Correlation of the relative response index with marrow graft rejection in patients with aplastic anemia. Thirty-four patients with severe aplastic anemia were treated with cyclophosphamide or total body irradiation and an infusion of marrow from a genotypically HLA-identical sibling donor. Engraftment occurred in all patients but rejection was noted in 12. Mixed leukocyte culture (MLC) tests undertaken before grafting to determine donor-recipient histocompatibility were analyzed retrospectively. The response of patient cells to sibling cells in mixed culture was compared to the response of patient cells to cells of an unrelated individual and expressed as a relative response index (RRI). Of the 12 patients who showed positive RRI to donor leukocytes in pregraft MLCs, 9 rejected their grafts, wheras of 23 patients with negative RRI only three rejected their grafts (P LESS THAN 0.005). The results suggest that the MLC test can detect individuals who are most likely to reject their HLA identical sibling graft.


Mesothelioma of spermatic cord: electron microscopic and histochemical characteristics of its mucopolysaccharides. A mesothelioma of the spermatic cord occurred at the site of multiple hernial repairs. The aggressive biologic behavior of this tumor is exhibited by its early lymph node invasion and extensive metastases to the pleural cavities, lungs, and spleen. These tumor cells contained a large amount of stable of stable glycogen-like carbohydrate insoluble in formalin and tolerating postmortem changes. Electron microscopy revealed features similar to those mesotheliomas arising from body cavities.


Immunologic considerations in renovascular hypertension. For decases certain diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, polyarteritis nodosa, scleroderma and serum sickness, have been linked with autoimmune pathogenesis. During recent years a host of additional diseases traditionally thought to have some genetic predisposition but with obscure etiology have been suspected of being autoimmune in nature. Rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, myasthenia gravis and thyroiditis are diseases of widely divergent organ systems, yet may well have common pathways of pathology via immune complexing mechanisms. Herein we present evidence supporting the concept that renal artery stenosis (occurring primarily in association with the middle aortic syndrome or after renal transplantation) is of immune etiology. Although the specific antigenic agent is still to be defined there is growing acceptance of the theory that medium and large vessels are subject to autoimmune vasculitis in many aspects similar to the autoimmune affections of small vessels. Several cases are presented. Some of these suggest an immune reaction by the natural history but without evidence of immunochemical reactants in the involved vessels, presumably because active disease was arrested at the time to study. In other cases immunofluorescent preparations demonstrate reactants in the walls of the vessels to document the hypothesis more convincingly.


Reduction cystoplasty in prune belly syndrome. Reduction cystoplasty is a useful procedure to treat a large, poorly functioning bladder in boys with prune belly syndrome who are candidates for urinary tract reconstruction. The technique includes elliptical resection of all anomalous urachal tissue and sufficient detrusor dome to reduce bladder capacity to average size and to create a spherical detrusor. Improved detrusor function and a satisfactory or excellent result can be expected.


[Evaluation of the results of auto- and alloplasty of defects of the anterior abdominal wall]. Since 1961 till present time 331 plastic reconstructions of the abdominal wall were performed, in 192 of these only proper patients' tissues being employed, in 110--autoplasty with alloplasty, in 29--alloplasty with a capron mesh. Death in the immediate postoperative period was noted in 4 patients due to cardiopulmonary insufficiency, insult and thrombosis of pulmonary vessels. The late results within the terms from 1 to 29 years were followed up in 297 patients.


[Detection of late lung cancer metastases]. The authors report the data on lung cancer metastases in abdominal and retroperitoneal space organs in 174 patients died due to postoperative complications during 2 months following resection of the lung. Distant metastases were recognized in 32 cases (18.3%). 29 of 49 metastases (58%) were detected in abdominal organs. In stages I-II remote metastases were found in 2 of 32 cases, in stage III--in 29 of 142 cases, i.e. 35 times as frequently. Laparoscopy and laparotomy, performed if indicated, are conclusive surgical methods of establishing the precise diagnosis of the tumor spread, and these allow the elaboration of a rational plan of treatment in lung cancer patients.


Attitudes of California dermatologists toward Worker's Compensation: results of a survey. A survey-questionnaire on Worker's Compensation sent to 492 California dermatologists produced 268 replies, a recovery rate of 54 percent, representing approximately 10 percent of the practicing dermatologists in the United States. A total of 75 percent replied they treat Worker's Compensation patients; most of the 25 percent who replied they do not gave strong reasons for refusing to assume the care of these patients. The answers to the questionnaire given by the 201 California dermatologists who treat Worker's Compensation patients are tabulated and discussed. Although there exists considerable misunderstanding among physicians, insurance companies and employers on many aspects of Worker's Compensation, the situation is not without hope for improvement. Better knowledge of work procedures, more availability of precise information on the ingredients of work contactants and cooperation among the interested parties should improve the quality of care for these patients in the future.


[Vitamins K and E and the functional state of connective tissue]. The function of the connective tissue in the skin of albino rats with the vitamin K deficiency was studied. Changes both in the cellular elements and in the fibrous structures (deranged differentiation of cellular elements, changes in the collagenformation, accumulation of acid mucopolysaccarides, etc.) were revealed. All of the mentioned changes are eliminated not only by introduction of vicasol, but also by that of alpha-tocopherol.


[Nutrition of the population of Kazakhstan]. Basic results of research on the problem of nutrition in Kazakhstan over the whole period of the Soviet system are reported. In the Republic main attention was focussed on the study of the actual dietary pattern of the population in different geographic zones. The results of investigations served as a background to proposals aimed at rationalizing the dietary for the population of Kazakhstan, at working out standard rates of the foodstuffs consumption, approved by the State Planning Commission of the Kazakh SSR back in 1973. The principal objectives for further research work in the Republic are outlined.


[Animal experiment studies on parenteral utilization of maltose]. The utilisation of parenterally administered maltose was investigated in the anaesthetized rat, and in rats fixed in metabolic cages. Additionally, the metabolism of maltose was measured with the isolated perfused rat liver. During intravenous infusion of 0.3 g, 0.6 g or 1.2 g maltose (corresponding to 0.9 g, 1.8 g or 3.6 g/kg bodyweight) per hour a steady-state for maltose in blood was attained. Blood glucose concentration rose during the maltose infusions. The utilisation of parenterally administered maltose was established by a high rate of glycogen storage in the liver and by a decrease in concentration of free fatty acids in serum. During the 72 hour infusion of maltose at a rate of 0.23 g/hour (corresponding to 0.70 g/kg bodyweight) a constant blood maltose concentration of 60 mg/100 ml was measured. Simultaneously, the blood glucose concentration increased. The excretion of maltose and of glucose was approximately 5% of the total amount administered intravenously. The nitrogen sparing effect of maltose was equal to that of glucose (or glucose substitutes). In the streptozotocindiabetic rats, the renal excretion of maltose and glucose was 20-30% of the total amount. Moreover, blood glucose concentration was elevated significantly during maltose infusion. In the isolated perfused rat liver maltose hydrolysis was established. However, the glucose obtained by this hydrolysis was not metabolized by the isolated organ as was observed for glucose. On the other hand, the glucose substitutes (fructose, xylitol, sorbitol) are also partially transformed to glucose by the isolated liver. These substances, however, were additionally utilized by this organ in other ways. On the basis of these results it is concluded that maltose is metabolized following its intravenous application. Therefore, maltose should have advantages compared to glucose because of the lower osmotic pressure. The metabolism of maltose, however, is similar to that of glucose. The advantages of the glucose substitutes (fructose, sorbitol, xylitol) are not shared by maltose.


[The value of the dynamic dehydroepiandrosterone-test compared to the static measurement of total urinary estrogen excretion in the diagnosis of the condition of the feto-placental-unit (author's transl)]. In a comparative study in 84 pregnant women the condition of the feto-placental-unit was examined through the utilization of the DHEA-test and by the measurement of total urinary estrogen excretion. The test consists of intravenous injection of 50 mg DHEA-S to the mother and measurement of the total estrogen increase during the following 24 hour period as compared to the values before injection. When the condition of the feto-placentalunit is good an increase of estrogens is seen as a consequence of the transformation of DHEA to estrogens by the placenta. The difference between total urinary estrogen excretion before and after the injection of DHEA is considered as a measure of placental function. The results of estrogen determinations and the DHEA test were correlated to placental histology, cardiotocogram, colour of the amniotic fluid, Apgar-score, stillbirth, birthweight, and transfer of newborns to pediatry. We found that in cases with normal estrogen values and especially in cases with a good increase of estrogen excretion following DHEA-S-load there was a high probability of there being no acute risk for the fetus. The DHEA-test has a higher prognostic value than the analysis of urinary estrogen excretion alone, because it is better able to predict pathological findings of the reference parameters cited above. Possible reasons for an insufficient increase of estrogens in the DHEA-test without clinical pathology are discussed. When only a short time remains before birth, a better accord between test-results and clinical findings can be observed. This suggests a weekly repetition of the test.


[Recurrence of gonorrhea caused by gonorrheal paraurethritis]. The case of a patient with a recurrence of gonorrhoea due to a concomitant gonorrhoic infection of a paraurethral duct, which was not healed by the initial routine penicillin treatment, is reported.


[The reaction of the pulpal blood circulation to thermal stimuli]. The present paper characterizes the reactions of the systemcirculation and microcirculation of the pulpa to the effects of temperature changes from--30 degrees C to +55 degrees C. In the range between 25 degrees C and 50 degrees C an increase of the blood flow rate can be observed. By long-standing action of temperatures above 40 degrees C and below 25 degrees C a dilatation of the blood vessels and a decrease of the blood flow rate are caused, thus leading to aggregations, capillary stoppage, and finally to thrombosis of entire pulpa sections. In addition to the outline of the critical initial alterations of the microcirculation in the course of inflammation the clinical conclusions towards crown and cavity preparation by means of water spray cooling, concerning thermal sensibility tests, and cryo-surgical operations are discussed.


[Technological studies on high pressure polymerization of dental plastic materials]. The author in his present paper reports a program of comparative materials testing of which the purpose was to assess the value of positive pressure polymerization of thermosets. This particular program required polymerization temperature measurements. K-value determinations, and cone indentation hardness tests to be made on samples of plastic material polymerized under positive liquid or steam pressure and in cuvets, respectively, the conditions of polymerization being those which are used in actual practice. The results obtained indicated a favorable influence of positive liquid pressure polymerization on the final hardness of the plastic material.


