[Respiratory tract in workers chronically exposed to cement dust]. 175 men working at productive divisions of a cement plant (average age 39,5 years +/- 8.3, average duration of employment 9.3 years +/- 4.8) and 50 controls (average age 38.7 +/- 11.9 and average duration of employment 10.7 +/- 10.0) were examined. The survey involved: a complex evaluation of respiratory tract, including internal, radiological, spirographic, gasometric and capnographic examinations. The results demonstrated chronic bronchitis in 17% of cement plant workers and in 10% of controls. Qualitatively, chronic bronchitis was more advanced in cement plant workers. Chronic bronchitis prevalence increased with duration of work in exposure to cement dust. Chest radiograms gave no cause for diagnosing pneumoconiosis in any case. Mean values of dynamic spirographic indices were lower than in controls, the differences were, however, statistically insignificant. Instead, the mean values of partial pressures of carbon dioxide and oxygen were statistically significantly lower, than those in controls, though they did not differ much from normal values.


[Chemical hazards connected with electrochemical machining. I. Toxicity of nitric oxides and chlorine lesions in rats' parenchymatous organs]. In rats exposed for 12 weeks to the mixture of nitric oxides (0.34--2.81 mg/m3) and chlorine (0.61--1.50 mg/m3) the following changes were found: increased methemoglobin concentration (MetHb), increased partial pressure, increased total carbon dioxide concentration (pCO2 TCO2), increased current dicarbonate concentration (AB), and increased buffer bases (BB). In addition, asparagine transferase activity (aspAT), alanine aminotransferase (A1AT), alkaline phosphatase (AP) and hepatic isoenzyme of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH5) in serum were found to be increased. Histopathological examination revealed: inflammatory lesions and edema of pulmonary parenchyma, alveolar emphysema and edema of connective tissue of palpetra derm with mastocytes. Chronic exposure to low concentrations of nitric oxides and chlorine induces, apart from local lesions in conjunctivae, pulmonary lesions leading to respiratory acidosis compensated by metabolic alkalosis, or liberation of indicatory enzymes through impaired cells.


[Histopathological changes in the kidney of experimental animals caused by lethal doses of thallium]. The experiment was carried out on 65 white male Wistar rats and 65 white male Swiss mice poisoned with thallium sulfate in doses 30-40 mg/kg body weight. The animals were sacrificed in the 4, 8, 24, 48th hours of experiment and their kidneys were submitted to light and an electron microscopic examination. Protein level in urine and urea level in blood serum of the rats were determined. With the light microscope necrosis of epithelium of Henle loops, hydropic degeneration, swelling and focal necrosis of epithelium of proximal convoluted tubules, and stromal oedema were seen. An electron microscopic study pointed out swelling and degenerative changes in the mitochondria, loss of microvilli in many cells, dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum and decrease of electron density of basement membranes. Urea level in blood serum and protein level in urine increased.


[Sociological profile of Medical Academy graduates undertaking jobs in Industrial Health Services]. In 1977 nation-wide studies were carried out among Medical Academies graduates, considering their preparation to work as physicians, their plans and professional aspirations. This group included young physicians who had undertaken a job in industrial health service. All those graduates were analysed in terms of: sex, social origin, territorial origin, legal status, family status, place of graduation, and their opinions on their professional preparation. Based on the subjects' answers, a place of specialization in industrial medicine was determined in professional plans of young physicians working within industrial health service. In addition, based on analysed variables, the population of young physicians starting their work in industry immediately after graduation, was comprehensively outlined.


[Health and social effects of faciocranial traumas sustained during work in light industry workshops]. In the years 1967-76 at the laryngological clinic 35 patients with faciocranial traumas sustained during work at a light industry plant were treated. Considerable amounts of serious faciocranial injuries (10 cases), and frequent accompanying injuries (mostly lesions of eyes and central nervous system) were found. Direct social cost of those accidents in terms of hospitalization was 482 days and in terms of disability for work--738 days.


[Necessity for stomatologic treatment of workers at the woodworks factory at Sokółka]. Clinical examination of dentition, paradontium and mouth hygiene was carried out in 730 workers of the Woodwork Factory in Sokółka and on this basis the demand for stomatologic treatment was estimated. Analysis of the material was carried out, basing on general indices accepted in mass examinations: caries, type of treatment, PMA and OH.


[Air concentration of asbestos fibers at work sites]. The paper presents a method for measuring the concentration of asbestos fibres at workplaces. This method consists in sampling the dusted air onto membrane filters, making the filters transparent and counting asbestos fibres under an optical microscope with a positive phase contrast. Errors in counting asbestos fibres, sampling and precision of the method were discussed (total error of the method). Measurements of the concentration of asbestos fibres in the air at workplaces were made at plants producing asbestos textile products, seal plates, packings and frictional goods. 0.1 fibre/cm3 was the lowest concentration (sensitiveness of the method).


Physiological, psychological and situational stresses in depression during the climacteric. The present study examined the characteristics and circumstances which distinguished between groups of depressed and non-depressed menopausal women: 20 women were studied overall. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess depression levels, while the administration and content analysis of a semistructured interview provided information regarding the presence or absence of stress across a number of variables. While the depressed group were not found to differ significantly from the non-depressed group in terms of stress due to physical symptomatology, they did differ on a number of the psychological and social stress variables, and showed a significantly greater combination of stresses compared with the non-depressed group. Some recommendations concerning management are made.


Is the menopausal age rapidly changing?

Is the menopausal age rapidly changing? A population study of women in Goteborg, Sweden was carried out in 1968--1969. Altogether 1462 women participated (participation rate 90.1%). Five age strata were studied: 38, 46, 50, 54 and 60 (women born in 1930, 1922, 1918, 1914 and 1908, respectively). The same women were re-studied in 1974--1975. Information about menopausal state and, in postmenopausal women, about menopausal age was obtained on both occasions. The information given by the women in 1974--1975 agreed well with the information given in 1968--1969. Very few women started to menstruate again, if the interval since the last menstruation had been 6 mth or longer. The vast majority of the women had a spontaneous menopause. The medians of menopausal age were found to be between 49 yr 7 mth (in women born in 1908) and 50 yr 5 mth (in women born in 1918). There was a tendency towards a continuously increased menopausal age with time as judged from women born in 1908, 1914 and 1918, respectively, but women born in 1922 were found to have a median menopausal age which was more similar to that of the women born in 1908 than that of the women born in 1918. Our sstudy has, thus, not supported the view that the menopausal age in rapidly changing.


Menopausal effects on risk factors for ischaemic heart disease. Women of almost identical age but with a different menopausal state were compared in a population study of women, which was carried out in Goteborg, Sweden. The group of women aged 50 comprised about the same number of still menstruating and postmenopausal women and was, therefore, especially suitable for such a comparison. Serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides were higher in postmenopausal than in premenopausal 50-yr-old women and seemed to increase with postmenopausal time. The differences between premenopausal and postmenopausal women were hightly significant. Systolic blood pressure was slightly but significantly different (lower in postmenopausal women), while no difference was found for diastolic blood pressure. It seems that differences in risk factors for ischaemic heart disease could explain part of but not all the association between early menopause and ischaemic heart disease.


The effect of smoking on menopausal age. A comprehensive population study of women in Goteborg, Sweden was carried out in 1968--1969. Altogether 1462 women in five age strata were studied. The age stratum 50 comprised about the same number of postmenopausal women (n = 161) and women who still menstruated (n = 168). A comparison could, therefore, be made between still menstruating and postmenopausal women of almost identical age. In postmenopausal 50-yr-old women 50% were smokers compared to 26% in 50-yr-old women who still menstruated. The difference was highly significant. Almost all the postmenopausal women had been smokers for many years, which means that they did not start smoking as a consequence of the menopause. It thus seemed that an earlier menopause was a consequence of smoking. The difference could not or only to a small extent be explained by other factors such as differences in body weight between smokers and non-smokers.


Age at menopause and its relation to osteoporosis. As one phase of a comprehensive population study of women, bone density was determined in the third lumbar vertebra by dual photon absorptiometric technique. The method involves the use of two radionuclides, which both emit gamma radiation but with different energies (241Am with 59.6 keV and 137Cs with 662 keV). Women in three age strata were studied: 46, 54 and 62 yr. All women aged 46 were still menstruating, while the age strata 54 and 62 were subdivided into two groups: those who still menstruated or had been postmenopausal for a short time and those who had been postmenopausal for many years. The bone mineral content was higher in premenopausal or recently postmenopausal 54-yr-old women than in women of the same age who had been postmenopausal for a long time (P less than 0.01). A similar trend was found for women aged 62 (P less than 0.10). The differences could not be explained by differences in other factors studied, such as body weight, body height, smoking habits or physical activity. No significant differences were found when women with similar menopausal status in different age groups were compared.


Life stresses and depression in the menopause. Research on the climacteric has largely concentrated on relationships between ovarian insufficiency, oestrogen deficiency, and climacteric symptoms. Little attention has been paid to those who have no symptoms. It is proposed, in addition to these relationships, that the life events of this period are significantly involved; and that resultant stress may contribute to oestrogen deficiency as opposed to physiologically normal postmenopausal oestrogen levels. In this preliminary study, two groups of women under conditions of relatively low stress and high stress were tested over a period of 15 mth. They were rated on the Hamilton Rating Scale for depression and anxiety and results were compared with the corresponding total urinary oestrogen output. The results, which suggest a significant relationship between stress related to depression and oestrogen levels in the menopause, are discussed and compared with differing life circumstances of the subjects.


Thermography of menopausal hot flushes.

Thermography of menopausal hot flushes. The skin temperature changes associated with menopausal hot flushes have been examined by thermography on a small group of patients. The subjective sensation of heat during a flush seems to be out of proportion to the actual skin temperature increase which was only about 1 degrees C on the face, neck and upper chest during this study. The increased temperature on the cheeks often persisted for several minutes after the symptoms of the flush had subsided, whereas sweating on the forehead produced a more rapid local cooling effect. Sequential temperature changes were portrayed by using an AGA Thermovision Model 680 Medical System with a colour isotherm attachment. This study provided colourful objective evidence that the symptoms of menopausal flushing is associated with an increase of skin temperature which may be monitored by thermography.


