Histochemical study on the dihydrofolatereductase and folic acid in mammalian brain cortex.

Histochemical and biochemical studies on the folate metabolism (folic acid an its principal enzyme-dihydrofolate-reductase) in bovine cortex - gyrus marginallis in the process of ageing were performed, in parallel with NADH2-cytocrom-C-reductase (diaphorase). Folic acid and folate enzyme, weak positive in neurons in young age, increased in old age in nerve cells and especially in their processes and in capillaries. The diaphorase strongly increased in all cells, glia and vessels, in old age.


"In situ" variation of folic acid and dihydrofolate reductase in the caudate nucleus in the ageing process.

In bovine caudate nucleus of young animal, a folic acid-positive reaction was found in the perikarya and in the neuroglia in parallel with a high dihydrofolate reductase activity in the nerve cells. In old animals, folic acid increased in neurons, neuroglia and some nerve cell processes; the folate enzyme was markedly decreased in neurons and increased neuroglia NADH2-cytochrom-C-reductase activity was strongly positive in nerve cells in young and old animals.


Comparison of the metabolism of 2,4-toluenediamine in rats and mice.

The excretion, distribution, and metabolism of 2,4-toluenediamine (TDA) have been compared in rats and mice. The elimination of TDA metabolites into urine was faster and more complete in mice than in rats. However, the feces of rats accounted for a greater percentage of the dose in rats than in mice. The distribution of metabolites in tissues were considerably lower in mice than in rats. The major urinary metabolites observed in the rat were 4-acetylamino-2-aminotoluene, 2,4-diacetylaminotoluene, 4-acetylamino-2-aminobenzoic acid. The major metabolites in the mice were 4-acetylamino-2-aminobenzoic acid, 4-acetylamino-2-aminotoluene and 2,4-diacetylaminobenzoic acid.


The effects of ozone on the respiratory epithelium of mice II. Ultrastructural alterations.

Ultrastructural alterations in the tracheal and bronchial epithelium of mice exposed to 0.8 ppm ozone for varying periods of time were examined with scanning electron microscopy. The lesions were apparent in the ciliated cells. Examination of tissue from control mice showed that the ciliated cells were arranged in groups and the cilia were uniform in length. After six days of exposure to ozone, shortened cilia were occasionally observed by day 10, more pronounced changes were observed. Cilia were either absent or became short and blunt. The lesions observed after 20 days in ozone were similar to those seen on day 10. After ozone-exposed mice had been returned to ambient air for 10 days, ciliary regeneration occurred and, the major airways had a surface appearance approaching the normal state.


Correlation between gross observations of tumors and neoplasms diagnosed microscopically in carcinogenesis bioassays in rats.

Microscopic diagnoses of spontaneous and induced neoplasms in F344 rats in two carcinogenesis bioassays were correlated with the gross observations made at the time of necropsy. The results for a negative and a positive compound with reference to carcinogenicity, indicate that of the gross descriptions indicative of tumors, 37 percent and 24 percent respectively, were not diagnosed as neoplasms microscopically. However, some of the gross lesions were diagnosed histologically as nonneoplastic lesions. Of the neoplasms diagnosed microscopically only 70 percent and 76 percent, respectively, were observed grossly. Endocrine tissues, liver and lung had the lowest correlation rates. The implications of these findings are discussed.


Effect of thyroidectomy upon the activity of three mitochondrial shuttles in rats.

The activities of mitochondrial alpha-glycerophosphate, malate-asparte, and malate-citrate shuttles which oxidize NADH were determined in liver and kidney cortex mitochondria isolated from Tx and control rats. Weight gain, relative liver and kidney size, oxygen consumption, and serum thyroxine were also determined. Tx animals weighed less, had smaller livers and kidneys, and showed significantly lower oxygen consumption of the resting animal and a marked decrease in serum thyroxine levels. The activity of the three shuttles studies was significantly less in liver mitochondria from Tx animals, particularly when studied in the absence of added ADP. Thyroidectomy had less effect upon shuttle activity of mitochondria from the kidney cortex, with significant decrease in activity found only in the complete alpha-glycerophosphate shuttle and in the endogenous malate-aspartate and malate-citrate shuttles studied in the absence of ADP. Changes in shuttle activity caused by thyroid hormone are discussed in relation to other known metabolic effects of thyroxine, and the possible primary role of adenine nucleotide translocase activity in mediating other thyroxine-dependent metabolic changes is considered.


NCTR computer systems designed for toxicologic experimentation. V. Post-experiment information system.

The Post-Experiment Information System (PEIS) is an automated data collection and reporting system composed of three specialized subsystems: Pathology, Chemistry and Microbiology. These subsystems function either independently or collectively to construct and maintain a comprehensive data base of all experimental values derived from, or associated with, an animal carcass. All data are retrievable by the unique Carcass Identification (CID) number assigned at death, which is the correlative of the Unique Identification Number (UIN) assigned to the animal at birth and used throughout its lifespan. Elements processed under the PEIS include gross and microscopic pathological observations, organ weights, hematologic data, chemical data, and microbiological analyses. The ability of the system to integrate the post-experiment data with the information collected on an animal from birth (BIS) and during the experiment (EIS) provides a complete animal history to the Principal Investigator or other requestor.


Mathematical models of cancer and their use in risk assessment.

Cancer risk assessment necessarily involves the use of mathematical models. Although risk estimates can be extremely sensitive to underlying assumptions in such models, the assumptions are frequently overlooked when a particular model is used. This paper presents four examples to illustrate how the alteration of assumptions can have a large effect on risk estimates. Ways of avoiding undue model dependence are discussed.


Comparison of game-farm and wild-strain mallard ducks in accumulation of methylmercury.

The accumulation of mercury was compared in game-farm and wild-strain mallard ducks fed a diet containing 0.5 ppm mercury in the form of methylmercury dicyandiamide. There were no significant differences between the two strains in levels of mercury that accumulated in blood, kidney, liver, breast muscle, brain, eggs, or ducklings. Mercury levels in blood were significantly correlated with levels in other tissues and eggs, as were levels in down feathers of ducklings with levels in carcasses of ducklings. The results indicate that game-farm mallards are probably suitable substitutes for wild mallards in toxicological work, that blood samples can be used to estimate levels of mercury in other tissues of adults, and that down feathers are predictive of mercury levels in duckling carcasses.


Effects of separate and combined chronic mercuric chloride and sodium selenate administration in rats: histological, ultrastructural, and x-ray microanalytical studies of liver and kidney.

The separate administration of mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and sodium selenate (Na2SeO4) to male rats in drinking water or a combined administration of both (50 ppm Hg, 15 ppm Se) caused different signs of toxicity over a 22 week period. The HgCl2 group showed histopathological and ultrastructural lesions as evidenced by periportal fatty degeneration and cell necrosis in the liver and tubular necrosis with proteinaceous casts in the kidney. The Na2SeO4 group showed the most severe depression of growth and food and water consumption, but no pathological changes were seen in the liver or kidney. Simultaneous administration of both toxicants produced a protective effect on weight loss and histopathology. These effects were associated with the formation of electron dense nuclear inclusions in kidney proximal tubule cells and similar electron dense formations in the reticuloendothelial cell cytoplasm and in the extracellular space of Disse in the liver. These formations were shown to contain both Se and Hg by energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The basis of the protective interaction of these two elements appears to result from an alteration of the chemical form or association of the mercury and selenium.


The effect of chronic administration of trisodium nitrilotriacetate (Na3NTA) on the haversian remodelling system in dogs.

Trisodium nitrilotriacetate from the environment is reported to accumulate in bone. Two skeletally mature male littermate beagles were administered Na3NTA in a concentration of 2.5 mg/kg body weight in their drinking water for a period of 7 months. Rib biopsies were obtained from the dogs after fluorescent labelling before and at the end of the experimental period. Blood levels of zinc were measured at the same times. Twenty-two similar dogs from the same colony acted as controls. We noticed a decrease in radial closure rates and percent osteoid seams labelled between the experimental and the control animals which was statistically significant at the 0.05 level. The serum levels of iPTH and the bone levels of zinc showed no statistically significant difference. Accepting the fact that the treatment population was small and that the changes observed--although statistically significant--were minimal, it cannot be discounted that the exposure of these animals to Na3NTA for a longer period of time would not have had a more adverse effect on haversian bone remodelling activity.


Chlorine dioxide metabolism in rat.

Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) is under consideration as an alternative to chlorination as a disinfectant for public water supplies. A new assay was developed to qualitatively and quantitatively measure the metabolites of 36ClO2 in water and biological fluids. Studies in the rat indicated that the metabolites of ClO2 were Cl-, ClO-2, and ClO-b. At maximum absorption the percentage of ClO; formed in plasma from an initial oral dose of 10 mg/l 36ClO, was higher than from a 100 mg/l dose. The 36Cl concentration in washed packed cells indicated that 36Cl readily exchanges with chloride of saline.


Kinetics of Cl02 and effects of Cl02, Cl02-, and Cl03- in drinking water on blood glutathione and hemolysis in rat and chicken.

Since chlorination of drinking water produces organochlorinated substances (some possibly carcinogenic), the use of chlorine dioxide disinfectant would avoid halogenation. There is scarcely any data published on the effects of ClO2 in drinking water on human or animal health. The kinetics of 36ClO2 was studied in rats. Radioactivity was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract following the administration of (0.07 microCi) 36ClO2 orally. 36Cl in plasma reached at peak at 1 hr. The half life for the elimination of 36Cl from the rat was 44 hr, corresponding to a rate constant of 0.016 hr-1. After 72 hr radioactivity was highest in plasma, followed by kidney, lung, stomach, duodenum, ileum, liver, spleen, thymus, and bone marrow. 36Cl excretion was greatest at 24 and 48 hrs after the administration of 36 ClO2. Forty-three percent of the total initial dose was excreted at 72 hr in the urine and feces. No 36 Cl was detected in expired air throughout the 72 hr studied. ClO2, ClO2-, and ClO3- (1, 10, 100, 1000 ppm) given daily in drinking water decreased blood glutathione, decreased osmotic fragility, and changed the morphology of erythrocytes in both chicken and rat after two months. Methemoglobin was not detected throughout these studies.


Effect of chlorine dioxide and metabolites on glutathione dependent system in rat, mouse and chicken blood.

