Induction of estrus with intramuscular injections of GnRH or PMSG in lactating goats (Capra hircus ) primed with a progestagen during seasonal anestrus.

In Experiment 1, goats in seasonal anestrus (n=154) were treated with sponges impregnated with 1 of 2 types of progestagen (MAP or FGA) followed by PMSG (400 IU im) 48 h before sponge removal. The type of progestagen used had no effect on kidding, abortion, pseudogestation, multiple births, stillbirths, number of live births per doe or gestation length. In Experiment 2, lactating goats (n=24) in seasonal anestrus were treated with progestagen sponges (MAP).

De novo interstitial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 3: 46,XX,del(3)(q25.1q26.1).

A girl with an interstitial deletion of chromosome 3 is presented. The facial resemblance to an earlier reported patient with a shared breakpoint is addressed.

Human malformations similar to those in the mouse mutation disorganization (Ds).

We report two patients with malformations similar to those seen in mice with the disorganization (Ds) mutation. The first case has a body wall defect, limb malformation, and hamartoma, while the second case has a partially duplicated foot, in addition to the other anomalies. We discuss the implications that recent advances regarding the genetic analysis of the mouse Ds locus have for the search for the human homologue.

New finding of Schinzel-Giedion syndrome: a case with a malignant sacrococcygeal teratoma.

We report on a boy with Schinzel-Giedion syndrome (SGS) with a previously unreported manifestation, a malignant sacrococcygeal teratoma. This is the second case of SGS to have a malignancy, as one earlier case had a hepatoblastoma. We postulate that the occurrence of 2 uncommon embryonic tumors among these patients with a rare syndrome may mean that risk of malignancy may be a component of this syndrome.

Assessment of attention and memory efficiency in persons with solvent neurotoxicity.

Memory and attention were evaluated in 40 persons with a history of organic solvent exposure and 40 demographically similar controls. Exposed subjects, in comparison to controls, had reduced digit spans, were deficient at learning new information, and recall on a Brown-Peterson distractor test was especially low following a 30-sec interference interval. If original learning was considered, long-term recall was similar for both groups.

Risk factors associated with persistence of neuropsychological deficits in persons with organic solvent exposure.

This study examined neuropsychological prognosis following organic solvent exposure. Twenty-seven persons with evidence of "mild toxic encephalopathy" were evaluated on two separate occasions with a standard neuropsychological test battery and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Ratings by experienced clinicians revealed that 50% of exposed persons had improved neuropsychological performance at the second evaluation.

Alterations in cognitive and psychological functioning after organic solvent exposure.

Exposure to organic solvents has been linked repeatedly to alterations in both personality and cognitive functioning. To assess the nature and extent of these changes more thoroughly, 32 workers with a history of exposure to mixtures of organic solvents and 32 age- and education-matched blue-collar workers with no history of exposure were assessed with a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests. Although both groups were comparable on measures of general intelligence, significant differences were found in virtually all other cognitive domains tested (Learning and Memory, Visuospatial, Attention and Mental Flexibility, Psychomotor Speed).

PET and neurobehavioral evidence of tetrabromoethane encephalopathy.

Organic solvents have been implicated in a number of neuropsychiatric disturbances, though physical and neurological exams are frequently negative. An individual with acute tetrabromoethane exposure was evaluated with positron emission tomography (PET), topographical electroencephalogram (EEG), and neurobehavioral assessment. Results suggest widespread central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction consistent with a solvent-induced encephalopathy.

Total hydrolyzable glycerol in amniotic fluid, and its relationship to fetal lung maturity.

We describe an enzymic quantification of total hydrolyzable glycerol in amniotic fluid. An extract of amniotic fluid is hydrolyzed in mild alkali, without pretreatment with lipase. The resulting glycerol (some of which may be derived from trace amounts of triglyceride) is then enzymatically phosphorylated with adenosine 5'-[gamma 32P]triphosphate to yield glycerol [gamma 32P]phosphate.

An enzymic radiochemical method for determining phosphatidylglycerol in amniotic fluid.

We describe an enzymic quantification of phosphatidylglycerol in amniotic fluid. Phosphatidylglycerol is hydrolyzed in alkali and the resulting glycerol is then enzymatically phosphorylated with adenosine 5'-[gamma-32P]triphosphate to yield glycero[32P]phosphate. After removal of excess [gamma-32P]ATP by charcoal, the radioactivity of the glycerophosphate is measured in a liquid scintillation counter.

New method for determining lecithin and sphingomyelin in amniotic fluid.

We describe a new method of complete analysis for lecithin, lysolecithin, and sphingomyelin in amniotic fluid. The analysis is based on alkaline hydrolysis of the lecithins and the enzymic hydrolysis of sphingomyelin. The choline formed in each instance is enzymically phosphorylated with [gamma-32P]ATP to yield [gamma-32P]phosphorylcholine, which is isolated by anion-exchange chromatography and shown to be stoichiometrically related to lecithin, lysolecithin, and sphingomyelin.

Estimation of free triiodothyronine in serum: a new method and its clinical relevance.

We describe a method for estimating free triiodothyronine in serum by polyacrylamide gel filtration. Precise and easy to perform, it avoids the lengthy incubation required for equilibrium dialysis. Results of this procedure correlate well with those by the dialysis method over a wide range of thyroid states.

Free thyroxine in serum as estimated by polyacrylamide gel filtration.

In this new method for estimating free thyroxine concentration in serum by use of polyacrylamide gel filtration, the prolonged incubation that is characteristic of equilibrium dialysis is obviated. Although the values so obtained for the percentage of free thyroxine are severalfold higher than those obtained by dialysis, the results of the two procedures correlate well over a wide range of thyroid states. In addition, the precision of the polyacrylamide method compares well with that for equilibrium dialysis.

New approach to determination of total ketone bodies in serum.

We describe a one-step assay for total ketone bodies in serum. D-BETA-Hydroxybutyrate is enzymatically oxidized by NAD+ to acetoacetate. This thermodynamically unfavorable reaction is driven to completion by coupling it with the enzymatic reduction of pyruvate by NADH.

Metabolism of thyroxine-binding globulin in man. Abnormal rate of synthesis in inherited thyroxine-binding globulin deficiency and excess.

It has been previously suggested that inherited thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) abnormalities in man may be due to mutations at a single X-chromosome-linked locus controlling TBG synthesis. However, abnormalities in TBG degradation have not been excluded. The availability of purified human TBG and its successful labeling with radioiodide allowed us to examine such possibility.

Study of four new kindreds with inherited thyroxine-binding globulin abnormalities. Possible mutations of a single gene locus.

Five families with inherited thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) abnormalities were studied. On the basis of serum thyroxine (T(4))- binding capacity of TBG in affected males, three family types were identified: TBG deficiency, low TBG, and high TBG capacity. In all families evidence for X-linked inheritance was obtained and in one family all criteria establishing this mode of inheritance were met.