Comparison of the ability of small molecular interferon inducers: tilorone and acridine drugs.

The antiviral activity and induction of interferon-like substance by mepacrine (quinacrine, Atabrine) and Acranil in mice, described previuosly, was studied in more detail and compared with tilorone. The serum substance induced by Acranil was characterized as mouse interferon. Acranil, given parenterally, proved to be as strong as tilorone regarding interferon stimulation, in spite of the presence of only one side chain in the Acrainl molecule. Mepacrine was found to be a wealer interferon inducer than either tilorone or Acranil. The mode of interferon induction by Acranil and tilorone (effect of metabolic inhibitors, hyporesponsiveness to repeated doses, correlation between acute toxicity and antiviral activity, failure of effectiveness in chicks and chicken embryo tissue culture) was found comparable. However, the body temperature reactions of mice to the drugs were different: a striking hypothermic effect of tilorone, a lower one of mepacrine and the absence of body temperature depression by Acranil was observed.


[Correlation of the volume of the perineural oligodendroglia of the cerebral cortex with their RNA level].

The RNA content in the perineural oligodendroglia cells was studied with the help of cytophotometer in 6 humans aged from 75 to 85 in cortical fields 4, 10 and 21. The volume of oligodendrogliocytes in the third layer of fields 4, 10 and 21 is respectively equal to 55,6+/-1,25; 52,46+/-1,03 and 43,25+/-1,05 mum3. Since the RNA concentration in oligodendrogliocytes of any size has proved to be practically the same, the general amount of RNA per a cell of the oligodendroglia is directly proportional to its volume.


[Influence of gravitational overload and hypokinesia on the structure of the vascular bed of the stomach].

Under study were effects of gravitation stresses, total hypokinesia and their combinations on blood vessels of the stomach. The work was carried out in 130 rabbits, 16 of them being used to study the normal structure of the gastric vascular bed. The vascular bed was injected with the Gerota's mass followed by clearing, making histological preparations and roentgenography. The investigation has revealed both quantitative and qualitative changes in the structure of the gastric blood vessels. The maximum endurable stress of the ventro-dorsal direction causes morphological shifts less pronounced than stresses of longitudinal directions. With prolonged terms of hypokinesia (1-12 weeks) morphological changes became more pronounced in all the layers of the stomach. A combination of successive gravitation stresses and hypokinesia during 4-12 weeks aggravated morphological changes which occurred after exposure to isolated above factors. The animals subjected to maximum endurable stresses before and after 4-week hypokinesia developed vascular changes more typical for the effects of gravitation. The pretraining of animals did not give a pronounced positive effect on the changes of the angioarchitectonics of all the gastric layers after a repeated stress following 4-week hypokinesia.


[Ultrastructure of synapses in the nucleus of the trapezoid body of the bat].

The subsynaptic structure of the synapses in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body was studied in the bat Myotis oxygnatus. The synaptic endings in the nucleus are represented by large-cup-shaped and small loop-shaped terminations. The cup-shaped terminations are formed of large branches originating from a thick myelinated fibre after loss of myelin from it. Each branch forms a series of contacts alternating with vast enlargements of extracellular space, on the body of the cell and its processes. Large branches are filled with synaptic vesicles, neurofilaments and neurotubules, mitochondria; all these components are distributed rather regularly along the branch diameter. In fine branches of the cup the synaptic vesicles are the main and often the only component. The pattern of the cup branch changes as the distance from the main fibre increases, namely the amount of neurofilaments and neurotubules diminishes up to their disappearance, while the amount and the density of synaptic vesicles increases. The small loop-shaped treminals are different from the cup-shaped ones by the composition of the synaptic vesicles and the structure of the contact zone. In addition to agranular vesicles there are also granular ones. Both types of terminations--cup-shaped and loop-shaped ones -- are found both on the bodies and dendrites. On distal portions of dendrites the terminations are disposed in nests.


[Development of collaterals following stenosis of the abdominal portion of the aorta and their fate following restoration of blood circulation in all major vessels].

The first aim of the work was to obtain data on the role of different collaterals in recovery of collateral blood flow after stenosis of the abdominal part of the aorta. The second aim  was to study the fate of these collaterals after the blood-flow recovery in this aorta (alloplastic prosthesis). Gradual reduction of collaterals beginning from long less stable vessels resulted from the bloodflow recovery. Short collaterals were more stable.


[Role of protein sulfhydryl groups in the reaction of early avian embryos to temperature influences].

Difference in the character of reacting of early embryos to hypothermia and beta-mercaptoethanol, absence of protecting influence of cystein during exposure to cold permitted conclusion that sulfhydryl protein groups were not of great significance in reactions of early avian embryos to hypothermal effects. Certain participation of these protein groups may be supposed in the reaction of early gastrulation stages under exposure to high temperature.


[Method of complex morphofunctional study of the capillary bed of the thyroid gland].

The method is based on the cytospectrophotometric estimation of the histochemical reaction to alkaline phosphatase in the gland capillary and on determination of the relative volume occupied by the functioning capillaries. A model experiment under conditions of hyperplasia and hypoplasia of the organ has shown considerable differences in the gland blood supply. Under these conditions the changes of the functioning capillary bed were more pronounced than those of the organ mass.


[Intravital study of the vasa vasorum by the transmural vasoscopy method].

The paper presents a method of transmural vasoscopy for intravital observation of vasa vasorum in the wall of main blood vessels in acute experiments in anesthetized dogs. The optical part of the cytoscope introduced into the vessels under study (the portal vein, vena cava or aorta) via the nearest largest branch was used as a source of light. For this purpose, a longitudinal cut 0,5 cm long was made in the vessel between two clamps put at a distance of 2-2,5 cm from one another. The part of the cytoscope was inserted through the cut, the vessel was ligated proximally to the cut and the proximal clamp was removed. Then the optical part of the cytoscope was introduced in the lumen of the vessel under study at a distance of 4-5 cm. The microscope MBS-1 mounted on a specially constructed bracket was used for visual observation and measuring morphological parameters of vasa vasorum. A special tubus was put on one of the oculars with a camera fixed to it. On filming in falling and passing light observations and focussing were performed through the free ocular.


[Individual variation in the structure of the infratemporal fossa and its contents].

The subarcuate fossa was studied in 150 turtles. The enclosed muscles, fasciae and cellular tissue spaces, vessels and nerves -- in 145 heads of corpses of adult humans by the methods of dissecting, making Pirogov's sections and histotopograms. Extreme forms in the structure of the subarcuate fossa were revealed as well as interrelations between the structure of the fossa and enclosed anatomical formations.


[Structure of the sensory neural apparatus of the common carotid artery in reptiles].

The nervous apparatus of the carotid arteries was studied in 43 steppe turtles on both sides. In 31 turtles the nerve elements in total preparations were stained with methylene blue, its 0,1--0,25% solution being injected into the jugular vein. Within 30 minutes after injection of the dye the common carotid arteries were taken from the body, cut longitudinally and fixed in 5% solution of ammonium molybdenate during 18-24 hours. In 12 turtles the sections of from 35 to 90 mu thick were impregnated with silver nitrate salts after Kajal -- Faworski and Bielschowski--Gross. The nervous apparatus of the common carotid artery from its basement to the site of division into external and internal branches is represented by a well-developed small-looped plexus of nerve fibres and sensory endings of different shape which form receptory fields. The afferent sensory terminations of the main type and simple reseptory bushes were found in the adventitia superficial layer of the common carotid artery. Complex receptory bushes with a great number of terminal buttons and plates were found in the profound layer of this artery adventitia, and especially in its muscular layer. Glomerular receptors were also found in the common carotid artery of the turtle. But they were detected much more rarely as compared with bushy endings.


[Study of the microcirculation of the wall of the stomach of white rats by the vital microscopy method].

Microcirculation of the gastric wall in the albino rat was studied by the method of vital microscopy in passing light. The conditions of the experiment permitted watching the microcirculation state during 5-6 hours. Intravital morphometry of the microcirculation bed vessels was made. The obtained data concerning the intravital angioarchitectonics of the gastric wall vascular bed were in good agreement with a conventional scheme of its blood supply. The role of arteriolevenular anastomoses in redistribution of blood within the bloodflow pathways was noted.


[Nature of the distribution of synapses in the neurons of the reticular formation and some afferent nuclei].

Under study was the morphology of synaptic terminations of the brain reticular formation in cats and dogs as well as that of the afferent nuclei of the cat's posterior columns. The neurons of the Goll's and Burdach's nuclei have a richly ramified dendritic network. In this connection the main mass of synapses is disposed on the dendrites and their different branchings. The dendrites of the multipolar cells of the reticular formation have the main type of branching, but the cells are distributed from the nerve cell body at a considerable distance (up to 50 mu and more). The synapses are observed at the total length of the dendrite, so the axo-dendritic contacts quantitatively prevail over axo-somatic ones. The morphological data are compared with physiological axo-somatic and axo-dendritic concepts of the role of synapses in conducting the nerve impulse.


[Electron microscopic study of the olfactory organ of the sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus)].

Three variations of olfactory cells were found in the olfactory organ of the sterlet Acipenser ruthenus. They were different in the shape of their peripheral processes: rod-shaped ones supplied with flagella and solitary microvilla; cone-shaped ones with solitary flagella and a great number of microvilla; filiform ones without flagella but with numerous microvilla and groups of centrioles in the cytoplasm of the peripheral process. The character of the structural and functional organization of these cells is discussed.


[Morphology and remote results of the treatment of arachnoidendothelioma (meningioma) of the vascular membrane of the eye].

Morphology of arachnoidendothelioma (30 cases) of the choroid of the eye was studied using stains and impregnation of the fibrous stroma of a tumour with silver. In 28 cases the fate of patients after the enucleation of the eye-bulb was followed-up for periods of 2-15 years. Depending on characteristics of cellular elements and specificity of the architectonics of the tumour tissue, three main variants of its structure were singled out: meningotheliomatous, insular, and fibroblast arachnoidendothelioma, according to the terminology accepted by neurooncologists. It was established that in most cases the tumour was non-pigmented or slightly pigmented. Its pigmentation was accounted for by the presence of three types of pigment cells: epithelioid cells of arachnoidendothelium containing fine-grained brown pigment, melanophages and process melanocytes. Arachnoidendothelioma of the choroid of the eye was characterized by an expansive character of growth. In a number of cases, however, there was noted an infiltrative growth of the tumour. Studies of the remote results of the treatment revealed no metastasizing.  In one case a recurrence of the tumour took place. The author comes to the conclusion that, as to its histological structure, character of growth and prognosis of arachnoidendothelioma of the choroid of the eye is similar to arachnoidendothelioma localized in the meninx. A typical histological structure of this tumour makes it possible to differentiate it from melanoblastoma of the choroid of the eye.


