Alterations In Growth Patterns Research Articles

The Effects of Nutrition on Linear Growth.

Linear growth is a complex process and is considered one of the best indicators of children’s well-being and health. Genetics, epigenetics and environment (mainly stress and availability of nutrients) are the main regulators of growth. Nutrition exerts its effects on growth throughout the course of life with different, not completely understood mechanisms. Cells have a sophisticated sensing system, which allows growth processes to occur in the presence of an adequate nutrient availability. Most of the nutritional influence on growth is mediated by hormonal signals, in turn sensitive to nutritional cues. Both macro- and micro-nutrients are required for normal growth, as demonstrated by the impairment of growth occurring when their intake is insufficient. Clinical conditions characterized by abnormal nutritional status, including obesity and eating disorders, are associated with alterations of growth pattern, confirming the tight link between growth and nutrition. The precise molecular mechanisms connecting nutrition to linear growth are far from being fully understood and further studies are required. A better understanding of the interplay between nutrients and the endocrine system will allow one to develop more appropriate and effective nutritional interventions for optimizing child growth.

Ochratoxin A occurrence, its pathological effects on poultry health and decontamination approaches

Mycotoxins are filamentous fungi which can be seen microscopically and they impart adverse effects on poultry health. The occurrence of mycotoxins in poultry feed imparts adverse effects not only to the birds’ health but also causes huge economic losses by affecting feed conversion ratio, production of meat and eggs,and also responsible for histopathological changes in lymphoid organs of chicken. More than 300 different species of mycotoxins have been reported from which the ochratoxin and aflatoxins are the most harmful for poultry industry. Among ochratoxins, especially the Ochratoxin A (OTA) is produced from Aspergillus Ochraceus and and Penicillium verrucosum species as storage fungi inside stored drains and feed ingredients. The ochratoxicity is a dose-dependent factor and hits the immune system of birds besides decreased feed intake and decreased body weight. Higher doses of OTA toxicity resulted in deterioration of egg shell quality and hatchability in layers and breeders. Histopathological profile of ochratoxicity affected birds showed severe to moderate changes in the kidney, bursa of Fabricius, liver, thymus, spleen, heart, and lungs depending on dosage. In this review article, an attempt has been made to concise the OTA associated alterations in growth pattern, production index, biochemical changes and histopathological profile of the poultry. The current approaches and agents (Vitamin-E, Silymarin), which are being used to reduce the effects of OTA toxicity in birds, have also been discussed.

The Dual-Specificity LAMMER Kinase Affects Stress-Response and Morphological Plasticity in Fungi.

The morphological plasticity of fungal pathogens has long been implicated in their virulence and is often influenced by extracellular factors. Complex signal transduction cascades are critical for sensing stresses imposed by external cues such as antifungal drugs, and for mediating appropriate cellular responses. Many of these signal transduction cascades are well-conserved and involve in the distinct morphogenetic processes during the life cycle of the pathogenic fungi. The dual-specificity LAMMER kinases are evolutionarily conserved across species ranging from yeasts to mammals and have multiple functions in various physiological processes; however, their functions in fungi are relatively unknown. In this review, we first describe the involvement of LAMMER kinases in cell surface changes, which often accompany alterations in growth pattern and differentiation. Then, we focus on the LAMMER kinase-dependent molecular machinery responsible for the stress responses and cell cycle regulation. Last, we discuss the possible cross-talk between LAMMER kinases and other signaling cascades, which integrates exogenous and host signals together with genetic factors to affect the morphological plasticity and virulence in fungi.

Growth in patients with type 1 diabetes.

As the incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1DM) continues to rise, complications including impairment of childhood growth remain a major concern. This review provides an overview of alterations in growth patterns before and after the onset of T1DM. Recent advances in this field include several prospective investigations of height and weight trajectories in children leading up to the development of islet autoimmunity and T1DM as well as evaluations of larger cohorts of T1DM patients to better assess predictors of altered growth. In addition, genetic and metabolic investigations have improved our understanding of the more rare severe growth impairment of Mauriac Syndrome. Despite advances in medical care of children with T1DM, growth remains suboptimal in this population and likely reflects ongoing metabolic derangement linked with classic microvascular diabetic complications.

