Differing calcium requirements for regulatory effects of ATP, ATP gamma S and adenosine on O2.- responses of human neutrophils

In formyl peptide stimulated human neutrophils the enhancement of O2.- responses by ATP and ATP S requires extracellular calcium. In contrast, the inhibitory effects of adenosine are independent of a calcium requirement. Rates of O2.- generation are not affected by these adenine compounds. Rather, ATP and ATP S cause a sustained period of generation whereas adenosine causes an abrupt early termination of the O2- response. The differing calcium requirements for regulatory effects of adenine compounds on O2.- responses of stimulated neutrophils suggests that ATP (or ATP gamma S) and adenosine may exert their effects at different points in the pathway of signal transduction events.

Mutagenicity of benzylic acetates, sulfates and bromides of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Studies were performed to determine the direct mutagenicity of the acetates and some bromides and sulfates of hydroxymethyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in S. typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100. Benzylic acetates, bromides and sulfates were synthesized and characterized. The compounds tested were benzyl alcohol, 5-hydroxymethylchrysene, 1-hydroxymethylpyrene, 6-hydroxymethylbenzo[a]pyrene, 6-(2-hydroxyethyl)benzo[a]pyrene, 6-hydroxymethylanthanthrene, 9-hydroxymethylanthracene, 9-hydroxymethyl-10-methylanthracene, 7-hydroxymethylbenz[a]anthracene, 7-(2-hydroxyethyl)benz[a]anthracene, 12-hydroxymethylbenz[a]anthracene, 7-hydroxymethyl-12-methylbenz[a]anthracene, 12-hydroxymethyl-7-methylbenz[a]anthracene, 1-hydroxy-3-methylcholanthrene, 2-hydroxy-3-methylcholanthrene, 3-hydroxy-3, 4-dihydrocyclopental[cd]pyrene and 4-hydroxy-3, 4-dihydrocyclopental[cd]pyrene. The benzylic sulfate esters of 6-hydroxymethylbenzo[a]pyrene and 7-hydroxymethylbenz[a]anthracene were the most mutagenic compounds, whereas the aliphatic sulfate ester of 7-hydroxyethylbenz[a]anthracene did not cause an increase in mutations above background. All meso-anthracenic benzylic acetate esters were mutagenic in both strains with various degrees of activity, whereas the corresponding non-benzylic esters were inactive, as expected. Of the non-meso-benzylic acetate esters, only the 3-acetoxy-3, 4-dihydrocyclopenta[cd]pyrene was mutagenic. In the benzylic bromide series, only the eight mesoanthracenic were mutagenic, whereas benzyl bromide and 5-bromomethylchrysene were inactive. The aliphatic bromides, 6-(2-bromoethyl)benzo[a]pyrene and 7-(2-bromoethyl)benz[a]anthracene did not display significant activity. The potencies of the acetate esters more accurately reflect the mutagenicity because the rate of solvolysis did not compete with the reactivity of the esters with bacterial DNA. In the case of benzylic sulfates and bromides, the rate of solvolysis was very rapid and could have diminished the level of mutagenicity, depending on the assay conditions. These results demonstrate that meso-anthracenic benzylic acetates, sulfates and bromides are mutagenic, whereas benzylic acetate esters attached to other carbon atoms are inactive.

An intrasellar pituitary tumour producing metastases in liver, bone and lymph glands and demonstration of ACTH in the metastatic deposits

We report the history, laboratory and histological findings in a man who presented with Cushing's disease. Despite removal of the primary pituitary tumour, his disease progressed and after bilateral adrenalectomy, he became pigmented and plasma ACTH levels remained elevated. He had further pituitary surgery and radiotherapy, to relieve compression of the optic chiasma. Plasma ACTH levels remained elevated. He developed liver, bone and lymph gland metastases and after an acute paraparesis due to spinal metastases he died. Immunoperoxidase staining techniques demonstrated ACTH in the pituitary recurrence and metastases. The combination of bone, liver and lymph node metastases has not previously been reported, nor has ACTH been reported before in metastases from a primary intrasellar tumour.

