Data on the metabolism of benzylisoquinoline derivatives. The metabolism of drotaverin. Studying the metabolism of drotaverin (No-Spa¿), we have elaborated a method for the isolation, purification and separation of metabolites and of drotaverin excreted in unchanged form in the urine and feces. The structure of the chief metabolites was cleared by t.l.c., polarography, UV spectrophotometry, and mass spectrometry. It was stated that beside drotaverin excreted in unchanged form, the biotransformation of the molecule results in the formation of oxidation and desalkylation products.


Investigation of some materials as dry binders for direct compression in tablet manufacture. Part 1: flow properties and water sorption. Four substances were evaluated for their potential usefulness as dry binders for direct compression techniques in tablet making. The flow properties of these substances including angle of repose, timed delivery through an orifice and compressibility were determined. The effect of particle size of the binder on its flow properties was investigated. Comparative rates of water sorption demonstrated by the various substances evaluated as dry binders were also determined.


Synthesis of certain 3-aminoquinazolinone Schiff's bases structurally related to some biologically active compounds. The condensation of 2-methyl-3-amino-4(3H)-quinazolinone and 2-phenyl-3-amino-4(3H)-quinazolinone with different aldehydes is described. Reacting equimolecular amounts of these two amino compounds with p-nitrobenzaldehyde, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde and 5-nitro-2-furfuraldehyde diacetate afforded the respective Schiff's bases. Condensation of benzaldehyde, anisaldehyde, p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde and o-nitrobenzaldehyde with the former quinazolinone afforded the corresponding condensation products while with the latter no condensation took place. Furthermore, condensation of cinnamaldehyde with methylaminoquinazolinone in pyridine and in glacial acetic acid afforded the mono- and di-condensation products respectively while furfural, thiophenaldehyde, resorcinaldehyde, protocatechualdehyde, veratraldehyde, and salicylaldehyde, the condensation ended in failure.


On the racemization of L-noradrenaline bitartrate. The hydronium ion catalyzed racemization of L-noradrenaline bitartrate solutions was studied as a function of ionic strength and polarity of the medium. On the grounds of the findings obtained, it was assumed that the racemization of the drug involves an ionic reaction between ions of like charge. The water/propylene glycol system dielektric constant 60 was found to furnish optimal stability conditions for the drug. In addition, attention must be given to avoiding the incorporation of electrolytes into the solution.


Dissolution studies on paracetamol solidified melt prepared under different cooling rates. Regulating the cooling rate of paracetamol melt resulted in the formation of different microcrystalline structures of the solidified melt. Dissolution rate studies were carried out on powdered samples prepared from fused paracetamol that was crystallized under different conditions. Rapid cooling associated with stirring the melt during crystallisation produced a fast rate of dissolution in the order of two times greater than the untreated drug. Increased dissolution rate data were masked to some extent when working with tablets prepared from the corresponsing solidified and powdered melts. The present study represent a new method of physical modification of drugs as a means of increasing rate of drug dissolution and absorption.


Investigation of some materials as dry binders for direct compression in tablet manufacture. Part 2: Comparative self-binding properties. Comparative self-binding qualities of four substances studied as potential dry binders for direct compression applications in tablet making were investigated. The effect of particle size of these materials on hardness, friability and hardness-friability ratio of disks made with mere binders was studied. The results showed that for comparable particle sizes, values of hardness-friability ratio of the various disks were in the following descending order: Plasdone, tragacanth, Carbowax 4000 and then mannitol.


Decreased mitotic activity in the stomach, duodenum and colon of rats treated with high doses of histamine. Histamine in doses of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly inhibited mitotic activity of the stomach, duodenum and colon of rats. With the above doses this effect is not dose dependent. However, only the highest dose produced acute gastric mucosal ulceration. It is suggested that decreased mitotic activity is not causally related to ulcer provocation.


The effect of fenfluramine on disposition and rate of antipyrine elimination. The effect of fenfluramine, administered orally in a daily dose of 1 mg/kg for 40 days, on the disposition and rate of elimination of antipyrine was studied in 15 obese patients. Although the plasma half-life of antipyrine was unchanged, the apparent volume of distribution (1/kg) fell by 11.6% (p less than 0.001) and the plasma metabolic clearance rate (1/kg/h) of antipyrine was reduced by 14.1% (p less than 0.01). No correlation occurred between change in clearance, on the one hand, and change in patient weight or apparent volume of distribution of antipyrine, on the other. In vitro drug-metabolizing enzyme activity in the rat was measured using rate of aminopyrine and hexobarbital metabolism as indices. Fenfluramine inhibited the metabolism of both substrates. It is concluded that fenfluramine can diminish the rate of elimination of drugs which are extensively metabolized by reduction of microsomal enzyme activity. Also, drug clearance may be diminished by reduction of apparent volume of distribution.


Potentiation of hypothalamic pressor responses in awake rats treated with contraceptive steroids. Contrasting with the hypertension resulting consistently after DOCA implantation, mature female rats given Enovid daily for 20 weeks had only slight and occasional increases in blood pressure. The pressure elevations remained infrequent and transient even when drinking water was replaced with isotonic saline solution but they became more pronounced when Enovid treatment was initiated at an earlier age. Despite the failure to cause sustained hypertension, the data indicate that Enovid affects blood pressure and that both mestranol and norethynodrel are essential for this effect. Pressor responses to norepinephrine or angiotensin were unaffected even after 20 weeks of pretreatment but those to electrical stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus were increased in rats pretreated with Enovid. Enhanced responsiveness to hypothalamic stimulation occurred only in the awake state and was not demonstratable after the central nervous system (CNS) had been depressed with urethane. These results can be explained by an increased sensitivity of hypothalamic pressor areas produced by Enovid prior to the development of hypertension and the mechanisms involved may be similar to those occurring in spontaneously-hypertensive rats. However, the possibility of hypersensitivity at other sites in the sympathetic vasomotor outflow cannot be ruled out.


Metabolic effects of guanethidine.

Metabolic effects of guanethidine. The metabolic effects of guanethidine were studied in anaesthetized rats. The drug 20 and 40 mg/kg body weight) produced a significant rise in serum free fatty acids (FFA) without significant changes in serum glucose and lactate levels. Epididymal fat pads excised from guanethidine-treated (20 mg/kg body weight) rats and incubated in vitro, exhibited an increased release of FFA and diminished uptake of glucose. Fat pads from normal rats similarly incubated in vitro in presence of various concentrations of the drug showed only a significant increase in FFA release.


Effects of phentolamine on the adrenergic-induced changes in arterial plasma potassium. Phentolamine was used as a pure alpha-adrenergic blocking agent in the study of the arterial plasma potassium responses to adrenergic stimulation in dogs. Both the hyperkalemia and hypokalemia evoked by the intravenous infusion of noradrenaline, 5 mug/kg-min-1, were reduced by phentolamine (1-3 mg/kg), the response being completely abolished by increasing the dose of this alpha-blocker (9 mg/kg). The decrease of both parts of this dual response was parallel, and it  was not possible to abolish the secondary hypokalemia without abolishing the early rise. The secondary decrease in arterial plasma potassium evoked by the intravenous infusion of the same dose of adrenaline was reduced, but not abolished, by the pretreatment with increasing doses of phentolamine, although the initial increase was completely abolished. These results agree with those that attribute an alpha-adrenergic nature to the adrenergic-evoked hyperkalemia, and a complex origin to the secondary hypokalemia. The different interpretations of the results obtained for these kalemotropic adrenergic effects are discussed, in the light of the Ahlquist hypothesis for adrenergic receptors. It is concluded that the alterations in the metabolic state of the effector cells observed during the administration of either adrenergic agonists or antagonists may influence the results obtained and may be considered as one of the factors responsible for interpretative difficulties described.


The effect of drugs on the electrical and mechanical activity of the isolated porcine stomach. Electrical and mechanical activity was recorded from totally isoltted porcine stomachs perfused with homologous blood, The electrical control activity, response activity, and mechanical reaction to various hormones and drugs stimulationg these activities were recorded. The drugs were injected directly into the gastric artery of the isolated organ. Normal response to cholinergic stimulants and to pentagastrin was observed. The effect of blockers such as atropine, hexamethonium and tetrodotosin on the action of stimulants was also assessed. The results of this study suggest that the release of acetylcholine is involved in the mechanism of action of pentagastrin. They also demonstrate the usefulness of the isolated porcine stomach approach to the study of gastric myoelectrical and mechanical activity.


Differential effects of fasting and nicotinic acid on various enzymatic activities of the 9,000 g fraction of the perfused rat liver. Perfused livers obtained from rats fasted for 24 or 48h show a marked impairment of the N-demethylation (substrate aminopyrine) without major changes of the O-demethylation (p-nitro anisol) and hydroxylation (aniline). The infusion with nicotinic acid restored N-demethylation but it inhibited O-demethylation and hydroxylation.


Species variations in the metabolism of acetophenone oxime by hepatic enzymes. The metabolism of acetophenone oxime was investigated in liver homogenates obtained from rats, rabbits, mice and hamsters. Significant species variations were observed in anaerobic metabolism studies both in qualitative and quantitative respects. In all cases, the oxime was initially reduced to the corresponding hydroxylamine. Whereas, the hydroxylamine was resistant to further transformation in rat, subsequent reduction to amine was observed in rabbit, mouse and hamster. Hydroxylamine reduction in rat was however observed in animals pretreated with phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene or carbon tetrachloride. Enzymes catalyzing oxime and hydroxylamine reduction were present in both microsomal and cytosol fractions of liver. Highest reductase activity was observed in rat and mouse. Oxime reductase was not stimulated by either phenobarbital or 3-methylcholanthrene, but was inhibited by carbon tetrachloride.


Stress modification of the toxicity of antimotion sickness drugs and aspirin. The effect of environmental temperature on the toxicity of cyclizine, trimethobenzamide, and Aspirin were studied in mice. LD50s were compared at 30 degrees C (warm), 22 degrees C (normal), and 15 degrees C (cool). At 30 degrees C the toxicity of all three drugs increased, with that to aspirin being affected most. Cooling decreased the toxicity of cyclizine and had no significant effect on that of trimethobenzamide or Aspirin. These findings indicate that alterations in environmental temperature markedly affect drug toxicity. They emphasize that such alterations, and particularly increases in temperature, do not have to be particularly drastic, but that "mild' variations in the environment are effective in altering an animal's sensitivity to a drug.