Chlorine dioxide (Cl02) has been proposed as an alternative disinfectant to chlorine to avoid formation of organohalides. Cl02 and metabolites, chlorite (Cl0-2) and chlorate (Cl0-3) in drinking water produced decreases in rat and chicken blood GSH. The GSH dependent system was studied in rat and chicken blood after chronic treatment for 6 months with CL02 (0, 1, 10, 100, 1000 MG/L), Cl0-2 or Cl0-3 (10, 100 mg/l) in drinking water. There was a 60% increase in GSH reductase in the Cl02 treatment groups of rats and chickens. A similar increase was shown in rats treated with Cl0-2 but with Cl0-3 no change was observed. GSH peroxidase was without change in rat but chickens drinking 1000 mg/l Cl02 had decreased activity. Catalase was significantly higher than control in rat and chicken in the 1000 mg/l groups. However, catalase activity was decreased in rat treated with Cl0-2 and at the same time that GSH was decreased. These studies support the view that catalase is the first line of defense against the oxidative stress of Cl02 in rat and chicken erythrocytes.


Some determinants of intestinal cadmium transport in the rat.

The hypothesis was tested that Cd absorption from the intestinal lumen is mediated by cellular transport systems. Cd is readily extracted from glucose-saline during perfusion of jejunal segments in the living rat. Over periods as long as 40 minutes, essentially all extracted Cd is recovered in the wall of the intestine. Cd uptake by the tissue obeys saturation kinetics with KM values of the order of 0.1 mM, and Vmax approximately 0.01 mumol/g/min. Although washing after exposure to 109Cd removes only little radioactivity from the tissue, it reverses at least partly the saturating effects of higher Cd concentrations. Unidirectional flux of Cd into the tissue is inhibited by 10 mM Ca; no effect on backflux of Cd is seen. In contrast, Zn and EDTA both accelerate washout of Cd. The Ca content of skimmed milk fully accounts for the depressing effect of dried milk on Cd uptake. These results point to the presence in mucosal cell membranes of a saturable process responsible for Cd uptake and sensitive to inhibition by certain solutes in the lumen.


[A specific fully enzymatic method for creatinine: reference values in serum (author's transl)].

Reference values for creatinine in serum were established using a fully enzymatic method, adapted to a discontinuous analyzer. Our reference group included 250 females and 215 males (blood donors, hospital staff and patients) aged 18-70 years. Up to 60 years, creatinine concentration did not depend on age, but there was a significant difference between the creatinine concentrations of women and men. We propose reference ranges for creatinine in serum (95% range) of 44-80 mu mol/l for women and of 44-97 mu mol/l for men.


[Enzymatic assay of creatinine in serum: comparison with Jaffé methods (author's transl)].

The creatinine concentrations in 337 sera were determined by enzymatic assay and by six different modifications of the Jaffé method. The enzymatic assay showed satisfactory precision and gave the same results as the assay after adsorption on Fuller's earth (Lloyd's reagent). All other methods using picrate gave falsely high values: the relative deviation from the enzymatic method had a median value between +20% and +50% for creatinine concentrations in the range 22-88 mu mol/l, and between +10% and 30% for creatinine concentrations in the range 89-177 mu mol/l. The study thus confirms the lack of specificity of all Jaffé methods, with the exception of the assay after adsorption on Fuller's earth.


[Light sensitivity of creatine kinase in control sera].

The light sensitivity of creatine kinase in different control sera was investigated. Control sera were dispensed into reaction vessels, then exposed for 4 h at 25 degrees C to a light source equivalent in intensity to normal laboratory illumination. In 12 out of 22 control sera, the catalytic concentration of the creatine kinase fell by 25-63%. Under the same conditions, in patient sera, creatine kinase is stable. In the "light sensitive" control sera, the instability of the enzyme increased with the intensity of illumination. When exposed to sunlight creatine kinase was unstable in all the investigated control and patient sera. The addition of mercaptoethanol stabilized the creatine kinase in "light sensitive" control sera. The reason for the different light sensitivity of different control sera is not known.


Macro-creatine kinase-BB: observations on 6 patients.

From 2000 sera with elevated total creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.2) activity the sera of 6 patient showed a persistent high and anamnestically inexplicable creatine kinase activity level. The serum isoenzyme pattern was analyzed by four different methods. Electrophoresis revealed an atypical creatine activity band located between creatine kinase-MM and creatine kinase-MB. An adequate estimation of the persistent enzyme activity could only be achieved by immunotitration (immunoprecipitation), which identified the creatine kinase activity as due primarily to the isoenzyme creatine kinase-BB. Other methods (immunoinhibition and column chromatography) may lead to misinterpretations. The atypical serum creatine kinase-BB showed a higher molecular weight (Mr = 250,000) and altered substrate affinity as compared to native creatine kinase-BB. Both properties are attributable to the binding of creatine kinase-BB to immunoglobulins.


Atypical serum creatine kinase isoenzyme pattern caused by complexing of creatine kinase-BB with immunoglobulins G and A1),2).

12 cases are described, which show high serum creatine kinase-BB levels, as well as atypical creatine kinase activity band located between normally migrating creatine kinase-MM and creatine kinase-MB. It is shown that the altered properties of the serum creatine kinase-BB, namely its molecular size, heat resistance, electrophoretic mobility, but not its immunological behavior, are caused by complexing with kappa-chains of immunoglobulins G or A. The complex occurring in vivo could also be produced in vitro by using purified patients' IgG and human creatine kinase-BB.


[Properties and significance of macro-creatine kinases (author's transl)].

Sera from seven-patients with an unusual high ratio of creatine kinase-MB versus total creatine kinase, as found in the immunoinhibition test, were investigated. In every case, the electrophoretic separation of the isoenzymes showed a slow moving band, and exclusion chromatography showed the presence of macro-creatine kinase. Further chromatographic, electrophoretic and immunological investigations indicated that the macro-creatine kinases in six cases are complexes of creatine kinase-BB linked to immunoglobulin G.


[Lectins as reagents for the differentiation of serum enzymes. Lectins as reagents, I. (author's transl)].

Lectins from Canavalia ensiformis, Phaseolus vulgaris, and Triticum vulgare react with arylamidase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and cholinesterase of human sera by formation of enzymatically active, mostly insoluble complexes. Arylamidase, alkaline phosphatase, and cholinesterase react more intensely in sera of healthy people than in sera of patients with liver and neoplastic diseases. Arylesterase is bound to a distinct degree only by concanavalin A. The enzymes mentioned above also react slightly with the following lectins in order of decreasing intensity: Ricinus communis, Arachis hypogaea, Helix pomatia, Glycine max, Dolichos biflorus, and Ulex europaeus. Though multiple forms containing less sialic acid are favourably bound, preincubation with neuraminidase does not improve the reaction except with soybean lectin. Since higher concentrations of lectins react also with fast moving fractions of high sialic acid content, no steric hindrance of the binding between lectins and sialoenzymes is supposed, as concluded from determination of the total enzyme activity.


Separation of glutathione reductase in human serum by gradient gel electrophoresis.

A system of high resolution polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is introduced. It allows the rapid separation of proteins from serum and tissue homogenates under non-denaturating conditions, and proves especially suited for the comparative analysis of enzymes. The enzyme glutathione reductase is identified on the gradient gels by contact printing with agar substrate gels, and the multiple forms of glutathione reductase in serum are demonstrated.


Effect of cadmium and copper on monoamine oxidase type A and B in brain and liver mitochondria.

The effect of cadmium and copper on monoamine oxidase type A and B in mitochondrial preparations from brain and liver was determined in vitro. The results showed a dose-related inhibition of the enzyme. Both the A and B forms of the enzyme were similarly inhibited by the presence of either cadmium or copper. Copper has been shown to be a 7-8 times more potent inhibitor of monoamine oxidase than cadmium. The data suggest that the intracellular concentration of unbound copper (13 mumol/l) or cadmium (100 mumol/l) may inhibit monoamine oxidase in brain and liver by 50%.


Improvement of the calcitonin radioimmunoassay.

A rapid and specific assay for human serum calcitonin is described. The total assay-time is under 24 h and uses double-antibody in combination with polyethylene glycol to separate bound and free hormone. The antibody has been checked for its affinity to human serum calcitonin by using a Scatchard plot. Geometric dilution of sera from patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma showed a linear relationship with measured values approximating those expected. The use of Florisil to extract human serum calcitonin from sera to make "human calcitonin-free"-serum for standards has been investigated. A series of 52 normal volunteers and 99 patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma or other possible calcitonin-metabolism disorders have been examined. Only the medullary thyroid carcinoma-patients showed significantly elevated results. In the other groups two patients with phaeochromocytoma and one patient from 29 with bronchial carcinoma had elevated serum calcitonin levels.


A simple method of quantitative estimation of the subfractions of human serum small molecular diameter lipoproteins.

The method presented allows the separation and fractionation of up to 12 subfractions of human serum small molecular diameter lipoproteins (SMDL) by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The method was checked and confirmed by more than 2000 separations. The frequency of the appearance of the particular subfractions was investigated in 300 persons--children and adults. The method of quantitative estimation of each subfraction was evaluated. The precision of this method was 3% to 11% (mean 6%). A good reproducibility of separations was found within 2 to 4 days after blood collection (with refrigeration). The stability of the separation patterns was satisfactory for up to 9 days in five healthy persons. Examples of differences in the SMDL-subfraction patterns, depending on sex, age and pathology, are given.


Isolation of non-anticomplementary human immunoglobulin by Cohn fractionation of heated plasma.

Heat treatment of human plasma at 56 degrees C eliminates an unstable immunoglobulin fraction. No anticomplementary activity is generated when the remaining heat-stable immunoglobulins are concentrated and purified by the Cohn alcohol method.


[Lipase and carboxypeptidase A in human serum: no correlation (author's transl)].

The catalytic concentrations of lipase and carboxypeptidase A in sera of patients with and without pancreatic diseases show no correlation. 40 sera out of 44 with elevated values for lipase, derived from a collective of 135 different sera, showed no increase in the catalytic concentrations of carboxypeptidase A. The demanding titrimetric determination of lipase cannot be replaced by the more simple colorimetric determination of carboxypeptidase A for the laboratory diagnosis of pancreatic diseases.


A conductance decrease after application of GABA to crayfish muscle fibers.

Relaxations after voltage steps of membrane current elicited by superfusion with low concentrations of GABA (up to 50 mumol/l) were measured. In many preparations, a conductance decrease due to GABA was observed. The response to GABA was shown to consist of two major components: the well known opening of synaptic chloride channels, and the closing of previously open channels, presumably permeable to K+ ions. The latter component could not be blocked by picrotoxin.


