[Pulmonary hypertension and histological findings before and years after surgical treatment of congenital heart disease (author's transl)]. The coincidence of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vascular disease was investigated in 186 infants and children with congenital heart disease and left to right shunts. The correlation between pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vasculopathy was highly significant. Hemodynamic pulmonary hypertension is completely suppressed by early pulmonary artery banding or total correction. Even pulmonary vascular alterations can be reversed by these measures.


[Combined application of magnesium-aspartate-cardioplegia and general hypothermia in aortic valve replacement (author's transl)]. The surgical results of two similar groups of patients are compared in whom aortic valve replacement was performed utilizing magnesium-aspartate-cardioplegia combined with mild (group A = 71 patients) and profound (group B = 69 patients) hypothermia, respectively. Mortality was 5.6% in group A and 4.3% in group B. Two deaths in group A were due to a severe low cardiac output syndrome, three patients required continuous inotropic circulatory support during the early postoperative course. There was no low cardiac output in group B, no patient required inotropic support. Profound body cooling (esophageal temperature 25 degrees C) and hypothermic injection cardioplegia with magnesium-aspartate provide efficient myocardial protection up to 60 minutes of anoxia.


[Supporting the pumpfunction of the right atrium. A new therapeutic concept after physiological repair of tricuspid atresia (author's transl)]. A new indication for the External Conterpulsation (ECP) is demonstrated. Due to the venous augmentation a "pulse wave" is created in the V. cava inferior and in the right atrium and the ECP acts as a "peripheral pumpventricle", thus increasing pulmonary blood flow and left ventricular enddiastolic pressure. This new application of ECP is of valve in cases with low output syndrome after physiological repair of tricuspid atresia as demonstreated in a case report.


Tracer and freeze fracture observations on developing tight junctions in fetal rat thyroid. The development of tight junctions in fetal rat thyroid from the sixteenth to the twentieth days of gestation was examined with conventional ultrastructural methods and freeze-fracture preparations. These results were compared with those obtained using lanthanum hydroxide and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracers. Tight junctions appear to arise on the plasma membranes of fetal thyroid cells by the aggregation and fusion of linear particle chains which appear at several discrete sites on the plasma membrane of developing follicular cells. Tracer studies show that they are effective barriers to the passage of HRP from the outset, are freely penetrated by La3+ at the sixteenth and seventeenth days of gestation, but progressively lose permeability to La3+ from the seventeenth to twentieth days of gestation. However, freeze-fracture observations suggest that La3+ must penetrate into the follicular lumen through the tight junction elements, for the follicular lumen, when it appears, is always completely surrounded by a continuous though sometimes rudimentary meshwork of tight junction elements. The results suggest that the tight junction forms an effective barrier to the passage of large macromolecules, e.g. thyroglobulin, from very early stages in its development. The La3+ results suggest that decreased resistance of the intercellular pathway, possibly related to the development of transepithelial potentials, may occur during this period in development.


T-system formation in cultured rat skeletal tissue. By using a lanthanum-staining technique which enhances the visualization of the plasma membrane and its derivatives we have studied the formation of the T system in rat muscle cells differentiating in vitro. We have found that: (1) T-system formation normally occurs after myoblast fusion and is especially extensive in mature myotubes; myoblasts grown in calcium-deficient medium to prevent fusion show increased number of sarcolemmal caveolae but rare, short T tubules. (2) T-system formation in vitro differs from that displayed by rat muscle cells in vivo in that it precedes and is independent of junctional SR differentiation; the uncoordinated development of T tubules and junctional SR in vitro leads to the formation of 'inverted' triads and labyrinthine T-system networks. (3) Coated vesicles are frequently found either free in the cytoplasm or associated with growing T tubules in rat muscle cells differentiating in vitro. A role of coated vesicles in T-system formation is proposed.


Observations on rat Sertoli ectoplasmic ('junctional') specializations in their association with germ cells of the rat testis. The ectoplasmic ('junctional') specialization, a subsurface modification of the Sertoli cell that is often seen facing germ cells, was studied in relation to the development and maturation of these germ cells. This structure is composed of subsurface bundles of filaments and more deeply placed endoplasmic reticulum. The data indicate that these subsurface modifications of Sertoli cells are reutilized in a cyclic fashion, being transferred from their position facing late spermatids to one opposing less mature germ cells. Ectoplasmic specializations appeared to function mechanically in grasping the heads of the spermatids which are undergoing the elongation and maturation phases of spermiogenesis rather than in actually attaching Sertoli cells to these germ cells. It is postulated that the ectoplasmic specialization imparts rigidity to that area of the Sertoli cell that surrounds the head region of the germ cell, forming a recess and a mantle by which the germ cell may be moved toward the base or toward the surface of the seminiferous epithelium. The observed linkage of microtubules to the cisternae of the complex provided a morphological basis for the changes in the cytoarchietecture of the Sertoli cell, which must accompany these movements.


An effect of avian hereditary muscular dystrophy on the reaction of troponin-C with its antibody. Antibody prepared against troponin-C, the calcium binding component of the troponin complex, was reacted with I band segments, and the distribution of antibody binding was assessed by immuno-electron microscopy. The I segments were isolated from glycerinated pectoral muscle which was prepared from normal adult chickens and from dystrophic chickens of strain 308. The antibody was deposited at 384 A +/- 7 A intervals along the thin filaments of the normal muscle. In contrast to the normal controls the dystrophic muscle did not exhibit a distinct periodicity when reacted with anti-troponin-C. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate revealed that although protein bands corresponding to troponin-C could be observed in the gels of the dystrophic preparations, the troponin-C band had migrated slower than that from normal thin filaments. It is concluded that avian muscular dystrophy produces an alteration of the structure of troponin-C resulting in (1) an inability of the protein to combine with its specific antibody and (2) a change in its electrophoretic behavior.


Fine structure of the compound eyes of the midwater amphipod Phronima in relation to behavior and habitat. Pelagic amphipods belonging to the genus Phronima have four compound eyes; two lateral eyes and two large transparent medial eyes which comprise the entire top of the head. The eyes are structurally similar but the crystalline cones of the medial eyes are more than twenty times as long as those of the lateral eyes, reaching 5 mm in a large animal. The dioptric system of each ommatidium consists of an unfaceted cornea, a layer of hypodermal cells, two rudimentary cone cells, two cells which surround and form the crystalline cone, and the cone itself. The cone and its surrounding cells penetrate the layer of accessory pigment cells which surrounds the retina. The fused rhabdom is formed by the five retinula cells but is separated from them by an extracellular palisade which is crossed by bridges. The retinula cell nuclei lie proximal to the basement membrane. Further proximally the bundle of retinula cell axons is crossed by a second basement membrane, which surrounds each axon with a collar. Medial and lateral eyes on each side of the head share a common lamina. The medial eyes of Phronima appear to be a solution to the problem of remaining inconspicuous to predators while still maintaining sensitivity and resolution.


The distribution and function of microtubules in nutritive tubes. The density and distribution of microtubules in the nutritive tubes of three hemipteran insects, Corixa punctata, Notonecta glauca and Dysdercus cingulatus, were analysed from electron micrographs by computer. Both parameters varied amongst all three species, the density of microtubules in Corixa being approximately three times that seen in Dysdercus. The density and distribution of microtubules within the nutritive tubes correlated directly with the size of particle transported by them, suggesting that the microtubules may act as a sieve to preclude certain cellular components from entering the tubes. If microtubules are further involved in the generation of motive force for cytoplasmic transport along the nutritive tubes, this function is not dependent upon the number of microtubules, or upon their arrangement with respect either to each other or to the particle being transported.


The spermatozoon of onychophorans. 2. Peripatoides leuckarti. The spermatozoon of the Onychophoran Peripatoides leuckarti is described and compared with that of Peripatopsis previously investigated. The general shape of the cell is the same, with persisting typical characteristic of a manchette and of nine accessory tubules surrounding the axoneme. There is a difference in the mitochondrial derivatives, which are two and partially located in a nuclear posterior concavity. But the most significant finding is the presence of a thin, flat acrosome surrounding the nucleus, which is absent from the other species. The presence of the acrosome is related to the existence in Peripatoides of big eggs, which are absent in Peripatopsis.


Ultrastructure of the neurosecretory cells in the brain of diapausing pupae of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta (L). The ultrastructure of seven different types of neurosecretory cells (NSC) found in the medial and lateral areas of the brain of diapausing Manduca sexta is described. The five different types of NSC in the medial area have characteristic differences in their shape, size, neurosecretory granules (NSG), and the morphology of their organelles. The cell types of the medial area accumulated the NSG, but did not appear to be synthesizing and packaging new NSG, whereas the NSC in the lateral region were synthesizing and packaging NSG during diapause. The possible significance of the relationship between the lateral and medial cells is discussed.


Hemodynamics in sepsis: its relationship to pulmonary complication. Serial clinical observations and hemodynamic measurements were made on seventeen patients with sepsis and ten control cases. Control patients were slightly hypovolemic immediately after operation. In the eleven high flow patients, that is, those with the initial cardiac index higher than 3.0 liters/min/m(2), we observed characteristic hemodynamics with lowered vascular resistance, higher cardiac output and hypotension. The anomalous vascular resistance began to return to normal approximately 48 hr after operation. In three cases pulmonary complication developed at this time and therefore pulmonary artery pressure and/or pulmonary wedge pressure exceeded the normal range. In these cases treatment was aimed at lowering the pulmonary pressure. Pulmonary complication was improved when these pressures returned within normal range. In the seven low flow patients, that is, those with cardiac index lower than 2.9 liters/min/m(2), we observed decreased cardiac index with increased systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance. In these cases pulmonary complication appeared to develop by increased permeability of the pulmonary capillary wall. Elevated pulmonary artery pressure might accelerate the progress of the complication. Monitoring and controlling pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary wedge pressure were effective in prevention and treatment of pulmonary complication in this group.


