DNA-dependent-DNA-polymerase: Possible limiting influence on cell reproduction during viral leukemogenesis

Summary Evidence is presented that during viral leukemogenesis spleen cell nuclei show an increase in labelling index and mean grain count, that is not accompanied by any changes in the nuclear level of DNA-polymerase-. It is suggested that polymerase production remains under the control of the normal cell mechanisms and the virus may affect cell proliferation by altering the primer-template levels.Acknowledgment. This work was supported in part by NIH-NCI grant No. 1-PO₂-CA-10438 and by USERDA contract No. E (11-1) 3097, P.G.B. was also supported by contract NCI-CB-43899.     

A statistical study on the possible influence of soil and other geological conditions on cancer

Zusammenfassung Statistische Studien vonDiehl undTromp haben gezeigt, dass merkwürdige geographische und geologische Verteilungen des Krebses in Holland auftreten, die auf Grund von Altersunterschieden, Berufsunterschieden usw. nicht zu erklären sind. Sie scheinen teilweise auf Bodenunterschiede zurückzuführen sein.     

Prenatal stress and postnatal androgen: Effects on reproduction in female rats

Summary Heat-restraint stress applied to pregnant rats during the last trimester disrupts oestrus cycles in female offspring and alters adrenal, ovarian and uterine weights at autopsy. Sexual receptivity is left intact. Prenatal stress may operate by increasing exposure of fetal females to androgens in utero.     

Prenatal stress and postnatal androgen: effects on reproduction in female rats

Heat-resistant stress applied to pregnant rats during the last trimester disrupts oestrus cycles in female offspring and alters adrenal, ovarian and uterine weights at autopsy. Sexual receptivity is left intact. Prenatal stress may operate by increasing exposure of fetal females to androgens in utero.     

Switch from protective to adverse inflammation during influenza: viral determinants and hemostasis are caught as culprits

Influenza viruses cause acute respiratory infections, which are highly contagious and occur as seasonal epidemic and sporadic pandemic outbreaks. Innate immune response is activated shortly after infection with influenza A viruses (IAV), affording effective protection of the host. However, this response should be tightly regulated, as insufficient inflammation may result in virus escape from immunosurveillance. In contrast, excessive inflammation may result in bystander lung tissue damage, loss of respiratory capacity, and deterioration of the clinical outcome of IAV infections. In this review, we give a comprehensive overview of the innate immune response to IAV infection and summarize the most important findings on how the host can inappropriately respond to influenza.     

The possible influence of the components of the soil and the lithosphere on the development and growth of neoplasms

The author reviews the background of the soil-cancer relationship. The study then goes into geocarcinogenic diseases in relation to soil composition, looking first at general factors: soil concentrations of selenium, caesium-rubidium-potassium, trace elements; natural radioactivity risks; cancer risks in connection with recycled waste water. In its final part, the study examines geocarcinogenic diseases linked with soil composition covering gastric cancer, cancer of the esophagus, urinary, breast, and bronchial cancer, pleural mesotheliomae and bone cancer.     

The possible influence of the components of the soil and the lithosphere on the development and growth of neoplasms

Summary The author reviews the background of the soil-cancer relationship. The study then goes into geocarcinogenic diseases in relation to soil composition, looking first at general factors: soil concentrations of selenium, caesiumrubidium-potassium, trace elements; natural radioactivity risks; cancer risks in connection with recycled waste water. In its final part, the study examines geocarcinogenic diseases linked with soil composition covering gastric cancer, cancer of the esophagus, urinary, breast, and bronchial cancer, pleural mesotheliomae and bone cancer.     

Removal of acetylcholine during perfusion of liquor-spaces and its influence on outflow volume

Zusammenfassung Bei Perfusion der Liquorräume im Katzengehirn verschwindet Acetylcholin zu 90% aus dem Subarachnoidalraum, zu 60% aus den Ventrikeln. Eine fortlaufende Abnahme wurde im spinalen Subarachnoidalraum beobachtet. Acetylcholin erweiterte den Ast der Choroidarterie und vergrösserte stark das Abflussvolumen aus Ventrikeln und dem spinalen Subarachnoidalraum.

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This work was partially supported by a Grant to I.M.L. of the Research Committee of Bar Ilan University.     

Anandamide induces cell death independently of cannabinoid receptors or vanilloid receptor 1: possible involvement of lipid rafts

Anandamide triggers various cellular activities by binding to cannabinoid (CB1/CB2) receptors or vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1). However, the role of these receptors in anandamide-induced apoptosis remains largely unknown. Here, we show that SR141716A, a specific inhibitor of cannabinoid receptor (CB1-R), did not block anandamide-induced cell death in endogenously CB1-R expressing cells. In addition, CB1-R-lacking Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells underwent cell death after anandamide treatment. SR144528, a specific inhibitor of CB2-R also failed to block anandamide-induced cell death in HL-60 cells. Capsazepine, a specific antagonist of VR1 could not prevent anandamide-induced cell death in constitutively and endogenously VR1 expressing PC12 cells. Moreover, anandamide noticeably triggered cell death in VR1-lacking human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. In contrast, methyl-beta cyclodextrin (MCD), a membrane cholesterol depletor, completely blocked anandamide-induced cell death in a variety of cells, including PC12, C6, Neuro-2a, CHO, HEK, SMC, Jurkat and HL-60 cells. MCD also blocked anandamide-induced superoxide generation, phosphatidyl serine exposure and p38 MAPK/JNK activation. Thus, our data imply a novel role for of membrane lipid rafts in anandamide-induced cell death.     

The influence of partial synchronization of cell growth on the inhibition of L1210 cell viability by mouse thymus DNA

Résumé Nous avons trouvé que le cycle de la vie de la cellule L1210 règle les effets inhibitoires du DNA du thymus de la souris sur la viabilité cellulaire. Les cellules obtenues à la phase G₂ des cultures partiellement synchronisées étaient inhibitées presque 2 fois plus que les cellules obtenues des cultures asynchroniques. Le DNA n'avait guère d'effet toxique sur les cellules obtenues aux phases S et M. Les fluctuations dans la viabilité cellulaire n'étaient pas causées par des changements proportionnels dans l'absorption du DNA.

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This work was supported in part by grant No. GW-733 of the NSF and by grant No. CA-08763 of the USPHS.     

Aristotle and Galen on sex difference and reproduction: a new approach to an ancient rivalry

[I]n contrast to Aristotle's male oriented explanation of procreation the Galenic was 'feminist' inasmuch as both sexes were presented as contributing equally in conception and accordingly both had to experience pleasure... Anatomically, the two sexes were presented in Galenic accounts as complementary, the difference being that the man's genitalia were on the outside and the woman's on the inside. The clitoris was likened to the penis and the ovaries considered 'testicles' or 'stones' that produced seed. The male seed was, it is true, depicted by Galenists as superior in having 'spiritual' qualities lacking in the female, but Galen's reproductive schema was far more egalitarian than Aristotle's. (McLaren, 1985, p. 327)     

The effects of ethanol on embryonic actin: a possible role in teratogenesis

When the neural crest is cultured in the long or short term presence of ethanol, monoclonal anti-actin reveals the development of a disorganized actin cytoskeleton. In the long term, many cells fail to differentiate morphologically, whereas in the short term already differentiated cells rapidly alter their shape and their cell-to-cell contacts.