Effect of dietary protein and environmental factors on lactation performance in rats.

The effects of dietary protein and environmental conditions on lactation performance in rats were evaluated. Female rats were fed from conception until day 9 of lactation diets containing 21% wheat protein (21W), 21% casein + methionine (21CM) or 11% casein + methionine (11CM). At parturition, dams were kept in their normal environment (20 degrees C) or were exposed to crowded conditions or an elevated ambient temperature (30 degrees C).

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a fluorescent analogue of folic acid.

A fluorescein derivative of the lysine analogue of folic acid, N alpha-pteroyl-N epilson-(4'-fluoresceinthiocarbamoyl)-L-lysine (PLF), was synthesized as a probe for dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and a membrane folate binding protein (m-FBP). Excitation of PLF at 282 nm and at 497 nm gave a fluorescence emission maximum at 518 nm. Binding of PLF to human DHFR or human placental m-FBP results in approximately a 20-fold enhancement in the magnitude of the fluorescence emission, suggesting that the ligand interacts with a hydrophobic region on these proteins.

Fatal disseminated hemorrhagic toxoplasmic encephalitis as the initial manifestation of AIDS.

A 28-year-old woman presented with progressive coma after being asymptomatic for 1 year after the demonstration of seropositivity for human immunodeficiency virus and high serum immunoglobulin G toxoplasma titers. Computed tomographic scanning showed multiple rounded cerebral hemorrhages and massive cerebral edema. Postmortem examination disclosed Toxoplasma gondii cysts scattered throughout the brain.

[Postgastrectomy findings in the after care of 227 patients with stomach carcinoma].

Rehabilitation needs and problems in 227 gastric cancer patients. In an investigation on needs of rehabilitation in gastric cancer we evaluated postgastrectomy problems in 227 gastrectomized patients. The average weight loss was 5% prior to operation and there was a further weight loss of 16% in the follow-up 18 months after the operation due to the postgastrectomy syndrome.

Membrane transport of methotrexate in a squamous carcinoma cell line adapted to low folate concentrations.

Membrane transport characteristics of the folate analogue methotrexate (MTX) were studied in a human squamous carcinoma cell line of the head and neck (HNSCC) adapted to grow in tissue culture media with nanomolar reduced folate concentrations (SCC-11B-LF), as compared to SCC-11B cells grown in standard medium containing high folate concentrations. We observed that SCC-11B-LF cells exhibited a 10.5-fold increased uptake of [3H]-MTX via the reduced folate/MTX carrier system compared to SCC-11B cells.

Fat absorption in neonates: comparison of long-chain-fatty-acid and triglyceride compositions of formula, feces, and blood.

We studied malabsorption of fat in neonates who were fed either a lard-modified formula (n = 22, gestational age, 33.6 +/- 3.9 wk) or an unmodified formula (n = 14, gestational age, 34.

Growth-inhibitory effects of 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolic acid on variant murine L1210 and human CCRF-CEM leukemia cells with different membrane-transport characteristics for (anti)folate compounds.

5,10-Dideazatetrahydrofolic acid (DDATHF) is a potent inhibitor of glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase, one of the folate-dependent key enzymes in de novo purine biosynthesis. The present report demonstrates that multiple membrane-transport routes may be involved in the cellular uptake of DDATHF. These routes include the classic reduced folate carrier and a membrane-associated folate-binding protein (mFBP).

Mechanisms of acquired resistance to methotrexate in a human squamous carcinoma cell line of the head and neck, exposed to different treatment schedules.

Mechanisms of acquired resistance to methotrexate (MTX) were evaluated in HNSCC-11B cells which were made resistant to methotrexate either by continuous (11B-MTX-C) or by pulse exposure (11B-MTX-P) to the drug. 11B-MTX-C cells were 91-fold resistant to methotrexate and 30-fold or 49-fold crossresistant to trimetrexate and 10-EdAM, respectively. Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) activity was increased 63-fold in 11B-MTX-C cells together with a decrease in [3H]-methotrexate transport and folylpolyglutamate synthase (FPGS) activity (2.

