Olfactory discrimination of amino acids in brown bullhead catfish.

Olfactory discrimination of amino acids was investigated in brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus). Based on the magnitude of the observed food search activity of catfish conditioned to single amino acids, the tested compounds were classified as being detected by the catfish as equal to, similar to, or different from the conditioned stimulus. L-Proline (L-Pro)-conditioned brown bullhead catfish discriminated all amino acids from L-Pro, but catfish conditioned to L-valine (L-Val) and L-isoleucine (L-Ile) did not discriminate L-Val from L-Ile nor L-Ile from L-Val; however, all other amino acids tested were always discriminated from these two compounds. Catfish conditioned to L-alanine (L-Ala) discriminated basic, acidic and several neutral amino acids with long side-chains (LCNs) from L-Ala; however, they did not always discriminate L-Ala from all neutral amino acids with short side-chains (SCNs). The L-norleucine (L-nLeu)-conditioned fish responded to L-norvaline (L-nVal), L-methionine (L-Met) and L-Ala similarly to L-nLeu, indicating that these amino acids are detected as similar or identical to L-nLeu. L-nLeu was, however, discriminated from L-Ala in L-Ala-conditioned catfish. Interestingly, L-leucine (L-Leu) was discriminated from the conditioned stimuli, L-Ala, L-Ile and L-Val, indicating independent receptors for L-Leu. Although conditioned catfish discriminated other amino acids from L-arginine hydrochloride (L-Arg), in some tests they were unable to discriminate L-Arg from L-lysine hydrochloride (L-Lys). These results imply the existence of independent olfactory receptive pathways for: (i) L-Pro; (ii) basic amino acids (L-Arg and L-Lys); (iii) L-Leu; (iv) other neutral amino acids with branched side-chains (L-Ile and L-Val); (v) neutral amino acids with long linear side-chains (L-nLeu, L-nVal and L-Met); (vi) neutral amino acids with short side-chains; and (vii) amino acids with sulfhydryl groups (L-Cys and L-homoCys).

Autologous bone marrow transplantation for haematological malignancies--experiences of the centre of Zagreb.

From April 1988 to May 1993, 71 patients (32 acute myelogenous leukaemia [AML], 24 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia [ALL], 7 Hodgkin's disease [HD], 5 non-Hodgkin lymphoma [NHL], 2 neuroblastoma, 1 chronic myelogenous leukaemia [CML]) were treated with myeloablative therapy followed by reinfusion of cryopreserved autologous bone marrow (ABMT). The majority of patients with acute leukaemia were in first complete remission (CR), while 11 AML patients and 9 ALL patients were in advanced stage of the disease (> I CR or relapse). The BM was reinfused without purging. The conditioning regimen for all ALL and proportion of AML patients consisted of cyclophosphamide (CY) 120 mg/kg and fractionated total body irradiation (TB) in a total dose of 12 Gy. 18 AML patients received busulfan 16 mg/kg instead of TBI. Leukaemia-free survival (LFS) for first CR AML patients was 48% at 43 months with the median follow-up of 17 months. Probability of relapse was 44%. LFS for advanced AML was only 9% and the probability of relapse 89%. LFS for first CR ALL patients was 72% at 53 months with the median follow-up of 15 months, while probability of relapse was only 23%. For advanced ALL, LFS was 32% at 33 months and probability of relapse 64%. Probability of toxic death for first CR patients was 11%. We found a predictive value of viability testing and in vitro CFU-GM assay for haematologic recovery after ABMT. We conclude that ABMT with cryopreserved BM is a relatively safe method for consolidation therapy of AL. The results of treatment are encouraging.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antilymphocyte globulin for treatment of pure red cell aplasia after major ABO incompatible marrow transplant.

A patient developed pure red cell aplasia after ABO incompatible BMT for leukemia. He did not respond to plasma exchange. Antilymphocyte globulin therapy was followed by complete and permanent erythroid recovery with disappearance of recipient-derived isoagglutinins.