[Cutanemucosal complications caused by sulfamides]. Cutaneous accidents due to sulfonamides have been known since 1939 and their frequency is about 1%. Allergy to a sulfonamide definitely excludes the use of all the others and causes allergy to the amine group in para: anaesthesia of the procaine type, PAS, aniline dyes, synthetic sweeteners, and hair dyes. There is no correlation between the amount ingested and the severity of the accidents. Clinically, these accidents are very polymorphous ranging from photosensitization to eruptions as serious as acute epidermal necrosis.


[Iatrogenic lupus-like syndromes].

[Iatrogenic lupus-like syndromes]. The existence of iatrogenic lupus is now well-established and seems to be on the increase. A number of drugs must take the blame for these outbreaks: Hydrazine derivatives (Hydralazine, I.N.H.), anticonvulsants, Procainamide, psychotropics, antibiotics, antalgics, contraceptives. Clinically, these drugs can: --either mimic L.E. without showing any visceral or biological signs; --or aggravate a chronic L.E., or a systemic L.E. during a remission with biological symptoms appearing; --or trigger a true L.E.: all the various clinical symptoms of idiopathic L.E. may be encountered, certain articular, cutaneous symptoms predominating, renal symptoms rarely appearing. The discovery of HARGRAVES cells is the only certain biological sign to confirm systemic lupus, the existence of antinuclear antibodies or antinuclear factors merely serving as a guide to the collecting of a whole gamut of clinical and biological symptoms.


[Lyell's acute epidermal necrosis or bullous erythroderma with Debré-Lamy-Lamotte epidermolysis]. Acute epidermal necrosis is an exceptionally serious condition whose onset, which is sometimes preceded by a few prodomes, is marked by an eruption mainly around the orifices and rapidly extending to the whole of the tegument. Epidermal necrosis results in extensive shedding of the skin and within the space of a few hours gives the patient the appearance of having been scalded. In adults, drugs and in particular certain combinations of drugs, are responsible; the drugs mainly involved are the sulfonamides, especially delayed action sulfonamides, derivatives of butazolidine, Barbiturates, Phenindione and Penicillin. In children, on the other hand, acute epidermal necrosis is usually secondary to infection by a phase 2 coagulase positive staphylococcus aureus, this staphylococcus secreting an exotoxin which appears to act by breaking up the desmosomes. Treatment mainly consists of emergency resuscitation.


[Oral aphthoid toxic dermatoses].

[Oral aphthoid toxic dermatoses]. In a description of 4 cases (phenindione, 1 case; niflumic acid, 1 case; gold salts, 2 cases), the authors describe a new variety of oral toxicodermatitis characterized by an eruption of painful, infiltrated aphthoid ulcerations, not precededbybull ae, small (less than 1 cm), roundish, with a greyish yellow necrotic centre surrounded by an erythematous halo. Histological investigation reveals a compact, polymorphous inflammatory infiltrate with numerous polynuclear neutrophiles or, less commonly, eosinophiles some of which are in a state of pyknosis of leukocytoclasia, associated with phenomena of spongiosis or necrosis of the epithelium.


Carnitine concentration in relation to enzyme activities and substrate utilization in human skeletal muscles. The relationships between the carnitine concentration and enzyme activities representative of different metabolic pathways, glycogenolysis, glycolysis, beta-oxidation of fatty acids, citric acid cycle, and respiratory chain were studied in skeletal muscle tissue from 18 volunteering subjects. In addition, the in vitro incorporation rates of glucose-carbon and palmitate-carbon into different metabolites, and the concentration of glycogen, triglycerides, and phospholipids were determined in the same tissue specimen. The carnitine concentration correlated positively and statistically significantly with the activities of 3-OH-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and citrate synthase, with the incorporation rate of palmitate-carbon into CO2, and the incorporation rate of glucose-carbon into lactate in the muscle tissue. The results indicate a coupling between the concentration of carnitine and the capacity for long-chained fatty acid oxidation in human skeletal muscles.


[Drugs and drug combinations responsible for cutaneomucosal reactions]. The drugs and drug combinations responsible for cutaneo-mucosal reactions are very numerous, which explains why this undesireable side effect is the most frequent of all. Multiple pathogenic mechanisms are described: immunoallergic with its different types of reactions, overdosage, idiosyncrasy, drug interactions, etc. The reactions of produced vary from the maculo-papular rash to definitive staining of the skin. A few specific cases have been analyzed: the allergic reactions with penicillins, the photo-toxicity of certain tetracyclines, licheniform eruptions with gold salts or lupus erythematosus with penicillamine. Centralization of pharmacological information is desireable in order to better understand these reactions.


Response to an offer of consultation concerning TMJ-disorder. Based on the assumption that there is a correlation between myofascial pain dysfunction (MPD), headache and/or back pain, this study intended to assess the occurrence of MPD among persons reporting pain in their head or back. Another main purpose was to measure the response to an offer of free examination of teeth and jaws and, if needed, also free treatment of TMJ-disorder. In an electrotechnical company comprising 698 employees, a total of 27 persons attended for examination after the offer had been presented to two groups selected by two different sampling methods. Of the attendants, women, middle-aged persons, and persons from the upper social strata were overrepresented. These same categories were also the most likely to report headache and/or back pain. Ten individuals out of the 27 attendants claimed to have experienced some TMJ-disorder, and these indivuduals tended also to complain about headache and back pain. A major finding was that the response to the offer was clearly affected by social background. The response pattern was much like that known about the seeking of treatment for MPD-- and for dental treatment generally.


[Cerebrospinal fluid metabolism of biogenic amines in Huntington chorea]. CSF metabolites of dopamine (HVA), norepinephrine (MHPG) and serotonine (5HIAA) in 9 patients affected by Huntington's Chorea before and after therapy with phenotiazine derivatives (Fluphenazine) have been studied. A close relationship seems to exist between therapeutical results and CSF HVA modifications: improvement of choreatic movements is associated with marked increase in CSF HVA values. Biochemical bases of Huntington's Chorea are discussed.


[The malignancy of early-onset epilepsy (catamnestic study)]. The originality of the present study derives from the continuous and prolonged observation of over 100 epileptics--presently late adolescents and young adults treated from childhood by the same physician. All cases of infantile epilepsy with spontaneously favourable evolution were automatically excluded. The author defines some criterions of evaluation of the remote prognosis. The earlier the epilepsy appears, the more restricted the potentiality of autonomy will be. The risk of total invalidity arises to 50% for patients whose epilepsy started before they were 6 years old. It decreases significantly when the epilepsy starts after the age of 6 years. Beside the West and Lennox syndroms cases, for which the autonomy is very reduced, the prognosis gets distinctly worse in cases of inaugural epileptic state; it is slightly better in cases with hemiconvulsive start. The numerous and serious emotional complications make also the prognosis worse as they reduce, more than the persistence of the fits and the low intellectual level, the potentiality of socioprofessional integration.


[Heart enlargement and arterial hypertension in renal arteriovenous fistula]. In a patient hospitalized for progressive congestive heart failure the findings were hypertension, cardiomegaly and a mass in the left upper abdomen. A murmur was audible over the tumor. Clinical suspicion of a renal newgrowth with an arteriovenous fistula was confirmed by renal angiography. After nephrectomy the heart size became normal but the hypertension could only be controlled by drugs. The causes, symptoms and signs, and pathophysiology of arteriovenous shunts are discussed. Therapy is surgical. Surgery eliminates the congestive heart failure.


Complete reversal of experimental diabetes mellitus in rats by a single fetal pancreas. Complete reversal of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in adult rats will follow transplantation of a single fetal pancreas if the organ is first grown in a normal syngeneic carrier before transfer to the diabetic recipient. Careful control of the blood sugar of diabetic recipients may enhance the function of a single donor organ and thus improve histocompatibility matching.


Huntington's disease: delayed hypersensitivity in vitro to human central nervous system antigens. Huntington's disease is a hereditary, chronic, degenerative disease of the brain which is transmitted by an autosomal dominant gene. We have discovered that lymphocytes from patients with Huntington's disease respond to the presence of brain tissue from patients with the disease by producing migration inhibition factor, a correlate of the cellular immune response. Lymphocytes from donors without the disease do not respond to the diseased brain tissue, and lymphocytes from patients with Huntington's disease respond only rarely to brain tissue from donors without the disease.


Prenatal diagnosis and selective abortion. The Abortion and Sterilisation Act, 1975, has been in force for 1 year. Experience gained in the Johannesburg area in the operation of the Act with respect to termination of pregnancies for abnormalities of the unborn child, is outlined. Relatively few abortions have, in fact, been carried out for this reason, but the number is likely to increase. Prenatal diagnosis of disease in the fetus, although not possible in all cases, has greatly facilitated the management of families in which a child with a heritable disorder may be born.


Acne infantum in an Indian child: Case report and review of the literature. Acne infantum, a variety of acne affecting the newborn and children, appears to be very rare in dark-skinned populations and has not been described in this population group in South Africa. A case of acne infantum in a dark-skinned Indian child is reported. The recent literature is reviewed and comment is made on the classification and pathogenesis of the disorder.


Surgical treatment of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with apicoaortic valved conduit. From Aug. 13, 1975, through May, 1976, nine patients underwent creation of a left ventricular "vent" for relief of severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. A Dacron fabric graft containing a heterograft valve was used to establish a conduit from the left ventricle to the abdominal aorta. There were five male and four female patients in this group; their ages ranged from 4 to 72 years. All had valvular, subvalvular, or supravalvular aortic stenosis, and all but two had undergone previous surgical procedures for relief of the stenosis. All patients survived the operation and none are receiving anticoagulant therapy. All are asymptomatic at present and follow-up is approaching one year. Postoperative cardiac catheterization studies revealed gradients across the aortic valve to be reduced by approximately 90% and mean ventricular systolic pressures by 45%. Although this concept is not new, it has not been used widely and we believe its effectiveness warrants further application.


gamma-dimerization, alpha-polymerization, and plasmin degradation of human fibrin. Effect of various inhibitors of factor XIII on the patterns in SDS-electrophoresis and crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The effect of different factor XIII inhibitors (competetive inhibition, interference with active center SH-groups in different ways, Ca2+ depletion) on the sequence of the gamma-dimerization and alpha-polymerization of fibrin is examined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAE) (reduced material). They all inhibit either gamma-dimerization and alpha-polymerization or alpha-polymerization alone irrespective of the factor XIII inhibitory mechanism. Non-crosslinked fibrin and fibrin clots of different degrees of crosslinking are digested with plasmin and the lysate tested in SDS-PAE (non-reduced material) and crossed agarose gel immunoelectrophoresis (CAIE). The digests contain Fragment D and Fragment D-D respectively and Fragment E. An additional Fragment E with less anodic mobility in CAIE, and not demonstrable in SDS-PAE, is seen in increasing amounts with increasing gamma-dimerization, alpha-polymerization does not further change the CAIE patterns.


