The enzymes of glutathione synthesis in erythrocytes from gsh-high and gsh-low type australian merino sheep

• 1.1. The activity of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione synthetase was determined in erythrocytes from Australian Merino sheep of different erythrocyte haemoglobin, potassium and GSH types.
• 2.2. The activity of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase was diminished in GSH-low type erythrocytes, but glutathione synthetase had a similar activity in erythrocytes of both GSH types.
• 3.3. γ-Glutamylcysteine synthetase from erythrocytes of both GSH types was inhibited by physiological concentrations of GSH, but a greater inhibition of the enzyme from GSH-low type erythrocytes occurred at low GSH concentrations.

     

Maladie de La Peyronie: Bilan IRM chez 28 patients

Purpose

to determine diagnosis and prognosis value of MRI in Peyronie’s disease.

Material and Methods

thirty one penile MR examinations have been performed in 28 patients aged between 21 and 73. (1 tesla; surface coil; sagittal SET1, axial SET2 weighted, T1 before and after Gadolinium)

- In all cases but one, fibrous plaques were clinically palpable.

- Images were compared with clinical examination and evolution under anti-inflammatory drugs.

Results

- In 3 cases, MRI misdiagnosed one unique plague.

- In 2 additional cases, one of the 2 clinical plaques was not detected.

- In 5 cases, MRI depicted more lesions than palpation.

- Gadolinium Enhancement was always correlated with a good response to anti-inflamatory drugs but this treatment was also useful in one case who showed no enhancement.

Conclusion

MRI can be helpfull in the pretreatment assessment and int he follow-up of Peyronie’s disease.     

Time-course of changes in plasma levels of trace elements after thrombolysis during the acute phase of myocardial infarction in humans

It has been suggested that the injury induced by reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium could result, in part, from the cytotoxic effects of oxygen free radicals. Since various trace elements are involved in several of the reactions leading to free radical production, we have measured plasma levels of copper, zinc, selenium, and iron:

1. In 18 patients (mean age 60 yr old) subjected to thrombolytic therapy within 6 h after the onset of a myocardial infarction (G1);
2. In 16 patients with coronary artery disease, but without a history of a previous myocardial infarction (MI) (mean age 50 yr old, G2); and
3. In 50 healthy volunteers divided into two subgroups according to age (mean age 33 yr old, G3 and 55 yr old, G4).

Plasma myosin levels were used to estimate quantitatively the extent of the infarcted mass. Plasma trace element levels were measured in blood samples following centrifugation and storage at ?80°C. The main results were as followed: In G1 patients who have been subjected to thrombolysis, an important release of myosin was measured in plasma, with a peak at D6 (1678 vs 95 μU/L at H0). In those G1 patients after MI:

1. A significant increase in plasma copper levels was observed from day 4 to day 10 postinfarction (×1.15 in reference to the baseline data at H0);
2. A decrease in plasma zinc levels was observed and was maximum 12 h after the onset of the thrombolytic treatment;
3. A decrease in selenium concentration was observed in G1, as well as in G2 patients, compared to the control groups (80% of G3 and G4 values); and
4. A significant decrease in plasma iron levels was observed in G1 (67.8% of G3 and G4 control values) and was significant from H0 to day 7 (p<0.01).

In conclusion, this study underlined the time-course evolution of plasma trace element levels in the followup of patients who have been subjected to thrombolysis following a MI and the potential prognostic implication of such variations.     

Acute hepatic porphyria syndrome with porphobilinogen synthase defect

On the basis of metabolite and enzyme studies a new type of acute hepatic porphyria with porphobilinogen synthase defect and repeated intermittent acute manifestations, abdominal colics, tachycardia and hypertension, and a persistent neurological syndrome was found in two young male patients. The main characteristic features are the following:

• 1.1. High urinary δ-aminolevulinic acid excretion( ⪢ 1 mmol/24hr), slight increase of porphobilinogen (up to 25 μmol/24 hr) and high increase of porphyrins (up to 22 μmol/24 hr) with coproporphyrin dominance.
• 2.2. Normal fecal and liver porphyrins.
• 3.3. Slight increase of erythrocyte protoporphyrin.
• 4.4. Decrease of porphobilinogen synthase activity in erythrocytes in both cases below 1% of healthy and not lead-exposed persons; normal activities of uroporphyrinogen synthase and decarboxylase in erythrocytes.
• 5.5. Low-normal lead concentrations in blood and low-normal lead excretion in urine in both cases; normal lead content in bone.
• 6.6. Normal plasma and urinary amino acids.
• 7.7. Irrelevant hepatological (liver biopsy), general clinical chemical and hematological findings.
• 8.8. Diminished activity of porphobilinogen synthase in nearly all family members of both patients. From these investigations it can be concluded that there is no exogeneous, “toxic” cause of this porphyria. Porphobilinogen synthase in lead poisoning is not diminished to such an extent as demonstrated here; in contrast to lead intoxication, porphobilinogen synthase activity cannot be activated or reactivated by thiols. All clinical and pathobiochemical data point at a new enzymatic type of endogeneous acute hepatic porphyria with intermittent acute manifestations, clinically analogous to so-called acute intermittent porphyria. Porphyrin precursors and porphyrin excretion both reflects the enzymatic defect and the regulatory consequences starting with the induction of δ-aminolevulinic acid synthase.

