Radiological prediction of pulmonary hypertension in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

A study was undertaken to determine whether measurements of radiological indices from postero-anterior chest X-rays were useful in predicting pulmonary artery hypertension. Measurements of the transhilar (THD) and pulmonary lobar distances (PLD) as well as the width of the descending branch of the right pulmonary artery (DB) were made from X-rays of 100 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For these patients the forced expiratory volume in 1 s was 1.2 +/- 0.6 l (group mean +/- SD), the arterial PO2 was 62.2 +/- 14.5 mmHg and the mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) was 26.7 +/- 11.9 mmHg. Considerable differences in the measurement of THD and PLD were found between and within observers whereas the measurement of DB was more reproducible. DB was better correlated (r = 0.59, P less than 0.001) with PAP than were THD and PLD. Using a stepwise multiple regression procedure including other physiological variables, it was found that DB and arterial PO2 were the only significant (P less than 0.05) predictors of PAP, together accounting for 48% of the variation in PAP, with DB being the more important predictor.

Identification of mammalian DNA repair factors using a reconstituted subcellular system. Partial characterization and subcellular location of a DNA repair-stimulating protein in hamster cells

By reconstituting lysolecithin-permeabilized hamster cells with endogenous proteins, a protein(s) which stimulated bleomycin-induced DNA repair synthesis was identified. The repair protein was inactivated by proteinase K and had an apparent molecular weight of 12 000-15 000 D. The following enzymatic activities were not detected in the partially purified DNA repair protein: general endonuclease, apurinic endonuclease, exonuclease, DNA polymerase or DNA polymerase beta-stimulating activity. The subcellular location of the DNA repair-stimulating activity was investigated by cytochalasin B enucleation; approx. 80% of the activity was associated with karyoplasts, suggesting a nuclear location. Neither the activity nor subcellular location of the repair protein fluctuated appreciably during the cell cycle, consistent with a physiological role in DNA repair. Although the function of the DNA repair protein is not yet known, this approach should be useful in identifying and characterizing mammalian DNA repair proteins.

The effect of temperature on recording spirograms

Correcting spirometric indexes to BTPS assumes that the spirometer has a short cooling time constant. This assumption was challenged by testing a rolling seal spirometer (RSS), a water seal spirometer (WSS), and a heated pneumotachygraph (PT) with simulated spirograms from a computer-driven servo-controlled pump whose internal temperature could be regulated. When tested with ambient air (19 degrees C) the devices recorded forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (4.0 L) to within 1%. With air at 37 degrees C the precision of the PT was little changed but the RSS and WSS (corrected to BTPS) overestimated FEV1 by 6 and 5%, respectively. The first moment of the spirogram (mean transit time) was 8 and 15% underestimated by the RSS and WSS, respectively, whereas the PT was precise to within 1%. These errors changed with ambient temperature and time constant of the spirogram. Clinical judgments concerning individual patients are unlikely to be seriously influenced by these errors. However, for the precise recording of spirograms required in epidemiologic and research work, and especially for studies on the shape of spirograms and flow-volume curves, these are important errors.

Subcellular location of a soluble factor that stimulates DNA replication in permeable animal cells

The subcellular location of a soluble DNA replication-stimulating factor released from lysolecithin-permeabilized cultured mammalian cells was investigated by cytochalasin B (CB) enucleation. In both Chinese hamster ovary cells and baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, approx. 70% of the total activity of the replication-stimulating factor was associated with the karyoplast fraction. In neither cell line did the replication-stimulating factor show any significant change in activity or in subcellular location between G1 and S period synchronized cells. The general nature and mechanism of action of this stimulatory factor were characterized in order to show that it was similar to "cytoplasmic" factors reported to stimulate DNA replication in other subcellular systems. The predominantly nuclear location of the replication-stimulating factor supports a physiological role in DNA metabolism in animal cells.

The roles of DNA polymerases alpha, beta, and gamma in DNA repair synthesis induced in hamster and human cells by different DNA damaging agents