Divergent selection for shape of the growth curve in Japanese quail. 8. Effect of long-term selection on embryonic development and growth

1. Changes in embryonic development and growth were analysed in relation to direct changes in postnatal growth and correlated responses in egg parameters using Japanese quail lines selected for more than 30 generations for high (HG) and low (LG) relative gain of body weight (BW) between 11 and 28 d of age, and constant BW at 49 d of age.2. During the first 42 h as well as at the end of incubation, LG embryos were developmentally accelerated in comparison with their HG counterparts. An expected increase of line divergence across generations was observed only in traits analysed at the end of incubation.3. In contrast to early generations, LG embryos continuously exhibited a higher BW than HG embryos and this difference temporarily disappeared only around incubation d 8. Analogous to early generations, the HG compared with LG embryos showed two periods of transient growth retardation compensated subsequently by a higher growth rate (incubation d 3–8 and 8–16).4. More pronounced growth retardation of HG versus LG embryos in late versus early generations corresponded to more distinct decrease of HG versus LG growth rate during the first post-hatch days. Likewise, a disappearance of line BW differences on incubation d 8 characterising the late generations corresponded to the elimination of line differences in adult BW.5. Alterations of growth pattern were associated with changes of egg size. While HG quail maintained a relatively constant adult BW and egg size across generations, the gradually increasing incidence of large eggs in the LG line allowed selection of birds with higher growth potential, which in turn amplified the line differences in the embryonic BW and eliminated the line differences in adult BW. Line differences in egg composition (larger albumen with lower density in LG compared with HG eggs) apparently contributed to the strengthening of line developmental divergence during incubation.6. Transient lack of nutrient supply to HG embryos due to their developmental delay is probably responsible for a higher HG versus LG embryo mortality.

Involvement of DNA methylation in the control of cell growth during heat stress in tobacco BY-2 cells.

The alteration of growth patterns, through the adjustment of cell division and expansion, is a characteristic response of plants to environmental stress. In order to study this response in more depth, the effect of heat stress on growth was investigated in tobacco BY-2 cells. The results indicate that heat stress inhibited cell division, by slowing cell cycle progression. Cells were stopped in the pre-mitotic phases, as shown by the increased expression of CycD3-1 and by the decrease in the NtCycA13, NtCyc29 and CDKB1-1 transcripts. The decrease in cell length and the reduced expression of Nt-EXPA5 indicated that cell expansion was also inhibited. Since DNA methylation plays a key role in controlling gene expression, the possibility that the altered expression of genes involved in the control of cell growth, observed during heat stress, could be due to changes in the methylation state of their promoters was investigated. The results show that the altered expression of CycD3-1 and Nt-EXPA5 was consistent with changes in the methylation state of the upstream region of these genes. These results suggest that DNA methylation, controlling the expression of genes involved in plant development, contributes to growth alteration occurring in response to environmental changes.

Plasma 25(OH)D concentration in children with autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a class of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairments in communication and social reciprocity, and by the presence of restricted and repetitive interests and behaviors.1 The prevalence of ASD is currently estimated to be 6.7 per 1000 school-age children in the United States,2 making ASD and co-occurring conditions an important public health issue. One condition that may occur more often in children with ASD than in children with typical development is vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, long known to be important in calcium homeostasis and bone health. As evidence has accumulated that vitamin D receptors are present in a wide variety of tissues, vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in numerous disease states.3 Having ASD could potentially put a child at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency secondary to dietary restrictions or decreased exposure to sunlight. Children with ASD may limit their own diet because of sensory aversions or restricted interests. The diet may also be restricted by parents to eliminate exposure to certain dietary proteins, such as the milk protein casein, in an attempt to treat the ASD symptoms.4 Children with ASD may have decreased exposure to sunlight because their after-school hours are often devoted to table-based therapies, they do not commonly participate in organized outdoor sports, and their preferred leisure activities often involve video game, computer, or TV screens in an indoor setting. We previously reported that children with ASD have decreased mean metacarpal bone cortical thickness (BCT) compared with a reference population.5 Based on this, our overarching hypothesis is that children with ASD are at risk of decreased bone mineral density compared with typically developing children. For this study our focus was limited to one component contributing to bone mineral density, vitamin D. The aim was to test the hypothesis that children with ASD have a lower concentration of circulating vitamin D – plasma 25(OH)D. We compared plasma concentration of 25(OH)D in Caucasian males with and without ASD and 25(OH)D concentration in males with ASD with and without a casein-free diet.