Estrogen treatment of postmenopausal vaginal atrophy--a cytological assessment. The following is an assessment of the maturation value (MV) based upon cytohormonal smears of postmenopausal or hysterectomized patients: (1) There is a negative correlation between the MV and the number of postmenopausal years. (2) There is a positive correlation between MV values higher than 60 and urinary excretion of estrogens. (3) The MV is ideally suited to demonstrate the beneficial effect of various estrogens on the vaginal mucosa. (4) Though its action is delayed, and necessitates a threshold dose of 33 micrograms/kg weight/wk, estriol might be considered as the drug of choice for a beneficial effect on the vaginal mucosa, because of its lack of endometrial action at this dosage.


The empty nest process in mid-life men and women. A combined clinical and field investigation studied the effects of the empty-nest phase of parenthood on morale and activity level. Data from the clinical study were obtained from two psychotherapy groups conducted for mid-life women, and the field data were obtained from a 5-yr longitudinal study of life stages. Results indicated an increase in morale during the unfolding of the empty nest and suggested that the so-called "crisis" of the empty nest may be more myth than reality.


Investigation of an intracellular hemolytic agent of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Lipid fraction of dried cells. The dried cells of two strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were fractionated by extracting first with water and then with organic solvents. The hemolytic activity of the fractions was determined, and some of them were assayed for their effect in mice. The hemolytic agent present in the water-insoluble fraction was extractable in organic solvents such as 70% aqueous ethanol, chloroform-methanol-water (1:2:0.8) and acetone. The extracts showed no toxic effect in mice after intraperitoneal inoculation. No hemolytic activity was observed in the remaining cell residue, which bore the toxicity.


Chemical composition of Streptococcus mutans cell walls and their susceptibility to Flavobacterium L-11 enzyme. The susceptibility to a cell wall lytic L-11 enzyme from Flavobacterium sp. and the quantitative and/or qualitative composition of the cell walls of some strains of cariogenic Streptococcus mutans and a non-cariogenic strain of Streptococcus mitis were determined. The purified cell walls of S. mutans strains HS-1 (serotype a), BHT (b), NCTC10449 (c), C67-1 (c), C67-25 (c), OMZ 176 (d), MT703 (e), MT557 (f), OMZ65 (g), and AHT (g), and S. mitis CHT contained glutamic acid, alanine, and lysine as well as muramic acid and glucosamine as a peptidoglycan component. Besides these amino acids, significant amounts of threonine were detected in strains HS-1, OMZ65, and AHT cell walls, and considerable amounts of aspartic acid and/or threonine as well as several other amino acids in OMZ176, OMZ65, and CHT cell walls. Rhamnose was a common special component of the cell walls of S. mutans strains BHT, NCTC10449, MT703, B2 (e), MT557, and AHT, and S. mitis CHT. An additional sugar component, glucose, was detected in the cell walls of all of these strains except BHT, and galactose was found in BHT, AHT, and CHT cell walls. Galactosamine was present in S. mitis CHT cell walls. Varying amounts of phosphorus were detected in the cell walls of all the strains examined. The cell walls of all these streptococcal strains except MT703, 6715, and AHT were susceptible to the lytic action of the L-11 enzyme to various extents. No consistent relationship was observed between the amino acid and sugar composition of these cell walls and their susceptibility to the L-11 enzyme. The chemical composition of these cell walls is discussed in terms of the serological classification of S. mutans.


Mode of cell separation and arrangement of Staphylococcus. The process of cell separation and arrangement of Staphylococcus was investigated using a scanning electron microscope. After two cycles of cell division, the Staphylococcal cells cultured on an agar medium were generally observed to be arranged in three morphological types: linear, square, and crooked arrangements. Results of the examination of cell surface structure revealed that separations had occurred in these clustered cells following two patterns. One type of second separation occurred parallel to the transversal axis of the preceding pair of the parental cells (X-type) and the other occurred tangential to it (Y-type). In the former type, the four daughter cells were usually arranged tetragonally after the separations, and in the latter type they were arranged either linearly or crookedly depending on the direction of the second separation. The final pattern of the cell arrangement was thus determined by the type of septal wall formation and the direction of cell separation. After several cycles of cell divisions, the cells were finally arranged in an irregular grape-like cluster, even though the cross walls were formed regularly at the rectangular face of the preceding cross walls.


Isolation of influenza A virus from budgerigars and its serological characterization. A hemagglutinating agent was isolated from the respiratory organs of budgerigars suffering from diarrhea and malnutrition. This agent, possessing neuraminidase activity, was identified as influenza A virus by the double immunodiffusion test. The results of hemagglutination and neuraminidase-inhibition tests with monospecific antisera to the isolated surface antigens showed that the isolates possessed Hav4 hemagglutinin and Nav1 neuraminidase subunits both of which were closely related to the corresponding antigens of A/duck/Czech/56 (Hav4 Nav1).


[Anaerobic reduction of ferric iron by hydrogen bacteria]. Ferric iron is a possible electron acceptor for facultative anaerobic processes. A Pseudomonas culture capable of reducing ferric iron with molecular hydrogen has been isolated from marshy soil. The microorganism can grow because of iron reduction. It reduces ferric hydroxide and ferrihydrite, including residues of iron bacteria. The organism reduces also nitrates in nitrites. Reduced iron and nitrite inhibit the growth of the organism, and therefore the concentration of the cells and of reduced iron is not high. The organism can grow with oxygen as an electron acceptor, even at oxygen concentrations below 1%. The organism requires small quantities of yeast extract for growth under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The bacterial reduction of iron with hydrogen may be significant for gaining better insight into processes occurring in flooded soils.


[Electrophoretic characteristics of the protein of yeast lipid granules]. The proteins from the membranes of lipid granules, the plasmalemma and the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum isolated from Candida tropicalis cells were analyzed using electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel. The electrophoretic spectra of the proteins from these membranes were quite different. It has been proved experimentally that lipid granules from yeast cells growing on n-alkanes and containing large amounts of n-alkanes are not derivatives of the pinocytozing plasmalemma. The membranes of lipid granules are presumed to be formed in the cell de novo upon accumulation of substances of the lipid nature.


[Blastobacter viscosus, a new species of methanol-utilizing autotrophic bacteria]. A strain of budding bacteria capable of autotrophic growth in the atmosphere of H2+O2+CO2 or in a medium with methanol was isolated from activated sludge. The cells are Gram negative nonmotile yellow pleomorphic rods which do not form rosettes. The bacterium is a strict aerobe. It utilizes a wide range of organic compounds (alcohols, sugars and organic acids) as the sources of carbon and energy. The G+C content of DNA is 66.3 +/- 0.9 mol %. Based on the study of morphological, cultural, and physiologo-biochemical properties, the strain has been assigned to the genus Blastobacter. A new species, Blastobacter viscosus sp. nov. different from other known blastobacteria in certain morphological and physiological properties, is described.


[Kinetics of Candida lipolytica yeast growth and biosynthesis of alpha-keto acids with thiamine deficiency in media with different carbon sources]. The growth kinetics of Candida lipolytica on glucose, acetate and hexadecane was studied in batch cultures at thiamine deficiency. The growth at the deceleration phase is of a linear character. The transition from the exponential phase to the linear one is accompanied with the accumulation of alpha-keto acids in the cultural broth, which is also observed in the stationary phase. The rate of acid production in the linear phase increases as the specific growth rate decreases, and reaches the maximum value in media with different carbon sources at mu = 0.01--0.06 h-1. Apparently, the deceleration of growth is due to a decrease in the activity of a thiamine-dependent enzyme (pyruvate dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase or transketolase) which is a limiting point of biosynthetic processes. Here, a linear growth is determined by the constant activity of this enzyme per unit volume of the cultural broth which, in turn, depends on the constant concentration of the coenzyme, thiamine diphosphate, in the same volume.


[Effect of several compounds on the process of reduction of the 20-keto group of corticosteroids by a culture of Mycobacterium globiforme]. The effect of certain metabolites produced in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats on the reduction of the 20-keto group in a number of corticosteroids (prednisone, prenisolone, 6 alpha-methylprednisolone) was studied with the culture of Mycobacterium globiforme. The metabolites and inhibitors of the respiration chain were found to stimulate the 20 beta-reduction of a steroid molecule. The inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation, 2,4-dinitrophenol, inhibited the reduction of the 20-keto group in a steroid.


[Effect of indolylacetic acid on formation of bacteroid forms of Rhizobium leguminosarum]. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of indolylacetic acid (IAA) on the strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum, effective and noneffective with respect to symbiotic nitrogen fixation (L4 and 245a, and 14--73, respectively). IAA at a concentration of 50 mcg/ml and higher inhibited the growth of the bacterium, temporarily delayed celular division, and induced intensive formation of elongated bacteroid-like cells, predominantly Y-shaped or having a clavate shape. Many bacteroid-like cells were capable of division after a certain delay.


[Electron microscopic study of the interaction between phages and Bacillus thuringiensis cells]. The interaction of phages belonging to different morphological groups with the cells of Bacillus thuringiensis var. galleriae R and S variants was studied. No adsorption of phages Tg11 and Tg18 on the cells of R variant was found upon infection in a liquid medium. What is characteristic of phage Tg11 is that it is predominantly adsorbed at the poles of S variant cells. Phage Tg18 particles are uniformly distributed along the perimeter of S variant cells. Phage Tg13 is adsorbed on the both variant cells. Phage aggregates with the elements of cell walls having a tetrahonal assembly of the subunits can be revealed in phage Tg13 lysates. The size of the subunits is 7 nm and the distance between their centers is 11 nm. A structured element, apparently the T-layer, is involved in the adsorption of phage Tg13 on the cells.


[Effect of hydrogen peroxide and hydrated ferric oxides on the metabolism of soil microflora]. The effect of hydrogen peroxide and the mineral limonite on the rate of microbial processes was studied in poor and rich soils. The dynamics of CO2 evolution can be registered upon addition of hydrogen peroxide to chernozem samples, which confirms the existence of metabolism of soil microorganisms. In experiments with desert soil, the evolution of O2 increases rather than that of CO2, which is probably due to an increase in the number of microorganisms producing catalase. Limonite stimulates the metabolic activity of microrganisms. The cultural and morphological properties of microflora are described, which are typical of soils incubated in the presence of limonite and hydrogen peroxide. This work supports the conclusion that, theoretically, the ground of Mars may contain microorganisms which have adapted, in the course of evolution, to high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and hydrated iron oxides (of the limonite type) in the surrounding medium.


