Structural and replicative forms of mitochondrial DNA from human leukocytes in relation to age.

The structure and replication of human leukocyte mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was investigated in healthy young adult males (23--37 years old), middle-aged males (42--52 years old) with secondary polycythemia, and elderly males (80--89 years old) who exhibited different degrees of age-related disease syndromes. The distribution of the various cell types within the white cell population was within normal limits in all samples. Total mtDNA was isolated in ethidium bromide--CsCl gradients and examined by electron microscopy after spreading by the aqueous and formamide techniques.

Factor XIII deficiency in BALB/c mice with plasmacytoma.

These studies examined the fate of Factor XIII (fibrin-stabilizing factor) in mice with plasmacytoma (MOPC-300, MOPC-384, MOPC-467, and J-558). Plasma Factor XIII levels in these mice decreased progressively with tumor expansion. No plasma inhibitors of Factor XIII activity could be detected.

Detection of fibrin degradation products. A simplified technic.

An agglutination inhibition technic using CrCl3-treated erythrocytes for the quantification of circulating fibrin degradation products in patients with thromboembolic and fibrinolytic states is described.