Studies on hemodynamics and cardiac function in the immediate postoperative period following open heart surgery. Hemodynamics and cardiac function in the immediate postoperative period following open heart surgery were studied by means of a Swan-Ganz catheter and a thermodilution output computer. Pulmonary arterial pressure decreased at 3 hr after operation in congenital and mitral valvular diseases either with or without pulmonary hypertension. Then pulmonary arterial pressure maintained the decreased level subsequently in patients without pulmonary hypertension or with moderate pulmonary hypertension. However, in cases of severe pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary arterial pressure increased concomitantly with the increase of pulmonary arterial resistance in adult cases, but maintained the decreased level in juvenile cases. Pulmonary wedge pressure decreased to 3 hr after operation and maintained the decreased level. Right atrail pressure fluctuated within normal range. The cardiac index and left ventricular stroke work index increased between 3 to 6 hr after operation in congenital and mitral valvular diseases and decreased temporarily between 9 to 30 hr and then increased again. The cardiac index and left ventricular stroke work index in mitral valvular diseases showed values lower than those in congenital heart diseases. The increase of cardiac index and left ventricular stroke work index after open heart surgery was more remarkable in mitral valvular diseases than in congenital heart diseases.


Electrical activity of superior colliculus associated with eye movements in alert cats. Eye movement potentials (EMPs) were recorded from the superior colliculus (SC) of awake cats. When cats moved the eyes in front of a patterned or diffuse field, the EMP appeared as a sequence of the three components; EMP1, EMP2 and EMP3. The EMP1-EMP2-complex occurred while the eyes were moving and it had a wave form similar to that of the flash-evoked response. The EMP3 was seen 30-50 msec after the end of eye movement. In dark only the EMP3 was observed; its delay after the end of eye movement was as large as 70 msec. By placing electrodes at various depths of SC, the EMP was found to originate in the superficial layers. In immobilized, encéphale isolé cats, placed in dark or made blind by enucleation, the followings were observed; 1) Passive movements of the eye did not give rise to any significant electrical activity of SC. 2) Spontaneous mass activity of the oculomotor nucleus, that would result in eye movements if the cats were not paralysed, was followed by sharp wave activity of SC and this was the same after the visual cortex had been ablated bilaterally. From these findings it is concluded for the EMPs of awake cats that the EMP1-EMP2-complex is a response to retinal impulses caused by movements of images, whereas the EMP3 is due to an extraretinal factor such as the corollary mechanism. Besides the EMPs as described above, some activity was found to occur about 150 msec before the onset of eye movement. This EMP, called early EMP, seemed to appear when it was followed by eye movements with relatively high speeds.


The content and turnover of norepinephrine in the rabbit brain regions and cardiovascular tissues. The content and turnover of norepinephrine (NE) in the hypothalamus, midbrain, pons-medulla, mesenteric artery, aorta and left ventricle were studied in the normal rabbit. Turnover rate of NE was determined by measuring the rate of decline in NE content of the tissue after blockade of synthesis with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. The NE content of the hypothalamus (1.44+/-0.03 microgram/g) was significantly higher than those of the midbrain (0.25+/-0.01 microgram/g) and the pons-medulla (0.36+/-0.01 microgram/g) (p less than 0.001), whereas the rate constant of NE turnover for the pons-medulla (0.213+/-0.009 hr-1) was significantly greater than those for the hypothalamus (0.164+/-0.008 hr-1, p less than 0.001) and the midbrain (0.180+/-0.008 hr-1, p less than 0.01). In the cardiovascular tissues examined, the NE content was highest in the mesenteric artery (6.33+/-0.19 microgram/g), moderate in the left ventricle (2.08+/-0.10 microgram/g) and lowest in the aorta (0.70+/-0.06 microgram/g). The differences among them were significant (p less than 0.001). However, the rate constant of NE turnover for the aorta (0.119+/-0.014 hr-1) was significantly greater than those for the mesenteric artery (0.059+/-0.008 hr-1, p less than 0.001) and the left ventricle (0.069+/-0.006 hr-1, p less than 0.005). The turnover rate of NE in the mesenteric artery was high, 0.372 microgram/g-hr, which suggests the very active NE synthesis. These results indicate that there are regional differences in content and turnover of NE of the cardiovascular tissues as well as of the brain.


Decrease and recovery in cell surface charge induced by anesthetics. We applied cell electrophoresis to detect the effect of anesthetics on membrane, and clarified the concentration - effect relationship and the term of reversibility. The cell electrophoretic mobility of rat erythrocytes decreased with time of incubation with intravenous anesthetics (thiopental or droperidol) at clinical concentrations and reached a minimum value of 25% reduction in 30 min. The effect changed gradually in the concentration range of 0.5-1000 microgram/ml of thiopental, and changed markedly with 0.3-1 microgram/ml of droperidol. Washing out of the anesthetics and subsequent incubation in serum-containing medium resulted in the complete recovery in the mobility when 5 microgram/ml thiopental or 1 microgram/ml droperidol was used. With high concentration of thiopental (100 microgram/ml) or droperidol (10 microgram/ml, however, unrecovered fraction of cells increased with time of treatment. The critical time for retaining the reversibility was about 2 hr.


Evaluation of surgical treatments for the major lesion of bilateral silicotuberculosis. The present communication deals with the follow-up study of 24 patients with bilateral silicotuberculosis in whom only unilateral operation was carried out for major lesions. The operative procedure consisted of pulmonary resection, thoracoplasty or combined operation such as cavernostomy, intracavitary filling of a pedunculated muscle flap and thoracoplasty. The follow-up period ranged 1 year to 12 years and 5 months. The results of surgical treatment for unilateral major lesions and their effect on the contralateral minor lesions were clinically assessed by alterations in the chest x-ray findings and tubercle bacilli in sputum. In 16 of 24 patients (67%) alleviation was obtained, whereas no change occurred in 3 (13%) and aggravation in 5 (21%). The surgical treatment for unilateral major lesion brought about 41% of improvement in the contralateral minor lesions. Contralateral minor lesions remained unchanged in 46% of patients and aggravated in 14%. This shows a value of the surgical threatment for bilateral silicotuberculosis. It should be emphasized that surgical treatments more aggressive than have been heretofore practiced can be employed.


Selective alveolo-bronchographic findings in type B chronic obstructive lung disease patients with particular reference to lesions in small airways. Selective alveolo-bronchography (SAB) was performed in 14 patients with type B chronic obstructive lung disease to evaluate the morphologic changes of their "small airways". The distance from the branching portion of the segmental bronchus (B9) to the end of the conducting airway was divided into three equal parts (central, middle and peripheral). In the peripheral part, interruption of the airway with a rounded or tapering end was noted at a high incidence (9 cases). Dilatation of the bronchus, irregular outline of the bronchial wall and increased angle of branching were also conspicuous in this part. Inadequate lateral branchings of airways were often observed in the middle and the peripheral part, particularly in the latter (10 cases). Generalized narrowing of an airway and narrowing especially at a branching point were observed in about one half of the cases. Fringes and/or spikes were most often seen in the central part of the airway (9 cases). These pathological appearances are considered to reflect morphologic changes in "small airway disease", and thus SAB can serve as a useful method for detecting lesions of the small airways.


Effects of chronic beta-glycerophosphate administration on growth rate and serum, liver and bile lipid composition in the rat--a toxicity study. The possible toxic effects of a high dose of orally administered disodium beta-glycerophosphate to the rat for a period of 33 weeks has been investigated. The studies revealed taht beta-glycerophosphate administration had no effect on either survival rat, body weight, hematological and liver function tests or on serum and liver lipids concentrations. All organ weights were similar in the control and experimental rats excepts for the kidneys which were significantly heavier in the beta-glycerophosphate-fed rats. The biliary phospholipids concentrations was significantly increased in the treated group as observed previously during short-term treatments. Histological examination of liver and kidneys did not reveal any pathological findings. These results suggest that long-term administration of beta-glycerophosphate did not induce any toxic manifestations. The observed hyperplasia of the kidneys was attributed to the effect of the sodium content of beta-glycerophosphate.


The analysis of organ weight data.

The analysis of organ weight data. The increase in precision that can be obtained when the bodyweights of animals at the start of an experiment are used as covariate in the analysis of organ weights is demonstrated. Theoretical reasons are given why the analysis of relative organ weights does not eliminate the indirect effect of treatment on organ weight via its effect on bodyweight. An alternative method, that of analysis or organ weights using the current bodyweight as a covariate, is described. Results from these two methods of analysis carried out on simulated experimental data are presented. Analysis of covariance is demonstrated to be superior to analysis of relative organ weights.


Dietary effects on inhibition of rat hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes by a pesticide (Morestan). Female rats were fed for 21 days on 5 semi-synthetic diets containing 8 or 30% proteins, 1 or 25% lipids respectively, the control animals being given a diet containing 20% proteins and 5% lipids. The animals on each diet were then subdivided into two subgroups and on the 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th days were given an oral dose of 75 mg/kg of Morestan in solution in peanut oil (PO) or a dose of oil only. The microsomes were prepared 24 h after the last administration and aniline aromatic hydroxylase, aminopyrine and N-methylaniline N-demethylase activities and cytochrome P-450, protein and RNA levels were measured. Whatever the diet, Morestan inhibited N-demethylase activities and decreased the cytochrome P-450 level; liver protein and RNA levels and microsomal RNA level increased. The 25% lipid diet alone increased activity of the three enzymes studied, without modifying the cytochrome P-450 level; Morestan produced antagonism of this effect in the rats on this diet. The decreased cytochrome P-450 level caused by Morestan was higher in animals on the 8% protein diet.


The fate of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) following oral administration to man. The pharmacokinetic profile of 2,4-D is defined in man. Five male human volunteers ingested a single dose of 5 mg/kg 2,4-D without detectable clinical effects. Concentration of 2,4-D were determined in plasma in 3 of 5 subjects and in urine in all subjects at intervals after ingestion. The elimination of 2,4-D from plasma in all subjects occurred by an apparent first-order rate process with an average half-life (t1/2) of 11.6 h. All subjects excreted 2,4-D in the urine with an average t1/2 of 17.7 h. Excretion occurred mainly as 2,4-D (82.3%) with smaller amounts excreted as a 2,4-D conjugate (12.8%). Essentially all of the 2,4-D was absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract in man. Clearance of 2,4-D from the plasma and excretion from the body are first-order rate processes. There was no evidence that 2,4-D would accumulate following repeated administration.


