Induction of a distinct nuclear poly(A) polymerase and the production of anti-tumor poly(A) polymerase antibodies in hepatocarcinogenesis

Primary hepatomas induced in rats by an azo dye contained a distinct nuclear poly(A) polymerase which was different from the corresponding normal liver enzyme with respect to molecular weight and peptide map. The two enzymes could also be distinguished by their immunological characteristics. Sera from the carcinogen-fed rats contained antibodies to the tumor poly(A) polymerase even before the appearance of neoplastic nodules.

Vincristine, adriamycin, and mitomycin (VAM) therapy for previously treated breast cancer. A preliminary report

Fifteen patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with chemotherapy were treated with a regimen consisting of vincristine, Adriamycin, and mitomycin. Eleven patients (73%) responded with three complete and eight partial responses. The median duration of response was eight months. While all four nonresponders died within five months, the median duration of survival of responders was 18 months. Toxicity was significant but tolerable. Thus, this preliminary report suggests that this regimen is active in advanced previously treated breast cancer, providing meaningful remissions with acceptable toxicity.

Pulmonary regurgitation studied with the ultrasonic pulsed Doppler technique

Sixty patients with pulmonary regurgitation were studied by the pulsed Doppler technique combined with two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography. Patients with pulmonary regurgitation had abnormal Doppler signals just below the pulmonic valve in the right ventricular outflow tract in diastole on the two-dimensional image. These signals were considered to indicate the regurgitant flow. There are two patterns of pulmonary regurgitant Doppler signals. In pulmonary hypertension, the maximal component of instantaneous flow velocity is sustained at about the same signal strength throughout diastole, but when the pulmonary arterial pressure is normal, the velocity slows down gradually from early diastole to end-diastole. Pulmonary regurgitation was detected by phonocardiography in about half the patients. In the remaining half, pulmonary regurgitant murmur could not be differentiated from aortic regurgitant murmur or was masked by coexistent aortic regurgitation or patent ductus arteriosus, whereas the Doppler technique indicated pulmonary regurgitation.

Prostatic cancer with an unusual presentation: polymyositis and mediastinal adenopathy

A 67-year-old man with prostate cancer presented with acute polymyositis and vocal cord paralysis as a result of mediastinal lymphadenopathy. His clinical course was unusual, with the development of a malignant pleural effusion, supraclavicular adenopathy, and osteolytic bone lesions. Urologic symptoms developed only pre-terminally, and osteoblastic bone metastases were not documented. This case suggests that prostate cancer need not have a simple natural history.

Effect of Temperature on Growth and Alpha Toxin Production by Clostridium perfringens 1

Growth and alpha toxin production by a strain of Clostridium perfringens was determined in Thioglycollate medium, beef broth with ground beef, and beef broth with ground beef and soy protein. Incubation temperatures ranged from 15 to 50 C. In Thioglycollate medium, maximum alpha toxin production occurred at 35 C and was 40 times greater than that observed at 45 C. However, generation time and maximum population were approximately the same at 35 and 45 C. At 15 C, a two log cycle reduction in viable counts occurred within 6 h. Irrespective of incubation temperature, alpha toxin levels in Thioglycollate medium declined as the incubation period was extended beyond the stationary growth phase. In the beef broth with ground beef system which was studied at 35 C only, the organism grew slower and produced less toxin than in Thioglycollate medium. The amount of alpha toxin detected was influenced to a greater extent by the incubation time and temperature, the holding time beyond the stationary growth phase, and the growth medium than by the population level of C. perfringens .

Purification and Activity of Clostridium perfringens Alpha Toxin 1

Clostridium perfringens a-toxin obtained from a commercial source contained at least seven protein bands when examined by SDS polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis. The fraction with an R_m of 0.29-0.56 contained 95.6% of the total hemolytic activity and all of the phospholipolytic acitivity. The a-toxin when passed through a Sephadex G-100 column yielded several peaks but only one active fraction. This fraction upon electrophoresis in a SDS polyacrylamide disc gel system contained two protein bands. Only one protein with a R_m of 0.64 possessed hemolytic and phospholipolytic activites. A second passage of the active fraction through Sephadex G-100 yielded only one protein band. This protein exhibited both hemolytic and phospholipolytic activities. For C. perfringens , it is apparent that both of these activities reside with the same protein.

Factors Affecting Quantification of Clostridium perfringens Alpha Toxin by the Hemolysin Indicator Plate Test and Other Procedures 1

Application of the following methods, electroimmunodiffusion on cellulose acetate, radial immunodiffusion, lecithovitellin agar plate, and hemolysin indicator plate, for quantification of alpha toxin of Clostridium perfringens revealed that the hemolysin indicator plate method was the most sensitive detecting 0.0003 unit/ml. Sensitivity of the hemolysin indicator plate method was enhanced 67-fold when alpha toxin was diluted with Brewer Thioglycollate medium (Difco, 0236) rather than physiological saline solution. The proteose-peptone ingredient of Thioglycollate medium was the major contributor to increased sensitivity. Less refined agar yielded a larger hemolytic zone. This was attributed, in part, to its higher calcium content. The reducing agent, sodium thioglycollate, diminished the hemolytic zone. In terms of clarity of hemolytic zone, the optimum human red blood cell concentration was 2.1 × 10⁶/ml of base agar. Incubation of hemolytic indicator plates at 35 rather than 21 or 45 C yielded greater hemolytic zones. When incubation time was extended, hemolytic zones also increased in size.