Chlordiazepoxide metabolism in mice following hepatic irradiation. Biotransformation of chlordiazepoxide was studied in mice following a single 1000-rad dose of hepatic irradiation. Meabolic N-demethylation of chlordiazepoxide in irradiated mice was impaired when tested 3 days after irradiation. No such effect was observed in mice tested 3 weeks or 6 weeks after irradiation. Thus, hepatic irradiation appeared to produce short-lived, reversible impairment of drug-metabolizing function. The effect was small and of uncertain biological significance.


Influence of fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) on the central nervous system and on the effects of centrally acting drugs. Fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) from bovine fibrinogen were obtained in vitro by trypsin digestion for 3 and 120 min, respectively. FDP-120 min applied i.p. and i.v.c. stimulated the CNS, while FDP-3 min did not. The FDP increased the potency of amphetamine, caffeine, thiopental, and chlorpromazine by enhancing their level in the brain. Peptides from 120 min digestion were more effective. A possible mechanism of observed changes has been discussed.


Stimulation of glucose release of the rat kidney in vivo by epinephrine and isoprenaline. In anesthetized rats the glucose release of the kidneys was estimated from the glucose concentrations in the arterial and renal venous plasma, urinary glucose excretion and the total renal plasma flow. Net renal glucose release was found in control experiments. The glucose release of the kidneys decreased with rising arterial plasma glucose values. Epinephrine (220 mug/kg s.c.) and isoprenaline (10 mu/kg s.c.) enhanced arterial plasma glucose levels and increased mean renal glucose production significantly. The enhanced arterial plasma glucose levels and increased mean renal glucose production significantly. The enhanced glucose release after isoprenaline could be abolished by propranolol (1 mg/kg s.c.). The glycogen content of the kidney was found to be too small to account for the observed renal glucose release by glycogenolysis. Therefore, these in vivo data indicate enhanced renal gluconeogenesis after adrenergic stimulation. This effect is thought to be mediated by the beta-adrenergic receptors.


Dimensions of the human eye relevant to radiation protection. An attempt has been made to clarify the two most important issues relevant to personal eye dosimetry. This involves the identification of the cells which are most at risk from radiation and the specification of their position in the eye. A survey of the radiobiological literature concerning animals and humans shows that the epithelial cells in the equatorial region of the lens are those which are involved in radiation cataract induction. The depth of these cells has been evaluated in the human eye by means of geometrical construction. The relevant dimensions have been determined from a survey of published anatomical data and supplemented by new data obtained by slit-image photography. In a normal adult population (20-65 years) the minimum depth of the incriminated cells is 2.3 plus or minus 0.4 mm; the upper and lower values are associated with young and old subjects respectively. Approximate calculations for isotropic 90Sr/90Y and 106Rh beta-radiation fields indicate that a planar dosemeter, which integrates the tissue dose between depths of 2.5-3.5 mm, should give a reasonable measure of the mean equatorial dose for the variety of eye and irradiation geometries likely to be met during a life-time exposure. The long established, but tentative, value of 3 mm for the effective depth of the lens is thus confirmed.


Analytical calculation of the skin temperature distribution due to subcutaneous heat production in a spherical heat source. An analytical solution of the thermal conductivity equation describing the surface temperature distribution over a buried heat source is given in tabular form. The solution is applicable to experimental models for studies of the surface temperature over an implanted artificial heat source. The results can also be used for the analysis of the skin temperature over biological heat sources such as breat tumours.


Fast neutron yields and spectra from targets of varying atomic number bombarded with deuterons from 16 to 50 MeV. Neutron production from targets of Be, C, Mo, Cu, Ta and Au bombarded with deuterons of 16, 33 and 50 MeV has been studied at the isochronous cyclotron at Louvain-la-Neuve. Neutron spectra were measured by the time of flight method. The yields of neutrons and gamma rays were also measured, and the greatest ratio of neutrons to gamma rays in the forward direction was found to occur with 50 MeV deuterons on a Be target. The angular distribution of neutrons from Be was measured at 16, 33 and 50 MeV, and neutron spectra were measured as function of angle with 50 MeV deuterons on Be.


The use of a calorimeter for neutron dosimetry. The dose given to a polythene energy absorber in the radiation field from a 14 MeV neutron generator has been measured calorimetrically. The calorimeter was calibrated by giving the energy absorber a known dose of gamma-rays. The dose measured in this way was compared with that determined with a polythene-ethylene ionization chamber, and the two results agreed to better than 1%, though the estimated uncertainties on the calorimeter and ionization chamber results were each about 4%. This result can be used to determine a value of the ratio Wn/We, for 14 MeV neutrons in ethylene, where Wn is the W value for the charged particles generated in the neutron field in ethylene, and We is the W value for electrons in the same gas. The measured value of Wn/We was found to be 1.07 plus or minus 3.9%. The significance of the 'thermal defect' in polythene is discussed.


Biological detection of reduction in dose at the surface of volume sources containing beta emitters. Dosimetry theory related to volume sources containing uniformly distributed beta-emitting radionuclides predicts a rapid drop in dose at the outer surface to approximately one half of the maximum dose within the volume. The purpose of this study was to determine if this reduction in surface dose could be observed using a measurable biological endpoint. In this study rats were injected with radiocolloids of either 198Au, 113In-m or 99Tc-m, to produce liver irradiation from their decay, or their livers were treated with external X-irradiation. After irradiation, a portion of the liver was surgically removed to stimulate cell division in the liver remnant revealing radiation damage in the form of chromosomal aberrations. The percentages of dividing cells with bridges were scored in the outer edges (0.45 mm) of the tissue sections and were compared to levels obtained from the central portion of the liver lobe. No significant difference was observed with X-irradiation or from 99Tc-m irradiation. However, irradiation with 198-Au and 113In-m (which emit large numbers of energetic electrons) produced significantly fewer aberrations in the outer layer when compared to the central portion. These differences in the distribution of biological damage allowed us to detect the predicted dose reduction at the surface of volume sources containing beta emitters.


A gamma ray densitometer for the investigation of pulmonary function. The design, construction and performance of a gamma ray densitometer are described. The instrument, which is used in the investigation of regional pulmonary function, has both digital and analogue outputs.


Measurement of kilovoltage by the penetrameter - theoretical aspects. The penetrameter method makes use of the attenuation in copper of a heavily filtered X-ray beam to predict the generating kVp. This is derived from the matching step or copper reference number (CRN) of a film density matching process in which a fast and slow screen combination is employed. In the present work, theoretical spectra resulting from chosen representative kV and mA wave-forms have been derived by computer analysis, assuming Kramers' expression for the bremsstrahlung emission from a thick target. The CRN appropriate to each spectrum has been found and its relation to kVp recorded. The uncertainty in the use of the penetrameter is expressed in terms of the spread of the CRN as a function of kVp and waveform. The computer predictions agree well with experiment, provided a fall in the fast-slow screen ratio with energy is postulated - a fall verified by separate experimental work in screen ratios. Since Kramers' expression relates only to bremsstrahlung radiation, the theoretical analysis has been extended to include the effects of K characteristic and extrafocal radiation. An expression has also been derived for the sensitivity of the penetrameter.


How much light from rectangular scintillation counters? Theoretical calculations have been made of the efficiency and uniformity of light collection at one end of a large rectangular liquid scintillation counter (80x20x18 cm). Three different arrangements were considered; (1) a system in which all surfaces of the counter other than the collecting surface were transparent to permit total internal reflection, (2) a similar system with a mirror placed close to the end opposite the collecting surface and (3) a system in which external reflectors were placed close to surfaces other than the collecting surface. In all cases, the effects of attenuation of light in the counter medium, inefficient total internal reflection and the reflectivities of external reflectors were considered and illustrated for selected values of these parameters. In an experimental counter of the same dimensions, the amplitude of the spectrum of a collimated 42-K source was used to measure the relative efficiencies of light collection for various reflector arrangements. In general the experimental values agreed with theory and the non-uniformity of response was within the predicted range. It is estimated that about 30% of scintillation light can be collected at one end of such a counter, with a non-uniformity not greater than 10%, if magnesium oxide is used as the external reflector at all other surfaces.


13C NMR or coenzyme A and its constituent moieties. Natural abundance 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, in D2O, were obtained for the following: pantoyl lactone, beta-alanine, cysteamine hydrochloride, cystamine dihydrochloride, calcium pantothenate, beta-aletheine oxalate, pantetheine, pantethine, pantetheine 4'-phosphate, oxypantetheine 4'-phosphate, desulfopantetheine 4'-phosphate, N-acetyl-aminodesthiopantetheine 4'-phosphate, adenosine 2',5'-diphosphate, adenosine 3',5'-diphosphate, and coenzyme A. A complete assignment of the 13C chemical shifts in the NMR spectrum of CoA is reported. Comparison of spectra indicates that CoA most likely exists in an extended conformation.


Isolation of two new sulfur-containing amino acids from the urine of a cystathioninuric patient. Two new sulfur-containing amino acids are isolated from the urine of a cystathioninuric patient. They are presumed to be cystathionine sulfoxide and perhydro-1,4-thiazepine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid.


On the character of the nuclear membrane-associated DNA of HeLa cells. The nature of the nascent DNA-membrane complexes isolated from synchronized HeLa cells was examined. It was found that membrane-associated DNA is not the result of repair replication. A study of the stability of the complexes to various degradative agents and enzymes suggest that the DNA is associated with a structure which is composed of a lipoprotein. An examination of the physical structure of this DNA indicates that it might be a "nicked" duplex with a base content similar to that of the bulk DNA.


A computational method for calculating distensibility of the blood vessel in vivo. A computational method for calculating the dynamic distensibility of the vessel wall in vivo, developed on the basis of the pressure pulse transmission, is proposed. Distensibilities of descending thoracic aorta, abdominal aorta, and femoral artery in normal dogs, and of femoral artery of a typical dog under the action of vasoactive drugs, have been calculated. In femoral artery it is compared with the values of the diameter change/pressure change. Comparison of the results clearly indicate the feasibility of the proposed method. The order of distensibility found is: descending thoracic aorta greater than abdominal aorta greater than femoral artery.


