Mapping of proteoglycans in atherosclerotic lesions

The involvement of sulphated glycosaminoglycans in atherosclerotic changes have been studied in human and rat arteries, and biochemical experiments have revealed that a significant increase in the contents of chondroitin sulphate/dermatan sulphate and cholesterol, but loss of heparan sulphate, occurs in human atherosclerotic arterial tissues. Electron micrographs have revealed that extracellular deposits of lipid are predominantly present in areas rich in chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans but not in areas rich in collagen bundles and dermatan sulphate proteoglycans. The different types of proteoglycans have been distinguished in situ by the cuprolinic blue staining method and enzymatic degradation experiments, and their topohistochemical distribution patterns analysed by morphometry of proteoglycan/cuprolinic blue precipitates. The ultracytochemical investigations indicate changes in size and pattern of chondroitin sulphate-rich proteoglycan-cuprolinic blue precipitates in human atherosclerosis. In plaque tissue, these precipitates are significantly enlarged. In addition, they accumulate around smooth muscle cells in the medial tissue. An increase in the size of proteoglycan-cuprolinic blue precipitates has also been observed in balloon catheter-induced lesions in rat carotid arteries. The large chondroitin sulphate as well as the small dermatan sulphate proteoglycan-cuprolinic blue precipitates show this alteration 2 weeks after balloon injury. We suggest that quantitative and qualitative alterations in the arterial proteoglycans occur in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in addition to the cell proliferation and lipid accumulation.

Cytochemical changes in a human arterial proteoglycan related to atherosclerosis

The cuprolinic blue (CB) staining method has been used to visualize and characterize proteoglycans (PG) in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of normal and atherosclerotic human arteries. Arterial tissues of 13 individuals (1-83 years of age) were obtained by autopsy. For electron microscopic visualization of PGs staining with CB was performed in the presence of a critical electrolyte concentration of 0.3 M MgCl2. Under these conditions CB selectively interacts with the polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) side chains of the molecules. Removal of PG side chains by GAG-degrading enzymes prior to CB staining selectively prevented the formation of chondroitin sulfate (CS)-rich and dermatan sulfate (DS)-rich PG-CB precipitates. The DS-rich type of PG is mainly associated with collagen fibrils, the CS-rich type of PG is preferentially localized in nonfibrous areas of the ECM (soluble matrix). When normal arterial tissues are compared with those affected by atherosclerosis quantitative and qualitative changes of PG-CB precipitates are detected. In fibrous plaques a strong accumulation of a large CS-rich type of precipitate close by smooth muscle cells (SMC) and foam cells is observed. In addition, these precipitates are significantly longer in fibrous plaques than in adjacent normal media (116 nm vs. 100 nm; P less than 0.001). This alteration is independent of the age of the donor. Small DS-rich PG-CB precipitates associated with collagen fibrils show strong variations in their length, but not a significant tendency towards elongated precipitates in atherosclerosis. The present results demonstrate that ultracytochemical and morphometric analysis are useful in providing information on the diverse types, locations, interactions, and possibly of molecular changes of PGs in normal and atherosclerotic human arteries.

[Function of the right ventricle in patients with mitral valve diseases]

To investigate right ventricular function in mitral valve disease, biplane cineventriculograms of the right and left ventricle were performed in 96 patients-35 with mitral stenosis, 26 with mitral regurgitation, 12 with combined mitral valve disease, 14 with mitral stenosis and tricuspid regurgitation, and nine with mitral regurgitation and tricuspid regurgitation, compared to 18 normals (N). Right ventricular enddiastolic volume index was moderately elevated in patients with mitral stenosis and concomitant tricuspid regurgitation (111.6 +/- 35.3 ml/m2, no significance compared to N: 95.9 +/- 21.8 ml/m2) and with mitral regurgitation and tricuspid regurgitation (107.9 +/- 45.1 ml/m2, no significance compared to N). A reduced right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF less than or equal to 50%) was found in 40 of the 96 patients. Right ventricular ejection fraction was frequently reduced in patients with mitral regurgitation and tricuspid regurgitation (46.7% +/- 15.1%) and significantly reduced in patients with combined mitral valve disease (45.0 +/- 17.6%, compared to N: 58.0 +/- 7.1%, p less than 0.01). No significant correlations were found between right ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular enddiastolic volume or left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with mitral valve disease. Moreover, right ventricular ejection fraction did not correlate with systolic pulmonary artery pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure or mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. Local wall motion (mean systolic shortening) was determined for the anterior, anteroapical, and inferior segment in the RAO-projection and for the right ventricular free wall in the LAO-projection. 63% of the patients (n = 25) with reduced right ventricular function (RVEF less than of equal to 50%) showed local wall motion abnormalities, preferably in the anterior segment of the RAO- projection (48%) and the right ventricular free wall (30%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Photophysics of Ceramic Luminophores. Zeolite-Based Luminophores of the Types Zn2SiO4: Mn and (CdO)2B2O3: Mn

