Reversible corticospinal tract disease due to hyperthyroidism. Corticospinal tract malfunction was seen in a patient with Graves' disease. The absence of intracranial and intraspinal lesions likely to cause the neurologic manifestations and their regression after control of thyroid dysfunction favors a cause-effect relationship. We review and compare similar cases previously reported and discuss the mechanisms.


[Overgrowth (of the femoral shaft) and rotational deformities following femoral shaft fractures in childhood (author's transl)]. A follow-up study of 149 pediatric fractures of the femoral shaft (146 patients had a radiographic control) demonstrated a significant influence of multiple reductions and residual axial deviations on the incidence and extent of post-traumatic overgrowth. The presented group of patients did not show a positive correlation between therapeutic shortening at the time of the initial reduction and reduced incidence of long term overgrowth. Neither extent nor incidence of overgrowth could be prevented by this method. We therefore recommend to reduce fractures of the femoral shaft without forshortening, because it stimulates repair mechanisms at the growth plate and enhances overgrowth. In contradiction to the current concept of therapeutic recommendations it could be shown that post-traumatic rotational deformities will correct themselves in the course of physiologic detorsion of the femoral neck. In 67% of the studied group of patients initial errors of rotation corrected themselves by this mechanism. According to our results the therapeutic concept of pediatric femoral shaft fractures is revised and a new concept of initial and long term treatment is proposed.


[Experiences with arthroplasty for tumors and metastases of the proximal femur and humerus (author's transl)]. This report describes the results of 17 arthroplasties of the hip joint for tumors or metastases in the proximal part of the femur and 3 arthroplasties of the shoulder joint because of tumors in the proximal humerus. Based on case reports the paper discusses the indication in the case of malignant, potentially malignant and benign primary bone tumors and in the case of metastases. In addition principles for the construction of suitable hip and shoulder prostheses are cited, whereby the partial joint replacement continues to retain its justification beside total replacement. While the results of the hip arthroplasty proved satisfactory, the results of the corresponding operation on the shoulder are less satisfactory and urge to exercise more restraint in the operative indication.


A new method of achieving accuracy in osteotomy of any long bone. The use of basic trigonometrical principles enables the translation of theoretical pre-operative estimations for the correction of bony deformities in long bones into accurate wedge resections at surgery without the need for templates or the use of goniometer in a restricted operative field. The method described has been shown both to be accurate and simple, obviating the need for extra instrumentation and undue manipulation during surgery.


[Mechanical properties of carbon as implant material in orthopedic surgery (author's transl)]. Among others material problems are come to the fore in endoprothetic with growing biochemical knowledge, also because of the realisation that in different parts of the same prothesis functionally different mechanical demands must be set. Technological progress in carbon production has lead to the development of a spectrum of different carbon specialities with various mechanical properties. In orthopaedic surgery of endoprothetic high strengh isotropic carbon, impregnated carbon and fibrereinforced carbon-carbon-composites are of particular interest, because of their physical properties and unchanged favourable chemical and biological properties of carbon. Thereby it is on one side a question of carbon material with extraordinary tribological qualities, on the other side of carbons with nearly isoelastic behaviour towards the bone, respectively with equal quotient of breaking strength and young's modulus. Therefore in future the manufacture of components with functional approbiate material using the same basic material carbon seems to be possible for the production of endoprothesis with different working parts.


[Contribution to the osteolysis in distal end of the clavicle (author's transl)]. A case of rare osteolysis of the distal clavicle end is reported. Our 36-years old male patients also suffered from a well-discernible Hyperlipoproteinemia, type II/a after Fredrickson. A short view of the various forms of clavicle osteolysis is given. Their differentialdiagnostical and ethiological relations are discussed.


[Tissue compatibility of bone cement with and without barium sulfate (author's transl)]. Cylindrical plugs of polymerized Simplex-P bone cement with and without barium sulfate were implanted in the rabbit tibial metaphysis. Titanium was used as control material. The animals were observed for 4--4.5 months. Histological analysis showed that all titanium implants were healed into the bone with a direct bone-implant contact, which was also true for about 60% of the cement implants. The remaining cement implants were encapsulated by connective tissue, probably due to biomechanical factors. It was not possible in this study to show a difference in the tissue reaction to bone cement containing barium sulfate and bone cement free from barium sulfate.


[Has the duration of cast fixation after shoulder dislocations an influence on the frequency of recurrent dislocation? (author's transl)]. 102 primary shoulder dislocations have been evaluated. Some were retained in a Velpeau bandage reinforced with plaster immediately after reposition for three weeks, others were treated with a sling or tube gauze only. The frequency of recurrent dislocation in both groups was compared. It could be demonstrated that the results were equal for both groups. We conclude that fixation with Velpeau Sling and cast reinforcement does not significantly influence the occurrence of recurrent dislocations.


[Experience with the locking nail (author's transl)]. The technique of the locking nail as initially described by Klemm and Schellmann is shown for 12 cases. The advantages of this fixation device can be confirmed. This method presents a valuable adjunct in the assortment of osteosynthetic procedures.


[Treatment of alveolar soft part sarcoma (author's transl)]. Till now few reported cases of alveolar soft part sarcoma of the skeletal musculature which was classified for the first time by Christopherson in 1952 could not make plain a uniforme treatment. Radioresistance was also described as unsuccessful chemotherapy as early or excessiv surgical proceeding. Our own unusual observation of a case of this very rare malignant mesenchymal tumor may give a direction for a sensible therapy.


[Systematy of artificial knee joints considering constructional characteristics of the natural knee joint (author's transl)]. The subject of this investigation is to spezify artifical knee joints. For this purpose the most important constructional peculiarities and functions of the natural knee joints are to be opposed to them of the artificial ones. This analysis is based on the kinematic and theory of construction. The systematy distinguishs the various artificial knee joints considering the characteristics that are thought to be substantial.


[Modified Küntscher's nail for the proximal femur fixation after corrective osteotomies in children (author's transl)]. The authors describe the development in the design of the modified Küntscher's nail with two fins on its upper part, assigned for the fixation of proximal femur after corrective osteotomies in children. Detailed explanation about the nails construction and its biomechanical characteristics are presented. The fixation of the nail in the proximal and distal femoral part, as well as on the site of osteotomy is particularly analyzed. On the base 423 operated cases, where the modified Küntscher's nail was applied, the authors conclusion is that the nail is very suitable for the correction of proximal femur deformities in children.


Foreign body in the airways: a review of 90 cases. Despite the progress made in the fields of endoscopy and anesthesia for children, as well as the accumulated experience, the inhalation of foreign bodies remains a serious and often dramatic problem. Every case varies to some extent, and only general conclusions may be drawn. The retroactive analysis of the documents from every case that was treated at the Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic of the Aristotelian University from 1970 to 1975, as well as the comparative statistical study, show common characteristics shared by all 90 cases under consideration. In these cases, the foreign body was of organic origin (mainly seeds and dry fruits) and particularly pumpkin seeds (25% of all cases). Half of the patients sought hospitalization, with a delay varying from two days to four months, while localization varied (larynx, 11 cases; trachea, 10; bronchus, 69). Localization in the left bronchus was more frequent than in the right one, especially in children. The diagnosis was based on the case history, clinical examination, and radiologic findings, while in the majority of the cases, the treatment involved bronchoscopy, the removal of the foreign body, and treatment of lung problems in delayed cases.


Effects of oxygen inhalation on noise-induced threshold shifts in humans and chinchillas. Experiments with both humans and chinchillas indicate that the temporary threshold shift after ten-minute stimulation with 100 dB sound pressure level 1 kHz tone diminished more quickly if the subject breathed pure oxygen and it diminished even more quickly when 95% oxygen-5% carbon dioxide was inhaled rather than ambient air. This effect was observed for both poststimulatory and per-stimulatory gas inhalation.


Otoplasty by abrasion sculpture and fixation. Many methods are used for cosmetic otoplasty. This method is a composite of several techniques that achieves simplicity, no irreversible cartilage removal, and a slow and controlled approach to the final form. Abrasion is used to set the proper line and location, and sutures are applied to control the degree of fold. The operative technique was illustrated in one patient with results shown in four. It is applicable to protruding ears and some "lop" ears; scapha and concha can be corrected to individually varying degrees.


Clinical impressions of acoustic reflex measures in an adult population. The implications of the use of sensitivity predictions from acoustic reflex (SPAR) measures are increasing through clinical application of the test. Jerger and associates have suggested the importance of SPAR in the examination of children. Our use of SPAR with a primarily adult population has supported other important applications of this procedure, including the the use of predictions in legal cases and in examining elderly or foreign-speaking patients who often respond poorly on subjective tests. Discussion and recommendations regarding such applications are based on a study of SPAR involving 681 ears.


Correcting the aging platysma.

Correcting the aging platysma. The aging neck in which the stringy appearance is due to hyperactive platysma can be surgically treated. The technique involves partial transection of the anterior border of the platysma and has been used in more than 160 cases during the past 2 1/2 years with results that seem to be more predictable and longer lasting than previously described methods. Further studies under way that involve sectioning of the cervical branch of the facial nerve may yield an even better solution to this problem.


Limitations of computerized tomography scanning in acoustic neurinomas. Computerized tomography (CT) of the head has certain limitations in detecting small lesions and subtle erosions of bone. The CT scan can give valuable information in the large cerebellopontine angle tumors; however, it should not replace polytomography of the petrous ridges in examining patients for small acoustic neurinomas.


Rhinocerebral mucormycosis.

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis. Mucormycosis is a fulminant fungal infection occurring in debilitated patients with an underlying pathologic condition. The rhinocerebral form of the disease, which comprises nearly one half of recently reported cases, is most often found in uncontrolled diabetics or profoundly dehydrated children. Infection usually begins in the nose and progresses through the paranasal sinuses, invading the orbit and CNS secondarily. Despite the known pathogenesis of this disease, the ophthalmologist is often first to consider the diagnosis, due to inadequate intranasal examination by the primary physician. The delay caused by late occurrence of orbital manifestations has resulted in poor survival rates, despite vigorous therapy. In recent years, increased physician awareness has led to earlier diagnosis of rhinocerebral mucormycosis. This report presents 13 cases with which we have delt since 1963. The long-term survival rate is 85%. Aggressive surgical therapy, with repeated debridement, in combination with intravenous amphotericin B, have led to this high rate of cure.