The voltage dependence of the decay of the excitatory postsynaptic current and the effect of concanavalin A at the crayfish neuromuscular junction.

In voltage clamped crayfish muscle fibers the time constant tau of decay of the EPSC was measured at different clamp potentials E. At 6 degrees C, the average potential dependence of tau is described by tau = 2.3 ms.eE/328 mV. tau was shorter in fast fibers than in slow ones. Concanavalin A supressed the potential dependence by tau, resulting in an increase in tau compared with the control, especially at high negative potentials.


Role of various amino acids on the modulation of dopamine release from nigro-striatal dopaminergic neurones.

The effects of various transmitter amino-acids on the striatal release of 3H-dopamine (3H-DA) were investigated both in vivo in cat and in vitro in rat striatal slices. When applied to the substantia nigra of the anaesthetized cat by means of a push-pull cannula, GABA induced an increase followed by a transient decrease of 3H-DA release in the ipsilateral caudate nucleus; glycine reduced 3H-DA release under similar experimental conditions. When added to the superfusion medium of rat striatal slices, GABA, glutamate and glycine increased the release of the newly synthetized 3H-DA, suggesting that these amino-acids are also directly or indirectly involved in the presynaptic modulation of striatal DA release.


The presynaptic action of L-glutamate at the crayfish neuromuscular junction. Results obtained by intra-axonal recordings and nerve terminal damage.

The presynaptic action of glutamate was investigated in crayfish neuromuscular preparations. The excitability of locally stimulated nerve terminals increased during the perfusion of glutamate. Electrotonically propagated depolarizations were recorded in the excitatory axons when glutamate was ionophoretically applied to sensitive spots on the muscle membrane. Depolarizations of the axon were also obtained when glutamate, GABA and aspartate were added to the bath. In order to evaluate the part of the presynaptic effect in the depolarization induced in muscle fibres, nerve terminals were damaged either by treatment with high-Ca solutions or by denervation. In both cases, a decreased sensitivity to glutamate was found. Possible relationships between the nerve terminal damage and the change in the response to glutamate are proposed.


The GABA dose/conductance relationship on lobster muscle.

A quantitative study was made of the action of GABA, some structurally-related agonists and antagonists on the dactyl opener muscle fibres of the lobster. It was concluded that the GABA dose/conductance relationship was better described by a two independent binding-site receptor model (with KII = 30 microM) than by a single-site or a two-site high co-operativity model. The dose/conductance curves for gamma-amino-beta-hydroxybutyric acid (GABOB), delta-aminovaleric acid (DAV) and piperazine indicated 'full' agonist behaviour, whereas those for guanidoacetic acid (GuAc) indicated a partial agonist action. beta-guanidinopropionic acid (beta-GP) and gamma-guanidinobutyric acid (gamma-GB) behaved as weak competitive GABA antagonists. Bicuculline was found to antagonize GABA non-competitively on the lobster as in the crayfish, whereas picrotoxin appeared to act in a 'mixed' antagonistic fashion.


High potassium, veratridine and electrically induced release of taurine from the cerebellar cortex.

In the in vivo superfused cerebellar cortex of anaesthetized rats, the following stimuli were effective in evoking large increases of isotopically labelled taurine from preloaded tissue: high (40 mM) K+; rectangular, 0.1 msec electrical pulses at 1.5 mA and 500 Hz; the depolarizing veratrum alkaloid, veratridine (0.5 x 10(-5) M) and scorpion venom (10(-6) g.ml-1). Both the high K+ and electrically evoked effluxes were markedly Ca2+ dependent; the veratridine response was abolished in the presence of tetrodotoxin (10(-6) g.ml-1). The data indicate that taurine is being released from excitable cells rather than neuroglia and may therefore have some neurotransmitter-like role in the cerebellum.


Tentative localization of glutamergic and aspartergic nerve endings in brain.

1. The locations of the high affinity uptakes of glutamate, aspartate and GABA were studied autoradiographically and microchemically in slices of hippocampus and septum in vitro. 2. In hippocampus the distributions of the uptake sites for glutamate and aspartate were very similar, with much higher uptake in zones containing pyramidal cell terminals than in other zones. A reciprocal distribution was found for GABA uptake, which was in agreement with that of GAD. 3. Cutting pyramidal cell axons to CAl reduced the uptake of aspartate and glutamate in the target area in CAl by 80%. 4. Autoradiographically the uptake of aspartate was very high in the dorsal part of the lateral septum, moderately high in nucleus accumbens septi and neostriatum, and very low in the medial septum. GABA uptake was lower in the medial than in the lateral septum, but very high in a narrow transitional zone and in the insula Cajella magna. 5. Transecting the axons from hippocampus and subiculum to septum, gave a 70% reduction in the uptakes of aspartate and glutamate in the lateral septum, but no reduction in the medial septum. 6. Literature data on uptake, content and release of glutamate and aspartate in nerve endings in brain are briefly reviewed.


Topographic sensitivity of cat spinal motoneurones to iontophoretically applied l-glutamate and glycine.

1. The effects of micro-iontophoretically applied L-glutamate (GLU) and glycine (GLY) were studied by recording intracellularly from cat motoneurones in the 6th and 7th lumbar segments. 2. Applications of GLU and GLY were performed at varying distances (80-350 micrometers: "somatic" or "dendritic" applications) from the probable intrasomatic location of the recording tip. 3. "Somatic" applications of GLU caused a depolarization and a progressive increase in the membrane conductance. Applications of GLY caused a hyperpolarization and a marked increase in conductance associated with a decrease of postsynaptic transients. 4. "Dendritic" applications of GLU led to a depolarization after a significantly shorter delay than applications to more "somatic" sites. On the contrary, the onset latency of GLY induced hyperpolarisations was longer for "dendritic" than for "somatic" applications. 5. These results give evidence in favour of different preferential localizations of GLU and GLY receptive sites on spinal motoneurones.


Rate-dependent action potential changes in rat atrium.

Experiments in isolated left atria from rat hearts were performed in order to study the effects of stimulation rate on the transmembrane action potential. 1. Two components (fast and slow) of the action potential upstroke could be differentiated by adding MnCl2 to the perfusion solution. 2. With the increase in rate of stimulation over the control cycle length (500 msec), amplitude, Vmax and action potential duration at 80% of repolarization (D80) diminished in normal Krebs. In Mn-containing Krebs, only a slight reduction in amplitude was recorded. Resting potential and action potential duration at 20% (D20) and 50% (D50) of repolarization were only slightly affected in normal Krebs and not at all in Mn-Krebs. 3. Low rates of stimulation in normal Krebs increased D50 only slightly; however, D80 increased significantly while other parameters remained constant. No effects were seen in Mn-Krebs. 4. The results with Mn-Krebs indicate the importance of slow inward current on changes induced by stimulation rates. A possible mechanism relating intracellular calcium concentration and the outward K current, depending on the rate of stimulation, is discussed.


In vitro citrate synthesis by the dog kidney. Investigations with cortex, red and white medulla slices.

In vitro utilization or production of citrate by the cortex, outer medulla or inner medulla of dog kidney was measured. Our data show: 1. An in vitro citrate synthesis or utilization capacity of the cortex greater than that of the red medulla. 2. An effect of pH on citrate synthesis or utilization capacity of the cortex, an effect not seen with medullary slices. 3. An absence of citrate synthesis or utilization by white medulla slices. It would seem that the citrate found in the white medulla and the papilla of the dog kidney in vivo was not produced in situ.


[Nutritional, cardiac and adrenergic changes induced by swimming training in rats (author's transl)].

The effects of training were investigated in male Sprague Dawley rats group (N), fed ad libitum, by measuring the weight increase and food intake of the animals, biochemical parameters (myocardial triglycerides and glycogen levels), mechanical and metabolic properties of the heart, and adrenergic reactions to swimming stress. An other group of rats remaining sedentary served as control (T). Conditioned rats had been submitted to a one hour test swim 6 days a week for 9 weeks. Gradually additional weights were fixed to the thorax. At the end of training, the load reached 6% of the body weight. Both groups were sacrified by decapitation at the same time, thirty hours after the last swimming session. The study of mechanical performances and metabolic properties was achieved with isolated working heart preparation. Adrenergic reactions of swimming stress were evaluated from plasma, heart and adrenal catecholamine concentrations.


[Malignant epithelioma of the retinal pigment epithelium (author's transl)].

Description of clinical and histopathologic findings in a case of malignant epithelioma of the retinal pigment epithelium. This very rare neoplasm usually develops at the equator of the globe or more peripherally and is practically always mistaken for a malignant melanoma of the choroid. Metastasis of this tumor, revealing an infiltrative and destructive growth pattern, has not been described unequivocally.


[Cutting of the retina: a means of therapy for retinal reattachment (author's transl)].

In a case of retinal incarceration after injury of the eye, the retina was mobilized by cutting it free and creating a 240 degree dialysis. The retina could be reattached with the help of intraocular gas techniques developed for the treatment of giant retinal tears. This case demonstrates that actual cutting of the retina can result in successful reattachment of the retina.


[A follow-up study on the intraocular pressure response of timolol eye drops (author's transl)].

In 22 open-angle glaucoma patients a total of 39 eyes were treated with Timolol 0.25% twice daily for an average period of 12.6 months. The relative intraocular pressure decrease at the beginning of the study was 47% of the untreated pressure level. This initial response declined to a 23% pressure decrease at the end of the study. In 8 eyes treatment had to be discontinued because of insufficient pressure control and in one patient because of subjective intolerance. In two patients (4 eyes) a complete loss of response of Timolol therapy was observed. The phenomenon of slowly diminishing drug effectiveness was not related to the untreated pressure levels in the patients covered by this study. In 5 eyes there was evidence of a rebound effect after discontinuation of Timolol therapy.


[Experience in treatment of retinoblastoma in the German Democratic Republic (author's transl)].

