The effect of acute and chronic ethanol intake on hepatic glycerolipid biosynthesis in the hamster.

The effect of acute and chronic ethanol intake on hepatic glycerolipid biosynthesis in the hamster was studied by in vivo and in vitro techniques. The results were compared with those from control hamsters receiving isocaloric amounts of glucose. Both chronic and acute ethanol intake elevated serum and hepatic triglyceride concentrations and induced a rapid rise in the capacity of neutral glycerolipid formation from sn[1,3-14C]glycerol-3-phosphate by hamster liver homogenate and microsomal fractions. Ethanol intake also produced a corresponding increase in the incorporation of [1,3-14C]glycerol into hepatic neutral glycerolipids by the intact animal. The ethanol-induced rise in the capacity of neutral glycerolipid production by liver as measured in vivo and in vitro correlated well with an increase in hepatic phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity. Therefore, the rise in hepatic and serum triglyceride levels associated with ethanol intake may be explained in part by an increase in the activity of the enzyme.


Proximate and mineral content of fast foods. Pizzas, Mexican-American-style foods, and submarine sandwiches.

Pizzas, Mexican-American style foods, and submarine sandwiches were analyzed for proximate and mineral composition, and the nutrients compared with the Recommended Dietary Allowances for teen-agers. Fast foods can be a source of considerable nutrition. More nutritional analyses of fast foods are warranted and should be encouraged.


A milk-borne outbreak due to Salmonella dublin.

Salmonella dublin is primarily adapted to bovines and is a relatively rare cause of human illness. An outbreak is described in which it was estimated that at least 700 persons were infected from milk which had not been subjected to heat treatment. Although the organism was isolated from retail samples of milk, investigations at the dairy farm were inconclusive and a number of questions are posed. Attention is drawn to the value of inter-disciplinary cooperation in the investigation of the outbreak.


[Early and late inhibition of lactation using bromocriptine. A comparative study (author's transl)].

After having reviewed our present knowledge of the pharmacology of bromocriptine, its action on the pituitary, centrally and peripherally, the authors detail the results they have obtained in inhibiting lactation in two groups of patients who had delivered normally or had Caesarean sections. In the first group where bromocriptine was started in the first 24 hours with dosages of 2.5 mg every 12 hours for 14 days, clinical signs of breast engorgement and of milk secretion were insignificant and the level of prolactin had dropped to normal menstrual cycle levels from the third day after delivery. In the second group where the first dose of bromocriptine was given at least 48 hours after Caesarean section, the levels of prolactin dropped just as sharply from the third day after delivery, but on the other hand the clinical signs of breast engorgement and milk secretion were marked and completely comparable to those which are found in patients who are not going to breast feed but who have received no treatment to inhibit lactation.


Inhibition of complement-mediated lysis of sheep erythrocytes by cell-free preparations from Streptococcus mutans BHT.

A cell-free extract from the spent medium of Streptococcus mutans BHT was tested for anti-complementary activity with sheep erythrocytes (E) as target cells. It was determined that this extract was enriched for extracellular lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and that the LTA bound to the surfaces of sheep E. Furthermore, sheep E, sheep E plus antibodies (EA), and sheep cells in the intermediate stage of complement (C) component fixation EAC14 became refractory to C-mediated lysis after treatment with the LTA-rich extract. Sheep E in the intermediate states EAC142 and EAC1423567 were unaffected despite the fact that LTA could be detected on the surfaces of these cells with the passive hemagglutination procedure. Preliminary results showed that the C inhibitory activity co-purified with LTA, and LTA (both crude and purified) from other bacteria were anticomplementary. Both crude extracellular material from S. mutans BHT and partially purified extracellular LTA from the same bacteria caused consumption of whole human C activity.


Quantification of infection with Schistosoma haematobium in relation to epidemiology and selective population chemotherapy. I. Minimal number of daily egg counts in urine necessary to establish intensity of infection.

The intensity of infection with Schistosoma haematobium (worm burden) can be approximated by quantifying the number of parasite eggs excreted in the urine. A new method of egg counting has been developed in which urine samples are passed through transparent Nuclepore filters (Nuclepore Corp., Pleasanton, Calif.). The method requires no staining, is rapid, and can be performed in the field. It has previously been reported, however, that there is a significant daily fluctuation in output of eggs in the urine of patients with schistosomiasis haematobia. In the present study, daily urine samples were obtained on each of the 10 school days during a 12-day period from 121 schoolchildren in Coast Province, Kenya (total, 10 samples per child). In terms of detecting infection, it was of interest that egg counts of 0 were very rarely recorded for subjects whose mean egg counts were greater than 20/10 ml of urine. When the patients were classified into one of four groups, according to egg count (less than 1, 1--100, 101--400, greater than 400), the proportion correctly classified based on a single urine specimen was 75%; this proportion rose to 78% when the classification was based on two specimens and to 83% with three specimens. Most of the urine specimens that were misclassified belonged in an adjacent group.


Ultrastructure of mononuclear phagocytes developing in liquid bone marrow cultures. A study on peroxidatic activity.

Monoblasts, promonocytes, and macrophages in in vitro cultures of murine bone marrow were studied ultrastructurally, with special attention to peroxidatic activity. Monoblasts show peroxidatic activity in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear envelope as well as in the granules. The presence of peroxidatic activity in the Golgi apparatus could not be determined. Promonocytes have peroxidase-positive rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, nuclear envelope, and granules, as previously reported. During culture, cells are formed with peroxidatic activity similar to that of monocytes or exudate macrophages (positive granules; negative Golgi apparatus, RER, and nuclear envelope); we call these cells early macrophages. In addition, transitional macrophages with both positive granules and positive RER, nuclear envelope, negative Golgi apparatus (as in exudate- resident macrophages in vivo), and mature macrophages with peroxidatic activity only in the RER and nuclear envelope (as in resident macrophages in vivo) were found. A considerable number of cells without detectable peroxidatic activity were also encountered. Our finding that macrophages with the peroxidatic pattern of monocytes (early macrophages), exudate-resident macrophages (transitional macrophages), and resident macrophages (mature macrophages), develop in vitro from proliferating precursor cells deriving from the bone marrow, demonstrates once again that resident macrophages in tissues originate from precursor cells in the bone marrow. Therefore, this conclusion can no longer be challenged on the basis of a cytochemical difference between monocytes and exudate macrophages on the one hand and resident macrophages on the other.


The induction of macrophage spreading by factor B of the properdin system.

Unstimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages attached to a glass substratum responded to activated human factor B (Bb) of the properdin system but not to native factor B with rapid spreading and a concomitant increase in their apparent surface area. Excellent correlation of the distribution of Bb protein and cell-spreading activity was found upon purification of Bb by ion-exchange and molecular seive chromatography and alkaline polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 1.6 microgram of purified Bb was sufficient to induce spreading in 50% of 5 x 10(4) glass attached macrophages within 1-2 h at 37 degrees C. Treatment of Bb with di-isopropyl-fluorophosphate indicated that the intact catalytic site of the serine-proteinase Bb was required for the initiation of macrophage spreading. The involvement of factor B in the induction of rapid cell spreading could also be indirectly demonstrated in an autologous system in which F(ab')2 fragments of an antiserum to mouse B prevented mouse macrophages from spreading in response to complement-activated mouse serum. These experiments suggest a role for factor B and the alternative pathway of complement fixation in the localization of mononuclear phagocytes to areas of inflammation.


A hundred years of gemellology.

Over the past hundred years, since Sir Francis Galton first pointed out its scientific value, the study of twins has considerably widened its scope and significance. Gemellology has come to represent an important branch of human genetics and to be applied to the most diverse fields of biomedical and behavioral research, besides obviously contributing to the study of the specific biological, medical, and psychological aspects of the twin condition. More recently, then, it has in turn originated a new branch of modern genetic research, chronogenetics. Finally, sponsored and coordinated by the Mendel Institute in Rome, an International Society for Twins Studies has developed.


A biological approach to two forms of human self-injury.

One hundred cases of self-injury, comprising 39 self-cutters and 61 self-poisoners, were interviewed when they became able to describe the act: 83 in a casualty department, 17 in a hospital. Standardized recordings were made of their feeling state before and after the act, together with an account of the social circumstances under which it occurred. The information was obtained in a way which allowed comparison with existing animal data on self-injury, although comparisons were made between what is known of animal behavior in this area and human feelings as reported by these subjects. The results indicate similarities between what is known of animal self-injury and self-cutting in man in the form of the injury, in the social situation preceding the act, and in the agitation preceding it. Similarities also exist, but are less close, for the self-poisoners. The most obvious effect of the act is a reduction in tension; this may constitute its physiological value.


Platelet-associated immunoglobulin G in childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Childhood ITP is an acquired hemorrhagic disorder with a heterogeneous clinical course. We measured PAIgG levels in 20 children with ITP (7 acute, 13 chronic). Both groups had significantly greater PAIgG values than age-matched normal subjects and thrombocytopenic controls (P less than 0.001). In addition, PAIgG values in chronic ITP were significantly lower than those in acute ITP (P less than 0.003). Serial PAIgG values were obtained in some patients; most returned to normal in association with clinical recovery. The measurement of PAIgG is useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of childhood ITP. PAIgG values may assist in differentiating acute and chronic disease in children.


Gametogenesis and fertilization in Rhabdias ranae Walton 1929: I. The parasitic hermaphrodite.

The somatic, diploid, and haploid chromosome numbers were determined in the hermaphrodite (24, 12, eggs 6, spermatozoa 5 or 6). Oocytes in the ovary synapsis zone contain 6 tetrads. The tetrads seem to disappear in the growth zone and reappear in the oocyte just prior to fertilization. After sperm penetration, the tetrads move to the periphery and form 2 polocytes by rapid meiotic divisions. Spermatogenesis occurs in the testis zone. Primary spermatocytes show 5 large tetrads and 2 small heterochromosomal dyads which lag on the spindle during division. Each resultant secondary spermatocyte has 1 small and 5 large dyads. In the equational division, one of the lagging heterochromosomes (X) is lost in a small cytophore as cytokinesis occurs. Two spermatids are produced, one with 5 chromosomes and the other with 6 chromosomes. Fertilization occurs in the seminal receptacle and results in either free-living males (2N = 11) or females (2N = 12).