Human auditory nerve action potentials and brain stem evoked responses: effects of audiogram shape and lesion location. Simultaneously recorded auditory nerve action potentials (APs) and brain stem auditory-evoked responses (BSERs) were correlated with audiogram shape and with location of patholgoic condition. High frequency (4 to 8 kHz) hearing loss (1) prolongs AP and BSER latency, (2) shortens the interval between the first AP peak (N1) and the fifth BSER peak (V), and (3) creates relatively large latency differences between condensation and rarefaction responses (thus bringing into question the common practice of combining condensation and rarefaction responses). Ears with retrocochlear deficits in the subjects in the study were detected reliably by prolonged N1 to V interval and increased BSER peak V latency. The reliability of these retrocochlear signs was further increased by allowing for the effects of audiogram shape. Another retrocochlear sign, termed "inappropriate AP preservation," was positive in 40% to 50% of the retrocochlear ears.


Experimental coryza in broiler chickens. I. Effects of vaccination with Haemophilus gallinarum bacterin and its components on weight gains and resistance to infection. Effects of a Haemophilus gallinarum bacterin and its components were studied in young broiler chickens. When the bacterin was administered subcutaneously in the dorsal neck region at 2 weeks of age, no significant differences in weight gains of vaccinated and control birds were detected at eight weeks of age. In four groups vaccinated at 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks of age and challenged with virulent haemophilus organisms 3 weeks later, the incidence of clinical signs was 30% in the vaccinates and 60% in controls. The bacterin was equally protective at the four ages of administration. Caseous plugs were found at the vaccination sites in all birds which had received adjuvant either alone or in the complete bacterin. Signs of depression lasting about 24 hours were observed in the youngest birds injected with the bacterin, but overall weight gains were normal.


Use of virulence index tests for avian influenza viruses. The intravenous and intracerebral pathogenicity index tests normally used for Newcastle disease virus isolates were used to measure the virulence of 13 avian influenza viruses. The tests allowed quantitative measurements of the virulence of the avian influenza viruses, and the results confirmed the range in virulence, between the two extremes, of the avian influenza viruses and demonstrated the lack of correlation between virulence and antigenic type.


A bacterin against fowl cholera in turkeys: protective quality of various preparations originated from broth cultures. Bacterins prepared from broth cultures of Pasteurella multocida were studied for their immunogenicity against fowl cholera in turkeys. The various preparations differed in culture medium, method of inactivation, and adjuvants added. Eight-to-twelve-week-old turkeys were inoculated subcutaneously with each preparation. After challenge with a live culture of the homologous strain, protection was significantly better from a broth bacterin grown in brain-heart infusion broth, concentrated tenfold, inactivated with formalin, and emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant than in controls (unvaccinated birds and birds receiving commercial products). In two separate trials, protection was 86% from the bacterin and 21 and 14% from a commercial product (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01, respectively). The broth bacterin could be prepared on a large scale at minimum labor and therefore might be suitable for commercial production.


Studies of turkey herpesvirus viremia in two strains of vaccinated chickens strain difference and effects of vaccine dose. Turkey herpesvirus (HVT) viremia was studied at 3-week intervals through 21 weeks of age in individual chickens of experimental (WSU-VS) and commercial strains (C-WL) of White Leghorns vaccinated with graded doses of HVT. HVT viremia was consistently detectable in all WSU-VS birds through 21 weeks postvaccination (PV) regardless of vaccine dose employed, whereas the viremia could not be detected in some of the C-WL birds 9 to 15 weeks PV and thereafter. C-WL birds that lost detectable viremia remained so up to 21 weeks PV, or returned to low levels of viremia which was followed in some birds again by no detectable viremia. Viremia titers were significantly lower in the C-WL than in the WSU-VS birds despite the same vaccination. Both strains of chickens exhibited significantly lower viremia titers when vaccinated with 240 plaqueforming units (PFU) than with 1,480 or 6,600 PFU of HVT, and other C-WL birds lost detectable viremia earlier and more frequently with smaller vaccine doses. This observation indicated a possible genetic difference between the two strains of chickens in susceptibility and viremic response to HVT as well as dose-dependence of HVT viremia.


Disorienting effects of aircraft catapult launchings: III. Cockpit displays and piloting performance. Accelerations closely approximating those encountered in catapult launchings of carrier-based aircraft were generated on the Naval Air Development Center's human centrifuge Dynamic Flight Simulator. Flight instruments, controls, and flight dynamics of an A-7 aircraft were provided to four experienced Naval Aviators, who exercised closed-loop control of a simulated climbout immediately after they were exposed to the accelerations. Four experimental conditions were employed for each aviator: 1) no operational flight instruments, 2) conventional flight instruments, 3) a single carrier takeoff director display operating concurrently. Measures of flight parameters, including indicated airspeed, angle of attack, rate of climb, altitude, pitch attitude, and pitch trim adjustment were monitored throughout the simulation. Subjective reactions and piloting performance were examined under each of the four conditions. Results indicate that the carrier takeoff director display significantly reduced pilot workload and enhanced performance during the climbout.


Marginal alveolar bone loss in flying personnel: a radiographical followup study. In a 10-year followup study, the alveolar marginal bone of the mandible in flying personnel has been examined on radiographs. The radiographs were obtained at 5-year intervals. The reduced height of the marginal alveolar bone was measured according to an internationally accepted standard procedure and compared with figures obtained from radiographs made 10 years earlier. Compared with similar material concerning subjects not occupationally involved in flying, this study shows that flying personnel suffer considerable alveolar, marginal bone loss. High-altitude flying, reduced partial oxygen pressure, stress, and vibrations are being discussed as suspected causes. An interesting and disturbing point is that the alveolar process usually is the first bone that reveals a generally decreased bone calcification. Further studies of the skeletal bone and the serum concentration of calcium are in progress. Subjects for these studies are flying personnel (jet, propeller, and helicopter) from the Swedish Air Force.


Morphology and growth cycle of Mycoplasma meleagridis viewed by scanning-electron microscopy. The three-dimensional structure of Mycoplasma meleagridis strain RY-39A was studied by scanning-electron microscopy. The morphologic forms observed between 12 hours and 7 days suggest that the organism undergoes a sequential metamorphosis in its development. Single rounded forms in lag phase give rise to larger cells and filaments in the log phase, which fragment into coccus forms in the late stationary phase.


Herpesvirus-like particles in tumor cells of breast muscle of chickens with Marek's disease. Tumors of the breast musculature of 4 chickens with Marek's disease were examined by light and electron microscopy. By light microscopy, tumors were composed of lymphoid cells which had infiltrated and separated bundles of muscle fibers. By electron microscopy, there was margination of chromatin and duplication of the inner nuclear membrane in almost all neoplastic cells of breast tumors of all 4 chickens. In addition, in one chicken the nuclei of tumor cells contained naked herpesvirus-like particles.


Quantitative histochemistry of the vestibular cerebellum of the fish Fundulus heteroclitus flown aboard the biosatellite Cosmos-782. The fry of Fundulus heteroclitus, hatched from eggs flown for 19.5 d aboard the biosatellite Cosmos-782, showed on Day R+5 a slightly increased activity of creatine kinase at the sites of projection of primary vestibular fibers in the cortex of the vestibular cerebellum. The change was determined by quantitative histochemical analysis. The increase indicates an elevation of the functional activity of the structures of the vestibular cerebellum which developed in zero G and which normally receive primary impulses from gravireceptors.


Efficacy of herpesvirus of turkeys vaccine against challenge with Marek's disease tumor cells. Tests were made of the effectiveness of herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) vaccine in preventing tumorigenesis following challenge with a neoplastically transformed Marek's disease tumor cell line (MSB-1). HVT vaccine prevented tumors due to MSB-1 inoculation whereas 21.4% of unvaccinated controls had tumors. The results support, but do not prove, the theory that HVT acts through enhancement of cell-mediated immunity against MDV-transformed cells. The drawbacks of using MSB-1 cells in this experiment and the need for true Marek's transplantable tumor cells are discussed.


Ultrastructural changes in tracheal epithelial cells exposed to oxygen. White albino rats were sacrificed after 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 h of exposure to 100% O2 at 1 atm. Tissue was prepared for the scanning electron microscope (SEM) by Critical Point Drying and for the transmission electron microscope (TEM) by plastic embedding. Scanning microscopy showed a loss of microvilli after 48 h of exposure. Cilia appeared relatively normal with SEM, but TEM revealed changes in the outer membrane. In TEM, nonciliated cells appeared swollen and often encroached on the ciliated cells. A heavy mucous blanket remained even after processing. All the changes observed that are induced by oxygen exposure contribute to mucostasis, reducing and/or halting mucociliary clearance.


Revaccination of chicks for Marek's disease at twenty-one days old. Chicks vaccinated for Marek's disease (MD) at both 1 and 21 days old did not suffer significantly different losses from MD than did chicks vaccinated at 1 day old only. This was true even with vaccinations of 1-day-old chicks with increasingly higher titers. The failure of revaccination to reduce losses from MD could be attributed to the age at which natural exposure occurred.


Effect of virtual image projection distance on the accomodative response of the eye. Virtual image displays utilize either aircraft-mounted or helmet-mounted beam splitters, or combining screens. The effect on the accomodative response of the projection distance of the virtual image was measured by photographing the first and fourth Purkinje images of a source. The results indicate possible effect on the accomodation response. Further exploration of the problem is indicated.


Ruptured-yolk peritonitis and organochlorine residues in a royal tern. Ruptured-yolk peritonitis was responsible for the death of a royal tern. Lodgment of eggs in the oviduct was probably due to reverse peristalsis brought about by breakage of the thin-shelled eggs and secondary bacterial infection. The thin shells were apparently not related to the low levels of DDE and other organochlorine pollutants found in tissues and egg contents.


Some aspects of energy metabolism in human blood erythrocytes under hypokinesia and during space flights. The present investigation presents results of studying energy metabolism in blood erythrocytes in cosmonauts who made the first and the second space flights aboard the orbital station Salyut-4 and in test subjects who experienced 49-d of hypokinesia at -4 degrees. The data obtained throughout the postflight investigations and during the hypokinesia studies appeared to be identical, showing a decrease in glycolytic activity whereas ATP content remained unchanged.


