Completion of the Viking labeled release experiment on Mars.

The final Labeled Release (LR) cycle on each Viking lander tested a surface sample that had been stored for several months at approximately 10 degrees C prior to the onset of the active sequence. At each lander site, activity was strongly diminished. This thermal sensitivity of the active agent on the surface of Mars is consistent with a biological explanation of the LR experiment. At the end of one of these cycles, the incubation mixture was heated to 50 degrees C to release any radioactive gas trapped in the sample matrix. The results suggest that more than one carbon substrate is involved in the LR reaction on Mars. The thermal data from the stored samples, coupled with data from previous cycles, have formed the basis for evaluation of the thermal decomposition of the Mars active agent. The slope of the resulting Arrhenius plot has been used to test the fit of other flight data and to calculate the activation energy for thermal decomposition of the Mars agent. The results and their interpretation still leave unresolved the question of whether the Mars LR data were generated by biological or chemical activity.


The Viking Mission: implications for life on Mars.

The results of the Viking Biology experiments are best explained by non-biological phenomena: The interaction of the reagents with the materials comprising the regolith. Conditions of water activity, temperature, availability of carbon sources and others in most regions of the planet are too extreme for survival and growth of any known Earth microorganisms. Although the possibility persists that some very unusual form of life is somewhere on that planet the evidence is best interpreted as negative. Even though there is no evidence for current life on Mars, whether or not life ever originated there is not known.


The analysis of water in the Martian regolith.

One of the scientific objectives of the Viking Mission to Mars was to accomplish an analysis of water in the Martian regolith. The analytical scheme originally envisioned was severely compromised in the latter stages of the Lander instrument package design. Nevertheless, a crude soil water analysis was accomplished. Samples from each of the two widely separated sites yielded roughly 1 to 3% water by weight when heated successively to several temperatures up to 500 degrees C. A significant portion of this water was released in the 200 degrees to 350 degrees C interval indicating the presence of mineral hydrates of relatively low thermal stability, a finding in keeping with the low temperatures generally prevailing on Mars. The presence of a duricrust at one of the Lander sites is taken as possible evidence for the presence of hygroscopic minerals on Mars. The demonstrated presence of atmospheric water vapor and thermodynamic calculations lead to the belief that adsorbed water could provide a relatively favorable environment for endolithic organisms on Mars similar to types recently discovered in the dry antarctic deserts.


Martian channels and the search for extraterrestrial life.

The origin of the channels on Mars has been a subject of intense interest since they were first recognized on early Mariner 9 images (Driscoll, 1972; Masursky, 1973). Their presence on the planet, and their striking resemblance to terrestrial flood channels related to glacial outbursts or to dendritic river systems has suggested to most investigators (Baker, 1974, 1977; Nummedal, 1978; Carr, 1979; Masursky et al., 1977) that they were formed by running water. Because life as we know it is dependent on water, the discovery by the 'Mariner cameras', of watercut channels and volcanoes as a source for water, and water ice in the residual north polar cap by Viking, has reaffirmed the choice of Mars as the best target for the search for extraterrestrial life.


The Martian atmosphere: some unanswered questions.

The study of the Martian atmosphere and its significance for the possible origin of life on Mars is still very incomplete. Further investigations are needed to define the total volatile inventory, the early history of the atmosphere, and the relationship of the atmosphere to the question of indigenous life. In addition, studies of Venus, comets, and the Jupiter system will add significantly to our abilities to understand the early history of Mars.


Solar radiation incident on the Martian surface.

Calculations indicate that the maximum daily solar radiation reaching the Martian surface is about 325 cal/cm2 during southern hemisphere summer at latitude of about 40 degrees S. In the ultraviolet region of the spectrum, the radiation reaching the surface at wavelengths greater than 2800 A is within 10% of the radiation incident on the atmosphere. There is significant extinction of radiation in the spectral region near 2500 A in mid and high latitudes due to adsorption of radiation by ozone; radiation reaching the surface may be reduced to one one-thousandth of that incident on the atmosphere during winter. Virtually no radiation of wavelengths less than 1900 A reaches the surface because of absorption by the large column abundance of carbon dioxide. Daily and latitudinal distributions of radiation are presented for wavelengths of 3000, 2500 and 2000 A.


The implications and limitations of the findings of the Viking organic analysis experiment.

The gas chromatograph mass spectrometer instrument of the Viking mission has demonstrated the absence of organic compounds in the immediate surface layer of the two landing sites. The demonstration of the successful operation of the instrument (comparison of ground-based test data with those obtained during interplanetary flight and the data from the surface of the planet) and its limitations (e.g., the detection of highly cross-linked polymers or polymeric carbon suboxide) are reviewed. The measurements for bound water are based on indirect data, the detectability of evolved carbon dioxide and ammonia is poor, and oxygen, liberated from the soil samples, can not be detected.


Mars ultraviolet simulation facility.

A facility was established for long-duration ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure of natural and synthetic materials in order to test hypotheses concerning Martian soil chemistry observed by the Viking Mars landers. The system utilized a 2500 watt xenon lamp as the radiation source, with the beam passing through a heat-dissipating water filter before impinging upon an exposure chamber containing the samples to be irradiated. The chamber was designed to allow for continuous tumbling of the samples, maintenance of temperatures below 0 degrees C during exposure, and monitoring of beam intensity. The facility also provided for sample preparation under a variety of atmospheric conditions, in addition to the Mars nominal. As many as 33 sealed sample ampules have been irradiated in a single exposure. Over 100 samples have been irradiated for approximately 100 to 700 h. The facility has performed well in providing continuous UV irradiation of multiple samples for long periods of time under simulated Mars atmospheric and thermal conditions.


Heterogeneous phase reactions of Martian volatiles with putative regolith minerals.

The chemical reactivity of several minerals thought to be present in Martian fines is tested with respect to gases known in the Martian atmosphere. In these experiments, liquid water is excluded from the system, environmental temperatures are maintained below 0 degrees C, and the solar illumination spectrum is stimulated in the visible and UV using a Xenon arc lamp. Reactions are detected by mass spectrometric analysis of the gas phase over solid samples. No reactions were detected for Mars nominal gas over sulfates, nitrates, chloride, nontronite clay, or magnetitie. Oxidation was not observed for basaltic glass, nontronite, and magnetite. However, experiments incorporating SO2 gas--an expected product of volcanism and intrusive volatile release--gave positive results. Displacement of CO2 by SO2 occurred in all four carbonates tested. These reactions are catalyzed by irradiation with the solar simulator. A calcium nitrate hydrate released NO2 in the presence of SO2. These results have implications for cycling of atmospheric CO2, H2O, and N2 through the regolith.


Keloids: enigma of the plastic surgeon.

The treatment of keloids continues to be an enigma to the surgeon and the patient as well. There is to date no absolute single method that assures success. Generally speaking, we must use all the tools in our armamentarium, including radiation, intra-keloid steroids, surgery and postoperative constant wound pressure in an effort to remold the newly forming collagen. While these do not guarantee satisfactory results, they are the best we have to date and adequately justify our attempts to help patients with this problem. Of great importance is the necessity for the patient to be fully informed of the need for protracted follow-up without guarantees regarding the final outcome.


Retroperitoneal chondrosarcoma presenting with pleural effusion: a case report.

An adolescent male patient presented with pleural effusion of undetermined etiology which was unresponsive to antituberculous therapy. He died suddenly a few months later and was found at autopsy to have suffered from acute catastrophic pulmonary occlusion, secondary to embolization from retroperitoneal chondrosarcoma which had invaded and occluded the pulmonary arteries via the inferior vena cava. The rarity of this phenomenon in children prompted this report.


Propylthiouracil and hepatitis: a case report.

A 10-year-old girl initially presented with clinical features and thyroid function tests consistent with hyperthyroidism. She was treated with propylthiouracil, 100 mg, three times a day. She developed jaundice and hepatitis following treatment with propylthiouracil for 40 days. Clinical features of hepatitis improved after the discontinuation of propylthiouracil and she became euthyroid. At this time, an immunofluorescent technique revealed antibodies consistent with autoimmune thyroiditis. From this report, it appears that hepatitis is one of the infrequent complications of treatment with propylthiouracil and transient hyperthyroidism may be associated with autoimmune thyroiditis.


Cadmium: hypertension induction and lead mobilization.

In recent years interest has increased in the study of the metabolism of cadmium because of its presence in the environment as a toxic agent. Having no known essential bodily functions and possibly altering the action of various other trace metals, eg, lead and zinc, cadmium has been suspect as a causative factor in certain pathological alterations, such as hypertension. A study of this association was undertaken by the authors.Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed laboratory chow and given cadmium nitrate ad libitum. Systolic pressure was monitored and weights were recorded at weekly intervals. Cadmium and lead were determined in kidney and liver tissues of the sacrificed animals by using a trace metal analyzer and by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. After 36 weeks on the experimental regimen, the cadmium-treated animals had higher systolic pressures than the control group (155 ± 10 mmHg compared to 96 ± 5 mmHg). Increased levels of cadmium reflective of the cadmium consumed were found to occur in liver and kidney tissues. The urinary excretion of deltaaminolevulenic acid by the experimental animals was higher than that of the control animals. This suggests that the supplemented cadmium induced lead to leave the kidney and become metabolically active.


Breast abscess.

Breast abscess is a relatively important disease in the tropics, and yet this condition has received little attention in the literature. Breast abscess encourages artificial feeding, which in many instances may be responsible for gastroenteritis in infants. This occurs when foods are not properly prepared by mothers of low socioeconomic class with inadequate sanitation.Breast abscess occurs primarily in the lactating breast and is most commonly located in the upper half of the breast.The organism most commonly present in the pus is Staphylococcus aureus. When the abscess is localized, it may present with all the clinical features of a breast carcinoma.


The LeMoyne-Owen College--UTCHS cooperative educational program: a model for minority recruitment.

A program of cooperative education between LeMoyne-Owen College and the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences (UTCHS) was designed to attract students from the undergraduate institution to the various health professional schools at UTCHS. The program was initiated by a black faculty member at UTCHS. It involved a faculty exchange between the two institutions and the implementation of several changes in the pre-health science curriculum at the undergraduate institution. Other components of the program included: the gift of equipment and supplies to LeMoyne-Owen College by UTCHS; counseling of LeMoyne-Owen students by UTCHS faculty members; the generation of private funds by the faculty and staff at UTCHS for the support of LeMoyne-Owen students participating in the cooperative education program; and broad exposure of LeMoyne-Owen students to the laboratories and clinical facilities at UTCHS.


