Notes: Simultaneous cardiotocography (CTG) and transcutaneous PO2 (tcPO2) measurements were made in a pregnancy complicated by membrane rupture and cord prolapse at 27 weeks gestation. A Caesarean section was not done because the fetus was judged to have little chance of survival and to be at very high risk of severe brain damage if it did. The fetus weighed 830 g and the CTG changes preceding fetal death were similar to those described by others. The tcPO2 was zero for periods of a few seconds to 20 minutes at 1 to 2 hours before fetal death, and the tcPO2 was constantly zero during the last 50 minutes of fetal life. Tracings showing the tcPO2/CTG changes preceding fetal death are reproduced.

Notes: ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Als Kineten werden in dieser Arbeit die intra- und extrazellular in der Hamolymphe sowie im Ovar (ein-schlieBlich der Oocyten und Eier) der Ubertragerzecken auftretenden motilen Entwicklungsstadien (“vermikuli”) der Babesien bezei-chnet. Kineten von Babesia bigemina Smith & Kilborne, in der Hamolymphe von Boophilus microplus Canestrini, wurden ultramor-phologisch und ultra-enzymcytochemisch (saure Phosphatase, saure unspezifische Esterase) untersucht. Kineten von Babesia ovis (Babes) Starcovici in Hamolymphe und Ovar von Rhipicephalus hursa Canestrini & Fanzago wurden im wesentlichen ultracytochem-isch untersucht. Die Pellikula der Kineten von B. bigemina ist komplex und aus 3 Membranen zusammengesetzt (Pellikularkomplex): einer auBeren Membran (dem Plasmalemma) und 2 inneren dicht aufeinander liegenden Membranen. Die auBere Membran ist ˜8 nm dick und offenbar von einer strukturlosen Schicht von ˜3 nm Dicke bedeckt. Jede der beiden inneren Membranen ist ˜6 nm stark. Der Abstand zwischen der inneren Doppelmembran und dem Plasmalemma betragt 7,5 nm. Die Gesamtstarke des Pellikularkomplexes wurde mil 30 nm gemessen. Die beiden Innenmembranen der Pellikula sind wahrscheinlich Abkommlinge des endoplasmatischen Retikulums (ER), und zwar aus folgenden Griinden: (a) sie schliefien eine Lage hydrolase-aktiven Materials ein; (b) in sich intraha-mocytar aus Kinenten transformierenden spharoiden Stadien wird die innere Doppelmembran der Pellikula augenscheinlich durch eine ER-Cisterne ersetzt; (c) die Dicke der Innenmembran entspricht ziemlich genau jener der ER-Membran. In der pellikularen Doppelmembran befinden sich zirkulare Offnungen unterschiedlichen, durchschnittlich 100 nm weiten Durchmessers. Trotz ihrer Ahnlichkeit mil Mikroporen (die fur den Pellikularkomplex der Apikomplexa charakteristisch sind) zeichnen sich diese Differenzierungen durch einen ganz spezifischen Bau aus. Sie werden hier daher Intrapellikularfenster (IPF) oder Pseudomikroporen genannt. Der Rand eines IPF ist eine Kante, die durch die hier ineinander umschlagenden inneren Pellikulamembranen gebildet wird. Dieser Umschlagkante ist cytoplasmatisches, elektronendichtes Material angelagert. Anders als bei einem Mikroporus ist das Plasmalemma jedoch nicht inva-giniert. In Tangentialschnitten erscheint ein IPF als einzelner, dunkler Ring. Manchmal sind den IPF Rhoptrien assoziiert. Eine den IPF ahnliche, jedoch viel weitere intrapellikulare Offnung befindet sich am Apex des Parasiten. Ihr Rand ist mil der inneren Offnung-skante des Apikalringes kongruent. Typische subpellikulare Mikrotubuli wurden nicht beobachtet.Der Apikalkomplex der Kineten von Babesia besteht aus dem Apikalschirm, einem darunter beflndlichen Kranz aus Mikrotubuli, und Rhoptrien. Mikronemen sind ebenfalls zahlreich vorhanden. Der Apikalschirm liegt unmittelbar unter der Pellikula und ist bei Kineten von B. bigemina eine speichenradahnliche Struktur, bestehend aus radiar an einem radnabenahnlichen zentralen Ring (Api-kalring) entspringenden “Rippen”. Es sei betont, daB der Apikalschirm nicht Teil der Pellikula ist und der Apikalring somit nicht identisch ist mil der iiblicherweise als Polring beschriebenen Struktur. Unter jeder “Rippe” des Apikalschirms verlauft ein Mikrotubulus (= subkostaler Mikrotubulus). Bei Kineten von B. ovis sind die “Rippen” viel weniger ausgepragt. In Oocyten und Eiern weisen sie auBerdem einen konisch zugespitzten Apikalschirm auf. Die Rhoptrien der Babesia-Kineten sind spindelformig und im wesentlichen unter dem Apikalschirm lokalisiert. Sie sind in radiaren Reihen arrangiert, wobei jede Reihe einer “Rippe” zugeordnet ist. Ein Conoid wurde nicht gesehen. Hydrolytische Aktivitat in Spuren wurde gelegentlich in Mikronemen beobachtet. Rhoptrien und Apikalschirm waren stets frei von Phosphatase- und Esterase-Aktivitat.Hinsichtlich ihrer fundamentalen morphologischen Organisation und hydrolytischen Aktivitat zeigt die Pellikula der Kineten von Babesia iiberraschende Ubereinstimmung mit dem Pellikularkomplex der Coccidien. Sie unterscheidet sich von diesem durch die IPF und das Fehlen von Mikroporen (sowie typischen subpellikularen Mikrotubuli). In der Komplexitat der Pellikula sowie vor allem in bestimmten Strukturdetails des Apikalkomplexes (Apikalschirm, Fehlen eines Conoids) sind die Babeji'a-Kineten jedoch auch den Hamosporidien bemerkenswert ahnlich.