[Lipids of saprophytic bacteria produced during growth on a complex organic substrate]. The composition of lipids and the structure of mycolic acids were studied in Mycobacterium lacticolum var. aliphaticum isolated from soil and grown on MPB. The lipids of all strains were found to contain phosphatidyl inositol mannosides, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, cardiolipin, mycolic and common fatty acids, triglycerides, wax, and several unidentified compounds. The structure of mycolic acids was established by mass spectrometry. The mycolic acids C34:0, C35:0 and C36:0 prevailed in strain 175, and the mycolic acids C34:1, C34:0, C36:1 and C36:0 predominated in strain 180. The composition of minor components was assayed. Variations in the composition of mycolic acids depending on the source of carbon in the medium are discussed.


[Character of short-term changes in the total number of soil bacteria, including ammonifiers, during the growing season]. The total incidence of bacteria and the number of ammonificators were assayed to the direct count and plating techniques, respectively, several times within the vegetative period in the course of ten days under the field conditions. The incidence of the former and the latter varied though not in parallel, and the variations were temporal. The total bacterial incidence depended considerably on soil water content; in ammonificators, moisture determined only the level at which their number changed. The character of oscillations is suggestive of the rate of microbial growth at different periods of the vegetative stage. Daily determination of their number several times within the same period may result in contradictory conclusions.


Effects of dc bias currents on ECG electrodes. The effects of small dc bias currents on the offset potentials of disposable ECG electrodes (four brands of Ag-AgCl and two brands of stainless steel) were examined. After periods ranging from a few minutes to several days, samples of all electrode types exhibited offset potentials exceeding 200 mV after subjection to dc bias currents over 200 nA. All Ag-AgCl electrodes were able to withstand bias currents of 200 nA with minimal changes in offset for periods up to 7 days. The stainless electrodes exhibited large offset potentials within minutes after subjection to bias currents of only 100 nA.


Radio-frequency heating under ECG electrodes. ECG electrodes can provide an alternate path for the return of radio-frequency current to an electrosurgical generator. In the process, significant heat rise can take place at the electrode/skin interface. The contribution from the electrode to this heart rise was examined using face-to-face pairs as well as human subject testing. A comparison of various electrode designs revealed a wide range in their RF heating characteristics which affects the probability of burns.


Development of standard test methods for evaluating defibrillation recovery characteristics of disposable ECG electrodes. A clinically relevant test for the measurement of defibrillation overload recovery of prefilled disposable ECG electrodes was developed and is proposed for use in an ECG electrode standard under development by AAMI. Defibrillation overload voltages and currents, as well as electrode polarization recovery voltages, were first measured in animal tests on 12 types of electrodes to allow correlation with various bench tests using a capacitor discharge at 10, 200, or 1000 V. Current overloads absorbed by the electrodes under worst conditions in animal tests were in the range of 2 percent of the defibrillation current flowing through the chest. These overloads were absorbed by most Ag-AgCl electrodes without excessive polarization. However, stainless steel, brass, and tin electrodes tended to polarize to levels that would saturate many ECG monitors. A standard bench test using a 200-V 10-muF capacitor was recommended for inclusion in the AAMI standard to determine whether electrodes are acceptable for use during defibrillation.


Optimizing pacing lead design: redesign of the tined lead. Technical data derived from experimental and clinical experience in the field of lead/catheter implants formed the basis for developing a set of technical design criteria for pacing leads. Four related levels of technical data were identified: Basic lead components, mode of installation, application site, and mode of use. When the technical data were evaluated, a joint goal between the medical and engineering community evolved--namely, to reduce the total transvenous lead-related reoperation rate (both acute and chronic) from 20-25 percent to below 5 percent. As a result, a new family of leads designed specifically to meet the less than or equal to 5 percent reoperation rate is now available; the first leads introduced are a radical redesign of an earlier tined lead. The development process and results, both experimental and clinical (N greater than 1,005), demonstrate the potential of careful technical definition and communication of biomedical problems between engineering and medical personnel.


Physiological and electrical characteristics of the porous endocardial electrode. The principal complications in pacemaker therapy involve electrode-tissue instability. A new porous electrode has been devised that allows tissue ingrowth into the electrode interior, improving electrode biocompatibility and resulting in reduced dislodgment incidence, lower pacing thresholds, and improved sensing. Electrode porosity reduces polarization impedance permitting small-electrode design for both improved pacing longevity and optimal sensing function.


Time and frequency dependence of disposable ECG electrode-skin impedance. The magnitude and phase of disposable electrode-skin impedance were studied as functions of time, 0-48 hours, and frequency, 1 Hz-1 kHz. For both unabraded and mildly abraded skin, the impedance decreased as a function of time steadily or exponentially with time constants of several hours. Impedance decreased as a function of frequency by factors of 2 to 20 with greatest change at low frequencies. For heavily abraded skin, the impedance decreased slightly and then increased as a function of time especially at low frequencies. Impedance imbalance between pairs of identical electrodes applied in a like manner to the forearm were often greater than k omega, nearly equal to individual electrode-skin impedances, and decreased with time. Electrode impedance imbalance is particularly important because it affects noise levels in ECG recordings.


A comparison of gel-to-gel and skin measurements of electrode impedance. Utilizing an automated test system, measurements of the 10-Hz impedance were made with electrode pairs joined gel-to-gel and electrode quartets on the skin of the backs of human volunteers. Two skin preparation procedures were examined. As a minimum skin preparation, the electrodes were applied to clean, dry skin from which body hair had been shaved if necessary. As a maximal preparation, the electrodes were applied after mild abrasion of the skin with fine emery cloth. Although the impedances measured for electrodes applied to mildly abraded skin correlated well with measurements made with electrodes of the same brand joined gel-to-gel, virtually no correlation was found if the electrodes were affixed to clean, dry skin.


Visualization of the barrier layer through iontophoresis of ferric ions. The barrier layer in the intact epidermis of pig skin effectively limits the penetration of ferric ions even under conditions of iontophoresis. This was microscopically demonstrated using a ferric ion salt in conjunction with a soluble ferrocyanide to produce a Prussian blue ferric ferrocyanide precipitate. The effectiveness of various skin preparation techniques in breaking through the epidermal barrier layer was examined, utilizing this chemical reaction to stain the skin.


The feasibility of bench tests for disposable ECG electrode adhesiveness. The feasibility of recommending one standard bench test that adequately qualifies electrode adhesives for clinical use was examined by UBTL. Small strips, cut from whole, commercially available disposable ECG electrodes, were attached to three types of surfaces, and samples of each type of electrode were peel tested at 15 minutes, 8 hours, and 48 hours after attachment. A program was developed to average, display, and calculate peel strength parameters. Analysis of the data showed that (a) the peel strength of electrodes varied by more than a factor of 10 when measured on human skin, and by more than a factor of 3 when measured on bench test surfaces, and (b) the peel strength of the electrode adhesive strips did not correlate with intact electrode loss on ambulatory subjects. Therefore, UBTL could not recommend one bench test that would measure adhesion performance for all electrode types appropriate for inclusion in an AAMI ECG electrode standard.


Brain damage in infancy and dietary vitamin B12 deficiency. A case of the exclusively breast-fed infant of a vegetarian mother is reported. Neurological deterioration commenced between three and six months of age, and progressed to a comatose premoribund state by the age of nine months. Investigations revealed a mild nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency in the mother, and a very severe nutritional B12 deficiency in the infant, with severe megaloblastic anaemia. Treatment of the infant with vitamin B12 resulted in a rapid clinical and haematological improvement, but neurological recovery was incomplete. Evidence is presented that dietary B12 deficiency was the sole cause of the infant's deterioration, and the literature relating to the condition is reviewed. It is recommended that all strict vegetarians (vegans), especially women in the child-bearing age group, take vitamin B12 supplements.


The thermal behavior of electrolyte-coated metal-foil dispersive electrodes. The thermal properties of electrolyte-coated aluminum (Al) and copper (Cu) foil dispersive electrodes carrying 700 mA of electrosurgical current for 1 min were studied on seven human subjects ranging in weight from 46 to 84 kg. Calibrated thermographic imaging was used for data analyses. The mean skin temperature rise for the Al-foil electrode was 1 degrees C and for the Cu-foil electrode was 0.5 degrees C. The maximum temperatures occurred at the perimeter of both electrode types and were 3.5 degrees C for the Al-foil and 2.5 degrees C for the Cu-foil electrode. Both electrodes performed adequately under these severe test conditions.


Clinical evaluation of computed tomographic scanning. Computed tomographic (CT) head scans were performed on 100 patients in a neurology ward. The CT scan was diagnostic in 67 patients and suggestive in a further three patients. Computed tomographic scans were most likely to be diagnostic in patients whose symptoms at presentation could be classified as "traumatic intracranial lesion", "space-occupying lesion", "acute cerebrovascular lesion", "dementia", and "epileptic disorder", and much less likely to be diagnostic if a patient presented differently. In all cases where the CT scan was diagnostic. It was considered that, had a CT scan not been available, alternative tests such as nuclear scan, cerebral angiography or pneumoencephalogram (PEG) would have been performed and would also have been diagnostic; no impact of the CT scan on diagnosis, therapy or patient outcomes was documented. However, in patients who received a CT scan, there was a 91% reduction in the PEGs, 85% reduction in cerebral angiograms, a reduction of 73% in nuclear scans and 31% in electroencephalograms. Computed tomographic scanning costs no more than the tests it replaces in the clinical setting studied, and offers significant advantages in patient comfort and safety.


Low-dosage clonidine (Dixarit) in menopausal flushing. Results of an open evaluation of the therapy with low-dosage clonidine (Dixarit) in a series of 20 patients with symptoms of menopausal flushing are presented. Twelve of the 17 patients who completed the 12-week trial noted an improvement in their condition: this improvement was marked in eight patients. The greatest improvement was noted in the perimenopausal group of women whose dosage requirement was 25 microgram three times a day. Postmenopausal women tended to be more refractory to the therapy and required larger dosages for the relief of symptoms.


