[Evaluation of an automatic device for arterial blood pressure determination : the Arteriosonde 1217].

The reproductibility and reliability of measurements made with an automatic device for measuring blood pressure was assessed with reference to the results obtained by indirect auscultation with a mercury manometer. The results of the study of the average values of the correlation between successive values, and of the variability of the values of the systolic and diastolic blood pressure show that the measurement obtained by this method are very reproducible.


[Saralasin and prediction of the surgical result in renovascular arterial hypertension].

The response of arterial pressure to an infusion of saralasin was compared to the effect of surgical correction of renal vascular lesions (3 to 6 months after surgery) in eleven patients whose hypertension was associated with uni or bilateral stenosis of renal artery. Saralasin was infused after four days of dietary sodium restriction (10-40 mEq/day). An excellent correlation (r = 0.83, p less than 0.005) between the effects of saralasin and surgery was obtained. There was no correlation between the response to saralasin or to surgery and the ratio of renal vein renin activities. It is suggested that saralasin may be a good tool for predicting the effect of surgery in renovascular hypertension, when infused in moderately sodium depleted patients.


[Are surgical renal biopsies useful for clinical prognosis in renal artery stenosis?].

The most significant results show the predominance of arteriolar lesions in the controlateral kidney, The most significant results show the predotients with unilateral renal artery stenosis. and parenchymal lesions of the kidney with stenosis in patients with atherosclerosis. These results do not seem to provide information which would alter the clinical management in any particular case.


[Prostaglandins in renovascular arterial hypertension].

Prostaglandins (PG) A1, B1, E2, F2 alpha and plasma renin activity (PRA) were measured by radioimmunoassay in 8 patients with unilateral artery stenosis, 7 hypertensive patients with unilateral renal atrophy without stenosis ans 20 controls. The measurement of the PG and PRA in the hypertensive group was performed in the infra-renal inferior vena cava and in the two renal veins. PRA and PGA1 were significantly raised in the renovascular hypertensive patients but no significant change was observed in the group with unilateral renal atrophy. On the other hand, the PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were raised in both groups, especially in the renal veins on the stenosed or atrophic side. There was a positive significant correlation between PRA and PGA1 and PGB, but none with PGE2 or PGF2 alpha. This study suggests that the increase in PGA1 and PGE2 represents a secondary hypertensive mechanism which is diuretic and natiuretic. The increase of PGF2 alpha represents a direct mechanism of hypertension. Simultaneous measurement of the vasopressor (PRA and PGF2 alpha) and vasodepressor (PGA and PGE) systems may give a better diagnostic and prognostic approach to renovascular hypertension.


[Arterial hypertension caused by anomaly of the renal artery or its branches in children].

38 cases of severe hypertension due to a vascular abnormality of the renal pedicle were studied in children under 16 years of age, 18 boys and 20 girls. The most common presentation was at routine clinical examination. The diagnosis of an abnormality of the renal artery was suggested by the appearances of intravenous urography. There were many causes; 4 aneurysms of the renal artery or its branches, 4 fibromuscular dysplasias with one case of bilateral fibromuscular dysplasia, 4 idiopathic stenoses, 2 endarteritis, and 6 thromboses revascularised to variable degrees (2 after umbilical vein catheterisation and one due to DLE). In three cases the hypertension was related to compression of the pedicle by a tumour of haematome, and 14 cases had multiple arterial lesion. In the latter group, 6 cases of neurofibromatosis, 2 cases of William and Beuren's disease, 1 case of generalised Elastorhexia, 2 cases of aortic medio stenosis, probably Takayashu's disease, and 3 unidentified conditions. Surgery was performed on 29 patients, 21 of whom had unilateral lesions and were definitively cured of hypertension. Of the 8 cases with multiple lesions, only 2 were completely corrected with cure of their hypertension.


[Role of extracorporeal surgery in the treatment of severe lesions of the renal artery and its branches].

This method has been used with good results in three patients, two of whom had single kidneys.


[Renal artery surgery. Choice of surgical technic. Experience apropos of 84 cases].

The choice of the surgical technique in renal artery surgery poses several problems: 1) A retroperitoneal approach may be indicated except when aortic surgery is associated; 2) The usual techniques involve hypogastric venous or arterial autografts. Extra corporeal surgery is reserved for distal lesions or when there are technical difficulties. Complex bypass surgery is reserved for certain Takayashu type diseases. The concept of nephron protection must be emphasised given the risk of obliteration of severe stenosis, despite advances in medical anti hypertensive therapy.


[Radiologic exploration of pheochromocytoma].

The authors present their experience of radiological investigation of pheochromocytoma based on a series of 80 patients. The aim of radiological investigation are defined and primarily involve a topographical diagnosis and a preoperative assessment of the tumour. Each technique is discussed critically and their indications defined. At present, nephrourotomography by rapid injection is the technique of choice for the diagnosis of an adrenal lesion. Echotomography and scanning do not give as much precision. The assessment of the tumour requires above all arteriography, but staggered measurements from the vena cava is a promising new technique.


[Role of scintigraphy in the localization of pheochromocytoma].

Of the metabolic precursors of the catecholamines fixed by the adrenal medulla, 131I marked thyrosine was chosen as a radio-tracer. 6 positive results out of 11 pheochromocytomas confirmed at surgery were obtained in a series of 23 patients. This result is comparable with the results of arteriography but there are more false positives, reflecting the insecurity of this technique which is otherwise quite innocuous.


[Cardiac manifestations of pheochromocytoma. Anatomo-clinical study].

Cardiomyopathy induced by catecholamines, first demonstrated in the animal is also observed in clinical medecine either after infusion by vasopressor drugs or during the course of pheochromocytoma. The clinical presentation is varied and may often deceive: acute coronary insufficiency, arrhythmia, heart failure, and, above all, cardiogemic shock. The authors emphasise the importance of considering the diagnosis of "adrenergic myocarditis" in such situations as well as in cases of pheochromocytoma, for which the only cure is ablation of the tumour.


[Malignant pheochromocytoma].

The reported incidence of malignant pheochromocytoma varies from series to series. In this series 4 cases (7.2 p. 100) were observed out of a total of 55. In two cases the tumour progressed rapidly but in the other two cases, metastases were detected 3 to 12 years after the apparent cure of a histologically benign pheochromocytoma. The urinary levels of catecholamines and their metabolites gave no indication of the underlying malignancy. The diagnosis was only made from the clinical and radiological detection of metastases (2 hepatic, 2 bone). There is no satisfactory treatment and various therapeutic methods have to be used in succession; surgery for a single metastasis, radiotherapy and antiadrenergic agents to combat clinical manifestations. The natural history of this tumour is relatively long.


Circulation, respiration, and blood homeostasis in cyanide-poisoned dogs after treatment with 4-dimethylaminophenol or cobalt compounds.

The effects of intravenously injected 4-dimethylaminophenol-HCl (DMAP), Co2EDTA, and Co(histidine)2 on the survival rate and several physiological parameters were studied on dogs after acute intravenous poisoning with the double lethal dose of potassium cyanide. All dogs survived when the antidotes were administered 1 min after poisoning. When the therapy began 4 min after poisoning more dogs were rescued in the DMAP group than in the cobalt groups. DMAP, Co2EDTA, and Co(histidine)2 restored circulation and respiration of the surviving animals in a similar manner. The increase in the plasma concentrations of glucose and lactate was much higher in the Co2EDTA group than in the DMAP group. The injection of Co2EDTA produced a sharp rise in the lactate-to-pyruvate ratio. The lactate-to-pyruvate ratio stayed unchanged for some 15 min after injection of DMAP before also rising. The total dose of KCN (4 mg/kg) was bound to the ferrihemoglobin formed by DMAP. The arterial pO2 increase, caused by liberation of oxygen from oxyhemoglobin during the formation of ferrihemoglobin, was less when the cyanide could act on the tissues for a longer period of time before the therapy with DMAP began. DMAP is more appropriate for the therapy of cyanide poisoning than Co2EDTA, since the latter adds its inhibitory effects on the metabolism to those of cyanide.


Mannitol and maintenance hemodialysis.

The extensive use of mannitol during maintenance hemodialysis prompted a study of mannitol kinetics. In 17 patients receiving empirical mannitol therapy of mannitol kinetics. In 17 patients receiving empirical mannitol therapy, residual levels range from 19 to 100 mg% In vitro mannitol clearance exceeds 125 ml/min for the CDAK 5 and PF 1.6 dialyzers, while in vivo clearance ranges from 98 to 140 ml/min in the Triex 1, PF 1.6 and CDAK 5. Despite an apparently adequate clearance rate, mannitol administered during dialysis is incompletely removed. Repeated use of mannitol during dialysis leads to mannitol accumulation. Clinical significance of the residual mannitol levels needs further evaluation.


Liver support systems: a 1978 perspective.

The present status of support systems and devices for the injured liver is reviewed with emphasis on both long-term and short-term substitution. Long-term replacement can only be possible by the grafting or transplantation of a human and/or other primate liver. Most artificial systems may be applied for short-term biological and technical substitution, e.g., by hemodialysis/hemoperfusion through adsorbents and resins. More sophisticated devices for detoxification of blood or cell-free plasma in acute liver failure should combine the catalytic specificity of immobilized microsomal enzymes with the adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal, resins and affinity gels.


Hemodynamic studies in long-term peritoneal dialysis patients.

A study was undertaken to evaluate the acute hemodynamic effects in ten patients from this clinic's long-term peritoneal dialysis program. With a Swan-Ganz catheter, the following parameters were measured in each patient during peritoneal dialysis: cardiac index, pulmonary artery pressure, right atrial pressure, inferior vena cava pressure, heart rate and arterial pressure. Mean predialysis cardiac index, stroke volume index and heart rate were normal. Predialysis pulmonary artery pressure and arterial pressure were slightly elevated. Mean weight loss during peritoneal dialysis was 1.6 kg. The most striking post-dialysis changes were a significant 20% decrease of the cardiac index and a 17% decrease of the pulmonary artery pressure. Heart rate and arterial pressure remained constant due to a 25% increase of total peripheral resistance. After filling the abdomen with one, two and three liters of dialysate, intra-abdominal pressure and inferior vena cava pressure increased up to 150 and 100%, respectively, whereas central hemodynamic parameters (pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac index, stroke volume index, heart rate and arterial pressure) were unchanged.


Tuberculosis of the thyroid: two case reports.

