Postirradiation erythropoietic recovery in splenectomized mice.

The influence of splenectomy on erythropoietic recovery of lethally X-irradiated mice injected with different doses of syngeneic bone marrow was studied. Splenectomized animals showed less activation than unoperated controls in the lower dose range; however, by increasing the number of injected cells the response obtained was similar in both groups. Providing an adequate number of stem cells is administered to the splenectomized recipients, an enhanced erythropoietic activity of the graft may compensate for the absence of the spleen, which is an important organ in postirradiation recovery. Suggested explanations for this observation are lack of an haematopoietic inhibitory effect of the irradiated spleen, or changes in the environment provided by the spleenless host.


Adenosine deaminase activity in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: cytochemical, immunological and clinical correlations.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity has been assessed in lymphoid cells of 23 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in order to attempt a further characterization of ALL cells in addition to the well known cytochemical and immunological T and B lymphoid cell markers. ADA activity did not show any correlation with the immunological characterization of the patients investigated; in fact a wide range of ADA activity was observed with levels ranging from 0 to 32 U in T-ALL patients and nearly similar values (from 1.8 to 36 U) in the group of non T--non B ALL cases. Normal values ranged from 2 to 5 U (mean 2.9 U; s.d. +/- 0.8). Some cytochemical patterns (acid phosphatase and PAS) appeared well correlated with T markers of lymphoid cells, whereas they showed no significant relationship with ADA activity.


Growth potential of cranial suture bone autografts. I. An experimental macrosopic investigation in young rabbits.

On 25 rabbit sucklings a coronal suture-bone graft was transplanted into an experimental unilateral premaxillo-maxillary bone and stuture defect. 21 animals survived the experimental period and were sacrificed fullgrown (6 months). The graft was found to be well incorporated into the recipient site in all cases, its structure being remodelled to a striking similarity with the unoperated side and the suture was still visible. Photographic measurement of the snout deviation revealed that the longitudinal growth of the grafted suture approximately followed the general growth of the facial skeleton. This indicates an up to 3-fold increase of the growth in comparison to its original cranial growth site.


Growth potential of cranial suture bone autograft. II. An experimental microscopic investigation in young rabbits.

On rabbit sucklings a coronal suture-bone graft, covered by periosteum and dura, was transplanted into an experimental unilateral premaxillo-maxillary bone and suture defect. In 21 animals microscopical analysis was carried out using triple fluorochrome vital labelling over a period from the 3rd to the 36th postoperative day. In another 7 animals conventional histological methods were used. The grafts were readily incorporated and during the second postoperative week longitudinal sutural growth was fully restored as compared to the unoperated control side and growth far exceeded that of the original coronal suture.


Maxillary growth after palatal surgery. An experimental study on dogs.

Maxillary growth after unilateral closure of surgically induced defects in the hard palate in 6- to 8-week old Beagle puppies was studied. The hard palate except for a 4 mm wide strip of bone in the midline and with its overlaying oral mucoperiosteum was removed. On one side the nasal mucoperiosteum was covered with an autogenous full-thickness skin graft (side SGS) and, on the other side the raw surface (side RS) was left for secondary epithelialization. The animals were killed at 47 to 52 weeks of age. Measurements on the dried skulls of the experimental dogs showed no difference in total maxillary length between the two sides of the maxilla. However, the posterior half of the maxilla was longer in 8 dogs on side SGS and the anterior half of the maxilla was in 7 dogs long on side RS. The palatine suture was displaced towards side RS on all dogs, and the height of the nose was in all dogs greater on side SGS. There was a small consistent tendency that the overall growth was more pronounced on the side with the full-thickness skin graft. It is concluded that reducing the amount of scar tissue by covering raw surfaces with an autogenous full-thickness skin graft is one way to reduce maxillary growth impairment after palatal surgery.


Effects of 60CO-gamma-irradiation on the early ingrowth of an autogenous bone inlay into an artificial defect in the rabbit mandibula.

The incorporation of an autogenous humeral bone inlay into a previously irradiated mandibula was studied in 23 adult rabbits. A single exposure of 1000, 2000 and 3000 rads was given 1 or 8 weeks before the grafting into an artificially created defect in the rabbit mandibula. The observation time was 30 days. The results were compared to those obtained in 6 non-irradiated rabbits operated in the same way and after the same observation period. The callus formation around the graft was reduced to less than half the amount measured with morphometry in rabbits irradiated greater than or equal to 2000 rads one week preoperatively as compared to that in the non-irradiated group. The periosteal callus formed by the host bone was reduced with increasing preoperative radiation doses and the longer interval between irradiation and bone grafting. Practically all callus was formed by the graft constituents (particularly the periosteum) after heavier preoperative radiation doses and the longer interval between irradiation and bone grafting. The new bone formation started some days later and was of an inferior quality with larger preoperative doses and the longer interval between irradiation and bone grafting.


Scintigraphy of human autologous rib transplants to a partially resected mandible.

The 99Tcm-DP accumulation in split ribs grafted to six cases of partially resected mandibles was examined by scintigraphy at different time intervals after operations and found to be higher than in normal facial bones. The accumulation was highest around one month after the grafting procedure, and later decreasing. Differences between bone chips, split ribs and unsplit ribs are described. Bone scintigraphy is assumed to be of value in following the metabolic state of bone grafts.


The effects of long-term treatment with norephedrine on stress incontinence and urethral closure pressure profile.

Twenty-five women with stress incontinence of urine were given an alpha-adrenoceptor stimulating agent (norephedrine) and a placebo during respective 14-day periods according to a double-blind cross-over schedule. The results were classified as the patient's own assessment of therapeutic effect and as change in urethral closure pressure profile measured by a microtransducer catheter. Norephedrine had a significant therapeutic effect on the symptom stress incontinence and produced significant increase in maximum urethral pressure and maximum urethral closure pressure in the lithotomy and the erect position. Reduction of incontinence was associated with increase in maximum urethral closure pressure. The sum therapeutic effect was of moderate degree.


The use of dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) in the treatment of interstitial cystitis.

Dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) was used in 17 patients with interstitial cystitis. The diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings and the characteristic picture with Hunner ulcera. The majority of the patients had responded poorly to other forms of conservative treatment. Subjective symptoms were controlled in 2/3 of the cases but repeated treatment was needed and 5 patients did not respond to the therapy. The DMSO treatment is an alternative worth to try and has in some cases a dramatic and lasting effect.


Experimental hydronephrosis. Influence of infection on the histological picture.

The present paper is concerned with a histological examination of 110 pairs of rat kidneys from an experimental investigation on unilateral hydronephrosis previously published. Urine sampled by puncture of the obstructed pelvis remained sterile in cultures from most of the cases, though in 22 of a total of 184 cases growth of bacteria occurred. Intravenous injection of E. coli resulted in substantial growth of the bacteria in similar samples. In 2 cases the untreated control kidney displayed histological evidence of infection. The histology indicated that damage to the renal parenchyma in hydronephrotic kidneys probably predisposes the kidney for hematogenous infection.


Pyelorenal backflow during retrograde pyelography after renal transplantation.

Retrograde pyelography in 140 transplanted kidneys within 3 days of the operation showed a high frequency (29%) of pyelorenal backflow. Pyelotubular backflow, ordinarily a rare form of backflow, was seen in one-third of the patients whose transplants were removed within 60 days because of rejection, but in only 4% of the patients with surviving grafts. Pyelosinus backflow was found in 61% of the patients with signs of urinary obstruction, but in only 9% of the other patients. No relationship was found between pyelosinus backflow and graft rejection, or between pyelotubular backflow and urinary obstruction. Pyelotubular backflow may be an early radiographic sign of impending and serious rejection.


The effects of norephedrine and bethanechol on the human urethral closure pressure profile.

In twelve women with urinary stress incontinence simultaneous measurements were made of the intravesical and intra-urethral pressures, including the urethral closure pressure profile (UCPP), before and after oral administration of norephedrine or subcutaneous injection of bethanechol. The investigations were carried out at various bladder volumes in the supine position and at bladder volume 300 ml in erect position. Irrespective of bladder volume or body position, norephedrine caused a statistically significant rise in maximum urethral pressure (MUP) and in maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP). The intravesical pressure was not affected. After intravenous injection of phentolamine, MUP and MUCP fell to levels below the original readings, but here too the intravesical pressure was unaffected. Injection of bethanechol was followed by significant increase in the intravesical pressure, irrespective of bladder volume or body position. There were no consistent changes in the intra-urethral pressure. As a consequence of the rise in intravesical pressure, however, the MUCP fell slightly. The results of the study suggest that orally administered norephedrine causes an increase in the MUCP in women with stress incontinence of urine, an increase that may prove therapeutically useful. Bethanechol, in doses that significantly increased intravesical pressure, did not alter the intra-urethral pressure.


[Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy. 8 cases and review of the literature].

Eight cases of angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy were recently diagnosed at the University Hospital of Geneva. The disease was characterized by generalized adenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, fever, and sometimes skin rash. Six patients had polyclonal dysproteinemia and two displayed autoimmune disorders, e.g. Coombs' positive hemolytic anemia. Lymph node biopsy was a decisive pointer for the diagnosis. Four patients died, two of them from immunoblastic lymphoma. Four other patients are in remission, the longest follow-up being 91 months. Analysis of 213 cases from the literature shows the following features:--Males and females are equally affected, with a predominance after the age of 50.--The onset is characterized by constitutional symptoms (75%) and fever (65%), sometimes following exposure to drugs.--The signs are generalized adenopathy (91%), splenomegaly (66%), hepatomeagly (65%), and skin rash (46).--Polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia (76%) is found, together with anemia (78%) which is often autoimmune in origin (58%).--The course is often unfavourable and the mortality is over 55%, largely due to opportunistic infections and/or development of immunoblastic lymphoma.


Eosinophils as effector cells in disease.