Blood circulation and fluid dynamics in the eye. The nutrition of the intraocular tissues is accomplished by the retinal vessels, the uveal vessels, and by the aqueous humor. Both morphologically and physiologically the retinal vessels are similar to those in the brain. The endothelial cells of the capillaries are attached to each other by tight junctions, the resistance vessels respond poorly to a large number of drugs, and the blood flow through the retina is autoregulated and very little affected by the sympathetic nervous system. The blood vessels of the iris also have morphological and permeability characteristics similar to those in the brain but they are under a strong influence from the sympathetic nerves and react to many drugs. The blood flow is autoregulated. The blood vessels of the choroid and the ciliary processes are similar to those in the small intestine and in the kidney. The endothelial cells of the capillaries are fenestrated; the vessels respond to sympathetic nervous stimulation and to a large number of vasoactive drugs. Autoregulation of the blood flow is intermediate in the ciliary body and very poor or absent in the choroid...


Solid-state animal detection system: its application to open field activity and freezing behavior. A detection system is described which is capable of monitoring animal movements without apparent effect upon the behavior of test animals. Data demonstrate its successful application in measuring either open field activity or freezing behavior in several species of animals. The system can be constructed at low cost and has proven to be both sensitive and reliable.


Integrator for qualitative and quantitative unit activity. A simple device constructed from inexpensive components enables spike activity to be integrated and displayed in a convenient scale (spikes/sec) on a pen recorder. An input voltage threshold detection circuit is employed to eliminate any random baseline noise from being integrated. A pulse output is provided to drive a counter or accumulator so that quantitative as well as qualitative results may be obtained. A monostable multivibrator is used to insure that the integrated output is a function of the frequency of spike activity and not the amplitude or pattern of the spikes. An output isolation and buffer stage is provided to eliminate any loading effect on the filter section and also provide a gain or scaling adjustment so that the integrator may be used with practically any pen recorder.


Effects of prior aversive stimulation on heart rate responses to open field exposure in the rat. Heart rate (HR) responses to open field (OF) exposure were compared between rats previously exposed to intense, inescapable electric shock (preshock, PS) and Controls. Results indicated that (1) Control animals showed a steady increase in HR across a 3 min exposure on each of 4 days of testing, while PS animals showed an initial HR deceleration followed by partial recovery on each day; (2) the HR response of PS animals in the OF was not related to any HR response to shock during treatment; and (3) the HR responses of both PS and Control animals were specific to the OF situation, with both groups showing steady HR deceleration across 3 min after being placed in their home cages. Results were discussed in terms of (1) the apparently altered perception of environmental change produced by PS, and (2) the possible role of HR acceleration in Controls in terms of minimizing the impact of aversive stimulation.


Septal lesions facilitate the shift from conditioned escape to conditioned avoidance behavior in the rat. Normal rats were given 1000 training trials in a discriminated lever-press avoidance task. Those animals which exhibited consistent escape behavior but minimal avoidance responding were subjected to either septal lesions or control operations. One week later they were retested in the avoidance apparatus for an additional 1000 trials. Rats with large septal lesions exhibited an immediate increase in avoidance performance relative to the control rats. This increase occurred without a concomitant increase in number of lever-press responses. The performance of 3 out of 4 rats with smaller more dorsal septal lesions was unaffected by the surgery.


Sex differences in the effects of dexamethasone phosphate on behavior in rats. The effect of dexamethasone phosphate (DEX) administered in rats' drinking water on running activity and open field behavior was investigated. In Experiment 1 males were given DEX continuously from either five days or one day prior to and throughout testing. Only 5 day treatment significantly increased running wheel activity. DEX had no significant effect on males' 4 day open field activity, but significantly reduced open field and home cage defecation. In Experiment 2 females given DEX defecated significantly more in the open field than controls. This effect on females does not appear to be due to a general metabolic change, since DEX females, like males, defecated significantly less than controls in the home cage. Females' open field activity was not significantly affected. Weight loss and plasma corticosterone analysis confirmed the effectiveness of the dosage used. There appears to be a sex difference in the effects of DEX on open field defecation, possibly due to interaction with gonadal hormones.


Effect of deprivation and time of refeeding on food intake. The amount of food eaten in a two hour trial by male Sprague Dawley rats was recorded after periods of food deprivation up to 42 hr in length. Rats ate 50-78% more when refed during the dark phase than when refed during the light phase. This occurred even when light fed animals were fasted for longer periods than the dark fed animals. Rats eat in a rhythmic pattern after deprivation. These data are in good agreement with data previously reported and extend it by increasing the number of observations, increasing the length of deprivation, and comparing different age groups.


[Rhythmic patterns of food and water intake in the dog: preliminary study (author's transl)]. The spontaneous rhythmic patterns of food and water intake in the dog during periods of 24 hr have been studied under three experimental conditions: natural light, continuous light and artificial light with day and night sequences. Under natural light there is a rhythmic pattern in the frequency of food intake and the amount of food consumed. During the night, periods of food consumption are numerous and the amount of food ingested is significant. During the day both the number of periods of food intake and the amount of food consumed is less. Similar results were obtained under continuous light. Under artificial light, with day and night sequences, there is a tendency to equalize the amount of food consumed through the 24 hr. This produced a displacement of frequency curves. In these three situations there seems to be an important relationship between the amount of food consumed and the time intervals following periods of food intake. Generally, similar results were obtained for water intake.


Stimulation of male and female sexual behavior in gonadectomized rats with estrogen and androgen therapy and its inhibition with concurrent anti-hormone therapy. In the first experiment gonadectomized male rats were injected daily with various combinations of vehicle (V), estradiol benzoate (E), dihydrotestosterone (D) and/or the anti-androgen cyproterone acetate (CA). The eight treatment combinations consisted of V, E, D, CA, E + D, E + CA, D + CA and E + D + CA. Only those males treated with both E and D were found to display ejaculations. Concurrent treatment with CA completely blocked ejaculatory behavior and it significantly reduced both mount and intromission frequencies. Examination of peripheral androgen target tissues indicated that following stimulation with D, CA effectively reduced seminal vesicle and penile weights, and penile lengths, but it did not reduce penile spines. In the second experiment gonadectomized female rats were treated with two daily injections of E, E + CA or E + the anti-estrogen CI-628. A second set of gonadectomized females received three daily injections of testosterone (T), T + CA or T + CI-628. On the day after completion of these injections all females received progesterone and were tested for sexual receptivity three hours later. Both E and T treated females were found to display the lordotic posture in response to mounting stimulation while both CI-628 and CA were found to block this behavior. In E treated females, CI-628 and CA were also found to reduce uterine weight. Thus, CA was shown to have anti-estrogenic as well as anti-androgenic properties. These results were discussed in terms of the aromatization and 5alpha reduction theories of testosterone action in sexual behavior.


Dominance behavior in the rat following lesions of the caudate nuclei. Rats with bilateral lesions of the anterior caudate nucleus or the dorsolateral frontal cortex were tested against sham-operated rats in a straight-alley dominance situation. In 91% of encounters the caudate lesion rats forced the sham-operated animals to retreat. The frontal lesion rats won only 56% of their encounters, a proportion no different to that expected by chance. The performance of the caudate-damaged rats could not be explained satisfactorily in terms of increased motivation, changes in activity, motor impairments, or perseverative tendencies. It seemed more likely that the apparent increase in dominance was associated with changes in the level of aggression.


Potentiation of amphetamine-induced arousal by food deprivation: effect of hypothalamic lesions. Locomotor activity was studied in rats with lesions of the basomedial hypothalamus following food deprivation (0, 1, 2, and 4 days) and amphetamine (0, .5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg). Control animals showed the normal potentiation of amphetamine-induced locomotor activity by starvation. Animals with lesions, however, did not differ, when deprived, from satiated control animals in their response to amphetamine. These results suggest that behavioral arousal produced by food deprivation is mediated by the basomedial hypothalamus.


Olfactory and taste sensitivity in children with cystic fibrosis. Psychophysical experiments measured both olfactory sensitivity to 1-butanol and sodium chloride and taste sensitivity to sodium chloride in normal children and in children with cystic fibrosis. The sensitivity of the children with cystic fibrosis fell within the normal range. These results stand in contrast to those of Henkin and Powell, who found children with cystic fibrosis to be hypersensitive to both olfactory and taste stimuli. Apparent hypersensitivity to taste stimuli could have resulted from the adapting effects of the relatively high level of sodium in the saliva of children with cystic fibrosis. If the contaminating effects of saliva are removed, children with cystic fibrosis yield, on the average, a taste threshold identical to that of normal children. There appears to be no simple explanation for why Henkin and Powell found hypersensitivity to odorants. The present results indicate that, in fact, children with cystic fibrosis display a slight hyposensitivity to odorants.


Serotonin in the lateral geniculate.

Serotonin in the lateral geniculate. Serotonin was introduced, by means of a fine cannula, into the lateral geniculate body of cats immobilized with Flaxedil and artificially ventilated, while the electrical activity at the point of injection was monitored by means of microelectrodes. Doses of 1.25 to 30 mug dissolved in 0.5 to 2.0 mul of saline produced, in 2-30 min, changes in electrical activity characteristic of synchronization: increase in the rhythmicity and in the amplitude of the spontaneous gross waves and increase in the clustering of the spontaneous neuronal action potentials. At the same time the activity of neurons which produced action potentials of high amplitudes was decreased, the activity of neurons which produced action potentials of low amplitudes was increased. Action potentials of different amplitudes were produced, in this case, by neurons of different types. Thus, in the lateral geniculate as in other thalamic nuclei studied in previous investigations, the synchronization of spontaneous activity seems to require the simultaneous excitation and inhibition of two different types of neurons. The action of serotonin on activity evoked by stimulation with brief flashes of light was limited to the decrease in the amplitude of the average gross response and the inhibition of only one type of neuron. This suggests that, in the lateral geniculate body, serotonin may be implicated in different ways in the different network structures responsible for the development of spontaneous as contrasted with evoked activity.