Effect of waste engine oil on phytoplankton of the Calabar River Estuary, Nigeria

The effect of waste lubrication oil on phytoplankton of the Calabar River Estuary has been examined under static conditions in the laboratory. Significant growth inhibitions and growth pattern alterations as well as susceptibility to bacterial attack were observed in the dominant diatom species- Actinocyclus and Aulocadiscus species during a 5 day exposure to concentrations of the oil ranging from 14.5 to 58 ppm. Oil treatment also resulted in growth enhancements in nanoflagellate population. Considering the importance of diatoms to organic carbon and oxygen supply in the Calabar River and associated Cross River Estuary, their destruction by oil and/succession by flagellates will result in negative consequences for fisheries and overall ecology of the system. The high toxicity of the waste oil even at low concentrations of total hydrocarbons calls for a re-appraisal of the permissible levels of total hydrocarbons in Nigerian inland waters currently put at 10 ppm. Key Words: Waste lubricating oil, Phytoplankton, toxicity, Calabar River Estuary. [Global Jnl Environ Sci Vol.2(2) 2003: 112-117]

FITOTOXICIDADE DE FUNGICIDAS, ACARICIDAS E INSETICIDAS, SOBRE O MAMOEIRO (Carica papaya L.) CULTIVAR SUNRISE SOLO IMPROVED LINE 72/12 EM CONDIÇÕES DE CAMPO

A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo estudar os efeitos fitotóxicos de fungicidas, acaricidas e inseticidas e algumas associações entre eles, em plantas de mamoeiros (Carica papaya L.) cv. Sunrise Solo Improved Line 72/12, em condições de campo, no município de São Mateus -- ES, pertencente à maior região produtora do Estado. O experimento foi arranjado em delineamento de blocos casualizados, com 4 repetições e 03 plantas úteis por parcela. Foram utilizados os seguintes produtos, com as respectivas doses, para cada 100 L de água: chlorothalonil (Daconil PM-200g); mancozeb (Dithane PM -- 200g); oxicloreto de cobre (Reconil -- 400g); thiabendazole (Tecto 450 -- 100ml); dicofol + tetradifon (Carbax -- 200ml); triazophós (Hostathion 400 BR -- 150ml); óxido de fenbutatina (Torque 500 SC -- 60ml); e abamectin (Vertimec 18 CE -- 50ml): Analisou-se a fitotoxicidade dos produtos testados, em relação à altura da planta, nº de folhas, número de flores e frutos ; diâmetro do caule e queimaduras ou injúrias foliares. As datas das avaliações foram: 01 dia antes das pulverizações, 15 dias e 30 dias após as mesmas. Os fungicidas Daconil BR, Reconil e Tecto 450; o fungicida acaricida Dithane PM; os acaricidas Carbax e Torque 500 SC; e o inseticida-acaricida Vertimec 18 CE, aplicados isoladamente, não afetaram o crescimento e a produção das plantas, nem causaram injúrias nas folhas das mesmas. A associação de fungicidas e fungicida-acaricida, com os acaricidas, ou inseticida-acaricida, não mostrou nenhum efeito fitotóxico sobre os parâmetros de crescimento avaliados, nem causaram queimaduras ou injúrias foliares.

Effect of pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone on metabolism and aerobic endurance capacity.

Pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone are three carbon compounds that when infused directly into the blood or taken orally produce strong metabolic effects. When chronically fed to animals as part of their diet, pyruvate plus dihydroxyacetone reduce the rate of weight gain and body fat content during growth. These alterations in growth pattern appear to be the result of an increased loss of calories as heat at the expense of storage of lipid. Pyruvate-dihydroxyacetone supplementation has also been found to improve the insulin sensitivity of insulin resistant rats and reduce plasma cholesterol levels induced by a high cholesterol diet as well as lower blood pressure and heart rate in obese individuals. When infused in rats during prolonged treadmill running, pyruvate reduced run time to exhaustion by approximately 67%. However, when provided as an oral supplement for several days, it has enhanced aerobic endurance capacity. The mechanism of action is unclear, but available data suggest that the increase in performance following pyruvate-dihydroxyacetone supplementation may be a result of an increased reliance on blood glucose, thus sparing muscle glycogen. In summary, chronic supplementation of pyruvate-dihydroxyacetone may be beneficial from a preventive medicine prospective as well as for certain athletic endeavors.