The ability of eosinophils to express Fc and C3b receptors can alter in vivo and in vitro, and with these membrane receptors eosinophils can bind to IgG or C3b coated metazoan parasites and cells, some of which are killed. In addition, IgG and C3b coated particles can induce eosinophils to secrete their granule contents which include distinct basic (cationic) proteins and peroxidase. These may bind to surfaces or cell membranes where they could initiate complement activation, coagulation or kinin generation. The high incidence of thrombi and endocardial cell damage in patients with persistent eosinophilia (even when it is induced by malignant disease), supports this possibility. Endocardial damage which leads to Löffler's cardiomyopathy may be induced by these products being secreted from circulating eosinophils which have a prolonged blood half-life in hypereosinophilic states. It is concluded that eosinophils have an active role in inducting inflammatory processes in tissues, and that they are important effector cells in some types of parasitic and allergic diseases. Analyses of the way in which these effects occur may show how eosinophils carry out their functions in tissues.


[Proliferative activity and bacteriostatic capacity of human alveolar macrophages (proceedings)].

Human alveolar macrophages were collected by bronchopulmonary lavage and their proliferation activity and bacteriostatic capacity determined in vitro. Compared with blood monocytes the alveolar macrophages show a higher degree of differentiation with a very high bacteriostatic capacity and no proliferation acitivity. There were no major differences between alveolar macrophages from healthy individuals, heavy smokers and patients with bronchogenic cancer.


[Total prosthesis--a review of the literature].

A review of literature on full denture prosthetics is given with reference to the newest scientific results with clinical relevance. Presently, the accent seems to be on gerontological problems, on basic research of the denture bearing tissues and on the entire masticatory system after loss of teeth and under the influence of prosthetic rehabilitation. Finally research on dental materials and on microbiological problems are raised. An increasing number of investigations critically deals with existing and clinically proven methods and concepts of full denture construction. In the review of literature special fields like hybrid prosthetics and defect prosthetics have not been included, prosthetic materials only in special instances.


Haemophilia in the newborn. A case report and literature review.

Haemophilic bleeding in the newborn is rare. An infant who presented with a massive scalp haemorrhage on the second day of life is described and the relevant literature is reviewed.


Type I histiocytosis X presenting as biliary atresia. A case report.

Histiocytosis X may present in a variety of ways. We report a patient who presented with the unusual feature of infiltration of the hepatic duct with histiocytes, manifesting as biliary atresia.


B- and T-cell markers in lymphoproliferative disorders with blood and bone marrow involvement.

B- and T-cell surface markers were determined in 26 adult patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies who had bone marrow and blood involvement. The patients in whom more than 60% of the abnormal cells were immunoglobulin-bearing cells were considered to have B-cell lymphoproliferative malignancy. The diagnosis of a T-cell disorder was made in those patients in whom more than 70% of the cells formed E rosettes (T cells). Those patients in whom 30% and more of the abnormal cells did not show B- and T-cell surface markers were regarded as suffering from "null" cell disorder. The B-cell type of lymphoproliferative malignancy was the most commonly encountered (63%) with an equal male to female ratio. In addition, 4 male patients with "hairy-cell" leukaemia were shown to have a B-cell disorder. T-cell disorders were found in 3 male patients; 1 patient had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and in the other 2 the histopathological diagnosis was well-differentiated lymphoma and Sternberg sarcoma. Four patients with "null" cell lymphoma were found, the histopathological diagnoses in all were poorly-differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma, and 3 of the 4 patients were males. Further haematological investigations of the B-cell and the non-B-cell disorders showed that although the bone marrow was equally extensively infiltrated in both groups, the non-B-cell disroders were more commonly associated with complications of anemia and thrombocytopenia. It is therefore postulated that the abnormal lymphoid cell involved in B-cell disorders is an end-stage cell and not the haemopoietic stem cell.


The intra-uterine contraceptive device--contraceptive or abortifacient?

Further to the investigation of the possible mode of action of the intra-uterine contraceptive device (IUCD), an assay for the beta-specific subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) has detected endogenous chorionic activity 21 days after menstruation. In 22 proven ovulatory cycles, 7 patients wearing an IUCD had demonstrable serum HCG levels in 45% of these cycles. Abnormal menstruation was associated with the majority of cycles in which there was HCG in the serum. Subsequent luteolysis occurred in all cases. The results of this study may support the hypothesis that IUCD exerts its effect on the fertilized, implanted blastocyst, thus causing possible 'micro-abortion'. Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of HCG values in the follow-up of patients with hydatidiform mole or choriocarcinoma who are bearing IUCDs, since positive HCG levels may be due to an early, fertilized and implanted blastocyst and not to invasive tissue.


[Factors determining the rate of weight gain of the human fetus in utero].

A brief review is given of the factors determining the rate of weight gain of the human fetus in utero. A number of genetic, metabolic and environmental factors are outlined. Knowledge of these factors is important in modern obstetric care.


[The operation on and death of Lieutenant M.J. Nix].

One of the four Dutch military attaches who sided with the Republican forces in the Second Anglo-Boer War, Lieutenant M.J. Nix, was severely wounded during the battle at Sannaspost on 31 March 1900.  A British shrapnel bullet injured his spine, which left him almost completely paralysed.  He was transported in a British ambulance to the military hospital in Bloemfontein, where he was operated on on 10 April.  He died during the operation. Conan Doyle, who was a medical officer and War correspondent in the South African War, attended the operation and published a brief report of it in his well-known book The Great Boer War.  This report is quoted in full in this article. It is clear that the failure of the operation was due to the surgeon's lack of medical knowledge.


A comparative assessment of carbuterol, fenoterol and hexoprenaline in allergic asthma.

Carbuterol tablets (2,0 mg) were compared with the tablets of fenoterol (2,5 mg) and hexoprenaline (1 mg). The three drugs were shown to be equally effective for a period of 4 hours, but carbuterol and fenoterol exerted a statistically significant bronchodilating action for 7 and 8 hours respectively, while the action of hexoprenaline lasted for 4 hours in the majority of patients. The aerosols of carbuterol (200 mg) and fenoterol (400 mg) appeared to be similar in inhibiting exercise-induced asthma, whereas hexoprenaline (200 mg) did not appear to be as effective.


Dandy-Walker syndrome.

The problem of a patient with hydrocephalus, a posterior fossa 'cyst' and a cerebellar malformation is rather rare. Four cases of the syndrome are presented. The clinical manifestations, pathology, radiological investigations and management of the condition are briefly discussed.


Reflections on anatomy and physical anthropology.

The close and ineluctable links between anatomy and physical anthropology are explored. The relevance of many aspects of physical anthropology in the teaching of anatomy to medical and dental students is stressed. It is suggested that, since physical anthropology is one of the frontier fields in anatomical research today, it may help to attract personnel to anatomy departments which in most parts of the world are suffering from a serious shortage of suitably qualified people to teach gross anatomy.


Group B streptococcal infections in neonates and infants. Report of 16 cases, with referrence to the fatal outcome in late-onset leucopenic cases.

Sixteen cases of group B streptococcal (GBS) infections in neonates and infants aged up to 3 months were detected from November 1973 to January 1977. Three patients presented with pneumonia, 10 with meningitis and 3 with both pneumonia and meningitis. All diagnoses were confirmed by positive blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid cultures. The serotypes involved were type Ia (2 cases), type II (4 cases) and type III (10 cases). Ten patients died (62.5%). Early antibiotic treatment did not appear to affect the outcome, but low peripheral leucocyte count indicated a uniformly fatal outcome in 6 cases where leucopenia was documented, and this appeared to be associated with late-onset disease. The current status of GBS disease is presented, with particular reference to the control measures at present available and the possibility of immunotherapy and vaccination.


Ultrastructural investigations of the formation of Candida albicans germ tubes and septa.

Germ tubes, blastospores and pseudomycelia of Candida albicans were studied under the electron microscope. Both germ tube and blastospore formation begin with comparable changes in the cell wall of the mother cell. The major part of the germ tube wall consists of the fourth of the five layers forming the C. albicans cell wall. Germ tubes are precursors of mycelia which can ramify. Septa and septal pores can be demonstrated in later phases. Pseudomycelia can be clearly discerned by means of transmission electron microscopy.


Production of the interferon protein: hyporesponsiveness.

A number of mechanisms may be responsible for development of hyporeactivity in cells or animals infected with viruses or exposed to interferon inducers. Available evidence, however, has implicated a specific control protein in modulation of interferon production. The precise identity and mechanism by which the repressor molecule modulates interferon production is at present unknown. Development of hyporeactivity to interferon induction as a consequence of repeated doses of an inducer or that develops secondary to virus infection may represent a serious limitation to use of inducers as antiviral agents. However, judicious selection of treatment regimens and inducers may circumvent or limit the severity of hyporeactivity and consequently enhance the therapeutic activity of interferon inducers.


The precision and comparative sensitivity of interferon assays.

Any interferon assay essentially measures the potency of unknown samples relative to each other or to a standard. The reliability of such measurements of relative potency, i.e. the precision of the assay, is a key feature of any method. In contrast, sensitivity is seldom a characteristic of great importance in an assay. Nevertheless, relatively high sensitivity can often be achieved quite readily by a suitable choice of cells and challenge virus.


Rapid assay of interferon.

The current state of interferon assays permits the performance of a moderate number of determinations within 20 to 24 hours. A few procedures permit a small number of assays to be made within 8-10 hours. The decision to routinely use a specific procedure must be based on a careful evaluation of many factors in addition to the need for rapid results. In genral, it is assumed that preference would be given to a 16 hour determination requiring 2 hours of actual technical time, as compared to an 8 hour determination requiring 6 hours of technical time.


Purification of human interferons by antibody affinity chromatography.

