Activity of ascorbic acid in inhibiting the multiplication of M. leprae in the mouse foot pad.

Ascorbic acid was fed to mice in concentrations of 0.05%, 0.15%, and 0.45% w/w in the diet. Six months after inoculation of M. leprae into the foot pads, there were significantly fewer acid-fast bacilli harvested from animals receiving 0.15% and 0.45% w/w ascorbic acid than from control mice. On the other hand, M. leprae did multiply in mice fed ascorbic acid while no multiplication at all was observed in animals fed dapsone, clofazimine or rifampin. No toxic effects of ascorbic acid were noted in these mice.


A simplified hyaluronic acid based culture medium for mycobacteria isolated from human lepromata.

Acid-fast bacilli multiplied in liquid culture media containing hyaluronic acid when inoculated with mycobacteria from a lepromatous leprosy nodule. The culture was readily subcultured at ten day intervals in the homologue media, but failed to grow in the Dubos, Middlebrook and Lowenstein media. These findings confirm the results of Skinsnes et al (1975). Identification of this culture is not yet available, however it gives positive immunofluorescence with authentic anti-M. leprae serum. The obtained culture also grows as a chromogenic culture at 34 degrees C on a simple medium prepared from trypsin digested human umbilical cord, yeast extract powder and glycerol. This medium can be sterilized in an autoclave, but filter sterilized sheep, bovine or horse serum must be added aseptically as an essential ingredient. The medium does not differ considerably from the hyaluronic acid medium proposed by Skinsnes et al, but it is easier to prepare, it is inexpensive and permits a logarithmic growth within seven days of the so far unidentified culture isolated from leprotic nodules.


Clofazimine binding studies with deoxyribonucleic acid.

1. The antileprosy drug, clofazimine, formed stable complexes with DNA and transfer RNA. A quantitative study was made of the spectral red shifts that occurred when clofazimine interacted with DNA. The red shift appeared specific for clofazimine binding to nucleic acid polymers. 2. The degree of clofazimine interaction with DNA was related to the G+C content of the DNA strand. As compared to the human strand, clofazimine interacted with the mycobacterial strand to give a larger red shift which was consistent with the increased G+C content of mycobacterial DNA. 3. It was found that clofazimine interacted with the synthetic single-stranded polynucleotide, poly G, whereas little interaction occurred withpoly A, poly C, or poly U. It was concluded that the guanine base region was a predominant site of clofazimine binding to DNA. 4. No evidence was found to indicate that clofazimine underwent intercalative binding between the base pairs of DNA. 5. It was proposed that clofazimine underwent binding along the minor groove region of DNA at appropriate base sequences which contain guanine. The resultant effect would inhibit template function of the DNA strand.


Medicare in Quebec.

A provincial health insurance system was introduced through Canada more than five years ago. The program and fee schedules for optometric and some ophthalmologic services are presented. Statistics are provided by the government concerning the utilization of optometric and some medical eye services according to the distribution of age and sex in the Quebec population. Relative costs of these services as well as the incomes of health care professionals are compared. It is hoped that this information will aid in the planning and development of the U.S. Medicare program.


Electrophysiological recordings in peripheral nerve surgery: a review.

The use of electrophysiological techniques as an adjunct in the surgical repair of peripheral nerve injuries can improve the quality of the repair and thus the degree of functional recovery. These techniques provide objective information needed to assess the degree of injury and can assist the surgeon in making proper decisions regarding treatment of peripheral nerve lesions. The purposes of this paper are to review: (1) the current theories of the functions of peripheral nerves and their and organs, (2) the development of electrophysiological techniques, (3) the principles involved in their use, and (4) the present and possible future applications of these techniques in peripheral nerve surgery and to outline them.


The future of the veterans' health care system.

The probable adoption of a national health insurance system in the near future makes the Veterans Administration's health care program vulnerable to change. The last major turning point in the program occurred at the end of World War II when a decision was made to link VA hospitals to medical schools. This linkage in large measure has been responsible for the program's focus on acute care. The VA professional staff prefers an even greater interaction of the program with medical education. Others suggest its termination. The authors propose instead that the VA become a model system for the care of the chronically ill, the alcoholic, and the aged whose needs tend to be neglected by the overall health system.


A survey and evaluation of human genetic traits used in classroom laboratory studies.

Twenty-six selected introductory biology and genetics laboratory manuals were examined and were found to include 57 human "inherited" traits as examples for classroom study. Forty-three of these 57 traits are included in McKusick's catalog of human inherited characteristics, Mendelian Inheritance in Man. Of these 43 traits, 26 are annotated with an asterisk, indicating that their modes of inheritance are well documented, while 17 traits are not so annotated, suggesting uncertain mechanisms of inheritance. Fourteen of the 57 traits are not found in McKusick's catalog, implying that they may not be inherited traits at all or that their modes of inheritance may be polygenic. Current literature also suggest that certain traits included in the McKusick catalog may, in fact, not have a genetic basis. Notable examples of such questionable traits are handedness, hand clasping, and tongue rolling. Clearly, a need exists for reliable morphological and easily detected biochemical human genetic traits for use in classroom instruction. Authors preparing instructional manuals for introductory biology and genetics laboratory studies should carefully select the traits with which they illustrate human inheritance. A first requisite for selection of such characteristics must be conclusive evidence that the trait does, indeed, have an established genetic basis. Additional criteria for selection of such traits are also discussed.


Therapeutic ureteral obstruction and renal artery embolization.

Two relatively unique techniques have been used in 4 cases to treat gross hematuria that might otherwise have resulted in nephrectomies. The techniques include ureteral obstruction with a Fogarty catheter and renal artery embolization.


Late perirenal lymphocele causing ureteral and arterial obstruction in renal transplant patients.

The 3 cases reported herein reveal the problem of chronic lymphoceles in the transplant patient. Surgical correction of the obstruction to the renal artery or ureter is greatly facilitated by the recognition of this clinical entity and the use of intraoperative radiographic studies to distinguish these pseudoencapsulated cysts from the true renal pelvis. The use of sterile milk aids in the demonstration of the anastomotic patency of the watertight closure.


Prolonged survival from renal cell carcinoma after renal allotransplantation.

We herein report on a patient who was subjected to bilateral nephrectomy in the course of treating unilateral renal cell carcinoma. The patient has survived for 3 1/2 years free of tumor and has had normal renal function after a 4 antigen match cadaver kidney allograft.


Squamous cell carcinoma of the ureterovesical junction after renal transplantation.

A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder occurring at the ureterovesical junction in a renal transplant recipient is presented. References are made to ureteral obstruction in transplanted kidneys, the broader field of squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder in non-transplanted patients and the relationship of malignancy to transplantation. We anticipate that an ever increasing number of these unusual cases will be forthcoming in the urological literature as renal transplantation develops.


[Syndrome of sino-atrial node asthenia].

Under observation were kept 80 patients with signs pointing to the sick sinus syndrome. Most of them suffered from ischemic heart disease, from atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis and acute myocardial infarction. Persistent sinus bradycardia with active and passive heterotopic arrhythmias were recorded in 42 patients. Sino-auricular block of the II and III degrees or asystolia of the atria with ectopic arrhythmias were observed in 37 cases. A number of patients displayed fibrillary bradyarrhythmia, extrasystole with post-extrasystolic depression of the rhythm and other disturbances. The so-called tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome characterized by the presence of tachycardiac arrhythmias occurring against the background of a marked bradycardia was registered in 25 persons. Fifteen patients demonstrated attackes of the Morgagni-Adams-Stokes syndrome, usually associated with lengthy periods of cardiac asystole. The treatment of ectopic arrhythmias in patients with the sick sinus syndrome presents considerable difficulties, but in many of them these disorders could be successfully eliminated by a careful and rigidly controlled application of antiarrhythmic agents (isoptin, ajmalin, pulsnorma, rhythmodan, beta-adrenergical blocking agents). For some patients exhibiting a tendency toward asystole electric stimulation of the heart is indicated.


[Blast transformation of lymphocytes in panarteritis of the aorta and its branches].

In 49 patients with panarteritis of the aorta and its branches the reaction of blast-transformation as one of the indicators of the immune system condition, of T-lymphocytes in particular, was studied. A definite significance of the lymphocytes blast-transformation reaction in confirming the autoimmune element in the pathogenesis of panarteritis of the aorta and its branches was established.


Determination of the indicators of stroke volume by the methods of dye dilution and echocardiography in mycardial infarct.

The paper is devoted to a comparison of the stroke volume indices in 20 patients surviving myocardial infarction. The stroke volume was determined by the dye dilution technique and by various echocardiographic techniques. A distinct correlation was found between these values. With various echocardiographic techniques the correlation coefficient ranged from 0.69 to 0.81. The most precise method of echocardiographic determination of the stroke volume in myocardial infarction patients is that by Teichholz.


[10-year experience of surgical treatment of occlusive diseases of the aorta and main arteries].

The authors report the results of 1268 reconstructive operations in cases of various ischaemic syndromes. Surgical technique and indications for surgery are discussed. The clinical material consists of 115 reconstructive operations on the supraaortic branches, 462 operations in the aortoiliac segment, 57 reconstructions of the abdominal aorta and its visceral branches, as well as 652 reconstructive procedures on the arteries below the inguinal ligament. The latter operations include 70 femorotibial venous bypasses in patients with rest pain and gangrene.


[Evaluation of the degree of mitral valve stenosis by the data of polycardiography and dye dilution technic].

An equation for calculating the mean pressure in the left atrium is suggested. The area of the mitral orifice was calculated according to the Gorlin's equation on the basis of the data of polycardiography and the dye dilution method. The mean pressure in the left atrium was determined in 129 patients with acquired heart failures, the area of the mitral orifice--in 36 patients. A comparison of the calculated values with those obtained by catheterization and at surgery demonstrated their high reliability. The simplicity and safely of the method permit to use it for a dynamic observation aimed at assessing the efficacy of the surgical treatment and for timely diagnosis of possible re-stenosis.


Experimental transmission of leprosy to animals: a preliminary note on attempt to transmit leprosy to the Slender loris, Loris tardigradus (Linnaeus).

