine and/or adenine, Tween 80, which served as a source of oleic acid, sodium L-lactate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and pyruvate. Strains (86) comprising all five groups grew well in the defined medium, except four strains of P. acnes type II (29 tested), which failed to grow unless heme and vitamin K were added to the medium. One strain of P. granulosum (22 tested) failed to grow in any defined medium, suggesting an additional growth factor requirement.


Correlation of enzymatic activity and thermal resistance with hydration state in ungerminated Neurospora conidia.

Ungerminated Neurospora crassa conidia were incubated at 0, 50, and 100% relative humidity, giving rise to conidia in dry, quasi-dry, and wet hydration states, respectively. Metabolic activity was detected by monitoring levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and the soluble-amino acid pools as a function of incubation time. Wet conidia (approximately 65% water content) exhibited significant metabolic activity as evidenced by: (i) reduction of GSSG to GSH, (ii) degradation of GSH, and (iii) changes in the pool sizes of certain amino acids. GSSG accumulated slowly in dry conidia (less than 5% water content) and more rapidly in quasi-dry conidia (approximately 13% water content), indicating that enzymatic reduction of GSSG is inactive in these states. Longevity and thermal resistance were high for dry conidia and low for wet conidia, but were not influenced by variation in GSSG content. The water content of conidia exhibited a hysteresis effect in that at a given relative humidity previously dried conidia attained a lower water content than freshly harvested conidia.


Constitutive expression of the iron-enterochelin and ferrichrome uptake systems in a mutant strain of Salmonella typhimurium.

Two high-affinity iron uptake systems are known in Salmonella typhimurium, one utilizing iron-enterochelin and the other utilizing ferrichrome. It has been shown previously that expression of several elements of the iron-enterochelin uptake system are regulated by the iron content of the medium, with growth in high-iron medium resulting in repression of enzymes of enterochelin synthesis and degradation and of the ability of whole cells to take up iron-enterochelin. In this study we describe a mutant strain in which growth in high-iron medium was associated with constitutive expression of: (i) iron-enterochelin uptake by whole cells; (ii) ferrichrome uptake by whole cells; (iii) synthesis of enterochelin; (iv) intracellular degradation of iron-enterochelin; and (v) synthesis of three major outer membrane proteins (OM1, OM2, and OM3). In contrast, in the wild-type strain these properties were expressed only after growth in iron-deficient medium. It is proposed that the mutation affects a gene responsible for regulating expression of the structural genes for the components of the high-affinity iron uptake systems. The term fur, for iron (Fe) uptake regulation, is suggested for this new class of mutant.


Solubilization by lysolecithin and purification of the plasma membrane ATPase of the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Purified plasma membranes of Schizosaccharomyces pombe were obtained by precipitation at pH 5.2 of a crude particulate fraction, followed by differential centrifugations and isopycnic centrifugation in a discontinuous sucrose gradient. The specific activity of the Mg2+-requiring plasma membrane ATPase activity (EC 3.6.1.3) was enriched from 0.3 mumol min-1 x mg-1 of protein in the homogenate to 26 in the purified membranes. The optimal conditions for solubilization of the ATPase activity by lysolecithin were found to be: 2 mg/ml of lysolecithin, a lysolecithin to protein ratio of 8 at pH 7.5, and 15 degrees C in the presence of 1 mM ATP and 1 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. A 6- to 7-fold purification of the solubilized ATPase activity was obtained by centrifugation of the lysolecithin extract in sucrose gradient. Part of the ATPase activity which was inactivated during the centrifugation in the sucrose gradient could be restored by addition of a micellar solution of 50 microgram of lysolecithin/ml during the assay. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate of the purified enzyme showed only one band of Mr = 105,000 stained with Coomassie blue. Another ATPase component of apparent molecular weight lower than 10,000 was stained by periodic Schiff reagent but not colored by Coomassie blue. The purified enzyme was 85% inhibited by 50 micrometer N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and 94% inhibited by 53 microgram of Dio-9/ml.


Enzymatically active Ca2+ ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes, solubilized by nonionic detergents. Role of lipid for aggregation of the protein.

