Volatilization of mercury by resting mercury-resistant bacterial cells

The mercuric ion reduction system encoded by the Hg2+ inducible mer operon confers bacterial resistance to mercuric ion. The mer A gene product which is a FAD-containing enzyme catalyzes the reduction of Hg2+ to volatile elemental mercury with the help of intracellular thiols and NADPH as a cofactor (Schottel 1974; Summers and Silver 1978; Fox and Walsh 1982; Misra 1992). Our earlier studies have shown that growing cells of different mercury-resistant bacteria reduce Hg2+ compounds to Hg(O) (Ray et al. 1989; Pahan et al. 1990a; Gachhui et al. 1989). We have also shown the effect of thiol compounds and flavins on mercury-degrading enzyme activities in mercury-resistant bacteria (Pahan et al. 1990b). Here we report that resting cells of mercury-resistant bacteria survive in a buffer system for several hours, synthesize inducible mercury-degrading enzymes and volatilize mercury from a mercury-containing buffer system. We know of no information regarding studies of mercury-degrading enzymes in resting mercury-resistant bacterial cells.

Interleukin-1 and endothelin stimulate distinct species of diglycerides that differentially regulate protein kinase C in mesangial cells

Diglycerides are phospholipid-derived second messengers that serve as cofactors for protein kinase C activation. We have previously shown that, in rat glomerular mesangial cells, the cytokine, interleukin-1 alpha, and the vasoactive peptide, endothelin, generate diglycerides from unique phospholipid precursors. However, neither the molecular species of these diglycerides nor their biological actions were determined. It is now hypothesized that interleukin-1- and endothelin-treated mesangial cells form distinct molecular species of diglycerides which may serve different roles as intracellular signaling molecules. Diglyceride molecular species were resolved and quantified by TLC and high performance liquid chromatography as diglyceride-[14C]acetate derivatives. Endothelin stimulates predominantly ester-linked species (diacylglycerols) in contrast to interleukin-1 which stimulates only ether-linked species (alkyl, acyl- and alkenyl,acylglycerols). In support of these data, interleukin-1-treated mesangial cells hydrolyze ethanolamine plasmalogens, vinyl ether-linked phospholipids. It has been reported that ether-linked, in contrast to ester-linked, diglyceride species do not activate protein kinase C activity. Thus, we next assessed membrane protein kinase C activity in endothelin- or interleukin-1-treated mesangial cells. Even though interleukin-1 has no effect upon basal protein kinase C activity, this cytokine, through the formation of ether-linked diglyceride second messengers, inhibits endothelin, platelet-activating factor, or arginine vasopressin-stimulated protein kinase C activity. We further demonstrate that ester-linked diacylglycerols but not alkyl,acyl- or alkenyl,acylglycerols substitute for phorbol esters in a cell-free protein kinase C assay. In addition, alkenyl,acylglycerols inhibit diacylglycerol-stimulated immunoprecipitated protein kinase C alpha activity in vitro and total protein kinase C activity in permeabilized mesangial cells ex vivo. Taken together, these data suggest that interleukin-1-induced formation of ether-linked diglycerides may physiologically serve to down-regulate receptor-mediated protein kinase C activity and that individual molecular species of diglycerides may serve different roles as intracellular signaling molecules.

Physiological potential of beta-carotene in prolonging the survival of the host bearing transplantable murine lymphoma

beta-Carotene, when supplemented in diet, has been found to increase the survival period of mice bearing a transplantable tumor, Dalton's lymphoma. Tumor cell-count, body weight pattern, hematological parameters like total count showed marked alterations in a dose-responsive manner with beta-carotene administration when compared to their untreated counterparts. Decreased tumor cell proliferation is also reflected by increased hemoglobin levels of the host.

Production of immunoglobulin G and G1 antibodies to cytoskeletal protein by lamina propria cells in ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Recent studies suggest an autoantigenic role for tropomyosin-related protein(s) in ulcerative colitis (UC). This study examined whether immunoglobulin G and G1 subclass antibodies against tropomyosins are produced spontaneously by the lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs) that infiltrate the inflamed UC tissue.

METHODS

LPMCs were isolated from colonic biopsy specimens from 29 patients with UC, 15 with colonic Crohn's disease (CD), and 13 with non-inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained. Cells were cultured in vitro and unstimulated for 10 days. Spontaneous production of immunoglobulin G and G1 antibodies against tropomyosins was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using highly enriched tropomyosins from skeletal muscle and colonic mucosa.

