[Comedocarcinoma of the breast: mammographic and thermographic evaluation of 52 cases (author's transl)].

A series of 52 patients with comedocarcinoma of the breast was studied by means of mammography and thermography. All the patients underwent surgery and histologic examination. The results stress the importance of these investigations which reach a diagnostic accuracy in 98% of the cases.


[Lymphographic examinations in the pediatric age: review of 413 cases].

From January 1969-June 1978, 413 children less than 15 years of age underwent lymphography at the National Cancer Institute, Milan. Successful lymphatic cannulation was accomplished in 97.7% (769/787) of the sites where it was attempted. No major or permanent complications were encountered. In those children undergoing biopsy of opacified lymph nodes, lymphographic-histologic correlation was 94.5% (104/110). This study has shown that lymphography in childhood can be as readily performed as in the adult and that its diagnostic accuracy is acceptable. As in adults, it is useful in treatment planning, evaluating results of therapy, and detecting recurrent tumor.


[Hepatography in the course of lymphography].

Two cases are presented in which epatography occurred following lymphangiography. The morphologic findings and their changes in subsequent controls are described. Attention is pointed on the uncommon persistance of epatography for a few months from lymphangiography.


Immunosuppression in bovine trypanosomiasis: studies with louping-ill vaccine.

The antibody response to louping-ill virus vaccine was examined in mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei and T congolense, and in Ethiopian cattle experimentally infected with T brucei, T congolense  and T vivax. In mice the antibody response was completely suppressed, while in cattle infected with T congolense and T vivax the antibody response to the vaccine was only 10 per cent that of uninfected animals. In contrast, the response of cattle infected with T brucei was not significantly reduced, and this was attributed to their relatively light and transient parasitaemias. Trypanocidal chemotherapy (diminazine aceturate) administered on the same day as vaccination largely restored the competence of the immune response of both mice and cattle infected with T congolense. The use of such drugs should be considered when cattle are vaccinated in trypanosome endemic areas.


The effect of tetrathiomolybdate upon sheep caeruloplasmin amine oxidase activity in vitro: the influence of substrate on apparent sensitivity to inhibition.

The effect of molybdate, dithiomolybdate, tetrathiomolybdate and diethyldithiocarbamate on caeruloplasmin amine oxidase activity was examined using o-dianisidine as a substrate. Enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by tetrathiomolybdate (1.5 X 10(6)M), oxidation of another substrate, p-phenylenediamine, was inhibited only slightly.


The susceptibility of chicken kidney and oviduct organ cultures to a vaccine strain of avian infectious bronchitis virus.

The minimal infectious dose of the H52 strain of infectious bronchitis virus for organ cultures of oviduct and kidney was compared in chickens of different ages. Organ cultures of oviduct were found to be highly susceptible to infection regardless of the age of chicken and no difference in susceptibility could be demonstrated between cultures of the magnum and uterus regions of the mature oviduct. Kidney organ cultures were less susceptible and resistance to infection increased significantly (P less than 0.001) with the age of the chicken from which cultures were prepared.


[Amyloid neuropathy associated with a benign monoclonal gammopathy (lambda light chains)].

The authors report a case of non-familial amyloid neuropathy in which there was sensory-motor neuropathy of the 4 limbs, multiple lesions in the cranial nerves, and large subcutaneous amyloid deposits. Biopsy samples showed the presence of amyloid deposits in the interstitial tissues, the vessel walls in the muscle hypodermis, and in the bone marrow. A light monoclonal lambda chain was present in the serum. Immunofluorescent studies of the biopsy specimens showed the presence of elective fluorescence with an anti-lambda immunoserum in the amyloid substance.


[Histological and ultrastructural features of a case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (author's transl)].

A case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is described from a clinical, histopathological and ultrastructural point of view. The most notable morphologic feature is the presence of a great number of nuclear inclusions inside both neurons and oligodendroglial cells. These inclusions are spread to the whole brain and are decreasing in number from the cerebral cortex towards midbrain. The cerebellum is completely spared. The Authors discuss the problems related to the viral origin of the disease, to the diffusion of the virus inside nervous system and to the myelin degeneration in the light of the recent literature.


Effects of serum and cations on the selective release of granular proteins from human netrophils during phagocytosis.

The extracellular release from human neutrophils of the primary (azurophil) granule constituents, myeloperoxidase (MPO), chymotrypsin-like cationic protein (CCP), collagenase and lysozyme, and the secondary (specific) granule constituents, lactoferrin and lysozyme, was measured during ingestion of staphylococcus protein-A-IgG complexes. In buffer, lactoferrin release was consistently higher than that of the other protein. In serum, lactoferrin release increased concomitantly with ingestion, whereas the rate of lysozyme and especially of MPO release were stimulated to a higher degree than ingestion. Magnesium (0.5--2 mM) was more potent than calcium (0.5--2 mM) in promoting release but these cations worked synergistically. Zinc (0.5--4 mM) was found to be a potent and selective inhibitor of collagenase release. Manganese (0.25--4 mM), which inhibited the ingestion of SpA-IgG complexes, also inhibited release of CCP, collagenase, lysozyme and MPO, but actually stimulated lactoferrin release. The data suggests that lactoferrin and lysozyme may be confined to distinct granule populations or else released in a different fashion from the granules. When the effects on release of primary granule proteins are concerned it is suggested that the dissociation of binding of various agents to an anionic granule matrix may be affected differently by various cations.


Serum and plasma myeloperoxidase, elastase and lactoferrin content in acute myeloid leukaemia.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and elastase, restricted to azurophil granules of neutrophils, as well as lactoferrin, restricted to specific granules of neutrophils, were determined in plasma and serum from patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Highly sensitive radio immuno assays were developed for detection of these proteins. Serum MPO was increased in 12/35 and decreased in 2/35 patients without correlation to WBC or neutrophil counts; these levels may reflect an abnormal production by leukaemic blasts or ineffective granulopoiesis in the bone marrow. Serum elastase was increased in 6/22 patients. Serum lactoferrin was decreased in 12/25 patients without correlation to neutrophil counts probably reflecting abnormal production. Serum elastase and MPO showed a covariation in chronic myeloid leukaemia but not in AML; the latter finding may indicate that the synthesis of these two proteins is not synchronized in AML-cells. Sequential studies of patients with AML demonstrated fluctuations of serum MPO and lactoferrin during remission most likely because of chemotherapeutic pertubation. Although a limited number of patients has been studied it is suggested that serum lactoferrin may be of help for prediction of relapse in AML.


High-density lipoprotein as carrier for amyloid-related protein SAA in rabbit serum.

In this study present evidence that SAA is complexed to high density lipoprotein (HDL) in rabbit serum and is co-isolated with HDL apoproteins. The binding of SAA to HDL seems to be quite strong, judged from affinity chromatography experiments. The studies did not reveal any interaction between SAA and albumin, and there was no evidence that SAA could complex to itself. By isolation of HDL apoproteins, SAA seems to behave like other known apoproteins and may be characterized as an apoprotein that is present in normal serum in very low concentration but increases in concentration under different unphysiological circumstances.


Substrate specificity of the human lymphokine leucocyte migration-inhibitory factor (LIF): radioenzymic assay and inhibition by cGMP.

The human lymphokine, leucocyte migration-inhibitory factor (LIF), appears to be a serine esterase and protease by virtue of its susceptibility to the irreversible enzyme inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), and by the ability of arginine esters and amides to protect LIF against PMSF-induced inactivation. In this paper, three methods are described by which putative substrates for LIF may be investigated. Thus, molecules satisfying the substrate specificities of this lymphokine should (1) protect LIF against inactivation by PMSF, (2) reduce LIF activity in vitro on polymorphonuclear leucocytes, and (3) reduce the esterolytic activity of purified LIF-rich supernatants. The first two reactions were tested by means of the leucocyte migration agarose technique; the third reaction was tested by a sensitive enzyme assay using tritiated tosyl arginine methyl ester as substrate. Guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphoric acid, which is capable of protecting LIF against PMSF-induced inhibition, also inhibited the esterolytic activity of the purified LIF preparation. Four synthetic oligopeptide substrates for trypsin, thombin and plasmin were investigated. Only one, the thrombin- and trypsin-specific benzoyl-phenylalanyl-valyl-agarine-p-nitroanilide, possessed high affinity for the LIF molecule and may therefore prove to be a potent substrate for this lymphokine.


[Histology of cerebellar metastasis of bronchial oat cell carcinoma].

Anatomo-pathological examination of 28 bronchic oat-cell carcinoma, all with cerebellar metastases and which are very often cerebral. In half of the cases, these localized cerebellar metastases contain palisades. These formations which haven't been described until now within intracranial metastases, can't be considered as artefacts as their frequency approaches 50% of the cases. Neither the primitive tumor nor the extracerebral metastases of the series reveal palisades; sometimes some of them exist in their cerebral metastases. As far as the epidemiology, the clinical evolution, the survival time and the extracerebral localization are concerned, these 28 cases are not different from those described in medical literature. The morphological, hormonal and biochemical knowledge we possess about this type of cancer tends to prove its neuroectodermic origin as well as its close relation with both the APUD- and the "endocrinien diffus" systems. The described palisading elements represent another very specific morphological point which tends to support this theory: they appear principally in the tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system. Although the author is not able to explain the reason of palisades' genesis in cerebellar metastases, he insists on the fact that it iw very important - as far as every days' biopsy's study is concerned - to proceed to a differential histological diagnosis in regards to certain primitive tumors of the nervous system (among these the medulloblastoma) and a cerebellar metastasis of this type of bronchic carcinoma.


Mediastinal tumours and cysts. A review of 91 cases.

The experience with 91 primary tumours of the mediastinum during a period of 20 years is presented. A total of 24 separate cell types were identified. The most frequent lesions were thyroid tumours, neurogenic tumours, cysts and tumours of lymphatic origin. About 50% of the tumours were discovered by chance in asymptomatic patients undergoing routine chest examination. Twenty per cent of the patients with malignant lesions were free of symptoms. The pre-operative diagnosis was uncertain in most instances, and early surgical exploration is therefore recommended. Seventy-four patients underwent surgery and the operative mortality rate was 2.7%. The long-term survival was closely related to the histological nature of the neoplasm.


Trigeminal ganglion infection by thymidine kinase-negative mutants of herpes simplex virus.

