Peroxidatic oxidation of benzo[a]pyrene and prostaglandin biosynthesis. The arachidonic acid dependent oxidation of benzo[a]pyrene to a mixture of 3,6-, 1,6-, and 6,12-quinones has been studied by using enzyme preparations from sheep seminal vesicles. Maximal oxidation is observed at 100 microM benzo[a]pyrene and 150 microM arachidonic acid. The arachidonic acid dependent oxidation is peroxidatic and utilizes prostaglandin G2 (PGG2), generated in situ from arachidonate, as the hydroperoxide substrate. 15-Hydroperoxy-5,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid is equivalent to PGG2 as a hydroperoxide substrate, but hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, and tert-butyl hydroperoxide are much poorer substrates. Arachidonic acid dependent benzo[a]pyrene oxidation by microsomal and solubilized enzyme preparations is markedly.


Proteolytic activity of nerve growth factor: a case of autocatalytic activation. Nerve growth factor is a highly specific protease that can convert plasminogen to plasmin and that can hydrolyze certain synthetic N-substituted arginine esters (e.g., Nalpha=p-toluenesulfonyl-L-arginine methyl ester (TAME); N.S. Orenstein et al. (1978) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75, 5497). Hydrolysis of TAME is characterized by a lag phase of lower velocity which precedes development of the steady-state maximal velcity. Kinetic analyses indicate that this behavior stems from autocatalytic activation of a nerve growth factor (NGF)-zymogen by NGF. As isolated from the mouse submandibular gland at high concentration, NGF is largely enzymically inactive. Upon high dilution, the protein undergoes autocatalytic activation with concomitant generation of full enzymic activity. The biologic significance of this unusual property of NGF is not clear, but it may serve to prevent expression of enzymic activity until the protein reaches its target cell(s) or until it recognizes its physiological substrate.


The electrophoretic isolation and partial characterization of three chlorophyll-protein complexes from blue-green algae. Three chlorophyll-protein complexes have been resolved from blue-green algae using an improved procedure for membrane solubilization and electrophoretic fractionation. One complex has a red absorbance maximum of 676 nm and a molecular weight equivalency of 255 000 +/- 15 000. A second complex has an absorbance maximum of 676 nm, a molecular weight equivalency of 118 000 +/- 8000, and resembles the previously described P-700-chlorophyll a-protein (CPI) of higher plants and algae. The third chlorophyll-protein has a red absorbance maximum of 671 nm and a molecular weight equivalency of 58 000 +/- 5000. Blue-green algal membrane fractions enriched in Photosystem I and heterocyst cells do not contain this third chlorophyll-protein, whereas Photosystem II-enriched membrane fractions and vegetative cells do. A component of the same spectral characteristics and molecular weight equivalency was also observed in chlorophyll b-deficient mutants of barley and maize. It is hypothesized that this third complex is involved in some manner with Photosystem II.


Analysis of absorption spectra changes induced by temperature lowering on phycobilisomes, thylakoids and chlorophyll-protein complexes. Using fourth derivative analysis, differences between room and low temperature absorption spectra were studied. The positions of most absorption bands of the water-soluble, accessory pigment complex, the phycobilisome, remained unchanged after cooling. The stability of the wavelength positions of chlorophyll a forms in vivo as a function of temperature (Gulyaev, B.A. and Litvin, F.F. (1967) Biofizika 12, 845--854) was generally confirmed. The wavelength positions of all chlorophyll a forms in the P-700 chlorophyll a protein complex were unchanged when the preparations were cooled to -196 degrees C. Likewise, with other chlorophyll-containing materials: the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein complex and the thylakoids of higher plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, the wavelengths positions of most chlorophyll a forms were stable upon cooling. An exception was a 680 nm chlorophyll a band which was generally split at low temperature into two bands with the materials investigated. An interpretation of the multiplicity of chlorophyll spectral forms and the spectral changes induced by cooling for these forms is given using exciton theory and the energy-coupling variation of chlorophyll a molecules.


Chelating agents protect hydrogenase against oxygen inactivation. The effect of chelation on rate or air inactivation of hydrogenase from Clostridium pasteurianum has been investigated. All chelating agents used, whether water-soluble or water-insoluble, afforded protection against oxygen inactivation. EDTA appeared to be the most effective. Thus, in the absence of EDTA, hydrogenase in aqueous solution was nearly totally inactivated after 1 hour incubation in air, whereas 0.5 M EDTA (which did not affect significantly catalytic activity) allowed 41% retention of the initial activity even after 3 days incubation.


Binding of 4'-aminomethyl 4,5',8-trimethyl psoralen to DNA, RNA and protein in HeLa cells and Drosophila cells. In Drosophila cells and HeLa cells treated with 4'-aminomethyl trioxsalen and ultraviolet light, this compound binds covalently to DNA and RNA. The maximum number of molecules bound to 10(3) base pairs in DNA is 60 and in RNA it is 20. In nuclei treated likewise the number of molecules bound to 10(3) base pairs in DNA can be as high as 376. When cells are irradiated in the frozen state the number of 4'-aminomethyl trioxsalen molecules bound per 10(3) base pairs in DNA is about 40 and in RNA about 20. DNA molecules from cells or nuclei treated with 4'-aminomethyl trioxsalen and ultraviolet light are highly crosslinked and appear as loops interspersed by double stranded regions when analyzed in the electron microscope under denaturing conditions. The loop sizes are heterogeneous and the fraction of double stranded regions increases to almost complete double-strandedness at high degrees of reaction. No secondary structures could be found in ribosomal RNA from Drosophila cells or HeLa cells after treatment with 4'-aminomethyl trioxsalen and ultraviolet light. In cells treated with 4'-aminomethyl trioxsalen and ultraviolet light the RNAase activity is increased considerably suggesting a release of lysosomal enzymes. 4'-aminomethyl trioxsalen and its photodecomposition products bind strongly to cellular proteins.


Methods for limiting the action of SP3 DNAase and for the determination of the direction of hydrolysis of processive exonucleases. The action of the exonuclease SP3 DNAase is inhibited by chemical modification of DNA with the cation N-cyclohexyl-N'-beta-(4-methylmorpholinium)-ethylcarbodiimide (CME). The limited activity of the enzyme on CMA-modified DNA makes it possible to demonstrate that the enzyme also initiates its attack on polydeoxyribonucleotides at the 5'-termini. This was determined by the analysis of the products from the digestion of CME-modified DNA containing labeled 5'-terminal phosphate groups. Such procedure can be adopted as a general approach for the determination of the direction of hydrolysis of other processive exonucleases. SP3 DNAase has been shown able to degrade oligo- and polydeoxyribonucleotides with or without 5'-terminal phosphate groups with equal efficiency (Aposhian, H.V., Friedman, N., Nichihara M., Heimer, E.P., and Nussbaum, A.L. (1970) J. Mol. Biol. 49, 367-379). The present work also shows that the enzyme can even hydrolyze oligo- and polynucleotides containing derivatized phosphate groups.


[Study of the regulation of plastid development in Euglena gracilis. II. Functional localisation and synthesis of ribosomal chloroplast particles (author's transl)]. Chloroplast ribosomes in greening cells of Euglena gracilis are found either in the stroma or bound to thylakoid membranes. The membrane-bound chloroplast ribosomes are of two main types: those which can be released by 0.5 M KCl or by puromycin and 0.5 M KCl, and those which are released by detergent (deoxycholate or Triton X-100) and KCl. The ribosomes which are released by puromycin are presumably bound to chloroplast membrane by nascent peptide chains. Ribosomes released by puromycin are found only during the course of plastidial differentiation at the time of active thylacoid membrane synthesis. Following greening, those ribosomes remain bound to the membranes but can be removed by KCl alone. An analysis of RNA labelling showed that 30-S but not 53-S subunits of membrane-bound ribosomes are of uniform specific activity. This suggests that 30-S subunit exchange in a common pool while 53 S subunits remain membrane bound and do not exchange in a common pool. Membrane-bound chloroplast ribosomes which are released either by puromycin or by detergent are originally derived from loosely bound particles, released by 0.5 M KCl.


Inactivation of the plasminogen activator from HeLa cells by peptides of arginine chloromethyl ketone. The binding specificities of human urinary urokinase (EC 3.4.99.26) and HeLa cell plasminogen activator were studied using peptidyl chloromethyl ketone inhibitors. A 125I-labeled fibrin assay has been developed to yield kinetic information. Reagents of the sequence X-Gly-ArgCH2Cl were the most effective. The susceptibility of the HeLa cell plasminogen activator differed from that of urokinase in several respects indicating the utility of this type of inhibitor in distinguishing between proteases of this specificity.


Studies on the subcellular localization of the membrane-bound fraction of intestinal calcium-binding protein. Sorbitol density gradient centrifugation applied to intestinal mucosa homogenates resulted in a complete separation of soluble calcium-binding protein from the bound fraction of calcium-binding protein, providing further documentation of the bound pool of calcium-binding protein. The peak of the bound calcium-binding protein was not associated with the major peaks of any of the markers used, but was associated with minor peaks of alkaline phosphatase, RNA, and glucose-6-phosphatase. Lack of association of bound calcium-binding protein with (Na+ + K+)-ATPase indicated that the bound calcium-binding protein is not on the basolateral membrane. Differential centrifugation fractionation indicated that the bound calcium-binding protein is not associated with nuclei or mitochondria. The bound calcium-binding protein also could not be detected in partially purified brush borders. Exclusion of the brush border and basolateral membranes as the location of the bound calcium-binding protein suggests an intracellular locale.


The phosphoenolpyruvate : methyl-alpha-d-glucoside phosphotransferase system in Bacillus subtilis Marburg : kinetic studies of enzyme ii and evidence for a phosphoryl enzyme ii intermediate. The Enzyme II complex catalyzing the phosphoryl transfer from P-HPr to sugar in the inducible methyl-alpha-D-glucoside : phosphotransferase system in Bacillus subtilis acts according to a ping-pong mechanism, implying a phosphorylated Enzyme II intermediate. This result is supported by the demonstration of a specific transphosphorylation between [14C] alphaMG and glucose-6-phosphate in the presence of an induced Enzyme II preparation.


