[Effect of organic solvents on the state of the periodontium and oral cavity in workers employed in pigment and paint industries]. Stomatological examinations were conducted among 270 workers employed at pigment and paint industry, exposed to organic solvents and other gaseous substances developed during the thermal conversion of oils. In the control group of one hundred persons employed in whom the detrimental action of chemical compounds does not exist, stomatological examination did not show any special variations from the normal average. Comparing the two groups it was evident that the hygiene of the oral cavity was significantly worse in the group of workers exposed to organic solvents and other chemical compounds than in the control one. Statistical analysis of the obtained results pointed out that the average index of intensity of changes in paradontium and the susceptibility to changes evaluated according to DMF index also shows higher values in the examined group as compared with the control. The frequency of occurrence of various pathological changes including leukoplakia of the mucosa was presented in detail. All collected data were divided into five groups of different exposure to the chemicals.


[Determination of mandelic acid in urine by means of gas chromatography]. The method of determining mandelic acid in urine after Engstöm was examined. It was stated that supplementing the procedure by introducing an internal standard (a-naphthol) improves the accurary of the method. In case of a full procedure for mandelic acid solutions in urine we get the range of 80 to 800 mg/l +/- 7,13%. This method detectability is sufficient for an industrial evaluation of the exposure to styrene or ethylbenzene.


[Determination of O-isopropoxyaniline in the air]. One worked out a method for determining o--isopropoxyaniline in the air, based on the principle of absorbing vapours of this compound in water, and then subjecting it to the reaction of diazotization and coupling with salt R. The obtained coloured powder was determined calorimetrically with the wavelength 500 millimicron. Experimentally checked aeration constant for o--isopropoxyaniline from water solution--at room temperature is 0,325 X 10(-4), and absorption capacity in water--97,55%. Detectability of the method after taking 30 l air is 0,35 mg/m3. Relative standard deviation of the method--0,025.


[Condition of the oral cavity in workers of Siarkopol in Gdańsk]. The purpose of the study was to investigate the clinical state of the mucosa of the oral cavity, the paradontium and dentition in workers of Siarkopol in Gdańsk. Stomatologic examinations were performed in 105 workers who had been exposed to the action of sulphur dust. The subjects examined, showed inflammatory changes in the mucosa of the oral cavity (72,4%) and nontypical erosion of tooth enamel (11,4%). 74,28% of the subjects examined showed changes in the paradontium. The oral cavity of all Siarkopol workers was found to be in a poor state of hygiene.


[Laryngological evaluation of the state of health of workers in brown coal mines at Bełchatów]. Laryngological examinations were carried out in 528 workers and candidates for work in the mine. In 64 persons examined (12,1%) a temporary or permanent contraindications for employment were ascertained. They were referred to hospital treatment or proposed a change of work-post so as to fit it to health state.


Autoionography.

Autoionography. A technique has been established for the autoradiography of beta-emitting radionuclides distributed on thin-layer chromatograms. The technique is derived from medical ionography and produces an electrostatic latent image of the distribution of radioactivity by using a planeparallel ionization chamber filled with a suitable gas. The latent image is formed on a highly insulating plastic sheet which covers one electrode of the ionization chamber and is made visible by methods employed in Xerography or related electrophotographic processes. An introduction to the theoretical basis of autoionography is presented and results of application of the technique are shown for prototype imaging chambers operating at pressures of from 1 to 100 atmospheres. The present sensitivity of autoionography compares favorably with that reported in the recent literature for film or film-fluorographic methods. An advantage of ionography is the simplicity and very low cost involved in producing each ionograph.


[Cell image analysis on the PDP-12 computer: a software system for processing the image information from a scanning microscope photometer (author's transl)]. A system of computer programs is introduced which allows image analyzing of cytological or histological preparations. The software system was especially developed for a microprocessor (PDP-12, Digital Equipment Corporation) which is often implied in connection with microscope photometers (SMP 05, Carl Zeiss). Users need not to know anything about computer programming because the computer gives the necessary orders via CRT-display or printer. The different descriptors as they are available after different cytochemical or histochemical staining procedures are combined to a pattern vector which is to be a numerical equivalent of cell morphology. A novel method in numerically describing the fine structure of cell nuclei is emphasized. Different cell populations are compared by means of a simplified multivariate discrimiatory analysis. All programs are written in assembler language and they are stored on LINC tapes (Digital Equipment Corporation). Copies of system tapes respectively tapes with the source programs are available from the authors on sending of blank magnetic tapes (2,000 blocks marked). Description and print out of individual programs are published in the dissertation cited in References. Changes and additions of the system which have been done mean-while will be summarized, and lateron such summaries are available on request.


Imaging of incoherent extended objects by a polarizing microscope with crossed polarizers. Diffraction images of incoherent objects such as line, edge and disk have been evaluated by carrying out integration of the point spread function over appropriate limits. The resulting expressions have been computed numerically and the results are in agreement with those obtained previously using optical transfer function approach.


Preparation of ultrathin frozen sections in electron microscopy: specimen supported by polyethylene glycol. A method was worked out for supporting biological specimens with polyethylene glycol (PEG) for the preparation of ultrathin frozen sections. This method was used in the preparation of ultra-thin cryosections of various tissues and of human diploid cell suspensions infected with vaccina and Herpes simplex viruses. In such preparations it was possible to study stages of virus particle formation under the electron microscope.


A reliable method of preparing undecalcified human bone biopsies for electron microscopic investigation. Undecalcified preparation of bone tissue for electron microscopic investigation depends on an adequate embedding method. A low viscosity resin proved to comply with the particular conditions as there is good infiltration of specimen by the monomer medium and also sufficient hardness of the polymerization product. Both properties stabilize the transition of soft tissue to mineralized bone surface; thus reproducible results of good quality are obtained in ultra-thin sectioning. A special preparation technique of human bone biopsies for simultaneous light and electron microscopic investigation has been developed. The method is based on experiences with approximately 300 iliac crest biopsies in metabolic and endocrine bone disorders.


Electron microscopic study of hemadsorption on vaccinia virus infected cells. Hemadsorption (HAD) induced in HEp-2 cells infected with vaccinia virus was observed. In ultrathin sections, binding of 36 red blood cells (RBCs) was examined in detail and 3 types of HAD were observed: (1) direct and close binding of RBCs to infected HEp-2 cells (cyto-HAD) was observed in cross sections of 27 RBCs (2) binding of RBCs through microvilli of infected cells was found in 11 RBCs, and (3) five RBCs were distorted to form tentacle-like projections by which they were bound to the HEp-2 cell surface. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that more than 30% of the RBCs were bound to microvilli of vaccinia virus-infected HEp-2 cells, and that the number of microvilli twined round each RBC was over ten, RBCs were attached to certain microvilli through swollen sucker-like tips which were not observable in non-infected HEp-2 cells. RBCs sometimes revealed a polygonal shape at regions of binding to microvilli. Virion-mediated RBC HEp-2 cell binding could not be observed.


Studies on the pathogenicity of Yersinia enterocolitica. III. Comparative studies between Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis. Comparative studies on pathogenicity between Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis were performed using experimental infection systems in vivo and in vitro. All of thestra ins of both species successfully produced experimental enterocolitis in rabbits although the severity varied with the strains challenged. The changes were characterized by granulomatous lesions with necrobiotic centers in reticuloendothelial tissues of the intestine, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and spleen. These strains uniformly had the ability to penetrate HeLa cells and to survive or multiply within cultured rabbit peritoneal macrophages. In addition, in infections with strain TP-2 or PST-III of Y. pseudotuberculosis, catarrhal inflammation all over the small intestine and/or focal necrosis and parenchymatous degeneration in the liver were observed, along with the granulomatous lesions. These strains, at the same time, exhibited cytotoxic effects on the cultured cells. The pathogenic factors of Y. enterocolitica are discussed in comparison with those of Y. pseudotuberculosis.


The problem of entry to the medical course in Belgium. Belgium already has a very high ratio of doctors to population. The output of new graduates is higher than can be justified by employment prospects. Applicants to university must be admitted if they have passed the school 'maturity examination'. The standard of this is set by the individual school, and the pass rate is unrelated to university requirements. Consequently the rate of entry to medical studies is very high and there is a very high failure rate (nearly half). The climate of opinion is against radical reform of this system. The author believes that under present circumstances a strongly selective examination at the end of the first university year is the least unsatisfactory solution.


Doctors' estimates of the percentage of patients whose problems do not require medical attention. A total of 248 doctors replied to the question 'About what per cent of your patients present problems that do not really require medical attention (problems that would take care of themselves)?' The answers given ranged from 0 to 90%, with a mean of 20.61 and standard deviation of 23.81 The estimates given by the doctors were related to their own performance as pre-medical and medical students, and to personal qualities and dispositions as indicated by psychological assessment. Doctors whose estimates were higher than the average for the group tended to have better pre-medical scholastic records than their peers, to attain superior scores on the Science subtest of the Medical College Admission Test, and to prefer rational to intuitive methods of problem-solving.


Some new methods for the evaluation of medical school sex education curricula. This study proposes new ways of evaluating medical school sex education curricula which may be used not only to determine the best educational methods, but also to understand what skills and competence are important for a doctor to have in order to assist patients with their sexual problems. Since present evaluation tools are limited, the theoretical base from which human sexuality programmes are developed is based on unsupported personal judgement. Good research with improved techniques is a requisite for improving this situation.


Medical students talking to patients.

Medical students talking to patients. Observations were made of 108 pre-clinical medical students interviewing patients carefully selected by general practitioner tutors, under strict supervision in an audio-visual studio. Videotape replay allowed immediate feed-back to the student, and this was supplemented by direct comment from the patient. The consultations were also used for small group teaching (by CCTV). Although most students viewed the exercise as threatening, they appeared to find it a helpful experience. The method uncovered students with major defects in communicating at the personal level. Detailed analyses of the content of the interviews are being carried out, and will be the subject of a separate communication.


