Signal detection analysis of effect of white noise intensity on sensitivity to visual flicker.

Rating scale estimates of sensitivity to visual flicker were obtained from three subjects under 10 different intensities of auditory stimulation. Results indicated reliable "sawtooth"-like changes in sensitivity as a function of increasing intensity of white noise. No systematic and reliable changes were found in estimates of response bias. Theory and future research are discussed with reference to the possible contribution of cortical arousal.


Paradoxical complementarity in the esthetic preferences of the cerebral hemispheres: an exploratory study.

Significant differences in the consistency of intrahemispheric and interhemispheric preferences indicate reliable differences in the esthetic choices associated with each hemisphere. Given an initial like or dislike of stimuli by the hemisphere first activated, the other hemisphere will exhibit preferences in the opposite direction. This suggests a process of paradoxical complementarity between the hemispheres in which the preferences of the hemispheres are antithetical but not fixed.


Modality-specific effects on discrimination of short empty time intervals.

The ability of human subjects to judge the duration of short empty time intervals was studied in relation to the modality composition of the marker signals. At each trial, a pair of empty intervals was presented by a series of three successive stimuli, and the subject was asked to point out the longer interval of the two. Tone pips and flashes of light were used as the bounding signals. All the possible combinations of auditory and visual stimuli were used, in random order, to delimit pairs of intervals. Performance was found modality-independent when the first two stimuli were of the same modality. Strong response biases were introduced by varying the modality of the first or the second stimulus. Analysis of these biases indicates that memorization of the empty time intervals is affected by the modality of the binding signals.


Changing role of stimulus intensity as a determinant of infants' attention.

When pairs of stimuli which varied in size or brightness and in pattern were presented to 6-, 9- and 24-wk.-olds, the visual attention of the younger infants appeared to be more influenced by size or brightness than by pattern, while the opposite was the case for the oldest infants. The results of another study suggested that the effects of size and brightness were additive for 9-wk.-olds. Finally, a third study using a subject-control procedure with successive stimulus presentation yielded results which were essentially the same as those of the first study. The results were interpreted as supporting the hypothesis that amount of stimulation is a major determinant of attention in the first 2 mo. and that its effectiveness decreases with age.


Dimensionality of body perception and personality.

Fisher's Body Focus Questionnaire (1970) permits an estimation of the relative perceptive importance of eight zones of the body. The scores obtained by 377 French students of both sexes on the French version of this questionnaire show that the various body perceptions are structured by two main perceptual patterns, one of which is probably linked to orality and the other to anality. The relations which appeared between the scores and various personality traits are discussed.


Effect of various sensory inputs on prose learning.

A pretest-posttest design was used to determine the effects of auditory input, visual input, auditory-visual input, and no input on prose learning. The principal result of a multivariate analysis of covariance combained with a multiple-comparison test was a significant difference in favor of auditory input. This difference seemed to be confined to definition items which were the substance of the input as opposed to application items which were not involved explicitly in the input. A difference between the present study and earlier ones was that a shorter exposure of stimuli was employed in the present study, which may have led to results favoring auditory input in contrast to earlier findings favoring visual input.


Biofeedback and relaxation effects in electromyographic biofeedback training: a methodological note.

The present study documented progressive reductions of electromyographic potentials in a biofeedback study involving instructions to 11 female and 5 male college students to both increase and decrease the feedback (and therefore the muscle tension). When only pre-experimental baselines were employed, electromyographic reductions were found with instructions to decrease the feedback. When repeated, nontreatment baseline conditions were employed as references for analysis, no electromyographic reductions were detected beyond the progressive reductions that occurred during those baselines.


Information processing in a binary classification task.

Three choice-reaction time studies were conducted to investigate whether information processing is exhaustive or self-terminating, serial or parallel, and N-dependent or N-independent. A total of 54 subjects were required to make key-pressing responses to one, two, or three digits presented in a circular display; one key was pressed if the display contained one or more target digits and another key was pressed if the display contained only nontarget digits. The first two studies utilized within-subjects designs in which the displays were constructed from only one target and one nontarget item (Study 1) or from three target and seven nontarget items (Study 2). The third study used a between-subjects design in which different groups of subjects responded to one-, two-, or three-element displays. In general, the results indicate that CRTs increased as the total number of display elements increased and decreased as the number of target elements (or the ratio of target to nontarget items) increased for a given display size. When only target elements were presented, CRT was independent of the number of elements displayed, and when only one target was presented, CRT increased as total number of elements increased. Theses combined results are interpreted as support for the inference that information processing in visual search tasks tends to be self-terminating, serial, and N-dependent (of limited capacity).


Differential validity of the WISC-R for boys and girls referred for psychological serivces.

WISC-R correlations with Reading, Spelling, and Arithmetic achievement were compared for 145 males and 69 females referred by regular classroom teachers for school psychological services. Although correlations were smaller than are typically found due to restriction of range, no significant differences occurred across sex in the magnitudes of WISC-R/achievement correlations.


Some observations on tetra-ataxiametric patterns of static balance and their relation to mental and scholastic achievements.

Recent experiences and observations gathered in the context of six independent studies in California, France, and Israel with a new method of tetra-ataxiametry based on the use of four footplates, are presented. Two independent postural parameters assessed by this method (fluctuations and anterio-posterior weight displacement) have been shown to be reliable over time and to correlate with scholastic progress at the lower elementary grades (ages 5 to 9 yr.). They also seem to be sensitive to minimal neurological dysfunction and to postural characteristics of deaf children. Results of one study indicate that diagonal balancing movements (between heel and contra-lateral toe) reflected by the tetra-ataxiametric measure of synchrony may play an important role in postural organization. Findings offer new perspectives on problems of postural laterality and on the relationship between static balance, cognition, and scholastic aptitudes at the lower grades of elementary education.


The Luscher Color Test: sex differences in color preference.

Sex differences in color preference on the Luscher Color Test were investigated for the green and the yellow chips. 50 male and 79 female majors in education rated and ranked each color on the popular form of the test. Females ranked and rated yellow significantly higher than did the males. Implications regarding test validity for females are discussed.


A method for testing selective attention in vision.

A simple and highly flexible technique is described for testing selective attention in vision. This test has a number of advantages over techniques currently in use.


Dress, posture, and setting as additive factors in subjective probabilities of rape.

Subjects indicated the likelihood that a female, photographed in eight situations, would be raped. The situations were created by the Cartesian product of her dress (seductive/nonseductive), posture (aggressive/nonaggressive), and setting (inside/outside). The three variables combined additively with the highest subjective probability of rape associated with the seductive/nonaggressive/outside condition.


Differences in laterality for recognition of nonverbal material by Japanese and English subjects.

Observed differences in hemispheric dominance of visual function, attributed to culturally based experience of Japanese and American subjects, need systematic exploration.


Ipsative vs normative interpretation of test scores: a comment on Allen and Foreman's (1976) norms on Edwards Personal Preference Schedule for female Australian therapy students.

A brief review of the literature relating to intra- vs interindividual personality assessment and the lack of logical support for the calculation of T scores using intraindividual data. It concludes with a caution regarding the interpretation of WAIS and MMPI personal profiles which are derived from interindividual scaled scores.


Receptive phoneme sequencing knowledge of kindergarten and elementary school age children.

A new instrument was devised to investigate receptive phoneme-sequencing knowledge of a group of normally articulating children of kindergarten and elementary school age. Phoneme sequences, in the initial or final position of monosyllabic nonsense syllables that either adhered to or violated the phoneme-sequencing rules of American English, were tested. Older children correctly identified significantly more phoneme sequences than younger children. All children correctly identified significantly more impossible phoneme sequences than possible sequence items. Children did not abstract and internalize the rules for sequencing phonemes on a level comparable with that for adults until the ninth or tenth year of life. Decision-making strategies used by children to identify phoneme sequences were discussed.


Word context effects on letter recognition.

24 subjects were asked to determine whether a target letter was present in a tachistoscopically exposed word. The presence of the target was detected faster if the target was clarly sounded in the word, that is, the target G in the word TIGER was detected faster than the target G in the word RIGHT. This effect was strongest among subjects whose over-all response time was below the median value. This result was interpreted as evidence that (1) a word is recognized as a whole before its component parts are analyzed, (2) the transformation of the word from visual to acoustic code occurs before the analysis of the individual letters, and (3) individual differences in efficiency of target detection depend on a subject's over-all response time.


Effect of eye movement on perception of flicker.

With 3 experienced subjects CFF during eye movements was higher than that obtained by fixing a line of sight. CFF increased with a moving line of sight. With additional subjects CFF during eye movements was related to various factors such as target size and conditions of eye movement. More thorough study is required.


Response mechanisms underlying kinesthetic short-term memory.

The variables of reproduction cue, activity during retention interval, and orientation of the recall movement were manipulated to assess simultaneously the viability of two hypotheses of motor short-term memory. Data partially supported hypotheses as positive response biasing was evident in recall after a filled retention interval (Pepper & Herman, 1970) and that for a given range of movements some adaption to a central reference level occurred (Laabs, 1973).


Left-handedness: differences between student artists and scientists.

Majors in music and the visual arts had more left-handers among them than majors in the sciences. Handedness was determined by the self-reported hand used to perform a simple drawing task. Unexpectedly, a high proportion of left-handed females were in the sample.


Role of selected encoding strategies on short-term retention of kinesthetic information.

30 volunteer subjects were required to use either a counting encoding strategy or an imagery encoding strategy to facilitate recall of information from short-term storage. Subjects were also required to use two reproducation cues in combination with two encoding strategies. Analysis indicated no differences between the accuracy at recall of subjects using imagery or counting strategies of encoding, nor was the predicted interaction between encoding strategies and reproduction cue supported.


Effect of practice and training in spatial skills on embedded figures scores of males and females.

