pmid
stringlengths 5
8
| abstract
stringlengths 1
17.3k
|
|---|---|
3896109
|
Bilirubin assays yield variable results due to the lack of a universal calibrant. The preparation of a bilirubin calibrant is associated with the following problems: (a) only unconjugated bilirubin is available in a 'pure' form and this is of doubtful stability, (b) the test for its purity is arbitrary, (c) the true molar absorptivity of bilirubin is unknown, (d) due to the various specificities of methods, the calibrant has to be in a protein matrix, (e) the matrix alters the properties of bilirubin and (f) there is no definitive bilirubin assay. The use of a lyophilised human-based bilirubin calibrant should permit accurate standardisation of the method of Jendrassik and Grof and that of Hertz.
|
3896110
|
16 patients with hepatic metastases and 35 patients with a cancer of the gastrointestinal tract with no apparent metastases on the pre-operative survey were studied prospectively in order to compare the effectiveness of intra-operative ultrasonography and other morphological examinations in the detection of tumour. In this study, the topographical precision of the various morphological examinations was also assessed. This precision is fundamental for modern surgery for hepatic metastases, as it allows limited anatomical resections which are associated with a decreased operative risk, while maintaining the same long term results as wide resections.
|
3896111
|
The authors report a series of 430 renal transplantations performed over five years. During this period, the surgical technique was modified to ureterovesical anastomosis. The urological complications--fistulae and stenosis--are discussed as a function of the site of the implantation, the position of the kidney, the type of anastomosis and the length of the ureter. The results show that transplantation in the iliac position gives rise to more complications than transplantation in the pelvic position. They also show that inversion of the superior pole of the kidney leads to a greater number of urological complications. In the series reported, ureterovesical anastomosis gave 6.7% of complications, against 12% for uretero-ureteral anastomosis, which also gave rise to a significantly larger number of fistulae. More detailed study of the series reveals a complication rate of 4.7% for ureterovesical anastomosis (out of 224 patients) against 4% for uretero-ureteral anastomosis, when the ureter was short (in both series). The dominant factor is therefore the length of the ureter; the longer it is, the greater the number of urological complications.
|
3896112
|
In this article, the authors study the complications following all the kidney transplantations performed in their hospital between 1969 and 1980. During this period, 580 patients underwent 637 transplantations, including 120 (19%) with urological complications: urinary fistulae (49%), stenoses (28%), vesicorenal refluxes (13%), and calculi (10%). The postoperative mortality rate was 2.7%. Some patients presented with two or more complications. The circumstances of the discovery of the sequelae and the treatment prescribed are described in each case and a comparative study is made with other transplantation centers.
|
3896104
|
The length and cross-sectional height of the scala tympani are relevant to the design of cochlear implants. The lengths and heights of the scalae tympani in ten pairs of serially sectioned temporal bones were measured by an adaptation of the serial section method of cochlear reconstruction. The study found the middle segments of individual pairs of scalae tympani to be very similar in height, but each pair varied slightly from other pairs. The height decreased overall from the base to the apex, but there was a small expansion at the junction of the basal and middle turns where the interscalar septum originated. The theoretical relationships of different diameter electrodes to the organ of Corti were plotted for one cochlea. The size of the electrode and the path it followed were shown in theory to alter considerably its position in relation to the organ of Corti.
|
3896115
|
An analysis of eleven cases in a series of 274 kidney transplantations between 1976 and 1984 suggests that pyeloureteral anastomosis with the recipient's own ureter only involves a simple operation, that the nephrectomy of the overlying kidney would not seem indispensable, that the existence of major infectious lesions is a contra-indication, and that seven of the eleven grafts were still functional with a followup of five months to seven years.
|
3896132
|
Preparation of medical protein hydrolysates with the use of complete hydrolysis of proteins by bacterial enzyme complexes, such as protosubtilin G10x and bacterial peptidase immobilized on aminosilylated alumina was shown to be possible. The activity, thermostability and substrate specificity of the heterogeneous biocatalysts were studied. The integral kinetics of the hydrolysis of sodium caseinate and peptides included in partial acid and enzymatic casein hydrolyzates and blood was investigated. The engineering approaches to mathematical simulation of the bioproteolysis kinetics and the results of their use in processing of the experimental data are discussed.
|
3896134
|
Resistance to organic tin compounds of P. aeruginosa and E. coli carrying antibiotic resistance plasmids and to P. putida containing biodegradation plasmids was studied. It was shown that 5 resistance plasmids and the biodegradation CAM plasmid of Pseudomonas increased 3-4 times the strain resistance to triethylstannylsuccinylimide and triethylstannylmaleinimide. All these plasmids belong to the P-2 incompatibility group and also determine the bacterial resistance to potassium tellurite. Isolation and investigation of the mutant plasmids loosing simultaneously the capacity for determination of resistance to potassium tellurite and organic tin compounds suggest that resistance to these compounds in the investigated plasmids is determined by the same genetic system.
|
3896137
|
Variables of the effect of penicillin G on the numbers of viable group B streptococci in broth cultures were studied. One-fourth of the MIC was the lowest concentration that reduced the viable count compared with antibiotic-free controls. The rate of killing increased with the concentration of penicillin up to 4 X MIC, but no further. During the first 2 or 3 h, the bactericidal activity was more rapid than later on. The MIC and supraoptimal concentrations of penicillin killed an inoculum of 10(6) organisms more rapidly than an inoculum of 10(4) organisms. The MIC was not inoculum dependent. The reverse inoculum effect was revealed by the killing curves but not by the MBC. There were reproducible differences among strains as to the rate of killing by penicillin; these did not correlate with the rate of multiplication, which also varied among strains. Among the 11 strains tested, there were no tolerant ones.
|
3896136
|
The penetration of ceftazidime, administered in a dose of 100 mg/kg intramuscularly, into cardiac vegetations and subcutaneously implanted fibrin clots was compared in rabbits with experimental Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis. Significant pharmacokinetic differences between the time-concentration curves for the two compartments were observed. Concentrations of ceftazidime in vegetations peaked at 30 min after dosing at a level slightly lower than that in plasma and thereafter declined in parallel with concentrations in plasma throughout the 8-h sampling period. Concentrations in fibrin clots increased more slowly than those in plasma and vegetations, reaching a maximum at 120 min. This was followed by a slow elimination phase yielding concentrations in excess of concurrent plasma and vegetation levels and a greater area under the curve. These features were observed for both large (2-ml volume) and small (0.1-ml volume) clots. Contrary to previous reports, these observations suggest that fibrin clots do not provide an accurate model for predicting antibiotic concentrations in cardiac vegetations produced in endocarditis and that concentrations of antimicrobial agents in vegetations can be predicted more accurately from concomitant plasma levels.
|
3896139
|
We have immobilized E. coli alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) by linking it covalently to sepharose 4B. This preparation has several advantages over the soluble enzyme. The immobilized enzyme is easily separable from other constituents in incubation mixtures. The immobilized enzyme can be reused repeatedly and is more stable than the soluble enzyme to heat treatment in the presence of 10 mM Mg2+. The insoluble and soluble phosphatases removed 75 and 77%, respectively, of the inorganic phosphorus from casein. The immobilized enzyme inactivated two enzymes believed to be active in the phosphorylated state, acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) by 39% and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase by 89%. The utility of immobilized alkaline phosphatase for studying the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of soluble or membrane-bound enzymes and proteins is discussed.
|
3896138
|
The natural targeting of liposomes to cells of the reticuloendothelial system should be exploited to examine whether selective delivery of antiviral or immunomodulatory agents could be beneficial for the treatment of virus diseases. In this review we discuss the potential use of liposomes in the treatment of virus diseases, the targeting of liposome-encapsulated immunomodulators to macrophages in order to render these cells cytolytic for virus-infected cells, and the targeting of liposome-encapsulated antiviral drugs to macrophages to achieve direct suppression of virus replication with in these cells.
|
3896140
|
The incidence of microbes in the nasal cavities of workers in three paper and board mills was investigated. A total of 234 persons exposed to microbial aerosols and splashes from paper machine wires and debarker drums formed the exposed group. The control group consisted of 294 workers from the dry working areas: the winding and packing sections. Chi-square analysis was used to test the differences in the frequency of microbial incidence and various symptoms between the exposed and control groups. The nasal cavities of many workers, particularly workers in the debarkers, proved to be contaminated by Klebsiella pneumoniae, other coliforms, yeasts, and molds; usually only one microbe was involved, but sometimes two or several species were found. Nasal bacteria and yeasts were largely derived from the mill and debarker air; the microbes in the air came mainly from process waters. Lack of association of nasopharyngeal symptoms with either exposure to aerosols or nasal microbial contamination was interpreted as an indication of host defenses that were adequate to protect workers from harmful microbial colonization in paper mill environments.
|
3896141
|
A total of 189 muskrat fecal samples were surveyed for Campylobacter and Giardia species. Campylobacter jejuni was recovered from 47.5% of these samples, and Giardia species were detected in 82.5%. These findings indicate that muskrat may be of importance to the health both of humans and of domestic animals.
