The intracellular distribution of adenylate kinase in the leaves of spinach, wheat and barley

Of the total adenylate-kinase activity in 10-d-old barley and wheat leaves, 40-50% is localised in the chloroplasts, while in mature spinach leaves 50-70% of the enzyme is chloroplastic. The extra-chloroplastic adenylate-kinase activity is associated with the mitochondria, very little, if any, is freely soluble in the cytoplasm. The adenylate pool of the cytoplasm could have access to adenylate-kinase activity in the intermitochondrial space because of the free permeation of adenylates across the outer mitochondrial membrane. Thus the adenylate pool of the cytoplasm could be subject to adenylate-kinase equilibrium. The mitochondrial adenylate kinase appeared to the localised exclusively in the intermembrane space.

The Pietermaritzburg craniofacial unit

The Pietermaritzburg Craniofacial Unit was established in 1976, and since its inception 150 patients with major skull and facial deformities have been referred there from centres throughout South Africa. Fifty craniofacial operations have been performed by the surgeons of the Unit, who form only a part of a team of 16 members from many branches of the medical, dental and allied professions. Craniofacial surgery is defined and reasons are presented for limiting the number of such highly specialized units.

A controlled comparison of two treatments for nocturnal enuresis

This study assessed change in the frequency of primary nocturnal enuresis as produced by either behavioral conditioning with a urine alarm, pharmacotherapy with imipramine hydrochloride, or assignment to a clinical waiting list. The study also investigated the effect of treatment method and outcome on subjects' level of emotional and behavioral adjustment. An attempt was made to identify pretreatment predictors of treatment outcome and premature withdrawal from the treatment program. The results indicated a significantly more effective outcome for the conditioning approach. Comparison of pre- and post-treatment measures of adjustment provided insufficient evidence to support the hypotheses that either change in the frequency of nighttime wetting or the method of treatment received would influence the subject's level of emotional and behavioral adjustment. The enuresis tolerance scale was found to be a highly significant predictor of early termination from conditioning treatment.

Observations on the phosphate status and intracellular pH of intact cells, protoplasts and chloroplasts from photosynthetic tissue using phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance

Individual pools of intracellular inorganic phosphate (Pi) can be observed in the dark in intact cells, protoplasts and chloroplasts from photosynthetic tissue by using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.). Estimates for the pH of vacuolar and extravacuolar compartments are reported although it is shown that intracellular pH is determined by the pH of the suspending medium. Mannose treatment of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) cells and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) protoplasts results in the inhibition of photosynthesis. The mechanism of mannose phosphate sequestration of free Pi is supported by the 31P n.m.r. spectra of mannose-treated tissue. There is a fundamental difference in 31 P n.m.r. spectra of mannose-treated spinach protoplasts and asparagus cells, reflecting a difference in the availability of vacuolar Pi for cellular metabolism in these species. The 31P n.m.r. spectrum of intact spinach chloroplasts is reported.

Behavioral and environmental characteristics of treated and untreated enuretic children and matched nonenuretic controls

This correlational study investigated possible behavioral, parental, and environmental differences in enuretic children who were either receiving or not receiving treatment for bed-wetting. The subjects wer 5- to 12-year-old children who were nocturnally incontinent at least once a week and physically normal in all other respects. Seventeen of these youngsters were receiving pharmacologic treatment for enuresis (clinical enuretic group) and 20 were not (nonclinical enuretic group). Clinical enuretic children were older and wet more frequently than youngsters whose parents had not sought treatment for this problem. Their fathers more often held blue-collar jobs and their mothers were more intolerant of enuresis than were parents of the nonclinical enuretic sample. These two groups did not differ in number and type of child behavior problems, number of life-stress events, age toilet training commenced, or parental child-rearing practices employed. However, enuretic youngsters displayed more conduct problems and immature behavior than their nonenuretic counterparts. Mothers of enuretic youngsters applied more rule-oriented child-rearing practices than mothers of nonenuretic controls. There were no differences between the enuretic and nonenuretic groups in number of early-life stressful events or the age at which toilet training commenced.

Abnormalities of neutrophil function do not cause the migration defect in Crohn's disease

Skin window tests were performed on 60 patients with Crohn's disease, 20 with ulcerative colitis, 16 with peptic ulceration, and 40 healthy controls. The numbers of neutrophils that migrated into the skin window chambers were significantly lower in patients with Crohn's disease. This abnormality was unrelated to the activity of the disease, site of involvement, or treatment. No significant abnormalities were found in the patients with other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The abnormality of neutrophil migration in the Crohn's patients does not seem to be due to a cellular defect, as neutrophils from patients with Crohn's disease migrate and phagocytose normally in vitro. Sera from patients with Crohn's disease did not inhibit cell migration or contain inhibitors of chemotaxis. The addition of serum that had been activated with zymosan to the chamber enhanced the emigration of neutrophils from the skin of patients with Crohn's disease. These results suggest that the depression of neutrophil migration into skin windows that is normally observed in Crohn's disease is due to a deficient local inflammatory response. This defective inflammatory response in Crohn's disease and the consequent delay in the accumulation of neutrophils could explain granuloma formation, the high recurrence rate after surgery, and the clinical course of exacerbations and remissions.

