Leucocyte aggregation in subjects with nickel dermatitis.

The effect of nickel sulphate on leuco-aggragation in whole blood buffy coat layers was studied in nickel-sensitive and control subjects. At concentrations of 150 mug and 200 mug nickel sulphate per ml a significant increase in the numbers of leuco-aggregates was noted in the nickel sensitive as compared with the control subjects.     

Effect of calcium on magnesium absorption.

The effect of calcium on magnesium absorption was studied in the rat ileum in vivo. The increase in the luminal concentration of calcium led to a progressive decrease in magnesium absorption, which was accompanied by a parallel decrease in net sodium absorption. This calcium effect was also observed when sodium chloride was replaced by urea. However, a consistent correlation was observed between the magnitude of net magnesium absorption and the rates of net water absorption of all calcium concentrations. These findings suggest that calcium decreases magnesium absorption by a nonspecific reduction in membrane permeability to solutes that induce net water flow and are consistent with the concept that magnesium is transported by solvent "drag". The increase in the luminal concentration of calcium resulted in an increase in tissue accumulation of magnesium. This increase in tissue accumulation of magnesium was associated with a decrease in net sodium absorption and in the negativity of the transmural PD. These findings suggest an additional mechanism of magnesium transport operating independently of net water flow.     

Changes in binding of calcium ions and in function of Na+, K+-ATPase in the erythrocytes in essential hypertension

More calcium was removed by EDTA from the membranes of erythrocytes of patients with hypertension than from the erythrocytes of persons with a normal blood pressure. By the use of an isotonic solution of MgCl₂, the quantity of calcium removed from the erythrocyte membrane was the same in both groups. Activity of Na, K-ATPase in the membrane of reconstituted erythrocytes of patients with essential hypertension increased its activity in healthy human erythrocytes.No. 4 Main Board, Ministry of Health of the USSR. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR E. I. Chazov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 7, pp. 41–44, July, 1977.     

Effects of Euhaplorchis californiensis (Trematoda) infection on metallic ions in the host snail Cerithidea californica (Gastropoda)

Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and ion chromatography were used to study the metallic ions in the digestive gland-gonad complex (DGG) of Cerithidea californica snails infected with the daughter rediae and cercariae of Euhaplorchis californiensis and in uninfected DGGs. Seven metals (calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc) were found to be present in infected and uninfected DGGs at concentrations above the minimum levels required for detection. Of these, calcium was present in significantly higher amounts (Student's t-test, confidence level of 95%) in the infected versus uninfected DGGs; magnesium occurred in significantly lower amounts in the infected DGGs. Our results were compared with a previous study that analyzed metallic ions in the DGG of Helisoma trivolvis naturally infected with Echinostoma trivolvis. That study reported a significant elevation of sodium but a reduction of magnesium and manganese in the DGG of infected snails. Variations in the results of the two studies reflect intrinsic differences in the larval trematode-snail systems used.     

Zinc, magnesium and calcium in human seminal fluid: relations to other semen parameters and fertility.

The effects of zinc, magnesium and calcium in seminal plasma on time-to-pregnancy (TTP) in healthy couples, on conventional semen parameters and computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) parameters were evaluated. The localization of chelatable zinc ions in seminal plasma and spermatozoa were assessed by autometallography (AMG). Differences in chelatable zinc localization in samples with high and low total zinc were evaluated. Semen samples from 25 couples with short TTP and 25 couples with long TTP were subjected to conventional semen analysis, CASA, zinc and magnesium measurements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and calcium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The cations were strongly inter-correlated, but no correlation with TTP or conventional semen parameters was found. Semen samples with high zinc concentrations exhibited statistically significant poorer motility assessed by the CASA parameters straight line velocity and linearity than samples with low zinc content. Calcium concentration also showed statistically significant differences for the same parameters, but the effect was removed by entering zinc concentration into a multiple regression model. Semen samples with high total zinc exhibited stronger staining of the seminal plasma at AMG. It is suggested that high seminal zinc concentrations have a suppressing effect on progressive motility of the spermatozoa ('quality of movement'), but not on percentage of motile spermatozoa ('quantity of movement').     

