[The function and legal position of the medical expert (author's transl)].

Numerous facets of the relationships between the judge and the expert affect the function of the panel and its deliberations. Rules of professional conduct may not inhibit the expert's role because no rules exist which run counter to the obligations of the legal advisor. A critical commentary is given of the censure of the federal court by certain medical experts which has caused a stir and provoked an appropriate riposte from a federal judge. The expert differs from an ordinary witness in assisting the judge by interpreting medical facts so that a just assessment may be arrived at. This is the basis of his "power". The responsibility for the judgement rests solely with the judge. Courts, doctors and especially medical experts are inevitable sentenced to collaboration with each other. The exchange of facts and information between litigants may help to calm the apparently strained relations between doctors, patients and the judiciary.


[Endonasal Ar+-laser beam guide system and first clinical application in vasomotor rhinitis (author's transl)].

First clinical experiences in the treatment of vasomotr rhinitis of 3 patients using an Ar+-laser are discussed. Punctiform and stripe laser lesions were produced on the lower human turbinates. Macroscopically the typical laser lesion consists of a central area of carbonisation surrounded by a sharply bordered zone of coagulation. Later a hyperemic margin arises. Some days after laser application an ulcus developes which is cleaned after some days. 20 days after laser application the wound is healed completely. The advantage of laser surgery is the absent of blood and pain if premedication and surface anesthesia are used. Laser surgery is compared with present-day surgical techniques for treatment of vasomotor rhinitis. Within the present time of observation of 6 months the patients are free of symptoms, if a sufficient laser surgical treatment took place. The laser surgical technique and the contruction of the laser beam guide system is described. At a laser power of 1.5-2 W and a beam diameter of 0.7 mm on the tissue the time of irradiation was several seconds on each lesion. The disadvantages of the laser technique are the high costs for the laser instrument and some technical problems with the nasal end tube.


[Treatment of acute maxillary sinusitis with oral penicillin (author's transl)].

The present study was performed in order to pinpoint whether or not the oral penicillin treatment of the acute purulent maxillary sinusitis, which represents a common treatment modality in general practice, is in fact effective. The efficacy of penicillin V was tested in 32 patients under controlled conditions. In 24 out of 32 cases, which have been treated by administration of 4 X 1 tablet of Ospen 1500 per day, the acute signs and symptoms disappeared completely within a period of 7.4 +/- 2.02 days. The values obtained 4-5 hours after administration of 1 tablet of Ospen 1500 were significantly higher than the minimal inhibitory penicillin concentration for the bacteria tested. The plasma and sinus secret pencillin concentration time curves were found to be parallel. This implies similar kinetics of penicillin V in the plasma and the sinus secret. Since the present study shows that after oral administration penicillin is present in the nasal sinus secret in sufficient concentrations, oral penicillin therapy has been proven a necessful treatment of acute purulent maxillary sinusitis.


[Comparison of x-ray, echography and sinumanometry findings in paranasal sinusitis (author's transl)].

Comparative echography and x-ray findings in suspected paranasal sinus disease reveal a good liability of negative x-ray reports. Positiv findings i.e. the diagnosis of mucous membrane thickening in the maxillary sinus and clouding of the frontal sinus are often misleading. Echography is reliable in diagnosing retention of sinus secretions. The patency of the maxillary ostium for air was tested in patients with complete opacity of the sinus. There was a significant difference between air or fluid containing sinuses, using echography as a control. Complete radiographic opacity has no bearing on ostial patency. In air containing sinuses with radiographic opacity, ostial permeability is slightly affected, the ostium nevertheless being patent for respiratory pressure changes.


[The management of orbital fractures by Zange's lower eye-lid incision (author's transl)].

This paper deals with the problem of approach in the management of fractures of the lower bony orbit. An incision close to the rim of the lower lid as described by Zange (1950/Lidrandschnitt) has following advantages in relation to other approaches: good survey, good cosmetical results, no postoperative edema.


[A contribution for conservative septal surgery (author's transl)].

The correction of the lower part of the septum serves the operation principle after Cottle. In the following work is a simplification shown to help discover the "Premaxilla-Area". Because of the possibility of mucous membrane perforation and irritation of the nasopalatinus nerve the building of an isolated inferior tunnel is purposely avoided. In any case the main aim is the least traumatical exposure of structures.


[Fine structure of nasal mucosa in mucoviscidosis, with special regard to polyposis (author's transl)].

In mucoviscidosis, even the clinically and histologically often normal appearing nasal mucosa exhibits characteristic changes with the electron microscope. The epithelial cells show intra- and extracellular edema, the cilia membrane damage. The highly viscous mucous blanket and the frequent lamination of the basement membrane of the capillaries can be explained by a disturbance in mucopolysaccharide and glycoprotein metabolism respectively. The functional disorder of the goblet cells and the nasal glands manifests itself with signs of increased activity, but without definite degenerative changes. The course of the pathologic mucous formation on the cells appears morphologically normal so that a disturbance of membrane transport or in the dilution of the secretions must be assumed. The endonasal polyps differ from allergic polyps by the absence of eosinophilic infiltration.


[A reciprocating saw for micro-surgery (author's transl)].

A reciprocating saw for osteoplastic microsurgery of the ear is presented. An electromagnetic oscillator of a common electric razor, used as motor, drives the saw with 100 oscillations per second. The amplitude of the vibrations can be adjusted by a special device within the range of 0.5 to 3 mm. The saw blades are 0.2 mm thick and not set. They perform very smooth straight cuts of 0.2 to 0.3 mm width and can easily be applied in the narrow operative field of the middle ear.


[Osteoplastic meato-mastoidectomy, tongue and groove technique with reciprocating microsaw for temporal removal of posterior and superior canal segment (author's transl)].

A new technique of osteoplastic operation in chronic otitis with cholesteatoma is described. It combines an optimal exposure of all middle ear spaces with the advantage of preserving the posterior canal wall. Starting from an attico-antrotomy the lateral epitympanic wall and the posterior canal wall are temporarily removed by 4 slanting cuts with the micro-saw. Thus an exposure of the middle ear as in a radical operation is achieved. After removing all pathology and reconstructing the ossicular chain and tympanic membrane the wedge-shaped canal segment is reimplanted firmly without any cleft due to the special arrangement of the saw cuts.


[Bilateral retro- and subauricular fistulae with eversion of the epithelial lining (author's transl)].

An infant with multiple congenital anomalies was observed: bilateral cleft lip and palate, left cystic kidney, bilateral retroauricular fistulae with ectropion of the epithelial lining. These fistulae ended in tissue of thymus. They are derived from the ductus thymopharyngicus. In this case a large ectropion was constated on both sides, which was in this form not described before. The early case history, the therapy and the rare histological findings are described and the up to date unknown abnormality with figures represented.


[Surgical treatment of acquired stenosis of the external auditory meatus (author's transl)].

Acquired stenosis caused by augmentation of the soft tissues usually are arrayed circulary and less diffusely; the posterior and superior wall seems to be favoured. Circular stenosis are to excise and to cover by a free skin flap. So the circular scars are changed into longitudinale and prevent a circular recurrent. Also after removal of a diffuse stenosis finally longitudinal stripes of skin are implanted with analogous effect. The transplantation of a new and healthy skin may work additionally against a shrinking-tendency of the local skin. The removal of bone is only needed exceptionally. We did not see any indication for a mastoidectomy and removal of the posterior bony wall; our last case should even demonstrate a contraindication.


[How to avoid strictures of the external auditory meatus after tympanoplasty with the modified enaural incision by Heermann (author's transl)].

Report on a surgical technique to avoid strictures of the external auditory meatus with the enaural method on tympanoplasty. A pedicle flap is formed by a modified short Heermann's incision on the beginning of the bony and cartilagenous external auditory meatus. During the operation it is fixed by a retractor and it is readapted at the end of the operation. The skin of the external auditory meatus which is situated medial of this pedicle flap can be used for transplantation to replace the tympanic membrane without danger of stenosis. The authors has had 15 years of positive experience with this method.


[Long-term observation of fungal and other skin disorders after renal transplantation (author's transl)].

All of 68 renal transplant recipients (mean observation time 28.4 months after transplantation) showed skin complications. In these subjects fungal infection was found in 51, viral disease in 45 and bacterial infection in 36 cases. Of fungal manifestations candidiasis, onychomycosis, and dermatomycosis were most commonly observed. The most important viral disease was herpes simplex. The main part of bacterial infections was either caused by surgical complications or by super-infection (impetigo) of steroid acne. Non infectious dermatological disorders were usually due to immunosuppressive therapy.


Activation parameters and molecular changes induced by substrate hydrolysis of the adenosine triphosphatase of Micrococcus lysodeikticus. A comparison of three different soluble forms of the enzyme.

The Arrhenius plots for the active and low activity soluble forms of the ATPase purified from the membranes of Micrococcus lysodeikticus grown at 30 degrees C presented discontinuities at 30 and 33 degrees C, respectively. Their activation parameters differed, being highest for the low activity form of the enzyme. Both forms underwent changes in their molecular properties as a consequence of being enzymically active, i.e., upon incubation with substrates at an adequate temperature. These changes consisted of a decrease in the relative mobilities of some of their subunits in dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the temperature at which they occurred depended on the energy of activation of the particular form of the ATPase used. The low activity form required an incubation temperature of 50 degrees C, whereas for an active form 37 degrees C was sufficient.


[Low back pain from the orthopedic point of view. Diagnosis and differential diagnostic. (author's transl)].

The diagnostic clarification of low back pain from the orthopedic point of view requires a specific exploration of the clinical history and an exact elicitation of findings not only of the vertebral column but also of the hip joints and the lower extremities. In the differential diagnosis of the disease processes which must be considered, congenital deformities, disturbances of statics and functional muscular states, inflammatory, degenerative, metabolic, tumorous and post-traumatic changes of the vertebral column must be demarcated from diseases of other etiology.


[Psychiatric aspects of low back pain (author's transl)].

Chronic low back pain is more significant from the psychiatric point of view than the acute pain. As a persistent pain of organic origin it leads to typical psychopathological symptoms ("algogenic psychosyndrome"). The algogenic psychosyndrome must be differentiated diagnostically from neurotic developments and masked depressions. Psychosomatic low back pain is a warning of failure in the accomplishment of professional or family duties and chronic and chronic inhibited aggression. - An interdisciplinary study of the courses of 50 patients operated on for prolapse of the lumbar intervertebral disk showed that the psychopathological picture and the pain syndrome are usually determined by several factors. The majority of neurotic disordered personalities developed symptoms of new syndromes after the operation.