Bone changes in alcoholics.

Man has consumed alcohol for its euphoric and sedative effect down through the ages. Attention in the medical literature has been primarily focused on the effects of alcohol on the nervous system and liver. In the past few years, isolated reports have appeared in the medical literature concerning the effects of alcohol on the bony skeleton. The purpose of this paper is to classify these lesions, discuss their pathophysiology, and briefly review their clinical course. The lesions discussed include osteoporosis, hip fractures, aseptic necrosis of the hip, and fat embolism. For the purpose of this discussion these lesions are divided into two groups. Group I includes the battered alcoholic syndrome. Group II includes fat embolism, both acute and chronic, and aseptic necrosis of the hip.


Clinical myiasis.

Human clinical myiasis is a rare entity in temperate zones, but it is of frequent occurrence among indigenous populations in tropical countries. The physician in practice in temperate zones, especially in urban areas, will generally see cases in those who have returned from rural travel or duty tours in tropical countries.Temperate zone physicians by training and clinical services frequently are not prepared to accurately diagnose and treat cases of myiasis. This paper is a report of experiences and records of cases of myiasis and is intended to alert temperate zone physicians to the possibilities of myiasis among a limited number of their patients.


Biofeedback and relaxation in blacks with hypertension: a preliminary study.

Previous studies show that stress increases blood pressure as a response to the sympathetic nervous system and that enhancement of parasympathetic activity promotes relaxation and lowers blood pressure. This paper is based on a preliminary study of 22 black subjects with a history of hypertension who were given biofeedback and relaxation training in the Biofeedback Laboratory at Howard University College of Medicine. The guided training consisted of eight weekly sessions using five instruments. Mean blood pressure (BP) was monitored in each session using a Stoelting BP Monitor. Data based on 10 characteristics (age, number of sessions, practice score, social readjustment scale, stress symptoms, systems review, initial and last systolic and diastolic BP) are analyzed and presented in five tables. Although differences between the initial and last readings of the systolic and diastolic BPs and during the test were observed, they were not statistically significant, probably due to small sample size. Analysis was also made by grouping the patients into three groups depending on the increase, decrease, or no change in BP. All patients demonstrated that the biofeedback training was beneficial in lowering the BP. These techniques should be incorporated into daily life to have lasting benefit.


A bird's eye view of occupational medicine.

This article defines occupational medicine, outlines the training involved, and describes various phases of occupational medicine. It is based on the author's experience and training.


Apartheid: focus on health.

This paper focuses on health in the Republic of South Africa and calls not only for technical warfare against disease, poverty, and bigotry but also for attention to predisposing causes of disease and ill health among the African majority.


Dollars: prophylaxis or cure?

Much is unknown about the mechanisms by which aspirin causes an increase in bleeding time by diminishing platelet aggregation. Prevailing theories of mechanisms are discussed and analyzed. The author suggests that proposed mass use of aspirin for prevention of cardiovascular diseases be delayed until current studies are fully evaluated.


Effects of catecholamines and related compounds on horizontal cells in the fish retina.

The effects of catecholamines (CA) and certain related compounds in the superfusate were examined on the intracellularly recorded potential from horizontal cells in the fish (Eugerres plumieri) retina. The stimulated retinal area consisted of a central spot 1.0 mm in diameter and an annulus 2.0 mm in inner diameter and 4.0 mm in outer diameter; both forms of monochromatic stimuli were centered relative to the recording microelectrode. Each of the CA (dopamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline) produced an analogous effect on the hyperpolarizing response of all types of horizontal cells. The depolarizing response of the C (R/G)-type cells was found to change variably with the CA. The effect of dopamine (DA) among the CA was most pronounced when they were used at an equivalent amount. With 10--50 microM, the action of DA was variable but in general its effect was to increase slightly both center and surround responses. In some cases, however, DA initially augmented the surround and reduced the center response. Large amounts of the CA (100--200 microM) augmented the center response and attenuated the surround response considerably; these reciprocal changes usually were associated with moderate depolarization of the cells (5--10 mV). Recovery then occurred in 15--20 minutes. These results indicate that the CA, up to a certain amount, do not directly affect the transmission from photoreceptors to horizontal cells, since the center response became larger. At the same time, the lateral propagation of an S-potential appears to be selectively affected by the CA, suggesting that the adrenergic system participates in this phenomenon. When an excess of these compounds (200-500 microM) was given, the cells were rapidly depolarized to near 0 MV and eventually the light-induced responses were abolished. Large amounts (5--10 mM) of metabolic products of the CA (DOPAC and VMA) were found to reduce the center response slightly more than the surround. alpha-Methylnoradrenaline, 5-hydroxydopamine, and serotonin also caused the same but less effect on horizontal cells as did DA. Reserpine and clonidine mimicked the CA effect only if these compounds had been preceded by repeated applications of one of the CA or if the retina had been pretreated with Marplan. Propranolol, haloperidol, and apomorphine affected neither the horizontal cell membrane potential nor the CA effect. However, phentolamine in large amounts (500 microM) markedly diminished the DA action. Therefore, alpha-adrenergic receptors appear to be involved in the CA-induced changes observed in the horizontal cell response.


Similarities in effects of acetylcholine and dopamine on horizontal cells in the fish retina.

The effect of acetylcholine (ACh) on cone- and rod-connected horizontal cells (generating photopic and scotopic L-type S-potentials, respectively) in the fish (Eugerres plumieri) retina was compared with that of dopamine (DA), and some similarities were found in the effects. About two-thirds of the L-type horizontal cells examined were sensitive to a test solution containing ACh (10 mM in concentration) and BW-anticholinesterase (BW; 1.0 mM). ACh with BW augmented a center response and attenuated a surround response as did DA (0.2 mM), although the latter effect was more pronounced and longer-lasting. ACh with BW frequently produced oscillations of the horizontal cell membrane potential, as did DA with clonidine (alpha-adrenergic stimulant). Phentolamine (alpha-adrenergic blocker) interrupted both the effects of DA and ACh on the center and surround responses, while hexamethonium (cholinergic antagonist) appeared to interfere selectively with the effect of ACh. Therefore, the ACh-induced changes observed in the horizontal cell membrane potential are assumed to be mediated by the adrenergic system in the fish retina.


Acutely administered ethanol decreases whole-brain sialic acid and cerebellar 2-deoxyribose.

As a follow-up to a previous study that suggested that acutely administered ethanol could decrease steady-state brain levels of sialic acid (SA), we evaluated the time course of the ethanol effect and tested the influence of route of administration and sex. Compared to the control treatments, ethanol (2 gm/kg) significantly decreased brain SA in each of the four brain regions that were tested. The decrease was evident by 30 minutes after ethanol administration, but peak effect was reached at about 1--2 hours. The decrease occurred with either injection or self-administration, but the greatest decrease occurred in the self-administration group. The SA-induced decrease was greatest in females. An ancillary part of the study included measurement of brain levels of 2-deoxyribose (DR). Ethanol given by either route of administration caused a preferential decrease in DR levels in the cerebellum. Lesser, but statistically significant, decreases in SA and DR occurred in controls, suggesting that these chemicals are sensitive to subtle environmental contingencies associated with the experimental procedures.


Epizootic streptococcal pneumonia in captive coyotes.

Severe death loss was observed in captive coyotes, Canis latrans. Of 48 coyotes in one kennel, 22 (46%) died within a 7 day period. Cause of death was determined to be acute fibrinopurulent (bacterial) broncho-pneumonia and pleuritis. Streptococcus equisimilis was isolated from the lungs of two coyotes examined.


Isolation of a chlamydial agent from Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.

A total of 53 clinical specimens from both healthy and diseased Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) were examined for Chlamydia. An agent consistently lethal for chicken embryos was recovered from a nasal swab taken from a normal ewe. This agent, designated BHS-15, possesses antigens which fix complement in the presence of anti-chlamydial serum, is susceptible to chlortetracycline, and is resistant to sodium sulfadiazine and streptomycin. Attempts to culture the isolate in quality control media, including blood agar, thioglycolate broth, and PPLO broth and agar were unsuccessful. A recommendation is made for classification of agent BHS-15 as a member of the species Chlamydia psittaci. The possible relationship of the isolate to the pneumonia complex in bighorn sheep is discussed.


Salmonellae in feral pinnipeds off the Southern California coast.

Rectal swabs were collected from 90 Northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) and 50 California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) pups on San Miguel Island for Salmonella screening. Three serotypes (newport, heidelberg, and oranienburg) were recovered from 33% of the fur seals and 40% of the sea lions.


Survey of Q-fever agglutinins in birds and small rodents in Northern California, 1975-76.

Serum samples from 15 species of rodents and 33 species of birds were tested for agglutinins against Coxiella burnetii by the microagglutination test. Of 759 rodents tested, 21 (3%) were seropositive. Antibody positive rodents included muskrats, Ondatra zebethica, (11%), Rattus spp. (10%), Beechey ground squirrels, Otospermophilus beecheyi, (6%), wood rats, Neotoma fuscipes, (5%), and Peromyscus spp. (2%). Of 583 birds tested, 118 (20%) were seropositive. This included white crowned sparrows, Zonotrichia leucophrys, gold crowned sparrows, Z. atricapilla, and English sparrows, Passer domesticus, (68% in the composite); coots, Fulica americana, (29%); blackbirds, Euphagus cyanocephalus, (33%); crows, Corvus brachyrhyncos, (29%); robins, Turdus migratorius, (16%); pigeons, Columba fasciata, (10%); and mallard ducks, Anas platyrhynchos, (7%). There was a tendency for the seropositive animals to have been collected in the vicinity of endemically infected livestock.


Tyzzer's disease in muskrats: re-examination of specimens of hemorrhagic disease collected by Paul Errington.

Organisms typical of those seen in Tyzzer's disease of muskrats (Ondatra zibethica) were found in tissue sections from two muskrats found dead in Iowa in 1947 by Paul Errington. These findings support further the hypothesis that Errington's and Tyzzer's diseases of muskrats are a single entity.


Yersiniae in the soil of an infected wapiti range.

