Purification and properties of alkaline phosphatase from boar seminal plasma.

An alkaline phosphatase was purified from boar seminal plasma using adsorption to calcium phosphate gel, gel filtration, and ion-exchange chromatography. The preparation gave a single band on SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis. The enzyme was a non-specific alkaline phosphatase that hydrolysed pyrophosphate slowly and had no phosphodiesterase activity. The pH optimum was 10 and the Km was approximately 0.2 mM with p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate. The enzyme was a zinc metalloenzyme as indicated by the loss of activity when treated with o-phenanthroline and the restoration of activity by zinc and magnesium ions. It also lost activity when treated with thiols. Molecular weight estimates from SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration suggest that the enzyme is a tetramer of identical subunits, each of which has a molecular weight of 68,000.

Improved method of screening for aflatoxin with a coconut agar medium.

Nine isolates of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus were screened for aflatoxin production on a coconut extract agar medium. Aflatoxin-producing colonies were detected under long-wave UV light (365 nm) by blue fluorescence on the reverse side after 2 to 5 days of growth. Aflatoxin production was verified by chemical analysis. Several types of shredded coconut available in the United States were tested and found to be satisfactory. No additives were required. Various parameters affecting the test were investigated.

Spontaneous rupture of the stomach.

A case of spontaneous rupture of the stomach associated with perforation of the diaphragm is reported. Spontaneous rupture of the stomach is a rare but fatal condition. The pathophysiologic features, clinical manifestations, and treatment are discussed.

Diffuse muscular hypertrophy of esophagus.

Six cases of diffuse muscular hypertrophy of the esophagus are reported. The clinical diagnosis is often missed and may be confused with achalasia. Some clinical features that help distinguish this disease are a sensation of "grasping" any tube or instrument introduced into the esophagus, marked sustained elevation in the baseline pressure in the body of the esophagus over a longer segment, and poor response to forced pneumatic dilatation (in those cases in which achalasia is suspected). An interesting association was the relationship with diabetes mellitus in four of the six cases described.

Granulomatous involvement of the liver in patients with AIDS.

During a one month period liver biopsy was carried out on eight patients with established acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and two suspected of having AIDS to evaluate raised liver enzymes or unexplained fever and weight loss. Each of the 10 patients were found to have hepatic granulomas. Appropriate staining techniques showed acid-fast bacilli in seven of the liver specimens. One specimen contained numerous Cryptococcal organisms. Two biopsies showed granulomas but no organisms. Liver biopsy was found to be a high yield and rapid diagnostic procedure in patients with AIDS. Our results suggest that hepatic mycobacterial infection may be more common in the syndrome than previously recognised and that liver biopsy specimens should be examined routinely for the presence of acid-fast bacilli.

Obstructive jaundice due to radiation-induced hepatic duct stricture.

A case of obstructive jaundice due to radiation-induced hepatic duct stricture is reported. The patient received postoperative radiation for left adrenal carcinoma, seven years prior to this admission. The sequelae of hepatobiliary radiation and their management are discussed briefly.

Thrombophlebitis migrans in association with ulcerative colitis.

A case of thrombophlebitis migrans in a patient with ulcerative colitis is presented. The occurrence of thrombophlebitis was associated with an exacerbation of ulcerative colitis and responded well with the treatment of the underlying colitis. Evidence for a hypercoagulable state in ulcerative colitis is presented.

The influence of age upon the survival of adult patients with carcinoma of the colon.

Five hundred adult patients with carcinoma of colon were studied to determine the relationship between age and prognosis. Regardless of the stage of disease or curative or palliative operation, younger patients had a better prognosis. Deaths after three years postresection were usually due to associated disease, which probably accounts for the poorer prognosis in the older patient. The poor prognosis frequently reported in young patients with carcinoma of the colon usually applies to those less than 25 years of age who may have a different form of the disease.

Foreign body perforation of the stomach.

A case of foreign body perforation of the stomach is reported. Complications of foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract and their management are discussed.

Endoscopic retrieval of an unusual gastric foreign body.

A case of endoscopic retrieval of a gastric foreign body, retained due to peptic ulcer disease, is reported. An Olympus polypectomy snare was used to extract the foreign body. The role of endoscopy in the management of an upper gastrointestinal tract foreign body is discussed.

Leukopenia with cimetidine.

A case of leukopenia associated with cimetidine therapy is reported. The patient had sarcoid cirrhosis with portal hypertension. Cimetidine therapy was instituted for upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to gastritis, resulted in leukopenia, and was reversed on discontinuation of therapy.

Small bowel obstruction due to gaseous distention of an intestinal balloon.

A case of small bowel obstruction caused by inflation of a sealed, mercury-filled finger cot tipped feeder catheter, used for enteral alimentation, is reported. The patient had infrapapillary duodenal obstruction, secondary to the intramural hematoma caused by blunt abdominal injury. The patient underwent surgery for the obstruction and the distended finger cot was decompressed. The mechanisms for such distention are discussed.