Analysis of banding patterns and mosaic configurations in a case of ring chromosome 15

Cytogenetic studies on lymphocytes from a 14-year-old mentally retarded girl with somatic anomalies suggestive of a chromosomal abnormality revealed a ring chromosome 15. The long arm of the defective chromosome is broken at band q24 or q25. The silver staining technique for nucleolus organizer regions showed that the ring had lost the achromatic stalk and the satellite. The chromosomal mosaicism resulting from the structural instability of the ring chromosome was analyzed and compared with 6 cases reported in the literature. It is proposed that the clinical manifestations in the different patients with ring chromosome 15 result from both the deficiency in the long arm and the mosaic configurations.

Comparative analysis of karyotypes in European shrew species. I. The sibling species Sorex araneus and S. gemellus: Q-bands, G-bands, and position of NORs

The karyotypes of two closely related species of the genus Sorex (Mammalia, Insectivora) were compared with each other by G- and Q-banding techniques and by Ag-AS staining (GOODPASTURE and BLOOM, 1975). By comparing the G-banded karyotypes, it could be ascertained that the basic differences in karyotype between the two species lie in three pericentric inversions, three paracentric inversions, and one reciprocal translocation. This is in near agreement with FORD and HAMERTON (1970), who assumed that both species differ by three pericentric inversions and one tandem translocation. Furthermore, the karyotype of S. araneus (race C) presented by HALKKA et al. (1974) has been compared with the S. araneus of the present report. Considering the species with respect to karyotypic evolution, it is supposed that S. araneus and S. gemellus derive from a common ancestor.

[Immunological aspects of acute viral hepatitis treated with corticosteroids]

Acute viral B-hepatitis is the consequence of an effective specific immune response against the hepatitis B-virus with elimination of the virus. Corticosteroids decrease this immune reaction and thereby inhibit virus elimination. In principle, therefore, corticosteroid therapy promotes a transition to chronicity. This theoretical concept is documented practically by 8 patients treated with steroids in the early phase of acute viral hepatitis. Transition to some form of chronic liver disease is documented by serial liver biopsies in all 8 patients. The immunohistological findings showed the presence of HBsAg and HBcAg, as theoretically expected. These 8 selected cases, although uncontrolled, together with the theoretical concept of B-virus elimination, provide evidence against the use of corticosteroids in acute B-hepatitis.

Evidence for postmeiotic expression of ribosomal RNA genes during male gametogenesis

Pre- and postmeiotic stages of male gametogenesis of 10 different vertebrate species belonging to mammals, birds, amphibians, and fishes were subjected to the Ag-AS staining technique (Goodpasture and Bloom, 1975). A uniform pattern of silver-staining is observable during spermatogenesis of the different vertebrate species. Silver-staining is present in spermatogonia and during the whole period of meiotic prophase, but totally absent during diakinesis and metaphase II of meiosis. In early spermatids silver-staining reappears and only disappears around the beginning of elongation of the spermatid nucleus. Since the Ag-AS technique is believed to stain only transcriptionally active nucleolus organizer regions, our findings indicate that ribosomal RNA genes become reactivated in the haploid spermatid.

[HLA markers and periodic disease [familial Mediterranean fever (F.M.F.)] (author's transl)]

Thirty-one unrelated patients, 15-52 years old, were typed by microlymphocytotoxicity for 27 alleles of the HLA system. In addition, 12 families including 1 or more patient were also analysed. This criteria for diagnosis were those of Sohar et all. (Am. Intern. Med., 1967, 43, 227-253). All patients were of Israelite-Sephardin origin except two (Armenian and French); they were from North-Africa (Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria) and Israël. The results were compared to the antigen frequencies of 3 reference normal populations. The frequencies of the studied alleles do not differ from those of controls, except for HL-A28 and B14 slightly increased when compared to the normal frequencies. The study of 7 families with at least two sibs suffering from FMF shows a random distribution of the genotypes : 2 HLA identical, 6 different and 10 haploidentical diseased sibs. This distribution differs significantly (p less than 0.01) from that expected in the case of a recessive inheritance. These data do not support the hypothesis of a linkage between genes controlling FMF and HLA genes.