The incidence of trigeminal ganglion infection after corneal inoculation of guinea pigs with thymidine kinase-negative mutants of herpes simplex virus was markedly reduced compared to infection after inoculation of thymidine kinase-positive virus. Thymidine kinase-negative herpes simplex virus replicated well in ocular tissues in which dividing or potentially dividing cells were present, but not in trigeminal ganglion infection of nondividing neurons. Thymidine kinase-positive virus, however, replicated well in ocular tissues as well as in trigeminal ganglion. These results suggest that thymidine kinase expression of herpes simplex virus may be important in infections of sensory ganglia.


Digitalis genin activity: side-group carbonyl oxygen position is a major determinant.

The Na+,k+-adenosine triphosphatase-inhibiting activity of digitalis genins and their analogs is a function of side-group carbonyl (C = O) oxygen position. For each 2.2 angstroms that this oxygen is displaced from its position in digitoxigenin, activity drops by one order of magnitude. This quantitative relation resolves previously proposed models which have attempted to describe the molecular basis of genin activity. A multidisciplinary (crystallographic, conformational energy, synthetic, biological) approach to structure-activity relations is described.


Chronic zinc deficiency alters neuronal function of hippocampal mossy fibers.

Low-frequency stimulation of hippocampal mossy fiber axons in zinc-deficient adult rats produced synaptic responses that declined in amplitude with successive stimuli. This response decrement is abnormal and suggests that the heavy deposits of zinc in mossy fiber boutons are important for synaptic transmission.


Specific nonopiate receptors for beta-endorphin.

Iodinated beta H-[2-D-alanine]endorphin exhibits specific binding to cultured human lymphocytes. The binding is inhibited by low concentrations of beta-endorphin and its D-alanine derivative, but is not affected by opiate agonists and antagonists, or by enkephalin analogs, beta-lipotropin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, or alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone; this suggests the existence of a specific, non-opiate binding site (receptor) for beta-endorphin. The carboxy-terminal region of beta-endorphin is essential for this binding activity, since alpha-endorphin is not active. beta-Endorphin may be a circulating hormone with peripheral physiological effects that are not primarily mediated through interactions with opiate or enkephalin receptors.


Molecular cloning of polyoma virus DNA in Escherichia coli: oncogenicity testing in hamsters.

Inoculation of suckling hamsters with 2 x 10(8) live cells of Escherichia coli K12 strain chi1776, carrying the complete genome of polyoma virus in a recombinant plasmid, failed to induce tumors in any of 32 recipients. Also, lambda phage DNA and particles with a monomeric insert of polyoma DNA did not induce tumors. Purified recombinant plasmid DNA, as well as phage particles and DNA containing a head-to-tail dimer of polyoma DNA, showed a low degree of oncogenicity, comparable to that of polyoma DNA prepared from mouse cells. These findings support the previous conclusions, based on infectivity assays in mice, that propagation of polyoma virus DNA as a component of recombinant DNA molecules in E. coli K12 reduces its biologic activity many orders of magnitude relative to the virus itself.


[3H]GABA binding in brains from Huntington's chorea patients: altered regulation by phospholipids?

Binding sites for tritum-labeled gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in cerebellar cortex of Huntington's chorea patients have an increased affinity but unaltered maximum capacity as compared to binding sites in tissue from control patients. A similar binding pattern is produced in control membranes by treatment with Triton X-100, phospholipase C, or glycerophosphoethanolamine. Thus, it is likely that phospholipids or their metabolites regulate the accessibility of the GABA binding site and that this regulation is abnormal in Huntington's chorea.


Starvation-induced decreased sensitivity of resting metabolic rate to triiodothyronine.

The decrease in resting oxygen consumption induced by starvation was found to occur not only in euthyroid rats but also in hypothyroid and even in hypothyroid animals treated with triiodothyronine. Furthermore, the effectiveness of triiodothyronine was decreased when given to hypothyroid animals.


Thyrotropin-releasing hormone selectively depresses glutamate excitation of cerebral cortical neurons.

The microiontophoretic application of thyrotropin-releasing hormone causes a selective reduction in neuronal excitation evoked by L-glutamate but not by acetylcholine in rat cerebral cortex. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone has no influence on the activity of acetylcholinesterase or on choline uptake and release from cerebral synaptosomes. This evidence for a selective interaction between a centrally acting peptide and an excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter may indicate a specific locus of thyrotropin-releasing hormone action at glutamate-activated receptor sites.


Morphine-naloxone interactions: a role for nonspecific morphine excitatory effects in withdrawal.

The opiate antagonist naloxone precipitates withdrawal when given either 15 minutes after or 1 minute before a single injection of morphine in drug-naïve mice. We propose that withdrawal signs arise from a synergistic mixture of excitatory influences that are direct (agonistic action on nonspecific opiate receptors) and indirect (sensory and affective disorders, stress, hormonal and neurotransmitter dysfunction, and so forth). The predominant effects during precipitated withdrawal are assumed to be direct, whereas during abstinence in tolerant animals they are indirect.


Cyclic AMP receptor triggers nuclear protein phosphorylation in a hormone-dependent mammary tumor cell-free system.

Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) receptor protein of 56,000 daltons increases markedly in mammary tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) after incubation of tumor slices with cyclic AMP, benzamide, and arginine. Incubation of cytosol from these tumor slices with nuclei from unincubated tumors results in nuclear uptake of the 56,000-dalton cyclic AMP receptor and in phosphorylation of the 76,000-dalton nuclear protein. Binding of the 56,000-dalton receptor and phosphorylation of the 76,000-dalton protein also occur in DMBA tumor nuclei when protein kinase type II of bovine heart is used. The results suggest that cyclic AMP receptor is involved in the nuclear events of a hormone-dependent mammary tumor.


Substance P: evidence for diverse roles in neuronal function from cultured mouse spinal neurons.

Mouse spinal neurons grown in tissue culture were used to examine the membrane mechanisms of action of the peptide substance P. Two functionally distinct actions were observed, one being a rapidly desensitizing excitation, and the other being a dose-dependent, reversible depression of excitatory responses to the putative amino acid neurotransmitter glutamate. These effects on excitability suggest that substance P may play more than one role in intercellular communication in the nervous system.


[Crohn's disease of the colon. History].

During the 18th, 19th, and at the beginning of the 20th century, various observations of inflammatory lesions of the colon and small intestine were published, which were different of tuberculosis to which was at that time attributed every chronical small intestinal inflammatory disease. It was only in 1932, that in a very important paper, Crohn, Ginsburg and Oppenheimer defined the terminal ileitis, afterwards called regional enteritis, and finally more simply Crohn's disease. Twenty years later, in 1952, Crohn's disease of the colon, confused until that date with colonic tuberculosis and with ulcerative colitis, was also identified as a separate entity. Since that time, the number of reported cases has tremendously increased through its is impossible to state whether the incidence of the disease has really increased or whether the diagnosis is done earlier and more precisely. Even today, the exacts limits of the disease are difficult to precise, since the causal agent of the disease is unknown, and that no biological test is completely secure. The present work reports 60 observations of chronic colitis, associated or not with small intestinal inflammation.


[Pathology of the Crohn's disease of colon (author's transl)].

The examination of 43 postoperative specimens and of 51 biopsic specimens of the rectum concerning colic Crohn's disease (MCC) confirm the known macroscopic and histologic characteristics of this disease. The epithelioid and gigant cell granuloma is rarely observed in the biopsic specimens of the rectum, and it is not always observed even on post operative specimens (only in 40% of the cases). The other characteristics and in particular the small "serous lymphohistiocytic perivascular infiltrates" should be taken into account when making the diagnosis. At the present time, there are still a certain number of forms of ulcerative colitis which cannot be classified, and the characteristics of which are both those of the MCC and of the RCUH.


[Findings by baryum enema in granulomatous colitis and ileocolitis. A review based upon 60 cases (author's transl)].

Radiological aspects of colonic involvement in 60 patients whose disease has been followed up during several years are described. The typical radiological findings have been observed with their usual frequency. This study also confirmed the persistancy of the radiological findings in the chronic stage and the frequency of recurence in the two first years after surgery. Extension of disease has not been uncommon in the series, even without surgery. This progression was different, according to the initial location of disease: in the case of initial ileal lesion, extension occurred towards the adjacent caecum and right colon in sequence; in the case of initial colitis or ileocolitis lesion, extension occurred at a distance in other colonic segments.


[Extra intestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease (author's transl)].

The extra intestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease (CD) are not devoid of interest. They can, by themselves, aggravate the CD. Some of them have to be searched systematically (urinary complications, spondylarthritis and sacro-iliac arthritis). Amongst our 60 cases of Crohn's disease of the colon or of the ileon and colon, articular manifestations were the most frequent: arthralgias 25 cases (42%), true arthritis 17 cases (28%), spondylarthritis 5 cases, aacro-ileitis 9 cas (13%), finger hippocratism 11 cases (18%). In second cause, the cutaneous manifestations: 29 cases (48%) among which 6 cases (10%) of erytheme nodosa and 9 cases of allergic troubles (15%). Then came ocular troubles (5 cases), jaundice (5 cases). We observed 4 renal lithiasis and an hepatic sarcoïd granuloma revealed by the liver biopsy. Some complications were the local consequence of a local disease (hydronephrosis). Others represented the distant repercussion of a severe chronical intestinal disease. Some were true extra-intestinal localisations of the disease (perineal ulcerations and para-stomal ulcerations). Finally some complications, though non specific of Crohn's disease, evolued in parallel to it (some articular, ocular; dermatologic complications). In some cases they were anterior by several months or years to the intestinal symptoms of Crohn's disease, which suggests the existence of common etiological factors, especially genetical.


[Haematologic disorders in Crohn's disease (author's transl)].

Anemia is the most commonly haematologic disorder observed in Crohn's disease. Secondary megaloblastic anemia related to a nutritional deficiency of vitamin B 12 and/or folic acid is a rare condition as well as auto-immune haemolytic anemia. Iron lack microcytic hypochromic anemia is far more frequent. It is probably due to several causes as microscopic or macroscopic haemorrhages, inflammatory syndrome, disturbance of iron absorption. Hyperleucocytis, hypereosinophilia, hypoprothrombinemia related to the inflammatory syndrome and/or lesions of the bowels are frequently observed in such patients. Anyhow, heamatologic disorders seem markedly correlated with the activity of the disease and should be useful in the follow up patients with Crohn's disease.


