Morphopathology of the adenohypophysis of chickens in shock induced by Escherichia coli

We studied modifications in the adenohypophysis of chickens subjected to experimental septic shock by repeated intraperitoneal inoculations with Escherichia coli 026 B6. We observed vascular modifications characterized by capillary dilation and endothelial defects, together with marked perivascular edema and collagen fibers in the groups receiving the most inoculations. Similarly, there was a proliferation of mononuclear cells, belonging mainly to the mononuclear phagocyte system, and plasma cells and lymphocytes. The lesions found in chickens receiving only one inoculation may be evidence of a morphopathological relationship between shock induced by E. coli and lesions that develop in the swollen-head syndrome.

An outbreak of encephalitis in pigeons (Columba livia) in the Canary Islands (Spain)

An encephalitic disease in pigeons, characterized by paralysis of extremities, torticollis, head tremor, and diarrhea, is described. The negative titers in the hemagglutination tests, the presence of Feulgen-positive intranuclear inclusions in the cells of the granular layer of the cerebellum and the fibroblast culture, and the presence of viral particles with an icosahedral-herpetic morphology and a diameter of 100-170 nm all indicate that the etiology of this outbreak may be related to the encephalitis caused by herpesvirus, at present diagnosed only in Iraq and some African countries.

[Effect of experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage on calcium incorporation and adrenergic innervation of the cerebral arteries of the cat]

The effect of experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) on the adrenergic innervation and on the 45Ca2+ uptake of cat cerebral arteries was analyzed. Intracisternal injections of autologous blood reduced the noradrenaline content of perivascular nerve endings and 3H-noradrenaline uptake. These values returned to normal levels in a period of two weeks after SAH. The activity of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase was also reduced 3 and 7 days after SAH. Superior cervical gangliectomy and intracisternal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine also reduced these three parameters. The uptake of 45Ca2+ by arteries from animals submitted to SAH was greater than if the blood vessels were from untreated cats. Lantanum brought about a less 45Ca2+ displacement in the arterial segments from untreated animals than in those from cats after SAH. These results suggest that SAH induces a transient adrenergic denervation as well as changes in the membrane of smooth muscle cell which increase the quantity of Ca2+ bound to it. All these modifications might be involved in the cause of chronic cerebral vasospasm that appears after SAH.

Estero real virus: a new virus isolated from argasid ticks Ornithodoros tadaridae in Cuba

Isolation and serologic identification of a virus isolated from argasid Ornithodoros tadaridae ticks collected in the province Sancti Spíritus in Cuba are described. The virus was named according to the isolation locality El Estero Real. The virus circulation in nature is discussed.

Hemodynamic effects of vasodilators on pulmonary hypertension in decompensated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Vasodilators have been reported to improve the hemodynamic status of some patients with pulmonary hypertension secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We investigated the effects of sodium nitroprusside (50 micrograms/min) and hydralazine (25 mg) on pulmonary hemodynamics in 12 patients during acute exacerbation of COPD. Apart from its known systemic effects, nitroprusside decreased significantly mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) from 36 +/- 10 to 31 +/- 12 mm Hg (p less than .04), decreased slightly pulmonary vascular resistance, and did not change cardiac index. Except for a slight but significant increase in MPAP from 35 +/- 5 to 38 +/- 5 mm Hg (p less than .002), hydralazine produced no significant hemodynamic changes. These results suggest that vasodilator therapy with sodium nitroprusside and hydralazine for pulmonary hypertension secondary to acute COPD is probably not helpful.

The denaturation maxima of proteins and of drug-biomolecule complex formation in a wide range of methanol/water mixtures

Independent experiments have shown that both protein folding (G. Velicelebi and J.M. Sturtevant, Biochemistry 18 (1979) 1180) and drug-biomolecule complexation (D.M. Crothers and D.I. Ratner, Biochemistry 7 (1968) 1823) in a wide range of compositions of methanol/water mixed solvents exhibit a maximum at 8% (v/v) MeOH. This hitherto unexplained phenomenon is shown to be given a priori by the 'solvophobic theory' developed earlier by Sinanoglu which had related the solvent effects including water in biochemistry to the then introduced 'molecular surface areas' and to 'microthermodynamic cavity inner surface tensions' and in a different version to interfacial microtensions between side chains and the solvent. Both analyses carried out in the present paper in detail for MeOH/water mixtures show how the denaturation or complexation free energies are predicted for the entire range of MeOH/water compositions from only data at one point. The molecular surface area changes for the conformational processes are obtained as well as the free energies in the hypothetical but theoretically important in vacuo limits with no solvent present.

Denaturation of proteins in methanol/water mixtures

The solvophobic theory developed earlier by Sinanoglu introducing the use of molecular surface areas and microthermodynamic surface and interfacial tensions at molecular dimensions is applied to the interpretation of calorimetric data on denaturation of lysozyme in a wide range of methanol/water mixtures. The experimental values of standard unitary free energies of denaturation correlate well with our predictions. The molecular surface area change of the protein upon denaturation is evaluated using the solvophobic theory. The maximum in the stability of the native form of the protein is predicted to occur at 8% (v/v) methanol. This is found to be in agreement with the experimental results.

