Prenatal diagnosis of minute supernumerary marker chromosomes.

The identification of supernumerary marker chromosomes (SMC) at prenatal diagnosis is problematic, particularly for the prediction of phenotype. The assessment of phenotypic risk is based on the size, morphology and origin of the SMC. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) characterization and family studies are also employed to aid in determining the significance of a prenatally ascertained SMC.

Trisomy 4 and double minutes in acute myeloid leukemia: further evidence that double minutes can occur as the primary cytogenetic abnormality.

The specific association of trisomy 4 and double minutes (dmin) is rare and is usually reported in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), primarily M2 and M4 subtypes. Several previous reports describing this combination suggested that trisomy 4 was the primary cytogenetic abnormality, and that the presence of the dmin was secondary. We describe a 79-year-old male who presented with myelodysplasia, transforming to AML-M2.

[Cytochemical study of peroxidase activity and the peroxidase-endogenous hydrogen peroxide system in the peripheral blood neutrophils of mice exposed to prodigiozan and retabolil].

The paper concerns changes in the activity of some enzymes of azurophil granules of mouse neutrophils under a single administration of the bacterial polysaccharide prodigiosan and the synthetic anabolic hormone retabolil. Prodigiosan increases 1.4-fold the activity of the peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide system in azurophil granules of intact mice.

[Effect of cholerogen on tissue culture cells].

A study was made of various series of cholerogen on the cultures of human continuous cells of normal (F1, Rh) and tumour nature (HeLa). Cholerogen proved to produce a marked toxic action on the cultures of F1, Rh and HeLa cells causing a reduction of the number of living cells, depression of mitotic activity, a reduction of the intensity of staining on the sum total protein and RNA, a reduction of the activity in the cells of acid phosphatase and succinic dehydrogenase, and also a reduction of production of protein-polysaccharide layer. Different cholerogens produced a different toxic action on the cells of the same type.

[Microexudation phenomenon in the testing of antibiotics].

Changes in formation of the surface protein-polysaccharide layer (microexudate) on the cell surface under the action of inhibitor antibiotics, such as puromycin, actinomycin D and mitomycin C, as well as protein substances with adhesive action, such as horse serum and triprotamine in low doses were characterized quantitatively on a model of HeLa cells ellipsometrically. Under the action of puromycin, actinomycin D and mitomycin C formation of the microexudate ceased, which was in full accordance with the data on ceasation of the intracellular synthesis of protein, RNA and DNA under the action of the above antibiotics respectively. Inhibition of the microexudate formation was reversible.