Derepressed alloantigen in transplacentally induced lung tumor coded for by H-2 linked gene

A transplacentally induced lung tumor of strain C3Hf mice grows progressively when transplanted to (C3Hf X A)F1 hybrid mice but not when transplanted to C3Hf recipients. Progressive tumor growth occurs in [(C3Hf X A)F1 X C3Hf] backcross mice inheriting the H-2a haplotype from the F1 parent. Furthermore, radioresistant immunity to the lung tumor can be induced in C3Hf mice by immunization with normal tissue of B10.A and B10.A(2R) but not of B10 or B10.A(5R) strain mice.     

Effects of hypertension on the static mechanical properties and chemical composition of the rat aorta

The contributions of the relative radius, relative wall thickness, incremental strain, incremental elastic modulus, and medial scleroprotein content to the static elastic properties of the rat aortic wall have been examined in three groups of rats. Controls, rats made hypertensive at four weeks of age, and rats whose blood pressure was lowered after 6 weeks hypertension, were studied. The results show evidence of adaptive changes in the aorta of hypertensive animals, and that irreversible alterations in the mechanical properties of the wall may be induced by a brief period of hypertension. A direct relationship between aortic medial scleroprotein content and the elastic properties of the wall is demonstrated.     

Improved microbiological procedure for determining bacitracin in premixes and mixed feeds

An improved microbiological procedure is presented for determining bacitracin in premixes and mixed feeds. Premixes are extracted with acidic 50% aqueous methanol, and mixed feeds are extracted with 50% dimethylformamide after washing with acetone to remove fats and pigments. Extracts are diluted with pH 6.0 phosphate buffer and assayed by using a 2-point assay system with Micrococcus flavus as the test organism. The simpler extraction coupled with the 2-point assay system measured bacitracin levels as low as 10 g/ton. Accuracy and repeatability of the 2-point system were at least equivalent to those for official AOAC methods.     

The use of the liver-spleen-scan for the diagnosis of congenital Intrahepatic cysts of the bile duct (M. Caroli) (authors transl)

After the short review of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy for congenital intrahepatic cysts of the bile-duct (morbus Caroli), reference was made to the diagnostic significance of liver scintigraphy on the basis of two casuistic reports. Liver scintigraphy permits an exact localization of intrahepatic cysts as well as information regarding the course of the hepatopathy connected with morbus Caroli. In addition, 131-J-bromsulfon scintigraphy of the liver is a simple method for controlling the patency of the bile ducts. Our observations tend to indicate that preoperative and postoperative scintigraphic controls of the liver are practical for this disease.     

Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid

Medullary carcinoma is an unusual malignant neoplasm. The cell of origin is considered to be the C-cell which is derived from the ultimobranchial body and neural crest. The tumor is solid and has characteristic amyloid in the stroma. The lesion usually presents as a neck mass, and multicentricity is not unusual. In some patients diarrhea may be an important presenting symptom. Serum calcitonin is typically elevated and is important in the diagnostic confirmation. About 10 percent of the cases are part of a familial endocrine syndrome which includes pheochromocytomas, mucosal neuromas, and other endocrine gland adenomas. Frequent multicentricity and early cervical lymphatic and systemic metastases necessitate total thyroidectomy and radical neck dissection. Prognosis varies from a rapid demise to long term survival.     

Effect of C-4'-modification of thiamine pyrophosphate on its coenzyme activity in the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvic acid reaction

Interaction was studied between pyruvate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.4.1) and C-4'-substituted analogs of thiaminpyrophosphate, 4'-N (CH3)-TPP, 4'-N(CH3)2-TPP and OH-TPP. None of these analogs was found to replace TPP during the reduction of NAD and 2.6-dichlorophenol-indophenol as well as pyruvate decarboxylation. The decarboxylase activity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase component isolated from the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was determined according to the 14CO2 yield and production of 2-C-oxoethyl-TPP using 1-14C-pyruvate and 2-14C-pyruvate, as substrates, respectively. All the analogs were found to competitively inhibit pyruvate dehydrogenase, Ki values for 4'-N(CH3)-TPP, 4'-N(CH3)2-TPP and 4'-OH-TPP being 4.1 X 10(-5) M, 8.5 X 10(-5) M and 2.9 X 10(-6) M, respectively; Km values for TPP was equal to 1-2 X 10(-7) M. It is assumed that the analogs of the holoenzymic complex formed by the pyruvate dehydrogenase component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex with mono-, dimethyl-TPP and oxo-TPP do not bind the substrate.