[Chronic hypertrophic glandular gastritis and stomach cancer].

Histotopographic, morphological, and histochemical investigations of the state of the gastral system in 147 cases with gastric cancer of Ist--IVth state, occurrence of which could not be associated with chronic ulcer or polyp, justified the conclusion that in 9 cases (6.2%) extensive erosive, ulcerous-infiltrative and diffuse cancer developed against the background of preceeding hypertrophic glandular gastritis. Moreover, there was a likelihood that in 7 cases (4.6%) hypertrophic glandular gastritis played a role in the onset of gastric cancer. Chronic hypertrophic glandular gastritis should be looked upon as a pretumour disease of the stomach, a precancer condition in the broad sense of the word. The problems of interrelationship between Menetrier's disease and cancer of the stomach in the present article are not considered.


[Changes in the myocardium of the atrium in sudden death due to ischemic heart disease].

Studies of the myocardium of the right and left atria in 31 cases of sudden death due to myocardial infarction of the ventricles or in the presence of extensive-focal cardiosclerosis were carried out. Histological techniques for staining with hematoxylin-eosine, trichrome after Masson and Goldman's method were used. Microscopic investigation of the heart in 14 cases revealed fresh areas of necrosis of the myocardium atria, which the authors evaluated as infarction. The involvement of the myocardium of the atria into the pathological process influenced the course and prognosis of ischemic heart disease.


[Morphological changes in the gingiva in collagen disease, uncomplicated or complicated by odontogenic infection].

Biopsy specimens of the gum of patients with systemic lupus erythematodes, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic sclerodermia, complicated or not with chronic odontogenous infection, and of 10 those of practically healthy persons with chronic odontogenous infection were studied. In patients with collagenous diseases outside the odontogenous infection foci there were observed considerable lesions of the microcirculatory bed vessels, largely of inflammatory nature.--productive vasculitis of the epithelium and connective tissue of the mucosa proper of the gum. The immunopathological character of the above-mentioned lesions in some cases was confirmed by the immunofluorescent method of investigation. The observed changes in vessels and the connective tissue of the gum in collagenous diseases reflected a locally generalized vasopathy of immune character and systemic disorganization of the connective tissue. Studies of gum biopsy materials in patients with collagenous diseases taken from chronic odontogenous infection foci revealed inflammatory changes in the gum tissues much more serious than in practically healthy people in analogous foci od odontogenous infection. Lesions of the gum in patients with collagenous diseases, not complicated with odontogenous infection, represented a background which aggravated the effect of this infection on the gum.


[Peculiarities of the ultrastructural organization of prismatic cells of the large intestine in nonspecific ulcerative colitis].

Electron-microscopy studies of biopsy specimens of the large intestine mucosa in 36 patients with non-specific ulcerated colitis were carried out. A difference in the structure of the lateral plasmatic membranes of prismatic cells and intercellular space of the large intestine mucosa in patients at periods of remission and exacerbation was revealed. Characteristics of the fine structure of the lateral plasmatic membranes of prismatic cells and the intercellular space in patients at the period of exacerbation of the disease reflected the compensatory processes directed at stabilization of the impaired water balance under conditions of diarrhea and dehydration by activating resorption processes in the large intestine.


[Comparative morphometric study of the fatty tissue of obese patients following diet therapy].

Results of morphometric studies of the subcutaneous fat tissue in patients with the metabolic-alimentary form of obesity of 3rd degree are discussed. A total of 27 biopsy specimens obtained from obese patients before and after the course of complex therapy with statistical treatment of the data on the electronic computer type M-222 were studied. A regular correlation between the volume of lipocytes and body weight was revealed: with an increase in excessive weight there were observed corresponding changes in the size of fat cells. In the process of treatment the obese patients showed a statistically reliable considerable decrease in the volume of fat cells, no marked changes in the total number there of as compared with initial parametres were noted.


[Wegener's granulomatosis].

An observation over a case of Wegener' granulomatosis in a 29-year-old woman is set forth. The disease developed against the background of a chronic inflammatory process in the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract during the period of pregnancy and delivery. Generalized lesions of the mucosa and paranasal sinuses, as well as granulomatosis of visceral organs were noted.


[Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the larynx in a 63 year-old man].

A case of embryonal rabromyosarcoma localized in the larynx in the region of the left vocal bands in an elderly man is described, the tumour represented a hardly discernable delimited greyish-pinkish node with 1 cm diametre. Microscopic investigation of the tumour revealed the structure typical of embryonal rabromyosarcoma. The patient died two days after laryngectomy of thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery. At autopsy no metastases were observed. The peculiar features of the case are an extremely rare localization of embryonal rabromyosarcoma and advanced age of the patient.


[Pathological anatomy of present-day sepsis].

Analysis of prosector's findings and results of pathoanatomical studies of 65 cases who had died from sepsis showed that its incidence increased from 0.92% in 1956--1960 to 4.11% in 1971-1974. Along with the well-known typical manifestations of sepsis, a number of its perculiar features associated with application of modern therapeutic methods are considered: the prevailing form of sepsis is pyemia (81.5%), considerable incidence of sepsis following peritonitis and septic thrombophlebitis developing at sites of prolonged catheterization of veins. The significance of staphylococci and Bacillus pyocyaneus, which are resistant to the majority of the available at present antibiotics, as principle pathogenes of modern sepsis is emphasized. A dependence between the localization and size of metastatic foci and the kind of pathogene and nature of its toxines is noted. Among the conditions contributing to the development of sepsis the authors consider a reduction of the immunological reactivity of the organism morphologically characterized in the dead persons studied by the absence in lymphatic follicles of lymphatic nodes and the spleen, of "light" centres, drastic atrophic changes in the thymus gland in the majority of cases, and by slightly manifested phenomena of phagocytosis of microbes in the foci of inflammation. The role of operative and other traumas, the character of preceding diseases and application of immunodepressive therapy in the reduction of the immunological reactivity of the organism is tressed.


[Possible role of microbial factors in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis].

Electron-microscopy studies of the epithelium of the large intestine mucosa in patients with nonspecific ulcerative colitis (biopsy material) and that of rats with experimental allergic ulcerative colitis revealed the penetration of microorganisms into goblet cells of the experimental animals at various stages of mucigenoformation. The bioptic material showed no such pictures. It appears that factor of immunization played a certain role in the realization of the influence of microorganisms on pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. The structural feature of the development of glycocalix are described on the basis of clinical and experimental material.


[Morphological characteristics of meningococcemia in children].

Observations were conducted over 8 children aged 5 months to 3 years and 2 months, in whom the disease developed acutely and was accompanied by collapse. Death occurred within the first 12--36 hours from the onset of the disease. Morphologically, there were revealed haemorrhagic rash, initial phenomena of serous-purulent meningitis, clear-cut disorders of the microcirculation (stasis, thrombosis) in the skin, lungs, myocardium, kidneys. The cause of early death of the children with meningoccaemia turned out to be the Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome, the morphological manifestations of the latter being bilateral haemorrhages into the adrenals. In the kidneys capillarothrombosis may develop, which is in accord with the picture of the Sanarelli-Schwartzmann phenomenon, and may lead to the development of acute renal insufficiency with formation of cortical necroses of the kidneys.


[Electron autoradiographic study of the synthesis of RNA in the reparative regeneration of bones].

The metabolism of RNA in cells of callus 4 and 7 days following the fracture was studied. At the three stages of differentiation of osteogenic cells--preosteoblasts, differentiating osteoblasts, and osteoblasts--there was noted a similar dynamics of synthesis and transfer of RNA. One and a half hour after administration of a precursor of RNA--uridine-5H3 grains of silver concentrated predominantly above the nuclei, nucleoli being marked most intensively. Four hours after the administration of the precursor the total number of grains above the cells increased, mostly above the granular endoplasmatic reticulum; density of grains over the nuclei at this time did not change significantly, whereas that over the nucleoli decreased notably. The relationship between the observed features of the RNA metabolism and various stages of differentiation of osteogenic cells is considered.


[Functional significance of dark and light cells].

Ultrastructural-functional characteristics of dark and light cells were considered from the standpoint of tissue and organ specificity on the material of skeleton muscular fibres and the mucosa of bronchi of man, the liver and kidneys of dogs in the syndrome of prolonged compression. It was shown that these cells might have three main characteristics for the activity of the organ and reflect either the specificity of their work, or alternating activity, or the vital cycle of the cell. The ultrastructure of the dark cells testify, as a result of the specificity of their work, to their adaptation to prolonged activity connected with clearcut biosynthetic and bioenergetic processes. The work of the light cells does not require apparently considerable development of plastic processes. In the alternating activity dark cells should be considered as potentially active, whereas light cells are in the state of intensive activity. The ultrastructure heterogeneity of dark and light cells, moreover, may reflect various stages of their vital cycle.


[Morphological changes in the kidney in acetic acid poisoning].

The kidneys of 118 patients who had perished because of vinegar acid poisoning were studied morphologically in periods from 2 hours to 26 days. Comparisons of morphological findings and clinical patterns and different methods of treatment of this kind of intoxication were made. Lesions of the kidneys in vinegar acid poisoning were similar to those in acute hemoglobinuric nephrosis. A characteristic morphological feature of acute renal insufficiency was ruptures of distal tubules. Some peculiar features of the morphology of the kidneys in acute renal insufficiency associated with treatment methods (stimulation of osmotic diuresis, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialyses) were revealed. It was established that early intensive complex therapy changed essentially the morphological picture of acute hemoglobinuric nephrosis and could prevent irreversible lesions--ruptures of distal tubules.


[Cytological diagnosis of rectal polyps].