Influence of volume expansion,serum sodium,and fractional excretion of sodium on urate excretion

The relative contributions of volume expansion and increased fractional excretion of sodium to the uricosuria of saline infusion were assessed in 19 subjects by volume expansion with rapid infusion of 21 of hypertonic saline (3%), isotonic saline (0.9%), or hypotonic saline (0.45%). Urate excretion increased 385 mug/min (P less than 0.01) with hypertonic, 145 mug/min (P less than 0.05) with isotonic saline, and 294 mug/min (P less than 0.001) with hyptonic saline. When 150 meq of sodium chloride was administered as appropriate volumes of hypertonic, isotonic of hypotonic saline, the magnitude or uricosuria was correlated with volume load (r = 0.66, P less than 0.002). fractional excretion of sodium correlated with infusion volumes for all studies taken together (r = 0.35, P greater than 0.1). The relationship between fractional excretion of sodium and fractional excretion of urate was entirely attributed to their correlation with infusion volume. Both post-pyrazinamide urate excretion and pyrazinamide suppressible urate excretion increased with volume expansion.     

Effect of parathyroid hormone secretion on sodium reabsorption by the proximal tubule.

To determine if an increase in the endogenous secretion of parathyroid hormone could decrease sodium reabsorption by the proximal tubule, the ionized calcium concentration of blood perfusing the parathyroid gland of eight unilaterally thyroid parathyroidectomized dogs (TPTX) was reduced by infusion of an isotonic sodium citrate plus sodium chloride solution into the blood supply of the parathyroid gland. The fractional clearance of phosphate increased significantly (+9.3 +/- 2.8 ml/min per 100 ml GFR), while fractional sodium reabsorption by the proximal tubule decreased (-.06 +/- .02; P less than .025). In seven normal control dogs that received isotonic sodium chloride infusion, neither fractional sodium reabsorption by the proximal tubule nor the fractional clearance of phosphate was significantly altered. In five bilaterally TPTX dogs that received a sodium citrate plus sodium chloride infusion, sodium reabsorption by the proximal tubule was not significantly altered. There were no significant changes in glomerular filtration rate or renal plasma flow in any of these groups. The data demonstrate that alterations in endogenous parathyroid hormone secretion can play a significant role in the regulation of sodium reabsorption by the proximal tubule.     

广西三江县侗族青少年头发中9种元素的含量

目的　确定广西三江县侗族青少年头发中 9种人体必需元素含量的正常值。方法　用偏振塞曼原子吸收仪 ,检测了来自三江县的 993名 7～ 16岁中小学生头发中镍、硒、钴、铬、铁、锌、钙、铜和镁 9种人体必需元素的含量 ,并用SPSS统计软件进行统计分析。结果　广西三江县侗族中小学生头发中 ,镍、硒、钴、铬、铁、锌、钙、铜和镁 9种人体必需元素的含量没有性别差异 ;硒、铬、铁、锌、钙和铜与年龄呈负相关 ;制订了镍、硒、钴、铬、铁、锌、钙、铜、镁 9种元素的头发含量的正常值范围。结论　广西三江县中学生头发中硒、铬、铁、锌、钙和铜含量有明显年龄差异 ,而镍、钴和镁却没有年龄差异。     

Mechanism of action of pyrogen

1. In unanaesthetized rabbits the cerebral ventricles were perfused for 30-75 min from left lateral ventricle to cisterna magna with solutions of different composition, whilst rectal temperature was continuously recorded.2. Temperature did not rise during the perfusion when the perfusing fluid consisted of artificial c.s.f.; it did rise, however, when the perfusing fluid consisted merely of a 0.9% sodium chloride solution.3. Temperature fell, though not in all rabbits, during the perfusion when the calcium in the perfusing fluid was increased from 1.25 mM, the concentration in c.s.f. to 5 mM.4. Magnesium chloride had only a weak action, in comparison to calcium, in preventing the rise produced during perfusion with 0.9% sodium chloride solution. In a concentration of 1.25 mM it had no effect, but in a concentration of 5 mM it delayed and greatly reduced the rise.5. Temperature did not rise during perfusion with an isotonic sucrose solution.6. The rise in temperature produced by an intravenous injection of leucocyte pyrogen was not prevented when the injection was made during a perfusion with artificial c.s.f., but it was prevented when the calcium concentration in the perfusing fluid was raised to 5 mM or when the perfusing fluid consisted of isotonic sucrose solution. Again, magnesium had only a weak action in comparison to calcium.7. These results support the theory put forward recently (Feldberg, Myers & Veale, 1970) that the constancy of temperature depends upon the physiological balance of sodium and calcium ions in the anterior hypothalamus, that the calcium ions act as a kind of ;brake' preventing the sodium ions from exerting their temperature raising effect, and that pyrogen acts by removing the ;calcium brake', the pyrogen fever thus being a sodium fever.     

Blue dextran-mediated hemagglutination

Blue dextran at low concentrations (0.1-1 ng/ml) agglutinated human, mouse, rabbit and rat erythrocytes. This agglutination was inhibited by 10% calf serum, 0.5 mg/ml bovine albumin and 0.2 M sodium thiocyanate, and less effectively by 1.5 M potassium chloride, but not by 30-50 mM magnesium sulfate.     