The emission spectra (at T = 10 K and 296 K) and the excitation spectra (at T = 295 K) of zeolite-based luminophores of the types Zn2SiO4:Mn and (CdO)2B2O3:Mn show the characteristics of Mn2+ in tetrahedral and octahedral surroundings, respectively, as well as additional features due to impurities and/or structural defects of the host crystal. The ZnSiO4⁻type phosphor exhibits photostimulated emission, which can be assigned to trap states of the silicate host.

Association of thrombospondin of endothelial cells with other matrix proteins and cell attachment sites and migration tracks

Different biochemical and cytochemical techniques were applied to characterize the sites of localization of thrombospondin in cultured endothelial cells. The results obtained by [35S]methionine labeling, immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, fluorescence microscopy, ultracytochemistry, immunogold labeling, and silver enhancement experiments revealed that thrombospondin secreted by endothelial cells is structurally organized together with proteoheparan sulfate in spherical granules at the cell surface. These granules are about 100 to 300 nm in size. Heparin or enzymatic degradation with heparitinase, but not with ABC lyase, release thrombospondin from the cell surface. Fibronectin is expressed in the extracellular matrix of endothelial cells in a fibrillar organization, clearly distinct from the punctate pattern of thrombospondin on the cell surface. Furthermore, secreted thrombospondin is highly enriched together with fibronectin and proteoheparan sulfate in cell attachment sites and in cell migration tracks. In cell migration tracks proteoheparan sulfate more clearly resembles the fibrillar distribution pattern of fibronectin, whereas thrombospondin reveals a rather monodisperse pattern. The obtained data suggest preferential sites of interaction between thrombospondin and heparan sulfate proteoglycans on the cell surface and a participation of thrombospondin in cell adhesion and cell migration.

Mapping of proteoglycans in human arterial tissue

The major families of proteoglycans in human arterial tissue have been localized and characterized by electron microscopy. After staining with the polycationic dye cuprolinic blue in the presence of a critical electrolyte concentration, three differently sized populations of proteoglycan-cuprolinic blue precipitates are found. The precipitates are distinguished of the basis of their morphology, topographical distribution and susceptibility to specific glycosaminoglycan-degrading enzymes. Each type of proteoglycan is preferentially associated with one connective tissue component: (a) a dermatan sulfate proteoglycan interacts with collagenous fibers, (b) a heparan sulfate proteoglycan is associated with elastic fibers and with the exterior surface of the basement membrane-like layer surrounding smooth muscle cells, and (c) a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan forms aggregates with hyaluronate in the soluble matrix. Information about the pattern of proteoglycans in normal human arterial tissue should constitute a useful basis for evaluating perturbations in proteoglycan distribution in arteriosclerotic plaques.

Compartmentation and characterization of different proteoglycans in bovine arterial wall

Proteoglycans stained specifically with cuprolinic blue have been visualized in electron micrographs of bovine arterial tissue. Three differently sized proteoglycan-cuprolinic blue precipitates, designated as types I, II, and III, could be detected in the extracellular matrix. The precipitates could be distinguished by their length, width, area, topographical distribution, and their characteristic association with other matrix components. By taking into account the available biochemical data and the individual susceptibilities of the precipitates towards specific glycosaminoglycan-degrading enzymes, each type of proteoglycan-cuprolinic blue precipitate could be attributed to a proteoglycan population containing dermatan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, or heparan sulfate as its main glycosaminoglycan component.