Notes: Abstract: Antibodies specific for α-N-acetyl-β-endorphins have been prepared by injecting into rabbits either α-N-acetyl-β-endorphin(1-31) or [α-N-acetyl, ε-acetyl-Lys9]-β-endorphin(1-9) linked by carbodiimide to bovine thyroglobulin. Both antisera were used to develop specific radioimmunoassays for α-N-acetyl-β-endorphins. The radioimmunoassays were used to measure α-N-acetylated β-endorphins in extracts of pituitary regions from different species. By comparison of the amounts of total β-endorphin and α-N-acetyl-β-endorphin immunoreactivity, a relative ratio of β-endorphin acetylation was obtained. The relative acetylation of β-endorphin was highest in rat posterior-intermediate lobe extracts (〉90%). Beef and monkey intermediate lobes had a lower degree of acetylation (53 and 31%, respectively). Anterior lobe extracts from all three species contained low amounts of acetylated β-endorphin. Human pituitary extracts did not contain acetylated β-endorphins. By the use of cation exchange and high performance liquid chromatography, six different acetylated derivatives and fragments of β-endorphin were resolved in extracts of rat posterior-intermediate pituitaries. Two of these peptides corresponded to α-N-acetyl-β-endorphin(1-31) and -(1-27). One acetylated β-endorphin fragment had the same size as α-N-acetyl-β-endorphin(1-27) but was eluted earlier from the cation exchange column. This peptide had full cross-reactivity with antibodies directed against the middle and amino-terminal parts of β-endorphin. Compared with α-N-acetyl-β-endorphin(1-27), it had much less cross-reactivity with antibodies directed against the COOH-terminal part of β-endorphin, suggesting that it was a COOH-terminally modified derivative of β-endorphin(1-27). The remaining N-acetylated β-endorphin derivatives were eluted even earlier from the cation exchange column. The majority of these fragments were slightly larger in size than y-endorphin, i.e., β-endorphin(1-17), but smaller than β-endorphin(1-27). They had full cross-reactivity in an amino-terminally directed β-endorphin radioimmunoassay and a greatly diminished cross-reactivity with antibodies to the middle region of β-endorphin.