[Operation results in 2000 cases of lumbar intervertebral disk lesions (author's transl)].

Operative treatment of lesions of the lumbar intervertebral disks with compression of the nerve roots is directed against the principal biomechanical cause of the clinical picture of the lumbosciatica. Very satisfactory results can be obtained if, besides the removal of the prolapsed portions of the disk in the intervertebral space, the diseased layer is also carefully cleared out as far as it is possible to do so, in the interests of preventing relapse. The operation should not be considered one for the inexperienced surgeon. The importance of reliable preoperative localization of the level of the root compression by lumbar radiculography is emphasized.


[The treatment of chronic low back pain with psychotropic drugs (author's transl)].

The results are reported of many years' experience in the treatment of severe chronic painful conditions, including low back pain, with psychotropic drugs. Out of 103 inpatients with severe chronic painful states, 82 showed considerable improvement after treatment with a combination of antidepressants and neuroleptics. There were also 9 patients with chronic back pains, 8 of whom recorded a good effect. The treatment of chronic painful conditions with psychotropics, especially with a combination of antidepressants and neuroleptics, offers, among other things, the advantages of analgesic potentiation, analgesic saving and the avoidance of misuse or dependence on analgesics. A concrete plan of treatment with chlorimipramine and haloperidol for outpatients and inpatients in presented.


[Operative therapy of low back pain (author's transl)].

The possibilities of operative therapy of low back pain are summarized. The correlation of the clinical symptoms and the pathological substrate is essential for a specific intervention. This implies risks to the vertebral column because of its complex innervation. Only exact clinical examination and history, the correct interpretation of radiographs and the possible consultation of photographs of function may - together with the psychically favorable attitude of the patient - lead to successful operation.


[Multifactorial diagnosis and treatment of low back pain (author's transl)].

As a rule chronic or acute low back pain has not one, but a number of pathogenetic factors. Disturbances of the supporting and locomotor systems, the cerebrospinal and autonomic nervous systems, the viscera, posture and the psyche are to be recognized and delimited. The therapeutic aim is the extinction, suppression or elimination of disturbing factors in the supporting and locomotor systems, in the peripheral voluntary and autonomic nervous systems and the psyche, in order to enable the organism to regain its normal functions at all levels as far as possible. After successful treatment we will have to see to the maintenance and stabilization of the regained functions. Here exercising and supporting procedures have their place in the somatic and psychic areas.


The potential impact of sexual equality on health.

There are major differences between the sexes in morbidity and mortality rates. At all ages males have higher death rates and are more frequently afflicted with the chronic diseases associated with considerable reductions in longevity. Trend data indicate that males have become relatively more disadvantaged during a period characterized by major advances in medicine and increased access to care. In contrast, rates of disability and use of services are higher among females. There is some evidence that these differences are associated more with behavioral than with biologic factors. Certain shifts in age-specific mortality rates reflect sex-role-related changes in behavior--e.g., increased consumption of tobacco by women and a reversal in sex mortality ratio for cancer of the lung. Changes in sex roles may affect directly, or indirectly through family dynamics, the health status of both sexes.


Maternal plasma estrogens after dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate injection into the fetus.

To study the biogenesis of estrogens by the fetoplacental unit in late pregnancy, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate was injected directly into the fetus and maternal blood sampled at intervals for 2 hours thereafter. There was no increase of estrone, estradiol, or estriol concentration in the maternal circulation.


[Glycolysis in the eye tissues of the rabbit in ontogeny. I. The enzymes of glycolysis and hexosemonophosphate shunt].

The activity of the enzymes of glycolysis (phosphofructokinase, aldolase, pyruvate kinase, lactate dehydrogenase) and hexose monophosphate shunt (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase) was determined in the eye tissues of the rabbit at different stages of ontogenesis. The activity of these enzymes in the retina was shown to be higher than in other eye tissues. In the uveal tract (iris, ciliary bodies, uvea) the activity of glycolytic enzymes changes with the age. The greatest changes in the activity of enzymes were found during the period of the opening of eyelids. The activity of the enzymes of hexose monophosphate shunt in the eye tissues increases with the age. The relative activity of dehydrogenases of the hexose monophosphate shunt after the establishment of visual function is, however, not high and does not exceed that of phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase in the eye tissues of the rabbit.


[Discovery of an endocupola in a nematode of genus Cephalobellus (Oxyurata, Thelastomatidae)].

One male of Cephalobellus sp. from the hind-gut of Levisonus thaum is described from the Shkotovsky region of the Primorje territory. It has endokupol, a complex of cephalic structures formed by the inner cuticular layer of the cephalic end. The stomatoidal ring of the endokupol is fixed to stomatorhabdia supporting the stoma. The comparison of endokupols of Cephalobellus sp. and those of marine nematodes shows their homology; an opinion is expressed on the independent (parallel) origin of endokupol of Cephalobellus sp.


[Ecology of ixodid ticks from small mammals in the Leningrad oblast].

Collections from rodents conducted over a period of 11 years in natural nidi of tularemia in the Leningrad region include the ticks of Ixodes persulcatus, I. ricinus, I. trianguliceps and I. apronophorus. The redbacked vole is the main host of I. trianguliceps larvae. The larvae of this species have two peaks of abundance, in June and September. Larvae and other developmental phases of I. apronophorus were most abundant on water vole in June. Larvae of I. persulcatus and I. ricinus feed on small mammals in general but the latter are unessential in the feeding of nymphs.


Hyperplasia of similar and dissimilar mucosa adjoining gastric mucosal wounds in the rat.

Deep mucosal wounds were produced within 1 mm of the squamo-columnar junction of the stomach of the rat, either on the squamous or on the glandular side, and the response of both the regenerating epithelium and of the adjoining, dissimilar epithelium was studied 24 hours to 12 weeks later. Squamous epithelium, both overlying previously injured squamous areas and adjoining previously injured glandular areas showed distinct hyperplasia that began on the 3rd day and was still present at 12 weeks. Glandular epithelium overlying previously injured glandular areas and adjoining previously injured squamous areas showed no hyperplasia but modulation of parietal and chief cells into mucus-secreting cells with increased mitosis. These changes appear more likely the effects of non-specific mitogenic agents than of reduced concentration of epithelial chalones.


[Species composition and population dynamics of fleas on the small suslik in stable foci of plague on the Ergenin ridge].

The paper presents results of investigations of fleas from Citellus pygmaeus obtained during epizootological surveys in 1972-1974 (the Ergenin ridge, Kalmyk ASSR). The most high number of the main species of fleas of C. pygmaeus was observed in the first year of epizootic on the background of great abundance of the host (over 30 specimens per 1 hectare). In the following years the decrease in the number of C. pygmaeus was accompanied by the fall in the fleas number. The distribution of different species of fleas in a microbiotope is uneven in various periods. In all periods in nests fleas of N. setosa were dominant while fleas of C. tesquorum were most abundant on the host. In burrows there was noted a change of dominant species: in the period of intensive epizootic of 1972 they were Ct. pollex and C. tesquorum, in 1973 during a slump of epizootic--C. tesquorum and N. setosa and in 1974 when epizootic was not discovered at all--N. setosa.


[New species of Infusoria of genus Scyphidja (Ciliata, Peritricha) from fishes in Kolkhid-Anatolia area basins].

Two new species of the genus Scyphidia are described. The species were collected in 1964-1966 on fishes from waters of the Kolkhida-Anatolijsky area. S. baninae was found on the skin of Alosa caspia palaeostomi and S. doliaris - on the skin of Cyprinus carpio.


[Land molluscs--intermediate hosts of trematodes of the family Microphallidae travassos, 1920].

Encysted metacercariae of Microphallus sp. were found in the land mollusks Bradybaena duplocincta and Jaminia potaniniana asiatica collected on the slopes of Tien-Shan. The above mollusks are first reported as intermediate hosts of microphallids. The meta cercariae found were fed to white mice, golden hamsters, chickens and nestlings of sparrows and starlings. Maritae developed only in white mice and golden hamsters. Mature trematodes containing 14 to 35 eggs in the uterus were found in the small intestine 66-90 hours after the infection. Small mammals are assumed to be the definitive hosts of these trematodes. The trematodes of Microphallus sp. are characterized by a short life cycle with one intermediate host, land mollusk.


[Muscular glycogenesis and haemolytic anaemia due to enzyme deficiency in two siblings. Familial form of Tarui's disease due to a deficiency in muscular and erythrocytic phosphofructokinase (author's transl)].

Tarui's diseases affecting a brother and sister was studied. On the basis of these case, a general review is undertaken of this rare muscle glycogenosis, of which only six cases have been reported up to the present. This study underlines the characteristics of the responsible phosphofructokinase deficiency which has the special characteristic of manifesting itself at one and the same time in muscle by a picture of non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis and in the red cells by haemolysis, in most cases sub-clinical. This sign, clinically evident in the first case, was nevertheless a fundamental diagnostic element. In the context of the diagnostic criteria, emphasis is placed upon the value of the measurement of blood lactic acid after effort, the results of which, in conjunction with an increase in muscle enzymes, confirm the presence of a true muscle glygenosis. Enzyme studies indicate the nature of the latter.


Expression in Escherichia coli K-12 of the structural gene for catabolic dehydroquinase of Neurospora crassa.

The inducible quinic acid catabolic pathway of Neurospora crassa is controlled by four genes, the qa cluster which includes structural genes qa-2, qa-3, qa-4 for three enzymes and a regulatory gene, qa-1. In this paper we report the molecular cloning of at least the qa-2 gene which encodes the catabolic dehydroquinase (5-dehydroquinate hydro-lyase, EC 4.2.1.10). Endo.R.HindIII restriction endonuclease fragments of N. crassa DNA from a qa-1(c) (constitutive) mutant and of Escherichia coli plasmid pBR322 DNA were ligated in vitro and used to transform an aroD6 (5-dehydroquinate hydrolyase deficient) strain of E. coli K12. The recombinant plasmid (pVK55) isolated from one AroD(+) transformant (SK1518) contained, in addition to pBR322, two N. crassa HindIII fragments with molecular weights of 2.3 x 10(6) and 1.9 x 10(6). Derivatives of SK1518 cured of plasmid DNA were phenotypically Amp(s) and AroD(-). These cured strains, retransformed with pVK55, were phenotypically Amp(R) and AroD(+). Strains transformed with pVK55 possessed 5-dehydroquinate hydrolyase activity but no activity was present in any AroD(-) strain. The enzyme extracted from strains containing the recombinant plasmid was identical to N. crassa catabolic dehydroquinase by the criteria of heat stability, ammonium sulfate fractionation, immunological crossreactivity, molecular weight, and purification characteristics. This identity demonstrates that the N. crassa qa-2(+) gene is carried by the recombinant plasmid and is apparently transcribed and translated with complete fidelity. Furthermore, subunit assembly of the N. crassa polypeptides also occurs in E. coli, because the catabolic dehydroquinase is a multimer composed of approximately 20 identical subunits.


