Gustav J. Martin

Folic acid in nutritional achromotrichia.

Summary Biotin and “folic acid” are growth factors for rats on synthetic diets containing sulfaguanidine. “Folic acid” is also a chromotrichial factor for these rats.

Inhibition of Egg-White Edema by Proteolytic Enzymes

Summary In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory action of trypsin a number of proteolytic enzymes were tested against edema produced in rats by local injection of egg-white. Enzymes tested included chymotrypsin, streptokinase, prolase B and fibrinolysin. All were active in suppressing the experimental edema and all showed the same order of activity as trypsin except fibrinolysin, which was appreciably weaker. In the case of trypsin the anti-inflammatory action was found to be a function of proteolytic activity; it varied with the activity of partially and completely inactivated samples of this enzyme.

Mixtures of Pure Amino Acids as Substitute for Dietary Protein.

Summary When succinylsulfathiazo is incorporated into a diet containing all known vitamins plus ten essential amino acids, inadequate nutrition is found to result.

Methyl cellulose solution as a plasma substitute

T HE limited availability and the difficult preparation and handling of blood plasma for the treatment of shock represent an urgent indication for continued research on nontoxic, macromolecular substances capable of re-establishing and maintaining over prolonged periods an adequate total blood volume, a normal cell-plasma ratio and a normal bIood viscosity. The coIIoida1 solutions of several nonhematogenous, macromolecuIar substances, such as gum acacia (Bayliss, I 9 I 8)) polyvinyl alcohoI (Stierlen, I 939; Jorns, 1940), gelatin (TayIor and Waters, 1941) and pectin (Hartman, Schelling, Harkins and Brush, 1941), have been recommended for this purpose. However, none of these substitutes is entireIy satisfactory for various reasons, such as difficult sterilization, defective stability, variable purity and chemical composition, antigeny Hueper, Landsberg and Eskridge; Martin and Hueper). If methyl ceIIuIose is presented in the foIlowing report as a new pIasma substitute, it is done for the purpose of cahing attention to a megalomolecular compound which possesses a combination of desirable physicochemica1 properties lacking in the above mentioned agents.

Vitamin C nutrition in pulmonary tuberculosis

Hypovitaminosis C is the rule among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. The degree of hypovitaminosis parallels the extent and activity of tuberculous involvement. Two factors were demonstrated as responsible for the hypovitaminosis; first, abnormal chemistry of the intestinal tract, and second, increased requirements by the tissues of vitamin C.

Increased “folic acid” requirements resulting from thyroxin injection

Thyroxin increased the requirements of “folic acid” in the rat. This is reflected in the leucopenia seen in rats on diet low in “folic acid,” injected subcutaneously with thyroxin.

The influence of inositol and other B complex factors upon the motility of the gastro-intestinal tract

Inositol markedly increases the peristalsis of the stomach and the small intestine. Nicotinic acid decreases the peristaltic action of the stomach and small intestine. The other members of the B complex available in pure form, thiamine, riboflavin, choline, pyri-doxine and pantothenic acid, have no apparent action of this type.

Action of Parenteral Trypsin on Experimentally-Induced Edemas of Different Types in Rats

Summary Trypsin has been shown to inhibit the development of several types of experimental edema. Quantitative responses differ according to the phlogistic agent being used and its mode of administration.

Enhancement of adrenocorticotrophic activity.

Summary 1. Subcutaneous administration of purified corticotrophin in gelatin; in phosphorylated hesperidin; and in gelatin plus phosphorylated hesperidin results in an enhanced effect of the hormone upon the adrenal cortex as measured by adrenal ascorbic acid. The combination of gelatin plus phosphorylated hesperidin has been shown to be most effective in extending the duration of effect of the corticotrophin. 2. The mechanism of action is attributed to the antihyaluronidase as well as the anti-proteolytic properties of the phosphorylated hesperidin.

Spermicidal Effect of Certain Physiologically Active Substances

Summary A number of compounds of different chemical structure and physiological effects were tested to determine their spermatocidal properties. Several were found to be active, including a group of pteroylglutamic acid analogs.