[Phage typing and lysogen typing of Staphylococcus aureus]. A comparison was made between the results of phage and lysogenic typing of S. aureus strains isolated during several outbreaks of staphylococcal infection and S. aureus cultures isolated from the same carriers at different periods. The study of the groups of strains having the same origin showed that the differences in the number of reactions were more pronounced in lysogenic typing than in phage typing. For this reason lysogenic typing can be recommended only for the identification of those strains which cannot be identified with the use of the phages of the International Basic Set. The results of the experiments with induced phages proliferating in a restriction-defective strain indicated that restriction and modification were mainly responsible for the specificity of lytic reactions.


[Determination of sero- and biovariants of foreign and Soviet strains of Yersinia enterocolitica]. The results of the typing of the biochemical and serological variants of Yersinia enterocolitica strains from the USSR (10 strains) and other countries (32 strains) are presented. Most of these strains, belonging to biovars 1 and 5, could be determined with the use of the antigenic scheme which was proposed by Knapp only for biovars 2, 3 and 4. The strains isolated in Leningrad and in the Far East were found to belong to serovars 6,30; 7,8; 12,25 and 5B according to the scheme proposed by Wauters; of these, the last one corresponds to serovar IV in Knapp's scheme.


[Immunomorphologic study of experimental enteric anc combined vaccination against cholera]. As a result of the enteral and combined subcutaneous-enteral immunization of adult rabbits with cholerogen toxoid and the specific fraction of chemical cholera vaccine in tablets immunological transformation occurred in the organism and a "protective" barrier consisting of antibody-containing cells was formed in the intestine on days 3-5. The combined method of immunization with cholera vaccine proved to be essentially as effective as enteral immunization in 2 administrations.


[Suppressing action of splenic cells on macrophage phagocytic activity]. The culture media withdrawn from 18-hour cultures of live spleen cells suppressed the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in mice. The level of suppression, as estimated for an equal number of spleen cells, varied in individual animals, which seemed to be connected with the level of normal infection in the animals. In the process of development of Ehrlich's carcinoma in mice suppressors were produced in the spleen in an increased amount, but only in connection with the total increase in the number of spleen cells, and not due to the selective accumulation of suppressor cells.


[Scintigraphy in cardiomyopathy].

[Scintigraphy in cardiomyopathy]. The function of the right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV) was evaluated in 32 patients with congestive cardiomyopathies (COCM), 10 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and 21 normal subjects (N). In all these patients myocardial perfusion was analysed using quantitative 201 Tl myocardial perfusion imaging. In COCM parameters of RV and LV performance were significantly reduced (p less than 0.01); regional wall motion analysis revealed a reduced radial shortening ability. Regional Tl-distribution was not different in COCM and N; however, relative Tl-uptake was significantly reduced (p less than 0.05). 80% of all patients with COCM showed the RV free wall on Tl-perfusion scintigrams. These scintigraphic aspects allow a noninvasive differentiation of a disturbed LV function and the classification of coronary and primary myocardial etiology. In patients with COCM the scintigraphically determined thickness of septum and free wall of LV was increased as compared to N (p less than 0.05). The ratio septum/lateral wall of LV averaged 1.3 +/- 0.20. Quantitative analysis of regional Tl-uptake revealed increased segmental relative Tl-uptake. In the majority of patients there was a disproportionate septal hypertrophy on the gated blood pool scan in LAO. These radionuclide techniques allow a dynamic two-dimensional evaluation of the interventricular septum and the LV.


[Vagus mediated elevation of respiratory resistance in patients with acute myocardial infarction]. Changes in pulmonary function have been reported in patients after uncomplicated myocardial infarction, with reduction in lung volumes and flow rates. The significant increase in oscillatory resistance and impedance of the lung, was seen on the first day after myocardial infarction. The application of ipratropiumbromid, an anticholinergic broncholytic agent, significantly decreased oscillatory resistance and impedance, on the first day, but not to the same extent, after the fourth day. The reduction of oscillatory resistance and impedance could be attributed to blockade of a vagal mediated bronchoconstriction, which predominantly affects the small airways. The observed changes in pulmonary function, could therefore not only be due to congestion with increase in extravascular pulmonary fluid, but in the acute phase of myocardial infarction, also due to a reflex mechanism in which vagal mediated bronchoconstriction is demonstrated.


Thymus actin: preparation and characterization. A combination of the C-gamma alumina adsorption technique of Lindberg, U. Skoog, L. 1970. Eur. J. Biochem. 13 326-335 with the traditional actin purification procedure (polymerization-depolymerization) yielded a simple method for the preparation of actin from fresh or acetone-dried thymus tissue. Actin obtained by this procedure from thymus was homogeneous and comigrated with skeletal actin in SDS gel electrophoresis. In isoelectric focusing it was shown to contain beta and gamma actin. Thymus actin polymerized poorly or not at all. It was native, however, as judged from its DN-ase I inhibiting activity which equalled that of skeletal actin. It also activated skeletal myosin ATP-ase but to a lesser extent than skeletal actin. On addition of HMM to thymus G actin, decorated filaments formed abundantly.


The mechanism of release of hepatic enzymes in various liver diseases. II. Altered activity ratios of GOT to GPT in serum and liver of patients with liver diseases. The activities of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLD) were determined in liver biopsy specimens and sera of patients with various liver diseases. Mitochondrial and cytosol isozymes of GOT were also separated for their assay. The activity ratio of GOT/GPT in serum was found to reflect the ratio in liver cytosol. The increased ratio in advanced or severe liver diseases, such as liver cirrhosis, was due to the greater decrease in liver cytosol GPT activity, this being pronounced in primary hepatoma. The activity of GLD decreased similarly but less markedly. The relatively greater decrease in GPT compared with GOT in advanced liver diseases was not mainly due to leakage of the enzyme from the liver, but to a specific mechanism associated with hepatic injury or its progression. Other pathological conditions of the liver such as those in obstructive jaundice and alcoholic liver injury also appeared to result in reduced liver GPT activity, which was reflected in the serum as an increased GOT/GPT ratio.


The tumor-forming type of multiple myeloma. I. Biological behavior. A total of 45 cases of multiple myeloma has been followed up clinically during the period from 7 to 80 months. Out of these, six patients (13.3%) were diagnosed to be the tumor-forming type; they developed discrete tumor formation at the disease onset or during clinical observation. Biological behavior of these cases is briefly outlined. Histologically, five cases presented with well or moderately well differentiated plasma cells according to the grading made by Pasmantier and Azar. The remaining one case was poorly differentiated in cell maturity, and with electron and immunofluorescence microscopies, proved to be of plasmacytic nature.


Effects of vagotomy on feeding and defecation in guinea pigs. The effect of subdiaphragmatic vagotomy on food intake and defecation was studied in guinea pigs. Weights of food and feces were measured for at least three weeks after vagotomy. The weight of daily food intake and feces evacuated increased about 15 and 30% after vagotomy compared with controls whereas it did not change in sham operated animals. The weight of scybalum decreased after vagotomy although the number increased markedly. It was considered that an increase in food intake after vagotomy may result from blocking of satiety signals mediated by the vagus; moreover, that the increase in feces may depend on the enhancement of scybalum formation in the proximal colon resulting from increasing food intake and transportation of the larger amount of the contents after vagotomy.


Effect of glucose and oxygen on the structure of the plasma membrane of Staphylococcus aureus. The effects of glucose and oxygen on the formation of the plasma membrane of Staphylococcus aureus were studied. Phospholipids were consistent components of the membrane and were not affected by glucose or oxygen. Phospholipid fatty acids in cells grown in glucose containing media were rich in Ceven (C18, C20) fatty acid chains, whereas cells grown in glucose deficient media (normal broth) had anteiso Codd (C15,C17) fatty acid chains in place of Ceven chains. This may indicate increased membrane rigidity of the cells grown in glucose containing media. Cytochromes and ATPase were present in the membrane from cells grown in normal broth, but were deficient in the cells grown in glucose containing media. Polypeptide analysis of the membrane proteins showed a deficiency of the bands corresponding to these enzymes. They were not induced by the additionof oxygen to cells grown in glucose containing media. It was concluded that glucose was the dominant factor inhibiting the formation of these membrane enzymes.


Vectorcardiogram of complete right bundle branch block with left axis deviation by the Frank and Kimura systems. Vectorcardiogram (VCG) recorded by both the Frank and Kimura systems were examined in 45 patients with complete right bundle branch block (RBBB) and left axis deviation (LAD) to investigate the relationship seen on electrocardiogram (ECG) between RBBB with LAD and bilateral bundle. The sample included: 13 cases of type SI, SII, SIII, SaVF; 21 cases of type SI, SII, SIII, aVF; and 11 cases of types SI, SII, SIII. VCG recorded by the Frank system were classified into seven types according to the QRS loop pattern on the frontal plane and into three types according to the horizontal plane. The main findings were: (a) In the Frank system the QRS loop in the frontal plane showed a variety of patterns in RBBB with LAD. (b) On VCG of complete RBBB judged complicated by a left anterior hemiblock by the Frank system, the main portion of the QRS loop extended to the left superior or merely to the left in the frontal plane. The direction of rotation and position on the horizontal plane were not consistent. (c) The results of this study suggest the usefulness of the Kimura system as an auxiliary diagnostic technique.


Tumor induction in Swiss mice by filtrable agent and Salmonella typhimurium. Combined inoculation of a cell-free extract of leukotic tissue of D103 mice and Salmonella typhimurium into adult Swiss mice induced leukosis and solid tumors. The induced solid tumors were histologically multifarious, and were transplantable in Swiss mice, but not in other strains of mice.


Preparation of anti-rat albumin antiserum and its application to radioimmunoassay. Albumin was highly purified from a commercially available rat albumin preparation (Fraction V) using disc electrophoresis. The purified albumin had the same antigenicity as Fraction V. A monospecific anti-rat albumin rabbit serum was obtained. The antiserum was used in a double antibody quantitative method for determining rat albumin.


Changes of prekallikrein in the cases with disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome. Changes of prekallikrein in the cases with DIC were investigated, i.e., DIC cases including disseminated metastasis of gastric cancer, acute promyelocytic leukemia and endotoxin shock. Therefore, the trigger substances for this paper were the pathologic cells of the leukemia, the cultured well differentiated adenocarcinoma cells and endotoxin. (1) The lysates of the pathologic cells of the leukemia and the cultured cells showed prekallikrein activation. Endotoxin showed prekallikrein activation via factor XII. (2) Serine proteases (factor Xa, thrombin, plasmin and trypsin) activated prekallikrein in the plasma and the purified prekallikrein. (3) Antithrombin III, aprotinin and FOY inhibited prekallikrein activation. Antithrombin III was promoted by heparin in its inhibitory effect.


