Retrospective evaluation of gynecologic cytodiagnosis. II. Interlaboratory reproducibility as shown in rescreening large consecutive samples of reported cases

Two laboratories exchanged and rescreened a large sample of cases with cervicovaginal smears they had consecutively accessioned to examine the reproducibility of gynecologic cytodiagnosis under optimum conditions. At least a "working agreement" (diagnoses within +/- 1 category on a ten-category scale) was achieved in diagnoses of normal, benign reaction and squamous abnormality (from minimal dysplasia though invasive cancer) in 18,859 cases (96.8%), of endometrial abnormality in 21 cases (42%) and of "unsatisfactory" in 99 cases (20.7%). Larger differences occurred in greater than or equal to 30% of cases except in the categories of "normal" and "benign reaction," reaching a maximum of 82% for moderate dysplasia. Reexamining 382 cases decreased disagreement by category to the 20% to 65% range only in the five categories of dysplasia plus carcinoma in situ. Agreement was not predicated on the presence of endocervical cells or squamous metaplasia; the basis for "unsatisfactory" calls was not uniform. Comparison of the laboratories' diagnoses with referee diagnoses or, on 178 cases, with tissue diagnoses also demonstrated differences in diagnostic criteria.     

Diastereomers of thymidine 3'-O-(methanephosphonothioate): synthesis, absolute configuration and reaction with 3'-methoxyacetylthymidine under conditions of triester approach to oligonucleotide synthesis

Diastereomers of the title compound were obtained and absolute configuration was assigned by means of stereochemical correlation. Their reaction with 3'-O-methoxyacetylthymidine in the presence of triisopropylbenzenesulphonyl (4-nitro) triazole is neither chemo- nor stereo-selective and leads to diastereomeric pairs of dithymidyl (3',5')methanephosphonate and -methanephosphonothioate. Obtained results are discussed in terms of mechanism of activation of phosphodiesters under conditions known as "phosphotriester approach to oligonucleotide synthesis".     

Porotic hyperostosis: new evidence to support the anemia theory

The etiology of skull lesions known as porotic hyperostosis has long been a matter for speculation. The most widely accepted theory at present suggests that an anemia, either acquired or genetic, is responsible for lesion development. However, acceptance of this theory is not universal and the nature of the relationship between orbital and vault lesions remains a controversial issue. This paper provides a much broader field of supportive evidence on which to base the anemia theory. This involves a synthesis of information from the clinical and anthropological literature as well as new data from two skeletal collections: Poundbury Camp, a Romano-British series, and the Hodgson collection, a 19th century East Asian series. A comparison is made between clinical and anthropological data at the macroscopic, microscopic, radiographic, and demographic levels of analysis. This approach reveals the similarities in expression between clinically diagnosed anemias and porotic hyperostosis.     

Karyotype variation in aminoethylcysteine resistant cell and callus cultures and regenerated plants of a dihaploid potato (Solanum tuberosum)

Karyotypic studies on cell suspensions and calli of an S-(2-aminoethyl)cysteine resistant cell line of the interdihaploid potato H²578 (2n=24) revealed a high degree of variation in the number of chromosomes (33–217) and dicentric chromosomes (0–8). The suspensions also exhibited megachromosomes and fused chromosomes. Differential staining showed that in suspensions dicentrics survived mitotic cycles mainly by parallel separation of the chromatids during anaphase and hardly by the breakage-fusion-bridge cycle. Two phenotypes of plantlets regenerated, each with 34 or 35 chromosomes with gross structural mutations and with the triploid amount of DNA. Chromosomal variation was related to the degree of tissue organization.     