A brief account of the Slender Loris, Loris tardigradus (Linnaeus) and some of its characteristics which render it suitable for leprosy transmission experiments are recorded. Handling and inoculation methods are given with some of the preliminary inoculation site biopsy results.


Bacteremia in leprosy and its relation to distribution of M. leprae in skin.

Evidence of bacillaemia through examination of heparinised blood smears was obtained in 17 of the 20 cases (85%) of untreated leprosy cases belonging to the spectrum ranging from BT to LL. Among 17 cases whose blood smears were positive for AFB, the endothelial cells of blood vessels in skin lesions showed AFB in 11 instances (64.7%) and in 7 (41.2%) of these cases biopsies obtained from apparently normal skin also showed bacilli in the blood vessels. The fact that blood smears may show AFB even in patients belonging to types classifiable as BT-BB in the Ridley Jopling scale (a child aged 3 1/2 years showed this feature) emphasises the importance of investigations to assess thoroughly the extent of bacillation in leprosy patients.


Acid-fast bacillary positivity in asymptomatic individuals in leprosy endemic villages around Jhalda in West Bengal.

Three general surveys of a village population of 7000 in a highly endemic area in Purulia District, West Bengal, have included clinical examination and earlobe skin snip examinations. Multiple between-survey follow-up examinations have also been conducted of both bacillary positives and cases. In the general population 5.8% of the individuals showed bacteriological positivity with a concentration technique for AFB without showing clinical signs of infection. During two years of observation clinical leprosy was diagnosed in 13.6% of bacillary positives, in 4.8% of nuclear family contacts of clinical cases and 2.3% of the rest of the general population of the villages.


A modified method of harvesting M. leprae from foot-pads of mice.

A modified technique of harvesting M. leprae from the foot-pads of mice is described. The method is simple and takes less time for its performance than the conventional techniques. The yield of bacilli is also better. No difficulties have been encountered in its application in these laboratories.


Clinical trial of DADDS in lepromatous leprosy.

This presentation reports the results of a short clinical trial with DADDS in 23 patients of lepromatous leprosy. Injections of DADDS administered intramuscularly in a dose of 225 mg every 70 days produced clinical regression noticeable earliest at few week after the secondn injection. A fall in the morphological index from 5.0 to 0.6 was observed in patients who had received from 3 to 7 injections. Erythema nodosum leprosum was encountered in 7 cases, four of which had moderate to severe grades of reaction. It is advisible to discontinue further injection of DADDS if initial signs of ENL are noticed, which are likely to occur after the second injection. These ENL responded well to the usual line of antireaction treatment. DDS level in blood was found to be more than 10 ng/ml before the fresh administration of DADDS upto the seventh injection, representing the period of follow-up in this study.


Early serodiagnosis of leprosy by indirect immunofluorescence.

A method of fluorescent leprosy antibody absorption (FLA-ABS) test was described. This test was so sensitive that 81.8% of tuberculoid leprosy cases gave positive reaction even in early stage of the disease. More than 50% of indeterminate and contact cases were also positive in this test. The positive percentages as well as antibody-titers were increasing with clinical spectrum of leprosy, from TT to LL, being the highest in the latter. Using absorbed and diluted serum from known lepromatous patient, enumeration of M. leprae in skin smear showed a good coincidence with the bacterial index expressed by Ridley's scale. Therefore, FLA-ABS test will be useful for early serodiagnosis of leprosy not only by the detection of antibodies but also by the identification of M. leprae.


Correlation of morphology with viability of Mycobacterium leprae.

A concept has been developed in the recent years that the evenly stained 'solid' bacilli are living and the 'non-solid' forms are degenerate and dead. This communication presents the findings in experimental mice inoculated with material containing 1 to 10% solid evenly stained M. leprae and also with material containing 0% solid organisms. There was multiplication of the bacilli in both the groups. Quantitatively, the yield also was not significantly different. These fundings do not support the belief that the non-solid bacilli are necessarily dead. The non-solid bacilli were further classified on the basis of their morphology to the following forms:-- (a) short but evenly stained (b) indented (c) beaded (d) dumb-bell shaped (e) coccoid and (f) fragmented. Material without solid bacilli, but containing different proportions of the above types of bacilli also gave similar results, making it diffcult to say which types of morphological forms are non-living. It appears, therefore, that the recognition of the living status of M. leprae by its morphology is highly equivocal and subject to error.


Bacillaemia in reactive states of leprosy.

35 cases of lepromatous and near-lepromatous cases of laprosy in Reaction have been investigated for the presence of acid-fast bacilli in blood at the height of the reaction as well as at its subsidence. Only 3 cases exhibited bacillaemia during reaction. It is therefore unlikely that dissemination of the disease is accentuated during reaction as commonly believed. Further, the immune complexes demonstrated to be circulating during reaction are possibly formed by bacillary products and not by whole or fragmented bacilli.


Cytoskeletal functions of cytoplasmic contractile proteins.

This is a review of the evidence that the cytoplasmic contractile proteins function as a cytoskeletal system in the cytoplasmic matrix. Biochemical experiments show that cycoplasmic actin filaments can form a solid gel under conditions likely to exist in living cells. The actin filaments are associated with other proteins which amy stabilize the gel and which are involved with motile force generation like myosin. Ultrastructural studies show that actin filaments are difficult to preserve, but that under stabilizing conditions networks of actin filaments are found throughtout the cytoplasmic matrix.


Genetic control of membrane mosaicism.

The mosaic and dynamic character of cellular membranes is illustrated by the specific intramembrane particle array, the fusion rosette, found to be essential for membrane fusion and secretion in the ciliated protozoa, Tetrahymena and Paramecium. The rosette is not a permanent site within the membrane. When secretion of mucocysts is synchronized by treating cells with the local anesthetic dibucaine, all rosettes disappear, only to reassemble as new mucocysts mature. Assembly of the functional rosette is under genetic control. A series of secretory mutants of Paramecium, blocked in various stages of the secretory cycle, has been studied (11). Mutants that do not secrete lack the fusion rosette, although other intramembrane particle components of the fusion site are present. Certain properties of the rosette, in particular its particle partition coefficient, are temperature-dependent, which may affect the ability of the rosette particles to assemble. A temperature-sensitive mutant, nd9, secretes normally, and has rosettes at 18 degrees C, but fails to secrete attached trichocysts at 27 degrees C.


A virus-specified mechanism for the prevention of multiple infection--T7- and T3-mutual and superinfection exclusion.

Co- and superinfection of cells with T3/T7 result in exclusion (mutual or superinfection exclusion). The exclusion mechanism is also directed against homologous (or identical) virus. Exclusion is established after the adsorption but before the genome becomes available for gene expression or replication, that is only one virus per cell develops. The exclusion is triggered by a constituant of the viral particle. An early T7 gene (M gene) (Schweiger et al., 1975) is essential for the formation of exclusion competent virions.


A transcriptional barrier in the regulatory region of the tryptophan operon of Escherichia coli: its role in the regulation of repressor-independent RNA synthesis.

A study was made of the influence of the growth rate of Escherichia coli bacteria on the transcription of the tryptophan (trp) operon, in various trp repressor negative strains. Selective measurement of the levels of RNA transcribed from the regulatory region (reg) of this operon and from the structural genes, respectively, has revealed that the increase of the rate of trpRNA synthesis with bacterial growth rate (Rose and Yanofsky, 1972) is due to a decrease of the frequency of termination of transcription at the transcriptional barrier in the regulatory region of the operon. In a mutant strain of E. coli with a deletion covering the promotor distal part of the regulatory region of the trp operon where the barrier is located, the rate of trpRNA synthesis is not affected by the growth rate. In suA- strains, in which Rho factor activity is reduced the bacterial growth rate does not affect the rate of synthesis of trpRNA. This result suggests that in wild type bacteria Rho factor contributes to the control of the transcription of the trp operon. In bacteria with a mutation rendering Tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (TRSase) inactive (trpS- strains) the rate of trpRNA synthesis is affected by the growth rate in the same way as in the isogenic wild type bacteria. This result indicates that TRSase plays no obligatory role in the control of trpRNA synthesis through a mechanism of termination and anti-termination of transcription, at least not in the studied strains, which carried a relA mutation.


Hyper-recombination in dam mutants of Escherichia coli K-12.

F-prime heterogenotes of dam-3 bacteria segregate F-prime homogenotes at a frequency 30-200 times higher than the isogenic dam+ strain. A hyperrecombination mutant which shows increased recombination between chromosomal duplications was characterized as a dam mutant. The dam-3 allele causes a reduction in linkage of proximal unselected markers in transconjugants and increases the recombination frequency between a pair of closely linked markers. It is concluded that dam mutations confer a hyperrecombination phenotype to the cell.


Biosynthetic regulation of individual proteins in relA+ and relA strains of Escherichia coli during amino acid starvation.

An isogenic pair of Escherichia coli mutants (relA+ tufB valSts and relA1 tufB valSts) has been cultured at several temperatures to establish various degrees of limitation for valyl-tRNA synthetase. The biosynthetic rate of 16 identifiable proteins, most of which are components of the transcription and translation apparatus, was measured by pulse-labelling with [35S]-methionine, followed by protein separation using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (O'Farrell, 1975). No single pattern of response to amino acid starvation of biosynthetic rate was observed. EF-Ts, L12 and S6 were found to be under strong stringent and relaxed regulation; EF-G, EF-Tu-A and S1 are under strong stringent, but weak relaxed regulation; EF-Tu-B, alpha, VRS, IRS and ARS are under week stringent and weak relaxed regulation; beta is under weak stringent regulation and does not respond at all to relaxed conditions; the biosynthetic rate of a protein called stringent starvation protein is strongly stimulated, relative to other proteins, in the starved stringent strain.


The effects of the relA gene on the synthesis of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and other transcription and translation proteins in Escherichia coli A.

The effects of a partial restriction of valyl-tRNA aminoacylation on the synthesis of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, ribosomal proteins, and other translation and transcription proteins were examined in otherwise isogenic stringent (relA+) and relaxed (relA1) derivatives of E. coli B. The synthesis of individual ribosomal proteins, elongation factor G, and to a lesser extent elongation factors Tu and Ts, and the valyl- and arginyl-tRNA synthetases was found to be subject to the influence of the stringent control system. The synthesis of the alpha and beta subunits of RNA polymerase and several of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, in contrast, is either not subject to the influence of the stringent control system, or is subject to additional regulatory constraints.