The course of untreated mild T3 toxicosis. A selected group of 12 patients with mild T3 toxicosis, has been assessed without treatment during a period of from seven to 38 months. Progression to typical hyperthyroidism with combined T4 and T3 excess occurred in one case of solitary toxic adenoma, while a spontaneous remission with return of the thyrotropin response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone occurred in one patient with a diffuse goitre. The other 10 patients showed persistence of isolated high levels of T3 without clinical or biochemical progression. These findings suggest that progression to typical hyperthyroidism is infrequent in mild T3 toxicosis. Because of the possible adverse effects of therapy it may be appropriate to observe, rather than treat, some patients with mild clinical and biochemical features of hyperthyroidism.


Successful treatment of ergotamine poisoning with sodium nitroprusside. A case of ergotamine overdosage which produced vascular insufficiency in a 26-year-old female is described. She was treated successfully with the intravenous infusions of sodium nitroprusside and low molecular weight dextran, and anticoagulation with heparin. It is suggested that sodium nitroprusside may represent the drug of first choice in this condition.


[Granulocytes in the oral cavity (author's transl)]. The counting of the granulocytes in the oral cavity ("salivary corpuscles", orogranulocytes") gives an indication to the efficiency of the granulocytopoiesis, because there exist some analogies to the emigration of granulocytes into the tissue. Two different counting methods of the orogranulocytes, their normal values (which are in correlation to the number of teeth), the influence of local factors (like inflammations in the oral cavity), the values of orogranulocytes in myeloproliferative disorders and in agranulocytosis and granulocytopenia respectively are demonstrated. Furthermore the contributions deal with the values of the orogranulocytes during the therapy with glucocorticoids. The methods described are also suitable for the estimation of the efficiency of granulozyte transfusions.


[Quantitative computerized tomographic bone mineral analysis in patients treated by regular haemodialysis (author's transl)]. Quantitative bone measurement has been done on the forearms of 40 patients (aged 20 to 67 years) undergoing long-term haemodialysis treatment. It turned out that trabecular bone shows a more substantial change of the mineralization than does cortical bone. In comparison to an age-correlated undialysed normal range the mean trabecular bone density was found decreased up to 100 percent, whereas cortical bone with a mean demineralization of 10 percent did not appear to be affected by the renal osteodystrophic alterations to that degree. Finally the results show that throughout the course of dialysis treatment there was a trend toward distinct loss of bone mineral with time. No relationship could be demonstrated between the bone mineral values and various biochemical parameters. The estimation of osseous mineral content in both trabecular and cortical bone was done with the aid of an improved computer assisted tomographic method introduced by Rutherford and Pullan.


Some aspects of social and working rehabilitation of patients with gastrointestinal tumors after radical operations. The results of follow-up of 143 patients with malignant gastrointestinal tumors (stomach, 63 patients; colon, 13 patients; rectum, 67 patients) who have undergone radical operations are analyzed. The number of men and women among the examined patients was approximately equal, the age range was from 32 to 61 years, the length of follow-up was from three months to one and one-half years. The patients were regularly examined and questioned at the inpatient and outpatient departments by a surgeon and a psychiatrist. The analysis revealed marked psychogenic reactions, having different clinical forms, in patients of the oncological clinics in connection with a severe stress situation. In most of the cases these reactions were extremely extensive, and the patients were in need of specialized medical assistance (participation of a psychiatrist in their treatment). It is expedient to identify patients with marked psychogenic reactions for special treatment at the time of their acceptance to the clinic. The postoperative period of such patients was accompanied by complications in 58.5% of cases, in comparison with 12.5% in patients with mild psychogenic reactions. After discharge 31 of 62 patients found themselves in a conflict family situation, 24 patients were rather limited in their social contacts; the majority of these patients were not working after the operation. These findings indicate the need for psychotherapeutic support in oncology, plus psychopreventive measures and medical educational propaganda among the population as important components of rehabilitation programs.


Management of localized thoracic neuroblastoma. Thirteen children with localized (Evans stage I or II) thoracic primary neuroblastoma were divided into two groups according to the type of therapy administered, in order to compare the therapeutic efficacy and morbidity of excisional surgery followed by either irradiation alone or irradiation plus chemotherapy (group A) with similar surgery alone (group B). Group A consisted of 6 children (mean age 1 year, 2 months). Complete surgical excision was accomplished in 2 patients, while 4 had microscopic residual. All 6 patients are free of disease at 26--76 months (mean 47 months), including 2 who had recurrent tumor and received additional therapy. Two have developed congestive heart failure and one severe scoliosis secondary to irradiation. Of the 7 children in group B (mean age 2 years, 2 months), 3 had microscopic residual tumor and 2 had adjacent lymph node involvement. After 12--47 months (mean 23 months), no recurrence or surgery-related morbidity has been observed. From these limited data it appears that surgery alone may provide adequate therapy for localized thoracic neuroblastoma and obviate the morbidity associated with multimodal therapy.


Tumor lysis pancreatitis.

Tumor lysis pancreatitis. Rapid tumor lysis may produce acute complications including systemic metabolic disturbances and hemorrhage in sites involved by tumor. We have observed two cases of acute pancreatitis induced by the lysis of lymphoma that involved the pancreas. This previously unreported cause of pancreatitis must be added to the list of potential complications associated with effective cancer chemotherapy.


Patient recall of informed consent.

Patient recall of informed consent. The protection of human subjects in research is a shared responsibility. The informed consent procedure was introduced to implement protection of the subjects. The contents of consent forms have been in dispute, and the impact of the procedure on the human subject has caused concern. It was demonstrated that patients with cancer have poor recall of the contents of a signed consent form.


Oligosaccharide transfer from lipid sugar intermediates to endogenous protein(s) of rat liver microsomal subfractions. The subcellular localization and characterization of some of the components involved in the glycosylation of asparagine type glycoproteins was attempted using dolichyl diphosphate [14C]mannose oligosaccharide as precursor of the glycosylation reaction in vitro. Isolated rough and smooth microsomal fractions were able to carry out the transfer of the carbohydrate moiety from lipid oligosaccharide to endogenous protein acceptors. The protein glycosylating activity remained practically the same after stripping the vesicles from their robosomes or partially releasing their vesicular content. Isolation of polysomes from rough microsomes after glycosylation has taken place, reveals that a large proportion of mannose labeled glycoproteins is in the membranous fraction. The remaining labeled glycoproteins co-sediment with the polysomal fraction. If the isolation is carried out before glycosylation only the membranous fraction shows enzyme activity, whereas the polysomes alone are not able to carry out glycosylation. All these results taken together indicate that the protein glycosylating enzyme is a structural component of the rough and smooth microsomes of rat liver.


[Kinetic parameters of superhelical DNA cleavage by endonuclease S1]. Major kinetic parameters of endonuclease S1 were determined on superhelical bacteriophage PM2 DNA and on relaxed nicked circular PM2 DNA. At 37 degrees and 0,25 M NaCl, the Michaelis constants were respectively 1.7 . 10(-8) M and 1 . 10(-9) M, and catalytic constants were respectively 0.36 sec-1 and 1.2 . 10(-2) sec-1. The inhibition of the enzyme reaction by its product was detected.


[Correlation between conformation distortion of the DNA sugar-phosphate backbone and high optical activity of its compact form]. Different physico-chemical methods (CD, ORD, small-angle X-ray diffraction, etc) were used for investigating the properties of the DNA compact particles formed in PEG-containing water-salt solutions. It has been shown that small-angle reflection, characteristic of the DNA compact particles, changes from 36.8 A (CPEG = 140 mg/ml) to 25 A (CPEG = 300 mg/ml). The maximal optical activity (the intense negative CD-band and optical rotation [alpha] = 60 000 degrees) are inherent properties of the DNA compact particles formed at CPEG 120--180 mg/ml. The high optical activity points to the twist of DNA chromophores through the DNA molecule resulting in a long-rang pitch (P approximately 2000A). Such macroscopic superhelical structure (diameter 40--30 A) is due to conformational distortion of the DNA double-helix with alternating "left" and "right" orientation of chromophoes. Disappearance of conformation distortion is accompanied by disappearance of the high optical activity of the DNA compact particles and results in a small-angle reflection of 25 A. Taking into account the reasons of formation of the optically-active DNA compact particles conditions are suggested to conserve high optical activity at CPEG equal to 400 mg/ml.


[Proteins of polyribosome-bound informosome of germinating wheat embryos]. Proteins of polyribosome-bound informosomes of germinating wheat embryos were studied by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel in presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. liberation of informosomal proteins was achieved by mild ribonuclease treatment of polyribosomes. It was shown, that proteins of informosomes associated with polyribosomes contain polypeptides with molecular weights of 86 000, 75 000, 72 000, 66 000, 52 000 and 34 000. The milecular weights of two most prominent proteins were 86 000 and 52 000. The treatment of polyribosomes with 0.5 M KCl resulted in the loss of large part of informosomal proteins, which are revealed in the KCl-wash.


[Estimation of the distance between the iron-sulfur cluster of Fe-protein and the nearest iron-sulfur cluster of Mo-Fe-protein of nitrogenase on the basis of the inductive-resonance theory of energy transfer]. The distance between fluorescein mercuric acetate (FMA), attached to the HS-group of Fe- and Mo-Fe-protein, and the nearest iron-sulphur cluster (ISC) was determined. For Fe-protein the distance was 18--20 A and for Mo-Fe-protein 12--14 A. The distance between Fe-protein FMA and the nearest Mo-protein ISC determined by complementation of the labelled Fe-protein and native Mo-Fe-protein was 14--16 A. The distance between MO-OFe-protein ISC and complement Fe-protein ISC was 18--20 A. A te-protein ISC permitted to suppose that the electron was transfered from Fe-protein ISC to Mo-Fe-protein ISC by the contact of the ISC or with the help of ATP molecule.