The effect of practice and training in spatial skills on scores obtained by male and female students on the Embedded Figures Test was examined. Forms A and B were administered 6 wk. apart to three groups of subjects (ns = 28, 27, 27) enrolled in drafting, mathematics, and liberal arts courses. During the pretest-posttest period the drafting students received training while the other two groups served as controls. Analysis indicated (1) no initial sex difference in test scores; (2) liberal arts students differed significantly from drafting and mathematics students, but there was no significant difference between the last two groups; (3) all groups improved with practice; (4) women receiving training improved more than women who did not; (5) there was a trend toward women receiving spatial training scoring more poorly than males receiving training on the pretest, but there was no significant difference on the posttest. These results suggest that sex differences in embedded-figures scores found by many previous experimenters may have been associated with differences in prior experience in spatial skills and by a confounding of sex with area of academic study.


Role of extended perceptual experience upon haptic perception of nonrepresentational shapes.

The influence of amount and type of exploratory activity upon 3 male and 5 female undergraduates' ability to detect the symmaterical or asymmetrical characteristics of individually presented plastic nonrepresentational shapes was examined. A decrease in scanning time and number of identification errors between the first and fourth days of testing indicates that extended perceptual experience plays a major role in the efficient pick-up and utilization of haptic information. A signal-detection analysis demonstrated that the use of a simultaneous-apprehension scanning strategy resulted in greater sensitivity to asymmetrical shapes than did the use of a simultaneous-apprehension scan. The data support the hypothesis that experience, the form parameter of symmetry, and the type of scanning strategy used to explore a stimulus function together to influence haptic perception of nonrepresentational shapes.


Perceived exertion of professional hockey players.

18 professional hockey players were tested on the treadmill with a modified Balke procedure and also for maximum isokinetic strength with the Cybex II instrument. Immediately after each test the subject completed the Borg Scale of Perceived Exertion. The treadmill effort was perceived as being "somewhat hard work" while the maximum strength effort was considered "very light." This conflicts with previous literature. It may be that professional hockey players adapt to physical stress and do not respond perceptually to such stimuli in a typical manner.


Studies on seminal vesiculitis in the bull. II. Malformation of the pelvic genital organs as a possible predisposing factor in the pathogenesis of seminal vesiculitis.

Of 32 bulls showing inflammatory conditions in the pelvic genital organs, 25 were examined post mortem (24 showing vesiculitis with or without ampullitis and one showing ampullitis alone). In ten cases (40%) the following malformations or rare anatomical deviations were demonstrated by careful gross-anatomical dissection: Segmental aplasia of the Wolffian duct: 1; segmental hypoplasia of the Wolffian duct: 3; asymmetric implantation of the two ampullae: 3; accessory vesicular glands: 1; uterus masculinus persistens: 2. These results corroborate earlier observations that a congenital defect may play a certain rôle in the pathogenesis of seminal vesiculitis, most probably by acting as a locus minoris resistentiae in or around colliculus seminalis. On account of the above findings, and considering the prognosis for the condition and the lack of effective treatment, it can in general be recommended, that diseased bulls should be slaughtered as soon as the diagnosis seminal vesiculitis is final.


Pyometra in the dog. III.--A pathophysiological investigation. III. Plasma progesterone levels and ovarian morphology.

The peripheral plasma progesterone levels in bitches with spontaneously developed pyometra did not differ significantly from those in normally cycling or pregnant bitches. The macroscopic ovarian morphology gave no indication of an increased corpus luteum activity. Ovarian follicular cysts were found in 4 out of 31 cases. There was no detectable difference of results between 14 bitches that had received hormonal medication 10 years to 1 week previous to the pyometra diagnosis, and the other patients.


[Duovac 300--udder health and milking routines. A field experiment (author's transl)].

The effect on udder health and milking routine of two Alfa Laval milking units, the Duovac 300 with a normal (380 mm Hg) and a low (250 mm Hg) vacuum phase and the standard HP 100 unit with only the normal (380 mm Hg) vacuum phase, was investigated on six dairy farms. A total of 197 cows were involved in the study. Each herd was divided into two groups which were as similar as possible in terms of age, stage of parturition and milk yield. One group was milked with the Duovac unit, while the other was milked with the HP 100 units for a test period of 100 days. No differences in cell counts from the cow samples, the presence of subclinical mastitis or clinical condition of the teats were observed between the two test groups. The total milking machine time for the Duovac units was longer than for the HP 100 units. However, the time spent in the normal vacuum phase (380 mm Hg) for the Duovac units was shorter than the total milking machine time for the HP 100 units (380 mm Hg). The Duovac units had the shortest machine stripping time, but the "waiting time" for the milkers (the time between the various operations) was longer. These time studies showed that the number of cows milked per hour by one man using four or five Duovac units was equal to or greater than the number of cows milked per hour by one man using three HP 100 units. It was recommended that no more than three HP 100 units be managed by one man.


[Measurement of blood theophylline levels in the child: will this affect methods of prescription? (author's transl)].

Twelve children aged between 2 and 13 years received an oral dose of 5 mg/kg of pure theophylline, and 28 children aged between 2 and 15 years were given 10 mg/kg/day of the same drug in 3 or 4 divided doses for 3 days. In the first group blood theophylline levels were higher than 10 microgram/ml, after 1 or 3 hours, in only 3 children, two of whom were receiving erythromycin at the same time. Six hours and 12 hours later, none of the serum levels were higher than 10 microgram/ml. In the second group, estimations were performed on the 4th day. At 8 a.m., when the last dose had been given 12 hours previously, blood theophylline levels were all less than 10 microgram/ml (mean: 4.03 +/- 0,88 microgram/ml). Two hours and four hours after the usual morning dose, serum levels of greater than 10 microgram/ml were found in respectively 35 and 25% of the children only. Since the bronchodilator effect of theophylline is optimal for serum levels of greater than 10 microgram/ml, the dose currently recommended in France (10 mg/kg/day) would thus appear to be insufficient in most instances. However, increase in individual doses must be guided by serum estimations, which make it possible to avoid complications related to overdosage.


[Severe drug complications: current prevalence amongst patients admitted to adult intensive care units (author's transl)].

A retrospective study involving nine teaching hospital mixed intensive units provided information concerning severe drug complications amongst patients admitted to these departments over the past ten years. Amongst a total of 63717 patients admitted, there were 1132 drug complications (1.8%) without any predominance in terms of sex. Mortality was high (252 patients, i.e. 22.2%), being all the greater in older patients. Details concerning the various drug complications are given, the most common being anaphylactic shock and haemorrhage due to anticoagulants. These statistics are compared withthose already published by hospital departments of internal medicine.


[Haemorrhagic complications using streptokinase during 98 treatments. Place of the biological surveillance (author's transl)].

Streptokinase was administered to 98 patients, 75 of them with arterial occlusion of the limbs, in accordance with the classical protocol of high and continuous doses (150,000 international units per hour for 48 to 78 hours after an initial standard dose of 500,000 units). There were a total of 15 haemorrhagic complications: --related to a non-respected contraindication (1 case) --traumatic (4 cases) --spontaneous (10 cases), responsible for or contributing to a fatal outcome in 4 instances. In addition, there were 13 spontaneous or provoked haemorrhagic side effects. Retrospective analysis of laboratory results shows that it is difficult to predict haemorrhage: the degree of fibrinopaenia and fibrin breackdown product levels are not closely related to the onset of bleeding. Nevertheless, the combination of a residual fibrin level of less than 1.50 g/l approximately with an amount of fibrinogen broken down (difference between fibrinogen levels before treatment and during treatment) of more than 3 grams was present in the great majority of patients in whom complications developed. The absence of bleeding seen when plasma thrombolytic activity, assessed by the Blix test, is inadequate, suggests the existence of a relationship between biological effectiveness and the risk of haemorrhage. In practice, apart from strict observation of contraindications, the risk of haemorrhage must be born in mind when the therapeutic decision is made. Careful clinical surveillance is today more important than laboratory studies in the prevention of haemorrhagic complications, the price which must be paid for the thrombolytic activity of streptokinase. The latter is capable of acting not only upon the vascular obstruction but also upon haemostatic clots.


[Postoperative haemodynamic evaluation of myocardial protection by physicochemical cardioplegia. Hyperkaliemic, hyperosmolar and acid solution at 4 degrees C (author's transl)].

Myocardial protection by a combination of cardiac hypothermia and chemical cardioplegia (high concentration of K+ and Mg++, hyperosmolarity, acid pH), was studied during 20 valve replacements. Essentially assessed on the basis of repeated measurements of postoperative cardiac output, the results were compared with those obtained previously using local hypothermia only (20 patients) and hypothermic cardioplegia using Ringer Lactate (20 patients). Analysis of haemodynamic data, which thus involved 60 patients, indicated the superiority of physicochemical cardioplegia, and this for clamping periods of up to 2 hours, but also showed the desirability of changes in the protection protocol during the ischaemia phase and during reperfusion which might improve the results.


[Paraneoplastic hypercalcaemia in a case of carcinoma of the bladder. Demonstration in the tumour of a substance with parathormone activity (author's transl)].

Hypercalcaemia accompanied a bladder tumour in a 77-year-old woman. Immuno-reactive parathormone (IPTH) in the tumour being high, the hypercalcaemia could thus be attributed to secretion by the tumour of a substance with parathormone activity. The rarity of bladder tumours at the origin of paraneoplastic hypercalcaemia is recalled. The mechanism of the metabolic disturbance and the disagreement between serum and tumour levels of IPTH are discussed.


[Low postero-medial approach to the leg (author's transl)].

It is possible to prolong a postero-medial surgical approach to the leg as far as the tarsal canal in order to gain access to the posterioir aspect of the diaphysis and of the shaft of the tibia up to the tibio-tarsal line. The tendons and vessels must be displaced backwards, held by a tape and moved as necessary according to the desired approach. In addition, the morphology of the posterior aspect of the tibia is such that osteosynthesis is much simpler than via any other approach. Four years' experience of more than 30 cases enable the authors to advise the use of this approach in surgery of the lower end of the tibia.


[Cold nodules of the thyroid. Reevaluation of surgical excision on the basis of a new group of 607 patients(author's transl)].