On-line deproteinization by adsorption of proteins on a polyethylene powder pre-column for the determination of Na, K, Mg and Ca in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography

Deproteinization of human serum was carried out on-line using a polyethylene powder cartridge as pre-column. The serum sample, after dilution, was injected into the chromatograph, and when passing through the cartridge the proteins were adsorbed by the polyethylene. A protein-free eluate was carried to the analytical column while the pre-column was washed with methanol and water to elute the adsorbed proteins by changing the pump channels. After washing, the pre-column was conditioned with the eluent to receive the next sample. Deproteinization was evaluated off- and on-line using pooled serum, and testing the protein residue after passing through a polyethylene cartridge with the Comassie Brilliant Blue reaction. Parameters such as serum volume, eluent and washing solution were investigated. Sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium determinations were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography with conductimetric detection. The proposed method is suitable for the determination of these cations in serum samples without further treatments. The total analysis time was about 20 min and a linear range from 0.3 to 1.2 mg/l for sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium was observed. The method was characterized by a precision of about 95% and recoveries from spiked samples were between 96 and 102%. The results for serum samples analysed by the proposed method were compared with photometry and atomic absorption spectrometry.     

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using snap frozen buffy coat

We report the successful application of interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using extracted nuclei from snap frozen buffy coat stored for the purpose of molecular analysis. Included in this study were 30 frozen buffy coat specimens, ranging from <1 day to 3 yr old. Thawing of the buffy coat at 37 degrees C was followed by lysing erythrocytes with lysing solution (LYSE S III DIFF, Coulter Corp.). Cells were fixed and slides were prepared according to manufacturer's FISH protocol. All specimens from the 30 frozen-thawed buffy coats were suitable for FISH evaluation, and signal intensities were not significantly related to the age of specimens. In conclusion, interphase FISH is feasible using frozen-thawed buffy coat; the technique will be useful for retrospective molecular cytogenetic analysis of hematologic malignancies.     

Metabolic studies in primary tubular hypomagnesaemia-hypokalaemia

13 1/2 year old boy with short stature and pubertal delay had infrequent episodes of tetany. Biochemical determinations demonstrated low plasma and high urinary magnesium and potassium levels, hypocalciuria, slightly increased plasma bicarbonate, slightly reduced fractional distal reabsorption of chloride and sodium, high plasma renin activity and high urinary excretion of prostaglandins (E2, F2 alpha). The other parameters of renal functions were normal. Endocrine evaluation of short stature and pubertal delay was normal. Intracellular magnesium and potassium levels in lymphocytes and erythrocytes were within normal limits. Cyclooxygenase blockade with Indomethacin 2.5 mg/kg daily during 4 weeks normalized urinary excretion of prostaglandins and corrected in part low plasma and high urinary potassium levels, but had no effect on magnesium, calcium, sodium and chloride handling. These data raise the possibility that tubular hypomagnesaemia-hypokalaemia could be solely explained by a low renal threshold for magnesium.     

Estimation of calcium and magnesium in serum and urine by atomic absorption spectrophotometry

A method has been described for the estimation of calcium and magnesium in serum and urine using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The precision and accuracy of the techniques have been determined and were found to be acceptable.THE RANGE OF VALUES FOR CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM IN THE SERA OF NORMAL ADULTS WAS FOUND TO BE: serum calcium (corrected to a specific gravity of 1.026) 8.38-10.08 mg. per 100 ml.; serum magnesium 1.83-2.43 mg. per 100 ml.     

广西中小学生头发元素含量的地域性差异研究

目的　探讨广西中小学生头发中的人体必需元素含量及其地域性差异。方法　用偏振塞曼原子吸收仪 ,检测了来自融水、三江和马山县的 3 0 5 0名 7～ 16岁中小学生头发中铜、镁、镍、硒、钴、铬、铁、锌、钙 9种人体必需元素的含量 ,并用SPSS统计软件做了统计分析。结果　中小学生头发中除铜以外的 8种元素含量有明显的地域性差异 :①融水的镁、镍、钴、铬、铁、钙含量高于三江的 ,硒、锌含量低于三江的 ;②融水的镁、钴、铁、锌、钙含量高于马山 ,镍、铬含量低于马山的 ;③三江的硒、钴、锌含量高于马山 ,镍、铬含量低于马山。其中融水的钴、铁、钙、镁含量最高 ;三江的硒、锌含量最高 ;马山的镍、铬含量最高。结论　广西融水、三江和马山县中学生头发中镍、硒、钴、铬、铁、锌、钙、镁含量有明显的地域性差异     

In vitro evaluation of hemolytic and cell culture toxicity potential of residual ethylene oxide in selected medical materials.

