Correlation between streptomycin resistance and symbiotic properties of Rhizobium. I. Conversion of spheroplastizing, effective R. trifolii strain B1 to avirulent rods with changed phage and antibiotic patterns after mutation to high level of streptomycin resistance. Rhizobium trifolii strain B1, which is infective and fixes nitrogen during symbiosis with clover plants, shows a peculiar property to undergo morphological change during growth, i.e. rods are changing into spheroplast-like forms. Moreover, it failed to grow at 38 degrees. It was found that mutation to high level of streptomycin resistance (above 1000 microgram per/ml) caused loss of this property. Further studies showed that simultaneously with the changes in streptomycin resistance other features of this strain were also changed: infectivity for clover plants, sensitivity to high temperature, phages and antibiotics. Mutation to low level of streptomycin resistance did not change the above mentioned features of the strain B1.


The transfer of bacterial biotin genes to Escherichia coli K-12 cells by transfection with lambda bio phage DNA. The transfection of biotin genes to biotin negative Escherichia coli K-12 cells with donor DNA isolated from transducing lambda bio phages was examined. The transfection of the cells was performed in the presence of bovine serum albumin and sucrose (Osowiecki and Skalińska, 1974).


Fimbriae and haemagglutinating properties in Edwardsiella and Levinea. Using the haemagglutinating procedure, the presence of fimbriae was revealed in all 34 Edwardsiella strains tested and in 3 Levinea strains out of 17 examined. The great majority of fimbriate Edwardsiella strains caused haemagglutination of MR type; only two strains of Edwardsiella and all fimbriate strains of Levinea brought about haemagglutination of MS type. All the strains exhibited a similar spectrum of haemagglutinating activity when they were tested against red cells of various animal species. Under the electron microscope MR fimbriae of Edwardsiella were found to be thicker than MS fimbriae (6.5 nm and 6.0 nm respectively). MS fimbriae of Levinea had 6.5 nm in diameter.


Synthesis of auxins from tryptophan and tryptophan-precursors by fungi isolated from mycorrhizae of pine (Pinus silvestris L.). Fungi isolated from mycorrhizae of pine required tryptophan for auxin synthesis. More auxins were found in culture grown with pyrogallol than in those without this compound. The fungi studied produced also auxins from other than tryptophan compounds. Indole employed with serine was more suitable for the production of auxins than indole or anthranilic acid used separately. The active compounds showing auxin activity were located on the chromatograms at Rf 0.2--0.4 and 0.3--0.5 with the solvent system isopropanol, ammonia, water (10:1:1 v/v).


Mixed cultures of different yeasts species and yeasts with filamentous fungi in the SCP production. I. Production of single cell protein by mixed cultures Candida lipolytica and Candida tropicalis. The aim of this study was to determine the application of mixed cultures Candida lipolytica and Candida tropicalis in the SCP production. N-paraffin fraction of crude oil and individual n-alkanes C:7--C:17 and glucose were used as carbon sources. The cultures were grown on laboratory scale in shaking flasks and in a 7 1 fermentor. It was found that the mixed cultures gave about 18% higher yield of biomass than the individual cultures.


Synthesis of cellulase by Fusarium sp. in different culture conditions. The mechanism of the synthesis of cellulases by Fusarium sp. strain was studied. It was found that a significant role in determination of cellulases is played by the adsorption of these enzymes on cellulose. The aeration level of the culture media had a significant effect on the synthesis as well as on the enzymatic complexity of cellulases.


Casein degradation and amino acid liberation in milk by two highly proteolytic strains of lactic acid bacteria. Amongst 100 isolates of lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus feacalis proved to be highly proteolytic as demonstrated by starch gel electrophoresis and liberation of various amino acids. Both these organisms hydrolysed casein differently to produce different concentrations of amino acids.


Purification of Clostridium toxoids.

Purification of Clostridium toxoids. A two-step fractionation procedure was applied for purification and concentration of the individual Clostridium toxoids. The toxoids were precipitated with hydrochloric acid in the presence of sodium sextametaphosphate, then antigenic fractions were separated from inactive contaminants by Sephadex G-75 filtration. Specific activity of the preparations thus obtained, as determined by Mancini radial immunodiffusion, was 150--565 binding units per mg of protein nitrogen for Clostridium perfringens toxoid, 204--352 binding units for Clostridium oedematiens toxoid and 26.6 -- 51.2 binding units for Clostridium septicum toxoid.


Effect of boron and cadmium on nitrogen fixation in soil. The influence of different doses of boron (100, 500 and 1000 ppm) and cadmium (50, 100, 500, 1000 and 2000 ppm) on the activity of nitrogen fixation in the sandy and alluvial soil has been studied. Almost all doses of boron stimulated this process except 1000 ppm of B added to the sandy soil. All the doses of cadmium also exerted a positive effect on the nitrogen fixation, but only during the first 3 months of the experiment, later (after 12 months) Cd decreased the activity of this process. The most marked effect to the examined elements was pronounced in the sandy soil.


Microorganisms as indices of environmental pollution by smelting industry. The aim of the study was to prove suitability of some microbiological tests for determination of the degree of soil pollution by copper industry. The microbiological tests reveal sensitivity to metal compounds present in dusts emitted by smelters. The sensitivity of the selected strains to the dust present in the agar medium and soil has been determined and 30 strains, of which 50% reacted to the presence of 1--2 g of the dust in medium, were recommended for the tests. The tests showed accumulation of heavy metals contained in the dust mainly in the upper soil horizons and the highest pollution with the dust approximately 800 m away from the emitor in northeastern direction, which is the direction of prevailing winds of that area. The results obtained are in accordance with theoretical assumption as well as with the literature based on chemical analyses of polluted soil.


Secretion and crinophagy in prolactin cells. The mammotroph or prolactin-secreting cell, due to its distinctive fine structure, large granules, and sustained survival in vitro, has been a favorite object for studying mechanisms of pituitary secretion and its control. In this review the structural basis of prolactin secretion is summarized and the proposed sequence of intracellular events involved in prolactin secretion together with their site of loaction is outlined. The available evidence validating the various steps in prolactin secretion and their regulation is summarized. Finally, some of the unresolved problems remaining for the future are pinpointed.


Liberation of endogenous compounds by tolazoline. The anomalous cardiac stimulation by tolazoline (2-benzyl-2-imidazoline), and alpha-adrenergic blocking agent, appears to result from the release of histamine and catecholamines. These responses can be blocked by metiamide and propranolol, respectively. It is probably that tolazoline also releases acetylcholine from the guinea pig atria. The direct effect of tolazoline on chronotropic activity of atrial pairs after blockade appears to be depressant at high concentrations, and this decrease in rate, below control levels, is not blocked by atropine.


The effect of beta-adrenergic blocking drugs and inhibitors of phosphodiestease on histamine release from isolated mast cells. Differences in the histamine liberation from isolated rat mast cells after beta-adrenergic blocking drugs were demonstrated. In equimolar concentrations histamine release was induced by Kö 1124, Kö 1500, Kö 1560, Kö 1561 and propranolol. Alprenolol, oxprenolol, propranolol, and trimepranol significantly decreased thehistamine release induced by compound 48-80. The release of granules from cells was inhibited quantitatively more than the release of histamine. This enabled us to surmise the selective effect of beta-adrenergic blocking drugs on cell membranes of mast cells. The possible mechanisms of release reaction are discussed.


The place of 57Co-bleomycin scanning in the evaluation of tumors. The clinical records and imaging studies of 140 patients who had 57Co-bleomycin scans were reviewed. In 53% of the patients with known tumor at the time of examination, all clinically demonstrable lesions picked up cobalt. The success rate was particularly high in carcinoma of the lung (15 of 17) and gastrointestinal tract (12 of 17). The major role of cobalt bleomycin seems to be as an early screening test for metastases in patients with carcinoma of the lung, gastrointestinal tract, and uterus. The scan is most useful in demonstrating spread to the brain, liver, and adrenals.


Epinephrine-enhanced renal angiography in renal mass lesions: is it worth performing? In our experience, properly performed epinephrine-enhanced angiography is a useful technique to improve accuracy in the angiographic diagnosis of renal masses. This pharmacologic enhancement is helpful in establishing the benignity of some lesions, clearly establishing malignancy in those questionable by routine angiography, and actually detecting malignant lesions not seen at all on unenhanced angiograms. Six examples of these situations are illustrated. The basic principles and pitfalls in the performance of the technique as well as its limitations are discussed.


Use of the bone marrow imprint in the diagnosis of leukemic reticuloendotheliosis ("hairy cell leukemia"). Leukemic reticuloendotheliosis is a distinct entity, often misdiagnosed as chronic lymphocytic leukemia or lymphoma. The neoplastic cells have a specific tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoenzyme by which the diagnosis may be secured. Most individuals are leukopenic, and when, as in our case, rare or no circulating cells with tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity are found in the peripheral blood, an alternate site must be sought. Bone marrow aspirations often result in "dry taps," however, and cryostat sections of the bone marrow biopsy necessary to demonstrate tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity are involved and impractical to obtain for most laboratories. This report illustrates and recommends the simple technic of imprinting the core biopsy, which yields a satisfactory sample with which the specific cytochemical activity can be demonstrated.


Frequency of satellite association of human chromosomes is correlated with amount of Ag-staining of the nucleolus organizer region. Methaphase chromosomes from karyotypically normal adult humans (three males, six females) and one male with a 13p - chromosome were stained by quinacrine and then by the Ag-AS silver staining method to reveal nucleolus organizer regions (NORs). Each person had a characteristic number of Ag-stained chromosomes per cell, always fewer than 10. Determination of the mean Ag-size of each chromosome showed that each of the 10 individuals had a unique distribution of Ag-stain. Within each individual, there was some variation from cell to cell in the number of acrocentric chromosomes that were Ag-stained; this was not random, and the same chromosomes (those that had at most a small amount of Ag-stain) tended to be unstained in every cell. Satellite associations were scored on the same cells. Chromosomes that had no Ag-stain were involved in satellite association less than 20% as often as those that had some Ag-stain. Chromosomes that had a small amount of Ag-stain were involved in association about 50% as often as those that had a large amount of stain. Regression analysis of the 50 (of a total of 100) acrocentric chromosomes which could be individually identified by quinacrine markers showed that the frequency with which a chromosome was involved in satellite association was strongly correlated with the amount of Ag-stained material in the NOR.