Sodium-independent, high-affinity binding of [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid in human neurological disorders. With respect to [3H]GABA-binding in material prepared from human post-mortem brain, the following observations have been made: (1) The [3H]GABA binding site in the cerebellum has the pharmacological characteristics of the physiological GABA-receptor observed in other species. Together with the post-mortem stability exhibited for [3H]GABA-binding, this provides an approach for determining the functional state of the GABA-receptor in various disease states; (2) In Parkinson's disease [3H]GABA-binding in the substantia nigra is significantly decreased whereas that in the putamen and caudate nucleus is unaltered. The former finding likely indicates that GABA binding sites (receptors) occur on nigral dopaminergic cell bodies and/or dendrites. The latter finding may signify that relatively few of the striatal [3H]GABA binding sites occur on dopaminergic nerve terminals in the human caudate or putamen; (3) In Huntington's disease [3H]GABA binding was decreased in the caudate nucleus and putamen, in parallel wih the massive cell loss and gliosis observed in this condition. Membranes prepared from cerebellar tissue of these patients possessed an increased affinity for [3H]GABA-binding; (4) Pre-treatment of cerebellar membranes from control brains with Triton-X-100 (0.02%) or phospholipase-C (0.001 units) results in kinetic changes very similar to those observed in Huntington's brains. In contrast, such treatment was virtually without effect on the IC50 or KD for [3H]GABA on cerebellar membranes prepared from Huntington's brains; (5) These results imply that a phospholipid, possibly related to phosphoglycerolethanolamine, is altered in the membrranes of Huntington's patients and that this phospholipid normally has a role in controlling accessibility to the GABA-receptor.


Expectations of teachers for physically handicapped and normal first grade students. A descriptive study was conducted to determine whether teachers held different student role expectations for physically handicapped first grade students than they did for physically normal students. Contrary to predictions, results demonstrated that the teachers held statistically significantly higher expectations for the physically handicapped students. Such differences might be due to social desirability (responding in what appears to be a socially acceptable manner), or to a "haloing" of expectations for physically handicapped students. The teachers' inflated expectations could result in negative reactions toward handicapped students who do not demonstrate anticipated behaviors or live up to inflated expectations.


A new grouping of intrafusal muscle fibers based on developmental studies of muscle spindles in the cat. The development of muscle spindles was studied using the tenuissimus muscle of the cat. Observations show that the intrafusal muscle fibers develop as two separate groups: one group represented by a single nuclear bag fiber while the second group comprises the second nuclear bag fiber in association with all the nuclear chain fibers. This grouping is most pronounced in the fetus and is clearly seen in neonatal kittens (i.e., up to 2 weeks of age). As the intrafusal fibers begin to separate from each other, the groupings become less noticeable, although this basic pattern is often retained in the adult. The pattern of intrafusal fiber grouping is most noticeable in the equatorial regions of the spindle and least noticeable in the polar regions. This is not the grouping of fibers which would have been expected from a consideration of existing reports on muscle spindles. The implications for spindle form and function are considered.


Years of life lost due to Huntington disease. Many genetic diseases shorten the lives of people who have them. Hence, it makes sense to speak of years of life lost due to cystic fibrosis or sickle-cell anemia or numerous other genetic disorders. In conventional practice, years of life lost is calculated for causes of death only, but a genetic disease is better understood as a risk-altering state or condition: it acts not at the time of death only but from birth onwards. Therefore, we must reformulate the concept of years of life lost before applying it to genetic conditions. This has already been done for congenital genetic diseases. This paper extends the reformulation to diseases with delayed onset. Huntington disease (HD) is used as an example.


The questionnaire to parents of children with the Down syndrome: how to inform the parents and psychological responses to counseling. This study determined the experience of 137 sets of parents when they were informed that their child had Down syndrome and how they would have preferred this matter to have been handled. The survey revealed that the majority of parents would have preferred being told as soon as possible, with both of them present, and that they had suspected something wrong at the birth of the child. This information prompted us to analyze critically the parental experiences and to formulate a positive approach, with sensitive, supportive, and progressive counseling.


Laparoscopic sterilization with the spring clip: instrumentation development and current clinical experience. Since the original spring clip sterilization studies were reported, a number of clinically important modifications to the spring clip and applicator have been developed. The spring-loaded clip, manufactured by Richard Wolf Medical Instruments Corporation of Chicago, Illinois, and Rocket of London, Inc., London, England, and New York, New York can be applied with either a one- or two-incision applicator and the clips and applicators currently available incorporate improvements to the original prototypes in design, manufacture, and quality control. The two-incision applicator is associated with significantly fewer misapplications and the high pregnancy rates reported with the original clip and applicator have not occurred with the current designs. Comparative studies between the clip and band have revealed less operative bleeding and pain associated with the clip. The method is appropriate to all women requesting sterilization but especially to those in the younger age group who may subsequently request reversal because of divorce and remarriage.


Augmented aftercontractions in papillary muscles from rats with cardiac hypertrophy. Paired-pulse stimulation induced larger aftercontractions in papillary muscles from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) than from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). To determine whether aftercontraction exaggeration is a general characteristic of hypertrophied cardiac muscle, three models were examined: SHRs, deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-treated rats, and aorta-constricted rats. Responses of pipillary muscles from hypertrophied hearts tested under conditions conducive to aftercontraction generation were compared to pipillary muscles from WKY or sham-treated controls, respectively. Field-stimulated papillary muscles mounted in an oxygenated temperature-controlled physiologic salt solution were exposed to calcium concentrations of 2.5 and 5.0 mM, and temperatures of 27 degrees C and 17 degrees C. Although testing conditions influenced the contractile responses to single stimuli, there was no difference in active tension, time to peak tension, or one-half relaxation time between the three experimental groups and their respective controls. Paired-pulse stimulation induced aftercontractions that were enhanced in high-calcium and low-temperature solutions. Under these conditions, papillary muscles from hypertrophied hearts developed larger aftercontractions than did their respective controls.


Shunt nephritis: demonstration of diphtheroid antigen in glomeruli. A 23-year-old girl with a ventriculo-atrial shunt presented with hematuria, proteinuria and severe oedema. Diphtheroid organisms were cultured from blood, cerebrospinal fluid and the shung valve. Immunoglobulin, complement components and diphtheroid antigenic material were demonstrated in the glomeruli by immunofluorescence microscopy. Treatment of her shunt infection by shunt replacement and antibiotic therapy resulted in slow resolution of her nephritis. The slow resolution of her nephritis suggests that prompt resolution of immune complex disease due to prolonged bacterial injection cannot always be anticipated, even after successful eradication of infection.


Increased passive stiffness of short-term pressure-overload hypertrophied myocardium in cat. The passive stress-strain relationship of right ventricular papillary muscles from 10 normal and 9 experimental cats with short-term pressure-overload right ventricular hypertrophy-failure was examined by plotting the logarithm of instantaneous stress (ln sigma) against the natural strain calculated as ln(l/l0) where l = instantaneous length and l0 = length at zero force. Such a stress-strain relationship was well approximated by a linear relationship. The slope K obtained from this linear relationship was higher in the hypertrophy-failure muscles (normal, 15.01 +/- 0.87 (SEM); hypertrophy-failure, 31.79 +/- 4.09; P less than 0.005). The value of the intercept, ln C was similar in the two groups (normal, -4.33 +/- 0.20; hypertrophy-failure, -4.71 +/- 0.10). This analysis indicates the the ln sigma-natural strain relationship is linear in the papillary muscle and the slope of this relationship, an index of stiffness, is increased in hypertrophy-failure muscles. Using a three-element muscle model, it is shown that increased diastolic stiffness may contribute to the decreased systolic performance.


Abnormal keratan sulphate excretion.

Abnormal keratan sulphate excretion. Simple methods for the detection of keratan sulphate in urine have been applied to over 300 urine samples collected from children and adults with bone and cartilage dysplasias with or without mental retardation. Abnormal keratan sulphate excretion, which is a feature of type IV mucopolysaccharidosis (Morquio syndrome), is found in patients with that condition only during childhood. Abnormal excretion is also a feature of Kniest dysplasia and GM1 gangliosidosis and may be present in a number of other bone and cartilage dysplasias of unknown aetiology.


Correlation studies of morphological and biochemical parameters in human ejaculate in various andrological diagnoses. 3rd report. Correlations between morphological and biochemical parameters. The result of a study of correlations between morphological and biochemical parameters in human ejaculate is presented in conclusion of an extensive study of these parameters. Basing on these results, for which a statistical significance of p less than 0.05 was calculated, it can be stated that higher fructose concentrations are associated with lower sperm density; at the same time, the higher fructose concentrations correlate with a higher percentage of non-motile and of pathologically changed spermatozoa. Similar associations can be established for certain substrates which result from fructolysis. The possibility of diffusion of enzymes from the cellular components must be considered as regards the increased activities of PGK, PGI and ATPase in seminal plasma in the presence of greater sperm density. Reliable conclusions about associations between morphological characteristics and enzyme activities can be expected in the future from appropriate measurements in the cellular elements (spermatozoa, round cells) of the ejaculate. The study results provide a further insight into the biochemistry of seminal plasma and into the associations between morphological and biochemical parameters in the ejaculate.


Huntington's disease: abnormality of lymphocyte capping. Concanavalin A-induced lymphocyte capping was studied in 30 patients with Huntington's disease (HD) and 39 controls. A significant decrease in lymphocyte capping was seen in the 24 patients with HD less than 60 years of age compared to 25 age-matched controls (p less than 0.01); above age 60, differences between patients with HD and controls were not significant. These findings lend support to previous observations that generalized membrane abnormalities are present in patients with HD. Studies of HD lymphocyte capping may permit a detailed analysis of membrane function in cells that are readily obtained from living patients.


