Comparative analyses of skeletal and cardiac myosins.

Two types of canine cardiac myosins, from the free wall of the left ventricle and from the free wall of the right ventricle, were compared with canine skeletal muscle myosin from gastrocnemius. For K+ -activated myosin the Vmax values in mumoles of Pi/mg.min were: right ventricle, 0.57 +/- 0.02; left ventricle, 0.72 +/- 0.09; gastrocnemius, 0.92 +/- 0.04. For Ca++ -activated myosin the Vmax values were: right ventricle, 0.32 +/- 0.04; left ventricle, 0.42 +/- 0.03; gastrocnemius, 0.52 +/- 0.02; (p greater than 0.01 for all defferences). For all three types of tissues the Vmax values for NH4+ -activated myosin were the same (2.30 +/- 0.11). Corresponding to kinetic changes there were significant changes in the proportion and type of myosin subunits. In the two cardiac ventricles where heavy chains were immunologically identical, 81% of the total nitrogen of right ventricular myosin was present in the heavy chains whereas in left ventricular myosin 90% of the total nitrogen of myosin was present in the heavy chains. Quantifications were made on polyacrylamide gels were dye binding was directly related to nitrogen concentration for each of the myosin chains. In canine skeletal muscle gastrocnemius where the myosin heavy chains were immunologically nonidentical with those of cardiac myosin, 87% of the total nitrogen was present in the heavy chains. The data suggest that there are 2 moles of myosin light chains per mole of myosin heavy chains in right ventricular myosin where the adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity is low and 1 mole of myosin light chains per mole of myosin heavy chains in left ventricula myosin where ATPase activity is elevated; for skeletal muscle myosin there were 1.5 moles of myosin light chains per mole of myosin heavy chains. Proportion of myosin light chain C1 to light chain C2 was the same in both left and right ventricular myosin. In skeletal muscle myosin the proportion of light chain C1 to light chain C2 was significantly different from that of cardiac tissue. It appears that the proportion of myosin light chain C1 to light chain C2 is directly related to the type of myosin heavy chain present since the immunologically identical heavy chains of cardiac tissue were immunologically nonidentical with those of skeletal muscle myosin.


Relationship between deoxyribonucleic acid content and nucleoli in human heart muscle cells and estimation of cell number during cardiac growth and hyperfunction.

In the myocardium of 30 human hearts of all age groups quantitative deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) measurements were performed and the results of the measurements were correlated with the pure myocardium weight. By means of the diphenylamine reaction the total amount of DNA (DNA concentration and DNA amount) in the myocardium was estimated. By means of Feulgen cytophotometry the DNA amount exclusively in the heart muscle cell nuclei was measured. With the use of myocardial tissue spread on slides, the nuclear areas of the heart muscle nuclei were planimetrically measured. After preparation with DNase and staining with gallocyanine chromalumn the nucleoli in heart muscle nuclei were specifically presented and their number per nucleus as well as their area values were demonstrated. From the biochemical and cytophotometric results of the myocardial DNA content it was possible to estimate the absolute cell number of the hearts, keeping the pure myocardium weight in consideration. The investigations led to the following results. In growing childrens' hearts the DNA concentration decreases to a constant level of 0.3-0.4 mg/g. The amount of DNA rises with increasing heart weight. During the growth of the heart of a child between the ages of 8 and 12 the DNA amount doubles in the heart muscle nuclei, and most of the muscle nuclei of an adult have a tetraploid DNA content. In pathological heart hypertrophy a further polyploidization of the heart muscle nuclei occurs. The areas of the nuclei increases with growing polyploidization. The nuclear areas form the same grouping as the ploidy classes. With growing nuclear areas, the total areas of the nucleoli and their number per nucleus also increase. Right after birth an increase in the number of connective tissue and heart muscle cells follows. A normal heart contains about 2 x 10(9) muscle cells. In hypertrophic hearts the number of muscle cells can double.


Studies on protein metabolism during isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Chronic treatment with isoproterenol (ISO) (30 mug/100 g body wt/day for 21 days) causes a hypertrophy of the heart (approximately 40%). Protein determination made on homogenates of the heart show similar percentages of protein in the control and treated animals. Thus, ISO presumably stimulates protein synthesis in the heart, as its total protein content is increased by chronic treatment. Studies of the stimulation of protein synthesis during a 9-day treatment with ISO have been carried out by following the incorporation of 14C-labeled amino acids in vivo into heart protein. This stimulation attained a maximum after 5 days of treatment and then declined. In other experiments, groups of rats received a single injection of ISO and were killed at various times (from 0 to 48 hr) after the injection. Stimulation of protein synthesis was maximal 3 hr after the injection, and it slowly decreased until the 36th hr. After that time the rate of protein synthesis was equal to that of control animals. Other groups of rats received daily injections of ISO for 9 days and were killed at various times after the ninth injection. Protein synthesis was still stimulated by ISO; however, the stimulation was observed only during the first 12 hr following the injection of the 9th day. There was an apparent inhibition of protein synthesis which lasted from the 30th to the 48th hr following the ninth injection. The rate of protein degradation did not seem to be affected by a chronic treatment with ISO. Thus, the increased rate of protein synthesis seems to be the sole factor responsible for the increase of the total protein content of the heart, even if the stimulation of the incorporation of labeled amino acids decreased after a few days of treatment.


Growth hormone in cardiac hypertrophy induced by nephrogenous hypertension.

Current evidence about the role of growth hormone in cardiac hypertrophy is ambiguous. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether growth hormone was an important element in the cardiac hypertrophy induced by systemic hypertension. Male rats with either an intact hypophysis or a hypophysectomy were bilaterally adrenalectomized, and corticoids were replaced with exogenous deoxycorticosterone and hydrocortosone. Hypophysectomized rats were further treated with thyroxine, testosterone, and, where appropriate, bovine growth hormone. Selected groups of rats were made hypertensive by means of a surgical compression of the renal capsule which produced systemic hypertension. The magnitude of the hypertension was measured in awake rats by means of a tail plethysmograph and compressing tail-cuff. The hormone replacement program re-established systolic blood pressures in sham-operated, hypophysectomized rats to levels observed in intact-hypophysis, sham-operated rats. Thus, hypertensive, hypophysectomized rats obtained pressures above both hypophysectomized and intact-hypophysis, sham-operated rats. Hypertensive rats with an intact hypophysis and hypophysectomized rats with growth hormone developed cardiac hypertrophy. In spite of the hormone therapy, the above normal systemic blood pressures, and low mortality hopophysectomized rats without growth hormone did not develop cardiac hypertrophy.


The influence of growth hormone on myocardial weight and water fraction in rats.

While conducting experiments on the role of growth hormone in cardiac hypertrophy, data were also gathered on the influence of growth hormone on myocardial wet and dry weight in relation to body weight and myocardial water fraction. Male rats with either in intact hypophysis or a hypophysectomy were bilaterally adrenalectomized, and corticoids were replaced with deoxycorticosterone and hydrocortisone therapy. Hypophysectomized rats were further treated with thyroxine, testosterone, and, where appropriate, bovine growth hormone. The hormone replacement program re-established systolic blood pressure in hypophysectomized rats to levels observed in intact-hypophysis rats. The left ventricle weight (wet and dry)/body weight ratio was used as an indication of relative myocardial weight. Hypophysectomized rats without growth hormone were observed to have higher left ventricle weight/body ratios than both hypophysectomized rats with growth hormone and intact-hypophysis rats. Further, rats without growth hormone were determined to have a lower myocardial water content than rats with growth hormone. Mathematical analysis established that the relationship between myocardial water fraction and ventricular wet weight is nonlinear. This relationship shows that small changes in water fraction can produce large changes in ventricular wet weight. The reasons for the different water content in the myocardium were not further investigated.


Modulation of myosin in right ventricular hypertrophy.

Mild pulmonic stenosis was performed in dogs to evaluate the effect of systolic pressures overloading on the activity and subunits of myosin in the early hypertrophied right ventricle. Three weeks following pulmonary constriction, six hypertrophied dogs were sacrificed and compared to six sham-operated dogs which served as controls. In the right ventricular free wall of hypertrophied right ventricles (HRV), the heart/body weight was 46% greater than that of normal right ventricles (NRV) (p less than 0.01). Myosin ATPase activity (Vmax values) in mumoles phosphate/mg/min, was elevated significantly in the stressed ventricle for both K+ and Ca++ activity in hypertrophied right ventricles. Associated with the increase in myosin activity, there was an increase in proportion of heavy to light chains in myosin from HRV. There were approximately 2 moles of myosin light chains per mole of myosin heavy chains in NRV and approximately 1 mole of myosin light chains per mole of myosin heavy chains in HRV. The proportion of light chain C1 to C2, did not change in myosin from NRV and HRV. Of the C1 light chains, according to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, there was less C1d as compared to C1c in HRV as compared to NRV. Thus K+- and Ca++- activated myosin is elevated in early canine HRV by pressure overload. It is suggested taht the augmented myosin activity is due to a reduction of light chain inhibition of myosin ATPase activity, which appears to result from the slower turnover rate of myosin light chains relative to heavy chains. Furthermore, when myosin light chains are added to hypertrophied right ventricular myosin, the ATPase activity is lowered.


The spectrum of degenerative changes in hypertrophied human cardiac muscle cells: an ultrastructural study.

Light and electron microscopic observations were made on cardiac tissues removed at operation from 91 patients with ventricular hypertrophy, including left ventricular myocardium from 16 patients with aortic valvular disease and from 16 patients with asymmetric septal hypertrophy, and crista supraventricularis muscle from 59 patients with congenital heart diseases associated with right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. In all patients the majority of cardiac muscle cells were hypertrophied, had intact myofibrils, and were surrounded by small amounts of fibrous tissue. In 18 (20%) of the 91 patients cardiac muscle cells with a wide spectrum of degenerative changes were present in addition to hyperthrophied, nondegenerated cells. Early degenerative changes consisted of focal myofibrillar lysis, with preferential loss of thick myofilaments, and focal proliferation of tubules of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Cardiac muscle cells with advanced degeneration had extensive myofibrillar damage and a marked decrease in numbers of myofibrils and T-tubules. The most severely degenerated cells showed selective proliferation of organelles, including sarcoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and glycogen, which replaced the contractile elements in the cytoplasm. These findings suggest that degenerated cardiac muscle cells have poor contractile function and may be responsible for impaired cardiac performance in some patients with ventricular hypertrophy. These morphological features appear to represent a final common pathway for degeneration of cardiac muscle cells in a variety of cardiac conditions.