Cytograms of polyps of the rectum were studied in 62 patients. Impressions of and smears-scrapes from the surface of polyps (taken during rectoromanoscopy) or bioptic specimens served as material of investigation. Smears were stained after Leischman's method. The cytograms were collated with the findings of the investigations of histological preparations stained with hemato-xylin-eosine. The results obtained showed that cytologically, it seemed possible to establish not only the character of the epithelial component of polyps (benign, atypical, or malignant), but to diagnose the histological structure of a tumour (simple, proliferative and malignant forms of adenomatous polyps of the rectum).


Retinal ischemia in diabetic retinopathy.

Eight patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy developed extensive retinal arteriolar and capillary obstruction. Ophthalmoscopy showed many white, thread-like retinal arterioles associated with capillary and venous dilatation. Widespread retinal arteriolar and capillary nonperfusion was demonstrated by fluorescein angiography. Ischemic maculopathy resulted in severe loss of visual acuity in some eyes. The severe degree of retinal ischemia was accompanied by optic disc pallor and neovascularization and a high incidence of rubeosis iridis with neovascular glaucoma. Patients with this variety of diabetic retinopathy have a poor prognosis of retaining useful vision.


Ischemia of ciliary arterial circulation from ocular compression.

Two patients developed unilateral central retinal artery and posterior ciliary artery occlusions related to ocular compression during general anesthesia. One patient had evidence of extensive choroidal ischemia with diffuse hypopigmentation, pigmentary mottling of the posterior pole, and disc edema. Electroretinography showed diminution of the A and B waves. The other patient showed patchy choroidal ischemia with subsequent development of wedge-shaped areas of pigmentary atrophy and mottling in the midperiphery. Iridocyclitis and prolonged hypotony were also present. Retinal and posterior ciliary artery occlusion (perhaps at the level of the ophthalmic artery) can occur as a result of ocular compression by a face mask or an improperly positioned headrest. Systemic hypotension is a factor in many cases. Proper positioning of the head on an adequate headrest and avoidance of ocular compression will prevent the occurrence of retinal and choroidal occlusion during general anesthesia.


A human model of allergic conjunctivitis.

Using the method of refractometry to measure protein concentration in tears, a simple model was developed to evaluate the allergic response in humans. Timothy grass pollen was instilled into the cul de sac of a human subject, and the protein content of the subject's tears was sampled every 15 minutes for three hours. Once the time course of this experiment was predictable, various eye medications were instilled into the subject's eye 30 minutes after allergic challenge. It was noted that 1.0% and 0.1% prednisolone, each combined with 0.12% phenylephrine hydrochloride, as well as 1% epinephryl borate eye drops, produced an almost immediate return to normal of tear protein levels, whereas 1.0% medrysone, 0.1% fluorometholone, 1.0% prednisolone, and 0.12% prednisolone had less pronounced effects on reduction of elevated tear protein concentration.


Isometric, three-dimensional viewing of ultrasonograms.

This report describes a system that allows amplitude information to be used as a third dimension or aspect of display on B-scan ultrasonograms. The relative strength of reflected echoes can be shown on B-scan by means of gray scale, color coding, or on A-scan with amplitude deflection. With this new technique, called isometric display, superimposition of the A-scan trace on the B-scan allows preservation of these amplitude characteristics. The three-dimensional presentation can be rotated around any azimuth to provide isometric viewing of the ultrasonogram. Tissue may then be characterized on a more reliable basis than is permitted by independent analysis of outline and amplitude features.


Nanophthalmos with uveal effusion. A new clinical entity.

Five patients exhibited the association of nanophthalmos and uveal effusion, apparently on a familial basis. Glaucoma, occurring in the fourth to sixth decades of life, required surgical intervention that was followed by the development of secondary retinal and choroidal detachment. Recognition of this syndrome is important because: (1) surgical procedures for glaucoma should be avoided, if possible, in order to prevent the development of uveal effusion; (2) retinal detachment surgical procedures are ineffective in uveal effusion and should be avoided, and (3) choroidal elevation occurring in the uveal effusion phase may be erroneously diagnosed as an intraocular tumor and unnecessary enucleation may follow.


Role of surgery in head and neck cancer with fixed nodes.

In a series of 51 cases of Stage IV head and neck carcinomas, 12 selected patients were studied retrospectively, in order to determine the role of surgery in their management. Two patients who received a tumoricidal dose of radiation prior to radical neck dissection survived over five years, but no viable tumor was found in either specimen, suggesting a radiation cure. Nine patients died within three years, with either local recurrence or distant metastases; one patient died of asphyxiation, without disease, within five months. It appeared that surgery played no substantial role in improving the survival of the patients with head and neck cancer with fixed nodes.


Mandibular osteotomy and lingual flaps. Use in patients with cancer of the tonsil area and tongue base.

The composite resection operation with sacrifice of a portion of the hemimandible is considered to be the fundamental operation for cancers in the posterior oral cavity. The mandible is resected for cancer control (to ease reconstruction) and perhaps for traditional reasons. Mandibular sacrifice is not always essential for oncologic resection. Access through the mandible is usually required for effective resection of cancers in this region. The lateral mandibular osteotomy approach provides this access in selected patients. The adjacent, remaining portion of the tongue provides 75 to 100 sq cm of thick pliable vascular mucosa that can be used for closing the defects after resection of the cancer in the posterior oral cavity. As much as one half of the tongue can be rotated. If certain precautions are taken, a viable flap can be assured even after radiation treatment or ligation of the ipsilateral lingual artery.


Radical neck dissection: Elective, therapeutic, and secondary.

The effectiveness of elective en bloc, therapeutic en bloc, and secondary radical neck dissections is evaluated in patients whose primary tumor remained controlled following initial treatment (surgery, irradiation, or combined therapy). Pathologically documented cervical involvement following elective en bloc, therapeutic en bloc, and secondary radical neck dissections occurred in 80 (27%) of 295, 158 (67%) of 237, and 77 (75%) of 102 of the patients, respectively. Patient survival is greater if cervical metastases are surgically removed while occult, rather than if they are resected after they are clinically suspected. Patients who have a 15% to 20% or greater likelihood of having occult cervical metastases will have an increased probability for survival if the surgical management includes an elective en bloc radical neck disection.


Transfer factor: Potential for therapy of malignant diseases.

Transfer factor (TF) is a low molecular weight nonantigenic extract of leukocytes that is capable of transferring cell-mediated immunity from an immune individual to a nonimmune individual. Reports of efficacy of transfer factor in immunodeficiency states and chronic infectious diseases, as well as its lack of toxicity, have spurred clinical trials of TF therapy in human malignant diseases. Variables such as donor and patient selection, dose of TF, and use of concurrent therapy have not been explored. Preliminary reports suggest that TF may find a role as adjuvant therapy in human malignant neoplasms.


Positional vertigo.

Different forms of positional nystagmus, particularly the continuous (type I) variety, were found in 86 consecutive patients admitted to general and neurological hospitals. This series is compared with 365 patients with paroxysmal (type II) and 23 patients with type III positional nystagmus. In this series of 32 of the patients with continuous type I positional nystagmus (including 15 patients with head injury) and 18 of the patients with paroxysmal type II nystagmus were found to have central lesions.


Surgery to prevent aspiration.

A glottic closure procedure rather than laryngectomy is suggested for patients with loss of laryngeal sphincter function. The operation allows restoration of respiration and swallowing without aspiration, but sacrificies phonatory function. No patient has had sufficient recovery of laryngeal sphincteric function to warrant an attempt to reverse the laryngeal closure operation.


Aspergillosis of the paranasal sinuses.

Aspergillosis of the paranasal sinuses may occur as a chronic disease in an otherwise healthy person. This infection is usually confined to a single paranasal sinus, the maxillary antrum, though it can involve the orbit and may initiate with findings of proptosis and decreased vision. The disease is characterized by a wide range of initial symptoms, and should be considered as a possible diagnosis in sinusitis refractory to antibiotics and antral lavage. Conservative surgical debridement of involved tissues and drainage of sinus, with or without adjunctive antifungal therapy, results in cure of this disease.


Preventing collapse of external auditory meatus during audiometry.

Occlusion of the external auditory meatus resulting from earphone pressure can produce a pseudoconductive hearing loss. I describe a method for detecting ear canal collapse by otoscopy and I suggest a method of correcting the problem with a polyethylene tube prosthesis.


Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea. Congenital anomaly of bony labyrinth a possible cause.

A patient had recurrent meningitis as a result of a congenital anomaly of the bony labyrinth. As far as could be traced in the literature, this was the first time that an isolated congenital anomaly of the bony labyrinth could be shown to be the origin of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea and the resulting recurrent meningitis. In cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea of unknown origin, tomographic x-ray examination of the bony labyrinth is of utmost importance. For the detection of the finer details is the bony structure of the labyrinth, this tomography should be done according to one of the multidirectional techniques.


Reconstruction of upper cervical esophagus.

We describe a surgical technique for reconstruction of the upper cervical esophagus after a segment has been excised. The technique involves the downward rotation of a full thickness pharyngeal flap to close the defect. The flap is obtained from the posterior wall of the hypopharynx and oropharynx. We describe a case in which this technique was used.


Cryptococcosis of the larynx.

An unusual case of cryptococcosis of the larynx initially developed as an acute upper airway obstruction that necessitated tracheostomy. Concomitant findings were tracheobronchial ulcerations and edema with severe mainstem bronchial constriction on the left side. Budding "yeast-like organisms" that were consistent with Cryptococcus neoformans appeared in tissue specimens. Epithelial changes that were consistent with pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia occurred in areas in the immediate vicinity of the organisms. Sputum and bronchial washing cultures grew nonmycelial, mucinous, encapsulated forms that were positive to staining with mucicarmine and Alcian blue. Treatment with amphotericin B resulted in resolution of the laryngeal obstruction, permitting decannulation. Follow-up direct laryngoscopy and biopsy three months after completion of therapy revealed only mild edema of the false vocal folds. No organisms were found in the tissue, and the pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplastic mucosal changes had resolved.


Primary adenocarcinoma of the middle ear.

Primary adenocarcinoma of the middle ear is rare. It may or may not be associated with chronic suppurative otitis media. After the exclusion of a primary site elsewhere, the tumor should be managed by surgery and postoperative radiotherapy, especially if tumor excision is incomplete. We report a case in which primary papillary adenocarcinoma developed in the middle ear, possibly due to aberrant ceruminous gland elements. The findings prior to histologic examination were unusual in that they were consistent with a tumor of the glomus tympanicum or glomus jugulare.


