Heart failure in infancy and childhood

The heterogeneity of the reduced and S-carboxymethylated high-sulphur protein fraction from mouse hair has been examined by chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH values above and below the isoelectric region. Considerable heterogeneity is observed both in size (molecular weight range 12000-45000) and in charge. Amino acid analysis of a number of column chromatographic fractions shows the high-sulphur proteins to be largely composed of proteins with a carboxymethylcysteine content above 25 residues and a pronounced heterogeneity in arginine content. Their chromatographic behaviour is similar to that observed for the ultra-high-sulphur proteins from wool.     

Applications of mass spectrometry to the analysis of mycotoxins

Methods of identifying mycotoxins by mass spectrometry are reviewed, with special reference to the value of a complete listing of known fungal metabolites, arranged by molecular weight. Such a list is applied to the identification of various mycotoxins, and mass spectrometry is applied to the structural elucidation of dimethylnidurufin and ostreogrycin A.     

Early pleural decortication for thoracic empyema in immunosuppressed patients

Patients with empyema and impaired immune response often remain in a toxic condition after tube thoracostomy because the infection is not localized and walled off satisfactorily. Consequently, the reported mortality rate is extremely high. Despite the expectation of a high mortality rate from thoracotomy and débridement in this category of critically ill patients, we were forced to perform pleural decortication in eight patients after lesser procedures had failed. They were immunodeficient because of (1) high-dose steroids (HDS) for sagittal sinus thrombosis, (2) HDS for systemic lupus erythematosus, (3) HDS for chronic myelogenous leukemia and myelofibrosis, (4) HDS for multiple myeloma, (5) hemolytic anemia with pulmonary infiltrates, (6) chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease, (7) diabetes mellitus with Kimmelstiel-Wilson disease, and (8) diabetes mellitus with chronic glomerulonephritis. Six of the eight patients survived and were discharged with completely healed incisions 3 to 6 weeks after operation. This compares well with the survival rates reported by others. Although risky, the over-all survival rate may be better with thoracotomy and decortication than with prolonged tube drainage and open drainage in immunodeficient patients with empyema, and the period of morbidity is shortened considerably.     

Effect of Corynebacterium parvum, methanol-extraction residue of BCG, and levamisole on macrophage random migration, chemotaxis, and pinocytosis

Three parameters of macrophage function: random migration, chemotaxis, and pinocytosis, were studied in the guinea pig after administration of Corynebacterium parvum, methanol-extraction residue of BCG, and levamisole (LMS), a synthetic anthelmintic. Macrophage migration studies were performed with a modified Boyden chamber. Pinocytosis was assessed by the uptake of colloidal 198Au. After ip administration, each of the three immunostimulators induced an increase in macrophage chemotactic responsiveness and, to a lesser extent and duration, in random motility. Kinetic, dose-response, and time course data for the effect of each agent on macrophage movement were explored. LMS was the most effective stimulator of macrophage activation, which occurred earlier and persisted longer than it did with the other agents. Macrophages from animals receiving each of the agents showed enhanced pinocytosis. Measurement of macrophage random migration, chemotaxis, and pinocytosis appeared to provide a rapid and quantitative assessment of several parameters of macrophage function and, when studied with other immunologic parameters, may provide useful tools for the evaluation of potential immunoadjuvants.     

Taxol: the chemistry and structure-activity relationships of a novel anticancer agent

Taxol is an exciting new anticancer drug, showing clinical activity against ovarian and breast cancer. Its development as a clinically useful drug has involved major efforts to overcome the supply problem; this has now been done, and the focus of interest has moved to the development of improved analogs of the drug. Recent notable achievements include the first total synthesis of taxol, and the first indications of its binding site on tubulin.