[Psychiatric aspects of Crohn's disease (author's transl)].

We have examined 13 patients suffering from Crohn's disease, almost all of them during an active spell. Three patients had a well-structured personality, four patients an obsessional one, one patient a narcissistic personality, and five patients a passive-dependant personality structure. Four patients seemed depressed and anxious. The texts dealing with the psychological aspects of Crohn's disease acknowledge the influence of a stress as a precipitating factor. Patients' passivity and dependence is an idea emphasized by several authors, and the frequency of obsessive personality traits is pointed out in different studies. In short, no author allows us to conclude formally in favour of a psychosomatic origin of Crohn's disease, which confirms our impression after examination of the patients we have talked with or seen regularly.


[Medical mangement of Crohn's disease (author's transl)].

Medical management of Crohn's disease is above all symptomatic. According to the severeness of the case, treatment varies and may be simple (regimen, antidiarrheic agents and sulfamid drugs) or more sophisticated (continous parenteral alimentation). Sulfamids and antibiotics have a definite although temporary action. Pathogenic medication includes: 1) steroid therapy who is active, but its effects are not long stand; 2) immunosuppressors who allow for the reduction of steroid therapy dosages; 3) immunostimulants as proposed by Geffroy. Among those presently studied are Calmette-Guérin vaccine, either given orally or by scarification, and two anti-parasitic drugs, metronidazole and levamisole. Short term results are good but they worsen with time. The main problem is to know when to discuss surgery. As need be, resection although mutilating, should be timely indicated.


[Surgical treatment of Crohn disease of the colon. (38 cases) (author's transl)].

From 1959 to december 1972 thirty-eight patients out of sixty having Crohn disease of the colon alone or with ileal and/or rectal involvement were operated upon. We had four post-operative deaths and one a long time after the intervention, but in relation with the initial Crohn disease. These thirty-eight patients had sixty-seven operations. Only fifty-five per cent of the operated on patients did not have any complications. Twenty-three patients had recurrence of the disease, seven of them were re-operated for this first recurrence, two of them for a second recurrence and one of these two last patients had a third recurrence. That makes twenty-seven recurrences out of forty-three resections. Among these twenty-seven recurrences, in at least seventeen cases, resection was not large enough or was not radical. Three quarters of the recurrences appear during the first year. The more exposed interventions to recurrences are left hemi-colectomies (two out of two) and total colectomies with ileo-rectal anastomosis (six out of eight). The ones that give less recurrences are total colo-protectomies or subtotal colectomies (one recurrence out of nine). Indications for the different types of interventions are analysed. Management of the rectum in Crohn disease of the colon is difficult. Procedures applied for toxic megacolon are equally very critical.


[Seasonal variations of cellular composition of human semen (author's transl)].

Sperm samples taken fortnightly from 14 young europeans over a period of 8 months show evidence of a seasonal variation in the concentration of spermatozoa and in the frequency of abnormal sperm (teratospermy). Both factors are highest in winter and lowest in springtime. A study of 3,000 spermograms established during consultations for sterility over the last 2 years did not clearly reveal the same trends, however, a statistical analysis of the results leads to the conclusion that several hundred examinations per month would be needed to show a significant seasonal variation in such a heterogeneous sample.


[About five cases of congenital german measle (author's transl)].

The authors are reporting five cases of congenital german measles confirmed by serological and virological tests. They recall the circumstances in which the serological diagnosis of maternal german measles was arrived at during pregnancy: misinterpretation of the results had in four cases given the doctor a mistaken sense of security. Lastly, they are stressing the interest of prevention by systematic vaccination of girls aged 11 to 13 and women known to be seronegative.


[Leptospirosis in children: a not infrequent disease (author's transl)].

A total of 14 cases of leptospirosis in children aged from 5 to 15 years, hospitalized in the Paris region, are reported. The polymorphe character of the disease is pointed out. The necessity for respecting a rigorous chronological order when requesting complementary examinations, which could confirm the diagnosis, is stressed. Domestic animals, team-mates, and while swimming at week-ends or during holidays, are potential sources or means of infection in the young. This justifies searching for leptospirosis in cases of unexplained fever, a pseudo-influenza syndrome, a meningitis which is mainly of the lymphocytic type, or more rarely, in cases of jaundice. Leptospirosis should be a disease well-known by the pediatrician.


[Treatment of 100 acute myeloid leukemias (author's transl)].

Between november 1974 and august 1976, 100 acute myeloïd leukemias were treated by the same protocol L. 275. Induction treatment was daunorubicine, vincristine, cytosine arabinoside, in one intensive course for patients under 65 and cyclophosphamide (CPM), VCR and CAR in a less intensive and repetitive courses for patients over 65. In remission, there were three phases: consolidation, prevention of central nervous system leukemia, maintenance. All patients in remission received an androgenotherapy and two groups were randomised: chemotherapy and chemotherapy plus BCG. 68 patients were in complet remission (CR) 61 out of 80 patients under 65 and 7 out of 20 over 65. Median duration of first remission was 12 months. Median duration of survival was 13 months for all patients, 15 months for patients under 65, 3 months for patients over 65, and 22 months for 68 patients in CR. Survival of patients receiving BCG was slightly better than patients without BCG.


[Paroxysmal paralytic myoglobinuria. Restatement according to a personal observation (author's transl)].

The authors relate the case of a 24 year old man with deadly evolution in keeping with a paroxysmal paralytic myoglobinuria. Clinical, biological and histological studies of this disease are successively recorded. The pathogenesis is obscure. Symptomatic medical treatment must be supervise in an intensive department.


[Therapy of bacterial infections occuring during aplastic phasis of acute leukemias (author's transl)].

On a three years' period, 122 patients with AL (45 children, 76 adults) received 158 treatments of induction, involving a severe medullary aplasia. In 48 cases (30.4%) none infectious complication was recorded. In the other 110 observations, infections syndrome (septicemia due to gram-negative rods above all) was treated by an early and intensive combination antibiotherapy (three successive protocols are employed, after failure of the precedent), in association with a careful medical reanimation and trasfusions of granulocytes in 16 cases. Regression was obtained in 94 cases (59,5%) but infection was lethal in 16 patients (10.1%). More than cytological variety of AL, principal pronostic element is age (15 deaths among 88 infections episodes in adults, one among 22 in children). Granulocytes rate at the time of aplasia (lower than 500 /mm3) also represents a factor of gravity. Among 94 infections episodes, antibiotherapy was successful alone in 81 cases (86.2%), illustrating the fundamental place of this treatment.


[Value and technique of measuring the tibia length in pathological conditions of the newborn (author's transl)].

Together with determining the bone age of the immature and/or small-for date neonate, it is possible to work out the length of the tibia on the profile X ray of the leg. Authors have drafted up a scale of growth, featuring the 10 th, 50 th and 90 th percentiles common for boys and girls ranging from 28 to 42 weeks of gestation and they propose this new criterion for the study of pathological neonates, particularly the small-for-date. The method has a second advantage: it is possible to follow the increment of the tibia length by X rays taken at regular intervals and thus to estimate the various factors that can interfere with the child's growth, and in the first place, the quality of the food given to the child.


[Myoclonus during a treatment with diclofenac (author's transl)].

Diclofenac is a non steroïdal anti-inflammatory drug. In 1978, the case of a myoclonic encephalopathy appearing three days after starting a treatment with this drug in a patients with renal insufficiency was published. A few months later, we observed a case of myoclonus of the lower limbs in a young man in good general status, without renal insufficiency, after four full months of this treatment. Myoclonus vanished 48 hours after withdrawal of the drug.


[Value of the antibiogram technic for the treatment of urogenital infection with Ureaplasma (author's transl)].

We have currently established the spectrum of sensitivity of the isolated strains to various antibiotics before prescribing the appropriate treatment. A microtechnic has been used. The most active antibiotics are: minocyclin, pristinamycin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, oxytetracyclin, kanamycin, tobramycin, streptomycin, in this order.


[Menetrier's disease and edematous syndrome (author's transl)].

The authors report a case of Menetrier's disease revealed in a 51 years woman before oedomas by systematic gastroscopy. Somes particularities of this case authorize to argue problems put by this disease: a thyroid nodule treated by L + triodothyronin; an eosinophilia; a biological study of gastric secretion, gastrin and intrinsec factor level; an hormonal, immunologic and genetic exploration; an histochimic and ultra-structural study of operative portion; its favorable evolution after total gastrectomy.


[Williams and Beuren's syndrome with hypertension and associated renal abnormalities (author's transl)].

The authors presented a case of the Williams and Beuren's syndrome, special by the existence of aorta coarctation, high blood pressure, nephrotic syndrome and renal dysplasia. The Williams-Beuren's syndrome is characterised by the association of facial anomalies, mental retardation and supra-valvular aortic stenosis. The case presented in this study demonstrates: -- the symptomatic diversity of the Williams and Beuren's syndrome; -- and the relationship of this syndrome and severe idiopathic hypercalcemia of the infant. The etiopathogenesis is also discussed.


[Thrombocytosis: general frequency and etiological circumstances (author's transl)].

During a period of five years, fifteen thousand platelet counts has been systematically realised at the Hôtel-Dieu Hospital in Marseilles. A thrombocytosis superior to 400 000/mm3 has been observed in 1,2% of cases, in such various etiological cases as mainly cancer (30%), infectious diseases (28%) and post-hemorragic anaemias (11%).


[Sarcoidosis and portal hypertension (author's transl)].

A new case of portal hypertension associated with hepatic sarcoïdosis is reported. The authors reviewed 23 other cases in the literature, they underline diagnostic difficulties of which the etiology remains unclear. Surgical treatment seems to be the best in comparison with corticotherapy. Postoperative encephalopathy may appear till 8 years postoperatively. Hepatic atrophy rather than sarcoïdosis must be responsible for it.


[Diagnostic problems in gastric dysplasias: value of cytology (author's transl)].

Gastric smears have been performed on 835 patients, among which examinations 771 (92 percent) were available. Histology assumed in parallel showed a dysplasia lesion in 56 cases: 14 of the 601 negative smears (2.3 percent), in 33 of the 40 suspect smears (82 percent), and in 9 of the 130 cases of positive smears (7 percent). Gastric dysplasia evidence both by cytology and pathology show mostly differenciated cells, alterations of which reflect the lesion level. By contrast, cytology and histology diagnosis are not in agreement when dysplasia concern dedifferenciated cells with a severe degree of alterations which can be misinterpreted as malignant cells.