Polypeptides of the chloroplast envelope membranes as visualized by immunochemical techniques

The polypeptides of relative molecular masses (Mr) 22,000, 29,000, and 36,000 represent three major constituents of the chloroplast envelope of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves. The Mr 22,000 polypeptide has been localized in the outer membrane, whereas the two other peptides have been attributed to the inner envelope membrane (Joyard et al., 1983). The Mr 29,000 polypeptide has been identified as the "phosphate translocator" (Flügge and Heldt, 1979). In this investigation, we studied the three envelope polypeptides by means of immunocytochemistry. Using indirect immunofluorescence, all three polypeptides were visualized in cryostat sections of formaldehyde-fixed leaf tissue. They were found in both palisade and spongy parenchyma cells and in guard cells, as indicated by a strong fluorescence in the chloroplast periphery. In contrast, fluorescein isothiocyanate or protein A-gold labeling of isolated fixed chloroplasts resulted only in visualization of the Mr 22,000 polypeptide, a constituent of the outer membrane. We further studied the morphological distribution and frequency of this peptide by electron microscopic evaluation of platinum-carbon replicas after freeze-etching or label-fracture and of ultra-thin sections. By use of these three methods, the polypeptide was found to be randomly distributed in the outer envelope membrane and easily accessible to the immunomarker. Average marker density, as obtained by freeze-etching and label-fracture, was approximately 130 gold particles per square micron.

[Mastopathy and breast cancer: is there a typical hormone profile?]

Carcinoma of the breast and mastopathy are statistically correlated with the functioning of the gonads. The authors studied whether in 58 women with carcinoma of the breast and in 36 patients with mastopathy any change was seen in the secretory pattern of gonadal steroids and whether there were any latent changes in the secretion of prolactin and TSH. A group of 43 women with benign gynaecological diseases served as controls. Before making the diagnosis via immediate section for microscopic examination we determined the basal values of prolactin, LH, FSH, TSH and the oestrogen fractions E1, E2, E3, total oestrogens and progesterone. In addition, we measured the increase in prolactin and TSH after stimulation with metoclopramide. Postoperatively this was followed by measuring the basal values of prolactin and TSH and their secretory performance in respect of TRH. All histological diagnoses were made by an experienced pathologist. Examinations were performed under strictly standardised conditions, taking into account stress, circadian variation and the nutritional status. The following group-specific significant results were obtained (p less than 0.05-0.01): Mastopathy: high serum values of all oestrogen fractions and of total oestrogens, high PRL release through MTC stimulation, prolactin secretory effect after MTC in accordance with the degree of severity of epithelial proliferation, early onset of menopause. Carcinoma of the breast: Low PRL and TSH release on MTC stimulation, low progesterone concentrations during the second cycle phase, relatively high serum concentrations of oestradiol during the first cycle phase, PRL basal values increased postoperatively, compared with preoperative values. The results led to the following conclusions: In mastopathy patients there is a connection between high oestrogen concentrations and consecutively high prolactin release. The morphological substrate is represented by an enhanced proliferation of epithelium. In patients with cancer of the breast reduced progesterone concentrations during the second half of the cycle lead us to suspect an increased incidence of luteal insufficiency; in addition, it appears that the daily prolactin secretion rate in this group is on a reduced level.

Is the surface layer from hazelnut pollen, which is precipitated by Cuprolinic blue, an effective antigen in hay-fever patients?

In electron micrographs it could be shown that hazelnut (Corylus avellana) pollen grains are covered on their surface by a diffusible 10 nm thick lamellar layer. On pollen surface as well as in pollen extract this layer could be precipitated and stained by the polycationic dye Cuprolinic blue. By subsequent application of both immunogold labeling with serum from a hay-fever patient allergic to tree pollen grains and histochemical detection with Cuprolinic blue this pollen surface layer proved to be an effective antigen.

