A possible chemical basis for the higher mutagenicity of marijuana smoke as compared to tobacco smoke.

The results of comparative anslyses of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in marijuana and tobacco smoke indicate a considerably higher content of potential carcinogens in the former. A model experiment involving delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol suggests that the pyrolysis products of cannabinoids are major contributors to the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons.     

Analyses chromatographiques des corticoïdes extraits du liquide amniotique d'une femme diabétique

Summary Paper chromatography was applied to corticoids extracted from amniotic fluid of a diabetic mother.Normal amniotic fluid contains no 17-hydroxycorticosterone and cortisone, as defined by paper chromatography.The extract of amniotic fluid of a diabetic mother, insulin treated from the 4^th month and giving birth to a child with a congenital anomaly of cervical vertebras (Klippel-Feil syndrome) and with typical Cushing aspect, has been chromatographed. It contains 25–50µg of 17-hydroxycorticosterone and cortisone. The protein content of this fluid was 0.7 g %.     

Regulation ofL-valine absorption by opioids interacting withμ-receptors in rabbit ileum

In intact tissue, [d-Ala²,MePhe⁴, Gly-ol⁵] enkephalin (10^–5 M;-ligand), diminsihed short-circuit current (I_sc) and increased water, Na⁺ and Cl^– net fluxes in vitro under open circuit conditions; it also inhibitedL-valine absorption andL-valine-dependent variations of short-circuit current (I_{sc, val}). Naloxone (10^–6 M) antagonized these effects. In the absence of the muscularis and myenteric plexus this enkephalin or morphine (-ligand) reduced I_sc and I_{sc, val}. These enkephalin effects occurred at different times. Different concentrations of enkephalin were tested for their effects on I_{sc, val}. [d-Ala²,d-Leu⁵] enkephalin (mainly a -ligand) significantly decreased I_sc but not I_{sc, val}. The reduction ofL-valine absorption does not depend on the effects on basal ion transport. Interaction of opioids with-receptors located in the submucosal plexus and/or in the epithelial cell accounts for this reduction. This enkephalin effect seems to be at least partially under the control of the myenteric plexus.     

DDT: The degradation of ring-labeled14C-DDT to14CO2 in the rat

Summary Ring fission ofp, p-DDT was studied in the rat following a single oral dose of 0.74 mg/kg (1.04 Ci) of uniformly ring-labeled¹⁴C-DDT. Expired air was passed through a solution of ethanolamine-ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (12) to trap¹⁴CO₂. A total of 1.6% of the radioactivity administered was recovered in the expired air collected continually for 10 days, indicating that while degradation of the phenyl moiety is not a major route pfp, p-DDT metabolism in the rat, it is equal to the urinary excretion. Nevertheless, these results represent the most radical change accomplished in vivo of a residual insecticide yet reported in mammals.Acknowledgment. We acknowledge the secretarial work of Ms.Elaine Smolko. This study was supported by NIH fellowship No. 1 F22 ES01723-01 and No. HL16264.     

Bildung von 17α-Hydroxy-Δ5-pregnenolon und 3β-Hydroxy-17-keto-Δ5-androsten (DHA) in Nebennieren- und Testes-Gewebe

Summary The transformation of ⁵-pregnenolone into 17-hydroxy-⁵-pregnenolone, and of the latter into DHA, is shown to occur in homogenates and fractions thereof, both of bovine adrenal and testicular tissue. The relative significance of these reactions for the biogenesis of androgens in normal and neoplastic tissue is discussed.

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173. Mitteilung über Steroide; 172. Mitteilung:P. Wieland, K. Heusler undA. Wettstein, Helv. chim. Acta43, 2066 (1960).     

Nouveaux résultats à propos de l'histologie nerveuse chez les Invertébrés

Summary Maillet's osmium-zinciodide technique gave interesting results in Arthropods by means of nerve histology. Tests demonstrated the importance of the chitinous cuticles as barrier to the particular staining properties of theMaillet's mixture. It would seem possible to compare this technique with theFalk's ⁸ fluorescence method.     