Effect of pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone on metabolism and aerobic endurance capacity

Effect of pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone on metabolism and aerobic endurance capacity. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 30, No. 6, pp. 837-843, 1998. Pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone are three carbon compounds that when infused directly into the blood or taken orally produce strong metabolic effects. When chronically fed to animals as part of their diet, pyruvate plus dihydroxyacetone reduce the rate of weight gain and body fat content during growth. These alterations in growth pattern appear to be the result of an increased loss of calories as heat at the expense of storage of lipid. Pyruvate-dihydroxyacetone supplementation has also been found to improve the insulin sensitivity of insulin resistant rats and reduce plasma cholesterol levels induced by a high cholesterol diet as well as lower blood pressure and heart rate in obese individuals. When infused in rats during prolonged treadmill running, pyruvate reduced run time to exhaustion by approximately 67%. However, when provided as an oral supplement for several days, it has enhanced aerobic endurance capacity. The mechanism of action is unclear, but available data suggest that the increase in performance following pyruvate-dihydroxyacetone supplementation may be a result of an increased reliance on blood glucose, thus sparing muscle glycogen. In summary, chronic supplementation of pyruvate-dihydroxyacetone may be beneficial from a preventive medicine prospective as well as for certain athletic endeavors.

Ethanol neuronotoxicity in the embryonic chick brain in ovo and in culture: Interaction of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)

The present study was undertaken to investigate the involvement of NCAM in the neuroteratogenic effects of ethanol demonstrated by us and others. In the first experiment we examined the effect of in-ovo ethanol exposure on expression of NCAM in various regions of the embryonic CNS throughout development. Chick embryos received ethanol (10 mg/50 μl/day) or saline (control) at days 1–3 of development (E1–E3), were sacrificed at various embryonic ages and whole brain (WB), cerebral hemispheres (CH) and cerebellum (CE) processed for SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The normal developmental profile of NCAM in the chick brain exhibited the same dynamics as previously reported by others. When compared to age-matched control brains, an increase was observed in expression of high molecular weight forms of NCAM in cerebral hemispheres between E8 and E10. These bands represented highly sialated (> 180 kDa) forms of NCAM. In fact, the NCAM band from ethanol-treated embryos at E8 migrated at a higher molecular weight than did its control counterpart, indicating an increase in sialic acid content. In contrast, no clear change was observed in NCAM expression in cerebellum from E10 through E20 as a result of ethanol exposure. In the second experiment, we examined the involvement of NCAM in the alterations in neuronal growth patterns observed in ethanol-exposed cultures. Neuroblast-enriched cultures derived from three-day-old whole chick embryos (E3WE) were maintained on poly-l-lysine pre-coated Petri dishes in DMEM + 5% fetal bovine serum with or without 50 mM ethanol. Cultures were fixed at 3, 6 or 9 DIV and co-stained for NCAM and neurofilament (160 kDa). E3WE cultures exhibited intense NCAM immunoreactivity at 3 and 6 DIV decreasing by 9 DIV. NCAM positive structures included all neuronal perikarya, neuritic processes and growth cones. Addition of 50 mM ethanol to the medium resulted in profound alterations in growth patterns of developing neurons which continued to exhibit intense NCAM staining. Ethanol-induced changes in the developmental profile of NCAM expression (i.e. increased sialation) in cerebral hemispheres correspond temporally with the shift in neuronal phenotype from cholinergic to catecholaminergic and GABAergic which we have reported previously. Changes in the normal pattern of cellular contact and interaction as a result of altered NCAM expression may influence establishment of neurotransmitter phenotype. Findings from this study support the view that NCAM may be involved both directly and indirectly in shaping of the CNS during development and we speculate that ethanol neuroembryotoxicity uncouples this relationship.

