Observations on Haematoxenus separatus Uilenberg & Andreasen 1974 in the erythrocytes of Kenyan sheep.

Two Kenyan sheep were splenectomised; on examination of Giemsa stained blood smears large numbers of piroplasms identical in morphology to Theileria ovis and Haematoxenus separatus (with a veil in the infected erythrocyte) were detected. Uncoagulated infected blood was examined under phase-contrast and it was found that the vast majority of the infected erythrocytes had veils. The veils were more resistant to lysis than the erythrocyte itself and in lysed preparations the veils were seen floating in the plasma. The origin, function and taxonomic importance of the veils has yet to be established.


Quantification of uromucoid: a simplified method.

As a replacement of current time consuming techniques, a radial immunodiffusion method which is suitable for routine determination of uromucoid in urine in described. The method is based on denaturation of uromucoid by sodium dodecyl sulphate at 37 degrees C before application on the immunoplates. A diffusion period of 30 h at 37 degrees C was chosen. The determination is uninfluenced by variations of urinary electrolytes, freezing and thawing, and storage at 4 degrees C for 3 weeks or at -20 degrees C for several months. The method can also be applied to lyophilized urines.


Pulp reactions to silicate cement in teeth with healing pulpitis.

Unlined silicate restorations were placed in intact and experimentally altered monkey, teeth. Pulpitis had been induced experimentally by sealing soft carious human dentin in Class V cavities with amalgam for 7 d. These fillings were then removed and healing allowed by inserting zinc oxide/eugenol cement. A protective effect of the secondary dentin in teeth with healing pulpitis could be demonstrated in short-term experiments. After a 1-month observation period no difference in response to silicate cement could be found between intact and experimentally altered pulps, both groups exhibiting no or slight pulp reactions and secondary dentin formations.


Bacteria in experimentally infected cavity preparations.

The presence of bacteria on cavity walls was assessed histologically following experimental infection by inserting soft carious human dentin or guttapercha temporary filings in 40 monkey teeth. Eighty-five infected cavities which had been restored using zinc oxide-eugenol cement (34 teeth), Ca(OH)2 (39 teeth) or amalgam (12 teeth) were also evaluated. Bacteria could regularly be demonstrated in cavities where soft carious human dentin had remained in the cavities for 82 d, but not, or only very rarely, in any of the other series. It was concluded that vital dentin has considerable resistance against infection and that cavity sterilization appears to be of questionable value.


The morphology of echinoid phagocytes and mouse peritoneal macrophages during phagocytosis in vitro.

The morphology of mouse peritoneal macrophages and echinoid phagocytes during phagocytosis in vitro was studied. A striking similarity in the function of the foreign surface receptor is found in the two systems. Glutaraldehyde-treated erythrocytes attached randomly over the entire surface of the cells and were internalized without circumferential attachment between the particles and the phagocyte membrane. The particles seemed to sink directly into the cytoplasm of the cells. Tannin-treated erythrocytes were phagocytosed by the echinoid cells in a similar mode. The complement-coated erythrocytes were attached only in the perinuclear area of the echinoid phagocyte's membrane, but the morphology of their internalization was similar to that mediated by the foreign surface receptor. A circumferential attachment between the particles and the phagocyte membrane did not seem necessary. This is also the case for mouse peritoneal macrophages.


A note on the interpretation of identity reactions in immunoelectrophoresis.

Immunoelectrophoretic methods, used in studies of the tissue specificity of two membrane-bound peptides obtained from pig, were observed to produce new types of reactions resembling those of partial immunochemical identity. In addition, the results obtained by fused rocket and rocket-line immunoelectrophoresis suggested that the unshared antigenic determinants were situated on the heterologous antigens. When analyzed in the immunodiffusion system, the antigens showed a reaction of total immunochemical identity. Zone electrophoresis of the antigens demonstrated large differences in electrophoretic mobility. Neuraminidase treatment of the antigens almost abolished these differences, and the antigens now exhibited almost complete antigenic identity, suggesting that the precipitate patterns observed arose from the mobility differences.


Idiotypy of measles virus nucleocapsid-specific IgGkappa antibody in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

A gel-precipitating anti-idiotypic antiserum was prepared in a rabbit by immunization with measles virus-specific IgG isolated from the serum of a patient with subacute sclerosing pancencephalitis (SSPE). The idiotypic determinant was associated with an electrophoretically restricted and cathodally migrating IgGkappa protein in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with antibody activity to measles nucleocapsids. The anti-idiotypic antiserum did not precipitate with other oligoclonal populations of measles-specific IgG in the patients serum or CSF, nor with serum or CSF from 4 other patients with SSPE and 10 patients with multiple sclerosis.


Some characteristics of RA patients with and without side effects due to gold treatment.

Gold treatment was initiated in 98 patients suffering from early-stage rheumatoid arthritis. In 30 patients side effects due to gold therapy were seen during the first follow-up year: proteinuria in 6, allergic symptoms in 23, and thrombocytopaenia in one patient. The serum IgM level was higher in patients with side effects. None of the 33 other parameters studied showed any significant differences between patients with or without side effects.


Mepacrine hydrochloride in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion. A controlled randomized trial.

The effect of local instillation of mepacrine hydrochloride (quinacrine hydrochloride U.S.P., Atabrine) was compared with triethylenethiophosphoramide (Thiotepa) applied locally and with pleurocentesis alone. Twentyfive patients with disseminated malignant disease were allocated at random to one of these three treatments. A finding of more than 500 ml effusion within 3 months of instituting treatment was regarded as a failure, and subsequently one of the other treatments was used at random. Sixty-four per cent of the patients treated with mepacrine responded, compared with 27% treated with triethylenethiophosphoramide, and 11% treated with pleurocentesis alone.


[Exercise-induced asthma and placebos].

The effectiveness of a placebo in 15 patients with exercise-induced asthma (E.I.A., decrease of FEV1 by more than 10% after a standard run uphill on a treadmill) has been measured. 7 patients repeated the test without placebo protection, to separate the psychological effect of placebo from the emotional influences of the unusual environment of a technically highly developed hospital and adaptation to test procedures. On selection day FEV1 in % of preexercise value 10 min after exercise was 68.2 +/- 7.9% and on control day 67.1 +/- 9.5% (no statistical difference). The second stage comprised 14 patients who took the placebo or Cromolyn (Lomudal) before exercise; on selection day FEV1 in % of preexercise value 10 min after exercise was 70.1 +/- 4.8%; on placebo day it was 76.0 +/- 3.4% and on Cromolyn day 90.7 +/- 3.3%. There was statistically significant (p less than 0.025) protection by placebo. However, the protective effect of Cromolyn was much better than that of placebo (p less than 0.005). Placebo has a significantly greater protective effectiveness in E.I.A. than expected, and one much greater than previously suggested in preexisting asthma. As environmental influences were ruled out, the only explanation for the high degree of protection by placebo is the patients' trust in the placebo.


Covalent immunoglobulin assembly in vitro: reactivity of light chain covalent dimers (L2) and blocked light chain monomers.

Covalent light chain dimers (L2) and cysteine-blocked L chain monomers readily react with partially reduced heavy (H) chains. A rapid disappearance of these blocked L chain species is followed by the appearance of covalent intermediates-HL, H2, and H2L-leading to fully assembled H2L2. The mechanism of initial disulfide bond formation between heavy and light chains is disulfide interchange.


Anilines: selective toxicity to blue-green algae.

The blue-green alga Agmenellum quadruplicatum (strain PR6) was very sensitive to aniline and p-toluidine (potential environmental toxicants) in an algal lawn assay (the growth of the algal lawn was inhibited with as little as 1 microgram of p-toluidine per disk). Assays with seven other species of blue-green algae showed that they had varying sensitivities ranging from 1 to 100 micrograms of p-toluidine. Under comparable conditions, 0.5 milligram or more of p-toluidine was needed to inhibit a green alga, a diatom, or two species of bacteria. p-Toluidine had no immediate effect on the photosynthesis or respiration of A. quadruplicatum, although growth was arrested and viability declined.


Anosmia in male rhesus monkeys does not alter copulatory activity with cycling females.

Three adult male rhesus monkeys were tested daily with intact adult female partners over the course of four or five mentstrual cycles. The males were made permanently anosmic by chemical ablation of the olfactory epithelium after the second or fourth cycle was completed. All males continued to display typical cycles of copulation with their partners after the anosmia procedures, with the shortest latencies to ejaculation occurring during the periovulatory phase of the partner's ovulatory cycle. Hence, female attractivity and cyclic copulatory performance of rhesus monkeys are not dependent upon olfactory signals.


Foreign aid support of science and economic growth.

The history of U.S. foreign aid support of science and technology in Latin America is examined and an attempt is made to evaluate the scientific and economic growth of that area in relation to the total foreign aid effort.


Muscle crossbridge stroke and activity revealed by optical diffraction.

Optical diffraction measurements during rapid releases of active toad muscle show that the sarcomeres contract within 1 millisecond by an amount up to but not greater than 12 nanometers. This crossbridges immediately start cycling to produce the normal contraction velocity in unloaded muscle.


Eye movements of monkeys during learning-set formation.

Eye movements of stump-tailed monkeys were measured during learning of a long series of two-choice pattern discrimination problems. The amount of scanning per trial (shifts in visual fixation from one pattern to the other) and the duration of individual fixations on the patterns increased during the course of learning-set formation and (except for the amount of scanning by some animals) remained high during the prolonged training following learning-set formation. Some of the changes in eye movements were different from those seen during the learning of single discrimination problems, a difference that possibly reflects cognitive processes specific to the learning-set task.


B lymphocyte antigens in sicca syndrome.

All individuals tested in this study with sicca syndrome, a human autoimmune disease, bear two immunologically distinct and genetically unrelated B lymphocyte antigens that appear similar to the immune response associated (Ia) antigens of the mouse. The genes coding for these two antigens are present in only 37 and 24 percent of normal controls. In animal models Ia antigen genes are closely linked to immune response genes. Our findings suggest that two such genes may be required for the development of sicca syndrome.


delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol: antiaggressive effects in mice, rats, and squirrel monkeys.

delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, the most active constituent of marihuana, decreased species-specific attack behavior in mice, rats, and squirrel monkeys at doses (0.25 to 2.0 milligram per kilogram of body weight) that have no effects on other elements of the behavioral repertoire. Aggressive behavior was engendered in all three species by confronting a resident animal with an intruder conspecific. The present results contrast with the widely held belief that marihuana increases aggressive behavior.


