A New Triterpenoid Sapogenin of Epoxy Serratane Type from Primula rosea

A new sapogenin 14beta, 26-epoxy serratane-3beta, 21alpha-diol has been isolated and characterized in addition to glucose, galactose and rhamnose from PRIMULA ROSEA.

The teaching of psychotherapy in Canadian psychiatric residency programs: residents' perceptions

In order to determine the residents' perceptions toward their psychotherapy training, a questionnaire was distributed to 400 residents in the 16 Canadian psychiatric residency programs. The main areas studied were: the resident's demographic and educational characteristics; the residency program characteristics; the type of training available in different psychotherapeutic modalities; the analysis of quality and quantity of attention given to different elements of psychotherapy supervision (patient assessment, diagnostic formulation of treatment approach and goals); the degree of importance attributed by the residents to the above mentioned elements of psychotherapy supervision; and the residents' perception of their supervisor's attributes (examples: teaching ability and rapport). Forty-two percent of the residents completed the questionnaire. Residents mentioned that the most adequate supervision was for long-term individual psychotherapy cases and that behavioral and group therapy supervision was the least adequate. The three most essential qualities in a supervisor's profile were judged to be: capacity for the development of a good rapport with the trainee; ability to pinpoint residents' psychotherapy shortcomings and his willingness to help residents to overcome them; ability to teach. Three factors that significantly influenced the trainees perception of their psychotherapy training were: resident's age, a seminar in individual psychotherapy in the residency core program; having received more than one hour weekly of psychotherapy supervision. The understanding of patient's psychodynamics was the most adequately taught element during psychotherapy supervision.

Changes in proteoglycan composition of F9 teratocarcinoma cells upon differentiation

Teratocarcinoma cells (F9) were induced to differentiate by retinoic acid and then labelled with [3H]-glucosamine and [35S]-sulphate. Proteoglycans were then isolated from the plasma membranes and the culture medium by mild, dissociative, non-shear-dependent techniques. The undifferentiated cells were devoid of hyaluronic acid and contained negligible quantities of heparan sulphate, dermatan sulphate and chondroitin sulphate. Upon differentiation, the cells synthesized large amounts of hyaluronic acid and there was a threefold increase in the amount of membrane-bound sulphated proteoglycans. The differentiated cells also synthesized a proteoglycan (PGM-2) which was shed completely into the medium. It consisted of a large protein core with covalently linked sugar chains which were sulphated and had an approximate molecular weight of 12000. These sugar chains consisted of glucosamine and galactose in a molar ratio of 1:1 and contained a small quantity of mannose. Upon differentiation of the cells the amount of this molecule increased by threefold. This molecule was distinct from other proteoglycans since it was resistant to degradation by heparanase, chondroitinases, hyaluronidase and neuraminidase, but could be degraded by keratanase. Structurally it was very similar to keratan sulphate, consisting of alternating residues of (-Gal-GlcNAc-) in chains of approximately 20 such disaccharide units.

Purification and properties of pyruvate kinase from Mycobacterium smegmatis

Pyruvate kinase (ATP:pyruvate 2-O-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.40) from Mycobacterium smegmatis has been purified to homogeneity through a seven-step procedure with a yield of 16% and specific activity of 220 units/mg protein. The purified enzyme had a molecular weight of 230,700 and was composed of four subunits with identical molecular weights of 57,540. Analysis of amino acid composition revealed a low content of aromatic amino acids. The enzyme exhibited sigmoidal kinetics of varying concentrations of phosphoenolpyruvate, the degree of cooperativity and S0.5v value for phosphoenolpyruvate being strongly dependent on the pH of the reaction mixture. Among the nucleoside diphosphates acting as substrate for pyruvate kinase, ADP was the best phosphate acceptor, as judged by its lowest Km value. The enzyme showed an absolute requirement for divalent cations (either Mg2+ or Mn2+), but monovalent cations were not necessary for activity. Other divalent cations inhibited the Mg2+-activated enzyme to varying degrees (Ni2+ greater than Zn2+ greater than Cu2+ greater than Ca2+ greater than Ba2+). The differences in the kinetic responses of the enzyme to Mg2+ and Mn2+ are discussed.

Glycosaminoglycan synthesis in skin fibroblasts from patients with osteogenesis imperfecta

Glycosaminoglycans were analysed from skin fibroblasts with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) IIA and IIB. The content of sulphated glycosaminoglycans was greatly increased over age-matched controls and to a lesser extent with respect to older age control. Dermatan sulphate in comparison with older control was unaltered in the cells of OI IIA and IIB. The concentration of heparan sulphate was higher in the cells than in the medium, whereas hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulphate and dermatan sulphate content was higher in the medium. The level of hyaluronic acid was greatly elevated in the medium of OI IIB with respect to both controls.