[Clinical trial of Pulvo 47 Neomycin in the treatment of leg ulcer (author's transl)].

Pulva 47 Neomycine was tested in 30 patients suffering from a leg ulcer, 11 of those were surinfected. Half the ulcers dated back over 6 months. The would preparation included a careful cleaning with a permanganate or dakin's solution. In most of the cases, the product was applied on a once a day basis during an average period of 30 days. In 12 patients, the severity of the infection needed an additional antibiotherapy administered orally. The results were expressed in relation to the activity on the infection and wound healing. In 28 patients, the signs of infection disappeared completely. The wound healing effect was very satisfying in 22 patients (19 of them had varicose or post-phlebitis ulcers). The value of the results is independent on the date of onset and on the area of the lesions. The tolerance was good; only 4 patients suffered from itching after the application of the compound. It is mainly through his wound healing effect that Pulvo 47 Neomycine represents a progress compared to other similar specialties.


[Learning disabilities (author's transl)].

The author insists on the necessity to set the learning disabilities of written language in the frame of the child's personality and of the family and school environment. A therapeutical intervening which would not take these data into consideration risks to "crystallise" the parents in an attitude which excludes the coming to them of their responsibilities in the child's difficulties.


[Human cysticercosis. Four cases. (second part) (author's transl)].

Beside the principal aspects of cysticercosis (see the first part of this article) there are others clinical forms : medullar, ocular, subcutaneous, often associated to cerebral cysticercosis, latent or not. The complemental investigations are numerous, their value is variable. The complemental investigations are numerous, their value is variable. It is often difficult to distinguish cysticercosis from cenurosis. Therapy remains deceitful. Very important and useful are the measures of prevention.


[Cutis verticis gyrata, hypertrophic gastritis, motrice diarhea, and horse's tall syndrome, a new association an apudoma (carcinoid or chemodectoma) (author's transl)].

The authors report the observation of a 70 years male with Cutis Verticis Gyrata (without hypertrophying osteopathy), Menetrier's hypertrophic gastritis, motrice diarrhea of the endocrine type, flush syndrom, liver angiomatosis and a large sacral water clear cells tumor with horse's tail syndrom. The initial tumor was on the posterior wall of rectum, but was necrosed : bone metastasing chemodectoma, or locally invading carcinoid ? This new complex paraneoplastic disease seems to be associated with APUD tumor.


[Consumption coagulopathy in adenocarcinomas. Report of seven cases (author's transl)].

The authors present 7 cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), 4 of them with hemorragic syndrom, with appeared in the course of different adenocarcinomas (prostatic, pancreatic or undeterminated). Emphasis is set on 2 points : -- in all cases, metastasis of these cancers can be found in the bone marrow and/or the liver ; -- DIC may be the first sign of the disease. The pronostic is very bad, even with heparinic therapy because of the lack of specific treatment but for prostatic cancer.


[Secretan's disease (author's transl)].

Five cases are presented of hard, brawny, edema of the dorsum of the hand. Surgical interventions was doing in two cases, but the results were poor with persistent pain. We now believe splinting and active exercise to be the initial treatment of choice. Secretan's disease produces a quite extensive disability of the hand which lasted more than 6 months, often for years.


[Wilson's disease. A clinical and pathological study on 6 cases (author's transl)].

In connection with 6 cases of Wilson's disease, the authors recall the main features of this hereditary metabolic disorder at late onset (usually the second decade), treatable with a chelating agent, when diagnosed at an early stage. Wilson's disease is first of all a liver disease and the authors emphasize the fact that cirrhosis is usually present when neurologic symptoms, revealing the disease in 5 cases, appear, even if there is no clinical or biological evidence for liver disease. In one instance hemolytic anemia and chronic active hepatitis were observed at clinical onset. Copper metabolism usually gives the key for diagnosis but its interpretation may be difficult, a normal serum ceruleoplasmin level being found in two patients and evaluated at 6% in the literature. This fact brings up the puzzling question of the pathogesis of the disease. Wilson's disease is not a simple ceruleoplasmin synthesis defect, but a lysosomal disease responsible for the lack of copper biliary excretion. This is pointed out by histochemical studies using a special rubeanic acid preparation (revealing copper deposit on the biliary side of the hepatic cell), and by electron microscopy showing lysosomal dystrophy.


[Surgical treatment of Prinzmetal's syndrome. Report of sixty operated cases (author's transl)].

The results of the surgical treatment of Prinzmetal's angina are reported in this study of 60 patients. The operative mortality is 3,3 percent and the incidence of post-operative infarction is 20 percent. 53 patients were followed over an average period of 2,7 years. The global survival rate is 91 percent at 5 years, the infarction rate is 24 percent. 76 percent of the sublims are asymptomac. The patients can be classified in three group : isolated lesions, multiple lesions and spasms.


[Study of an homogeneous population of obeses people and of its regression of weight under hypocaloric diet in hospital. II. - Weight loss (author's transl)].

A study of 79 obese patients who were hospitalized and treated with a low calorie diet demonstrated that the weight loss occurred in a univocal manner, according to a semilogarithmic law. It was not influenced, as far as initial results were concerned, by the age, sex, or morphotype of the patient, or whether weight gain was recent or of long-standing. Factors affecting results, however, are the existence of functional signs, the amount of natriuresis during the first few days, and the quantity of alcohol ingested regularly. Short term results, one month after leaving hospital, appear to be moderate only. A diet supplying 800 calories causes weight loss at the expense of body fat. Individual variations in minimal calorie requirements during the treatment can be used as a basis for prescribing a personalized supplementary diet.


[Vertebro-basilar dissecting aneurysm : an anatomo-clinical case study fibrodysplasia of the left vertebral artery (author's transl)].

A new anatomo-clinical case of vertebro-basilar dissecting aneurysm in a 43 year old woman is reported. The originality of this study comes from the autopsic discovery of an intimal fibro-dysplasia at the origin of the dissection in the left vertebral artery. The authors also included anatomoclinical and pathogenic comments about both the lesions discussed.


[Glomerular disease associated with myelofibrosis (author's transl)].

The authors report the case of a 46 year-old patient presenting with membranous-proliferative glomerular disease, megakaryocytes present in the glomerular capillaries, evolving concomitantly with myelofibrosis. There are two possible explanations for this unusual association: the glomerular disease and the myelofibrosis may both result from the same etiologic and pathogenic factor, or the glomerular disease may be the consequence, thrombocytosis existing, of platelet activation, either direct or after deposition of immune complexes. The formation of immune complexes after antigenic stimulation in myelofibrosis is theoretically compatible with immunitary anomalies found in the evolution of this disorder as described in the literature.


[Perforation of rectal with peritonitis during a barium enema administration. Report of a case (author's transl)].

The authors report one case of perforation of rectal with peritonitis during a barium enema administration in a patient suffering from an adeno-carcinome of colon, and died after 48 hours with collapsus. After a brief review of the literature, the authors expose pathogeny and clinical signs of this relatively rare accidients. The conclusions repose on watchful precautions according to indications and technical way of barium enema examination in patients specially exposed to perforation accidents.


[Scattered arterioveinous fistulae of the lung associated with alcoholic cirrhosis : about one case complicated by neurological involvement (author's transl)].

We report case of 49 years old woman suffering from severe alcoholic cirrhosis and presenting arterioveinous fistulae of the lung which evidence was given by selective arteriography. Quantitative analysis of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide show no modification ; mecanism of the opening of fistulae could no be found. This observation is noteworthy in consideration of lung lasting evolution (4 years) and out come of neurological complication (must likely due to cortical phlebitis).


[Detection and follow up of inflammatory lesions of the central nervous system by means of cytological study of the cerebrospinal fluid (author's transl)].

Cytocentrifugation gives an excellent quantitative and qualitative preservation of the cerebrospinal fluid cells. This method permits the study various types of meningeal or ventricular inflammatory changes (acute inflammatory changes with granulocytes, immunitary type or macrophagic changes) and causal diagnosis. During meningitis following bleeding or neurosurgical operation, repeated cytological examinations allow a simple but useful follow up of the evolution during the treatment.


[Therapeutic indications of Cortalugel 20 in hepatic and gastro-enterological diseases (author's transl)].

Regular observation of 40 patients treated with Cortalugel 20 confirmed that the association of aluminum phosphate with prednisolone produced no phenomenon of chelation and did not affect absorption of the latter compound. The product was well-tolerated by the digestive system during prolonged administration for the treatment of hepatic and gastro-enterological diseases for which corticotherapy is usually administered.


Isolated accessory nerve palsy.

Accessory nerve palsy is either idiopathic or secondary to local trauma, infection, or tumor. The discomfort and disability produced as a result of trapezius weakness may be significant. The clinical features and management of accessory nerve palsy have been discussed.


[Sudden death in new-born babies (author's transl)].

This sudden death of a new-born baby, which had been thriving up to then, is a dramatic but not exceptional event. A systematic search for the etiology must be made, and this should include an autopsy in order that the diagnosis of "sudden and unexplained death" is confirmed only after eliminating all other possible causes. Knowledge of this syndrome has benefited from epidemiological surveys which have defined the previous clinical condition, but none of the many etiollotical hypotheses envisaged can take into account the total number of cases reported. One of the most recent cases developed apnoea during sleep, which could explain some unexpected deaths in new-born babies. This was discovered by polygraphic sleep recordings and confirmed by pathological examinations. These demonstrated indirect signs of chronic hypoxia which could have been related to the sudden death of the baby. Though there does not appear to be any relationship between the apnoea syndrome during sleep and these sudden  and unexpected deaths, this hypothesis has opened up a new promising line of research which could help to identify new-born babies at risk from "sudden death", and to propose preventative measures.


[Listeriosis : evaluation of twenty years of inquires at Rouen (France) (author's transl)].

The laboratory of bacteriology of the CHU of Rouen has isolated in twenty years 297 strains of Listeria monocytogenes which are corresponding to 249 cases, 48 new-borns being infected by the same germ as their mother. The listeriosis frequency is increasing ; the disease is recurrent, with a periodicity of four years, but the number of the cases which are observed every year is larger than that which has been observed four years before. The disease seems to affect mainly the women ; in reality, both sexes are sensitive, but some conditions, especially the pregnancy, are favouring the disease burst. Five pregnant women per one thousand incur the risk to catch a listeriosis during their pregnancy ; for want of early diagnosis and treatment, they will not be able to carry their pregnancy through, and will generally give birth to shortly condemned children.