A report on 150 patients suffering from retinoblastoma (71 unilateral and 79 bilateral cases) treated between 1960 and 1977. There was a familiar accumulation of retinoblastoma in 8.9% of the bilateral and 5.8% of the unilateral cases. Leukokoria and squint were the most frequent first signs of the tumor. The overall lethality was 12.7% during an average follow up period of 7.8 years. The lethality due to metastases on bilateral cases (8.9%) was as high as that due to unilateral retinoblastomas (9.9%). Spontaneous cure occurred in 2%. The cure rate of unilateral retinoblastomas was 87.3%. The survival rate in bilateral tumor cases 84.8%. The eye with the more advanced tumor was enucleated immediately; irradiation therapy only saved both eyes in one patient. Enucleation of the second eye was necessary in 40.5% of our patients suffering from bilateral retinoblastoma. In 43.8% of all bilateral retinoblastomas destruction of the tumor in the second eye was accomplished and a useful degree of visual acuity was achieved after an average follow-up period of 7.5 years.--The optimum therapeutic procedure depends on the size and position of the retinoblastoma and should be scheduled individually in each patient: photocoagulation, cryocoagulation, 106Ru/ 106Rh-applicator, 60Co-applicators, external beam irradiation (linear accelerator 5 MeV), chemotherapy.


[Tumor metastases of the choroid: clinical picture and histology (author's transl)].

This paper is based on 21 patients with metastases of the choroid from extraocular tumors, observed over a period of 25 years (1952--1977) at Erlangen University Eye Clinic. Approximately 70% of these relatively rare metastases of the choroid are caused by cancer of the breast. Ophthalmoscopically, they are usually localized to the left of the posterior pole and are yellowish. In about 20% of the cases both eyes are affected. Since breast cancer is the most frequent cause of the primary tumor, women in the 40 to 60 age group are the most common sufferers. On the other hand, it is worth mentioning that in 2 cases the metastases were the first signs of any type of malignancy. Typical is the relatively flat, shell-like growth. In cytological specimens the portion of the retina covering the tumor normally shows no evidence of cystic degenerative change, in contrast to malignant melanoma. In view of the short average life expectancy of about 9 months, therapy should consist in preserving the eye and thus some degree of vision. Radiotherapy, chemotherapy or cytostatic therapy whould be tried. Enucleation is only indicated where there is severe pain, secondary glaucoma, amaurosis or if it is impossible to differentiate from a malignant melanoma.


[Clinical and experimental evaluation of hydrophilic contact lenses for continuous-wear (author's transl)].

In a clinical and experimental study we tested a new contact lens for continuous-wear. The modified HEMA-lens ("Permalens", Global Vision Ltd, Southampton/GB; Cooper Laboratories, Düsseldorf) has a water content of 74% at pH 7.4. The oxygen transmissibility is, depending on the thickness of the lens, 38--67% of the oxygen in the air. In a first trial we had to eliminate 6 patients due to wrong fitting (much too steep) or dry eyes. After development of a new guide for selection of lens base curves 10 patients with monocular aphakia (10 eyes) and 12 patients with mild myopia (24 eyes) were fitted with the hydrophilic soft contact lens for permanent wear. From a total of 34 eyes in 11 cases (32%) the lenses were removed due to complications (1 conjunctivitis, 1 keratitis, 1 vascularization) or due to lack of cooperation. In 23 cases (68%) the continuous-war lenses were well tolerated without complications for 5 months. In a comparative study in vitro we tested the effect of the contact lens on the viability (swelling rate, intracellular membrane potential of the epithelium) of the isolated human cornea. A damaging effect of the lens on corneal function was not observed. The hydrophilic soft contact lens can be fitted for continuous-wear.


[A contribution about serious ophthalmic complications with oral contraceptives (author's transl)].

The treatment with oral contraceptives leads infrequently to serious thrombo-embolic cases of sickness in the eye and in the central nervous system with mostly irreversible results. Here is reported about three such cases in which--after intake of oral contraceptives with low-dose portion of oestrogen--ophthalmic complications have appeared, in which by reason of comprehensive internal, neurological and neuroradiological examinations, this treatment has very probably released the ophthalmic complications. As soon as there are appearing migraine-like headache attacks and vision disorders under treatment with oral contraceptives, termination of the treatment is recommended.


[Spontaneous hemorrhages into dilated conjunctival lymphatics (author's transl)].

The means of own observations the clinical picture of spontaneous hemorrhages into the conjunctival lymphatics is illustrated. The reasons of this phenomenon are discussed with regard to the histomorphological findings. Hitherto the spontaneous hemorrhages into the conjunctival lymphatics do not seem to have any pathogenic effect.


[Histological studies of goblet cell counts in human conjunctiva (author's transl)].

In 121 healthy subjects of all age groups the goblet cells were counted by means of conjunctival biopsies; none of these individuals showed any inflammatory or degenerative changes in their eye lids, conjunctivae or corneas. Three groups were distinguished: a small group with relatively few, a large group with an average number and a third small groups with a relatively large number of goblet cells. The number of goblet cells was usually between 26 and 40 to the square mm, but fluctuated to a great extent in all three groups. On determining age distribution, the average goblet cell counts were found to be astonishingly similar: they did not vary significantly in the different age groups. At most, one could say the goblet cell count is slightly lower from age 61 onward.


[Leimyoma of the ciliary body: clinical, fluorescein-angiographic and histological findings (author's transl)].

Report on the clinical and fluorescein-angiographic appearance of leiomyoma of the ciliary body in a 23-year-old woman, the surgical technique and histopathological findings. The tumor was wholly excised and histologically verified, preserving the bulb and a useful degree of vision. The histological differential diagnosis is discussed.


[Mitral regurgitation following myocardial infarction (author's transl)].

Incompetence of the mitral valve may occur within days or weeks following myocardial infarction. The etiology most often encountered is rupture of a papillary muscle or one or more chordae tendineae. Since echocardiography is available, dysfunction of the papillary muscle with resulting incompetence of the valve is diagnosed more frequently. The mortality of the disease without surgical correction is reported as high as 95% within the first 3 months following the development of a murmur. The results of the surgical therapy are closely related to the time interval between myocardial infarction and time of surgery. Twenty-one (46%) of 45 patients with acute mitral regurgitation following myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock operated upon at the Pacific Medical Center died during the early postoperative period. Mortality was extremely high with 78% when surgery had to be done within the first weeks following the acute myocardial infarction. Surgery within 2 to 3 months following the myocardial infarction carried a mortality of 44%, whereas only 6 of 22 patients operated upon more than 3 months after the acute infarction died. The high mortality of the natural course of the disease should be encouragement to think of the possibility of surgical correction of the valvular disease, especially when optimal medical treatment including medical and mechanical inotropic support have failed. Advances in cardial surgery, such as myocardial protection as well as postoperative care, may result in further improvement of the results.


Similar modes of action of calcitonin and glucagon in inhibiting pancreatic enzyme secretion in man.

The inhibitory action of both calcitonin (CT) and glucagon (GK) on human pancreatic secretion has been evaluated in detail. The reduction of enzyme secretion expressed as percentage corresponded to 60--80% of the initial values in response to both CT and GK when the hormones were given as single infusions during background stimulation with secretin or with secretin plus cholecystokinin-pancreozymin (CCK-PZ). After withdrawal of GK-infusion the return to normal values of enzyme secretion was distinctly faster than after CT, thus reflecting a more rapid degradation of circulating GK than of CT. In the presence of stimulation with secretin plus CCK-PZ, the combined administration of CT and GK did not enhance the inhibitory actions of CT and GK. Fluid and bicarbonate secretions were not affected by either CT or GK. The results suggest that CT and GK inhibit human pancreatic enzyme secretion by similar modes of action. Therefore, the combined administration of both CT and GK does not offer a reasonable approach to the treatment of acute pancreatitis.


[Spread of hepatitis B virus infection among family contacts of asymptomatic HBsAg carriers (author's transl)].

Family members of 34 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers were tested for different hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers. Among 67 family members tested 24 (36%) presented signs of a past or ongoing HBV-infection. Spread of HBV-infection was particularly high in those families in which the HBsAg carrier was positive for HBeAg and Dane particle-associated DNA polymerase activity. Non-parenteral "horizontal" transmission of HBV among spouses and brothers and sisters and probably parenteral vertical transmission of HBV from carrier mothers to their infants occurred in approximately the same frequency. Fathers transmitted HBV unfrequently to their offsprings. The results show that the risk to acquire a HBV-infection from an asymptomatic HBsAg carrier is closely linked to the serological findings in the HBe/anti-HBe-system of the index HBsAg carrier and not to the family relationship to the HBsAg carrier.


Enteropancreatic circulation of trypsin in man.

Following the intraduodenal installation of purified 125I-labeled human trypsin up to about 4--6% of the label was measured after 15--30 min in blood plasma and found to separate in a dextran-gel filtration system similar to purified human trypsin (-125I) after incubation with human serum. About 1% of the installed trypsin-(-125I)-dose was found already after 20 min in 100 ml of aspirated pancreatic secretion and later on also in the duodenal content. The results support the concept of the existence of an enteropancreatic circulation of trypsin also in man and explain in part the low to non-detectable levels of immunoreactive serum trypsin observed in patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.


Effect of combined administration of furosemide and aspirin on urinary urate excretion in man.

Furosemide (20 mg) was administered intravenously to 7 healthy volunteers, before and after 4 days of oral administration of aspirin in uricosuric dosage (1 g daily). Aspirin prevented the decrease in urinary urate excretion induced by furosemide, without interfering with its natriuretic action. This finding is suggested to be the result of the opposite and independent effects of the two drugs on tubular reabsorption of urate.


Scanning electron microscopy of differentiated liver cells transformed in vitro by chemical carcinogens.

A scanning electron microscopy study was carried out on differentiated liver cells transformed in vitro by three chemical carcinogens into cells that give rise to carcinomas. The results indicate that the transformed cells grow as a rule in tightly adherent monolayers but differ in topography. There is a tendency toward heterogeneity in cell shape compared to the normal and on the whole toward a larger number of surface microvilli in the malignant cell population. However, both in sparse and confluent cultures the topographic differences are often not striking enough to unequivocally distinguish single neoplastic cells from the normal.


alpha-bungarotoxin binding sites (acetylcholine receptors) in denervated mammalian sarcolemma.

The nonsynaptic sarcolemma of denervated skeletal muscle of rat shows an abundance of approximately 15 nm intramembranous particles on the P face. These particles are either singly distributed or are in clusters, and they are essentialy lacking from the comparable freeze-fractures of the innervated sarcolemma. Autoradiographic studies using 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin (BGT) on 1 mu-thick sections, and freeze-etch studies using ferritin-alpha-BGT conjugates on membrane fractions, show that the distribution of the label corresponds to the distribution of the 15-nm particles in the nonsynaptic sarcolemma. On the basis of these results and existing physiologic and biochemical data, it is suggested that the 15-nm intramembranous particles are components of the alpha-BGT binding sites, ie, acetylcholine (Ach) receptors, in the nonsynaptic sarcolemma of denervated muscle and that the two types of distributions represent two spatial manifestations of Ach receptor molecules. The significance of these findings in relation to synapse formation in denervated muscle is discussed.