Human Leukocyte Interferon, Human Fibroblast Interferon and Namalva-interferon was purified on an antibody affinity colomn up to 2-20 X 10 IFU/mg protein with recoveries in the 80-120% range. The colomn was made by coupling highly absorped anti-leukocyte interferon immunoglobulins to Sepharose 4B. The absorption was performed by means of crude human leukocyte interferon covalently bound to Sepharose 4B.


Molecular alterations of interferons.

Interferons can be chemically and enzymatically altered to obtain molecular forms which differ in size, charge, and/or host-range from native interferons. These data suggest that small active cores of interferons can be obtained which may possess more desirable characteristics than native interferons, such as lack of "species-specificity"" and increased stabilities. Studies for assessing alterations of interferons due to chemical or enzymatic treatments must monitor the treated interferons for changes in ratios of each of the various activities attributed to native interferons and must characterize the altered interferons in terms of each of the physical and biological markers.


Messenger RNA methylation, translation and degradation in extracts of interferon-treated cells.

Extracts from interferon-treated, not virus infected EAT cells differ in several biochemical characteristics from extracts of untreated cells. Some of these differences are manifested only if the extracts are supplemented with ds RNA and ATP. Thus, in the extracts from interferon-treated cells these supplements activate a protein kinase and an endonuclease activity as well as an inhibitor of the translation of messenger RNA. The effect of the same supplements in extracts of untreated cells is much less pronounced. Other differences between the two types of extracts do not seem to depend on the addition of ds RNA and ATP. These include an impairment of mRNA cap methylation and an inhibition of peptide chain elongation that can be overcome by the addition of tRNA. The treatment of human (HeLa S3) cells with human interferon is manifested in the cell extract similarly to the treatment of EAT cells with mouse interferon. Studies are underway to isolate and characterize the ds RNA activated enzymes and the inhibitors and to establish how the presence of these in extracts from interferon-treated cells can account for the impairment of virus replication by interferon.


Molecular mechanisms of the antiviral action of interferon: effects of interferon on the transcription of viral messenger RNA.

Evidence from a number of virus-cell systems, discussed above and in other papers in this section, shows that the resistance to virus infection induced by interferon is characterized by inhibition of both primary transcription and translation. This may be because interferon induces two (or more) distinct "antiviral proteins" which inhibit, respectively, the transcription and the translation of virus genetic information. Although both may be present in interferon treated cells, the one which is manifest in any given experimental system may depend on whether transcription or translation is the primary event in the replication of the particular virus, and upon the accessibility of the viral nucleic acid. Alternatively, inhibition of transcription and translation may be mediated by a single antiviral protein which is able to distinguish viral from cellular nucleotide sequences in both DNA and RNA. The interferon-induced ribosome-associated inhibitors of viral mRNA translation (see related papers in this section) are prime candidates for such an antiviral protein.


Membrane receptors for interferon.

Specific cell membrane receptors for interferon have been postulated based on a variety of different observations, such as the following: trypsin treatment of monkey-mouse hybrid cells preferentially destroys sensitivity to primate interferon (9); syngeneic mice immunized with human-mouse hybrid cells develop surface-directed antibodies, which only block antiviral action of human interferon (24); interferon covalently bound to Sepharose beads retains its antiviral activity despite the fact that diameters of the beads are several times those of the cells (1,10,19); cells challenged with polyl:C to produce interferon do not develop resistance to viral infection in the presence of interferon antiserum (30). Interferon has a strong and specific affinity for the carbohydrate side chain of cell membrane gangliosides. Preincubation of Sepharose-bound interferon with gangliosides inhibits antiviral activity in the following order of potency: GM2 greater than or equal to GTl greater than GMl greater than or equal to GDla (3). Derivatives of GM2 lacking either terminal N-acetyl-galactosamine or terminal N-acetyl-neuraminic acid are not (or very little) inhibitory; in addition, binding to gangliosides is reversed by N-acetyl-neuraminyl-lactose, the trisaccharide common to all gangliosides. These data clearly demonstrate interferon's specificity for the carbohydrate moiety of the ganglioside molecule (6). Phaeseolus vulgaris lectin, which blocks antiviral action of interferon (4), also prevents binding of interferon to ganglioside-Sepharose affinity columns (2). Many substances of known affinity for gangliosides likewise inhibit action of interferon. These include cholera (15) and tetanus toxins (2), thyrotropin (5,23) and human chorionic gonadotropin (5). Although a more general effect on the state of the membrane or on cellular metabolism by these substances cannot be ruled out, competition for interferon binding sites appears to be the most plausible explanation. Increased sensitivity of certain transformed cells to interferon upon uptake of exogenous gangliosides not only supports the concept that these glycolipids are involved in binding of interferon to the membrane, but furthermore points to the importance of interferon-ganglioside interaction for triggering of the antiviral response (29).


Interferon induction by polynucleotides: structure-function relationship.

In view of recent developments, the structural determinants of the interferon inducing activity of polynucleotides have been (re)evaluated. To induce interferon, the polynucleotide should be sufficiently large and double-stranded, although not necessarily double-stranded over its whole length. It should be sufficiently stable to both thermal denaturation and hydrolysis by nucleases. It should also contain a particular steric conformation. This conformation is most regularly ensured by the presence of 2'-hydroxyl in the ribose moieties and intact purine-pyrimidine base pairs in the interior of the double helix. Other biologic activities of polynucleotides, such as anti-complement activity and inhibition of reverse transcriptase (RNA-directed DNA polymerase) activity, depend on structural requirements which are rather antagonistic to those governing the interferon response.


The transfer of interferon-induced viral resistance between animal cells.

In summary we have shown that interferon treated mouse L cells can transfer their antiviral resistance to cocultured heterologous (human WISH or hamster BHK) cells which are insensitive to mouse interferon. Transfer of viral resistance seems to be initiated by interferon itself. Once transferred the viral resistance has the characteristics of the interferon-induced antiviral state. The transferred resistance occurs between several cell species. The transfer of resistance depends on the ratio of cells homologous (to interferon) to cells which are heterologous as well as to the absolute cell density at a given ratio. The transfer process is efficient in that it requires relatively small amounts of interferon. Finally, we propose that this phenomenon is a natural process for amplification of the interferon system and preliminary evidence indicates that it occurs by cell to cell transfer of an interferon-induced molecule.


Role of the membrane-bound receptor system in the biological activity of interferon.

The model of the interferon receptor system initially proposed in 1973 is now supported by many independent observations and can be described with somewhat more precision. The cell membrane-bound receptor system consists of a nonspecific binding site made up of gangliosides (such as GM2). The activator site is probably formed by glycoproteins. It is likely that interferon has to interact with both sites at the surface of the cell membrane. The activator site carries probably the interferon species specific properties of the receptor, while all the other metabolic steps necessary for the development of antiviral activity are not species specific. The cooperation (resulting most likely in small aggregates) will change the conformational state of the membrane in a way compatible with the action of interferon. We postulate that many other cellular effects of interferon, such as priming, modification of antigenic properties, changes in membrane permeability, increase or decrease in sensitivity to toxins, repression of cellular DNA synthesis could be secondary effects related to cell membrane modulation. Experiments are now in progress to prove or disprove these postulates.


Effect of interferon and lymphokines on lymphocytes.

We have reviewed some of the functions of lymphokines, the soluble mediators of the cellular immune response, which are produced by lymphoid cells. We have particularily emphasized those lymphokines which have functions similar to those reported for interferon. Interferon is capable of both amplifying and depressing cell mediated immunological reactions in a dose dependent fashion. The other lymphokines, whose functions are implicit in their names, are identified by their activities in various assay systems and thus there may be fewer actual molecular species than the list of factors implies. Obviously, there is much work to be done at both the cellular and molecular levels in order to elucidate the mechanism of lymphokine function.


Differentiation between antiviral and anticellular effects of interferon.

The antiviral and anticellular activities can be differentiated by biological, genetical, biochemical, and physico-chemical methods. The investigations on physical separation of activities suggest the anticellular effects to reside in a low MW molecule firmly associated with the antiviral molecule. Whether all or just some of the anticellular effects reside in this molecule is still unsolved.


On the mechanisms of the antitumor effects of interferon.

The effect of interferon in animals infected with some oncogenic viruses can be attributed to inhibition of viral replication or inhibition of the early events following viral infection. In those experimental systems in which continued administration of interferon proved effective after inoculation of oncogenic viruses, the effect may be due in part to an antiviral effect and in part to a direct action of interferon on the multiplication of precursor cells or tumor cells themselves. In animals bearing autochthonous tumors or grafted with transplantable tumors, the effects appear to be due in part to a a direct inhibition of the multiplication of the tumor cell (or an effect on the behavior of these tumor cells) and in part to an effect on the host - the nature of which remains to be defined. We must learn more of the interaction of interferon with host cells and understand how so many apparently different effects are triggered by this "polypractic substance" (6) before we can clarify the mechanism by which interferon can confer protection on animals infested with viruses, protozoa, or tumor cells.


Anti-tumor effects of interferon and its possible use as an anti-neoplastic agent in man.

Interferon exerts anti-tumour effects in vitro and in vivo in animal experiments. It can also exert an anti-tumour effect on human neoplastic cells in vitro. This article summarizes the results obtained so far in the anti-tumour trials in man in Stockholm. The need for scaled-up production of human interferon is emphasized.


Effect of interferon on systemic herpesvirus infections.

The studies reviewed here are encouraging in that HSV is moderately sensitive to the action of interferon and that infections in experimental animals clearly may be altered by exogenous interferon and interferon inducers. On the other hand it is apparent that the potential of this approach to treatment of herpesvirus infections is limited by the levels of interferon that can be passively administered or induced, the development of hyporeactivity which prevents maintaining high levels of interferon in infected animals after inoculation of inducers, and the failure to alter the course of HSV infection once the virus is established in target organs.


Trials of interferon in respiratory infections of man.

