Summary Epithelial ovarian carcinoma is often diagnosed at an advanced stage of disease and is the leading cause of death from gynaecological neoplasia. The genetic changes that occur during the development of this carcinoma are poorly understood. It has been proposed that IGFIIR, TGFβ1 and TGFβRII act as a functional unit in the TGFβ growth inhibitory pathway, and that somatic loss-of-function mutations in any one of these genes could lead to disruption of the pathway and subsequent loss of cell cycle control. We have examined these 3 genes in 25 epithelial ovarian carcinomas using single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis and DNA sequence analysis. A total of 3 somatic missense mutations were found in the TGFβRII gene, but none in IGFRII or TGFβ1. An association was found between TGFβRII mutations and histology, with 2 out of 3 clear cell carcinomas having TGFβRII mutations. This data supports other evidence from mutational analysis of the PTEN and β-catenin genes that there are distinct developmental pathways responsible for the progression of different epithelial ovarian cancer histologic subtypes.

SummaryThe intravenous administration of thrombin (70 N. I. H. u/kg) caused in the dog a decrease in platelets, factor V, factor VIII and fibrinogen, a prolongation of glass and silicone clotting times, prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times, decreased prothrombin consumption and defective thromboplastin generation. This resulted in a generalized bleeding syndrome. Increased fibrinolysis occurred after an initial phase of inhibition of fibrinolysis. It is suggested that this hemorrhagic syndrome is similar to some conditions observed clinically.

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SummaryThe effect of fibrinogen(fibrin) concentration on the degree of clot lysis has been is shown. These experiments demonstrate: (1) A direct correlation between degree of clot lysis and liberation of radioactive breakdown products, (2) that increasing concentrations of fibrinogen result in decreasing lysis of the clot by a standard fibrinolysin solution, (3) that lysis occurs more rapidly at pH 7.4 than at pH 7.6 and 7.8, (4) that increase in surface area results in increased lysis and (5) that increasing concentration of plasmin results in increased lysis of the clot.

Summary1. The mechanism involved in the inactivation of cat plasma, serum, and plasma euglobulin by different concentrations of SK has been demonstrated.2. Two different caseinolytic entities were graphically differentiated. They were characterized by their time of formation and stability studies.3. With suboptimal SK concentration the development of the caseinolytic activity consisted of an initial rapid phase, followed by a slowly rising activity ; beta plasmin. With optimal SK concentration only the initial rapid caseinolytic activity was obtained (alpha plasmin).4. It is suggested that beta plasmin was formed by a reversible reaction and was inactivated when substrate was not present. With increasing SK concentration alpha plasmin formation competed with the beta plasmin formation.5. A comparison of potential caseinolytic activity of cat plasma, serum, and plasma euglobulin to beta and alpha plasmin is present.