Serum cortisol level changes in the maternal-fetoplacental unit between the 28th-40th weeks of pregnancy

Changes in the serum cortisol level of maternal venous, umbilical venous and umbilical arterial blood were studied separately between the 28th-36th weeks in cases of preterm deliveries (n = 74) and in the 40th week in cases of term delivery (n = 34). Results indicate that between the 28th-40th weeks of pregnancy the cortisol concentration increased only in the serum of the umbilical artery; the "umbilical arterial/umbilical venous concentration X100" quotient rose from a value of 86% measured at 28th-32nd weeks to 103% in the 40th week of pregnancy. Positive correlation was found between the cortisol concentration of the three samples. On the basis of these results the authors believe that fetal adreno-cortical activity increases before birth.     

Biochemical characterization of individual normal, floppy and rheumatic human mitral valves.

Human mitral valves (32 floppy and 17 rheumatic) obtained at surgery were analysed and compared with 35 normal (autopsy) valves. Total amounts of collagen, proteoglycan and elastin were increased approx. 3-fold in floppy and rheumatic valves. The water content of rheumatic cusps was lower than normal. The most significant changes in floppy valves were the 59% increase in mean value of the proteoglycan content, a large increase in the ease of extractability of proteoglycans from 26.7 to 57.2% of the total and a 62% increase in mean value of the elastin content in the anterior cusps. Normal human mitral valve cusps contained a mean proportion of 29.3 (and chordae 26.6) type III collagen (as % of total types III + I collagen), the values increasing significantly to 33.2 and 36.3% respectively in chronic rheumatic disease. The ratio observed in floppy valves depended on the extent of secondary surface fibrosis, which could be demonstrated histologically; in valve cusps with considerable secondary fibrosis, the percentage of type III increased significantly (to 34.4%), whereas it decreased significantly (to 25.2%) when fibrosis was negligible. It is concluded that the ratio of collagen types in floppy valves reflects the extent of secondary fibrosis rather than the pathogenesis of the disrupted collagen in the central core of the valve.     

Antimicrobial effects of some mono- and bishydrazones

Antibacterial, antifungal and antiprotozoal effects of nine mono- and bishydrazones of glycolaldehyde, glyoxal, methoxyacetaldehyde and glutaraldehyde were studied using eight model organisms. It was found that bishydrazones are much more efficient antimicrobial agents than monohydrazones in the case of all model microorganisms.     

Alga consumption of four dominant planktonic crustaceans in Lake Balaton (Hungary)

Between 1981–83 the gut contents ofDaphnia galeata, D. cucullata, Eudiaptomus gracilis, andCyclops vicinus were examined with light and scanning electron microscope to obtain information on the feeding of these species in Lake Balaton. The twoDaphnia species feed mainly on abioseston, and it is assumed that their primary nutrient source was organic matter adsorbed onto the surfaces of the abioseston granules plus bacteria and detritus.E. gracilis feeds on algae, showing a preference for green algae and diatoms.C. vicinus is also a prodigious consumer of algae in Lake Balaton, utilizing the whole size spectrum of phytoplankton. Concerning the trophic relationships between phytoplankton and zooplankton in Lake Balaton, that between diatoms and bothE. gracilis andC. vicinus is the most conspicouos. Convincing evidence for an extensive utilization of blue-green algae was not found. Though there is no firm evidence yet, it is likely that theDaphnia are dependent on organic matter adsorbed on the abioseston.     

Observations on the zooplankton in the reedbelt area of the Neusiedlersee

Weekly sampling and simultaneous measurements of temperature, pH, and conductivity were made at three stations in the reedbelt, between 1980–82. 20 cladoceran and 14 copepod species were encountered, of whichCyclops vicinus vicinus was found in the lake for the first time. Of the measured environmental features, temperature showed the greatest seasonal changes; pH and conductivity were less variable. There were, both quantitatively and qualitatively, constant differences between the three stations, although they lay close to each other.     

Phospholipid transfer activities in toad oocytes and developing embryos

The role of lipid transfer proteins during plasma membrane biogenesis was explored. Developing amphibia embryos were used because during their growth an active plasma membrane biosynthesis occurs together with negligible mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum proliferation. Sonicated vesicles, containing 14C-labeled phospholipids and 3H-labeled triolein, as donor particles and cross-linked erythrocyte ghosts as acceptor particles were used to measure phospholipid transfer activities in unfertilized oocytes and in developing embryos of the toad Bufo arenarum. Phosphatidylcholine transfer activity in pH 5.1 supernatant of unfertilized oocytes was 8-fold higher than the activity found in female toad liver supernatant, but dropped steadily after fertilization. After 20 hr of development, at the stage of late blastula, the phosphatidylcholine transfer activity had dropped 4-fold. Unfertilized oocyte supernatant exhibited phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine transfer activity also, but at the late blastula stage the former had dropped 18-fold and the latter was no longer detectable under our assay conditions. Our results show that fertilization does not trigger a phospholipid transport process catalyzed by lipid transfer proteins. Moreover, they imply that 75% of the phosphatidylcholine transfer activity and more than 95% of the phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine transfer activities present in pH 5.1 supernatants of unfertilized oocytes may not be essential for toad embryo development. Our findings do not rule out, however, that a phosphatidylcholine-specific lipid transfer protein could be required for embryo early growth.     