Exposure through a coronal incision for initial treatment of facial fractures. The coronal incision approach to Le Fort III fractures gives excellent exposure for anatomical reduction and internal fixation of the fracture sites. Either an extracranial, or a combined intracranial procedure, is feasible. The exposure obtained not only facilitates the reduction and the fixation but, with the addition of transconjunctival incisions, the patient benefits by not having multiple surgical scars in the face.


Correction of asymmetrical breasts.

Correction of asymmetrical breasts. An accurate preoperative analysis of the size and contour of asymmetrical breasts allows proper surgical planning and correction. Consideration of the existing defects in each breast and the chest wall, and their relationship to body size, can be combined with the patient's desires for size and contour restoration. Our experience with 14 cases has shown that attention to these principles can give a result that will usually satisfy the patient and the surgeon.


Where are we going?

Where are we going? The foregoing study attempts to document the course of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Inc. during the period 1964-1973, inclusive. A special attempt has been made to delineate the current trends. Trends, when recognized, may be enhanced, modified, or prevented-as deemed appropriate by the membership.


Cutaneous melanoma: a twenty-year retrospective study with clinicopathologic correlation. The survival of melanoma patients is directly related to the involvement of regional nodes and to the microscopic level of invasion of the tumor. During the past 10 years, with the increased use of aggressive surgical therapy (wide local excision or re-excision of the primary tumor and prophylactic dissection of predictably involved regional nodes) the 5-year survival rate has more than doubled. The 5-year survival has doubled in those patients with regional lymph node involvement who were infused for 5 days with L-phenylalanine mustard. Perfusion of the lower extremities with L-phenylalanine mustard has been abandoned at Vanderbilt. The potential aggressiveness of a specific melanoma can be predicted, and thus an appropriate treatment may be planned.


Segmental approach to rhytidectomy.

Segmental approach to rhytidectomy. The segmental technique for rhytidectomy is described and illustrated. The author has used it for several years and believes it has the advantages noted.


Valvular obstruction of the nasal airway. Valvular nasal obstruction may occur in the postoperative rhinoplasty patient. One may anticipate a dropping of the tip, from residual redundant or inelastic skin, in some older patients with long noses. Measures to correct (or avoid) this may be undertaken at the time of the primary rhinoplasty. However, an overcorrection may be necessary if there is much redundant skin. Discretion may indicate the need for a secondary procedure. Lateral wall valving is unusual-but it may occur in the long, high, thin nose (where a suggestion of this action may be observed preoperatively). Maintenance of continuous cartilage along the alar rim, at the time of alar cartilage resection, appears to be important in prevention of postoperative valvular obstruction in these few patients.


Transconjunctival lower lid blepharoplasty for removal of fat. Our experience with 7 transconjunctival lower lid blepharoplasties is reported, and the technique is described. It is an excellent operation for patients with prominent lower lid fat who do not need skin resection.


Mondor's disease. An unusual complication of mammaplasty. We present 6 cases of Mondor's disease which developed after plastic surgical operations on the breasts. All signs of the disease disappeared spontaneously after 3 or 4 months.


The surgical treatment of congenital webbing (pterygium) of the popliteal area. We describe a case of congenital popliteal pterygium in conjunction with other specific congenital malformations. This syndrome has been called the quadruple syndrome. The literature is reviewed. A rationale for more aggressive treatment of this deformity is discussed. One child who has undergone major multiple nerve grafts as a part of the primary corrective surgery is reported. Her result has been pleasing to the patient, the parents, and the surgeons.


Loss of columella and septum from an unusual form of child abuse. Case report. Two children suffered injuries of the nasal columella and septum because, since infancy, their mother had obsessively scoured the nasal secretions from their noses with a metal Kirby grip. The reconstruction of the columellar loss in one child is described.


A microirrigator.

A microirrigator. The need for a microirrigator and the requirements for one are outlined. The method of construction is described. This instrument has been used in a variety of situations, both experimental and clinical, for nerve and vessel repairs. Probably its greatest value has been as an irrigating probe, both for hydrostatic dilatation of vessels and for floating away small clots of blood.


Exploratory behaviour in two selectively-bred lines of mice after intrahippocampal injection of methylscopolamine. The temporal course of exploratory behaviour in male mice from two selected lines SRH (showing frequent rearing responses) and SRL (with less frequent rearing) following injection of methylscopolamine into the hippocampus was studied. The anticholinergic drug decreased exploration in the SRH line and prolonged it in the SRL line. The experiment supplies further proof that a cholinergic system in this brain area regulates responses to novelty and that this system is controlled by genetic factors.


Facilitation of avoidance learning by chlordiazepoxide-amphetamine combinations in mice. Chlordiazepoxide and amphetamine, given separately or in combination, were tested in mice subjected to 5 100-trial avoidance sessions in the shuttle-box. Facilitation of avoidance responding was much more evident and statistically significant when the two drugs were combined. Drug mixtures produced effects which could not be obtained when the drugs were given separately.


EEG spectral analysis for the evaluation of the central effects of delta6-tetrahydrocannabinol in rabbits. The effects of delta6-THC on the frequency spectrum of the hippocampal EEG were examined with the assistance of an electronic integrator. Six rabbits bearing chronically implanted cortical and hippocampal electrodes were dosed intravenously with delta6-THC (2.5 percent solution in polyethylene glycol 300; doses of 10, 50, 100, 250 and 1000 mug/kg) once a week. A comparison of epochs of arousal in the pre-drug control and post-drug periods demonstrated that a dose as low as 50 mug/kg produced a consistent, statistically significant diminution in "power" of the 7,8,9 Hz frequencies of the hippocampal EEG, with 8 Hz the most sensitive. Doses above 250 mug/kg produced an overall decrease in the "power" spectrum from 7 to 22 Hz. Spectral analysis of the EEG offers a method which is sufficiently sensitive to reveal a central effect of detla6-THC in rabbits at doses equivalent to the human threshold for psychic effects.


Effects of antagonists upon locomotor stimulation induced by injection of dopamine and Noradrenaline into the nucleus accumbens of nialamide-pretreated rats. The effects of injections of monoamines, alone and in combination with different antagonists, bilaterally into the nucleus accumbens of nialamide-pretreated rats were investigated. Dopamine was found to produce a stronger stimulation of locomotor activity than noradrenaline, whereas serotonin was effective only in a small number of animals, in which the duration of locomotor stimulation was shorter than after dopamine or noradrenaline. The effects of both dopamine and noradrenaline were completely antagonized by administration of a small dose of the dopamine antagonist haloperidol, administered bilaterally 15 min after the catecholamines. The alpha-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine did not inhibit the effect of noradrenaline but, on the contrary potentiated and considerably prolonged the duration of locomotor stimulation. Aslo, the effect of dopamine was potentiated and prolonged by phentolamine. Bilateral injection of phentolamine alone had no influence upon locomotor activity. The effect of noradrenaline was not clearly inhibited nor potentiated by the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol. It is suggested that the stimulation of locomotor activity induced by injection of noradrenaline into the uncleus accumbens of nialamide-pretreated rats is brought about via dopaminergic mechanisms.


The effects of a dexamphetamine-amylobarbitone sodium mixture on the reward value of different sensory changes. The effect of a dexamphetamine-amylobarbitone mixture (1;6.5 by weight) on a sensory-contingent bar pressing (SCBP) for different sensory changes was investigated. The aim was to examine the role of (a) reward value of contingent change per se (non drug) and (b) stimulus properties in enhanced SCBP under the drug mixture. The sensory reinforcers used were light Onset, light Offset, and sound offset combined with the light changes contemporaneously. In the first two phases the sensory stimuli were given as continuous reinforecement and in the third phase on an FR2 schedule. The results from the first two phases were consistent with the notion that the drug mixture responding under the drug was enhanced was not significantly related to the kind of sensory change. Instead, responding under the mixture was enhanced in proportion to the level of non drug responding, especially in Phase 1. However, in Phase 3, SCBP was enhanced proportionately more, to a significant extent, in those treatments receiving the combined light and sound change. It was concluded that properties of the sensory stimuli other than their reward value per se (non drug) may also be related to the extent of SCBP enhancement under the drug mixture. In particular, properties of the sound offset reinforcer appear to make it more amenable to enhancement under the drug than the two light reinforcers.


[Plasma levels of imipramine and desmethylimipramine and antidepressant effect during controlled therapy(author's transl)]. 24 depressed impatients received a standardized treatment by imipramine, 6 among them receiving also levomepromazine. Plasma concentration of imipramine and DMI were controlled weekly during the study, and standardized assessment of clinical state were made by a  psychiatrist who was unware of biochemical findings.  Interaction between the antidepressant and neuroleptic metabolism is shown by a significant increase of DMI levels, though the clinical effect of the drug association could not be asserted. The therapeutic effect seems mainly dependant of etiology of depression. Endogeneous depressions improve more than other types. Among endogenous depressions a significant correlation was found between the degree of clinical improvement after three weeks and DMI level, sum of imipramine + DMI level, but not with concentration of imipramine alone.


A genetic analysis of morphine-induced running and analgesia in the mouse. A genetic analysis of morphine-induced analgesia and activity was conducted in mice belonging to the strains BALB/cJ, C57BL/6J, DBA/2J and to their F1 and backcross progenies. The results support previous findings showing that a negative correlation is evident between these two behavioral measures and support that their mode of inheritance is characterized by dominance or partial dominance. The biometric analysis conducted on the parental, F1 hybrid and backcross populations indicates very clearly that the effects of morphine are genetically determined.


[Formation of norapinephrine in the rat brain after administration of ((+)-erythro-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine(author's transl)]. Fluorescence microscopy of rat brains after administration of (+)-erythro-DOPS has been studied. (+)-erythro-DOPS induced an increase of brain NE part of which was formed in the capillary walls. The slight diminution of this increase when (+)-erythro-DOPS was administered after inhibition of peripheral decarboxylase, might result from the algebraic sum of two inversely acting processes: suppression of NE synthesis in the capillary walls and enhancement of parenchymatous NE in some brain areas. (+)-erythro-DOPS enters different brain structures non specifically and NE is formed in DA and 5-HT systems, displacing the amines especially at the terminals; the NE formed by (+)-erythro-DOPS in NE systems should be rapidly catabolised. Possible pharmacological effects of (+)-erythro-DOPS administration involve consideration of the lack of topical specificity of NE formation; the displacement of 5-HT and DA; and the fact (+)-erythro-DOPS produces (+)-NE, and not naturally occurring NE.