Femoral development in chronically centrifuged rats. Groups of 30-d-old male and female rats were centrifuged at 2.00 G (RE, Rotation Experimental), 1.05 G (RC, Rotation Control) or exposed to the noise and wind of the centrifuge at 1.00 G (EC, Earth Control) for periods of 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks. Measurements of their femurs indicated that exposure to centrifugation a) decreased femoral length in tre animals, b) increased femoral length in RC animals, c) reduced femoral diameter in RE and RC animals, d) increased L/D ratios in RC animals, e) decreased L/D ratios in RE animals, f) increased femur length/body weight in RE animals, g) decreased cortical thickness (CT) in RE animals, h) increased relative CT in RE animals, and decreased it in RC animals, i) accelerated ossification in RC femoral heads, j) thinned and distorted RE epiphyseal plates, and k) thickened condylar cartilage in RE females. The effects tended to be strongly sexually dimorphic, with females more severely affected by the stress than males.


Exercise and heat orthostatism and the effect of heat acclimation and physical fitness. Twelve trained and 16 untrained young men were administered five orthostatic tests while leaning upright against a wall, for 20 min--before exercise; after 60 min of exercise at a load of 40 W; after 15 min of exercise at a load of 80 W; after a Vo2 max test, and after 3 h of exercise at a load of 40 W in heat (39.4 degrees C DB, 30.3 degrees C WB). Eight of the untrained subjects were retested in the five orthostatic tests after 8 d of heat acclimation. The number of fainters in the orthostatic tests administered before exercise, after exercise at 40 W and 80 W, and after exercise in heat, were 3, 4, 6, and 13, respectively. There were no fainting episodes after the Vo2 max tests. Orthostatic responses in the different conditions were partially related. The trained subjects showed substantially better responses than the untrained ones (10% vs. 25% of fainting episodes), and heat acclimation resulted in marked improvement in orthostatism (decrease to 5% faintings). The results show that Vo2 max and heat tolerance account for most of the variability which determines orthostatic tolerance.


Effect of emotional stress on recognition of visual patterns. The object of the study was to observe the changes in efficiency of perceptive activity of man (recognition of visual patterns against a background of noises) throughout an increase in emotional stress caused by a forthcoming parachuete jump. A moderate degree of emotional stress can improve performance efficiency and decrease the number of the subject's errors. Later an impairment of differentation of similar signals was seen and an increase in the number of "false alarm" errors along with a decrease in the number of omissions to reactions signals. The neurophysiological basis of such changes in perceptive activity consists in a transition from conditional behaviour to reaction through mechanisms of Ukhtomsky's dominant focus.


Interaction of air pollution and hyperbaric oxygen on virus replication. A study was undertaken to weigh the effects of air pollution and oxygen at high pressure on the susceptibility of mice to Coxsackievirus B1 infection. Animals exposed to air pollutants or oxygen at high pressure were found to contain higher amounts of recoverable virus than control animals. Animals exposed to both air pollutants and oxygen at high pressure were found to contain the greatest levels of recoverable virus. This same group of animals was also found to have hearts which were smaller than any other group. Animals maintained in an ambient atmosphere had higher levels of recoverable virus and smaller hearts than animals exposed to terpene vapors and hyperbaric oxygen. The results of this study suggest that terpene vapors may nullify the activity of oxygen at high pressure.


Continuous ECG monitoring on civil air crews during flight operations. Cardiovascular disease is one of the disorders resulting in sudden incapacitation and is the most common malady leading to medical retirement. It is very important for us to control this disease among pilots. Generally, pilots undergo medical checkups at health control service on the ground, but they do not undergo these checkups during flight operations. We obtained a continuous ECG recording on four pilots to assess cardiac reserve capacity for mental load during flight operation. Results show that no significant ischemic changes of ST-segment and T-wave during flight were noticed except in one case of atrial fibrillation in which significant depression of ST-segment occurred while walking up a stairway after flight. An increased number of ectopic beats was found in another normal case. In general, it was suspected that mental load is greater at landing than takeoff.


Prevention of visual anxiety and proficiency problems in the senior air transport pilot. Several actual cases were presented to show the problems encountered with flight deck vision in the middle-age presbyopic pilot both in the simulator and in flight. We have gained useful knowledge in the proper flight-deck needs and optical corrections for these pilots, which should be passed on to aviation examiners, eye specialists, and pilots themselves. This would relieve a great deal of unnecessary lost time and anxiety which results when the pilot has a correction unsuited for the cockpit and encounters extreme difficulty in simulator work and in actual flight conditions which he does not understand and which can become very frustrating and a source of anxiety because his career is at stake. This anxiety may lead to other functional ocular problems, is unnecessary, and can be prevented.


Emergency medical kits aboard aircraft.

Emergency medical kits aboard aircraft. For a long time it has been considered necessary to place medical kits aboard aircraft. Nevertheless, since these kits were first made up, a reevaluation of this equipment has become necessary because of new circumstances, in particular the appearance of mass transportation. It is not possible to assure complete, perfect therapeutic action against all of the pathological manifestations that can occur during flights. Aside from the slightest incidents, and despite the frequent presence of a physician among the passengers, the problem usually is to try to gain time under the best possible conditions so that the plane can proceed to the next scheduled stop. The airlines of the ATLAS Group (Air France, Alitalia, Iberia, Lufthansa and Sabena) have moved in this direction and decided to equip their planes with such a kit.


Genetic and light intensity effects on the activity and emigratory behavior of the house fly, Musca domestica (L.). The emigratory behavior and locomotor activity of yellow-eyed (y/y), wild-type (+/+), and heterozygous (+/y) house flies was examined at 8 fc (86 lx) and 1600 fc (17,223 lx) light intensities. At 8 fc, emigration rate and activity of the y/y flies was similar to that of the +/+ and +/y flies. However, at 1600 fc, the y/y flies emigrated at twice the rate and showed an activity of about one-third that of the other genotypes. The behavior of the +/+ and +/y flies remained similar regardless of the experimental design or light intensity. The excessive neural stimulation by high-intensity light resulting from reduced shielding pigments led to behavioral modifications in the visual and tactile responses of the y/y flies.


Social genetics.

Social genetics. Most behavior is expressed within social systems, and the genetic analysis of its variance therefore presents theoretical and technical problems that have been sidestepped in most previous research. The dog presents obvious advantages for studying behavioral interactions between genotypes. Two sets of data are summarized that indicate that the magnitude of genetic differences is related to the differentiation of social roles in a competitive situation, whereas similarity of genotypes is an advantage in a situation demanding coordinated activity. Issues concerning the use of correlational techniques to study social behavior are raised.


[Socio-medical significance of alkalie resistance, alkalie neutralization and skin-surface lipid content in atopic neurodermatitis and ichthyosis vulgaris (author's transl)]. In individuals free from skin diseases, the resistance and the neutralisation to alkali, and the quantity of lipids at the surface of the skin, are constitltional factors; these idiotypically (genetically) controlled factors are subject to paratypical (environmental) variations. The frequency of a reduced alkali neutralisation and of sebostasis in case of neurodermitis atopica and of ichthyosis vulgaris is not dealt with in the literature, but it results from literature findings that a pathologic alkali resistance is a facultative feature in neurodermitis atopica, while it is an obligatory one in ichthyosis vulgaris. The difference seems to be conditioned genetically. In neurodermitis atopica, the genotype is in itself of no pathogenic importance since the disease is induced exclusively by exogenous and endogenous, non hereditary agents. In ichthyosis vulgaris, the reduced alkali resistance falls into the pleiotropic character of the disease.


NMR spectroscopy of the ring nitrogen protons of uracil and substituted uracils; relevance to A psi base  pairing in the solution structure of transfer RNA. The chemical shifts of the well-resolved ring nitrogen protons of uracil and a series of substituted uracils, including pseudouridine (5-ribosyl-uracil) and uridine (1-ribosyl-uracil) were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The observed chemical shifts suggest the existence of an atypical syn conformation for pseudouridine in the Apsi base pair in regulatory tRNAs in solution.


[An autopsy case of head injury with a manic-depressive states (author's transl)]. M. M. a man aged 49. He suffered from a head injury at the aged of 41. At that time he lost consciousness for a few minutes and he was diagnosed as a consquassatio cerebri. The sequelaes of his head injury were a change of character and a disturbance of autonomic nerve function. The changes of character were decreased of activity, lie-down for all day, decrease of speech and depressive mode, and occasionally he was ill-humored, restless and irritative. Periodically he became euphoris, talkative and childisch. He had a disturbance of autonomic nerve function which became worse in parallel to the depressive states. We speculated that character changes, such as manic-depressive states and disturbances of autonomic nerve function were due to the bruising of the bilateral orbital surfaces of frontal lobes.


[A new technique for collection the cerebrospinal fluid from rat (authors transl)]. An attempt was made to collect the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of rat using a capillary phenomenon technique. Experiments were carried out in 76 rats anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal, Abbot. 50 mg/kg IP). The midline incision in the occipital region was made from 0.5 cm anterior to interauricular line of 4 cm in length. Exposing the atlanto-occipital dura mater by separating the nuchal muscles, the CSF was collected with a heparinized microtube (MICROPET. Bection, Dickson and Company) through a small hole made by a 18G syringe needle. Thus, 0.05-0.05 ml of the CSF could be readily obtained without mixture of the blood in 64 cases out of 76 trials, 84%. This simple technique is a useful way to get a small amount of CSF from little animals, such as rats.


[A case of neuro-Behcet's syndrome in a woman (author's transl)]. An autopsy case of Neuro-Behçet's syndrome is reported with review of the previous 13 cases. A 48-year-old woman who had recurrent oral aphthae and genital ulcers beginning at the age of 27 years suddenly developed several neurological symptoms including headache, paraplegia and disturbance of speech. She died of septicemia due to the urinary infection 22 years after the appearance of the first symptoms and one year after the neurological manifestation. Autopsy revealed a marked atrophy of the frontal lobes of the cerebral hemispheres. Microscopic changes in the central nervous system were consisted of edema and lymphocytic cuffing around the vessels, small foci of softening of the white matter and accumulation of fat-laden cells around these foci, and demyelination. These histologic lesions showed a diffuse distribution in the entire brain without a characteristic localisation, but involvement of the basilar nuclei and the pons was most intense in the present case as observed in most of the previous reports. Microscopic examination of other organs revealed severe pyelonephritis and fatty changes of the liver.