A problem-oriented independent studies programme in basic medical sciences. An independent studies programme (ISP) in the basic medical sciences has been developed at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry which involves sixteen students as a learning team working with ten medical teachers as a teaching team. The teachers serve as guides to learning rather than as sources of expert information and function as generalists in their educational roles. The programme, which is preferred by some students, has provided an alternative to the lecture-laboratory-conference format of the traditional curriculum. Some of the advantages of such an ISP are discussed and its effectiveness assessed.


The immunoregulatory role of cholesterol and other lipids: a hypothesis. Membrane lipids play an important role in cellular responses to exogenous signals. In immunocompetent lymphocytes, marked changes in the concentrations of membrane lipids occur following cell-antigen interaction. These changes lead to an increase in membrane fluidity, thus facilitating the microaggregation of receptor-antigen complexes. This event constitutes the inductive signal for lymphocytes. Lipid profile alterations leading to increased concentration of membrane cholesterol, of polyunsaturated lipids, or of both, bring about a decrease in membrane fluidity. The latter interferes with receptor displacement preventing delivery of an inductive signal to the responding cell. Interference with microaggregation is readily brought about in interactions involving low affinity antigens, such as tumoral antigens. We postulate that in hyperlipidemic and hypercholesterolemic states there is decreased immune responsiveness to weak antigens due to the aformentioned lipid profile alterations in the membranes of immunocompetent cells. The manner in which an increase in the concentration of the lipids mentioned can lead to decreased immune responsiveness and hence to an increased incidence of malignancies in hyperlipidemic and hypercholesterolemic states is the hypothesis presented in this paper.


[The clinical significance of the oxytocin challenge test (author's transl)]. In order to test the function of fetoplacental unit 398 oxytocin challenge tests were performed on 280 patients who had exceeded the calculated date of delivery or where factors of risk were involved. 8% of the tests performed showed a positive result, 1% was suspect and 91% were negative. The figure of 20% of false-positive test results was relatively high compared to only 1.6% in the case of false-negative test results. In cases where the calculated date of delivery has been exceeded, pregnant women who showed a negative test result are kept under observation by us as out-patients, whilst patients whose oxytocin challenge test was positive are kept under close observation in hospital.


A proposal that malignancies represent genetic changes in cell surface RNA. A great number of experimental studies have now been performed with malignant cells. The mass of data generated presents a confusing and often apparently contradictory picture of the fundamental molecular biological defect which most scientists sense must be the cause of transformation of a normal cell into a malignant one. This paper proposes the hypothesis that RNA on the exterior of the cell membrane organizes the various functional molecular aggregates such as transport complexes (permeases), lectin receptor sites, transmembrane microfilament attachment sites, hormone receptor complexes, and the elusive contact inhibition components. Furthermore it is proposed that a defect in the production of or competition for the assembly of exterior-organizer RNA (exoRNA) complexes is the primary molecular defect inherent in all malignancies. The defect could be caused by deletion of a chromosome region producing or controlling exoRNA, mutation of the genes involved in exoRNA production or by insertion of viral genetic material into the genome thereby producing an incomplete viral RNA (vRNA) which competes for exoRNA binding sites in cell surface complexes. Such changes would be genetically transmitted and could represent a range of genetic change between chromosomal deletion and point mutation. Several experiments are suggested to directly test the hypothesis.


[Problems of hospital-delivery with the presence of the husband (author's transl)]. The authors have interviewed 740 women and their husbands after delivery about their attitude towards the presence of the husband at the time of delivery. Besides of traditional prejudices local circumstances in a hospital and shortage of staff make it difficult for the husband to attend to the delivery-room. Every woman would need in this case a room of her own for delivery; the number of midwifes or nurses would require a considerable increase. One problem might arise if the husband gets suspicious about certain events or actions during delivery and suspects malpractice; this might create new cases in court against the doctor. On the other hand it can be expected that prejudices and suspicions are decreased by the simple fact that the delivery room is opened to the husband. Most of the couples who were questioned replied positively; the results are summarized in tables. If the husband is allowed to attend to the delivery, it will become easier and more human. This point appears to be very important, as the hospital-delivery turns into a mere technical and impersonal service. If the husband can be present some "idyllic" aspects of the previous home-delivery are called back. Practical hints are given how the problem can be mastered.


Calcium and cancer.

Calcium and cancer. For many years the calcium ion has repeatedly cropped up in research work concerning the transformation of the normal cell to the malignant state. When these results are collected together they indicate that calcium may hold the key to the solution of many of the problems concerning the cancer cell.


[Candidiasis of vagina and anus among women (author's transl)]. From 566 patients who attended a special clinic for diagnosis and treatment of vaginal fluor 1698 smears from urethra, vagina, and anus were taken. In 121 cases Candida was found. In 16 out of 111 patients (14%) the fungus was isolated only from the ano-rectal area. A rectal smear is very essential in case of suspected candidiasis. It should be done in general practice if a recurrence of the infection is observed or if the candidiasis appears resistant to treatment.


Differential intermittent radiation therapy: a conceptual model. Cell membranes are made up of repeating units and subunits of various chemical moieties. It is proposed that these repeating units give each type of cell membrane a natural resonant frequency characteristic of that particular cell. It is further stipulated that this natural resonance is modified by attached antigens, and that this modification is unique to each different tumor type and patient. A signal that is of the same frequency as the natural resonance of the cell membrane may then be used to excite the cell membrane to its natural or modified resonant frequency and lyse it, as well as any metastases with the same characteristic. This resonant frequency must first be determined by growing tumor cells in culture, and is likely to be unique to each patient. Possible other uses of an excitatory signal may be to break apart chemical moieties. The only requirement is that this excitatory signal be matched to the resonant frequency of the cell wall or moiety to be lysed. The excitatory signal may come from various sources-sonic, electrical, x-ray, radio frequency, laser or nuclear. But the problem which must be solved is devising a method for determining the resonant frequencies of cell membranes.


[Lymphocytic and non-lymphocytic dysplasia, carcinoma in situ and infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (author's transl)]. The degree of lymphocytic infiltration in 490 cases of infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma, carcinoma in situ, and dysplasias of the cervix was studied. 204 cases did not show any lymphocytic infiltration at the site of dysplasias, carcinoma in situ, and infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma. The degree of lymphocytic infiltration was furthermore not related to the grade of dysplasia. Taking into account all cases it was found that 75% of carcinoma in situ and infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma remained without or with only sparse lymphocytic infiltrations.


[Gestonoroncapronate and carbohydrate metabolism during radiotherapie of female patients suffering from cancer of the genitals (author's transl)]. Glucose tolerance test (oral standard glucose tolerance test) was carried out--before starting radiotherapy--in 99 female patients suffering from inoperable cancer of the genitals. 47 of these patients were administered gestonoroncapronate (600 mg/week) during radiotherapy. Glucose tolerance was tested anew after the last irradiation. During the first hour after the second glucose tolerance test, an improvement of glucose tolerance was stated in the patients' group treated with gestonoroncapronate, whereas during the second hour a deterioration of glucose tolerance was found. The patients' collective treated without gestonoroncapronate demonstrated an improved glucose tolerance during the entire second course of the test. A decrease of capacity of the islet cell organ, induced by gestonoroncapronate, is discussed.


Surfactants and atherogenesis.

Surfactants and atherogenesis. In previous publications (1,2) the hypothesis was put forward that atheroma is caused by some pathogen or metabolic fault which impairs the transportability of cholesterol in the plasma. The lipoproteins containing the faulty metabolites are assumed to be incapable of traversing the capillary endothelium and continue to circulate uselessly in the blood stream, possibly giving rise to hypercholesterolaemia, until captured by lipophages which, if they can successfully complete their journey, void them into the gall bladder. The present paper takes the argument a step further by pointing out that the types of substances most likely to cause the described impairment are surfactants. A surfactant finding its way into the plasma could separate cholesterol from its carrier protein and itself become its carrier. The complex would still be kept in suspension in the plasma, but unable to cross biological barriers like the capillary endothelium. An important argument in favour of the hypothesis is that it can offer an explanation of the long-standing medical mystery of the connection between atheroma and the hardness or softness of the water supply. Infant deaths from coronary occlusion present a similar enigma. The paper points out that surfactants can conceivably find their way into infants' feeding bottles.


The anesthetic agent as an extra-integumentary foreign body in the respiratory tract. A new theory of general anesthesia. Two cases are cited of patients who sometimes exhibited a condition of temporary unconsciousness which proceeded to spontaneous recovery without harmful sequelae. This type of cerebral arrest is frequently called general anesthesia:however, these patients had not received any drugs. What they did have was an irritant in the respiratory passages as shown by coughing. Three cases of general anesthesia are described wherein the duration of the phenomenon appeared to be partly due to the presence of an extra-integumentary foreign body, confined to the respiratory passages. In this trio there was evidence that the drugs did not affect the patients in any unusual way, whatever their effects on whichever side of the alveolar walls. Many anesthetic agents act like unabsorbable foreign bodies, in that they enter and leave the body unchanged, despite the fact that they do pierce the integument. Of course, almost everything, except inspirable and expirable air, but including anesthetic agents, is a foreign body in the respiratory tract. On the basis of these considerations, I suggest that one way, in which general anesthetic agents work, is an extra-integumentary foreign bodies, causing Reflex Coma by irritating or stimulating the trigger points in the walls of the respiratory tract, thereby arresting the cerebrum.


[Contraceptive efficiency of triphasic inhibitors (author's transl)]. The effects of two newly developed triphasic preparations with a sequence of 6/5/10 and a reduced content of the total dose of oestrogen per cycle on the parameters of cycle function were studied in 10 young women with normal phasic cycles using a randomized trial design. Cervical function, spinnbarkeit and crystallisation of cervical secretion and the karyopyknotic index were monitored and LH,E2 and progesterone levels in serum radioimmunologically determined in a pretreatment control cycle, the immediately following 1st treatment cycle, the 3rd treatment cycle and a subsequent treatment-free cycle. Both preparations brought about suppression of ovulation already in the 1st treatment cycle with the periphery (cervical barrier) greatly reduced but still reactive. The results of the study show that by adapting the ratio of active substances to the phases of the normal cycle, not only good cycle control and tolerance are achieved but also inhibition of ovulation.