Increased intracellular phosphoribosylpyrophosphate and accelerated orotic acid decarboxylation in a mouse cell line resistant to purine and pyrimidine ribonucleosides.

A line of mouse fibroblasts (A9AU-1), originally selected for growth in the presence of 6-azauridine, has been found to be resistant to cytotoxic concentrations of adenosine, guanosine, and thymidine. A9AU-1 cells convert orotic acid to uridine 5'-monophosphate at twice the rate of the A9P line from which the A9AU-1 clone was selected. The resistant cells also excrete purines, synthesized de novo, into the medium at an increased velocity. The average intracellular 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) concentration of the resistant line is 45% higher than that of the parental line. The elevated PRPP concentration is likely to be responsible for both the apparent acceleration of pyrimidine synthesis and the increased excretion of purines into the growth medium; it might also account, by one of the several possible mechanisms, for the resistance of the cells to cytotoxic concentrations of the various nucleosides.


Direct right atrial catheterization for total parenteral nutrition.

A case report of a patient with severe nutritional deficiency and no adequate access to the central venous system for total parenteral nutrition is presented. Operative placement of a catheter directly into the right atrium allowed adequate nutritional support and led to a marked improvement in the clinical status of the patient and a gain of weight from 67 to 98 pounds. The technique of the procedure and its limited indications are discussed.


Teratogenic effects of ribavirin on hamster and rat embryos.

Ribavirin, a synthetic nucleoside with marked antiviral activity, induced developmental malformations when administered to pregnant hamsters by oral, intraperitoneal or intravenous routes. Abnormalities of the limbs, eyes and brain were the most common defects found in the hamster. Higher doses (about 10 x) were required to induce anomalies in rat embryos and the malformations were generally restricted to the head region. In both rats and hamsters oral administration of the drug seemed to be more teratogenic than administration by other routes suggesting that metabolism of ribavirin in the maternal gastro-intestinal tract and/or liver may change it into its active form.


Gastrointestinal complications after external megavoltage treatment.

66 cases treated with external megavoltage irradiation for various malignant diseases in the abdomen are presented 26 patients (39%) had radiation reactions during and immediately after the treatment. Late complications at least two months after the treatment appeared in 15 patients (23%). The relatively low frequency of intestinal disturbances induced by radiotherapy in the present series may have been caused by the low weekly dose in the abdomen and the practise of a split-course interval in the midst of treatment.


[A microcalorimeter for assessment of the G-value of a ferrous sulfate solution for high-energy electrons (author's transl)].

A microcalorimeter with  constant ambient temperature has been designed (circa -195 degrees C = temperature of the absorber), which could be utilized with doses from 10 rd upward. The G-value for ferrous sulfate was assessed by means of comparison measurements with the calorimeter and a Fricke-dosimeter, using two different electron energies. The G-value at 24.8 MeV amounted to 15.64 +/- 0.14 ions/100 eV and at 38.8 MeV, to 15.60 +/- 0.13 ions/100 eV.


[Contribution to deep electron pendulous therapy. VIII. Communication: concerning the problem of diverging contours in telecentric electron pendulous irradiation using the electron energies 10 MeV and 20 MeV (author's transl)].

The mode of correction of the isodose curves from telecentric electron pendulous technique using a constant patient radius rp = 30 cm (Isodosenatlas, Siemens, 1973) is represented with regard to its application in patients with diverging surface contours. Correction is possible by two different methods: 1st by experimental determination of an air gap factor for the shift of isodoses, and 2nd by two factors depending on the focus-skin distance and on the angle of incidence of the electron beam. Determination of the factors is performed either by means of fixed fields measured by vertical and at oblique incidence of the beam and a depth dose distribution measured at the central axis, with oblique incidence of the electrons.


[Results of collective caries prevention by means of rinsing with a 0.2 percent sodium solution after 88 months].

In the framework of a governmental program in the Republic of Cuba, mouth rinsing actions with  a 0.2% sodium fluoride solution were accomplished in more than 900,000 children at a 14-day rhythm. The caries-statistical investigations performed in groups of 400 6-13-year-old children each showed a significant caries reduction (40-50%). The cost-benefit ration can be regarded as positive.


Evaluation of counter immuno-electrophoresis crossed electro-immunodiffusion and agar gel diffusion for immunodiagnosis of human hydatid disease.

Techniques of counter immuno-electrophoresis (CIEP), crossed electro-immunodiffusion (CEID) and agar gel diffusion (AGD) were used for diagnosis of hydatid disease. Sera were obtained from suspected patients before surgery and the antigens used were either human hydatid fluid (HHF) or sheep hydatid fluid (SHF). Out of the 29 suspected cases, 21 were confirmed by recovering the cysts from lung (ten), liver (nine), liver and spleen (two). The experimental results showed that precipitin line(s) with CIEP were obtained with the sera of all 21 confirmed patients using HHF and of 13 using SHF. With CEID, all 19 sera tested demonstrated precipitin patterns with HHF. In the AGD test precipitin lines were obtained in the sera of 15 patients using HHF and of six using SHF. None of the sera from 22 patients suffering from illnesses other than hydatidosis or of the sera from 34 apparently normal individuals gave positive results with CIEP when either HHF or SHF was used as the source of antigen. The CIEP test correlated well with CEID. It is, therefore, suggested that CIEP, which is a rapid and less sophisticated test, can be applied for the diagnosis of hydatid disease and in epidemiological surveys.


A cellulose acetate membrane precipitin (CAP) test for amoebiasis.

A simple precipitin test (CAP) using cellulose acetate membrane has been devised and evaluated against the gel diffusion precipitin (GDP) test. In 251 sera tested by both methods, the CAP was never negative when the GDP was positive (110 sera). 34 sera were negative by the GDP but positive by the CAP; in all of these the patients either had a past history of amoebiasis or were considered to have active amoebiasis. The CAP is technically very simple, the result is available within four and a half hours, and the membranes can be impregnated with antigen and stored for several months. The CAP is slightly more sensitive than the GDP and remains positive longer after the patient has been cured; it seems to be equally specific.


Scrub typhus infection in rats in four habitats in Peninsular Malaysia.

Rickettsia tsutsugamushi isolations were attempted from blood samples obtained from rats captured in four adjacent habitats near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Antibody surveys were also made. Rickettsial infections were most frequent in rats captured in the forest and in lalang grass (Imperata cylindrica) and least frequent in the most extensively disturbed habitat, an Orang Asli (aborigine) village. Forest rats such as Rattus sabanus (31%), as well as rats in the subgenus R. (Rattus), i.e. R. tiomanicus (26%) and R. argentiventer (35%) had frequent active infections. The house rat R. exulans had less frequent infections (15%). Frequency of antibody occurrence followed a similar pattern. No marked seasonal differences in the frequency of infections could be detected during the 18-month study.


Transfusion reaction. An immunologic hazard of blood transfusion.

Twenty-three cases of delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction (DHTR) occurring at the Mayo Clinic from 1964 through 1973 are reviewed. Nineteen patients had clinical manifestations of hemolysis, of which fever was the most frequent presenting symptom. The degree of hemolysis served as an index of morbidity. In four cases, there was oliguria, two of these patients experiencing renal shutdown. In one case, hemolysis led to a disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome. Death occurred subsequent of DHTR in three patients. The direct antiglobulin test was positive in all but one case; this finding coincided with elevated unconjugated bilirubin in 14 cases and decreased haptoglobin levels in 15 cases. Anti-Jka antibody accounted for somewhat more than one-third of reactions and, along with anti-E, c, D, Fya, and K antibodies accounted for 91 per cent of cases.


An investigation of the relationship between the V(hrv), VS, and hrH antigens.

The data from this investigation show that the anti-VS sera studied cannot be separated into anti-hrv (anti-V) and anti-hrH specificities. The antibody specificity is singular and is directed against an antigenic determinant present on VS positive red blood cells. That some anti-VS sera appear to have a separable specificity may be due to the incomplete absorption of those antisera. It was shown that V-, VS+ red blood cells adsorb more anti-VS than do those that are V+, VS+. Several absorption of anti-VS serum with V+, VS+ red blood cells may remove enough of the antibody that the absorbed serum will no longer (visibly) react with V+, VS+ red blood cells, though the same absorbed serum will react with V-, VS+ red blood cells. That this is not a separable specificity can be demonstrated by subsequent absorption to exhaustion of the same serum with V+, VS+ red blood cells. Testing of the original Hernandez serum comfirmed that it defines the antigenic specificity, hrH. The relationship of hrH to VS may be similar to the relationship of the Rh0 (D) antigen to the antigens of the Rh0 (D) mosaic.


Hemolytic anti-hr" (e) detectable solely by an automated polybrene technique.

An example of a hemolytic anti-hr" (e) detectable solely by an AutoAnalyzer-Polybrene (AAP) system is reported. The antibody was undetectable by routine indirect antiglobulin and enzyme tests, and produced a delayed intravascular hemolytic transfusion reaction. The anti-hr" (e) was no longer AAP detectable five months after the transfusion reaction. This paper points out the potential usefulness of the AAP technique in detecting alloantibodies in cases of transfusion reactions where no antibody specificity can be demonstrated by standard manual techniques.


Vasectomy in rhesus monkeys. III. Light microscopic studies of testicular morphology.

Rhesus monkeys were randomly assigned to undergo various surgical procedures. The animals were followed from one to sixty-six weeks postvasectomy, at which time they were sacrificed and their tissues prepared for light and electron microscopy. Vasectomy in the rhesus monkey, as in certain other species, appears to be a procedure not attended with widespread testicular atrophy or histologic evidence of impaired spermatogenic potential utilizing the procedures and postoperative periods studied. Why certain animals exhibited focal degenerative changes is unclear; perhaps a certain population, yet to be defined, is more sensitive to such procedures, resulting in testicular alterations. It is important that such a population and such changes be defined to predict more accurately the possibility of successful vasovasostomy and reestablishment of fertility.