Tuberculosis of the thyroid gland occurs only rarely. Since extrapulmonary tuberculosis is now seen relatively more frequently the existence of this condition should be recognized. The cases of two patients with tuberculosis involving the thyroid are presented. The first, an Asian immigrant, presented with a painless goitre with no evidence of tuberculosis elsewhere. The second was an English woman who presented with hypothyroidism due to destruction of the thyroid by tuberculosis, and who subsequently died with disseminated tuberculosis; this is the only case to report the association between myxoedema and tuberculous thyroiditis. Other manifestations of thyroid tuberculosis and the pathological types are discussed.


Comparative studies of the primary structures of ribosomal RNAs of several eukaryotic cell lines by the fingerprinting method.

Comparisons of the primary structures of 18S and 28S ribosomal RNAs of man, rat, mouse and chicken were made by two-dimensional fractionation including electrophoresis at pH 3.5 and homochromatography. All large T1 oligonucleotides were recovered from the different fingerprints and their radioactivity was measured. They were then hydrolysed with pancreatic RNase and the pancreatic products were digested with alkali to determine their base composition and detect modified residues. Finally, residues bearing a modification on the ribose were analysed by hydrolyses with snake venom and spleen phosphodiesterases. For the 18A RNAs 23, 27, 26, 24 oligonucleotides, whose lengths range from 22 to 10 residues, were analyzed respectively for man, rat, mouse and chicken. Among these, 14 are identical in the four species, two at least are common to man, rat, mouse but differ by the presence of A-Cps in chicken spot 4' instead of A-Up in spot 4 and A2-Gp in chicken spot 14 instead of A2-Gp in spot 13. For the 28S RNAs of man, rat, mouse and chicken, 20, 19, 21 and 22 oligonucleotides ranging in length from 27 to 12 residues were analyzed. 11 of them are common to the four species; 4 of them are found in man, rat, mouse and one of these (spot 1) has a corresponding spot in chicken from which it differs only by the existence of A3-Up instead of A2-Up. Another mammalian oligonucleotide (spot 6) differs from its homologous chicken spot (spot 6') bytwo point mutations. The same modified residues as found by Khan and Maden in man, chicken, and xenopus, have been found in rat and mouse. Moreover when these modified residues are common to several species they are found within an identical nucleotide sequence, as can be seen in the case of spots 1, 3, 9, 11 of 18S RNAs and 4, 7, 13 for 28S RNAs. The number of differences observed between the ribosomal RNAs of the four species were compared to the number of differences observed in the same species for several proteins, globins alpha and beta, insulin, cytochrome C and lysozyme.


Studies on the distribution of ribosomal proteins in mammalian ribosomal subunits.

Murine L5178Y cell ribosomes were dissociated into subunits either with potassium chloride in the presence of puromycin or with the chelating agent EDTA. The proteins of ribosomal subunits obtained by these different methods were compared by means of bidimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. KCl-derived 60S and 40S subunits were shown to contain 38 and 31 proteins respectively, 3 of them having identical electrophoretic mobilities. Preparations of EDTA-dissociated ribosomal subparticles contained different proportions of these proteins, and 11 major spots were shared between the EDTA-derived large and small ribosomal subunits. Furthermore, 10 proteins absent from subunits treated by high concentrations of KCl were reproducibly found in EDTA-treated ribosomal subparticles.


Characterization of stable conformational variants of erythrocyte carbonic anhydrases.

Limiting viscosity numbers of bovine and ovine erythrocytes carbonic anhydrase variants were calculated by the objective method of comparing viscosimetric data obtained from low-activity-human erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase and its natural variant. Shifts of mobilities and isoelectric points are shown for all species variants, but variations of limiting viscosity numbers were only detected for human and bovine variants. Results of the study are consistent with the observation that variants arise by deamidation of erythrocyte carbonic anhydrases, and that deamidation is responsible for changes in structure and hydration (i. e. "conformational" modifications). Thus, all the variants so far investigated are stable conformational variants or erythrocyte carbonic anhydrases.


Neutral alpha-glucosidase from human kidney. Molecular and immunological properties. Relationship with intestinal glucoamylase.

Some molecular properties of the purified neutral alpha-glucosidase from human kidney were studied. The enzyme is a glycoprotein with high molecular weight (315000-352000 according to the method used). Its sedimentation coefficient is 12.9S. It exhibits at least three peaks of activity in isoelectric focusing experiments. This heterogeneity appears to be related to sialic acid residues from the carbohydrate moiety. An anti-human renal alpha-glucosidase antiserum was raised from rabbit. The antiserum effect on human intestinal maltases was studied in immunodiffusion experiments. An identity pattern was observed between renal neutral alpha-glucosidase and intestinal glucoamylase. No precipitation occurred with intestinal sucrase. Renal neutral alpha-glucosidase and intestinal glucoamylase were both completely precipitated by the antiserum, their maltase activity being only slightly inhibited in the antigen-antibody complex. From their molecular and immunological properties a large homology appears between human renal alpha-glucosidase and intestinal glycoamylase.


Ionophore-mediated cation translocation in artificial systems. I. A23187-mediated calcium translocation.

The inophore A23187 stimulates the translocation of calcium from an aqueous Hepes buffer into an organic immiscible phase. At saturating calcium concentrations, 2 molecules of ionophore seem to complex each atom of calcium. Consistent with such a stoichiometric behaviour, the apparent ratio of calcium-ionophore association to dissociation rate constants increases as the concentration of ionophore is raised. As a result, at low calcium concentrations, the amount of translocated calcium increases as a power function of A23187 concentration. When allowance is made for such a phenomenon, the relation between calcium translocation and concentration is characterized by usual substrate-receptor binding kinetics.


[Cytochrome P-450 and transformation from 18-hydroxycorticosterone to aldosterone].

The authors have studied the in vitro conversion of 18 hydroxycorticostérone to aldosterone (18 oxidation) by duck adrenal subcellular fractions. Considering the new hypothesis about the mechanism of this step (hydroxylation mechanism) the authors have investigated a possible relationship between this reaction and cytochrome P450. With experimental conditions described, data show that metyrapone, a cytochrome P450 competitive inhibitor does not inhibit 18 oxidation. In contrast, 18 oxidation is inhibited by spirolactones (spironolactones, canrenone, potassium canrenoate). These compounds act at the cytochrome P450 level but have also an uncoupling effect which has been recently discovered. The effects of metyrapone and spirolactones on 18 oxidation as well as the different behaviour between biologicaly and organically synthetised 18 hydroxycorticosterone allow us to propose hypotheses for the mechanism of this step.


Comparative study of the histologic reactions to intravenous injections of heat-killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa and of BCG.

Intravenous injection (i.v.) of heat-killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice produced histologic changes in the thymic cortex, some of which resembled, while others differed from, those produced by i.v. injection of living BCG. The changes that were similar consisted of pyroninophilia of cortical lymphocytes and hyperplasia of epithelial cells in the medulla and at the corticomedullary junction with increased PAS positive cells and secretions. Major differences, however, in the sequence and nature of the histologic events were observed. Pseudomonas injections produced thymic epithelial cell hyperplasia with increased PAS positive cells and secretions and pyroninophilia of thymic cortical lymphocytes earlier than did i.v. BCG (day 1 versus day 7). Corticomedullary inversion of thymic structure and early transient hyperplasia of the thymus dependent areas in the lymph nodes and spleen occurred after Pseudomonas but not after BCG injections. Hyperplasia in the B cell areas and germinal centers started to appear at day 10 after injection of Pseudomonas and persisted up to day 21 (compared to day 7 and day 14, respectively, for BCG). In contrast to i.v. BCG, Pseudomonas injections did not produce granulomas or macrophage proliferations.


Isolation and characterization of a mesenchyme associated antigen from dimethylbenzanthracene induced rat fibrosarcoma.

Using an antiserum directed against human neurospecific antigen and the indirect immunofluorescence technique, we have obtained evidence for the presence of a mesenchyme associated cross-reacting antigen (MAA) in the dimethylbenzanthracene induced fibrosarcoma of the rat. This antigen has been purified from this tumor and compared with the antigen associated with the human nervous system and that associated with the nervous system of the rat. An anti-rat MAA antiserum has been obtained. It has cytotoxic activity against cultured fibrosarcoma cells as measured by release of radioactivity. This antigen can be considered as a marker of fibrosarcomas.


Continuous transcutaneous and intraarterial oxygen measurement during experimental hypoxemia in infant monkeys.

The relationship between PaO2 and tcPO2 is an important one and provides a physiologic measure of impaired circulatory control or vascular damage. The central and peripheral mechanisms involved have to be studied further. Although tcPO2 equates well with PaO2 in many circumstances, appropriate oxygen conserving, centrally mediated vasoconstriction can overcome the thermally induced local vasodilation. Investigation of the control of peripheral circulation in both clinical medicine and the experimental animal is advanced by the technique of transcutaneous oxygen recording.


Experimental neurogenic disorders of the bladder after section of cauda equina.

Changes in the cystometric pattern and urethral pressure profile after surgical section of the cauda equina have been studied in a group of 20 monkeys (Macaca nemestrinal). The experimental autonomous bladder was characterised by tonic response to filling and with variable urethral dribbling incontinence but without co-ordinated detrusor activity. This pattern developed despite previous urinary diversion to prevent inadvertent overstretch of the bladder. Deliberate "overstretch" of the autonomous bladder was not followed by loss of tonus but was associated with the development of high amplitude regular detrusor contractions which were superimposed upon a steep rising filling cystometrogram. With urinary diversion the resting urethral pressure profiles were preserved after division of the cauda equina but were lower in amplitude after overstretch of the autonomous bladder.


Interstitial cystitis.

Twenty histologically proven cases of interstitial cystitis were investigated in an attempt to find evidence of a possible autoimmune mechanism in its aetiology. HLA tissue typing was performed, autoantibody profiles were obtained, and a questionnaire of the patients' past history completed, especially with respect to other autoimmune conditions. An experiment was designed to test the effect of sodium cromoglycate on rat bladders. The results are discussed in relation to the management of patients with interstitial cystitis.


Long-term outcome after severe head injury.