|
3896142
|
Previous studies have shown that bacteria maintained in a low-nutrient "natural" environment such as swimming pool water are much more resistant to disinfection by various chemical agents than strains maintained on rich media. In the present study a comparison was made of the chlorine (Cl2) susceptibility of hot-water tank isolates of Legionella pneumophila maintained in tap water and strains passaged on either nonselective buffered charcoal-yeast extract or selective differential glycine-vancomycin-polymyxin agar medium. Our earlier work has shown that environmental and clinical isolates of L. pneumophila maintained on agar medium are much more resistant to Cl2 than coliforms are. Under the present experimental conditions (21 degrees C, pH 7.6 to 8.0, and 0.25 mg of free residual Cl2 per liter, we found the tap water-maintained L. pneumophila strains to be even more resistant than the agar-passaged isolates. Under these conditions, 99% kill of tap water-maintained strains of L. pneumophila was usually achieved within 60 to 90 min compared with 10 min for agar-passaged strains. Samples from plumbing fixtures in a hospital yielded legionellae which were "super"-chlorine resistant when assayed under natural conditions. After one agar passage their resistance dropped to levels of comparable strains which had not been previously exposed to additional chlorination. These studies more closely approximate natural conditions than our previous work and show that tap water-maintained L. pneumophila is even more resistant to Cl2 than its already resistant agar medium-passaged counterpart.
|
3896143
|
Thirty-one strains of marine bacteria were examined for their ability to transfer mercury resistance to Escherichia coli in complex media; eight strains were able to transfer their resistance marker, with frequencies ranging from 10(-3) to 10(-8). Frequencies generally increased with the increase of the mating period. Additional mating experiments were carried out with one strain, belonging to the pseudomonads, to estimate the influence of temperature, salinity, and time on the conjugal transfer frequency of mercury resistance markers. The higher frequencies occurred at 30 degrees C, in a salt medium (37%), after 24 h of mating.
|
3896144
|
A collaborative study, initiated under the auspices of the Health Industry Manufacturers Association (HIMA), was designed to establish the relationship of Escherichia coli O55:B5 endotoxin (the control standard endotoxin of HIMA and the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Medical Devices) to the U.S. National Reference Standard Endotoxin and to two internationally used control standard endotoxins. By using two Limulus amoebocyte lysate test systems, it was established that the E. coli O55:B5 endotoxin lot originally used by HIMA and the Office of Medical Devices to establish Limulus amoebocyte lysate release test criteria for pyrogen testing of medical devices contains approximately 4.5 endotoxin units (EU) per ng. Thus, the 1.0-ng/kg endotoxin dose limit currently established for medical devices is approximately the same as the 5.0-EU/kg endotoxin limit (on an activity basis) established by several other Food and Drug Administration agencies for human and animal parenteral drugs and biological products.
|
3896146
|
Lactose permease from Escherichia coli T 206 was purified in octyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (octyl-glucoside) according to Newman et al. [J. Biol. Chem. (1981) 256, 11804-11808]. In this detergent the protein has a very high tendency to aggregate nonspecifically. Therefore, exchange of octyl-glucoside was performed for another nonionic detergent, dodecyl octaethylene glycol monoether (C12E8), in which the protein is more stable. The amounts of bound C12E8 and phospholipids were measured using radioactive detergent and gas chromatography, respectively, and were found to be respectively 0.2 and 0.15 g/g protein. Analytical ultracentrifugation (sedimentation velocity and sedimentation equilibrium) and gel filtration (conventional and high performance liquid chromatography) experiments indicated that in this detergent the lactose permease existed mainly as a dimer. This result is at variance with the monomeric state of the protein reported by Wright et al. [FEBS Lett. (1983) 162, 11-15] in another nonionic detergent (dodecyl-o-beta-maltoside). We discuss the possible reason for this discrepancy and suggest that the dimeric state of association may well reflect the situation that prevails in the membrane.
|
3896145
|
Plasma membranes isolated from a yeast sterol auxotroph (RD5-R) grown on 1, 5, and 15 micrograms ml-1 exogenous concentrations of sterol showed no discontinuity in plots of steady-state fluorescence anisotropy. Liposomes constructed from phospholipid and sterol extracted from RD5-R grown on different sterols indicated that exogenously supplied sterol modulated cellular phospholipids such that lipid-phase transitions were avoided. Liposomes derived from sterol and phospholipid extracted from the same culture exhibited no lipid-phase transitions. However, when phospholipid extracted from a culture grown on a specific sterol was mixed with sterol extracted from a heterologous culture grown on a different sterol to form liposomes, discontinuities were detected in the anisotropy measurements of the liposomes produced. Quantitative analyses revealed that the exogenously supplied sterol coordinately regulated specific phospholipid species, fatty acid composition, and sterol to phospholipid ratios in yeast auxotrophs.
|
3896147
|
The antifungal agent, Sinefungin (SF), has been shown to be an inhibitor of transmethylation reactions. We report here the effects of SF on the production and methylation of rRNA in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Under conditions of SF treatment which have been shown to affect the regulation of cell proliferation in this yeast, pulse-chase labeling experiments using [methyl-3H]methionine and [3H]uracil indicated that methyl incorporation into rRNA during a short labeling period was inhibited, and stable 18 S rRNA production was differentially decreased. Other experiments quantitating modified nucleotides in newly produced rRNA showed that stable molecules were methylated. Taken together, these results suggest that SF slows methylation of rRNA, and is associated with differential loss of undermethylated 18 S rRNA species.
|
3896148
|
The effects of a variety of structural analogs of L-tyrosine on the mutase and dehydrogenase activities of hydroxyphenylpyruvate synthase have been investigated. From these studies it is concluded that the alpha-NH3+ alpha-COO-, and the 4-OH groups are essential for binding of L-tyrosine as an inhibitor of the dehydrogenase and that the L configuration is also essential. Dixon plots for inhibition of the dehydrogenase activity by some of these analogs were nonlinear and could be described by a velocity equation that is the ratio of quadratic polynomials (a 2/1 function). Dixon plots for inhibition of the mutase by prephenate at low concentrations of chorismate could also be described by a 2/1 function, but at low concentrations of prephenate chorismate acts as an apparent hyperbolic activator of the dehydrogenase activity. Up to concentrations of 300 microM, L-tyrosine activates the mutase but acts as a potent inhibitor of the dehydrogenase. Such data for the dehydrogenase could not be described by a 2/1 function in 1/[prephenate] but could be fitted to the Hill equation with increasing concentrations of L-tyrosine in the presence of 1.0 mM NAD yielding increasing values for the Hill number (n): in the absence of L-tyrosine, n = 1.6 +/- 0.1; at 150 microM L-tyrosine, n = 2.1 +/- 0.1; at 300 microM L-tyrosine, n = 2.3 +/- 0.4. L-Tyrosine bears a close structural resemblance to both prephenate and hydroxyphenylpyruvate, and evidence is presented which is consistent with L-tyrosine acting as a competitive inhibitor with respect to prephenate of the dehydrogenase.
|
3896149
|
The menisci are collagen-rich, fibrocartilagenous structures which are important in protecting the articular cartilage of the knee from some of the impact of weight-bearing. Meniscal proteoglycans have been studied in several mammalian species, including the dog, but very little is known about the noncollagenous proteins of the menisci. In the present study, 4 M guanidinium chloride extracts of meniscal cartilage from normal adult mongrel dogs were studied, and several noncollagenous proteins, including the link proteins and a 116,000-Da subunit protein, which we have recently described in articular cartilage, were found in meniscal cartilage. The 116,000-Da subunit protein represents 3.8% of the total protein extracted from meniscal cartilage. The link proteins sedimented in the bottom of an associative cesium chloride density gradient, where high-buoyant-density proteoglycans sediment.
|
3896150
|
After an energy source shift-down, Escherichia coli accumulates 70 S ribosome-mRNA complexes ("70 S monosomes"). The monosome mRNA strands are predominantly primary transcription products with purine nucleoside 5'-triphosphate and 5'-diphosphate termini present at a 1:2 ratio. The number-average chain length is 564 +/- 30 nucleotides, indicating that the population represents primarily monocistronic mRNAs. Digestions with endonucleases and exonucleases indicate that the ribosomes lie near the 5' ends of the mRNA strands and that the majority of the mRNA strands contain 5'-proximal "leader" sequences (average 10 nucleotides) outside the protective boundary of the ribosome. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the increased functional stability of mRNA in down-shifted cells may result from protection by bound ribosomes of endonuclease-susceptible site(s) near the 5' ends of the mRNA strands.
|
3896151
|
The thermal denaturation profile of the Cu2+, Zn2+ metalloenzyme, bovine superoxide dismutase, consists of two primary components, the major component denatures irreversibly at Tm = 104 degrees C with a total enthalpy (delta Hcal) of 7.30 cal/g. Reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) with potassium ferrocyanide lowers Tm to 96 degrees C and delta Hcal to 6.96 cal/g. The apo-form of bovine superoxide dismutase (both Cu and Zn removed) denatures at 60 degrees C with an enthalpy only one-half that of the holo-form. The reduced thermal stability, which indicates a greater ability to change conformation, may explain the previously observed much greater membrane binding of the apo-enzyme. Reconstitution with Zn2+, Cu2+, or Zn2+ and Cu2+ raises Tm to 80, 89, or 102 degrees C, respectively, with corresponding increases in the enthalpy. Thus, the metal ions considerably stabilize the enzyme and must somewhat affect conformation. The effect of Cu2+ alone is greater than that of Zn2+, although both are needed for full stability. Raman spectroscopy indicates little difference in secondary structure between the apo- and holo-forms, implying that the increased stability due to metal binding is not caused by an extreme structural reorganization. The value of Tm of canine and yeast superoxide dismutase is also lowered by reduction of Cu(II). The reduced form of the yeast enzyme denatures irreversibly, as do all forms of the bovine and canine enzymes, but the oxidized form is unique in that it denatures reversibly. Thus, the copper ion must be oxidized for renaturation and appears to act as a nucleation site.
