Brief Note: The Use of Desoxyribonuclease As an Aid to the Identification of Primitive White Blood Cells

A standard solution of purified desoxyribonuclease in phosphate saline effectively duplicates the differential action of urine on the nuclei of white bloodcells. This procedure is a valuable aid to the identification of primitive celltypes in bone marrow and peripheral blood films.

Submitted on April 7, 1961 Accepted on May 6, 1961     

Separation of Platelets from Whole Blood by the Use of Silicone Liquids

A method of separating platelets from whole blood has been developed.The method involves simple centrifugation with blended silicone fluids.Quantitative recovery of platelets is achieved. Platelets appear to have no lossof ability to promote clot retraction in platelet poor plasma.

Submitted on March 15, 1961 Accepted on May 6, 1961     

Studies on the Production of Erythropoietin by Isolated Perfused Organs

(1) Isolated organs of rabbits (kidney, liver, spleen and lungs) were perfused with rabbit blood. Experimental conditions of hypoxia and full oxygenation were applied.

(2) It could be shown that under these conditions only the kidney producesthe erythropoietic factor.

Submitted on January 23, 1961 Accepted on May 6, 1961     

The Intercellular Substances of Bone Marrow. I. Preliminary Studies of the Physical and Chemical Character of the Intercellular Bone Marrow Substances in Normal Rabbits

Separation of cellular and noncellular fractions of rabbit bone marrow wasaccomplished by mechanical disruption of the marrow stroma and centrifugation. Viscosity studies performed on the intercellular substances showed a decreasing viscosity with increasing age of the animals. Chemical analyses confirmed the presence of mucopolysaccharide material in the intercellular substance of the marrow, but neither this material nor the fat present in the stromacould account for the viscosity measured or the changes in viscosity observed.

Submitted on January 9, 1961 Accepted on February 23, 1961     

Studies of the Irradiation Protection Effect of Fetal Liver in Mice. II. Storage by Freezing

Various methods of freezing have been evaluated for the preservation of theradiation protection effect in fetal mouse liver. The best results were obtainedwith tissue frozen slowly in glycerol to -80 C., stored at -50 C. or lower, andthawed rapidly. Other variables such as the size of the tissue particles, theamount of serum in the freezing mixture, and the method of dilution did notinfluence the results.

Submitted on February 13, 1961 Accepted on June 26, 1961     

Sickle Cell Trait as a Tag for Bone Marrow Transplantation

The sickle cell trait appears to offer a reliable and replicable tag for bonemarrow transplantation. Red cell survival curves using sickle cell and nonagglutinable cell counts show good agreement. The recipients exhibited nountoward effects as a result of receiving marrow from a donor with sickle celltrait.

Submitted on January 12, 1961 Accepted on February 6, 1961     

A Syndrome Resembling Adrenal Cortical Insufficiency Associated with Long Term Busulfan (Myleran) Therapy

Four patients who developed a clinical syndrome characterized by hyperpigmentation of the skin, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, anorexia and nauseawhile on long-term treatment with busulfan were described. The etiology ofthe disorder, although clearly related to the busulfan therapy, is obscure, butmay be related to "dethiolation".

Submitted on June 12, 1961 Accepted on August 4, 1961     

The Relationship of Total Red Cell Volume to Total Body Water in Octogenarian Males

1. Studies of red cell volume, total body water and extracellular water havebeen carried out in a group of octogenarians and in a group of young men.

2. Differences in total red cell volume, blood volume and the distribution ofbody water were detected.

3. The implications and interpretations of these findings are discussed.

Submitted on August 9, 1961 Accepted on October 12, 1961     

Methods: A Microelectrophoresis Chamber of Small Volume for Use with Biological Systems

A cylindrical microelectrophoresis chamber about 1 ml. in volume incorporating silver/silver chloride/potassium chloride electrode systems separated from the viewing compartment by sintered glass discs is described. Theapparatus was designed for biological systems and the determination ofmobility of red cells in human serum used as an example of its field of application. The apparatus gives reproducible results in good agreement withprevious observations.

Submitted on March 26, 1961 Accepted on July 27, 1961     

In Vivo Cultivation of Leukocytes in Diffusion Chambers: Requirement of Ascorbic Acid for Differentiation of Mononuclear Leukocytes to Fibroblasts

Studies were made to evaluate the influence of ascorbic acid upon thedifferentiation of mononuclear leukocytes to fibroblasts when cultivated indiffusion chambers, in vivo. Ascorbic acid-depleted leukocytes grown in ascorbic acid-deficient host guinea pigs developed into abnormal cellular formscharacterized by nuclear enlargement, multipolar mitoses, and giant formsThese changes could be reversed by treatment of the host guinea pigs withascorbic acid. The findings indicate a direct cellular role of ascorbic acidin the differentiation of mononuclear leukocytes to fibroblasts.

Submitted on April 12, 1961 Accepted on June 14, 1961     

A Note on Mortality from Lymphatic Leukemia in Oriental Populations of the United States

Leukemia mortality data by race for the decade 1949-1958 were examinedto ascertain whether chronic lymphatic leukemia occurs infrequently, as hasbeen reported for Singapore and Japan, among Chinese and Japanese in theUnited States. It was found that mortality ascribed to lymphatic leukemia inadult Chinese and Japanese in the United States was only 40 to 45 per centof that reported in the white population.