Development of functional dependence on ethanol in dopaminergic systems.

Withdrawal of mice from chronic ethanol treatment results in a decreased responsiveness of striatal (but not mesolimbic) dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity to stimulation by dopamine. This subsensitivity is not apparent at the time of withdrawal from chronic feeding of ethanol, when animals are still intoxicated, but becomes evident as ethanol is eliminated from the animals. Addition of ethanol in vitro to tissue homogenates from ethanol-withdrawn animals, at concentrations similar to those found in brain at the time of withdrawal, normalizes the response of the adenylate cyclase to dopamine. No difference is evident between control and ethanol-withdrawn animals in stimulation of adenylate cyclase by sodium fluoride. The specificity of the response of striatal adenylate cyclase to stimulation by dopamine, as compared to other transmitters, is unaltered by chronic ethanol feeding. Chronic treatment with ethanol and withdrawal also does not affect the specific binding of spiroperidol in either striatal or mesolimbic regions. It is suggested that the decreased response of adenylate cyclase to dopamine in ethanol-withdrawn animals results from decreased efficiency of coupling between dopamine "receptor" sites and catalytic units of adenylate cyclase.


Desmosome-like structures between tumor cells and endothelial cells in choriocarcinoma heterotransplanted into the nude mouse: a preliminary report.

Tumor cells obtained from the metastatic focus of the lung of a 51-year-old woman with choriocarcinoma were transplanted in the subcutaneous tissue of the nude mouse and studied with an electron microscope. At the junctional zone between the tumor and the invaded cells a desmosome-like structure, between the transplanted tumor cells and endothelial cells, was observed in the nude mouse. Although this finding seems quite unusual, it may be related to the unique character of the early trophoblast.


Congenital anophthalmos. Ultrasonographic diagnosis of congenital anophthalmos.

Congenital anophthalmos must be differentiated from "clinical anophthalmos" where blepharophimosis renders examination of the contents of the orbit impossible. Ultrasonographic examination of these orbits can be performed for documentation of the total absence of cyst-like ocular structures without the need for examination under anesthesia and surgical exploration. Two cases of true anophthalmos have recently been seen by us and the diagnosis confirmed ultrasonographically.


A hypoglossal reflex elicited by mechanical stimulation of the mandibular mucosa in the cat.

Electromyographic responses of extrinsic tongue muscle motor units to innocuous mechanical stimulation of the mandibular mucosa were studied in urethane-chloralose anesthetized cats. The mechanical stimulation either excited or inhibited spike discharges in some extrinsic tongue muscle motor units when applied to the alveolar gingival musosa on the lingual side. Excitatory receptive fields of styloglossal motor units were predominantly ipsilateral, and the molar and second premolar gingivae were the most effective. In contrast, excitatory receptive fields of hyoglossal motor units were predominantly contralateral, the molar gingiva being most effective. In genioglossal motor units, only the ipsilateral alveolar gingiva was excitatory, while ipsi- and/or contralateral alveolar gingivae were inhibitory. The inhibitory receptive field was located in the molar and/or second premolar alveolar gingivae. When an anesthetic spray was applied to the mucosal surface, the reflex response completely disappeared, indicating its origin to be located in the stimulated gingival mucosa. After cutting the lingual nerve, reflex responses to mechanical stimulation of the premolar and molar gingival mucosa was abolished. It was concluded that the premolar and molar gingival mucosa constitutes a part of the afferent source for the linguo-hypoglossal reflex.


[Aggravating test by objective audiometry (author's transl)].

ERA is used in 87 cases of suspect aggravation of hearing loss. The late evoked potentials are important additional audiological facts which increase the security of audiological decisions in valuation of the hearing loss level. If there is no full accord of audiological facts, then should be noted beside permanent stubborn aggravation also possibility of absent central information processing.


Denaturation of mouse satellite DNA upon melting of chromatin in solution.

The denaturation of mouse satellite DNA upon melting of chromatin in solution of low ionic strength has been studied. A procedure for preparation of partially denaturated chromatin was developed which enabled the isolation of double-stranded (non-denatured) DNA sequences according to their thermal stability in chromatin. The content of mouse satellite DNA in these DNA sequences was determined by hybridization with RNA, complementary to satellite DNA in order to find the temperature interval of denaturation of satellite DNA. It was found that the melting temperature of satellite DNA in chromatin was lower than that of the total DNA. The results are discussed in relation to previously reported anomalous behaviour of satellite DNA upon melting of chromatin on hydroxyapatite.


The effect of caffeine on post-replication repair and survival in two L5178Y cell lines with different sensitivities to UV irradiation.

2 Strains of murine lymphoma L5178Y cells that varied from the point of view of sensitivity to UV irradiation (mean lethal doses: 3.6 and 8.5 J/m2 for L5178Y-R and L5178Y-S cells, respectively) also differed with respect to sensitization by caffeine. L5178Y-S cells were sensitized to UV irradiation by 0.75 mM caffeine, whereas in the same conditions L5178Y-R cells were not sensitized. Sedimentation analysis of the newly synthesized DNA indicated UV-induced gap formation in L5178Y-S cells only. The subsequent gap filling was inhibited by caffeine. Exposure to UV irradiation induced no gaps in L5178Y-R cells. However, when caffeine was added immediately after irradiation, DNA with reduced molecular weight was found in irradiated cells of both strains after a 2-h chase. On the other hand, caffeine inhibited elongation of undamaged DNA strands in neither of the 2 cell strains.


Deformities of chick embryos in experimental Akabane virus infection.

A material containing 10(3.0) approximately 10(5.0) TCID50 of Akabane virus was inoculated into 6-day-old chick embryos by the yolk sac route. Death of embryos did not increase in the course of embryonic development till 18 days of age, as compared with control groups. Later than 18 days of age, however, the numbers of dead and peeping but unhatched embryos increased, making the hatching rate significantly low. Deformities, such as arthrogryposis and hydranencephaly, appeared in almost all the dead and unhatched embryos. They were severe in dead embryos, considerably severe in peeping unhatched embryos, and comparatively mild, though highly frequent, in affected hatched chicks. Many of the hatched chicks manifested ataxia, abnormal gait, astasia, or tremor of body or legs separately or together. Virus growth was demonstrated in chick embryos inoculated at 7 days of age. The virus titer was the highest (10(3.25 approximately 10(3.75) TCID50/O.1g) in head, trunk, and muscle, and the second highest (10(2.0) approximately 10(2.5) in brain, heart, and other visceral organs. It was the highest (10(4.0) approximately 10(4.5)) in muscle and a mixture of cerebellum and brain stem in embryos inoculated at 8 days of age.


Composition and histological observations of enlarged pancreases of chicks adapted to raw soybean meal diets.

Chicks fed raw soybean meal (RSBM) as a sole protein source developed a significantly enlarged pancreas as compared to chicks fed heated soybean meal. No difference in DNA, RNA and protein content was observed, but the number of acinar cells was significantly higher in pancreases of chicks fed RSBM, after 14 and 28 days of feeding. Histological and ultrastructural analyses revealed that the enlargement of the pancreas resulted both from the hyperplasmic increase in the number of acinar cells and from the dilution of the acini by intercellular connective tissue and the appearance of cytopathogenetic areas.


Congenital abnormalities in newborns of consanguineous and nonconsanguineous parents.

The aim of this study was to determine the types, patterns, and frequencies of congenital anomalies among newborns of both consanguineous and nonconsanguineous parents in southern Iran. From 9526 consecutive pregnancies observed, 9623 newborns resulted (9431 singleton and 95 sets of multiple gestation). There were 7261 newborns from nonconsanguineous parents and 2362 (24.5%) babies from consanguineous marriages. Of the total pregnancies, 1.54% resulted in malformed children (1.53% of singleton and 2.1% of multiple gestations). The incidence of congenital abnormalities in newborns of nonconsanguineous parents was 1.66% as compared to 4.02% for newborns of the consanguineous group. Major and multiple malformations were found to be slightly more common in the consanguinous group. Prematurity, prenatal mortality rate, and congenital abnormalities were more common in the consanguineous group. Probably the closer the familial relationship of the parents, the greater the chances of congenital abnormalities.


Coexistent empty sella and prolactin-secreting microadenoma.

The empty sella turcica may be found in people with no antecedent history of intracranial disease, as well as in those with known pituitary pathology or following therapy to the pituitary gland. We have evaluated 3 women with galactorrhea and hyperprolactinemia, 2 of whom had amenorrhea. Each had an empty sella. In all cases polytomograms demonstrated asymmetry of the sella floor with focal bony erosion, conventional pneumoencephalography showed intrasellar air, and polytomographic pneumoencephalography confirmed air limited to one side of the pituitary fossa with tumor and/or residual normal tissue on the opposite side. In 2 patients who had extensive endocrine evaluation, pituitary function was normal with the exception of hyperprolactinemia. Transsphenoidal excision of microadenomas resulted in postoperative normalization of the serum prolactin concentration and resumption of regular menses in the previously amenorrheic women.


The effect of  vitamins A, E and K on experimentally induced histomoniasis in turkeys.

Vitamins A, E and K were incorporated into turkey starter rations at normal (1 x ), 5 x and 50 x the National Research Council recommended vitamin levels and evaluated for their effect on histomoniasis in turkeys. Infected as well as comparable unifected poults were included in all trials. Each vitamin was also evaluated at normal and 50 x the NRC level in combination with ipronidazole, a low-level antihistomonal agent. In addition to performance parameters, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) plasma enzyme levels were used to evaluate the vitamin effect. None of the vitamins tested alone were found to be effective in terms of reducing mortality and morbidity following a severe Histomonas meleagridis challenge, regardless of the vitamin dose. A significant improvement in performance was demonstrated with the vitamin E (50 X)--ipronidazole combination and a numerical improvement with the vitamin A (50 X)--ipronidazole combination over ipronidazole alone or the poults fed NRC recommended vitamin levels. The GOT and LDH plasma enzyme levels correlated well with the progressive pathological changes associated with the disease. At 11 days post-infection both enzymes were consistently and significantly elevated above those of the uninfected controls, irrespective of the vitamin levels provided. The presence of low ipronidazole in most instances delayed the onset of clinical symptoms and was associated with a delay in enzyme elevation, indicating the excellent correlation and sensitivity of the enzyme method in assessing liver damage.