Minor congenital variations of cusp size in tricuspid aortic valves. Possible link with isolated aortic stenosis. Clinically isolated aortic stenosis is most commonly caused by a congenitally malformed aortic valve. Many elderly patients with isolated aortic stenosis have a tricuspid aortic valve. It has been suggested in the past that inequalities in individual cusp size could be a factor leading to the development of the stenoses in these cases. In this study the width and height of individual aortic valve cusps were measured at necropsy in 200 hearts of patients without clinical signs of aortic stenosis, though the majority of valves obtained from elderly persons showed some ageing changes. The results were compared with similar measurements in 16 hearts of patients with clinically diagnosed and necropsy proven isolated aortic stenosis. The results show that inequality in cusp size is the rule rather than the exception. Indeed, only 5 of the 200 'normal' tricuspid aortic valves had 3 cusps of identical height and width, and each of the 16 cases with isolated aortic stenosis has cusps of differing size. The results seem to contradict the aforementioned hypothesis. However, the striking similarities between isolated aortic stenosis and the ageing aortic valve, suggest that isolated tricuspid aortic stenosis is an extreme with a spectrum of ageing alterations. Inequality in cusp size, with differences in mechanical tissue stress as a consequence, could then play a role in the pathogenesis of the stenosis by accelerating the ageing process.


The medial papillary complex.

The medial papillary complex. The anatomy of the papillary muscle of the conus, also known as Lancisi's muscle, was studied in 100 normal hearts from pathological collections and in 8 embryonic and fetal hearts. Wide morphological variations were observed and because of this the name medial papillary complex is proposed. It is concluded that the value of this complex as an anatomical landmark in the right ventricle is a very restricted one. The development of the medial papillary complex is described.


Lignocaine: a new technique for intravenous administration. Current practices of intravenous lignocaine administration may result in a significant drop in blood level between the peak serum level from the initial bolus and the subsequent steady state from the constant infusion. This can cause a significant interval when plasma lignocaine levels are less than therapeutic, and ventricular ectopy may occur. To eliminate this subtherapeutic interval, a new therapeutic approach was devised. Seven patients were studied who had no evidence of congestive heart failure or liver disease. Lignocaine was infused at a rate of 25 mg/min; infusion dosages were selected by patient weight. The above therapeutic regimen eliminated the subtherapeutic hiatus and did not result in clinical toxicity. Therefore, this new infusion technique has significant clinical advantages in patients who require therapy with intravenous lignocaine.


Intracellular electrolytes in cardiac and skeletal muscle in fatal digitalis intoxication. Samples from cardiac and skeletal muscle were obtained immediately after death in a case of fatal digitalis intoxication. Intra- and extracellular electrolytes were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. No changes were found in the extracellular electrolytes, and only modest changes were noted in skeletal muscle. In cardiac muscle, however, profound electrolyte disturbances were recorded with an inward shift of sodium and an outward shift fo potassium. This signifies an extensive and early inhibition of the membrane ATPase in cardiac muscle  and stresses the importance of immediate and vigorous treatment of the intracellular electrolyte disturbances with a view to suppressing serious and potentially lethal arrhythmias.


Ventricular ectopic activity after premature atrial beats in acute myocardial infarction. Ventricular ectopic activity occurred only after premature atrial beats in a patient with an acute inferior wall myocardial infarction. The ventricular ectopic activity occurred only when the coupling interval between the premature atrial beats and preceding sinus beat was less than or equal to 0-44 s. The sinus cycle length, however, appeared to influence the form of expression of ventricular ectopic activity independent of coupling intervals, with single premature ventricular contractions occurring at cycle lengths greater than or equal to 0-72 s, couplets at cycle lengths of 0-68 to 0-71 s, and ventricular tachycardia at cycle lengths less than or equal to 0-67 s.


Echocardiographic features of cardiac compression by a thymoma simulating cardiac tamponade and obstruction of the superior vena cava. A patient with a large tumour of the superior mediastinum, detected by routine chest X-ray examination, is presented. Compression of the heart and the superior mediastinum produced the clinical picture of cardiac tamponade and obstruction of the superior vena cava and trachea. The solid nature of the tumour was established by echocardiography which, in addition, showed: (1) posterior displacement of the heart; (2) diminished dimensions of the left atrium and left ventricle; (3) prominent respiratory variation in the position of the interventricular septum, the dimensions of both ventricles, and the duration of systolic separation of the aortic valve cusps; and (4) 'pseudo-prolapse' of the mitral valve. All abnormal clinical signs and echocardiographic findings disappeared promptly after surgical resection of the tumour which was found to be a thymoma.


Electrophysiological properties of phentolamine in man. The effects of phentolamine, 0-3 mg/min given intravenously for 15 minutes, on His bundle electrograms were studied in 11 patients with heart disease. Recordings were made at varied heart rates, using atrial pacing. Phentolamine significantly reduced the AH interval in every patient but it had no effect on the HV interval. Functional and effective refractory periods were measured with the use of the atrial extrastimulus technique. The effective refractory period of the atrium and atrioventricular node as well as the functional refractory period of the atrioventricular node all significantly decreased after phentolamine infusion. This improvement in conduction is probably mediated by a release of catecholamines.


Echocardiographic visualisation of the interatrial baffle after Mustard's operation. Thirty children aged from 7 weeks to 14 years were examined by echocardiography after Mustard's operation for transposition of the great arteries. Discrete and persitent echoes were noted within the original left atrial cavity and contrast echocardiography was used to establish that these originated from the interatrial baffle. In the presence of caval channel obstruction, caused by malposition or shrinkage of the baffle, significant differences were seen in the echocardiographic appearances of the baffle, namely limitation of baffle motion, thickening, and multiplicity of the baffle echoes. These findings suggest that the technique may be of value in the postoperative assessment of patients with transposition of the great arteries.


Origin of ventricular reflexes caused by coronary arteriography. Left ventricular reflexes have in the past been investigated in anaesthetised animals, generally using an open chest technique. We have studied the degree of bradycardia occurring during coronary arteriography in 200 patients with a view to localising the origin of the ventricular reflexes. We have correlated the decrease of sinus rate with the anatomical distribution and integrity of the coronary tree. The degree of bradycardia was not influenced by the origin of the sinus node or the AV node arteries, while there was a good correlation with the injection of contrast medium into the artery which supplied the inferior wall of the left ventricle. The occurrence of transient sinus arrest was also correlated with the injection into the same artery. The results suggest that the parasympathetic receptors are located mainly in the inferior wall of the left ventricle. This may well be the explanation for the clinical picture of bradycardia, hypotension, and peripheral vasodilatation often seen in acute inferior myocardial infarction.


Assessment of diagnostic value of technetium-99m pyrophosphate myocardial scintigraphy in 80 patients with possible acute myocardial infarction. The diagnostic value of technetium-99m-pyrophosphate (Tc-pyrophosphate) myocardial scintigraphy was determined in 80 consecutive patients who had been admitted to the coronary care unit in order to rule out an acute myocardial infarction. Scintigraphic findings obtained within 5 days of admission were correlated with the final cardiac diagnosis determined for each patient. Significant myocardial uptake of Tc-pyrophosphate (positive scans) occurred in 13 of 22 patients (59%) who had enzyme and/or electrocardiographic proven acute myocardial infarct: 3 out of 5 with transmural myocardial infarct, 9 of 16 with nontransmural myocardial infarct, and 1 patient with left bundle-branch block. Of 58 patients who showed no evidence of acute myocardial infarction, positive scans occurred in 14 of 33 patients who had unstable angina pectoris (42%), 0 of 6 who had congestive heart failure, 6 of 9 who had other acute cardiac syndromes, and in 0 of 10 who had noncardiac chest pain. In the patients with unstable angina pectoris positive scans could not be predicted on the basis of the history, electrocardiographic findings or the arteriographically determined severity of the coronary artery disease. Blood levels of Tc-99m activity measured in 21 cardiac patients and in 6 volunteers did not correlate with the uptake intensity of Tc-pyrophosphate. These findings suggest caution in the use of this imaging method for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarct in patients admitted with 'rule out myocardial infarction'.


Natural history and evaluation of ST segment changes and MB CK release in acute myocardial infarction. The experimental evidence relating ST segment elevation in the electrocardiogram to the progress and extent of ischaemic myocardial damage is discussed. There are difficulties in applying this to patients: the reproducibility of praecordial mapping was tested using a multiple analysis of variance. This showed that factors such as time after the onset of myocardial infarction and posture can affect measurements of sigmaST elevation significantly. There was a pattern of changes in segmaST elevation and of changes in plasma MB CK activity in a group of patients with uncomplicated anterior infarction. A significant byt weak correlation was found between sigmaST elevation in the first hour and the total MB CK activity released into the plasma, but not at any other time. The use of sigmaST elevation as a measure of the extent of ischaemic damage is unreliable. In 5 patients with a variety of complications of acute anterior infarction, changes in sigmaST elevation werr significantly different from the uncomplicated group, and MB CK release profiles suggested further necrosis. The pattern and time course of ST segment changes may be of use in assessing the progress of ischaemic myocardial damage.


Distortion of non-invasive cardiac pulse curves. A capillary-damped pick-up and a calibration unit forapex cardiograms and other pulse curves. A calibration unit and a capillary-damped pick-up, of funnel type, intended for apex cardiograms and other non-invasive cardiac pulse curves are presented. The physical properties of a recording system, suitable for non-invasive cardiac diagnostic techniques, are reviewed. In 4 identical recording units consisting of a funnel with and without capillary damping, connected via air transmission to a transducer, the overamplification in the underdamped systems varied between 2-4 and 4-3, and in the capillary-damped systems between 1-1 and 1-2. The capillary damping gave an approximately linear relation between phase shift and frequency in the high frequency range with a calculated delay of about 4ms. The low frequency time constant in the systems varied between 1-9 and 4-6 s, depending on the amplifier setting used, which for sine curves of frequency 0-5 and 2 Hz means an apparent prematurity for their maxima and minima varying between 53 and 1 ms, this being larger with lower frequency time constants and lower frequency curves.