From a consecutive series of 7000 patients with head injuries admitted to the regional accident service, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford between 10 and 24 years earlier, every patient was taken who had been amnesic or unconscious for one week or longer. Of these 479 patients, all but ten were traced, and either the cause of death was established or the survivors examined. Ten years after injury 4% were totally disabled, and 14% severely disabled to a degree precluding normal occupational or social life. Of the remainder, 49% had recovered, and the rest were dead. Additionally, a selected series of 64 patients whose unconsciousness had been prolonged for a month or more were studied. Forty of these had survived between three and 25 years after injury and were re-examined. On the basis of age at injury, the worst state of neurological responsiveness, and the duration of posttraumatic amnesia, the outcome of head injury can be predicted reliably in most cases. Patients and relatives need more reassurance and simple psychotherapeutic support, especially in the first few months after injury. Extrapolation from our figures suggests that each year in England and Wales 210 patients survive totally disabled and another 1500 are severely disabled.


Biological effects of magnetic fields: studies with microorganisms.

Five bacteria and one yeast were grown in magnetic fields of 50-900 gauss with frequencies of 0-0.3 HZ and square, triangular, or sine waveform. Growth of these microorganisms could be stimulated or inhibited depending upon the field strength and frequency of the pulsed magnetic field. Spore germination and mutation frequency were unaffected by the magnetic fields used in this study.


Nitrate reductase activities of rhizobia and the correlation between nitrate reduction and nitrogen fixation.

All species of Rhizobium except R. lupini had nitrate reductase activity. Only R. lupini was incapable of growth with nitrate as the sole source of nitrogen. However, the conditions necessary for the induction of nitrate reductase varied among species of Rhizobium. Rhizobium japonicum and some Rhizobium species of the cowpea strains expressed nitrate reductase activities both in the root nodules of appropriate leguminous hosts and when grown in the presence of nitrate. Rhizobium trifolii, R. phaseoli, and R. leguminosarum did not express nitrate reductase activities in the root nodules, but they did express them when grown in the presence of nitrate. In bacteroids of R. japonicum and some strains of cowpea Rhizobium, high N2 fixation activities were accompanied by high nitrate reductase activities. In bacteroids of R. trifolii, R. leguminosarum, and R. phaseoli, high N2 fixation activities were not accompanied by high nitrate reductase activities.


Partial characterization of a new C3-type capsule-dissolving phage of Streptococcus cremoris.

A viscous, ropy, sour milk product, called 'viili,' is produced in Finland. Capsule-forming strains of Streptococcus cremoris are the typical starters for this product. Occasionally fermentation fails and results in a non-ropy clot. The reasons for these failures, however, are obscure. In one batch of spoiled 'viili,' a new C3-type bacteriophage, termed KSY1, was isolated. The head of the phage was about 230 nm long and about 50 nm wide and the tail was 35 nm long and carried a complex collar structure. Upon infection of a number of encapsulated cultures of S. cremoris with KSY1, the cocci, though not serving as a host of the phage, lost their capsules. A capsuleless strain, S. cremoris 249, served as a host. The latent period was about 150 min and the average burst size 80. The bouyant density of KSYI1 was 1.436 g/cm3.


The role of temperate bacteriophage SP beta in prophage-mediated interference in Bacillus subtilis.

Virulent bacteriophage phi 1 grows on a variety of Bacillus subtilis strains, mutants of this virus which abortively infect the transformable bacillus. B. subtilis 168, while retaining the ability to productively infect related bacteria have been found. In the present study, we demonstrate that the inability of one such variant, phi 1m, to develop normally in strain 168 is mediated by cryptic prophage SP beta. The latter is a temperate bacteriophage which is carried by B. subtilis 168 and most strains derived from this bacterium. Phi 1 m infection of SP beta lysogens begins with apparently normal adsorption, penetration, and inititaion of virus-directed syntheses. At about the 20th min of the latent period, however, there is an abrupt cessation of nucleic acid synthesis and cellular respiration, accompanied by a change in cell permeability. This course of events can be altered to a permissive infection by mutation in the mpi gene of SP beta, by mutation in the spoOA gene of the host, or by growing SP beta lysogens at high temperature. In addition, we found a second class of phi 1 mutants which abortively infect B. subtilis 168 derivatives even in the absence of the SP beta prophage.


Ultrastructure of synapses and cellular relationships in the oculomotor nucleus of the rhesus monkey.

The fine structure of synapses and of cellular relations was examined in the somatic efferent portion of the oculomotor nucleus of the adult rhesus monkey. Axosomatic and axodendritic synapses are characterized by distinct synaptic clefts which usually measure 20-30 nm between pre- and postsynaptic membranes. Cytoplasmic "thickenings" of pre- and postsynaptic membranes are often observed. Subjunctional bodies are present at both axosomatic and axodendritic synapses. Somatic and dendritic spine synapses are present. Serial synapses are also found, suggesting the operation of presynaptic inhibition in this nucleus. At some synapses the extracellular gap between pre- and postsynpatic membranes is reduced to 5-9 nm. However, junctions similar to the latter are also present between neurons and glia, and at the junctions between adjacent glial elements. The present results provide no evidence for a clear morphological substrate for electrotonic transmission in the somatic efferent portion of the primate oculomotor nucleus.


Synergistic effects of p-fluorophenylalanine and supra-optimal temperatures on cell division in Tetrahymena pyriformis.

The combined effects of sub-optimal (20 degrees) or supra-optimal (31 degrees C and 34 degrees C) temperatures and the amino acid analogue p-fluorophenylalanine on preparations for cell division in Tetrahymena pyriformis were analysed. A supra-optimal temperature of 31 degrees produced a marked exaggeration of the division-delaying capacity of the analogue. The analogue also sensitises cells when combined with the normal heat shock temperature of 34 degrees, which indicates that division proteins continue to be synthesized at this temperature but cannot be effectively utilized by the cell. These results support the model that preparations involve interactions between and formation of assemblies of proteins on a strict time schedule shortly before division.


The action of lipoxygenase-1 on furan derivatives.

Several 2,5-disubstituted furans, which are known to react with peroxyacids, singlet oxygen and other active forms of oxygen were tested as potential inhibitors, co-oxidants, or substrates for soybean lipoxygenase. The furan, 10,13-epoxy-octadeca-10,12-dienoic acid, methyl ester (IV) was converted by lipoxygenase or singlet oxygen or peroxyacid to the acyclic product, methyl 10,13-dioxo-octadec-11-enoate. Apparently furan IV is able to interact with an active site of lipoxygenase (Km = 220 microM). 2,5-Dimethylfuran (I), 2,5-diphenylfuran (II) and 3-(5'-methyl-2'-furyl)propenoic acid (III) were neither substrates nor inhibitors of lipoxygenase activity. Lipoxygenase-catalyzed oxidation of furan (IV), which is inhibited by hydroquinone, is explained by a mechanism involving lipoxygenase-superoxide complex and furan-radical intermediates. Also described is the selective cleavage of furan rings by m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid to yield the 1,4-diketoethylene functional system.


Evaluation of two intravenous rehydration solutions in cholera and non-cholera diarrhoea.

A clinical trial was carried out with 126 male patients over 2 years of age suffering from diarrhoea requiring intravenous rehydration, 80 of the patients suffering from cholera and 46 from non-cholera diarrhoea. A new "diarrhoea treatment solution" (DTS) containing sodium at a concentration of 118 mmol/litre and glucose at 44 mmol/litre was compared with the usual Dacca intravenous solution (DS) which has a sodium concentration of 133 mmol/litre and contains no glucose. The other constituents and their concentrations were the same in both solutions. All the patients responded well clinically and made an uneventful recovery. Oral water intake measured during the first 24 h was higher in the group receiving the DS. This group also excreted a significantly higher quantity of sodium in the urine. A significant fall in the level of blood glucose from the admission values occurred in both the groups; the fall was relatively less in the DTS group, this solution containing 44 mmol of glucose per litre. Further work is required to find the optimum concentration of glucose in the solution for infants and young children.


Comparative metabolism and excretion of adriamycin in man, monkey, and rat.

Adriamycin and its fluorescent metabolites in bile (man, monkey, and rat) and urine (man and monkey) were determined by means of a simple, rapid, and highly reproducible high-performance liquid chromatographic procedure. Species differences in metabolism and biliary excretion were observed with respect to aldoketo reductase and conjugase activities.


Prolonged shock in the monkey following live E coli organism infusion.

Responses of the rhesus monkey to the administration of live Escherichia coli organisms during an observation of 0--27 hours were studied. Nine monkeys were infused for 30 minutes with live E coli organisms, the dose ranging between 7.6 X 10(9) and 3.0 X 10(11) organisms/kg. Three of nine animals survived for 24 hours or longer. Nonsurvivors demonstrated significant hypotension, hypoglycemia, and hypoinsulinemia, while survivors showed lesser degrees of physiologic derangement. Findings were hepatic sinusoidal fibrin thrombi and hepatocellular damage accompanied by elevated serum enzymes. The kidney did not show glomerular fibrin thrombi; however, tubular lesions were clearly evident and increases in blood urea nitrogen levels and endogenous creatinine were documented. Lungs of animals surviving longer contained fewer polymorphonuclear leukocytes and platelets than were seen in acute shock studies. This study emphasizes the importance of monitoring the nonhuman primate during an extended time period, since many significant pathophysiologic responses occur after eight hours of observation.


Effects of glucagon on regional blood flow during cardiogenic shock.

We studied the effects of two dosage levels of glucagon infusion on systemic hemodynamic and regional blood flow measurements during experimental cardiogenic shock in monkeys. Cardiogenic shock was induced in monkeys by embolization of coronary arteries with glass microspheres. Glucagon 1 microgram/kg/min was infused in five monkeys and five remaining monkeys received glucagon infusion at 10 micrograms/kg/min. Radioactive microsphere technique was used to measure regional blood flows. During cardiogenic shock, there were significant decreases in heart rate, mean arterial pressure, cardiac output and rate of rise of left ventricular pressure and significant increases in total peripheral resistance. Blood flows to the heart, brain, kidney and splanchnic bed were markedly reduced. Neither dosage level of glucagon produced any significant improvement in systemic hemodynamic or regional blood flow values. Glucagon produced only nonsignificant increases in splanchnic blood flow during cardiogenic shock. These findings suggest that glucagon infusions in dosages of 1 microgram/kg/min and 10 micrograms/kg/min do not improve systemic or regional hemodynamic status in severe cardiogenic shock.


Serum and urine glycosidase activities in diabetes mellitus.

