Outbreak of Campbell de Morgan spots

An outbreak of small angiomatous lesions with the same clinical and histological features as Campbell de Morgan spots in adults is described. No infective agent was discovered, but their number was found to increase as the ambient temperature rose.

Double-blind controlled clinical trial of clofazimine in reactive phases of lepromatous leprosy

A double-blind controlled trial in 24 lepromatous leprosy patients in reaction showed that clofazimine (Lamprene) controlled symptoms of erythema nodosum leprosum reaction in lepromatous leprosy better than prednisolone. Clofazimine also appeared to be significantly superior in preventing recurrence once the reaction had been controlled. There was a statistically significant rise in serum albumin among inpatients on clofazimine as compared with patients on prednisolone, but no difference in terms of neurological status, bacterial index, morphological index, and renal functions. Red/black hyperpigmentation was seen among practically all patients on clofazimine. No other side-effects or deleterious systemic effects were observed.

Carbohydrate metabolism during morphogenesis of Coprinus lagopus (sensu Buller)

The occurrence and properties of enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism were studied during dikaryotic fruiting of the mushroom Coprinus lagopus. Enzymes of hexose monophosphate catabolism, sugar alcohol (polyol) dehydrogenases (DH), and trehalase occurred throughout development. The ratio of xylitol DH to sorbitol DH was greater than unity in both monokaryotic mycelium and dikaryotic fruit body caps, whereas this ratio decreased in the stipe (stalk) tissue. Xylitol DH and sorbitol DH were both dependent upon nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and showed maximal activity at pH 9. Two separate enzymes were suspected on the basis of preferential utilization of the NAD analogue, thionicotinamide-NAD, by xylitol DH, and this feature was consistent throughout development. An appraisal of the carbohydrate pool revealed trehalose and glucose, with the former predominant in the stipe and the latter in excess in the cap of dikaryotic fruit bodies. Trehalase activity in dialyzed enzyme extracts showed pH optima at acid and alkaline pH levels in monokaryotic mycelium, dikaryotic stipes, and cap tissues.

Induced morphogenesis in tissue cultures of Solanum xanthocarpum

Differentiation of shoots and roots or unorganized proliferation could be induced in tissue cultures of Solanum xanthocarpum when callus tissues habituated to a medium containing 2.4-D and meso-inositol were transferred to an auxinfree medium or to a medium in which the ratio of auxin and meso-inositol had been altered.