Synthesis of a fibrinolytic activator and inhibitor by endothelial cells.

Vascular endothelial cells derived from rabbit vena cava and maintained in continuous culture exhibited properties characteristic of the intact endothelium. These cells were used as a model for characterizing the fibrinolytic components specified by the endothelium. Endothelial cells in culture digested radiolabeled fibrinogen. Digestion resulted from the synthesis and secretion of a plasminogen activator. Fibrinolysis was not detected when cells were grown in medium lacking plasminogen, indicating the absence of plasminogen-independent fibrinolytic enzymes. Phorbol-myristate-acetate increased extracellular plasminogen activator activity dramatically. This increase was prevented when actinomycin D or cycloheximide was included in the growth medium, indicating that new gene expression was required for it. Intracellular plasminogen activator could not be detected unless the cell extracts were exposed briefly to mildly acidic conditions. Mixing experiments between acid-treated and untreated extracts suggested that the cells contained a potent, acid-labile inhibitor of fibrinolysis. As little as 10 mug of protein from whole cell extracts inhibited both cell and urokinase-mediated fibrinolysis by more than 70%. Cell fractionation studies localized the inhibitor to the cytosol whereas plasminogen activator activity was restricted to the membrane-rich fraction. This membrane fraction did not require acidification for activity, suggesting that the inhibitor had been removed and that acidification did not activate a plasminogen proactivator. These observations demonstrate that regulation of endothelial fibrinolytic activity is far more complex than had been anticipated and raise several uncertainties in regard to detecting the presence of plasminogen activators in cells and tissues.


[Participation of the cerebral serotonin receptors in the negative-feedback mechanisms of the hypothalamus-hypophysis-testis system].

Intraperitoneal administration of 5-oxytryptophane or the administration of serotonin into the lateral ventricle of the brain to the unilaterally castrated male albino rats was accompanied by block of the compensatory increase of the testosterone level in the peripheral blood plasma occurring after its fall caused by hemicastration. Under analogous conditions the intraperitoneal administration of p-chlorphenylalanine or the intraventricular administration of methisergide intensified the compensatory increase of blood testosterone after castration. A conclusion was drawn that stimulation of the serotonin receptors of the brain produced an inhibitory influence on the central negative feed-back mechanisms in the hypothalamus-hypophysis-testes system.


HLA and MLC typing in patients with Hodgkin's disease.

HLA typing for 27 A and B locus antigens was performed in 137 Caucasian patients with Hodgkin's disease. A and B locus antigen frequencies were compared for the entire group of patients, for 51 patients studied in a prospective manner and for 62 patients surviving with Hodgkin's disease for more than 5 years. MLC typing (HLA-D) was performed in 51 unselected Caucasian patients using 6 differend HLA-D homozygous test cells which define 3 HLA-D specificity groups (DW2, DW3, and DW4). HLA-AW33 was found in 0.0% of patients and in 5.9% of random Caucasian blood donors at the Sloan--Kettering Institute (X2 equals 7.04, p less than 0.01). HLA-A1 was found to be increased to 35.8% in the entire patient group (N = 137) as compared to 25.4% in 855 random North American Caucasians (X2 = 5.97, p less than 0.02). There was no significant deviation of any A or B locus antigen in relation to sex, histology, age of patient, or duration of survival (newly diagnosed vs 5-year survivors). No significant deviation for either of the 3 common HLA-D determinants (DW2, DW3, or DW4) was observed.


Fluorescence of human liver alanine aminopeptidase.

Fluorescence of human liver alanine aminopeptidase has been attributed to tryptophan fluorescence. The fluorescence maximum is at 330 nm, 20 nm lower than that for free tryptophan, suggesting that most of the enzyme tryptophans are in a nonpolar environment and are shielded from solvent. Quenching of enzyme fluorescence by iodide, pyridine, and N-methyl nicotinamide also demonstrates that enzyme tryptophan residues are largely buried and inaccessible to solvent. Those accessible are in negatively charged environments. 8-(1'-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5'-sulfonylamido-octanoic acid (8-DNS-octanoic acid) and epsilon-DNS-L-Lys inhibit aminopeptidase. One molecule of inhibitor when bound to the enzyme quenched 57% and 63% of enzyme fluorescence, respectively. Such efficient quenching may indicate a degree of segregation of tryptophan toward the active center.


Lysergic acid diethylamide: evidence for stimulation of pituitary dopamine receptors.

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 0.05 mg/kg and 0.20 mg/kg, significantly decreased plasma prolactin (PRL) levels in male rats. LSD, 0.20 mg/kg, also inhibits the increase in plasma PRL levels produced by chlorpromazine (CPZ), 5 mg/kg, and alpha-methyl-paratyrosine (AMPT), 50 mg/kg, both of which interfere with dopaminergic inhibition of PRL secretion. LSD was more potent than methysergide, a serotonin receptor blocker, in lowering plasma PRL levels and more potent than apomorphine, a known direct acting dopamine agonist, in blocking the increase in plasma PRL produced by quipazine, a 5-HT agonist. These results suggest LSD has potent dopamine agonist properties on the rat pituitary or hypothalamic dopamine receptors which directly or indirectly inhibit PRL secretion.


A search on karyotypic mosaicism in mongoloid patients and their parents.

The frequency of chromosomal mosaicism among patients with clinical diagnosis of mongolism was determined. Among 50 patients with at least 32 cells studied, 2 (or 4%) were found to be mosaics of the 46/47, +G type. Among 350 patients with at least 5 cells studied, 2 (or 0.57%) 46/47, +G mosaic cases were detected. Taking in account the probability of detecting mosaicism when 5 cells are analysed, a frequency of 0.58% of mosaic cases was estimated for this sample. The mosaic patients were submitted to repeated cytogenetic examination. One of these cases showed significant differences between the frequencies of normal cells, but a linear regression analysis showed that there was no correlation between the frequency of these cells and the patient's age. Clinically, the mosaic patients showed no consistent differences in the severity of the syndrome when compared to mongoloids without mosaicism. A frequency of 16 translocation cases (4%) was found in the total number of mongoloid patients studied. In a sample of 190 parents of regular trisomy-21 children no mosaicism was found in the blood. Also no significant differences were observed between the frequencies of aneuploid, hyperdiploid or hypodiploid cells and those obtained by other authors in the general population.


[Benign tumors of the stomach].

In 19 cases of benign tumors of the stomach (representing 4,8% of a total of 417 cases of gastric tumors hospitalized between 1969 and 1975) the authors stress the difficulties of the early diagnosis, the non-characteristic symptomatology, as well as the fact that the patients are hospitalized mostly for acute complications (upper digestive hemorhages). The type of expresis depends on the location and the extension of the tumors.


[Colo-pyloric anastomosis with pyloroplasty in esophagoplasty].

A procedure is presented, allowing to include the stomach in the intestinal pathway in cases of oesophagoplasties, preventing at the same time the development of anastomotic peptic ulcers. A colo-pyloric anastomosis is performed with the aboral stump of the elevated colic loop. The colic end is anastomosed terminoterminally to the pylorus, in such a way that a 6--7 cm pylorotomy is performed. The pyloric function is suppressed and the evacuation of the stomach's contents into the duodenum is facilitated. The reflux of the alkaline duodenal fluid is also possible, into the antrum. The duodenum, the antrum, and the aboral part of the elevated colic loop constitute a sort of "cloaca" inside which the acidic gastric secretion is neutralized, partially by the salivary fluid and on the other hand by the duodenal reflux. To such a type of anastomosis vagotomy can also be associated, especially in cases with hyperacidity.


[Critieria of brain death (personal opinions)].

The study reviews the literature dealing with cerebral death and raises some problems, not yet discussed in the literature, such as those in connection with the decerebrated pregnant woman, of which the following ones are stressed: 1. The pregnancy can continue in the decerebrated woman. If the answer is affirmative, development of the pregnancy represents represents a test of particular biological value in assessing the efficiency of ressuscitation therapy; 2. What are the effects of hipoxyia that led to decerebration of the mother on the psychosomatic development of the child, and the possibility to evaluate it in correlation with the age of the pregnancy; 3. What are the effects of prolonged forced ventilation and the artificial feeding on the development of the pregnancy? The study ends with concrete proposals for establishing criteria for cerebral death, stressing the need for an adequate juridical frame for organ transplantation.


[Surgical anatomy of the terminal choledochus].

On the basis of data from the literature, as well as on his personal experience, the author defines a series of notions concerning the structural particularities of the terminal choledocus, highly interesting from the surgical view point. It is shown that at this level a valve exists, with a special structure, as well as a complex sphincteral system, highly refined in its functions, that should be carefully preserved, within the possibilities of techniques applied during surgical interventions.


[Anatomical bases of incomplete vagotomy].

The results are presented, of an intraoperative anatomical study concerning the variable disposition of the vagal nerves in the abdominal section of the oesophagus. This study was carried out in a large number of patients with ulcers in which vagotomy was performed. All the patients were followed and in all periodical controls were made after surgery in view of detecting possible ulcerative relapses. The authors conclude that the negative results of vagotomy are due to the fact that this is usually incomplete. The study demonstrated the existence of many variants of the anatomical disposition of the vagal nerves at the level of the abdominal oesophagus, which the authors synthesize in a practical scheme which is available to any surgeon. The risk of an incomplete vagotomy is the highest when the patient presents an anatomical variant with a large number of branches.


[Antigenic relations between Vibrio cholerae and Aeromonas hydrophila].

The antigenic relationships between Vibrio cholerae and the oxidase-positive intestinal bacteria, agglutinated on slides by cholera antiserum, were investigated by the agglutination reaction. Of the 478 oxidase-positive strains studied only strain 209 A, belonging to species Aeromonas hydrophila was selected. Evidence was found of common agglutinogenic fractions between Vibrio cholerae and Aeromonas hydrophila 209 A. Attention is drawn to possible confusions in the preliminary stages of a laboratory diagnosis of cholera.