Isolation and characterization of temperature-sensitive mutants of Escherichia coli with altered ribosomal proteins.

The ribosomal proteins of temperature-sensitive mutants of Escherichia coli isolated independently after mutagenesis with nitrosoguanidine were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Out of 400 mutants analyzed, 60 mutants (15%) showed alterations in a total of 22 different ribosomal proteins. The proteins altered in these mutants are S2, S4, S6, S7, S8, S10, S15, S16, S18, L1, L3, L6, L10, L11, L14, L15, L17, L18, L19, L22, L23 and L24. A large number of them (25 mutants) have mutations in protein S4 of the small subunit, while four mutants showed alterations in protein L6 of the large subunit. The importance of these mutants for structural and functional analyses of ribosomes is discussed.


A strain of Escherichia coli which gives rise to mutations in a large number of ribosomal proteins.

A strain of E. coli K12 has been isolated which gives rise to mutations in a large number of ribosomal proteins. Mutant VT, which was derived from A19, shows a novel type of streptomycin dependence and has an altered ribosomal protein S8. Streptomycin-independent isolated from mutant VT contain a great variety of changed proteins on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels. 120 revertants screened in this way have changes in thirteen 30S proteins and fifteen 50S proteins. Several mutants were found in which additional proteins are present on the ribosome. Further, there is one instance of a ribosomal protein (L1) being absent, and one of apparent doubling of a ribosomal protein (L7/12). The unique properties of mutant VT probably are the result of the altered S8.


On the formation of rho- petites in yeast. I. Multifactorial mitochondrial crosses (rho+ X rho+) involving a mutation conferring temperature-sensitivity of rho factor stability.

The inheritance of an extrakaryotic mutation conferring temperature-sensitive growth on non-fermentable substrates and a high frequency of mutation to rho- has been studied. Multifactorial crosses (rho+ X rho+) involving this mutation TS8 and mitochondrial mutations conferring resistance to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, oligomycin or paromomycin revealed: a) Mutation TS8 is localized on the mitDNA, referring to a new gene locus TSM1. b) Locus TSM1 appears to be weakly linked to the locus PAR1 and to the loci RIB1 and RIB3 but unlinked to the locus OLI1. c) The position of TSM1 is between PAR1 and the two closely linked loci RIB1 and RIB3, OLI1 is outside and not linked to the segment PAR-TSM-RIB. d) Mutation TS8 does not significantly influence the process of mitochondrial recombination and its control by the mitochondrial locus omega.


Transfection of Escherichia coli by Mu DNA.

Infectivity of Mu DNA was demonstrated in Ca+ +-treated Escherichia coli cells that lacked the nucleases Exo V and Endo I. The efficiency of transfection is about 10(-7) per phage equivalent. Infectivity is destroyed by denaturation of Mu DNA, and cannot be restored by renaturation.


Transfer gene expression during fertility inhibition of the Escherichia coli K12 sex factor F by the I-like plasmid R62.

Further understanding of how the FinQ fertility inhibition system of the I-like plasmid R62 inhibits transfer of the sex factor F has been gained by the use of a genetic assay for individual transfer gene products. The technique involved construction of a series of Flac plasmids carrying suppressible mutations in individual transfer genes together with a FinQ inhibitor-insensitive traQ mutation. The transfer of the Flac double mutants from a strain carrying wild-type Fhis and R62 then indicated the effect of R62-encoded transfer inhibition on the expression of individual F transfer genes. During such inhibition the products of genes traJ, traA, traE, traB and traC were present in quantities sufficient to permit efficient F transfer, whereas the levels of the traF, traH, traG and traD gene products were so reduced as to limit F transfer. These findings and a failure to obtain recombination between traC and traQ mutations suggest that the R62 fertility inhibition system terminates transcription of the transfer operon between traC and traF.


Effect of ultraviolet irradiation of bacteriophage f1 DNA on its conversion to replicative form by extracts of Escherichia coli.

When DNA of phage chiX174 or phage f1 is used as a template after exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the conversion of single-stranded DNA to replicative form by cell-free extracts of Escherichia coli is inhibited. The extend of synthesis is proportional to the distance of a pyrimidine dimer from a specific origin of replication as calculated from the random location of dimers at various UV doses. The results therefore indicate that the initiation of DNA synthesis on these phage DNAs occurs normally at a specific site, and that chain elongation is blocked when replication reaches a photo product in the template. Reinitiation of DNA synthesis distal to the lesion does not occur.


Revertants of double opal-mutants of bacteriophage T4.

Revertants of double opal-mutants of bacteriophage T4 have been obtained. The properties of these revertants suggest that reversion of double opal-mutants is effected by the activity of some gent-suppressor appeared in the phage genome. Restriction of these revertants by streptomycin-resistant bacterial strains shows that the suppression of the opal-mutants is realized at translation.


Isolation and study of some properties of the highly active 30S and 50S Escherichia coli ribosomal subunits.

A method for the isolation of highly active Escherichia coli ribosomal subunits has been described and used to obtain 30S subunits, which are fully active in the cistron-specific binding of tRNA, and reassociated 70S ribosomes, which are at least 35% active in the synthesis of polypeptides. The dissociation constants (Kd) of the 30S-poly(U)-tRNAPhe complex, which proved to be practically identical for tRNAPhe in the deacylated and aminoacylated forms, as well as for the chemically synthesized peptidyl-tRNA, have been measured. Changes in the binding conditions (temperatures from 0 to 30 degrees, Mg2+ concentrations from 20 to 5 mM, and NH4+ concentrations from 200 to 50mM) have a significant effect on the value of Kd without altering the number of active 30S subunits. It has been shown that the codon-specific binding of tRNA to the 30S subunits is completely reversible. The 30S subunits are not only not inactivated after a single act of binding of a tRNA molecule, but are capable of undergoing this process repeatedly without any appreciable loss in activity.


Investigation of the fluorescence of myosin and its fragments, heavy and light meromyosins, in concentrated solutions of neutral salts.

It is shown that when myosin and heavy (HMM) and light (LMM) meromyosins are treated with concentrated solutions of neutral salts there is change in a number of parameters of the fluorescence spectra of these proteins. For myosin and HMM this change takes place in the region of the same concentrations of LiCl, MgDl2, KSCN where there occurs dissociation of the light chains of the myosin molecule. Change in the fluorescence characteristics of myosin and HMM in the presence of these salts may be caused by two effects: change in the native conformation of the myosin molecule and dissociation of its light chains. The effect of salts on LMM fluorescence is in good agreement with general theory of the influence of concentrated salts on macromolecules.


Use of the method of mixed substrates to study the specificity of tRNA methylases.

The absence of summation of the rate of methylation of positionally analogous cytidine residues in tRNA1Val, tRNAPhe, and tRNAMet in the case of simultaneous presence of two substrates in the incubation mixture was demonstrated by the method of mixed substrates. The same result was also obtained in the methylation of A19 (counting from the 3' end of the molecule) in tRNA1Val, tRNAPhe, tRNAfMet, tRNASer, and tRNAGlu individually and in the case of their mixing in pairs. These data are evidence that positionally analogous nucleotides in different RNAs are attacked by the same enzyme. Yeast tRNASer, already possessing a methyl group at the cytidine residue studied, proved to be an effective inhibitor of methylase, forming m5C with valine and phenylalanine tRNAs. The results obtained are evidence that differences in the primary and secondary structures at the site of methylation are not the deciding factors in the interaction of tRNA with methylases.


Effect of change in structure of cohesive ends on aggregating ability and biological activity of bacteriophage lambda DNA.

The effect of different types of buildup of the cohesive ends on the ability of phage lambda DNA molecules to form cyclic and concatemeric forms and on their biological activity in two infection systems--transfection and transformation--was investigated with the aid of E. coli DNA polymerase. A change in the structure of the cohesive ends leads to a change in the aggregating ability of the phage lambda DNA molecules up to an almost complete loss of this ability. The infectious activity of phage lambda DNA in the transfection system is very sensitive to a change in structure of the cohesive ends. It is suggested that phage development in this system requires retention of the ability to form cyclic or concatemeric forms. In the transformation system molecules with any of the modifications of the cohesive ends differ insignificantly from one another in infectivity. This can be attributed to the important role of recombination processes, which can save the defective DNA markers. DNAs with completely normal cohesive ends behave in the transformation system like phage lambda DNA fragments from internal parts of the molecule. No polarity of the cohesive ends is found when phage lambda develops in systems with or without a helper phage.


Double-stranded RNA of homothallic Saccharomycetes with different cytoplasmic determinants of antagonistic activity.

Double-stranded RNA of high molecular weight is found in the cytoplasm of the "killer" strain M-437-2. The RNA is homogeneous and contains no single strand poly(A) portions. The double-stranded RNA is associated with the cytoplasmic microsomes of strain M-437-2 and is contained in the fraction of the cell contents of this strain that was used to infect germinating spores of the sensitive S. cerevisiae 768(1)-15 with the cytoplasmic determinant [k]. The absence of this RNA in cells of the initial sensitive strain 768(1)-15, and its appearance in the "killer" derivative of this strain produced by infection with the determinant [k] by means of the above-mentioned fraction, indicate that the killer activity is due to the double-stranded RNA. The retention of the double-stranded RNA in the cytoplasm of derivatives of the newly-formed killer strain, containing the cytoplasmic determinants [k(ts)] and [n] suggests also that these determinants are a modification of determinant [k].


Repair of 8-methoxypsoralen monoadducts and diadducts in bacteriophages and bacteria.