Yersinia enterocolitica was isolated from 10 of 121 soil samples from an area inhabitated by infected wapiti (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) in northwest California. Significantly (p less than 0.05) more soil samples from a forest habitat were infected, compared to soil samples from prairie habitats. Soil was found infected with yersiniae only on dates for which rainfall in excess of 17 mm had occurred during the previous 7 days.


A modified blow-gun syringe for remote injection of captive wildlife.

A modified syringe capable of automatic injection and suitable for use with a blow-gun is described. The syringe has been used successfully with white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) under confined conditions. Desirable characteristics for blow-gun syringes are discussed.


A new and unusual eimerian (protozoa: Eimeriidae) from the liver of the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis.

Oocysts and sporocysts of Eimeria funduli sp. n. are described from the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, on the basis of light microscopy, transmission and scanning electron miscroscopy, and location in the liver of infected hosts. The spherical sporulated oocysts of E. funduli isolated from liver tissue measure 20-31 (25) micrometer across with ovoid sporocysts 9-11 X 5-7 (10 X 6) micrometer. A micropyle, polar granule, and oocyst residuum are absent, but sporocysts have Stieda and substieda bodies, a few residual granules, and 10-25 (15) unique projecting structures with expanded distal portions that we term "sporopodia". Sporopodia 1-3 (2) micrometer high support a transparent membrane that completely surrounds the sporocyst. Sporozoites have one large posterior refractile body. Ultrastructurally, the oocyst wall consists of two thin layers of granular material: an electron-dense outer layer with a rough external surface and an electron-lucent inner one of approximately equal thickness. One or two unit membranes line the inner surface of the inner layer. Each layer is 40-60 (55) nm thick. The sporocyst wall, 78-130 (110) nm thick, consists of an electron-lucent material with the outer surface being more electron dense and giving rise to osmiophilic sporopodia; closely associated with these and the outer surface are one or two unit membranes. A thin osmiophilic layer of fine granular material lines the inner surface.


Case reports of bot fly myiasis in pikas (Ochotona princeps).

Six cases of bot fly (Cuterebra spp.) myiasis in pikas (Ochotona princeps) are reported from Oregon and Montana. These are the first known cases of Cuterebra parasitism of pikas.


Parasitic infection of Filaroides osleri, Capillaria aerophila and Spirocera lupi in coyotes from the Southwestern United States.

A total of 181 coyotes (Canis latrans) was examined for helminth parasites Filaroides osleri, Capillari aerophila, and Spirocerca lupi. Coyote carcasses were obtained from Kansas, western Oklahoma-northern Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and southern California. Cysts of F. osleri were present in the trachea or bronchial division in 39 (22%) coyotes. C. aerophila were present in only 7 (4%) coyotes. S. lupi lesions were present in the aorta of 59 (33%) coyotes. Esophageal infections of S. lupi were found in only 4 of 142 (3%) coyotes. F. osleri, C. aerophila and S. lupi infections were more prevalent in western Oklahoma-northern Texas, low in southern Arizona-California, and absent in northern Arizona.


Transplacental transmission of Protostrongylus sp. in California bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana) in Oregon.

Transplacental transmission of Protostrongylus sp. was documented for the first time in California bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana) by recovery of third stage larvae from two fetuses.


Juvenile rickets and hyperparathyroidism in the Arctic fox.

Three of seven Arctic fox kits, Alopex lagopus, trapped on St. Paul Island, Alaska, had evidence of rickets and hyperparathyroidism. Radiographic, morphologic and histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis. The disease was presumed to be a juvenile-onset disease due to calcium-deficient intake following weaning. The possibility of insufficient exposure to sunlight could not be determined. No other abnormalities (e.g., genitourinary) were found. Skeletal involvement was quite varied. All growth plates exhibited columnar hyperplasia compatible with rickets, while the metaphyses showed decreased trabeculation and cortical thinning compatible with osteodystrophia fibrosa. One fox had bilateral metaphyseal fractures through this osteodystrophic bone.


Fatty acid content of depot fat in the northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus).

The fatty acid content of depot fat samples from 15 northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Callorhinus ursinus has a high proportion of short chain saturated acids: C10, C11, C12, C13, C15. Unsaturated longer chain acids C16:1, and C16:2, and C18:1 also were found. Results obtained are compared to a previously reported milk lipid analysis of the northern fur seal.


Serological survey of feral rodents in Thailand for evidence of rabies virus infection.

Between July, 1977 and January, 1978, serum from 645 feral rodents and 31 other small mammals was examined for presence of rabies serum neutralizing antibody. Results suggest that feral rodents are not involved in the epizootiology of rabies in Thailand.


Experimental study of cardiomyopathy induced by glucocorticoids.

Abnormal ECG changes were found in some patients who were treated glucocorticoid during long term. In experimental animals, chronic administration of glucocorticoid resulted abnormal ST and T changes of ECG, increased duration of action potential and induced electron microscopical changes of mitochondria. No significant changes were found in serum and myocardial potassium content.


Arrhythmias in primary pulmonary hypertension.

Through the examination of 171 electrocardiograms (ECG) of 101 patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), the following conclusions were obtained. Arrhythmias were found in 27 (26.7%) of the 101 patients. Among the surviving cases, arrhythmias were found in 8 (17.8%) out of 45 patients, but among the decreased cases, the figure was higher, 19 (33.9%) out of 56. There were instances of more than one kind of arrhythmias in the same patient and a total of 34 types of arrhythmias were noted. The main types of arrhythmias were sinus tachycardia (13 cases), sinus bradycardia (6 cases), and first degree A-V block (5 cases), which accounted for 70% of the total. Sinus tachycardia was observed in only 2 of the survivors but in 11 of the decreased cases, which showed a significant difference (p less than 0.05). First A-V block were all induced by digitalis. Wenckebach type of second degree A-V block was noted in only 1 case and it was also induced by digitalis. Since severe attacks of ventricular arrhythmias were very rare in these cases with PPH, it is difficult to consider the Adams-Stokes syndrome as the cause of syncopal attacks or sudden death. However, it is necessary to further investigate nodal functions by means of continuous ECG monitoring, the overdrive suppression test and His bundle ECGs.


Electrophysiologic effects of verapamil in children.

The electrophysiologic effects of verapamil, a slow channel blocker, were investigated during diagnostic cardiac catheterization in 24 children premedicated with lytic cocktail. The ages ranged from 50 days to 12 years. Twenty had congenital and 4 had rheumatic heart disease. Surface EKG, high intra-atrial and His bundle electrograms were obtained in all before and 5 min after a single dose of verapamil (0.15 mg/Kg, max 5 mg iv). In 14 cases complete electropysiologic studies were performed using the atrial pacing and extrastimulus technique. Due to variability of the resting heart rates and the effect of cycle length on refractory periods each paced with identical S1-S1 interval before and after verapamil, thus allowing each case to serve as his own control. Verapamil prolonged the corrected AH interval in all (mean +/- SD; from 116 +/- 37 to 152 +/- 41 msec, p less than 0.01) and shortened the HV interval in 15/24 (mean +/- SD: from 55 +/- 13 to 47 +/- 9.9 msec, p less than 0.05). The effective and functional refractory periods of the total conduction system, the AV node (ERPAVN) and atrium (ERPA) increased significantly in 10/14. The most profound effect was on ERPAVN and ERPA (25.54 +/- 29 and 19.27 +/- 21.81 percent mean percent increase +/- SD respectively, p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.02). Our findings show that verapamil prolongs the effective and functional refractory periods of the cardiac conduction system with maximal effects on the AV node, thus suggesting the mechanism of its effectiveness in the treatment of reentrant supraventricular arrhythmias.


Effect of hypothermic anoxic arrest on myocardial contractility in the isolated blood-perfused canine left ventricular muscle.

The present studies were performed to evaluate the protective effect of topical hypothermia on anoxic heart. The myocardial protection was assessed by myocardial contractility in the isolated blood-perfused electrically driven canine left ventricular muscle. The isometric tension and the rate of rise of tension development (dT/dt) were measured before and after hypothermic anoxic arrest and percent recovery of these values was used as a parameter of myocardial contractility. The percent recovery rates of 100, 95, 90, and 65 were obtained after acute anoxia of 90, 120, 150, and 180 min, respectively at the myocardial temperature of 17 degrees C. These data suggest that the safe limit of acute anoxia at the myocardial temperature of 17 degrees C is defined as 90 min in this experimental model and it can be extended to 120 min at the myocardial temperature below 17 degrees C.


Histopathological study on the conduction system of complete right bundle branch block with references to configuration of QRS complex.

Eleven autopsy cases (average of 71 years) with complete right bundle branch block were examined histologically with serial sectioning of the conduction system. The results were as follows: 1) moderate to severe reduction of conducting cells in the right bundle branch (RBB) by fibrous replacement in all 11 cases, 2) a preponderance of main lesions in the first portion of the RBB in cases with R configuration in leads V1 and V2, and in the second to the third portion without significant lesion of the Purkinje cell network in the right ventricle in cases with rsR', and RSR' configuration in these leads, 3) as to the etiology, 1 case was assumed to have had rheumatic myocarditis and an another case, 1 chronic ischemia. In cases in which the cause could not be clearly established, reduction of the conducting cells in the first portion of the RBB was thought to be due to fibrosis of the upper ventricular septum. Lesions in the second portion of the RBB may be due to mechanical strain effected by muscle crossing of the trabecula septomarginalis and RBB.


Apparent suppression of ventricular parasystole by cardiac pacing.

Complete disappearance of ventricular parasystolic beats by cardiac pacing with the rates of near multiples of the parasystolic rate was observed in 2 patients with ventricular parasystole. This finding represents a clinical counterpart of recently demonstrated experimental and mathematical models of electrotonic modulation of the parasystolic discharge.


Estimation of body water and salt contents from plasma sodium, protein concentrations, and hematocrit.