The effect of hypoxia on the synthesis of collagen and glycosaminoglycans by cultured pig aortic endothelium

Porcine aortic endothelium cultured at 20% oxygen concentration synthesizes collagen and three of its marker enzymes - proline and lysine hydroxylases and lysine oxidase, the cross-link enzyme. It also synthesizes and secretes hyaluronic acid, dermatan sulphate, possibly heparan sulphate, large amounts of chondroitin 4-sulphate and smaller amounts of chondroitin 6-sulphate. Growth of these cells for 24 h in 0%, or 2% oxygen results in little change in cell numbers or cell protein but a fall in collagen synthesis and in proline and lysine hydroxylases, but a rise in lysine oxidase. There is a considerable increase in synthesis and secretion of all the glycosaminoglycans found. The cell lipids appear qualitatively unchanged. Apart from increased lysosomes seen at 0% oxygen, no ultrastructural changes appear to occur. These findings illustrate the lability of the endothelial response to oxygen lack.

Bovine aortic chondroitin sulphate- and dermatan sulphate-containing proteoglycans. Isolation, fractionation and chemical characterization

1. Guanidinium chloride (4M) in the presence of proteinase inhibitors extracted 90% of bovine aorta galactosaminoglycans as proteoglycans that were subsequently purified by ion-exchange and gel chromatography. 2. Fractionation of the calcium salts of the purified proteoglycans with increasing concentration of ethanol yielded fractions PG-25 (28%), PG-35 (45%) and PG-50 (37%). 3. Fraction PG-50 contained proteochondroitin 6-sulphate, whereas fractions PG-25 and PG-35 were proteodermatan sulphates of greatly different carbohydrate composition; the molar proportions of L-iduronate-N-acetylgalactosamine 4-sulphate, D-glucuronate-N-acetyl-galactosamine 4-sulphate and D-glucuronate-N-acetylgalactosamine 6-sulphate were 75: 18 :7 in fraction PG-25 and 14 :46 :40 in fraction PG-35. 4. The presence of alternating or mixed sequences with L-iduronate- and D-glucuronate-containing repeating disaccharides was indicated by the formation of tetrasaccharides after chondroitinase AC digestion (single L-iduronate residues) and by the release of fragments containing four or five consecutive D-glucuronate-N-acetylgalactosamine repeats after periodate oxidation and alkaline elimination. 5. The amino acid compositions of fractions PG-25 and PG-35 were similar and markedly different from that of fraction PG-50, which also contained more side chains.

Glucose 6-phosphate activation of pyruvate kinase from Mycobacterium smegmatis

1. Activation of glucose 6-phosphate is one of the unique properties of pyruvate kinase from Mycobacterium smegmatis. 2. Pyruvate kinase, partially purified from ultrasonic extracts of the mycobacteria by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, exhibited sigmoidal kinetics at various concentrations of phosphoenolpyruvate, with a high degree of co-operativity (Hill coefficient, h = 3.7) and S0.5 value of 1.0 mM. 3. In the presence of glucose 6-phosphate, the degree of co-operativity shown by the phosphoenolpyruvate saturation curve was decreased to h = 2.33 and the S0.5 value was lowered to 0.47 mM. 4. The enzyme was activated by AMP and ribose 5-phosphate also, but the activation constant was lowest with glucose 6-phosphate (0.24 mM). 5. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by ATP at all phosphoenolpyruvate concentrations. The concentrations of ATP required to produce half-maximal inhibition of enzyme activity at non-saturating (0.2 mM) and saturating (2 mM) phosphoenolpyruvate concentrations were 1.1 mM and 3 mM respectively. 6. The inhibition of ATP was partially relieved by glucose 6-phosphate. 7. The enzyme exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics with ADP as the variable substrate, with an apparent Km of 0.66 mM. 8. The enzyme required Mg2+ or Mn2+ ions for activity. It was not activated by univalent cations. 9. The kinetic data indicate that under physiological conditions glucose 6-phosphate probably plays a significant role in the regulation of pyruvate kinase activity.

Intrathecal human tetanus immunoglobulin in early tetanus

97 patients with symptoms of early tetanus at the time of admission to hospital were treated with sedation, antibiotics, and human tetanus immune globulin (TIG). After intrathecal TIG 250 IU 3 patients out of 49 got worse but only 1 died while in a closely similar group of 48 patients in whom TIG was administered intramuscularly in dose of 1000 IU, the clinical features of the disease became severer in 15 (31%) and 10 (21%) died. The intrathecal use of TIG was devoid of side effects.

Reactions of titanium(IV) chloride with formic acid

Titanium(IV) chloride reacts with formic acid to give the disubstituted product, Cl2Ti(OOCH)2, at low temperatures and the hydrolysed product (OH)2Ti(OOCH)2 at higher temperatures. These compounds have been characterized by elementary analysis, infrared and thermal measurements. The possibility of these solvolysed products acting as Lewis acids has also been explored.