Gene dosage effect for fumarate hydratase (FH; E.C. 4.2.1.2) in partial trisomy 1

A strain of fibroblasts partially trisomic for the larger part of 1q (Norwood and Hoehn, 1974) contains about 1.5 times as much fumarate hydratase (FH) as various control-strains. This gene dosage effect was ascertained by (1) comparative measurements of the specific activity; (2) relating the specific activity of FH to that of reference enzymes, not influenced by the chromosomal anomaly; and (3) by immunoprecipitation methods, using a rabbit antiserum against pig heart FH which cross-reacts with the human enzyme. Among others, this gene dosage effect can be demonstrated numerically by the following parameters: Ratio of the average specific activity of FH in the trisomic strain to that of the control strains: 1.53. Corresponding ratio after dividing FH activity by that of reference enzymes; for acid phosphatase: 1.58, for glutamate dehydrogenase: 1.53. Average ratio of the immunoprecipitation areas obtained upon radial immunodiffusion according to Mancini et al. (1965): 1.56.

Activation of mouse ribosomal RNA genes at the 2-cell stage

The Ag-AS method, developed by Goodpasture and Bloom (1975) strains transcriptionally active nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) on the chromosomes and in the interphase nuclei. Metaphases and interphase nuclei of early mouse embryos (unfertilized eggs, pronucleus stages, 2-, 4-, 8-cell stages, and morulae) were subjected to silver-staining. First staining of a single chromosome bearing an NOR was observed at the 2-cell stage. At the 4-cell stage 4--6 chromosomes, and at the 8-cell stage invariably all the 6 chromosomes known to bear NORs, respond positively to silver-staining. These results indicate that during mouse embryogenesis ribosomal RNA genes start to function at the 2-cell stage. The polar body does not respond to silver-staining, which supports the view that the polar body genome remains inactive.

[Hepatic insufficiency - clinical picture]

Hepatic insufficiency results from extreme derangement of liver cell function. Pathophysiology and clinical picture of this syndrome are briefly discussed; the latter correlate rather poorly with laboratory data - the poorest correlation existing between clinical picture and bioptic findings. Acute hepatic insufficiency may occur in the course of every pathological process involving the liver, it does however arise most often in severe viral hepatitis with widespread disintegration of liver cells and in toxic liver damage. Chronic hepatic insufficiency is typical for the final stages of cirrhosis of the liver. Measurement of coagulation factors has proved to be the best prognostic parameter in hepatic failure.

Frequency of Ag-stained nucleolus organizer regions in the acrocentric chromosomes of man

The Ag-stainability of the nucleolus organizer region (NOR) was studied in the acrocentric chromosomes identified by Q-banding of cultured lymphocytes in 51 karyotypically normal persons (31 males and 20 females). A consistent pattern of Ag-positive NORs was found in each individual. Ninety percent of individuals have a model number of 8--10 Ag-positive NORs per cell. The frequency of Ag-positive NORs is similar in all five acrocentrics. A statistically nonsignificant lower frequency is found in chromosome 22. Ag-negative NORs on both homologues were found in four cases. The observed frequency distribution of individuals with homozygous NOR-positive, heterozygous, and homozygous negative acrocentric chromosomes was in accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg law in all five pairs of the acrocentric chromosomes as well as in total. No sex difference was observed on our material.

[Radioimmunoassay of fibrinopeptide A: double antibody method]

A radioimmunoassay kit was used for measurement of human fibrinopeptide A in plasma. The "charcoal technique" was replaced by the more precise double-antibody method. The possibility of automation allows a shortening of the time for performing the assay and a more general clinical use. Normal values and preliminary results of patients with septic disorders and of a hemophilic patient with antibodies to factor VIII which is substituted by pro-coagulation factors (FEIBA) are reported.

[Dihydralazine-induced acute hepatitis with IgM deficiency]

Two patients with IgM-deficiency developed acute, recurrent HB3-Ag negative hepatitis with bridging necrosis following ingestion of low daily doses of dihydralazine. The association between the drug and the liver disease appears probable, as recurrence of hepatitis followed each exposure. One patient developed high titers of antimitochondrial antibodies and the other low titers of antibodies against smooth muscles. The relationship between IgM-deficiency and dihydralazine hepatitis is not clear. Investigation of patients with IgM-deficiency for drug hypersensitivity and liver disease may provide additional information.