Microautoradiographic studies on the cellular localization of radiothallium.

201Tl-chloride and 204Tl-nitrate were similarly distributed in organs of mice 10 min and 60 min after intravenous injection. Autoradiographic studies were carried out with 204Tl-nitrate in rats (injected intraperitoneally) as well as in mice and dogs (injected intravenously). Thallium localized in the cells of proximal and distal convoluted tubules and collecting tubules of the kidney. In the intestines, it was distributed mostly in the cells of the smooth musculature and surface epithelium of the villi. Some silver grains were seen in the goblet cells and in the lumen as well. It localized in the sarcoplasm of the myocardium and the skeletal muscle cells. In thyroid, most of the thallium was seen in the colloidal part of the follicle. In testes, silver grains were seen in and around the cells of Sertoli and in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. Some localized concentration in the interstitial cells of the testes was also observed.


EEG and other effects of naltrexone and heroin in man.

This paper reviews older results on EEG and behavioral effects of heroin and opiate antagonists in exaddicts, and presents new findings on the effects of naltrexone in men who have never been addicted. Ten normal volunteers were given on three separate occasions placebo, 50 mg or 100 mg of naltrexone. The average alpha frequency was significantly slower after naltrexone than after placebo. Naltrexone elicited a significant reduction of breathing rate and oral temperature. Those results indicate that naltrexone does not act as a pure narcotic antagonist in non-addicted men.


Surgical management of silicone mastitis.

The results of the operative treatment of 22 cases of silicone mastitis are presented. Moderate involvement can usually be managed successfully by local excision of the masses, or by a subcutaneous mastectomy with later reconstruction. Patients with severe skin infiltration and/or pectoral muscle involvement are prone to complications, however, and we now believe an aggressive approach--such as a complete mastectomy with nipple banking and excision of the infiltrated muscle, might be best. This would allow the later reconstruction to proceed in relatively uninvolved tissue, and prevent the problems of recurrent inflammation from placing bag-gel prostheses in a residual bed of silicone-infiltrated tissue.


A possible genetic contribution to the alexithymia trait.

Alexithymic characteristics were studied in 15 monozygotic and 18 like-sex dizygotic healthy young twin pairs in a semistructured interview. Variance analysis showed larger within-pair variances in the dizygotic than in the monozygotic twins. With some reservations, these results point to a genetic influence on the etiology of the alexithymic phenomenon.


[Clinical and EMG study of botulism (case report) (author's transl)].

The Authors describe the clinical and electromyographic findings of a case of botulism with complete recovery. Therapy was based on anti-cholynesterasic drugs, on guanidine (at dosage of 30 mg/kg/day) and on antibotulinic serum. The neuromuscular transmission was assessed with the Desmedt's test: during the disease the EMG showed a tipical pattern of facilitation of motor units potentials during stimulation at 30 per second, becoming normal after recovery.


Activation of the alternative complement pathway by Torulopsis glabrata.

Torulopsis glabrata is a yeast-like fungus with increasing importance as an opportunistic human pathogen. The role of serum complement in resistance to this infection was studied by chemotactic and opsonic assays. The results indicate that T. glabrata activates complement via the alternative pathway. This may be an important mechanism in host immunity to this fungus.


[A new familial muscular disorder demonstrated by the intra-sarcoplasmic accumulation of a granulo-filamentous material which is dense on electron microscopy (author's transl)].

This report concerns a family in which several members presented an involvement of skeletal and velo-pharyngeal muscles, associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, respiratory disturbances and lens opacities. The mode of transmission is autosomal dominant. The E.M.G. showed neither spontaneous activity nor myotonic discharges. In two patients, the muscle biopsies showed identical changes. By light microscopy it was seen that in numerous type I fibres, the intermyofibrillar network was "rubbed out" and this occurred along with splitting of such fibres. Electron microscopy revealed an intrasarcoplasmic accumulation of an electron-dense granulo-filamentous material: in some areas it formed a mesh of threads around the myofibrils and in others it was disposed regularly in small stacks facing the Z lines. Continuity or structural similarity of this material and the Z lines was not observed; its relationship with the dense strips of leptofibrils is suggested.


Innervation of scar tissue in the skin of the rat.

In this study the reinnervation of scar tissue was investigated histochemically to demonstrate catecholamine fluorescence and nonspecific cholinesterase activity. The scarring was produced by healing and contraction of a defect in the dorsal skin of the rat. The first regenerating nerves showing nonspecific cholinesterase activity were observed in the scar four weeks postoperatively. Throughout the investigation period, that is up to twenty weeks after the operation, only free regenerated nerves were found in the scar; no encapsulated nerve endings were observed. No fluorescent adrenergic nerves were found in the dense collagenous part of the scar tissue. Regenerated fluorescent nerves were, however, observed in the loose regenerated connective tissue under the scar. Most of these nerves followed the course of blood vessels. In the present work a vigorous contraction of the scar tissue was noted and a poor innervation of the scar tissue with free nerves was observed. The role of these regenerated nerve endings in sensory discrimination, and the importance of different transmitters acting in the sensory system are discussed.


Scanning electron microscopy of exfoliated malignant and non-malignant human urothelial cells.

Midstream urine samples were taken from 35 patients with histologically diagnosed urinary bladder carcinoma, from 27 patients without history or sign of malignancy or infection in the urinary tract, and from eight patiens with cystitis. The urine was filtered through Millipore filters, or Nuclepore filters, pore size 5.0 microns, on which the cells were caught. From the same patients biopsies were obtained from different anatomic regions of the urinary bladders as well as from the carcinomas that were present. The filters and the biopsies were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The exfoliated cells trapped on the filters were in good morphological condition. Idential characteristics of the cell surface morphology were recognized in the biopsies and the exfoliated cells from each patient. In non-malignant cases the cells displayed the regional morphological charcteristics of the urinary bladder. Bacteria and an increased number of red and white blood cells were attached to the cell surface of numerous exfoliated cells in patients with cystitis, but no pleomorphic microvilli were detected in these patients. In cases of malignancy exfoliated cells with pleomorphic microvilli on their surface were detected. A large majority of the exfoliated cells shed in the urine with pleomorphic microvilli on their surfaces still retained enough regional surface characteristics to determine their origin. Some of the cells were completely covered with pleomorphic microvilli and it was impossible to determine their origin.


The urethral pressure profiles in continent and stress-incontinent women.

Simultaneous urethrocystometry, including recording of the urethral pressure profile, was performed in 127 women aged 30 to 69 years; 42 of the women were free from urologic disorders and 85 had stress incontinence of urine. Both groups were subgrouped according to age. The results in the continent and the incontinent women were analyzed separately, in order to disclose any age-related changes. The data within each decade of age were also comparatively analyzed. In the bladder pressure at rest no age-related changes were found, and the readings were similar in the continent and the incontinent women. The maximum urethral pressure fell significantly with rising age in both groups and was significantly reduced in stress incontinence. The urethral closure pressure showed variations similar to those in the maximum urethral pressure. No lower limit of urethral closure pressure that definitely predisposed to stress incontinence could be established. The functional length of the urethra diminished significantly with rising age in the continent, but not in the incontinent women. The absolute length of the urethra did not show such diminution. Both the functional and the absolute urethral length were significantly less in the incontinent than in the continent women in the age groups between 30 and 49 years.


Protein deficiency and tribal warfare in Amazonia: new data.

Increasing numbers of anthropological studies about native Amazonian warfare and demographic practices attempt to explain these phenomena as competition over or a response to scarce game animals and other sources of high-quality protein. Recently completed field research among the Yanomamö Indians living at the Venezuela-Brazil border indicates that their protein intake is comparable to that found in highly developed industrialized nations and as much as 200 percent more than many nutritional authorities recommend as daily allowances. Recent data on other Amazonian tribes likewise fails to indicate a correlation between protein intake and intensity of warfare patterns.


Accessory optic projections upon oculomotor nuclei and vestibulocerebellum.

Displaced retinal ganglion cells in birds are the sole source of the retinal projection onto the nucleus of the basal optic root, the main component of the accessory optic system. This nucleus has direct bilateral axonal projections onto the oculomotor nuclear complex, the trochlear nucleus- and folia IXc,d and paraflocculus of the vestibulocerebellum. The cerebellar projection terminates within a superficial band of the granule cell layer adjacent to the Purkinje cell layer as a mossy fiber system. This bisynaptic projection onto oculomotor neurons and the cerebellum may play a functionally distinct and specific role in oculomotor reflexes.


Hormone changes triggered by aggression in a natural population of blackbirds.

The concentrations of hormones in the plasma of male red-winged blackbirds caught at the height of an aggressive encounter are significantly different from those in males that have not recently engaged in aggressive behavior. Concentrations of luteinizing hormone in the plasma are decreased in the aggressive males, whereas androgen concentrations are affected in a more complex manner. Concentrations of corticoids do not appear to be affected by aggressive behavior.


Hybridization properties of human X-chromosomal RNA transcripts from murine--human hybrids.

A human--mouse hybrid cell line which has retained the human X chromosome and a fragment of chromosome 2 contains RNA sequences transcribed from human DNA. Nuclear RNA enriched for human sequences was prepared from this hybrid cell line by a multistep hybridization procedure to mouse and human DNA immoblized on nitrocellulose filters. The properties of this RNA were analyzed by RNA--DNA hybridization techniques. The results indicate that we have prepared a RNA fraction enriched for sequences homologous to repeated DNA sequences of the human X chromosome.


Pentose-utilizing variants of Novikoff hepatoma cells: phenotypic characterization.

Forty-three independent variants of the Novikoff hepatoma cell line have been isolated for their ability to use D-xylose, D-ribose, and/or L-arabinose as a sole carbon and energy source. The variants exhibited marked morphological changes and a loss or decrease of cloning efficiency in soft agar. The xylose and arabinose variants showed similar phenotypes while the ribose variants were a phenotypically heterogenous group. Two major classes of variants were found with regard to their specificity for pentoses: one class could grow on ribose, xylose, or arabinose, while the second class grew only on ribose. The lack of specificity for pentose use was correlated with the ability to use pentitols for growth. The frequency of pentose-utilizing clones was 5 X 10(-2) to 10(-3), and nitrosoguanidine treatment increased this frequency tenfold. Fluctuation analyses showed the appearance of pentose-utilizing variants to be a random event. Of the variants examined, 84% expressed a stable pentose phenotype, and of those, 6% were cold sensitive and 8% were temperature sensitive for pentose utilization. In addition to the suggested mutational basis for the pentose phenotype, two variants showed a large increase in chromosome number from 73 +/- 3 to 132 +/- 10.