[Heart valve prostheses in children with reference to 95 cases]. Over a 10 year period, 95 children aged 15 years and less underwent replacement of one or several of their heart valves, usually by a Starr-Edwards ball prosthesis. The predominant pathology was rheumatic heart disease and the most commonly affected valve was the mitral. Severe symptomatology, heart failure, cardiomegaly and high wedged-capillary and pulmonary arterial pressures were practically constant findings. Operative mortality was low (3.2%) and the long-term mortality was 10 patients. With an average follow-up of 40 months, results were excellent in the great majority of patients, with complete regression of symptoms, cardiomegaly and high capillary and pulmonary arterial pressures. Anticoagulant therapy was not systematic and only half the series were so treated. Thromboembolic complications were rare, 5.5% patients, but only affected those without anticoagulant therapy. The problems of evolving rheumatic disease and, above all, of tricuspid incompetence, the persistence of which after surgery on the mitral valve seems to be a sign of advanced myocardial damage, are discussed.


[New data on the ambiguous nature of the effects of exogamy on human growth processes]. Growth peculiarities were followed in children of pre-school and school age (Ukrainians from Dnepropetrovsk Region, Kumyks, and Avartses from Dagestan, Tadjiks, Usbeks and Kirghizes from Middle Asia) with a special reference to exogamy estimated both by the presence or absence of relationship between their parents and by the distance between their birthplaces denoted as 0, I and II degrees of exogamy (DE). In every ethnic groups investigated with transition from 0 to DE to 1 DE increase in growth activity was noted. Transition from 1 DE to 11 DE in Ukrainians, Kirghizes and Usbeks was accompanied by some decrease in growth activity, while in Kumyks and Avartses it remains at the same level. The differences noted could be explained by various demographic conditions in population of the regions studied. As the studies demonstrated in Ukrainian children, activation in growth processes in the population with 1 DE is followed by the appearance of some peculiarities in dermatoglyphics and odontoglyphics which were absent in children with 0 DE and 11 DE. The data obtained demonstrate a certain role of genetic factors in developmental acceleration displaying at a moderate degree of exogamy.


[Radiology in the diagnosis of Goodpasture's syndrome]. Radiology has an important part to play in Goodpasture's syndrome. The radio-sympatomatological value of lung changes are clarified and subdivided into primary, secondary and mixed, and mention made of the possible significance of cardiomegaly, where present. Special attention is paid to the importance of radiological exploration of the kidneys for the recognition of changes whose concomitance with lung changes may suggest diagnosis of Goodpasture's syndrome.


Calcium ion-dependent adenosine triphosphatase activity and plasma-membrane phosphorylation in the human neutrophil. A plasma-membrane fraction was isolated from a post-nuclear extract of human neutrophils by centrifugation through a linear sucrose density gradient. This fraction exhibited a Ca2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity that could be differentiated from mitochondrial or myosin ATPase and from plasma-membrane Mg2+-dependent ATPase. When assayed in the presence of [gamma-32P]ATP, the Ca2+-dependent ATPase reaction resulted in the formation of an acid-resistant hydroxylamine-sensitive bond between the gamma-[32P] phosphate group and a membrane protein subunit with an apparent mol.wt. of 135000. Half-maximal activating effect of Ca2+ was found at 82nM and 0.18 microM for the ATPase and the formation of the 32P-membrane complex respectively. Generation of the phosphorylated product attained the steady state at 0 degrees C by about 30s, and was rapidly reversed by ADP. These results suggest that the Ca2+-activated ATPase reaction occurs through the formation of a phosphoprotein intermediate, similar to that described for some Ca2+-dependent ATPase enzymes associated with Ca2+ transport. The possibility thus exists that the neutrophil Ca2+-dependent ATPase catalyses a process of Ca2+ extrusion from the cell, thereby participating in the regulation of several Ca2+-dependent neutrophil functions.


Glycogen synthesis by hepatocytes from diabetic rats. Hepatocytes prepared from streptozotocin- and alloxan-diabetic rats starved for 24 h contain 0.5--2% wet wt. of glycogen. Glycogen synthesis in the hepatocytes from such rats, after prior depletion of the glycogen by glucagon injection, was studied. As distinct from cells from normal animals, there was no glycogen synthesis from glucose as sole substrate, even at concentrations of 60 mM. When supplied with glucose, a gluconeogenic precursor (lactate, dihydroxyacetone or fructose), and with glutamine there was concurrent synthesis of glucose and of glycogen. Without glutamine there was little or no glycogen synthesis. The rate of glycogen formation was in the same range as for cells from control rats. Glutamine addition markedly activated glycogen synthase in cells of starved diabetic rats, but there was no effect on phosphorylase. We obtained very little synthesis of glycogen with hepatocytes from fed diabetic rats, whereas with normal animals, synthesis by such cells equals or exceeds that obtained from starved rats. The conversion of synthase b (inactive) into the active form was studied in rat liver homogenates. The activation of the synthase in cells from starved diabetic rats is somewhat less than that from normal animals, but that from fed diabetic rats is markedly decreased compared with that in livers of fed control animals or that of starved diabetic animals.


Analysis of vasodilatory action of a new nitroester agent, 2-nicotinamidoethyl nitrate (SG-75). Effects of 2-nicotinamidoethyl nitrate (SG-75) on cardiovascular system were investigated using whole animals and isolated vascular smooth muscles of dogs and rabbits. In dogs in vivo SG-75 i.v. produced dose-dependent falls in systemic blood pressure (SBP) concomitant with increases in heart rate (HR). Hypotension by SG-75 was not affected by propranolol and atropine but slightly inhibited by diphenhydramine. Norepinephrine (NE) dose-dependently increased SBP, and SG-75 could not affect these effects of NE. In dog coronary arterial strips contracted with potassium, SG-75 produced a dose-dependent relaxation of these strips. These effects of SG-75 were not affected by propranolol and atropine, but slightly inhibited by diphenhydramine. NE dose-dependently increased the tension of helical strips prepared from rabbit femoral artery, rabbit aorta and dog coronary artery. But SG-75 could not alter these effects of NE. The results suggest that SG-75 may have not an adrenergic beta-receptor stimulating action, a muscarinic action and an adrenergic alpha-receptor blocking action, but an inconsiderable histamine-like action. Probably, a main action of SG-75 may be a nitroglycerin-like action.


Effect of Diazepam at the neuromuscular junction. A clinical study. In patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia diazepam 0.16 mg kg-1 had no effect on mechanical twitch height of the adductor pollicis muscle of the thumb when the ulnar nerve was stimulated at the wrist. The muscle responses were evoked by single, repeated supramaximal stimuli at 0.2 Hz and "train-of-four" stimulation at 2 Hz for 2 s. Diazepam 0.16 mg kg-1 had no effect on the depth or recovery of neuromuscular blockade produced by suxamethonium, tubocurarine, pancuronium, fazadinium or alcuronium.


Regurgitation during pelvic laparoscopy. In two of 93 fasting patients undergoing gynaecological laparoscopic procedures, there was evidence of gastric regurgitation to the pharynx. It is suggested that prophylactic measures should be taken in such patients to avoid the acid aspiration syndrome.


Impaired regulation of erythrocyte autoantibody production after splenectomy. C3H mice were given 4 i.p. injections, eac of 2 X 10(8) WAG rat RBC, at weekly intervals. The production of erythrocyte autoantibodies elicited by the cross-reacting rat RBC was assessed using the average direct Coombs' test (DCT) score. Autoantibody production reached higher levels and persisted significantly longer in mice splenectomized 15 days before the first injection of rat RBC. This increased production of autoantibodies was not prevented by injecting each splenectomized mouse i.v. with 5 X 10(7) syngeneic spleen cells immediately after splenectomy. Similarly, splenectomy of mice already DCT+ significantly prolonged autoantibody production which was not prevented by injections of 10(8) cells prepared from the spleens removed at splenectomy. Transfer of spleen cells from mice already DCT+ to mice before the injections of rat RBC were started in the recipients caused a significant reduction in the amount of RBC autoantibodies produced. This suppression of autoantibody production was greater in unsplenectomized mice than in splenectomized mice. The results show that the spleen is involved in the regulation of these erythrocyte autoantibody responses. It is hypothesized that, in addition to the cellular component of the spleen, the splenic architecture and/or environment contributes to the regulation of autoantibody responses.


Thiamphenicol and lupus nephritis. II. The effects of giving the drug from weaning to NZBxOUW F1 hybrid female mice. Thiamphenicol at the rate of 50 mg/kg/day given to female NZBxOUW F1 hybrid mice from weaning and continuing throughout life resulted in a considerable extension of lifespan, although this was less than in mice given the same drug dosage from first antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity (Simpson, Aarons and Howie, 1979). Assessment of the changes in renal dysfunction and renal histology shows that thiamphenicol treatment did not prevent the development of immune complex glomerulonephritis although the rate of progression of the disease was slower than in untreated controls. Thiamphenicol failed to influence greatly the progressive anaemia which develops in these mice or to alter the pattern of ANA production. Although azotaemia developed in treated mice it was a terminal event. It was concluded that the action of thiamphenicol was to depress but not prevent immune complex formation possibly by impairing immunoglobulin formation although why immunofluorescent ANA formation remained unaffected is not understood.


Evaluation of carcinogenic effect of mineral oil used in the processing of jute fibres. To evaluate the carcinogenic activity of jute-batching oil (JBO), this substance was painted on the skin of ITRC mice up to 300 days. Initially hyper- and parakeratosis of the stratum corneum, acanthosis and spongiosis of the stratum Malpighii, hyperactivity of fibroblasts, and laying down of collagen fibres in the dermis were encountered at 100 days. This was followed by poor hair growth, acne formation and ulceration. As time passed, these animals partially adapted themselves to the oil-painting so that by 200 days hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis of the stratum corneum, as well as acanthosis and spongiosis of the stratum Malpighii, had almost disappeared. The ulcers healed and no more acne was visible; however, the baldness and loss of hair appendages persisted to 300 days. No carcinogenic changes in the skin or in the viscera of these mice were observed. On UV and IR spectroscopy no traces of any polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were found in the JBO sample. Mice, on the other hand, when painted with the known carcinogen 3,4 benzpyrene (BP), developed skin tumours, showing that the mice used in this study were not cancer-resistant. Also, when JBO was applied with BP, the time taken for tumour development in mice was shortened by about 4 weeks as compared to another group painted with the same dose of BP alone. This suggests a cancer-promoting activity which needs to be investigated further.


Bacterial flora of comedones.

