derivatives—rescinnamine, deserpedine, a n d isoreserpine, for example—which s h o w activity. He also is looking into a g e n t s to counteract depression.
RESEARCH Purpose Here-Just Think Colgate's division o f d e n t a l medicine is d e s i g n e d f o r basic research in o r a l h e a l t h ; a new i d e a , says c o m p a n y J\
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE
reads a research report.
executive
It summarizes:
• Developed inbred colomes of caries-susceptible Mongolian gerbils (a rare rodent used in r e s e a r c h ) . • Continued to probe periodontal (gum) diseases. • Continued oral cancer studies. Strange findings for an industrial research lab? Not exactly, for t h e report would come from Colgate's division of dental medicine. Its objective: Think —about basic problems in oral health. Where? On t h e Rutgers University campus, unimpeded by industrial research demands. Colgate, along with Rutgers, set u p its dental research a r m several months ago. T h e company says it is the first industry-run facility of its kind. R e search workers there a r e concerned with basic studies such as t h e origin of periodontal disease, cause of dental decay, a n d the role of nutrition in dental health. • No Hurry f o r A n s w e r s . So far the division has n o t turned u p any outstanding developments, b u t this doesn't bother Colgate too m u c h . T h e a i m is fundamental research, a l o n g term affair. T h e company will p l a y it that way. Now, 15 scientists recruited from schools throughout t h e w o r l d work in problems of their choosing. Each has a specialty, such as histochemistry, biochemistry, or pharmacology. No p r e s sure is put on these research workers to produce results i n any given t i m e period. Colgate does hope, however, to get some benefits which can be p u t to practical use. T h e firm has been active in dental research for many years. Mostly, w o r k was aimed at improved dentifrices and studies were often exploratory, seeking basic chemical data. These efforts did lead t o sodium-N-lauryl sarcosinate (Gardol) in 1952. More recently it led to sodium fluoride's u s e in tooth paste, Colgate says. Besides having its own l a b projects, Colgate gives financial aid to d e n t a l researcn programs in many universities. 24
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And on a regular basis consultants a r e called upon t o discuss approaches. Missing, though, from the company's dental research w e r e basic oral health studies, now a reality via the newly created division. • i d e a E x c h a n g e . Important t o Colgate's thinking, t h e n e w division will provide a means for company research a n d development chemists t o exchange information with scientists—industrial a n d academic—in diverse fields. For Rutgers, there's profit, t o o . G r a d u a t e students may b e employed a t t h e division. Also, i t means support for research projects. And, t h e Rutgers b u r e a u of biological research, also l o cated o n the c a m p u s , c a n work closely with t h e division's staff. For t h e past few years, Colgate a n d t h e bureau have t e a m e d u p on several research problems. With t h e division "on campus" still closer cooperation is expected.
Antileukemic Compounds Reserpine a n d r e l a t e d compounds show activity a g a i n s t a d v a n c e d leukemia in mice VJNLY
A F E W DRUGS,
such
as
ame-
thopterin a n d 6-mercaptopurine, c a n increase the survival time of mice with advanced leukemia. To these, researchers at National Institutes of H e a l t h have a d d e d a n e w type—reserpine a n d its derivatives. Although reserpine is not as effective as amethopterin, NIH's Clinical C e n t e r is watching t h e laboratory work and m a y undertake studies on humans. Since large doses of reserpine change metabolism markedly, Abraham Goldin and associates decided to see if reserpine might c h a n g e t h e metabolism of a tumor more than that of normal cells and so be detrimental t o t h e tumor. In Science, Jan. 25, t h e scientists say t h a t a single treatment of reserpine increased almost threefold t h e remaining lifetime of mice with advanced leukemia. Survival time increases with dose. Frequently, t h e local tumor w h e r e the leukemia cells h a d been injected disappeared completely. However, systemic infiltration was n o t completely stopped. At doses higher than normally used for tranquilizing, the animals are severely depressed. However, amphetamine can counteract t h e depression. Goldin is now studying reserpine
Medfly on the Run A synthetic insect attractant discove r e d at t h e last minute saved the day in t h e USDA's fight against t h e Mediterranean fruit fly. The synthetic rep l a c e d angelica-seed oil just as the natural material w a s about to run out. Less than a m o n t h before t h e Medfly outbreak in Florida, the U S D A found that the oil w a s an effective attractant to male Medflies. T h e o i l was used in t r a p s to show rapidly a n d accurately the presence of Medflies in a specific a r e a . State a n d federal officials then k n e w where t o concentrate aerial a n d ground sprayings with malathion to kill Medflies. Just a s angelica-seed supplies were dwindling, U S D A discovered a series of n e w acid esters t o act a s attractants. T h e isopropyl ester of 6-methyl-3-cyclohexene-1-carboxylic acid proved best. Carbide and C a r b o n Chemicals organized a crash program t o m a k e the synthetic in quantity. First deliveries w e r e in mid-December. T h o u g h n o t as effective as angelicaseed oil, the synthetic, says U S D A , has some advantages—its price is lower and, as a single compound, i t is more uniform a n d stable t h a n n a t u r a l attractants. U S D A is looking for still b e t t e r materials a n d also trying t o find out the angelica-seed component t h a t attracts Medflies.
New Purdue Research P u r d u e h a s established a Thermophysical Properties Research Center. Its long-range objectives: • To serve as a world center for collection, analysis, correlation, and dissemination of data on tihermophysical properties. • To provide u n i q u e facilities a n d opportunities for g r a d u a t e study a n d r e search o n thermophysical properties. I n its first three years, t h e program will be confined t o these properties: thermal conductivity, viscosity, specific heat, t h e r m a l emissivity, absorptivity a n d reflectivity, mass diffusivity, therm a l diffusivity, a n d Prandtl n u m b e r . To start with, t h e program will study t h e technically m o r e important m a t e rials. The program is budgeted a t $75,000 annually for each of its first three years. Already enrolled as founder sponsors a r e American Iron and Steel Institute, Babcock & Wilcox, Bell T e l e p h o n e