[Early diagnosis of hepatic duct carcinoma]

8 patients with carcinoma of the hepatic duct are presented. Despite symptoms during the long anicteric period (2-13 months, x 15 months) the diagnosis was never established until the patients became jaundiced. Early in the course of the diseases all of them reported upper abdominal pain and intermittend diarrhea, and the test for occult blood in the stool was positive. Initially there may be no biochemical evidence of cholestasis. Liver biopsy may at an early stage reveal pseudoxanthoma cells as an index of long-lived, local mechanical cholestasis.

HLA antigens in 16 families with xeroderma pigmentosum

Xeroderma pigmentosum is an autosomal recessive disease. HLA-A and -B typing was performed on peripheral blood lymphocytes and platelets. Sixteen Tunisian families were typed with 37 patients and 108 relatives. Genetic transmission of the disease and of the HLA system seemed to be independent in this study. Comparison of HLA gene frequencies between (unrelated) parents of patients and a control population showed no difference, proving that there is no clear association in populations between deleterious XP genes and a particular HLA gene. However, an excess of identical HLA among pairs of diseased siblings would suggest that the disease is polymorphic and a form of the XP could be linked to HLA.

Secific arrangement of chromosomes in the spermiogenesis of Gallus domesticus

On the chromosomes of the rooster the constitutive heterochromatin (C-bands) is to be found for the most part at the centromeres. The position of the centric heterochromatin in spermatids and sperm is not randomly distributed. In early, round spermatids one heterochromatic block lies at this exact position on the membrane that develops into the tip of the sperm nucleus (acrosomal chromocenter). During the elongation of the spermatid nucleus another heterochromatic block comes to lie on the basal nuclear membrane. The other centromeres arrange themselves tandem-wise between the acrosomal and the basal chromocenters. Comparisons have been made between this specific arrangement and the location of chromosomes in the sperm of amphibians and mammalians.

Banding analysis of the somatic chromosomes of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris)

The chromosomes of the domestic dog (Beagle) were investigated by several different staining techniques. G-banding, Q-banding, and the bis-benzimidazol derivative Hoechst 33258, make possible the identification of all 39 chromosome pairs. Constitutive heterochromatin (C-bands) was present on a few chromosomes as distinctive, large stained areas; on the other autosomes there was little or no heterochromatin detectable.

The relationship of a specific chromosomal region to the development of the acrosome

In early spermatids of Urodeles the chromosome segments bearing constitutive heterochromatin are localized in one half of the round nucleus; this region becomes the basal part of the long nucleus of the spermatozoon. The euchromatic chromosome segments extend toward the anterior nuclear pole in a bouquet configuration (Macgregor and Walker, 1973). In the course of spermiohistogenesis, one of the heterochromatic regions (the acrosomal chromocenter) migrates from the basal part to the anterior half of the spermatid nucleus. This heterochromatic block is identical with a species-specific, definite C-band in the karyotype. This relationship between the acrosomal chromocenter and a specific chromosomal C-band was established in Triturus cristatus, T. marmoratus, T. alpestric and Cynops pyrrhogaster. In closely related species this particular C-band lies on similar chromosomes. - While the spermatid nucleus still retains its round shape the acrosomal chromocenter despiralizes into a long heterochromatic thread (acrosomal thread). Precisely at the position of this thread the nucleus evaginates and acquires a pear-like shape. During the elongation of the nuclear protrusion the acrosomal thread remains associated with the anterior end. At termination of spermiogenesis it lies closely below the acrosome in the tip of the spermatozoon. Spontaneous aberrations which affect the acrosomal chromocenter or the thread lead to the development of spermatozoa with defective tips. - Several euchromatic segments, interspersed between the heterchromatic segments, can be recognized in the completely despiralized acrosomal thread. Genes responsible for the morphogenetic activities of both, the acrosomal chromocenter and the acrosomal thread, in the development of the spermtip, might be localized in these interspersed euchromatic segments. The existence in higher vertebrates of an acrosomal chromocenter or an equivalent chromosomal region is discussed.

