[Age specificity of the effect of 5-bromdeoxyuridine on the differentiation and spectra of chromosomal puffs in the salivary glands of Drosophila virilis Sturt. II. Alteration of the puff spectrum in salivary gland chromosomes].

The expressivity and temporal patterns of function of the various puff groups are changed, when larvae of Drosophila virilis are kept on BUdR containing medium during different periods of their larval development, as compared with the control animals kept on BUdR-free media. The magnitude of the effect depends on the stage at which the treatment is conducted; the larvae of the 3rd instar are more sensitive to BUdR. The effect of BUdR becomes considerably lower by the end of the 3rd instar period.


[Mutagenic process in bacteriophage T4B after long-term exposure to a mutagen].

Bacteriophage T4B was continuously passed on solid media in the presence of 5-bromodeoxyuridine in two simultaneous experiments. The subsitutions of amino acids were registered, and in one of the experiments biological changes were revealed in non-optimal conditions. Calculations has shown that the number of amino acid substitutions observed corresponds to at least 140--200 fixed mutations. The possibility of the mutation fixation via selection is discussed and their relative neutrality is suggested.


[Populational-age dynamics of types of haptoglobins among the inhabitants of the northeast USSR].

As the result of investigation of the types of haptoglobin in 367 practically healthy inhabitants of Magadan and of 711 Chukchees from four villages of the Chukotsk National Region an increase of the frequency of the 1--1 type in each successive age group was observed. In Chukchees in elder age groups it is less conspicuous. A different adaptive value of the types of haptoglobin in the region studied is assumed. This adaptive value can be expressed as follows: 1--1 greater than 2--1 greater than 2--2. A consideration is adduced about the presence of this region of a powerful systematically acting factor leading to a simple shift of the frequencies of haptoglobin types in respresentatives of two ethnic groups. A conclusion is drawn about an unequal adaptive value of haptoglobin types at different periods of ontogenesis.


HindII, HindIII, and HpaI restriction fragment maps of bacteriophage lambda DNA.

The site-specific restriction endonucleases isolated from Hemophilus influenzae strains Rc (HincII) and Rd (HindII + III), and Hemophilus parainfluenzae (HpaI) were used to digest bacteriophage lambda DNA into 34, 40, and 15 specific fragments, respectively. The sites cleaved by each of these enzymes were localized on the lambda physical map and the fragments resulting from these cleavages were electrophoretically identified on gels by (1) analysis of the digestion profiles of deletion and transducing derivatives of lambda; and (2) digesting individual fragments produced by one restriction endonuclease with another restriction endonuclease. This paper presents the HindII, HindIII, and HpaI restriction fragment maps for the entire lambda genome, and the data used to derive these maps for the region of the lambda genome between the attachment site (at 57.3% lambda) and the right vegetative end (100% lambda). The data for mapping the left arm of lambda may be found in the accompanying paper (Robinson and Landy, 1977).


HindII, HindIII, and HpaI restriction fragment maps of the left arm of bacteriophage lambda DNA.

The sites on the left arm of bacteriophage lambda DNA cleaved by the restriction endonucleases isolated from Hemophilus influenzae strain Rc (HincII) and Rd (HindII + III), and Hemophilus parainfluenzae (HpaI) were localized on the lambda physical map, and the fragments resulting from these cleavages were identified by gel electrophoresis. The restriction sites within the b2 region of lambda were mapped by analysis of the digestion profiles of deletion and substitution derivatives of lambda, as well as by digesting individual fragments produced by one restriction endonuclease with another restriction endonuclease. The restriction sites of the lambda genome between the left vegetative end and the b2 region were mapped entirely by succesive digestion experiments. The restriction fragment map for the right arm of lambda may be found in the accompanying paper (Robinson and Landy, 1977).


Partial purification of the protein moiety of porcine tissue thromboplastin.

The tissue thromboplastin activity of porcine lung was separated from an aqueous tissue extract by differential centrifugation. Repeated suspension and sedimentation yielded a thromboplastin preparation free of soluble protein. The most effective delipidation of the lyophilized preparation with minimum denaturation of the protein moiety of thromboplastin was achieved using n-heptane/n-butanol extraction. A detergent was required to solubilize the thromboplastin protein moiety from the delipidated preparation. Gel filtration in the presence of detergent permitted further delipidation of the protein moiety and yielded a purified protein moiety. Apparent homogeneity was observed for the purified protein with several fractionation techniques. This apparently homogeneous protein dissociates into the constituent proteins in the presence of dodecyl sulphate. The aggregation of proteins is ascribed to their hydrophobic nature. Gel filtration on Bio-Gel A-1.5 m was found to be useful in the separation of the dodecyl sulphate-protein complexes on a preparative scale. Following the removal of the dodecyl sulphate, the renaturation of the thromboplastin protein moiety was unsuccessful. The purified protein moiety with its low lipid content (1%) is suitable for lipid requirement studies.


Photometric assay of platelet factor 4 with a chromogenic substrate.

A photometric assay procedure for platelet factor 4 is described. The synthetic oligopeptide benzoyl-Ile-Glu-Gly-Arg-p-nitroanilide (S-2222) is used as a substrate. By the action of factor Xa, p-nitroaniline (pNA) is split form the peptide bond. The amount of pNA liberated from S-2222 per minute is in direct relation to the activity of factor Xa. This reaction permits a photometric assay. Addition of heparin to an activation system consisting of plasma, thromboplastin and calcium chloride inhibits development of Xa activity. Since platelet factor 4 neutralizes heparin, its activity can be measured in such a system when all other components are kept at a constant level. Experimental details of the reactions involved and clinical results of the assay in comparison to a clotting method are described.


Variations in blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, platelet function and various plasma proteins during the menstrual cycle.

The variations in the number of platelets, platelet retention, blood coagulation, fibrinolysis and various plasma proteins were studied during the menstrual cycle in 30 normal women. Blood samples were taken on 6 occasions; day 1, 2, and 3 of menstruation, day 5-9 (follicular phase), day 12-16 (around ovulation), and day 19-23 (luteal phase), respectively. The concentration of fibrinogen was lower during menstruation than in the luteal phase. Factor II-VII-X and platelet retention were lowest and the recalcification time was shortest during the menstruation. The number of platelets was highest in the ovulatory phase. The fibrinolytic activity was higher in the luteal phase and during the menstruation than in the follicular phase. The results might indicate an intrauterine clotting during the menstruation. The close correlations between the variations of most of the plasma proteins indicate the presence of some general not identified factor which is probably not the variation in the intravascular water content.


Inhibition of the fibrinolytic system in Behçet's disease?

Suppression of the fibrinolytic system is a well-known phenomenon in patients with Behçet's disease. It is generally explained by an increase in the inhibitory potential. In order to prove this theory, the fibrinolytic system was investigated in 5 male patients with severe chronic Behçet's disease. By the venous occlusion test, a marked suppression of the activatability of the system could be demonstrated (euglobulin lysis time, various fibrin plate assays). Results of analysis of the known inhibitors could not explain the phenomenon: antithrombin III, alpha2-macroglobulin, fast-reacting alpha2-antiplasmin, C1 inactivator, and the plasmin-antiplasmin complex were normal. The only change was an elevation of alpha1-antitrypsin and fibrinogen in 4 patients possibly due to an acute phase reaction. In addition to the possibility of a hitherto unidentified inhibitor, therefore, a decrease in production or in release of vessel wall activators must also be considered in the pathogenesis of this disorder.


Inflammatory giant cells: immunophagocytosis and rosette formation.

Mouse inflammatory giant cells formed after subcutaneous implantation of coverslips were exposed to sheep red blood cells opsonized with isologous antibodies. The maximal number of engulfed erythrocytes in numerous multinuclear cells exceeded that encountered in subcutaneous macrophages, but, on a per nucleus basis, the giant cells appeared less phagocytic.


Reduction of nitro-BT by various chloroform-methanol fractions obtained from the grey matter of the rat brain.

Histochemical studies have shown, that nerve fibers can not be visualised in the grey matter of the brain by the reduction of Nitro-BT, if prior to incubation an extraction with chloroform-methanol of the brain slices was performed. According with this finding the grey matter of the rat brain was homogenized and extracted with chloroform-methanol. After centrifugation the obtained supernatant was three times evaporated. Each time before evaporation the supernatant was dissolved in chloroform-methanol solution v/v 2:1. The substance obtained was of teer-like consistency and brown colour. The substance was weight and used for further experiments. Similar extraction was done with phosphate buffer. It was found, that the phosphate buffer does not extract the searched for substance. The comparison of the extinction curves of various fractions has shown that the highest concentration of the substance which reduces Nitro-BT can be found in that fraction which was three times washed with chloroform-methanol. The same concentration was observed in the water fraction which was the result of purification with hexanmethanol. From our investigations it may be concluded that the substance which reduces Nitro-BT in tissue is bound with lipids and purified form lipids passes into water.


Histochemical studies in stomatal apparatus of Phaseolus mungo Linn, Lathyrus sativus Linn and Opuntia elatior Mill.

With histochemical methods the distribution of some enzymes and metabolic substances in the epidermal peelings of Phaseolus mungo, Lathyrus sativus, and Opuntia elatior under light and dark conditions is examined. Dehydrogenases oxidases, transferases and hydrolases were studied. Fluctuations in the activity of hydrolases, especially, acid phosphatase, lipase, glucose-6-phosphatase, adenosine triphosphatase, dehydrogenases and transferases were observed during light and dark conditions. The role of such fluctuations in relation to stomatal regulation is discussed. Based on the present studies the following is suggested; stomatal opening and closing is related to structural and metabolic changes, and these changes are brought about by sugar gradients in the guard cells; light is enhancing the synthesis of sugars and some hormones, and besides this it stimulates membrane bound adenyl cyclase and release of cyclic AMP which affects the permeability; subsidiary cells actively participate in the stomatal physiology. Lysosomal hydrolytic enzymes like acid phosphatase are actively involved in catabolic phase of normal guard cells metabolism and regulate the osmotic pressure of the guard cells.


Morphological changes in rat skeletal muscle following reinnervation.