     

A study on the rate of water transport of the clam katelysia opima in relation to environmental conditions

1. The neutral red technique was employed to study the rate of filtration in Katelysia opima.
2. The weight specific water filtration was found to be greater for younger clams compared to the older ones.
3. The rate of water filtration increased with decreasing salinity.
4. Water filtration was found to increase as temperature increased, reaching a maximum at 35°C. but then sharply decreasing at 39°C.
5. Light had no significant effect on the rate of filtration.
6. Suspended matter was found to affect the rate of water filtration.
7. The rate of filtration was low at high pH and high in low pH.
8. The rate of water filtration was found to be faster during high tide than during low tide.
9. The presence of the parasitic crab, Pennotheris sp., in the mantle cavity of clams had a marked effect on the particle filtration.
10. Accidental cut of the siphon tips had no effect on the rate of filtration.

     

Superoxide dismutase,reduced glutathione and TBA-reactive products in erythrocytes of patients with multiple sclerosis

• 1.1. Superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and lipid peroxides levels were determined in the erythrocytes of multiple sclerosis patients.
• 2.2. Superoxide dismutase activity and the malonyldialdehyde production rate were found to be significantly enhanced.
• 3.3. The isoelectric focusing pattern of Superoxide dismutase from multiple sclerosis and normal subjects erythrocytes was substantially overlapping.
• 4.4. Our results indicate the occurrence of a higher susceptibility of multiple sclerosis erythrocytes to lipid peroxidation.

     

Conséquences sexuelles masculines et féminines de l’éjaculation rétrograde après adénomectomie

Using some statistics, the authors try to understand the problems presented by patients after an adenomectomy:

? those who complain are very few,

? nevertheless, in this case, the clinical aspect is very dramatic.

Urologists have to put interest in their patient sexual behaviour before the intervention and give them deep informations.     

The self-association of ovine erythrocyte spectrin

• 1.1. Spectrin extracted from ovine erythrocyte membranes at low temperature shows association behaviour similar to that reported for human and bovine erythrocytes.
• 2.2. The spectrin tetramer is the predominant oligomer, the dimer is well represented, and smaller amounts of hexamer and higher oligomers are present.
• 3.3. The estimates of parameters describing the self-association of purified ovine spectrin studied by sedimentation equilibrium analysis were found to be indistinguishable from those obtained for human spectrin under the same conditions, within the precision of the measurements.
• 4.4. The data suggest that the cooperative isodesmic model may be general for spectrin, and not a peculiarity of the human

.     

Seasonal variation in the biochemical composition of Mytilus viridis at Ratnagiri on the West Coast of India

1. The seasonal variation in the water, protein, fat and glycogen contents of the mussel, Mytilus viridis has been studied for the year March, 1974 to March, 1975.
2. The water level increased during the monsoon season and decreased in summer.
3. The level of protein, fat and glycogen showed correlation with the reproductive cycle of the mussel.
4. The protein level was high when the mussels were mature and dropped during the breeding period.
5. During sex change from male to female in May the protein level remained high whereas during sex change from female to male in October and November it was low.
6. The fat level was high in mature mussels and declined on spawning.
7. The glycogen level was at its peak in immature mussels and low in mature.

     

Permeability of erythrocytes to glycerol and its acylated derivatives in the camel and dog

• 1.1. Glycerol and glyeerol derivatives transport was compared in human, dog and camel erythrocytes.
• 2.2. The camel erythrocytes had the slowest glyeerol transport, that of the dog erythrocytes was also slow, while the quickest transport occurred in human erythrocytes.
• 3.3. In glyeerol mono-, di- and triacetates the transport in camel and dog erythrocytes increased until in the triacetate the quickest transport was found.
• 4.4. Addition of copper ions had no inhibiting effect on glyeerol transport in camel erythrocytes but a striking effect was seen in human erythrocytes.
• 5.5. Changes in pH greatly affected transport in camel erythrocytes, a decline in pH enhanced and an increase in pH slowed the transport. Storage of camel erythrocytes did not affect the glyeerol transport in camel erythrocytes.
• 6.6. It is concluded that the mechanism of glyeerol transport in camel erythrocytes is one of a non-facilitated diffusion.