Human leucocyte interferon has been shown to prevent rhinovirus infection if given intranasally to human volunteers. This finding encourages further investigation, but it is too soon to say whether interferon is likely to be clinically useful in serious virus infections of the respiratory tract.


Antiviral action of interferon in man: use of interferon in varicella - zoster infections in man.

The effect of human leukocyte interferon on varicella-zoster infections was compared in a placebo controlled study. Thirty-six patients were treated with interferon and 26 with placebo. In the interferon treated group the duration of pain was shortened, the development of crust formation was enhanced and the viral clearance from lesions was accelerated, compared with the control group.


Use of bacteriophage nucleic acid inducers of interferon in man.

The interest in therapeutic exploration of phage ds-RNAs is motivated by their antiviral and immunoregulatory activities. Preliminary studies in man indicate that topical application of native ds-RNAs represents no health-hazard to patients and may be beneficial in the therapy of viral skin and eye diseases.


[Veterinarians and computers (author's transl)].

Uses of the computer in veterinary medicine are reviewed. The fact that the constantly increasing volume of the literature continues to be accessible is mainly due to the use of computers. In scientific research, the results of measurements and studies are being increasingly recorded and processed automatically. Diagnosis and epidemiology are promoted by more adequate processing and analysis of centrally collected data, as are herd management and disease control programmes in farm animals. In veterinary education, the computer is used as an aid in instruction. Administrations of practices are eminently suited for automation. Future developments in these fields are also discussed.


[A semi-solid enrichment medium in the isolation of Salmonella from minced meat (author's transl)].

A semi-solid enrichment medium as described by Chau and Huang (4) was modified and tested for suitability to isolate Salmonella from minced meat. The technique was found to be more rapid (averaging one day) as well as more sensitive than the usual technique with tetrathionate brilliant green bile broth incubated at 43% C (2.2 per cent more isolations).


[Surgical treatment of the flail chest (author's transl)].

Six patients with traumatic flail chest underwent surgical stabilization using a procedure introduced by Brunner, Hoffmeister and Koncz (2). Compared with internal stabilization by intermittend positive pressure respiration (IPPR), there are some advantages: Time of artificial respiration is shortened, early mobilization is possible, nursing is easier. The procedure is simple to do and is indicated in those patients, in whom longterm artificial respiration is not necessary for other reasons.


[New aspects in operative flail chest management (author's transl)].

A method for stabilization of flail chest is described. A row of pericostal chromic catgut sutures is placed from the pleural surface using a probe as ligature carrier.


Association of HLA antigens with glucose intolerance following renal transplantation.

Records of 109 renal transplant patients were reviewed to test the hypothesis that post transplant glucose intolerance would be associated with "diabetic", HLA antigens (HLA--B8, B18, Bw15 and Bw16). Of 42 patients with significant glucose intolerance, 23 had one or more of these antigens (RR=2.65, P=0.01). These findings suggest that stress or drug treatment associated with renal transplantation can induce glucose intolerance in patients with a "diabetic" gene associated with the HLA--B locus.


Islet morphometry in the diabetic pancreas of man.

Quantitative changes of the pancreatic islets in diabetes mellitus were analyzed by a stereological method. 26 maturity-onset and 5 growth-onset diabetics, and 37 nondiabetics including 9 hypertensives were selected from autopsy materials and the pancreases were subjected to histometry. The total islet volume Vi was 0.974 cm3 in the control, whereas it was only 0.596 and 0.255 cm3 in the maturity-onset and growth-onset diabetic groups, respectively. The hypertensive group gave almost the same value as the control. There was an obvious negative correlation between Vi and the maximum blood sugar level during glucose tolerance test, whether the case was diabetic or not. Moreover, in the diabetic group Vi diminished with descending age of onset. These findings indicate the importance of VI in the pathophysiology of diabetes and support the classical concept of insulin deficiency as the primary pathogenetic role. On the other hand, the total islet number Ni decreased with increasing mean radius r, and the diabetic and control cases shared a common regression of Ni on r. The diabetic pancreas was not characterized by Ni, r or by the distribution pattern of r.


Development of tissue factor activity in mononuclear cells cultured in vitro.

Tissue factor activity was detected in human mononuclear cells cultured with E. coli endotoxin in vitro. The effecient concentration of endotoxin inducing significant tissue factor development was in excess of 10(-3) microgram/ml, and a dose response type relationship was seen between them. The activity developed after culturing for 2 hr and increased up to 6 hr, and thereafter no significant increase was observed. Although the activity was detected both in cell extract and on cell surface, the main activity seemed to exist on the cell surface. No correlation was observed between the synthetic rate of nucleic acid and the rate of development of the activity. Although the activity was detected also in a granulocyte preparation, it was significantly less than that in mononuclear cells. The development of activity was observed when lymphocytes were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium, MEM, and in autologous serum. However, the activity was not observed when cultured in Hanks solution and PBS, in which the main difference from RPMI was the absence of amino acids, and in autologous serum containing sodium citrate which was added for elimination of Ca++ from serum. Moreover, actinomycin D suppressed the development of activity, and the same was noted at low culture temperature. These results suggest that some metabolic change of the cell membrane triggered by endotoxin may induce the development of tissue factor in cells.


Antitumor activity of hot-water extract from delipidated BCG.

The antitumor activity of hot-water extract of delipidated BCG was investigated in mice inoculated with Sarcoma-180 cells and Ehrlich carcinoma cells, respectively. The hot-water extract was found to be effective when administered after and ineffective when administered before the inoculation of tumor cells. When this extract was given with anticancer drugs, such as Mitomycin C and cyclophosphamide, a combined effect was obtained in the treatment of Sarcoma-180 and of Ehrlich carcinoma.


Piccolyte investments for better section cutting.

Piccolyte 115 (beta-pinence polymers) added to Tissuemat, Paraplast or Peel-Away embedding media is recommended for investment of infiltrated tissues. Mixed with paraffin at 3% and 10% and used for double embedding of paraffin infiltrated tissues, Piccolyte 115 permits good, complete sections virtually free of folds or wrinkles in less time and with less effort than with paraffin embedding alone.


[Prosthetic treatment of patients with clefts. 2. The removable partial prosthesis].

In cleft patients it is especially recommendable to combine the cast partial prosthesis with the direct blocking of the teeth. Direct blocking by crown blocks, bridge prostheses, connecting bars and telescopes should include, as far as possible, all teeth. Apart from indirect blocking, the one piececast prosthesis permits to keep free the periodontium to the greatest possible extent and to protrude the teeth in the anterior region.


[The stability of complete dentures in the construction of functional movement patterns].

In a cross-sectional study involving 185 full denture wearers, the stability of upper and lower dentures was determined by means of active test movements according to Herbst. The percentages of instable dentures and their confidence intervals were calculated. It was found that all sections of upper full dentures can be regarded as equal with regard to stability, whereas the sections of lower full dentures showed considerable differences. Finally, practice-relevant conclusions are drawn from the results of the present study.


[Placement of the sensitivity tester in "Probaset" and "Probamat D"].

For ergonomical reasons the authors suggest, if a Probamat D unit and a fixed turbine are used, to place the turbine handpiece on the mount destined for the sensibility tester and to manufacture a new holder for the latter. The Probaset unit provides no place for the sensibility tester. Therefore, it is recommended to fit the bracket table with a suitable mount.


[Labeled mitosis curve in the presence of different states of cell proliferation kinetics. IV. Additional remarks on the method of a posteriori modeling].

Using the conditional probability density function of phase duration--h (a, t), defined for a cell just completing a given phase of the mitotic cycle at the moment t it is possible to construct a mathematical description of the fraction labeled mitoses curve. The function h (a, t) defined for any separate phase can be described by means of a certain mathematical expression which is applicable even in the presence of transient processes in cell kinetics and serves as an appropriate generalization of the same result from the theory of exponentially growing cell populations (the model of age-dependent branching process). When the sum of r successive phases with stochastically dependent durations is under consideration and the age of a cell is measured from the start of phase r, it is necessary to find out the expression for the function hr (ar, t). The derivation of such an expression is given.


[Method of sedimentational-electrophoretic analysis of cell populations].

The described method of analysis of cell populations' heterogeneity involves two parameters simultaneously: the sedimentation velocity and the electrophoretic mobility of cells. The method is based on the photographic registrarion of resulting traces of cell velocity in the fields of gravition and electricity with consequence of the elements of these traces on the photographs. The experimental data on the distribution of these parameters in the ascitic tumor cell population are given.


Complementary structures of membrane fracture faces obtained by ultrahigh vacuum freeze-fracturing at -196 degrees C and digital image processing.

Conventional freeze-etch replicas of the cytoplasmic fracture face (PF) of the yeast plasmalemma membrane show hexagonally ordered regions. Complementary features on the extraplasmic face (EF) could not be identified. Replicas with improved topographical resolution were obtained for both fracture faces by ultrahigh vacuum freeze-fracturing at -196 degrees C. The hexagonally ordered structure on the PF is seen to consist of volcano-like particles with a crater of 5 nm diameter. The lattice constant is 16.5 nm. On the EF, ring-like depressions corresponding to particles on the PF can occasionally be detected; the existence of ordered regions can be established by optical diffraction. Complementarity of periodic features on the PF and EF is demonstrated by digital image filtration. A main structure, coarse features of which appear on conventional PF replicas is shown to have perfect complementarity at a resolution level of 2 nm. On the EF an additional substructure, completely obscured on normal replicas, is revealed. Its complementarity remains tentative as shadows cast by the main structure impair identification of substructural features on the PF.


The direct determination of magnetic domain wall profiles by differential phase contrast electron microscopy.

