Amenorrhoea and failure to virilize in a patient with a testosterone secreting granulosa cell tumour

A 39-year-old woman presented with secondary amenorrhoea in the absence of galactorrhoea, hirsutism or virilization. Investigation revealed a strikingly elevated serum testosterone, dihydrotesterone, free testosterone and LH level. At laparotomy a large granulosa cell tumour was encountered and totally removed. Analysis of the tumour revealed 127 ng of testosterone/mg of tumour tissue. The testosterone was localized immunocytochemically to the granulosa cells, which demonstrated typical ultrastructural characteristics of oestrogen rather than androgen secreting tissue. A study of androgen binding and metabolism prior to tumour resection revealed a normal androgen receptor as evidenced by normal maximum binding, dissociation constant and nuclear uptake. Removal of the tumour resulted in a return to normal of all abnormalities. We conclude that granulosa cell tumours may rarely secret large amounts of testosterone and that in this situation their ultrastructure is unchanged. Furthermore, absence of LH suppression or hirsutism in an amenorrhoeic patient does not dismiss the possibility of a significant androgen-secreting tumour. In this situation, the failure to virilize may be due to a post-nuclear translocational defect.

Primary aldosteronism caused by adrenal cortical carcinoma

Adrenocortical carcinoma rarely produces pure primary aldosteronism. We document the occurrence of such a case. Through tumor steroid analysis, we show that the content of aldosterone per gram of tumor tissue is diminished compared to aldosterone producing adenomas. We also demonstrate the occurrence of angiotensin II receptors on the tumor, a finding hitherto noted only on aldosterone producing adenomas.

Recurrence and heterogeneity in painless thyrotoxic lymphocytic thyroiditis. Report of five cases

Five patients had recurrent episodes of spontaneously resolving thyrotoxicosis (SRT). Three displayed only the classic low-intake variety of this disorder, while two had alternating episodes of high-uptake and low-uptake thyrotoxicosis. Two of the three with low uptake only who had thyrotropin displacement activity (TDA) assays had negative results on this test, while one of the patients with alternating high- and low-uptake thyrotoxicosis had a positive TDA assay result, suggesting that the pathogenesis in the two types of SRT may differ.

Structural and floristic classifications of Cape Mountain Fynbos on Rooiberg, southern Cape

Structure and floristic composition of the plant cover were used to establish separate classifications of plant communities in Mountain Fynbos on Rooiberg, South Africa. The structural units and floristic associations closely correlate with each other and their distribution reflects the major environmental influences, aspect and altitude. It is concluded that, despite the preliminary character of the survey, resource inventories of this type are suitable as a foundation for park management.

An international system for the education of students of medicine and other health professionals in human reproduction. The FIGO teaching manual: a status report

An analysis of the effectiveness of FIGO's Teaching Manual on Human Reproduction is reported on the basis of answers to a questionnaire received from 100 heads of teaching departments, chiefly of obstetrics and gynecology. These represented 32 countries widely distributed throughout the developing countries of the world. The most significant finding was the evidence of the very large number of medical and other students that could be reached through the principle of placing superlatively good teaching material in the hands of key educators in their native country. Additional answers to the questionnaire provided information on the way courses were organized about the material and suggestions as the useful changes, possible expansion of subject matter, and the felt need for an updated edition.

Phytogeography of fynbos

Previous classifications of the vegetation of the Cape Floristic Region, or Capensis, are outlined. The distinctive features of the Cape flora such as species diversity, endemism and distribution patterns are discussed in an attempt to elucidate the origins and evolution of the principal vegetation type of the region, known today as fynbos. Evidence suggests that the present species-rich Cape flora has mainly evolved in and radiated from the southwestern part of Capensis, an area where a true mediterranean-type climate is found.

Remission of pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease after removal of nonneoplastyic pituitary gland

Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy was performed on a 28-year-old woman with pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease. Both clinical and chemical resolution of the hypercortisolism was achieved in spite of no evident pituitary microadenoma or cell hyperplasia. Histologic examination revealed widespread Crooke's changes and normal relative numbers, size, and distribution of corticotrophs. We propose that rare patients with pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease may have excessive pituitary production of adrenocorticotropic hormone in the absence of an adenoma or corticotroph cell hyperplasia.

