The clinical efficacy and cost analysis of cranial computed tomography and the radionuclide brain scan. Cranial computed tomography (CCT) has already been demonstrated to provide significant diagnostic information in patients with neurologic disease and to reduce the need for special neuroradiologic procedures. The important question remaining is: Should CCT replace the radionuclide brain scan (RBS) as the first diagnostic study in most patients with suspected intracranial pathology? Data are now available to define the costs and benefits of this substitution. The technical costs of CCT have been determined by a national survey and have shown to be $130 per patient at a volume of 50 patients per week. The costs of RBS at the Mallinckrodt Institute have been estimated at $51 per patient. Data from the literature indicate that CCT is slightly more sensitive and considerably more accurate than RBS. Eighteen to twenty-eight percent of patients studied by CCT and RBS have abnormalities (e.g. cerebral atrophy and ventricular dilatation) that are only detected by CCT, and the overall accuracy of CCT is 95%, while the accuracy of RBS is approximately 70%. Substituting CCT for RBS is cost-beneficial. Although CCT is more costly, it increases overall accuracy by approximately 25%. The cost benefit is further increased by the reduction of complicated diagnostic procedures (and associated hospitalization and morbidity) and improvement in diagnostic information for the individual patient. Substituting CCT for RBS may not be more costly because a positive RBS will be followed by CCT (because of increased diagnostic information), and a negative RBS may be followed by CCT (because of increased accuracy), whereas a positive or negative CCT is unlikely to be followed by RBS.


Unusual fractures during convulsions in two patients with renal osteodystrophy. Two men undergoing chronic hemodialysis sustained unusual fractures during grand mal convulsions. Both patients showed radiologic evidence of renal osteodystrophy. In one, the fractures involved both femoral necks. In the other, a comminuted fracture occurred in the inferior portion of the left scapula.


Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with gold. There have been three important double-blind studies evaluating the use of gold therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. Patients treated with gold have decreased number of joints with synovitis, decreased ring size, increased grip strength, and roentgenographic evidence of arrest or decrease in the progression of skeletal lesions. If a patient with active synovitis does not respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs after four months of treatment, he is a candidate for gold therapy. Maintenance gold therapy has been shown to sustain clinical improvement. Patients must be monitored with appropiate laboratory tests.


Chronic radiation enteritis complicating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A case of radiation enteritis in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is described. The patient's complaints suggested recurrence of her lymphoma and radiographic studies were nondiagnostic of radiation-induced enteritis, delaying diagnosis and appropriate therapy. An inadvertent error in radiotherapy technic and fibrous adhesions resulting from the staging laparotomy contributed to the radiation injury. Radiation enteritis is a rare complication of irradiation of abdominal lymphoma, but it must be considered by physicians who encounter a similar situation.


The economics of caring for the aged.

The economics of caring for the aged. Certain aspects of the economics of caring for the aged in South Africa are considered. The few years before an accelerated growth rate of the population in South Africa takes place should be used to prepare the economic and other resources of the country. The increasing per capita income of the non-White population should supply the resources to meet the needs of its aged. The use of various accommodations facilities is reviewed. Guidance of medical and paramedical experts, who are specially trained to care for the aged, is needed.


Experimental pulmonary nocardiosis in monkeys. The study describes an easy and reproducible technique of producing pulmonary nocardiosis in monkeys, yielding consistent morbidity and mortality results. Introduction of the fungal suspension into the lower canaliculus, with or without debridement of the canalicular epithelium, produced fatal pneumonitis in 1-2 weeks. Specificity of the lesions was determined by demonstration of Nocardia in tissue sections and in culture.


Identification and purification of the specific antigen of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis responsible for immunoelectrophoretic band E. A new purified antigen (E2) of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis mycelial growth phase was isolated by immunoadsorption from a crude metabolic soluble extract of the fungus. The antiserum prepared in a rabbit by inoculation of E2 antigen developed only one immunodiffusion line with the crude metabolic extract. Findings on immunological analysis showed that E2 antigen is the antigenic component of immunoelectrophoretic band E. The isolated antigens did not possess detectable alkaline phosphatase activity. It reacted in immunodiffusion tests with all the sera (14/14) from P. brasiliensis infected patients containing precipitating antibodies.


Antibiotics in trauma.

Antibiotics in trauma. The injured patient frequently develops serious infection. Prophylactic antibiotics can decrease the rate of acquisition of certain infections in the trauma patient. Hospital-acquired infection with resistant microorganisms is an increasing problem. Antibiotics may predispose the patient to certain serious infections. An understanding of the biology of infectious diseases and the clinical pharmacology of antibiotics helps the surgeon treat infection correctly.


The current status of protein sparing.

The current status of protein sparing. Solutions of crystalline amino acids infused without dextrose produce a marked improvement in nitrogen balance. Increasing the infusion level of amino acid from 1.0 to 1.7 grams per kilogram further improves nitrogen balance. The addition of dextrose to the amino acid solutions did not affect nitrogen balance and proved that the role of insulin during protein sparing has been overemphasized. Nitrogen balance is slightly, but not significantly, superior when nonprotein dextrose calories are administered. However, amino acid solutions are isotonic and can be infused peripherally, whereas adding dextrose doubles the concentration and renders peripheral infusion more difficult. Protein sparing may be useful for short term nutritional support when the potential risks of total parenteral hyperalimentation are not justified. Endogenous body fat is mobilized. Hence, protein sparing also prevents the development of fatty acid deficiency and may be useful in treating fatty infiltration of the liver. Protein sparing provides suboptimal caloric replacement and should only be used for temporary nutritional support until oral alimentation is resumed or until there is an absolute indication for intravenous hyperalimentation. Expense and the fact that most patients do well after elective abdominal operations militate against the proposition that amino acids should become a routine substitute for 5 per cent dextrose therapy post-operatively.


Giant fusiform middle cerebral aneurysm: successful treatment utilizing microvascular bypass. A case of giant middle cerebral fusiform aneurysm is presented. The aneurysm was treated by superficial temporal-middle cerebral artery anastomosis and obliteration of the aneurysm by trapping. The application of extracranial to intracranial anastomosis to the problem is discussed.


Somatosensory evoked potentials, cerebral blood flow and metabolism following cerebral missile trauma in monkeys. Somato sensory evoked potentials (SEP), cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolism were studied in seven rhesus monkeys before and after a right occipito-frontal missile injury with an air rifle. The sensory evoked potential was present shortly after injury though markedly altered in shape. There was a very close correlation (r2 equal to 0.83) between SEP and cerebral blood flow on the uninjured side five minutes after injury. On the injured side, this was also noted but the amplitude of the SEP was much smaller, perhaps due to direct injury. If the flow in either hemisphere fell below 15-20 mls/100 gm/min, the evoked response disappeared, but in several animals a subsequent increase in flow was associated with a return of electrical activity. There was no correlation with cerebral perfusion pressure or cerebral metabolic rates for oxygen or lactate production, though it is likely that this is not due to physiological reasons but rather methodological. It might be inferred from these results that adequate flow is vital for the preservation and return of electrical activity following brain injury.


[A case of anthrax in a dog (author's transl)]. A case of anthrax in a dog is described. The origin of infection, clinical symptoms and post mortem changes are discussed. B. anthracis was found in the carbuncle of the stomach wall, mesenterial lymphnodes, blood, liver and kidney.


Abnormal growth hormone responses to L-dopa and thyrotropin-releasing hormone in patients with acromegaly. Changes in growth hormone (gh) release in response to L-dopa, TRH, arginine and LH-RH were studied in 15 patients with acromegaly to investigate the mechanism of so-called 'paradoxical decrease' of GH secretion often observed in acromegalics after the administration of L-dopa. Among 15 patients, 11 showed GH increase with TRH, 8 with arginine, and 4 with LH-RH. On the other hand, six out of these 15 patients showed a distinct paradoxical GH decrease after L-dopa administration. Two cases showed an increase in GH on L-dopa as seen in normal subjects. The responses of GH release, either an increase or a decrease, was proved fairly constant when several patients had been examined repeatedly. Changes of GH induced by L-dopa were compared wwith those by TRH, arginine, and LH-RH. There were no correlation between the changes by L-dopa and those by TRH, arginine, and LH-RH when compared simply. But a significant negative correlation (r=-0.861) was found between percent changes by L-dopa and logarithm of increase ratio (peak value of GH after the stimulation/basal value) induced by TRH. More close correlation (r=-0.881) was obtained when the percent changes by L-dopa was (formula: see text). This result would imply that paradoxical GH decrease by L-dopa in acromegalic patients is more remarkable when their GH secretion is more responsive to TRH and less responsive to arginine. When this correlation is considered in connection with the reported effects of L-dopa on GH and thyroid stimulating hormne (TSH) in man, the following hypothesis might be proposed: L-dopa has two opposing actions on the hypothalamo-pituitary system; 1) inhibition of TRH release or suppression of GH release from TRH sensitive GH producing cells, and 2) arginine-like facilitation of GH release presumably via stimulation of GH-RF. The paradoxical GH decrease in acromegalics on L-dopa is explained by the dominance of the former action.


In vitro metabolism of progestins. III. The metabolic clearance rate of medroxyprogesterone acetate in monkeys. 3H-medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) was synthesized by selective catalytic tritiation of the delta1-olefinic bond of 6alpha-methyl-17alpha-hydroxy-pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione acetate. The metabolic clearance rate of MPA (MCRMPA) was determined in 9 female Rhesus monkeys by the single injection technique. The blood MCRMPA was 201 +/- 19 L/day (42.2 +/- 4.0 L/day/kg) which was approximately the same as that reported for progesterone clearance in the monkey. We conclude that a greater biological activity of MPA compared to progesterone cannot be related to its prolonged retention in the blood. Although both MPA and amino-glutethimide alter the rate of steroid metabolism in some species, neither of these agents influences the metabolic clearance rate of 3H-MPA in the monkey.


Effect of the injection of ribosomes and RNA from Crithidia fasciculata on the experimental infection of mice by Trypanosoma cruzi. Immunization of mice with Crithidia fasciculata (live suspension, ribosomal fraction and purified RNA) induced a certain degree of protection (decrease of parasitaemia) against infection with Trypanosoma cruzi.