|
3896152
|
Antibodies directed against human milk sialyloligosaccharides [D. F. Smith and V. Ginsburg (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 55-59] are used to identify human meconium gangliosides by radioimmuneoverlay-thin-layer chromatography or by direct binding on nitrocellulose filters of sialyl[3H]oligosaccharide alditols obtained from gangliosides after ozonolysis and alkali-fragmentation. Thin-layer chromatograms of meconium monosialylgangliosides immunostained with rabbit antisera specific for LS-tetrasaccharide c (NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc) or LS-tetrasaccharide b (Gal beta 1-3[NeuAc alpha 2-6]GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc) reveal their corresponding gangliosides, 6'-LM1 and a previously undescribed ceramide derivative of LS-tetrasaccharide b, respectively. The sialyl[3H]oligosaccharides derived from the monosialylganglioside fraction of meconium are separated by paper chromatography and assayed for binding to specific anti-sialyloligosaccharide sera. Antisera specific for LS-tetrasaccharide c and 3'-sialyllactose (NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4Glc) identify their corresponding 3H-labeled haptens released from the major meconium gangliosides 6'-LM1 and GM3, respectively. Binding of a ganglioside-derived sialyl[3H]oligosaccharide by anti-LS-tetrasaccharide b serum is consistent with the presence in meconium of a monosialylganglioside with the following proposed structure: (formula; see text)
|
3896153
|
The subrenal capsule assay (SRCA) has been developed by Bogden. This simple method using fresh human tumor has much more approximation with clinical procedure than other sensitivity tests. Even from our as yet limited small experiences, its high evaluability and high specificity are promising. Problems inherent to the actual assay and its limitations were reviewed and discussed, including our trial with bone marrow puncture specimens of leukemia, our evaluation criteria and assay-clinical correlations. This method will be widely utilized in several fields of cancer treatment in the near future.
|
3896154
|
Eighteen patients with advanced metastatic gastrointestinal cancer (stomach cancer 7, liver cancer 9, pancreas cancer 2) were treated with human recombinant interferon alpha-2 at doses of 3.0 X 10(6)-10.0 X 10(6) IU/body i.m. daily or every second day, 30 X 10(6) IU/body for five consecutive days every four weeks, or 30 X 10(6) IU/body once weekly. No tumor response was demonstrated in any of our cases. Among fifteen evaluable cases, nine had stabilization of evaluable disease at four weeks, but six showed progressive disease. On the other hand, fever, chills, fatigue, anorexia, nausea and vomiting were pronounced. In two cases, CNS toxicities developed. In some instances, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, decrease of hemoglobin content and elevation of transaminase were observed. According to these findings, single use of recombinant interferon alpha-2 at the dose schedule outlined above does not seem to be of use for the treatment of advanced gastrointestinal cancer.
|
3896155
|
Development of effective chemotherapy for patients with peritonitis carcinomatosa is considered to be very important in cancer management. In this study, intraperitoneal injection (ip) of cisdichlorodiammineplatinum (II) (CDDP, cisplatin) together with subcutaneous injection (sc) of sodium thiosulfate (STS), abbreviated as 2-channel chemotherapy, were discussed with regard to its safety and efficacy on peritonitis carcinomatosa using nude mice inoculated intraperitoneally with SCK-8 tumor cells derived from human gastric cancer. A single ip lethal dose (16 mg/kg) of CDDP reproducibly caused weight loss in nude mice and killed 100% of the nude mice by day 5 after injection. However, sc of STS (1,200 mg/kg) protected nude mice against a lethal dose of CDDP, and reduced CDDP-induced weight loss. Two-channel chemotherapy (CDDP 16 mg/kg ip + STS 1200 mg/kg sc) using nude mice with advanced peritonitis carcinomatosa produced a 45% increase of life span with a survival of 74.6 +/- 6.2 days (n = 8), compared with control nude mice with peritonitis carcinomatosa surviving 51.5 +/- 13.3 days (n = 11). Therefore, it is conceivable that 2-channel chemotherapy can be applied to the management of cancer patients with peritonitis carcinomatosa.
|
3896156
|
Fifteen patients with advanced recurrent or metastatic carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with recombinant interferon alpha-2. Cumulative doses for evaluation of at least 1.2 X 10(8) IU were given over a period of 4 weeks. No significant regression was shown in 14 evaluable patients, 6 of which showed no change and 8 progression. Toxicities were minimum and acceptable. All patients had an episode of elevated body temperature. One patient showed transient effects on the central nervous system, which may be a dose-limiting factor. Recombinant interferon alpha-2 was therefore not recommended as a modality for the treatment of recurrent head and neck cancer.
|
3896158
|
Symmetrical peripheral gangrene (SPG) is a rare syndrome associated with a multitude of underlying medical problems. We are adding three cases of SPG to the medical literature, all of which had disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Each had an underlying illness that, to our knowledge, has not been previously associated with SPG: Hodgkin's lymphoma, Escherichia coli urinary tract infection with septicemia, and polymyalgia rheumatica. Review of the medical literature shows a high association between SPG and DIC. Symmetrical peripheral gangrene should therefore be considered a cutaneous marker of DIC. Early recognition and treatment of the underlying medical problem and DIC could be lifesaving.
|
3896157
|
Recombinant interferon alpha-2 (Sch 30500) was administered to 29 patients with advanced gynecological cancers (14 patients with cancer of the cervix, 8 with ovarian cancer, 4 with uterine sarcoma, 2 with endometrial cancer and 1 with unclassified cancer). No antitumor effects (CR and PR) were noted in 23 evaluable patients. Side effects observed were fever, tachycardia, diarrhea, chills, general fatigue, anorexia, nausea and vomiting. In some patients, leukopenia, decrease of hemoglobin and elevation of SGOT and SGPT were observed. No production of antibody for Sch 30500 was noted.
|
3896159
|
The histologic localization of fibronectin (FN) in normal human skin, granulation tissue, hypertrophic scar, mature scar, progressive systemic sclerotic skin, and tissue of other fibrotic disorders was investigated by an indirect immunofluorescence technique using specific antiserum prepared in rabbits against purified human plasma FN. In granulation tissue that developed just after traumatic wounding, FN seemed to increase remarkably in the wound as a fibrillar network. In the hypertrophic scar, one to five years after wounding, FN was detected in a linear or curling arrangement throughout the dermis. On the contrary, FN gradually decreased in the wound of the mature scar five to 20 years after wounding. There were some interesting observations among other diseases. In the skin of patients with progressive systemic sclerosis and morphea, FN was found to be localized faintly on the dermoepidermal junction and papillary dermis. In the involved skin of dermatofibroma, FN was observed in a curling arrangement throughout the dermis.
|
3896161
|
A new device for sonographically controlled follicular puncture was introduced which improves both safety and comfort during egg retrieval. A steering attachment developed especially for the transducer of the DIASONICS DS 1 sector scanner increased the precision of transabdominal-transvesical follicular puncture. The "two-instrument method" (aspiration needle gliding smoothly within a trocar) ensured highly reliable, continuous sonographic imaging of the aspiration needle as well as precise puncture without the procedure being hindered by tissue resistance. Sonographically controlled follicular puncture under epidural anesthesia reduces procedure-related risk and patient stress.
|
3896162
|
Two membrane associated placental tissue proteins (PP4 and MP1) have been isolated and characterized. Both proteins are found in the soluble as well as solubilized protein fractions of the human placenta and thus appear to be at least partly associated with placental membranes. PP4 has a molecular weight of 35000 and apparently consists of a single peptide chain. It has an electrophoretic mobility in between the alpha 1- and alpha 2-globulins, an isoelectric point of 4.85 and a sedimentation coefficient of 3.3 S. The carbohydrate content of PP4 amounts to 2.4%. MP1 was isolated from placental protein fractions solubilized with Triton X-100. It has a molecular weight of around 18000 and appears to be composed of two identical subunits which are non-covalently linked. MP1 was found to have an electrophoretic mobility in between the alpha 2- and beta 1-globulins, an isoelectric point of 4.75 and a sedimentation coefficient of 6.65 S. MP1 is a glycoprotein which contains 9.6% carbohydrates. Immunochemical methods were used to detect and quantitate PP4 and MP1 in extracts of placentae and other human tissues. MP1 appears to be specific to the placenta, whereas PP4 was found to occur also in certain other human tissues. The diagnostic significance of detection and measurement of these proteins in tissues and body fluids is presently under investigation.
|
3896163
|
Four new soluble placental tissue proteins (PP18, PP19, PP20, PP21) have been isolated to purity from saline extracts of human term placentas. Two of the new proteins appear to be partly associated with placental membranes; they also could be detected in placental protein fractions obtained by extracting the insoluble part of the placental tissue with solubilizing agents after the soluble material had been removed by washing with saline. The new placental proteins were characterized by their physical properties as well as by their carbohydrate and aminoacid compositions. Specific antisera to the new proteins were obtained by immunizing animals with the corresponding purified proteins. They were used to detect and quantitate the new proteins in extracts of placentas and other human tissues by immunochemical methods. From one human term placenta an average of 2 mg PP18, 90 mg PP19, 0.5 mg PP20, and around 7 mg PP21 could be extracted. None of these new proteins is specific to the placenta; they also were found to occur in extracts of certain other human tissues. The immunohistochemical localization of these proteins as well as measurement of their concentrations in body fluids by sensitive radioimmunoassays are presently under investigation.
