The ionic properties of the filamentous bacteriophages Pf1 and fd

The surface charge of the filamentous bacteriophages Pf1 and fd was determined by polyelectrolyte titration covering a range from pH 3 to 9. The isoelectric point was measured at pH 4.0 for Pf1 and at pH 4.2 for fd. Close agreement of experimental and calculated data was found, confirming the hypothesis that charged residues in the DNA are neutralized by oppositely charged residues of the coat proteins. Almost perfect consistence is reached when structural details of the viruses are included.

[Frequency of renal failure in long-term diabetics]

The frequency of chronic renal insufficiency is inspected in a closed population. 3.06% of the inhabitants of the district of Neubrandenburg suffer from diabetes mellitus. 1,108 diabetics (these are 5.84% of all diabetics) have had the diabetes for 15 and more years. 44.91% of these long-term diabetics have an increased creatinine level. There are 9 long-term diabetics at the age up to 49 years per 100,000 inhabitants with restricted renal functions. The chronic renal insufficiency, which occurs with diabetics significantly more frequent than with non-diabetics, must be considered in the planning of dialysis capacities.

[Poisoning with 80% acetic acid]

It is reported on the progress of an intoxication by a manifold lethal dose of acetic acid (200 ml 80% acetic acid respectively 160 g). The patient survived the intoxication by the complex application of hemodialysis and intensive care therapy. Repeated shock states due to myocardial infarction and massive intestinal bleeding led to a brain organic psychosyndrome which reducing cannot be reckoned with.

Inhibition of hyaluronidase by dextran sulfate and its possible application in anticancer treatment

Hyaluronidase is competitively inhibited by dextran sulfate. Hyaluronidase depolymerizes the amorphous component of the interstitial connective tissue and therefore supports tumor spread and metastasis. These processes may be reduced by dextran sulfate.

Classification of somatic evoked potentials through maximum entropy spectral analysis

Maximum entropy (ME) spectra are currently considered to be superior to spectra calculated by means of Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) because the former offer higher resolution. However, in terms of classification of somatic evoked potentials (SEPs), FFT spectra are found to be better than ME spectra. An even better set of parameters for discriminating SEPs is the set of reflection coefficients derived in the process of calculating the ME spectra. They permit separation of SEPs obtained from monkeys with dorsal column lesion from SEPs obtained from normal monkeys, as well as distinguishing between SEPs obtained from large nerve fiber stimulation and SEPs from stimulation of all nerve fibers.

[Ancient tattooing from today's point of view]

Both literary and arachaeological evidence indicates that, up to now, ancient tattoos can be traced with certainty in painting only among Thracians. A comparison with modern tattoos reveals differences of motivation and motifs, whereas localization, technique, and removal show similarities. The illustrations demonstrate some tattoos typical for Thracians on Greek vases.

Regulation of the synthesis of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and its subunits in the flagellate Chlorogonium elongatum. I. The effect of light and acetate on the synthesis and the degradation of the enzyme

Shifting of heterotrophically cultured cells of Chlorogonium elongatum to autotrophic culture conditions results in a more than tenfold increase in the level of the chloroplastic enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase. This increase in enzyme amount is caused by an increased synthesis of the enzyme de novo under both growth conditions. The synthesis of the enzyme is mainly under the control of two factors. Light promotes the synthesis, while acetate, the carbon source of this organisms, has a strong inhibitory effect on this process. Since a mutant lacking chlorophyll shows a normal response to the change of culture conditions the chlorophylls can be ruled out as photoreceptors.

[Ethics and the Federation of Swiss Physicians]

As a professional organization, the Federation of Swiss Physicians must make sure that generally admitted rules of ethics as well as professional regulations in this matter are recognized and observed by its members. In its statutes, it asserts itself for a high level medical care of the population; it requires not only a permanent renewal of professional aptitude as a duty in the widest meaning of the word, but also a great sense of responsibility for patients and society. Axioms on professional ethics are unfit as arguments for material requirements to fulfil the best possible all these duties. Credibility is only granted if ethical rules are really observed.

[Self medication and medical prescription]

Medical prescription particularly aims at a causal therapy whereas self-medication should be exclusively limited to symptom treatments. But, provided that the chemists informs properly the consumer, self-medication takes a prominent part within an education of the population to a reasonable use of medicine.

[On the surgical treatment of paraplegia (author's transl)]

We report on a modified dorso-ventral operation method for the treatment of unstable vertebral lesions in parapletic patients. We see the indication for ca. 10% of the paraplegics with unstable vertebral fractures and incomplete neurological pareses with a real of expected worsening of the neurological status. A real stabilisation can only be reached by combined dorsal and ventral fusioning, which only rectify the operative risks. The geometrical arguments for this method are presented.

