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Permeability of Biological Membranes

Permeability of Biological Membranes

Gaspar Banfalvi

Permeability of Biological Membranes

ISBN 978-3-319-28096-7

DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-28098-1

ISBN 978-3-319-28098-1 (eBook)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016932313

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016

This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed.

The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.

The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made.

Printed on acid-free paper

This Springer imprint is published by SpringerNature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland.

Summary

The ultimate energy source for life on Earth is the solar energy of Sun. Cells convert the radiation energy to other types of energy. The major chemical energy produced by cells is ATP. In turn the energy needed for cellular work is provided by ATP, the energy currency of cells. Most of the chemical energy of ATP in cells is used for (i) mechanical work, (ii) biosynthetic processes, and (iii) transport by passing molecules and ions across the cell membranes to maintain concentration gradients.

By the analogy of “Space: the final frontier” (Star Track), the cell membrane is the living frontier of cells. However, the cell membrane is not quite the final frontier of cells due to their connection with the environment known as permeability. The cell membrane or cytoplasmic membrane and the intracellular membranes of organelles are biological membranes. The cytoplasmic membrane separates the cell from the outside environment and cells from each other. The intracellular membranes separate specialized subunits with specific function known as organelles. The cytoskeleton may form appendage-like organelles, such as cilia, lamellopodia and finger-like projections known as microvilli covered by cell membrane. The cell membrane is selectively permeable to organic molecules and ions. This book deals with biological membranes, focuses on the permeability of cells, on methods of permeabilization, with particular attention to the reversibility and applications of permeabilization.

4.10 Visualization of Intermediates of Chromosome Condensation Isolated from Nuclei of Reversibly Permeabilized

of

4.10.2 Chromatin Condensation in Resting, Tumor and Stem

4.10.3 Chromatin Condensation in Regenerating Rat

4.10.4

4.11.1

4.12.1

4.12.3

Chapter 1 Biological Membranes

Abstract Biological membranes (biomembranes) separate the interior of the cells from their external environment and cells from each other. Biomembranes are composed of lipid bilayers namely of two layers of amphipatic phospholipids with their hydrophobic tail regions turned inward and the polar head regions forming the intracellular (cytosolic) and extracellular (outer) faces of the bilayer. The selective permeability of biological membranes also referred to as semipermeability, partial permeability or differential permeability means that different molecules may diffuse, pass by passive and active or by other types of transport mediated by proteins. This chapter deals with basic properties of biological membranes describing different types of lipids that constitute the major components of membranes, characterizes cellular membranes of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, membranes of subcellular organelles and functions of biological membranes.

Keywords Amphipatic molecules • Artificial membranes • Bacterial membranes • Caveolae • Cell-cell interaction • Cell surface markers • Ceramide • Chemiosmosis • Cholesterol • Cholesterol esters • Cis-trans isomers • Cytoskeletal elements • Endomembrane systems • Energy transduction • Ether phospholipids • Extracellular matrix • Fatty acids • Fluid mosaic membrane • Focal adhesions • Functions of membranes • Galactocerebroside • Glycerolipids • Glycoshingolipids • Inner and outer membranes • Integrated proteins • Invadosomes • Lipid bilayer • Lipid rafts • Liposomes • Selective permeability • Membrane potential • Membrane receptors • Membrane transport • Micelles • Neutral fats • Organellar membranes • Plasmalemma • Plasmalogens • Plasma membrane • Phosphoinositides • Phospholipids • Porins • Postsynaptic densities • Sphingomyelins • Steroids • Supramembrane structures • Vesicular membranes

1.1 Definition of Biological Membranes

Biological membranes, in the form of cell membranes are not to be confused with layers forming tissues, that are also named membranes such as the mucous or basement membranes. By definition biological membrane, known as plasma membrane or plasmalemma, is the outer thin 60–100 Å film of protoplasm consisting of two lipid layers known as bilayer spanned by integrated proteins. All cells have an outer plasma membrane, but prokaryotes unlike eukaryotes lack membrane bond

organelles and are additionally covered from outside by the cell wall, with the notable exception of the Mycoplasma genus, which has no cell wall.

The biological cell membrane:

(i) separates the interior of the cells from the external environment and other cells, (ii) is a highly selective permeability barrier with low permeability to charged (ATP, amino acids, glucose-6-phosphate) and larger polar substances (glucose, fructose) with medium permeability to neutral molecules and organic substances (urea, ethanol) and high permeability to water and respiratory gases (O2, N2, CO2) (Darnell et al. 1986), (iii) controls the transport in and out of the cells.

Biological membranes consist of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. The phospholipid bilayer is the basic structure of all biological membranes. Other major lipids present in the membrane are glycolipids and cholesterol. The lipid bilayer forms the barrier, proteins mediate messages and distinct functions. Carbohydrate moieties are located on the outer surface of the membrane. Non-covalent selfassemblies of protein-lipid interactions form asymmetric fluid structures that are electronically polarized and maintain the negative charge (~ −70 mV) inside the cell with respect to the outside. Beside the electronic polarization, the cell membrane is responsible for keeping a well-defined, stable chemical composition and concentration inside the cell that differs significantly from the extracellular composition and concentration. The large concentration differences between the two sides of the membrane are built up and maintained by passive diffusion, and selective active transport mediated by ion channels and pumps built up by various proteins. The lipid bilayer containing an ion channel is shown in Fig. 1.1

Most naturally occurring fatty acids contain 4–28 carbon acids (IUPAC Compendium 1997). There are two “essential” fatty acids for humans, the α-linoleic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid) and the linolenic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) that humans must ingest since the body is unable to synthesize them (Burr et al. 1930; Goodhart and Shils 1980; Whitney and Rolfes 2008). Essential fatty acids of the diet are polyunsaturated. Saturated fatty acids are strait chains of hydrocarbons, have no double bonds and their numbering (1, 2, 3, etc.) starts from the carboxyl end (-COOH), while the Greek lettering starts at the carbon atom next to the carboxyl

Fig. 1.1 Exofacial and cytofacial leaflets of a lipid bilayer containing a closed ion channel. Boxed image: phospholipid unit enlarged. Cis double bond in the fatty acid chain causing kink is indicated by the white arrow

Fig. 1.2 Structures of fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids: (a) palmitic acid, (b) stearic acid. Unsaturated fatty acids: (c) oleic acid, (d) linoleic acid, (e) linolenic acid, (f) arachidonic acid

group (α, ß, γ, etc.). Due to the different lengths of fatty acids the last position is the so called “ω” carbon atom. See the numbering of fatty acids in Fig. 1.2. Unsaturated fatty acids contain at least one double bond in the fatty acid chain; polyunsaturated fatty acids contain more than one double bond.

1.2 Lipids

1.2.1 Fatty Acids

Biologically important fatty acids are either saturated straight, long chain fatty acids (e.g. palmitic, stearic acid) (Fig. 1.2a, b) or unsaturated long chain carboxylic acids, such as oleic, linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids, with 1, 2, 3 and 4 cis-double bounds, respectively (Fig. 1.2c–f and Table 1.1).

The double bond in the chain may generate either trans or cis geometry. In trans isomers the hydrogens of the double bond are on opposite side (Fig. 1.3a). Cis isomers contain the hydrogen atoms at the same side of the double bond (Fig. 1.3b). Cis isomers generate bent fatty acids. This arrangement prevents apolar interactions between fatty acid chains and lowers their melting point. Glycerolipids containing cis folded fatty acids are known as oils. In nature, unsaturated fatty acids generally have cis rather than trans configurations (Martin et al. 2007).