The role of otolaryngology in primary care practice. Report of a survey.

A survey was conducted to assess how family practitioners rated certain knowledge skills and procedures in the field of otolaryngology. A questionnaire was designed as the instrument of the survey, and family practitioners were asked to complete the questionnaire based entirely on their experience in practice. The results of the survey showed that the practitioners considered that the majority (64%) of the items ranged from necessary to imperative. A highly consistent response was obtained. We discuss implications for curriculum design based on such surveys.


Frontal sinus cancer manifested as a frontal mucocele.

During the period 1972 to 1974, 12 frontal mucopyoceles were seen. Subsequently, three were shown to have an underlying neoplasm. Evaluation of the roentgenograms demonstrated minor differences between those with and those without a malignant basis. In previous reports of frontal sinus cancer, the descriptions of the roentgenograms suggest that it is possible that these features were also present. The difficulty in deciding the sinus of origin in such cancers has often been discussed, but the possibility that neoplasms of the orbital lobe of the lacrimal gland may occur in the frontal sinus is usually not considered. Anatomically, the intimate proximity of this lobe to the frontal sinus suggests that a neoplasm could develop in this manner. I believe that this was true in two of the patients reported herein.


Open-ended tympanometric screening: A new concept.

We introduce the concept of open-ended, successive-day, tympanometric screening. In impedance screening of children for middle ear disorders, there is a serious risk of over-referral if decisions are made on the basis of a single tympanogram. Serial tympanometric studies of Australian aboriginal children show that, whereas the type B tympanogram is usually stable, type A and type C patterns are prone to vary from day to day, inviting inappropriate referral decisions unless the classifications are confirmed by tests on successive days.


Dysphagia secondary to cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction, Surgical Management.

Neuromuscular dysfunction of the cricopharyngeus muscle is becoming increasingly recognized as a cause of dysphagia, particularly in the growing geriatric population. The disorder may occur primarily, or as part of a generalized neurologic syndrome. This debilitating and potentially lethal type of dysphagia, formerly managed by nasogastric tube or gastrostomy feeding, is usually correctable by simple section of the cricopharyngeus muscle. We report a series of six successfully managed patients to illustrate important aspects of diagnosis and treatment.


Physiologic eustachian tube inflation.

A new maneuver (oral positive pressure) of voluntary middle ear inflation is described. The efficacy of this new maneuver over the Valsalva maneuver was established by conducting an experiment in 50 normal volunteers and a clinical trial in 75 patients with Eustachian tube obstruction and in 25 patients with chronic serous otitis media. The lower opening pressure and higher available head of pressure, characteristic of this new maneuver, is hoped to be of definite therapeutic value in the management of the previously mentioned conditions. This maneuver has a potential for use in aviation medicine.


The tuck-up operation, A new technique of secondary rhytidectomy.

The results of rhytidectomy are often unsatisfactory. Therefore, there is a need for a secondary procedure to correct the deficiencies. We describe a new technique that is simple, highly effective, and is accompanied by only minimal morbidity. Furthermore, it suggests a restructuring of our thinking about surgery of the aging face.


Elective carotid artery resection.

A retrospective study of carotid artery resection disclosed a 64% mortality when resection was performed on an emergency basis, as compared with 14% when the surgery was undertaken electively. This concurs with other studies that have demonstrated increased survival rates when elective carotid artery resection has superseded carotid artery rupture, and reemphasizes the need for a more accurate means of predicting individual tolerance for loss of the carotid artery. Use of the ocular plethysmograph (OPG) is proposed as a simple and accurate means of evaluating the adequacy of collateral hemispheric blood flow to compensate for a potentially resectable carotid artery. Eleven patients have been evaluated using this technique. Nine were predicted to successfully tolerate carotid artery resection, while intolerance was predicted for the remaining two. Four of the nine patients have undergone resection of the artery with no neurologic sequelae to date.


Re-mediastinoscopy.

In a series of 1,188 mediastinoscopies, six re-mediastinoscopies (0.5%) were made. The indications for repeated mediastinal exploration can be made more lenient since the adhesions between the innominate artery and the trachea need not always be extensive; if they are, an alternative paratracheal route can be used. Caution should be used, keeping possible vascular complications in mind, but we believe that an earlier mediastinoscopy does not contraindicate a repeated procedure.


Nutrition of orphan marsupials.

Marsupial milk has been found to be high in  fats, protein and ash compared to eutherian milk.  The generally low lactose content of marsupial milk and the corresponding low intestinal lactase activity of pouch young marsupials, when considered with the incidence of diarrhoea and the occasional formation of cataracts in orphan kangaroos fed on cow's milk (which has a high lactose content), suggests that a lactose-free milk be fed to orphan marsupials. Of the lactose-free milk substitutes for children now available, it is recommended that Pregestimil, Glucose Nutramigen and particularly CFI be used for very young orphan marsupial herbivores (especially kangaroos), as these are both lactose- and sucrose-free. Isomil, Prosobee and Triglyde, containing sucrose, may be suitable for older kangaroos which are also ingesting solids and brush-tailed possums of all ages.  The appropriate natural diet of the orphan marsupial should be available at the time when initial solid food ingestion would occur in the natural state. It is suggested that milk substitute continue to be given until the orphan animal reaches the age where, in the natural state, it would be full independent.


Cerebellar hypoplasia of genetic origin in calves.

Within 2 years, following the introduction of 2 Shorthorn bulls from the same stud into an Australian Illawarra Shorthorn (AIS) herd, 16 calves were born with cerebellar hypoplasia. All affected calves were the progeny of one bull mated to the daughters of the other. All other progeny of these bulls, most of which were from AIS dams, were normal. Affected calves exhibited severe ataxia, consistent head movement and abduction of the forelimbs. Microscopic changes in the cerebellum included sparsity of cells of the granular layer, loss of Purkinje cells and narrowing of the molecular layer. Observations on the frequencies of normal and abnormal calves are consistent with the hypothesis that the condition is caused by an autosomal recessive gene for which affected calves were homozygous and which was introduced into the herd in heterozygous condition by both of the Shorthorn bulls. Evidence is given for an unusually high frequency of the gene in the stud of origin of the Shorthorn bulls and a procedure for reducing its frequency is outlined. The possibility of a viral or toxic aetiology is discussed but is  considered to be an unlikely explanation for the condition in this herd.


Pregnancy in slaughtered cows in North-Eastern Australia: incidence and relationship to pregnancy diagnosis, season, age and carcase weight.

A total of 7495 postpuberal beef cows from herds in north Queensland and the Northern Territory were examined at abattoirs to define the extent of wastage due to the slaughter of pregnant cows. On the basis of examination of teeth most cows (57%) were considered mature (approximately 3.5 to 7 years) at slaughter; 14% were young (9 months to 3.5 years) and 29% were old (over 7 years). In herds where pregnancy diagnosis by rectal examination had not been used at time of culling, 71.6% of slaughtered cows were pregnant and 42% of these cows were in the second trimester. This high pregnancy rate was considered an important source of herd wastage. Pregnancy rate varied little with season, but the highest percentages of cows pregnant in the first and third trimesters were recorded in autumn and spring, respectively. Most cows found non-pregnant had active ovaries at time of slaughter. Anoestrus was observed to be most common in winter and in old cows. Lactational status was not recorded. Mean cold carcase weight of 4229 cows was 161 +/- 40 kg. Maximum carcase weight was observed in cows slaughtered at 4 to 6 years of age; old cows had the lowest carcase weight (147 +/- 31 kg)  of the age groups considered. Highest (170 +/- 43 kg) and lowest (135 +/- 41 kg) carcase weights in relation to pregnancy or ovarian status were observed in non-pregnant/ovary-active and non-pregnant/anoestrus cows respectively. Carcase weight of cows in the third trimester (165 +/- 35 kg) was greater than in the second (161 +/- 35 kg) or first (157 +/- 36 kg) trimesters; difference between the first and third trimesters was significant (P less than 0.01).


The adverse effect of environment on the response to distemper vaccination.

Three standard batches of combined distemper and hepatitis vaccine tested in pups housed indoors during a constantly hot summer failed to elicit antibody to distemper virus or to protect the pups against challenge with virulent virus. The response to hepatitis vaccination was normal. When tested in pups housed outdoors, the same batches of vaccine produced antibodies to distemper and protection against the disease. It appears that high relative humidity combined with high environmental temperature caused an increase in body temperature of the pups which was deleterious to the distemper vaccine but did not affect the more heat resistant hepatitis vaccine.


The occurrence of Lymnaea (pseudosuccinea) columella, an intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica, in Australia.

An established population of the eastern North American freshwater snail Lymnaea (Pseudosuccinea) columella Say is reported from Middle Creek and Centennial Park, Sydney. This species is an important intermediate host of the liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica Linné) and its introduction and spread in New Zealand has resulted in an increase in the liver fluke problem in New Zealand.


Seminal degeneration associated with chorioptic mange of the scrotum of rams.

The effect of scrotal mange (Chorioptes bovis) on semen quality was assessed in a flock of rams during an outbreak of chorioptic mange and in rams with experimentally induced chorioptic mange. Semen quality of 21 rams with chorioptic mange lesions involving less than 10 cm2 of the scrotum was indistinguishable from that of control rams. Conversely, all 10 rams examined with lesions covering more than a third of the scrotum had poor semen quality. Between these 2 extremes some rams with relatively severe scrotal mange had semen of good quality while others with relatively minor scrotal lesions had semen of poor quality. The seminal degeneration and regeneration associated with the development and spontaneous cure of scrotal mange were very similar to that seen following experimental elevation of testicular temperature.


Selenium-responsive unthriftiness of young merino sheep in Central Victoria.

A trial was carried out to determine whether selenium responsive unthriftiness existed on a property in the Strathbogie ranges of Central Victoria where unthriftiness of young sheep has been a problem for 10 to 20 years. White muscle disease had been diagnosed on the property in the previous year and on other properties in the area. Eighty Merino ewes and lambs were allotted to one of 4 groups in a 2 x 2 factorial designed trial in which sodium selenite (0.1 mg/kg) was given orally to ewes and/or lambs at marking time and to treated lambs at 3 monthly intervals thereafter. Selenium treatment of the ewes had no significant effect on subsequent lamb performance. Selenium treatment of the lambs produced significant responses: mortality in treated groups was 0% compared with 17.5% in untreated groups; body weight gains were 1.9 kg higher at both weaning and one year of age in treated than in untreated lambs; mean fleece weight was 14.4% higher in treated lambs and they produced 39% more wool than the surviving untreated lambs.