A new technique for the quantitative investigation of magnetic structures in ferromagnetic thin films is proposed. Unlike previous techniques the detected signal is simply related to the magnetic induction in the film, and as such the direct determination of domain wall profiles is possible. The technique utilizes a differential phase contrast mode of scanning transmission electron microscopy in which the normal bright field detector is replaced by a split-detector lying symmetrically about the optic axis of the system. The difference signal from the two halves of the detector provides the required magnetic information. Analysis of the image formation mechanism shows that, using a commercially available scanning transmission electron microscope equipped with a field emission gun, wall profiles should be obtainable directly from most structures of interest in Lorentz microscopy. Furthermore, signal-to-noise considerations indicate that these results can be obtained in acceptably short recording times. Finally, experimental results using both polycrystalline and single crystal specimens are presented, which confirm the theoretical predictions.


Effect of oxybutynin chloride on bladder spasm following transurethral surgery.

A double-blind study of the short-term effects of oxybutynin chloride versus placebo on bladder spasm after transurethral surgery was done in 106 male patients. No significant difference between the placebo and 10 mg. or 20 mg. of the drug was noted.


[Effect of selective proximal vagotomy on pancreatic islet function in duodenal ulcer].

The tolerance to glucose and immunoreactive insulin blood level in duodenal ulcer cases before operation and following selective proximal vagotomy combined with stomach drainage and without the latter has been studied. These operations result in the normalization of the body tolerance to glucose disturbed in duodenal ulcer. The insular function of the pancreas does not get upset therewith.


[Clinical and laboratory evaluation of the results of treating trophic ulcers of the lower extremities with a catgut dressing].

To assess the effect of the catgut dressing in trophic ulcers of the lower extremities upon the dynamics of non-specific immunological reactivity the authors defined the complementary activity of the serum, concentration of the serumal lysozyme and contents of thermolabile inhibitors of the serum. The clinical and laboratory findings prove that the use of the cargut dressing in trophic ulcers of the lower extremities increases the level of non-specific immunological reactivity of an organism. The use of catgut for the therapeutic purposes stimulates the condition of natural immunity which constitutes one of the causes contributing to a favourable course of the healing processes.


[Clinical and experimental parallels in elaborating methods to increase the viability of the pedicle flap].

On the grounds of the correlation between experimental findings and experience with the use of biologically prepared tissues for the formation of the pedicle grafts in 30 patients, the indications for the clinical application of this method, some problems of surgical technic and immediate results of surgical interventions are discussed.


[Healing of peritonized and nonperitonized peritoneal defects in growing organisms].

Clinical data (110 observations over 106 cases) and experiments on animals proved the inexpediency of the peritonization of non-pertonized surfaces in children both in "pure" peritoneum and under the condition of a pronounced inflammation. Renouncement of peritonization of peritoneal defects has favoured the decrease of the incidence rate of the recurrence of ileum and the improvement of late results of the treatment. The authors believed that the peritonization is needed only when defects of the intestinal wall reach the submucous level and as this takes place a pronounced bleeding, which cannot be controlled without suturing, is noted. Intestinal perforation localized in the non-peritonized sites was never observed, even when the muscular layer of the intestinal wall was damaged.


[Practical possibilities of omentoorgranopexy].

Anatomy of the greater omentum was studied in 129 human cadavers with a special regard to its size, shape and type of blood supply. The experiment on omentization of various parenchymal organs in 125 dogs has been run. On the grounds of the analysis of the findings some recommendations concerned with the use of various methods of the great omentum plasty, aimed at the omentization of organs situated both close to the omentum base and at some distance from it, are given.


[Basic trends in the development of coronary surgery].

The author began using successfully mammary-coronary anastomosis in the clinic in 1964. He used both--suture technic of the creation of anastomosis and the vasosuturing apparatus. The author believes that the use of Favaloro and Effler autovenous aortocoronary shunting delayed the clinical use of mammary-coronary anastomosis without any reasonable scientific grounds. He also considers that an inexact historic information on the use of mammary-coronary anastomosis is presented in the literature, and physiological peculiarities of this operation are underestimated so far.


[Treatment of infected wounds using a powderlike mixture].

The use of I.D. Zhitnyuk powder is grounded on its absorbing and antiseptic properties. 211 patients with infected wounds were treated with this powder. According to the authors' data the powder mixture increases wound discharge, lessens inflammatory pheomena around the wound and hastens the rejection of necrotic tissues. The use of the powder results in the increase of phagocytosis and rapid disappearance of pathogenic microbes, as it has been proved through bacteriologic and cytologic studies.


Eidemiological aspects of an outbreak of salmonellosis in sheep.

An outbreak of salmonellosis caused by Salmonella typhimurium occurred in a lambing flock where management factors and fostering movements were responsible for spread within the group and to farm personnel and their families. Possible sources of the infection are discussed.


Diversity of the anti-HBc response and its correlations with other immunological parameters in asymptomatic HBsAg carriers.

The anti-HBc response was investigated by immunofluorescence in the sera of 109 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers. The results suggest the presence of at least two antigenic HBcAg determinants, possibly correlated with the replication phase. The subjects with intensive anti-HBc response showed immunological alterations consistent with the presence of active liver lesions and of hepatocellular membrane injury.


Some pathogenic features of viral hepatitis.

Some pathogenic features of viral hepatitis (VH) are analysed on the ground of literature data and personal results. Correlations concerning blood group distribution in the case of apparently asymptomatic HBsAg carriage and of acute and chronic VH, as well as correlations with individual characteristics such as age and sex a.o., are presented. The possibility that other genetic and epigenetic factors may help to a better knowledge of VH pathogeny is discussed.


The action of dyes on tumors.

The photodynamic and antimetabolic action of dyes on experimental tumors is reviewed. The author's personal experience concerning the action of toluidine blue on mouse Ehrlich ascites carcinoma is presented. Some considerations are made on the problems and prospects of the application of dyes in antitumoral therapy.


Sandwich enzymoimmunoassay of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).

A sandwich enzymoimmunoassay (EIA) procedure was developed for the detection of HBsAg using Fab' of anti-HBsAg conjugated with beta-D-galactosidase from Escherichia coli with anti-HBsAg-coated silicone rubber discs as a solid phase. EIA could detect 1 ng/ml of HBsAg. It was as sensitive as radioimmunoassay (RIA, AusRia II) and about 30-fold more sensitive than reversed passive hemagglutination assay RPHA, ReverseCell). EIA and RIA could detect more HBsAg-positive sera than RPHA.


Fetal human hemolytic plaque-forming cells. Evidence of reactivity to maternal and other erythrocytes.

Lymphoid tissues from 24 human fetuses were assayed for hemolytic plaque-forming cells (PFC) against a variety of erythrocyte targets. PFC against maternal and other erythrocyte antigens were commonly detected in human fetal liver, lymph nodes, spleen, or thymus as early as 16 weeks gestation and were usually more abundant in liver than in spleen after 16 weeks gestation. These data corroborate studies from other laboratories which indicate that human fetuses develop some forms of immunocompetence very early during gestation.


Cell-mediated immunity in professional and voluntary blood donors.

Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) was compared in professional and voluntary blood donors. Depressed CMI in professional donors was revealed by the presence of significantly lower numbers of positive delayed reactive hypersensitivity responses to Candida albicans, streptokinase and streptodornase, as well as a decrease in lymphoblast transformation response to phytohaemagglutinin. Furthermore, the serum protein and albumin levels in professional donors did not correlate with the depression in CMI. The blood of professional blood donors should be considered to be a poor source of therapeutic immune cell fractions.


Micromethods in blood group serology.

A micromethod is described that can be used for typing red cells by saline, albumin and anti-human globulin techniques and that can also-be used for Gm and Inv typing. It has the advantage that very small amounts of sera can be used, 4 microliter for saline and albumin methods and 10 microliter for the anti-human globulin technique. The system enables one method to be applied to all techniques, and as the prepared plates with their antisera can be stored frozen it is ideal for large scale testing.


[Dynamics of secretory and serum immunoglobulins in children in the course of vaccinations with live poliomyelitis monovaccines].

The influence of vaccination with live poliomyelitis monovaccines on the formation of immunoglobulins in the blood serum and the buccal secrets was studied in infants under 1 year. There was a correlation between rises in the levels of serum immunoglobulins (Ig) of the A, G, and M classes and titers of neutralizing antibody to the three poliomyelitis virus types. The highest level of secretory IgA  was observed after immunization with type I monovaccine. The level of secretory IgA correlated with the virus-neutralizing activity of the buccal cavity secretes for poliomyelitis virus types I, II, and III. After immunization with type II and III monovaccines there was an insignificant increase of the IgA content in the buccal cavity secretes. In contrast to poliovirus type I which was isolated from throat samples in 40% of the vaccinees, the other two types of poliomyelitis virus were not found in throat swabs. It is suggested that in the course of immunization with live poliovirus vaccine there are differences in the immunogenesis to poliovirus of different types.


[Cytologic and histochemical study of cell cultures chronically infected with fixed rabies virus].

Cytoplasmic inclusion bodies corresponding in their tinctorial properties to Negri bodies were detected in TEp-2/2 and BHK-21/13S cell cultures chronically infected with fixed rabies virus. The number of cells containing the inclusions was always than that of the cells producing virus-specific antigen. Histological examinations of chronically infected cultures revealed considerable inhibition of the acid phosphatase activity, some weakening of the reaction to alkaline phosphatase, and a marked decline in the activity of succinate dehydrogenase. The intensity of reaction to RNA in chronically infected cultures was increased, particularly in those zones of the cells where RNA-containing inclusions were detected. The activity of the respiratory enzyme HAD-H2 tetrasolium reductase in HEp-2/2 cells was reduced and in BHK-21/13S cells increased as compared to the control.


[Changes in myocardial contractile function and in the hemodynamic indices in patients with myocardial infarct before and after beta-blockader treatment].