Granular cell myoblastoma of the esophagus after irradiation for carcinoma.

Granular cell myoblastoma is an uncommon, usually benign tumor. Only 20 cases are reported in the esophagus. We describe a 65-year-old woman who developed a granular cell myoblastoma of the postericoid esophagus in the area of a squamous cell carcinoma successfully treated with irradiation. To our knowledge, this is the 21st reported case, and the only case occurring in the esophagus after irradiation for primary squamous cell carcinoma.


Do methoxyflurane and enflurane induce hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes?

The effect of acute anaesthetic (1,0 MAC) and chronic subanaesthetic (0,1 MAC) exposure to methoxyflurane and enflurane on the levels of several liver enzymes is reported. Methoxyflurane appears to be an enzyme-inducing agent similar to spironolactone, whereas enflurane does not appear to be an inducing agent for any of the enzymes studied.


Bernard, Mitchell, Horner syndrome and others?

Recent findings of parasellar sympathetic connections lead to renewed speculation concerning the ultimate course of the orbital and facial sympathetic pathways.


Aggregation of gel-filtered guinea-pig platelets by lipoproteins.

Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) were isolated from serum of hypercholesterolemic guinea-pigs, and the effect of these lipoproteins on guinea-pig platelets was studied. VLDL (greater than 100 microgram/ml) and LDL (greater than 400 microgram/ml) were found to cause aggregation of gel-filtered platelets (GFP), although the extent of GFP aggregation by LDL was smaller than that by VLDL. In platelet-rich plasma, however, lipoproteins could not induce platelet aggregation. VLDL and LDL even at the low concentrations at which lipoproteins alone could not induce aggregation potentiated ADP-induced aggregation of GFP. VLDL-induced aggregation of GFP was inhibited by apyrase (0.2--1.0 mg/ml) in a concentration-related manner. Prostaglandin E1, dipyridamole, potassium cyanide and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid inhibited VLDL- and ADP-induced aggregation of GFP in the almost same degree. Inhibitions of VLDL-induced GFP aggregation by acetylsalicylic acid and albumin were slightly stronger than that of ADP-induced aggregation. These findings suggest that lipoproteins modulate platelets so that endogenous ADP can be released from platelets.


Mode of action of ticlopidine in inhibition of platelet aggregation in the rat.

Ticlopidine, when orally administered to rats, resulted in activation of basal and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)-stimulated adenylate cylase activity through increase in affinity of the cyclase in platelet membrane to PGE1, although it failed to affect adenosine- or sodium fluoride-stimulated activity of the enzyme. In washed platelets, Ticlopidine also activated basal and PGE1-stimulated activity of the cyclase and prevented reduction in the cyclase activity caused by low concentrations of PGE2. Furthermore, Ticlopidine inhibited malondialdehyde formation in platelets induced by thrombin but failed to inhibit that caused by exogenous arachidonic acid. Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (c-AMP): phosphodiesterase activity of platelet lysate was not significantly affected by Ticlopidine treatment. These findings indicate that Ticlopidine inhibits platelet aggregation and prostaglandin synthesis from endogenous substrate through activating basal and PGE1-stimulated activity of the cyclase, preventing PGE2-induced depression of the cyclase activity and thus increasing platelet c-AMP level.


[High density lipoproteins dissociation induced by addition of delta 9-THC (author's transl)].

Delta 9-THC has a structure similar to cholesterol and can be associated to different lipoproteins of the serum. This study concerns the in vitro association of (3H) delta 9-THC with human HDL (1,10 less than 1,19 g/ml). The incubation (1 hour at 37 degrees C) of (3H) delta 9-THC with HDL induces dissociation of HDL into 3 subunits which are characterized by different electrophoretic migration. Immunoelectrophoresis reveals that the slower migrating fraction, poor in lipids, is mainly apo A1; the faster migrating fraction is similar to native HDL; the intermediate migration fraction, rich in lipids, contains mainly C peptides. Two dimensional immuneolectrophoresis confirms these results. These effects could explain the modifications of cells membranes observed in serum of people smoking marihuana.


Hepatic effects of xylidine isomers in rats.

The effect of repeated (4 weeks) oral administration of 2,4-, 2,5- or 2,6-xylidine (at dose levels of 400--500 mg/kg/day) on the morphology and microsomal drug metabolising enzyme activity of the liver was studied in rats. All 3 isomers caused hepatomegaly which was considered to be due to proliferation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Decreases in glycogen content and glucose-6-phosphatase activity were demonstrated histochemically. Biochemical investigations showed increases in microsomal protein and cytochrome P-450 content in rats dosed with 2,4- or 2,5-xylidine and in glucuronyltransferase activity in rats given 2,4-, 2,5- or 2,6-xylidine. Aniline hydroxylase activity was increased in all treated rats except males dosed with 2,6-xylidine. The results of the study indicate that all isomes of xylidine can be inducers of microsomal drug-metabolising enzyme activity, that they may be metabolised by oxidation and that the xylidine molecule may be eliminated as a conjugate with glucuronic acid.


[Pronase E and P immobilization on aminoorganosilica surface].

Immobilization of pronase E and P was performed on sylochrome modified by gamma-aminopropyltrietoxysilane using cyanuric chloride, 2,4--toluylenediisocyanate, glutaric aldehyde and also on sylochrome by means of titanium tetrachloride. The esterase and caséinolytic activities of the immobilized preparations and their stability during storage were determined. The increased thermostability of the immobilized preparation is established. The influence of the enzyme: carrier ratio on the immobilization process and activity of the enzymes was studied. It is shown that application of glutaric aldehyde favours the best retention of the esterase activity (73%), whereas the caseinolytic activity is better retained (31%) when titanium tetrachloride was used.


[Immobilization of enzymic preparation of amylosubtilin G10x on silochrome].

The article deals with the process of immobilizing the enzymic preparation amylosubtilin G10x by the carriers activated with 2,4-toluylenediisocyanate and cyanurchloride which were obtained on the basis of silanized sylochrome. The 2,4-toluylenediisocyanate activated carrier is shown to be high-effective in immobilization. The activity of the preparations immobilized by the carrier activated with 2,4-toluylenediisocyatate is 75 units per 1 g of carrier; for the preparation immobilized on the carrier activated with cyanurchloride it is equal to 2.9 u/g. The specific activity is 3.1 and 0.9 u/mg, respectively. Immobilization on the tested carriers decreases the enzymic preparation thermostability.


The endocrine background of human renal cell carcinoma. I. Binding of the highly potent progestin R 5020 by tumour cytosol.

Based on the potential sensitivity of the growth of human renal cell carcinoma, tumour tissue from 88 patients was analysed for progestin receptors. With the dextran-coated charcoal assay, cytoplasmic components which bound the potent progestin R 5020 specifically and with high affinity could be detected in 42% of the carcinomas. The apparent dissociation constant of the R-5020-binder complex amounted to 3.1 +/- 1.2 X 10(-8) mol/l. Sedimentation in sucrose gradients revealed the bulk of these components to be in the 4-S region. The ligand specificity for binding to these sites indicated a requirement for progestins. Despite the enormous case material investigated, we were unable to confirm the presence of the high receptor concentrations reported in the literature.


[Effect of physical load on cholesterol content in different classes of lipoproteins of blood serum and their decomposition].

An increase in the amount of cholesterol is established in blood serum high-density lipoproteins of rabbits which were subjected to moderate physical loads. Under these conditions an accelerated decay was also observed for lipoproteins of very low and low density.


The endocrine background of human renal cell carcinoma. II. Attempt to induce the R-5020-binding components by oestrogens.

In an attempt to elevate the concentration of progestin-binding components in human renal cell carcinoma, 24 patients were treated prior to tumour nephrectomy with various doses of oestrogens, potent inducers of progestin receptor synthesis. Low-dose oestrogen treatment was found to be insufficient to significantly induce progestin-binder synthesis in the tumour tissue. In the carcinoma of patients receiving high-dose oestrogen treatment, the average concentration of R-5020-binding sites did not differ from that of the low-dose group. However, 2 out of these patients (12.5%) exhibited R-5020-binder concentrations in the tumour tissue which exceeded the highest quantities of progestin-binding components found in 88 untreated controls previously analysed in our laboratory.


Collagenase--a marker enzyme in human bladder cancer?

Collagenase activity in human bladder carcinomas was measured against 14C-labeled collagen as substrate. Enzymes activity in vivo increased with the degree of penetration of the bladder wall. It was not detectable or low in the cases of superficially infiltrating tumours (A, B1 B2) and high in the cases of deeply infiltrating tumours (C, D). These results suggest that collagenase activity of advanced tumours is predominantly expressed in the pervesical layer of the bladder wall. A quantitative estimate of this enzyme may thus help to distinguish between Stage C and Stage C tumour.


Somatostatin: selective inhibition of cyclic AMP stimulated protein kinase.

Utilizing histones as a substrate and measuring the production of labelled phosphoserine from [gamma 32P-ATP], cAMP stimulated protein kinase activity was found in islet and anterior pituitary secretory vesicles. Cyclic AMP (5 X 10(-7)m)stimulated islet secretory vesicle protein kinase activity as evidenced by a net  increase of 32P incorporation into phosphoserine 7.35 +/- 1.68 pmoles/micrograms, (P LESS THAN 9001). Somatostatin (0.1 ng/microgram) decreased 32P phosphoserine production from 10.64 +/- 1.72 to 5.61 +/- 1.26 pmoles/microgram (Pless than .01) by suppressing cAMP stimulated protein kinase activity. In pituitary secretory vesicles, cAMP (5 X 10(-6M) increased 32P incorporation into TCA precipitable protein from 127.3 +/- 8.6 to 202.6 +/- 12.5 pmoles/microgram, P less than .001. With somatostatin (0.2 ng/microgram) there was 55.25+/- 1.95% inhibition of cAMP stimulated protein kinase activity, (P LESS THAN .001). Somatostatin did not inhibit cAMP stimulated protein kinase activity in erythrocyte membrane ghosts nor did somatostatin inhibit the partially purified cAMP dependent protein kinase from cardiac muscle. These data suggest that either (1) a specific somatostatin sensitive dependent protein kinase is present in islet and anterior pituitary secretory vesicles or (2) that a somatostatin receptor is present in these tissues which allows somatostatin to act selectively at these sites. Somatostatin may act by inhibiting the cAMP dependent protein kinase enzme in certain key tissues or subcellular organelles.


