Mu gem3 as a tool to investigate the influence of chromosome supercoiling on gene expression in Escherichia coli K12.

We have developed a rapid method to investigate the influence of chromosome supercoiling on gene expression in Escherichia coli K12. This method exploits the ability of the gem3 mutant of the bacteriophage Mu, even in the prophagic state in immune cells, to induce relaxation of the host chromosome. The experiments can thus be performed under physiological conditions, and without the use of the drugs.

Anticardiolipin syndrome in childhood: a report of two cases.

We describe two children with an otherwise unexplained deep vein thrombosis associated with high titer anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) of the IgG class and circulating lupus anticoagulant (LAC). One of these patients had persistent proteinuria but neither had systemic lupus erythematosus. Our observation suggests that ACA and LAC assays should be performed in children with thromboembolic disease even when no underlying autoimmune disease can be found.

Use of synthetic peptides in the study of the antibody response to Plasmodium vivax sporozoites.

Synthetic peptides reproducing 4 DRADGQPAG (D4) and a sequential array of DRADGQPAG and DRAAGQPAG repeats (DDAAD) of the Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite (CS) protein were investigated for their potential use in the detection of P. vivax sporozoite antibodies in human sera. These peptides specifically inhibited the binding of monoclonal antibodies to the P.

Chronic idiopathic hyperphosphatasia and fibrous dysplasia in the same child.

A generalized skeletal dysplasia with features of chronic idiopathic hyperphosphatasia and fibrous dysplasia of the mandible were observed in a 6-year-old child. The abnormal development of the bones resulted from enhanced remodeling and the failure of mature bone to form. The occurrence of the two lesions in the same child and a review of the literature support the hypothesis that pathogenesis of fibrous dysplasia and idiopathic hyperphosphatasia reflect an underlying common defect in the control of bone cell activity.

[The effect of cholecystectomy intervention on the symptomatology in patients with biliary lithiasis].

A series of 298 patients subjected to cholecystectomy ten or more years after surgery is considered. The symptoms of operated patients were analysed clinically so as to establish the possibility that surgery might resolve the symptomatology that had brought the patient to the operation. After profound analysis of the symptomatological variations observed, it is concluded that the dyspeptic syndrome so frequently reported by the patients examined is connected with lithiasic disease and that the operation has different effects on the different symptoms considered.

Kinetics of amiloride in rat following oral and intravenous administration.

The disposition profile of amiloride, a potassium sparing agent, was studied in rats by using an HPLC method coupled to spectrofluorometric detection. Amiloride was administered orally and intravenously at the dose of 10 mg/Kg. The most relevant pharmacokinetic parameters are described for both administration routes.

Large scale isolation of nuclei from oocytes of Xenopus laevis.

We describe an improvement on the procedure of Scalenghe et al. (F. Scalenghe, M.

Interleukin 2 and mitogen driven proliferation in human peripheral mononuclear cells: a kinetic analysis.

The role of the T lymphocyte growth factor, interleukin 2 (IL2), on human lymphocyte proliferation was investigated. The results define the extent and the chronological sequence of IL2 effects on unstimulated mononuclear cells and on an activated population enriched in IL2 receptor positive cells. Important differences were observed in the proliferative response to the mitogen PHA when the IL2 concentration in the culture medium was varied.

Study of the bone pathology in early mucolipidosis II (I-cell disease).

Histological examination of the bones obtained on autopsy of a 5-month-old child with mucolipidosis II (I-cell disease) revealed inhibition of the growth plate calcification with defective vascular invasion and signs of hyperparathyroidism. These findings are the chondro-osseous basis of the early radiological ricket-like appearance of bones in the neonatal period or soon thereafter. Whether the early skeletal abnormalities of mucolipidosis II result from a primary enzymatic defect of cartilage and bone cells or from factors controlling bone metabolism deserves further study.

Regional assignment of the loci for adenylate kinase to 9q32 and for alpha 1-acid glycoprotein to 9q31-q32. A locus for Goltz syndrome in region 9q32-qter?