New formulae for the estimation of change in water (delta W) and salt (delta NaCl) contents of the body from hematocrit, plasma Na, and protein concentrations were proposed based on a compartment model of body fluid regulation: delta W = 0.4(delta Vi/Vi0) + 0.2(delta Ve/Ve0) litres/Kg of body weight; delta NaCl = 1.64[delta Ve/Ve0 + 1)/(delta Vi/Vi0 + 1) - 1)-1] Gms/Kg of body weight; where delta Vi/Vi0, and delta Ve/Ve0 are relative increment of intra and extracellular fluid volume. delta Vi/Vi0 is considered equal to ([Na]0/[Na]-1) under the condition of normal cell membrane, whereas delta Ve/Ve0 may be a nonlinear function of relative increment of plasma volume and hematocrit or sodium concentration. Thus a nomograph was presented to obtain delta W and delta NaCl simultaneously. This nomograph could predict delta W and delta NaCl with satisfactory accuracy in the experiments with the dogs to which fluid of various osmolarity was given intravenously. It was also confirmed in a case of mixed water depletion in which the clinical estimation agreed with that of the present method. The conventional formulae of calculation based on either pure dehydration or purse salt loss proved not to be applicable in the usual cases of body fluid disturbances.


Cardiovascular anomalies in conjoined thoracopagus twins.

Necropsy findings in 3 cases of conjoined thoracopagus twins are presented. Conjoined hearts were seen lying in a common pericardial cavity. In 2 cases the common atrial complex was incompletely divided into the atrial cavities of the twins by ridges arising from the floor of the cavity. In 1 case the atrial division was better defined and the interatrial septal defect of septum secumdum type was seen. Pulmonary veins opened normally into the atrial chamber only in 1 case, in the other 2 cases, these veins opened into the inferior vena cava and the liver respectively. Ventricular chambers were common in 2 cases with 3 rudimentary atrioventricular openings guarding the inlet and multiple VSD of muscular type. In 1 case one twin had 2 completely separated ventricular cavities and the other twin had partially separated ventricular cavities with a muscular VSD. Great vessels showed transposition in all the cases. In 1 case d-transposition of a rare variety was seen which was associated with a subaortic as well as subpulmonic conus. Persistent ductus arteriosus was a cmmon feature and valvular type of pulmonic stenosis was seen in 2 cases.


A case of variant angina with normal coronary arteriogram who developed acute myocardial infarction and cerebral embolism.

We report a case of a 44-year-old male with variant angina who developed acute anterior myocardial infarction 2 weeks following demonstration of normal left coronary artery. This experience provides inferential evidence that myocardial ischemia resulting from coronary spasm may progress into myocardial infarction.


Studies on the progress of occupational cervicobrachial disorder by analysing the subjective symptoms of work-women in assembly lines of a cigarette factory.

The Committee on Cervicobrachial Syndrome in Japan Association of Industrial Health (JAIH) made a report on the questionnaires for checking for the complaints of patients suffering from Occupational Cervicobrachial Disorder (OCD). In order to reveal how the complaints develop in the progress of OCD, we analysed the complaints of 117 workwomen in assembly lines of a cigarette factory by using the questionnaires. And the followings were made clear: 1) At the mild stage of OCD, stiffness or dullness at the neck and shoulders, and eyestrain become remarkable. 2) At the moderate stage, pain at the neck, shoulders, arms and hands, dullness at extremities, general fatigue, pain or heavy feeling in the head, increased irritability etc. become remarkable in addition to the mild stage complaints. 3) At the severe stage, pain and dullness at the back, numbness at arms and hands, hand coldness, sleep disturbance etc. become remarkable in addition to the moderate stage complaints. 4) Various sufferings in daily life such as "I want to lie down at rest time," "I lack patience to go on reading long," "It is hard for me to go on writing long," and "Fixed sitting soon tires me" become more and more frequent as the stage advances. We consider it is important in the diagnosis of OCD to pay attention to the general symptoms such as general fatigue, pain or heavy feeling in the head, increased irritability and sleep disturbance, together with complaints at the neck, shoulders, arms and hands.


[Chrysotile fiber count in asbestos-cement board plants (author's transl)].

An asbestos fiber counting trial has been conducted in 19 asbestos-cement board plants throughout Japan, based on the phase-contrast microscopic count on membrane filter samples. In the four working places, i.e., bag carrying-in, bag opening, board cutting and shipping, airborne chrysotile fiber counts in 1 cm3 of air, the geometric mean and standard deviation were 1.86 (1.73), 3.87 (3.01), 2.34 (2.59) and 1.26 (2.17) respectively. Mean size distribution (geometrical length) of the fiber in bag opening and board cutting were 8.91 micrometers (sigmag 2.88) and 5.51 micrometers (sigmag 1.22) respectively by measuring on the magnified photomicrographs. As the clearing agent of filters, dimethyl phthalate with diethyl oxalate containing dissolved filter material was used.


[An objective technique to examine sensory disturbance in patients with occupational vibration disease. By means of somatosensory evoked response to mechanical stimulation (author's transl)].

Somatosensory evoked responses (SERs) to mechanical (tapping) stimulation were recorded in 24 patients with occupational vibration disease, and they were compared with those recorded in 48 normal subjects. Tapping stimuli were applied on the finger, the palm and the forearm of the bilateral sides. On the other hand, SERs to electrical stimulation were recorded in 5 of the patients, and these were compared with SERs to mechanical stimulation. 1. Some peaks in 32 out of 48 SERs to mechanical stimulation on the finger were absent, and peak latencies in 10 out of the remaining 16 SERs were abnormally prolonged. On the other hand, only 2 out of 27 SERs to mechanical stimulation on the forearm were abnormal. 2. Some peaks in 27 out of 35 SERs recorded in patients with numb sensation in the fingers were absent and peak latencies in the remaining 8 SERs were abnormally prolonged. 3. With respect to the absence of peaks in SERs, P2 and N2 peaks were more frequently absent than N3 and P4 peaks. 4. Peak latencies of the SERs in the patients with occupational vibration disease were abnormally prolonged. The difference of the peak latency between the patients and the controls was statistically significant. 5. Ten SERs to mechanical stimulation and 10 SERs to electrical stimulation were recorded in 5 patients. Nine out of the 10 SERs to mechanical stimulation were abnormal, while only 2 out of the 10 SERs to electrical stimulation were observed. 6. Based on a close relationship between abnormal SERs to mechanical stimulation and the numb sensation in the finger of the patients, it was concluded that sensory disturbances in the occupational vibration disease was due to the lesion in the peripheral nerve. Therefore, SERs to mechanical stimulation can be used for detecting some localized sensory abnormality due to the lesion in the peripheral nerve.


[Clinical and pathologic-anatomical results following the application of a mobile argon-laser beam in aphakic pupillary block glaucoma (author's transl)].

In the last four years we have treated with the mobile argon-laser beam 25 cases of aphakic pupillary block glaucoma (p. b. g.). According to the time of manifestation of the p. b. g. the patients were divided into an "early" and a "late" group. In the "early" group (17 eyes) the glaucoma manifested itself 1--4 days after cataract extraction. In the "late" group (8 eyes) p. b. g. appeared from 4 weeks to 3 years after cataract extraction. In 14 of the 17 cases of the first group we achieved a prompt reformation of the anterior chamber and a considerable decrease of intraocular pressure immediately after laser application. In 3 cases of the first group, where the pupil was under relative or absolute mydriasis before argon-laser treatment, the mobile laser beam failed to produce satisfactory results. In all of the 8 patients of the "late" group a reformation of the anterior chamber was achieved, but in only 4 of them did i. o. pressure normalize owing to extensive anterior synechiae. Laser application left either very slight or no traces at all on the iris. In order to ascertain the actual effect of the laser beam upon the iris, we applied laser under identical conditions in eyes which had no glaucoma but were to undergo enucleation because of choroidal melanoma. The histological examination revealed a slight degree of hyperaemia of the iris as an oedema of the connective tissue, while the iris sphincter did not appear to be affected by laser treatment.


[The determination of the maximal angular visual acuity and of the Vernier acuity (author's transl)].

In clinical diagnosis it is important to determine the maximal angular visual acuity by using for example the TNO Landolt C ring chart of Vos. The determination of the Vernier- or Nonius acuity is hardly of any clinical diagnostic significance because in several pathological conditions and in normal eyes the visual acuity is always three times higher than the angular visual acuity. Therefore this does not contribute to further differentiation.


[Considerations on the pathogenesis of acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (author's transl)].

Considerations brought about by one of the authors own cases are presented on the pathogenesis of acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy. Two theories are hitherto mainly discussed: (1) Primary changes in the pigment epithelium are pathogenetically responsible, (2) primary changes in the choriocapillaris cause secondary changes in the pigment epithelium. The authors, led by their own observations tend to place the disease in the group of primary diseases of the pigment epithelium.


[Abnormalities in the vessels of the iris as seen in fluorescein angiography (author's transl)].

There are unusually thick serpentine vessels in the iris along which there are no leaks in the fluorescein angiogram. Five and a half to seven years ago this was considered to be a sign of normal iris vessels in our department. It was assumed that this was only an abnormality. In four instances we have been able to find this irregularity, without any changes, in the vessels in the iris where it was a question of shunt vessels. In three of these four instances other diseases of the eyes were also present.


[Intravitreal injection of gentamicin--experimental findings (author's transl)].

In this experimental investigation the authors studied the electro-retinographic alterations and the histological lesions of the retina of rabbits following the intravitreal injection of different doses of gentamicin.


[Autolock bands in encircling procedures (author's transl)].

Several modifications of autolock bands for retinal detachment surgery were tested. The most favourable results were achieved with a conical lock type applied to one end of the band. A controlled shortening to produce a calculated scleral indentation can be obtained by a millimeter scale.


[The glaucoma operation in younger patients (author's transl)].

The author puts forward various arguments to support the view that patients under 50 years suffering from glaucoma should undergo surgery immediately, even if their elevated intraocular pressure could be managed medically. He presents the results of operations on 51 patients aged from 31 to 50, which can be considered more than satisfactory.


[Eye injuries in squash].

The characteristics of a type of ball game that has only become popular in the last ten to twenty years, the game of Squash are being described. The causes and degree of possible ocular injuries are based on personal observation and the available literature. The conclusion is that patients presenting respective ocular changes should not attempt to play this hazardous ball game.


[Signs of anterior segment ischemia following segmental external buckling (author's transl)].

The symptoms of an acute anterior segment necrosis are described as they might occur as a postoperative complication due to encircling procedures. Report about a patient presenting postoperatively signs of ischemia in the anterior segment following segmental external buckling. In this case the cylinder of the explant was 5 mm in diameter and extended over 2 quadrants of the globe. Discussion of the factors most likely causing this rare complication due to segmental external buckling.