Analysis of transmembrane proteins from eukaryotic cells.

The topography and properties of plasma membrane proteins from mouse L-929 cells are studied by comparing their availability for enzymatic labeling on the external and internal surfaces of the membrane. In order to study the internal surface, phagolysosomes are prepared from cells after they ingest latex particles. The plasma membrane surrounding these seem to have an "inside-out" orientation. The sugars of the membrane glycoproteins in intact phagolysosomes are not available for interaction with lectins or available for periodate-borotritide labeling. A comparison of the lectin-binding proteins labeled by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination on the external cell surface with those labeled on the internal cell surface suggests that a variety of plasma membrane glycoproteins span the lipid bilayer. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis it has been shown that selected proteins are labeled at both the internal and external faces of the plasma membrane. Analysis of the 2-D gel electrophoregrams reveals that there are two distinct prominent proteins at 60,000 and 100,000 daltons which are enzymatically iodinated from both sides of the membrane. The partial hydrolysis of the 100,000 dalton protein reveals that different peptides are iodinated when the iodination is performed on intact cells or on the phagolysosomes. These proteins are extensively phosphorylated in cells incubated with inorganic 32P. We conclude that the phagolysosome is probably oriented in an "inside-out" configuration and that this membrane preparation can be used to study the topographic organization of membrane proteins. The use of oriented membranes, selective labeling of proteins, and affinity separation of proteins in combination with gel electrophoresis to define the position and properties of proteins is discussed.


Effect of diphenylhydantoin on blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Diphenylhydantoin (DPH) has been shown to elicit direct peripheral vasodilatory effects in anaesthetised animals. Since spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats exhibit many features similar to human essential hypertension, the effect of DPH on blood pressure of these rats was studied. DPH given orally for 5 days elicited dose-dependent fall in systolic blood pressure in conscious SH rats. In addition, repeated administrations of DPH increased the noradrenaline concentration in the hypothalamus. These results suggest that the central noradrenergic mechanisms might be involved in the hypotensive action of DPH in SH rats, probably at the supramedullary level.


Effect of physostigmine and scopolamine on the memory functions of chess players.

Six young trained chess players received 10 consecutive tasks comprising problematic play position at chess. Each subject was tested four times with drug orders balanced across subjects. Compared with saline placebo, physostigmine (20 microgram/kg i.v.) in the presence of peripheral muscarinic blockade (methylscopolamine 6 microgram/kg i.v.) impaired the performance of good players, but the amount of correct solutions was increased when the initial performance level was low. Scopolamine (6 microgram/kg i.v.) impaired the performance of all subjects, and saline placebo proved inactive. The effect of scopolamine together with physostigmine was about the average of the separate effects of these drugs. The subjects talked less, when mildly sedated, and felt nauseated after the physostigmine treatment. Antimuscarinics with and without physostigmine caused cycloplegia in all subjects.


The inhibition of rat brain monoamine oxidase-B by J-508 (N-methyl-N-propargyl-(1-indanyl)-ammonium hydrochloride), and its use for the titration of this enzyme form.

The interaction between rat brain monoamine oxidase-B and J-508, an analogue of L-deprenil, has been investigated. J-508 inhibits rat brain monoamine oxidase-B in a manner consistent with a 'suicide' reaction, and is so potent an inhibitor that it produces inhibition at concentrations of the same order as those of the enzyme. This property has been used to determine the nature of the changed monoamine oxidase-B activity in the corpus striatum after hemitransection of rat brain.


Mass fragmentographic determination of tetrahydro-beta-carboline in human blood platelets and plasma.

GLC-mass fragmentography of the heptafluorobutyryl derivative was found to be a sensitive and reliable method for the determination of tetrahydro-beta-carboline (THBC, tryptoline) in human blood platelets and plasma. The concentration of THBC in platelet-rich plasma of eight healthy young adult persons was 9.4 +/- 1.6 (mean +/- SD) ng/ml. It was mainly concentrated in platelets, which usually contained over 50% of total THBC.


[Metastasis and special explorations in the study of the spread of bronchogenic carcinoma (author's transl)].

The results of a prospective study on bronchogenic carcinoma are analyzed. The most frequent metastatic localization being the bone (24 percent), followed by the brain (21 percent) and the pleura (20 percent). The type which most frequently metastatized to the brain is the epidermoid carcinoma. The as yet unresolved difficulties in the diagnosis of metastasis to the adrenal glands as well as to the liver are pointed out, conducting a comparative study with data from necropsies in order to corroborate such defficiencies. We systematically practiced radioisotope bone scanning, eliminating the bone radiography and carrying it out only in areas with pathologic isotopic uptake. Biopsy of the iliac crest should be performed in all cases of undifferentiated small-cell type, although this is not necessary with the other histopathologic types. Finally, the criteria for the identification of liver metastasis, in the absence of more proper pilot studies, should be the same as those established in 1974; physical examination and determination of hepatic enzymes; if the results are abnormal, a liver scanning should be indicated, and if it is normal, it will be necessary to perform a liver biopsy by peritoneoscopy.


[Perforation of the esophagus. A review of 12 cases (author's transl)].

Perforation of the esophagus is a very serious condition which is nearly always fatal, unless it can be diagnosed and treated at the earliest possible moment. Ten thousand case histories in a Department of Internal Medicine and a Department of Surgery were reviewed, among which 12 cases of esophageal perforation were found. The overall mortality in this series was 59 percent; the mortality of the surgically treated group was 39 percent. Four of the five patients operated on within the first 24 hours survived. The prognosis was poor when the lower third of the esophagus was ruptured. Esophageal perforations are becoming increasingly more frequent because of the widespread practice of endoscopy. The clinical symptoms of the condition include subcutaneous emphysema, retrosternal pain and dispnea. X-rays often show air or fluid in the mediastinum, air and fluid in the pleural space, and evidence of rupture when opaque contrast material is employed. These signs should usually by sufficient for an early diagnosis. Surgery is the treatment of choice.


[Hepatic adenomas and oral contraceptives. Report of two cases and review of the literature (author's transl)].

The authors report two cases of benign liver tumors which were histopathologically diagnosed as liver adenomas. Both patients had a former history of taking oral contraceptives. The authors carry out a critical review of the literature up until the present day and evaluate the data which exist for and against the relationship between oral contraceptives and hepatic tumors. These are based mainly on suggestive clinical observations and on experimental studies with animals, and also on the structural affinity of oral contraceptives with androgen compounds. The latter are drugs that are very much implicated in the genesis of hepatic tumors. A criticism is made on the terminology used, from a histological point of view, to describe the tumor lesions that are related to oral contraceptives; the presence of dilated vessels with find walls and the existence of hepatic peliosis inside of such tumors are emphasized. The clinical presentation of these tumors is reviewed very briefly and the authors conclude that oral contraceptives have a close relationship with the appearance of liver tumors, either inducing them directly, or at least, helping them to grow.


[Endocarditis by Coxiella burnetti. A chronic form of Q fever. Report of one case (author's transl)].

The authors describe a case of chronic endocarditis by Q fever, in a patient who had been operated for coarctation of the aorta twelve years previously and at the same time was carrier of a congenital bivalve aorta. The clinical picture was suggestive of subacute endocarditis, but the blood culture was negative repeatedly. There was also a prolonged and relapsing febrile syndrome over a period of one-year-and-a-half. The following data are also worthy of note: the coexistence of a liver disorder and a focal and segmentary glomerulonephritis. Based on some recent publications (one by the same group) the authors feel that Coxiellosis burnetti must be more frequent in their environment than is suspected.


[Nephrotic syndrome and unilateral thrombosis of the renal vein. Acute renal failure and disturbances of the hemostasis (author's transl)].

The association of nephrotic syndrome and renal vein thrombosis has been increasingly reported in the literature due to the use of modern complementary explorative techniques. The incidence of renal vein thrombosis in the nephrotic syndrome varies according to the different authors. The pathogenesis of this association has been widely discussed and even though renal vein thrombosis has formerly been considered as one more cause of nephrotic syndrome, there are at present numerous arguments supporting the opposite thesis. A case of nephrotic syndrome and unilateral thrombosis of the renal vein in a patient with primitive extramembranous glomerulonephritis is reported. Blood coagulation studies revealed an initial hyperfibrinogenemia and a persistent decrease of factors V, VII, and X, with low rates of prothrombin. A thrombectomy was carried out, but the patient presented a Gram-negative sepsis without hypotension in the immediate postoperative period. As a consequence an acute renal failure developed and hemodyalisis was necessary for 2 months. The pathogenesis of both conditions are discussed.


[An index of peritonitis originating in the biliary tract: correlation with the postoperative course (author's transl)].

Peritonitis originating in the biliary tract is analyzed in 41 patients (1973--1977). Cholelithiasis was the underlying disease in 90% of the cases, and one patient suffered from carcinoma of the biliary tree. Early cholecystectomy was performed in 95% of the patients. Peritonitis was localized in two-thirds and diffuse in one-third of the patients. A perforation was present in 63%. The grade and extent of peritonitis could be correlated with the postoperative course. One-half of the patients with turbid or purulent exudate developed postoperative fever; one fifth showed secondary wound healing. The diffuse form of peritonitis was followed more often by postoperative fever than the localized form. Although the presence or absence of perforation did not influence this parameter in the diffuse form, it did influence cases of localized peritonitis. Only the diffuse forms of peritonitis were followed by secondary wound healing. A peritonitis index was established from age, risk factors, and several preoperative and intraoperative findings. It could also be correlated with the postoperative course. The peritonitis index may classify the disease state of patients with peritonitis and may be found useful in evaluating prognosis at the time of the operation.


[The clinical relevance of intraoperative electrophysiologic mapping (author's transl)].

Electrophysiological intraoperative mapping is described as a technique for identification of the specialized AV conduction system during open heart surgery; furthermore it is suitable for delineating the morphological origin of ventricular tachycardias which requre surgical therapy. The mapping technique is described with respect to its methodical aspects and illustrated by means of congenital and acquired heart disease.


[Aortic aneurysm and anomalies of the kidney (author's transl)].