RESULTS

The total immunoglobulin G produced by LPMCs from both patients with UC and CD was comparable but higher than from patients with non-IBD (P < 0.05). However, immunoglobulin G antibodies to tropomyosins were higher in patients with UC than in patients with CD (P < 0.04) and non-IBD (P < 0.02). LPMCs from patients with symptomatic UC produced higher immunoglobulin G antibodies to tropomyosins than patients with UC in remission (P < 0.03), symptomatic CD (P < 0.04), and non-IBD (P < 0.02). Immunoglobulin G antibodies to tropomyosins predominantly belonged to immunoglobulin G1 subclass. The autologous PBMCs showed comparable results.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunoglobulin G antibodies predominantly belonging to immunoglobulin G1 subclass and reactive against tropomyosin-related protein(s) are spontaneously produced by LPMCs from the colonic mucosa in patients with UC.

Sperm hyaluronidase activation by purified predominant and major basic human seminal coagulum proteins

This study demonstrated that semenogelin I and II, the predominant and the major basic human seminal coagulum proteins respectively were shown to be potent activators of sperm hyaluronidase. These proteins stimulated the activity of bovine testicular hyaluronidase, goal cauda sperm hyaluronidase and human ejaculated sperm hyaluronidase. Human seminal plasma protein, which predominantly contains the basic degradation residues of the basic coagulum proteins and albumin (pI 4.7) and which is also basic at the assay pH 3.8, also showed activation of bovine testicular hyaluronidase while acidic pepsin (pI < 1.0) exhibited no such activation. The findings may be utilized as an assay method for comparative evaluation of specific activation units of the purified basic seminal coagulum proteins or their cleavage products and for quantifying the total basic protein (pI > 3.8) units in human seminal plasma. One unit of the coagulum protein was defined as the amount of the activator that increases 1 mIU of hyaluronidase activity by 50%. The specific activity of the 57 kDa and 75-79 kDa coagulum proteins, and that of serum albumin against Sigma bovine testicular hyaluronidase (type IV), were 11,447, 8600 and 6252 units per mg protein respectively. It was speculated that human seminal coagulum proteins may have an activation effect on spermatozoal hyaluronidase activity in vivo.

Study of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in meningiomas by a technique utilizing the binding hormones in a polymerized state

Forty six cases of meningiomas were studied by utilizing oestrogen and progesterone hormone bound to fluroscent-iso-thiocynate (FITC) for the presence of oestrogen and progesterone receptors. Oestrogen receptors were present in 33% cases and only one fourth of these showed strong positivity. Progesterone receptors were positive in 41% cases, and more than half of these showed strong positivity. Thus this study revealed higher positivity rate for progesterone receptors than oestrogen receptors.

Circulating immunoglobulin G1 antibody in patients with ulcerative colitis against the colonic epithelial protein detected by a novel monoclonal antibody

Autoimmunity has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). Several studies have shown amplified immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) antibody response in UC; however the immunoreactive antigen(s) is unknown. To study this antigen(s), mucosal colonic extract was prepared by sonication, ultracentrifugation followed by ion exchange chromatography in fast protein liquid chromatography. The fraction (enriched colonic peptide), that was most reactive to a novel monoclonal antibody, 7E12H12 (IgM isotype), was isolated and used to examine the immunoreactivity against the patients' serum samples. Two hundred and thirteen coded samples from 111 patients with UC (symptomatic and untreated (63), symptomatic and treated (26), remission (22)); 47 with Crohn's disease (CD) (40 were symptomatic and untreated, and 30 had colonic disease); 29 with acute diarrhoea caused by specific pathogen(s); 10 with systemic lupus erythematosus, and 16 normal subjects were examined against the enriched colonic peptide by IgG subtype specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Total IgG antibody reactivity was significantly (p < 0.01) higher only in symptomatic and untreated UC patients compared with each of the non-UC group, but the sensitivity was only 50%. IgG2 and IgG3 reactivities were not different among various groups. The IgG1 antibody reactivity against the enriched colonic peptide, however, differentiated UC patients from CD and each of the other non-UC groups. Seventy nine per cent of the patients with UC, treated or untreated, symptomatic or in remission, had significantly (p < 0.0001) higher IgG1 antibody against the enriched colonic peptide when compared with each of the other non-UC groups. Only 12% of CD serum samples and none of the other control serum samples reacted. Using purified serum IgG1 and 7E12H12-IgM, by 7E12H12 reactive peptide indeed reacts with UC-IgG1 antibody but not with control IgG1.

