Choriocarcinoma metastatic to the lung. A cytologic study with identification of human choriogonadotropin with an immunoperoxidase technique

A case of choriocarcinoma metastatic to the lung following a previous hydatidiform mole is presented. It was possible to make definitive identification of trophoblastic elements on a needle aspiration biopsy using an immunoperoxidase staining technique, thus avoiding diagnostic thoracotomy prior to therapeutic intervention. A method of immunoperoxidase staining of previously fixed and Papanicolaou-stained needle aspiration biopsy specimens is also described, and other uses of the immunoperoxidase technique on needle biopsy specimens are discussed.     

Hanuman Langur: Monkey of India

An apparently new type of dental wear pattern, lingual surface attrition of the maxillary anterior teeth (LSAMAT), has been found in 85% of 46 adult crania from a 3000–4200 BP Archaic site called Corondó near the Atlantic Ocean coast of Brazil. LSAMAT is associated with a high caries rate (60% of 77 adults; 11% of 1,219 permanent teeth) in what on archeologica grounds alone would be considered a mainly meat-eating population. It is suggested that both LSAMAT and caries resulted from eating some starchy plant like manioc.     

The exchange hypothesis for the formation of chromatid aberrations: an experimental test using bleomycin

The association between bleomycin-induced chromatid aberrations and BUdR-label exchange between sister chromatids was investigated in order to evaluate Revell's exchange hypothesis for the formation of chromatid aberrations. The results of this study indicate that a larger than expected proportion of chromatid breaks can be accounted for by the exchange hypothesis though not all breaks are the result of incomplete exchange.     

Ultraviolet radiation, weather and the blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Assays of plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are widely used to assess vitamin D nutrition in health and disease. In interpreting the results it is important to take into account not only details of analytical technique but also environmental conditions including latitude, season, occupation and weather. This paper presents new data which show that climatic variations from year to year may make appreciable differences to the reference ranges which are appropriate for the interpretation of results from patients.     

Isolation and Characterization of Temperature-Sensitive Mutants of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus, New Jersey Serotype

Forty-eight temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants have been isolated from a wild-type strain of the New Jersey serotype of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) after exposure to the base analogue mutagen 5-fluorouracil. Of these mutants, 47 have been classified into 6 nonoverlapping complementation groups containing 21, 17, 4, 3, 2, and 1 mutant, respectively (1 mutant remaining unallocated). The ribonucleic acid (RNA) phenotype of 23 of these mutants has been established. Four of the six groups contain one or more mutants unable to synthesize detectable amounts of viral RNA under restrictive conditions (39 C). No complementation was observed in mixed infection with ts mutants from the five established complementation groups of the Indiana serotype of VSV.     

Substituted Sialic Acid Prosthetic Groups as Determinants of Viral Hemagglutination

Inhibitors of hemagglutination by type A2 influenza virus and a recently isolated strain of type B influenza virus were separated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and agarose gel filtration from horse serum. Using selected reagents, it was demonstrated that the active substituent on the horse serum inhibitor of A2 influenza virus was 4-O-acetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid; however, the active substituent on the inhibitor of the influenza B virus was shown to be N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA). Sodium metaperiodate treatment of a component of horse serum resulted in a 10 to 15-fold enhancement of inhibitory activity against the type B virus, whereas the A2 inhibitor was completely destroyed. Since this enhancement did not occur with influenza B viruses isolated prior to 1965, it was considered that this sensitivity to an oxidized NANA glycoside may have been a reflection of an antigenic change which occurred at that time. The use of different virus strains and selected chemical reagents to define the important sialic acid prosthetic groups active in inhibition was described.     

Evidence implicating a membrane ATPase in the control of passive permeability of excitable cells

The temperature sensitivity of the ATPase enzyme systems in a muscle microsomal preparation from the crayfish, Astacus pallipes, was studied. Preincubation of the enzyme preparation in the range 33–36°C produced a marked inactivation of the ATPases; the Mg⁺⁺-dependent ATPase was very much more sensitive to this treatment than the Na⁺-K⁺-Mg⁺⁺-dependent ATPase. Thus, the Arrhenius μ for the inactivation of the Mg⁺⁺-dependent ATPase produced by eight minute preincubation is > 100 Kcals. These results are compared with the changes that are observed during the heat death of the whole animal, where exposure to 35°C produces a dramatic change in Na⁺ permeability within five minutes. Arrhenius μ for heat death is also > 100 Kcals and operates over the identical critical temperature range. It is suggested that the Mg⁺⁺-dependent ATPase controls passive permeability in these excitable cells and the results also confirm the view that Mg⁺⁺ and Na⁺-K⁺-Mg⁺⁺ ATPases are separate enzymes.     

ARAGONITE IN HALIMED A AND TYDEMANIA (ORDER SIPHON ALES)12

The mineral component of the marine green algal genus Halimeda is the orthorhombic calcium carbonate (aragonite); its presence appears to be a generic characteristic. Tydemania expeditionis also precipitates aragonite in contradistinction to species of the red alga Corallina wliich precipitate calcium carbonate of the hexagonal form (calcite). The analyses are based on x-ray diffraction methods. Although other inorganic substances arc present, the amounts are minor and probably represent contaminants. Specimens that are to be studied for mineral components should not be stored in formalin.