In situ glucose uptake and glucokinase activity of pancreatic islets in diabetic and obese rodents.

The present study evaluated the involvement of glucose transport and phosphorylation in glucose-stimulated insulin release from pancreatic islets. Using quantitative histochemical techniques, we investigated basal islet glucose content, islet glucose uptake in situ during acute extreme experimental hyperglycemia, and islet glucokinase activity in several animal models of diabetes and obesity. The basal islet glucose content in anaesthetized diabetic or obese rodents was either the same or higher than that in their relevant controls.

Spontaneous Osteonecrosis of the Knee.

Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee is a common cause of knee pain, principally seen in women over 60 years of age. This condition is distinguished from secondary conditions with known causes, such as corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis. Although originally described and most common in the medial femoral condyle, it can also occur in the tibial plateaus and on the lateral side of the femur.

Benzopurpurin and related compounds inhibit the binding of gp120 to galactosyl ceramide/sulfatide and infection of human immunodeficiency virus.

In an attempt to find compounds capable of inhibiting the binding and infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in neural cells, we studied the effect of benzopurpurin and related compounds on the binding of gp120 to galactosyl ceramide (GalCer) and sulfatide. In this report, we show that the binding of gp120 to GalCer and sulfatide is inhibited by benzopurpurin and related compounds. These compounds also inhibit the binding and entry of HIV-1 to neural cell line, SK-N-MC.

A cohort study of melanoma in patients with dysplastic nevi.

A historical cohort of 153 patients with dysplastic nevi was studied for the development of melanoma. Each subject had a minimum follow-up of 5 years, with an average study follow-up of 94 months. Eleven new melanomas developed in 11 patients between 11 and 143 months (average 61 months) into the study period.

Cytotoxicity of a novel lipid-like bacterial product.

A highly cytotoxic, lipid-like compound was isolated from a Serratia marcescens strain currently under identification. We have named the compound DCX for its direct cytotoxic activity on various cell types in culture. DCX was purified by preparative thin layer chromatography from chloroform: methanol = 4:1 extracts of whole bacteria, and is chromatographically homogeneous.

Genetic and molecular aspects of demyelination.

Three groups of investigators came together to learn from each other in a workshop: neurologists and neuropathologists interested in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other demyelinative diseases of man and similar autoimmune and virus-induced model diseases in animals; immunologists and virologists concerned with the genetic controls found to play a role in these diseases; and geneticists and molecular biologists investigating specific gene products and their role in recognition function and cell interactions in model immunological systems.