Morphological changes appearing in the course of muscle regeneration after reinnervation of denervated M. soleus (slow) and M. tibialis anterior (fast) rat skeletal muscle were investigated. It was found that pathological changes typical for denervation atrophy (seen on the 10th day after crushing the sciatic nerve) and symptoms of regeneration (beginning about the 15th day) were much more pronounced in the soleus than in the tibialis muscle. Some stages of regeneration in the soleus muscle could be distinguished. The contractile material destructions were the first pathological changes that disappeared after the beginning of regeneration. In the second stage other denervation changes disappeared and intensive regeneration of muscle fibres was observed. In the next stage regeneration slowed down, and the reduction of the excess of muscle nuclei was visible. Four months after crushing the nerve, regeneration proceeded to completion with only some traces of the passed processes: in the soleus muscle, chains of sarcolemmal nuclei, satellite cells and newly formed muscle fibres were more often seen than in contralateral muscle; in the tibialis, collagen depots were present around the vessels and between muscle fascicles.


Carotenoids in fish. XVIII--carotenoids in the brain of some fishes.

Using column and thin-layer chromatography the occurrence of various carotenoids was studied in the brain of some (11) fishes. In result of the analyses the presence of the following carotenoids has been established: beta-zeacarotene, canthaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, alpha-cryptoxanthin, isocryptoxanthin, lutein, lutein-5,6-epoxide, zeaxanthin, isozeaxanthin, tunaxanthin, flavoxanthin, astaxanthin ester, 4-hydroxy-alpha-carotene, 4-keto-alpha-carotene and unknown xanthophylls.


[Effects of beta-(p-chlorophenyl)-GABA (baclofen) on response to noxious stimuli (author's transl)].

Effects of beta-(p-chlorophenyl)-GABA (baclofen), a muscle relaxant, on the response of mice and rats to various noxious stimuli were studied. In mice, 5 approximately 10 mg/kg i.p. of baclofen delayed the response time to tail-pinch and hot-plate stimuli but the relaxation was also apparent with this dose range. Mephenesin also delayed the response time to tail-pinch stimuli with the dose producing muscle relaxation. Baclofen, 3 mg/kg i.p., while producing no muscle relaxation, suppressed the acetic acid-induced writhing. The same effect, suppression of writhing and no muscle relaxation, was achieved with 50 mg/kg i.p. of mephenesin. In rats, baclofen (5 approximately 10 mg/kg i.p.) increased the response threshold in Randall-Selitto method and suppressed the bradykinin-induced symptoms, however, muscle relaxation was also produced with these same doses. Increase in response threshold in Randall-Selitto method was achieved with the dose of mephenesin producing muscle relaxation. The time courses of the depression of response to noxious stimuli and the muscle relaxation induced by baclofen and mephenesin were consistent in mice and rats. A small dose (3 mg/kg i.p. in mice, 2 mg/kg/h s.c. in rats) of baclofen reduced the antinociceptive effect of morphine but a larger dose (5 mg/kg i.p. in mice, 7 mg/kg/h s.c. in rats) of baclofen increased or did not alter the effect of morphine. It seems likely that the antinociceptive effect of baclofen may be nonspecific to analgesia.


[Effects of caerulein on intestinal motility (author's transl)].

Effects of caerulein on intestinal motility have been studied in comparison with those of neostigmine, pantethine, prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha). Caerulein facilitated electric discharges in the intestinal tracts of anaesthetized rabbits and exhibited a greater potency than either neostigmine or pantethine. The small intestine was more sensitive to this agent than was the large intestine. PGE1 inhibited while PGF2alpha facilitated electric discharges in the small intestine. A complete inhibitory effect of the excitatory of caerulein was not demonstrated with atropine. Caerulein promoted the transit of charcoal meal through the intestine of the mouse and was approximately 30 times more potent than was neostigmine. At high doses, the promotion was reduced and the reduction was inhibited by reserpine or phentolamine-propranolol. Our observations indicate that caerulein produces a catecholamine releasing action in high doses. Caerulein promoted the transit in the cecectomized mice at doses 30 times larger than given to intact mice. Caerulein, neostigmine, PGE1 and PGF2alpha produced an excitatory effect on the isolated intestine of the rabbit. Minimal effect concentrations were 3 X 10(-10 approximately 10(-9), 10(-8), 10(-9) and 3 x 10(-11) g/ml in the ileum and 3 X 10(-9) approximately 10(-8), 10(-8) approximately 3 x 10(-8), 10(-10) and 10(-11) g/ml in the proximal colon, respectively.


[Vasodilator action of (+/-)-1-(3, 4, 5-trimethoxybenzyl)-6-hydroxy-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydrochloride (CV-705) in anesthetized dogs (author's transl)].

The vasodilator action of CV-705 was investigated in a number of vascular regions of anesthetized mongrel dogs and this action was compared with that of papaverine. When CV-705 was administered intravenously the vertebral, common carotid and internal carotid blood flow was increased considerably and was long-lasting. These effects were most remarkable among the regions tested. Femoral, aortic and coronary blood flow were also increased. On the other hand, the blood flow through superior mesenteric artery and portal vein increased only slightly. Renal blood flow was decreased slightly after an intravenous administration, whereas an increase was observed after an intra-arterial administration. Such a regional distribution of blood flow after CV-705 was quite similar to that observed with papaverine. CV-705 was well absorbed through the digestive tract. CV-705 given intravenously showed a weak hypotensive and positive chronotropic action. The increase in common carotid blood flow induced by intra-arterial administration of CV-705 was not affected by pre-treatment with atropine or triprolidine, but was partially suppressed by pre-treatment with propranolol. These results suggest that CV-705 has a papaverine-like action as well as a weak beta-adrenoceptor stimulating action, consequently a vasodilator action occurs.


[Studies of sulfhemoglobin formation by various drugs (3) (author's transl)].

Sulfhemoglobin (SHb) and methemoglobin (MHb) formations by various compounds were examined by single and three consecutive intraperitoneal administrations to mice. With a single administration, methemoglobinemia was induced by diphenylamine (DPA), 1-naphthylamine (NA), phenylnaphthylamine (PNA), N-(1-naphthyl) anthranilic acid (N1) and N-(1'-naphthyl)-2-aminophenylacetic acid (IG240), and was not observed with phenylanthranilic acid (PAA), N-benzoyl-N'-phenyl-2, 6-diaminobenzoic acid (BPAA), flufenamic acid (FA), mefenamic acid (MFA), N-(2-6-dichlorophenyl) anthranilic acid (CPAA), N-(2', 6'-dichlorophenyl)-2-aminophenylacetic acid (CPPA), nine derivatives of N1 and two derivatives of IG240. On the other hand, sulfhemoglobinemia, with a single administration, was found to be induced by NA. Furthermore, with three consecutive administrations, such was induced by DPA, PAA, BPAA and FA even though SHb was not demonstrated with a single administration, and was not observed with MF, CPAA, CPPA and various derivatives of N1 and IG240.


[Effect of cocaine on metabolism of phospholipid in rat vas deferens (author's transl)].

The incorporation of 32P-orthophosphate into phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine in vas deferens was increased by incubation with cocaine and denervation enhanced the action of cocaine on phospholipid metabolism in vas deferens. These results suggested that cocaine directly affects the cell membrane of vas deferens and stimulates phospholipid metabolism.


[Studies on brewer's yeast (II). Phlogistic action (author's transl)].

Yeast has a phlogistic effect, and the inflammatory action of 10 brewer's yeast samples fractionated by autolysis and/or destruction of the cell wall was studied in rat hind paw. The yeast samples produced a dose dependent edema when given subcutaneously into the paw. The samples obtained by dissolution or destruction of the cell wall produced the most prominent edema and the phlogistic effect was more potent than commerical yeast powder. Peak of the response was noted 1 hour after injection and thereafter the grade of edema rapidly decreased. The pattern of swelling resembled that by dextran. The edema was partially (less than 40%) inhibited by anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, aminopyrine, phenylbutazone, and indomethacin. Mannan, a main constituent of the yeast cell wall, produced a swelling similar to that observed with yeast samples and this edema was almost completely inhibited by cyprohepatdine, an anti-serotonin drug, but was not inhibited by diphenhydramine, an anti-histamine drug. The results suggest that there is a release of serotonin when brewer's yeast is given subcutaneously, thus producing a phlogistic effect.


Therapists' acceptance of peer review in a community mental health center.

Eighty therapists, the entire attending staff of a community mental health center, were interviewed to assess their perceptions of the center's interdisciplinary peer review system after it had been in operation for three and a half years. While many expressed reservations about parts of the system, about two-thirds felt that the review committee generally maintained an appropriate balance between quality of care and allocation of funds. More than 90 per cent found peer review an educational experience, and more than half said they would now choose to present casses to the committee even if not required to do so. Fifteen per cent felt they had experienced bias because of the professional disciplines of the reviewers. After presenting additional findings, the authors tell why they believe this particular system has a high degree of acceptance.


The role of the child psychiatrist in peer review.

The author describes his role as the only child psychiatrist member of a psychiatric peer review committee in a medical care foundation. In addition to working with hist colleagues on general review and health-policy matters, he also handled issues related to the special needs of children and helped to get third-party benefit packages altered to better suit the treatment needs of children. He offers recommendations to those interested in joining a peer review committee and emphasizes the need for child psychiatrists to work together not only with general psychiatrists but also with pediatricians, psychologists, and social workers to see that high-quality care is available and provided.


Medical audit: an effective arm of quality assurance.

The author discusses the use of the psychiatric audit system developed by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals in conducting retrospective reviews of various aspects of patient care. Treatment or procedures reflected in the medical record are measured against standards or criteria set by an audit committee. Analysis of exceptions to or variations from the criteria points up deficiencies and areas for corrective action. The author describes an audit of patients placed on the self-injury precaution program at his hospital, the deficiences that were identified, and the results of a repeat audit made several months later to see if the deficiencies had been corrected.


A review of the medical records of adolescent psychiatric inpatients in a general hospital.

