[Beta-lactamase producing gonococci in Munich (author's transl)].

Two more penicillinase-producing gonococci strains have been isolated in Munich. The source of infection could not be traced in a 20 year old prostitute. A 45 year old patient contracted the infection during a stay in Bangkok.


[Efficacy, tolerance, and pharmacokinetics of sisomicin in urinary tract infections (author's transl)].

Since 1973 30 patients with urinary tract infections (UTI) or pyelonephritis have been treated with sisomicin, a new aminoglycoside, in a daily dose of 2 mg/kg for a period of seven to nine days. From a clinical point of view the result of treatment was good. Complete resolution was achieved in 17 patients, improvement in nine, and there was no effect in four patients. Thirty-five causative organisms (Escherichia coli = 23, Proteus sp. = 7, Klebsiella sp. = 3, Pseudomonas aeruginosa = 1, Citrobacter = 1) were isolated before treatment. Thirty of the organisms were eliminated during treatment, but seven reappeared during the follow-up period; five strains persisted. Side effects observed consisted of reversible increase of serum creatinine in four patients, excretion of granular casts in 14 patients, and a transient rise of alkaline phosphatase, SGOT and/or SGPT in five patients. No signs of ototoxicity or any other adverse reactions were found and local tolerance was good. In 20 patients blood samples for assay were obtained daily one hour after i. m. injection of 1.0 mg/kg. No evidence of drug accumulation in the serum was found: the mean serum concentrations one hour after injection remained between 3.4 and 3,9 microgram/ml during the entire treatment period. Sisomicin is a highly effective antibiotic for the treatment of UTI caused by gramnegative pathogens. On account of its potential toxicity however, it should be used, like other aminoglycosides, only in selected cases.


The effects of hyalurodinase upon tumor formation in BALB/c mice painted with 7,12-dimethylbenz-(a)anthracene.

Experiments were performed to investigate the effects of hyaluronidase on chemical carcinogenesis. Two experiments were carried out using BALB/c mice. In the first experiment the mice were divided into three groups, viz. (1) painted with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), (2) injected with hyaluronidase and painted with DMBA and (3) injected with saline and painted with DMBA. In the second experiment the mice were divided into three groups: (1) painted with DMBA, (2) injected with hyaluronidase and painted with DMBA and (3) injected with heat-inactivated hyaluronidase and painted with DMBA. The tumor incidence and size of tumors were significantly lower in the group treated with hyaluronidase than in the other groups. The latent period was increased. The mitotic index of the skin adjacent to the tumors at the end of the experiment was decreased. These studies show that hyaluronidase can act as an anticarcinogenic agent.


Multinationals and health: reflections on the Seveso catastrophe.

On July 10, 1976, a cloud of vaporized products containing dioxin escaped from a deposit of a plant of the Icmesa firm in the northern suburbs of Milan. The fallout was deposited on a vast zone in the municipalities of Desio, Seveso, Meda, and Cesano. Dioxin was not the desired product of the industrial process, but rather an impurity which generally accompanies trichlorophenol, and, to a smaller extent, the products synthesized from trichlorophenol. Among these there are hexachlorophene and the herbicide 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, which was used as a defoliant in the Vietnam War. After describing toxicological properties of dioxin, this paper examines the role of multinational corporations and of capitalist governments in exploiting not only the people of underdeveloped lands, but also workers of developed countries, transforming into capital not only the increased value of man, but also the conditions, harmfulness, and risks of work.


Angiokeratoma serpiginosum.

Angiokeratoma, a vascular dermatosis, is currently recognized as having six clinical presentations. A woman with extensive skin lesions compatible with the clinical diagnosis of angioma serpiginosum was found to have biopsy changes consistent with angiokeratoma. Her case emphasizes the histologic similarities between these entities and suggests an additional clinical presentation for angiokeratoma--angiokeratoma serpiginosum.


Mandibular reconstruction with bone grafts.

A total of 23 patients with partly resected mandible were repaired with autogenous bone grafts from the iliac crest and ribs. The reasons for reconstruction are presented in Table 1. The grafts healed without complications in 21 cases. With the exception of two of the cases with gunshot wounds, all patients recovered good mobility of the jaw and satisfactory mandibular contours. The patients had been folloed up for 6 months to 11 years. Radiographic examination at the last examination showed that resorption of the graft had been only slight or moderate. Through marrow-spongious bone grafts are regarded as best from an osteogenetic point of view, our cases showed that good results can be achieved also with solid block grafts. The authors discuss the use of plate osteosynthesis without IMF instead of other types of graft fixation and IMF. In six cases where the area of the graft was loaded with a prosthesis, resorption was not more extensive than in the other cases.


Osteomyelitis of the jaws.

Material consisting of 16 patients examined and/or treated under the diagnosis osteomyelitis is reported. A description is given of the history, etiology, clinical and radiographic findings, results of histologic and microbiologic examinations, blood chemistry, diagnostic subgroups, findings at operation and the surgical and antibiotic therapy used. The results of treatment at short-term follow-up are given. Of nine patients observed 5 months or longer, six showed signs of healing, while the result was judged as uncertain in two cases and unsuccessful in one.


Bone scintigraphy of benign jaw lesions.

Bone scintigraphy has been performed two or more times within a year on 12 patients: four with cherubism, four with fibrous dysplasia, and four with osteomyelitis of the mandible. In cherubism abnormal scintigrams were found only in the regressive period with new bone formation, while in fibrous dysplasia, abnormal scintigrams were found in all cases, even in patients where the disease was expected to be stationary. In osteomyelitis the changes in the scintigrams corresponded to clinical and radiological changes. Bone scintigraphy may be used as a differential diagnostic aid in doubtful cases of cherubism and fibrous dysplasia, or to reveal any lesions of other bones. The method cannot be used for differentiating between fibrous dysplasia and osteomyelitis, but bone scintigraphy may be useful in the early diagnosis or the late control of osteomyelitis in the jaws.


Antifibrinolytic prevention of alveolitis sicca dolorosa.

In a double-blind study dental cones containing the antifibrinolytically active propylic ester of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PEPH), sulfanilamide and sulfathiazol or placebo were placed in dental sockets following removal of impacted mandibular third molars on 95 consecutive patients, 50 women and 45 men. The duration of the operation, the type of surgeon, preoperative symptoms and the use of peroral anticonception were recorded. The patients were asked to return to the clinic on the seventh postoperative day, and it was then noted whether the healing was disturbed by Alveolitis Sicca Dolorosa (ASD) or not. Statistical analysis showed a significantly prophylactic effect of PEPH against ASD. The prophylactic effect was most pronounced in the group of male patients without preoperative symptoms and in the group of patients operated by dental students. It could not be demonstrated that the sulfa drugs in the cones were of any benefit to the healing of the socket.


Extractions of impacted mandibular wisdom teeth in the presence of acute infection.

The removal of 720 impacted mandibular third molars in the presence of acute pericoronitis, employing as atraumatic an operative technique as possible, did not give rise to serious complications, such as osteomyelitis, brain abscess, septicemia or facial space abscess. The results have been compared with a control group of 1,000 impacted mandibular third molars extracted without presence of acute infection.


Focal osteosclerosis and apical periodontal pathoses in "European" and Cape coloured dental outpatients.

Standardized panoramic radiographs were used to determine and compare the prevalences of focal osteosclerosis (including condensing osteitis) and apical periodontal pathoses in a sequential presenting sample of 600 European and 600 Cape Coloured dental outpatients. Most cases of focal osteosclerosis were found in edentulous zones or associated with carious or inadequately restored teeth; however, some were subjacent to apparently sound teeth. Focal osteosclerosis of definite dental origin was just as common in participants aged 25 years and older as in younger individuals. While focal osteosclerosis occurred predominantly in the mandible, apical periodontal pathoses were distributed more evenly between both jaws.


Miconazole in the treatment of oral candidosis.

Miconazole was used as sucking tablets in the treatment of oral candidosis in 11 patients in whom other antimycotics had been without effect for at least a preceding 3-month period. Seven out of the 11 patients were cured within 3 weeks, three after 6 and 7 weeks and 3 1/2 months, respectively. In one patient treatment was withdrawn without cure after 3 1/4 months. The taste of the tablets was characterized by four patients as extremely unpleasant. No side effects were seen in any of the patients.


Experimental bacteremia to demonstrate the barrier function of epithelium and connective tissue surrounding oral endosseous implants.

The barrier function of the peri-pillary epithelial-connective tissue cuff was experimentally tested with 12 endosseous metal blade vents in four beagles. An identified Staphylococcus aureus test strain was suspended in 0.5 ml saline. This bacterial suspension was then instilled into the sulcus of each implant. For stimulation of bacteremia the animals were fed with pelleted dry food. After 5 minutes, venous blood was drawn and incubated. After 72 hours of incubation none of the cultures showed bacterial growth of the test bacteria. In a second experiment 0.5 ml of the bacterial suspension was inoculated intravenously. After 1 h a bacteriological smear and peri-pillary tissue were taken. The specified Staphylococcus aureus was identified with phage typing in only on tissue specimen. This study demonstrates that the pseudo-attachment of the epithelial-connective tissue complex to the  post of metal endosteal implants is functionable. Functionability, however, is endangered if biomechanical imbalance or infection occurs.


Necrotizing sialometaplasia.

Two cases of necrotizing sialometaplasia are reported together with a review of the literature. This self-limiting benign lesion is easily confused with malignant tumors. The lesions are characterized histologically by an extensive necrosis of the salivary gland tissue together with squamous metaplasia of the ducts. The present report of two females who had intense pain in the initial phase differs from previous reports concerning age and symptoms. The importance of rather extensive biopsy specimens is stressed. Antibiotic treatment appears to be insignificant. A clinical history of allergy and a dominance of eosinophilic granulocytes in the inflammatory exudate in both cases may indicate an allergic etiology.


Lymphosarcoma of the mandible associated with macroglobulinemia of Waldenström.

Waldenström macroglobulinemia is a rare progressive immunoproliferative disorder involving lymphocytes and occasionally plasma cells. Unlike the multiple myeloma, this disease has minimal osseous lesions. Lesions in the jaws are very rare. This paper presents a case of lymphosarcoma in the mandible in a 68-year-old woman, who was diagnosed as suffering from Waldenström macroglobulinemia. The possibility of immunosuppression by Leukeran as an aetiologic factor causing the bone lesions is suggested.