Creatine: a possible stimulus skeletal cardiac muscle hypertrophy.

These experiments test whether creatine, a product of muscular contraction, stimulates myofibrillar protein synthesis. It was found that skeletal muscle cells formed both in vitro and in vivo and cardiac muscle cells formed in vivo synthesize myofibrillar proteins faster when supplied creatine in vitro. The rates of synthesis and/or accumulation of three myofibrillar proteins-myosin heavy chain actin, and creatine kinase-were stimulated by creatine. In contrast, the rates of synthesis of total protein and of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and the activities of several nonmyofibrillar enzymes were not altered by creatine. These include lactic dehydrogenase, cathepsin D, acid phosphatase, and beta-acetylglucosaminidase. It is concluded that creatine selectively stimulated the rate of synthesis of contractile proteins in skeletal and cardiac muscle in vitro and may play a role in muscle hypertrophy.


[Radiology and cytogenetic (author's transl)].

One of the major advances in medicine where Radiology is able to be of considerable aid is in the field of Cytogenetics. Parallel with the development of Cytogenetics a group of radiologists described radiological signs associated with chromosomal abnormalities, which became the basis of Radio Cytogenetics. In the last few years radiocytogenetics has provided a list of various signs commonly noted in diseases with chromosomal abnormalities. In spite of the adjuvant and secondary role of radiology, its techniques help in the early diagnosis and genetic counseling. In the final assessment the diagnosis of any chromosomal anomaly needs to depend on a combination of clinical, radiological and genetic features.


Platelet energetic enzymes.

The LDH isoenzymic pattern was studied in platelet cytolysates from man and rabbits, and the two forms of ATP-ase-the Mg++ and the Ca++ activated ones--were assayed in human platelet cytolysates. In man, the platelet LDH zymogram was of the intermediary type. Some of the zymograms presented 4 fractions others 5; in all patterns the H/M subunits ratio was above 1. In rabbits, the platelet LDH zymogram was of the anodal type with only 4 bands; the H/M subunits ratio showed the same variations as in man. Of the two forms of ATP-ase, the Mg++ activated one was dominant in the platelet cytolysates studied.


[Results of the treatment of acute gonorrhea with spectinomycin. Comparison with the combination of aqueous penicillin and probenecid].

Results following treatment of acute gonorrhea with aqueous penicillin combined with probenecid and spectinomycin hydrochloride (2.0 g) are compared and found to be statistically equivalent. Therefore, if a patient is allergic to penicillin, spectinomycin hydrochloride can be regarded as a valuable alternative. The results appear to be the same whether probenecid is administered simultaneously or 1/2-2 h before penicillin. It is advisable to control all patients one week after therapy. A second control after 2 weeks for men and after the next menstruation for women is highly desirable. If the patient fails to respond to treatment, not only an increase in the antibiotic dose, but also prolongation of therapy by administering the same dose on 3 consecutive days, is effective.


[Proceedings: Echocardiography for the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy].

An echocardiographic and electrocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was carried out in 50 patients with chronic pressure or volume overload of the left ventricle, and in 16 patients with cardiomyopathy. In contrast to the ECG, echocardiography permitted good differentiation of ventricular dilatation, symmetrical and asymmetrical wall thickening. Positive voltage criteria (SOKOLOFF) were found in 76% of cases with abnormal muscle mass, but the height of QRS amplitude showed no close correlation with the degree of LVH. The presence of absence of ST/T changes was an unreliable index in predicting wall thickness. The practical value of echocardiagraphy in the differential diagnosis of left ventricular disorders is discussed.


[Proceedings: 70 mm photofluorography: a valuable aid in coronary angiographic studies].

With the development of new intensifiers using cesium iodide as the input phosphor and having a spatial frequency of up to 4 lines/mm, it has become possible to obtain high contrast serial photographs using a 70 mm camera. In 48 patients undergoing coronary arteriography, 35 mm cine and 70 mm spotfilms were obtained at exposures as follows: 3 msec, 75-95 kV at 200 mA for the 35 mm cine (50 frames/sec) and 6-10 msec, 75-95 kV at 300 mA (4 FRAMES/SEc) for the 70 mm images. Image quality and diagnostic information of the two media were compared. 70 mm films were of excellent quality. The vessel edges showed up sharp, the pictures were high in contrast, and small arteries in particular could be well defined. 70 mm photofluorography offers many advantages which are discussed.


[Ischias without intervertebral disk prolapse: the compression of lumbar nerve roots in the lateral recess of the spinal canal].

In some cases with the clinical and myelographic diagnosis of lumbar root compression due to disc herniation, exploration fails to reveal any lesion of the intervertebral disc. Sometimes the source of the root compression is found to be articular: process impingement in stenotic recessus lateralis of the spinal canal. Pathogenesis and surgical therapy of such lesion are discussed. It is suggested that in such cases radical exposure of the nerve root should be undertaken, even if it should prove necessary to sacrifice articular facets.


Digitalis in clinical practice.

Rational use of digitalis requires adequate knowledge of the drug, the disease and the patient, and an ability to integrate these factors. The pharmacology of digitalis is reviewed and the pathophysiology of cardiac failure and supraventricular arrhythmias, as well as aspects of toxicity and the use of serum levels, is discussed. Emphasis is placed on individualisation of therapy and on careful clinical observation.


LD homozygous cells in the Warao population: a possible new allele at the LD1 locus within the main histocompatibility region in man.

A Venezuelan isolate indigenous population, the Warao, with a very large proportion of HL-A identical unrelated subjects non-reacting in MLC, has been considered a good potential source of LD homozygous cells. Cultures with lymphocytes from the members of several selected Warao families were performed with this aim and results obtained from three families are reported. In two of the families the parents share haplotype 2,5 and two of the siblings are SD double homozygous 2,5; in the third family, the common haplotype was 2,W15 and two of the siblings are also double homozygous 2,W15. Mixed lymphocyte cultures within the families have revealed that the SD homozygous children do not stimulate the cells from either parent thus being LD homozygous as well. Negative bilateral stimulation between 2,5 LD homozygous cells indicates that the LD1 allele carried by these individual's lymphocytes is the same; the negative MLC response of the 2,W15 LD homozygous cells to the 2,5 cells used as stimulators suggest either that their LD determinant is identical or the LD W15 allele is included in the LD5. As the Warao show a very large proportion of MLC identical individuals and a very high incidence of HL-A5 and W15, it is postulated that the LD allele(s) here described will be found in high frequency in this population.


Segregation of HL-A27 and ankylosing spondylitis in an informative kindred.

A family with high prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis (A.S.) was investigated for the presence of HL-A27. In this family, classical A.S. occurred in five subjects and possible A.S. in two out of 64 members examined. In all seven cases, HL-A27 was present. The study of the segregation of A.S. and HL-A27 in this kindred demonstrates that more than one gene is responsible for the expression of A.S., that the homozygous state for the HL-A27 gene may lead to the occurrence of A.S., and that possibly a simple genetic explanation accounts for the simultaneous transmission of HL-A27 and A.S.


Extraction of an inhibitory substance from rat liver on rat brain ATPase.

A substance, which can be extracted from rat liver and partially purified, has been tested for its effect on the activity of ATPase in rat brain. This substance inhibited the ATPase activity significantly, and the inhibitory effect was not eliminated by the addition of catecholamines such as epinephrine and dopamine.


[Dental care for handicapped child].

The stomatological care of the disabled child is a part of the overall medical treatment. According to the primary disease, it should be integrated into the step program of systematically pursued paedodontics be means of appropriate prophylactic, therapeutic and metaphylactic measures. Close co-operation of the specialties involved is necessary, the choice of the measures to be taken depends upon the kind and the severity of the disability.


Detection of genetically determined histocompatibility antigen differences between HL-A identical and MLC nonreactive siblings.

Five patients with aplastic anemia were shown to be sensitized in vivo to the transplantation antigens of HL-A identical and MLC nonreactive sibling bone marrow transplantation donors. The sensitization in four cases were detected by antibody-dependent cell-mediated lysis (AICML) techniques, and in one case by antibody-dependent cell-mediated lysis (ADCML). In two cases the inherited nature of the sensitizing antigen was demonstrated, and in one case the inheritance of the antigen was shown by a family study to be independent of the HL-A and MLC loci. Maximal AICML was demonstrated in two cases at the time of bone marrow graft rejection. Successful transplants after immunosuppression with rabbit anti-thymocyte serum, procarbazine, and cyclophosphamide were performed in two patients, in whom sensitization was detected before transplantation.


Renal failure during intermittent rifampicin therapy.

Two patients who developed reversible renal failure during intermittent rifampicin therapy are described. Both had febrile reactions to rifampicin. The first was also found to have uraemia associated with swelling of the glomerular endothelial cells. The second developed tubular necrosis unassociated with haemolysis or shock. The pathogenesis of the renal lesion in these two patients, as revealed by light microscopy, immunofluorescence studies and electron microscopy, is discussed.


[Pyosurgery departments in a multiprofile pediatric-surgery hospital].

In the Child Surgery Centre situated in a 9--storied building a special pus department, an isolated operating room and a "pus" unit in the intensive care division were designed for treatment of patients with suppurative-inflammatory diseases. The conducted bacteriological studies of the environmental objects and air made it possible to determine the presence of significant differences in qualitative and quantitative indices of contamination of the "pus" and "pure" departments, "pus" and "pure" units of the intensive care divisions, operating rooms with general microflora and pathogenic staphylococcus. Four-year observations (1970-1973) indicated that such functional divisions designed in a multipurpose hospital for treatment of patients with suppurative-inflammatory processes along with the routine prophylactic measures allowed a considerable reduction in the incidence of postoperative suppurative complications.


[Phage typing of strains of Staphylococcus aureus from staphylococcal mastitis of dairy cows].

Of 62 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, isolated from milk samples of dairy-cows with staphylococcic mastitis from five agricultural enterprises, 68 p. c. could be typified as bacteriophages. In 42 typified strains, altogether 17 different phage pictures were found, in which case, in the different agricultural enterprises, the number of phage picture fluctuated between 1 and 8. Phage picture 42 D was found and dominated in all the agricultural enterprises. Of the typified strains, 76% could be ranked only into one phage group and 24% in the "M" group (= miscellaneous). Of 32 typified strains, 56.3% belonged to phage group IV, 25% to group III, 12.5% to group I, and 6.2% to group II.


[Biochemical and functional changes in skeletal muscles with electrostimulation].