Pseudo A-V block secondary to concealed junctional extrasystoles. Case report and review of the literature. A 23 year old woman, convalescing from a motorcycle accident was noted to have a complex arrhythmia. Short bursts of apparent ventricular tachycardia, sudden P-R delays, and Mobitz I and Mobitz II block were observed as well as frequent junctional premature systoles. Careful analysis revealed that the rhythm disturbances were caused entirely by manifest and concealed atrioventricular (A-V) junctional extrasystoles. This case meets the criteria for concealed junctional extrasystoles producing "pseudo A-V block." Pertinent literature is reviewed, and the manifestations of variable antegrade and retrograde conduction of A-V junctional extrasystoles are discussed. Increased awareness of this unusual rhythm disturbance can prevent unnecessary pacemaker therapy for apparent A-V block.


Adenocarcinoma of the proximal third of the stomach. Pitfalls in surgical management. Adenocarcinoma of the proximal third of the stomach is a florid tumor with a high propensity for esophageal extension limphagitic invasion, and hepatic dissemination. Treatment results in 117 consecutive cases indicate that cure rates may be improved by a closer attention to the esophageal margin of resection.


Carcinoma of the pancreas.

Carcinoma of the pancreas. Pancreatic carcinoma remains a difficult problem in surgery. High mortality and overall discouraging results of pancreaticoduodenectomy misled some physicians to believe that surgery is ineffective in management of pancreatic carcinoma. Patients with pancreatic carcinoma in two major hospitals from 1963 through 1976 were analyzed. Results of pancreaticoduodenctomies and palliative operations are reported.


[The sexually depended influence of congenital vitia cordis for the physical development of children (author's transl)]. With anthropometrical methods were investigated 1000 children with congenital Vitium cordis. It was found that congenital Vitium cordis caused a retardation of physical and sexual development. It is particularly clear in the sexual period of maturity and the puberty. The retardation is quite stronger in the male as in the female children. The results are demonstrated in tables and graphs.


Audiotape slide programmes: comparison of synchronised and manual use. No difference in teaching effectiveness was found between the use of a series of audiotape slide programmes on clinical physics and measurement with synchronised and manual slide change. Over 93% of the lecture points could be immediately recalled in both instances and significantly different learning abilities among the students were detected. The trial also identified programmes with lower answer scores for possible upgrading. Comparison with a previous trial demonstrated the value of the revision and upgrading of materials. Anaesthetists found the teaching by the tape slide technique, in the format used, helpful and very acceptable. The advantages and disadvantages of the use of audiotape slide programmes with synchronised and manual slide change apparatus have been discussed.


Longitudinal study of workers employed in the manufacture of toluene-diisocyanate. Workers at a toluene-diisocyanate manufacturing plant were studied longitudinally to determine the effects of the chemical on their health. Studies included health questionnaire, pulmonary function, environmental monitoring, and immunologic testing. Workers reporting increased lower respiratory symptoms were from the nonsmoker group. Environmental monitoring showed frequent excursions of toluene-diisocyanate concentrations above the threshold limiting value. There was poor correlation between area and personal exposure levels. No exposure-related decline of pulmonary function was demonstrable. Immunologic studies showed development of a positive skin test to a toluene-diisocyanate-human serum albumin conjugate by some persons and an increasing incidence of toluene-diisocyanate-specific IgE antibodies as measured by a radioallergosorbent test. Toluene-diisocyanate did not induce histamine release from leukocytes in vitro but did diminish the in vitro stimulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate by isoproterenol. Most of the clinically sensitive persons demonstrated adverse bronchial response when challenged by inhalation of toluene-diisocyanate. This response was dose dependent in some persons. When challenged with Mecholyl, clinically sensitive persons showed greater reactivity of airways than nonsensitive persons.


[Different treatments used in a case of gangrene due to accidental intra-arterial injection of methylphenidate (rilatine)]. A case of self-administrated injection of a solution of méthylphénidate (Rilatine) into the brachial artery is described. Intensive treatment which was started within 12 hours including repeated stellate blocks, intraarterial and intravenous injections of vasodilators and hyperbaric oxygen leaded to limited loss of the tips of the fingers. The increase hasards of intraarterial injections of dissolved tablets in addicts enhance us to investigate further on earlier and more energetic treatment in these cases.


Cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, vinblastine, and bleomycin combination chemotherapy in disseminated testicular cancer. Fifty patients with disseminated testicular cancer were treated with a three-drug combination consisting of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, vinblastine, and bleomycin. Three patients were considered inevaluable due to early death. This chemotherapy regimen produced 74% complete and 26% partial remissions. Furthermore, five patients with partial remission became disease-free after surgical removal of residual disease, producing an overall 85% disease-free status. Toxicity, although significant during remission induction with cis-platinum, vinblastine, and bleomycin, was usually manageable, although there were two drug-related deaths during this period. Thirty-eight of these patients remain alive and 32 remain alive and disease-free at 6 + to 30 + months. We believe this regimen represents a major advance in the management of patients with disseminated testicular cancer.


An evaluation of anticoagulation in glaucoma therapy. It has been suggested that glaucomatous field loss may progress on the basis of ischemia of the optic nerve head alone after the intraocular pressure has been controlled. Bishydroxycoumarin (Dicumarol) has been reported to be of benefit in such situations. A review of 551 consecutive glaucoma records did not support this theory. Apparent progression of field loss at intraocular pressures of 20 mm Hg or less was either due to artifacts in field testing or to a pressure that was still too high. A pilot study suggested that bishydroxycoumarin was of no benefit in these situations.


Relief of pain from pancreatic carcinoma. Several methods for relieving pain from pancreatic cancer are described and the particular place of pancreaticojejunostomy is discussed.


[Mechanism of metabolic and ionic germination of "Bacillus licheniformis" spores treated with hydrogen peroxide (author's transl)]. Spores of Bacillus licheniformis 109-2A0 lost their refractility and absorbancy at 640 nm in the presence of metabolizable molecules (L-alanine). The same occurred with spores treated with 4.4 mol/1 hydrogen peroxide, pH 2.0, at 65 degrees C, even after 5 min of treatment. In addition, these transformations could be promoted after 2 min of treatment by inorganic ions (KI). This possibility occurs following a kinetics of activation. Thermodynamic parameters showed this activation to be combined with a molecular re-organization. Loss of refractility or absorbancy, induced by L-ala or KI, was inhibited by inhibitors of membrane functions or of L-alanine dehydrogenase, enzyme of which a noticeable activity was demonstrated in treated spores. Only 10% of spore calcium leaked during the treatment. Therefore loss of refractility or absorbancy caused by molecules metabolizable or not seemed to correspond to a physiological germination. The first even of the metabolic, as well as or the ionic germination could well be a modification of the spore membrane proton-motive force.


[Hepatitis B virus and primary liver carcinoma: evidences for a filiation hepatitis B, cirrhosis and primary liver cancer]. Many arguments have been developed for a filiation hepatitis B, cirrhosis and primary liver cancer (PLC). The hypothesis in favour of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) as an indirect agent of PLC was supported by epidemiological and anatomo-clinical data. The study of the serological markers of HBV has been performed in groups of Senegalese patients who were suffering from hepatitis B, cirrhosis or PLC and two control groups (blood donors and other cancers). The results concern the sequence leeding from hepatitis B to PLC.


The autoimmune features of acute transverse myelopathy. Lymphocytes from patients with acute transverse myelopathy (ATM) were shown to undergo a specific and significant transformation when cultured in vitro in the presence of either the central nervous myelin basic encephalitogenic protein (BE) or the peripheral nerve myelin P2 protein. A similar pattern of response was demonstrated in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and in acute myeloradiculitis. Lymphocytes from patients suffering from other autoimmune neurological disorders or other neurological diseases affecting the spinal cord showed no response to there immunologically related antigens, which have previously been found to have the capacity of inducing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, either alone or with experimental allergic neuritis, when injected into animals. The specific in vitro response to BE and P2 suggests that in vivo sensitization of lymphocytes to such self-antigens occurs in ATM and than a cell-mediated, probably postinfecious autoimmune mechanism may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of the disease.


Blood lead levels in San Diego policemen. Blood lead levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 86 San Diego policemen to see if they would reflect the known high atmospheric lead levels in San Diego. The mean blood lead for the entire group was 27.0 microgram per dl, a level very similar to that found in the general population of other cities. Work exposure to heavy traffic, area of residence, work shift and smoking did not significantly influence blood lead. Thus, an ambient atmospheric lead load ranging from 2 to 5 microgram per cubic m does not demonstrably cause higher blood lead levels in persons exposed to such air. Surprisingly, the youngest group, 21 to 25 years, had the highest mean (32.2 microgram per dl) while the oldest, 46 to 55 years, had the lowest mean (20.9 microgram per dl), a difference statistically highly significant. However, length of work as a policeman per se did not influence blood lead levels. Exposure to other known high-risk factors (hobbies, ceramics, old dwellings) was associated with higher levels (mean 30.6 microgram per dl).


[Enzyme-immunoassay of grass-pollen and mites antibodies in rabbit antisera on magnetic polyacrylamide agarose beads (author's transl)]. Complex antigens were coupled to polyacrylamide agarose beads which had been made magnetic with iron oxide. Those beads were then used in an enzyme-immunoassay for quantitation of specific antibodies to grass-pollen and mites in rabbit antisera. The results obtained by a direct or an inhibition technique proved the specificity of this assay towards homologous antigens. Moreover, cross-reactions between the various species of grass-pollen could be shown. One advantage of this simple method is that it may avoid use of radioactive compounds.


[An immunofluorescence study of the ontogenesis of mouse thyroid organ-specific antigens: relation to fate of foetal thyroid homografts in adult recipients (author's transl)]. A study of the development of organ specific thyroid antigens in mice showed that these antigens make their appearance on the 17th day of gestation. This causes an increase in the specific antigenicity of the thyroid and coincides with the critical stages at which the fate of a homograft of embryonic thyroid is seen to change: embryonic thyroid tissue from 15-16 day embryo grafted on an adult recipient is accepted but if taken from a 17 day embryo it is rejected.