Fig. 1.3 Trans (a) and cis (b) geometry of fatty acids 1.2

Table 1.1 Biologically important fatty acids

Carbon atoms Number of double bonds

Position of double bond

Common name of fatty acid

14 0 Myristic acid

16 0

18 0

18 1

18 2

18 3

20 4

acid

acid

acid

acid

Fatty acids are not to be confused with neutral lipids (fats and oils). Fats are important food molecules and play a significant role in nutrition. Fats store energy in the body; fat tissues are excellent insulators and cushion inner organs, transport lipid soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) in the blood. The commercial importance of fats is not dealt with here.

1.2.2 Glycerolipids

Triglyceride (neutral fat) and cholesteryl ester are the forms in which fat is stored in fat cells (adipocytes). Neutral fats and oils as glycerolipids are not involved in membrane structures and are best known as fatty acid triesters of glycerols also named triglycerides (Fig. 1.4). In these glycerolipids the three hydroxy groups of glycerol are esterified with different fatty acids. In fats the saturated fatty acids will lie in close proximity to each other giving rise to apolar interactions and rendering triglycerides solid. Saturated fats are trans-fats present in lard and bacon grease, earlier named “animal” fat. As already noted, the presence of double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids will reduce the number of hydrogen atoms of carbon atoms at their double bonds. Most plants contain unsaturated fats known as oils. Full hydrogenation of plant oils in food processing in generating saturated fats making them

Fig. 1.4 Neutral fat. Triglyceride consisting of a glycerol esterified with one saturated fatty acid (FA) and two unsaturated fatty acids (UFA)

equivalent to the unhealthy saturated animal fats. This is normally avoided by partial hydrogenation of plant oils to maintain some of the double bonds and keeping them in cis configuration. The advantages of partial saturation are that hydrogenated double bonds of oils are less vulnerable to oxidation and rancidity, while the presence of double bonds softens the partially hydrogenated oils. The primary ingredient of margarine is vegetable oil that is highly processed to replace butter. It can be made with or without addition of solid fat. When butter having a pleasing flavor is not added, the vegetable oil is solidified by full or partial hydrogenation to remove the double bonds of the unsaturated fatty acids, mixed with water, milk powder, vitamins, citric acid, emulsifiers (e.g. lecithin), salt, preservatives. Block margarines contain more hydrogenated oils than the less hydrogenated soft tube margarines.

While the debate of saturated fat consumption and cardiovascular disease controversy remained an unsolved issue (Siri-Tarino et al. 2010), heart, medical, scientific authorities suggest that the consumption of saturated fats should be avoided to reduce the risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases by the lowering of LDL cholesterol level and increasing the HDL cholesterol level in the blood (Müller et al. 2003; Hu et al. 2001; Jeppesen et al. 2001).

1.2.3 Storage of Fats in Trans-Differentiated Adipose Tissues

Fats are stored in at least three, but probably four different types of adipocytes (fat cells) contained in: (i) white, (ii) brown, (iii) beige and (iv) pink adipose tissues. The transitions among these cell types represent transdifferentiation:

(i) White adipose tissue as an endocrine organ plays a central role in the understanding of metabolic abnormalities associated with the development of obesity (Vázquez-Vela et al. 2008). White adipocytes store lipids for release as free fatty acids during fasting periods (Giordano et al. 2014).

(ii) Brown fat functions to burn glucose and lipids to generate body heat and maintain thermal homeostasis by non-shivering thermogenesis rather than to produce ATP, especially in hibernating animals and in newborns. The brownish color of fat comes from the iron-containing mitochondria that are present in brown fat in much higher number than in white fat. The mitochondria of brown fat have a higher concentration of uncoupling protein (uncoupling protein 1) also known as thermogenin in their inner membrane and give off more heat and produce less ATP than white fat cells (Enerbäck 2009; Giordano et al. 2014).

(iii) Recent studies highlighted the importance of beige adipocytes by regarding them precursor cells obtained from white fat that is turning to beige. Brown fat in humans is composed primarily of beige adipocytes. Beige adipocytes have a high inducible thermogenic capacity and express distinct genes sensitive to irisin. Irisin is a myokine supposedly cleaved from its transmembrane precursor (FNDC5) to effect exercise-inducible human metabolism (Wu et al. 2012). Others doubt the magic effect and physiological role for irisin in humans and other species (Albrecht et al. 2015).

(iv) A fourth type of adipocytes, the pink adipocytes, have recently been described in mouse subcutaneous fat depots during pregnancy and lactation and could be involved in mammary duct development in the female breast. Pink adipocytes are likely to be derived from white adipocytes. Pink adipocytes produce and secrete milk (Barraclough and Rudland 1994; Smith-Kirwin et al. 1998; Giordano et al. 2014). The transdifferentiation pattern: from white → beige → brown → pink adipocytes demonstrates the extraordinary plasticity of fat cells, with predominantly white to brown adipocyte transdifferentiation taking place (Barbatelli et al. 2010). These two types of mammalian adipocytes, white and brown are well known, with their anatomy and physiology being different and acknowledged transdifferentiation properties in the adipose tissues (Cinti 2009). Nuclear transcription factors are responsible for the regulation of adipocyte differentiation and lipogenic genes during adipogenesis and induce also the transdifferentiation of myocytes into adipocytes (Yu et al. 2006).

To demonstrate that transdifferentiation is not a unique feature limited to adipocytes and myocytes the developmental conversions of podocytes is given as another example (Mundel et al. 1997; Pabst and Sterzl 1983). Based on our experiments with human podocytes (Banyai et al. 2014) it is hypothesized that the transdifferentiation of podocytes could involve several transitions (Banfalvi and Balla, unpublished):

(i) The conversions of epithelial cells of the proximal glomerular tubular parietal cells could turn to tubule committed parietal (Bowman’s) cells at the exit of the Bowman’s capsule.

(ii) Tubule committed progenitor parietal cells differentiate to adult parietal epithelial progenitor cells.

(iii) Parietal progenitor cells are converted to podocyte committed progenitor cells.

(iv) Transition takes place between podocyte committed progenitor cells and peripolar transitory podocytes.

(v) Undifferentiated U-podocytes develop into differentiated D-podocytes. Experimental evidence is provided that U ↔ D conversion is a bidirectional process.

(vi) Finally, D-podocytes are likely to be converted to macrophage-like cells.

Although, several steps of these transitions have been confirmed, the existing processes exemplify the maximization of economy through maturation, reversibility and aging of cells. A further conclusion that can be drawn from transdifferentiations is that they are related to the permeability of membranes and alterations in membrane structures take place in a so far unknown manner.

1.3 Major Lipids in Biological Membranes

1.3.1

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Mammalian cell membranes are composed of higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids than reptiles (Hulbert and Else 1999). Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with a double bond (C = C) at the third carbon atom from the end of the carbon chain (Scorletti and Byrne 2013). Birds have similar higher proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids in their cell membranes with the notable difference that their omega-3 fatty acid content is lower compared to the omega-6 fatty acids (Hulbert et al. 2002). As a consequence the cell membranes of birds are “leakier” i.e. more permeable to small ions such as H+ and Na+ and demand more energy to maintain the basic ionic potential. To maintain warm-blooded homeostasis mammals and birds compensate membrane leakage with higher metabolic rate. Polyunsaturation of fatty acids turned out to be a useful strategy in response to cold temperature. Fish that preferentially live in cold water developed a high content of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids to maintain the fluidity of cell membranes at lower temperatures (Hulbert 2003; Raynard and Cossins 1991).

