Comparison of mitosis in binucleated and mononucleated newt cardiac myocytes.

BACKGROUND: The cultured adult newt ventricular myocyte has been shown to undergo mitosis and cytokinesis in a fully differentiated state. Insight into its proliferation and cellular changes during the repair process involves obtaining a better understanding of the nuclear pattern (mononucleated, binucleated, or multinucleated) resulting from mitotic events. Mitosis is easily observable in cultured newt cardiac myocytes using phase-contrast microscopy. METHODS: From days 8-19 in culture, the process of mitosis in mononucleated and binucleated newt ventricular myocytes was recorded and timed by using time-lapse video microscopy. Cultured cardiac myocytes were double-stained for myosin and F-actin by using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled MF20 and rhodamine phalloidin. RESULTS: Mitotic, mononucleated myocytes produced mononucleated daughter cells in 80% of the cases, whereas 20% were single, binucleated myocytes, In binucleated myocytes, only 32% underwent complete cytokinesis to produce two binucleated daughter cells, whereas 68% resulted in variably nucleated myocytes. Mononucleated and binucleated myocytes undergoing mitosis had similar time intervals for the period from nuclear breakdown (prometaphase) to the start of anaphase (108.7 minutes and 94.5 minutes, respectively), but the period between anaphase and midbody formation was significantly shorter in binucleated than in mononucleated myocytes (43.5 minutes and 69.3 minutes, respectively). The myofibrillae were not as well organized in binucleated myocytes as those observed in mononucleated myocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Mitosis in vitro appears to proceed more rapidly in binucleated newt cardiac myocytes, which have more poorly organized myofibrillae than mononucleated myocytes. Mitosis of cultured binucleated myocytes commonly results in variably nucleated daughter cells, whereas mononucleated myocytes produce predominantly mononucleated daughter cells.

Menstrual cycle and gonadal steroid effects on symptomatic hyperammonaemia of urea-cycle-based and idiopathic aetiologies.

We report two female patients, one with a known inborn error of ureagenesis and the other of unknown cause, in whom recurrent, transient episodes of severe hyperammonaemia increased in frequency and severity with sexual maturity and parturition. Both responded to ovarian steroids administered continuously to suppress ovulation and menstruation, and ultimately to simple hysterectomy. These studies suggest a new therapeutic approach to defective ureagenesis in female patients and a relationship between ammonia production or disposal and the menstrual cycle.

Thalidomide in the treatment of sixty cases of chronic discoid lupus erythematosus.

The therapeutic effect of thalidomide in chronic discoid lupus erythematosus (CDLE) was studied in sixty patients who were followed up for 2 years. In fifty-four patients (90%) a complete or marked regression of the disease was observed, but when the thalidomide was stopped, thirty out of forty-one (71%) patients relapsed. Patients undergoing a second course of thalidomide treatment again responded well. Nine of the patients in whom the disease recurred after successful treatment with thalidomide and who had been unresponsive to intermittent treatment with antimalarials, showed a good response to a second or third course with thalidomide. Mild side-effects were common and 25% of patients complained of slight to moderate polyneuritic symptoms. Since electroneurological examinations had not been performed before the thalidomide therapy, the frequency of neurological side-effects cannot be accurately calculated but we recommend neurological examinations before and periodically during thalidomide treatment. Thalidomide is a very effective drug in CDLE, but in most cases it exerts its effect only whilst treatment is continued. Its use should be restricted to patients resistant to topical steroids and systemic antimalarials.

[Electrophysiologic changes in thalidomide neuropathy in the treatment of discoid lupus erythematosus]. / Elektrophysiologische Veränderungen bei Thalidomid-Neuropathie unter Behandlung des Lupus erythematodes discoides.

Twenty-six patients suffering from lupus erythematodes discoides were under clinical and electrophysiological examination. The results are in agreement with the concept of a mainly sensory, distal and axonal polyneuropathy. A correlation between total dosage and severeness of polyneuropathy could not be found.

Serotonin metabolism with idiopathic grand mal seizures.

Serotonin was determined in platelets of 140 patients with idiopathic mal seizures. According to anticonvulsive therapy these patients were divided into the following five groups: no medication, Diphenylhydantoin, Diphenylhydantoin calcium, Primidon, and combination of various of the anticonvulsants mentioned. The results obtained in the entire group of patients as well as in the various subgroups were compared with those of a group of healthy persons without therapy. In addition the various subgroups were compared to each other. There were significantly reduced serotonin values in the patients with idiopathic grand mal seizures as well as in each of its various groups as compared with the values obtained in healthy persons. Furthermore, significantly higher values were observed in the patients receiving primidone as compared with those receiving no anticonvulsants, Diphenylhydantoin, and a combination of various anticonvulsants. Our results taken together with those reported in the literature point to the possibility that a special imbalance in the cerebral neurotransmitter system, including a deficiency of serotonin, may represent a pathogenetic factor for idiopathic grand mal seizures. In addition, this investigation indicates that primidone elevates serotonin in platelets of patients with grand mal seizures.

[Serotonin metabolism in chronic alcoholism (author's transl)]. / Serotoninstoffwechsel bei chronischen Alkoholismus.

Serotonin was determined in platelets of 47 patients with alcoholism during the state of withdrawal as well as in a group of healthy persons. The results show that serotonin values were significantly lower in the group of patients with alcoholism as compared with the control group of healthy persons.

[Hyperinsulinism. Neurological and psychiatric aspects (author's transl)]. / Hyperinsulinismus. Neurologische und psychiatrische Aspekte

A case of a patient with hyperinsulinism due to insulinoma associated with neurological and psychiatric disturbances including EEG alterations is reported. The hunger test as well as the i.v. tolbutamid test proved to be of diagnostic importance. In addition, the electroencephalographic studies combined with blood sugar analyses before and after 50 g glucose, orally, showed a reversibility of the EEG alterations together with normalization of the blood surgar levels. These results point to the possibility of differentiating biochemical from structural cerebral lesions associated with hyperinsulinism.

[A case of atypical galactosemia(author's transl)]. / Uber einen Fall von atypischer Galaktosämie

The case of a male infant suffering from clinical manifest galactosemia in connexion with a disease of only about 70% in uridyltransferase activity is characterized as atypical galactosemia. As compared with the described "Indiana variant" of a galactosemic female infant showing an unstable uridyltransferase activity this case demonstrates an unchanged enzyme activity still after 72 hrs. The metabolic disease of this patient clearly demonstrated that the lack of a typical pronounced reduction of enzyme activity maybe not the leading criterion for excluding the clinical diagnosis of galactosemia. In the present case only the consistent galactose-free diet lead to the decisive improvement of the clinical picture. The investigation of the family revealed the typical pattern of an autosomal recessive mode of heredity.

Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase in the newborn.

Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) activity was studied in 50 women at delivery and in the newborn after delivery. The following findings were observed: (1) the LAP activity of newborns is lower than that of the mothers; (2) significant decrease in the LAP activity has been observed in newborns on the 4th day after delivery; (3) there are no significant differences between newborns from normal and prolonged labor; (4) immediately after delivery the LAP scores of male newborns are lower than those of females, but 4 days later these scores were reversed, and (5) 4 days after delivery, the LAP scores do correlate to the weight of the newborn.