[Hydroxyethyl starch--an interim report].

Since the beginning of this century, a few biopolymers have been used as basic materials for volume substitution. Aside from gelatin and dextran, modified starch (hydroxyethyl starch, HES) is currently the first-choice means. Due to special manufacturing processes, different hydroxyethyl starches are now available.

Occurrence of plasmids in black-pigmented gram-negative anaerobes.

Black-pigmented Gram-negative anaerobes are causative agents of pyogenic infections and are closely linked to various forms of periodontal diseases. Whereas many studies have shown a high incidence of plasmids in intestinal Bacteroides spp., there have been only a few reports of plasmid analyses in pigmented Gram-negative anaerobes.

In vivo utilization of N-(phosphonomethyl)-anilines and related substances by Pseudomonas spec. GS.

Utilization of various phosphonates as source for phosphorus by the glyphosate degrading strain Pseudomonas spec. GS was investigated. Metabolites of phosphonate degradation were characterized indicating the cleavage of the C-P-bound as primary step of breakdown.

[Glyphosate utilization by Pseudomonas spec. GS].

Pseudomonas spec. GS grown in the presence of 14C-labelled glyphosate metabolizes the herbicide to inorganic phosphate as well as in respect of utilization of the C-skeleton. Furthermore it was shown that the primary step of degradation is the breakdown of the C-P-bond, because sarcosine was found as a transient metabolite.

[Impulse cytophotometry studies of bone marrow and blood cells in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). 2. Lymphatic cells in blood].

The DNA-content of mononuclear cells of the peripheral blood of infantile and juvenile ALL patients was investigated using Pulse Cytophotometry. The fraction of cells in S- and G2 + M-phase is significantly increased in comparison with samples of healthy probands. The fraction of DNA-synthesising cells (S-phase) of both peripheral blood (mononuclear cells) and bone marrow of leukemia patients cannot be significantly distinguished by mathematical methods.

[Frequency distribution of DNA in blood and bone marrow cells of children with acute non-lymphatic leukemia using impulse cytophotometry].

1. As compared with the peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy subjects the cells in the mononuclear fraction of peripheral blood and in the bone marrow of children with ANLL show a significant higher S- and G2 + M-phase. 2.

[Impulse cytophotometric studies of bone marrow and blood cells in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). 1. Bone marrow cells].

1. Compared with the peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy children the cell fractions in the S- and G2 + M-phase are significantly higher in the bone-marrow of those children affected with ALL. This increase was proved in the SR- and MR-group irrespective of the cytomorphological subtype and cytochemical reaction.

Modulation of alpha 2-acute phase globulin serum concentration in turpentine- and immune complex-challenged rats by dexamethasone and adrenaline: evidence for a synergistic mode of action.

The acute phase response (APR) induced by immune complexes or turpentine and modulated by dexamethasone as well as adrenaline was investigated in intact, sham-adrenalectomized and adrenalectomized rats. The serum level of alpha 2-acute phase globulin was examined by means of electroimmunodiffusion, and the complex serum protein profile was studied using the crossed-IE. Dexamethasone administration increased the alpha 2-acute phase globulin concentration weakly over a wide dose range whereas rats dosed with adrenaline responded strongly over a small dose range.

Similarities of the substrate cleavage catalyzed by proline specific endopeptidase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV.

16 substrates of the types succinyl-alanyl-alanine-pX-anilide, and succinyl-alanyl-proline-pX anilide having different substituents in para-position of the aryl residue were synthesized and characterized. The influence of electronic as well as hydrophobic substituent constants, sigma and pi, on the hydrolysis of the substrates catalyzed by the enzyme Proline Specific Endopeptidase (PSE) has been investigated. In the Hansch approach, the catalytic constants lg kcat and lg (kcat/KM) of succinyl-alanyl-alanine-pX-anilides hydrolyzed by PSE correlate significantly with electronic substituent constants sigma, whereas no correlation in the case of succinyl-alanyl-proline-pX-anilides.

[Suppression of lymphocyte proliferation in the blood of children with infectious mononucleosis. Flow cytometry study].

The investigation of lymphatic cells from venous blood shows an increase of cells in the S-phase during the acute stage of infectious mononucleosis, which is connected with a decrease of G1-phase cells. G2 + M fraction will remain within the normal range. These changes will completely recede within the first four weeks of the disease.

Peptide hydrolase activities in seedlings and hormone-treated cotyledons of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo).

Enzymes hydrolyzing Gly-Ala-, Met-Met- and Pro-4-phenylazo-phenylamides, and N-benzoyl-L-arginine-4-nitroanilide have been identified in germinating seeds and cotyledons of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo). The enzyme activities per cotyledon increase markedly during the germination process, but the proportion of enhancement depends on the type of enzyme species. The increase in enzyme activities is due to de novo synthesis as shown by cycloheximide treatment and is influenced by phytohormones (cytokinins and abscissic acid).

Pulse-cytophotometric investigations on cells of inflamed tissues.

In rats the degree of mitosis of cells in the peritonitis exudate was determined after injecting a mixture of carrageenin/formalin. The same determination was performed in the skin tissue of the adjuvant-injected hind paw during adjuvant arthritis. No significant change of the mitosis rate could be found.

The mechanism of substrate activation of pyruvate decarboxylase: a first approach.

The sigmoidal shape of the curve for v[S], characteristic of pyruvate decarboxylase, indicates that the catalytic activity of this enzyme is regulated by the substrate. The enzyme, which is inactive in the absence of its substrate, is activated not only by 2-oxo acids but also by 2-oxo acid amides, which cannot act as a substrate of the enzyme. Whilst the dissociation constant of the enzyme-activator complex depends on the electrophilic nature of the carbonyl group, the catalytic activity reached at saturation concentrations of the activator species is independent of the structure of the activator molecules.