Chemokine-induced fever: intracerebroventricular actions of MIP-1 and MIP-1 alpha in rats

The central pyrogenic actions in the rat of doublet macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1) and MIP-1 alpha were determined by their intracerebroventricular infusion. Doses of 560 pg and 11.2 ng of MIP-1 or 10.0 ng MIP-1 alpha infused into the third cerebral ventricle induced a long lasting fever. However, MIP-1 alpha was much less potent than MIP-1 in terms of intensity and longer latency. Overall, these cytokines are pyrogenic when acting on the walls of the third ventricle; however, a dose 10 times greater than that injected directly into the anterior hypothalamus is required to evoke fever, as based on earlier experiments. Finally, circulating MIP-1 could act centrally by its entry through the choroid plexus into the ventricular system of the brain.     

Binding properties of bovine colostral anti-dinitrophenyl (dnp) immunoglobulins g2 (igg2)

The number of combining sites per mole of bovine colostral anti-DNP IgG2 was found to be 2 and the total affinity constant was 0.81 X 10(4) M-1. Unlike bovine colostral IgG1, the nonspecific binding of H3-epsilon-DNP-1-lysine by IgG2 as a function of increased concentrations, did not show a negative, cooperative slope. Spectral measurements made with anti-DNP IgG2 in the reference cell vs. anti-DNP IgG2 plus hapten in the experimental cell revealed a hypochromic, red shift from 363 to 365 nm. If the reference cell contained hapten, a red shift from 280 to 283 nm and an enhancement in the extinction coefficient of IgG2 was observed. These spectral changes were not observed if nonspecific IgG2 was substituted for anti-DNP IgG2 in the experimental cell. The enhancement in the extinction coefficient was interpreted to be due to a possible exposure of previously buried tryosine and tryptophan residues.     

Caffeine-stimulated lipolysis in relation to pathologic pregnancy

In an acute experiment the effect of Coffeinum-Sodium-salicylicum (3 mg/kg body weight) on the parameter of lipolysis Free Fatty Acids (FFA) and free glycerin in early pregnancy is investigated. On the base of literature data the possibility of labour induction due to high blood-values of FFA and glycerin is explained and the importance of the coffeine-stimulated lipolysis in pregnancy is discussed. To prevent one possible cause of abortus or miscarriage it is recommended to restrict taking coffee during pregnancy.     

Cobalt-concanavalin A. An index of inactive and active conformational states

Studies on the circular dichroic spectrum of cobalt-substituted concanavalin A have been continued in particular with respect to calcium- and saccharide-induced spectral pertubations reported previously (Kalb, A.J. and Pecht, I. (1973) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 303, 264-268; Richardson, C.E. and Behnke, W.D. (1976) J. Mol. Biol. 102, 441-451). We find that the addition of calcium or cadmium to (CO2+)-concanavalin A induces slow time-dependent alterations in the extrinsic cotton effects. Moreover, one equivalent of calcium is sufficient to cause maximal changes in the cobalt spectrum provided sufficient time is allowed for the effect to be observed. The addition of mono, di-and trisaccharides, specific for concanavalin A, have no resolvable effect upon the cobalt spectrum of concanavalin A (Richardson, C.E. and Behnke, W.D. (1976) J. Mol. Biol. 102, 441-451). The data presented here suggest that these time-dependent processes are conformationally mediated and occur subsequent to S2 occupancy. Evidence is presented that a particular calcium-cobalt-concanavalin A conformer exists which is responsible for the generation of activity in a light-scattering assay system.     

Renovascular hypertension: anatomic and renal function changes during drug therapy

Serial renal function studies were performed on 41 patients wtih renovascular hypertension (RVH) secondary to atherosclerotic renal artery disease who had been randomly selected for nonoperative management. In 19 patients, serum creatinine levels increased between 25% and 120%. The glomerular filtration rates dropped between 25% and 50% in 12 patients. Fourteen patients (37%) lost more than 10% of renal length. In four patients (12%), a significant stenosis progressed to total occlusion. Seventeen patients (41%) had deterioration of renal function or loss of renal size that led to operation. One patient required removal of a previously reconstructible kidney. Of the 17 patients with deterioration, 15 had acceptable blood pressure (BP) control during the period of nonoperative observation. Progressive deterioration of renal function in nonoperatively treated patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and RVH is common, and occurs even in the presence of BP control with drugs.     

Rheological studies of the polymerization of elastomeric impression materials. II. viscosity measurements

As part of a detailed study of the curing of a range of dental elastomeric impression materials, a cone and plate rheometer was used to measure the variation in viscosity due to chain growth. The dependence of this behavior on the catalyst/base ratio, retarding and accelerating agents, and alternative initiators was studied and rationalized in terms of the polymerization chemistry investigated previously. Limited success was achieved with the quantitative interpretation of this data in terms of the polymerization kinetics. Of clinical relevance, only the viscosity behavior of the imine-terminated polyether and one of the thiol-terminated polysulfides approached that of an ideal impression material.