[Orotracheobronchial aspiration for bacteriologic and cytologic diagnosis]

A presently described new method for obtaining tracheal and bronchial secretions does not only represent an alternative to established methods, but also enlarges, due to its simple bedside performance, the indication for an invasive procedure, e. g. in pneumonias. Despite a transoral approach to trachea and bronchi bacterial contamination was excluded. Bacteriologic and cytologic results of orotracheobronchial aspiration in 25 patients with bronchopulmonary infections and one patient with eosinophilic pneumonia represented a valuable help for the correct diagnosis and thus for treatment.

[Chemotherapy with fosfomycin, cefoxitin, and cefotaxime in experimental E. coli-pleuropneumonia (author's transl)]

Two models of pneumonia--the experimental E. coli-pleuropneumonia and "intrapulmonary" E. coli-pneumonia--were employed in these studies. Only fosfomycin was effective in both models even at the low dosage of 100 mg/kg/d. The comparative drugs cefotaxime and cefoxitin, however, were not able to reduce the bacteria in both lungs even at very high dosages of 900 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg per day respectively over 6 days.

In vitro translation of Drosophila heat-shock and non--heat-shock mRNAs in heterologous and homologous cell-free systems

Upon heat shock, Drosophila Kc cells still contain normal cellular messenger RNAs in the cytoplasm. The distribution of these 25 degrees C mRNAs between polysomes and the postpolysomal fraction of heat-shocked cells appears unaltered as compared with control cells. The translatability of these normal cellular messages isolated from heat-shocked and non--heat-shocked Kc cells is unaltered when analyzed by in vitro translation in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate. In contrast, homologous cell-free translation systems obtained from Kc cells effectively discriminate between the in vitro translation of normal cellular messages and heat-shock--specific mRNAs. In particular, a cell-free system from heat-shocked Drosophila Kc cells almost completely shuts down the translation of 25 degrees C messenger RNA species, whereas the translatability of heat-shock--specific messenger RNA appears to be unaffected.

Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase in malignancies

The leukocyte alklaine phosphatase (LAP) levels were determined in 183 patients with malignant diseases and 71 normal controls. The median LAP scores were 64 units (range 0 to 290) for the patients and 55 (range 2 to 158) for the controls, respectively, and no significant difference could be established. When analyzed according to primary malignancy, only in patients with Hodgkin's disease (n = 14) was the median value higher than normal (p less than 0.001). In patients with distant metastases (n = 48), higher LAP levels were demonstrated (M = 76, range 21 to 290) as compared to patients with no evidence of metastases (M = 53, range 0 to 229), (p less than 0.01). Thus, LAP activity has very limited value in the diagnosis of malignancies. Its elevation in the presence of malignant disease might, however, indicate metastases.

Ribosomal RNA synthesis in rat liver cells

DNA-dependent RNA polymerase A was analyzed in rat liver cells after partial hepatectomy, which is known to enhance the synthesis of ribosomal RNA. In agreement with previous results, it was found that the extractable enzyme activity increased after partial hepatectomy and could be quenched by the subsequent administration of cycloheximide, which suggests that continuous protein synthesis is required for the maintenance of the observed stimulation. However, administration of alpha-amanitin to hepatectomized rats did not quench the enzyme activity. These results cast doubt on the hypothesis that the increased activity of RNA polymerase A observed after partial hepatectomy is mediated by RNA products synthesized by polymerase B. Moreover, data are reported which indicate that ribosomal RNA may be regulated directly, without the obligatory involvement of HnRNA.

[Late sequelae of rib fractures]

For an assessment of the late lesions after rib fractures 108 patients having had an accident between 1968 and 1973 were followed up. As to the individual signs observed, the patients were very heterogeneous. Radiodiagnostic, spirometric and scintigraphic data were compiled in order to characterize the late morphologic and functional lesions. By means of correlation and discrimination analyses as well as tests of significance we found that the extension of the late lesions depends either on the age of the patient nor on the number of fractured ribs but, instead, on concomitant intrathoracic lesions. The late morphologic lesions such as deformedly healed rib fractures and pleural thickening were the substrate for the ventilative and circulatory disturbances of the lung.

The contents of acid glycosaminoglycans in the aortic wall of newborns, small children, and older adults

The contents of acid glycosaminoglycans (aGAG) was determined in the inner and medial layers of aortae from 13 newborns, 9 small children (1-5 years of age), and 10 older adults (7th decade of life). The total aGAG contents was expressed in mug hexuronic acid/100 mg dry weight. Newborns and older adults showed similiar contents of aGAG in their aortae (275.5 plus or minus 27.9 and 313.4 plus or minus 46.7, respectively). Small children had significantly less aGAG in their aortae (202.1 plus or minus 21.5). The aGAG material from aortae was fractionated by a microcolumn chromatographic procedure on cetylpyridinium chloride cellulose. No significant differences of the aGAG fractions were found in aortae of newborns and children. In both groups of children the percentage of hyaluronic acid was significantly increased and dermatan sulfate was significantly decreased when compared with aortae from older adults. The increased contents of acid glycosaminoglycans (aGAG) in aortae of human newborns is possibly caused by the concentrated hormonal environment (especially estrogens) to which the fetus is exposed in utero.