1.3.2

Phospholipids

The major components of cell membranes are the phospholipid units. Phosphoglycerids are the most common class of phospholipids. Their structure is based on the three carbon alcohol glycerol: CH2OH-CHOH-CH2OH. The three carbon atoms in glycerol are denoted as Sn1, Sn2 and Sn3 positions. The glycerol in glycerophospholipids contains two fatty acids with even number carbon atoms between 14 and 20, attached to the first and second carbon atoms via esterification forming diglycerides, while the third hydroxy group of glycerol is esterified with a phosphoric acid giving rise to the basic membrane unit known as phosphatidic acid. In the diglyceride part of the phospholipid the saturated fatty acid is normally the

Fig. 1.5 Phosphoglycerides: (a) phosphatidylcholine, (b) small hydroxylated molecules that can be attached to phosphatidic acid. Abbreviations: PA phosphatidic acid, FA saturated fatty acid, UFA unsaturated fatty acid, Ch choline, P phosphate, G glycerol

C18 stearic acid, the unsaturated fatty acid the C18 cis-oleate. The phosphate moiety of phosphatidate can be further esterified with a small molecular weight alcohol, the hydroxy group of which is giving rise to specific phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine (Fig. 1.5a). Residues of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserin and phosphatidylinositol are given in Fig. 1.5b.

Known phosphoglycerides are:

– Phosphatidic acid and its dissociated form known as phosphatidate

– Phosphatidylethanolamine (cephalin)

– Phosphatidylcholine (lecithin)

– Phosphatidylserine (PS)

– Phosphoinositides:

• Phosphatidylinositol (PI)

• Phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP)

• Phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2) and

• Phosphatidylinositol trisphosphate (PIP3)

Fig. 1.6 Phosphoinositides. (a) Phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2). (b)

Phosphatidylinositol (PI).

Boxed area: the three carbon atoms of glycerol

In phosphoinositides the most often occurring unsaturated fatty acid is the arachidonic acid (C20) containing four cis-double bonds (Fig. 1.6).

Note when two phosphates are coupled to each other with an anhydride bond the compound is a diphosphate. When the two phosphates are in different positions, the compound is a bisphosphate.

Phosphoglycerides are hydrolyzed by phospholipases. The specific cleavage sites of phospholipases are given in Fig. 1.7. Phospholipase A1 catalyzes the hydrolysis of the ester bond in position 1 (Sn1) of glycerolipids. Phospholipase A2 attacks the ester bond in position 2 (Sn2) of glycerolipids leaving behind a free fatty acid and a lysophospholipid, that can be reacylated by acyl-CoA catalyzed by an

Fig. 1.7 Specific sites of the hydrolytic activity of phospholipases on phospholipid substrate.R1 C

and R2 C

are the esterified 1- and 2-acyl groups attacked and removed by phospholipase A1 and phospholipase A2, respectively. X is representing the nitrogen containing base. Abbreviations: PLA1 phospholipase A1, PLA2 phospholipase A2, PLC phospholipase C, PLD phospholipase D. The phosphoglyceride model also shows the positions of Sn1, Sn2 fatty acids and the Sn3 position of phosphate and nitrogen containing base on glycerol

acyltransferase. The remaining lysophospholipid such as lysolecitin can be degraded further to the glyceryl phosphoryl base by phospholipase B also known as lysophospholipase by hydrolyzing the remaining 1-acyl group. Finally, the glyceryl phosphoryl base can be split to glycerol 3-phosphate plus the X base. Phospholipase C catalyzes the hydrolytic cleavage in position 3 (Sn3), generating 1,2-diacylglycerol and liberating the phosphoryl base. Phospolipase D found mainly in plant cells catalyzes the hydrolysis of the nitrogenous base from phospholipids.

Phosphosphingolipids (Sphingomyelins) Phospholipids consist of a diglyceride, a phosphate group, and an alcoholic compound. Phosphosphingolipids (sphingomyelins) as phospholipids contain fatty acids, phosphate and choline that are attached to sphingosine, a complex amino alcohol, rather than to glycerol. Sphingolipids represent a different class of cell membrane lipids derived from sphingosine, an 18-carbon unit unsaturated hydrocarbon chain and amino alcohol (Fig. 1.8a). Ceramide is derived from sphingosine by amid formation between the amino group of sphingosine and the carboxyl group of a fatty acid (Fig. 1.8b). The hydroxy group at the end of the sphingosine moiety of the ceramide can be phosphorylated and further esterified with choline, ethanolamine giving rise to sphingomyelins. Alternatively, the hydroxy group can be subjected to O-linked glycosylation. O-glycosylation leads to cerebrosides with a single sugar residue such as galactocerebroside (Fig. 1.8c) or with oligosaccharides producing gangliosides (not shown).

Fig. 1.8 Formation of glycolipid of plasma membranes from sphingosine (a), through ceramide (b), to membrane surface glycolipid galactocerebroside (c)

Glycosphingolipids Glycolipids are lipids with carbohydrate attached to them. They function as energy sources and also serve as markers for cellular recognition. The carbohydrates are located always on the outer monolayer of all eukaryotic cell membranes. They emerge from the phospholipid bilayer into the aqueous environment outside the cell where they act as recognition sites for specific chemicals and help to maintain the stability of the membrane and attach cells to each other to form tissues. The surface of a red blood cell may contain tens of millions of carbohydrate chains. Glycophorins containing one alpha helix, and carrying sugar molecules are rich in sialic acids (derivatives of neuraminic acid) and are characteristic to the membrane of red blood cells. The heavily glycosylated sialoglycoprotein coat gives the red blood cells a strong negative charge and protects them from adhering to each other and to the wall of blood vessels.

Glycosphingolipids contain sphingosine (Fig. 1.8a) esterified with fatty acid (ceramide) (Fig. 1.8b) in combination with mono-, or oligosaccharides. The simplest glycosphingolipid is galactocerebroside, the major lipid component of myelin (Fig. 1.8c).

Types of glycosylation:

(a) N-glycosylation. The initial biosynthesis of glycoproteins known as coreglycosylation in the endoplasmic reticulum takes place by N-glycosylation and generates glycans attached to the nitrogen of the asparagine and arginine moieties of nascent proteins. This type of glycosylation requires the special C20 lipid known as dolichol phosphate.

(b) O-glycosylation (or O-linked glycosylation) occurs mainly in the Golgi apparatus (Elmouelhi and Yarema 2008) through the attachment of glycans to the hydroxy residues of serine, threonine, tyrosine, hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine or to the hydroxy group on glycosphingolipids such as ceramide.

(c) In the less frequently occurring C-linked glycans the sugar is added to the carbon side chain of tryptophan.