Paradoxical position of vertebral veins in cancer carriage. A new era dawned in 1940 when Batson published the theory that the vertebral venous system plays an important role in cancer carriage. He emphasized that this route comes into play with any natural movement such as coughing. Now, cough is a prominent feature of lung cancer. Therefore, this tumor is optimally positioned for utilizing the vertebral venous route of spread. However, when three major distribution patterns of lung cancer are examined critically, expectations from Batson's theory are not confirmed. If this paradox is recognized and explained, the prospects for solving the mysteries of human cancer metastasis will probably improve.


[Excessive hyperplasia of the exocrine pancreatic tissue and Wernicke's encephalopathy (author's transl)]. A 52 year old woman with a history of mild pancreatitis had a palpable mass in the upper abdomen. She died in an unexplained coma. The autopsy revealed an excessive hyperplasia of the exocrine pancreatic tissue resulting in the largest pancreas ever reported (254 gramm). This hyperplasia was accompanied by a chronic pancreatitis. In the central nervous system a Wernick's encephalopathy had developed; severe loss of neurons was stated in the thalamus; extensive degeneration was found in the upper vermis of the cerebellum. The discussion of this case includes the relationship between the diseases of the pancreas and neuropsychiatric and neuropathologic findings. It is assumed that the hyperplasia of the exocrine pancreatic tissue could only be an additional factor in the occurence of post alcoholic complications. This hyperplasia of the exocrine pancreatic tissue is considered to be a hamartom-like formation and it should therefore be distinguished from other pancreatic hyperplasia.


[Cytodiagnosis of the stomach: a comparative survey of cytological and histological investigations (author's transl)]. The consideration was the center of our comparative survey: early diagnosis of gastric cancer by combination of gastroscopy, gastrobiopsy and gastrocytology. We are filled with dismay that this simple method is not yet used in every case of wellfounded suspicion of gastric cancer. In our own material cytological findings of cancer could be proved in 88% and verified histologically. 2% of cytological diagnosis were false negative because the brush samples were not taken from the right location by the gastroscopists. Simultaneously with the evaluation of the dignity, a diagnosis of the different forms of gastritis was made. A vast conformity with pathohistological results could be achieved. In stenosing processes of the stomach and also in diagnosis of lesions in the cardia, the use of a cell brush would be of great advantage toward gastrobiopsy.


[Investigation with FPI in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (author's transl)]. The term irritable bowel syndrome denotes a variety of colonic function, which occurs mainly at times of life-stress and emotional tension. For the management of irritable bowel syndrome it is of interest, if the basic attitude of the patients is a "forcing" one or an anxious, depressive mood, a "giving up"-behaviour. 50 healthy persons have been compared with 50 persons suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. The basic testprogram was the F.P.I. As result there is a statistically significant difference in the item-pools: nervousness, depression and unstableness of emotions.


Preliminary observations on orgotein treatment of canine cataract. In 2 clinical studies of canine cataract, mostly bilateral, intraocular injection of orgotein (Palosein: Diagnostic Data) was followed by varying degrees of clearing of lens opacity and return of functional vision in 39 of 56 dogs, most of which were given 1 injection (1.25 mg). First evidence of sight return and lens clearing was observed at 3-14 weeks post-treatment. In 2 dogs, clearing of cataract was followed by recurrence, and repeat treatment in one of these effected improvement. Although these results must be considered preliminary, in part because they relate to clinical cases not susceptible to controlled study, the apparent success rate suggests the feasibility of larger-scale studies under controlled conditions.


Continuing education: how much & what type? A representative sampling of practitioners indicated journal reading, textbooks and informal contact with colleagues as preferred forms of continuing education. Meetings and short courses are widely attended, though some of these can be criticized for lack of relevancy to practice, problem-solving interchange, and ability to assess improving competence. These forms of CE also require considerable expenditure of time and money, and in some areas they are not readily available. The time and money involved probably account for a return to school being unpopular, despite its being acknowledged as one of the best types of CE. Closed circuit TV and videotape may become more widely used as access to them becomes easier. More than half of those surveyed favored mandatory CE requirements being tied to periodic license renewal, a significant shift in attitude compared to only a decade or so ago. The majority opinion appears to be that if we don't take appropriate steps to ensure our competence, some government agency will.


In vitrocleavage of 45S pre-ribosomal RNA and of giant heterogeneous RNA extracted from human leukemic cells. 45S ribosomal precursor RNA and large heterogeneous RNA molecules (greater than 45S) extracted from human leukemic cells were incubated in vitro with purified RNase III, which specifically attacks double-helical RNA regions. About 50% of the ribosomal precursor was cleaved into two major fragments sedimenting at 28S and 32S respectively. A limited number of cleavages was also introduced in about 40% of heterogeneous RNA molecules sedimenting faster than 45S, causing a partial 'shift' to a polydisperse distribution in the 10S-45S range.


Cleavage of pm7G from mRNA 5' terminal cap structures by pyrophosphatase activity in embryonic chick lens cells. The presence of pyrophosphatase activity in embryonic lens cells which cleaves pm7G and ppGm from m7G(5')pppGm was demonstrated. It was also found that m7G(5')pppG, but not G(5')pppG, was hydrolyzed, and conversion of m7GpppG to m7G*pppG, in which the 5-membered ring of the m7G moiety is open, abolished its hydrolysis. For the caps hydrolyzed, pm7G was released only in the presence of lens cellular fraction; pm7G inhibited cap hydrolysis.


Stabilization of mRNA following serum-induction of quiescent 3T3 cells. The stability of mRNA has been measured in 3T3 cells in the resting and the growing states, and also during the transition from the resting to the growing state. Pulse labled poly (A)+ mRNA chased with uridine and cytidine supplemented growth medium decayed with a half-life of 6.5 hr in the resting state, 26 hr during the transition from the resting to the growing condition, and 18 hr during serum-stimulated growth. The half-life of poly(A)+ mRNA determined by steady state labeling yielded similar results in resting and serum-stimulated 3T3 cells. Thus during the transition from resting to serum-stimulated growth in 3T3 cells poly(A)+ mRNA becomes more stable.


Low molecular weight peptides controlling transcription are present in the calf thymus chromatin structure. A calf thymus peptide fraction controlling DNA and chromatin template has been purified by DNA-cellulose and Dowex 50 WX2 chromatography and its amino acid composition determined. The active peptide fraction can be extracted in high pH buffer from calf thymus native chromatin previously deproteinized by chloroform-isamyl alcohol and phenol. These data demonstrate that the thymic peptide(s) is (are) a chromatin protein constituent strongly linked to DNA. The specificity in association of the peptide(s) to DNA has also been considered.


Restriction endonuclease analysis of the transducing bacteriophage lambda RIF d18. The lambda rif d 18 bacteriophage carries essential parts of the E. coli genome which can not be mapped by conventional methods. The phage DNA was analysed with four restriction endonucleases (endo R. BamHI, Sall, Hpal and EcoRI) and a physical map was constructed.


Effect of ethionine on the rough endoplasmic reticulum from male and female rat liver. Ethionine causes a decrease in the amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum in rat liver, the effect being greater in female than in male rats. Rough endoplasmic reticulum isolated from rat liver 24 hr after ethionine injection and stripped of its ribosomes partially lost its in vitro ribosome binding capacity. However, no differences were detected between the binding affinities of ribosomes, isolated from either untreated animals or intoxicated rats, to stripped rough membranes derived from normal rats. Structural changes occur in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of the ethionine treated rats, while the ribosomes are still bound to the membrane.


[Management of severe asthma in childhood (author's transl)]. Generally the severe attack of asthma can be diagnosed without problems. Before the beginning of treatment a short history should be taken, laboratory tests should be started and a chest X-ray be ordered. The administered drugs are supposed to treat the obstruction of the airways. The inspissated endotracheal secretions are liquified and mobilised by a consequent intravenous therapy. A selective beta-2-receptor stimulans and xanthines are administered to relax the bronchospasm. In severe cases glucocorticoids are given at the same time to diminish the inflammatory edema of the bronchiolar mucosa. Antibiotics are only used if indicated, nor routinely. Sedatives should be administered very cautiously.


[Studies on pharmacokinetics of gentamicin in premature infants (author's transl)]. 19 preterm and 2 newborn infants received gentamicin in dosages of 2.5 mg/kg every 12 h. Successive determinations of serum concentrations show, that the levels of gentamicin are adequate for therapy even in preterm infants with low birth weight. Concentrations 30 min after injection (c30min) and base-line-concentrations vary widely. 74% of the 30 min-serum levels are observed within the desired therapeutic range, between 3 and 10 microgram/ml. 16% of the levels measured 30 min after intravenous or intraarterial injection are higher than the known range for potential ototoxicity of 10 microgram/ml. 10% of the 30 min-levels are around 2 microgram/ml, so that the therapeutic efficacy during the following interval of application is doubtful. There is no evidence of accumulation of the drug for periods of treatment up to 7--20 days. The average serum half-life in premature infants with a gestational age of less than 32 weeks and a birth-weight of less than 2000 g is 5--6,7 h. Those with a gestational age of greater than 32 weeks and a birth-weight of greater than 2000 g, and full-term infants show a gentamicin half-life of 2.9h. To determine the actual serum concentration of gentamicin, the rapid and easy disc-agarose-diffusion test using B. subtilis is useful and suitable for routine therapy control.


[Early diagnosis of severe brain damage of premature and newborn infants under intensive care. A polygraphic study (author's transl)]. 24 premature and newborn infants under intensive care (intubation and artificial respiration) were subjected to a polygraphic examination in order to diagnose severe brain damage already in the acute stage of a disease. The results collected in the polygraphic recording were correlated to the further development and progress of the infant. Nine infants die within one week--all of these underwent a post-Mortem examination. Diagnosis of brain damage was confirmed by post-mortem examination or by a clinical neurological follow-up examination. All infants with severe brain damage showed pathological polygraphic recordings. In contrast to this, clinical neurological examination at the time of the polygraphic recording did not reveal such pathological results in all of these infants. Important was the EEG, supplemented by determining the bioelectric brain maturation, the differentiation of sleep states and the correlation of these derived parameter to the behavior pattern of the infant. The heart rate frequency and variability could not be used to make an useful diagnostic statement.