Bladder freeze ulceration and sodium saccharin feeding in the rat: examination for urinary nitrosamines, mutagens and bacteria, and effects on hepatic microsomal enzymes

We previously demonstrated that long-term feeding of sodium saccharin, a non-mutagen, induced bladder carcinomas when administered to F344 male rats with regenerative hyperplasia of the urothelium induced by the freeze-ulceration technique, even without prior chemical initiation (Cohen et al. Cancer Res. 1982, 42, 65). In the present study, we examined the urine of rats subjected to freeze ulceration of the bladder and then fed sodium saccharin at 5% in the diet to evaluate the possibility of a mutagen being generated as a result of ulceration and/or saccharin feeding. Urine was collected into a syringe by aspiration from the urinary bladder after ligating the urethra for 2 hr at intervals from day 0 to day 14 after ulceration. After ulceration and/or sodium saccharin feeding, the urine showed no bacterial contamination, no mutagenic activity in the standard Ames assay, no production of nitrosamines, and no nitrosating environment. In addition, no significant changes in activities of liver microsomal enzymes (i.e. cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, aniline hydroxylase, or ethylmorphine N-demethylase) were observed in rats fed sodium saccharin for 1, 5 or 14 days. Thus, freeze ulceration, and the consequent regenerative hyperplasia of the epithelium, compared with sodium saccharin feeding do not involve the administration of an exogenous mutagenic substance or the generation of a detectable mutagen in the urine.

Mutagenicity of selected functionalized benz(c)acridines and a benz(a)phenazine in the Salmonella typhimurium/microsome assay

Five functionalized benz(c)acridines - 5,6-dimethylbenz(c)acridine; 5,6,7-trimethylbenz(c)acridine; 7-chloro-5,6-dimethylbenz(c)acridine; 7-amino-5,6-dimethylbenz(c)acridine; 7-oxo-5,6-dimethylbenz(c)-acridine and 5,6-dimethylbenz(a)phenazine - were tested for mutagenic activity in the Ames Salmonella typhimurium assay. Compounds were initially screened by spot tests with 5 tester strains and both plate incorporation and pre-incubation assays were performed when the results of the tests were positive or weakly positive. All assays were done with and without S9 activation. 7-Amino-5, 6-dimethylbenz(c)acridine and 7-chloro-5, 6-dimethylbenz(c)acridine were found to be moderately mutagenic with the 3 frameshift strains TA1537, TA98, and TA97.

Microbial mutagenicity of selected hydrazines

Selected hydrazines and related compounds were examined for their mutagenic activity in S. typhimurium strains TA1535 and TA1537. These in vitro assays were conducted with and without metabolic activation by Aroclor-induced rat-liver enzymes. Relatively high levels of mutagenicity were observed with phenylhydrazine X HCl, methylhydrazine, N'-acetyl-4-(hydroxymethyl)phenylhydrazine, and 4-(hydroxymethyl)benzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate, the stabilized salt of a carcinogenic metabolite of agaritine; only low levels of mutagenicity were observed with other compounds, although most are strong carcinogens. Several of the compounds were highly toxic to the bacteria, and detection of mutagenicity was enhanced by calculating the increase in mutagenic activity on the basis of the surviving fractions of bacteria.