Electrostimulation of rabbit muscles for 18 days is accompanied by a disturbance in certain biochemical indices and functional state of the muscles. This is confirmed by a decrease in ATP content, intensity of Ca2+ uptake by the sarcoplasmatic reticulum fragments, by a drop in exitability (by the indices of rheobase and chronaxia) as well as by a change in the structure of muscular fibres components, motor axons, motor nerve endings and sciatic nerve stems. Less developed changes are observed when electrostimulation is performed for 5 days and twice for 5 days, including the period of rest. In this case the changes in Atp content and visual deviations in the muscles structure are absent and only the ability of the sarcoplasmatic reticulum fragments to Ca2+ uptake decreases insignificantly and the muscles excitability increases. Administration of ATP and simultaneous electrostimulation for 5 days normalize the disturbed Ca2+ uptake and preserve the higher excitability, that makes it possible to consider this regime of training to be the most acceptable.


[Association between tumor immunology, stromal reaction, and tumor endocarditis (author's transl)].

Based on the observation that adenomatous carcinomas are frequently associated with tumor endocarditis, whereas undifferentiated tumors are not, autopsy material of tumor cases was examined for differences in the immune response with regard to the histological typing of the tumors. In the former group signs of stimulated cellular and humoral immune mechanisms were markedly stronger developed than in the latter group. From these findings it is suggested that tumor endocarditis represents an immune complex disease.


[Provision for the radiation protection of medical personnel in a radiogynecologic department (according to the experience of the Research Institute of Oncology and Medical Radiology of the Ministry of Health of the Belorussian SSR)].

Some aids of collective and individual radioprotection of the medical personnel during a conduction of intracavitary gammatherapy are evaluated. The characteristics of the production equipment (a semi-automatic protection line, a set for radiation following the principle of simple afterloading, remote afterloading) are given, and their operation principles are described. The materials concerning the radiation-hygienic analysis of the medical personnel labour conditions are reported. Measures providing their reliable protection during manipulations with radioactive sources are delineated.


[Succinate dehydrogenase and Na+-K+-ATPase activities in cells of rat kidney tubules during increased excretion of sodium, caused by furosemide].

In the cells of nephron tubules an effect of furosemide on kidney function and on succinate dehydrogenase and Na+-K+-ATPase activities was studied cytochemically. Administration of furosemide (1 mg per 100 g of body weight) increased excretion of sodium and potassium. If the rate of filtration through Malpighian tufts was constant, the increase in Na and K excretion demonstrated the tubular effect of the diuretics. Both administration of furosemide and preincubation of the drug with kidney slices in vitro caused a decrease in succinate dehydrogenase activity in the cells of all the nephron sections. These data suggest that a direct effect of the diuretics on oxidative metabolism in renal cells took place. Alteration in the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase was observed only in vivo and in those nephron sections, where sodium reabsorption was decreased under the effect of furosemide.


[Bicarbonate-stimulated ATP-ase from membranes of rat erythrocytes].

A bicarbonate-stimulating effect on the ATPase activity in membranes of rat erythrocytes depended upon pH, concentration of Mg2+ and HCO3-ions. Sodium azide and sodium thiocyanate distinctly inhibited the ATPase activity; pentachlorphenol and 2,4-dinitrophenol did not change it. Properties of the bicarbonate-stimulated ATPase from erythrocyte membranes were shown to be similar to the properties of the HCO3--ATPases from other cells.


[Electrophoretic separation of glycosaminoglycans from different types of connective tissue and biological fluids].

Separation by means of electrophoresis on paper of glycoseaminoglycans from different types of human and animals connective tissue (bone tissue, synovial membrane of joints, skin and others) and from biological fluids (blood serum, urine, joint liquid) enabled to determine the ratio between sulphatated and nonsulphatated glycoseaminoglycans in normal conditions, in different pathological states and impairments of connective tissue structures. The method was found to be adequate for studies on quantitative and qualitative composition of glycoseaminoglycans and their metabolic products in pathologically altered connective tissue and biological fluids.


[The activity of aminotransferases in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in neurological diseases (author's transl)].

The activities of the aminotransferases, GOT and GPT, were determined in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, Wilson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Friedreich's ataxia, phenylketonuria, and head injuries. 1. In patients with Huntington's chorea the activity of SGOT was lower than in controls (P = 0.02); in Friedreich's ataxia LGPT activity was decreased (P less than 0.001); in patients suffering from ALS SGOT (P = 0.005), SGPT (P less than 0.001) and LGOT (P less than 0.001) activities were increased. 2. Long-term treatment of Parkinson's disease and Wilson's disease with L-dopa resulted in an increase in SGOT, LGOT, and SGPT activity over approximately 2 months, with subsequent normalization of these enzyme activities in spite of continued therapy. Guanidine treatment led to an increase in aminotransferase activities in patients with ALS. Penicillamine caused a decrease in SGOT and SGPT activities in Wilson's disease. These results illustrate the necessity of taking therapeutic measures into account in the interpretation of data on aminotransferase activities.


[Changes in mechano-chemical properties, ATPase activity and structure of rat liver mitochondria under the effect of sodium fluoride].

With elongation of periods of per oral administration of sodium fluoride into rats, in spite of the dose decrease, the activity of mitochondrial Mg2+-stimulated ATPase was increased. The capacity of the liver tissue mitochondria to swelling, contraction and to secondary swelling was altered. In acute and chronic experiments the distinct impairments in the ultrastructure of mitochondria of liver tissue cells were observed by means of electron microscopy; this demonstrated the possible correlation between structure and function of the organelles.


[Activity of Mg 2+, Na+ and K+ stimulated ATPase in erythrocytes of patients with phobic neurosis and the effect of lithium carbonate on the enzymatic activity].

Activity of ATPases was studied in erythrocytes of patients with phobia neurosis of the 11 degree and in erythrocytes of mentally healthy patients. The total Mg2+, Na+, K+-dependent ATPase activity of patients with the neurosis was unaltered in blood. But the Mg2+-ATPase activity was increased and the Na+, K+-ATPase activity was decreased in the patients as compared with the control group. Addition of lithium carbonate into incubation mixtures exhibited different effect on the Na+, K+-stimulated ATPase depending upon the initial activity of the enzyme. In blood of patients with low initial values of the enzymatic activity it was increased. But the Na+, K+-ATPase activity was decreased by lithium carbonate in those cases when the initial enzymatic activity was high. Quantitatively the effect of lithium on the enzymatic activity was similar in the both groups of neurotic patients studied (although the direction of changes was oposite).


[Classification, diagnosis, and therapy of immunological aspects of disease according to reaction types].

The classical division of the immune reactions into an immediate humoral type and a cellular late type is left in favour of a classification in 4 forms of reaction according to Gell and Coombs. This classification allows of a by far more reasonable coordination of the diagnostic measures as well as aimed therapeutic conclusions. In detail are differed: type I as anaphylaxis and reagin type (mediator-substance-type), example-anaphylactic shock and asthma; type II as cytotoxic type (cytotoxic antibodies), example-Coombs-positive haemolytic anaemia; type III as immune complex type, examples-serum disease, Arthus-reaction, glomerulonephritis; type IV as type of the cellular immune reactions. Combinations and transitions are possible in the same way as a further sub-classification of the types. It is demonstrated as by the combination of in-vitro-tests, skin tests and, perhaps, bioptic investigations the type is to be determined as far as possible. Only this allows an aimed and reasonable therapy.


[Adenomatoid tumors in myometrium (author's transl)].

In 6000 cases of hysterectomy nine adenomatoid tumors of myometrium were observed. Macroscopically, the adenomatoid tumour appears as a round or ovoid mass of grey or whitegrey colour about the size of a hazel-nut. Microscopically, four types are distinguished: solid, angiomatoid, macrotubular and mixed types. The cytoplasma of the cells tends to be vacuolated, the glandlike spaces being probably derived by confluence of these vacuoles. The interstitial tissue contains cells of the same type and often lymphocytes. Several hypotheses concerning the histogenesis of adenomatoid tumors are reviewed. The adenomatoid tumor is more frequent in the myometrium than it has been hitherto known. Probably the tumor is often misinterpreted as leiomyoma of the uterus on the basis of macroscopical appearance only.


[On the carcinogenic action of N-nitroso-compounds. 5th Communication: acetoxymethyl-methyl-nitrosamine (author's transl)].

After oral application of 3.5 and 1.75 mg/kg Acetoxymethyl-Methyl-nitrosamine to Sprague-Dawley rats twice weekly, more than 80% of the animals developed squamous cell carcinomas of the forestomach after 6 months.


Phorbol as a possible systemic promoting agent for skin carcinogenesis.

In a repetition of a previous experiment, using this time a 20-fold higher dose of phorbol, administered i.p. as potential (systemic) promotor for skin carcinogenesis, 6/22 (27%) of the treated mice (after a single skin application of DMBA as initiator) developed papillomas, as compared to 1/20 (5%) in the DMBA control group. Though the difference is statistically no more than of borderline significance (P less than 0.05), it does raise the possibility that unesterified phorbol is, after all, a weak promotor for skin carcinogenesis. DMBA equals 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. TPA equals 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate.


Pulmonary metastasis formation after intravenous tumour cell injection in defibrinogenated rats.

In this study a state of temporary defibrinogenation was induced in rats by Defibrase treatment. It was found that the formation of pulmonary metastases after intravenous tumour cell injection was decreased in defibrinogenated rats. However, defibrinogenation did not influence the effect of trauma and infusion of dextran 1000 on metastasis formation. Both these procedures stimulated the formation of metastases in defibrinogenated rats. These results indicate, that fibrinogen and/or fibrin are of importance for the formation of metastases but that the stimulating effect of trauma and dextran 1000 on metastasis formation is independent of fibrinogen and/or fibrin.


[Elimination of rhesus (D)-incompatible erythrocytes by (Fab')2 G-anti-D (author's transl)].

The effectiveness of (Fab')2 G-Anti-D regarding elimination of D-incompatible fetal erythrocytes, and suppression of the formation of specific antibody, was investigated in 16 probands. Using 51Cr labelled D-incompatible fetal erythrocytes and simultaneous HbF-cell counting, fast elimination of incompatible red cells, and selective accumulation in the spleen, were observed after injection of small doses of (Fab')2 G-Anti-D. None of the probands showed active formation of anti-D after 3-12 months. The doses of the (Fab')2 G-Anti-D preparation used were similar to those employed in routine use of IgG-Anti-D. The results emphasize the importance of fast immunelimination of potentially antigenic red cells and thus point to a peripheral mechanism of anti-D prophylaxis by specific anti-D.