[Energy and nutrient supply during childhood. I. Food intake and energy supply (author's transl)]. From 1965--1975 the food intake and energy supply of children aged 2--14 years in families of different social classes were studied with the precise weighing method. The individual child was surveyed on an average of 21--42 successive days. Energy intake increased from 1450 for boys aged 2--3 years to 2600 kcal/day for boys aged 12--14 years, girls of the same age had an energy intake between 1300 to 2400 kcal/day. The differences between boys and girls regarding energy intake, absolute and per kg body weight, are shown. Our results of the energy intake are representative for children of the same age groups in other highly industrialized countries. The energy intake of preschool-children was equally distributed among 4 meals per day, whereas in school-children it was distributed among 5 meals with different energy contents. 35--50% of the energy supply is of animal origin, 60--65% of vegetable origin. The contribution of different food groups to the energy supply and the differences in the intake of these food groups between pre-school-and school-children are demonstrated. For the individual child a survey period of 21--28 days is necessary to obtain its individual average energy intake with the maximum standard deviation. The significance of general averages for the energy supply of age groups regarding the individual child is discussed. The day to day variations of energy intake in children are shown. The significance of these variations for nutrition in health and disease is discussed.


[Glucose in the newborn. A kinetic study (author's transl)]. At birth, serum glucose concentration in the newborn is correlated to the maternal glucose level. In the following hours glucose concentration declines to a low level and remains there for some days. Intravenous glucose loading five hours after delivery leads to a decrease of the glucose level in the same pattern as is found immediately after birth. Compared to older children the turnover rate of glucose in the newborn is reduced. Therefore the decrease of serum glucose concentration immediately after birth cannot be explained by an increased glucose consumption. At birth there is a stop of the glucose supply via the umbilical cord. The results show that the decreasing glucose concentration after birth can be explained as an adaptation of the steady state from the higher maternal level to a lower newborn level.


[Treacher-Collins-syndrome (author's transl)]. The Treacher-Collins syndrome is characterised by an anti-mongoloid slant of the eyes, hypoplasia of the facial bones, in particular the the mandible, and malformations of the external and middle ear with hearing loss. Early diagnosis of hearing defects is of prime importance as nowadays suitable treatment can prevent the resulting delay in speech development and secondary intellectual retardation.


Phage yield during W-reactivation of bacteriophage. Phage production in liquid medium during W-reactivation parallels the extent of W-reactivation of infective centres on plates. The mean burst size is independent of W-reactivation; thus the reactivated phage yields a normal burst. As 8 plates, the lex- mutant shows no W-reactivation in liquid medium. It is concluded that W-reactivation is a consequence of an induced DNA repair which reactivates the damaged parental phage DNA to its full biological activity.


Molecular-genetic effects of cadmium chloride. We studied the effect of cadmium chloride on: (1) the DNA of human cells; (2) the mutagenic effect of reproducing Kilham virus; (3) the synthesis of virus-induced interferon, and (4) the reproduction of oncogenic (mammalian leucosis) virus. Cadmium chloride caused degradation of DNA in human- and rat-embryo cells. Culture infected by the virus in the presence of cadmium sulphate had the highest yield of cells with chromosomal aberrations. Cadmium chloride caused marked inhibition of the virus-induced synthesis of interferon. The introduction of cadmium chloride into diploid cells infected by the leucosis virus caused a 3-4 fold increase in the yield of virus-induced transformation foci.


Evaluation of genetic risks of alkylating agents. III. Alkylation of haemoglobin after metabolic conversion of ethene to ethene oxide in vivo. Male CBA mice, exposed to air contaminated with [14C] labelled ethene, were able to metabolize this olefine to ethene oxide. The amount of epoxide formed was quantitatively determined from the degree of alkylation of cysteine and histidine in haemoglobin. These hydroxyethylated amino acids were determined by ion-exchange chromatography of the labelled products. In a separate experiment the formation of S-(2-hydroxyethyl) cysteine was verified by gas chromatography--mass spectrometry. In addition this cysteine derivative was determined in urine by thin-layer chromatography. For unknown reasons, uninduced mice varied strongly in the extent to which they converted ethene to epoxide.


The radiosensitivity of chromosomes of rabbit lymphocytes. Dicentrics were induced in human and rabbit lymphocytes in vitro by exposure to X-irradiation. The yields were compared with data reported in the literature. To elucidate the reasons for the different findings we have evaluated the parameters for the different models by maximum likelihood methods. From this analysis it can be concluded that the earlier claim of Bajerska and Liniecki [1] that both species have the same radiosensitivity must be discounted, and that their similarity was due to the abnormally low values these investigators observed in irradiated human lymphocytes.


Induction of sister chromatid exchanges in xeroderma pigmentosum cells after exposure to ultraviolet light. The role of DNA repair mechanisms in the induction of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) after exposure to ultraviolet radiation was investigated in xeroderma pigmentosum cells. Cells from different excision-deficient XP strains, representing the 5 complementation groups in XP, A, B, C, D and E, and from excision-proficient XP variant strains were irradiated with low doses of UVR (0-3.5 J/m2). The number of SCE was counted after two cycles in the presence of BUdR. In cells of the complementation groups A, B, C and D the number of SCE was significantly higher than in UV-exposed control cells. The frequencies of SCE in group E cells and in XP varient cells were not different from those in control cells. Treatment with caffeine (0-200 microgram/ml) did not result in a different response of variant cells compared with normal cells. A simple correlation between SCE frequency and residual excision-repair activity was not observed. The response of the excision-repair deficient cells suggest that unrepaired damage, produced by UVR is involved in the production of SCE.


A fluence response study of lethality and mutagenicity of white, black, and blue fluorescent light, sunlamp, and sunlight irradiation in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Under a set of defined experimental conditions, the fluence response of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to various light sources was studied by measuring single-cell survival and mutation to 6-thioguanine (TG) resistance. Fluorescent white, black, and blue lights were sightly lethal and mutagenic. Sunlamp light was highly lethal and mutagenic, exhibiting these biological effects within 15 sec of exposure under conditions recommended by the manufacturer for human use. Lethal and mutagenic effects were observed after 5 min of sunlight exposure; responses varied with hourly and daily variations in solar radiation. Sunlight-induced TG-resistant variants possessed less than 5% of parental cellular hypoxanthine--guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) enzyme activity, suggesting that the mutation induction occurs at this locus. The cell survival and mutation-induction curves generated by exposure of cells to both sunlamp and sunlight were similar to those obtained by the use of a standard far-UV lamp.


Ataxia telangiectasia: the effects of chemical mutagens and x-rays on sister chromatid exchanges in blood lymphocytes. It is now possible to examine in detail exchanges between sister chromatids (SCEs) and to attempt to investigate the relationships of such exchanges to aberration formation and DNA-repair mechanisms. The frequency of SCEs is dramatically increased by chemical mutagens and may reflect the level of DNA damage. Lymphocytes from patients with ataxia telangiectasis (AT) show high levels of spontaneous chromosome damage and are hypersentive to ionising radiations and it was of interest to examine the levels of SCE induced in these cells by various mutagens. The frequencies of SCE after treatment with X=rays or three chemical mutagens were equivalent to those in normal cells. The effects of fluorodeoxyuridine and deoxycytidine on SCE frequencies were also tested.


Chromosomal aberrations in rat lymphocytes treated in vivo with 1-phenyl-3, 3-dimethyltriazene and n-nitrosomorpholine. A further report on a possible method for carcinogenicity screening. This paper reports the results of screening two carcinogens, N-nitrosomorpholine (NM) and 1-phenyl-3, 3-dimethyltriazene (PDT), for their ability to cause an increase in chromosomal aberrations in rat lymphocytes cultured in vitro after treatment in vivo. NM is a hepatocarcinogen and PDT induces tumours mainly of the central and peripheral nervous system. Both these chemicals gave only weakly positive results in certain other established short term screening tests for carcinogenicity, despite having been shown to cause a significant increase in the number of chromosomal aberrations after a single administration of doses of 250 mg/kg and above. These aberrations were mainly of the isolocus type as opposed to the chromatid type. Significant increases in the number of aberrations of both the isolocus and chromatid types were found after single applications of PDT of 35 and 50 mg/kg. The results obtained are compared with those of other workers using the same compounds in different test systems. Modifications of the system to increase its sensitivity are suggested.


Absence of Chromosome Damage in the bone marrow of rats fed detergent actives for 90 days. Four detergent actives, sodium lauryl sulphate, DOBS 055, Dobanol 25 sulphate LCU and Dobanol 25 sulphate HCB, were fed to rats in the diet for 90 days at the maximum tolerated dose, 1.13 percent active ingredient in each case. Sodium lauryl sulphate and DOBS 055 were also fed at half this concentration. Chromosome preparations were made from the bone marrow and scored for the presence of rearrangements, chromatid gaps and breaks and isochromatid gaps and breaks. The four detergent actives were found to have no effect on the chromosomes of rat bone marrow cells.


Human sister chromatid exchange caused by methylazoxymethanol acetate. The incidence of sister chromatid exchange was determined in human leucocyte cultures treated with methylazoxymethanol acetate. In all individuals examined, treated cultures manifested a significantly higher frequency of sister chromatid exchanges than controls. Two concentrations of MAM AC were tested in blood cultures from nine individuals. The concentrations varied from individual to individual since they were determined by means of individual dose-response curves, which involved [3H]-thymidine incorporation in PHA-stimulated short-term lymphocyte cultures versus MAM AC contraction. The lower concentration was less than the TD50 dose. Compared to control cultures, the lower concentration caused a higher incidence of sister chromatid exchange in eight of nine individuals. The cumulative mean value for all control cultures was 5.32 exchanges per cell while that for cultures treated with the higher concentration was 10.73.