Cerebrovascular response to infused 5-hydroxytryptamine in the baboon. Part 1. 5-Hydroxytryptamine infusion. Cerebral blood flow was measured in 17 baboons before and during infusion of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) into the internal carotid artery. The mean values for total cerebral blood flow, grey matter flow, and white matter flow before 5-HT infusion were 40.8, 59.2, and 12.7 ml/min/100 gm of tissue, respectively. There was no significant alteration in total blood flow or flow through grey matter when 5-HT was infused at dosages ranging from 0.5 to 10.0 microng/kg/min. A small but significant decrease in white matter blood flow was recorded when 5-HT was infused at a rate exceeding 2.5 microng/kg/min. The study indicates that in vivo, with the xenon clearance method, intra-arterial infusion of 5-HT does not significantly alter cerebral blood flow.


Cerebrovascular response to infused 5-hydroxytryptamine in the baboon. Part 2. 5 Hydroxytryptamine infusion in estrogen and progesterone treated animals. The effect of intracarotid infusion of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on cerebral blood flow was studied in five female baboons 7 days after intramuscular injection of slow release estrogen and progesterone. The control values for total cerebral blood flow, grey matter flow, and white matter flow were 38.9, 57.5, and 11.0 ml/min/100 gm of tissue respectively. There was a statistically significant decrease in total, grey and white matter blood flow during infusion of 5-HT at dosages ranging from 0.5 to 10.0 microng/kg/min. The study indicates that in female baboons pretreated with estrogen and progesterone, intracarotid infusion of 5-HT produces a dose dependent decrease in cerebral blood flow, which did not occur in control animals.


Dengue virus infections in Nigeria: a survey for antibodies in monkeys and humans. A retrospective serological survey for dengue immunity was conducted in Nigeria to determine the prevalence of infection in man and non-human primates. Preliminary haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) tests revealed that 63% of persons tested had HI antibodies against one or more of the following flaviviruses: dengue type 1, yellow fever, West Nile and Wesselsbron. Parallel HI and neutralization (N) tests on 179 human sera showed that six of 20 sera (30%) negative for flavivirus HI antibody contained dengue N antibody. This finding emphasized the advantage of the N test over HI in screening for dengue virus immunity. Neutralization tests performed on 1,816 human sera from different geographical locations in Nigeria showed that 45% of Nigerians were immune to dengue type 2 virus. The percentage of immunity in adults aged 20 years and older (51%) was significantly higher than in children (37%) (P less than 0-01). In all four ecological zones sampled, the highest percentage of dengue N antibody was observed in the derived Savannah zone (63%) followed by the rain forest zone (42%). The Southern Guinea savannah and plateau zones had lower percentages of dengue-immune persons. There was a higher prevalence of antibodies in urban (48%) than in rural communities (37%). Tests on dengue-immune sera showed that 35% of such sera contained N antibodies to dengue only or to dengue and one other virus. Therefore, dengue immunity cannot be explained by heterologous cross reactions within the flavivirus group. In addition, evidence of dengue infection was found in monkeys and galagos. 48% of monkeys and 25% of galagos contained dengue N antibody. The presence of specific dengue N antibodies in a few sera suggests that the occurrence of a forest cycle of dengue is possible in Nigeria.


Preparation of antisera with specificity for human T lymphocytes. Antisera were raised in rabbits and sheep against human or monkey thymocyte or lymphocyte antigens. The unabsorbed antisera reacted equally strongly with T and B lymphoblasts. After partial absorption with B lymphoblasts antisera were specific for T lymphoblasts when tested by cytotoxicity, but still reacted with B lymphoblasts in indirect immunofluorescence. Extensive absorption with reusable columsn made from B cell antigens produced sera which reted selectively with T lymphoblasts and T leukaemic cells and were able to differentiate T and B cells in human peripheral blood.


Penicillin-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Shahre-Now. Of 921 women examined, 112, or 12.1%, were identified as having gonorrhoea by positive culture; 25.6% of 78 strains isolated from the women were resistant to penicillin at 0.10 mug/ml level and 14.1% resistant at the 0.50 mug/ml level as determined by an agar dilution MIC test. Our results were compatible with a similar but larger study reported in the USA by Jaffe et al. 1976.


Immunization of mice against Trypanosoma cruzi. The effect of size of dose, and route of injection, of immunizing and challenge inocula. Groups of CD-1 mice were immunized with a vaccine prepared from freeze-thawed cultured epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, strain Y, with or without saponin as adjuvant. The vaccine was injected by the subcutaneous (s.c.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) route. Immunized and control mice were challenged with homologous blood trypomastigotes by the s.c. or i.p. route and the former route was found to produce a far more severe and uniform infection in both control and immunized mice. Subcutaneous challenge of vaccinated mice demonstrated an improvement in the protective effect of the vaccine when saponin was included, but following i.p. challenge equally good protection was achieved with or without saponin. Thirty-nine of 40 immunized mice challenged i.p. survived the infection. A strong correlation was shown between the size of both immunizing and challenge inocula and the protective effect of the vaccine. Immunized mice which survived challenge were resistant to reinfection, but all were shown to carry persistent sub-patent parasitaemia.


[Experimental studies on the schistosomicidal activity of the aminobenzaldehyde derivative 80.647 (author's transl)]. In a group of aminobenzaldehyde derivatives the 2-cholor-4-(1)-piperazinobenalazine showed to be highly active in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), Mastomys natalensis and capucine monkeys (Cebus capucinus capucinus) against Schistosoma mansoni, slightly active against S. mattheei and inactive against S. haematobium and S. japonicum. The D.c.m. in mice and hamsters was 50 mg/kg body weight after a single oral dose and 20 or 50 mg/kg body weight respectively when dosed once daily on 5 consecutive days.


[Irradiation for prevention of gynecomastia prior to estrogen therapy in cases of carcinoma of the prostate (author's transl)]. The most frequent and most unpleasant side-effect of therapy with estrogen hormones in patients with carcinoma of the prostate is the painful gynecomastia. Since 1969, we have been performing the prophylactic irradiation of the mammary glands on 284 patients in order to prevent a hormone-induced gynecomastia. The majority (262 patients) was irradiated with 600 rad surface dose in fractions of 150 rad prior to the hormone therapy. One hundred and two patients, having been treated endocrinologically for 2-75 months, had a follow-up examination. After irradiation, only 19% of the patients did not develop a gynecomastia, and 60% had no mamillary hyperesthesias. Compared to other authors, the therapy was less efficient, the symptoms, however, were discrete. As a consequence, an increase of the radiation dose as well as an alteration of the fractionation must be used.


Blood parasites of imported psittacine birds. Of 117 imported psittacine birds examined for the presence of blood parasites, 18 (15-3 per cent) were found to be infected. The most common parasites were microfilaria and Haemoproteus, but Aegyptianella and a Trypanosoma sp were also observed. Haemoproteus handai was diagnosed in several birds and for the first time in lesser sulphur-crested cockatoos. The significance of the parasites observed is discussed and also that of other haematozoa recorded from psittacines but not found during the present survey.


Mitogenic effect in mouse liver induced by a hypolipidemic drug, nafenopin. The mitogenic effect of Nafenopin, a hypolipidemic hepatic peroxisome proliferator, in mouse liver has been studied in acute and chronically treated mice. After 1, 6 and 32 weeks of treatment, the total hepatic DNA was increased 1.5-2.0-fold over controls. Mitotic and labeling indices were also increased 3-4 fold after 5 days, 6 weeks and 32 weeks of treatment. The increased mitotic activity in nafenopin fed animals was not associated with liver cell necrosis. The nafenopin induced hepatomegaly therefore appears to arise from a combination of cell proliferation, as well as, cellular hypertrophy, which is associated with peroxisome proliferation.


Effect of mannitol, dextran (macrodex), allopurinol, and methylprednisolone on the morphology of the proximal tubule of the rat kidney made ischemic in vivo. Rats were anesthetized and their lift kidneys were made ischemic for 1 h by clamping of the aorta just above the left renal artery. Mannitol (2.5 g/kg), Dextran 70 (0.6 g/kg), methylprednisolone (50 and 100 mg/kg), and allopurinol (100 mg/kg body weight) were administered before, during, or after the ischemia period in order to test the effect of each of these drugs upon this model of renal injury. At 24 h after the release of the aortic clamp the left kidneys of the drug treated animals wwere perfusion fixed and processed for light and electron microscopy. Dextran administration to animals with ischemic kidneys gave rise to a pronounced vacuolization ("osmotic nephrosis"), in the entire proximal tubule and especially in the pars recta. This was in contrast to dextran administration to rats with nonischemic kidenys, which showed no or very mild "osmotic nephrosis." This demonstrates that ischemia makes rat kidneys more susceptible to the development of "osmotic nephrosis." In controls (no drug treatment) one hour of renal ischemia gave partial necrosis of pars recta of the proximal tubule, while the pars convoluta tubule survived. Mannitol treatment significantly reduced the amount of necrosis of the pars recta, whereas dextran, methylprednisolone, and allopurinol had no or a negative effect on the survival of the cells of the pars recta segment. It is suggested that mannitol protects against the development of necrosis by increasing medullary blood flow in combination with a counteractive influence on the cellular swelling, which is known to occur in ischemia.


Scurvy; a comparison between ultrastructural and biochemical changes observed in cultured fibroblasts and the collagen they synthesise. Earlier biochemical investigations of cultured 3T6 fibroblasts have shown that ascorbate deficiency has no effect on the synthesis of collagen protein quantitatively but does produce inhibition of the critical post-translational hydroxylation of collagen essential for normal fibrogenesis and of formation of hydroxylysine-derived cross-links. This ultrastructural study on the same 3T6 fibroblast system demonstrates that ascorbate deficiency does not affect the cell morphology, particularly that of the protein synthetic or secretory apparatus, but does prevent the deposition of typical 640A degrees banded collagen fibres; instead, finer, unbanded fibrils--presumably collagenous--are deposited extracellularly. This confirms the earlier biochemical findings as wll as presenting a new finding--the inability of ascorbate-deficient cells to lay down normal collagen fibrils; possible mechanisms are considered in terms of the known biochemical lesions. The tissue culture findings are also compared with those observed in vivo in the scorbutic guinea-pig, where other workers have reported biochemical and ultrastructural evidence that collagen synthesis is inhibited. The apparently paradoxical observations in the two systems are considered; we conclude that the tissue culture system demonstrates the primary collagenous lesion which is perhaps obscured in vivo by secondary effects--nevertheless the two approaches are complementary.