Dermal architecture and collagen type distribution. The human dermis consists of two morphologically different layers. A loose meshwork of thin collagenous fibres is characteristic for the adventitial dermis with includes the papillary and the periadnexal dermis. Thick, coarse collagen bundles are the main feature of the reticular dermis. Two different collagens, type I and type III occur in the dermis as shown previously by biochemical analyses. Antibodies specific for type I collagen or type III collagen and their corresponding precursors were used in indirect immunofluorescence tests to localize the various collagens in frozen sections of normal adult skin. Whereas type I collagen is found in all dermal layers, the main part of type III collagen can be found within the adventitial dermis. Antibodies against the precursor of type I collagen stain only a bandlike region immediately beneath the epidermis. Antibodies against the precursor of type III collagen stain the same regions as antibodies against the helical part of type III collagen.


Residue content of beef feedlot manure after feeding diethylstilbestrol, chlortetracycline and Ronnel and the use of stirofos to reduce population of fly larvae in feedlot manure. Two beef cattle feedlot experiments were conducted to determine the amount of certain agricultural chemicals that are likely to be found in both fresh and stored feedlot manure and to investigate fly control in this manure. In experiment 1, diethylstilbestrol (DES), chlortetracycline (CTC), and ronnel were used as feed additives. Fresh manure, stored manure, runoff water, manure weathered on pasture, and soil from pasture fertilized with manure were analyzed for these additives. Stirofos was added to fresh manure as a larvicide for fly control. In experiment 2, the residue aspects of DES and CTC were repeated. In this experiment, stirofos instead of ronnel was fed with DES and CTC. Sixty-eight percent of the DES fed to cattle appeared in fresh manure and 52% in manure stored for 12 weeks. Comparable percentage values were 17 and 11% for CTC and 13 and 3% for ronnel; somewhat less DES and CTC were found when a concentrate diet was fed. Detectable amounts of DES, ACT, and ronnel were not found in runoff water, weathered manure, or soil. Adding an emulsifiable concentrate formulation of stirofos directly to manure at a rate of approximately 45 ppm of wet manure completely controlled the larvae of house fly (Musca domestica L.) whereas feeding stirofos at a rate of 1.5 mg per kg of body weight daily reduced larval counts 82% in manure from forage-fed heifers and 63% in manure from concentrate-fed heifers. Stirofos was not detected in runoff water, weathered waste, or soil.


Electron capture gas chromatographic determination of Kepone residues in environmental samples. The pollution of the environment with Kepone (decachlorooctahydro-1,3,4-metheno-2H-cyclobuta[cd]pentalen-2-one) by an industrial manufacturer of the pesticide resulted in the contamination of several terrestrial media, including biological life, near the entry of the insecticide into the ecosystem. The substrata investigated and for which residue methodology was developed included river sediment, soil, water, shellfish, and finfish. Rigorous extraction techniques utilizing the Soxhlet apparatus and the Polytron tissue homogenizer were required for complete removal of Kepone from the samples. Finfish tissue was the most difficult to analyze. For this type of substratum, a preliminary cleanup by gel permeation chromatography was required to remove most of the lipid material followed by a micro Florisil column elution to eliminate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB'S). Cleanup of shellfish and other environmental samples was accomplished with a micro Florisil column only. Electron capture gas chromatography was used to analyze the sample extracts. Recoveries of Kepone from fortified samples averaged 84% or greater.


Toxicity and bioconcentration of BHC and lindane in selected estuarine animals. Flow-through, 96-hr bioassays were conducted to determine the acute toxicity of technical BHC and lindane to several estuarine animals. Test animals and their respective 96-hr lindane LC50 values were: mysid (Mysidopsis bahia), 6.3 microgram/L; pink shrimp (Penaeus duorarum), 0.17 microgram/L; grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio), 4.4 microgram/L; sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), 104 microgram/L; and pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides), 30.6 microgram/L. The 96-hr LC50 values for pink shrimp and pinfish exposed to BHC were 0.34 and 86.4 microgram/L, respectively. Two BHC bioconcentration studies were conducted with the oyster, Crassostrea virginica, and pinfish. After 28 days exposure, oysters bioconcentrated an average of 218 X the BHC measured in exposure water, while pinfish bioconcentrated 130 X in their edible tissues and 617 X in offal. After one week in BHC-free sea water, no detectable residues were measured in oysters or pinfish.


B lymphocyte alloantigens in the study of the genetic basis of rheumatoid arthritis. In order to carry out tissue typing studies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 116 sera from pregnant multiparous women were screened for cytotoxicity specific for B lymphocytes. It was possible to identify three sera (M55, M58, M87) which reacted specifically with B cells after absorption with platelets. Each appeared to have a different specificity which was presumed to correspond to an alloantigen marker on the lymphocyte surface. The frequency of these alloantigen markers on B lymphocytes was investigated in patients with classical or definite RA and in controls. One of these, M58, occurred in 32 out of 43 RA patients (74 - 4%) compared with 10 out of 37 controls (27%). This difference was highly significant (P less than 0 - 0005). The relative risk of developing RA is 7 - 85 times greater in those possessing alloantigen M58. The other two B cell alloantigens failed to show any association with RA. The association with M58 may indicate a significant genetic contribution to disease susceptibility in RA.


Substrate requirements in vitro for the spontaneous motility of uterine strips from ovariectomized or natural estrus rats. Relationships with tissue levels of glycogen and triglycerides. The influence of metabolic substrates (glucose, fructose, lactate, pyruvate) on the spontaneous motility of uterine strips isolated from estrus or spayed rats was explored. The effects of substrate omission on tissue glycogen and triglycerides in both hormonal conditions were also studied. The results indicate an important role of glycolysis for rat uterine motility. It would appear also that the better contractile performance of strips from ovariectomized animals might be related to their capacity to metabolize readily triglyceride energy stores.


Potentiation of ketamine effects on the spiking activity in the lateral geniculate nucleus by rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation. In cats prepared for chronic recording of sleep, an investigation was made on the effects of an anaesthetic agent, ketamine [cl-581, 2-(O-chlorophenyl)-2-methylaminocyclohexamine HCl] and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation on spiking activity recorded from lateral geniculate (LGN) nucleus. In normal cats most of the LGN spikes occurring during sleep are found in REM sleep. Follwoing injection of 10 mg/kg of ketamine a substantial increase of slow wave sleep (SWS) spikes occurred. While selective REM sleep deprivation had the same effects, combined influences of ketamine and REM-sleep deprivation led to a marked potentiation of their individual effects probably by simultaneous stimulation of the neurone system which determines the endogenous electrical activity of LGN cells.


Nutritional evaluation of wheat and barley cultivars by growth rate and body composition of larvae of Tenebrio molitor. Larvae of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L., Gembloux strain, race F, were reared on diets of 17 cultivars of wheat and 29 cultivars of barley, prepared for determination of digestible energy with mice, for 4 weeks at 27 +/- 0.25 degrees C and 65 +/- 5% relative humidity. Values for percentage crude protein of tissues of larvae fed wheat cultivars were significantly and positively correlated with values for digestible energy as determined with mice. These values were not correlated for larvae fed barley cultivars; however, values for per cent dry matter content of larvae were significantly and positively correlated with values for digestible energy determined with mice. This apparent discrepancy is explained on the basis of the chemical constitution of barley and the availability of amino acids of barley to the larvae. Use of larvae of Tenebrio molitor to indicate the digestible energy of cereal grains is feasible, provided that the proper parameter is chosen. Nevertheless, use of this biological method seems more suitable for evaluation of protein quality and of amino acid availability than for a measure of digestible energy of feeds.


[Kinetics of alpha phosphate turnover in the free nucleotides of isolated rabbit hearts during the incorporation of adenosine or uridine]. The isolated rabbit heart was perfused with tritium-labelled adenosine or uridine at constant concentration (respectively 10 and 2 micrometer) and specific activity. The transfer rates of the precursors into free nucleotides were obtained by calculating the uptake of isotope into the products. The rates of phosphorylation of the nucleotides were estimated by following the incorporation of 32PO4 3- into the alpha phosphate groups. The results obtained with the two isotopes show that the rate of labelling of the alpha phosphate groups is a good estimate of the turnover of nucleotides when the mechanism of synthesis involves phosphorylation of a riboside.


Nutritive role of different carbohydrates for the growth and survial of Oryzaephilus mercator Fauvel (Coleoptera). Recent investigations on the nutritive role of different carbohydrates for the survival and growth of Oryzaephilus mercator show that fructose, glucose, dextrin and glycogen are of high nutritive value, fructose being even better than natural control diet (wheat + 5% yeast). Maltose, soluble starch, mannitol and sorbitol, although support some growth, are not of as good nutritive value as control diet. All pentoses, sorbose, galactose, lactose, raffinose, potato starch, inulin and dulcitol are of no nutritive value.


Biochemical heterogenity of the left ventricular myocardium: transmural and base-apex gradients on H.E.P. contents of the well oxygenated perfused dog heart. An investigation into the contents (mumol/g w.w.) of the creatine phosphate (CP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) of various myocardial regions was performed on the empty beating isolated blood perfused dog heart. Across the myocardial wall, CP concentration was higher in the outer portion (9.03 +/- 0.18) than in the inner portion (8.59 +/- 0.20) (P less than 0.05). In addition to this transmural gradient, a longitudinal gradient was found: tissue contents of both CP and ATP decrease significantly from the base (CP: 9.70 +/- 0.28, ATP: 5.84 +/- 0.20) to the apex (CP: 8.69 +/- 0.27, ATP: 5.57 +/- 0.17) (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.05 respectively). The gradients of metabolites in the well oxygenated empty beating heart suggest that a permanent metabolic adaptation to less adequate regional O2 reserves is physiologically operating in the subendocardial layer and the apex region of the left ventricle.


Cardiac norepinephrine output during carotid body stimulation. In a series of 7 dogs, selective stimulation of the carotid body receptors by hypoxic blood produces an increase of coronary flow and greater release of norepinephrine from the heart; the increase of coronary flow is less marked and the release of norepinephrine is increased after vagotomy. Myocardial norepinephrine content is decreased by carotid body stimulation.