Submitted on January 30, 1961 Accepted on March 8, 1961     

The Transfusion Behavior of Avian Erythrocytes: The Lack of Functional Transplantation Antigens in a Nucleated Cell

1. Autotransfusion and cross-transfusion experiments in the turkey revealthat the avian erythrocyte, despite the presence of a nucleus, survives normally in homologous recipients of compatible blood groups.

2. Skin homografts were rejected without apparent relationship to bloodgroup compatibility.

3. Evidence for blood groups in the turkey is presented. While no naturallyoccurring iso-agglutinins were found, stimulation led to the appearance of incomplete antibodies.

Submitted on March 11, 1961 Accepted on April 3, 1961     

Marrow Transplants in Lethally Irradiated Dogs Given Methotrexate

This report describes 41 dogs that received 1200-1600 r of whole body irradiation followed by infusions of homologous marrow. The clinical andhematologic events in these animals are described.

Five dogs given Methotrexate following irradiation lived beyond four monthsand appeared to have survived the period of secondary syndromes.

Submitted on July 31, 1961 Accepted on October 18, 1961     

Case Report: Leukemia and Pregnancy: Observation of a Case Treated with Busulfan (Myleran)

The case of a 28 year old woman with chronic myelocytic leukemia, whoconceived while under treatment with busulfan, is reported.

Pregnancy, delivery, and the infant were normal. The child died one monthlater of a Staphylococcus infection. Autopsy disclosed a few minor and commonplace anomalies which the authors believe cannot reasonably be attributed to busulfan.

A review of the literature on pregnancy and leukemia is cited.

Submitted on April 4, 1961 Accepted on September 15, 1961     

Leukocytic Alkaline Phosphatase in Busulfan Induced Remissions of Chronic Granulocytic Leukemia

The alkaline phosphatase content of mature neutrophils, characteristicallylow in chronic granulocytic leukemia, became normal in 7 of 12 cases developing full initial remissions as a result of Myleran therapy. The alkalinephosphatase content was also found to be normal in 2 further cases in whichthese enzyme levels were first estimated with the patients already in fullremission. The data presented suggest that the return of the alkaline phosphatase level to normality may presage a lengthy remission.

Submitted on January 3, 1961 Accepted on April 14, 1961     

"Pseudo-Abnormal" Hemoglobins

Three examples of artefactual "pseudo-abnormal" hemoglobins were observed in the course of starch block electrophoresis analysis of over 400 specimens. In fresh samples from the same patients, these components were no longer demonstrable. It is suggested that repeated examination with different bloodspecimens should be done before an unusual component is accepted as atrue hemoglobin variant.

Submitted on February 28, 1961 Accepted on April 7, 1961     

Studies of the Irradiation Protection Effect of Fetal Liver in Mice. I. Influence of the Gestational Age of the Donor Tissue

1. The gestational age of donor hematopoietic tissue appeared to have noinfluence on the 30-day mortality following homologous transplants in irradiated mice.

2. Recipients of second trimester homologous donor tissue had a late (90-day) mortality that was 16 per cent lower than that observed in animals receiving tissue from third trimester and neonatal donors, but statistical analysisshowed a low level of significance.

3. Irradiation alone appeared to cause a late mortality in non-injected irradiated animals and in isologously transplanted irradiated animals.

Submitted on February 13, 1961 Accepted on April 21, 1961     

A Chromosomal Female With Hemophilia A

An eight year old female is presented with hemophilia A with hemorrhagicsymptoms since three months of age. Family studies revealed sex linked transmission through the maternal lineage.

Chromosome analysis revealed a normal complement with two X chromosomes. Possible genetic mechanisms for this apparent homozygous hemophilicstate derived from a carrier woman and normal father are presented.

Submitted on January 26, 1961 Accepted on March 3, 1961     

Myelogenous Leukemia in the Rat

Observations on growth and other characteristics of subcutaneously transplanted chloroleukemia in non-inbred rats have been described in this report.This chloroleukemia cytologically is an acute or subacute, not chronic, myelogenous leukemia. Because of serious immunologic differences, the experimentalusefulness of subtransferred chloroleukemia is greatly limited. However,myelogenous leukemia in the rat, induced by chemical agents or ionizing radiation, may offer a valuable approach to the study of leukemogenic mechanisms.

Submitted on June 23, 1961 Accepted on August 18, 1961     

Studies on Iron Absorption. I. The Relationships Between the Rate of Erythropoiesis, Hypoxia and Iron Absorption

(1) Evidence is presented that the augmentation of iron absorption fromthe gastro-intestinal tract produced by hypoxia can occur independently ofacceleration of erythropoiesis.

(2) It is demonstrated that the hormone erythropoietin is capable of enhancing iron absorption; and that this property of erythropoietin is indirect,being dependent on acceleration of erythropoiesis.

(3) An experimental model for the study of those factors that affect ironabsorption and are independent of increased red cell production is presented.

Submitted on July 21, 1961 Accepted on September 14, 1961