DNA replication of bacteriophage phi29. Effect of two viral genes on the association of phage chromosomes with the host cell membrane. The kinetics of DNA arrest and the maintenance of the association of viral chromosomes with the cell membrane were examined by temperature-shift experiments using temperature-sensitive mutants in two early bacteriophage phi29 genes required for phage DNA replication. phi29 ts2(35), a mutant in cistron 2 whose product (protein P2) is continuously required for associating phage DNA with the Bacillus subtilis membrane, does not stop phage DNA synthesis immediately after a shift to the nonpermissive temperature. In contrast, bacteria infected with phi29 ts3(28), a mutant in cistron 3 (which codes for protein P3), stop synthesizing phage DNA immediately after transfer to the nonpermissive temperature. Parental phage DNA in phi29 ts2(35) infections rapidly dissociates from the cell membrane after a shift to 45 degrees, whereas phi29 ts3(28) DNA remains associated with the membrane after the shift to the nonpermissive temperature and then slowly dissociates. Thus the rapid dissociation of parental phage phi29 chromosomes from the membrane is dependent on a functional protein P3. These findings are discussed in terms of possible modes of action of these two proteins and suggest that protein P2 operates as a linker of phage chromosomes to the membrane, whereas protein P3 participates directly in the initiation or in the polymerization of viral DNA molecules.


[Combined treatment of lung cancer].

[Combined treatment of lung cancer]. Since 1963 to 1975 one hundred and eighty eight patients were subjected to surgery with preoperative irradiation, using a betatron of 25 M. e. v. Irradiation was carried on during 2--3 weeks from 2 or 3 fields daily. A total focal dose ranged within the limits from 2500 to 4500 rad. Radical operations were performed in 159 patients, the mortality being 6.7%. The survival over 3 years--in 69.1%, over 5 years--in 57.3%. Postoperative irradiation using a betatron of 25 M. e. v. is found to contribute to an improvement of general condition in lung cancer patients and to render a positive effect on clinical and roentgenological signs of the disease. A comparative morphological study of diagnostic biopsy specimens and lung preparations, removed following irradiation, indicates various degree of cancer pathomorphosis up to tumor disappearrance and development of radiation sclerosis.


[Evaluation of the surgical and combined treatments of lung cancer]. Ninety six patients with lung cancer metastasizing in regional lymph nodes were clinically examined by randomization method. A half of these patients was subjected only to surgical treatment, the other half was given postoperative radiotherapy. The comparison of the results of the combined and solely surgical treatment of lung cancer patients indicated a greater survival in irradiated patients.


[Changes in histamine and serotonin metabolism in experimental tetanus]. A gradual increase in histamine content with simultaneous elevation in the histaminase activity were observed in many tissues of guinea-pigs and cats in dynamics of tetanic intoxication. A universal accumulation of serotonin at early steps of intoxication with subsequent decrease in its content were also found in development of severe generalized tetanus. At the same time, in several tissues the inhibition of glycolysis and impairment in electrolyte balance were observed. Artificial pulmonary ventilation was accompanied only by partial compensation in impairment of the histamine and electrolytes metabolism. The metabolic impairments studied possess the complex genesis, they are not related solely to the effect of hypoxic factor and may form the basis for impairment in the excitability of various structures, for alteration in their energy provision and for operation in dynamics of tetanic intoxication.


[Geycogen content and the enzymatic system of its biosynthesis in normal and tumorous human tissues]. In human tumors (cancer of the liver, stomach, lymphogranulomatosis of lymphnodes, metastases in lymphnodes, ascites ovarian tumor cells) the authors studied the content of enzymes participating in glycogen biosynthesis through uridine diphosphateglucose mechanism--UDPG-glycogensynthetase, UDPG-pyrophosphroylase, phosphoglucomutase. As a rule, in human tumor cells the amount of glycogen and the activity of enzymes of its biosynthesis is decreased, the more the higher proliferative activity and autonomization of tumor cells.


[Antitumor resistance in depositing Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lungs of rats]. In the experiments on rats of "Wistar" line and non-inbred rats the author has demonstrated that the inflammatory process in the lungs induced by non-virulent mycobacteria of BCG strain is able to decrease the organism resistance to the occurrence of chemically induced tumors. Desensibilization with PPD prior to the appearance of tumors would contribute to restoration of their antitumor resistance.


The use of IgM anti-D coated cells in the deliberate immunisation of Rh-negative male volunteers. Attempts to produce anti-D in rhesus-negative men using reconstituted frozen rhesus-positive cells were unsuccessful. The use of cells coated with IgM anti-D for immunisation stimulates anti-D production, and a comparison between two groups, one having cells coated with IgM anti-D, and the other having identical cells without coating suggests that there is an enhancement of the immune response when IgM-coated cells are used.


[Biosynthesis and cellular localization of betal-g-globulin in the human placenta]. Pregnancy-specific beta1-globulin (beta1-GP) described by Tatarinov and Masyukevich, 1970) was shown by means of immunodiffusion in agar gel to be similar to specific pregnancy beta1-glycoprotein of Bohn (1971) as well as to pregnancy associated plasma protein-C of Lin et al (1974). It was found that in immature placenta (6-12 weeks of pregnancy) incorporation of 14S-amino acids into beta1-GP took place. Studies on immunofluorescence showed that beta1-GP was localized in cytoplasma of trophoblastic cells of placenta chorion. Beta1-GP production apparently begins in Langhans cells and proceeds in syncytiotrophoblastic cells, but at lower activity and secretory scale.


[The monitoring of pregnancy in rhesus-sensitized women by a quantitative determination of bilirubin in amniotic fluid (author's transl)]. The prognostic accuracy of spectro photometric examination of the amniotic fluid and of a specific method for the determination of free bilirubin in the amniotic fluid are compared. Amniocentesis was carried out 166 times in 85 sensitized rhesus-negative pregnant women. Spectro photometric examination gave a misleading assessment in 28% of the cases. This applied particularly to Liley's Zone II, in which the presence or absence of haemolytic disease of the newborn was incorrectly predicted in up to 70% of the cases. By contrast, on evaluation of the cases using specific determination of free bilirubin, not a single value obtained after the 34th week of pregnancy led to false assessment of the fetal condition. There is a stong correlation between the extent of fetal damage and the bilirubin content of the amniotic fluid.


Serum mineral changes in alloxan diabetes before and after treatment with some hypoglycemic drugs. In alloxan diabetes, serum zinc, copper, iron and magnesium were significantly higher than in normal rats, while the level of serum calcium, sodium, and potassium was lower than normal. Treatment with daonil or insulin led to a normalization, as expected of the level of serum glucose and most of the other elements, except for iron and potassium. When lycanol was used for treatment, the level of all elements returned to the normal except for blood glucose, zinc and potassium.


[Periarticular ossification following replacement of the hip-joint. Clinical and radiologic examination of 697 hip-joints (author's transl)]. Systematic examination of 733 cases of replacement of the hip-joint, operated on with an identical technique and method of post-operative treatment. Frequency and severity of periarticular ossification, their relationship to pre-operative arthrosis and their effect on joint function are described. Development and localization of periarticular ossification, their higher incidence after tearing off of the trochanter, removal of osteophytes and occurrence of hematomata hint at surgical trauma as one of the causes. Preliminary operations on the proximal end of femur did not influence ectopic ossification. Ossification of grade I did not interfere with function, grades II and III limited movement in varying degrees.


[Studies on enzymic browning of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). I. Phenoloxidases and phenolic compounds from different varieties (author's transl)]. 31 samples of potato varieties with slow, medium and fast rates of browning were studies. Characteristic enzyme patterns were obtained from polyacrylamide gel electrophoresic of the phenoloxidases of varieties with different discolouration rates. The differences lie mainly in the intensities of the enzyme bands. The qualitative determinaiton of the phenols showed no significant differences. Tyrosine, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid produce coloured oxidation products; the characteristic colour gradations of in vivo browning were only observed in the presence of tyrosine. It is concluded that the same reactions take place during the discolouration of all the varieties.


[Studies on enzymic browning of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). II. The quantitative relationship between browning and its causative factors (author's transl)]. Ten potato varieties, with different rates of browning, were analyzed quantitatively for phenoloxidase, tyrosine, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and for reducing substances (ascorbic acid). The rate of tyrosine turnover was calculated from the data. The fact that the further reactions of the primary oxidation products leading to browning only take place after complete oxidation of the reducing substances, was taken into account. This leads to the same classification of the varieties as does visual observation of the rate of discolouration. Thus a clear relationship between browning and potato constituents is demonstrated.


Studies on enzymic browning of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). III. Kinetics of potato phenoloxidase (EC 1.14.18.1 monophenol, dihydroxyphenylalanine: oxygen-oxidoreductase). From initial velocity studies a sequential mechanism for the reactions catalysed by phenoloxidase from potatoes is indicated. The data are in accordance with an ordered addition of oxygen and phenolic substrate to the enzyme, with oxygen being the first substrate bound at thermodynamic equilibrium. The Michaelis constants for L-tyrosine, L-dopa, and chlorogenic acid are 1.4 X 10(-3), 3.3 X 10(-4), and 1.4 X 10(-4) mol/l, respectively. The dissociation constant for the enzyme-oxygen complex is about 10(-3) mol/l. In the presence of chlorogenic acid no lag phase occurs in the course of L-tyrosine oxidation. With increasing amounts of chlorogenic acid the tyrosinase activity goes through a maximum. The significance of these findings for the in vivo action of the enzyme is discussed.


Multiple forms of soluble monophenol, dihydroxyphenylalamine: oxygen-oxidoreductase (EC 1.14.18.1) from potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum). II. Partial characterization of the enzyme forms with different molecular weights. Gel chromatography on Sephadex G-200 was used to separate a soluble phenoloxidase from potatoes (var. Maritta) into at least six active fractions with dopa (dihydroxyphenylalanine) as substrate. Only high-molecular-weight-enzyme forms exhibited monophenoloxidase activity. Re-chromatography of the highest-molecular-weight form gave the same molecular weight distribution as with the crude enzyme. The molecular weights indicate association phenomena of subunits with a molecular weight of about 36000 daltons. According to polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, several monomeric forms with differnt isoelectric points seem to be present. This suggests that the large number of multiple forms of the enzyme arises from various combinations of identical and/or different subunits. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis failed to show the monomeric forms; the dimer and higher oligomers were obtained.


