ALBERT

Description: In order to investigate the effect of human growth hormone on T lymphocytes, we utilized a clonogenic assay for mitogen-responsive human peripheral blood T lymphocytes. Lymphocytes were purified by density gradient centrifugation and incubated in the presence of phytohemagglutinin using a two-layer agar technique for CFU- T- lymphocyte culture. Nanogram concentrations of human growth hormone, ovine prolactin, human chorionic somatomammotropin, or growth hormone fragment were added to cell cultures. Growth hormone potentiated normal T-cell colony formation in a species-specific manner. Cells from a homogeneous T-lymphoblast line derived from a patient with a T-cell variant of hairy cell leukemia also showed augmentation of colony growth in the presence of human growth hormone. These studies provide evidence for a direct effect of growth hormone on normal and some neoplastic human T cells.

Description: The calcium, sodium, and magnesium permeability of erythrocytes from blood stored at 4 degrees C in various anticoagulant media has been studied and compared to that of fresh erythrocytes. Passive influx of CA2+ was measured at 37 degrees C in cells pretreated to abolish Ca2+ pumping and was up to fivefold greater for cold-stored erythrocytes than for fresh cells. The Ca2+ leakiness developed gradually after day 2 and reached a maximum by day 7 of cold storage in ACD, CPD, CPD- adenine, or heparin anticoagulants. The total calcium content of cold- stored erythrocytes in ACD was not significantly different from that of fresh erythrocytes. However, when cold-stored erythrocytes were reincubated at 37 degrees C in media containing 1.5 mM ionized calcium and substrates to regenerate ATP, a net gain of Ca2+ occurred that was greater for stored than for fresh erythrocytes. Cold storage of blood for up to 6 wk in any anticoagulant did not alter either sodium or magnesium permeability. Red cell ATP was also measured and fell steadily during cold storage in ACD or CPD, but more increase in Ca2+ permeability preceded any significant change in red cell ATP, it is likely that a selective calcium leak develops independently of the fall in ATP concentration that occurs on cold storage.

Description: The calcium, sodium, and magnesium permeability of erythrocytes from blood stored at 4 degrees C in various anticoagulant media has been studied and compared to that of fresh erythrocytes. Passive influx of CA2+ was measured at 37 degrees C in cells pretreated to abolish Ca2+ pumping and was up to fivefold greater for cold-stored erythrocytes than for fresh cells. The Ca2+ leakiness developed gradually after day 2 and reached a maximum by day 7 of cold storage in ACD, CPD, CPD- adenine, or heparin anticoagulants. The total calcium content of cold- stored erythrocytes in ACD was not significantly different from that of fresh erythrocytes. However, when cold-stored erythrocytes were reincubated at 37 degrees C in media containing 1.5 mM ionized calcium and substrates to regenerate ATP, a net gain of Ca2+ occurred that was greater for stored than for fresh erythrocytes. Cold storage of blood for up to 6 wk in any anticoagulant did not alter either sodium or magnesium permeability. Red cell ATP was also measured and fell steadily during cold storage in ACD or CPD, but more increase in Ca2+ permeability preceded any significant change in red cell ATP, it is likely that a selective calcium leak develops independently of the fall in ATP concentration that occurs on cold storage.

Description: In order to investigate the effect of human growth hormone on T lymphocytes, we utilized a clonogenic assay for mitogen-responsive human peripheral blood T lymphocytes. Lymphocytes were purified by density gradient centrifugation and incubated in the presence of phytohemagglutinin using a two-layer agar technique for CFU- T- lymphocyte culture. Nanogram concentrations of human growth hormone, ovine prolactin, human chorionic somatomammotropin, or growth hormone fragment were added to cell cultures. Growth hormone potentiated normal T-cell colony formation in a species-specific manner. Cells from a homogeneous T-lymphoblast line derived from a patient with a T-cell variant of hairy cell leukemia also showed augmentation of colony growth in the presence of human growth hormone. These studies provide evidence for a direct effect of growth hormone on normal and some neoplastic human T cells.

Description: The SESAME-AVE IV (9–10 May 1979) rawinsonde data were analyzed to uncover possible triggering mechanisms for severe storms that developed over western Oklahoma and Texas. The high frequency of observations (at 3 h intervals) and high vertical resolution of reported data (at 25 mb intervals) at all stations permitted investigation of the diurnal variation of the planetary boundary layer on the synoptic scale. Thunderstorms developed first just ahead of a stationary front over the Texas panhandle on the afternoon of 9 May. This area was characterized by the absence of a strong inversion (or “lid”) that represented an interface between very warm and dry air aloft, and warm moist tropical air below. Apparently, mesoscale low-level ascending motion associated with frontal lifting and/or the inland sea breeze effect led to the removal of the lid. Another noteworthy feature in this storm event was the strong vertical wind shear at low and middle levels over the storm area. When combined with the development of a deep boundary layer with weak stratification during the daytime, the Richardson number became less than one in the boundary layer in the prestorm situation. The results of our numerical linear stability analysis indicate that the observed basic states were indeed symmetrically unstable. This may suggest that the triggering processes were argumented by symmetric instability. Although a well defined dry line was present, it does not seem to have contributed directly to initiation of storms in this case. It also was observed that, as the thermal low began to weaken in the early evening, the cold air behind a stationary front started advancing eastward and helped to extend the line of thunderstorms deep into central Texas. This may be another process whereby some storms prefer to develop in the late afternoon or early evening.