Effects of electroshock and drugs administered in vivo on protein kinase activity in rat brain

The effect of electroshock and treatment with reserpine, amphetamine or lithium chloride on protein kinase activity in synaptic membrane fragments prepared from rat brain was investigated. Naive rats subjected to electroshock procedures showed significant increases in both basal and cyclic AMP-stimulated activity irrespective of whether the treatment was sham, acute or chronic. These increases did not occur in animals which had been tamed by daily handling for 15 days prior to treatment, suggesting that the response was induced by the stress of an unfamiliar situation. Administration of lithium chloride and reserpine caused a small but significant increase in the stimulated activity. Doses of d-amphetamine of 5 mg/kg had no effect on either basal or stimulated activity, but higher doses (up to 15 mg/kg) resulted in a pronounced increase in both activities, which may have been related to drug-induced stress.

Formic acid solvent system. II. Conductance and solvation studies of 1 : 1 electrolytes in formic acid

Conductances of some 1 : 1 electrolytes have been measured in the concentration range (5-100) x 10-3 mol l-1 in anhydrous formic acid at 25�. The conductance data have been analysed by Fuoss-Shedlovsky equations. Transference numbers of sodium and potassium formates have been measured in this solvent at 25� by a modified Hittorf's method in the concentration range (3-80) x mol l-1. Ionic mobilities, effective ionic radii and solvation numbers of various ions in solution have been calculated. Solvation of cations decreases with the increase in the crystal radii of the ions.

Reactions of iron(II) and iron(III) chlorides with formic acid

Formic acid reacts with iron(II) and iron(III) chlorides to give FeCl(OOCH),HCOOH and FeCl2(OOCH),2H2O at low temperatures and Fe(OOCH)2,2HCOOH and FeCl(OOCH)2,H2O at higher temperatures respectively. These compounds have been characterized by elementary analyses, infrared, thermal and magnetic susceptibility measurements.

Preparation and Characterization of Silicon(IV) Formate

Silicon(IV) formate has been prepared by the reaction of silicon(IV) chloride and anhydrous formic acid. The compound has been characterized by elemental analyses, thermogravimetry and infrared spectral data.

Zirconium(IV) carboxylates

Zirconium(IV) carboxylates, Zr(OOCR)4 where R = Me, Et, CH2Cl2 CHCl2 and CCl3, have been prepared by the reaction of zirconium(IV) chloride and carboxylic acids. The compounds have been characterized by elementary analyses, thermogravimetry and infrared spectral data. The compounds are non-electrolytes in nitrobenzene and probably have polymeric structures.

Polyatomic cations of the Group VIB elements. II. Compounds of the Se42+ cation

The preparation and characterization of the compounds Se4(HS2O7)2, Se4S4O13, Se4(SO3F)2, and Se4(Sb2F11)2 are described. All four compounds are shown to contain the Se42+ cation.

New polyatomic cations of the group VI B elements: I. Solutions of selenium in highly acidic solvents

Colored solutions of selenium in fluorosulfuric, sulfuric, and disulfuric acids have been investigated by conductometric, cryoscopic, spectrophotometric, and magnetic methods. Evidence is presented for the new species Se42+ and Se82+ in the yellow and green solutions respectively.

THE SULFURIC ACID SOLVENT SYSTEM: PART VII. SOLUTIONS OF SOME TIN(IV) AND LEAD(IV) COMPOUNDS

Solutions of tetramethyl tin trimethyl tin sulfate, di-n-butyl tin diacetate, tetraphenyl tin, and triphenyl tin hydroxide in. 100% sulfuric acid have been investigated by cryoscopic and conductimetric methods. Tetramethyl tin reacts with sulfuric acid with the evolution of methane and the formation of trimethyl tin hydrogensulfate. Trialkyl tin hydrogensulfates and dialkyl tin dihydrogensulfates behave as strong bases. It is probable that the cationic species formed are protonated hydrogensulfates rather than "stannonium" ions. Phenyl-substituted tin compounds are cleaved in sulfuric acid with the formation of benzene sulfonic acid and the complex hexa(hydrogensulfato) stannic acid, H2Sn(HSO4)6, and its anions. Lead tetraacetate gives yellow solutions containing hexa(hydrogensulfato) plumbic acid, H2PB(HSO4O6, and its anions.

THE SULFURIC ACID SOLVENT SYSTEM: PART VIII. SOLUTIONS OF SOME PHOSPHORUS(V) AND VANADIUM(V) COMPOUNDS

It is shown that a number of phosphates ionize in sulfuric acid to give the P(OH)4+ion. Triphenyl phosphine and triethyl phosphate are fully protonated but phosphorus oxyfluoride and phosphorus oxychloride are shown to be nonelectrolytes.Ammonium metavanadate and vanadium pentoxide give the acid H[VO(HSO4)4] and there is evidence that the dimer H[V2O3(HSO4)6] and possibly higher polymers are present in increasing amounts with increasing concentration.