The combined action of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and light with lambda greater than 310 nm on bacteriophages and bacteria results in the formation of the following two types of photo-products in the DNA: monoadducts, in which 8-MOP is covalently bound to a pyrimidine base, and diadducts or cross links, in which the 8-MOP is covalently bound to two pyrimidines from complementary strands. The method of repeated irradiation has been proposed for analyzing the degree of lethality of the photoproducts in DNA. According to this method, the preparation is freed of free 8-MOP molecules after the first irradiation and then irradiated for a second time. In this case the monoadducts are converted into cross linkages between the strands. Approximately 3-10(-9) cross links/Dalton-min form in Escherichia coli DNA during the first irradiation. The rate of the formation of cross links drops by a factor of about 2 during the repeated irradiation. It has been shown that the 8-MOP monoadducts are repaired by the uvr system just as efficiently as are lethal photoproducts of the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer type. Lethal cross linkages in bacteria and phages are repaired by the joint action of the uvr, recA, and lex systems. A scheme has been proposed for the repair of cross linkages in one genome by these systems. The photoreactivating enzyme is inactive on DNA subjected to the combined action of 8-MOP and light. The kinetics of the repair of monadducts in bacteria and phages with various defects in the repair systems have been studied. It has been shown that the products of genes recA and lex take part in the repair process according to an excision-resynthesis method. The use of the method of repeated irradiation with 8-MOP as an express method for detecting repair systems of the uvr type in cells has been proposed.


The antibody response of cattle to Clostridium botulinum types C and D toxoids.

The resistance of cattle with varying serum-antitoxin titres was determined by per os challenge. The results proved that a solid immunity can be produced against C. botulinum toxins C1 and D. The immune response of cattle to various quantities of C. botulinum C1 and D toxoids, aluminium-phosphate-adsorbed and in water-in-oil emulsion was investigated. The response to antigen in water-in-oil emulsion was far superior to the other when they were used for primary and secondary stimuli. When cattle had been given a solid basic immunity with 2 injections of antigen in water-in-oil emulsion, essentially the same booster effect was obtained with antigen in water-in-oil emulsion and in aqueous solution. Only some of the animals injected intramuscularly with antigens in water-in-oil emulsion developed local lesions. These lesions were not large and their histological picture indicated a noticeable decline in severity within 20 weeks. A case is thus made out for the use of C. botulinum C1 and D toxoids in water-in-oil emulsion for the primary and secondary stimuli and an aqueous solution of these antigens for any booster stimulus as an improved method of protecting cattle against botulism.


A gunflint-type microbiota from the Duck Creek dolomite, western Australia.

Two billion year old black chert lenses from the Duck Creek formation, northwestern Western Australia, contain abundant organically preserved microorganisms which are morphologically similar to fossils of approximately the same age from the Gunflint formation, Ontario. Entities include: a relatively small (5-15mum) coccoid taxon morphologically comparable to Huroniospora Barghoorn, a larger coccoid form comparable to an apparently planktonic alga from the Gunflint, Gunflintia Baghoorn, and Eoastrion Barghoorn (Metallogenium Perfil'ev). Gunflint-type assemblages had a wide geographic distribution in middle Precambrian times, and these assemblages may eventually prove useful as biostratigraphic indices.


[Characteristics of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal regulation and morphological and functional state of the reproductive organs in female rats, androgenized in the neonatal period, depending on the time of the action of testosterone].

Testosterone propionate was injected to rats in a dose of 150 microng on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th day or in a dose of 500 microng on the 5th day after birth. Histological picture of the ovaries, vagina and uterus, the content of progesterone and its C20-restored metabolite in the ovaries, the LH-releasing activity of the hypothalamus, and the LH and FSH in the adenohypophysis were studied in these rats at the age of 3-5 months. The effects of the neonatal andronization of rats proved to depend on the time of testosterone action at all the levels of the hypothalamus-hypophysis-ovaries-accessory organs. Early administration of androgen caused more severe injuries of the reproductive system.


Frozen blood transfusions and renal allograft survival.

It has been shown that kidney transplant graft survival rates were lower among nontransfused patients than among those receiving transfusions. In a relatively small series of 49 patients who received frozen blood only the 1 year transplant survival rate was 42+/-7% as compared to 49+/-5% in 190 patients with whole blood transfusions and 31+/-4 in 143 patients with no transfusions. We conclude that frozen blood transfusions appear to be better than no transfusions, but may be inferior to whole blood in prolonging graft survival.


Clinical problems with HLA sensitization.

There is little question that Frozen-Thawed-Deglycerolized Red Cells (Human) has the least amount of HLA antigen found in any red cell component. Units prepared by any of the several availables methods are indicated for patients with repetitive nonhemolytic febrile reactions, probably should be used in patients waiting for reanl allografts and in immunodeficient patients in whom there is a risk of GVH disease. Still unresolved are questions on the minimal dose of HLA needed to sensitize a recipient, the role of the debris and viable cells and whether transfusion with a small dose of HLA antigen has a beneficial effect on the survival of renal allografts.


The clinical problem of hepatitis transmission;.

Although blood banks in this country have been testing every unit of blood for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg) by one of the highly sensitive "third generation" methods (radioimmunoassay or reversed passive hemagglutination) since September, 1975, post-transfusion hepatitis (PTH) still remains the major hazard to patients who require transfusion with blood and blood products. Since there may be an interval of many months between transfusion and onset of PTH and many cases are subclinical, the best data on the incidence of PTH have come from prospective studies with careful follow-up of transfused patients. Such studies first established the validity of HBSAg as a marker for the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), and they have shown a dramatic reduction in the incidence of post-transfusion type B hepatitis following the elemination of HBSAg positive blood from transfusion. Nevertheless, PTH cases not associated with HBV or HAV, which are termed non-A, non-B hepatitis, continue to occur commonly among transfused patients. Non-A, non-B hepatitis appears to be subclinical in many instances, but it can produce prolonged persistence of abnormal liver function tests, which may be associated with chronic liver disease. The outstanding risk factor responsible for the development of PTH has been shown to be blood from paid donors in every study which has evaluated this factor. HBSAg and anti-HBS prevalences were found to be much higher in paid donor groups than in voluntary donors. Accordingly, the Food and Drug Administration has proposed that all units of blood be labeled to indicate whether they were collected from voluntary or paid donors in order to inform consumers of the relative hepatitis risks of blood units from these different donor populations. In addition to HBSAg testing and reduced use of blood from paid donors, measures which may provide future reduction of the hepatitis hazard associated with blood transfusion include avoidance of unnecessary transfusions, identification of the agent(s) responsible for non-A non-B hepatitis and development of tests for these agents, idenfification and avoidance of blood from donors implicated in PTH cases, development of methods for immunizing transfused patients against the various agents responsible for PTH, and use of frozen-washed red blood cells for transfusion. Efforts to develop and/or evaluate these various approaches are currently being actively pursued in many laboratories.


Transfusion of frozen-washed red cells in preventing hepatitis.

From the review of published data and our own experience the following conclusions appear pertinent. In the limited number of well-controlled studies available for evaluation, a significant reduction in the transmission of clinically apparent hepatitis has been demonstrated following the exclusive administration of frozen blood. There is no uniform method of frozen blood treatment by current application and the strong possibility exists that as far as the removal of Hepatitis Type B virus. One method may be more effective than another. The transmission of hepatitis by blood administration represents only one of a number of potential modes of spread in a dialysis population. The prevention of serious epidemics whithin these patient populations will be accomplished only with careful attention to all facets of cross contamination. Because of multiple potential sources of spread within the hemodialysis population, these groups of individuals probably represent a poor choice of subjects in which we can effectively evaluate transmission by a single factor, such as frozen-thawed erythrocytes. Until the advent of better methods of prevention, efforts toward prevention and limitation must be multifocal and that should include the use of frozen-thawed erythrocytes.


Erythrocyte metabolism.

In summary, red cell carbohydrate metabolism plays an important role in the cell, both for maintaining cell viability through ATP and for maintaining proper oxygen release through DPG. These functions are compromised by traditional liquid storage. Frozen storage maintains these functions for an indefinite period of time. However, the cells are not metabolically perfect, at least with current techniques, and assay of glycolytic intermediates is a useful monitoring device to evaluate the effects of various manipulations, particularly after thawing and washing have taken place.


Cryobiology overview of red cell preservation: achievements and prospective.

Preserved red cells are transfused to improve the delivery of oxygen to tissue. The preserved red cells must circulate to increase the red cell volume and improve the oxygen carrying capacity. The correlation between oxygen transport function and the red cell 2,3 DPG level has been known since 1967. but it was only recently that the importance of the oxygen delivering capacity of transfused red cells during the immediate posttransfusion period became apparent. Red cells with low 2,3 DPG levels and increased affinity for oxygen will increase cardiac output and/or decrease venous pO2 for at least 4 hours after transfusion. Oxygen transport function is maintained longer in red cells stored in CPD than in ACD-stored red cells. Supplementation of CPD red cells with inosine, ascorbate; dihydroxyacetone and other substances helps to maintain the oxygen transport function during storage at 4 C. Liquid-stored red clls can be biochemically modified before freeze-preservation to increase the 2,3 DPG levels to to 1-1/2 to 2 times normal; these red cells have decreased oxygen affinity. The red cells have acceptable posttransfusion survival and improved oxygen releasing capacity for at least 72 hours after transfusion. The well-being of certain patients may be placed in jeopardy of they are given preserved red cells with increased affinity for oxygen. The patient may not be able to meet the accompanying demand for increased blood flow, and the venous-capillary oxygen tension may fall to a critical level. Clearly, patients in hemorrhagic and septic shock, those subjected to extracorporeal circulation during cardiac surgery, and anemic patients with myocardial or cerebrovascular insufficiency are best treated with red cells that have 150% normal 2,3 DPG levels.


Involvement of the medial hypothalamus and the septal area in the control of food intake and body weight in geese.