In a serie of 607 cold nodules developing in normal or apparently normal (on preoperative clinical examination) thyroids, the results of histopathological examination were compared with those in an identical series studied 10 years before. Carcinoma was frequent: 9.7% in the current series and 19% in the first series. Insofar as neither clinical examination nor special investigations at the present time make it possible to affirm that a cold nodule is not malignant, surgical complete lobectomy with frozen section examination remains the required procedure in view of its harmless nature and the good prognosis in differentiated tumours operated upon before any visceral extension has taken place, contrasting with the poor prognosis of others. Recurrences may be prevented by special operative techniques (routine excision of Lalouette's pyramid, division of the contralateral ligament of Grubert) and routine postoperative thyroid extracts in patients with a morphological, familial or biological risk of recurrence.


[Prolonged treatment of Zollinger-Ellison by cimetidine (author's transl)].

Treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome with cimetidine is justified by prior pharmacological studies; close survey of the patients is necessary, using clinical (endoscopic control of ulcer; diarrhea) and biological (BOA measurements and assessment of cimetidine efficiency) criteria. On the basis of 7 patients suffering from of chronic forms of ZES treated with cimetidine for periods varying from 56 to 570 days, a therapeutic scheme is suggested, allowing individual choices in the following problems:-possibility of gastrinoma complete excision, -advantages and disadvantages of cimetidine vs. total gastrectomy in respect to side-effects and acid secretion suppression, -variations in drug efficacy according to time (prolonged secretory inhibition, escape phenomenon).


[Arthroscopic study after failure of synoviorthesis (author's transl)].

Arthroscopy of the knee, including synovial biopsy under direct vision, was performed in 22 patients (21 cases of arthritis, 1 of osteoarthrosis), treated 15 days to 12 months previously by osmic or isotopic synoviorthesis. The aspects seen after the 16 failures were compared with those seen after good results (4 cases) and after recurrences (2 cases). In arthritis, failure was due either to persistent synovitis, to synovial necrosis or to a combination of the two. Arthroscopy is useful since the discovery of inflammatory lessions justifies repeat synoviorthesis, whilst necrosis indicates the need for articular lavage.


[Steiner-type neuroapudomatosis presented a pseudo-Hirschsprung disease (author's transl)].

A case of Steiner type neuroapudomatosis presented with a pseudo-Hirschsprung disease in an infant. Secondarily, the facies became typical, while hyperthyrocalcitoninaemia led to the discovery at the age of 2 years and 8 months of a medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. Despite early surgery in the absence of any clinical signs, it was not possible to avoid cervical lymphatic spread.


Ethidium bromide binding to core particle: comparison with native chromatin.

Ethidium bromide intercalation into DNA of nuclease digested erythrocyte chromatin and core particle, was followed at low ionic strength by fluorescence measurements, equilibrium dialysis using 14C labelled dye, circular dichroism and electron microscopy. High affinity binding sites in the chromatin are no more present in the core particle, i.e. when the linker is removed. In the case of core particle, a cooperative process occurs, accompanied by a partial stripping of the DNA from the core histone. Finally two populations of core particles can be detected by electron microscopy as far as their binding properties are concerned.


Cycle specific association of nascent chromatin with nuclear envelope components in Physarum polycephalum.

The action of heparin on isolated nuclei derived from different phases of the mitotic cycle in plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum was studied. Heparin addition at two-fold excess over DNA concentration to nuclei in Mg-free low ionic strength buffer (10 mM TRIS-HC1, 10 mM Na2 HPO4, pH = 8) releases 60-80% of chromatin from S, G2, and mitotic phase nuclei. The RNA/protein ratio of herparin-solubilized cromatin is constant through S and G2 phases, but rises about two-fold at early prophase coincident with nucleolar breakdown. Purified nuclear envelopes were obtained from heparin-treated nuclei by sedimentation according to Bornens procedures (Nature 244, 28, 1973), and examined by transmission electron microscopy. Residual chromatin is seen at all stages with fine network of DNA fibrils in contact with the envelop. Regardless of time in S, 80% of 3H-labeled DNA was released into soluble chromatin with identical 3H/14C ratios. The residual chromatin in nuclear envelopes exhibited a preferential association of early S-DNA in nuclei engaged in early S replication, and late S preferential association in nuclei engaged in late S replication.


Further studies on partially purified calf thymus DNA polymerase a.

Attempts to prevent the urea conversion of a 200-230,000 molecular weight DNA polymerase alpha to a 150-170,000 molecular weight form by the inclusion of protease inhibitors have not been successful. No other method has been found capable of dissociating a 50-70,000 fragment or subunit from the DNA polymerase subunit. Addition of this 50-70,000 subunit to the polymerase subunit does not aid the binding of the enzyme to DNA, but does have an effect on the utilisation of synthetic template-initiator complexes by the polymerase subunit.


Modulation of thyroglobulin messenger RNA level by thyrotropin in cultured thyroid cells.

To examine the influence of thyrotropin (TSH) on the thyroglobulin (Tgb) mRNA content, the latter was evaluated in the cytoplasm of hog thyroid cells cultured in the absence (control cells) or presence of TSH. The Tgb mRNA levels were determined by, (i) kinetics of hybridization to sheep Tgb cDNA, (ii) capacity of coding for peptides immunologically related to Tgb in reticulocyte lysate. In cells cultured for 4 days in the absence of TSH, the content of Tgb mRNA sequences decreased to 30% of its initial value and the messenger activity to 15%. Conversely, TSH maintained the initial Tgb mRNA level in cells cultured in its presence, and TSH concentrations 50 micronU/ml or 5 mU/ml gave identical results. At each period tested poly (A) content was the same in TSH-treated and control cells. When TSH was added to media after 4 or 8 days culture without TSH, the Tgb mRNA level was partially restored. These results suggest that TSH exerts a positive control on Tgb gene expression through modulation of Tgb mRNA content of thyroid cells.


The effect of aphidicolin on adenovirus DNA synthesis.

Aphidicolin inhibits adenovirus DNA replication in HeLa cells and in a cell-free, infected, nuclear extract in which viral DNA is elongated. The compound inhibits alpha DNA polymerase, extensively purified from HeLa cells, but has little or no effect on the beta or gamma DNA polymerases similarly purified. Aphidicolin does not affect thymidine uptake by cells nor does synthesis as it also inhibits DNA replication in uninfected cells. The inhibition by aphidicolin is reversible if the drug is removed within 18 hrs after addition to HeLa or Chinese Hamster Ovary cells but the cells are irreversibly affected if the drug remains for 48 hours.


DNA-binding activity of tightly-bound nonhistone chromosomal proteins in chicken liver chromatin.

We have isolated a nonhistone chromosomal protein fraction from chicken liver chromatin which possesses high affinity and preferential sequence DNA binding. Residually DNA-bound nonhistone chromosomal proteins after 2.0 M NaCl extraction of bulk chromatin are isolated. Bound proteins are released by dissociation of the complexes in 5.0 M urea/3.0 M NaCl. We have investigated the in vitro DNA-binding properties of this class. In contrast to other DNA-binding NHCP whose activities have been studied, direct DNA-binding activity is observed which is not abolished under conditions of high ionic strength (to 3.0 M NaCl). Strong preference in binding fractionated homologous DNA is observed, while binding of heterologous (E. Coli) DNA is negligible. The fractionation of homologous DNA permits the isolation of DNA for which this protein class displays strong binding preference, presumably through a concentration of binding sites. The composite data suggest sequence-specific interaction between this protein class and DNA, which is not abolished by high ionic strength.


Studies on the cause of changes of reactivity to hexobarbital in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

The hypnotic action of hexobarbital is weaker in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) than in Wistar rats. The difference does not appear in young rats (up to the sixth week of life) and appears gradually concomitantly with maturation of animals. There was no correlation between the changes of reactivity to hexobarbital and development of hypertension. The rate of metabolism of hexobarbital was similar in SHR and Wistar rats. There is a close relationship between the changes in reactivity to hexobarbital and psychomotor activity: both are significantly higher in SHR than in Wistar rats. The results suggest that the main cause of a weaker action of hexobarbital in SHR is higher intensity of stimulatory processes in the central nervous system.


The effect of pyrogen induced fever on pharmacokinetics of rifamycin SV.

The fever was evoked in rabbits by single iv injection of pyrogen-standard from E. coli, and rifamycin SV was administered at the peak of the fever (T = 1.7 degrees C). The rifamycin blood level was determined during the fever stability and changes of kinetics of the antibiotic were investigated. It was found that distribution and elimination of rifamycin were decreased during fever. The consequence of the inhibition of the antibiotic elimination was the increase of its level in blood and tissue compartments.


Kidney stone disease: evaluation and medical management.

Over the past 15 years we have developed a protocol for evaluation and medical management of urinary calculi that has proved quite effective. For all patients we include plain x-ray films of the urinary tract, intravenous pyelograms, urine cultures and sensitivity studies, serum and 24-hour urinary chemical determinations, and analysis of any stones recovered. Although the cause of calcium stones, the most common type of urinary calculi, has not been established, specific treatment regimens have been devised. Maintenance of a dilute urine remains the mainstay of therapy, and diuretics, alkalinizing or acidifying agents, and various specific drugs may be indicated, depending on laboratory findings. Surgery is not indicated unless the stone is large, is in the upper part of the urinary tract, or shows no signs of movement.


Sequiterpene lactones. Part XXV. Studies on the mode of action. The cellular and molecular basis of cytostatic action.

Two compounds, derivatives of the sesquiterpene lactones (SL), ALA and URSA, on the basis of the high antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo systems, were selected as models, in order to study the mechanism of action of this drug class. Using cytologic, morphologic and isotopic methods the following were demonstrated: 1) At a subtoxic conc., 0.28 microM, arrest the HeLa cell in its interphase (G1, and/or S, G2). 2) At a higher conc. of 28.0 microM, complete and irreversible cytotoxic effects with pyknosis and karyorrhexis. 3) At a conc. of 56.0 microM, inhibition of protein biosynthesis by 94% and RNA by 81--92%. 4) At a conc. of 2.5 microM inhibition by 80% of translation processes. Inhibition of DNA biosynthesis seems to be doubtful. A preliminary hypothetical model of the cellular and molecular mechanism of SL, partly explanatory also of the cytostatic effect, has been proposed.


