Delayed hypersensitivity and Ig level in 210 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

Summary Serum immunoglobulin concentration and skin reactivity to at least three recall antigens were determined in 210 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Immunoglobulin concentration was normal in the great majority of the patients. Skin tests were negative in 50 of 210 cases (24%). No relationship could be demonstrated between skin reactivity, age, time since diagnosis, WBC, lymphocyte count, and splenectomy. Prior antileukemic therapy was a major factor in determining the response to skin tests.S. Tura (Chairman) and M. Baccarani (Secretary), Cattedra di Ematologia dell'Università e Servizio di Ematologia dell'Ospedale S. Orsola, Bologna; G. de Sandre, G. Perona, G. Cetto, G. Pizzolo, Istituto di Patologia Medica e Cattedra di Ematologia dell'Università, Verona; P. Rambotti, B. Falini, Clinica Medica dell'Università, Perugia; T. Chisesi, G. Capnist, Divisione di Ematologia, Ospedale Civile, Vicenza; A. Cajozzo, P. Citarella, Cattedra di Ematologia dell'Università, Palermo; G. Broccia, Sezione di Ematologia, Ospedale Armando Businco, Cagliari; V. Liso, G. Troccoli, Clinica Medica II dell'Università, Bari; L. Bruzzese, G. Nappi, A. Abbadessa, Clinica Medica (I Facoltà) dell'Università, Napoli; A. Porcellini, C. Delfini, Divisione di Ematologia, Ospedali Riuniti, Pesaro; E. Cacciola, R. Giustolisi, R. Musso, V. Raimondi, Cattedra di Ematologia dell'Università, Catania; G. Torlontano, L. Geraci, Cattedra di Ematologia dell'Università, Chieti, e Divisione di Ematologia, Ospedale Civile, Pescara; F. Mandelli, G. Mariani, B. Monarca, N. Petti, Cattedra di Ematologia dell'Università, Roma; R. di Guglielmo, A. Miliani, Clinica Medica dell'Università, Firenze; C. Bernasconi, M. Lazzarino, G. Castelli, Divisione di Ematologia, Ospedale S. Matteo, Pavia; A. Alberti, S. Magro, Servizio di Ematologia, Ospedale Generale Regionale, Catanzaro; A. Neri, P. Iacopino, Divisione di Ematologia, Ospedali Riuniti, Reggio Calabria; R. Delsignore, M. C. Baroni, Istituto di Patologia Medica dell'Universita, Parma; E. Bajetta, S. Monfardini, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Milano; S. Tognella, Istituto Scientifico di Medicina Interna, Cattedra di Clinica Medica 2R, Università, Genova.     

Isozymes of glutamate dehydrogenase from oat leaves: Properties and light effect on synthesis

Ammonium-dependent induction of a GDH isozyme in oat leaveswas proportional to light intensity and inhibited by DCMU. Thestimulation of GDH synthesis in response to ammonia was partiallyrepressed by benzimidazole. The inducible (no. 1) and noninducible(no. 2) GDH isozymes wereseparated and purified by approximately54 and 24 fold respectively. The two isozymes were highly specificfor NAD and the rate of NADH oxidation was 7 to 9 times higherthan NAD reduction. Both isozymes showed similar Km values forsubstrates of the reductive amination reaction and pH optimafor NADH oxidation. The pH optima for NAD reduction were 9 and8.2 for isozymes1 and 2 respectively. The two isozymes had asimilar molecular weight, 2.2–2.4 x 10⁵ but differed intheir isoelectric point and temperature sensitivity. Resultssuggest that the GDH isozymes in oat leaves are two differententities but might possess a similar metabolic function. (Received January 6, 1976; )     

Oxidation of Se-Carboxymethyl-selenocysteine by L-aminoacid oxidase and by D-aspartate oxidase