[Comparative electrophoretic properties of histones from trout and chicken erythrocytes and calf thymus at different concentrations of EDTA]. An introduction of EDTA into an electrophoretic system was found to cause specific changes in the histone distribution patterns. The electrophoretic mobility of histones H3, H2b and H2a from three evolutionally unrelated sources (trout and chicken erythrocytes and calf thymus) is increased and that for histones H1 and H5 is decreased with respect to histone H4. In general the decrease of electrophoretic mobility of the histones in the presence of EDTA is correlated with the content of basic amino acids in these histones. The effect observed can be used from electrophoretic analysis of histones.


[Resolution of the structure of the absorption spectrum of blue-green algae by a method of measuring the 2d derivative at -196 degrees C]. By measuring the 2nd derivative at -196 degrees C the thin structure of the absorption spectrum of intact cells, isolated in phycobilisomes and pure pigments of blue-green algae Anabaena variabilis and Aphanizomanon flos-aquae is shown. 8 absorption bands in the region 669--710 nm pertaining to chlorophyll a in different aggregation region were found. Almost the same number of bands were found in the region 550--660 nm. The latter were conditioned by the absorption of allophycocyanin, phycocyanin, and probably by phycoerythrin present in the form of different associates.


[Interrelationship between glucoside-bound and free alcohols during ether oil formation in rose petals]. Some data on the dynamics of free and glucoside-bound monoterpenic and aromatic (beta-phenylethyl) ethers content and the changes in the beta-glucosidase activity in rose petals at different stages of the flower development and on the kinetics of enzymatic hydrolysis of these glucosides are presented. The phase specificity of beta-glucosidase coinciding with the maximal accumulation of glucoside-bound and free alcohols is revealed. The data obtained suggest that the formation of glucosides may precede the accumulation of corresponding free alcohols of terpenic and aromatic origin.


The problem of corrosion and tarnish of dental restorative and implant metals. The linear polarization technique has been used to measure polarization resistances and corrosion currents directly in the mouths of baboons and in vitro for a wide range of dental and implant alloys. Good correlations were found to exist between these two conditions, indicating that this test is accurate and valid as well as being simple to perform. Intraoral corrosion proceeded faster, probably due to abrasion by foodstuffs. Tarnish has also been measured using an intraoral tristimulus colorimeter and results were compared with the corrosion determinations. The tarnish of pure metals (Au, Ag, and Cu) was inversely proportional to corrosion. Gold alloys tarnished little but varied in corrosion current. Dental amalgams corroded the most but the tarnish experience depended more on their chemistry than their precious metal composition.


Influence of the geroprotector 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine hydrochloride on the lifetime of Drosophila melanogaster. A slowdown of the aging process was established in Drosophila melanogaster than received the geroprotector 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine hydrochloride. The action of the preparation in a dose of 0.01% at the larval stage of development leads to an 18--20% increase in the average lifetime of females and males and lengthens the maximum lifespan of males. The older the individuals by the beginning of the experiment, the weaker the influence of the geroprotector: The average lifetime of females taken in the experiment at one day old is increased 12%; the influence at an age greater than 20 days is ineffective.


Future developments and applications of biomaterials: an overview. It is recommended that the emphasis of biomaterials research and development for the future should be to achieve improved reliability. Use of increasing numbers of implants per year coupled with decreasing long term (greater than 5 years) success rates are resulting in progressively larger numbers of reparative implant operations. This trend can be altered by emphasizing three areas of R&D: 1) Studies of composite biomaterial systems offering unique combinations of biological surface behavior and substrate mechanical performance; 2) Investigate mechanisms of interfacial reactions so that long term responses of the host-implant can be predicted; 3) Develop long term predictive relationships for biomaterials reliability based upon interfacial reactions, biomechanics, fracture mechanics, fatigue testing, and retrieval analysis. Brief examples of efforts to develop undrestanding in these three areas are described using bioglass coated metal and bioglass coated alumina implants.


Biosynthesis and metabolism of the basic alkaloids. A summary of studies on the biosynthesis of the basic alkaloids of Anabasis aphylla is given. The role of lysine, aspartic acid, methionine, acetate, and cadaverine in the formation of anabasine, lupinine, aphylline, and anabasamine was indicated. The pathways of biosynthesis of the piperidine heterocycle, which is the structural basis of all the alkaloids of this plant, were examined. Studies of the metabolism of anabasine, lupinine, and aphyllinic acid were analyzed, and the possibility of their interconversion was examined.


Rotor speed dependent sedimentation of circular and linear DNA. The sedimentation rate of large, linear DNA molecules has been shown to be rotor speed dependent (Rubenstein and Leighton, Biophys. Chem. 1 (1974)). In this communication we report the first studies designed to measure the rotor speed effect with a homogenous, linear viral DNA larger than bacteriophage T2 DNA. We also report the first studies using a homogenous, circular episomal DNA of known molecular weight. For this circular DNA a small rotor speed effect, previously unsuspected, was discovered.


[Dimethylaminochalcone, an indicator of the structural changes in the cellular envelop of E. coli under the action of Ca2+ cations and tris buffer]. An attempt was made to detect possible structural changes in E. coli cell envelope induced by Ca2+ treatment with the help of an uncharged fluorescent probe 4-dimethylaminochalcon (DMC). The effects of the treatment with tris buffer (0.01 M) at 0 degrees C and other agents (Mg2+ and EDTA) were also studied for the purpose of comparison. It is shown that Ca2+ treatment of E. coli cells results in structural changes in the cell envelope surface, whick differ from those induced by tris-buffer at 0 degrees C, Mg2+ and EDTA. DMC can be used successfully as a suitable probe for monitoring structural changes in biomembranes.


Loss of Rh antigen associated with acquired Rh antibodies and a chromosome translocation in a patient with myeloid metaplasia. Myeloid metaplasia is a clonal disease of the marrow pluripotent stem cell in which a constant cytogenetic abnormality could result in an altered antigenic characteristic of hematopoietic cells. A 57-yr-old man who had acquired myeloid metaplasia at age 37 was noted to be Rh negative, although blood typing at age 33 was Rh positive. His erythrocytes reacted with anti-c and anti-e, typical for an Rh negative individual. Analysis of 11 metaphase bone marrow cells by G-banding revealed 46 chromosomes with a consistent anomaly in 100% of cells involving chromosomes 1 and 13. The changes were consistent with a reciprocal translocation, with break points at approximately 1p32 and 13q22, although break points at 1p13 and 13q14 were also possible. Since previous cytogenetic data have localized the Rh gene to the short arm of chromosome 1, our data indicate the Rh gene lies within the segment u13 leads to 1p32. Serum of this patient had circulating anti-D and anti-C antibodies. Consequently, this patient lost immunologic tolerance to a "self antigen" after losing the ability to express this antigen.


[The problems raised by the irradiation of pregnant women. Effects of ionizing radiations on the embryon and foetus (author's transl)]. In man, the period of maximum risk for the embryo and foetus is between the second and tenth week after conception. The most frequent and most severe malformation is microcephaly which in extreme cases is accompanied by mental retardation. The results of studies in experimental animals and man agree that it is impossible to demonstrate any increased risk of malformation with doses below 15 rads, and that the increase over the spontaneous incidence of malformation is slight at doses below 25 rads. A very small increase in the frequency of leukaemias and cancers has been observed after irradiation in utero for pelvimetry, which delivers a few rads; it can be estimated from these data that a dose of 2 rads induces at the most the risk of one case of cancer in 2,000 children. In practice, it is only exceptionally that an abortion is advised after a diagnostic radiological examination, since the doses in these circumstances are relatively low. A therapeutic termination of pregnancy should be advised when the dose is greater than 20 rads, but it is necessary to take into account other medico-social factors. Conversely, it is important to avoid any irradiation in women who could be pregnant and in particular avoid any irradiation of the true pelvis during the 10 days prior to menses and especially if there has been a delay in the start of menstruation. In pregnant women radiological examinations should only be made if they are of paramount importance for the mother, and all precautions taken to reduce the dose to the uterus in the absolute minimum.


"The chemistry of bone mineral".

"The chemistry of bone mineral". In this treatise there has been a general introduction to the nature of bone mineral. Without the studies on the chemistry and structure of hydroxyapatites precipitated under physiological conditions it would have been difficult to interpret the data from bone mineral. Earlier studies on well-crystallized apatite systems helped to delineate the nature of the smaller bone crystals which are so difficult to study by standard crystallographic methods. It was shown that bone mineral is submicroscopic in crystal size and thus, has a high surface area which is highly reactive to specific chemical species. Bone mineral apatite is not an equilibrium phase and is slowly perfecting chemically and in crystal size. It is this lack of perfection resulting from crystalline imperfections due to (a) the presence of carbonate, sodium and other ions, and, (b) the deficiency in Ca and OH, which combine to make bone mineral metabolically active. In closing, it is necessary to point out that this is just a brief introduction to the subject of bone mineral. The interested reader is encouraged to seek more details in the bone text books of Vaughan (1975), Bourne (1972) and Zipkin (1973) and the various review articles noted in the body of this exposition.


The treatment of difficult cutaneous basal and squamous cell carcinomata with electrons. The use of electron beam therapy with energies up to 10 MeV in the treatment of basal and squamous cell carcinomata of the skin is described. The results of treatment of 15 cases are presented with photographs of six cases. Excellent clinical and cosmetic results have been obtained. Electron therapy has been found to be simple and convenient, avoiding the necessity for the use of radium moulds in a number of cases and thus avoiding radiation exposure of staff.


Total-body irradiation in advanced lymphosarcoma. Thirty patients with stage III and IV non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated by total-body irradiation (TBI). Eleven patients had previously received local radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Toxicity was confined to haematological depression. Complete remission of disease was achieved in 14 patients. Non-leukaemic patients who had received no previous treatment reacted best to TBI (ten complete remissions in 13 patients). We consider TBI a helpful treatment in non-leukaemic patients with advanced lymphosarcoma.


The influence of early post-operative intravenous nutrition upon recovery after total cystectomy. A retrospective review was made of the effect of early post-operative total parenteral nutrition on recovery from total cystectomy with formation of an ileal conduit. No difference in mortality or time spent in hospital after operation was noted between 2 groups receiving either total parenteral nutrition or isotonic dextrose-saline solutions.


Single sample estimates of renal clearances. Thirty adult patients were investigated with 36 125I Hippuran and 40 51Cr EDTA single injection clearance studies. "Volumes of distribution" obtained from single samples have been correlated with the slope clearances and regression equations have been determined. From these equations it is possible to determine glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) from single plasma samples and the method is sufficiently accurate for routine application.