Percutaneous absorption and disposition of Tinopal EMS. A cotton-substantive, anionic, fluorescent whitening agent manufactured by several suppliers under various trade names e.g. Tinopal EMS, has been synthesized in radioactive form. Intubation of detergent or aqueous solution into rats resulted in little absorption from the intestinal tract as evidenced by low radioactivity in the urine and tissues. Most of the dose was excreted rapidly in the faeces. After parenteral administration to rats, the radioactivity was rapidly excreted in the faeces with small amounts remaining in tissues and organs. There was slight evidence of retention of radioactivity in the kidneys. Very small amounts of Tinopal EMS in detergent were absorbed through rat skin, but only when concentrations greater than those normally used by the consumer, together with occlusion of the skin were employed. Small amounts were absorbed throught skin when applied in ethanol. It is concluded that the possibility of systemic toxic effects in man as a result of percutaneous absorption is remote.


Experimental investigations on the contraction induced by lead in arterial smooth muscle. Previous observations suggested that the turnover of tissue calcium might be involved in the mechanism of smooth muscle contraction induced by lead. In the present investigations, the effect of lead on calcium exchangeability has been studied in the isolated rat tail artery. Experimental results suggest that the mechanism of lead action might be identified with a tissue calcium accumulation and with a lead-to-calcium competition. Evidence exists that the site of action is located in the cell membrane, where lead inhibits the processes of calcium extrusion, and in the intracellular calcium stores, whose calcium binding capacity is lowered; both processes induce an increase of the cellular exchangeable calcium available for contraction.


Comparative toxicity of trivalent and hexavalent chromium to rabbits. II. Morphological changes in some organs. Toxicity of trivalent and hexavalent chromium compounds was investigated in experimental rabbits to ascertain health hazards among industrial workers of miners occupationally exposed to such chemicals. Brain, kidney and myocardium showed a tendency to accumulate chromium irrespective of its valency state; the morphological changes were more marked in animals exposed to hexavalent chromium. However, no definite co-relation could be observed between the concentration of the metal and the degree of histological changes in these organs.


A study of long-term effects of guanethidine on peripheral noradrenergic neurones of the rat. In long-term experiments in rats the effects of guanethidine sulphate on peripheral adrenergic neurons in the heart, the vas deferens, the superior cervical ganglion and the ganglion innervating the vas deferens were studied in relation to the dosage and route of administration of the drug by biochemical, histofluorimetric and electron-microscopic methods. When administered daily in very high doses, i.e. 180 mg/kg orally or 25 mg/kg intraperitoneally, for several weeks guanethidine was found to induce toxic effects which appeared to be a result of mitochondrial changes in the ganglion cells. These changes were not directly related to the decrease in catecholamine content and the capacity of the neurones to retain exogeneous transmitter. The short neurones innervating the vas deferens appeared to be the structures most sensitive to guanethidine. As in the other tissues, however, the changes in these structures proved reversible to a considerable extent upon cessation of high-dose treatment. The structural changes induced in the animal by toxic doses of guanethidine are considered to have no bearing upon the pharmacological action of the drug under practical conditions.


Sub-acute toxicity of xylitol in rats; absence of hepatotoxicity. Some workers have suggested that 6 days xylitol administration to rats results in hepatic dysfunction. In our study xylitol was administered to rats by daily gastric intubation for a period of 14 days. Dose levels were 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 g/kg. During treatment (2, 5 and 14 days), animals were submitted to careful clinical examinations and to blood serum analysis related to hepatic functions. They were sacrificed after 2, 5, and 14 days treatment. In the 2 and 5 days treatment groups, main organs were submitted to histological study. This examination was only performed on liver in the 14 days treatment group. No evidence of hepatotoxicity was recorded. Serum levels of all parameters measured were within normal limits (including bilirubin and serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP). No anomalies were shown histologically.


Organ distribution and nervous system binding of styrene and styrene oxide. Ten adult male rats were injected intraperitoneally with 460 mumol of styrene oxide with radioactive label. Fifteen similar rats were injected similarly with 577 mumol of styrene. The distribution of styrene in central nervous system, blood, liver, lungs, kidneys and duodenum was studied 3, 6 and 24 h after the injection while the same studies were done with styrene oxide 3 and 6 h after the injection. The liver, brain, kidney and duodenal contents of styrene and styrene oxide were higher than that in blood, lungs and spinal cord while the macromolecule-associated styrene oxide in the central nervous system was small. The removal of injected compounds was slow between 3 and 6 h after the injection in the organ systems although lipid-soluble compounds tended to diminish in brain more rapidly than the total radioactivity.


Testicular effects of cyclohexylamine hydrochloride in the rat. Testicular effects of cyclohexylamine hydrochloride (CHA) were investigated in Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats. Groups of 25 rats were fed diets containing 6000, 2000 and 600 ppm CHA for 90 days and in addition ad lib., pair-fed and paired-weight control groups were used to assess the role of reduced food intake in the development of testicular lesions. Rats fed diets containing 6000 and 2000 ppm CHA showed significant decreases in food consumption, body weight and body weight gain. However, significant increases in the incidence of testicular lesions were found only in those animals fed 6000 ppm CHA. Absence of a similar incidence of lesions in either the paired-weight of pair-fed control groups indicated that inanition was not primarily responsible for the development of the lesions. The toxicological significane of these findings is discussed.


[Nutritional and toxicological study of rats fed a diet containing tin (author's transl)]. A toxicological, nutritional and histological study of rats on a diet containing 0.5 g of tin (Sn Cl2) per 100 g of dry food for one month has been made. By gamma radioactivity measurements (with 113Sn used as a tracer) it is shown that this metal does not practically clear the digestive barrier. Otherwise the classical coefficients of nitrogen nutrition and the urinary parameters (volume, glucose, pH) are not influenced; but the growth of treated animals is obviously slower than control animals because of their reduced ingestion of food. Moreover after one month of treatment a marked anaemia results since the hematocrit and hemoglobin levels are perceptibly reduced. Lastly the histological investigations give evidence of notable irritation of the total gastrointestinal tract. This study, as that of many authors, raises the question of present permissible levels of tin (up to 250 ppm) in foods.


Early biochemical response of pulmonary tissue to manganese dioxide. The biochemical response of pulmonary tissue to MnO2 dust burden of 30 days duration was studied in rats. The activities of enzymes from isolated fractions of rat lungs were not significantly altered, even though manganese content was increased significantly in tissues remote from lungs, indicating translocation of the dust from its intrapulmonary location.


Alkylation of RNA by vinyl chloride metabolites in vitro and in vivo: formation of 1-N(6)-etheno-adenosine. Rat liver microsomes were incubated with NADPH, 1,2-[(14)C] vinyl chloride and poly-adenosine. The latter was reisolated from the incubations and hydrolyzed. The radioactivity, originating from [(14)C] vinyl chloride, which was irreversibly attached to the poly-adenosine was confined to 1-N(6)-etheno-adenosine (3beta-ribofuranosyl-imidazo [2,1,i] purine). When rats were exposed to 1,2-[(14)C] vinyl chloride, part of the radioactivity was incorporated into RNA of liver. This radioactive labelling exhibited a first maximum, 14 h, and a second maximum, 72 h after ending the exposure. Analysis of hydrolysate of liver RNA showed that all natural nucleosides of RNA were labelled. Besides, small amounts of radioactivity could be detected which were confined to 1-N(6)-etheno-adenosine. The experiments support the theory that vinyl chloride metabolites react with adenosine moieties of nucleic acid under formation of 1-N(6)-etheno-adenosine. Furthermore, the results show that measurement of incorporation of radioactivity into nucleic acids after exposure of animals to radioactive vinyl chloride is not applicable as a means of determining the alkylating potency of vinyl chloride metabolites towards nucleic acids in vivo.


The hydrolysis of flavouring esters by artificial gastrointestinal juices and rat tissue preparations. The rates of hydrolysis of sixteen esters used as constituents of artifical flavours have been determined in artificial gastrointestinal juices and in fresh preparations of rat liver and small intestine. The artificial gastrointestinal juices exhibited a limited ability to hydrolyse the esters and of which methyl anthranilate was virtually uneffected. On the other hand, rat liver and small intestinal preparations were found readily to hydrolyse the esters to their component acids and alcohols. These findings showing large differences between the results obtained from the two methods suggest that use of tissue preparations is likely to produce data more relevant to the toxicological assessment of esters.


Chromosome studies on bone marrow cells of Chinese hamsters fed a radiosterilized diet. Metaphase preparations of chromosomes from bone marrow cells of Chinese hamsters were examined for mutagenic effects following the feeding of a radiosterilized diet. No increase in the incidence of structural chromosomal aberrations was observed. As far as numerical aberrrations were concerned, the proportion of cells with polyploidy increased to between 4 to 5 times the control level, irrespective of the moisture content of the diet. This polyploidy effect occurred very early, being detectable within 24 h, if the diet fed had been irradiated with an absorbed dose of 4.5 - 10(6) rad. The incidence of polyploidy remained below 0.5%, however, nor did it rise with higher radiation doses. When the feeding of the irradiated diet was stopped, the proportion of polyploid cells returned to the control level within a maximum of 6 weeks. If the diet was stored (initially) for 6 weeks following irradiation before being fed to the animals no increase in the number of polyploid cells was noted. These results are not interpreted as a mutagenic effect of the irradiated diet.


Simple and rapid block face alignment methods for the ultramicrotome. Light from the fluorescent lamp on an ultramicrotome can be reflected from a mirror located beneath the knife face so that the knife and edge can be imaged on the block face. It is well known that this image can be used to accurately align the block face to the knife edge and cutting direction. A method is described of pre-aligning the lamp, stereomicroscope, knife, and the mirror, which is fixed with respect to the knife face, so that a bright reflection of the knife face on the block face is obtained only when the block face is brought close to alignment. This initial alignment is an extremely rapid procedure, and is followed by slower, more accurate manipulation of the block and knife for precise alignment. The mirror, easily mounted to a Porter-Blum MT-2 ultramicrotome knife holder, is very simple in design and readily adaptable to any ultramicrotome. Methods to permit small movements of the block for the MT-1 and MT-2 ultramicrotomes are also described.