The differentiation of the columella in avian embryos treated with hadacidin with some observations on other skeletal abnormalities.

Single doses of N-formyl hydroxyaminoacetic acid (hadacidin) were injected into chick embryos HH stages 5-30. Embryos surviving for 8+ days total incubation time were recovered and examined for gross and microscopically observable defects. Particular attention was paid to the development of the columella. Survival was only 20%, but a high incidence of cranio-facial and hind limb defects was observed in most age groups. While three categories of columella defect were observed, reflecting some degree of age dependency, this chondrogenic tissue is less susceptible to teratogenic action than other skeletal tissues. The types of columella defect observed are interpreted in the light of a model of cellular interactions in fenestra vestibularis differentiation presented previously. It is concluded that hadacidin produces abnormalities of skeletal differentiation by disrupting morphogenetic, rather than the initiative phases of development of particular elements.


Plasma pepsinogen levels in some experimental infections of Ostertagia ostertagi in cattle.

Two groups of calves were infected with larvae of Ostertagia ostertagi to establish large numbers of adults and arrested larvae. In one group symptoms of ostertagiasis were seen and there was a loss of three months growth; in the other, in which adult worms were removed by a single anthelmintic treatment, there was only a transient reduction in live-weight gain. Plasma pepsinogen levels were however the same in the two groups and followed the same course. Even after 25 weeks, when calves had been growing normally for up to three months, plasma pepsinogen values were still around 5 iu per litre, well above the level generally regarded as diagnostic of ostertagiasis. The relevance of these findings to the use of the test in the diagnosis of ostertagiasis is discussed. The literature is reviewed.


The oestrous cycle of the camel (Camelus dromedarius).

Thirty-five complete oestrous cycles were studied in five nonpregnant camels (Camelus dromedarius) over a period of 15 months. The oestrous cycle did not have a luteal phase. During the cycle of 28 days the ovarian activity was strictly follicular. Follicles matured in six days, maintained their size for 13 days and regressed in eight days. Ovulation was non-spontaneous and required the stimulus of coitus. Manual stimulation of the cervix for 15 minutes did not induce ovulation. The external manifestations of the oestrous cycle as well as the changes in the ovaries and the genital tract were also studied.


[Influence of an active attitude towards induction of labour, on the occurrence of pathological amniotic fluid - a comparison of the birth years 1967 and 1976 (author's transl)].

An analysis was made of discolored amniotic fluid when our attitude changed towards artificial birth induction. Whereas during 1967 only 8.2% of all births were induced, the total birth inductions during the second comparable year increased to 23.5%. This active interference at the end of the gestation period made it possible to reduce the occurrence of discolored amniotic fluid cases from 13.6% to 6.4%. It was thereby established that the lowered perinatal mortality was partially due to this very significantly reduced occurrence of discolored amniotic fluid. The increased surgical termination of pregnancy, in this group lowered the infant mortality from 2,1% to 0,9%. Based on our observations we feel that in a secured gestation period close to the end of term, active obestrical interference is indicated and in cases of discolored amniotic fluid immediate assistance in terminating the pregnancy is required.


[New types of canned meats for infant and dietetic nutrition].

In line with the current concept for a balanced nutrition and physiological-biochemical peculiarities of the child's organism a raw meat was selected, formulations and technology of fabricating canned goods of meat and edible viscera of three degrees of communition for three age groups of children were elaborated. An approbation made in pediatric and medical establishments justified recommending inclusion of all the kinds of these canned meat in the ration of infants aged up to one year, and of the homogenized ones- also for dietetic consumption.


[Borderline cases in law and medicine (author's transl)].

Medical problems and their solution may call for consideration of legal consequences in advance, as medical action can result in a violation of the penal code. This is illustrated in the case of homoiotransplantation, using fetal kidneys, which leads to prolicide without abortion (96, 97 StGB) and the surgical separation of Siamese twins an unpaired common organ. The predictable death of one constitutes the fact of murder (75 StGB) while prolicide is possible under the regulations of the Austrian penal code.


[Non-invasive cerclage using supportive pessaries for prevention and therapy of premature birth].

It was told about a pessary, with the help of which could be done an excellent therapy and prophylaxis of the threatening of a partus prämaturus imminens in cervixinsufficiency. To make use of it is very simple. With the help of this method one could lower the rate of miscarriages to 3,6% in comparison to a period without cerclage or pessary, when the rate of premature children was 6,6%.


[Weight distribution of live births in the GDR (German Democratic Republic) in 1973].

Birth-weight-distributiones of life-borns in the GDR in 1973 show differences in all parameters as in sex of children as in professional qualification of women at the time of confinement. The results indicate the necessity to take norms of birth-weight as changeable in time and locality. It is necessary to actualize these norms continuously.


Are prostaglandins involved in the regulation of coronary blood flow? A review of the evidence.

Prostaglandins (PG's) fulfil most of the criteria required for the metabolic "coupler" linking increases in myocardial activity with increases in coronary blood flow. They are synthesized by the heart and coronary vessels, profoundly modify coronary blood flow in low concentrations and are released under conditions of hypoxia and myocardial ischaemia. Studies with inhibitors of PG-synthetase however provide no firm evidence that PG's are involved in the physiological regulation of myocardial blood flow. These studies are reviewed.


Hypertension-induced protein leakage in the brain in ethanol-intoxicated conscious and anesthetized rats.

Ethanol has been shown to aggravate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction in cerebral trauma and in cerebral gas embolism, possibly by changing the endothelial cell membrane. No difference in protein extravasation was found between intoxicated and control rats under nitrous oxide anesthesia after the injection of bicuculline, a drug that hemodynamically gives rise to high blood pressure in combination with cerebral vasodilatation. In contrast there was a statistically significant increase in protein leakage in conscious intoxicated rats. The fact that ethanol increased the vulnerability only in conscious rats might indicate that nitrous oxide and ethanol have a common effect on the endothelial cell membranes or that nitrous oxide neutralizes an action of ethanol. Protein leakage induced by acute hypertension is more severe in rats anesthetized with nitrous oxide than in conscious rats, a difference that might to some extent be related to an effect of nitrous oxide on the endothelial cells. Further studies are needed to evaluate the influence of ethanol and nitrous oxide on the endothelial cell membrane.


Role of prolonged breast feeding in infant growth.

The growth of 238 healthy full-term infants was followed under a carefully monitored nutritional protocol during the first year of life. The infants were weaned at different ages either to a proprietary infant milk formula or to a home-prepared cow's milk formula. Solid foods were introduced at 3.5 months of age. The 56 infants who were breast-fed for a period of at least 6 months were compared to infants weaned prior to one month of age to one of the two milk regimens. In the breast-fed infants, the weight, weight-for-height-age, and skinfold thickness were similar to values in the proprietary formula-fed infants but were lower than the corresponding values in the cow's milk-fed infants at 6 months of age and subsequently. By using weight-for-height-age as a criterion, no obesity was found among any of the 238 infants, and only 1.7% were considered to be overweight. The results indicate that present recommendations for infant feeding in Finland--including prolonged breast feeding, the use of proprietary milk formulas after weaning, and later introduction of solid foods--prevent overnutrition.


Congenital ascites due to mesenteric vessel constriction caused by malrotation of the intestines.

A newborn premature girl with congenital, non-chylous ascites is presented. The ascites recurred although laparocentesis was performed three times. The ascites was probably due to a superior mesenteric vein constriction caused by a malrotation of the intestines. After division of the Ladd-bands no ascites recurred. Non-chylous, congenital ascites may have a surgically treatable cause.


In mice aggressive behavior provokes vast increase in plasma renin concentration, causing only slight, if any, increase in blood pressure.

In mice aggressive behaviour causes a vast release of renin, which can result in about 600-fold increase in plasma renin concentration, reaching 6 Goldblatt Units, corresponding to 15 microgram renin per ml. This increase is mainly due to release of submaxillary renin, but there is also a significantly increased renal renin release. The degree of renin release is influenced by the duration of the aggression and by previous contact with other mice. Contrasting with the vast increase in plasma renin the blood pressure is normal or only moderately increased. This disproportion is not due to the depletion of renin substrate, caused by the increased renin, as shown by the increased calculated renin activity, as well as by decrease in blood pressure elicited by blockade of the renin system. Nor is the disproportion due to change in the sensitivity of the vessels to angiotensin II, the cause of this lack of tachyphylaxis being unknown. By way of exclusion the lack of pronounced increase in blood pressure can be explained by homeostatic function of the cardiovascular reflexes, which may also account for the fact that the pressor response after injection of pure submaxillary renin is only short, contrasting with a prolonged marked increase in plasma renin concentration.


Supratentorial haemangioblastoma. Case report.

A case of supratentorial haemangioblastoma is presented. Diagnostic examinations, including computerized axial tomography, were not accurate. Histological examination of the removed tissue disclosed the correct diagnosis. Supratentorial haemangioblastomas are very rare tumours. We describe a case with regard to preoperative neuroradiological investigations, computerized axial tomography, and final histological diagnosis.


Response of anamnestic IgA-producing cells in the mouse gut after repeated intragastric immunization.

1) Repeated intragastric immunization after a 90-day interval results in a local immunologic memory. 2) Repeated intragastric immunization does not induce the same circulation of gut lymphocytes as does the initial oral immunization. 3) Measurement of circulating antibodies is a poor criterion for gauging the local immune status. 4) A gastric intubation dose of 4 X 10(9) SRBC given daily for 4 days appears to be suboptimal for the induction of a local immune response.


Regulation by sex hormones of immunoglobulins in rat uterine and vaginal secretions.

1) Uterine and vaginal IgA and IgG levels are under estradiol control and vary independently of serum levels. Estradiol regulation does not require the presence of an intact hypothalamo-pituitary axis. 2) The stimulatory effects of estradiol on IgA and IgG in the uterus and the inhibitory effects observed in the vagina depend on both dose and duration of treatment. 3) The changes in IgA and IgG levels in the genital tract of castrate animals following the administration of estradiol are consistent with those that take place spontaneously during the estrous cycle.


