Photoinduced size change of membrane vesicles from bovine retinal rod outer segment

Quasielastic light-scattering measurements were made on isolated, osmotically swollen, bovine rod outer segment (ROS) disk membranes in aqueous Ficoll. The translational diffusion coefficients determined were (1.66 +/- 0.21) X 10(-9) and (2.31 +/- 0.14) X 10(-9) cm2/s at 25 degrees C for the unbleached and bleached membranes in 5% Ficoll, respectively, yielding the Stokes radii of 0.53 +/- 0.07 micronm for the former and 0.38 +/- 0.02 micronm for the latter. This photoinduced size decrease, which corresponds to a 60% decrease in the intravesicular volume, is far more pronounced than thos reported by others for ROS fragments.

Intact photoreceptor membrane from bovine rod outer segment: size and shape in bleached state

Photoreceptor disk membranes isolated from bovine rod outer segments are suspended in dilute aqueous sucrose (4.36 X 10(-3%)) and bleached, and their size and shape are determined with quasielastic and elastic light scattering. They are found to be extremely homogeneous spherical vesicles with a radius of 0.49 +/- 0.07 mum which appear to have derived from the native disk shape by osmotic swelling.

Emergency surgery for calculous diseases of the upper urinary tract

Nineteen patients with calculous disease of the upper urinary tract presenting as anuria or acute pyonephrosis are reported. The necessity for emergency surgical treatment is stressed. The methods of surgical treatment and the results are discussed.