|
3896166
|
A 73-year-old diabetic presented with septic arthritis of the knee; Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated. She was successfully treated with a combination of parenteral and intra-articular ceftazidime, after failure to eradicate the organism with adequate serum levels of gentamicin and full doses of azlocillin.
|
3896169
|
A total of 74 of 82 domestic Rhodnius prolixus from the same locality in eastern Colombia were found to be infected with Trypanosoma cruzi or T. rangeli. One of three domestic Triatoma dimidiata from Ecuador also showed T. cruzi infection. A total of 59 T. cruzi stocks from these and five other localities in Colombia were isolated from man, marsupials and triatomine bugs. Cellulose-acetate electrophoresis of nine or ten enzymes characterized all T. cruzi stocks as zymodeme 1 (reference clone Silvio X10/1). Differences in electrophoretic patterns between the newly isolated stocks and the zymodeme 1 standard were seen with the enzymes G6PD and HK. These results are in agreement with the previously described geographical distribution of T. cruzi zymodemes. Stocks were isolated from both low and high altitudes and there was no evidence of adaptative significance of T. cruzi enzyme polymorphism.
|
3896167
|
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) have been set up for determination of plasma IgG and IgM antibodies to native (n) and denatured (d) DNA. Normal male and female donors generally gave low values in the assays for IgG; IgM control values were higher, particularly in females. Mean values for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were greatly raised in all four categories of assay in relation to the control (female) group. Levels of IgG anti-nDNA in SLE correlated well with a standard diagnostic test (Farr), and this ELISA assay was more successful than Farr in discriminating between patients and normal females. No such correlation with Farr was found for IgM anti-nDNA. Correlations were found in SLE between levels of antibodies to nDNA and dDNA. Inhibition tests--including those with a plasmid DNA preparation containing no single-stranded regions--showed that most of the IgG antibodies determined in the 'native' assay were able to bind to nDNA and dDNA with comparable avidity, whereas most of those reacting in the 'denatured' assay could only bind dDNA. The former antibodies were probably directed against shared determinants on the deoxyribose-phosphate backbone and the latter against base-dependent structures not exposed in nDNA. Inhibition results for IgM assays were similar, though the predominance of antibodies specific for dDNA appeared less marked. ELISA assays could well prove more useful than established methods in diagnosis and monitoring of SLE and other diseases.
|
3896168
|
The epidemiology of malaria was studied in a West African mining town (Yekepa) and three surrounding zones defined as Close, Middle and Far areas. Malariometric parameters were investigated in children two to nine years of age at the end of the rainy season. In Yekepa, vector control measures and intense suppression of malaria with drugs had created an almost hypoendemic situation with a spleen rate of 11%. In Close area, vector control was applied to some extent and malaria drugs were frequently used for treatment; the spleen rate was 40%. In Middle area, a mobile clinic provided sporadic malaria treatment to small children, but the clinic did not reach out to Far area. The spleen rates were 95 and 99%, respectively. Three species of Plasmodium were found in all areas. The prevalences in Far area were P. falciparum 82%, P. malariae 39% and P. ovale 9%. The crude parasite rates increased from 13% in Yekepa to 92% in Far area, whereas haematocrit levels decreased from 37.6 to 35.2, respectively. Plasmodium falciparum seropositivity, as measured by indirect immunofluorescence, was 74% in Yekepa and 99% in Middle and Far areas. Total IgG concentrations ranged from 18 g1(-1) in Yekepa to 33 g1(-1) in Far area. Three main anopheline species were found in the zones outside Yekepa. Their relative frequencies in Far area were Anopheles funestus 45%, A. hancocki 37%, and A. gambiae 18%. The local inoculation rates gradually increased outwards from Yekepa from less than 0.01 to 0.17 inoculations per man and night at the beginning of the dry season.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
|
3896171
|
Circulating immune complexes (CIC) occurred in 36% of a group of 25 patients with Fièvre boutonneuse. CIC were present only in the first week of the disease and there was no evidence of other humoral immunological abnormalities or alterations of the coagulation factors studied. The presence of CIC was not associated with a more severe clinical manifestation or with symptoms or tissue injuries. It is considered that CIC do not play a major role in Fièvre boutonneuse.
|
3896170
|
A total of 303 pig sera were examined by the Indirect Fluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT), basic Direct Agglutination Test (AD) and Direct Agglutination Test with 2-mercaptoethanol (AD 2-ME). The percentages of positive sera were 32.0 with IFAT, 37.95 with AD and 32.34% with AD 2-ME. No relationship was evident between sex and the incidence of toxoplasmosis in pigs. There were no significant statistical differences between the IFAT and the AD 2-ME, hence both tests can be recommended equally for serological surveys of toxoplasmosis.
|
3896173
|
We measured the rate of clearance of technetium 99m-labeled diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (99mTcDTPA) (molecular weight, 492 daltons) from the lung into the blood (T1/2LB) in 9 patients before and after operation with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Two hours postoperatively, T1/2LB fell from 49.3 +/- 13.6 minutes (mean +/- standard deviation) to 24.0 +/- 12.8 minutes (p less than 0.001). In addition, alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference P(A-a)O2 had increased from 73 +/- 28 mm Hg to 164 +/- 37 mm Hg (p less than 0.001). The rates of clearance of 99mTcDTPA had returned to preoperative times by 7 days after operation, although there was still a significant (p less than 0.05) elevation in P(A-a)O2. Postoperative respiratory failure developed in 1 patient. The only abnormality of lung function detected preoperatively was an increased clearance rate for 99mTcDTPA (T1/2LB, 18 minutes). This study has shown an increased clearance from the lung of a low-molecular-weight molecule following operation with CPB. This finding should allow a more rational approach to elucidating the mechanisms of injury to the gas-blood interface in the lung following this type of operation.
|
3896174
|
A simplified technique for repair of type II and III truncus arteriosus applicable in neonates is described. The method is particularly useful in those patients in whom the pulmonary artery orifices arise from the posterior wall of the truncal root. Advances in two-dimensional echocardiography have provided an accurate means of determining the exact anatomy preoperatively. At operation, isolation of the pulmonary orifices on a button of posterior truncal wall is accomplished by complete division of the main truncal root. Primary closure of the new ascending aorta is made possible by extensive mobilization of the aorta and pulmonary orifices. Early postoperative follow-up indicates that the use of a new absorbable suture for primary repair of the aortic root allows for normal growth.
|
3896175
|
Angiotensin (ANG) II produced a slight, transient contraction followed by a moderate relaxation in dog renal artery strips precontracted with prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha. Treatment with acetylsalicylic acid indomethacin, ibuprofen and sodium meclofenamate reduced the relaxant response to ANG II or reversed the relaxation to a contraction, but did not significantly alter the relaxant response to PGI2. The inhibitory potencies were in the order of meclofenamate greater than indomethacin greater than ibuprofen greater than acetylsalicylic acid. Sodium salicylate and gentisic acid, metabolites of acetylsalicylic acid, in concentrations up to 5 X 10(-4)M did not influence the ANG II-induced relaxation. Treatment with salicylate (5 X 10(-4)M) prevented the inhibitory effect of acetylsalicylic acid, indomethacin or meclofenamate, whereas combined treatment with salicylate and ibuprofen elicited an inhibition of ANG II-induced relaxations to a similar extent to that seen in preparations treated with ibuprofen alone. It appears that acetylsalicylic acid, indomethacin and meclofenamate share the same mechanism for inhibiting the cyclooxygenase activity, but the mechanism of inhibitory action of ibuprofen differs.
|
3896180
|
Associated with the development of methods to quantify gastric emptying, there has been an increased understanding of the physiology of gastric emptying in normal subjects and the pathophysiology and pharmacological treatment of gastric emptying disorders. The measurement of gastric emptying, using radionuclide-labeled food markers and a scintillation camera, has widespread clinical and research applications.
|
3896179
|
Anecdotal reports have indicated that the nonionic detergent polysorbate 60 may be of some value in male pattern baldness. In this double-blind placebo-controlled trial, a photographic and objective scalp measurement system was developed to assess new hair growth. No significant difference was detected between subjects treated for 16 weeks with polysorbate 60 and control subjects treated with glycerin, indicating that polysorbate 60 is ineffective. Of the 141 subjects who completed the trial, 25% perceived that they grew new hair, 67% said they did not, and 8% were uncertain. Subject-reported new hair growth did not correlate with measurements, indicating that the placebo effect may be a major factor in reports of baldness "cures".
|
3896182
|
While papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas are frequently mixed, this is a case of a medullary, papillary, follicular, and undifferentiated carcinoma of the same gland. In addition, all four tumor types were metastatic to regional lymph nodes. The patient described herein did not demonstrate features of the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 syndrome. Immunoperoxidase staining for calcitonin and thyroglobulin was positive in the follicular and medullary areas of tumor. Because the embryologic origin of the thyroidal follicular cells is from the endoderm and the origin of the parafollicular cells of the medullary carcinoma is from the ectodermal neural crest, this case seems noteworthy for demonstrating mixed metastatic tumor of composite embryologic origin. Alternatively, this case may represent an extension of what has recently been termed differentiated thyroid carcinoma, intermediate type by Ljungberg and co-workers.
|
3896183
|
Hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism occurred in a 49-year-old man with chronic endocrine and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency secondary to pancreatectomy and in a 64-year-old man with recurrent pancreatitis, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and prolonged magnesium deficiency. Hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism has never, to our knowledge, been reported in these clinical settings before and may be masked by the malabsorption of pancreatic insufficiency.