(d) The glycolipid glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor can be attached to the C-terminal end of proteins via the ethanolamine and glycosidically bound to the inositol residue. GPI-linked proteins normally contain a signal peptide that directs these proteins to the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Cell Surface Markers

Cell surface markers are antigenic determinants expressed on the surface of cells serving as markers of specific cell types to distinguish between self and nonself. Virtually all somatic cells carry such distinctive markers. Best known are lymphocytes: T cell and B cell surface markers identify their lineage and stage in the differentiation process. These lymphocytes differentiate into multiple cell subtypes, necessary for specific biological processes. During their differentiation, lymphocytes express different surface receptors, which are used to identify cellular subtypes, from progenitor cells to terminally differentiated T helper cells. Inappropriate differentiation may change the relative amounts of Th1 and Th2 cells and cause pathological conditions such as autoimmunity. Surface marker expression also helps to determine whether or not a drug or ligand will be recognized by the particular cell type of interest. Although, several biomarkers specific for cell types are known, including tumor markers indicating the presence of tumor cells, many more biomarkers remain to be discovered. The existence of cell surface markers underlines the importance of the the outer membrane.

Besides serving as energy carriers, glycolipids are markers for cellular recognition. Cell surface markers are specific antigenic determinants on the cell surface. Evidence has been provided that one of the functions of the glycolipid galactocerebroside is its involvement in opening Ca2+ channels in oligodendroglia cells (Dyer and Benjamins 1990). Galactocerebroside is a specific differentiation marker for myelin producing cells and plays an important role in myelin function and stability (Coetzee et al. 1996). It is the characteristic feature of axons of nerve cells in vertebrates that they are ensheathed with a multilamellar myelin membrane that is enriched in galactocerebroside.

Ether Phospholipids In ether lipids the hydroxy groups of the two carbon atoms of glycerol form ether bonds with two long chain alcohols at Sn1 and Sn2 positions, rather than ester bonds with fatty acids. The third hydroxy group of glycerol (Sn3) is esterified with phosphate. In plasmalogens the ether is at the first (Sn1) position, the esters are at second (Sn2) and third (Sn3) positions (Fig. 1.9).

Fig. 1.9 Structure of ether phospholipids. R1 is denoting a long chain fatty alcohol. R2 stands for a fatty acid or fatty alcohol chain. Corresponding to the stereospecific numbering on the Fischer projection, the first hydroxy group is by convention in Sn1, the middle one in Sn2 and the third one in Sn3 position

Ether-linked lipids are abundant and are typical to Archaea. The high chemical stability of ether bonds is contrasted by the hydrolysable ester bonds in glycerolipids that are characteristic to the lipid membranes of Bacteria and Eukarya. The chemical stability of ether lipids could explain the resistance and the survival of Archaea under extreme stress (heat, high salinity, etc.) placed on their cytoplasmic membranes.

Plasmalogens represent a special class of membrane glycerolipids with a fatty alcohol containing a vinyl (−CH = CH2) bond at the Sn1 position and enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids at the Sn2 position of the glycerol backbone. Although, plasmalogens make up to 20 % of the total phospholipid mass in humans, their physiological roles remained challenging, but are expected to play developmental roles in the cells of bone, brain, lens, lung, kidney and heart (Braverman and Moser 2012) and in their endurance and resistance to usage and stress.

In the platelet activating factor (PAF, acetyl-glyceryl-ether-phosphorylcholine) ether is at the first, and acetyl group at the second position (Fig. 1.9). PAF is produced by many cells, in those that are involved in host defense (platelets, endothelial cells) particularly in innate immune defense including polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs or neutrophils) and monocytes (macrophages, dendritic cells).

PAF as a phospholipid activator affects platelet aggregation and degranulation, inflammation, changes vascular permeability upon oxidative burst, influences arachidonic acid metabolism. The phospholipid structure of PAF confirms the notion that the composition of the cell membrane evolved and adapted in response to the environmental changes.

Fig. 1.10 Basic steroid structures: sterane, gonane and sterol

1.4 Steroids

The basic structure of steroids is sterane (cyclopentano-perhydrophenanthrene) representing a class of four cyclic compounds consisting of A, B, C and D rings with a side chain at carbon C17. The sterane structure shown in Fig. 1.10 may give rise to 64 stereoisomers. Probably the most important stereoisomer is the full-trans gonane (α-gonane) where all rings are in trans configuration. In steroids, including steroid hormones the rings are in full-trans configuration. Notable exceptions are the derivatives of bile acids where the A and B ring are cis-oriented, corresponding to ß-gonane, B–C and C–D rings have trans-configurations (not shown).

1.4.1 Sterols

Sterols are derivatives of steroids. These steroid alcohols are present in animals, plants, and fungi. Sterols of animals are zoosterols. The most frequently occurring and most important zoosterol is cholesterol; an indispensable component of the animal membrane structure, to be discussed in relation to the cellular membranes. Phytosterols are produced by plants. The most important phytosterols include campesterol, sitosterol, and stigmasterol. Natural sources of phytosterols are vegetable oils and nuts. Cereals, vegetables, fruits and berries contain less phytosterols, nevertheless may contribute to a higher phytosterol intake. Due to their structure as cholesterol analogues they are blocking not only the intestinal absorption of cholesterol, but probably also other nutrients. This makes their use questionable as higher phytosterol intake particularly that of ß-sitosterol may inhibit the growth of breast and prostate cancer (Awad et al. 2000, 2001; Ju et al. 2004). Plant sterols (betasitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol) reduce the gastric cancer risk (De Stefani et al. 2000), and improve lower urinary tract symptoms (Dreikorn 2002).

Ergosterol is a crystalline fungal sterol formerly isolated from the fungus grown on ergot (Claviceps purpurea). Ergosterol is present in the membranes of fungi and protozoa serving the same function as cholesterol in animal cells. Due to its importance in these cells it became a target to develop drugs against ergosterol to defend fungal and protozoan infections. Vitamin D2 is produced from ergosterol upon the chemical reaction induced by ultraviolet light exposure.

1.4.2 Cholesterol, Cholesterol Esters

Cholesterol Cholesterol is a lipid molecule synthesized by animal cells. Major steps of cholesterol biosynthesis are:

Acetyl-CoA → hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA → mevalonate → “biological isoprenes” (isopentenyl pyrophosphate, dimethylallyl pyrophosphate, geraniol pyrophosphate, farnesyl pyrophosphate) → squalene (Fig. 1.11) → lanosterol → cholesterol. Daily 1.5–2 g cholesterol is synthesized in the human body primarily by tissues producing steroid hormones (gonads, adrenal cortex).

Cholesterol as the principal steroid is the precursor of steroid hormones and vitamin D (Hanukoglu 1992). Cholesterol is present in the circulation as free cholesterol or as cholesterol ester. The degradation of cholesterol takes place in the liver and produces bile acids. Due to its low solubility high cholesterol level in blood may develop cholesterol deposits in blood vessels. Cholesterol deposits slow down the blood flow and their presence in the arteries of heart and brain is particularly dangerous by increasing the risk of heart attack and causing stroke. High cholesterol level (hypercholesterolemia) can be an inherited genetic trait, but more often can be the result of unhealthy diet that can be prevented and medicated by changing to healthy lifestyle and exercise. The rest of the book deals with cholesterol only as a membrane component.