Because of the embryological position of the kidney in the small pelvis anomalies of the kidney are mostly localized in the area of the distal aorta. Therefore they can make the resection of an aortic aneurysm more difficult. While anomalies of the renal veins and the urinary tract hardly impair the resection of an aortic aneurysm, an abnormal arterial vascularization of the kidney can be an essential problem during operation. According to criteria concerning localization the arterial anomalies are divided into 4 types. For every type techniques of resection and reconstruction guaranteeing the viability of the abnormal arteries and the kidney are demonstrated.


[Is the jejunoileal bypass still justified? (author's transl)].

The jejunoileal bypass for the treatment of extreme obesity is being increasingly criticized because of its severe metabolic complications. With the gastric bypass, developed by Mason in 1967, there now exists an operative alternative that is equivalent concerning weight reduction, but does not create such non-physiologic conditions of absorption, and therefore is not burdened with the severe metabolic disturbances of the jejunoileal bypass. Therefore the jejunoileal bypass should not be used any longer for the treatment of obesity.


[Reconstructive surgery of the internal carotid artery (author's transl)].

Between 1970 and 1978 we performed 403 endarterectomies of the internal carotid artery on 330 patients. Operative morbidity (and mortality) depended on the severity of the ischemic cerebral damage at the time of the operation: stage I (137 operations):1.5% (0.7%); stage II (134 operations): 2.2% (3.7%); stage III (29 operations): 3.4% (10.3%); stage IV (103 operations): 3.9% (7.8%). According to the life-table analysis (average follow-up: 40 months) the rate of cured or improved patients amounts to 94% (operated at stage I), 85% (stage II), 84% (stage III) and 70% (stage IV).


[Hepato-biliary sequential scintigraphy for diagnosis of bile-passage after bilio-digestive anastomosis (author's transl)].

37 patients with bilio-digestive anastomosis--18 choledocho- and 19 hepatico-jejunostomies Roux-en-Y--had been followed up for 6--62 months. Hepato-biliary sequential scintigraphy showed in 26 patients both unimpeded bile passage and normal function of the jejunal loop. 6 patients had stenosis in the common bile duct or the anastomotic region with cholangitis and cholostasis. In 5 patients we observed an impaired function of the jejunal loop. Though all of these patients had clinical symptoms only one patient developed cholostasis.


[Bioptic diagnosis of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (author's transl)].

A diagnostic flow diagramm is presented which allows to differentiate Crohn's disease from ulcerative colitis. Colorectal biopsies do allow to make the diagnosis of Crohn's disease even if granulomas are absent. Intact goblet cells in the presence of neutrophil infiltration of the mucosa as well as discontinuous and disproportionate inflammatory changes are the most useful diagnostic criteria in the histology of Crohn's disease. Assessment of these histological abnormalities in carefully orientated and sectioned biopsy specimens is possible in most cases. This diagnostic scheme has been tested by four pathologists independently.


[Diagnostic and therapeutic implications of allergic processes in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (author's transl)].

At the present time most authors do not believe, that allergic processes do play a role in the etiology of Crohn's disease or of ulcerative colitis. Data are presented however demonstrating a pathogenic role of mould fungus allergens in these diseases. Diagnostic and therapeutic implications of these results are discussed.


[Carcinoembryonic antigen: Comparison of radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay in postoperative surveillance of patients with carcinoma of the colon or rectum (author's transl)].

In the recent time measurement of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has gained increasing importance in post-operative surveillance of patients having been operated upon because of colorectal carcinomas. Simple routine laboratory procedures are needed therefore. CEA was measured in 230 patients; it is demonstrated, that the results obtained by conventional radioimmunoassay are accurate and precise. In addition the specimens were measured by an enzyme immunoassay. Results of both assays coincided rather well. Since the enzyme immunoassay is much easier to perform it is to be prefered as a routine laboratory procedure.


[Gastric emptying in duodenal ucler (author's transl)].

In 196 patients suffering from duodenal ulcer disease, gastric emptying was measured by use of a radiolabelled testmeal. The measurements were performed during the digestive phase  of gastric activity. On the basis of the predominantly exponential form of gastric emptying the T 1/2 was chosen as a measure of this function. The results were: 1. In 50 subjects without gastrointestinal disease the median T 1/2 was 59 min, mean and standard deviation were 58.8 +/- 9.13 min; 2. the T 1/2 value in 71 patients with deformed duodenal bulb (median 53 min) was significantly accelerated if compared to the normal value (2 p less than 0.01); 3. T 1/2 in 88 patients with deformed bulb combined with acute ulcer (median 49 min) was shorter than T 1/2 of the normal subjects (2 p less than 0.001); 4. T 1/2 in 25 patients with pyloric stenosis (median 102 min) was longer than normal value (2 p less than 0.001).


[Cancer formation in a hyperplasiogenic gastric polyp (author's transl)].

Patients carrying hyperplasiogenic polyps are considered to be a higher risk in regard to carcinogenesis, since a high incidence of cancer has been demonstrated in this group. Usually cancers however originated in other parts of the stomach wall and not in the polyps. Formation of cancer in a polyp is a very rare event. A case report is given of a patient carrying a hyperplasiogenic polyp from which originated cancer. Carcinogenesis is discussed from a formal and causal point of view.


[Double pylorus (author's transl)].

Smith and Tuttle described in 1969 for the first time a double pylorus; since then this anomaly has been found repeatedly. The pathogenesis is still discussed; the anomaly may be congenital or acquired. A case report is given of a patient with double pylorric ulcer.


Burkitt lymphoma in an American infant under one year of age, with electron microscopic examination of the tumor.

Burkitt lymphoma in the United States has not been reported in a child under the age of one year. We report here a nine-month-old child who had facial involvement and a rapidly downhill course. This occurred despite an early response to combination chemotherapy and vigorous supportive measures. Electron microscopic examination of the tumor is also presented.


Hepatic toxicity of adjuvant chemotherapy for carcinoma of the breast.

Four patients developed abnormal liver function tests and focal defects on liver scan while receiving cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil as adjuvant chemotherapy following mastectomy for breast cancer. Liver biopsies showed severe focal inflammation. The biopsy findings and the subsequent clinical course of the patients strongly suggest that these abnormalities were due to hepatic toxicity of the chemotherapy and not metastic breast cancer. A review of serial liver function tests performed on 24 patients in that chemotherapy program revealed that four out of eight patients with elevated alkaline phosphatase prior to therapy developed early metastatic cancer. Elevated alkaline phosphatase occurring during chemotherapy on the other hand was quite common but more likely due to hepatic toxicity of the drugs. The development of abnormal liver function tests even in association with focal defects on liver scan is not sufficient to diagnose metastatic breast cancer in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.


Ewing sarcoma: phalangeal primary with fatal cardiac metastases.

A 39-year-old man had pain and swelling of the terminal phalanx of a finger. Radiograph was interpreted as osteomyelitis, and amputation through the mid-phalanx was performed. Histology revealed Ewing sarcoma. Lung metastases rapidly developed. Right lung irradiation and systemic chemotherapy, including doxorubicin, were instituted. He developed progressive severe right ventricular failure which was attributed to effects of large pulmonary metastases. Autopsy showed massive right ventricular metastases, the primary pathological cause of the heart failure, without evidence of doxorubicin cardiomyopathy.


Prostate cancer mimicking malignant lymphoma.

We report three patients evaluated on a medical service for lymphoma-like signs and symptoms. Although none had prostate or bone symptomatology, all three were found to have metastatic prostate cancer. These cases emphasize the propensity of prostate cancer to metastasize to lymph nodes as well as bones. Diagnostic and therapeutic implications are discussed.


[Affinity modification of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase by an alkylating L-tryptophan analog].

3-Amino-1-chloro-indolwbutan-2-one (Trp-CH2Cl) was synthesized to be used for labeling the active site of tryptophanyl-tRNA-synthetase. Trp-CH2Cl irreversibly inhibits the beef pancreas tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase activity. The inhibition rate was found to exhibit saturation concentration dependence typical for an affinity reagent. L-tryptophan and L-tryptophanyl adenylate protect the enzyme from inhibition. To determine the stoichiometry of inhibitor--protein binding 3H-label from NaB3H4 was incorporated into the modified enzyme. The molar ratio of inhibitor residues incorporated into the modified enzyme (dimeric molecule) is approximately 2. When one of the subunits of the enzyme was reversibly protected with relatively stable tryptophanyl adenylate, the modification of this enzyme led to the blocking of the other subunit (so called "one-site" enzyme). Some properties of the "one-site" enzyme obtained were studied.


[Using a combined transcription-translation system for determining the role of cryptic plasmids of Bacillus thuringiensis].

The possibility of entomocyde crystal protein synthesis was studied using a heterological cell-free system with Bacillus thuringiensis plasmid DNA as template. The high level of template activity is usual for Bac. thuringiensis plasmid DNA. Immunochemical studies of the in vitro synthesized polypeptides showed that Bac. thuringiensis plasmid DNA does not direct crystal protein synthesis.


[Molecular structure of pigeon genome. Revealing of clusters consisting of prolonged homopolymeric and short palindromic sequences].

Isolated from pigeon genome short (approximately 450 nucleotides) and long (approximately 8000 nucleotides) single-stranded DNA fragments containing prolonged (greater than or equal to 300 nucleotides) polydeoxyandenylic sequences have been studied. Based on the analysis carried out we come to the conclusion that for the pigeon genome the prolonged poly(dA)-sequences are located as clusters where a large amount of short palindromic sequences occur.


[Electron microscope examination of chromatin in hepatocyte nuclei within the first hourse after partial hepatectomy, II. The degree of chromatin condensation and the organization of fibrillar RNP components].

The state of hepatocyte chromatin (the area occupied by the regions of condensed chromatin on ultrathin sections and the quantity of perichromatin RNP fibrils which was estimated by the area of the fibrillar zone and the concentration of fibrils within the same zone) were studied within the first hours after partial hepatectomy of guinea pigs. The area occupied by the regions of condensed chromatin on preparations with differentially revealed DNP and RNP components decreased by 12% in 2.5 hours since the operation had been performed, became normal in 5 hours, and again decreased by 30% in 9 hours. Decondensation of chromatin was accompanied with the increase of the number of perichromatin RNP fibrils, products of template activity of chromatin, and the rise of ethidium bromide binding. The binding of ethidium bromide by the chromatin of hepatocytes increased by 39% in 2.5 hours, returned to the control level in 5 hours and again increased by 22% in 9 hours.


[Study of the intermolecular association of poly(G).poly(c) and poly(dG).poly(dC) in solutions by methods of 1H to 3H exchange and electron microscopy].