The involvement of DNA polymerases alpha, beta, and gamma in DNA repair synthesis was investigated in subcellular preparations of cultured hamster and human cells. A variety of DNA damaging agents, including bleomycin, neocarzinostatin, UV irradiation, and alkylating agents, were utilized to induce DNA repair. The sensitivity of repair synthesis, as well as replicative synthesis and purified DNA polymerase beta activity, to inhibition by the DNA polymerase inhibitors dideoxythymidine triphosphate, aphidicolin, cytosine arabinoside triphosphate, and N-ethylmaleimide was determined. No evidence was obtained for a major role of polymerase gamma in any type of repair synthesis. In both hamster and human cells, the sensitivity of bleomycin- and neocarzinostatin-induced repair synthesis to ddTTP inhibition was essentially identical with that observed for purified polymerase beta, indicating these repair processes proceeded through a mechanism utilizing polymerase beta. Repair synthesis induced by UV irradiation and alkylating agents was not sensitive to ddTTP, indicating repair of these lesions occurred through a pathway primarily utilizing a different DNA polymerase; presumably polymerase alpha. However, replicative synthesis was much more sensitive to polymerase alpha inhibitors than was repair synthesis induced by UV irradiation or alkylating agents. Neither the amount of DNA damage nor the amount of induced repair synthesis influenced the degree to which the different DNA polymerases were involved in repair synthesis. The possibility that "patch size" or the actual type of DNA damage determines the extent to which different polymerases participate in DNA repair synthesis is discussed.

Repeatability of the moments of the truncated forced expiratory spirogram

It is proposed that if the spirogram is truncated for moment analysis, this should be done with respect to volume and not time. Errors are incurred when the moments of one spirogram are compared with those of another. These errors are maximal with no truncation and are reduced by truncation. A method is described for deriving sequential truncated moments of the forced expiratory spirogram. The repeatability and discriminatory power of the truncated moments were assessed over five consecutive days in 21 symptom-free subjects and were compared with conventional spirometric tests. The first and second moments about the origin of the spirogram (alpha 1 and alpha 2), the moment ratio (square root alpha 2/alpha 1) and the forced expiratory time to truncation (FET) are progressively less repeatable within individuals the later the truncation point. The discriminatory power of alpha 1 and alpha 2 and FET declines with later truncation but the discriminatory power of the moment ratio is maximal with truncation at 85% forced vital capacity (FVC) an diminishes sharply if truncation is beyond 95% FVC. At 75% FVC truncation alpha 1 is as good as FEV1% in discriminating between our subjects, whereas alpha 1 at 100% FVC is only half as good as FEV1%. The moment ratio at 90% FVC truncation is highly reproducible (mean within person coefficient of variation 2.1%), has important discriminatory power and is little influenced by events early in the spirogram (correlation with FEV1% r = -0.61, p less than 0.001). The moment ratio at 90% of FVC has attributes which may be useful in detecting early airway obstruction and its further study is warranted in order to establish its normal range and predictive value.

Evidence that DNA polymerases alpha and beta participate differentially in DNA repair synthesis induced by different agents

The roles of DNA polymerases alpha and beta in DNA replication and repair synthesis were studied in permeable animal cells, using different agents to induce repair synthesis. DNA polymerase inhibitors were used to investigate which polymerases were involved in repair synthesis and in replication. Polymerase alpha was responsible for replication. On the other hand, both polymerases alpha and beta were involved in DNA repair synthesis; the extent to which each polymerase participated depended primarily on the agent used to damage DNA. Polymerase beta was primarily responsible for repair synthesis induced by bleomycin or neocarzinostatin, whereas polymerase alpha played a more prominent role in repair synthesis indiced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine or N-nitrosomethyl urea. More DNA damage was induced by the alkylating agents than by bleomycin or neocarzinostatin, suggesting that the extent of involvement of polymerase alpha or beta in DNA repair synthesis is related to the amount or type of DNA damage. In addition, salt concentration was found to have little or no effect on the results obtained with the DNA polymerase inhibitors. Our findings provide an explanation for conflicting reports in the literature concerning the roles of DNA polymerases alpha and beta in DNA repair.

Scanning electron microscope studies of the auditory papillae of some iguanid lizards

The papillae basilares of 16 species (10 general) of iguanid lizards were studied by scanning electron microscopy. Variations in the surface structures of the auditory papillae showed the following major differences: 1)papillae with localization of the unidirectional hair cells at the apical end of the papilla (anolis carolinensis); 2)papillae with absence or loss of a portion of the apical bidirectional hair-cell segment (Basiliscus basiliscus); 3)papillae with a central, short ciliated, unidirectional hair-cell segment, and 3-6 irregular rows of long-ciliated bidirectional hair cells located in the apical and basal regions (Iguana iguana, Crotaphytus collaris, C. wislizeni, Dipsosaurus dorsalis, Sauromalus obesus); 4)papillae in which the apical and basal bidirectional hair-cell segments are reduced to two rows of hair cells (Sceloporus occidentalis, S. clarki, S. orcutti, S. jarrovi, S. undulatus, S. magister, Callisaurus draconoides, Uta stansburiana). The above differences in auditory papilla structure agree closely with other anatomical differences that delineate iguanid assemblages. Thus the species in the four groups above fall respectively into the following iguanid groups: 1)anolines, 2)basiliscines, 3)iguanines, and 4)sceloporines.

