Identification of a tumor inhibitory factor in rat ascites fluid

A polypeptide which inhibits the growth of human carcinoma cells has been characterized from Novikoff rat ascites fluid. This tumor inhibitory factor co-purified with transforming growth factor activity through acid/ethanol extraction and Bio-Gel chromatography. The two activities were completely separated by reverse phase HPLC. The tumor inhibitory factor is heat stable and requires disulfide bonds for bioactivity. This factor inhibited the anchorage independent growth of the more differentiated human colon carcinoma cell lines but did not affect the less differentiated carcinoma cells. The presence of stimulatory and inhibitory activities in the same extracts suggests that the relative concentrations of these factors may be important in the control of cell growth.     

Distribution of calcium during interphase and mitosis as observed by ion microscopy

The ion microscope, based on secondary ion mass spectrometry, has been used to demonstrate the distribution of calcium in the root tip cells of two plant species, Allium cepa and Vicia faba. Interphase nuclei showed higher intensities of calcium than cytoplasm, while nucleoli exhibited higher calcium intensities than the rest of the nucleoplasm. The chromosomes showed high intensities of calcium at all stages of mitosis. Calcium was also detected in the cell plate and phragmoplast region of dividing cells. It appears that during prophase calcium concentrates in the condensing chromosomes, and during telophase it is transferred to nucleoli. These observations suggest that chromosomes may serve as a reservoir of calcium during mitosis.     

Comparison of labeled propanediol and urea as markers of lung vascular injury

The purpose of these studies was a comparison of [14C]urea (U) and 1,3-[14C]propanediol (Pr) as measures of lung vascular permeability-surface area (PS) under base-line conditions and after lung injury caused by alloxan infusion in isolated perfused dog lungs. Indicator mixtures of 125I-albumin, 51Cr-red blood cells, 3HOH, and U or Pr were injected under base-line conditions, after 1.2 g of alloxan, and after an additional 0.8 g of alloxan. Indicator-dilution curves were analyzed from sampled outflow blood to provide PS, the square root of effective extravascular diffusivity multiplied by exchange surface area (D1/2S), and extravascular lung water (EVLW) from the tracer mean transit times (VW). Results show that alloxan increases PS and D1/2S for U, D1/2S for Pr, and VW and EVLW by desiccation. All indicator-dilution parameters correlate significantly with alloxan dose. Interpretation of Pr transport suggests that materials with lipid and hydrophilic pathways might be used in conjunction with U to minimize the effects of surface area changes and increase the sensitivity of these tracers to permeability alteration. In addition Pr may be a useful alternative to U as a marker of vascular damage.     

Injury to the glenoid fossa

An illustrated case of fracture through the confines of the glenoid fossa by the mandibular condyle is presented. The mechanism of injury and postinjury sequelae of this rarely reported but frequently suspected occurrence are discussed and a treatment rationale proposed. The key to the diagnosis of this entity is an awareness of vector forces directed to the region of the glenoid fossa with or without evidence of subcondylar fracture.     

Gastro-intestinal helminths of donkeys in Burkina Faso

Thirty adult donkeys from Burkina Faso were necropsied and their gastro-intestinal worm burdens counted and determined. The strongylids were the most abundant species with a prevalence of 100% for Strongylus vulgaris. Four species of Strongylus, two of Triodontophorus and six of the Cyathostominae were recovered. All of the animals were also infested with habronematid nematodes, but oxyurid and ascaridid nematodes were found in low numbers. In addition to the nematodes, the paramphistomid trematode Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus and the anoplocephalid cestode Anoplocephala magna occurred in varying numbers. Faecal egg-counts from 131 donkeys ranged between 100 and 9,200 for strongylid eggs.     

Inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis by SQ 28,852, a 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane analog

7-Oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane analogs of prostaglandin (PG) H2 can act as thromboxane (Tx) A2 receptor antagonists or agonists, PGI2 and/or PGD2 receptor agonists, or exhibit a mixture of the above activities. SQ 28,852, a new analog with a hexyloxymethyl omega side chain, is a potent inhibitor of PG synthesis. SQ 28,852 inhibited collagen and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced platelet aggregation and TxB2 and PGE2 formation, but did not block platelet aggregation induced by ADP or the TxA2 mimics, 9,11-azo PGH2, SQ 26,655, and U-46,619. It also blocked conversion of AA to TxB2, PGE2, and 6-keto PGF1 alpha by microsomal preparations of human platelets, bovine seminal vesicles, and bovine aortas, respectively, but did not inhibit the conversion of PGH2 to TxA2 by the platelet microsomal preparation. SQ 28,852 (p.o.) protected mice against the lethal effects of AA (75 mg/kg, i.v.). The I50 values for SQ 28,852, indomethacin and aspirin were 0.025, 0.05 and 15 mg/kg, respectively. Neither SQ 28,852 nor indomethacin protected mice from death caused by 9,11-azo PGH2. SQ 28,852 (0.01 to 1 mg/kg, i.v.) inhibited AA-induced bronchoconstriction in anesthetized guinea pigs for at least 60 min. As an inhibitor of AA-induced bronchoconstriction, SQ 28,852 was 16- and 45-times more potent than indomethacin at 3 and 60 min after i.v. administration, respectively. SQ 28,852 did not inhibit bronchoconstriction induced by histamine or 9,11-azo PGH2, indicating its specificity of action in vivo. SQ 28,852 is the first example of a new class of cyclooxygenase inhibitors whose structure is similar to that of the naturally occurring endoperoxide, PGH2.     