[Thoughts on long-term estrogen substitution--should gynecologists change their mind?]

Public opinion and a large proportion of physicians believe that very often women must necessarily experience a restricted quality of life as a result of menopause, postmenopause and the senium, and that even a possible early death from the sequels of osteoporosis is quite natural and hence inevitable. However, the present state of the art rules out such fatalism, since it has been established beyond doubt that early initiation of oestrogen and progestagen substitution after the menopause is of high prophylactic value both from the viewpoint of social medicine and also in each individual case. Calculations of cost and effect in elderly women have shown that treatment results in reduced morbidity and mortality caused by carcinoma of the breast and of the endometrium, and also by cardiovascular disease, quite apart from an enhanced quality of life. Hence, all women who would like to receive such prophylactic treatment--in particular, also risk patients likely to suffer from osteoporosis-should definitely not be deprived of regular long-term administration of oestrogen that should continue until old age. The only basic condition is the sequential administration of oestrogen and progestagen at low dosage levels.

[Electrophysiologic studies of alcohol dependent patients]

Electrophysiological methods were used to examine 52 ward patients with a long history of alcohol abuse. Alertness fluctuations were much more common in the EEG than among the healthy control subjects. 86.5% of the ENG findings were abnormal and indicated demyelinisation in most cases. The latence times of the brain stem potentials were longer than normal in about half of the patients and were definitely pathological in 13.5%. There was no statistical correlation between drinking habits and the results of the examination. Unknown pathogenetic factors are therefore suspected. The polytopic pattern of damage necessitates the use of a broad range of signostic techniques.

Binding and degradation of proteoglycans by cultured arterial smooth muscle cells. II. Binding sites of proteoglycans on the cell surface

Exogenous proteoglycans stained for electron microscopy with colloidal gold and/or cuprolinic blue bind to the surface of cultured arterial smooth muscle cells at two different sites. (I) About 20% of the proteoglycans adsorbed to the cells from the culture medium interact as monomeric and multimeric proteoglycans with smooth or coated membrane areas. (II) The bulk of exogenous proteoglycans exhibits high affinity binding to cell membrane-associated 10 nm fibrils containing or being closely associated with fibronectin and to collagen. It is suggested that the self association of proteoglycans and their binding to the cell membrane and to cell surface-associated fibronectin and collagen are important for maintaining an appropriate micro-environment for the cultured cells.

Binding and degradation of proteoglycans by cultured arterial smooth muscle cells. I. Endocytosis and intracellular translocation of proteoglycan-gold conjugates

Proteoglycans (Mr approximately 200 000) isolated from bovine arterial tissue were decorated with 17 nm diameter gold particles for tracing in electron microscopic thin sections and surface replicas. Lysine and arginine residues of their proteoglycan protein core are assumed to be essential for gold conjugation. The resulting proteoglycan-gold conjugates, which appear as pearl string-like gold strands of about 170 nm in length were used to visualize binding, endocytosis and intracellular translocation of proteoglycans by homologous cultured arterial smooth muscle cells. The proteoglycan-gold conjugates bind to coated as well as to non-coated cell surface membrane areas at 4 degrees C. This is followed by the formation of membrane invaginations. Postincubation at 37 degrees C leads to a time-dependent uptake of proteoglycan-gold conjugates via non-coated and coated vesicles which after fusion are translocated to multivesicular bodies and to large sized vesicles within 1 h. After conversion of these vesicles to lysosomal compartments the gold particles are uncoupled from the proteoglycans and are concentrated within residual vacuoles. From these vacuoles the gold particles are extruded. In contrast to the surface-bound proteoglycan-gold conjugates the released gold particles are condensed to bulky aggregates. The results, which include competition, inhibition and pulse chase experiments, extend biochemical data on endocytosis and degradation of proteoglycans.

