Aldosterone nuclear receptors in kidneys of chick embryo

We have studied the properties of the nuclear receptors for aldosterone in kidneys of chick embryo. Aliquots of 0.4 M KCl nuclear extracts were incubated with [3H]aldosterone with or without 1 microM RU28362, a potent glucocorticoid analog. Scatchard analyses of binding data revealed two classes of binding sites with Ka of 0.26 and 0.03 X 10(9) M-1 and Nmax of 330 fmol and 620 fmol/mg DNA respectively. In presence of RU28362, however, we observed only a single class of binding sites with a Ka of 1.02 X 10(8) M-1 and a Nmax of 90 fmol/mg DNA. Competition studies performed in presence of RU28362 showed that aldosterone was the more effective competitor followed by corticosterone, progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, dexamethasone, cortisol, triamcinolone acetonide and cortisone. The nuclear complexes had a sedimentation coefficient in the area of 8 S which changed to 4-5 S in the presence of 0.4 M KCl. This effect of KCl was prevented by the addition of 10 mM sodium molybdate. Always in the presence of the glucocorticoid analog, by DEAE-c chromatography we observed a major specific aldosterone-binding fraction which was eluted with 0.2 M KCl. This fraction sedimented at 8.4 S in the absence of sodium molybdate and KCl. In the absence of RU28362, DNA-c columns retained only a small portion of the nuclear complexes which were eluted with KCl. These complexes sedimented, on sucrose gradient, at 4.6 and 3.1 S, whereas those which did not bind to DNA-c had a sedimentation coefficient of 8 S. In the presence of RU28362, the majority of bound [3H]aldosterone remained in the column flow-through fraction; when this fraction was further analyzed on DEAE-c, complexes were eluted with 0.2 and 0.3 M KCl. These data indicate that nuclear receptors for aldosterone are present in small number in kidneys of chick embryo and that they are mostly in the 8 S form.

Familial aggregation in physical fitness, coronary heart disease risk factors, and pulmonary function measurements

In order to test for the presence of familial aggregation in physical fitness and coronary heart disease risk factors, body fat, submaximal power output, muscular strength, muscular endurance, blood pressure, pulmonary functions, and several blood biochemical variables were measured in 304 nuclear families living in the Quebec city area. Analysis of variance indicated a larger between-family than within-family variation for all the variables. When all members of nuclear families were considered, intraclass correlations ranged from 0.21 to 0.34 (P less than or equal to 0.01). Interclass correlations computed for various pairs of relatives revealed significant parent-child and sibling correlations for all the variables (0.14 less than or equal to r less than or equal to 0.55; P less than or equal to 0.01). On the other hand, spousal correlations tended to be lower but significant (0.10 less than or equal to r less than or equal to 0.30; P less than or equal to 0.05) for all variables except subcutaneous fat and hemoglobin concentration. These results suggest that heredity and common lifestyle shared by members of nuclear families are responsible for the familial aggregation of physical fitness, coronary heart disease risk factors, and pulmonary functions. The findings also support the notion of considering the nuclear family as a unit of intervention in the application of preventive measures aimed at the reduction of several risk factors.

Adenosine deaminase, adenylate kinase and acid phosphatase polymorphism in a French-Canadian population

Adenosine deaminase (ADA), adenylate kinase (AK1), and acid phosphatase (ACP1) red blood cell enzymes were studied for allelic variation in a French-Canadian population from Quebec City, Canada. Allele frequencies in 887 unrelated individuals were for ACP1, ACP1*A: 0.305; ACP1*B: 0.635 and ACP1*C: 0.060, for ADA, ADA*1: 0.969, ADA*2: 0.031, and for AK1, AK1*1: 0.976, AK1*2: 0.024. The allele frequencies for each enzyme were identical to those previously reported in other Caucasian populations.

Esterase D polymorphism in a French-Canadian population

Red blood cell esterase D (ESD) polymorphism was studied in a French-Canadian population from Quebec city, Canada, by means of high voltage electrophoresis on agarose gel followed, in heterozygotes for ESD 1, by IEF to reveal the possible allele ESD*5. Frequencies of the ESD alleles in 904 unrelated individuals were ESD*1: 0.888, EDS*2: 0.095 and ESD*5: 0.017. The segregation pattern observed in 275 families confirmed a Mendelian inheritance of three autosomal alleles.

More on red blood cell genetic variation in Olympic athletes

As a follow-up to De Garay et al. (1976) and Chagnon et al. (1984) studies, we are reporting on the genetic variation of four red blood cell enzymes in 49 athletes with isoelectric-focusing and electrophoresis techniques. The athletes were Caucasians participating in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. They were performing in 5 different sports and the sample included 18 women and 31 men. No uncommon allele was found and all known alleles were detected for each enzyme. Phenotypes and gene frequencies were computed and compared with appropriate populations of reference. No significant differences were observed for any of the enzymes. Moreover, no association was found between variation in these proteins and participation in rowing (N = 25) or track (N = 13) event.