[Analogs of juvenile hormones in the control of insects of medical or sanitary importance].

The growth and moulting or immature insects is related to three main groups of hormones : cerebral, ecdysonal and juvenile. Juvenile hormone analogues mark a new stage in the control of detrimental insects, and have significant advantages over the conventional insecticides. In order to establish the effectiveness of juvenile hormone analogues a series of biotests were performed : the wax pupal test, injections, systemic and topical applications, the treatment of food, pulverizations and exposure to vapors. In the laboratory, the efficiency of the analogues was tested against the following genera : Anopheles, Aedes, Culex, Culiseta, Musca, Stomoxys and Blattella, obtaining several effects, such as : lengthening of the larval stages, blocking of metamorphosis and ecdysis, blocking of the emergence of adults, morphogenetic ovicide, sterilizing and lethal effects, etc. Exploratory trials were performed in the field with compounds whose effectiveness had been demonstrated, against some Aedes, Musca, Stomoxys, Pediculus and Bovicola species. Laboratory experiments showed, however, that the insects might become resistant to juvenile hormone analogues.


[Pathogenicity expressed by inhibition of the Pasteur effect].

The experiments carried out demonstrate that under the influence of tetanus exotoxin, Gram-negative bacteria endotoxins, staphylococcal infection and infestation with Tr. spiralis, inhibition of the Pasteur effect occurs. Recently published data show that the same manifestation of pathogenicity is induced by diphtheria alpha and delta exotoxin, staphylococcal toxin, Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin, staphylococcal enterotoxin, streptolysin O, infections with Cl. perfringens, Pasteurella and Rickettsia and hepatitis viruses in man. These data confirm a previous hypothesis according to which inhibition of the Pasteur effect represents the expression and metabolic measure of pathogenicity and toxicity. The inhibitory effect was proportional to the amount of pathogenic agent or toxin, just as the respective anatoxin or toxin + endotoxin mixture does not influence the Pasteur effect. The metabolic criteria of the Pasteur effect, i.e. inhibition of hyperlactacidaemia and decrease of the organic P/inorganic P ratio, are thus the direct indices of pathogenicity and toxigenicity. This also accounts for deep alteration of the Pasteur effect in infections generating states of infectious and endotoxinic shock.


The transitional vertebra of the lumbosacral spine: its radiological classification, incidence, prevalence, and clinical significance.

This report presents interim results from a series of studies of the lumbosacral region of the spine. A new classification of the lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) is proposed. An LSTV was found with similar frequency in patients and in population samples. The radiological findings were related to the presence of symptoms and to evidence of urological problems. Whilst Brocher (1973), Rubin (1971), and others have considered an LSTV to be of importance because it should lead to unfavourable weight bearing in the lower spine, the present extensive material shows that there is no relation between an LSTV and low backache. There may be a genetic factor involved in the various types of LSTV.


[Clinical study of strongyloidiasis].

Between 1961 and 1974 the authors had in their care 260 patients suffering from strongyloidiasis. The present paper deals with the clinical data evaluated from two points of view : the frequency of subjective and objective symptoms in the course of the disease, and the frequency of the groups of symptoms in terms of the clinical form of the disease. The frequency of the symptoms is listed according to the five evolutive stages of the disease (invasion, latency, pulmonary, gastrointestinal and neuropsychical phases). The following clinical forms were recorded : hepato-duodenovesicular, enterocolitic, pulmonary, neuropsychical, polymorphous and asymptomatic. Particularly efficient among the drugs used were gentian violet and dithiazanin (Telmid or Dilombrin).


In vivo responses of alloreactive lymphocytes stimulated in vitro. Helper-cell activity of MLR-primed lymphocytes.

Populations of mouse lymphocytes enriched in specific alloreactive cells by priming in a mixed lymphocyte response (MLR) include cells which, when injected into congenic nude mice, enable them to make alloantibody after immunization. Helper cells for the priming H-2 alloantigens (H-2b or H-2k) were enriched relative to helper cells for the other H-2 type. Furthermore, the alloantibody responses of nude mice reconstituted with lymphocytes primed twice in vitro were virtually monospecific for the priming alloantigens. These studies suggest that lymphocytes that proliferate in MLR include lymphocytes capable of giving specific help for H-2 antigens in vivo. Nude mice reconstituted with MLR-primed lymphocytes made less antibody to bacteriophage T4 and phix than mice reconstituted with unprimed cells, and fewer mice responded. Priming of cells a second time in MLR further depleted the population of phage helper cells. Similar results were sometimes, but not always, obtained when testing reconstituted nude mice for their ability to make anti-sheep erythrocyte (SRBC) responses. These results suggest that lymphocytes primed against H-2b or H-2k alloantigens do not have specificity for antigens of T4 or phix. These alloreactive cells may also lack specificity for SRBC. However, the results do not allow a definitive conclusion to be drawn.


Studies on the clinical efficacy, serum levels and side effects of clindamycin phosphate administered intravenously.

Clindamycin phosphate was administered intravenously to 41 patients with different types of infections including osteomyelitis, septicaemia and soft tissue infections. All bacterial strains tested showed low MIC values for clindamycin. Maximum serum concentrations after 600 mg intravenously were 6.0--29.0 microgram/ml, after 300 mg intravenously 2.6--26.0 microgram/ml. The therapeutic effect of the drug was considered good in 26 of 31 patients with proven or probable bacterial aetiology. Side effects were noted in 16 of the 41 patients. However, in only 5 of these the treatment had to be terminated, all due to pruritic rashes. In the 7 cases with diarrhoea as side effect, the symptoms were mild and of short duration.


[Research on anti-diphtheria immunization in the city of Bucharest].

Biological, sero-epidemiological and bacteriological investigations, carried out in the town of Bucharest for evaluating the present diphtheria vaccination programme showed: -- high anatoxin titers, exceeding the titer considered as protective, in the vaccinates ; -- a concentration of the level of the titers of 1--4 AU/ml, in over 62% of the subjects, which means that the protective titer was exceeded 33 to lucru: -- negative Schick reaction, in the mean 95.06%, in the subjects examined during the 1969--1975 period; -- isolation of the Bacillus diphtheriae in a proportion of 0.08%, none of the toxigenic gravis type. The authors, correlating these data, consider the present vaccination calendar too loaded both as number of inoculations and as antigen concentration per revaccination dose, and recommend reconsideration of the vaccination programme.


Mortality among male disability pensioners.

The basic material consists of all 235 men who were granted temporary or permanent disability pension in Malmö for the first time in 1964. By the end of 1974, 111 had died; the expected mortality was 42. The most common causes of death were diseases of the circulatory system, neoplasms, and diseases of the respiratory system. The post-mortem diagnoses of the 111 deceased usually agreed with the main diagnoses at the time of the pension award.


Unilateral nephrectomy: effect on survival in NZB/NZW mice.

Male F1 New Zealand Black X New Zealand White mice, which spontaneously develop immune complex renal disease, underwent unilateral nephrectomy at 3 months of age and were compared with sham-operated controls. At 12 months of age only 24% of mice with a single kidney were alive, while 85% of sham-operated controls survived to the same age. Unilaterally nephrectomized mice had more severe renal histologic changes, as shown by light and immunofluorescence microscopy.


[Value of some enzyme tests used in practice for identification of enterobacteria].

A restricted biochemical scheme for the identification of enterobacteria, consisting of 12 enzymatic tests, of which 7 performed on the multitest TSI and MIU media (H2S, the production of acid and gas from glucose, fermentation of lactose/saccharose, mobility, urease and indol production) and 5 additional tests performed separately : lysindecarboxylase, phenylalanindeaminase, beta galactosidase, increase on citrate media and splitting of sodium malonate is proposed. Of 7782 coprocultures, 275 were selected on TSI and MIU media as belonging to one of the groups of known pathogenic enterobacteria ; 94.87% of these cultures were correctly identified by using the 5 additional tests alone. Of the 14 cultures that could not be listed taxonomically, 10 gave atypical reactions with at least one of these tests. The current use of this restricted scheme and the use of the more extensive sets only in doubtful cases presents a real advantage by reducing the volume of work and materials under satisfactorily accurate conditions for identification.


Recent advances in antimicrobial therapy.

Metronidazole is a relatively nontoxic, oral agent which may prove to be useful in the treatment of infections caused by susceptible anaerobic organisms. Use of metronidazole to treat anaerobic infections presently is investigational.


Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis against vascular graft infection.

This study investigated the efficacy of perioperative antibiotics in preventing bacteremic infection of vascular suture lines, Dacron grafts, and bovine heterografts. One hundred forty-nine dogs had either segmental excision of the abdominal aorta with primary repair, Dacron prosthesis, or bovine heterograft placement. Animals were randomly assigned to a control group, to receive 10(8) S aureus, or to receive this same dose of staphylococci plus cephalothin (15 mg/kg). After six weeks, graft cultures were obtained. All control animals had negative cultures. Often dogs with an aortic suture line subjected to bacteremia, five were infected. Eight dogs with aortic suture lines received bactermia and antibiotics resulting in only one positive culture. Nineteen animals with bovine grafts were given S aureus resulting in 18 infections, and seven of 12 bovine grafts became infected even with antibiotic coverage. Twenty-eight dogs had a Dacron graft and infusion of Staphylococcus, yielding 23 infections. Of the 24 Dacron graft subjects with induced bacteremia and antibiotics, only four were infected. Intraoperative antibiotics are significantly effective in preventing infection of vascular suture lines and Dacron prostheses but afford less protection to bovine heterografts.


In vitro labeling of solid tissues with tritiated thymidine for autoradiographic detection of S-phase nuclei.

In vitro measurement of the thymidine labeling index (TLI) of solid tissues requires hyperbaric oxygenation and is potentiated by blockade of thymidylate synthetase by 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FUdR) to favor uptake of tritiated thymidine (3H-TdR). Hyperbaric oxygenation can be achieved in a simple system through injection of oxygen into rubber-stoppered test tubes. Incubations are carried out in Hanks' balanced salt solution in a shaker bath at 37 C for 2 hours; an FUdR concentration of approximately 1 micron is optimal. Autoradiographic exposure for 1 week or less is sufficient for TLI measurements on human tissues. With 3 to 4 atmospheres oxygen tension, incorporation of 3H-TdR is sufficient for TLI measurement throughout slices of tissue cut 1 mm thick or less. Mincing of tissue is not necessary, and the anatomic continuity seen in ordinary histological preparations is preserved. A gradient of labeling intensity is present from the surface to the interior of the tissue, but sufficient intensity of labeling for detection of DNA synthesis can be achieved in the interior of the section. The gradient can be reduced only slightly by prior incubation in 3H-TdR with hyperbaric oxygen at 0 C. The method permits TLI measurements on the same specimens, including needle biopsies, that are used for pathologic diagnosis.