Steroid metabolism by human mammary carcinoma. The ability of human mammary tumors to convert 7alpha 3H-testerone to estrogens was examined in order to determine whether this bore any relationship to estrogen receptor and steroid sulfurylation levels; such levels being indicative of hormone dependency. In 8 out of 9 tumors, formation of estradiol-17beta from testosterone was demonstrated. Those tumors showing the lowest conversion of testosterone to estradiol-17beta possessed the highest levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase which lends support to data implicating sulfurylation in the regulation of steroid metabolism in human tumors. All tumors activated sulfate to adenosine-3'-phospho-5'-phosphosulfate and the concentrations were significantly correlated withe the recorded levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. Estrogen receptor levels did not show any obvious relationship to the other parameters.


The effects of erythrocyte-absorbed H-2 alloantisera on mixed lymphocyte culture reactions. One-way mixed lymphocyte culture reactions were inhibited by the addition of H-2 alloantisera directed against the stimulator cell type. The sera retained their original inhibitory activity after the removal from them of conventional H-2K antibodies by exhaustive absorption with erythrocytes. The absorbed antisera had specificity for Ia but not H-2 antigens thereby indicating that the inhibitory activity of the sera is a function of antibodies against I region products. H-2 and Ia alloantisera directed against the responder cell type did not specifically inhibit culture reactions: they either had no effect or they apparently increased stimulation. This increase appeared to be immunologically specific, at least in part, and to require some heat-labile normal serum component for its elicitation. It is concluded that treatment of responder cells inactivates or destroys some normally inactive or inhibitory subpopulation such that the remaining cells respond better to allogeneic stimulation. Both the anti-stimulator and the anti-responder effects were seen with either whole serum or crude immunoglobulin preparations when one of these was added to the culture or used for pretreating cells before establishing the culture.


Transplantation in miniature swine. I. Fixation of the major histocompatibility complex. Three strains of miniature swine, each homozygous for a different allele of the major histocompatibility locus (MHC), have been developed by a selective breeding scheme based on tissue typing of the offspring of each generation. Prior to breeding, the original parents were reciprocally immunized by skin grafts and lymphocyte injections to produce lymphocytotoxic antisera. These antisera were then used to assess the MHC genotype of the offspring by an analysis based on selective absorption of cytotoxicity. Offspring inheriting the same serologically determined genotype were then bred sequentially. Subsequent mixed lymphocyte cultures showed a pattern of reactivity consistent with the serological genotyping, further confirming the homology between the MHC of these miniature swine and those of man and mouse. In addition to their usefulness as a model for large animal surgical transplantation, these animals provide an abundant homozygous source of histocompatibility antigens and of antihistocompatibility antisera for use in chemical characterization of products of the MHC.


The role of the matrix substance in formation of urinary stones. This study deals with the role of the stone matrix substance in formation of urinary stones. A series of coagulation experiments were conducted by determining the sedimentation rate of calcium carbonate suspension with respect to the following substances: sodium alginate, stone matrix substance, bovine albumin and chondroitin sulfate C, these were each added to a separate fine particle suspension of calcium carbonate. Changes in zeta-potential of the suspension particles after addition of the above materials were determined microscopically using Usui's method. The results obtained in this study indicate that sodium alginate, the matrix substance, bovine albumin and chondroitin sulfate C act on the suspension particles, and as a result, coagulation is produced by a decrease of the zeta-potential of the particles. Application of kinetic energy to the coagulate caused by sodium alginate resulted in the formation of a solid. From these results it is considered that the matrix substance is not incorporated by accident in urinary stones, but it participates in the formation of them.


Atypical quartz dust-induced pneumoconiosis in SPF rats. Aspects of the role of the lymphatic system in the pathogenesis of silicosis. Experimental exposure to quartz dust for 100 days (= 700 h) induces in SPF rats histologic changes of the lungs, which have such striking similarities with human cases of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis that they may represent an animal model of human disease. Conventional stock rats, the standard model of experimental silicosis research, react upon the same dosage of quartz dust by the formation or an increase in size of perivascular lymphatic sheaths, in which epitheloid cell granulomas can arise. In SPF rats such granulomas can only be developed in the sparse pre-existent lymphatic tissue, mostly in hilar lymph nodes. The reaction of SPF rats opens an interesting aspect on the significance of the phenomenon of lymphatic "drainage," as comparable reactions are only known in conventional rats following extreme dosage and in human pathology as so-called acute silicoproteinosis.


Preparation of human immunoglobulin by ammonium sulfate precipitation. Crude IgG precipitated from plasma by the addition of an equal volume of 4 M ammonium sulfate was fractionated on DEAE-cellulose column to obtain pure IgG as shown by disc electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis and gel filtration. The processed IgG was free of plasmin and plasminogen and did not undergo fragmentation or aggregation on storage at 40 degrees C for at least 4 weeks. The anticomplement activity was low and the antibody activity was retained.


[New possibilities in the treatment of panniculosis using hyaluronidase]. 364 patients were examined for changes of cutaneous and subcutaneous adipose tissue, as they appear in idiopathic panniculosis. There was not found a fundamental difference between the generalized and by far more frequently appearing partial changes of the skin, the consecutive panniculitis. The transition between the two forms is flowing. In contrast to the simple placebo test 25 patients, among them 12 cases with idiopathic panniculosis, could for the most part be treated successfully by highly dosed intravenous applications of hyaluronic acid. There was not established a connection between the decrease of the cutaneous changes and the reduction of the secretion of the mycopolysaccharides in the urine.


[Various regularities of measles epidemic process during a period of mass vaccination of children]. A detailed epidemiological study of a number of features of measles epidemic process was carried out and the results of examination of 2282 sera from children for measles antibody were analysed. The immune portion in the republic has been brought to 97% (not including infants of the first 10 months of life). The average annual incidence rate of measles has been reduced over 10-fold. The index of the epidemiological effectiveness of the vaccine is 13.8. Sufficiently intensive immunity persists in 90-95% of the vaccinees for 10 years or more without booster. However vaccination against measles cannot eradicate epidemic outbreaks. The remaining portion of susceptible children is sufficient for maintenance of the epidemic process. Periodic rises of the incidence and seasonal variations are retained and increasing. There are no indications for a wide revaccination against measles. A method for detection of non-immune children acceptable for mass surveys is needed. Circulation of a "wild" virus may be conducive to selective formation of insusceptibility in some children remaining non-immune after vaccination.


The effect of hyperthermia on DNA repair. In the past there were many individual observations on the value of hyperthermia in the treatment of human neoplasia but most of the information about the value of hyperthermia as a single agent or in the combined modality approach has come from laboratory investigations. Dose response curves for cell survival after exposure to heat are similar in shape to cell survival curves obtained after irradiation or treatment with some cytostatic agents. The shoulder in such curves suggests that repair of sublethal or potentially lethal damage takes place after hyperthermic treatment. On the level of molecular biology the process of cellular repair should correspond to repair of damage inflicted on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). We have shown by means of the BUdR assay that such DNA-repair synthesis does take place upon exposure to heat. Many investigations have provided evidence of a synergism between hyperthermia and ionizing irradiation or some cytostatic agents. It was suggested that such synergism might be caused by the inhibition of repair of sublethal damage by heat. After inflicting DNA damage by a strong alkylating agent (NA-AAF) we could demonstrate DNA-repair synthesis by means of the BUdR-assay during exposure to heat. At the present time results obtained by assaying DNA repair on the basis of cell survival and by means of the BUdR-assay are difficult to reconcile.


In vivo synthesis of acid mucopolysaccharides by Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. The biosynthesis and intracellular distribution of acid mucopolysaccharides in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells was studied in vivo by means of the precursors 35S-sulfate, 3H-glucosamine and 14C-galactosamine. It was found that the acid mucopolysaccharide present in the ascitic fluid supernatant is hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid appears to be of extracellular origin, and it is bound to proteins of the cell membrane. The ascites cells exhibit a very active production of sulfated mucopolysaccharides particularly at the mitochondria and cell membrane level. Chondroitin sulfate A is the major component but also the isomers B and C are present. The possible role of chondroitin sulfate A in the development of neoplastic characteristics of the cell is discussed.


[On the carcinogenic action of N-nitroso compounds. 6th communication: methoxymethyl-methylnitrosamine, 1-(methoxy)-ethyl-ethylnitrosamine, methoxymethyl-ethylnitrosamine, 1-(methoxy)-ethyl-methylnitrosamine, and N-nitrosooxazolidine (author's transl)]. The compounds mentioned in the title were tested for carcinogenicity in rats. All compounds proved to be carcinogens which showed interesting differences above all in the organotropy of action and in the induction periods of tumors.


Carcinoma and dysplastic lesions of the prostate. A histomorphological analysis of 50 total prostatectomies by step-section technique. 50 prostate carcinomas which were totally prostatectomized together with removal of the seminal vesicles in all cases and pelvic lymphadenectomy in 38 cases were studied histologically. The material was cut by step-section technique in 5 mm thick slices and "large area slides" were made. 4 of the 50 carcinomas were morphologically circumscribed (stage I), 6 tumors were limited to the organ (stage II) and 40 prostate carcinomas had already penetrated the capsule, i.e. fascia of Denonvillier (stage III). In 12 cases the seminal vesicles were involved, regional lymph node metastases were seen 8 times. The carcinomas were mainly localized in the peripheral part of the organ (28 X in the periphery, 21 X both peripherally and centrally and only 1 X in the centre). Multifocal tumor growth was found in 30 cases (60%). The main mass of tumor was mostly situated in the middle (25 X) and caudal (15 X) zone of the prostate. During the course of tumor growth the expansion was directed centrally but then mainly longitudinal and parallel to the urethra. By progressing tumor volume there was a noticeable increase in capsular penetration as well as infiltration of the seminal vesicles and lymph node metastases. Histologically 10 carcinomas showed a uniform pattern, a unique solid and/or cribriform tumor architecture was never observed. 90% of the pluriform carcinomas consisted of the morphological stage III.