Pressure-dependent changes in nuclei and the process origins of the endothelial cells lining Schlemm's canal.

Monkeys eyes were fixed with glutaraldehyde in vivo at positive intraocular pressure of 35 or 25 mm Hg and compared with eyes fixed without a positive pressure gradient, with the use of light microscopy and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The entire endothelial lining of the inner wall of Schlemm's canal ballooned or distended toward the external wall of the canal at positive intraocular pressure. Characteristic nuclear shapes were identified and appeared to result from the increased pressure forcing the lining away from the meshwork opposed by a restraining or anchoring effect of cytoplasmic processes attached to the subendothelial cells and trabecular meshwork. Without positive intraocular pressure endothelial cell nuclei were rounded, with many folds and notches in the nuclear membrane and were not deformed by their cytoplasmic processes. These findings suggest that the cells may be capable of elastic recoil or contraction.


The regulation of hazards and hazardous behaviors.

Risks to individuals engaged in "high risk" behaviors may be present because of the individual's own actions, as in the case of smoking. Alternatively, the risks may be present either because of factors in the environment such as carcinogens, or because of the causal actions of others, such as pollution by industries. Traditionally, justifications for policies that would control hazards and restrict hazardous behaviors have been based on paternalistic principles or on a theory of social justice. Arguments for both are criticized and rejected in favor of a third alternative rooted in utilitarian moral theory. It is argued that: (1) paternalism leads to unacceptable consequences because it would allow too much limitation of individual liberty by policy makers; (2) justice-based arguments are too abstract for public policy problems and often rest on questionable empirical assumptions; and (3) utilitarian suggestions about the use of cost-benefit analysis for the resolution of these health policy problems are more promising than available alternatives, because they provide a solid moral basis for allocating scarce resources and for controlling hazardous behaviors.


Purine nucleoside phosphorylase in lymphocytes of various mammalian species.

The distribution of purine nucleoside phosphorylase has been assessed by light and electron microscopy in peripheral lymphocytes of man, the rabbit, rat, mouse, guinea-pig, pig and dog. The enzyme activity was detected in the cytosol of the majority of lymphocytes in all species. The amount of reaction product was high in the rabbit, man, guinea-pig and dog, mpderate in the rat and very low in the pig and mouse. Other blood cell types are reactive as well, although there is a variation between species. A possible relationship of purine nucleoside phosphorylase with particular subpopulations of lymphocytes is suggested.


A histochemical study about the influence of lytic enzymes on plasma membrane enzyme activities in rat liver and kidney.

1. The effect of lipolytic, glycolytic and proteolytic enzymes on the activities of plasma membrane enzyme activities in rat liver and kidney has been investigated by a pretreatment of tissue sections with the lytic enzymes. 2. The action of the proteolytic enzymes causes a very strong decrease of leucyl-beta-naphthylamidase activity, whereas the activities of ATP-ase, 5'-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase show a lesser decrease. This indicates a different membrane anchorage of leucyl-beta-naphthylamidase as compared to that of the phosphatases. 3. Treatment with glycolytic enzymes results in a decrease of 5'-nucleotidase and ATP-ase activity, whereas liver alkaline phosphatase and leucyl-beta-naphthylamidase show an increase in activity. 4. Treatment with phospholipase C gives about the same results. The very strong decrease of 5'-nucleotidase activity indicates a great dependence on phospholipids.


Aggressive approach to intravenous feeding of the critically ill patient.

Intravenous nutrition has become a necessary part of comprehensive critical care. The guidelines that surround the technique render it both safe and effective, but are not always practical in the patient with sepsis or multisystem failure who has a shortage of sites for catheter insertion. After an 8 year experience in a multidisciplinary ICU in which 40 per cent of patients admitted are fed parenterally, modified techniques have been developed so a more aggressive and liberal approach can be used for treating acutely ill patients. Additional crystalloid fluids and medications can be administered through the TPN catheter, high calorie levels can be used initially, and TPN can be stopped abruptly and insulin dosages as high as 28 U. per hour administered safely. When critically ill patients undergo major surgery TPN may be continued. This is made possible by a well oriented and well trained staff, competent to both follow and act on the results of very close monitoring in a special care area with efficient stat laboratory backing. Complication rates have to be kept low by rigorous supervision of both catheter insertion and aftercare. This has made frequent catheter changes a practical safety measure. Management and monitoring protocols are presented. The well established protocols for the management of TPN are adhered to for the routine support of nutrition.


Immunohistochemical demonstration of carbonic anhydrase.

Rabbits were immunized using human erythroxyte carbonic anhydrase B (HCA B) purified by the modified methods of Armstrong et al. (1966) and Bernstein and Schraer (1972). The globulin fraction was isolated by ammonium sulphate precipitation. The anti-HCA B globulin was specific, when judged using the double diffusion technique of Ouchterlony and immunoelectrophoresis. No cross reaction with human erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase C was found, but cross reactions with erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase from rat, mouse and guinea pig were observed. Flurorescein isothiocyanate conjugated goat anti-rabbit globulin was used for the localization of HCA B in tissue sections and erythrocytes on slides.


[Tetrazolium methods for the histochemical investigation of hydrolases (author's transl)].

Using freeze-dried or sections from fresh-frozen or aldehyde-fixed material nitro BT (NBT), tetranito BT (TNBT), distyryl nitro BT (DS-NBT), thiocarbamyl nitro BT (TC-NBT) or benzothiazolylstyrylphthalhydrazidyl tetrazolium chloride (BSPT) were tested as auxiliary reagents for the localization of glycosidases, phosphatases and non-specific esterases with indoxyl substrates in rat tissues. By means of NBT or TNBT as a tetrazolium salt acid beta-D-galactosidase, beta-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase, acid phosphatase, neuraminidase and non-specific esterase can only be localized at the cellular level; a more precise localization is possible for lactase-beta-D-glucosidase in the intestinal brush border, and the best results are obtained in the demonstration of alkaline phosphatase; among all methods described previously the tetrazolium procedure with TNBT is the method of choice for the light microscopic localization of this enzyme. Reverse data are observed with BSPT as a tetrazolium salt; then, all acid and neutral hydrolases can be exactly localized in lysosomes, secretion granules, cytoplasm and/or microvilli of many cells and tissues provided BSPT-formazan is stabilized by osmification. Furthermore, this procedure enables the reliable ultracytochemical demonstration of these enzymes. However, in the case of alkaline phosphatase only sites with high enzyme activity reveal a positive reaction. -DS- and TC-NBT are inferior to NBT, TNBT or BSPT.


The use of Rhodamin B for the identification of injected horseradish peroxidase in the brain.

Horseradish peroxidase injected into the brain of the marmoset, Callithrix jacchus, is demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy following histochemical reaction with homovanillic acid and Rhodamin B. Usefulness and efficiency of the method are discussed in comparison with other procedures for the demonstration of HRP.


Airway responses to histamine and methocholine in Ascaris suum-allergic rhesus monkeys.

We performed dose-response curves to inhaled histamine (H) and methacholine (MC) in a group of eight rhesus monkeys, with and without natural allergy to Ascaris suum antigen (AA). The animals were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium, 25 mg/kg im and studied in a volume-displacement body plethysmograph. The dose of H or MC producing a 50% increase in pulmonary resistance (RL) was used to determine sensitivity to these agents and the increase in RL at a given dose was employed as a measure of reactivity. Sensitivity and reactivity to H and MC were then compared with AA responsiveness. A wide range of responses was observed but allergic animals were not more sensitive or reactive to H or MC than nonallergic animals. In addition, we studied the changes in breathing pattern that occurred during the inhalation of AA, H, and MC in four AA-sensitive animals. AA and H produced rapid shallow breathing within 30 s of starting inhalation, but MC, despite causing an equal degree of bronchoconstriction, did not produce alterations in breathing pattern.


Induced synthesis of immunoglobulin messenger RNA accompanies induction of immunoglobulin production in cultured mouse spleen cells.

Immunoglobulin kappa type light chain mRNA (Lkappa mRNA) accumulated in parallel with secretion of immunoglobulin M in cultured mouse spleen cells activated by lipopolysaccharide. Actinomycin D suppressed the accumulation of kappa chain mRNA completely without affecting the degradation rate of kappa chain mRNA. The half life of kappa chain mRNA was about 9 h. Available evidence indicates that lipopolysaccharide stimulates de novo synthesis of kappa chain mRNA. The accumulation of kappa chain mRNA was markedly suppressed by inhibitors of DNA or protein synthesis such as hydroxyurea, cytosine arabinoside and cycloheximide.


Binding of [125I] wheat germ agglutinin to Chinese hamster ovary cells under conditions which affect the mobility of membrane components.

The binding of [125I]wheat germ agglutinin ([125I]WGA) of high specific activity to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells has been examined over a millionfold range of WGA concentrations and correlated with the phenomena of agglutination and capping by WGA. Analysis of the binding data by the method of Scatchard gives a complex curve indicative of positive cooperativity amongst high-affinity binding sites. Binding assays performed under conditions which inhibit capping and/or agglutination, such as low temperature or glutaraldehyde fixation, give similarly complex binding curves. Thus, the gross mobility of WGA receptors in the membrane does not appear to be responsible for the cooperative binding of WGA to CHO cells.


Mediation of pinocytosis in cultured arterial smooth muscle and endothelial cells by platelet-derived growth factor.