The psychiatric medical records of adolescents admitted to a major county receiving hospital over a six-month period were reviewed to discover the patterns of care. While 92 patients were admitted, medical records for only 56 were available from the record room. The two most common diagnoses were schizophrenia and adjustment reaction of adolescence. Patients diagnosed as schizophrenic received a major tranquilizer both at admission and at discharge; their hospitalization averaged 38 days. About half of these diagnosed as having an adjustment reaction were given a major tranquilizer at admission and at discharge; their average hospitalization was 21 days. In his review of the charts, the author found that a great deal of the data necessary for the analysis either were unavailable or were presented in a way that prevented accurate or reliable interpretation. He offers several recommendations for improving documentation in medical records of adolescents.


Clinical and legal issues in the family therapy record.

The authors present guidelines for writing family therapy records that are not only clinically meaningful but also not unnecessarily damaging to a member of the family or the therapist in case the records are subpoenaed. They suggest that when deciding what to include in the record, the therapist should remember that those in treatment are both individuals and members of the family. They also recommend that a patient's right to privacy be safeguarded by omitting potentially damaging or embarrassing material from the record.


Study of the human male meiosis. I. G-banding in pachytene bivalents.

Results obtained from a meiotic study of 250 pachytene cells from four normal human males are presented. G-banding patterns for pachytene bivalents, obtained using trypsin treatment, are also presented; a comparative study between G-banding patterns of pachytene bivalents and G-banding patterns of mitotic chromosomes, and a study of chromomere counting and distribution, have also been made.


Quantitative analysis of C-bands based on optical density profiles in human chromosomes.

A method of quantitative analysis of C segments in human chromosomes 1, 9, and 16 based on longitudinal densitometry has been developed. The way of fitting apparatus data to visual estimates is represented. Density curve parameters not dependent on stain intensity were used. The general C band length error is approx. 0.05 micrometer. Heteromorphic chromosome 16 pairs have been investigated with this method. A significant difference (about 0.18 micrometer) between C bands of the homologues has been detected in chromosome 16. It has been calculated that C bands can be distinquished if the mean difference between the length of the homologues is more than 15%.


Replication bypass model of sister chromatid exchanges and implications for Bloom's syndrome and Fanconi's anemia.

A model of the sister chromatid exchange (SCE) process is outlined as a replication mechanism to bypass DNA crosslinks. The model suggests that when normal bidirectional replication advances from both sides towards a crosslink along the two opposite parental strands, the complementary parental strand segments can be temporarily displaced at each contralateral 5' side from the crosslink. The free ends produced in this first step will be terminally aligned but will have opposite polarity. The second step of the bypass can, however, be completed by either of two rejoining processes--terminal ligation of the free ends via nascent Okazaki pieces or aberrant complementation by overlapping the free ends. This bypass mechanism (1) allows replication to continue past a crosslink leaving it intact but (2) results in the switching of parental strands and their attached incomplete nascent strands above and below the crosslink site producing an exchange between sister chromatids. This model is compatible with the findings of current SCE studies using the new BUDR/stain techniques as well as with previous autoradiographic studies. It also suggests that the chromatid breaks and deletions in Fanconi's Anemia represent a defect in step two of the replication bypass mechanism and that the high frequency of SCE's and quadriradials in Bloom's Syndrome represent the SCE overload effects of a defect in crosslink repair.


Chromosome banding study of the Cornelia De Lange syndrome.

Chromosome studies were performed on 13 patients with the Cornelia de Lange syndrome. With the technique of chromosome banding analysis, no chromosomal abnormalities were found.


Interstitial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 2 in a polymalformed newborn--karyotype: 46,XX,del(2)(q21;q24).

This report describes a polymalformed female newborn presenting an interstitial deletion of the long arms of chromosome 2. Karyotype: 46,XX,del(2)(q21 q24).


Pericentric inversion and partial monosomy 4q associated with congenital anomalies.

A case of complex structural rearrangement of chromosome 4 identified by R-banding as 46,XX,del(4),inv(4)(pter leads to 16::q24 leads to p16::q32 leads to qter) is reported in an infant with congenital anomalies and psychomotor retardation.


18p--syndrome resulting from 14q/18q 'dicentric' fusion translocation.

A child with nasal hypoplasia, growth and developmental delay, and 18p--due to 14q/18q apparent dicentric fusion is reported. Review of ten previously reported patients with 18p--due to fusion translocations involving the long arm of chromosome 18 reveals clinical features ranging from arrhinencephaly to minimal dysmorphic changes and mild retardation. This spectrum of clinical expression is similar to that seen in patients with partial 18p deletions. Since the same range of clinical features is observed whether there is partial or apparent total deletion of 18p, it is suggested that only a distal segment of the short arm of chromosome 18 may be etiologically related to the clinical phenotype in the 18p--syndrome.


Nullisomy for the distal portion of Xp in a male child with a X/Y translocation.

An unbalanced X/Y translocation was found in a male child with malformed external genitalia and in his mother, who are respectively nullisomic and monosomic for the distal portion of Xp and have the translocated distal segment of Yq in excess. The loss of the distal portion of Xp is supposed to be the cause of the phenotypic abnormalities present in these subjects. The phenotype of our subjects is compared with those of the other cases of X/Y translocation described in the literature.


On the population genetics of the red cell glyoxalase I (GLO).

The GLO phenotype distribution was studied in the population from the Rostock area (n = 233). The gene frequencies of GLO alleles were estimated to be GLO1 = 0.4249, GLO2 = 0.5751. The electrophoretic separation was achieved on horizontal starch gel.


Women heterozygous for deficiency of the (p21 leads to pter) region of the X chromosome are fertile.

A woman balanced carrier of a X/15 translocation gave birth to a balanced infertile son and three unbalanced Xp--fertile daughters. This family and the other eleven cases of Xp--fertile women found in the literature demonstrate that loss of the p21 leads to pter region of the X chromosome is compatible with fertility, probably because it leaves on Xp the region which is never inactivated.


Duffy blood group and hemoglobin variants.

Data on a sample of 809 Afro-Americans indicated that there is no association between Duffy null (a-,b-) blood type and sickle cell trait. The results further rule out close linkage as an alternative hypothesis to explain the reported association between these loci in areas where falciparum and vivax malaria are endemic and indicate that, even if the two loci are independent or loosely linked, direct evidence of the selection favoring AS Fy-Fy- individuals must come from populations where mixed malaria infections occur. Stratification, as an explanation for the reported association, is also discussed.


Inhibition of the development of Q-bands on human chromosomes by netropsin.

Netropsin, an oligopeptide-type basic antibiotic, having exclusively A-T-specific DNA-binding affinity and situating itself into the minor groove of the double helix, represses the development of Q-bands if human chromosome preparations are treated with it before quinacrine mustard staining. The most probable interpretation of this effect is that netropsin interferes with the intercalation of the dye molecules. It is assumed this phenomenon supports the hypothesis that quinacrine mustard binds preferentially to A-T-rich sequences of DNA in the metaphase chromosomes.


Studies on steroid hormone receptors (5alpha-dihidrotesterone, estradiol, and dexamethasone) in cultured human fibroblasts and amniotic fluid cells.

Cultured human fibroblasts and amniotic fluid cells (AF cells) were examined for the presence of steroid hormone receptors. In both cell types, the androgen (DHT) or glucocorticoid (dexamethasone) receptor was detected, but not the estrogen receptor. Binding parameters in fibroblasts were: for androgen: KD = 3.7 X 10(-9) M, Bmax = 13 fmol/mg; for dexamethasone: KD = 4.5 X 10(-9) M, Bmax = 120 fmol/mg. Binding parameters in AF cells were: for androgen: KD = 4 X 10(-9) M, Bmax = 8 fmol/mg; for dexamethasone: KD = 1.9 X 10(-8) M, Bmax = 375 fmol/mg. Cultured cells derived from the gonads (of a patient with 17beta-ketosteroid reductase deficiency) seem to have more receptors than cells from extragenital body parts (Bmax = 21 fmol). With the aid of gel chromatography, the molecular weight of the androgen receptor was estimated to be 30-40 000D.


Total aneuploidy and age-related sex chromosome aneuploidy in cultured lymphocytes of normal men and women.

In PHA-cultured lymphocytes, about 8% of metaphases from 32 women were aneuploid compared to 4% of metaphases from 35 men. A significant part of this aneuploidy was characterized by sex chromosome involvement: in women, the loss of gain of X chromosomes; in men, the gain of X chromosomes and the loss or gain of Y chromosomes. The incidence of this aneuploidy was positively age-related for both sexes. Premature division of the X-chromosome centromere was closely associated with X-chromosome aneuploidy in women and men, and appeared to be the mechanism of non disjunction causing this aneuploidy. Premature centromere division (PCD) indicated a dysfunction of the X-chromosome centromere with aging, and this dysfunction was the basic cause of age-related aneuploidy. A similar mechanism of nondisjunction may operate for the Y chromosome of men, but could not be clearly demonstrated because of the low incidence of Y-chromosome aneuploidy. The balance of the aneuploidy was characterized by chromosome loss and the involvement of all chromosome groups. It was consistent with chromosome loss from metaphase cells damaged during preparation for cytogenetic examination.


Direct assignment of citrate synthase (CS) gene to human chromosome 12 in man-mouse somatic cell hybrids.

A panel of twenty independently derived clones of man-mouse somatic cell hybrids isolated from fusions involving eight different parent cell combinations simultaneously analyzed for human chromosomes, citrate synthase, and a large number of other enzyme markers firmly or tentatively assigned to individual human chromosomes have provided direct evidence for a firm assignment of the structural gene coding for citrate synthase (CS) to human chromosome 12.


Effect of nitrofurantoin on meiosis of the male mouse.

The effects of nitrofurantoin [N-(5-nitro-2-furfurylidine)-1-amino-hydantoin] on chromosomes of primary and secondary spermatocytes of mice were studied. No mutagenic activity was detectable after application of either 8 mg/kg or 40 mg/kg nitrofurantoin. An increase in the univalent rates and a decrease in the chiasma frequencies was observed in treated animals. The probable origins of these effects are discussed.


'Gd(-) Hôtel Dieu': a new G-6PD variant with chronic hemolysis in a Negro patient from Senegal.

