Induction of muscle-relaxing factor by staphylococcal alpha-toxin.

Brain tissue and serum from mice intracerebrally injected with 1 microgram of staphylococcal alpha-toxin contained elevated amounts of a naturally occurring brain tissue component(s) called muscle-relaxing factor (MRF). MRF induced reversible, generalized, flaccid paralysis of mice after intracerebral but not intraperitoneal or intravenous administration. MRF (i) was soluble in Hanks balanced salt solution and in acidified (pH 2) Hanks balanced salt solution, in which it partitions into ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol; (ii) was separated from some pigments by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel plates; (iii) did not comigrate with prostaglandin and leukotriene standards during high-pressure liquid chromatography with a mu Bondapak fatty acid column; and (iv) did not contain amino acids, exhibit absorption maxima at a wavelength range of 210 to 600 nm, or fluoresce when exposed to UV light. MRF has been detected in rabbit brain that has been stored frozen at -70 degrees C and has been enhanced in vitro in slices of both mouse and rabbit brain following incubation of the brain slices with staphylococcal alpha-toxin. Studies to identify the chemical nature of MRF and the mechanism by which, in mice, it induces reversible, flaccid paralysis of voluntary muscle are continuing.     

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Berufsrechtlich unzulässiger Gesellschaftszweck in Gesellschaftsvertrag einer ärztlichen Berufsausübungsgemeinschaft

Abstrakt  Gründen ?rzte nur deshalb eine Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts, um einem Arzt Gelegenheit zu geben, an Erl?sen beteiligt zu werden, die der andere Arzt mit Leistungen erwirtschaftet, die der beteiligte Arzt mangels eigener Qualifikation nicht erbringen darf, und fehlt es weiter an den wesentlichen Merkmalen einer Berufsausübungsgemeinschaft, ist der zugrunde liegende “Gesellschaftsvertrag” wegen Versto?es gegen § 134 BGB nichtig. (Leitsatz des Bearbeiters)     

Injury of myelin sheaths in isolated rabbit vagus nerves by alpha-toxin of Staphylococcus aureus.

S. Szmigielski, M. Blankenship, J. P. Robinson and S. Harshman. Injury of myelin sheaths in isolated rabbit vagus nerves by α-toxin of Staphylococcus aureus. Toxicon17, 363–371, 1979.—Dissected rabbit vagus nerves were incubated in vitro with 0·24-4 μg of purified staphylococcal α-toxin (17,000 H.U./mg protein) per ml. The release of ⁸⁶Rb from prelabeled nerves and the electrical activity of nerves (action potential) were measured and correlated with morphological changes observed by electron microscopy. At a concentration of α-toxin of 2 μg/ml, 30% of incorporated ⁸⁶Rb was released from the nerves after 30 min of incubation. The electrical activity was maintained over this time period and required an additional 30 min before failing completely. Concentrations of α-toxin below 2 μg/ml had no effect on either the release of ⁸⁶Rb or the electrical activity even after 60 min of incubation of the nerves. In contrast, dramatic changes in the morphology of the myelin sheaths are readily demonstrated after 30 min of incubation and can easily be observed at 0·2 μg/ml, a level of α-toxin which has no effect on ⁸⁶Rb release or electrical activity. Both non-myelinated nerve fibers and Schwann cell membranes appear to be more resistant to the action of α-toxin. We conclude that, of the parameters measured, disorganization of myelin sheaths is the first recognizable symptom of injury to peripheral nerves by staphylococcal α-toxin.     

Esophageal strictures in children: treatment by serial balloon catheter dilatation

Grüntzig balloon catheters were used to dilate ten esophageal strictures in eight infants and children. Five infants who had anastomotic strictures following esophageal atresia repair gained complete resolution of their strictures, usually after one or two dilatations. Three older children who had strictures following esophageal re-operation or reconstruction required longer courses of dilatations to achieve consistent esophageal patency. The technique failed in two chronic strictures of two and one-half and nine years' duration. Balloon catheter dilatation, begun in the early postoperative period, is a safe, effective method for dilating esophageal strictures.     

Some immunological effects of penicillamine.

Immunological effects of D- and D,L-penicillamine (PA) were studied in efforts to develop assays for synthetic D or D,L analogs and to contribute to the understanding of the mechanism(s) of action of D-PA in rheumatoid arthritis. At the highest doses tolerated by mice, D,L-PA did not significantly inhibit the development of haemagglutinating antibodies in vivo. In studies in vitro with T lymphocytes, D-PA at 1 mM concentration inhibited both concanavalin A- and phytohaemagglutinin-induced transformation as assayed by [3H]thymidine incorporation, but D-PA concentrations of 5 mM were required to inhibit concanavalin A-induced amino acid uptake. No effect of D-PA was observed either on the induction of cytotoxic T cells or on the attack of specifically sensitized T cells on target cells. It is of interest that D-PA at 1 mM concentration did inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced transformation, which predominately stimulates B lymphocytes. The effects of PA on the induced transformation of T and B cells deserve further attention for studies with analogs of PA.