Imaging of the P-glycoprotein in normal and multidrug-resistant small-cell lung carcinoma cells with the Atomic-Force Microscope(AFM)

Cancer is characterized by the often rapid and uncontrolled rate of cell growth. This alteration in growth pattern causes normal cells to become tumor cells. After undergoing a period of chemotherapy, some tumor cells become resistant to a variety of drugs, a phenomenon known as the multidrug resistance (MDR). One explanation for this change is the overexpression of P-glycoprotein in the drug-resistant cells. This membrane protein is capable of pumping drugs into the extracellular medium. Since the drugs do not accumulate, the tumor cells are not killed. In order to examine this protein, a contact mode AFM was used to image the cell membranes of both the normal and the MDR tumor cells. The four figures provided show the topographical information of the membranes and suggest that there are differences between the cell lines.

Growth of Cottontail Rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) in Response to Ancillary Sodium

A field investigation of sodium nutriture of cottontail rabbits was conducted at the Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area, Edinburgh, Indiana, from 1985 to 1987. Eight 20-ha grids, comprising four replicates of two treatments, control and sodium-provisioned, were established in spring 1985. Provision of ancillary sodium was not initiated until spring 1986 to allow assessment of extant differential growth by treatment area prior to experimental manipulation. Cross-sectional data relating to growth was obtained from specimens collected at an annual-hunt check station. An integrated-sigmoidal Richards function was used to model growth of rabbits. The effect of years was tested among controls; growth did not differ for either males or females between sampling years. Prior to the initiation of sodium provision neither sex of rabbit displayed any differential pattern of growth based upon harvest location. Following provision of ancillary sodium there was no discernible alteration of growth pattern within males. However, among females asymptotic weight and growth period increased, while the shape parameter of the growth function decreased. Sodium deprivation, exacerbated by maternal reproductive investment, may require increased energetic expenditure to maintain sodium-related homeostasis, which is expressed in less than optimal growth.

Comparison of features of carcinogen-transformed human cells in vitro with sarcoma-derived cells

To define characteristics of chemically transformed phenotypes during and after progression to neoplasia and to assess their relationship to those phenotypes expressed by surgically removed sarcoma lesions, we compared the characteristics in the following manner. We investigated: (1) alterations in growth patterns; (2) anchorage-independent growth; (3) reactivity with monoclonal antibodies directed against surface antigen; (4) invasiveness in embryonic chick skin; (5) tumorigenicity in nude mice; and (6) karyology. Fifty different sarcoma cell lines were examined which exhibited different rates and absolute numbers of population doublings. With one exception, all sarcoma cell lines exhibited a finite life span ranging from 60 to 100 population doublings. Populations of these cells that exhibited anchorage-independent growth in soft agar also reacted positively with a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) 345.134S directed against a 115K-GP cell surface glycoprotein. Similarly, chemically transformed cells that grew in soft agar also reacted with the MoAb 345.134S, whereas cells with an inability to grow in soft agar did not. Cell lines established from human sarcoma and from chemically transformed human fibroblasts that reacted positively with the MoAb 345.134S were invasive for embryonic chick skin and formed tumors in nude mice. The selection medium used during culture of the carcinogen-treated cells resulted in the appearance of an altered phenotype that after at least 16 population doublings exhibited characteristics common to those cells derived from human sarcomas.

GONADAL AND SOMATROPIC FUNCTIONS OF 13 CHILDREN AFTER BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

The long term efficiency of bone-marrow transplantation in children has to be judged both on the survival rate and on the importance of potential side effects. Alteration of growth pattern and of the gonadal and thyroid functions has been reported. 13 patients, 7 M and 6 F, aged 4y9m to 21y8m (mean = 11y2m) have been examined 9m to 3y5m (mean = 1y4m) after bone-marrow transplantation (9 allo, 4 auto) for the treatment of ALL in 6, lymphoma in 2, AHL in 2, aplastic anaemia in 2 and Chediak-Higashi in 1. Growth velocity was found below the 5th percentile in 9 with height below the 3th percentile in 4. It was a trend to find lower growth velocity among patients with allotransplantation and TBI. Evidences of gonadal dysfunction were found in 5 cases. The 8 other patients were too youg to allow conclusion. The somatropin (GH) secretion judged on the phamacological responses was fully normal in 6, deficient in 3 and border line in 4 patients. 9 of the 10 patients with decreased responses were explored for the nocturnal GH secretion pattern. Only 2 have a normal secretion, 4 have a decreased peak and 3 decreased peak and integrated secretion. The patients given total body irradiation tend to have a lower GH secretion. Such changes require a mandatory endocrinological follow-up for early diagnosis and treatment if necessary to allow a normal subsequent physical development.

