Fast computer search for similar DNA sequences

An extremely fast method of searching a nucleic acid sequence database against a probe sequence is described. The method is based on the detection of deviation from expected number and deviation from random spatial distribution of sub-sequences which are unique within a sequence, and shared between that sequence and the probe. On an IBM 3081 computer, total search of an encoded form of the EMBL nucleic acid sequence database with a 1 kbase probe sequence is completed in a few seconds. Previous best methods for a similar task required a few minutes.

Conductivometric determination of urinary oxalate with oxalate decarboxylase

An enzymatic method for determination of urinary oxalate is described: the acidified urine samples are extracted with chloroform. This manipulation improves the blank values considerably. 1 ml of extracted urine is incubated with oxalate decarboxylase. The CO2 released from the medium is absorbed by Sr(OH)2. The change in conductivity measured in the Sr(OH)2 solution is linearly proportional to the oxalate concentration in urine and the method is specific for oxalate. The mean recovery is 93.2 +/- 2.5%. The coefficient of variation calculated from 28 determinations is 12.6%. The detection limit is 35 nmol. 1 ml of urine is usually sufficient for determination. The mean 24 h urine oxalate excretion of 11 healthy men and 16 women was 240 +/- 20 mumol.

An immunological study of the interaction of ligands with pyruvate kinase of Neurospora crassa

Antibodies against pyruvate kinase of Neurospora crassa, induced in rabbits, were used to monitor the interaction of ligands with this enzyme. The technique of microcomplement fixation was employed to probe for conformational alterations elicited by binding of substrates (phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and adenosine diphosphate), the allosteric activator (fructose 1,6-diphosphate), and the inhibitor (valine). On binding of PEP and valine to pyruvate kinase a pronounced reduction in the extent of complement fixation was observed. The second substrate, ADP, had no effect while FDP elicited a moderate suppression of complement fixation. These results suggest that as a consequence of conformational changes induced by PEP and valine, some antigenic determinants on the surface of pyruvate kinase are rendered inaccessible to the antibodies.

Urinary free cortisol and clinical classification of depressive illness

Urinary free cortisol was measured in 24 patients with primary depressive illness. The patients were classified according to their family history (Winokur's classification) and the Newcastle scale. There was a significant increase in urinary free cortisol (UFC) excretion in patients classified as endogenous on the newcastle scale, but UFC excretion was normal in patients with neurotic depression. No significant relationship between urinary free cortisol and the Winokur classification was observed.

Human macrophage function in cancer: systemic and local changes detected by an assay for Fc receptor expression

The activity of human peripheral blood monocytes and pulmonary alveolar macrophages was examined with a rosette assay that detects changes in Fc receptor expression. Compared with peripheral blood monocytes from normal subjects, the peripheral blood monocytes of patients with carcinoma of the lung were found to be activated in this respect. In contrast, compared with pulmonary alveolar macrophages from normal subjects, carcinomas exhibited depressed function in terms of receptor alveolar macrophages from lungs bearing primary expression. Trypsinization of macrophages to remove bound immunoglobulin indicated that this depression of receptor activity was not due to blocking of receptors by immunoglobulin or immune complexes. In an in vitro study the expression of Fc receptors by cultured macrophages was shown to be depressed by a heat-stable, low-molecular-weight material in supernatants of cultured carcinoma tissue from the lung, breast, and urinary bladder.

Hysterectomy, hormones, and behaviour. A prospective study

60 premenopausal women were assessed before and after hysterectomy for menorrhagia or fibroids or both. Their mood, sexual functioning, and plasma oestrogens and gonadotrophins were regularly assessed for a period of up to 3 years. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either oestrone sulphate or placebo tablets during the trial. No evidence was found that this group of patients showed depression or sexual difficulties related to the hysterectomy. In comparison with their baseline gynaecological condition, they showed improved mood and vigour and unimpaired sexual activity.

A clinical and pharmacodynamic evaluation of sulpiride

In a double-blind study the therapeutic efficacy of sulpiride was compared to that of haloperidol--an established neuroleptic agent. A total of 30 female patients with a diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia were initially stabilised on the dosage of haloperidol which produced optimum therapeutic response when given once or twice daily. The patients were then randomly allocated to receive either sulpiride or haloperidol over a period of 12 weeks. Plasma drug concentrations and prolactin levels were determined. Clinical effects were evaluated by Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Wing Rating Scale, and Extrapyramidal Symptoms Rating Scale (EPS). A standardised side-effects checklist was used. Treatment with sulpiride was associated with a significant rise in plasma prolactin level, but paradoxically these patients had significantly reduced extrapyramidal symptoms. No significant correlation was found between plasma sulpiride concentration and prolactin level or any of the clinical variables. The study confirms the antipsychotic activity of sulpiride.