[The therapy of condylar fractures. Clinical study for the evaluation of various modes of treatment]. The treatment of condylar fractures is a matter of controversy. After re-examination of 219 patients, who had previous fractures of the mandibular condyle with dislocation, treated by open reduction, conservative or functional methods, the following observations are made: The conservative treatment will lead to the most favourable results. After functional treatment the condylar remodelling is rare and in majority of cases the function of medial pterygoid muscle is not restored.


[The importance of individual mesio-distal crown diameters in occlusion]. The mesio-distal crown diameters of 50 former orthodontic patients without extractions and of 50 cases with extractions were measured. The differences of the sum of the crown diameters of the upper and lower dental bow are analysed. The results support the importance of the individual analysis of the situation of all the crown diameters with respect to diagnosis.


Chemical characteristics of chalones isolated from bovine spleen. Isolation of spleen chalones from the postmicrosomal supernatant is described. Two glycoprotein fractions homogeneous on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis were obtained. In the biological test on mice, the preparation of 38 000 mol. wt. inhibited mitosis in spleen cells, and the low-molecular fraction (2100 mol. wt.) in thymus cells, showing respectively the properties of chalones B and T.


[Control intensity of glycolytic enzymes in ultrasonic hemolysates of erythrocytes]. By addition of enzyme the control intensity was determined on the pacemaker enzymes hexokinase and phosphofructokinase, as well as on glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase and the pyruvate kinase with a control intensity of almost 0 in ultrasonic hemolysates from erythrocyte concentrate. This hemolysate approximately reflects the conditions existing in the intact cell with regard to glycolytic rate, ATP supply, and metabolite concentration. It is therefore suitable as a cell model, excluding the membrane, for studying inner control factors. For HK, PFK, GAPD, and PK predictions based on the linear glycolytic model about the significance of these enzymes for the regulation of the glycolytic rate could be confirmed.


Thorium induced testicular changes in rats. Daily intraperitoneal administration of thorium nitrate produced progressive morphological and biochemical alterations with the increase in thorium concentration in rat testis. The degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules increased with the duration of treatment and after 90 days calcification occurred in about 25% of the tubules and in the connective tissue of the tunica albuginea. The activity of adenosine triphosphatase and alkaline phosphatase increased markedly as a result of thorium administration. An attempt has been made to interrelate histopathological and enzymatic changes and the metal concentration in the testicular tissue.


[Variation of mechanical and biochemical parameters of pressure-loaded rabbit hearts following chronic administration of dipyridamole]. After constricting the aorta ascendens of rabbits, the influence of chronic administration of dipyridamole (8 mg/kg i.m. on 6 out of 7 days of the week for 3 months) upon heart hypertrophy, hemodynamics and the hydroxyproline content in the right and left ventricles, the incorporation rate of 2-[14C]-glycine into the actomyosin and soluble protein of the left ventricle was studied. The dipyridamole treatment had no effect on the increase in systolic pressure, the contractility index of the aorta-stenosed animals and heart rate. In contrast, the hypertrophic development, and consequently the increase in hydroxyproline concentration and the increased incorporation rate of 2-[14C]-glycine into the soluble protein were inhibited. The possible mechanism of action of dipyridamole on the development of heart hypertrophy in the rabbit is discussed.


[Monosaccharide-dependent potassium ion influx across the microvilli membrane of the rat jejunum]. 1. The condidtions were studied under which the Na+-dependently transported monosaccharides influence the K+-influx across the microvilli membrane of rat jejunum. 2. The Na+-dependent, energy requiring transport of monosaccharides causes a decrease of the K+-influx, whereas monosaccharides metabolizable by the intestinal mucosal cells - under suitable conditions - induce an increase in the K+-influx. 3. These results indicate that the K+-influx may be controlled by an energy dependent system in the microvilli membrane, which is influenced by metabolism and monosaccharide transport. It is discussed that this control system may be a (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.


Characterization of Mg-ATPase and (Na+ + K+)-stimulated Mg-ATPase in smooth muscular cells of the sheep's common carotid artery. The Mg-ATPase and (Na+ + K+)-stimulated Mg-ATPase in the mitochondrial and microsomal fraction of smooth muscular cells of the sheep's common carotid artery have been characterized in more detail. Optimal enzyme activities were found for all ATPases to be at pH 7.5-8.0 and 45 degrees C-50 degrees C. The energies of activation were found to be at 5-9 kcal/mole for both ATPases. Two-thirds of the (Na+ + K+)-stimulated Mg-ATPase were found to be ouabain-sensitive and thus attributed to the coupled (Na, K)-transport system. The pI 50 values of ouabain for microsomal and mitochondrial fractions are 6.3 and 6.0, respectively. The highest activity of (Na+ + K+)-stimulated Mg-ATPase is at 5-10 mM K+ and more than 50 mM Na+. One-third of the (Na+ + K+)-stimulated Mg-ATPase activity was found to be due to a stimulation of Mg-ATPase by Na+ alone, which is not inhibited by ouabain. The relationship of this activity to the ouabain-sensitive part of the (Na+ + K+)-stimulated Mg-ATPase and to Na+-transport is discussed. For the Mg-ATPases apparent KM(ATP) values were determined to be 1.4 and 1.0 mM, resp., and for the (Na+ + K+)-stimulated Mg-ATPases 0.15 and 0.14 mM, resp.


The uptake in the pancreatic islets of nicotinamide, nicotinic acid and tryptophan and their ability to prevent streptozotocin diabetes in mice. The uptake of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-precursors nicotinamide, nicotinic acid and tryptophan in the pancreatic islets of mice was studied by use of autoradiographic methods. The ability of these substances to prevent streptoxotocin diabetes was studied in the same species. It was found that only nicotinamide was strongly accumulated in the pancreatic islets and nicotinamide was also the only NAD-precursor which protected against the streptoxotocin diabetes. Apparently there is a relationship between the ability of the NAD-precursors to be taken up in the pancreatic islets and their ability to prevent streptoxotocin diabetes.


A cytochemical analysis of the follicular cells and the yolk in the growing oocytes of Octopus vulgaris (Cephalopoda, Mollusca). From an examination of the structural and cytochemical data obtained on the follicular epithelium and on the growing oocytes of Octopus vulgaris it has been possible to establish that, during the evitellogenetic period, the follicular cells penetrate into the oocyte cytoplasm and assume the form of cords. The yolk, which meanwhile has been constituted also through the probable contribution of material metiated by the follicular cells, is seen to be rich in neutral glycoproteins, proteins with sulphydrilic and thiolic radicals and proteins tyrosine and tryptophan containing, but is lacking in glycogen and in acid mucopolysaccharides.


Effect of testosterone administration on the epiphyseal cartilage of hypophysectomized rats. For the study of the mechanism of action of testosterone histological, carbohydrate-, and enzyme histochemical investigations were carried out on the epiphyseal cartilage of (1) hypophysectomized rats treated with testosterone [(THX group); (2)] hypophysectomized rats without hormonal treatment (HX group), and (3) intact, untreated control rats. The results were compared with the data obtained in a previous experiment in which intact rats were treated with testosterone (T group). The experiments showed that testosterone exerts a peripheral direct effect on the enzyme system of the epiphyseal cartilage cells by changing their metabolism in the direction of early ageing. This effect elicits characteristic changes in enzyme activity of the cartilage cells if normal hypophyseal activity is present. Impairment and ossification of the epiphyseal cartilage ensue also in hypophysectomized animals treated with testosterone (THX), even faster than in animals subjected only to hypophysectomy (HX), but this process has lost its characteristic feature: the initial increase of enzyme activity in the cartilage cells. Thus, the presence or absence of the hypophysis only modifies the effect of testosterone. Presumably, the latter effect - though not asserting itself through the hypophysis - is highly dependent on hypophyseal activity, that is, on the presence of the hormones produced or mediated by the hypophysis. If testosterone does influence the secretion of these hormones and the activity of the hypothalamus, a central effect of testosterone seems also to be involved in the changes of the epiphyseal cartilage disc.


Histochemical observation of the mycetomes of Idiocerus clypealis Leth. Histochemical tests on the mycetomes and mycetocytes of Idiocerus clypealis show positive PAS and Congo red reactions for the presence of glycogen and glycoprotein (amyloid). The mycetocytes failed to take alcian blue and methyl green pyronin Y stains showing the absence of mucopolysaccharides and RNA respectively. Positive millions and bromophenol blue reactions prove that they contain tyrosine and general proteins. The presence of lipids and lipoprotein is shown by a positive stain with sudan black B.


Distribution of adenosine triphosphatase and thamine pyrophosphatase in the digestive system of Heteropneustes fossils. Histochemical localization of adenosine triphosphatase and thiamine pyrophosphatase in the digestive system of the teleost fish, Heteropneustes fossilis has been studied. In the stomach, ATPase activity is observed in the mucosa, gastric glands and muscularis. The activity is stronger in the muscularis. Very weak TPPase activity is localized only in the mucosa and gastric glands. In the intestinal mucosa ATPase activity is stronger especially, along the brush border. Mild activity is also found in the connective tissue network and their nuclei, muscularis and serosa. In the posterior portion of the intestine and rectum, the localization pattern is similar to that of intestine but the activity is weaker. TPPase activity in the intestine and rectum is restricted only to the goblet shaped mucus secreting cells. In the liver, strong activity of ATPase and moderate activity of TPPase are found in the cytoplasm as well as the nuclei of the hepatic cells.


A histochemical investigation on mucopolysaccharides in the dog sympathetic ganglia. A histochemical study in the dog Superior Cervical ganglion and in the Cervicothoracic or Stellate ganglion is reported. The mucopolysaccharide composition of these ganglia are studied by means of five histochemical techniques. The different histochemical composition between the neurons of these ganglia is investigated. In the sections stained with the PAS technique some neurons appeared more intensely stained than the others. With Thionin or Toluidine blue some neurones appeared more metachromatic than others. A peculiar distribution of the Nissl bodies, related with metachromasia, is reported. In sections stained with the Colloidal Iron method yellow neurons like those presented in the dorsal root ganglia were not found in the sympathetic ganglia. This fact suggests that the yellow neurons might be a different type of neuron. The possibility that the staining variations associated to the distribution of the Nissl bodies perhaps correspond to different functional states of the same type of neurons is also suggested.