Production of the Escherichia coli betaine-aldehyde dehydrogenase, an enzyme required for the synthesis of the osmoprotectant glycine betaine, in transgenic plants

In several organisms osmotic stress tolerance is mediated by the accumulation of the osmoprotective compound glycine betaine. With the ambition to transfer the betaine biosynthetic pathway into plants not capable of synthesizing this osmoprotectant, the Escherichia coli gene betB encoding the second enzyme in the pathway, betaine-aldehyde dehydrogenase was introduced into Nicotiana tabacum. The betB structural gene was fused to the promoter of ats1a, a gene coding for the small subunit of Rubisco in Arabidopsis thaliana. Two types of constructs were made, either encoding the N-terminal transit peptide for chloroplast targeting or without the targeting signal for cytoplasmic localization of the BetB polypeptide. Analysis of transgenic N. tabacum plants harboring these constructs showed that in both cases the transgenes were expressed. Northern analysis of the plants demonstrated the accumulation of betB-related mRNA of the correct size. The production and processing of the corresponding polypeptides could be demonstrated by immunoblotting using polyclonal antisera raised against the BetB polypeptide. The transit peptide encoded by ats1a was able to direct BetB to the chloroplast, as suggested by the presence of the correctly processed BetB polypeptide in the chloroplast fraction. High betaine-aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was detected in transgenic plants, both in those where the chimeric gene product was targeted to the chloroplast and those where it remained in the cytoplasm. The transgenic tobacco acquired resistance to the toxic intermediate, betaine aldehyde, in the betaine biosynthetic pathway indicating that the bacterial enzyme is biologically active in its new host. Furthermore, these transgenic plants were able to convert exogenously supplied betaine aldehyde efficiently to glycine betaine.

First report on purification of the predominant acidic coagulum protein of human semen prior to liquefaction

The predominant acidic coagulum protein of freshly ejaculated human semen under reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was purified for the first time from washed seminal coagulum keeping urea throughout the entire procedure. Washed seminal coagulum was isolated from fresh semen sample in acetate buffer at pH 4.5 at 0 degrees C, solubilized rapidly in deionized 4 M urea followed by reduction and carboxymethylation of disulfide bonds. By CM-Sephadex and Sephacryl S-300 high-resolution chromatography in presence of urea at room temperature, the predominant acidic coagulum protein was highly purified (99.1%) with a yield of 2.7% of the coagulum protein. The molecular weight of the purified protein in reducing SDS-PAGE was 162 kD.

Collective isolation of two major, close molecular weight coagulum proteins occurring in human semen before liquefaction

Two major, close molecular weight basic coagulum proteins of freshly ejaculated human semen identifiable on reducing SDS-PAGE, have been isolated together from washed seminal coagulum. The latter was solubilized in urea, followed by reduction and carboxymethylation of disulphide bonds. By high-resolution chromatography on carboxymethy-Sephadex and Sephacryl S-300 using 8 M urea in 0.1M Tris-HCl (pH 7.4) as eluate these proteins were isolated together (purity 99%) with a yield of 10.5%. The molecular weights of the isolated proteins on SDS-PAGE were 75 and 79 kD.

Physical growth pattern for boys (9-18 yr) from rural west Bengal

A cross-sectional anthropometric survey on 629 healthy boys (9-18 yr) of the lower and middle class families of Hooghly district of rural West Bengal was undertaken to study the growth pattern of boys of this population. Maximum gain in height and weight of boys was attained at 13-15 yr of age, as has been reported earlier for boys of Calcutta; other anthropometric measurements followed almost similar pattern. The boys of the present study were superior in physique to south Indian boys, boys of rural Udaipur, Lucknow and of those reported by ICMR. They are also found to be taller than the boys of West Bengal studied (longitudinal) between 1952-1966. The Bengalee girls of the same area of West Bengal showed an accelerated growth up to the age of 13 or 14 (for height and weight respectively) than the boys of comparable age but the reverse was observed at the age of 14 or 15. Boys of the present study were shorter and lighter than well-to-do Indian, American and British counterparts.

Isolation of the predominant coagulum protein of human semen before liquefaction

The predominant protein of freshly ejaculated human semen and seminal coagulum in reducing sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was purified for the first time prior to cleavage of coagulum proteins during liquefaction. The method involves three steps using semen immediately after ejaculation. Washed seminal coagulum was first collected from fresh semen samples in acetate buffer at pH 4.5 at 0 degrees C, solubilized immediately in deionized urea followed by reduction and carboxymethylation of disulphide bonds among the aggregating coagulum proteins. Then using cation exchange (CM-Sephadex) chromatography, eluted with stepwise ionic strength gradient and finally Sephacryl S-300 high resolution chromatography in the presence of urea, the predominant coagulum protein was highly purified (99%) with a yield of 6.3%. The mol. wt of the purified protein was 57,000 Da. At physiological pH, the protein is rich in positive charge.