[Effect of calcium on glycogen synthetase activity in skeletal muscles and myocardium of chick embryos and chickens].

The effect of calcium on the glycogensynthetase activity was studied in the skeletal muscles and myocardium of chick embryos and chickens. Under in vitro conditions the effect of calcium on the enzymes in the myocardium is detected from the 12th day of embryonic development and is pronounced in a significant decrease of the activity in its both forms. The same effect in the skeletal muscles is observed only from the 16th day of embryonic life. In chickens calcium also causes a significant decrease in the activity of the two forms of glycogensynthetase both in skeletal muscles and myocardium. The effects of calcium found in the in vitro experiments are reproduced under in vivo conditions as well. The coincidence is established between the time of appearance of sensitivity of the glycogensynthetase system to calcium and formation of the Ca-transport function of sarcoplasmic reticulum in these muscles. Possible participation of calcium as an intermediary in realization of the cathecholamine action on the glycogensynthetase system is discussed.


Nephrogenic adenoma in urethral diverticulum.

A nephrogenic adenoma located within a urethral diverticulum of a female was found incidental to a diverticulectomy. Cases of this apparently benign lesion have been reported previously, but the lesions were located in the bladder, particularly in older males with a history of chronic cystitis.


[Use of free and bound amino acids in early postoperative parenteral feeding].

The degree of utilization of free and peptide-bound amino acids in parenteral feeding in early postoperative period was studied. More than 98% of free amino acids infused together with hydrolysate and 77% of peptide-bound amino acids remain in the patient's organism. The comparison of aminograms of aminosole peptides with those of the urine of patients who had been administered the above mentioned preparation showed just a slight similarity, but no correlation was established.


Microscopic and ultrastructural characteristics of Kudoa infection in a butterfly fish (Chaetodon).

Myxosporidiosis of the skeletal muscle was diagnosed in a pearl scale butterfly fish (Chaetodon). On the basis of light and electron microscopy, the infectious agent was thought to be a Kudoa. The muscle had fusiform cysts containing myxosporidian organisms within hypertrophied fibers. Ultrastructural features of the kudoa organisms were four external shell valves joined by sutural planes. Internally, four pyriform polar capsules with polar filaments were anterior to the sporoplasm.


Focal mastocytosis in lymph nodes from a Beagle dog.

An 11-year-old Beagle dog had focal mastocytosis in the midtracheobronchial and left tracheobronchial lymph nodes. The cells were well-differentiated and were arranged in well-defined follicles. There were neither skin tumors nor mast-cell accumulations in other tissues.


Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in the Rhesus monkey.

Twelve Rhesus monkeys were inoculated intravenously with about 500 000 malaria parasites, Plasmodium knowlesi. Acute hemolysis occurred 5 days later, and all animals died on the 6th or 7th day after inoculation. All organs were gray-green to gray-brown because of deposition of hemoglobin and malaria pigments. This deposition was particularly striking in the lung, brain, abdominal fat and serous surfaces. Microscopic changes indicative of acute hypoxia were found in the liver (centrilobular necrosis) and kidneys (acute tubular necrosis). Terminal intravascular coagulopathy was evidenced by widely distributed, recently formed, fibrin thrombi.


[Gamma ray decontamination of skins and wool contaminated with Bac. anthracis spores].

Studies were carried out to establish the sensitivity of Bacillus anthracis spores in a suspension of physiologic saline and in pelts and wool. Tested were the spores of five B. anthracis strains. The density of spore suspensions was from 1.6 X 10(6) up to 9.0 X 10(9) per cub. cm, and for the pelts and wool the spore count ranged from 7.8 X 10(8) to 5.0 X 10(10) (for the material as a whole). The irradiation was carried out on a device with a 60Co source at a temperature of 15 degrees C and rates of up to 2.75 Mrad. Data showed that the dose necessary to decontaminate infected pelts and wool is 2. 00 Mrad. The water phase of the medium has almost no effect on the sensitivity of B. anthracis spores to gamma rays.


Protective effects of colostral antibodies to Br abortus on strain 19 vaccination and field injection.

Calves which have received no antibodies against Br abortus in their colostrum may respond to strain 19 vaccination even on the first day of life. However, calves with such antibodies may completely suppress any response to S19 vaccination. In calves which have received very high titres of passive antibodies from their dams complete suppresson of vaccinal response may be expected to occur up to about 153 days of age. Thus, if vaccination is restricted to between 90 and 180 days many calves in infected herds will not be protected by routine vaccination with S19. In calves born of and reared on infected dams the colostral antibodies also have a marked protective effect. In spite of heavy exposure to Br abortus at birth and later from infected milk only six out of 64 calves (9.4 per cent) developed persistent positive titres. The remaining calves reverted to zero titres within 12 months and an anamnestic test indicated that of these up to 15 per cent may have been latent carriers but even more remarkably, 85 per cent of such calves were not even "primed" by such heavy exposure.


[Allergic reactions in guinea pigs infected with Yersinia enterocolitica type 9 relative to homologous (Yersinia) and heterologous (Brucella) allergens].

Obtained were allergens from Brucella abortus 99 and Yersinia enterocolitica Type 9 through hydrolysis with hydrochloric acid after M. M. Ivanov and with acetic acid after Kirzhaev. They were tested on guinea pigs that were infected with Yersinia enterocolitica Type 9 through different ways. To M. M. Ivanov's allergens all infected animals responded pronouncedly in the case of the homologous allergen, and half of them only and to a lower degree in the case of the heterologous Brucella allergen. To Kirzhaev's allergens the infected guinea pigs showed more strongly expressed skin reactions. In this case, too, the response was stronger to the homologous Yersinai allergen. The diameters of skin swelling were more than twice greater than with the use of the heterologous Brucella allergen, and the sum of the reacting skin sites was five times greater in the case of the homologous Yersinia allergen. No essential differences were observed between the oral and the plantar route of infection combined with the subcutaneous injection of carboneum tetrachloratum and the morphine preparation Omnopon.


Aurosomes produced in the synovial membrane by the oral administration of a gold compound SK & F 36914.

Chlorotriethylphosphine gold (SK & F 36914) administered orally to rabbits produced aurosomes in the synovial membrane. These aurosomes were similar to aurosomes produced by parenteral or intra-articular injections of soluble gold salts such as sodium aurothiomalate and aurothioglucose. This study shows, (1) that an orally administered gold compound is capable of producing gold deposits in the synovial membrane, and (2) that such compounds may have a future in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.


Multi-tailed spermatozoa in a case with asthenospermia and teratospermia.

A case is presented of an infertile male whose spermatozoa showed low mobility, a high percentage of irregular large heads and a variable number of tails (between 0 and 4). In the spermatozoa with several tails each axoneme, surrounded by its own outer fibres and mitochondrial sheath, arose from its own basal plate. Throughout the middle piece of every spermatozoon all the axonemes were arranged in parallel and were enclosed by the same plasma membrane. Usually, at the beginning of the principal piece, the axonemes became separated. At this level each of them constituted a different tail. In most spermatozoa the fine structure of the tail or tails was normal. The alterations of the inner structure of the tail or tails was normal. The alterations of the inner structure of the flagellum observed in some spermatozoa (enlargement of the fibrous sheath, duplication of the outer fibres and of some peripheral doublets) were independent of the number of tails present. In some cases, an intracytoplasmic coiling of the tail or tails could be observed.


Lysosomal non-lipid component of Gaucher's cells.

An ultrastructural, histochemical and chemical analysis of storage elements in the infantile form of Gaucher's disease showed that in addition to cerebroside the lysosomes also included a non-lipid component of protein, or possibly glycoprotein nature. This component, easily removable with trypsin, was present in such quantities that it conditioned the typical solid and fibrillar appearance of storage elements even after they had been substantially delipidized. Another noteworthy finding was that the ultrastructural appearance of tubular structures generally regarded as stored cerebrosides persisted in all the extracted specimens without any noticeable change. The findings are compared with available data from the literature and their significance briefly discussed.


alpha-D-mannosidase activity in histiocytosis X.

A histochemical study of enzymatic activities was undertaken in five cases of histiocytosis X (two localized bone forms, two generalized forms, and one involving mainly the skin), each of which revealed characteristic structural features at the optical and ultrastructural levels. A confirmation was made of the original assumption of high acid alpha-D-mannosidase activity, i.e. activity described in human Langerhans intraepidermal cells (Elleder, 1975). In the control group of tumors, with the exception of urticaria pigmentosa, enzyme activity was either at trace level or altogether absent. Acid alpha-D-mannosidase activity therefore appears to be the first biochemical feature common to both histiocytosis X and the Langerhans cells. The significance of the finding for the present theory of the histogenesis of the above tumors is discussed.


Wound healing in the primitive deep layer of the young chick blastoderm.

Wound healing in the primitive deep layer of stage 4 chick blastoderms was studied in vitro by cinemicrophotography of living cultures and by photomicroscopy, scanning- and transmission electron microscopy after fixation. Experimental wounds with an average diameter of 0.3 mm healed completely within 2 to 4 h through migration of the cells at their rims. Healing occurred in mesenchyme-free areas, providing us with a purely epithelial reaction. The rim cells of the primitive deep layer formed extensions at their free flank, described as fila, filopodia, lamellae and lamellipodia. They were already present in blastoderms fixed at the earliest after the intervention. This reaction was ascribed to the elimination of a normal fellow cell at the side of the rim cell facing the defect. Movement of the rim cell ceased upon meeting another cell with the same polarity. At this moment lamellipodia disappeared as suddenly as they had formed, and the number of fila and filopodia decreased. We believe that the chick blastoderm's primitive deep layer might be appropriate for analysis of the factors governing primary epithelial wound healing.


Histomorphologic and histochemical investigations in mannosidosis. A light and electron microscopic study.

Morphologic and histochemical studies have been performed at light and electron microscopic level on needle-liver biopsy specimens, circulating blood lymphocytes and fibroblast cultures from patients with mannosidosis. The findings demonstrated generalized storage phenomena of varying degrees in the various tissues examined. Histochemical findings were in agreement with the biochemical nature of the stored material. Enzyme histochemical methods indicated storage in the lysosomes, at least in the hepatocytes. The ultrastructural appearance of mannosidosis in itself has but a limited diagnostic significance since the morphology and distribution of vacuoles have characteristics in common with other storage diseases. Repeated liver biopsy disclosed extensive storage in the hepatic tissue. However, the progression of the disease was not accompanied by severe mechanical destruction or microcirculatory disturbances.