The effect of mixed grazing of sheep and cattle on worm burdens in lambs.

Lambs from ewes grazed without cattle at 4.9, 7.4 and 9.9 ewes and lambs per hectare and from ewes run with steers at an equivalent median stocking rate at four ratios in which sheep comprised 30%, 40%, 50% and 70% of the animal equivalents were killed and examined for worms. When sheep grazed alone, there was no significant increase in the number of worm species normally found in sheep, namely Ostertagia circumcincta and Nematodirus spathiger, with an increase in stocking rate. When sheep grazed with cattle, there was a decrease in the number of worm species normally found in sheep but an increase in the number of those normally found in cattle, namely Cooperia oncophora and Trichostrongylus axei, as the proportion of cattle in the ratio increased. The total worm burdens were low due to the management of the flock and parasites were not shown to have affected productivity. The results are discussed and the practical aspects of the findings are presented.


Leptospiral titres in pigs after vaccination.

Two groups of 8 pigs were vaccinated and given a booster vaccination 6 weeks later each with a commercial dual L. pomona and L. tarassovi killed vaccine. Serum from bloods collected before and up to 30 weeks after vaccination had agglutinating antibodies only after the 0ooster vaccination and then only with 1 vaccine. Titres persisted less than 8 weeks when tested against L. pomona but up to 16 weeks when tested against L. tarassovi at the 1:300 dilution and up to 20 weeks at the 1:100 dilution.


Methods of spread of velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease virus in the southern Californian epidemic of 1971-1973.

Data collected during the velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease (VVND) epidemic that occurred in southern California from 1971 to 1973 were analyzed to determine the methods of spread of the disease. Spread between chicken flocks was extensive and due mainly to the movement of live birds and mechanical transport of virus by man, especially by vaccination and poultry service crews. Spread to exotic birds was from contact with infected imported stock. Spread to other species was most probably through contact with infected chickens. Infection persisted in commercial chicken flocks because of intensive vaccination programs, heavy traffic and contact between layer operations, and the maintenance of multi-age flocks. These foci of infection probably led to spread of the disease to areas from which VVND had been eradicated several months before. There was no evidence of significant wind-borne spread of virus between flocks.


Response of congenitally immune chicks to viscerotropic velogenic Newcastle disease virus.

Separate groups of chicks of hen hyperimmune to viscerotropic velogenic Newcastle disease virus (VVNDV) were challenge-exposed to VVNDV by intraocular route at 1 day and 34 days old. Their response was evaluated by clinical symptoms, hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) titers, and virus isolations. Chicks exposed at 1 day old excreted VVNDV from the vent for up to 60 days; their active mean HI titers remained low (10-40); and deaths from VVNDV occurred early (5-16 days) and late (28-55 days). Chicks challenge-exposed at 34 days old excreted virus from the vent for 10 days; active HI titers developed quickly and remained high (891-1177); and deaths and signs of VVNDV occurred early (5-13 days).


Preparation of Newcastle disease virus hemagglutination-inhibition test antigen.

A method of preparing antigen for Newcastle hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) tests is described; polyethylene glycol precipitation is used for the virus concentration. The virus was inactivated with either formalin or beta-propiolactone. Glycerin was used to stabilize the hemagglutinin activity of the antigen. The stability, uninfectivity, and slow eluting features of the antigen should aid in obtaining accurate HI results without the risks inherent in the use of live virus.


Newcastle disease virus pathogenesis in the respiratory tract of local or systemic immunized chickens.

Establishment of selective immunity, local or systemic, made it possible to evaluate the pathogenesis of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in the respiratory tract of chickens that were previously immunized with beta-propiolactone-inactivated antigen. NDV was inoculated intranasally or intramuscularly to chickens in different states of immunity (local or systemic). Humoral antibodies protected chickens against intranasal as well as intramuscular infection. Local antibodies, on the other hand, conferred immunity only against intranasal challenge. The respiratory tract supported multiplication of the virus, producing a self-limited subclinical infection. Replication of the virus in this system was negligible, playing only a minor role in the pathogenesis of the disease.


Interaction of aflatoxin with Eimeria tenella infection and monensin in young broiler chickens.

Young broiler chicks inoculated with Eimeria tenella and given a diet containing 2.5 mug aflatoxin/g had significantly higher mortality than birds with aflatoxicosis or coccidiosis alone or uninoculated controls. This effect was seen even when a light coccidial infection alone did not increase mortality or cause weight depression. In addition this higher mortality with the combination began earleir and occurred at a higher rate than did mortality from aflatoxin or cecal coccidiosis alone. Dietary monensin sodium (99 umg/g) did not completely prevent mortality and weight depression when aflatoxin and E. tenella were in combination. Aflatoxin and E. tenella singly significantly depressed three-week body weights; however, the depression was most severe when the two were in combination. Both dietary aflatoxin and E. tenella significantly reduced hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and plasma pigmentation, and in combination resulted in more severely reduced hemoglobin, packed cell volume, and plasma pigmentation. Coccidial lesion scores were significantly less for the combination of E. tenella and aflatoxicosis than for coccidiosis alone. This atypical response of the ceca to E. tenella in the presence of dietary aflatoxin was characterized by less distended ceca, very little coagulated blood in the ceca, and apparently more profuse cecal hemorrhage.


Demonstration of avian influenza-A virus in Iran by immunodiffusion technique.

A total of 1000 chicken serum samples (CSS) and 235 turkey serum samples (TSS) were tested by an immunodiffusion procedure against soluble antigen (S-antigen) prepared from avian influenza-A virus (AIAV), T/Calif/5142/66. None of the CSS tested developed any precipitin line, whereas 8.9% of the TSS tested developed well-defined precipitin lines against S-antigen. This observation confirmed the presence of AIAV in Iran.


Blood glucose and tissue glycogen levels in turkey poults with spontaneous round heart disease and furazolidone-induced cardiomyopathy.

Furazolidone (FZ) at 700 ppm was added to feed mixtures fed turkey poults two weeks posthatching to induce acute experimental cardiomyopathy. Poults in the control pen received the same ration but without FZ. Four of the control poults developed spontaneous round heart disease. From EKG data and blood samples obtained at weekly intervals, poults were selected for sacrifice at 5 weeks of age. Tissue samples from the left myocardial wall, liver, and pectoralis major and tibialis anterior muscles were analyzed for glycogen by biochemical assay. Blood glucose was determined with the Technicon autoanalyzer. Deposition of glycogen increased significantly (p less than 0.05) in the myocardium of all affected poults and in the liver of all FZ-treated poults. Glycogen levels of the pectoralis major and tibialis anterior muscles were not affected by FZ, but a significant increase (p less than 0.05) was apparent in the pectoralis major muscle of spontaneous round heart poults. It was concluded that FZ influences glycogen metabolism, probably by enzyme inhibition, and that it tends to magnify effects seen in the spontaneous round heart syndrome. Glycogen infiltration of tissues such as the heart and white skeletal muscle suggests that the round heart syndrome may be a manifestation of the glycogen storage disease, idiopathic generalized glycogenosis. Lack of significant differences in the blood serum glucose levels of all poults indicates that these levels are not a reliable clinical parameter for monitoring development of the round heart syndrome.


Response of chickens with genetically different hemoglobin types to infection with Eimeria tenella and mechanical bleeding.

The hematological and body-weight responses of chickens with mutant and normal hemoglobin types were compared under conditions of hematopoietic stress from coccidiosis infection as well as blood loss from mechanical bleeding. A dose of 100,000 Eimeria tenella oocysts caused a highly significant decrease (about 30%) in the packed cell volume, resulting in a severe anemia in all hemoglobin types. Hematological response to the anemia produced by the coccidiosis was similar for all three hemoglobin types. Although body weights and gain of all hemoglobin types infected with coccidiosis were significantly depressed, there was no differential response between the mutant and normal hemoglobin types. Mechanical bleeding resulted in a hypochromic normocytic anemia in all hemoglobin types. Ability to compenstate for blood loss was similar for the mutant and normal hemoglobin types.


Relative value of oocyst counts in evaluating anticoccidial activity.

Birds medicated with roxarsone and in another experiment with zoalene in the feed produced higher oocysts counts than unmedicated control birds receiving the same oocyst dose of Eimeria tenella or a mixture of six species (E. tenella, E. necatrix, E. brunetti, E. maxima, E. acervulina, and E. mitvati). These experiments confirm the conclusion that oocyst counts constitute an unsatisfactory and unreliable parameter for judging effectiveness of an anticoccidial even though such increases are a relatively rare occurrence in anticoccidial evaluation experiments.


[Occupationally induced sensitization of respiratory airways by animal-hair and animal-dust].

An occupational sensitization of the respiratory tract caused by hair and dust of laboratory animals (Mastomys natalensis) was reported in 3 persons. Intracutaneous tests confirmed the relationship between the professional activity and the clinical symptoms of an inhalation allergy. The very pronounced reaction to different dust extracts and the special conditions of exposure suggest an occupational sensitization to the dust of laboratory animals.


Myopathy of the deep pectoral muscle in broiler breeder hens.

Myopathy of the pectoralis profundus and ambiens muscles was found in chickens from 5 flocks of broiler breeder hens. Histological lesions in the muscles varied from steatosis to loss of striations, fragmentation of fibers, and mineral deposition. A clinical response followed oral medication with vitamin E and selenium although analysis showed that selenium and vitamin E levels in the feed were normal. The possible relation between myopathy and Cassia seed in the feed is discussed.


The susceptibility of young chickens, ducks, and turkeys to the photosensitizing effect of Ammi visnaga seeds.

Young chickens, ducks, and turkeys were exposed to sunlight and fed various amounts of Ammi visnaga seeds for 14 days in an attempt to induce photosensitization. In chickens, seeds at 1.25% in the diet had no effect whereas 3% induced mild signs of photosensitization within 6 to 8 days. No visible effects resulted in ducklings from 1.5, 3 and 6% in the diet, or in turkey poults from 3%. These differences appear to be due to differences between these avian species in the metabolism of the photodynamic agent.