[Dosimetry using the linear accelerator (author's transl)]. On the basis of data employed in radiation therapy with megavoltage X-radiation from the linear accelerator Philips SL 75/10 have been developed clearly arranged and practicable treatment schedules for the use of the radiotherapist. Application of a fixed focal dose, for instance 250 R per session, makes the number of days needed for irradiation easy to calculate. The possible field sizes are classified with regard to equivalent relative deviations at the class limits, and represented by a pattern of diaphragms. Thus, and by the use of constant focus-skin distance of 90 cm, well-arranged tables are obtained. Two-year experiences with the utilization of these schedules as well as the check-up by daily measurements and the necessary controls of operating conditions are summarized in diagrams.


[CT in the diagnosis, treatment planning and follow-up in craniopharyngeoma (author's transl)]. The axial computed tomography of the skull has become an important part of the neuroradiologic diagnostics. The intracranial CT diagnosis is completed by the coronal sections which is used in particular in case of processes in the posterior cranial fossa and its differentiation of the supra- and infratentorial dimensions and in order to localize tumors in the sella region. The accurate determination of the tumor volume and the para-, supra-, and retrosellar dimensions makes possible an exact operation and irradiation planning. Solid, cystic and calcified tissues of the craniopharyngioma can be delimited. The quantitative evaluation by means of a computed tomogram of a tumor reduction obtained by surgery and irradiation with ultrahard X-rays (42 MV) with a target volume dose of about 5000 rd is illustrated by two examples. Under the above mentioned radiotherapeutic conditions, one partially resected craniopharyngioma with cystic, calcified and solid tissues showed a diminuation of the tumor volume of 60%, whereas the volume of a craniopharyngioma consisting of solid and calcified parts which had not been operated upon was reduced by about 40% two weeks after the end of the radiotherapy.


[Changes of protein metabolism after X-irradiation. III. Dose dependent changes of the protease activity, the protein and the free amino acids in the spleen, liver, blood plasma, erythrocytes, stomach- and intestinal wall and in the carcass of rats after whole body X-irradiation with 400-1000 R (author's transl)]. The protease activity against externally added haemoglobin as a substrate and the autolytic activity against the proteins of the organism were decreases in most of the organs and in the total organism on the 3rd day after irradiation. This contradicts the explanation of the protein loss by an increased protein degradation. The free amino acids in the organs and in the whole organisms are unchanged or diminished. An increase would be expected if an increased protein degradation had occured because the free amino acids are the end product of the protein degradation. The conclusion of this investigation is that other mechanisms than protein degradation are responsible for the protein loss of the organism 3-6 days after X-irradiation. The increase of the protease activity and of the free amino acids in the blood plasma from day 1-3 coincides with the end of the destruction phase in the organism between day 1-2 after irradiation. The changes of the protease activity in the erythrocytes between day 1-30 after irradiation are probably not caused by a direct effect of the radaition on the erythrocytes of the peripheral blood. They are rather the results of a transient suppression of the hematopoeitic differentiation.


Modification in nucleocytoplasmic transport of RNA in vitro after whole-body X-irradiation. Rats were sacrificed at different times after injection of 14C-orotate and liver nuclei were isolated and incubated in a cell-free system made of soluble cytoplasmic fraction from non-irradiated rat livers. The release of ribonucleoproteins from labelled nuclei to the incubation medium was measured on nuclei from normal and total-body irradiated rats (500 to 2000 R). When using short labelling times in vivo (30 min), which would label predominantly messenger-type RNP, the nuclear transport activity was depressed at early times (3 h) after whole-body irradiation, but increased at later times (24 h). When the labelling time in vivo is increased to 2 h, no significant difference was observed between control and irradiated groups. Transport of the stable ribosomal-type RNP, observed 24 h after both labelling and irradiation, was depressed. These results are discussed in view of previous personal studies on radiation effect on liver RNA synthesis and polyribosomes formation in vivo.


Cell cycle time of erythroid cells in mice with normal and stimulated erythropoiesis. The cell cycle time of erythroid cells was determined in normal mice and in polycythaemic mice after stimulation of erythropoiesis by exogenous erythropoietin. The method employed was 3HTdR autoradiography of bone marrow cells. After 21 or 38 hours of administratering the erythropoietin 3HTdR was injected into the animals. The cell cycle time was calculated from the curves of changes in the labelling indices of proerythroblasts and basophilic erythroblasts at one hour intervals. The cell cycle time in normal animals was 8.5 hours. Twenty-two to twenty-five hours after stimulation with 1.5 units of erythropoietin, the cell cycle was 7.8 hours. Thirty-nine to forty-two hours after injection, at the time when the number of nucleated erythroid cells was within normal limits, the cell cycle time was 7.7 hours. Under the used experimental conditions, the cell cycle time of early erythroid cells was not significantly changed in comparison with the values obtained in non-treated animals. This is in contrast to the results reported when extreme stimulation of erythropoiesis with endogenous erythropoietin was used.


A rapid radioimmunoassay for serum testosterone. This technique of R.I.A was developed for students in classroom laboratory situations where rat serum testosterone assays could be completed within two 3-hour laboratory periods. The assay utilizes commercially prepared testosterone R.I.A. Pak. Plasma samples and extraction controls are prepared for extraction with a 1:10 dilution in phosphate buffer of which 0.1 ml is then incubated with 40 units of the enzyme Subtilisin Carlsberg (for steroid extraction from the Sex Hormone Binding Protein and otherplasma proteins) for a period of two hours. After extraction, the enzyme is heat inactivated for two minutes at 100 degrees C. At this point, the assay can be stopped for 24-48 hours by storage of extraction samples at 2-3 degrees C. The assay is concluded with assembly of standard curve tubes and by addition of antibody, antigens system to all tubes for the final two hour incubation followed by the Dextran charcoal separation of unbound components and the decanting of bound complexes into scintillation counting vials. tthis assay technique has a range of 0.05 ng/ml to 5.0 ng/ml. The mean serum testosterone level of fifteen adult male Sprague-Dawley rats was determined to be 262 ng/100 ml.


8 alpha-Estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-1,3, 17 beta-triol as a special type of estrogen having a high vaginotrophic activity and a low uterotrophic activity in castrated mice. The vaginotrophic and uterotrophic activities of 1-OH-8-alpha-E2 and its acetate in comparison with E2 and E3  were assessed on the basis of the effect on weights, water/fat-and RNA/DNA-contents of mouse vagina and uterus. The multiple doses of 8 alpha-steroids or E3 sufficient to achieve a maximal effect on the vagina were not enough to stimulate the uterus fully. At various periods of time after multiple injections, 1-OH-8 alpha-E2 acetate was found to have a higher vaginotrophic potency than the uterotrophic potency, when compared with E2 as a standard. The study on the time course of organ response to 8 alpha-steroids, E2 and E3 after a single injection of daily dose, being equipotent when injected one daily for 3 days, demonstrated that 1-OH-8-alpha-E2 and E3 were less vaginotrophic and uterotrophic than E2 and had a short duration of action. 1-OH-8 alpha-E2 acetate in comparison with  E2 produced a long-lasting vaginotrophic effect and an early regressing uterotrophic effect. It can be confirmed that 8 alpha-steroids, like E3, are a special type of estrogen having a high vaginotrophic activity and a low uterotrophic activity.


The excretion of metabolites of cortisol and aldosterone in male patients on haemodialysis treatment. A single intravenous infection of 14C-cortisol and 3H-aldosterone was given to four male uraemic patients on haemodialysis (HD) treatment. The excretion of radioactivity was measured during two weeks in urine, HD fluid and faeces, In two patients, who were injected just before dialysis, large amounts of radioactivity were eliminated in the HD fluid (38% and 56% for 3H, 45% and 57% for 14C) and minor amounts were found 3 in the urine ( less than 5%); in the faeces respectively 32% and 30% of 3H and 18% and 26% of 14C were excreted. Two patients who were injected immediately after dialysis (and who also had a somewhat better kidney function) excreted larger amounts of radioactivity in th urine (10% and 24% for 3H, 13% and 41% for 14C) and in the faeces (44% and 62% for 3H, 29%, and 37% for 14C), while in the HD fluid respectively 18% and 4% of 3H and 30% and 12% of 14C was eliminated. The plasma radioactivity just before and just after dialysis showed a very good correlation (r=0.96 to 0.99, p less than 0.001) with the radioactivity eliminated in the first and last hour of HD treatment. Between HD treatments, the radioactivity in plasma did not change or decreased only very little. This finding suggests that metabolities of cortisol and aldosterone to be excreted in the faeces, are very quickly removed from the circulation.


Androgen glucuronides. I. Direct formation in rat accessory sex organs. A simple one-step procedure is described on the isolation of androgen glucuronides from various rat tissues. This procedure uses polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and permits a quantitative isolation of a single band containing the total androgen glucuronides without the contamination of free androgens and androgen sulfates. This procedure was used to determine the ability of various tissues of the rat to form androgen glucuronides directly when they were incubated with 1,2-[3H]-testosterone (0.1 micronm) in vitro. Of eleven organs studied, only the accessory sex organs (ventral prostate, seminal vesicle, and coagulating gland), liver, and kidney were capable of forming androgen glucuronides. At the end of a one-hour incubation period, approximately 1% of the total radiolabeled steroids in the prostatic tissue minces were in the form of glucuronide conjugates. The predominant androgen glucuronide formed in the accessory sex organs was 5 alpha -androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol 17 beta-D-glucuronide. This is in contrast to the rat liver and kidney in which testosterone glucuronide was the predominant conjugate.


