Myelolipoma and endocrine dysfunction

Myelolipoma is an uncommon benign tumor of which the pathogenesis is unknown. It is rarely associated with endocrine disorders. We present a case of a myelolipoma in conjunction with congenital adrenal hyperplasia secondary to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Nine previously reported cases of myelolipoma associated with endocrine dysfunction are reviewed with potential correlation of the hormonal imbalance to pathogenesis.

Two cases of occipital infarction following cardiac catheterization

Transient visual disturbance following cardiac catheterization has been regarded as a benign and transient complication. We describe two cases of computed-tomography-documented occipital infarction after cardiac catheterization that emphasize a complication more serious than previously thought.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of a naturally occurring xylosyl thioether, 9-[5'-deoxy-5'(methylthio)-beta-D-xylofuranosyl]adenine

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the separation and purification of 9-[5'-deoxy-5'(methylthio)-beta-D-xylofuranosyl]adenine (xylosyl-MTA), a naturally occurring analogue of 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA), has been developed. The compound was purified from perchloric extracts of biological samples by reversed-phase HPLC on an Ultrasil ODS RP-18 column. Isocratic elution resulted in a complete separation between the xylosyl thioether and MTA. The determination of xylosyl-MTA in the nudibranch mollusc Doris verrucosa was also performed. Its concentration ranged from 330 to 380 nmol/g, considerably exceeding the cellular levels of MTA.

Chromatographic and radioimmunological methods for the determination of 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine in biological fluids

Two specific methods for the determination of 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA) in biological samples have been developed. The chromatographic procedure requires a preliminary step on a phenylboronate column to remove non-cis-diol compounds. The sample is then analysed using a high-performance liquid chromatography system equipped with a reversed-phase column. 5'-Deoxy-5'-methyl-thio[2-3H]adenosine with high specific activity was synthesized and employed as an internal standard. An alternative radioimmunoassay (RIA) procedure has also been developed. The RIA method is based on competition between the unlabelled thio-ether and 3H-labelled MTA for the binding to a specific antiserum. Anti-MTA antibodies were obtained from rabbits immunized with the nucleoside covalently linked to carrier proteins. Both the chromatographic and RIA procedures gave identical results when employed to determine MTA in human urine.

The transcriptional efficiency of clustered tRNA genes is affected by their position within the cluster

The transcription of a mouse genomic segment containing four tRNA genes, coding for a tRNA(Ala), a tRNA(Ile), a tRNA(Pro) and a tRNA(Lys), has been studied in a HeLa cell extract, demonstrating that differences among their transcriptional efficiencies are evident using as templates either the natural cluster or an equimolecular mixture of the four isolated genes. Nevertheless, the structure of the cluster influences the transcriptional efficiency of the clustered genes. In fact, a cis-acting inhibitory sequence has been located at about 400 bp downstream of the tRNA(Pro) coding sequence. Moreover rearrangements of the reciprocal position of the various tRNA genes within the cluster results in significant changes in the transcriptional rates of the individual transcriptional units.

A theoretical insight into the insertion reaction of singlet methylene to the hydrogen molecule

The least-motion and non-least-motion energy profiles for the insertion reaction of singlet methylene into the hydrogen molecule have been calculated using the 6-31G* basis set and introducing the correlation energy with the Møller–Plesset perturbation theory and with the MC-SCF technique. From the results obtained the effect of geometry optimization including electron correlation on the shape of the energy surface is discussed. The building up of a bidimensional biconfigurational energy surface has permitted one to interpret the opening of the methylene angle during the least-motion process as a direct consequence of the change in the electronic configuration. The TC-SCF/6-31G* second order transition structure for this forbidden process has been directly located using gradient minimization methods.

Structure and in vitro transcription of tRNA gene clusters containing the primers of MuLV reverse transcriptase

Three genes coding for mouse tRNAPro have been isolated from a genomic library and characterized both structurally and functionally. Two of these (tPro52 and tPro53) code for the tRNA primer of reverse transcriptase of MuLV. The third one (tPro51) shows several differences (mutations and deletions) that probably prevent the folding of the matured transcript into the cloverleaf structure, and is therefore a pseudogene. This pseudogene gives rise to a RNA transcription product in vitro. tPro52 is clustered with a tRNALys gene and with a tRNAAla gene, which is strongly homologous to the rat identifier repeated sequence. tPro53 is clustered with a tRNAAsp and a tRNAGly gene. Other tRNA-hybridizing sequences are present in the lambda clones that contain tPro51 and tPro53.

Entamoeba histolytica: specific antigen recognized by a monoclonal antibody

Specific antigenic determinants on the membrane surface of Entamoeba histolytica that distinguish it from other Entamoeba species were demonstrated. Evidence for these antigenic determinants was obtained with a monoclonal antibody to E. histolytica which showed not only specificity but also sensitivity as demonstrated in enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that the monoclonal antibody recognized an epitope present on the membrane surface of E. histolytica trophozoites. The epitope detected by the monoclonal antibody was present in three components of different molecular weight. These components may have a common precursor or may be the result of enzymatic degradation under the conditions tested.