Effect ofd,l-glyceraldehyde on bacterial cells metabolism

Riassunto In aerobiosi lad-l-gliceraldeide a notevoli concentrazioni ha una lievissima azione inibente sulla ossidazione del glucosio e sulla incorporazione di leucina-C¹⁴. In condizioni di anaerobiosi invece lad-l-gliceraldeide in concentrazioni medie inibisce notevolmente sia la glicolisi che la incorporazione di leucina-C¹⁴.

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This work was carried out with the help of Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR).     

Experiments on mitochondrial swelling in vivo

Riassunto E stato provato l'effetto sui mitocondri in vivo dei seguenti composti che producono rigonfiamento dei mitocondri isolati in vitro:l-cistina,l-cisteina, glutatione, L-ascorbato,l-tiroxina,l-3, 5, 3-triiodotironina, fosfato e Ca⁺⁺. Solo il Ca⁺⁺ ha provocato un aumento di volume dei mitocondri nelle cellule provate, i mioblasti coltivati in vitro.     

High and low affinity transport ofL-arginine in rat brain synaptosomes

The uptake ofL-arginine into purified rat brain synaptosomes was investigated with respect to time and various concentrations ofL-[³H] arginine. Specific uptake was found to be linear with time for up to 5 min of incubation at 37°C. Electrolytes, including sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride, inhibited uptake of 3 ML-arginine, and the inhibitory effect increased with increased electrolyte concentration under constant osmolarity. It was found thatL-arginine was transported into synaptosomes by two uptake components — a high affinity component (3.5 M) and a low affinity component (100 M). These two components were similar to the Ly⁺ system because of their extreme sensitivity to inhibition byL-lysine andL-ornithine but were distinguishable from each other by kinetic analysis of the uptake data and by their relative sensitivity to inhibition by several amino acids.     

On the regulation of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme concentrations in mammalian cells

Zusammenfassung Fritz et al.³ haben in Nature New Biol. 230, 119 ein Modell publiziert, mit dem sie die Regulation der intrazellulären LDH-Isoenzym-Konzentration erklären. Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigt, dass die Resultate vonFritz et al. einfacher durch Heterogenität der Zellen des untersuchten Gewebes erklärt werden kann als durch ihr Modell mit non-random association der LDH-Untereinheiten und verschiedenen turnover-Raten der Isoenzyme in derselben Zelle.

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I thank Drs.Ursprung, D. Turner, D. Seybold andH. Eppenberger for helpful discussions. This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, Project No. 3.247.69.     

Properties of an auxin-oxidising system fromLactobacillus bulgaricus

Résumé Un traitement à l'acide-indolylacétique (IAA) a pour effet d'induire — chezLactobacillus bulgaricus — un système inactivant l'IAA. Le pH optimum de ce complexe enzymatique est de 6.0 et sa température optimale de réaction de 32 °C. Cette induction est inhibée par des analogues de l'IAA (acides-indolyl carboxylique et-indolyl propionique;dl-tryptophane). L'apparition de cette « IAA-oxydase » permet de rendre compte, dans une large mesure, des effets de l'IAA sur la croissance des microorganismes testés.     

Steroidal cyclic ketals: The preparation of steroidalΔ 4-3-ethyleneketals

Zusammenfassung Ersatz vonp-Toluolsulfosäure durch Oxal- oder, bevorzugt, Adipinsäure in Salmis Methode für die Synthese von ⁵-3-Äthylendioxysteroiden führt zu ⁴-3-Äthylendioxysteroiden.

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Paper XXIV; paper XXIII seeS. Bernstein andR. Littell, J. org. Chem.26, 3610 (1961).     