Nicotine-induced hypophagia and hypodipsia in deprived and in hypothalamically stimulated rats. Nicotine, in doses of 0.15 and 0.45 mg/kg, induced hypophagia and hypodipsia in 20 hrs-deprived rats and elevated the threshold currents for hypothalamically induced feeding and drinking in satiated rats. These effects were blocked by pretreatment with 0.5 mg/kg mecamylamine, but not by pretreatment with 3.0 or 9.0 mg/kg hexamethonium. These results indicate a centrally-located mechanism for the hypophagic and hypodipsic effect of single injections of nicotine.


Antagonism of pentobarbital induced discrimination in the gerbil. Previous work has shown that gerbils that could discriminate the effects of an injections of pentobarbital and the effect of saline, as shown by the animals' differential responding (left or right turn) in a T-shaped maze (state-dependent behavior), choose the saline associated position of the maze when challenged with bemegride in conjunction with the barbiturate. The present study examined whether differential responding in a T-maze would appear when gerbils were required to differentiate a pentobarbital (15 mg/kg)-bemegride (20 mg/kg) mixture from a saline condition (group 2) from the start of the discriminative training. The acquisition rate for this group was compared with that of another group which was required to discriminate the barbiturate, when given alone, from the no drug condition (group 1). Complete discrimination had occurred after 20 training sessions in group 1 whereas none was noted for group 2. Hereafter the bemegride was withdrawn and group 2 continued the regular training with pentobarbital solely vis-a-vis saline. Complete discrimination appeared within the next 10 sessions. After session 20 group 1 were given challenge trials which were interposed in the regular training with bemegride, metrazol, and cocaine. Bemegride (20 mg/kg), metrazol (40 mg/kg), but not cocaine (40 mg/kg), antagonized the pentobarbital (15 mg/kg) produced discrimination.


Differential antagonism by the antichlolinergic dexetimide of inhibitory effects of haloperidol and fentanyl on brain self-stimulation. Haloperidol (0.08 mg/kg) or fentanyl (0.16 mg/kg) injected subcutaneously suppressed bar-pressing for brain-stimulation in rats, implanted with electrodes in the lateral hypothalamic area of the medial forebrain bundle. Increasing doses: 0.04, 0.16, 0.63 and 2.50 mg/kg of the central anticholinergic dexetimide gradually antagonized the haloperidol effects. The highest dose of dexetimide did not reduce the fentanyl-induced inhibition. The results, together with a literature survey on the anticholinergic effects on neuroleptic-induced catalepsy and inhibition of avoidance behavior, are related to biochemical findings and clinical effects.


The relation between cerebral serotonin levels and conditioned behaviour in the rat following the administration of LSD-25 and UML. Successive daily injections of LSD-25 and UML (1-methyl-d-lysergic acid butanolamide) caused progressive depression of brain 5-HT levels in the rat.  On the fourth day, the decrease was significant with respect to the highly significant fall observed after a single administration, whereas it had been shown earlier that conditioned behaviour is no longer affected by LSD-25 after 3 days and that simultaneous administration of a single dose of LSD-25 and UML is equally ineffective in this respect.  Its depression of 5-HT levels, however, has now been shown to be equal to that of LSD-25 alone at doses that influence conditioned behaviour.  The findings indicate that changes in such behaviour are not dependent on brain 5-HT levels and that no link exists between such levels and the psychotomimetic effect of LSD-25 in man.


Effect of loperamide, haloperidol and methadone in rats trained to discriminate morphine from saline. In an operant procedure of lever pressing at FR10 schedule of food reinforcement, rats were trained to respond differentially in order to discriminate the effects of morphine (10 mg/kg) injections from those of saline injection. These rats learned to press a lever on one side after morphine injection and a lever on the opposite side after saline injection. In subsequent testing, these rats reliably emitted responses on the morphine lever after 10 or 20 mg/kg of morphine IP, 50 mg/kg of morphine given orally or 2 mg/kg methadone. Two mg/kg of morphine (or 10 or 20 mg/kg given orall) was recognized as saline. In contrast, after either loperamide (an antidiarrheal drug) given in doses up to 10 mg/kg or haloperidol (a neuroleptic) given in doses up to 0.32 mg/kg, all responses were made on the saline lever. Higher doses suppressed responding. Since neither the antidiarrheal activity nor the neuroleptic activity was sufficient to provide the discriminable cue associated with morphine, it is suggested that specific central effects produced only by narcotic analgesics are the basis for these morphine cues.


Acute sedative properties of SKF 525A in rats: implications for its use as a metabolism inhibitor in the study of psychoactive drugs. SKF 525A was found possess sedative properties in rats at doses of 25 and 50 mg per kg, when injected intraperitoneally.  The behavioural effects of the drug were assessed in two ways.  Firstly, by "Time Sampling Behavioural Categorisation" of explatory behaviour; and secondly by activity measurements obtained with an ultrasonic motion recorder.  The results clearly demonstrate that SKF 525A has sedative properties in rats at doses which are conventionally used to inhibit metabolism of a wide range of drugs.  The implications of these results for the use of SKF 5251 in the study of the actions of psychotropic drugs are discussed.


The effect of ouabain and digitoxin on hexobarbitone sleeping time in the mouse. The effect of ouabain and digitoxin upon the duration of loss of righting reflex produced by hexobarbitone in mice pretreated with the liver microsomal enzyme inhibitor SKF 525 A was studied. Both ouabain and, to a greater extent digitoxin, produced a dose dependent potentiation of the activity of hexobarbitone. These results confirm and extend previous observations and may be explained by a direct interaction at the level of the CNS and by a modified distribution of the barbiturate. Furthermore, they re-emphasize the possibility of such an interaction in the clinic.


The role of isometric muscle tension in the production of muscle toxicity by phencyclidine and restraint stress. A restraint cage with a strain gauge attached to a movable roof to record the isometric force exerted by rats during restraint is described. The isometric activity score, an integral of the total upward force exerted during restraint, correlated significantly with plasma creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity in rats following restraint. Phencyclidine 5 mg/kg administered intraperitoneally to rats 15 min prior to 1/2 hr restraint has been shown to produce muscle damage associated with large increases of plasma CPK activity. Dose-response curves for the effects of phencyclidine on isometric activity score and plasma CPK activity were essentially parallel, and isometric activity scores were linearly related to plasma CPK activity. Rats restrained and painfully stimualted on the tail developed both elevated isometric activity scores and elevations of plasma CPK activity. Slopes of the curves relating isometric activity to plasma CPK activity were identical for painfully stimulated and phencyclidine treated rats. Phencyclidine has been reported to produce large increases in locomotor activity. Thus, increased isometric muscle tension developed during phencyclidine plus restraint is related to the production of muscle damage and increased efflux of CPK in rats.


Neurochemical and pharmacological studies on a new 5HT-uptake inhibitor, FG4963, with potential antidepressant properties. A new phenylpiperidine derivative, FG4963, and several tricyclic antidepressants were compared in various in vitro and in vivo tests for central 5HT- and NA-uptake inhibition. FG4963 was found to be a 5HT-pump blocker with activity similar to that of chlorimipramine. FG4963 inhibited NA-uptake less than the most potent tricyclic thymoleptics. In contrast to imipramine derivatives FG4963 was a weak inhibitor of peripheral NA-uptake. FG4963 seems to produce central 5HT-potentiation without affecting organ functions regulated by the autonomic nervous system as much as tricyclic antidepressants.


The duration of tolerance to the anorexigenic effect of amphetamine in rats. Rats were given dl-amphetamine 16 mg/kg twice daily for 15 days. Complete tolerance to the anorexigenic effect of amphetamine developed from day 7--11. A single injection of 16 mg/kg amphetamine was given to the amphetamine pretreated rats and to saline pretreated controls at different time-points after withdrawal, and their food intakes were compared. Signs of tolerance were present in 16 but not 20 days after withdrawal.


Long-term effects of barbital on spontaneous activity of rats trained to use the drug as a discriminative stimulus. This investigation sought to determine if the discriminative stimulus properties of barbital are reflected in the pattern of spontaneous motor activity induced by the drug. Rats were trained in a Skinner box to discriminate the effects of sodium barbital (80 mg/kg), injected 60 min prior to training, from those of saline. Half of the animals (Group I) were taught the drug discrimination by rewarding them for bar pressing only when they were in the drug condition. The other half of the animals (Group II) were rewarded only in the absence of the effects of barbital. Spontaneous motor activity was monitored during the 20 min period from 40--60 min after injection of the drug or saline. After several months of drug discrimination training, the patterns of spontaneous activity displayed by all animals suggested that the treatments had become conditioned to signal the forthcoming availability or non-availability of food in the Skinner box. The data also suggested that chronic exposure to barbital may induced adaptations which allowed the drug to increase spontaneous motor activity.


Effects of nitrous oxide on decision-strategy and sustained attention. Effects of 10,20, and 30% N2O on decision-making strategy, reaction-times, sustained attention, the Digit Symbol Subsititution Test (DSST), short-term memory and the Clyde Mood Scale were assessed in 12 test subjects. Decision-making strategy, as measured by 2-choice probability-learning, was unaffected by 30% N2O once a strategy had been formulated, but reaction-times were increased. Sustained attention was significantly affected in 33% of our subjects, whereas performance on the DSST and on the short-term memory task was impaired in virtually all subjects. Changes were noted in several mood-scale factors with 30% N2O. No residual drug effects were found.


