Transport energetics of the Na+ pump in Aplysia californica gut.

Basolateral membranes of Aplysia californica foregut epithelia contain an ATP-dependent Na+ transporter (Na+ pump). Increased activity of the Na+ pump, coupled to luminal Na+/AIB symporter activity and basolateral membrane depolarization, changed the Na+ transport energetics across the basolateral membrane to a greater extent than the change in Na+ transport energetics across the luminal membrane.

Primary brain myxoma, an unusual tumor of meningeal origin: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Primary myxoma of the central nervous system is an extremely rare tumor arising from cells of primitive mesenchymal origin. Only two cases of primary intracranial myxoma have been described previously. We report a patient with a primary myxoma originating from the right frontoparietal convexity dura, which we studied in detail with diagnostic imaging and pathological analysis. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A female adolescent presented to the emergency department with a 3-day history of mild headache, abdominal pain, and intermittent left-sided focal motor seizures. Neurological examination was remarkable for left leg hyperreflexia and difficulty with tandem gait. Cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an inhomogeneously enhancing mass in the right frontoparietal region. INTERVENTION: A right frontoparietal craniotomy was performed. During surgery, a tumor appearing similar to a typical convexity meningioma was completely removed along with the dural attachment. CONCLUSION: The patient had an uneventful recovery and returned to normal activity. Primary intracranial myxoma should be distinguished from other meningeal tumors and metastatic cardiac myxoma by appropriate pathological analysis and cardiac evaluation. A circumscribed myxoma completely excised with adequate dural margin carries a good prognosis for surgical cure.

Glutathione inhibition of silver-enhanced sodium transport across toad skin.

Silver stimulated short-circuit current and transepithelial potential difference. Glutathione inhibited the silver-induced short-circuit current. There was a dose-response inhibition of silver-induced short-circuit current by glutathione. The silver-induced short-circuit current is carried by a net active sodium transfer from the outside to the inside bathing solution.

N-ethylmaleimide inhibition of silver-enhanced sodium transport across toad (Bufo macinus) skin.

1. Silver stimulated short-circuit current and transepithelial potential difference. 2. N-Ethylmaleimide inhibited the silver-induced short-circuit current. 3. There was a biphasic inhibition of silver-induced short-circuit current by N-ethylmaleimide. 4. There is a specific, maximal number of sulfhydryl groups associated with active sodium absorption. 5. Stimulation of active sodium transport by antidiuretic hormone was blunted by the presence of silver. 6. The silver-induced short-circuit current is carried by a net active sodium transfer from the outside to the inside bathing solution.

Modification of silver-enhanced sodium transport across toad skin.

1. Silver stimulated short-circuit current and transepithelial potential difference. 2. Cysteine inhibited the silver-induced short-circuit current. 3. There was a dose-response inhibition of silver-induced short-circuit current by cysteine. 4. The silver-induced short-circuit current is carried by a net active sodium transfer from the outside to the inside bathing solution.

Double IgA bands in serum from a patient with lymphoplasmacytoid leukemia with hairy-cell morphology.

We present a case of plasmacytoid lymphocytic leukemia with hairy-cell-like cytoplasmic projections and separate monomeric and polymeric IgA(lambda) serum bands confirmed by immunofixation. After a prolonged initial good response to chemotherapy, the patient had recurrent disease with increased plasmacytoid blastic feature and died. The relationship of this case to B-cell proliferative disorders is discussed.

Performance of a urine-screening protocol.

The performance of a urinalysis protocol using screening Chemstrip-9 dipstick analysis with selective sediment microscopy and culture is reviewed. Sediment microscopy performed on urine samples positive for leukocyte esterase, nitrite, protein, or blood, or when specifically ordered (15% of urinalyses) was reduced by 57.1%. Protocol urine culture performed when more than 5 WBC/high-powered field (HPF), more than 10 bacteria/HPF, or yeasts were found on sediment microscopy or with a positive nitrite test was done for 9.8%. Urine culture was specifically ordered for another 13.6%. Percent significant bacteriuria (greater than or equal to 10(5) colony-forming units/mL) was higher for protocol-generated cultures (37.1%) versus ordered cultures (17.2%). For urinalyses with ordered cultures, the protocol would have detected 89.8% of cases with significant bacteriuria. The protocol has facilitated detection of significant bacteriuria with good acceptance by clinicians. Cost savings achieved by reduction of sediment microscopy was partly off-set by some increase in urine cultures performed.