[Interaction of gene 5 protein of phage f1 with single and double-stranded DNA and polynucleotides]. The fluorescence method was used to reveal some differences in the interaction of gene 5 protein of phage f1 with single- and double-stranded polynucleotides (DNA). The binding with the duplexes is non-cooperative and the Kapp is twice lower than that for the cooperative formation of the complex with single-stranded structures. In the complex with a double-stranded polynucleotide (DNA) the protein cover 3 nucleotide pairs. The complex dissociates with a lower concentration of salt and the contribution of the energy of nonelectrostatic interactions to the total energy of complex formation for it is lower than for the complex with single-stranded DNA. In the complex of protein with single-stranded structure the fluorescence of the tyrosine (Tyr) residues is quenched to a greater degree and their accessibility to the external quencher is lower than that of the complex with double-stranded polynucleotides (DNA). The suggestion is made that in destabilization of nucleic double helices by gene 5 protein of phage f1, a great role belongs to Tyr residues because of their high affinity to single-stranded structures and because of their different localization in the complexes with single- and double-stranded polynucleotides.


[Physico-chemical characteristics of highly purified ceruloplasmin mRNA from rat liver]. Highly purified preparations of mRNA coding for ceruloplasmin (CP) ere isolated from rat liver polyribosomes using indirect immunoprecipitation of CP polysomes and poly(U)-sepharose chromatography of polysomal RNA. The homogeneity of CP mRNA was as high as 86--90%. The molecular weight of CP mRNA is 1.3 . 10(6) daltons which is in excess when compared to the minimal size of mRNA necessary to code for CP precursor (about 700 amino acid residues). The base composition of CP mRNA is of AU-type. The experiments on end-labeling with [3H]borohydride after periodate oxidation whowed that CP mRNA contains 3'-terminal poly(A). Poly(U)-sepharose chromatography with stepwise temperature elution revealed length heterogeneity of poly(A) consisting of particular, different thermal subfractions of CP mRNA contain poly(A) consisting of 38, 90 and 165 adenylate residue. 5'-end of CP mRNA is block with inverted 7-methylguanosine (m7G) which is reducible with [3H]borohydride after periodate oxidation. This m7G residue is a component of RNAse- and alkali-resistant oligonucleotide, which structure according to net charge value and its shifts after various enzymatic treatments, is m7G5'ppp5'XmpAp.


[Influence of ligands characteristic of selective binding to a certain type of base pairs on DNA helix-coil transition I. Model. Theory]. The DNA helix-coil transition in the presence of ligands interacting selectively with a certain type or types of base pairs has been considered. A calculation method for estimation the influence of lignads on the melting process for which the knowledge of DNA primary structure is not required was proposed. It has been shown that the reverse temperature shift caused by ligands bound to a given type of base pairs at given kind of regions (helix or coli) is in direct proportion to the fist derivative with respect to the degree of helicity from ratio beta ji/n, where beta ji--number of nitrogen bases of i-type at the regions of j-kind; N--total number of DNA base pairs. It was assumed earlier that this shift was in direct proportion to beta ji/Nj, where Nj--number of base pairs in DNA regions of j-kind. The specificity of lignads interaction with given kinds of bases alters the manner of the melting process of the heteropolynucleotide in comparison with homopolynucleotide only in the case when the DNA primary structure has a strong influence on the position of helix and coli regions along the DNA chain. Only when this conditions is fulfilled the inversion of thermostability of AT- and GC-pairs may affect the shape of the melting curve.


[Electric computerization is an effective method in molecular-biological investigations]. Characteristics of electronic computers with respect to their use in molecular-biological investigations are briefly described. Several examples of using electronic computers in conformational investigations, in studies on the structure of biopolymers, chromatography, optico-spectral investigations, etc. are listed.


[Eight types of stacking interaction in dinucleotides. Conformational analysis of ApA, ApC, CpA, CpC, GpG]. On the basis of general stereochemical considerations the classification of the stacking state of dinucleoside phosphate (DNP) including eight types of stacks of nucleic bases has been suggested. With the use of the algorithm, which makes possible determination of the backbone conformation for the given nucleic bases arrangement, the stacking conformes of DNP were analysed by atom-atom potential method. For all compounds different types of stacking conformes were obtained with energy values lower than that for the unstacking state. It follows from the results of calculations that for description of the conformational situation of DNP in solution the "non-canonical" conformers should be born in mind. In particular the forms having different sugar conformations in Np- and in pN-parts of the dimers are of interest. The effect of choice of the atom-atom potential functions on optimal conformation of DNP is discussed. For single-stranded RNA several regular and non-regular structures are proposed.


[Three-dimensional reconstruction of tubular crystals of catalase]. On the basis of electron microscope data the structure of tubular crystals of catalase has been determined with resolution of approximately 25 A. The symmetry of the helical packing of molecules is 142/17. The three-dimensional reconstruction has been carried out in real space. The catalase molecule consists of four subunits whose centers from a fairly flattened tetrahedron. The molecule has dimensions of 69X87X92 A.


Effect of allergenic structure on IgE levels in rats and mice. In outbred Lister hooded rats and inbred BALB/c mice, the IgE antibody response to CE induced in the presence of aluminum hydroxide adjuvant, is more difficult to suppress with high doses of antigen and/or frequent administration of antigen, than are such responses to DNP4.3-OA. Both types of IgE antibody were assayed by PCA in rats challenged with 1 mg of CE or DNP26-BSA. Unlike the rat system, anti-CE IgE responses could be induced in the BALB/c mouse in the absence of adjuvant. After a long course of weekly injections the IgE titer was the same (1 in 160) in all groups of mice given 6 ng to 630 micrograms/injection. The threshold sensitivity to CE of PCA induced by 1 in 5 dilutions of these sera ranged from 0.3 micrograms for sera from mice immunized with 6 ng per injection up to 10 micrograms for sera from mice immunized with 630 micrograms per injection. Only a small part of this difference in sensitivity could be accounted for by the presence of blocking antibody.


Secular trends in human growth, maturation, and development. Rates of growth during childhood have increased considerably during the past 50-100 years. Because they are associated with increased rates of maturation, these size increases are maximal at ages when recently measured groups are pubescent but those measured in the past had not reached pubescence. Large secular increases in rates of growth and maturation have occurred in all developed countries but not in many other countries. There have been secular increases in recumbent length at birth in Italy and France but little change in the United States. The secular increase in childhood stature is much more obvious, being about 1.5 cm/decade for 12-year-old children, although for young adults the secular increase in stature has been about 0.4 cm/decade in most developed countries. In the United States these trends have been similar for blacks and whites during childhood but greater for black men than white men. Similarly, secular trends in birth weights have been small, but there have been large trends for children (about 1.5 kg/decade for 12-year-olds). These secular changes in size have been associated with an acceleration of maturation that is most evident in the 0.3 years/decade advancement in age at menarche. This advancement has now ceased in Norway and England. The changes in body proportions during recent decades are less marked than those in body size. Leg length, particularly the length of the thigh, seems to have increased more than stature in men but not women; chest circumference has increased more rapidly than stature in each sex. The relationships between stature and weight have changed in different ways in various national groups. Similarly, the relative changes in head length and head breadth vary with the groups studied. Few sets of data allow conclusions about possible secular trends in body composition, but subcutaneous fat thicknesses have increased, especially at the upper percentiles. Also strength, which reflects muscle mass, has increased absolutely, although it has decreased relative to stature. Undoubtedly the secular trend is due to various factors; the identification of causes is necessarily speculative. Changes in nutrition alone could not account for the trends which exceed the original socioeconomic differentials. In the United States, there have been per capita increases in the intake of protein and fat from animal sources, decreases in carbohydrates and fat from vegetable sources, and little change in caloric intake. It is not clear that these changes constitute better nutrition. The secular trends could reflect environmental improvements, specifically changes in health practices and living conditions leading to improvements in mortality rates and life expectancy. These factors are interrelated with those concerning family size. Also genetic factors, especially heterosis, may have played a small role in causing the secular trends...


[Mortality from accidental poisoning in Budapest during 1961-1975. I. Review of data]. Authors believe, that the autopsy material of their department characterizes the sudden, unexpected and accidental and violent deaths in the capital. On the basis of the 15 year autopsy material 1057 cases of accidental deaths from poisoning are analyzed according to the year of occurrence, the age and sex of the deceased and the type of poisoning. 7 per cent out of all accidental deaths was poisoning. The number of cases increased evenly and at a progressive rate. The majority of the deceased (675 persons) were males. The frequency of fatal poisoning among females older 60 years of age constantly increased. The number of accidents among children decreased during the period studied.


[Mortality from accidental poisoning in Budapest during 1961-1975. II. Carbon monoxide poisoning]. In the examined 15 year period accidental deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning amounted to 641 persons--341 males and 300 females. The number of poisonings increased evenly and at a progressive rate, although the frequency of carbon monoxide poisoning--among the accidental poisonings--decreased. The majority of the deceased from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning was older 60 years. 90.4 per cent of cases occurred at home. In 37.7 per cent of the cases the source of the gas appeared to be the gap-tap turned off wrongly and in 36.4 per cent the escape of gas. 4.4 per cent of the cases survived. 14.4 per cent of the deceased had alcohol in their blood.


[Mortality from accidental poisoning in Budapest during 1961-1975. III. Alcohol poisoning]. In the examined 15 year period 174 persons--134 males and 40 females--died from alcohol poisoning. The number of cases of accidental alcohol poisonings has considerably increased. The number of cases of alcohol poisoning has increased at a rate thrice as high as the poisonings of all the other causes. The number of cases in the last third of the 15-year-period was five time higher than in the first third of it. The number of women deceased of alcohol poisoning increased at a greater rate than that of the males. Deaths from alcohol poisoning occurred first of all among the age groups between 40--59. In 67 cases of fatal alcohol poisoning the alcohol level in the serum was under 3 0/00. Regarding the latter, authors emphasize the importance of experts-opinions dealing with indirect cause relationships.


