Repair Kinetics of Radiation-Induced Mitotic Delay

The recovery from radiation-induced mitotic delay in asynchronous sarcoma-180 (S-180) ascites tumor cells has been analyzed in a manner analogous to the repair of sublethal damage. 200-R increments were separated by various fraction intervals (not exceeding the time necessary for mitosis to return to control levels) for total exposures up to 1600 R. The accumulated mitotic delay after the last exposure increment, in percent of an equivalent single exposure, decreased exponentially with overall treatment time in a bimodal fashion. An initial repair process displayed a half time of 2.3 h of overall elapsed time and was followed by a slower process with a half time of 15.1 h. Such a bimodal recovery provides an explanation of why fractionation intervals long with respect to the amitotic period resulting from a single 200 R exposure enhance mitotic delay over that of equivalent single exposures, while shorter fractionation intervals diminish it. It also predicts that mitotic delay vs. dose curves should bend toward the abscissa as the exposure time is increased with large single exposures and large fractionated exposures given over short fraction intervals.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus release from decaying water milfoil

To evaluate the net N and P contribution to water from herbicide-killed aquatic weeds, water milfoil containing 1.5% N and 0.30% P was killed with endothal and allowed to decompose, in the dark, in water only or sediment-water systems. Changes with time in dry weight, total N and P, and organic C in the plant material, and organic and inorganic forms of N and P in the water were determined. Plant decompostion was limited by N. Inorganic N was released by the sediment, and decomposition was more rapid when sediment was present. A smaller N requirement for decomposition under conditions of low O₂ was postulated as a possible explanation of the more rapid decomposition observed in the absence of aeration. The presence of plant P in excess of decomposition requirements resulted in rapid accumulation of organic P, followed by inorganic P, in the water. Organic N appeared in the water early in the experiments, but was depleted rapidly, and inorganic N was apparently immobilized as soon as it was formed. In the presence of sediment, organic N and inorganic P levels were much lower. On treating of water milfoil with herbicide, rapid P release can be expected. This P can either be utilized in further biomass production or be sorbed by the sediment. Insufficient data were available to reach definite conclusions regarding N. It would appear, however, that N release from decaying weeds is much slower than P.     

Effect of pH on the Immunogenicity of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Mycoplasma pneumoniae harvested from media which had become acid lost the ability both to induce formation of tetrazolium reduction inhibition antibody and to act as antigens in immunodiffusion against human convalescent-phase sera. Incorporation of N-tris(hydroxymethyl)-2-aminoethane sulfonic acid and N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethane sulfonic acid buffers into a new medium containing PPLO Serum Fraction instead of horse serum delayed the pH decline. Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, triethanolamine, and 3,6-endomethylene-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalic acid buffers inhibited growth. Mycoplasmas obtained from buffered cultures retained antigenicity as measured by immunodiffusion and could stimulate tetrazolium reduction inhibition antibody formation in animals.     

Ultrastructural observations on the kinetosomes,and Golgi bodies during the asexual life cycle ofSaprolegnia

Summary At the onset of zoospore cleavage the centrioles ofSaprolegnia ferax reorientate, develop into kinetosomes and become associated with microtubular roots and a striate fibre. After cytoplasmic cleavage a flagellum, with a hitherto undescribed transition zone structure, develops from each kinetosome. Flagellum axonemes occur inside recently encysted primary spores. In vegetative hyphae and germinating cysts most recognizable Golgi bodies are characteristically associated with a cisternum of the endoplasmic reticulum and a mitochondrion but during sporogenesis they all lie adjacent to nuclei where they are apparently active in vesicle production. The structural details of these changes are described and their significance discussed. We wish to acknowledge the numerous helpful discussions with Dr. J. L. Gay. The senior author held a S.R.C. studentship during the course of this work, part of which was submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Ph. D. at the University of London.     

Further environmental factors affecting the antigenicity of Trichophyton rubrum

Biochemical determinations performed on ammonium sulfate soluble and insoluble fractions of crude mycelial extracts ofTrichophyton rubrum indicated that these antigens were either carbohydrates or carbohydrates with peptide side chains. The antigens contained considerable amounts of galactose and mannose.Gel filtration techniques proved to be effective in separating these antigens. One antigen had a molecular weight greater than or equal to 2.0 × 10⁶. A smaller, more reactive antigen was also found; however, the elution time of this antigen varied with the concentration of dextrose in the medium.Quantitative precipitation tests used to differentiate the serological reactivity of crude antigens, recovered from mycelia grown on media containing variable concentrations of dextrose, indicated that the serological reactivity of the crude antigen was inversely proportional to the concentration of the carbohydrate source, with an optimum reactivity occurring with antigens prepared from mycelia grown in low dextrose concentrations.Nitrogen and carbohydrate concentrations performed on whole mycelia and cell free extracts demonstrated that the total nitrogen, soluble nitrogen, total carbohydrate and soluble carbohydrate concentrations were influenced by the concentration of the carbohydrate source. The optimum carbohydrate concentration necessary for the maximum ratio of protein and carbohydrates per gram of mycelium was 15.0 g/l. This is less than the amount used in most Sabouraud's dextrose media formulations. The effect of these environmental factors on the serological reactivity was discussed.Supported in part by NIH Environmental Health Tranining Grant ES00081-02. The help of Mrs. Gary Swecker is gratefully acknowledged for preparing the graphs.     

The Hemodynamic Response of the Right Ventricle Following Acute and Chronic Partial Obstruction of the Main Pulmonary Artery in Dogs

In eight adult dogs the main pulmonary artery was constricted to elevate the right ventricular peak systolic pressure to 50% of the peak aortic pressure at rest. The response of the right ventricle was assessed immediately, at 30 minutes and at six months. The right ventricle responded to acute systolic loading by complete compensation. After 30 minutes there was a reduction in the right ventricular outflow tract resistance. The cardiac output, heart rate and aortic pressure were maintained. The right ventricular systolic ejection period, end-diastolic pressure, peak pressure time, mean systolic pressure, right ventricular—main pulmonary artery mean systolic gradient, right ventricular work index, systolic work and outflow tract resistance were all increased.The right ventricle in the dog was shown to have an immediate capacity to compensate for systolic loading and retains this capacity for long periods of time. The ability to increase work is accomplished by adaptations in right ventricular physiology which increase right ventricular mean systolic pressures and prolong the right ventricular ejection period.     

Medical Radiation to Children with Congenital Heart Disease

A retrospective analysis was made of the source of medical radiation received by 25 children who were investigated by cardiac catheterization techniques and followed in the Cardiac Outpatient Clinic of the Health Centre for Children, Vancouver General Hospital. The source of radiation was analyzed. The r dose per year received from plane films averaged 0.05 r, from cardiac fluoroscopy 6.7 r, and from catheterization and angiocardiography studies 1.58 r per year. In six of the 25 children, radiation doses to the thorax exceeded the LD₅₀ for adult humans. In these six patients 95.8% of the radiation received was during cardiac fluoroscopy. Routine fluoroscopy for the radiological re-evaluation of pediatric patients with congenital heart disease should be replaced by plain chest radiographs.