Pinocytosis was measured in monkey aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC), bovine aortic endothelial cells, and Swiss 3T3 cells in culture as cellular uptake of [U-(14)C]sucrose and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) from the tissue culture medium. Monkey arterial SMC and Swiss 3T3 cells were maintained in a quiescent state of growth at low cells density in medium containing 5 percent monkey plasma-derived serum (PDS). Replacement of PDS with 5 percent monkey whole blood serum (WBS) from the same donor, or addition to PDS of partially purified platelet-derived growth factor(s) (PF), resulted in a marked stimulation of pinocytosis as well as of cellular proliferation. In SMC, enhancement of the rate of pinocytosis occurred 4-6 h after exposure to WBS or PF, and the rate was up to twofold higher than the rate in medium containing PDS. In contrast, [(3)H]thymidine uptake by SMC did not increase until 12-16 h after exposure to PF. In endothelial cells the presence of PF or WBS did not enhance either the rate of pinocytosis or the rate of proliferation over that in PDS. Thus, endothelial cells did not become quiescent at subconfluent densities in PDS but maintained rates of proliferation and pinocytosis that were equivalent to those in WBS. By autoradiography, the fraction of labeled nuclei in SMC cultures 24 h after change of medium increased from 0.061 +/- 0.004 in quiescent cultures to 0.313 +/- 0.028 after exposure to WBS or PF. In contrast, labeling indices of endothelial cells were similar for cultures grown in PDS, WBS, or PF at any single time point after change of medium. These findings suggest that the rate of pinocytosis maybe be coupled in some fashion to growth regulation, which may be mediated in part by specific growth factors, such as that derived from the thrombocyte.


Comparative studies of intracellular transport of secretory proteins.

The physiology of protein intracellular transport and secretion by cell types thought to be free from short-term control has been compared with that of the pancreatic acinar cell, using pulse-chase protocols to follow biosynthetically-labeled secretory products. Data previously obtained (Tartakoff, A.M., and P. Vassalli. J. Exp. Med. 146:1332-1345) has shown that plasma-cell immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion is inhibited by respiratory inhibitors, by partial Na/K equilibration effected by the carboxylic ionophore monensin, and by calcium withdrawal effected by the carboxylic ionophore A 23187 in the presence of ethylene glycol bis (beta-aminoethylether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and absence of calcium. We report here that both inhibition of respiration and treatment with monensin slow secretion by fibroblasts, and also macrophages and slow intracellular transport (though not discharge per se) by the exocrine pancreatic cells. Attempted calcium withdrawal is inhibitory for fibroblasts but not for macrophages. The elimination of extracellular calcium or addition of 50 mM KCl has no major effect on secretory rate of either fibroblasts or macrophages. Electron microscopic examination of all cell types shows that monensin causes a rapid and impressive dilation of Golgi elements. Combined cell fractionation and autoradiographic studies of the pancreas show that the effect of monensin is exerted at the point of the exit of secretory protein from the Golgi apparatus. Other steps in intracellular transport proceed at normal rates. These observations suggest a common effect of the cytoplasmic Na/K balance at the Golgi level and lead to a model of intracellular transport in which secretory product obligatorily passes through Golgi elements (cisternae?) that are sensitive to monensin. Thus, intracellular transport follows a similar course in both regulated and nonregulated secretory cells up to the level of distal Golgi elements.


Scalar constraints in Tetrahymena evolution. Quantitative basal body variations within and between species.

Tetrahymenas of 17 species of the T. pyriformis complex have been stained with protargol and analyzed for numbers of basal bodies in half cells just before cell division. At this stage, cells of all strains manifest considerable variation in numbers of basal bodies; the coefficient of variation (sigma/m) is usually between 0.05 and 0.10. Much of this variability is observed in cells in the same nutritional state, at the same stage of the growth cycle, and in the same part of the life cycle. The basal body variability may be related to the variation in macronuclear DNA content that results from the imprecise amitotic macronuclear division. With a few exceptions, strains of different species are difficult to distinguish on the basis of basal body numbers. The species means in the samples examined show a range only from 234 (T. furgasoni) to 481 (T. capricornis), about a twofold difference. This limited variation in the means suggests that these organisms are constrained within narrow limited by some scalar function of their organismic design, which prevents an evolutionary size dispersion--even though molecular scrambling has occurred in the complex at an appreciable rate for a very long evolutionary interval.


Physiological quiescence in plasma-derived serum: influence of platelet-derived growth factor on cell growth in culture.

A platelet-derived growth factor can be shown to be the principal stimulant of DNA synthesis in whole blood serum for those cells that require serum for maintenance and growth in culture. Cell free plasma-derived serum lacks such platelet-derived material. 3T3 cells and primate arterial smooth muscle cells can be maintained in a quiescent state in culture for as long as six weeks in plasma-derived serum. Such cells can grow logarithmically after exposure to  5% whole blood serum or as little as 100 ng/ml of partially purified platelet factor. The cell cycle of smooth muscle cells has been studied in the quiescent (5% plasma-derived serum) and growing state (5% whole blood serum or 5% plasma-derived serum plus platelet factor). The generation time of smooth muscle cells is 16 to 18 hours as shown by autoradiographic frequency of labelled mitoses. The generation time is the same for cells in the growth fraction in either 5% whole blood serum or 5% plasma-derived serum. Thus, platelet factor acts by recruiting cells into the growth fraction rather than effecting a change in the duration of the cell cycle. Flow microfluorimetry studies on cells growing logarithmically in 5% whole blood serum give the following phase durations: G1 = 5.6 hours; S = 7.6 hours; and G2 + M = 3.8 hours. Based on these studies the argument is presented that cells cultured in 5% plasma-derived serum provide a more physiological base for the study of quiescence than do cells in low concentrations of whole blood serum or confluent, density inhibited cells at high (5% or greater) concentrations of whole blood serum. Furthermore, 5% plasma-derived serum represents an appropriate state to examine the perturbation of quiescent cells.


Isolation of 57Co-cobalamin coenzymes at high specific activity from Streptomyces griseus.

The distribution of radio-labelled cobalamins in Streptomyces griseus grown in medium containing 57Co-cobalt chloride has been estimated by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography and bioautography. 57Co-Methylocobalamin (Me[57Co]Cbl) was the major form in the mycelium together with smaller amounts of 57Co-adenosylcobalamin (Ado[57Co]Cbl) and 57Co-hydroxocobalamin (OH[57Co]Cbl). The OH[57Co]Cbl was detected in three forms having, respectively, anionic, cationic and neutral properties. A simple technique has been developed to isolate and purify Me[57Co]Cbl and Ado[57Co]Cbl from the mycelium using column chromatography on ion-exchange celluloses. Small quantities of each cobalamin coenzyme have been obtained at 90--96% purity and specific activities of 190--230 muCi/microgram.


Type-specific indirect hemagglutinating antibody in patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection.

Lipopolysaccharide antigens were extracted from heated cell extracts of several serotypes of Pseudonomas aeruginosa. Indirect hemagglutination with the extracts indicated specific reactivity with sera from rabbits immunized with homologous serotypes of P. aeruginosa. Sera from healthy adults and patients infected with P. aeruginosa were studied subsequently and shown to possess antibodies against P. aeurginosa. In patients infected with P. aeruginosa type E, indirect hemagglutination antibody against type E was resistant to 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) and classified as immunoglobulin G. In patients infected with any other type of P. aeruginosa and in healthy adults, it was sensitive to 2-ME and classified as immunoglobulin M. The antibody in the seven patients infected with P. aeruginosa was titrated during the course of infection with lipopolysaccharide antigen prepared from the infecting strain. As a result, all patients either possessed 2-ME-resistant antibody or showed antibody rise to homotypic antigen during the infection. However, no patient showed 2-ME-resistant antibody against hetero-typic lipopolysaccharide antigens. In hospitalized patients, the incidence of anti body against type E, G, and I Pseudomonas strains was greater than that against type A. In particular, 2-ME-resistant antibody to all four serotypes was detected at a higher rate in hospitalized patients than in healthy adults.


Utilization of a specific in vitro lymphocyte immunostimulation assay as an aid in detection of brucella-infected cattle not detected by serological tests.

Studies using the in vitro lymphocyte stimulation test (LST) were conducted with cattle in a dairy herd with a high percentage of reactors to several serological tests for brucellosis. Lymphocytes were prepared from peripheral bovine blood by the Ficoll-diatrizoate technique. Lymphocytes were cultured using microtitration culture plates. Brucella abortus soluble antigen, at a concentration of 4.4 microgram/culture, was added to the appropriate wells of microtitration culture plates and incubated for 6 days. The lymphocyte stimulation responses were measured by assaying for [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. Seroagglutination tests were conducted simultaneously with the LST, and tissues were collected after slaughter of the cattle for bacteriological culture to isolate B. abortus. All 21 animals studied were serologically negative for anti-brucella antibodies. Two of the 21 animals were classified as infected with Brucella by the LST, and B. abortus biotype 1 was isolated from tissues of these same two animals. The LST exhibited significant sensitivity and specificity in this study, and more observations of this nature might strengthen the application of this assay as an aid in the diagnosis of brucellosis.


Immunodiagnosis of histoplasmosis in a compromised host.

Three serological tests for the diagnosis of histoplasmosis were compared for sensitivity and specificity in serum from blood bank donors, patients with histoplasmosis, and infected or noninfected immunosuppressed patients. The histoplasmin latex agglutination test was positive in 9% of the normal patients, 33% of the histoplasmosis patients, and 61% of the noninfected immunosuppressed patients. Since the test is prone to many false-positive results in patients with inflammatory diseases or non-Histoplasma infections, it has limited potential as a screening test among compromised patients. Immunodiffusion and counterimmunoelectrophoresis using a mycelial antigen were found to be more sensitive than either test using a combined yeast and mycelial antigen or a pure yeast phase antigen. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis at pH 7.2 proved to be the test of choice for serodiagnosis of histoplasmosis, resolving 85% of the immunocompetent infected patients and 100% of the infected immunosuppressed patients. Results indicated that counterimmunoelectrophoresis in conjunction with immunodiffusion could be used as a screening protocol to determine infection in incoming patients in a cancer hospital.


Counterimmunoelectrophoretic detection of a high incidence of precipitin reactions in normal human sera against staphylococcal teichoic acids and protein A.