Epidemiology of St. Louis encephalitis and other acute encephalitides.

Cases of acute encephalitis reported to the CDC are divided into five groups: arboviral (8% of the 1965 to 1974 total), enteroviral (2%), post-infection (25%), encephalitis due to other known agents (3%), and encephalitis of indeterminate etiology (62%). With increased use of live virus vaccines against measles, mumps, and rubella, postinfection encephalitis has decreased, and SLE had become one of the most common preventable encephalitides in the United States. In 1975 SLE virus caused at least 1,791 cases of encephalitis, 42% of the reported total. In addition, the age distribution of persons with encephalitis of indeterminate etiology suggests that SLE virus may be an important contributor to that caegory during the summer months. The warm-weather transmission cycle of the SLE virus is well established. The reservoir is birds. The principal vector is the peridomestic C. pipiens mosquito in the Midwest and South and the rural C. tarsalis in the West. Man is an incidental and dead-end host. The winter reservoir is unknown. Human illness occurs in the summer. Asymptomatic human infections are about 200 times more common than symptomatic infections. Clinical attack rates and severity of illness increase with age. Case-fatality ratios of 35 to 38% have been reported for persons 60 years of age and older. For unknown reasons, SLE virus causes periodic major epidemics. The epidemics are more noticeable and better studied in major cities, but they probably affect rural areas as well. SLE is more common in areas of the country with warm climates. Epidemics in the North, when they occur, begin later but are of the same duration as epidemics in the South. Presumably, large epidemics of SLE can be prevented by mosquito control programs. Cumbersome and possibly insensitive diagnostic techniques impair our evaluation and understanding of SLE and other encephalitides. Insufficient information about the factors causing or preceding SLE epidemics impedes successful preventive measures. The use of emergency mosquito control programs after an epidemic has started has not been shown to reduce the number of human cases.


Uniformity of human milk.

Compositon of human milk was studied during the feed in six women, through-out the day in one woman on 3 consecutive days and in three women on 39 occasions during established lactation. The total lipid content varied in the course of suckling as well as diurnally in a regular and predictable manner, but the fatty acid composition of the lipid remained constant and was similar in the subjects examined. Fatty acid pattern of milk lipid of one woman supplementing her diet with unsaturated fats was studied. The changes in the milk lipid compostion, induced by the altered diet, are discussed in relation to the mechanism of milk fat synthesis. The described changes in milk composition are specific and may be physiologically significant. The composition of lipid in milk of mothers on adequate and balanced diet shows only limited fluctuations forming a species-specific pattern. The variations that occur in extreme dietary conditions (malnutrition, undernutrition, supplementation) are not random and can be predicted.


Autoimmune hematologic diseases associated with infraclinical systemic lupus erythematosus in four patients. A human equivalent of the NZB mice.

In four patients with a diagnosis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura antinuclear antibodies and circulating immune complexes (Clq-BA test) have developed at some time in their history. Renal biopsy material was assayed with different methods. Immunofluorescence studies revealed granular deposits of immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and third component of complement (C3). Upon optic microscopy, three patients had mild mesangial proliferation, one a focal glomerulonephritis. Upon electron microscopy, all patients exhibited mesangial and/or subendothelial deposits. The patients have been followed for 18 to 37 years since the beginning of their disease. There has been no clinical evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), although they present in their glomeruli immunologic and anatomic features compatible with this disease. These patients seem to be a human equivalent of the black NZB mouse which presents immunohematologic disorders and some biologic markers of SLE without having a full clinical picture of SLE.


Effect of epinephrine infusion on maternal and uterine oxygen uptake in the pregnant ewe.

Ten chronically instrumented pregnant ewes were studied to assess the effect of an epinephrine-induced decrease in uterine blood flow on the oxygen uptake of the uteroplacental-fetal tissue mass. Additional measurements of maternal cardiac output, oxygen uptake, arterial pressure, and hematocrit were obtained. Continuous systemic infusion of epinephrine at a rate of 0.3 to 0.4 microgram per kilogram per minute produced a mean decrease in uterine blood flow of 42 per cent (288 +/- 15 to 157 +/- 8 ml.per kilogram per minute). However, the oxygen uptake of the uteroplacental-fetal tissue mass remained at control levels due to an associated 79 per cent increase in the arteriovenous oxygen content difference across the uterine circulation. The calorigenic and cardiovascular systemic effects of epinephrine (a 22 per cent increase in maternal oxygen uptake and a 43 per cent increase in maternal cardiac output) were not related to the changes in either uterine flow or oxygen uptake. The implications of these observations are discussed.


Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in the elderly.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was diagnosed in 22 patients above the age of 50 during a seven-year period. There was no female preponderance. Steroid therapy was effective, particularly in preventing hemorrhage and is considered to be the treatment of choice. Splenectomy may be less beneficial than in younger patients with ITP. Complications of the disease and its treatment are minimal.


Ultrastructure of the collagen fibril. I. Some features of the structure of the collagen fibril.

In the human ovary, thyroid gland and in the rat tail tendon the plasma membrane of fibroblasts may "disappear" or "dissolve", leading to a direct contact of the cytoplasm with extracellular space. Extracellular filaments and collagen fibrils may grow directly out of the cytoplasm and from extracellular vesicles and cellular remnants. The filaments are complex structures composed of 3 to 5 subfilaments. Adjacent collagen fibrils are connected with interfibrillar bridges. In the rat tail tendon 2 different types and opposite orientated fibrils are found. After enzymatic treatment it becomes clear that the collagen fibril has a tridimensional organization and is composed of filaments and amorphous cementing matrix. The matrix is easily affected by various enzymes and washed away, revealing thus the inner spiral structure of the fibril.


The milk ejection of the rat, as a stimulus and a response to the litter.

A finding that the milk ejection of the rat is stimulated effectively only if at least half the pups are suckled is confirmed. This relationship, however, is found if the mother is anaesthetized but not if the mother is conscious. If the mother is conscious, the milk obtained by individual hungry pups is unaffected by the number of other hungry pups suckled. This is true whether the other pups of the litter are removed, or whether they are present but satiated. After the milk ejection, pups tend to leave the mother's nipple. Milk yield decreases with each milk ejection of a series, but getting less milk does not make the pups more likely to leave the nipple in search of another.


Milk precipitins in selective IgA deficiency.

Precipitating antibody to cow milk's antigens (commonly bovine IgM) is found in 40-50% of selective IgA deficient patients. These precipitins may obscure the diagnosis of selective IgA deficiency by formation of anti-antiserum precipitin rings in radial immunodiffusion. Abnormal immunoregulatory function along with excess absorption of milk antigens in the absence of secretory IgA may be predisposing factors. Elimination of dietary cow's milk results in disappearance of these antibodies.


[Gastroesophageal reflux in infancy. The physiological basis of management (author's transl)].

Gastrin has a regulating effect on the complicated closing mechanism of the lower oesophageal sphincter. This hormone produced in G-cells of the pyloric antrum and carried by the blood stream has its greatest effect on the anterior fundus wall, cardias and the lower oesophageal sphincter. Thus, when there is a failure in the closing mechanism of the lower oesophageal sphincter produced by lacking maturity of the oesophageal fibers and the cardias zone, only those surgical procedures using the gastric fundus in order to correct the failure can guarantee a good result, if medical treatment has not been successful. The authors comment on the physiological basis of the treatment, the medical as well as the surgical one, of the gastro-oesophageal reflux.


[Reflections and perspectives on institutional therapy in neurotic depressions].

We have found that an institutional psychothérapy for neurosis could benefit by using elements of the work of Winnicott as well as of the bioenergetic and existential movements. This corresponds to a more and more explicit request from depressed patients who are expecting more from their stay in the hospital than simply to recharge their energy. We thought that our department, because of its size, type of patients, staff and its own orientation would be well adapted to an experience of this kind. In our hospital we try to facilitate in the patient: --regressive experiences; --the perception of "being"; --the symbolic and emotional feeling of the reality of time and place and particularity of the body; --the capacity to repair himself; --playing in the sense of Winnicott: playing with the in and the out (of onesself), the positions of the body, verbal play, play of alternation. --Centering on desire on the interior space, with the capacity to be "alone in the presence on another"; --the discovery of "responsability" and "compassion", also in the sense of Winnicott. We must take into consideration that in order to benefit from this type of therapy, there must be a good enough integration and a pain that is authentically experienced, that is, not acted out, not sutured, and without too many defenses. The results can be appreciated only very subjectively, since improvement is of a qualitative order, in the area of development of being serious existentially. We can perhaps envisage another future for the depressed patient than the interminable repetition of relapses or of beign treated indefinitely. This consists of discovering another way of being, more global, more serious, more authentic (real-self), considering the difficulties involved in the engagement of the realself in an already structured existence.


[Histofluorescence study of epiphyseal monoamines in the garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus L.) during various experimental conditions in hibernation period (author's transl)].

During the hibernation period, the epiphyseal catecholamine charge is well detected in the garden dormouse; it appears more important in darkened animals at 22 degrees C and much less in animals under continuous lighting. Serotoninergic elements have only been shown in animals living under complete darkness. An important catecholaminergic and indolaminergic charge appears in sexually-hypoactive-animals; during ovarian activation after illumination a diminution (of this charge) is observed. In this species, an inverse relation exists between the importance of epiphyseal monoaminergic metabolism and the hypothalamic gonadostimulating catecholamine discharge.


Pharmacokinetics and safety of cefamandole in infants and children.

Cefamandole, a new cephalosporin antibiotic, has greater activity against common pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, and Proteus (including indole-positive strains), than available cephalosporin drugs. We have evaluated the safety and pharmacokinetics of this drug in 30 infants and children. Blood levels and urinary excretion of the drug were similar to those previously found in adults. The only side effects were mild and transient elevation of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase in 12 patients and of blood urea nitrogen in 1 patient in whom serum creatinine remained normal and unchanged.


Thynnascaris rhacodes sp. n. (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea) in fishes from the Israeli Mediterranean coast.

Thynnascaris rhacodes sp. n. infects Pelates quadrilineatus, Solea vulgaris, Boops boops, Lithognathus mormyrus, Obleida melanura, Diplodus vulgaris, D. sargus, and Sparus auratus from the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Unique in that the cuticle on the female tail is wrinkled, the ascaridoid is further characterized by possessing 27 to 35 precloacal papillae, a body length of 11 to 85 mm, similar spicules 3 to 6% of body length, a length-ratio of intestinal cecum to ventricular appendage of 1 : 1 to 5, and lips longer than wide.


