J. Graham Smith

Hexosamine and acid glycosaminoglycans in human teeth

1. n1. Human tooth dentine-cementum and enamel contain 0.08% and 0.03% hexosamine, respectively, with approximately equivalent amounts of glucosamine and galactosamine. n n2. n2. Chondroitin 4-sulfate and/or chondroitin 6-sulfate are present in dentine-cementum and enamel of human teeth with smaller amounts of hyaluronic acid. There is apparently no dermatan or keratan sulfate. n n3. n3. Chondroitin 6-sulfate is the major acid glycosaminoglycan in the dentine-cementum of human teeth.

Effect of Acetylsalicylic Acid on Lysosomes.

Summary Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) stabilizes rat liver lysosomes in vitro from the labilizing influence of incubation at 37°. On a molar concentration basis, this stabilization is slightly greater than that achieved with hydrocortisone and chloroquine. Concentrations of ASA of 102- M and below do not inhibit either free acid phosphatase or β-glu-curonidase enzyme activity.

Hexosamine and hydroxyproline alterations in chronically sun-damaged skin.

Summary 1. The upper dermis of chronically sun-damaged human skin contains more hexosamine and less hydroxyproline than the upper dermis from unexposed areas. 2. The increased hexosamine confirms the presence of increased acid mucopolysaccharides seen histologically in sun-damaged skin, but the decreased hydroxyproline does not identify the elastin staining material as either elastin or “degraded” collagen. 3. The upper dermis of sun-damaged skin has higher hexosamine and lower hydroxyproline levels than the lower-most dermis of the same specimen, thus the localization of the biochemical alteration corresponds with the localization of the histologic abnormality.

THE CONNECTIVE TISSUE HISTOCHEMISTRY OF NORMAL AND SOME PATHOLOGICAL SKIN

A detailed histochemical study of the connective tissue of the skin has been presented. The stains used included hematoxylin and cosin, Mowrys colloidal iron and alcian blue for acid mucopolysaccharides, bromphenol blue for proteins, synthetic orcein and Verhoeffs for elastic tissue, and a combined Mowrys colloidal iron-orcein stain. Blocking procedures employed included methylation, demethylation, acetylation, deamination, and oxidation. Enzyme extractions were performed with testicular hyaluronidase. Representative diseases of the following three types were studied: 1) those due to or influenced by the effects of solar radiation; 2) those associated with abnormal elastic fibers without particular relationship to the amount of actinic radiation; and, 3) those associated with large numbers of fibroblasts. In chronically sun-damaged skin such as actinic elastosis, actinic keratosis, and basal cell epithelioma, markedly increased amounts of acid mucopolysaccharides were found in the areas of basophilic and orceinophilic material. Polymorphic light eruption and discoid and disseminate lupus erythematosus were found to have numerous acid mucopolysaccharide strands throughout the upper one-half of the dermis. Elastosis perforans serpiginosa displayed increased acid mucopolysaccharides associated with its orceinophilic fibers. Approximately 75% of the acid mucopolysaccharide in sun-damaged skin and elastosis perforans serpiginosa was removed by testicular hyaluronidase. In pseudoxanthoma elasticum each curled elastic fiber was found in the center of a pool of acid mucopolysaccharide, as though, when it retracted, it brought its mucopolysaccharide sheath with it. This acid mucopolysaccharide, in contrast to that found in sun-damaged skin and elastosis perforans serpiginosa, is only slightly labile to testicular hyaluronidase. Acid mucopolysaccharides were also found in large quantity wherever there were young fibroblasts as in dermatofibromas, neurofibromas, keloids, and fibroepithelial polyps, and is believed by the authors to represent de novo production by these cells rather than mucinous degeneration. Hyaluronidase removed approximately 75% of the acid mucopolysaccharides in all conditions associated with young fibroblasts. The usefulness of the combined Mowry-Haleorcein stain was stressed. From the evidence presented, doubt was cast on the presently held concept that colloidal iron binding is by dissociated acid groups alone; iron may also be chelated by the intermolecular hydrogen bond of acid mucopolysaccharides. Oxidation greatly increased the intensity of Mowry-Hale staining: bromine probably by direct bromination and formation of cysteic acid and permanganate probably by formation of carboxyl groups.

Further limitations to the Elson-Morgan reaction for hexosamine

Abstract Condensation products of amino acids previously overlooked as interfering substances in the colorimetric determination of hexosamine determination. Comparison of hexosamine values obtained with both short and long column separation procedures has demonstrated the necessity of using the long column procedures to eliminate this error.

Origin of Lactate Dehydrogenase in Fluid of Cantharidin Produced Blisters.

Summary Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isozyme patterns in the blister fluid of cantharidin-produced blisters, epidermis, dermis. leucocytes, platelets, and serum have been studied. Blister fluid collected 7 hours after cantharidin application contained mainly LDH5 with some LDH4. LDH2 and LDH3 also appeared in blister fluid collected 12 hours or longer after application of cantharidin. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that LDH in cantharidin-produced blisters is derived initially from epidermis and is later augmented from leucocytes or platelets.

A Guide to Drug Eruptions

Few problems frustrate the clinician more than the patient who develops a drug eruption while taking multiple medications. A decision to stop all medication may lead to clearing of the skin lesions but may create unhappy consequences for the noncutaneous problems of the patient. Bruinsmas manual is organized with chapters listing drugs that produce acne, alopecia, pigmentary lesions, exanthemas, exfoliative erythroderma, urticaria, eczema, photosensitivity, lupus erythematosus, vascular lesions, purpura, porphyria, lichenoid lesions, fixed eruptions, vesiculo-bullous lesions, erythema multiforme bullosa, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and pruritus. Separately, drugs are listed with the type of associated skin changes and a 1 to 4 point ranking system in regard to the relative frequency of each type of response. Adverse reactions are tabulated with the drug(s) producing them, and references are made to the text or to one or more of 190 pertinent articles. There are also references to 17 review articles. A Guide to

Russian studies on age-associated physiology, biochemistry and morphology.

This is a comprehensive review of Russian theories and studies of aging, spanning the years 1761 to 1958. There is also a bibliography of 2,953 references. Unfortunately, the references are alphabetical by author without cross indexing; ready access to various subjects of interest is not possible. Excerpted from Arch Derm 86: 95 (July) 1962.

The Chemistry of Connective Tissue

Dr. Hall, a biochemist, has investigated the chemistry of connective tissue for over a decade at Leeds University. This book with over 250 references represents a more extensive consideration of current ideas regarding connective tissue than the superb review by the same author (Int. Rev. Cytol. 8:211, 1959). Regrettably, the book does not demonstrate the same careful editing as the review article—references to page numbers which are not given and misspelled words mar the text and ruffle the conscientious reader. He presents his thoughts concerning the production of elastin-like structures from collagen and the significance of cellulose-like components in connective tissue. These 2 concepts championed by Hall and his collaborators are controversial; however, he has evaluated them in an intriguing fashion along with other less debatable hypotheses. For the clinician, brief outlines of information concerning connective tissue alterations in certain diseases of the skin, such as actinic (senile) elastosis, pseudoxanthoma