The beta 1----2-D-xylose and alpha 1----3-L-fucose substituted N-linked oligosaccharides from Erythrina cristagalli lectin. Isolation, characterisation and comparison with other legume lectins

The carbohydrate moieties of Erythrina cristagalli lectin were released as oligosaccharides by hydrazinolysis, followed by N-acetylation and reduction with NaB3H4. Fractionation of the tritium-labelled oligosaccharide mixture by Bio-Gel P-4 column chromatography and high-voltage borate electrophoresis revealed that it is composed of five neutral oligosaccharides. Structural studies by sequential exoglycosidase digestion in combination with methylation analysis and two-dimensional 1H-NMR showed that the major component was the fucose-containing heptasaccharide Man alpha 3(Man alpha 6)(Xyl beta 2)Man beta 4GlcNAc beta 4(Fuc alpha 3)GlcNAcol. This is the first report of such a structure in plant lectins. Small amounts of the corresponding afucosyl hexasaccharide were also identified, as well as three other minor components. The structure of the heptasaccharide shows the twin characteristics of a newly established family of N-linked glycans, found to date only in plants. The characteristics are substitution of the common pentasaccharide core [Man alpha 3(Man alpha 6)Man beta 4GlcNAc beta 4GlcNAc] by a D-xylose residue linked beta 1----2 to the beta-mannosyl residue and an L-fucose residue linked alpha 1----3 to the reducing terminal N-acetylglucosamine residue. The oligosaccharide heterogeneity pattern for Erythrina cristagalli lectin was also found for the lectins from four other Erythrina species and the lectins of two other legumes, Sophora japonica and Lonchocarpus capassa.     

Partial purification and characterization of an aldohexose 1-P phosphatase from pig skeletal muscle

An enzyme with a molecular weight of 54,000 which possesses phosphatase activity acting on glucose 1-P, galactose 1-P and mannose 1-P has been partially purified and characterized from pig skeletal muscle. The enzyme is free of phosphoglucomutase and galactokinase activities, and it possesses a neutral optimum pH. Pi acts as an inhibitor; glucose, galactose and mannose do not produce any effect. Divalent cations are required for activity, Mg2+ being the most effective activator. Micromolar levels of fluoride and millimolar levels of chloride act as inhibitors; however, vanadate does not produce any effect. The enzyme may have an important role when galactose accumulates in tissues; for example, in galactosemic patients and in young animals ingesting high-galactose diets.     

Isolation and characterization of an induced chondroitinase ABC from Flavobacterium heparinum

During the investigation of alternative methods for the large scale preparation of chondroitinases AC, B and C from Flavobacterium heparinum, a new chondroitinase activity was observed. This new enzyme, like the other chondroitinases, acts as an eliminase, forming unsaturated sulfated disaccharides from dermatan and chondroitin sulfates. In contrast to the chondroitinases previously described, which are endoglycosidases, this chondroitinase ABC cleaves the glycosidic linkages in an exolytic fashion, beginning at the reducing end of the substrate molecules. The oligosaccharides formed as transient products by the action of either chondroitinases or testicular hyaluronidase upon dermatan and chondroitin sulfates are also rapidly degraded by the chondroitinase ABC, regardless of their size or the presence of delta-4,5 unsaturation in the terminal uronic acid residue. The maximum activity of the chondroitinase ABC occurs at 30 degrees C and at pH 6.0-7.5. Only 15% of the activity was observed at 37 degrees C, indicating that the enzyme is very sensitive to thermal denaturation. It is strongly inhibited by phosphate ions and is also inhibited by the unsaturated disaccharides formed.     

Intraventricular somatostatin-14, arginine vasopressin, and oxytocin: analgesic effect in a patient with intractable cancer pain

The analgesic effect of intraventricular somatostatin-14 (SOM-14), arginine vasopressin (AVP), and oxytocin (OT) were tested in one terminally ill cancer patient with a diffuse mesothelioma suffering intractable continuous and incapacitating thoracic pain. SOM-14 reduced pain by 90% for 48 min; AVP reduced pain by 95% for 75 min, and OT reduced pain by 88% for 77 min. The only notable side effects were seen after the administration of AVP, which induced anesthesia and flaccid paralysis of the lower limbs, from which the patient fully recovered after 20 h.