Filarial infection of Equidae in the Tehran area of Iran.

Microfilariae of three genera, namely Elaeophora böhmi, Onchocerca cervicalis and Parafilaria multipapillosa were recovered from blood samples of equidae in Tehran, Iran. These microfilarial infections in equidae are reported for the first time from Iran.


Further observations of the detrusor electromyogram.

Using sophisticated recording equipment and two fine copper wire electrodes introduced through the cystoscope into the bladder muscle of conscious patients at cystoscopy, reproducible electromyographic recordings were obtained from the normal and the neuropathic bladders of a group of patients. By means of simultaneous recording of the electromyographic activity of the rectus abdominis muscle in these patients, it was found that, in general, the variations in electromyographic activity of the normal bladder with filling and voiding are quite independent of abdominal muscle activity. The upper motor neuron bladders by a way of contrast showed continuing electrical activity even at rest and this activity increases with abdominal contraction. Lower motor neuron bladders remain electrically silent at all times including during abdominal muscle contraction. This suggests that the bladder electrodes do not record muscle activity from the abdomen or elsewhere and confirms the validity of the detrusor EMG.


Terminal loop cutaneous ureterostomy: a method of urinary drainage in kidney transplantation.

A non-functional and permanently damaged lower urinary tract is no longer a contraindication to kidney transplantation. In patients with this disorder the ureter commonly is drained by an intestinal conduit. We have used terminal loop cutaneous ureterostomy as a method of urinary drainage in 3 patients with cadaver kidney transplants who have been followed for up to 8 years. The technique of terminal loop cutaneous ureterostomy and a report of these cases are presented.


Culture of isolated pancreatic islets: its applications for transplantation purposes.

The aim of this study was to assess the curative effects of long-term stored islets, when transplanted into diabetic recipients. For this purpose mouse pancreatic islets, either freshly isolated or cultured for 10 days, were allografted intraperitoneally into noninbred mice or into nude mice, all made diabetic by means of a streptozotocin injection. When implanted into nude mice, which lack a cell-mediated immune response, cultured islets were equally effective as were freshly isolated islets, in reducing the hyperglycemia. When fresh or cultured islets were allografted into diabetic NMRI mice there was only a short and transient reduction of the blood sugar, suggesting that no reduction of the antigenicity of the islets had occurred after 10 days of culture. The culture system, however, may serve as a purification step, after which only functionally competent islets remain.


Continuous- and semicontinuous-flow blood centrifugation systems: therapeutic applications, with plasma-, platelet, lympha-, and eosinapheresis.

Blood centrifugation, with a continuous-flow or semicontinuous-flow system, was used in the treatment of 17 patients with various hematologic disorders. Total plasma exchange (TPE) controlled symptoms of hyperviscosity and arrested bleeding in three patients. In two patients, TPE made is possible to perform urgent surgical procedures. It was a very valuable adjuvant in the treatment of one patient with a Factor VIII inhibitor. Eosinapheresis was not of significant value in the therapy of syndromes associated with eosinophilia. Lymphapheresis significantly reduced peripheral lymphocytosis, aiding in the chemotherapeutic control of chronic lymphosarcoma cell leukemia in one patient. It was of questionable value in the maintenance therapy of two patients with Sézary syndrome. Plateletapheresis significantly reduced peripheral platelet count in thrombocytosis, making it possible to minimize the chemotherapeutic dose and permitting urgent surgical procedures in two patients.


Efficacy of tetramisole and dichloroxylenol against Syngamus trachea in pheasants and turkeys.

Two water soluble products currently recommended for the treatment of syngamiasis were tested in pheasants and turkeys. Dichloroxylenol (Rotgape; Adams & Moulson), was found to have no efficacy. Although tetramisole (Game Bird Wormer; ICI) administered in drinking water had a moderate efficacy against three- and four-day-old larvae (47 to 71 per cent), its level of efficacy against infections associated with disease, those of seven days and older, was poor (5 to 29 per cent). It is concluded that neither product is likely to be of value in field outbreaks of syngamiasis.


Target-targetoid phenomenon of the human muscle fibers. A histological, histochemical and ultrastructural study.

Target and targetoid fibers in a muscle biopsy from a patient with paralysis of the deltoid and supraspinatus muscles were studied by light and electron microscopy. The probable cause of the neuropathy was tumor compression. Target and targetoid change was exclusively confined to hypertrophic or normal-sized fibers. Morphometric evaluation of the target and targetoid fibers showed no significant difference between them. With the electron microscope, up to 4 structural zones were seen in the typical target fiber but many were devoid of either zone 2(halo) or zone 3, or both. It was conceivable that focal irregularity and streaming of Z-bands were the primary alterations in the process of target-targetoid fiber formation, and that this phenomenon was induced both by partial residual innervation as well as re-innervation.


[Muscle bridges over the left anterior descending coronary artery: their influence on arterial disease (author's transl)].

A total of 711 hearts was studied and examined for coronary muscle bridges of the left anterior descending (LAD) macroscopically, angiographically and histologically. A muscular overbridging of the LAD was found in 22.9% of all hearts. The average distance from left artery bifurcation was 33.6 mm, the average length was 22.5 mm and the average thickness 2.8 mm. A thin layer of fat tissue is mostly to be found between the overbridged coronary artery and the myocardial bridge. The patient group with and without myocardial overbridging showed no difference in sex or age nor in average stature and the average heart weight. Statistically, there is significantly more atherosclerosis of the coronary artery proximal to the muscle bridge than there is under and distal to the bridge. A difference in frequency and extent of atherosclerosis in hearts with and without coronary muscle bridge could not be shown for this portion of the LAD. Nevertheless, there is a tendency for fewer anterior-wall infarctions in the patient group with a coronary muscle bridge of the LAD, because, when the whole branch is considered, there is a significantly lower incidence of atherosclerosis in hearts with myocardial overbridging of the LAD. The reason for the protective effect of a coronary muscle bridge is yet not clear.


[The liver sinusoids in rats following fractionated local telecobalt-irradiation. A transmission and scanning electron microscopic study (author's transl)].

Changes in liver sinusoids following fractionated irradiation were studied by use of TEM and SEM. Rats received telecobalt-irradiation of their liver regions in daily doses of 500 r for 9 days, a total dose of 4500 r. One day after the end of the irradiation series the fine structure of hepatocytes was almost intact. In SEM the liver sinusoids contained numerous corpuscles, which in TEM were recognized as cellular blebs separated from endothelial cells. 8 days after irradiation small foci of necrotic hepatocytes could be visualized. Instead of complexes of small fenestrations (sieve plates) the endothelial cells contained striking round or oval holes in their tenuous processes. After 120 days small groups of hepatocytes with alterated fine structure of their organelles and some necrotic parenchyma cells were still present. Away from these focal necroses the endothelial cells now resembled sinusoidal endothelium in control animals. Fat-storing cells appeared to have multiplied and were enlarged. There was distinct fibrosis only in perisinusoidal spaces. The formation and discharge of electron lucent blebs is discussed as a mechanism compensating for an enhanced uptake of fluid into irradiation injured endothelial cells. In order to form holes in the tenuos processes of endothelial cells a disordered synthetic pattern and the shearing forces of the circulating blood are thought to be necessary. Repair of these intracellular holes may be possible. In rats irradiation induced lesions of the small intrahepatic vessels can be excluded as a cause of the late changes in liver parenchyma cells.


Pancarditis with valvulitis in endomyocardial fibrosis (=emf) and in human African trypanosomiasis (= hat). A comparative histological study of four Ugandan cases.

The study compares the histotopographical lesions of two cases of endomyocardial fibrosis with those of two hearts in sleeping sickness, all of them from Uganda. There was considerable overlapping of the fibrosed zones in endomyocardial fibrosis and the corresponding sites occupied by the chronic inflammatory process in trypanosomiasis. There was a tendency towards fibrosis in the hearts of trypanosomiasis while, in endomyocardial fibrosis, there were mild focal chronic cellular infiltrations. This overlapping and to some extent similarities would suggest that the two conditions may only differ in evolution in time and intensity and that they may be the result of the same inflammatory process. Stipulating a cardiac tropism for African trypanosomes, it is suggested that some African cases of endomyocardial fibrosis may be merely burnt-out lesions of trypanosomal pancarditis. Previous descriptions of carditis in human African and American trypanosomiasis are briefly reviewed, and the present findings are discussed in view of a possible trypanosomal aetiology in some African cardiomyopathies.


[Systemic lupus erythematosus and congestive heart failure. Heart histological and ultrastructural study (author's transl)].

Histological and ultrastructural studies were performed on myocardial biopsies and aortic and mitral valve leaflets obtained during an operation on a patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (S.L.E.). Congestive heart failure and valvular dysfunction appeared five years after the diagnosis of S.L.E. was made. On histological study, aortic and mitral valve leaflets are uniformly thickened by fibrous tissue with a nodular appearance. No active endocarditis was associated with the fibrous scarring. Atrial myocardium and papillary muscle countain a fibrous net-work discret in the former, extensive in the latter. The scattered foci of fibrosis in the papillary muscle surround vessels without obliteration or parietal necrosis. Ultrastructurally their lumina appears narrowed by prominent endothelial cells with cytoplasmic aggregates of tubuloreticular structures (T.R.S.). These tubules are also present in some endocardial endothelial cells but are rare in the normal intrapapillary or atrial vessels that are not associated with a scar. Myocardial fibrous foci enclose atrophic and severely degenerated cardiac muscle cells; other cells situated at the periphery of the foci are normal in size or hypertrophic and moderately degenerated. The most altered muscle cells show an important loss of myofibrils, a proliferation of sarcoplasmic reticulum in myofibril free spaces, or necrosis with macrophagic resorption. Focal changes with loss of myofilaments, Z material streaming and concentric lamellar bodies are found in moderately degenerate cardiac muscle cells. The remaining papillary muscle cells and the atrial cells are all hypertrophied without degeneration. These changes suggest that focal myocardial fibrosis and associated cardiac muscle cell degeneration may be responsible for impaired cardiac performance in some patients with S.L.E. According to the constant topographic relation between the narrowed vessels whose endothelial cells contain T.R.S. and the surrounding fibrous foci, we believe that the myocardial fibrous patches may correspond to scarring of microinfarcts related to active S.L.E. vascularitis.


