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.     

Ultraviolet absorbers. The protective ability of aromatic nitro compounds in plasticized poly(vinyl chloride)

Investigated were three types of aromatic nitro compounds: (a) a derivative of o-nitrophenol capable of forming an intramolecular hydrogen bond, (b) simple aromatic nitro compounds, and (c) the intramolecular charge transfer complexes, i.e., compounds incorporating in a single molecule the donor and the acceptor moieties, the latter substituted with the nitro groups. Samples of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) were stabilized with these compounds and tested in an Atlas Weatherometer. The extent of degradation was determined by measuring the tensile strength, elongation, and the blue light reflectance before and after 270 and 500 hr of exposure. Samples without the stabilizers and samples containing 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone were used as standards for comparison. Little protection was provided by simple nitro compounds. The derivative of o-nitrophenol and the donor-acceptor compounds were either better or comparable to 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone in preserving the tensile strength and elongation. It appears that the protective ability of the derivative of o-nitrophenol was associated with the hydrogen-bonded six-membered ring whereas the protection rendered by the donor-acceptor compounds was determined by the extent of the contribution of the charge transfer states and the number of benzylic hydrogens capable of undergoing photochemical reactions. However, the mechanistic interpretation of the protective ability of the donor-acceptor compounds was complicated by the color changes occurring during the exposure.     

Steady-state calcium fluxes: membrane versus mitochondrial control of ionized calcium in axoplasm

Squid axons appear in a steady state with respect to ionized Ca when [Ca]o is ca. 3 mM and [Ca]i is ca. 30 nM. A membrane pump energized by the Na gradient across the membrane is capable of maintaining this ratio of ionized Ca if four Na enter per Ca extruded. Empirically, it is noted that if the difference between the electrochemical gradient for Na+ and that for Ca2+ is large and positive, Ca efflux is large; for a large but negative difference in the gradient, Ca influx is large. Net fluxes of Ca into the fiber are induced by Na-free solutions or stimulation. These are buffered in axoplasm principally by a high affinity Ca buffer. Mitochondria apparently do not contain large amounts of stored Ca as CN poisoning does not increase ionized Ca in axoplasm if the seawater is Ca-free.     

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.