     

Trypanosoma brucei: A quick method for separating blood-stream trypomastigotes from infected blood by differential osmotic lysis

• 1.1. The degree of rat erythrocyte lysis and immobilization of Trypanosoma brucei in infected blood by buffered hypotonie solutions of sodium chloride and sucrose was studied.
• 2.2. At 0.3% sodium chloride solution 98% hemolysis of erythrocytes was achieved while 95% of the original bloodstream trypomastigotes survived and were found to be motile and viable for biochemical study.
• 3.3. Further increase in the concentration of sodium chloride above 0.3% revealed an increase in the immobilization of trypanosomes and a decrease in the erythocyte hemolysis.
• 4.4. Bloodstream trypomastigotes have been prepared by differential osmotic lysis of infected blood in 0.3% sodium chloride solution and used for studying their metabolism.

     

Relationship between haematological parameters and progesterone blood concentration in different stages of estrous cycle in common vole,Microtus arvalis

• 1.1. Progesterone concentration and haematological parameters at different stages of estrous cycle of the common vole have been investigated.
• 2.2. During the estrous cycle progesterone concentration varied between 1.08 and 7.69 ng/ml of plasma; in the metaestrous period it was 7.69 ng/ml and 1.08 ng/ml in the proestrous period.
• 3.3. The highest haemoglobin level, hematocrit value and erythrocyte number have been found in the proestrous period, and the lowest, in the estrous and metaestrous periods.
• 4.4. The reverse changes were observed in the total and differential number of leukocytes.
• 5.5. Statistically significant changes in all these parameters have been found.

     

An ecological study of the Ponggol Estuary in Singapore

1. An ecological study of the Ponggol Estuary was conducted from July 1965 to June 1966 and the seasonal data on physical, chemical and biological characteristics were presented.
2. The Ponggol River represents a short, narrow and shallow estuary in Singapore. The river mouth is open throughout the year and water from eastern Johore Straits drains in twice a day at high tide. The upper reach, however, is left exposed at low tide.
3. The Ponggol River was classified as a vertically and laterally homogeneous estuary and was found to exhibit a mesohaline to polyhaline environment.
4. Significant hydrological gradients from the river mouth 10 the upper reach were noted in the river system. Salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH increased towards the mouth of the river and other parameters such as nutrients, dissolved organic matter and turbidity increased towards the source.
5. Although the river received organic pollutants at the upper reach the estuary was able to discharge them fairly rapidly through regular flushing by the tides. The transient rise of organic matter did not appear to impart any serious affect on the biota in the estuary.
6. Over 98% of the phytoplankton consisted of diatoms, most of which were brought into the estuary from eastern Johore Straits. Freshwater forms were relatively few.
7. Phytoplankton biomass was considerably higher than the adjoining waters. and was reduced at the upper reach due to high turbidity of the water.
8. 80% of the zooplankton was composed of dinoflagellates,Difflugia, copepods and bivalve larvae dominating at all sections of the estuary.
9. Percentage composition of the zooplankton showed that dinoflagellates and copepod nauplii predominated at high tide whileDifflugia and bivalve larvae were abundant at low tide.
10. Zooplankton standing crop, in general, was higher towards the source at high tide but the reverse was found at low tide, i.e. standing crop increased towards the river mouth. This was attributed to the process of concentration.
11. Species composition of zooplankton was found to be more or less similar to that of the eastern Johore Straits.
12. The nekton consisted predominantly of small and juvenile fish. Close correlation of fish and copepods was found to be statistically valid and it was concluded that the fish entered the estuary to feed rather than to spawn.
13. The squids formed an important catch of the beach seine unit and were caught throughout the year.
14. The fish population could be grouped into four categories: estuarine components, euryhaline components, marine components and migratory components.
15. Benthic invertebrates were abundant. Commercially important species consisted of prawns,Metapenaeus andPenaeus, and crabs,Neptunus pelagicus andScylla serrata.
16. The river bed was inhabited predominantly by molluscs and the distribution resembled that of the sheltered shore of muddy-sand type.