Distribution of radioactivity of tritiated prostaglandins E2 and A2 in rat tissues including a renal autoradiographic study. Distribution of radioactivity in different tissues has been studied by liquid scintillation counting 60 sec after administration of [3H] PGE2 and [3H] PGA2 in the rat. In addition, renal autoradiographs were prepared 15 sec and 60 sec after tritiated PG administration. In some experiments, [3H] PGE2 was accompanied by a large dose of PGE2 (isotopic dilution). 60 sec after [3H] PGE2 administration, radioactivity concentrates principally in the kidney, followed by the liver and the lung. Within the kidney, radioactivity concentrated predominantly in the cortex. Isotopic dilution diminished radioactivity due to [3H] PGE2 in all regions of the kidney. Renal autoradiographs 15 sec after [3H] PGE2 administration showed cortical radioactivity to be higher in glomeruli than in tubules. After [3H] PGA2 radioactivity also concentrates in the kidney, liver and lung but to a lesser extent than after [3H] PGE2 and no glomerular concentration of radioactivity was found.


[Release of prostaglandins and their precursors by bradykinin]. Bradykinin induces a release of unsaturated fatty acids and of prostaglandins from the perfused rat lung. This release is inhibited by chloroquine, a phospholipase A inhibitor. Histamine has no stimulating effect on fatty acids production. It is suggested that prostaglandins release induced by bradykinin might depend on a phospholipase activation.


[Relationship between cardiac arrhythmia and elevated concentrations of free fatty acids in plasma after an acute myocardial ischemia in dogs]. The influence, on the heart rhythm, of an acute myocardial ischemia produced by a coronary occlusion, is studied in ten opened chest dogs. After elevation of plasmatic free fatty acids, the consequence of a second occlusion on the cardiac rhythm is analysed. There is no significant correlation between the appearance of severe ventricular arrhythmias and high plasmatic levels of free fatty acids.


Effects of right atrial stretch on plasma renin activity. In anaesthetized dog, right atrial stretch leads in the first five minutes to a decrease in plasma renin activity, when measured in inferior vena cava just above the renal veins. Bilateral cervical vagotomy increases plasma renin activity. After vagotomy, atrial stretch no longer has any effect on plasma renin activity. The results support the hypothesis of a control of renin secretion originating from atrial volume receptors.


[Eccentric driving of a Rijlant's network (author's transl)]. As far as the central terminal does not interfere with the dipolar equivalent of the driving system, the zero isopotential line reaches the boundary of the network. Besides, if the emission level is at least five resistive layers "away" from the detection points, the proximity effects vanish. In these conditions the potential information available at the boundary becomes proper to be handled by the Gabor & Nelson's method. Calculating the location of the dipole leads to a fraction of the maximal "dimension" of the structure so that it directly expresses the eccentricity. The latter value may be compared with the corresponding one which is determined by the injection axis relative to the dodecahedral disposition of the connexions. From such quantitative comparisons, we conclude that an eccentricity simulating that of the heart in the thorax requires that the injection remains at least ten resistive layers "away" from the boundary if we want to view the generator through VCG leads which does not appreciably distort it.


Incorporation of amino acids into protein of foetal rabbit diaphragm: effect of insulin. The incorporation of six L-amino acids into the protein  fraction of the diaphragm of foetal and neonatal rabbits has been measured. Insulin stimulates the incorporation of lysine from the 29th day and of glycine from the 31st day of gestation onwards. The incorporation of histidine, serine and threonine is only enhanced in the diaphragm of 16-20 hour-old rabbits; no effect of insulin on the incorporation of leucine has been shown for the period under study.


Paradoxical sleep deprivation: effects on brain energy metabolism. A study was made of brain nucleotides and glycolytic intermediates in paradoxical sleep (PS)-deprived and recovery-sleeping rats. It was observed that PS deprivation of 24 h produced a fall in glucose, glucose 6-phosphate and pyruvate in cerebral frontal lobes. After three hours of recovery sleep all values returned toward their predeprivational levels. In cerebellar hemispheres ATP was increased, while glucose 6-phosphate and pyruvate were decreased. After three hours of recovery sleep, glucose 6-phosphate was increased and pyruvate decreased, indicating restoration of glycogen and creatine phosphate respectively.


Changes in enzyme levels in the testis and liver of the 13-lined ground squirrel (spermophilus tridecemlineatus) at the time of arousal from hibernation. Male 13-lined ground squirrels induced to emerge from hibernation resumed feeding and gained weight. The weight gain was supported by increases in the levels of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, L-alanine aminotransferase and carnitine acetyltransferase in the liver. Maturation of the testis occurred in a period of about 16 days spanning the time of induced arousal. The testes of hibernating males were characterized by higher levels of L-alanine aminotransferase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase than the testes of aroused males. Hexokinase, carnitine acetyltransferase and citrate synthase levels were similar in the testes of hibernating and aroused males. 3-Hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase was more active and L-alanine aminotransferase less active in ground squirrel sperm than in rat sperm.


Studies on electrical and mechanical activity in hypoxic papillary muscles of the guinea-pig. The hypoxia-induced changes in transmembrane potentials and in force of contraction of isolated papillary muscles of the guinea-pig were studied. With different glucose concentrations in the hypoxic medium both the extent and the time course of the reduction in force of contraction and action potential duration could be modified. A time lag of 10 minutes was observed in the onset of action potential shortening. The membrane potential decreased only at advanced stages of hypoxia. Lack of glucose was tolerated for a considerable longer period of time when the preparations were mainly quiescent during hypoxia, although membrane depolarization could not be prevented. Memembrane depolarization was basent only if the mucles were completely unloaded when exposed to hypoxia. The dissociation of events during hypoxia is interpredted as evidence for compartmentalization of energy supply within the cells.


[Microvilli membrane proteins from dog enterocytes]. Mcrovilli membranes have been isolated from dog jejunal and ileal enterocytes. Proteins were analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after solubilization with sodium dodecylsulphate. The recovery of the membrane fraction with this purification method was found to be 22% and the specific activity of sucrase increases 19 folds in the membrane fraction. Microvilli membrane proteins after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were seprated in 21 bands, most of them with a molecular weight higher than 70 000. Seven bands with molecular weight from 150 000 to more than 340 000, were found to be glycoproteins.


[In vivo incorporation of labeled palmitic and oleic acids into skeletal muscle lipids of normal and thyroidectomized rats during swimming]. The purpose of this work was to study the incorporation of [1-14C] palmitic and and [9,10(-3)H] oleic acids, after intravenous administration in the lipids of rat hind leg muscles. The animals were fasting or fed, at rest or swimming during 10 min before test, euthyroid or thyroidectomised. All these animals have been taking the same daily swimming training, during 15 days before the injection of labelled molecules. They were killed 10 min (+/-1)later. The lipidic muscle composition, the incorporation rate of labelled fatty acids in these lipids and the radioactivity distribution among the different lipids in the various cases have been determined. Moreover the plasmatic non-esterified acid radioactivity has been measured. These various values are affected by nutritional, hormonal state, and by physical activity of the animals. Particularly, it seems that supplementary energy spent during swimming test will be covered by the oxidation of different nutriments, according to the nutritional and hormonal state of animals.


New approach of the cardio-vascular depressive mechanism during lateral hypothalamic stimulation. Paraventricular nucleus stimulation acts directly on the alpha- and beta-adrenoreceptors in heart and arterioles, eliciting arterial hypotension and cardiac chronotropism and inotropism decrease. Efferent pathways follow sympathetic nervous fibres through the medulla and the thoraco-lumbar ganglionic chain. The role of the alpha- and beta-adrenoreceptors in these depressive reactions is discussed.


The effects of palmitic acid on skeletal muscle mitochondria of cold and warm acclimated rats. The effects of palmitic acid on skeletal muscle mitochondria isolated from the hind limb muscle of cold and warm acclimated rats were studied. At higher concentrations of the fatty acid, a greater depression of both ADP/O and RCR (respiratory control ratio) was observed in the cold acclimated group. Initial ADP/O and RCC however, were higher in the cold acclimated group. The enhanced sensitivity of skeletal muscle mitochondria of the cold acclimated rat is discussed.


Modifications of arterial pressure and plasma renin: their effects on the norepinephrine content of hypothalamus and medulla oblongata. The effects of the bilateral nephrectomy and acute hypotension caused by the cava vein ligature on the norepinephrine (NE) concentration in hypothalamus and medulla oblongata and on the plasma renin activity were studied in male rats. NE increased and plasma renin activity decreased in hypothalamus in 24 h nephrectomized rats with or without the ligatures of the cava vein. NE also decreased in medulla of groups with the ligatures only. The mean arterial pressure, did not correlate with the NE or plasma renin activity levels. The modifications of the NE in the central nervous system showed an inverse relationship with plasma renin activity and this, could be due to changes in the NE uptake and/or release caused by the plasma renin activity alterations. NE modifications do not seem to be caused directly through reflex of the arterial pressure.


Glutamate and glutamine in the brain of the neonatal rat during hypercapnia. In order to study the influence of hypercapnia on the content of glutamate and glutamine in the developing brain, pregnant rats and their offspring were kept in CO2 rich (6-10%) atmosphere and the litters were killed at different ages between 4 and 28 days. In the hypercapnic rats the content of both amino acids in the brain increases with age with almost the same time course as in normocapnic rats. At any age the glutamate content is lower in the hypercapnic animals than in control rats, whereas the glutamine content, beyond the first 8 days of life is increased. Both effects are rapidly reversible on return to air breathing. Although the glutamate-glutamine system is in full development, the influence of hypercapnia can be compared to that observed in adult rats. Hypercapnia did not change the glutaminase and the glutamine synthetase activity of the brain.


Studies on the activities of an acid phosphomonoesterase and an alkaline pyrophosphatase during the growth of Physarum polycephalum. After an initial decrease, the specific activity of Physarum polycephalum acid phosphomonoesterase increases during the growth of the organism in an axenic medium. This increase is independent of the inorganic phosphate concentration in the culture medium. The specific activity of inorganic alkaline pyrophosphatase remains constant during the growth and is not modified by a high extracellular concentration of orthophosphate. During starvation in a non nutritive saline medium, the increase of acid phosphatase activity is immediate whereas pyrophosphatase activity remnins constant.


[Turnover of internal water during the intermoult cycle of Sphaeroma serratum (Crustacea, Isopoda)]. 1. The relation between the wet weight and the tritiated water outflux could be expressed by the following equation: M = 5.67 W0.75 2. The diffusion water outflux undergoes variations along the molting cycle : stage C :320 microliter H2O/h/100 mg; D1: 459; D2 :477, E: 1900; A :1 551; B :544 microliter H2O/h/100 mg wet weight. 3. The internal water turnover rises sharply and heavily (lambda stage D2: 805%; lambda stage E :2621%) during the ecdysis of the back of the body. After ecdysis of the fore-part of the body it returns approximately toward the intermoult level within 5 or 6 days.


