1. The integrity of DNA extracted from Escherichia coli strain 15T(-) after thymine-less death was examined by studying the effects of treatment with aqueous alkali on the solubility in dilute acids and by viscosity and ultracentrifugal measurements, some of which were designed to detect single-strand breaks or inter-strand cross-links. None of the results showed that there was any modification or damage associated with thymine-less death.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nocturnal vertebral compression fracture. A presenting feature of unrecognized epileptic seizures.

Bone fractures, especially vertebral compression fractures, are well-known complications of convulsive seizures. Acute vertebral fractures of unclear cause, often labeled idiopathic, may be due to unwitnessed epileptic seizures. We reviewed the records of 2 patients with new onset of seizures seen at the Adult Epilepsy Clinic at the Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Mich, who had a history of vertebral compression fractures preceding the diagnosis of epilepsy. The patients, who had no risk factors for pathologic fractures, awoke with severe midback pain. X-ray films revealed thoracic vertebral fractures in both patients. The first recognized seizure occurred 1 week later in 1 patient and 6 months later in the other. Nocturnal vertebral compression fractures may be the presenting feature of unwitnessed convulsive seizures, and evaluation for epilepsy should be considered in cases of idiopathic vertebral compression fractures.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immune alterations in geriatric mice dosed subacutely with diethylstilbestrol (DES).

Exposure to both physiological and pharmacological doses of estrogenic compounds has been reported to alter immunologic responses in humans as well as in developmental and adult murine models. Despite the current therapeutic use of potent estrogens, including diethylstilbestrol (DES), in geriatric human disorders, elucidation of the effects of these agents on the aged immune system is limited. The present report describes highly significant alterations in the thymus and bone marrow of aged mice (21 +/- 1 months) exposed subacutely to DES. Severe thymic hypocellularity developed in treated mice following five consecutive days of intraperitoneal injection with 1.5 or 6.0 mg kg(-1) DES. Cell maturation within the thymus was also affected, as indicated by a significant decrease in CD4+8+ cells and a concomitant increase in CD4-8- cells. Cellularity of the bone marow was unchanged by DES. However, significant changes were observed in percentages of bone marrow cells expressing surface antigens CD45 (common leukocyte lineage), Mac-1 (macrophage lineage) and CD45R (B-lineage lymphocytes). Both percentages and total numbers of cells in the spleen expressing Thy 1.2 (T-lineage lymphocytes) were also reduced. These immune changes in geriatric mice exposed to DES were similar in direction but more severe than those reported in either young adult or perinatal models. These data may suggest a need for considering the geriatric immune system separately from other age groups when determining effects of immunosuppressive or immunotoxic compound exposure.

Aging↗