Ataxia telangiectasia with hepatocellular carcinoma in a 15-year-old girl and studies of her kindred.

We studied a case of familial ataxia-telangiectasia in a 15-year-old girl who had a clinical history of cerebellar ataxia and recurrent pulmonary infections. She was found at autopsy to have a hepatocellular carcinoma, which has been described twice previously in the literature as occurring with this disorder. Family studies on the majority of her seven siblings (the product of one father and two mothers who were identical twins) showed one brother to have classic features of cerebellar ataxia, IgA deficiency, markedly elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels, and characteristic chromosomal abnormalities. This boy also died later of hepatocellular carcinoma in 1984. An affected sister had previously died of a respiratory tract infection.

Ethanol and silver effects on ion transport across toad skin.

Silver stimulated short-circuit current and transepithelial potential difference. Ethanol inhibited transpithelial potential difference. Ethanol had no effect on short-circuit current. Ethanol stimulated unidirectional movements of chloride from outside to inside and from inside to outside.

Interactive effects of ethanol and silver on sodium transport across toad skin.

Both ethanol and silver ions have been shown to affect ion transport across various epithelia. This investigation was principally undertaken to further define mechanisms of silver ions and ethanol, and their possible interactions, on sodium transport across toad skin. Isolated toad skin, mounted between identical oxygenated amphibian bicarbonate Ringer solutions, maintained stable transepithelial potential differences (serosa positive) and short-circuit currents for several hours at 25 degrees C. It was observed that (1) ethanol inhibited the active transcellular component of sodium absorption and this effect was reversible; (2) inhibition of sodium transport by ethanol was directly proportional to the applied concentration; (3) pretreatment with silver ions prevented any ethanol effects; and (4) pretreatment with ethanol prevented any silver ion effects. It was concluded from these results that ethanol induced its inhibitory effects on membrane phospholipids thereby perturbing the function of a sulfhydryl ligand, while silver ion or silver chloride complex binding to this ligand would maintain its function in sodium transport despite the presence of ethanol.

Urine screening strategy employing dipstick analysis and selective culture: an evaluation.

A cost-effective urinalysis test strategy, employing screening dipstick analysis with sediment microscopy performed on urines positive for leukocyte esterase, nitrite, protein, or blood, is evaluated. Screening urine culture is done when greater than or equal to 5 WBC/HPF, greater than 10 bacteria/HPF, or yeasts are found on sediment microscopy. Predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity of the test strategy in predicting significant bacteriuria is compared with sediment microscopy, Gram staining of uncentrifuged urine and leukocyte chamber counting. Employment of the test protocol for routine urine specimens would decrease sediment microscopy by 49%, while effectively screening for significant bacteriuria with a sensitivity of 88.9% and predictive value of a negative result of 98.8%.

Presumptive identification of Staphylococcus saprophyticus from urine specimens by colony appearance and coagulase testing: an evaluation.

Two hundred one urine specimens with pure or nearly pure cultures (greater than 5 X 10(4) CFU/mL) of coagulase-negative staphylococcus were identified in reviewing all significant urine isolates over a ten-month period. The majority of these were from young female adult outpatients with Staphylococcus saprophyticus constituting 88.9% of isolates determined with the API Staph-Ident System. For urine specimens, particularly for outpatients, coagulase-negative, nonhemolytic staphylococcal colonies with yellow pigmentation could be identified presumptively as S. saprophyticus with a sensitivity of 97.8% and a specificity of 98.3%, compared with novobiocin susceptibility testing with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 96.9%.

Effect of silver on sodium transport across toad skin.

Silver attenuated the insulin-induced short-circuit current and transmural potential difference. Silver diminished the ethacrynic acid-induced short-circuit current and transmural potential difference. Ouabain inhibited short-circuit current and transmural potential difference, equivalently, whether silver was present or not. The low concentration silver-induced short-circuit current is carried by a net active sodium transfer from the outside to the inside bathing solution.

Polyclonal gammopathy with beta-globulin-gamma-globulin bridging. Two unusual cases.

Polyclonal gammopathy with beta-globulin-gamma-globulin (beta-gamma) bridging has been classically, though not exclusively, described with cirrhosis. We studied two unusual cases that exhibited polyclonal gammopathy with beta-gamma bridging. In the first case, the coexistence of Kaposi's sarcoma appeared with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy. In the second, liver disease developed as a complication of alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and retroperitoneal malignant fibrous histiocytoma involving the porta hepatis.