[Unusual retention cyst of lower lid (author's transl)].

A 70-year-old woman presented with an unusual retention cyst of right lowerlid border. Histological findings: epiderm cyst of atheroma type. There is no relapse after operation. Inflammatory occlusion of Zeiss- or Meibom-sebaceous gland by saprophytic mites (Acarus siro, Demodex folliculorum) is discussed.


[Correspondence alterations due to tenomyotomy (author's transl)].

This report covers 310 patients with concomitant convergent strabismus and anomalous retinal correspondence. In 36 cases tenomyotomy alone was responsible for normalization of correspondence. This is best achieved in cases of bilateral converging strabismus without vertical divergence.


[Reading by fluorescent lamp light].

In dioptrics courses it has hitherto been taught that eyes of near-sighted patients who work in fluorescent light should be slightly under-corrected, since the near point is approximated in bluish light as a result of the chromatic aberration of the eye, in contrast to its location in white light or even the reddish light of incandescent lamps. The theory further states that this recommendation does not apply if close-range refraction occurs under fluorescent light. However, this is seldom the case. In our own investigations this approximation of the near point, under uniform illumination by fluorescent strip lights running across the ceiling, did not occur, at least not in "white" light (No. 33). On the contrary, under an incandescent lamp which was only half as powerful the near point was regularly closer to the eye than under white fluorescent light. The recommendation for under-correction of pulpit spectacles computed in incandescent light can therefore no longer be upheld.--While many patients complain of difficulties in diffuse incandescent light, these may be due to several other illumination factors which have not yet been fully investigated.--Some fundamental differences between diffuse fluorescent lighting and incandescent lamp lighting where there is a fall-off in luminosity are described.


[First experiences with a written consent form for patients prior to cataract surgery (author's transl)].

The first experiences with a written consent form signed by patients prior to cataract surgery are presented. Details of possible surgical complications were discussed with the patient. The average time for this type of discussion was 15,6 min (7--30 min). The positive outcome of this study appeared to be that the confidence of the patient towards the surgeon or the hospital did not suffer nor did any patient change his decision to undergo surgery. This was tasted in a questionnaire showed to the patients after the discussion on possible complications. Some patients stated that they preferred enlightment on the day before surgery, whereas others would have preferred to have the written consent form sent home some days before surgery to have chance to discuss the problems with their relatives.


[Patient-oriented prevention and control of hospital-acquired infections (author's transl)].

The incidence of hospital-acquired infections varies between 2 and 15% (on average 5 to 8%). Most common nosocomial infections are urinary tract infections, wound infections, respiratory tract infections, septicemia and infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Nosocomial infections arise essentially via two routes: endogenously from the bodies own flora or exogenously via direct or indirect contact with the patient. Bacteria are most commonly transmitted from patient to patient by hands. Air as a vehicle, by which bacteria are transmitted, plays a relatively minor role. Priorities in hospital infection control are: hand washing and hand desinfection, improvement of certain nursing techniques, isolation of infected or susceptible patients, an infection control team with a nurse epidemiologist, surveillance and control of antibiotic therapy regimens, especially of antibiotic prophylaxis. Routine floor desinfection could not be shown to significantly reduce the hospital infection rate.


[Scanning electron microscopic examination of intra-arterial PO2 electrodes (author's transl)].

Continuous blood gas measurement by means of indwelling intraarterial electrodes facilitates and contributes to considerably improve the monitoring of pulmonary gas exchange in intensive care and anaesthesiology. Knowledge of the behaviour of the electrode surface in the blood stream is necessary to assess the characteristics of the measuring and the possible risks or complications. Scanning electron microscopic examinations were performed in a commercial-type polarographic PO2 electrode after in vitro and in vivo application. 14 electrodes were examined after continuous intra-arterial measurements in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and in intensive care patients. Duration of intra-arterial measurements was 2-109 h. Already after a measuring period of 2 h in nearly all cases a protein film was discovered on the electrode surface. Microthrombotic deposits were seen in 2 cases, in one of these despite of treatment with heparin. The electrode membrane showed a network ofmicro-cracks, small bubbles and dents. The membrane changes were probably the result of the drying process during the electron microscopic preparation, because the membrane material (Hydron) is hydrophil and swells during the measurement. Yet it cannot be excluded that these changes occur, in part, during the measurements. From these and other studies we conclude that the intra-arterial application of this electrode has a low risk of thromboembolic complications. The deposits on the electrode surface and the membrane changes may probably affect the response time and possibly also the stability of the electrode.


[Immunsuppressive factors in sera and synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (author's transl)].

Serum inhibitory factors (SIF) have been demonstrated in several infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. Most likely, they are caused by an immune reaction, and their persistence indicates a chronic course. Sera and synovial fluids of 31 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and of 33 patients with arthrosis were therefore studied, in order to determine whether immunosuppressive factors exist only in inflammatory diseases and whether their titers correlate with the activity of the disease. PHA-induced stimulation of normal peripheral blood lymphocytes, measured as 3H thymidine uptake, in the presence of patients' serum, was related to lymphocyte stimulation observed in the presence of control sera. Using the MIF-agarose assay, the effect of sera and synovial fluids on the tuberculin-induced migration inhibition was also studied. Sera of 27 of 31 patients with rheumatoid arthritis inhibited mitogen-induced normal lymphocyte thymidine uptake and abolsihed migration inhibition, probably by blocking MIF-production. High titers appeared to predict an unfavourable course. In contrast, sera of all 33 patients with degenerative joint disease failed to exert these effects. Synovial fluids of all patients, irrespective of the nature of the underlying joint disease, did not affect lymphocyte stimulation or leukocyte migration. Other factors, such as immune complexes, cytotoxic antibodies, or drug metabolites could be excluded as potential causes of the observed effects exerted by rheumatoid arthritis sera. These results indicate that the presence of serum factors inhibiting PHA-induced lymphocyte stimulation and leukocyte migration inhibition, respectively, may be used as a diagnostic tool in the differential diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.


Immunoreactive serum trypsin in diseases of the pancreas.

Immunoreactive serum trypsin was measured with a double antibody radioimmunoassay in normal subjects and patients with various diseases of the pancreas. The normal range is 115-350 ng/ml with a geometric mean of 212 ng/ml. No trypsin was found in serum after total duodenopancreatectomy, in about 75% of patients with cystic fibrosis and in a few patients with pancreas carcinoma or chronic pancreatitis. Reduced serum trypsin levels between 10 and 100 ng/ml were measured in the remaining 25% of cystic fibrosis and in one third of the patients with chronic pancreatitis. Serum trypsin was increased to 700-17,000 ng/ml in all patients with acute pancreatitis or during the acute phase of chronic pancreatitis. Absent or reduced serum trypsin is a reliable indicator of total or partial exocrine pancreatic insufficiency whereas considerably increased serum trypsin concentration do indicate acute pancreatitis.


Nature and familial character of lepromin sensitivity in 27 families and their siblings.

A group of 27 families consisting of 176 individuals had been investigated for the lepromin sensitivity (with Dharmendra antigen). The families were arranged under group A (9 families) in whom either of the parents or both were suffering from Lepromatous type of leprosy, group B numbering 4 families, of whom either of the parents or both were suffering from non-lepromatous type of leprosy and group C comprising 14 families where none of the parents was suffering from leprosy but some of the each family had the disease in their siblings. The present study points towards the possible genetic influence on lepromin sensitivity but at times may be influenced by the environmental factors. However the study does not permit to reach any valid conclusions; further elaborate investigations alone could prove the useful role of genetic influence in the propagation of lepromin sensitivity to the subsequent sibs.


The paranasal sinuses in lepromatous leprosy.

During the course of a larger study of patients with treated lepromatous leprosy attending a hospital in South India, sixteen patients with untreated disease presented with symptoms suggesting both intranasal and sinus involvement. Radiological abnormalities of the sinus were recorded in all sixteen patients and the results have been published separately. This paper describes the clinical and bacteriological findings, together with the results of histopathological examination of biopsies of sinus mucosa in two patients, in both of whom there was a histiocytic infiltrate, with acid-fast bacilli. In one of these biopsies, bacilli in the lamina propria were numerous; globi were common, and 20% of free-standing organisms were solid-staining. The significance of these findings is discussed with emphasis on the value of a full ear, nose and throat examination in all cases of leprosy, especially those with the lepromatous form. In this type of leprosy the upper respiratory tract tissues are clearly of importance for the lodgement and of multiplication of bacilli; it is possible that the paranasal air sinuses, with their large surface area, may contribute to the numbers of bacilli which are disseminated from the nose into the environment.


Treatment of steroid dependant cases of recurrent lepra reaction with a combination of thalidomide and clofazimine.

22 Adult Male Lepromatous patients suffering from recurrent lepra reaction have been allotted to either a regimen of combined treatment with Clofazimine and Thalidomide alone. The initial dosage of either of the drugs was 300 mg daily administered in divided doses of 100 mg three times a day. The preliminary assessment of the ongoing study, indicates that the combined treatment controls the reactional state more rapidly than monotherapy with Thalidomide alone. Results of treatment as regards relief of neuritis and arthritis are particularly gratifying. Four month.ases relapsed into reactional status from 2 days to 15 days. 5 cases on the combined therapy relapsed from one to three months. Three other cases required six months and three cases 8 months treatment before clofazimine could be withdrawn. It would appear that a maintenance therapy of 6 months with flofazimine would be necessary for maintaining the control of reactional episodes while employing this combined therapy.


Effect of ascorbic acid on blood levels of DDS.

A study was undertaken to probe into the influence of ascorbic acid on the absorption and metabolism of administered DDS in leprosy patients. Vit 'C' supplementation did not generally exhibit any effect on blood levels DDS except in cases of BB and LL where only 8 hrs DDS values showed a statistically significant increase.


Tumor metastases and cell-mediated immunity in a model system in DBA/2 mice. VIII. Expression and shedding of Fc gamma receptors on metastatic tumor cell variants.

