Augmented plasma renin levels in dehydrated sheep with periventricular lesions

Ablation of tissue in the midline anterior wall of the third ventricle (AV3V) of sheep did not consistently alter baseline plasma renin concentration (PRC) in water replete animals, but caused a greatly augmented increase in PRC in response to water deprivation. PRC might increase in these sheep in order to maintain blood pressure, however it is possible that a central inhibitory influence on renal renin release, operative during dehydration, is disrupted by AV3V-lesions.     

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of 2,6-dibenzylamino-3,5-dicyanopyridines on human cancer cell lines

A new series of 2,6-dibenzylamino-3,5-dicyanopyridines were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity toward cell lines of nine different types of human cancer. Some of newly prepared compounds demonstrated remarkable anticancer activity against most of the tested subpanel tumor cell lines.     

Protofibrils within fibrin fibres are packed together in a regular array

The inner structure of fibrin fibres grown from fibrinogen solution activated by human alpha-thrombin was investigated by means of an Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffraction technique. The experiments show evidence for the well-characterized 22.5 nm repeat distance, which indicates the high order of protofibril arrangement in the longitudinal direction of fibres. The diffraction pattern also manifested a further pronounced peak at 18.1 nm (and its second order reflection at 18.1/ radical 2) demonstrating the existence in fibrin of a high degree of lateral order. The reported results directly confirm, on unperturbed wet samples, that protofibrils closely associate giving rise to a crystalline axial and equatorial packing according to the conclusions of the multibundle model.     

A biological approach to two forms of human self-injury

One hundred cases of self-injury, comprising 39 self-cutters and 61 self-poisoners, were interviewed when they became able to describe the act: 83 in a casualty department, 17 in a hospital. Standardized recordings were made of their feeling state before and after the act, together with an account of the social circumstances under which it occurred. The information was obtained in a way which allowed comparison with existing animal data on self-injury, although comparisons were made between what is known of animal behavior in this area and human feelings as reported by these subjects. The results indicate similarities between what is known of animal self-injury and self-cutting in man in the form of the injury, in the social situation preceding the act, and in the agitation preceding it. Similarities also exist, but are less close, for the self-poisoners. The most obvious effect of the act is a reduction in tension; this may constitute its physiological value.