A comparative study of virulent and avirulent strains of Chromobacterium violaceum.

A clinical isolate and a soil isolate of Chromobacterium violaceum were compared to determine differences in virulence-related characteristics. Purified lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) from the virulent, clinical strain was more reactive than that from the avirulent soil strain as determined by the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay. There were no differences in hemolysin or cyanide production between the two strains.

Chlorpromazine inhibition of melatonin metabolism by normal and induced rat liver microsomes.

Hepatic metabolism of melatonin has been investigated. Melatonin was converted in vitro by rat liver microsomes to 6-hydroxymelatonin and to a lesser extent to N-acetylserotonin. Induction with phenobarbitone caused a fourfold increase in the formation of the minor product with little effect on 6-hydroxymelatonin production or melatonin turnover.

The activated patient: dogma, dream, or desideratum?

In this paper we critically review the active patient concept and place it in a broader social and historical context. We argue that as a reflection of core, Western European values, the active patient concept has not been adequately scrutinized. Very little research has been done that explicitly tests the claims that have been advanced on behalf of this ideal model of the clinician-patient relationship.

Influence of reduced concentration of L-glutamine on growth and viability of cells in monolayer, in spheroids, and in experimental tumours.

L-Glutamine is a requirement for many cells in tissue culture, an intermediate in many metabolic pathways, and an alternative substrate to glucose for energy metabolism. These properties suggest that glutamine concentration might be a determinant of cell viability in tumours, especially in regions that are deficient in other metabolites. We have therefore studied the effects of glutamine depletion on single cells in culture, on spheroids and on experimental tumours.

Effect of 6-hydroxydopamine on polymerization of tubulin. Protection by superoxide dismutase, catalase, or anaerobic conditions.

Microtubular protein (tubulin) isolated from porcine brain was subjected to selected oxidative stresses, including incubation with the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The functional capacity of the tubulin was determined on the basis of its ability to form microtubules as measured by alterations in the viscosity of the test mixtures, and confirmed by electron microscopy. 6-OHDA completely inhibited formation of microtubules at concentrations as low as 10 mM.

Monitoring health in Los Angeles County.

The University of California at Los Angeles School of Public Health, in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, compiled data and developed a standardized format that displayed a comparison of mortality and morbidity data between Los Angeles County, the State of California, and the United States in 1960, 1970, and 1980 for 16 health topic areas. Findings noted both favorable and unfavorable health trends, as well as substantial data collection problems. In 1980, compared with the United States, the Los Angeles County rates for tuberculosis, gonorrhea, syphilis, and hepatitis B were as much as 45 to 128 percent higher, the homicide rate was more than double, and, for the population aged 65 years and over, the cirrhosis of the liver rate was more than 56 percent higher.

Immune function in blood donors following short-term lymphocytapheresis.

Lymphocyte losses occur during repeat plateletpheresis and/or leukapheresis procedures and are potentially harmful to normal host immune function. This concern prompted us to study the effect of repeat lymphocytapheresis (lymphapheresis) on the immune system of healthy blood donors. Following a total of six lymphapheresis procedures over a 12-day period with removal of a mean of 41.

Efficacy of Influenza Inoculation: Intradermal versus Subcutaneous Route.

Intradermal injection of antigen can theoretically produce the same antibody response as 10-20% of the volume required for subcutaneous injection. This paper demonstrates equal efficacy of intradermal injection of Fluviral vaccine as compared to subcutaneous injection in an ambulatory geriatric population. There was no difference in adverse reactions between the two groups.

Specificity of insertion by the translocatable tetracycline-resistance element Tn10.

Genetic analysis of 131 independent transpositions of the tetracycline-resistance element Tn10 from a single site in phage P22 into the histidine operon of Salmonella typhimurium reveals that Tn10 insertions are not randomly distributed along this chromosomal target. The insertions occur in 22 different "clusters"; insertions within each cluster are very tightly linked in recombination tests. Tn10 insertions are not evenly distributed among the identified clusters.

Regional blood center automation: computer surveillance of donor blood processing.

Computer assistance in blood processing is necessary in large blood donor centers if errors are to be eliminated. Sample identification, recording of data, and use of the computer data file in final labeling are most important.

Response-dependent effects of morphine on reinforcing lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation.

The effects of morphine (10mg/kg) on intracranial self-stimulation were studied in three separate test situations, each requiring rats to perform different types of responses. Self-stimulation was depressed in a test of rate of bar-pressing, to a lesser extent in a test of rate of wall-pressing in which a wider range of movements were reinforced, but not in a shuttle-box, with brain stimulation continuously available on one side of box. This resonse dependency suggests that the depressive effect of morphine on bar-pressing for lateral hypothalamic stimulation reflects a performance deficit rather than an effect on the reinforcing value of the stimulation.

Stimulus variables which affect the concordance of visual and manipulative exploration in six-month-old infants.

In Experiment I, 26-week-old infants were repeatedly exposed to 1 object and then shown a second object that was different in color or that was different in shape and texture. During repeated exposures, infants looked at an manipulated the object less, but response latencies did not change. Looking and manipulation increased upon introduction of the novel object in the shape and texture change condition.

The estimation of sex on the basis of the talus and calcaneus.

The present report records and describes sexual dimorphism of the talus and calcaneus in American Blacks and Whites from the Terry Collection housed in the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. The greater amount of sexual dimorphism was observed in the talus, where 81 percent of the study sample could be accurately sexed.

Female responsiveness to erotic films and the "ideal" erotic film from a feminine perspective.

Subjects were 20 volunteers randomly selected from all female undergraduate students attending a local university, who were 21 years of age or older, and living off campus. The stimuli consisted of seven films, of approximately 5 minutes duration each, which depicted various types of human sexual behavior. Themes included "romantic" heterosexual behavior, primarily genital heterosexual behavior, a mild, and an explicit form of group-sex behavior, a mild and explicit form of heterosexual sadomasochistic behavior, and male homosexuality.

Naturally occurring immunosuppressive agents. II. The ability of cell-free liver extracts to modify the rejection of allogeneic skin grafts in the rabbit.

It has been demonstrated that cell-free extracts of pig, rabbit and human liver, but not of other parenchymal organs, contain a factor or factors capable of suppressing the proliferative responses of allogeneic and xenogeneic lymphoid cells stimulated with PHA, PWM, Con-A and allogeneic lymphocytes. Intravenous injection of the liver extract is capable of modifying significantly the skin allograft rejection reaction in normal adult outbred rabbits. Work is now in progress to isolate this factor and to determine its composition.