Chronic lesions in geese photosensitized by Ammi majus.

Chronic lesions of the beak, footweb, and eye of geese photosensitized by the comsumption of Ammi majus (L.) are described, 7 weeks after the acute symptoms commenced. Sixty-four (48%) of the 133 birds in the flock showed various degrees of abnormality. All affected birds had stunting of the upper beak and cicatrization and thickening of the footweb. Eighty-nine percent of the affected birds showed ocular involvement, comprising chemosis, blepharoconjunctivitis, keratitis, symblepharon, ankyloblepharon, cicatricial ectropium, and mydriasis.


Genetic control and intracellular localization of glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase in maize.

Glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase (L-aspertate: 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, E.C. 2.6.1.1; GOT) was found to occur in five distinct electrophoretic forms in different tissue extracts from a number of highly inbred strains of Zea mays L. No major qualitative differences were detected in the various tissues examined, and the isozyme patterns did not undergo changes during temporal development of any given inbred strain. Cell fractionation studies showed one isozyme to be associated with the mitochondria (mGOT), another to be exclusively associated with the soluble fraction (sGOT), and a third to be associated with the glyoxysomes (gGOT). The glyoxysomal form occurs as two electrophoretically distinct variants which exist in different inbred strains of maize. The gGOT variants are under the control of two codiminant alleles (Got1A and Got1B) at the Got1 locus (isozyme5, gGOT). The genetic data and gene dosage effects suggest that GOT in maize is functionally a dimer.


Polypeptide composition of fraction I protein from Nicotiana glauca and from cultivars of Nicotiana tabacum, including a male sterile line.

The polypeptide compositions of fraction I protein isolated from six collections of Nicotiana glauca and from ten cultivars of N. tabacum, as well as a polyploid series and a male sterile line, have been analyzed by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel slabs containing 8 M urea. Apart from the male sterile line, none of the plants showed any variation from the species pattern of polypeptides. Fraction I protein from the male sterile Burley 21 cultivar of N. tabacum contained the two small subunit polypeptides of N. tabacum and the three large subunit polypeptides of an Australian species, probably N. megalosiphon. This indicates a changed chloroplast genome in the male sterile line in comparison to the normal fertile N. tabacum.


Hemoglobin synthesis studies of a family with alpha-thalassemia trait and sickle cell trait.

The ratio of total globin alpha to beta chain synthesis was determined in reticulocytes isolated from the blood of the members of a black family, some of whom had sickle cell trait with low blood HbS concentrations (25-30%). The results support the hypothesis that sickle cell trait individuals with low HbS concentrations also carry a gene for alpha-thalassemia.


A simple method for the quantitation of isozyme patterns.

Isozyme patterns may be analyzed quantitatively, without the use of a densitometer, by performing serial twofold dilutions of a sample to a visual end point. The specific activity (S) of a given dehydrogenase isozyme can be assessed in the presence of other isozymes catalyzing the same reaction, by (1) determining the isozyme titer (T) (defined as mg protein/ml in the last visible band) and (2) applying the formula S = K/T, where K is 1.6 X 10(-3) units/ml in the last visible band. The units/ml (U) in the starting material can be calculated from the equation U = K (2)n-1, where n is the number of the slot producing the last visible band.


6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD) genetics in the mouse: linkage with metabolically related enzyme loci.

An electrophoretic polymorphism of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD) has been observed in the subspecies Mus musculus musculus from northern Denmark. M. m. musculus is interfertile with inbred strains of mice, and F1 hybrids with C57BL/6J show a three-banded phenotype. This pattern is consistent with a dimeric enzyme structure with codominant expression of alleles. In backcrosses and the F2 generation, PGD segregated as a singly autosomal gene, designated Pgd, closely linked to Gpd-1 on chromosome 4(1.7 +/- 1.1%). Both gene products are dimers, both require NADP, and these enzymes catalyze sequential steps in metabolism.


Regulation of branched-chain amino acid oxidation in isolated muscles, nerves and aortas of rats.

1. The oxidation of the three branched-chain amino acids was regulated in parallel fashion in rat tissues studied in vitro. 2. With 0.1 mM-[1-14C]isoleucine as substrate in the presence of 5.5 mM-glucose, 14CO2 production was 0.6 mumol/2 h per g in the aorta, 0.3 in peripheral nerve, 0.2 in muscle and 0.13 in spinal cord. 3. The ratio 14C oxidized/14C incorporated into proteins with 0.1 mM-[1-14C]leucine was 1.3 in hemidiaphragms, 3.3 in sciatic nerve and 1.0 in nerves undergoing Wallerian degeneration. Leucine oxidation decreased only slightly during degeneration, but protein synthesis doubled. 4. Hemidiaphragms incubated with [1-14C]leucine or 4-methyl-2-oxo[1-14C]pentanoate increased 14CO2 production 7-9-fold as substrate concentration was increased from 0.1 to 0.5 mM; under the same conditions 14CO2 production by nerves increased only 2-3-fold. 5. 2-Oxoglutarate stimulated the oxidation of the branched-chain amino acids by muscles and peripheral nerves and the oxidation of 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate by hemidiaphragms but not by nerves. 6. Octanoate (0.1-1.0 mM) markedly stimulated the oxidation of branched-chain amino acids and of 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate in hemidiaphragms, but inhibited oxidation of both by peripheral nerves and spinal cord. In aortas, oxidation of isoleucine (the only substance tested) was inhibited by octanoate. 7. The effects of octanoate and 2-oxoglutarate on leucine oxidation by hemidiaphragms were additive at low concentrations. When maximally stimulating concentrations of either agent were used, addition of the other was ineffective. 8. Pyruvate inhibited the oxidation of branched-chain amino acids and 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate in all tissues tested. 9. Insulin did not affect the oxidation of 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate by muscles or nerves. 10. The oxidative decarboxylation of the branched-chain alpha-oxo acids is suggested as a regulatory site of branched-chain amino acid oxidation. Differences in regulation between muscle on the one hand, and nerve and aorta on the other, are discussed.


Sialic acid in crude myelin fractions from rat brain.

Protein- and lipid-bound sialic acid was assayed in myelin fractions isolated by four different methods from rat brain homogenates. The extent to which non-myelin cellular membranes contaminate these fractions was assessed by electron microscopy and marker-enzyme assays. Small amounts of sialic acid found in the least contaminated myelin fractions are considered to be constituents of axonal and satellite cell plasma membranes known to be present. The data are discussed with reference to the ultrastructural appearance of myelin.


Early ribonucleic acid synthesis during the germination of rye (Secale cereale) embryos and the relationship to early protein synthesis.

Incorporation studies with radioactive precursors showed that synthesis of protein and RNA is initiated in germinating embryos of rye within the first hour of imbibition of water. By polyacrylamide-gel fractionations of radioactive nucleic acid components, the appearance of products of transcription of the genome was shown to follow the sequence: heterogeneous (ribonuclease-sensitive) RNA, 4S and 5S RNA by 20min, 31S and 25S rRNA by 40min, and 18S RNA by 60min. "Fingerprint' analysis of T1-ribonuclease digests show that all the large oligonucleotides present in 25S and 18S RNA are present in the 31S species, indicating that 31S RNA is the precursor rRNA molecule to both 25S and 18S RNA. The importance of these early RNA syntheses and in particular the possible template function of the heterogeneous RNA is discussed in relation to the concept of long-lived mRNA and the coding for protein synthesis in the first hours of germination.


The nature and control of the tricarboxylate cycle in beetle flight muscle.

The only exogenous substrates oxidized by mitochondria isolated from the flight muscle of the Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) are proline, pyruvate and glycerol 3-phosphate. The highest rate of oxygen consumption is obtained with proline. The oxidation of proline leads to the production of more NH3 than alanine, indicating a functioning glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.2). Studies of mitochondrial extracts confirm the presence of a very active glutamate dehydrogenase, and this enzyme is found to be activated by ADP and inhibited by ATP. These extracts also show high alanine aminotransferase activity (EC 2.6.1.2) and a uniquely active "malic' enzyme (EC 1.1.1.39). The "malic' enzyme is activated by succinate and inhibited by ATP and by pyruvate. It is suggested that the input of tricarboxylate-cycle intermediate from proline oxidation is balanced by the formation of pyruvate from malate, and the complete oxidation of the majority of the pyruvate. Studies of the steady-state concentrations of mitochondrial CoASH and CoA thioesters during proline oxidation show a high succinyl (3-carboxypropionyl)-CoA content which falls on activating respiration with ADP. There is a concomitant rise in CoASH. However, the reverse transition, from state-3 to state-4 respiration, causes only very slight changes in acylation. The reasons for this are discussed. Studies of the mitochondrial content of glutamate, 2-oxoglutarate, malate, pyruvate, citrate and isocitrate during the same phases of proline oxidation give results consistent with control at the level of glutamate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase during proline oxidation, with the possibility of further control at "malic' enzyme. During the oxidation of pyruvate all of the tricarboxylate-cycle intermediates and NAD(P)H follow the pattern of changes described in the blowfly (Johnson & Hansford, 1975; Hansford, 1974) and isocitrate dehydrogenase is identified as the primary site of control.?2OAuthor


Colchicine binding to bovine anterior pituitary slices and inhibition of growth-hormone release.

The uptake of [ring C-methoxyl-3H]colchicine into bovine anterior pituitary slices was studied. The data suggest that more than one site exists for the binding of colchicine. At low concentrations colchicine binds to saturable trypsin-sensitive site(s), with a dissociation constant of 3.1 +/- 0.69 mug. The binding capacity of these sites is 8.58 +/- 0.60 pmol of colchicine/mg of wet pituitary. At higher colchicine concentrations binding occurs predominantly to sites which exhibit non-saturation kinetics. Subcellular fractionation of colchicine-labelled slices shows that 90% of the saturable sites are present in the fraction containing cytosol, where the binding protein has a molecular weight of about 11.9 x 10(4) and constitutes 0.7% of the protein present. The nuclear fraction contains 10% of the saturable sites, and the mitochondria and granule fraction contain only non-saturable sites. The rate of colchicine uptake was studied at 0.84 mm- and 2mum-colchicine. At both concentrations the colchicine space exceeded the total tissue water within 10 min. Equilibration with the saturable binding sites was complete in 120 min at 2mum-colchicine. A concentration of colchicine (13.4 mum) which would give 81% maximum binding was found to decrease the length of observable microtubules in tissue fixed at 37 degrees C in glutaraldehyde by 83 +/- 4%. The colchicine-binding protein could be partially purified by using a standard procedure for isolation of brain tubulin. Colchicine inhibits the release of growth hormone in the presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (0.1 mm), but does not alter basal release. The concentration-dependence of colchicine inhibition is similar to that of colchicine binding, but maximum inhibition is only 35%.