Evidence for a regional component of body fatness in the association with serum lipids in men and women

Four hundred and seventy-two subjects (234 women and 238 men), 18 to 50 years of age, participated in percent body fat determination from underwater weighing, assessment of 6 subcutaneous skinfold thicknesses, and a 12-hour fast blood sampling for measurement of serum triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (CHOL), and HDL-C/CHOL ratio. Even though women were significantly fatter than men, they had lower TG, CHOL, and higher values of HDL-C/CHOL ratio. Correlational and variance analyses showed that body fatness seemed to be more closely associated with serum lipids in men than in women. Moreover, the relationship between each skinfold and serum lipids indicated that subscapular and abdominal fat depots are more closely associated with serum lipids than other fat depots in men. In women, correlations were lower and regional differences attenuated. Furthermore, the regional trend observed in men remained significant after correction for concomitant variables such as age, cigarette smoking, habitual energy intake and energy expenditure, maximal aerobic power, and alcohol consumption. However, no effect of increasing body fatness was noted on HDL-C levels in women. Results of this study suggest that measurement of subscapular and abdominal fat should be considered when interpreting the blood lipid profile, particularly in males. A higher percentage of fat must be present in women than in men to observe alterations in serum lipids.

High density lipoprotein cholesterol, habitual physical activity and physical fitness

The relationships between habitual physical activity and fitness parameters and fasting serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) were assessed in 357 men aged 30-59 years (mean 44, SD 5). A progressive submaximal power output test (PWC150), a 1-min sit-up test, and a 3-day activity energy expenditure record were obtained for each subject. HDL-C, TG, and HDL-C/TC were significantly associated with the fitness indices (PWC150 and sit-ups), but not with the mean daily energy expenditure computed from a 3-day activity record. However, when the subjects were stratified according to the maximal level of intensity reported in the work and leisure energy expenditure record, a relationship between maximal exercise or work intensity and the concentration of HDL-C and TG, and the ratio HDL-C/TC was found. When adjusted by multiple regression procedures for age, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, socio-economic status, fatness level, and TC, or TG, or HDL-C, as appropriate, these relationships became nonsignificant, with the exception of TG and PWC150. These results suggest that habitual physical activity of light intensities is not a major determinant of HDL-C, TC, and HDL-C/TC; it could, however, have a small but significant role in TG. In addition, data suggest that periods of exercise of higher intensity, i.e. with an energy cost of about 6 mets and more, could be a sensible mean to influence serum blood lipid levels.

Lack of relationship between changes in adiposity and plasma lipids following endurance training

In order to study the effect of alterations in fat morphology and metabolism induced by exercise-training on plasma lipids, 13 healthy young men were subjected to a 20-week aerobic training program on bicycle. Training significantly increased maximal aerobic power (VO2 max) (P less than 0.001) and decreased per cent body fat (P less than 0.001). A significant reduction of mean adipocyte diameter and an increase in isolated fat cell epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis were also observed following training. However, with the exception of total cholesterol, no changes were noted in plasma lipids. Neither before nor after training were triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) correlated with VO2 max, fat cell diameter and adipocyte-stimulated lipolysis. The present study demonstrates that an important fat loss (mean loss of fat = 3 kg) and a significant gain in VO2 max induced by endurance training do not necessarily produce an increase in HDL-C levels in normal male subjects. Moreover, changes in VO2 max, body fatness and in fat cell epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis produced by endurance training are not related to modifications in plasma lipids in healthy men.

HLA system, body fat and fat distribution in children and adults

The association between the genotypes and the alleles at the A, B or C locus of the HLA system and body fat was studied in a total of 1578 individuals subdivided in four cohorts: adult males (n greater than or equal to 204), adult females (n greater than or equal to 184), boys and male adolescents (n greater than or equal to 282), and girls and female adolescents (n greater than or equal to 257). None of these subjects were grossly obese or had known metabolic disorders. Percent body fat from underwater weighing, subcutaneous fat from 6 skinfold measurements, trunk fat (3 skinfolds) and extremity fat (3 skinfolds) were considered in the analysis. Although a few significant associations were encountered, the lack of consistency across samples suggested that they were probably random and biologically not meaningful. The same negative findings were found for the ratio of trunk subcutaneous fat to extremity subcutaneous fat and the ratio of subcutaneous fat (6 skinfolds) to total fat mass. Earlier reports indicating a significant association between high body fat content and antigens B18, Bw35 or Cw4 were not supported by the results of this study. It was concluded that no consistent pattern of association emerged between genotypes or alleles of the HLA system and percent body fat, subcutaneous fat or fat distribution in children and adults of both sexes.