Rationalising requests for x-ray examination of acute ankle injuries. Radiographs of injured ankles represent about 1 in 50 of all radiological examinations. The notes and radiographs of 100 patients with ankle injuries were reviewed, and the films of a further 93 patients who had ankle fractures treated by immobilisation were also scrutinised to assess the presence of absence of soft tissue swelling over the malleoli. Any accompanying radiographs of the foot requested at the same time were also studied. In 65 of the 100 cases of ankle injury there was no soft tissue swelling, and none of the patients had a major fracture, while 92 of the 93 patients with a major fracture had soft tissue swelling at the level of the malleoli. In 32 of the 100 cases of ankle injury foot radiographs had also been requested, but only three foot injuries were found. If the simple maxim of "No swelling adjacent to a malleolus, no radiographs" were applied radiography of twisted ankles could be reduced by as much as two-thirds. Moreover, if this maxim included the rider "and no routine foot films" the total casualty radiographic work load could be reduced by 8%.


Deaths from rhesus haemolytic disease in England and Wales in 1977: accuracy of records and assessment of anti-D prophylaxis. All the death certificates for deaths in 1977 where haemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) was the principal, an antecedent, or a contributory cause were obtained from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS). The hospital notes of all 54 of the live-born cases and all of the 101 stillbirths were also obtained. The cause of the death indicated by the notes was compared with the cause and coding on the death certificate. In about a quarter of the cases death was not due to haemolytic disease of any type. The commonest errors arose because the International Classification of Diseases (8th edition) stipulates that hydrops without mention of cause should be coded as HDN and because stillbirths to rhesus-negative mothers tend to be attributed to rhesus HDN automatically. Though deaths from HDN may be overestimated in this way, they are also underestimated because rhesus disease, although mentioned on the certificate, is not selected as the underlying cause, which it may be. These cases were found through multiple coding of all the contributory causes of death, which OPCS performs on a 25% sample of all death certificates for research purposes. These two sources of inaccuracy tend to cancel each other out, but statistics from death certificates give a misleading picture of the efficacy of anti-D prophylaxis because anti-D can never prevent cases which are not in fact due to rhesus HDN. Most of the mothers studied had become immunised before anti-D became available, but in those who could have been treated 75% had not received prophylaxis. As this was a sample of deaths, however, it would not be accurate to extrapolate this high figure to the population at risk. Nevertheless, the organisation of prophylaxis is clearly deficient and should be remedied before providing antenatal anti-D to supplement postnatal treatment.


Reduction of catheter-associated sepsis in parenteral nutrition using low-dose intravenous heparin. To assess whether adding low-dose heparin to the infusate of patients receiving parenteral nutrition reduced the incidence of septic complications related to the central venous catheter, 80 consecutive patients requiring intravenous feeding were studied. Half of these patients received heparin 1 unit/ml of infusate, while in the remaining 40 (controls) an equal volume of physiological saline was added to the infusate. Strict criteria for the management of the indwelling CVC were observed. The catheter tips were cultured after removal: only one was infected in the heparin group compared with nine in the control group. This significant reduction may have been due to the heparin preventing a fibrin sleeve from forming around the catheter tip. It is recommended that, as well as observing the usual aseptic precautions in managing the cannula, 500 units of heparin are added to each 500 ml of fluid infused to reduce the incidence of catheter-associated sepsis.


Anti-keratin antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis. A naturally occurring antibody that reacts with the keratinised tissue of animal oesophagus was found in the serum of 75 out of 129 patients (58%) with classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but not in sera from 105 healthy people. Detection of the antibody, which is unrelated to rheumatoid factor, is more specific for RA than the reaction in the sheep-cell agglutination test but less sensitive.


Assessment of a selective medium for the isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Specimens of urethral pus from 312 men with gonorrhoea were diluted and inoculated on to non-selective and selective media, the latter containing vancomycin, colistin, nystatin, and trimethoprim. Although three (1%) isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were inhibited by trimethoprim 4 mg/1 and 10 by vancomycin 2 mg/1, only two failed to grow on a selective medium from large inocula but eight strains sensitive to vancomycin failed to grow on a selective medium from a light inoculum. These few failures do not appear to negate the value of the selective medium.


Comparison of anal and rectal swabs in the diagnosis of anorectal gonorrhoea in women. Among 228 women with gonorrhoea (confirmed by culture), swabs taken blindly from the anal canal gave positive results in 26.3% and those taken from the rectum under direct vision in 27.6%. Swabs from both sites gave positive results in 23.2% of patients, from the anal canal alone in 3.1%, and from the rectum alone in 4.4%. Thus, culuture of anal canal swabs seems to give as reliable results as rectal swabs when proctoscopy cannot be carried out.


Individual susceptibility to neisserial infection? Specimens from genital, anorectal, and pharyngeal sites from 1671 men and 1419 women were cultured for Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Pharyngeal specimens were also cultured for Neisseria meningitidis, N. gonnorrhoeae was isolated from a genital site 2.7 times more often in men and 1.8 times more in women who also carried meningococci in their pharynx than from those who did not; the meningococcus was isolated 3.4 times more often from men and 2.0 times more often from women with genital gonorrhoea than from those without. In both men and women the association of each organism with the other was statistically significant (p less than 0.001) and may be related to sexual behaviour rather than to individual susceptibility to neisserial infection.


Mezlocillin in the treatment of gonorrhoea. A single, intramuscular dose of 2 g of mezlocillin was used for the treatment of 158 patients with gonorrhoea. In only three out of 144 patients with urogential gonorrhoea who were re-examined did the treatment fail. Of 12 patients with pharyngeal gonorrhoea who were examined after treatment 10 were treated successfully with the same dose. The sensitivities of the gonococci to mezlocillin and penicillin G correlated well, although mezlocillin seemed to be active at lower concentrations on both highly sensitive and less sensitive isolates.


Chlamydia trachomatis in acute salpingitis. In a study to evaluate the possible role of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in acute salpingitis, 26% of 106 patients with severe symptoms had positive culture results for C. trachomatis; 43% of the 72 patients from whom paired sera were obtained had either positive culture results for or seroconversion in the single antigen immunofluorescence test to C. trachomatis. Twenty-six per cent of patients harboured N. gohorrhoeae and 14% had gonococcal complement-fixing antibody titres greater than or equal to 8. Intrauterine devices were used by 48% of patients, no difference being found in the frequency of use between patients harbouring C. trachomatis or N. gonorrhoeae. The possible role of C. trachomatis should be considered in the treatment of acute salpingitis.


Topographical distribution of estrogen target cells in the forebrain of platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus, studied by autoradiography. In the platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus, after injection of [3H]estradiol-17 beta, nuclear concentration of radioactivity is observed in certain cells of the forebrain. These labeled cells are accumulated in periventricular midline regions that include in the telencephalon the ventral precommissural and dorsal supracommissural areas, and in the diencephalon the preoptic, central hypothalamic and thalamic areas. The specialized ependyma of the subcommissural organ also shows nuclear concentration of radioactivity, while other ependymal cells remain unlabeled. Similar to other vertebrate classes, the accumulations of estrogen target cells exist characteristically in the vicinity of the ventricular system, especially its recesses. This implies close topographical relationships between estrogen target cells and the ventricular recess organs, including the optic recess organ, the infundibular recess organ, the paraventricular organ and the subcommissural organ. Different from other vertebrate classes, no pallial accumulations of estrogen target cells are seen in the teleost.


Efferents of area 4 in a South American monkey (Saimiri). I. Terminations in the spinal cord. A single injection of either tritiated proline or a mixture of proline and leucine was made in area 4 of 8 squirrel monkeys. The locus of the injection was systematically varied from medial to lateral among animals. Autoradiographs revealed a strong contralateral lateral corticospinal tract. A sparsely labelled ipsilateral lateral tract was also present in all animals. In 2 animals, a few labelled fibers indicative of an ipsilateral anterior tract were observed; the fibers terminated at lumbar levels. Grain counts over the cervical and lumbar gray showed that area 4 efferents terminated contralaterally in laminae IV--IX with a peak in lamina VII; only sparse input was seen in the vicinity of the large alpha-motoneurons of lamina IX. On the ipsilateral side, the terminals were largely confined to lamina VIII. This pattern was in accordance with that reported in other primates. The terminal fields at sacral and coccygeal levels were radically different in that large numbers of fibers recrossed to the ipsilateral side and ended in laminae V through IX; the functional significance of this strong bilateral termination was discussed.


Operant control of precentral neurons in monkeys: evidence against open loop control. Four normal monkeys were operantly conditioned to change the firing pattern of 111 precentral neurons from phasic to tonic using an operant paradigm which quantifies the control of single neurons. Two monkeys then had their contralateral pyramidal tract (PT) sectioned and one monkey had C5-7 ventral rhizotomies. Postlesion data were: (1) contralateral C1-2PT lesions did not encumber the monkeys' control of precentral PTNs: (2) contralateral C5-7 ventral rhizotomies completely abolished accurate control of precentral neurons which received proprioceptive feedback from flaccid arm regions. These results indicate that precentral neurons are operantly controlled through proprioceptive feedback from peripheral mechanoreceptors. The output of the mechanoreceptors is probably dependent upon discrete joint angles and/or muscle tension which is maintained through non-PT pathways. These data do not support the concept that precentral neurons are operantly controlled directly from a central; 'open loop', pathway.


Prefrontal and cingulate unit activity during timing behavior in the monkey. Single unit activity was recorded from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex while monkeys were performing a modified differential reinforcement of long latencies (DRLL) task. A total of 252 prefrontal units and 218 anterior cingulate units showed an obvious change in discharge rate (increase or decrease) in association with one or more of the events of a DRLL task. Related units were classified into 3 main groups: S--R event units, reward-error units, and timing units. S--R event units consisted of three subtypes: stimulus-related, response-related, and stimulus--response-related units. Reward-error units contained reward-related units and error-recognition units. Error-recognition units showed a vigorous increase in firing only after incorrect responses. These units were also responsive to omission of reinforcement on correct trials. Three types of timing units were distinguishable. The first one showed an anticipatory change prior to stimulus onset, and the second one exhibited a gradual anticipatory change preceding the time of responding. The third one manifested a sustained change during delay and an abrupt cessation of change in firing at the time of response initiation.