[A micro-method for PHA-induced stimulation of human lymphocytes. I. Communication: Technical considerations (author's transl)].

A microculture system is described for PHA-induced stimulation of human peripheral lymphocytes. Following purification on Ficoll-Isopaque cells are incubated in microplates (Falcon 3040) for 66 hours in 5% CO2 using PHA-P (Difco) as a stimulant. DNA-synthesis is measured by labelling with 3H-thymidine (spec. act. 400 mCi/mmole) 16 hours prior to the end of the test. Using a multiple automatic sample harvester rapid evaluation is possible. Several variables were analyzed and optimal conditions defined for PHA- and cell-concentration, time dependence, thymidine dosage and buffer capacity of the medium. High variability and otherwise unexplained loss of lymphocyte stimulation in a population of "normal donors" are often due to acute viral infections, especially during the incubation period. On the other hand, source and concentration of serum are of equal importance since sera of healthy individuals differ greatly in their capacity to support PHA-induced stimulation of normal allogeneic lymphocytes. Using pooled or autologous serum we found the reproducibility of the technique to be good. Provided optimal conditions are employed the microtest system described herein should be ideal for in-vitro-analysis of inhibitory or stimulating factors in cancer patients' sera.


Membrane associated antigens of human malignant melanoma. I. Internal labeling, detergent solubilization and characterization by homologous antisera and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Cultured melanoma cells were labeled with 3H-leucine over a period of 1-3 days. The labeled cells were mechanically disrupted and a preparation of "extranuclear membranes" was obtained by differential centrifugation. The membrane fragments were solubilized by the nonionic detergent NP-40 and the soluble material was double precipitated with antisera from melanoma patients and anti-human immunoglobulin sera. Because of the small quantitative differences of precipitated radiolabeled material between control and melanoma patients' sera, the precipitates were further analyzed on SDS-containing polyacrylamide gels. The labeled profiles of experimental and control gels now revealed clearcut differences usually seen in 2-3 characteristic peaks in the molecular weight range from 130,000-330,000.


Properdin factor B (glycine-rich beta-glycoprotein or C3 proactivator)-polymorphism: genetic and biochemical aspects. First application to paternity cases.

Determination of genetic properdin factor B(Bf) polymorphism was carried out in immunofixation electrophoresis. Genetics of factor B were also studied after ageing, conversion with cobra venom and neuraminidase. In population studies the distribution of factor B in a West German population of 1245 non-related individuals was found to be: Bf F 2.73%, Bf FS 28.43%, Bf S 65.38%. Rare phenotypes (F 1F,F 1S, FS 1, SS 1) were seen in 3.46%. In addition a new variant, designated F1.6S, was observed. The application of factor B polymorphism to 68 paternity cases is discussed.


[Normal "irregular" hemagglutinins in the sera of healthy adults found by using increased volumens of serum in agglutination and conglutination tests (author's transl)].

Using increased volumens of serum [in the Multiple-Dosage (MD) or a High Dosage (HD) test] with a sensitive manual reading technique all sera of 37 donors of blood group A2 showed irregular anti-A1(alpha1) antibodies. With the same technique, up to 1/3 of the sera of 417 healthy blood donors agglutinated red cells of a selected antigen pattern at room temperature; at 4 degrees C the ratio of positive reacting sera was much higher. The specificity of the antibodies, as indicated by the antigramme type, could be confirmed in the most cases by reacting with a series of known positive and negative reference red cells. The eluates of some of the sera yielded the same antigramme pattern as the native sera did. Some of the antibodies showed a specificity corresponding to a red cell property of the respective blood donor; but not in each case the antibodies were capable to agglutinate the donor's cells. If "autoagglutinins" were strong, frequently they revealed a character of panagglutinability, particular in the cold. With the antiglobulin test, which followed the NaCl-MD procedure, the number of positive reactions increased; on the other hand, there were some of the previously positive agglutination tests, which became negative during the course of the AHG step.


Anti-carbohydrate precipitins and haemagglutinins in haemolymph from Tridacna maxima (Röding).

Haemolymph from the elongate clam, Tridacna maxima (Röding) readily precipitates with H-blood group substances, pneumococcus type XIV polysaccharide, human milk and salivas, and with a number of polysaccharides which contain the O-SS-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-6)-D-galactose structure. Precipitation has been demonstrated using both gel diffusion and quantitative precipitin methods. T. maxima haemolymph strongly agglutinates human erythrocytes and haemagglutination can be inhibited by the same preparations which precipitate with the clam extract. Precipitins and haemagglutinins are inhibited by N-acetyl-D-galactosamine and by D-galactose residues preferably in ss-linkage. After agar gel immunoelectrophoresis at pH 8.6, T. maxima precipitin arcs are found in the alpha-region. Precipitation and inhibition results suggest that T. maxima extract and purified precipitin, may find widespread application in the study of many biologically important carbohydrates and glycoproteins.


[Separation of lysozyme from sera with complement or antibody activities (author's transl)].

A gel-filtration method for separating lysozyme from sera with haemolytic complement activity and/or antibody activity is described. It is shown that the gel-filtration has only a small effect, whereas bentonite absorption results in a known lost of haemolytic complement activity.


Microheterogeneity of Immunoglobulin G from plasmocytomas. Identification of two types of IgG by isoelectric focusing.

Isoelectric focusing of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) revealed that the microheterogeneity, which is expressed in the isoelectric points (IEP), partly is caused by differences in the content of N-acetyl-neuraminic acid (NANA), partly by other effects, probably including deamidation. Two different types of Plasmocytoma-IgG, which differ in IEF-pattern, i.e. population distribution, in sensitivity towards neuraminidase and in carbohydrate content, are described. The contents of carbohydrates in these 2 IgG-types are up to 30% greater and 50% less, respectively, than that of normal IgG. A precise correlation was found between the total content of NANA in moles per mole IgG-monomer and the shift in band-IEP on hydrolysis catalyzed by neuraminidase. This may be used for a rapid estimate of NANA in IgG. The results do not permit a discrimination between an anabolic and a catabolic origin of the heterogeneity in the carbohydrate moiety of IgG.


[Obliterating changes of pulmonary veins as the cause of pulmonary hypertension].

The clinical course and the necropsy study in a 9,7 year old boy with primary vascular pulmonary hypertension showed that it was due to an intrapulmonary venoocclusive disease. The inter- and intralobular veins and the venoles revealed fibrous intimal thickening up to subtotal obstruction or total occlusion. The etiology remains unknown. There were no thrombi of veins or arteries within the lung. It is supposed the intimal proliferation due to an unknown etiologic agent is primary and thrombosis secondary.


[The Bland-White-Garland syndrome: hemodynamics, clinical picture, therapy].

Two patients with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery are presented. Anatomy, embryology, the problem of the direction of blood flow in the anomalous vessel, and the clinical symptoms of this syndrome are discussed. In spite of large fibrotic areas in the myocardium, the ECG-changes were minimal. Therefore, a nearly normal ECG does not exclude this anomaly. In patients with sudden, unexpected death one should suspect an anomalous origin of a coronary artery. The classification in an "infantile"  and "adult" type reflects the extent to which collateral vessels have developed. Ligation of the anomalous coronary artery at the side of its origin with concomitant aorto-coronary bypass appears to be a rational and the only effective way of therapy.


Cadmium-isocitrate complex: its stability as a function of ionic strength.

The complexation of cadmium by isocitrate has been studied at 25 degrees C and pH 7.5 in a range of ionic strength from 0.01 to 0.16. The formation constant of the complex between cadmium and tribasic isocitrate varies from 860 M-1 at mu=0.16 to approximately 24,500 M-1 at infinite dilution. These data allow the distribution of the chemical forms of cadmium added to the incubation mixtures for tha assay of NAD-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase to be calculated.


Spectrophotometric determination of the pK values for dissociation of the sugar hydroxyls in pyrimidine arabinonucleosides.

Spectrophotometric titration in the ultraviolet has been employed to determine the pK values for dissociation of the sugar hydroxyls in pyrimidine arabinonucleosides and some of their O'-methyl and O'-ethyl derivatives. The order of dissociation of the sugar hydroxyls in the arabinofuranose ring was 2'-OH greater than 3'-OH greater than 5'-OH. The higher acidity (lower pK) of the 2'-OH was interpreted in terms of formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond of the form 5'-OH....2'-O(--) and the accompanying changes in conformation of the arabinose ring. The various factors affecting the dissociation of specific hydroxyls in some of the O'-alkyl derivatives are discussed in relation to steric, conformational and other effects.


Studies on the structure of beta-chitin, I.

The structure of beta-chitin has been studied in detail. Atomic coordinates in the unit cell are determined. Various positions of O6 atom have been studied in detail in order to reduce X-ray discrepancies. It is f duonthat O6 stom lies near 140 degrees.


Calcium sensitivity of actomyosin ATPase: its modification by substitution of myosin sulfhydryl groups.

SH group substitution by DTNB enabled natural actomyosin to split ATP (in the prescence of Mg2+) also in the absence of Ca2+, when assayed at low ionic  strength. At higher KCl concentrations the ATPase activity of SH group substituted actomyosin was still Ca-dependent. Addition of unsubstituted myosin to natural actomyosin whose SH groups had been substituted increased the ATPase activity. This increase was Ca-insensitive indicating that SH group substitution of myosin in actomyosin can make the interaction of additional myosin molecules Ca-independent. In natural actomyosin Ca-insensitivity of ATPase activity was attained at a lower degree of SH group substitution when substitution was performed in the presence of EDTA. The part of ATPase activity which still remained Ca-sensitive after DTNB treatment could be activated by lower concentrations of free Ca2+ than the Ca-sensitive ATPase of untreated actomyosin. In reconstituted actomyosin the Ca-sensitivity of ATPase activity could more easily be reduced when the myosin-actin ratio was high. For demonstrating remaining Ca-sensitivity in SH group substituted reconstituted actomyosin more tropomyosin-troponin was needed than for sensitizing unsubstituted actomyosin to Ca2+. The similarities between the ATPase acitivity of SH group substituted actomyosin on the one hand and that of actomyosin at low concentrations of ATP on the other hand suggest that SH group substitution modifies actin-myosin interaction in a similar way as does nucleotide-free myosin (rigor myosin).


Molecular arrangement of DNA in nucleohistone.