Morphometric study of the ultrastructure of nephrons and collecting tubules in the kidney of rats with renal and spontaneous hypertension.

The convoluted proximal and straight distal tubules and the medullary collecting ducts in kidneys of rats with ischaemic renal hypertension and with genetic spontaneous hypertension were studied by means of electron microscopic morphometry. The volume of mitochondria, the area of their cristae, of the outer surface and of membranes of the intercellular labyrinth, and other ultrastructural characterisitcs were calculated. No significant differences were found in proximal tubules between experimental and control animals, although in the distal tubules in both experiments the coefficient characterizing the level of morphologic organization of mitochondria, which takes into account their basic morphometric parameters, was reduced in hypertensive animals as compared with the intact ones. The volume of mitochondria and the area of their cristae in collecting ducts, and also the area of membranes of the intercellular labyrinth were increased. Our results suggest that in hypertension the reabsorption of substances from the proximal tubules is essentially normal, that it is reduced at the beginning of the distal tubules but is intensified in the collecting ducts.


Temperature-dependence of the proliferation of mouse bone marrow cells cultured in H2O- and D2O-media.

In an attempto to optimize and standardize the in vitro culture conditions of mouse bone marrow cells for assaying growth regulating factors, we studied the effects of incubation at low temperatures and of a nutrient medium containing deuteriumoxide instead of water. It was found that (1) the proliferative capacity of the cells is significantly increased by pre-incubation for 1-2 h at 0 degrees C rather than at 37 degrees C, measured by both a colony-forming and a 3H-thymidine (3H-tdr) uptake assay. A similar temperature effect on the colony-forming and 3H-tdr uptake ability is apparent after pre-incubation in D2O-medium, yet significantly lower than in H2O-medium. It was concluded that the previously observed protective effects of D2O on ascites tumor cell proliferation and viability and for hemolysis of human erythrocytes is not apparent in proliferating and colony-forming mouse bone marrow cells in vitro.


Lymphocyte-mediated antibody-dependent cytolysis: role in immune hemolysis.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from normal volunteers were capable of lysing Rh(D)-positive human erythrocytes in the presence of IgG anti-Rh(D) antibodies. The percent cytotoxicity produced by peripheral blood lymphocytes was approximately equivalent to that produced by unfractionated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Neither peripheral blood mononuclear cells nor peripheral blood lymphocytes lysed Rh(D)-negative human erythrocytes in the presence of IgG anti-Rh(D) antibody.


The antigen Duclos. A new high frequency red cell antigen related to Rh and U.

An antibody is described which defines a new high frequency red cell antigen, Duclos, whose expression seems to require the presence of both U and Rh fundamental antigens. Apart from the antibody maker's own red cells the only nonreactive samples were from Rhnull U impaired individuals, one example of which was shown however to yield very slight amounts of antibody through absorption-elution tests. Rhmod U weak cells gave very depressed and Rhnull U positive or Rh common U negative cells moderately depressed reactions. The proposita's red cells had an apparently normal Rh-LW condition but their U antigen was significantly decreased. No further Duclos negative individual was found by screening 8,500 blood donors in the Paris area.


[Serum oestriol: a parameter of the function of the feto-placental unit (author's transl)].

The determination of serum oestriol is known to be a useful parameter of the function of the feto-placental unit. In order to derive the normal range on application of the radioimmunoassay technique, the serum oestriol level was determined in 242 gravidae during the second half of pregnancy. The pregnancies were all uncomplicated and ended with the delivery of a healthy baby at term. The statistical mean and 4 confidence intervals were calculated for each gestational week individually. During the second half of pregnancy there was a continuous gradual increase in serum oestriol; between the 34th and 38th gestational week there was a further steep increase, followed by a decrease from the 39th gestational week onwards. The usefulness of this method is illustrated on the basis of case reports of 10 high-risk pregnancies in which oestriol determination is compared with the clinical findings and HPL determination.


[Role of the liver in lipid metabolism in the parenteral feeding of fatty emulsions].

Tests conducted on dogs furnished information on the participation of the liver in the metabolism of heptadecanoic acid and fat emulsion "Intralipid-20%" with two modes of their administration: into the systemic circulation (through. v. jugularis) and directly into v. portal. Heptadecanoic acid is shown to undergo a whole series of transformations in the liver, in particular, it is very quickly and in fairly large amounts becomes incoporated in the structure of the molecular lipids forms, secreted into the blood as lipoproteins. Data derived from comparative investigations of a long-term infusion of "intralipid-20%" into the blood (19 days) and its effect on the lipids of diverse tissues showed that with the preparation introduced into v. portal and into the systemic circulation there is apparent a certain difference in the lipids metabolism rate.


[Hypophosphatemia during parenteral nutrition of patients with renal insufficiency (author's transl)].

Hypophosphatemia is a much commoner condition than generally recognized from investigations on this subject so far. Hypophosphatemia may cause ill-defined disturbances in the course of illness in patients with renal insufficiency. On the basis of our results we recommend the addition of 5--10 mmol phosphate (155--310 mg phosphorus) per 1000 kcal. of the nutrient solution right from the start of parenteral nutrition in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. The phosphate dosage must be further increased, at least temporarily, in hypophosphatemic patients with acute renal insufficiency. Serum phosphate determination should be obligatory in patients with renal insufficiency at the time when the patient is first seen. It should also be performed at least every second day during the first week of parenteral nutrition. Thereafter, the determination of serum phosphate twice weekly should suffice to control the dosage of phosphate required by the patient.


Kinetics of [3H]trifluoperazine in bile fistula rats.

1. Anaesthetized male rats with a bile fistula received 12-3 micron mol/kg [9-3H]tri-fluoperazine into the tail vein, and the biliary excretion of total radioactivity, unchanged drug and phenolic glucuronides was followed for 8 h. 2. About half of the administered radioactivity apeared in bile within 8 h;80% of the biliary metabolites were unextractable even after beta-glucuronidasearylsulphatase hydrolysis; about 10% were glucuronides of 7-hydroxytrifluoperazine and its N-demethylated analogue; approx. 0-6% of the excreted radioactivity was unchanged drug. 3. A more rapid excretion, but a similar metabolite pattern, was observed when the drug was administered into the portal vein and bile was collected for 2 h. 4. Rats pre-treated with trifluoperazine per os for 3 weeks and then given the radioactive dose into the tail vein excreted increased quantities of the demethylated phenol glucuronide, while the other metabolities remained unchanged.


Pharmacokinetic and metabolic studies of the hypoxic cell radiosensitizer misonidazole.

1. The metabolism of the radiosensitizing 2-nitroimidazole, misonidazole, has been investigated in mice, rats, baboons, human volunteers, and in patients receiving radiotherapy for advanced malignant disease. 2. Plasma levels of unchanged drug and its desmethylated metabolite have been measured, and in humans there is good correlation of peak plasma concn. with drug dose. All drug-related material in plasma was accounted for as unchanged misonidazole or its desmethylated metabolite, both compounds being radiosensitizers in vitro. 3. Extensive faecal excretion of material not containing any nitro group occurred in mice, rats, and baboons dosed with radiolabelled drug. 4. Renal excretion is the preferred route of elimination in man, baboon and mouse. Nitroimidazole metabolites accounting for over half the urinary excretion in all species were identified. 5. The compound penetrates solid murine tumours in concentrations sufficient to achieve radiosensitization.


Serum enzyme changes in experimental diabetes before and after treatment with some hypoglycaemic drugs.

In alloxan diabetes, serum GOT, GPT, and ceruloplasmin were significantly increased compared to normal rats, while the level of serum alkaline phosphatale was decreased. Treatment with insulin led to lowering of serum GOT, GPT, and ceruloplasmin while serum alkaline phosphatase remained low. Then lycanol or daonil were used for treatment, serum GOT, GPT, and ceruloplasmin were changes towards normalization, while ceruloplasmin returned to normal values. Serum-alkaline phosphatase increased after 7 and 14 days from treatment with oral hypolygylcaemic drugs. In dithizonized diabetic animals, the levels of serum GOT, GPT, and alkaline phosphatase were found to be higher than normal, while ceruloplasmin levels were unchanged. After treatment with insulin all serum enzyme activities were normalized.


Effect of low-protein diet and its duration on hair composition.

The effect of feeding a low-protein diet (1%) and its duration (4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks) on the protein content and amino-acid pattern of hair were studied. These changes were compared with control groups fed an adequate protein diet (16%). Protein content of hair was diminished in the protein-deficient rats after four weeks followed by a gradual decrease till the end of the experiment. Sulphur-containing amino acids, cystine and cysteine, were significantly reduced in the hair of the protein-deficient rats when compared with the normal controls. The amino-acid pattern showed significant differences from controls by the end of the whole experimental period.


[Freeze fracture study of Toxoplasma and Sarcocystis infective stages (author's transl)].

Infective stages of Toxoplasma and Sarcocystis have been studied by the freeze fracture technique. The outer membrane of the pellicle is continuous and shows an apical 8 + 1 particles rosette in the P fracture face. The inner membrane complex is made of rectangular flattened vesicles aligned in longitudinal rows and joined in a puzzle like fashion. Sarcocystis has 11 of these rows whereas their number varies in Toxoplasma. A posterior interruption is present. Anteriorly is one truncated conical plate apically opened by a vertical ridge. The membranes of the inner complex are characterized by parallel alignment of particles (in P faces) some of which are joined and continuous with double rows radiating in the apical cap. Those rows correspond in number and arrangement with the underlying microtubules. The rhoptries membranes show periodic circular arrays of particles.


[Formation of increased delayed hypersensitivity to the microbial antigen in animals preliminarily sensitized with pollen].

