Nodular fasciitis initially diagnosed by aspiration cytology

A case of nodular fasciitis diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology is described. The cytologic findings included fusiform cells, mitoses, macrophages, multinucleated giant cells and mesenchymal elements in a characteristic granular background substance. The cytopathologic diagnosis was subsequently confirmed by the histopathologic study of the tumor and by electron microscopy.     

The effects of colchicine analogues on the reaction of tubulin with iodo[14C]acetamide and N,N'-ethylenebis(iodoacetamide)

We have previously found (Ludue?a, R. F., and Roach, M. C. (1981b) Biochemistry 20, 4444-4450) that colchicine and podophyllotoxin inhibit the alkylation of tubulin by iodo[14C]acetamide and the formation of an intrachain cross-link in the beta-tubulin subunit by N,N'-ethylenebis(iodoacetamide) (EBI). It was not clear whether these effects were due to conformational changes in tubulin induced by drugs or to direct steric blockage of the sulfhydryl groups involved. In an effort to characterize further these phenomena, we have examined the effects of single-ring and bicyclic analogues of colchicine on the reaction of tubulin with iodo[14C]acetamide and EBI. We have found that neither the A-ring analogues, 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl alcohol, 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde, 2,3,4-trimethoxybenzaldehyde, and benzaldehyde, nor the C-ring analogues, tropolone and tropolone methyl ether, inhibited alkylation. In contrast, colchicine, podophyllotoxin, and nocodazole and the bicyclic analogues, 5-(2',3',4'-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-methoxytropone and combretastatin, inhibited tubulin alkylation. Since the presence of a bond joining the A and C rings seems to be the determining factor in the suppression of alkylation, it is likely that inhibition by colchicine of the reaction with iodo[14C] acetamide is due largely to a conformational change induced by colchicine. A different pattern was obtained when the effects on cross-link formation by EBI were examined. Here, all the A-ring analogues, the bicyclic analogues, and colchicine, podophyllotoxin, and nocodazole all inhibited formation of the cross-link, whereas the C-ring analogue tropolone methyl ether did not inhibit cross-link formation. Since compounds whose effect on alkylation is markedly different have the same effect on cross-link formation, it is possible that this effect is a steric one and that perhaps the A-ring of colchicine binds to tubulin very close to one of the sulfhydryls involved in the intrachain cross-link formed by EBI in beta-tubulin.     

Isoproterenol induces a ribosomal modification in the heart and the skeletal muscle of hamsters

The protein synthesis activity of heart, skeletal muscle and liver polysomes from isoprotenerol-treated and control hamsters has been compared in an in vitro non-inititating translation system. Heart and skeletal muscle polysomes from treated hamsters were less active than controls and required a higher magnesium concentration for optimal protein synthesis. These results suggest that there is a conformational modification in heart and skeletal muscle ribosomes from isoprotenerol-treated hamsters. No such change was observed with ribosomes from the liver of isoproterenol-treated hamsters.     

Immunological comparison of glyoxalase I from yeast and mammals and quantitative determination of the enzyme in human tissues by radioimmunoassay

Antibodies to glyoxalase I from yeast, rat liver, porcine erythrocytes and human erythrocytes were raised in rabbits. Gel precipitation and immunotitration experiments demonstrated that the mammalian enzymes were immunologically related, but distinct from the yeast enzyme. Fab fragments of the antibodies to human glyoxalase I did not inhibit the catalytic activity, indicating that the antigen binding sites were not directed towards the active site of the enzyme. A radioimmunoassay for glyoxalase I was developed. Quantitative analysis of human adult as well as fetal organs demonstrated that glyoxalase I was present in a concentration of approximately 0.2 micrograms/mg protein in most human tissues.     

Short term regulation by lysine of ornithine decarboxylase activity in Dictyostelium discoideum

A transitory increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity has been observed soon after food removal from Dictyostelium discoideum amoeba. This increase can be prevented by supplementation of the differentiation buffer with the 11 amino acids known for their ability to retard the development of this slime mold. Lysine can replace the amino acid mixture with an apparent inhibition constant of 50 micromolar. This inhibition by lysine, which was only observed in vivo, took place within 5 min and was readily reversed upon lysine removal.     

Addition of an androgen-free epididymal protein extract increases the ability of immature hamster spermatozoa to fertilize in vivo and in vitro

The fertility of spermatozoa from the different epididymal segments of hamsters was tested by in-vivo insemination. Caput and proximal corpus spermatozoa were non-fertile; spermatozoa from the distal corpus epididymidis fertilized 13% (38/290) oocytes and those from the proximal and distal cauda epididymidis 71 and 87%, respectively. When tested by in-vitro insemination, distal corpus spermatozoa penetrated 44% of oocytes while those from the distal cauda fertilized 87% of oocytes. Spermatozoa from the distal corpus recovered in Medium BMOC fertilized 13% (28/219) of oocytes in vivo, while those mixed with an epididymal protein preparation (0.8 mg protein/ml) fertilized 24% (49/204; P less than 0.01) of oocytes. When distal corpus spermatozoa were inseminated in vivo with 0.8 mg epididymal protein preparation 34% (31/90) oocytes were fertilized and only 22% (23/103; P less than 0.05) oocytes were fertilized when the proteins were obtained from epididymides of animals castrated for 30 days. When distal corpus spermatozoa were preincubated for 5 h in medium without (control) or with protein preparation (0.8 or 1.6 mg protein/ml), a significant increase in in-vitro oocyte penetration was found (25 compared with 45%; P less than 0.05) when the protein was present at 1.6 mg/ml. These results confirm and extend previous observations suggesting a role for androgen-dependent glycoproteins secreted by the epididymis in the acquisition of fertilizing ability that occurs during sperm maturation.     

Phytosociological characteristics of theRondeletio correifoliae-Andropogonetum multinervosi ass. nova (Sierra de la Siguanea,Isla de la Juventud,Cuba)

The contribution deals with the phytocenological analysis of theRondeletio correifoliae-Andropogonetum multinervosi, an endemic savanna association occuring on the Siguanea Hills (Sierra de la Siguanea) near the Colony Hotel.