Der Mathematiker Abraham de Moivre (1667–1754)

Summary Before examining de Moivre's contributions to the science of mathematics, this article reviews the source materials, consisting of the printed works and the correspondence of de Moivre, and constructs his biography from them.The analytical part examines de Moivre's contributions and achievements in the study of equations, series, and the calculus of probability. De Moivre contributed to the continuing development from Viète to Abel and Galois of the theory of solving equations by means of constructing particular equations, the roots of which can be written in the form . He also discovered the reciprocal equations. In the course of this work de Moivre discovered an expression equivalent to (cos +i sin ) ⁿ =cos n +i sin n and, following Cotes, he succeeded in expressing the nth roots of unity in trigonometric form.In the theory of series, de Moivre developed a polynomial theorem encom-passing Newton's binomial theorem and, in particular, a theorem of recurrent series useful in the calculus of probability.The demands of the calculus of probability led de Moivre to an approximation for the binomial coefficients for large values of n. The interaction between de Moivre and James Stirling, particularly in regard to the asymptotic series for log (n!), is treated at length. This work supplied the foundation for de Moivre's limit theorem for the binomial distribution.The calculus of probability, which occupied him from 1708 onward, became in time ever more the center of de Moivre's inquiries. Proceeding from contemporary collections of gambling exercises, de Moivre, by introducing an explicit measure of probability for the so-called Laplace experiments, found the beginnings of a theory of probability. De Moivre expanded the classic application of probability calculus to games of chance by addressing himself to the problem of annuities and by adopting Halley's work with its conception of Probability of life. De Moivre was the first to publish a mathematically formulated law for the decrements of life derived from mortality tables.

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Abkürzungen a.a.O. am angegebenen Ort = Verweis auf das nach Verfassern alphabetisch geordnete Literaturverzeichnis. Eine vor a.a.O. in runden Klammern angegebene Zahl kennzeichnet die entsprechende Nummer der im Literaturverzeichnis aufgeführten Arbeiten eines Autors. - AC Ars conjectandi = Jakob Bernoulli (4) a.a.O. - AE Acta Eruditorum - a.S. alter Stil⁴⁷ - BM Bibliotheca Mathematica - DMV Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung - JL Journal Literaire - MA Miscellanea Analytica, London 1730 - n.S. neuer Stil⁴⁷ - PT Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London - r.F. rekurrente Folge - r.R. rekurrente Reihe - SMA Miscellaneis Analyticis Supplementum, London 1730 - v. veröffentlicht (nur im Briefverzeichnis verwendet) Prof. Dr. Kurt Vogel zum 80. Geburtstag Vorgelegt von J. E. Hofmann     

The infinite and infinitesimal quantities of du Bois-Reymond and their reception

The mixed fortunes of Paul du Bois-Reymond's infinitary calculus and ideal boundary between convergence and divergence are traced from 1870 to 1914. Cantor, Dedekind, Peano, Russell, Pringsheim and others objected. Stolz, Borel, Hardy and others accepted, at least in part, and built further. Hausdorff to some extent effected a compromise. The differing attitudes of the different participants toward infinitesimals and infinitely large quantities are described. In addition to shedding some light on the status of infinites, the whole story serves as a study of mathematical change, and shows that the proof-refutation process described by Lakatos is only one aspect of mathematical development. The story also sheds some light on the rise of 20^th century functional analysis, algebra and topology.Wer je den grossen Bau der Welt bedacht und fühlte nicht, wie Gottes hoher Geist noch über den Gesetzen wacht und kreist-wie blind erscheint, wer Schöpfertum verlacht! Wir kennen kaum den kleinsten Teil davon: Gesetz ist Wunder, Zahl ist Weltenton. Albrecht Haushofer, Moabit Sonnets, 1944, LXIX, Kosmos     

Identification of a major cytokinin in coconut milk

A major cytokinin found in coconut milk was isolted by using the tobacco callus growth-promoting assay as a guide during purification. The structure of the factor was determined to be 14-O-{3-O-[-d-galactopyranosyl-(12)--d--galactopyranosyl-(13)--L-arabinofuranosyl]-4-O-(-L-arabinofuranosyl)--d-galactopyranosyl}-trans-zeatin riboside [G₃A₂-ZR] by various NMR techniques, including heteronuclear multiple bond connectivity by 2D multiple quantum NMR (HMBC), as well as mass spectroscopy and sugar analysis. The optimum concentration of G₃A₂-ZR for cytokinin activity in the tobacco callus assay was estimated to be 5×10^–6 M, so that G₃A₂-ZR is one order of magnitude more potent than 1,3-diphenylurea and one order less potent than zeatin riboside. At least 20% of the cytokinin activity of coconut milk could be attributed to G₃A₂-ZR.     