Effects of some ergot derivatives in bone marrow of mice. The in vivo chromosomal damaging properties of some ergot derivatives were investigated following their administration to male mice. Dihydroergotoxine, ergotamine and methysergide were injected in doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg. Significant numbers of aberrations were observed in bone marrow preparations after treatment with the higher doses. Almost all the damage was in the form of chromatid aberrations. No exchange figures were observed, neither were other anamalies, such as nondisjunction or anti-mitotic activity. This frequency of damage was about 7- to 10-fold less than that produced by the powerful alkylating agent, cyclophosphamide. Thus the ergot derivatives were concluded to have weak chromosomal damaging effects in vivo only in very high doses.


High rate of endoreduplications and chromosomal aberrations in hamster cells treated with sodium nitrite in vitro. As shown by results in this paper, NaNO2 induced endoreduplications and chromosomal aberrations as well as malignant transformation, in hamster cells in vitro, although the carcinogenic action of NaNO2 has not been reported in animals. The mode of action of NaNO2 in mammalian cells requires further investigation.


Chromosome analyses of children after ecological lead exposure. In the present work chromosome analysis was performed in a group of 30 children living in a town with a lead plant. Due to the emission of the smelter the individual lead uptake through food, drinking water and inhalation was increased. They were selected out of 1600 children whose blood lead level, delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity in the erythrocytes and erythrocyte porphyrine level was measured. In the investigated group of children the values of these parameters showed to be indicative for a significant lead exposure. A total of 10,000 cells was scored after 48 h culture time. Despite a significantly increased lead load as compared with two groups of 10 children from a suburb and the isle of Helgoland there was neither evidence for a higher number of cells with structural chromosome aberrations, nor for an increased aberration yield.


Swelling of Penicillium digitatum conidia by a Fusarium acuminatum NRRL 6227 metabolite. Fusarium acuminatum NRRL 6227 produces an antifungal metabolite that causes incubating conidia of several Penicillium species to swell 5-10 diameters while inhibiting germination. The swollen conidia are spherical, translucent, nonviable and easily shattered with a slight physical pressure; however, they remain resistant to osmotic shock. This antibiotic has been identified as a cyclic peptide composed of alanine, glutamic acid, leucine, threonine and tyrosine.


Separation of membrane currents using a Paramecium mutant. The net membrane current of the electrically excitable membrane of Paramecium during step depolarisations was measured using voltage-clamp techniques. The mutant, pawn B, lacks a functional Ca channel. Thus the difference between the total current measured in the wild type and the leakage and rectification currents measured in the pawn mutant is the Ca current. These findings were confirmed by ion substitution experiments. The possibility that inactivation may be apparent only, and caused by a hypothetical, superposed, Ca-induced, rectifying K+ current was eliminated.


Spatial configuration of mRNA 5'-terminus. Nuclear magnetic resonance investigation has revealed that the 5'-terminus m7G5'ppp5'Am of mRNA displays a spatial configuration in which the bases form stacked arrays. Details of the conformation as derived from coupling constants, shift trends and ring current considerations are discussed.


Evolution of ageing.

Evolution of ageing. An evolutionary view of ageing suggests that mortality may be due to an energy-saving strategy of reduced error regulation in somatic cells. This supports Orgel's 'error catastrophe' hypothesis and offers a new basis for the study of normal and abnormal ageing syndromes and of apparently immortal transformed cell lines.


Ovalbumin gene is split in chicken DNA.

Ovalbumin gene is split in chicken DNA. The ovalbumin gene, is split in chicken DNA. Two interruptions in the sequences coding for ovalbumin mRNA have been detected, at least one of them lying in the protein coding sequence. The unexpected gene organisation is present both in oviduct cells highly specialised in ovalbumin synthesis and in erythrocytes.


Construction and analysis of recombinant DNA for human chorionic somatomammotropin. DNA complementary to mRNA coding for the human polypeptide hormone, chorionic somatomammotropin, has been purified by specific restriction endonuclease digestion and religation before cloning into bacterial plasmids. The primary structure of a major portion of this mRNA species is deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the recombinant DNA.


The multi-disciplinary role of 'pion factories'. The multi-disciplinary role of intermediate energy proton accelerators in pure and applied nuclear physics is discussed with particular reference to the experimental programmes at LAMPF (Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility) and SIN (Swiss Institute for Nuclear Research, Zurich).


Basic and applied research at the TRIUMF meson factory. The TRIUMF 520 MeV H- cyclotron produces intense beams of protons, pions and muons supporting basic research in nuclear, particle and solid-state physics, nuclear chemistry and biomedicine, and applied research in electromagnetic breeding of nuclear fuel, proton radiography, radioisotope production and cancer treatment.


[Trend reversal in drug research].

[Trend reversal in drug research]. The author gives a breakdown of costs for industrial drug research and development of seven German drug companies. Trends of development and fields of interdisciplinary pharmaceutical research are described. Increasing expenditures and requirements for safety and efficacy reduce the chances of innovation.


The electromotor system of Torpedo. A model cholinergic system. The electric organ of Torpedo, besides providing abundant amounts of cholinoceptive post-synaptic membrane for the isolation of the acetylcholine receptor protein, is a rich source of cholinergic nerve terminals. Using perfused, innervated tissue blocks from which synaptic vesicles in different functional states can be isolated, much information can be obtained about synaptic-vesicle dynamics. So far this is consistent with the view that the synaptic vesicles are the source of transmitter released on stimulation and that uptake of newly synthesized transmitter by the vesicles is dependent on their having discharged their previous charge of transmitter in at least one cycle of exo- and endocytosis. Studies of the protein composition of the vesicle membrane, especially when combined with similar information about the external presynaptic membrane, purified samples of which are now available from synaptosome (T-sac) preparations, promise to throw new light on the molecular mechanism underlying vesicle exo-/endocytosis.


Methoxytyrosine formation as an indicator of catechol-O-methyltransferase activity in rat liver in vivo. The O-methyl derivative methoxytyrosine accumulated rapidly in rat liver after an intraperitoneal injection of L-dopa (50 mg/kg) in combination with 3-hydroxybenzylhydrazine, an inhibitor of the aromatic amino acid decarboxylase. Methoxytyrosine levels reached a plateau 40--60 min after i.p. injection of L-dopa, of which the tissue concentration declined monoexponentially. Injection of various doses of L-dopa revealed that methoxytyrosine formation was saturable and followed enzyme kinetics in rat liver. The catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors pyrogallol, tropolone and alpha-propyldopacetamide as well as the inhibitor of the aromatic amino acid decarboxylase benserazide inhibited the formation of methoxytyrosine dose-dependently and concomitantly increased the tissue concentration of dopa. The accumulation of methoxytyrosine from exogeneously applied L-dopa appears to be a reliable indicator of the in vivo activity of catechol-O-methyltransferase.


Ventricular arrhythmias in cardiac anaphylaxis. Arrhythmogenic effects of anaphylaxis and histamine were studied in guinea pigs by measuring changes of transmembrane potentials from isolated papillary muscles. Antigenic challenge of preparations obtained from passively sensitized animals induced ventricular automaticity in 1/3 of the experiments. The arrhythmogenic effects of cardiac anaphylaxis could be reproduced by exogenous histamine. Abnormal automaticity was associated with a stable diastolic membrane potential in most of the ventricular fibres and only occasionally ectopic pacemaker potentials were observed in fibres near the ventricular septum. The effective refractory period, maximum rate of depolarization of the action potential and electrical threshold were not significantly changed in ventricular anaphylaxis but in the presence of histamine the refractory time was shortened. Ventricular arrhythmias induced by histamine were increased at high extracellular Ca2+ concentrations and inhibited by Mn2+ and D 600 but were only moderately antagonized by tetrodotoxin. Pretreatment with reserpine had no effect on the abnormal automaticity. Spontaneous ventricular activity caused by histamine was markedly inhibited by the histamine H2-receptor antagonist burimamide and also by the antiarrhythmic drug, prajmalium bitartrate. The H1-receptor antagonist brompheniramine, hydrocortisone and propranolol had little or no antiarrhythmic effect.


Neurotoxicity of apamin and MCD peptide upon central application. Besides apamin, the structurally related MCD peptide (mast cell degranulating peptide; peptide 401) is another centrally acting peptide from bee venom. In contrast to apamin, it is hardly neurotoxic upon intravenous injection in mice. Following intraventricular injection, as little as 0.3 microgram/animal produce convulsions and respiratory arrest in mice. The clinical picture differs from that elicited by apamin, and apamin is about 10 times more potent than MCD peptide when given intraventricularly. Apamin and MCD peptide injected into the spinal cord of rats in nanogram amounts, produce circumscript hyperexcitation lasting more than one day, however with complete recovery following sublethal doses. Local apamin poisoning differs from local tetanus (elicited by the same way) by its faster time course.


Temperature dependence of phalloidin response in isolated rat hepatocytes. Below 21 degrees C isolated hepatocytes are insensitive to phalloidin. Between 21 and 30 degrees C the amount of affected cells increases to nearly maximal values, whereas a further rise of the temperature has little additional effect. These findings suggest that phase transition of membranal lipids might be responsible for the unusual temperature characteristics. The fluidity of lipids seems to control an early step of the phalloidin response.


[Sensory input to neurons of the motor area of the biceps in cat cortex]. Correlation between activity of cortical neurons in the biceps motor area and a conditioning movement of the contralateral forelimb was studied in chronic experiments of two male cats. In the group of neurons related to the movement sensory inputs were not found in 68.1% of neurons, in the group not related to the movement in 97.9% of neurons. 24.2% of neurons from the first group had cutaneous receptive fields on the dorsal surface of the distal part of the moving forelimb, in this group 5 neurons had inputs from the forelimb joints.