Physarum myosin light chain binds calcium

Myosin from the slime mold Physarum polycephalum contains three sizes of polypeptides: a heavy chain and two light chains, LC-1 and LC-2. Using a simple qualitative test for calcium binding by comparing electrophoretic migration of the polypeptides in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) acrylamide gels in the presence and absence of calcium, we have found that Physarum myosin light chain LC-2 migrates with an apparent molecular weight of 16,900 daltons in the presence of the metal ion chelator ethylene glycol bis (B-aminoethyl ether) N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). However, if calcium chloride is added to the sample prior to electrophoresis, the apparent molecular weight decreases to 16,100. Lanthanide and cadmium ions, but not magnesium, can substitute for calcium. Because the ionic radii of Ca2+, La3+, and Cd2+ are almost identical, we conclude that Physarum myosin LC-2 possesses a very size-specific binding site for calcium. Physarum myosin LC-1 and the heavy chain give no evidence for binding calcium by this test. Since cytoplasmic streaming in the plasmodium of Physarum requires calcium, our evidence indicates that the calcium-binding property of Physarum myosin LC-2 may be important in regulating the production of force by actomyosin in the ectoplasm. Unexpectedly, the myosin light chain in Physarum capable of binding calcium, LC-2, is the essential light chain, while LC-1 is a member of the regulatory class of myosin light chains [V. T. Nachmias, personal communication]. Until now, essential myosin light chains have not been shown to have high affinity divalent cation binding sites. This means a new version of the myosin-based model for actomyosin regulation by calcium may be required to explain cytoplasmic movement in Physarum, and perhaps in other motile systems involving cytoplasmic myosins as well.

Analysis of ribonuclease-nucleotide interactions by quantitative affinity chromatography

Quantitative affinity chromatography on uridine-5'-(Sepharose-4-aminophenylphosphoryl)-2'(3')-phosphate was developed for the study of binding of ribonuclease species to nucleotide ligands. Elution of the native species ribonuclease-A and -S on the afffinity matrix in 0.4 M ammonium acetate, pH 5.2, containing various amounts of the soluble competing ligand 2'-cytidine monophosphate, reveals an inverse response of elution volume to concentration of soluble ligand. This response conforms to behavior expected for the competing binding equilibria enzyme-soluble ligand and enzyme-insoluble ligand. A-NALYSIS OF ELUTION DATA ALLOWS CALCULATION OF KI and KIM, the dissociation constants, respectively, for the soluble and insoluble protein-ligand complexes. The values of these chromatographically derived constants are similar to values of dissocation constants determined in solution by kinetics of inhibition by 2'-cytidine monophosphate and uridine-5'-(j-aminophenylphosphoryl)-2'(3')-phosphate. Successful competitive elution experiments with [p-F-Phe8]semisynthetic ribonuclease-S' and individual elution trials for [4-F-His12]semisynthetic ribonuclease-S' indicate the utility of the quantitative affinity chromatographic technique for determination of ligand binding properties of ribonuclease derivatives, including inactive species. Nonbiospecific aspects of the interaction of ribonuclease with the affinity matrix in ammonium acetate buffers of concentrations 0.1 M and below were noted, delinating limits of conditions allowing the biospecificity needed for ligand-binding analyses by competitive elution. The dependence of ribonuclease competitive elution behavior on the amount of protein eluted also was examined and related to theoretical considerations in the quantitative application of affinity chromatography.

A Phytosociological Study of the Cape Fynbos and other Vegetation at Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch

The Braun-Blanquet phytosociological method was tested in the complex Fynbos vegetation of the South-western Cape Region o f South Africa. In the Swartboschkloof Nature Reserve, Jonkers- hoek, the Fynbos, riverine scrub and forest vegetation was classified preliminarily into eight com­munities, which are described floristically and related to habitat. The results hold promise, and the possibilities of classifying the Cape Fynbos in a formal phytosociological system are discussed.

Notes on the Vegetation of the Cape Flats

Though the Cape Flats, adjoining Cape Town, were among the first explored parts o f South Africa, their vegetation, rapidly being altered by encroachment o f alien plants, has not been described before. In these notes, five inland and four coastal plant communities, delineated by habitat, are described; their relationships with one another and with coast-flats vegetation elsewhere are suggested. Observations on means of regeneration after fire show that the woody, tropical-derived element regenerates rapidly from coppice, while the “fynbos” or temperate sclerophyll element contains many seed-regenerating species. Succession in the fynbos is thus more complex and prolonged.