[Mortality from accidental poisoning in Budapest during 1961-1975. IV. Various types of poisoning]. In the 15-year-period analyzed 242 persons--170 males and 72 females--died from various kind of poisons (alcohol and carbon monoxide excluded). The fatal poisonings were as follows: 69 cases--due to mushroom, 33--organic solvents, 23--23 cases--caustic material (soda and acids), 21--methylalcohol, 18--weedkillers and insecticides. Some types of poisonings seems to be more frequent among males, others among females. The frequency of above mentioned poisonings decreases. The majority of deceased appeared to be of elderly age. The type of poisoning and the age of the deceased are not correlated.


[Transformation of the epithelial cells of the kidney tubules in experimental malacoplakia]. As an effect of administration of the extract of E. coli in the kidney of rats phagolysosomal reaction has been observed, not only in the granulomatous tissue characteristic of malacoplakia, but in the epithelial cells of the proximal tubules. The latter became similar to the histiocytes of malacoplakis i.e. Hansemann's cells. The transformation of the tubular epithelium in severe cases of malacoplakia was followed by necrosis. In a later phase tubular atrophy came into being, which did not differ from the atrophy caused by other agents, although epithelial cells contained numerous residual body. Authors believe, that granular tubular cells of megalocytic interstitial nephritis--regarded as malacoplakia of the renal cortex--originate from tubular epithelium.


[Ultrastructure and classification of epithelial thymomas]. 4 epithelial thymomas out of 36 various types of it were studied electronmicroscopically. The following types were distinguished: clear cell thymoma, dark cell, solid thymoma, lacunar and spindle cell thymoma. These types of thymomas differ not only morphologically, but clinically. Authors suggest, that these tumours take their origin from the star-shaped clear- and dark medullar epithelial cells.


[Myasthenia gravis: epithelial cells of the hyperplastic thymus. Morphometric and ultrastructural study]. Epithelial cells of hyperplastic thymuses, removed because of myasthenia gravis were studied electronmicroscopically and morphometrically. The correlation between the age of patients and the number of epithelial cells of the thymus is discussed. Various type of epithelial cells are distinguished. Authors believe, that in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis beside the presence of lymphoid follicles in the hyperplastic thymus increase of the number of epithelial cells and their activation may take a part.


[Myocardial damage in hemorrhagic hypotension]. Damage to the myocard caused by the loss of blood was studied in experiments on dogs. After long-lasting hypotonia focal lesions of the myocard of degenerative type have been found. Desorganization of the myofilaments and invagination of the disc could be seen in the area of the intercalar discs. Filaments in the other regions have not shown any alterations. In the mitochondria hypoxic lesions were revealed. One part of the alterations are not reversible. After 48 hours of survival focal necrosis with hyper contraction and calcification could be observed. It was surrounded by cellular infiltration containing mononuclear cells. Cellular necrosis revealed, may lie on the basis of the central lesion of the circulation appearing after long-lastng hypotonia.


[Changes in the skeletal musculature due to tendon rupture]. Alterations of the sceletal muscles after spontaneous rupture of the tendon were studied. It was established that after the rupture of the tendon in the muscle activity of the succinedehydrogenase, myofibrillar ATP-ase, creatinphosphokinase and aldolase markedly decreases. After the rupture of the tendon alteration of the proportion of various types of fibers may also be observed i.e. the rate of the fibres of type I considerably decreases. Electron microscopic findings indicate that alterations of the musculature are diffuse first of all elements of contractility are damaged: atrophy and rupture of them can be seen. Fibres of normal ultrastructure were not found at all, which indicates that both types of fibres I and II are equally damaged.


[Prevention of testosterone-vasopressin induced necrosis of the kidney cortex by cyproterone acetate]. After a ten days pretreatment with testosteron-propyonate administration of vasopressin induces bilateral cortical necrosis of kidneys in rats. When testosteron and cyproteron-acetate an androgen-blocking agent were given simultaneously vasopressin did not induce necrosis of the renal cortices. These findings suggest that androgen receptors of the kidney may take a part in eliciting this phenomenon.


[Suicide of patients with chronic kidney failure by disconnecting their shunt]. Two cases of suicide of patients with renal insufficiency and haemodyalisis commited by liquidation of the shunt are reported. Authors stress the importance of prevention and psychotherapy among haemodyalized patients having depression and neurotic complications.


Ultraviolet radiation induction of endogenous murine type C virus. Induction of endogenous type C RNA virus occurred following exposure of mouse cells to ultraviolet radiation. Irradiation of A1-2 cells, derived from the BALB/c mouse, induced endogenous xenotropic type C virus as determined by infectious center focus-forming assay on normal rat-kidney (NRK) cells. Viral induction by UV radiation was compared to that for the halogenated pyrimidines, 5-iodo-2-deoxyuridine (IdU) and 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU). Although the fraction of A1-2 cells induced to release virus by UV radiation (0.17%) was less than that observed for IdU (3.0%) and BrdU (0.46%), use of the sensitive infectious center assay demonstrated reproducible UV induction. Dose-response studies showed that the level of viral induction by UV was dependent upon cellular UV exposure. Study of A1-2 cell survival following irradiation showed that optimum viral induction occurred at a UV exposure corresponding to the edge of the shoulder of the survival curve, suggesting that UV sensitivity of the host cell may be a factor limiting the level of induction. Since less radiation was required for viral induction than for inactivation of colony-forming ability, viral induction may be a more sensitive dosimeter of in vitro UV bioeffects than cell survival for this system.


An autoradiographic study of unscheduled DNA synthesis in the germ cells of male mice treated with X-rays and methyl methanesulfonate. Unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in the germ cells of male mice after in vivo treatment with X-rays or methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) was assayed by use of a quantitative autoradiographic procedure. MMS induced UDS in meiotic through type III elongating spermatid stages, whereas X-rays induced UDS in meiotic through round spermatid stages. No UDS was detected in the most mature spermatid stages present in the testis with either MMS or X-rays. Taking into account differences in DNA content of the various germ-cell stages studied, we concluded that X-rays induced a maximum UDS response in spermatocytes at diakinesis--metaphase I. The level of UDS induced by MMS was about the same in all the stages capable of repair. Chromosome damage and UDS were measured simultaneously in the same spermatocytes at diakinesis 90 min after X-irradiation or MMS treatment. The level of UDS in most of the X-irradiated cells paralleled the extent of chromosome damage induced. A statistical analysis of these results revealed a positive correlation. As expected, MMS induced no chromosome aberrations above control levels. Therefore no correlation was determined between UDS and chromosome damage in this case. The distribution of UDS over the chromosomes treated at diakinesis with MMS or X-rays was studied. It was found that UDS occurred in clusters in the irradiated cells, whereas it was uniformly distributed in the MMS-treated cells.


DNA excision-repair processes in human cells can eliminate the cytotoxic and mutagenic consequences of ultraviolet irradiation. The ability of DNA excision-repair processes in diploid human fibroblasts to eliminate potentially cytotoxic and mutagenic lesions induced by UV radiation (254 nm) was demonstrated in two ways: (1) Cells with normal rates of excision were compared with cells with an intermediate rate of excision (XP2BE) and cells with an excision rate less than or equal to 1% that of normal (XP12BE) for sensitivity to the killing and mutagenic action of UV radiation. The normal cells proved resistant to doses of UV which reduced the survival of the XP cells to 14% and 0.7%, respectively, and increased the frequency of mutations to 8-azaguanine resistance in the XP cells 5- to 10-fold over background. (2) Cells in confluence were irradiated with cytotoxic and mutagenic doses of UV and allowed to carry out excision repair. After various lengths of time they were replated at lower densities to allow for expression of mutations to 6-thioguanine resistance and/or at cloning densities to assay survival. Normal cells and XP cells with reduced rates of excision repair (from complementation groups C and D) exhibited a gradual increase in survival from an initial level of 15--20% to 100% if held approximately 20 h in confluence. In contrast, XP12BE cells showed no increase from an initial survival of 20% even when held for 7 days. Normal cells irradiated in confluence but prevented from replicating for 7 days exhibited background mutation frequencies, whereas the mutation frequency in XP12BE cells did not change with the time in confluence.


Ultraviolet mutagenesis of normal and xeroderma pigmentosum variant human fibroblasts. The mutabilities of normal and xeroderma pigmentosum variant (XP4BE) human fibroblasts by ultraviolet light (UV) were compared under conditions of maximum expression of the 6-thioguanine resistance (TGr) phenotype. Selection was with 20 micrograms TG/ml on populations reseeded at various times after irradiation. Approx. 6--12 days (4--8 population doublings), depending on the UV dose, were necessary for complete expression. The induced mutation frequencies were linear functions of the UV dose but the slope of the line for normal cells extrapolated to zero induced mutants at 3 J/m2. The postreplication repair-defective XP4BE cells showed a higher frequency of TGr colonies than normal fibroblasts when compared at equal UV doses or at equitoxic treatments. The induced frequency of TGr colonies was not a linear function of the logarithm of survival for either cell type. Instead, the initial slope decreased to a constant slope for survivals less than about 50%. The UV doses and induced mutation frequencies corresponding to 37% survival of cloning abilities were 6.7 J/m2 and 6.2 X  10(-5), respectively, for normal cells and 3.75 J/m2 and 17.3 X 10(-5) for the XP4BE cells. The lack of an observable increase in the mutant frequency for normal fibroblasts exposed to slightly lethal UV doses suggests that normal postreplication repair of UV-induced lesions is error-free (or nearly so) until a threshold dose is exceeded.


Repair of UV-endonuclease-susceptible sites in the 7 complementation groups of xeroderma pigmentosum A through G. 7 strains of human primary fibroblasts were chosen from the complementation groups A through G of xeroderma pigmentosum; these strains are UV-sensitive and deficient in excision repair of UV damage on the criterion of unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS). They were compared with normal human fibroblasts and one xeroderma pigmentosum variant with regard to their capacity to remove pyrimidine dimers, induced in their DNA by UV at 253.7 nm. The XP variant showed a normal level of dimer removal, whereas 6 of the other XP strains had a greatly reduced capacity to remove this DNA damage, in agreement with their individual levels of UDS. Strain XP230S (complementation group F), however, only showed a 20% reduction in the removal of dimers, which is much less than expected from the low level of UDS in this strain.