Plasma and urine beta-N-acetyl glucosaminidase, beta-glucuronidase and beta-galactosidase were measured in 75 diabetics and 35 control subjects. The plasma enzyme levels were significantly elevated in patients with evidence of vascular complications. There was a negative correlation between plasma enzymes and creatinine clearance.


Kinetic behaviour under defined assay conditions for bovine lens aldose reductase.

Bovine lens aldose reductase, an enzyme important in sugar cataract formation, has been purified using a new procedure, and its optimum conditions of assay defined in both lens homogenates and purified preparations. Preliminary kinetic analysis shows that the degree of the rate equation is of a low order, and may be Michaelian under the standard conditions used.


Amyloid goitre in familial Mediterranean fever.

Three patients known to suffer from familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), systemic amyloidosis and chronic renal failure developed large amyloid goitres. Amyloid goitre is an extremely rare complication of systemic amyloidosis not previously described in FMF. The clinical and pathological features of these three cases were similar to those previously described in amyloid goitre. In two of the patients abnormalities in thyroid function were consistent with those documented in chronic renal failure. There was evidence of hypothyroidism in a third patient. There was no evidence of amyloid induced dysfunction of other endocrine organs.


Interaction between the thyrotrophin-releasing hormone-induced growth hormone rise and dopaminergic drugs: studies in pathologic conditions of the animal and man.

A rise in plasma growth hormone (GH) after thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) and a striking reduction after dopaminergic drugs is present in acromegalic ('responder') patients. We have investigated the GH response to dopaminergic stimuli in two conditions of animals and man, which, like acromegaly, are characterized by a TRH-induced GH rise, i.e. rats with electrolytic lesions of the median eminence (ME) and patients with hepatic cirrhosis. In addition, we have studied the TRH-induced GH rise in rats with ME lesions, in the cirrhotic patients and in a group of 'responder' acromegalics before and after administration of dopaminergic drugs. In rats with ME lesions an infusion of dopamine (DA) neither modified baseline GH levels nor the TRH-induced GH rise. In five out of six cirrhotic patients oral administration of L-Dopa was followed by the usual rise in plasma GH. infusion of DA increased plasma GH levels in three out of seven cirrhotic patients and in four out of five subjects an earlier GH rise after TRH was seen. However, in the 'responder' acromegalics, the infusion of DA, besides lowering baseline plasma GH, was capable of reducing the TRH-induced GH rise. Collectively these data indicate that the TRH-induced GH rise emphasizes defects in the neurohormonal links between the central nervous system and the anterior pituitary. Instead, the paradoxical fall of GH after dopaminergic drugs appears to be a prerequisite of acromegaly and may be attributable to receptors for DA located on the tumorous tissue.


Elevated thyroxine-binding globulin with X-chromosome linked inheritance.

A new kindred with elevated levels of serum thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) as an inherited trait has been reported. Of the twenty-four family members tested, three males and nine females had elevated serum TBG. The pedigree was consistent with an X-chromosome linked mode of inheritance.


Cryoglobulins in Behçet's syndrome and recurrent oral ulceration: assay by laser nephelometry.

The presence of cryoglobulins was investigated in ninety patients with recurrent oral ulcers (ROU) and sixty-one patients with Behçet's syndrome (BS). The immunodiffusion method was compared with Laser nephelometry for the analysis of IgG, IgM, IgA and C3 in cryoglobulins. Although the two methods of assessment showed a very significant agreement. Laser nephelometry was more sensitive than the double diffusion precipitation method and was used for quantitative analysis of cryoglobulins. The prevalence of any type of cryoglobulins was 64% in ROU and 75% in BS, as compared with controls (15%). In ROU significant levels of IgA were found in minor (P = 0.0196) and major (P = 0.0114) aphthous ulcers and to a lesser extent in herpetiform ulcers (P = 0.0624). Among the four types of BS signficant increases in C3 were found in the arthritic type (P = 0.0068) and ocular type (P = 0.0275), whereas IgM (P = 0.0031) and IgG (P = 0.0369) were increased only in the muco-cutaneous type. Sequential studies showed that disease remissions or exacerbations were correlated with a decrease or increase in IgM or IgG classes of cryoglobulins. However, the converse was found with IgA which may inhibit some functions of polymorphonuclear leucocytes, and this may be responsible for the failure to remove damaging IgG, IgM and C3 complexes from the circulation.


Relations between Fc receptor function and locomotion in human lymphocytes.

The relationship between the surface binding sites on human lymphocytes for chemotactic factors and for the Fc fraction of IgG was investigated using both blood lymphocytes and established cultures of human lymphoblasts. Pretreatment of human blood lymphocytes with a variety of chemotactic factors inhibited Fc-rosette formation. This was true even of small formylated peptides, for example, formyl-methionyl-phenylalanine (chemotactic) inhibited Fc-rosetting but unformylated methionyl-phenylalanine (non-chemotactic) did not. Conversely pretreatment of lymphocytes with IgG inhibited their locomotor reactions to a variety of chemoattractants. Aggregated IgG was more inhibitory than non-aggregated IgG and the inhibition was mediated via the Fc piece. In a filter assay, native IgG was chemokinetic but not chemotactic for lymphocytes. Heat-aggregated IgG induced more locomotion of lymphocytes than native IgG, and was possibly chemotactic, but no unequivocally so. The possibility that chemotactic factors and the Fc portion of IgG compete for the same cell surface receptor was investigated by binding studies using cultured lymphoblasts. These studies suggested that the reciprocal inhibition could not be explained by competition for receptors. An alternative explanation was suggested by the finding that inhibition of locomotion by aggregated IgG was dependent on the presence of divalent cations at the time the IgG was added, and did not occur in the presence of the calcium ionophore A23187. Addition of aggregated IgG or chemotactic factors to lymphocytes thus may lead to a gated entry of calcium, and following closure of the calcium gate, the cells become relatively unresponsive to further stimulation.


In vivo effect of levamisole on cellular and humoral immunity in normal chickens.

The effect of levamisole in vivo was studied on the PHA and Con A responses of chicken peripheral blood lymphocytes and on the in vivo antibody response to a thymus dependent antigen (BSA) and to a thymus independent antigen (Brucella abortus). Levamisole (0.25 mg/kg) increased significantly both the PHA and Con A responses of chicken blood lymphocytes. The antigens were given at the time of enhanced mitogenic responses and a significant increase was observed in both IgM and IgG antibodies to BSA. In contrast, no effect was obtained on antibody responses to Brucella abortus organisms. The results show that levamisole is able to enhance both humoral and cellular immune responses in normal chickens. The effect is probably mediated by the activation of the T cell function and effects only antibody responses to thymus dependent antigen. These findings confirm and extend the observations regarding the ability of levamisole to modulate immune responses.


Bicycle spoke fracture.

Twenty-nine children were treated for bicycle spoke injury, which occurred while they were sitting behind their riding parents. Their feet were caught in between the bicycle spoke and the frame rod. Five of these children suffered supramalleolar fracture. These fractures had a similar radiographic pattern, namely a greenstick fracture of the distal end of the tibia and fibula, buckling into varus and usually also into anterior angulation. Healing of the fractures was uneventful. These injuries are preventable by rigid plastic net covers for the rear wheel of the bicycle.


Ossicles in human menisci: report of two cases.

Two cases of ossicles in human menisci are added to the list of 18 previously reported cases. The points of interest in these cases are that in both cases multiple ossicles were incorporated in the posterior horns of the semilunar cartilages--2 in the first case and 7 in the second. In a 16-year-old girl, the posterior horn of the meniscus was torn longitudinally in the shape of a "Y" and each part of the bifurcated meniscus housed an ossicle. Arthrotomy had been performed twice without successful removal of the ossicles. In a 39-year-old woman, all 7 ossicles were incorporated in the posterior horn of the meniscus.


Treatment of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) with intravaginal rings loaded with levonorgestrel.

The effects of levonorgestrel-releasing intravaginal rings were investigated in 15 rhesus monkeys for 52 weeks. The intravaginal rings were designed to provide a sustained release of either three or ten times the human dose level of the hormone. Untreated placebo rings were used as a control. The devices were well retained. After insertion of the vaginal rings, a dose-related decrease in vaginal bleeding was observed. The vaginal microbial flora were assessed qualitatively and semi-quantitatively and although all groups including controls showed some changes in microbial populations, by the end of the study nearly all animals returned to a normal balanced microflora. Terminal studies showed that, at the high dose level, ovulation was suppressed and widespread atrophy of the uterine mucosal and glandular epithelium had occurred. A dose-related increase in mucus within the lumen of the endocervical canal was observed. Focal or diffuse atrophy of the vaginal mucosal epithelium was seen in the majority of levonorgestrel-treated animals.


Pediatric osteomyelitis: III. anaerobic microorganisms.

Primary osteomyelitis consequent to obligate anaerobic microorganisms represents an infrequently encountered type of infection in pediatric patients. Unlike osteomyelitis caused by more common microorganisms such as Staphylococcus, children with osseous lesions due to anaerobic microorganisms are frequently minimally symptomatic and rarely present the classic signs of fulminant osteomyelitis. Radiographically, the lesions may mimic malignant osseous tumors. Fastidious microbiologic analysis of the material obtained at surgery is necessary to isolate obligate anaerobes. Basic treatment, comprising surgical drainage and appropriate antimicrobial agents, does not differ from that for osteomyelitis caused by aerobic or by facultative anaerobic microorganisms.


Bacillus cereus septic arthritis following arthrography.

Organisms of Bacillus species usually are common laboratory contaminants and nonpathogenic in humans. Recently, however, it has been suggested that cultures growing common Bacillus species may indeed represent significant infections and should not always be disregarded. A 24-year-old man developed Bacillus cereus septic arthritis following routine arthrography, which is an example of a serious orthopedic infection that can be caused by this supposedly nonpathogenic organism.


Serum bile acids in women taking combination contraceptives.

A longitudinal study in 60 women was undertaken to observe the changes, if any, in serum bile acids after taking oral combination pills containing either 50 or 30 microgram of ethinyl estradiol. The women were followed up to 12 months. Serum bile acids (cholyglycine conjugates) were estimated by radioimmunoassay. The combination contraceptives had no appreciable effect on serum bile acids.


The rabbit as an animal model to study pharmacokinetics of norethindrone in women.