Combined forms of allergy to the wormwood pollen and brucellae was experimentally reproduced. Guinea pigs were sensitized primarily with the wormwood pollen, and in 3 weeks, 2 and 4 weeks with brucellae, in addition. Preliminary (2 and 4 weeks before brucellae administration) sensitization with the said pollen aided accelerated and marked formation of delayed allergy to the microbial antigen. The effect of intensification of microbial allergy was temporary. In administration of the microbes directly after the pollen allergen no significant influence of the latter on the formation of allergic reactivity to brucellae was noted.


[Gold treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

In basic therapy of Rheumatoid Arthritis gold is preferred. Continued as well as discontinued therapy is used. The effect of gold is of complex nature. Gold is localized in cells of the RES and mesenchyme main in the inflammatory area. The passing acceleration of mesenchyme metabolism possibly shortens the duration of the inflammatory process. Gold further shows effects on cellular and subcellular membranes, on collagen, ACTH-production and on immune reactions. Patients with high activity and slow progression of their disease are especially suitable for chrysotherapy. Low maintenance of gold levels is effective and inhibits toxic-allergical reactions may be in a sort of desensitisation.


[Immunochemical characteristics of pepsinogen-pepsin isoforms from the gastric mucosa of the pig, Sus scrofa].

Electrophoretic and immunoelectrophoretic studies reveal three isoforms of pepsinogen and pepsin which differ in their immunochemical properties. Activation of pepsinogen to pepsin at pH 2 does not affect antigenic properties of the isoforms of the enzyme. Some of the isoforms of commercial pepsin do not exhibit immunogenic properties, although reveal the enzymic activity. This finding indicates that immunochemical and biochemical determinants are located in different parts of isoenzyme molecules.


[Ultrastructure of the L forms of meningococcus].

The authors carried out an electron microscope study of the ultrastructure of the L-form of meningococcus. Several types of cells differing by shape, size, and electron density were revealed. Sharply angular cells closely adjacent to one another prevailed in the culture. Structureless material, possibly representing material of cellular wall was not infrequently revealed around the cells. Elemental bodies and membranous structures of the lamellar type were revealed within the cells.


[Study of the structure and function of endotoxins with the aid of enzymes. 2. Modification of Salmonella paratyphi B endotoxin with lysozyme and lipase].

Endotoxin preparations from the S. paratyphi B cultures, isolated by various methods, were treated with lysozyme (splitting of beta-1,4-glycoside links of lipid A) and lipase of the pancreas (splitting of complex ester links of glycerophosphatides). Lysozyme and, to a lesser extent, lipase, were capable of partial depression of the toxic endotoxin function. The process of enzymatic detoxication coursed selectively, without influencing the serological and immunological activity of the preparations. Suppositions are put forward on the complicated nature of the toxic endotoxin function manifestation and possibility of provision of detoxication effect by specific actions differing by the point of application.


[Mechanism of the changes in the animal reactivity to tularemia in mixed infection].

Experiments were conducted on albino rats infected with listeria or salmonelloses, and then with tularemia; differences were revealed in the duration of manifestation of nonspecific resistance associated with peculiarities of pathogenesis and immunogenesis of the background infections. One of the significant factors causing an increase of albino rats resistance to tularemia in mixed infection was activation of the immunomorphological reaction promoting accelerated development of specific immunity reactions to this infection.


[Ca++-dependent immunosuppressive effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)].

Subcutaneous injection of a sum total dose of 6.44.10(-5) M of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which binds divalent cations, inhibits the process of accumulation of antibody-forming cells in the spleen of mice (CBA X C57BL) F1 hybrids, immunizated with sheep red blood cells. In a dose of 5.2.10(-5) M CaCl2 eliminated the immunodepressive effect of EDTA almost completely. It was assumed that EDTA action was produced through the Ca++-controlled regulation mechanism of one of the following processes:  the interaction between T- and B-lymphocytes; proliferation and differentiation of T- and B-cells in the course of the immune response to sheep red blood cells. A more complex mechanism of EDTA action on the above-mentioned processes is not excluded, however.


[Aggravation of experimental dysentery in mice and acceleration of the process of multiplication of pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic bacteria under the effect of yeast RNA].

Simultaneous infection of mice with Sh. flexneri subtype 2a, culture, with various doses of RNA sodium salt (NaRNA) or administration of the preparation 3 hours prior to or 6, 12, and 18 hours after the infection was accompanied by aggravation of the experimental infection in mice. This was expressed in a greater number of animals which contracted the disease and died, and in increased blood and peritoneal exudate microbiol density. The same processes were noted in mice infected with equal doses of shigella cultures passaged four times through broth with NaRNA, in comparison with the animals infected with shigellae passaged through broth alone. Incubation of a number of pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic microbes in broth with NaRNA was accompanied by a significant increase in the bacterial biomass volume; at the same time other conditionally patoogenic microbes or even different strains of the same type of the microbes reacted to NaRNA but weakly. A possibility of realization of all of these processes in vivo and their influence on the origination of bacterial complications and development of the infection is supposed.


[Clinical aspects and pathogenesis of the initial (precrisis) disorders of cerebral circulation].

In 82 patients from 20--35 years of age with vegetative-vascular dystonia the authors studied clinical variants of the disease, the bioelectrical brain activity, the state of cerebral circulation, the visual analyzer, the cardiovascular system, histamine, protein, lipid, carbohydrate metabolism and the state of coagulative blood system. In the majority of the cases the studies demonstrated hystaminemia, some shifts in the biochemical blood content, an increased brain vascular tone, a drop of blood repletion and disturbances of regional hemodynamics. The studies also depicted a decreased functional lability of the main cortical bioelectrical processes, disturbances of electric activity and propulsive possibilities of the myocardium. It was also possible to demonstrate intercorrelation between the biochemical and electrophysiological indices with the type and form of the disease. It is assumed that the leading role in the pathogenesis of the disease belongs to the dysfunction of the limbico-reticular complex. Certain recommendations for normalization of the histamine metabolism are given as well as for the normalization of the reticulo-hypothalamic system functions. The authors also indicate a necessity of an early screening of the patients with vegetative-vascular dystonia.


[Clinical aspects of urethral diverticula].

Experience with the treatment of 39 cases of urethral diverticula between the years 1954 and 1974 is reported. The patients were 32 women and 7 men. In 7 cases (3 women and 4 men) the condition was congenital in origin. In 30 patients the first symptoms appeared between the 31st and 60th year. In a 12 months old infant a hazelnut sized diverticulum in the posterior urethra caused complete ischuria. In two-third of the patients symptoms of cystitis dominated, dyspareunia in women (8%) and prostatitis in men (16%) had a lower incidence. 80% of the diverticula were infected; they contained stones in 3 cases. In one case the diverticulum recurred and histology revealed in its wall a planocellular carcinoma. Thirty-five patients were subjected to operation. Postoperative fistula developed in 3 cases which had to be re-operated. In cases of recurring urethritis, cystitis and prostatitis, urography is recommended, since the symptoms might be due to the presence of urethral diverticula.


Calyceal diverticula: review of the literature, a hypothesis concerning its aetiology, and report of 17 cases.

The literature on calyceal diverticula is reviewed, the embryological aspects and pathogenesis are discussed and the congenital vasocentric theory of the authors is elaborated. The study includes the analysis of 17 cases.


[Diverticula of the jejunum as a diagnostic and therapeutic problem].

Five patients with jejenal diverticuli verifed by X-ray were discussed. Four of these patients under-went surgery because of the size of the diverticuli and due to their associating symptoms. In the fifth patient, more conservative therapy has prooved this far to be successful. With the four who underwent surgery, the diverticuli were totally resected and sutured at their bases. In one of the operated cases the intestinal lumen was made too narrow by resuturing the neck of the diverticulum (which was 2 cm in diameter). A reoperation in which the lumen would be widened was deemed necessary so as to promote normal passage of the intestinal contents. Postoperative control checkups showed that all five patients were relieved of the symptoms they had for years prior to their treatment. The X-ray finding were decisive in makings the diagnosis, and the presenting symptoms were indicative of surgery.


Viability of the islets of Langerhans after warm ischemia as judged by isologous transplantation.

The influence of warm ischemia on pancreatic islet viability was studied by means of 63 isologous transplantations in adult AGUS rats. The pancreases were harvested 0, 20 and 40 min after circulatory arrest. The islets were isolated with collagenase and transplanted intra-portally in known numbers into streptozotocin-diabetic recipients. The islet-dose-metabolic-response relationships in three groups of recipients were compared. No significant difference was found in the quantitative yield. The smallest number of islets which reversed diabetes increased by 25% after a period of warm ischemia regardless of its duration.


Galactorrhoea and hypogonadism associated with a radiologically-inapparent prolactin-secreting pituitary tumour.

A 38 year old man was investigated because of impotence, gynaecomastia and galactorrhoea. Hyperprolactinaemia and hypogonadism were documented. Pituitary function was otherwise normal as was tomographic examination of the sella turcica. In the absence of direct evidence of pituitary involvement (hyperprolactinaemia can suppress gonadal function) and to exclude ectopic prolactin production, venous blood was drawn at multiple sites. The highest prolactin levels were found in the superior vena cava and above, indicating an intracranial source. At transsphenoidal hypophysectomy a microadenoma was removed; tumour cells contained typical prolactin secretory granules on electron microscopy. In the light of this report the appropriateness of dividing hyperprolactinaemia into "tumourous" and "idiopathic" subgroups on the basis of sella size must be reconsidered. Functional tests do not distinguish between the subgroups although prolactin levels tend to be higher when the sella is enlarged. Only a quantitative rather than a qualitative difference may exist between the subgroups.


Prolactin-lowering effect of low doses of lisuride in man.

Lisuride, a new semisynthetic ergot derivative, effectively decreased the TRH-induced hyperprolactinaemia in healthy female volunteers at a dose of 300 microgram given orally. Basal prolactin levels were suppressed after a single dose of 100 and 200 microgram lisuride. This effect was still present 6 h after administration. Two hundred microgram lisuride also decreased the high serum prolactin levels produced by im injection of 50 mg sulpiride, and conversely, sulpiride injection abolished the prolactin lowering effect of lisuride. These results demonstrate that in man too lisuride is a very potent prolactin-lowering agent. In addition, the data support the hypothesis of a predominant role of dopaminergic mechanisms in the regulation of prolactin secretion.