Partial purification of thyroid hormone receptor from mitochondrial inner membrane: evidence for a physiologic role.

Recently we described a protein component, from the inner mitochondrial membrane, which binds thyroid hormone with high affinity, low capacity (saturable) characteristics. This partially purified rat liver mitochondrial membrane component appears to be a 150,000 daltons lipoprotein complex. Phospholipids, tentatively identified as lecithin, phosphatidyl ethanoamine, and cardiolipin, appear to constitute 50% of this complex. A similar hormone binding marcomolecule was also found in mitochondria from rabbit kidney, as well as human liver and kidney. In the rat this saturable thyroid hormone binding component was found in mitochondria from liver, kidney, myocardium, skeletal muscle, intestinal mucosa, whole small intestine, adipose tissue, and lung. It was absent from the mitochondria of adult brain, spleen and testis, organs known to be calorigenically unresponsive to thyroid hormones injected in vivo. In contrast, neonatal rat brains contain the protein with binding constants similar to those of neonatal or adult rat liver mitochondria, but in older rat brains (14 and 17 days) the saturable binding was no longer present, as in adult brain. These data provide strong support for the biological relevance of the mitochondrial component as a thyroid hormone receptor.


The earliest membrane responses to phagocytosis: membrane potential changes and Ca++ loss in human granulocytes.

The two findings reported here clearly indicate that the human granulocyte undergoes stimulus-secretion coupling when appropriate stimuli engage the cell surface. These secretory and metabolic responses seem designed to provide efficient mechanisms for bacterial killing or the elimination of immune complexes. First, ligands bind to surface receptors, in the case of concanavalin A, via surface sugars, in the case of immune complexes, via Fc receptors. Our new findings, described above, show that this is followed within five to ten seconds by membrane hyperpolarization: changes in the membrane potential of the cell: delta psi. Local loss of membrane calcium is noted concurrently: not as part of a generalized "triggering" of all the surface membraneof the cell, but only at the point of ligand-receptor interaction: the initiating point of phagocytosis. The subsequent changes, such as superoxide anion production, the generation of thromboxanes and prostaglandins, and the intracellular events which lead to secretion appear, therefore, to be secondary to these earliest membrane responses of phagocytosis.


Comparison of two infectious bursal disease vaccine strains: efficacy and potential hazards in susceptible and maternally immune birds.

Two infectious bursal disease vaccines were administered to separate groups of maternally immune and susceptible chickens at various ages. Vaccine B caused no damage to the bursae of chickens examined histologically at nine and 20 days after vaccination. The bursae of chickens given vaccine A were shown to be severely damaged when similarly examined. Both vaccines protected all the susceptible groups against challenge, but only vaccine A protected the groups of maternally immune chickens. Susceptible chickens vaccinated at one day of age with vaccine A showed a lowered response to Hitchner B1 Newcastle disease vaccine given at 14 days of age, judged by the haemagglutination-inhibition response and Newcastle disease challenge. The performance of the Newcastle disease vaccine was not affected in chickens given vaccine B. Bedding used by birds given vaccine A was shown to be capable of transmitting vaccinal virus to susceptible chickens, causing severe bursal damage.


Double tumours of the liver following intravenous thorotrast injection. Patho-anatomical report on two cases.

Observations on the contrast between the livers of two patients who underwent an arteriogram with thorotrast in 1941 have been made. The first case produced a cholangicellular carcinoma (CCC) in addition to atypical proliferations of sinusoidal lining cells. The second case produced a very rare tumour combination of a CCC with a haemangioendothelial sarcoma (Haem-SA the problem of double tumours of the liver following thorotrast injection is discussed in the light of these cases. In addition the discussion includes various opinions on Kupffer cells.


Bronchial mucous gland tumours.

Tumours arising in the bronchial mucous glands closely resemble tumours arising in the mixed salivary glands. Bronchial mucous gland tumours account for less than 0.5 per cent of all lung tumours. Twenty six tumours are reviewed and they have been divided into five types, (a) adenoidcystic carcinomas, (b) muco-epidermoid tumors, (c) mixed (pleomorphic) tumors, (d) cystadenomas and (f) oxyphilic adenoma. The clinical features, and postoperative course of the patients are reviewed. Adenocystic carcinomas, arising in the bronchus frequently involve the neighbouring trachea and spread mainly by direct infiltration. Most muco-epidermoid bronchial tumours were confined to young persons, and the only malignant muco-epidermoid tumour occurred in an elderly person. The prognosis in young persons is good provided the tumours are completely excised. The two mixed bronchial tumours resembled their salivary counterparts and one subsequently behaved as a carcinoma and metastasised. Bronchial cystadenomas all proved to be benign tumours but in two cases were associated with surface papillary proliferation. The only example of an oxyphil cell adenoma was discovered at post mortem examination. The histogenesis of the tumours is considered.


Fibrous histiocytoma: an analysis of the storiform pattern.

A storiform pattern is an important structural feature of fibrous histiocytoma (FH). In this analysis reconstructions of histological patterns were carried out from drawings. Highly FH with only a suggestion of storiform pattern and small star-formations were seen, there were other lesions with more pronounced fiber formation which showed more distinct and larger storiform stars. These structures can frequently be followed for only 3 sections of 5 micron thickness. In contrast to leiomyomas or meningioma, no regular or consistent orientation of these structures with respect to vessels is evident. Storiform structures apparently develop at the periphery of adjacent proliferating cells groups. They show a typical and diagnostically significant histological pattern, which was found to some degree in all FH examined.


Nonchromaffin paraganglioma of the duodenum.

A benign nonchromaffin paraganglioma of the duodenum is described and compared with other reported cases. Duodenal location is extremely rare but the morphology, based on the optical microscopic pattern (Zellballen) and the ultrastructural appearance is, comparable with paragangliomas of other sites. The lack of nerve fibres and ganglion cells in this tumour, together with the absence of a positive chromaffin reaction permits us to classify it as a pure nonchromaffin paraganglioma. This finding constitutes indirect evidence of the probable existence of a paraganglion in the duodenal wall, a structure not yet demonstrated in the adult.


[cAMP phosphodiesterase activity in the leukocytes in bronchial asthma].

Activity of cAMP phosphodiesterase was similar in leukocytes of healthy persons and of the patients with bronchial asthma in the period of remission. The enzymatic activity was independent on the form of the impairment (infectious-allergic or atopic types). Sensivity of cAMP phosphodiesterase to the effect of its inhibitors and stimulants--theophylline, papaverine and imidazole was higher in the patients as compared with the healthy persons. Prolonged therapy with the phosphodiesterase inhibitors did not lead to development of resistance.


[Does the concept for the prevention of chronic ischemic heart disease correspond to current ideas on etiology and pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis?].

A summarizing description of the essential relations between the existence of risk factors and the course of the morphologic changes in the arteriosclerosis in the intima is given. In this process the low density lipoproteins play an important role which together with further etiologic factors contribute to an increased permeability of the endothelium and to the stimulation of the proliferation and modulation of the smooth muscle cells, which are of central importance in the vascular reaction. Certain effects on the progression of the arteriosclerosis as well as a regression of adequate morphologic changes are to be expected from an elimination of risk factors, provided the necessary measures begin in the early stages of the arteriosclerosis, i. e. in the preatheromatous stage.


[Benign and semimalignant intrabronchial lung tumors].

From 1961 to 1977 we observed 14 patients with semimalignant and benign intrabronchial tumours. In our own patients only a proportion of 0.8% of all bronchial tumours was of non-malignant or semimalignant origin. It is referred to the symptomatology, diagnostics and therapy of these tumours (7 carcinoids, 1 malignant degenerated carcinoid, 1 metastasizing cylindrome, 2 adenomas, 1 intrabronchial chondroma, 2 neurofibromas). The authors especially deal with the possibility of an endobronchial removal of tumours.


[Distribution of the reducing equivalents in the cell in the active phase of benz(a)pyrene metabolism].

Hydroxylation of benz/a/pyrene might occur under decreased activity of NADPH-dependent reductase. In vivo a decrease in the activity of NADPH-dependent reductase did not influence apparently the intensity of benz/a/pyrene hydroxylation, which is maintained due to redistribution of reducing equivalents between oxygenase and oxidase systems in the cells. Anticarcinogenic effects of two different substances chrisene and ubiquinone are discussed taking into account possible normalization of NADPH- and NADH-dependent oxidative reactions in the cells.


[Activity of the key glycolysis and respiration enzymes in the rat liver in chemical carcinogenesis].

Activities of hexokinase, glucokinase, cytochrome oxidase as well as amount of mitochondrial protein and subcellular distribution of hexokinase were studied in rat liver tissue after administration of acetyl aminofluorene and diethyl nitrosamine. Activity of the enzymes was altered in the same direction both in the primary induced hepatomas and in transplantable tumors of liver tissue. Glucokinase was not found but the fraction of hexokinase bound to mitochondrial membranes was observed in all the primary hepatomas studied; in this property the tumors resembled the embryonal liver tissue, various tissues of mature animals and transplantable hepatomas. This pattern of distribution of the enzymes reflects biochemical and functional disdifferentiation of the hepatomas. Properties of the bound hexokinase from the hepatoma were similar to those of the enzyme from embryonal liver tissue and, hence, they were distinct as compared with the enzymatic properties of hexokinase in the transplantable hepatomas.


[Demonstration of hepatitis A virus in the feces].

On the basis of own examinations methodology and results of the demonstration of the virus A in the stools and of the proof of antibodies in the serum are described. The parameters of the virus-A-hepatitis which are important for practice are further the basis for diagnosis, therapy and surrounding prophylaxis in routine work. They were compiled in a table.


[Plasma lipoproteins and aortic collagen fractions in rabbits with different degrees of atherosclerosis].

