Cell junctions acting as intestinal valves in nematodes

Serial sections of the rectal valve in Aphelenchoides blastophthorus Franklin and the oesophago-intestinal valve in Thornenema wickeni Yeates were examined electron microscopically. Each valve when closed appears as a convoluted path of closely apposed (10 nm) pairs of three-layered cell membranes. Both valves serve to stop intestinal leakage, open briefly and rapidly by forcible dilatation and are closed by pressure from surrounding tissues, helped perhaps by intermolecular forces.     

Effect of tannic acid on the synthesis of protein and nucleic acid by rat liver

1. As early as 1hr. after the intraperitoneal administration of tannic acid to rats, it could be demonstrated in the liver. At 3hr. the nuclear fraction contained the largest amount of tannic acid. 2. Nuclear RNA synthesis was inhibited in vivo 2hr. after the administration of tannic acid. Induction by cortisol of tryptophan pyrrolase was 90% inhibited at 24hr. 3. Incorporation of [1-(14)C]leucine into protein by liver slices from treated rats was decreased by 50% after 24hr. Its incorporation into postmitochondrial supernatant from treated animals was not inhibited. Incorporation into slices and postmitochondrial supernatants were inhibited in vitro by tannic acid. 4. The sequence of events: concentration of tannic acid in nuclei, inhibition of nuclear RNA synthesis, inhibition of protein synthesis and production of necrosis, is discussed.     

Amino Acid Transport in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Properties of the transport systems for amino acids in Pseudomonas aeruginosa were investigated. Exogenous (14)C-labeled amino acids were shown to equilibrate with the internal native amino acid pool prior to incorporation into protein. When added at low external concentrations, the majority of the amino acids examined entered the protein of the cell unaltered. The rates of amino acid transport, established at low concentrations with 18 commonly occurring amino acids, varied as much as 40-fold. The transport process became saturated at high external amino acid concentrations, was temperature-sensitive, and was inhibited by sodium azide and iodoacetamide. Intracellular to extracellular amino acid ratios of 100- to 300-fold were maintained during exponential growth of the population in a glucose minimal medium. When the medium became depleted of glucose, neither extracellular nor intracellular amino acids could be detected.     

Amino Acid Pool Formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The accumulation and behavior of various amino acids in the pool of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 9027) were investigated. Patterns of pool formation and maintenance varied with different amino acids tested and were dependent, to a considerable extent, upon the ability of the organism to catabolize the particular amino acid. The establishment of steady-state amino acid pool levels depended upon the activity of the amino acid permease involved and upon the rate of protein synthesis. The presence of a relatively large specific amino acid pool did not affect the formation of a pool of a structurally different amino acid, and a preformed steady-state pool was not displaced by structurally unrelated amino acids. Steady-state amino acid pools decreased rapidly in the presence of inhibitors of energy metabolism and at 0 C. Steady-state internal amino acid pools were found to be in equilibrium with the corresponding external amino acid, present at low levels. A multiplicity of proline pools was demonstrated.     

Phenylketonuria—Experience at One Center in the First Year of Screening in California

One year''s experience with phenylketonuria during the calendar year 1966, the first year for compulsory newborn screening in California, was reviewed. The over-all prevalence rate from reported cases in California during this period was one case per 19,500 persons tested. Fifty-seven persons suspected of having pku were evaluated, and 25 of them were determined to be phenylketonuric. Eleven of the 25 were infants in whom the abnormality was detected through the newborn screening program or because it was detected in a sibling through a screening program. All the newborn phenylketonuric patients were developing normally at the time of last report (although the follow-up periods were short).In nine of the other children, pku was detected because they were retarded. Five retarded children who were diagnosed as phenylketonuric at another clinic were given dietary assistance.Five additional infants had elevated serum phenylalanines but did not have the classic biochemical findings of pku and are being evaluated further. Nine infants with positive screening tests exhibited biochemical and clinical findings consistent with transient tyrosinemia. Eighteen other children were evaluated and found to have no metabolic abnormality.The newborn screening program for pku is of decided benefit in early identification of a group of infants who have a high rate of potentially serious metabolic disease. Early identification permits treatment soon enough to prevent mental retardation. Newly identified patients should be evaluated in a medical setting capable of careful pediatric, biochemical and nutritional surveillance.     

The effect of unipolar positively ionized air on the course of coccidioidomycosis in mice

The course of coccidioidomycosis produced in mice by intranasal administration of arthrospores of COCCIDIOIDES IMMITIS was adversely affected by exposure of the animals to air containing 3–4 × 10⁵ positive ions/cm³. A significant number of mice became ill earlier than controls and the cumulative mortality among iontreated animals was higher throughout the 30-day period of observation (difference significant at the 97.5 level by chi-square analysis).The mechanism responsible for this effect is as yet unknown.

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Zusammenfassung Der Verlauf der Coccidioidomykose bei Mäusen, die durch intranasale Verabreichung von COCCIDIOIDES IMMITIS erzeugt wurde, wurde gegensinnig beeinflusst, wenn die Tiere einer Luft mit 3–4 × 10⁵ positiven Ionen/m³ exponiert wurden. Eine signifikante Zahl Mäuse wurde früher krank als die Kontrollen und die kumulative Mortalität der ionen-behandelten Tiere war höher während der 30-tägigen Beobachtungsperiode. Der Wirkungsmechanismus ist noch unbekannt.

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Resume L'évolution de la coccidioïdomycose déclenchée chez des souris par l'application intranasale de COCCIDIOIDES IMMITIS fut influencée de façon contradictoire lorsque les animaux étaient exposés à un air chargé de 3 à 4 × 10⁵ ions positifs par m³. Un nombre significatif de souris furent atteintes du mal plus rapidement que celles servant de contrôle. De même,la mortalité cumulée des animaux traîtés par de l'air ionisé fut plus élevée durant les 30 jours que dura l'essai. Le mécanisme auquel cet effet doit être attribué n'est pas connu jusqu'ici.