Concurrent or sequential use of cytotoxic chemotherapy and hormone treatment in advanced breast cancer: report of the Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research.

In a trial of combined hormone treatment and cytotoxic chemotherapy 464 patients with advanced breast cancer were randomly allocated to either concurrent or sequential treatment. Cytotoxic drugs were given only if the antitumour activity of the hormone treatment was inadequate. Hormone treatment consisted of oophorectomy for premenopausal and tamoxifen administration for postmenopausal patients. Length of survival was better, though not significantly, in premenopausal patients (p = 0.29) treated concurrently and in postmenopausal women (p = 0.17) treated sequentially; the difference was highly significant (p = 0.003) only for postmenopausal women in the low-risk category. The findings suggest that postmenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer should probably be treated primarily by carefully monitored hormone treatment.     

Separation and identification of O-acetyl-O-methyl-galactononitriles by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

The gas-liquid-chromatographic retention-times and the mass-spectral features of partially methylated d-galactononitrile acetates are reported. Distinctive fragmentation of each of the mono-O-methyl derivatives allows their identification, and the results are applicable to the same substituted derivatives of the other aldohexoses. A new fragmentation-pathway, typical of the acetylated and the O-acetyl-O-methylaldononitriles, is proposed in order to justify previously unexplained fragments. This fragmentation competes with the known ones in derivatives that do not carry vicinal methoxyl groups.     

The role of Mg2+ in the regulation of the structural and functional steady-states in rat liver mitochondria

A possible relationship between mitochondrial Mg²⁺ levels, structural configurations, and functional steady states has been studied in rat liver mitochondria. The results show that the concentration of mitochondrial Mg²⁺ in respiratory state 4 is definitely higher than in respiratory state 3. The metabolic transition from state 3 to state 4 and vice-versa is associated with reversible influx-efflux of about 10 nmol of Mg²⁺ per mg protein. The net uptake of this aliquot of Mg²⁺ is a necessary condition in order for the metabolic transition to state 4, both structurally and functionally, to occur. This process requires a threshold concentration of external Mg²⁺ greater than 5 mM. The phosphorylative mechanism does not appear to depend on the presence or absence of external Mg²⁺. The role of Mg²⁺ on the attainment and maintenance of the structural and functional steady state 4 seems to be correlated with its regulatory effect on the concentration of the mitochondrial P_i.     

Genetic characterization and intra-generic relationships of Artemia monica Verrill and A. urmiana Günther

Allozyme variation encoded for by 22 enzyme loci analyzed with starch-gel electrophoresis from samples of gonochoristic Artemia monica and A. urmiana collected from Lake Urmia, Iran and from Mono Lake, CA, USA, respectively, are compared and contrasted with data from representative gonochoristic populations of A. franciscana, A. persimilis and A. salina, as well as diploid, triploid, tetraploid, and pentaploid parthenogenetic forms. Values for parameters measuring degree of genetic variability (number of alleles per locus, proportion of polymorphic loci, and expected heterozygosity) in A. monica and A. urmiana were among the highest in the genus (1.76, 0.46, 0.19, and 2.19, 0.55, and 0.14, respectively). For A. monica, possible factors promoting its high genetic variability are discussed. Mean values for Nei's D between A. monica and A. franciscana were very low (0.09) and consistent with reported cytological and morphological similarities, thus the physiological differentiation which distinguishes the former must involve differences at very few loci. D values from A. urmiana to rest of the gonochoristic species (0.95) are consistent with its taxonomic status and distinctive morphology, while its low genetic distance to the monophyletic Artemia parthenogenetic lineage (mean D = 0.48) suggests a recent common ancestry.     

Ultrastructure of the photoreceptors of Allostoma sp. (Plathelminthes,Prolecithophora)

The four eyes of the prolecithophoran Allostoma sp. are disposed in two pairs in a dorsolateral position at the periphery of the brain and beneath its capsule. They are rhabdomeric pigment-cup ocelli. Each eye in the anterior pair consists of one pigment cell and one receptor cell; each in the posterior pair is made up of a larger, single pigment cell and two photoreceptor cells. A lens in front of the pigment cell's aperture is formed by electron-dense, refractive, finger-like protrusions which arise from unpigmented cytoplasmic extensions of the pigment-cup margin. Degenerative signs are sometimes visible in the lens.     