Urinary tract infection in children: diagnosis and treatment.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a fairly frequent occurrence in children. Diagnosis should be made quickly and accurately by Gram staining and culture of an uncontaminated urine specimen. A first, uncomplicated UTI should be treated with sulfonamides or nitrofurantoin. Careful follow-up is necessary because of the high risk of recurrence. Sensitivity studies and specific antimicrobial therapy are indicated in any patient with recurrence and in patients with anatomic urinary tract abnormalities. Long-term prophylaxis may be needed.


Hydrolysis derivatives of (pyridyl-2)acetonitrile.

The alkaline hydrolysis (KOH/EtOH) of alkyl derivatives of (pyridyl-2)acetonitriles gave the corresponding amides. Lactones: 3-(pyridyl-2')3-alkyl-5-methyl-tetrahydrofuran-2-ones were synthesized as result of the hydrolysis of (pyridyl-2) alkylallylacetamides in presence of 85% H3P04. Soporific and anticonvulsive activity exhibited (pyridyl-2)diallylacetic amide 2 and (pyridyl-2)di-n-propylacetamine 3.


Preinvasive cervical cancer: how it develops and how to block its progression.

The preinvasive stage of cervical cancer is usually so prolonged and the techniques for its diagnosis and treatment are so well advanced that aggressive surgical treatment should rarely be necessary and the disease should rarely be fatal. That these results have not yet been realized is due largely to the failure of screening programs to reach at-risk populations. At the same time, the widespread use of cytologic screening in some populations has revealed a large number of women with atypical findings who require evaluation and treatment. It is an ongoing clinical concern to protect these patients from the development of invasive disease without overtreating foci of disease that can be destroyed by simple techniques.


New derivatives of hexahydroazepine, hexahydro(1,4,5)oxadiazepine and hexahydro(1,4,5)oxadiazocine with expected pharmacological activity.

New derivatives with the expected pharmacological activity of heterocyclic systems mentioned above having ether (1-6) and ester (7-10) groups were obtained.


Manifestations of gallstone disease.

In some patients, gallstones are asymptomatic, lying dormant in the gallbladder or wedged in the cystic duct. In others, stones cause specific symptoms of gallbladder disease, such as biliary colic, acute cholecystitis, or cholangitis. Symptoms of flatulent dyspepsia are not markers of gallstone disease, since they occur equally in those with and without gallstones. Complications of gallstone disease include pancreatitis, biliary-enteric fistulas, hydrops, limy bile, porcelain gallsbladder, and carcinoma of the gallbladder. Cholecystectomy is indicated for symptomatic gallstones; for suspected stones in diabetics, who are at high risk should complications of gallstone disease occur; and in a few other limited situations. Prophylactic cholecystectomy for asymptomatic gallstones remains controversial.


Effect of some peptides on distribution of rifamycin SV in rabbits.

The effect of insulin, glutathione, trypsin and somatotropin on processes of distribution and elimination of rifamycin SV were investigated using pharmacokinetic analysis. It was found that the peptides, especially glutathione and trypsin, enhance the distribution of rifamycin in rabbits and cause an increase of amount of this antibiotic in the central compartment.


Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. 3. Cold antibody type.

In cold autoimmune hemolytic anemia, the causative autoantibodies (cold agglutinins) are most reactive at low temperatures. The anti-I type of cold agglutinin is found in cold hemagglutination disease and in hemolytic anemia secondary to malignant lymphoma, leukemia, or atypical pneumonia. The anti-I type of cold agglutinin is found in many patients with infectious mononucleosis and in an occasional patient with other lymphoproliferative disorders. Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, a disorder in which exposure to cold temperatures triggers massive hemolysis, is characterized by a unique biphasic cold autoantibody called the Donath-Landsteiner antibody. By way of summary and review of this and the two previous articles in this series, table 4 presents a practical approach to diagnosis of the autoimmune hemolytic anemias.


On the central antiserotonin action of trazodone.

Trazodone, an antidepressant drug with an unknown mechanism of action, has been examined in order to demonstrate its central antiserotonin action. Trazodone antagonizes the head twitch response induced by 5-hydroxytryptophan in rats and mice, or by-5-methoxytryptamine in rats (the ED50 values are 9.3, 5.2, and 10.8 mg/kg respectively). It counteracts convulsions induced by tryptamine in rats (ED50=3.75 mg/kg). Trazodone abolishes hyperthermia induced by serotoninomimetics (LSD, quipazine, fenfluramine) in rabbits. It does not affect ptosis induced by reserpine, and diminishes stimulation of the locomotor activity induced by amphetamine. Our findings demonstrate that trazodone has a central antiserotonin action, similarly as three other antidepressant drugs: mianserin, danitracen and doxepin, whose central antiserotonin action has been found previously.


Diagnostic/genetic studies in mental retardation.

Excluding environmental, psychotic, and unclassified categories, a total of 1,231 cases of severe mental retardation were found in the Central Wisconsin Center study. Some 45% of cases were estimated to be genetically caused or predisposed, but in only 15% was the risk of recurrence considered high. Nevertheless, I feel strongly that parents of all retarded patients deserve etiologic/diagnostic counseling.


Thyrotoxicosis as a mimic of dementia and/or stroke-like syndrome.

The case reported here and others like it indicate that thyrotoxicosis can be manifested by psychosis or bizarre neurologic signs. Thus, hyperthyroidism in late life may be overlooked and the patient given the diagnosis of psychosis secondary to organic brain syndrome or cerebrovascular accident. Thyrotoxicosis, which is treatable, should be looked for as a possible cause of deterioration of mental function with or without focal neurologic signs.


Differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia: a mechanistic approach.

Malignant disease and primary hyperparathyroidism are the most common causes of hypercalcemia, but there are many minor causes. Mechanical or humoral factors, or both, may underlie the increase in bone resorption. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a major mediator of bone resorption, but many other humoral agents have the same effect, eg, prostaglandin, osteoclast-activating factor, and thyroid hormone. Serial determination of total calcium concentration is the most important laboratory test in hypercalcemia. Other useful tests include the determination of serum and urinary phosphorus concentration, chloride/phosphate ratio, urinary cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) level; carboxyl-terminal PTH assay; corticosteroid challenge; and appropriate radiologic studies. Nephrogenous cAMP and urinary prostaglandin determinations are research tools that hold great promise in the future. Differentiation between PTH- and non-PTH-mediated hypercalcemia determines subsequent steps in diagnosis and treatment.


Causes of hypercalcemia.

Hypercalcemia is most commonly seen in normal infants as the result of normal rapid bone growth. The most common causative diseases are malignant disease and hyperparathyroidism. A variety of pharmacologic agents, especially vitamin D and its metabolites and thiazide diuretics, can elevate serum calcium levels. Hypersensitivity to vitamin D appears to be a cause of hypercalcemia in infants and in patients with granulomatous disease, such as sarcoidosis. Ingestion of escessive amounts of calcium, especially with alkali, may also cause hypercalcemia, as may prolonged immobilization, particularly under conditions of rapid bone turnover.


Exercise and hormonal secretion.

The effect of graded exercise on the secretion of cortisol, testosterone, prolactin, growth hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is reported. While cortisol, prolactin, growth hormone and testosterone rise during the period of exercise, a rise in luteinizing hormone becomes evident only after rest. Levels of FSH and TSH remained unchanged.


Diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness. A clinical and genetic study.

Two Iraqi sisters and a female cousin developed diabetes insipidus (DI), diabetes mellitus (DM), optic atrophy (OA), and deafness (D), (the 'DIDMOAD' syndrome) before the age of 12 years. One girl exhibited all the features of this disease complex only 3 months after an unusually late onset of recognizable symptoms at 11 years 9 months. Another girl died suddenly and unexpectedly. This family study illustrates the recessive inheritance pattern of the syndrome.


Cimetidine in the prevention of gastric ulcer relapse.

Twenty-five patients with healed gastric ulcers completed an 11-month double-blind controlled trial comparing cimetidine 1 g daily with placebo in the prevention of ulcer relapse. Ulcers recurred in 14 patients, 12 on placebo, 2 on cimetidine. In 11 patients, 9 on cimetidine, 2 on placebo, the ulcers remained healed at the end of the trial (P less than 0.002). Cimetidine 1 g daily significantly reduces the relapse rate in gastric ulceration.


Cholelithiasis and biliary tract disease in sickle-cell disease in Nigerians.

The incidence of biliary tract disease was investigated by oral cholecystography and/or intravenous cholangiography in 77 unselected Nigerians with homozygous sickle-cell disease (SCD). They included 32 males and 45 females with ages ranging from 8 to 31 years. The prevalence of cholelithiasis was 9% with equal sex incidence. The stones were always multiple and 71.4% of them were radio opaque. Visualization and contractility of all gall bladders examined were normal. The only patient with symptoms and signs which suggested biliary tract disease had no radiographic evidence of cholelithiasis and it was impossible to predict the presence of cholelithiasis from the incidence of abdominal crises in the patients. The prevalence of cholelithiasis is significantly less than that reported in American patients with SCD (35%) and different dietary habits are probably responsible for this.


The anal cushions--a fresh concept in diagnosis.

The anal canal is lined by cushions of specialized submucosal tissue which assist the continence mechanism. Starting with that premise, its various afflictions are examined and found to be more logically related, and much more readily understood.


Feminizing adrenocortical carcinoma in a postmenopausal woman.

The successful surgical removal of a feminizing adrenal tumour in a postmenopausal woman is described. Most of these tumours are malignant and the pathological findings and the biological behaviour of the tumour frequently do not correlate, so that a careful follow-up is necessary. In the presence of vaginal bleeding in a postmenopausal woman endometrial carcinoma should be considered. If this has been ruled out and if oestrogens are elevated with low plasma gonadotrophins, a feminizing ovarian or adrenal tumour should be considered.


Haematemesis during oral aminophylline treatment.

Two cases of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients being treated with continuous-release aminophylline tablets are reported.


Neoplastic autovagotomy causing gastric stasis.

Neoplastic autovagotomy causing atonic gastric stasis is extremely rare. Two cases are reported in which marked gastric stasis was complicated by a bezoar and a gastric volvulus respectively. Both cases were associated with a left hilar bronchial carcinoma, and malignant invasion of the vagus nerve may have been the underlying cause.


Fulminating hyperlipidaemia.

