Nature of permeability changes in membrane of HeLa cells adsorbing Sendai virus

Adsorption of Sendai virus to HeLa cells induced in them an increased permeability to K+, Na+, Ca++, deoxyglucose, but not to fluorescein. The stimulation of uptake of 42K was temperature-dependent, did not occur below 15 degrees C, and was not inhibited by ouabain. The virus-induced increase in the uptake and release of 42K and of 3H deoxyglucose could not be mimicked by treatment of cells with linoleic acid, a procedure which increased the fluidity of the cellular membranes. The stimulatory effect of 0.5 mM ATP on the release of deoxyglucose was enhanced several fold in the presence of Sendai virus. These results seem to indicate the possible involvement of membranal enzymes such as e.g. protein kinase in the permeability changes induced by Sendai virus.

[Routine diagnosis of bacteriuria: estimation of urinary sediment or counting blood cells? (author's transl)]

Testing of a method of bacteriuria diagnosis which would be feasible for outpatient routine work and highly reliable while requiring little cost and effort, revealed the clear superiority of examining the uncentrifuged urine in the counting chamber over the sedimentation method. Whereas the accuracy of the sedimentation method in bacteriuria diagnosis is about 50%, the counting chamber method gave correct results in more than 90% of the cases. This entails saving in terms of manhours. The only drawback of the counting chamber method is its higher rate of false-positive findings caused by the fact that the microscopic identification of bacteria enters into the final count. This drawback, however, is more than made up by the reduced amount of material and time involved in this procedure.

[New antibiotics in the treatment of urinary tract infections]

Based on the frequency of the isolated bacteria the antibiotics and chemotherapeutics commonly used in infections of the urinary tract are discussed. It turns out that ampicillin and sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim are still the drugs of choice in the treatment of these bacterial diseases. A true advance is achieved by the introduction of carbenicillin and the new aminoglycoside amikacin. Carbenicillin can be used in Pseudomonas infections and is characterized by its low toxicity. Amikacin is the drug of choice against aminoglycoside-resistant gramnegative bacteria.

[Casting faults and structural studies on bonded alloys comparing centrifugal castings and vacuum pressure castings]

The casting processes in use today such as centrifugal casting and vacuum pressure casting were compared with one another. An effort was made to answer the question whether the occurrence of shrink cavities and the mean diameter of the grain of the alloy is dependent on the method of casting. 80 crowns were made by both processes from the baked alloys Degudent Universal, Degudent N and the trial alloy 4437 of the firm Degusa. Slice sections were examined for macro and micro-porosity and the structural appearance was evaluated by linear analysis. Statistical analysis showed that casting faults and casting structure is independent of the method used and their causes must be found in the conditions of casting and the composition of the alloy.

Inhibition of adsorption of West-Nile and herpes simplex viruses by procaine

The effect of the local anaesthetic drug procaine on the adsorption of two enveloped viruses was studied. Physiological concentrations of the drug (7 X 10(-3)--7 X 10(-2) M) strongly inhibited the adsorption of both West-Nile and herpes viruses as determined by plaque assay and the infective center assay.

[Waldenström's macroglobulinemia with immunocytoma of the lung]

A case of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia in a 63-year-old man is presented. The clinical course was complicated by pulmonary infiltration classified by biopsy as immunocytoma. The clinical findings and therapeutic possibilities in this rare case of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia with with pulmonary complications are discussed in the light of the literature.

[Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma]

A case of diffused malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum in a 64-year-old man is presented. This mesothelioma, of the papillary type, was complicated, after a year without significant clinical symptoms, by the development of ascites and obstructive upper bowel ileus. Physiological-anatomical and clinical aspects, as well as special radiologic findings and therapeutic regimens, are discussed in the light of the literature. It is recommended that all patients with malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum be treated by total abdominal irradiation and intreperitoneal instillation of colloid P32.

Estrogenic sensitivity of alpha-receptors in the urethra musculature

Estrogene has a tonicising effect upon urethra musculature. There is also the same demonstrable influence of alpha-receptor stimulating drugs upon the urethra pressure profile. After preliminary treatment with estrogene, there is a considerably stronger tonicising effect of alpha-stimulating drugs than without such a treatment. So the combination of estrogene and alpha-stimulating drugs seems a useful addition to the conservative treatment of stress incontinence.

Fluorescence polarization and viscosities of membrane lipids of 3T3 cells

Studies of the fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene in membranes of normal, transformed, and revertant 3T3 cells allowed estimation of microviscosities (eta) of the lipid bilayers of these cells. Fluorescence polarization values observed with normal cells were significantly lower than those observed with cells transformed either by polyoma virus or by simian virus 40. The values of fluorescence polarization obtained with revertant Py6R1 cells were lower than those obtained with the normal cells. The calculated microviscosities (eta) show a 50% increase upon transformation. Possible correlations between the bilayer viscosity and the mobility of the receptors in the membrane are discussed.

[Thermoanalytical studies on gypsum- and phosphate-bonded casting investments]

The two test series were carried out with the dilatometer TMA 500 (of Haereus company). The measurements for thermic expansion are easily reproducible, not so for setting expansion. The recorded setting expansion values are identical with the manufacturers' data given for Luster Cast, Aurovest, and Deguvest HFG, among the thermic expansion values only those for Luster Cast are in line with the data given; the values given for Bayer DC are most different from those we found.