The changes in the basic hemdynamic indices and in the phase structure of the cardiac cycle in patients with acute infarction prior to and post treatment with beta-blockers (Obsidan and Trasicor) were studied. Manifested changes in the hemodynamics were established, namly: pulse rate and cardiac flow decrease, the total peripheral resistance grows; veloqcilty of blood flow is slowed down. The preparations used have a negative effect upon the phase structure of left ventricle as well. The authors underline that beta-blockers administration in acute myocardial infarction should be evaluated very carefully and in the presence of clinical signs for cardiac insufficiency, it should be carried out on the background of cardiotonic treatment.


[Production of antiserum for preparation of FITC-conjugated immunoglobulins intended for poxvirus detection].

The experience of using sheep as donors of hyperimmune smallpox antiserum produced by immunization with vaccinia virus grown in the homologous tissue is described. In the preparatory stage of immunization four intravenous or intramuscular injections of a low dose of the antigen were used. Subsequently, as the need in the serum arose (10--14 days before) the animals were given a "hit" dose of the antigen (20 ml) intravenously. With this immunization schedule it was possible to obtain smallpox antisera containing precipitins (in a titer of 1:32), hemagglutinins (1:1280), and antibody detectable by the indirect immunofluorescence technique (1:2560). Then, from these sera, using two precipitations of the immunoglobulin fraction with ammonium sulfare, antipox FITC-conjugates were prepared which were highly active and specific, and were as good as FITC-conjugates prepared from rabbit hyperimmune sera.


Bedside diagnosis of urinary infection. A pilot study.

Early recognition of catheter-associated urinary infection is essential to proper management. Daily bacteriological monitoring of indwelling catheters by routine urine culture is expensive and time consuming. A pilot study using liquid media at room temperature incubation showed a sensitivity approximating 90 percent in detecting bacteriuria. A simplified screening test can be carried out daily at the bedside; a positive screen would be followed by standard bacteriological studies. Such a method permits earlier diagnosis, and results in great saving in cost as well.


[Progress in the surgical treatment of biliary disease (author's transl)].

Surgical techniques in the treatment of diseases of the gallbladder and the common bile duct have hardly changed over the past 30 years, except in the case of operations on the papilla. On the other hand, the intraoperative diagnosis of stones in the common bile duct according to Mirizzi, combined with the introduction of pressure measurements, has achieved quite a measure of success. Moreover, preoperative diagnosis in patients with jaundice can be achieved simply and with greater accuracy nowadays by means of ERCP, with a consequent positive influence on the operative technique.


[Advances in the surgical treatment of congenital heart defects (author's transl)].

One-stage correction of operable congenital cardiac defects in infancy, the operative treatment of transposition of the great arteries and the operative management of intracardial stenosis or atresia with a conduit are examples of the progress achieved in the treatment of congenital heart disease. The improvement in preoperative diagnosis, supporting medication, the technique of extracorporeal circulation and in surgical technique are the reasons why nowadays only a few, rare congenital malformations of the heart are inoperable.


Reduction of trimethylamine N-oxide by Escherichia coli as anaerobic respiration.

E. coli was found to grow anaerobically on lactate in the presence of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMANO), reducing it to trimethylamine. Anaerobic growth on glucose was promoted in the presence of TMANO. When a culture grown in complex medium was transferred to defined medium, growth on glucose and ammonia took place in the presence of TMANO after consumption of complex nutrients introduced with the preculture, in contrast to growth in nitrate respiration. The amounts of ethanol, succinate, and lactate among the fermentation products were decreased and that of acetate was increased in the presence of TMANO. Formate generation was much reduced at pH 7.4, whereas stoichiometric formation of formate was observed in the absence of TMANO. Cells grown anaerobically in the presence of TMANO had a higher activity of amine N-oxide reductase than cells grown under other conditions. The content of cytochrome-558 was elevated in the presence of TMANO during growth in complex medium. Cytochrome c-552 found in cells grown in diluted complex medium or defined medium in the presence of TMANO was oxidized by TMANO in cell extracts. The molar growth yield on glucose was higher in the presence of TMANO than in its absence and lower than that in the presence of nitrate.


Virus-like particles in yeast: isolation and infectivity.

Virus-like particles containing electron dense cores are seen in thin sections of intact and degenerated cells of a thermosensitive (ts) strain of Candida tropicalis. A particulate fraction not present in wild-type cells has been isolated from the ts cells disrupted by pressure. The particles are 80-120 nm in diameter. Empty particles with a central cavity are observed. The method of infecting mating pairs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by partially purified particles is described.


[Lung transplantations in the hospital (author's transl)].

Successful clinic lung transplantations are an urgent necessity. Till now published 37 transplantations were unsatisfactory in the result. They showed that today the lung transplantation is still an experimental method. This paper analyses the results with the mark to recognize emphasis of the experimental research.


[The value of supportive therapy in the treatment of malignant tumors].

Supportive care are a strongly connected constituent of the curative and palliative treatment of cancer. They serve for prevention and early diagnosis, respectively, and treatment of complications during therapy and disturbances which may issue from the tumour disease itself. These are especially the results of the insufficiency of the bone marrow which in the last years increasingly moved into the centre of the therapeutic interest. A survey of the present state of the treatment of these and other general complications in patients with malignant neoplasms is given.


[Parathyroid hormone and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentrations in the serum of patients with kidney transplantations and their radiological correlation].

In 40 renal transplant patients the serum concentration of parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, calcium and inorganic phosphate were estimated. The results of these biochemical studies were compared to X-ray soft tissue and bone pathologic findings. The serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) was normal in 37 patients and increased in 3 cases. 19 (47.5%) renal transplant recipients showed decreased serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels. In 23 out of 40 patients (57.5%) serum phosphate was lower than 3.0 mg/100 ml. X-ray soft tissue changes were observed in 28 (70%) and bone changes in 18 (45%) patients; both frequencies were higher when compared to occurrence during regular dialysis treatment. Features of hyperparathyroid osteopathy were frequently observed in renal transplant recipients. Femoral head necroses were predominant in men, whereas osteomalacia with Looser's zones were found mainly in women. The pathogenesis of X-ray bone changes in patients with renal transplants seems to be multifactorial and related to the duration of secondary hyperparathyroidism before renal transplantation as well as to phosphate depletion and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol deficiency.


[Experimental studies on the therapeutic modification of intestinal adhesion formation].

One of the main problems encountered by the surgeon are visceral adhesions after abdominal surgery. This problem was studied in animal experiments by inducing peritoneal adhesions in 30 albino rats. The anti-inflammatory, resp. anti-adhesive effect of corticosteroids and antihistamines was tested by application of these drugs before, resp. after surgery. Anti-inflammatory proteolytic enzymes (Wobe-Mugos) were applied pre-, resp. postoperatively in two other groups. A fifth group served as controls. A modified cotton-pellet technique was used for the experiments. The best results were achieved when "Wobe-Mugos" was applied after surgery.


A comparative in vitro study of antibody binding to different stages of the hookworm Ancylostoma caninum.

The Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Technique (IFAT) and the Indirect Immuno Peroxidase Technique (IIPT) have been applied to cryostat sections and intact stages of the hookworm species Ancylostoma caninum with sera from infected dogs. Especially the role of the body surface (= cuticle (cortex, matrix, basal layer) and hypodermis) in immunity was studied. Using cryostat sections and dead intact stages as the antigen, specific antibody binding was demonstrated round the ovum membrane and the cuticle of all stages of this hookworm species. Cryostat sections of adult worms showed, that it probably is not the cuticle itself that is antigenic, but that the specific reaction that is observed consisted of a layer, covering the cortex of the cuticle. Infective and parasitic living stages, however, showed no antibody binding in contrast to the free-living stages in which specific antibody binding was demonstrated.


The malaria burden and population growth in the Solomon Islands.

This paper outlines the result of the control of infectious diseases, and more especially malaria, on the growth of populations in the Solomon Islands since 1931, the year of the first census, to 1976, the year in which the fourth census revealed, that a population explosion had occurred, and was occurring unabated.


Malaria and pregnancy.

A review of current literature on the effects of malaria on pregnant women and the foetus is made and its effective control is discussed. The role of placenta as an exchange organ and as the first defence line for foetus is also described. Reduced resistance to malaria during pregnancy may be due to immunological and hormonal changes. In malarious areas, the effective control of malaria results in reduced maternal anaemia and in increased birth-weights. Prophylaxis, treatment and other antimalarial measures are more beneficial to the primiparous than multiparous women.


Surgical treatment of lymphedema--a reappraisal.

The clinical picture of lymphedema and its classification have been briefly reviewed with a discussion of surgical treatment both historical and current. It has been pointed out that the primary mode of treatment of congenital or secondary lymphedema of the extremities is intensive medical therapy and that surgical intervention is warranted in only rare and unusual circumstances. The gamut of surgical procedures attempted have been reviewed and it is this author's contention that the only procedure of limited, worthwhile value is a combination of the Kondoleon and the Thompson procedures. The Kondoleon phase of the procedure debulks the extremity in stages and removes the deep fascia. The Thompson form of the procedure advances a deepithelialized dermal flap into the deep lymphatical venous system. It has not been conclusively proven whether this dermal flap is of significant physiologic benefit, but I feel it is worth adding this to the Kondoleon procedure so that in time, we will have an opportunity to evaluate the value of this phase of the procedure.


[Variations in the use of microscopic instruments for the examination of urinary calculi in routine professional practice and in research].

Generalising considerations concerning the problem of the analysis of urinary calculi as well as a longer testing within own examination prove modern microscopic methods and devices to be a scientific and practical instrumentarium for the examination of urinary calculi which has a good future. Expensive special microscopes may above all remained reserved for research examinations on urinary calculi, if simple laboratory microscopes for routine analyses of urinary calculi are supplemented by cheap additional constructing elements.


[Action of the anti-inflammatory agent Lonazolac on experimentally-induced acute inflammation of human skin].