Bacterial flora of comedones. Open comedones from thirty-eight patients with acne vulgaris on the face or back were compared for microbial flora. A total of eighty-three comedones from the face and sixty-three from the upper back were individually processed for quantitative bacterial analysis. The greatest difference between the flora of comedones at these two sites was that 44.6% of comedones from the back (compared to 9.6% from the face) harboured no aerobic cocci. The decreased prevalence of staphylococci in the lesions from the back reflects the relative absence of these organisms in isolated follicles from normal uninvolved skin of the back. The geometric mean count of anaerobes in comedones from the back was in the same range as the count found in isolated follicles in normal uninvolved skin in a previous study. This work supports the concept that the bacterial flora of comedones is an extension of the follicular flora and may be unrelated to the event of comedogenesis.


Pretibial myxoedema: stimulation of mucopolysaccharide production of fibroblasts by serum. We have shown that sera from normal individuals and from patients with pretibial myxoedema contain a factor which simulates mucopolysaccharide biosynthesis in normal human skin fibroblasts cultured in vitro. This factor was present in larger amounts in sera of patients with pretibial myxoedema. The role of growth stimulating factors in serum is reviewed and a hypothesis is put forward that the fibroblast stimulating factor is somatomedin and that its presence in increased amounts in thyroid disease may lead to pretibial myxoedema.


Warfarin skin necrosis. The role of factor VII. Necrosis of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue is a rare complication of therapy of with oral anticoagulants, and is related to the use of loading-dose regimes. Three cases are reported, and demonstrate that the principal histopathological feature is thrombosis within the subcutaneous vasculature. The effect of large doses of anticoagulant on the levels of the vitamin K dependent clotting factors provides a satisfactory model for the temporal sequence of events in this syndrome. The occurrence of intravascular thrombosis with low or absent levels of Factor VII indicates that the intrinsic clotting system is of primary importance in venous thrombosis. This complication of anticoagulant therapy is not seen if loading-dose regimes are avoided.


Regulatory properties of single-headed fragments of scallop myosin. Calcium control was studied in single-headed myosin and subfragment-1 (S1) preparations obtained by papain digestion of scallop myosin. Single-headed myosin, containing light chains in stoichiometric amounts, was calcium regulated; in contrast, the actin-activated Mg-ATPase of all S1 species lacked calcium sensitivity. Both regulatory and essential light chains were retained by S1 and single-headed myosin preparations provided divalent cations were present during papain digestion, although a peptide amounting to 10% of the mass was removed from regulatory light chains. The modified regulatory light chain retained its ability to confer calcium binding and restore calcium sensitivity to the ATPase of desensitized myofibrils. Regulatory light chains protected the essential light chains from fragmentation by papain. S1 bound regulatory light chains with a uniformly high affinity and appeared to consist of a single species. The results demonstrate that head to head interactions are not obligatory for calcium control, although they may occur in the intact myosin molecule, and suggest a role for the subfragment-2 region in calcium regulation of myosin.


Protein-lipid interactions. A nuclear magnetic resonance study of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2,Mg2+-ATPase, lipophilin, and proteolipid apoprotein-lecithin systems and a comparison with the effects of cholesterol. Deuterium Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra at 34 MHz (corresponding to a magnetic field strength of 5.2 T) have been obtained of a variety of protein-lipid systems containing specifically deuterated phospholipids. The following systems were investigated as a function of temperature: sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) complexed with 1-myristoyl-2-(14,14,14-trideuteriomyristoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC-d3) or 1,2-bis(16,16,16-trideuteriopalmitoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC-k6); human brain lipophilin complexed with DPPC-d6 or 1,2-bis(6,6-dideuteriopalmitoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC-6,6-d4); beef brain myelin proteolipid apoprotein (PLA) reconstituted with DMPC labeled as CD2 (or CD3) at one or more of positions 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, or 14 of the sn-2 chain. For purposes of comparison, spectra were also obtained for bilayers containing cholesterol (CHOL). The results show that proteins either disorder or have little effect on hydrocarbon chain order in membranes above the gel to liquid-crystal phase transition temperature (Tc) of the pure lipids. Cholesterol, however, causes a very large ordering of the hydrocarbon chains above Tc, but both cholesterol and protein prevent chain crystallization (by effectively disordering chain packing) immediately below Tc. No evidence for any ordered "boundary lipid" in association with protein was found above Tc, perhaps due to the rough nature of protein surfaces. Above Tc, exchange between free bilayer and protein associated lipid is fast on the time scale of the deuterium NMR experiment (greater than or similar to 10(3) s-1). We have also obtained proton-decoupled phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra at 60.7 MHz (corresponding to a magnetic field strength of 3.5 T) of DMPC, DMPC-AT-Pase, and DMPC-CHOL complexes. The results indicate that ATPase and CHOL CAUSE SMALL DECREASES IN 31P chemical shielding anisotropies but that in addition ATPase causes a four- to fivefold increase in 31P spin-lattice and Carr-Purcell spin-spin relaxation rates, suggesting the possibility of polar group protein-lipid interaction leading to increased correlation times in the region of the lipid phosphate head group.


Comparative analysis of chicken atrial and ventricular myosins. 1. Structural and enzymic properties of myosins from atrial and ventricular cardiac muscle of the chicken were investigated and compared with myosins from the fast skeletal pectoralis and the slow skeletal anterior latissimus dorsi muscle. 2. The Ca2+-ATPase activity, both in function of pH and [K+], of atrial myosin closely resembled that of the fast pectoralis myosin, whereas the enzymic properties of ventricular myosin were similar to those of slow skeletal myosin. 3. By sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis on gradient gel and two-dimensional electrophoresis, involving isoelectric focusing in the first dimension and SDS gel electrophoresis in the second dimension, no difference could be demonstrated in the light-chain pattern of atrial and ventricular myosin. Complete identity was also found between anterior latissimus dorsi and cardiac light chains. 4. Electrophoretic analysis of soluble peptides released by tryptic digestion of myosin and electron microscopic study of light meromyosin paracrystals showed significant differences between the heavy chains of atrial and ventricular myosins, as well as between the heavy chains of cardiac and skeletal myosins. 5. The results confirm previous immunochemical findings and provide direct biochemical evidence for the existence of a new, unique type of myosin in the chicken atrial tissue.


Effect of cardiac and skeletal tropomyosin on Mg2+-actomyosin ATPase. Tropomyosin, one of the proteins regulating the sarcomere, was prepared from pig heart and rabbit skeletal muscles. The effect of these two different tropomyosins was studied between 0.5 and 10 mM of Mg2+ at a constant ATP concentration (1 mM) on reconstituted actomyosin prepared from pig heart myosin and rabbit skeletal actin. Cardiac and skeletal tropomyosin both activated the ATPase at low Mg2+ concentrations and inhibited it above 3 mM. The pig heart and rabbit skeletal tropomyosins which contain two isomers, alpha alpha and alpha beta, respectively has very similar effects on actomyosin ATPase.


[Suppression of delayed hypersensitivity in mice receiving a massive dose of xenogeneic erythrocytes]. The injection of 6x109 sheep red blood cells to mice suppresses delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in situ and activates spleen cells which prevent sensitization of recipients. Preliminary thymectomy of donors and the treatment of cell suspensions with anti-T-globulin abolish suppression of DTH. Pretreatment of mice with low doses of cyclophosphamide (CY) enhances antibody formation and DTH. Higher doses of CY increase the DTH reaction but inhibit antibody formation. The data obtained allow to conclude that suppression of DTH is due to the activity of short-living, intensively proliferating cells of thymic origin and possibly to B cells.


[Functional morphology of the submandibular salivary glands of white rats during aging involution]. Functional morphology of different zones of submandibular glands of albino rats was studied quantitatively with due regard for the stages of neuroendocrine system involution. It is shown that function of salivary glands during ageing is not altered; cyclic fluctuations with estral cycle phases are maintained similarly to those in young animals. But the basal level of proteins and mucopolysaccharides is reduced, their mean levels being equal to the minimal level in young animals. On the other hand, activation of enzymes responsible for energy and transport processes takes place and their relationships change. The data obtained prove the relationship between salivary and endocrine glands and confirm the viewpoint that in early age involution disintegration occurs between different parameters of the functional activity of salivary glands rather than there take place changes in their function.


[Interaction between actin like protein of the brain and isolated synaptic vesicles]. It was shown that Mg-ATP increased light diffusion in the suspension of synaptic vesicles (SV) of the rat brain in the presence of actinolike protein (ALP) of the bovine brain (the superprecipitation test). ALP enhanced the activity of the SV Mg-ATPase and increased endogenic moradrenaline release from the bovine hypothalamus SV, eliminated by cutochalazine B. Glycolipids (gengliosides and cerebrosides) inhibited the superprecipitation test. The results are considered from the standpoint of a contractile hypothesis on the mediator secretion.


[Superficial origin of erythrocytic chalone in polycythemia in vitro]. It was shown in the culture of rat bone marrow cells in experimental polycythemia that the chalone activity of erythrocytic chalone considerably drops in the presence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The chalone inhibits the agglutinating activity of PHA with respect to bone marrow cells. Absorption of the chalone on the immobilized PHA leads to disappearance from it and of PAS-positive bands recorded electrophoretically and to a strong decrease in PAS-negative band intensity. Experiments with preliminary incubation of rat red cells before preparation of the chalone suggest that in the course of its preparation two polypeptides one of which is PAS-positive are released into the medium. It is suggested that the chalone includes superficial membrane proteins of red cells, possibly, in the form of a combination of PAS-positive and PAS-negative bands. Potential mechanisms of chalone release from the surface of cells and features of their action on the cells are discussed.


[Increased ATP-hydrolase activity of the brain mitochondria under the effect of aminazine (electron cytochemical study)]. The localization of Mg-stimulated ATPase activity was determined in the sensomotor cortex mitochondria of Wag rats after aminazin administration (15 mg/kg). Apart from normal mitochondria containing no reaction product, a number of altered mitochondria with different localization in them of the ATPase reaction product were recorded. The intact animals showed no sediment in the mitochondria. It is suggested that aminazin-induced increase in ATP-hydrolase activity is caused by two factors: neuroleptic-induced decrease in glycolytic and oxidative cell activity and increased permeability of mitochondrial membranes.


The early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. In a survey of 235 consecutive cases of ectopic pregnancy it was found that over 50 per cent were incorrectly diagnosed by the general practitioner and 36 per cent by a hospital doctor. Ten per cent of patients were sent home before the diagnosis was made. Over 30 per cent of patients were sent to general surgical wards and these patients had different characteristics from those sent to gynaecological wards. High risk patients can be identified from their past history. The increasing use of the laparoscope has been associated with earlier detection of ectopic pregnancy before the stage of rupture.