Assessment of cerebrospinal fluid levels of dopamine metabolites by gas chromatography. The acid metabolites of dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were determined in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by a new procedure. After gas chromatographic separation, the pentafluoroprionyl 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoro-1-propionyl esters of DOPAC and HVA were analyzed by electron capture detection. Normal HVA levels were quantitated in as little as 0.1 ml CSF. No significant amounts of DOPAC (less than 1 ng/ml) were found in any of the drug-free samples analyzed. Levels of DOPAC increased only marginally in the CSF of patients receiving acute or chronic doses of L-Dopa. Baseline HVA levels ranged from 4.5--50 ng/ml with a mean value of 23 ng/ml. These studies demonstrate that HVA is the major dopamine metabolite in human CSF.


Anti-nociceptive activity of narcotic agonists and partial agonists in mice given biogenic amines by intracerebroventricular injection. Using a tail immersion technique in mice, the anti-nociceptive activity of some narcotic agonists (diamorphine, etorphine, morphine and pethidine), partial agonists (cyclazocine, nalorphine and pentazocine) and naloxone have been determined alone, and after the intracerbroventricular (ICV) injection of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) or noradrenaline (NA). In common with morphine, the anti-nociceptive effects of each agonist and partial agonist studied were significantly increased by ICV 5-HT, and significantly attenuated by ICV NA. The marginal anti-nociceptive activity of naloxone was not significantly affected by the ICV injection of either amine. It is concluded that the anti-nociceptive effects of all narcotic agonist and partial agonist agents are determined by the balance within the brain of the activities of the two amines, 5-HT and NA.


The role of noradrenaline, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in the hyperactivity response resulting from the administration of tranylcypramine to rats pretreated with lithium or rubidium. 1. The administration of 15 mg/kg tranylcypromine sulphate (Tc) to rats which have been given lithium chloride (LiCl) in the diet (30 mmol/kg dry food) for 14 days produces hyperactivity within 4 hrs, and this lasts for at least 4 further hours. 2. If LiCl is replaced by rubidium chloride (RbCl) at the same dose, the hyperactivity following Tc is increased and it appears within 2 hrs. 3. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5HT) accumulation after a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (Tc) is increased 46% and 85% respectively above control values by LiCl and RbCl administration. 4. The hyperactivity produced by the above combinations is inhibited by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (alphampt). The inhibition is more effective following LiCl than RbCl treatment. 5. After sodium chloride (NaCl) and LiCl treatment, but not after RbCl treatment, the combination of alphampt and Tc produced rat brain concentrations of dopamine (DA) significantly below control values. 6. The smaller increase of brain noradrenaline (NA) after Tc and RbCl suggests that a lower percentage of NA is being metabolised by MAO. The greater decrease of NA after giving alphampt to RbCl and LiCl treated rats suggests an increased "turnover" rate of Na. 7. The hyperactivity syndrome seen in rats after the administration of LiCl or RbCl and Tc is dependent upon both 5HT and dopamine mechanisms.


Effects of chlorpromazine and d-amphetamine on observing responses during a fixed-interval schedule. Pigeons were trained to peck a response key that briefly produced stimuli correlated with the passage of time in a fixed-interval schedule of food presentation for pecks on another response key. Pecks on the key that produced food were not likely near the end of each fixed interval, whereas pecks on the key that produced the discriminative stimuli were most likely to occur during the middle portion of each fixed interval. Chloropromazine (3.0--30.0 mg/kg) and d-amphetamine (0.03--3.0 mg/kg) produced inverted U-shaped dose-effect curves with response rate on the food-producing key as the dependent variable, and monotonically decreasing functions were obtained for the discriminative-stimulus producing responses. A "rate-dependency" interpretation adequately described the drug effects on the temporal distributions of pecks on the food-producing key, but was not consistent with the disruption of the temporal distribution of pecks on the key that produced the discriminative stimuli. The pecks on the discriminative-stimulus producing key had some of the properties of schedule-induced, or adjunctive, behavior. The effects of amphetamine and chlorpromazine on the rate of adjunctive behaviors may not be predictable from control rates.


The suppression of behaviour in rats by previous experience and electric shock and its antagonism by atropine. Behavioural suppression was induced in rats by either previous experience alone or by a combination of previous experience and electric footshock. The effects of atropine (10 mg/kg) were compared with saline on a number of behavioural parameters suppressed by the above treatments. Atropine antagonised habituation and shock-induced suppression, which suggests that behavioural suppression however induced, may depend upon a common neuropharmacological mechanism.


Insulin and growth hormone secretion in the nephrotic syndrome. Carbohydrate metabolism was studied in a series of patients with the nephrotic syndrome and compared with a similar number of normal controls. The nephrotic syndrome was associated with a smaller secretion of insulin in response to intravenous glucose and tolbutamide than occurred in normals. In the syndrom fasting serum growth hormone (G.H.) concentrations were increased and did not show the characteristic suppression after glucose administration, and the disappearance rate of glucose (k value) was lower.  well marked correlation existed between serum G.H. concentrations and the total urinary protein excreted. These abnormal findings returned to normal in a patient who underwent a repeat study when the nephrotic syndrome had resolved.


Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease.

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease has recently been recognized as a distinct pathological entity and a cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Twenty previously reported cases and a new patient are here reviewed. The majority presented with breathlessness and in the early stages of the disease, when the abnormal signs were not striking, some patients were wrongly diagnosed as suffering from an anxiety state. The condition usually has an insidious onset but is remorselessly progressive and since no effective treatment is available at present, invariably fatal and the majority of patients have died within two years. The fully developed clinical picture is dominated by symptoms and signs of pulmonary arterial hypertension, similar to those found with other diseases causing a raised pulmonary arterial blood pressure. However, some patients with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease show, in addition, signs of pulmonary venous and capillary hypertension, which can lead to its clinical recognition when associated with a normal left atrial blood pressure. In this condition the pulmonary wedge pressure would appear to be unreliable as a record of the left atrial blood pressure. Pulmonary angiography and lung scanning will differentiate pulmonary veno-occlusive disease from massive thromboembolic pulmonary arterial hypertension but not from primary pulmonary arterial hypertension or micro thromboembolism. Although in some patients it should now be possible to recognise pulmonary veno-occlusive disease in life, there will be others where, even after full investigation, it will still be impossible to differentiate the condition from primary pulmonary arterial hypertension or micro thromboembolism and in these the diagnosis will only be made when the distinctive histological pattern of the disease is demonstrated. In pulmonary veno-occlusive disease there is a widespread occlusion of the pulmonary veins and venules by a loose intimal fibrosis which is often basophilic. Recanalization of the occluded veins is common and in some cases may be very striking. These occlusive lesions in the pulmonary veins lead to an elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure with associated disease of these vessels, and are also responsible for chronic oedema of the elveolar walls with subsequent development of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. In the present case organised thrombi were present in the pulmonary arteries in addition to the pulmonary venous lesions.


The natural history of gastric ulcer in a community: four-year study. All (151) adult patients in north-east Scotland newly diagnosed in one year (1967) as having a supposedly benign definite gastric ulcer crater were studied after a minimum of four years, with a 98 per cent follow-up. Incidence and male to female ratio both increase with advancing age. Ulcers of the body of the stomach were twice as common as ulcers of the antral region. Major coincidental disease was present in 59 per cent of all patients and in 97 per cent of those dying, and was the chief cause of death. Twenty-one patients presented with bleeding but only one other bled subsequently. One patient presented with perforation of gastric ulcer. Two ulcers proved to be malignant. The effect of associated duodenal ulceration on presentation and course was not great. There was a direct correlation between short durations of symptoms and increasing age and mortality. Fifty-five per cent of the medically treated and 60 per cent of the surgically treated patients were alive and entirely free from gastric ulcer symptoms at the end of four years; the respective mortalities were 18-2 per cent and 20-3 per cent. For the whole series, life expectation was significantly reduced in the females, but not in the males.


The treatment of acromegaly with special reference to trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy. Experience in the management of 100 cases of acromegaly is described. Three quarters of these had been referred directly to the endocrine clinic at the Middlesex Hospital. The remainder were referred from the Royal Post-graduate Hospital because they were thought unsuitable for yttrium implantation. The patients were studied by clinical assessment of severity, by measurement of basal growth hormone levels on three separate mornings, and by a review of possible complications. Particular attention was paid to diabetes, hypertension, cardiomegaly, respiratory, vascular and skeletal changes as well as visual field defect. Aggressive treatment was recommended in 77 patients. It was not recommended in the remainder on account of age, intercurrent illness or the apparent mildness of the condition. Fifty-nine patients were treated by trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy. In 46 of the 59 patients the mean basal growth hormone level has been reduced to 5 ng/ml or less. In 39 this followed operation, in five operation and subsequent X-ray therapy and in two operation and the continuing effect of previously implanted yttrium. Of these 46 patients in whom the growth hormone level has been reduced to normal, 26 do not show any deficiency of anterior pituitary trophic hormones, 13 have gonadotrophin defect (in eight of these it was present before the operation) and seven require full replacement therapy. One patient died at home six weeks after the operation from a pulmonary embolus. There was one case of CSF rhinorrhoea which stopped spontaneously and three of acute frontal sinusitis. Trans-sphenoidal hypophysectomy is shown to be an effective means of treating acromegaly. If the basal level of growth hormone is not reduced to normal by six weeks after operation, it is recommended that a course of X-ray therapy should be given. This does not apply if irradiation has been used before operation.


Halothane-related hepatitis. A clinical study of twenty-six cases. Twenty-six patients are described who had otherwise unexplained hepatitis after halothane anaesthesia. Twenty-four (92 per cent) had multiple exposures, and 11 (42 per cent) died. In eight patients a characteristic pattern of delayed postoperative pyrexia has been found. Obesity was common, but the clinical features and complications were those of any severe hepatitis. Obesity, early onset of jaundice after anaesthesia, and low thrombotest, were associated with a fatal outcome. None of those who were followed up after recovery developed clinical or biochemical evidence of chronic liver disease. The differential diagnosis of postoperative jaundice is discussed, and it is shown that halothane patients with hepatic encephalopathy are significantly older (25.4 plus or minus 11.6 years) than those referred to this unit with viral hepatitis of equal severity (34.1 plus or minus 16.4 years). Unexplained jaundice or delayed pyrexia after a previous administration of halothane should be a contraindication to its further use.


