Change in the brain neuron structure of man and other mammals in edema and swelling of the brain substance]

A correlation was made between literature and obtained light microscopy data relative to the problem concerning the central neuron involvement at edema development and brain tissue swelling at different etiological backgrounds. A polymorphism of neuronic variations was demonstrated determined by a variety of causes including specificity of individual reactivity of central nervous system. Attention is drawn both to the non-identity of the notions: "hydropic variation (edema) of a neuron" and the "brain edema", and to a non-characteristic nature of "hard variation" of nerve cells for histological picture of edema-swelling brain tissue at neurooncologic affection, and to the absence of a strict proportionality between the degree of cerebral edema-swelling and variation intensity of the neuron structure.     

Radioimmunoassay of prostaglandins

The earlier radioimmunoassays were mainly intended for the measurement of prostaglandins of the E-F-A or B type in blood plasma/serum or urine. Many recent studies, however, explain the use of radioimmunoassay to measure the prostaglandin content of tissues, and many other studies are concerned with the prostaglandin production in a single cell type, or in a few cell types, rather than the whole tissue. To date, however, by far the greatest number of quantitative prostaglandin studies have been carried out on blood plasma or serum, while assay for primary prostaglandins are now fairly seldom applied to the peripheral circulation, unless it is to study the prostaglandin production in vivo. It has been proposed that prostglandins of the A type are circulating hormones in contrast to other prostglandins, and a number of laboratories have developed quantitative methods for the measurements of PGA compounds. The sensitivity and specificity of the prostaglandins radioimmunoassays have increased considerably in later years through the use of labelled ligands of better quality; on the other hand, the accuracy of many radioimmunoassays seems to be very low when they are applied to biologic materials.     

Effect of amino acids on transformation of glucose oxidase as antigen in tissues of immunized animals

The effect of certain amino acids on transformation of glucoseoxidase as an antigen in different tissues of the animals immunized with it showed that the used glucoseoxidase of the fungus Penicillium vitale Pidopl. et Bilaj possesses antigenic properties peculiar to this enzyme isolated from other sources. 1.5 minutes after a single administration of the antigen to nonimmunized rabbits it is determined in them in descending amounts in such an order: blood, lungs, liver, kidneys, lymphatic nodes. The same order is for immunized animals, but the enzyme quantity 1.5 minutes after the last injection is lower considerably in the kidneys, spleen, lymphatic nodes and in blood serum and changes slightly in the lungs and liver. The preliminary loading of animals under experiment immunized with amino acids accelerates essentially disappearance of the antigen under determination (glucoseoxidase in the given case) in the studied tissues. The data obtained testify to the fact that acceleration of antigen disappearance may be not related to interaction with antibodies.     

Nitrification of industrial wastewaters with high nitrogen concentration.

Industrial wastes from the production of nitrogen fertilizers, containing about 900 mg N/1, (450 mg NH4-N, 300 mg urea-N and 150 mg NO3-N), showed high activity of I stage nitrifying bacteria. The addition of phosphorus to the wastes increases the intensity of nitrification two-fold and also increase the rate of urea hydrolysis. An attempt was made to obtain a nitrifying activated sludge. CaCO3 and Fe(OH)3 were used as carriers and the culture was aerated with air enriched with CO2. After 90 days an activated sludge was obtained which nitrified an average of 80% NH4-N and urea-N with 4-day aeration time of the wastes. In contrast to the activated sludge, the presence of nitrification phase I and II in biological bed was observed, but the efficiency of the process was considerably low (about 38%).     

The effect of cyclic AMP on the maturation and degranulation of mast cells.

In short-term tissue cultures dibutyryl cAMP inhibits the cortisone-induced degranulation of mast cells. The effect of methylxanthine was found to be similar but developed at a slower rate. The increase of cAMP level also affected the maturation of mast cells, as the ratio of cells of mixed granulation increased, compared to the alcian blue- and safranin-present model inhibited degranulation.     