The expression of receptors for the Fc portion of IgG immunoglobin molecules was studied on tumor cell lines with high and low metastatic capacity. Two tumor cell lines from DBA/2 mice that had high metastatic activity, ESb and MDAY-D2, contained a high percentage of Fc receptor positive cells, as detected in a rosette assay with IgG antibody-coated erythrocytes (EA). In contrast, the low metastatic parental line Eb, from which ESb was derived, contained only a low percentage of EA-rosette-forming cells. ESb ascites tumor cells adapted to tissue culture in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME) had a high expression of Fc receptors, whereas a cell line adapted to tissue culture in the absence of 2ME had a low expression of Fc receptors. "Soluble" Fc receptors were detectable by their ability to bind to EA and to cause blocking of rosette formation. They were found to be present in fluids from tumor-bearing animals, such as serum and cell-free ascites. Even animals with an ascites tumor of the low-metastatic line Eb contained "soluble" Fc receptors. The results are discussed with regard to their possible significance for tumor metastasis.


Extracellular lectin and its glycosaminoglycan inhibitor in chick muscle cultures.

Embryonic chick muscle contains two developmentally regulated lectins, which may be involved in cell interactions. These endogenous lectins are assayed as agglutinins of appropriate test erythrocytes. One of these, called lectin-2, interacts with specific glycosaminoglycans, especially heparin and dermatan sulfate. Lectin-2 is present at constant levels in both chick fibroblast and chick muscle cells throughout 14 days of culture but is released into the medium of cultured embryonic muscle after 7-8 days of culture, soon after myoblast fusion. Lectin-2 interacts strongly with a component of substrate-attached material in embryonic muscle cultures which is extractable from the cutlure dishes with alkali after the cells have been removed with ethylediaminetetraacetic acid. The active component in the substrate-attached material appears to be a glycosaminoglycan that is a more potent inhibitor of lectin-2 agglutination activity than any of the known glycosaminoglycans that we have tested. The active material is degraded by chondroitinase ABC but not by chondrotinase AC, hyaluronidase, or proteolytic enzymes and thus appears to be similar to dermatan sulfate. The results of these studies raise the possibility that lectin-2 functions by interacting with glycosaminoglycans, either associated with the cell surface or with the extracellular matrix.


Synergistic stimulation of early events and DNA synthesis by phorbol esters, polypeptide growth factors, and retinoids in cultured fibroblasts.

12-O-Tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), in the absence of serum, acts synergistically with a range of polypeptide growth factors to stimulate DNA synthesis in quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells. These growth factors include epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin, and the peptide produced by BHK cells transformed by SV-40 virus (fibroblast-derived growth factor, FDGF). Retinoids also show mitogenic synergism with TPA or polypeptide growth factors. The spectrum of mitogenic synergisms displayed by TPA are similar to those of vasopressin, a pituitary peptide. However, TPA and vasopressin do not synergistically interact to stimulate DNA synthesis in quiescent 3T3 cells. This suggests that TPA and vasopressin act via an identical biochemical pathway. Several lines of evidence suggest rapid postreceptor convergence of the mitogenic mechanisms of action of the hormone and the tumor promotor. Thus, vasopressin and TPA both inhibit EGF binding to cellular receptors. Furthermore, TPA and vasopressin induce a similar array of early events in quiescent cells--most strikingly, identical stimulation of Rb+ influx. Stimulation of ion flux is suggested as the possible convergence point of the pathway by which TPA and vasopressin act as mitogens.


Cell surface fibronectin and oncogenic transformation.

Fibronectin is a large glycoprotein at the cell surface of many different cell types; a related protein is present in plasma. Fibronectin is a dimer of 230,000-dalton subunits and also occurs in larger aggregates; it forms fibrillar networks at the cell surface, between cells and substrata and between adjacent cells, and it is not a typical membrane protein. Cell surface fibronectin is reduced in amount or absent on transformed cells and in many cases its loss correlates with acquisition of tumorigenicity and, in particular, metastatic ability. Exceptions to the correlations with transformation and tumorigenicity exist. Loss of fibronectin and the resulting reduced adhesion appear to be involved in pleiotropic alterations in cell behavior and may be responsible for several aspects of the transformed phenotype in vitro. Fibronectin interacts with other macromolecules (collagen/gelatin, fibrin/fibrinogen, proteoglycans) and is apparently connected to microfilaments inside the cell.


Fine-needle biopsy of thyroid gland.

Critical analysis is provided by the authors on cytologic examination combined with histology of 131 patients with thyroid alterations. Cytologic examination yielded seven false-negative and four false-positive findings. Sensitivity of the procedure was 0.78 and the specificity 0.97. Aspiration cytology of the thyroid gland combined with other methods of examination can be considered an advance in the diagnostics of thyroid diseases.


Predictive value of plasma CEA in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Two years follow-up of 46 patients with colorectal carcinoma resected "for cure" shows that of the nine patients with an elevated (less than 5 ng/ml) CEA plasma titer one to six months after surgery, only one, or 11%, had remained disease free. Of the 38 patients with normal (less than 5 ng/ml) plasma CEA, 27, or 71%, were free of disease two years after surgery. In another 85 patients presenting six months to ten years after resection "for cure" of their colorectal carcinoma, normal CEA levels were found in 73, and only five, or 6.4%, of these presented with disease progression when followed for two years; of the 12 patients that presented with CEA values less than 5 ng/ml, disease progression was evident in eight or 67%; in eight patients with CEA levels of greater than 10 ng/ml, the proportion of patients with disease progression increased to 87.5% (7/8). When a patient with a history of colorectal cancer, but seemingly free of disease, presents with levels not only repeatedly above normal (greater than 5 ng/ml) but above the levels found in some nonmalignant conditions (greater than 10 ng/ml), thorough re-examination of the patient to locate the site of possible disease progression is indicated. In 14 such patients further diagnostic methods showed local recurrences in four, metastasis limited to the liver in six, and other metastasis in four. In conclusion, in patients with colorectal carcinoma postoperative elevated CEA plasma levels are a sign of poor prognosis. Consistently elevated CEA levels (greater than 10 ng/ml) are a strong indication of disease progression.


Ultrastructural localization of lactic dehydrogenase in mouse mammary carcinoma cells.

Electron microscopic study of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was carried out in C3H mouse mammary carcinoma cells. Scattered cytoplasmic LDH granules were noted as well as around mitochondria and nuclear membrane. Control studies with normal breast tissues failed to show any activity. This observation suggests that LDH plays an important role in C3H mammary carcinoma and may be of use as an additional marker.


Comparative value of aspiration cytology in the diagnostic evaluation of breast masses.

For 38 consecutive patients presenting with breast masses we compared accuracy of diagnosis, before biopsy, of the techniques of clinical examination, bilateral xeromammography, and aspiration cytology with a 10-cc syringe and a 22-gauge needle. Of the 38 patients, nine had carcinoma and 29 had benign breast disease. The overall diagnostic accuracy showed a perfect correlation between aspiration cytology and subsequent biopsy for carcinoma in this group. Clinical impression made the correct diagnosis in 89.5% of the cases and bilateral xeromammography produced the correct diagnosis in 84.9%. Both clinical impression and mammography were incorrect in diagnosing 33.3% of the malignancies. The technique of cytologic aspiration is a simple, accurate, and effective adjunct to the early diagnosis and treatment of carcinoma of the breast, and this should become a part of the initial evaluation of the patient who presents with a breast mass.


Patterns of spontaneous metastasis manifested by three rat prostate adenocarcinomas.

Three transplantable rat prostate adenocarcinoma cell lines were assessed for patterns of metastasis, ie, routes of dissemination and larger organ(s) selected for implantation. Two lines (I and III) were disseminated only through ipsilateral lymphatic channels to the lungs. The third cell line (II) was disseminated through lymphatic and blood channels to lungs, liver, and kidneys. The pattern of spontaneous metastasis is a characteristic of the tumor cell; but there is evidence that the rate and extent of metastasis can be modified experimentally.


Spindle and giant cell carcinoma of the thyroid: report of a five-year survival after lobectomy and postoperative irradiation.

We have described a patient who remains alive and well five years after lobectomy and planned postoperative irradiation for a sizable spindle and giant cell carcinoma arising in the right thyroid lobe which was adherent to the trachea and the esophagus. The dismal experience of others with this highly lethal tumor has been reviewed. A trial of surgical resection and full-dose postoperative teletherapy seems warranted in selected patients who have a resectable tumor.


Changes with age in cadmium and copper levels in C57BL/6J mice.

Cadmium concentrations in C57BL/6J male mice were found to increase with age in kidney from 0.1 ng/mg dry wt. at 45 days of age to 1.7 ng/mg dry wt. at 880 days of age. Cadmium in liver increased exponentially with age with a doubling time of 242 days, from a value of 0.03 ng/mg dry wt. at 45 days of age to 0.29 ng/mg dry wt. at 880 days of age. Kidney copper declined by only 14% between 45 and 400 days of age and remained unchanged between 400 and 880 days of age. Liver copper declined 41% between 45 and 500 days of age and showed no change between 500 and 880 days of age. Most of the decline in kidney and liver copper concentrations occurred before 240 days of age, possibly reflecting developmental changes. Feeding cadmium chloride in drinking water at concentrations of up to 100 microgram/ml did not change the copper concentrations in kidney, liver, heart or brain of young mice. Feeding copper gluconate did not change the cadmium concentration in livers of old mice. However, these treatments did change the cadmium/copper ratios in tissues.


Age-related cell surface changes in human diploid fibroblasts revealed by lectin-mediated red blood cell adsorption assay: a lectin survey.

Two types of age-related cell surface changes could be demonstrated in human diploid fibroblasts with the two methods of the lectin-mediated red blood cell (RBC) adsorption assay: the fibroblast coating method (in which RBCs are adsorbed to lectin-coated fibroblasts) and the RBC coating method (in which lectin-coated RBCs are adsorbed to fibroblasts). With the fibroblast coating method, concanavalin A and agglutinin L from Phaseolus vulgaris gave a change in RBC adsorption which did not occur throughout the phase II period, but increased with the advance of the phase III period (type I). With the RBC coating method, these lectins gave another type of change in RBC adsorption which increased continuously from early phases of cell passage up through cell senescence (type II). Ricinus communis agglutinin 120 also gave the type I change in RBC adsorption with the fibroblast coating method. On the other hand, even with the fibroblast coating method, Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin E and wheat-germ agglutinin gave the type II change in RBC adsorption. Soy bean agglutinin and Bauhinia purpurea agglutinin gave only a restricted amount of RBC adsorption. Lens culinaris agglutin, pokeweed mitogen, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin, Lotus tetragonolobus agglutinin, Limulus polyhemus agglutinin and divalent succinylated concanavalin A did not give any RBC adsorption throughout the life span of human diploid fibroblasts.