Intestinal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 binding protein: specificity of binding. The binding of metabolites of vitamin D and their analogs to the 3.7S chick intestinal cytosol receptor protein has been specifically studied by competitive binding techniques and polyethylene glycol precipitation of the complex. The structural requirements for the interaction between the vitamin D molecule and the receptor could be assessed without the nuclear chromatin binding step. These measurements have shown that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 are equally competitive and are the most active. Of the structural features of the compounds, the 1 alpha-hydroxyl is most important followed by the 25-hydroxyl and the 3 beta-hydroxyl. The addition of a second hydroxyl near carbon 25 markedly reduces binding whether on the 26 carbon or the 24 carbon. A hydroxyl on C-24 could substitute to some degree for the 25-hydroxyl inasmuch as 24-hydroxyvitamin D3 was much more effective than vitamin D3 but less effective than 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. In general the patterns of binding affinities correlated well with the biological activity of the various analogs strongly supporting a physiological role for the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 binding protein. It also suggests that of the two-step receptor mechanism, the structural specificity is located in the initial interaction of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and the cytosol receptor.


A binding assay for 25-hydroxycalciferols and 24R,25-dihydroxycalciferols using bovine plasma globulin. The concentrations of the 25-hydroxy and 24R, 25-dihydroxy derivatives of vitamin D were determined in 100 microliter l plasma samples using calciferol binding globulin from bovine plasma. Sufficient quantities of 24R, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D were found in bovine, porcine, chicken and human plasma to interfere in the assay of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in unfractionated extracts. No metabolites of vitamin D could be found in rainbow trout plasma.


Factors influencing outcome and length of stay in a stroke rehabilitation unit. Part 1. Analysis of 248 unscreened patients--medical and functional prognostic indicators. A retrospective analysis of 248 patients with stroke (average age 67, range 17-98) admitted to a stroke rehabilitation unit over a sixteen month period showed that 80% of these patients were able to return home after an average length of stay (LOS) of 43 days. At discharge 85% of the group were ambulatory and 56% required no help in daily living activities. Severity of weakness on admission, long onset-admission intervals, the presence of severe perceptual or cognitive dysfunction or a homonymous hemianopsia in addition to a motor deficit were related to unfavorable outcome and increased LOS. The age of the patient, dysphasia or a hemisensory deficit in addition to weakness, or diabetes, hypertension, or ASHD were unrelated to the patients' functional status on discharge, discharge disposition, or LOS. Many patients with "unfavorable prognostic signs" made significant improvement after admission and were subsequently discharges. Thus, while the above findings may predict which patients can make maximal gains in a short term treatment facility, they also show that most patients, even those with "poor prognostic signs," can make enough functional improvement to be managed at home after a relatively short hospitalization.


Incidence of stroke in Frederiksberg, Denmark. Since 1971, stroke registers in several countries have been cooperating in a study of stroke epidemiology, initiated by WHO. One of the registers covers the population of Frederiksberg, Copenhagen. During the first two years of registration strokes were recorded in 556 Frederiksberg citizens. A certain diagnosis of cerebral hemorrhage--verified by angiography, spinal fluid examination, or autopsy--was made in 10% of the patients; subarachnoid hemorrhage was demonstrated in only 2%; most of the remaining patients probably had cerebral infarction. The overall annual incidence of stroke, when adjusted for age for the Danish population, was 1.9 per 1,000 for males, and 1.6 per 1,000 for females. For every type of stroke, except subarachnoid hemorrhage, the incidence increased markedly with age. The age-specific stroke incidence rates found in the present investigation are much lower than those demonstrated by Aho in a community-based study in Finland. In view of the strict comparability of the two studies, real differences in the risk of stroke may exist between the two communities.


Concomitants of atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis. To identify metabolic and other concomitants of a single important type of atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease, 75 patients with angiographically and surgically proven internal carotid stenosis were compared with age and sex matched control subjects with respect to plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. They were also compared for blood pressure, cigarette smoking, evidence of ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and for a family history of these diseases. Patients with carotid stenosis had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures and higher plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations than the control groups. They had, as well, a far greater likelihood of being cigarette smokers and a greater likelihood of having diabetes mellitus and previous evidence of coronary and peripheral vascular disease. Patients with carotid stenosis were far more likely to have 2 or more of these common concomitants of atherosclerosis than were the control subjects. The data suggest that the precursors of carotid stenosis are similar to those of coronary atherosclerosis and raise the hope that modification of these factors may decrease the incidence of this highly prevalent form of cerebrovascular disease.


Unilateral internal carotid arterial occlusion: special considerations. Cases of patients with unilateral internal carotid arterial occlusion and contralateral internal carotid arterial stenosis are reviewed. Forty-two percent presented with a fixed neurological deficit. The deficit was referable to the side of occlusion in 92% and to the side of stenosis in 8%. Eleven percent had a neurological complication following carotid endarterectomy on the side of the stenotic lesion. The neurological complication was referable to the side of stenosis in 67% and to the side of occlusion in 33%. Patients have been followed for an average of 19 months and have not developed any additional TIA's or strokes in the followup period. There may be a role for an extracranial-intracranial bypass (ECIC) on the occluded side prior to an endarterectomy on the stenotic side if a poor collateral situation exists. An ECIC should be done in patients who remain symptomatic following carotid endarterectomy on the stenotic side. These data do not support doing ECIC in asymptomatic patients with unilateral carotid arterial occlusion.


Levels and disappearance of prostaglandin F2alpha in cerebral spinal fluid: a clinical and experimental study. The concentration of prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) was measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained by lumbar puncture in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and compared to control values. The level of this prostaglandin was elevated at some time in most patients during the course of their illness. However, this could not be correlated with the severity of neurological deficits observed. The possibility that the concentration of PGF2alpha in lumbar fluid may not reflect that present intracranially was tested experimentally in anesthetized dogs. In these experiments only a small fraction of the radioactive PGF2alpha injected into the cisterna magna appeared in lumbar CSF. Prostaglandin F2alpha rapidly disappeared from the cisterna magna, half time 8 minutes, and radioactivity was present in blood from the jugular vein indicating that normally this prostaglandin rapidly egresses from the CSF into blood. These findings suggest that PGF2alpha can be rapidly transported away from the brain. This could explain the low concentrations of PGF2alpha in CSF of normal individuals and in some patients who have severe cerebral vasospasm. Conversely, the elevation of PGF2alpha in lumbar CSF noted in some patients might be due, in part, to an impairment of transport caused by the size and location of the hemorrhage.


Long-term prognosis for cerebral infarction in relation to brain circulation--a 7-year follow up study. Seventy-seven patients with cerebral infarction have been re-examined every year and followed for 7 years. Thirty-one patients had normal cranial blood flow (BF) and the remaining 46 had subnormal cranial BF, determined by the intravenous RISA method at the time of the original attack. During a 7-year follow up, 7 patients (22.6%) of the normal cranial BF group died; 3 of stroke and the remaining 4 from other causes, while 24 patients (52.2%) of the subnormal cranial BF group died; 13 of stroke and the remaining 11 of various diseases. The cumulative survival rate was consistently lower in the subnormal cranial BF group than the normal one. This difference reached statistical significance at 5 and 7 years of follow up. However, stroke recurrence did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. This suggests that a decreased cranial BF is an indicator of a poor long-term prognosis.


Diaschisis with cerebral infarction.

Diaschisis with cerebral infarction. Fifteen patients admitted to Philadelphia General Hospital with acute strokes had repeated measurements of cerebral blood flow measured by the 133Xenon inhalation method. A progressive decline in cerebral blood flow in both hemispheres was observed during the first week after infarction in twelve of these patients. This decline could be partially explained by loss of autoregulation, but could not be correlated with level of consciousness, clinical status of PCO2. This progressive decline in flow in the non-ischemic hemisphere indicates a process more complex than a simple destruction of axonal afferants to neurons as implied by the term diaschisis. The flow changes in the non-ischemic hemisphere are likely caused by a combination of the immediate effects of decreased neuronal stimulation modified by loss of autoregulation, release of vasoactive substances, cerebral edema, and other factors.


Experimental cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage: development and degree of vasospasm. Vasospasm of the basilar artery in 57 cats was induced by application of fresh blood, or a blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) mixture incubated at 37 degrees C for 2 to 16 days. In animals treated with fresh blood or mixtures incubated for over 15 days, the severity of induced vasoconstriction is slight and duration short. Mixtures incubated 5 to 10 days induced severe and prolonged vasoconstriction. This incubation period for blood and CSF mixtures inducing severe vasospasm coincides with the developmental period of vasospasm after the onset of subarachnoid hemorrhage in our clinical experience. The prolongation of severe vasoconstriction induced by mixtures incubated for 7 days with clotted components is definitely greater than one induced by a mixture without clotted components. This experimental study suggests the existence of a vasospasmogenic substance in the blood in the subarachnoid space. Activity begins about 3 days after subarachnoid hemorrhage, increases strongly at 5 to 10 days, and disappears after 15 days.


A component analysis of recent fertility decline in singapore. To aid in achieving demographic goals, since 1968 the government of Singapore has passed a series of laws designed to limit family size. Policies were instituted in 1968 to discourage couples from having more than three children; policies introduced in 1973 discouraged having more than two. Trends in fertility rates and in the numbers of abortions and sterilizations in recent years are consistent with the intent of these social policies. Decline in third and subsequent births was the most important factor in fertility decline after 1972, and the numbers of abortions and sterilizations undergone by higher parity women have increased substantially sin"e 1970. Although other factors have affected fertility in Singapore, the data suggest that the disincentives have played a role in continued fertility decline in recent years.


Attitudes toward abortion in Thailand: a survey of senior medical students. A majority of senior Thai medical students favored induced abortion in many circumstances not now considered legal. While 20 percent would not perform abortions for any reason, many of these would refer cases to colleagues. Independent variables consistently and significantly influencing attitudes conservatively were: female sex, certain medical schools attended, larger ideal family size, intention not to teach in a medical school as a career, having a father in unskilled or semiskilled or work, never having witnessed an illegal abortion, and never having been asked to find an abortion practitioner for a friend. A random reordering of the questions did not affect reports of attitudes toward or willingness to perform induced abortion.