The effect of uraemia upon wound healing: an experimental study. Acute uraemia was induced in rats by performing a 70 per cent nephrectomy. Uraemia was shown to delay the healing of intestinal anastomoses and abdominal wounds in rats as judged by bursting strength tests. Cellular proliferation was depressed at wound edges but there was no reduction in the total amount of hydroxyproline present in the wounds. Fibroblast growth in tissue culture was affected by the addition both of uraemic plasma and of urea solution to the culture medium. The possible causes of these effects are discussed.


Controlled trial of mobilisation and manipulation for low back pain: hospital patients. Ninety-four patients with non-specific lumbar pain referred to hospital rheumatology and orthopaedic clinics participated in a double-blind controlled trial comparing mobilisation and manipulation with placebo physiotherapy. Results were assessed immediately after the tratment course, two months later, and at one year. Many patients showed improvement, but in contrast to a study on general-practitioner patients with nonspecific back pain no definite advantage could be associated with mobilisation and manipulation. The benefits of mobilisation and manipulation for low back pain are probably restricted to hastening recovery in patients likely rapidly to improve spontaneously. Hence patients whose severity and duration of symptoms warrant specialist referral are less likely to benefit from the technique.


[Demonstration by immunofluorescence of somatostatin cells in the islets of Langerhans in 3 species of monkeys]. Indirect immunofluorescence technique with anti-somatostatin serum has allowed us to detect somatostatin containing cells in the Langerhans' islets of three species of monkeys (Macacus irus, Papio hamadryas, Cercopithecus aethiops). These cells are in close relationship with another cells, but occupy a more central position in the islets. Thus, the distribution of somatostatin-containing cells in the monkey's endocrine pancreas has not a similar pattern as in rodent's pancreas; they have a comparable topography as in the human islets but these cells are always more elongated than in the human islets. Only slight morphological differences are observed in the three species of monkeys.


[In vitro anti-yeast activity of 1- and 2-propanols. Effect of the addition of polyethylene glycol 400]. The in vitro development of Candida albicans is inhibited in presence of 1-propanol and 2-propanol at minimum doses determined in the present work. For these inhibiting doses, associations with 400 polyethylene glycol which generally enhances yeast filamentation proved that this polyol is no longer able to maintain cellular development.


[Determination of the thermodynamic efficiency of isolated perfused tench heart (Tinca tinca L. Teleosteen)]. Mechanical power of tench isolated heart is obtained from values of stroke volume at constant hydrodynamic pressure. The total production of energy is measured by use of a calorimetric method and heart efficiency is calculated. The mean value of efficiency is 6.7% +/- 0.65 SEM in our experimental conditions.


[Effect of a tryptophan lead on the swine adrenal cortex reactivity and behavioral response to stress]. Behaviour and plasma corticosteroid levels were investigated in pigs preloaded with 50 to 200 mg/kg 1-tryptophan. The treatment did not influence reactions to frustation and had no effect on continuous avoidance responding. However the adrenal response to the stress of new environment concomitant with delivery of unavoidable shocks was decreased (fig. 1), as well as the behavioural response to a fear signal superimposed on a continuous avoidance paradigm (fig. 2). These results point out relatively specific psychotropic effects of a tryptophan load in pigs.


[Changes in cephalic and peripheral use of glucose and glutamine under the influence of hyperammonemia in rats]. Arterio-venous differences of glucose and glutamine were determined across the brain and across the hind limb in normal and ammonium salt infused rats, before and during an insulin tolerance test, in an attempt to study the effect of hyperammonemia on cephalic and muscular metabolism. The results demonstrate that 1) hyperammonemia reduces the hind limb uptake of glucose without affect the cephalic uptake of glucose which is lowered during hypoglycemia, 2) the reduction of the cephalic and muscular glutamine output induced by the hypoglycemia is masked in presence of an hyperammonemia. In conclusion, it may be assume that, at the concentration obtained in this study, hyperammonemia does not act directly in the pathogenesis of hepatic coma in which a decrease in cerebral glucose uptake described; on the other hand, ammonium plays an important role in the muscle metabolism.


[Behavioral alterations induced by post-natal exposure of the rat to lead]. The behaviour of rats exposed to various levels of lead acetate (0.5 ; 1 ; 2 and 4% in dam's diet) before weaning was recorded between 2 and 6 months of age. Higher locomotor and exploratory activities as well as better scores in active avoidance conditioning were observed in the 4% lead-treated rats. For lower doses, no behavioural alterations were recorded despite both detarded growth and increased mortality.


[Attempt at modification of the pharmacological and toxic effects of cocaine]. The increase in locomotor activity induced by cocaine (15 mg/kg, i.p.) in the mouse was antagonized by pretreatment with compounds which inhibited monoanimergic receptors such as phenoxybenzamine, chlorpromazine or methysergide. On the contrary, the lethal dose of cocaine in rats and mice was not reduced by these substances. These data suggest that monoamines are involved in mediating the motor activity of cocaine but not implicated in the toxic effect of the drug.


[Changes in the vitro membrane potential of cancer cells induced by contact with cytotoxic lymphoid cells]. Plasma membrane potentials have been measured in a cancer cell line at different stages of growth. A chamber has been especially built for pH control of the culture medium during several hours. Individual values spread widely from 14 to 44 mV but low measurements are less frequent after 3 days of culture when the growth rate is at a peak. The same cancer line is grafted serially in syngeneic C 57 bl mice were it induces an immunological sensitization of the lymphnode cells. The effect of such cytotoxic lymphocytes on the membrane potentials of the target tumour cell has been studied after a contact (15 to 90 minutes) too short for any morphological changes to be detectable. There is a decrease in the mean values and a very significant rise in percentage of measurements below 20 mV. No such changes are observed in control experiments where naïve lymphocytes are used. These results are discussed in relation to the hypothesis of an increased permeability of the plasma membrane to ions as an early event in cell mediated cytotoxicity.


[Inhibition of carrageenan edema by carrageenan itself]. The influence of two kinin forming agents: iota carrageenan and ellagic acid, on the paw oedema induced by 48/80, an amino-liberator, or by carrageenan iota, has been studied, in the Rat. Ellagic acid and carrageenan, by intraperitoneal injection, reduce the paw oedema induced respectively by 48/80 and carrageenan itself. This inhibition depends on a non-specific "counter-irritation" and not on kininogen stores depletion. Ellagic acid, by intravenous injection, diminishes the oedema induced by carrageenan; swelling due to 48/80, is not affected. So kininogen activation plays some role in the inflammatory processes induced by iota carrageenan. Carrageenan by intravenous injection, suppresses his own inflammatory action but does not influence at all the similar action of 48/80. The anti-inflammatory effect of carrageenan does not exclusively depend on kininogen stores depletion.


[Development of estradiol, progesterone, and prostaglandins E and F2 alpha levels during pregnancy in mice]. 17 beta estradiol, progesterone, prostaglandin E and prostaglandin F2 alpha were determined in the plasma of mice at different times of pregnancy. Estradiol displays a preimplantation peak on day 4. Other peaks are visible at the end of the implantation period (day 6) and on day 10. Progesterone increases when implantation begins (day 5). Prostaglandins increase at the beginning of pregnancy and decrease temporarily before implantation. Other peaks are also apparent for prostaglandin E on days 5.5 and 11.


[Kinetics of division of human and rabbit lymphocytes stimulated by phytohemagglutinin, studied by means of the bromodeoxyuridine (BUDR) technic]. The BUDR-Giemsa technique has been used to distinguish the first from later divisions for man and rabbit lymphocytes stimulated by treatment with phytohemagglutinin. At 48 hours, 99% of human lymphocytes exposed to 200 rads of X-rays are in first division whereas 45% of the rabbit lymphocytes are already in second division and 28% in third division.


[Incorporation of tritiated thymidine into testicular deoxyribonucleic acid of the rat. Effect of inhibin]. tritiated thymidine is incorporated into DNA of spermatogonia type B as proved by autohistoradiography when injected in vivo three hours before the sacrifice. Maximum binding and specific activity (labelled thymidine expressed in DPM per mg DNA) are obtained in pubertal rats aged 42 days and weighting 150 g. Inhibin preparation extracted from rete testis fluid (RTF3) specifically inhibits tritiated thymidine into testicular DNA. Thus, no modification of incorporation into hepatic DNA is observed and the preparation loses its inhibitory effect when denatured by heating and trypsin digestion. Tritiated thymidine incorporation into testicular DNA is poor in normal adult rats and in pubertal hypophysectomized animals, RTF3 does not modify the thymidine incorporation in both conditions. The reasons for this lack of effect are discussed. An experimental condition of spermatogonial regeneration is obtained by testicular irradiation. Inhibin preparation inhibits the regenerative DNA synthesis.


[Effect of horizontal immersion into water at 38 degrees C on the urinary elimination of catecholamines]. The urinary excretion of noradrenaline, adrenaline and creatinine has been studied in normal young individuals during a water bath at 38 degrees C for 40 minutes. The noradrenalinuria and the ratio noradrenalinuria/creatininuria are decreased, indicating an inhibition of the vasomotor activity of the orthosympathetic system. This inhibition is related to the consequence of the external hydrostatic pressure of the water filling the intrathoracic venous reservoirs and increasing the systemic blood pressure at the sino-baroreceptor level, hyperthermia playing a very limited role.


[Late effects of irradiation on the cerebral cortex ultrastructure of the rat]. The glial population balance is significantly disturbed by low dose X-rays even after a very short time following irradiation. The effects are able to persist for a large period of time and may possibly be involved in the onset of late radionecrosis phenomena, often noted as consequences of therapeutic irradiation in brain.


Effects of reserpine and p-chlorophenylalanine on the circadian rhythm of granulated vesicles in the pinealocytes of mice. The number of granulated vesicles in mouse pinealocytes exhibit a distinct circadian rhythm which is abolished by superior cervical ganglionectomy. Since melatonin treatment markedly effects the number of pinealocytic granulated vesicles, it was suggested that a relationship may exist between norepinephrine, melatonin, and the synthesis and/or secretion of pinealocyte granulated vesicles. The present study was undertaken in an attempt to clarify this relationship. Mice were housed in an environmental chamber under controlled lighting (12L/12D), and were treated with either reserpine, a drug which depletes serotonin and norepinephrine, or p-chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA), an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis. They were sacrificed at various times over a twenty-four hour period, and granulated vesicles present in the pinealocytes were quantitated in thin cross sections through pericapillary areas. Reserpine treatment resulted in a marked increase in the number of granulated vesicles during the dark, but led to a slight decrease during the photoperiod. Treatment with p-CPA produced no significant effect. The results of this study do not support our previous theory that melatonin plays an important role in the regulation of the pinealocyte secretory process, but instead points more directly to the significant role that norepinephrine has in controlling pinealocyte secretion.


