George Y. Shinowara

Bruised Tissue. I. Biochemical Changes Resulting from Blunt Injury.

Summary In experimentally inflicted bruises of cattle, the greatest swelling and fluid volume occurred within 2 days. The maximum biochemical changes in bruised tissue were found on or about the fourth or fifth day: These included a drop in N.P.N. to one-fourth of the control level and a 2-fold increase in the “easily split iron” concentration. Moreover, the 10-fold elevation in red pigment was due to extra-stromal hemoglobin. Bilirubin formation in bruised tissue has been demonstrated conclusively and the probable metabolic derivation of this pigment is discussed. Although healing was evident grossly in 7 days, the biochemical values did not return completely to the control levels until the ninth day.

Plasma coagulation factors in acute pancreatitis.

Summary Following 6 attacks of acute interstitial pancreatitis in 5 patients and the obstruction of both pancreatic ducts in 9 dogs, the thromboplastic plasma component showed a consistently marked elevation. The significance of this observation is discussed. The increase in plasma fibrinogen concentration in acute pancreatitis was confirmed. Prothrombin did not vary significantly. In addition the levels of plasma coagulation factors in 6 patients with chronic pancreatitis, in 6 dogs with incomplete obstruction of the pancreatic ducts and in 13 normal untreated dogs are reported. The coagulation factors were determined quantitatively on plasma fractions obtained by a low temperature procedure. Amylase determinations were done on all specimens.

Effect of carbon blacks on carcinogenic compounds.

Summary 1. Adsorption of 20-methyl-cholanthrene, 3,4 benzpyrene and p-dimethylaminoazobenzene to 7 different carbon blacks has been determined quantitatively. Differences in the amount adsorbed are related not only to the specific carcinogen but also to the total surface value of a carbon black. 2. Administration of carbon black alone by feeding, painting and subcutaneous injection did not produce any benign or malignant tumor in 460 animals. 3. The carcinogenicity of p-dimethylaminoazobenzene was almost completely inhibited by carbon black. Only 1 out of 72 animals fed carbon black adsorbed azo dye developed a hepatoma. 4. Administration of carbon black adsorbed 20-methyl-cholanthrene and 3,4-benzpyrene in combination with olive oil and acetone respectively inhibited carcinogenesis to a lesser degree. The incidence of tumors occurring in these experiments was approximately that expected from the concentrations of the free carcinogen eluted by the vehicle from the carbon black. 5. It is therefore suggested that in the adsorbed state all 3 compounds tested are not carcinogenic and that carcinogenicity in two of the compounds was restored due to elution by either olive oil or acetone.

Enzyme Studies on Human Blood. II. The Substrate in the Fibrinogen-Thrombin Reaction.∗

Summary Fifty-one experiments on 34 fibrinogen fractions prepared by the low temperature-ethanol principle confirm the reports of those investigators who observed an optimum concentration of substrate for the thrombin-fibrinogen reaction. The results also demonstrate that the level and range of this optimum concentration are determined by the nature of the fibrinogen preparation.

Enzyme Studies on Human Blood. I. Proteolytic Activity Associated with a Fraction of Plasma.

Summary The action of whole dried plasma and its primary fractions separated by low temperature-ethanol procedure on casein was investigated. No kinase was added and there was no previous treatment of the protein preparations with chloroform or any other agents. Proteolytic activity was demonstrated by determinations of acid soluble total nitrogen and “tyrosine.” Human plasma Fraction I contains a high degree of proteolytic activity. The enzyme is inactivated at 80°C and functions at near neutrality.