[Cushing syndrome and pregnancy]

Pregnancies in cases of Cushing syndrome are rare. When conception occurs the complication rate is high especially from hypertension and superimposed toxemia. Abortions, premature deliveries, and stillbirth occur more often. In the case described an adenoma of the adrenal gland was diagnosed early in pregnancy. Frequent prenatal care and treatment of the hypertension resulted in a pregnancy of 34 weeks gestation. At this time low HPL and estriol values and variable decelerations forced a Cesarean section. The premature infant was discharged in good condition after several weeks of cortico-steroid substitution. In the mother a well defined adrenal cortical tumour at right was found post-partum. The operative specimen showed an adenomatous nodular adrenal cortical hyperplasia. The described case shows that frequent prenatal care and early hospitalization permit an expectant treatment of pregnancy in cases of Cushing-Syndrome.

Impaired pituitary response to bromocriptine suppression: reversal after bromocriptine plus tamoxifen

This study was designed to clarify whether previously resistant cases of adenomatous hyperprolactinaemia to bromocriptine might be improved by additive tamoxifen therapy. Ten hyperprolactinaemic women under bromocriptine (2.5–10 mg) with hypophyseal tumours of different extent were treated with a combined therapy of bromocriptine and tamoxifen (10–20 mg). Two of them had undergone incomplete resection of chromophobe adenomata. The others refused surgery or irradiation. Two other women without basal therapy because of side effects from bromocriptine, received the combined therapy from the beginning of the study. In 6 out of 10 women the addition of tamoxifen resulted in a marked suppression of prolactin serum values. Amenorrhoea and glactorrhoea ceased in 4 of them. One woman conceived. One reported a marked improvement of libido. One stated that side effects under bromocriptine disappeared through the addition of tamoxifen. The 2 women who previously were suffering from side effects were able to take bromocriptine when tamoxifen was added. Four patients were non-responders. Serum prolactin remained unchanged as well as the clinical follow-up. The effectiveness of the combined therapy was not related to the extent of the tumour or to the clinical or biochemical baseline date.

We conclude that the suppressive effect of bromocriptine on prolactin secretion is enhanced by the addition of tamoxifen in most cases of adenomatous hyperprolactinaemia. Side effects of bromocriptine are considerably reduced. Anti-oestrogens are competitive inhibitors of the binding of oestradiol to the receptor. Oestrogen play an important role in the development of prolactin secreting adenomata. Our finding of responders and non-responders to tamoxifen suggests that the anti-oestrogen competes for greater or lesser concentrations of receptor sites in prolactinomata.

[Bromocriptine and tamoxifen--a new therapeutic approach in suppression-resistant prolactin-secreting adenomas]

In the present study the combination of tamoxifen and bromocriptine was tried for the suppression of prolactin in prolactin secreting adenomas which were resistant to suppression with bromoergocriptine alone. 10 women under treatment with 2.5-10 mg of parlodel (bromocriptine) for pituitary tumours of various sizes were additionally treated with tamoxifen 10-20 mg. (nolvadex) daily. Two patients had a previous incomplete resection for chromophobe adenomas. The other patients refused operation. Two women were also studied who did not tolerate a bromoergocriptine therapy because of side effects. In 6 of the 10 women with combination treatment a satisfactory suppression of the prolactin was observed. Four women were cleared of their amenorrhoea and galactorrhoea. One woman conceived. One woman lost her frigidity. Three women, among those the two with severe side effects from bromoergocriptine, tolerated the combined treatment well. Four women showed no success with the combined treatment. The effectiveness of the combined treatment was not correlated with the size of the tumour nor the clinical or biochemical baseline. The results lead to the conclusion that tamoxifen is capable of improving the suppression of prolactin or render the adenomas suppressible in a large number of cases.

[Diagnostic value of neuropsychiatric, audiological and electrophysiological examinations of alcohol-dependent patients]

Neuropsychiatric, audiological and electrophysiological examinations performed on 52 patients under neuropsychiatric therapy after long-term alcohol dependence, gave evidence of polytopical impairment of the peripheral and central nervous systems as well as inner ear. The results show that in order to ascertain impairments, a comprehensive diagnostic program is to be applied with special focus on electroneurographic examinations of peripheral nerves. According to the present findings, the latter are also recommended as a screening method, in particular scrutinizing the N. fibularis while also determining the threshold audiograms.