Germinal aging in Tetrahymena thermophila.

The manifestations of germinal aging in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila include death of the cells at conjugation and macronuclear retention in which the normal replacement of the old macronucleus by a new one fails to occur. Available data suggest that methods of routine maintenance that reduce the number of fissions may delay aging. Differences in breeding performance following maintenance for 1-5 years in axenic peptone broth vs. bacterized Cerophyl were not significant; those following maintenance at different temperatures were significant. The analysis of several hundred crosses is consistent with a random mutational basis for aging in the micronucleus and does not support the hypothesis of an age-correlated program in which the rate of deterioration increases with time. Following routine cultural maintenance for as long as 9-11 years, some lines show no deficiencies in their ability to produce viable progeny, and sublines of the same clone frequently differ significantly in their breeding performance. Moreover, breeding degeneration occurs at constant, but different, rates in different inbred strains.


Effect of low dose rate irradiation on the division potential of cells in vitro. VI. Changes in DNA and in radiosensitivity during aging of human fobroblasts.

The sensitivity to low dose rate ionizing radiation increases progressively through the lifespan of human embryonic lung fibroblasts. There is also an increase in the number of alkali-sensitive sites leading to an increase in single-strand breaks and in DNA with low molecular weight during cell lysis. These DNA changes become pronounced at the very end of the lifespan. The correlation between aging, increased radiosensitivity and accumulation of DNA damage is discussed.


Lysosomal enzyme activities during ageing of adult human liver cell lines.

Ten lysosomal enzyme activities have been compared during the growth and ageing of adult human liver cell lines. Arylsulfatase A, beta-D-galactosidase and beta-D-glucuronidase activities were significantly lower and arylsulfatase B activity was significantly higher in senescent cells than in actively growing cells. Furthermore, hexosaminidase activity was lower and acid phosphatase activity higher in old cells in every cell line tested but the differences were not significant. On the other hand, no change occurred in alpha-L-fucosidase, alpha-D-mannosidase, alpha-D-galactosidase and alpha-D-glucosidase activities. These results demonstrate that the increase in size and number of secondary lysosomes during ageing is accompanied for a few lysosomal enzymes by an increase or a decrease in activity depending on the enzyme.


Absorption and metabolism of naphthalene and benzo(a)pyrene in the rat jejunum in situ.

Naphthalene or benzo(a)pyrene (100 nmol) was instilled into the closed rat intestinal loop in situ and the appearance of the free compound and its metabolites was determined in portal blood. Naphthalene appeared mostly unchanged in blood whereas benzo(a)pyrene was extensively metabolized by mucosal cells. The results suggest that absorption and metabolism are competing processes in the gut.


Xenobiotic metabolism by isolated rat small intestinal cells.

A rapid method for isolation of cells from the small intestine of the rat resulted in a preparation where 95--100% of the cells excluded NADH or trypan blue. Isolated intestinal cells catalyzed the cytochrome P-450 dependent metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene, harmine, ethoxyresorufin and ethoxycoumarin. Isolation of intestinal cells 24 hours after a single oral dose of 3-methylcholanthrene resulted in 25--45-fold increases in benzo(a)pyrene, ethoxycoumarin and ethoxyresorufin metabolism, whereas the rate of demethylation of harmine was doubled. Harmine metabolism led to the formation of harmol which was subsequently conjugated with glucuronic acid. Very little sulphate conjugate was detected. Intestinal cells catalyzed glucuronidation of 1- and 2-naphthol at a linear rate for up to one hour. Glucuronidation of 1- and 2-naphthol was saturated at 50 muM, whereas a concentration of 800 muM was necessary for saturation of harmol glucuronidation. Intestinal cells metabolized paracetamol to the glucuronide, sulphate, glutathione and cysteine conjugates. The latter two are evidence of cytochrome-P-450-dependent metabolic activation of paracetamol by intestinal cells.


Absorption and metabolism of intratracheally instilled cortisol and beclomethasone dipropionate in the isolated perfused rat lungs.

The fate of [4-14C]-cortisol and [16,16 alpha-3H]-beclomethasone dipropionate following intratracheal application of the substrates into isolated perfused rat lungs was studied. Both substrates were transferred to the perfusion medium, cortisol at a much higher rate than beclomethasone dipropionate. The proportion of different metabolites of the total radioactivity was larger with beclomethasone dipropionate in both the perfusion medium and the lung tissue. The lungs are considered to have a catabolic role in cortisol metabolism.


Benzo(a)pyrene oxidation, conjugation and disposition in the isolated perfused rabbit lung: role of the glutathione S-transferases.

The isolated perfused rabbit lung metabolised 7--11 % of 20 mumol of [14C]-benzo(a)pyrene added in the perfusion medium in 1 h. The major metabolite formed was 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene, both free (30--40 % of the total metabolites) and conjugated (4 % of total metabolites). Quinones comprised 15 % of the total and metabolism at the 9, 10 position accounted for a further 10 %. Forty per cent of the water-soluble metabolites was chromatographically identical to the glutathione conjugate of benzo(a)pyrene 4,5-oxide. Sulphate and glucuronide conjugates were formed in small but detectable amounts, principally from phenols, but also from dihydrodiols. After 1 h the more water-soluble conjugates had diffused from the lung into the perfusion medium, but the majority (60--90 %) of the metabolic products were still concentrated within the lung. The lung's limited ability to conjugate its major metabolites of benzo(a)pyrene with sulphuric or glucuronic acid, coupled with slow elimination of the products formed, particularly dihydrodiols may contribute to the susceptibility of this organ to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced carcinogenesis.


The specificity and multiplicity of human placental xenobiotic-metabolizing monooxygenase system studied by potential substrates, inhibitors and gel electrophoresis.

The specificity of the placental monooxygenase system to metabolize foreign compounds was studied by using different potential substrates and inhibitors and by performing electrophoresis of placental microsomes. Placental preparations from smokers catalyzed benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylation, 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation and 2,5-diphenyloxazole hydroxylation, but not biphenyl hydroxylation at 2-, 3- or 4-carbon, aldrin epoxidation to dieldrin or coumarin hydroxylation or aminopyrine N-demethylation. Enzyme activities were inhibited by alpha-naphthoflavone, but to a much lesser extent by SKF 525-A or metyrapone. Correlations between the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene, 7-ethoxycoumarin and 2,5-diphenyloxazole were highly significant. There was a clear difference in Michaelis-Menten constant of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation between placentas from smokers and nonsmokers. Gel electrophoresis revealed that protein bands of placental microsomes in the region of cytochrome P-450 enzymes were less prominent than those of rat liver microsomes, a finding that accorded with the relative amounts of cytochrome P-450. There were no consistent differences in the electrophoretic pattern between placentas of variable benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase activities. Results show that the human placental monooxygenase system is restricted in substrate specificity, that there may be a qualitative difference between smokers and nonsmokers and that the increase in several enzyme activities by cigarette smoking cannot be detected by the standard gel electrophoresis.


Importance of conjugation reactions in determining the qualitative nature of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA interactions.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are metabolically activated by microsomal enzymes to reactive metabolites which covalently bind to DNA. The qualitative and quantitative nature of the hydrocarbon-deoxyribonucleoside adducts formed are markedly dependent on the balance of the oxidative and conjugating enzymes present in the activation system. Thus, utilising rat liver microsomes, to metabolically activate benzo(a)pyrene, the major hydrocarbon-deoxyribonucleoside adduct formed is due to metabolic activation of 9-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene. In striking contrast to this when isolated rat hepatocytes are used to metabolically activate [3H]-benzo(a)pyrene, 9-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene is conjugated primarily with UDPglucuronic acid and the major hydrocarbon-deoxyribonucleoside adduct formed is due to further metabolism of 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene. Thus the balance and nature of conjugating enzymes present in a tissue will, by determining the nature and amounts of adducts formed, also modulate the biological susceptibility of a particular tissue or cell. In this regard it may be of particular interest that whereas in isolated rat hepatocytes and short-term organ cultures of rodent lung and trachea conjugation with UDPglucuronic acid is quantitatively the major route of conjugation, with short-term organ culture of human lung, sulphate ester conjugation of phenolic substrates appears to be a major route of metabolism. Thus in vivo or in microsome or cell mediated mutagenesis assays of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons the susceptibility of a particular cell or tissue will be dependent in part on the relative activities of the oxidative and conjugating enzymes.


Ligand binding and detoxication.

In an organism the binding of a toxic chemical to a binding site can act as a detoxication mechanism when toxicity is a property of the unbound ligand. This qualitative statement has been evaluated in quantitative terms. To this end parameters have been defined for which numerical values are required, equations are derived and a procedure is outlined that allows assessment of when and to what extent binding is of value in detoxication. In the process two new quantities are introduced, i.e. the binding capacity and the binding activity, which make for easier handling and comparison of binding data. It is concluded that to be important in detoxication the numerical value of the binding activity must be greater than unity and the total ligand concentration should not exceed the binding capacity. These general conclusions can be further refined depending on the accuracy with which the values of the parameters involved are known. Due to its generality the results of the analysis are useful in all situations where it is desirable to know the magnitude of the free fraction of a bound chemical.


Inhibition of sulfation of phenols in vivo by 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol: selectivity of its action in relation to other conjugations in the rat in vivo.

The effect of 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol, an inhibitor of the sulfation of the phenolic compound harmol in vivo, on the sulfation of other phenolic substances and on various conjugation reactions has been studied in the rat in vivo. Compounds chemically related to 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol were also tested as sulfation inhibitors. 2,6-Dichloro-4-nitrophenol inhibited the sulfation of phenol while it had no effect on biliary excretion of dibromosulphthalein, glucuronidation of phenolphthalein, acetylation of procainamide ethobromide or glutathione conjugation of ethacrynic acid. It is concluded that of these conjugation reactions sulfation is inhibited selectively at the dose level used. Some phenols with chloro- or nitro-substituents effectively inhibited the sulfation of harmol but to a lesser extent than 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol. Many other phenols did not affect the conjugation of harmol, which is both glucuronidated and sulfated.