Autoantibodies in sclerosing cholangitis against a shared peptide in biliary and colon epithelium

BACKGROUND/AIMS

A strong association exists between ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Previously, the presence of a unique epitope shared by colon and biliary epithelial cells was shown by using the novel monoclonal antibody (MAb) 7E12H12 developed against a colonic epithelial protein. In the present study, the presence of circulating autoantibody in PSC against this peptide was examined.

METHODS

Sera from 16 patients with PSC, 13 with primary biliary cirrhosis, 6 with secondary biliary stricture, and 6 with chronic liver diseases and 10 normal subjects were used. An inhibition immunoperoxidase assay using the 7E12H12 MAb was developed against sections of bile duct and gallbladder. Sera were also examined in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against the gallbladder extract enriched in 7E12H12-reactive protein.

RESULTS

About two thirds of the sera from patients with PSC blocked the binding of 7E12H12 MAb on the bile duct and gallbladder, whereas non-PSC sera did not. In the ELISA, 93% of PSC sera had circulating immunoglobulin G antibodies against the enriched gallbladder extract. The reactivity of sera from the PSC group was significantly (P < 0.01 to P < 0.0001) higher than in each of the non-PSC groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Sera from patients with PSC contains autoantibodies against a cross-reactive peptide shared by colon and biliary epithelial cells.

Purification of two azoreductases from Escherichia coli K12

Two azoreductases (I and II) were purified to homogeneity from extracts of E. coli K12. Azoreductase I was a dimer of two identical subunits of molecular weight 28000 whereas azoreductase II was a monomer of 12,000 molecular weight. Both NADH and NADPH functioned as electron donors for the azoreductases. Azoreductase I and II used Ponceau SX, Tartrazine, Amaranth and Orange II as substrates. Ponceau SX was the best substrate for both the enzymes. However, azoreductase II utilized tartrazine, amaranth and orange II less efficiently than azoreductase I.

Physical and motor fitness level of Indian school-going boys

A cross-sectional study of physical and motor fitness measurements was undertaken on 629 healthy Indian (Bengalee) school-going boys of 9-18 years. The study brought to light gradual increase in physical and motor fitness measurements with the advancement of age except physical fitness score. Major increments were recorded between 13 and 15 years of age. All the fitness test scores showed significant positive correlations with age, height and weight but Dash, Shuttle Run and PFI showed significantly negative relationship. Indian boys of the present study were superior in Sit and Reach and inferior in Vertical Jump to the Belgian boys of comparable ages. These boys showed higher values in Vertical Jump than American boys after the age of 13. Dash and Shuttle Run test scores of Indian boys fall between 15th to 25th and 30th to 45th percentiles of American Standard respectively. Besides, American boys are superior in Grip Strength to Indian boys. Percentile values of physical and motor fitness test scores of Indian (Bengalee) boys are, therefore, useful for determining their present fitness status and potentiality in that particular community for specific sports activity.

Improved efficiency for T-DNA-mediated transformation and plasmid rescue inArabidopsis thaliana

A vector was constructed for the isolation of gene fusions to thelacZ reporter gene following T-DNA integration into the genome ofArabidopsis thaliana. To facilitate the generation of taggedA. thaliana plants, we established a modified method for high-frequency transformation ofA. thaliana byAgrobacterium tumefaciens. The main modification required was to inhibit the methylation of T-DNA in the transformed calli. Apparently, cytosine residues of thenos-nptII gene used as a selectable marker were methylated, and the expression of this gene was suppressed. Treatment of the calli with the cytosine methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine led to a dramatic increase (from 3% to 96%) in the regeneration of transformed (kanamycin-resistant) shoots. A total of 150 transgenic plants were isolated, and in 17 of these expression of thelacZ reporter was detected byin situ staining. The T-DNA insert together with flanking plant DNA sequences was cloned intoEscherichia coli by plasmid rescue from some of the T3 transformants that harbored one copy of the integrated T-DNA. Comparison of the rescued DNA with the corresponding DNA of the transgenic plant showed that most of the rescued plasmids had undergone rearrangements. These rearrangements could be totally avoided if anmcrAB (modified cytosine restriction) mutant ofE. coli was used as the recipient in plasmid rescue.

Exocrine differentiation of trichoepithelioma & desmoplastic trichoepithelioma; a scanning electron microscopic study

Trichoepithelioma is widely thought to be a benign appendage tumour which arises from hair follicles (i) Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the basement membrane of Trichoepithelioma & desmoplastic Trichoepithelioma is similar to the basement membrane of exocrine glands like sweat or sebaceous gland. The basement membrane of Trichoepithelioma and desmoplastic Trichoepithelioma do not show any difference in their structure. Thus, possibly Trichoepithelioma and desmoplastic Trichoepithelioma arises from exocrine gland and are closely related to each other.