Several optical and hydrodynamic properties of purified nucleohistone have indicated that the secondary structure of DNA in nucleohistone is slightly different both from the structures of native and denatured DNA in solution. It has been suggested that while histones stabilize the overall DNA-structure they incorporate into the latter some denaturation defects. Rotational diffusion studies of acridine-orange complexes of whole and dehistonized nucleohistones have indicated that nucleohistone should contain a single continuous DNA molecule. The contour length of the DNA molecule would be about 2 to 3 times the end-to-end distance of nucleohistone. Polarized fluorescence microscopy and linear dichroism studies of whole nucleohistone have given an average estimate (about 30% of the total CNA) of oriented DNA in nucleohistone. The degree and the direction of maximum  polarization of fluorescence from the dye complexes of whole and partial (i.e. partially dissociated) nucleohistones have been studied. From these studies, it is proposed that no single supercoiled arrangement of the DNA in nucleohistone is tenable. The combined results of all these studies suggest that the basic nucleohistone molecule contains coiled and extended DNA regions. The proportion of the lengths of the DNA constrained in the coiled and the extended regions is about 7:3. Only two probable models or classes have this quantitative feature of the DNA-arrangement and have been discussed.


The location of the calcium precipitating protein in the sarcoplasmic membrane.

Fluram, a fast reacting reagent for primary amino groups does not label proteins enclosed in reconstituted sarcoplasmic vesicles (SR vesicles) when applied at low reagent/protein ratios. Hence, Fluram does not penetrate through SR membranes under these conditions. Likewise, the membrane of erythrocytes prevent the reagent from reacting with hemoglobin. However, at high reagent/protein ratios the membranes of the SR vesicles disintegrate. In contrast, liposomal membranes prepared from SR lipids are not affected even at a high degree of labeling. Disintegration of SR membranes starts to occur when the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction is completely substituted by Fluram and the transport protein is labeled with 3-4 mol of Fluram per 100000 d. When closed SR vesicles are labeled at low Fluram/protein ratios, the calcium precipitating protein is four times more intensely labeled than the transport protein. The labeling of the calcium transport protein in closed vesicles excludes its location in the intravesicular space. In SR vesicles solubilized with deoxycholate the relative degree of labeling of the calcium precipitating protein remains unchanged while the transport ATPase is more intensely labeled at the expense of the labeling of the amino lipids. The relative degree of labeling of the protein components depends not only on the number of labable groups but also on the rates with which these groups react with Fluram. Therefore, the experimental data do not give quantitative information concerning the distribution of the protein components in the SR membranes.


Chemoelastic effect of membranes.

The elastic theory of a uniaxial membrane in an asymmetric environment predicts a spontaneous splay deformation. This spontaneous curvature of the membrane is discussed by the intrinsic splay of the membrane molecules (e.g. wedge shaped molecules) and their polar orientation. The chemoelastic effect if the polar orientation induced by the asymmetric environment in connection with the intrinsic splay. This effect is also discussed for polyelectrolytes where a small change of pH (approximately 0.1) can lead to a spontaneous curvature of 10(4) cm-1. The actual shape of red blood cells can be explained by the spontaneous splay and a change in environment induces the change in shape of these cells. A model is proposed for two conical bodies swimming in a uniaxial membrane which interact with each other through elastic coupling. The force between the bodies can be either attractive or repulsive. As an example of this model clustering of proteins is discussed.


Determination of the molecular weight and the hydrodynamic properties of a polypeptide from the thylakoid membrane by sedimentation, diffusion and binding measurements in dodecyl sulphate solutions.

The molecular weight and hydrodynamic properties of a polypeptide isolated from the lamellar system of Antirrhinum chloroplasts were determined in sodium dodecyl sulphate solution by measurement of sedimentation velocity, diffusion and effective partial specific volume. The polypeptide fraction exhibits a molecular weight of 25000 which agrees with the apparent molecular weight found by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of the polypeptide-sodium dodecyl sulphate micelle was 54 000, with a friction ratio of 1.6 which indicates an effective asymmetric hydrodynamic shape. For binding measurements self-diffusion equilibrium dialysis with dodecyl [35S] sulphate was used. In this case, dialysis equilibrium was reached within about 10 hours, in contrast to the dialysis with initial concentration differences which requires much longer times. A binding value of deltaD=1.15 g sodium dodecyl sulphate per g polypeptide was obtained which corresponds to a molar binding ratio of 100 mol dodecyl sulphate bound per mol of polypeptide. After the removal of dodecyl sulphate the polypeptide is present in an aggregated state. In phosphate buffers of pH 6.8 and 7.5 the aggregates preponderantly have sedimentation coefficients of 11.7 and 6.8 Svedberg units respectively. Assuming equivalent spheres the molecular weights were calculated to be 340 000 and 150 000.


The effect of antibodies to neoxanthin on electron transport on the oxygen evolving side of photosystem II and the reactions of this antiserum with variuos chloroplast preparations.

Antibodies to neoxanthin agglutinate stroma-free swellable chloroplasts from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var. John William's Broadleaf) and Antirrhinum (Antirrhinum majus) whereas stroma-freed chloroplasts, which have lost the swellability are not agglutinated despite the fact that antibodies to neoxanthin are specifically absorbed. In this latter case the agglutination is hindered for sterical reasons. From this it is concluded that neoxanthin is located in the outer surface of the thylakoid membrane. The antiserum to neoxanthin inhibits the ferricyanide photo-reduction in chloroplasts when water is the electron donor by 15%. With diphenylcarbazide in tris-treated chloroplasts no inhibition is observed. Hence, just as in the case of the antiserum to lutein the site of inhibition is on the donor side of potosystem II namely between water and the site of electron donation of diphenylcarbazide. Benzidine/ascorbate is another artificial electron donor system of photosystem II reported in the literature. The photoreduction of anthraquinone-2-sulphonate with this donor system is inhibited. In contrast to the antiserum to lutein the antiserum to neoxanthin inhibits DCMU-sensitive photophosphorylation reactions in the system H2O leads to ferricyanide and benzidine/ascorbate leads to anthraquinone-2-sulphonate. Therefore, the electron transport coupled to photophosphorylation is inhibited by the antiserum.


[Subilization of high potential cytochrome b-559 from spinach chloroplasts (author's transl)].

1. Ethanol-extracted spinach chloroplasts were carefully sonified in a mixture of buffered urea, TRITON X-100 and dithiothreitol. This procedure solubilized the membrane-bound b-type cytochromes 559 and 563 to approx 90%. The crude extract contained both the high-potential (HP) and the low-potential form (LP) of cytochrome b-559 in a molar ratio of 1:1. 2. Strong sonification doubled the amount of low potential cytochrome b-559 in the extract. Therefore, it is assumed that Cyt b-559 HP was completely converted into the low-potential form. 3. Cyt b-563 was solubilized in the same concentration by both methods. 4. In the same medium (see No. 1), cytochrome f(= Cyt c-554) was dissolved by strong sonification only and is then essentially present in the extract in a dithionite-reducible form.


Cholesterol and phospholipid content of 3T3 cells and transformed derivatives.

For 3T3, PY-3T3 and SV40-3T3 cells, the contents of total lipid, cholesterol and phospholipid were determined. Weight of total lipid per cell correlates closely with cellular volume as determined microscopically. This correlation is not observed for cholesterol of phospholipid content per cell. Cholesterol content per cm2 cellular surface area is found about fifty percent higher in the transformed cell lines compared to 3T3 cells. This result is discussed in relation to thermal transitions observed in physical properties of the plasma membrane of these cells as well as in lamellar phospholipid/water model systems containing cholesterol.


The enhancement of CO2 fixation in isolated chloroplasts by low sulfite concentrations and by ascorbate.

The enhancement of CO2 fixation in isolated, intact spinach chloroplasts by ascorbate or by low sulfite concentrations (less than 1 mM) is strongly reduced or even abolished by the addition of superoxide dismutase (SOD). By the use of 35SO3(2-) it is demonstrated that the rate of sulfate formation is much lower than the sulfite induced increase in CO2 fixation. This indicates that the superoxide radical is the chain initiating event; and, in parallel to ascorbate (Elstner and Kramer, 1973), the HSO3 radical, acting as a Hill reagent for photosystem I, is reduced to sulfite in turn. The ingibitory action of sulfite at concentrations greater than 1 mM is not relieved by SOD, since this effect is mainly based on a competitive inhibition of ribulosediphosphate carboxylase. SOD itself stimulates the CO2 fixation, if the reaction is started after 3 min of pre-illumination. This effect is discussed with respect to factors linked with the isolation procedure.


Inquiry into the limits of biological effects of chemical compounds in tissue culture, I. Low dose effects of mercuric chloride.

Experiments were desigened to investigate the low-dose side ot the so-called dose-effect relation of mercuric  chloride on the proliferation of a murine lymphoblastic cell strain (MB VIz). Three concentration ranges, from 0.9 X 10(-5) M to 0.9 X 10(-18) M to 0.9 X 10(-25) M, and from 0.9 X 10(-15) M to 0.9 X 10(-21) M, in which the concentration decreased stepwise by a factor 10, were studied in 61, 74 and 58 experimental repetitions, respectively. In the first range, the concentrations 0.9 X 10(-5) M and 0.9 X 10(-6) M HgCl2 proved to be definitely toxic as was expected. However, also 0.9 X 10(-16) M and 0.9 X 10(-17) M appeared to be growth-inhibiting, the latter results being confirmed in the second and the third concentration ranges. These differences in cell growth were statistically significant.


Damage caused by two finnish mushrooms, Cortinarius speciosissimus and Cortinarius gentilis on the rat kidney.

The toxicity of two mushroom species found in Finland, Cortinarius speciosissimus and Cortinarius gentilis, on the rat was studied. Dried, homogenized mushroom was given orally by stomach tubing. A dose of 500 mg dried mushroom/kg body weight, was used. It was demonstrated that both species caused renal damage. No damage could be shown in other organs. The renal histopathological changes corresponded to those of tubulo-interstitial nephritis. The sensitivity of different individuals to the fungal toxins varied greatly.


Arrangement of proteins and lipids in the sarcoplasmic membrane.

The number of amino residues present in the proteins of the sarcoplasmic reticulum which can react with Fluram has been determined in native and sonicated SR vesicles. Sonication increases the number of amino groups accessible to Fluram from 0.57 to 0.87 mumol-mg prot.-1. This increase indicates that 66% of the amino residues are present in the external and 34% in the internal membrane leaflet. The distribution of the amino phospholipids is computed from the distribution of Fluram in the membrane proteins in comjunction with the relative distribution of Fluram between protein and lipid in native and sonicated vesicles. The distribution of the calcium transport protein has been approximated under different assumptions concerning the distribution of the residual protein and taking into account that 15% of the membranes of the SR vesicles might have changed their sideness during preparation.