Enhancement of excision-repair efficiency by conditioned medium from density-inhibited cultures in V79 Chinese hamster cells: evidence for excision repair as an error-free repair process. Conditioned medium from density-inhibited V79 Chinese hamster cell cultures, given as a post-treatment to UV-irradiated homologous cells, was demonstrated to reduce the lethal action of ultraviolet light by temporarily blocking DNA replication. Since the increased survival was not affected by various non-toxic concentrations of caffeine, such protective effect would be attributable to the prolonged intervention of excision repair before DNA replication during the post-treatment period. The influence of conditioned medium on the UV-induced mutation at the ouabain-resistance locus was also examined and a significant decrease in mutation frequency was noted. The observed reduction in killing and mutation as a result of post-incubation in conditioned medium, which delays DNA replication, would be interpreted as evidence that conditioned medium provides a longer period of time for an error-free excision-repair process, leaving lesion in DNA available for error-prone post-replication repair.


Electrophysiologic properties of intercostal muscle fibers in human neuromuscular diseases. Electrophysiologic properties of biopsied normal and diseased intercostal muscle fibers were examined using intracellular microelectrode techniques. The resting potentials of all diseased muscle fibers were found to be depolarized. Those from Duchenne dystrophy patients showed the largest depolarization, followed by those from patients with myotonic muscular dystrophy, myotonia congenita, and motor neuron disease. All of the diseased fibers except those from myotonia congenita patients demonstrated an imparied ability to generate action potentials. In the latter fibers, the higher-than-normal membrane resistance was associated with hyperexcitability. When the membrane was hyperpolarized to the normal range, however, action potential characteristics in all fibers were near normal, except in motor neuron disease. All action potentials were blocked by tetrodotoxin. These findings--i.e., that all fibers were capable of generating action potentials when hyperpolarized, and that all action potentials were blocked by tetrodotoxin--suggest the relative intactness, in the disease studied here of the regenerative sodium conductance mechanism.


Antigenic modulation and receptor loss in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis. Immunization of groups of rats with 0.1- 100 microgram of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) purified from the electric organ of Torpedo californica resulted in dose-dependent (1) loss of acetylcholine receptor from the rats' muscles, (2) binding of antibodies to many of the receptors remaining in muscle and (3) production of antibodies in serum capable of cross-reacting with receptor solubilized from rat muscle. Addition of antibodies from rats immunized with electric organ acetylcholine receptors to muscle cells in culture caused loss of receptor by accelerating the rate of receptor degradation. Monovalent antibody fragments did not accelerate degradation unless antiantibody was added to cross-link the monovalent antibody fragments bound to receptors. This indicates that cross-linking of receptors by antibody molecules triggers accelerated receptor degradation, leading to receptor loss. The rate of increase in receptor destruction due to antigenic modulation observed in vitro appears sufficient to account for the extent of receptor loss observed in vivo. Endocytosis of antibody cross-linked receptors may be a rate-limiting step common to antigenic modulation in vitro and in vivo.


Rebound hemodynamic events after the abrupt withdrawal of nitroprusside in patients with severe chronic heart failure. We studied the hemodynamic events that followed abrupt withdrawal of nitroprusside in 20 patients with severe chronic heart failure. With nitroprusside, cardiac index increased from 1.96 to 2.87 liters per minute per square meter of body-surface area, but it decreased to 1.66 (P less than 0.001) after withdrawal of nitroprusside. Left ventricular filling pressure and systemic vascular resistance decreased from 23.9 to 15.3 mm Hg and from 1642 to 921 dyn.sec.cm-5, respectively, with nitroprusside, but increased to 30.4 mm Hg and 2109 dyn.sec.cm-5 (both P less than 0.001) upon its discontinuation. These rebound changes were maximal 10 to 30 minutes after nitroprusside withdrawal and returned to control levels one to three hours later. Although in 17 of 20 patients, these rebound changes caused no or minimal exacerbation of symptoms, pulmonary edema, which resolved in three patients. Activation of reflex vasoconstrictive forces during vasodilator therapy may explain these effects of withdrawal.


Myoadenylate deaminase deficiency.

Myoadenylate deaminase deficiency. Myoadenylate deaminase (adenosine monophosphate deaminase--AMPDA) was recently shown to be deficient in a group of patients by use of a histochemical and biochemical method based on the elaboration of ammonia by this enzyme as it deaminates 5' AMP. We have confirmed the utility of this histochemical method and the existence of persons deficient in AMPDA through the use of an unrelated assay technique. The lack of enzyme activity is not associated with any inhibitory activity in the muscles of patients with this disorder. The clinical diversity of these patients suggests that this lack may represent a normal variant or a subclinical state rather than an actual disease. The occurrence of AMPDA deficiency in both sexes points to possible autosomal inheritance.


Freeze-fracture study of muscle plasmalemma in normal and dystrophic chickens. We compared the freeze-fracture morphology of the plasmalemma of the pectoralis major muscle taken from normal and dystrophic chickens at adult, embryonic, and early posthatching stages. Developmental changes were more conspicuous in surface caveolae than in intramembranous particles. The most striking differences between normal and dystrophic muscles were seen in the densities of the caveolae (17/micron2 in the normal adult; 30/micron2 in the dystrophic adult) and in their distribution (rectangular pattern in normals; random arrangement in dystrophics). These differences had already become significant at seven days posthatching and before the appearance of clinical symptoms. This is the earliest development stage at which morphologic abnormalities of plasmalemma have been reported for dystrophic muscle. Variations of surface topography and caveolar morphology, presumably representing secondary changes, were common in adult dystrophic muscle.


Coitus and associated amniotic-fluid infections. Data were analyzed from 26,886 pregnancies to determine whether coitus is involved in the genesis of amniotic-fluid infections. The frequency of infection was 156 per thousand births when mothers reported coitus once or more per week during the month before delivery, versus 117 per thousand when no coitus was reported (P less than 0.001). The percentage of infected infants who died was 11.0 when there was coitus versus 2.4 when there was no coitus (P less than 0.001). The frequencies of low Apgar scores, neonatal respiratory distress, and hyperbilirubinemia were about doubled when mothers reported coitus. The coitus-associated effects were greater in preterm than in fullterm infants. The pregnancies in the study took place between 1959 and 1966, when national perinatal mortality rates were higher than they are now. Deaths from coitus-associated infections may be less frequent today.


Muscle breakdown and repair in polymyositis: a case study. Muscle breakdown and repair were measured by metabolic balance techniques in a patient with polymyositis who was being treated with prednisolone and azathioprine. Changes in body muscle mass that had been estimated from nitrogen and phosphorus balances correlated with antropometric assessments of thigh muscle mass and quadriceps strength. Decline in muscle strength was associated with a net rate of muscle breakdown of 148 g/day. Recovery was associated with a net rate of muscle repair of up to 100 g/day. Early reduction in corticosteroid treatment appeared to enhance the rate of repair. Changes in the isometric contraction force of the quadriceps muscle (but not in clinical symptoms, plasma creatine kinase [CK] or erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] were found to reliably indicate whether the muscle was in a state of breakdown or repair. Treatment of the individual patient may be quantitatively monitored by metabolic balance studies or, more simply, by measurement of muscle strength.


Increased insulin sensitivity and insulin binding to monocytes after physical training. We studied the effect of physical training on in vivo tissue sensitivity to insulin and insulin binding to monocytes in six previously untrained healthy adults. Physical training (one hour of cycle-ergometer exercise four times per week for six weeks) failed to alter body weight but resulted in a 20 per cent increase (P less than 0.02) in maximal aerobic power (VO2 max) and a 30 per cent increase (P less than 0.01) in insulin-mediated glucose uptake (determined by the insulin clamp technique). The increase in insulin sensitivity correlated directly with the rise in VO2 max (P less than 0.05). Binding of [125I]insulin to monocytes also rose by 35 per cent after physical training (P less than 0.02), primarily because of an increase in the concentration of insulin receptors. Our data indicate that physical training increases tissue sensitivity to insulin in proportion to the improvement in physical fitness. Physical training may have a role in the management of insulin-resistant states, such as obesity and maturity-onset diabetes, that is independent of its effects on body weight.


Natural history of male psychologic health: effects of mental health on physical health. Four decades ago 204 men were selected as adolescents for an interdisciplinary study of health; since then they have been followed biennially. Of the 185 men who remained in the study and in good health until 1964 (age, 42 +/- 1 years), 100 men remained in excellent physical health over the next 11 years, 54 acquired minor problems, and 31 acquired serious chronic illness or died. Of 59 men with the best mental health, assessed from the age of 21 to 46 years, only two became chronically ill or died by the age of 53. Of the 48 men with the worst mental health from the age of 21 to 46, 18 became chronically ill or died. The relation between previous mental health and subsequent physical health remained statistically significant when the effects on health of alcohol, tobacco use, obesity, and longevity of ancestors were excluded by multiple regression analysis. The data suggest that good mental health retards midlife deterioration in physical health.


Immune complexes and the evolution of Lyme arthritis. Dissemination and localization of abnormal C1q binding activity. In a prospective study of 78 patients with Lyme arthritis, abnormal serum C1q binding activity was present at the initial onset of erythema chronicum migrans in nearly all cases. The abnormal binding persisted in patients with subsequent nerve or heart involvement. In contrast, among those with only subsequent arthritis, it usually disappeared within three months (P = 0.018). However, in the synovial fluid of affected joints, abnormal binding was uniformly present, and always to a greater extent than in the circulation. The abnormally reactive material behaved like antigen-antibody complexes. It had a density of 19S or greater, dissociated below pH 4.2, and lacked antiglobulin activity. Cryoprecipitates containing immunoglobulin were good but insensitive predictors of its presence, but immune complexes themselves did not seem primarily responsible for cryoprecipitability. Thus, as judged by C1q binding, immune complexes remain disseminated in certain patients with Lyme arthritis but localize to joints in others.