Normal levels of adenylate kinase (AK-1) and of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (ORM1) were found in a girl with a deletion 9q32-qter secondary to a maternal translocation (4q35; 9q32), thus excluding these loci from the deleted region. These results, and comparison with other informative data, map the locus for AK-1 to 9q32 and that for ORM1 to region 9q31-q32. The girl has several signs of the Goltz syndrome (Focal dermal hypoplasia), which is listed in the McKusick catalog (no.

Thalamic hemorrhage in a 4-year-old child induced by nephro-vascular hypertension.

A child affected by cardiomyopathy from the age of 12 months suddenly manifested right hemiparesis and dysarthria at the age of 48/12 years. Emergency brain CT showed a hemorrhage in progress in the left thalamic area. A severe form of hypertension was concomitant and resisted all pharmacological treatment.

Mucolipidosis II: correlation between radiological features and histopathology of the bones.

Twelve cases of Mucolipidosis II (I-cell disease) with a wide range of severity of skeletal involvement were studied. Pathological findings in two cases provided helpful information in understanding the radiographic features of dysostosis multiplex. Inhibition of the growth plate cartilage calcification and rickets-like lesions were observed in the metaphyses.

Congenital muscle fibre type disproportion: clinical, morphological and biochemical findings in children.

Muscle biopsies from quadriceps femoris muscle of normal subjects and subjects with symptoms of congenital myopathy, aged 1-3 years, were examined for morphological and biochemical differences. Four patients showed clinical signs of Congenital Fibre Type Disproportion (CFTD) as described originally by Brooke (1973), while the other cases showed only signs of hypotonia and diffuse weakness as described by Clancy et al. (1980).

TSF, RBP and TBPA as nutritional indices in surgical patients with gynecological cancer.

The Authors investigated the usefulness of some biochemical markers of visceral protein synthesis (TSF, TBPA and RBP) in 24 patients affected with gynecological cancer and treated with Total Parenteral Nutrition in the perioperative period. The absence of an improving TSF and TBPA is related to increased morbidity and mortality.

Serum and urine kinetics of rosaprostol in volunteers.

The kinetics of rosaprostol (9-hydroxy-19,20-bis-norprostanoic acid, Rosal) and of its metabolite (3-(2-n-hexyl-5-hydroxy-cyclopentyl)propionic acid) has been determined in plasma and in urine of 10 healthy volunteers after oral administration of 500 mg of rosaprostol. The peak of rosaprostol (of 524 ng/ml) appears at 4 h, whereas that of the metabolite (of 503 ng/ml) appears earlier (2 h); therefore the relationship between the two substances does not follow the precursor-successor relationship in plasma and a compartmental model has been used to fit the data. In this model the biotransformation process occurs before entering the central compartment (first-pass effect).

Plasma and urine pharmacokinetics of free and of short-chain carnitine after administration of carnitine in man.

To 6 healthy volunteers 30 mg/kg of L-carnitine (1,3-hydroxy-4-N-trimethylamino-butyrate) were injected intravenously and plasma levels (mumol/l) of free and short-chain carnitine were determined at different times between 0.033 and 24 h. The urinary excretion of L-carnitine and short-chain carnitine in 24 h was also measured.

Pharmacokinetics of flunoxaprofen in rats, dogs, and monkeys.

The kinetics of flunoxaprofen, an anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drug, was studied in rats (Charles River), dogs (beagles), and monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Plasma levels, after oral and iv administration of 20-40 mg/kg, and urinary excretion were followed for 24-72 h; the determinations were performed by gas chromatography. Levels in various organs and in rat bile were also determined.

Plasma free and intraplatelet serotonin in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon.

Plasma free and intraplatelet serotonin concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection, in 30 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon of various etiologies. Serotonin was significantly higher in plasma (P less than 0.005) and in platelets (P less than 0.

Ketanserin treatment and serotonin in patients with primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon.

In a double-blind, placebo cross-over study in 14 patients with Raynaud's disease, oral ketanserin 40 mg b.d. for two months reduced the number of digital ischaemic attacks in 36% of the patients, with no difference between primary or secondary cases.