A radioimmunoassay of oestrone in plasma. Plasma levels of oestrone and oestradiol in oophorectomized Rhesus monkeys during treatment with subcutaneous implants containing oestrone.

A highly specific antiserum to oestrone was used to develop a sensitive radioimmunoassay. Plasma was generally analysed without prior separation of the oestrogens. A small amount of plasma (0.1-0.2 ml) was extracted once with diethyl ether. The above and previously described radioimmunoassays were used to estimate plasma levels of oestrogens in oophorectomized monkeys treated with subcutaneous oestrone implants. Three monkeys received a rod containing 40 mg of oestrone. The rods were kept in place for about one year. The release rates from the rods were calculated. The oestrone plasma levels were initially high (370-500 pg/ml). In about 3 months they had fallen to a level of 50-100 pg/ml which was maintained till the removal of the rods. A rise in the oestradiol plasma levels was also observed. It is concluded that rods are suitable for administration of oestrone.


Platelet functions in dysproteinaemia.

Platelet functions were studied in 16 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and 4 with primary macroglobulinemia (PM). The fall in immunoglobulins on therapy was correlated with the status of platelet function. Effect of incubation of normal platelets with immunoglobulins derived from these patients on kaolin-induced platelet factor 3 (PF3) release was studied to elucidate the mechanism of platelet function defect. Results show increased bleeding time, absence or poor platelet adhesion and aggregation, poor PF3 availability and reduced total PF3 in platelets more consistently in PM but to a lesser extent in MM. Normalisation or partial reduction in globulins on therapy was associated with improvement in platelet functions. Incubation of normal platelets with immunoglobulins enhanced the kaolin-induced PF3 availability. It is suggested that in vivo platelet activation may bring about the PF3 release which subsequently manifests as poor PF3 availability and reduction in its total contents.


Thrombocytopenia and iron deficiency anaemia in a patient with alpha1-thalassaemia trait. Response to iron therapy. Case report.

Iron deficiency anaemia secondary to menorrhagia was observed in a woman of Greek Cypriot origin. Moderate thrombocytopenia was also present. Treatment with parenteral and oral iron produced a transient thrombocytosis, the platelet count then returning to normal. Subsequent analysis revealed that she also carried the alpha1-thalassaemia trait. Previous reports of thrombocytopenia responsive to iron treatment are reviewed.


[Fibrinogen Quebec I and Quebec II: two new families of dysfibrinogenemia (author's transl)].

Two new families of congenital dysfibrinogenemia originating from French Canada are reported. The dysfibrinogenemia in the first family is characterized by an abnormal aggregation of the fibrin monomers; the defect in the second family is due to a faulty release of fibrinopeptides during the proteolytic phase of the thrombin-fibrinogen reaction.


[Induction chemotherapy of non-Hodgkin malignant lymphomas. Results of a controlled trial comparing two quadruple associations (author's transl)].

Two types of chemotherapy have been compared in a randomized trial to treat non-Hodgkin malignant lymphomas. 66 patients were included in this study, but only 40 were evaluable after a histologic review of all cases. Treatment were an association of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone and doxorubicine or VM 26. Patients received only one induction chemotherapy course during 15--20 days. Results were evaluated immediately at the end of the course. Side-effects were mild. Efficacy was about the same with the two protocols: 35 patients out of 40 experienced a remission of more than 50% (among them 8 experienced a complete remission). These results are better than previous one obtained with cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone only. It is concluded that this type of treatment is well tolerated, quickly efficient and useful before treating patients with radiotherapy or long-term chemotherapy.


Growth of diffusion chamber hematopoietic colonies derived from spleen cells of rats administered hydroxyurea.

Donor rats of the Hebrew University strain were administered a single intraperitoneal injection of hydroxyurea (400 mg/kg body weight). 1--3 h following the administration of the drug, a suspension of spleen cells, the majority of which consisted of lymphocytes, was prepared. Spleen cells were placed in diffusion chambers and these were implanted in the peritoneal cavity of preirradiated mice. 5--8 days following implantation, erythroid and granulocytic colonies developed in 30.3% of the diffusion chambers studied. However, in most chambers, macrophages were observed. In control experiments with implantation of spleen cells of normal rats, granulocytic colonies did not grow and in only 3.1% of the chambers erythroid colonies were noted. Macrophage colonies, however, developed in all 32 control cultures. Our previous studies showed that administration of a single dose of hydroxyurea strips the rat bone marrow of approximately 50% of replicating cells within 9--10 h. The results of the present study indicate that such a severe depletion of rat marrow cells results in early committment of spleen stem cells to various blood cell lines.


Transient monoclonal immunoglobulin G with anti-dextran activity.

A patient with regional enteritis had received iron dextran for treatment of iron deficiency. Subsequently he developed a large (3.1 g/100 ml) IgG-K serum spike which had precipitin activity against dextran sulfate but not a variety of other antigens. There has been no evidence of multiple myeloma and the spike gradually disappeared spontaneously over the course of 2 years. We speculate that the monoclonal protein may have developed as a response to the iron dextran injections under the immunologic stress of a chronic inflammatory disease.


[Histochemical studies of the dynamic of activity of some mitochondrial enzymes in the rabbit liver during the process of the primary immune answer (author's transl)].

With the histochemical methods were investigated the dynamic of activity of the succino-dehydrogenase, the NAD- und NADP-depended diaphorase in the rabbit liver after a one time immunisation with botulinus anatoxin typ B. The animals were killed in different steps after the immunity. Their was observed significant variety of the activity of investigated enzymes. This was discussed in connexion with the catabolic processes of the antigen and the stimulation of the synthesis unspecific proteins in the parenchymatous cells.


A comparative study of histoenzymological mapping on the distribution of acid and alkaline phosphatases and succinic dehydrogenase in the spinal cord and medulla oblongata of mouse.

The present contribution deals with the histochemical mapping of the distribution of acid and alkaline phosphatases and succinic dehydrogenase in the medulla oblongata and spinal cord of mouse. The acid phosphatase is observed in neurons of all the nuclei except nucleus cervicalis lateralis (NC), though the activity varies from intense to moderate. Only one nucleus, i.e., nucleus parvocellularis compactus (NPC) is midly positive. In alkaline phosphatase preparations most of the nuclei are either intensely positive or moderately positive. Few nuclei are midly positive. It is interesting to note that only two nuclei, i.e., area postrema (AP) and nucleus cervicalis lateralis (NC) are negative for this enzyme. Further the reaction in most of the nuclei is diffused. In the case of succinic dehydrogenase out of 36 nuclei studied, 9 nuclei are intensely positive, 11 areas are moderately positive, 7 are mildly positive and 9 are completely devoid of enzymatic activity. Nucleus reticularis superior demonstrates activity of very high order. The distribution of the above enzyme has been co-related with the functional significance of the various nuclei.


[Histochemical investigation on the parenchyma cells of the Epiphysis cerebri of cattle (Bos taurus domesticus) and pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) (author's transl)].

The parenchyma cells of the pineal organ from 20 cattle (10 week-old female calfs, from one year to several years of age female and male cattle) and 14 pigs (8- to 9-month-old female pigs) were investigated with histochemical methods. Carbohydrates are evident in a insignificant quantity. The content of lipids is very high, according to the age the quantity varying. Proteins are evident, but only in small quantities. The content of ribonucleic acid is very high.


The Rete ovarii and follicle formation in marmosets (Callithrix jacchus and Callithrix penicillata).

The Rete ovarii in young marmosets shows a strong reactivity for a certain number of enzymes (LDH; NADH2-TR; NADPH2-TR; G-6-PDH; 6-PGDH; alpha-GPDH; beta-OHBDH and nonspecific esterase). The granulosa cells of the cortical innermost placed follicles have the same enzymatic reactivity. The germinal epithelium results negative to the mentioned group of enzymes at this phase of the development. The Rete ovarii must play an important rôle in the granulosa cells differentiation.


Cytology and cytophotometry in thyroid diseases.

The authors studied the cytological and cytophotometrical aspects in imprints from freshly surgically removed thyroids with the following diseases: nodular goiter, Graves' disease, lymphofibrous chronic thyroiditis, folliculo-papillary cancer, medullary carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma. In all the cases the cytological aspects were confirmed by the histopathological diagnosis in paraffin sections. The dextrodeviation and the plurimodal irregular aspects of nucleic acid content and nuclear volumes histograms were in agreement with the cytological features. In addition the linear regression analysis disclosed a diminished correlation between nuclear volumes and the content of nucleic acids paralleling the cellular dedifferentiation.


Histochemistry and cytochemistry of thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPP-ase 3.6.1.) in the rat gastric mucosa.

The paper deals with the histochemical and cytochemical distribution of thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPP-ase 3.6.1.) in the normal rat gastric mucosa using the method of NOVIKOFF and GOLDFISCHER (1961). In light microscopy, activity was demonstrated only in the GOLGI apparatus of the foveolar mucous cells; in the other specialized gastric mucosal cells no activity was established. At electron microscopic level, the reaction product was localized in the membranes of the cisternae of the GOLGI apparatus of foveolar mucous cells, undifferentiated neck cells, parietal cells, chief cells and in endocrine cells. The reaction product was not found in the endoplasmic reticulum of any of the above mentioned types of cells with the exception of parietal cells. The deposits of the reaction product in the cytoplasmic membrane, in the capillary endothelium and on the surface of the plasma membrane of foveolar mucous cells represents the sites of activity of alkaline phosphatase. The examination of the TPP-ase in the gastric mucosa inables us to estimate the activity of the GOLGI apparatus of gastric mucosal cells in the norm and in different pathological conditions connected with its changes.


[Study of anti-Rh(D) immunoglobulin for the presence of antibodies with different properties].

Investigations of 24 series of anti-Rh(D) immunoglobulins showed presence of arythrocyte antibodies with properties: anti--A (8) and anti--B (9) reacting only in antiglobulin test and anti-C (23), anti-E (16) and anti-s (2). In 8 preparations antibodies of HLA system were found with reactions of lymphocytes. In 2 series antibodies of HLA system were found with reactions of lymphocytes. In 2 series antibodies of HLA system were demonstrated by the C fixation with platelets method. No antibodies were detected against specific antigens of platelets and against to immunoglobulins class IgA. No preparation contained HBs antigen and corresponding antibodies. In 19 series of immunoglobulins anti-HBs antibodies were present.


