Presence de Chitinozoaires dans les calcaires siluro-devoniens de la Sierra Negra (Pyrenees centrales espagnoles)

A stratigraphical and paleontological study of the Silurian in the Benasque area of the high Pyrenees has made it possible to assign an Upper Pridolian age to certain limestones which occur near the top of a thick and monotonous serie of black shales. These limestones yeiled some remarkably well preserved chitinozoa together with some conodonts, orthocerases and pelecypods.     

Scabies masquerading as Letterer-Siwe's disease.

Letterer-Siwe''s disease was diagnosed from clinical appearance and initial assessment of a skin biopsy in a child with a 2-month history of skin rash. Fine erythematous papules were scattered on the trunk. The biopsy showed epidermal thickening and an inflammatory infiltrate chiefly in the upper layers of the dermis; deeper in the dermis the infiltrate was perivascular and periappendicular, histiocytes predominating in some areas and lymphocytes in others. A diagnosis of scabies was made after burrows were demonstrated on palms and soles and the mite of scabies was isolated from them.     

Electronmicroscopy studies on the exocrine pancreas of Wistar-Rats following treatment with Streptozotocin.

In Wistar rats the intraveneous injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg body weight) caused a permanent hyperglycemia. After 5 days there were lesions in the exocrine parenchyme of the pancreas and its nerve fibers. Pathological changes were found in cytoplasm, cell membrane, nucleus and all other cell organelles, too. The zymogen granules remaining after extensive degranulation may disintegrate in two different ways: 1. Shrinking of the granules and formation of a hale between granule membrane and core, the electronic density of which is decreased; indistinct demonstrability of the granule membrane and finally its decomposition. 2. Shrinking of the granules, decrease of the electron density and either homogeneous or mainly peripheral arrangement of the disintegrated material of the granules; irregular shape of the granules and splitting of their membranes.     

Rhodium(III) complexes as genotoxic agents: photochemical effects and their implications

The genetic toxicology of coordination compounds of transition metals has been of considerable interest since the application of cis-platinum(II) to the therapy of solid tumors. The nature of reactions of such compounds with DNA is still unclear, despite intensive investigation. In this study, several coordination compounds of rhodium(III) were tested for DNA-damaging activity and mutagenicity in bacterial assays in an attempt to understand both the chemical species involved in interactions with DNA and any structural requirements for such interactions. For several complexes it appears that dissociation of a ligand from the complex precedes reactions with DNA. This conclusion stems from the finding that photosensitive complexes of rhodium(III) are often many times more toxic to repair-deficient bacterial stains of E. coli K12 when incubated in the light than when incubated in the dark. Similar responses were seen for mutagenicity in S. typhimurium strain TA100. However, reversion of strain TA102 was largely independent of light exposure. Comparisons between mutagenicity and DNA-damaging activity revealed that the 3 activities measured sorted with some independence among the different compounds tested. Thus, the profiles for crosslink formation and/or generation of oxidative mutagens (mutagenicity in S. typhimurium strain TA102), mutagenicity in TA100 and DNA-damaging activity for the various groups of complexes showed many of the theoretically possible combinations of response in the assays. It is possible, then, that there are different structural requirements for DNA-damaging activity and mutagenicity respectively. This may indicate that synthesis of coordination compounds with specific genotoxic properties is possible. Such syntheses may provide complexes for study of DNA-metal interactions and could, later, direct an approach to the design of new antitumor agents.     

Adipose tissue and cholesterol metabolism

Adipose tissue in man is a major site for cholesterol storage. In obesity over half of total body cholesterol may reside within this tissue; however, relatively little attention has been directed toward understanding the cholesterol metabolism and its relationship to whole body cholesterol homeostasis in this tissue. In this review the factors which influence cholesterol storage are discussed, with particular emphasis on the effects of diet and drug treatment in both animals and man. The uptake, synthesis, and mobilization of adipose tissue cholesterol appears to be mediated and/or regulated, as in other tissues, by the plasma lipoproteins, and these processes are examined with regard to both normal and pathologic states.     

Morphological and histochemical features of the duodenal glands in six marsupial species

The duodenal glands of four marsupial species, the kangaroo, native cat, marsupial mouse, and bandicoot, form a narrow lobular collar immediately distal to the gastrointestinal junction. In two species, the koala and wombat, the duodenal glands are diffuse and scattered along the intestinal tract distal to the gastrointestinal junction for considerable distances. The glands of all species examined empty independently into the intestinal lumen. Histochemical studies indicate that the latter two species, the koala and wombat, elaborate an acid mucin whereas the former species produce a neutral mucosubstance. Ultrastructural examination shows that generally the duodenal glands are comprised of large pyramidal cells that show a definite polarity, with basally-placed nuclei and apically-situated secretory granules. Species differences, with regard both to the morphology and nature of the secretory granules and to the proportions of cell organelles, exist. The diversity of diet between species is discussed.