Clinical and morphological studies in streptozotocin diabetic pregnant rats. Diabetes was induced in pregnant rats by administration of streptozotocin and the changes of the feto-placental unit were investigated. Dead fetuses were found in 12% of the untreated diabetic animals. In comparison to the controls, the fetal weights were significantly smaller and placental weights greater in diabetic animals. The changes were clearly characterized by the ratio fetal placental weight. Edema and cystic degeneration were characteristic of insulin treated diabetic placentas while fibrosis and ischemia were observed mainly in untreated animals. Insulin treatment resulted in hemorrhages and necrosis in the placenta of normal pregnant rats; the change is ascribed to hypoglycaemia.


Seasonal study of the adrenal gland of some Indian avian species. Adrenal glands of eight Indian species of birds, namely Columba livia, Passer domesticus, Corvus splendens, Acridotheres tristis, Acridotheres ginginianus, Milvus migrans, Francolinus pondicerianus and Bubulcus ibis were examined during the sexually active and inactive phases of their annual reproductive cycles. Excepting A ginginianus and M. migrans, among members of either sex of the remaining six species the weight of the adrenal gland increases during the period of sexual activity. Histologically, the interrenal tissue of these birds could be divided into a peripheral subcapsular zone and a central zone. The cytochemical content of these two zones varies between sexual activity and inactivity. In sexually active birds of both sexes, interrenal cells of the central zone exhibit an increased concentration of alkaline phosphatase, glycogen, acid mucopolysaccharides and gross lipids, while in the subcapsular interrenal cells there is a prominent increase of ascorbic acid content. Cytochemical contents of chromaffin cells remain unchanged except acid phosphatase, which increases during the sexually active phase.


Tubal sterilization. With special reference to electrocoagulation through the laparoscope. In the past 5 years 1 168 tubal sterilizations have been performed. One thousand and twelve of these were performed by dividing the tube by diathermy through the laparoscope. Since the first cases, and with increasing experience, complications have been infrequent, at the most a slight bleeding from the mesosalpinx. So far we have had ten failures, probably due to lack of experience. In every failure it was found at re-examination that the tube had not been divided-at least at one side. The method is quick and simple. The patient suffers little inconvenience, has a very small scar and is in hospital only a short time. It has been used in post-partum cases, but is not suitable for patients who have had several abdominal operations.


Heart volume and myocardial connective tissue during development and regression of thyroxine-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats. To determine whether development and regression of cardiac hypertrophy are accompanied by changes in heart volume and to learn whether a change in heart volume is associated with changes in the myocardial connective tissue, cardiac hypertrophy was induced in rats by administration of thyroxine. Rats were given L-thyroxine for 4 weeks. Heart volume was estimated radiologically in vivo at the start of the experiment and at 1- or 2-week intervals for 7 weeks. At each of these stages a number of rats were killed, their hearts were weighed and determinations were made of the myocardial contents of DNA, of collagen measured as hydroxyproline, and of glycosaminoglycans, measured as uronic acid. After thyroxine treatment the ratio of left heart ventricle weight to body weight and of heart volume to body weight rose significantly. The increase in heart weight was greater than the increase in heart volume. At the same time, there was a significant decrease in the concentration of hydroxyproline. After discontinuation of thyroxine treatment heart volume, heart weight and the concentration of myocardial collagen returned to normal within 2 weeks. However, the total amount of myocardial collagen was still less than normal at 2 weeks. The results suggest that the decrease in the amount of myocardial collagen associated with thyroxine-induced cardiac hypertrophy--because it results in a weakening of the supporting properties of the myocardial connective tissue framework--might contribute to a slight increase in in vivo heart volume.


Mg2+- and Ca2+-stimulated ATPase at the outer surface of human peripheral lymphocytes and hematopoietic cell lines. Correlation between enzyme activity and immunoglobulin secretion. A Mg2+- and Ca2+-dependent ATPase at the outer surface of human peripheral lymphocytes and hematopoietic cell lines has been studied. The enzyme activity varied about 60 fold between the extremes of the cell lines tested. There was no simple relationship between surface-ATPase activity and cell surface area. Nor was the presence of villi or any other morphological characteristic at the cell surface decisive for the degree of surface-ATPase activity. A correlation was, however, found between the ATPase activity and a phenomenon probably involving a contractile process namely immunoglobulin secretion, but it was not possible to establish an interdependence of these cell characteristics.


Conduction of activity between muscles in the terminal region of the common bile duct and in the neighboring duodenum. The relationship between muscle activity at the terminal region of the common bile duct and the duodenal muscle was examined in rabbits. The rhythmic muscle activity in the terminal region was synchronous with duodenal muscle activity. The activity of the latter muscle preceded the former. The activity at the terminal region synchronous with the rhythmic activity of the duodenal muscle sometimes disappeared spontaneously. The muscle activity of the ampulla and the spincter at the terminal region was sometimes independently lost. The conduction of excitation from the duodenal muscle to the terminal region appeared to be performed at several sites. The existence of a "conduction-shunt path" between the terminal region and the duodenum, as well as between the ampulla and the sphincter appeared probably. Some quantitative differences were found between the spincter, ampulla and duodenum in inhibitory effects to stimulation of splanchnic nerves and reflex effects and to excitatory effects of cholecystokinin-pancreoxymin and caerulein. These results seem to indicate that the sympathetic nerves and the intramural cholinergic neurones controlling these region carry out activities quantitatively different from each other.


Methemoglobinemia induced by chlorphenamidine. A 76-year old farmer ingested 100 g of chlorphenamidine (Galectron), a plant acaricle, for the purpose of suicide. Gastric lavage was performed and the patient survived. Methemoglobinemia was noted after emergency treatment and was still present at 20 hours after ingestion of the compound. The patient was lethargic for at least 50 hours. Moderate neutrophilic leukocytosis and kidney injury were observed.


Detection of liver HBc antigen and its antibody in sera from viral hepatitis by the immunofluorescent complement technique. Hepatitis B core antigen (HBc Ag) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) were detected in the liver tissue of a patient with chronic aggressive hepatitis by the immunofluorescent complement technique. The presence of anti-HBc was examined by the same method in 67 human sera previously tested for HBs Ag, anti-HBs and s-GPT levels. HBc Ag was localized mainly in the nucleus and sometimes in the cytoplasm of the hepatic cells. HBs Ag was found only in the cytoplasm. The focal area of HBc Ag positive hepatic cells seemed to correspond to the HBs Ag positive cells. Double staining demonstrated the simultaneous presence of HBs Ag and HBc Ag in individual cells. Anti-HBc positive serum was found in 46 (68.7%) cases. Forty-eight (71.6%) indicated a combination of HBs Ag and anti-HBc.


Detection of HBs antigen in routine paraffin embedded liver tissue by enzyme-labelled antibody technique. HB surface antigen (HBs Ag) was detected using the enzyme-labelled antibody technique on routinely processed liver biopsy material fixed in Bouin's fixative and embedded in paraffin. Of 85 examined specimens, 45 cases were HBs Ag positive by both the immunofluorescent test and the enzyme labelled antibody technique. The remaining 40 cases were negative by both techniques. The specificity of HBs Ag detected by the enzyme-labelled antibody technique was confirmed by the blocking test using guinea pig specific HBs antibody. The results indicate that the enzyme-labelled antibody technique may be useful for detecting HBs Ag on routine paraffin sections.


Preserved cellular immunity in smoldering acute leukemia. "Smoldering acute leukemia", a variant of acute myelogenous leukemia, has been recognized with frequent incidence in recent years. This is chracterized by benign clinical course, poor physical findings, leukopenia and mild anemia in the peripheral blood, and apparent infiltration of abnormal myeloblasts in the bone marrow. Immunological studies of the host defence mechanism were made, because the pathogenesis of its "smoldering" course has never been well understood. Nine cases, seen during last 2 years, were investigated for immunological profile, especially the cellular immunity. Purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test, i.e., tuberculin test, was found to be positive in 8 of 9 cases (88.9%). Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) sensitization test showed to be positive in 4 of 6 cases examined (66.9%). Peripheral lymphocyte balstogenesis by stimulating with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was evaluated using the smear counting method. The blastoid lymphocyte ratio was 55% at the median value (range: 31-68%), compared with 63% in normal young control (age: 25-32) and 41% in normal aged control (age: 60-75). In this report, the cellular immunity in smoldering acute leukemia was proved to be preserved at the normal level and to be more competent than that in aged group. The preserved cellular immunity is considered to explain the phenomenon of "smoldering", in other words, the exacerbating proliferation of leukemic cells is suppressed  by immuno-surveillance system.


Absence of anti-neocarzinostatin (NCS) antibody production in leukemia patients treated with NCS. Neocarzinostain (NCS) was first used by Hiraki and his colleagues for induction chemotherapy in acute leukemia. This new anti-tumor agent is a polypeptide with a high molecular weight of 10,700 daltons. Anti-NCS antibody was produced in rabbits administered NCS intramuscularly with or without adjuvant. The production of anti-NCS antibody in patients treated with NCS was investigated. Forty three leukemia cases of various types were examined totally 65  times. Two mg of NCS for four consecutive days by intravenous drip infusion followed by 7 to 10 days of pause was repeatedly administered. The total amounts ranged 8 to 174 mg and the total periods 4 to 87 days. The methods used to measure the antibody titer are the passive hemagglutination (PHA) test on microplate and the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in guinea pigs. The sera of all patients showed only non-specific agglutination at less than 2(3) dilution by PHA test, and to confirm these results four patient sera were tested by PCA reaction. The production of anti-NCS antibody was not detected in patients by PHA test and PCA reaction. The anaphylactic reaction and other adverse reactions due to anti-NCS adtibody production were not demonstrated in patients. Anti-NCS antibody was not detected by these experiments in the dose schedule administered.


Scanning electron microscopy of myeloma cells. The surface structure of myeloma cells was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The cells were collected from the pleural effusion of a multiple myeloma patient and purified by Conray-Ficoll gradient sedimentation. The cell size ranged from 8 mu to 12 mu in diameter and the microvilli were from 0.8 mu to 1.2 mu in length. The surfaces of the majority of the observed myeloma cells were more villous than lymphocytes.