The kinetic of 1H leads to 3H exchange between water and C(8)H-groups of the guanylic residues in poly(G) . poly(C) and poly(dG) . poly(dC) was investigated within the temperature range from 30 to 90 degrees in 0.5 M NaCl (pH 7.2). It was shown that the exchange in freshly dissolved preparations at temperatures lower than 50 degrees proceeds faster than that in the case of GMP. According to the ylide mechanism of the exchange reaction the observed acceleration of the exchange is considered as a consequence of associates formation in poly(G) . poly(c) and poly(dG) . poly(dC) solutions at temperatures lower than 50 degrees. Associates are stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonds in which N(7) atoms of guanylic residues take part. The increase of the temperature is accompanied by gradual disappearance of the exchange acceleration. The retardation of exchange, which is characteristic of most non-associated double-stranded polynucleotides and nucleic acids is observed at the temperatures above 60 degrees. The retardation points to thermal destruction of the associates at temperatures higher than 50 degrees. The associates which are characterized by ordered structure including several "side by side" arranged double-stranded molecules were observed by electron microscopy. The addition of EDTA to solutions as well as the increase of temperature leads to destruction of the associates whereas the addition of Mg2+ makes the associates more stable.


[Binding of actinomycin D analogues containing some substituents at position 7 of the antibiotic chromophore to DNA].

Spectrophotometric methods are used to study the binding to DNA of Actinomycin D (AMD) and its analogues: 7-nitro-AMD; 7-amino-AMD; 7-(Z-Val-Glo-NH)-AMD; 7-(AcO- . +H2-Val-Glo-NH)-AMD; 7-(AcO- . +H2-Val-Glo-Val-Glo-NH)-AMD. The binding constants are calculated from the binding isotherm of AMD and those of the AMD analogues to calf thymus DNA obtained by spectrophotometric titration. Introduction of smaller substituents such as the nitro or amino groups into position 7 of chromophore influences insignificantly the antibiotic binding to DNA, whereas bulky substituents cause a decrease in the affinity of the AMD analogues for DNA, although the spectral characteristics are not affected.


[Isolation and some properties of homogenous nuclease S1 from alpha-amyloryzin].

A purification method for isolating homogeneous single-strand specific nuclease S1 from alpha-amyloryzin has been developed. The yield was about 16% and purification factor--9000. Nuclease S1 thus obtained was proved to be free of contaminations of any others nucleolytic enzymes. It is shown for the first time that ribo- and deoxy-dinucleosidemonophosphates are hydrolyzed by nuclease S1 to form 5'-nucleotides with pH optimum for ApA equal to 4.6.


[Absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectra of hemoproteins in nonequilibrium states. V. Cytochrome P450 and its substrate complex].

It was shown that ferrocytochrome P450 forms a nonequilibrium state if ferrocytochrome P450 and its complexes are reduced in freezed water-glycerol solutions by thermolysed electrons, arising during gamma-radiolysis of the matrix at 77 degrees K. Unlike the equilibrium form of ferrocytochrome P450 with the heme iron at the high-spin state the reduced nonequilibrium form of the protein contains the heme iron at a low-spin state. The absorption spectrum of ferrocytochrome P450 in the nonequilibrium state is characterized by alpha and beta-bands at 562 and 534 nm, respectively, whereas the magnetic circular dichroism spectra exhibit type A effect at 562 nm. Upon temperature increasing the nonequilibrium state is relaxed to the equilibrium one. Type 1 substrates had practically no influence on the spectral characteristic of the nonequilibrium form of ferrocytochrome P450. Binding of type 2 substrates results in an essential decrease of the intensity ratio of the alpha- and beta-bands (A alpha/A beta) and is accompanied by a red-shift of the alpha-band and corresponding magnetic circular dichroism effect. It was shown that mercaptoethanol complex of hemoglobin, formed by reduction at 77 degrees K is spectrally similar to the nonequilibrium ferrocytochrome P450 complex with type 2 substrates. From analysis of experimental data one can conclude that (i) the ligand environment of heme iron in oxidased and reduced cytochrome P450 are different; (ii) the sixth axial ligand of the heme iron in the oxidised protein is probably a water molecule (OH-) attached by a hydrogen bond to the neighbouring histidine. It is assumed that a similar nonequilibrium form of cytochrome P450 can be formed in physiological conditions.


[Nuclear magnetic resonance study of the conformation of nucleotides, oligonucleotides and their analogs. III. The sin-anti-equibrium in the solution of cytidine and 2'-deoxycytidine].

The method for determination of apparent rotation correlation time (tau c) on the basis of measurements of the spin-lattice relaxation rates of H(1') of the pyrimidine nucleosides and nucleotides both ribo- and deoxy-series after exchange of H(5) and H(6) on deuterium has been proposed. The recently suggested simple method of tau c calculation from H(5) relaxation rate was shown to lead to correct results. For cytidine and 2'-deoxycytidine the sin-anti-equilibrium constans in aqueous solutions were obtained. The anti-states were favorable in both cases. The long range coupling constant 5J1'5 corroborated the quantitative appreciation from the spin-lattice relaxation rates. The correction properties of the apparent rotation correlation time calculated by the proposed method are discussed.


[Value of preoperative investigations in the so-called "cervical myelopathy" (author's transl)].

The particular value of clinical, radiological and electromyographical features is compared in 42 patients with motor deficit related to cervicarthrosic myelopathy or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The initial onset of the disease was identical (motor deficit and long tracts pathways involvement). Three different groups were identifyed according to the evolution: -- Group I: (13 cases): true lateral amyotrophic sclerosis which were not operated on. -- Group II (10 cases): myelopathy called "cervicarthrosic" because of radiological findings which were operated on but had the same steady worsened course as a lateral amyotrophic sclerosis. -- Group III (19 cases): cervical myelopathy which had surgery. The operation brought about stabilization or fairly good recovery over the 18 months following at least. From a clinical aspect, the "Lhermitte sign" or objective sensitive deficit are strongly significant for cervical myelopathy. On the contrary, diffuse fasciculations specially in the tongue seem to be mostly found in lateral amyotrophic sclerosis, whereas they are restricted into the paralysed area in cervical myelopathy. Electromyographic examination is decisive: simple activity with high frequency motor units (increased amplitude and polyphasic waves) or "preponderant potentials" into a cranial nerve territory or three segments of the lower limbs are frequently found in lateral amyotrophic sclerosis. These electromyographic features are less significant in the upper limbs. The neuroradiological findings lonely cannot assert definitely the cervicarthrosic origin of the myelopathy but visualize the conflicting situation between the spinal cord and the cervical canal and allow to choose the surgical procedure.


[The narrow lumbar canal: 53 operated cases (author's transl)].

These 53 operated patients were divided into 2 groups: 29 had an intermittent claudication as Verbiest first described it soon as 1949, whereas 24 had permanent radicular pain in legs as Epstein emphasized it. We think emulsified Duroliopaque myelography to be the best investigation to make sure the diagnosis and to forecast the operative tactics: we gave up Dimer X myelography which occasioned serious complications in 2 cases and gas myelography which seems to us inadequate to this radicular pathology. Total-Body Scanner is rather an elegant method but a discontinuous one. The radiographic and operative findings have shown the stenosis of the lumbar canal to be congenital in 5 cases, development in 20 cases, degenerative in 27 cases (with 15 pseudo-spondylolisthesis) and tabetic in one case. A disc herniation was found in 25 cases over 53. The extent of the bone resection has been in relation with clinical picture, myelography and mainly operative findings, aiming at a "cut-to-measure costum". In every case the initial laminectomy was made easier by trenching the thickened laminae on each side of the spinal process prior to remove it. Only soft disc hernations were removed; the dura was never opened; no vertebral fusion was performed; for 2 years we have tried to avoid the "laminectomy membrane" by interposing an autogenous fat and aponevrotic graft between the dura and the overlying paraspinal muscles. The operative results are satisfactory with 75% of excellent and good; they are much better in patients with intermittent claudication than in those with permanent radicular pain. It is a question of functional surgery in one case, of pain surgery in the other. The major trick seems to us to be that of the associated disc hernation with the risk of missing the narrow canal.


[Trigeminal neuralgia. Percutaneous thermocoagulation of the trigeminal nerve (author's transl)].

200 cases of percutaneous thermocoagulation of the trigeminal nerve were studied in order to determine if the position of the thermolesion in the various parts of the trigeminal system modified the quality of the results and the frequency of post-operative complications. An anatomo-radiological study allowed the precise localisation in the sagittal plane of the position of the different parts of the trigeminal ganglion with respect to the neighbouring bony features. The quality of the results and the frequency of complications were studied according to the level of the thermolesion (ganglion, triangular plexus, posterior sensory root). This study permitted the observation that the more posterior the thermolesion, the less frequent the complication, and this confirmed results obtained in earlier procedures, c.g. gasserian or retro-gasserian neurotomy. Post-operative hypoaesthesia extending beyond the painful area, was the major side-effect of the radicular position of the thermolesion. There follows a discussion of the criteria, which permit the recognition of the point of the electrode at the level of the posterior root: the flow of CSF, vasodilatation, and radiological localisations. Of these three criteria, only radiological demonstration (point of the needle posterior to the clivus and above the petrous temporal bone) seemed reliable.


[Prognostic importance of the study of venous drainage in cerebral arteriovenous aneurysms].

The authors analysed in particular the venous drainage of 370 arteriovenous aneurysms operated during 20 years in neurosurgery at Lille's Hospital. If in many cases the study in details of the different arterious pedicles take an important place in the discussion of the indications and operative technics; in other cases a bad estimate of the interest of careful study of veins can be at the beginning of great disappointments. Also the authors insist on the necessary study of the venous system in totality by seeing after agenesia of some passages, the respective drainage of the angioma and the brain, the existence of a saturation venous phenomenon. The analysis in details of the anatomical and functional distribution of the venous drainage in these malformations can be taken into consideration in the operative decision. The analysis of results in ten preference observations suggest that it is an important element in the arteriovenous aneurisms' evolution and in the final prognostic.


[Orbital and intracranial complications of paranasal osteomata (author's transl)].