Intracranial injections of 6-OHDA were used to destroy the following brain areas of male geese: bilateral VMH-mamillary (BL-VMH), unilateral VMH (UL-VMH), septal area, and bilateral hypothalamic areas located dorsal, lateral, caudal and rostral to the VMH. The brain damage was nonspecific, destroying cell bodies as well as axons. The effects of these lesions were determined on food intake, body weight, abdominal adipose tissue, liver weight and fat content, and on selected endocrine gland weights. The highest food intake, obesity and liver weight and its fat content were exhibited by the BL-VMH lesioned geese. The UL-VMH and the septal lesioned geese showed moderate increase in food intake, which eventually decreased in the UL-VMH but remained constant in the septal lesioned ones. The liver fat content of the latter groups of geese was higher than the controls. No differences were found between the controls and the group of geese lesioned in the various hypothalamic areas - excluding the VMH - in all parameters measured. While no significant differences were found in pituitary, thyroid and adrenal weights among all groups of geese, a decrease in testes weight was noted in the lesioned groups of geese as compared to the controls. The interrelationships between body weight, food intake, adiposity and liver weight are discussed.


Inhibitory effect of midbrain raphe stimulation on the maintenance of an active avoidance reflex.

Performance of an active avoidance (bench-jumping) reflex has been studied in rats during stimulation of the midbrain raphe nuclei. Raphe stimulation (10 cps, 0.2 msec, 2.5-5.0 V) inhibited the performance of the reflex. A serotonin receptor blocker (methysergide, 2.0 mg/kg IP) increased the reflex performance in non-stimulated animals and prevented the action of raphe stimulation. The data indicate that the cerebral serotoninergic system might have an inhibitory control over the performance of conditioned avoidance reflex.


Hibernation and circannual rhythms of food consumption in marmots and ground squirrels.

In order to understand better the evolution and adaptive value of hibernation, ecological aspects and experimental studies of closely related hibernators, the Marmotini, are examined. The central hypothesis is that annual changes in the environment integrate three or, perhaps, four physiological processes: torpor, reporduction, consumption of food, and metabolism. Reproduction occurs promptly after emergence from hibernation. For most species, the breeding season is very short. Although the experimental data are rather meager, no variation in external factors has consistently altered the season of reproduction. Consumption of food and change in weight increases until July or September and then decreases. The large members of the Marmotini store their energy as fat, but small species store their energy as seeds and nuts. Experiments to test the hypothesis that some aspect of the supply, such as fat content, might vary seasonally have produced negative results. Complex experiments on the length of the photoperiod on woodchucks and several species of ground squirrels failed to alter the annual cycle of consumption of food. Animals kept in constant conditions showed a cycle of about 11 months, but woodchucks sent tto Australia changed their cycle in two years to match the seasons of the southern hemisphere. Experiments with temperature and torpor and castration did not alter the annual did not alter the rhythm...


[Hand test as an instrument for the prediction of aggressive behavior].

The hand test it's a personality projective test. It uses ten plates, nine of which represent a hand in different positions: the plates are shown one by one, successively, and the subject is asked to express his interpretation on the activity of the hand shown there. Confronted with the tenth plate, which is white, the subject, instead, must imagine a hand and tell what it is doing; The answers are recorded together with the time of reaction and any other meaningful behaviour, then the score is computed and the interpretation is made, according to the prescribed procedures. Among the different aims pursued by this test, the first one to be reached was the forecase of aggressive behaviour. The quantitative evaluation of the probability that the subject considered could, in the future, act aggressively, is provided by the acting out score. The principle, on which is based the determination of this score, is that the probability of an exterior aggressive behaviour increases in the same way as the dominant and aggressive attitudes prevail on the attitudes for social cooperation. Grouping, then, the answers which show tendencies of the two kinds and calculating the algebraical difference between the two groups, the acting out score is obtained. Generally speaking, the studies performed have confirmed the forecasting capacity of the test. The score in question has, in fact, differentiated with remarkable approximation (up to 78%) aggressive subjects from not=aggressive ones, recidivous from not recidivous, robbers from alcoholics, etc. These results have even a bigger relief when one considers that the acting out score cannot be interpreted like a mechanical and perfect index: it has to be integrated by qualitative considerations concerning the individual under examination, his environment and the answers given.


Plasma inhibitors of the Hageman factor dependent pathways.

The Hageman factor dependent pathways are influenced by several control proteins which modulate the extent of activation and biologic activity of these enzyme substrates (Fig. 1). C1 INH plays a prominent role by acting at the common initiating step for all three Hageman factor dependent systems and its deficiency produces disease in man. Alpha-2 macroglobulin appears to play an important role in the fibrinolytic sequence, having potent activity towards both plasminogen activator and plasmin. Antithrombin most prominently influences the state of activation of the coagulation sequence by regulating the enzymatic activities of activated Factors XI, IX and X and, most importantly, that of thrombin. Significantly, deficiency of antithrombin results in increased thrombosis in man.


Cytochemical and cytoenzymatic investigations in the management of leukemias.

The value of certain cytochemical and cytoenzymatic investigations in the management of leukemias is discussed in different types of acute or chronic leukemias. Among the data resulting from cytochemical methods those related to cellular biochemical components such as DNA, RNA, glycogen and lipids are particularly noteworthy. The results of cytoenzymatic investigations have stressed the necessity of knowing the activity of certain enzymes such as peroxidases, alkaline and acid phosphatases, beta-glucuronidase, succinate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase a.o. The prospective value of enzymes such as dehydrofolate reductase, DNA and RNA polymerases, DNA and RNA-ases a.o. in the management of leukemias is also mentioned.


[Anatomo-clinical considerations on cerebral sarcomas].

The Authors present six cases of sarcoma of the brain. After doing a short review of the cases described in literature, they discuss the clinical anathomo-pathological and terapeutic aspects of these peculiar tumours.


Contrasts in HMO and fee-for-service performance.

This study compares various aspects of HMO performance in 10 plans with that of the fee-for-service system for the Medicaid population. Additionally, it examines utilization differences between several types of HMO's, grouped according to organization and provider payment. Four areas of behavior were studied--enrollment selectivity, utilization of services, accessibility of care, and satisfaction. The only significant difference between the two systems was in hospital utilization. Group-practice MNO's had significantly lower hospital utilization than the fee-for-service groups: foundation HMO's did not. This difference seems to indicate that capitation payment to an HMO alone is not significant enough to produce major changes in utilization and that the organized multispecialty group-practice arrangement with largely salaried physicians may be more significant. For the other variables--previous health status, ambulatory-care use (including preventive care), accessibility, and satisfaction--the two groups were remarkably similar.


Some psychological reflections on the death of Malcolm Melville.

Malcolm Melville died on September 12, 1867, at age 18 from--to quote his death certificate--a "pistol shot wound in (his) right temporal region." Contemporary designations of the mode of his death changed within hours from suicide, to accident, to death while of unsound mind. Historically, the mode of his death has remained equivocal. In order to approach this enigma a "psychological autopsy" of an equivocal death case as identical to Malcolm Melville's as was possible was conducted as though it were a genuine current "open" case at the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center in 1973. That procedure resulted in a near-unanimous judgment by the center staff that the most accurate certification of the death as described was "probable suicide," which would then be certified as "suicide." In this paper the assertion is made that Herman Melville himself had been a psychologically "battered child" and, in a way typical for battered children, psychologically battered his own children when it came his turn to be a parent. The further assertion is made that, for Malcolm, his father was suicidogenic; and established this penchant in Malcolm (through his neglect, active rejection, fearsomeness, and his fixed attention to his own writing--Redburn, White Jacket, and Moby Dick) within the first 2 years of Malcolm's life. For Malcolm, the psychological basis of his suicidal state was isolated desperation--a ubiquitous characteristic of most suicides. Malcolm had a deep unconscious feeling of not being wanted by his father; that it would be better if he were out of the way, dead. On the morning of his death, the choice for Malcolm was between the memory of his mother's kiss a few hours before and the terror of (and the need to protect himself against) his father's rage to come.


Clinical trial of pimozide.

Pimozide and Chlorpromazine were compared in chronic schizophrenics for their therapeutic effectiveness and tolerance, for four-weeks in both cases and for twelve months for pimozide. The minimum and maximum doses were 1 mg to 4 mg single dose for pimozide and 100 to 200 mg thrice daily for chlorpromazine. No significant global differences between the range of therapeutic activity of the two regimens were observed. Slightly more improvement was observed in mood and motor activity with pimozide. Drowsiness and dizziness, and extrapyramidal effects were more prominent with clorpromazine. Other side effects were infrequent. A prolonged improvement in 8 pimozide patients was maintained with mainly weight gain. The advantages of pimozide in chronic unsocialized schizophrenics appear to rest on its single oral daily dose regime, minimal undersirable effects, its specific enhancement of social integration and absence of undersirable effect on mental and physical performance.


Clinical trial of pivampicillin hydrochloride (alphacillin) in gonorrhoea.

Pivampicillin, a new derivative of ampicillin, which has been found to give higher blood levels than corresponding doses of oral ampicillin has been tried in the treatment of 40 consecutive cases of uncomplicated gonorrhoea. 37 (92.5%) patients had bacteriological cure while the combined bacteriological and clinical curate rate was 85%. Few minor adverse reactions were recorded during therapy. It is concluded that pivampicillin is effective in the treatment of gonorrhoea but its efficacy could be further enhanced by the addition of probenecid. The economic importance and convenience of the single dose therapy, particularly in developing countries are briefly discussed.


An open trial of prazosin in the treatment of hypertension.

An open trial of prazosin has been conducted among 18 males aged 18-68 years (mean 42.7) and 22 females aged 23-70 years (mean 47.5) seen at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Hypertension Clinic. 3 suffered from mild to moderate hypertension and 9 suffered from severe hypertension. The dose employed ranged from 2 to 60 mg per day in 2 or 3 divided doses. All 6 patients whose placebo diastolic pressure was below 100 mm Hg gave excellent response. 19(76%) of the 25 patients whose placebo diastolic pressure ranged from 100 to 114 mm Hg gave excellent response. Only 3 to 9 patients whose placebo diastolic pressure ranged from 115 to 129 mm Hg gave excellent response. There was improved response when polythiazide 2 mg daily was added to the treatment. The total number giving excellent response increased from 28 (70%) to 36 (90%). In 3 cases (7.5%), the response was fair and one case (2.5%) remained poor. In most cases there was slight increase in pulse rate. The side effects encountered included palpitation in 8 patients 3 of whom also had postural hypotension. There were no biochemical or haematological abnormalities caused by prazosin but on continued therapy 16 patients developed tolerance to its effect. Thus prazusin has been found to be useful addition to the antihypertensive arm amentarium.