Macromolecular lactate dehydrogenase linked to serum IgG of a patient with liver cirrhosis. An anomalous zymogram of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the serum from a patient with liver cirrhosis was reported. Agar-gel electrophoresis of serum showed an extra LDH band close to the anodic side of LDH5 and a wide band of LDH5. Gel filtration of patient's serum in Sephadex G-200 demonstrated an abnormal LDH fraction eluted between immunoglobulin G (IgG) and macroglobulin in addition to a normal LDH component. Chromatographically abnormal LDH was demonstrated on agar gel as extra and wide LDH5 bands and resembled closely human hepatic LDH in various physico-chemical properties such as inhibition by urea or substrate, stability against heat, and Michaelis-Menten's constant. Immunological analyses demonstrated that abnormal LDH could be in the state combined with IgG. Molecular weight of the complex estimated by gel filtration was approximately 300,000. Mixtures of the heated patient's serum with normal or patient's hepatic LDH showed abnormal LDH fraction by gel filtration, whereas abnormal fraction was not demonstrated when heated normal serum was mixed with normal or the patient's hepatic LDH. These results strongly suggest that the occurrence of anomalous LDH zymogram in patient's serum is due to a formation of LDH-IgG complex, which is based on the binding of essentially normal hepatic LDH and abnormal IgG.


A case of alcaptonuria with fatal  cardiovascular disturbance. A case of alcaptonuria combined with aortic insufficiency was found in a 28-year-old male. The patient was palpitating at admission. The daily excretion of homogentisic acid was 2.0-6.0 g. Electrocardiography indicated atrial fibrillation and left ventricular hypertrophy with a ST-T change and right axis deviation. Cartilage tissues in the knee-joints showed no pigmentation. Vertebral X-ray revealed no calcification. The patient's history disclosed a family intermarriage in his grandparents. The patient's mother noticed the presence of black stains on diapers in his infancy and brown pigmentation on the skin and sclera in childhood. No kin had similar symptoms.


Experimental studies of tumor immunotherapy. I. Macrophage migration inhibitory activity as an immunological parameter. The macrophage migration inhibition activity [MI activity) was stable in sensitized lymphocyte-to-marcophage ratios of 1:5 to 1:20 in mice. Antigen protein concentrations under 100 mug/ml did not induce nonspecific macrophage migration inhibition. Inhibition of tumor proliferation and survival was observed after a combined injection of BCG and MH-134 cells. After a single injection of MH-134 tumor cells, MI activity was reinforced and prolonged, demonstrating the clear effects of BCG as adjuvant. In DDS mice MI activity was weakened in the regional lymph node after a subcutaneous injection of just above or below 10(5) Ehrlich cancer cells previously treated with mitomycin C. This finding suggests the presence of an optimal tumor antigen concentration.


[Standardization of in-vitro methods for diagnosing allergic disorders]. The various "in vitro" techniques were studied and the conclusion was reached that the hemagglutination and complement fixation tests were the most suitable for diagnosis. Sera were selected from 377 patients with very positive intracutaneous reactions to the antigens in question, the distribution being as follows: 110 sera positive to milk, 114 sera positive to eggs, 95 sera with a very marked intracutaneous reaction with gramineous pollen, and 58 with house dust. By means of the hemagglutionation technique of Boyden and the complement fixation test of Kolmer with these antigens, it was determined that the diagnostic reliability for food substances was 94,4% in the sera with positive anamnesis. For milk, there was 100% reliability in bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis. With respect to pollen, hemagglutination gave 100% reliability in patients with positive anamnesis. The percentage with complement fixation was somewhat lower. Comparing the diagnostic reliability with hemagglutination, house dust gave an arithmetic average of 82,6% in positive anamnesis. With these antigens, hemagglutination by Boyden's technique appears the most suitable method.


[Macrophage depletion test in guinea pigs]. In the present investigations heterologous lymphokine-containing fluids were examined in albino guinea pigs for their macrophage depletion activity. Cell-free ascites from Ehrlich ascites tumor and leukemia L 1210 of mice as well as supernatants of PHA-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures were used. Ascites of Ehrlich's ascitic tumor and Leukemia L 1210 led to a significant depletion of macrophages. The application of supernatants of PHA-stimulated human lymphocyte cultures resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of peritoneal macrophages. On the other hand, a stimulation of the number of peritoneal macrophages by control supernatants of non-stimulated lymphocyte cultures was observed. The findings indicate the existence of two lymphokines having opposite effects.


Allergic asthma and NBT dye reduction by granulocytes. The nitro-blue tetrazolium dye reduction test according to modified Park's et al. method in asthmatic children with pollen allergy during remission and status asthmaticus was performed. In patients with status asthmaticus high rate of spontaneous NBT reduction by peripheral phagocytes was found. The routine investigations allowed to exclude bacterial infection as a cause of asthma attacks. It is suggested that allergic reaction may change cellular metabolism providing to increase of NBT reduction.


The values of alpha-1-antitrypsin in bronchial secretion in infants with spastic bronchitis and bronchopneumonia. The alpha-1-antitrypsin values in bronchial secretion in fifty infants suffering from spastic bronchitis and/or bronchopneumonia were determined longitudinally. It was found that alpha-1-antitrypsin is regularly present in bronchial secretion. However, since alpha-1-antitrypsin was present only in the second sample of bronchial secretion in some investigated infants, it is necessary to determine it twice during the acute respiratory diseases at intervals of 3 days from appearance of the first clinical symptoms. Alpha-1-antitrypsin is present in bronchial secretion during the acute respiratory diseases in infants as long as physical finding exists on lungs. That points to the fact that this protein in bronchial secretion does not behave only as acute phase reactant but it represents a component of nonspezific defence mechanism of respiratory tract against infection. The alpha-1-antitrypsin determination in bronchial secretion in infants with acute respiratory diseases is of clinical importance since it can be used as the indicator for application of enzymatic secretolytics during these diseases.


[Pulmonary autoantibodies in bronchial asthma patients undergoing cave and climate therapy in Bystrá]. Pulmonary autoantibodies were determined by us in the sera of 37 patients who underwent a 6-week speleo- and climatotherapy in the cave of Bystrá. The titres found in both groups of patients showed no difference. Global evaluation revealed a high incidence of pulmonary autoantibodies. We saw a direct relationship between the titre and the degree of severity of the disease or the clinical condition. The demonstration of circulating pulmonary autoantibodies in bronchial asthma is possibly not only of diagnostic value but also of prognostic importance.


[Effect of 17beta-estradiol-3-monobenzoate on humoral antibody formation in mice]. 17beta-Estradiol-3-monobenzoate injected s.c. in mice led to a dose-dependent stimulation of the global reticuloendothelial clearance function. Furthermore, a significant depression of serum hemagglutinin levels, being independent of the anitgen dose, was noticed. Although a slight decrease of antigen-sensitive (memory) cells was revealed, estradiol treatment before priming failed to impair immunological memory as assayed by hemagglutinin titers in the secondary reaction. Estradiol administration was followed by charakteristic organ weight changes (liver, thymus, adrenals). According to the literature it is suggested that estradiol, like diethylstilbestrol, is capable of depressing humoral antibody formation by differential effects on the reticuloendothelial system.


[Some problems of pollinosis therapy].

[Some problems of pollinosis therapy]. Proceeding from the importance of the specific hypo- resp. desensitization for a causal therapy of pollinosis aerobiological, botanical, phenological and serological results are discussed, the application of which in anamnesis, testing and composition of diagnosticals and therapeuticals will lead to an increase of the efficiency of this kind of treatment.


[Mixed organ culture as new possibility for study of cellular immune phenomena according to Krebs]. A method for the detection of cellular tumor-versus-host relations is described, which consist in cultivating human tumor material together with autologous lymphocytes in one organ system and in determinating tumor and lymphocyte DNA synthesis separately before and after mixed organ culture. Advantages and disadvantages of this method are discussed. 58 human tumors were investigated (40 mammary, 13 gastric, 5 bronchial cancers). 37 tumors showed a sufficient in vitro growth. In about 50% of the mixed organ cultures, there was an increase in lymphocyte DNA synthesis compared to the controls. On the other hand, only in 9 cases a decrease in the tumor DNS synthesis could be observed under the influence of autologous lymphocytes. The investigations emphasize the individuality of the tumor-versus-host relations and lead to the consequence of a routine determination of the immune profile by a spectrum of several methods in tumor patients as a prognostic and therapeutic aid.


[Effect of synovial fluid from rheumatoid arthritis patients on leukocyte migration]. By means of the migration inhibition test, the influence of the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis patients on normal blood lymphocytes was investigated. There was the hypothesis that the migration inhibitory factor is already formed in the synovial membrane of rheumatoid arthritis patients. In 35 cases a migration inhibition could be demonstrated, in 3 cases the migration of normal lymphocytes remained uninfluenced, in 6 cases a migration enhancement occurred. The demonstration of the rheumatic factor in the synovial fluids used was partly positive, partly negative. Especially the demonstration of a migration enhancement--this phenomenon could be reproduced repeatedly--cannot yet be interpreted unequivocally and requires further investigations.


[Lymphocyte transformation test used for the diagnosis of delayed reaction bacterial allergies]. The results obtained show firstly, that, when allergy testing is performed, a positive delayed reaction indispensably has to be taken into consideration. Secondly, that there is a good correspondence between positive skin tests and the LTT. Thirdly, that, after 1 year's desensibilisation treatment, a specific tolerance has not appeared yet.


[Comparative study on lymphocyte stimulation by PHA and bacterial endotoxins, particularly in malignant tumor and allergy patients]. In a group of 37 tumor patients with predominantly advanced disease, LPS stimulation (LPS of Sh. sonnei and Sh. flexneri) resulted in a significant increase of the transformation rates caused, most probably, by the high proportion of B cells. On the other hand, allergics (drug allergies) did not differ from controls. It seems possible that B cell stimulation by bacterial endotoxins can be used for the assessment of the reactivity of the organism.


[Immunoglobulin E and its relation to bronchial asthma]. This paper presents a comparison of the levels of IgE in blood serum in a group of healthy persons, a group of persons suffering on asthma bronchiale of an infectious type and of the group of patients suffering in atopic type of asthma bronchiale. The quantitative estimation of IgE in sera was accomplished by the radioimmunoassay "Phadebas IgE Test". The blood levels of IgE of healthy persons and those suffering on infectious asthma bronchiale had no striking differences. The patients suffering on atopic asthma bronchiale showed a tremendous rise of blood IgE, that could be suppressed by the therapeutic application of corticosteroids (Triamcinolon). After the withdrawal of corticosteroids a new rise of blood IgE has been observed. During the application of corticosteroids there was an evident suppression of plasmatic cortisol levels, which rose after their therapeutic withdrawal.