[Characteristics of residual neurons during retrograde degeneration in the lateral geniculate bodies of cats]. The daynamics of functional-structural characteristics of residual neurons was studied in the degenerated lateral geniculate body (LGB) in various periods of time (4-12 months) after neuronal isolation of the neocortex under which all geniculo-cortical connections were cut. Background and evoked spike activity in the degenerated geniculate body were studied as well as the number of persisting cells and their diameters. Neuronal receptive fields were found to undergo destruction along with the prolongation of postoperative period. A gradual diminution in the quantity of light sensitive cells was revealed. Background spike activity was predominantly of a simple type. Progressing decrease in cell number and cell diameters was observed under the morphological examination. Special features inherent in geniculate interneuronal relations are discussed.


[Convergence of preganglionic fibers on the vasomotor neurons of the sympathetic ganglia of cats]. By means of intracellular recordings from the neurons of isolated lumbar ganglia III-IV it is shown that B1-, B2- and C-preganglionic fibres widely converge on these neurons. The neurons antidromically activated by stimulation of muscular and cutaneous branches were identified as vasomotor ones. The latter had distinct features of preganglionic fibre convergence. Only B2- and C-preganglionic fibres were able to activate them, but the efficacy of the B2-fibres excitatory action was considerably higher. The vasomotor neurons had a lower conduction velocity in its axons (0.95 +/- 0.05 m/s) as compared to other postganglionic neurons (1.30 +/- 0.15 m/s).


[Impulse flow structure following exposure of a cutaneous nerve to nociceptive solutions of potassium chloride]. Using the cross-correlation method, the pattern of impulses flow coding a nociceptive signal is studied in the n. saphenus of the cat. It is found that nociceptive solutions of KCl (125-1000 mM) stimulate both myelinated and nonmyelinated fibres. The flow density increases with time of the stimulation action, reaching a level sufficient for the appearance of nociceptive pressure reflexes. The maximum of these reflexes coincides with the appearance of synchronous pulsations in the group of non-myelinated fibres. Thus a nociceptive signal caused directly by the exposure of the nerve to strong solutions of KCl is coded by a high density of the impulse flow, in which synchronous pulsations are likely to be found.


[Modulation of the endogenous activity of the snail bursting neuron]. It is found that remarkable depolarization of the bursting neuron membrane may occur periodically with a frequency of about several minutes. The clamp potential method leads to detecting slow depolarizing currents. It is shown that the frequency is independent of the holding potential. The equilibrium potential of depolarizing current is about +45 mV. During the development of slow depolarizing current the negative conductance region arises in the steady-state voltage-current curve of the membrane. It is suggested that the slow depolarizing currents observed are related to the existence of secretorial transfer in the snail nervous system.


[Morphologic changes in the axo-dendritic synapses of the leech following excitatory conduction block in a medium with decreased ionic concentration]. Reactive changes in the synaptic apparatus of the leech neuropile were studied in low ionic strength media using supravital methylene blue staining. Special preparation developed in the laboratory permitted obtaining clearly identified axodendritic synapses in the leech. It was shown that the reactive changes were pronounced during a decrease in the electrical conductance and block in the abdominal chain. Certain correlations between the structural alterations in axodendritic synapses and phasic reactive changes in axosomatic synapses were observed.


[Spontaneous rhythmic discharges in the motor nerves of posterior limbs of decerebrate immobilized cats]. Spontaneous rhythmic discharges (fictitious locomotion) were recorded in motor hindlimb nerves of decerebrated animals with intact caudal hypothalamic region. Stimulation of this region led to the appearance of fictitious locomotion. Spontaneous discharges did no-appear after decerebration at lower levels and in spinalized cats. A conclusion is made on the presence of structures in the caudal hypothalamus which are necessary for the activation of lower locomotor centres and the production of spontaneous rhythmic discharges in motor nerves.


[Sequence of discharge appearance in nerves to different hindlimb muscles during fictitious locomotion of thalamic cats]. The sequence of discharges in nerves to 22 hindlimb muscles during fictitious locomotion was investigated on immobilized thalamic cats. It is shown that for most hindlimb muscles the central locomotor program is rather simple and consists of alternating activation of flexors and extensors. A conclusion is made on the existence of interneuronal flexor and extensor centres in each half of the spinal cord, working in turns during locomotion. More complex discharges were recorded from the nerves to Edb and Per. tert. and also from the nerves to biarticular muscles (St, P. bic., Ten.). It is suggested that motoneurons of these muscles are connected to the flexor and extensor centres in a more complex way.


[Study of the natural activity of nerve fibers using the method of multi-channel coherent recording]. Spontaneous electrical activity was recorded with a six channel amplifier from the intact vagal nerve (cervical area) of the cat in acute experiments. The records obtained were summated using different delays between them induced by a computer for differentiation of the afferent activity from the efferent one and estimation of the proper conduction velocity. It is found that the most active afferent fibres have conduction velocity about 25 m/s.


[Separation of ionic currents responsible for action potential generation in isolated neurons of frog spinal ganglia]. The technique was developed for isolating neurons from the frog spinal ganglia. The isolated cells completely preserved electrical excitability and were investigated under intracellular dialysis conditions. Fast and slow inward current components were found. They were separated by TTX and cadmium: the fast inward current component was blocked by TTX, while the slow inward current was blocked by cadmium. Slow inward current diminished in Na-free solution and calcium ions are supposed to participate in its transfer.


[Analysis of current fluctuations shunted from small portions of the membrane of a nerve cell soma]. A method was developed to allow the registration of ionic current through the small areas of the membrane (10 mu2). The aim of the method is to obtain information on the properties of single ionic channels by the fluctuation analysis. The current through single Ca channel while transferring Ba (130 mM in the external media) is 0.21 +/- 0.06 X 10(-12) A according to tentative estimation. The corresponding value for Ca transfer is 0.1 X 10(-12) A. The upper limit for the single Ca channel conductance value is gCa less than or equal to 0.6 X 10(-12) PHI-1.


[Study of the H-reflex of human hand muscles using the post-stimulus histogram method]. The method of post-stimulus histograms of the single motor unit  potentials permits the under-threshold facilitation to be revealed and the antidromic blocking of H-reflex to be avoided up to sub-maximal for M-response stimuli. The H-reflex was revealed only under abnormal conditions and was not observed in the noraml subjects. In the experiments the motoneurons responded to impulses from above, therefore the inhibition of the motoneurons itself cannot be a mechanism of the H-reflex inhibition. The alternative explanation is the presynaptic inhibition.


Cancer mortality in a region with endemic nephropathy. Cancer mortality in endemic and non-endemic villages from a region with endemic nephropathy (EN) of Vratza district, Bulgaria has been compared for the period 1965--1974. The total and for all cancer sites mortality rates in all studied villages were comparable to European and world standards except a very high mortality from tumors of urinary organs in the endemic villages. Age-adjusted to world population rates/10(5) population in hyperendemic villages have been estimated as 16.8 for males and 14.9 for females in case of kidney tumors and as 7.1 in males and 10.2 for females in case of urinary bladder tumors. On village group basis a very close correlation between mortality rates from urinary system tumors and EN incidence rates has been disclosed although endemic and non-endemic villages are neighbouring and are very similar in ecological and cultural terms.


Prognostic significance of skin reactivity in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma grouped according to the TNM classification. Untreated patients with bronchogenic carcinoma of the epidermoid type showed a marked depression of cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity reactions to DNCB, PPD and Varidase. As compared to a control group of healthy individuals and to a control group of patients with non-malignant chest diseases, 46% of cases responded to the DNCB skin test, 56% to the PPD skin test and 39% to the Varidase skin test. The patients were subsequently divided according to the TNM classification in stage I, II and III groups. Correlation of the skin test positivity to the stage of the disease and to the survival of patients was followed.


Cranial eosinophilic granuloma.

Cranial eosinophilic granuloma. Investigations were carried out on 27 cases of cranial eosinophilic granuloma: 16 males (59%) and 11 females (41%). The mean age was 25 years, the extremes being 2 years and 65 years. The location in 21 cases (80%) was exclusively in the calvarium (9 frontal, 8 parietal, three occipital and 1 temporal), orbital in two cases, fronto-orbital one case, base of the skull in the left parasellar region one case, left frontal subdural with chronic subdural haematoma one case and one case left occipital and petrosal bone. All the cases were diagnosed histologically. In 18 cases the tumour was removed at operation. Recurrences occurred in four of these cases (15%), three of whom died (11-5%). Four of the patients received steroid therapy and four steroid therapy combined with X-ray therapy. The evolution was favourable in all these cases.


[Comparison of myelographic and operative findings in lumbar disk lesions (author's transl)]. A comparative study has been made of the myelographic, clinical and operative findings in 140 patients with lumbar disk lesions. The myelographic and operative findings corresponded in 95%. The L 4-5 disk was the most frequently affected. With regard to the operation, some of the most important technical points are discussed. A myelography is strongly recommended before every disk operation.


Magnetic lock suspension and remote control microdriver for operating microscope. Frequent adjustment of the angle and the focus of the operating microscope is the most important but troublesome manoeuvre during microneurosurgery. We have designed a new suspension and control system for the operating microscope. There is a magnetic lock system of all joints and axes for gross movement of the microscope and the other facility is a remote control microdriving system for fine adjustment of the focus either with the hand or a pedal control box. This system could effectively save operating time as well as surgeon's physical exertion.


Hydatid disease of the spine.

Hydatid disease of the spine. In 42 cases of hydatid diseases of the spine the preoperative diagnosis was as follows: hydatid disease--19, benign tumour--8, Tuberculosis--6, malignant disease--4, herniated disk--3, syringomyelia--1, infectious spondylitis--1. The site of the hydatid lesion in these patients was as follows: cervical--5, thoracic (T6-T12)--26, lumbosacral--11. Seven of these cases had previously been operated on for a hydatid cyst in other organs. We had eight recurrences of which five did not respond completely to surgical intervention.


[Lesions of the cauda equina after dimer-X myelography (author's transl)]. The authors describe five cases of an uncommon complication after Dimer X Myelography consisting in a more or less complete lesion of the caudia equina. Up to the present only seven similar cases have been reported in the literature. The evolution and the clinical symptoms of these cases were similar to those reported by others. While in the cases presented the clinical outcome was favourable, with complete recovery in all cases, less favourable evolutions with definitive neurological symptoms are described by others.