The use of counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) for detection of serum antibodies to staphylococcal teichoic acids was evaluated against teichoic acids prepared by sonic treatment or lysostaphin extraction of Staphylococcus aureus (Lafferty strain). Of 54 patient sera from suspected cases of staphylococcal endocarditis, osteomyelitis, or septicemia, 33 (61.1%) were positive by CIE analysis; however, 128 of 291 sera (44.0%) from normal adult donors were also positive. Selected CIE-positive sera from patient and control groups were titered by Ouchterlony gel diffusion. In the control group of normal sera, 65% were also positive by gel diffusion, but only 15% had titers of >/=1:2. Of the patient sera, 44.4% had gel diffusion titers of >/=1:2. In addition to the specific teichoic acid band, a second precipitation band could be demonstrated with both patient or normal sera by CIE or gel diffusion. This second precipitin band was shown to involve interactions of test sera with staphylococcal protein A present in the teichoic acid extracts. The protein A precipitins were detected at high concentrations of the antigen extracts, whereas the anti-teichoic acid precipitins were optimally detected at lower antigen concentrations. The formation of protein A precipitin bands did not correlate with the presence of anti-teichoic acid antibodies, as most sera tested were positive for protein A regardless of anti-teichoic acid activity. This study suggests that a high incidence of normal people have levels of antibodies to teichoic acids which are detectable by the highly sensitive, but nonspecific, technique of CIE.


Plaque assay for measuring serum bactericidal activity against gonococci.

A new semiquantitative plaque assay was developed to measure killing of gonococci by serum. Results compare well with an established quantitative method, but the plaque assay is faster, simpler, and less expensive.


Meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup 135.

The first descriptions of meningitis in childhood caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup 135 are presented. Difficulties with identification of unusual serogroups of N. meningitidis are discussed.


Adult polycystic kidney disease: ultrasonographic and computed tomographic appearance.

Sixteen patients with adult polycystic kidney disease (PKD) were studied by gray scale B mode ultrasonography. The nephrosonographic appearance of adult PKD is a spectrum ranging from kidneys of normal size to enlarged kidneys with multiple variable-sized cysts. Strong focal cortical echoes were present in patients with only small cysts in the renal cortex. Hepatic cysts, which appeared as sharply marginated anechoic regions within the liver parenchyma, were detected by ultrasound in 50% of our patients. Hepatic and renal cysts appeared on computed tomograms as sharply defined, ovoid areas of low attenuation. There was good diagnostic correlation between ultrasonography and computed tomograms as sharply defined, ovoid areas of low attenuation. There was good diagnostic correlation between ultrasonography and computed tomography. Ultrasound and computed tomography are accurate methods for diagnosis of adult PKD; however, the ability to diagnose quickly and noninvasively both renal involvement and associated extrarenal involvement makes ultrasound the procedure of choice for diagnosis, screening, and followup.


On the measurement and specification of acoustic output generated by pulsed ultrasonic diagnostic equipment.

The method of describing acoustic output generated by pulsed equipment has not been fully formalized and is often inadequately specified. This paper discusses the terms that we have found useful to specify the acoustic output generated by pulsed diagnostic equipment and proposes additional terms that allow a more complete description of irradiation dosage. The application of the proposed specification is illustrated by measurements made on a typical contact echoscope.


The liquid-filled stomach--an ultrasonic window to the upper abdomen.

An ultrasonic window to the upper abdomen is creasted by (a) filling the fasting stomach with methylcellulose suspension, (b) administering glucagon intravenously, and (c) examining the patient prone. Glucagon relaxes the gastric musculature and the prone position allows the stomach gas to rise to the fundus. This enables assessment of the relationships of the stomach to adjacent structures and permits display of structures forming the stomach bed. The equipment used was a commercially available water-delay system with wide-aperture focused transducers. The system gives good resolution and allows the gastric musculature to be distinguished from the mucosa and its overlying mucus.


Ultrasonography in renal lymphoma.

Ultrasonographic findings in malignant lymphoma of the kidneys in four patients are described. In three patients the kidneys were diffusely infiltrated by anechoic masses showing good acoustic transmission. One solitary lymphoma had the ultrasonographic characteristics of any other kidney tumor. Ultrasonographic differential diagnosis of renal masses should include malignant lymphoma.


The ultrasonic appearance of the umbilical cord.

We have used a combination of linear-array real time and contact sector scanning to image the umbilical veins and arteries. The best images are made perpendicular to the cord. The arteries spiral the vein and the cord is a tortuous structure. Thus there is considerable variability of the appearance of the arteries and veins depending upon the plane of the section.


Prenatal ultrasonic diagnosis of epignathus.

This case demonstrated a mass seen on an ultrasound scan performed prior to amniocentesis to determine fetal maturity. It emphasizes the importance of scanning the entire contents of the amniotic sac rather than simply looking at the portion for which the examination was ordered. It is important to recognize such lesions to prepare for adequate management of the airway in the neonate, to prepare for surgical excision as soon as feasible, and to prepare the family for the birth of a baby with a congenital abnormality.


Malfunction of a Bjork-Shiley prosthetic heart valve in the mitral position producing an abnormal echocardiographic pattern.

This report presents an echocardiographic study of a patient with fibrous ingrowth about the sewing ring and hinges of a Bjork-Shiley valve in the mitral position. The valve was obstructed and produced a distinct motion pattern. In addition to having a rounded diastolic motion, the disk excursion was decreased.


Biliary cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma: gray scale ultrasound appearance.

The gray scale echographic appearance of biliary cystadenoma/cystadenocarcinoma is described. The characteristic findings are a cystic, multiloculated intrahepatic mass with thick, highly echogenic internal septations. Findings are similar to those in pancreatic and ovarian cystadenomas/cystadenocarcinomas.


Hematocolpos: diagnosis made by ultrasound.

A 14 year old girl presented with acute urinary retention. Ultrasonography made an important contribution in the diagnosis of hematocolpos. This is the first case reported in the literature.


Neonatal detection and evaluation of infantile polycystic disease by gray scale echography.

Infantile polycystic disease (IPCD) is an uncommon pathologic entity involving the kidneys and liver. Gray scale echography can detect this pathologic process within the kidneys, despite the presence of renal failure. In addition, the sonic study may detect associated hepatic abnormalities even though isotopic liver scan is normal. These capabilities make the ultrasonic examination uniquely suited for evaluating patients with IPCD.


Photographic techniques for retrieving echocardiographic images from substandard recordings.

A technique is described for photographing damaged echocardiograms with a lithographic film. This is a high contrast film that reproduces either black or white, without intermediate gray tones, depending on exposure time. Standard photographic manipulations were used to improve the quality of the final print.


Radiolucent holder for echocardiographic recordings during fluoroscopy and exercise.

The design and function of a device that holds an ultrasound transducer against the chest wall in a stationary position is described. This holder is useful for obtaining echocardiograms during cinefluoroscopic procedures, various positional maneuvers, and exercise testing.


Electronic area and perimeter measurement of ultrasonic images.

An electronic system for measuring area and perimeter directly on cross-sectional ultrasonic images is described. The resulting values are unaffected by the distortions common to display monitors or errors in the display scale factor. The results of accuracy tests are given, including a comparison with measurements by planimeter and map-measurer.


Principles and applications of a dynamically focused phased array real time ultrasound system.

The physical principles and clinical applications of a high-resolution, dynamically focused phased-array real time ultrasound are described. Advantages of the real time technique include rapid survey capability, efficient selection of an appropriate tomographic plane, identification of pulsating structures, and dynamic studies. The capabilities of a high resolution phased array with extended dynamic focusing to a range of 15-20 cm are demonstrated in vascular, abdominal, and obstetric imaging. Appropriate clinical examples showing normal and pathological anatomy are presented. Comparisons with conventional B scans are illustrated.


The echocardiographic correlate of a systolic click appearing after open mitral commissurotomy.

An echocardiographic correlate for a post-valvulotomy mid-systolic click is described. Simultaneous echocardiographic and phonocardiographic studies demonstrated that the click was temporally related to a sudden midsystolic posterior motion of part of the mitral valve apparatus. This temporal relationship suggests that the sudden change in position of portions of the mitral valve resulted in the loud midsystolic click. In our patient the sudden leaflet movement associated with the click was apparently a localized abnormality.


Differential diagnosis of intrahepatic shadowing on ultrasound examination.

Significant sonic shadowing originating from a structure within the hepatic parenchyma is unusual and often denotes pathology. The differential diagnosis (choledocholithiasis, air in the biliary tree, calcified tissue, foreign bodies, and shadowing from normal structures) is reviewed and examples are presented.


The complete echographic evaluation of solid renal masses.

In the presence of a solid intrarenal mass, ultrasound scans should not be limited to the mass itself. Modern commercial gray scale equipment is capable of demonstrating both tumor extension into the inferior vena cava and the metastatic disease to the liver. The presence of multiple solid intrarenal masses favors the diagnosis of metastatic disease to the kidney or multiple angiomyolipomas. Retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy or an adrenal mass coincidental with an intrarenal mass suggests metastatic disease. These possibilities can be detected by echography if prone scans are performed over the suprarenal region and the contralateral kidney, and supine scans are performed for evaluation of the inferior vena cava, liver, and retroperitoneum.


Real time observation of left ventricular aneurysm by B mode echocardiography.

This paper describes two cases of left ventricular aneurysm following myocardial infarction by real time B mode echocardiography with a mechanical sector scan. The most distinctive feature was the paradoxical movement of the aneurysmal wall; in systole, it moved posteriorly to form a bulge, whereas the remaining noinfarcted area was oriented toward the left ventricular cavity in contraction. The final diagnosis was verified by aneurysmectomy.


Pitfalls in ultrasonic detection of pleural fluid.

This is a report of proven massive infiltration of Hodgkin's disease of the lung with correlative sonographic, roentgenographic, and pathologic findings. Special emphasis is placed on the difficulties in distinguishing pleural fluid from massive tumor infiltration of the lung by Hodgkin's disease.


Ultrasonic demonstration of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis.

An ultrasound examination performed on a young woman with a long history of urinary tract infection demonstrated multiple subcapsular sonolucencies suggestive of multiple abscesses. The combination of the ultrasonic appearance, the clinical history, and a large nonfunctioning kidney with calculi on intravenous pyelography allowed us to suggest the diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. Ultrasound plays an even greater role in patients who are allergic to iodinated contrast material in whom intravenous pyelograms and arteriograms may be contraindicated.


Ultrasonographic appearance of gastric lymphosarcoma.

The ultrasonographic appearance of a diffusely infiltrating gastric lymphosarcoma is presented. The stomach appeared as a large mass with sonolucent periphery and central sonodensity. This appearance should suggest a lesion arising from the gastrointestinal tract.


Ultrasonographic demonstration of a simple ureterocele and dilated ureter in an adult.