[Purification of skin reactive factor (SRF) in mice]. For the purification and further characterisation of the skin-reactive factor (SRF) of the mouse, the SRF-containing ascitic fluid of Ehrlich ascites tumor was exposed to different separation or elution procedures. After preliminary purification by (NH4)2SO4 precipitation when the total activity was not in the dialysable supernatant, gel-chromatographic separation (Sephadex G-200), immune electrophoretic investigations as well as ion exchange chromatography were performed. The skin-reactive activity in fraction I of gel chromatiography is presumably caused by a toxic substance with skin-irritating properties. The SRF demonstrable in fraction II/2 has a molecular weight similar to that of albumin, can be found in the ion exchange chromatography (DEAE-Sephadex A-50-column) in fraction III, and is of proteinic nature.


[Leukocyte migration inhibition test in skin chamber--an in-vivo method]. For the demonstration of a cell-mediated sensitisation, tuberculin allergics, chromate allergics, penicillin allergics, and controls were investigated. The method used was the measurement of leukocyte migration inhibition in a Teflon skin chamber with and without addition of antigen, which approaches to testing under in vivo conditions. In 10 of 11 tuberculin allergics, 6 of 7 chromate allergics, and 7 penicillin allergics, a clear inhibition of leucocyte migration after addition of antigen could be observed (maximum 16 h after addition of antigen). In 16 unsensitised controls no significant migration inhibition appeared. Possible advantages of this method over in vitro methods and intracutaneous tests are discussed.


Echocardiographic abnormalities in acute rheumatic fever. The echocardiographic velocity of circumferential fiber shortening and left atrial dimension were measured serially in two groups of children with acute rheumatic fever: Group I, six patients with valve regurgitation without congestive heart failure, and Group II, seven patients with regurgitation and congestive heart failure. In Group I, the initial velocity of circumferential fiber shortening was increased to 1.90 +/- 0.31 circumferences per second (circ/sec) (mean +/- standard deviation). In group II, it was decreased (1.18+/-0.25). In group I velocity of circumferential fiber shortening subsequently decreased but remained above the normal level; in Group II it increased to exceed the expected normal value. Concurrent changes in left atrial dimension were observed in both groups. The initial left atrial dimension of Group I (2.2 +/- 0.75 cm/m2) was slightly increased and returned to normal (1.70 +/- 0.32) on follow-up study. The left atrial dimension of Group II was greatly increased initially (2.70 +/- 0.81 cm/m2) and remained large (2.50 +/- 0.67). Three patients in Group II experienced rebound during corticosteroid withdrawal. In each the velocity of circumferential fiber shortening decreased, suggesting impaired cardiac contractility. The echocardiogram thus facilitates serial assessment of the severity of carditis in acute rheumatic fever.


Cardiac involvement in the Kugelbert-Welander syndrome. Two cases of the Kugelberg-Welander syndrome (juvenile form of progressive spinal muscular atrophy) associated with cardiomyopathy and cardiomegaly are presented. The first patient, a 24 year old man, had atrial flutter with complete atrioventricular (A-V) block due to A-H block. Echocardiography revealed an increase in the left atrial and right ventricular dimensions. The second patient was a 26 year old man whose electrocardiogram revealed an A-V junctional rhythm, deep Q wave in leads I, aVL and V5 to V6 and an RS pattern in lead V1. Histologic examination of the myocardium in Case 2 showed slight interstitial fibrosis. Review of previously reported cases shows that (1) the atrium, the ventricular myocardium and A-V conducting tissue may be involved, and (2) atrial arrhythmias, A-V conduction disturbances and congestive heart failure may occur in the Kugelberg-Welander syndrome.


Acupuncture in chronic pain.

Acupuncture in chronic pain. A course of 10 daily acupuncture treatments was given to 200 patients who suffered from chronic pain syndromes of at least one year duration and the result assessed at the end of the course of treatment and after an interval of at least 2 months. Treatments were individualized using needling of body loci distally and near the site of pain, and ear acupuncture. In 38 patients suffering from chronic headaches, including 13 cases of migraine-type headache, 81% reported an improvement in their condition, but only one patient was pain free for the 2-month observation period. In 162 patients with other chronic pain problems, 99 or 61% were improved or pain free at the end of treatment; in 69 of these a worthwhile degree of improvement persisted over the observation period of 2 months. Thirteen percent of all patients did not respond to acupuncture and in 26% the response was considered as transient only. Daily treatments are not more effective than weekly or biweekly treatments. Pain in the neck and shoulder region, in the knee and low back pain responded to acupuncture with prolonged improvement in over 50% of the patients treated. Facial pain syndromes and pain in the region of the trunk were least responsive and only 3 of 11 patients with post-herpetic neuralgia reported still having less pain after 2 months. Needling of effective loci and particularly ear needling often causes an instantaneous reduction or disappearance of pain; the speed of this response can only be explained by a mechanism within the nervous system. Based on our experience acupuncture represents a useful therapeutic modality in the management of pain.


Growth failure with pericardial constriction. The syndrome of mulibrey nanism. The features of the syndrome of mulibrey nanism, an autosomal recessive disorder of unknown pathogenesis, include severe growth failure, yellow pigmentation of the retina, evidence of pericardial constriction, J-shaped sella turcica, and fibrous dysplasia of bones. To date, 24 individuals from Finland and a boy from Egypt have been reported with the syndrome. The patient reviewed in this article is the first known affected child from the United States. It is important that physicians look for this disorder in children with severe growth failure and hepatomegaly because of the potential seriousness of undetected pericardial constriction.


The limbic system in Alzheimer's disease. A neuropathologic investigation. The morphologic alterations of Alzheimer's disease, presenile and senile dementia, have conventionally been associated with the cerebral cortex; however, it is clear that other areas of the brain, notably the hippocampus and amygdala, are involved as well. These structures, together with others such as the fornix, cingulate gyrus, septal nuclei, and mamillary bodies, constitute the limbic system, which has been recognized as the anatomic substrate of memory, emotion, and learning. Disturbances in these modalities are central to the clinical expression of Alzheimer's disease; therefore, the limbic system was studied in its entirety in 9 patients with Alzheimer's disease and in 3 elderly individuals with Down's syndrome, in whom identical morphologic lesions were present. The findings disclose that the limbic system is regularly involved in Alzheimer's disease, to a severe degree and in a distinctively patterned distribution.


Changing sexual problems in adults.

Changing sexual problems in adults. In the framework of a symposium on changing sexual behavior in a changing society problems are discussed which the modified mores have created for a number of individuals or groups, for therapeutic intervention and research concepts. Examples, assumed to be not isolated to one or the other case, are used as illustrations.


Intraluminal duodenal diverticulum associated with trisomy 21. An intraluminal duodenal diverticulum is an uncommon congenital abnormality that may produce intermittent ostruction. The true pathogenesis of this lesion is still disputed, but it probably results from ballooning of a congenital web or diaphragm with prolonged peristalsis. An intraluminal "wind sock"-like structure filed with barium and surrounded by a radiolucent halo is the classic and diagnostic radiologic appearance. An association with trisomy 21 is made.


[On the molecular mechanism of action of galanthamine, an antagonist of nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (author's transl)]. In clinical anaesthesia, galanthamine hydrobromide (Nivalin), an alkaloid of galanthus nivalis (common snowdrop) is used to reverse the neuromuscular blocking effect of curare-type muscle relaxants. A comparative study of the inhibition by galanthamine of acetylcholinesterase (AChE; PH 7,2; substrate; acetylthiocholine) and of pseudocholinesterase (ChE; ph 7,7; substrate: butyrylthiocholine) was carried out by means of a colorimetric assay technique at 25 degrees C. AChE (pI50 = 5.5; Ki = 5.2 X 10(-8) M) has an approximately 100-fold higher affinity to galanthamine than has ChE (pI50 = 3.7; Ki = 2.9 X 10(-6) M). The kinetic analysis of the inhibition which is instantaneously reversible upon dilution revealed a pure competitive mechanism of action for both enzymes. Supported by a calculation of the change in free binding energy (AChE: delta F = 9.9 kcal X mole-1; ChE: delta F = -7.6 kcal X mole-1), galanthamine is thought to decrease the rate of hydrolysis by a reversible binding to the anionic site of the active centre ("prosthetic inhibitor") thus impairing the formation of the enzyme-substrate complex.


[Mechanisms of congenital erythrocyte enzyme deficiencies associated with hemolytic anemia]. The search for a mechanism for red cell enzyme deficiency associated with congenital hemolytic anemia, requires one to determine the kinetic and thermodynamic properties of the enzyme reaction and study the physico-chemical and immunological characteristics of the protein which supports enzyme activity. The technique of iso-electric focalisation and the use of specific anti-enzyme antibodies, is the reason for recent progress in the understanding of the mechanism of these deficiencies. Examples of application of these techniques are given in relation to glucose-6-dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase, glucose phosphate isomerase, phosphofructokinase and phosphoglycerate kinase of deficiencies showing the multiplicity of the molecular mechanisms.


Anaphylactic shock following althesin. A case report. The authors present a case of anaphylactic shock in a 9-year-old girl with heamorrhagic rash developing during anaesthesia. Shock was controlled with steroids, antihistamine drugs and dextran. The authors find it important to consider the possibility of the development of intravascular clotting in anaphylactic shock and the necessity of seeking a history of any allergy in patients before althesin anaesthesia.


[Cytogenetic study of 257 mentally deficient patients in psychiatric hospitals]. Cytogenetic survey of 257 mentally retarded individuals. A cytogenetic inquiry was undertaken among 257 patients with mental retardation of two psychiatric hospitals. 25 patients show chromosomes anomalies (10%). We found: --18 trisomy 21 (Down's syndrome); --3 sexual chromosome anomalies: 47, XYY syndrome; 47, XYY/46, XY mosaïcism; 47, XXY, or Klinefelter syndrom; --1 partial delection of long arm of chromosome number 18 (46, XX, 18 q--); --3 translocations; 45, XX, t (1, 13) (p 36, q 11); 46, XX, t (5 p--, 18 p+) (p 12, p 11); 46, XY, t (9, 19) (q 21, p 18). We also found 9 large Y chromosomes (46, XY q+), 8 cases of variant chromosomes, 1 case with chromosomes associations..., we report a case of masculine Turner phenotype or Noonan syndrom.