Solvophobic forces and molecular surface area changes in drug-biomolecule associations as with actinomycin-deoxyguanosine in a wide range of methanol/water mixtures

A method is given to predict the unitary free energies of complexation between drug-like and nucleoside-like biomolecules in a range of mixed solvent compositions. A stability maximum for the actinomycin (A)-deoxyguanosine (D) complex at 8% MeOH (v/v) in methanol/water mixtures is correctly predicted by the theory in agreement with existing experimental data. The molecular surface areas of A and D exposed to the solvent are found to diminish by 36.4 A(2) upon association. The 'microthermodynamic differential surface tension' of the solvophobic theory obtained for nucleoside-like and organic molecules in contact with MeOH/H2O can be used to predict the solvent effect free energies in other such molecular or biopolymeric associations in solution.

Diadenosine tetraphosphate activates AMP deaminase from rat muscle

Diadenosine tetraphosphate, Ap4A, doubled the activity of AMP deaminase from rat muscle, with an activation constant of 0.005 mM, in the presence of 0.05 mM AMP. The presence of Ap4A appeared to induce Michaelian kinetic behavior. The activation by Ap4A was not dependent on the presence of either MgCl2 or KCl in the reaction mixture. Diguanosine tetraphosphate was inhibitor of the enzyme. Diadenosine and diguanosine triphosphates, adenylosuccinate and xanthosine monophosphate were neither inhibitors nor activators of the reaction.

Adenosine deaminase isozymes in Artemia

Three isozymes of adenosine deaminase, termed II, III and IV, have been detected in Artemia embryos. Their pI values, determined by chromatofocusing, were 4.9, 5.0 and 5.2, respectively. Upon development to larvae, a different isozyme (I) is induced, with a pI value of 4.2 as determined by isoelectric focusing.

Spatial-temporal dissipative structures arising in open reactive systems with a negative feedback loop

A systematic way of finding the possible spatial-temporal structures that may emerge in open reactive systems coupled with diffusive transport and containing one inhibitory (negative feedback) loop is presented. The method is illustrated on two kinetic models, one used by L. Glass, another by Higgins et al. which we coupled with diffusion. The ranges of cooperativity index and Fick transport coefficients we find for the occurrence of a spatially non-uniform time periodicity are consistent with in vitro experiments.

Adenylosuccinate lyase from Artemia embryos. Purification and properties

In crude extracts, the molecular form of adenylosuccinate lyase is pH-dependent as studied by gel filtration and sucrose gradient centrifugation. At pH values of 8.7 and 6.5, the enzyme exhibits molecular forms of 200 kDa and larger than 500 kDa, respectively. At pH values of 7.0-7.5, forms of intermediate molecular weight were detected. Interconversion among the different molecular forms of adenylosuccinate lyase was not achieved when the enzyme was subjected to two successive chromatographic steps on Sepharose CL-6B using elution buffers at two different pH values. A unique form of 200 kDa was observed, regardless of the pH of the buffer used, upon either gel filtration or sucrose gradient centrifugation in the presence of 1 M NaCl. The enzyme from Artemia cysts was purified to homogeneity. It had molecular mass of 200 kDa and gave a single band of 56 kDa upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The Km values for adenylosuccinate, AMP, and fumarate were 1, 36, and 350 microM, respectively. The enzyme exhibits a Uni Bi-ordered mechanism and is maximally active at a pH value of 8.0-8.5. For maximum activity, the enzyme requires an ionic strength equivalent to 80 mM KCI. The isoelectric point determined by chromatofocusing was 5.04.

[Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis, Review of 26 cases]

The casuistry of our Centre, which amounted to 26 cases over a 10-year period, and the analysis of the different etiopathogenic factors is presented. The coincidence of lithiasis, as the most important factor of stasis, and the importance of the infection as a contributing element. Are stressed.

[Congenital renal arteriovenous fistula]

On the occasion of a recent observation in our Centre of a case of congenital renal arteriovenous fistula, we make a review of the literature and give a detailed description of the clinical case presented. We stress the difficulty in differentiating between congenital and acquired fistulae and explain the course of therapy currently used.

[Perineal ectopic testis]

The authors present three cases of perineal, testicle ectopia, two of which were diagnosed and treated in the Urology Department of the "La Fe" Hospital. The other observation was diagnosed and treated by one of us privately. The treatment was surgical in all the cases and good results were obtained in them all. They discuss the etiopathogeny, clinical characteristics and the uselessness of hormone treatment.

Use of androgens in acquired aplastic anaemia. Relation of response to aetiology and severity

124 adult patients with acquired aplastic anaemia (A.A.) were studied. 54 presented as severe A.A. (mean survival of the whole group, 2.7 months and in those who died, 2.5 months; mortality 88.8%) while 70 were mild (mean survival of the whole group, 27.2 months and in those who died , 22.7 months; mortality, 28.5%). Sixty-four did not live long enough to have adequate therapeutic trials or developed severe hepatic failure which made it impossible to continue treatment. The effectiveness of 78 therapeutic periods of treatment in the 60 evaluable cases was analyzed as to aetiology and severity. A response was obtained in 31 (40%), of which 24 were with oxymethalone; 17 showed improvement after 6 months of treatment. No conclusions could be drawn as to the effectiveness of methalone, cyclophosphamide and prednisone because of the limited number of treatments. In severe A.A. only one of 13 treatments was effective, whereas 30 of the 65 used in mild A.A. gave a response. Oxymethalone was used in 23 out of 41 (56%). The aetiology, sex and age appeared to have no influence on the response of the 60 patients analyzed. The only factor which appears useful for prognosis as to the effectiveness of treatment is the severity of the case.