The influence of glomerular and interstitial factors on the serum creatinine concentration in renal amyloidosis.

48 cases of renal amyloidosis (grade I-IV) were investigated morphologically (point-counting method). Statistically significant positive correlations exist between relative interstitial volume and serum creatinine concentration at the time of biopsy. In amyloidosis there are furthermore connections (positive rank correlations) between the extent of glomerular amyloidosis and renal insufficiency, although single cases of grade III show normal serum creatinine concentrations if the interstitium is not enlarged. With regard to interstitial alterations only fibrosis, not amyloid masses, seems to influence renal function, especially in the case of predamaged glomeruli (grade II to IV). The diminished renal function - reduction of the glom. filtr. rate - may be explained in the case of interstitial fibrosis by slowing of renal blood flow caused by a decreasing cross-sectional area of postglomerular vessels. Renal insufficiency seems to depend upon both the glomerular and the interstitial factor, but in grades II-IV the interstitial fibrosis is thought to be of more importance for renal function.


Trabecular bone morphometry in beagles with chronic renal failure.

A morphometric study was performed on undecalcified sections of trabecular bone from the ribs of adult dogs that were controls (n = 8), or had various degrees of renal failure as a result of perinatal irradiation (n = 16). In a group identified as markedly uremic there was an increase in the proportion of surface with osteoid seams (P less than 0.01), osteoblasts (P less than 0.01) and osteoclastic resorption (P less than 0.01) as well as the % osteoid volume (P less than 0.01). Aside from a decrease in the % trabecular bone which was of unclear significance, the results agree well with those of similar studies in man. Within this group, 6 of the samples had a histologic pattern that was principally that of hyperarathyroidism and in the remaining 2 there was evidence of a mineralization defect and osteomalacic changes. These 2 dogs had the poorest renal function and one that had been biopsied 5 months earlier, when its renal function was less impaired, had had a hyperparathyroid pattern.


Different types of benign nerve sheath tumors. Light microscopy, electron microscopy and autoradiography.

In a light-, electronmicroscopic and autoradiographic study different types of nerve sheath tumors were classified. Their cellular population was quantitatively evaluated in the electron microscope. In the neurinoma the predominant cell was found to be the Schwann cell, but in the different types of neurofibromata a variable content of connective tissue cells was noted. T-HE DIFFUSE NEUROFIBROMATA SHOWED A QUANTITATIVE CELLULAR COMPOSITION SIMILAR TO NORMAL PERIPHERAL NERVES. In the plexiform neurofibroma a large number of fibroblasts were present and in the argyrophilic neurofibroma high content of perineurial cells was found. In autoradiographic sections the tumors showed in general a low proliferation rate (L.i. 1-3.6%). In the argyrophilic neurofibrom a higher labelling index (9.5%) was found.


[Immunohistological findings in non-glomerulonephritic renal disease (author's transl)].

Immunohistological study of 123 kidney biopsies of non-glomerulonephritic kidney diseases showed that deposits of immunoglobulins are found more often in cases of malignant than in cases of benign nephrosclerosis. Primary malignant nephrosclerosis is mostly associated with glomerular deposits of immunoglobulins. Positive immunohistological findings are frequent in cases of diabetic glomerulosclerosis, mainly within glomeruli, but also in tubular basement membranes and Bowman's capsule. In cases of glomerular amyloidosis we see cloudy-bandlike deposits, but are unable to differentiate cases with or without the nephrotic syndrome. If we consider an immunopathogenetic mechanism for the diseases discussed in terms of the present findings, it seems possible for primary malignant nephrosclerosis as well as for certain glomerular changes associated with acute renal failure or rejection of transplants. In diabetic glomerulosclerosis (apart from special forms with perimembranous lesions) and glomerular amyloidosis, we consider such a mechanism to be unlikely. By separating the non-glomerulonephritic diseases into different types of deposits we found pictures that correspond with immunocomplex diseases. Pictures resembling anti-basement membrane diseases have not been seen. Characteristic patterns of deposits were not found, thus immunohistology is without additional diagnostic value in the field of non-glomerulonephritis disease.


Unusual obliterative disease of the hepatic veins in an infant.

Hepatic fibrosis with obliterative lesions of the small hepatic veins occurred in a three month old infant with fatal congenital leukaemia treated with cytostatic drugs. The vascular changes were characterized by an unusual, hitherto unreported angiomatoid, proliferation of the endothelium. The process is compared with the more common subendothelial-fibrous type of the "veno-occlusive disease". An etiological interpretation is difficult, possibly the process is a secondary reaction to the endothelial to a cytostatic-induced lesion with hepatic fibrosis.


Intestinal mucosal changes following induced hypothyroidism in the developing rat.

In this study, morphological changes which occur in the small intestine of hypothyroid rats are described. Hypothyroidism was induced during the first 24 h postnataly. - Samples from duodenojejunal and ileocecal junctions were taken, and histologic, histomorphometric, and ultrastructural studies were performed. The most prominent feature was the decrease of the villous height and total mucosal thickness. At electron microscopic level, microvillous height was also markedly decreased. These changes probably represent a direct effect of hormonal deprivation upon the intestinal mucosa, combined with the effect that hypothyroidism may have on the villi.


Leukemic nodules in the eye in immature-cellular infantile leukoses.

Two boys, aged 5 1/4 and 10 1/4, respectively, with acute immature-cell leukosis, died of massive cerebral haemorrhage. Their eyes showed extensive leukaemic involvement of the retina with development of numerous miliary leukaemic nodules; the vitreous of case 2 was also involved. The lesions were considered to have developed because of high circulating white cell counts, a tendency of blast cells to produce nodules, an oxygen poor avascular matrix in which to grow, and a physical environment which permitted growth without haemorrhage or distortion due to tissue pressures etc. Using histological methods, an attempt is made to trace the pattern of formation of the nodule, from an initial growing focus through "colonial" form resembling a bacterial colony to lysis. Necrotic blast cells are apparently a metabolic source for viable tumour cells. Their localization in the eye makes access by cytotoxic drugs difficult; thus they should be considered as blast cell pools.


Nuclear DNA of myocardial cells in the periphery of infarctions and scars.

In 20 hearts the enlargement of muscle fibers and the increase in nuclear DNA is studied in the periphery of fresh and healed infarctions. The data of attack is verified by ECG records in most cases, five had passed undiagnosed. Selective cytophotometry is performed by measuring the largest nucleus in each of 50 fields of comparable density. Since significant differences in polyploidization exist between the control regions of hearts of similar weight primarily regions of the same heart are compared. No differences are observed in five hearts with infarctions about one week old. After five to six months the enlargement of the fibers is significaant (P less than 0.0005) while the increase in polyploidy is still slight (P less than 0.15). In all cases with scars one to nine years old the enlargement of fibers is significant (P less than 0.0005) while the increase in DNA is significant in most of them (5 X P less than 0.0005, 3 X P less than 0.005, 2 X P less than 0.01). In a case with two lesions, one posterior five (P less than 0.0005) and one anterior seven years old (P less than 0.0005), there is still slight increase in polyploidy with age (P less than 0.1). In the five undiagnosed cases only one has no significant increase in DNA. There is no correlation found between the enlargement of fibers and the increase in polyploidy in this limited number of cases.


[Laparoscopic diagnosis of intra-abdominal metastases of extra-abdominal tumors].

In 67 of 227 patients endoscopy revealed intraabdominal metastases or extensive cancer dissemination. Endoscopic findings made it possible to reject surgery in 35 patients and to recommend but not extensive palliative operations in 38 patients. The remaining 154 patients were subjected to radical operations. Laparoscopy was shown to be a valuable diagnostic method permitting to support to pinpoint further and, in a number of cases to detect abdominal metastases, thus obviating the need for extensive and unnecessary operations in many cases. The data obtained in laparoscopy are comprehensive and precise, their diagnostic value being not inferior to those obtained during the operation.


[Detectability of oncological patients in the Kar-kalpak ASSR based on expedition data].

A two-step prophylactic examination was employed in 5921 healthy persons living in rural areas of the Kara-Kalpak ASSR, different malignant tumors being revealed in 47 persons (i. e. in 0.79 per cent of the individuals under examination). It is worth noting that the high rate of recognition of oncological patients in mass prophylactic examinations is mainly due to the use of a fibergastroscope made in Japan. Among the cases with revealed malignancies esophageal cancer takes the first place (in 26 persons), making 55.3%. Large-frame esophagofluorography in 21 patients allowed the detection of the esophageal and cardiac involvement, thus encouraging to raise a question of the organization of large-frame fluorography of the esophagus in persons, aged over 40, in the areas and republics where esophageal cancer is a commonly observed pathology.


[Prognosis of lung cancer mortality in the Moldavian SSR].

Lung cancer morbidity in MSSR is analysed on the basis of statistical data for 1966-1972. The rate of lung cancer incidence is found to be higher than in cancer of the stomach. As a result of extrapolation of average tendencies in the morbidity and mortality of main cancer localizations, it was found that provided the observed tendencies are remained, lung cancer will occupy the first place in the structure of oncological morbidity (to 1976--1977) and mortality (to 1979--1980).


[Esophageal cancer morbidity according to patient genealogies (based on data from Guryev Province)].

The author has studied familial predisposition to esophageal tumors, taking into account the high incidence of esophageal cancer among the population of Gur'ev Province. Totally, 200 patients with esophageal cancer (probands) were questioned. The destiny of 2432 relatives in the four generations genealogy was followd up.


[Role of examination rooms in the prevention of oncological diseases among housewives].

The probability to be examined by a gynecologist is less for housewives than for working women. The specific weight of housewives' primary visits in the year concerned was 14.6%. The multiple of their examination during the year is lower than that in all examined females. The total number of recorded genital lesions in housewives (per 100 primary visits) do not differ significantly from the analogous index in all examined females, however, the frequency of recognition of precancer lesions of the genitalia is higher in housewives. This proves the importance of women's diagnostic departments for the prophylaxis of cancer and precancer lseions among nonorganized female population.


[Results of studying a live mumps vaccine from strain L-3 manufactured by the Moscow Research Institute of Viral Preparations. The epidemiological effectiveness of the vaccine].