     

Supply of erythrocytes into the circulating blood from the spleen of exercised fish

• 1.1. Hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations of yellowtail blood elevated more than 40% just after a severe exercise by 5 min chasing.
• 2.2. About 40% of the hematocrit elevation is considered to have been caused by erythrocyte supply from the spleen, and other 35% by blood condensation due to water shift out of the plasma.
• 3.3. Similar phenomena were observed in a cruising experiment.

     

Intracellular proteolytic activity in developing myxospores of Myxococcus xanthus

1. Cell-free extracts from vegetative cells and developing myxospores of Myxococcus xanthus were found to contain similar amounts of proteolytic activity, approximately 80% of which was due to one or more neutral metal proteases.
2. Sixty per cent of the proteolytic activity was particulate.
3. The specific activity of the proteases was high throughout all stages of myxospore formation and displayed small increases in activity at two stages of development: (1) during cell shortening and (2) immediately following the conversion to spheres. The first peak in activity was apparent in assays conducted at pH 8 or 10 whereas the second peak was obvious only at pH 6.
4. A mutant which develops into myxospores only after a lag of approximately 7–8 h possessed levels of proteases similar to the wild type and displayed a peak in proteolytic activity after a delay of 7–8 h.
5. Low levels of serine protease activity were occasionally detected in both vegetative cells and myxospores; no sulfhydryl proteases were detectable in either cell type.
6. Extracellular proteases accumulated in the medium throughout myxospore development but differed from the intracellular proteases in pH optima and sensitivity to inhibitors.

     

Charkterisierung eines phagenähnlichen Partikels aus Zellen von Nitrobacter

1. Phage-like particles Nb₁ isolated from cells of Nitrobacter agilis were characterized after freeze etching and after treatment by fixation agents.
2. Ethanol-acetic acid fixed particles can be digested by the proteolytic enzyme papain.
3. Ethanol-acetic acid fixed particles show a loss in mass and volume after treatment with DNase. Under the same conditions RNase has no influence.
4. The chemical composition of the phage-like particle Nb₁ is discussed.

     

The effect of reduced salinity on tissue and plasma composition of the dogfish,Squalus acanthias

• 1.1. Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) were acclimated to reduced salinities and their plasma, muscle tissue and erythrocytes subsequently analysed.
• 2.2. Decrease in the osmolarity of the plasma was principally due to a fall in urea concentration and a significant fall in the concentrations of sodium and chloride.
• 3.3. Changes in the muscle and erythrocytes in dilute media were a decrease in urea, potassium, sodium and chloride concentrations.
• 4.4. The concentrations of the free amino acids in the muscle and the red blood cells decreased more than would be expected by the movements of water only.
• 5.5. The results were discussed in relation to the regulation of cellular volume and the involvement of the free amino acid pool of the tissues in this process.

     

Water balance of small lactating rodents —III. Estimates of milk production and water recycling in lactating Mus musculus under various water regimes

1. The exchanges of water between lactating female and young Mus musculus were modelled on the computer.
2. The model was used to estimate rates of milk production and water recycling in various litter sizes under various water regimes by following the time course of injected tritiated water.
3. The high correlation between estimated rates of milk production and actual growth rates of young was taken to indicate that the method gave if not the actual rates of milk production a very constant proportion of it.
4. Approximately 50% of the water secreted in milk is returned to the mother by recycling.

     

Respiratory function and nucleotide composition of erythrocytes from tropical elasmobranchs

• 1.1. Oxygen carrying capacity and parameters of erythrocyte-oxygen binding are similar for a range of elasmobranchs with markedly different swimming behaviour.
• 2.2. Erythrocyte nucleotide components in sharks include the allosteric hemoglobin modifiers GTP and ATP in similar ratios, and the total pool appears independent of locomotory activity. A rhinobatoid ray had no detectable erythrocyte trinucleotides, but had an appreciable pool of AMP together with IMP.
• 3.3. There was no evidence for either urea or NaCl modulation of hemoglobin function in erythrocytes from a carcharhinid shark.
• 4.4. These observations lead to the conclusion that parameters of the oxygen transport system in elasmobranchs are highly conserved.

     

Die rezente Verbreitung der Flusskrebse in Hessen (Decapoda: Astacidae)

1. This investigation demonstrates the presence of three different species in Hessen (West Germany). By means of three maps the recent distribution is demonstrated.
2. Astacus astacus is still present in Hessen in small populations.
3. Austropotamobius torrentium is the rarest species and was recorded only in the Taunus-, Spessart- und Odenwald mountains.
4. Oronectes limosus, in the rivers Rhein and Main numerous before 1950, has become scarce. In the river Fulda there have been only two recordings in 1958.