Hemoglobin M equon beta 41 (C7) phenylalanine leads to tyrosine

A severe hemolytic crisis was observed in a 34-yr-old female of English-Irish extraction following a viral illness treated with acetaminophen. Heinz bodies and heat instability were present only during a transient hemolytic event. A challenge dose of acetaminophen caused no detectable hematologic abnormality. Structural studies of the hemoglobin during hemolysis and again after complete recovery localized the abnormality to tryptic peptide beta Tp-5, and automated sequencing of I 125-labeled beta chains indicated a replacement of phenylalanine (C7) beta 41 by tyrosine. Substitution of the next residue, phenylalanine (CD1) beta 42 by serine (Hb Hammersmith), has resulted in chronic severe Heinz body hemolytic anemia. The lack of chronic anemia in the present disorder may reflect the different relationships of beta41 and beta 42 and/or the similarities in volume and hydrophobicity of tyrosine and phenylalanine. It is suggested that substitution of tyrosine for phenylalanine in Hb Mequon may disturb the critical environment around the heme group and render it susceptible to oxidative denaturation in the presence of infections and/or drugs.     

Relative value of peripheral blood, secretion and tissue eosinophilia in the diagnosis of different patterns of allergic rhinitis

Eosinophil count in peripheral blood, nasal secretion and nasal mucosa were studied in 20 controls and 38 patients with different patterns of allergic rhinits. Secretion and tissue eosinophilia were pathologically high in a greater number of patients than peripheral blood eosinophilia. This trend was seen in all patterns of allergic rhinitis but was more evident in seasonal allergic rhinitis. The conclusion was reached that examination of local site and local secretions for eosinophilia is helpful in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of allergic rhinitis.     

Differential diagnosis of allergic diseases of the upper respiratory tract

The author studied various manifestations of the most widely spread clinical forms of allergic diseases of the upper respiratory tract, namely, the bacterial, atopic and combined ones. In addition to clinical investigations laborotory, immunologic and functional tests were conducted. The difference in pathogenesis affected the clinical course of the disease. Some symptoms depended on the kind of sensibilization, others on how strongly pronounced the pathologic process was.     

A study of the protein composition of the zona pellucida of mammalian oocytes and zygotes by a method of microelectrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel

It is known that drugs are not unlimitedly stable. Dilutions of the antineoplastic agent daunoblastin used in the clinic and experimental work, were examined, whether they could be stored for several days. By means of impulscytophotometry, spectral-photometric measurements, counting of surviving cells and estimation of DNA-synthesis after culturing pieces of tissue in the presence of daunoblastin it could be established that this drug, diluted even four days ago, still possesses sufficient activity.     

Space flight effects on skeletal bones of rats (light and electron microscopic examination)

In the light and electron microscopes, long tubular bones of Wistar rats that were flown for 22 d onboard the Cosmos-605 biosatellite and were exposed to a ground-based simulation experiment were examined. About half of the flight rats showed osteoporosis of metaphyses which was usually combined with a decrease of the mass of the primary spongiosa in the vicinity of the epiphyseal cartilaginous plate. This gives evidence that the growth of the bones could have been inhibited in flight. The light and electron microscopy of bones of flight rats revealed wide osteocyte lacunae which could have been produced by perilacunar osteolysis. In the simulation experiment, reduction in the metaphyseal spongiosa occurred only in one-third of the rats and was less pronounced than in flight rats; no decrease of the mass of the primary spongiosa near the cartilaginous plate was noted. Histological investigation of bones 27 d postflight demonstrated that that time period was not enough to eliminate all the changes in the bones tested.