The pharmacokinetics of norethindrone (NET) were studied in adult female rabbits and rhesus monkeys with a view to developing an animal model closely resembling humans in the handling of NET. Plasma levels of NET were determined in rabbits and monkeys after administering either labelled NET or a NET minipill. Pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated by using a two-compartment open model and by graphical and regression analysis of plasma NET data. In rabbits, the drug absorption was found to be rapid and NET peak levels were attained within 0.5 to 1.0 hour. The clearance half-lives were 1.3 hours for 'alpha' and 10.0 hours for 'beta'. In monkeys, plasma NET values showed an inconsistent pattern and the approximate t 1/2 was found to lie between 4 and 6 hours. The observed pharmacokinetics of NET in rabbits rather than in monkeys were closer to those in humans. On this basis, it would appear that the rabbit is a suitable animal model for studying effects of nutritional factors on the pharmacokinetics of NET.


Contribution to the definition and the taxonomy of Yersinia enterocolitica.

The phenotypic study of 6,000 strains of Y. enterocolitica and Y. enterocolitica-like organisms by the biochemical reaction of the identification of Enterobacteriaceae on one hand and of 100 strains representing different chemiotypes by an auxanogram technique shows a large homogeneity of these strains which are apparated from the other Yersinia within Enterobacteriaceae. Six chemiotypes are described. The strains fermenting thamnose, similar to chemiotype I, can be subdivided in two groups according to the acidification of melibiose. The future and the denomination of these strains are discussed. The biochemical characteristics difining Y. enterocolitica and six chemiotypes are defined.


Numerical classification of Yersinia enterocolitica and relationship between its subdivision and pathogenicity.

A total of 102 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica were studied on their morphology, physiology and biochemistry at 25 degrees C. All data coded in binary notation and similarities between each pair of strains by simple matching coefficient were calculated using subsequent computation. Four clusters were distinguished within the 102 strains at a similarity level of 90--93%. Although some discrepancies were recognized on reactions of indole, xylose, esculin and salicin, it was evident that 3 of the 4 groups in the present study correspond to the DNA relatedness groups of Brenner et al., respectively. On the other hand, it was confirmed, using feeding tests with monkeys, that only the group 1 was enteropathogenic. These results support the suggestion of Brenner et al. that their DNA relatedness group 1 is true Y. enterocolitica.


Histopathological studies on experimental Yersinia enterocolitica infection in animals.

Experiments were made using mice, rabbits, and monkeys. Mice were divided into 2 groups: an intravenously injected group and an orally administered one. In either group, lesions were found mainly in mucous membranes on Peyer's patches of intestines. Lesions consisted of formation of bacterial colonies accompained by accumulation of neutrophils and histiocytes, and proliferation of reticulum cells. Severe intestinal lesions were common to the 3 animals. Apart from the intestines, the liver showed most remarkable changes. Next ranked changes in bone marrows and spleen. Mesenteric lymph nodes revealed no significant changes. On the other hand, nonpathogenic strains caused little change.


The relationship between the protective and cross-reacting antigens of Brucella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica 0:9 and Salmonella serotypes of Kauffmann-White group N.

Vaccination with killed cells of Brucella abortus, Yersinia enterocolitica 0:9 and Salmonella neusdorf evoked cross-reacting antibodies in guinea pigs but only the homologous antigen effectively produced protective immunity to Br. abortus. None of these preparations induced protective immunity to Y. enterocolitica in gerbils but all stimulated protective immunity to S. landau in Balb/c mice. The antigenic determinants responsible for protective immunity to salmonella infection were located on the cross-reacting lipopolysaccharide-peptide agglutinogens of the brucella, yersinia and salmonella organisms. The protective effect could be passively transferred by serum and was probably mediated by IgM antibodies.


Antigenicity of protein and lipopolysaccharide from Yersinia enterocolitica.

The rabbits infected intravenously with viable Yersinia enterocolitica (Y.e.) produced the precipitating antibodies against a protein component as well as lipopolysaccharide of the organism. The production of the precipitins against protein antigen persisted for a long period of time even after the O-agglutinins had disappeared. The rabbits infected orally with the organism produced only the precipitins against protein antigen, and the amount of the antibody was equal to or greater than that of intravenous infection. The same precipitins that rabbits produced were detected even in human patients with yersiniosis showing O-agglutinin titers as low as less than or equal to 1:20. The antibody titers of mice infected with Y.e. were markedly lower than those of rabbits.


Sites of insertion of TnA and TnM in RP1 and its derivatives.

The sites of insertion of TnM into the plasmid RP1, into derivatives of RP1 lacking TnA, and into derivatives in which the location of TnA within RP1 has been altered, were determined. Similarly, the sites of insertion of TnA into derivatives of RP1 from which TnA had been deleted, both with and without copies of TnM, have been examined. These studies show the presence in the plasmids of 'hot-spots' for TnA and TnM insertion. It is clear from the observations, however, that a particular DNA sequence in the recipient replicon is not sufficient to definite a 'hot-spot' since particular sequences sometimes do, and sometimes do not, contain many sites of insertion for a given transposon.


Recombination nodules and synaptonemal complex in recombination-defective females of Drosophila melanogaster.

The cytological effects of mutant alleles of the mei-9, mei-218, and mei-41 loci during prophase I have been examined by electron microscopy. None of these mutants affect synaptonemal complex structure, continuity, or temporal behavior. Both the precondition-defective mutants mei-218 and mei-41 affect both number and morphology of spherical recombination nodules and apparently affect at least the numbers of ellipsoidal recombination nodules, whereas in the exchange-defective mutant mei-9 the numbers and morphologies of both ellipsoidal and spherical recombination nodules are normal. The parallel effects of mei-218 and mei-41 on meiotic recombination and on recombination nodules indicate that spherical recombination nodules at least mark the site of exchange events; the effects of these mutants on nodule morphology suggest that the nodule performs an active role in the recombination process. The nodule phenotype of mei-9 indicates that spherical nodules are present, and presumably functioning, well before the concluding stages of the recombination event. The parallel effects of all 3 mutants on ellipsoidal and spherical nodules indicate that these are indeed related structures but does not ellucidate the nature of the relationship. It is suggested that all aspects of meiotic recombination are under the aegis of recombination nodules.


Monoclonal immunoglobulinaemia in rheumatological practice.

Monoclonal immunoglobulinaemia is the manifestation of a number of diseases with a quite different prognosis. In some instances in can be associated with articular symptomatology. The authors present an analysis of case-records of four patients where monoclonal immunoglobulinaemia was associated with signs of rheumatic disease--oligoarthritis or polyarthritis of the rheumatoid type. In one instance Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia with Sjögren's syndrome and hyperviscosity syndrome was involved. In another patient a myeloma was diagnosed. In the remaining two patients a more benign type of monoclonal immunoglobulinaemia was involved.


A new method for x-ray examination of the anterior-posterior stress of the ankle: technical note.

In spite of its relative reliability, X-ray examinations in anterior-posterior stress of the ankle are frequently made for diagnosing a lesion of a lateral ligament. A new method is presented.


New approaches to ophthalmic electrodiagnosis by retinal oscillatory potential, drug-induced responses from retinal pigment epithelium and cone potential.

New clinical methods are proposed to assess (1) neuronal activities of the retinal inner layers including amacrine cells by means of the oscillatory potential, (2) photopic function through the rapid decay in the off-response and (3) activities of the retinal pigment epithelium through susceptibility of the standing potential of the eye to osmotic stress and to Diamox. These new methods are able to reveal otherwise undetectable retinal disorders.


Renin activity and concentrations of angiotensin I and II in amniotic fluid of normal and Rh-sensitized pregnancies.

Renin activity and the concentrations of angiotensin I and angiotensin II in amniotic fluid of second- and third-trimester pregnancies were determined by radioimmunoassay. Between the 28th and 38th wk of gestation, the mean renin activity in the amniotic fluid was higher than during early pregnancy (before the 18th wk of gestation). Both renin activity and the concentrations of angiotensin I and II were increased on some cases of Rh-incompatibility. One to two weeks after the administration of betamethasone to the mother with threatened premature delivery, the intra-amniotic renin--angiotensin system was slightly suppressed. In urine samples of newborns, angiotensin concentrations were in the same range as those found in the amniotic fluid; renin activity was very low or undetectable in the urine of male neonates (1--7 days of age). Thus, angiotensin II in the amniotic fluid may be derived both from fetal urine and/or as the product of enzymatic reactions in the amniotic sac; the latter is dependent not only on the presence of renin and converting enzyme but also on the local renin substrate (angiotensinogen) concentration.


[Age dependence of the P2 amplitudes of visually evoked cortical responses to checkerboard pattern reversal (author's transl)].

The age dependence of the P2 amplitudes of visually evoked cortical responses to checkerboard pattern reversal was examined in 72 healthy individuals of between 10 and 69 years of age. Separate examination of the right and left eye yielded no statistically significant differences in P2 amplitudes. An age dependence of the P2 amplitudes was discovered inasmuch as healthy individuals under 25 years and over 55 are--with high statistical significance--apt to show higher P2 amplitudes than healthy individuals in the remaining life span.


[The stereo-electroencephalographic correlate of psychical seizures (author's transl)].

During stereo-EEG on drug resistant epileptic patients "psychical seizures" such as illusions, hallucinations, strange emotions and disturbances of thinking  were observed. The depth recordings of the presented cases reveal the epileptic nature of these psychic phenomena. Elementary illusions and hallucinations can often be correlated with circumscribed discharges in cortical representation areas. Larger areas of the temporal lobe are found to be involved regularly in the more complex hallucinations. Emotional changes are strongly linked to the limbic system whereas "intellectual auras" or other disturbances of thinking are attributed to paroxystic dysfunctions of mainly frontal areas. The discussion deals with the relationship between psychomotor epilepsy and psychosis as well as the relationship between the frequency of seizures and psychic and/or behavioral disturbances. In this context a possible explanation of the so-called "forced normalization" of the EEG is given.


[Factor analysis of spectral EEG-data. Models of application in pharmaco-elektroencephalography (author's transl)].

The factor analysis of spectral EEG values is a data-reducing and also a structural analytical procedure. This procedure enables the numerous frequency variables obtained by spectral analysis to be replaced by a more clearly arranged system of independent complex spectral variables (spectral or frequency factors), while at the same time the interrelations which exist between the individual frequency variables are taken into consideration. The use of this information elucidates the substantial dimensions of spectral configurations, the relationship of the frequency components which constitute them and their factor scores under various conditions. We have used several application models obtained in the course of pharmacoencephalographical examinations which are based on the procedure of a not fully developed multi-model factor analysis; on the basis of these models we have shown how, in a problem-orientated application of the factor analysis, well interpretable information can be gained on the relevant dimensions of the pattern of the brain electric activity, their dynamics and their topical localisation.