Clinical electromyomechanographic and electromyographic studies in decurarization with pymadine. The authors present a clinical evaluation of a new drug - pymadine - reversing the non-depolarization block. The drug was administered to 21 patients. Full return of neuromuscular conduction was obtained. The drug is not an anticholinergic agent, has no side effects and does not require atropine administration. The authors recommend its use in patients with high cardiovascular and respiratory operative risk.


Isolation of exocellular polymer from Zoogloea strains MP6 and 106 and from activated sludge. Exocellular polymer was isolated from zoogloeae of Zoogloea strains MP6 and 106 and from activated sludge flocs by blending samples with phosphate buffer and precipitation of solubilized polymer with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Samples of polymer from these sources were similar and yielded amino sugars as the principal components after acid hydrolysis.


Staphylococci from the feces of different animal species: biotypes of Staphylococcus aureus strains of sheep and goat origin. Staphylococcus aureus was found in 96% of the rectal swabs from 133 sheep and in 80% of the swabs from 125 goats. Seventy-seven percent of the isolates from both hosts exhibited the fibrinolytic and growth characteristics of human biotype A on human plasma and crystal violet agar, respectively, but 99% of these isolates resembled S. aureus of animal origin in their other properties. Only 21% of the sheep and 24% of the goat isolates were clearly identifiable as human biotype A and animal biotypes B and C.


[Dimorphism in "Ustilago cynodontis". II--Glucidic metabolism (author's transl)]. The glucidic metabolism has been studied in four strains of Ustilago cynodontis. Two of them--M1 and M7--are mycelial strains, the two others --L1 and L7--being yeast like are respectively issued from M1 and M7. The results obtained show that the choice between the different glucidic catabolism pathways takes place at the phosphofructokinase level. When the phosphofructokinase is lacking (M1) the catabolism occurs via the pentose phosphate cycle followed by the last glycolytic reactions (between triose-phosphates and pyruvic acid). When the phosphofructokinase is present it always enters into competition with a very active phosphoglucose isomerase which makes it ineffective (L1, M7, L7). In those cases the catabolism still proceeds through the pentose cycle either completely (L7) or incompletely (L1, M7), depending in the presence or the absence of transketolase. In the last case it is the phosphoketolases which carry out the conversion between fructose-5-phosphate, xylulose-6-phosphate and acetyl-phosphate.


Qualitative changes with age of proteoglycans of human lumbar discs. A detailed study of the biochemistry of each of the lower lumbar intervertebral discs from 3 spines aged 8, 16, and 44 years has shown progressive changes down the spine in a number of biochemical parameters. These were most apparent in the 44-year-old spine. The chemical composition of proteoglycans of the nucleus pulposus and of its constituent proteoglycans differed from those of the corresponding annulus fibrosus of all three spines. The interaction of proteoglycans with collagen, as assessed by extractability, changed markedly with advancing age, while the molecular size of the proteoglycans from both regions decreased and their keratan sulphate content increased. These changes would be expected to affect the mechanical properties of the disc.


False aneurysms of the femoral artery: a challenge in management. Forty patients with aneurysms of the femoral arteries were evaluated. Thirty had 34 false aneurysms and 23 were secondary to disruption of the suture line of a graft-to-artery anastomosis. All the false aneurysms were found in association with a synthetic material used as a bypass or arterial substitute. No direct relationship was found between the suture material and the incidence of anastomotic aneurysms in this series. Infection associated with the development of a false aneurysm was followed by a high incidence of amputation. Various techniques of repair have been used to restore the flow and preserve the viability of the limb. Recommendations are made to decrease the incidence of this complication.


[Enlarged heart caused by massive subepicardial lipomatosis with idiopathic dilatation of the right cavities]. The case is reported of a man of 48 with known longstanding gross cardiomegaly which was completely asymptomatic. Angiocardiography and coronary arteriography showed dilatation of the right side of the heart, and especially of the auricle. In addition, the ventricle was separated from the diphragm by a transparent non-fluid area. At operation, gross dilatation of the right atrium was confirmed, but no causative lesion could be found; there was also marked lipomatosis which involved particularly the area beneath the right ventricle. It is difficult to classify this most unusual case as either a classical dilatation of the right atrium, idiopathic or secondary, or as a cardiac lipoma or lipomatosis.


[Indications for prosthetic replacement of the aortic valve]. There is no controversy about the prosthetic replacement of the aortic valve in cases in which there is a disorder of function or cardiac failure, or in cases with a tight aortic stenosis, even if it appears to be well-tolerated clinically. It is especially critical in cases of aortic incompetence with marked cardiac enlargement, but the problems are not overwhelming. The indications for operation in very advanced cases with cardiac failure which is refractory, or in aged patients, are discussed.


[Anomalous ventricular contractile performance in experimental chronic aortic insufficiency in the dog]. Hemodynamics and right (RV) and left (LV) ventricular performances of anaesthetized, closed-chest animals were studied in normal control dogs (N) and in dogs with aortic insufficiency (AI), the latter intervention being performed 33 months before verification. In dogs with AI, LV was hypertrophied (N = 49.6 +/- 6.3 g; AI = 98.7 +/- 10.1, p less than 0.001); forward stroke volume was slightly decreased (N = 20.0 +/- 2.2 ml; IA = 14.6 +/- 5.4 ml, p = NS);LV and diastolic pressure was increased (N = 9.4 +/- 1.4 mmHg; IA = 16.7 +/- 2.9, p less than 0.05); both RV and LV myocardial performace index (e.g. dP/dt max, peak VCE, Vmax) were normals. Relative pressure/velocity of shortening and wall stress/velocity of shortening relationships, however, were decreased, when measured during L.V. isovolumetric beats. LV stiffness of arrested heart was increased in proportions with hypertrophy extent. Thus, myocardial performance of chronically volume-overloaded heart appears to be depressed before the stage of the circulatory failure.


Femorofemoral bypass graft in intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation. Femorofemoral arterial crossover grafts were used in three patients to avoid or correct limb ischemia during intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation. In retrospec, these grafts should have been used in two earlier patients in whom the balloon was removed prematurely. They are applied to the femoral artery just distal to the site of insertion of the balloon or the the balloon access graft. Removal of the graft at the time of the balloon removal is optional.


Surgical management of aplasia cutis congenita. A child born without scalp, or dura to cover the brain (aplasia cutis congenita) was successfully treated by a multidiscipline team. A coexisting rupture omphalocele forced a change in treatment from the currently recommended regimen of mandatory early scalp closure. Homograft skin was used to protect the brain during the time the omphalocele was treated and skin flaps were delayed. Fluoroscein dye was utilized to determine flap viability and predicted ischemia until after a third delaying procedure was performed. The successful outcome suggests that the present philosophy of early surgical closure being essential for survival in infants with large cranial defects can be altered and, in fact, permanent full-thickness flaps may be designed, tested for viability, and delayed while homograft skin protects the infant's brain from infection and thrombosis.


[Growth of oocytes and follicles in Tylopoda]. The investigation of the growth of oocytes by methods of total determination of the number of normally developing and atretic folliculi and by specific histochemical methods allows to follow the succession of correlative changes between the egg-cell growth rate and the complication of its trophicity and the folliculum as a whole. The species peculiarities of the oocyte growth in the secondary and tertiary follicles and histochemical parameters of their maturation are found.


[Vertical vergence pathways].

[Vertical vergence pathways]. Two pathways for vertical vergence probably exist: the cortical one carrying a psycho-optical reflex, the other sub-cortical connected to the vestibular apparatus and more probably to the otolith system. The sub-cortical pathway is essentially a vestibulo-cerebellar oculomotor pathway; but in addition there certainly exist direct vestibulo-oculomotor connections and long tracts passing through the interstitial nucleus of Cajal and the reticular formation.


[Value of functional and electrophysiological studies in amblyopia]. In a group of patients suffering from amblyopia, the authors confront the results after orthoptic treatment with data provided by functional and electrophysiological examination. In 37 patients the clinical diagnosis of functional amblyopia had been made, but in 8 of these cases complimentary functional and electrophysiological examinations showed organic perturbations. This explains the failure, in these cases, of the orthoptic treatment. In the remaining 29 patients, clinical forms of functional amblyopia were found. In this group, the authors studied 20 cases showing no improvement with treatment: in 15 out of the 20 the VERs were pathological. In the 9 remaining cases which have showed improvement the VER'S were never abnormal. VER study can be undertaken, without general anaesthesia, as from 3 to 4 years of age. The authors conclude that all clinical forms of amblyopia should undergo VER investigation: patients showing pathological changes should be excluded from orthoptic treatment, from which they have no possibility of deriving benefit.


[Electroretinography in nephronophthisis. Role of the Senior-Loken syndrome]. The authors report 20 cases of a syndrome named nephronophtisis and probably the same as the syndrome of medullar cystic disease. In all cases systematic electroretinography is performed. Nine cases show important deterioration of the outline. These cases can be included in the syndrome of Senior-Loken. The pathogenesis and familial character of this disease are discussed. The disturbances that appeared between the ocular and renal lesions suggest that there are probably two genes rather than a single pleiotropic gene.


[Local adaptation curves evoked by the pupillo-motor reflex]. We have studied local dark-adaptation curves using the pupillary reflex. The results obtained indicate that the dark-adaptation curves produced by central and peripheral stimulation are variable and are in principle similar to the psychophysical curves obtained in matching conditions. This result demonstrates that the pupillary reflex is triggered by two different types of receptors which have the same characteristics as the cones and the rods, and that the system of the pupillary receptors and the optical pathways is identical.


[Scanning electron microscopy study of experimental chorioretinitis in guinea pigs]. Retinal lesions are described with the scanning electron microscope in the uveo retinitis induced in guinea pigs by immunization with rod outer segments of bovine retina. The two surfaces in contact of the pigment epithelium and the photoreceptors are separated from each other and observed on flat preparations. On the epithelial side, the evolution of the degenerescence of epithelial cells is observed, from the early disappearance of villosities until the total destruction of the cells. Through lacks in the epithelial layer where the choroid appears, inflammatory cells migrate towards the retina. The impairement of the visual cells is characterized by progressive destruction of outer then inner segments, with preservation of the external limiting membrane. In some areas the degenerative process reaches the layer of visual cells nuclei. Macrophages, and local clusters of lymphocytes are seen in contact with the retinal surface.


