Follow-up families who experience a perinatal death

We conducted a retrospective study by telephone interview (10 to 22 months later) of 26 families who had experienced a perinatal death. Six of 26 mothers had a prolonged grief reaction (12 to 20 months). Those mothers with a surviving twin or subsequent pregnancy less than five months following the death were at higher risk for a prolonged grieving period than were those without subsequent pregnancy or one more than six months later. Half of the families obtained information about the cause of death and risk of recurrence only during hospitalization; subsequent contact, weeks to months later, provided additional information for the other half. Twenty-two of 26 mothers met predetermined criteria for having an adequate understanding of cause of death and risk of recurrence; four of 26 knew neither. Sixty percent of the mothers who had adequate understanding and who had no prolonged grief response felt totally dissatisfied or only partially satisfied with the information they received and the way they received it. Follow-up contact by phone or in person increased understanding significantly; mothers who had had in-person follow-up were more likely to be satisfied with the information they received.

Purification and properties of a third form of anthranilate-5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase from the Enterobacteriaceae

Anthranilate-5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase was purified from the bacterium Erwinia carotovora, a member of the Enterobacteriaceae. The enzyme was homogeneous according to the criteria of gel electrophoresis and NH2-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. The molecular weight of the enzyme as determined on a calibrated Sephadex G-200 column was 67,000 +/- 2,000. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels gave a subunit molecular weight of 40,000 +/- 1,000, suggesting that the enzyme was a dimer. A comparison of the NH2-terminal sequence of the enzyme with the (previously determined) homologue from Serratia marcescens, a monomer with a molecular weight of 45,000, showed that the larger Serratia subunit came into register with amino acid 14 of the Erwinia subunit. The register for the length of the known overlap, 26 amino acids, was highly conserved.

Peptide mapping of 125I-labelled influenza virus proteins. Matrix proteins as markers in recombination

We have examined the matrix proteins of A/Okuda/57, A/Finland/4/74 and A/New Jersey/8/76 viruses and several recombinant strains by radioiodination of the purified polypeptides followed by tryptic peptide mapping. The method is rapid and requires only small amounts of material. Reproducible differences were detected between the matrix proteins of the above parents and allowed origin of the matrix proteins of the recombinant viruses to be determined. The possible use of matrix protein identity as a marker in recombination work is discussed.

Segregation of an internal biochemical marker during influenza virus recombination and its possible correlation with biological properties

The internal matrix proteins of A/Okuda/57, A/Finland/4/74 and A/New Jersey/8/76 viruses and several recombinant strains have been examined by radioiodination of the purified proteins followed by peptide mapping. The method is rapid and requires only small amounts of material. Reproducible differences were detected between the matrix proteins of the above parents and allowed the origin of the matrix proteins of the recombinant viruses to be determined. The use of matrix protein identity as a marker in recombination work and its possible correlation with biological properties of the virus is discussed.

Creativity in developmentally disabled adolescents

Creative behavior of 20 normal, 20 educable, and 20 trainable mentally retarded adolescents of similar chronological ages was examined using a modified version of the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking. Analyses of variance indicated that educable mentally retarded and normal subjects did not differ significantly on any of Torrance's four creativity measures. However, statistical significance was evident for the trainable and nonretarded subjects and for the trainable and educable retardates. Results were discussed in terms of level of intelligence and other contributing variables.

Structure and properties of a hybrid tryptophan synthetase of alpha chain produced by genetic exchange between Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium

Genetic exchange between the structural genes for the alpha chain of tryptophan synthetase [tryptophan synthase; L-serine hydro-lyase (adding indoleglycerol-phosphate), EC 4.2.1.20] of E. coli and S. typhimurium yielded recombinant genes that specified functional hybrid polypeptides. The alpha chains produced by three recombinants appeared to be identical but differed from those of E. coli and S. typhimurium by at least 27 and 8 amino acid residues, respectively. In vivo and in vitro tests of enzyme function suggest that the hybrid alpha chains are near-equivalent to their fully active parental proteins.

Immunosuppressive activity of submaxillary gland extracts of the mouse. I. Effect on antibody formation in response to sheep red blood cells

Aqueous extracts of mouse submaxillary glands yield six peaks on Sephadex G-75 columns, each containing several molecular species. Two of these fractions (III and IV) have a profound effect on the immune response. When given a day before immunization with sheep erythrocytes, the number of antibody-producing cells is reduced ten-fold or more, and the switch from IgM to IgG is virtually absent. Administration two days before or on the day of immunization results in about 50% depression; outside this range there is no effect. The dose-response curve is of sigmoid shape, with the median at about 0.5 mg of fraction III/40 g mouse, reaching an asymptote after doses of greater than or equal to 5 mg at about 5% of the response of untreated mice. Depression of the primary response does not prevent the development of immunological memory: the secondary response is typical in the early and predominant appearance of IgG-producing cells, although their numbers are somewhat lower than in the controls which received no treatment before primary immunization. Treatment on the day before boosting abrogates the secondary response. The immunotranquilizer from mouse submaxillary glands acts equally well on syngeneic and allogeneic recipients, affecting the earliest stage of the immune response. The results are compatible with the induction of a temporary block in the development of helper T cells.

Purification, subunit structure and partial amino-acid sequence of anthranilate-5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase from the enteric bacterium Serratia marcescens

The enzyme anthranilate-5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase from Serratia marcescens was purified to apparent homogeneity. The purification procedure included ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, Sephadex gel filtration and hydroxyapatite chromatography. The molecular weight of the native protein as determined on a calibrated Sephadex G-200 column was 45000. Dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of reducing agent revealed a subunit molecular weight of 43000 +/- 900, suggesting that the enzyme exists as a monomer. The sequence of the amino-terminal 38 residues revealed that three amino amino acids, glutamine (six residues), glutamic acid (five residues) and serine (five residues) comprised 42% of the sequence composition.