Hypertension in a pediatric and adolescent population following kidney transplantation

The post-renal transplant courses of 53 children and adolescents were evaluated for the prevalence and the etiology of hypertension. The blood pressures were averaged over specific time periods following transplantation and converted to percentile ranks according to standards for age. The number of antihypertensives employed to control blood pressure was assessed. Factors such as sex, obesity, race, donor source, antigen match, steroid administration, rejection, recurrent glomerulonephritis, pre-transplant nephrectomy, renal function and proteinuria were assessed as to their importance in producing hypertension or normotension in the post-transplant period. The average blood pressure was well within acceptable range shortly after transplantation. The patients requiring antihypertensives to control blood pressure dropped by two years post transplant. Chronic rejection was by far the most important factor influencing average blood pressure and the need to employ antihypertensives. Alternate-day prednisone and good graft function were important in establishing the normotensive state.

Traumatic left ventricular aneurysm in an 8-year-old child

An asymptomatic 8-year-old boy was found to have a left ventricular aneurysm and a ventricular septal defect 14 months after a road traffic accident. At operation a large, thin-walled, clot-filled aneurysm was removed and the septal defect repaired.

Halothane does not inhibit human neutrophil function in vitro

Various indices of function of neutrophils from normal healthy volunteers have been examined after in vitro exposure to halothane. Random free movement on glass was unaffected, but random migration through millipore filters was slightly increased. There was no significant change in migration in response to casein chemotaxis. Phagocytosis, degranulation and the enhanced non-mitochondrial respiration associated with phagocytosis were unaffected. Electron-microscopic appearance at 30 s after exposure to latex particles was normal in all respects.

Pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability of oral theophylline capsules

The oral bioavailability of liquid-filled theophylline capsules relative to a nonalcoholic aminophylline solution was determined in normal volunteers. In addition, theophylline absorption and elimination kinetics were reexamined. There were no statistically significant differences between the bioavailability of capsules and liquid as measured by the area under the curve (AUC) from time 0 leads to infinity (p greater than 0.05). The bioavailability parameters of Cmax, tmax, and AUC were determined from actual serum theophylline concentration-time data and from a nonlinear least-squares fit of the serum concentration-time data. Theophylline absorption from the capsules was noticeably faster than from the liquid in most subjects, although the differences in absorption rates were not significantly different (p greater than 0.05). The determined apparent volume of distribution, elimination half-life, and plasma clearance of theophylline were similar to values reported by other investigators. Marked inter- and intraindividual variations in the elimination half-life were noted.

A case of isolated primary chylopericardium

Primary chylopericardium presented as radiographic cardiomegaly in an asymptomatic 19-year-old man. Normal findings at cardiac catheterisation and angiographic demonstration of cardiac displacement from the diaphragm suggested a collection of fluid below the heart which was confirmed by M and B mode ultrasound scanning. Thoracic blood pool isotope scanning indicated that the lumen was a pericardial effusion rather than a cyst. Lymphangiography did not indicate any direct lymphatic communication though a small pool of contrast appeared in the pericardium and the diagnosis of chylopericardium was confirmed by pericardiocentesis. Surgical treatment was undertaken after rapid reaccumulation of chyle and the patient remains well 6 months later.

The effect of nicotine on fetal breathing movements in conscious pregnant ewes

Nicotine (0.14--0.25 mg/kg), injected intravenously or intraarterially into conscious pregnant ewes, caused a decrease in fetal PaO2 within 5 minutes, persisting for up to 30 minutes. There was a significant fall in the incidence of fetal breathing movements. These changes did not occur if the ewe was treated with an alpha-blocking agent (phentolamine) or if the nicotine was infused for 30 minutes at 0.27 to 0.85 mg/minute. Nicotine crossed the placenta; fetal concentrations equaled those in the ewe 5 minutes after the injection and remained at or above maternal levels for 1 hour. Nicotine given directly to the fetus (0.005--0.03 mg/kg estimated fetal weight) stimulated fetal breathing movements in a dose-related manner. We suggest that the maternal injection of nicotine results in a fall of uterine blood flow by a sympathomimetic action, leading to transient fetal hypoxemia and a reduction of fetal breathing movements and that a similar phenomenon may occur when a pregnant woman smokes cigarettes.