Partial characterization and proposed mode of action of inhibitory HeLa cell surface polypeptides. Polypeptides removed from the HeLa cell surface by mild pronase treatment rapidly inhibit protein synthesis when added to HeLa cells or cell-free translation systems derived from HeLa cells. The inhibitory activity is heat stable. Protein and carbohydrate components of these polypeptides are required for inhibition of protein synthesis in vivo and in vitro. Two peaks of activity can be recovered from polyacrylamide gels, corresponding to polypeptides with molecular weights of approximately 29 000 and 41 000. Inhibition of protein synthesis in cell-free translation systems appears to be primarily an effect on elongation of polypeptide chains, whereas in the intact cell the primary target may be polypeptide chain initiation.


Detection of amphiphilic proteins and peptides in complex mixtures. Charge-shift crossed immunoelectrophoresis and two-dimensional charge-shift electrophoresis. Charge-shift electrophoresis has been suggested as a simple and novel method for differentiating between emphiphilic and hydrophilic proteins (Helenius, A. and Simons, K. (1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. 74, 529-532.) This communication reports on the combination of charge-shift electrophoresis with second dimensional quantitative immunoelectrophoresis, and on a two-dimensional modification of the charge-shift electrophoresis technique. From results obtained with unfractionated human plasma proteins and human erythrocyte membrane proteins we conclude that these modifications reliably permit detection of amphiphilic proteins and peptides in complex mixtures.


Fusion of neurohypophyseal membranes in vitro. Freeze cleaving electron microscopy has shown that fusion of isolated secretory vesicles from bovine neurohypophyses was induced by Ca2+ in micromolar concentrations. Mg2+ and Sr2+ were ineffective. Mg2+ inhibited Ca2+-induced fusion. In suspensions containing secretory vesicles as well as sheets of cell membrane, release of vasopressin parallel to intervesicular fusion and fusion of secretory vesicles with sheets of cell membrane was observed after exposure to Ca2+. Mg2+ and Sr2+ were ineffective in replacing Ca2+ as trigger for fusion or vasopressin release. Intervesicular fusion and exocytotic profiles were observed when isolated neurohypophyses or neurosecretosomes were exposed to cold.


Properties of lipid bilayer membranes made from lipids containing phytanic acid. Besides the preparation of phytanic acid (3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecylic acid) according to the Dumas-Stass reaction, the synthesis of four different lipids containing phytanic acid residues is described. Diphytanoyl phosphatidylcholine was synthesized beginning from glycerylphosphorylcholine, whereas the other lipids, diphytanoyl phosphatidylethanolamine, diphytanoyl phosphatidylserine and monophytanoyl glyceride were prepared by total synthesis. Some properties of lipid bilayer membranes made from the lipids containing phytanic acid were investigated. The specific capacity of these membranes was measured. Its value of approximately 400 nF cm-2 was found to be similar to the value of membranes from lipids with unbranched fatty acid residues. Charge pulse experiments were performed using dipicrylamine as a molecular probe of membrane structure. The results were discussed on the basis of a higher viscosity of the membranes from lipids containing phytanic acid residues compared with unbranched fatty acid residues.


Isolation and identification of glycosaminoglycans associated with purified nuclei from rat liver. Nuclei isolated from rat liver were purified extensively and then subjected to extraction of glycosaminoglycans by the conventional method with a slight modification including the treatments with amylase, nucleases (DNAase and RNAase), and sialidase in addition to the pronase treatment. The nuclear glycosaminoglycan fraction thus prepared was subjected to chromatography on Dowes 1-X2 (Cl-) and electrophoresis before or after digestion with specific enzymes such as Streptomyces hyaluronidase, chondroitinase ABC and AC. These results together with the results of chemical analyses have revealed that the purified nuclei from rat liver contain glycosaminoglycans equivalent to 0.2-0.3 microgram hexuronic acid per mg DNA. A major component of the nuclear glycosaminoglycans has been identified as hyaluronic acid, while a minor component as chondroitin sulfate A (OR C). Preliminary investigations have shown that most of the nuclear glycosaminoglycans are associated with the chromatin fraction.


Studies on lectins. XXXI. Determination of dissociation constants of lectin. Sugar complexes by means of affinity electrophoresis. A modification of affinity electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels containing immobilized sugar residues is described. The immobilization of sugar residues is achieved by addition of a water soluble O-glycosyl polyacrylamide copolymer to the polymerization mixture, which serves for the preparation of gels for commonly used discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The electrophoretic mobility of lectins in affinity gels containing specific immobilized sugar decreases with increasing sugar concentration. The addition of free sugar into the affinity gel abolishes retardation of the electrophoretic mobility caused by immobilized sugar. The relationship between electrophoretic mobility of lectins and concentration of immobilized and free sugar was used for the calculation of dissociation constants of the various complexes lectin-immobilized sugar and lectin-free sugar.


Studies on lectins. XXXII. Application of affinity electrophoresis to the study of the interaction of lectins and their derivatives with sugars. Affinity electrophoresis was used to study the sugar binding heterogeneity of lectins or their derivatives. Commercial and demetallized preparations of concanavalin A could be resolved by affinity electrophoresis into three components with different affinity to immobilized sugar. Similarly the Vicia cracca lectin obtained by affinity chromatography behaved on affinity gels as a mixture of active and inactive molecular species. Affinity electrophoresis has shown that the nonhemagglutinating acetylated lentil lectin and photo-oxidized or sulfenylated pea lectin retain their sugar binding properties; dissociation constants of saccharide complexes of these derivatives are similar to those of native lectins. The presence of specific immobilized sugar in the affinity gel improved the resolution of isolectins from Dolichos biflorus and Ricinus communis seeds.


Action of 5-(2-thienyl)valeric acid as a biotin antagonist. 5-(2-Thienyl)valeric acid (TVA), a biotin analogue which can be easily prepared through chemical process, inhibited the growth of a biotin synthesizing Rhodotorula glutinis. The growth inhibition was reversed by the addition of biotin. Among biotin intermediates, dethiobiotin and 7,8-diaminopelargonic acid reversed the inhibition by TVA, while 7-keto-8-amino-pelargonic acid and pimelic acid did not. From these results, it was concluded that TVA is a biotin antagonist which probably acts as an inhibitor of biotin biosynthesis.


[Use of immunochemical methods in enzymology]. The binding of antibodies to enzymes-antigens markedly affects the activity and structure of the latters. The mechanisms of activation and inhibition of enzymes by antibodies and the use of immunochemical methods for the study of the active sites structure, conformational changes during interaction with substrates and other ligands and the quaternary structure of enzymes are discussed.


[A substrate-type induction of liver microsomal monooxygenases by phenobarbital]. A possibility of step-wise induction of microsomal monooxygenases after injection of phenobarbital in the presence of 3-methylcholanthrene-caused induction was studied. It was found that the ratio of the high- and low-spin types of cytochrome, rather than the position of the CO-peak of its reduced form is a criterion for functional specificity of hemoprotein. Induction by phenobarbital appears possible under conditions when the inductor binding to microsomal hemoprotein is lacking, since cytochrome P-488 has no binding sites for phenobarbital. It is assumed that under microsomal monooxygenases induction by phenobarbital activation of genome and subsequent protein synthesis are operated by the substrate rather than by products of its primary metabolism in microsomes.


[14C incorporation into lipid fractions of yeast Candida quilliermondii during growth in the presence of different carbon sources]. Kinetics of 14C incorporation into lipid fractions of yeast C. quilliermondii from 1-14C-octadecane and 1,2-14C-acetic acid is studied. Considerable differences, revealed in kinetics and the rate of 14C incorporation into lipid fractions depending on the lipid precursors, draw to the conclusion that the lipid synthesis from octadecane and acetic acid can occur through different pathways. The absence of the competition under the carbon influx into lipid fraction also suggests, that the lipid synthesis from ocetate and carbohydrate takes place simultaneously through two different pathways, which are spatially uncoupled in cell. A presence in yeast cells of two glyoxylate shunts is proposed, which are spatially uncoupled and specific to acetyl residues of different origins.


[Isolation and properties of trypsin isoinhibitors from kidney beans]. Two isoinhibitors (II and III-B) have been isolated from kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in a highly purified state. Both were active against trypsin and chymotrypsin to the same extent. Their amino acid composition is characterized by a high content of half-cystine, aspartic acid (or asparagine) and serine, by the absence of valine, methionine and tryptophan. Glycine and serine were N-terminal in II and III-B respectively. Both isoinhibitors have C-terminal leucine.


[Purification and kinetic properties of glycogen phosphorylase A from rabbit liver]. The purification of phosphorylated form of rabbit liver glycogen phosphorylase (phosphorylase A) using the chromathography on a omega-amino-hexyl-Sepharose column has been carried out. The yield is about 90%, the specific activity is equal to 90 mkmol Pi/min. mg. The enzyme samples appeared essentially homogeneous when analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The Km value of glucose-1-phosphate in the presence of AMP is 4--6 mM, which is higher than that found previously. When the glucose-1-phosphate concentration was varied, deviations from Michaelis-Menten kinetics were observed in the presence of glucose or ATP (Hill slopes of 1.6), but these deviations were virtually abolished by the presence of AMP. With glucose-1-phosphate as the substrate the Ki value of glucose is 57 mM in the absence of AMP and 150 mM in the presence of this effector. The Ki value of ATP is less dependent on the presence of AMP. The synergism in combined action of glucose and ATP has been revealed.


[Stability of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in aging of human diploid cells and the laboratory mouse]. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (E. C. 1.1.1.49) was found to be inactivated by 30% for 25 min the incubation at 37 degrees C in extracts of human diploid cells and mouse liver, and the stability of the enzyme was found to reduce in aging of human diploid cells and mouse. The stability of dehydrogenase of mice treated with "geroprotector", 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine, exceeds the control level.


[Light-induced production and consumption of oxygen by chloroplasts: activation and inhibition]. Light-induced production and consumption of oxygen by pea chloroplasts are activated at certain concentrations of the solvents (diethyl ester, methyl alcohol, dimethylsulfoxide) and detergent Triton X-100. At higher concentrations of the compounds studied both reactions are inhibited. The uncouplers (methylamine and carbonyl cyanide-3-chlorophenylhydrazone) activate these processes. The agents studied have a similar effect on the processes of light-induced production and consumption of oxygen, which are limited by a common link bound to the phosphorylation site in photosystem I. The effects observed suggest that the inhibition may be due to inhibition of photosystem II, whereas the activation may be largely due to an action on photosystem I.