[Liver metastases: diagnostic value of blood tests, scintiscanning, and laparoscopy (author's transl)]

In 90 patients with known extra-hepatic malignancy the liver was examined for metastases. The diagnostic value of clinical information, blood examinations, 99mTc scintiscan, and laparoscopy for the diagnosis of the liver metastases was evaluated. Clinical data (age, sex, time since onset of symptoms and localisation of primary tumor) are of no diagnostic value. The most reliable blood tests are alkaline phosphatase (AP) and GOT. The probability of liver metastastases rises with increasingly abnormal values of AP and GOT. However, the probability is not much greater in cases with highly abnormal values than in cases with only moderate elevation of AP and GOT. Diagnostic accuracy of AP is optimal by using a cutoff point of 76 U/l (sensitivity 79%, specificity 64%). Bilirubin, prothrombin time, haemoglobin and blood sedimentation rate are of very little value. Combinations of AP with these blood tests does not improve diagnostic accuracy. Therefore, it is not useful to determine more blood tests than AP alone. Informed reading of liver scans has a specificity of 75% and a sensitivity of 91%. Blind reading of scans has a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 95%. This diagnostic accuracy cannot be improved by additional blood tests. Laparscopy has a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 95%. Scanning and laparoscopy are complementary methods. When optimal diagnostic accuracy is required both methods should be used.

[Classification and infectiousness of chronic hepatitis B, defined by the Dane particle in the blood and virus components in the liver]

55 HBAg seropositive patients with chronic hepatitis B selected from a total of 217 liver biopsies were studied for the presence of HBcAg and HBsAg in the liver tissue and of Dane particles in blood by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Among 27 patients with non-aggressive chronic inflammation the following constellations were found: a) 19 patients (13 with nonspecific reactive hepatitis, 6 with chronic persistent hepatitis) had isolated HBsAg expression in the tissue (HBs type) and of these only 2 had rare Dane particles; b)4 patients (all with histologically very active chronic persistent hepatitis) with focal HBc- and HBsAg tissue expression (HBc+s type) and detectable Dane particles in blood; c)4 patients (1 with nonspecific reactive, 3 with chronic persistent hepatitis) with generalized HBcAg (and focal HBsAg) expression (HBc type) and multiple Dane particles in blood. Among 22 patients with aggressive inflammation (19 with chronic aggressive, 3 with "hippie"-hepatitis) focal HBcAg tissue expression (HBc+s type) was found in 17 cases and absence of HBcAg in 5 (3 with focal HBsAg, 2 completely negative by immunfluorescence), all 22 associated with Dane particles in blood, however. In a group of 6 immunosuppressed kidney transplant recipients exhibiting a high concentration of Dane particles in blood 5 patients had generalized HBcAg tissue expression (HBc type) in association with non-aggressive inflammation (1 nonspecific reactive and 4 chronic persistent hepatitis). One patient had chronic aggressive hepatitis in conjunction with focal HBcAg expression (HBc+s type). The consistent association of detectable HBcAg formation in the liver and presence of supposedly infectious Dane particles in blood has a bearing on the evaluation and classification of chronic hepatitis B. On the basis of a positive focal (HBc+s type) or generalized HBcAg tissue demonstration (HBc type and/or the direct identification of Dane particles in blood, discrimination of possibly highly infectious forms from those of low or even no infectivity has been rendered possible. This duality applies mainly to clinically and histologically benign non-aggressive forms of hepatitis presenting with a carrier state or chronic persistent hepatitis. On the basis of these and earlier findings a hypothetical concept of chronic hepatitis is presented which possesses proven diagnostic and prognostic applicability to routine liver biopsies. It is also capable of shedding new light on contradictory findings in the literature and serving as a basis for prospective epidemiologic studies.

[Changes of bloodchemical parameters of healthy volunteers under influence of acupuncture (author's transl)]

The influence of acupuncture on some biochemical parameters in blood was investigated in healthy volunteers. These results were compared with two control series. The significant increase especially of free fatty acids concentration must be considered as an effect of acupuncture.