Fig. 1.11 Squalene (C30) formation by the connection of two farnezyl-pyrophosphates (C15)

Fig. 1.12 Bond-line and shorthand formulas of cholesterol with numbered carbon atoms and capital letters of rings. Upper right boxed corner: shorthand structure of cholesterol. The shorthand structure of cholesterol will be used in membrane structures

Cholesterol is present in each human cell, contributing to roughly 50 % of the molecules of the cell membrane. Since it is smaller than other membrane components its mass in the membrane is only about 20 % (Alberts et al. 2002). The cholesterol content of organelles inside the cell is normally smaller. The proportion of cholesterol in mitochondria is exceptionally small, not more than three percent, and only 6 % in the endoplasmic reticulum (Alberts et al. 2002). As the double bilayer of the nuclear membrane is in close connection with the endoplasmic reticulum, the nuclear membrane also has lower cholesterol content. The membranes of organelles will be discussed individually.

The major function of cholesterol is to protect membrane integrity and cell viability by increasing or lowering its rigidity, to maintain fluidity and integrity of the animal cell membrane, to contribute to cellular movements, cell signaling through the membrane, to change the shape of the cell without necessitating a cell wall, unlike plant cells and bacteria. To understand the complex behavior of lipid membranes, it is necessary to elucidate the basic mechanical properties of cholesterol. Cholesterol is said to be a mobile molecule inside the continuous double-layer of phospholipid fluid membrane. Cholesterol has only one polar hydroxy group at position 3, while the four rigid steroid rings and the hydrocarbon tail are apolar (Fig. 1.12) providing the molecule only a week polar, and a strong, overwhelmingly apolar character and low solubility of the molecule. Under physiological conditions cholesterol increases the overall non-polar bonding with fatty acids inside the phospholipid bilayer, stiffening the surface of the membrane and making it less soluble and permeable to small soluble molecules that could pass in the absence of the apolar cholesterol. As dictated by the structure and amphipathic nature of cholesterol its hydrophobic core is buried within the hydrocarbon region of the bilayer. Cholesterol spans approximately one leaflet of the membrane, with its OH group protruding into the polar (head group) region of the bilayer (Kessel et al. 2001).

Cholesterol is not the only factor that influences the bending rigidity of membranes. Certain lipids including cholesterol, sphingomyelin and glycolipids segre-

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States medical corps, who was appointed chief sanitary officer, and with the assistance of local doctors and nurses and those furnished by the Red Cross, these organizations soon established control of the entire city in a comprehensive and effective manner.

The Ohio State Board of Health engineers were assigned to assist in the water works, sewerage, and general cleaning up. Then, in cooperation with the city board and Major Rhoades, the city was divided into sixteen sanitary districts, with a physician in charge of each. These physicians inspected their districts, reported to headquarters, conditions requiring particular attention, instructed people in sanitation and followed up all reported cases of illness to guard against contagion.

The city bacteriologist reestablished his laboratory, which had been inundated, and took up diagnostic and analytical work. The state plumbing inspector and the state inspector of workshops and factories established offices, and joined with the city inspectors in pushing inspection work rapidly. Men were sent out to trace all contagious cases that were on the books at the time of the floods, and the reporting of infectious diseases and deaths were resumed as rapidly as possible.

Four contagious disease wards were established in addition to the tuberculosis and small-pox hospitals, two in the St. Elizabeth and Miami Valley Hospitals in the city and one each in North Dayton and Riverdale. As fast as infectious cases were reported or discovered, they were removed to one of these wards, and the houses placarded and disinfected.

A food inspection office was also opened, and all food arriving on relief cars was inspected before distribution to relief stations, that which had already been distributed being inspected at the stations.

The medical corps of the Ohio National Guard established a base field hospital in the new courthouse, and a supply depot in the probate court room of the old courthouse. In addition, seven relief hospitals were established in Dayton View, Miami City, Edgemont, South Park, the Davis Sewing Machine Company’s plant, North Dayton, and Riverdale, with a surgeon of the medical corps of the National Guard and a corps of civilian physicians and Red Cross nurses in charge of each. These stations had maternity, general, and infectious wards. Hospital and proved infectious cases were

promptly forwarded to St. Elizabeth’s or the Miami Valley Hospital. The base hospital received all cases among the companies of the National Guard on duty; those which would obviously not recover in time for useful service were returned to their homes. The supply depot of the field hospital not only furnished the base hospital and the seven field stations, but supplies were also furnished to the sixteen stations of the sanitary committee, at the request of Major Rhoades.

An efficiently manned hospital doing all classes of work was established by the National Cash Register Company and the American Red Cross in the administration building at the National Cash Register Company’s plant, and other medical relief stations were maintained in the city by the Red Cross.

Up to the close of the first week following the flood no unusual prevalence of infectious disease had developed. Some cases of diphtheria, pneumonia, and measles were reported, but the number was not substantially larger than that previous to the flood. When the conditions that prevailed during the first three days after the disaster are considered, with the strain on the entire population during the first days of reconstruction, it seems impossible that Dayton will escape without a considerable number of cases of intestinal and exposure diseases, such as typhoid and pneumonia. But the complete, efficient, and harmonious system of public health organization that has been established gives promise that no epidemic will follow and that the first cases, due to infection before control was established, will be the last.

THE FRIEDMANN CURE

ALICE HAMILTON, M.D.

As the interest in Dr. Friedrich Franz Friedmann and his tuberculin increases and a large part of the world is anxiously waiting to have its hopes confirmed that at last a real cure for tuberculosis has been discovered, it will be interesting to state what is positively known about this treatment, to what extent it is a new discovery and why the medical profession has shown such hostility to its originator.

In the first place Friedmann’s remedy is not a “serum.” Antitoxins, such as those used against diphtheria and lock-jaw are sera. An antitoxin is the serum of an animal which has been treated with toxin-forming germs till his blood serum is full of defensive substances against that toxin. An antitoxin, as its name indicates, is an antidote to a poison.

Friedmann’s tuberculin belongs to the class which we have of late begun to call vaccines, a term formerly applied only to the virus of cowpox but now made to cover all forms of virus which are used to stimulate the production of defensive substances. The real difference between an antitoxin and a vaccine is that the first contains an antidote and is an emergency remedy for an acute disease, while the second is a weak form of virus which causes the body of the patient to manufacture its own antidote.

What Friedmann claims as novel in his tuberculin is that it consists of living tubercle bacilli, while those in general use consist of dead bacilli or their extractives. It has long been known that living bacilli would call forth a more rapid production of defensive substances than dead. Dr. Trudeau of Saranac Lake demonstrated this twenty years ago, experimenting on rabbits with bacilli of bird tuberculosis. Later several Americans confirmed his results, using non-virulent strains of human tubercle bacilli. Von Behring’s famous experiments on immunizing calves were made with living bacilli. So far therefore as is yet known, there is nothing new in the principle

Friedmann is following. As to the details of his cure, we are in ignorance.

It will be long before any dependable word can be given out as to the results of Friedmann’s work in New York city. Every physician knows that optimism, eagerness to grasp at every hopeful sign, are characteristics of a fair majority of consumptives. We shall need a much longer period of observation before we can be sure that this tuberculin has any superiority to the many previously tested, almost all of which have had initial success followed by more or less disillusionment.

Still greater caution must be used in estimating the immunizing properties of Friedmann’s tuberculin. Friedmann treated over 300 children eighteen months ago and states that during this interval none of them have developed tuberculosis. It will be at least fifteen years before positive statements can be made concerning these children and then only by comparing them with a similar group of non-treated children living in conditions as nearly as possible identical with those of the treated children.

