The present work was initiated in an attempt to elucidate further the role of the adrenalcortical hormones in ketoacidosis. Many of the early studies on this problem were done with inadequate analytical methods, and were based on experimental approaches now known to be invalid. In recent years the availability of larger amounts of crystalline adrenal hormones, and of highly purified pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone has led to a renewal of interest in the problem of ketosis; yet the results of recent experiments have often appeared to be just as incompatible as those of earlier studies. [...]

The laws of physics have played an increasingly important role in the understanding of the aero and hemodynamics of the cardio-respiratory system over the past 15 years. The use of electronic techniques have furthered the translation of physical phenomena into physiological behaviour. Numerous tests of pulmonary function have been refined in this manner so that they now become routine procedures in many diagnostic laboratories. However, the use of various systems in which different physiological variables are monitored to test identical "function" of lung has occasionally resulted in divergent results.

The concept that medicinal activity exists in animal substances is a very old one. The ancient Egyptians, Arabians and Chinese employed the blood, secretions and excretions as drugs, and every primitive society has used this form of "organotherapy" as part of the religious and mythological doctrine of the group. It derives from the concept of 'totemism' (an anthropological term referrlng to the worship of a species of animal or vegetable) and is an outgrowth of 'animism' (the doctrine that the phenomena of animal life are produced by an immaterial 'anima' or soul. [...]

Most investigators agree that the posterior pituitary hormone has at least 3 different actions: Oxytocic, antidiuretic and vasopressor. On the other hand there is disagreement regarding the question of the existence of a single fraction having all three activities or that of 3 separate fractions.

There have been many attempts to elucidate the dynamics of the repeatedly observed increased urinary nitrogen exertion following the administration of adrenocorticotrophin and adrenal steroids. Dr. J. S. L. Browne postulated that these hormones might exert their effect by mobilizing, or "loosening", the body tissue proteins from the internal body sources for the purpose of supplying protein building materials to loci where they might be needed (1). It was suggested that this hypothesis might be tested in the plasma protein depleted rat by studying the effects of these hormones on the regeneration of plasma protein.

Note: Abstract missing from original / It is not certain to whom credit is due for the first description of the Adrenal glands. In the copper plates of human anatomy completed by Eustachius in 1552, the adrenals are shown. These plates were preserved in the Vatican library until published by Lancisi, physician to Pope Clement XI, in 1714 (1). In 1629, however, Jean Riolan (2) described and named the "Supra-renal capsules". One hundred years later the Academic des Sciences of Bordeaux offered a prize for the best essay on "Quel est l’usage des glandes surrenales", but apparently no plausible theory was forthcoming, as the adjudicator recommended that the prize should not be awarded.

Activation of primary lymphocytes leads to the initiation of the apoptotic program • although cells do not undergo apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the key regulatory proteins controlling caspase activation during T-Iymphocyte activation. We analyzed the apoptotic pathways in highly purified T-Iymphocytes. Our data revealed that following activation of T lymphocytes with a-CD3 and a-CD28 in the presence of IL-2, initial processing of caspase-3 took place into an inactive p20 fragment and the key substrates essential in mediating the apoptotic machinery were not cleaved. This initial processing of caspase-3 was concomitantly accompanied by the up-regulation of lAP family members, namely XIAP, c-IAPl, c-IAP2 and survivin. We further demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation assays that the inhibition of apoptosis in activated T cells could be attributed to XIAP binding to the cleaved forms of caspase-3. This led us to investigate whether the translocation of SmaclDIABLO from mitochondria to cytosol regulates XIAP repression of further caspase-3 processing during T-Iymphocyte activation. We observed that there was no release of Smac/DIABLO from the mitochondria, which appears to be the second signal required for apoptosis induction in activated T lymphocytes since a-Fas cross-linking or UV-irradiation allows for Smac/DIABLO translocation from the mitochondria into the cytosol. Indeed, SmaclDIABLO translocation accompanied caspase-3 activation and substrate cleavage as well as the formation of Smac/DIABLO-XIAP hetero-complex. These findings clearly suggest the existence of multi-regulatory steps implicating Smac/DIABLO-XIAP interaction in regulating caspase-3 activity during T-Iymphocyte activation, preventing undesirable induction of cell death. / L’activation de lymphocytes pnmaIres induit l’initiation du programme apoptotique. Parcontre, les cellules ne meurent pas par apoptose. L’objectif de cette étude était de déterminer les protéines clées régulatrices qui contrôlent l’activation des caspases lors de l’activation des lymphocytes T. Pour ce faire, la signalisation impliquée dans l’apoptose a été analysée au niveau de lymphocytes T hautement purifiés. Les résultats obtenus révèlent que, suivant l’activation de lymphocytes T par anti-CD3 et anti-CD28 en présence d’IL-2, un clivage initial de caspase-3 générant le fragment inactif p20 a lieu et les substrats clés, essentiels à la signalisation apoptotique, n’ont pas été clivés. Ce clivage précurseur de caspase-3 était accompagné par une augmentation de l’expression des protéines de la famille des IAPs, dont XIAP, c-IAPl, c-IAP2 et survivine. Des expériences de co-immunoprécipitation démontrent que l’inhibition de l’apoptose au niveau des cellules T activées pourrait être attribuée à la liaison de XIAP aux formes clivées de caspase-3. Suite à ces observations nous avons voulu déterminer si la translocation de Smac/DIABLO des mitochondries au cytosol régule l’activité répressive de XIAP sur les clivages subséquents de caspase-3, au cours de l’activation des lymphocytes T. Les résultats démontrent que Smac/DIABLO n’est pas relâchée de la mitochondrie, ce qui apparaît comme étant le deuxième signal requis pour l’induction de l’apoptose dans les lymphocytes T activés puisque l’interaction de Fas avec un anticorps anti-Fas ou une irradiation aux UV permet la translocation de Smac/DIABLO des mitochondries au cytosol. En effet, la translocation de Smac/DIABLO accompagne l’activation de caspase-3 ainsi que le clivage des substrats et la formation d’un complexe hétérodimère Smac/DIABLO-XIAP. Ces données révèlent donc d’une façon évidente l’existence d’un processu

The important facts relevant to the historical development of a scientific discovery are always easier to discern when it is possible to examine them in the light of the knowledge to which time and the work of many investigators have contributed. Such is the case with aldosterone, which is in all probability, the most important active principle of the amorphous fraction, after extraction of "all" the crystallizable substances from adrenal cortical extracts.

The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis may be considered basically as the interaction of three phases, (a) the circulating blood and substances carried by it, (b) the endothelial membrane and (c) the reaction pattern of the vascular subendothelium. In this thesis, we have undertaken to review recent additions to our knowledge of the substances in the circulating blood, which are believed to be concerned in the genesis of atherosclerosis. During the past forty years, a vast literature has accumulated concerning the serum phase in atherosclerosis and this may indeed be considered the chemical era of research in the subject.

The changes in the blood of pregnant women have fascinated many obstetricians and hematologists. A high incidence ot anemia has been observed in pregnancy throughout history. Moreover it has been acknowledged that the study of the blood may contribute to the establishment of a proper diagnosis and satisfactory treatment in many disorders of pregnancy.