[Carcinine (beta-alanyl-histamine): rapid synthesis and action on vertebrate blood pressure]. 1.-- Synthesis of carcinine was performed by direct condensation of beta-alanine with histamine (free base), in the presence of N-N'-dicyclocarbodiimide. The amine radical of beta-alanine was protected by the t-butoxycarbonyl radical. This fast and simple method yielded a perfectly pure crystalline product. 2.-- Carcinine had no influence upon heartbeat frequency nor on respiratory movements in rats. 3. -- Carcinine had a vasodepressive action upon Vertebrates. It was active at half the concentration of carnosine and at about a thousand times the concentration of histamine. It appeared that histamine lost a great extent of its activity when linked with beta-alanine.


Explanation for constancy of intracellular chloride concentration with respect to membrane potential in guinea pig mammary gland. 1. The relative permeabilities for sodium, potassium and chloride in guinea pig mammary gland slices are determined by means of ion flux studies with radioisotopes. 2. Assuming that there are no significant electrogenic potential components, we calculate permeability ratios PNa/PK = 0.97 and Pc1/PK = 1.25. 3. Substitution of these values in the Goldman equation yields membrane potentials of--15 mV before and--13 mV after ouabain treatment. 4. This small change in membrane potential explains the absence of a significant change in chloride content upon ouabain application, which leads to large changes in intracellular sodium and potassium concentrations.


[Effect of arginine administration on disturbances of hepatic glutamine metabolism during acute ammonia intoxication in the rat]. The present study is concerned with the effects of L-arginine hydrochloride administration on the disturbances of liver glutamine metabolism following acute ammonia intoxication in the rat. Our results show that arginine administration does not suppress the decrease in the hepatic glutamine level and the marked activation of liver glutaminase I induced by ammonia. These alterations do not therefore appear to be related to the limitation of ammonia detoxication through the urea cycle.


[Activation of arachidonic acid].

[Activation of arachidonic acid]. Intravenous injection of arachidonic acid induces cardiovascular and respiratory effects due to its transformation into prostaglandins, This activation could take place not only in the platelets but also in the vacular wall. Platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid is not the main factor responsible of its cardiovascular actions.


[Arrhythmias and chronobiology].

[Arrhythmias and chronobiology]. The cyclical changes in biological events have seldom been studied by cardiologists. No complete systematic method of study has ever been applied to them. It is, however, certain that the circadian rhythms play a very important role in cardiac patients. This can be seen to be so in the arrhythmias. In a preliminary report, the authors give several examples of this concept; they have obtained their material by using a computerised magnetic tape recording of the electrocardiogram during a 24 hour period.


[Paroxysmal block in phase 4 of the bundle of His]. Five cases of chronic paroxysmal atrio-ventricular block are reported, being unusual in the siting of the conduction defect within the trunk of the bundle of His, and in the "paradoxical" mode of onset of the block. The ventriculograms which were carried out, and the escapes, were of normal duration in four cases and the intracavitary recordings showed a double His potential in all patients. In one case, the block during phase 4 seemed to occur at the height of the trunkal Wenkebach periods, and in another it could be brought on by manipulation of the vagus. In all five cases, a favorable conduction zone could be calculated, the block to the P waves in phase 4 occuring in an arithmetical fashion after a critical lengthening of the PR interval. The return to sinus rhythm was always related to an escape (or to an electrically induced ventricular complex), but the explanation of the initial capture on electrophysiological grounds is obscure.


[Studies on the virus demonstration in enzootic bovine leukosis using the revertase test]. This exogenic test for the detection of enzyme activities (revertase) is helpful in differentiating between leucocytes of leukaemic cattle, on the one hand, and those of intact animals, on the other. The mechanism of such identification is based on differences in enzyme activity in the presence of poly rA/oligo dT and poly dA/oligo dT. The best results were obtained from short-time cultured leucocytes which gave ten times higher margins of incorporation by comparison between intact and preleucotic cattle. The morphological findings obtained by electron microscopy confirmed the results by other authors and enlarged them by determination, for the first time, of RNA filaments and protein rings.


[Studies on the excretion of estrogen in cows following oral and percutaneous (pour-on) administration of chlormadinone acetate]. The oestrogen levels were assessed in 180 urine samples taken from 20 cows. The animals had received over 15 days 40 mg one-per-cent oily solution of chloromadinone acetate. The solution had been applied orally or by pour-on methods. The curves of oestrogen excretion were identical for both methods of application, both during and after completed administration. In other words, the effect obtainable from pour-on application is just as good as that obtainable from oral administration.


[Method of combined detection of nerve fibers and blood vessels in nerve trunks]. A new method for investigation of neuro-vasal relationships in nerve conductors is proposed based on a combination of the fine injecting of their blood vessels and staining the nerve fibres. The vessels are injected with the chloroform emulsion of finely ground Paris blue (5-10 g per 100 g of solvent). Pieces of nerves 0,5 cm thick are fixed in 12% neutral formalin for 3 days, kept in a dark vessel in Weigert's mortant for 5 days, dehydrated and imbedded in paraffin. Thin slices 4-5 micronkm thick are stained in hematoxylin after N. N. Kulchitski, differentiated for 2-12 h in the mixture containing 1% solution of potassium ferricyanide and saturated solution of lithium carbonate (1:10) and after passing through alcohols of increasing concentration and xylene imbedded in balsam. In the preparations the fibres of different caliber are stained grey and the vessels are stained blue.


[Changes in the dendritic organization of the neurons of the isolated visual cortex of the cat]. The cortex of one hemisphere in cats was isolated according to M.M. Khananashwili method by means of surgical section of its projection fibres which connect it with subcortical structures. In five cats of means of Nissl's method the neuronal status of different cortical layers in the field 17 was studied during long postoperative terms (from 9 months up to 2 years). In 9 cats the neurons of the same field were impregnated after Golgi-Bubenett method and studied during the same postoperative terms. Cytological investigation in the majority of neurons did not reveal any pathologic changes during different postoperative terms up to one year. In two years, slight neuronal changes were noted presented in poor staining and vacuolization of cytoplasm. As a result of deafferentation performed shortening and thickness of dendritic branching was noted, as well as decrease in the number of thorns of large pyramids in layers III, IV, and V of the isolated cortex. Dendrites and thorns in small and medium-sized pyramids in layers II, III, IV, V, and VI were preserved to a great extent. It is possible to conclude, on the fact of thorns preserving in the major number of the neurons, that the neocortex possesses an enormous intracortical connective system that is responsible for the high degree of functional neuronal activity in the isolated cortex.


[Projections of different areas of the putamen on tha thalamic nuclei]. In the work presented the projections of rostral and caudal areas of the putamen on the thalamic nuclei were studied. The analysis of the frontal serial sections from the cat brains impregnated according to the methods of Nauta-Gygax, Finck-Haimer, Wiitanen made it possible to state that all the areas of the putamen radiate a great number of axons to the lateral thalamic nuclei--ventro-anterior, ventro-lateral, lateral-posterior, and ventro-posterior-medial. Only the rostral area of the putamen sends a mass of fibres to the nuclei of the median thalamus--medial-dorsal, central, central-lateral and ventro-posterior-lateral. On the other hand, in the posterior thalamic nucleus a great number of axons only from caudal area of the putamen have their terminals.


[Connections between the frontal and parietal areas of the cerebral cortex and the caudate nucleus in the cat]. In 10 cats with aseptically extirpated frontal and parietal areas of the brain cortex, efferent connections of the areas in question with the nucleus caudatus were experimentally studied by means of morphological methods. The preparations were stained according the methods of Nauta, Knuck, Finck-Haimer, and Kawamura-Niimi. The results of the investigations performed demonstrate a perfect topically organized caudal projection of the "associative" cortical areas. The frontal area is projected on the oral ventro-medial parts of the nucleus caudatus head, while the parietal area--on the central and lateral parts at the medial and more caudal levels.


[Staining with hematoxylin--basic fuchsin-picric acid (HBFP) for detection of myocardial lesions of different etiology]. The article discusses advantages of the so-called fuchsinorrhagic method offered by Lie et al. in 1971. Areas of the necrotized muscle obtained at autopsy of 11 individuals who had died of myocardial infarction of various periods of duration, 12 biopsy specimens of the myocardium obtained during the operation for correction of congenital heart defects of the type of Fallot's tetrad and isolated defects of the septum with various periods of extracorporeal circulation and hearts of 35 male Wistar rats with a damaged myocardium (lesions being induced by intro-abdominal injection of noradrenalin in a dose of 2.5 mg/kg), which were sacrified 6 hours following the exposure to noradrenalin, were studied. The method of staining with HBFP makes it possible to detect both ischemic and noncoronarogenic lesions of the myocardium; moreover, in this method erythrocytes, fibrin, and connective structures get also stained, which makes a complex study of morphology of the myocardium feasible.


Optic disc edema in raised intracranial pressure. V. Pathogenesis. The pathogenesis of optic disc edema (ODE) in raised intracranial pressure is discussed in the light of recent observations on the subject. The findings indicate that ODE is a mechanical phenomenon. The raised cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) in the sheath of the optic nerve produces axoplasmic flow stasis in the optic nerve head. This results in swelling of the axons, which manifests as early ODE and secondarily produces the well-known optic disc and retinal vascular changes associated with ODE. The pathogenesis of ODE seen in different conditions without raised CSFP cannot be explained by any single mechanism in spite of the occurrence of axoplasmic flow stasis in most cases, because the stasis in different situations has different mechanisms.


High doses of subconjunctival corticosteroid and antibody-forming cells in the eye and draining lymph nodes. After the intracorneal injection of rabbit eyes with bovine gamma-globulin, the subconjunctival administration of a corticosteroid in either the ipsilateral or contralateral eye resulted in essentially the same changes: a reduction in the number of antibody-forming cells in the draining lymph nodes and a reduction in the ocular inflammatory response.