[Surgery of expiratory stenosis of the thoracic part of the trachea and main bronchi (author's transl)].

Expiratory stenosis of the trachea and the main bronchi is caused first of all by slackening of the pars membranacea in rarer cases by tracheomalacia or tracheomegalia. Often it is associated with other respiratory diseases above all tracheobronchitis, emphysema and pneumosclerosis. Predominant clinical symptoms are dyspnoea, barking cough and attacks of suffocation. X-ray-pictures in several diameters and levels and bronchological examinations are crucial for securiting the diagnosis. Among 95 patients of all age groups 14 were operated on predominantly according to the method of NISSEN. Operation is contradicted in stages of severe emphysema with respiratory insufficiency of bilateral pulmonary tuberculosis or of chronic bronchitis. In 10 patients a good result was achieved by the operation.


[Stages of development of aspergillus-mycetom and their roentgenographic signs (author's transl)].

A series of 13 cases of aspergillus-infection in the respiratory tract are reviewed. A case of rapid development of an intrapleural aspergillus-mycetom is presented. A complete series of chest roentgenograms and operation-photos allowed to demonstrate like with a quick-motion apparatus 3 stages of development of an intrapleural aspergillus-myceton: I. Infection through Aspergilli of a residual intrapleural cavity by the bronchial way. Pleural thickening as reaction to the irritation. II. Development of fungus-lawn and mycotic layers on the cavity-wall. III. Scaling off from the wall and moulding to the fungus-ball through movement of human body. Each of the three stages can be coordinated to a roentgenographic sign. The detection in an early stage of development makes it possible to treat the aspergillus-mycetom also by conservative methods, f. i. with a Pimafucin-Suspension (Natamycin) by aerososl.


[Experimental kidney preservation for 30 hours in Collins' solution: angiographical and isotope nephrographical findings after autotransplantation].

In experiment canine kidneys preserved in Collins' solution can be kept vital for 30 hours. Angiography after autotransplantation of these kidneys shows good circulation during the immediate postoperative period. Isotope nephrography reveals reversible damage of tubuli which disappears till the 28th day after operation. This procedure of preservation causes tubular damage but does not impair the parenchymatous blood supply. Tubular regeneration therefore is possible.


[Analysis of several clinical, morphologic and biochemical responses to vaccination from the point of view of normal and pathologic conditions].

Induction of specific immunity under the effect of the antigens is unthinkable without the participation in this process of the reticuloendothelial system, other organs and systems of the vaccinated organism with the inversion of the total immunological reactivity of the vaccinated individual. Of great significance for the success of a definite vaccination is correlation of the functions of specific and nonspecific immunity. At the same time, counting many changes in the organs and systems of the person vaccinated as natural and necessary, one should also consider possibilities of a number of unfavourable side-reactions following vaccination as a result of some causes. The survey analyzes the principal immunobiological indices of the vaccinated organism and also assesses their established or probable role in the immunity system.


[Production and characteristics of glycerin mutants of S. typhimurium].

S. typhimurium glycerine mutants-gly 90 and gly 87 were obtained under the action of ethylmethanesulfonate. The mutants obtained were characterized by the site of block in the course of glycerine utilization:gly 90 mutant bore the mutation in the glp K-gene, this leading to the defect by glycerokinase-the enzyme of the first stage of glycerine metabolism; gly 87 mutant had derangements in the other stage of glycerine utilization. Both mutants lost their capacity to induce keratoconjunctivitis in guinea pigs, but differed by the LD50 value in intraperitoneal infection of albino mice (y gly 87--5 cells, y gly 90--1x10(7) cells).


[Ultrastructure of cells comprising an intact population of several strains of S. typhimurium and E. coli].

The authors describe the ultrastructure of cells composing the intact population of several S. typhimurium and E. coli strains. Four morphological cell variants were revealed in the population of three salmonella strains. Cells of the first variant had the structure characteristic of all the Gram negative bacteria, and smooth contour surface structures, among which the membrane of the cell wall, its rigid component and the cytoplasmic membrane were differentiated readily. The second variant differed from the first one by the presence of deep individual folds of the surface structures invaginating into the cell. In comparison with the former two types of cells, the two latter variants were characterized by a lesser size, dense cytoplasm and a marked tortuosity of the cell contours in which only the wall components could be revealed. It is supposed that the fourth variant had a structure characteristic of the R-form of cells, the first one--of the S-form, and the second and third variants could be referred to the transitional S leads to R-forms. Increased density of the cytoplasm and rugose character of the surface structures could be attributed to increased dehydration of the cytoplasm of the dissociating cells. No marked polymorphism was revealed in the E. coli cells.


Oxidoreductases and hydrolases as marker enzymes for ultracentrifugation of islets of Langerhans of rats.

Using quantitative fluorometric micro methods the presence of glutamate dehydrogenase, acid galactosidase, and acid glucuronidase was detected in pancreatic islets of the rat. Some properties of these enzymes and of malate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, and acid phosphatase were investigated. It has been shown that subcellular fractions of homogenates of islets of Langerhans can be characterized by using glutamate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, and acid hydrolases as marker enzymes for mitochondria, cytosol, and lysosomes, respectively. The degree of contamination from acinar tissue in the islet preparations was calculated from the amylase activity of the homogenates.


[(Pro)insulin biosynthesis of isolated islands of Langerhans in the sand rat and Wistar rat].

Sand rats develop a diabetes-like syndrome, connected with temporary hyperinsulinism, when fed a rat laboratory chow diet. The conversion of proinsulin to insulin is not disturbed in these animals. Sand rat islets do not secrete newly synthesized (pro) insulin preferentially. Time course and glucose response of [3H]-leucine incorporation are different between islets of sand rats and Wistar rats.


Prevention of thrombo-embolic disease in emergencies.

The prevention of thrombo-embolic disease in general surgery has well been codified during the recent years, by means of the use of subcutaneous heparine in the pre- and postoperative periods. This therapeutic effort can not be applied to traumatological patients as the formation of the thrombus occurs at the same time of the accident and not at the moment of intervention. Good results were however obtained by the systematic use of subcutaneous heparine at the early moment emergency treatment and by increasing eventually the dose in case of thrombosis, to maintain a franc hypocoagulability. The frequency of injection, dosage and results obtained are described. (Acta anaesth. belg., 1976, 27, 69-81).


Neurobiology of piperidine: its relevance to CNS function.

Piperidine is a normal constituent in mammalian brain, affects synaptic mechanism in the CNS, and influences neural mechanisms governing regulation of emotional behavior, sleeping, and extrapyramidal function. In addition, there are enzyme systems within the brain that synthesize and metabolize piperidine, and uptake and storage mechanisms for piperidine are found in the nerve endings. In conclusions, piperidine seems to be intimately connected with the neuronal function of the brain.


Octopamine as a putative neurotransmitter.

Octopamine is a normally occurring amine in nervous tissues in many species of animals. In mammals, octopamine is formed from tyramine through beta-hydroxylation by DBH in the sympathetic nerves, and it is partially stored in nerve endings with a subcellular distribution similar to that of NE. It is capable of replacing NE in its storage sites, and it is released by sympathetic nerve stimulation. High concentrations are found in the crustacean central nerve cord. Specific octopamine-containing cells have been identified in Aplysia and other lower animals. On the basis of neurophysiological evidence, the existence of specific octopamine receptors in Aplysia has been postulated. In insects, octopamine produces specific biochemical responses such as increased synthesis of cyclic AMP and phosphorylase activation. The present evidence strongly suggests that octopamine may function as a neurotransmitter in lower animals. Although the physiological role of this amine has not been established in mammals, it appears likely that octopamine may function as a cotransmitter together with NE in the peripheral sympathetic nervous system.


Immunological aspects of hepatitis B virus infection.

Infection of man and chimpanzees with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is associated with diffuse hepatocellular infection and variable manifestations of disease which may not only reflect the character of the host immune response, but also depend upon differences in the cellular biology of this minimally cytopathic or noncytopathic agent. The presence of hepatocellular injury and the course of disease do not appear to be related to the presence of viral antigens in hepatocytes or to the specific pattern of genome expression. HBV infection is typically associated with both humoral and cellular immune responses to viral and hepatocellular antigens. Whereas cellular effector systems may be responsible for immunologically mediated hepatocellular injury, the patterns of viral antigen synthesis and expression may be modulated by the humoral immune response. Aberration of lymphocyte function occurs during acute hepatitis type B. Thymus-derived lymphocyte function is abnormal and is associated with persistent humoral suppression of T lymphocyte function during the development of the chronic carrier state. Extrahepatic disease appears attributable to the formation and deposition of HBS Ag-antibody complexes. Current information of the biology and immunology of HBV and other viruses has been integrated into a hypothesis to explain the pathogenesis of injury and events associated with persistent infection. Hepatocellular injury and persistence of viral synthesis may be determined by the regulation of synthesis and hepatocyte surface expression of viral and cellular antigens as well as by the specificity and character of the host immune response. Termination of HBV infection is viewed as suppression of viral genome rather than eradication of infected cells.


Physiological effects of respiratory failure after paediatric surgery.

Having taking into consideration those pathological conditions in which great difficulties are encountered during the conduction of artificial ventilation the author describes a simple method for investigating the volume of the lungs by means of whole-body plethysmography. A modified Drinker's respirator was used as a plethysmograph. In studies of children after cordiosurgical operations CPAP was found to be particularly useful for improving arterial blood oxgenation in cases with low pulmonary compliance. The method led to a clinically observed reduction of respiratory work. Hypoxia during ventilation with a high-oxygen mixture may depend on a decreased pulmonary volume and the aim of treatment should be to improve this condition.


The management of respiratory failure in paediatrics.

Following a discussion on the most frequent causes of respiratory failure in children and the principles of its treatment the author presents methods of preventing the complications of prolonged endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy performed on special indications. Particular attention has been paid to careful nursing and adequate humidification of respiratory gases. Moreover the avoiding of tightly-fitting endotracheal tubes and the method of their fixation -- as established at the author's hospital -- are of basic importance for the maintenance of uncomplicated intubation for even several weeks. In the treatment of respiratory failure the use of CPAP and PEEP is helpful. An exact knowledge of the mechanics of respiration in children and its correct evaluation are of greater significance when using various methods of controlled respiration than a selection of a respirator model.


