THE KINETICS OF THE ADDITION OF GLUCOSE AND ACETALDEHYDE TO HISTONE PROTEINS

The time-course of the reaction of H1 and total histone withglucose, acetaldehyde or both has been studied using the NBTreduction test and fluorescence. With both methods, purifiedH1 histone gave higher absorbance with acetaldehyde than witha 1:1 combination of glucose and acetaldehyde. For total histone,the opposite was found; a 1:1 combination of the above two aldehydeshad the higher absorbance. As an explanation, the possibilityof different reactivity of the amino groups with glucose andacetaldehyde is proposed. A possible simultaneous interactionbetween glucose, acetaldehyde and serum protein, mainly albumin,may alter the results of the diagnostic protein glycation methods,e.g. of the fructosamine test; and, therefore, also the monitoringof diabetes.     

The effect of theophylline on parkinsonian symptoms

Abstract— Adenosine is known to inhibit the release of dopamine from central synaptic terminals. The present open trial was therefore conducted to determine whether the adenosine receptor-antagonist theophylline would be of value in Parkinson's disease. Fifteen parkinsonian patients were treated for up to 12 weeks with a slow release oral theophylline preparation (150 mg day^?1), yielding serum theophylline levels of 4·44 mg L^?1 after one week. The patients exhibited significant improvements in mean objective disability scores and 11 reported moderate or marked subjective improvement. It is suggested that theophylline might be a useful adjunct to the routine therapy of parkinsonian patients.     

Paraganglion cells mimicking metastatic clear cell carcinoma

Four patients are presented whom normal paraganglion cells simulated metastases of clear cell carcinomas of the urogenital tract. The cells, located within and near the lumbar sympathetic ganglia, were initially interpreted by the pathologist as metastatic, but a later examination showed them to be normal paraganglion cells. One ganglion was also examined electron microscopically. Normal ganglion cells were seen, as were cells with intracytoplasmic osmophilic neurosecretory granules, confirming their paraganglionic origin. Awareness of the appearance of paraganglion cells in some instances is essential to avoid their misinterpretation as metastases of clear cell carcinomas.     

A case of malignant myxoma (myxosarcoma) of the maxilla

Abstract – A centrally located maxillary myxoma with malignant histologic appearance and aggressive clinical course is reported in a 40-yr-old man. The gelatinous polypoid tumor mass was diagnosed as a myxoma in the first biopsy. The tumor recurred rapidly (within 3 wk) eroding the bony structures of the maxillary sinus and the hard palate and infiltrating the adjacent soft tissues. In repeated biopsy (as well as reassessment of the first biopsy) the tumor was found to be composed of plump stellate cells, some of which were pleomorphic with atypical and bizarre mitotic figures. The amorphic myxoid matrix contained acid mucopolysaccharides and was completely devoid of lipids. Electron microscopy demonstrated that the tumor cells were identical to fibroblasts, which is consistent with the appearance of myxoma cells. When radiotherapy was unsuccessful, we removed the left maxilla with orbital excenteration and reconstructed the jaw. Three years later the patient died accidentally. At autopsy, no recurrence of myxoma or distant metastases were found. Due to the malignant histologic appearance and the aggressive clinical course, this tumor can be called an odontogenic myxosarcoma and should be added to the WHO classification as a malignant variant of odontogenic myxoma.     

Acid-base properties of thymopoietin-type tri- and tetrapeptides and their derivatives

The submolecular basicities of 21 immuno-modulating, thymopoietin-type di-, tri-, and tetrapeptides were studied and characterized in terms of group constants and partial microconstants. All compounds were derivatives of the H-Arg-Lys-Asp-OH tripeptide. Modifications within four covalent bonds of the basic site (esterification, acylation, curtailment or addition at C-terminal end, exchange of amino acids) cause significant changes in the scheme of protonation and in the individual basicity of proton binding sites. Configurational changes of the component amino acids, however, do not cause significantly different basicities in the diastereomers.     

Development of a radioimmunoassay for a pseudononapeptide bombesin/GRP antagonist with antitumor activity

Bombesin-like and GRP-like peptides may act as autocrine growth factors in the proliferation of some cancers. A pseudononapeptide bombesin antagonist, [d -Tpi⁶,Leu¹³φ(CH₂NH)-Le¹⁴]bombesin(6–14), and related analogs synthesized in our laboratory significantly inhibit tumor growth in various cancer models. A radioimmunoassay (RIA), suitable for determination of RC-3095 and its congeners in unextracted serum, was developed in order to facilitate further experimental and clinical evaluation of this bombesin/GKP receptor antagonist for the treatment of various tumors. Antibodies were generated against RC-3095 and Des-Tpi¹-RC-3095, conjugated to bovine serum albumin with glutaraldehyde. Antiserum JH-631b was selected for further experiments based on the antibody characterization. At an antiserum dilution of 1:189000, this antibody bound approximately 50% of 7 fmol of added radiolabeled Tyr¹-RC-3095. The antibody cross-reacted with C-terminal fragments of RC-3095. Fragments without the C-terminus and naturally existing peptides of the bombesin family or structurally unrelated peptides did not cross-react. The minimum detectable dose of RC-3095 was 0.4 pg/tube. Intra- and interassay coefficients of variation ranged from 3.2 to 4.4% and from 5.6 to 12.8%, respectively. The RIA is suitable for direct determination of RC-3095 in serum. The RIA should be of value for monitoring levels of this analog in serum during long-term therapy. © Munksgaard 1995.     

Prevalence of Hemochromatosis in Finland

Abstract. Transferrin saturation was determined in 11431 men and 10639 women aged 15 or more drawn from different areas in southern and central Finland and attending a multiphasic health screening examination in 1967–1972. All the 163 men and 66 women with transferrin saturation ≤70% at the initial examination and still alive at the end of 1983 were invited to a re-examination. Of the invited persons, 76% attended the re-examination. Transferrin saturation and serum ferritin were the initial screening methods in the re-examination. All persons with suspected hemochromatosis were clinically examined and a laparoscopy was performed. Four men and four women were found with unequivocal hemochromatosis. Only one of these cases was diagnosed beforehand. According to these data the prevalence of hemochromatosis in Finland is about 50/100000.     

Pityriasis Rosea in a Patient with Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica

A patient with clinical and histologic features of epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica-recessive (EBD-R) developed superimposed clinical lesions of pityriasis rosea (PR). Electron microscopy showed distinct "blebbing" of basal cells at the basement membrane zone in clinically normal skin of a non-predilected area, as well as in scarred skin from a predilected area and a lesion of PR. An increased susceptibility of the basement membrane zone to proteolytic enzymes is suggested as a possible hypothesis to explain these observations.