Studies on the galactomannan-degrading enzymes produced bySporotrichum cellulophilum

Summary Extracellular mannanase activity produced bySporotrichum cellulophilum was purified into two components using acetone precipitation, SP-Sephadex C50 ion exchange chromatography and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified mannanse components, M1 and M2, had molecular weights of 108 000–112 000 and 32 200–36 000 respectively. Component M1 was shown to contain 2 subunits having molecular weights of 62 000 and 50 000. M1 and M2 had similar pH-activity profiles with pH optima of 5.5 and 6.0 respectively. M1 was more thermostable than M2: half lives of the enzymes at 70°C were 30 and 9 min for M1 and M2 respectively.     

Differential proliferative response of cultured fetal and regenerating hepatocytes to growth factors and hormones

Upon epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation, fetal (20 days of gestation) and regenerating (44-48 h after partial hepatectomy) rat hepatocytes, isolated and cultured under identical conditions, increased DNA synthesis and entered into S-phase and mitosis, measured as [3H]thymidine incorporation and DNA content per nucleus in a flow cytometer, respectively. Fetal hepatocytes consisted of a homogeneous population of diploid (2C) cells. Two different populations of cells were present in regenerating liver, diploid (2C) and tetraploid (4C) cells, that responded to EGF. Glucagon or norepinephrine did not affect EGF stimulation of DNA synthesis in fetal liver cells, but they potentiated EGF response in regenerating hepatocyte cultures. Glucocorticoid hormones (dexamethasone) inhibited DNA synthesis in fetal hepatocyte cultures, an effect potentiated by the presence of glucagon or norepinephrine. In contrast, in regenerating hepatocytes, dexamethasone increased EGF-induced proliferation. EGF-dependent DNA synthesis was inhibited by TGF-beta in both fetal and regenerating cultured hepatocytes. TGF-beta action was partially suppressed by norepinephrine in regenerating hepatocytes, but was without effect in fetal hepatocyte cultures, whereas a synergistic action between TGF-beta and dexamethasone inhibiting growth in fetal but not in regenerating hepatocytes was found. Taken together, these results may suggest that there are significant differences between fetal and regenerating hepatocyte growth in their response to various hormones.     

Three-dimensional model of cancer and in vitro metastasis: application to non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma

In vitro cancer studies require models more appropriate than the standard monolayer cultures of tumoral cell lines. This report describes the production of an in vitro three-dimensional rebuilt tumor using a non-hodgkin malignant lymphoma. The model exploits the relationship between angiogenesis and cancer formation by employing both tumor cells and fusiform cells derived from an angioma. The significance of this model, which has also been used with malignant melanoma cells, is that the rebuilt tumor, when placed in culture, produces many tumorous nodules which are fixed to a sub-layer of fusiform cells and newly-secreted matrix. These are, in effect, in vitro metastases. The ultrastructural aspect of this neomatrix indicates its proteoglycan nature. The micro-environment formed by the vascular cells and matrix appears to be critical for the production of metastases.     

Ecological aspects of Sargassum muticum (Fucales,Phaeophyta) in Baja California,Mexico: reproductive phenology and epiphytes

The reproductive phenology and epiphytic macroalgae of Sargassum muticum were studied through an annual cycle (September 1987 to November 1988) at two sites on the northwestern coast of Baja California, Mexico, which were subjected to different degrees of wave exposure. Sargassum muticum is a brown alga of Japanese origin, now considered a permanent member of the marine flora of Baja California. A similar reproductive development was observed at both sites, with a maximum percentage of reproductive plants from May to July (spring–summer) and minimum from December to March (winter). Reproductive plants were found throughout the year. A total of 48 species of epiphytes were identified and seasonal variation in their diversity was observed. The greatest diversity was found at the more protected site.