A G-6PD deficiency was detected in a Negro patient from Senegal suffering from congenital nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia. The main characteristics of this variant were: profound defect of G-6PD activity in the red cells, decreased immunologic specific activity, fast electrophoretic mobility, decreased Km-G-6P and normal Km-NADP+, normal inhibition by ATP and NADPH, slightly increased utilization of the substrate analogues, slightly biphasic pH curve, high heat lability, subnormal activation energy. The characteristics of this variant being unique, it was called 'G-6PD Hôtel Dieu.'


The effect of cyclophosphamide on the centromere separation sequence in Chinese hamster spermatogonia.

The sequence of centromere separation in spermatogonial chromosomes of untreated and cyclophosphamide-treated Chinese hamsters is described. Centromeres of chromosome 1 and 2 separated much earlier than all other chromosomes, especially 6-8. Cyclophosphamide significantly inhibits the centromere separation in all chromosome groups but does not alter the sequence of separation.


Rat hepatocyte primary cell cultures. III. Improved dissociation and attachment techniques and the enhancement of survival by culture medium.

The conditions for obtaining representative, adult rat hepatocyte primary cell cultures were improved such that viable yields of 50% of the liver were produced which gave rise to cultures representing 30% of the liver. The survival of these cultures in various media was compared revealing that in complex media, particularly containing galactose, survival was improved.


Ischemic myocardial injury in cultured heart cells: preliminary observations on morphology and beating activity.

An in vitro model of myocardial ischemia has been established with primary monolayer cultures of neonatal rat heart cells. Ischemic conditions were simulated in vitro by subjecting the heart cell cultures to various levels of oxygen and glucose deprivation. After the ischemic treatments, cultures of beating muscle (M) cells were evaluated for functional and morphological changes. The experimental protocol consisted of treatment with 20% or 0% O2 and 1000, 500 or 0 mg glucose per 1 of medium for 4, 12 or 24 hr. Control cultures were treated with 20% O2 and 1000 mg glucose. The morphological alterations induced by the deficiency of O2 and glucose in the medium were the formation of pseudopodia and cytoplasmic vacuoles; increased cytoplasmic granulation; and the formation of abnormal cell shapes, such as long, spindly shaped M cells. There was a time-dependent decrease in beating activity as the M cells were exposed to longer durations of ischemic conditions. However, if the cultures were replenished with complete medium (1000 mg glucose) and 20% O2, the cells regained their ability to beat.


Differences in growth response to hydrocortisone and ascorbic acid by human diploid fibroblasts.

The effects of hydrocortisone and ascorbic acid on growth parameters were measured in human diploid skin fibroblasts from fetal and adult donors. In the presence of culture medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum, 0.3 micrometer hydrocortisone produced a 20% increase in the population growth rate and a 50 to 70% increase in the confluent density of fibroblasts from adult donors. Daily addition of 28 micrometer ascorbic acid also stimulated the population growth rate and cell density at confluency. The effects of hydrocortisone and ascorbic acid on the final cell density were additive. The action of hydrocortisone was restricted to cells in log-phase growth, whereas ascorbic acid affected cells in both the log and the post-confluent phases of the growth cycle. In fibroblasts from fetal donors, ascorbic acid was stimulative but hydrocortisone was not. The data suggest that whereas both compounds stimulate cell growth in an additive manner, they do so by different cellular mechanisms.


The in vitro propagation of amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp. hybrids).

A new, rapid technique for the propagation of amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp. hybrids) by means of tissue culture is reported. Leaf bases, scapes, peduncles, inner bulb scales and ovaries were cultured successfully in vitro and plantlets were induced readily at various concentrations of growth regulators. Some plantlets also were produced in the absence of growth regulators. The most productive tissues for propagation were inverted scapes and peduncles, cultured in a modified Murashige and Skoog salt solution with added organic constituents and 1 mg per 1 (4.5 micron) 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1 mg per 1 (4.4 micrometer) 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Plantlets induced axenically also grew roots on the generalized shoot-inducing medium so that no special rooting medium was required. Although friable callus was obtained from ovary tissue cultured on a medium containing 2 mg per 1 (11 micrometer) naphthaleneacetic acid and 4 mg per 1 (18 micrometer) BAP, it produced shoots after 8 weeks of further subculture on the same medium. An average of 10 rooted plantlets was obtained from each scape or peduncle explant on the shoot-propagating medium. Thus, if 45 explants are obtained from each bulb, 450 rudimentary plantlets could be obtained from each mother bulb in 8 weeks of culture. This is a substantial increase over present propagation methods.


Growth of human skin fibroblasts in dialyzed fetal bovine serum.

Human diploid fibroblast cultures plated at or below a density of 2 X 10(3) cells per cm2 grew very slowly or not at all in MEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum that had been dialyzed for 24 hr. Adding serine (0.2 mM) or pyruvate (1.0 mM) to MEM and 10% dialyzed serum restored growth to the level observed with 10% nondialyzed serum. Serine and pyruvate also were able to overcome partially the growth arrest induced by a reduced serum concentration (1 or 2%). Human fibroblast cultures grew very well in 100% fetal bovine serum that had been dialyzed against MEM. For cells grown in dialyzed serum, the final number increased with increasing serum concentration, in contrast to the well established toxic effects of high concentrations of nondialyzed serum.


Measurement of the adhesive strength of a gingival cell line to agar.

A new technique is described for measuring the adhesive strength of a gingival cell line to an agar substratum by the modification of the original "blister" test for adhesives. A cell monolayer was developed on a Petri dish with a hole in the center of the growing surface, overlayed with agar, and the system pressurized to debond the cells from the agar surface. Pressure changes were measured by a capacitance pressure transducer the output of which was measured by a strip-chart recorder. The modulus (E) of the agar overlay was determined and used in the calculation of the adhesive-bond strength (gammaalpha). The gammaalpha yield for the gingival cell line (cell-agar debond) was 48.8 ergs per cm2, and for the control (no cells) (agar-polystyrene debond) was 30.0 ergs per cm2.


Listeric meningitis in the non-compromised host.

A small epidemic of listeric infection among non-compromised adults recently occurred in the western part of Sweden. All ten patients survived and the prognosis of listeric meningitis in non-compromised patients would seem to be considerably better than in the compromised host. A rapid initiation of ampicillin treatment (10-20 mg/kg of body weight daily) within 48 hours after onset of symptoms may be contributed to the excellent outcome in the present series besides a well-functioning intracellular killing mechanism which seems to be of the greatest importance in listeric infeciton.


Interpretation of blood cultures yielding Staphylococcus aureus.

Forty-eight patients with blood cultures positive for Staphylococcus aureus were classified according to clinical criteria in three groups: "definite", "possible", and "doubtful" septicemia. Using traditional blood culture sets with two bottles (thioglycollate and tryptic soy broths), we found that patients with "definite" septicemia always showed more than one positive bottle per day if more than one set was drawn, that the mean detection time was 1.7 days, and that 95% of the first positive bottles and 92% of all positive bottles grew within two days of incubation. Patients with "doubtful" septicemia were more often (88%) positive in one bottle only, the mean detection time for all bottles was 3.7 days, and only 35% of the first positive bottles and 33% of all positive bottles yielded growth within two days. "Possible" cases took a position between these two extremes but tended more towards the "doubtful" cases. The implications of these findings for the interpretation of blood cultures with S. aureus are discussed.


[Serum concentrations and kinetics after intravenous infusion of four grams of cefazolin (author's transl)].

The pharmacokinetics of cefazolin were studied in 25 males and females after administration of 4 g infused over 60 minutes. The mean microbiologically active concentration of cefazolin in serum five minutes after discontinuing the infusion was 410 microgram/ml, after 60 minutes 190 microgram/ml and after 8 hours 8.5 microgram/ml. After 8 hours 84% of the drug was eliminated in the urine of four of the volunteers. The mean serum half-life was 87.38 minutes in the one compartment model, and the volume of distribution 9.20 1. The area under the curve was 44626.15 microgram.min.ml-1. The mean value for the clearance was 73.5 ml/min. The importance of high dosages of cefazolin in severe infections caused by cefazolin-sensitive organisms is discussed. Side-effects were not observed.


Studies on serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels of cephacetrile in neonates.

The serum half-life of cephacetrile and its penetration from the serum into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was determined in 33 premature and full-term neonates. On an average the serum half-life was 3.6 hours in children with a birth weight above 1,500 g; in children with a birth weight below 1,500 g it was 5.1 hours. The penetration volume of cephacetrile into CSF was higher and the rate of penetration faster in neonates with meningeal infections than in those without. The highest CSF concentrations were reached 2-4 hours after drug application (2.6-25.8 mcg/ml in infants with bacterial meningitis and 1.8-15.2 mcg/ml in infants without).


The effect of oral spironolactone and intravenous canrenoate-K on the digoxin radioimmunoassay.

Twenty patients receiving a constant maintenance therapy of digoxin preparations were selected, and daily plasma digoxin concentrations were measured using the clinical assays gammacoat 125I-digoxin radioimmunoassay. A single intravenous dose of canrenoate-K was given to 10 patients, thus producing after 5 min. a rapid rise of plasma digoxin concentrations, which varied from 121.1 to 214.3% of the baseline value (100%). In 3 of these patients, plasma digoxin concentrations were measured serially over a period of 8 hrs. and yielded digoxin levels of 81.5, 112.5 and 122.5% of the baseline value. The other 10 patients received an oral dose of 100 mg spironolactone twice a day, and plasma digoxin determinations were carried out daily. Up to the fifth day, a continuous rise of average digoxin levels was found (on day 5, 181.0%) as long as digoxin and spironolactone were continued. From the sixth to the ninth day of therapy, average mean values remained fairly constant (on days 6-9, 168.9, 173.6, 170.8, 172.5% respectively). Contradictory results have been obtained when the interference of spironolactone, canrenone or canrenoate-K on the radioimmunoassay was studied [1, 2]. This study is a further contribution for evaluating the specifity a commercially available 125J-labeled digoxin kit.


Pharmacokinetic aspects of digoxin in patients with terminal renal failure III. Effect of heparin.

The effect of an i.v. injection of 25 mg heparin on the plasma digoxin level was studied in ten patients on chronic intermittent hemodialysis. Six patients did not show a significant change in the plasma digoxin level of more than 0.1 ng/ml. An increase up to 0.4 ng/ml was observed in four patients. The consequences with regard to digoxin assay and clinical effects are discussed.