Urine marking and territoriality in Galago alleni (Waterhouse, 1837--Lorisoidea, Primates)--a field study by radio-telemetry. A wild population of Galago alleni was controlled by trapping and followed by radio-tracking in the equatorial rainforest of Gaboon during three study periods of 3 months each in 1972, 73 and 75. The disposition of territories and the social organization are described, as well as their evolution through time. A new technique of radio telemetry permitted identification and localization of urine marking in wild galagos. Urine marking took place throughout the territory, with a fourfold increase in frequency in zones where there is a slight overlap with neighbouring territories (female--female or male--male). The function of urine washing (wetting of the soles of the feet with urine) is discussed in relation to five hypotheses proposed by different authors, and th data obtained in the field in Gaboon. We interpret this behaviour as a means of dispersal of urine marks (social signals) in a three-dimensional milieu where displacement by a combination of leaping and running creates numerous pathways.


[Influence of social grouping on seasonal sexual activation in male Microcebus murinus (Miller 1777)]. Comparative studies were made on different heterosexual groups of Microcebus murinus during the period of sexual activation, which is determined by the photoperiod. In pairs (1 male--1 female), the sexual activation of the males occurs during January. This is accompanied by a loss of body weight and by an increase in basal oxygen consumption. The testes are maximal in size by the beginning of March. In groups of 8 individuals (4 males--4 females) only one male exhibits normal sexual activity. He is the heaviest and mates with males. The 3 other males of the group show delayed activation and their testes are reduced in size. Two subordinate males died under the social pressure of severe diseases (e.g. renal failure) normally associated with overcrowding.


[Use of transformation for studying the nature of formation of stable bacterial L forms]. The authors obtained a stable variant of the L-forms of Bacillus subtilis capable of exponential growth of the minimal and synthetic medium. An electron-microscopic study of different stages of the L-form formation was carried out by the method of ultra-thin sections. A possibility was shown of the transfer of the L-form formation sign by the method of transformation. DNA isolation from the L-forms by soft lysis considerably facilitated and simplified the genetic analysis of the L-form formation by the transformation method.


[Immunochemical study of serum in the diagnosis of mu-chain disease]. An abnormal protein revealed in the serum of a patient with an unknown lymphoproliferative disorder proved to be micron-paraprotein: micron-heavy chain complexes of various molecular weight totally lacking light chains. The results of immunochemical analysis of this case are compared with the published data on micron-chain disease. The following immunochemical features typical for micron-chain disease were observed in this patient: anodal mobility of paraprotein, failure to reveal it by serum electrophoresis, that is, absence of M-gradient, and presence of Bence Jones protein, type x in the urine and the serum. The peculiarity of the case consists in a high tendency of free x-chains to form complexes, and therefore in their marked electrophoretic heterogeneity giving a false impresssion of the ability of micron-paraprotein to react with the anti-x serum, thus complicating the diagnosis. Possible causes of a defect in the IgM assembly are discussed.


[Comparative immunochemical study of the hemagglutinins of Cl. botulinum A and B]. The authors demonstrated an incomplete indentity of Cl. botulinum hemagglutinins of types A and B in the double diffusion reaction in agar gel, and their difference by electrophoretic mobility. Some differences in the interaction of hemagglutinins A and B with human erythrocytes were found by the hemagglutination inhibition method; apparently, of the principal significance in the relization of the reaction of human erythrocyte hemagglutination with hemagglutinins of Cl. botulinum, types A and B, was the OH-group position in the C4 galactose of the mucopolysaccharides of the erythrocyte cell wall. Apart from C4, apparently, for hemagglutinin of types A of significance was the reactive capacity of C1 and C2 galactose atoms, whereas for hemagglutinin of type B--free OH-group in C2 galactose atom.


[Dynamics of the establishment of intestinal microflora in healthy full-term newborns]. A study was made of the dynamics of establishment of the intestinal microflora in 79 healthy mature neonates born of healthy mothers. A total of 223 bacteriological examinations were conducted. A stable prevalence of bifidobacteria over the aerobic portion of the intestinal biocenosis occurred in all the children from the 8th day after birth. Along with this the following bacteria were continuously present in the intestine: lactic bacilli and streptococci E. coli, enterococci and staphylococci; however, their portion in the biocenosis was not great. Bacteroids, microbes of the Proteus genus, and yeast-like fungi were found in the cultures only before the establishment of a high bifidobacteria level. Conditionally pathogenic microorganisms and their associations were continuously revealed in 19.8% of healthy mature neonates. Apparently the qualitative prevalence of bifidobacteria prevented the clinical expression of dysbacteriosis in these children.


[Pyocyaneus infection of burn wounds].

[Pyocyaneus infection of burn wounds]. Materials of clinico-bacteriological study of 302 patients with thermal burns of different severity pointed to a considerable elevation of the incidence of Ps. aeruginosa isolation (in cultures) from burn wounds; the last few years it was found in about 50% of the cases. The greater frequency of Ps. aeruginosa detection correlated with the increase of the severity of the affection. By using Soviet set of 17 type agglutinating sera it was possible to type almost 90% of the Ps. aeruginosa cultures isolated from the wounds; a marked prevalence (over 70% of the strains) of cultures belonging to the serological group II was revealed. Patients admitted to the burn centre at early periods after the trauma displayed infection of the wound with the Ps. aeruginosa strain of the II serological group.


[Intracellular activity and phagocytability of freshly-isolated strains as parameters of the pathogenicity of tuberculosis mycobacteria]. Phagocytability and the capacity of intracellular multiplication of Mycobacteria tuberculosis isolated from the patients before the treatment and during it (in 1-5 months and later) were studied in the culture of normal peritoneal guinea pig macrophages. A method of quantitative assessment of the capacity to intracellular reproduction of Mycobacteria tuberculosis by determination of the relative activity index in comparison with the standard strain was elaborated. All the cultures of mycobacteria isolated possessed a different extent of intracellular activity and phagocytability. There proved to be no relationship between the intracellular activity indices and the phagocytability of the strains under study. Mycobacteria tuberculosis cultures isolated from the patients during the treatment possessed higher indices of intracellular activity than the initial cultures isolated before the treatment.


[Clinico-psychopathologic features of forms of local cortical epilepsy with the predominant lesion in the dominant, subdominant and both cerebral hemispheres]. The author studied 346 patients with different forms of epilepsy among whom 200 were subjected to different operations in relation to an extraction of the epileptogenic foci. The data are concerned with clinico-psychopahtological variants of focal cortical epilepsy with a focus in the temporal, parietal, frontal, occipital lobes and the central zone, a description of relatively characteristic prevalent lesions in the dominant and subdominant hemisphere. In 146 nonoperated patients the author describes some traits of epilepsy in bilateral lesions of the temporal and parietal lobes. It is considered that the most significant conclusion concerning the localization, subordination and lateralization of epileptogenic foci may be made on the basis of a manifold examination of the mental state of the patient. However, the most important are signs which definitely correspond to the specificity of the lateralization of the gnostical functions.


[Course of epilepsy in persons of middle and old age with the disease beginning in childhood]. Clinical studies of epilepsy in 137 patients of old age demonstrated that epileptical dementia preserves its nozological specificity. In genuine epilepsy it was not possible to detect symptoms of cerebral atherosclerosis, while in symptomatical epilepsy there were definite signs of arteriosclerotic dementia. Convulsive seizeures in old age become less frequent and are substituted by abortive and psychomotor elementary seizures or are arrested altogether. Epileptic equivalents lose their specifity.


[Discontinuing antiepileptic therapy in children and adolescents]. The report is concerned with observations of 90 children and adolescents with benign forms of epilepsy and epileptic syndromes of a different nature in conditions of a therapeutical remission from 3--18 years. These data confirmed the previously published data of the author together with S.A. Safonova (1969, v. 4) of the possibility of a full discontinuation of treatment in such cases. The author proposes a technique and tactics of the completing stage of the therapeutical process in these cases.


Inactivation of phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus by a carboxyl group modifying reagent. Phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus was inactivated by incubation with either of the carboxyl reagents, a water-soluble carbodimide plus a nucleophile or Woodward's reagent K. With the former reagent, the incorporation into the enzyme of the first mol of nucleophile caused a 4-5-fold increase in the Km for dihexanoyllecithin with no significant effect on the Vm. The second mol of nucleophile incorporated caused no further change in Km but destroyed most of the catalytic activity. Modification of  the enzyme by carbodiimide plus nucleophile did not alter the relative activity of the enzyme towards micelles and monomolecularly dispersed solutions of diheptanoyllecithin. Furthermore, inactivation by this reagent did not significantly decrease the ability of the enzyme to bind to a substrate-based affinity gel. It was concluded that phospholipase C contains a single carboxyl group that is essential for catalytic activity. The enzyme also contains a total of 4-5 reactive/exposed carboxyl groups.


Changes in serum levels of thyroxine and thyroxine-binding proteins (TBG, TBPA, ALBUMIN) induced by venous stasis. Serum concentrations of thyroxine (T4), thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), thyroxine-binding pre-albumin (TBPA) and albumin were determined in 21 healthy, young subjects before and after a brief venous stasis in two experiments: 1) 3 min stasis induced by a sphygmomanometer with constant pressure 20 mmHg above the diastolic blood pressure and 2) 2 min stasis induced by an arm tourniquet of rubber. In both experiments the serum T4 level was significantly rised (mean 9%) after venous compression. Increases of the same magnitude were observed for serum TBG, serum TBPA and serum albumin. The serum concentrations of the free constituents--sodium and creatinine--remained unchanged, whereas the haemoglobin concentration increased (mean 8%). This haemoconcentrating effect of venous stasis seemed to be more pronounced in females than in males. Our data emphasize the need for protein correction procedures when total serum T4 is measured.


Intramural esophageal diverticulosis.

Intramural esophageal diverticulosis. An investigation of the formal patho-genesis of the so-called intramural esophagus diverticulosis is carried out on a case confirmed by autopsy. The roentgenological diagnosis corresponded morphologically with a proliferation of sub-mucous esophagus glands and a dilatation of their outlets, a portion of which displayed platelet epithelial metaplasia. Diverticle formation is feigned by widening, predominantly of the outlets, which could be traced into the muscular wall layers. In the present case esophagitis with attendant inflammation along the outlets lead to fistula formation into the anterior mediastinum with attendant mediastinitis. Aspirations were due to constrictions of the esophagus lumen. The patient came to exitus as a result of purulent abscessing aspiration pneumonia complicated by pulmonary artery emboli.


