Restriction endonuclease mapping of globin genes in beta-thalassaemia

We have used the restriction endonuclease mapping technique to analyse the globin genes in local cases of beta-thalassaemia major. No gross deletions or rearrangements of the beta-globin gene locus were detected. In one individual the point mutation within the beta-globin gene which gives rise to a beta(0)-thalassaemia allele was detected by use of a restriction enzyme which cuts the gene at this site. Analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms at the beta-globin locus showed that antenatal diagnosis of the disorder could be accomplished in an indigenous family with thalassaemia. The application of the gene-mapping technique to the diagnosis of sickle cell anaemia and alpha-thalassaemia is also discussed.

The molecular basis of alpha thalassaemia in a South African population

We have investigated the molecular basis of alpha thalassaemia in the so-called 'Cape Coloured' population of Cape Town. DNA from 17 cases was analysed by Southern blotting and hybridization with an alpha globin complementary DNA probe. Three types of alpha thalassaemia genetic determinants were detected: the 3.5 kb deletion which inactivates one alpha globin gene per chromosome (-alpha/haplotype), a much larger deletion which removes both alpha globin genes (- -/haplotype), and a non-deletion determinant which leaves both alpha globin genes intact. The interaction of these determinants with each other or with the normal chromosome (alpha alpha/) produced the phenotypes alpha thalassaemia silent carrier, alpha thalassaemia trait and Hb H disease. All cases of the -alpha/haplotype result from the rightward deletion which removes the Bgl II site between the duplicated alpha globin genes. The predominance of the -alpha/haplotype (21 out of the 28 alpha thalassaemia determinants) over the - -/haplotype is consistent with the low incidence of Hb H disease and the apparent absence of Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis in this population group.

Synthesis, tissue distribution and tumor uptake of [99Tc]tetrasulfophthalocyanine

99Tc-labeled-tetrasulfophthalocyanine was prepared by the condensing of sulfophthalic acid and pertechnetate in the presence of a reducing agent. Reaction products were purified in various chromatographic systems and characterized by combustion, specific activity and spectral analyses. The tissue distribution pattern of the major product was studied in tumor-bearing rats. Most of the activity accumulated in the liver, kidneys, ovaries and uterus, whereas tumor uptake mainly occurred in the exterior cell layers. The in vivo stability of the complex was evidenced by the absence of 99Tc accumulation in the thyroid and the stomach.

[Water diffusion and measurement of cerebral blood flow by C15O2 inhalation]

Measurement of local Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF) using the C15O2 continuous inhalation technique coupled with Position Emission Tomography (PET) rests on the assumption that the in vivo labelled water (H215O) of blood diffuses freely within the brain water pool. This requirement however, may be disputed: in the rhesus monkey, Eichling et al (1974) showed a linear relationship between the single-pass extraction of water (E) and CBF after intra-carotid H215O injection, such that E decreases as CBF increases. Such a limitation in water transport across the blood brain barrier has also been suggested to exist in man (Paulson, 1977). In order to verify its possible effects on measured CBF in baboons, simple computer analysis was performed comparing the data obtained with CBF values reported in similar experiments, but using a freely diffusible inert gas (133Xe). This allowed calculation of a water extraction index (IE), which was shown to decline as CBF increased. This result may be considered as a presumption of the part played by the limited water diffusibility on the final CBF values, but other factors must also be considered, such as the inescapable admixture of grey and white matter (partial volume effect), a limitation of present day PET technology.

[Atypical osteodystrophy of visceral origin (author's transl)]

The authors report a case of atypical osteodystrophy of visceral origin (uretero-sigmoid by-pass for bladder exstrophy) which was characterized by the association of osteocondensation and looser-Milkman lines. They emphasize the rareness of osteodystrophy after uro-digestive by-pass and the exceptional character of the osteocondensation.

