Prostaglandin-induced Abortion: Assessment of Operative Complications and Early Morbidity

A total of 626 patients undergoing a prostaglandin-induced abortion, the majority in the second trimester, have been analysed for complications occurring during inpatient treatment. Of the last 155 consecutive patients 143 were critically assessed six to eight weeks after abortion for morbidity occurring during their early recovery period.Blood loss of 250 ml or more occurred in 68 patients, pyrexia in 34, pelvic infection in three, and readmission in 14 of the 626 patients studied, and a transfusion was required in eight.Bleeding after abortion stopped within six weeks in all 143 of the 155 consecutive patients assessed but three required readmission for uterine curettage. Menstruation was re-established within six weeks of abortion in 106 patients.The incidence of operative morbidity was similar to that reported for first trimester abortion and better than that in most reported series of second trimester abortions.     

Fractionation of chromatin of liver cell nuclei after mild micrococcal nuclease digestion

Mild micrococcal nuclease treatment of rat and mouse nuclei and fractionation were based on the method of Tata and Baker. Three chromatin fractions, S, P1, P2, were separated, and for each of these fractions the sensitivity to the DNase 1 action was determined. The relative content in these fractions of non-transcribed DNA sequences was established by hydridization with a mouse satellite DNA, and the relative content of transcribed DNA sequences--by hydridization with DNA synthesised on the total poly (A) mRNA. None of the fractions displayed the properties characteristic of active chromatin.     

Purification of galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase from human placenta

Galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (uridine diphosphoglucose: α-d-galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.12) has been purified 4000-fold from human placenta in four chromatographic steps using DEAE-cellulose, hydrocylapatite, ethyliminohexylagarose, and Sephacryl S-200. The specific activity of the homogeneous enzyme was 56 units/mg protein. The placental enzyme consists of two similar subunits, each of molecular weight about 48,000. The placental enzyme was similar to published results for the red cell enzyme (V. P. Williams, Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 1978, 191, 182–191) with respect to subunit molecular weight, electrophoretic migration, and immunological properties. The more purified fractions of the placental enzyme invariably contained a glycoprotein which was removed in the gel filtration step. After this glycoprotein was removed, the enzyme was very labile and only about 20% of the catalytic activity was recovered.     

Antidiabetic and Anticoagulant Properties of Heparin–Glutamic Acid Complex

Natural heparin complexes proved to activate the anticoagulation system. The obtained experimental data convincingly confirm that glutamic acid alone, and particularly in a complex with heparin, has a considerable preventive potential and efficiently protects experimental animals with induced diabetes mellitus.