A case is described of severe recurrent ischaemic heart disease associated with rapidly increasing and ultimately massive hyperlipidaemia. The case is discussed, with suggestions for management of similar problems.


Paradoxical embolism associated with oral contraceptives: an underdiagnosed lesion?

A case of cerebral embolism is described in which paradoxical features have been proved clinically, and which may explain some hitherto unaccountable reported cases, and suggests the value of prospective studies. A successful outcome of such a proved case, associated with oral contraceptives, does not appear to have been reported previously.


Investigation of a case of prednisolone malabsorption.

Malabsorption of prednisolone administered as enteric coated tablets was suspected following therapeutic failure in an asthmatic. This was investigated by cortisol estimation and a Synacthen test and substantiated by the demonstration of abnormally low absorption of prednisolone from these tablets which nevertheless were normally absorbed by a volunteer. The absorption of prednisolone from conventional tablets in this patient was normal.


Carcinoid tumour as a complication of ulcerative colitis.

Patients with long-standing ulcerative colitis have an increased chance of developing a carcinoma of the colon, especially when the inflammatory process involves the entire colon, but no case of a carcinoid tumour of the colon occurring in a patient with ulcerative colitis has been reported.


Insulin immunology: humoral and cellular aspects in mono-component insulin treated patients.

A study on humoral and cellular immune response to monocomponent (MC) insulin is reported. Humoral insulin antibody did not reach detectable levels in 80% of patients studied. Two out of six patients in whom a detectable antibody response was found had bovine species specific antibody suggesting some contamination of the insulin preparation used. No evidence for lymphocyte transformation with MC insulin was observed in the patients treated. B component resulted in transformation in patients treated with non-MC insulins. Zinc acted as a stimulant to lymphocyte transformation in the control group. The significance of the observations is discussed.


The dietary therapy of diabetes.

The basis of different diets for insulin dependent and maturity onset obese diabetics is discussed. The results achieved by strict calorie control in obese diabetics are compared with those in a group of patients with simple obesity and shown to be superior. The value of very low carbohydrate lager is assessed. It is concluded (a) that there is no case for severe carbohydrate restriction in diabetic diets unless there is a need for total calorie restriction and (b) 'Diet' low carbohydrate lager offers no particular advantages over ordinary lager in the diabetic diet.


Oral hypoglycaemic drugs--our current practice.

The pattern of prescribing in a diabetic clinic population extending over a 25 year period is examined. The number of patients studied, 4355, was divided into three categories according to age at onset of diabetes, those diagnosed before 15 years of age, those diagnosed between 15 and 45 years and those diagnosed after the age of 45 years. A reduction in the proportion of maturity-onset diabetics, in whom oral hypoglycaemic agents were used, is noted, when treatment prior to 1970 is compared with that post-1970. This reduction, from 36% of the total population prior to 1970 to 29% after 1970 was accompanied by an increase in the proportion treated by diet alone for the same period of from 17% to 30%. For the past three years metformin has replaced phenformin as the biguanide of choice in the clinic.


Diabetes and the insulin routine.

For a variety of reasons, animal insulin injected subcutaneously cannot replace completely the normal physiological mechanisms. Nevertheless, if the diabetic understands and follows his regime, good control is nearly always obtainable.


Diabetic control--a critical evaluation of current methods of assessment.

The value of a number of currently used parameters in the assessment of diabetic control was critically assessed in one hundred and seventy seven diabetics. Each method was compared with the results of 5 blood glucose values taken at selected times during the 24 hours. In all diabetic patients, clinical assessment, semi-quantitative urine tests both at home and in hospital and 24-hour quantitative urinary glucose values can at best indicate only poor diabetic control. They failed to do this in a substantial number of cases. In insulin dependent diabetics, isolated blood glucose readings are of very limited value in predicting good diabetic control. In maturity onset type diabetes, a single blood glucose reading is a reliable index of diabetic control. The implications of these findings in the practical management of diabetes are considered.


[Smoking habit at school. First habit at school. First results of a survey done in Marseille and its suburbs (author's transl)].

The authors report the first results of a transversal survey done from the end of November 1976 to the end of April 1977 in 4 secondary schools (CES, CEG) in Marseille and its suburbs. 1.795 children, between 11 and 15, in the first and fourth form, filled up a questionary inquiring into their smoking habits and consumption. Already a certain number of results can be drawn: --in this group of children, mostly girls (926 G/882 B) 181 were regular smokers (10,07%); --among these smokers, 70 smoked every day (38,6%), 60 smoked more than a packet a week (33%), finally 122 inhaled smoke; --they acquired the habit of smoking regularly between the age of 14 and 15, in the 3rd and 4th forms, as there was only 9,4% of smokers in the 3rd and 19% in the 4th form; --finally, parents seem to play a fundamental inducing part in this habit, as among smoking children 32.8% have parents both smoking, 41% a smoking mother, 71.2% a smoking father, while for non smokers the percentage were respectively of 19.9%, 24.9% and 54.3%.


[Automatic continuous calculation in real time of alveolar ventilation (author's transl)].

The authors present the steps and rules to be respected for the building-up of a program of automatic calculation in real time of alveolar ventilation, with a programming calculator from the numerization of signals sent by a pneumotachograph and a rapid analyzer of carbon dioxide. Such a program would follow the rapid variations of alveolar ventilation in periods of transition or ventilatory instability. It could easily be adapted to the continuous calculation of carbon monoxide transfer by the method in a stable condition.


[Thoracoscopy in chronic pleural effusion (author's transl)].

123 patients with chronic pleurisy were investigated by thoracoscopy. The endoscopic biopsy is positive in 16 out of 17 cases of mesothelioma (96%), in 57 out of 72 cases of pleural metastasis (79%), and in 6 cases out of 7 pleural tuberculosis. Begnin pleural asbestosis was confirmed in 5. Endoscopic biopsy is thus more efficient than results obtained with pleural needle biopsy and exudative cytology. Thoracoscopy can be performed without any serious complications, this is not always true with open thoracotomy.


[Cytology of chronic bronchitis: comparative study of sputum, brushing and bronchial biopsy (author's transl)].

Present research in chronic bronchitis is directed towards a technique of cytological detection. The object of the study was to compare the results of biopsy, brushing and sputum in 65 patients with clinical signs of chronic bronchitis. We established a good correlation between the results of biopsy and brushing. Unfortunately no reliable test for chronic bronchitis can be derived from the cytological study, which could indicate the future trend of the patient.


[Corrective surgery of congenital chest malformations of the type Pectus excavatum and Pectus carinatum (author's transl)].

The authors presents an original process for surgical treatment of deformations of chest anterolateral wall, insisting on the procedures and techniques of the recommended process. The compulsory operative steps are: wide chondrectomy, retrosternal loosening, transversal osteotomy of the sternum and contention with retrosternal metallic plates. The author considers surgery to be necessary for all these anterolateral chest deformations and the best age for their correction to be after 10 to 12 years. The original technique for loosening and preserving the perichondrium in its wholeness is described together with the complete resection of deformed cartilages.


[Mucoepidermoid tumors in the bronchi. About three cases (author's transl)].

The little frequent mucoepidermoid tumors in the bronchi can be distinguished by their histological characteristics associating epidermoid and mucilage-like cells identified through alcian blue and PAS colour agents. Although these tumors are normally considered as "benign", some of them may have a capacity to develop in very malign way. We enclose three new findings which all developped unfavorably in a short period.


[Study of two observations of bronchial muco-epidermoid tumour (author's transl)].

This study deals two cases of operated bronchial muco-epidermoid tumours. They were localized in both cases in the segmentary bronchi (apical ones of lower lobes), one mostly endo-bronchial, the other with an endo-exobronchial development. The histological diagnosis was done after the thorough analysis of the surgical specimen revealed the association of two cell types characteristic of these tumours: mucus producing cells and epidermoid cells. Evolution differs in both cases, as the first observation revealed the existence of a potentially benign tumour, while in the second it behaved like a truly malignant one with local recurrence, regional invasion and distant metastases.


[Radiological study of the chest involvement during angioimmunoblastic lymphadenitis (A.I.L.) Twenty observations (author's transl)].

From 20 observations, the authors worked out the frequency and the radiological picture of chest localizations of angio-immunoblastic lymphadenitis (A.I.L.). There are 2 kinds of pulmonary involvement: --a specific one by interstitial immunoblastic infiltration (20 to 45% of cases) and showing on X ray a reticulomicronodular interstitial syndrome; --a secondary infection (33% of cases) often the cause of death. Pleural involvement is unfrequent (11% to 25% of cases) and its onset late. Mediastinal lymph-node involvement is found in 37 to 50% of cases. It is usually discovered straight away.


[Segmentary bronchial atresia. One observation (author's transl)].

This study was done on a case of segmentary bronchial atresia of the left upper lobe. It is an exceptional congenital malformation, as only 47 observations have been so far recorded. Diagnosis was essentially radiological. The standard chest X ray and tomographies revealed an area of segmentary and lobar transparency surrounding a para-hilar lump. Diagnosis was confirmed by bronchography revealing the lack of injection into the atretic bronchus. Possible infectious complications and the evolution of bronchiectasis and obstructive emphysema justify the surgical exeresis.


A novel antenatal record to help midwives.

An antenatal questionnaire and graph for plotting weight and fundal height gives immediate warning of women at risk in pregnancy in a simple and visually striking way. It saves midwives' time, improves their clinical awareness and gives them more confidence in referring patients.


Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol: elevation of absolute visual thresholds of rabbits.

The effect of Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on the ability of rabbits to detect a minimal light stimulus (absolute visual threshold) was examined using the method of limits with an aversive classical conditioning paradigm. Both of two dosage levels of THC, similar to an amount ingested by a human from a single cigarette, significantly elevated the absolute visual threshold of all animals. Normal baseline thresholds, however, returned with 24 hours.


Metabolic and pharmacodynamic tolerance to ethanol in rats.

The development of tolerance to ethanol was studied in rats fed nutritionally adequate liquid diets containing ethanol or sucrose for up to 5 weeks. Tolerance was shown to be due to both metabolic and pharmacodynamic factors. Tolerance began to develop after 3 days of ethanol intake, reached a plateau by 16 days and persisted for up to 22 days after stopping the ethanol intake. The rate of onset and decay of both components of tolerance was similar.