Problems of model testing.

At first, a model is defined generally and a classification into descriptive and mechanistic models is made. A definition of what is meant by testing the adequacy of regression type models is given. The situations with or without repeated measurements are distinguished. The principle of the decision theoretical approach for model discrimination is compared with that of the significance test for adequacy. Finally, the problem of the optimality of experimental designs with respect to tests of adequacy is discussed. The arguments are demonstrated with various examples.


Dependence of pharmacokinetic parameters on the body weight.

By employing the theory of biological similarity, equations concerning the dependence of the clearance on the body weight are being presented for different elimination processes. Changes in the biological half-life depending on the body weight are demonstrated by way of the one and two compartment model. The discussion of the results based on our own data as well as those derived from literature shows that it is very ofter possible to estimate the weight-depending differences between half-lives of various species by simple empirical formulas.


On the influence of Mobiletten on the effect of alcohol in the human. Second communication: influence on the efficiency under alcohol stress.

The influence of alcohol in combination with the preparation Mobiletten on the psycho-physical efficiency was studied in 15 probands by way of various test methods. Under alcohol and, at the same time, Mobiletten influence, the probands showed significantly less efficiency loss in regard to single test parameters than under alcohol without intake of the substance to be tested. The changes were noted in a comparison of the test results obtained at respective points of time as well as those obtained when the blood ethanol concentrations were practically identical. As a cause for these changes, above all the reduced increase rate of blood ethanol levels already described earlier (see 1st communication) was discussed. Any specific sobering effect of the preparation, however, could not be demonstrated.


The Queensland melanoma project.

The fate of over 1,500 patients treated for malignant melanoma in Queensland, Australia, between 1963 and 1969 has been followed by the Queensland Melanoma Project (QMP). Aspects which have been studied and reported include yearly incidence (16 per 100,000), sex incidence (females 55%, males 45%), size of melanomas (73% less than 2.0 cm), prognosis related to sex, site and histological features, multiple primary cutaneous melanomas (more than 1 in 4.8% of patients), hereditary and immunological aspects and value of frozen section diagnosis in management. Continued education of the public and medical practitioners is essential to insure early diagnosis and appropriate management of patients with melanoma.


Individual transparency patterns of adhesive-tape strip series of the stratum corneum.

A newly developed apparatus permits the differentiated transparency measurement of stripped horny layer material. An adhesive tape strip, covered with a stripped horny layer mass, is fixed on a glass plate and led past a homogenous light source and a photo cell at a constant speed, whereby each respective light-current deviation is collected as a parameter for each respective strip model. It is then synchronously registered via a continuous-line-recorder. The systematic evaluation of original curves results in a reproducible individual horny layer model obtained by a methodically stripped adhesive tape series, successively taken under constant conditions from the same skin area. Three characteristic types of curves were observed.


Theme and variation in the development of the first transitional object.

In our research we have been attempting to elucidate the phenomenon we have labelled the 'first transitional object'. In this paper we have focused primarily on some dimensions along which the child can vary in his use of the first transitional object. We have pointed to the fact that some infants  first come in contact with the 'blanket' at the age of three months, and this seems to be a critical time period for regular contact with the first transitional object. While there are variations in the child's attachment to the first transitional object from the very beginning, age two appears to be a crucial time when the intensity of the child's attachment to the 'blanket' becomes established. Most children seem to give up the first transitional object between five and six years of age, and an example of the disruption of this process was presented. An attempt was made to put these findings within a developmental context, while other variables which affect the fate of the first transitional object were also explored.


Immunological inquiry for the epidemiology of leptospirosis in Canis familiaris in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

A total of 430 dogs were immunologically examined in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, and 21.6% of them were positive. The animals were selected through an aleatory pattern, according to the division of the City in 18 residential zones a division which had been established by the vaccination campaign against canis hydrophobia. The serotypes icterohemorrhagiae and canicola were the most frequently registered. Between the sexes, the male presented the highest index of positivity, though the difference wasn't statistically significant. The period of age ranging from 12 to 48 months comprised 67.7% of the investigations. Mestizo dogs presented a higher frequency of positivity than any other race and the areas of Nordeste de Amaralina, Liberdade and Quintas showed the greatest percentages of positive dogs.


Utilization of the convolution integral to calculate rates of melatonin secretion into blood and CSF of sheep.

Due to the anatomical location of the pineal gland on the dorsal surface of the third ventricle, melatonin may be secreted either into the blood or into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). To determine the route of secretion in sheep, simultaneous samples of blood from the jugular vein and of CSF from the cisterna magna were obtained during an endogenous surge of melatonin secretion. Making the assumption that the distribution of melatonin in sheep could be modeled as a time-invariant linear system, two simultaneous equations were developed in which the only two unknowns, the input function into the blood and into the ventricles, were convolved with weighting functions derived from the concentration profiles obtained following the injection of known quantities of melatonin into the jugular vein and into the lateral ventricle. The respective input functions were evaluated following deconvolution in the frequency domain. The quantity of melatonin secreted into the blood was more than 100 times greater than that secreted into the CSF.


Prevalence of elevated blood pressure in a village community with a high incidence of toxemia of pregnancy.

Blood pressure measurements were recorded in 95% of the men and 97% of the women aged 30 to 59 years in a small Israeli village populated by Jews of Kurdish origin and in which a high incidence of toxemia of pregnancy was previously observed. The prevalence of hypertension in the men, as well as in the women, was significantly higher in all age groups studied than in a sample of the general population. These findings support the hypothesis that toxemia of pregnancy is an expression of a preexisting hypertensive state rather than an etiological factor in the development of later hypertension in women.


Bacterial and fungal meningitis in adults: a 22-year survey in a large community hospital in Israel.

The etiologic, bacteriological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of 95 cases of bacterial or fungal meningitis in adults seen in a large community hospital were reviewed. The study was limited to non-neurosurgical patients in whom positive cerebrospinal fluid cultures were obtained. Overall mortality was 40%, with no appreciable change during the 22-year period. The most common causative organism was the pneumococcus, with a 45% mortality. There were no deaths among the patients with meningococcal meningitis. Cryptococcus neoformans was the third most common single organism encountered. Meningitis due to uncommon organisms usually developed in debilitated or immunologically compromised patients, and had a poor prognosis. Advanced age, underlying debilitating disease and severly impaired consciousness on admission were associated with a high mortality. Bacterial and fungal meningitis in adults remains a serious life-threatening disease, despite advances in antibiotic therapy.


Unusual amyloid bodies in human liver. Ultrastructural and freeze-etching studies.

An unusual presentation of amyloidosis in the liver is described in two patients with chronic pulmonary disease. Amyloid bodies, ranging from 3 to 20 microns in diameter and staining positive for Congo red, were found to be deposited between or within hepatocytes and, therefore, to be in a more direct spatial relationship to epithelial than to Kupffer or sinusoidal lining cells. The freeze-etching technique revealed that the average diameter of the amyloid fibrils was 15 nm and not 7 to 10 nm. This may be due to the fact that this technique avoids shrinkage artefacts which follow fixation and dehydration.


Echocardiographic left ventricular function in aortic and mitral incompetence and the effect of valve replacement.

Left ventricular (LV) function was studied by echocardiography in 28 patients with volume overload of the LV before and after valve replacement. Of the 28 subjects, 19 had mitral valve disease (eight with mitral incompetence and 11 with mitral incompetence and stenosis) and nine patients had aortic incompetence. Patients with chronic mitral and aortic incompetence had marked LV enlargement with normal or slightly depressed systolic function; in those with acute mitral incompetence the degree of cardiomegaly was less and the state of LV function depended on the underlying cause of valvular incompetence. Valve replacement was followed by a decrease in LV end-diastolic volume and this occurred in the first week after operation. There was a gradual improvement in LV function in some patients, as measured by normalized mean velocity of posterior LV wall motion. Paradoxical septal motion occurred in many patients after operation but improved in the late postoperative period.


Hemopexin metabolism in mice with transplantable tumors.

The growth of transplantable tumors, both in the solid and ascites form, was associated with a concomitant elevation of plasma hemopexin (HPX). A study of the dynamics of HPX concentrations in plasma, tumor and urine of normal and tumor-bearing mice demonstrated that HPX elevation in the plasma did not result from a delayed clearance from the circulation or body. Neither the plasma disappearance curve of i.v. (125I)HPX nor the urinary excretion of its metabolites was affected by the presence of the tumors. A body half life of about 8 h was found for both tumors-bearing and control mice. It was calculated that the presence of tumors caused a 9- to 18-fold increase of HPX concentration in the animal, which was probably the result of an accelerated synthesis. Some accumulation of HPX was found in solid tumors, both by traces of radioiodinated HPX and quantitative determination of endogenous HPX. In the case of ascites tumor, no HPX could be detected in the tumor cells.


S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase in liver, heart and pancreas of pyridoxine-deficient chickens.

S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity has been measured in liver, heart and pancreas of pyridoxine-deficient chickens: in liver and heart muscle it is increased, while in pancreas the activity is unchanged with respect to control animals. Insulin induced activity in liver and in heart muscle of normal as well as of pyridoxine-deficient chickens, while in the pancreas an induction was observed in the control animals and a decrease in the deficient ones. These data appear to rule out any involvement of pyridoxal phosphate in the reaction catalyzed by S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase.


Mitochondrial pathology in the liver in a patient with the Dubin-Johnson syndrome.

Electron microscopy study of a liver biopsy from a patient with the Dubin-Johnson syndrome revealed evidence of severe mitochondrial damage. The changes included membranous whorls, isolated intramitochondrial membranes, myelin figures and large cytoplasmic vacuoles, presumably representing degenerated micochondria. Mitochondrial damage should be looked for in future electron microscopy studies in patients with the Dubin-Johnson syndrome.


Extramedullary hematopoiesis with multiple tumor-simulating mediastinal masses in a patient with beta-thalassemia intermedia.

A patient with beta-thalassemia intermedia with massive extramedullary hematopoiesis in the mediastinum is presented. These masses, which simulate tumors, are usually asymptomatic only rarely causing spinal cord compression. The histologic examination showed that they consist of hematopoietic tissue. The importance of correct diagnosis without surgery is stressed.