Postural plasma aldosterone response in "upright hyperkalemia" associated with selective hypoaldosteronism. Upright posture induced a consistent increase in serum K with a blunted plasma aldosterone response in four male renal patients with selective hypoaldosteronism. Dietary Na restriction induced a dramatic increase in the suppressed plasma aldosterone without returning the elevated serum K levels to normal and abolishing the postural serum K change. Therefore it is concluded that "upright hyperkalemia" may not be caused exclusively by suppression or/and inadequate postural response of aldosterone. Cellular disturbance in the regulation of K distribution might be an additional explantation for the aldosterone unresponsive postural K change.


The synthesis of transcobalamin II, a vitamin B12 transport protein, by stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. The concentration of transcobalamin II (TCII), the vitamin B12 binding protein which delivers vitamin B12 to the tissues, was determined in stimulated and non stimulated mouse peritoneal exudate cells (PEC). Following a single intraperitoneal thioglycollate injection there was a marked increase in TCII which was shown to be produced by the adherent cells of the PEC i.e. the macrophages. It has been concluded that the PEC macrophages synthesize TCII.


Radionuclide inferior vena cavagram.

Radionuclide inferior vena cavagram. Routine visualisation of the I.V.C. at the time of injection for hepatosplenic scintigraphy may sometimes yield useful information. 4 such instances are reported.


The use of the radioimmunoprecipitation-PEG assay (RIPEGA) to detect anti-IgG antibodies. A new procedure, the radioimmunoprecipitation--P.E.G. assay (RIPEGA) is proposed for the detection of anti-IgG antibodies (anti-IgG Ab). This sensitive and reproducible test was performed by incubation of radio-labelled human IgG (125I-IgG) with patient's sera. Separation of free from complexed 125I-IgG was achieved by a 7% P.E.G. precipitation. Preliminary results demonstrated anti-IgG Ab in 84.4% of the cases of sero-positive rheumatoid arthritis (R.A.), 85% of seronegative R.A., 43% of other forms of inflammatory arthritis, 50% of unclassified arthritis and in 10.5% of the control subjects.


Influence of beta-blockade on aldosterone metabolism under normal and low sodium diet in man. During a five days administration, Propranolol (80 mg daily) or Acebutolol (600 mg daily) decreased significantly plasma renin activity in 14 mild essential hypertensive patients under a normal (8 patients) or low sodium (6 patients) diet. Plasma aldosterone and aldosterone secretion rate were significantly lowered by treatment under the low sodium diet, but unchanged during the normal sodium diet. In the latter, the dissociation observed between renin and aldosterone did not involve a change in aldosterone metabolic clearance rate or in plasma potassium. The decrease in plasma aldosterone was significantly correlated to the initial renin activity. These results demonstrate that the inhibitory effect of two different betablocking agents on renin release is not related to their cardio-selectivity and is independent of sodium balance. The influence of the renin decrease on aldosterone is dependent on sodium balance and on the initial state of the renin angiotensin system.


Takeover mechanisms and early biochemical evolution. It is common feature of comparatively recent evolution that a structure adapted to one function turns out also to have another function, or another way of performing an existing one. It is proposed that while our central biochemical machinery was actively evolving there were such discoveries and takeovers that provided routes to radically new disigns. The recognition and control techniques of protein would seem to be replacements for earlier approaches to similar functions. Polynucleotides may have been more widely used here in a pre-protein era. But even nucleic acid is seen as the outcome of a takeover, from an earlier quite different genetic material with properties more appropriate to primitive conditions and to primitive techniques of molecular control.


Elements of a DNA-polypeptide recognition code: electrostatic potential around the double helix, and a stereospecific model for purine recognition. A model for stereospecific complex between a polynucleotide double helix and a twisted beta-ribbon type polypeptide is described. The beta ribbon lies in the major groove with alternate side chains pointing toward the interior of the groove. The base-amino acid complementarities are: Arg, G and Asn or Gln, A. It is shown that this complex can: (a) distinguish between G and A in homopolar sequences; (b) the complex is stabilized by approx. 6 Kcal/mole per hydrogen bond per base pair; (c) the required backbone conformation is in the permitted range of Ramachandran plots.


Synthesis of uracil and thymine under simulated prebiotic conditions. Evaporation and mild heating of solutions of beta-alanine and urea in the presence of clay minerals leads to the formation of 5,6-dihydrouracil (DHU). Ultraviolet irradiation of DHU in the presence of clay minerals and water vapor leads to the synthesis of uracil. Addition of acetate to this system results in the synthesis of thymine. The entire pathway could plausibly occur in pools subject to cycles of dehydration and rehydration and would result in the formation of significant concentrations of uracil and thymine from indisputably prebiotic materials.


beta-structures of alternating polypeptides and their possible role in chemical evolution. The tendency of copolypeptides with alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic residues to form water soluble beta-structures in presence of salt, already described for poly(Val-Lys) (Brack and Orgel, 1975), was generalized to optically pure poly(Lys-Leu-Lys-Leu) and poly(Leu-Glu-Leu- G lu). Substitution of about 10% of L-lysyl residues by their enantiomers did not prevent the coli to beta transition but had nervertheless a sensitive effect on the beta-structures. Disruption of the alternation by insertion of extra glycyl or L-prolyl residues as in poly(Gly-Lys-Leu-Lys-Leu) and poly(Pro-Lys-Leu-Lys-Leu) decreased dramatically the tendency to form beta-structures. However, by using strong interaction ions such as perchlorate ions or by lengthening the alternating sequences as in the semi-random copoly(Gly-Lys-Leu-Lys-Leu1, Lys-Leu-Lys-Leu1) and copoly(Pro-Lys-Leu-Lys-Leu1, Lys-Leu-Lys-Leu1) it was possible to obtain soluble beta-structures which showed differences in the CD spectra. The binding properties of the beta-surface are examined.


[Dependence of muscle electrical activity on its length in the development of a constant force]. Dependence of the integrated electromyogram on the muscle length with its tension being constant was investigated in human biceps muscle. The subject kept his forearm at known angles or flexed the elbow at the horizontal plain against a constant force applied to his wrist. The data obtained showed that the integrated electromyogram increased several times with muscle shortening both at static condition and during movement. Causes of increase in the electrical activity are discussed.


[Rate of local cerebral blood flow in newborn rats in normo- and hypercapnia]. Local cerebral blood flow (1CBF) measured by hydrogen saturation technique, and cerebral blood volume (CBV) observed by photoplethysmographic method were investigated in unanesthetized newborn rats. 1CBF in newborn animals was found to be much lower than in the adult ones. In contrast to adult animals, CO2 inhalation in newborn rats failed to increase 1CBF. CBV also remained constant during the CO2 inhalation.


[Kidney kallikrein-kinin system in different mechanisms of diuresis]. Water and saline loading and Lasix administration lead to the intensification of the renal kallikrein-kinin system activity in rats. A positive correlation between the kallikrein excretion, urine volume and "osmotically free water" clearance was established in water and osmotic diuresis. There was the highest amount of kallikrein excreted by the kidneys during the "escape" phenomenon after saline loading. Kallikrein excretion correlated positively with sodium excretion in osmotic diuresis. The role played by the kallikrein-kinin system in control of diuresis, sodium excretion and concentrating capacity of the kidneys is discussed.


[State of the hemodynamics in the remaining kidney after nephrectomy]. The state of hemodynamics of the kidney left after nephrectomy was examined by determining renal blood flow and rheorenography. In the two experimental series nephrectomy was accompanied by hemorrhage with the subsequent auto-blood and homologous blood transfusion. Nephrectomy produced a blood flow reduction in the remaining kidney associated with the lowering of the blood compression and vasospasm. The blood flow returned to the normal at the end of the first 24 hours, and then increased progressively. Hemorrhage during the operation aggravated the hemodynamic disorders in the remaining kidney during the first postoperative hours. The use of autoblood promoted their quick disappearance, within two hours. At the same time the use of homologous blood led to persistence of hemodynamic disorders up to three days after the operation.


[Hypotensive effect of intensifying aldosterone metabolism in dogs with vasorenal hypertension]. The mechanisms of hypotensive effect of the portacaval transposition of the vessels in dogs with vaso-renal hypertension were studied. The direction of renal and adrenal venous blood to the liver in hypertensive dogs led to an increase in aldosterone metabolism, and, at the same time, to a rise of the hormone secretion by the adrenal glands; as a result the steroid level in the peripheral blood remained unchanged. Elimination of the syndrome of secondary hyperaldosteronism with the aid of porta-caval transposition occurred on account of an increase in aldosterone metabolism and led to the arterial pressure normalization.


[Relative volume of functioning capillaries in the skeletal muscle in regional hypotension]. Experiments on rats demonstrated that one month after the reduction of pressure in the vessels of the hind part of the body caused by narrowing of the abdominal aorta lumen the number of functioning capillaries in the gastrocnemius and the soleus muscles was practically the same as in control animals. These results allowed the authors to assume that a decrease of the hydraulic resistance of the resistive vessels in the area of chronic local arterial hypotension was not connected with an increase in the number of parallelly functioning vessels.


[Respiratory function of the blood in the cat in hyperoxia]. The influence of isobaric hyperoxia (99% O2, 760 mm Hg, 3 hours a day for 2 weeks) on the respiratory function of the mongrel adult cats blood was investigated. An increase of the reticulocyte count (by 170%), and a fall of methemoglobin concentration in the blood (by 33%), and a decrease of the affinity of cat hemoglobin oxygen affinity (by 13%)8 and of the cooperation effect of Hill's constant (by 16%) were observed. Dialysis of hemoglobin solutions eliminated the difference in the hemoglobin oxygen affinity of control and experimental animals. The number of hemoglobin fractions and their mobility was found to be unchanged (according to the agar electrophoresis method). A conclusion was drawn that the cat erythrocytes reaction to hyperoxia was a typical autoregulation; on its basis hemoglobin acquired a lesser oxygen affinity under conditions of an excess of this gas.


