Metabolic implications in the elevation of serum activity of intestinal alkaline phosphatase in chronic renal failure

The activity of intestinal isoenzyme of serum alkaline phosphatase was evaluated in 21 non-dialyzed patients with advanced renal failure and in 52 patients on regular hemodialysis. In patients without hepatopathy, a significant inverse correlation was found between the enzyme activity and serum calcium levels. Hepatopathy was the most significant variable influencing the enzyme activity in patients on dialysis. Secondary hyperparathyroidism and a decreased rate in enzyme elimination should be assessed for the above-normal activities of intestinal ALP in serum in chronic renal failure.     

A method of measuring the intensity of electron spin resonance absorption

Riassunto Si descrive un metodo che permette di misurare l'intensità di assorbimento ESR quando il campione standard e il campione su cui si esperimenta sono contemporamente presenti dentro la cavità risonante. Il campione standard viene situato in modo tale da rendere possibile l'eliminazione dell'assorbimento a cui esso da luogo, rotando il magnete attorno all'asse della cavità.     

Synthetic peptides related to eledoisin (Part I)

Zusammenfassung Die Eigenschaften einer ersten Serie von synthetischen Peptiden, die mit Eledoisin strukturell verwandt sind, wurden beschrieben.     

Spontaneous contractions and bioelectric activity after differentiation in culture of presumptive neuromuscular tissues of the early frog embryo

Zusammenfassung Gewebekulturen vonFroschneurula mit zugehörigen Muskelprimordien differenzieren in vitro und zeigen charakteristische Serien von Muskelkontraktionen. Elektrophysiologisch wurde nachgewiesen, dass die Muskelzuckungen durch endogene, komplexe, rhythmische Nervenaktivität hervorgerufen werden können.

---

---

Supported in part by award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (USA). Thanks are due to Dr.Margaret R. Murray and to the staff of her tissue culture laboratory for their hospitality and assistance during this period.

---

Supported in part by grants NB-03814 and NB-K3-2904 from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness.     

Synthesis of a polypeptide with ACTH-like structure

Zusammenfassung Es wird über die Synthese eines Icosapeptides, das aus den zwanzig ersten Aminosäuren des N-Endes eines ACTH Moleküls aufgebaut ist, berichtet. Das synthetische Produkt besitzt eine schwache ACTH-Wirkung.     

Aufnahme von thymidin durch mastocytomzellenin vitro unter der einwirkung von podophyllumstoffen

Summary SP-G and SP-I, two podophyllum preparations with spindle poison activity, were tested for their effect on³H-thymidine incorporation into P-815 mastocytoma cellsin vitro. Concentrations which inhibited cell multiplication completely did not affect DNA-synthesis as measured by thymidine incorporation.     

A role for Drosophila LKB1 in anterior-posterior axis formation and epithelial polarity

The PAR-4 and PAR-1 kinases are necessary for the formation of the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis in Caenorhabditis elegans. PAR-1 is also required for A-P axis determination in Drosophila. Here we show that the Drosophila par-4 homologue, lkb1, is required for the early A-P polarity of the oocyte, and for the repolarization of the oocyte cytoskeleton that defines the embryonic A-P axis. LKB1 is phosphorylated by PAR-1 in vitro, and overexpression of LKB1 partially rescues the par-1 phenotype. These two kinases therefore function in a conserved pathway for axis formation in flies and worms. lkb1 mutant clones also disrupt apical-basal epithelial polarity, suggesting a general role in cell polarization. The human homologue, LKB1, is mutated in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and is regulated by prenylation and by phosphorylation by protein kinase A. We show that protein kinase A phosphorylates Drosophila LKB1 on a conserved site that is important for its activity. Thus, Drosophila and human LKB1 may be functional homologues, suggesting that loss of cell polarity may contribute to tumour formation in individuals with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.