[Surgical results in prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas (a propos of 40 personal observations)]. The authors present a serie of 40 histologically verified prolactin secreting adenomas. Thirty-four women and six men were explored using the usual techniques and operated by the transphenoidal approach with biological follow-up 3, 6 and 12 months post-operatively. Results were a function of tumor size and invasive potential. Although amelioration of the tumoral syndrome always resulted, fonctional and biological normalization were inconstant. Complementary anti-prolactin treatment (C.B. 154) was begun in the non-normalized patients, especially in the cases of invasive adenoma. --Normalization was achieved in 95% of enclosed adenomas, --In 61% of invasion adenomas. In those patients normalized following surgery a return to normal rythmic prolactin secretion was observed.


[Attempt at explaining decompensation of hydrocephalus by modifications of reticular activity]. A correlative study is done between observation of cases of shunted hydrocephalus with mesencephalic signs such as Parinaud's syndrome and a multiunitary recording of mesencephalic and bulbar reticular formation activities during acute and chronic intracranial hypertension in cats. Clinical and experimental data are first separately analysed and then superimposed. This results in analysing the evolution of such intracranial hypertension in three stages: first stage of "tolerance" with minimal clinical signs and no change of reticular activity; second stage of "uncompensation" when mesencephalic signs appear and with increased mesencephalic activity and unchanged bulbar activity; third stage of "exhaustion" where can be noted disorders of consciousness, decerebration fits, and cardiorespiratory disorders; mesencephalic activity falls down to lower levels than basal ones, bulbar activity increases first and then also decreases rapidly. This suggests a mechanism of exhausting stocks of monoamines but also of change of the local cerebral blood flow. Increase and then fall of the reticular activity may be the general way, even without any herniation, of evolution of any intracranial hypertension of traumatic or tumoral origin.


[Inseparable prognostic value of spinothalamic and corticospinal functions in severe spinal cord injuries]. In severe spinal cord trauma with initial complete paraplegia or tetraplegia, even the smallest recovery of sensibility to pain or motor function has an obvious prognostical value as it results from the study of 112 spinal injuries. For the motor aspect it is well known from experimental work and in man that even a small part of a single pyramidal tract in the spinal cord can take in charge the bilateral motricity of the limbs. It remains exceptional in severe spinal cord injury that recovery of motricity is not followed by a return of pain sens. In the lateral funiculus of the cord the sensitive and pyramidal tracts belongs to a same anastomotic vascular area between the central and peripherical circulatory streams. In physiological conditions this intermediate circulatory stream is poorly functional. But in severe spinal cord trauma with reduction of central blood flow the adjacent spinothalamic and corticospinal tracts survive in couple on the basis of the same anastomotic vascular area: from this results the prognostical unity that belongs to pain sens and motricity.


[Large partially thrombosed pseudo-tumoral aneurysm of the aqueductal area]. Authors are reporting a case of a giant sylvian aneurism partially thrombosed which had given some tumor like symptoms. The Peumography performed, just before an angiography showed the exact size and the malformation's relations with the lateral ventricle. During the operation, the complete removal of the aneurismatic mass had been done. The follow up was good.


[Intracerebellar schwannoma].

[Intracerebellar schwannoma]. Only some rare examples of schwannomas localized in the medullary parenchyma are cited in the literature. The first was described by Kernohan in 1933; 9 cases were rapported in the thirty following years. For Brain a few observations about one case were cited by David (1965), Gibson (1966), New (1972) and Ghatak (1975). The authors relate one case of isolated schwannoma in superior vermis. That was a 15 years old young man who had a low evoluting I.C.P. syndrome. The pre-operating neurological investigation revealed a small cerebellar syndrome. The neuroradiological record allowed to localize an expansive median affection in the posterior fossa on a level with the Sylvius aqueduct. The neurosurgical operation allowed to carry off a tumor from the superior vermis; schwannoma tissue was the conclusion of the histological study. The evolution has been good and no cranial nerves were involved. Different theoris about the localisation of Schwann cells in this region are described.


[Development of grasping and manipulatory function in the paretic hand in hemiparetic children]. In the light of observation of 60 children aged from 4 months to 8 years followed for 4--6 years the author studied the stages of functional development of the paretic hand in hemiparesis in infantile cerebral palsy. It is concluded that the development of the functions of grasping and manipulation is retarded and disturbed in these patients. Rehabilitation treatment started in the 1st year or life provides best conditions for functional improvement.


[Radiographic and scintigraphic studies of cranial bones]. The authors described 9 cases of pathological changes in cranial bones of the type of osteolytic foci of changed osseous structure, post-traumatic lesions and postoperative changes of cranial bones as well as fibrous degeneration of bones which were found during routine scintigraphic investigations of the brain with 99mTc. In 7 cases it was possible to obtain the correct diagnosis after comparing with plain skull films, in 2 cases scintigraphy had to be supplemented with angiography (in one case it was necessary for ruling out paracerebral haematoma in presence of skull fracture, in the other case it was done for demonstrating the vessels supplying frontal bone haemangioma). In none of these cases it was necessary to supplement this investigation with administration of radioisotope markers accumulating selectively in bones.


[Sensory nerve conduction of upper extremity nerves in degenerative cervical vertebral disease]. Sensory conduction was measured in the median, ulnar and radial nerves in patients with clinical and radiological evidence of degenerative disease of cervical spine. A significant reduction of conduction velocity and decreased amplitude of action potentials in nerves were demonstrated. In the group of 50 patients in only one case no changes in sensory conduction in upper extremity nerves were found. In the remaining 49 cases reduction of conduction velocity in sensory nerves or decreased amplitude of nerve action potentials were found in at least one of these nerves. Since evident disturbances in sensory conduction were observed even in the extremities without any subjective or objective abnormalities it may be supposed that determination of sensory nerve conduction in upper extremities may be an adjunct method in early diagnosis of degenerative cervical vertebral disease.


[Effect of hydantoins on urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid]. The investigations were carried out in 10 patients with epileptic seizures. The obtained results were compared with those in a control group of 20 healthy subjects. The 24-hour urinary excretion of 5-HIAA efore hydantoinal and on the 1st, 2dn and 3rd days of hydantoinal administration was determined by the method of Udenfried et al. as modified by McFarlane et al. It was found that healthy subjects excreted significantly more 5-HIAA before and after hydantoinal load. Administration of this drug increased significantly the excretion of this metabolite with urine, in healthy subjects but in epileptics it had no significant effect on 5-HIAA level in 24-hour urine.


[Serum diphenylhydantoin in epileptic patients (preliminary report)]. Serum DPH level was determined in previously untreated epileptics who were receiving one dose of 300 mg of DPH daily (Phenytoin--Polfa) during 21 days. The DPH level was determined on the 1st, 10th and 21st days after starting treatment. The obtained results show significant individual differences in absorption of DPH. In 5 patients lower therapeutic range was achieved, in one patient the level was very high and in two cases the therapeutic concentration could not have been achieved. This indicates the necessity of control serum DPH determinations for establishing the individual therapeutic dose of the drug.


[False signs in intraspinal tumors. Evaluation of tumor's position in relation to meninges and spinal cord]. The author discusses in detail the value of different diagnostic elements (history data, isolated neurological symptoms and signs, cerebrospinal fluid changes and dynamic CSF tests, plain films of the spine and contrast myelography) in a material of 204 patients operated upon for intraspinal tumours in the years 1948-1973. Certain signs of intraspinal tumours are discussed which had been the cause of erroneous conclusions in some cases regarding the situation of the tumour in relation to the meninges and spinal cord.


[Course of cerebral cysticercosis].

[Course of cerebral cysticercosis]. In the light of 4 cases of cerebral cysticercosis observed in the period 1970-1976 in Zabrze the authors call attention to the possibility of a very long, lasting even tens of years, time period preceding development of intracranial hypertension and to the diagnostic difficulties in this period. If immunological reactions are negative and the cerebrospinal fluid is normal, presence of calcified cysts in skeletal muscles visible on radiograms may be helpful. An uncertain syndrome of cerebral manifestations in a patient with occupational exposure (butchers) requires ruling out of cysticercosis. Three of these patients were butchers. In 2 plain radiograms showed calcified cysticerci in the muscles, in one they were present in the brain.


Symptomatology of the Opalski syndrome.

Symptomatology of the Opalski syndrome. The authors observed a case with favourable outcome in which besides the axial signs of Opalski syndrome crossed paresis of extremities and bladder disturbances were present. The substrate of clinical manifestations was a submedullary focus spreading to invole pyramid decussation.


[Basilar artery thrombosis with atypical course]. The authors report a 49-year-old man in whom continuous left-sided headaches increasing recently in intensity suggested presence of brain tumour. Sudden clinical deterioration on the 7th day of hospital observation was supposed to be due to brain-stem herniation. On autopsy a thrombus was found filling the basilar artery and the proximal parts of the posterior cerebral arteries with foci of softening in the right hemisphere, brain stem and left cerebellar hemisphere. The authors suppose that headaches were of vascular origin.


[Encephalomyelitis of atypical course probably caused by Echovirus 7]. The authors report a cases of encephalomyelytis caused probably by ECHO7 virus which was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid after 45 days of disease. During 120 days 4 relapses of the disease were observed associated with severe general and neurological signs and cerebral coma which ultimately was the cause of death.


[Favorable effect of cingulotomy on gastric crisis pain]. Among the patients subjected to cingulotomy in the years 1969-1976 we observed a particularly interesting case of late syphilis with attacks of gastric crisis-type pains. Prolonged pharmacological treatment and subsequent surgery (laparatomy, chordotomy) as well as the use of large doses of narcotic drugs did not stop these attacks. The patient exhibited psychic disturbances such as emotional instability and aggressive behaviour. He had not been able to work and was granted a pension. Cingulotomy was performed and the attacks disappeared. During the six-year follow-up period the beneficial effects of the operation were preserved. There was no need to administer narcotic drugs. The patient's family and social life improved markedly.


