Changes in the ultrastructure of the adrenal medulla and cortex during endotoxic shock

Electron microscopy of the adrenal medulla and cortex during the intermediate period of endotoxin shock has revealed severe destructive changes in parenchymal cells. These changes are the reason for synthetic, secretory and trophic disturbances of glandular functions. Ultrastructural lesions indicate that stress exposure exceeds the adaptive capacity of cells, the majority of which are exhausted and killed.     

Osteoarthritis of the hip: an occupational disease in farmers.

OBJECTIVE--To test the hypothesis that farmers are at high risk of hip osteoarthritis and to investigate possible causes for such a hazard. DESIGN--Cross sectional survey. SETTING--Five rural general practices. SUBJECTS--167 male farmers aged 60-76 and 83 controls from mainly sedentary jobs. All those without previous hip replacement underwent radiography of the hip. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Hip replacement for osteoarthritis or radiological evidence of hip osteoarthritis. RESULTS--Prevalence of hip osteoarthritis was higher in farmers than controls and especially in those who had farmed for over 10 years (odds ratio 9.3, 95% confidence interval 1.9 to 44.5). The excess could not be attributed to any one type of farming, and heavy lifting seems the likely explanation. CONCLUSIONS--Manual handling in agriculture should be limited where possible. Consideration should be given to making hip osteoarthritis a prescribed industrial disease in farmers. There may be wider implications for the prevention of hip osteoarthritis in the general population.     

Temporal characterization of growth of fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) larvae during sublethal hydrogen cyanide exposure

Growth of fathead minnow yolk sac larvae was characterized from changes in dry weight and total content and concentrations of RNA, DNA and protein in fish exposed to a sublethal level of HCN (58 micrograms/l) and in age matched controls. Cyanide toxicosis occurred within 24 hr of exposure as evidenced by significant reductions in protein and RNA content and RNA/DNA ratio of larvae. After 96 hr exposure to HCN, larvae exhibited the same growth rate and protein synthetic rate (RNA/DNA) as control fish. HCN toxicosis and recovery is rapid and at least partial tolerance to HCN develops within 96 hr of exposure in larval fathead minnows.     

Two color light scattering identifies physical differences between lymphocyte subpopulations

Forward angle light scattering of two different wavelengths by cells in a flow cytometer was used to investigate physical differences between lymphocytes of different lineage, functional subclass and developmental stage. Correlation of the ultraviolet (UV: 351 nm and 364 nm) and 488 nm light scattering signals produced by lymphoid cells demonstrated that the two signals were not equivalent and that they placed different emphasis on the physical parameters characterizing lymphocytes. Both small T and B lymphocytes from peripheral lymphoid tissues and mitogenically activated large T and B lymphocyte blasts were discriminated by both wavelengths. Differences between the Lyt-2 negative and Lyt-2 positive T lymphocyte subsets were also apparent. Two color light scattering could also discriminate between immature thymocytes and mature peripheral T cells and between small bone marrow cells and mature peripheral B cells. In bone marrow an increase in UV light scattering coincided with the appearance of cell surface immunoglobulin on small cells. These data establish that two color light scattering is a sensitive probe for distinguishing cells of apparently similar morphology and that it can be used to study the physical changes that occur during lymphoid cell differentiation.     

Influence of oxytocin on human memory processes: Validation by a control study

An earlier report (1) of an adverse effect of high doses of oxytocin on human memory included results of studies on women receiving oxytocin as part of the treatment to induce 2nd trimester therapeutic abortion. These women served as their own controls. We have now been able to study a group of women who have been treated in all ways like the original group, with the exception that they did not receive oxytocin. The results from this external control corroborate the finding that oxytocin affected memory.     

Energy and biological evolution—I. The equilibrium states of biochemical processes

The Thom gradient model of morphogenesis poses the followinga posteriori problem: “From the observed morphology of a given natural process (effect) determine the dynamics of the process (cause)”. In this paper we consider the classicala priori problem: “Given the cause (dynamics) determine the effect (resultant morphology)”. We find that in biochemical processes the mechanisms for energy activation, energy-matter interaction and energy dissipation determine the dynamics. Furthermore there exists basic energy mechanisms which drive the equilibrium states through the elementary catastrophes of Thom. A comparison with current theories shows that our models describe open ecological food chains and their dynamical systems generalize the equations of organisation posed by M. Eigen. Work supported by a Research Associateship of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, P.O.B. 586, Miramare, 34100 Trieste, Italy.