The activity of supplementary motor area neurons during a maintained precision grip. Two monkeys were trained to exert a precision grip of the thumb and forefinger and to maintain constant near-isometric force for a one-second duration. Both animals were trained to perform the task with about equal proficiency with either hand. A total of 134 neurons were recorded from the supplementary motor area (SMA) of the hemisphere contralateral to the performing hand. SMA neurons were identified by either the presence of peripheral fields on the contralateral arm or by consistent changes in discharge frequency during contralateral arm movement. Sixty-one cells demonstrated reliable changes in firing frequency during performance of the maintained precision grip. SMA neurons showed little tendency to discharge at higher frequency during force change rather than during maintained force. Only two neurons significantly increased firing frequency with increased finger force and no modulation of discharge related to rate of force change could be shown. The changes in spike frequency among SMA cells related to the arm were, on the average, about 100 msec after the onset of contraction in the forearm flexors and extensors of the wrist and fingers, although a contingent of cells discharging consistently before the onset of muscular activity was found.


Differential effects of reciprocal wrist torques on responses of somatotopically identified neurons of precentral cortex in awake primates. The present study was undertaken to investigate the functional significance of previous observations that both reciprocal and bidirectional responses are found in the forelimb area of precentral cortex following oppositely directed torques delivered about a single forelimb joint. Extracellular unit recordings were made in the contralateral precentral cortex of awake monkeys. These units were classified, according to their responses to passive somatosensory stimulation and to the effects of local intracortical microstimulation (ICMS), as being functionally coupled to single joints. Both joint- and cutaneous-sensitive neurons were included. The responses of such classified neurons to oppositely directed torques were then studied. All of the joint-sensitive wrist (flexion-extension) units responded reciprocally to the oppositely directed torques. In contrast reciprocally and bidirectionally responsive neurons were found in the cutaneous-sensitive wrist population and in both the joint- and cutaneous-sensitive non-wrist (F-E) populations. These results are discussed in terms of the expected receptor actions of the applied torques, and are consistent with other evidence that a correlation exists between activities of precentral neurons which respond to sensory events at or about a single forelimb joint, and voluntary movement about the same joint.


Central thermosensitivity during fever produced by intra-PO/AH and intravenous injections of pyrogen. Squirrel monkeys with thermodes implanted in the preoptic/anterior hypothalamic (PO/AH) region and the medulla oblongata were used to examine three questions about central thermoresponsiveness in fever: Does thermoresponsiveness of the PO/AH region and medulla change during fevers caused by injection of bacterial endotoxin IV or directly into the PO/AH region? Does thermosensitivity of these brain regions determine the upper fever limit? Is thermoresponsiveness of the PO/AH region affected by local injections of salicylate? Changes in rectal temperature and oxygen consumption in response to heating and cooling the PO/AH region were reduced during fever caused by intra-PO/AH injections of bacterial endotoxin compared with changes produced during afebrile periods. PO/AH thermosensitivity was also reduced during fever caused by IV administration of bacterial pyrogen. Prolonged cooling of the PO/AH region or the medulla oblongata during fever produced by peripheral and central pyrogen injections did not cause rectal temperature (Tre) to rise above 41.1 degrees C although local heating reduced Tre or limited the fever maximum. From the latter result it is concluded that both pools of central thermoreceptors can limit maximal fever by reacting to local high temperature but that lowered temperature in neither region can raise Tre above a level determined by antagonistic input from thermoreceptors in other parts of the body. Injections of sodium salicylate into the PO/AH region had no effect on thermoresponsiveness of the region. This finding reinforces the idea that salicylates do not produce antipyresis by acting directly on thermosensitive cells of the central temperature control system.


Regioal distribution of immunoreactive neurotension in monkey brain. The regional distribution of immunoreactive neurotensin (IRNT) in 66 different areas of the monkey brain and spinal cord was studied by radioimmunoassay using specific rabbit antisera to synthetic neurotensin. Each area was found to contain IRNT in uneven concentrations. Highest concentrations were present in the hypothalamic areas and the interpeduncular nucleus, values reaching around 80 pg IRNT/mg wet tissue weight. The habenula, subthalamus and preoptic area were also rich in IRNT. A relatively selective distribution of IRNT was found in the thalamic regions. Low values were obtained in the cerebral and cerebellar cortex, striatum, substantia nigra and white matter areas. Among the fiber bundle studied, the olfactory tract contained a significant amount of IRNT. The present finding of a selective distribution of IRNT suggests a specific neuronal action of neurotensin in primate central nervous system.


Effect of neonatal malnutrition on leucine renewal and protein biosynthesis in neurons of rats. Starting 1--3 days before delivery, pregnant rats were fed isocaloric diets containing either a low (5% casein) or a normal (20% casein) level of protein. At 14 days of age, the malnourished pups showed lower body, brain, and forebrain weights. The number of cells in the forebrain was lower and their size was smaller in the malnourished group. In order to study the turnover rate of 14C-leucine in the free amino acid pool and the rate of 14C-leucine incorporation into TCA-precipitable protein in neuronal cell bodies, a neuronal enriched fraction (NEF) was prepared. Malnutrition altered the free amino acid pool of the NEF by increasing the content of lysine+ornithine, glycine, and aspartic and glutamic acids and lowering that of histidine and threonine. The pools of the remaining amino acids were not altered. The turnover rate of free 14C-luecine was reduced to 60% of that of the controls. The rate of 14C-leucine incorporation into TCA-precipitable protein, corrected for its turnover rate in the free pool, was reduced to 64% of that of the controls.


Mixed-image longitudimetry: a new method of length measurement in microscopy. A simple and inexpensive instrument called a longitudimeter for measuring distances in microscopy was constructed from a precision map-measuring device and an electric lamp positioned eccentrically on a stand. A precision better than 1% was readily obtained in measurements of the perimeters of trabecular surfaces in cancellous bone. Mixed-image longitudimetry was devised for length measurements in cancellous bone, but the method seems suitable for a wider application in quantitative microscopy.


Monkey pyramidal tract neurons and changes of movement parameters in visual tracking. During a single-step visual tracking task of monkeys, parametric changes of the wrist extension-flexion movement and related discharge rate changes of pyramidal tract neurons (PTNs) of hand-arm motor area were studied. The task consisted of preparatory, precontraction, contraction and target periods. If the displacement amplitude was changed from narrow (10-20 degrees) to moderate (40 degrees) range, peak velocity, peak acceleration and contraction period increased linearly but precontraction period decreased slightly. In 61 movement-related PTNs, no linear relationships were found between PTN discharge rate during precontraction or contraction period and displacement amplitude, velocity, acceleration, precontraction period or contraction period. In less than 20% of PTNs, however, correlations between PTN discharge rate during precontraction period and velocity or acceleration were found in the moderate range task. It occurred less frequently in narrow range task. It is said in a visual tracking task that PTN activity is not dependent upon factors related to the task parameters, such as velocity, acceleration. Possible related factors were discussed.


Interaction of 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and parathyroid hormone on bone enzymes in vitro. The in vitro effects of vitamin D3 metabolites, parathyroid extract (PTE), purified parathyroid hormone (bPTH), vitamin A, and heparin on acid and alkaline phosphatases in rat or mouse calvaria in culture were investigated. Results show that: (a) when compared to values found in half calvaria incubated for 24 h in control medium, the bone acid and alkaline phosphatase content is significantly higher in paired halves incubated with PTE (L USP/ml), bPTH (4 x 10(-8)M), heparin (5 USP/ml), vitamin A (23 USP/ml), 25-(OH)D3 (2.5 x 10(-11) to 2.5 x 10(-8)M), 24,25-(OH)2D3, and 1,25-(OH)2D3 (2.5 x 10(-12) to 2.5 x 10(-7M); (b) the presence of 24,25-(OH)2D3 at low concentrations in the incubation medium decreases significantly the PTE, bPTH, vitamin A, or heparin induced stimulation of the phosphatase activities. This interaction is also observed when measuring beta glucuronidase and glucose-6-phosphatase activities and 45Ca release from previously labeled mouse calvaria; (c) a similar activity could not be found with 1,25-(OH)2D3 suggesting that 24,25-(OH)2D3 may have a specific role in bone metabolism.


The amelogenin problem: a comparison of purified enamel matrix proteins. Using a combination of gel filtration and DEAE-cellulose chromatography, together with small-scale preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we isolated five proteins (amelogenins) from demineralized bovine fetal dental enamel matrix. These purified proteins were characterized by amino acid analysis and gel electrophoresis. Comparisons of these data with those of other workers suggest that, although there are similarities in the published data between components of comparable electrophoretic mobility, there are gross differences in the reported amino acid compositions. It is suggested that these differences are due not to separative problems arising from reversible aggregations, but to inadequate comparisons of the electrophoretic and amino acid analytical data.


Effect of diphosphonates on hydroxyapatite formation induced by calcium-phospholipid-phosphate complexes. The diphosphonates disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1, 1-diphosphonate (EHDP) and disodium dichloromethylene diphosphonate (Cl2MDP) prevent hydroxyapatite (HA) formation in metastable calcium phosphate solutions, induced by calcium-phospholipid-phosphate complexes and by the acidic phospholipids phosphatidyl serine and phosphatidyl inositol. The diphosphonates appear to act not only as HA crystal poisons but also as surfactants which probably change the nature of the lipid micelle and the charge and conformational properties of the lipid molecules. The surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Non-Idet P-40 (NP-40), like the diphosphonates, prevent HA formation by the acidic phospholipids and complexed lipids, but do not act as HA surface poisons. The lipid surfactant lyso-phosphatidyl serine did not induce HA formation from solution. The relevance of the ability of the diphosphonates to act as lipid surfactants to the in vivo use of these agents is discussed.


Preoperative electrocardiography: its cost-effectiveness in detecting abnormalities when a previous tracing exists. In 812 patients who underwent routine preoperative electrocardiography a mean of 24.6 months after undergoing electrocardiography at the same institution, the frequency of new abnormalities was estimated to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this procedure prior to an operation. New abnormalities were judged to be either relevant or irrelevant to the assessment of operative risk, depending upon their previously demonstrated correlation with operative and postoperative morbidity and mortality. Since new abnormalities, especially new relevant abnormalities, were found to be relatively infrequent, the cost-effectiveness of routine preoperative electrocardiography was considered to be low. The evidence suggested that when a previous tracing exists preoperative electrocardiography is most clearly indicated for patients who are 60 years of age or older or whose previous tracing exhibited abnormalities. However, further research is required to develop more sensitive and specific protocols, and to evaluate the role of repeat electrocardiography in clinical decision-making.