|
3896184
|
Captopril is an orally active angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor that has been widely used in treating hypertension. We present a case of cough associated with captopril treatment in a patient with essential hypertension.
|
3896185
|
Despite initial fears associated with its safety, aerosol administration by metered dose inhaler (MDI) is rapidly becoming the preferred form of bronchodilator therapy, as it has a number of advantages over oral agents. To enhance aerosol delivery and bronchodilator response, several important steps in the optimal use of an MDI have been characterized. Because many physicians are unaware of the optimal technique in employing an MDI, it is not surprising that patients frequently receive little or no instructions in its use. Furthermore, patients who have received instruction display great difficulty in adhering to the steps in the ideal use of an MDI and frequently cannot coordinate MDI actuation with inspiration. A number of auxiliary delivery systems have recently been developed and show varying success in circumventing the problems involved in patient use of MDIs.
|
3896187
|
We treated a case of thymoma with immunodeficiency (Good's syndrome) associated with a rare combination of other parathymic syndromes including myasthenia gravis, benign IgG lambda M component, pernicious anemia, and diabetes. The characterization of the patient's immunologic capacity disclosed practically normal T-cell number and mitogenic responses but impaired lymphokine production as well as B-cell function.
|
3896186
|
Because of the many differences among studies of single-dose antimicrobial therapy for uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women, we reviewed the 14 randomized controlled trials on this subject. Twelve concluded that single-dose therapy was as effective as conventional multiple-dose therapy. Although the studies were carefully conducted, none both reported and ascertained in a blinded manner the incidence of adverse drug reactions. Also, no study included enough patients to prevent type II error. To circumvent the problem of having too few patients in each study, we used a rational strategy for pooling the data from the reviewed studies. Single-dose amoxicillin (3 g) was significantly less effective than conventional multidose therapy (69% vs 84%), while single-dose sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (two or three double-strength tablets) was indistinguishable from multidose, although there still were too few patients to exclude type II error. More research on this subject is needed with greater attention to sample size and blinded ascertainment of adverse reactions.
|
3896188
|
A rapidly progressive, crescentic glomerulonephritis with acute oliguric renal failure occurred simultaneously with legionnaires' disease (LD) in a 52-year-old man. The diagnosis of LD was based on a sixfold rise in indirect fluorescent antibody titer against Legionella pneumophila serogroup 4. Treatment with erythromycin lactobionate resulted in a clinical resolution of pulmonary manifestations. The impairment of kidney function, however, was progressive and within two weeks led to end-stage renal failure requiring regular hemodialysis. This observation suggests that LD may trigger severe acute glomerulonephritis.
|
3896189
|
Microcirculation is a very sensitive process. Under hyperthermia and/or artificial tissue acidification bloodflow ceased regularly and reproducibly. This bloodflow inhibition imposes seemingly as a consequence of a progressing decrease of blood fluidity. However, blood flowing through irritated vessels is subjected to local heat and acidic milieu only for few seconds, whereas the vessels of the respective area are exposed to these conditions as long as they continue. Hence, it is important to look for lesions of the vessels, particularly for enhanced porosity.--Using light-conducting electrodes we have studied the perivascular glucose concentrations and the influence of oxygen deficiency on microvessels in vivo. In contrast to our expectation, we have failed to detect endothelial cell swelling. On the other hand, we could observe diminished blood fluidity under anaerobic conditions by use of a simple method with filterpaper strips.--In our tumor studies we achieved reproducibly microcirculation inhibition of about 95% in DS carcinosarcomas as compared to muscle by combining hyperglycemia with hyperthermia (100 min at 43 C degrees). Each of these measures applied alone resulted only exceptionally in an approximately comparable effect. For therapeutic purposes the combination of both seems to us the method of choice.--Controlled hypotension, which can be adjusted extremely well by NAD, caused blood flow inhibition selectively in the tumors.--The remarkable bloodflow inhibition in tumors is achievable in principle also in human tumors.
|
3896190
|
Improved tumour localization by scintigraphy is the aim of application of radiolabelled antibodies in nuclear medical tumour diagnostics. Results from the literature until 1984 in the field of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against CEA are discussed in the following points: type and stability of the radiolabelling; accumulation and biologic activity of Mabs in the animal; distribution of Mabs in clinical application and possible injury for the patient; methods for increased accumulation in the tumor and improved tumour-imaging. Further work is needed in this field before introducing this method into the diagnostic routine.
|
3896193
|
We report a case of mammary intracystic papillary carcinoma occurring in a 75-year-old man. The tumor was present on the left pectoral area for five years. Grossly, the neoplasm was a cystic structure 10 cm in diameter, with multiple intramural filiform papillae and small foci of cyst wall invasion. By transmission electron microscopy the tumor cells had the normal complement of organelles and also multiple electron-dense, membrane-bound secretory granules. These granules were also demonstrated with multiple stains for argyrophilia and with periodic acid-Schiff. Immunoperoxidase stains were negative for neuron-specific enolase, S100 protein, vasoactive intestinal peptide, corticotropin, calcitonin, lactalbumin, and bombesin, and positive for human heart factor (myoepithelial cells) and carcinoembryonic antigen. We believe that this rare neoplasm represents a variant of mammary adenocarcinoma and not a neuroendocrine (carcinoid) neoplasm.
|
3896191
|
The features of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma occurring in pregnancy were studied in three cases and reviewed in the 21 additional cases reported in the medical literature of the past 50 years. The inception and course of neoplasia in general appears to be affected by the hormonal and immune changes of pregnancy. Lymphomas occurring during this period are of high-grade malignancy and have a tendency to involve the organs most stimulated in pregnancy; breast, ovary, and uterus. The cell types are indicative of early stages of differentiation, and mediastinal location is more common. Despite the usually late diagnosis and the aggressive disease, the pregnancy can continue to term ending in the natural delivery of unaffected babies who remain healthy thereafter. The course of lymphoma, however, almost invariably accelerates post partum, particularly during lactation, resulting in the rapid deterioration and death of the mother. Results better than expected have been recently obtained with combination chemotherapy.
|
3896192
|
To investigate the role of extracellular matrix molecules in the granulomatous inflammation, cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni were injected subcutaneously into BALB/c mice. Well-organized granulomas consisting mainly of stimulated macrophages and epithelioid cells developed in the liver at 11 weeks after infection, thereafter showing a tendency to heal. Fibronectin and heparan sulfate proteoglycan deposition appeared around parasite eggs, then increased distinctly at 11 weeks after infection, and subsequently diminished. Quantities of glycosaminoglycans and hydroxyproline in the egg lesion increased significantly at 11 weeks after infection. Thereafter, the amounts of glycosaminoglycans decreased, whereas hydroxyproline content did not. The data suggest that fibronectin and other macromolecules interact to form granuloma extracellular matrix, and that these extracellular events participate in the development of granulomatous inflammation and subsequent fibrosis induced by schistosome eggs.
|
3896194
|
We describe a patient who developed mycosis fungoides, a T-cell neoplasm, two years following the chemotherapy and radiotherapy of a diffuse, large-cell ("histiocytic") lymphoma. Immunologic studies documented a "null-cell" phenotype for the large-cell lymphoma. Therefore, the proliferation of two distinct malignant lymphoid clones is believed to have developed in the patient. The value of immunologic marker studies in this case was to aid in the diagnosis of the two separate neoplasms, as well as to aid in the selection of appropriate specific therapy directed against each neoplasm. As the association of large-cell lymphoma and mycosis fungoides in one patient represents a very rare event, we discuss several hypotheses about the possible interrelation of the two neoplasms.
|
3896195
|
In April 1981, a total of 297 carotid arteries were examined prospectively. All patients were asymptomatic and were referred to the peripheral vascular laboratory at Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix, for real-time B-mode ultrasonography. A measurement of luminal area stenosis was determined to be either greater or less than 75%. In addition, the ultrasound echo pattern was used to classify plaque as either calcified, dense, or soft. If, for any reason, the patient or physician felt that carotid endarterectomy should be performed, the patient was dropped from the study. In addition, the use of antiplatelet medication or anticoagulants constituted disqualification. Three groups of patients were observed for three years or until symptoms became apparent. Patients in all three groups with stenosis greater than 75% at the time of initial study were at greater risk than their peers without significant narrowing; however, even those patients with less than 75% stenosis were at greater risk if the associated plaque was less organized, ie, soft. A definite trend toward higher risk is seen in plaques of lower density. Only 10% of those patients with calcified plaque and a significantly stenotic vessel have developed symptoms. In contrast, only three patients of the original 42 with soft plaque and a tight stenosis are still being observed. This study appears to confirm that soft plaques have a greater tendency toward subintimal hemorrhage, ulceration, or primary embolization than more well-organized plaques.
|
3896197
|
Between March 1963 and December 1983, 324 renal transplants were performed in 273 veteran patients at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn. Cadaver donors were used in 273 transplants, with an overall one-year patient survival of 72.5% and one-year functional graft survival of 50%. Twenty-four living-related transplants were performed, with an overall one-year patient survival of 89% and one-year functional graft survival of 75%. For analytical purposes the 20-year transplant experience was divided into five eras. One-year patient survival increased from 45% in era 1 to 84% in era 5, while functional graft survival increased from 45% to 70%. Death has occurred in 139 patients, with sepsis being responsible for the largest number of early deaths. Cardiovascular disease was responsible for most late deaths.