A 54 year old man was found to have a simple ureterocele with a dilated ureter. Ultrasonography demonstrated the ureterocele as an echo-free structure at the base of the bladder without involvement of the bladder wall. The course of the dilated ureter and its entrance into the bladder were clearly defined.


Papillary adenoma of the gall bladder: ultrasonic demonstration.

A papillary adenoma of the gall bladder was demonstrated by gray scale echography. The pathology of the tumor was described and the ultrasonic characteristics which distinguish it from a calculus were discussed.


Ultrasonic features of Gartner's duct cyst.

Gartner's duct cysts will usually be incidental findings during pelvic sonography. Of developmental origin, they may present anywhere along the lateral aspect of the female genital tract. When the cysts are of parovarian origin, they will mimic other fluid-filled adnexal masses, and no specific diagnosis can be made. When alongside the vagina or cervix, however, their ultrasonographic appearance is probably characteristic.


Enhanced ultrasonic visualization of kidneys via an abdominal compression pillow.

In order to improve the visualization of kidneys in patients who are scanned prone, a compression pillow is placed under the anterior abdomen at the approximate level of the kidneys. We hypothesize that the improved imaging occurs because the compression reduces the thickness of soft tissues overlying the kidneys and, therefore, lessens the amount of attenuation, scattering, and absorption the ultrasound beam undergoes. The benefits of this technique are illustrated in a patient with a renal cyst.


Development of the diencephalon in the rat. I. Autoradiographic study of the time of origin and settling patterns of neurons of the hypothalamus.

Groups of pregnant rats were injected with two successive daily doses of 3H-thymidine from gestational day 13 (E13 + 14) until the day before birth (E21 + 22). This double labelling procedure was combined with an injection schedule of a single day delay between groups (E13 + 14; E14 + 15; E15 + 16 . .). The two injections assured the comprehensive labelling of practically all neurons of a given structure prior to the onset of their differentiation (comprehensive labelling), whereas the progressive daily delay in injections made it possible to estimate the proportion of neurons formed in various regions of the hypothalamus on a single day. Hypothalamic areas or nuclei were assigned into four classes on the basis of their cytogenetic isochronicity. Structures composed of the earliest arising (class 1) neurons constitute a lateral tier that includes the lateral preoptic and lateral hypothalamic areas, and the lateral mammillary nucleus. Structures composed of early arising (class 2) neurons form a heterogeneous collection of nuclear systems, including the paraventricular, internuclear and supraoptic magnocellular neurons, and several intermediate tier nuclei of the anterior and posterior hypothalamus. The late arising (class 3) and latest arising (class 4) nuclei constitute a periventricular system anteriorly and a more extensive region posteriorly. The latter two nuclear systems may constitute the hypophysiotropic area of the hypothalamus. The nuclei of the mammillary system, which are produced sequentially, are distinguished from other hypothalamic structures by their more rapid generation time. Internuclear labelling gradients were used to infer the neuroepithelial site of origin and settling pattern of neurons. Common sites of origin were indicated for the following structures: the magnocellular neurohypophysial neurons; the neurons of the dorsomedial and ventromedial nuclei; and the neurons of the tubermammillary and arcuate nuclei. The sites of origin of these groups of nuclei were related to specialized ventricular linings in the mature hypothalamus.


Development of the diencephalon in the rat. II. Correlation of the embryonic development of the hypothalamus with the time of origin of its neurons.

The development of the nuclei of the hypothalamus was examined in normal and X-irradiated embryos from day 13 (E13) to the day before birth (E22). The diencephalic neuroepithelium was subdivided into three lobes (dorsal, medial, and ventral) and two lobules (superior and inferior). The hypothalamus is derived from the ventral lobe and the inferior lobule. The ventral neuroepithelial lobe generates the neurons of most of the early arising hypothalamic structures, including those of the lateral tier nuclei associated with the medial forebrain bundle, and the heterogeneous intermediate tier nuclei. A specialized neuroepithelial region lining the diamond shaped ventricle produces the early neurohypophysial magnocellular neurons; the neurons of the paraventricular nucleus remain at this site, whereas the neurons of the supraoptic nucleus could be traced migrating laterally. The neurons of the late arising hypophysiotropic area of the posterior hypothalamus are derived from components of the inferior neuroepithelial lobule: the dorsomedial and ventromedial nuclei apparently from a shared matrix in the main portion of the inferior lobule; the tuberomammillary-arcuate complex from its posteroventral recess. The triple-decked and sequentially produced components of the mammillary system may arise from separate neuroepithelial sites. The autoradiographic results of the previous study (Altman and Bayer, '78a) showed that the structural and functional heterogeneity of the mature hypothalamus is paralleled by cytogenetic heterochronicity; the present embryonic observations indicate that many of the distinguishable components of the hypothalamus arise from a mosaic of heterogeneous neuroepithelial sites.


Menstrual cycle influences on operant behavior of female rhesus monkeys.

Nine female rhesus monkeys were paired with males throughout 63 menstrual cycles. The females' motivation to approach males was studied with an operant conditioning paradigm that required the female to press a lever 250 times to gain access to the male. Sexual behavior was scored during standard 60-min tests that followed the attainment of access (17 pairs, 1,440 tests). In the overall data, mean times to access were shortest at mid-cycle and longest just before and after the onset of menstruation, and a model-fitting method showed that 45% of cycles from individual pairs were significantly correlated with a V-shaped model of the overall pattern. Male sexual activity was highest at mid-cycle and lowest in the last quarter of the cycle, but the changes in access times could not be attributed entirely to the rewarding effects of the ejaculations. In the combined data from five females (9 pairs, 33 cycles), high estradiol levels and low progesterone levels were statistically associated with short access times and short ejaculation times. The overall effect was for operant performance and sexual activity to be synchronized and maximized in the periovulatory period of the menstrual cycle.


Serological properties of Streptococcus mutans from humans and some animals.

The development of a simple but reliable diagnostic method of identifying and grouping S. mutans was undertaken. There were three specific antigens of S. mutans, and the slide agglutination test was found to be a good method using three specific antisera. The distribution of S. mutans groups in the Japanese and some animals was studied.


A preliminary scanning electron microscope examination of wear striation direction on primate teeth.

Wear striations experimentally produced on initially unworn teeth were examined at high magnification using a scanning electron microscope. Certain characteristics of individual wear striations on these teeth indicate the direction of motion that produced them. Other striations on worn teeth of American Indians and the Paleocene primate Phenocolemur show similar characteristics and correspond to mandibular movement during mastication.


Pulpal response in rhesus monkeys to cementation agents and cleaners.

The purpose of these studies was to compare pulpal inflammatory responses induced by cementation of precision amalgam inlays with zinc phosphate cement, with and without a Hydroxyline liner, Durelon cement, and ZOE controls. Hydraulic force was induced by the inlay insertion procedure. Cavilax, water, and polyacrylic acid were compared with ZOE controls. Both studies also used untreated teeth for comparison. The use of zinc phosphate luting cement in the 48-hour inlay study was the only condition provoking moderate to severe responses. Zinc phosphate cement over Hydroxyline liner and Durelon cement in the study of inlays and Cavilax cleaner, water, and polyacrylic acid in the study of cleaners showed mild responses comparable to the ZOE control in the 48-hour and in the 45-day periods.


Geriatric medicine: model for computer-oriented research analysis.

It is important to have accurate information derived from basic data about geriatric patients, not only for clinical management but to anticipate changes in the demand for services and the taking of preventive action. A model is presented for computer-oriented analysis. The collection of data is designed to cover the specific physical, physiologic and social needs of the patients both in the hospital and in the community. It must also support effective action about these needs which involve not only usage of existing facilities but the planning of preventive measures and adjustment of the provision for care. In addition, it must support clinical research when necessary. Geriatric records have specific problems, not only those of the patient's identity and clinical data but also the maintenance of psychologic and social information so that the requirements for long-term care can be assessed. This type of record facilitates comparison between groups of patients and allows measurement of inter-hospital performance relating to medical care and the planning of social programs in the community. Such records furnish the background of a more detailed statistical analysis for indicating the direction of national policy. By this means the prevalence of medical, psychologic and social demand can be studied and various preventive actions taken, including the monitoring of geriatric facilities.


Quantitative decision techniques for the health/public sector policy-maker: an analysis and classification of resources.

Policy problems in the health and public sectors are quickly assuming a new level of complexity. Thus, the health/public sector analyst is being confronted with the task of identifying, formulating, evaluating, and making choices among larger and more complicated sets of decision alternatives. Given the context of such decisions, less-than-effective choices could adversely affect the health and social well-being of whole sections of a population. What seems to be needed, therefore, is an approach that would provide system and objectivity to the policy-making process. The use of quantitative techniques, so long applied to problems in the private and industrial sectors, would be the mainstay of such an approach. It is the goal of this article, therefore, to identify, classify, and briefly describe elements of the emerging set of materials (texts, edited readings, and monographs) which offer discussions of these techniques as they apply to problems in the health and public sectors. It is hoped that such a presentation will hasten the application of available analytic decision tools to the policy/decision problems of the public sector.


The relative immunogenicity in mice of whole and split influenza virus.

The relative immunogenicity in mice of whole influenza virus, and virus split with different disrupting agents, was compared. Using the single radial immunodiffusion test to estimate the haemagglutinin antigen concentration in different virus preparations, it was found that, in general, split virus preparations induced substantially lower titres of HI antibody in mice than whole virus after one or two injections of the antigen.


Interrelations between the physiology of sodium, potassium and water, and nutrition.

The relationships between altered nutrition and body composition of sodium, potassium and water are reviewed. The physiological mechanisms involved in cellular homeostasis of sodium and potassium are also discussed with particular reference to energy costs. Alterations in mineral metabolism in protein energy malnutrition, oedema, potassium adaptation, fasting and hypertension are described.


Immunoglobulin evolution: chemical study of clawed toad (Xenopus laevis) heavy and light chains.