Quality assurance strategies in U.S. and Canadian psychiatry. Quality Assurance Strategies in Psychiatry and Medicine in general have developed rapidly and have been applied widely in the last few years, particularly in the United States. This paper reviews some of those developments both from a methodological and a socio-political point of view. The relevance to the Canadian scene is evaluated, and it is concluded that, although quality assurance is now accepted as an obligation of the health profession, some of the strategies being widely applied in the United States are of questionable value in themselves, and some, particularly cost control techniques, would seem to be irrelevant to the Canadian health field which already has a variety of checks and balances in its universal health insurance system. Though cost control and quality control logically overlap, at times they are allowed to merge and cause conceptual confusion. Finally, as systems are developed in Canada, it is suggested that a means of self-assessment be built in so that the validity and reliability are not in doubt.


Thymidine and thymine in biologic fluids during high-dose infusions of thymidine in mice, monkeys, and man. Measurements were made to determine if millimolar thymidine (TdR) concentrations, shown to have antitumor activity in vitro, could be attained in vivo. An adaptation of an ion-exclusion liquid chromatography method was used to quantitate TdR and thymine in various biologic fluids. Millimolar concentrations of TdR were attained in plasma of mice, monkeys, and man by constant infusions of large quantities of TdR (approximately 80 g/m2/day). Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of TdR at equilibrium were one tenth of the plasma concentration in the monkey. The primary route of removal of TdR at these high plasma concentrations is kidney clearance of intact TdR. Metabolism, which plays a major role in the clearance of TdR at micromolar concentrations in plasma, appears to be saturated at millimolar concentrations of TdR.


Fluorescence histochemical study on regional differences in the sympathetic nerve supply of the choroid plexus from various laboratory animals. The adrenergic nerve supply of the choroid plexus in all four ventricles was studied by the Falck-Hillarp histofluorescence technique in nine different species, and the noradrenaline concentration in whole plexus tissue was determined by a radioenzymatic method. The nerve density was usually in the order: third greater than lateral greater than fourth ventricular plexuses. Plexuses of the pig and cat possessed the largest number of nerves; the innervation was intermediary in the baboon, guinea-pig, rat, rabbit and hamster, whereas only few fluorescent nerves were found in the cow and mouse plexuses. Sympathetic denervation showed an ipsilateral supply from the superior cervical ganglia to the lateral plexuses and a mixed contribution to the midline plexuses. The total noradrenaline concentration varied between 0.10 and 0.73 ng per mg protein.


Glutathione adducts of N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene formed in vivo and by reaction of N-benzoyloxy-N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene with glutathione. N-Benzoyloxy-N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene (N-BzO-MAB) is believed to be an analogue of the ultimate carcinogenic form of N,N-dimethyl-4-aminoazobenzene (DAB). The reaction of N-BzO-MAB with glutathione in vitro yielded one major and two minor aminoazo dye-glutathione adducts. After purification by ion exchange chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography, analysis of chemical properties, and the measurement of ultraviolet, visible, proton magnetic resonance, and mass spectra, the major and one minor adduct were identified as 3-(glutathion-S-yl)-N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene (3-GS-MAB) and 2'-(glutathion-S-yl)-N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene (2'-GS-MAB) respectively. The other minor adduct was tentatively identified as 4'-(glutathion-S-yl)-N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene (4'-GS-MAB). Fractionation and analyses of biliary metabolites from rats given DAB revealed the presence of two aminoazo dye-glutathione adducts. One of these was identical to 3-GS-MAB in its chromatographic and chemical properties and its visible and ultraviolet spectra. The other adduct was partially characterized and judged to be a 4-aminoazobenzene-glutathione adduct. The role of glutathione in the detoxification of carcinogenic aminoazo dyes is discussed.


Binding of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to DNA of cells in culture: a rapid method for its analysis using hydroxylapatite column chromatography. A rapid procedure to study the interaction of carcinogens with DNA in cultured cells has been developed. The cells, which are labeled with 7,12-[3H]dimethylbenz[a] anthracene ([3H]DMBA), are lysed with 0.24 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.8), 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 8 M urea and 0.01 M ethylenediamine-tetraacetate (EDTA) and sonicated. The cell lysates are fractionated on columns of hydroxylapatite. Proteins and RNA are removed with 8 M urea in 0.24 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.8). DMBA-bound DNA is eluted with 0.4 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.8). DMBA-DNA isolated by this procedure is virtually free from proteins and RNA. Thermal stability, ultraviolet spectra and the density of DNA is not altered by DMBA binding. The uptake of DMBA by mouse epidermal cells is rapid and the binding of DMBA to DNA is linear for the first 8 h of exposure. DMBA binds to DNA in all phases of the cell cycle. However, the highest binding occurs immediately following maximum DNA synthesis.


Biochemical effects of pure isomers of hexachlorobiphenyl: fatty livers and cell structure. The effects of a single oral dose (50 mg/kg body wt.) of 3,4,5,3',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCB), 2,4,5,2',4',5'-HCB or 2,3,5,2',3',5'-HCB for a period of 72 h have been studied in the male rat. Only 3,4,5,3',4',5'-HCB caused necrosis of thymocytes. 3,4,5,3',4',5'-HCB caused marked pathological changes in the liver with less marked effects being caused by 2,4,5,2',4',5'-HCB and 2,3,5,2',3',5'-HCB. Total lipid content was increased by all the isomers studied, but 3,4,5,3',4',5'-HCB had more pronounced effect on total lipid content. Lipid accumulation was pericentral in the livers obtained from rats treated with 3,4,5,3',4',5'-HCB, but midzonal in the liver obtained from the rats treated with the other two isomers. Analysis of various lipid fractions showed that triacylglycerols were increased seven-fold only by 3,4,5,3',4',5'-HCB, while phospholipids were increased slightly by 2,4,5,2',4',5'-HCB or 2,3,5,2',3',5'-HCB. Only 3,4,5,3',4',5'-HCB increased the level of total and esterified cholesterol. These results show that the fatty livers caused by 3,4,5,3',4',5'-HCB were qualitatively and quantitatively different from those caused by the other two isomers at the same dose. For the first time a hexachlorobiphenyl unchlorinated in the para position, 2,3,5,2',3',5'-HCB has been shown to be a specific inducer of cytochrome P-450. The effects of 2,3,5,2',3',5'-HCB on cell structure and phospholipid content were quantitatively similar to those caused by 2,4,5,2',4',5'-HCB. Thus, chlorination at para (4,4') positions in chlorobiphenyls is not necessarily required for biological activity. It is hypothesized that net stereoelectronic properties of the isomers or resistance to metabolism may be the underlying factor in determining structure-activity relationships.


Metabolism of benzo[A]pyrene and the related enzyme activities in hamster embryo cells. The rate of metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and changes in related enzyme activities in cultured hamster embryo cells during successive subculture were studied. The activity of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) was the highest when embryo cells were first dispersed in tissue culture flasks and decreased during subsequent passages. On the other hand, UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity increased gradually during successive subculture. Treatment of the cells with 13 nmol/ml of benz[a]anthracene (BA) for 24 h increased the activity of AHH but not that of UDP-glucuronyl transferase. The metabolism of BP was measured in cells of the passages 1, 3 and 7; metabolism of BP was most efficient in cells in passage 3 and their formation of glucuronic acid conjugates of BP, one of the major metabolites found in the medium, was 3- and 10-fold more than those of cells in passages 1 and 7, respectively. Analysis of BP-metabolites extracted from the medium with ethylacetate showed that the main metabolites were 9,10-diol and 7,8-diol. Phenols and quinones were released by treatment of the medium with beta- glucuronidase and their amounts were larger than those of diols at all passages. These results show that in hamster embryo cells in early passage, BP is metabolized to conjugates of phenols with glucuronic acid.


Increased integration of viral genome following chemical and viral treatment of hamster embryo cells. Treatment of hamster embryo cells with diverse classes of chemical carcinogens enhances transformation by a carcinogenic simian adenovirus, SA7. Virus transformed foci selected from plates pretreated with 3-methyl-cholanthrene (MCA), methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) or 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and established as cell lines in culture, contained equivalent amounts of SA7 viral genome. However, hamster embryo cultures treated with MMS or nickel sulfate had increased amounts of SA7 DNA integrated into cellular DNA when examined 2--9 days after chemical treatment and viral inoculation. An increased uptake of SA7 DNA was demonstrated in hamster cells treated with MMS during DNA repair synthesis in cells retricted in scheduled DNA synthesis by amino acid deprivation; addition of virus after the repair period did not result in an increased integration of viral DNA. These data suggest that enhancement of viral oncogenesis by chemical carcinogens or mutagens may be related to the formation of additional attachment sites in cellular DNA for insertion of viral DNA, thereby increasing the probability of viral transformation.


Evidence for translational control of the binding of 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene to DNA of murine epidermal cell in culture. The effects of various inhibitors of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH), antioxidants, inhibitors of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis, and protease inhibitors on the binding of [7,12-3H]dimethylbenz[a]anthracene ([3H] DMBA) to DNA of murine epidermal cells in culture have been investigated. 7,8-Benzoflavone, 5,6-benzoflavone and methyrapone (inhibitors of AAH) and antioxidants, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), efficiently reduced the binding of [3H] DMBA to cellular DNA. Inhibitors of DNA and RNA synthesis did not affect this process whereas inhibitors of protein synthesis suppressed the binding of [3H] DMBA to cellular DNA. Protease inhibitors p-tosylamide-2-phenylchloromethyl ketone (TPCK) and p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) also reduced the interaction between DMBA and DNA. Thus, it appears that binding of DMBA to cellular DNA is regulated at the level of translation or/and post translation.


[Heterogeneous effects of sinusoidal muscular stretching on frequency grams of primary endings due to stimulation of static gamma axons]. The action of sinusoidal stretching at 1,5 Hz on primary ending frequencygrams due to repetitive stimulation of static gamma axons has been studied, in nembutalized cats, on flexor hallucis longus muscle spindles. Whenever, in static conditions, driving is elicited by the repetitive stimulation of gamma axons, the elementary components of the frequencygrams increase in amplitude during muscle stretch. This effect is not observed when the stimulation of the gamma axons gives a regular acceleration of the primary endings without "driving".