Osteomata of the paranasal frontal and ethmoidal sinuses are benign, slow growing tumors generally asymptomatic. Complications due to orbital or intracranial development of the osteoma are rare and demand neurosurgical treatment. The authors report two cases. In the first a fronto-ethmoidal osteoma first caused exophtalmos and later ophtalmoplegia due to compression of the superior ophtalmic vein. In the second case the posterior development of an osteoma of the frontal sinus resulted in pneumocephalus with epileptic fits and headache and initially homolateral hemiparesis. In both cases CT Scan showed the extent of the osteoma and in the second case the gap in the wall of the sinus. Both osteomata were radically removed through frontal craniectomy. The literature is reviewed, 12 other cases of pneumocephalus due to posterior development of paranasal osteomata have been published during the last 50 years.


[Percutaneous injection of hot saline into the upper dorsal sympathetic ganglions in the treatment of palmar hyperhydrosis (author's transl)].

A new technique of destruction of the upper dorsal sympathetic ganglion is advocated in replacement of the classical surgical sympathetomy, for the management of patients suffering of hyperhydrosis. This technique consists in percutaneous injection of boiling saline into the paravertebral area containing the 3rd and 4th ganglions, the sympathetic chain, and the adjacent rami communicantes. Results obtained in 50 patients favourably support the comparison with those of open surgery, with the advantage of a much greater simplicity.


Adaptation to restricted intake of protein and energy.

Adult rats that maintained nitrogen balance on a diet containing 5% casein fed ad libitum were restricted to 70% of their normal food intake for 31 days. This resulted in a negative N balance, loss of body weight and increased activities of hepatic glutamic pyruvic transaminase and arginase--all of which persisted for 10 days. After this time there was no further weight loss, the negative N balance returned to equilibrium and the activities of the two enzymes returned to normal indicating adaptation to the dietary restriction. Radio-isotope studies with labelled methionine showed that dietary restriction led to an increase in the radioactivity of the liver and a decrease of that of the muscles indicating maintenance of liver protein at the expense of muscle protein. Resting oxygen consumption decreased by 34% after 20 days of dietary restriction and this would account for the adaptation observed.


Dietary casein levels and taurine supplementation. Effects on cysteine dioxygenase and cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase activities and tuarine concentration in brain, liver and kidney of the rat.

Activities of cysteine dioxygenase (CO) and cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSD) and the concentrations of taurine (T) in brain, liver and kidney of rats fed on diets containing 18% casein (A), 60% casein (B) and 17% casein supplemented with 1% of taurine (+T), were measured. Regardless of the diet, the three measurements were the same in the brains of the animals in the three groups. In the liver and the kidney, CO activity was also the same in all three diets, but a decrease of CSD activity associated to an increase of T was observed in rats fed on diet B. The taurine-supplemented diet led to an increase in T concentration.


Influence of diet on plasma cholesterol concentrations in suckling and weanling rabbits.

Rabbits were weaned to different semipurified diets to determine which characteristics of the diet were required to maintain the hypercholesterolemia of the suckling period. Gradual weaning to a diet similar in fat, cholesterol, protein and carbohydrate content to rabbit milk maintained and enhanced the hypercholesterolemia. Reduction of the cholesterol content, and to some extent the fat content of this diet, decreased the plasma cholesterol level, but the type of dietary protein did not alter the results. After weaning, however, animals fed milk protein (casein) in the absence of dietary cholesterol became hypercholesterolemic, whereas those fed plant protein (soy protein isolate) remained normocholesterolemic.


Orbital measurements in the presence of epicanthi in healthy North American Caucasians.

Anthropometric examination of 1,312 healthy North American Caucasians (654 boys, 658 girls) aged 6-18 years revealed epicanthus in 387 subjects (29.5%, 198 boys and 189 girls). Significantly more epicanthi were minor (232, 59.9%) than major, i.e., moderate or marked (155, 40.1%; SED = 3.5, diff. = 19.8). Only one quarter of major epicanthi were marked, i.e., covered the inner canthus (39, 3% of entire sample population). The prevalence of major epicanthi decreased significantly with age in both sexes. Surface measurements did not confirm the visual illusion that the interocular distance is wide in subjects with epicanthus. The nasal root was on average shallower and the eye fissure shorter and more tilted in subjects with major epicanthus than in those without. Though minor epicanthus in Caucasians is a statistical variation of normal eye lid structure, major epicanthus persisting in adulthood may indicate developmental disturbance. Anthropometry provides accurate measurements of orbital dimensions necessary to identify such developmental disturbances.


Obstruction of the central retinal artery. Comparison of the ophthalmodynamometry measurements in relation to the time.

The clinical picture of occlusion of the central retinal artery was studied in 37 cases. The fundus findings were described in the most interesting cases. The cerebrovascular resistance and cerebral blood flow were calculated on the nonaffected side. The ophthalmic artery blood pressure was found to be elevated in 5 cases due to obstruction of the internal carotid artery distal to the origin of the ophthalmic artery. The ophthalmic blood pressure was decreased in the rest of the cases within the first 3 days after the onset of the clinical manifestations of the disease. After 3 weeks, a recanalization of the central retinal artery had occurred in most cases. Almost all cases show no side difference after 2 months. A minimal side difference was found in a very few cases only. In 54% of the patients, ophthalmodynamometry of the nonaffected side revealed, an elevation of the cerebrovascular resistance. The cerebral blood flow is compensated in 67% due to the elevation of the internal carotid blood pressure. The findings indicate that patients with elevated vascular resistance are susceptible to obstruction of the central retinal artery.


[B scan sonography in drusen of the optic disc].

The B scan sonographic characteristics of drusen of the optic disc are strong reflexion at low energy levels, shadowing in oblique and pseudobroadening of the optic nerve in orthograde beam direction. These signs provide additional security in differentiating deep drusen from a choked disc.


[Conditional releasing of abnormal eye movements].

Some people are able to abduct and adduct just one of their eyes from maximum convergence position. Such a distribution of different tonus on both sides has a binocular-symmetric innervation pattern carried out on two chronological orders and a monocularasymmetric innervation pattern carried out on one chronological order. The latter is trainable. The voluntary nystagmus ist comparable to the muscle tremor (on coldness). It is mediated by the parasympathic-innervated reflex for near focussing. The relief of the brain stem automatism is a 'stigma degenerationis' and not trainable because it is a basic rhythm. An optokinetic nystagmus could be performed without stimulus by conditioned reflexes.


DNA 'lakes' in a malignant choroidal melanoma.

In a malignant choroidal melanoma, basophilic deposits were seen as globules between cells, intracellularly and in the vessel lumina. They were observed primarily in necrotic or incipient necrotic areas. A battery of histochemical methods showed these deposits to consist of DNA and possibly small amounts of RNA. By electron microscopy, their origin was evidenced to be the nuclear chromatin. Their presence in the vessel lumina suggested removal by the circulation. The resulting influence on the production of antibodies is also mentioned.


Cystic fibrosis in adults: an autopsy study.

An annotated catalog of clinical and pathologic observations in an adult population with CF has been presented. The spectrum of disease is broad, and the diagnosis usually requires the demonstration of abnormalities in multiple systems. Tissues of each germ layer have been found involved in CF. Correlation of clinical and pathologic observations suggests that manifestations are essentially episodic and focal. In this population, the most characteristic abnormalities recognized by the pathologist are focal biliary cirrhosis, distinctive obstructive lesions of the male genital tract, prolonged staphylococcal or pseudomonas colonization of respiratory secretions, and obstructive bronchopulmonary disease. Some form of pancreatic atrophy is usually present.


Self-association of purine base, 6-methylpurine, in water - organic component mixtures.

Thermodynamic quantities of the self-association of 6-methylpurine in water (1)-dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) (2) mole fraction, x2 less than 0.1) and water (1) - N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) (2) (x2 less than or equal to 1.0) mixed solvents have been obtained through heat of dilution measurements, at 25 degrees C. In the water-DMSO solvent system, the standard enthalpy and entropy changes, delta Ho and delta So, of the association exhibited an abrupt behavior. They decreased remarkbly with the the mole fraction of DMSO until about x2 = 0.012 and after that, they increased steeply. In the case of water-DMF solvent system, the values of delta Ho and delta So didn't show the abrupt behavior. They decreased steeply until about x2 = 0.1 and, at higher mole fractions, became relatively constant. These behaviors are rationalized on the basis of solvent structural effects and solvation in these association systems.


Recognition of various arginine transfer ribonucleic acids with arginyl-tRNA synthetase purified from human placenta.

Arginyl-tRNA synthetase has been purified approximately 550 fold from crude extract of human placenta by the following purification steps: Ammonium sulfate fractionation, chromatographies of DEAE-cellulose and CM-Sephadex and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. Final preparation of this enzyme has specific activity of 123 nmole of arginyl-tRNA formed per mg of protein and was free from other aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activities. Recognition of various arginine tRNAs with this enzyme was studied using kinetic analysis of arginylation of arginine tRNA and also arginine tRNA dependent ATP-PPi exchange reaction. Affinity of this enzyme with arginine tRNA was determine from Vmas/Km values and it was in the order of rabbit, Chum salmon, B. subtilis, E. coli and yeast in both systems.


Low molecular weight nuclear RNA species in Dictyostelium discoideum.

Low molecular weight nuclear RNA (snRNA) species present in Dictyostelium discoideum Ax-3 cells were examined by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide slab gels. Dictyostelium nuclei were found to contain almost as many snRNA species as mammals and their electrophoretic pattern was similar to that of snRNA in mammalian cells. The same results were obtained with snRNA prepared using Cemusol NPT-12 as a detergent for cell lysis instead of Nonidet P-40 used for most RNA preparations.


Facile syntheses of 1,2,4-triazole and s-triazine glycosides from glycosyl isothiocyanates.

Reaction of glycosyl isothiocyanates (la, b or c) with acyl or aroyl hydrazine gave the corresponding glycosyl thiosemicarbazides, and which were treated with Ac2O-H3PO4 to yield 1,2,4-triazole glycosides. Similar treatment of la, b or c with amidino compounds gave glycosylisothiobiurets, followed by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) oxidation to give 1,2,4-triazole glycosides. Treatment of glycosylisothiobiurets with triethyl orthoformate gave the corresponding s-triazine glycosides.


The separation of nucleic acids and related compounds on nucleobase-coupled cellulose.

The affinity chromatography on uracil-coupled cellulose was carried out for the separation of nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides. Adenine derivatives exhibited a high affinity to uracil-cellulose, and sequencial isomers of oligonucleotides containing adenine residue were resolved. Poly(A) was strongly bound to uracil-cellulose and recovered by the elution with 7M urea. This procedure was extended to the isolation of mRNA containing poly(A) sequences.