[A rapid assay of Sindbis virus infectivity by counting immunofluorescence foci in "Aedes albopictus" cell culture (author's transl)].

The Aedes albopictus cell line is susceptible to numerous arboviruses but the appearance of cytopathic effect is observed mostly with flavivirus. A method of rapid titration of Sindbis virus by counting immunofluorescent foci is described, using this cell line.


On the serological relationship between Salmonella O-groups 48 and 64 and the corresponding Arizona O-groups 5 and 29 which would justify a merger of these groups.

In 1963 Kauffmann divided O-group Y (O:48) of the Kauffmann-White schema into 3 sub-groups, e.g. 48(1),48(2) (S. dahlem), 48(1),48(2),48(3) (S. djakarta), 48(1),48(3),48(4) (Citrobacter 2624/36). He also recommended the use of the two serotypes S. dahlem and S. djakarta for the preparation of a diagnostic group-serum. At that time, serological relations--especially O-antigenic relations (and even some identities)--between the separate Salmonella and Arizona genera were known, viz. between the Salmonella group O:48 and the Arizona group O:5. It has now been found that there exist also close serological relations between the Salmonella O-groups 48 and 64 on the one hand and to the corresponding Arizona O-groups 5 and 29 on the other hand, in connection with which the special factor 48(4) defined by Kauffmann in the Citrobacter culture 2624/36 enbraces the whole Salmonella group O:64 (Arizona group O:29). Therefore, every Salmonella O:64 strain and Arizona O:29 serotype respectively can be agglutinated with factor-serum 48(4), defined by Kauffmann. A special O:64 serum is no longer required. The Salmonella antigen 64 (Arizona O:29 or O:5,29) has as a rule the partial antigens 48(1),48(3),48(4) (Arizona O:29). Only a few serotypes do not possess factor 48(3): their components are 48(1) and 48(4) (Arizona O:29). The evidence of our findings demonstrates that the Salmonella O-group 64 (Arizona O:29) should be combined with O-group 48 (Arizona O:5) and erased from the original Kauffmann-White schema and the Arizona antigenic schema to avoid a wrong diagnosis.


[Structure of drug resistance in Staphylococci].

The structure of drug resistance was studied on 2788 clinical strains of staphylococci isolated from various materials of patients with purulent-inflammatory processes, stuff and environment within 12 years from 1968 to 1973. The number of staphylococci resistant to tetracycline increased 13 times among the cultures with resistance marker, while the number of staphylococci resistant to penicillin decreased 1-8 times. The study of the complex resistance revealed the predominance of staphylococci with tetracycline resistance structure (60-5 percent).


[Comparative study of the effect of antibiotics-aminoglycosides on pseudotuberculosis bacterium in vitro and in vivo].

It was found that 229 out of 230 strains of pseudotuberculosis microbes tested were sensitive to aminoglycosides, such as streptomycin, monomycin, neomycin, kanamycin and gentamicin. The MIC did not exceed 50 gamma/ml. One strain of J. pseudotuberculosis was multiresistant to streptomycin, tetracycline, levomycetin and penicillin. The above aminoglycosides (streptomycin, monomycin, kanamycin and gentamicin) were active in the treatment of albino mice with experimental pseudotuberculosis.


[Changes in ultrastructure of Escherichia coli under the effect of certain antibiotics].

Ultrastructure of the cells of Coli bacteria after their contact with cephaloridin, ampicillin, gentamicin or kanamycin was studied by means of electron microscopy. Differences in the changes of the submicroscopic structure of the cells under the effect of the antibiotics, the inhibitors of the cell wall synthesis and protein synthesis were shown. Differences in the ultrastructural changes under the effect of the same antibiotic on grampositive and gramnegative organisms are discussed.


[Microflora of theintestines of persons in contact with aminoglycosides and penicillin].

A total of 90 persons being in contact with aminoglycosides and penicillin were examined. It was found that such a contact resulted in dysbacteriosis of the intestine. The culture of Coli bacteria isolated from the persons had a low fermentative activity and lost their mobility. Bificol, a biological preparation proved to be promising in the treatment of persons with dysfunction of the intestine against the background of dysbacteriosis.


A critical review of the literature on long-term treatment of peripheral arteriosclerosis with oral anticoagulants.

Protracted administration of oral anticoagulant agents to patients presenting symptoms of peripheral arteriosclerosis is a treatment in widespread use in the Netherlands a Germany. However, a critical perusal of the available literature reveals a scarcity of objective data which might confirm the value of this treatment. It may be concluded from the data in the literature that protracted administration of anticoagulants may be useful only in case of stenosis of the superficial femoral artery. It is pointed out that a statistically correct study of this subject, with use of objective parameters, is urgently necessary.


Mandibular ameloblastoma (resection with primary reconstruction). A case report with a concise review of the literature.

A case report of an ameloblastoma in the mandibula is given. The characteristics of this neoplasm are discussed. The tumor is histologically benign but clinically malignant. The therapy of choice is therefore radical surgery, preferably resection with primary reconstruction in one stage. Eight years after the operation in this case no signs of recurrence were found.


[Refringence phenomenon as a sign of the degree of differentiation of immunocompetent cells].

Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the refringence phenomen in immunocompetent cells of various organs of rabbits and CBA line mice under conditions of immunological activity, as well as in those of children with ataxia-teleangiectasia, showed that immunoblasts contained predominantly non-refringent nuclei, mature plasmatic cells--mainly highly refringent nuclei, and young plasmatic cells occupied a position in the middle of the two. These data, as well as the absence of the refringence phenomenon in the cells of lymphosarcoma in man corroborate a direct relationship between the phenomenon and the process of differentiation of cells.


[Primary hypertension of the lesser circulation].

The article presents a survey of the literature data and findings of the author's own investigations concerning various aspects of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). PPH -- is a polyentiological suffering. As a nosological form it was described in the fifities. There are two forms of PPH: congenital and acquired. In its turn, the congenital form comprises two variants of anomalies of the pulmonary vessels: the retnetion of the fetal structure of the pulmonary arteries and an anomaly at the level of intraorgan vascular anastomoses. Constant morphological characteristics of the two forms of PPH are as follows: endosclerosis of major branches of the pulmonary artery and focal sclerosis of their tunica media; a considerable degree of hypertrophy of the right ventricle usually not observed in other diseases. The acquired PPH may develop as a result of exposure to drugs, in thromboembolism, under high mountain conditions, etc. A question arises, whether it is justifiable to call as "primary" the acquired forms of pulmonary hypertension, since in the majority of cases their secondary nature is evident. Thus, the term "primary pullomonary hypertension" should be applied only to congenital forms of the disease. Possible in order to single out this group of desorders it would be reasonable to devise a more suitable name, for instance, "isolated pulmonary hypertension" which will render a broader sense to this polyetiological suffering.


Gelatin implants in scleral buckling procedures.

In 375 scleral buckling procedures, an absorbable gelatin implant (Retina Gelfilm) was used. This series included 192 trapdoor and scleral pouch procedures, and 183 operations in which a gelatin implant was used beneath a silicone rubber implant. Two thicknesses of gelatin implants were used, 0.5 mm and 0.75 mm. Absorption time varied from 2 to 24 months, depending on the thickness of the implant and whether it was used alone or beneath a silicone rubber implant. Gelatin is an excellent absorbable implant when used alone or under a silicone rubber implant in selected patients with retinal detachment to produce a temporary elevation or posterior extension of the buckle, or both.


Periodontal considerations in the restoration of non-vital teeth.

Periodontal status is considered in relation to the construction of post core retained restorations. The surgical management of those problems apical to the gingival tissues is discussed in detail.


[Experimental anti-arrhythmic action of perhexiline].

The antiarrhythmic action of Perhexiline phosphate, in doses of 3 and 6 mg/kg on various experimental cardiac arrhytmias and on the physiological properties of the atrial myocardium has been studied in the anesthetized dog. Its action in concentrations of 3 and 6 mcg/ml on the transmembrane action potentials in isolated Purkinje fibers has also been analyzed. The activity of perhexiline is comparatively greater in the circus movement atrial flutter and in the arrhythmias caused by ouabain and by barium chloride intoxication than in the atrial tachysystolia caused by the local application of aconitine. Perhexiline prolongs the wave length (refractory period times conduction velocity) of the atrial impulse and depresses atrial excitability. These effects may explain its action on experimental atrial flutter. In isolated Purkinje fibers, perhexiline reduces the maximum velocity of depolarization, the overshoot, the amplitude of the action potential and its duration, measured at 50% of its repolarization phase. The relation of these electrophysiological effects of perhexiline to the genesis of each type of arrhythmia may explain its different type of activity in the experimental models studied.


Location of a high-sulphur protein in developing wool follicles using peroxidase-labelled antibody.

Antiserum to a high-sulphur protein (SCMK-B2) from wool was purified to obtain the immunoglobin G fraction, and this was labelled with horse-radish peroxidase. The labelled antibody was then applied to sections of sheep skin embedded in glycol methacrylate in order to locate the distribution of high-sulphur protein within the lower hair shaft. Regions containing the highest concentration of high-sulphur protein were the cuticle of the hair shaft and the keratogenous zone of the cortex.


Abnormal "activated" rosette formation in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

The mean percentage of peripheral blood lymphocytes forming fast spontaneous rosettes with sheep red blood cells was estimated in 40 patients presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of cancer. Patients who were eventually diagnosed as having cancer had significantly lower numbers (P less than 0.01 Mann Whitney Test) of rosette forming cells than patients who had gastrointestinal tumours successfully removed, or patients with other gastrointestinal diseases. The use of this test as an aid to the diagnosis of gastrointestinal malignancy and its possible application to the detection of recurrences of cancer after surgery are discussed.


Systemic herpes simplex infection with fulminant hepatitis post-transplantation.