Abortive infection with human cytomegalovirus induces an alteration of growth pattern: morphological changes with cytocidal effect in rabbit kidney epithelial cells. Brief report.

Rabbit kidney epithelial cells (RK13) exhibited a cytopathic effect (CPE) characterized by cell rounding after infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Although HCMV-specific immediate early and early antigens were detected by indirect immunofluorescence techniques, neither late antigens nor infectious progeny virus could be observed in virus-infected RK13 cells. HCMV-infected RK13 cells showed a prolonged doubling time and a decreased saturation density in cell growth compared to uninfected control cells. Moreover, colony forming ability (CFA) of virus-infected cells decreased by approximately 70 per cent compared to that of uninfected cells during the first 24 hours after infection. These results indicate that an abortive infection of RK13 cells with HCMV induces an alteration of growth pattern including morphological changes with cytocidal effect.

Effect of Temperature on the Morphology and Cytokinin Levels of Tobacco Crown Gall Teratoma Tissues

Summary The cytokinin contents of cultured tobacco crown gall teratoma tissue are reduced when the temperature is raised from 27° C to 34°C. Also, the growth pattern is altered at 34°C in that the tumor shoots express increased elongation and apical dominance, and, in one teratoma line, root formation occurs. When 34°C-cultured tumor shoots are grafted to normal stock plants, the tumor shoots resume a normal growth pattern. The alteration of growth patterns at 34°C can be prevented by supplying the tissues with exogenous cytokinin. Additionally, normal cultured tobacco tissues supplied with high amounts of cytokinin exhibit the morphological characteristics of teratomas. These results indicate that the decrease in cytokinin levels is responsible for the morphological changes at elevated temperature and support the view (Wullens et al., Cell, 24 (1981) 719) that at standard culture temperatures the high cytokinin content of teratomas is responsible for the lack of apical dominance and rooting in tumor shoots.

Gene expression of transformed lens cells

In addition to our SV40-transformed hamster cell line (Bloemendal et al. 1980), two otherlenticular cell lines have been established. One was obtained by transformation of hamster lens cells with the carcinogen 3-methylcholanthrene, the other one by transformation of calf lens cells with SV40. The transformed cells revealed alterations in growth pattern and morphology, but only minor changes in gene expression. However, crystallin synthesis ceased in all cases. We hypothesize that elongation of the lens cells in vitro reflects a transition into fibroblast-like cells.

Concanavalin A-Induced Agglutinability of Normal, Preneoplastic, and Neoplastic Mouse Mammary Cells<xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2">2</xref>

The concanavalin A (Con A)-induced agglutinability of normal, preneoplastic, and neoplastic mouse mammary epithelial cells was examined. Cells freshly dissociated from normal mammary glands, hyperplastic alveolar nodules, or primary mammary adenocarcinomas by collagenase digestion in the presence of bovine serum albumin were strongly agglutinated by low concentrations of Con A. After short-term culture in vitro, however, cells from all three types of tissue were only weakly agglutinated by Con A, as measured by both suspension and hemadsorption assays. By comparison, cells of three established mammary tumor culture lines agglutinated strongly in the presence of the lectin. Treatment of the normal, preneoplastic, and neoplastic mammary cells in primary cultures with either trypsin or collagenase had little or no effect on their agglutinability, whereas hyaluronidase significantly increased their reactivity. Studies with fluorescein-tagged Con A indicated that all three cell types were capable of binding the lectin. The results were consistent with previous evidence suggesting that neoplastic transformation of mouse mammary epithelial cells is not manifested in vitro by several of the alterations in growth patterns, intercellular interactions, and surface properties that usually accompany transformation of fibroblastic cells.