Cytogenetic findings in polycythemia vera: a review and reevaluation.

Chromosomal aberrations reported in the disease course of patients with polycythemia vera are reviewed. Methodological pitfalls related to data collection, presentation and interpretation are pointed out. On the basis of the available information, it seems reasonable to conclude that chromosomal derangements are not specific to polycythemia vera and that clone formation is infrequent. The effect of therapy is manifested by an increase in the quantity of aberrations rather than in any specific type of aberration.


[Erythema elevatum diutinum, a variant of cutaneous vasculitis].

A 59 year-old man with erythema elevatum diutinum which we consider a variant of cutaneous vasculitis, is reported. An excellent therapeutic effect with Dapsone (DDS) was obtained in this case. Clinical and histopathological similarities among erythema elevatum diutinum, extracellular cholesterosis and granuloma annulare are discussed.


[Syntropy of dermatochalasis and urticaria pigmentosa as sequelae of dermatosparaxis endoplasmatica].

A 44 years old male is reported who had aquired dermatochalasis and urticaria pigmentosa at the same time. This is interpreted as a subsequent phenomenon of a dermatosparaxis endoplasmatica. Clinic, histology and electron microscopy are elaborated. Systemic involvement is verified by x-rays. Histologically, predominant is the severe atrophy of the elastica, the collagenous degeneration, the presence of mastocytes, the subepidermal blister formation and the secondary xanthomatosis. The picture deviates from the common dermatosparaxis occuring in calves by the paracrystalline content of the procollagene in the endoplasmatic reticulum as verified by electron microscopy. A severe disturbance of the synthesis of collagene exists in the state of procollagene for which here the term "dermatosparaxis endoplasmatica" is suggested.


[Skin wound granulation from contact with synthetic foil of teflon-polyurethane type].

When a plastic-foil consisting of teflon-polyurethan foam is applied to ulcer cruris and to polyurethan foam is applied to ulcera cruris and to combusted skin, pronounced granulation and formation of new capillaries and collagen fibers are observed in the contact area. The tightly adhering foils are tolerated by the wounds for more than 40 days with continous granulation. An adverse reaction against the foreign material and development of eosinophils and giant cells is not observed, though the polyurethan-foam of the foil was burst by the ingrowing granulation tissue. When the wound surface is clean, change of the dressing with this foil is necessary only every second or third day.


[Poikilodermic parapsoriasis. Case report and discussion of nomenclature].

A case of a 59 year-old patient with premycotic parapsoriasis lichenoides of a special poikilodermic type is presented. In addition, the formation of multiple bowenoid actinic keratoses and even squamous cell carcinomas on both forearms was apparently favored by the poikilodermic change. An attempt is made to summarize the nomenclature of the parapsoriasis-poikiloderma group of dermatoses.


[Unusual adverse effects of oral photochemotherapy (PUVA-therapy) in psoriasis].

In nine of 121 patients unusual side effects of PUVA-therapy were observed: hypertrichosis, subungual hemorrhage of fingernails, nevus spilus-like hyperpigmentation, acneiform eruptions, and a photoallergic dermatitis to 8-methoxypsoralen.


[Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus and lichen ruber planus].

We describe a 67 year old woman who suffers from lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. The clinical and histologic findings are mixed with those of lichen planus or respectively the alterations of both diseases.


[The pseudo-Ainhum syndrome].

A 39 year old woman is reported who has congenital constrictions on several fingers and toes as well as on both lower legs. Ainhum and Ainhum-like syndromes are briefly discussed.


[Photochemotherapy for psoriatic patients treated with corticosteroids and methotrexate].

The effect of photochemotherapy with oral administration of 8-methoxypsoralen followed by irradiation with UVA (PUVA) was investigated in 34 cases of severe, generalized psoriasis which could be controlled only by systemic administration of corticosteroids and cytotoxic agents. In each case clearing of psoriatic lesions was achieved under PUVA treatment. As expected, the average duration of the initial PUVA treatment period was longer when compared to patient groups not pretreated with corticosteroids and cytotoxic agents. In order to avoid relapses, maintenance treatment was installed after complete healing of psoriatic lesions comprising an average of one PUVA exposures per week. Eighty percent of such treated patients are continuously completely clear; the remaining patient group is 70--90% improved. The side effects, elicited by the previous administration of corticosteroids and/or cytotoxic agents are improved or have resolved under PUVA therapy. The present study indicates, that PUVA treatment of psoriasis is not only an alternative to the use of systemic corticosteroids and cytotoxic agents but is superior to these treatment modalities due to its lack of side effects and its higher effectiveness.


[Development of malignant melanomas on preexisting pigmentary lesions. Control of anamnestic data based on patients private photographic series].

We tried to confirm the anamnestical data of patients with malignant melanoma with the aid of private photos. The statement of the patients that a "birth-mark" was present before the development of the malignant melanoma could nearly always be corroborated by the photographs. The patients' statements that the tumor had developed in uninvolved epidermis in a relatively short time proved to be correct in many cases. In some cases, however, the "birth-marks" could be detected on the photographs at a time, when these marks were not yet recognized by the patients. According to the statement of the patients and the results of the pictures, lentigo maligna-melanoma, superficial spreading melanoma, and nodular melanoma can originate from a pre-existing pigmented spot or can develop in a relatively short time in uninvolved epidermis. In most cases of lentigo maligna-melanoma a long history and a slow tumor growth is stated. Generally the development of nodular melanoma is extremely short. In cases of superficial spreading melanoma the time of tumor growth was reported to be a few month or up to one or two years. In some cases, however, a much slower development of the tumor could be detected with the aid of the photographs.


[Demonstration of circulating soluble immune complexes in the sera of psoriatic patients using the 125I-C1q deviation test].

The sera from 50 psoriatic patients, 130 patients with other skin diseases and from 24 healthy blood donors were tested for the presence of circulating immune complexes. By means of the 125I-C1q deviation test a positive result was obtained in 70% of the sera from psoriatic patients as compared to 8% in the healthy controls.


[Cutaneous metastases of bronchial carcinoma under the histological picture of an eccrine porocarcinoma].

A metastatic bronchogenic carcinoma to the skin, occupying the dermis and invading the epidermis is reported, which showed similar histologically feature to an eccrine porocarcinoma. Pigmented dendritic cells in certain parts of the metastatic carcinomas are considered to enter the tumor parenchyma secundarily.


[The histological changes in cartilage (incus) in the middle ear after conservation--an animal study (author's transl)].

This study demonstrates the histological changes of incus cartilage after transplantation into the middle ear space of rabbits. Conservation was performed by deep-freezing, lyophilisation in connection with gamma-irradiation, or with Cialit in differing dilutions. Controlled deep-freezing at about -196 degrees C and uncontrolled deep-freezing at about -20 degrees C guarantee after transplantion the survival of some vital chondrocytes. The other methods of conservation cause death of all chondroxytes. Cartilage prepared by these methods demonstrates potential for new bone formation. Only the xenogenetic cartilage loses its osteogenic potential after treatment by lyophilisation in connection with gamma-irradiation. The histological value of the transplant differs according to the method of conservation. No special tendency for resorption or inflamatory reactions could be seen.


[Objective tinnitus and serous otitis media as symptoms of aberrant carotid artery (author's transl)].

Following a review of the literature a case of a middle ear aberrant carotid artery is reported. To avoid dangerous haemorrhage with surgery auscultation of the external auditory canal is necessary in every case of serous otitis media with a pulsating tympanic membrane. The main symptom in this condition is objective tinnitus.


[Irreversible vocal changes in pregnancy (author's transl)].

Disturbances of voice during pregnancy are not uncommon. Non-inflammatory changes of the larynx (or laryngopathia gravidarum) occur but disappear spontaneously after parturition. Two cases of permanent deep voices in women due to pregnancy have been described in the literature. A similar case of this rare afflication is described in one of our patients. However, review of these cases indicates that such mutations of voice due to pregnancy represent an independent clinical problem which should be differentiated from true laryngopathia gravidarum.


[Clinical aspects of esophageal speech (author's transl)].

The quality of esophageal voice and speech after laryngectomy depends on several factors. Negative influences are produced by irradiation, resection of the hyoid bone and radical neck dissection. The factors important in esophageal speech were analyzed, with consideration given to the functional morphology of the pseudoglottis and the reconstructed hypopharynx. Phoniatric, laryngologic and radiologic aspects are considered.


Pholipomycin, a new member of phosphoglycolipid antibiotics. I. Taxonomy of producing organism and fermentation and isolation of pholipomycin.

Pholipomycin is a new member of the phosphoglycolipid family of antibiotics. Taxonomic studies of the producing organism revealed that it has morphologically characteristic aerial mycelia in which two to three spores are borne usually on short and clavate side branches. The species name, Streptomyces lividoclavatus, has been proposed. Pholipomycin is produced mainly in the solid residue of the fermentation culture broth and is isolated by methanol extraction of the mycelial cake followed by purification on ion-exchange resin and silica gel chromatography.


Pholipomycin, a new member of phosphoglycolipid antibiotics. II. Physico-chemical properties and comparison with other members of this family of antibiotics.

Physico-chemical characterization of pholipomycin revealed that this antibiotic is a new member of phosphoglycolipid antibiotics. Pholipomycin was differentiated from other members by the products formed on acid hydrolysis as follows: the presence of glucosamine, a 257 nm chromophore and moenocinol-type C25 lipids, but the absence of glucose, 6-deoxyglucosamine and glycine.


Fortimicin A production by Micromonospora olivoasterospora in a chemically defined medium.

A chemically defined medium was devised in order to study the requirements for fortimicin A production by Micromonospora olivoasterospora KY 11515. Soluble starch was the best carbon source; NH4Cl and NH4NO3 were suitable nitrogen sources both for the growth and fortimicin production. Amino acids such as L-asparagine, L-aspartic acid and L-glutamic acid showed some stimulatory effects on both growth and antibiotic production of M. olivoasterospora while L-serine stimulated only antibiotic production and L-citrulline only the growth. K2HPO4, MgSO4.7H2O and CaCO3 were essential especially for the antibiotic production. The most important finding was that vitamin B12, cobalt and nickel showed marked stimulatory effects on fortimicin A production.