[Acetylcholine of bovine iris and cholinergic effects of pilocarpine]. The authors extracted acetylcholine (ACh) from bovine iris and carried out biological assay on guinea pig ileum. One of the pairs of irides were subjected in vivo for an hour to an aqueous solution of pilocarpine HCl 3 per cent, with the loading dose instilled in the conjunctival sac at the rate of ten times three drops in intervals of three minutes. The bio-assays of tissue extracts of pilocarpinised iris after one hour's action and the control studies present the following values: the amount of ACh in the pilocarpinised irides was 0,70 mug and in the controls it was 0,58 mug of ACh/150 mg of tissue. The remaining proportion of the elevated dose of pilocarpine applied to the iris tissue, one hour after the in vivo action, was comparable only to 1,5 mug of free pilocarpine or to a fifth of the ACh in the iris (0,12 mug). The results of these experiments demonstrate a complete decomposition of the pilocarpine as well as the existence of a certain limitation of elevation of the cholinergic tone in the iris tissues. The authors support data in the literature which indicates that pilocarpine raises the ACh levels. They do not attribute a fundamental importance to the raised loading dose of pilocarpine concerning the desired effect of a maximal elevation of cholinergic tone in order to achieve a favourable clinical effect in glaucoma.


Non-invasive assessment of the heart in the hypertensive. The prevalence of signs of heart involvement was studied non-invasively with orthogonal and conventional ECG, apexcardiogram, carotid pulse tracing and phonocardiogram in a group of untreated hypertensives (n = 35) and a reference group (n = 73). All were derived by screening a random population sample of 50-year-old men.


Insufficiency of hypertrophied heart.

Insufficiency of hypertrophied heart. There are two types of compensatory hypertrophy of the heart. In valvular diseases, systemic hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension, the resultant hypertrophy compensates the increased load on the organ and is designated as hypertrophy due to overload. In ischemic disease, hereditary cardiomyopathies and myocarditis, the hypertrophy compensates for the functional insufficiency of the damaged myocardial tissue and is designated as hypertrophy due to damage. It is shown in this paper that increase in cardiac mass in both types of compensatory hypertrophy prevents acute cardiac insufficiency but at the same time is a non-balanced form of growth. As a result, in severe hypertrophy a disturbance of normal proportions at all levels of cardiac structural integration occurs. Disturbances of this type which gradually become causes of cardiac insufficiency are the main subject of this paper.


Temperature adaptation in fish.

Temperature adaptation in fish. Altering the body temperature of fish causes immediate changes in both the functional and biochemical properties of secretory epithelial tissues. The present account describes how the intestinal tract of the goldfish adapts to regulate its function after a sudden exposure to a change in environmental temperature. Adaptation can be seen to take place in three distinct steps. The first stage, occurring 15-20h after the change in environmental temperature, alters the ability of actively transported non-electrolytes to increase the microvillar membrane permeability to sodium. The passive permeability of the cells to sodium is also regulated at this stage. The second adaptive change involves changes in membrane phospholipids and amino acid transport. This occurs after about 32-48h. Regulation is still not complete, however, the intracellular sodium remaining low and intracellular potassium remaining high for 2-3 weeks. There is then a final regulation of sodium-pump activity. This change, which is concerned with pump turnover rather than with number of pump sites, is probably connected with the synthesis of new cells. These changes are discussed in detail, and an attempt is made to relate fine changes in phospholipid fatty acyl composition to known changes in membrane function.


Total serum cholesterol and urinary dehydroepiandrosterone in humans. The relationship between urinary excretion of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and total serum cholesterol was evaluated in an epidemiological study of coronary risk factors. The results of this study show statistically significant negative correlation (r = -0.238; P -0.014) between the urinary excretion of DHEA (mg/g creatinine) and total serum cholesterol. Total serum cholesterol (r = 0.278) and to a lesser extent. DHEA (R = 0.021) were found to be correlated with age. However, it was determined that the correlation between serum cholesterol and urinary DHEA was not attributable to the effect of age, since the partial correlation coefficient between serum cholesterol and urinary DHEA adjusted for age (r = 0.240) was found to be statistically significant (P less than 0.05). Negative but non-significant correlations were also found between urinary excretion of DHEA and many of the accepted risk factors for coronary heart disease.


Orthogonal electrocardiogram, apex cardiogram, and atrial sound in normotensive and hypertensive 50-year-old men. The prevalence of signs of heart involvement was studied non-invasively in a group of untreated hypertensives (n=35) and a reference group (n=73), all derived from a random population sample of 50-year-old men. Signs of left ventricular hypertrophy were studied by means of orthogonal electrocardiography and conventional electrocardiography. Signs of decreased distensibility of the left ventricle were studied by apex cardiography and registration of atrial sounds. Left ventricular hypertrophy among hypertensives was significantly more common according to orthogonal electrocardiography (33%) than according to conventional electrocardiography (9%), indicating that the former may be a better method for detection of left ventricular hypertrophy than the latter. In the hypertension group the amplitude of the R wave in lead X on orthogonal electrocardiography was positively correlated to casual diastolic blood pressure (r=0-40) and to diastolic blood pressure after one hour's rest (r=0-65). The degree of pressure load leading to left ventricular hypertrophy seems to be better reflected by resting than by casual blood pressure. There was no hypertensive subject with both signs of left ventricular hypertrophy on orthogonal electrocardiography and either an a/H ratio over 15 per cent or an abnormal atrial sound, indicating two different forms of cardiac involvement as the result of hypertension. Casual blood pressures became normal during rest in hypertensives with a/H ratio over 15 per cent on apex cardiography or abnormal  atrial sound, not in hypertensives with signs of left ventricular hypertrophy on orthogonal electrocardiography.


Treatment of scleroderma heart by D-penicillamine. A case of severe diffuse systemic sclerosis with cardiomegaly and cardiac failure is described. Treatment with D-penicillamine caused a pronounced decrease in heart size, together with clinical improvement. The use of penicillamine in scleroderma heart has not previously been reported.


The effect of long term tetracycline treatment for acne vulgaris on the occurrence of R factors in the intestinal flora of man. R factors are known to be the most important mechanism of antimicrobial resistance of intestinal flora. Short courses with therapeutic doses (1000 mg/day) of tetracycline select for strains containing transferable resistance factors to more than one antimicrobial agent. In this report we show that long term treatment with very low doses (100 mg/day) of tetracycline for acne vulgaris has an equally strong effect favouring establishment of resistent strains and R factors in the intestinal flora of patients.


[Surgical treatment of congenital interruption and hypoplasia of the aortic arch]. Three patients with interruption and seven with hypoplasia of the aortic arch were treated surgically. The subclavian artery and the aortic isthmus were employed for reconstructing the aortic arch in five, and a Dacron prosthesis was used to restore the aortic continuity in five. A ductus arteriosus coexisted in all patients and a ventricular or atrial septal defect in nine. Congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension were prominent clinical features, and the role of the ductus and other intracardiac anomalies on their pathogenesis in discussed. Six patients, one with an interrupted and five with a hypoplastic arch survived but three have evidence of either pulmonary vascular disease or significant pulmonary hypertension. Only one patient with hypoplasia of the arch is now considered cured after his ventricular septal defect was closed in a second operation. The analysis of this and other series in the literature indicate a high mortality rate of the conditions; however, early surgical treatment, which is the only effective means to control heart failure and avoid the effects of prolonged pulmonary hypertension, has brought upon a decline in mortality in recent years.


Hypersensitivity to bacteria in eczema. III. Arthus-like responses to bacterial antigens without specific antibody. Seven patients with a macroscopic response resembling an Arthus reaction, and occurring 2-4 h after intracutaneous injections of staphylococcal particulate antigens or total staphylococcal extract, were examined for the appropriate specific antibodies that activate complement, and by immunofluorescence for antigen, immunoglobulin and complement in the reaction site. Four of the patients had serum antibody, and skin reactions with the typical features of early Arthus reactions and containing immunoglobulin, complement and antigen. Three patients had apparently 'non-allergic' responses. They lacked appropriate antibody in serum and immunoglobulin deposits in the lesions, though all except one had complement deposits in reaction sites. One of the three nevertheless had histological changes typical of an Arthus response. Lymphocytes teased from the reaction site skin of one patient with a 'non-allergic' 4 h response comprised 35 B cells bearing IgG out of 200 counted. The nature of the 'non-allergic' response reaching a maximum size at about 4 h macroscopically and in some instances microscopically resembling an Arthus response, is still to be determined but it illustrates the caution necessary in interpretation of skin tests with bacterial antigens.


Factor VIII and human platelet aggregation. IV. Effect of proteolytic enzymes on platelet aggregation by factor VIII. During digestion of highly purified bovine factor VIII or neuraminidase-treated human factor VIII by plasmin the procoagulant activity is destroyed more rapidly than the aggregating activity. At an intermediate stage, fragments are transiently formed, which inhibit platelet aggregation by the respective undigested materials, but without corssed inhibition. During proteolysis by plasmin, human factor VIII retains antigenic and restocetin cofactor properties. Contrary to previous observations obtained with less purified preparations, plasmin digest of human or bovine factor VIII do not inhibit ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Thrombin and reptilase do not modify the aggragating activities of bovine and neuraminidase-treated human factor VIII.


Spontaneous rupture of ovarian artery aneurysm in the puerperium. Two case reports and a review of the literature. A case of spontaneous puerperal rupture of an aneurysm of a branch of the right ovarian artery is reported and the histological and histochemical changes in the vessel wall are described. Identical changes were also seen in a similar case, previously reported. Some of the factors involved in the pathogenesis of these unusual vascular lesions are discussed.


Relationships of the spectrin complex of human erythrocyte membranes to the actomyosins of muscle cells. Important similarities are reported between human smooth muscle actomyosin and the human erythrocyte spectrin complex, primarily components 1, 2, and 5 (Fairbanks G., Steck, T.L., and Wallach, D.F.H. (1971), Biochemistry 10, 2606). The actin-like protein, component 5, is identical with human uterine actin in its ability to form 50-70-A filaments to stimulate myosin ATPase activity, and to bind rabbit heavy meromyoson specit heavy meromyosin specifically. Antibodies to human smooth muscle myosin(uterine) were prepared which were monospecific. A weak but specific cross-reaction of these antisera with components 1 and/or 2 (spectrin) was characterized and at least 25% of the antimyosin antibodies showed a low affinity reaction iwth spectrin. Antibodies generated against a soluble complex of spectrin components 1 and 2 reacted only with component 1 and did not cross-react with myosin. In addition to these structural similarities between smooth muscle actomyosin and the spectrin complex, we have found that spectrin is involved in ATP-dependent erythrocyte shape changes (Sheetz, M.P., Painter, R.G., AND Singer, S.J. (1976B), Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Cell Motility (in press) and, therefore, the spectrin complex is also a mechanochemical protein system.