Plasma prolactin and prolactin release in liver cirrhosis. A significant increase of basal plasma prolactin levels (radioimmunoassayed) in 75 patients with liver cirrhosis was found in comparison to 50 male controls (8.5+/-4.5 (SD) vs. 5.5+/-1.7 ng/ml p less than 0.001). The extent and incidence of hyperprolactinaemia in 48 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis was more pronounced than in 27 cases of cirrhosis of non-alcoholic aetiologies (mean 9.7+/-4.8 vs. 5.7+/-2.1 ng/ml). No relation to ascites formation as well as to the development of gynaecomastia was apparent. Prolactin release following thyrotropin-releasing hormone was markedly enhanced in alcoholic as compared to non-alcoholic cirrhosis. Possibly hyperprolactinaemia and increased pituitary hormone reserve reflects hyperoestrogenism but changes of the hypothalamic regulation cannot be excluded as yet.


Histochemical study of the distribution of a few enzymes in the digestive system of Indian parrot. Acid-and alkaline phosphatase, 5-nucleotidase and lipase have been localized histochemically in the gizzard, intestine liver and pancreas of Indian parrot, Psittacula krameri. In the gizzard and intestine, the mucosal epithelial cells are the main sites for the enzyme production. The tubular glands of the gizzard show intense reaction for all the enzymes tested. The hepatic sinusoid cells of the liver and the acinii of pancreas give positive reaction. Like pancreas, the intestine has also been found responsible for the production and secretion of lipase. Functional significance of phosphatases in the tissues tested has been discussed.


[Investigations about ascertainment of exact morphological indices for the functionally activity of islets cells by means of electron optical characterizing and succeeded automatically image analysis of metal-containing secreting granules (author's transl)]. Biological image analysis with the "Quantimet 720" has been surrounded to date by difficulties due to the complexity of the image itself, and the difficulty of the Quantimet to discriminate between different objects on the basis of their grey levels alone (Bradbury 1975). Although the makers of image analysing computers try to diminish these difficulties by contructing new models of computers in future, we have the opinion, that it is possible to receive already today excellent results in image analysing of structures in biology and medicine under the following condition: selective staining of objects, we want to measure by simultaneous discriminating of those structures, which influence negatively the image analysing on the basis of their grey levels.


[Histochemical and ultrastructural investigations on invasive growth of tumour. I. Enzyme-histochemical investigations (author's transl)]. For human mammary and ovarian carcinomas and transplantation tumours of rats clear hints found for an enzymatic-lytic effects of infiltrating tumour cells as a premise of the invasive tumour growth. In contrast in malignant melanomas there is no functional sign for a specific enzymatic-lytic effect of the living tumour cells to the surrounding tissue. In the mamma carinomas and ovarian carcinomas infiltratively growing tumour districts were characterized by an increased activity of the NADH-D, LDH, G-6-P-DH, IDH, MDH, SPase, UE, LAP and beta-GD. The transplantation tumours showed a high number of tumour cells with a high leucine amino-peptidase- and beta-glucuronidase-activity in a middle zone that was localized under the tumour edge district. The increased activity of the LAP and beta-GD found in the infiltration zone of the tumours is considered as an demonstration of a strong proteolytic activity of the tumour cells. The findings are discussed in the aspect of the invasive tumour growth.


[Changes of activity of alkaline phosphatase at the circulatory system in experimental hypertension of the rat (author's transl)]. Changes of activity of the alkaline phosphatase are investigated in the border of the outer media of vessels in two different models of hypertension (Goldblatt and Carotis-Sinus) in the rat. After onset of hypertension an increase of activity takes place in an area largely overlapping a necrosis of the outer medial region of the aorta. The formation of regenerated tissue leads to a thickening of the adventitia and to a decrease of the activities. Changes of the activities in the peripheral vessels presumably are due to participation of other factors. Indications to this effect are discussed.


[Histochemical, analytical and thin layer chromatographical studies on bovine seminal vesicle lipids (author's transl)]. The lipids in the epithelium of seminal vesicles of 11 adult bulls were studied by means of histochemical methods and thin layer chromatography. In the large basal lipid vacuoles dominate cholesterol, esters of cholesterol and tryglycerides. Phosphatides are also present in the large basal lipid vacuoles as well as in the smaller apical lipid droplets of the columnar cells. The existence of alkyl diglycerides, neutral plasmalogens and methyl esters of fatty acids, proved by 2-dimensional chromatography, can be taken as evidence that fatty acids, cholesterol, triglycerides and phosphatides are synthesized within the seminal vesicle epithelial cells. Free fatty acids as well as those incorporated in mono-, di-, triglycerides and polar lipids of the seminal vesicle epithelium are predominantly unsaturated, thus pointing to rapid mobilization and turnover of their esters. The cholesterol in the basal lipid vacuoles of bovine seminal vesicle is possibly eliminated from the epithelium via the subepithelial capillaries for there is no evidence of lipid secretion into the glandular lumen nor of a continued steroid synthesis from cholesterol within the seminal vesicle.


[Histochemical study of nucleic acids and proteins by cytophotometry and histoautoradiography in fibroblasts cultivated in hyperoxia (author's transl)]. Cells cultivated in 80% O2 were shown, by cytophotometric and histoautoradiographic methods, to undergo alterations concerning DNA, RNA and total proteins synthesis. These changes appear almost at the same time for all the above-named biological metabolites. Proliferative cell cycle undergoes changes before the blocking of the cells first in post-synthetic (G2) and then in pre-synthetic period (G1). It was also seen that protein synthetic rate of the cells is proportional to their DNA content, in other words tetraploid cells synthesize a double protein amount in comparison to diploid cells. Nucleolus labelling after Uridine-3H incorporation disappear the last under the effect of hyperoxia. Finally it was observed that DNA values (measured with scanning microscope) of prometaphase are higher than the mean values of other mitotic phases.


Histochemical reactions of liver cells in cholesterol-fed rabbits. The liver cells of 8 rabbits fed for 12 to 16 weeks with a cholesterol diet showed a decrease of RNA and a stronger reactivity for acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase. The non-specific esterase showed a weaker reactivity in the cells with a larger amount of cholesterol and a stronger reaction in the cells with a smaller quantity of this substance. Several enzymes such as: diaphorases, those of the pentose shunt and respiratory cycle as well as those related to the metabolism of lipids, proteins and mucopolysaccharides showed a unconspicuous reactivity. The glycogen was found in a lesser amont in 6 out of 8 rabbits but with a higher concentration in 2 of them. The reactivity of UDPG-GT, active phosphorylase, F-1,6-PA, F-1,6-P Ald, LDH and ADH was stronger in the last 2 animals but weaker in the 6 others. In this 8 rabbit group the total phosphorylase and G-6-PA showed respectively always a stronger and a weaker reactivity than their controls. In the liver of 2 cholesterol-fed for 20 weeks rabbits it was observed a centrolobular fibrosis, a smaller amount of RNA and glycogen as well as a global decrease of the enzymatic reactivity.


Histochemical studies on the morphology of the Golgi apparatus and on the distribution of some enzymes concerned with carbodydrate metabolism in the rat cerebellum. Detailed histochemical studies have been conducted on the distribution of various enzymes, including thiamine pyrophosphatase, alpha-glucan phosphorylase, hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, aldolase, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; menadion oxidoreductase, lactate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase in various components of the cerebellum of healthy adult male rats of the Wistar strain. The thiamine pyrophosphatase reaction showed the morphological patterns of the GOLGI apparatus characteristic for each kind of cells. The GOLGI apparatus is a simple network in stellate cells, but it can be classified into the same 5 categories in basket cells and GOLGI type II cells. The GOLGI apparatus in the latter 2 cell types appears to undergo cyclic changes. A few GOLGI type II cells have a supranuclear form (Type II) and some cells show disintegration and "budding-off" of the GOLGI apparatus. The GOLGI apparatus in PURKINJE cells can be classified into 4 categories including a perinuclear strand form (Type III), but most of them show randomly distributed granules and vesicles. Lightly stained networks are observable in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. They do not show polarity in astrocytes whereas they have extensions in a few oligodendrocytes. BERGMANN glia may undergo cyclic changes indicating more advance differentiation than astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Cerebellar glomerula show lightly stained networks with many fine granules. Granule cells, stellate cells, and basket cells are all poorly equipped equally with the EMBDEN-MEYERHOF (EM) pathway and with the hexosemonophosphate (HMP) shunt. GOLGI type II cells are richly equipped almost equally with both the EM pathway and the HMP shunt. All these neurons probably derive energy mainly from glucose in the circulating blood. PURKINJE cells may belong to the category of "usual neurons", because they are moderately equipped both with the EM pathway and the HMP shunt. However, they may derive their energy from the BERGMANN glia which have intense hexokinase activity but weak succinate dehydrogenase activity. The BERGMANN glia are more richly equipped with the HMP shunt than with the EM pathway and are rich in lactate dehydrogenase suggesting an "exceptional metabolic pattern". These glia may have active synthesizing ability. Astrocytes and oligodendrocytes are equipped with all the enzymes tested, and they show a tendency to surround the glomeruli. It is suggested that the glomerula may be surrounded by the glial sheaths with strong hexokinase activity, and that they may contain alpha-glucan phosphorylase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in addition to the succinate dehydrogenase already reported. A few PURKINJE cells showed perinuclear concentrations of the reaction product only of succinate dehydrogenase at the sites of contacts between nucleoli and nuclear membranes. It is suggested that the nucleolus may receive adenosine at the sites of contacts between nucleoli and nuclear membranes...


Histoenzymic studies in the myelinopathy provoked by the cerebrospinal fluid exchange. A histochemical study was performed on the activity of several phosphatases, esterases and oxidoreductases in the spinal cord of cat in the course of the myelinopathy provoked by the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) exchange. The following results were obtained: 1. Neuroglial cells of the spinal cord react with a slight, focal increase of TPP-ase activity already during the early stage of myelinopathy evoked by repeated withdrawal and reinjecting of CSF into the Cisterna magna of experimental cats. 2. During the late stage of this experimental disease-- the oligo-and astroglia of the spinal cord dtsplay considerably increased activities of ATP-ase, acP, and of various oxidoreductases. 3. The observed morphological and functional (increased enzymic activity) changes of the oligodendroglia as well as the demonstrable damage of myelin sheath, seem to be the results of vasogenous edema. 4. The results of investigations performed did not yield any arguments, which would speak in favour of the assumption, that the changes of the oligodendroglia cells function as the primary cause in the myelinopathy provoked by the CSF exchange, affecting secondary the myelin sheaths. 5. The decissively increased lysosomal acP activity in oligodendroglial cells of the spinal cord investigated during the early stage of this myelinopathy, accompanied by an evidently damaged Golgi apparatus, may be explained when the Golgi zone is not necessarily the only cellular site where acid phosphatase may be performed.