Repeated characterization, analysis of variance limitation and discrimination analysis classification of EEG-activity patterns in human sleep]

1. To describe quantitatively and to deliminate nine EEG sleep patterns, mean values and standard deviations of abundances of the frequencies 0.8 ... 1.8 c/sec, 2...3.5 c/sec, 4...13c/sec, 14 to 17 c/sec, 18 to 22 c/sec, and 23 to 40 c/sec as well as of the average amplitudes in selected frequency ranges were calaculated and the distributions represented. 2. All nine EEG activity patterns could be separated by means of univariate and multivariate analyses of variance on the basis of all 28 as well as the 17 indispensable variables. 3. In the course of a stepwise reduction of variables within the framework of a linear discriminant analysis an optimal set of 17 variables was determined for the separation of the patterns, comprising: the percent quantity of the frequencies 0.8 ... 3.5 c/sec, 7 ... 9 c/sec and 18 to 40 c/sec as well as the average amplitudes in the frequency ranges 0.8 to 3.5 c/sec and 7.5 to 40 c/sec. 4. By linear regression analyses it could be shown that the sleep scording system used, can be reflected on an interval scale with the aid of discriminant functions; this can be achieved on the basis of the optimal set of variables as well as of the five most indispensable variables. 5. Finally the degree of the objectivity of the scoring procedures was demonstrated. Advantages and disadvantages of sleep scoring systems were discussed and possibilities of the utilization of results suggested, also in respect to the further development of the automatic recognition of EEG activity patterns.     

Modification of immune reactions by antigen-immunosuppressive agent conjugates. V. Studies on antigen-specific activity of 6-mercaptopurine bovine gamma globulin conjugates on the humoral immune response in rabbits]

Rabbits treated daily and for seven consecutive days with 6-mercaptopurine bovine gamma globulin conjugates (MPI--n-BGG; 'I'--characterizes the king of chemical binding and 'n' the number of coupled MP-residues per one mole BGG) show an altered immunological reactivity. A following intradermal immunization with BGG alum adsorbate results in a suppressed anti BGG antibody production on the third day after antigen application (antibody titer 1:320, antibody titer of control animals--pretreated with BGG and uncoupled 6-MP equals 1:5120). Already three days later the antibody titers of the test groups show a significant increase and are two dilution stages higher than the titers of the controls. A suppressive effect on the third day is induced by MPI--13-BGG, MPI--26-BGG, MPI--36-BGG and MPI--46-BGG; the later adjuvant effect can only be seen in the MPI--26-BGG, MPI--36-BGG and MPI--46-BGG but not in the MPI--13-BGG pretreated animal group. While the short time suppression was antigen specific--the humoral immune response against a second unrelated antigen was not reduced--the adjuvans effect was not antigen specific. A pretreatment with the substances mentioned above results in an increased anti BGG and anti HSA serum antibody level. Comparing investigations on the unspecific immunosuppression in rabbits by 6-mercaptopurine shows that application of 10 mg 6-MP/kg/day for seven days at first leads to a suppression but later on to an enhancement of antibody production. Application of 10 mg 6-MP/kg/day for 10 days results in a long lasting suppression without enhancement effect. As a reason for these differences the different catabolism of immunosuppressive agent and antigen is discussed. For the phenomena following antigen specific immunosuppression, similar mechanisms can be responsible.     

Quantitation of seven elements in Mycobacterium phlei and Mycobacterium bovis by neutron activation analysis.

Quantitative determination of the elements potassium, sodium, manganese, magnesium, iron, cobalt and zinc was performed in mycobacteria by neutron activation analysis. Mycobacterium phlei ATCC 19 249 at different phase of growth (4, 8, 13, 23 and 37 days old cultures), and 14 days old Mycobacterium bovis BCG cultures and uninoculated semi-synthetic Sauton culture media were examined. The elements studied could be divided into three groups; sodium, potassium and magnesium could be regarded as major, iron as minor, and zinc, manganese and cobalt as trace elements. M. phlei contained, with the exception of zinc, higher amounts of elements than M. bovis. Other metals (aluminium, antimony, rubidium) could also be detected.     

Effects of clozapine (Leponex) on sleep patterns in the cat.

This study examined the effects of clozapine on sleep-wakefulness profile in cats prepared for chronic recording of sleep. Clozapine in single dose (i.p.) of 5 mg/kg drastically reduced slow-wave sleep (SWS) and paradoxical sleep (PS), while wakefulness and drowsy pattern were increased. These changes lasted approximately 24 h and were followed by sleep recovery. PS had a priority of recovery. Some similarities between clozapine effects on sleep in cat and human were mentioned.