Notes: Abstract: Intense immunohistochemical staining of the intermediate lobe of the pituitary was observed by using an antiserum raised against synthetic dynorphin(1-13) treated with a water-soluble carbodiimide (CDI). Subsequent studies showed that the immunostaining was blocked by preincubation of the antiserum with acetylated derivatives of both β-endorphin and dynorphin(1-13) as well as by CDI-treated dynorphin(1-13), but only weakly by authentic dynorphin(1-13). Neither nonacetylated β-endorphin nor any other fragments of the ACTH/endorphin precursor blocked the immunostaining of the intermediate lobe. Analysis of the CDI-treated dynorphin(1-13) used as an antigen showed that most of the peptide was acetylated at primary amino groups. CDI treatment of dynorphin(1-13) results in the formation of an acetyl derivative because the commercially available peptide is supplied as the acetate salt. The antibodies responsible for the intermediate lobe staining were isolated by affinity chromatography, using a column containing partially purified intermediate lobe extract linked to an affinity resin and a radioimmunoassay (RIA) was developed with CDI-treated dynorphin(1-13) used as a trace and as a standard. Competition studies showed 0.5-1% cross-reactivity with α-N-acetyl β-endorphin(1-31), α-N-acetyl β-endorphin(1-27), and totally acetylated β-endorphin(1-31). Nonacetylated β-endorphins did not cross-react. Posterior-intermediate lobe extracts from rat and beef were fractionated by gel filtration. Rat posterior-intermediate lobe extracts were also fractionated by cation-exchange chromatography. Fractionated extracts were analyzed by RIAs for β-endorphin, CDI-treated dynorphin(1-13), and authentic dynorphin(1-13). The results suggested that the peptides responsible for the intermediate lobe staining were mainly four different derivatives of β-endorphin bearing an acetyl group at the amino terminus. No immunostaining was seen in the posterior and anterior lobes of the pituitary. This suggests that the intermediate lobe is the main source of acetylated β-endorphins in the pituitary.

Notes: An underground gravity study was carried out under extreme conditions of the Alpine regions. The lead–zinc mine Bleiberg, Carinthia, was selected as an example to show the possibilities and limitations of the subsurface gravity method. For in situ density determinations, gravity measurements were made in two vertical mine shafts passing through Triassic sedimentary rocks of the Bleiberg Unit. The main prblem in gravity data reduction in extremely rugged topography is the accurate calculation of the terrain effect on underground stations. A general discussion of the various corrections required for the gravity measurements in the mine is presented. The mean interval densities in the two shafts, in limestone, dolomite, and schists formations, were determined as 2.76 and 2.77 g/cm3, respectively, with an accuracy of better than 0.01 g/cm3 for a depth interval of 50 m. The interval densities provide valuable information about the lithological and structural changes in the shaft surroundings and also agree well with the representative hand sample densities.In the second part, the applications of subsurface horizontal gravity surveys in exploration are discussed. Since the influence of topography is less underground because of the greater distance to the surface, subsurface surveys have definite advantages over surface surveys and can be very helpful in locating anomalous density zones in the mines. An example of gravity survey with a station spacing of 10 m at a depth of about 540 m is presented.

Notes: Abstract: The uptake of nucleotides and Catecholamines into chromaffin granules from adrenals of pigs and horses is similar to that previously seen in bovine chromaffin granules. The rate of [3H]ATP uptake at 2 mM-ATP concentration was 0.42 ± 0.06 and 0.15 ± 0.02 nmol/mg protein/min for pig and horse granules, respectively. The apparent Km's were 1.37 mM for pig granules, 0.89 mM for horse granules, and 1.2 mM for ox granules. The sensitivity of the uptake for nucleotides and catecholamine to specific inhibitors was found to be similar in granules from pig and ox, indicating that the same mechanisms of uptake are involved in both species.

Notes: Summary. Fifteen women were studied during the second stage of labour by measuring simultaneously fetal transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension (Tc Pco2 and maternal end-expiratory Pco2. A linear increase of Tc Pco2 with time was observed, predominantly because of changing maternal respiration patterns. The degree of maternal hyperventilation had no adverse effect on the status of the newborn infant.

Notes: In a randomized trial, three alternative schemes of treatment of preterm labour with ritodrine (long infusion, short infusion, and intramuscular injection) were compared with standard treatment by bed rest and sedatives. None of the ritodrine treatments were found to be better in postponing delivery than the standard treatment. However, the Bishop scores of the patients in the standard treatment group tended to be lower than of the patients treated with ritodrine. Moreover, all cases of congenital malformation and polyhydramnios occurred in the patients treated with ritodrine. The incidence of respiratory insufficiency was significantly higher in infants of mothers treated with ritodrine. The mean birth weight was highest in the standard treatment group.