Specificity of the bacteriophage lambda N gene product (pN): nut sequences are necessary and sufficient for antitermination by pN. We have cloned the nutR site together with the tR1 site of bacteriophage lambda in the E. coli galactose operon to examine whether the lambda promoter sequences PR and PL are involved in the recognition specificity of the lambda N gene product (pN). We first constructed a derivative of plasmid pBR322 in which the expression of the tetracycline genes (tet) is controlled by the gal promoter (Pgal). This new plasmid contains a unique Hind III site between Pgal and tet into which the nutR and tR1 sites were introduced. The order of the relevant genetic markers in this second plasmid is Pgal-nutR-tR1-tet. Cells transformed with this plasmid express tet only if pN is provided and if the plasmid contains an intact gal promoter. Our data suggest that transcription which originates at Pgal is modified by pN at nutR, enabling it to pass through tR1 into tet. We conclude that promoters do not play a specific role in pN recognition and that nut sequences are both necessary and sufficient for pN action.


Characterization of variant Neurospora crassa mitochondrial DNAs which contain tandem reiterations. Two variant mtDNA types ((types IIa and HI-10) have been identified in individual subcultures of the extra-nuclear [poky] mutant of Neurospora crassa. Eco RI digests of type IIa mtDNA are characterized by an extra band, alpha, Mr = 1.4 Mdal, which arises from tandemly inserted reiterations of a 1.4 Mdal sequence. Restriction enzyme analysis and Southern hybridization experiments show: that the 1.4 Mdal repeats are located at the junction of Eco RI-4 and -6, that the repeats contain sequences ordinarily present in Eco RI-4 and -6, that the repeats are oriented head-to-tail and that the number of repeats per molecule (n) varies from n = 0 to n = 8, with about half of the molecules containing no repeats. The 1.4 Mdal repeats appear to be actively mained in type IIa mtDNA populations as a result of a specific alteration in mtDNA. Data are presented which suggest that this alteration may be located near small deletions and/or sequence changes in Eco RI-3 and -10, fragments almost exactly opposite the site of the repeats on the genome. The second variant, HI-10 mtDNA, arose in a heteroplasmic strain in which type IIa mtDNA was one component. The most striking feature of HI-10 mtDNA is the up to 5-fold amplification of an 18 Mdal segment extending from Eco RI-4 (the site of the 1.4 Mdal repeats) through the rRNA genes. Eco RI digests show that HI-10 possesses characteristic features of type IIa mtDNA, including the 1.4 Mdal repeats and the alteration in Eco RI-10. HI-10 mtDNA also shows a novel Eco RI fragment, beta, Mr = 2.9 Mdal. The variant Neurospora mtDNAs may be generated by mechanisms analogous to those which give rise to defective mtDNAs of yeast petite mutants. The possible consequences of defective mtDNAs in obligately aerobic organisms are discussed.


[In vitro calcium binding by isolated brush border vesicles of rat jejunum and ileum]. A new procedure for isolation of the Rat jejunum and ileum brush border vesicles is described. Several calcium transport conditions have been established. A previous incubation with ATP induces an increased calcium binding. The role of a magnesium ATPase is discussed.


Bronchial asthma and dermatitis due to spiramycin in a chick breeder. A case of bronchial asthma and dermatitis due to spiramycin is described in a non-atopic woman who worked as a chick breeder and handling poultry feed containing antibiotic or chemoterapic drugs including spiramycin, chlortetracycline and sulfadimethoxine. Patch tests showed a vigorous delayed reaction to spiramycin. Inhalation challenge test with the chick feed containing spiramycin reproduced symptoms of late asthmatic response (FEV1 fell by 14% and FEF25-75 by 25% within the 4th and 6th hour) with leucocytosis. No significant modification of FEV1 and FEF25-75 was observed within 24 hours after challenge with chick feeds containing other antibiotic or chemotherapeutic agents but not spiramycin. On leaving her job, the patient had no further skin reactions or bronchial asthma episodes. This case suggests that allergic reactions to a chemical product may involve both type III and IV hypersensitivity.


Testicular function in post pubertal male pseudohermaphroditism. Testicular endocrine function was studied in twelve post pubertal patients with male pseudohermaphroditism and 46 XY chromosomal constitution. Patients were divided into three groups, four subjects who became feminized during puberty, five who became masculinized during puberty and three who were castrated before puberty. Serum dehydroepiandrosterone, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstendione, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, LH and FSH were determined by radioimmunoassay. Patients of the first group had the clinical characteristics of testicular feminization secondary to absence of the androgen receptor. One of the five patients of the second group had deficient testosterone secretion but no enzymatic defect could be demonstrated. One of the subjects castrated before puberty had a deficiency in 17,20-desmolase. Therefore, evidence of a failure of the fetal testes could be found in only two of the twelve patients studied.


Distribution and variation of thromboplastic and fibrinolytic activity of dacron aortic grafts. The distribution and variation of thromboplastic and fibrinolytic activity were studied in various layers of polyester grafts in the dog aorta. One, four and 36 months after implantation, these grafts were removed together with segments of normal arteries and veins and dissected into three layers. The thromboplastic and plasminogen activator activities in these layers were then determined. It was found that in the early post-operative period, the thromboplastic activity in the Dacron graft neointima is very high, whereas that of the plasminogen activator is relatively low. With the passage of time the thromboplastic activity decreases and plasminogen activator activity increases. Similarly the thromboplastic activity in the neomedial and neoadventitial layers of the graft falls as time elapses after the implantation and the fibrinolytic activity gradually increases. These changes in thromboplastic and fibrinolytic activity increase the danger of graft thrombosis in the early post-operative period whereas in the later period they are favourable to maintenance of graft patency.


Facial dermatitis following friction treatment of acne. A case report is presented herein of a twenty year old woman in whom an acute dermatitis of the face developed, which may have been caused by the use of a skin machine, possibly in combination with the use of a topical medication.


The sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus 79 and 80, and Escherichia coli 95 to sodium salicylate, nicotinaldehyde singly, and in combination with nicotinic acid or nicotinamide. Minimum bactericidal concentrations of salicylate, nicotinaldehyde singly, and in combination with nicotinic acid, or nicotinamide were determined for Staphylococcus aureus 79 and 80, and Escherichia coli 95, at inocula of 10(7)--10(2). The bactericidal dose of salicylate was affected markedly by the inoculum size. The bactericidal dose of nicotinic acid, or nicotinamide was affected only slightly by the size of the inoculum. Escherichia coli 95 was least affected by the inoculum size. Nicotinaldehyde is a far more bactericidal agent than is nicotinic acid, or nicotinamide; its bactericidal dose was approximately a tenth that of nicotinic acid, or nicotinamide. S. aureus 79 and 80 were affected synergistically by the combinations of nicotinic acid, or nicotinamide with salicylate. Nicotinaldehyde reduced the effectiveness of nicotinic acid, at all inoculum sizes, of S. aureus 79, while the reduction of effectiveness of nicotinamide was only found with inocula of 10(7)--10(5). At low inocula, 10(4)--10(2), an additive effect was demonstrated. S. aureus 80 was antagonistically affected, at all inoculum sizes, by the combination of nicotinaldehyde with nicotinamide, while with nicotinic acid a slight synergy was noted. In contrast, Escherichia coli 95 was antagonistically affected, at all inoculum sizes, by combinations of nicotinic acid, nicotinamide with salicylate, or nicotinaldehyde.


Factors contributing to impairment of the mixed lymphocyte reaction in leprosy. Whereas the mixed lymphocyte reaction was essentially normal in inactive lepromatous leprosy and tuberculoid leprosy, it was severely impaired in active lepromatous leprosy. The impairment was found to be contributed by certain unknown factors in their plasma and subnormal reactivity of their T lymphocytes. The plasma derived from active lepromatous leprosy patients depressed the reaction of normal cells and normal plasma enhanced the reaction of active lepromatous lymphocytes. The cellular factor was studied by using a one-way reaction in which one of the two lymphocyte preparations was inactivated with mitomycin C. The impairment of blastogenesis of active lepromatous lymphocytes was partially reversed by substituting inactivated normal cells for similarly treated leprous cells, and conversely the response of normal allogeneic lymphocytes was depressed by substituting inactivated leprous lymphocytes as the stimulator cells.


Initiation of DNA replication in chromosomes of Chinese hamster ovary cells. The initiation of DNA replication and the subsequent chain elongation were studied using Chinese hamster ovary cells synchronized at the beginning of S phase. The cells were synchronized by a combination of mitotic selection and treatment with 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FdU). The use of this drug at a concentration of 10(-5) M was found to effectively prevent the leakage of cells into S phase. Reversal of the FdU block by supplying thymidine resulted in the synchronous onset of initiation at multiple sites in each cell. The length of the nascent chains, as determined by autoradiography and velocity sedimentation in alkaline gradients, increased linearly with time during the first twenty minutes of S phase after release. We applied these procedures to study the effects of the length of an FdU block on the number of functional origins per cell, the rate of chain growth, and the rate of DNA synthesis per cell following reversal of the block. Although no change was noted in the rate of DNA synthesis in cells held at the beginning of S phase from 10.5 to 24 h after division, the rate of chain growth decreased from 0.94 to 0.28 microns per min. This decrease indicated that the number of functional origins increased markedly with length of FdU block. The calculated number of utilized origins per cell increased from 1,900 to 5,700. We also presented arguments that 1,900 origins per cell represents the approximate number of origins utilized by any cell held at the beginning of S phase for less than 10.5 h after division.