[Three cases of chronic subdural hematoma developing after direct aneurysmal surgery (author's transl)]. Three cases of chronic subdural hematoma developing after direct aneurysmal surgery were presented. All patients were males and heavy drinkers. There was no history of head injury after craniotomy. In two of the three cases, the angiography was performed on the 12th postoperative day. An avascular area was already revealed on the postoperative angiograms, but there were no disorders at that time. The intervals between the aneurysmal surgery and the onset of symptoms of chronic subdural hematoma ranged from about two to three months. In this report, the diagnostic criteria for the chronic subdural hematoma resulted from intracranial surgery were also discussed with a consideration on the pathogenesis of this condition.


[Parkinsonism following lethargic encephalitis]. A 41-year-old man is described in whom after a febrile disease with disturbances of sleep rhytm and exessive somnolence, extrapyramidal signs appeared increasing progressively in intensity, with a hypertonic-hypokinetic syndrome with evidence of right-sided spastic hemiparesis and hypaesthesia. After treatment with Viregyt and low doses of L-Dopa a striking improvement was obtained. Parkinsonism following lethargic encephalitis was diagnosed.


[Congenital carotid-sinus cervical-sagittal fistula]. The reported case presented an unusual form of congenital carotid-sagittal communication. Clinical findings included: except vascular murmur over the skull a characteristic syndrome consisting of of epleptic seizures, hemiparesis, aphasia and dementia. The communication was excised radically in its central and peripheral parts. The segment corresponding to the main trunk of the middle cerebral artery was narrowed by means of bipolar coagulation. Postoperative angiography and disappearance of most neurological signs after the operation showed that the chronically ischaemic parts of the brain resumed their functions.


[Pituitary apoplexy of giant pituitary adenoma--case report (author's transl)]. Pituitary apoplexy, characterized by sudden onset or acute progression of signs and symptoms of pituitary adenoma, is rare yet well-known. One such case is presented with clinical course, neuroradiological findings and autopsy. A 53-year-old female complained of sudden onset of severe headache, and rapidly deteriorated in the level of consciousness. Five days later, she became comatose and was admitted to National Sendai Hospital. Plain skull films and carotid angiograms revealed a remarkably large mass in the pituitary fossa. Death came ten hours after admission. Autopsy revealed a giant tumor (10 X 5 X 7.5 cm) destroying the sella turcica and protruding toward both the nasopharyngeal cavity and the hypothalamic region. Microscopically, diagnosis was made as chromophobe adenoma with fresh hemorrhage in the tumor.


[Syringobulbia treated surgically].

[Syringobulbia treated surgically]. The authors describe a case of syringobulbia in a 52-year-old patient treated surgically. Atlanto-occipital decompression and longitudinal medullotomy was done. A significant clinical improvement followed, deglutition disturbances disappeared and the general locomotor activity became much better.


[Medulloblastoma with intractable ascites treated by carboquone--a complication of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (author's transl)]. Although complication occasionally occur in the use of ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VP-shunt), the occurrence of intractable ascites and extracranial metastasis through the shunt are uncommon. Recently intractable ascites occurred in a two years old girl in whom a left VP-shunt had been placed before four month for obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to medulloblastoma. Paracentesis was performed with recovery of clear, straw-colored fluid with a specific gravity of 1012, a protein content of 0.3 gm/L and many of mononuclear cell on microscopic examination. Liver-scan and enzyme profile gave normal results. During 3 weeks, 6 times paracentesis were performed and total volumes of ascites were 3850 ml. At 5 and 6 times paracentesis, Carboquone 1 mg was injected into peritoneal cavity and 0.1 mg into ventricle cavity through flashing device. After these injection, intractable ascites were cured, no metastasis can be seen in peritoneal cavity when died 4 month later. No precise explanation can be offered for occurrence of this intractable ascites. It is said that chronic irritation of the visceral and parietal peritoneum or sub-clinical peritonitis may cause peritoneal malabsorption. In our case, antitumor agent was very effective, so this treatment will be recommended to try for intractable ascites.


Serum prolactin and hypothalamic dopamine in rat strains selectively bred for differences in susceptibility to stress. Rat strains selectively bred for behavioral differences in susceptibility to mild stress exhibited differences in serum prolactin (Prl) and hypothalamic dopamine (DA). Male rats from the Maudsley Reactive (MR) strain had higher levels of serum Prl and hypothalamic DA than rats from the Maudsley Non-Reactive (MNRA) strain. MR rats also showed a greater percentage increase in serum Prl 1 h after blockade of catecholamine synthesis by administration of alpha-methylparatyrosine (alphaMpT). The correlation of basal serum Prl levels with individual susceptibility to stress constitutes further evidence that Prl may play a functional role in the organism's response to stress. Strain differences in hypothalamic DA function may play a role in the etiology of strain differences in serum Prl.


Pulsatile discharges of luteinizing hormone in the ovariectomized rat during the 24-hour day. Blood samples were taken every 5 min for a 2-h period commencing at 09.00 h or epsilon 13.00 h from long-term ovariectomized (OVX) rats under regular lighting conditions (lights on 05.00-19.00 h), and commencing at 09.30 h or 14.00 h from long-term OVX rats under reversed lighting conditions (lights on 18.00-08.00 h), the latter equivalent to starting sampling at 20.30 h or 01.00 h under regular lighting. Five rats were used in each group, and luteinizing hormone (LH) was measured in duplicate aliquots of each sample by radioimmunoassay. Pulsatile increases in plasma LH concentrations were observed in all 20 animals, and mean, peak, and nadir plasma LH concentrations for each group did not differ between sampling periods. Similarly, the time of day did not affect the frequency at which pulsatile discharges of LH occurred. These data suggest that pulsatile discharges of LH in long-term OVX rats occur throughout the 24-h day.


Plasma luteinizing hormone and prolactin levels and hypothalamic catecholamine synthesis in steroid-treated ovariectomized rats. The effects of estrogen (E) and progesterone (P) on synthesis rates and endogenous levels of hypothalamic norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) were determined in individual ovariectomized (OVX) rats. 3H-tyrosine (3H-T) was injected intra-arterially and the rate of its incorporation into 3H-DA and 3H-NE was determined at 10, 15, 30, and 45 min. Steroid treatment for 2 days effectively decreased plasma LH levels and elevated plasma prolactin (Prl) levels while endogenous levels of NE and DA were not affected. NE synthesis was not affected by steroid treatment. A significant increase in DA synthesis was correlated with low plasma LH levels, suggesting that DA inhibits LH release. The elevated plasma Prl levels seen in steroid-treated rats were correlated with increased DA synthesis in the hypothalamus. This may indicate that elevated plasma Prl levels stimulate dopaminergic neurons in a short-loop negative feedback fashion.


Uptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine by isolated platelets in childhood schizophrenia and autism. Previous work indicated a platelet abnormality in the in vitro accumulation of serotonin in childhood schizophrenia, especially infantile autism. The present report validates this further in cases of infantile autism and shows that the abnormality seems to be due to the platelets. The defect is apparently associated with the platelet and not the plasma.


Regional cerebral blood flow during voluntary movements of the hand. A rheoencephalography study. Cerebral impedance changes (F changes) indicating cerebral blood flow variations in the central and precentral areas were measured with a rheographic technique in normal subjects preparing for and carrying out a motor task. The time course of the F changes was studied and several significant correlations were established between the amount of F changes, their distribution and the motor performance. Our findings confirm that frontal and premotor regions play an important part in decision making.


Descending tentorial herniation: findings on computed tomography. Descending tentorial herniation (DTH) can be diagnosed by computed tomography. Encroachment upon the lateral aspect of the suprasellar cistern is an early sign of impending tentorial herniation. Actual herniation is evidenced by rotation and shift of the brain stem with consequent widening of the crural and ambient cisterns on the side of the space-occupying lesion. In a more advanced stage of herniation, obliteration of cisternal spaces at the tentorial level will occur. Aqueductal compression secondary to the herniation will cause increased intraventricular pressure with widening of those parts of the lateral ventricles that are not exposed to the compression by the mass; a characteristic finding is widening of the temporal horn on the side opposite the space-occupying lesion. Infarction in the territory of the posterior cerebral artery may complicate DTH.


Dependent layering of contrast medium in cystic astrocytomas. Dependent layering of contrast enhanced fluid in cystic astrocytomas has not been described on computed tomograms. Two children in which this phenomenon occurred are described and its significance is discussed. In a third cystic lesion contrast layering was confirmed by head tilting.


Gonadal thermoluminiscence dosimetry in cranial computed tomography with the EMI scanner. A cranial computed tomographic examination (CT) consisting of four scans with the water bag equipped Mark I EMI scanner will expose the adult male gonads to a radiation dose of approximately 2 milliröntgen (mR).


Angiographic manifestations of intracerebral cavernous hemangioma. A case of intraventricular cavernous hemangioma is reported, with a review of the literature, especially that dealing with angiography of intracerebral lesions. Dense venous poolings and a localized area of venous stain were observed in this case.


Serial CT studies of a metastatic pinealoma with reference to the radiotherapeutic problems. Serial CT studies performed for 1 year on a female patient suffering from a pinealoma are reported. Under cobalt therapy (5000 rads) a remission of the pinealoma was achieved. A short time later, metastases developed and cobalt therapy was repeated (6000 rads). Rapid tumor remission was seen again, but rapid occurrence of probable metastases too. The question whether radionecrosis or metastases were present cannot be answered.


Routine neuroradiological diagnosis with the EMI 5005 body scanner. The experience with the EMI 5005 body scanner in the neuroradiological diagnosis of about 500 cerebral and 30 spinal examinations is reported. The advantages and disadvantages of this machine are discussed.


Visualization of the craniocervical subarachnoid spaces. A very simple procedure is described which leads to adequate visualization of the structures in the craniocervical area that are otherwise often very insufficiently investigated during myelography routinely performed with metrizamide.


Tumor blush with intracranial extensions of carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses. Two malignant intracranial tumors that originated in the paranasal sinuses are described. The patients in both cases were investigated for neurological disorders and had no relevant history of sinus disease. Cerebral angiography demonstrated tumor vascularity identical to meningioma.