The hemolytic potential of pure ethylene oxide in solution was evaluated as a function of initial ethylene oxide concentration in three test systems, diluted whole blood in isotonic saline, erythrocytes washed and resuspended in isotonic saline, and erythrocytes washed and resuspended in isotonic phosphate buffer. Concentrations of 2 mg/ml (2000 ppm) were necessary before cell lysis was observed in either of the isotonic saline systems. This value increased to 10 mg/ml 10,000 ppm) in the isotonic buffer system. Efforts have been made to correlate the hemolysis and cell culture toxicity of residual ethylene oxide in five medical materials to the toxicity of pure ethylene oxide. Only materials exhibiting a low order of inherent toxicity showed any correlation. In poly(vinyl chloride) tubing containing 1.8 and 2.1 mg ethylene oxide per gram of material, a small amount of toxicity was seen in the cell culture system but toxicity was absent in the hemolysis test.     

Functional and immunogenetic characterization of FcR-blocking antibody

The characteristics and functional importance of FcR-blocking antibodies and their production were investigated after immunization with whole blood, "buffy coat" and purified platelets. We studied the presence of FcR-blocking antibody in haemodialyzed, transfused patients waiting for kidney transplantation, and we found strong correlation between the blocking effect and better graft survival. We suggest that this blocking antibody does not attack FcR as primary target. Investigation of blocking activity of ten different immune sera on 50 healthy panel cells showed that target antigen has some polymorphic varieties. On basis of family studies it seems that the target antigen is not linked to HLA haplotype. The blocking effect of sera could be removed by absorption of CD8+ cells, B lymphocytes, platelets and granulocytes, but not with erythrocytes, monocytes, CD8- cells and NK cells.     

Cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of dimethylnitrosamine in mammalian cells (CHO/HGPRT system): Enhancement by calcium phosphate

The cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) was determined in the CHO/HGPRT system. Metabolic activation of the promutagen was achieved by use of a liver homogenate supernatant (S9) prepared from Aroclor 1254-induced Sprague-Dawley rats. The cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of DMN were enhanced by the inclusion of calcium chloride in the incubation mix, and this enhancement was dependent on the presence of sodium phosphate. Under conditions that yielded maximal activity (10 mM calcium chloride, 10 mM magnesium chloride, 50 mM sodium phosphate), an apparent calcium phospate precipitate was observed. DMN activity increased with increasing amounts of S9 protein over the range 0.3–3.0 mg/ml in the S9 mix and appeared to plateau at higher concentrations. The mutagenicity of DMN can be described as 110 mutants/10⁶ cells per mM DMN per mg/ml S9 protein per hour.     

Large scale production and purification of human IL-2 from buffy coat lymphocytes stimulated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate and calcium ionophore A23187

Methods for the production of high titers of interleukin-2 (IL-2) from human buffy coat lymphocytes, and subsequent purification of the IL-2 are described. 50 buffy coats containing 1 X 10(11) leukocytes were first depleted of erythrocytes by batchwise leukapheresis using a Haemonetics model 15 blood wash centrifuge. Further lymphocyte enrichment was achieved using a one-step sedimentation in the presence of hydroxyethyl starch, which produced suspensions of more than 90% lymphocytes. This degree of lymphocyte purity was important since phagocytes were inhibitory to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate/calcium ionophore (TPA/A23187)-induced IL-2 production when their concentration exceeded 15% of the total cells. Cell culture was performed in stirred fermenters. Using TPA/A23187 induction, up to 500 micrograms of IL-2 per liter were produced. The IL-2 was purified by absorption from the supernatants onto controlled pore glass and elution with 50% ethylene glycol, followed by Fractogel chromatography, and then preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using an RP-6 column and elution with a gradient of n-propanol. A final HPLC rechromatography step using an analytical RP-6 column gave a homogeneous preparation with specific activity of 1.2 X 10(7) U/mg and a recovery from the starting supernatant of 22%.     

Behavior of zinc and magnesium in stored blood]

An analytical method was elaborated for determination of blood zinc and magnesium based on previously known methods. Blood zinc and magnesium were determined in whole stored blood, plasma and erythrocyte mass. The results obtained by this method were compared with the results of spectrophotometry of atomic absorption (SAA). They showed a rise in the plasma zinc and magnesium levels in blood stored with ACD at +4 degrees -- +6 degrees C. during three weeks.