The short arm deletion syndrome of chromosome 4 (4p- syndrome)

Partial deletion of the short arm of chromosome 4 (4p-) represents another (rare) cause of cleft lip and cleft palate. Further characteristic manifestations of the syndrome (also called Wolf or Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome) are growth failure, microcephaly, prominent glabella, hypertelorism, beaked nose, poorly differentiated and low set ears, cardiac and renal malformation and hypospadias. Life expectancy is often shortened. The 4p- syndrome has many features in common with another deletion syndrome, the cri-du-chat syndrome, and also with the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome. The latter is a hereditary condition with normal karyotype. The cri-du-chat syndrome is characterized by a peculiar high-pitched, mewing cry and can be differentiated from the Wolf syndrome by the different staining characteristics (banding) of chromosomes 4 and 5.

Defective steroidal synthesis by adrenal tissue: the control of gene expression causing loss of active steroidogenic enzymes

RNA was isolated from normal human adrenal glands and found to cause the formation of Δ5-3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-isomerase and steroid 21-hydroxylase activities by a Krebs II ascites cell-free protein synthesising system. Although no functional steroid 21-hydroxylase in vivo or in vitro was found in a gland from a patient with virilism due to congenital adrenocortical hyperplasia the RNA would still give steroid 21-hydroxylase-like activity in the protein synthesising system which suggests that the inherited defect was not in the structural gene. Activity could not be induced by RNA from a 'non-functioning' adrenocortical tumour or rat liver.

Breast milk substitute: a bacteriological study

The increased susceptibility of infants fed on cows' milk preparations has been attributed, at least in part, to differences in the nature of the large-bowel content-owing to the acidity of the faeces and their high content of Lactobacillus bifidus. In an attempt to mimic these features of the breastfed infant in one who is fed artificially, a breast milk substitute was devised which resembles breast milk in several important ways. When this material was fed to newborn infants the faeces developed the characteristics of those of the breast-fed child.

An unusual hemoglobin anomaly and its relation to alpha-thalassemia and hemoglobin-H disease

A Chinese family with hemoglobin H in the propositus has been reinvestigated. Although the original propositus is now deceased, a sister has the same hematological manifestations. Her hemoglobin, like that of the deceased sister, contains hemoglobins A, H, and Bart's. In addition, however, two minor components have been detected. These minor components appear to have abnormal alpha-chains and are also present in the maternal grandmother, the mother, a maternal aunt, and three other siblings but only in about one-tenth the amount. One of the minor components may be the same as Hb-Thai (25). The father has the characteristics of classical alpha-thalassemia. These results are discussed in relation to current concepts of alpha-thalassemia as they relate to "silent" and "classical" alpha-thalassemia and to possible multiple alpha-chain loci.

Intravascular coagulation secondary to cavernous hemangioma in infancy: response to radiotherapy

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Reaction of urethane with nucleic acids in vivo

1. [1-(14)C]Ethyl carbamate, ethyl [carboxy-(14)C]carbamate, [1-(14)C]ethanol and sodium hydrogen [(14)C]carbonate were injected intraperitoneally into C57 mice, and nucleic acids and proteins were separated from the liver and lungs with phenol as described by Kirby (1956). 2. Chromatographic analysis of the hydrolytic products of the urethane-labelled RNA showed the presence of a single radioactive compound differing in behaviour from the major pyrimidine nucleotides and purines. 3. The products from RNA labelled by [1-(14)C]ethyl carbamate or ethyl [carboxy-(14)C]carbamate appeared chromatographically identical but could not be detected in the RNA of mice given [1-(14)C]ethanol or sodium hydrogen [(14)C]-carbonate. 4. The labelled product appeared to be the ethyl ester of cytosine-5-carboxylic acid formed by the reaction of urethane with RNA in vivo. 5. A direct reaction between labelled urethane or the labelled metabolite of urethane, [1-(3)H]-ethyl N-hydroxycarbamate, and RNA was not detected.

Plasma immunoglobulin concentrations in a West African (Gambian) community and in a group of healthy British adults

Plasma concentrations of IgG, IgA, IgM and IgD of 1123 members of a native West African (Gambian) community and of ninety-one British adults were measured using a single radial diffusion technique. The African plasmas showed changes of immunoglobulin concentration with age which were characteristic for each class.

Gambian children attained adult levels of IgG by about the 5th year of age. Mean IgG concentration in Gambian adults was approximately twice that of the British adults.

IgA was not detected in Gambian children in the first few days of life. British and Gambian adults showed a similar broad range of IgA concentrations, and in Gambians the range broadened progressively with increasing age.

IgM was detected in all Gambian sera, including that from the youngest children. Values rose rapidly during the first 3 months of life. In Gambian adults a broad range of values was found, with higher values becoming more frequent in the elderly. IgM levels in some Gambian sera were conspicuously increased compared with the British sera, but the anticipated increase of 19S proteins in the ultra-centrifuge was not found. High IgM levels were not associated with evidence of infection with Trypanosoma gambiense, nor were the findings typical of Walden-ström's macroglobulinaemia.

IgD was not detected in Gambian children less than 2 months of age, but a broad range of values was found in childhood and adolescence. In adults higher levels occurred less frequently and the distribution of levels was similar to that of the British population.

The significance of these findings is discussed.