Pathogenesis of ascites in a murine transplantable reticulosarcoma type A. The role of lymphatic obstruction in the formation of ascites in reticulosarcoma type A bearing mice was studied. The egress of 51Cr-labeled red blood cells (injected i.p.) from the peritoneal cavity into the peripheral blood was significantly impaired. Discovery of tumor cells in the lymphatics and on the surface of the diaphragm suggested that lymphatic obstruction by tumor cells was probably one of the factors which took, part in the formation of ascites.


[Idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis in aortic valve disease-diagnosis using echocardiography]. In three patients with valvular aortic disease in addition isiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS) was proven by echocardiography. From the clinical standpoint the dynamic subvalvular stenosis was not supposed in all cases. IHSS was echocardiographically characterized by asymmetrical septum hypertrophy and systolic anterior movement of the anterior mitral leaflet. Isolated aortic valve insufficiency was found in two patients, and combined stenosis and insufficiency in one patient. Mitral leaflet fluttering - indicative of aortic valve insufficiency - was observed in two patients. The identification of the dynamic subvalvular stenosis in patients with valvular aortic disease is important for the therapeutical approach. Echocardiography is very suitable for the diagnosis of this combined heart disease.


[Interpretation of the cross sectional structure of skeletal muscle fibers. 2. Light and electron microscopic studies of m. rectus abdominis in Rana esculenta]. In both longitudinal and cross sections of rectus abdominis muscle of Rana esculenta three types of muscle fibres are identified by means of light and electron microscopy. A comparison is made between these fibre types in homologous muscles of frog and mammals (rat and mouse). In longitudinal sections of mammalian and frog muscle the Z-line can be used for discrimination of the fibre types A, B and C because that line is of different thickness in each type. The proportions of the thickness in frog and mammalian muscles are relatively the same, but the absolute values are different. In cross sections there are no differences between frog and mammalian muscle fibres concerning the typical form of myofibrils in type A- and B-fibres, whereas in type C-fibres the arrangement of the filaments in the Z- and H-layer is different in the members of both animal classes. The amount of mitochondria and lipid droplets is different as well. In the species examined the distribution of A-, B- and C-fibres changes within the whole muscle. In frog, this pattern depends on the level in which the muscle has been sectioned. This is not true for mammalian muscle. On the other hand both ends of the rectus abdominis muscle in frog, rat and mouse show an accumulation of B- and C-type fibres.


Histochemical localization of capillary enzyme activities in brain smears. Since the regulation of the vascular permeability in the CNS is dependent partly on the enzymes associated with the wall of brain capillaries, the histochemical demonstration of these enzymes may furnish further data on the function of the blood brain barrier (BBB), a new methodological approach, using brain smears was developed for the histochemical demonstration of several enzymes participating in the function of the BBB. The method presented renders possible also the subsequent demonstration of monoamines and the activity of different enzymes in the same tissue preparation. The usefulness of this simple technique in the study of brain capillary functions is discussed.


[Acute lethal alcohol intoxication (author's transl)]. In 14,744 autopsy cases from an 18-year period 92 cases (of which 7 were ruled out because of decomposition were observed in which death was supposed to be due to direct acute alcoholic intoxication. In the police reports 81 persons were designated as chronic alcoholics or abusers of spirits. The blood alcohol level ranged between 2.04 and 4.92 o/oo. The cases studied were divided into two groups, one with low and the other with high lethal alcohol level. Fatty liver and cirrhosis were found with identical frequency in the two groups, whereas cardiac hypertrophy of obscure origin occurred markedly more often in the group with low lethal blood alcohol level. On the basis the possible mechanism of death in the cases with cardiac hypertrophy is discussed. Finally, the relation between the blood and urine alcohol concentrations observed in 72 cases is discussed. On the assumption that the water phase of the blood was 75 per cent of the total blood, death occurred in the persons without cardiac hypertrophy with fairly identical frequency either in the phase of absorption or the phase of elimination, whereas in the persons with cardiac hypertrophy death most often occurred in the phase of absorption. These statements should, however, be taken with some reservation, partly because the water phase of the blood may vary considerably post mortem (60-90 per cent) and partly because the urine alcohol concentration depends on serval variable factors.


[Testing the electric resistance as an objective diagnostic test in dental pulp diseases]. The authors test by means of a measuring device of high precision the resistence of health or sick human pulpa, comparing it to them of gums, excluding in the same time the sensibility of the patient in question. The authors corroborate the obtained dates with clinical symptomatology and the histopathological photos, discussing the possibility of objective electrical test as an expedient in the diagnosis of pulpa-affections.


[TNM-classification of oral cavity neoplasms the value of clinically measurable factors (TN)]. Problems associated with the classification of cavum oris and labial carcinomata were discussed with particular reference to patients admitted to and treated in seven different clinical hospitals where identical methods of diagnosis and case history evaluation had been used. Using electronic data processing and biostatistical methods it was possible to study the effects of two clinically detectable factors (growth of primary tumor and degree of regional metastasizing) on both the prognosis and classification according to UICC rules. It was possible to show that a determination of the size of primary tumor (T) alone was not sufficient for three homogeneous, prognostically different collectives of tumors to be satisfactorily classified by the new UICC rules. It has been shown that a classification of three collectives of tumors (new classification according to UICC rules), especially as regards the proportion of N3 metastases within the collectives of tumors, was made possible. Therefore, it will be necessary to study the prognostic influences of additional clinically determinable factors with a view to arriving at a useful and practicable classification of oral cavity carcinomata.


[Genetic clinical studies on patients with trisomy 21 with special evaluation of morphology and pathogenesis in the orofacial area. Palate height and width in trisomy 21]. Palate height and palate width in children and adolescents suffering from trisomy 21 are being analysed on casts using clinical assessments and measurements. Special evaluation is accorded to both the problems of comparability and the relations between various exogenous disturbance factors.


[The number of teeth in persons who died within a 5-year period in comparison with survivors]. In reliance on dental records taken in 1965 it was examined whether or not examinees with a higher number of teeth display a better survival rate for the 5 years' periode 1965-1970 than examinees of the same age and sex but with a lower number of teeth; in other words, whether or not, the number of teeth is a suitable index for biological age, at least in the higher age-groups.


[In vitro studies on a new fissure sealant (Concise Resin)]. The use of Concise resin--belonging to the Concise Enamel Bond System--is reported by the sealing of fissures of the premolars and molars under in vitro circumstances. On the basis of the gained results by polarisationmicroscopic and light microscopic examination of the marginal closure of the materials and his placement in the fissures, it looks suitable for using under in vivo circumstances too.


[In vitro studies on the concise enamel bond system, based on the acid etching technic, and its clinical uses]. The clinical applications possibilities and indication--fields of the composite Concise Enamel Bond System were examined within a 10 months observation period and compared with other plastic composites.


[Current state of surgical treatment of oral cancer]. This paper gives an outline of basic surgical requirements that have to be fulfilled in the therapy of carcinomata in the oral cavity, the emphasis being on progress thay may be expected to be made in three particular areas: 1. Combination with cytostatic agents and individualization of additional radiotherapy. 2. Possible improvement in the immediate restoration of defective conditions due to tumors. 3. Individualization of tactical approaches to the inclusion in surgical therapy of local lymph tracks or channels. It is in this particular connection that the method of functional neck dissection should be critically reexamined in order to find new possible ways of surgical treatment of carcinomata in the cervicocephalic region.


[Foundations of modern chemotherapy of malignant tumors]. Position of tumour chemotherapy among tumour treatment. Cytostatics as a systemic active means of tumour management. Adjuvant application of chemotherapy in the postoperative period. Achievements of nowadays chemotherapy in some tumours. Rules of chemotherapy action on tumours, tumour biological considerations. Cytokinetic aspects of tumour chemotherapy. Critics on partial synchronization. Specialties of the chemotherapy in the field of head and neck tumours. Some dosage recommendations for a few drugs to be systematically or locally administered. Possibilities for potentiating of cytostatic action--by using the oncobiogram, anticoagulation or defibrination and immunostimulation, respectively. Clinical evaluation of cytostatic effectivity applying the method of randomized clinically controlled study.


[Variations in the biological behavior of neoplasms of the oral mucosa]. Up to now the biological potencies of a carcinom of the oral mucous membrane cannot be determined metrically in individual cases. Based upon investigations of the frequency of metastase formation of oral carcinoms within regional lymphatic nodes one cannot draw reliable conclusions as to the dependence of regional metastase formation upon the T-stage. Therefore surgical treatment of regional lymphatic nodes is considered necessary also in early stages.


[Clinical and morphological studies on dysostotic malformations of the jaw]. In the introduction to this paper an outline is given of dysostotic malformations of the jaw. Following this, the author reports observations made on sixty-five patients. Clinical, roentgenological, electromyographic, histological, and karyological, examinations made on this patient stock yielded numerous, hitherto undescribed results which, among other things, allow the previous classification of syndromes of the bronchial arch to be extended to include additional conditions.


[Antigenic structure of saprophytic leptospirae and their classification]. The authors present the results of study of the serological properties of 46 strains of saprophytic leptospirae of different origin. On the basis of the affinity of the antigenic structure detected in the cross microagglutination reaction (MAR) 38 strains under study were united into 8 serological groups; the rest 8 strains were serologically independent in this reaction. The fact that 9 strains of water leptospirae isolated in the Armenian SSR belonged to one serological group was proved in the cross MAR and the test of aglutinin adsorption. This serological group was new and was named L. armenica. Five individual serological types of saprophytic leptospirae were differentiated in its composition. Comparative study of the serological interrelations between the group of strains isolated in Armenia and the strains of some serological groups and serological types the closest serological connections were noted in the K-1030 (serological group Armenica) and Bovedo (serological group Andamana) strains. It is believed that the existing division of the saprophytic leptospirae into two serological groups (Semaranga and Andamana) required widening and supplement by new serological groups and serological types.