The lungs in congenital bilateral renal agenesis and dysplasia.

A detailed quantitative analysis was made of the lungs from 8 infants dying with bilateral renal agenesis or dysplasia. Total lung volume was reduced in all cases, particularly in those with renal agenesis. In both groups there was a reduction in number of airway generations, indicating interference with development at between 12 and 16 weeks' gestation. The alveoli in each acinus were reduced in size and, in some cases, number--although their stage of differentiation was normal for age--pointing to a disturbance of growth during later fetal life also. As liquor is largely non-renal in origin at least up to 16 weeks' gestation, it seems that there are factors other than the oligohydramnios interfering in early lung growth in these cases, such as reduced proline production by the kidney.


Cows' milk protein-sensitive enteropathy: an important contributing cause of secondary sugar intolerance in young infants with acute infective enteritis.

The effect of cows' milk protein (CMP) on the mucosal disaccharidases was investigated in 23 infants with acute infective enteritis. Jejunal biopsies performed before and after cows' milk provocation were subjected to histological examination and to mucosal disaccharidase enzyme (lactase, sucrase, and maltase) analyses. After milk challenge, changes in mucosal histology were observed in 18 infants, in 17 of them the levels of all 3 mucosal disaccharidases were much reduced. 10 of these infants developed diarrhoea and, in 6, the stools were positive for reducing sugar. It is concluded that CMP has a deleterious effect on the jejunal mucosa of young infants recovering from infective enteritis, so that in the management of young infants with sugar intolerance secondary to infective enteritis, CMP and lactose should be excluded from the diet.


Ribulose-peptide in human semen: I. Isolation.

A substance apparently related to a compound consisting of phospho-peptide and ribulose-peptide in the yolk of chick embryos was isolated from acid soluble fractions of human semen by means of Dowex 1 (OH) form column chromatography. The treated precipitate of human semen was examined with an analytical ultracentrifuge by means of synthetic boundary cells and found to be a single component. The sedimentation coefficient was 0.80. The sugar component in the precipitate was identified as ribulose by paper chromatography, color reaction, absorption spectrum of the reaction product in the orcinol, and enzymatic analysis. Amino acids detected in the acid hydrolysate of the precipitate were lysine, histidine, arginine, aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, and leucine. From the above, this substance was determined to be a ribulose-peptide.


Ribulose-peptide in human semen: II. Synthesis.

In order to study the metabolism of a naturally occurring peptide containing D-ribulose in the semen, a pathway of D-ribulose synthesis from radioactively labeled glucose was analyzed. Semen obtained from ten healthy adults was used in this study. The seminal fluid of each person sampled was divided into two equal parts and each one was incubated with glucose-1-14C or glucose-6-14C at room temperature for 1 hr. The rate of incorporation into ribulose from glucose-6-14C was higher than that of glucose-1-14C. This suggests that the ribulose in semen might be converted from glucose through the pentose-phosphate cycle, and incorporated into the ribulose-peptide through an unknown pathway. Incorporation of the labelled 14C was also found in all of the amino acids which were detected in the acid hydrolysate of the ribulose-peptide.


Possible relations between the secretory cycle of the neurosecretory cells in the rat paraventricular nucleus and the estrous cycle.

The ultrastructure of neurosecretory cells in the paraventricular nucleus of the female rat in various stages of the estrous cycle was studied by electron microscopy. On account of the secretory cycle, the neurosecretory neurons were classified into four types, and the incidence of each type was counted throughout the estrous cycle. In proestrous afternoon, neurons at the phase of protein synthesis (Type I neuron) increased in number. In estrus and metestrus, neurons at the phase of granule production (Type II neuron) and granule storage (Type III neuron) increased in number. In diestrus and in early morning of the proestrus, neurons at the phase of granule transport (Type IV neuron) and Herring bodies increased in number and in size. The secretory cycle in the paraventricular nucleus of the female rat was intimately related to the estrous cycle. We also observed the neurons in the supraoptic nucleus, but there were no changes accompanying the estrous cycle.


Pituitary gonadal system function in patients with erectile impotence and premature ejaculation.

The pituitary testicular system was studied in men with psychogenic impotence. Eight patients with primary erectile impotence age 22--36 years, eight men with secondary erectile impotence age 29--55 years, and 16 men with premature ejaculation age 23--43 years were studied. The last group was further divided into two subgroups: E1 (n = 7) patients without and E2 (n = 9) patients with anxiety and avoidance behavior toward coital activity. Sixteen normal adult men age 21--44 served as a control group. Diagnosis was made after psychiatric and physical examinations. Patients complaining primarily of loss of libido were not considered in the study. Ten consecutive blood samples were obtained over a period of 3 hr from each patient. Luteinizing hormone (LH), total testosterone, and free (not protein-bound) testosterone were measured. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between patients and normal controls.


[Multiple developmental defects. The Neu-Povýsilová syndrome].

An observation of Neu-Povýsilová lethal syndrome of multiple congenital malformations and data on 6 cases of this syndrome described in the literature are presented. The main morphological manifestations of the syndrome include markedly manifest prenatal hypoplasia, defects of the CNS and the extremities. The presumed type of heredity is autosomal-recessive.


Problems of infections relating to international travel.

Every year we see an increasing number of people travelling overseas. Whilst many confine their travel to Europe, South East Asia and North America, more and more people are visiting other less familiar countries where diseases not encountered in Australia occur. An awareness of the existence of such diseases and appropriate precautions against them should minimize the risk of infection.


[Surgical treatment of tuberculous pyelic retraction with an ileum segment. Review 16 years after the operation].

This paper starts with an introduction on the urodynamic, biochemical and histological aspects of the ileon in its function as urine conductor, reviewing the factors which justify its use in Urology to replace the tubercular ureter. There follows the clinical and technical description of a patient with pyelic retraction and multiple ureteral stenosis of phymic etiology, who underwent a complete replacement of the ureter and pelvis by a segment of the ileon. The authors then analyse the results obtained according to general controls in the urinary apparatus 16 years after the operation. They come to the conclusion that a well-fitted ileal segment is always preferable to a bad ureter, contributing to the exceptional nature of the mutilation of organs in urinary tuberculosis.


beta-Aspartylglycine, a substance unique to caecal contents of germ-free and antibiotic-treated mice.

The caecal supernatants from germ-free, antibiotic-treated and control mice were compared with respect to their content of low-molecular-weight substances (less than 3500 mol. wt.). The supernatants contained about the same amount of free amino acids. After acid hydrolysis, the caecal supernatants of germ-free and antibiotic-treated mice showed a 2.9-fold increase in free amino acids, whereas a similar treatment of the supernatant from control mice resulted in a 2.6-fold increase. By gel filtration on Sephadex G-25, and high-voltage paper electrophoresis at pH 3.5 of the fractions eluted after the void volume, it was found that the caecal supernatants of germ-free and antibiotic-treated mice contained a substance more acidic than aspartic acid. Preparative high-voltage electrophoresis, dansylation, amino acid analysis and a specific colour reaction showed the substance to be beta-aspartylglycine. After a minimal 36 h of treatment with neomycin and bacitracin, a high concentration of beta-aspartylglycine was found, and no enterococci and aerobic Gram-negative rods could be cultured from the caecal contents. The possibility that in one mouse the appearance of beta-aspartylglycine was related to a decrease in Gram-negative rods was ruled out by selective elimination of aerobic Gram-negative rods by using polymyxin B. This suggests that other bacteria concomitantly eliminated with the enterococci and aerobic Gram-negative rods, directly or indirectly, could play a role in the accumulation of beta-aspartylglycine.


The oestrogen receptor in the rat uterus in relation to intra-uterine devices and the oestrous cycle.

We investigated the binding characteristics, content and intracellular distribution of nuclear and cytosolic oestrogen receptors in the uteri of rats bearing a unilateral intrauterine device, fitted 14--18 days earlier, at four phases of a 5-day oestrous cycle. The patterns of changes in wet weight and content of cytosolic and nuclear receptor that normally occur during the oestrous cycle were not altered by the presence of the device. At all stages of the cycle the intra-uterine-device-containing horn had a greater wet weight and a correspondingly higher content of cytosolic receptor than its contralateral control horn, the cellular concentration of cytosolic receptor being apparently maintained. However, the intra-uterine-device-containing horn had significantly lower cellular concentrations (i.e. per mg of DNA) of nuclear receptor, particularly at late dioestrus and pro-oestrus. Thus the treated horn showed a decreased translocation of receptor in response to increases in circulating oestrogens. Both horns contained equivalent amounts of an activating factor implicated in translocation and measured in vitro by binding of cytosol receptor to oligo(dT)-cellulose. The presence of an intra-uterine device neither altered the dissociation constants (Kd) of the nuclear and cytosolic oestrogen-receptor complexes nor the stability of the nuclear receptor complex in vitro. The decreased translocation cannot thus be directly attributed to changes in the physical properties of the receptor. This decrease may be responsible for the anti-fertility effect of the intra-uterine device (which affects only the treated horn of the bicornuate rat uterus), since implantation of the blastocyst requires correct concentrations of nuclear oestrogen receptor.


[Influence of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate on the responses of isolated coronary arteries to adrenaline, in the presense of pyrogallol].

The effect of PLP on the adrenaline-induced relaxation of coronary arteries was studied in vitro, after known inhibitor of COMT, Pyrogallol. Relaxation of response to adrenaline were increased by PLP. Pyrogallol potentiated responses of coronary strips to adrenaline and also reduced or abolished the enhancing effects of PLP. It is concluded that PLP enhances the response of coronary smooth muscle to adrenaline by inhibiting a enzymatic pathway for the inactivation of catecholamines.


[Influence of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate on responses of isolated coronary arteries to noradrenaline, in the presence of pyrogallol].

The effect of PLP on the noradrenaline-induced relaxation of coronary arteries was studied in vitro, after known inhibitor of COMT, Pyrogallol. Relaxation of response to noradrenaline were increased by PLP. Pyrogallol potentiated responses of coronary strips to noradrenaline and also reduced or abolished the enhancing effects of PLP. It is concluded that PLP enhances the response of coronary smooth muscle to noradrenaline by inhibiting a enzymatic pathway for the inactivation of catecolamines.


