Exit transport of a cyclic nucleotide from mouse L-cells

At a concentration of 30 mum, 1,4,5,6,8-pentazaacenaphthylene, 3-amino-1,5-dihydro-5-methyl-1-beta-D-[5-14C]ribofuranosyl (NSC-154020), a tricyclic, 7-deazapurine nucleoside (TCN) is rapidly taken up by cultured mouse L-cells and converted to intracellular TCN-monophosphate, but not further metabolized. The TCN-monophosphate is also excreted by the cells into the medium. It is released by a saturable process against a concentration gradient and the release is inhibited by various inhibitors of energy production. This inhibition correlates with a depletion of the cells of ATP. Thus TCN-monophosphate excretion probably involves an active transport system. This transport system is highly temperature-dependent (the Q10 falls between 3 and 4) and is inhibited by papaverine, theophylline, Persantin, Probenecid, phenethyl alcohol and p-chloromercuribenzoate, but not by 500 muM cyclic AMP, AMP, or adenosine. Significant amounts of various natural phosphorylated intermediates (AMP, ATP, UTP, UMP, UDP-hexoses, and phosphorylcholine) are not released from the cells under similar experimental conditions either in the absence or presence of 30 muM TCN.     

Hemato-tissue eosinophilia in a case of ulcerative rectocolitis]

A case of ulcerous rectocolitis presenting a remarkable haematic and tissue eosinophilia, both rectal and gastric, is described. After therapy, the eosinphil complement decreased in the blood but not in the colic mucosa. It is suggested that eosinphilia is not a particular characteristic of ulcerous colitis, but the expression of an inidvidual reaction to an inflammatory stimulus.     

An improved culture flask for photographic and visual observation of living cell cultures

C1t is a 9.5 S alpha1 glycoprotein that has been shown to be a fourth subcomponent of the first component of complement. The m.w. of C1t was found to be 233,000 by sedimentation equilibrium in the ultracentrifuge. A subunit m.w. of 23,000 was obtained by sedimentation equilibrium in 5.95 M guanidinium chloride. No change in either m.w. was produced by prior reduction and alkylation. In the electron microscope characteristic pentagonal figures of 85 A diameter were observed together with rod-like figures which appear to be stacked assemblies of the pentagonal figures. These observations lead us to propose that C1t is a noncovalent, decameric protein with the subunits disposed at the vertices of two regular pentagons joined at one of their faces. A possible relationship between C1t and the P-component of amyloid is discussed.     

Production of verruculogen by Penicillium estinogenum in stirred fermenters

A spectrofluorometric assay for the estimation of the tremorgenic mycotoxin verruculogen in crude mycelial extract has been devised and used to determine concentrations as low as 0.2 microgram ml-1. Verruculogen production by Penicillium estinogenum has been extended from surface culture to submerged culture in 60 1 stirred fermenters, in which the maximum cell-associated mycotoxin yield [5 mg (100 ml culture)-1] was obtained within 7 d. It was found necessary to supplement the medium (Czapek Dox broth plus 0.5% yeast extract) with calcium chloride (2%) to induce profuse sporulation (2 X 10(7) conidia ml-1).     

Hospital saves by making own sterile water

A respiratory therapy department determined that it could achieve substantial savings by producing rather than purchasing its own sterile water.     

Transcendental Meditation and fine perceptual-motor skill

30 college male meditators had a 20-min. meditation followed by a 6-min. waking phase prior to 5-min. continuous practice on the pursuit rotor task. This was followed by a 4-min. rest then a further 2-min. of pursuit rotor practice. A similar group of college males who were non-meditators (N = 30) followed the same procedures except that instead of meditating they sat quietly for the initial 20-min. period. The expectations that Transcendental Meditation would (a) facilitate learning and performance; (b) cause less within-subject variability; and (C) cause less reactive inhibition, (c) cause less reactive inhinition, were not upheld by the results. With the exception of performance, which was significantly lower for the meditators, the two groups were no different. Thus, it appears that certain reported physiological and psychological benefits that are attributed to the practice of Transcendental Meditation (such as less anxiety, greater consistency, more awareness, altertness, and attention) are not manifested in the present behavioral test of perceptural-motor function. In fact, in terms of performance, the meditators seemed to be at a disadvantage.