Lipogenesis and lipoprotein lipase in human adipose tissue: reproducibility of measurements and relationships with fat cell size

Lipogenesis from glucose and lipoprotein lipase activity were investigated in humans. The reliability of measurements was quantified and correlations with fat cell weight were assessed. Twenty-four subjects (7 women, 17 men) were studied twice within a 2-week period, along with 17 additional male subjects who were studied once and used only in the correlation analyses. All subjects were not regularly involved in an exercise-training program and were between 18 and 30 years of age. Following an overnight fast, adipose tissue specimens were obtained by suprailiac biopsy and fat cells were collagenase isolated. Mean fat cell weight was obtained from 400 to 500 cell diameter determinations per subject. Basal and insulin-stimulated fat cell lipogenesis from glucose were determined using D-[U-14C]glucose and were reported in nanomoles of glucose per hour per 10(6) cells. Adipose tissue heparin-releasable lipoprotein lipase activity was also determined and expressed in micromoles of free fatty acids per hour per gram of tissue and per 10(6) cells. Fat cell weight, basal and insulin-stimulated lipogenesis and lipoprotein lipase activity per gram showed high reliability of measurement, interclass and intraclass coefficients being 0.83 and over. Lipoprotein lipase activity per 10(6) cells showed a somewhat lower degree of reliability, interclass and intraclass coefficients being, respectively, 0.69 and 0.81. On the other hand, fat cell weight was positively correlated with lipoprotein lipase activity (r = 0.80), while no significant correlation was observed between basal lipogenesis and fat cell weight. Moreover, basal lipogenesis presented no significant correlation with lipoprotein lipase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Therapy-related leukemia associated with myelofibrosis. Blast cell characterization in six cases

Six patients exhibiting severe pancytopenia or overt leukemia associated with myelofibrosis after chemotherapy for malignant disease have been investigated by immunologic techniques and ultrastructural cytochemistry. Initially, five patients displayed severe thrombocytopenia contrasting with mild neutropenia and anemia. Bone marrow biopsies showed a clear megakaryocytic proliferation and an excess of immature mononuclear cells. The demonstration of peroxidase activities at the ultrastructural level and immunofluorescence labeling with a panel of monoclonal antibodies, including an antiplatelet glycoprotein Ib and an antiglycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex, on blood or marrow cells, permitted identification of otherwise unidentifiable promegakaryoblastic proliferation. In two patients, the use of an immunoperoxidase technique with an antifactor VIII-R-Ag antibody has allowed direct confirmation of this diagnosis on bone marrow sections. This megakaryoblastic proliferation was not pure and was variably associated with blasts of other cell lines (erythroblasts or myeloblasts). Changes in the population of blasts were observed during evolution in two patients. The sixth patient had a mild thrombocytopenia associated with severe neutropenia and anemia. Bone marrow biopsy displayed a myelofibrosis and immature cells, without megakaryocytic proliferation. Ultrastructural study revealed a pure basophil-mast cell proliferation. In conclusion, in five of six patients with secondary acute leukemia associated with myelofibrosis, a proliferation of promegakaryoblasts was demonstrated using both immunofluorescent and ultrastructural cytochemical techniques.

Association between serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and body composition in adult men

The relationships between measurements of body composition and fasting serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were assessed in 357 men aged 30 to 59 years. The sum of six skinfolds (triceps, biceps, subscapular, suprailiac, abdominal and medial calf), body density through underwater body weighing, lean body mass (kg), body-fat mass, and percent body fat, all three derived from the Siri equation, were obtained. Effects of age, sex, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, socioeconomic status, triglycerides, total cholesterol and current energy expenditure were statistically removed through multiple regression procedures. HDL-C was significantly associated with weight, weight/height, weight/height11, weight/height16, body density, body-fat mass, sum of six skinfolds, but not with height alone or lean body mass. These results suggest that, among the body composition measurements, the adipose component is the major contributor to the low but significant association between HDL-C and weight.

[Specific ENT involvement in a case of angio-immunoblastic adenopathy (author's transl)]

The authors report the case of a 78 year old man with an unusual localization (soft palate and tonsil) of an angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy. Clinically, the syndrome combines fever, a marked change in general condition, multiple lymphadenopathy and skin rash. From a laboratory standpoint, the picture is dominated by polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, often associated with a hemolytic anemia. Histologically, only lymphnode biopsy allows the diagnosis to be made, with the following findings: disruption of the normal architecture of the node, marked vascular neogenesis, presence of acidophilic interstitial substance, lympho-plasmo-immunoblastic proliferation. The course is in general rapidly fatal despite corticosteroids and multiple chemotherapy.