Turnover of carnitine by rat tissues.

Radioactive carnitine, in the form of L-[methyl-3H]carnitine, was administered intravenously to male rats and the specific radioactivity of carnitine in blood plasma and 13 tissues was measured for 16 days. There was no evidence of metabolism of carnitine to other compounds. A compartmental analysis was made by comparing the variation with time of the specific radioactivity of each tissue with one of two models. Kidney, heart and epididymal fat were best represented as containing a single compartment of carnitine, whereas spleen, liver, lung, adrenal, prostate, seminal vesicle, pancreas, muscle, testis and brain were best represented in terms of two compartments each exchanging carnitine with blood plasma. Estimates were obtained of the turnover times of carnitine in the individual tissue compartments as well as the fluxes across each compartment boundary. Analysis of the variation in the specific radioactivity of carnitine in urine and blood plasma. Estimates were obtained of the turnover times of carnitine in the individual tissue compartments as well as the fluxes across each compartment boundary. Analysis of the variation in the specific radioactivity of carnitine in urine and blood plasma indicated an average total excretion rate of carnitine of 10.4mumol/day, of which about 3.2mumol was found in the urine.


Drugs affecting the synthesis of glycerides and phospholipids in rat liver. The effects of clofibrate, halofenate, fenfluramine, amphetamine, cinchocaine, chlorpromazine, demethylimipramine, mepyramine and some of their derivatives.

The effects on glycerolipid synthesis of a series of compounds including many drugs were investigated in cell-free preparations and slices of rat liver. p-Chlorobenzoate, p-chlorophenoxyisobutyrate, halofenate, D-amphetamine, adrenaline, procaine and N-[2-(4-chloro-3-sulphamoylbenzoyloxy)ethyl]norfenfluramine had little inhibitory effect on any of the systems investigated. Two amphiphilic anions, clofenapate and 2-(p-chlorophenyl)-2-(m-trifluoromethylphenoxy)acetate, both inhibited glycerol phosphate acyltransferase and diacylglycerol acyltransferase at approx. 1.6 and 0.7 mm respectively. Clofenapate (1 mm) also inhibited the incorporation of glycerol into lipids by rat liver slices without altering the relative proportions of the different lipids synthesized. The amphilic amines, mepyramine, fenfluramine, norfenfluramine, hydroxyethylnorfenfluramine, N-(2-benzoyloxyethyl)norfenfluramine, cinchocaine, chlorpromazine and demethylimipramine inhibited phosphatidate phosphohydrolase by 50% at concentrations between 0.2 and 0.9 mm. The last four compounds inhibited glycerol phosphate acyltransferase by 50% at concentrations between 1 and 2.6 mm. None of the amines examined appeared to be an effective inhibitor of diacylglycerol acyltransferase. Norfenfluramine, hydroxyethylnorfenfluramine and N-(2-benzoyloxyethyl)norfenfluramine produced less inhibition of glycerol incorporation into total lipids than was observed with equimolar clofenapate. The major effect of these amines in liver slices was to inhibit triacylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine synthesis and to produce a marked accumulation of phosphatidate. The results are discussed in terms of the control of glycerolipid synthesis. They partly explain the observed effects of the various drugs on lipid metabolism. The possible use of these compounds as biochemical tools with which to investigate the reactions of glycerolipid synthesis is considered.


Evidence that circularly dichroic chlorophyll forms a-682 and a-710 are oriented at right angles to the thylakoid membranes of whole chloroplasts, and that the circular dichroism is light-dependent.

Chloroplasts from the pea (Pisum sativum L.) suspended in iso-osmotic buffered medium were oriented by flow in specially constructed cuvettes and examined for circular dichroism (c.d.). In one cuvette the flow was transverse to the direction of the light-path, but the other cuvette was designed so that flow and the light-path were coaxial. The induced orientation is such that the chloroplasts appear to move edgewise. C.d. was maximum when the light-path lay in the plane of the chloroplast disc. The intense c.d. of intact chloroplasts ascribed by Gregory & Raps [Biochem. J. (1974) 142, 193-201] to bulk chlorophyll a was found to contain two components, one the split-exciton type centred at 682nm and the other a simple maximum at 700-710 nm. The chlorophyll a-710 form was distinguished by its greater dependence on chloroplast orientation. The preferred direction of the transition moment in both chlorophyll forms was at right angles to the plane of the chloroplast, that is, at right angles to the plane of the thylakoids. This is in conflict with several reports based on polarization of fluorescence. It is suggested that the present effect is due to thylakoid-thylakoid interaction. Evidence for this is the reversible diminution in the c.d. signal caused by illumination in the presence of electron-transport reagents. It is argued that the c.d. is an indicator of chlorophyll movement, or changes in the thylakoid-thylakoid distance, possibly related to ion movement, affecting energy transfer between photosynthetic units.


Effect of modification of thyroid function on cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylation in rat liver.

Hepatic activities of cholesterol synthesis and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylation were determined in hyper- and hypo-thyroid rats after oral administration of glucose or cholesterol. Increases in activities of both cholesterol synthesis and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylation induced by glucose administration were enhanced by pretreatment with thyroid powder but suppressed by pretreatment with thiouracil. The enhancement of 7 alpha-hydroxylation was produced by a relatively small amount of thyroid powder, but high doses were required to increase cholesterol synthesis. On the other hand, the suppression of 7 alpha-hydroxylation was brought about by a low dose of thiouracil, but high doses were required to decrease cholesterol synthesis. Although cholesterol synthesis increased similarly in both hypo- and hyper-thyroid rats after glucose administration, hydroxylase activity in hypothyroid rats began to increase more slowly and was always lower than that in hyperthyroid rats. Thus it is concluded that cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity is more sensitive to thyroid function than are activities of cholesterol-synthetic enzymes. When exogenous cholesterol was given, hypothyroid rats showed a larger increase in serum cholesterol concentration than hyperthyroid rats, and there was an inverse relationship between serum cholesterol concentrations and hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activities.


Enzymological aspects of the pathways for trimethylamine oxidation and C1 assimilation of obligate methylotrophs and restricted facultative methylotrophs.

Extracts of trimethylamine-grown W6A and W3A1 (type M restricted facultative methylotrophs) contain trimethylamine dehydrogenase whereas similar extracts of Bacillus PM6 and Bacillus S2A1 (type L restricted facultative methylotrophs) contain trimethylamine mono-oxygenase and trimethylamine N-oxide demethylase but no trimethylamine dehydrogenase. Extracts of the restricted facultatives and of the obligate methylotroph C2A1 contain hexulose phosphate synthase-hexulose phosphate isomerase activity; hydroxypyruvate reductase was not detected. Neither the restricted facultatives nor the obligates 4B6 and C2A1 contain all the enzymes of the hexulose phosphate cycle of formaldehyde assimilation as originally proposed by Kemp & Quayle (1967). Organisms PM6 and S2A1 lack transaldolase and use a modified cycle involving sedoheptulose 1,7-diphosphate and sedoheptulose diphosphatase. The obligates 4B6 and C2A1, and the type M organisms W6A and W3A1, use a different modification of the assimilatory hexulose phosphate cycle involving the Entner-Doudoroff-pathway enzymes phosphogluconate dehydratase and phospho-2-keto-3-deoxygluconate aldolase. The lack of fructose diphosphate aldolase and hexose diphosphatase in these organisms may be a partial explanation of their restricted growth-substrate range. Enzymological evidence suggests that all the obligates and the restricted facultatives use a dissimilatory hexulose phosphate cycle to accomplish the complete oxidation of formaldehyde to CO2 and water.


Chemical carcinogenesis in the nervous system. Preferential accumulation of O6-methylguanine in rat brain deoxyribonucleic acid during repetitive administration of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea.

The alkylation of purine bases in DNA of several rat tissues was determined during weekly injections (10 mg/kg) of N-[3H]methyl-N-nitrosourea, a dose schedule known to selectively induce tumours of the nervous system. Each group of animals was killed 1 week after the final injection, and the DNA hydrolysates were analysed by chromatography on Sephadex G-10. After five weekly applications, O6-methylguanine had accumulated in brain DNA to an extent which greatly exceeded that in kidney, spleen and intestine. In the liver, the final O6-methylguanine concentration was less than 1% of that in brain. Between the first and the fifth injection, the O6-methylguanine/7-methylguanine ratio in cerebral DNA increased from 0.28 to 0.68. In addition, 3-methylguanine was found to accumulate in brain DNA whereas in the other organs no significant quantities of this base were detectable. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that O6-alkylation of guanine in DNA plays a major role in the induction of tumours by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and related carcinogens. The kinetics of the increase of O6-methylguanine in cerebral DNA suggest that there is no major cell fraction in the brain which is capable of excising chemically methylated bases from DNA. This repair deficiency could be a determining factor in the selective induction of nervous-system tumours by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and other neuro-oncogenic compounds.


Essentiality of ubiquinone for choline oxidation in rat liver mitochondria.

Rat liver mitochondria treated extensively with n-pentane are incapable of oxidizing choline. Choline oxidation is more sensitive than is succinate oxidation to serial n-pentane extraction of mitochondria. The ability to oxidize choline is restored by the addition of ubiquinone-2 or ubiquinone-10 to the oxidase assay medium.


Determination of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose and mechanism of formation of chromogens.

A method for the colorimetric determination of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose was developed. The procedure is based on the high reactivity of the aldehyde group of this amidosugar with pentane-2,4-dione in anhydrous alkaline conditions. The product of reaction was crystallized and the structure 1-C-acetonyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactitol was deduced from chemical evidence. When the N-acetyl group of this compound is split off by hydrolysis, the formation of pyrrole groups ensues by condensation of the free amino group with the carbonyl group of the chain at C-1. 2-Methylpyrrole was isolated by steam distillation after mild alkaline hydrolysis and estimated by reaction with p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde. A more complex pyrrole is formed during acid hydrolysis under the conditions used in the direct Ehrlich reaction.