Neuroendocrine studies in affective disorders. Part 2. Plasma thyroid-stimulating hormone response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in affective disorders: effect of ECT

The plasma thyroid-stimulating hormone response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in controls and patients with affective disorders has been studied. The results of the investigation do not suggest any abnormality of this response in monopolar or unipolar depressed patients or bipolar patients undergoing a manic phase of their illness. No significant difference in this response could be detected between 'sporadic depressive disease' patients and 'familial pure depressive disease' patients, and age- and sex-matched controls. The neuroendocrine response was essentially unchanged after treatment by ECT.

Neuroendocrine studies in affective disorders. Part 1. Plasma prolactin response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in affective disorders: effect of ECT

The plasma prolactin response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone, which is thought to be mediated by central 5-HT mechanisms, has been studied in patients with affective disorders. There was no difference between depressive patients (taken as a whole), bipolar patients undergoing a manic phase and controls in the prolactin response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone. When the depressive patients were divided on a genetic basis into familial pure and sporadic depressive disease it was found that the sporadic patients had an enhanced response. The results do not provide any strong evidence to suggest that central 5-HT mechanisms as measured by the prolactin response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone are abnormal in depressed patients or bipolar patients undergoing a manic phase. Patients after ECT had an increased prolactin response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone which may indicate increased sensitivity of central 5-HT receptors following this treatment.

Clinical state, plasma levels of haloperidol and prolactin: a correlation study in chronic schizophrenia

Chronic schizophrenic patients were maintained for six months on a dosage of haloperidol adjusted to give optimum clinical effect. A correlation was found between extrapyramidal symptoms and prolactin levels and also between plasma haloperidol concentration and plasma prolactin levels. Estimation of plasma prolactin would be a reliable measurement of patients' compliance with medication.

Tinea of the ear mimicking chondritis

A case of tinea of the pinna, mistaken for chondritis, is presented. Chondritis should be added to the list of diseases that tinea infection may mimic.

Tumor surveillance: how tumors may resist macrophage-mediated host defense

Both normal human serum and supernatant from explanted malignant tumors contained a heat-stable low-molecular-weight factor that inhibited monocyte activation in vitro. In contrast, serum from individuals with solid tumors enhanced monocyte activation. It is suggested that the systemic activation of monocytes that occurs in malignant disease may be an appropriate host response but that successful tumors may continue to grow because they subvert the normal physiological signal for inhibition of macrophage activation.

Results from a new renal transplantation unit

158 kidneys, 9 from living related donors and 149 from cadavers, have been transplanted in the first 42 months of the establishment of a transplant unit at Oxford. Patients' ages ranged from 11 to 56 (mean 35) years. Azathioprine and prednisolone alone were used for immunosuppression, and a minimum-transfusion policy was in operation throughout. After cadaveric transplantation actuarial patient-survival is 70% and 68%, respectively, at the same intervals. 85% of patients who had a functioning graft are fully rehabilitated. Matching for HLA-DR, pregraft blood-transfusions, and the finding that a transplant could be performed in the presence of a positive B-cell crossmatch have proved to be the most significant of the many factors examined both prospectively and retrospectively. The function of the unit is based on dialysis and transplantation for all patients in end-stage renal failure, with transplantation being considered the first line of treatment for patients under the age of 56. The results of transplantation reported here, which have been achieved with conventional immunosuppressive therapy and minimum-transfusion policy, might be considered a standard against which modifications of the practice of renal transplantation can be compared.

Evaluation of renal preservation using the isolated perfused rat kidney. Ischaemic damage and the effects of inosine

An isolated perfused rat kidney has been used to determine the response to prolonged warm ischaemia and to examine renal preservation procedures. All measurements of function declined to near zero after 90 min of warm ischaemia. Measurement of total sodium reabsorption (TNa) was the most sensitive indicator of renal damage. Inosine was without effect on subsequent renal function after 60 or 90 min of warm ischaemia, or after 24 hr of cold ischaemia. Surface cooling or hypertonic citrate solution, in the cold or at 37 degrees C, significantly improved renal function, and their use in clinical renal preservation rather than that of inosine was supported by the present results.