A controlled experiment was carried out to study the epidemiological effectiveness of live mumps vaccine from the L-3 strain, the importance of urgent prophylaxis by vaccination in mumps foci and to evaluate the economic effectiveness of mass prophylaxis of mumps by vaccination. The observations involved 113,967 children of 1 to 12 years. Vaccinations were given to 51,701 subjects and 62,256 subjects were the control group. The groups were formed by random selection. One vaccination dose contained 10(4)HAdU50 of mumps virus. The results attest to high epidemilogical effectiveness of the mumps vaccine. The incidence of mumps among the vaccinees was 29.7-fold lower than among unvaccinated, and the coefficient of protection was 96.6%. The urgent vaccination vaccination prophylaxis carried out in children's institutions during the period of introduction of mumps arrested the outbreak within one month, nad the duration of quarantine was reduced 2-3-fold. As a result of the vaccination the economic effect of 290,000 roubles was achieved.


[Anti-androgen treatment of acne (author's transl)].

A group of women suffering from acne vulgaris or post-pubertal acne was selected for a trial of anti-androgen treatment on the basis of suspected concomitant endocrine disorder from the case history. A satisfactory response to anti-androgen treatment was obtained in 80% of these subjects. The serum testosterone levels, which were slightly elevated or within the normal range prior to therapy, decreased significantly in response to anti-androgen treatment with an oral contraceptive of the combined type containing cyproterone acetate and ethinyl oestradiol. The highest rate of response was observed in patients with post-pubertal acne resistant to conventional therapy.


[Mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) as a histocompatibilty test for allogen grafts. Part I: HLA-D locus: genetics and typing (author's transl)].

The importance of the HLA-gene complex is discussed and, in particular, of the HLA-D locus with respect to the clinical outcome of allografts. The genetic situation is deduced from an evaluation of population and family studies using the mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC). Further methods for the typing of gene products of HLA-D or closely-linked loci are described.


[Mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) as a histocompatibility test for allogen grafts. Part II. technique, significance and applications (author's transl)].

This study introduces mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) as a clinical method for prognostic assessment in allogen grafts. The principle and technical data are discussed. The technical variance and biological reproducibility of the MLC was tested by means of the recommendations of the Sixth International Histocompatibility Workshop 1975. The individual data show fluctuation, but the relative values and the order of rank are important. The order of rank is reproducible.


Pulse-Doppler ultrasound and its clinical application.

Doppler devices can provide clinically useful information about blood flow. This paper describes how a pulse-Doppler instrument has been linked to a B-scan machine so that flow patterns in any ultrasonically accessible vessel can be monitored from the skin surface. The same transducer is used for both modes of investigation to enable accurate and reliable positioning of the sample-volume. After briefly summarizing the principles of continuous-wave and pulse-Doppler operation, the concepts and relative advantages of coherent and non-coherent detection are explained. The potential clinical uses of the pulse-echo-Doppler hybrid and Doppler devices in general are then discussed.


Tumorigenic effect of 4-methylphenylhydrazine hydrochloride in Swiss mice.

4-Methylphenylhydrazine hydrochloride was administered as 10 weekly subcutaneous injections of 140 microgram/g body weight and as 7 weekly intragastric instillations of 250 microgram/g body weight in physiological saline to randomly bred Swiss mice. Treatments given subcutaneously resulted in induction of lung tumors in incidences of 36% in females and 44% in males, while intragastric treatment caused a 40% incidence in females. In addition, it gave rise to blood vessel tumors by intragastric route in incidences of 32% in females and 18% in males. In the two physiological saline-treated control groups, the lung tumor incidence (combined) was 20% in females and 21% in males, while the blood vessel tumor incidence (combined) was 7% in females and 6% in males. Histopathologically, the lesions were classified as adenomas and adenocarcinomas of the lungs, and angiomas and angiosarcomas of blood vessels. 4-Methylphenylhydrazine was postulated to be a metabolite of 4-hydroxymethylphenylhydrazine, an ingredient of the commonly eaten mushroom Agaricus bisporus. The implications are discussed with respect to the tumorigenesis data.


Hodgkin's disease in Medellin, Colombia.

Four hundred and fifty two cases of Hodgkin's disease (H.D.) were studied in Medellin, Colombia, following the Rye histological classification: The relative frequency of H.D. was 2.3% for all malignancies and 34% for the solid lymphoreticular tumors. The percentage of H.D. in children as compared with adults was 27%, which is higher than usually reported. The age curve of incidence was bimodal with a first high peak at age 5--9 years and a lower second peak between 15--25 years. Males predominated mainly in children, 4.5--1. The epidemiological pattern for H.D. in our area generally corresponded with the Type I recently described for developing countries; but a high frequency for Nodular Sclerosis in children, with unusual anatomical localizations, more severe clinical manifestations, and poorer prognosis seems to indicate complex factors in the etiopathogenesis of the disease in the same geographical area.


Combination chemotherapy with 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (MNU) and cyclophosphamide in solid tumors.

Twenty-four patients with far advanced malignant tumors, resistent to established chemotherapy,, were treated with the combination of MNU and Cyclophosphamide. The drugs were administered in six-day cycles sequentially. MNU in doses of 4 mg/kg body weight and Cyclophosphamide in doses of 8 mg/kg body weight were given. Results of treatment showed response (greater than 50% tumor regression) in 10 (42%) of the 24 treated patients. Seven remissions were complete and three partial. Patients with Hodgkin's disease, malignant melanoma and breast cancer responded to this combination chemotherapy. Objective remissions were obtained also in five of thirteen patients with primary or metastatic brain tumors and in five of nine patients with pulmonary metastases. Nausea and vomiting were the main toxic effects, especially after injections of MNU. Myelosuppression was noted in about 50% of treated patients. Since this combination of cytostatics showed significant antitumor activity, further investigations are necessary on a larger number of patients and in other types of malignant tumors.


[Biochemistry of metallocenes, II. Organ-distribution and thymus affinity of cinnamoyl-[103Ru]ruthenocene (author's transl)].

Metallocenes, labelled with 103Ru, are potential radiopharmaceuticals for use in nuclear medicine diagnosis. Ruthenocene derivatives with oxopropene side-chains were administered to mice and rats to study their biochemical properties. Excretion rates and organ distributions of 103RuCl3 and Cinnamoyl-[103Ru]ruthenocene were very different. While 103RuCl3 was relatively evenly distributed in the body, the metallocene derivative was concentrated in liver, lungs and spleen after intravenous (i.v.) injection. After i.p. injection however a high thymus affinity was observed and autoradiography proved that the site of 103Ru accumulation was in thymocytes. The thymus affinity can be diminished by corticoid pretreatment and raised by inhibition of phagocytosis (BeSO4). The mechanism of accumulation in the thymus and a possible clinical application are discussed.


The orientation of the electric field gradient tensor in CO-liganded myoglobin.

The EFG-tensor at the position of the Fe-atom of CO-liganded sperm whale myoglobin has been investigated by nuclear gamma-resonance absorption experiments on single crystals. In addition the temperature dependence of the quadrupole splitting of the 14.4 keV level of the iron nucleus was measured. An unambiguous solution for the magnitude and the orientation of the field gradient tensor could only be obtained with the assumption that a C2-axis perpendicular to the haem plane is one principal axis of the electric field gradient tensor. Within this solution the electronic structure of the iron is described by a singlet ground state with Nz = 0.75 and the largest EFG component perpendicular to the haem plane.


Glycerol conformation and the crystal structure of lipids. I. An electron diffraction study of tripalmitin and conformationally fixed analogs.

Transmission electron diffraction is used as a qualitative analytical probe of polymethylene chain packing in three conformationally-restricted analogs of tripalmitin derived from configurational isomers of cyclopentane-1,2,3-triol. The analysis demonstrates that the all trans "tuning-fork" conformation seen in X-ray crystal structure analyses on homologous compounds is also found in microcrystals, in contrast to a proposal by Fringeli et al. (Z. Naturforsch. 27b, 780 [1972]) that an all cis conformation of the triglyceride exists in solvent-grown microcrystals and in multilayers. The presence of mixed polymorphs is also shown for bulk samples previously examined by X-ray powder diffraction techniques by other workers.


[Total synthesis of human big gastrin I and the 32-leucine analogue (author's transl)].

Synthetic Peptide Hormones, Human Big Gastrin I. A new total synthesis of the tetratriacontapeptide amide corresponding to the proposed primary structure of human big gastrin I is described. The synthetic route was based on the preparation of six suitably protected fragments, related to sequence 28-34, 23-27, 21-22, 15-20, 9-14, and 1-8, to be used as building blocks for the total synthesis. The protecting groups were selected according to the Schwyzer-Wünsch strategy of maximum side chain protection based on tertiary alcohols, also for the imidazol function of histidine. Subsequent assembly of the six fragments by three different pathways using the highly efficient Wünsch-Weygand condensation procedure to ensure minimum racemization, followed by deprotection of the synthetic products via exposure to trifluoroacetic acid and final purification by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and partition chromatography on Sephadex G-25, led to human big gastrin I, homogeneous within the limits of the analytical methods used. The biological activity of the synthetic product proved to be 50 percent higher than that of human little gastrin I. The 32-leucine analogue of human big gastrin I  was prepared in the same way.


Conformations of the nucleoside analogs formycin, 2-azaadenosine, and nebularine in solution.

The ribose conformations of formycine, 2-azaadenosine, nebularine, 8-bromoinosine, and 8-bromoxanthosine have been studied using proton magnetic resonance in ND3 solutions, in D2O solutions, and in pyridine solutions. The temperature was varied between -60 degrees C and +40 degrees C in ND3 and between +10 degrees C and +60 degrees C in D2O solutions. In solution, 2-azaadenosine and neubularine have a conformational behaviour similar to that of the common purine (beta) ribosides. This is in agreement with the conformations observed in the solid state. The conformations of formycin and formycin B have strong analogies with those of the 8-bromopurineribosides and differ significantly from those of the 8-azapurineribosides since they adopt preferentially the syn-S-g+ conformation. This conformation is very probably stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond between between O(5 degrees) and N (3).


Sucrose gradient analysis: computer simulation and measurement of the parameters involved in the sedimentation of DNA molecules.

The Montecarlo method is used to computer simulate a random distribution of molecular lengths generated by inducing T4 DNA fragmentation through the decay of 32P atoms introduced in the molecule. Taking into account the experimental conditions we find that the value of alpha for alkali sucrose gradients is 0.46 +/- 0.02 and does not depend on the running time. Our findings also prove that the computer simulation can be utilized to analyze sedimentation profiles of DNA molecules fragmented in vivo.