As to the attitude of American physicians to Dr. Friedmann one can hardly accuse them of unfairness and of narrow-minded professional jealousy if one realizes that he has violated three of the fundamental laws of medical ethics and, however impatient the nonmedical world may be of much that comes under this head, no one can think that secrecy, exclusiveness or self-advertisement are in accordance with the best traditions of medicine.

A significant contrast could be drawn between the methods pursued by Dr. Friedmann and those pursued by Paul Ehrlich when he announced his new cure for syphilis. No charge of charlatanism or commercialism could ever be brought against Ehrlich. From the first, the medical world knew all about salvarsan, and knew that it would be put into everyone’s hands as soon as Ehrlich thought it safe to give it out for general use. He insisted that it first must be carefully tested, not by himself alone but by approved clinicians, who would agree to use it only on patients that could be kept under constant supervision in hospitals, and who also would agree to make detailed reports of these cases. After this thorough trying out of the new cure, it was given unreservedly to the medical profession the world over. Undoubtedly Ehrlich could have come to America and reaped golden

profits by keeping the cure in his own hands, for thousands of cases were eager to have it administered.

The Friedmann tuberculin may be what its discoverer claims it is, but the confidence felt in its promoter can never be the same as that which Ehrlich has won.

COURSES ON SEX HYGIENE

ELLIS MEMORIAL CLUB, BOSTON

Last spring I attended in Boston a course of lectures on sex hygiene given expressly for social workers. The course was given at the request of a number who had been meeting for some time previously to discuss “what women social workers can do now to promote a better knowledge of the meaning of sex in life.”

The course was planned by approaching the subject from various aspects, physiological, psychological, neurological, ideal and simply human. Talks were given by people whose interest in the subject was vastly different—physicians, social workers and mothers, and all showed a spirit of earnestness and willingness to help.

The first few lectures were crowded—overcrowded, in fact—which showed the great need people feel in being aided and enlightened on a subject which touches all to some extent.

When the course was over, there was a feeling of disappointment among some who had attended throughout. Many others had dropped out because they “could not give the time as they were not getting out of it what they hoped for.” What did they hope for? The best answer is that when the opportunity for written questions came, nearly all the inquiries were “What shall I say to so and so when she asks so and so?” “What should be said to a young man under such and such circumstances?” and similar definite demands.

That was the point! People so often want absolute information on subjects in which “circumstances alter cases!” No human being can tell any other human being what he or she “should say” to a third person on any subject at any given time. Each of us has to give of his knowledge which is fed by his experience and modified by his temperament. We give this knowledge (if we are wise) to whomsoever happens to need it in such language as shall appeal to his knowledge, apply to his experience and adapt itself to his temperament. We can not learn how to do that at any lecture or set

of lectures, and just as long as we expect it on this or any other subject, we are sure to be disappointed.

The great importance of a right knowledge of sex is borne in upon social workers daily, often hourly, on account of the many people they meet whose lives are exposed to dangers which with either wrong or incomplete knowledge they are not fitted to meet safely. It is frequently the duty of the social worker either to supply the knowledge or help in the situation brought about by lack of it. Often they feel unequal to the task and become morbid over the sorrows brought about by ignorance and their own inability to help matters. Lectures or books on sex hygiene are advertised; to them they turn for assistance. All too often are they disappointed, gaining no concrete knowledge of how to give an answer to problems on their minds at the time. Likewise some people go to a lecture or course given by some one who has been successful in connecting his or her knowledge and experience and giving it out. Afterward they come away thrilled and inspired and proceed to repeat like parrots the words they have heard.

Bitter disappointment at the lack of interest on the part of the audience is the result. I knew of some mothers who attended Laura B. Garrett’s talks in Philadelphia, and came away eager to instruct their children. In each case the result was wholly unsatisfactory. They tried to reproduce Miss Garrett’s words, instead of simply getting knowledge and suggestion from her talks. What they were imparting was not a part of themselves, not their own, therefore not theirs to give.

Miss Garrett has worked out her talks from years of patient, earnest work and hours of thought. She can tell us of her methods and can illustrate, but if we are going to use her methods we have to make them our own first. We must adapt them to our own experience and apply them to the experience of those to whom we are giving them.

The same is true of any other speaker on this subject. There is no fixed method by which a right knowledge of sex in life can be universally taught. We may learn how to teach biology or physiology, or how to adapt the law of life and of coming to life in plants or animals to human laws, but that does not necessarily qualify us to meet the problems of sex in life or to teach others to meet them.

There are a few essentials to the proper teaching of the meaning of sex in life and if we possess these we ought to be able to deal with our problems as they come, if we are capable of using our possessions.

First, a real living belief that our bodies are the “temples of the Holy Spirit,” a belief which applies to all parts and functions of the body and makes it a sacred duty to keep them healthy and clean and strong.

Second, an intelligent knowledge of the body as a machine so that we may use it and not abuse it.

Third, a calm, moderate knowledge of the more common perversions of sex and their relations to other forms of nervous troubles, and a belief in human ability to overcome weakness and sin as well as to cure disease.

These things we can learn and keep on learning at lectures, but how to give them out from our personality to other personalities is for each person his or her own individual problem. It must be solved by bringing his or her own experience of life, plus specific knowledge, plus sympathy, plus common sense, to bear on each problem and so to adapt it to the understanding of the person in question that it will help the existing need.

When the Wise Men of Bethlehem presented gifts, each brought his own gifts, not another’s. They were wise men. If we social workers are wise, we shall cease to try to gain from others words in which to express the knowledge of the meaning of sex in life and will bend our energies to gaining high ideals, simple workable knowledge of the use of the body and the evils of its abuse and an understanding heart and common sense.

Then we shall be able to bring our gifts to this subject and present it to those who need it in such forms as to be practical and effective.

A PLEA FOR COMFORT STATIONS

Surgeon United States Public Health Service

Travelers from almost all foreign countries describe the public convenience stations of foreign cities. In London there are many places where crooked streets converge, leaving perhaps an irregular open space or plaza. These are not all occupied by statues, as the city has attempted to provide comfort for the living as well as honor to the dead. Two modest iron stairways with suitable signs lead to two rooms below ground, one for women, the other for men, where toilets and urinals are found.

On the continent the provisions are usually less complete and in many instances in the eyes of Anglo-Saxon observers seem much too public. For instance in Paris urinals for men are located at convenient points, but some of them only cover the user from the breast to the knees. In Antwerp and Brussels urinals are attached to posts at the edge of the narrow sidewalk, and some of them have no screen at all. In Rotterdam at frequent intervals scrolls of sheet iron shaped somewhat like a letter C are located in the gutters of the sidewalks; the open side of the scroll facing the street. They reach from a point above the head to about a foot from the ground. In Italy there are places, notably Naples, where two slabs of slate set in a wall at an angle serve the purpose of a urinal. They are usually at the entrance to a small street or alley, and are not screened. The custom of ages causes the natives to pass by these without a glance, but to use them is embarrassing to the tourist.

It is not the intention to advocate such crude contrivances, but to present a plea for the establishment at frequent intervals of convenience stations designed for the use of both men and women, and with such surroundings that one may enter and leave without feeling the blush of shame.

Many American cities have provided a few such places, for instance in parks, and some of these are admirable in conception and

in structure; but one cannot always remain near a park, and in winter when the kidneys are most active, these stations are often closed. One of the most practical stations of this kind that I have seen is in the Boston Common. It is underground in a small hill, with a wide stairway leading to it.