[Oral steroid contraception in hyperprolactinemia (author's transl)]

A study on the statistical correlation between oral contraceptives and similar mixtures of steroids and the development and maintenance of hyperprolactinemia is presented. 91 cases with hyperprolactinemia-amenorrhoea were compared to a group of 91 women with amenorrhoea and normal prolactinemia. Matched pairs regarding duration of amenorrhoea, parity, gonadal function and thyroid function were used. It was shown that oral contraceptives and similar combination of estrogen and progesterone do not increase the relative risk for functional or adenomatous hyperprolactinemia. There were no evidence that existing adenomas were deteriorating during oral contraception. However, two cases with pituitary adenoma following long-term high dosage estrogen therapy was found. The presented results show that low dosage steroid medications do not increase the risk for the development or maintenance of hyperprolactinemia.

[Estrogen therapy in carcinoma of the breast (author's transl)]

The controvery about the increase of carcinoma of the endometrium following estrogen therapy led to an investigation of the correlation between estrogen and cancer of the breast because of the close link between carcinoma of the endometrium and carcinoma of the breast. In the statistical matched pair comparison 120 cases of carcinoma of the breast were compared with thoroughly selected controls. To each patient with carcinoma of the breast a control person with essentially the same risk factors was assigned. It was found that: 1) Estrogen therapy in general does not lead to an increased risk for carcinoma of the breast. 2) The separate evaluation of different estrogen preparations showed no increase of the risk. 3) The risk was not increased by prolonged treatment with estrogen. 4) The number of patients taking conjugated estrogens was higher in the control group than in the carcinoma group. 5) The coincidence of estrogen treatment with the other risk factors of nulligravity, hypertension and obesity did not result in an increased risk for carcinoma of the breast.

[Estrogen therapy and carcinoma of the endometrium (author's transl)]

The public discussion and the discussion among gynaecologists about the possible increased risk to develop carcinoma of the endometrium following post menopausal treatment with estrogens has lead to insecurity and restricted attitudes in the prescriptions of estrogens. In a statistic comparison of matched pairs of 130 cases of carcinoma of the endometrium with an equal number of selected control cases the following findings were elucidated: 1. Any estrogen preparations do not increase the relative risk for the development of carcinoma of the endometrium. 2. Differentiation into conjugated estrogens, estriol, oral contraceptives and various other estrogen compounds showed a similar trend. 3. Estrogen-androgen compounds and estrodiol compounds did not increase the relative risk for endometrial carcinoma. 4. The relative risk does not increase by prolonged ingestion of estrogen preparations in general and not for conjugated estrogens especially. 5. In the presence of other risk factors such as nulligravity, hypertension, obesity the relative risk for the development of carcinoma of the endometrium is significantly decreased when estrogens were taken, especially when the coincidental risk factor to estrogen ingestion was obesity. The above results suggest that the restraint in the prescription of estrogen for fear of endometrial carcinoma is not justified.

[Alpha-fetoprotein, HPL, ostriol and SP1 concentrations in prostaglandin-induced mid-trimester abortions (author's transl)]

Maternal serum concentrations of AFP, HPL, SP1 and Estriol were measured in the course of prostaglandin-induced abortions. Termination of pregnancy between the 13th and 25th week of pregnancy was done for medical reasons. Patients were treated with PGE2, PGF2alpha and with 16-phenoxy-PGE2-methansulfonamid, respectively. Prostaglandins were administered systemically, i. e. intravenously. Current measurement of HPL and AFP-concentrations showed a contrary sense. These changes of concentrations were related to fetal death and membrane rupture in some cases as is demonstrated in four diagrams. Typical and sharply decreasing values of Estriol followed fetal death in patients with intact pregnancies before. As for an anencephalic fetus, AFP-concentrations increased slightly too, HPL values decreased like in other abortions. Only minimal changes of SP1 concentrations were found generally in all patients and during abortion time.