|
3896196
|
In the past, surgeons thought that severe presacral hemorrhage during proctectomy was caused by damage of the presacral venous plexus. By studying the anatomy and clinical data, we found that injury of the sacral basivertebral vein also caused this serious complication. Presacral hemorrhage is seen as massive bleeding from the distal pelvic surface of sacrum or from one to several large-caliber foramina of sacral basivertebral veins in that area. This type of presacral hemorrhage is more dangerous than that from simple injury of presacral venous plexus and sometimes it is fatal. We describe the anatomic features of the vertebral venous system and its close relationship with severe presacral hemorrhage. We also propose some new concepts about cause, hemostatic measures, and principles of prevention.
|
3896198
|
Upper airway obstruction in the severely burned patient is a well-known problem that is due to mucosal edema secondary to the effects of toxic substances and heat on the laryngeal and tracheal mucosa. Herein, we report a different cause of airway obstruction seen in the late postburn period during the induction of anesthesia for reconstructive procedures. This obstruction is due to the presence of severe burn-scar contractures of the neck that prevent successful endotracheal intubation. We have seen this occur 17 times in 13 patients. All of the patients were successfully treated by an emergency neck release, after which most of the patients could be intubated and the release then skin grafted. Surgeons operating on patients with scar contractures of the neck should be aware of this condition and its appropriate treatment.
|
3896199
|
To study the role of accurate hemodynamic assessment of aortoiliac disease, intra-arterial pressure measurements of 100 aortoiliac segments were compared with Doppler velocity waveform analysis and contrast arteriography. By applying the statistic kappa, we assessed the degree of agreement among the three methods corrected for chance. The agreement between pressure measurements and contrast arteriography provided a kappa of 0.41, as did the agreement between pressure measurements and velocity waveform analysis. Our results indicate that contrast arteriography and Doppler studies underestimate hemodynamically significant aortoiliac disease. Since the correlation is so poor, it is essential to use intra-arterial pressure measurements in every patient who is a candidate for surgery.
|
3896200
|
The recent improved success with solid organ transplantation has made multiple-organ procurement from single cadaveric donors a more frequent procedure. The techniques for team procurement have resulted in excellent posttransplant organ function with minimal organ waste. In 12% of the population the right hepatic artery arises from the superior mesenteric artery. When this occurs in an infant or small pediatric combined kidney-liver donor, the aorta is divided below the superior mesenteric artery. Our method salvages the kidneys from these donors for en bloc transplantation without jeopardizing the liver for transplant.
|
3896201
|
Rat coronavirus readily propagated and induced marked cytopathic effect in a rat cell line, LBC cell culture, which provided a sensitive, practical assay system for viral infectivity and neutralizing antibody, and a satisfactory source of the virus.
|
3896202
|
By means of the immunofluorescent method using rabbit serum that contains natural antibodies against the basal cell antigen of epidermis, the distribution of the antigen has been demonstrated in cells of the basal layer of all types of the stratified epithelium. The reaction is also noted in cytoplasm of the epithelial cells in the thymus and the tracheal mucous membrane. This demonstrates their histogenic affinity to stratified epithelii. The antigen studied is not species-specific, since it is revealed in the stratified epithelium of all species examined (human being, mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit). It is possible to use the basal cell antigen as a marker for immunomorphological reveal of epithelial cells in the thymus in the process of its physiological and pathological involution.
|
3896205
|
In two- to five-week tissue cultures of biopsied adult human skeletal muscle, combined addition to the culture medium of insulin, fibroblast growth factor, and epidermal growth factor synergistically increased creatine kinase activity 17-fold, increased acetylcholine receptors tenfold, and accelerated muscle differentiation. This study provides the first demonstration of the beneficial influence of these peptides on human muscle. It also establishes a new culture medium, resulting in the following: (1) much better long-term growth and differentiation of biopsied adult human muscle; and (2) by allowing elimination of embryo extract and reduction of serum, an important step toward developing a fully defined medium for culturing biopsied adult human normal and pathologic muscle tissue.
|
3896206
|
After critically reviewing the last 50 years' literature pertaining to vertebrobasilar insufficiency, we reached the following conclusions: One can seldom accurately localize vascular pathologic lesions in the posterior circulation by clinical examination alone. The symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency have multiple causes. Stenotic and occlusive lesions have been found at every level of the vertebrobasilar circulation. Currently, a complete investigation requires four-vessel cerebral angiography. No therapeutic modality, medical or surgical, has been proved unequivocably to be of benefit. New surgical approaches to the vertebrobasilar circulation that show promise in providing alternative methods of treatment have been developed.
|
3896207
|
The paradoxical aspects of dreams have always been interpreted according to prevalent ways of thinking. Dreams as premonitions of disease have been reported since the classical era, and hypnagogic hallucinations, so named by Alfred Maury and viewed as "psychosensory hallucinations" by Baillarger in the 1840s (extending the Kantian definition of the madman as a "waking dreamer"), have been reported since the Renaissance. Maury also linked dreams to a paradoxical "unconscious consciousness"; von Feuchtersleben linked dreaming to Gemeingefühl or coenesthesis.
|
3896208
|
Neurosarcoidosis is a disorder that is difficult to diagnose and manage. We assessed its neurological manifestations in 649 patients seen at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, from 1975 through 1980. Neurological problems could be attributed to neurosarcoidosis in 33 patients (5.1%). The presenting manifestation of sarcoidosis was neurological in 16 (48%) of them. Cranial neuropathy was the most frequent problem, and a peripheral facial nerve palsy was the single most common abnormality. Other manifestations were aseptic meningitis, hydrocephalus, parenchymatous disease of the central nervous system, peripheral neuropathy, and myopathy. Three-quarters of the patients were treated with steroids. The outcome was good in 27 (82%) of 33 episodes of neurological dysfunction in 25 patients with a well-documented clinical course. A thorough investigation of patients with suspected neurosarcoidosis is recommended to establish the diagnosis, delineate the extent of disease, and guide therapy.
|
3896210
|
When the cartilaginous framework in the tip of the nose fails to provide adequate support and definition, the rhinoplastic surgeon must create strength and refinement. To achieve these results, we advocate a new twist of an old concept that can be used to create a stronger, more triangular lobule in the wide, bulbous, or bifid tip. Morselizing, incising, and suturing alar cartilages have long been recognized as adjunctive procedures in tip rhinoplasty; however, the specific method described herein can provide results comparable to the classic Goldman tip while guarding against the possibility of cartilage displacement and mucous membrane entrapment.
|
3896211
|
A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue arose in the plaque form of oral lichen planus. The literature on lichen planus is reviewed with emphasis on the issue of malignant transformation. Squamous carcinoma develops in 0.3% to 3% of patients with oral lichen planus (range, 0% to 10%). The average age of individuals with this complication is 50 to 55 years; 50% to 60% are men. Forty-four percent to 60% of patients have the erosive form of the disease, 28% to 34% plaque type, and 16% to 28% reticular. The mean interval from onset of the oral lesions to the development of cancer is nine to 12 years (range, three months to 40 years). Forty-six percent to 54% of the cancers occur on the buccal mucosa, 30% on the tongue, 16% on the lower lip, and 8% in miscellaneous sites. Twenty-four percent to 50% of the individuals also have cutaneous lichen planus.
|
3896212
|
Metastatic carcinoma to the sphenoid sinus is a rare event. A case of metastatic adenocarcinoma from the prostate gland to the sphenoid sinus and diagnosed with the aid of immunoperoxidase staining is presented. A concurrent review of the literature uncovered only 17 previously reported cases of carcinoma metastatic to the sphenoid sinus. Among these cases, adenocarcinoma from the large bowel and prostate gland predominated.
|
3896215
|
'Secondary failure' of oral hypoglycemics, in non-insulin dependent diabetics, has been attributed to dietary non-compliance, inadequate drug dosage, metabolic stress, or true drug failure. Progressive loss of beta cell function is a suggested mechanism for true drug failure but on the basis of little documented evidence. In view of this, we have measured basal and glucagon-stimulated C-peptide levels, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types, and islet cell antibodies in 20 non-insulin dependent diabetics with 'secondary failure' of oral agents. There were 16 females and four males with a mean ideal body weight of 1.30 units and mean duration of diabetes of 9.5 years. Fasting insulin (mean +/- SD: 15.1 +/- 10.6 mU/l) and fasting C-peptide (2.3 +/- 1.2 micrograms/l) were normal or slightly elevated in all but one patient. Mean C-peptide increased from 2.3 +/- 1.2 micrograms/l to 3.5 +/- 2.2 micrograms/l (152% over basal) 6 minutes after 1 mg i.v. glucagon. In 15 patients the C-peptide response was greater than 130% of basal. Islet cell cytoplasmic antibodies were detected in only two patients. The distribution of HLA types was not significantly different from a control population, with no increase in DR3 or DR4. Thus, absolute insulin deficiency is uncommon in non-insulin dependent diabetics with 'secondary failure' of oral hypoglycemic agents and such patients do not exhibit the immuno-genetic markers of insulin-dependent diabetes.
|
3896216
|
Eighteen patients with exertional angina were treated with diltiazem (360 mg/day). Serial exercise testing was performed and the results were compared to evaluations when patients were receiving placebo at the initiation and termination of the study. Serial exercise tests indicated significant improvement in duration of exercise (+18%, p less than 0.001), time to 1 mm ST depression (+32%, p less than 0.005), and time to angina (+46%, p less than 0.001) when patients were receiving diltiazem. During diltiazem treatment, there was a significant reduction in myocardial oxygen demand as indicated by the change in submaximal pressure rate product. This may contribute to the beneficial effect of diltiazem in patients with exertional angina. The reduction in pressure rate product was due primarily to a change in heart rate. This study provides evidence that diltiazem is an effective long-term monotherapy for angina; no evidence of drug tachyphylaxis was apparent after a total of 16 months treatment with diltiazem.