[A practicable method of polygraphic investigations in preterm and fullterm neonates (author's transl)].

Polygraphic recording techniques (simultaneous recording of several physiological variables) have been used earlier in investigations of normal newborn and preterm infants. The clinical value of prolonged polygraphic recordings in highrisk neonates is well-known. The main-purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a clinically practicable method of polygraphic recording technique, needing no more than two hours recording-time and its interpretation by means of visual analysis.


[Measure of skin resistance (dermatophoria) in children with headaches (author's transl)].

In 1942 a curve of skin conductibility to direct current was described in Prague. It is a slow or steep rising of intensity in the few seconds following the introduction of the 12 V current to the hand from the dorsum to the palm. This method has been called dermatophoria. This curve is characteristical for a given individual and it is different in paretic (central and peripheral) limbs, generally more flat. In children the curves are steeper. However, abnormally steep there are in 57% of juvenile vasomotor headaches. Dermatophoria is therefore promising to be an objective method in diagnosis of children's headache.


Urinary cortisol and cortisol metabolites in women with idiopathic hirsutism.

Urinary unconjugated cortisol, total 17-oxogenic steroids and cortisol metabolites (THF, allo-THF, THE, cortol and cortolone) were measured in 90 normal women and in 90 women with idiopathic hirsutism of comparable age group. After carrying out Student's "t"-test, the mean steroid excretion values in hirsute women were significantly higher than those from normal females. The results indicate that, due to stress, these hirsute women do have altered adrenocortical function, as assessed by the estimation of these corticosteroids of which urinary unconjugated cortisol was found to be the most sensitive index.


Plasma renin activity in diabetic patients.

Plasma renin activity (PRA) in 40 diabetic patients and 42 healthy controls was investigated using the method of Pickens in modification of Serebrovskaja et al. (1967). PRA was slightly lower in the whole group of diabetes but the difference was not significant. The subgroup of 20 maturity-onset diabetics had significantly lower PRA in comparison with 22 controls of similar age, while PRA in juvenile diabetics did not differ significantly from matched controls. In patients without clinical signs and symptoms of microangiopathy PRA was as high as in the controls. In diabetics with microangiopathy PRA was significantly lower. PRA was also lower in patients with longer duration of the disease. The stimulation of juxtaglomerular apparatus with sodium free diet and diuretic drugs resulted in an increase of PRA both in controls and diabetics. This suggests a functional depression of PRA in diabetic patients. In diabetics with ketoacidosis PRA was higher than in control subjects and decreased after disappearance of ketoacidosis. A high level was recorded in a patient with hyperosmolar coma and a very low level in a patient with polyneuropathy and severe orthostatic hypotension. The possible mechanisms involved in the changes of PRA in diabetic patients are discussed.


Inhibition of the cytochrome P-450 multifunctional oxidase by N-propargyl analogs of SKF-525 A and acetylmethadol.

New N-propargyl analogs of SKF-525A and acetyl methadol were tested for their inhibitory potency toward P-450 multifunctional oxidase. Metabolism of these analogs appears to be different from the metabolism of SKF-525 A itself; no N-dealkylated species were detected, --in vitro N-demethylation of aminopyrine and spectrofluorometric measurements support the hypothesis of an interaction between the hepatic flavo-protein and the acetylenic function of the inhibitors.


Extrapancreatic action of sulphonylureas: effect of gliquidone on insulin and glucagon binding to rat liver plasma membranes.

Gliquidone (a second generation sulphonylurea) was administered orally to normal rats 1 h before killing. Gliquidone treatment led to a decrease in plasma glucose, an increase in insulin and a diminution in glucagon concentration. Insulin binding to liver plasma membranes was enhanced by 40% in comparison with controls, whereas glucagon binding was slightly diminished. These findings indicate a greater sensitivity of liver cells to insulin during sulphonylurea treatment and support the view that sulphonylureas potentiate insulin action on the liver.


Urinary bile acids during development of recurrent cholestasis of pregnancy.

The pregnancies of two patients with mild intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (RCP) were followed with detailed analyses of bile acids in urine. About twenty-five different bile acids were determined by GC/MS following separation according to mode of conjugation. The results were collated with the clinical course of the disease. The first detectable change in bile acid excretion was the appearance of tetrahydroxylated bile acids at about the 30th gestational week. Somewhat later and concomitant with the rise in urinary oestriol, the total bile acid excretion started to increase. In one of the patients, who had a maximum total excretion of 84 mumol/24 h, deoxycholic acid was a major constituent, comprising about 40% of the total. The same patient had only slightly elevated levels of tetrahydroxylated bile acids and serum amino-transferases. The possible effect of low-fat diet on these results is discussed. Monohydroxylated bile acids were present throughout the pregnancies in small amounts and their role as aetiological factors is discussed. The care of RCP patients is outlined, and the need for simple, specific and quantitative methods for following the course of RCP is pointed out.


[Blood serum insulin concentration in children with protein-calorie malnutrition].

Fasting blood serum insulin, glucose and K+ ions concentrations were estimated in 50 children with protein calorie malnutrition. These children were born with the normal body weight or with symptoms of intrauterine dystrophy. 40 healthy children of the same age, with normal chronologic body weight were included into the control group. The results of IRI, glucose and K+ ions concentrations were evaluated statistically by Student's t test. The statistically significant lowering of the IRI level and statistically insignificant lowering in glucose and K+ ions concentrations were found in children with malnutrition if compared to control group.


Urinary bile acids in late pregnancy and in recurrent cholestasis of pregnancy.

The metabolic profiles of urinary bile acids in pregnant women in the last trimester and patients with recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (RCP) were studied. Following separation according to mode of conjugation, about thirty different bile acids were quantitatively analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In all patients the sulphate fraction comprised 50--90% of the total bile acids. In RCP a shift from glycine to taurine conjugation was noted to together with a slight relative increase in sulphation. A ten- to hundred-fold increase in cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids was seen in RCP, the increase being mainly in the sulphate fraction. Tetrahydroxylated bile acids, tentatively regarded as 1- and 6-hydroxylated products of cholic acid, were quantitatively important in patients with RCP. The relative amounts of the secondary bile acids, deoxycholic and lithocholic acids, decreased with increasing cholestasis. Metabolites hydroxylated at C-6 were common, and the excretion of hydroxylated at C-6 were common, and the excretion of hyocholic acid was positively correlated to that of chenodeoxycholic acid. An increase in the excretion of 5 alpha-configurated bile acids in RCP was noted. A positive correlation between the excretion of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoic acid and 3 beta,12 alpha-dihydroxy-5-cholenoic acid indicates a metabolic relationship between the two compounds. Because of the relatively small amounts of lithocholic and 3 beta-hydroxy-5-cholenoic acids in patients with RCP, these compounds do not seem to be of pathogenetic importance in this type of cholestasis.


Influence of meal frequency on diurnal lipid, glucose and insulin levels in normal subjects on a high fat diet; comparison with data obtained on a high carbohydrate diet.

Diurnal levels of serum triglyceride (TG) were measured in six normal persons consuming a fixed solid 65% fat diet under steady state conditions in a metabolic unit. The food was divided into either three or eight similar portions, differently spaced over the day and night. The diurnal TG-profiles on this diet were practically identical to those found under comparable conditions on a 65% carbohydrate diet [1]. Mean diurnal TG values did not significantly differ with varying meal frequency. Free fatty acid levels, however, were significantly higher on a high fat diet. Post-prandial glucose and insulin reponses did not significantly differ whether a high fat diet or a high carbohydrate diet was consumed. We conclude that the composition of the diet is of little importance in determining diurnal TG patterns when the diet consists of normal food stuffs, but that these patterns are dependent on meal frequency and distribution.


Radioimmunoassay for type III procollagen peptide and its application to human liver disease.

A sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay was developed for the precursor-specific peptide segment located at the amino end of bovine type III procollagen. Human material showed high cross-reactivity in this assay. Two forms of human procollagen peptides were detected in body fluids. The larger peptide (45K) was found in serum and ascites, and resembled the whole precursor-specific segment which is presumably released from human type III procollagen by a single enzymatic cleavage. The smaller peptide (10K) was found mainly in urine indicating that further degradation of circulating procollagen peptides is required prior to their passage through the kidney. Compared to peptide concentrations in normal human serum two to twenty-fold increases were observed in all patients with alcoholic liver disease, in fifteen of seventeen patients with acute hepatitis, and in ten of fourteen patients with chronic active hepatitis. Much higher levels were detected in ascites fluid. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases showed far smaller elevations of the serum peptide. In alcoholic liver disease peptide levels correlated well with inflammation and necrosis observed in liver biopsies, but not with other laboratory parameters.


The effect of puromycin on subepithelial deposits induced by antibodies directed against tubular antigens: a quantitative study.

The mechanism of the GN induced by the intravenous injection of antibodies directed against renal tubular epithelial antigens (RTE) was studied by the use of antibody specifically purified by affinity chromatography. With this reagent RTE antigens could be demonstrated on frozen sections of glomeruli as well as on glomerular cells in culture. The antibodies were radiolabelled, and using paired label techniques glomerular binding could be measured in vivo. In normal rats, approximately 4% of the antibody injected was specifically bound in the glomeruli. Binding was not detectable on proximal tubular brush borders. In rats treated with 100 mg/kg of aminonucleoside of puromycin, a substance known to induce alterations of glomerular epithelial cells, it could be shown that glomerular binding was selectively decreased. These observations indicate that immune deposits in passive Heyman nephitis are formed mainly in situ and that local alteration of the glomerulus can markedly influence deposit formation.


Free insulin, bound insulin, C-peptide and the metabolic control in juvenile onset diabetics: comparison of C-peptide secretors and non-secretors during 24 hours conventional insulin therapy.