Evidence suggesting that some proteolytic enzymes may cleave only the trans form of the peptide bond.

The rates of hydrolysis of glycy-L-proline and L-phenylalanyl-L-proline, catalyzed by prolidase, have been measured at several temperatures under conditions where a high ratio of prolidase activity to substrate concentration existed. Two well-separated kinetic phases, which can be adequately treated as two first-order reactions, were observed for the hydrolysis. The relative amplitudes of the two phases are nearly independent of temperature, but strongly dependent on the initial state of protonation of the dipeptides. It was found that the amplitude of the slow phase is strictly proportional to the known amount of cis isomer, while the amplitude of the fast phase correlates with the amount of the trans isomer. Furthermore, the relaxation time and activation energy of the slow phase of hydrolysis are in good agreement with the same parameters determined for cis-trans isomerization of the dipeptides, as measured by a pH-jump method for samples not being hydrolyzed. These results lead us to the conclusion that the slow phase seen for hydrolysis is rate limited by cis-trans isomerization of the X-pro peptide bond. Thus, this proline-specific protease appears to have an absolute requirement for the trans form of the peptide bond and appears not to cleave the cis form or to cleave it extremely slowly.


Purification and characterization of RNA polymerase II resistant to alpha-amanitin from the mushroom Agaricus bisporus.

The DNA-dependent RNA polymerases II or B (ribonucleosidetriphosphate:RNA nucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.6) from the mushroom Agaricus bisporus has been purified to apparent homogeneity. The purification procedures involve precipitation with polyethylenimine, selective elution of RNA polymerase II from the polyethylenimine precipitate, ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, CM-cellulose chromatography, and exclusion chromatography on Bio-Gel A-1.5M. With this procedure 11 mg of RNA polymerase II is recovered from 1.5 kg of mushroom tissue. RNA polymerase II from Agaricus bisporus has 12 subunits with the following molecular weights: 182,000, 140,000, 89,000, 69,000, 53,000, 41,000, 37,000, 31,000, 29,000, 25,000, 19,000, and 16,500. Purified RNA polymerase II from Agaricus bisporous was half-maximally inhibited by the mushroom toxin alpha-amanitin at a concentration of 6.5 microgram/mL (7 X 10(-6) M), which is 650-fold more resistant than mammalian RNA polymerases II. The apparent Ki for the alpha-amanitin-RNA polymerase complex was estimated to be 12 X 10(-6) M. The activity of purified RNA polymerase II from the mushroom was quite typical of other eukaryotic RNA polymerase II with regard to template preference, salt optima, and divalent metal cation optima.


Deuterium magnetic resonance study of cholesteryl esters in membranes.

The ternary systems EYL:H2O (50:50 wt %) containing 1 and 5 mol % cholesteryl palmitate-d31 or 1 and 5 mol % cholesteryl palmitate-16,16,16,16-d3 have been studied. Cholesteryl palmitate-d31 gave a unique deuterium magnetic resonance spectrum corresponding to a homogeneous (delta vQ = 3 and 12 kHz) and a solid phase (deltaVQ = 38 and 118 kHz). From the characteristic spectra and spin-lattice relaxation times, a procedure for calculating the amount of each phase present in the ternary mixture is given resulting in a maximum value of homogeneously dissolved cholesteryl palmitate of 0.2 +/- 0.1 mol % and a solid fraction above 0.2 mol %. The most probable order parameter for the (-CD2)n portion of the homogeneous fraction of cholesteryl palmitate-d31 was determined from the quadrupolar splittings to be S = 0.1 which is less than one-half that of the order parameter found for the lecithin chains. Possible explanations for the diminution of the order parameter for cholesteryl ester in bilayers are discussed.


Studies of a large transformation-increased membrane protein in the BHK21 cell system.

We have recently described in BHK cells a plasma membrane protein of molecular weight 177,000, which is significantly increased in Hamster Sarcoma Virus-transformed cells (Lage-Davila, A. and Montagnier, L. (1977) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 79, 577--584). We present now a study of proteins from purified plasma membrane fractions in the same pair of clones. Solubilization conditions, cross-linking experiments, metabolic labelling and enzymatic radioiodination allow to characterize this 177,000 transformation-increased protein as an integral membrane glycoprotein partially exposed at the outer cell surface. Additional information on other membrane proteins in this system is also given.


Deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate pools and differential thymidine sensitivities of cultured mouse lymphoma and myeloma cells.

The effects of various concentrations of thymidine on DNA synthesis and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate contents of a highly thymidine-sensitive cultured mouse lymphoma cell line (WEHI-7) and a relatively resistant mouse myeloma cell line (HPC-108) have been studied by 32P-labelling techniques. DNA synthesis in the myeloma cells was inhibited by thymidine at concentrations of 10(-3) M or greater, while DNA synthesis in the lymphoma cells was inhibited by concentrations 30-fold lower, consistent with the 25-fold difference between the two cell lines in sensitivity to growth inhibition by thymidine. Thymidine caused marked elevation of the dTTP and dGTP pools, slight elevation or no change in the dATP pool and a marked decrease in the dCTP pool in cells of both lines. The greater resistance of HPC-108 cells to thymidine inhibition was related to the finding that they normally contained a much higher concentration of dCTP than did the WEHI-7 cells. Pool size measurements on thymidine-treated (10(-4) M) cells of an additional seven sensitive lymphoma and six relatively resistant myeloma cell lines indicated that in all 15 lines studied, with one exception, a critical concentration of dCTP of about 32 nmol per ml of cell volume was required for the maintenance of normal rates of DNA synthesis. The dCTP content found normally in the lymphoma cells was only a little above this concentration. Amongst the myeloma lines, three contained similarly low levels of dCTP, but were more resistant to thymidine inhibition probably because of their inefficient production of dTTP from thymidine. Cells of the other four myeloma lines (including HPC-108) normally contained much higher dCTP concentrations. The mechanism of thymidine action was explained by reference to the known allosteric properties of ribonucleotide reductase.


Isolation of replication forks from growing Ehrlich ascites cells.

A procedure is described which permits the large-scale isolation of essentially complete replications forks from the DNA of Ehrlich ascites cells. The whole nuclear DNA is first isolated by a method which involves minimal hydrodynamic shear. The DNA is then degraded by cryolysis, a freeze-thawing procedure, to a size providing the otherwise very labile forked structures with a sufficient resistance against shear forces. Finally, the Y-shaped structures of replicating DNA are separated by nitrocellulose column chromatography. When the newly formed strands of replicating DNA were density-labeled with 5-bromodeoxyuridine the DNA fraction isolated by this procedure banded in isopycnic CsCl gradients at a density expected for Y-shaped molecules with two light-heavy branches and one light-light branch and sedimented significantly faster than the corresponding bulk DNA fraction through neutral sucrose gradients. The forked molecules could be visualized by electron microscopy. The essential step of the procedure is the cryolysis which produces fragments from larger DNA structure essentially at random. When the cryolysis is omitted the forked structures are disrupted within the highly susceptible regions around the branching point.


Nick translation of mammalian DNA.

The labelling of mouse DNA by nick translation with DNA polymerase I has been investigated with respect to the time of incubation, requirement for DNAase I, size of the product, and uniformity of labelling, and the hybridisability and stability of the resultant labelled probes. Total mouse DNA and reannealed unique mouse DNA sequences can be labelled by nick translation in the presence of [3H]dCTP and [3H]TTP to a specific activity of 7 . 10(6)--20 . 10(6) cpm/microgram DNA. The hybridisation characteristics of nick-translated whole DNA with an excess of unlabelled mouse-embryo driver DNA indicates that no preferential labelling of repetitive or unique DNA sequence classes occurs. In addition, the proportion of unique DNA sequences labelled by nick translation which hybridises with polyadenylated nuclear RNA from Friend cells is the same as that of unique DNA sequences isolated from cells labelled with [3H]thymidine in vivo, indicating that few (if any) of the unique DNA sequences are unrepresented in the nick-translated probe. Probes which contain [3H]dTMP are unstable, and show a considerable reduction in hybridisability over a period of 6 months at --20 degrees C. The decrease is accompanied by an increase in the number of mismatched sites in duplexes containing the labelled probe (as shown by thermal stability measurements of hybrid molecules) and a decrease in the rate of hybridisation of the probe with total mouse DNA. In contrast, DNA which is labelled with [3H]dCMP alone is stable, and does not show any decrease in hybridisability on prolonged storage.


Sequence organization of the soybean genome.

The total complexity of one constituent soybean (Glycine max) genome is estimated to be 1.29 . 10(9) nucleotide pairs, as determined by analysis of the reassociation kinetics of sheared (0.47 kilobase) DNA. Single copy sequences are estimated to represent from 53 to 64% of the genome by analysis of hydroxyapatite binding of repetitive DNA as a function of fragment length. From 65 to 70% of these single copy sequences have a short period interspersion with 1.11--1.36 kilobase lengths alternating with 0.3--0.4 kilobase repetitive sequence elements. The repetitive sequences of soybean DNA are interspersed both among themselves and among single copy regions of the genome.


Structural changes of ultraviolet-irradiated DNA derived from hydrodynamic measurements.

The paper reports on sedimentation and viscosity measurements performed on ultraviolet-irradiated DNA from T7 phage and calf thymus. From the hydrodynamic data the relative changes in the mean molecular weight, radius of gyration, and effective Kuhn statistical segment length were calculated. The results show that ultraviolet irradiation (254 nm) leads to a significant decrease of the effective statistical segment length of DNA which may be due to small local helix kinks (produced by the generation of photodimers) and a local increase of chain flexibility. Alterations in the overall DNA conformation may be observed even at low fluences where the mean molecular weight almost stays constant. The locally distorted helix regions possibly may serve as recognition sites in the first step of excision repair.


Negative homotropic cooperativity in rat muscle AMP deaminase. A kinetic study on the inhibition of the enzyme by ATP.

