Structural alterations in fibronectin correlated with morphological changes in smooth muscle cells

Nontransformed cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells proliferate until they form a confluent sheet of cells. Subsequently, the cells become reorganized to form multicellular nodules that are loosely attached to the substrate. The formation of nodules is facilitated by the addition of medium conditioned by nodular cultures. Nodulation is inhibited by the addition of fibronectin. Fibronectins derived from monolayer culture conditioned medium or from plasma are maximally effective while fibronectin isolated from nodular cell conditioned medium is inactive. Analysis by NaDodSO4-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis reveals that the nodular cell fibronectin has a molecular weight that is about 20-30 kd less than that of monolayer cell fibronectin. Further, nodular cell conditioned medium contains an activity that can convert both plasma fibronectin and monolayer cell fibronectin to the lower molecular weight correlated with the loss of biological activity.     

A paired-tracer dilution method for characterizing membrane transport in the perfused rat hindlimb. Effects of insulin, feeding and fasting on the kinetics of sugar transport.

We have applied the paired-tracer dilution method to the study of transport processes in a mixed mammalian muscle preparation, the perfused rat hindlimb. The method is suitable for the characterization of the kinetic parameters of sugar and amino acid transport and its regulation by hormones, contractile activity, hypoxia, etc. Insulin stimulates sugar transport by increasing the Vmax. of the process 2-3 fold, but its affinity is unchanged. Starvation increases the affinity of sugar transport in perfused skeletal muscle.     

Influence of the Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virns and Simazine upon the Buffer Soluble Proteins and Catalase Activity of a Virus-susceptible and a Virus-tolerant Variety of Zea mays

Inbred corn varieties differing in their tolerance to the maize dwarf mosaic virus infection also differ in varietal character and host response to simazine. Oh 7B, a tolerant cv., has less total soluble and globulin proteins than the sensitive variety, H 55, but more Kjeldahl nitrogen, albumin protein and a doubling of catalase activity. Virus inoculation in Oh 7B causes a reduction in all three protein fractions, Kjeldahl nitrogen and catalase activity. Deleterious virus-simazine interaction does not occur with either variety and the observed varietal and host response differences in protein may account for the conflicting reports of other workers.     

Hemagglutinating Property of Haemophilus aegyptius

Extracts possessing the capacity to hemagglutinate normal human erythrocytes were recovered from Haemophilus aegyptius by treatment with either diethylene glycol or acetone. Antisera prepared against these extracts or the unextracted bacterial cell inhibited hemagglutination by homologous and heterologous antigens. Microgel diffusions indicated the presence of identical components in each extract as expressed by lines of identity between antisera to each fraction. The hemagglutinin was identified as a lipopolysaccharide, 42% lipid and 57% carbohydrate. The determination of 6% phosphorus in the lipid fraction identified it as containing phospholipid.     

Psychological Sequelae of Accidental Injury: A Medico-Legal Quagmire

Litigation for personal injury following accidental trauma is an expensive and confused process involving three protagonists: patient, doctor and lawyer. Although post-traumatic conditions can be elaborately classified, the intrinsic validity of such classifications is often questionable. Current methods of evaluating psychological sequelae of accidental injury are inaccurate and unsatisfactory, partly because of the protagonists'' conceptual, motivational and semantic differences. In addition, there is no really satisfactory method of (a) determining and quantifying minor but significant degrees of brain damage, (b) distinguishing these from “post-traumatic neurosis”, or (c) determining the relationship between the trauma and subsequent disturbance of function. Increasingly “expert” advice is solicited but owing to the nature of the data and conditions of examination, such advice does little to clarify the underlying problems. Furthermore, doctors are often unable to communicate effectively to the judiciary just how the trauma has affected the patient. Even though certain suggestions for improvement are advanced, the need for comprehensive, longitudinal research is inescapable.