[The SGLDH determination with the Jung's method in differential diagnosis of hepatobiliary diseases (author's transl)]

SGLDH activity, determined according to Jung, was studied in different classes of hepato-biliary diseases. The discriminant effectiveness of this test, alone or in association with transaminase determination, was evaluated. The ratio of Schmidt and Schmidt and the ratio of Filippa were also calculated and their effectiveness was estimated. The determination of SGLDH activity, performed with the Jung's method (this method is considered the most sensitive among the clinical methods), was proved to offer no advantages neither alone nor in association with the determinations of the SGOT and SGPT.

Complete avulsion of the renal pedicle with survival: case reports and literature review

Two cases of complete avulsion of the renal pedicle with survival are presented, and the nine previous cases in the available world's literature are reviewed. The young age of these patients and frequent association with trauma to other organs are discussed. Because of the common absence of hematuria, an intravenous pyelogram should be performed in all patients with significant nonpenetrating abdominal trauma, and a renal arteriogram is indicated if nonvisualization is present. A plea for immediate surgery is made, with consideration of vascular reconstruction. (See Addendum, p. 162).

Effects of fructose infusions in patients suffering from acute viral hepatitis

Two groups of patients suffering from uncomplicated viral hepatitis were treated for seven consecutive days with intravenous infusions of fructose and glucose, respectively (1 gram per kilogram body weight per diem). Serum transaminases were determined daily as were total bilirubin and uric acid levels. No statistically significant variations in the values of these tests were observed between the two groups of patients. Serum lactic and pyruvic acid concentrations were also determined both before and after infusion during the first three days of treatment. Blood lactic and pyruvic acid levels were found to rise significantly after fructose infusion, but not after glucose infusion. These changes, however, were limited and did not affect the lactate/pyruvate ratio.

A comparative study of the Bessey method and Hausamen method for serum alkaline phosphatase determination

The methods of Bessey et al. and Hausamen et al. for serum alkaline phosphatase determination were compared. Determinations were carried out using sera from healthy blood donors and sera from patients suffering from different hepatobiliary diseases. A high reproducibility of values obtained using both methods was noted. The sensitivity of the method of Hausamen et al. is about four times greater than that of the method of Bessey et al., even though the former method employed a lower reaction temperature. A high degree of correlation exists between the two methods and the data reported indicate that both methods are completely valid.

Further observations on the properties of serum and tissue guanase from man and some animal species. Optimum pH and activation energy in the presence of 8-azaguanine

The activation energy and the optimum pH of guanine deaminase in man, the rat, guinea pig and mouse were studied using 8-azaguanine as a substrate. The serum guanase in man and in all the animal species studied differs in activation energy from the guanase of the liver. In man, moreover, the serum guanase is also different from the brain and kidney enzyme. In the rat and guinea pig the brain enzyme has thermic activation energy different from the liver and kidney enzyme. The guanase of the serum and tissues of the guinea pig differs from the enzyme of the serum and tissues of man, rat and mouse for optimum pH.

Activation energy, relative substrate specificity and optimum pH of guanase from humanrat, mouse and guinea pig sera and tissues

Some properties of serum and tissue guanase from man, rat, mouse and guinea pig have been studied. Serum guanase differs from tissue guanase in activation energy in the human species and in guinea pig. The mouse and rat brain enzyme differs from the liver and kidney enzyme. The guanase of each species differs from the enzyme of the other species in one or more properties.

Respiratory activity of Ehrlich ascites tumour cell nuclei

1. Intact Ehrlich ascites tumour cells exhibit a residual respiration which is insensitive to site-specific inhibitors of mitochrondrial electron transport. Treatment of the tumour-bearing mice with phenobarbital does not influence the rate of this inhibitor-resistant respiration. 2. Among the respiratory pigments analysed spectrophotometrically in the microsomal fraction prepared from ascites cells, only small amounts of flavoproteins (NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase) were detectable. 3. Ascites-cell nuclei respire with NADH or NADPH, but not with succinate, as substrates and the respiration is unaffected by inhibitors of mitochondrial electron and energy transfer. These nuclei contain cytochrome b5, whereas cytochrome P-450 or mitochondrial-like cytochromes are lacking. 4. It is concluded that the NAD(P)H-dependent electron transport in nuclei is responsible for the inhibitor-insensitive O2 uptake of intact cells. Conversely, mixed function oxidation reactions of the endoplasmic reticulum have no role in this connection. Moreover, it is assumed that nuclear respiration is involved in the control of the cellular redox potential. 5. The relevance of the data obtained with respect to some assumptions concerning the biogenesis of the endoplasmic reticulum is discussed.

Lymphocyte-macrophage Interaction in the Rejection Reaction Against Isologous and Homologous Ascites Tumors

The immunological rejection of two strains of Ehrlich adenocarcinoma ascites cells and of leukemia L1210 ascites cells was studied respectively in Swiss and DBA/2 mice previously immunized with irradiated tumor cells. During the first phases of the reaction cell contacts between lymphocytes and cancer cells, lymphocytes and macrophages and also between two lymphocytes were frequently observed. Afterwards macrophages surrounding tumor cells and macrophages loaded either with whole tumor cells or with cell debris were a usual finding. During the immunological rejection 7S globulin could not be detected on cancer cells by fluoresceine isothiocyanate labelled rabbit γ-globulin anti-7S mouse globulin. Cytotoxicity test performed on 51Cr-labelled tumor cells showed that peritoneal cells are more active than spleen and lymph node cells. Some hypotheses on the observed phenomena are discussed.

Studies on sustained contraceptive effects with subcutaneous polydimethylsiloxane implants. 3. Factors affecting steroid diffusion in vivo and in vitro

In vitro diffusion of [14C] megestrol acetate (MA) was studied before and after the subcutaneous insertion of polydimethylsiloxane implants (PDS) in the human. A certain period of equilibration before diffusion becomes constant is required for newly prepared capsules as well as for those extracted from the subcutaneous tissue within six months of the insertion. On the other hand, in vitro diffusion from capsules that have remained in the human for periods over one year, does not require any equilibration. Up to six months, the release in vitro of megestrol acetate was not significantly changed, whereas it was greatly decreased when capsules were re-incubated following sojourn in the subcutaneous tissue for 18 or 24 months.

A continuous wall of newly formed fibrotic tissue, proliferated in a circular manner was found around the capsules in all the cases studied. This fibrillary tissue was then surrounded by a fibrous adipose layer containing granulomas and giant-cells of the foreign body type.

Viral etiology of leukemias. Electron-microscope observation of virus-like particles

The injection of human leukemic blood in chicken embryos before incubation determines a characteristic reticuloendotheliosis, which may be transmitted from embryo to embryo and even to the adult fowl. The viral agent responsible for this reticuloendotheliosis is filtrable and inactivated by heat. Intradermal injection of affected-embryo homogenates in leukemic patients determines a local allergic reaction. Electron microscopy has shown the existence of virus-like particles in the cells of inoculated embryos.