[Physiopathology of proteinuria and of renal regulation of the metabolism of circulating proteins]. The glomerular filtration of circulating proteins takes place at the level of the slit membrane where a porous structure, which limits or halts the passage of protein molecules of medium size, has been singled out. The small proteins, and among them many proteic hormones, are filtered, reabsorbed, and, to a great extent, catabolized by the tubular epithelia by means of at least partly selective mechanisms. Besides producing proteinuria, glomerular hyperpermeability, which does not modify the metabolism of microproteins, exposes to tubular catabolism a non-measurable quota of medium-sized nolecules whose survival in circulation is thus abbreviated. Reduced glomerular permeability does not influence the metabolism of medium-sized molecules, but reduces the catabolism of microproteins which are retained in the blood, a fact which is biologically very important. The clinical consequences of this retention have not yet been investigated.


[Diagnostic value of determination of urinary enzymes]. Criteria to be followed, according to the AA., when choosing urinary enzymes to be determined for the evaluation of the anatomical and fuctional situation of kidney, are discussed. These criteria are essentially based on the localization of these enzymes in the organism and on their molecular dimensions. The behaviour of some enzymes, more or less strictly adhering to these criteria, is considered, in relation to glomerular or tubular disfunctions or to parenchimatous lesions. The present and future possibilities of this kind of approach for the analysis of renal alterations are evaluated.


[Simple rapid and economical procedure for agarose electrophoretic separation of serum lipoprotein fractions]. A detailed description is given of a rapid, simple and economic technique for the electrophoretic migration on agarose gel of serum lipoproteins. The albuminated agarose is spread hot on pieces of normal radiological plates even if already used. The reservoir for the serum is obtained by putting in the agarose while still hot a series of small metal bars. The moulds are removed with a small magnet as soon as the gel is formed. Plates prepared for 6-7 lipidograms can comfortably be kept for as long as 20-30 days. For stored plates ready for use, the analytic procedure does not require more than 40-45 minutes. The results can be considered altogether satisfactory.


[Latex test for diagnosis of tetanus infection]. The A. describes and indirect method for detecting the tetanic toxin in tissues and in biological fluids. This method utilizes the in vitro agglutination of latex particles on which tetanic anatoxin in adhered. The results show the possible utilisation of the method for clinical and forensic-medicine purposes.


[Paracoagulation tests in laboratory verification of intravascular coagulation. Comparative clinical evaluation of the SDPS test and of the ethanol test with serial dilution (SD ethanol test)]. The AA. remark that laboratory diagnosis of intravascular coagulation is a still alive methodological problem. The presence in the flowing blood of certain molecules (fdp) that derive from that alteration of fibrinogen metabolism, that is at the basis of any intravascular coagulation syndrome, can be detected by immunological methods. Paracoagulation tests allow on the contrary to detect fibrin monomers and fibrin degradation products (fdp) that are still clottable (nonenzymatic coagulation). The positivity of these ones constitutes therefore an indirect evidence of the effects of thrombin on fibrinogen and keeps us nearer to the pathogenetic moment which is the real basis of any I.C. syndrome. The AA. make here a parallel between the two principal paracoagulation tests that are S.D.P.S. test according to GUREWICH (1971 [7]) and Ethanol Gelation test according to GODAL (1966 [6]) whose details are given. These two tests were performed in parallel in 589 cases which showed clinical evidence or suspicion of I.C. mostly supported by the further clinical courses of the patients. The two tests are both positive only in 164 cases (27,8%); both non-positive in 109 cases (18,6%); S.D.P.S. test is positive alone in 306 cases (51,9%); Godal's test is positive alone in 10 cases (1,7%). These data, supported by clinical course, allow the AA. to think that S.D.P.S. test is more sensitive than Godal's test. Although the AA. make the hypothesis that S.D.P.S. test may be more sensitive owing to its serial diluitions method that allows it to achieve an optimal ratio between the paracoagulant agent and the molecules which are capable to be clotted (paracoagulated). So they modify Godal's test applying to it too the principle of serial diluitions. The details are given. This new Serial Diluition Ethanol Gelation test is therefore performed in parallel with S.D.P.S. test in 314 cases which showed clinical evidence or suspicion of I.C. mostly supported by further clinical courses of the patients. In this second series of 314 patients the two tests are both positive in 138 cases (43,9%); both non-positive in 33 cases (10,5%); S.D.P.S. test was positive alone in 108 cases (34,3%); S.D.E.G. test was positive alone in 35 cases (11,3%). As we can see in this second series S.D.P.S. test remains more sensitive showing positivities in 246 cases (78,2%) whereas S.D.E.G. test is positive in 173 cases (55,2%). In conclusion the application of serial diluitions also to Ethanol Gelation test increase its sensitivity (from 29,5% to 55,2%), but it does not reach S.D.P.S. test's one. S.D.E.G. test may be really useful in clinics because it gives informations within 10 min but its non-positivity must be supported by the results of S.D.P.S. test which on the contrary gives sure informations only after 24 hours.


The end-stage lung: pathogenesis, pathology, and radiology. The morphological concept of an end-stage lung implies a pathologically and radiologically nonspecific appearance of diffuse lung disease which can be caused by many different disease processes. The lung can respond to injury in only a limited and stereotyped fashion; with persistent injury, these pathological changes telescope toward a common appearance, the end-stage lung, which is characterized by cystic spaces of variable size and extent throughout both lungs caused by alveolar septal dissolution, bronchiolectasia, and obstructive emphysema. The most important radiological manifestation is cystic spaces, a sign of severe, irreversible damage to that portion of the lung. Pleural thickening, cor pulmonale, spontaneous pneumothorax, calcific nodules, or scar carcinoma may also be seen.


A pulmonary venous indentation on the esophagus-a normal variant. An extrinsic indentation on the anterior left wall of the esophagus, about 4-5 cm below the carina, is a relatively common finding and should be considered a normal variant, although rarely it may be due to an aberrant insertion of a pulmonary vein into the left atrium. The indentation is best seen in a steep left posterior oblique horizontal position. In most cases it is caused by pressure of the left inferior pulmonary vein or a common confluence of the left pulmonary veins near the insertion into the left atrium. Generally, it does not cause any symptoms and should not be mistaken for a mediastinal mass.


Superior mediastinal shift in right-lower-lobe collapse: the "upper triangle sign". In some patients with right-lower-lobe collapse a triangular shadow was seen in the right upper lung field, continuous with the mediastinum and with its apex pointing toward the right hilus. This represents a shift of the upper anterior mediastinum to the right and may be mistaken for right-upper-lobe collapse or an infiltrate by the unwary observer. This finding, which the authors call the "upper triangle sign," occurs frequently enough in cases of significant right-lower-lobe collapse to be a useful diagnostic sign.


Priscoline and epinephrine in selective pancreatic angiography: a comparison study using high pressure injection, Valsalva maneuver and geometric magnification. The value of selective, high injection rate, pancreatic pharmacoangiography was assessed in 114 patients. Opacification of the pancreas was graded on a 0-4+ scale. Selective injection of gastroduodenal and small pancreatic arteries gave the best results, 3.7+. Celiac injection rating without drugs was 0.9+, with epinephrine 2.2+, and with Priscoline 2.7+. Average ratings of hepatic artery injections were 2.6+ with epinephrine and 3.0+ with Priscoline; splenic artery injections were 2.5+ and 3.5+, respectively. Although superselective injection was possible in only 50% of the cases, addition of epinephrine and Priscoline resulted in an average grading of 3.4+ (yielding a preoperative diagnostic accuracy of 94%).


Tunnel ulcer with double pyloric canal.

Tunnel ulcer with double pyloric canal. Double pyloric canal produces a recognizable roentgen pattern. A split barium column at the pyloric canal results in an interposed pseudo-defect which must not be confused with tumor mass. The condition is usually caused by a tunnel ulcer extending from the distal stomach to the duodenal bulb and is probably more common than the small number of reported cases would suggest.


Acquired double pylorus: a case report.

Acquired double pylorus: a case report. A case of acquired double pylorus, incident to peptic ulcer disease, is described. Fiberoptic gastroscopy confirmed a scarred antrum, a shallow prepyloric ulcer and a pylorus consisting of two large openings divided by a septum. The duodenum was visualized through each channel. This appearance probably represents a pyloroduodenal fistula caused by penetration of a prepyloric ulcer into the duodenum.


Normal measurements in angiography of the posterior fossa. A quantitative study of the normal position of the vessels of the posterior fossa was made. The centroid proved to be the most accurate reference point for vessels near the midline. The presence or absence of antomical constraints is important in evaluation in significance of an unusual measurement. A combination of unusual measurements which are not intercorrelated and which make sense anatomically suggests that a mass is present.


Dynamic roentgenographic changes in the empty sella syndrome. Two cases of empty sella syndrome are presented. Progressive sellar enlargement was documented together with evidence of increased intracranial pressure. One patient exhibited de novo development of an empty sella turcica.


Kinking of the aqueduct of Sylvius in the absence of posterior fossa masses. The kinked or "hockey stick" deformity of the aqueduct of Sylvius has long been considered pathognomonic of a mass in the posterior fossa. Five patients with kinking of the aqueduct of Sylvius are described. All had intracranial abnormalities but none had a mass in the posterior fossa.


Incomplete, false, and true diastematomyelia: radiological evaluation by air myelography and tomography. Six cases of possible diastematomyelia studied by air myelography with tomography were thought to involve fibrous or bony septa, but in each case no septum was found. Surgical findings included prominent midline posterior fissures in the cord associated with fibrous bands, an unusual tentlike extension of the arachnoid over the spinal cord, and hemicords with no intervening septum. Recognition of an osseous septum on the plain film does not necessarily mean that the cord is completely divided by bone, as other structures derived from the mesoderm, such as fat or cartilage, may contribute to the septum. The importance of defining tethering of the cord posteriorly at the septum or conus level is stressed. Air myelography with appropriate projections appears to show posterior fixation of the cord to best advantage.


Relative efficacy of radionuclide imaging and computed tomography of the brain. Computed tomography (CT) with the EMI scanner has been demonstrated to possess a wide spectrum of capabilities in the diagnosis of suspected intracranial disease. This review of 418 dual CT and radionuclide (RN) brain images indicates that RN and CT are complementary in the diagnosis of cerebral infarction, but that CT has a greater capability in brain tumor detection. The classical RN static brain image does not detect cerebral atrophy, hydrocephalus or intraventricular hemorrhage; these conditions are clearly defined by CT.


