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The radiation responses at various oxygen tensions were evaluated in V79 Chinese hamster cells under conditions where their nonprotein thiols, primarily glutathione (GSH), were elevated by 2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate (OTZ). OTZ, when cleaved by intracellular oxoprolinase, provides the cell with cysteine which stimulates GSH synthesis. A 2-hr pretreatment with 10 mM OTZ elevated GSH to 200% of controls. This elevation in GSH offered no protection to aerated cells; however, for O2 tensions less than or equal to 40,000 ppm modest protection was observed as evidenced by an increase in oxygen enhancement ratio. GSH elevation afforded maximal protection between 1000 and 10,000 ppm O2; however, the extent of protection was relatively small (protection factor = 1.3).

A crossover experiment was utilized to compare the pharmacokinetics of a 1-g dose of cephalexin tablets, cephalexin capsules, or cephradine capsules in nine normal human volunteers. These antibiotics were administered as three formulations: two 500-mg capsulin every 6 hr for five doses, and one 1000-mg tablet of cephalexin every 6 hr for five doses. Pharmacokinetic parameters in the experimental groups showed no statistical differences (p greater than 0.1), indicating that these drugs are equivalent pharmacokinetically.

A Maltese immigrant presented with intermittent bilateral anterior uveitis for which no cause could be found. The inflammation did not respond to topical treatment and ultimately the left eye developed a hypopyon and was enucleated. Histological examination revealed granulomatous inflammation and large numbers of Mycobacterium leprae throughout the anterior segment. Occasional foci of inflammation containing Mycobacterium leprae were found in the vitreous extending to the retina at the posterior pole. These findings in the posterior segment have rarely been reported. Eye infection in Hansen's disease is frequent and delays in diagnosis are common.

Changes in surface proteins of leukocytes in bovine mammary secretions were examined during mammary involution. Leukocytes were collected from mammary secretions from involution days (ID) 1 to 36 and were labeled with biotin. Labeled proteins were separated by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, transferred to nitrocellulose by protein blotting, and detected with avidin-peroxidase and color reagent. The population of leukocytes in mammary secretions changed during involution from predominantly polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) at ID 1 to predominantly mononuclear leukocytes by ID 36. The gel profile of surface proteins also changed during involution, and some of those changes may have been caused by shifts in leukocyte populations. Profiles of surface proteins of leukocytes from mammary secretions containing predominantly PMN (ID 1) were different from profiles of PMN from blood. A distinctive change in the pattern of surface proteins on the leukocytes occurred between ID 1 and 3, even though the proportion of PMN did not change appreciably between those days.

A method has been developed which covalently attaches biotin to proteins on the outer surface of leukocytes. These proteins are separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transferred to nitrocellulose by protein blotting. Labeled proteins are detected using an avidin-peroxidase conjugate and color indicator. The method has been used to identify surface proteins specific to either polymorphonuclear leukocytes or mononuclear leukocytes prepared from bovine peripheral blood. The method provides a highly sensitive, non-radioactive means of examining alterations of surface proteins on leukocytes under differing functional and physiological conditions. Cell viability is not altered by this labeling method and labeled cells can be used to examine functions of surface proteins.

Energy dispersive X-ray analysis is recognized as a most useful technique in research. Its diagnostic applications are being rapidly developed. We describe a case of corneal, lenticular and retinal damage in an eye without a documented history of trauma. Scanning energy dispersive X-ray analysis of foreign material in the lens helped to elucidate the probable cause of the injury. The medico-legal implications of this case are briefly discussed.

We report the case of a 20-year-old woman who presented with a subconjunctival maggot. The maggot was removed and identified as the larval form of the horse bot fly (Gasterophilus spp.). The patient had been grooming infected horses in a stable prior to presentation. To our knowledge, this is the first well documented case in the ophthalmic literature of external ophthalmomyiasis caused by Gasterophilus spp.