[Isolation and properties of the cell envelope of the green alga Chlorella fusca (author's transl)].

Chlorella cell envelopes were isolated by a mechanical procedure. The obtained morphological structure shown in an EM-picture has a mean density of rho=1.42. A characteristic chemical property of the envelope is the percentage of mono- and di-unsaturated C18-fatty acids which is considerably higher than that of intact cells. With 14C labelled sugars a selectivity of the hexose uptake could be shown, galactose uptake amounting only to about one fifth that of glucose and mannose. The uptake shows a temperature maximum. Part of the 14C registered after a 30 min uptake period is released by high concentration of unlabelled glucose, 20% are irreversibly fixed.


Nitrogen fixing activity in Rhizobium japonicum separated from plant cell cultures.

Induced by soy bean tissue cultures in socalled "tissue chambers", Rhizobium japonicum str. 61-A-96 developed nitrogenase activity separated from the plant cells. The activity proceded for 48 h with a rate of 1 X 10(-8) nmol C2H4h-1 cell-1, which is about 6% of the activity measured for bacteroids from Rhizobium japonicum in nodules of Glycine max.


[Optics of the crayfish eye (author's transl)].

Histological and optical observations in the eye of crayfish lead to a new hypothesis of the superposition ray path in this eye. Rays from an object point entering through different facets are superimposed not by refracting systems as in other superposition eyes but by a radial arrangement of orthogonal reflecting planes which are formed by the sides of the crystalline cones and purine layers surrounding them.


Interaction between cholesterol and calcium ions in solution.

Dialysis rates of cholesterol, calcium chloride dihydrate and of their mixture in 90% aqueous dioxane through Visking cellulose membrane were characterized by half-escape times (t1/2) of 2.2, 1.0 and 10.5 hours, respectively. Slow dialysis rate observed with the mixture was due to complex formation between four molecules of cholesterol and two molecules of calcium chloride dihydrate, molecular weight 1800 to 2000. The association constant for this complex in 90% aqueous dioxane was estimated to be 3.9 X 10(14). Rates of dialysis obtained with a natural protein membrane were in the reverse order to those obtained with cellulose membrane. Half-escape times for cholesterol, calcium chloride dihydrate and for their mixture were 0.6, 6.7 and 1.4 hours, respectively. Determinations of milliosmolality of the three solutions by freezing point depression indicated that in the mixture there were fewer osmotically active particles than in their separate solutions of the same molarity, also suggesting formation of the complex which was detected by dialysis experiments.


Temperature--jump chlorophyll fluorescence induction in plants.

In contrast to slower heating rates, a temperature jump reveals complex rise phases in the heat induced chlorophyll fluorescence emission increase in intact plants. Three rise phases have been detected which indicate the stepwise loss of different quenching mechanism of system II fluorescence. Two of the phases appear to reflect heat deactivation of the system II reaction centers, while the other may be associated with the induction of hydrogenase activity. Variations in Tmax of the jump, for the increase in different plant varieties, suggest a correlation with membrane lipid phase transitions affecting thylakoid membrane structure and the fluorescence increase.


[Synthesis of a fragment of the active center of the streptococcal proteinase (EC 3.4.22.10), VIII (author's transl)].

The synthesis of the protected tricosapeptide Z-Val-Lys(Z)-Pro-Gly-Glu(OBzl)-Gln-Ser-Phe-Val-Gly-Gln-Ala-Ala-Thr-Gly-His-Cys(MBzl)-Val-Ala-Thr-Ala-Thr-Ala-ONB is described. The tricosapeptide was built up from the decapeptide Z-Val-Lys(Z)-Pro-Gly-Glu(OBzl)-Gln-Ser-Phe-Val-Gly-ONp and the tridecapeptideester Gln-Ala-Ala-Thr-Gly-His-Cys(MBzl)-Val-Ala-Thr-Ala-Thr-Ala-ONB. A further nonadecapeptide with tert-butylmercapto protection of the SH group was also synthetized.


[Synthesis of a fragment of the active center of the streptococcal proteinase (EC 3.4.22.10), VI (author's transl)].

The synthesis and properties of the protected peptide Boc-His(Boc)-Cys(X)-Val-OH(ONP) [X = tert-butylmercapto, p-methoxybenzyl, tetrahydropyranyl-(2)] are described. This peptide is a fragment of an active center sequence of the streptococcal proteinase (EC 3.4.22.10) containing the essential SH group of the enzyme.


Lysolecithin induced membrane alterations in thymocytes. Effects of lysophosphatides possessing adjuvant and immuno-suppressive activities on cell agglutination by concanavalin A.

The effects of lysolecithin and of 2 synthetic ether-desoxy lysolecithin analogs, containing alkyl residues of 16 or 12 carbon atoms, on the agglutination kinetics of calf and rabbit thymocytes by concanavalin A (Con A) were investigated. Unlike the natural lysolecithin, these synthetic analogs are resistant to metabolism by membrane associated enzymes. It was found that pretreatment of thymocytes with lysolecithin or with the C16-analog leads to slightly increased agglutination rates. The C12-analog, in contrast, significantly inhibits thymocyte agglutination by Con A. Moreover, a comparison of these results with lysophosphatide effects on the agglutinability of erythrocytes of various species revealed that the inhibitory effect of the short-chain phosphatide is rather specific for thymocytes. The finding that long- and short-chain lysophosphatides, which have previously been shown to react as adjuvants or immunosuppressants, respectively, induce adserve alterations in thymocyte membranes indicates that these substances may affect the immune response by changing the membrane properties of immune competent cells. Concerning the nature of these membrane alterations it was shown that lysolecithin did not affect the number of Con A receptors per cell nor the affinity of lectin binding. It is therefore concluded that the lysophosphatide induced alterations of Con A agglutinability can not be caused by an uncovering or covering of lectin-receptors.


The effect of calcium and phosphate on the biphasic calcium uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

The amplitude of the fast uptake and the initial rate of the slow uptake increase with increasing free calcium concentrations, up to 30 muM. In that range, both processes are correlated to each other. At higher concentrations, the slow uptake is more inhibited than the fast uptake. The fast uptake shows a maximum amplitude which remains unchanged in the presence of phosphate. The slow uptake leads to a nearly complete depletion of the external calcium, and its rate is proportional to the phosphate concentration, even at physiological range. The sarcoplasmic ATPase liberates inorganic phosphate and the slow uptake is an autocatalytic process.


[Synthesis of a fragment of the active center of the streptococcal proteinase (EC 3.4.22.10), VII (author's transl)].

The synthesis of the protected peptides Boc-Ala-Ala-Thr-Gly-ONp, Boc-Ala-Thr-Ala-Thr-Ala-ONB and Boc-Ala-Ala-Thr-Gly-His-Cys(X)-Val-Ala-Thr-Ala-Thr-Ala-ONB [X = p-methoxybenzyl, tert-butylmercapto, tetrahydropyranyl-(2)] is described. These peptides are fragments of an active center sequence of the streptococcal proteinase (EC 3.4.22.10) which contains the essential SH group of the enzyme.


Phalloidin-induced proliferation of actin filaments within rat hepatocytes. Visualisation by electron microscopy and immunofluorescence.

Confirming our previous ultrastructural and biochemical studies, the combined electron microscopy and immunofluorescence investigations show that phalloidin causes a characteristically striking increase of actin filaments within rat hepatocytes. Filaments are localized mainly at the level of special junctional complexes between contiguous cells and around bile canaliculi.


Inducibility of lambda phage development in Escherichia coli mutants thermosensitive for DNA replication.

In a thermosensitive dnaZ mutant lysogenic for lambda, induction of the prophage development was provoked at the restrictive temperature. In dnaD strain, spontaneous release of lambda proceeded even at 43 degrees C, but distinct induction of the prophage development was not caused by a heat treatment. Similarly, shift up of growth temperature did not lead to induction of lambda in lysogens carrying thermosensitive mutation in dnaH function or DNA polymerase I. In dnaH mutant, multiplication of lambda-virulent phage proceeded normally at 43 degrees C.


An improved assay of UV-induced thymine-containing dimers in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The method for assaying thymine-containing dimers in yeast is based on highly efficient ([3H]-deoxythymidine-5'-monophosphate) DNA-specific labelling and employs ascending thin layer chromatography. It allows satisfactory quantitative analysis down to UV-doses of 500 erg/mm2.


UV-induction of thymine-containing dimers in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In haploid and diploid S. cerevisiae the dimer yield ratio TT/CT is found to be 1.2/1 and 1.3/1, resp., at the UV (254 nm) unit dose 1 erg/mm2, the share of TT and CT in a UV (254 nm) lethal hit being 0.7 TT and 0.6 CT. A general formulation of the UV lethal hit is given and discussed. The TT+CT yields obtained for S. cerevisiae are compared to those reported for other organisms. It is found that there obviously exists a directly proportional linear correlation between genome size and TT+CT yield for the UV dose range well below the stationary levels of the TT and CT formation kinetics.


Identification of functional groups of pig kidney alkaline phosphatase by specific inhibitors.

Inactivation studies with 17 group-specific inhibitors showed that amino, hystidyl and tyrosyl residues probably are components of the active and/or regulatory sites of pig kidney alkaline phosphatase.


Radiation chemistry of DNA, II. Strand breaks and sugar release by gamma-irradiation of DNA in aqueous solution. The effect of oxygen.

From gamma-irradiated oxygenated aqueous solutions of DNA, 2-deoxy-tetrodialdose (1) and 2-deoxy-pentos-4-ulose (2) have been isolated as free sugars. The formation of 1 indicates that in the presence of oxygen the DNA strand is not only broken by mere phosphate ester cleavage but also by C--C-bond rupture in the sugar moiety. Such a process has not been encountered in deoxygenated solutions so far. The mechanism for the formation of 1 is discussed.


The effect of Org. GB 94, imipramine and chlorpromazine on the concentrations of some amino acids in 9 regions of the rat brain.

The concentrations of 11 amino acids were determined in 9 regions of the rat brain following the acute administration of the antidepressant drugs imipramine and Org. GB94, and chlorpromazine. The amino acids were determined as their dansyl derivatives. Unequivocal changes were only found in the concentrations of gamma-aminobutyric acid, alanine, asparagine + glutamine, glycine and taurine in some brain regions. Chlorpromazine produced the greatest change in these amino acids. Imipramine and Org. GB94 had qualitatively different effects on the concentrations of the amino acids in the 9 brain regions.