Sulfhydryl group modification of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes. Modification of calcium-translocating sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes (SR) with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) (Nbs2) reveals four classes (kinetic sets) of sulfhydryl groups. Of the 25 mol/1.5 X 10(5) G OF SR protein (i.e., containing 1 mol of ATPase protein) estimated in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, 8 mol are unreactive, while 7, 8, and 2 mol display pseudo-first-order rate constants (k1) of 0.16, 0.68, and 8.3 min(-1), respectively (25 decrees C, pH 7.8, 4 MM Nbs2). Under these conditions, the Ca-ATPase activity is lost with k1 = 0.73 min(-1), whereas the Ca-independent ATPase activity is essentially unchanged. These results are little changed by the presence of Mg2+ or Ba2+ in the modification mixture, while Ca2+ or Sr2+ causes all 16-17 reactable sulfhydryls to be modified with k1 = 0.50 and 0.53 min(-1), respectively. The corresponding values for the loss of Ca-ATPase activity are 0.53 and 0.67 min(-1); this suggests that blocking of only one of the 16-17 SH groups inactivates the enzyme, i.e., that there is a single "essential" SH group. The midpoint of the transition between the Ca2+-free and Ca2+-modification patterns occurs at a free Ca2+ concentration of about 0.9 muM, implying that it is Ca2+ binding at the active sites (KD = 0.1 muM), rather than at the low-affinity nonspecific sites, that effects a conformation change in the ATPase protein (which contains greater than 90% of the cysteines). A calcium-induced conformation change is also suggested by increased ultraviolet absorbance spectrum of the purified ATPase protein upon calcium binding. If protein-lipid interaction is disrupted with deoxycholate or Triton X-100 (which does not destroy the Ca-ATPase activity and hence presumably leaves the tertiary structure of the ATPase protein largely intact), 95% of the sulfhydryls react with Nbs2 considerably faster; thus, at 2 mg/ml o- deoxycholate, 14 groups react with k1 greater than 20, 5 with k1 = 2.3, and 5 with k1 = 0.4 min(-1). These results suggest that the inaccessibility of SH groups in the absence of detergents is due to extensive interaction of the bilayer phospholipids with the ATPase protein.


Studies of 1-deoxy-D-fructose, 1-deoxy-D-glucitol, and 1-deoxy-D-minnitol as antimetabolites. 1-Deoxy-D-fructose was synthesized in 27% yield from D-glucosamine in a three-step procedure involving Raney nickel desulfurization and oxidative deamination with 3,5-di-tert-butyl- 1,2-benzoquinone applied to appropriate intermediates. 1-Deoxyfructose and its reduction products, 1-deoxyglucitol and 1-deoxymannitol, were tested as substrates and antimetabolites. For sheep liver glucitol dehydrogenase, the Km is 53 mM for 1-deoxymannitol, were tested as substrates and antimetabolites. For sheep liver glucitol dehydrogenase, the Km is 53 mM for 1-deoxyglucitol and 89 mM for 1-deoxymannitol with maximal velocities 33 and 18%, respectively, of that with glucitol as substrate. These results require substantial revision of the long-accepted polyol substrate structural requirements for this enzyme which have been reported to include a 1-hydroxy group and a cis-2,4-dihydroxy configuration. Km is 614 and 280 mM for yeast and muscle hexokinases, respectively, acting on 1-deoxyfructose; maximal velocities are 2 and 5% of those obtained with fructose. 1-Deoxyfructose 6-phosphate is a competitive inhibitor of phosphoglucose isomerase with a Ki of 1.1 mM; this is about the same as Km for the natural substrates. It is also an effective inhibitor of phosphofructokinase but does not alter the cooperativity of the enzyme interaction with fructose 6-phosphate nor exhibit cooperativity in its own interaction therewith. These results suggest that the 1-hydroxy group is not crucial for binding but does play a role in the cooperative interactions of this allosteric protein. At equivalent concentrations, 1-deoxyfructose is somewhat better than 2-deoxyglucose as an inhibitor of erythrocyte glycolysis; the 1-deoxypolyols are ineffective. All three 1-deoxy compounds are readily, though incompletely, absorbed from the intestine of mice; most of the absorbed dose appears in the urine unchanged within 24 h. Whether given by oral or intraperitoneal routes, 2 to 6% of administered deoxypolyol or deoxyketose appears in the urine as ketose or polyol, respectively. No acute toxic effects or growth retardation are noted for any of the 1-deoxy analogues when given to mice at levels where 2-deoxyglucose has such effects. The properties of these 1-deoxy sugar analogues recommend them for further studies of enzyme mechanisms, for metabolic studies, and for testing as therapeutic agents against such organisms as certain mammalian parasites with heavy reliance on glycolysis.


[Chemiosmotic mechanism of transport of biological macromolecules through bacterial membranes]. A general mechanism of the nucleic acids transport through bacterial membranes during genetic transformation, transfection, viral infection and bacterial conjugation, has been developed. The uptake of nucleic acid occurs due to the symport with H+ ions down to an electrochemical potential gradient ("minus" inside) generated by respiration or ATP hydrolysis within recipient cells. The nucleic acid anions of non--lethal viruses are extruded from the negatively charged host cell cytoplasm by electrostatic repulsion. The difference of electrochemical potentials between the conjugating cells cytoplasms is considered as a driving force for the transport of DNA from the donor to the recipient cell.


[Effect of storage conditions on the kinetic properties of myosin ATPase]. "Substrate inhibition", which has been described earlier for myosin Ca-ATPase in low ionic strength KCl solution [1], is found to take place also at high KCl concentration and under partial modification of enzyme thiol groups with p-CMB. "Substrate inhibition" disappeared when increasing Ca2+ concentration up to 25-40 mM. These kinetic properties are characteristic for fresh isolated enzyme and myosin preparations stored in 0.5 M KCl. They may change under storage of enzyme preparations at higher KCl concentrations: no "substrate inhibition" is observed after 6-8-day storage of myosin preparations in 3 M KCl at the presence of 4-5 mM CaCl2. The data on optical rotation dispersion and analytical ultracentrifugation have shown that the storage of myosin in 3 M KCl is accompanied by structural changes of the protein.


The use of velour as a vascular prosthesis. Knitted Dacron cloth fabricated into tubes has gained widespread acceptance as an arterial prosthesis. Continued research and development in the field of vascular prostheses is required because existing materials are not ideal. This paper relates general developments in vascular prosthesis research and focuses on specific results with Dacron velour materials. The nature of the velour surface offers several advantages that are important in designing a more satisfactory prosthesis.


Causal mechanisms of multiple acquired red cell enzyme defects in a patient with acquired dyserythropoiesis. A patient with an unclassified form of acquired dyserythropoiesis was found to have multiple defects in erythrocyte enzyme activity, involving especially pyruvate kinase (PK), glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI), and phosphofructokinase (PFK). The PK activity defect was associated with a normal concentration of PK-related antigen, and the enzyme could be reactivated during the procedure of partial purification of the enzyme. The concentration of GPI-related antigen was as reduced as the GPI enzymatic activity, and the defect was not improved by any treatment (cross-incubation of red cells or treatment of the hemolysate by SH reagents); the residual enzyme had a normal stability to heat, and a normal electrophoretic and electrofocusing pattern. The PFK activity defect was not improved either by cross-incubation of red cells or by treatment with SH reagents. Immunologic data with antimuscle and antileukocyte antisera seemed to indicate that the defect involved especially the muscle-type subunit of erythrocyte PFK. In agreement with this assumption was the fact that deficient PFK was markedly more inhibited by ATP than normal enzyme. Changes similar to those of deficient PFK herein studied were noted for PFK of unfractionated erythrocytes from premature newborns or of "old" erythrocytes from full-term infants. It appeared that each of the three enzyme defects detected in the patient could be due to a different mechanism, involving post-translational changes, decreased synthesis, and possible reversion of the genetic regulation mechanisms of the abnormal erythroid precursors toward a fetal type. The possible relationships between these various phenomena and the nature of a hypothetical common underlying cause are discussed.


Mechanisms involved in enhancement of plasma fibrinolytic activity by chloroform. The effects of a single 1-min extraction with chloroform (CHCl3) on plasma fibrinolytic activity has been examined by 125I-fibrin solid phase assay, using normal plasma and plasma depleted of plasminogen (PLG) by lysine-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Fibrinolytic activity of normal plasma is increased (40%-175%), and more than 95% of antiplasmin activity is removed. The increase is demonstrable in PLG-depleted plasma, and is not inhibited by tranexamic acid (0.01 M). Purified PLG is not activated to plasmin by ChCl3 treatment. Bio-Gel A 0.5 m fractionation of CHCl3-extracted, PLG-depleted plasma reveals fractions with the following activities: (1) streptokinase-activatable, PLG-independent fibrinolytic activities; (2) PLG activator activities; and (3) plasmin-stimulated but PLG-independent fibrinolytic activities, which include activities inhibited by hexadimethrine bromide and which cofractionate in part with plasmin-stimulated procoagulant activities. In addition, similar fractionation of nonextracted plasma reveals two non-plasmin fibrinolytic activities (approximately 30,000 and 13,000 daltons) activated by streptokinase and plasmin, respectively. The findings indicate that the enhanced fibrinolytic activity resulting from CHCl3 treatment is independent of plasmin as the ultimate fibrinolytic enzyme, although activities stimulated by plasmin may contribute, and that such treatment is a useful maneuver for study of PLG-dependent and PLG-independent fibrinolytic mechanisms, and their interactions.


Fetal cervical hypertension in breech presentation. A review has been made of Down's syndrome patients who were radiographed as fetuses and the majority were found to be in abnormal postures, often "star gazing". Further review of "star gazing" fetuses showed that two of eight were normal and the rest were abnormal. Hypotonia was a frequent association.