An HLA-C-specific DNA probe

Analysis of available nucleotide sequence data for class I HLA genes has established that the seventh intron is one of the gene regions which expresses the highest degree of locus specificity (the percentage sequence divergence between nonallelic genes minus the percentage sequence divergence between allelic genes). We have subcloned short DNA sequences including this region from the HLA-Cw3 gene. Two clones, pC250 and pC800, were tested by hybridizing them at high stringency to a panel of clones containing class I HLA genes. Under conditions permitting a strong hybridization signal with a C-locus gene, pC800 also expressed a weak but significant hybridization to other class I genes, while pC250 appeared to hybridize exclusively to the C-locus gene. Hybridization of the pC250 probe at high stringency to Hind III-digested genomic DNA from a panel of unrelated individuals and homozygous typing cell lines revealed a single band in all cases. However, equivalent hybridization against Eco RI-digested DNA revealed two hybridization bands, one at 7.9 kb which correlated with the serologically defined Cw5 and Cw8 alleles, and one at 7.6 kb which correlated with the Cw1, Cw2, Cw3, Cw4, Cw6, and Cw7 alleles.     

Phytoplankton population dynamics of a small reservoir: physical/biological coupling and the time scales of community change

This paper describes the day-to-day changes in species compositionthat resulted from intermittent wind mixing of the surface watersof a small reservoir. Two major scales of community change weredetected: a short-term (>1 day) scale associated with theredistribution of cells within the basin, and a 5–14-dayscale associated with growth responses. The physical scalesof change were found to be almost identical to the biologicalscales: wind stress caused changes in the temperature gradientof surface waters at scales of a day, and major vertical mixingevents occurred at scales of 10–14 days. The presenceof buoyant species ensured that rapid advection of populationsfollowed wind events. Community change was a function of bothadvection and growth, so that both real and apparent changesin abundance occurred. The observed seasonal succession wasboth a true succession and a changing sequence of populationsdependent on horizontal advection of water within the basin.Consistent stratification was present throughout the summerperiod and phytoplankton diversity was low. Even so, the seasonalsuccession was best described as a series of allogenic perturbationsfollowed by biological restructuring of the community. Dailysampling was necessary to document fully the mechanisms drivingthe seasonal succession of species.     

Estimation of the ferrous-transferrin binding constants based on thermodynamic studies of nickel(II)-transferrin

The equilibrium constants for the binding of Ni2+ to human serum transferrin in 0.01 M hepes containing 5 mM sodium bicarbonate at 25 degrees C and pH 7.4 have been measured. The effective binding constants are log K1 = 4.10 +/- 0.15 and log K2 = 3.23 +/- 0.31 for the reactions Ni2+ + apoTr (K1) in equilibrium Ni2+-Tr. Ni2+ + Ni2+-Tr (K2) in equilibrium Ni2+-Tr-Ni2+ where the explicit terms for bicarbonate and hydrogen ion have been incorporated into the effective binding constants. Titration of both forms of mono(ferric)transferrin indicates that unlike other metal ions, Ni2+ binds preferentially to the N-terminal binding site, but that the site preference is rather small. A linear-free-energy relationship (LFER) for the complexation of Ni2+ and Fe2+ has been prepared. This LFER has been used to estimate effective binding constants of log K1 = 3.2 and log K2 = 2.5 for the ferrous-transferrin complex. These ferrous constants have been combined with the literature binding constants for ferric-transferrin to estimate formal reduction potentials of -340 mV vs. NHE for the C-terminal site and -280 mV for the N-terminal site.     

Mapping of human X-linked hypophosphataemic rickets by multilocus linkage analysis

Summary Eleven families with X-linked dominant hypophosphataemic rickets (HPDR) have been typed for a series of X chromosome markers. Linkage with probe 99.6 (DXS41) was demonstrated with a peak lod score of 4.82 at 10% recombination. Multilocus linkage analysis showed that HPDR maps distal to 99.6; this probe has previously been located at Xp22.31-p21.3 by in situ hybridisation. In the mouse hypophosphataemia (Hyp) maps to the distal part of the X chromosome; our location in man is consistent with a scheme which relates the mouse and human X chromosomes by two rearrangements. No marker has yet been found which shows no recombination with HPDR.