[Indices of body resistance to overheating in the dynamics of acute radiation lesion]. Three hours after irradiation in a dose of 800 R rats proved to be less resistant to following overheating (45 degrees C) than control animals. An increase of resistance to acute overheating was revealed at the end of 3 days after the irradiation. At the height of the radiation disease (the end of the 5th day) the period of occurrence of heat stroke and the duration of rat survival failed to differ from those in the control animals. The dynamics of response to overheating correlated to some extent with that of the thyroid gland and the adrenal gland functions in the irradiated animals.


[Activity and electrophoretic multiplicity of molecular forms of superoxide dismutase in the formed elements of human blood]. When calculated per protein content the level of super-oxide dismutase (SOD) activity in various human blood cells proved to decrease as follows: platelet greater than erythrocyte greater than greater than lymphocyte greater than granulocyte. During gel electrophoresis of granulocyte, lymphocyte and platelet homogenates three zones of SOD activity were revealed. Two enzyme fractions disappearing after the cyanide treatment were found in the erythrocyte lysates after the removal of hemoglobin. Of the two SOD fractions of platelets, lymphocytes, and granulocytes rapidly migrating to the anode, by the capacity to be inhibited with cyanide or organic solvents the first SOD fraction was attributed to cytosol enzyme, while the second one -- to mitochondrial enzyme. The third cathode fraction was not identified. The functional role of SOD in specialized blood cells and the causes of the enzyme heterogeneity are discussed.


[Effect of space flight on the makeup of the soluble proteins of the spinal cord and intervertebral ganglia of rats]. The content of individual protein fractions extracted successively from the spinal cord (at the level of the lumbar enlargement and the spinal ganglia) with distilled water, 0.85% NaCl solution and 0.1 N NaOH was studied. The content of water-soluble proteins in the white and grey matter of the spinal cord decreased significantly 12 hours postflight. The content of salt-soluble and alkali-soluble proteins in the spinal cord and spinal ganglia structures per 1 mg of fresh tissue displayed no significant change. As compared with the control, 25 days postflight the water-soluble protein concentration in the grey matter of the spinal cord increased significantly. There was a rise of the water-soluble proteins in the white matter of the spinal cord reaching the preflight level. Alkali-soluble proteins content in the spinal ganglia also increased significantly.


[Disorder of glycolytic redox in the liver in experimental burn disease]. The authors present the results of studies of the intensity of glycolytic oxidoreduction in the rat liver 3, 6, 12 and 24 days after the reproduction of experimental burn disease. This disease proved to lead to reduction of the glyceral-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and to decrease of 3-phosphoglyceric acid formation in the burned animals' liver, mostly expressed during burn toxemia (the 6th day). The limiting factor of the course of this reaction after the burn was the lack of NAD in the cell. Abnormality of the course of the investigated reaction was one of the reasons for reduced intensity during the glycolytic way of carbohydrate decay as a whole and for decrease of the energetic role of glucose in burn disease.


[Effect of diazepam on the properties of an erythrocyte-plasma protein complex and the development of shock during the transfusion of heterogenic blood]. Preliminary administration of 2 mg/kg of diazepam eliminated the pyrogenic reaction and increased survival of rabbits following intravenous injection of cat blood to them. A study of physico-chemical properties of the blood by measurement of the ionization balance in thermal denaturing demonstrated that injection of heterogenous blood to rabbits and suspension of rabbit erythrocytes in cat plasma in vitro led to a sharp reduction of the rate of proton binding with plasma proteins in the presence of foreign erythrocytes. Preliminary administration of diazepam to rabbits, and diazepam addition to the cat plasma in vitro prevented such changes and promoted retention of normal blood properties. Addition of diazepam in a concentration of about 10--4 M to the heterogenous plasma decreased erythrocyte agglutination considerably.


[Virus-neutralizing properties of rabbit anti-influenzal IgG with a lowered complement-binding and cytophilic activity]. Relationship between the virus-neutralizing property and the effector functions of anti-viral IgG antibody was studied by using rabbit IgG against influenza virus, strain A/PR8/34. The single disulfide bond located in the hinge region of the IgG molecule was reduced to change the effector activity of the antiviral antibody. The reduced antibody retained approximately 50% of the initial complement fixing activity, but lost completely its ability to be fixed in heterologous tissue. When tested in the inhibition-hemagglutination test the reduced antiinfluenza IgG retained complete antigen binding activity. The virus-neutralizing activity of the reduced antiinfluenza IgG (tested on chick embryo) did not differ from that of the crude preparation when 100 EID50 were used. When the dose of the virus was increased up to 1000 EID50 the neutralizing activity of the reduced IgG was found to be less than that of the unreduced one. The results obtained are discussed proceeding from the structural organization of the reduced IgG.


[Effect of the tissue-specific lung adhesive factor on the urethane induction of pulmonary adenomas in mice]. The effect of adhesive factor (AF), urethane and their combination on the mechanical properties of lung tissue (this effect was assessed by the nuclei isolation during a standard dispersion procedure) and on adenoma induction was studied. As shown, the AF doses eliminating the primary action of urethane on the mechanical properties of the tissue significantly decreased the incidence of adenomas. High AF doses producing a contrary effect on the mechanical properties of the tissue failed to eliminate the primary effect of urethane and did not decrease the number of adenomas induced by urethane.


[Possible use of guinea pigs for the study of the blastomogenic activity of endogenous substances]. Mongrel guinea pigs were given 3-indolilacrilacid and 2-aminoacetophenon derivates of tryptophan which blastomogenic action was previously revealed in experiments on inbred mice. Both substances produced tumors in animals of the experimental groups earlier than in the control group, this fact showing both the preparations to have blastomogenic effect. The results of the investigation show the possibility of using guinea pigs for studying the blastomogenic action of weak cancerogenic agents to which the endogenic blastomogenic substances belong.


[Changes in the isoenzymatic spectrum of energy metabolism enzymes and in the mitochondrial ultrastructure in viral carcinogenesis]. The dynamics of redistribution of the isoenzymatic spectrum of lactate and malate dehydrogenases in the cells of rat embryo fibroblasts (REF) having been in contact with human adenovirus type 12, as compared to the dynamics of changes in the fine structure of the cellular mitochondria of the same models was studied. The action of oncogenic virus caused rearrangment in the isoenzymatic spectra of lactate and malate dehydrogenases both in the nuclei and in the cytoplasm. These disturbances occur from the first days of the REF culture interaction with the oncogenic virus and are not connected with the proliferative growth of the cell culture, but they are stipulated by the very fact of the virus influence on the cell. Comparison of the kinetics of the changes in the enzymes under study with the data of quantitative analysis of the fine structure of the mitochondrial apparatus demonstrated that biochemical shifts occurred much earlier, practically from the moment of infecting.


[Sources of heat production during animal arousal from a state of winter hibernation]. A study carried out on ground squirrels has shown that the active warming of these animals at any of the stages of arousal from hybernation was closely connected with the intensification of the shivering thermogenesis. The shivering thermogenesis of the proximal group of body muscles played the main role.


[Ca2+ ion transport in the mitochondria of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells]. Peculiarities of Ca2+ accumulation in tumor mitochondria (TM) under different experimental conditions were studied. In the absence of penetrating anions TM were shown to accumulate Ca2+ five times less than liver mitochondria do, this difference being even more in the presence of acetate. pi abolishes the observed defects in Ca2+ transport while increasing considerably the Ca2+-capacity of TM. Besides, as distinct from liver mitochondria, Pi produces a stabilizing effect upon the membrane permeability of TM, which can be responsible for the increase in the TM Ca2+-capacity.


[Size and number of adipocytes in the perirenal fatty tissue in pregnancy and in the postpartum period in rats]. As shown by the morphometric method of Sjöström et al., changes in the weight of pararenal adipose tissue during pregnancy in rats were connected with the changes in the size and not in the count of adipocytes. The character of adipose tissue changes occurring after birth depended mainly on the mode of the ratlings feeding. In case of normal feeding the ratlings hypoplasia of the adipose tissue took place in their mothers 7 to 14 days after birth; on the contrary, when the ratlings were isolated from their mother the weight of pararenal adipose tissue in the mothers rose as a result of the increase of the adypocytes number.


[Repeated amputation of the lower incisors in rats and the phenomena of salivary gland and testicular hypertrophy]. Repeated amputation of the lower incisors in rats, 11- and 14-days old, caused hypertrophy of the testis only in the presence of the submaxillary salivary glands. Bilateral submaxillary and sublingual sialadenectomy prevented hypertrophy of the testis. After the unilateral removal of these glands the weight of the testis increased, but its hypertrophy developed always. The absence of hypertrophy of the testis in the sialadenectomized animals led to the conclusion that the growth stimulating action on the testis of repeated amputations of the lower incisors was in some way mediated through the function of the salivary glands.


[Characteristics of the regeneration process in the liver deprived of polyploid hepatocytes]. By applying autoradiography with 3H-thymidine hepatocytes of young adult guinea pigs were found to enter the DNA-synthesis phase 25 hours after partial hepatectomy. Peaks of nuclei labeling were revealed 30, 45, and 60 hours after the operation. By calculating mitotic figures on squash preparations two waves of mitosis were found (in 40 and 55 hours) after hepatectomy. Cytophotometric study of DNA content showed practically all mononuclear and binuclear hepatocytes to contain diploid nuclei in 3 and 5 days after the operation. By the end of the 7th regeneration day there were revealed 6% mononuclear tetraploid cells. The percentage of binuclear cells during the period of regeneration under study decreased from 16 to 8%. A conclusion was drawn that the main cytologicalmechanism of the guinea pig liver regeneration was full-fledged mitosis ending by cell division.


[Change in the splenic megakaryocytes of white rats during regeneration under varying conditions]. Different forms of megakaryocytes are found in the intact spleen of rats, with ring-like nucleus and in the form of multinuclear large cells. The division of megakaryocytes takes place by multipolar mitosis without any subsequent cytotomy. During the regeneration the megakaryocyte count and their mitotic activity displayed a sharp increase. The gravitation overload increased the megakaryocyte count and their mitotic activity even more. The use of the spleen extracts against the background of gravitation overload diminished the megakaryocyte count, but increased their mitotic activity. In hypokinetic conditions the number of megakaryocytes was sharply decreased and no mitoses were seen in these cells.