The cochlear nuclei of snakes

The cochlear nuclei of three burrowing snakes (Xenopeltis unicolor, Cylindrophis rufus, and Eryx johni) and three non-burrowing snakes (Epicrates cenchris, Natrix sipedon, and Pituophis catenifer) were studied. The posterior branch of the statoacoustic nerve and its posterior ganglion were destroyed and the degenerated nerve fibers and terminals traced to primary cochlear nuclei in 13 specimens of Pituophis catenifer. All these snake species possess three primary and one secondary cochlear nuclei. The primary cochlear nuclei consist of a small nucleus angularis located at the cerebello-medullary junction and a fairly large nucleus magnocellularis forming a dorsal cap over the cephalic end of the alar eminence. Nucleus magnocellularis may be subdivided into a medially placed group of rounder cells, nucleus magnocellularis medialis, and a laterally placed group of more ovate and paler-staining cells, nucleus magnocellularis lateralis. A small but well-defined secondary nucleus which showed no degenerated nerve terminals after nerve root section, nucleus laminaris, underlies the cephalic part of both nucleus magnocellularis medialis and nucleus magnocellularis lateralis. Larger and better-developed cochlear nuclei were found in burrowing species than in non-burrowing species of snakes. Of the three burrowing species studied, Xenopeltis showed the greatest development of cochlear nuclei; Eryx cochlear nuclei were not quite as large but were better differentiated than in Xenopeltis; and Cylindrophis cochlear nuclei were fairly large but not as well developed nor as well differentiated as in either Xenopeltis or Eryx. The cochlear nuclei of the three non-burrowing snakes, Epicrates, Natrix, and Pituophis, were not as large nor as well developed as those of the burrowing snakes. There is some, but not complete, correlation between cochlear development and papilla basilaris length and number of hair cells. Thus, Xenopeltis and Eryx, with well-developed cochlear nuclei, have relatively long papillae basilares; but the boid, Epicrates, with less well-developed cochlear nuclei, has a fairly well-developed papilla basilaris. Cylindrophis, a burrowing species, shows only a moderate degree of cochear nuclei and papilla basilaris development. The non-burrowers, Natrix and Pituophis, have both small cochlear nuclei and relatively short papillae basilares.

The cochlear nuclei of some turtles

Histological sections of the brains of eight species of turtles representing six different families were studied in order to delineate the cochlear nuclei. In addition, the posterior eighth cranial nerve root and its ganglion were sectioned in 15 specimens of Kinosternon leucostomum, and the distribution of the degenerated nerve fibers and terminals was determined. Two primary and one probably secondary nuclei were demonstrated by the terminal degeneration pattern of the cochlear fibers. A spherical nucleus angularis and an elongated nuclus magnocellularis together form a column of primary cochlear nuclei in the dorsal alar lamina of the medulla. Heavy terminal degeneration is seen associated with these cells following transection of the posterior eighth nerve and ganglion. Nucleus magnocellularis is probably homologous with the nucleus magnocellularis medialis of lizards and crocodiles, and has been described in turtles as nucleus dorsalis magnocellularis by previous authors. A probably secondary cochlear nucleus, nucleus laminaris, lies just ventral to the nucleus magnocellularis. It is associated with the nucleus magnocellularis throughout its length but is shorter. Nucleus laminaris remains free of terminal degeneration after destruction of the posterior eighth nerve and ganglion. The cochlear nuclei of other turtle species were very similar to those of Kinosternon leucostomum.

Further scanning electron microscope studies of lizard auditory papillae

The papillae basilares of 12 species of lizards from seven different families were studied by SEM. The iguanids, Sceloporus magister and S. occidentalis, have typical "iguanid type" papillae with central short-ciliated unidirectional hair cell segments and apical and basal long-ciliated bidirectional hair cell segments. These species of Sceloporus are unique among iquanids in that the bidirectional segments consist of but two rows of hair cells. The agamids, Agama agama and Calotes nigrolabius, have an "agamid-anguid type" papilla consisting of an apical short-ciliated unidirectional segment. Agama agama is unusual in having a few long-ciliated hair cells at the apical end of the apical short-ciliated segment. The agamid, Uromastix sp., has an "iguanid type" papilla with a central short-ciliated unidirectional segment and apical and basal bidirectional segments. The anguid, Ophisaurus ventralis, has an "iguanid" papillar pattern with the short-ciliated segment centrally located. All the short-ciliated hair cells of the above species are covered by a limbus-attached tectorial network or cap and the long-ciliated hair cells, only by loose tectorial strands. The lacertids, Lacerta viridis and L. galloti, have papillae divided into two separate segments. The shorter apical segment consists of opposingly oriented, widely separated short-ciliated cells covered by a heavy tectorial membrane. The apical portion of the longer basal segment consists of unidirectionally oriented hair cells, while the greater part of the segment has opposingly oriented hair cells. The xantusiids, Xantusia vigilis and X. henshawi, have papillae made up of separate small apical segments and elongated basal segments. The apical hair cells are largely, but not exclusively, unidirectional and are covered by a heavy tectorial cap. The basal strip is bidirectional and the hair cells are covered by sallets. The kinocilial heads are arrowhead-shaped. The papilla of the cordylid, Cordylus jonesii, is very similar to that of Xantusia except that the apical segment is not completely separated from the basal strip. The papilla of the Varanus bengalensis is divided into a shorter apical and a longer basal segment. The hair cells of the entire apical and the basal three quarters of the basal segment are opposingly oriented, not with reference to the midpapillary axis but randomly to either the neural or abneural direction. The apical quarter of the basal segment contains unidirectional, abneurally oriented hair cells. The entire papilla is covered by a dense tectorial membrane. The functional correlations of the above structural variables are discussed.