Ultrahistochemical demonstration of cations in the guinea pig organ of Corti. The distribution of cations in the guinea pig organ of CORTI was studied by means of the ultrahistochemical pyroantimonate method. In the outer hair cells precipitates were localized at the cell membrane, at stereocilia, in the subplasmalemmal cisterns, in the the nucleus, in mitochondria and within the ground plasm. Coarse precipitates at the cell membrane may consist mainly of cations other than calcium ions. The subplasmalemmal cisterns are suggested to sequester cations in the outer hair cells. The mechanism of the trapping reaction and factors injuring this histochemical method are discussed.


[Methodical problems for evidence of the hepatitis-B-surface and hepatitis-B-core antigens in tissue (author's transl)]. Liver biopsy material of 22 in the serum HBsAg positive patients was tested with the fluorescent antibody technique for the localization of HBcAg and HBsAg in the liver tissue. Comparative studies were done with the following tissue preparation techniques: Cryostat technique, freeze drying, freeze substitution, cold ethanol paraffin embedding technique (SAINTE MARIE) and isolated liver cells. The investigations revealed the following results: 1. No HB-components could be detected with the cold ethanol paraffin embedding technique and freeze substitution. 2. Using the cryostat technique HBsAg could be demonstrated in 16/22 (cytoplasmatic localization) and HBcAg in 8/22 (nuclear localization). 3. With freeze drying HBsAg and HBcAg could be found in the same cases. The excellent tissue preparation allowed a correct localization of the HB-components to the cell structure. 4. In comparison to cryostat sections in isolated liver cells HBcAg could be demonstrated in 11/16 and HBcAg in 8/8 cases.


Electron histochemical study of phosphorylase system in choroidal melanoma. 4 choroidal melanomas have been studied by electron histochemical techniques for phosphorylase activity. Of the 4 melanomas studied, 2 were spindle B and 2 were epitheloid cell types. Electron micrographs of the tumour cells incubated in the medium revealed that polyglucose particles synthesized by phosphorylase and branching glycosyltransferase were found in both spindle B and epitheloid cells. Synthesized polyglucose particles in both spindle B and epitheloid cells showed 2 patterns. The one was fine granular form and the other was the deposition of amorphous particles which greatly expanded the cytoplasmic matrices. Melanophages in both cell types also showed 2 patterns of synthesized polyglucose particles, fine granular and amorphous. It is concluded that both phosphorylase and branching glycosyltransferase are active in both spindle B and epithelioid cells of choroidal melanomas and their melanophages. It is also indicated that there is no difference in glycolysis among these cells of melanomas.


[Histological and immunohistochemical investigations on the transplanted isolated islets of Langerhans in diabetic rats (author's transl)]. Isologous isolated islets of LANGERHANS were transplanted in the peritoneum and through the portal vein in the liver of diabetic rats. With the help of histological and immunohistochemical investigations, estimation of blood sugar and glucose tolerance tests was tested over a period of 12 month, whether the peritoneum or the liver is more suited as transplantation site for isolated islets of LANGERHANS. After transplantation of islets of LANGERHANS in the peritoneum of diabetic rats the blood glucose decreased and this effect could be maintained over a period of three months. The histological investigations showed strong periinsulinar reactions and the immunohistochemical insulin and glucagon proofs prospered over a period of three months. After transplantation of isolated islets in the liver it resulted in a normalization of blood glucose levels up to 12 months after transplantation and in this time prospered the immunohistochemical insulin and glucagon proof. These results have suggested, that the liver is more suited as transplantation site for isolated islets of LANGERHANS than the peritoneum.


Scanning electron microscopy of ejaculated baboon (Papio anubis) spermatozoon. Scanning electron microscopy has been used in order to provide the morphological study including comparative measurements of the main parts of the Baboon spermatozoon. If the dimensions of the head and the mid-piece are fairly close to the human spermatozoon, the Baboon spermatozoon is practically twice as long as the human one. In the Baboon spermatozoon, the head appears smooth with only a light ransversal furrow at the level of its posterior third, which probably marks the limit of the posterior border of the equatorial segment. The mid-piece, a conical trunk, is larger in its anterior part than at the level of its posterior extremity. The end-piece appears very short as compared with the total length of the sperm cell. The technical modalities of the preparation and the possibility of artifacts are briefly discussed.


Quantitative comparison of the amygdala in insectivores and primates. Comparative architectonic studies have resulted in a classification of the amygdaloid complex which differs somewhat from the commonly used classification (first proposed by Humphrey, 1936) by separating the cortical amygdaloid nucleus from the centromedial group and assigning it to the basolateral group, which then forms a cortico-basolateral group. The size changes of these groups and of the nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract (belonging to the centromedial group) and the large-celled part of the basal nucleus (belonging to the corticobasolateral group) have been investigated in representatives of an ascending primate scale. In all structural complexes investigated so far, the small-celled part of the cortico-basolateral group is the most progressive. In descending order of progression there follow: the corticobasolateral group as a whole, the amygdala as a whole, and the large-celled basal nucleus. No clear changes were found in the centromedial group as a whole, whereas the size of the nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract, which represents a small component of this latter group, shows a strong reduction. These differences in the developmental trends point to increasing or decreasing capacities of the functional (limbic and olfactory) systems, to which these structures are related.


[Spinocerebellar atrophy and cerebellar calcification in a case of central neurofibromatosis (author's transl)]. A woman of 27 years without any family history developed a progressive spinocerebellar disorder and died 28 years later. The mean neuropathological findings were cerebello-olivary atrophy (late atrophy), degeneration of the dentate nuclei and brachia conjunctiva, degeneration of the pyramidal and psinocerebellar tracts and of the pars reticulata of substantia nigra. Findings according to Hallervorden-Spatz' disease were confined to the globus pallidus. Extensive calcification occurred in the cerebellar cortex and the dentate nuclei. Foci of atypical glia, glial ectopias, subependymal glial modules and focal neuromas were found in the brain. It is suggested that this unique case represents a combination of spinocerebellar degeneration and central neurofibromatosis.


Cyclic fluctuation in noradrenaline transmitter of the monkey oviduct. Cyclic variations in noradrenaline of the sympathetic nerves ("short adrenergic neurons") innervating the smooth musculature of the oviduct have been determined by fluorescence histochemistry and fluorometric measurements in monkeys (Macaca mulatta). During the secretory phase there is more than twice as much neuronal noradrenaline in the oviduct compared with the proliferative phase. This suggests, that the system of adrenergic nerves in the primate oviduct is involved in the motility changes associated with alterations in the level of endogenous estrogen and progesterone during the menstrual cycle.


Transitory blindness during ethanol and phenethylbiguanide induced lactic acidosis in a subject with diabetes mellitus. A case report. Transitory blindness is described in a diabetic patient with typical ethanol- and phenethylbiguanide induced lactic acidosis. The blindness developed in the course of 8 hours, but the vision returned during treatment with iv bicarbonate, insulin and glucose. The condition is discussed in relation to a presumed inhibition of the oxidative metabolism in the retina.


Development of myogenic sarcomas in mice at the site of injection of 4-HAQO -- a study on the morphogenesis of tumor. The morphological changes induced by a carcinogenic agent have been studied by serial histological examinations on the injection-sites in subcutaneous tissue of mice. As a carcinogen, 4-hydroxy-aminoquinoline-1-oxide was freshly suspended before use in olive oil (0.1 mg/0.1 ml) and injected subcutaneously into the right thigh of mice sixteen times at seven days intervals. Tumors were induced immediately after the sixteenth injection. Based on light and electron microscopic findings, these tumors were considered to be rhabdomyosarcomas. Morphologically, the course of the tumor induction was summarized as follows. The stage of inflammation (1-4 weeks), the stage of necrosis (4-8 weeks), the stage of the appearance of atypical cells (8-15 weeks), and the stage of tumor development (16 weeks and thereafter).


Lack of measurable complement fixing antibodies against viral antigens. A serological and clinical study was performed to find the common features of 130 patients without antibodies against 11 or more different antigens in the complement fixation (CF) test. These patients (=1.6%) were discovered during hte screening of 8,021 adult patients. Rheumatoid factor(s) (RF) were found in the sera of 113 of the patients. In the remaining 17 patients no common serological or clinical markers were found. Myeloma M-components were found in three cases. The lack of measurable CF antibodies in RF positive cases was apparently due to the inhibitory effect of RF(s) in the CF test. This was indicated by a positive reaction in CF after centrifugal separation of IgM and IgG fractions and also by the detection of antibodies using immunodiffusion method. Possible immune complexes were sought using the platelet aggregation test, which was positive for the sera of 47 (=37%) of the patients. The clinical diagnosis of the 130 CF-nonreactors was rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (ARA criteria) in 23 cases and pulmonary diseases in 65 cases. In a comparison group of equal size there were only 3 RA patients and 15 with pulmonary disease. RA was thus found in 20% of the RF positive CF-nonreacting patients. In the comparison group of 52 RA patients 8 CF-nonreactors were found (=15%). This suggests that the effect of RF(s) from RA patients in CF reaction varies greatly.


[The sheath of Scarpa ganglion cells in the baboon Papio papio]. The sheath of the bipolar perikarya of the vestibular ganglion (Scarpa) in Papio papio is made up of several Schwann cells which concur to form loose myelin, and at most five layers of compact myelin. Most of the Schwann cytoplasmic layers stop at the emergence of both neurites, forming at the point an incomplete Ranvier half-node. The constitution of the vestibular perikaryal sheath in Papio is intermediate between those previously described in the Rat and in the Human.


Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis. Bactericidal effect of serum from normal individuals and patients with cystic fibrosis on P. aeruginosa strains from patients with cystic fibrosis or other diseases. P. aeruginosa strains originating from the respiratory tract of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and patients with other diseases (non-CF) were analysed with regard to their sensitivity to the bactericidal activity of human serum. P. aeruginosa strains isolated from CF patients were more sensitive than strains from non-CF patients to the bactericidal activity of normal human serum. The bactericidal activity was heatlabile. As regards the sensitivity to normal human serum, mucoid and non-mucoid variants were not found to differ. Strains originating from chronically infected CF patients with many precipitins against these bacteria did not differ with respect to serum sensitivity from strains originating from intermittently colonized CF patients without P. aeruginosa precipitins. Compared with normal sera, CF sera showed similar or higher bactericidal activity against a panel of P. aeruginosa strains. In this respect, any difference between CF sera with precipitins and CF sera without precipitins against P. aeurginosa was not found. Sera from three CF patients chronically infected with P. aeruginosa, and with many precipitins against these bacteria, showed a selective inability in bactericidal activity against the patients' own P. aeruginosa isolate possibly reflecting the presence of "bactericidal blocking" antibodies.


An indirect haemagglutination test for demonstration of gonococcal antibodies using gonococcal pili as antigen. I. Methodology and preliminary results. An indirect haemagglutination (IHA) test for detection of gonococcal antibodies in human sera was established using purified pili as antigen. The majority of sera (44/51), positive in the gonococcal complement fixation test, were also positive in the IHA test with titres within the range 320-10,000. The results obtained for the following three groups of sera indicate a comparatively high speicificity of the IHA test; 1) 52 sera from children below 12 years of age were all negative, 2) 98% (184/188) of sera from blood donors were negative, 3) only sera from three adults out of 21 patients with meningococcal infections gave a positive reaction.


Antibodies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in serum from normal persons and patients colonized with mucoid or non-mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Results obtained by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Serum from 154 normal persons was investigated for precipitating antibodies against P. aeruginosa by crossed immunoelectrophoresis, using a polyvalent P. aeruginosa standard antigen. Ninety-four per cent of the sera contained no demonstrable precipitins, and 6% contained precipitins against only one P. aeruginosa antigen. Thirty-four per cent of sera from 122 patients colonized with P. aeruginosa in various anatomical regions contained precipitins against 2 to 41 P. aeruginosa antigens. Serum from 14 patients harbouring mucoid strains of P. aeruginsa contained precipitants against these bacteria, and the average number of precipitins was significantly higher than the average number of precipitins in serum from patients harbouring non-mucoid strains. The largest number of precipitins was found in serum from adult patients chronically colonized with mucoid P. aeruginosa in the lower respiratory tract, and from adult patients with P. aeruginosa bacteremia originating from suppurative urinary tract infections caused by mucoid strains. Serum from patients with P. aeruginosa cystitis or from patients with P. aeruginosa colonization of the middle ear or with wound infection, contained only few or no precipitins.


Immunochemical characteristics of subfragments from the CH3 homology region of human IgG. A subfragment (peak IV) of Fc from human IgG belonging to the CH3 region and found to be slightly different from both pFc and tFc' fragments was released after tryptic digestion of acid-treated Fc. Gel filtration at dissociating conditions of reduced and alkylated fragments indicated a molecular weight of 10,200. The Fc, pFc', tFc', and peak IV fragments all interacted with a rheumatoid factor having anti-Gm(1) specificity and showed a reaction of identity in agar diffusion against both anti-Fc and anti-pFc' sera. In immunoelectrophoresis, peak IV and tFc' fragments behaved similarly but with a more anodical movement than pFc' fragments. The probable location of the new fragment in terms of the sequenced gamma1-chain is proposed to be the residues 335 to 439.


Frequency of IgA deficiency in blood donors and Rh negative women in Iceland. Sera from 6,842 individuals were tested for IgA deficiency, using double and radial immunodiffusion. Sera containing less than 1 mg/100 ml of IgA were classified as deficient. The frequency of selective IgA deficiency among 4,799 blood donors investigated was 1:533, but 1:340 among 1,017 Rh negative women screened and 1:485 for both groups combined. One of the nine IgA deficient blood donors detected belonged to a 1st cousin marriage family previously investigated, in which the mother also was deficient in IgA. One IgA deficient recipient was found among 704 hospital patients screened for this abnormality.


Antibacterial effects of metrizoate and metrizamide on bacterial growth in vitro. Urinary pathogens were exposed in vitro to Isopaque and Amipaque in concentrations of 100 mg I/ml and 260 mg I/ml. Both contrast media in the higher concentration had a slight or negligible bacteriostatic effect on some of the test bacteria. No bactericidal effect was detected. Consequently, radiography of the urinary tract with these two media in the concentrations mentioned does not interfere with the culturing of bacteria from urine samples.


Phosphopyridoxal complexes with histamine and histidine. (5) The kinetics of cyclic compound formation between histamine and pyridoxal-5'-phosphate in the presence of pig kidney diamine oxidase and rat intestinal histaminase. Pig kidney diamine oxidase (DAO) and rat intestinal histaminase (Hi-ase) activities are inhibited in vitro by high concentrations of both a substrate (histamine) and a coenzyme (pyridoxal-5'-phosphate). This inhibition may be at least partially associated with the formation of a cyclic compound between histamine (Hi) and pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP). The dynamics of this cyclic compound formation in the presence of both enzymes has been examined. In an incubation mixture containing partially purified pig kidney DAO, the rate of cyclization decreased slightly as compared with a buffer. On the contrary, in the presence of crude rat intestinal histaminase, the rate of cyclization was inhibited significantly; this inhibition was proportional to the amount of enzyme preparation present in the incubation mixture. The possible mechanism of the influence of enzyme protein on the rate of cyclic compound formation, and its possible biological significance, are discussed.


Determination of histaminase (diamine oxidase) activity by o-dianisidine test: interference of ceruloplasmin. Until now o-dianisidine was used as an indicator substance in a test system for the determination of diamine oxidase. More recently, however, this substance was also used to measure ceruloplasmin activity. A study of the test principles revealed that o-dianisidine was the one denominator for both enzymes. As it was found for diamine oxidase the indicator was oxidized via peroxidase mediated H2O2 cleavage. Ceruloplasmin, however, oxidized o-dianisidine directly with resulting free radical formation. An addition of histamine dihydrochloride or putrescine dihydrochloride to an incubation mixture, containing ceruloplasmin as enzyme and o-dianisidine or p-phenylene-diamine as substrates, produced an activation of the enzyme, being more than 10-fold in the presence of 1 X 10(-2) M putrescine at pH 7.0. It was assumed that an allosteric effect of the dihydrochloride component might be responsible for this activation. When the activity of purified diamine oxidase was determined by the o-dianisidine test and by the isotope assay, a very good correlation between both methods was found. But, in a mixture of diamine oxidase and ceruloplasmin, no differentiation between the two enzymic activities by the o-dianisidine test was possible. This observation demonstrated an interference of ceruloplasmin when the o-dianisidine method was used for the determination of diamine oxidase activity. To apply our findings also in vivo the amine oxidase activity increasing in guinea-pig plasma during inflammation, was determined by the o-dianisidine test and by specific methods for some amine oxidase. Despite an enhanced oxidation of the o-dianisidine observed, only an increase of ceruloplasmin activity was found. It was concluded that ceruloplasmin had no 'histaminase activity' as has been assumed by other authors using the o-dianisidine test.


Outpatient management of asthma.

Outpatient management of asthma. Oral administration of xanthine compounds represents the first line of therapy in most patients with asthma. Establishment and maintenance of a therapeutic blood level of the medication requires regular dosgae. Oral sympathomimetic agents with predominantly beta-2 adrenergic activity, if tolerated, are often useful adjuncts to xanthine therapy. Sympathomimetic aerosols are not recommended. Cromolyn is often a valuable prophlactic agent. Corticosteroid aerosols may be useful in limiting adrenal suppression when steroids are necessary.


Effect of sublingually administered nitroglycerin on regional myocardial blood flow in patients with coronary artery disease. The effect of sublingually administered nitroglycerin on regional myocardial specific blood flow (in ml/min per 100 g tissue) was evaluated with a xenon-133 washout technique in 31 patients in a resting nonstressed state. Eight patients had normal coronary arteriograms (Group 1), 12 had coronary artery disease without collateral vessels (Group 2) and 11 had coronary artery disease with collateral vessels (Group 3). Although nitroglycerin caused a similar decrease in mean arterial blood pressure and blood pressure-heart rate product in all three groups, the decrease in regional myocardial blood flow was significantly less in Group 3 (-8+/-6% [mean+/-standard error of the mean]) than in Group 1 (-31+/-5%), P less than 0.05); an intermediary decrease occurred in Group 2 (-23+/-5%). Within Group 3, there was a mean increase in regional myocardial blood flow after nitroglycerin in the five patients whose collateral vessels were of a higher angiographic grade and arose from non-stenosed coronary arteries, whereas a reduction was observed in the six patients with none or only one of these findings (+10+/-7% versus -23+/-3%, P less than 0.001). This study suggests that even in the resting state, in some patients with coronary artery disease enhancement of regional myocardial blood flow can occur after sublingual administration of nitroglycerin and is probably mediated through well functioning collateral vessels. It is possible that the drug's effects on both the coronary and systemic circulation may relieve angina in some patients with coronary artery disease.


Acute coronary occlusion: prolonged increase in collateral flow following brief administration of nitroglycerin and methoxamine. Regional coronary blood flow was determined with the radioactive microsphere technique 10 an 70 minutes and 2 1/2 and 5 hours after abrupt occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery in 12 closed chest sedated dogs. In six dogs, nitroglycerin, 200 to 400 microng/min, was infused intravenously 10 to 70 minutes after occlusion. Methoxamine was administered to return blood pressure and heart rate to prenitroglycerin levels. Ten minutes after occlusion (before treatment) collateral flow values and ischemic zone endocardial/epicardial flow ratios were equivalent in untreated (0.11+/-0.03 ml/min per g; 0.31+/-0.05) and treated dogs (0.14+/-0.02 ml/min per g; 0.29+/-0.03). In untreated dogs, collateral flow did not change over 5 hours; the endocardial/epicardial flow ratio was decreased at 5 hours (0.21+/-0.05, P less than 0.05). In contrast, in treated dogs, collateral flow and the endocardial/epicardial flow ratio were increased at 70 minutes (0.27+/-0.04 ml/min per g, P less than 0.05; 0.53+/-0.10, P less than 0.05). Most importantly, collateral flow remained elevated 5 hours after occlusion (0.26+/-0.03 ml/min per g, P less than 0.05) although treatment was discontinued 70 minutes after occlusion. Hence, collateral flow was unchanged over 5 hours of occlusion in untreated dogs, but short-term treatment with nitroglycerin and methoxamine resulted in a sustained increase in collateral flow. These findings may be a result of stimulation by nitroglycerin and methoxamine of the spontaneous rate at which intrinsic collateral function increases after ischemia. Alternatively, nitroglycerin and methoxamine may maintain cell viability until collateral vessels develop spontaneously.


