Stimulation of Thrombocytopoiesis in Irradiated Mice

Platelet depletion in mice, by injection of heterologous anti-platelet serum(APS), resulted in apparent stimulation of megakaryocytopoiesis as evidencedby a subsequent over-compensation of the level of circulating platelets. Injection of APS immediately before or after exposure to sublethal radiation or aday after exposure appeared to modify the response to radiation. Radiation-induced thrombocytopenia was neither as severe nor as prolonged in animalsso treated as in irradiated controls. More chronic thrombocytopenia at thetime of irradiation, however, appeared to increase the radiosensitivity of themegakaryocytic system.

Submitted on June 18, 1969 Accepted on January 13, 1970     

Megakaryocytopoiesis in the Rat

Labeling of rat megakaryocytes was observed after a single intravenousinjection of tritiated thymidine, and the following conclusions were made.

1. Morphologic appearance of megakaryocytes corresponded to their stageof maturation.

2. Only the youngest recognizable megakaryocytes (stage I) appeared tohave a DNA synthetic period.

3. Megakaryocytes did not undergo permanent cellular division.

4. There was probably some degree of ineffective megakaryocytopoiesis.

5. The average total maturation time of rat megakaryocytes was estimatedto be 43-75 hours wih 8-14 hours in stage I, 11-19 hours in stage II, and24-42 hours in stage III.

6. There was continuous influx into the megakaryocyte compartment froma precursor compartment. The immediate precursor cell was morphologicallyunrecognizable, but it appeared to have a generation time of 16 hours, aDNA synthesis period of 10 hours and a post-synthetic maturation timeof 2 hours.

7. Reutilization of tritium probably accounted for maintenance of a highdegree of labeling of megakaryocytes for a period of 1.5-4 days.

Submitted on August 7, 1964 Accepted on November 22, 1964     

Adenocarcinoma of prostate: Role of 17β-estradiol and 5α-dihydroterosterone binding proteins

Presence of a specific 17β-estradiol-binding protein in prostates of patients with adenocarcinoma without hormonal manipulation prior to surgical resection has been reported by us earlier.' The present study involves 40 patients with carcinoma of prostate analyzed during the period December, 1974, through June, 1978. Thirty-four patients had metastatic disease, 26 of these were manipulated hormonally after and 8 prior to receptor protein assay. The other 6 were in clinical Stage C and were subjected to transurethral resection alone. The study confirms our earlier report and outlines the role of 17β-estradiol (E₂) and possibly 5_α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) receptor protein in hormonally responsive and refractory patients. Based on the preliminary findings it seems possible to classify the prostatic carcinoma similar to human mammary cancer for the purpose of selecting patients for endocrine manipulation or treatment with other available modalities.     

Pancreatic Ascites

Pancreatic ascitis in a 31-year old black male is described. The diagnosis was suspected by the presence of pancreatic calcifications and confirmed by an elevated ascitic fluid amylase and protein content. Ascites was successfully treated by caudal pancreatectomy followed by a Roux-en-y pancreatojejunostomy.     

Relationship of Hunger and Food Insecurity to Food Availability and Consumption

Objective To describe the relationship of new measures of hunger and food insecurity to household food supplies and individual food and nutrient intake.Design and Setting A questionnaire containing the Radimer/Cornell hunger and food insecurity items and questions on eating patterns and the frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption was administered to subjects during a personal interview in their homes. A 24-hour diet recall and a household food inventory were conducted at the initial interview and at a follow-up visit.Subjects Participants were 193 women drawn from a random sample of 308 women who had completed a previous health census in a rural New York State county. Subjects’ ages ranged from 15 to 40 years. All had children living at home and less than 16 years of education.Statistical analyses Regression analysis was used to test for linear trends across food insecurity groups for the household food inventory scores and for the frequency of consumption of fruits and vegetables, t Tests were used to assess differences between the food secure and food insecure groups for nutrient and food group means. A χ² test for trend was used to examine differences in the distribution of nutrient and fruit and vegetable intake between the food secure and food insecure groups.Results A significant decrease in the frequency of consumption of fruits and vegetables and the amount of food in the household and a significant increase in scores indicative of disordered eating patterns were associated with a worsening of food insecurity status. Potassium and fiber intake and fruit consumption differed significantly between the food secure and food insecure groups. The percentage of respondents consuming less than the Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin C and fewer than five fruits and vegetables per day was significantly greater among food insecure respondents than food secure respondents.Applications/conclusions The quantity of food available in households and consumption of fruits and vegetables decreased with increasingly severe problems with food insecurity and hunger. In this rural population, the Radimer/Cornell measures were useful in identifying households experiencing food insecurity and providing information about the nature of the food supply and the dietary intake problems experienced by food insecure households and persons, suggesting that these measures may be useful on community surveys designed to examine food insecurity issues. J Am Diet Assoc. 1996; 96:1019-1024.