Chemical studies on tuberactinomycin. XV. Total synthesis of tuberactinomycin O.

Tuberactinomycin O, one of the four congeners of the antituberculous peptide tuberactinomycin, was totally synthesized. The beta-ureidodehydroalanine moiety was constructed from beta,beta-diethoxyalanine with excess urea in acidic medium after a cyclization reaction of a pentapeptide was finished. Cyclization was carried out by means of the 1-succinimidyl ester method. To the cyclic pentapeptide, beta-lysine was introduced as the branched moiety and then deprotected to afford tuberactinomycin O which was completely identified with the natural form of the antibiotic.


Piperacillin (T-1220), a new semisynthetic penicillin: in vitro antimicrobial activity comparison with carbenicillin, ticarcillin, ampicillin, cephalothin, cefamandole and cefoxitin.

Piperacillin (T-1220) is a new semisynthetic penicillin with an unusually broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. In vitro comparisons of this drug with 6 other beta-lactam antimicrobics (ticarcillin, carbenicillin, ampicillin, cephalothin, cefamandole and cefoxitin) were conducted. These included minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against 394 bacterial isolates, the minimal lethal concentrations (MLC) against 79 of those, as well as the effect of inoculum size on the MIC and MLC of the drugs. Piperacillin had significantly greater activity than did the other penicillins against Pseudomonas species and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Against P. aeruginosa piperacillin was 8- and 16-fold more active than ticarcillin and carbenicillin, respectively. The MLC of piperacillin rarely differed from the MIC by more than one log2 dilutions except against P. aeruginosa in which the MLC was 4-fold greater or more than the MIC of 45% of isolates tested. Ticarcillin, carbenicillin and cefoxitin showed minimal inoculum size effects. Cefamandole results showed the greatest inoculum size variation with 55% and 37% of isolates showing an 8-fold increase in MIC and MLC respectively by increasing inoculum from 10(5) to 10(7) CFU/ml. Piperacillin was intermediately effected having 25% of strains greater than 8-fold increase in MIC.


Benzylpenicillin migrates irreversibly into human erythrocytes.

Benzylpenicillin, 5.2% 14C-enriched, was incubated with human whole blood. The erythrocyte component was washed and exhaustively dialyzed and found to contain 6.3% of the original radioactivity. None of the penicillin was found to bind to the cell membrane. Dialysis of the cell contents indicated that none of the penicillin binds irreversibly to the proteins within the cell. Infrared examination of the contents of the cell leads to the conclusion that benzylpenicillin (a monovalent anion) enters the erythrocyte and is hydrolyzed to benzylpenicilloic acid (a divalent anion). This structural change prevents the antibiotic from migrating out of the cell.


Blood level studies in chickens, turkey poults and swine with tiamulin, a new antibiotic.

Tiamulin concentrations have been determined in the serum of chickens, turkeys and swine after a single oral administration of various doses. The compound peaked between 2 and 4 hours after drug supply. In the highest dose used (50 mg/kg body weight), mean concentrations of 3.5, 2.9, 4.5 microgram/ml for chickens, turkeys and swine, respectively, could be obtained. In poultry, the levels declined between 12 and 24 hours to values not useful for calculation. In swine at 24 hours after administration measurable values could still be detected.


The effect of a token economy on dietary compliance for children on hemodialysis.

Adherence to dietary restrictions is a recurring problem for children on hemodialysis. The effect of behavior modification in maintaining dietary control is reported for four patients aged 11 to 18 years. Weight gain, potassium level, and blood urea nitrogen were utilized as criteria measures. A token reinforcement program implemented by the hemodialysis team resulted in significant changes in the dietary pattern of the children. The average weight gain between dialysis sessions for the four subjects during treatment was reduced by 45% and the degree of weight fluctuation was lessened. Potassium levels and BUN were controlled to their appropriate level for subjects who initially exceeded the criterion level. With the withdrawal of weight gain from the contingency system, increase of weight gain between dialysis sessions was noted for all subjects.


A method for integrating an autistic child into a normal public-school classroom.

This study investigated the feasibility of using behavioral techniques to integrate an autistic child into a normal public-school class with one teacher and 20 to 30 normal children. The results showed: (1) that during treatment by a therapist in the classroom, the child's appropriate verbal and social behaviors increased, and autistic mannerisms decreased; and (2) training teachers in behavioral techniques was apparently sufficient to maintain the child's appropriate school behaviors throughout kindergarten and the first grade.


Teaching nonvocal communication skills to multihandicapped retarded adults.

A training program for teaching communication skills to nonvocal retarded adults was evaluated in three experiments. The four subjects were severely disabled physically and had never demonstrated functional speech. Each person was taught to use either a prosthetic head pointer or to point with a hand in using a communication board for expressive language. Following baseline in Experiment I, coordination training was implemented, consisting of instructions, manual guidance, praise, feedback, and practice. Each person demonstrated a higher frequency of accurate pointing to designated areas on the board during coordination training than during baseline. In Experiment II, identification training, consisting of instructions, praise, feedback, and practice was introduced after baseline. Subjects pointed more frequently to specific word-photograph combinations to correspond to descriptive verbal labels after introduction of identification training. Social validation measures in Experiment III indicated that the communication board skills were functional in providing a method of expressing a choice of a leisure activity to people who previously could not understand the subjects' communication attempts. The acquired skills maintained throughout a seven-week followup period.


The role of feedback in voluntary control of blood pressure in instructed subjects.

Forty normal male volunteers were randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions and instructed to raise and lower their systolic blood pressure. Subjects received either beat-to-beat feedback contingent on pressure changes, noncontingent beat-to-beat feedback, noncontingent feedback presented randomly with respect to the occurrence of each heart beat, or instructions alone. The order of increase and decrease trial blocks was counterbalanced across groups. Subjects receiving contingent feedback were monetarily rewarded for appropriate pressure changes. Subjects receiving noncontingent feedback received rewards and feedback equal to the mean received by the contingent group. Subjects in the instructions-only condition were also paid this bonus but were informed of their earnings only at the conclusion of the experiment. Results indicated that in the presence of instructions, feedback, whether contingent or noncontingent, added little to subjects' ability to control pressure during a single session. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.


A simultaneous discrimination procedure for the measurement of vision in nonverbal children.

Few nonverbal developmentally disabled children ever receive adequate vision assessment because of their limited language skills. The present study details a simultaneous discrimination procedure for measuring subjective visual acuity in such children. A stimulus fading procedure was used to train a discrimination between Snellen Es differing in orientation, and a psychophysical tracking method was used to determine acuity thresholds. The procedure was tested with 11 nonverbal autistic and schizophrenic children and validated with four nonpsychotic children. Eight of the psychotic children were successfully examined in one to three sessions. Two of these children were identified as having significant acuity losses. The validity assessment showed that the experimental procedure resulted in thresholds equal to or slightly lower than those obtained with the Illiterate E chart.


College students as contingency managers for adolescents in a program to develop reading skills.

Behavior-modification procedures and an individualized tutorial program were used to remediate reading skill deficits in seventh-grade adolescent subjects. Forty-two college students were trained as reading tutors and contingency managers to use reading diagnostic and remedial materials, and to develop contracts and reinforce positive verbal responses toward reading. Significantly greater increases in reading scores of experimental groups, compared to control groups, substantial improvement in target behaviors, and significant changes in verbalizations toward reading were observed after 10 weeks of treatment. Six-month followup studies showed that all groups had consolidated their gains and that grade scores continued to improve. The improvement of the experimental subjects remained significantly ahead of the control subjects.


Effects of a procedure derived from the overcorrection principle on manipulated and nonmanipulated behaviors.

Positive practice overcorrection has been shown to be effective in reducing stereotypic self-stimulatory behaviors displayed by retarded and autistic individuals. In addition, the procedure also may increase the occurrence of appropriate behavior through intensive practice. In the present study, several stereotypic and one appropriate behavior (appropriate toy play1 displayed by two autistic children were measured before and during treatment by a positive practice in appropriate toy play overcorrection procedure. Overcorrection was introduced for each of the targeted inappropriate behaviors in sucession for both children. Results showed that overcorrection reduced all stereotypic behaviors displayed by both children. In addition, one subject displayed marked increases in the behavior practiced during overcorrection, appropriate toy play, relative to its baseline rate of occurrence. The results indicate that for some individuals, overcorrection may be effective in teaching and motivating appropriate forms of behavior as well as in reducing stereotypy.


Functional considerations in the use of procedural timeout and in effective alternative.

Two single-subject experiments were conducted with students in special preschool classes. In Experiment I, the subject's disruptive, appropriate, and inappropriate play behaviors were measured as a function of three independent variables: reinforcement, a typical timeout procedure, and regularly paced teacher instructions. In an ABA reversal within a multiple baseline across two teachers, all three independent variables comprised the A conditions and procedural timeout was omitted in B. Experiment II examined a second subject's appropriate and inappropriate eating as a function of the same three variables. Two teachers conducted baseline and paced instruction-plus-reinforcement conditions in multiple baseline across teachers. Subsequently, one teacher performed a series of reversals and replications with various combinations of a typical timeout procedure and reinforcement mixed with paced instructions. The results of both experiments suggest that timeout did not produce response decrement in a punishment paradigm, but rather produced response increment in a negative reinforcement paradigm. These results prevailed, even though a reinforcer was operating in the environment before introducing timeout. Paced instructions (delivering instructions to the child at a set pace regardless of the child's behavior) appears to be an alternative when timeout is not effective and, in conjunction with reinforcement, was demonstrated to reduce inappropriate behavior to near zero.


Remediation of mutually aversive interactions between a problem student and four teachers by training the student in reinforcement techniques.