Properties of the dolichol phosphate: GDPmannose mannosyltransferase of liver microsomes.

The reaction of GDP[14C]-mannose with dolichol phosphate (Dol-P) in hepatic microsomes is characterized by an initial brief period of relatively rapid Dol-P-[14C]-mannose synthesis. The time course of this 1--3 min period of rapid synthesis follows approximate first order kinetics. However, the rate of reaction does not decrease to zero as predicted by the kinetics of the initial period of synthesis, but continues instead at a slow, steadily decreasing, rate. Examination of the time course of Dol-P-mannose synthesis for different concentrations of GDP[14C]-mannose revealed that the extrapolated final level of Dol-P-mannose synthesized is increased when the concentration of GDPmannose is raised. These data, plus those derived from studies of the reverse reaction, suggest that the non-linear time course for the synthesis of Dol-P-mannose is due in part to the reaction approaching equilibrium between the forward and reverse reactions. The effects of Mn++ on the time course of the forward and reverse reaction are complex and suggest that the Mn++ complexes of both GDPmannose and GDP are poorer substrates for the enzyme than the free nucleotides. Perturbations of the lipid environment of the microsomal membrane by treatment with phospholipase A, detergent, sonication, or alkaline pH lead to a decrease in the final level of Dol-P-mannose synthesized, but do not affect the time required for half maximal labeling. When the reverse reaction was investigated in phospholipase A-treated microsomes, the final extent of the reaction was also reduced. These data suggest that perturbation of the membrane lipid environment decreases in some undefined way the availability of Dol-P and Dol-P-mannose to enzyme.


Observations on circulatory adjustment in newborn reindeer and elk.

Haemodynamics of two reindeer (18 h and 4 days old) and one elk (1 week old) calves were studied by catheterization and angiography. Early closure of foetal shunts, high cardiac output and large ejection fractions were observed in all three animals. Pulmonary arterial blood pressure decreased to the full-grown level during the first days of life in the reindeer. Electrocardiography showed cranial-orientated QRS vector in both species. The cardiovascular system of the Cervidae is well developed at birth and adapts rapidly during the neonatal period.


The effect of a six-day ski-hike on plasma catecholamine concentrations and on their response to submaximal exercise.

Plasma catecholamine concentrations and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activities were studied in 29 participants of a six-day cross-country ski-hike (260 km) to elucidate the adaptive responses of the sympatho-adrenal system to prolonged heavy exercise. Immediately after skiing on the first skiing day plasma noradrenaline concentrations appeared to be over twice as high as in the morning. On the morning of the fourth day noradrenaline levels had increased significantly when compared to those of the first morning. Concentrations after skiing on the fourth day were, however, about the same as in the first evening. After a submaximal ergometer test performed immediately after the skiing concentrations were still raised and the relative enhancement by this short-term exercise was about the same magnitude (40--60 %) on every test day. On the sixth day noradrenaline concentrations were about the same level as on the fourth day. Eleven days after the hike the basal noradrenaline levels were still about 25 % higher than before it. The changes of plasma adrenaline concentrations were in the same direction although not as striking as those of noradrenaline. Dopamine alterations were negligible. A significant but reversible decrease in plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activities and cholesterol concentrations was found during the hike. The present results show that the sympatho-adrenal system is activated during the first few days of a ski-hike type prolonged exercise. A plateau developed in about four days. There were no signs of a decreased sympatho-adrenal response to a short-term heavy load.


[Nephrocalcinosis as a clinical syndrome. Study of 77 cases (author's transl)].

Seventy-seven patients with nephrocalcinosis as revealed by X-ray studies over a 10-year period are reviewed. A programmed clinical and metabolic study was performed on each case; the author's criteria included the different pathogenic factors considered in the etiologic definition of the disease. There were 22 cases with primary hyperparathyroidism, 19 with spongy kidney, nine with tubulointerstitial nephropathy, five with hyperoxaluria, five with distal renal tubular acidosis, four with esential hypomagnesemia, and three cases of miscellaneous etiology (vitamin D intoxication, Fanconi's syndrome, Bartter's disease). Ten other cases were classified as idiopathic nephrocalcinosis since no definite cause could be found. The clinical characteristics (symptoms, associated diseases, diet and medication intake, family history) and the biochemical findings are analysed for each group. The physiopathologic mechanisms, comparisons between each etiologic group, treatment, clinical course, and prognosis are commented on. The conclusion drawn is that nephrocalcinosis is a clinical syndrome of various etiologies which in most cases arises from an underlying metabolic disease.


[Macrocytosis in chronic alcoholism (author's transl)].

The present study reported a group of 168 chronically alcoholic patients with a daily ingestion superior to 80 grams. Twenty of these patients (10 percent) did not have liver disease, and 148 (68.5 percent) had different forms of liver disease classified by histopathologic examination. Considering a 97 fi MCV as macrocytosis, we have found in the group of alcoholics without hepatopathy a 50 percent rate of macrocythemia with a mean value of 97.9 fl. In the group of chronic alcoholics with liver disease there was a 64.2 percent macrocytosis with a mean value of 100 fl. We have also studied 43 (21.5 percent) patients with cryptogenetic cirrhosis with a 32.6 percent macrocytosis and a mean value of 93.9 fl. With respect to the alcoholic hepatopathy subgroups, macrocytosis is more frequent in portal fibrosis and acute alcoholic hepatitis, the mean value being higher in the latter. We consider macrocytosis to be frequent among alcoholics, and a good persistence indicator of alcoholic ingestion, pathogenically linked to the now proven dyserythropoietic factor of the alcohol upon the bone marrow. There is no statistically significant correlation between anemia and reticulocytes. We consider macrocytosis to be a more precocious data, and believe that the positive correlation with certain intraerythrocitary enzymes in the juvenile population of red cells corroborates this fact. With respect to the rest of parameters studied there was a correlation with gammaglutamiltranspeptidase, glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, and the value of prothrombin. The values of mean macrocytosis and elevations of gammaglutamiltranspeptidase and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase are good persistence indicators of alcoholic ingestion.


[Polycystic kidneys in adults. A clinical study of 106 cases (author's transl)].

A series of 106 cases of polycystic kidneys in adults is presented. The main clinical, exploratory and therapeutic data are analyzed. The average age of the patients at the time of the first clinical manifestation was 35 years; average age at the time of diagnosis was 43 years. The most common forms of presentation included renal colics, blood hypertension, noncolic lumbar pain, macroscopic hematuria, and polydipsia-polyuria. The most frequent symptoms were: abdominal pain of any type (73 patients), polydipsia-polyuria (66 patients), blood hypertension (61 patients), macroscopic hematuria (47 cases), episodes of urinary infection (41 cases), and passing of calculi (22 cases). Seventy-eight subjects had arterial high blood pressure; it was easily controlled in all except 14 cases. Proteinuria was slight in all except two cases. Values for hematocrit and hemoglobin remained high in relation to the degree of renal insufficiency. The mean value of hematocrit in patients with creatinine clearance below 10 ml/min was 30 percent. Renal function decreased gradually, from normal to a clearance of less than 10 ml/min over a period of 12 years on the average. Diagnosis was based mainly on abdominal physical examination and intravenous urography; 89 patients had palpable abdominal masses. Urography revealed typical images of polycystic kidney in every case. The following associated conditions were also discovered: liver cysts (17 cases among 57 liver scanning; bilateral ovarian cysts in one case; Cacci-Ricci's disease in one case; and cerebral arterial aneurysms in another patient. Treatment was conservative with the aim to control arterial blood pressure and urinary infection. Twenty-nine patients required saline replacement; peritoneal dialysis was practiced in two cases and permanent hemodialysis was prescribed for 15 individuals.


[Acute abdomen in the elderly: etiology, complications, and prognosis. A review of 100 cases (author's transl)].

One hundred cases of acute abdomen in patients over 70 years of age were studied. Mechanical occlusion was the most common cause among these patients, as opposed to acute appendicitis, which is the primary cause of the same condition among young people and adults. Irreducible hernias and visceral neoplasias were the most frequent etiologies among cases of mechanical occlusion. Cholecystitis took second place in our series. Visceral peforations were more often due to localized infections or visceral neoplasias than to gastric or duodenal ulcers. Overall mortality among these patients was 29 percent. Patients with visceral perforations due to localized infections or visceral neoplasias and all of the patients with vascular diseases had a negative prognosis.


[Diuretic evaluation of bumetanide (author's transl)].

The intravenous administration of 2 mg bumetanide produces a sudden rise in diuresis in a state of hydropenia as well as in a state of previous aqueous diuresis. This rise, which is not accompanied by changes in the glomerular filtrate and renal plasma flow, seems to be due to a decrease in the reabsorption of chloride and sodium in the Henle's loop and probably to a decrease in the absorption of fluid in the proximal tubule, as is apparently indicated by the fractional excretion of water and sodium and the clearance of phosphorus and uric acid.


[Giant cells in the glomerulus and renal amyloid. Report of a case (author's transl)].

A case of primary amyloidosis in which multinucleated giant cells occurred in relation to amyloid deposits in the renal-glomerulus and in multiple other organs is reported. The ubiquity of multinucleated giant cells distinguishes the present case from those previously described in the literature. It is felt that the finding of multinucleated giant cells next to amyloid deposits in the walls of blood vessels and interstitium of several organs adds support to the theory that these cells function as macrophages. It is also suggested that in cases of amyloidosis with severe renal involvement, emergence of giant cells might be promoted by chronic dialysis.


[Unstable diabetes (author's transl)].

Unstable diabetes is characterized by the appearance of irregular and unpredictable variations of the glycemia; because of this it is very difficult to achieve an acceptable metabolic control. There are different criteria (continuous monitorization, M value, MDDG, AMEG, etc.) for the evaluation of the degree of instability. Unstable diabetes may be transitory (generally related to exogenous factors or erroneous management) or permanent. The Somogyi effect must always be taken into account in unstable diabetes. The two most important pathogenic factors could be the absence of the pancreatic insulin reserve and the presence of small quantity of anti-insulin antibodies of high affinity. Other factors such as glucagon, growth hormone, catecholamines, etc. seem to play a secondary role. At the moment the treatment of unstable diabetes is not very satisfactory.