Content of cholesterol and of collagen fractions (salt-, acid soluble and insoluble) in thoracal and peritoneal parts of aorta as well as concentration of products of collagen metabolism (protein-bound and free hydroxyproline) in blood plasma were studied in rabbits with various degree of atherosclerosis--separate lipid spots in aorta thoracal part (I group), total impairment of aorta (II group) and in control animals. Concentration of cholesterol and triglycerides was also studied in blood plasma and content of cholesterol, cholesterol and triglyceride esters, phospholipids and protein was measured in separate types of lipoproteins--lipoprotein of low (LPLD), of very low (LPVLD) and of high density (LPHD). Increase in content of cholesterol, salt-soluble and insoluble collagen from the both parts of aorta as well as in concentration of protein-bound and free hydroxyproline was found in rabbits of the II group as compared with the control animals. In animals of the I group content of collagen fractions in aorta was similar to that of control animals. Hypercholesterolemia, observed in both groups of rabbits, was most distinct in the II group, being related to the higher amount of cholesterol in LPLD fraction. The ratio of cholesterol esters, free cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids was similarly altered in LPVLD fraction of the groups of animals, mainly due to an increase in content of cholesterol esters. But rabbits of the I group were distinct from the II group of animals in the ratio of these components in LPLD: relative content of protein was lower and of cholesterol esters--higher in LPLD of the II group than of the I group. The data suggest that LPLD contained high amount of lipoproteins of intermediate density and cholesterol deposited into vessel wall from LPLD and lipoproteins of intermediate density at the increased rate. In LPHD from blood plasma of rabbits of the II group the ratios cholesterol/protein, cholesterol esters/protein as well as the molar ratio free cholesterol/phospholipids were increased; these data suggest that LPHD was saturated with cholesterol and LPHD appeared to lose the ability to eliminate cholesterol from the vessel wall. Differences in the degree of atherosclerotic impairments, existing between the I and II groups of animals, were apparently related to the variations in composition and content of lipoproteins, which regulate the level of cholesterol in vessel wall, as well as to content of collagen, i. e. they were due to features of metabolism of lipoproteins in blood plasma and of collagen in the vascular wall.


Plasma-estrogens and liver cirrhosis.

The plasma concentrations of estrogens as well as their relationship to testosterone are determined in male patients suffering from fatty liver, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver. By stimulation and suppresion tests the contribution of the adrenal gland and the testes to the elevated estrogens are investigated, demonstrating that enhanced peripheral conversion of androgens to estrone rather than to estradiol appears to be more effective in sustaining plasma levels in hepatic cirrhosis. Futhermore, the effect of testosterone application was studied in male patients with alcohol-induced cirrhosis of the liver in order to realize possible side-effects of an androgenic substitution therapy. It is concluded that clinical signs of hyper-estrogensim and hypoandrogenism in male patients with hepatic cirrhosis may in part be attributed to the increase of estrogens and the decrease of total and free testosterone, as is best shown by the ration of the heterosexual hormones which are grossly shifted in favour of the estrogens.


Glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid hormones in chronic liver diseases.

In patients with chronic liver disease a dissociation of the two most important partial functions of the adrenal cortex may be observed. A widening of the zona glomerulosa is associated with an increased aldosterone secretion and an atrophy of the zona fasciculata with a decreased cortisol production rate. In acute alcoholic liver damage there are sometimes remarkable special features concerning the adrenal function. The pathogenesis of the altered C21-steroid hormone metabolism is nonuniform and depends upon the etiology of the liver disease. Following factors may play role: 1. Decreased activity of specific hepatic enzymes a)direct enzyme damage b)indirect enzyme activity decreasing processed by deficiency of hydrogen from NADPH 2. Decreased hepatic blood flow 3. Disturbance of intracellular transport of substrates (e.g. cholestasis 4. Changes of transport proteins. 5. Direct or reactive changes of other factors of hormonal feedback systems (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal or gonadal-system; renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system).


Fine structure and histochemistry of the gastric shield in the lamellibranch Donax trunculus L.

The histochemical observations performed by the authors on the stomach wall of Donax trunculus are not wholly in agreement with the results of workers on other bivalves. The ultrastructure of the gastric shield and underlying cells was therefore, studied. It was confirmed that the epithelial cells contain glycogen granules at the base. In addition two distanct P.A.S. positive inclusions were identified: lysosomal residual bodies and neutral mucopolysaccharidic inclusions. The gastric shield is composed largely of long narrow microvilli embedded in a chitinous glycocalyx but is nevertheless easily removable. Hence, there is no causal relationship between abundance of microvilli and the possibility of removing the shield.


[Sujective evaluation of the duration of sleep periods: role of actual time and the representation rate of different EEG stages].

Subjective estimations of the duration of night sleep periods and their actual duration were compared in 29 healthy men 21--36 years of age, awoken from the night sleep. The comparisons concerned the duration of consecutive sleep cycles, long (almost whole sleep cycles) and short ("parts of the cycles") periods, short periods ("parts of the cycle") without REM and with it. It has been found that long and short sleep periods are correspondingly reflected in the subjective estimation of their duration. The comparison of the estimation rates of various stages revealed that the highest subjective estimation, reduced to an hour of real time (subjective "hour estimation") in the first three sleep cycles characterises the cycle parts, including REM, whereas the lowest one--cycle parts, represented only by slow sleep stages, including delta-sleep. Subjective estimation of the sleep cycle duration regularly lowers throughout night sleep from evening till morning. Thus, subjective estimation of the duration of sleep periods is determined by two factors: their actual duration and manifestation rate of different sleep stages. The course of subjective time count in the sleep cycle seems to be uneven: it is slowed down in delta-sleep and accelerated in REM sleep following delta-sleep.


[Effect of emotional stress on sleep dynamics in cats].

Emotional stress was developed in cats by putting them in one cage with dogs for 24 hours. Then the 24 hours sleep-walking cycles records revealed prolonged REM stage in day time or at night in five animals out of seven, and in six animals a general increase of REM sleep duration over 24 hours. Simultaneously, in six animals the length of drowsiness and of deep slow-wave sleep stages was reduced. Increased overall sleep duration in the 24 hours was recorded in five cats. Sleep changes dynamics analysis reveals three stages: 1) sharp shift of all sleep parameters--27%, 2) deviation in sleep parameters--34% and 3) returning to basic sleep parameters--in 38%. The conclusion is drawn that sleep disorders may be used as an index of higher nervous activity disturbance in waking state.


Prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha levels in human dental cyst fluid as bone resorbing factors?

Prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha concentrations in aspirated cyst fluid of 14 human dental cysts were measured by radioimmunoassay. The mean concentrations were found to be 22.0 ng PGE2/g cyst fluid and 4.0 ng PGF2 alpha/g cyst fluid. As compared to plasma conditions a remarkable shift of the ratio of the two prostaglandins to PGE2 could be demonstrated. Due to the high concentrations of PGE2 found in the cyst material it is suggested that this prostaglandin may be one of the bone resorbing factors to be responsible for the destruction of bone in periodontal diseases.


Phosphatase production by microorganisms isolated from diverse types of soils.

Qualitative and quantitative nature of phosphatases produced by various fungal, bacterial, and actinomycetes isolates from diverse soils was examined. Soil fungi, particularly those belonging to the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium, were found to be most effective in producing phosphatases intra- and extracellularly. None of the 16 bacterial isolates produced acid phosphatase, but most of them did produce neutral phosphatase. Actinomycetes produced only negligible quantities of phosphatases.


[Pathobiochemistry of organ fibroses. Changes in the connective tissue metabolism in liver fibrosis and in chronic polyarthritis].

Many chronic inflammations of various origin are characterized by an elevated metabolic activity of connective tissue, causing an increased tissue proliferation. The authors first review the more recent methods of analyzing the connective tissue metabolism. Details of changes of this metabolism are described with reference to liver fibrosis and rheumatoid arthritis. First steps of a pathobiochemical diagnosis of activity in organ fibroses are discussed. It seems possible to judge the activity of liver fibrosis by estimating the serum activity of lysosomal glycosidases and serum levels of terminal collagen peptides. Elevated antiprotease serum levels in rheumatoid patients may indicate an inflammatory activity.


[The effect of pathogenic factors and anti-rheumatic drugs on the proliferation of cultured human fibroblasts].

1. Staphylolysin and low density lipoprotein (LDL) stimulate the proliferation of cultivated fetal human fibroblasts of the lung. 2. Antirheumatic drugs (prednisolone, acetylsalicylic acid, D-penicillamine and chloroquine) inhibit the proliferation of cultivated fetal human fibroblasts. 3. Antirheumatic drugs (prednisolone, acetylsalicylic acid, D-penicillamine and chloroquine), simultaneously added to the cluture eliminate the acceleration of the proliferation induced by staphylolysine or low density lipoprotein. 4. These results suggest, that in rheumatic diseases either pathogenic factors or antirheumatic drugs stimulate or inhibit, respectively, directly the cells of the connective tissue. Arterial wall cells, being mesenchymal cells, react in similar way on staphylolysine, low density lipoprotein and antirheumatic drugs. The similarity between the rheumatic and the arteriosclerotic process suggest to use antirheumatic drugs in the prevention and therapy of human arteriosclerosis.


[Experience in examining infectious hepatitis patients by using a viral detection method].

Immune electron microscopy was shown to be an acceptable diagnostic method which allowed to detect hepatitis A virus particles in the stools of patients with infectious hepatitis even at the late stages of the disease. The examination of stools from 225 children (aged 2--17 years) hospitalized with diagnosed infectious hepatitis during the period of a seasonal rise in morbidity rate yielded positive findings at an average rate of 10.5%. This rate also depended on the severity of the disease and the patient's age. The results obtained indicated that patients with infectious hepatitis could shed the virus for a long time (about 2 weeks) after the onset of the disease. Patients with the atypical, or anicteric, form of the disease could be equally considered a source of virus shedding. The prolonged excretion of viral particles did not correlate with delayed IgM response. The particles identified as hepatitis A virus seemed to be antigenically very close, if not identical, to the virus circulating in some other countries (USA, Australia, West Germany).


[Neurologic complications following medical treatment of epileptic patients].

Neurological complications due to anticonvulsive treatment was analyzed in 48 epileptic patients. It is demonstrated that there is a changed structure and increased frequency of epileptic paroxysms in appearance of neurological complications. Special attention is drawn to the significance of residual signs in organic diseases and to their occurrence. Recommendations are given for prevention and treatment of complications.


Ultrastructure of synapses in the central nervous system of lamellibranch molluscs.