Effects of combined parenchymal and vascular injury on platelet aggregation in pial arterioles of living mice: evidence for release of aggregate-inhibiting materials. Platelet aggregation was produced in pial arterioles by exposing them to appropriately filtered light from a mercury lamp, following intravascular injection of sodium fluorescein. The dye acted as a target for the radiant energy and initiated a sequence of events resulting in the platelet aggregation. The aggregates adhered to the vessel in which they first appeared. When a microneedle punctured the brain adjacent to a subsequently irradiated arteriole, platelet aggregation was inhibited, even though the arteriole was not touched by the microneedle. Inhibition was manifested by prolongation of the exposure time required for the light-dye stimulus to initiate an adherent aggregate and by lengthening the time required for the aggregate to grow and totally block erythrocyte flow in the affected vessel. It is suggested that a material(s) diffuses from the zone of brain puncture, to and through the arteriolar wall, with a resultant inhibition of aggregation. It is noted that the inhibiting effect is reduced as the distance between puncture and wall increases.


Implications of attitude-behavior studies for population research and action. Results of many family planning surveys do not suggest that attitudes are strongly predictive of family planning practices. An inquiry into methodological issues suggests two recommendations for improvement of research procedures. First, more attention must be paid to the reliability of the questionnaires by which attitudes and practices are measured. Second, questions on attitudes and practices should refer to the same action or object and to the same period of time. The available evidence suggests that implementation of these procedures can lead to identification of stronger linkages between family planning attitudes and practices, and to survey results having greater practical utility.


[Signal trait of cucumbers].

[Signal trait of cucumbers]. A mutant of cucumber characterized by the absence of nappiness on all the organs of the plant was found at Birjuchekutian station in 1970. This character is recessive and is manifested in the second generation showing a 3:1 ratio of nappy and plain plants. On the basis of this mutant, forms of cucumber without nappiness were obtained. Plain plants are distinguished especially well at the initial stages of development when the first leaf appears. They are viable and productive, grow perfectly well and possess a high combining ability.


[Role of the membranes in the regulation of the activity of genetic structures of bacteria and mitochondria]. The literature on DNA interaction with both the prokaryotic cell membranes and the mitochondria of the Eukaryota is surveyed. Data are presented in favour of membrane localization of DNA and of the regulatory role of membranes in genome expression. A possible "conformational" mechanism of the control of gene activity by conformational changes of membranes related to cell metabolism is discussed. The problems of protein-nucleic recognition are concerned.


[Preparation and properties of elongated polytene chromosomes. I. The method]. Compactness of eukaryotic, particularly polytene chromosomes pose difficulties for investigation of their functional organization. For example, 0.1 --1.0 micrometer thick bands of polytene chromosomes contain some dozens microns pieces of DNA molecules. Therefore the useful resolving power of autoradigraphical methods is reduced by 10--100 times of its upper limit. To overcome the mentioned difficulty, a new method has been developed which permits to attain the upper limit of resolution. An isolated polytene chromosome from salivary gland nucleus of Chironomus thummi larva is stretched by microneedles to obtain a bundle of oriented DNP-fibers. A previously chosen small region of the chromosome (band or puff) is stretched simultaneously in a transverse direction by a stick frame made of another chromosome. Electron microscopy of the preparation reveals a meshwork of DNP fibers as presented on fig. 6.


[Formation of lipofuscin].

[Formation of lipofuscin]. Brain tissues of rats, mice and humans taken during autopsy were incubated in the medium containing 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB), permitting to recognize mitochondrial cytochromes. The product of DAB oxidation was located in mitochondria and lypofuscin granules of the studied objects. Besides, the reaction product was found in the rat's brain structures of intermediate type, bearing resemblance to both mitochondria and lypofusion granules. These structures are regarded as a transitional phase of mitochondria transformation into lypofuscin. Cytochemical investigation of the brain of mice and man in long-afterdeath-terms demonstrated that a postmortal degradation of mitochondria does not result in lypofuscin formation.


[Differential diagnosis of hereditary and acquired progenic forms of bite]. The article deals with problems of differential diagnosis of acquired and inborn hereditary progenies. The frequency of progenies in aggravated families is 28.2% and in the familes without aggravation it is 10.9% (p less than 0.01). The dominant type of inheritance is determined according to the genealogical tree. Progenies of recessive hereditary nature should be differentiated from the dominant type of "slipping through" generation. From the point of view of prediction, hereditary progenies are more unfavourable than the acquired ones because of frequent relapses, and their treatment should be undertaken at an early stage.


[Effect of the antioxidant, 4-methyl-2,6 di-tert-butylphenol on the mitotic division of epithelial cells of the small-intestinal crypts of mice depending on the degree of differentiation]. Antioxidants increase the number of mitoses in epithelial cell populations being on differentiation, examined from various parts of small intestinal crypts of mice. 2 hours after antioxidant injection a considerable increase in mitotic index (MI) is found, with maximal value (by 3 times) seen for cells from higher crypt region where more differentiated cells occur. The increase of MI is observed also in later period, 14, 21--24 hours after antioxidant administration. The observed effect may be explained by the influence of antioxidants on the reserve pool of cells. However, it does not seem unlikely that the increase of MI after antioxidant injection may be due to the influence of antioxidants on the longevity of individual stages of mitotic cycle. Similar evidence was provided earlier by the authors for the effect of antioxidants on the mitotic division of liver cells of normal mice.


[Changes in the enterocyte population kinetics during the process of development of intestinal tumors in rats]. Changes in proliferation of the enterocytes from the descendent colon at different developmental stages of tumours induced with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) were studied. As a result of carcinogen-induced disturbances in enetrocyte differentiation, the proliferative crypt zone was seen broadening, the proliferative cells appearing even in the mouths of the crypts. Further, these very superficial parts of the crypts proved to be the sites of carcinoma development in situ. During the tumour induction, the majority of enterocytes display short mitotic cycles which are somewhat longer than in the normal colon. The DMH treatment, even at early stages of the experiment, leads to the appearance of a high occurrence (up to 50--60%) of abnormal mitoses in enterocytes.


[Cytochemical study of various stages of the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii. 3. Phosphatases in the entozoa]. Three methods were used to detect acid phosphatase in toxoplasma endodozoites of strain SS-119 harvested on day 4 after mouse inoculation. The modified lead nitrate method detected the enzymatic activity in host cells only; Gomori metal salt technique revealed the enzyme almost exclusively in the parasite, whereas the Standard Naphthol AS-BI phosphate method suggested the presence of the enzyme simultaneously in the two, though not regularly in the parasites. The enzymatic activity when present was visualized as few coloured granules mainly in the anterior cytoplasmic area on the body and at the periphery, leaving the nuclear zone unstained. Alkaline phosphatase distribution, detected with one method only (Standard Naphtol AS-BI phosphate), appeared less convincing in the parasite than in the host cell. In host cells harbouring endozoites, no increased activity was observed in the immediate closeness of the intracellular parasites.


[Cytochemical study of various stages of the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii. 4. Dehydrogenases in the endozoa]. Dehydrogenases of glycolysis, Krebs' cycle and pentosephosphate shunt are present in the metabolic machinery of toxoplasma endozoites (strain SS-119), thus suggesting a mixed oxidative metabolism in these. The enzymes are most commonly localized in the perinuclear area of the cytoplasm. Of special interest is the increased activity of some enzymes (especially lactate dehydrogenase) (fig HC) in the infected cells seen as definite layers of the stuff surrounding each parasite. This may correspond to the "overcoating" by mitochondrial material observed by Jones and Hirsch (1972) with the electron microscope. The importance of host-parasite relationships in the existence of the obligate intracellular parasite is discussed.


[Average time of cell mitosis in the hematopoietic tissue of rats]. Rats (Wistar) were irradiated (60Co) with dose of 500 R at the dose-rate of 345 R/min. Using a curve of decrease of the mitotic index in hemopoietic tissue cells after irradiation, an attempt has been made to determine the average time of mitosis. The parameters (latent period, the minimum and average time of mitosis, resp., variance and density distribution type) were introduced in the mathematical equation which relates mitotic index postradiation decrease curve to mitosis time density distribution. It has been found that the actual average time of mitosis for hemopoietic tissues of rats is in the range of 25--27 min 32--33 min and 26--27 min. for thymocytes, promyelocytes--myelocytes and erythroblasts--normoblasts, respectively.


[Distribution of radioactive tetanus toxin at the subcellular level]. Experiments were carried out on rabbits for detecting the distribution of radioactive tetanotoxin between subcellular fractions of tissues of the central nervous system. It has been found out that a parenteral administration of tetanotoxin-35S results in a quick rise of the tissue radioactivity. The radioactivity of the free ribosome fraction remained most constant and high, which might be an indication of a high acceptory capacity of these organelles to tetanotoxin. For some periods of an acute tetanus intoxication, a rather high tropism of tetanotoxin of synaptosome, microsome and myelinic fragments was found.


[Resistance of the functional systems of the smooth muscle cells of isolated myometrium to long-term incubation in Ringer-Locke solution at 4 degrees C]. Contractile effects of adrenaline, acethylcholine and hyperpotassium solution on the isolated myometrium strips (non-pregnent rats, and women; pregnant rabbits, cats, and women) are studied. The amplitudes of these contractile effects were seen decreasing if the strips were previously immersed in the Ringer-Lokk solution at 4 degrees C 5--9 days prior to observation.


[Dynamics of RNA concentration in different CNS structures following audiogenic seizures]. By means of morpho- and cytospectrophotometrical analysis, the influence of audiogenic seizures in genetically predisposed rats on RNA content in individual cells of four different neuron-glia systems was studied. RNA content was chaaracterized by different dynamics and pronounciation of changes and duration of restitution period. The most expressed disturbances were found in the second layer of the temporal cortex. Shifts in RNA content were preserved, as a rule, for 24 hours, but in glial cells of the cerebellar cortex and anterior horn of the spinal cord they lasted for 48 hours after cessation of the seizures. Metabolic interralations between nerve and glial cells of different regions of the central nervous system are characterized by some essential peculiaritis depending on the degree of involvement of concrete nervous structure in realization of seizures, its structural, metabolic and functional characteristics.