Specificity or affinity of cytotoxic T cells for self H-2K determinants apparently does not change between primary and secondary responses to ectromelia virus infection. Lysis of virus-infected target cells by virus-specific cytotoxic T cells occurs where donors of T cells and targets share either H-2K or H-2D genes. The effect of four H-2K mutations on virus-induced antigens recognized by cytotoxic T cells from in vitro secondary response to infection was studied. B10.A(5R) cytotoxic T cells (which share the K end of H-2 with the mutant strains, except for the mutated gene(s)) efficiently killed virus-infected macrophage targets from mutant strains B6-H-2bg1 and B6-H-2bg2, were less effective against B6-H-2bh and did not appear to be cytotoxic for B6.C-H-2ba target cells. Conversely, B6-H-Ibg1 and B6-H-2bg2 cytotoxic T cells were more effective in killing virus-infected B10.A(5R) macrophages than B6-H-2bh and B6.C-H-2ba cytotoxic cells respectively. In addition, B6-H-2bg1 and B6-H-2bg2 cells appeared to be only slightly different from wild-type with respect to the interaction between virus-infected cells and T cells. The data obtained suggested that virus-induced antigenic patterns on infected B6.C-H-2ba (mutant) cells are more different antigenically from those on wild-type cells than are those on infected cells from the other mutants, B6-H-2bh, B6-H-2bg1 and B6-H-2bh2. This agrees with previous data using primary cytotoxic T cells and thus suggests that no detectable change in the affinity or specificity of cytotoxic T cell receptors occurs between primary and secondary responses to infection. These findings are also discussed in relation to the exclusion of T cells with receptors for H-2K determinants that are common to the mutants and wild-type, from the response to virus-infected self cells.


Antigenically distinct strains of Ross River virus from north Queensland and coastal New South Wales. Ross River virus strains recovered from north Queensland and the central coast of New South Wales can be clearly discriminated by the use of a short incubation haemagglutination inhibition test. Antigenic homology of strains within these regions and heterology between the regions seem unaffected by time, passage history, adaptation to laboratory mice and the nature of the original source material yielding the strains. It is concluded that the two antigenic types are enzootic to their respective regions and that they have evolved in isolation from a common ancestral virus. A short incubation complement fixation test was found to be more sensitive than the haemagglutination inhibition test in attempts to characterize the virus type inducing convalescent antibody in humans and horses.


The treatment of hypertrophy of the prostate of rats with 4-nitro-3-trifluoromethylisobutyranilide (Sch 13521). A study was carried out in 146 common rats to assess the effects of 4'-nitro-3'-trifluoromethylisobutyranilide (Sch 13521) on the hypertrophied prostate gland. The hypertrophy was induced in castrated, sexually immature males by s.c. implantation of a pill of testosterone-propionate. After 20 days of administration of Sch 13521 in oral doses of 5, 10 and 25 mg/kg, the dimensions and weight of the hypertrophied prostate gland were reduced by 1.5 to 2 times. After 2 months of administration of the preparation in doses of 10 and 25 mg/kg a reduction of the hypertrophied prostate gland to the dimensions of the intact control was observed. Morphological studies confirmed the efficacy of the therapeutic action of Sch 13521.


Collagenase at sites of cartilage erosion in the rheumatoid joint. Immunolocalization studies of rheumatoid tissues employing specific synovial collagenase antibody have demonstrated immunoreactive enzyme at the cartilage/pannus junction. Collagenase was not detected in chondrocytes or the cartilage matrix remote from the resorbing front, and relatively little enzyme was observed in the hypertrophied synovial membrane itself. These observations directly support the idea that synovial collagenase participates in cartilage erosion in rheumatoid arthritis.


Aortic endothelial cell morphology observed in situ by scanning electron microscopy during atherogenesis in the rabbit. The morphology of endothelial cells during the induction of atherosclerosis in the descending aortic arch of the hypercholesterol rabbit was studied in situ by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) following silver staining, fixation at physiological pressure, and air-drying of specimens- The earliest deviations from normal endothelial morphology were observed 3 weeks after starting to feed a semi-synthetic diet containing 20% beef fat and 0.2% cholesterol. These were (1) the occurrence of brightly silver stained (argyrophilic) cells, (2) areas of irregularly shaped cells which were often larger and more weakly stained than normal cells and (3) increased incidence of stigmata and stomata associated with the irregular cells. After 6 weeks of hypercholesterolaemia, similar changes were present in the endothelium, but were often also associated with sub-endothelial swelling. These represented the first atherosclerotic lesions. Following 12, 20 and 24 weeks of hypercholesterolaemia, larger raised macroscopic lesions were observed which were always endothelialized. Endothelial morphology and lesion topography suggested that early fatty streaks were composed of numerous focal swellings. In addition to the abnormal endothelial morphology noted at 6 weeks, endothelial cells overlying more advanced lesions became rounded in outline.


Cathepsin D agglutinators and neutral protease agglutinators in rheumatoid arthritis. II. Production of CDA and NPA by rheumatoid synovium and phagocytosis of CDA by synovial phagocytic cells. Tissue culture methods demonstrated the production of agglutinators against the cathepsin D site in IgG (CDA) and a neutral protease site in IgG (NPA) by rheumatoid synovial tissue. Seven of 11 specimens from seropositive and 2 of 7 specimens from seronegative RA patients were positive for CDA, whereas 2 of 11 specimens from seropositive and 1 of 7 specimens from seronegative patients were positive for NPA. None of the 6 control specimens was positive for both types of agglutinators. Chromatography of two synovial tissue incubates showed that the CDA were of the IgG type. By the immunofluorescence technique, plasma cells containing CDA were demonstrated in rheumatoid synovial tissue and draining lymph nodes of rheumatoid joints. The staining for CDA in the synovium was different from the staining for pepsin agglutinators in adjacent sections. Phagolysosomes containing CDA were found in synovial exudate cells from rheumatoid patients as well as in phagocytosing lining cells and macrophages of the sublining layer of rheumatoid synovial tissue. These findings suggest that antibodies directed at hidden antigenic sites in IgG revealed by endogenous proteolysis take part in the immune reaction and in the inflammation of rheumatoid joints.


Induction of alkaline phosphatase in Escherichia coli. Effect of phenethyl alcohol. Induction of alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme located in the periplasmic region of Escherichia coli, was inhibited by phenethyl alcohol, an agent believed to alter the cell membrane structure. Studies to elucidate mechanism of this inhibition showed that while phenethyl alcohol arrested the incorporation of [3H]leucine into active alkaline phosphatase, it did allow substantial incorporation of the label into inactive monomer subunits of the enzyme. These results suggest that phenethyl alcohol may not interfere with the de novo synthesis of monomer subunits of the enzyme but arrest conversion of these into active dimer enzyme presumably by its primary action on the cell membrane structure.


Immunological identification of complex proteins resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis. Immunological identification of an antigen resolved from a protein complex by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis has been attained. The identification is based on the formation of immunoprecipitin lines after the antigen diffuses laterally from acrylamide gel transverse slices into a surrounding agarose gel. This technique was designed for study of contractile and regulatory protein complexes of non-muscle cells where the scarcity of tissue precludes easy purification or high yield of muscle-like proteins. It complements double-gel immunodiffusion or immunoelectrophoresis and its use may be extended to other protein complexes.


Effect of heparin on the extent of inhibition of thrombin by heparin cofactor. A heparin preparation obtained by gel chromatography is compared to unfractionated heparin with respect to the effects of heparin on the reaction between thrombin and heparin cofactor. Whereas both preparations enhance the rate of inhibition of thrombin by heparin cofactor, the extent of inhibition is decreased by the unfractionated, but not by the fractionated heparin. The decreased extent of inhibition is accounted for by residua of unreacted and undegraded heparin cofactor and thrombin, as demonstrated by gel electrophoresis in dodecyl sulfate. However both heparin preparations enhance the rate of degradation by thrombin of the thrombin-heparin cofactor complex.


Antibodies against protein antigenic sites that are identical in the homologous protein of the immunized animal. Autoreactivity in rabbits of antibodies to sperm-whale myoglobin. Sequence comparisons between the antigenic sites of sperm-whale myoglobin and the corresponding regions in rabbit myoglobin indicate that rabbits make antibodies to regions of the sperm-whale myoglobin molecule which are identical to the corresponding regions in rabbit myoglobin. Rabbit myoglobin did not precipitate with antisera to sperm-whale myoglobin. However, it exhibited an extensive cross-reaction as demonstrated by its ability to inhibit the precipitin reaction of sperm-whale myoglobin, and on an immunoadsorbent, bound a large amount of antibodies to sperm-whale myoglobin.


Physicochemical studies of a branched polypeptide antigen: poly(L-Tyr,L-Glu)-poly(DL-Ala)--poly(L-Lys). The synthesis of a branched polypeptide, poly(L-Tyr,L-Glu)-poly(DL-Ala)--poly(L-Lys), is described. Physicochemical investigations of the polymer by means of hydrogen-deuterium exchange, potentiometric titrations, and viscosity measurements indicate a non-ordered, flexible conformation in aqueous solution, depending on pH and salt concentration. A hysteresis phenomenon observed in the titrations is tentatively ascribed to interactions between the sidechains, and in accordance with observations from the infrared spectrum of the polymer it is suggested that rather slow conformational changes of the polymer molecules occur in aqueous solutions. The immunochemical implications of the physiochemical findings are discussed with special reference to the concept of sequential and conformational determinants.


First-neighbor specificities of actinomycin-DNA bindings by circular dichroism. The circular dichroism spectra of eleven double-stranded DNAs, five natural with known nearest neighbor frequencies and six synthetic polydimers and polytrimers, were measured from 210 to 310 nm in the absence and presence of increasing amounts of actinomycin up to saturation. Based on the fact that the circular dichroism of nucleic acids is a nearest-neighbor frequency-dependent property, matrix analysis of the problem revealed which neighbor sets were perturbed by actinomycin, presumably by intercalation of the planar moiety of the molecule. The intercalation sites can be separated into three families. The first-neighbor units GpC and CpG are very favorable binding sites for actinomycin. ApG, CpC, ApC, TpC, and TpG appear to be less attractive sites, while ApT, TpA, and ApA are unfavorable sites.


[Electroencephalographic effects of the intracentral administration of antibodies to brain-specific antigen S-100]. The EEG method with the assessment of the rhythm power on analogue computers was used to examine the effects of intracentral administration of antibodies to the brain-specific antigen S-100 (S-100 protein). Intracerebral injections of antibodies to S-100 protein caused an increase of the EEG basic rhythm power in the hippocampus, caudate nucleus and the mesenphalic reticular formation, with the subsequent development of epileptiform activity in these structures.


