Natural history of myocardial hypertrophy and its association with hyperinsulinism in infants of diabetic mothers

This work is devoted to the study of polarographic reduction of three antibiotic compounds including adriamycin, chloramphenicol and erythromycin and of a synthetic antibacterial chemotherapeutic compound--5-nitrofurantoin. The polarographic reduction was performed in the strictly anhydrous N,N-dimethylformamide with or without alpha-lipoic acid (LA) by the means of DC polarography. The values of half-wave potentials E1/2 and parameter of potential carcinogenicity were determined for the all compounds. Adriamycin was reduced during the five-step process, other compounds were reduced in two steps. The presence of LA in a polarographic solution resulted in a new polarographic one-electron wave in the range of -1.120 V to -1.790 V vs. SCE possessing a diffuse and reversible character. Its height is linearly dependent on the LA concentration in solution. The highest parameter of potential carcinogenicity tg alpha was determined for adriamycin (0.575) which belongs among compounds classified by WHO as "probably carcinogenic to humans". The lowest determined value of parameter tg alpha belonged to 5-nitrofurantoin (0.290) which has not yet been included into the IARC classification.     

Unfolding and inactivation of Penaeus penicillatus acid phosphatase during denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride

Neuromuscular terminals of a single motoneuron to four muscles (CPV7a, GM5a, CV2, and CV3) in the stomach of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus showed structural evidence for the exocytotic release of dense-core vesicles exclusively at synapses. The primary evidence was the appearance of dense cores in the synaptic cleft, accompanied by indentations of the presynaptic or postsynaptic membrane. In their simplest form, these consisted of an omega-shaped figure of the presynaptic membrane enclosing one dense core, denoting release of a single dense-core vesicle. A larger indentation of the presynaptic membrane enclosing several dense cores denoted multiple release. A more complex form of multiple release was where the presynaptic membrane was normal, but the postsynaptic membrane elaborated into a sac projecting into the granular sarcoplasm and filled with dense cores. The postsynaptic sac in some instances was compressed into a thin, fingerlike extension, which lacked dense cores and, at its distal end, separated into small cisternae, suggesting a mechanism for membrane recycling. Profiles depicting single and multiple releases of dense-core vesicles were found more frequently at neuromuscular terminals that release relatively large amounts of transmitter with a single stimulus, such as CV2 and CV3, compared to those releasing smaller amounts, such as CPV7a and GM5a. The disparity in release sites among the four muscles of this single motor unit and the fact that many of the multiple-release figures were closely adjacent to the active zones for transmitter release suggest a possible modulatory role for dense-core vesicles in synaptic transmission. Such modulation may be long lasting, as implied by the postsynaptic sacs, which may permit prolonged release of the contents of their dense cores into the synaptic cleft. This is in keeping with the functional role of these stomach muscles, which is to be continuously active for long periods of time.     

Differential expression of CD22 (Lyb8) on murine B cells

Previous studies have established the distribution, biochemistry and functional attributes of human CD22, a B cell-restricted glycoprotein. Recently, molecular cloning of the murine CD22 equivalent revealed this molecule to be the same as the previously described Lyb8 alloantigen. Using the anti-Lyb8 mAb Cy34.1.2, the present report documents the expression patterns of CD22 within the murine B cell compartment. The results demonstrate that in the bone marrow, murine CD22 is absent on the surface of pro-B cells, pre-B cells and newly emerging IgM+ B cells. CD22 is present at a low density on immature IgMhi B cells and fully expressed on mature recirculating B cells. In the periphery, murine CD22 is expressed at mature levels on all B cell subsets including follicular, marginal zone, B1 and switched B cells. Further studies showed CD22 to be retained on activated murine B cells for extended periods. Finally, in combination with CD23 and heat stable antigen, CD22 can be used to delineate the immature splenic B cells, and distinguish them from follicular and marginal zone cells. Together, the results demonstrate murine CD22 to be a useful pan marker for all mature B cell subsets.     

The contribution of color to visual memory in X-chromosome-linked dichromats

We used a recognition memory paradigm to assess the visual memory of X-chromosome-linked dichromats for color images of natural scenes. The performance of 17 protanopes and 14 deuteranopes, who lack the second (red-green opponent) subsystem of color vision, but retain the primordial (yellow-blue opponent) subsystem, was compared with that of 36 color normal observers. During the presentation phase, 48 images of natural scenes were displayed on a CRT for durations between 50 and 1000 msec. Each image was followed by a random noise mask. Half of the images were presented in color and half in black and white. In the subsequent query phase, the same 48 images were intermixed with 48 new images and the subjects had to indicate which of the images they had already seen during the presentation phase. We find that the performance of the color normal observers increases with exposure duration. However, they perform 5-10% better for colored than for black and white images, even at exposure durations as short as 50 msec. Surprisingly, performance is not impaired for the dichromats, whose recognition performance is also better for colored than for black and white images. We conclude either that X-chromosome-linked dichromats may be able to compensate for their reduced chromatic information range when viewing complex natural scenes or that the chromatic information in most natural scenes, for the durations tested, is sufficiently represented by the surviving primordial color subsystem.     

Becoming involved: the nurse leader''s role in encouraging teamwork

Ovine tracheal ring explants were infected with four different Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae and one M. arginini field isolate and their ability to induce cytopathic effects was tested by measuring ciliary activity and intracellular calmodulin release. Infected tracheal rings showed significantly decreased ciliary activity as compared to the non-infected control rings. There were, however, marked differences between isolates in the onset and severity of the effects which correlated with their ability to produce hydrogen peroxide. Infected tracheal rings released more calmodulin than the non-infected controls. The amount of calmodulin released also varied between isolates, and somewhat reflected the degree of loss of ciliary activity in the corresponding rings induced by the different isolates. Light and electron microscopic examinations of infected tracheal rings revealed disorganisation and sloughing of the epithelium, and association of mycoplasmas only with the cilia. Following repeated in vitro passages, the organisms had reduced ability to inhibit ciliary activity which correlated with decreased hydrogen peroxide production. Addition of catalase to the organ cultures delayed loss of ciliary activity. These results suggest that M. ovipneumoniae induced ciliostasis in ovine tracheal ring explants which correlated with hydrogen peroxide production. Furthermore, these M. ovipneumoniae-induced injuries to respiratory epithelial cells could contribute to the role that this organism may play in sheep respiratory disease.