Modification of root bud growth in Canada thistle with selected plant growth regulators: effects on translocation of glyphosate

Root applications of 0.1 M 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 10.0 M indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) enhanced or inhibited, respectively, root bud growth in hydroponically grown Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.]. Translocation of¹⁴C-glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] into roots was positively correlated with this growth. Foliar applications of ethephon or chlorfluorenol also enhanced root bud growth, but glyphosate translocation was only weakly correlated with such growth in soil-grown Canada thistle. At glyphosate rates above 0.56 kg/ha, root bud growth was not stimulated by plant growth regulators (PGRs) and basipetal translocation was not enhanced. Paradoxically, ethephon and chlorflurenol restrained root bud growth in the field since thistle control steadily improved during the 3 years following treatment.     

Structural and dynamic properties of a bromouracil-adenine base pair in DNA studied by proton NMR

We have synthesized and studied by proton NMR a duplex heptaoligonucleotide containing a 5-bromouracil (brU)-adenine base pair. This represents the first structural characterization of a B-form DNA containing brU. The brU.A base pair is Watson-Crick rather than Hoogsteen as seen for the monomers in the crystalline state. From analysis of the NOESY sepctra at very short mixing times evidence is presented that substitution of brU for T induces significant conformational changes from that of a normal B DNA. The helix twist between brU4.A11 and G3.C12 is ca. 15 degrees and for both brU4 and G3 the glycosyl torsion angles are significantly changed. The imino proton of the bru.A base pair shows a pH insensitive line with which shows that the pK of brU in this base pair is very much higher than that of the monomer.     

Plasma uric acid levels in ethanol-fed turkey poults treated with allopurinol

Plasma uric acid levels were determined in ethanol-fed poults following administration of allopurinol. In young poults, allopurinol at a dose of 50 mg/kg significantly depressed plasma uric acid levels 6 hr post-dosing. At 11 hr post-dosing, plasma uric acid levels were significantly elevated in the allopurinol-treated poults when compared with control poults. During a period of ethanol abstinence, allopurinol at a dose of 40 mg/kg significantly depressed plasma uric acid levels up to 8 hr post-dosing. At a dose of 30 mg/kg, plasma uric acid levels were similar to control values at 4 and 6 hr post-dosing. Data suggest that plasma uric acid levels can be depressed in ethanol poults when allopurinol is administered every 8 hr at a dose of 40-50 mg/kg of body weight.     

Unit activity of neurons of the posterior ventral nucleus of the thalamus for various waking stages in the normal cat

Using the electrocortical activity in the sensorimotor cortex as an index, three distinct levels of motionless waking can be identified in the cat, all three different from active waking and from slow sleep (attentive waking, quiet waking and drowsiness). It has now been shown that spontaneous and evoked single unit activities in n. ventralis posterior of the thalamus undergo significant changes when passing from one level of waking into another one.     

Changes in the management of labour: 1. Length and management of the second stage.

An analysis of 18,940 deliveries between 1981 and 1984 in a large British obstetric unit showed marked changes in the management of the second stage of labour. These changes included an increase in the length of the second stage (especially among primiparous women), a rise in the rate of spontaneous delivery and a large decline in the rate of episiotomy. There was no change in neonatal outcome or in the rate of maternal postpartum complications. These findings may have resulted from a more conservative approach to the management of the second stage. They may also reflect a better understanding among obstetric professionals of what constitutes a normal second stage and therefore better decisions about when to act and when to wait.     

Relation Entre la Teneur en Sucres Réducteurs des Tissus du Tournesol (Helianthus annuus L.) et leur Invasion par Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid.

Relation between the amount of reducing sugars in sunflower tissues and their invasion by Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. Reducing sugars (R.S.) were measured with Bernfeld colorimetric method. In the roots, the amount of R.S. increased up to a maximum, then decreased from the beginning of flowering, and remained constant, at a very low level, from the outset of seed maturation. The same evolution was observed, with a delay of one week, in stem bases, but the amounts of R.S. were a little higher. Roots, and thereafter, stems, were invaded by Macrophomina phaseolina only after the minimum level of R.S.was reached. Varietal differences were observed, in a collection of sunflower hybrids, in response to invasion by M. phaseolina. R.S. levels in stem bases were higher in the resistant than in the susceptible hybrids.