A study of three protocols of blood transfusion before renal transplantaion in the dog

Three protocols of blood transfusion were evaluated in a canine model for (1) the strength and breadth of leukocytotoxin induction, (2) the induction of cell-mediated immunity against the blood donors, (3) haemagglutinin production, and (4) any effect on kidney graft survival. At the end of the transfusion schedule, each dog received a kindey graft and was given azathioprine and prednisolone postoperatively. All dogs were unrelated and blood donors were not used as kidney donors. All three transfusion protocols, comprising i.v. injections of blood twice weekly or every 2 weeks from one or three donors, induced unacceptably strong and broad leukocytotoxins. All transplants performed across a positive crossmatch failed to function. However, where a negative crossmatch was available, the trend of results was that the transfused dogs had better graft survival than nontransfused animals similarly treated with azathioprine and prednisolone. Only one dog produced haemagglutinins. Several animals had positive cell-mediated immunity against the blood donors, but the response was not strong and was frequently not sustained.

Drug resistant tuberculosis in a large southern California hospital

Rates of in vitro resistance to antituberculous drugs were examined for all patients hospitalized with active tuberculosis between January 1969 and December 1972, and between March 1975 and September 1976. During the former period, in 31.5 per cent of patients, tuberculosis was resistant to one or more drugs, and in 12.3 per cent of patients was resistant to 2 or more drugs. During the latter period, 35.5 per cent of patients had tuberculosis that was resistant to one or more drugs, and 19.6 per cent had tuberculosis resistant to 2 or more drugs. Resistance to isoniazid and ethambutol increased significantly, whereas resistance to para-aminosalicytic acid decreased. Age, national origin, and length of residence in the United States were not good predictors for the presence of in vitro resistance.

Angiosarcoma of the liver: an epidemiologic survey

Diagnosed from 1970 through 1975, the annual incidence rate for angiosarcoma of the liver among residents of New York State (excluding New York City) was 0.25 per million. A case-control study indicated that direct exposure to arsenic, vinyl chloride (VC), and thorium dioxide was a significantly important factor in the etiology of this disorder (P less than 0.02). Direct exposure to these chemicals could not be demonstrated for 19 (73%) of the 26 study patients. The fact that 5 of these patients lived nearer to VC fabrication or polymerization plants than did their matched controls lent some support to the hypothesis that indirect modes of exposure, not specifically related to occupation, might be important in the etiology of this disorder.

Comparison of methods for the determination of total and free tryptophan in plasma

A comparison is made between two fluorimetric techniques for the determination of total and free plasma tryptophan. Comparison is also made between methods for the separation of the unbound and bound fraction of plasma tryptophan using ultrafiltration, Centricones and small-scale equilibrium dialysis.

Renal transplantation and a positive serological cross-match

A renal transplant involving a recipient with a positive serological cross-match against donor lymphocytes generally results in hyperacute rejection of the graft. 13 cadaveric renal transplants were performed in recipients with a known positive serologic cross-match against donor B lymphocytes. 12 of these serological cross-matches were positive against donor blood, node, or spleen lymphocytes, but the reactivity was directed against donor B lymphocytes only. 3 transplants failed, 2 because of rejection and 1 because of renal-artery thrombosis. 10 transplants are functioning, 6 to 42 weeks after the operation. Of these 10 successful grafts, 3 had no acute rejection episodes, while 7 had an early acute rejection episode which responded to treatment. Histologically, the grafts showed a cellular rejection, similar to that in enhanced renal allografts in the rat. It is possible to transplant a kidney in a high-risk patient with a positive B lymphocyte cross-match with a low risk of failure. In addition active enhancement of the graft might sometimes occur.

Effect of aromatic retinoids on rat chondrosarcoma glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis

Synthetic aromatic analogs of retinoic acid were administered i.p. and p.o. to Fischer F344 rats bearing a transplantable chondrosarcoma. 35CO4 incorporation into glycosaminoglycans were compared for neoplastic and normal cartilage explants after removal from animals given various analogs. There was a direct relationship between [35S]glycosaminoglycan synthesis by chondrosarcoma chondrocytes and inhibition of tumor growth. The degree of inhibition of [35S]glycosaminoglycan synthesis in the neoplastic cartilage was dependent on the dose of the retinoid administered. At 20-mg/kg/day doses of retinoid for 4 weeks, 35SO4 incorporated into glycosaminoglycan by treated tumor explants was reduced as much as 95%. There was no reduction of [35S] glycosaminoglycan produced in normal costal cartilage of the same animals. Retinoid treatment of 20-mg/kg/day doses for 4 weeks resulted in a 75% reduction in glycosaminoglycan per mg of chondrosarcoma; there was no reduction in costal cartilage glycosaminoglycan. Retinoid (10- to 20-mg/kg/day doses) elevated collagen levels per mg of chondrosarcoma but had no effect on costal cartilage collagen. Combined in vitro and in vivo studies showed that retinoid administration modified neoplastic chondrocyte function but had no measurable effect on normal chondrocyte function.