Phospholipids and ATPase activity of wild-type and ATPase deficient and uncoupled mutants of E. coli.

The ATPase activities and the amounts of individual phospholipids in E. coli wild types B163 and ML-308-225 as well as in the mutants AN120, DL54 and etc-15 have been examined. The ATPase activities and the amount of cardiolipin are higher in the stationary phase than in the log phase, whereas the amounts of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylserine are lower in the stationary phase. The decreased ATPase activity of the mutants is not due to an altered phospholipid composition.


Out-of-plane fluctuations of lipid bilayers.

It is shown that out-of-plane fluctuations of two-dimensonally fluid membranes may lead to a decrease in effective area and affect stretching elasticity.


Stress-induced changes in cell titer of crayfish hemolymph.

Cell titer in peripheral hemolymph of crayfishes rises in less than one hour after administration of stress. The stress may be wounding or handling of the animals.


Biological dictionary.

It is proposed that the biological communication is a language process with the basic word structure formed as a hexagonal neighborhood on the alpha-helix region of protein molecules.


Staphylococcus aureus-strains of phage group II and their possible relation to animal staphylococci. 1. Antigenic properties, phage typing, and resistance to antibiotics.

Investigations carried out on 350 strains isolated from clinical materials and carriers revealed that among coagulase-positive staphylococci of phage group II two main serologic types predominated. The first (61,1%) was characterised by positive reaction with factor serum 263-2, the second (30,8%) one gave positive reaction with factor serum i1-2. The strains of type 263-2 contained as a rule polysaccharide A as well as polysaccharide 263, contrary to staphylococci belonging to type i1-2 which possessed polysaccharide A only. Both serologic types differed also epidemiologically, in phage typing and resistance to antibiotics. Staphylococci of serologic type 263-2 occurred in neraly all purulent lesions, they were more resistant to antibiotics than type i1-2 and prevailed in hospital environments. In phage-typing the differences between both serologic types were quantitative in character, with two being most outstanding, namely the prevalence of strains sensitive to phage 71 among staphylococci of serologic type 263-2 and of phage types 3A, and 3C as well as 3A, 3B, 3C among staphylococci of serologic type i1-2. There was no correlation between the susceptibility of strains to phage 71 and their virulence, the latter seemed to be connected with serologic type.


[Some aspects of the use of the level of bacteriological confirmation in the epidemiological analysis of dysentery morbidity].

On the basis of studying the seasonality and the age composition of dysentery morbidity in comparison with the corresponding levels of bacteriological confirmation the authors suggested a method of recalculation of morbidity with consideration to this parameter. This method could be used in epidemiological analysis.


[Characteristics of beta-hemolytic streptococci secreted in children in various climatic zones].

A study was made of the level of carrier-state, serological characteristics, virulence and toxigenicity of beta-hemolytic streptococci isolated from children in two towns with a different incidence of scarlet fever located in the contrast climatic zones. It was found that the level of carrier-state of beta-hemolytic streptococci and biological properties of the circulating strains were important factors associated with the incidence of scarlet fever.


[Age-related and seasonal variations in the ATPase system of mitochondria of skeletal muscles in rabbit].

Seasoned variations in the activity of Mg++-ATPase and Mg++-DNP-ATPase have been revealed in studies on ATPase system of mitochondria of skeletal muscles of newborn, 7-, 10-day and adult rabbits. The degree of activation of ATPase by 2-4-DNP did not depend on the age of animals and the season of year. Absolute values for DHPATPhase were lower in young animals in spring. The activity of Mg++- and Mg++-DNP-ATPases and the extent of activation of the enzymes by Mg++ increased with the increase in the age of animals.


[Natural foci of ornithosis in Kazakhstan].

An investigation (clinical, immunological and epidemiological) of the workers of various fowl-farms was carried out in various regions of Kazakhstan for a number for years; the sera of domestic fowl and birds was studied as well. On the basis of examination of 6264 persons the greatest percentage of ornithosis was revealed among the workers of the slaughter house and the shop for the processing of the fowl. Examination of 4749 sera of bird blood showed that the highest incidence of ornithosis was among doves and ducks (43.2 and 11.6%), and the least--in chickens (5.3%); there proved to be a direct relationship between the infection of man and birds. Thus, it was shown that domestic fowl and also doves served as the source of ornithosis infection; foci of ornithosis were revealed in a number of Kazakhstan regions as a result of these investigations.


[Interrelationship between biochemical and physiological indices of skeletal muscles in the frog Rana temporaria].

Studies have been made on temporal characteristics of contraction and Mg-ATPase activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in various phasic and tonic muscles of the frog. The time of isometric tetanic contraction and Mg-ATPase activity of the reticulum in the phasic m. sartorius and the tonic m. coracoradialis are correlated. The data obtained suggest that the duration of twitch isometric contraction is related to calcium content of muscles.


[A peculiar form of spinal amyotrophy encountered in a limited area of Belorussia].

The authors analyzed the data obtained in a study of 7 cases of peculiar spinal amyotrophy seen in some patients who lived in 3 adjacent villages. The disease had an incipient onset, with a prevalent localization of the pathological process in the anterior horns of the cervical part of the spinal cord and a subsequent progressive development with a lethal outcome accompanied by symptoms of respiratory insufficiency of the spinal type. The CNS was characterized by specific morphological changes. The authors are more in favour of the assumption that this disorder is of infectious nature of the group of gradual infections of the CNS.


[Serotonin metabolism in several hereditary extrapyramidal diseases].

The authors studied the serotonin content in 43 patients with hereditary extrapyramidal diseases and in 30 normals (the control group). The thrombocyte serotonin was determined according to the modified Crawford method. The results of the study displayed that there was a highly significant drop in the level of serotonin in patients with torsion distonia (more expressed in subgroup 3, in patients with prevalent tonic disturbances and fixed pathological poses), and in akinetico-rigid variants of Huntington's chorea. In patients with hereditary pallidary degenerative diseases there was a tendency to a drop in the serotonin level.


The activation by staphylokinase of human plasminogen.

The activation of human plasminogen by a highly purified staphylokinase was investigated using casein or an active site titrant (p-nitrophenyl-p-guanidinobenzoate, NPGB) as a substrate. The reaction rate was time dependent, showing a pronounced lag period with either substrate. Saturation curve estimated from the caseinolytic assay was sigmoid, but changed to quasi-hyperbolic in the presence of pre-formed human plasmin. With NPGB, the extent of plasminogen conversion into esterolytic plasmin was directly proportional to staphylokinase concentration, and the saturation point was reached when the molar concentration of staphylokinase equaled that of plasminogen. It is concluded that staphylokinase acts stoichiometrically, forms an equimolar complex with plasminogen, and thus is not an enzyme but a modifier. Staphylokinase-activated plasminogen exhibits properties of a hysteretic enzyme.


Serum levels of unconjugated aetiocholanolone androstenedione, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, aldosterone, progesterone and oestrogens during the normal menstrual cycle.

The results of daily determination of the levels of gonadotrophins, oestradiol, oestrone, progesterone, aldosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, and aetiocholanolone in the serum of 6 normal, ovulating women are reported and discussed. A pre-ovulatory aldosterone peak and rising values in the luteal phase of the cycle were found. Androstenedione, testosterone, and aetiocholanolone levels were significantly elevated from 3 days before until 3 days after ovulation. Since the mean androstenedione/aetiocholanolone ratio in the individual cycles in this period was similar to the ratio found during the rest of the cycle, we think it unlikely that aetiocholanolone is produced by the ovaries. No correlation was found between the aetiocholanolone patterns and the basal body temperature. In a case of conception followed for 20 days after ovulation, the steroid patterns remained unchanged until the presumed day of implantation, after which the aldosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, and aetiocholanolone levels started to rise. The mean androstenedione/aetiocholanolone ratio during the 10 days after implantation did not differ from the values obtained in the foregoing periods, so direct aetiocholanolone production by the ovaries after implantation seems unlikely.


Control of the mitotic activity in the rat seminal vesicle by "chalone".

One month after castration male rats were injected daily with 2 X 50 mug of testosterone. Starting before the highest mitotic activity of seminal vesicles, 3 injections of normal seminal vesicle extract were given into the lumen at 3 h intervals. The contralateral seminal vesicle was injected with rat liver extract. Tritiated thymidine was given intravenously. The labelling index of the seminal vesicles was determined by means of radioautography. The crude supernatant of seminal vesicle was the most effective to inhibit the mitotic activity of the seminal vesicles. The decrease was on an average 34 per cent. The liver extract did not influence the mitotic activity. When the seminal vesicle extract was fractionated by Sephadex G-25, the largest fraction (M. W. greater than 3000) showed the highest inhibitory activity, whereas the smallest fraction (M. W. less than 1000) was ineffective. The inhibition of mitosis can also be induced by an unspecific factor, since pronase showed slight inhibitory action on seminal vesicle mitosis. However, the seminal vesicle extract had no inhibitory action on the epidermal mitotic activity.


[Histotopochemical investigations on elastic membranes of blood vessels with special regard to diabetes mellitus. II. Carbohydrates (author's transl)].

Investigations on carbonhydrates were carried out with special regard to acid mucopolysaccharides and glycogen. The fluorescence-microscopical proof of acid micropolysaccharides with acridinorange (pH=3,3) and by means of the pseudoisocyanin-reaction (proof of-SO3H-groups) gave positive results on elastic membranes of blood vessels. These results were correlating to the increase of the diabetes mellitus. Healthy Wistar-rats did not show metachromasia with toluidinblue in the walls of the blood vessels, whereas in streptozotocin-diabetes there was strong metachromasia shown by these structures. The stages of diabetes in man were also correlated to an increase of metachromasia. The PAS-reaction, the staining with Best's carmine and the reaction with alizarinblue S for the proof of glycogen were positive in all blood vessels investigated.


A study of the cuticle of Gordius robustus, a nematomorph worm. I. Cuticle in the parasitic phase.

1. An investigation on the structure and chemical nature of the cuticle of a nematomorph worm Gordius robustus and its role in the physiology of the endoparasitic phase has been conducted. 2. The cuticle has fundamentally three layers; the cortical, homogeneous and fibrillar layers, differing from one another in physical as well as chemical properties. 3. The cortical layer has organic sulphur and acid mucopolysaccharide; the homogeneous layer has organic sulphur together with collagen-like protein and the fibrillar layer has only collagen. 4. Electrophoretic and chromatographic analyses reveal the presence of four proteins with different amino acid composition; the carbohydrate components of the cuticle are galactose and mannose. 5. Alkaline phosphatase and non-specific esterase are found in the cuticle of the general body surface and these seem to be related to the cutaneous absorption of materials. 6. Using peroxidase as tracer protein, the absorption of materials across the cuticle from outside the body has been demonstrated; this absorption is found to be an active process.