[Estimation of systemic catecholamine levels in the frog, using the technic of radio-enzymatic assay]. We have developed a radio-enzymatic assay for systemic catecholamines in the frog. Such are its specificity and sensibility that adrenaline and noradrenaline may be measured in 50 microliter of plasma samples, the withdrawal of which strongly influenced the results. The smaller values were obtained in plasma withdrawn from canulated animals. In this case, adrenaline was the major catecholamine in the plasma: 190 +/- 55 ng/100 ml versus 35 +/- 18 ng/100 ml for noradrenaline.


[Functional inhibition of isolated pancreatic cells, new technic for the detection of macrophage cytotoxicity]. It is usually accepted that macrophages "activated" by lymphokines may be found cytotoxic against tumoral target cells but show no detectable cytotoxicity in in vitro tests using normal non tumoral cells as target cells. These data have been obtained mainly with the chromium-release test. The present paper describes a new test using normal isolated pancreatic cells as target cells and evaluating the effect of activated or non-activated macrophages on the insulin secretion response to glucose stimulation. The results show a striking decrease in this response following an 18-hr incubation of pancreatic islet cells with activated macrophages, as compared to that of the same cells incubated with control macrophages. This is clear evidence that activated macrophages may alter normal cells and suggests that their cytotoxic properties are not restricted to tumoral target cells.


[Presentation and automatic treatment of evolutive data in medicine. Application to clinical pancreatic pathology]. In this paper we propose a method allowing the representation of time-dependent changes in symptomatology. In algorithm, which automatically generates the sequence of stable states in patient's symptomatology evolution, describes slow, as well as fast, variations of diseases. This sequential representation of data can then be analysed by classical statistical procedures in a population of patients suffering from pancreatic diseases, to estimate the rate of global modification of clinical symptomatology in time.


[Renewal of pulmonary insoluble collagen in the adult rat]. Study of polymeric pulmonary collagen in adult Rats showed that about 70% of collagen was renewed with a half-time equal to 525 days. This value is to be compared with the median life-span of this rat strain, 890 days. The remaining 30% of polymeric collagen is renewed with a shorter half time, about 30 days.


[Procaine, a local anesthetic, interacting with the cell membrane and inhibiting the processing of exported protein precursors in Escherichia coli]. In E. coli cells grown in the presence of procaine (0.55% w/v), precursor forms of alkaline phosphatase and of glutamine binding protein accumulate besides mature forms synthesized prior to procaine addition. An experimental technique, of general application, for isolation and purification of mature and precursor forms obtained under these conditions, is described.


[Mesenchyme-associated antigen: a new immunochemical marker of human tumors]. An antiserum raised in Rabbits against brain glycoprotein precipitated an identical antigen in faetal dermis and intestine extracts, and also in non nervous tumors (breast adenocarcinomas and adenofibromas, ovarian cystadenoma, gastric and colonic adenocarcinomas, hepatomas, malignant melanomas, rhabdomvosarcoma, fibrosarcomas). By the indirect immunofluorescence technique, this antigen was always found associated with the mesenchymal proliferation, either malignant (fibrosarcoma) or reactive (fibrous stroma reaction of carcinomas).


[Response to an antiestrogen as a criterion for hormonal sensitivity of endometrial cancer]. A test is described for the evaluation of hormone sensitivity of endometrial cancer in vivo. The concentrations of progesterone and estradiol receptors, and the activities of ornithine-decarboxylase and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid oxido-reductase enzymes have been measured in the tumor, before and after administration of the anti-estrogen tamoxifen. The responses observed, in particular the increase of progesterone receptor, could allow a more rational approach to hormonal therapy of endometrial cancer.


[A fast osmotic transition method for the study of pulmonary transcapillary exchange: theoretical model]. A theoretical model allowed the simultaneous determination of the reflexion coefficients of capillary membrane to small hydrophilic molecules and of the ratios of their permeability to filtration coefficient. This was applied to dilution curves obtained after injection of a hypertonic solution containing a vascular tracer. The calculated variables did not depend on the capillary exchange surface area.


[Distribution of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and somatostatin in the skin of the green frog (Rana esculenta)]. High concentrations of Thyrotrophin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) have been found in the dorsal skin of the Frog Rana esculenta, lower levels being measured in the ventral skin. alpha-MSH and somatostatin were undetectable in these tissues. Nor was TRH detected in the blood of these animals. The concentration of somatostatin in the pancreas was similar to that of the hypothalamus and twice or one hundred times higher than in the intestine or stomach respectively.


[Energy transfer from tryptophan to 1, N6-ethenoadenosine in frozen aqueous solution]. Mixed aggregates of tryptophan and 1, N6-ethenoadenosine (epsilon Ado) are formed in frozen aqueous solutions at 77 K. In these aggregates one observes a quenching of tryptophan fluorescence by small amounts of epsilon Ado together with a sensitized fluorescence of epsilon Ado. About 70 tryptophan molecules are able to transfer their energy to one epsilon Ado molecule.


[Stimulation of induction or inhibition of crown-gall tumor development by RNA-fragments U2. Interference by auxin]. RNA-fragments U2 obtained by mild degradation with RNase U2 of ribosomal RNA containing A and G nucleotides in excess are capable of exhibiting either a stimulatory effect on the induction of Crown-gall tumors or an inhibitory action on their subsequent development. These different effects are dependent on the moment at which RNA-fragments were introduced into wounded Pea seedlings infected by Agrobacterium tumefaciens B6. The results obtained in vitro and in vivo suggest that an interaction between auxin and RNA-fragments U2 may take place, either increasing the tumor induction or inhibiting the proliferation of tumourous cells.


[Construction of derivatives of lambda phage carrying the lamB gene inserted downstream from the promotors of the lactose operon]. The expression of gene lamB, the structural gene for the lambda receptor in E. coli K-12, has been put under the control of the promoter of the lactose operon. This has been done by in vitro recombination using vectors which are derivatives of phage lambda.


[Transient photopotential of rhodopsin on a vesicle preparation of retinal rod membranes]. A potentiometric technique allowed us to observe and measure a photopotential of rhodopsin containing vesicles obtained from retinal disc membranes. The signal is proportional to the unbleached amount of rhodopsin in the sample, is photoreversible, related to some stages of photoconversion of the protein, and is nearly insensitive to modifications of physicochemical parameters.


[Electrophoretic profiles of proteins and glycoproteins of chick embryo fibroblasts during development]. The variations of proteins and glycoproteins of Chick embryo fibroblasts are studied during development. This investigation is carried out using polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis in SDS. Two glycoproteins of high apparent molecular weight (250,000 and 200,000) undergo quantitative modification: they increase from the 8th to 12th day of development and then remain unchanged to the 16th day. They are cell surface components as suggested by fluorescamine labelling and trypsin sensitivity. The results are discussed in terms of relationship between tumor- and embryo cells.


[A new variety of acute non-promyelocytic leukemia with t(15;17)]. Three cases of a new variety of acute leukemia have been reported. The main features were: hyperleukocytosis made of large-sized blasts with a double shaped nucleus, few or no granulations in the cytoplasm, and in a few cell faggots or unique Auer rods; mycloperoxydase reaction was positive. This feature was associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome and t(15;17)(q22;q21) translocation in the majority of mitoses.


[Rheumatism caused by lipid thesaurismosis. Articular involvement in hyperlipoproteinemia type II : presence of microcrystals in the mitochondria of synoviocytes]. For 13 years polyarthritis with specific synovial involvement was observed in a case of type II hyperlipoproteinemia. Microcrystals similar to those described in Gaucher's and Fabry's disease were seen in synovial cytoplasm and mitochondria. These data suggest a microcrystalline pathogenesis for type II hyperlipoproteinemia arthritis as in gout and chondrocalcinosis.


[Influence of the thymus hormone on radioleucosis in mice]. A partially purified thymic extract has determined the development of leucosis in 10 thymectomized irradiated CC57Bl mice out of 25. The pure hormone isolated from the same extract prevented the development of leucosis in intact irradiated Mice. This seems to indicate the presence of a second active substance in the extract (enhancing the development of the leucosis).


[Immunohistochemistry of the basal plate of the full-term human placenta : x cell characterization with anti-hCS and anti-hCG sera labeled with peroxidase]. Immunohistochemical reaction with peroxydase has been applied in human full-term placentas for the detection of the cells of the basal plate containing hCG and hCS. This reaction was positive with both optic and electronic microscopes in the so-called X cells. This fact seems to confirm the trophoblastic origin and the endocrine function of the cells.


[The cause of the primary asymmetry of germ cell distribution in the gonadal primordia of chick embryo]. The primary asymmetry of the distribution of PGCs in the germinal epithelia of the chick embryo is the result of a numerically unequal distribution of these cells in the left and right vascular networks. A statistical proportionality exists between the increases in the degree of primary asymmetry and those in the degree of asymmetry of distribution in the circulation.


[Effect of the gas phase of cigarette smoke on the rate of sister chromatid exchanges in human lymphocytes in vitro]. A technique of differential staining of chromatids after BudR treatment enabled us to study the influence of the gas phase of cigarette smoke on human lymphocytes. We ascertained that the number of exchanges increased in proportion to the concentration of gas phase extant in the medium. Moreover, the base-line exchange rate was a little higher in smokers than in nonsmokers.


[Localization of immunoreactive sites with anti met-enkephalin and anti alpha-endorphin sera in carp brain]. In the brain of the Carp an anti met-enkephalin serum reveals some telencephalic fibres, about half of the N.P.O. cells and furthermore a subependymal zone of nervous tissue close to the third ventricle of the superior hypothalamus and thalamus. These structures do not react with an anti alpha-endorphin serum, which however reveals cells of the lateral N.L.T. and the corresponding fibres.


[Presence of lectin-like substances in the basement membrane of the human kidney glomerulus]. Crude extracts from the human glomerular basement membranes solubilized by pepsin or bacterial collagenase agglutinate normal or transformed human cells. Cytoagglutination is inhibited by N-acetyl-osamines. These properties are reminiscent of lectins. When agglutinated cells are incubated for an additional 20 hrs. period in minimal serum free medium but in presence of these basement membrane extracts, they attach to the glass and spread out.


[Differentiation and tumorigenicity of human malignant melanocytes. Comparative study of two "non pigmented" and pigmented lines from the same fibroblastoid cells]. A morphological, caryological and biochemical study of two established cell lines of human malignant melanocytes derived from the same original tumour, when compared with heterotransplantation results in nude Mice, showed that "non-pigmented" cells are more tumorigenic than pigmented cells. Differentiation and tumorigenicity, although concomitant, here seem to be two independent phenomena.