[Analytical methods for nitrate and nitrite determination in foods. 3. Spectrophotometric determination of nitrate and nitrite using sulphanilic acid/1-naphylamine, and of nitrite using resorcinol/zirconium (IV) oxychloride]

The Nitrate content of foods may be determined by means of azo-dye coupling after reduction of the nitrate with the aid of active cadmium produced in the sample solution. An easy method for determining nitrite consists in the colorimetric estimation of a coloured chelate formed from nitrite, resorcinol and zirconium(IV) oxychloride.

[Analysis of nitrate and nitrite in feed. 2. Potentiometric nitrate determination with ion sensitive electrodes]

Nitrate-sensitive PVC matrix membrane electrodes produced in the German Democratic Republic are suited for determining nitrates in feeds and plants if the different causative parameters are taken into account. A rational determining method is presented. Comparisons with the o-cresol method showed statistically confirmed agreement.

[Analytical methods for nitrate and nitrite in feeds. 1. Spectrophotometric determination of nitrate with o-cresol]

The o-cresol procedure which is used for determining nitrate in feeds is tested for precision. The treatment of the samples and the course of analysis are rationalized. The method is recommended as a standard procedure for biological materials; it is suited as a reference technique in elaborating new analytical procedures.

[Primary and secondary hypertension in polyclinical patients]

Hypertension was found in 854 (10.4%) of 8228 patients (3657 females, 4571 males) seen in our outpatient clinic during 1975. Essential (primary) hypertension was found in 92.9% (n = 793) of all hypertensives. Among secondary forms of hypertension (7.1%) renal hypertension, with a rate of 5.8%, was the commonest form (hypertension of renal-parenchymatous origin 4.9%, renovascular hypertension 0.8%, hypertension associated with unilateral hydronephrosis 0.1%. In 2 patients (0.2%) the underlying disease was primary aldosteronism and in 5 (0.6%) coarctation of the aorta. In 4 female patients (0.5%) the hypertension was caused by oral contraceptives. Patients with essential hypertension had higher body weight than those with normal blood pressure. These differences were statistically significant in young and middle-aged patients. Our results show a very high percentage of essential hypertension. In only 18 (2.1%) of 854 hypertensives was a curable form of high blood pressure found (hypertension caused by renal artery stenosis, hydronephrosis, aldosterone producing adenoma of the adrenal gland and oral contraceptives). The very low percentage of curable forms of hypertension should be kept in mind when deciding on expensive procedures in a search for secondary forms of high blood pressure.

The relationship between expression of epithelial B-like blood group antigen, cell movement and cell proliferation

Healing wounds in the oral mucosa of rhesus monkeys were examined by an immunofluorescence staining method to demonstrate the distribution of a blood group antigen cross reacting with human group B, and by labelling with tritiated thymidine to localize areas of cell proliferation. Within hours, blood group antigen reactivity was lost from epithelial cells adjacent to the wound margin. Reactivity was absent from the epithelial outgrowth into the wound, but returned with restoration of epithelial continuity. The zone of increased cell proliferation lay adjacent to, but outside of, the area of antigen loss. Antigen loss appeared to be associated with an area of increased cell movement, a finding of interest in relation to reports of antigen loss from epithelial tumors.

[Diagnostic significance of cerebrospinal fluid IgG determination by radial immunodiffusion]

The concentration of immunoglobulin G in 455 cerebrospinal fluids has been determined. The results obtained are discussed together with the corresponding total protein and gamma-globulin values. Classification by seven constellations and their assignment to four groups of diseases (acute and inflammatory diseases, chronically inflammatory diseases, E. d., and tumors) allows valuable information to be obtained about the diagnostic significance of IgG determination in the cerebrospinal fluid. This is true especially of E. d. and also applies to an assessment of the activity of inflammatory processes. It is evident from the results of these studies that an evaluation of the IgG value is not possible without considering the total content of protein. The value found for the quotient (see article).

[Glucagon producing adenomatosis of Islands of Langerhans with polyendocrine symptoms]

A patient in whom Cushing syndrome had been diagnosed at the age of 23 was found 14 years later to have subclinical diabetes mellitus, subcutaneous calcified fat tissue necroses, and hypergastrinemia suggesting Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Histopathologic investigation revealed pancreatic adenomatosis of the glucagon producing A2-cells with accompanying B-cell hyperplasia, and hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex. The origin of the increased serum gastrin concentration in this patient is not yet known. The significance of A2-cell proliferation in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and and in multiple endocrine adenomatosis is discussed.

[Excretion of 3,4-dimethoxy phenylethylamine in the urine of schizophrenics]

According to the hypothesis of Osmond, Harley-Mason and Smythies on abnormal methylation products in the catecholamine metabolism in schizophrenics, the excretion of 3,4-dimethoxyphenylethylamine (3,4-DMPEA) in the urine was examined in 80 patients with endogenous psychoses and in 20 normal persons. In 38% of the patients 3,4-DMPEA was found, whereas no 3,4-DMPEA was found in normal persons. When the biochemical findings obtained are correlated to the corresponding diagnoses the highest incidence of positive findings was observed in paranoid-hallucinatory schizophrenics with 71% in males and 75% in females. The signification of controls during the course of the experiments is emphasized.