(−)-Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol: Two novel in vitro metabolites

Zusammenfassung (–)-⁸-Tetrahydrocannabinol ist einer der Aktivstoffe in Marihuana (Cannabis sativa L.). Inkubation dieser Verbindung mit der überstehenden Zentrifugationsfraktion (9000g) aus männlicher Hundeleber ergab zwei Hauptmetaboliten, welche durch Massenspektrometrie und Kernresonanzspektroskopie identifiziert wurden. Den beiden Verbindungen werden die Strukturen des 1-Hydroxy-⁸-tetrahydrocannabinols und des 3-Hydroxy-⁸-tetrahydrocannabinols zugeordnet.     

Quantitative determination of amino acids in the 10−14 molar range by scanning microscope photometry

Zusammenfassung Die beschriebene Methode stellt eine Kombination der Mikrochromatographie und der Scanning-Mikroskop-Photometrie dar und ermöglicht eine quantitative Bestimmung von C¹⁴-markierten Dansyl-Aminosäuren in biologischen Material im Bereich von 10^–14 M.

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Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

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We would like to thank Prof. Dr.K. H. Gertz and Priv.-Doz. Dr.H. Stolte for helpful discussion.     

Ein neues Verfahren zur Herstellung von 19-Norsteroiden

Summary The new methods for the production of 19-norsteroids described involve the conversion of 5-halogen-6-hydroxy-steroids into the corresponding 5-halogen-6:19-ethers either with lead tetraacetate or by the hypoiodite reaction^8,10. The 6:19-oxygen bridge is then opened reductively either directly or after oxidation of the 6:19-ethers to lactones or preferably after introduction of a ^4,6-3-oxo grouping. Acylolytic cleavage of the ⁴-3-oxo-6:19-ethers followed by alkaline hydrolysis gives ^4,6-3-oxo-19-hydroxy-steroids. The 19-hydroxycompounds formed are easily converted into 19-norsteroids by known methods.

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Über Steroide, 189. (vorläufige) Mitteilung; 188. Mitt. vgl.J. Kalvoda, J. Schmidlin, G. Anner undA. Wettstein, Exper.18, 398 (1962).     

Behaviour of sodium-potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase in rat kidney tissue by folic acid

Zusammenfassung Männliche Wistarratten zeigten nach i.v. Gabe von Folsäure einen Aktivitätsabfall der Enzyme, die in den aktiven Ionentransport eingreifen: (Na⁺K⁺) ATPase (60% gegenüber Kontrollen), ICDH (56%) und MDH (48%) und a.Ptase (66%).

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With technical assistance of Mrs. I.Bieder and Miss M.Kirstein.

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With the support of the Schweiz. Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung No. 4809.     

Sequential appearance of α, β, and γ-crystallins in embryonic and metamorphicRana pipiens

Zusammenfassung Immunelektrophoretische und Immundiffusions-Studien zeigen, dass die Linse vonRana pipiens während der Entwicklung (Embryonal-Stadium 25 nachShumway) -und -kristalline Substanzen enthalten. Diese und frühere Ergebnisse¹⁰ sprechen dafür, dass beide Substanzen gleichzeitig auftreten, und beweisen, dass -kristalline Substanzen in diesem Entwicklungsstadium alleine im Linsenepithel vorkommen, während die Kristalline die am spätesten nachweisbaren linsenspezifischen Proteine (Taylor-Kollros-Metamorphosestadium VI) in der Linsenentwicklung vonR. pipiens sind.