[Effect of combined irradiation and hyperthermia on the creatine kinase activity of rat tissues]. Effects of heating (36 degrees, relative air humidity 80-90%, 4 hours) and joint beta (85Kr)-X-ray-irradiation of rats, given separately and simultaneously, in doses 2.5 krad+ + 25 r, 2.5 krad + 50 r, 3.05 krad + 100 r, 4.45 krad + 250 r, 7.4 krad + 400 r on creatine kinase activity in brain and liver were investigated 5, 12, 19 and 26 days after the exposure. It was discovered that the state of thermal stress reduced radiosensitiveness of enzymatic activity in brain and burdened the consequences of irradiation when tested by the liver activity.


[Changes in aldolase and creatine kinase activity during thermal muscle damage]. A study was made of changes in outflux, extractability and enzyme (aldolase and creatine kinase) activity of muscle proteins induced by thermal action in skeletal muscles of R. temporaria L. Under a 15-minutes action of temperatures under 36 degrees C, which do not produce any contracture or fall of excitability, changes in a fraction of protein outfluxed from muscles were observed. The thermal action accompanied by the fall and irreversible loss of excitability (above 36 degrees) resulted in the fall of extractability and enzyme activity of water-soluble proteins extracted from homogenized muscles in addition to prolonged changes in the fraction of outfluxed proteins. The increased binding of aldolase by actomyosin under thermal injury of muscle is established. Changes of outflux extractability and enzyme activity of proteins during the thermal alteration of muscle are considered with regard to data about the complexing of muscle proteins.


[Conditions for glycogen retention in smears of isolated cells. I. Cytofluorimetric analysis of glycogen content in cells obtained by different methods of isolation]. A cytofluorimetrical study was made of glycogen content on smears of isolated rat liver cells, obtained by perfusion of different solutions: 1/15 M phosphate buffer, the Locke solution, only the Locke solution plus sodium citrate, a calcium-free Locke solution, 0.25 M sucrose, physiological saline, Versene. No loss of glycogen occurred during any perfusion procedure, however, it took place during the smear preparation. The main cell injury is observed due to mechanical factors. An additional treatment of liver, after perfusion, by homogenization and centrigugation at mild conditions decreases the cell glycogen content by 30%. The least cell injury and the best glycogen retention was achieved when phosphate buffers were employed for cell isolation.


[Quantitative description of the process of radiation inactivation of cells. VIII. Microdosimetry in the analysis of the reproductive death of eukaryotic cells]. The microdosimetric approach permits to model the first physical stage of radiation damage developing of multistage model of radiation effect. It describes stochastics of absorbed energy distribution among and inside sensitive cell volumes. The analysis of radiobiological effect becoming more complete and adequate. The limits of application of valuable microdosimetric values to characterizing both the quality and quantity of radiation affecting the cells is considered. The aspects of the theory of dual action of radiation well compare with those of the cytogenetic model linking the reproductive cell death with asymmetrical chromosome exchanges.


Mortality from esophageal cancer in Piedmont, Italy. Piedmont is located at the borderline between Italy (where mortality from esophageal cancer is relatively low) and France and Switzerland (where it is relatively high). Therefore, it seemed of interest to investigate the mortality from this cancer in Piedmont. Age-adjusted yearly mortality rates for 1965-1969 were 4.3 and 0.8 per 100,000 for males and females, respectively. Rates were very similar in the town of Torino, in the 23 suburbs of the first belt, in the nonmetropolitan areas of the province of Torino, and in the other 5 provinces of Piedmont. In both sexes, the rates did not differ from those observed in Italy during 1966-1967, whereas rates for males were lower than the national rates for France and Switzerland (14.0 and 8.5/100,000/year, respectively). Rates for males were also lower than in the adjacent French departments of Savoie, Haute-Savoie, and Isère (where in 1967-1968 they ranged between 9 and 16). Mortality rates from esophageal cancer in the town of Torino were constant from 1951-1971. During the same period, mortality from laryngeal cancer in men doubled. This suggests that although some etiological agents (alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking) are common to esophageal and laryngeal cancer, the interplay between these 2 factors as well as that with other carcinogens is different for the 2 types of cancer.


Serum phosphoexose isomerase in cancer.

Serum phosphoexose isomerase in cancer. Serum levels of phosphoexose isomerase (PHI) were determined in 138 cancer patients. The enzyme levels showed a relation to the clinical stage of the tumor, and were, on the average, higher in advanced disease. The behavior of the enzyme levels after chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy was studied in relation to the clinical response. A statistically significant reduction of PHI activity in patients with subjective and objective or only subjective responses to therapy was noted. The mean values before and after chemotherapy in patients with progression of the disease were not significantly different. The authors conclude that high levels of serum PHI are, most often, associated with an advanced and/or a metastasized tumor; furthermore PHI seems to be a reliable biologic marker of the destruction of cancer tissue.


A biochemical characterization of human breast tumors. The activities of PHI, LDH and LDH isoenzymes were examined in 45 samples of human breast tissue. There were 25 carcinomas, 10 fibroadenomas and 10 nontumor tissue samples. In the group of nontumor breast tissue, values were as follows: PHI (X = 574 SD = 69), LDH (X = 634 SD = 91), LDH5/LDH1 (X = 0.42 SD = 0.23); in the benign group, PHI (X = 425 SD = 95), LDH (X = 59 SD = 188), LDH5/LDH1 (X = 0.55 SD = 0.38); and in the malignant tumor group, PHI (X = 2871 SD = 1350), LDH (X = 3108 SD = 1417), LDH5/LDH1 (X = 3.33 SD = 0.95). The enzyme activities of nontumor and benign tissue were statistically similar, but when these parameters were compared with the enzyme values of malignant tissue, there was a significant statistical difference. Based on these results, it is possible to establish a biochemical criterion for malignancy with the PHI and LDH activity levels greater than 720 U/g and the LDH5/LDH1 ration greater than 1.3. By using this criterion, the examined specimens can be categorized as nontumor or benign in one group and malignant in another group. This corresponds to the histiopathologic system of classification.


Tumors and dental and ocular abnormalities after treatment of infant rats with adriamycin. In rats repeatedly treated subcutaneously as infants with adriamycin in 2 cycles of 4 treatments each, the induction of ocular and dental abnormalities and tumors was studied. Cataracts appeared from 18 to 26 days in 80% of CD rats treated with 1.15 mg/kg/day of adriamycin and from 28 to 104 days in 55% of Wistar-Lewis rats given 0.75 mg/kg/day adriamycin. Abnormal growth of incisors was observed in 30% of the CD rats and in 44% of the Wistar-Lewis rats. At lower doses, no such abnormalities were found. At about 1 year after treatment, 100% of the CD rats treated with 0.75 mg/kg/day adriamycin and about 60% of the Wistar-Lewis rats treated with 0.75 and 0.5 mg/kg/day adriamycin developed tumors, which were histologically classified.


Primary retroperitoneal tumors.

Primary retroperitoneal tumors. Seventy-five cases of primary retroperitoneal tumors observed at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan during the period 1932 to 1973, 56 of which had a histopathologic classification (51 malignant and 5 benign), are reported. By examination of the diagnostic and therapeutic criteria employed and the survival data (9 of the 51 malignant cases were alive at 3 years, and 3 of these were alive at 5 years), the authors point out the difficulty of an early diagnosis and, therefore, of a radical surgery, the need for a programmed therapy, and the importance of the angiographic examination in the diagnostic strategy.


[Studies on the heterogeneity of blood serum high-molecular fraction proteins in healthy people and patients with cancer]. Heterogeneity of proteins of blood serum high-molecular fraction in healthy people, patients with cancer and those with pathologies of nonmalignant nature was studied by the method of disc electrophoresis in 4% polyacrylamide gel. It is established that under conditions of the experiment sharp differences are observed in heterogeneity of studied proteins manifesting in a growth of the discrete electrophoretic bands in disc electrophoregrams of high-molecular fractions of sera from the cancer patients. Disc electrophoregrams of proteins of the studied fractions from the sera of patients with nonmalignant pathologies also differ from those of control groups, though not so sharply as when comparing the preparations obtained from the sera of healthy people and cancer patients. Possible reasons of the observed differences are discussed.


[Peculiarities of the action of protein positively reacting in the sedimentation test for cancer on the activity of glycolytic enzymes]. Blood serum of oncologic patients due to immunoglobulin involved in its composition, activates glycolysis in the soluble fraction of muscles when using starch, glycogen and glucose as substrates. The activation is registered under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. When elucidating the immunoglobulin effect in a glycolytic chain under aerobic conditions it is shown that its activating effect in the incomplete incubation system is manifested with such glycolysis substrates as fructose-6-phosphate and 2-phosphoglyceric acid. Glycolysis activation with serum is insignificant or absent at all with the presence of glucose-6-phosphate, fructose-1,6-diphosphate, 3-phosphoglyceric aldehide, 3-phosphoglyceric acid, phosphoenolpyruvic acid, sodium pyruvate. Immunoglobulin isolated from the blood serum of oncologic patients does not affect the activity of purified preparations of hexokinase, glycerinaldehydephosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. When using the air as a gas medium lactate dehydrogenase is activated by immunoglobulin. Lactate dehydrogenase activity under aerobic and anaerobic conditions is essentially lower than in the case when the air serves as a gas medium.


[Intake dynamics of GABA and its pantoate derivative in mice brain areas]. After subcutaneous administration in equimolar, close to therapeutic, doses accumulation of 1-14C-PANTOGAB exceeds accumulation of 1-14C-GABA in the brain areas only at early stages of observations: 7.5 and 15 min. In blood at all the time except for 4 h, the amount of 1-14C-PANTOGAB exceeds essentially the content of 1-14C-GABA. Maximum of 14C-PANTOGAB accumulation in the brain is observed 30 min later and that of 14C-GABA by 60 min. Difference in distribution of both preparations between the brain areas are inconsiderable. In the period of maximum accumulation there is a tendency to a more intensive 1-14C-PANTOGAB incorporation into the cerebellum, and 1-14C-GABA into truncus cerebri. The dynamics of accumulation in the brain and removing of the studied compounds from blood evidences for better absorption from the place of administration and for a weaker biotransformation of PANTOGAB as compared to GABA.