Reversible conformational changes of plasmalemmal glycoproteins.

Repeated incubations of human red blood cells in low ionic isotonic sucrose result in an instantaneous agglutination. In the same medium which had caused the agglutination, erythrocytes completely disagglutinate within 60 to 90 min. Disagglutination is accompanied by the efflux of cellular ions, which causes a 500-fold increase of extracellular K+. Decomposition of agglutinates occurs at once upon addition to the medium of about 3 mM KCL. It will be inhibited for hours, if the medium is renewed twice an hour. Erythrocytes washed successively with phosphate buffered saline and isotonic sucrose are devoid of adhering blood plasma proteins. If these cells were fixed with glutaraldehyde in isotonic sucrose they had lost a) their anisotropic staining with toluidine blue, and b) most of their colloidal iron binding capacity. The staining with ruthenium red and the electrophoretic velocity of these erythrocytes apparently were identical with the controls. The findings are considered evidence of the reversible unfolding of glycocalyx glycoproteins in the low ionic medium.


[Localization of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the brain of Periplaneta americana (L.) (author's transl)].

A DA-oxidizing MAO has been demonstrated histochemically in DOPAminergic synaptic areas in the brain of the cockroach (Periplaneta americana). However, a 5-HT-oxidizing MAO seems to be absent. The optimal temperature is 37 degrees C, the optimal pH is 7,6. After an abdominal injection the used MAO-inhibitors have no influence on the activity of the MAO. In adding pargyline to the incubating medium there is an inhibition.


Intal (sodium cromoglycate) therapy in ulcerative colitis.

Intal was applied intrarectally for the treatment of ulcerative colitis in 39 patients with active pathological process. The drug was insufflated by means of rectoscopic tube at the dosage of 200 mg capsules daily for 15 days. Complete remission of the disease has been achieved in 97 per cent of patients within 2 weeks of the administration of the drug. As a maintenance treatment the patients were given SCG orally (240 mg daily) for a period of 2--3 years. During the course of 2--3 years' observation 93 per cent of patients have been maintained in remission by oral SCG therapy.


Progressive rubella virus panencephalitis: synthesis of oligoclonal virus-specific IgG antibodies and homogeneous free light chains in the central nervous system.

The occurrence of oligoclonal IgG and homogeneous free lambda light chains in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a patient with progressive rubella virus panencephalitis is reported. Fractions of oligoclonal IgG corresponding to those of the CSF occurred also in the serum. Evidence is presented that the oligoclonal IgG of serum and CSF represent rubella virus-specific antibodies. Different populations of oligoclonal IgG appear to be associated with antibody specificities to different antigenic components of the virus.


Nasoduodenal feeding in high risk newborns.

Recent reports indicate that nasoduodenal feeding is a suitable technique for high risk newborns, in particular those with a low birth weight. In the period between February 1975 and June 1976, 100 high risk newborns, divided into four cohorts on the basis of birth weight in 500 g divisions, were fed by nasoduodenal tube. The effect of nasoduodenal feeding has been measured in several ways, but particularly consideration has been given to weight gain, its caloric cost, the mortality rates observed in the Unit before and after the introduction of this nutritional regime and complications. The use of nasoduodenal feeding abolished the physiological loss of weight which normally occurs during the first week of life and was associated with a subsequent rate of weight gain equal to or better than that observed in infants fed by other routes. The mean caloric intake was greater in smaller infants than in larger ones and it was accompanied by a steady decrease in weight gain per unit of caloric intake with increasing birth weight. In 1974 the overall mortality rate in the Unit was 18% and in 1975 following the introduction of nasoduodenal feeding fell to 11.4%. No serious complications were observed associated with nasoduodenal feeding. The conclusion is that this form of feeding is particularly suitable for infants with a birth weight of 1 500 g or less.


Subclinical protein-energy malnutrition in under-privileged Ethiopian mothers and their newborn infants.

An increased glycine/valine ratio in the maternal and cord vein plasma was observed in under-privileged women and their newborn babies in Ethiopia. There was a delay in the decrease of branch-chained amino acids during the immediate neonatal period. These findings indicate malnutrition in utero and are identical with those of a previous study in an under-privileged group in Pakistan. A reduced cord/maternal ratio of tyrosine and methionine was found in the Ethiopian material, indicating placental dysfunction of unknown origin.


Experience with preoperative irradiation in head and neck cancer.

Experience with 47 patients with head and neck carcinoma operated after preoperative megavoltage irradiation of about 3 000 rads over 3 weeks is reported. The 3-year survival for the series was 25/47 (53%), for the cases of Stages I--II 13/19 (68%) and Stages III--IV 12/28 (43%). Neoplastic cells could not be detected in 18% of the cases at operative biopsy. The remaining neoplastic cells were considered to be degenerated and non-vital in 14%, but in 68% of the cases the histological examination revealed a viable neoplasm. Changes in the macroscopic appearance did not correlate very well with the histological findings. Disadvantages of the irradiation were so minimal that the authors consider the general application of preoperative radiation in the therapy of head and neck malignancies to be the treatment of choice.


Type classification of group B streptococci by the fluorescent antibody test.

Fluorescein-isothiocyanate conjugates were prepared from rabbit anti-type Ia, Ib, II and III sera, and used to classify 90 strains of group B streptococci isolated from the genital tract of puerperal women. Of the 84 strains that were typeable, the numbers belonging to serotypes Ia, Ib, Ic, II and III, were 7, 14, 6, 37 and 20, respectively. The anti-type Ib conjugate showed cross-reactivity with 21 of the type II strains and one of the type III strains. Absorption of the anti-type Ib conjugate with bacteria of a type Ic strain and testing of enzyme-digested streptococci indicated cross-reactivity due to antibody to the Ibc protein antigen of group B streptococci. The potential usefulness of this antigen in the classification of type II and type III strains is discussed.


Isolation and immunochemical determination of sow colostrum trypsin inhibitor.

Trypsin inhibitor from sow colostrum was isolated by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50 followed by gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G-100 and affinity chromatography. Antiserum against sow colostrum trypsin inhibitor was produced by immunization with the purified inhibitor, and made specific by absorption with normal porcine serum. The specific antiserum was used for immunoquantitation by single radial immunodiffusion (SRI). In sow colostrum whey, good agreement was found between the results obtained by SRI and the total trypsin-inhibiting activity as determined by radial diffusion in a casein-containing agarose gel (r = 0.97, n = 10). In sow's milk there was only a very low inhibiting activity, and no colostral inhibitor was demonstrable by SRI. Also in baby-pig urine agreement was found between the two methods (r = 0.97, n = 14). In baby-pig serum such an agreement was not seen, undoubtedly becuase of the presence of genuine serum trypsin inhibitors. By the SRI technique it is possible specifically to determine the colostral inhibitor even in the presence of other trypsin inhibitors.


A simple method for demonstrating gel-precipitating human anti-immunoglobulin antibodies.

The use of aggregated human IgG for the detection of anti-immunoglobulin antibodies by double immunodiffusion in gel is described. Of rheumatoid arthritis sera, 54 of 56 sera having a Waaler-Rose test titre of greater than or equal to 1:16 contained antibodies to aggregated IgG, in contrast to only 2 of 52 sera from blood donors. Furthermore, after 2-mercapto-ethanol treatment anti-IgG was still demonstrated in 5 of 16 sera.


Properties of a conductive cellular chloride pathway in the skin of the toad (Bufo bufo).

Two types of chloride current response to a step-wise hyperpolarization of the toad skin is demonstrated: (1) An "instantaneous" response observed immediately upon voltage change, and (2) a subsequent slow response, the time course of which is sigmoidal. The slow response is due to an increase of a transcellular conductance which is specific to chloride ions. The time constant of the conductance increase is dependent on the amplitude of the transepithelial voltage displacement, the smallest time constants are obtained for the highest amplitudes and are in the order of 30 s. The voltage dependences of the steady-state conductance and the steady-state chloride current reveal that the chloride pathway has maximum conductance for V approximately -80 mV (outside of the skin being negative) and approaches a non-conducting safe for V greater than 0 mV. This strong outward going rectification is a steady-state phenomenon: In skins hyperpolarized for a few minutes, the "instantaneous" I-V curves show that the chloride pathway in the conducting state allows a large inward chloride current (outward chloride flux) to pass in the voltage range 40 mV greater than V greater than 0 mV. Calculations based on a three-compartment model indicate that the strong steady-state chloride current rectification cannot be obtained if only the intracellular chloride concentration and the membrane potentials are allowed to vary ("Goldman-rectification"). It is suggested, therefore, that the premeability of the chloride pathway varies reversibly with the transepithelial potential difference. The variable which controls the chloride permeability may be a membrane potential or the concentration of an intracellular ion.


An "on-line" colorimetric method for repeated, rapid determinations of capillary diffusion capacity.

The single injection indicator diffusion method for estimation of capillary diffusion capacity (Crone 1963) has been developed to provide directly visualized, continuous colorimetric recordings of the venous time-concentration curves by means of a two-colour densitometer system. Cardio-Green, bound to albumin, is used as the non-permeant ("reference") tracer and Cr-EDTA as the permeant one. The artificially perfused hindquarter muscle vascular bed of rats is used. Highly reproducible curve recordings can be obtained every fourth minute. Accidental disturbances of the recordings are readily detected. Thus, compared to the fractional venous sampling technique, the present technique has the great advantage of allowing immediately controlled and frequently repeated determinations of capillary diffusion capacity. It is therefore easily used together with measurements of filtration-absorption events, e.g. for frequent quantitative comparisons of capillary diffusion and filtration capacities over a wide range of induced changes in perfused capillary surface area and/or capillary permeability. The main limitation is that the employed permeant tracer necessitates the use of erythrocyte-free perfusates.


Relation between chloride exchange diffusion and a conductive chloride pathway across the isolated skin of the toad (Bufo bufo).