Abdominal aortic aneurysm with aorto-vena caval fistula and retroperitoneal rupture. Report of a case. One successfully treated case of ruptured aortic aneurysm with aorto-caval fistula is reported. At admission a large pulsating mass was present in the abdomen, and a prominent continuous bruit was heard by stethoscopy. Surgery revealed an aortic aneurysm with a retroperitoneal rupture and a large aorto-caval communication as well. The fistula was closed with continuous sutures, and after excision of the aneurysm the arterial continuity was re-established using a "Millinit" dacron graft. The postoperative course was uneventful.


Bilateral aneurysm of dacron graft following aorto-femoral graft operation. A case report. A case of bilateral aneurysmatic widening of the Dacron graft after aorto-femoral bypass is described. The probable cause of an aneurysm in Dacron graft without any involvement of the host vessels may be the rupture of the Dacron fibres due to fatigue of the material. Furthermore, a contributory cause of aneurysm in our case may be the fact that both anastomoses were performed at nearly right angles causing turbulence.


[Adult-type Gaucher's disease: an histochemical study of one case (author's transl)]. Spleen of adult-type Gaucher's disease has been investigated by histochemical technics. As usually, an overload of cerebroside (revealed by the PAS reaction for glycolipids) with beta-glucosidase deficiency has been demonstrated. But many particularities must be emphasized in this case: increase of acid MPS, high activities of pentose pathway--and glycolysis enzymes in the overload cells.


Muscle fibre typing with sera against myosin and actin. A comparison between enzyme- and immunohistochemical classification. Sera raised against actin and myosin, extracted from white muscle of fish, were used for the immune-histochemical characterization of muscle fibers. It appeared that both, the actin- and the myosin serum are specific for white muscle fibres in fish. Further it was found that in both, the A- and the I-band of the sacromeres, fibre type specific proteins are present. The classification of muscle fibre types obtained with the antisera was compared with the classification obtained with some enzyme histochemical reactions. Muscle fibres that reacted positively with the two sera, also showed a high histochemical myofibrillar ATP-ase activity. The correlation with a low succinate dehydrogenase- and a high lactate dehydrogenase activity was not always found.


[On the histotopochemistry of the uterovaginal region in the quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) (author's transl)]. The surface epithelium of vagina, uterovaginal region and uterus as well as the uterine and uterovaginal glands of 18 mature female quails were studied with histochemical methods. As in other avian species also in the quail a storage of spermatozoa in the lightly coiled uterovaginal glands takes place. The functional specialization of these glands is underlined by their distinct enzyme pattern. A strong reactivity of enzymes from oxidative pathways and of adenosine triphosphatase between epithelium and glandular luminal content. Alkaline phosphatase in the glandular epithelium was observed only when an egg is transported through the uterovaginal region. As in other vertebrate sperm storing sites also in the uterovaginal region of the quail the presence of a strong steroid dehydrogenase activity is registered.


[Diameter changes of muscle fiber types of the inferior oblique muscle of the rabbit following denervation]. Changes in fibre diameters of extraocular muscles of the rabbit were studied at different times after denervation. The whole inferior oblique muscle hypertrophied, while some of the muscle fibres hypertrophied and others showed atrophy, depending on the fibre type. Fibre types have been determined by their histochemical enzyme profile. In the central layer of the muscle the phasic muscle fibres, which are rich in mitochondria, exhibited a transient hypertrophy being maximal 4-5 weeks after denervation and afterwards they atrophied; other phasic muscle fibres, which are poor in mitochondria, atrophied without having shown any sign of hypertrophy. Special, putatively slow tonic muscle fibres, which have low enzyme activities, underwent small long-lasting increases of their diameters. In the superficial layer of extraocular muscle there are two types of extremely thin muscle fibres rich in mitochondira. Both these fibre types hypertrophied to the greatest degree and for a very long time. Comparable changes in fibre diameters as described here for the muscle fibre types of an extraocular muscle are known from special muscle fibres in other vertebrate


Subacute myelo-optic neuropathy. A toxic or a viral etiology? A case report of a 46-year-old Belgian man with a subacute myelo-optic neuropathy is presented. Arguments in favour of a neurotoxic etiology are stressed.


The pathology of brain tumors induced by murine sarcoma virus, Moloney strain. Murine sarcoma virus, Moloney strain, was inoculated intracerebrally into 75 Spraque-Dawley rats within 24 hours after birth. Of 48 rats examined histologically within 35 days after virus inoculation, most developed granulomatous lesions in the meninges or in the cortex and in the glial nodules of the subependymal region, or in all these regions. The granulomatous lesions first appeared 8 days after virus inoculation and reached a peak about 30 days after virus inoculation. Thereafter, the lesions healed gradually to scars and disappeared. Of 27 rats that survived beyond 35 days, 10 developed brain tumors at or near the sites of cortical granulomatous lesions and subependymal glial nodules. The interval from virus inoculation to death of tumor-bearing rats was between 40 to 115 days, averaging 84 days. The predilection sites were in the subependymal region and hippocampal cerebral cortex. Three brain tumors were cultured using monolayer and rotation culture techniques. These cultured tumor cells showed morphological features very similar to those of the original tumor cells. THe tumor was classified morphologically into the astrocytoma group by light and electron microscopy and by cytological characteristics of tumor cells in tissue culture.


Measurement of endotoxin. I. Fundamental studies of radioimmunoassay of endotoxin. A method for estimating endotoxin by radioimmunoassay was recently introduced. The present paper describes improvements in the speed and sensitivity on this endotoxin measurement. Antigen was purified from E. coli O111: B4 (B) lipopolysaccharide by centrifugation and dialysis. Purified anti-endotoxin antibody was prepared from immunized rabbit serum. A radioimmunoassay system was established with the antigen and antibody. Dextran-coated charcoal was used to separate the antibody-bound antigen from free antigen. Experimental studies were also performed on possible factors related to the antigen-antibody reaction. Accurate measurements on quantities as low as 100 pg/ml (10ng/ml in the plasma) were performed by the dextran-coated charcoal method, and the reaction time was reduced to 2 hr at 4 degrees C. This new method does not require strict sterilization or aseptic handling, and therefore is quite practical for quantitative measurements of endotoxin.


Measurement of endotoxin. II. Comparison of reactivities measured by radioimmunoassay and with the Limulus test. Various endotoxins and the extracts of gram-positive bacteria were measured immunologically by radioimmunoassay and also biologically by the Limulus test. The minimum amount of endotoxin detectable with the Limulus test was in the range from 1ng/ml to 1 mug/ml, with the lysate of sensitivity, 100 ng/ml [E. coli O111: B4 (B) lipopolysaccharide]. On the other hand, by the radioimmunoassay they were estimated in the range o- 0.3 to 10 times of dry weight. Endotoxin-like activity was detected in the ether extracts of gram-positive bacteria at a minimum concentration between 1 mug/ml and 100 mug/ml with the Limulus test. However, most of them were estimated by the radioimmunoassay to be under 1/50 of dry weight. Various substances such as thrombin, thromboplastin, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid, carrageenan and human colonic mucosal antigen had cross reactivities of various degrees in the minimum concentration from 10 mug/ml to 10 mg/ml. Compounds such as thrombin and thromboplastin cross-reacting in the Limulus test were scarcely measured by the radioimmunoassay except for polynucleotides. From this study, it has become clear that the radioimmunoassay method is quite specific and accurate for quantitative measurements of endotoxin.


The salt-resistance mechanism of Staphylococcus aureus examined by salt-sensitive mutants. Two NaCl-sensitive mutants of S. aureus 209P (S-16 and S-23) were isolated after treatment of the parental strain with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. Examination of the lipid components revealed that S-16 contained no cardiolipin and that S-23 contained only a small amount of cardiolipin. An increase of cardiolipin was indispensable for S. aureus proliferation in high NaCl medium.


Target cells of human adenovirus type 12 in subtentorial brain tissue of newborn mice. II. Cytomorphologic and immunofluorescent microscopic studies in vitro. The normal subtentorial brain cells of newborn mice (C3H/BifB/Ki) were cultured by the monolayer culture technique. The first subculture was inoculated with human adenovirus type 12 (Ad 12) in an attempt to achieve the transformation of the brain cells. Normal cultured cells were morphologically divided into astrocytic cells (Ac-1 cells and Ac-2 cells), immature brain cells including undifferentiated cells (Ud cells) and glioblastic cells (Gb cells), and fibroblastic cells (Fb cells). Fluorescent T-antigen first appeared in all type of cells and gradually decreased. Later, fluorescent T-antigen remained mainly in the immature brain cells (Gb cells) which grew in clusters on the epithelioid areas  of astrocytic cells. From 21 days after Ad 12 infection, transformed foci appeared in such epithelioid areas. Morphologically, the transformed cells resembled immature brain cells, especially Gb cells, in vitro. They often showed rosette-like structures, cystic spaces and trabecular patterns in the subcultures. Tumors which developed through the transplantation of the transformed cells into subcutaneous tissue and brain of mice were quite similar to original brain tumors induced by Ad 12. From these findings it is strongly suggested that, in vitro, the target cells of Ad 12 in the subtentorial tissues of the mouse brain are immature brain cells, probably Gb cells.


Studies on ferrous ion-induced lipid peroxidation of rat liver mitochondria. II. Relationship to incubation temperature. Ferrous ion-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver mitochondria has a lag in the induction period. The characteristics of the lag were investigated under various conditions. This lag period lengthened proportionally to increased temperature (4 degrees approximately 37 degrees C). In the presence of inorganic phosphate the lag period lengthened, reaching a maximum at about 20 degrees C, and then shortened with increased temperatute. Elongated lag periods were shown in heat-treated or protein digested mitochondria. Shortened lag periods were shown in snake venom-treated mitochondria. On the other hand, almost no lag was observed in the peroxidation of the lipid extracted from mitochondria. The lag period also varied with incubation temperature. The results suggested that certain factors, which determined lag of the induction period in membrane lipid peroxidation associate with reaction-temperature and the lipo-protein structure in mitochondrial membranes.