[In vitro malignant transformation of hamster lung cells by 2-chlorobutadiene]. Normal Hamster lung cells from an established line were treated with 1-500 microgram . ml-1 2-chlorobutadiene. Those treated with 1 microgram . ml-1 of the compound showed malignant transformations 14 weeks after treatment. The treatment with higher concentrations did not accelerate the transformation process.


[Blood histamine and response of spleen cells to phytohemagglutinins during moderate magnesium deficiency in the rat]. Blood histamine and spleen cell stimulation index by PHA were determined in either magnesium deficient or control Rats. Between the 10th and 17th days of diet (hyperemia and dermatosis period), histaminemia was significantly higher in deficient animals (485 ng/ml) than in control ones (112 ng/ml), but at the 32nd day it came back to normal values. The mean spleen cell stimulation index by PHA was depressed in deficient animals mainly between the 10th and 17th day of the deficiency; 33% of control mean value. A negative correlation is found between histamine level and stimulation index.


[Experimental bases and primary trials of photochemotherapy of psoriasis by a non-cancerigenic monofunctional furocoumarin, 3-carbethoxypsoralen]. The carcinogenic risk of the photochemotherapy (PUVA) with bifunctional furocoumarins such as 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) forming cross-links in cellular DNA has initiated a search for active but less dangerous psoralens. The 3-carbethoxypsoralen (3-CPs), studied in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been very photoactive on DNA forming only monoadditions to DNA. In Mice it was demonstrated that after local or intra-peritoneal administration, 3-CPs is non toxic, non erythematogenic and non carcinogenic in contrast to 8-MOP. A limited study on ten psoriatic patients has shown that after local application 3-CPs exhibits about the same therapeutic activity as 8-MOP.


[Occurrence of circulating immunocytes in the process of graft rejection in nemertines of the genus Lineus (acelomate invertebrates)]. Performed upon bispecific Lineus chimaeras of a suitable constitution, the grafting of tissues excised from nemerteans of a third Lineus species resulted in a confrontation between graft cells, fixed cells from one chimaera component and mobile cells which originate from the second chimaera component. Survival of such grafts was dependent only upon compatibility in the "graft cells/mobile cells of recipient" interspecific combination. This result shows evidence for the existence of circulating immunocompetent cells which are responsible for the specific immune response to tissue transplantation in nemerteans of the genus Lineus.


[Primary and secondary cerebral lesions produced by kainic acid injections in the rat]. Systematic (i. p.) or intra-amygdaloid injections of kainic acid elicit typical generalised convulsive seizures with typical electrographic correlates. Depending on the survival time and the amount of neurotoxin administered, secondary pathological damage is invariably found in various brain structures removed from the injection site such as various hippocompal fields, midline thalamic nuclei and neocortical layers III and VI. Various lines of evidence are reported which suggest that the secondary pathological damage is not due to the spread of the neurotoxin but to the epileptic status it induces.


[Ultrastructural demonstration of transferrin synthesis in the adult rat liver]. An ultrastructural immunoenzymatic study allowed us to demonstrate in Rat adult hepatocytes the presence of transferrin on the rough endoplasmic reticulum and in the Golgi apparatus. Such localizations suggest that the different steps of transferrin synthesis could possibly be related topographically to them. These results further an approach to the problems of maturation and secretion of transferrin.


[Molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase in the chicken ciliary ganglion; changes after denervation, axotomy and double section]. Four main molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), with sedimentation coefficients of 5, 7.5, 11.5 and 20 S, are found in Chicken ciliary ganglion. After denervation, the loss in 11.5 and 20 S forms occuring in 48 hrs coincides with the disappearance of presynaptic structures. In contrast, axotomy induces an early and durable increase in 7.5 S form. From these results, it is inferred that 11.5 and 20 S forms are predominant in presynaptic structures and 7.5 S form is mainly postsynaptic. In addition, the effects observed after simultaneous denervation and axotomy show a reciprocal control between pre- and postsynaptic elements. Finally, a trans-synaptic effect is exerted on 20 S AChE in controlateral ganglion after preganglionic sections.


[Cellular fusion induced in vitro by the mouse scrapie agent]. A method is described to demonstrate and measure the cell-fusion in vitro induced by viruses. This technique has been established using Sendai virus. It has been used to study the fusing ability of the Scrapie agent which is responsible of a slowly progressing spongiform encephalopathy in Mice. In Vero cells, the Scrapie agent induces a fusion which appears slowly and remains moderate. This test can help to detect the human spongiform encephalopathies.


[A fast transient osmotic method. Simultaneous in vivo determination of the reflexion coefficient and of the permeability/filtration coefficient ratio of the pulmonary capillary endothelium in the dog]. Thermodynamic variables characterizing the transport of water and urea across Dog pulmonary capillary membrane were obtained in vivo by means of a pulse transient osmotic method. Results were inconsistent with the hypothesis of a homoporous membrane. When data were interpreted in terms of an exclusive water channel and of a shared pore pathway, the value of the pore reflexion coefficient was close to zero for urea.


[The corneal stroma and its physical properties]. The author has studied the correlation existing between the transparency of the corneal stroma and its microscopic fine structure. The paper is an analysis of the results obtained through diffraction and specular approaches. In addition, the paper gives an objective means to determine the ocular spectral characteristics.


[Production and detection of antibody against estradiol receptor in the calf uterus. Interaction with the estrogen receptor from the hen oviduct]. The antibodies against estrogen receptor were obtained after injecting Rabbits with a cytoplasmic receptor fraction isolated from Calf uterus. The estrogen receptor was partially proteolysed by the action of trypsin and subsequently purified by affinity chromatography (purification 4,000 to 10,000 fold, to a purity of 5-20%). The affinity of the antibody for the proteolysed receptor is KD approximately 1 nM and serum titres have reached values of approximately 50 nM. The values remained constant after the third injection. Preliminary results indicate that the antibody has approximately the same affinity for "native" cytoplasmic estrogen receptor from Calf uterus, as well as for the "trypsinized" forms of estrogen receptor isolated from Calf uterine cytosol and Hen oviduct nuclei.


[Ligase activity of lig- bacteria infected with mu bacteriophage at non-permissive temperatures]. Infection of bacteria E. coli lig ts7, which contain a thermosensitive ligase by phage Mu results in a decrease in the sensitivity to the lethal action of ultraviolet irradiation and stimulation of lysogenization among the surviving cells. These observations suggest the existence of a phage coded ligase which has the character of an integrase.


[Measurement of the position and intensity of chromosomal denaturation bands by an automatic system]. The band density profile of a marked chromosome was obtained using a photodiode collector combined with a minicalculator, working with an ordinary photographic document. The measurement was carried out over 10 to 20 300-point lines oriented longitudinally along the chromosome. The profile obtained corresponds to the sum of the values of each of these lines. The proposed systems's originality resides in its ability to determine the position and intensity of a band over the entire thickness of the chromosome.


[Calcium and magnesium deficiency and C3 fraction of complement]. The third (C3) and fourth (C4) components of complement and C3 proactivator (C3PA) were determined in 55 children with low serum levels of calcium and magnesium and 30 normal children. The concentrations of serum C3, C4 and C3PA were significantly reduced in children with double deficiences of calcium and magnesium. There were significant correlations between calcium and C3 and magnesium and C3PA. The relations between calcium, magnesium and the classical or alternate pathway of complement systems are discussed.


[Measurement of fluorescence decay of substances absorbed by an isolated living cell: an experimental device and early results]. A microfluorometric system allowing the mesurements of fluorescence decay (i.e. fluorescence lifetime) has been built. It will complete the microspectrofluorometric studies of absorbed compounds-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metabolites of benzo (a) pyrene-by single living cells and allows a better understanding of the intake and metabolisation of these compounds. The preliminary results with benzo (a) pyrene, dibenzocarbazole, pyrene are shown.


[A vector system designed to allow excretion of a protein encoded by a cloned gene]. We describe a method which should allow construction of bacterial strains able to export a given protein through the cytoplasmic membrane. The principle is to fuse the structural gene of the protein to the proximal part of gene lamB, the structural gene of the lambda receptor, an outer membrane protein of E. coli K-12.


[Adsorption of phospholipids by chrysotile fibers : comparison of data from chemical analysis and photoelectron spectrometry (PSX method)]. The adsorption of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline (DPPC) by chrysotile fibers was carried out by chemical and photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The adsorption isotherms have shown that maximum adsorption was about 130 microgram of DPPC per milligram of chrysotile. The results are in good agreement with estimates of a bilayer adsorption.


[Effects of S-adenosylmethionine and S-adenosylhomocysteine on in vivo synthesis of noradrenaline and serotonin in different parts of the rat brain]. S-adenosylmethionine (0,1 mg/kg/ip) decreases in vivo, norepinephrine (NE) synthesis and does not affect 5-hydroxytryptamine (5 HT) synthesis in the Rat brain. S-adenosylhomocysteine (7 mg/kg/ip) increases NE synthesis and decreases 5 HT synthesis. Neither nucleoside affects dopamine synthesis.


[Plasma growth hormone in the rabbit fetus. Relation to maturation of the liver and lung]. Day 25 after insemination is a date of peculiar importance in the maturation of several organs in the Rabbit fetus. From day 25 onward the fetal liver stores increasing amounts of glycogen and the lung stores increasing amounts of lecithins, concomitant with sudden rise in the activity of lung phosphatidic-acid phosphohydrolase. Earlier studies on decapitated fetuses established that glycogen storage in the liver is dependent on a dual hormonal control, comprising a pituitary hormone like growth hormone or prolactin (some placental hormones share the same activity) and corticosteroids (Jost, 1961). Since the variations in endogenous corticosteroids do not seem to herald these liver or lung changes (Mulay et al., 1973), a study was made of growth hormone. Plasma immunoreactive growth hormone--determined with a heterologous Rat system (Kervran et al., 1976)--increases eightfold between days 23 and 25. During the same time plasma prolactin does not change according to McNeily and Friesen, 1978, and to unpublished data obtained with Dr McNeilly. In preliminary assays, Rat growth hormone was seen to increase phosphorylase "a" activity in the lung of 18.5 day-old Rat fetuses, thus anticipating normal development. We suggest that growth hormone plays a role in initiating liver and lung maturation.