NH2 terminal amino acid sequence determinations of clawed toad (Xenopus laevis) immunoglobulins indicate that approximately 30% of the heavy chains and less than 5% of the light chains have unblocked NH2 termini. The major amino acid sequence of the X. laevis 7S immunoglobulin heavy chains is the same as that of the 19S immunoglobulin heavy chains. Thus in the synthesis of the heavy chains, the VH genes coding for unblocked heavy chains can associate with CH genes of both the 19S and 7S classes. This association is particularly important in amphibians because, in contrast to mammals and birds, the majority of amphibian antibody-producing cells synthesize both 19S and 7S immunoglobulins and do not participate in the 'genetic switch' characteristic of lymphocyte differentiation in higher organisms. In X. laevis, the major amino acid sequence at the first twenty-four positions of the unblocked heavy chains shows approximately 54% difference from the prototype amino acid sequence of the mammalian VHIII subgroup. Thus, the VHIII gene(s) must have started to appear after the evolutionary divergence of the common ancestor of mammals and birds from the amphibian line. The amino acid composition of the X. Laevis 7S immunoglobulin heavy chains differs from that of its 19S immunoglobulins as well as those of human IgG and IgA. These data support the concepts (a) that amphibian 7S and 19S immunoglobins belong to distinct classes and (b) that amphibian 7S immunoglobulin does not resemble mammalian IgG or IgA.


A sex-transformation gene in Drosophila melanogaster.

A sex-transformation gene, tra-2OTF, of Drosophila melanogaster is described. The gene is an allele of tra-2 (transformer-2, 7--70+/-), acts only on XX individuals and transforms them into morphologically nearly normal but sterile males. Neither a male-specific lethal gene mle nor the male-killing maternally transmitted infectious SR-agent have any effect on the tra-2OTF transformed flies. External as well as internal reproductive organs of tra-2OTF transformed flies, except for the gonads, are male. The gonads, which are yellowish-colored rudimentary testis-like structures in tra-2 transformed flies, are rudimentary ovaries without yellowish coloration that sometimes develop to near maturity. Numbers of bristles in each of the female pattern in tra-2OTF and tra-2OTF/tra-2 transformed flies, while these bristles are of the male pattern in tra-2 transformed flies. Furthermore, the sixth abdominal sternite, which in normal males as well as in tra-2 transformed males lacks bristles, bears numbers of bristles in tra-2OTF and tra-2OTF/tra-2 transformed flies.


Reaction of linoleic acid hydroperoxide with thiobarbituric acid.

The linoleic acid hydroperoxide obtained by enzymatic peroxidation of linoleic acid was found to react with thiobarbituric acid to yield a red pigment. The optimum pH for the reaction was found to be 4.0. In the early stages of peroxidation of linoleic acid, thiobarbituric acid value, the amount of conjugated diene, oxygen consumption, and peroxide value were in parallel with one another. The data were compared with those on peroxidation of linolenic acid and arachidonic acid.


Deoxyribonucleoside-requiring mutants of Bacillus subtilis.

A number of deoxyribonucleoside-requiring mutants (dns) of Bacillus subtilis were isolated and their growth characteristics and ribonucleotide reductase activities were compared with those of the wild type and of a dna mutant (tsA13). Both tsA13 and dns mutants required the presence of a mixture of deoxyribonucleosides for growth at 45 degrees C but not at 25 degrees C. All the mutant strains tested contained ribonucleotide reductase activity which showed heat sensitivity similar to that of the enzyme from a wild-type strain. The reductase in B. subtilis seemed to reduce ribonucleoside triphosphates in a similar manner to the enzyme in Lactobacillus leichmannii.


Control of lactate production by Selenomonas ruminantium: homotropic activation of lactate dehydrogenase by pyruvate.

Selenomonas ruminantium produced one mole of D(-)-lactate per mole of glucose used at all dilution rates in ammonia-limited continuous culture. In contrast, lactate production varied according to the dilution rate when glucose was the limiting nutrient. At dilution rates of less than 0.2 h-1, acetate and propionate were the main fermentation products and lactate production was low. At dilution rates above 0.2 h-1, the pattern changed to one of high lactate production similar to that under ammonia limitation. Experiments with cell-free extracts of S. ruminantium showed that D(-)-lactate dehydrogenase had sigmoidal kinetics consistent with homotropic activation of the enzyme by its substrate, pyruvate. This feature allows S. ruminantium to amplify the effects of relatively small changes in the intracellular concentration of pyruvate to cause much larger changes in the rate of production of lactate. Some confirmation that this mechanism of control occurs under physiological conditions was obtained in glucose-limited culture, in which the sigmoidal increase in lactate production was accompanied by a linear increase in pyruvate excretion as the dilution rate increased.


Transduction of Myxococcus virescens by coliphage P1CM: generation of plasmids containing both phage and Myxococcus genes.

Chloramphenicol-resistant Myxococcus virescens were obtained by infecting myxococci with Escherichia coli specialized transducing phage P1CM. The drug-resistant myxococci were phenotypically unstable. They contained more than one type of plasmid; these plasmids were not found in the parent strain. Chloramphenicol-resistant E. coli were obtained by transformation with either a fraction of myxococcal DNA containing the plasmids or with P1CM prophage DNA. These transformants contained plasmids. Escherichia coli transformed by DNA from the myxococci contained both P1CM and myxococcal genes. Individual transformant clones differed in the genetic make-up of their plasmids. Among the myxococcal genes expressed in these plasmid-harbouring E. coli strains were a capacity for self-transmissibility and a pattern of phage sensitivity characteristic of R factor incompatibility group W. Escherichia coli transformed with P1CM prophage contained incomplete P1CM genomes; none of the chloramphenicol-resistant transformants produced P1CM phage particles. The significance of these findings for an understanding of mechanisms for the generation of R factors is discussed.


Polychlorinated biphenyls: in vivo and in vitro modifications of phospholipid and glyceride biosynthesis.

In vivo administration of Aroclor 1254 (PCB) alters the biosynthesis of glycerides and phospholipids. Different percentages of total radioactivity distribution patterns were observed in microsome, mitochondria, and homogenate preparations from rat liver. (14C)palmitate and (U-14C)sn-glycerol-3-phosphate were differently incorporated when assayed in the same preparation, suggesting compartmentation of the substrates. Acyl CoA sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyl transferase was inhibited by PCB in vitro. Inhibition was noncompetitive. After 30 days of dietary pretreatment with PCB, acyl CoA sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyl transferase activity was increased in the liver. In vitro, the total radioactivity incorporated into phospholipids and glycerides was decreased in the presence of PCB. There was, however, no significant change in the percent of total distribution of radioactivity when either (U-14C)sn-glycerol-3-phosphate or (1-14C)palmitate was the substrate. PCB had no significant effect on glycerol kinase activity. PCB initially did not inhibit phosphatidate, but after prolonged incubation there was a small increase or decrease under in vitro and in vivo conditions respectively. Phosphorylase b, but not phosphorylase a, was inhibited by PCB. 2,4,5,2'4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl inhibited sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyl transferase, phospholipid biosynthesis, and glyceride biosynthesis. The results indicate that PCB alters biosynthesis of phospholipids and glycerides in vitro and in vivo. Apparent differences between the results obtained under the two conditions are probably due to qualitative and/or quantitative variations in metabolic products formed from PCB in vivo.


Regulation of enzyme synthesis in the arginine biosynthetic pathway of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

In Pseudomonas aeruginosa the synthesis of only two out of eight arginine biosynthetic enzymes tested was regulated. Comparisons were made between the specific activities of these enzymes in bacteria grown on arginine or on its precursor, glutamate. N2-Acetylornithine 5-aminotransferase (ACOAT), an enzyme involved in both the biosynthesis and catabolism of arginine, was induced about 14-fold during growth of the organism on arginine as the only carbon and nitrogen source, and the anabolic ornithine carbamoyltransferase (aOTC), a strictly biosynthetic enzyme, was repressed 18-fold. Addition of various carbon sources to the arginine medium led to repression of ACOAT and to derepression of aOTC. Fructose, which supported only slow growth of P. aeruginosa, had a weak regulatory effect on the synthesis of the two arginine enzymes while citrate, a good carbon source for this organism, had a strong effect. The repression of ACOAT by citrate was not relieved by adding cyclic AMP to the medium. Under a variety of growth conditions leading to different enzyme activities, a linear relationship between the reciprocal of the specific activity of ACOAT and the specific activity of aOTC was observed. This inverse regulation of the formation of the two enzymes suggested that a single regulatory system governs their synthesis. Such a view was supported by the isolation of citrate-resistant regulatory mutants which constitutively formed ACOAT at the induced level and aOTC at the repressed level.


Pathogenesis of scrapie: agent multiplication in brain at the first and second passage of hamster scrapie in mice.

The intracerebral (i.c.) injection of mice with a particular source of hamster passaged scrapie produced disease after an incubation period of 325 +/- 6 days (mean +/- s.e.). The incubation period at the second i.e. passage in mice was reduced to 149 +/- 2 days. Studies were made of the dynamics of agent replication at 1st and 2nd passages in mice. At first passage, there was a 'zero phase' lasting about 175 days, when no infectious agent was detected in brain (or spleen), followed by a period of agent replication which lasted 150 days. At second passage, there was no significant 'zero phase' and agent replication occupied the whole of the incubation period. The occurrence of a 'zero phase' on interspecies passage of scrapie is discussed in relation to other reports of a 'zero phase' in mouse passaged scrapie.


Adenosine triphosphate content in Lactobacillus casei and the blender-resistant phage-cell complex-forming ability of cells on infection with PL-1 phage.

The intracellular ATP content of Lactobacillus casei ATCC 27092 grown in a glucose-containing medium was almost constant (2 to 3 microgram/mg dry wt. cells) through the early to middle stage of logarithmic phase, but it was lowered to less than 0.1 microgram/mg after cessation of growth owing to the exhaustion of available glucose. All the cells in the early stage of stationary phase were still viable and thus considered to be in a starved state. When such starved cells were infected with PL-1 phages in a tris-maleate buffer of pH 6.0, the process of forming blender-resistant phage-cell complexes signifying the complete injection of phage genomes into the cells was much inhibited. There was a good correlation between the ATP content of cells and the extent of the formation of blender-resistant phage-cell complexes and the correlation coefficient between them was 0.89 + 0.09 at the 95% confidence limit. On the other hand, the process of forming both the phage-adsorbed cells and the anti-phage serum-resistant phage-cell complexes were not affected by the ATP content of cells. Feeding of glucose to such starved cell cultures caused the cells to restore both the ATP content and the ability to form blender-resistant phage-cell complexes. Such restoration was also observed when the starved cells collected by centrifugation were incubated in a glucose-containing medium. The significance of the intracellular level of high energy compounds such as ATP for the mechanism of the injection of phage genomes into the cells is discussed.