[Ability of FAB-fragments of normal rabbit and human gamma globulins to suppress human lymphocyte blast transformation induced by phytomitogens]. Monovalent and bivalent Fab-fragments of normal human or rabbit gamma-globulin suppressed blasttransformation of human lymphocytes induced by phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A. Peptic F(ab)2-fragments from highly-purified rabbit anti-DNP antibody displayed suppressing activity similar to that of the fragments of normal gamma-globulin. Fab-fragments affected blasttransformation when added to lymphocytes either simultaneously with the PHA or 24 and 48h after the mitogen. The data obtained may indicate that the inhibiting of lymphocyte blasttransformation produced by the gamma-globulin fragments was not caused by their competing with mitogens for the receptors on the target-cell; the Fab-fragment activity was probably determined by the structures located outside the antibody active centre.


[Antigenic properties of genetic recombinants of serologically typed E. coli]. The conjugation between the typed strains of E. coli belonging to various serological groups and conjugation between typed and untyped E. coli strains were studied. Genetic determinant controlling the synthesis of the O100 antigen proved to be closely linked with histidine locus. Among recombinants obtained in crossing the typed E. coli strains there were such belonging to the serological type different from the serological types of donor and recipient cells.


[Experimental sensitizing activity of Neisseria perflava]. In experiments conducted on guinea pigs the sensitizing activity of Neisseria perflava isolated from the mucous membranes of the bronchi of patients with infectious asthma was studied. A possibility of reproducing active skin anaphylaxis after Ovary and of the contraction-test of the tracheal-chain by the neisseria antigens was shown. Neisseria perflava was found to possess a greater sensitizing activity than Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae inhabiting the bronchi of patients with infectious asthma.


[Immunochemical identification of human kidney-specific alpha2-macroglobulin]. Renospecific alpha2-macroglobulin (RS) with molecular weight 2 000 000 was identified by methods of immunochemical analysis. The revealed antigen was not identical to alpha2H-globulin (ferritin), to reno-pancreatic alpha2-globulin, uromucoid and alpha 2-macroglobulin of blood serum. The RS alpha2-macroglobulin content in the tumour tissue of the kidney decreased as compared to that in the normal kidney, in 16 of 23 tumors it was not revealed. On the sensitivity level of the monospecific RS alpha2-macroglobulin test-system it was not demonstrated in the blood of healthy persons and in the blood and urine of nephrologic patients.


[Genetic control of the content and avidity of antigen-binding B-lymphocytes in the mouse spleen]. The content (per 10 nucleated cells) and avidity curves of IgM positive B-lymphocytes forming rosettes with trinitrophenyl-sheep erythrocytes (TNP-RFC) were compared in two mouse lines (BALB/c C57BL/6), F1 hybrids (BALB /c X C57BL/6) and backcross hybrids (F1 X BALB/c, F1 X C57BL/6). Trinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin (TNP24BSA) and dinitrophenyl-bonvine serum albumin (DNP23BSA) and sulfanil-BSA (Sulf17-BSA) in different dilutions were used as inhibitors. BALB/c spleen contained by 60% more TNP-RFC than C576/6 spleen. F1 hybrids (F1 X BALB/c) contained on the average by 35% more TNP-RFC than (F1 X C57BL/6). Inhibition curves (avidity curves) were essentially different in the two mouse lines and F1 hybrids. A conclusion was drawn that the TNP-REC content and avidity were under a strong genetic control. Together with the assumption of random expression of V-genes (idiotype genes?) in the lymphocytes the above data suggest that the simplest mechanism of the genetic control could be a definitive ratio between the corresponding groups of V-genes.


[Intersatellite connections of the human acrocentric chromosomes that participate in associations]. Intersatellite connections between acrocentric chromosomes in associations were revealed by the method of thermal ammoniacal silver staining. The associations were allotted to the corresponding groups on the basis of the number of chromosomes. Distribution of D- and G-chromosomes in associations was studied on the basis of 714 associations from 500 metaphase plates of 10 normal individuals. The hypotheses of hypergeometric, binomial, Poisson, uniform and exponential distribution laws of D- and G-chromosomes in associations were rejected. The hypothesis of normal distribution was not rejected. The principal characteristics of normal distribution law were found. The distribution law of the number of D- and G-chromosomes in associations was written analytically; the central moments and other characteristics were presented.


[Quantitative interrelationship between the parenchyma and the stroma of the rabbit myocardium in atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis]. The relative volume of myocardial fibers, connective tissue cells, capillaries, interstitial space and surface area of the myocardial fibers and capillaries per tissue volume unit of the myocardium were measured during diffuse cardiosclerosis under conditions of experimental atherosclerosis. A significant decrease in the relative volume of the myocardial fibers alone with a concomitant increase of the extracellular space of the stroma were demonstrated.


Molecular  defect in platelets from patients with bernard-soulier syndrome. An IgG antibody isolated from the serum of a patient with the Bernard-Soulier syndrome induced platelet agglutination in the platelet-rich plasma of 50 normal subjects regardless of their ABO, KOa, KOb, HLA, or PlA1 types. This antibody was nonreactive with platelets from three other Bernard-Saulier syndrome patients. Indirect immunoprecipitation tests using this serum (or purified IgG) and soluble membrane antigens labeled with 125I that had been extracted from normal platelets by the nonionic detergent Nonidet P-40 gave a single radioactive peak at 150,000 MW in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These findings strongly suggest that the antigenic determinant reacting with this antibody is absent from platelets of Bernard-Soulier syndrome patients and that the deficient molecule is of 150,000 MW. The role of this molecule in subendothelial adhesion and macromolecular-mediated aggregations is discussed.


Human studies following animal models of tumorigenesis by oncornaviruses. Similarities have been observed for some time between oncornavirus-induced malignancies in laboratory animals and leukemias and solid tumors in man. Particles similar to type C oncornaviruses have been detected by electron microscopy both in cells or plasma from leukemia patients and in solid-tumor human malignancies such as Hodgkin's lymphoma, lymphosarcomas, and sarcomas. Likewise, particles resembling type B oncornaviruses in shape and appearance have been found in human breast cancer. In neither case has the infectious nature of the particles been confirmed. However, DNA synthesized in vitro by the enzyme of murine mammary tumor virus was found to hybridize with polysomal RNA obtained from human mammary adenocarcinomas. The presence of RNA complementary to RNA from the Rauscher strain of murine leukemia virus has been observed in other human malignancies unrelated to breast cancer. It has also been found that cells of patients with myelogenous leukemia possess an oncornaviral-type reverse transcriptase that is distinguishable from other cell DNA polymerases and serologically related to the reverse transcriptase of primate oncornaviruses.


Alterations of fast axoplasmic transport in experimental methyl n-butyl ketone neuropathy. Methyl n-butyl ketone (MBK) is known to produce a giant axonal neuropathy in man and experimental animals characterized pathologically by a gradual increase in the number of neurofilaments which become associated with focal areas of axonal swelling and thinning of the myelin sheath. Fast axoplasmic transport was studied in rats exposed to MBK. In 10 severely paralyzed rats exposed to MBK there was a significant impediment of fast axoplasmic transport following dorsal root ganglion injections (x +/- S.D. = 283.2 +/- 20.34 mm/day) compared to normal controls (417.6 +/- 23.78 mm/day). In rats undergoing injections into the ventral horn of the spinal cord there was a gradual impairment of the mean down flow rate for transport of [3H]leucine which correlated with the severity of the MBK induced neuropathy. Quantitative morphological determinations showed that the total number of neurotubules per unit cross-sectional myelin area and the number of neurotubules associated with mitochondria in swollen axons was unchanged from normal. The total number of mitochondria in randomly sampled axons varied significantly from controls but the absolute number of mitochondria associated with neurotubules was unchanged from normal. The results of these studies suggest that the impediment of fast axoplasmic transport may be related to the increased neurofilaments producing focal areas of axonal blockage.


[Teratogenic action of an inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis in Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats]. Sprague-Dawley rats are sensitive to the teratogenic action of AY 9944, an inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis, but the dose of inhibitor necessary to induce the same rate of characteristic malformations is twice as large for Sprague-Dawley as for Wistar rats. This variation is probably related to differences in levels of blood cholesterol in the strains and demonstrates a relationship between teratogenicity and metabolic disturbances.


[Metabolism of alpha macroglobulins of rabbits: study of their half-life]. Rabbit alpha-1-M and alpha-2-M labelling was carried out in vitro with 131I and in vivo with 75-Seleno-methionine in order to determine the half-life of these proteins. alpha-2-M catabolism is faster than the alpha-1-M one. This result is the same when these proteins were obtained from a plasma of a rabbit exhibiting an inflammatory reaction though their half life was shorter.


[The vasomotor action of carragenine in rats]. In the rat, carrageenan injected intravenously lowers the systemic blood pressure. This activity depends on kininogen-kinin system activation, on prostaglandin release by these kinins and on mechanic pulmonary vascular blockade. Neither histamine nor 5-hydroxytryptamine releases are observed.


Hypocalcemic effect of aminoglycoside antibiotics in the dairy cow. The effect of the parenteral administration of aminoglycoside antibiotics on the blood calcium concentration in dairy cows was investigated. Gentamicin was tested in vitro in blood drawn from cows, dihydrostreptomycin was tested in nonlactating cows and neomycin was tested in postpartum cows. The total and bound calcium fractions were significantly reduced by all three antibiotics. No change occurred in the unbound calcium fractions. Caution is advised in the use of these drugs in postpartum cows, especially those with a history of milk fever.


Isolation of enterotoxigenic Aeromonas from fish. This paper reports two different enterotoxigenic classes of the genus Aeromonas isolated from fishes. Strains of A. sobria were isolated from healthy fishes only wheras strains of A. hydrophila were isolated from both healthy and moribund fishes. Aeromonas sobria and hydrophilia strains produced a cytotoxic factor and were highly proteolytic. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the A. sobria strains produced only one type of hemolysis on 5% blood agar, but 92% of the A. hydrophilia produced two types of hemolysis. Enterotoxigenicity of all strains was tested by the rabbit gut loop technique and the suckling mouse test. Most of those Aeromonads were enterotoxigenic. Enterotoxigenic strains appeared to produce two different enterotoxins which were antigenically related, but they seemed to have different mechanisms of action. Enterotoxins of Aeromonas were shown to be antigenically different from those of E. coli.