In two groups of juvenile onset diabetics similar in age, weight, diet and daily insulin dosage (eight without C-peptide, group I; eight with C-peptide, group II) the serum levels of free and antibody bound insulin, C-peptide, glucose, lactate, alanine and FFA were determined over 24 h. In addition the affinity and binding capacity of the insulin antibodies were determined in vitro. No correlation was found between free or bound insulin and glucose. This holds true for the individual profiles as well as for the averaged profiles of the two groups. Free insulin and lactate or alanine were positively correlated in the C-peptide secreting group. C-peptide secretion followed the flucturations of the glucose level during 24 h in each individual patient. As a group, C-peptide secretors were better controlled than non-secretors with respect to mean blood glucose, M-value and the lability index and showed higher free insulin levels despite a similar daily insulin dosage. The possible reasons for this fact are discussed. No correlation was found between the affinity characteristics of the insulin antibodies and the degree of metabolic control or the daily insulin dosage.


Surface adhesive properties of baboon lymphocyte and derived lymphoblastoid cell lines.

Cell surface adhesiveness of lymphocytes isolated from the peripheral blood of Papio hamadryas monkeys was compared to the adhesiveness of lymphoblastoid cell lines derived by transformation of these lymphocytes with herpesvirus Papio. For the quantitative comparison of the cell surface adhesive properties, a recently developed latex particle adherence assay was utilized. It was found that cell surface adhesiveness of the suspension lines was substantially lower than that of their precursor lymphocytes.


Effect of phenobarbital, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and polychlorinated biphenyls on diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.

Studies were made in rats on the tumor-enhancing effect of phenobarbital, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), singly and in combination, after exposure to diethylnitrosamine (DEN). In sequential exposure to one of these three chemicals after DEN, liver tumor production was markedly enhanced by PCB, and moderately by phenobarbital sodium, but minimal by DDT. In combined administration of two to three of them, PCB took a dominant role in tumor enhancement, but their overall tumor enhancement did not exceed that of PCB alone.


The prophage of SP beta c2dcitK1, A defective specialized transducing phage of Bacillus subtilis.

The defective specialized transducing phage SP beta c2dcitK1 carries two known bacterial genes, kauA and citK, as well as SP beta hage markers including the heat-sensitive repressor allele, c2. Some phage genes (including essential ones) are missing. When SP beta c2dcitK1 transduces SP beta-sensitive cells of Bacillus subtilis, the defective prophage is inserted into sites in the homologous bacterial DNA of the attSP beta-kauA-citK region of the recipient chromosome. During the growth of these transductants, occasional excisions occur that result in the loss of the phage genes and of the heterogenotic state. These excisions increase greatly in frequency during growth at repressor-inactivating temperatures. The kinds of insertions and excisions seen suggest that a Campbell-type (CAMPBELL 1962) circular phage genome may occur transiently. If the transductants are superinfected by SP beta c2 or by the clear-plaque mutant SP beta c1, the resulting double lysogen can be heat induced to release high-frequency-of-transduction (HFT) lysates for kauA and citK.


Genetic instability in Drosophila melanogaster: the induction of specific chromosome 2 deletions by MR elements.

We describe the spontaneous induction of deletions by MR elements at the l(2)gl, net, pr and cn loci. The frequent induction of l(2)gl deletions mimics the high frequency of l(2)gl alleles found in wild populations of D. melanogaster. We suggest that these and other data that we present militate for the conclusion that, in the wild, autonomous MR elements occur and function as mutators. We contend that MR elements are not simply the by-products of hybridization between wild and laboratory strains.


The effects of mutagen-sensitive mutants of Drosophila melanogaster in nonmutagenized cells.

The effects of 13 mutagen-sensitive (mus) mutants (representing seven loci) on mitotic chromosome stability in nonmutagenized cells have been examined genetically. To do this, mus-bearing flies heterozygous for the recessive somatic-cell marker, multiple wing hairs (mwh), were examined for increased frequencies of mwh clones in the wing blade. Mutants at the mus-103, mus-104 and mus-106 loci do not affect the frequency of mwh clones, while mus-101, mus-102, mus-105 and mus-109 alleles cause increases in the frequency of mwh clones. These data show that the wild-type alleles of latter four loci specify functions that are required for chromosome stability in nonmutagenized cells. Analysis of the size distribution of mwh clones produced by these mutants suggests that most chromosome instability caused by these mutants is the consequence of chromosome breakage; in the presence of mus-105 and mus-109 alleles a small fraction of the mwh clones are produced by an event (mitotic recombination, mutation, nondisjunction) that produces euploid clones. To inquire whether any of the extant alleles of the mus-101, mus-102, mus-105 and mus-109 loci might be leaky alleles of loci that carry out essential mitotic functions, chromosome stability in females homozygous for alleles of these loci has been compared to that of females carrying one dose of a mutant over a deficiency for that mus locus. These comparisons show that the extant alleles at the mus-101, mus-109 and mus-105 loci are all leaky mutants. It is suggested that all three of these loci may specify essential mitotic functions.


Spontaneous unequal exchange in the rosy region of Drosophila melanogaster.

A selective system for recovery of exchanges between trans mutations at adjacent loci, l(3)S12 and rosy, is described. In addition to the expected crossover and conversion classes, two exceptional types of offspring were recovered. Triploid offspring arose as 0.01% of all zygotes; the diploid chromosome set was apparently of maternal origin. Nine tandem duplications derived from unequal exchange between nonsister homologues were recovered among 2.25 x 10(6) zygotes screened. From considerations of the proportion of the genome that was assayed in this system, and on the assumption that the rate of unequal exchange observed is typical for the genome as a whole, it appears that one unequal exchange occurs per 500 female meioses in Drosophila.


Rapid change of chromomeric and pairing patterns of polytene chromosome tips in D. melanogaster: migration of polytene-nonpolytene transition zone?

The high variability of chromomeric patterns in near-terminal regions of polytene chromosome arms has been explored in a number of races, strains and hybrids of Drosophila melanogaster. Traditional explanations for tip differences between strains (differential compaction of chromatin, somatic or germinal deletion) are examined and, in the light of the reported observations, rejected. The range of polytene tip variability and rates of change in wild races are greater than has been supposed: strains formerly considered to be terminally deleted appear to gain terminal bands; others, formerly considered normal, appear to have lost them. Strains with high cell-to-cell tip variability are also described. Cell-to-cell variations, as well as much of the observed rapid changes in tip appearance, are probably due to heritable differences in the location of an abrupt transition zone between polytene and nonpolytene chromatin. A quantitative relationship between the amount of certain subterminal bands present and the frequency of tip association of nonhomologous chromosomes is shown and its possible significance for chromosome is shown and its possible for chromosome pairing discussed.


The effect of abo phenotypic expression on ribosomal DNA instabilities in Drosophila melanogaster.

The recessive maternal-effect mutation, abnormal oocyte (abo:2--38), reduces viability in the offspring of homozygous mutant females. Zygotes lacking specific heterochromatic segments of the X or Y chromosomes are most severely affected. We have shown that abo/abo lines can lose the capacity to express the mutant phenotype, and that elevated rDNA redundancies can be observed in such stocks (Krider and Levine 1975). In this study, we describe a microhybridization procedure that facilitates the measurement of rDNA redundancy, using a small number of adult Drosophila. We show that instability of the rDNA content persists in an abo/abo line after loss of the capacity to express the phenotype, and that changes in rDNA amounts occur between successive generations of the stock. Further, we show that the rDNA content of XO progeny from abo/abo females is elevated. The effect is directly correlated with the expression of the abo phenotype, and it is not observed in the XO progeny of abo heterozygous females or abo homozygotes from lines that do not show abo expression.


Genetic mapping of the coding regions for three heat-shock proteins in Drosophila melanogaster.

We describe variants of three heat-shock proteins of Drosophila melanogaster and their use to map the chromosome regions that contain the coding sequences for these proteins. All three map to a region on chromosome 3L that includes only one heat-shock puff, designated as 67B. The results imply that the genes coding for at least three heat-shock proteins are included within the 67B region.


The brood pattern of mitomycin-c-induced translocations in Drosophila melanogaster males: the effect of time.

Translocations between the two large autosomes were scored in the progeny of males that had been fed mitomycin-C. The frequencies were the same in spermatogonia sampled after 12 and 25 days and in spermatozoa stored for the same periods in untreated females.


Genetic modulation of RNA metabolism in Drosophila. III. Requirement for an rDNA-deficient X chromosome in YbbSuVar-3-mediated increases in RNA synthesis.

Males of the genotype car bb/YbbSuVar-5 have an approximately two-fold increase in the rate of accumulation of 4S, 5S, 18S plus 28S and poly-A+ RNA molecules when compared to males of the genotype car bb/Ybb- (CLARK, STRAUSBAUGH AND KIEFER 1977; CLARK and KIEFER 1977). Experiments were designed to determine if the modulation of RNA metabolism by YbbSuVar-5 requires an rDNA deficiency on the X chromosome. Synthetic rates for 4S, 5S, and 18S plus 28S RNA's were measured in the genotypes Sam + iso/Ybb- and Sam + iso/YbbSuVar-5 by injecting adult males with 3H-uridine, allowing them to incorporate label for two hours, fractionating extracted RNA by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and determining the specific activities of RNA's (dpm/microgram RNA). The results of these determination showed that the synthetic rates for 4S, 5S, and 18S plus 28S RNA's are the same in these two genotypes, demonstrating that the YbbSuVar-5 chromosome does not increase transcription when paired with an X chromosome that is wild type for rDNA. Saturation hybridization was used to measure the rDNA content in several genotypes. These results showed that Sam + iso/YbbSuVar-5 males and Sam + iso/Ybb- males have equivalent amounts of rDNA.--These results are consistent with the suggestion that the Ybb- and YbbSuVar-5 chromosomes have similar amounts of rDNA. The nature of compensatory strategies in rDNA-deficient genotypes is discussed.


Interchromosomal effects of heterochromatic deletions on recombination in Drosophila melanogaster.

It is now known that partial deletions of the satellite sequences in X-chromosome heterochromatin result in a significant decrease in intrachromosomal recombination in the proximal region of the X chromosome of D. melanogaster (YAMAMOTO and MIKLOS 1978). It is important to ask then if the loss or gain of heterochromatin on the X also alters recombination in other chromosomes of the genome (interchromosomal effects). I have looked for such alterations by measuring recombination in chromosome 3. The results clearly indicate that the partial loss of X-chromosome heterochromatin not only decreases crossing over in the proximal region of the X chromosome itself, but also increases the frequency in chromosome 3, especially in the euchromatic regions around the centromere. Furthermore, the greater the deficiency of X heterochromatin, the higher is recombination in chromosome 3. This finding not only provides further evidence in support of the hypothesis that heterochromatin, in this case mainly composed of satellite DNA, regulates the recombination system, but it demonstrates that when the satellite content of one chromosome of the D. melanogaster genome is altered, there is an alteration in the crossover characteristics of other chromosomes in the same complement. If the amount of satellite DNA in a genome is being continuously altered, then one can predict that the recombination system is also being continually perturbed. Thus, the changing gene combinations produced indirectly by increases or decreases of heterochromatin are among the components available to organisms to break up or form new gene combinations upon which selection can act.