[Carboxypeptidases from different microbiolorganisms]. Experiments were performed to detect "alkali" and "acid" carboxypeptidases in 39 enzymic preparations from fungi, yeast, actinomyces, bacteria and algae. Distribution of both types of carboxypeptidases is different: they are absent in the six of the studied sources, there are no "acid" carboxypeptidases in 11 sources and no "alkali" in nine ones. The largest amount of carboxypeptidases is in the objects from fungi and actinomycetes, the least, in those from bacteria and algae. There is no correlation between synthesis of these enzymes by one microorganism. Thus, fungi produce mainly "acid" enzymes, and actinomycetes only "alkali" ones. Asp. oryzae and Asp. flavus are powerful producers of the former, Streptomyces griseus of the latter. Specific activities 15-20 times as high as all the already studied ones are obtained for the preparations isolated from Str. griseus (protezym, proteinase-1, proteinase-3, crystal line complex of proteases). Carboxypeptidase of Str. griseus is relatively stable in comparison with "acid" ones in purification and concentration.


[Isoenzymic spectra of lactate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase in the loach unfertilized eggs and embryos]. Isoenzymic spectra of lactate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase were detected in unfertilized eggs of Misgurnus fossilis. They do not change significantly in the embryos during blastula, gastrula and early organogenesis stages of development. The intraspecific polymorphism of one lactate dehydrogenase subunit was found in the unfertilized eggs and embryos. The polymorphism is pronounced in the existence of three types of isoenzymic spectra of different frequencies in the given population of the loach.


[Stimulation of gluconeogenesis with 1,3-butanediol in the perfused rat liver]. An intensified synthesis of glucose is observed in gluconeogenesis from endogenous precursor only for the first 30 min of perfusion. Pyruvate introduction into the medium raises phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and fructose-1,6-diphosphatase activities in the liver and determines maintenance of the glucose formation high rate for 90 min of perfusion. 1,3-butanediol is found to have a stimulating effect on gluconeogenesis from pyruvate. Introduction of 1,3 bytanediol into perfusate decreases the redox state of free NAD-pairs, increases the content of phosphoenolpyruvate, malate. ATP and the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and fructose-1.6-diphosphatase activity in the perfused liver.


Amperometric method for quantitative determination of proteins. The amperometric method is suggested for the quantitative determination of proteins. The method is based on ability of copper to form the intracomplex compounds with proteins and hardly soluble compounds with potassium ferrocyanide. The sensitivity of the method is 10 micrograms of protein per 1 ml. Main advantages of the method are as follows: a) the accuracy of the method is higher than that of the Lawry method and is 5%; b) possibility to determine proteins at any pH; c) possibility to determine stained proteins.


[On the potential protective properties of vitamin A in carcinogenesis]. The effect of massive doses of vitamin A was studied as applied to the tumor growth in rats with Guerin's carcinoma, protein biosynthesis in them and enzymic activity. It is established that intraperitoneal administration of vitamin A massive doses (the total quantity being 4000 000 and 2000 000 I.U.) in equal doses for 6 days decreases tumor sizes and weight, intensity of protein biosynthesis by the cell-free protein-synthetizing system of the small intestine mucosa, intensifies activity of retinylpalmitate hydrolase, decreases that of retinylpalmitate synthetase, increases the activity of alanine aminotransferase. The authors assume that under the effect of vitamin A massive doses the capacity of retinol-binding protein transporting vitamin A is exhausted, the latter being transported in a cell by lipoproteids, which causes the cell membrane lysis.


A neurohistochemical and histological study of peripheral autonomic neurons of the human bladder neck and prostate. The histological structure and neurohistochemical properties of peripheral autonomic nerve cells which supply the bladder neck and male genital tract have been examined in the human infant. Two types of neuron have been recognised and their morphological features described. One type was rich in acetylcholinesterase but devoid of catecholamine and occurred in relation to the bladder neck and preprostatic urethra. These cells probalby represent presumptive cholinergic parasympathetic neurons which innervate the urinary bladder. The second type contained noradrenaline and supplied nerve fibres to the musculature of the musculature of the gential tract. These ganglion cells correspond to the 'short' adrenergic neurons which have been described in other species.


A new operation for post-prostatectomy incontineance. A new surgical treatment for post-prostatectomy incontinence is described. The intact urogenital diaphragm and a peripheral elastic resistance are the two most essential factors to assure continence. In addition to stabilizing the urogenital diaphragm, an elastic peripheral resistance is created by this technique. Contience is achieved by imbedding the urethra between the two corpora cavernosa and followed by median rotation and adaptation of the ischiocavernosi muscles. The proof of continence is given urodynamically by the function urethral profile.


[Treatment of Urinary incontinence by Teflon injection (author's transl)]. A report is made on the treatment of urinary incontinence by endourethral Teflon injections applied to 43 cases of male and female patients over a period of 18 months. The advantage of the urethral pressure profile for diagnosing urinary incontinence is emphasized. With reference to sclerotherapy, suitable instrumentation for the endourethral and perineal injection of Teflon is described. Due to our experience, urinary incontinence as a frequent and socially severe complication following operations in the bladder neck area, can be cured to a high percentage by the injection of Teflon. The method used is safe, well tolerated, technically easy to handle, inconsumptive, and can be reapplied without any risk.


Effects of androgens and/or prolactin on ventral prostate transplants. When testosterone (T) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) pellets (15 mg) were implanted into host male rats of different ages bearing ventral prostate transplants obtained from donors of varying ages, the in situ tissues generally contained more DNA than did the transplanted tissues. Hosts implanted with T, and in particular in the transplanted ventral prostate tissues, contained higher levels of DNA than in those host implanted with DHT. Neither the donor or host age (6-12 weeks) nor the duration of the transplant (6 or 12 weeks) seemed to have any demonstrable effect upon the levels of DNA in the transplant itself or in the in situ prostate. The in vitro incubations of slices of either the transplant or the host's prostate with testosterone-3H revealed that both tissues could effectively synthesize dihydrotestosterone-3H and androstanediol-3H. However, the transplanted tissues was less capable of such steroid metabolism, and overall was 1/3-1/2 as effective as the host prostate tissues in vitro. The acinar epithelial cell heights and the cellular secretory activities in the transplants were often similar to those examined from the host's in situ ventral prostate. Prolactin (50 IU/kg daily X 5) did not affect DNA levels in either the transplants or the in situ prostate, but this hormone did accelerate the formation of DHT-3H in the situ prostate in vitro.


[The functional obstruction of bladder neck (author's transl)]. The functional obstruction of bladder neck in male patients is a well-known and long-known entity. Etiology, natural history and mechanism of this condition are not yet fully understood. The patients suffer from obstructive symptoms since childhood. The results of a full radiological, urological and urodynamics assessment of 10 patients with such symptoms are presented. Diathermic incision of bladder neck was the therapy of choice. Retrograde ejaculation of seminal fluid was not observed. The prognosis of this disease is good. Uroflowmetry, cystometry and micturating cysto-urethrography are mandatory for the correct diagnosis.


[Efficacy of experimental renal embolization with microspheres. Additionally, a critical report on the complication rate of intra-arterial embolization with particles (author's transl)]. Renal embolization was performed in 12 dogs using the Seldinger technique and microspheres 250 +/- 40 micrometer in diameter. Periodical arteriography, microangiographies and histological analysis was carried out to control the efficacy of embolization. As a result, renal arteries could be embolized wi. th microspheres, however, because of statistical distribution there were histologically anemic and normal parenchyma situated closely together. In more than 50% there was a reflux of microspheres which could only be detected by histological examination, while angiographies showed a totally normal vascular pattern. Microspheres should not be used in clinical embolization. Experimental investigation of embolization materials must almost embrace histological analysis.


Sexual impotence: a complication of external sphincterotomy. In paraplegic patients with upper motor neuron lesions, endoscopic sphincterotomy is a commonly used procedure to lower sphincter resistance and facilitate voiding. The technique yields 95% satisfactory clinical results. In the recent literature several authors report on temporary or permanent loss of erections after sphincterotomy. The 3 and 9 o'clock incision and resection appear to carry a higher risk (30-60%) than operations performed at the 1 and 11 o'clock or the 12 0'clock position (0-6%). Impairment of erectile reflex activity is more frequently observed in cases with severe intraoperative bleeding requiring deep coagulation and in the event of reoperation. We report on the clinical, radiological and urodynamic findings of a series of 47 cases (3 and 9o'clock resections). Partial and/or temporary inhibition of erection was observed in 5, total and permanent loss in 1 patients.=


The evaluation of some biochemical parameters in pyridoxine-treated calcium oxalate renal stone formers. Several serum and urinary constitutents were evaluated in 13 calcium oxalate kidney stone formers in whom according to urinary vitamin B6 excretion sufficient vitamin B6 intake before the study was suggested. The influence of 28-day Pyridoxine (Spofa) supplementation (20 mg three times daily) on these biochemical parameters was searched. Pyridoxine supplementation was followed by a significant increment in the mean values of serum uric acid; the remaining serum constitutents did not change. Urinary calcium, phosphare, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and uric acid slightly increased, urinary oxalate excretion slightly fell; there was a high variability in the changes between the individuals. No changes in the mean values of clearance of endogenous creatinine, percentage of tubular reabsorption of phosphate and urinary zinc excretion were found. It is suggested that long-term studies are necessary to search the factors influencing successful stone prevention or stone recurrency in pyridoxine-treatment patients.


Ophthalmoscopic observation of the retinal nerve fiber layer. Alterations of the retinal nerve fiber layer occur as a result of diseases affecting the anterior visual pathway. Optimal viewing conditions, familiarity with the appearance of the normal nerve fiber layer, precise focus, and a high index of suspicion are necessary for the ophthalmoscopic observation of pathologic alteration in the nerve fiber layer. The observer must learn to differentiate pseudodefects (reflexes) from true defects (areas of nerve fiber layer atrophy). Nerve fiber layer changes appear ophthalmoscopically as generalized attrition, slit defects, sector defects (all types of atrophic change), or changes in the appearance of the nerve fiber layer itself. These alterations, which occur in numerous conditions including congenital hemianopia, ocular hypertension and glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, acute Leber optic neuropathy, trauma, severe hypertension, congenital and heredity optic atrophy, toxic amblyopia, papilledema, retinochoroiditis, and following photocoagulation, may be of critical diagnostic importance.