Autoimmunity to cytoskeletal protein tropomyosin. A clue to the pathogenetic mechanism for ulcerative colitis

Autoimmunity has been emphasized in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis and various anticolon antibodies have been described. Nevertheless, the nature of the autoantigens has been elusive. Using ulcerative colitis colon-eluted IgG antibody, we earlier detected an M(r) 40,000 protein, P40, in colon extract. In our study, we purified P40 from human colon to apparent homogeneity, sequenced two peptides after proteolytic digestion, and demonstrated that the P40 belongs to the tropomyosin family. Furthermore, we demonstrated that blood serum from 95% of patients with ulcerative colitis contains antibodies that are reactive to tropomyosin.

Autoimmunity to cytoskeletal protein tropomyosin. A clue to the pathogenetic mechanism for ulcerative colitis

Autoimmunity has been emphasized in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis and various anticolon antibodies have been described. Nevertheless, the nature of the autoantigens has been elusive. Using ulcerative colitis colon-eluted IgG antibody, we earlier detected an M(r) 40,000 protein, P40, in colon extract. In our study, we purified P40 from human colon to apparent homogeneity, sequenced two peptides after proteolytic digestion, and demonstrated that the P40 belongs to the tropomyosin family. Furthermore, we demonstrated that blood serum from 95% of patients with ulcerative colitis contains antibodies that are reactive to tropomyosin.

Purification and partial characterization of two azoreductases from Shigella dysenteriae type 1

Two azoreductases (I and II) were purified to homogeneity from extracts of Shigella dysenteriae (type 1). Azoreductase I was a dimer of identical subunits of M(r) 28,000, whereas azoreductase II was a monomer of 11,000 M(r). Both were flavoproteins, each containing 1 mol of FMN per mol enzyme. Both NADH and NADPH functioned as electron donors for the azoreductases. Azoreductase I used Ponceau SX, Tartrazine, Amaranth and Orange II as substrates. Azoreductase II utilized all the dyes except Amaranth.

Deficiency in major high molecular-weight seminal proteins in men producing poorly coagulating and alkaline liquid ejaculates

Using SDS-PAGE three major high molecular-weight coagulum proteins (57, 75 and 79 kD) were identified in unliquefied human ejaculates. Washed coagulum was prepared at pH 4.5 and demonstrated negligible proteolysis as determined by a highly sensitive fluorescamine-based method. Laser densitometric scanning of these high molecular-weight proteins in unliquefied ejaculates in relation to their coagulational failure revealed that the total content of 57, 75 and 79 kD proteins in whole semen represented approximately 44% of levels in the normally coagulated, approximately 24% in poorly coagulated (P less than 0.005) and approximately 3% in the non-coagulated (alkaline liquid, P less than 0.001) samples. The findings imply that these predominant high molecular-weight proteins play a major role in human seminal coagulum formation.

Preprotachykinin gene expression in the human basal ganglia: characterization of mRNAs and pre-mRNAs produced by alternate RNA splicing

The nature and distribution of preprotachykinin (PPT, i.e. substance P/neurokinin A-encoding) gene expression in human basal ganglia was determined. Northern blot analysis visualized a single band of approximately 1300 bases, confirming the postmortem stability of PPT mRNA. Gross anatomical analysis indicated that PPT gene expression was relatively evenly distributed throughout the human caudate and putamen, but absent in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra. Nuclease protection analysis of these tissues established that human PPT mRNA consisted of approximately 80-85% beta-PPT (exon 1-7 derived) mRNA and 15-20% gamma-PPT (minus exon 4), with no alpha-PPT (minus exon 6) mRNA detected; these data contrast with the proportions of PPT mRNAs seen in non-human species. The incompletely spliced PPT RNA species detected in basal ganglia accounted for approximately 8% of total human PPT RNA and suggested a fixed order of exon splicing. Since various PPT mRNAs encode different combinations of tachykinin peptides with distinct biological activities, the markedly different proportions of PPT mRNAs seen in human basal ganglia compared to non-human tissues may be of physiological significance.

A PMA degrading constitutive organomercurial lyase in a broad-spectrum mercury resistant Bacillus pasteurii strain DR2

A broad-spectrum Hg-resistant strain of B. pasteurii DR2 utilized phenylmercuric acetate (PMA) as sole source of carbon. This bacterial strain contained a constitutive organomercurial lyase which specifically degraded PMA but not other organo-mercurials. This PMA-lyase activity was also stimulated to different extents when this bacterial strain was grown in presence of different organic compounds as sole source of carbon.