Multiple membrane transport systems for the uptake of folate-based thymidylate synthase inhibitors.

N10-Propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (CB3717) and 2-desamino-2-methyl-N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (ICI-198,583) are potent folate-based inhibitors of thymidylate synthase. We studied the membrane transport and the growth-inhibitory effects of the two thymidylate synthase inhibitors on human CCRF-CEM leukemia cells with different transport properties for folic acid, reduced folates, and methotrexate (MTX). Membrane transport of [3H]ICI-198,583 can proceed via the high affinity/low capacity reduced folate carrier as supported by findings that (a) uptake of [3H]ICI-198,583 was significantly impaired in CEM cells which have a transport defect for MTX, (b) variants of CEM cells which overproduce the reduced folate carrier system showed a concomitant increase in the uptake of [3H]ICI-198,583 as for [3H]MTX, (c) MTX inhibited transport of [3H]ICI-198,583, and (d) uptake of [3H]ICI-198,583 was inhibited after treatment of CEM cells with an N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of MTX, which is a potent inhibitor of MTX transport.

Methotrexate transport in variant human CCRF-CEM leukemia cells with elevated levels of the reduced folate carrier. Selective effect on carrier-mediated transport of physiological concentrations of reduced folates.

This study reports the isolation and characterization of a variant of the human CCRF-CEM leukemia cell line that overproduces the carrier protein responsible for the uptake of reduced folates and the folate analogue methotrexate. The variant was obtained by adapting CCRF-CEM cells for prolonged times to stepwise decreasing concentrations of 5-formyltetrahydrofolate as the sole folate source in the cell culture medium. From cells that were grown on less than 1 nM 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate, a variant (CEM-7A) was isolated exhibiting a 95-fold increased Vmax for [3H]methotrexate influx compared to parental CCRF-CEM cells.

[Pharmacologic studies on the antidegenerative effect of ademetionine in experimental arthritis in animals].

A standardized pharmacological model of biochemically induced osteoarthritis in the knee joint of laboratory animals was used for the study of a possible antidegenerative effect of ademetionine (S-adenosyl-methionine, active substance of Gumbaral) in-vivo. Four days after the initial induction of osteoarthritis by 2 intraarticular injections of 0.6 mg sodium iodoacetate into the left knee joint of adult hens, the therapy started with once-weekly intraarticular doses of 0.

Educating patients with diabetes: comparison of nutrient-based and exchange group methods.

This study compared the effectiveness of a nutrient-based (diet guide) approach with that of a food-group (exchange lists) approach to menu planning for persons with noninsulin-dependent diabetes. Each method was presented to four groups in three-session workshops emphasizing meal planning to reduce risk of heart disease. The diet guide method evaluated menus specifically for calories, source of calories, cholesterol, fiber, sodium, and key vitamins and minerals.

Cerebral medulloepithelioma--electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry.

A case is reported of a boy, 3 years of age, with a large medulloepithelioma in the left cerebral hemisphere. Medulloepitheliomas are rare tumors of the primitive medullar epithelium. Histological, immunohistochemical and electron microscopical findings are presented.

Hydrops fetalis associated with red cell pyruvate kinase deficiency.

A hydrops fetalis and multicystic encephalomalacia were diagnosed in a neonate who was one of twins. The co-twin had died 5 weeks prior to delivery. The most likely explantation for both hydrops and multicystic encephalomalacia was fetal anemia caused by a red cell pyruvate kinase deficiency, and aggravated by an intrauterine disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Polar spongioblastoma: an immunohistochemical and electron microscopical study.

A case is reported of a 9-year-old boy with a cerebral polar spongioblastoma. This neoplasm, first described by Russell and Cairns in 1947, is morphologically a distinct entity characterized by bipolar tumor cells with palisading nuclei. In the case under study immunoreactivity for neuron-specific enolase was found and ultrastructural features of developing neuronal elements were present.