Immunological reaction of UV-induced radiation damage in coliphage DNA.

Denatured DNA of coliphage T1, poly-dT and dTpT were UV-irradiated (2537 A) and conjugated to methylated bovine serum albumin. These molecules act as haptens after injection into rabbits. Antibodies are predominantly formed against UV-induced cyclobutane-type of cis-synthymine dimers. They belong to the IgG-type of antibody molecules. Antigen-antibody complexes were detected by means of the CsCl-density gradient method. Denaturation of the DNA strongly influences the amount of specific antibodies bound to the antigen. In native DNA thymine dimers are masked concerning their reaction with antibodies. Photoproducts of UV-irradiated dTpT induce a specific production of antibody. Our results indicate that the cyclobutane type of thymine dimers is the relevant antigenic determinant group in UV-irradiated DNA.


Nonenzymatic transformation of riboflavin into 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole.

Riboflavin, the biosynthetic precursor of the 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole moiety of vitamin B12, is transformed non-enzymatically into 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole in small yield on treatment with 1 N or 5 N NaOH at 100 degrees C. Besides 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole 1,2-diamino-4,5-dimethylbenzene, 1,2-dihydro-6,7-dimethyl-2-keto-1-D-ribityl-3-quinoxaline carboxylic acid and N-1-D-ribitylamino-2-amino-4,5-dimethylbenzene can be detected. When [1 degree -14C]riboflavin is used the 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole contains about 75 per cent of the specific radioactivity of riboflavin. N-1-D-ribityl-amino-2-amino-4,5-dimethylbenzene is transformed into 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole more efficiently than riboflavin. Oxygen enhances the yield of 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole and 1,2-diamino-4,5-dimethylbenzene from riboflavin as well as from N-1-D-ribitylamino-2-amino-4,5-dimethylbenzene. 1,2-diamino-4,5-dimethylbenzene reacts together with formaldehyde but not with formate to form 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole under alkaline conditions at 100 degrees C. It is therefore suggested that the nonenzymatic reaction of riboflavin proceeds via N-1-D-ribitylamino-2-amino-4,5-dimethylbenzene and 1,2-diamino-4,5-dimethylbenzene, and that the latter reacts with formaldehyde preferably formed by oxidative degradation of C-1 degree of the ribitly side chain to form 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole via its unstable imidazoline derivative. The possible relevance of these results for the enzymatic process is discussed.


[Degradation of antipyrin by pyrazon-degrading bacteria (author's transl)].

Bacteria with the ability to grow on pyrazon as sole source of carbon were isolated from soil. They also are able to grow on antipyrin. Then three metabolites of antipyrin can be isolated from the culture fluid which were identified as 2,3-dimethyl-1-(cis-2,3-dihydro-2,3-dihydroxy-4,6-cyclohexadiene-1-yl)-pyrazolone (5) (I), as 2,3-dimethyl-1-(2,3-dihydroxyphenyl)-pyrazolone (5) (II) and as 2,3-dimethyl-pyrazolone (5) (III), respectively. Compound I and II were used as substrates for enzyme studies. A dioxygenase catalyzes the enzymatic conversion of antipyrin into compound I. In the presence of NAD as cosubstrate compound I is transformed into compound II by a dehydrogenase. A pure preparation of metapyrocatechase from pyrazon-degrading bacteria converts compound II into the dephenylated heterocyclic moiety of antipyrin (III) and into 2-pyrone-6-carboxylic acid. Based on the results of the enzymatic studies a pathway for the degradation of antipyrin is proposed.


Application of lanthanide induced shifts in proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of juvenile hormones.

A downfield shift of proton signals up to 9 ppm is induced in the 1H NMR spectra of juvenile hormone I (methyl 3,11-dimethyl-10,11-cis-epoxy-7-ethyl-2-trans, 6-trans-tridecadienoate) and III (methyl 10,11-epoxy-2-trans, 6-trans-farnesoate) by the lanthanide complex Eu(fod)3. A plot of induced shift vs the ratio of [LSR]/[substrate] shows a good linear correlation for the range 0.3--1.0 mole ratio. Highest shifts are induced for the protons H-10 and H-2 adjacent to the two Lewis base groups of the hormone. Resolution due to induced shift decreases for the other signals with increasing distance of protons from the two coordination sites.


The adenine and thymine molecules. Some excited singlet and triplet levels of the normal and tautomeric forms.

The shape of the barrier for the H transfer between the normal and tautomeric forms have been determined for the adenine and thymine molecules. The correlations for several singlet and triplet states has been calculated using the CNDO/2-CI method. The relative stability between both conformations and the agreement with some experimental values is also discussed.


Preparation of human erythrocyte ghosts in isotonic solution: haemoglobin content and polypeptide composition.

Human red blood cell ghosts were prepared by dielectric breakdown of the cell membrane and subsequent electrical haemolysis in isotonic and isoionic solutions. Almost complete removal of haemoglobin (to about 0.1%) could be achieved by subjecting the erythrocytes suspended in isotonic solution to three consecutive electric field pulses of 16 kV/cm in the presence of 10 mM EDTA, followed by dilution with EDTA-free isoionic medium. The cup-shaped ghost cells were electrically homogeneous. The polypeptide composition of the electrically prepared ghost cells, as analyzed by polyacrylamide electrophoresis in 1% SDS, revealed a pattern similar to ghost cells prepared by osmotic haemolysis. However, the band 6, corresponding to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase protomer, was absent from the electrically prepared ghost cells. Also the band 8, which is eluted at low ionic strength, appeared to be very prominent in the electrical preparations.


Aerobic oxidation of p-hydroquinone by horse radish peroxidase in the presence of a thiol and MnCl2.

In the presence of MnCl2 and a thiol (glutathione, cysteine, 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoic acid) horse radish peroxidase oxidizes p-hydroquinone to p-benzoquinone which in turn immediately adds the thiol present yielding 2-S-substituted p-hydroquinone.


[Chromosomal structures of Pseudomonas testosteroni. IV. Effect of testosterone on RNA-synthesis (author's transl)].

Testosterone degrading enzymes are synthesized de novo by bacterium P. testosteroni to utilize testosterone-like steroids as the only source of carbon. RNA-synthesis of the whole lysate of testosterone-induced bacteria was found to be 15% reduced compared to the control, suggesting a cytoplasmatic factor which modulates chromatin associated RNA-polymerase activity.


Artificial phospholipid and glycolipid particles, visualization of their structures by fluorescence markers and some biological properties expressed by these particles.

Homogeneous large (5--30 micrometer) lipid particles comparable in size and shape to blood cells can be obtained when excess of cholesterol is homogenized with egg phospholipids or brain glycolipids in a Dounce apparatus. The particles contain distinct structures of membranes and lipid cores as visualized by the included fluorescence markers. When these particles were used as models in studying interactions between membranes, it was demonstrated that several properties normally pertaining to natural membranes could be exhibited by lipids alone. It could also be shown that particles containing phospholipids or glycolipids were very different in their adhesiveness to tissue culture cells and in their response to sera of various species.


[The clinical picture of localized skin and mucosal amyloidosis in the facial region].

A case of localized secondary mucosal amyloidosis in the facial region is reported.


[Studies on tooth migration in animal experiments].

The migration of the germ of the 2nd lower molars after the extraction of all adjacent teeth in comparison to the health side was investigated in Vietnamese hanging belly pigs. The animals were killed in seven age groups so that the results could be evaluated in dependence upon the time. The biometric results reveal migratory phenomena similar to those described for humans after tooth extraction.


[The reproducibility of oral exfoliative-cytological findings].

In periodontology, exfoliative-cytological examinations are used to support the diagnosis, to assess the effectiveness of periodontal-therapeutical procedures and in basic research. It was tried to demonstrate the reproducibility of exfoliative-cytological findings by repeated counting of 114 gingival smears by two examiners (blind trial). The numerical values obtained for the different kinds of cells were in good agreement, which was confirmed with the aid of mathematical statistics.


[The significance of morphological factors and of the morphology of neoplasm-host relationships in oral epidermoid carcinomas].

The significance of form of growth, histological grading and loss of blood group substances was investigated in oral epidermoid carcinoma. These factors and morphological expression of tumor-host-relations: reaction of stroma, reactions in regional lymph node (free from metastases) have relations to short-time-prognosis.


[Successful surgery for extensive meningoencephalocele in a 4 weeks old infant].

The state, and the successful surgical intervention in the case, of an exceptional meningoencephalocele, which has not so far been reported in the literature, are described. The cele originated from the petrous portion of the temporal bone and was unconnected with the brain. Protrusion was toward the pharynx, parotid region, and as far as the throat.


Effect of three nematicides on the growth of some phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi.

The effect of three nematicides, aldicarb, fensulfothion, and phenamiphos at four concentrations (1, 5, 25, and 125 ppm) was tested on the growth of five bacteria, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Corynebacterium fascians, Erwinia carotovora, Pseudomonas solanacearum, and Streptomyces scabies and four fungi, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum, Fusarium solani, Rhizoctonia solani, and Sclerotium bataticola. Of the bacteria, P. solanacearum was most affected by the chemicals at all concentrations, while E. carotovora was least affected. Fensulfothion was generally the most effective nematicide on the bacteria tested, while phenamiphos was the least effective. Similarly, the effect of the chemicals on the fungi tested varied greatly. F. solani and R. solani were generally most affected, followed by F. oxysporum, while S. bataticola was least affected. Of the chemicals tested, phenamiphos was generally the most effective, followed by fensulfothion, while aldicarb was the least effective.


Determination and functional significance of low affinity nucleotide sites of Ca2+ + Mg2+ -dependent ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum.

The protective effect of ATP, ADP and GTP against the inactivation of Ca2+ + Mg2+ -dependent ATPase by the thiol reagent NBD-chloride is used to calculate the apparent dissociation constants (K'D) of nucleotide enzyme complexes on the basis of a simple kinetic model. The K'D-values of the complexes with Mg-ATP (80 micrometer) and Mg-GTP (500 micrometer) are found to be rather close to their Km-values in the high concentration range supporting maximum activity. The requirement of the occupancy of the low affinity site by Mg ATP for a high rate of the Ca2+ transport system is explained in terms of the flip-flop mechanism established earlier for the analogous Na+ + K+-transporting ATPase system.