A rapid, simple method for staining bacterial flagella. A simple modification of Gray's flagellar staining procedure is described. It can be used on air-dried smears or directly on wet mounts of motile bacteria. The stained bacterial flagella can be observed with phase-contrast or bright-field optics. No rigorous cleaning of slides, counterstains, or any washing procedures are required with the staining method, making it very suitable for routine examinations.


Freeze-fracture observations on the membranes and junctions in human prostatic carcinoma and benign prostatic hypertrophy. In human prostatic carcinomatous acini, the columnar cells possessed a loosely organized meshwork of ridges and grooves and many isolated, short, and disorganized strands of tight junctions, unlike those of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), where the tight junctional ridges and grooves were numerous and compact. Desmosomes were more irregular in size, shape and distribution in cancerous cells than in BPH. Our observation indicated that the junctional complexes were altered and defective in cancerous cells and probably facilitated migration of some acinar cells into the stroma. In addition, we have also shown that the membranes including the intramembranous particles of Golgi complexes, mitochondria, secretory granules and vacuoles, lipofuscin granules and nuclei, were essentially similar in cancerous and BPH columar cells.


Radiation therapy of carcinoma of gallbladder and biliary tract. Fourteen patients with carcinoma of the gallbladder of biliary tract were treated with radiation therapy. Some patients received definite palliative benefit and there were several long term survivors. Patients with bile duct carcinomas responded more often (50%) than did those with gallbladder carcinomas (20%). Only one patient was treated following total gross removal of the tumor, and he is a 6-year survivor. A plea is made for utilizing planned radiotherapy and chemotherapy for tumors arising in the biliary tract.


The prognostic value of acute phase reactants in patients with neuroblastoma. As part of a more extensive study of the immune response in children with neuroblastoma, serum immunoglobulin and alpha-glycoprotein levels were measured in 58 patients. Twenty-nine children were studied at diagnosis, 18 at some time during the first 2 years of treatment, and 11 who were apparently cured after treatment had been completed. No correlation was found between the levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM and the clinical status of the patient. The acute phase reactants (alpha-1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, C3 component of complement and orosomucoid) varied with the disease status. Twenty-seven of the 29 patients had elevated levels at the time of diagnosis. Alpha-1-antitrypsin and haptoglobin were the two proteins that most accurately reflection the clinical status; C3 component of complement was not infrequently normal when the disease was active; and orosomucoid was sometimes raised in patients apparently in remission. Serial measurement of alpha-1-antitrypsin and haptoglobin could provide a useful means of detecting early relapse in patients responding to treatment.


Multicentric dermal-type cylindromas of the parotid glands in a patient with florid turban tumor. Dermal-type cylindromas of parotid glands in a patient with turban tumor, and various adnexal tumors, represent a rare diathesis, apparently not reported previously. A Caucasian man, born in 1916, had a scalpectomy for turban tumor in 1957. In 1957, 1960, and 1974, dermal type cylindromas were excised from portions of both parotid glands, developing from intercalated and striated ducts; they were considered benign, based on long term followup. Adrexal tumors included multiple dermal cylindromas, trichoepitheliomas, eccrine spiradenomas, and Bowen's disease, and occurred on almost all skin surfaces. In November, 1976, a portion of a right parotidectomy included a 3.5 X 3-cm malignant tumor having the characteristics of an invasive poorly differentiated spindle cell epidermoid carcinoma, which showed no evidence of originating from a malignant basal cell tumor. Several encapsulated and developing benign basal cell tumors were included in the specimen. Dermal-type cyclindromas of the parotid gland are considered to be a variant of basal cell ademona, or monomorphic adenoma, basal cell type, since they consist of similar cell components, although of somewhat different arrangement and with prominent focal deposition of hyaline. Dermal-type cylindromas should be excised conservatively as they appear. They must be differentiated from adenoid cystic carcinoma, which is an infiltrating neoplasm and requires a radical surgical approach.


Lack of expression of type C hamster virus after neoplastic transformation of hamster embryo fibroblasts by benzo(a)pyrene. Syrian hamster embryo fibroblasts transformed in vitro with benzo(a)pyrene were analyzed for the presence of type C viral components, including extra- and intracellular reverse transcriptase activity, intracellular type C hamster virus-related RNA, and cellular hamster virus group-specific antigen. No evidence could be obtained for the presence of any of these components, although they were easily detectable in hamster fibroblasts producing either B-34 virus (a hamster virus pseudotype of Harvey murine sarcoma virus which contains an excess of helper type C hamster virus) or Harvey virus itself. In addition, intracellular viral RNA could not be detected in normal hamster embryo fibroblasts, in hamster fibroblasts transformed with simian virus 40, or in newborn hamster kidney and liver. Thus the detectable expression of the indigenous hamster type C virus is not required to maintain the transformed phenotype of these cells.


Recognition by human and rabbit sera of common antigens to leukemia blast cells, peripheral blood B-lymphocytes, and monocytes. A human serum (obtained from a multiparous and multiple-transfused patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia) and a rabbit antiserum (obtained by immunization with papain extracts from a B-lymphoblastoid cell line) showed reactivity against antigenic specificities (different from HLA) expressed on peripheral blood B-lymphocytes, unmarked lymphocytes, and monocytes. These antigenic determinants were expressed on myeloblasts and lymphoblasts from patients with acute leukemia (during the active phase of their disease) and on B-lymphoblastoid cell lines and lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Purified peripheral blood T-lymphocytes, mitogen (phytohemagglutinin)-activated T-lymphocytes, and lymphoblasts (with T-cell characteristics) obtained from patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia or established lymphoblastoid cell lines lacked these antigenic specificities. Absorption experiments indicate that the antigen(s) detected on normal mononuclear cell populations, leukemia cells, and B-lymphoblastoid cell lines were either identical or highly cross-reactive.


Comparative chemical structures of human alpha-fetoproteins from fetal serum and from ascites fluid of a patient with hepatoma. Human alpha-fetoproteins were purified from umbilical cord serum and from ascites fluid of a patient with hepatoma by affinity chromatography, and their chemical compositions and terminal sequences were compared. The amino acid compositions of these alpha-fetoproteins were similar and in good agreement with the values reported by other investigators. The COOH-terminal 5-amino acid sequence determined by carboxypeptidase digestion and the NH2-terminal 20-amino acid sequence determined by an automated sequence analyzer revealed that both alpha-fetoproteins had the same terminal sequences of amino acids. The sequence analysis showed that a part of each of the proteins lacked its NH2-terminal residues for one or three amino acids. A small difference in the carbohydrate composition of each alpha-fetoprotein was observed. It was concluded that alpha-fetoproteins from fetal serum and from ascites fluid of a patient with hepatoma had very similar structures.


Incorporation of a potent antileukemic agent, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, into DNA of cells from leukemic mice. 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine administered at a daily dose of 1.5 mg/kg increased the life-span of P388 leukemia-bearing BALB/c X DBA/2 F1 mice by 5 times and that of second generation lymphoma-bearing AKR mice by 2.5 times. Higher doses (total dose, 20 mg/kg) led to favorable results when administered in two portions on Days 4 and 5 after the s.c. inoculation of leukemic cells. The same total dose given on 5 consecutive days was toxic. The lethal dose that killed 50% of the animals was 190 mg/kg. The drug was also effective in L1210 leukemia. 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine inhibited the phosphorylation of 2'-deoxycytidine in the acid-soluble pool of cells from leukemic AKR mice as well as its incorporation into DNA. In vitro the inhibition of the uptake of 2'-deoxycytidine into cells from leukemic mice by 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine had a competitive character (Ki, 8 X 10(-5) M). Although 5-aza-2'-deoxy[4-14C]cytidine of low-specific activity was not detected in DNA isolated from the lives of leukemic mice, the same tritium-labeled drug of high-specific radioactivity was selectively localized in the nuclei of leukemic cells as revealed by autoradiography. The incorporation of [3H]-5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine into DNA of cells from leukemic mice was confirmed by the chromatographic separation of DNA on a column of kieselguhr coated with methylated albumin.


Adsorption of messenger RNA of Novikoff hepatoma, normal liver, and regenerating liver on complementary DNA-cellulose affinity matrices. Complementary DNA (cDNA)-oligodeoxythmidylate-celluloses were prepared from cDNA copies of polysomal messenger RNA (mRNA) of Novikoff hepatoma, normal rat liver, and regenerating rat liver. cDNA synthesis with reverse transcriptase was approximately 46% with respect to input mRNA with oligodeoxythymidylate-cellulose primer. The cDNA's of normal liver, regenerating liver, and Novikoff hepatomas were used as affinity matrices for hybridization of different mRNA species. Under the conditions used, degradation of mRNA was not detected. After normalization for homologous hybridization efficiency, 53 and 65% of the Novikoff hepatoma mRNA bound to normal liver and regenerating liver cDNA's. Under these conditions an average of 82% of mRNA  of normal liver bound to regenerating liver cDNA, and 92% of regenerating liver mRNA bound to normal liver cDNA. The bound and unbound mRNA's were analyzed by translation in the wheat germ system; 2-D gel analysis of the proteins synthesized in the wheat germ system indicated that the cDNA affinity columns selectively adsorbed some mRNA species.


Separation of leukemic cells into proliferative and quiescent subpopulations by centrifugal elutriation. Centrifugal elutriation was used to separate human acute leukemia cells into proliferative and quiescent subpopulations. Ten bone marrow specimens and 5 peripheral blood specimens were subjected to centrifugal elutriations. From each patient, leukemic cell subpopulations were obtained for which the [3H]thymidine labeling index differed by 10- to 30-fold. In 6 of the marrow specimens and in 2 of the peripheral blood specimens, cell subpopulations were obtained for which the labeling index exceeded 20%. In 5 marrow specimens, subpopulations were obtained for which the labeling index exceeded 40%. Preliminary studies of the uptake of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine and 5-azacytidine failed to show any correlation between drug uptake and the proliferative characteristics of the leukemic subpopulations.


Demonstration of cross-reacting tumor rejection antigens in chemically induced respiratory tract carcinomas in rats. Experiments were performed to determine whether chemically induced rat respiratory tract carcinomas, which possess considerable immunogenicity, contain cross-reacting antigens. In vivo studies showed that effective cross-protection can be induced with four of the five respiratory tract cancers studied, suggesting that these tumors have common tumor rejection antigens. In vitro cytotoxicity studies with sera from tumor-immune hosts showed cross-reactivity among three of the carcinomas tested.