Enzyme-immunoassay in diagnosis of hepatitis with emphasis on the detection of "e" antigen (HBeAg).

A brief survey of the application of enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis A, and their corresponding antibodies is given. The preliminary results of a similar EIA for detection of hepatitis B-related "e" antigen (HBeAg) and its antibody (anti-HBe) are reported. This EIA is much more sensitive than immunodiffusion: at least 128 times for HBeAg and at least 512 times for anti-HBe. HBsAg and its antibody do not interfere with the test. Only a few sera strongly positive for rheumatoid factor gave rise to false-positive results, as was demonstrated by a confirmatory test.


Testing for e antigen and e antibody by immunodiffusion.

A rapid and reproducible micro e-ID test is described which allows two out of three HBsAg carriers to be classified as e-Ag or e-Ab. The majority of the remaining one-third of carriers are e-Ab as shown by e-RIA though a few will be e-Ag positive carriers by e-RIA.


Evaluation of five temperature-sensitive mutants of respiratory syncytial virus in primates: II. Genetic analysis of virus recovered during infection.

Five temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus (ts-1, ts-1 NG-1, ts-1 NG-16, ts-2, and ts-7), previously evaluated forinfectivity and virulence in chimpanzees and owl monkeys, were also assayed for in vivo genetic stability. None of the five mutants tested was completely stable genetically. Thus, virus which had lost some or all of the ts property was recovered from each infected chimpanzee. Significantly, each ts-1 NG-1 isolate retained some degree of temperature sensitivity and hence was not true wild-type virus. Clonal analysis of viruses shed by ts-1, ts-1 NG-1, ts-1 NG-16, or ts-7 infected chimpanzees indicated that in most instances only a minority of the virus shed was altered genetically. Of five chimpanzees infected with the ts-2 mutant, three shed only ts virus, and the remaining two chimpanzees shed only ts+ virus. Such ts+ virus proved to be avirulent when evaluated in chimpanzees or owl monkeys, indicating that loss of the ts property did not restore virulence. Based upon these findings, the ts-2 mutant appears to be a suitable candidate for clinical trials in man.


Dream phenomena induced by chronic levodopa therapy.

Twenty-seven of eighty-eight (30.7%) Parkinsonian patients on chronic levodopa or levodopa/carbidopa therapy developed drug related dream phenomena. The patients reported three separate types of new dreams which we have classified as vivid dreams, night terrors and nightmares. These dreams are correlated to the duration of levodopa therapy although the mechanism of their production is unclear.


Endocrine aspects of bromocriptine therapy in Parkinsonism.

Plasma growth hormone (GH) concentrations in Parkinsonian patients following 3 months optimum therapy with bromocriptine showed no significant change from pretreatment values, whilst plasma prolactin concentrations were uniformly suppressed. Pretreatment GH and prolactin levels were unrelated to clinical disability, and no correlation between hormonal changes and therapeutic response was found. These results suggest the presence of different dopaminergic receptor mechanisms for GH and prolactin release as well as between the extrapyramidal and neuroendocrine systems.


Chronic experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in rhesus monkeys and its modification by treatment.

Rhesus monkeys were immunized with low doses of encephalitogenic mixture. Twenty two of 24 monkeys developed experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) lasting from 3 to 252 days. Fifteen of 22 monkeys developed chronic progressive EAE with remissions and relapses. In the early stages of EAE multiple perivascular foci of demyelination and lymphoid histiocytic infiltration were found within the central nervous system (CNS). In advanced disease these foci became confluent, developing foci of plaque type with demyelination and gliofibrosis. Eight affected monkeys received an emulsion of spinal cord with incomplete adjuvant; 6 of them showed a good therapeutic response. In the CNS of those monkeys 514 to 667 days later plaques of demyelination and gliofibrosis and minimal inflammatory lesions were detected. Two monkeys without clinical evidence of EAE had plaques of demyelination and gliofibrosis in the CNS 2 years after immunization. It is suggested that chronic EAE in monkeys may be considered an adequate model for multiple sclerosis (MS).


The effect of sciatic nerve stimulation on spinal cord blood flow.

Focal spinal cord blood flow was measured in the left dorsal column during left sciatic nerve stimulation, and compared to blood flow in the same area during sciatic nerve inactivity. Blood flow was found to be significantly increased during stimulation. It is suggested that this increased blood flow is a reflection of increased metabolic demands of the neurons and synaptic systems within the internuncial neural pools, activated by stimulation of all components of the sciatic nerve, rather than a reflection of increased non-synaptic axonal conduction in the dorsal column.


The fine structure of innervated myotendinous cylinders in extraocular muscles of rhesus monkeys.

Many of the myelinated nerve fibres of the distal myotendinous region of rectus muscles terminate on muscle fibre tips. The terminal expansions contain aggregated, small clear vesicles and mitochondria. Neuromuscular clefts at the contacts measure 20--40 nm and are uninterrupted by a basal lamina; the sarcoplasm opposite the contacts is unmodified. Some terminals invaginate the muscle fibre tips and others contact the sides of processes formed by splitting of the tips. The muscle fibre termination, its tendon and the nerve fibre branches are encapsulated to form an end-organ averaging 125 micrometer in length and described as a myotendinous cylinder. Approximately 350 innervated myotendinous cylinders were estimated to be present in the horizontal recti with rather fewer in the vertical rectus muscles. Many of them occur shortly before the main myotendinous junction. All muscle fibres contributing to myotendinous cylinders were identified as the compact, felderstruktur, multi-innervated variety with directly apposed myofibrils that are known to be non-twitch fibres. All felderstruktur fibre terminations examined were encapsulated but 19% of them were not innervated. The nerve terminals of myotendinous cylinders are similar to those described by Dogiel (1906) as palisade endings and it is argued that they meet the morphological criteria of sensory neuromuscular endings. Their disposition suggests a capacity to monitor felderstruktur muscle fibre contraction.


Properties of concentrically organized X and Y ganglion cells of macaque retina.

1. Macaque retinal ganglion cells having concentrically organized receptive fields were classified as X- or Y-cells on the basis of the linearity or nonlinearity of their spatial summation to a "null" test of alternating contrast and drifting gratings. 2. When an alternating-phase, bipartite field positioned at the middle of the receptive field was used as a stimulus, X-cells had a null position, whereas Y-cells showed a doubling of the response frequency. When drifting sine-wave gratings of low contrast were used as a stimulus, X-cells showed a periodic modulation of their discharge having the same mean value for different spatial frequencies, whereas Y-cells showed a large increase in the mean value of their discharges. 3. X-cells had opponent-color responses that received cone-specific signals, i.e., center and surround responses were mediated by input from spectrally different types of cone, whereas Y-cells had broad-band spectral responses receiving mixed-cone signals, i.e., center and surround responses were totally or partly mediated by input from the same type(s) of cone. In most Y-cells, the spatially opponent responses from the center and the surround were mediated by the same types of cone and were thus spectrally nonopponent; other Y-cells showed spectral opponency, since one of the types of cone mediating responses of one region of the receptive field (e.g., center) was absent in the responses of the other region (e.g., surround). 4. X- and Y-cells projected to the lateral geniculate body. Opponent-color X- and Y-cells did not project to the superior colliculus, whereas a fraction of spectrally non-opponent Y-cells projected to this structure. 5. X-cells tended to have longer conduction latencies, less transient responses to small stimuli, and a more central retinal distribution than Y-cells; these differences, however, represented tendencies and not invariant properties. 6. The results show that the X/Y dichotomy of ganglion cells is present in the retina of macaques and indicate that the degree of the linearity of spatial summation of incoming cone signals to the cells is related to the degree of cone specificity of spectral inputs to the receptive-field mechanisms.


Center and surround mechanisms of opponent-color X and Y ganglion cells of retina of macaques.

1. Opponent-color ganglion cells of macaques can be classed as X or Y. Cells with a cone-specific receptive-field organization (center and surround receiving input from spectrally different cone types) have a linear summation, whereas cells with a cone-mixed organization (center and surround partly mediated by input from the same cone type) have a nonlinear summation. 2. Pure center and pure surround responses of Y-cells have a fast decay and show conspicuous transients at stimulus offset and onset; pure responses of X-cells have a slow decay and show fewer transients, especially at stimulus offset. 3. Sensitivity profiles based on pure responses elicited in conditions of chromatic adaptation of the opponent responses show that Y-cells have unimodal center and unimodal surround profiles, whereas X-cells have unimodal center and bimodal surround profiles. 4. Responses receiving contribution from both opponent mechanisms (mixed) have different time course and pattern in X- and Y-cells. Mixed response of Y-cells show a discontinuity in cell firing during the transient (on) component of cell activity, which has a higher sensitivity than other waveform changes produced by concurrent stimulation of the opponent mechanism. This discontinuity occurs with stimulus conditions that also elicit proximal negative responses in the local electroretinogram and appears to be due to a centrally located process having some degree of rectification.


Properties of ganglion cells with atypical receptive-field organization in retina of macaques.

1. About 10% of a sample of 436 cells recorded in the retina of macaques had receptive fields lacking a center-surround organization. These cells had a diffuse extrafoveal distribution, they were less frequently found in the foveal region, and their conduction latencies overlapped with those of cells (types I, III, and IV) having a center-surround organization. Three groups were distinguished. 2. Type II cells had spectrally opponent responses mediated by mechanisms having similar or identical distributions and response latency; these cells did not respond to white light. They predominated in the central retina, they usually received input from all three types of cone, they had a linear spatial summation of incomming photo-receptor signals, they lacked rod input, they had conduction latencies that were intermediate between those of the other two groups, and they could be antidromically activated by electrical stimulation of the lateral geniculate body but not of the superior colliculus. 3. Type V cells were neurons whose common characteristic was the presence of on-off responses to both small and large stimuli. One subgroup had either excitatory or inhibitory on-off responses and a silent inhibitory surround that tended to suppress cell responses and maintained activity. They were observed throughout the central retina, including the fovea; they received input from green- and red-sensitive cones, but not from blue-sensitive cones; they had a non-linear spatial summation; they had comparatively long conduction latencies; and they could be antidromically activated by electrical stimulation of either the lateral geniculate body or superior colliculus. Another subgroup lacked spontaneous activity and any type of surround. They were encountered at a retinal depth more sclerad than that of other neurons and could not be antidromically driven from the optic tract or more central structures; these cells also lacked input from blue-sensitive cones and had a nonlinear spatial summation. 4. Type VI cells were predominantly inhibited by moving stinuli in any direction of motion and failed to respond to stationary flashing stimuli; they appeared to predominate toward the perifovea and had comparatively short conduction latencies.