On the muscular fuel of the air sac in an air breathing fish.

The hyohyoideus muscle which is responsible for inflating and contracting the air sac in an air breathing fish, Amphipnous cuchia, belongs to white fibre type as it lacks muscle myoglobin. The muscle shows appreciable amount of glycogen and extracellular phospholipid globules. Staining of I bands in the muscle fibres with Alcian blue (1.0 less than or equal to pH less than or equal to 3.0) indicates presence of acid mucosubstances. The muscle does not show change in phospholipid content at the histochemical level but lowering of glycogen content (25 to 30%) when put to 51/2h of continuted physiological exercise. At the same time, increase in blood sugar level (20 to 30%) possibly indicates utilization of glycogen as the source of energy by the muscle. However, a clear cut priority of glycogen or phospholipid break down for energy source by the muscle could not be established.


Glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans of human bone tissue at different stages of mineralization.

Using ultracentrifugation, compact bone from a growing 15 years old man was separated into three fractions with different degrees of mineralization. The finely powdered material was fractionated in a density gradient of acetone and bromoform in varying proportions. The glycosaminoglycans were isolated after papain digestion of the tissue fractions. The glycosaminoglycan elution profiles from CPC-cellulose microcolumns indicated the presence of chondroitin-4-sulphate and, possibly, minor traces of hyaluronic acid. The degree of sulphatation was the same in all three fractions, while the total amount and molecular size of the glycosaminoglycans decreased somewhat with increasing degree of mineralization. The glycosaminoglycans of the tissue fractions were also extracted with 4 M guanidinium chloride and then purified chromatographically on DEAE. Gel chromatography of the isolated material showed three different peaks, two probably representing low molecular weight proteoglycans. The proportion of intermediate molecular size material increased with increasing degree of mineralization. The results are discussed briefly in relation to the mineralization process.


A comparison of antigenic structure and phage pattern with biochemical properties of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from sheep.

Of 84 Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from the anterior nares of healthy sheep and from the udders of ewes suffering from purulent mastitis the 89 per cent belonging to the C biotype contained agglutinogen h2 as well as polysaccharide Abeta. Ninety-five per cent of the C biotype strains were lysed by the bovine phage 78, the human phage set giving only weak reactions at RTD X 100. Two pigment-negative deficit variants as well as three unclassified strains gave similar results while three A biotype strains and one E biotype strain were definitely different. The close correlation between biochemistry, serology and phage typing substantiates the practical usefulness of the subdivision of S. aureus into biotypes.


Practolol in acute myocardial infarction.

A double blind trial of practolol in coronary heart disease has been conducted for 2 years. In 298 patients with acute myocardial infarction there was no reduction in overall mortality. In a group with initial heart rate over 100 per minute mortality was significantly lowered up to 1 year. Of 484 patients with coronary heart disease treatment for 2 years did not produce a significant reduction in infarction or sudden death. Beta-adrenergic blocking drugs have been shown to reduce left ventricular work and to have an antiarrhythmic action. On these grounds they would seem theoretically to have a place in the management of acute myocardial infarction. Practolol is a cardio-selective beta-blocking agent with an intrinsic sympathomimetic action, but devoid of local anaesthetic effect. It has been found effective in post infarction arrhythmias (1). In early infarction it reduces the area of necrosis as measured by surface ST segment mapping (2).


Paget's disease: New treatment for an old disease.

There are probably 2.5 million patients with Paget's disease in the U.S.; 125,000 of these have severe disease meriting specific treatment. While the diagnosis can often be made by inspection, or by measurement of the temperature of involved limbs, it is often missed. Nonspecific findings include pain, headaches, deafness, heart failure, neurologic deficits and renal stones. A specific diagnosis can usually be established by radiologic examination of the skeleton and measurement of the serum alkaline phosphatase level. Bone scans are often helpful. In moderate-to-severe symptomatic disease, calcitonin limits the unregulated chaotic bone resorption and exerts highly specific and effective suppressive activity.


Iron absorption from Southeast Asian rice-based meals.

Non-heme iron absorption from three Burmese meals was measured using the method of adding extrinsic radioiron tracer to label the non-heme iron in the whole meals. Thirty-one healthy Burmese subjects were divided into three groups, each of which was given one type of meal. The absorption of reference ferrous ascorbate was also measured in all subjects and used to calibrate the observed absorption values when comparing different groups. Non-heme iron absorption from the basal meal of rice, vegetables, and spices containing 7.6 mg of total iron was 1.4%. Addition of 40 g of fish to the basal meal increased absorption to 6.4% in men and 11.9% in women. Relative absorption from the third type of meal, consisting of different proportions of rice and vegetables and less fish, was also higher than from the basal meal. Non-heme iron absorption from a Southeast Asian diet similar to the Burmese rice and vegetable diet would be insufficient to maintain iron balance. But it is improbable that such a diet is eaten all the time.


Diagnosis of placental sulfatase deficiency..

Placental sulfatase deficiency has been found in four pregnancies (cases 1 to 4) with inappropriately low levels of urinary estriol excretion (less than 1.3 mg. per day near term gestation) associated with healthy neonates. The basis of the diagnosis in these cases was the greatly limited capacities for hydrolysis of 14C-dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHA-S) and 3H-estrone sulfate (0.2 mugCi each) to the free steroids during incubation of placental homogenates. Placental aromatase activities in vitro for free DHA and the concentrations of appropriate estrogen precursors in cord blood were normal or elevated. The defect was diagnosed prenatally in two of these cases on the basis of failure to increase the maternal excretion of urinary estriol (0.6 to 0.7 and 1.3 to 1.3 mg. per day, respectively) following acute instillation of DHA-S (250 mg.) into the amniotic fluid and on normal levels of estrogen precursors in cord blood. In comparison, a twofold increase in maternal estriol excretion was observed after infusing DHA-S into the amniotic cavity of a "high-risk" pregnancy having normal sulfatase and aromatase activities in vitro (case 5). These enzyme activities were also found to be similarly normal in another placenta from an undergrown fetus (case 6) and in six normal placentas. The clinical features of these pregnancies, the first ones described from the western hemisphere, are similar to reported cases: the newborn progeny are healthy males who appear to be developing normally. The prenatal diagnosis of the sex-specific placental enzyme defect has been made possible by the use of an intra-amniotic DHA-S loading test.


Brain indole and catecholamines of turkeys during exposure to temperature stress.

Turnovers of dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were determined in the brains of male turkeys during acute, chronic, and posttemperature stress. Changes induced in the depletion of endogenous monoamine levels 6 h after tyrosine hydroxylase or tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitions were regarded as changes in turnovers. High or low ambient temperature had no effect on brain DA turnover, whether the temperature stress was acute (6 h) or chronic (5 wk). Brain NE turnover increased upon acute exposure to either a cold (5 degrees C) or warm (32 degrees C) environment. Chronic exposure (5 wk) to such temperatures reduced significantly (P less than 0.001) the elevated NE turnover. The central E and 5-HT turnovers of birds kept at 32 degrees C for 6 h decreased and increased, respectively, whereas determination of E and 5-HT of birds kept at 5 degrees C showed an opposite pattern. Five weeks of continuous exposure to high and low environmental temperatures did not alter the changes in E and 5-HT turnovers from those observed during acute stress. Exposure of heat- or cold-reared turkeys to 24 degrees C reversed the changes in E and 5-HT turnovers. Thus the results indicated an increase in NE turnover only during acute exposure to thermal stress. However, the changes in E and 5-HT turnovers persisted during chronic exposure.


Intrauterine diagnosis of chromosome anomalies.

Prenatal karyotype analysis was performed on cultured fetal cells obtained by transabdominal amniocentesis at the 15th and 20th week of pregnancy in 63 high risk pregnancies. The reason was advanced maternal age in 42 cases, a previous child with a chromosome anomaly in 13 cases, and parental balanced chromosome translocation in 7 cases. One mother was a haemophilia A carrier. Two mothers over 40 were found to be carrying a 21-trisomic fetus. In the group of parental balanced translocation one fetus showed an unbalanced translocation karyotype, two were karyotypically normal and four exhibited a balanced translocation identical with that of the parents. A therapeutic abortion was performed in the case of the unbalanced translocation, the two trisomic fetuses, and a male fetus of the haemophilia A carrier mother. After the abortion the prenatal chromosome findings were confirmed by cell cultures from fetal tissues. No immediate complications due to the amniocentesis were recorded, but two term fetuses died antenatally, one child was delivered prematurely, and one pregnancy terminated spontaneously foru weeks after the amniocentesis. Any casual relationship to the puncture was unlikely in these cases. All other pregnancies had a normal course and the outcome was in agreement with the prenatal studies. Although indications for prenatal karyotype analyses are evident in pregnancies at risk due to parental balanced translocation karyotype and advanced maternal age, the need for large-scale screening programmes is questionable, because the decision should be in the hands of the parents.


Studies on leukemic cells in a patient suffering from exfoliative dermatitis (due to chronic lymphatic leukemia), especially by scanning electron microscopy.

Lymphocytes (T cells and B cells) of a patient with chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) were studied immunologically and scanning electron microscopically. The subpopulation percentage of rosette forming cells (T cell) and surface immunoglobulin bearing cells (B cell) were decreased in the peripheral blood. Moreover, tritiated thymidine uptake by lymphocytes in the cell culture stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), porkweed mitogen (PWM) and purified protein derivatives (PPDs) was decreased. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed many long villi on the surface of the lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, which implies B cell origin, Observation by electron microscopic immunohistochemistry using the ferritin antibody technique revealed that beta1C/beta1A receptors normally seen on the B cells were also seen on the leukemic lymphocytes. Thus it appears that the leukemic cells in the peripheral blood of this patient are functionally and morphologically abnormal B cells.


[Myocardial fibroelastosis].

One case of chronic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy diagnosed clinically died suddenly. Post-mortem examination established the diagnosis of endomyocardial fibroelastosis. It was insisted upon the extreme rarity of this form, on the criteria of clinical diagnosis, the diagnosis of cardiomyopathy being one of exclusion, and on the peculiar anatomical characteristics.