Physical growth pattern for girls (9-17 yr) from rural West Bengal

With a view to assessing the growth pattern, a cross-sectional study was made on 656 Indian Bengalee girls (aged 9-17 yr) of the lower and middle class families of rural West Bengal. The mean height and weight of the Bengalee girls were found to gradually increase up to the age of 17. The average age at menarche was 13 yr and the girls aged 13 yr (currently) reached 98 per cent of height and 83 per cent of weight, as compared to 17 yr old girls. The subjects were found to have heights and weights comparable with the American population while they were shorter and lighter than their British counterparts. On comparison with reported figures for girls of other Indian states, all the physical parameters were found to be almost identical at the age of 17 except for girls of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Bengalee girls studied by us were taller than their peers (in an earlier longitudinal study) up to 14 yr of age, but were similar at later ages. Bengalee girls in the present study were shorter and lighter as compared to the Indian norms for girls from higher socio-economic group, but were taller and heavier than those from the low socio-economic groups.

Prolactin and alpha-1,4-glucosidase activity in normal and poorly coagulated human semen

Prolactin and alpha-1,4-glucosidase levels in seminal plasma were measured in poorly coagulated (I), deficiently coagulated (II) and normally coagulated (III and IV) human ejaculates having 0-20%, 21-50% and 51-100% coagulum respectively 4 min after emission. The prolactin concentration (ng ml-1, mean +/- SEM) in poorly coagulated (5.2 +/- 0.48) and deficiently coagulated (7.6 +/- 0.72) samples was significantly lower than in the normally coagulated groups III (51-75% coagulum, 8.2 +/- 0.43) and IV (76-100% coagulum, 9.9 +/- 0.59) as well as the presumably fertile samples (9.2 +/- 0.74). A highly significant positive correlation was observed between the prolactin level and the percentage coagulum of the ejaculates (r = 0.686, n = 58, P less than 0.001). In contrast, the epididymal marker, alpha-glucosidase showed no relationship to seminal coagulation.

Pulmonary function studies in healthy school boys of West Bengal

The establishment of normal standards of dynamic pulmonary function measurements in the form of prediction equations will serve as a remedial measure of different aspects of obstructive pulmonary diseases, especially in children. With a view to achieving the target, dynamic pulmonary function measurements were undertaken on 328 healthy school-going children of West Bengal having age ranging between 9 and 18 years. All the spirometric measurements except PEFR were taken with the help of a 9 l closed-circuit type expirograph following the methods and techniques of American Thoracic Society. PEFR was measured by Wright Peak Flow Meter. Prediction equations were derived on the basis of age and height for all the pulmonary function measurements except FEV1% and FET. The prediction equations for FVC, FEV1, MVVF, and PEFR were reliable, but relative variability of predicted FEF25-75% and FEF75-85% was very large. A comparative study of FVC, FEV1, and PEFR values of our subjects, standardized for age and height, was much closer to the boys of Delhi in FVC but higher than South Indian boys in FEV1, North and South Indian boys in PEFR. In an attempt to compare FVC and FEV1 values of our subjects with foreign populations, it is revealed that boys of our study were much lower than American (White), European, and Jordanian boys but comparable with those of Chinese and Libyan boys.

Coverage evaluation surveys amongst children in some blocks of West Bengal

Immunisation coverage evaluation was carried out in 9 Blocks of West Bengal amongst 12-23 months old children. Fully immunised status of 5 blocks were under 16%. Poor measles vaccine coverage thought to be the reason. Other vaccine coverage was more than 60%, in most of the blocks excepting Hilly Balurghat and Tamluk. "Child ill-not brought" was the important reason for immunisation failure in most of the blocks.

Biochemical composition of washed human seminal coagulum in comparison to sperm-free semen from the same donors

Intra-individual inter-ejaculate variations in the amounts of protein, fructose, N-acetylamino sugar, phosphate, sialic acid and amino sugar in washed coagulum from normal ejaculates of men were highly consistent (N = 9). All the prostatic components studied (acid phosphatase, zinc, calcium and citric acid), except zinc, in the washed coagulum were reduced by 90% of their values in semen (N = 5). The seminal vesicular markers (fructose, N-acetylamino sugar and phosphate) had no association with the coagulum structure and represented the soluble components (N = 5). The concentrations of protein and zinc in the coagulum were higher than those of semen by 114% and 32% respectively. The coagulum contained sialic acid and amino sugar as integrated components.

Glycerylphosphorylcholine levels in the coagulational groups of human ejaculates

The amount of coagulum present in fresh ejaculates of men (among infertile couple) varied directly with the levels of seminal glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC; P less than 0.001), which is secreted predominantly by the epididymis. GPC concentrations (mg/ml) of the normally and poorly coagulating ejaculates revealed close similarities with those of the presumably fertile (1.72 +/- 0.10) and infertile semen (1.13 +/- 0.08) respectively. The study suggests that the degree of coagulation of human ejaculates may be correlated with epididymal function.