As one approaches it he sees that the room is lighted and is lined with white tiling. There are urinals, closets, washstands, and a shoeblacking establishment. It has the appearance of a toilet room in a hotel, and the place is well ventilated and kept clean. I do not recall how it is heated, but such places could be heated with steam from adjacent buildings or by stoves.

Cities must of course consider the economic side of any new enterprise. I believe that such stations, outside of the cost of original construction, could be made almost if not quite self-supporting, in the following way. Lease the shoe-blacking privilege to an individual for a good round fee, said individual to be subject to certain rigid rules and regulations, and the place to be subject to periodical inspections. The lessee should be required to keep the place in perfect sanitary condition. In addition to his income from blacking shoes the lessee might be allowed to rent a few closets, ordinarily kept locked, and charge a small prescribed fee. If the patronage of the station in Boston Common is a criterion it would seem to me that the city could demand a fee from the lessee that would cover all ordinary running expenses.

A woman attendant in the ladies’ station could be allowed the privilege of renting closets, and could also be provided with pins, buttons, and other necessaries such as are kept in the ladies’ waiting rooms at department stores.

As a public health measure the subject must be considered from two standpoints, the health of the individual, and the health of the community.

Physiology teaches us that the normal adult bladder, when fully distended, holds twenty ounces, but that a discomfort begins when it contains more than four ounces. As one advances in years prolonged retention of urine causes ammoniacal decomposition, with consequent irritation of the bladder. If the retention is frequent, disease of the kidneys must follow.

At present in most American cities there are few convenience stations available to the public outside of hotels and saloons. In nearly all hotels one finds a sign stating that the toilet facilities are for the exclusive use of the guests. This makes a stranger feel unwelcome.

Saloons are open to the public, but one dislikes to make use of the sanitary privileges offered without purchasing something. To a man of mature age, who is perhaps in the habit of taking an occasional drink, this phase of the subject has little importance; but for a young man in a strange city, driven for lack of comfort stations into a saloon the question assumes a moral side. The only way to avoid the saloon is to make use of an alley or other dark place, thereby breaking a city ordinance and creating a nuisance which gives the offence a public health aspect. The frequency with which this is done is evidenced by the familiar sign “Commit No Nuisance.” In London I saw a sign that to my mind was much less objectionable and equally effective; it read simply “Decency Forbids.”

The establishment of comfort stations at convenient points would I think contribute greatly to public health.

JOTTINGS

INFANT MORTALITY RATE IN N. Y.

The January Bulletin of the Department of Health in New York city shows that the downward curve of the death rate during 1910 and 1911 was continued in 1912 and that the lowest point ever recorded in the city has been reached. In 1911 the death rate was 15.13 for 1,000, while in 1912 it was 14.11. The difference of 1.02 between the two years means that 5,276 lives were saved in 1912, for, if the rate of 1911 had prevailed last year, New York’s death roll would have been larger by just that number. In analyzing the returns it is found that the decrease has affected those diseases which the Department of Health seeks to control; namely, the acute infectious diseases, tuberculosis of the lungs, and the diarrhoea of children. On the other hand, there is a decided increase in the mortality from those diseases which seem to be peculiar to our modern society and which are not under public health control, organic heart disease and Bright’s disease.

The infant mortality rate is low. Calculated on the basis of reported births the deaths of children under one year number only 105 per thousand born, and in all probability this is a little too high, for New York city does not claim to have more than from 90 to 95 per cent birth registration. The record is encouraging when compared with the figures for Great Britain and Germany. The rate for England and Wales in 1911 was 130; that for Berlin in 1910 was 157.

HEALTH OF LONDON SCHOOL CHILDREN

Only in the last few years has the law required every child attending an elementary school to be physically examined on entering and leaving and, therefore, statistics on the health of school children in England are only now available. About a million and a half children are now examined annually. The report of Sir George

Newman, chief medical officer of the Board of Education for 1911, has just been issued. It shows the condition of 186,652 children in thirteen counties and sixteen urban areas and is far from satisfactory. Only in one urban area did the percentage of “good” nutrition reach 45, and from this figure it ranged down as low as 3.8. Of 200,000 children examined in London more than half were found to be defective and over 78,000 were recommended for treatment. According to this report the malnutrition is due in the great majority of cases to ignorance of the relative value of foodstuffs and the means of using them economically, and only in the minority to poverty. About .5 per cent of the children are feeble-minded and of these about one-seventh are of such low grade as to be uneducable.

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON SCHOOL HYGIENE

The preliminary bulletin of the Fourth International Congress for School Hygiene announces a meeting, which is to be held in Buffalo, N. Y., August 23 to 30 next. The three preceding congresses were held in 1904 in Nuremberg; in 1907 in London, and in 1910 in Paris. The president of the congress is Charles W. Eliot, president emeritus of Harvard University; the vice-presidents are: Dr. W. H, Welch, professor of pathology at Johns Hopkins University and Dr. Henry P. Walcott, chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Health. The lists of vice-presidents and members of the international committee includes the names of some of the foremost men of science in Europe and Asia. Buffalo has raised $40,000 to meet the expenses of the Congress and to entertain the delegates.

3 TO 1 FOR TUBERCULOSIS HOSPITAL

That the people are coming to favor taxing themselves for public measures to control tuberculosis is indicated by a referendum vote on the establishment of a county tuberculosis hospital in eight towns of St. Lawrence county, New York. The public health committee of the board of supervisors failed to draw up a question to be voted upon in all the towns of the county as instructed by the board. But eight town supervisors took an informal vote on the question. The

question carried in all eight towns. The ballots stood more than three to one in the affirmative. This is the first time that this question has been submitted to a vote of the people in New York state. Three of the towns are distinctly rural and only one of the eight communities is a city.

CALENDAR OF CONFERENCES CONFERENCES

A M C

A S C, Birmingham, Ala. April 22–24, 1913. William M. McGrath, Pres., Associated Charities, Birmingham.

B C, N, Detroit, Mich., May 13–20, 1913. Con. Sec’y. Rev. W. C. Bitting, St. Louis.

B, General Assembly of Workers with. Culver, Ind., May 17–30, 1913. Information may be secured from the Boys’ Work Dept., Y. M. C. A., 124 E. 28th Street, New York.

C C, New York City Conference on. May 14–15, 1913. Sec’y, John B. Prest, 287 Fourth Avenue, New York.

C C, Semi-annual Conference, Colorado State Board of. Denver. May 13, 1913. Sec’y, William Thomas, Capitol Building, Denver.

C C, Arkansas Conference of, Little Rock, Ark., May 13–15, 1913. Sec’y, Murray A. Auerbach, Little Rock.

C P, National Conference On. Chicago, May 5–7, 1913. Sec’y, Flavel Shurtlett, 19 Congress Street, Boston.

C H L, Conference on. Portland, Ore., May 9–11, 1913. Information can be secured by addressing Reed College, Portland.

C P, Fifth Annual Conference of National Association for Advancement of. Philadelphia, Pa., April 23–25, 1913. Sec’y, May Childs Nerney, 26 Vesey St., New York City.

J S W, Third Informal Conference, National Association of. Atlantic City, N. J. May 29–30, 1913.

M, National Congress of. Boston, May 15–20, 1913. Sec’y, Mrs. A. A. Birney, 806 Loan and Trust Bldg., Washington, D. C.

P C, Fourth American. St. Louis, Mo., May 1–4, 1913. James E. Smith, Chairman. St. Louis.