Fine-structural characteristics of synaptic contacts were investigated in the central nervous system of different species of lamellibranch molluscs. Neuropile of the ganglia is characterized by regular occurrence of ultrastructurally well-defined polarized chemical synapses resembling those described in other invertebrate species and vertebrates. In addition to the generally observed membrane thickenings, enhanced density of synaptic membranes, cleft material and vesicle clustering on the presynaptic membrane, synapses are occasionally characterized by other and pinocytotic invaginations. Synaptic connections were distinguished on the basis of the vesicle content of the presynaptic terminal. Different forms of synaptic configurations (divergence, convergence, presynaptic modification) were observed in the ganglia.


Effects of an intravenous injection of tetracosactid on plasma corticosteroid and testosterone levels in unstressed male rabbits.

Administration of tetracosactid into male rabbits, fitted with permanently indwelling jugular catheters, resulted in a rapid rise of plasma corticosteroids and plasma testosterone. Corticosteroid concentrations were significantly elevated at 40 and 60 min and testosterone concentrations 20 min after the iv injection of tetracosactid (2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 micrograms/kg body weight), in comparison to pre-treatment levels. Corticosteroid values in plasma were elevated as long as 120 min after tetracosactid injection. In contrast, testosterone levels were lower at 60-120 min after tetracosactid injection than corresponding pre-treatment values. However, these differences were not significant. At the doses used no tetracosactid-dose-dependent corticosteroid or testosterone release could be found; apparently, testosterone release is only dependent upon basal plasma levels but not upon the dose of tetracosactid applied. From these studies it is concluded that tetracosactid may bring about an increase or decrease of testosterone concentration in plasma in the buck depending upon the length of time elapsing between injection of tetracosactid and blood withdrawal.


Replacement oral ethinyloestradiol therapy for gonadal dysgenesis: growth and adrenal androgen studies.

We have studied growth and adrenal dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) responses to iv synthetic adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH, Cortrosyn) in 6 girls with gonadal dysgenesis before and during treatment with low-dose ethinyloestradiol (EOe2). In all patients there was a statisfactory induction of secondary sexual characteristics including increase in breasts and public hair and onset of withdrawal bleeding within 6 months of therapy. Height velocity increased from 2.8 +/- 0.9 cm/year pre-treatment to 5.3 +/- 1.5 cm/year (P less than 0.02) in the first year. There was deceleration to 1.9 +/- 1.1 cm/year in the second year. There was no disproportionate advancement in bone age and thus, presumably, no loss of ultimate height. We could demonstrate no change in basal or ACTH-stimulated levels of DHA, a specific adrenal androgen, to account for the increased public hair and growth in these patients.


Receptors for gonadotrophin and prostaglandin F2 alpha in bovine corpora lutea of early, mid and late luteal phase.

A total of 15 corpora lutea representing early (day 3), mid (day 13) and late luteal phase (day 20 and 21-24) were obtained by ovariectomy on cycling cows. The luteal weights and peripheral plasma progesterone levels just prior to ovariectomy, were consistent with the above luteal phases. The specific binding of [125I]human chorionic gonadotrophin to membranes prepared from corpora lutea was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) for days 13 and 20 than for days 3 and 21-24. The binding in day 21-24 corpora lutea was higher (P less than 0.01) than day 3. Although there was no different either in number or affinity (apparent dissociation constant (Kd) = 0.04 nM) of gonadotrophin receptors in days 13 and 20 corpora lutea, only in the former did the binding correlate well with plasma progesterone levels. The specific binding of [3H]prostaglanding (PG)F2 alpha to the membranes of the same corpora lutea showed a progressive increase (P less than 0.01) from day 3, reached the highest value at a time when corpora lutea were actively regressing (day 20) and the decline (P less than 0.01) by day 21-24. Although a considerable number of PGF2 alpha receptors existed at day 13, the affinity of these same receptors was 203 times lower (Kd = 3458 nM) than the affinity of receptors in day 20 corpora lutea (Kd = 17 nM). In summary, the above results show that gonadotrophin receptors correlate with luteotrophic, whereas PGF2 alpha receptors correlate with luteolytic phases in bovine corpora lutea.


Thermal stability of F-actin as studied by spin labelling.

An analysis of the EPR spectra of maleimide spin-labelled actin was undertaken. We estimated a rotational correlation time of (13 +/- 2) nsec for the five-membered maleimide spin label bound to G-actin. The polarity of the environment of the bound labels indicated a strong polar character. The temperature dependence of the EPR spectral parameters of the attached label for F-actin exhibited rapid changes between 60-70 degrees C, which might be due to changes of protein structure. The conformational changes were reversible below 65 degrees C. The spin label spectra showed that the polymerization and depolymerization could be accomplished on actin thermally treated in F-form for 10 minutes at a temperature not higher than 60 degrees C. The findings suggest thermal stability of the spin-labelled sites in F-actin below 65 degrees C.


[Surgical treatment of tumors of the parotid gland (author's transl)].

One hundred and thirty-one cases of patients operated for a parotidal tumor were reviewed. We report on 85 cases that had no previous treatment, including 68 benign and 17 malignant tumors. The surgical treatment applied is analysed according to the benign or malignant nature of the tumor and to the results. For benign mixed tumors (43 cases) there were 29 total resections, 12 superficial lobectomies and 2 simple enucleations (intraparotidal location unforseen). For tumors of Warthin (19 cases) the treatment was a superficial lobectomy in all cases. For malignant tumors (17 cases) 5 superficial lobectomies and 12 total resections of the gland were performed. In the latter, the facial nerve was severed in 6 patients and left intact in the other 6. The minimal operation realizing the resection of a parotidal tumor, is the superficial lobectomy realized in once, the deep lobe only being resected if invaded. Preservation of the facial nerve should always be tried, sacrificing it only in cases of infiltrating malignant tumor.


Fingerprint inclusions and circular structures in the muscle. Report of a case.

Fingerprint inclusions, circular structures of unknown origin, mitochondrial changes, dilatation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, rods of Z-line material, elongated T-systems, honeycombs, and myelin figures were present in some damaged muscle fibres. Many damaged fibres showed loss of myofilaments and groups of atrophied fibres occurred. The muscle biopsy was from the left biceps brachii and presented also the changes of polymyositis. The patient had muscle weakness, malignant hypertension, alcoholism, polyarthropathy, and evidence of mild peripheral neuropathy.


Studies on the early changes in acute isoniazid neuropathy in the rat.

Large single doses if isoniazid by mouth (1--2g/kg) have been shown to produce in rats Wallerian degeneration visible with the light microscope from the third day onwards. By contrast, changes in axons are seen from 24 h onwards by electron microscopy. The earliest ultrastructural changes are associated with vacuoles appearing between axon and Schwann cells. These are large and focal, and often compress the axon. The adjacent axon may show changes in smooth ER, and in microtubular arrangement. Alterations in smooth membranes and in mitochondria are visible in Schwann cell cytoplasm, not necessarily related to the vacuole formation and axonal features. It is suggested that INH neuropathy is essentially a multifocal axonal lesion.


Histopathology of the lens capsule in fibrillopathia epitheliocapsularis (FEC) or so-called senile exfoliation or pseudoexfoliation. An electron microscopic study.

Twenty lenses from cataractous eyes have been subjected to enzymatic breakdown by collagenase and alpha-chymotrypsin in order to remove part of the lens capsule and the zonular apparatus. Twelve of the lenses had clinical fibrillopathia epitheliocapsularis (FEC syndrome). In addition four FEC lenses and four ordinary cataractous lenses served as controls. A characteristic fibrillar substance was found in the FEC lenses located to circular epithelium-near areas varying in size from 10 micrometers to 150 micrometers. The circular areas were found in zona germinativa in front of the bow region and corresponded to the discoid plaques of the deep layer. The ultrastructure of the finely fibrillar material of the deep layer were indistinguishable from that of the surface material of the peripheral band and the central disc. A connection between the discoid plaques of deep layer and the peripheral granular band were demonstrated in the form of radial "cobble-stone" sectors seen in partially digested FEC capsules. An increased amount of age dependent spindleshaped formed bodies were also found in FEC lenses. The evidence presented points towards a lenticular origin of the Busacca-bushes in the peripheral ganular band of the lens capsule.


The prognosis in congenital lower limb hypertrophy.

Twenty-eight patients with congenital total hypertrophy and ten patients with lower limb hypertrophy with congenital vascular abnormalities are reviewed. The pattern of increase in leg length discrepancy during growth and its influence on surgical management is discussed and the clinical features of the affected limbs are described. In congenital total hypertrophy the maximal increase in leg length discrepancy of more than 2.5 cm at age 4 years are likely to develop significant limb overgrowth that will require eventual surgical correction. In patients with congenital vascular abnormalities the change of leg length discrepancy was variable in degree and unpredictable in pattern, even in those with similar venous anomalies. The outcome for the limb was detergiography.


Primary carcinoma of the liver. A histological study of 52 cases from Denmark.

Among 7763 autopsies performed in Greater Copenhagen in 1973, there were 309 cases of cirrhosis of the liver and 52 cases of primary carcinoma of the liver (PCL). Of the latter, 45 were hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 4 combined HCC and cholangiocarcinoma (CCC) and 3 CCC. HCC was found in 7.8 per cent of the cirrhotic livers and was in 57.1 per cent accompagnied by cirrhosis. The criteria of WHO, Peters (modified) and Anthony were used for classification. The degree of differentiation of the tumours was estimated using the criteria of WHO and Edmondson. The apparently small number of CCC may be due to the fact that this tumour is often overdiagnosed at the expense of HCC. The incidence of combined tumours is probably higher than generally assumed. The reticulin stain was found very valuable in HCC, both for descriptive and diagnostic purposes. In contrast to the situation in sub-Saharan Africa where hepatitis B virus is incriminated as the most important etiologic factor of HCC, it was found in the present study that alcoholism was a very essential cause of cirrhosis and thereby of HCC.


Increased brain uptake of copper and zinc in mice caused by diethyldithiocarbamate.

Mice given 64CuCl2 and 65ZnCl2 (10 mumol/kg) were treated with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (0.5 mmol/kg). The treatment increased the brain level of radioactive copper five-fold and that of radioactive zinc three-fold. Such redistribution of metal ions may be explained from the formation of lipophilic metal chelates. The increased brain levels may involve neurotoxic effects.