Should operations be regionalized? The empirical relation between surgical volume and mortality. This study examines mortality rates for 12 surgical procedures of varying complexity in 1498 hospitals to determine whether there is a relation between a hospital's surgical volume and its surgical mortality. The mortality of open-heart surgery, vascular surgery, transurethral resection of the prostate, and coronary bypass decreased with increasing number of operations. Hospitals in which 200 or more of these operations were done annually had death rates, adjusted for case mix, 25 to 41 per cent lower than hospitals with lower volumes. For other procedures, the mortality curve flattened at lower volumes. For example, hospitals doing 50 to 100 total hip replacements attained a mortality rate for this procedure almost as low as that of hospitals doing 200 or more. Some procedures, such as cholecystectomy, showed no relation between volume and mortality. The results may reflect the effect of volume or experience on mortality, or referrals to institutions with better outcomes, as well as a number of other factors, such as patient selection. Regardless of the explanation, these data support the value of regionalization for certain operations.


[Acute and subchronic experiments on the effects of microcrystalline cellulose on various pharmacological and biochemical parameters in mongrel rabbits]. The subchronic intravenous application of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), in a dose of 5 mg/kg twice weekly for 10 weeks, resulted in servere crystal embolism in the lungs of the animals. The clinical parameters were either unchanged (erythrocyte and leucocyte counts, differential blood picture, osmotic resistance of the erythrocytes, total serum bilirubin, serum protein and serum protein fractions) or slightly pathological (hemoglobin content, hematocrit, GOT and GPT). The results from tests of the liver function (by means of bromosulphthaleine clearance) and of the renal function as well as the ophthalmologic examination were not indicative of damaged parenchyma or disturbed microcirculation. Intra-arterial infusions of MCC affected the peripheral muscular blood supply, blood pressure and heart rate.


[Spontaneous solubilization of mcuosal peptide hydrolases in rat small intestine]. In vitro incubations of small intestine preparation lead to the spontaneous release of mucosal enzymes into the incubation medium, due to superficial dissolution and membrane lesions. One-hour anaerobic incubation of everted small intestine segments produces the liberation of from 13% (leucine arylamidase) to 30% (Gly-L-Pro-splitting peptide hydrolase) of the mucosal enzyme activities. Under the conditions of in vivo perfusion, the solubilization rates are from 50 to 80% lower than these values. The tendency to solubilization is only in part reduced to a significant extent by the saturation of the incubation medium with oxygen, but it does not reach the in vivo level. The detectability of membrane-bound and intracellular marker enzymes in the incubation medium permits no conclusions concerning the physiological localization of the released peptidases.


[Artificial food. I. Development of a new course in food production-reasons and advantages]. The causes for the development of a new course in the food production are discussed. The characteristic features and the specific contradictions are dealt with that are connected with the traditional production methods of food. The character of the new methods of food production as well as their economic and technological advantages are considered.


Post-transcriptional control in the early mouse embryo. The earliest stages of mouse embryogenesis, from fertilisation to the two-cell stage, are characterised by an extremely low level of RNA synthesis. Indeed, during this period, RNA polymerase II activity and incorporation of labelled precurosrs into heterogeneous RNA are not detectable, and there is no increase in the poly(A) content of the embryo, but rather a slight decrease. The rate of protein synthesis remains low and relatively constant throughout the one- and two-cell stages. However, qualitative analysis of the protein synthetic profile on SDS gels has revealed changes which appear around the late one-cell to early two-cell stage. This early change in the pattern of polypeptide synthesis represents the first major qualitative molecular change found so far in development. We present evidence which suggests that the increased synthesis at the early two-cell stage of a small number of polypeptides of molecular weight 35,000 is not dependent on transcription, but rather represents control at a post-transcriptional level using mRNAs synthesised before fertilisation.


Ca2+-sensitive gelation of actin filaments by a new protein factor. Two protein factors which bind to, and induce gelation of, actin filaments were purified from Ehrlich tumour cells. Filamin induced Ca2+-insensitive gelation, whereas a new protein factor ('actinogelin') was found to induce Ca2+-sensitive gelation.


Interferon enhances 2-5A synthetase in embryonal carcinoma cells. Mouse teratocarcinomas provide a useful model of mammalian differentiation, because the malignant embryonal carcinoma (EC) stem cells of such tumours may produce various differential cell types in vivo or in vitro. Many EC cell lines have now been established and classified on the basis of their ability to differentiate in vivo into cell types characteristically derived from any of the three germ layers. There is convincing evidence that EC cells can neither produce interferon, nor respond to it by becoming resistant to virus, whereas differentiated cells derived from EC lines behave normally in both respects. We investigated the lack of responsiveness of EC cells towards interferon by measuring the levels of two double-stranded RNA-dependent enzyme activities recently shown to be enhanced by interferon. We report here that on treatment with interferon, EC cells show increased 2-5A synthetase levels comparable to those found in differentiated cells, while there is little or no effect on kinase activity in EC cells, in contrast to their differentiated counterparts.


Naloxone-reversible effect of opioids on pinocytosis in Amoeba proteus. A characteristic feature of induced pinocytosis in Amoeba proteus is the formation of broad channels by invagination of the cell membrane. This process, which requires Ca2+, occurs in response to depolarising cations. High Ca2+ levels reduce pinocytosis induced by cations such as Na+ and Tris+, whereas pinocytosis induced by K+ is less affected by Ca2+ (ref. 4). Agents which interfere with the calcium metabolism of the amoeba will therefore either stimulate or inhibit pinocytosis induced by Na+ (ref. 5). Among the agents which are supposed to reduce Ca2+ influx across cell membranes or otherwise decrease cellular availability of Ca2+ are the opiates and opioid peptides, high doses of which have been reported to affect the amoeba. Accordingly, Met-enkephalin, morphine and codeine potentiate the inhibition of pinocytosis caused by Ca2+-binding agents and reverse the calcium blockade of pinocytosis mediated by caffeine. In this report we show that pinocytosis induced by Na+ or Tris+ is suppressed by beta-endorphin, Metenkephalin and morphine. These effects were abolished or diminished by an opiate receptor antagonist, (-)naloxone, by increasing the Na+ concentration, or by addition of Ca2+.


Agonist-induced potentiation of acetylcholine sensitivity in denervated skeletal muscle. The entire surface membrane of denervated skeletal muscle is sensitive to the neuromuscular transmitter, acetylcholine (ACh), whereas in innervated muscle only the junctional area is sensitive. It has been proposed that this difference is due to a 'trophic' effect exerted by ACh in innervated muscle to keep the extrajunctional regions of the surface membrane insensitive to its depolarising action. Several studies have demonstrated an agonist-induced potentiation of ACh sensitivity, followed by desensitisation, at the endplate region of normal muscles. The potentiation has been attributed to a cooperative action of ACh on the receptors. Desensitisation of the extrajunctional regions of denervated muscles by ACh has also been described. We now provide evidence that the transmitter itself potentiates the ACh contracture and depolarisation responses of the denervated muscles of the rat in vitro and that it produces this effect by increasing the number of available ACh receptors on the surface membrane.


Membrane response to 1-methyladenine requires the presence of the nucleus. Meiosis is re-initiated in starfish oocytes by the action of the hormone 1-methyladenine (1-MA). It is thought that the primary trigger is localised at the plasma membrane, and early changes reported are the activation of a Na+ pump and variation in membrane potential and conductance. We report here that external application of 1-MA results in an irreversible switching of the starfish oocyte membrane from one stable electrical state to another. This induced change requires the presence of the germinal vesicle.


A circadian oscillator in cultured cells of chicken pineal gland. The activity of serotonin N-acetyltransferase, the key enzyme of melatonin synthesis, shows a marked circadian rhythm in the pineal glands of various animal species. The regulation mechanism of the N-acetyltransferse rhythm in birds is different from that in mammals. N-Acetyltransferase activity in rat pineal gland is controlled by the central nervous system through the sympathetic nerves from the superior cervical ganglion, while in chicken the endogenous oscillator for N-acetyltransferase rhythm is presumably located in the pineal gland. Recently it has been shown that N-acetyltransferase activity oscillates in a circadian manner in the organ culture of chicken pineal glands. When chicken pineal glands were organ-cultured under continuous illumination, the nocturnal increase of enzyme activity was suppressed. These observations suggested that chicken pineal gland contains a circadian oscillator, a photoreceptor and melatonin-synthesising machinery. A central question arises whether the circadian oscillation of N-acetyltransferase activity and its response to environmental lighting are generated within the cell or are emergent properties of interaction between different types of pineal cells. I report here that in the dispersed cell culture of chicken pineal gland, N-acetyltransferase activity exhibits a circadian rhythm and responds to environmental lighting in the same manner as in the organ culture.


Melatonin, the pineal gland and human puberty. Animal experiments have suggested that the pineal gland produces an anti-gonadotropic hormone. The hamster, for example, undergoes reproductive collapse when kept in short-day periods, an effect which is abolished by pinealectomy. Although there is little direct evidence about the endocrine role of the pineal gland in man, it has been noted that tumours of the pineal gland in young boys are associated with precocious puberty and the human pineal gland has been suggested to produce a substance that holds sexual maturation in check. This observation has been extended by Kitay, who has shown that destructive tumours are associated with precocious puberty whereas hyperactive tumours are associated with delayed puberty. However, no studies have described any change of pineal function with normal puberty. Because two pineal indoles, melatonin and methoxytryptophol, have been shown to be antigonadotropic when administered to animals, we have now measured them in schoolchildren. Our findings show that in young boys there is an abrupt fall in the concentration of melatonin with advancing development suggesting that it may play an important physiological role in the control of human puberty.


Specific distribution of metabolic alterations in cerebral cortex following apomorphine administration. The topographic distribution of dopaminergic receptors in the cerebral cortex closely parallels that of the dopaminergic innervation. In the rat, dopaminergic axons which originate in the mesencephalon are confined to a few discrete regions of the neocortex--anterior cingulate cortex, entorhinal cortex, frontal cortex (particularly anteromedial and supragenual areas) and the transitional zone between the neocortex and the pyriform cortex. Moreover, biochemical examinations of processes generally considered to be indicative of dopaminergic neuro-transmission--neuronal uptake of labelled dopamine or dopamine-activation of adenylate cyclase activity--have confirmed a highly restricted locus of action of dopaminergic systems in the cerebral cortex. We describe here data obtained using the 2-deoxyglucose technique in conjunction with conventional neuropharmacological techniques, suggesting that the influence of dopaminergic systems on cortical function extends beyond the known confines of the mesocortical dopaminergic system.