Maintaining religious values in a nonreligious counseling program

Both Christianity and HE therapy may be viewed as dealing with searching questions for those of us who dare to pursue the quest. A sense of mission is to be found in both humanistic existentialism and Christianity when we query: Who am I? What is my relationship to the world and those in it? What do I truly believe and how do I want to act upon my beliefs?Thus, both Christianity and HE therapy explore searching questions for those who dare to pursue the answers, to reveal their individuality, their fears, their aloneness, and to explore the possibilities of existence.Finally, it is suggested that both Christianity and HE therapy are capable of creating an honest atmosphere that makes it easier for us to remove our masks, to reveal and share our doubts, resentments, and anxieties, and to do so in an atmosphere of acceptance that brings healing and wholeness, whether as a Christian or as a nonreligious humanistic existentialist. Rather than polarization or a dichotomy existing between the two positions, similarities have been found to be inherent, and integration and reconciliation are possible and feasible, allowing students to maintain their religious beliefs with integrity while at the same time incorporating university teachings.

Prenatal diagnosis of bilateral renal agenesis

Bilateral renal agenesis (BRA), or Potter's syndrome, is a rare genetic disorder in which agenesis of the kidneys is associated with pulmonary hypoplasia and characteristic facial features. Oligohydramnios or virtual absence of amniotic fluid is found in most pregnancies with BRA. Clinical observation and serial ultrasonography scans made it possible to diagnose BRA prenatally in a fetus at risk. Postmortem examination confirmed the diagnosis.

Relationship of nailbiting to sociopathy

The incidence of nailbiting in 62 sociopath subjects was compared with that in 62 nonsociopath matched controls utilizing the Cornell Medical Index Health Questionnaire. Results indicated that the incidence of nailbiting in primary sociopaths (48 per cent) was significantly greater (p less than .01) than the incidence of nailbiting in the control group (24 per cent). Implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the significance of nailbiting in sociopaths, particularly the relationship of nailbiting and anxiety in primary sociopathy.

Prenatal diagnosis of renal anomalies

Within the past 24 months, we have performed prenatal diagnostic studies in 4 pregnancies known to be at risk for well-described genetic syndrome involving renal abnormalities, ie, Meckel syndrome, Roberts syndrome, and bilateral renal agenesis. The diagnostic techniques utilized were ultrasonographic scanning (B-mode and grey scale), biochemical assays, and radiographic evaluation. The ultrasound finding common to the 3 affected cases was extreme oligohydramnios, which we considered indirect evidence that renal anomalies were present. The ultrasound scans of the fetuses affected with Meckel and Roberts syndrome demonstrated anechoic cystic spaces in the abdomen, representing the enlarged dysplastic cystic kidneys. An encephalocele was well demonstrated by B-mode scan in the fetus with Meckel syndrome. The absence of normal limbs in the Roberts syndrome was evident on serial grey scale scans of the fetus. Biochemical and radiographic studies provided results consistent with the suspected diagnoses. The importance of providing genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis to families at risk is emphasized.

Carbohydrate metabolism in dystrophia myotonica

Serum insulin, blood sugar, and growth hormone levels were measured in response to a 50g oral glucose tolerance test in 10 patients with proven dystrophia myotonica. Three patients belonged to one family; seven patients had no known family history of the disease. One patient, a chronic invalid aged 56 years, produced a mild diabetic glucose tolerance curve and a delayed prolonged rise in serum insulin. Six of the group, including the three affected members from one family, exhibited normal glucose tolerance and fasting serum insulin values, but a markedly exaggerated rise in peripheral insulin levels maximal at 30 and 60 min. This abnormality showed no correlation with age of onset of the disease nor with severity of the muscle weakness. Growth hormone levels were normal in all of the patients studied. It is concluded that an excessive rise in circulating immunoreactive insulin in response to glucose is a common abnormality in dystrophia myotonica and reflects genetic heterogeneity in this condition. Futhermore, if the index patient in a family demostrates this abnormality, it is suggested that the 30- or 60-min blood insulin level during a glucose tolerance test is a useful methold of intra-family screen-ing for asymptomatic heterozygotes at an early stage before the development of physical defects.

Familial spontaneous pneumothorax

Familial spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare condition. Two families with this condition are described: identical twin sisters of one family and three brothers of another family. The suggestion is made that at least some cases of spontaneous pneumothorax are genetically determined.