[Effect of pharmacological agents and coagulation of the n. raphe dorsalis on morphine effects]. The authors carried out studies on 96 female rats of Wistar strain and examined the influence of various pharmacological means and the coagulation of n. raphe dorsalis on cataleptic state, hyperthermia, and analgethic effect, induced by single administration of morphine. She found that LSD and preliminary treatment with parachlorphenylalanine caused enhancement of hyperthermic reaction to morphine. Acetyl-salicyliaccid had no effect on the hyperthermic reaction: dimenthydrinate and propranolol did alter it significantly, but cyproheptadine inhibited it. In respect to the cataleptic state, induced by morphine, she found that pharmacological means with various mechanism of action (parachlorphenylalatine, dimenhydrinate, cyproheptadine, propranolol and LSD) inhibited this states, but haloperidol enhanced it. She suggests that the hyperthermic reaction of morphine is due to, its action on serotoninergic neurones, regulating thermoregulation. She makes a guess that cataleptic state, induced by morphine, depends on the change in mediator interrelations (acethycholine, serotonine, dopamine). The lack of changes on the analhethic affect of morphine after coagulation of n. Raphe dorsalis, from which a part of accending serotoninergic pathways, supports the existing data in literature that both descending and accending serotoninergic pathways are of significance for analgethic action of morphine.


Inhibitory role of brain stem serotoninergic neuron system on thyroid function in rat. Thyroid function was investigated in adult male rats following the use experimental procedures which inhibit the activity of serotoninergic neuron system. Pharmacological blockade of the biosynthesis of sertonin by repeated administration of para-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA), or interruption (by Halász knife) of the serotoninergic pathways of the brain stem which terminate on hypothalamic nuclei equally resulted in an augmentation of the following parameters of hypothalamo-hypophysial-thyroid activity: T/S ratio, pituitary and blood TSH levels and blood thyroxine concentration as well as TRH content of the hypothalamus. The results suggest that the central nervous serotoninergic neuron system plays an inhibitory role in the regulation of TSH secretion, presumably acting upon the hypothalamus, thereby inhibiting hypothalamic TRH secretion.


Activation of Mg-ATPase (spectrin-dependent ATPase) by Ca2+. The dependence of saponin-stimulated Mg-ATPase activity in the erythrocyte membrane on Ca2+ concentration was studied. In the membrane of freshly sampled human erythrocytes we found for this enzyme and Ca2+ an apparent dissociation constant of 0.611  mumol/l (SE +/- 0.106 mumol/l) and Hill coefficient of 0.93 (SE +/- 0.05). The enzyme is in most probability identical with Ca,Mg-ATPase of high affinity to Ca2+ described also as spectrin-dependent Ca,Mg-ATPase.


Comparison between ATP-supported and GTP-supported phosphate turnover of the calcium-transporting sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes. The study deals with the interrelationship of the phosphate-transferring activities of the calcium-transporting sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane vesicles: the phosphate exchange between nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) and nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) (NTP-NDP exchange), the calcium-dependent NTase, and the phosphorylation of NDP by inorganic phosphate in the presence of NTP (NTP-Pi exchange). Different nucleotides were used as phosphate donors and acceptors. It is demonstrated for the phosphate transfer from ITP to GDP that the NTP-NDP exchange exhibits ping-pong kinetics with Mg-ITP and unliganded GDP as substrates. The apparent affinities of the enzyme for the nucleoside diphosphate and triphosphate species are deduced according to this mechanism. The enzyme's affinity for the nucleoside triphosphates and diphosphates depends on its functional state being considerably lower under conditions of NTP-NDP exchange than during NTP splitting or NTP synthesis. ATP and GTP are split with the same low rates when calcium-activated NTPase is inhibited by high internal calcium concentrations after calcium transport has reached steady state. The rates of the NTP-NDP exchange reactions, however, differ by a factor of about 10 being approximately equal to 3 mumol . mg-1 . min-1 for ATP-ADP and only approximately equal to 0.3 mumol . mg-1 . min-1 (22 degrees C) for GTP-GDP. When the sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles are made calcium-permeable, the calcium transport ATPase is turned on and the rates of GTP and ATP splitting increase about tenfold. Yet, while the rate of ATP-ADP exchange is little reduced, the rate of GTP-GDP exchange drops by approximately 50%. The persisting exchange activity of calcium-permeable vesicles demonstrates that high internal calcium concentrations are not required for the transfer of the protein-bound phosphoryl group to NDP during NTP-NDP exchange.


Subcellular calcium localization and AT0-dependent Ca2+-uptake by smooth endoplasmic reticulum in an invertebrate photoreceptor cell. An ultrastrucutral, cytochemical and X-ray microanalytical study. In Hirudo medicinalis an extensive and highly elaborate three dimensional network of smooth endoplasmic reticulum cisternae is found in very close structural relationship to the receptive (microvillar) membrane, as reported for many other invertebrates. A variant of the potassium pyroantimonate technique showed that these submicrovillar endoplasmic reticulum cisternae (SMC) and mitochondria are major intracellular calcium stores. Furthermore, using saponine-skinned photoreceptors for an in situ accumulation experiment, calcium oxalate precipitates in SMC demonstrate that this organelle is able to accumulate Ca2+ from a concentration of 2 x 10(-5) M, when ATP, Mg2+, and oxalate ions are present in the accumulation medium. This result provides direct evidence for the hypothesis that SMC may play a particularly important role in the regulation of intracellular ionized calcium in invertebrate photoreceptor cells. Morphological evidence supports this view.


Variations in serum androgens, estrogens, progestins, gonadotropins and prolactin levels in male rats from prepubertal to advanced age. The concentrations of blood serum steroids from 12 to 450 days old male rats were determined by radioimmunoassay. Testosterone (T) was low (270 pg to less than 1 ng/ml) until day 42; adult levels (3--4 ng/ml) were attained by day 62 and declined tradually with advanced age. 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5 alpha-DHT) did not change markedly (90--160 pg/ml) from prepubertal to advanced age. Except for a small peak on day 22, androstenedione (delta 4 A) levels ranged between 400-500 pg/ml in the adult but declined in older males. Progesterone (delta 4 P) rose steadily to a mean of 5.46 ng/ml at 52 days of age and dropped thereafter. High levels of estrone (268 +/- 38 pg/ml) and estradiol-17 beta (2.76 +/- 0.28 ng/ml) in 12 days old males are in contrast to the low estrogens (20-35 pg/ml) in adult animals. Both T/5 alpha-DHT and total T/estrogen ratios were low before puberty, increased in adults and decreased towards old age. The interplay between gonadotropin and prolactin, which exhibited reciprocal changes in the regulation of steroid production by the gonads with age, are discussed.


Production of interferon in the murine mixed lymphocyte culture. II. Interferon production is a T cell-dependent function, independent of proliferation. Interferon production occurs after two days of culture in murine mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC). This was demonstrated in various combinations of mouse spleen cells differing at the major histocompatibility (H-2) locus. Interferon production could be demonstrated in one-way MLC when F1/parent combinations were used and in reactions in which one partner was treated by puromycin. After treatment of both cell populations with mitomycin C, interferon production occurred in the absence of lymphoproliferation. Interferon production in response to alloantigen did not occur in spleen cell cultures of nude mice and in cultures treated by anti-theta antiserum plus complement indicating that interferon production is a T cell-dependent function.


Inhibition of E coli ATPase activity by a troponin component, TN-I, and by mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor. The enzymic activity of Mg2+- or Ca2+-stimulated ATPase from Escherichia coli was inhibited by one of the troponin components, TN-I, and by mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor (F1-inhibitor). The inhibitory ability of component TN-I against Mg2+-stimulated AtPase activity was lost after digestion of component TN-I with trypsin. The Mg2+-stimulated ATPase activity inhibited by component TN-I was completely restored by the addition of another troponin component TN-C.


The induction of diabetes in rats by intramuscular administration of streptozotocin. Streptozotocin administered i.m. was as effective a diabetogenic agent as when administered i.v. This is useful, particularly for the induction of diabetes in small animals.


A controlled clinical study comparing sulindac with ibuprofen and aspirin in the treatment of musculo-skeletal diseases. Forty-six patients (seventeen male, twenty-nine female) with musculo-skeletal disease were put on a controlled clinical study comparing sulindac with ibuprofen and soluble aspirin. Twenty patients were treated with sulindac 200 mg twice daily, twelve received sulindac 100 mg twice daily, eight had ibuprofen 400 mg thrice daily and six treated with soluble aspirin 600 mg thrice daily. All patients did well on these drugs, but the ones on sulindac 200 mg twice daily showed better response than sulindac 100 mg twice daily. It proved to have the same efficiency as ibuprofen and soluble aspirin; but had less side-effects and also patients required to take the drug only twice daily to get relief because of its prolonged duration of action.


Studies on untoward reactions to diphtheria and tetanus toxoids. Adverse reactions to diphtheria and tetanus toxoids have frequently been reported. The cause of these reactions has been attributed to different factors, including sensitization by prior vaccination. However, this explanation does not hold for primary vaccination. In this case, undesirable reactions to diphtheria toxoid are most likely due to bacterial cellular fractions present in the vaccines. In fact, we were able to demonstrate that fortuitous contact with atoxigenic diphtheria strains can induce sensitization. Consequently, vaccination should be carried out with highly purified toxoids, so as to prevent untoward reactions due to the presence of impurities. It is also preferable to detoxify purified toxins, rather than to purify crude toxoids.


Classical conditioning of profoundly retarded, multiply handicapped children. A classical conditioning procedure was used with five profoundly retarded children with multiple handicaps in order to investigate basic learning processes in such children. Their chronological ages ranged from 48 to 108 months and their mental ages from 0 to 5.5 months. The procedure used a sound as the conditioned stimulus, a puff of air to the cornea as the unconditioned stimulus, and eye-blink as the conditioned response. Conditioning was established for the two most developmentally advanced children, and the intermediate pair showed different patterns of orienting response to the conditioned stimulus but no evidence of conditioning. The fifth and most developmentally delayed child did not respond to the stimuli. The extent to which these results can be generalised to the conditioning of profoundly retarded, multiply handicapped children is discussed.


[Congestive heart failure in genetic hypertrophic cardiomyopathies (ASH) (author's transl)]. Of a total sixtytwo patients covering all the spectrum of genetic ASH, who were studied by heart catheterization, M-mode echocardiography and phonomechano cardiography, five patients (four with the obstructive variety of the disease) showed clinical evidence of chronic congestive heart failure with ankle edema and hepatomegaly (group I). Their data were compared with those of fifteen "obstructed" patients who were not in heart decompensation (group II). No statistically significant differences were found between groups I and II in terms of L.V. internal transverse dimensions and in terms of L.V. systolic function. Conversely a statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of left atrial and right ventricular dimensions (P less than 0,001), which were markedly increased in groups I. These findings strongly suggest that in patients with ASH and congestive heart failure there is a reduction in L.V. compliance (or distensibility), whereas L.V. systolic function is essentially preserved. The persistence of severe L.V. outflow obstruction in four patients of I group gives further confirmation to these observations. The use of beta-blockers (in association or not with cardiac glycosides) seems therefore to preserve its validity in the treatment of patients with ASH and heart failure, particulary when severe L.V. outflow obstruction is present. Cardiac glycosides are indicated in the forms with little or no obstruction to L.V. ejection.


