Influence of Methanogenic Populations in Holocene Lacustrine Sediments Revealed by Clone Libraries and Fatty Acid Biogeochemistry

Methanogenic populations were investigated in subsaline Laguna Potrok Aike sediments, southern Argentina. Microbial density and activity were assessed via cell count and in situ ATP detection for the last ～11K years. Methanogen phylogenetics highlighted species stratification throughout depth, whereas CO₂ reduction was the major pathway leading to methane production. Organic substrates, characterized using pore water analysis, bulk organic fractions and saturated fatty acids, showed a clear link between sediment colonization and initial organic sources. Concentrations and δ¹³C compositions of methane and fatty acids provided final evidence of a microbial imprint on Holocene organic proxies in the most colonized intervals.     

Isolation of heparin-binding growth factors from bovine, porcine and canine hearts

Fresh bovine, porcine and canine hearts were homogenized and mitogens for mesoderm-derived cells were purified in three different steps. Extraction by two different ammonium sulfate precipitations was followed by cation-exchange chromatography and by heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography. A heparin-Sepharose fraction from heart (eluted at 1.1 M NaCl) increased mitotic activity in serum-deprived cultures of porcine aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells, and in human fibroblasts. This mitogenic activity is potentiated by heparin and inhibited by gamma-interferon. The heart mitogenic fraction showed one double peak on HPLC at A215 and one polypeptide band on SDS/PAGE. These peaks and bands were identical to those obtained from bovine brain. The heart acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) showed a positive signal in Western blots using antibodies raised against brain aFGF. Gas-phase amino acid sequencing established that the mitogens were identical to aFGF and the N-terminally truncated aFGF. Extraction in the presence of a protease inhibitor (pepstatin A) produced a higher-molecular mass form of aFGF with a blocked amino terminus. Another mitogen, eluted at 1.6 M NaCl from heparin-Sepharose, reacted with polyclonal antiserum against human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and showed a 66% (12 from 18 amino acids determined by gas-phase sequencing) similarity with bFGF. This polypeptide increased the mitotic activity of the same cell lines but was more potent than aFGF.     

Chlorierte Kohlenwasserstoffe in Brutv?geln aus dem Binnenland Niedersachsens

Zusammenfassung Rückstände chlorierter Kohlenwasserstoffe in Eiern und Lebern von im Binnenland Niedersachsens brütenden Vogelarten — Feldsperling, Mehlschwalbe, Weißstorch, Graureiher, Saatkrähe, Stockente und andere Arten — werden angegeben und deren Abhängigkeit von Brutort, Nahrung und Zugverhalten diskutiert.

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Chlorinated hydrocarbons of some bird species breeding in the inland of Lower Saxony (FRG)

Summary Residues of chlorinated hydrocarbons in eggs and livers of some bird species — Tree Sparrow, House Martin, White Stork, Heron, Rook, Mallard, and further species — are presented. The dependence on place of breeding, food web, and migration is discussed.

     

Intrapleural and intravenous Corynebacterium parvum in patients with resected stage I and II non-small cell carcinoma of the lung