Enzyme-bound sterols of bovine adrenocortical cytochrome P-450scc

Bovine adrenocortical cytochrome P-450 capable of cleaving the side chain of cholesterol was purified to homogeneity by the method of Suhara et al. [Suhara, K., Gomi, T., Sato, H., Itagaki, E., Takemori, S., & Katagiri, M. (1978) Arch. Biochem Biophys. 190, 290]. The substrate-bound form of the enzyme preparation was shown to contain in addition to cholesterol (1.2-3.0 mol/mol of P-450) 0.4 mol of (22R)-22-hydroxycholesterol, 0.1 mol of (20R,22R)-20,22-dihydroxycholesterol, and a trace amount (0.005 mol) of (20S)-20-hydroxycholesterol per mol of P-450scc. This relatively large concentration of (22R)-22-hydroxycholesterol is in accord with the hypothesis that the major pathway leading to side-chain cleavage proceeds through initial hydroxylation at the 22 position. The presence of these sterols as native constituents of cytochrome P-450scc supports their role as enzyme-bound intermediates in the biosynthesis of pregnenolone from cholesterol.

Thoracic ganglioneuroma with intra-spinal prolongations in childhood

A case of thoracic ganglioneuroma is described because of the intraspinal extension of the lesion without any neurological features.

[Vaginal membrane with hydrocolpos and pyocolpos in children (author's transl)]

A child aged 4 1/2 years was found to have secondarily infected retained secretions in the vagina from a vaginal membrane. The authors underline the value of intravenous urography coupled with rectal insufflation, which is essential in order to confirm the diagnosis of colpos and to eliminate any associated urinary malformation.

[Constrictive pericarditis and post-radiotherapy myocarditis with mitral incompetence (author's transl)]

The cardiac complications of radiotherapy of the thorax (e.g. for Hodgkin's disease and carcinoma of the breast) are various: 1) Pleural effusions, occurring a few months to two years after radiotherapy, spontaneously curable but may give signs of tamponnade or lead to constriction. 2) Constrictive pericarditis often several years after irradiation, with a poor prognosis in spite of attempts at pericardectomy which is indicated at the stage of hemodynamic constriction. 3) Myocardial involvement with advanced fibrosis and with various clinical presentations. The failure of pericardectomy and mitral incompetence were evidence of myocarditis in the case reported here.

[Urinary complications of the resectable cancers of the cervix uteri (author's transl)]

The authors studied the urinary complications following 721 operations performed between 1960 and 1974 for cervix uterin carcinoma. The surgical method was the one used at the Fondation Curie according to the protocol of treatment. They have noted that: --first, the surgical act as primary treatment (672 cases) was innocuous, as this series showed only 0,6% of the severe complications; in contrast, when the surgery is performed for a recurrence after a total dose irradiation, the severe complications raised to 8%; --secondly, the uretero-hydronephroses following this type of surgery are relatively frequent on the systematic urograms, but most of them are quite asymptomatic and without later sequelae only 0,3% of them required a surgical treatment. The authors analyse the factors influencing the ureteral stenoses, especially the extent of lymphadenectomy and the associated external irradiation. They studied too the ureteral stenoses due to a local recurrence.

Mechanism of cholesterol side-chain cleavage. II. The enzymic hydroperoxide-glycol rearrangement of the epimeric 20-hydroperxycholesterols in 18O-enriched water

Incubation of 20 alpha-hydroperoxycholesterol (I) and its 20 beta-isomer, 20 beta-hydroperoxy-20 isocholesterol (II) with adrenocortical mitochondrial preparations in the absence of molecular oxygen, in normal and 18O-enriched water, gave 20 alpha, 22R-dihydroxycholesterol (III) from I and 20 beta,21-dihydroxy-20-iso-cholesterol (IV) from II. Mass spectral analysis of the persilylated glycol products III and IV showed no uptake of 18O, indicating that the oxygen atoms of the C20-, C22- and C21-hydroxyl groups originated from the 20-hydroperoxy atomic oxygen complex is the intermediate in the enzymic oxidative reactions of cholesterol side-chain cleavage.

