Thyrotoxicosis and asthma. A case report

A 55-year-old woman with intrinsic asthma that was aggravated by the onset of thyrotoxicosis is described. The possible mechanism for such a relationship is discussed.     

Enzymological studies on the liver of rats fed with molybdenum and copper

Alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase, cholinesterase and lipase were determined in the livers of rats poisoned with molybdenum (Mo) and copper (Cu). Mo inhibited alkaline and acid phosphatases and lipase but not glucose-6-phosphatase or cholinesterase. Elevation of alkaline phosphatase activity was recorded after administration of Cu. Comparison of controls with the combined effects showed reversal of dysenzymia. However, lipase and cholinesterase were inhibited.     

Teratomas of rare sites: a review of ten cases.

Out of 267 cases of teratomas diagnosed in the department of pathology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab from January 1980 to December 1989, 10 cases occurred in rare sites ie, 3 cases of teratoma in retroperitoneal space, 3 in the floor of the mouth, one each in mediastinum, thyroid, urinary bladder and kidney. None of these cases was clinically suspected as teratoma. One of the 3 teratomas of the retroperitoneal space and that of kidney were solid. Lesions of mediastinum and urinary bladder were solid as well as cystic. All these teratomas showed foci of immature elements. All other tumours were cystic and contained mature tissues only. Teratomas of the thyroid and kidney were treated with subtotal thyroidectomy and nephrectomy respectively, rest had surgical resection. One patient of immature retroperitoneal teratoma was lost to follow-up. All the others are alive and well for the period of 1 to 8 years. None had recurrence.     

Identification of carcinogens by measurement of cell-mediated immunity: I. Immunity induced by rat pancreas and colon carcinogens

Anti-tumor cell-mediated immunity was used as a measure of exposure to chemical carcinogens. The measurements involved determining the amount of cytotoxicity to cultured X-ray-induced rat small bowel adenocarcinoma cells exhibited by peripheral blood lymphoid-cells isolated from animals exposed to the carcinogens. Cytotoxicity was determined by the release of radioiodinated integral and peripheral proteins of the small bowel cancer cells. The studies indicate that exposures to 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) which induces colon adenocarcinomas and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) implants which produce pancreatic adenocarcinomas, can be detected within a 6- to 72-day postexposure interval. Dose response studies of the DMH indicate exposures to as little as 100 μg (1.7 μmol) can be detected within this time interval although this amount is insufficient to produce detectable cancer. The present results further outline the specificity of the assay since it was found that tumors of mesodermally derived tissues (asbestos-induced peritoneal mesotheliomas) and nonspecific injury (70% surgical resection of ileum and jejunum) will not induce cytotoxicity. Our previous studies had shown ectodermal lesions also will not evoke responses; therefore, these findings suggest the measured anti-tumor immunity is specific to carcinogens which interact with entodermally derived tissue. Thus, the findings support our suggestion that measurement of anti-tumor immunity offers a rapid, sensitive, and specific technique for detecting carcinogenic substances.     

Antioxidants prolong life span and inhibit the senescence-dependent accumulation of fluorescent pigment (lipofuscin) in clones, of Podospora anserina

Culture of clones of Podospora anserina s+ with either nordihydroguaiaretic acid or reduced glutathione (GSH) at concentrations that were not inhibitory to growth significantly prolonged the average time to onset of senscence. GSH also prolonged the average time to onset of clonal death. The specific concentration of chloroform-methanol soluble fluorescent pigment was larger in senescent than in pre-senescent cells. The pigment exhibited fluorescence excitation and emission spectra and fluorescence polarization numbers characteristic of lipofuscin, an end-product of lipid peroxidation. Analyses of the lipofuscin concentration in either sub-clonal fractions of different times of origin from senescent clones, or in sub-clonal fractions of identical age in time of origin from parent clones of different age, revealed a similar concentrations distribution. Although pre-senscent cells contained rather large concentrations, a massive increase occurred during senescence prior to the time of onset of clonal death. Culture with GSH not only prolonged clonal life span but aslo inhibited the formation of lipofuscin by an average factor of 30. Furthermore, unlike untreated clones, the sub-clonal distribution of the pigment was not only low but was also independent of their age.