Antimetastatic and antitumor activity of a derivative of neocarzinostatin: an organic solvent- and water-soluble polymer-conjugated protein. A highly lymphotropic derivative of a proteinaceous antitumor agent, Neocarzinostatin, was prepared by chemical conjugation of a water-soluble synthetic poly(maleic acid)-styrene oligomer. The derivative of 2.5 X 10(4) dalton exhibited a strong antitumor activity against AH109A and DBLA-6 as well as antimetastatic activity against metastatic AH109A with which experimental lymphatic metastasis was produced in rats. An increased lipophilicity and molecular weight of the derivative appear to be responsible for its improvement as lymphotropic antimetastatic agent.


[Effect of the dose of ptsI- and ptsH-genes on carbohydrate transport and regulation of lac-operon activity in Escherichia coli K-12]. Phage Mu-1 cts61 was used for transposition of pts1 and ptsH genes. The received F'-factors AUF2 and AUF3 carry short fragments of the bacterial chromosome. Merodiploid strains with double pts genes were selected in sexduction crosses with the appropriate recA recipients. Effect of the gene dose was not registered in pts+/pts+ strains in the case of accumulation of the substrates of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS) and in the case of bacterial growth in the presence of these carbohydrates. This indicates that the enzyme (enzymes) II of the PTS is the limiting step in the transpost process. Induction of beta-galactosidase and the growth on carbohydrates not transported via the PTS (maltose, lactose) were greatly reduced in pts mutant. Introduction of the pts+ allele with episome lead to the restoration of the two above processes. These data show that the phospho approximately HPr generating system of the PTS is directly (or in indirect manner) involved in the regulation of catabolite-sensitive operons. Glucose repression was markedly increased in pts+/pts+ merodiploids as compared with pts+/pts- ones and with pts+ bacteria. Possible mechanisms of this effect are discussed.


[Population analysis of minor hemoglobin fractions. I. Hemoglobin A2]. The inhabitants of 7 isolated villages (of different nationalities) and of 5 panmictic populations were studied. Populational and segregation analyses of Hb A2 in 3036 normal and 150 heterozygous individuals for beta- and delta beta-thalassemia were carried out. The Hb A2 levels in some populations are established to deviate from the normal distribution. Bimodal dependency of the levels of Hb A2 distribution is demonstrated, which suggests the existance of heterogenous subpopulations by the Hb A2 level. The segregation analysis has revealed distinct genetic determination of Hb A2 levels. There was a good correlation between Hb A2 and Hb F values (r=-0.82).


[Medico-genetic study of the population of Uzbekistan. VI. Hereditary pathology among the populations of 4 regions of the Kashkadarinskaia area]. The screening for families burdened with multiple cases of non-infectious diseases, the diagnostic of those diseases and the investigation of relations between the population structure and the distribution of hereditary diseases in 4 districts of the Kashkadarja province were carried out. On the basis of the data obtained the load of excessive hereditary diseases was calculated and nosological spectrum was described; it included more than 30 different diseases. The study of spatial distribution of recessive diseases has shown that the load of hereditary diseases may be accounted for the positive assortative matings. The high level of interpopulation migration prevents from the local accumulation of a certain hereditary disease.


[Frequency of chromosome variants in human populations]. Chromosome variants were analyzed in the course of the population chromosome investigation of 6000 newborns and clinical cytogenetic studies of 403 married couples with recurrent spontaneous abortions, stillbirths or offsprings having congenital malformations or Down's syndrome. The following variants were determined: 1) Igh+, 9gh+, 16gh+ - the enlargement of the secondary constrictions of the size, more than 1/4 of the long arm of the chromosome; 2) Dp+ or Gp+ - the enlargement of the short arms of acrocentrics, their size being more than the short arm of the chromosome 18; 3) Ds+ or Gs - large satellites of the acrocentrics which are equal or more than the thickness of the chromatids of the long arms; 4) Es+ - satellites on the short arms of the chromosomes 17 or 18; 5) Dss of Gss - double satellites; 6) Yq+ - the enlargement of the long arm of Y chromosome, the size of which being more than G chromosome; 7) Yq- - deletion of the long arm of Y chromosome, the size of the long arm being less than chromosomes 21--22. The total frequency of variants in newborns was 12.8/1000 births. The incidence of different types of variants per 1000 births was as follows: Igh+ - 0.33; 9gh+ - 0.17; 16gh+ - 0.50; Ds+ - 2.33; Dp+ - 1.50; Dp- - 0.17; Gs+ - 0.83; Gp+ - 2.17; Yq+ - 6.91/1000 males; Yg- - 0.99/1000 males; double variants - 0.33; other variants - 0.33. 4.0% of married couples with recurrent spontaneous abortions had major chromosome aberrations, 14.6% - extreme variants of chromosomes. Among 113 couples with the history of congenital malformations in their offsprings major chromosome abnormalities were found in 4.4%, chromosome variants - 13.3%. The frequency of chromosome variants among 139 patients with Down's syndrome was 7.2%. In one case Robertsonian translocation t(DqGa) was determined. The most frequent types of variant chromosomes were Ds+, Dp+, Es+, Yq+.


A rightward promoter to the left of the att site of lambda phage DNA: possible participant in site-specific recombination. The binding has been studied of Escherichia coli RNA-polymerase to the fragments of lambda DNA obtained by digestion with restriction endonucleases BsuI, HindIII, BamHI, EcoRI and HindII + III. There are at least six sites of RNA-polymerase binding in the b2-region. In vitro transcription of those BsuI-fragments of the b2-region which contain six binding sites is rightward. Therefore, the fragments contain promoters rather than mere RNA-polymerase binding sites. One of the promoters of the b2 region named patt was calculated to be about 50 bp to the left of the att site. We postulate that this promoter might correspond to the hef-target which was described as important for the site-specific recombination.


A comprehensive molecular map of bacteriophage lambda. Physical and genetic mapping of deletion mutations has been correlated with the available molecular sizes of the lambda gene products and the DNA base sequence to construct a comprehensive molecular map of the phage lambda genome. The physical length of the DNA making up the left arm from the cos site through gene J is not sufficient to account in a nonoverlapping manner for all the proteins of the sizes reported to be coded, especially in the Nu1--C region. In the right arm all the coding capacity has not been accounted for, and it appears to be oversaturated only in the gam-ral region. The positions of several IS and Tn elements, and of restriction endonuclease cleavage sites are specified.


The organization of a nuclear DNA sequence from a higher plant: molecular cloning and characterization of soybean ribosomal DNA. The recombinant DNA vector, lambda Charon 4A, was used to construct a library of DNA sequences from the genomic DNA of soybean (Glycine max). To define the organization of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) in the soybean genome, clones containing sequences complementary to both 17S and 25S rRNA have been isolated from this library and used in conjunction with Southern blot hybridization. The rRNA genes are tandemly reiterated with a relatively small unit repeat length of 7.8 kb. There is no heterogeneity in the length of the rDNA repeat units although they display limited differences in either base sequence or pattern of methylation. The cloned rDNA sequences are shown to comprise the entire repeat unit and have been used to obtain a detailed restriction map as well as an approximate transcription map of soybean rRNA genes. The cloning of rDNA from soybean suggests that recombinant DNA techniques can be successfully applied to the genomic DNA of higher plants despite the high degree of methylation exhibited by plant DNA.


[The nutritional effects of the "classical" steal syndrome. (Steal syndrome--effect or phenomenon?) (author's transl)]. Since the steal syndrome was first described, many symptoms have, rightly or wrongly, been ascribed to this. The classical steal syndrome, as described by Revich et al for the subclavian artery, produces special nutritional effects, but these are also found in other vascular territories, particularly when the unpaired branches of the abdominal aorta are involved. The abnormal haemodynamics in a circumscribed arterial territory can be demonstrated radiologically before the full syndrome has developed. It would therefore be more precise to speak of a steal phenomenon or steal effect depending on whether there are objective or subjective changes.


[Active and passive vascular involvement in tumours and tumour-like processes in the extremities (author's transl)]. Angiography for tumours of the extremities may demonstrate active or passive involvement of vessels by the tumour. This technique has been used for a considerable time for the diagnosis and differentiation of bone tumours. Angiography is particularly suitable for distinguishing between benign and malignant tumours of soft tissues. Non-neoplastic space-occupying lesions which can be elucidated by angiography include aneurysms, haematomas, inflammatory processes and abscesses.


[Classification and course of cerebral infarcts on computer tomography (author's transl)]. The typical computer tomographic signs of ischaemic cerebral infarct are discussed on the basis of 631 cases. Infarcts have three typical stages. Stage I, one week, fresh infarct with signs of oedema (space-occupying lesion with an unsharp margin, slightly reduced density, lack of contrast uptake). Stage II, second to fourth week, reduction in the oedema. Frequently very marked contrast enhancement of the cortex and basal nuclei. Stage III, later than four weeks. Development of malacic cysts, with further reduction in density and size. Development of homolateral atrophy. The computer tomographic diagnosis of cerebral infarcts during Stage I is often very difficult. Distinction from infiltrating tumour is often possible only after further observation. The diagnosis of cerebral infarcts in stages II and III is possible in most cases. Haemorrhagic cerebral infarcts do not follow a temporal pattern as accurately as anaemic infarcts. They show circular increase in contrast of slowly diminishing size. The increased contrast persists considerably longer and is clearly distinguished from that in an anaemic cerebral infarct.


[CT of the pelvis and abdomen during childhood (author's transl)]. The use of CT in the abdomen and pelvis in 25 children is described. Certain problems which reduce the value of the technique are discussed; these include the lack of intra- and retro-peritoneal fat, movement artefacts, the importance of exact indications and the problems of radiation dosage.


[A comparison of computer tomography and ultrasound for the demonstration of vessels in the abdomen and retroperitoneal space (author's transl)]. The value of computer tomography and ultrasound for demonstrating vessels in the abdomen and retroperitoneal space was compared. The methods were equal in their ability to demonstrate the major vessels situated centrally, but computer tomography proved better at differentiating arteries and veins situated peripherally. On the other hand, sonography proved a simple means of differentiating intrahepatic vascular structures.