Summary A prospective randomized trial compared the administration of intrapleural plus intravenous Corynebacterium parvum (C. parvum) versus placebo in patients with resected Stage I and Stage II non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma. Treatment consisted of 7 mg C. parvum injected into the pleural space and 7 mg C. parvum intravenously once between days 6 and 12 postoperatively and 7 mg intravenously every 3rd month during the 1st year. Intrapleural administration of 35 cc of saline served as the placebo and the flush after intrapleural C. parvum.Of the 303 patients entered into this study, 286 were evaluable, with an average follow-up time of 3.5 years. More complications, especially fever, were observed in patients receiving C. parvum. A fever greater than 38 °C was observed in 9% of the patients assigned to placebo and 76% of the patients assigned to C. parvum. There was no significant difference between the treatments with respect to disease-free interval or survival.M. Kaufmann, J. Stjernswärd**, A. Zimmermann (Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Bern Branch); K. Stanley**, M. Isley, M. Zelen (Frontier Science & Tech. Research Foundation, Brookline, MA, USA); C. Mouritzen, P. Paulsen, U. Henriques (Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and Institute of Pathology, Kommunehospital, Aarhus, Denmark); N. Konietzko, W. Maassen, W. Hartung, W. Wierich (Ruhrland Clinic, Essen-Heidhausen, and Pathology Institute, Ruhr-University, Bochum, FRG); P. Oehl (Innere Klinik und Poliklinik Tumorforschung, Essen, FRG); J. Vogt-Moykopf, H. Toomes, W. Hofmann (Rohrbach Hospital, Clinic for Thoracic Medicine and Pathology Institute, Heidelberg, FRG); F. Krause, R. Rios, R. Spanel (Klinik Löwenstein, Löwenstein, and Pathology Institute, Ulm, FRG); J. Orel, B. Hrabar, D. Ferluga, T. Rott (University Medical Center, Thoracic Surgery and Pathology, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia); H. A. Rostad, J. R. Vale, P. Lexow (Rikshospital, Oslo, Norway); S. Hagen, S. Birkeland (Ulleval Hospital, Oslo, Norway); T. Harbitz, R. Nissen-Meyer (Aker Hospital, Oslo, Norway); E. Aspevik, H. Engedal, A. Mykin (Haukeland Hospital, Bergen, Norway); V. O. Björk, L. Rodriguez, K. Böök, J. Willems (Karolinska Sjukhuset, Thoracic Surgical Clinic and Pathology Department, Stockholm, Sweden); E. Grädel, J. Hasse, P. Dalquen (Kantonsspital, Dept of Surgery, Div. of Cardiac & Thoracic Surgery & Pathology Institute, Basel, Switzerland); L. Eckmann, K. Hänni, K. Zimmermann (Tiefenauspital Surg. Clinic, Univ. of Bern, Switzerland); B. Nachbur, H. U. Würsten, H. Cottier, A. Zimmermann (Inselspital Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surg. and Pathology Institute, Bern, Switzerland); W. Maurer, M. Kaufmann (Bürgerspital, Surgical Department, Solothurn, Switzerland); H. Denck, E. Zwintz, St. Wuketich (Krankenhaus der Stadt Wien-Lainz, I. Chir. Dept., and Path. Inst., Vienna, Austria); N. Pridun, H. Hackl (Pulmonologisches Zentrum der Stadt Wien, and Path. Inst., Vienna, Austria); E. Moritz, W. Schlick, H. Holzner (II. Chir. University Clinic and Path. Inst., Vienna, Austria); K. Karrer (Institute for Cancer Research, Vienna, Austria); R. G. Crispen (ITR-Biomedical Research, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA); D. S. Freestone, R. Bomford, M. T. Scott, T. Priestman, L. Toy (The Wellcome Research Laboratories, Beckenham, England)** Present address: Cancer Unit, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland Offprint requests to: K. Stanley, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Inselspital, CH-3010 Bern, SwitzerlandLudwig Lung Cancer Study Group:     

Growth Curve and Distribution of Rous Sarcoma Virus (Bryan) in Japanese Quail

On primary infection with the Bryan strain of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), the growth curve of the virus in the brain of Japanese quail was similar to that observed in chicks and turkey poults. Infectious virus disappeared from the brain after inoculation. After an eclipse period during which no virus was detectable, infectious virus began to appear at 2 days and reached maximal titers in the brain samples at 7 days after inoculation. When Japanese quail were infected intracerebrally with RSV, relatively high titers of virus were recovered from brain tissue but not from liver, lung, kidney, or blood of moribund birds. Only tumors produced in the wing web of quail infected subcutaneously yielded high titers of virus. Other tissues yielded no virus, even though wing web tumors appeared as early as in chicks similarly infected. RSV could be propagated in the wing web of quail for at least 14 passages without any loss of infectivity. On the other hand, serial passage in quail brain resulted in a progressive loss of infectivity until virus was completely lost.