Two-parameter flow fluorescence analysis of human chromosomes. Quantitative processing]

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a newly discovered hypotensive peptide which is believed to play an important role for blood pressure control in the adult. Although it has been well established that a major production site of AM is vascular endothelial cells, we now show that AM is most highly expressed in trophoblast giant cells, which are derived from the conceptus and are directly in contact with maternal tissues at the implantation site. Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses show that the AM mRNA begins to be detected just after implantation and its level peaks at 9.5 days postconception (d.p.c.) in those cells. Expression then falls dramatically after 10.5 d.p.c., coincident with the completion of the mature chorioallantoic placenta. Immunohistochemical analyses show that the AM peptide is secreted from the trophoblast giant cells into the surrounding tissues, i.e., embryo, decidua, and maternal circulation. In contrast, the expression of an AM receptor was not detected by Northern blot analyses in either embryo or trophoblast giant cells at 7 d.p.c., when the AM gene is most highly expressed in the trophoblast giant cells. This suggests that the AM produced and secreted from the embryo's trophoblast giant cells acts on the maternal tissues rather than on the embryonic tissues. Based on these results, we propose that the high production of AM may be the mechanism by which the embryos survive at the early postimplantation period by pooling maternal blood in the implantation site in order to secure nutrition and oxygen before the establishment of efficient embryo-maternal circulation through the mature placenta.     

The effect of platelet-activating factor and its synthetic analogs on Ia-antigen expression by mouse peritoneal macrophages

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) of the pattern shift reversal type were determined in a representative group of 57 prisoners of war (POWs) released in 1992 from detention camps in former Yugoslavia. The parameters were correlated with the conditions in four camps (1-4). All subjects were male, with a mean age of 34.75 years (SD +/- 8.92), average length of imprisonment 192.7 days (SD +/- 77.6), mean loss of body mass during imprisonment 19.32% (SD +/- 9.54), and the average number of reported blows to the head and neck was 25.7 (SD +/- 20.3). VEPs were determined on average 290.5 days after the last craniocerebral trauma caused by blows to the head and neck (SD +/- 152.0) i.e., on average 218.5 days after release from the camp (SD +/- 164.3). Although all the 57 POWs reported being maltreated to a certain extent, 14 reported being subjected to particularly brutal forms of torture, 5 had been held in solitary confinement and 25 had lost consciousness at least once. Solitary confinement and loss of consciousness had the most significant effect on VEPs, and the altered VEP parameters correlated significantly with the craniocerebral trauma experienced, loss of body mass and the length of time since the last craniocerebral trauma until examination, and from release until examination. However, the length of imprisonment and treatment in the camps did not have a significant effect on VEP parameters. The study confirmed that under such conditions the age of the subject is a risk factor. The results of this study also confirmed that prisoners in one camp had been subjected to the worst maltreatment.     

Diagnosis of diffuse myocardial changes in ischemic heart disease using orthogonal ECG leads

In 100 patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease and diffuse changes in the myocardium the data of 12 common ECG leads indicated that the corrected orthogonal leads according to Mac Fee--Parungao and Frank reflect these changes in all cases. The severity of the diffuse changes reflected in the deviations of the ST segment and the T-wave in the orthogonal leads corresponds to that reflected in the 12 common leads. A mathematical analysis of the waves of the QRS complex in the X, Y and Z leads indicates a growth of the left ventricular potentials with the development of diffuse myocardial changes. The mentioned systems of orthogonal leads can be recommended for wide employment for the diagnosis of diffuse changes in the myocardium in ischaemic heart disease.     

The problems of guaranteeing the unity of measurements in medicine

The paper discussed its today's status in medicine in terms of its requirements for accurate measurements and their metrological provision, as well as the possibilities of metrology to meet the requirements. The fact that in medicine there is a wide spectrum of urgent measuring tasks requiring priority metrological provision is illustrated by specific examples. The role and potentialities of the D. I. Mendeleev All-Russian Research Institute of Metrology as the chief center of state standards in solving some of these tasks. Particular attention is given to the provision of unity of measurements of physical values which are most widely medically used in diagnosis and treatment.     

A cytofluorometric study of the stability of secondary DNA structure in the epithelial cells in endometrial hyperplasia and cancer

Studies were performed on epithelial cells obtained from uterine cavity in 49 women. All cases were subdivided into four groups; unaltered endometrium-9, glandular endometrial hyperplasia-10, atypical hyperplasia-4 and endometrial adenocarcinoma-30. For fluorimetric evaluation of single- and double-strand DNA specimens were dyed with acridine orange, which is known to produce red fluorescence in combination with double-strand acids. Values of coefficients alpha for single and double-strand DNA after acid hydrolysis were much higher than those before acid treatment. This study provides a deeper insight into the relation between DNA lesions and malignancy.