Adrenal demedullation and peripheral 6-OHDA administration in the rabbit: effects on body weight, general activity and cardiovascular responsivity.

Two experiments were undertaken to determine the effects of systemic 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) administration and adrenal enucleation on body weight, brain and heart norepinephrine, general activity, and cardiovascular responsivity in the rabbit. 6-Hydroxydopamine produced long lasting, dose related decreases in baseline blood pressure (BP) and in pressor responses following electric shock. Partial reversal of the BP changes was observed in nonenucleated animals tested 20 days after 6-OHDA administration but not in enucleated animals tested 5, 10 or 20 days post-injection or in control animals tested 5, 10 or 15 days after vehicle injection. Although 6-OHDA administration produced transient weight loss and activity decrements, no long term weight or activity changes were observed.


Learning ability in adult female rats perinatally exposed to methadone.

Cognitive functioning of adult female rats that were maternally exposed to methadone (5 mg/kg daily) during gestation and/or lactation was studied by assessing performance on a food-motivated light-dark discrimination learning test and on active and passive shock-avoidance tests. Methadone-exposed rats exhibited difficulties on the light-dark discrimination learning and the active avoidance tests, and behavioral deficits appeared to be related to the timing and duration of drug treatment. On the light-dark discrimination test only 33% of the rats in the gestation group and 25% of the animals in the lactation group met criterion in comparison to 87% of the control rats. Thirty-three percent of the animals in either the gestation or gestation-lactation groups met criterion on the active avoidance test in contrast to 87% of the controls. These data suggest that perinatal exposure to methadone impairs cognitive abilities in the adult female rat.


Prostaglandin E1 inhibits acute cell dehydration thirst.

Intraperitoneally injected PGE1 (100 micrograms/Kg) inhibits specifically the drinking induced by both IP and IV 2 M NaCl (6 ml/Kg) and compound 48/80 (100 micrograms/Kg, IP). Probenecid (150 mg/Kg, IP) which is not a dipsogen, has no effect on the PGE1 induced inhibition of acute cell dehydration thirst. It is concluded the PGE1 acts upon the peripheral mast cells, inhibiting their secretion and thus affecting the water intake associated with the activation of these cells either by hypertonicity or specific stimulants of amine release. These results raise the possibility that endogenous prostaglandins might be involved in the modulation of some of the signals which convey to the brain information on the tonicity of the body fluids.


Effects of psychotropic drugs on pressor and behavioral responses to brain stimulation in unrestrained, unanesthetized rats.

Electrical stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus (PH) and the mesencephalic reticular formation (MRF) in unanesthetized, unrestrained rats with chronic electrode implants and an arterial cannula elicited a rise in blood pressure accompanied by behavioral changes such as exploration, flight or escape responses. Pentobarbital inhibited both the pressor and behavioral responses to PH and MRF stimulation. Chlorpormazine, diazepam and imipramine depressed the pressor response to PH stimulation rather than that to MRF stimulation with affecting the behavioral responses. It is concluded from these results that chlorpromazine, diazepam and imipramine exert their action on the neural pathway involved in the pressor response rather than on that inducing behavioral responses, whereas pentobarbital affects more extended brain areas related to these neural systems.


Inhibition of the action of anticonvulsants by lithium treatment.

The present study demonstrates that the effectiveness of anticonvulsants significantly decreases following lithium treatment (3 doses of 50 mg/kg of LiCl given every 12 hr). The anticonvulsant action of phenytoin, phenobarbital and of 3 carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: methazolamide, acetazolamide, ethoxzolamide, was assessed in rats subjected to maximal electroshock. In a chronic study on tolerance development to the anticonvulsant action of acetazolamide, lithium treatment (10 mg/kg per day) has been shown to inhibit gradually the action of acetazolamide. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that norepinephrine and dopamine are involved in the action of anticonvulsants.


Biochemical aspects of protein synthesis inhibition by cycloheximide in one or both hemispheres of the chick brain.

Instracrnial administration of cycloheximide into one hemisphere of the chick brain resulted in inhibition of 14C-leucine incorporation into protein only in that hemisphere when the labelled amino acid was administered intracranially. With pericardial injections of labelled amino acid, inhibition of 14C-leucine incorporation was obtained in both the CXM-treated and the untreated hemisphere, when compared with bilateral saline-treated controls. The levels of inhibition were comparable to those obtained with bilateral administration of CXM. There was, however, a slight but significantly higher level of inhibition in the CXM-treated hemisphere. The results were interpreted as supporting the conclusion that monocular learning in chicks resulted in the formation of an engram only in the trained hemisphere.


Dissimilar effects of lithium isotopes on motility in rats.

Male Wistar rats were injected twice daily with chlorides of pure lithium isotopes, either Li-6 or Li-7. While both salts decreased mobility, the salt of Li-6 initially produced a more profound effect than the salt of Li-7. This differential effect of the isotopes proved to be time dependent and was most evident on the third day of treatment. Li-6 is likely to become a valuable tool in basic psychopharmacological research. It may possess therapeutic and/or toxic properties that are different from those of lithium salts currently used in treatment of mania.


Meperidine does not block the cholinergic effects of oxotremorine.

Meperidine (20 and 40 mg/kg, IP) did not block the cholinergic effects (tremor, salivation, and tearing) produced by oxotremorine (0.4 mg/kg, SC) in rats, whereas atropine blocked these three effects (10 mg/kg, 2.5 mg/kg and 0.08 mg/kg, respectively.


Cyclobenzaprine and ethanol interaction.

The effects of cyclobenzaprine, a tricyclic compound, on the central depressant action of ethanol and on hepatic ethanol metabolizing enzymes were studied in rodents. Administration of cyclobenzaprine, 5 mg/kg, IP, 30 min prior to a narcotic dose of ethanol solution, 5 g/kg, IP, enhanced ethanol-produced narcosis in mice. This effect was greater in male than in female mice. Cyclobenzaprine inhibited endogenous rat liver alcohol dehydrogenase in vitro in the concentration range between 10(-5) M and 10(-6)M. Cyclobenzaprine exerted little effect on hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase in vitro. The results suggest that cyclobenzaprine possesses depressant properties and inhibition of liver alcohol dehydrogenase may underlie the observed behavioral response studied. It is concluded that alteration of endogenous liver alcohol dehydrogenase by certain tricyclic antidepressant drugs may be involved in the mechanism(s) of their toxic interaction with ethanol.


[Carbonyl derivatives of tilorone. Part 2: On the cancerostatic activity of carbonyl derivatives of tilorone (author's transl)].

A series of carbonyl derivatives of tilorone was synthetized by reaction with appropriate amino compounds, mainly hydrazines and hydrazides. The condensation products obtained were tested for cancerostatic activity against the murine leucaemia L 1210 and the Walker carcinosarcoma of the rat. Only three of the substances under investigation (1a, 5, 13) proved active against the Walker carcinosarcoma, one of which (5) being comparable to tilorone. No activity against L 1210 was observed, even tilorone exerted no effect. The reduction in activity against the Walker carcinosarcoma which resulted from the carbonyl substitution might be caused by a decrease in the ability to intercalate into DNA.


[Biologically active azomethines. Delépine reaction with 1-chloromethylisatin; preparation of some 1-aminomethylisatinazomethines (author's transl)].

The authors describe the synthesis of I-aminomethylisatin (3) from [I-chloromethylisatin] (1) by means of the Delépine reaction. On condensation with aromatic aldehydes, 3 yields the azomethines 5--7. The azomethine 5 is converted into the corresponding thiosemicarbazone 9. Testing for mitodepressive activity showed that the compounds 5--7 are active. On testing in vitro for tuberculostatic effects, the compound 9 proved exceptionally potent.


Evaluation of certain pharmaceuticals with dibromodimethylhydantoin. Part 2: Determination of analgesics.

1,3-Dibromodimethylhydantoin (DBH) is a stable dihalogen reagent. It can be used as an analytical reagent for certain analgesics. It gives stoichiometric results by direct titration in acid medium. The end point is detected visually or potentiometrically. Also spectrophotometric titrations have been attempted at 345 nm. In all cases the results of the analysis of the drugs studied either in the pure state or in their dosage forms comply with those given by N-bromo succinimide (NBS) and by the official methods, however this application is distinguished by simplicity and accuracy.


[Comparative studies on the stability of aqueous drug solutions in the isothermal and the non-isothermal short-time test as well as in the long-time test. Part 2: The stability of aqueous tetracaine solutions in the non-isothermal short-time test (author's transl)].

A study of the hydrolytic degradation of tetracaine solutions at various pH values demonstrates that the results from non-isothermal stability testing with logarithmic rise in temperature are in good agreement with the activation energies determined, under analogous conditions, by means of the isothermal short-time test and long-time test. The range of the maximum of stability is more clearly evinced by the non-isothermal short-time test than by the isothermal stability test. The comparison of the two methods reveals that the deviation of the reaction rate constants is greater in the non-isothermal test, which is due to the calculation required for the logarithmic rise in temperature. The results obtained with tetracaine evidence that the non-isothermal stability test is an appropriate method for the rapid determination of stability parameters (e.g. stability maximum, hydrolysis velocities) in the frame-work of testing potential drugs for stability and in the optimization of prescriptions.


[On the polymorphism of barbiturates in powders and tablets. Part 2: On the infrared spectroscopy and the X-ray diffractometry of barbital (author's transl)].

By means of IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry, two commercial brands of barbital and four barbital substances recrystallized from water or an acetone-water mixture were examined for polymorphism. The results obtained demonstrate that these substances differ in crystal lattice and that there are six polymorphic modifications.


Bioavailability of phenytoin in dogs: effect of crystal form and particle size.

Significant differences in bioavailability were observed in dogs when phenytoin crystals of different particle size were administered. No significant differences in bioavailability were observed when different crystal forms were compared.


[Studies on the kinetics of methaqualone during the late stage of pregnancy (author's transl)].