Effects of 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene and 4-aminoazobenzene on plating efficiency, mitotic index, and macromolecular synthesis of cultured liver cells. The response of a cultured liver cell line to azo dyes was investigated by the application of 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-Me-DAB) and 4-aminoazobenzene (AB) with observation of, in particular, the changes which occurred in plating efficiency, macromolecular synthesis and mitotic indices. The results were as follows. (1) The application of 3'-Me-DAB resulted in a decrease in size of colonies and plating efficiency of both J-5-2 cells (derived from 7-day-old rat liver tissues) and cells of the colonical clone, J-5-2cl. (2) AB caused greater inhibition of plating efficiency than did 3'-Me-DAB. (3) Both 3'-Me-DAB and AB inhibited synthesis of DNA but not of RNA or of protein. (4) AB exhibited a greater inhibitory effect on mitotic indices than did 3'-Me-DAB.


A case of smoldering acute leukemia: long survival duration of 3 years and 9 months after the diagnosis. A typical case of smoldering acute leukemia has been followed up for long-standing course. This 73 year-old woman survived 3 years and 9 months after diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia. The hematological study on admission showed hypoplastic bone marrow with 51.6% of abnormal myeloblasts, although a few myeloblasts were seen in the peripheral blood. Intensive anti-leukemia chemotherapy was withheld during the whole course except on the terminal acute phase. Three episodes of pneumonia occurred and then, the proliferation of leukemic cells subsided concomitnantly after the exacerbation of infection. The direct and/or host-mediated anti-tumor effect by infectious organism was suggestive in this case. The labeling index with 3H-TdR of leukemic cells was 4.9%, suggesting the slow multiplication. Positive tuberculin reactivity and normal ratio of lymphocyte blastogenesis confirmed the preserved cellular immunity. These factors might be considered to be closely related with the smoldering course of this particular case.


Tissue reaction to middle ear prostheses: in vivo observation (rabbit ear lobe) of polyethylene tube, stainless steel wire and absorbable gelatin sponge used in middle ear surgery. Over the past ten years, polyethylene tube, stainless steel wire and absorbable gelatin sponge have come to be used in middle ear surgery. A modified Williams' steel chamber with a transparent central area was embedded in a rabbit ear lobe surgically, and cross-sectioned polyethylene tube, stainless steel wire or absorbable gelatin sponge were inserted respectively. The in vivo tissue reaction to each of these installed materials was observed daily microscopically. Finally, in the case of both the cross-sectioned polyethylene tube and the stainless steel wire, the chambers were fixed with 10% formalin solution and the contents stained for histological study. The results were as follows: Absorbable gelatin sponge was absorbed completely by phagocytosis in 62 days. Polyethylene tube was encapsulated by a layer of fibroblasts by day 110 in one case and by day 140 in another case; these findings were confirmed histologically on day 110 and 281. Almost all the surface of the stainless steel wire was encapsulated by a layer consisting of giant cells, on which a dense fibrous layer was superimposed by day 82. It is concluded that polyethylene tube, stainless steel wire, and absorbable gelatin sponge should be well tolerated in middle ear surgery.


A necropsy case of interstitial nephritis probably related to cefazolin and methenamine. It is the purpose of this paper to alert the medical community on the potential nephrotoxicity of certain agents among certain patients, especially with some types of renal insufficiency. A young man, who was suffering from apparent renal disturbance, died of massive, post-operative bleeding accompanied by uremia. The uremia occurred within a very rapid clinical course and was related apparently to treatment with methenamine, a ruinary disinfectant, and cefazolin, a cephalosporin derivative. The patient was proved to have a fatal, servere interstitial nephritis based on gross and histological findings of the necropsied kidney, i.e., intense cell infiltration mainly in the interstitum of the cortex, absence of glomerular involvement, and marked softening and enlargement. The present case may suggest how to treat patients suffering from untoward renal ailments with various antibiotics.


Peritoneoscopic diagnosis of liver surface--using a new code number system--. A new peritoneoscopic classification of liver surface using a three digit code was developed. The first digit represents the lobular change from normal structure to nodules. The second digit represents the size of the nodule and the internodular distance. The third digit represents the pathological findings, such as inflammation, degeneration, necrosis or regeneration. Furthermore, peritoneoscopic findings of necrosis of lobular size around the portal vein and patchy markings of the liver were presented. These findings were the most prominent in the course of hepatitis progression to cirrhosis.


Familial occurrence of sinus bradycardia, short PR interval, intraventricular conduction  defects, recurrent supraventricular tachycardia, and cardiomegaly. Four members of a family presenting with sinus bradycardia, a short P-R interval, intraventricular conduction defects, recurrent supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), syncope, and cardiomegaly had His bundle studies and were found to have markedly shortened A-H intervals (30 to 55 msec.) with normal H-V times (35 to 50 msec.). Right atrial pacing at rates as high as 170 to 215 per minute failed to increase the A-H or H-V intervals significantly. The data are compatible with the presence of an A-V nodal bypass tract (James bundle) or even complete absence of an A-V node. Ventricular pacing and spontaneous ventricular premature beats resulted in a short ventriculoatrial conduction time (110 msec.) suggesting that if A-V nodal bypass tracts exist, they are utilized in an antegrade and retrograde fashion. None of the features of WPW syndrome was present. The mechanism of syncope in the mother and daughter was intermittent third-degree heart block. Both went on to develop permanent complete heart block despite electrophysiologic studies demonstrating 1:1 A-V conduction at extremely rapid atrial pacing rates and both required implantation of permanent pacemakers. The mechanism of syncope in the two brothers was possibly marked sinus bradycardia, but transient complete heart block has not been ruled out. Permanent pacemaker therapy was recommended for both. The nature of the cardiomegaly, which was mild in three patients, is not known. Although not well documented, several maternal relatives have had enlarged hearts, SVT, complete heart block, and syncope.


Unusual echocardiographic manifestation of pericardial effusion. Echocardiographic and sector scanning examinations were performed in a patient with pericardial effusion. In addition to the demonstration of fluid posterior to the left ventricle and anterior to the right ventricle, as in most significant pericardial effusions, there was an echo-free space representing fluid recorded posterior to the left atrium. Several possible explanations of this finding are offered.


Transient unifascicular, bifasicular and trifascicular block: electrophysiologic correlations in a patient with rate-dependent left bundle branch block and transient right bundle branch block. Correlations of the His to ventricular (H-V) conduction time were made with the surface electrocardiogram during normal intraventricular conduction, unifascicular block (right bundle branch block), bifascicular block (left bundle branch block) and trifascicular block (right and left bundle branch block) in a patient with rate-dependent left bundle branch block who had transient right bundle branch block during recording of the His bundle electrogram. The results provide a functional confirmation of the theory that a prolonged H-V time is a manifestation of trifascicular disease.


Surgical treatment of endocardial cushion defects. A recent surgical experience with the spectrum of atrioventricular (A-V) canal is reviewed. Twenty-five patients underwent surgery for the partial and complete from of this defect in the 4 years from 1971 through 1974. Sixteen had a partial defect, two a transitional defect and seven complete A-V canal. The characteristic murmurs accompanied by cardiac enlargement, pulmonay overcirculation and left axis deviation in the electrocardiogram were sufficient for diagnosis in most cases. Cardiac catherization was performed in all patients preoperatively and in 11 postoperatively. The operative approach, including a double patch modification of the usual repair for complete canal, is considered. Definitive repair, rather than pulmonary arterial banding, is advocated regardless of the patient's age. The operative mortality rate is low in patients with the ostium primum type of defect but is related to associated intracardiac anomalies in those with the complete form of the defect. Residual mitral insufficiency is a common finding after surgical repair of both partial (75 percent) and complete (100 percent) A-V canal. Although no patient in the series died of florid mitral regurgitation, the long-range effects of this complication may lead to mitral valve replacement.


Light and electron microscopic localization of ATPase in normal and degenerating testes of Syrian hamsters. The distribution of Mg++-activated ATPase was determined with light and electron microscopy in normal and degenerating seminferous tubules. In the normal animals ATPase was localized in the interface between spermatids and Sertoli cells, in association with the cytoplasmic filaments contained within Sertoli cell processes, and in the lymphatic endothelium. ATPase activity increased in degenerating tubules as observed by light microscopy. Electron microscopic investigations of the degenerating tubules which contained only spermatogonia and Sertoli cells revealed reaction product on the outer surface of the Sertoli cell processes and within the interface between adjacent Sertoli cells. Reactaction product was also observed in the Sertoli cell processes between the cytoplasmic filaments and the cell membrane. Where filaments were absent in Sertoli cell processes, no reaction product was observed. These electron microscopic studies indicate that the increase in ATPase activity in testicular degeneration is probably a relative increase due to a loss of the germinal elements of the tubular epithelium and subsequent apposition of the Sertoli cell processes. We speculate that the ATPase activity localized within the Sertoli cell processes may be involved in providing an energy source for filament motility.


In vivo and in vitro effects of thrombin and plasmin on human factor VIII (AHF). The relationship between factor VIII (AHF) procoagulant activity and factor VIII-related antigen were examined in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), pulmonary embolism (PE), and coronary artery disease with or without myocardial infarction (MI). It was found that 13 of 13 patients with DIC, 17 of 17 patients with PE, and 10 of 12 patients with MI possessed a significantly elevated factor VIII-related antigen to factor VIII activity ratio (VIII-ratio). The VIII-ratio returned to normal in each of 2 patients with DIC and 1 paitent with PE after treatment with heparin, heparin and alpha-amino-caproic acid, and heparin and coumadin respectively. In contrast, the VIII-ratio was slightly elevated only in 1 of 15 patients with coronary artery insufficiency without MI. In in vitro studies, after treatment of plasma with thrombin or plasmin, factor VIII activity was lost, whereas the amount of factor VIII-related antigen remained the same or was even increased when measured by agarose quantitative immunoelectrophoresis. These observations have led us to conclude that an elevated VIII-ratio is a very sensitive indicator of intravascular coagulation.


