Su un criterio di valutazione dell'attività di un farmaco antitubercolare nella cavia infettata con carica massiva

Summary It is reported that the data of index of tuberculous process obtained after 70 days of massive infection (with 1 mg bacilli) and immediately treated with antitubercular drug, are similar to the data observed in the guinea pig infected with a low dosage of bacilli and not treated with any antitubercular drug. The authors therefore suggest the use of this comparision for a test of the antitubercular activity of a drug.     

Le lettere di Eugenio Beltrami nella corrispondenza di Ernesto Cesàro

Summary We publish seventeen letters by Eugenio Beltrami to Ernesto Cesàro, which are dated from 1883 until 1900. They are about academic and scientific questions. Beltrami communicated many of Cesàro's memoirs to the Accademia dei Lincei or the Istituto Lombarde di Scienze e Lettere, and often gave him suggestions for his books and papers in these letters. When Cesàro looked for a professorship in the United States, Beltrami gave him information.In some letters Beltrami discussed questions on geometry and mathematical physics. In particular, the third letter (dated December 1st, 1888) is devoted to the mechanical interpretation of Maxwell's equations. Here, Beltrami shows a new proof of the conditions when six given functions are the components of an elastic deformation.

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Memoria presentata da U. Bottazzini     

Istamina « condizionatore positivo » dell'azione purgativa di alcuni drastici

Summary By the aid of a synthetic antihistaminic drug (dimethylamino-ethyl-benzylaniline) the Authors succeeded in demonstrating that the purgative action of various drastic agents(Oleum Ricini, Elaterium, Colocynthis, Globularia Alypum) is, at least partially, to be accounted to a release of histamine.Antihistaminic drugs are indeed able, in quantities by themselves ineffective on the alimentary canal, to delay or even to abolish the purgative action of very large doses of the examined drastics.     

Identification of 3α, 17α, 21-trihydroxy-5α-pregnane (allotetrahydro-17α-hydroxy-cortexone) and 3α,21-dihydroxy-5α-pregnane (allo-tetrahydro-cortexone) in human urine

Résumé Le 3, 17, 21-trihydroxy 5-pregnane (allo-tétrahydro-17-hydroxy-cortexone) et le 3,21-dihydroxy 5-prégane (allo-tétrahydro-cortexone) ont été identifiés dans l'urine humaine. Ces composés avaient les mêmes migrations chromatographiques avant ou après acétylation ou oxydation que les respectifs stéroïdes de synthèse.     

Il Problema delle Tangenti nella „Géométrie“ di Descartes

Presentato da A. P. Youschkewitch     

α- andβ-Guttiferins

Zusammenfassung Die Isolierung, Charakterisierung und antibiotischen Eigenschaften von-Guttiferin (I), C₃₃H₃₈O₈ (Smp. 113–115°), aus den Samenhülsen und vom nahe verwandten-Guttiferin (II), C₂₉H₃₆O₆ oder C_33–34H_38–40O₈ (Smp. 86–91°) (möglicherweise identisch mit-Gambogasäure), aus Gummigutt, dem harzigen Sekret vonGarcinia morella, wurden beschrieben und ihre Verwandtschaft zu Morellin und Moreollin, den beiden bekannten Pigmenten der Samenhülsen, dargelegt. Für I wurde eine Partialstruktur vorgeschlagen. Die Bildung derselben komplexen bromhaltigen Säure vom Smp. 199 bis 200° unter der Einwirkung von Natriumhypobromit auf I und II spricht ferner für deren nahe strukturelle Verwandtschaft.     

α-Actinin structure and regulation

Alpha-actinin is a cytoskeletal actin-binding protein and a member of the spectrin superfamily, which comprises spectrin, dystrophin and their homologues and isoforms. It forms an anti-parallel rod-shaped dimer with one actin-binding domain at each end of the rod and bundles actin filaments in multiple cell-type and cytoskeleton frameworks. In non-muscle cells, alpha-actinin is found along the actin filaments and in adhesion sites. In striated, cardiac and smooth muscle cells, it is localized at the Z-disk and analogous dense bodies, where it forms a lattice-like structure and stabilizes the muscle contractile apparatus. Besides binding to actin filaments alpha-actinin associates with a number of cytoskeletal and signaling molecules, cytoplasmic domains of transmembrane receptors and ion channels, rendering it important structural and regulatory roles in cytoskeleton organization and muscle contraction. This review reports on the current knowledge on structure and regulation of alpha-actinin.     

Mesure du chimiotropisme de poissons grégaires avec un nouveau dispositif sensible

Zusammenfassung Chemotaktische Messungen an Bitterlingen (Rhodeus amarus B.), die dem Einfluss verschiedener Mengen von Fischhaut und von ClH ausgesetzt waren, werden mit Angabe der Messgenauigkeit beschrieben.     