Cadmium resistance in some members of Enterobacteriaceae

Strains of members of Enterobacteriaceae, namely Escherichia coli (18), Klebsiella aerogenes (16), and Serratia marcescens (16) were screened for Cd resistance or sensitivity. Only one strain each of these was resistant to high levels (25 n moles/0.05 ml) CdCl2. The Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of sensitive strains ranged from 0.8-5 micrograms/ml. All the resistant strains were simultaneously resistant to a number of antibiotics. Treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate eliminated resistance to Cd and to some antibiotics.

In vivo assessment of 111In-labeled hematoporphyrin derivative in breast tumor-bearing animals

The biological behavior of 111In-labeled HPD has been investigated in tumor-bearing animals. Mice mammary adenocarcinomas and 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracine induced breast tumors in Sprague-Dawley female rats were clearly visualized by 111In-HPD nuclear scintigraphy. Optimal scans were obtained after a 48 h delay. In normal and tumor-bearing animals, the highest uptake of 111In-HPD 72 h post-injection was found in the liver, the spleen and the kidneys. Depending on the size and the extent of necrosis, the uptake of 111In-HPD by malignant breast tumors varied from 2.5% injected dose (ID) (range 0.14-5.3% ID) in mice to 1% (range 0.22-8.1% ID) in rats. Benign breast tumor uptake of 111In-HPD was less than 1% ID. No significant amount of the radiopharmaceutical was found in pulmonary abscesses and abdominal cysts (less than 0.1% ID). Scintigrams of these infectious or inflammatory lesions were normal. Malignant tumor to blood, heart and lung ratios averaged 50:1, 10:1 and 3:1 respectively. Tumor to brain ratio ranged from 72 to 444:1.

Hypothermia in the elderly: sociomedical characteristics and outcome of 86 patients

A comprehensive retrospective study analysing the case records of 86 hypothermic elderly patients who were treated according to a standard protocol in our department between 1980 and 1985 is presented. Hypothermia was found to occur not only in the frail, demented and disabled elderly men and women, but also in apparently healthy elderly individuals living with their families and in rest homes (40%). The level of consciousness was not related to the degree of hypothermia but to the underlying pathology. There was no correlation between the severity of hypothermia and mortality. Fatality was less among the group receiving substantial services, but the overall mortality within 48 hours was 36%. Early detection improved survival. Eleven per cent had recurrence of hypothermia and 90% of those who survived hypothermia died within one year. Prolonged duration of hypothermia, high levels of neutrophilia, blood urea and amylase, cardiac arrhythmias and impairment of consciousness were found to be associated with high mortality.

Elimination of mercury, cadmium and antibiotic resistance from Acinetobacter lwoffi and Micrococcus sp. at high temperature

Resistance determinants for HgCl2 and CdCl2 were eliminated along with a number of antibiotic resistance factors from Acinetobacter lwoffi and Micrococcus sp. at 44 degrees C. These organisms were orginally resistant to HgCl2, merbromin, CdCl2, Pb(NO3)2, benzylpenicillin, erythromycin, carbenicillin, tetracycline and sulfadiazine. Four different types of mutants from A. lwoffi (type I to IV) and one type of mutant from Micrococcus sp. (type V) were obtained, depending on the loss of particular resistance factors for HgCl2, merbromin, CdCl2 and antibiotics. In general, frequency of elimination of all the missing markers was very low (in the range of 10(-3) per bacterium). However, the missing determinants did not revert spontaneously.

Differences in osmolality, pH, buffering capacity, superoxide dismutase and maintenance of sperm motility in human ejaculates according to the degree of coagulation

The purpose of this study was to compare various seminal plasma parameters in fresh human ejaculates exhibiting different amounts of coagulum. Poorly coagulating samples demonstrated significantly lower osmolality and buffering capacity but had a higher pH than did samples with good coagulation. However, no correlation was obtained between the activity of superoxide dismutase and the amount of coagulum. Eight hours after ejaculation, sperm motility had decreased by 15 and 80% in samples with good and poor coagulation, respectively. It is suggested that subfertility may be associated with poor coagulation of ejaculates.

