Chromosomal Rearrangements in Three Infertile Men

Summary:  Three chromosomal rearrangements: a balanced reciprocal translocation, t(14;10) (q22;q13), a Y-autosome translocation, t(Y;16) (q11;p13) and a deleted Y chromosome, Yq- were detected among 100 infertile men. The autosomal translocation, associated with oligozoospermia was found to be familial with various effects on the female carriers and the proband's father. The patients with the chromosome Y abberations were found to be azoospermic and might have lost the genes necessary for normal sperma-togenesis.
Zusammenfassung:  Unter 100 infertilen Männern wurden drei Chromosomenneuan-ordnungen entdeckt: eine balancierte reziproke Translokation, t(14;10) (q22;q13), eine Y-autosome Translokation, t(Y;16) (q11;p13) und eine Deletion des Y-Chromosoms, Yq-. Die autosomale Translokation bei Oligozoospermie zeigte sich familiär mit verschiedenen Auswirkungen bei den weiblichen Überträgern und dem Vater des Probanden. Die Patien-ten mit chromosomalen Y-Aberrational wiesen eine Azoospermie auf und scheinen die zur normalen Spermatogenese notwendigen Gene verloren zu haben.     

NEUROTROPIN IMMUNOSTIMULATING ACTION ON IMMUNOCOMPETENT CELLS

Neurotropin (NSP) is an extract isolated from the skin of rabbits inoculated with vaccinia virus. The present study examines the possible action of NSP on the number and function of immunocompe tent cells in mice. The experiment showed that NSP had no effect on both T and B lymphocytes of nor- malimmunized mouse spleen. The degree of plaque forming cell reaction and titre of specific antibody showed no significant differences when the NSP treated group and controls were compared. How- ever, NSP exhibited promotive effect on specific antigen binding cells in the early stage of immune responses. It was also noted that the rosette forming capacity of human T lymphocytes in vitro was restor- ed markedly by NSP. These results suggest that NSP possesses certain immunostimulating activity, particularly on the specific antigen binding cells and human T lymphocytes.     

Controlled study of haloperidol, pimozide and placebo for the treatment of Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome

The results of this controlled study of the treatment of 57 patients with Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome suggested that both haloperidol and pimozide were more effective than placebo, but that haloperidol was slightly more effective than pimozide. Adverse effects occurred more frequently with haloperidol vs placebo than with pimozide vs placebo, but the frequency was not significantly different for haloperidol compared with pimozide. Clinically significant cardiac effects did not occur at a maximum dosage of 0.3 mg/kg or 20 mg/d for pimozide and 10 mg/d for haloperidol. However, the QTc interval was prolonged during pimozide treatment compared with that during haloperidol treatment, although the values for both medications were not in an abnormal range.     

The physiology of aging of light-protected and light-exposed skin

We discuss the senescence of the skin considering both intrinsic aging and photoaging; special regard is paid to the various layers, the microcirculation, and the adnexa of the skin. In particular, the barrier function and microcirculation of the skin has been pointed out.     

Are ADDH and ADHD the same or different?

To assess the relationship between the DSM-III criteria for attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADDH) and the DSM-III-R criteria for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), children from an inner city parochial school were evaluated using a 30-item teacher questionnaire consisting of the DMS-III and DSM-III-R criteria for these disorders, the revised Conners Parent and Teacher Questionnaires, and a continuous performance test. Diagnostic groups were established based on teacher ratings of the DSM items and evaluated in relation to the rating scale data and continuous performance test. While children who were identified by teachers as having ADDH almost always satisfied the criteria for ADHD, a new group of children who were hyperactive and impulsive but less clearly inattentive also met the criteria for ADHD. Implications of the change in diagnostic criteria are discussed.     

The effect of apomorphine on regional cerebral blood flow in schizophrenia

A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of the effects of apomorphine on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) during a prefrontal cortex activation task was undertaken to explore the role of dopamine on cortical function. The subjects were eight drug-free, chronically psychotic patients; six patients had schizophrenia. In each, apomorphine increased the relative prefrontal flow. The results suggest that enhanced prefrontal dopamine activity may reverse deficits in prefrontal cortex metabolism in schizophrenia.     

Inhibition of the replication of hepatitis B virus by the carbocyclic analogue of 2''-deoxyguanosine.

We report that treatment of 2.2.15, a human hepatoblastoma-derived cell line in which hepatitis B virus is actively replicating, with the carbocyclic analogue of 2'-deoxyguanosine [Shealy, Y. F., O'Dell, C. A., Shannon, W. M. & Arnett, G. (1984) J. Med. Chem. 27, 1416-1421] resulted in the nearly complete cessation of viral replication, as monitored by the absence of both intracellular episomal and secreted viral DNAs and by the absence of viral DNA polymerase activity. The drug was nontoxic in concentrations up to 200 times the minimum effective inhibitory concentration.