Propionibacterium acnes: pathogen in central nervous system shunt infection. Report of three cases including immune complex glomerulonephritis. Propionibacterium acnes is a pleomorphic gram-positive anaerobic rod usually isolated as a contaminant from skin. We report three cases of P. acnes infection of central nervous system shunts for hydrocephalus. The organism was seen repeatedly on gram stain in a specimen of shunt fluid in all three cases; initially, it was regarded as a contaminant. In addition, two of the patients had precipitins to extracts of their organism. Serum from normal control subjects had no such precipitins. One of the patients had an immune-complex glomerulonephritis--an entity not previously associated with anaerobic organisms. All three patients recovered after removal of the shunt and treatment with antibiotics. P. acnes is a significant pathogen in patients with central nervous system shunts.


Na/K- and Mg-ATPase activity in the placenta and in maternal and cord erythrocytes of pre-eclamptic patients. Abnormal sodium balance is known to be associated with pre-eclampsia, but no investigations have been conducted concerning the enzyme which regulates active sodium transport at the cellular level. In this study, the enzyme responsible for active sodium transport--Na/K-ATPase and a nonspecific ATPase Mg-ATPase--were assayed in the placenta and in maternal and fetal (cord) erythrocytes of pregnant women with and without pre-eclampsia. Placental ATPase activity was unaffected by pre-eclampsia. However, in infants of pre-eclamptic mothers, fetal erythrocytes were found to have significantly less activity (42 per cent) of both enzymes than fetal erythrocytes from infants of normal mothers. In pre-eclamptic mothers, erythrocyte Mg-atpase activity was significantly less (41 per cent) than normal and Na/K-ATPase activity was slightly decreased (16 per cent). These results indicate that disruption of active sodium transport in fetal erythrocytes is associated with pre-eclampsia and are not inconsistent with the hypothesis of a circulating "toxin."


A two-year experience with the Falope ring sterilization procedure. The use of cautery laparoscopic sterilization procedures has two major disadvantages: (1) occasional inadvertent thermal injury to organ structures other than the Fallopian tube and (2) the inability to limit the injury to the Fallopian tube in a manner that might allow subsequent reconstructive surgery. In an effort to avoid the use of thermal energy to effect female sterilization, the Falope ring laparoscope was developed. From October, 1973, through September, 1975, 4,390 sterilization procedures were completed employing this approach; 902 cases have been completed at the Woman's Clinic of the Johns Hopkins Hospital, 1,741 cases were completed by gynecologists in various cities in the United States, and 1,747 procedures were completed by physicians in various locations throughout the world sponsored by the International Fertility Research Program.


Differential uptake of tritiated digoxin in benign and malignant central nervous system neoplasms. The purpose of this study was to measure uptake of tritiated digoxin by neoplastic tissues known to have differential contents of sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na + K + ATPase), the presumed receptor for digoxin. Tumor samples were removed at the time of craniotomy in seven patients with meningiomas (Group 1) and seven patients with more malignant central nervous system tumors (Group 2) (three astrocytomas, three glioblastomas, one meduloblastoma). Patients with meningiomas were found to have a significantly higher digoxin uptake (21.8 +/- 7.3 ng/gm tumor versus 5.7 +/- 5.2 ng/gm tumor; (p less than 0.01) and a significantly greater tissue/serum ratio (13.9 +/- 11.7 versus 3.26 +/- 3.7, p less than 0.0). This study provides the first demonstration of increased uptake of digoxin by noncardiac pathologic tissues. The results are most likely due to differences in the number of digoxin receptor sites.


Na-K-ATPase localization in teleost urinary bladder by [3H]ouabain autoradiography. Previous studies on the urinary bladder of the seawater-acclimated winter flounder (pseudopleuronectes americanus) demonstrated that active Na and Cl transport were ouabain sensitive. This suggested a relationship between the Na pump and Na-K-ATP-ase. The specific binding of [H]ouabain to Na-K-ATPase provides a means of localizing the site of active Na transport. In isolated bladders, a positive linear correlation (r= 0.89) was found between the active Na transport rate and the Na-K-ATPase activity. Ouabain binding by the bladder surface appeared to be saturable and relatively specific, e.g., was reduced by a high K concentration. When only the mucosal side of the bladder was exposed to 5 muM ouabain, both inhibitory effects and binding were small and are explained by finite permeability of the bladder to ouabain. In contrast, binding and inhibitory effects from the serosal side were much greater. Autoradiographs demonstrated that [3H]ouabain was bound only to the serosal side of the epithelial cells. Ultrastructural examination revealed that the area of ouabain binding coincided with the basal and lateral plasma membranes.


Rectus sheath hematoma: ultrasonographic diagnosis. Five cases of rectus sheath hematoma were correctly diagnosed by ultrasound. The main feature in each case was a well defined superficial abdominal transsonic mass; it appeared spindle shaped on longitudinal sections and ovoid on transverse sections. Ultrasonography is suggested as the procedure of choice for the diagnosis of this condition.


[Ecology of syngamosis in a large scale farming area]. Within recent 20 years, Czechoslovak agriculture has undergone considerable changes due to the introduction of largescale farming. Our contribution presents the results of studies on chickens (Gallus gallus f. dom.) reared traditionally on runs in an area contaminated with the eggs of Syngamus trachea distributed with pheasant faeces. In addition to postmortem examination of 336 chicken tracheae, their faeces collected for one year from the runs were examined, but syngamosis was not found. Studies on small stocks of fowl in gardens close to the fields visited regularly by roosting, Syngamus-infected pheasants disclosed an occasional incidence of syngamosis in the chickens, none in guinea fowl, but frequent infection in young and adult turkeys. Another observation was made on a chicken stock reared inside a pheasantry. Although the incidence of infection of the pheasants with syngamosis was high throughout most of the year, an occasional infection only of the chickens was observed in three months. Postmortem examination of 254 tracheae of free-living birds disclosed that the incidence of syngamosis was highest in the pheasant. - Due to the introduction of large-scale farming, numerous biotopes formerly covered with trees and shrubs, were changed into arrable land. A considerable reduction occurred in the former high stand of partridges (Perdix perdix), while the pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) became widely distributed in agricultural areas. We studied the ecology of the pheasant in various biotopes by means of regular coprological examination without disturbance of the pheasants under consideration. Throughout most of the year the pheasant roosts on trees often growing in moist biotopes. In the morning and evening, the pheasant feeds regularly off the ground close to the roosting trees. From the spring onwards, throughout the summer any autumn, we observed at several sites a marked distribution of pheasants from the trees into the field where they roosted on the ground. The incidence of infection decreased considerably in pheasants, roosting on the ground of dry field biotopes, while in pheasants roosting in moist field biotopes, the incidence of infection increased considerably during the spring and remained at these levels throughout the summer until the autumn. A decrease in the incidence of infection was observed in late autumn. The incidence of infection was low during the winter and the beginning of the spring, but was present in biotopes with trees on which the pheasants from the surrounding areas concentrated. Free-living pheasants in a moist forest surrounded by fields with intensive large-scale cultivation showed a higher incidence of infection with syngamosis than pheasants from a forest pheasantry, in which rearing had to be discontinued for reasons of the death of chicks due to syngamosis. The incidence of infection increases with decreasing altitudes. The partridge (Perdix perdix) suffers less from syngamosis than does the pheasant from the same area...


Significance of a prominent S wave in leads I and V6 in the electrocardiograms of middle-aged and elderly hospital patients. The significance of a priminent S wave leads I and/or V6 in electrocardiograms of persons aged 30 years or over was studied in 1249 patients who died at hospital. A priminent S wave was found in 4.1% in lead I, in 10.5% in lead V6, and in 2.3% simultaneously in both leads in 171 patients in whom no pulmonary or cardiac disease was observed at autopsy. The occurrence of a prominent S wave in leads I and/or V6 was significantly more frequent in patients with cardiopulmonary diseases than in those without these conditions. This ECG sign was not, however, highly specific for any disease. S wave patterns were frequently found in conditions causing right ventricular overload. The SI and/or SV6 patterns were also common in patients with myohy. It is concluded that a prominent S wave in lead I alone or together with lead V6 in ECGs of middle-aged and elderly patients suggests the presence of a disease affecting the pulmonary criculation or the left ventricle of the heart.


Mean electrical QRS axis on the frontal plane in electrocardiograms of middle-aged and elderly hospital patients. The mean electrical QRS axis (AQRS) on the frontal plane was determined on electrocardiograms recorded shortly before death in 1249 patients. Cardiopulmonary diseases were sought at autopsy. Cases with CRBBE, CLBBB, WPW or idioventricular rhythm were excluded. In 171 patients without cardiopulmonary diseases, the AQRS tended to deviate to the left with age. In patients aged 30--49 the median AQRS was +55 degrees ranging between -30 degrees--90. In 99% of older patients, it stayed between -45 degrees--75 degrees. No sex difference was found. A large AQRS deviation was characteristic of patients with cardiopulmonary diseases. In one third of male pulmonary patients aged 50 or over, the AQRS pointed outside -45 degrees or +75 degrees. Rightward deviation of +90 degrees was found in 20% of younger patients. In patients aged 50 or over with myocardial infarction, rightward AQRS deviation of +75 degrees was observed in 11%, and below -45 degrees in 8% of the patients. Abnormal deviation was most common in association with inferoposterior or lateral wall infarctions. Abnormal deviation of the frontal plane QRS axis seems to coincide only with cardiac or pulmonary diseases. Extreme rightward deviation suggests a condition of right ventricular overload, but leftward deviation occurs in patients with pulmonary and with left ventricular diseases.