This study tested the effect of a social reinforcement training procedure for a problem student on the verbal and nonverbal approval and disapproval of four of the student's teachers. A design incorporating aspects of a multiple baseline within an extended reversal design (ABABA) was employed. Data were taken on the four teachers' approval and disapproval of a student regarded as a major discipline problem and the target student's approval and disapproval of the four teachers during baseline 1, experimental condition 1, baseline 2, experimental conditon 2, and a postcheck or baseline 3 condition six weeks after experimental condition 2. Results showed that increased student approval and decreased disapproval were attributable to training procedures. The increased student approval increased three of the four teachers' approval and decreased the disapproval of all four teachers. Six weeks after experimental condition 2, both approval and disapproval by three of the four teachers and the student and disapproval by all four teachers and the student remained changed over baseline conditions. Student and teacher approval and disapproval were highly correlated at statistically significant levels.


Generalizing articulation training with trainable mentally retarded subjects.

A multiple-baseline technique was used to evaluate generalization effects during articulation training with trainable mentally retarded subjects. Four target words were selected for each subject on the basis of whether the subject could articulate the word correctly when it was modelled but could not articulate the word correctly in response to a picture of it. Five different settings were selected for generalization probing and training for each subject. In Setting 1, Experimenter 1 initiated training sequentially on all four target words for each subject. Other experimenters probed for correct articulation generalization in four other settings. Training was initiated in these four other settings sequentially only if correct responding failed to generalize to a setting. Results indicated that it was necessary to initiate training on at least three of the four selected target words in at least one additional setting with an additional trainer before correct responding generalized to untrained settings.


Families of autistic and dysphasic children. II. Mothers' speech to the children.

This paper tests various hypotheses about deviance in the communication of mothers to their autistic children. The language of mothers of 13 autistic boys is compared to the language of mothers of 13 boys with developmental receptive dysphasia. The two groups of boys are of similar age, nonverbal intelligence, and language level. The language samples come from hour-long taped interactions between the mothers and their children in their homes. Aspects of maternal communication that are examined include: the amount of language used, the frequency usage of different types of utterances, the syntactic complexity of utterances, the grammaticality of utterances, the clarity of communication, and the tones of voice used. No differences were found between the two groups of mothers in level of language usage, pattern of functional interaction, or in overall clarity of communication. In conclusion, the findings of this study provide no support for the suggestion that autism is due wholly or in part to deviant patterns of mother-child communication.


Establishing generalization effects among autistic children.

Although elusive, generalization of behavior change in autistic children is essential to obtaining maximum treatment effects. Using behaviorally based treatment and teachers and parents as trainers, generalization effects between home and school were measured on four behaviors: following instructions, washing, wiping bottom, and sharing toys. The results indicate that both settings were effective in establishing generalization. Behaviors treated in one setting generalized to another when children were provided with an opportunity for daily practice. Treatment with practice in other settings is possible in contrast to providing treatment on the same behavior in both settings.


Acquisition of modified American sign language by a mute autistic child.

An attempt was made to teach a modified version of American Sign Language to mute 5-year-old boy who had been diagnosed autistic and who had a Merrill-Palmer IQ of 65. Previous attempts to teach imitative spoken language had failed, and baseline data indicated that the child's signing vocabulary was also nonexistent. Data were collected during 20 structured sessions involving presentation of stimuli, prompting and manual guidance when necessary, and reinforcement. Continuous use of signs as communication in class and at home was emphasized. The child had mastered 12 signs at the end of the study. Spontaneous signing frequency as recorded by parents and teachers during several 48 hour periods rose from 15 to 42 emitted signs over the 3 months of the study. The child made 6 months' developmental progress during this time, as measured by a sign-language adaptation of the Alpern-Boll Communication Scale. However, the child made no apparent progress in acquiring spoken language.


Considerations in the analysis and treatment of dietary effects on behavior: a case study.

Scientific and public interest in the effects of diet of behavior disorders has recently increased. This paper argues that (1) the experimental analysis of behavior offers an effective scientific methodology for assessing the effects of dietary substances on behavior problems, and that (2) such analysis permits behavioral consequences to be considered as an alternative treatment to dietary control. A case study of a 9-year-old retarded boy with autistic behaviors is presented. Suspected dietary substances were demonstrated to be effective influences on the child's behavior, whereas a simple behavior modification program improved his problem behaviors. Also discussed are issues and problems which arise in research on dietary effects on behavior and in selection of effective and ethical treatments.


A comparative study of infantile autism and specific developmental receptive language disorders. III. Discriminant function analysis.

A psychometric, observational, and interview study was undertaken with 47 boys, aged 4 1/2 to 10 years, with nonverbal IQs of 70+ and a severe developmental disorder of language comprehension. Separate discriminant function analyses, based on behavioral, language, or cognitive features, showed little overlap between clinically defined autistic and dysphasic subgroups. Moreover, the discrimination could be made as clearly on language or cognitive characteristics as on social or behavioral critera. Language abnormalities and behavioral features also intercorrelated within the autistic subgroup. It is concluded that autism and dysphasia differ in important ways and that a cognitive deficit is an essential part of the syndrome of autism.


Studies on soybean trypsin inhibitors. X. Isolation and partial characterization of four soybean double-headed proteinase inhibitors.

Four Bowman-Birk type double-headed inhibitors (B, C-II, D-II, and E-I) were isolated from soybeans. Inhibitor B was different from Bowman-Birk inhibitor only in chromatographic behavior. One mole of C-II inhibited one mole each of bovine trypsin and bovine alpha-chymotrypsin, probably at the same site, and porcine elastase at another reactive site. In the ordinary assay system D-II and E-I inhibited only trypsin activity at a non-stoichiometric inhibitor-enzyme ratio of 1:1.4, and the complexes had rather high dissociation constants. These inhibitors were all inactive toward subtilisin BPN'.


Studies on soybean trypsin inhibitors. XI. Complete amino acid sequence of a soybean trypsin-chymotrypsin-elastase inhibitor, C-II.

Soybean inhibitor C-II, which inhibits trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, and elastase, was reduced and S-carboxymethylated, and digested with trypsin. The amino acid sequences of the resulting tryptic peptides were determined by conventional methods, establishing the complete 76-amino acid sequence of the inhibitor. Inhibitor C-II was found to be homologous with soybean (Glycine max) Bowman-Birk inhibitor and more closely related to an inhibitor from garden beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). The homology with these inhibitors and the limited proteolysis of C-II indicated the reactive sites of C-II for elastase and trypsin to be alanine-22 and arginine-49, respectively. Arginine-49 was also identified as a reactive site for alpha-chymotrypsin. It was found that only a few replacements of one or two amino acid residues around the reactive sites resulted in considerable alteration of the inhibitory specificity.


Molecular weight estimation of bovine brain mitochondrial monoamine oxidase.

The molecular size of bovine brain mitochondrial monoamine oxidase (MAO) was investigated Mitochondria were solubilized with an anionic detergent. Emarl 20C, and fractionated by ammonium sulfate. Ammonium sulfate-fractionated MAO was subjected to detergent-containing gel chromatography and detergent-containing gel electrophoresis. MAO activity appeared as single symmetrical peak in gel chromatography in the presence of 1% Emarl 20C, and the molecular weight was estimated to be 44,000. Polymerization of MAO was observed when gel chromatography was performed in lower (0.1%, 0%) concentrations of Emarl 20C. Activity staining of MAO after electrophoresis on a gel containing 0.1% Emar 20C was successful. The molecular weight of MAO estimated from the mobility of this stained band was 89,000. It is suggested that the molecular weight of MAO is 44,000 and that it recombines in low concentrations of the detergent to form complex particles with molecular weights of 89,000 or more.


Action of T4 endonuclease V on DNA containing various photoproducts.

The action of T4 endonuclease V on DNA containing various photoproducts was investigated. (1) The enzyme introduced strand breaks in DNA from ultraviolet-irradiated vegetative cells of Bacillus subtilis but not in DNA from irradiated spores of the same organism. DNA irradiated with long wavelength (360 nm peak) ultraviolet light in the presence of 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen was not attacked by the enzyme. These results indicate that 5-thyminyl 5,6-dihydrothymine (spore photoproduct) and psoralen mediated cross-links in DNA are not recognized by T4 endonuclease V. (2) DNA of phage PBS1, containing uracil in place of thymine, and DNA of phage SPO1, containing hydroxymethyluracil in place of thymine, were fragmented by the enzyme when the DNA's had been irradiated with ultraviolet light. T4 endonuclease V seems to act on DNA with pyrimidine dimers whether the dimers contain thymine residues or not.


Two forms of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase from hog liver.

Two forms of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase were separated from hog liver extracts by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography. They were designated as farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase A and B, in order of elution. Both enzymes catalyzed the exclusive formation of E,E-farnesyl pyrophosphate from isopentenyl pyrophosphate and either dimethylallyl pyrophosphate or geranyl pyrophosphate. They also showed no detectable differences in pH optima, molecular weights, and susceptibilities to metal ions. However, the catalytic activity of the synthetase B was greatly stimulated by the addition of common sulfhydryl reagents. This stimulation was the result of conversion of the synthetase B into the synthetase A. Conversely the synthetase A was converted into form B when it was dialyzed against a buffer solution containing cupric ions. It is suggested that the formation and cleavage of disulfide bond(s) is involved in the interconversion between the two forms.


Metabolism of trichothecene mycotoxins. I. Microsomal deacetylation of T-2 toxin in animal tissues.

In an attempt to elucidate the active form of T-2 toxin, one of trichothecene mycotoxins in vivo, the metabolism in animal tissues was studied in vitro by using gas liquid chromatography. T-2 toxin was selectively hydrolysed by the microsomal esterase at C-4, giving rise to HT-2 toxin as the only metabolite. This esterase activity was found mainly in the microsomes of liver, kidney, and spleen of laboratory animals. Since the enzymatic hydrolysis of T-2 toxin was inhibited by eserine, and diisopropylfluorophosphate, it is concluded that non-specific carboxyesterase [EC 3.1.1.1] of microsomal origin participates in this type of selective hydrolysis of T-2 toxin. The microsomal fraction from rabbit liver was proved to be a convinient material for the preparation of HT-2 toxin from T-2 toxin. From the evidence that the toxicity of HT-2 toxin is comparable to that of T-2 toxin and that the microsomal fraction of whole liver possesses the ability to biotransform the total lethal dose of T-2 toxin into HT-2 within a few minutes, T-2 toxin administered to animals is presumed to exhibit its toxicity partly as HT-2 toxin.