Using two experimental models of acute dermatitis in man, Lonazolac proved to possess dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effects. No untoward side effects were seen even at the higher doses of the drug. The results are consistent with animal studies: In its effect on the acute experimental dermatitis, Lonazolac resembles indomethacin more closely than oxyphenbutazone. It is superior to the comparable anti-inflammatory drugs in its effect on the inflammatory erythema of the skin; in its effect on the inflammatory edema of the skin, it stands between oxyphenbutazone and indomethacin.


[Religious experiences and psychotherapeutic methods].

Special similarities between religious practices and psychotherapeutic methods are described: Magic practices are related to psychotherapeutic methods, based on suggestion. Mystic contemplation or the training of relaxation in religious cults is close to all relaxation-methods in psychotherapy. Religious cults with ascetic practices cause halluzinatoric reactions. We find many psychotherapeutic methods, which try to make use of the effects of artificial deprivation. Psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic treatment seems to be close to the jewish religion. Old talmudian wisdom asks the jew to make his best efforts in order to organize his own life well (man for himself). On the other hand the jewish religion asks all members of the religious group to be strictly obedient to the accepted laws and orders of God, otherwise the allience with God wil be lost. The patient in psychoanalysis is expected to do his best for his own wellbeing. On the other hand he is asked to accept special rules and laws of the therapy in order to keep the "working-allience" with his analyst. The psychoanalytic working-allience has some similarities with the allience with God which is important for the devoted jew.


[The problem of endotoxin shock after antibiotic therapy in surgery (author's transl)].

2 fatal cases of endotoxin shock after antibiotic therapy due to massive Escherichia coli infection after surgery are described to emphasize this rare possibility of complication. In cases of major infections with Gram-negative bacterais antibiotics should therefore prophylactically be given initially in low doses and only after observation in increasing amounts.


Electronmicroscopic finding of surface structure and capsular swelling reaction of a strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae.

To investigate a capsular swelling reaction of the strain K-9 of Klebsiella pneumoniae, possessor of large capsule, ultra-thin sections of the organisms were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and were treated with rabbit antiserum. The ultra-thin sections of above stained organisms showed spike-like structure in outmost layer of the cell wall. When they were treated with rabbit antiserum, the outmost layers of the organisms was surrounded by a zone of oval to round polymorphous vesicular structure which covered the spike-like appendages. These findings were assumed being capsular swelling reaction of these organisms. However, when they were treated with rabbit antiserum which was previously absorbed with the polysaccharide surface antigen, polymorphous vesicular structures did not appear and sharp spiked structures issuing from the cell wall were exposed.


[The localization of the anodically-moving thermolabile antigen (ATA) of gram-negative bacteria with ferritin-labelled antibodies (author's transl)].

In studies on the antigenic structure of shigellae, an anodically-moving thermolabile antigen (ATA) was found, which furthermore could be detected in many other enterobacteriae (9, 10). ATA is a glycoprotein with a high molecular heterogeneity, resulting from aggregates of a subunit with a molecular weight of about 22000 Daltons. In the present paper the antigen was localized on the cell surface of several species by means of the immunoferritin technique. Antibodies against the purified ATA were raised in rabbits and were coupled with ferritin using glutaraldehyde. The antigen was found focally distributed over the whole circumference of the cell. According to the location of the ferritin granules, the ATA is tightly attached to the outer membrane. Especially some rough forms of the bacteria were heavily labelled on their surface. From the results obtained we conclude that in the smooth form the polysaccharide side chains of the somatic antigen cover the ATA.


[Imported diseases, the epidemiological challenge of communicable diseases (author's transl)].

Imported infectious diseases being seen more often in consequence of intensive human contacts with developing countries through labourers and tourists, but also in consequence of immigration and of import of exotic diseases and of food, favoured by the quick air traffic, can be divided into 5 groups: 1. Imported diseases from the tropics (exotic diseases) 2. Imported agents from the tropics with human infection in the native country 3. Re-importation of diseases which were eliminated in the homelands 4. Diseases which are as well imported as also native 5. Single disease importations from neighboured countries. The imported infections are discussed systematically, caused by viruses, rickettsias, bacteries, protozoes, fungi, and followed by references to statistics, laboratory infection reports, questions of insurance. Imported diseases of the future are especially mentioned. Knowledge of the tropical infections as a main danger for our "civilized" world should be part of the medical training, since imported infectious diseases cause an epidemiologic challenge in the modern picture of communicable infections.


Studies on the mode of action of phenylmercuric borate on Escherichia coli. I. Structural localization and kinetics of incorporation.

Phenylmercuric borate (PHB) is very rapidly incorporated into the cells of Escherichia coli, and binds directly to its sites of fixation. The rapid incorporation of PHB probably results from the lipophilic character of the [phenylmercuric]+ cation. The distribution of PHB in the cell is fairly uniform if one compares with that of the proteins. This shows the low specificity of PHB with regard to proteins, all of which appear to be potential sites for fixation. However, from the structural point of view, PHB is more differentiated in its distribution. The cell wall of E. coli and the soluble cytoplasmic fraction do not constitute important sites of fixation. On the contrary, the cytoplasmic membrane appears to be a preferential site of fixation. Moreover, it is very probable that the distribution of PHB in vivo should be even more likely at the cytoplasmic membrane since the process of homogenization of the cells solubilizes a large part of the proteins associated to the membrane. On the membrane, an important part of PHB seems to be associated with the ribosomes and particularly to the ribosomal proteins.


Studies on the mode of action of phenylmercuric borate on Escherichia coli. II. Biochemical localization and inhibition of some metabolic activities.

The biochemical localization of phenylmercuric borate (PHB) on Escherichia coli shows that this disinfectant associates essentially with proteins. Protein electrophoresis demonstrates that each protein contains PHB, and that SH groups play a very important role in its fixation. The quantity of PHB able to associate with proteins is so large that many other electron donor groups must react with it. Moreover, it appears that concentration of PHB on cytoplasmic membrane results rather from the privileged position of this structure than from special physicochemical properties. The great reactivity of PHB towards proteins leads to numerous inhibitions and confers upon this antibacterial drug a very complex mode of action. Four important metabolic activities have been tested in the presence of PHB, namely: respiration, protein-synthesis, RNA synthesis and DNA synthesis. These four metabolic functions are rapidly and totally inhibited at low concentrations of PHB. The complexity of the mode of action of PHB makes the adaptation of bacteria to this disinfectant more difficult. In addition, in the case of plasmid dependent resistence, PHB, with its complexe mode of action, does not favour such a selection in opposition to the antibiotics which generally have a more specific mode of action.


[Various aspects of competitive relationship between Shigella and Escherichia coli].

One of the aspects of antagonistic relations could be the competence of microorganisms for specific sites of attachement to the epithelium common for shigellae and some E. coli serological types; this was demonstrated on a model of shigella-induced keratoconjunctivitis and in experiments with the HEp-2 cells infected with H3-glucose-labeled Sh. flexneri 5a, with combined administration of the latter with E. coli 08 and 028. The data obtained emphasized the importance for the development of the infectious process of the primary stage of shigella attachment to the epithelium. It was also revealed that the presence of common pili in the strains or production of colicine by bacteria intensified the antagonistic activity of E. coli, irrespective of their serological type.


[Submicroscopic structure of the streptococcal L forms isolated from a living body].

The authors studied in the L-forms of streptococcus induced in the living organism. Submicroscopic structure of the L-forms under study was analogous to the L-forms of the museum streptococcus strain and to the L-forms of some other bacteria. As revealed on the ultra-thin sections of the protoplast-like cells the intracytoplasmic membrane structures were located close to the cytoplasmic membrane and also passed through the whole cell in the form of a band. The latter was in contact with the nucleotide. The elemental bodies were found in the vesicular and the protoplastic cells, and also in the space between the cells; sometimes they formed groups surrounded by a membrane.


[Characteristics of spore formation in Clostridium botulinum type C].

Electron microscope study of C1. botulinum, tyep C, showed that microbial cells were surrounded with a five-layer wall. Structures characteristic of sporulating cells and phage particles whose intracellular development led to reduction and lysis of the cytoplasm were revelaed in the area of the cytoplasm. Mature spores were encountered rarely. Formation of prespore, cortex was observed, but the elements of the spore membrane were chaotically dispersed in the whole cytoplasm. Such disturbances could be connected with the presence of phage in the culture.


[Further study of the L forms of Streptococci in blood cultures from the patients with rheumatic fever depending on the course of the disease and the methods of cultivation].

Cultures of blood from patients with rheumatism during the active and inactive phases of the disease, treated and untreated with antibiotics were studied. The following results were obtained in blood cultures (on Klodnisky's medium with a 0.01% cystine) of 105 patients with rheumatism: L-forms of streptococcus were isolated in the 88 cases, irrespective of the severity of the disease or the treatment, streptococcus--in 8, and the result proved to be negative in 9 cases. Hemoculture on broth with a 1% glucose solution proved to be positive (streptococcus) in one patient only. The constancy with which the L-forms of streptococcus were isolated in hemocultures from the patients with rheumatism and also the peculiarity of their pathogenic properties modelling the rheumatism under experimental conditions pointed to their role in the pathogenesis of rheumatism. A method of isolation of hemocultures on Klodnitsky's medium with a 0.01% cystine can be recommended for the diagnosis of a septic condition caused by the L-forms of streptococcus in patients suffering from rheumatism.


[Natural antibodies (isohemagglutinins, heterophilic, antierythrocytic and antibacterial) in children with congenital immunologic deficiency syndromes].

Examination of 30 patients with immunodeficient diseases showed that the system of natural antibodies was considerably changed depending on the form and the extent of deficiency of the immune system: in agammaglobuinemia the antibodies under study were almost completely absent, and in immunological insufficiency with ataxia-teleangiectasis the production of antibacterial antibodies proved to be sharply decreased. The data obtained can be used both for the diagnosis of immunodeficiencies and for control of the restoration of the immunological competence after a number of therapeutic measures, particularly after the transplantation of the thymus-sternum complex.