1. Rat skeletal muscle AMP deaminase (AMP aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.6) at optimal KCl concentrations shows a biphasic response to increasing levels of the allosteric inhibitor ATP. 2. Up to 10 micrometer, ATP appears to convert the enzyme to a form exhibiting sigmoidal kinetics while at higher concentrations its inhibitory effect is manifested by an alteration of AMP binding to AMP deaminase indicative of negative homotropic cooperativity at about 50% saturation. 3. AMP deaminase is inactivated by incubation with the periodate oxidation product of ATP. The (oxidized ATP)--AMP deaminase complex stabilized by NaBH4 reduction shows kinetic properties similar to those of the native enzyme in the presence of high ATP concentrations. 4. A plausible explanation of the observed cooperativity is that ATP induces different conformational state of AMP deaminase subunits, causing the substrate to follow a sequential mechanism of binding to enzyme. 5. Binding of the radioactive oxidized ATP shows that 3.2 mol of this reagent bind per mol AMP deaminase.


Inhibition of esterase and amidase activities of alpha- and beta-thrombin in the presence of antithrombin III and heparin.

Inhibition of the esterase and amidase activities of bovine alpha- and beta-thrombin in the presence of antithrombin III and heparin has been studied. It was found that both the esterase and amidase activities of alpha-thrombin were inhibited by antithrombin III and the reactions were accelerated by heparin. The inhibition of amidase and esterase activities of beta-thrombin by antithrombin III has also been demonstrated. Heparin however did not increase the rate of inactivation of the enzyme.


Active enzyme sedimentation of pig heart fumarase.

Active band sedimentation studies of pig heart fumarase indicate that the enzyme is predominantly tetrameric at enzyme concentrations between 0.0125 and 0.25 mg/ml and at a fumarate concentration of 2.5 mM. At enzyme concentrations of 0.25--1.0 mg/ml and fumarate concentrations known to activate and inhibit the enzyme, the sedimentation band of fumarase becomes disperse and indicates the presence of polymers greater than tetramers.


Stereospecific (--)-[3H]norepinephrine binding to bovine hypothalamus. Possible identification of the catecholamine uptake site in synaptic vesicles.

A (--)-[3H]norepinephrine binding site was identified in a crude synaptosomal fraction isolated from bovine hypothalamus which bound norepinephrine rapidly, reversibly, and stereospecificially. The results were most consistent with binding of (-)-[H]norepinephrine to the carrier molecule used to translocate biogenic amines into synaptic vesicles. The binding studies indicated that specific binding of (--)-[3H]norepinephrine to the crude synaptosomal fraction was greatly enhanced by 4 mM MgCl2 pand 1 mM ATP. The increased binding of (--)-[3H5norepinephrine also occurred in the presence of MgCl2 and GTP, but AMP, adenosine and adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate would not substitute for ATP. Neither CaCl2 nor ZnSO4 could be substituted for the MgCl2. In the presence of MgCl2 and ATP, the dissociation constant for (--)-[3H]norepinephrine was 280 nM with a specific binding site density of 4.8 pmol/mg protein. Binding was stereospecific with ratios of 15, 4, and 6.5 for the affinities of (--)-isomers to (+)-isomers for norepinephrine, epinephrine and isoproterenol, respectively. Drug competition studies, conducted in the presence of Mg2+ and ATP, indicated that (--)-epinephrine, (--)-norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin had inhibitory constants ranging from 0.25 to 0.8 micron with (--)-isoproterenol and tyramine having inhibitory constants around 2 micron. Reserpine was the most potent inhibitor having an inhibition constant of 8.6 +/- 0.3 nM. The binding data were not consistent with the specific site being the alpha- or beta-receptors for norepinephrine, the Uptake1 Site for norepinephrine into synaptosomes or the metabolizing enzymes for norepinephrine.


[Interaction of human creatine phosphokinase isoenzymes with rabbit antibodies and their Fab-fragments].

The interaction of human creatine phosphokinase isoenzymes with rabbit antibodies and their Fab has been studied. It has been shown that Fab of the antibodies against MM or BB isoenzymes preserve high specificity of intact antibodies and the ability to inhibit creatine kinase isoenzymes. Differences between antibodies and their Fab have been found to exist with respect to the kinetics of binding with homologous isoenzymes: the rate of the complex formation for Fab is significantly higher. The interaction of creatine kinase isoenzymes with intact antibodies and their Fab is not affected by the addition of creatine kinase substrates. The antibodies against MM and BB isoenzymes have been used to study the individual properties of each subunit of the M- and B-type in a hybrid dimer MB. It has been shown that such properties of these subunits as the Michaelis constants, pH dependence and inhibition by homologous antibodies are identical to those of non-hybrid MM and BB isoenzymes, respectively.


Influence of prenatal and continuous postnatal protein-deficient diets on the development of rats.

The influence of prenatal and continuous postnatal protein-restricted diet on the development of rats was investigated. Virgin female rats were maintained for 35 days on isocaloric diets containing 8 or 25% casein, and then mated. The animals were supplied their respective diets during gestation and nursing. It was observed that the offspring of mothers kept on the 8% casein diet had 50% less body weight, and 10-15% less brain weight than the corresponding controls. The peak of rapid brain growth for both groups of animals occurred at age 6 days. The rate of de novo biosynthesis of sterols, following the injection of (2-14C)-mevalonic acid into the midline thalamic area and the cerebellum, was also investigated. A significant shift of the age of peaking of 14C-incorporation into sterols in the cerebellum was noted. Our results indicate that although unlimited amounts of food were supplied to the mothers on the 8% casein diet, this could not offset the detrimental effect of the protein deficiency on the offspring.


[Effect of carbidine on the sex glands of rats chronically exposed to ethanol].

In experiments on rats it was shown that carbidine injected intramuscularly for two weeks does not effect gonadotropic action in a dose effective in experimental therapy of alcohol dependence (4 mg/kg). The drug neither potentiates adverse after-effects of chronic action of ethanol on ovo- and spermatogenesis nor slows down the course of the reparative processes in the gonads after ethanol is discontinued. However, further regressive changes in the gonadal generative elements were recorded in administering carbidine against the background of continued use of ethanol.


[Preliminary lymphocyte activation by a mitogen as a condition for demonstrating the ability of the Fab-fragment of normal IgG to inhibit lymphocyte transformation].

Peculiarities attending inhibition of the PHA-induced blast-cell transformation of human lymphocytes by F(ab')2 fragment of rabbit IgG were studied. It was shown that the fragment did not affect the intensity of blast-cell transformation if the lymphocytes were preliminarily incubated with the fragment for 24 h at 37 degrees or 4 degrees C and then transferred to the fresh medium containing PHA. However, if the fragment was added to the cells 24 or 48 h following PHA it produced a significant inhibition of the blast-cell transformation. These data may indicate that F(ab')2 fragment interferes with the lymphocyte transformation only when the cells are already activated with PHA.


Sex chromosomes in the sockeye salmon: a Y-autosome fusion.

Chromosomes of 21 sockeye salmon [Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum)] from three locations in Washington state were examined. All males had 57 chromosomes, while all females had 58 chromosomes. Both sexes had 104 chromosome arms. It appears that in males of this species the Y chromosome and an autosome have fused to form a metacentric chromosome.


Q-banding of chromosomes in human spontaneous abortions.

Chromosome studies of 242 spontaneous abortions were carried out by Q-banding technique. The abortuses were selected for study because they were phenotypically abnormal, had not progressed beyond 12 weeks development or were from women with repeated abortions. Chromosome anomalies were found in 126 (52%) of the abortuses. Of these, 71 (56%) were trisomies. Trisomies were found for all the autosomes except Nos. 1, 3, 5, 11, 17 and 18. Triploidy was the second commonest anomaly in this series, making up 26 (21%) of the total anomalies. About 70% of these had an XXY sex chromosome complement. Only 16 (13%) of the abortuses had X monosomy, a lower frequency than would be expected in an unselected study. Tetraploidy was found in 8 abortuses and the 5 remaining specimens had various anomalies. These included 3 translocations, a trisomy 21,X monosomy and a ring chromosome 13. Except for the greater frequency of XXY than XXX sex chromosomes in the triploids, there was no evidence of a distortion of the sex ratio, either among the trisomic or among the chromosomally normal abortuses.


Subacute toxicological evaluation of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in rats.

Weanling Wistar rats of both sexes were fed diets containing 0 (control), 1% and 5% ground sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum derived from infected rapeseed (Brassica napus). Body weight, feed consumption and clinical appearance were monitored over an 84-day period. Blood samples were collected on days 41 and 84 and necropsies performed on day 84. Weight gain and feed consumption were similar in the control and 1% groups. In the 5% group, weight gain was depressed, feed wastage was greater and at termination more than half the rats were in poor body condition with alopecia and hyperkeratosis of the tail. These effects were probably nutritional and due to unpalatability of the diet. Blood urea nitrogen and blood glucose concentrations did not vary consistently among the groups. Serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activity was significantly depressed (p less than 0.001) by consumption of sclerotia. This depression was dose-related and consistent on days 41 and 84. There were no significant differences (p greater than 0.05) between groups in the ratios of liver weight and kidney weight to body weight.


A role for the adrenal cortex in the onset of cystic ovarian follicles in the sow.

The corticotrophin (ACTH)-adrenal cortical axis has previously been implicated in the onset of cystic ovaries in the sow. In view of the role of the ACTH-adrenal cortical axis in stress, two sows were subjected to an elevated environmental temperature of 32 degrees C for three hours daily during the follicular phase of the estrous cycle. Plasma concentrations of glucocorticosteroids and progesterone fluctuated markedly in one sow that developed cystic ovaries. Concentrations of these hormones did not vary greatly in the other sow that did not develop cystic follicles. Exposure to an environmental temperature of 32 degrees C for three hours or injection of 1 IU/kg bodyweight of ACTH for each of two ovariectomized sows resulted in an elevation in progesterone values to 5-7 ng/ml plasma from basal levels of 1-2 ng/ml and a rise in total glucocorticosteroids from basal levels of 1 or 2 microgram/100 ml plasma to 4-10 microgram/100 ml. Injection of 2 mg/kg bodyweight of progesterone and 4 mg/kg bodyweight of cortisol into the ovariectomized sows was found to approximate these elevations in plasma steroid values. When either progesterone or cortisol was injected daily during the follicular phase into two intact sows in two successive experiments at these dosage levels, similarly elevated plasma steroid concentrations were seen and cystic ovarian follicles resulted. The results suggest that glucocorticosteroids and progesterone of adrenal origin may be involved in the onset of cystic ovaries in the sow.