The stereospecificity of sequential nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide-dependent oxidoreductases in relation to the evolution of metabolic sequences.

The generalization that 'when a metabolic sequence involves consecutive nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide-dependent reactions, the dehydrogenases have the same stereospecificity' was tested and confirmed for three metabolic sequences. (1) NAD+-xylitol (D-xylulose) dehydrogenase and NADP+-xylitol (L-xylulose) dehydrogenase are both B-specific. (2) D-Mannitol 1-phosphate dehydrogenase and D-sorbitol 6-phosphate dehydrogenase are both B-specific. (3) meso Tartrate dehydrogenase and oxaloglycollate reductive decarboxylase are both A-specific. Other dehydrogenases associated with the metabolism of meso-tartrate in Pseudomonas putida, such as hydroxypyruvate reductase and tartronate semialdehyde reductase, were also shown to be A-specific. Malate dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas putida was A-specific, and the proposition is discussed that the common A-stereospecificity among the dehydrogenases involved in meso-tartrate metabolism reflects their origin from malate dehydrogenase.


Conformational energy calculations for dinucleotide molecules. A study of the component mononucleotide adenosine 3'-monophosphate.

Semi-empirical conformational energy calculations were performed for the mononucleotides 5'-AMP, NMN+ and 3'-AMP. Only intramolecular forces are considered. Essentially all conformational states were explored to investigate the population distribution likely to be found in a non-crystalline environment. The calculations suggest that 5'-AMP and 3'-AMP are relatively flexible and a mixture of conformational states is expected. In contrast, the results for NMN+ suggest that a strong electrostatic interaction between the positively charged nicotinamide nitrogen atom and negatively charged phosphate oxygen is possible, stabilizing a few specific states. This interaction will be most significant in a solvent-free situation or an apolar environment.


Studies on mixed monolayers of phospholipids and fusogenic lipids.

1. The behaviour of mixed monolayers of 14 different lipids with preparations of erythrocyte lipids, purified natural and synthetic phospholipids, cholesterol and galactosylceramide was investigated. 2. The mean areas occupied per molecule in mixed films containing lipids that are fusogenic for hen erythrocytes were compared with those for corresponding films containing lipids that are inactive as fusogens. 3. Fusogenic lipids were found to exhibit interactions, which were not shown by non-fusogenic lipids, in mixed monolayers with several species of phospholipid, particularly those containing a choline head group. 4. Heterogeneity in the hydrophobic chains of phosphatidylcholine, their degree of unsaturation and the presence of cholesterol had little effect on the interaction of phosphatidylcholine with fusogenic lipids. 5. Fusogenic lipids showed little specific interaction with natural or synthetic preparations of phosphatidylethanolamine. 6. The possible significance of these observations in relation to the action of fusogenic lipids on biological membranes is discussed in the light of the asymmetrical distribution of phospholipids in erythrocyte membranes.


Studies on the Arylsulphatase and phenol sulphotransferase activities of Aspergillus oryzae.

1. Crude extracts of Aspergillus oryzae grown under conditions of sulphur limitation possess high arylsulphatase activity. 2. This activity can be greatly enhanced by the inclusion of tyramine or a number of other phenols in the assay medium. 3. The arylsulphatase activity of these extracts can be resolved into three distinct fractions by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. 4. The effect of tyramine is restricted to one of these fractions only. 5. Evidence is presented which indicates that this effect is the consequence of a phenol sulphotransferase activity, which shows no requirement for 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphate as a cofactor, and which will not transfer sulphate from 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-sulphatophosphate to potential phenolic acceptors. 6. The three enzymes differ also in their molecular weights and substrate specificities.


The relationship between the deoxyribonucleic acid-bound and low-molecular-weight soluble forms of Halobacterium cutirubrum deoxyribonucleic acid-dependent ribonucleic acid polymerase.

1. Slow, spontaneous lysis of Halobacterium cutirubrum in 3 M-KCl yields DNA-dependent RNA polymerase as a complex with DNA that sediments completely at 45 000g. 2. Controlled deoxyribonuclease digestion of the complex, with or without subsequent sonication, releases the enzyme quantitatively in a soluble form that passes through ultrafilters with a molecular-weight exclusion limit of 50 000. 3. Purification of the active ultrafiltrate by gel filtration and hydroxyapatite chromatography gives a high yield of the purified alpha and beta subunits. 4. The low mol.wt. (17 800-19 000) of the soluble enzyme was confirmed by gel filtration and is unchanged by sonication of the DNA-enzyme complex. 5. A new assay applicable to both forms of the enzyme was developed. 6. The bivalent-cation requirement of the soluble form depends on the buffer concentration. 7. Both the DNA-enzyme complex and the low-molecular-weight soluble forms of the polymerase catalyse formation of short RNA chains only.


Structural studies on wheat (Triticum aestivum) proteins lacking phenylalanine and histidine residues.

1. Three very similar proteins, each of approx. 120 amino acid residues but lacking phenylalanine and histidine, were isolated from wheat (Triticum aestivum) flour in sufficient quantities for further structural studies. 2. Each protein, after reduction and carboxymethylation, was cleaved at the three methionine residues with CNBr to give four major peptides, which were isolated. These peptides are suitable for future sequencing studies, as the sums of their amino acid compositions are in good agreement with those of the whole proteins. 3. The N- and C-terminal peptides were identified. 4. Evidence from amino acid analyses, N-terminal amino acids and electrophoretic mobilities of the peptides suggests a high degree of homology between the proteins. Definite differences in C-terminal amino acids and the number of glycine, alanine and arginine residues were found in the C-terminal peptides.


The induction of metallothionein in rat liver by zinc injection and restriction of food intake.

The isolation of two forms of hepatic zinc-thioneins after either zinc injection into rats or partial restriction of their food intake is described. The proteins differed slightly in their amino acid composition and electrophoretic mobilities. Increases in liver zinc content after both treatments were synchronous with, and associated almost completely with, increased zinc-binding to these proteins. The time-course for the appearance and disappearance of the zinc proteins is shown. It is suggested that metallothionein is involved in the normal metabolism of zinc, perhaps in some temporary storage or detoxication capacity.


A comparison of seven methods for fitting the Michaelis-Menten equation.

The Michaelis-Menten equation was fitted to simulated data containing different sorts of error by using the three linear transformations, and the methods of S. R. Cohen [Anal. Biochem. (1968) 22, 549-552], R. Eisenthal & A. Cornish-Bowden [Biochem. J. (1974) 139, 715-120], F. de M. Merino [Biochem. J. 143, 93-95] and G. N. Wilkinson [Biochem. J. (1961) 808 324-332). The best methods were those of Eisenthal & Cornish-Bowden (1974) and Wilkinson (1961).


Reduction of disulphide bonds in proteins mixed disulphides catalysed by a thioltransferase in rat liver cytosol.

The reduction of mixed disulphides of some proteins and GSH [Protein(-SSG)n] is accomplished with GSH as a reductant and a thioltransferase from rat liver as a catalyst, thus: See article. The spontaneous reaction is negligible in comparison with the enzymic reaction in vivo, and any direct reduction with glutathione reductase is not detectable with the substrates used. The reduction is only indirectly dependent on NADPH, which is required for the regeneration of GSH from GSSG. Other protein disulphides apparently are reduced via analogous GSH-dependent reactions


Specific binding sites for 5-hydroxytryptamine on rat blood platelets.

5-Hydroxytryptamine changes the shape of rat blood platelets by combination with a cinanserin-sensitive receptor which is not associated with the active uptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine. Binding of 5-hydroxy[3H]tryptamine to platelets at 4 degrees C demonstrates the presence of three saturable sites, and the highest-affinity site is apparently this 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor.


The early enhancement of rat liver deoxyribonucleic acid-dependent ribonucleic acid polymerase II activity by tri-iodothyronine.

It is shown that tri-iodothyronine injected intravenously into thyroidectomized rats induces an early and transient activation of rat liver RNA polymerase II which could be demonstrated to occur 40-80 min after hormonal treatment. There was a simultaneous increase in the concentration of acidic proteins bound to chromatin.


Effect of 3-mercaptopicolinic acid on gluconeogenesis and gluconeogenic metabolite concentrations in the isolated perfused rat liver.

3-Mercaptopicolinic acid inhibited gluconeogenesis from lactate and alanine, but not dihydroxyacetone, in the perfused rat liver. Hepatic metabolite concentrations suggested that gluconeogenesis was inhibited at phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. The compound is very effective at low concentrations, and seems an ideal agent for use in studying metabolic regulation involving gluconeogenesis and anaplerotic mechanisms.


The accumulation of aspartate in the presence of ethanol in rat liver.

1. Isolated hepatocytes were used to establish the reasons for the accumulation of aspartate, previously observed when the isolated rat liver was perfused with ethanol in the presence of alanine or ammonium lactate. 2. The isolated cells did not form aspartate when incubated with alanine and ethanol, but much aspartate was formed on incubation with ammonium lactate and ethanol. 3. Urea was the main nitrogenous product on incubation with alanine, in contrast with the perfused liver, where major quantities of NH4+ are also formed. When the formation of urea was nullified by the addition of urease, alanine plus ethanol caused aspartate formation, indicating that aspartate formation depends on the presence of critical concentrations of NH4+. 4. The accumulated aspartate was present in the cytosol. Ethanol halved the content of 2-oxoglutarate in the cytosol and more than trebled that of glutamate in the mitochondria. 5. The findings support the assumption that 2-oxoglutarate formed by the mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase is not translocated to the cytosol in the presence of ethanol and NH4+, because it is rapidly converted into glutamate, the dehydrogenation of ethanol providing the required NADH. Aspartate, however, is translocated to the cytosol and accumulates there because of the lack of stoicheiometric amounts of oxoglutarate.


Rapid separation of isolated hepatocytes or similar tissue fragments for analysis of cell constituents.

A simple device is described for the rapid centrifugal separation of isolated hepatocytes or similar tissue fragments from the suspending medium. Rapid separation is essential if meaningful information on the concentrations of cell constituents and their distribution between cell and suspension medium is to be obtained. The usefulness of the technique is illustrated by measurements of hepatocyte constituents (glutamate, aspartate, alanine, K+) which show large concentration gradients against the extracellular medium.