Immunosuppression for renal transplantation is associated with the risk of severe overwhelming infection with ubiquitous but normally relatively harmless micro-organisms. In recent years a number of adult cases of fatal hepatitis due to herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection have been reported. Nearly always immune deficiency was a significant factor. A case of fatal HSV infection with hepatitis following transplantation is reported. The case failed to respond to infusion with the antiviral agent cytosine arabinoside. The presentation, diagnosis and treatment of HSV fulminant hepatitis is discussed.


Infection in the intensive care unit.

An epidemic of infection associated with Serratia marcescens and other Gram-negative organisms resistant to aminoglycosides and other chemotherapeutic agents occurred in the Intensive Care Unit, and spread to other areas of the hospital. This paper describes the problems of sepsis in the critically ill patient, outlines the occurrence of organisms in the patients concerned in this epidemic, and discusses the policies adopted to control the incidence of life-threatening infection caused by bacteria resistant to all other agents.


Prevalence of urinary tract infection in adult women.

Five hundred adult women of Sylhet town of different socio-economic status were screened to detect urinary tract infection by a random "door-to-door" survey. Significant bacteriuria was considered as an important criterion in the diagnosis of urinary tract infection. Pyuria with bacteriuria was, but without bacteriuria was not, considered a good evidence of infection. The ratio between the asymptomatic and symptomatic bacteriuria was found to be 7:1. The significance of asymptomatic bacteriuria in preventive medicine has been stressed.


Application of stereologic methodology to inflammatory infiltrates residing in oral mucous membrane lesions. Structural and morphometric comparison of benign mucous membrane pemphigoid and reticular lichen planus.

In the present study, stereologic procedures are employed to estimate quantitatively the composition of chronic connective tissue infiltrates characterizing various oral mucous membrane diseases. One case each of benign mucous membrane pemphigoid (BMMP) and reticular lichen planus (RLP) served as examples to demonstrate the applicability of this methodology. In both lesions which are described clinically, histologically and on the ultrastructural level and which display a markedly different infiltrate composition, fibroblasts were affected and either proliferated (BMMP) or became cytopathologically altered (RLP). The quantitative data presented, besides providing new information, argue in favour of the stereologic approach.


[Lability of the products of mitochondrial protein synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts].

Estimation of the rate of degradation of the products of mitochondrial protein synthesis in S. cerevisiae cells is reported. The method developed for this purpose is based on pulse incorporation of a labeled amino acid in the presence of an inhibitor of cytoplasmic protein synthesis and allows one to monitor postincorporation of the label. The label incorporated is shown to be rapidly released from mitochondria. Its content is decreased 2-fold during 20-30 min at the beginning and 50-60 min at the end of the exponential phase of growth. The label is detected in cytosol proteins and the TCA-soluble fraction of mitochondria, which is indicative of possible proteolysis of mitochondrial membrane proteins. Since release of the label does not undergo inhibition by specific inhibitors of yeast cell proteinases (pepstatin and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride), it may be assumed that these proteinases are either not involved in the digestion of the products of mitochondrial protein synthesis or do not represent a rate-limiting step of the process.


[Rate of ribosome movement along messenger RNA in E. coli under normal and inhibited translation].

Considerable decrease of polysome number (22% as compared with 48% in normally grown culture) was observed under methionine starvation of E. coli Hfr (Met-)culture . At the same time the amount of 70S ribosomes increased up to 32%, while it was 2--6% in the control, the content of free ribosome subunits (50S+30S) being stable. The number of polysomes was the same (congruent to 50%) both in the control culture and under inhibition of protein synthesis in E. coli Hfr(Met-) cells with chloramphenicol, the content of 70S ribosomes was increased (30%) like in the case of methionine starvation, and the amount of free ribosome subunits was decreased (24% as compared with 46% in the control). The rate of ribosome movement in polysomes in the presence of chloramphenicol is comparable with that in the control. The rate of ribosome movement along mRNA under methionine starvation in 1.6 times lower than in normally grown E.coli culture. The level of (14)C-leucine incorporation into newly synthesizing polysome proteins under chloramphenicol inhibition of protein synthesis and methionine starvation comprised 20% and 12% of the incorporation level inthe control respectively. It suggested that ribosomes under inhibition of protein synthesis by chloramphenicol or amino acid starvation continue their movement along mRNA with the rate comparable with that in the control. However in this case no peptide bonds are formed ("abortive" translocation).


[Fractionation and amino-acid composition of acid-soluble trypsin of inclusion bodies protein of nuclear polyhedrosis virus of moth, Galleria mellonella].

A mixture of pH 3.5-soluble trypsin peptides of inclusion bodies proteins of moth nuclear polyedrosis virus was fractionated by means of ionic exchange chromatography on Dowex 50X2 and purified by paper electrophoresis-chromatography. 32 peptides are isolated, their amino acid composition being studied.


[Some peculiarities of transfer RNAs hydrolysis by exonuclease A5].

Unusual kinetics of the hydrolysis of the baker's yeast total tRNA and tRNA1Val by exonuclease A5 was found (two stages of the reaction; low initial velocity and still lower velocity of the second reaction stage; high Km values). These peculiarities were shown to be due to the three-dimensional structure of the substrate, which makes a large part of the tRNA molecule resistant to the exonuclease A5 attack. The exhaustive tRNA hydrolysis observed in the presence of very large doses of exonuclease A5 may be explained by a slight (less than 1%) endo-RNAase contamination in the exonuclease A5 preparation. The hydrolysis conditions become optimal, i.e. the exhaustive hydrolysis proceeds most rapidly, when the amount of endo-RNAase admixture reaches 20--30%. The artificial enzyme mixture of such a composition is a convenient reagent for RNA and expecially for tRNA hydrolysis under mild conditions to 5'-mononucleotides. The considerable resistance of tRNA to pure exonuclease A5 action will make it possible porbably to use tRNA instead of circular nucleic acids for endonuclease admixtures estimation in enzyme preparations.


Human centromere mapping using teratoma data.

Under the assumption that benign ovarian teratomas arise parthenogenetically from a germ cell by suppression of the second meiotic division, the proportion gamma of heteratomas collected from heterozygous hosts is a measure for the distance between the corresponding gene and its centromere. For proportions gamma less than or equal to 0.3, the mapping function x = gamma/2 applies, where x is the map distance in Morgans.


[Distribution of lysotypes and study of antibiotic sensitivity of Shigella flexneri 2 isolated in Iran].

152 strains of Shigella flexneri 2 isolated from the stools of patients having sporadic bacillary dysenteria have been studied for their phage types as well as for the presence of transferable resistance factor. The distribution of the phage types has shown a high predominance of lysotype 12 (67%). Proportion of Shigella flexneri 2 strains resistant to one or several antibiotics has been highest in the years 1968 and 1973. The most frequent transferable resistance pattern was found to be (Tc, Cm, Sm, Su) and the most successful transfer method was the celophane technique. Resistance loss varied according to the resistance pattern of the strains. Total loss of the resistance to Tc, Cm, Sm, Su occurred in  0,2-2 % only. Very often strains resistant to Tc, Cm, Sm, Su lost their resistance factor to Tc and Cm keeping the resistance factors for Su, Sm.


[Fluorescent antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum of patients suspected of cerebral malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum].

The authors report the results of indirect immunofluorescent technique used for detecting malarial antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum of 126 African patients suspected of cerebral malaria from infection with Plasmodium falciparum. Almost all of them were less than 15 years old and were living in urban unstable hypoendemic areas. Malarial antibodies, mainly IgG, were found in about 25 0/0 of cerebrospinal fluid samples, whether the patients were admitted for malaria or for any other disease. Malarial antibodies were more frequently found in cerebrospinal fluid of patients over 2 years old and in those not treated with antimalarial drugs before hospitalization. No correlation was found between serum antibody level, parasitemia, splenomegaly, clinical form, precocity of blood collection and malarial antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid. The results concerning serum antibodies corroborate previous works.


Tissue iso-renins.

1. Several extrarenal tissues contain enzymes which are similar to kidney renin: they hydrolyse angiotensinogen to form angiotensin I; they have characteristic substrate specificity; the physicochemical properties of kidney renin and of extrarenal tissue iso-renin are similar. 2. Results indicate that tissue iso-renins are part of a complex enzyme system with mainly local function. A possible biological role has been demonstrated in brain, adrenal gland and tissue culture.


Plasma renin concentration and the hypotensive effect of bendrofluazide and of atenolol.

1. The anti-hypertensive effect of atenolol was greater than that of bendrofluazide. 2. The change in systolic blood pressure caused by bendrofluazide showed a significant inverse correlation iwth the plasma renin concentration (r=-0-47; P less than 0-01). 3. The correlation between the change in systolic blood pressure caused by atenolol and the plasma renin concentration was not significant (r =0-28; 0-1 greater than P greater than 0-05). 4. Plasma renin concentration was unaffected by atenolol.


Plasma renin activity, plasma angiotensin II and extracellular fluid volume in patients after renal transplantation.

1. Patients with cadaveric renal transplants and plasma creatinine less than 177 micronmol/l who had their own kidneys removed were studied. 2. The renin-angiotensin system appeared to behave in a normal fashion in response to alterations in sodium intake and posture. 3. The renin-angiotensin system had no major role in the establishment or maintenance of hypertension. 4. Mean arterial pressure was directly related to expansion of the extracellular fluid volume.


Brain-stem structures and catecholamines in the control of arterial blood pressure in the rat.

1. Noradrenaline, adrenaline and alpha-methylnoradrenaline administration into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) of anaesthetized rats decreased blood pressure and heart rate in a dose-dependent fashion. 2. Bilateral injections were effective in lower doses than unilateral administration. alpha-Methylnoradrenaline given bilaterally produced hypotension in a dose of 0-08 nmol whereas after unilateral injection a dose of 0-32 nmol was needed to obtain the same degree of hypotension. 3. Electrical stimulation of the NTS caused hypotension and bradycardia. Conversely, bilateral electrolytic lesions or deafferentation of the NTS led to acute hypertension. Chronically such lesions caused neurogenic hypertension. 4. In spontaneously hypertensive rats increased concentrations of noradrenaline, adrenaline and dopamine were measured in the part of the NTS located just caudal to the obex (A2 region).