Summary Se-Carboxymethyl-DL-selenocysteine (CMSeC) has been prepared in a pure crystalline form from selenocysteine and monochloroacetic acid. It has been shown that CMSeC is a substrate for the L-aminoacid oxidase from snake venom and for the D-aspartate oxidase from beef kidney. Oxygen consumption and ammonia production indicate that only the L or the D form of CMSeC are acted upon respectively by one or the other of the above enzymes. No noticeable differences were shown in the oxidation rate of CMSeC and S-carboxymethylcysteine, an indication that the substitution of a selenium for a sulfur atom in the molecule does not greatly affect the substrate specificity of the two enzymes. Data have been obtained suggesting that the product of the oxidative deamination of CMSeC is Se-carboxymethyl-selenopyruvic acid.     

Chromosome constitution of in vitro segregated haploid and diploid cells of the mouse

The composition in segregated haploid sets of paternal and maternal chromosomes has been studied in order to verify whether their composition is uniparental of mixed, fixed or variable. Primary cultures where prepared using kidneys from hybrids of strains of Mus musculus in which the parental chromosomes are distinguishable; the maternal set consists of 20 teleocentric chromosomes, the paternal set of 9 metacentric chromosomes, derived by Robertsonian fusion and 2 telocentrics. Applying Seabright's banding technique, an analysis of segregated haploid and diploid cells, which have originated spontaneously through polyploidisation-segregation processes was carried out. It was concluded that the haploid sets have a variable composition of paternal and maternal chromosomes.     

Reconstitution in planar lipid bilayers of a voltage-dependent anion-selective channel obtained from paramecium mitochondria

Summary We have incorporated into planar lipid bilayer membranes a voltage-dependent, anion-selective channel (VDAC) obtained fromParamecium aurelia. VDAC-containing membranes have the following properties: (1) The steady-state conductance of a many-channel membrane is maximal when the transmembrane potential is zero and decreases as a steep function of both positive and negative voltage. (2) The fraction of time that an individual channel stays open is strongly voltage dependent in a manner that parallels the voltage dependence of a many-channel membrane. (3) The conductance of the open channel is about 500 pmho in 0.1 to 1.0m salt solutions and is ohmic. (4) The channel is about 7 times more permeable to Cl^– than to K⁺ and is impermeable to Ca⁺⁺. The procedure for obtaining VDAC and the properties of the channel are highly reproducible.VDAC activity was found, upon fractionation of the paramecium membranes, to come from the mitochondria. We note that the published data on mitochondrial Cl^– permeability suggest that there may indeed be a voltage-dependent Cl^– permeability in mitochondria.The method of incorporating VDAC into planar lipid bilayers may be generally useful for reconstituting biological transport systems in these membranes.     

Variable-volume continuous cultivation

Equations are developed which describe variable-volume cultivations, including fed-batch systems. An analogy is drawn between the quasi-steady state in variable-volume cultivation and a dynamic steady state in variable-flow, constant-volume chemostat bioreactors. Switching procedures are developed to give a steady-state transition from batch to fed-batch and to continuous operation. In this respect, considerations in the literature have been extended. Computer solutions of the governing differential equations verify the theory and provide insight into the behavior of variable-volume stirred tank reactors. Application of variable-volume cultivation as a tool in investigating growth rates at low substrate levels is suggested. Variable-volume bioreactor systems could be also to obtain controlled dynamic conditions for research or production purposes.     

Spontaneous endometrial tumours of 'Sabra' rats

In a 2 year study of 171 female (101 virgin; 70 multiparous) 'Sabra' rats, spontaneous endometrial tumours were found in 69% of 2 year old animals. Tumour development appeared to be age related, and only virgin females showed tumours before 18 months of age. Polyps were the most prevalent tumour type, followed by adenocarcinomas. The Sabra rat can be included among those rat strains having a high incidence of spontaneous endometrial neoplasia.     

Validity of the reduced version of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire

Sleep and Biological Rhythms - The aim of the present work was to validate the reduced version of the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQr) using circadian motor activity as external...