Idiopathic priapism in the newborn

Priapism in children usually results directly or indirectly from an underlying cause. Secondary priapism is extremely rare in neonates and idiopathic priapism has not been described previously.

Inhalation toxicity studies on cigarette smoke (VII). 6-week comparative experiments using modified flue-cured cigarettes: histopathology of the conducting airways

Rats were exposed twice daily for 6 weeks to diluted smoke derived from cigarettes with a range of deliveries of particulate matter. The inhaled smoke caused squamous metaplasia and keratinising hyperplasia in the larynx and goblet cell hyperplasia in the nasal cavity, trachea and intrapulmonary bronchus. Squamous metaplasia occurred in the larynx of almost all rats exposed to smoke but never in their tracheas or bronchi. The degree of reaction observed for the other responses, except goblet cell hyperplasia in the trachea, was positively related, by quantitative microscopy, to the particulate delivery of cigarettes. These findings, together with other smoke-induced changes which occur in the pulmonary alveoli, provide a basis for the short-term bioassay of inhalation toxicity of cigarette smoke.

Inhalation toxicity studies on cigarette smoke (VI). 6-week comparative experiments using modified flue-cured cigarettes: histopathology of the lung

Rats were exposed twice daily for 6 weeks to diluted smoke derived from cigarettes with a range of deliveries of particulate matter. The inhaled smoke reached the alveolar surface, increased the size and number of free macrophages and provoked epithelial metaplasia but did not appear to alter the lymphoid reaction to spontaneous infection. The hypertrophy of the macrophages was typically alveolar and their hyperplasia was directly proportional to the particulate delivery of cigarettes smoked. Alveolar metaplasia was incipient, developed characteristically near the respiratory bronchiole in close association with macrophage clusters and only in rats exposed to smoke from cigarettes with the highest delivery of particulate matter.

Spectrum of multicystic renal dysplasia: diagnosis and management

Multicystic renal dysplasia represents a spectrum of pathologic states, from unilateral multicystic kidney through segmental and focal multicystic dysplasia to bilateral multicystic kidney. Diagnosis can be established with low-risk procedures with reasonable accuracy. Treatment may be nonoperative in selected cases, but the physician must be responsible for long-term follow-up of the child until more is known about the natural history of this process.

Hydantoin drugs inhibit polymerization of pure microtubular protein

5,5-Diphenylhydantoin or 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin, 3.6 X 10(-4) M, inhibited polymerization of purified pig brain tubulin 50% as measured by viscosometric assay and estimation of tubulin length by electron microscopy. 5,5-Diphenylhydantoin did not bind to the low molecular weight fraction of tubulin or to guanosinetriphosphate; it displaced colchicine weakly from its binding site. 5,5-Diphenylhydantoin did not depolymerize established microtubules, indicating that it differs from colchicine in site and mode of action.

Delayed imaging to distinguish bone lesions from urinary tract activity

In 28/1,400 patients examined by bone imaging two hours after injection of 99mTc-polyphosphate or diphosphonate, it was found that activity in the urinary tract obscured the bony pelvis, making assessment of this region difficult or impossible. In several patients additional images were obtained 24 hours after the injection when decreased activity in the urinary tract allowed the pelvis to be more satisfactory visualized.

Five-hour renal functional evaluation

Children with urogenital disease frequently require evaluation of glomerular and tubular functions. Herein is presented a practical method of performing glomerular and tubular functional studies requiring short time periods and utilizing readily availabe laboratory techniques.

Laboratory methods of equine pregnancy diagnosis

Rectal examination is a reliable method of diagnosing pregnancy in the mare. Also, test kits are available for the simple quick detection of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin. Nevertheless there is a considerable demand by practitioners for an independent laboratory service in equine pregnancy diagnosis, particularly during the gestational phase when placental gonadotrophin is concentrated in the blood. An initial attempt to provide a service by means of the agar gel diffusion test was disappointing and alternatives were sought. The primary requirements for an ideal alternative technique were defined as: accuracy, sensitivity, applicability to the optimum request period, elimination of subjective interpretation and a minimal inconclusive rate. Additional considerations included cost, practicality and test duration. The various tests available are summarised and their published accuracies are discussed. It was decided to reverse the current trend from biological to immunological techniques and to modify the test by which Cole and Hart announced the discovery of PMSG in 1930. The utero-ovarian response in the immature female mouse was quantified simply to produce a numerical result. The reason for this is explained, the method is described and its accuracy is evaluated. The primary requirements, defined above, were achieved.