Scattering ofα-particles from nuclei

Zusammenfassung Nach einem Überblick über dieRutherfordsche Theorie der Ablenkung von -Teilchen im elektrostatischen Feld des Atomkernes wird auf kürzliche Streuexperimente hingewiesen. Die Streuung von -Teilchen an schweren Kernen ist einem optischen Beugungsphänomen ähnlich. Resonanzen wie sie in der Streuung an leichten Kernen beobachtet werden, sind akustischen Resonanzen vergleichbar.     

Extrahepatic 7α-hydroxylation of dehydroepiandrosterone

Zusammenfassung In verschiedenen Rattenorganen (Lunge, Niere, Milz, Blut, Muskelgewebe) konnte ein System nachgewiesen werden, das imstande ist,in vitro Dehydroepiandrosteron an der 7-Stellung zu hydroxylieren. Dies Ergebnis weist auf die allgemein mögliche extrahepatale und extraadrenale Steroidhydroxylation hin.     

Activation ofα-carbons of amides

Summary The reactions of Vilsmeir complexes of amides/imides with electrophiles afford the corresponding -substituted products in good yield.     

Age distribution of circulatingα-interferon

Summary A sensitive radioimmunoassay showed that circulating -interferon in the plasma of healthy individuals was low in children and reached the highest level in the young adult, then declined gradually with age. Circulating -interferon was 0.201±0.059 ng/ml in males (n=19) and 0.184±0.076 ng/ml in females (n=14) at ages 30–39 years old. It was noted that circulating -interferon was maintained up to a certain level even in elderly individuals.     

Conversion of 17α-hydroxypregnenolone to cortisol

Zusammenfassung Nebennierenschnitte von Ratten, Meerschweinchen und Menschen synthetisierten 17-Hydroxyprogesteron, 11-Deoxycortisol und Cortisol aus 17-Hydroxypregnenolon. Diese Verbindung, als Ausgangsprodukt für die Cortisolsynthese, ist ebenso wirksam wie pregnenolon. Die Umwandlung von 17-Hydroxypregnenolon in Dehydroepiandrosteron verläuft weniger vollkommen als zu 17-Hydroxycorticoiden.     

La posizione occupata dalla fosforilcolina,citidindifosfatocolina, α-glicerilfosforilcolina e da altri corpi analoghi nel ciclo metabolico di alcuni fosfatidi encefalici

Summary The rate of turnover of individual P-compounds, related to the metabolic cycle of some phosphatides, was followedin vivo in the brain of rats a few days old after³²P administration. The phosphorylcholine is the precursor of the cytidinediphosphatecholine; this in turn may be the precursor of lecithin. Thel--glyceryl-phosphorylcholine represents the degredation product of lecithin. The specific activity curves of the phosphorylethanolamine and phosphorylse rine are similar to that of the phosphorylcholine; likewise thel--glycerylphos-phorylethanolamine is similar to the activity curve of thel--glycerylphosphorylcholine.     

Preferences of transmembrane helices for cooperative amplification of Gαs and Gαq signaling of the thyrotropin receptor

The majority of constitutively activating mutations (CAMs) of the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor display a partially activated receptor. Thus, full receptor activation requires a multiplex activation process. To define impacts of different transmembrane helices (TMHs) on cooperative signal transduction, we combined single CAMs in particular TMHs to double mutations and measured second messenger accumulation of the G_αs and the G_αq pathway. We observed a synergistic increase for basal activity of the G_αs pathway, for all characterized double mutants except for two combinations. Each double mutation, containing CAMs in TMH2, 6 and 7 showed the highest constitutive activities, suggesting that these helices contribute most to G_αs-mediated signaling. No single CAM revealed constitutive activity for the G_αq pathway. The double mutations with CAMs from TMH1, 2, 3 and 6 also exhibited increase for basal G_αq signaling. Our results suggest that TMH2, 6, 7 show selective preferences towards G_αs signaling, and TMH1, 2, 3, 6 for G_αq signaling.     

Cristallisation de l'α-amylase de pancréas

Summary In a series of 32 urinary calculi, examined with X-rays and microscope, 2 were found to consist of hydroxylapatite, 4 of whewellite, 4 of struvite and 15 of uric acid. 4 stones contained two minerals: apatite + brushite, apatite + whewellite and both hydrates of Ca-oxalate.     

α-Thioglycerol sensitive excitatory oxytocin receptors in fowl rectum

Summary The selective antagonism of the excitatory responses of oxytocin by -thioglycerol and its potentiation by Mg⁺⁺ indicate the presence of specific oxytocin receptors in fowl rectum. In addition, the sensitivity of the rectum to very small doses of oxytocin suggests a possible facilitatory role of neurohypophyseal hormones in oviposition.Acknowledgment. The authors wish to express their sincere thanks to Dr M.S. Sastry, Head of the Division and Dr C.M. Singh, Director of the Institute for providing the facilities and Mr Dev Singh for his technical assistance.