P R A A. Richmond, Va., May 6–10, 1913. Sec’y, H. S. Braucher, 1 Madison Avenue, New York.

S S C, Atlanta, Ga., April 25–29, 1913. Gen. Sec’y, J. E. McCulloch, Nashville, Tenn.

W’ C, New Jersey Federation of Atlantic City, May 2 and 3, 1913. Sec’y, Mrs. Joseph M. Middleton, 46 Prospect St., Trenton.

Y M’ C A, International Conference of. Cincinnati, May 15–18, 1913.

LATER MEETINGS

I

B, Fourth Triennial International Conference on the London, England, 1914; probably July 20. Sec’y, Henry Stainsby, 206 Great Portland St., London, W.

C’ W, International Congress for. Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1914. President, Dr. Treub, Huygenstraat 106, Amsterdam.

C C C, World’s. Portland, Ore., June 29–July 6, 1913. Chairman, Rev. James S. Martin, 209 9th St., Pittsburgh, Pa.

F W, International Congress of. Tulsa, Okla., October 22–November 1, 1913. Sec’y, Mrs. John T. Burns, Tulsa, Okla.

H, International Congress on. The Hague, Holland, September 8–13, 1913. Sec’y, M. O. Veighe, director general Ministry of Agriculture, Brussels. Executive secretary section for United States, William H. Tolman, 29 West 39th Street, New York.

I M, English-speaking conference on. London, England. August 4 and 5, 1913. Under auspices of the British National Association for the Prevention of Infant Mortality and for the Welfare of Infancy, London.

P C, Quinquennial. London, Eng., 1915. Sec’y, F. Simon Van der Aa, Groningen, Holland.

S H, Fourth International Congress on. Buffalo, N. Y., Aug. 25–30, 1913. Sec’y Gen., Dr. Thomas A. Storey, College of the City of New York.

S C F, W’, Lake Mohawk, N. Y., June 2–8, 1913. Gen. Sec’y, John R. Mott, 124 East 28th Street,

New York.

S (“Corda Fratres”), Eighth International Congress of. Ithaca, N. Y., August 20–September 13, 1913. Information can be secured by addressing the Cornell Cosmopolitan Club, Ithaca, N. Y.

T P O M L, First International Congress on Art of. Ghent, Belgium, Summer 1913. General Sec’y, Paul Saintenoy, Brussels.

U, International Association on. Ghent, Belgium, September 3–6, 1913. American Section secretary, John B. Andrews, 121 East 23rd St., New York City.

N

C C, National Conference of. Seattle, Wash., July 5–12, 1913. Sec’y, Alexander Johnson, Angola, Ind.

H E, American Association of. Ithaca, N. Y., June 27–July 4, 1913. Information may be secured from Marguerite B. Lake, Forest Hill, Md.

I M, American Association for Study and Prevention of. Fourth annual meeting. Kansas City, Mo., Oct. 23–25, 1913. Exec. Sec’y, Gertrude B. Knipp, 1211 Cathedral St., Baltimore.

M, A A . Thirty-eighth Annual Meeting. Minneapolis, Minn., June 13, 14, 1913.

O C C, American Association of. Fourth Annual Meeting. Springfield, Ill., June 24–26, 1913. Sec’y, W. T. Cross, Columbia, Mo.

P A, A, Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 11–16, 1913. Sec’y, Joseph P. Byers, Trenton, N. J.

S I, First American Conference on. Chicago, Ill., June 6–7, 1913. Sec’y, John B. Andrews, 131 East 23rd St., New York City.

S L

C C, Ohio State Conference of. Akron, O., October, 1913. Sec’y, H. H. Shirer, 1010 Hartman Bldg, Columbus, O.

EXHIBITIONS

I

P-P E, San Francisco, Cal., Feb. 20–Dec. 4, 1915. Social Economy Department—Frank A. Wolff, Washington, D. C.

P-C E, San Diego, Cal., Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 1915. Director of Exhibits, E. L. Hewett, San Diego.

S C F W’, Lake Mohawk, N. Y., June 2–8, 1913. Exhibits including “social study and service.” Gen. Sec’y, John R. Mort, 124 East 28th St., New York.

S H, Fourth International Congress on. Buffalo, N. Y., Aug. 25–30, 1913. Chairman. Committee on Scientific Exhibit, Dr. Fletcher B. Dressler, Bureau of Education, Washington, D. C.

N

C E, N, Knoxville, Tenn., Sept.-Oct., 1913.

L

C W E, New Britain, Conn., April 25–May 2. Sec’y, E. W. Pelton.

T N J. Charts prepared by the Bureau of Municipal Research will be shown at the New Jersey Federation of Women’s Clubs. Atlantic City, May 2 and 3. Sec’y, Mrs. Joseph M. Middleton, 46 Prospect St., Trenton, N. J.

JOTTING

KENTUCKY

SCHOOL LAW

A newly enacted state-wide compulsory school attendance law brings Tennessee into line with its neighbor Kentucky. Attendance at school is required of all between the ages of eight and fourteen and of all between fourteen and sixteen who are not “actively and regularly and lawfully” employed or who are unable to read and write. This new law takes from the map printed in T S of February 15 one of the five gray southern states that have had compulsory attendance only in certain counties.

Is the best Fire Escape in the world too good for you or the children in your care? If not, tell your School Board about the

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THAT the upbringing of the children demands more study than the raising of chickens.

THAT the home-maker should be as alert to make progress in her life work as the business or professional man.—American School of Home Economics.

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THE SPIRIT OF HELPFULNESS

and co-operation pervades our work for the poor. Without this spirit our efforts would go for naught. { inspiration A lack of { companionship { definite purpose often lies behind the need for food or clothing. These it is the constant effort of the Charity Organization Society to supply through the personal encouragement and friendly interest of forty-one experienced visitors and one hundred and eighty volunteer visitors.

The Charity Organization Society 105 EAST 22d STREET

NEW YORK

Two Social Tours IN EUROPE

The pioneer party went last year. Its success will be increased this year.

SAILINGS

June 26 to Copenhagen

June 28 to Hamburg

Several have already enrolled. Full information

DR. E. E. PRATT, 225 Fifth Ave., New York

SAVE CONFUSION—File Manuscripts, Sermons, Clippings, Correspondence. Splendid system. 20 Vol. and Record Book. Free booklet. The Encyclopoedic File, Cleveland, Ohio.

SITUATIONS WANTED

MAN—45—Single,—protestant—twenty years executive in correctional, probation and boy’s work—now engaged—distance not considered. Address 1105 S.

WORKERS WANTED

WANTED a trained a nurse to do visiting nursing and work in the Settlement House. Must have experience in both lines of work. Address 1106 S.

SOCIAL AND CIVIC TOURS OF EUROPE

Social Tour, June 28—$480 Civic Tour, July 2—$600 Send for Programs

First-hand observation of civic, social, and industrial affairs in Germany, France, Belgium, Holland and England

INTERNATIONAL CIVIC BUREAU

1 Madison Avenue, New York

HELP THE SURVEY BY MENTIONING US WHEN WRITING TO ADVERTISERS

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

1. P. 81, added title “The Survey, Volume XXX, No. 3, Apr 19, 1913.”

2. Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in spelling.

3. Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as printed.

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SURVEY, VOLUME 30, NUMBER 3, APR 19, 1913 ***

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