A model of the negative correlation between male recombination and transmission frequency in Drosophila melanogaster.

A model is proposed to account for the phenomenon of negative correlation between male recombination (theta) and transmission frequency (kappa) in Drosophila melanogaster. The model assumes that, in some stage or stages of development, the male recombination elements cause a particular event that does not occur in normal males and that this event, in turn, induces with certain probabilities male recombination and/or sperm dysfunction. The regression equations of theta on kappa predicted by the model were compared with those actually observed. There was generally excellent agreement between them.


Studies of esterase-6 in Drosophila melanogaster. II. The genetics and frequency distributions of naturally occurring variants studied by electrophoretic and heat stability criteria.

Measurements of the electrophoretic mobility and thermostability of esterase-6 allozymes have been used to determine the amount of allelic variation at the esterase-6 locus in Drosophila melanogaster. We studied 398 homozygous lines obtained from four natural populations. Use of a spectrophotometric assay for esterase-6 activity has allowed precise quantitation of heat-stability variants. Using these methods, eight putative alleles were detected within the two most common electrophoretic classes. Analyses of F1 and F2 progeny show that the behavior of stability variants is consistent with the hypothesis that this variation is due to allelic variation at the Est-6 locus. Analyses of the gene-frequency distributions within and between populations show (1) that observed allele-frequency distributions do not deviate significantly from those expected for neutral variants, and (2) that there is little evidence for an increase in apparent divergence of the different populations at the genotypic or phenotypic levels when the additional variation detected is considered. These findings suggest that gene-frequency analysis alone is unlikely to resolve the question of the selective significance of allozyme variation.


Prostaglandins and the contractile function of the human oviductal ampulla.

Millimeter-wide muscle strips were prepared from the circular and longitudinal musculature of the oviductal ampulla of fertile women. These specimens were mounted in organ baths for isometric recording of contractile activity. The two types of strips exhibited similar rhythmic spontaneous activity which was found to be present in all phases of the menstrual cycle. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) caused an inhibition of contractile activity in both the circular and longitudinal layers, whereas PGF2 alpha induced a marked excitatory response in the specimens. Administration of prostacyclin (PGI2) also elicited an excitatory effect although much less pronounced that that of PGF2 alpha. Pretreatment with ETA, a blocker of endogenous prostaglandin synthesis, abolished the spontaneous contractile activity in a concentration-dependent manner. It is concluded that the ampullary portion of the human oviduct possesses pharmacological properties which differ in certain important respects from those of the isthmus. A shift in the tissue levels of endogenous prostaglandin levels may occur in sequence with ovulation and the pattern of the prostaglandins synthesized seems to be appropriate for the contractile function of the various tubal segments during ovum transport in women.


Fine structure and innervation of smooth muscle in the monkey oviduct.

The smooth muscle of the monkey oviduct is similar to that described for other species and organs. Cell-to-cell contacts, in the form of simple appositions, were numerous. The adrenergic nerve supply was sparse, and close contacts between nerve and muscle were extremely rare. There was no difference in the density of innervation between the isthmus and ampulla. The rabbit appeared to have a greater denisty of innervation than the monkey.


Ultrasonographic diagnosis of intervillous thrombosis related to Rh isoimmunization.

Greyscale ultrasonography of the placenta was performed in 54 primigravidae with placentas located on the anterior wall of the uterus, in a longitudinal study. During pregnancy single and multiple 'nodular increased transsonity' was seen echoscopically in the placenta. After birth these findings proved to be highly correlated to 'intervillous thrombosis'. The clinical value of these findings is discussed.


IgM plasmacytoma. Report of a case and review of the literature.

IgM paraproteinaemia is described in a patient with diffuse plasmacytoma involving the pleura, lymph nodes, and kidneys. Sixteen cases of pure plasmacellular tumor (diffuse or solitary plasmacytoma and plasmacellular leukaemia) associated with IgM paraproteinaemia have only been reported. These cases and experimental data indicate that neoplastic plasma cells can synthetize IgM as well as other immunoglobulins and that this particular M component is not associated solely with Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia.


The biological role of immune complexes.

The biological role of immune complexes (IC) is reviewed. The mechanism of IC elimination, the influence of IC composition on their biological properties as well as on their elimination are discussed. The regulatory effect of IC in immune phenomena is briefly summarized.


[Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH): action mechanism of an enhanced dopamine release from rat striatal slices (author's transl)].

The enhancing effect of TRH on dopamine(DA) release from rat striatal slices was investigated in relation to Ca2+ and cholinergic mechanisms. TRH(10(-5)--10(-3) M) facilitated concentration dependently the uptake of 14C-DA by rat striatal slices, while methamphetamine (10(-6)--10(-4)M) exhibited a considerable inhibitory effect. TRH (10(-7)--10(--3)M) alone did not increase the DA release into the incubation medium, but it clearly enhanced the DA release in the concomitant presence of desipramine (5 x 10(-5)M). In the superfusion study, TRH (10(-5)--10(-3)M), methamphetamine (10(-6)--10(-4)M) and KCl (2.5--5.0 x 10(-2)M) enhanced the DA release into the perfusion fluid. The DA releasing effect of TRH was completely blocked by cholinergic blockers (scopolamine, hexamethonium and hemicholinium), Ca2+ chelator(EGTA), Ca2+ antagonist(CoCl2) and Ca2+ influx blocker(D-600) or by the removal of Ca2+ from the medium. The methamphetamine-enhanced DA release, however, was not modified by the above treatments except for a partial decline produced by EGTA coupled with the removal of Ca2+. TRH(10(-4)M) also facilitated the uptake of norepinephrine (NE) by rat cerebral cortex slices, but methamphetamine (10-(6)--10(-4)M) exhibited a considerable inhibitory effect. In the superfusion study, TRH (10(-5)--10(-4)M) and methamphetamine (10(-7)--10(-4)M) enhanced the NE release into the perfusion fluid. Therefore, it can be concluded that TRH facilitated the DA release from rat striatal slices by mediating through a cholinergic mechanism and enhancing the influx of Ca2+.


[Behavioral and EEG alterations with brain stem compression and effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in chronic cats (author's transl)].

Behavioral and EEG changes induced by brain stem compression and the effect of TRH were studied. The compression was given for 1 to 6 min by inflating a balloon chronically implanted on the dorsal surface of the cat brain stem in the 4th ventricle via cisterna magna. Within 10 to 36 sec after the start of the compression, the cats turned sideways and became motionless in a spastic extension of four legs, and thereafter all reverted to a normal position, after 45 to 120 min, although slight movements or head-up position was observed in some animals. The cortical EEG patterns observed after the compression were initially a brief rush of low amplitude-fast waves (EEG arousal) followed by a flattened and/or spike pattern, and subsequently these shifted to high amplitude-slow waves with or without an accompanying EEG arousal. These behavioral EEG alterations were remarkably improved by i.v. administration of TRH as follows: eight of 12 cats with 1 mg/kg and one of 4 cats with 0.5 mg/kg promptly changed from the lateral to a crouching or abdominal position, and thereafter never turned sideways again. Partial recovery such as movements of forelegs, struggling or head-up in the lateral position, rolling or slight shift of position was also observed within several min in three cats with 1 mg/kg as well as in two cats with 0.5 mg/kg. Furthermore, TRH induced a dose dependent, persistent EEG arousal in all cats. These results show that TRH ameliorates deterioration in behavior and the EEG, this deterioration being similar to clinical states of disturbance in consciousness induced by compressing the brain stem.


About the relationship between adrenal cortex and thyroid gland of rats (shift-effect).

In the present paper the inverse quantitative relationships between the thyrotropical system and the adrenocorticotropical system should be demonstrated under different acute experimental conditions by caryometric investigations. In stimulating the adrenal cortex system by a single injection of 0.2 ml saline solution (0.9%)/rat the nuclear sizes of the thyroid follicular cells decreased timedependend whereas the nuclear parameters of adrenal cortex fasciculata cells increased. In inhibiting the adrenal cortex system and stimulating the thyrotropical system by a single injection of 50 micrograms TRH/rat the thyroid nuclear values increased timedependend biphasically and the adrenal cortex parameters decreased correspondingly. The inverse relationships of the histometric parameters of both endocrine organs proved to be highly significant (p less than or equal to 0.001). The mathematical relations could be expressed by the straight line y = 63.76 - 1.05 x.


Treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis with a computer-controlled bedside monitoring and infusion system.

A metabolic monitoring system is described that allows the simultaneous and automatic in vivo analysis of the metabolic parameters glucose, pH, and pCO2 as well as the computer-controlled automation of the possible necessary infusion therapy. This bedside system has proved to be useful in treating acidotically and non-acidotically decompensated diabetes mellitus. Our experience with this system is as follows: 1. quick correction of the acidosis without danger of alkalosis, 2. shorter period of treatment, 3. considerably reduced insulin requirement, 4. no danger of hypoglycemia, and 5. minimum net blood withdrawal (1.2 ml/h). The efficiency of this system is demonstrated by examples.


Preprogrammed insulin infusion with a portable pump system.

A glucose-controlled insulin infusion system (Biostator) was used to determine patient insulin requirement for clinical evaluation of a portable pump system (technical development by Siemens AG). Results from 6 insulin-dependent diabetics with respect to quality of control, carbohydrate/insulin ratio, and insulin requirement are shown. Preprogrammed insulin infusion with the portable system was carried out for up to 117 days.


Hurler-Scheie phenotype: a report of two pairs of inbred sibs.

Four cases from two families with dermatan sulfate mucopolysacchariduria who lack alpha-L-iduronidase in peripheral leukocytes are described. The clinical and roentgenographic features of these cases represent an intermediate phenotype between Hurler's syndrome and Scheie's syndrome, and both parents in each family are first cousins. In the presence of parental consanguinity, a phenotypic variation or a third mutant allele at the iduronidase locus seems to be a more reasonable explanation for these cases than a genetic compound.