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Fifteen haemostasis parameters have been measured in 48 normal persons, 36 diabetic without and 44 with complications and 27 with peripheral arterial disease. Since the patient groups are older than normals, part of the differences are due to age. However, the differences are significant between normals and patients. They become highly significant for the diabetics with complications and nephropathy (Table 7). In diabetics without complications factor VIII functions, fibrinogen and thrombin time are related to age whereas there is a negative correlation for the fibrinolytic activity and antithrombin III. The diabetic complications shade off the correlations, which subsist only for VIIIR:CoF, VIIIR:Ag, ATIII and lysis before stasis. With Hbalc as dependent variable VIIIR:CoF is the only significant predictor variable in diabetics (Table 9).

A cyclic analogue and the corresponding linear segment of the corticotropin molecule, namely ACTH-(5-14)- and [cyclo (Glu gamma-epsilon Lys)]ACTH-(5-14)-decapeptide, both including the specific and unspecific active centers of the ACTH molecule, have been synthesized and studied. The cyclic structure is fixed by amide bond between the glutamic acid and lysine side chains. Condensation of fragments has been realized by azide or DCC/HOBT methods. Cyclization has been achieved using diphenylphosphorylazide. The cyclic analogue has full steroidogenic activity, while its melanotropic activity is 3 orders of magnitude higher than that of the linear decapeptide.

Misclassification of the oestrogen status of a human breast tumour cytosol, arising from different sources and magnitudes of error in the dextran-coated charcoal (DCC) method, have been investigated using both practical and computer simulated data analysed by Scatchard and Mass Action models. The minimum detectable receptor site concentration, relative or absolute numerical bias and imprecision which are complex and integral functions of misclassification, have been calculated from practical data and for a range of experimental conditions likely to be encountered in practice. The Mass Action model was found to be superior and the computer program, designed to investigate the effects of methodological errors on quantitative aspects of the assay, may be a useful aid for analytical design and internal quality control of the receptor assay.

The detergent lysate of plastic adherent cell population of thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal exudate cells from 100 individual Swiss mice was subjected to affinity chromatography on two different media, Sepharose coupled to heat-aggregated human IgG (IgG-Sepharose) and Sepharose coupled to the phosphatidylcholine analog, rac-1-(9-carboxyl)nonyl-2-hexadecylglycero-3 -phosphorylcholine (PC-Sepharose). Both IgG- and PC-binding proteins were further purified by Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and isoelectric focusing in the presence of 6M urea. Both IgG- and PC-binding proteins thus purified appear to be homogeneous in size as well as charge properties. The IgG-binding proteins of a molecular weight of 25,000 had an isoelectric point of 4.8, whereas the PC-binding proteins of a molecular weight of 42,000 were more basic and had an isoelectric point of 6.0. Both materials retained their IgG-binding capabilities as judged by their inhibitory capacity of murine EA gamma rosetting systems. The subclass specificities of the IgG- and the PC-binding proteins were for IgG2a and IgG2b, respectively. The PC-binding proteins possessed a typical phospholipase A2 activity, which was maximal at pH 9.5, depended on Ca++, and was specific for cleavage of fatty acid from the sn-2 position of phosphatidylcholine. The binding of aggregated IgG2b to the PC-binding proteins caused the ninefold increase in noted enzymatic activity in the presence of, but not in the absence of, Ca++ (5mM). The IgG-binding proteins on the other hand, lacked any detectable phospholipase A2 activity. Thus, the biochemical and biological properties of the PC- and IgG-binding proteins isolated from murine peritoneal macrophages are essentially identical to those homologous proteins previously isolated from P388D1 cells [20].

Hereditary hemochromatosis is transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait. Analyses of pedigrees suggest that the frequency of disease (proportion of homozygous individuals) in the general population is approximately 0.3% and that approximately 11% of the population are heterozygous. The genotype of 194 persons in 38 pedigrees was determined by HLA-A and HLA-B haplotyping. Likelihood analysis was then used to appraise the transferrin saturation test when used alone and in combination with the serum ferritin test to detect homozygosity and heterozygosity in these pedigrees. A single cut-off point of 55% for transferrin saturation and a cut-off point at the 90th percentile for the serum ferritin level were adequate for the detection of hemochromatosis if homozygosity was considered to be present when the results of one or both tests were positive. To further assess the value of the transferrin saturation test the percentages were stratified into five intervals. A percentage transferrin saturation of 75 or greater and a serum ferritin level above the 90th percentile ruled in homozygosity, whereas a percentage transferrin saturation of less than 55 and a serum ferritin level at or below the 90th percentile ruled it out with confidence. The probability of heterozygosity rose to 90% when the percentage transferrin saturation was between 35 and 55 and the serum ferritin level was at or below the 90th percentile. The use of five cut-off points allowed the probability of homozygosity and heterozygosity in a pedigree to be estimated for all values of transferrin saturation. Although these screening tests are not recommended for use in the general population, they may be worth while in selected groups of patients.

Iron overload is an uncommon complication of untransfused chronic hemolytic anemias. This paper describes only the fourth reported case of erythrocyte pyruvate kinase deficiency and iron overload. Important aspects of this case are the presence of the HLA genotype commonly associated with genetic (idiopathic) hemochromatosis and a history of ingestion of large doses of ascorbic acid. Their roles in the development of iron loading and toxicity are discussed. A beneficial response to treatment with desferrioxamine was observed before significant iron removal. A mechanism for this action of desferrioxamine is proposed.