[Interaction of antibodies of different immunoglobulin classes with specific O-antigens and Salmonella haptens].

A study was made of the neutralizing properties of antisalmonella antibodies belonging to different immunoglobulin classes in respect to specific O-antigen (Lipopolysaccharide S. anatum) and haptens of salmonellae. In comparison with IgM-antibodies, IgG-antibodies were more stable bound not only with the univalent trisaccharide determinant, but also with the polysaccharide. However, in regard to the lipopolysaccharide complex the neutralizing activity of IgM- and IgG-antibodies was about the same; IgA-antibodies possessed the greatest neutralizing activity with respect to all the antigenic preparations used. The minimal neutralizing dose of the antigen and haptens increased with the reduction of the size of their molecule. A marked heterogeneity of antibodies of each of the immunoglobulin classes by their antigen-neutralizing properties was revealed in individual sera.


[Immunogenic properties of various forms of flagellin].

The authors obtained and studied immunologically flagellae of S. typhi and flagellins (monomeric and polymeric) obtained from them. Immunological activity of flagellin was the greater the higher the molecular weight of the preparation (the polymer molecules were the largest and the most immunogenic). There were revealed differences between the preparations according to the dependence of the immunizing effect on the dose and the capacity to induce synthesis of 19S- and 7S-antibodies. A sharp change of the immunogenicity of flagellin preparation following gel-filtration through sepharose 2B was demonstrated.


[Detection of lymphokines in patients' blood serum].

A factor suppressing the migration of donor leukocytes and macrophages of guinea pigs in vitro was revealed in the blood serum of patients suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases (pneumonia, rheumatism, tuberculosis) and carcinoma. A factor stimulating the leukocyte migration was sometimes revealed in the blood sera of the patients. In chromatography of the blood sera on sephadex G-100 the activity of both factors proved to localize in fractions with the mol wt of 15000--45000 dalton. Depression of stimulation of leukocyte migration could be also caused by immunoglobulin fractions (mol wt--150000 dalton) of the blood sera of patients suffering from acute pneumonia, apparently on account of the presence in them of the antigen-antibody complex; however, these sera contained no migration suppression factor. The blood serum fractions with the mol wt of 15000--45000 dalton, including those containing the migration suppression factor inhibited the inhibited the spontaneous and induced by phytohemagglutinin blast transformation lymphocytes, and the immunoglobulin ones--the latter only. Apparently the migration suppression factor of the blood serum served as the product of activated lymphocytes.


[Immunoglobulins and antibodies of various classes in children immunized with live oral Shigella sonnei vaccine from the spontaneous mutant].

The authors determined the immunoglobulin and specific antibodies level in the blood serum of 17 children aged from 7 to 10 years during the immunization with live dysentery Some vaccine. Mancini's test demonstrated the absence of any differences in the amount of IgA and IgG in children of the given age group and in adults before the immunization; in comparison with adults, IgM was increased in children. 14 to 20 days after the immunization in children there was a significant elevation of the IgG only, whereas in adults the immunoglobulin level of all the 3 classes increased significantly. The titres of specific antibodies of the IgA-, IgG-classes and of hemagglutinins before the immunization detected by Coombs' test failed to differ in children from the titres of antibodies of these classes in adults; the level of IgM antibodies was much greater in children than in adults. The changes and accumulation of antibodies of various classes in children and adults during the enteral immunization with live dysentery vaccine differed significantly: in children the vaccine stimulated the IgA- and the IgM-antibody synthesis, whereas adults responded to the immunization by increased production of all the 3 antibody classes. On the basis of the noted immunological shifts a conclusions was drawn on a marked local immunization activity of the live enteral Sonne dysentery vaccine from the spontaneous mutant in children.


[Cellular immunologic reactions in mice tolerant to the transplantation antigens after immunization with the cross-reacting microbial antigens].

In combined administration of cyclophosphamide and lymphocytes of mice (CC57BR XX C3H) F1 to mice CC57BR there was observed a tolerance to alloantigens of mice C3H. Immunization of the tolerant mice with the vaccines of streptococcus, group A, and Candida albicans, containing antigens similar to the transplantation ones, led, to the partial destruction of the tolerance. This was expressed in the reduction in the CC57BR mice of the survival of skin allotransplants of mice C3H and the appearance in the lymphoid organs of lymphocytes with the cytotoxic activity against the allogenic target cells. In case of the tolerance destruction the amount of the recipient's lymphocytes forming rosettes with the erythrocytes of mice C3H remained unchanged, but the stem cell count fell in the spleen and the lymph nodes. The total amount of the T- and B-lymphocytes in the lymphoid organs was unchanged in destruction of the tolerance.


[Relationship between bacteriocinogenic and non-bacteriocinogenic streptococcal cultures in experiments in vivo].

The data obtained pointed to a possible role of the phenomenon of bacteriocinogenia of streptococci, group A, in the formation of biocenoses in vivo, since in the present investigations it served as the principal and the leading factor determining the character and the result of interaction of the bacteriocinogenic and bacteriosensitive streptoccoci under conditions of combined infection of mice. Realization of the bacteriocinogenia phenomenon in vivo occurred as soon as the first hours of the infectious process development in the animals; for its manifestation definite quantitative correlations of bacteriocinogenic and bacteriocinosensitive strains were required.


[Erythrocyte antigen: isolation, biochemical and immunologic properties].

The authors suggest a simple method of obtaining erythrocytic antigen in considerable amounts. This antigen is of stromal origin, contains from 10 to 20% protein, and is relatively homogenous. With the concentration of from 1 to 50 microgram by protein the preparation represents a transparent solution; with greater concentrations the antigen is white, turbid, but is well dissolved and convenient for administration to the animals. In case of a single administration without any adjuvants the antigen is highly immunogenic in low doses by protein. To the optimal immunizing dose of erythrocytes (5 X 10(8)) correspond about 100 microgram of the antigen by protein. The primary response to the antigen is similar to the response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC). It is exceedingly effective for the formation of immunological memory. The level of secondary responses in the adoptive transfer to all the EAG doses always exceeded the secondary response to SRBC. By adding EAG into agar during the local hemolysis in gel test determined the avidity of the antibodies synthesized at various periods of the immune response to SRBC.


[Dynamics of biologically active enterotoxin release by E. coli].

Accumulation of E. coli enterotoxin in the Finkelshtein's culture medium in growing the cells in a 30-litre reactor was studied. Accumulation of active highly molecular enterotoxin occurred in the course of a 6-hour cultivation of E. coli, strain P-99 (O141: K85ab; K88ab: H4) in the fluid medium under aeration. Oxygen utilization, synthesis and release into the nutrient medium of pyruvic acid, and protein accumulation were observed. The preparation obtained was stable to the lyophylic drying, contained thermolabile and thermostable toxins and marked edema of mouse limbs. The data obtained were of significance for the industrial production of active enterotoxin preparations.


[ Hoigne reaction and its modifications].

The author analyzes 114 works published lately dealing with methodical improvement of Hoigne's reaction and its application both in experimental studies and in clinical practice. The great majority of the works (over 90) were referred to the use of modification of this reaction suggested by Klemparskaya and Raeva for detection of autoantibodies to the lysate of autoerythrocytes and organ extracts. This reaction was found to be useful for studying the autosensitization process in man and animals; its prognostic significance at the clinic was of importance since its intensity corresponded to the severity of the process and promptly decreased with effective treatment.


[Ribosomal dysentery vaccine. II. Biological trials of active protection for guinea pigs and mice].

Ribosomal vaccine from Sh. sonnei injected subcutaneously once or twice in physiological saline or in Freund's complete adjuvant produces a marked protective effect against experimental keratoconjunctivitis in guinea pigs. Inhibition of the protective effect by high doses (above 100 microgram) of ribosomal vaccine is evident after a single, but not repeated injections. Protective effect in mice is achieved by immunization with very low doses of ribosomal vaccine: ED50 is 1.2 ng after challenge with 5.6 LD50. The nature of immunogenic factor responsible for the biological activity of the ribosome vaccine is still obscure. In contrast to Boivin's antigen, ribosomal preparations, even in high doses (1000--2000 microgram), have no toxic effect on mice and guinea pigs.


[Role of antibodies in protection from pseudotuberculous infection and intoxication].

Lethal doses of virulent pseudotuberculosis bacilli and antipseudotuberculosis sera of different specificity were injected to albino mice simultaneously. A high neutralizing activity of antibodies against pseudotuberculosis intoxication was demonstrated. The type-specific antibodies proved to protect the mice from the toxins of the homologous types of the microbe only. Group antibodies of plaque antiserum and serum procured from the pseudoteburculosis convalescent produced a cross antitoxic action. The antiinfectious effect from the antibody administration was weak. Apparently in pseudotuberculosis the antibodies were the principal factor of the toxin neutralization and were of auxiliary significance in the protection from the developing infection. Neutralization of pseudotuberculosis toxins with plague antiserum served as an additional confirmation of cross immunity between plague and pseudotuberculosis.


[Effect of hormonal therapy on the level of antibiodies to antigens of thymus epithelial tissue in myasthenia].

With the aid of an indirect method of immunofluorenscence in the process of a study of 65 blood sera of patients with myasthenia, the authors, demonstrated significant prevalence of antibodies titres to myoid cells and to an epithelial thymus reticulum (especialey in patients with thymomas) in comparison with normals. These data my indicate an autoimmune character of myasthenia. A positive effect of hormonal therapy was accompanied by  a distinct drop in the level of antibodies in patients with myasthenia which permits to assume a certain connection between hormonotherapy and its influence on the autoimmune processes.


Characterization and function of intracellular proteinases and proteinase inhibitors from yeast.

Data on the proteinase inhibitors IA, IB and IC from yeast and their possible intracellular interaction with the proteinases A and B and carboxypeptidase Y are presented. A role of proteolysis in "catabolite inactivation" is discussed.