|
3896217
|
Domiciliary treatment with terbutaline by wet nebulisation (5 mg, four times daily) was compared with placebo in a double-blind study over four consecutive periods, each of seven days duration, in eight patients with severe airflow limitation due to chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Lung function tests performed at the conclusion of each treatment period showed small but significant improvements in FEV1 before and after 500 micrograms of terbutaline by metered dose inhaler (MDI), with reductions in functional residual capacity and residual volume for terbutaline compared with placebo. Morning and evening peak expiratory flow rate recordings were greater and there was a significant reduction in the use of terbutaline by MDI during the terbutaline treatment. Three patients were unable to complete the placebo treatment because of excessive symptoms. Analysing all individual results, only one patient appeared not to benefit from nebulised terbutaline, while the preference rating for the other seven patients was significantly in favour of terbutaline.
|
3896220
|
Composite bacterins of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae, or either bacterin alone, were administered systemically to groups of lactating cows. The response to each bacterin was unaffected by the simultaneous administration of the antigens when assessed by comparing the antibody levels in milk by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There was no evidence of cross reactivity of the antigens studied, nor immunopotentiation by either bacteria.
|
3896219
|
Over 3 years, the immunogenic responses of various batches of multi-component clostridial vaccines in sheep, rabbits and guinea pigs were compared. Fully susceptible healthy sheep were found to be more suitable than rabbits or guinea pigs for testing the potency of multi-component clostridial vaccines containing Clostridium novyi type B, C. perfringens type D, C. septicum and C. tetani, and recommendations are made that sheep are the preferred species for testing the potency of clostridial vaccines.
|
3896224
|
Because of the recent report by the Lipid Research Group showing that a lowering of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol lowered mortality due to coronary heart disease (CHD) and other similar studies, there can no longer be any doubt that cholesterol is a causal factor in the development of CHD. Since total serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol are produced by the body, those interested in the prevention of CHD must give greater attention to factors which are associated with raised endogenous cholesterol. The major factors are increased dietary and body fat, emotional arousal, and the inability of the liver to clear the serum of low density lipoprotein. The beneficial effect of exercise on lowering one's risk of CHD reported in the literature may be mediated by a rise in HDL cholesterol and/or weight loss. All patients should have their total cholesterol/HDL measured. Those with elevated serum cholesterols should be encouraged to eat a low saturated low fat diet, exercise, maintain proper weight and avoid undue distress. Cigarette smoking should be discouraged. Blood pressure elevations not responsive to diet and exercise should be treated with medication. Cholesterol elevations not responsive to life style change, should be treated with Cholestyramine.
|
3896221
|
Eleven isolates of H2S-producing Escherichia coli were recovered from necropsy materials of chickens with symptoms and lesions of colisepticemia on Saudi Arabian broiler farms. Results of 19 out of 20 biochemical reactions studied were typical for E. coli. Hydrogen sulfide production by the E. coli isolates was used as an epidemiological marker to pinpoint a breeding farm as the probable source of these strains, which were then transferred to progeny farms, where colisepticemia occurred. This finding was confirmed by the presence of the same antigenic structure (O78:H-) and by the same drug-resistance pattern (a multiple resistance to streptomycin, sulfathiazole, and tetracycline) in the isolates.
|
3896226
|
One hundred and four cases of acute diarrhoea upto the age of eight years and seventy four age and sex matched controls were studied to isolate enteropathogenic (EPEC), enterotoxigenic (ETEC), and enteroinvasive (EIEC) Escherichia coli. About 23% EPEC and 9% ETEC were isolated from diarrhoeal patients in contrast to 8% and 1% from control respectively. Among the twelve different serotypes of EPEC isolated, O2Oa O2Oc: K61 (33.3%) was the most predominant. No EIEC was isolated by sereny test. In 8 diarrhoeal cases, no other enteropathogen except EPEC was isolated. The study has highlighted the important role that enteropathogenic Esch. coli could play in causing endemic diarrhoea in Bangladesh.
|
3896230
|
A system of digitonin-permeabilized islet cells was developed to characterize Ca2+- and calmodulin-dependent protein phosphorylation further and to determine whether activation of this membrane-bound process was sufficient for initiation of Ca2+-stimulated insulin secretion. The efficacy of digitonin in permeabilizing the plasma membrane was assessed by Trypan Blue exclusion, by extracellular leakage of lactate dehydrogenase, and by permeability to [gamma-32P]ATP. This treatment did not detectably alter the ultrastructure of the permeabilized cells. Digitonin was equally effective when presented to islet cells that had been previously dispersed or directly to intact isolated islets. The Ca2+- and calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of endogenous membrane-bound substrates could be demonstrated in the permeabilized cells incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP. This activity displayed characteristics that were similar to those described for the protein kinase measured in subcellular fractions and was dependent on addition of exogenous calmodulin, indicating that calmodulin had been removed from the kinase by permeabilization of the cells. Ca2+-dependent insulin release by the digitonin-permeabilized islet was demonstrated, with half-maximal release occurring at 0.1 microM-free Ca2+ and maximal secretion at 0.2 microM-free Ca2+. Under these conditions, calmodulin did not further enhance insulin release, although a stimulatory effect of calmodulin was observed in the absence of free Ca2+. These studies indicate that the permeabilized-islet model will be useful in dissecting out the factors involved in Ca2+-activated insulin secretion.
|
3896231
|
Infusion of glucagon (0.5 mg/h per 100 g body wt.) into fed rats for 6 h inhibited protein synthesis in skeletal muscle, but not in heart. The order of sensitivity of three muscles was plantaris greater than gastrocnemius greater than soleus. Treatment with glucagon for periods of 1 h or less had no effect. Liver protein synthesis was inhibited by glucagon treatment for 10 min, but stimulated after 6 h. The effect of glucagon on muscle was not secondary to impaired food absorption or to depletion of amino acids by increased gluconeogenesis, since the inhibition of protein synthesis was observed in postabsorptive and amino acid-infused rats. The failure of glucagon to inhibit muscle protein synthesis after 1 h may have been caused by the increase in plasma insulin that occurred at this time, since an inhibition was detected in insulin-treated diabetic rats. The lowest infusion rate that gave a significant decrease in muscle protein synthesis was 6 micrograms/h per 100 g body wt., despite a small increase in plasma insulin. This gave plasma glucagon concentrations in the high pathophysiological range, suggesting that glucagon may be significant in the pathogenesis of muscle wasting in metabolic stresses such as diabetes and starvation.
|
3896222
|
A double mycotic infection, caused by Aspergillus fumigatus and a zygomycete-like organism, was histopathologically demonstrated in the lungs of a 12-week-old chicken. A. fumigatus was isolated, but the zygomycete was not.
|
3896233
|
A gelatin-binding 95000-Mr protein was detected in human serum and plasma by immunoblotting using antibodies against the 95000-Mr gelatin-binding protein, a major secretory component of cultured adherent human monocyte/macrophages. Serum and plasma were prepared by incubating blood at 4, 22 or 37 degrees C for different periods of time, and gelatin-binding proteins were isolated from 200 microliter portions by gelatin-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The bound material was analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. In protein-stained gels, fibronectin and some minor polypeptides were seen, but not the 95000-Mr protein. In immunoblotting of identical serum samples the antibodies detected apparently two closely spaced polypeptide bands at Mr95000, and in plasma samples a single band at the position of the faster-migrating one of the two above-mentioned bands. The immunoperoxidase reaction was stronger when serum and plasma were prepared by incubating for longer periods of time (up to 8 h) or at higher temperatures (up to 37 degrees C). In samples made from plasma, the immunoperoxidase reactions were weaker than in those from serum, indicating a lower quantity of the protein. The results suggest that the 95000-Mr protein is released from monocytes and granulocytes during the incubation of blood and, more likely, when they possibly interact with the blood clot and may become adherent.
|
3896223
|
Glycoproteins gB of Marek's disease virus (MDV) and herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) related to virus neutralization were purified from HVT-infected cells by affinity chromatography. Immunization of chickens with purified glycoproteins gB resulted in partial protection against MD. Neutralizing antibodies were detected in chickens immunized with HVT-gB.
|
3896236
|
Isolated nuclei of the rat prostates contain a unique androgen-dependent basic protein, "probasin". Despite that it was hardly detectable in the cytosol centrifugally prepared from the prostates, immunofluorescent histological analysis of whole tissues using monoclonal antibody, which was raised against probasin purified from the nuclei, revealed that probasin was abundantly localized in the lumen and acinal regions of the epithelium, but hardly in the nuclei. Previous extraction of secretory fluid from the prostates caused about 60% decrease in the probasin content of isolated nuclei. These suggest that probasin was originally a secretory component in the prostates, being redistributed from the secretory fluid and granule into nuclei during fractionation of subcellular components.
|
3896235
|
The interaction of yeast glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase with 31 triazine dye-stuffs was studied by means of affinity partitioning in an aqueous two-phase system using dye-liganded polyethyleneglycol and dextran as polymers. From the partition coefficients, K, of the enzyme in the presence and absence of the dye-polymer the term delta log K was calculated which corresponds to the actual interaction of the enzyme with the dye molecule. Quantitative data concerning the maximum extraction power delta logmax as well as the affinity of the dyes to the enzyme (expressed as percentage of dye-liganded polymer in the system at 0.5 X delta log Kmax) were derived. The influence of several effectors of the enzyme on the partition revealed that NADP+ and NADPH act competitively for a large number of dyes investigated.