Scanning electron microscope studies of the papilla basilaris of some turtles and snakes

The papillae basilares of three species of turtles and four species of snakes were studied by SEM. The papillae of turtle are relatively large among reptiles and are characterized by a long, horizontal middle section resting on wide basilar membrane. Both terminal ends of the papilla extend onto the surrounding limbus in the form of a forked or "T" -shaped end or as a curved, "hook"- like processes. Details vary with the species. In the three species of turtles studied, there were between 1,100 and 1,400 hair cells on a papilla. The tectorial membrane covering the horizontal portion of the papilla is heavy in appearance and tightly attached to the kinocilial bulbs. The terminal ends of the papilla are covered by a thin gelatinous material. In addition, mat-like tectorial network covers the supporting cells and extends from the microvilli of the supporting cells to the overlying tectorial membrane. All hair cells are unidirectionally and abneurally oriented. The supporting cell surfaces form a large part of the papilla and, thus, hair cell density is low. The papillae of the two boid snake species studied are moderately long among snakes and contain a moderate number of hair cells (574 in Epicrates and 710-780 in Constrictor). Papillar form is elongate, avoid, or canoe-shaped. The tectorial membrane may be either highly fenestrated or moderately dense and covers all but a few of the terminal hair cells. A tectorial-like mat covers all but a few of the terminal hair cells. Most hair cells are unidirectionally and abneurally oriented. A few terminal cells in boids may show reverse orientation. Hair cell density is similar to that of turtles.

Animal cells reversibly permeable to small molecules

A cell preparation, useful for studying the regulation of metabolism, was developed by making monolayer baby hamster kidney cells permeable. Hypertonically treated cells were permeable to nucleotides, but retained their gross cellular morphology, intact organelles, 100% of their DNA, and 91% of their total protein. The permeable cell synthesized DNA, RNA, and protein rapidly when supplied with the appropriate substrates and cofactors. They either could remain permeable or were able to "reseal" when replaced in complete medium under appropriate conditions. Optimal conditions for DNA synthesis were established for permeable cells, giving rates equal to those of intact cells. Replication rather than repair was shown by the cell-cycle dependence of DNA synthesis and its discontinuous nature. Ribonucleotide reductase was active in permeable cells, permitting equal rates of DNA synthesis when ribonucleotide diphosphates or deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates were provided. Hydroxyurea did not inhibit DNA synthesis in permeable cells supplied with deoxyribonucleotide di- or triphosphates, but drastically inhibited DNA synthesis when ribonucleotide diphosphates were supplied. Hydroxyurea is therefore primarily an inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase. Permeability was reversed, exposing permeable cells to [(3)H]thymidine triphosphate, which was incorporated, which labeled nuclei of cells that went on to mitosis. The reversible permeability procedure should prove especially useful in studying the functions of poorly penetrating compounds, such as drugs. Intact cells were unaffected by cytosine arabinoside triphosphate, while cells that had been made permeable and resealed were killed.

The effect of phosphonoacetic acid on the in vitro replication of varicella-zoster virus

Phosphonoacetic acid (PAA) was found to inhibit in vitro varicella-zoster virus (VZV) replication. At 100 microng/ml, PAA blocked the development and spread of VZV cytopathology in both growing and contact-inhibited cultures. Formation of virus plaques by infected cells and cell-free virus was effectively blocked at concentrations as low as 25 microng/ml. The development of nuclear and cytoplasmic virus antigens was also inhibited by PAA. Inhibition by PAA suggests that VZV DNA replication, like that of other herpes-viruses, involves a virus-specific DNA polymerase.