Microinjection of the ras oncogene protein into nonestablished rat embryo fibroblasts.

Early (twice) and late (eighth) passage nonestablished rat embryo fibroblasts exhibit dramatically different responses to microinjection of the oncogenic form (T24) of the ras protein. Late passage cells respond like established cultures in that they both synthesize DNA and divide in response to the oncogenic protein. However, early passage cells are shown to be much less responsive to the introduction of this protein in terms of the threshold concentration required to elicit a mitogenic response.

Importance of models for recovery from alcoholism: another view.

Models of alcoholism abound providing unicausal explanations of this complex problem and leading to narrow perspectives on treatment of alcoholics. All models contain elements of truth and there is a trend toward considering the role of various factors in alcoholism. Some effort has been made to incorporate more than one model into a treatment approach.

An outbreak of lead poisoning in dogs.

An outbreak of lead toxicosis in working dogs on a sheep farm is described. The affected dogs exhibited neurological signs which appeared to be initiated by strenuous physical activity. Radiological examination and estimation of urinary delta aminolevulinic acid (U-ALA) was not found to be useful for clinical diagnosis but blood lead estimation was helpful in detecting and confirming dogs that were exposed to lead.

TSCORE: a T-score profile pattern analysis program.

A program has been written to determine T-score profile patterns, thus allowing the immediate assessment of morphological similarities and differences between taxa. For a given data set, the program will produce T-scores, T-score correlation coefficients and associated significance statistics, weighted means and standard deviations for all input variables, and a graphic display of the T-score profile pattern(s). This program should prove to be of great interest to physical anthropologists, zoologists and other researchers in the life sciences with an interest in taxonomy, systematics and phylogeny.

Transcriptional organization within an Escherichia coli cell division gene cluster: direction of transcription of the cell separation gene envA.

A cluster of at least 14 genes, each concerned with some aspect of cell envelope growth, morphogenesis, or function, is located at 2 min on the genetic map of Escherichia coli. We located the envA cell division gene and its promoter within the cluster and determined the direction of transcription of the gene by constructing fusions between its promoter and the galK coding sequence. In addition, we identified the promoter of a possible new gene lying between envA and the secA gene.

DNA sequence and transcriptional organization of essential cell division genes ftsQ and ftsA of Escherichia coli: evidence for overlapping transcriptional units.

The DNA sequence of a cloned segment of the Escherichia coli chromosome containing ftsQ, ftsA, and part of the ftsZ gene was determined and interpreted for genetic complementation and promoter fusion data for the region. The contiguous genes ftsQ, ftsA, and ftsZ were transcribed in the same direction (clockwise on the genetic map) and each had at least one associated promoter which allowed it to be transcribed independently of neighboring genes. ftsA and ftsZ possessed promoters within the coding sequences of the juxtaposed upstream structural genes, and a promoter element for ftsA was surrounded by a region of twofold symmetry which corresponded closely to a symmetrical element in the region of a putative ftsZ promoter.

In vitro and in vivo neutralizing activity of human colostrum and milk against purified toxins A and B of Clostridium difficile.

The neutralizing activity (NA) of supernates of colostral samples collected postpartum from 55 women and tested against a 50% cytopathic dose of purified toxins A and B of Clostridium difficile was evaluated in Y1 adrenal cells. Thirty-one (56%) of the samples had NA against one or both toxins. Samples of breast milk were collected postpartum from five women-three had colostral NA and two did not.

Overlapping functional units in a cell division gene cluster in Escherichia coli.

The ftsZ ( sulB ) coding sequence is preceded by two promoters, at least one of which lies within the coding sequence of the neighboring gene, ftsA . This region of the ftsA gene is required for full biological activity of ftsZ .

Neuropathological lesions in experimental lead toxicosis of dogs.

Light microscopical examinations were carried out on the central and peripheral nervous systems of 9 dogs maintained on a high-fat-low-calcium diet and dosed orally with a mixture of lead chloride, lead bromide and lead sulphate. Microscopic lesions were present in 7 (78 per cent) of the lead-treated dogs. Cerebrocortical lesions comprising spongiosis, vascular hypertrophy and gliosis predominated.

Defining discipline roles in consultation psychiatry: the multidisciplinary team approach to psychosocial oncology.

Multiple mental health professions are often involved in the management of cancer patients. Psychiatry, psychology, social work, and nursing have all developed entrees to the medical setting that lead to clinical involvement of one or more of these professions at any given time. Much confusion remains about the specific contribution of these different mental health professions, and lack of role definition makes it difficult for programs to logically plan for mental health services or for services already in place to organize themselves in a collaborative manner.

Rapid death of infant rhesus monkeys injected with Clostridium difficile toxins A and B: physiologic and pathologic basis.

Clostridium botulinum can colonize and produce botulinal toxin in the human infant intestine, which the toxin then permeates to cause generalized flaccid paralysis, and occasionally, sudden death. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that toxins produced by other intestinal clostridia, e.g.

Blood lead and urinary delta aminolevolonic acid (U-ALA) in the diagnosis of lead toxicosis of dogs.

A comparative evaluation of the usefulness of blood lead and urinary delta aminolevolonic acid estimations in the diagnosis of canine lead poisoning was made in 2 dogs which were given increasing quantities of lead by mouth for extended periods. In both lead administered dogs the blood lead levels remained elevated throughout the experimental period of 18 weeks. This contrasted with the results of U-ALA determinations in which elevated levels were detected only infrequently and at erratic intervals lacking relationship to lead exposure.

Platelet-derived growth factor selectively decreases prolactin production in pituitary cells in culture.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) markedly reduced the production of PRL without affecting GH production in GH4C1 cells. The ED50 was 6 ng/ml (2 X 10(-10) M), and maximum inhibition occurred at 50 ng/ml (1.5 X 10(-9) M) PDGF.

Acid fast inclusions in tissues of dogs dosed with lead.

Liver, kidney and bone from dogs with experimental lead toxicosis were examined to study the frequency of occurrence of acid fast inclusions and the results were correlated with the lead content of these tissues. Light and electron microscopic studies revealed that bone and kidney had characteristic acid fast lead inclusions in 95 and 68 per cent of cases, respectively. Liver, although it had a high lead content, did not often show inclusions.