Interaction of N-hydroxy(sulfo) succinimide active esters with the reduced folate/methotrexate transport system from human leukemic CCRF-CEM cells.

The membrane impermeant protein cross-linker 3,3'-dithiobissulfosuccinimidyl propionate (DTSSP) is a well-known inhibitor of human erythrocyte band 3-mediated inorganic anion transport. We observed that DTSSP is also a potent inhibitor of reduced folate/methotrexate transport in human CCRF-CEM leukemia cells. An interaction of DTSSP with the reduced folate/MTX is substantiated by findings that: (a) like MTX transport itself, the concentration of DTSSP required for half-maximal inhibition of [3H]methotrexate transport varied substantially with the anionic composition of the external medium.

Identification of a membrane-associated folate-binding protein in human leukemic CCRF-CEM cells with transport-related methotrexate resistance.

CEM/MTX cells, a subline of CCRF-CEM cells resistant to methotrexate (MTX) by virtue of impaired transport by the reduced folate/methotrexate transport system, were grown in media containing folate levels in the physiological range rather than in standard media supplemented with high folate concentrations. Over a 7-month period folic acid concentrations were gradually lowered from 2 microM to 2 nM without subsequent changes in the transport-defective phenotype. In these cells we observed the up regulation of a membrane-associated folate-binding protein with high affinities for folic acid and reduced folates, but poor affinities for the folate antagonists MTX and 10-ethyl-10-deazaaminopterin.

Expression of a folate binding protein in L1210 cells grown in low folate medium.

We have isolated variants of L1210 cells (L1210B) expressing, in addition to the "classical" high affinity/low capacity system for reduced folate uptake, high levels of a membrane-associated folate binding protein. This folate binding protein was expressed in L1210 cells grown at low physiological folate levels (less than 0.5 nM), but down-regulated after transfer in standard high folate (2 microM) medium.

Increased survival of ischaemic musculocutaneous flaps in rats after acupuncture.

The effects of acupuncture on survival of ischaemic musculocutaneous flaps were investigated in the rat. A dorsal cranially based standard flap (2 X 7 cm) was elevated and sutured back in position. The percentage survival of the flaps was estimated after 6 days.

Acupuncture and sensory neuropeptides increase cutaneous blood flow in rats.

The effect on blood flow of electro-acupuncture (EA) injection of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was studied in musculocutaneous flaps in the rat, using laser Doppler flowmetry. The circulatory border was estimated before and after treatment. It was shown that treatment with EA increased the blood flow moving the circulatory border distally 66% after a treatment.

Cytotoxicity of methotrexate and trimetrexate and its reversal by folinic acid in human leukemic CCRF-CEM cells with carrier-mediated and receptor-mediated folate uptake.

The cytotoxic effects of the antifolates methotrexate (MTX) and trimetrexate (TMQ) were investigated for two human leukemic CCRF-CEM cell lines, one expressing the "classical" reduced folate/MTX carrier (CEM-RF), another lacking this carrier but expressing a membrane associated folate binding protein (CEM-FBP). CEM-FBP cells were found to be highly resistant to MTX compared to CEM-RF cells, especially in short exposures. For example, after 4 h incubation, IC50 values for MTX were 251 microM and 0.

Profiling of plasma cholesterol ester and triglyceride fatty acids as their methyl esters by capillary gas chromatography, preceded by a rapid aminopropyl-silica column chromatographic separation of lipid classes.

A rapid procedure for the isolation of plasma cholesterol ester and triglyceride fractions with aminopropyl-silica columns, followed by analysis of their fatty acid compositions by capillary gas chromatography with flame ionization detection, is described. Within-series and long-term (six months) series-to-series precision were investigated. The isolation procedure caused minimal cross-over between the two lipid classes.