[Morphology of the horn of Ammon of the rat hippocampus in tissue culture]. By using the light- and electron microscope methods some morphogenetic properties of rat hippocampus were studied in tissue culture (field CA1--2). Analysis of 5-, 12-, and 21-day cultures showed maturation of hippocampal- pyramid cells, development of protein-synthesizing apparatus and synaptogenesis. The authors consider synchronous development of synaptic structures, protein-synthesizing apparatus and electrogenesis to be interdependent factors.


[New method of studying the release of fibrinolysis activators in tissue cultures]. Tissue cultivation in the presence of standardized fibrin clot containing plasminogen permitted to reveal and to study quantitatively the relase of the fibrinolysis activators into the medium (by the amount of the fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products). A possibility of in vitro study of the regulation of fibrinolysis activators release by the tissues was offered by the method described.


Functional characterization of cells separated from suspensions of Hodgkin diseases tumor cells in an isokinetic gradient. Suspensions of cells from Hodgkin disease tumors were separated by  velocity sedimentation in an isokinetic Ficall gradient. The separated cells were cultured with mitogens. The modal population of lymphocytes from the tumor contained 50%-75% of all lymphocytes separated from the tumor of each studied patient. Despite the fact that these cells appeared to be mature lymphocytes, the majority of which formed nonimmune E rosettes with sheep red blood cells, they showed a lack of responsiveness to phytohemogglutinin which was almost complete in all but one patient. Lymphocytes which had been obtained in suspension and purified by identical methods from tonsils and spleens without tumors did respond to stimulation by phytohemagglutinin.


Characterization of colony-stimulating activity produced by human monocytes and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes. Human colony-stimulating activity (CSA) may support the proliferation of both human and murine granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (CFU-C) or, in the case of human urinary CSA, may only stimulate murine bone marrow CFU-C. CSA produced in the culture media of monocytes and macrophages and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes from human peripheral blood was characterized for both human and mouse marrow CFU-C stimulating activities. During the initial phase of a long-term cultures of monocytes, both human- and mouse-active CSA (MnCM-HM) were produced. In later phases of culture, however, only mouse-active CSA (MnCM-M) was produced. Fractionation on Sephadex G-150 revealed two functionally distinct species from MnCM-HM and lymphocytes conditioned medium, a high molecular weight factor (MW greater than 150,000) which stimulated mouse but not human colony formation, and a low molecular weight species (MW 25,000-35,000) which was active against both mouse and human target cells. However, MnCM-M revealed only one high molecular weight species (greater than 150,000), active only on mouse marrow. The possible biologic significance of such an activity is discussed.


Heterogeneity in human neutrophil, macrophage and eosinophil progenitor cells demonstrated by velocity sedimentation separation. Progenitor cells of neutrophils, monocyte-macrophages, and eosinophils in human marrow were enumerated in agar cultures stimulated by placental conditioned medium or white cell underlayers. Fractionation of marrow populations by velocity sedimentation showed that the profiles of neutrophil and macrophage colony-forming cells shifted from a peak of 8-9 mm/hr in 7-day cultures to a peak of 6-7 mm/hr in 14-day cultures. This shift was due to degeneration of some early colonies formed by rapidly sedimenting cells and the delayed formation of colonies by slowly sedimenting cells. Eosinophil colony formation was delayed until the second week of incubation. Further evidence of heterogeneity was the observation that rapidly sedimenting colony forming cells were more responsive to stimulation than more slowly sedimenting cells. In the macrophage and eosinophil populations, cluster-forming cells were partially segregatable form colony-forming cells. The observed heterogeneity was similar to the described previously in the mouse and suggests that separate subpopulations of progenitor cells may exist within each hemopoietic family that could possibly give rise to functionally different progeny.


Eosinophil and neutrophil colony-forming cells in culture. Clusters of cells obtained from a short-term culture of human bone marrow cells in methylcellulose were transplanted in cell-free plates containing conditioned medium. Of 2559 transplants, 439 gave small clusters, 223 gave large clusters, and 70 gave colonies. A better cloning efficiency was achieved from 4-day-old clusters, from aggregates containing 3 cells or more, and from large cells rather than from small cells. Cytocentrifugation could be performed on 215 large clusters or colonies. The population consisted of pure neutrophils in 36.3% and of pure macrophages in 36.8%. A mixture of neutrophils and macrophages was found in 23.2%, thus indicating that these two cell lines originated from the same committed cell (G-CFC). Eosinophils were found in 8 (3.7%) clusters as a pure population, and were never mixed with either neutrophils or macrophages in the other 207 clusters. Despite the small number of eosinophil colonies, one could suggest that using the in vitro technique the committed eosinophil colony-forming cells could be distinguished from the G-CFC.


Monocyte-erythrocyte interaction in vitro in immune hemolytic anemias . Monocyte recognition of immunoprotein-coated erythrocytes in vitro was studied in 21 patients with immune hemolytic anemia. Simultaneous assessment of immunoglobulin and complement components on the patients' erythrocytes was performed. The patients were heterogeneous in relation to associated diseases, therapy, and duration of disease state; 15 were studied within 1  mo of diagnosis and 4 additional patients were studied in sequential fashion. Monocyte-erythrocyte interaction was assessed by both a morphologic and a radioactive assay; 12 of 17 patients had elevated ratios in the morphologic assay and 15 of 17 patients had elevated ratios in the radioactive assay. The majority of patients exhibited enhanced interaction between their monocytes and autologous immunoprotein-coated erythrocytes, as compared to normal moncytes exposed to the same immunoprotein-coated erythrocytes. These findings suggest that there is an enhanced capacity of monocytes from certain patients with immune hemolysis to interact with autologous immunoprotein-coated erythrocytes in vitro.


Megakaryocyte maturation indicated by methanol inhibition of an acid phosphatase shared by magakaryocytes and platelets. Optimal conditions necessary for the cytochemical demonstration of megakaryocyte (Mk) and platelet acid phosphatase (AP) were determined. Methanol, a constituent of fixatives commonly used in AP cytochemistry, was found to inhibit MkAP, and the degree of inhibition varied with Mk maturity. Immature Mk contained predominantly methanol-resistant AP, and mature Mk, predominantly methanol-sensitive AP. Platelets contained methanol-sensitive AP similar to mature Mk, suggesting that this enzyme provides an index of platelet formation by Mk. Soluble platelet AP showed three bands on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, visualized by the same reactions applied cytochemically. Two bands, accounting for 98% of the platelet AP activity, were slow moving and methanol sensitive; and one fast moving band accounting for 2% of activity was methanol resistant. Measurement of Mk and platelet AP isoenzymes may prove to have applications in evaluating Mk function.


Plateletpheresis in the management of thrombocytosis. Acute thrombotic and hemorrhagic manifestations of thrombocytosis associated with myeloproliferative disorders may be life threatening. Conventional therapy with radioisotopes and/or cytotoxic drugs may require weeks for effective control of platelet counts. In five patients, plateletpheresis by discontinuous-flow (Haemonetics) or continuous-flow (Aminco Celltrifuge) centrifugation was used as a means of reducing platelet counts acutely. With each procedure, approximately 2-9 X 10(12) platelets were removed, resulting in decrements in platelet counts and relief of symptoms. Plateletpheresis is a useful and safe acute means of controlling platelet counts in myeloproliferative disorders.


Inhibition of monocyte esterase activity by organophosphate insecticides. Organophosphate insecticides, such as Vapona, Naled, and Rabon, are highly potent inhibitors of an enzyme found in human monocytes. The enzyme, a specific monocyte esterase, could be inhibited by Vapona in blood samples via airborne contamination at levels easily achieved from commercial slow-release insecticide strips. Fifty percent inhibition (I50)--as measured on the Hemalog D (Technicon Corp.)--occurred at solution concentrations of 0.22, 1.5, and 2.6 X 10(-6) g/liter for Vapona, Rabon, and Naled, respectively. Parathion (a thiophosphate) and Baygon (a carbamate) were less potent, with I50 values of 3.7 X 10(-5) and 1.5 X 10(-4) g/liter, respectively. Dursban (another thiophosphate) and Carbaryl (a carbamate) showed only marginal inhibition. Eserine, malathion, nicotine and pyrethrum had no inhibitory effect up to 0.5 g/liter. The occurrence of this effect in vivo has not yet been shown, nor is it clear what the implications of such an effect would be. The inhibition of this enzyme by airborne contaminants, however, may interfere with the proper functioning of the Hemalog D.


Filtration leukapheresis: effects of donor stimulation with dexamethasone. Dexamethasone was administered to 51 donors prior to filtration leukapheresis. The results of this maneuver, including the consequences of transfusion, were contrasted with results in 52 donors who did not receive the steroid. Yields of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, the posttransfusion increments in recipients, themorphologic polymorphonuclear leukocytes obtained, and the incidence of donor and recipient reactions were all beneficially influenced by this manipulation. Possible mechanisms responsible for these observations are discussed. It is recommended that dexamethasone stimulation be used in filtration leukapheresis when circumstances do not otherwise contraindicate such a maneuver.


Acute toxicities of selected herbicides to fingerling channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. A scan of the acute toxicities of eighteen common herbicides to one-year-old channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) was conducted. Herbicides causing less than 10% mortality in 48 hr at 10 ppm were: alanap, chloramben, 2,4-D acid, 2,4-D dimethyl amine salt, dalapon, diuron, DSMA, EPTC, fluometuron, metribuzin, monuron, MSMA, nitralin and 2,4,5,-T. The 96-hr LC50 values in pp6 for four nerbicides found toxic were: propanil, 3796; trifluralin, 417; bensulide, 379; and DNBP 118. The toxicity of Dyanap, a mixture of DNBP and alanap, was lower than that of DNBP; there was no apparent synergism between DNBP and alanap in the mixture.


Influence of lead on calcium metabolism. Five-week-old female albino rats were given 0.2 or 20.0 mg of lead acetate by gastric intubation daily for seven days. Calcium-47, applied orally or intraperitoneally, was used as marker to assess calcium retention in the body and its excretion by faeces and urine. The animals were killed three days after the last application. Calcium metabolism was unaffected by the 0.2 mg lead dose, while 20.0 mg lead per day increased its absorption from the intestinal tract.