The present study provides data on the properties of Ca2+-dependent Atpase of sarcoplasmic reticulum in states intermediary between the fully detergent-solubilized and vesicular form. After solubilization of ATPase vesicles by dodecyloctaoxyethylene glycol monoether (C12E8), the protein is mainly present as a monomer exhibiting enzymatic activity. Gel chromatography in presence or absence of Tween 80 gives rise to formation of oligomers of various size and smaller amounts of monomeric ATPase. Only the oligomeric species retain enzymatic activity (half-life, 3 to 4 days), while the gel chromatographic monomer is enzymatically inactive. Teteramers or trimers of ATPase, containing approximately 22 mol of phospholipid/mol of ATPase, are the smallest enzymatically active units after gel chromatography. Formation of larger sized particles and vesicles of ATPase appears to depend on the presence of sufficient lipid to make a cohesion between the tetrameric or trimeric units. The protein appears to be partially deaggregated by a relatively high Tween 80 concentration in the eluant (0.5 mg/ml) and under these conditions, phospholipid binding is reduced to a low level (approximately 11 mol/mol of protein). The data indicate that any bonds between ATPase polypeptide chains are easily disrupted by detergent and that lipid also may play a role in mediating contact between individual polypeptide chains in the tetrameric or trimeric units. Phospholipid analysis and exchange experiments indicate that the phospholipid left on ATPase after solubilization has a similar composition to that of the whole membrane. The binding of Tween 80 by soluble ATPase above the critical micellar concentration is 0.23 to 0.29 g/g of protein. The inactive monomer of ATPase binds phospholipid and Tween 80 to about the same extent, but has a slightly different circular dichroism spectrum, than oligomeric ATPase.


Increased production and expression of tissue thromboplastin-like procoagulant activity in vitro by allogeneically stimulated human leukocytes.

Intravascular coagulation, thrombosis, and fibrin deposition often produce tissue damage in allogeneic inflammatory reactions such as allograft rejection. The mechanisms which initiate blood clotting in these reactions are poorly understood. We find that allogeneic stimulation of human leukocytes in vitro increases production and expression of tissue thromboplastin-like activity. In our experiments mixed leukocyte cultures (MLC) of cells from allogeneic (unrelated) donors produced and expressed more procoagulant activity than control cultures of cells from each donor alone. After 7 days, allogeneic MLC had 5- to 50-fold more total procoagulant activity than controls, as shown by assaying lysed whole cultures. Additionally, allogeneic MLC had 8- to 240-fold more procoagulant activity expressed on leukocyte surfaces and in culture supernates than controls after 7 days, as shown by assaying intact whole cultures and cell-free supernates. These increases were largely accounted for by gains in the amounts of procoagulant activity produced and expressed per cell in MLC as compared to controls. Controls and MLC produced and expressed considerable amounts of procoagulant activity during the 1st day of culture, and there were no differential effects of allogeneic stimulation on day 1. However, after day 1, the total amount of procoagulant activity produced and the amount expressed declined steadily in controls, nearly reaching preculture levels by day 7. In contrast, the total amount of procoagulant activity in allogeneic MLC remained high, and the amount of activity expressed on cell surfaces and in supernates increased severalfold by day 7. MLC of syngeneic (identical twin) cells produced and expressed the same amount of activity as controls over a 7-day period, whereas MLC of cells from each twin and an allogeneic donor produced and expressed more activity than controls (at least 9- and 35-fold more, respectively). Thus, increases of procoagulant activity production and expression were found only in MLC of genetically dissimilar cells. Therefore, these increases must have resulted from allogeneic stimulation.


Personality profiles of physically impaired adolescents.

Investigated MMPI profiles between two groups of adolescents with dissimilar disabilities (cleft lip/palate, orthopedic) who displayed observable physical impairment. The findings support the contention that type of disability has differential effects on adolescent personality characteristics. However, the profile elevations are consistent with previous reports of behavioral inhibition in both disability groups. Adolescents with impairments of the cleft lip/palate display greater self-concern and ruminative self-doubt over interpersonal interactions. The orthopedically impaired group exhibit an isolative and passive orientation to interpersonal interactions, as well as more generalized feelings of alienation.


Electron-beam therapy for mycosis fungoides.

The lesions of mycosis fungoides are radiosensitive and because extensive areas of the body are usually involved, the treatment of choice is with the electron beam. Since 1971, a fractionation scheme of weekly doses for irradiation of the entire skin surface has been practiced with a 6 MeV linear accelerator that generates 3.5 MeV electrons. One hundred and five patients were treated in this way by delivering 400 rads once weekly for six consecutive weeks. All patitents enjoyed complete disappearance of the skin lesions at once. Of the 62 patients whom we were able to follow-up after electron-beam therapy, for periods ranging from one to nearly seven years (median, two years), the duration of remission was one-half to nearly five and a half years (median, one and one-half years). The treatment was well tolerated and no unusual skin reactions or hematopoietic depression occurred.


Radiotherapy of benign dermatoses: indications, practice, and results.

Limited indications for radiation treatment of benign dermatoses are presented in order to emphasize modern restrictions and techniques in the use of dermatologic radiation therapy and to promote measures of protection against stray radiation. The use of softer, less penetrating X rays, least effective doses and meticulous shielding are recommended. So done, radiation therapy offers an effective therapeutic alternative for conditions that do not respond to other forms of treatment.


Grenz rays: adequate or antiquated?

Selected benign dermatoses, recalcitrant to most other forms of therapy, respond to grenz-ray therapy. When appropriately administered, this is a safe treatment for such conditions. This paper delineates the practical application of grenz-ray therapy at the present time.