Brain scanning in oligodendrogliomas: a detailed neuropathology-scan correlation of 34 histologically verified cases. Thirty-six brain scans and biopsies from 34 patients with histologically verified oligodendrogliomas were evaluated. Twenty-nine of the 36 scans were positive (80.6%) but the abnormal uptake produced by these neoplasms had no distinguishing features. The levels of endothelial proliferation-vascularity, necrosis, and mitoses were significantly different between the positive and negative scans. In the oligodendrogliomas, the relationship between histologic malignancy, detectability on scan, and prognosis remains unresolved.


Gallium scanning as a screening test for inflammatory lesions. Of the 67-Ga scans obtained in 42 patients with fever and suspected inflammatory lesions, 17 were positive. In 9 patients the scans yielded information about localized inflammation not provided by previous studies. Four patients did not have an inflammatory lesion at the positive site. Ten of 13 abscesses or inflamed wounds visualized and those not demonstrated were resolving without complication. Scans were normal in most patients with viral illnesses and nonlocalized inflammatory lesions. In 8 of 9 patients with fever of unknown origin the scan was normal.  normal scan did not rule out inflammatory lesions but no significant localized pyogenic lesions were missed.


Clinical evaluation of tumor scanning with 169-Yb-citrate. 169-Yb-citrate was used as the tumor-scanning agent in 360 patients with malignant tumors and in 55 others with benign lesions and the results compared with 67-Ga-citrate studies in other series. In malignant tumors, the overall  positive detection rate for ytterbium was 65.3%; in benign lesions, the false-positive rate was 29.1%. Good results were obtained in the extremities, head and neck, and pelvic area. Of all tumors visualized, squamous cell carcinoma was detected most effectively (77.5%). 169-Yb-citrate has a long shelf life, photon peaks of 178 and 198 kev, clears from the blood more rapidly than 67-Ga-citrate and has an extremely low soft-tissue background uptake. Its main disadvantage is its high radiation dose: 1.74 R/500 muCi whole-body and 5.77 R to the bone.


Measurement of thoracic spine length on chest radiographs of newborn infants. The relationship of thoracic spine length and birth weight was evaluated in newborn infants of 26-41 weeks gestational age, and standards of thoracic spine length were established. Thoracic spine length is an accurate index of trunk length in the: if the gestational age is known, a markedly lengthened thoracic spine suggests that the mother is diabetic, while a markedly shortened thoracic spine suggest retarded intrauterine growth.


Sonographic diagnosis of fetal hydrops.

Sonographic diagnosis of fetal hydrops. Sonograms obtained during the 32nd and 34th weeks of a pregnancy complicated by severe Rh isoimmunization demonstrated features diagnostic of fetal-hydrops-scalp and body wall edema, ascites, hepatosplenomegaly and placental enlargement. The earliest sign that can be detected sonographically is placental enlargement.


Postresection irradiation for primary lung cancer. A total of 219 patients with proved lung cancer were studied to determine whether postresection irradiation improves survival. The results showed that postresection irradiation improved survival among patients with hilar and mediastinal lymph-node metastases of all histological types but did not improve survival among patients without node metastases. The authors recommend that patients with resectable lung cancer involving the hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes be treated by a combination of surgery and radiotherapy.


Serum IgA in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal and paranasal sinus carcinoma. The serum immunoglobulin-A level was elevated in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (mean 526 plus or minus 188 mg/100 ml) and paranasal sinus carcinoma (mean 451 plus or minus 124 mg/100 ml) prior to radiation therapy. After treatment, the IgA levels were lower in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. Elevated serum IgA values were also noted in patients with recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Serum IgA determinations may be useful as an additional diagnostic test for squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal and oropharynx.


Carcinoma of the male breast following thymic irradiation. A white male teenager with carcinoma of the breast had received radiation therapy for an asymptomatic enlarged thymus on the second, fourth and seventh days of life. The dose delivered to the infant breasts, the latent period, and the unusually young age of the patient suggest that the malignancy was related to the course of radiotherapy.


New methods of imaging in diagnostic radiology. The basic ideas of electrostatic imaging with special reference to ionography are reviewed. The concept of edge contrast is explained in terms of calculated powder particle trajectories and methods for controlling edge contrast are presented. Also, methods for reading a foil from outside the ionography chamber using the electric field extending through the foil are described. An example of an image taken with liquid in the chamber (liquid lonography) is presented, and the possible extension of liquid ionography to nuclear medicine is discussed.


Tumor localization of 131-I-labeled antibodies by radionuclide inaging. Intravenous injections of 131-I-labeled anti-EL4 lymphoma antibodies showed progressive localization of radioactivity in EL4 transplants but not in B16 melanoma in mice carrying both tumors. Normal rabbit globulin labeled with 131-I did not localize in either tumor and cleared more slowly from the internal organs. Metastatic localization of intravenous 131-I-labeled anti-tumor antibodies was also observed in 2 cancer patients.


A simple and economical method for marking the EGG R-wave on film in cinefluorography. A new method for marking the R-wave of the EGG on ciné film was developed. The system utilizes the absence of one control pulse from the camera immediately after R-wave. The missing pulse causes one unexposed frame on the film, which in turn acts as a marker. The equipment costs about 500 Fmk. (similar to $132.00).


The use of photochromic eyeglasses by radiologists. Photochromic lenses which undergo a change in density with varying intensities of sunlight have been incorporated into routine eyeglasses. Laboratory tests have shown that glasses of this type do not decrease the visual acuity of the radiologist.


Femoral percutaneous catheterization in infants and small children for cerebral angiography. An improved technique of selective cerebral angiography for infants and small chicken is described. The needle is inserted approximately 45 degrees to the skin in order to avoid subintimal placement of the tip. After good backflow is established, the guidewire is advanced to a position in the descending aorta. A No. 3 polyethylene catheter and 21-gauge scalp vein needle were most successful.


The continuing evolution of the categorical course concept. The Society's initial venture in the categorical course was an overwhelming success. Future offerings coordinated between the RSNA, ACR and ARRS could play an outstanding role in recertification.


Radiological evaluation of the aortic-pulmonic window. Knowledge of the roentgen anatomy of the aortic-pulmonic window will minimize confusion of pathologic and normal radiographic appearances. When deep intrusion of lung into the window is seen or when the window is outlined by far within it, gross enlargement of ductus nodes or masses in this area can be excluded with a reasonable degree of certainty. If masses or lymph nodes are present in the window, the mediastinal pleura "closing" on its lateral side will show on abnormal configuration with convexity directed laterally. Medial extension of masses or enlarged lymph nodes may cause impression on the left lateral wall of the esophagus and may compromise the left recurrent laryngeal nerve.


Natural history of pulmonary thromboemboli in dogs. Serial radiographic observation of clots labeled with powered tantalum. Powdered tantalum was blown onto the surface of blood clots from 10 dogs. After autologous, tantalum-labeled clots were injected into a systemic vein in each dog, the dogs were sacrificed at varying times over a 5-week period. Microscopic sections showed the tantalum remained attached to the intraluminal clots throughout this period. No appreciable dispersion of label into extravascular parenchyma was observed. Serial roentgenograms demonstrated (a) initially, the labeled clots in the pulmonary arterial tree, (b) lysis of the clots, as indicated by progressive decrease in the breadth of the tantalum labels, (c) peripheral movement of the labeled clots, and (d) eventual fragmentation of the labels.


Visual detection and localization of radiographic images. In conventional receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of visual detection performance, the observer is credited with a true-positive response if a visual signal is present somewhere in a radiograph called "positive" by the observer; however, the measured true-positive rate can be different for a given false-positive rate if the observer is required to identify the correct location of the visual signal in order to receive credit for a true-positive response. The authors describe and have confirmed experimentally a model which can be used to predict observer performance in an experiment requiring both detection and localization on the basis of the conventional ROC curve determined in a detection experiment. Implications for the use of signal detection theory in the assessment of radiographic image quality are discussed.


Radiological characteristics of perforated pulmonary hydatid cysts. Perforation of pulmonary hydatid cysts into the bronchial tree was seen in 56 of 239 cases. The resulting radiological signs are much more specific than those seen prior to perforation. These signs are described and correlated with the cystic structures that give rise to them. Perforation into the pleural cavity, seen in 5 cases, may result in secondary hydatidosis, as happened in one case.


Complications of selective percutaneous transfemoral coronary arteriography. A total of 1,250 selective coronary arteriographic procedures were performed by the percutaneous transfemoral technique. There were no deaths. Local complications included delayed hemorrhage in 14 patients, peripheral emboli in 2, and thrombosis in 1. Cerebral complications included fibrin or air emboli in 3 and dislodgement of a mural thrombus by the catheter in 1. Cardiac complications included ventricular fibrillation in 11, myocardial infarction in 3, and profound hypotension in 1. With routine use of a transparent manifold and removal of the guide wire distal to the arch vessels, no cerebral emboli or myocardial infarctions have occurred in the last 500 examinations.


"Tumor vascularity" in left atrial thrombus demonstrated by selective coronary arteriography. Coronary arteriography was performed during preoperative investigation of mitral valve disease in a 62-year-old woman. "Vascular puddles" arising from the left coronary artery were seen within a large filling defect in the left atrium, raising the suspicion of myxoma. At surgery, the filling defect proved to be partially organized thrombus. "Tumor vascularity" can be a feature of left atrial thrombus as well as myxoma.


The radiographic manifestations of pseudolymphoma of the stomach. Pseudolymphoma of the stomach is a benign proliferation of lymphoid tissue which can be mistaken histologically for malignant lymphoma. The etiology is unknown but in most cases it is believed to be a reaction to chronic peptic ulcer disease. The clinical records and radiographs of 18 patients with pseudolymphoma of the stomach were reviewed. The radiographic findings fell into 3 relatively distinct groups: tumor masses, enlarged gastric rugae, and well-defined benign-appearing ulcers. All but 2 cases demonstrated ulcers radiographically and all cases had ulcers or erosions on pathological examination.