[Prevention of abnormalities induced by 2 organophosphate insecticides (parathion and bidrin) in quail embryos]. When Quail embryos, injected with bidrin at the unincubated stage, are treated with nicotinamide, beak and leg abnormalities are prevented, but niacin has no beneficial effect on the axial deformities caused by both parathion and bidrin. In contrast, vertebral defects are greatly reduced by giving pralidoxim, an antidote known and used in organophosphorus intoxications. But this compound has no effect on beak and leg damage caused by bidrin. Two other cholinesterase reactivators, diacetylmonoxime and monoisonitrosoacetone have any effect on organophosphorus abnormalities and have no antiteratogenic action either on the beak and legs or on the vertebral column. From these observations the multiple causes of teratogenic effects induced by organophosphorus compounds are evident. Both aspects of teratogenesis, one related to the nicotinamide level, and the other related to the physiology of the cholinergic system are discussed.


Effects of oral zinc and vitamin A in acne. The effects of oral zinc sulfate (corresponding to 135 mg of zinc daily) alone and in combination with vitamin A (300,000 international units) daily on acne lesions have been compared with those of vitamin A alone and of a placebo. The number of comedones, papules, pustules, and infiltrates were counted at each visit. After four weeks, there was a significant decrease in the number of papules, pustules, and infiltrates in the zinc-treated groups. The effect of zinc plus vitamin A was not better than zinc alone. After 12 weeks of treatment, the mean acne score had decreased from 100% to 15%. The mechanism for the effect of zinc therapy in acne, to our knowledge, is not presently known.¿


Children of low birthweight in the 1946 national cohort. Behaviour and educational achievement in adolescence. Among 12 468 legitimate single births in the first week of March 1946, 163 weighed 200 g or less (LBW group) and of these 80 survived to 18 years. 6 of the LBW survivors emigrated with their families and 5 have not been traced since birth. The remaining 69 were followed up to the age of 15 at which time two early school leavers were lost to the study. There is evidence that none of the survivors who emigrated or left the sample and serious physical or mental impairment. Compared with individually matched controls, the LBW children showed similar proportions with severe physical, mental, or behavioural handicaps. There are small and statistically nonsignificant differences in favour of the controls in ability and attainment scores at 15 years and in the level of academic qualifications gained by the age of 18. If the mean ability and attainment scores are expressed as an "intelligence quotient" with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15, the LBW group has an average IQ of 93 and the controls of 97. Hospital stay after childbirth was much longer in 1946 than today and many LBW children spent more than 3 weeks in hospital. There is no evidence that long hospital stay was associated with problems of behaviour or learning in adolescence.


Hepatic blood flow measurement. A comparison of the indocyanine green and electromagnetic techniques normal and abnormal flow states in the dog. Very few studies have compared the total hepatic blood flow using the Indocyanine green (ICG) method with the instantaneous electromagnetic flow method under unsteady circulatory conditions. In this study, a hypotensive circulatory state was produced by rapid hemorrhage in 14 dogs. Total hepatic blood flow was measured using the ICG single injection method, comparing it with the electromagnetic flow method. After confirming the validity of the ICG single injection method in measuring total hepatic blood flow in the steady state, the experiment was then carried out using 23 normal healthy dogs. The close correlation between the ICG clearance technique and the electromagnetic values under normal steady state was confirmed. However, after hemorrhage the indirect ICG method estimated only 71% of the simultaneous electromagnetic flow value. It is reasonable to assume that while the electromagnetic method continues to measure the actual total hepatic blood flow in both the steady and unsteady states, the ICG clearance method measures only the functional hepatic blood flow which is reduced due to shunting or impaired hepatocellular function in the unsteady and hypotensive circulatory state.


[Evaluation of left ventricular function by external methods. Comparative study of systolic intervals and apexcardiography]. In a number of conditions characterised by major disturbance of myocardial contractility (15 cases of thyrotoxicosis, 18 of hypokinetic cardiomyopathy and 9 of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), the authors have compared the results of measuring the systolic intervals as derived from the quotient PPE/TE with an analysis of the upstroke of the apex electrocardiogram derived from measurement of the t-da/dt interval and from the quotient da/dt/A. The quotient PPE/TE is markedly lowered in the hypokinetic cardiomyopathies. On the other hand this quotient does not differentiate between normal subjects and patients with thyrotoxicosis or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. By contrast the measurements derived from the electrocardiogram, and especially the quotient da/dt/A, differentiate very clearly between the various pathological conditions.


[Electrocardiographic and radiographic course after aortic valve replacement]. On a series of 170 aortic valve replacement - 100 aortic stenoses (AS) and 70 aortic regurgitations (AR) - with an early post operative death rate of 5.3% and a late one of 8% (with a minimum follow up of 1 year and an average one of 25.4 months, two electrocardiographic and radiological checks could be done on 123 patients, 12 months on an average after the operation, and again for 116 patients, 21 months after the operation. After a year there was a significant and substantial decrease of the left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and a moderate one of the radiological heart area (HA). The decrease of LVH (Sokolow's index and AVL) tended to be more marked for the AS group and that of HA for the AR. At the second check no further significant change of LVH or HA was noted for either group, and the average HA of the patients remained high. The mean post-operative decrease of LVH and HA was all the greater as the pre-operative value was higher; but it was independent of the stage of heart failure and of the pre-operative hemodynamic data. There was no correlation demonstrated between the amplitude of post-operative variations of HA or LVH and the main operative stages (aortic clamping, ventricular fibrillation, coronary infusion). There was no significant difference between the mean values of LVH or HA of the survivors and those of the early post-operative deaths. The mean value of pre-operative HA was higher in the patients who were to die late than in the survivors, but the difference was not statistically significant after 25.4 months. The mean pre-operative values of HA and LVH did not influence the quality of the post-operative functional result.


[Histochemical and histological investigations on the human fallopian tube under different hormonal influences. I. Demonstration of ATPase with special reference to reactive ciliated cells (author's transl)]. The localization of the Mg++-activated adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) in the human Fallopian tube has been studied by means of histochemical methods. The samples were obtained from 18 women in the age from 23--62 years. Some of them were treated by various steroid hormones. Endosalpinx ciliary ATPase-activity represents dynein and is therefore an indicator of ciliary motility. Estrogens and gestagens have a different influence on the ATPase-activity. All cilia of one ciliated cell react in the same manner and may be regarded as a reaction unit. The relation of negative to positive ciliary borders differs characteristically in the tubal isthmus, ampulls and infundibulum and coincides with commonly known phenomena of egg transport through the oviduct. Postovulatory, reaction units increase in ampulla and infundibulum compared with the proliferative phase. The oviducts of postmenopausal women possess but a scanty outfit of reaction units. Short-time treatment with estrogen in the early secretory phase results in a great number of reaction units in all tubal segments; a similar treatment in the proliferative phase diminishes the reaction units in the ampulla. Midcycle progesterone treatment activates the ciliary ATPase in the isthmus. Low doses of lynestrenol (minipill) in the proliferative phase leads to a decrease of reaction units in all tubal segments; the pattern of ciliary reaction under low doses of lynestrenol at the time of ovulation coincides with that of the proliferative phase. Treatment with a contraceptive steroid (0,05 mg ethinylestradiol and 0,25 d-norgestrel) causes a considerable activation of the ciliary ATPase in all portions of the oviduct.


[Failures of the primary procedure in the surgical treatment of retinal detachment. Apropos of 50 cases]. A study of 50 failures in retinal detachments operated on as a primary procedure (23 p. 100 of retinal detachments operated in one year). The causes of the most frequent failures relate to the anatomical severity of the detachment and the tears, but a certain number of insufficiencies in the pre-operative examination and failures of surgical procedure are discussed.


[Traumatic retinal angiopathy. Apropos of 2 cases of Purtscher's retinitis]. Two cases of traumatic retinal angiopathy (Purtscher's retinitis are described. Both have a different evolution and cause different damage, but conform to the characteristic retinal image caused by contusion. One case was due to thoracic compression without evident bone fracture, and eventually recovered normal vision, while the other has multiple bone fractures and ended in bilateral optic atrophy whith a marked visual deficit.


[Evoked visual potentials in tapeto-retinal degeneration]. A study of the behaviour of V.E.P. latencies and amplitudes in 247 eyes suffering from different clinical forms of chorio-retinal degenerations is presented. In 147 eyes the E.R.G. and the V.E.R. were simultaneously recorded, and this group was used for studying the relation ship between E.R.G., V.E.P. and visual acuity. The authors are of the opinion that the V.E.P., in that it investigates particularly the macular region, provides a clinical test of real interest in the prognosis of visual acuity in a known clinical context.


[Experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis. Ultrastructure of chorioretinal lesions induced in guinea pigs by immunization against the outer rods of the bovine retina]. The uveoretinitis induced in guinea pigs by one systemic injection of rod outer segments from bovine retina has the following ultrastructural features : 1 to 3 weeks after the injection, first early alterations of the visual cells and pigment epithelium, phagocytosis of fragmented outer segments by macrophages, development of an inflammatory infiltrate of the uvea with numerous plasma cells. During the second month, polymorphic inflammatory reaction in the choroid, destruction of photoreceptors in large areas with preservation of the external limiting membrane or involvement of the internal layers of the retina. During the next months, fibroblastic healing processes, but persistence of a diffuse inflammation, with sub-retinal lymphoid follicles and epithelioid cells. It appears likely that pigment epithelium and outer segments of the visual cells are targets for the initial immunological attack, where humoral antibodies seem to play a major role.


[Acetylcholine in the bovine ciliary body and the cholinergic action of pilocarpine]. The authors have determined the acetylcholine (ACh) content in bovine ciliary bodies. One of the ciliary bodies was subjected in vivo to the influence of an aqueous solution of pilocarpine HCl 3 p. 100 which was instilled in the conjunctival cul-de-sac (ten times at a dose of three drops every three minutes). The contralateral ciliary body of the same animal served as a control for the ACh concentration. Enucleation was performed one hour after the last instillation. The average concentration of ACh estimated in 13 control ciliary bodies was 0,40 mug of ACh, and in 13 pilocarpinised eyes 0,50 mug of ACh (for 150 mg of tissue). The questions concerning the inactivation of pilocarpine and the source of augmentation of cholinergic tone in the pilocarpinised eyes have been discussed in previous communications.