[Biochemical effects of reperfusion after regional myocardial ischemia of different duration in the open chest dog]. Restoration of blood flow after 15 or 45 min. of ischemia induced an immediate recovery of phosphocreatine level and adenylate energy charge whereas ATP and total adenine nucleotides remained significantly below their normal values. These results prove that oxidative phosphorylations are not impaired but that a pool of myocardial adenine nucleotides is lost during ischemia which cannot be restored shortly after reperfusion. The significance of energy charge as a regulatory parameter in the myocardium is discussed.


[Seasonal variation in plasma testosterone in a teleost fish]. The plasma free testosterone levels show distinct variations related to the seasonal testicular cycle. The conjugated testosterone presents correlative but not strictly parallel changes.


[Effects of estradiol-7 alpha-butyric acid on hypothalamus cells]. When Rat uterus was incubated at 37 degrees with estradiol-7 alpha-butyric acid (OII-7 alpha-bu), no interference was observed with the intracellular estradiol receptors. In addition, OII-7 alpha-bu did not display estrogenic effect such as in vivo inhibition of LH secretion in Rat and in vitro increased activity of the enzyme ornithine-decarboxylase in the chick oviduct. Contrary to these negative findings, we have observed preoptic and septal cells in the guinea pig where micro-iontophoresis of OII-7 alpha-bu triggers changes of the electric activity within a second. We submit therefore, that this latter response is due to an interaction between the acid estrogen and the neuron membrane.


[Ribosomal crystallization and hibernation in a viviparous lizard]. Part of the ribosomes crystallize in the ovarian follicles during hibernation. The association between ribosomes crystals and endoplasmic reticulum membranes depends on the cell types of the follicle. The cytoplasm of oocytes with a nucleolus shows ribosome crystals. In larger oocytes, without nucleolus, there is no ribosome crystallization. The ribosomes which crystallize would be newly synthesized.


[Immunocytologic differentiation of hypophyseal innervation in carp using anti met-enkephalin and anti-alpha-endorphin serums]. The immunocytological reactions with anti-met-enkephalin and anti-alpha-endorphin reveal two types of fibres in the intermediate lobe of the Carp. Their pathways through the adenohypophysis and the localization of their terminals are different. The anti-met-enkephalin positive fibres terminate mainly in a zone close to the proximal pars distalis; however some fibres terminate deeper in the intermediate lobe. The anti-alpha-endorphin positive fibres penetrate mainly in the central and ventral part where thye are more numerous than the former. It seems that the anti-met-enkephalin positive fibres belong to the gomori positive preoptico-hypophyseal tract, whereas the anti-alpha-endorphin positive fibres are gomori negative.


[Experimental studies on the symmetry reaction of axolotl oocytes and eggs: factors affecting the early appearance of the grey crescent following heat shock]. A heat-shock (36.8 degrees C for 10 min.) can induce the immediate appearance of the grey crescent in a high proportion of freshly laid fertilised or artificially activated Axolotl eggs, but only if that shock occurs within 1 h 30 min. following deposit of eggs (at 18 degrees C) and if eggs are not dejellied. On non-activated virgin eggs, the heat-shock is efficient during at least 3 hrs. This symmetry reaction can be induced on in vitro artificially matured oocytes, still protected by follicular cells. It is uncommon in oocytes taken from coelomic cavity or from the anterior part of the oviduct, but occurs with a high frequency as soon as the occytes are coated with the innermost and medium jelly layers.


[Determination of apparent mean mass of proteins associated with heme in the hemoglobin molecule of Arenicola marina (L.), Annelida, Polychaeta]. Protein and iron concentrations and maximum combined oxygen concentration were measured in the blood of the lugworm Arenicola marina. The calculated mean molecular mass of the heme-associated proteins was higher than that reported for known invertebrate and vertebrate intracellular hemoglobins. The difference is probably due to the presence of polypeptide chains not linked to heme groups in the extracellular annelid hemoglobins.


[Demonstration of cobalt in histological sections using ion microanalysis by high mass resolution : application to the study of experimental chronic epilepsy in the rat]. Cobalt is specifically detected in ion microanalysis by high mass resolution. This method allows detection of the remaining cobalt in histological sections of Rat's cortex, after treatment by topic application of cobalt powder and demonstrates a diffusion of the metal into the epileptic area.


[Coating of centrospheres by reticulum cisternae and formation of spindle residues in segmentation mitosis under the action of an antitubulin substance: nocodazole]. When cleaving eggs are treated by nocodazole the reticulum cisternae coat the centrospheres instead of the chromosomes, as normally occurs at the late anaphase. At the same time the spindle is reduced to a common mass or spindle remnant, constituted of unorientated and fragmented microtubules which embed the kinetochores, i. e. the star configuration of the chromosomes. This action is quite similar to that of chloralhydrate but is different from that of colchicine.


[Placing the activity rhythm in Araneus cornutus]. Araneus cornutus spiderling activities recorded from hatching to scattering show a particular distribution of the general motor activity over a 24-hour period. More motor activity is first observed during the light sequence, while at a nocturnal activity distribution appears after the 2nd nymphean ecdysis.


[Effect of gonadal extract of Helix aspersa Müller in the dominant male stage on in-vitro gametogenesis in juvenile and adult animals]. Juvenile and adult gonads of Helix aspersa Müller have been cultivated with or without gonadal extract of animals at the male stage. With this extract a better survival of the germinative epithelium and development of the different stages of meiosis in the male cells are observed.


[Methylmercury toxicity in insect: detection of mercury in lysosomes using electron microprobe]. Intoxication of Blattella by methylmercury leads to a storage of the ingested metal within the lysosomes of ileum. Mercury is always found associated with zinc, sulphur and copper. Lysosome, therefore, intervenes in a detoxication process in Insects which have been exposed to organic mercury. It is suggested that mercury might be trapped by metallothionein.


[Study of a correlation between glycolipids and tumorigenesis in 6 cell lines derived from human brain tumors]. By silica gel chromatography we have studied the various glycolipids of six established lines derived from human brain tumors. Among the glycolipids, the GM3 ganglioside appeared as one of the major components in the three lines rejected by athymic nude Mice. On the contrary, GM3 was absent, or present in trace, in the three tumorigenic lines.


A placebo-controlled trial of ketotifen (HC 20-511, Sandoz) in allergen induced asthma and comparison with disodium cromoglycate. Ketotifen failed to protect against cat fur allergen induced asthma in a double blind placebo-controlled trial in ten asthmatic children. Disodium cromoglycate gave effective protection against the immediate and the late asthmatic reactions but there were no significant differences between the effects of ketotifen and a placebo.


T-, B- and Fc-gamma-receptor-bearing lymphocytes in asthma. T-, B- and Fc-gamma-receptor-bearing lymphocytes were detected using six different membrane markers in patients suffering from asthma having either normal or low serum IgA levels. E rosettes, aE rosettes and a human anti-T lymphocyte antiserum (HTLA) were used for T cell determination. In patients with low serum IgA levels E rosettes were significantly decreased. B lymphocytes were identified by EAC rosette formation and visualization of surface membrane immunoglobulins (SmIg). No significant difference was seen. Fc-gamma-receptor-bearing lymphocytes were assessed by the EA rosette assay and were significantly decreased in asthmatics with normal IgA levels. This result might be explained by the presence of immune complexes.


Group comparative trial of 2% sodium cromoglycate (Opticrom) with placebo in the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. A double-blind group comparative trial comparing Opticrom with a matching placebo, over a four-week period, in seasonal allergic conjunctivitis is reported. Overall assessment of treatment benefit made at the end of the trial by the patients and the clinician showed a statistically significant difference in favour of Opticrom. Of the patients on Opticrom, eighteen (90%) said they improved while in the clinicians opinion, seventeen (85%) improved. Six patients using Opticrom and five using placebo complained of stinging of the eyes, while one patient using placebo complained of his eyes becoming bloodshot and watering.


Viable and total cell masses in dental plaque as measured by bioluminescence methods. Bioluminescence methods have been applied to the measurement of the viable and total cell masses of small samples of dental plaque. The total adenine nucleotide content of dental plaque samples and of a pure culture of bacteria was determined and the adenylate energy charge calculated from this. When a pure culture of bacteria was killed with heat, the adenylate energy charge decreased exponentially with duration of treatment and corresponded with a decrease in the count of viable organisms.


McArdle's disease: a study on the molecular basis of two different etiologies of myophosphorylase deficiency. Three patients with myophosphorylase deficiency were investigated. Two had no detectable activity, while one had 1% residual activity. The patient with 1% residual activity had 40% of the normal amount of myophosphorylase protein. No myophosphorylase protein could be detected in the other two cases. A precipitin band in the Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion test was not present in any case. This study showed that modifying the normal enzyme (without changing the molecular weight) changed the immunoprecipitin activity of the phosphorylase protein. Therefore, immunoprecipitation is not a valid technique for differentiation of the variants of myophosphorylase deficiency, and another method, for example SDS-electrophoresis, should be applied.


Detection of immune complexes by a new assay, the polyethylene glycol precipitation-complement consumption test (PEG-CC). A new assay for the detection of circulating immune complexes, the polyethylene glycol precipitation-complement consumption assay (PEG-CC), is described. The test is both simple and sensitive, and exhibits a high degree of specificity. Immune complexes are first isolated from serum by precipitation in 2.5% polyethylene glycol (PEG) and concentrated. They are then assayed functionally by measuring their ability to fix complement using a sensitive kinetic assay for total haemolytic complement. The test can detect aggregated IgG in serum at concentrations around 6.0 micrograms/ml (about 2.0 micrograms absolute. Using DNA-anti-DNA and ovalbumin-anti-ovalbumin immune complexes prepared in vitro, antigen concentrations less than 0.5 micrograms/ml can be detected. Interference by endogenous complement, polyanions and other factors in test sera has been virtually eliminted by the design of the assay. The increased specificity of the PEG-CC test for immune complexes, should prove useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of immune complex-mediated diseases.


Activation of the alternative pathway of human complement by haemoglobin. Haemoglobin solutions (concentration greater than 1.5 mg/ml), prepared from lysates of erythrocytes from a normal subject and from a patient with sickle cell anaemia, caused factor B and C3 cleavage and loss of haemolytic activity of factor B wehn incubated with fresh autologous serum. Under the same experimental conditions, preparations of erythrocyte stroma or of buffycoat lysates did not produce factor B and C3 cleavage. This reaction required Mg++ but not C1q or C4, indicating that the alternative complement pathway was activated.