The neurohypophyseal capillary bed. I. Anatomy and arterial supply. Vascular casts of the pituitary-median eminence complex of mice,rats, dogs, sheep and monkeys were examined with the scanning electron microscope. Microfil-injected specimens of the rabbit and monkey pituitary-median eminence complex were examined by light microscopy after intracranial internal carotid artery occlusion. In each species a common neuropophyseal capillary network was found uniting infundibulum (median eminence), infundibular stem and infundibular process. This capillary bed is supplied from above by superior hypophyseal arteries and from below by inferior hypophyseal arteries. An artery to the infundibular stem was found in some species. With occlusion of the intracranial internal carotid arteries, flow through superior hypophyseal arteries did not occur. Yet the entire neurohypophyseal capillary bed filled upon injection with Microfil. These observations suggest the concept of a restricted arterial supply to the median eminence with drainage to the underlying adenohypophsis on one hand and to the infundibular process with drainage to the systemic circulation on the other must be modifed and that blood flow within the neurohypophyseal capillary bed (between infundibular process and median eminence) occurs.


Movement of the hyoid in frogs during feeding. Feeding, breathing, and vocalization sequences of Bufo marinus were recorded by cineradiography. Results of film analysis indicate that the hyoid moves during all three behaviors. Movement of the hyoid is critical in tongue protrusion of frogs, and a biomechanical model of this action is presented. The hyoid appears to represent a compromise morphological system for three functions, rather than an optimal system for any one. This may explain, in part, the retention of a relatively inefficient breathing mechanism in frogs.


Cholecystokinin and satiety in rats and rhesus monkeys. When ingested food does not accumulate in the stomach or enter the small intestine, rats do not stop eating. Small amounts of food placed in the small intestine or intraperitoneal injections of the intestinal hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) elicit the full behavioral display of satiety in these sham-feeding rats. In rhesus monkeys, intravenous infusions of CCK produce large, dose-related reductions in meal size. In addition, gastric preloads of calorically trivial amounts of l-phenylalanine, but not d-phenylalanine, produce large reductions in meal size, suggesting that: 1) endogenous CCK acts as a "satiety signal," and 2) certain foods may be very efficient releasers of such a satiety signal. Whether the satiety effect of CCK is physiological in rats and monkeys or operates in humans has not been determined.


Determination of factor VIII-related antigen using commercial antisera. Commercially available antiserum to factor VIII was used in several tests to determine whether it might serve as a reference between research laboratories involved in investigation of the factor VIII complex and whether the antiserum might be useful in the screening of large populations of patients with hereditary disorders of factor VIII. In Ouchterlony plates, the antiserum gave a single line of identity with concentrated factor VIII, cryoprecipitate, and human plasma. The antiserum was capable of inhibiting the ristocetin response of normal platelets. Testing antigenic factor VIII by the Laurell technic with the commercial antiserum on plasmas from normal and stressed normal controls, patients with von Willebrand's disease, patients with hemophilia A, and obligate carriers of hemophilia A gave diagnostic and reproducible results.


An evaluation of the effectiveness of a telephone counseling center. Three-thousand questionnaires were distributed to students on campus to identify a sample of actual telephone counseling center users and their ratings of the effectiveness of the help received and of the counselor. Ratings of help received and impact of counseling on life as it is today were considered for sex of caller and counselor across type of problem. A sample of 66 actual callers was identified who had used the service for personal problems at least once. Of male callers, 67% reported that telephone counseling helped at least somewhat, while 80% of female callers reported favorable results of telephone counseling. Female callers who talked with male counselors reported a significantly greater impact on their life than did the callers in any other caller/counselor sex interaction. Only one average rating of counseling effectiveness by problem type fell below the neutral rating. Results are presented as evidence for the effectiveness of paraprofessional counselors.


Esophageal manometrics in patients with angina-like chest pain. Fifty-eight patients with angina-like chest pain had esophageal manometric testing. Forty-three had no evidence of coronary artery disease at the time of referral or at subsequent contact; 15 patients were proven to have coronary artery disease. High-amplitude contraction waves were the most frequently found manometric abnormality (15 patients). Less frequent were increased duration of contractions, achalasia, and diffuse esophageal spasm; the latter was present in only 3 patients. An approach to the interpretation of information obtained during manometry is presented. Using this approach, the esophagus was strongly implicated as the cause of the pain in 20 patients and was suspect in 18 others. Seven patients had results that exonerated the esophagus, and in the 13 remaining individuals, the esophagus was probably not the offending organ.


Stress gastric bleeding. Prevention of experimental lesions by intravenous hyperalimentation. Rats, weighing 125-150 gm., were restrained under a tight wire screen for one hour at 20degrees C and another hour at 4degrees C of ambient temperature. Animals receiving no infusions, or those receiving an intravenous solution of normal saline, developed 16 +/- 3 S.D. bleeding areas in their gastric mucosa. In contrast, in animals exposed to the same degree of stress who received intravenous hyperalimentation, the number of gastric stress bleeding areas counted was 4 +/- 2 S.D. These results demonstrate that the delivery of calories and protein in the form if intravenous hyperalimentation can significantly reduce the incidence of gastric stress bleeding in an experimental model (P less than .001).


Availability of insulin from parenteral nutrient solutions. The effect of the following variables on insulin loss from total parenteral nutrient solutions was examined: (1) time of infusion sample; (2) insulin concentration; (3) amino acid or polypeptide source; (4) electrolytes and vitamins; (5) inline filters; (6) glass and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) infusion containers; and (7) human albumin. I125-tagged insulin was added to various parenteral nutrient solutions in liter containers. These solutions were prepared and drained to simulate actual clinical use. The drained solutions were collected and measured for radioactivity, and the percent of insulin remaining in the infusion container was calculated. Basic solutions of amino acids and protein hydrolysates in dextrose with 30 units of insulin failed to deliver approximately 44 to 47% of the added insulin. Varying the concentration of insulin had a small but statistically significant effect on the degree of insulin loss. The use of inline filters and PVC bags caused an even greater loss of insulin. The addition of albumin or electrolytes and vitamins decreased the insulin loss.


Political aspects of budgeting in hospitals. The political nature of the hospital budgetary process and the pharmacist's participation in that process are discussed. Among the political factors discussed are personal considerations, development of confidence among other officials, institutional-philosophical considerations, demographic pressures and information.


Group Y meningococcal disease in United States Air Force recruits. Between 1971 and 1974, group Y meningococcal disease developed in 88 Air Force recruits; 68 had primary bacterial pneumonia. None of the patients with primary pneumonia had the stigmata of meningococcemia or meningitis. Patients with pneumonia responded well to small doses of parenteral penicillin. Ten patients had meningococcemia, and six had meningitis. Pneumonia, therefore, predominated over meningococcemia and meningitis 4:1. Skin lesions were rare in patients with meningococcemia but frequent in those with meningitis; otherwise, these clinical syndromes were similar to group B and C meningococcal disease. There was only one death, a patient with known preexisting leukopenia.


Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia in a dialysis unit. 1. Recognition of cases, epidemiologic studies and attempts at control. Infections commonly occur in patients undergoing dialysis and have been related to diminished host resistance of uremic patients, the arteriovenous fistulas and bacteriologic contamination of dialysis fluids. The occurrence of four cases of bacteremia due to Pseudomonas, three of which were type 7, and the presence of this serotype in the dialysis fluids suggested an important association between infection and growth of bacteria in the fluids. Attempts to reduce levels of bacteria in the dialysis fluid were unsuccessful using dialysate free of glucose in clinical trial, despite in vitro studies demonstrating poor growth of Pseudomonas in this medium. A filter placed with the recirculating system was only partially successful. The second paper of this series traces the portal of entry of bacteria from dialysate to the blood through reutilized coils.


Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia in a dialysis unit. 11. Relationship to reuse of coils. Blood for culture was obtained over a six week period from 17 patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis. Bacteremia was detected during 18 of 201 dialyses. Blood drawn during fifteen of these dialyses contained pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ten of the 17 patients (59 per cent) had a Pseudomonas bacteremia some time during the study. Only one patient was symptomatic. The frequency of positive cultures was related to reuse of coils. No cultures were positive until after the fifth use, but by the tenth use, 41 per cent of the dialyses were associated with bacteremia. All coils that were used repeatedly and 32 of 48 of those used only once, grew Ps. aeruginosa when filled with media and incubated. This suggests that the coils were inoculated during dialysis and that benzalkonium chloride, the sterilizing agent, was unable to eradicate this organism.  With repeated uses, the number of residual bacteria in the coil became large enough to cause detectable bacteremia during dialysis.


Effect of synthetic thyrotropin-releasing hormone on ovulation in baboons. Twice daily oral thyrotropin-releasing hormone administered to female baboons throughout the menstrual cycle had no significant influence on cycle length or upon estrogen levels but produced blunted midcycle LH peaks and luteal phase progesterone levels in three fourths of the treatment cycles. Mean plasma prolactin levels were increased approximately 2.5-fold relative to untreated, ovulatory control cycles. CB-154 alone did not alter cycle length or endocrine parameters examined (mean prolactin levels were decreased but not significantly). Cycles during which CB-154 was administered concomitantly with TRH were characterized by normal ovulation as evidenced by luteal phase progesterone levels. Since the effect on LH secretion was reversed by concomitant CB-154 administration, TRH-induced anovulation in animals given long-term treatment appeared to be mediated through physiologic mechanisms sensitive to elevated circulating prolactin levels. However, this conclusion must be considered equivocal since prolactin levels were also elevated during ovulatory cycles following long-term TRH therapy. Finally, these data do no exclude the alternative possibility that anovulation in baboons given long-term TRH treatment was a reflection of thyroid disturbance and not directly attributable to elevated prolactin.