Substitution of chloride in the outside bathing medium of the toad skin with bromide, iodide, nitrate and sulphate leads to a reduction in the apparent exchange diffusion of chloride across this tissue, and also to a reduction of the chloride current recorded during hyperpolarization. A series of inhibitors (thiocyanate, furosemide, phloretin, and acetazolamide) also affects chloride exchange diffusion, hyperpolarization current as well as chloride influx during hyperpolarization. Although in some cases, effects on the short circuit current were also observed none of the effects on chloride transport systems could be explained as secondary effects due to a primary interaction with the sodium transport mechanisms. A correlation was found between the clamping current recorded during hyperpolarization and the efflux of chloride under short circuit conditions with chloride Ringer's on both sides. On the basis of these findings, and the results reported in the previous paper (Hviid Larsen and Kristensen 1977) it is considered probable that the membrane molecules responsible to chloride exchange diffusion under short circuit conditions, are rearranged under the influence of a hyperpolarizing clamping voltage, thereby forming channels allowing charge transferring transport of chloride.


Aspects on diamine oxidase activity and its determination.

Homogenate of guinea-pig liver and human placenta, tissues known to be rich in diamine oxidase, were incubated with 14C-putrescine and the metabolites formed were determined. In the incubate of guinea-pig liver, the major metabolites were GABA and some unidentified compound(s); delta1-pyrroline and 14CO2 were also obtained. In both the maternal and fetal parts of human placenta, radioactive GABA and the unidentified compound(s) as well as delta1-pyrroline were found. The results indicate that GABA is an important intermediate in putrescine metabolism. Determination of the amount of delta1-pyrroline is thus not well suited as a measure of the diamine oxidase activity in tissues.


Effect in vitro of ioglycamide on blood proteins and paraproteins.

No modification of plasma or serum viscosity was observed after in vitro addition of ioglycamide in a series of 160 healthy subjects and 1 467 patients including 33 cases of IgM paraproteinemia, 20 with Waldenström's disease. The labelled contrast medium never bound to paraproteins. These results are contradictory to the statements in the literature, that plasma gel formation occurs in Waldenström's disease.


Influence of air cavities on central depth dose curves for 33 MV roentgen rays.

The relative central absorbed dose preceding and following air layers and channels in a polytetrafluorethylene (teflon) phantom has been measured with LiF-teflon dosimeters. Focus phantom distance is set to 100 cm and the field sizes range from 3 cm X 3 cm to 6 cm X 6 cm. Absorbed dose decrease and build-up factors in front of and behind the air cavity are evaluated. The build-up factor is strongly dependent on field size. Measurements of absorbed dose in water and polystyrene yield approximately the same results as in teflon if the linear dimensions of the irradiation geometry (including depth in phantom) in water and polystyrene are equal to 1.84 and 1.99 respectively times the corresponding parameter in teflon. The underlying transformation procedure is derived. The absorbed dose correction factors in the region behind the slab are discussed in terms of tissue-air-ratio and effective attenuation formulae.


Diabetes of excessively long duration with only minor manifestations of long-term diabetic complications.

A male patient with ketosis-prone diabetes of 55 years' duration is described. To our knowledge, this is the longest duration of diabetes reported. His daughter also has a ketosis-prone diabetes. The low degree of long-term diabetic complications in both father and daughter is remarkable.


Metals as mutagens.

A number of metals are mutagenic in bacteria or phage. These include compounds of arsenic, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, platinum, and selenium. Compounds containing alumium, antimony, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, and tellium have been shown to induce chromosomal aberrations or abnormal cell divisions in animal or plant cells. Genetic evidence suggests that arsenic, chromium, and molybdenum compounds may influence the accuracy of DNA repair processes in microorganisms.


Beryllium carcinogenesis.

Beryllium is a proven bone carcinogen in rabbits, and proven pulmonary carcinogen in rats. Median effective doses or concentrations can be computed only with considerable uncertainty; they appear to be in the 10 mg area (as total dose, in divided intravenous injections, expressed as Be for zinc beryllium silicate) for rabbits, and in the 20 alpha/m3 area (as atmospheric concentration for inhalation exposures lasting for at least three months, expressed as Be for beryllium sulfate) for rats. It is also proven that, at least from inhalation, guinea pigs do not develop beryllium cancers. Epidemiologic studies in humans are thus far unconfirmed but do not show increased cancer morbidity among beryllium workers. Current research is aimed at explaining the mechanism of carcinogenic action in the susceptible species, which seems to involve nucleic acid transcriptional interference, or the species specificity, which seems to involve immune mechanisms. No experiments were reported thus far besides the carcinogenesis studies to show that beryllium is a chemical mutagen. In the species thus far tested, there appeared to be mutual exclusion of development of a delayed (cell-mediated) hypersensitivity to beryllium and development of neoplasia from beryllium. Further research on this subject might lead to new possibilities in the understanding of cancer susceptibility.


Goniodysgenesis in exfoliation glaucoma.

According to our material the exfoliation glaucoma can be regarded as the result of an interplay of at least two different pathologic conditions: a primary genetic goniodysgenesis creating a relative block to the outflow, and a probable vasculopathy in the iris. Subsequent degeneration of the iris will lead to a liberation of pigment and debris, i.e., the exfoliation syndrome, eventually causing obliteration of the outflow pathways.


Aspirin and ulcers.

In eastern Australia, there is an epidemic of gastric ulcer which began 30 years in young women who are now middle-aged, (b) This epidemic is associated with the regular use of aspirin most often in the form of A.P.C. powders taken for non-medical reasons, (c) Data from three separate studies in America confirms a statistically significant association of regular aspirin use and chronic gastric ulcer, and (d) An explanation is provided by the effect of aspirin in inhibiting prostaglandin synthetase.


Glucocorticoid effect on the prostaglandin system in fat tissue.

A prostaglandin-mediated vasodilatation accompanies lipolysis in rabbit subcutaneous adipose tissue. Prostaglandin-synthetase inhibitors, like aspirin and indomethacin, reduced the prostaglandin content of the fat tissue during lipolysis and the functional vasodilatation but did not inhibit lipolysis itself. Anti-inflammatory steroids such as hydrocortisone and prednisolone inhibited vasodilatation but did not reduce the prostaglandin content of the fat tissue during lipolysis. As the steroids did not directly inhibit prostaglandin-induced vasodilatation, nor did they interfere with lipolysis, it seems likely that they inhibit the prostaglandin-mediated vasodilation by preventing the release of prostaglandin from the fat cells after formation. This suggestion is supported by the finding in vitro that indomethacin reduced the prostaglandin content of fat tissue and the incubation medium. On the other hand, steroids caused an increase in the prostaglandin content of the fat tissue while the prostaglandin leaking into the medium was significantly reduced.


Involvement of mediators in the interaction of platelets and carrageenan.

Carrageenan or thrombin-induced aggregation of plasma-free rabbit platelets was inhibited by calcium and magnesium chelating agents, by N-ethylmaleimide and by drugs that increase the intra-cellular cyclic AMP content. Inhibitors of prostaglandin (PG) synthetase were only partially active, and had to be present in the platelet suspension to inhibit aggregation. Inhibition of PG synthetase, as evaluated by bioassay and by AA-induced platelet aggregation, was not reduced when inhibitors were washed from platelets. The phospholipase A2 inhibitors bromophenacyl bromide and mepacrine, the chymotrypsin inhibitor tosylphenylalaninechloromethylketone, catalase and dithiothreitol also inhibited aggregation, whereas inhibitors of trypsin failed to do so. Incubation of rabbit platelet-rich plasma with carrageenan was followed by generation of PG-like and of rabbit aorta contracting activities. Generation of these activities was inhibited by drugs effective against aggregation, and also by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Aggregation of rabbit platelets by carrageenan and by thrombin does not appear to be dependent upon activation of PG synthetase, although PG-like substances are formed during aggregation.


Problems of neonatal tetanus as seen in Ghana.

An analysis of 249 cases of neontal tetanus admitted to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, between January 1971 and December 1974, has been presented. The overall case fatality was 64%. The unfavourable mortality trend over the period of study calls for urgent preventive measures on a largescale, to control the disease.


Study of innervation in the oesophagus of monkeys.

The intraganglionic nerve fibres endings in the oesophagus of monkey were studied. The different types of apparatus found were described, with their location in the oesophagus and their percentage distribution in relation to the different portion of its wall. The osmiumtetroixide-zinciodite and silver impregnation methods were used. A possible afferent function is proposed, which, however, must be considered an open question.


The practical and therapeutic implications of chloroquine-induced itching in tropical Africa.

Attention has once again been directed to the very uncomfortable itching following chloroquine chemotherapy of malaria in about 8% of the Nigeria population. Six typical case reports are presented. We have been able to identify three stages in the course of the itching and in the second stage, four phases have been outlined. The major implications of the pruritus are briefly discussed in respect to its effect on malaria treatment. Its possible link with more serious adverse effects and variations in drug metabolism are also mentioned. The treatment outlined is directed towards minimizing the intensity and duration of the itching reaction.


Respiratory distress syndrome: progress in prenatal prediction and prevention.

The concept of idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) as a disease of multiple etiology has shifted during the past decade to that of a developmental biochemical dysfunctional state which has a distinct pattern of clinical expression. Knowledge of the biosynthetic processes of physiologic lung maturation together with the now available perinatal technology have made possible laboratory analysis and quantification of surface active phospholipids, and also correlation of their concentrations with the subsequent respiratory status. Whereas prediction of the syndrome now appears well established, such is not the case with prevention although significant breakthroughs have undoubtedly occurred. It is hoped that development of simple and safe modalities of preventive intervention will follow soon in the wake of these pioneering major accomplishments.


81mKr ventilation and 99mTc perfusion scans in chest disease: comparison with standard radiographs.

In 75 patients with various pulmonary disorders, ventilation and perfusion scans were obtained in multiple views with the 81mKr/99mTc technique and compared with an evaluation of regional ventilation and perfusion derived from the standard chest radiograph. In emphysema, the chest film correlated poorly with ventilation-perfusion scans, showing a trend to underestimate the functional impairment. In chronic bronchitis and asthma, large segmental defects observed on both ventilation and perfusion scans were associated with a normal chest radiograph. Typical findings in pulmonary embolism were segmental defects on perfusion scan with normal ventilation scan and clear lung fields on the chest film. In chronic left heart disease, plain films were inaccurate in predicting alteration of the base-to-apex perfusion gradient observed on the scan.