[Comparison of two methods for the determination of LH: HI-GONAVIS and LH-radioimmuno-assay in women with normal and irregular menstrual cycles (author's transl)]

A new direct hemagglutination test (HI-GONAVIS) for urinary LH was compared with the serum radioimmuno-assay of LH. The pairs of values showed a good correlation of r-0.87. In conjunction with clinical parameters and further hormone determinations the test was of value in the diagnosis of: the follicle phase of the cycle, the per-ovulatory phase, the luteal phase, the menopause, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism.

[The validity of HPL-determinations in prolonged pregnancy]

Till now there is no unequivocal diagnostic tool for the discovery of prolonged pregnancy. Therefore the present study was performed to evaluate whether HPL-values correlate with the presence of postmaturity syndrome in coherence with other known symptoms. 86 cases, partly with signs of postmaturity (n = 12), partly without such signs (n = 74), were compared with a non-postmature group. In prolonged pregnancy HPL-values were distinctly lower than at term. The more severe the condition, the lower were the HPL-values. There was a significant incidence of higher rates of meconium stained amniotic fluid beyond 42 weeks of gestation. After careful delivery the babies were generally in good condition. There was a slight shift to lower Apgar-values, but base excess and actual pH were found to be normal in umbilical artery. Birth-weights of the postmature infants did not show any differences to those born at term.

The stereospecificity of nitrate reductase for hydrogen removal from reduced pyridine nucleotides

The stereospecificity of the hydrogen removal from reduced pyridine nucleotides catalyzed by nitrate reductase (NADH : nitrate oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.6.1, and NAD(P)H : nitrate oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.6.2) was investigated. A high degree of enzyme purification was required to obtain conclusive results. Improvements are described for the purification of nitrate reductase from Chlorella fusca and from spinach (Spinacea oleracea, L.) leaves. The latter enzyme is shown to contain a cytochrome. With highly purified nitrate reductase preparations from Cl. fusca, Neurospora crassa, Rhodotorula glutinis and spinach leaves the stereospecificity of the reaction was determined to be predominantly of the A-type in all cases.

[Current status of gestagen administration. 2. Gestagen therapy in the area of reproduction]

The spectrum of progestin therapy has changed and expanded during the last few years. 1. The drug-therapy of choice in endometriosis is the medication of progestins for at least six months, for instance ethinyl-testosterone. If a patient wants additional children the "more gentle" dydrogesterone should be considered. 2. In the treatment of dysmenorrhea combination pills should be given, sequentials should be avoided. In the case of incompatibility of estrogens or in danger of oversuppression syndrome dydrogesterone should be applicated. 3. Dysfunctional bleedings should lead to an intense search for their cause. The treatment consists in an estrogen-progestin combination for 9 days and in cyclic continuation of this therapy for at least a further three months. In the case of hemorrhagic diathesis progestin treatment should be continued. 4. Cyclic adequate progestins have proofed to be successful in handling of hirsutism. The choice of the preparation depends on the patient's wish for children. 5. The progestin test is still the first step in diagnosis of amenorrhea. 6. Progestin therapy is indicated in progressive endometrial carcinoma. Some medical centres treat carcinoma of the mamma successfully with progestins. 7. Nowadays fast and early hormonal pregnancy tests are available. The progestin-pregnancy-test is limited to cases of premenopause. 8. The so-called short luteum phase has received considerable attention as a possible cause of infertility. In these cases a substitutional therapy of progestins should follow. Clomiphene or HCG-therapy is advisable. In short luteum phase and premenstrual spottings potent progestins should be given. 9. High dosage of progestins are in common use in the treatment of abortus imminens. 10. Combination pills and sequentials are widely used, the possible methods of a pure progestin contraception are: minipills, three-month-injections, implanted silastic capsules with progestional compounds, progestin impregnated intrauterine devices, vaginal silastic rings impregnated with progestional compounds. 11. Carcinogenesis of progestins was not detectable. 12. Some progestins are teratogenic.

Über den chemischen Mechanismus der Photosynthese

O2-Entwicklung im Licht durch Chinone in grünen Grana und in Chlorella, stöchiometrisch und katalytisch. Entstehung von H2O2 bei den Chinonkatalysen. Lichtphosphorylierung. Gleichungen der O2 Entwicklung. Photosynthese.