Salicylic Acid in Rice (Biosynthesis, Conjugation, and Possible Role).

Salicylic acid (SA) is a natural inducer of disease resistance in some dicotyledonous plants. Rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.) had the highest levels of SA among all plants tested for SA content (between 0.

Linear dose-response relationship and no inverse dose-rate effect observed for low X-ray dose-induced mitotic recombination in Drosophila melanogaster.

Mitotic recombination has emerged lately as a surprisingly common cause of recessive functional gene loss in mammalian cells and has been implicated in tumour suppressor gene loss in human neoplasms. In an assay, primarily monitoring mitotic recombination in Drosophila melanogaster, the ability of low dose acute- and chronic X-ray irradiation to induce clonal expression of recessive mutations of formally heterozygous loci was investigated. Mosaic spots of recessive wing-hair misshape mutations (mwh and flr) and of hair-into-bristles transforming mutation (zw3tic) were enhanced by a factor of two over control level following irradiation of heterozygous larvae to doses as low as 0.

Cytotoxicity of ether phospholipid BM 41.440 on neuroblastoma cells.

The thioether lysophospholipid BM 41.440 proved to be toxic against cells of two neuroblastoma cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The ID50 estimated in three different in vitro test systems declined from about 10 micrograms/ml after 24 h to 1 microgram/ml after a 1-week treatment of the neuroblastoma cells.

Value of a score in the electromanometrical diagnosis of neuronal intestinal dysplasia.

Anorectal manometry was performed in a series of 8 children where NID was histochemically confirmed or suspected. The results were transferred to a electromanometric score theoretically worked out previously. Clinical symptoms as well as histological and manometric findings have been compared concerning the meaningfulness of the electromanometric score in the diagnosis of NID.

Inhibition of the membrane localization of p21 ras proteins by lovastatin in tumor cells possessing a mutated N-ras gene.

Mutated ras genes are found in a variety of human tumors. For biological activity the gene product p21 ras needs to be bound to the cell membrane by a farnesyl residue. Treatment of tumor cells with lovastatin reduces the availability of farnesyl pyrophosphate for the modification of the ras proteins.

[Resectability of malignant soft tissue tumors. Retrospective analysis of patients in the CWS 86 study].

A retrospective analysis of patients in the CWS-86 study with regard to the primary resectability of malignant soft tissue tumours was carried out. The aim was to find out how the topographical region, tumour size, histology and experience of the surgeon determined whether the tumour was primarily resectable. The survival rate, local relapse and metastatic rate were the end points of assessment.

Initiator-dependent transcription in vitro by a wheat germ chromatin extract.

The development of plant in vitro transcription systems transcribing faithfully and efficiently from a broad range of plant nuclear promoters has remained a challenge. We examined the nucleotide sequence requirements for faithful and efficient transcription in a wheat germ chromatin extract (Yamazaki et al., Plant Mol Biol Rep 8: 114-123).

Effect of Jasmonic Acid on the Interaction of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) with the Powdery Mildew Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei.

Jasmonic acid or its methyl ester induce de novo synthesis of a number of proteins of mostly unknown function in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). In a topical spray application, 30 [mu]g of jasmonic acid per plant effectively protected barley against subsequent infection by Erysiphe graminis f.

Post-transcriptional transfer of gamma-thio affinity label to RNA in isolated parsley nuclei.

As an alternative to soluble plant transcription systems, we examined the reinitiation capacity of isolated parsley nuclei. Nuclear chalcone synthase in vitro transcripts were affinity-labelled with gamma-thio-ATP, gamma-thio-GTP or beta-thio-ATP, and purified by chromatography on a mercury Sepharose affinity column. Primer extension and subsequent PCR amplification of these in vitro transcripts revealed gamma-thio-ATP-dependent, but no beta-thio-ATP-dependent, signals, although affinity labelling of overall in vitro transcripts still occurred with beta-thio-ATP.

Pancreaticobiliary long common channel syndrome and congenital anomalous dilatation of the choledochal duct--study of 46 patients.

Retrospectively evaluated clinical, radiological and anatomical findings of 46 patients with tubular or cystic dilated choledochal ducts indicate the following conclusion: Pathological stricture of the sphincter of Oddi system, including a hypertrophic and spastic portion of the sphincter choledochus inferior, called "narrow segment", raises the pressure in the choledochal duct to pathological levels and consequently causes a dilatation of the duct during a specific embryonic phase. Such a pathological sphincter of Oddi system develops if a long common channel persists as the result of a disturbance in the development of the distal choledochal and pancreatic duct. This statement contradicts the classical conception which assumes that a reflux of pancreatic juice into the choledochal duct causes ductal dilatation.

[Extrahepatic bile duct atresia. Comparison of surgical and non-surgical therapy].

In recent years hepatoportoenterostomy according to Kasai undoubtedly was the only successful therapy for extrahepatic biliary atresia. Since liver-transplantation becomes more successful than previously, the question arises if the Kasai procedure is still justified. From this point of view a prospective study was started based on the following findings in 15 EHBA-children after hepatoportoenterostomy compared to those in 15 patients without the Kasai procedure: the survival rate at the end of two years of life; the development of ascites until the end of the first year of life; the weight and length percentiles at the end of the first year of life; and the activity of serum cholinesterase.

Studies to be conducted before projected operations from the pediatric surgeon's point of view.