After oral administration of 0.4 g of methaqualone to pregnant and non-pregnant women, the authors stated that the half-life of this drug was significantly reduced during the last trimester of pregnancy. The two experimental groups showed no significant differences in the volume of distribution and the fictitious initial concentration. The commonly used therapeutical dosages are not likely to produce increased blood levels during normal pregnancy.


Osmolality/osmolarity data and calculations.

In view of the increasing interest in the osmolarity of parenteral solutions, an extensive compilation of pertinent numerical data is described. This compilation tabulates values of density, molar concentration, freezing point lowering,real osmolality, and molar concentration of the isotonic sodium chloride solution for 99 compounds, two-thirds of which are of use in pharmacy. A wide range of concentrations is covered for each compound, the values being listed in increments of 0.50, 1.00, or 2.00 percent w/w. Simple equations to convert molar into molal concentrations and to correlate freezing point lowering, osmotic pressure, osmolality and molality are presented. The practical use and theoretical meaning of the osmotic coefficient are discussed. As an example of a solution with several solutes, the real osmolality and osmolarity of Ringer's Solution is computed from the tabulated values of the freezing point depressions of the component salts.


Plasma protein displacement interactions are rarely of clinical significance.

Drug interactions in general have been overemphasized with respect to both frequency and clinical importance. Interactions allegedly based on displacement of highly protein-bound drugs from plasma proteins are particularly misunderstood and the evidence supporting such interaction is typically incomplete. In those interactions where displacement has been most convincingly shown and a clinically important consequence ensues, an additional interaction mechanism has been present. On theoretical grounds such simple displacement interactions are not likely to be common, easy to detect or serious. If such interactions occur they will be transient.


Binding of adrenaline and isoprenaline to plasma proteins of the dog.

Adrenaline was incubated with dog plasma in concentrations ranging from 50 to 1,000 ng/ml and binding to plasma proteins was found to be about 12% (8, 12 or 14%, as determined by spectrophotofluorimetric, liquid scintillation or Sephadex G-50 gel filtration methods, respectively). For isoprenaline, the binding to plasma proteins was of about 14-18%, as shown by liquid scintillation or Sephadex G-50 gel filtration methods. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis demonstrated that albumin does not play any significant role in this binding, in the case of both adrenaline and isoprenaline. These results show that adrenaline and isoprenaline are much less bound to proteins that noradrenaline (40%). It is concluded that the N substitution present in adrenaline and isoprenaline appears to be responsible for the different degrees of protein binding.


Modification of D-galactosamine-induced liver injury in the rat by spironolactone.

Spironolactone, a competitive inhibitor of mineralocorticoid effects on the distal tubule of the kidney, has recently been found to have other metabolic effects. In these studies, spironolactone (200mg/kg intraperitoneally) for 3 days was found to have a marked protective effect against the hepatotoxic effect of D-galactosamine (275 mg/kg) in rats. Further progress in defining the mechanism of protection from D-galactosamine hepatic necrosis by spironolactone will require assessment of effects of spironolactone on uridine nucleotide metabolism.


Comparative effects of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, tetrabenazine and chlorpromazine on rectal temperature in the rat.

Tetrabenazine evoked a biphasic response in rectal temperature of the rat following intraperitoneal administration of 4.4--70.0 mg/kg. The initial hyperthermia was inversely related to the dose while the subsequent hypothermia was dose-dependent. This biphasic effect on temperature was similar to that seen with THC at 0.5 mg/kg, thus adding further evidence of a similarity in the mode of action of the two drugs. In contrast, only hypothermia was evident following chlorpromazine administration.


Muscarinic receptors of the pancreas: a correlation between displacement of (3 H)-quinuclidinyl benzilate binding and amylase secretion.

(3H)-quinuclidinyl benzilate [(3H)-QNB], A potent muscarinic antagonist, was used as a tool to reveal the presence of muscarinic receptors in rat pancreas. Binding assays were performed on a 49,000 g pellet. Known muscarinic antagonists and agonists were used for competition assays on (3N)-QNB binding and studies on amylase secretion in vitro. A correlation was established between the binding assays and the studies on amylase release which suggests that the binding sites and those involved in the cholinergic control of pancreatic enzyme secretion are similar.


A study of small intestinal dipeptidases of rats: effect of vinblastine treatment.

Activities of L-glycyl-L-valine and L-glycyl-L-leucine dipeptidase were studied in the mucosa of the small intestine of rats following intraperitoneal administration of vinblastine sulfate (1.0 mg/kg). Activities of these dipeptidases were depressed significantly; the effect was maximal between 4 and 5 h after the injection and lasted for more than 16 h. The depression in the enzyme activities reached even up to 95% when the alkaloid was administered repeatedly in 4-hourly intervals. The present results, showing a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on these dipeptidases, suggest a toxic effect on the enzymes in addition to simple inhibition resulting from a blockade of cell division. The former possibility was examined by incubating mucosal homogenates with various concentrations of the alkaloid for 30 min. Subsequent measurement of the activities showed a significant depression when the alkaloid concentration was raised to 10 microgram/mg wet mucosa. It is concluded that vinblastine sulfate not only arrests the mitosis of the crypts but influences, additionally, the enzymatic complements of the enterocytes.


Effects of piracetam on the incorporation of 32P into the phospholipids of neurons and glial cells isolated from rabbit cerebral cortex.

In the search for the biochemical basis of the action of Piracetam, the effects of this encephalotropic substance on the neuronal and glial phospholipid metabolism was investigated. Piracetam increases the incorporation of 32P into phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidyl choline of both glia and neuronal cell bodies (Figs. 1 and 2). When taking the important role of phosphatidylinositol in the processes of synaptic transmission and axonal conduction into consideration, the data obtained in the present work suggest that piracetam may stimulate excitatory neurons and may be involved in the process of synaptic transmission. The stimulatory effect of piracetam on the incorporation of 32P into phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidyl choline appears to be mediated by noerpinephrine or another neurotransmitter. Glial cells, isolated from the cerebral cortex of a rabbit, contained approximately one-third more phospholipids per uint protein than the neuronal cell bodies. The distribution and pattern of phospholipid relative to the total amount, was rather similar in both cell types. The incorporation of 32P into phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidyl choline was somewhat faster in neurons than in glial cells. Compared to glial cells the neuronal cell fraction had a higher phospholipid turnover.


[Clinico-physiological sleep- and hangover-spectra from pentobarbital, promazin and their combination, as reflected by self-ratings of young and elderly subjects (author's transl)].

A sample of 8 young and 8 elderly subjects was examined in a 2x2x2 factorial design, whether and how promazine interacts with pentobarbital as a hypnotic agent. Analyses of self-reports led to the following conclusions: 1. Young subjects and not experience any significant effects from either the single components (pentobarbital, promazine) and/or their combination. 2. Elderly subjects experienced positive effects in sleep and hangover parameters under the single components as well as under the combination. Consequences for research in clincal psychopharmacology are discussed.


beta-Endorphin-like immunoreactivity in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of patients with schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders.

Measurements of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity have been performed in CSF and plasma of patients with schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. The detection limit of the RIA was between 20--50 pg/ml (6--15 fmole/ml). In CSF the quantity of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity ranges up to 65 pg/ml. The data from schizophrenics and other neuropsychiatric patients show no obvious deviation from the results in a control group of medical patients with normal CSF findings. In plasma the immunoreactive beta-endorphin-like material ranges up to 250 pg/ml. There is only a small tendency to higher values in schizophrenic patients, if compared with different types of neuroses and affective and organic psychoses. In a second series of experiments also this tendency could not be reproduced. In 9 electroconvulsive treatments an increase of blood beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity was observed 7 times. A possible endorphinergic mechanism in the mode of action of electroconvulsion is hypothesized.


Effects of the synthetic analogue of methionine enkephalin FK 33-824 on psychotic symptoms.

In an open pilot study, 9 schizophrenic patients were treated with the synthetic analogue of methionin-enkephalin FK 33-824 on two consecutive days in a dose of 0.5 mg on the first day, and 1.0 mg on the second day (infusion for 2 hours). 3 patients refused therapy during or after the first infusion; of the remaining 6 patients (2 hebephrenic, 4 paranoid type) 5 patients improved remarkably on the first and second day. The total BPRS-score and 4 of the 5 factors of the BPRS-scale were reduced significantly the day after treatment compared to pretreatment values. The improvement continued for 28-168 hours.


[Muscular compartment leg syndrome].

Certain forms of claudication are due to excess tissue pressure of the muscles of the aponeurotic chambers of the leg. These have been well described by Reneman, especially in their chronic form and for the anterior and lateral chambers. The claudication is due to an overworking of the muscles caused by walking, running or effort. It has its own characteristics, with direct measurement of the tissue pressure and phlebography aiding the diagnosis and attention being drawn by the presence of a "muscular hernia of the leg". Fasciotomy is the corrective treatment for cases of hyperalgia and beginning with a certain gradient of muscle pressure. The pathogenic reasons for this are discussed.


[Tissue pressure of the leg].

The underlying concepts of the study of subcutaneous and intramuscular tissue pressure, which began in 1952, have been highly modified. Three types of methods are now used: direct needle puncture, the perforated capsule, and the microcatheter. The capsule and the catheter are sensitive to osmotic and hydrostatic tissue pressure, and the needle indicates an interstitial hydrostatic T.P. We prefer the latter method, which allows the total T.P. to be measured.


[Compression technic of the upper limbs with adhesive bands to reduce edema].

Whatever the cause of an edema of the lower limbs, compression with temporary or permanent adhesive bands proves efficient. The wide range of bands proposed by manufacturers, makes it possible to find compressions that are well-suited to the case to be treated. The band should be rolled from the end to the root of the limbs, protect the skin beforehand with cotton and talcum. The deltoidian area is molded by cutting pieces of the band. The hand is also wrapped, with the fingers left free. The difficulty resides in the pressure to be applied: it is preferable to proceed in a gradual manner, beginning with a slight pressure. The bandage should be changed once or twice a week while the edema is being reduced, but may be left in place for six weeks.


Temporal aspect os articulatory movement for /s/-stop clusters.