|
3896238
|
Recombinant human interleukin-2 (rIL-2) produced in Escherichia coli was purified to apparent homogeneity by cation exchange chromatography and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. The amino acid composition, amino terminal amino acid sequence, and carboxyl terminal amino acid were consistent with those deduced from the cDNA sequence. Besides the molecular species with the amino terminal Ala, the purified preparation contained another species having an additional Met residue at the amino terminus corresponding to the initiation codon AUG. The molar absorption coefficient of rIL-2 was determined to be 9.58 X 10(3) M-1 cm-1 at 280nm in water. Ultracentrifugal analyses revealed that it existed as a monomeric form in 0.1 M NaCl. The apparent sedimentation coefficient (S20,w) was calculated to be 1.8 S.
|
3896237
|
We have compared the rate of accumulation of hepatic albumin and malic enzyme mRNAs following insulin treatment of diabetic rats to determine whether insulin coordinately increases mRNA levels or specifically induces the accumulation of individuals mRNAs. Initially, the quantities of both albumin and malic enzyme mRNAs are reduced in diabetic rats compared to normal rats as determined by RNA blot analysis using complementary DNA probes. Following insulin administration for 12 h, albumin and malic enzyme mRNA levels increase at similar rates. However, after 12 h the rate of malic enzyme mRNA accumulation increases dramatically while albumin mRNA continues to increase at its initial rate. This accelerated rate of accumulation of malic enzyme mRNA continued through 60 h of hormone treatment and was associated with the onset of hepatic lipogenesis. Thus, our results suggest that insulin regulates the accumulation of mRNAs encoding these two inducible proteins in an asynchronous manner directly related to the metabolic requirements of the animal.
|
3896239
|
alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) deficiency is an inherited disorder almost always associated with the development of panacinar emphysema in the fourth to fifth decades. One source of alpha 1AT for chronic replacement therapy of such individuals is that produced by E.coli directed by a cDNA coding for the human alpha 1AT molecule. Using TG1(E.coli), an alpha 1AT molecule produced by E.coli transformed with the plasmid-expressing vector pTG922, the present study shows that recombinant DNA-directed E.coli-produced alpha 1AT is as an effective inhibitor of neutrophil elastase as alpha 1AT purified from plasma. Importantly, TG1(E.coli) inhibited human neutrophil elastase with an association rate constant of 1.3 +/- 0.4X10(7) M-1 sec-1, similar to that of normal plasma alpha 1AT (1.1 +/- 0.1, p greater than 0.2). Furthermore, when TG1(E.coli) was added to alpha 1AT-deficient plasma obtained from homozygous alpha 1AT type Z individuals, the TG1(E.coli) remained functional and augmented the anti-neutrophil elastase activity of the serum proportional to the amount of TG1(E.coli) added. These observations suggest that if sufficient amounts of recombinant DNA methodology-produced alpha 1AT molecules could be safely delivered to the alveolar structures of alpha 1AT-deficient individuals, they would function to protect the alveolar walls from elastolytic attack.
|
3896232
|
A method is described for preparing a plasma-membrane fraction from hepatocytes by a rapid, gentle, Percoll fractionation procedure. Cholera toxin elicited the ribosylation of a number of proteins in these membranes, including the components of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein, Ns. Insulin, however, inhibited the ability of cholera toxin to ribosylate a protein of Mr 25 000. The action was decreased in membranes from cells that had been pre-treated with glucagon. Ribosylation of both the components of Ns and the Mr-25 000 species occurred in whole cells treated with cholera toxin, because membranes from such treated cells exhibited decreased labelling when incubated with [32P]NAD+ and activated cholera toxin. The labelling of proteins, including the Mr-25 000 species, with [32P]NAD+ and cholera toxin in the plasma membranes was decreased by an inhibitor of ribosylation. Azido-GTP photoaffinity labelling identified several high-affinity GTP-binding proteins, including one of Mr 25 000. Cholera toxin failed to ribosylate the Mr-25 000 protein in membranes from cells that had been pre-treated with the tumour-promoting agent 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). In membranes from such treated cells, insulin actually allowed cholera toxin to label this species. As TPA activates protein kinase C, it is possible that the Mr-25 000 protein, or a species that interacts with it, is a substrate for phosphorylation. These observations may offer an explanation for some of the perturbing effects that TPA exerts on insulin's action. It is suggested that the insulin receptor interacts with the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein system in the liver, and that the Mr-25 000 species may be a component of Nin, a specific guanine nucleotide regulatory protein that has been proposed to mediate certain of the actions of insulin on target cells [Houslay & Heyworth (1983) Trends Biochem. Sci. 8, 449-452].
|
3896240
|
The effects of insulin on the balance of lipid metabolism have been investigated by measuring the relative in vivo incorporation of 3H- and 14C-labelled glycerol into the major tissues and lipid classes of diabetic mice over a three day period. Several significant alterations in the relative uptake of label were caused by the insulin treatment. Generally, there were indications of decreased synthesis and degradation of lipids in most tissues, but with an increased synthesis of hepatic triacylglycerol being a notable exception to these trends. These data indicate that insulin treatment produces widespread changes in the relative emphasis of lipid metabolism, and allow a detailed description of these responses in relation to the individual tissues and lipid classes of the living animal. The implications of these metabolic changes have been discussed in relation to hormonal effects, and tissue specific and whole body aspects of the regulation of lipid metabolism.
|
3896234
|
Protein disulphide-isomerase (PDI) activity was not detectable in freshly prepared rat liver microsomes (microsomal fraction), but became detectable after treatments that damage membrane integrity, e.g. sonication, detergent treatment or freezing and thawing. Maximum activity was detectable after sonication. Identical latency was observed in microsomes prepared by gel filtration and in those prepared by high-speed centrifugation. PDI activity was latent in all particulate subcellular fractions, but not latent in the high-speed supernatant. When all fractions were sonicated to expose total PDI activity, PDI was found at highest specific activity in the microsomal fraction and co-distributed with marker enzymes of the endoplasmic reticulum. Washing of microsomes under various conditions that removed peripheral proteins and, in some cases, bound ribosomes did not remove significant quantities of PDI, nor did it affect the latency of PDI activity. Treatment of microsomes with proteinases, under conditions where the permeability barrier of the microsomal vesicles was maintained intact, did not inactivate PDI significantly or affect its latency. PDI was very readily solubilized from microsomal vesicles by low concentrations of detergents, which removed only a fraction of the total microsomal protein. In all these respects, PDI resembled nucleoside diphosphatase, a marker peripheral protein of the luminal surface of the endoplasmic reticulum, and differed from NADPH: cytochrome c reductase, a marker integral protein exposed at the cytoplasmic surface of the membrane. The data are compatible with a model in which PDI is loosely associated with the luminal surface of the endoplasmic reticulum, a location consistent with the proposed physiological role of the enzyme as catalyst of formation of native disulphide bonds in nascent and newly synthesized secretory proteins.
|
3896241
|
Multiple species of ornithine decarboxylase were separated by chromatography of mouse kidney extract on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B. The elution patterns of ornithine decarboxylase activity and immunoreactive enzyme protein in the kidneys of untreated and testosterone-treated male mice did not differ otherwise than in order of magnitude. The immunoblots of the chromatography fractions neither revealed any differences in enzyme subunit size between two experimental groups. These findings suggest that the stabilization of ornithine decarboxylase by androgens is not due to the molecular changes of enzyme protein.
|
3896242
|
Constitutive acid phosphatase was purified from yeast cells grown in a medium supplied with 100 mM phosphate. Specific activity of the pure enzyme was 63.5 mumol/min X mg. The enzyme contains 42.5% of protein, 55% of mannose and 2.5% of N-acetylglucosamine. The carbohydrate chains are N-glycosidically linked to the protein. The pure enzyme shows non-linearity in the Lineweaver-Burk plot, thus indicating the presence of two enzyme forms with Km values of about 0.65 mM and 8.5 mM. The pH optimum of the enzyme is at pH 3.3. The enzyme is much more sensitive to heat denaturation than the repressible acid phosphatase.
|
3896243
|
The precursor of the thiazole moiety of thiamin in Candida utilis was identified. Radioactive C-2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of glucose was incorporated into C-4', 4, 5, 5' and 5" of the thiazole. This experiment shows that the precursor of the five carbon unit of thiazole is a 5-carbon compound such as ribose or ribulose derived from glucose.
|
3896244
|
There are few reports of the effects of glutathione-depleting agents administered for periods longer than 24 hr on the turnover of glutathione (GSH) in mammalian tissues. Studies of such effects are important in relation to the protection of tissues from damage from, for example, reactive metabolites derived from xenobiotics. In the investigation described here, 1,2-dibromoethane dibromide)-a widely used insecticide, nematocide, fungicide and petrol additive, which is hepato- and nephrotoxic-was administered to rats and the effects on non-protein thiol contents and GSH-related enzyme activities were determined in liver and kidney. The classical GSH-depleter diethylmaleate was used in parallel studies for comparative purposes.
|
3896246
|
N-[beta-[4-(beta-Phenylethyl)phenyl]-beta-hydroxyethyl] imidazole hydrochloride (denzimol, Rec 15-1533), a new anticonvulsant drug, was tested using the Ames procedures with and without metabolic activation, on five strains of Salmonella tythimurium and using the host mediated assay with Schizosaccharomyces pombe as microorganism test. In both tests the drug did not show any mutagenic activity when compared with mutagenic standards.
|