Elastic characteristics of the ureter

An explanation was sought as to why the ureter becomes tortuous with increased intraluminal pressure. Changes in ureteral diameter and length, secondary to increased intraluminal pressure, were measured in different pathologic conditions and these changes were compared to similar ones in a non-biologic material (latex rubber tubing). It was demonstrated that these changes were anisotropic and remarkably similar under quite different pathologic conditions. Ureteral tortusity occurring secondary to increased intraluminal pressure may be related to anisotropic expansion of a tube with both ends in a fixed position.

Psychological factors in hypospadias repair

Children undergoing hypospadias repair and their parents have anxieties related not only to the operation but to future expectations. These anxieties are expressed by children through their drawings and by parents through interviews. They are enhanced by the fact that the hypospadias defect is only noticeable to the parents and child and is kept as secret information. Other defects, such as cleft palate, are obvious and cannot be hidden. The anxieties associated with hypospadias appear to be different whem compared to those associated with more obvious deformities.

Excretion of inhibitors of calcification in urine Part II. Findings in patients with chronic renal failure

By means of a semiquantitative method incorporating the rachitic rat cartilage technique, the total urinary inhibitory activity with respect to calcification was compared in 11 control subjects and 20 patients with renal failure. The patients had significantly lower mean values of inhibiting units per day than did the control subjects. Both groups showed a significant positive correlation between the number of inhibiting units per day and urine volume. When urine volume was taken into account in the comparison, the numbers of inhibiting units for patients continued to be lower than the numbers for controls. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the increase of inhibitory activity observed in uremic serum is secondary to a decrease in excretion of the responsible factor (or factors) in the urine, and that the factor (or factors) in serum responsible for the inhibition are identical to those in the urine.

Excretion of inhibitors of calcification in urine. Part I. Findings in control subjects and patients with renal stones

The total excretion of inhibitors of in vitro calcification was measured (in inhibiting units per day) in 24-hour urine samples of 11 control subjects and 20 patients with renal calculi. A semiquantitative method incorporating the rachitic rat cartilage technique was used. In both groups there was a significant positive correlation between the number of inhibiting units per day and the daily urine volume. The mean number of inhibiting units per day was significantly (P smaller than 0.05) higher in the stone patients than in the controls. However, the stone-formers had significantly larger (P smaller than 0.01) 24-hour urine volumes. When corrections were made for urine volume there was no significant difference between the two groups. These data suggest that the underlying abnormality responsible for renal stone formation is not a persistent decrease in the total concentration of urinary inhibitors of calcification.

A predictive test for the selection of cancer chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of human cancer

The use of animals for the screening of chemotherapeutic agents effective against cancer is not always satisfactory. In addition to the problems of cost, space, and care, the results obtained by animal screening do not always parallel those obtained by the clinical use of the agents. With the advent of more refined in vitro technics which can be applied directly to the patient's own tumor tissue, additional information may permit a more critical evaluation of the laboratory findings. The critical index of sensitivity probably lies in the combined evaluation of biochemical analysis and observed morphological damage. From this investigation it would appear that tissue culture of human tumors may serve as a valuable adjunctive method for the screening of chemicals in order to find drugs valuable in the treatment of cancer in man and to serve as a method in the selection of the most effective therapeutic agent for a given tumor in a given patient.

In vitro observations on the function of the sino-atrial node in the human fetus, with a comment on the fetal heart rate throughout pregnancy

Right and left atria from the human fetal heart maintained in an organ bath at 38 °C, show an age-dependent decrease in their rate of beating. This activity is temperature dependent, but is not affected by the degree to which the tissue is stretched, or by decreasing the amount of tissue present in the organ bath. It is proposed that the fall in the rate of beating results from cellular changes within the developing myocardium, and that this phenomenon may explain part of the decrease in fetal heart rate which occurs during pregnancy.

Functional development of the autonomic innervation of the human fetal heart

Electrical stimulation of isolated fetal atria produced changes in the strength of contractions of the myocardium, attributable to the release of the autonomic transmitters, acetylcholine and noradrenaline. These contractile responses are blocked by tetrodotoxin, suggesting that the stimulation releases neurotransmitters from the developing autonomic nerve plexus within the heart. Atria from fetuses less than 13 weeks of gestation frequently did not respond to stimulation, and it is suggested that this is due to the immaturity of the autonomic nervous system at this stage. Nicotine did not have an inhibitory effect at any age, indicating that ganglionic receptors are not present in the fetal myocardium. High doses of nicotine have an excitatory effect, probably due to the release of noradrenaline from either the sympathetic nerve or chromaffin tissue. This study has shown that the autonomic transmitters can be released in the fetal heart. Other pharmacologic and histochemical evidence is discussed to determine whether autonomic transmission occurs in early gestation.