Effect of chronic administration of different Bence Jones proteins on rat kidney

The role of Bence Jones proteins (BJPs) in the genesis of the renal dysfunction that develops in patients with multiple myeloma is not clearly defined. We previously evaluated renal function and morphology in a unique strain of rats (LOU/m) bearing tumors which synthesized BJPs with isoelectric points of 5.2, 4.3 and 6.7. Myeloma cast nephropathy developed in one tumor bearing group (pI 5.2), tubular necrosis was observed in another (pI 4.3), and renal function and histology remained normal in a third group (pI 6.7). To see if these renal outcomes were a function of the BJP being excreted or other factors which could be present in the tumor bearing animals, we have examined the effect of chronic intravenous administration of these three BJPs on renal function and histology in non-tumor-bearing LOU/m rats. Urine containing the BJP was collected from tumor bearing rats, sterilized by passage through a 0.2 mu millipore filter, concentrated to 50 mg/ml, and dialyzed extensively so as to remove material with a molecular weight less than 3500. Chronic indwelling-venous catheters were placed in non-tumor-bearing LOU/m rats and these rats were given 100 mg/day for five days of one of the three BJPs. Polyfructosan clearance (Cin) was measured prior to and following the five days of BJP administration. Renal histology was examined at the completion of the second Cin. In the pI 5.2 group (N = 6), a severe distal nephron cast nephropathy occurred and Cin fell from 2.88 +/- 0.24 to 0.90 +/- 0.17 ml/min (P less than 0.002).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The Busselton children's survey, 1983. Body size from five to 16 years of age

In 1983, 1623 primary and secondary schoolchildren took part in a health survey which was organized by the Busselton Population Studies Group. Age, sex, weight, height and country of birth were recorded for each child. Where possible, the country of birth of parents and the occupation of the father were extracted from previous Busselton surveys of adults. Compared with Perth schoolchildren, the difference in the attained weight and height of Busselton children at any age was small. This was so even though the two communities differ in location (rural compared with metropolitan), in ethnic origin (mainly British compared with diverse origins) and, probably, in social-rank distribution. Data from the two communities showed that a similar small secular increase in height had occurred since 1970/1971. This increase averaged at 1.2 cm for children at each year of age in Busselton and 1.5 cm to 1.6 cm for children in Perth.     

A new method for measuring continuity of care in family practice residencies

Continuity of relationship between physician and patient is a fundamental aspect of the health care provided by family physicians. Measurement of continuity has proved difficult, however. Commonly applied measures, usual provider of care (UPC), continuity of care (COC), and the modified continuity index (MCI), either ignore key aspects of continuity or provide misleading results. Consequently, a new measure of continuity, the modified, modified continuity index (MMCI), with a possible range of 0 to 1, was developed to overcome these problems. It was applied to a residency model practice, in which mean MMCI was found to be 0.59 (range 0.3 to 1.0). Mean COC was .41 and a mean MCI was .44. Thus, unlike COC and MCI, MMCI suggests fairly good continuity of care in this practice while still implying possible improvement. The MMCI should be useful for enhancing training and practice of family medicine.     

Spermidine synthase of Escherichia coli: localization of the speE gene.

We have obtained Escherichia coli mutants lacking spermidine synthase (putrescine aminopropyltransferase) and have found that the mutated gene (speE) is located immediately upstream from the gene coding for S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (speD); these genes are located at 2.7 minutes on the E. coli chromosome. Both genes are present in a 1795-base-pair fragment of E. coli DNA that was cloned into pBR322. Deletion of 105 bases upstream of speE caused a coordinate loss of both activities, indicating that speE and speD constitute a single operon. speE and speD have also been cloned separately in a high-expression vector; strains carrying these plasmids overproduce the respective enzymes.     

Effect of immunoglobulin depositions of glomerular sialic acids in patients with IgA nephropathy

A study of double immunofluorescence-staining of immunoglobulins and sialic acids in the glomeruli from patients with IgA nephropathy is described. Renal biopsy specimens from patients with IgA nephropathy were stained with rhodamine-labeled antihuman IgA, IgG or IgM antisera and then stained with FITC-labeled Limulus polyphemus (LPA), Tricum vulgaris (WGA) or antihuman C3 antisera. Marked positive stainings of IgA and C3 and positive binding of LPA or WGA were observed in the glomerular mesangial areas from patients with IgA nephropathy. LPA or WGA were not bound with glomerular capillary walls from patients with moderate and advanced stages of IgA nephropathy, although depositions of IgA and C3 were markedly observed in such walls. There was a significant inverse correlation between the deposition of IgA and the binding of LPA or WGA in glomerular capillary walls obtained from these patients with IgA nephropathy. The levels of proteinuria from patients with moderate and advanced stages of IgA nephropathy were significantly higher than those with minimal and slight stages of such disease. It is suggested that the decrease of sialic acids in glomerular capillary walls might be due to a deposition of IgA in some patients with IgA nephropathy. It is concluded that high levels of proteinuria might be due to the decrease of sialic acids in glomerular capillary walls from patients with moderate and advanced stages of IgA nephropathy.     

Experimental studies of photo radiation therapy on neuroblastoma

A combination of Photo Radiation Therapy (PRT) using Argon-Dye Laser with hematoporphyrin derivatives (HpD) was used experimentally on a cytogenetically highly malignant neuroblastoma xenograft, which exhibited a homogeneously staining region and caused DNA amplifications in chromosomes. The tumor tissue was treated with 500 joules/cm2 of laser. The dosage of HpD was 50 mg per kg body weight. Necrosis of over 50% of the tumor was observed in half the specimens. Swollen cytoplasmic organelles and ruptured cell and nuclear membranes were observed by electron microscopy after PRT. PRT may be used with other treatment modalities for the removal of residual and metastatic tumors.     

Traumatic infarction of the spinal cord in children

Infarction of the spinal cord in childhood is rarely due to trauma. During a 15-year period (1971 to 1985), eight children were admitted to The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, with a diagnosis of traumatic infarction of the spinal cord. All of these patients had delayed onset of neurological signs varying between 2 hours and 4 days after their initial trauma. No bone abnormalities were seen on plain spine x-ray films. Myelography was carried out in seven of these children and found to be normal in all seven. Six patients who were paraplegic at the time of admission remained permanently paraplegic, but two with incomplete cord signs did show some improvement.