Cinefluorographic tracking of pellets on the tongue body, tongue tip, jaw, and lips of three subjects indicates that there are certain basic strategies used for initial /sp/, /st/ and /sk/ clusters. The data reveal an economy of effort in tongue movement, and support the concept of the tongue as a multiple articulator. In addition, the shorter fricative duration of /s/ before /p/ is seen to be a result of early lip closure relative to the occlusions for /st/ and /sk/, which are delayed due to tongue involvement with the /s/.


[Proof of the effectiveness of compression by nuclear medicine, plethysmography and venous pressure measurement].

1) In a lying down position a) immediately and under rapid compression, one observes a reduction in muscle flow as well as a reduction of the perfusion of the foot and of the systolic pressure of the big toe. After disinfiltration of the leg by compression, the muscular flow more than doubles (clearance with Xenon 133). b) a reduction in the venous blood volume of the limb by about 1/3. c) an increase in the venous circulation speed by about 1.5 times (tracer in a vein of the back of the foot). The degree of change is depending from the pressure of the compressive bandage (in a lying down position, between 20 mmHg and a maximum of 40 mmHg). 2) while walking a) shortening of the pathological refluxes in the veins of the lower limbs (directional Doppler). b) improvement of the pump output (increase inthe volume of blood pumped upwards), and a variable influence of the peripheral venous pressure (simultaneous methods of plethysmography of the foot and the venous pressure). c) reduction of edema, improvement of the disturbed lymphatic flow (plethysmography, lymphotropic tracers with radioactive marking).


[Physiology of venous circulation].

The venous system becomes deformed and distended under the effect of neighboring tissues and hydrostatic pressure. It is thus under a constant threat of stasis. While lying-down at rest, the venous blood is propulsed by means of the pressure gradient maintained by the vis a tergo and the vis a fronte, modulated by the parietal tonus. While standing and stationary, decompensation occurs despite the bulbar reflexes, despite lymphatic resorption and despite the counter-pressure of the perivenous tissues. However, muscular activity and especially walking at a steady pace, restores the resorption of the interstitial liquids, tanks particularly to the musculovascular synergy or the peripheral heart.


Intrusive stops in nasal-fricative clusters: an aerodynamic and acoustic investigation.

An aerodynamic investigation of the occurrence of intrusive stop consonants occurring in nasal-fricative consonant clusters in English revealed that intrusive stops were cued perceptually by silent gaps often followed by burst releases preceding the fricative consonant. In articulatory-aerodynamic terms, intrusive stops appear to result from a prolonged oral occlusion of the nasal stop which is released with a vigorous burst release just prior to complete formation of the following fricative slit constriction.


Breathing, pausing and reading.

An analysis of the breathing patterns of speakers in a variable-rate reading task shows that the duration and frequency of breathing pauses are dependent both on the rate of speaking and the syntactic nature of the pause location. Non-breathing pauses follow the same pattern of occurrence as breathing pauses, but are always shorter and tend to occur primarily at minor constituent breaks. At slow and normal rates, speakers accommodate their need to inhale to the preplanned pause patterns. At fast rates, however, the physiological need to breathe is the sole determinant of pausing.


[Venous physiopathology. The major pathogenic processes in venous pathology and their consequences].

Various pathological circumstances, and especially: acute venous thrombosis, superficial venous insufficiency and post-phlebitic disease, may upset the conditions of venous circumlation. Among the major pathological processes that may thus be involved, one can underline: -- Venous obstruction, whose physiopathology is different in the acute thrombosis and in the post-phlebitic phase. Especially studied in this work are: the phases of the enry into the acute venous stasis, which may lead to venous gangrene -- the offset and non offset obstructive syndromes. The offsetting of a venous obstruction depending on the development of a sufficient and effective substitute circulation. -- The orthostatic reflux may involve the superficial venous network (superficial venous insufficiency) or the deep one (deep venous insufficiency). In either case, the insufficiency of the communicating veins may complicate the primary venous insufficiency. -- On the tissue level, various pathogenic processes induce a peripheral venous stasis, generating problems that may be classed under three headings: lymphatic repercussions, arterial problems and dysfunctions of the arterio-venous anastomoses. These various processes and their consequences on the tissue level, are studied.


[Complications of sclerotherapy].

The authors recently treated three patients showing rather marked complications following sclerosing injections for varicose veins. In the first case, the intra-arterial injection brought about a tissular necrosis in the form of a distal-based triangle. The preservative treatment, undertaken 4 weeks after the injection, did not make it possible to save three toes, that had to be amputated. The second patient was sent to use after an injection in the posterior tibial artery. Acute ischemia was treated on an emergency basis with a lumbar sympathectomy. I believe that the approach we took allowed us to cure the trophic problems and to loose only one small phalanx. The third case reported on concerns a patient brought to us in a state of shock after a massive pulmonary embolism. She had been given a sclerosing injection in a large varicose vein of the leg 48 hours previously. The leg had rapidly increased in volume and was apparently the site of a deep veinous thrombosis.


Studies on PGBx, a polymeric derivative of prostaglandin B1: I. Synthesis and purification of PGBx.

PGBx, a new polymeric derivative of PGB1, previously was shown to (a) restore oxidative phosphorylation to degraded isolated rat liver mitochondria in vitro and (b) to reverse the effects of cardiogenic ischemia in monkeys and cerebral ischemia in rabbits. This report describes in detail the synthesis and purification of PGBx via PGB1, starting with azelaic acid. Details of the in vitro mitochondrial assay are also reported. Purified PGBx exhibiting maximal reactivation of mitochondrial phosphorylation has a mean molecular weight of 2350. Yield of PGBx based on azelaic acid is 4% and based on PGB1 is 25%.


PMR studies of phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol vesicles interacting with lucensomycin.

Spin-lattice relaxation times (T1) were measured above the phase transition temperature on sonicated vesicles of egg- or dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine containing cholesterol and/or the polyenic antibiotic, lucensomycin. T1 values of only the terminal methyl groups of the fatty acyl chains were significantly reduced by cholesterol. Lucensomycin caused, more markedly in cholesterol-containing vesicles, a selective reduction of the T1 values of the N-methyl groups. An even more conspicuous decrease, occurring only in cholesterol-containing vesicles, was observed for the transverse relaxation times (T2) of the N-methyl signals upon addition of lucensomycin. The polyene failed to remove the well-known broadening effect of cholesterol on phosphatidylcholine methylene signals. These results indicate that as lucensomycin binds to cholesterol-containing membranes, there is a detectable perturbation of the dynamic structure of the N-methyl groups with an increase in the degree of motional anisotropy. But the non-polar region of the bilayer seems not significantly perturbed by the polyene.


The importance of liver in normal and silicotic lung-lipid homeostasis: 3. Triacylglycerols.

Early lung silicosis in rats activates the liver for triacylglycerol (TG) biosynthesis. The newly formed liver TG seems mobilized to the silicotic lung, as indicated by increased lung TG content and specific activity. These TG changes are associated with decreased TG content and increased TG specific activity in the liver. Serum TGs are also decreased at the study times of 6, 24, 72, and 144 h post intrapulmonary silica treatment.


Pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance of potassium (39K) of whole body live and dead newborn mice. Double oscillation frequencies in T1 decay curves.

Pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation curves (T2 and T1) of potassium (39K) have been measured in detail on whole body newborn mice when alive, and on the same mice after death. The T2 curves are simple exponential with respect to time, but are shorter than for 39K in simple solutions. The T1 curves are not exponential decays, but show large oscillations that may be described approximately as the sum of two separate sine waves of different frequencies. Large T1 oscillations of complex waveform were previously observed by us with 39K in cancer tissues. Gyroscopic motion of adsorbed magnetoelectric dipoles is proposed as a possible physical mechanism accounting for the experimental observations.


Influence of superoxide generating system, vitamin E, and superoxide dismutase on radiation consequences.

During studies of the mechanism by which hemolysis is induced in irradiated human erythrocytes in vitro, several inducements of membrane lipid peroxidation and protective effects of vitamin E (V.E) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were investigated. Findings were: (1) Before hemolysis, K+ release from erythrocytes induced by radiation stimulated hemolysis but was inhibited by V.E or SOD. (2) Lipid peroxidation of mitochondria induced by Fe3+, ADP, and superoxide (O2-) generating system, and lipid peroxidation of microsome induced by O2- generating system, were also inhibited by V.E or SOD. (3) X-ray or 60Co gamma-ray radiation stimulated lipid peroxidation of liver homogenate, microsome, and liposome. Some of this peroxidation was inhibited by V.E. or SOD. These results suggest that O2- and/or OH formation by radiation induces membrane lipid peroxidation, which causes deterioration of membrane resulting in change of ion permeability and consequent hemolysis.


Stabilizing effects of cholesterol on changes in membrane permeability and potential induced in red blood cells by lysolecithin.

Effects of cholesterol on permeability of K+ ion and on change in membrane potential induced by lysolecithin were studied. Cholesterol inhibited K+ release from rabbit red blood cells treated with lysolecithin (1.25 micrograms/ml), 3.3 X 10(-6) M of cholesterol being the optimum concentration for blocking K+ release. Changes in membrane potential, monitored by changes in intensity of fluorescence of cyanine dye, were induced by lysolecithin and inhibited by cholesterol. The inhibitory action on both K+ permeability and membrane potential varied with the cholesterol concentration. The observed effects are thought to be due to membrane-stabilizing activities such as decreasing membrane fluidity and hardening the membrane at the fluid-phase transition temperature. These properties of cholesterol may have significance in relation to transformed cells (tumor cells, lymphomed cells).


Electron microscopic examination of common red cell ghosts: cytoplasmic contamination.

Red blood cell ghost preparations are often cited as providing unequivocal or convincing evidence for the active transport of solutes from a solution of low concentration across a membrane to a solution of higher concentration. Electron microscopic examination of the more widely used ghost preparations show that a considerable quantity of cytoplasmic macromolecules (including hemoglobin) remain within the treated red blood cells. That is, many of the ghost preparations are not hollow membrane perparations. It is concluded that the problem of active solute transport in red blood cell ghost preparations should be reexamined. Furthermore, experiments with ghost preparations purporting to demonstrate active transport should include electron photomicrographs of the preparation utilized.