Influence of age and splanchnic nerve on the action of melatonin in the adrenomedullary catecholamine content and blood glucose level in the avian group

A single intraperitoneal (IP) melatonin injection (0.5 mg/100 g body wt.) caused an increase in norepinephrine (NE) fluorescence and elevation of NE content in newly-hatched pigeons (Columba livia), but a reduction of NE fluorescence and depletion of NE content in the adrenal medulla of newly-hatched crows (Corvus splendens) after 0.5 h of treatment. In contrast, in adults melatonin caused increase in NE fluorescence and elevation of NE content only in the parakeet (Psittacula krameri). Half an hour of IP melatonin treatment (0.5 mg/100 g body wt.) induced release of epinephrine (E) from the adrenal medulla of newly-hatched pigeon and parakeet. In contrast, in the adults melatonin caused more than a two-fold increase in E in the pigeon, and a significant increase in the crow. Single IP melatonin injection (0.5 mg/100 g body wt.) caused hypoglycemia in the newly-hatched parakeet and adult pigeon, and hyperglycemia in newly-hatched pigeon after 0.5 h of treatment. Melatonin failed to regulate glucose homoeostasis in newly-hatched and adult crow. Splanchnic denervation of the left adrenal gland was performed in the adult pigeon. The right adrenal served as the innervated gland. Melatonin-induced modulation of catecholamines following a single IP injection (0.5 mg/100 g body wt.) revealed significant increases in NE fluorescence and NE content at 4 and 12 h after treatment in the denervated gland only, which gradually approached normal levels 9 days after treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biochemical parameters of slowly liquefying human ejaculates

Abnormality in liquefaction of human semen is associated with poor scoring in postcoital tests and may lead to subfertility. A relative study on the seminal plasma characteristics of slowly and normally liquefying human ejaculates has been made. A multitude of seminal vesicular and prostatic components in the seminal plasma of eight slow-liquefying ejaculates from 4 men were compared with ten normally liquefying ejaculates from different healthy volunteers. For 60% liquefaction, the time taken by these two types of ejaculates was 46 and 7 min, respectively. The levels of the components that are mainly secreted by the seminal vesicles were similar in both the groups. But all the prostatic components demonstrated significantly (p less than 0.001) decreased levels in the slow-liquefying group from those in the group being compared. It was concluded that relative decrease in the prostatic activity with respect to that of the seminal vesicles appears to be the cause of slow-liquefaction.

Relationship between the coagulation-liquefaction property of human ejaculates and their volume, sperm count and motility

In ejaculates from selected infertile couples, the degree of coagulation revealed significant positive correlations with liquefaction time, sperm count and motility, but negative correlation with semen volume. Comparison of presumptively fertile and infertile ejaculates also showed significant variations in their amount of coagulum and liquefaction time. The study suggested a possible relationship between the coagulation-liquefaction property of human ejaculates and their semen quality.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis due to tuberculosis, Aldomet and Daonil

Two cases of retroperitoneal fibrosis are discussed. The first patient was a known hypertensive and diabetic and had been on Aldomet and Daonil for a long time. The second patient was a tuberculotic and is improving on antitubercular therapy. Retroperitoneal fibrosis due to the above-mentioned drugs and tuberculosis are relatively unknown.

A simple method to identify the vesicular and prostatic origin of human seminal components

Studies on the distribution patterns of certain components in split ejaculates provide information on the origin of seminal constituents in the reproductive tract. In this regard, a simple fractionation method of whole ejaculates has been developed. Human ejaculates after collecting as a whole, were almost equally divided into five fractions through liquefaction known vesicular, prostatic and testicular components were measured in these subsequently liquefied fractions. Levels of vesicular components increased while that of prostatic components decreased gradually and significantly in the subsequent fractions. This change pattern agrees well with that of the fractions in split ejaculates. But the change pattern for spermatozoal concentration was statistically invalid. The bases of these observations have been discussed. The results suggest that studies on the distribution patterns of seminal components in the parts separated during gradual liquefaction can give preliminary ideas about their origin in the reproductive tract like split ejaculation technique.

Phosphate, zinc, calcium, citric acid, and acid phosphatase in human ejaculates as related to coagulation/liquefaction

Variations in the coagulation-liquefaction property of human seminal coagula have rarely been correlated to their ingredients. A number of seminal components were evaluated in relation to the degree of coagulation and the liquefaction time of human ejaculates. Correlation analyses suggested that the vesicular coagulatory activity can better be assessed by the phosphate level rather than the fructose and N-acetylamino sugar levels. The results showed that the fresh ejaculates with a smaller amount of coagulum possess significantly higher prostatic but lower vesicular activities in comparison with that of the better coagulating samples. The study also revealed that liquefaction time-based fractionation of the whole ejaculate seems to give an idea about the origin of some seminal components like split ejaculation technique. It was concluded that the material characteristics of human ejaculate can be approximated simply by determining its degree of coagulation or liquefaction time.