Transfer characteristics of neurons in vestibular nuclei of the alert monkey.

1. In the alert monkey, 74 neurons in the vestibular nuclei were investigated during sinusoidal rotation about a vertical axis at frequencies between 0.003 and 0.5 Hz. Phase and gain were determined by a fast Fourier analysis program. 2. Phase advance, relative to turntable velocity, was small between 0.05 and 0.5 Hz. At lower frequencies phase advance increased to 45 degrees at 0.007--0.02 Hz, and 90 degrees at 0.003--0.005 Hz. In agreement with the phase characteristics, a gain decrease of -3 dB was determined between 0.007 and 0.02 Hz. Assuming a linear system, time constants of 9.5, 11.9, and 24.5 s were calculated for three different monkeys. 3. Simultaneously recorded nystagmus exhibited similar time constants as the central vestibular neurons for each monkey. 4. Frequency responses of 11 neurons were recorded from the same monkeys while they were under general anesthesia and the time constants were reduced to 4--7 s. This is the range of time constants seen in the peripheral nerve. 5. The longer time constants in the alert state are due to an integration process, which provides a low-frequency compensation, and is thought to be achieved through a feedback loop involving the reticular formation. 6. In the alert and anesthetized state, monkeys were also exposed to velocity trapezoids. Time constants of decay of neuronal activity were in good agreement with the data obtained during sinusoidal stimulation. 7. A transfer function of the primary vestibular afferents is expanded to include the described low-frequency compensation found in central vestibular neurons in the alert animals.


Bone scintigraphy in renal osteodystrophy.

Bone scintigraphy with Tc-99m HEDP was performed in 30 patients on maintenance hemodialysis, and the results of quantitative analysis were compared with those of a normal group. To permit this comparison, elevated background activity due to the absence of renal radiotracer excretion was reduced by hemodialysis to levels found in the normals. Histologic proof of renal osteodystrophy had been obtained in all patients. The incidence of radiographic abnormalities was 46%, whereas abnormal scans were found in 25 patients (83%); skeletal lesions were also more pronounced and detected earlier. However, even when the scans appeared normal, the quantitative analysis showed increased skeletal activity in all patients. The total skeletal activity proved to be a good index of the severity of renal osteodystrophy and appeared dependent on both osteomalacia and hyperparathyroidism. These findings show that bone scintigraphy is a sensitive method to detect skeletal involvement in renal osteodystrophy.


[18F]-labeled 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-D-glucose: synthesis and preliminary biodistribution data.

A cyclotron target system for the production of anhydrous [18F] fluoride ion has been developed and used for the synthesis of carrier-free [18F]-3-deoxy-3fluoro-D-glucose (3-FDG). The synthesis is sufficiently rapid and efficient to allow production of usable amounts of 3-FDG with a 6-MeV cyclotron. Preliminary animal studies show that 3-FDG is in fact a glucose analog.


The effect of denervation on trauma from occlusion.

Trauma from occlusion was induced by inserting cantilever bridges bilaterally in the mandibles of two monkeys. In one monkey the mandibular nerve was cut on one side; in the other on both sides. By this procedure possible protective action of nerve receptors in the periodontal membrane was reduced. The occlusal trauma resulted in severe damage to the pulp and resorption of the roots, but no appreciable downgrowth of the crevicular epithelium.


Identification, quantification, and significance of bacterial growth within the biliary tract after Kasai's operation.

Cholangitis is a universal complication of successful hepatic portoenterostomy for biliary atresia. In this study 283 bacteriologic cultures were obtained from 19 patients during a 23-mo period. All bilioenteric conduits were colonized with colonic flora by 1 mo after operation. Cholangitis was characterized by fever and a decrease in bilirubin clearance, but not by a change in the number of different types of bacteria nor a change in the total bacteriologic concentration within the conduit. No overall antibiotic effect on the flora could be found. Cholangitis remains a condition that is necessarily treated empirically.


Total management of short gut secondary to midgut volvulus without prolonged total parenteral alimentation.

Absorption studies in rats have shown that intestinal adaptation after catastrophic injury can be stimulated by early enteral feeding. Using this concept, we have devised a technique of early initiation and advancement of oral feedings that begins with Cho-Free and Polycose and gradually adds sucrose and MCT in increasing proportions. The increasing complexity and caloric density of this diet provide sufficient nutrition to allow weaning from total parenteral alimentation within 2--3 wk. Our preliminary experience in babies with midgut volvulus, necrotizing enterocolitis, and gastroschisis has been successful and uncomplicated. These patients have demonstrated consistent weight gain and have been spared the complications associated with prolonged parenteral alimentation.


Technical considerations in performing total colectomy and Soave endorectal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis.

Total colectomy, mucosal proctectomy, and ileoanal endorectal anastomosis have been successful in 17 of 19 children with chronic ulcerative colitis. No significant complications were encountered in our recent 9 cases. The technique of the operation as it is now performed in our institution is described.


The action of thyrotropin-releasing hormone, substance P and related peptides on frog spinal motoneurons.

The isolated, hemisected spinal cord of the frog has been used to examine the action of peptides on frogs motoneurons. Both sucrose gap recording from the ventral roots and intracellular microelectrode recording were used. Substance P (SP), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), neurotensin and bombesin all had a depolarizing action. The responses to neurotensin and bombesin were blocked by tetrodotoxin suggesting that their action was indirectly mediated through interneurons. SP and TRH had a direct depolarizing action on motoneurons. SP was slightly more active and TRH slightly less active than glutamate. The responses to both peptides had a slower time course than the responses to glutamate. The maximum depolarizations produced by the peptides rarely surpassed the firing threshold of the motoneurons. However, their excitability was increased, since subthreshold synaptic potentials and responses to current injection surpassed threshold during the peptide responses. In approximately half of the cells tested, a small decrease in membrane resistance could be detected during the peptide responses. These results suggest that if SP and TRH were released from synapses impinging on frog motoneurons they would exert a background excitatory action.


The distribution of sodium, potassium and chloride in the nucleus and cytoplasm of Bufo bufo oocytes measured by electron microprobe analysis.

1. Measurements of cytoplasmic and nuclear Na, K and Cl have been made by electron microprobe analysis on freeze-dried sections of oocytes of Bufo bufo, using standards of bovine plasma albumin and gamma-globulin. Concentrations were obtained per kilogram of dry mass, were converted to concentrations per litre of water content using known figures for water and solid concentration of nucleus and cytoplasm, and were then compared with measurements on cells from the same animal obtained by flame photometry. 2. In fresh oocytes concentrations were (mean +/- S.E. of mean in m-mole/l. H2O) in cytoplasm Na 10.9 +/- 1.95, K 70.2 +/- 3.22, Cl 98.8 +/- 11.0, and in nucleus Na 10.4 +/- 1.79, K 266.4 +/- 22.8, Cl 91.3 +/- 9.0. 3. After treatment with Na-free Ringer (Li substituted for Na) for 5 hr, concentrations were in cytoplasm Na 11.1 +/- 2.44, K 64.4 +/- 5.7, Cl 88.7 +/- 8.8, and in nucleus Na 2.4 +/- 0.73, K 141 +/- 13.9, Cl 75.0 +/- 6.7. Na inexchangeable with Li therefore lay in the cytoplasm but not in the nucleus as previously shown by autoradiography. 4. For K electron microscopic analysis measurements agreed well with those obtained by flame photometry but the former measured only 35% of Na measured by flame photometry. This discrepancy may be due either to technical difficulties with the electron microprobe analysis or to localization of Na in the cytoplasm.


Levamisole in infectious diseases--a review of the literature.

Levamisole is toxic to a range of nematodes with gastrointestinal and systemic localization. Since nematodes are characterized by an immunologically determined pattern of predilections for hosts and tissues, pharmacological, biochemical, and immunological properties must be considered when the mechanism of action of levamisole is discussed. Levamisole causes a reversible stimulation of ganglia and neuromuscular inhibition of the depolarizing type, inhibits nematode-specific succinate dehydrogenase and increases delayed hypersensitivity reactions. The latter effect is mediated by immune cells and may explain why levamisole alleviates chronic and recurrent infections, particularly in patients with immunodeficiency syndromes.


A parasitological study on the chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) from the Northern Transvaal.

Baboons imported into Rhodesia from the Northern Transvaal proved to be heavily infected with intestinal protozoa and helminths. In fact, six protozoan species, one cestode and eight nematode species were recorded. A new concept in "identification graphs" is included in the paper which allows one to read off directly the species of strongyle eggs being passed by baboons in Southern Africa based upon length and breadth measurements of the eggs. Treatment of Balantidium coli and nematode infections of baboons is discussed as is the implication of some of these intestinal parasite infections in terms of potential human infection under natural conditions.


Effect of amiloride on chloride transport across amphibian epithelia.

Amiloride is found to inhibit chloride exchange diffusion in toad skin and passive chloride transport in frog skin. In both tissues, chloride transport is reactivated by substituting with KCl-Ringer's on the inside, so the effect of amiloride on chloride transport is secondary to its well-known inhibition of sodium transport. Removal of chloride from the outside bathing solution inhibits chloride outflux in both tissues. This is easy to explain in the case of the toad skin where chloride transport under short-circuit conditions occurs as exchange diffusion. In the frog skin this transeffect indicates that the chloride concentration at a location very near the outer surface is of significance for chloride permeability. The possibility is discussed that the chloride concentration in the outward facing membrane, or in compartments near to it, regulates chloride fluxes across frog skin.