[Late sequelae and complications in exclusive high voltage radiotherapy for carcinoma of the cervix uteri (author's transl)]

This study deals with 524 cases of uterine cervix (except stade IV cases) completely treated at the Foundation Curie with esclusive radiotherapy from from 1962 to 1968. The irradiation techniques, as well as the doses given to the tumor and to the critical organs are stated. The various sequelae and complications are described, according to the class and severity. The cases are divided into two groups: 257 cured patients and 267 dead patients. For the cured patients, half of them (49%) had no trouble at all. Among the 130 remaning cases, 16% presented with mild troubles, 23% with moderate sequelae, 9% with marked complications and 3% with severe complications leading to an infirmity. The rectal troubles are frequent (55% of all the troubles) in 40% of the patients; though rarely, they can be severe (6% of the cases). They appear relatively early. The bladder troubles rank second (37% of all the troubles) in 20% of the patients; never severe and without any renal effect, they are more delayed than the former. The skin and soft tissues troubles are only a few (5%) for 5% of the patients. They are mostly mild and moderate. One skin necrosis was noted due for a large part to the very poor general conditions of the patient. The bone troubles are always classified here as marked or severe; they are rare (2,6%) in 2,3% of the patients. Their treatment is satisfactory. One single case of bilateral femur neck fracture gave a permanent infirmity. We have noted no nervous trouble, nor urinary trouble other than the bladder ones, nor bowel troubles aprt from a mild and transient sigmoiditis. The genital troubles noted in 21% of the patients are mostly vaginal adhesion in women over 60 years of age. The sexual troubles, very difficult to analyse, have not been studied here. The treatments of these various troubles have generally been simple, not very compelling, and effective. Only eight patients with severe complications (3%) underwent important therapeutics (fecal diversion, none surgery) and kept an infirmity. One patient (0,4%) died during the post-operative course. For the dead patients, the study is less significant, because of the neoplastic evolution and of the rather short survival. This fact explains that 20% only of the patients (versus 51%) presented with 106 troubles (versus 304). The rectal troubles remain frequent 33%) of the cases), though the bladder troubles, more delayed, are very less numerous (1,8% of the patients). The bone complications are similar in number and quality (2,2% of the patients).

Properties of human neutral bronchial mucins after modification of the peptide or the carbohydrate moieties

Trypsin and pronase treatment of purified human neutral bronchial mucins released small fragments from the C-terminal end of these molecules and resulted in slight increases in their sedimentation coefficient presumably reflecting conformational changes. The antigenic determinant of neutral bronchial mucins which appears to be located on this C-terminal fragment is destroyed by pronase or by treatments such as periodate oxidation or galactose oxidase-bromine oxidation which modify the carbohydrate moieties. Thus, both amino acid and carbohydrate residues are involved in the structure of the antigenic determinant.

Evidence of an enzymatic 17alpha leads to 21 hydroxyl transfer in the biosynthesis of cortexolone from 17alpha-hydroperoxyprogesterone by adrenal cortex microsomes

The concept of a possible biogenetic intramolecular relationship between several pairs of hydroxylated positions of corticosteroids, in particular between positions 17alpha and 21, has been proposed by us some time ago. We now present evidence that to a certain extent such a relationship can indeed exist. 18O-labelled 17alpha-hydroperoxyprogesterone was incubated under ordinary oxygen atmosphere with the microsomal fractions of bovine adrenal cortex. Following extensive purifications by thin-layer chromatography, we have isolated a metabolite with mobility characteristics corresponding to those of authentic 17,21-dihydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione (cortexolone). According to its mass spectrum, this metabolite has a molecular weight of 350, i.e. 4 atomic mass units higher than the molecular weight of non-labelled cortexolone. No conversion of 17alpha-hydroperoxyprogesterone to cortexolone was observed with a previously heat-inactivated preparation. The presence of 4 additional mass units in the cortexolone metabolite means that the latter has preserved two 18O-labels in the molecule, one at position 17alpha and the other one at position 21. This can only be explained by a rearrangement reaction of the hydroperoxide group in such a way that it is accompanied by a C-17alpha to C-21 hydroxyl transfer. In the inverse case, when non-labelled 17alpha-hydroperoxyprogesterone was incubated under 99% 18O2-atmosphere, non-labelled cortexolone of molecular weight 346 was also found.