Orchidectomy versus Zoladex plus Eulexin in patients with metastatic prostate cancer (EORTC 30853)

A total of 327 patients with metastatic prostate cancer have been randomized to either orchidectomy or treatment with goserelin (Zoladez^®) 3.6 mg depot preparation combined with flutamide (Eulexin^®) 250 mg t.i.d. in a phase III study (EORTC 30853). A small but statistically significant difference in time to subjective and objective progression of disease was found in favour of the combination treatment. However, time from objective progression to death was longer in the group initially allocated to orchidectomy. Thus no difference was found in overall survival between the two treatment groups. The clinical significance of these differences requires further follow up and analysis.     

Biochemical genetics of glutathione-S-transferase in man.

Glutathione-S-transferases from liver and erythrocytes have been separated by starch gel electrophoresis and localized by a specific staining procedure. The data suggest that the most active glutathione-S-transferases in liver are the products of two autosomal loci, GST1 and GST2. Both these loci are polymorphic, and there is evidence that a common null allele exists at the GST1 locus. The glutathione-S-transferase expressed in erythrocytes is the product of a third locus, GST3, and is not polymorphic.     

Localization of the human UbB polyubiquitin gene to chromosome band 17p11.1-17p12.

The chromosomal location of the human ubiquitin genes has been evaluated by in situ hybridization. Because of the conservation of the ubiquitin sequence, coding-region probes cannot distinguish between specific ubiquitin genes and reveal ubiquitin sequences in a number of different chromosomal regions. The major sites of hybridization with a coding-region probe include 17p11.1-p12, 12p24.2-q24.32, and 2q21-q24, with weaker hybridization over 1p3, 1q4, 2q3, and 13q. Hybridization with a probe isolated from the UbB gene intron indicated that this gene is located within the region 17p11.1-17p12. This region showed the strongest hybridization with the coding-region probe and is presumably also the location of the duplicated UbB pseudogene.     

Erythrocyte oxidized glutathione in Australian Merino sheep.

The concentration of GSSG was determined in the erythrocytes of Merino sheep. These sheep were grouped according to erythrocyte potassium type, haemoglobin type, and GSH type. It was found that haemoglobin and potassium type were not correlated with GSSG concentration; however, GSSG concentration was found to be significantly correlated with GSH concentration. This relationship may explain previously reported differences in ATPase activity and may reflect further metabolic differences in the erythrocytes of GSH-high and GSH-low type Merino sheep.     

An extended survey of the genetic polymorphism at the human coagulation factor XIII: a subunit structural locus

The distribution of the three previously reported alleles, with normal products at the factor XIII A subunit structural locus, FXIIIA*1, FXIIIA*2 and FXIIIA*4 has been studied in populations from the region extending from the Indonesian archipelago through Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand to the Pacific Islands of Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. In addition a population from the Caspian Littoral of Iran and a population of South American Indians were studied. The FXIIIA*1 and FXIIIA*2 alleles were polymorphic in all populations studied. The distribution of the FXIIIA*4 allele suggests that it may be a Melanesian marker.     

Metabolic activities of pseudomonads in batch cultures in extract of minced lamb

E.H. DROSINOS AND R.G. BOARD. 1994. Pseudomonas fragi, Ps. lundensis and Ps. fluorescens were studied in axenic batch cultures growing in a lamb juice (pH 6.0) aerobically or in an atmosphere ( Ps. fragi only) enriched with carbon dioxide at 4C. With all but a glucose dehydrogenase-deficient strain of Ps. fluorescens there was a sequential catabolism of glucose and lactate. Diauxic growth was observed in a nutrient-deficient meat juice supplemented with glucose and lactate. A transient peak in the concentration of gluconate and pyruvate was associated with the catabolism of glucose and lactate respectively. With Ps. fluorescens deficient in glucose dehydrogenase there was simultaneous catabolism of glucose and lactate. The stereoisomers of lactate were catabolized simultaneously in a laboratory medium. Glucose-6-phosphate was oxidized to 6-phosphogluconate by Ps. fragi and Ps. lundensis under aerobic conditions only. Creatine and creatinine were catabolized by Ps. fragi under aerobic conditions only. There was a slight decrease in the concentration of total amino acids (ninhydrin-reactive material) during the exponential phase of growth. The results suggest that the dominance of Ps. fragi in the climax populations in meat is due to catabolism of amino acid related substrates, creatine and creatinine.     

Influence of Temperature on Bacterial Infection of the Hen''s Egg

Temperature of incubation had a marked effect on infection of eggs in which the air cells had been inoculated with a washed suspension of Serratia marcescens. There was no evidence of bacterial multiplication or spoilage in eggs held at 10 C for 42 days. Multiplication occurred in the shell membranes of eggs held at 30 or at 37 C when the yolk made contact with these membranes, and continued in the contents of the egg, at which time the first signs of spoilage appeared. In a few eggs, very large populations were present in the shell membranes and in the albumen. In eggs inoculated with Pseudomonas fluorescens and held at 10 C, bacterial multiplication occurred in the shell membranes in the first 7 days of incubation. These populations did not appear to change in size in the 7- to 14-day period of incubation. Renewed multiplication and concomitant spoilage of the contents was observed in many of the eggs thereafter.