To rationally discuss the "need for preoperative laboratory investigations prior to performing an operation that can be pre-planned", two questions must be considered: 1. What kind of complications were encountered during or after 25,872 anesthesias performed in a 20-year period? 2. What kind of diseases were recognized only postoperatively which apparently could not be diagnosed preoperatively via case history and clinical examination? The results of these analyses are tabulated and assessed.

[Extrahepatic bile duct atresia--an analytic assessment of prognostic factors. Contribution to a rational therapeutic approach].

"Extrahepatic bile duct atresias" must be classified into 4 histopathological groups according to their characteristic numerical, metrical and morphological alterations of interlobular bile ducts. A prospective study based on an observation period of 5 and more years included 43 patients with "extrahepatic biliary atresia". It showed that prognosis generally depends on 3 factors: the duration of cholestasis, the prehilar structure of the bile ducts, and the histopathologically defined features of the interlobular bile ducts.

[Necrotizing enterocolitis from the viewpoint of the pediatric surgeon--therapeutic considerations].

In order to define diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines from a paediatric surgical point of view, clinical, laboratory chemical and intraoperative findings from 52 children with necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) were evaluated and correlated with fatality. This analysis produced the following results: 1. The fatality rate for patients with "proven" NEC (n = 28) was 3 = 9%.

Chlorinated hydrocarbons in fat tissue: analyses of residues in healthy children, tumor patients, and malformed children.

The content of chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHC) was determined by means of capillary column gas chromatography in samples of fat tissue from 183 healthy children, 46 children with malignant tumors and 33 children with benign tumors or congenital malformations. The highest concentrations were found for total polychlorobiphenyls (PCB) (mean = 1.614 ppm), followed by the DDT group (mean = 0.

cDNA cloning, in vitro transcription and partial sequence analysis of mRNAs from winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with induced resistance to Erysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici.

Under normal growth conditions wheat shows 100% non-host resistance to the barley powdery mildew Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei (Egh.

A cell-cycle stage-related chromosomal X-ray hypersensitivity in larval neuroblasts of Drosophila mei-9 and mei-41 mutants suggesting defective DNA double-strand break repair.

We have examined the chromosomal X-ray hypersensitivity in relation to the cell cycle in larval neuroblasts of the mutagen-sensitive and excision repair-defective mutant mei-9 and of the mutagen-sensitive and post-replication repair-defective mutant mei-41 of Drosophila melanogaster. When compared to wild-type cells, cells bearing the mei-9L1 allele produced unusually high levels in particular of chromatid deletions and to a lesser extent also of isochromatid deletions, but virtually no exchange aberrations. The chromosomal hypersensitivity is apparent at M1 when cells are irradiated in S or G2 but not when irradiated in G1.

Iliotibial band tightness.

Iliotibial band (ITB) tightness is clinically present in many musculoskeletal patients. Previous generations and recent third world clinicians have seen ITB and many other lower extremity changes in polio populations. More recently, the ITB has been the popularized culprit of a "friction syndrome" in runners.

Efficacy of hepatobiliary scintigraphy in the differential diagnosis of neonatal cholestasis and postoperative follow-up after hepatoporto-digestive anastomosis.

In the differential diagnosis of unclear neonatal and infant cholestasis the formerly applied 131-I-Rose Bengal scintigraphy has been widely abandoned in favour of hepatobiliary scintigraphy with 99mTc-labelled IDA derivatives excreted with the bile. Our results in 32 jaundiced children ranging from ages 2 weeks to 32 weeks show a high sensitivity of scintigraphy in proving an occlusion in 92% with a clearly lower specificity of 79%, if based on the demonstration of marked bile in the intestine as the only criterion. Diagnostic accuracy, however, can be further increased in additional criteria such as hepatocellular clearance and patient age are considered.

Time-space distribution of extrahepatic biliary atresia in The Netherlands and West Germany.

Extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) is an infrequent disease confined to early infancy. Its aetiology is not clear, but an infectious agent has been implicated. Demonstration of a time-space clustering would support this hypothesis.

Discordant findings in extrahepatic bile duct atresia in 6 sets of twins.

Discordant findings in biliary atresia in 6 sets of twins are discussed regarding the current concepts in aetiology of biliary atresia. Although a genetic, inflammatory, immunological or toxic origin cannot be excluded, peri- or even postnatal ischaemia seems more likely.

[Accomplishments of tumor surgery in soft tissue sarcoma in childhood].

Malignant soft tissue tumors, a group of neoplasms with various biological characteristics, have been of oncologic interest only for the last 20 years. More than half of all soft tissue sarcomas are Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS). Extensive comparative therapy studies have yielded both improved results and a lot of biological data on RMS and other malignant soft tissue tumors.

Detection of spontaneous echocardiographic contrast within the left atrium by transesophageal echocardiography: spontaneous echocardiographic contrast.

Transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 314 patients over a period of 24 months using a 3.5 MHz phased-array system fitted to the distal end of a conventional 12 mm endoscope. In 12 patients (2.

Right ventricular volume determination in isolated human hearts.

For right ventricular volume determination a new method was developed that took into account right ventricular imaging by apical two-dimensional echocardiography in the four- and two-chamber views. Right ventricular volume was calculated by subtraction of the partial volume of the left ventricle and interventricular septum from the total heart volume of the right and left ventricles including the interventricular septum. Accuracy of the subtraction method was evaluated in isolated human hearts by two-dimensional echocardiography and radiography.