Solid-supported reagents in organic synthesis

The current interest in solid-phase organic synthesis has led to a renewed interest in a complementary technique in which solid supported reagents are used in solution phase chemistry. This technique obviates the need for attachment of the substrate to a solid-support, and enables the chemist to monitor the reactions using familiar analytical techniques. The purpose of this review is to increase awareness of the wide range of useful transformations which can be accomplished using solid-supported reagents.

Telomeres in the haemopoietic system

The limited life span of most blood cells requires the continuous production of cells, which in adults exceeds 10(12) cells/day. This impressive production of cells (approximately 4 x 10(16) cells over a lifetime) is achieved by the proliferation and differentiation of committed progenitor cells, which themselves are derived from a population of pluripotent stem cells with self-renewal potential. Paradoxically, the large majority of stem cells in adult bone marrow are quiescent cells. One possibility is that stem cells, like other somatic cells, have only a limited replicative potential (< 100 divisions). This hypothesis is supported by two key observations and the consideration that, in theory, 55 divisions can yield 4 x 10(16) cells. First, it was shown that 'candidate' stem cells purified from fetal and adult tissue showed dramatic functional differences in turn-over time and the ability to produce cells with stem cell properties, Second, these functional differences were found to correlate with a measurable loss of telomere repeats despite the presence of low but readily detectable levels of telomerase in all purified cell fractions. In order to address questions about the role of telomeres in normal and malignant haemopoiesis, we developed a quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization technique. Here we review the characteristics of this novel tool to assess the number of telomere repeats at the end of individual chromosomes and provide an overview of recent observations.

Optical memory disks in image data-base management for cytometry

Many applications in image cytometry require storage and retrieval of a large number of high-resolution color video images. For this purpose, a microprocessor-controlled image cytometry database system has been developed which employs optical memory disk recording and graphics overlay capabilities. The image data base is recorded on optical disk, while associated descriptors are stored in the computer memory in a relational data base. The system has been designed for several applications, some of which require real-time access of individual images. The modular structure of the system permits various experimental configurations as well as integration into an image cytometry apparatus.

Interpretation of elevated blood glycine levels in children

Recent experience with three children who had non-ketotic hyperglycinemia suggested that interpretation of blood glycine levels in children is complex. The elevations of blood glycine in these children were quite modest, and comparable to those of other children admitted to hospital with other diseases. Often we find elevations of blood glycine in children who have had some degree of starvation before blood was taken for amino acid analysis. In a "typical" patient, valine, leucine, isoleucine and occasionally threonine are depressed, while the glycine level is raised. As nutrition improves all of the amino acids return to normal. Our data suggest that blood glycine levels in children with an acute episode of a debilitating disease need to be interpreted with respect to the immediate state of nutrition of the children.