[The change of physical properties of plastics (polyoxymethylenecopolymer, polyethyleneterephthalate, polyethylene, polytetrafluorethylene) after animal implantation and autoclavation (author's transl)]. The change of physical properties of plastics (polyoxymethylene-copolymer, polyethyleneterephthalate, polyethylene, polytetrafluorethylene) and the bio-compatibility of these materials were examined by implantation in the backmuscle of 6-month-old male rabbits for 4 and 12 weeks and after autoclavation. We have found out, that after implantation and autoclavation polyethylene-terephthalate demonstrates a strong diminution of the visco-elastic qualities. Polyethylene and polytetrafluorethylene were not changed by these treatments. After an implantation of 12 weeks and an autoclavation of four times the visco-elastic properties of polyoxymethylene-copolymer were only slightly diminished by 10 to 15%. The histological investigation of the surrounding tissue demonstrated a very good bio-compatibility of polyethylene. After an implantation of 4 weeks polyoxymethylene-copolymer, polyethyleneterephthalate and polytetrafluorethylene produced a comparable foreign body reaction, which, however, was evidently diminished after an implantation of 12 weeks.


Effect of increased pressures of oxygen, nitrogen, and helium on activity of a Na-K-Mg ATPase of beef brain. Increased pressure of O2, N2,or He exert inhibitory or stimulatory effects on activity of Na-K-Mg ATPase obtained from beef brain cortex. Oxygen at 2 ATA and N2 at 4 ATA exert significant inhibitory effects whereas 3 & 4 ATA O2, 1-3 ATA N2 exert significant stimulatory effects. Effects of He on ATPase activity are qualitatively similar to those of N2. The effects of the gases are not qualitatively altered by the presence or absence of ATP. A pressure compensated analysis reveals that at the same pressures, O2 and N2 exert different effects of ATPase activity.


Effects of croton oil on epidermal growth regulators (chalones). Variations in epidermal chalones after a single surface application of methylcholanthrene have been described in previous papers. This paper reports a study of the effect of croton oil on epidermal growth regulators (G1 and G2 chalones). Hairless mice received a single topical application of 0.2 ml 0.25% acetone solution of croton oil. Control mice received only acetone. The short-term effect of croton oil on epidermal DNA synthesis and mitotic rate was studied. Other groups of croton oil-treated and acetone-treated mice were then killed at similar time intervals, and the treated area of skin was homogenized and extracted with water. The inhibitory effect of these extracts on normal epidermal DNA synthesis and mitotic rate was assayed in normal hairless mice. The resulting inhibition was interpreted as an expression of the concentration of G1 and G2 chalones, respectively, in the skin extracts. The first experiment confirmed that a single croton oil application provokes a short block in epidermal mitotic activity and probably also in DNA synthesis. This was followed by bimodal peaks of increased activity, the two maxima of mitotic rate on days 2 and 7. The concentration of the two chalones in the skins of treated animals varied in inverse proportion to the alterations in the DNA synthesis and the mitotic rate, with one exception. There was here initially a depression both of the mitotic rate and a low concentration of G2 chalone. This was interpreted as a short, initial direct effect of croton oil on the G2 chalone present at the time of application. It is concluded that croton oil application injures and kills epidermal cells, with subsequent alterations in the content of G1 and G2 chalones. This theory may explain the changes observed. The effects of croton oil on the amount of G1 and G2 chalones in the skin are probably related to the direct, toxic, cell-killing effect of croton oil, and not to its specific cancer promoting potency.


[Analysis of DNA histograms by computer (author's transl)]. Quantitative DNA cytophotometry, the study of morphology of chromosomes and cell kinetics are important approaches toward characterization of genetic information. Each approach has its own problems and limits. Difficulties with interpretation of DNA histograms arise from a lack of proper terminology, and from attempting to interpret them in terms of the existing terminologies for chromosomal analysis and cell kinetics. Aim of this research was to develop a computerized mathematical analysis of DNA histograms. As a basis for the comparison of normal with those of tumor cell populations the DNA histograms of heart muscle cells were selected for the normal cell population from 14 normal hearts of adults, 16 hypertrophic hearts, 14 non-polyploidized hearts of children, and 14 hypertrophic hearts of children with congenital malformations. Normal diploid cell populations from 7 effusions were also included. The 24 populations of malignant cells consisted of primary tumors and metastatic effusions. DNA cytophotometry was performed on single nuclei in Feulgen stained preparations by means of the UMSP/XD 50 ZEISS. The approximation of the DNA histograms by linear combination of normal distributions was done according to spline-function and calculated by means of the IBM-375. The nuclear classes 2C, 4C, and 8C show no differences between the normal, left and right heart with respect to mean values (X), standard deviations (sx), variances (sX) and coefficients of variance (sx/X). However, coefficients of variance are smaller in hypertrophic (2.15 to 8.37%) than in normal hearts of adults (8.90 to 10.85%), and larger in hypertrophic heart of children (4.06 to 7.09%). The mean values of the DNA classes 2C, 4C, 8C, and 16C vary witin +/- 18.6% with a probability of 95.5%. Benign effusions contain only 2C and 4C nuclei with a variance of 4.00% and 8.75%, respectively. In DNA histograms of malignant cells, only one third has a first peak outside of 2C +/- 18.6%. In approximately one fifth of the histrograms the position of the second or third peaks deviates significantly from normal polyploid values. Since a large proportion of polyploid nuclei is limited to only a few normal tissues, pronounced polyploidy is suggestive of malignancy in all other tissues. If in the cases containing only two DNA classes, 2C and 4C, the populations are malignant, the proportion of 4C is more than 8% while in the corresponding benign populations the proportion of 4C atains only 2.97 +/- 2.5%. In some cases a few highly polyploidized nuclei not taken into a account by our computer program are suggestive of malignancy. In only one DNA histogram out of the 24 analysed, all of these criteria are negative. In six cases the computer analyses reveal two stemlines of tumor cells with corresponding polyploid values.


A constitutive mutation in a posttranscriptional regulator gene for a phenoloxidase and proteases in Podospora anserina. A recessive mutation in the gene mod-2 results in the synthesis at low temperatures of a phenoloxidase and an arrest of growth, reversible by beta-phenyl-pyruvic acid, a protease inhibitor. Phenoloxidase synthesis is 5-fluorouracil resistant and cycloheximade sensitive. Suppression of both cold sensitivity and phenoloxidase synthesis by common factors (higher NH4+ concentrations or mutations) suggests that the protease, suspected to be responsible for cold sensitivity, also arises from preexisting mRNA molecules. Instead of being recessive and constitutive, the mod-2 mutations is suppressive and dominant when cold sensitivity and phenoloxidases synthesis are induced as the consequence of the nonallelic gene interactions C/D, C/E, or R/V responsible for protoplasmic incompatibility. Combinations of nonallelic incompatibility systems and several mod-2 mutations lead us to hypothesize that the translational control of the above proteins depends on conformational relationships between incompatibility gene products and mod-2.


The primary inhibitor of plasmin in human plasma. A complex between plasmin and an inhibitor was isolated by affinity chromatography from urokinase-activated human plasma. The complex did not react with antibodies against any of the known proteinase inhibitors in plasma. A rabbit antiserum against the complex was produced. It contained antibodies agianst plasminogen+plasmin and an alpha2 protein. By crossed immunoelectrophoresis the alpha2 protein was shown to form a complex with plasmin, when generated by urokinase in plasma, and with purified plasmin. The alpha2 protein was eluted by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration with KD approx. 0.35, different from the other inhibitors of plasmin in plasma, and corresponding to an apparent relative molecular mass (Mr) of about 75000. By sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, the Mr of the complex was found to be approx. 130000. After reduction of the complex two main bands of protein were observed, with Mr, about 72000 and 66000, probably representing an acyl-enzyme complex of plasmin-light chain and inhibitor-heavy chain, and a plasmin-heavy chain. A weak band with Mr 9000 was possibly an inhibitor-light chain. The inhibitor was partially purified and used to titrate purified plasmin of known active-site concentration. The inhibitor bound plasmin rapidly and strongly. Assuming an equimolar combining ratio, the concentration of active inhibitor in normal human plasma was estimated to be 1.1 mumol/1. A fraction about 0.3 of the antigenic inhibitor protein appeared to be functionally inactive. In plasma, plasmin is primarily bound to the inhibitor. Only after its saturation does lysis of fibrinogen and fibrin occur and a complex between plasmin and alpha2 macroglobulin appear.


The binding of nucleotides and bivalent cations to the calcium-and-magnesium ion-dependent adenosine triphosphatase from rabbit muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum. The binding of MgATP to purified Ca2+Mg2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase from rabbit muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum was studied by using a flow-dialysis method. Phosphoryl-enzyme formation and catalytic activity were also measured, and all three processes demonstrated negative co-operativity, with half-saturation of all three parameters at a MgATP concentration of 40-50muM, and a Hill coefficient (h) of 0.8. The variation of the binding constant with with pH was measured and showed tighter binding of MgATP  with increasing pH over the range 6.8-8.5. Binding parameters for ATP analogues were also measured. The binding of Ca2+ in the presence and absence of ATP analogues gave half saturation at a Ca2+ concentration of 1.2-1.3muM. Hill plots of Ca2+-binding data gave a slope of 0.8. These results show that the binding of MgATP and Ca2+ can occur in a random manner, with neither substrate influencing the affinity of the enzyme for the other.


Re-investigation of the effects of L-glutamine and L-asparagine on the Neurospora crassa NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase. L-Glutamine, when purified free of traces of NH4+ present in solution, does not act as an alternative substrate to NH4+ for the NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase of Neurospora. L-Glutamine interferes with detection of small quantities of NH4+ by Nessler's reagent. L-Asparagine is not an alternative substrate to NH4+ for this enzyme.


Adenosine diphosphate binding to sodium-plus-potassium ion-dependent adenosine triphosphatase. The role of lipid in the nucleotide-potassium ion interplay. Delipidated dogfish rectal-gland Na++K+-ATPase (Na++K+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase), almost devoid of hydrolytic activity, is able to bind about 2nmol of ADP/mg of protein. The "affinity" of delipidated enzyme for ADP is not affected by K+ in concentrations that greatly decrease the "affinity" of native Na++K+-ATPase. The K+-sensitivity of the ADP binding is in part restored by relipidation with dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine.