Radioimmunoassay for parathyrin. Characterization of six different antigens and antisera.

We studied six different antisera to bovine or porcine parathyrin (parathyroid hormone, PTH), produced in rabbit, guinea pigs, sheep or goat, two of which are commercially available. The antisera were characterized with regard to species specificity, affinity and their ability to identify patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. In this heterologous radioimmunoassay system in which [125I]parathyrin is used as a tracer, some cross-reactivity of the antisera to the hormone or hormone fragments present in human serum was demonstrated. However, there is some overlap of serum immunoreactive parathyrin in patients with or without primary hyperparathyroidism. The results of this and other studies illustrate the necessity for a homologous radioimmunoassay for human parathyrin.


Uptake of radiolabeled glucose analogues by organotypic cerebellar cultures.

Permeability of brain cells to radiolabeled glucose analogues with sucrose or inulin or L-glucose was studied in the living, intact state of the organotypic cerebellar cultures. In vitro uptake of 3H 3-O-methyl D-glucose and 3H 2-deoxy-D-glucose exhibited saturation  kinetics with increasing substrate concentrations. Each of the labeled sugars uptake could be self-inhibited in the presence of unlabeled (cold) substrate and cross-inhibited with cold glucose or xylose or phlorizin present in the incubating medium. The uptake was Na-independent and stereo-specific for D-form.


Changes in rat pancreatic protein synthesis after a single feeding with diets containing raw or heated soybeans.

The patterns of protein synthesis following the administration of a single meal containing defatted ground soybeans (RSD) or heated defatted ground soybeans (HSD) were compared. A double label method was used so that the determination of the relative rate of synthesis of an enzyme could not be obscured by a possible alteration of the activity or quantity of the enzyme. Rats were given one meal of RSD or HSD and were subsequently killed at different times after the meal. Eight hours after the meal, the relative rate of synthesis of one of the three trypsinogens was substantially increased with RSD feeding, whereas that of the amylases and one chymotrypsinogen were somewhat lower. The synthetic rate of lipase, ribonclease, proelastase, another chymotrypsinogen and of two trypsinogens was unaffected when feeding RSD is compared to feeding HSD. The relative rate of synthesis of one of the trypsinogens was unaffected 8 hours after RSD feeding, but was increased 16 hours after RSD feeding. Actinomycin D could suppress the effects of RSD feeding on the protein synthetic rate of some, but not of all, secretory proteins.


New methods for comparing the biological efficiency of alternate nutrient sources.

The objective of this study is to propose new methods for the determination of biological efficiency (the ability of a nutrient to produce a response) and for comparison of the efficiencies of alternate nutrient sources. The proposed methods are based on a four-parameter kinetic model which describes response as a function of intake. The comparison of the abilities of two proteins (casein and soybean protein concentrate) to promote weight gain in weanling rats is presented as an example; however, the model is also useful for other nutrients (proteins, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, etc.) and other responses (blood enzyme or protein levels, tissue enzyme levels, etc.). Application of the method leads to useful comparisons of nutrient sources as well as information concerning the maximum efficiencies and rates of nutrient utilization from different sources.


Isolation and identification of green fluorescent compound accumulated in non-growing cells of Eremothecium ashbyii by the addition of glyoxal.

The addition of a trapping agent, glyoxal, to a non-growing cell medium with Eremothecium ashbyii brought about the accumulation of large quantities of a green fluorescent compound, with a simultaneous rigid inhibition of riboflavin formation. The fluorescent compound was isolated from the mycelia after non-growing cell incubation and highly purified to a crystalline form through various column chromatographic steps. The purified compound was identified as 8-ribityllumazine by comparison with a synthetized reference compound by means of spectrophotometric and fluorometric measurements. Furthermore, it was verified that glyoxal, at the added concentration, and 8-ribityllumazine, at the accumulated concentration, caused slight inhibition of riboflavin formation with riboflavin synthetase from E. ashbyii. Accordingly, it was concluded that the 8-ribityllumazine accumulated is a derivative compound of an intermediate in flavinogenesis which is 4-ribitylamino-5-amino-2,6-dihydroxypyrimidine based on the trapping action of glyoxal.


Emergency splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in children.

Splenectomies were performed in 30 children out of a total of 183 with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Of these 30, ten splenectomies were performed on an emergency basis. Significant spontaneous gross hematuria, gastrointestinal bleeding or epistaxis appear to represent harbingers of intracranial hemorrhage and constitute indications for emergency splenectomy.


Blocking effects of barium and hydrogen ions on the potassium current during anomalous rectification in the starfish egg.

1. The blocking effects of Ba+ and H+ on the inward K current during anomalous rectification of the giant egg membrane of the starfish, Mediaster aequalis, were studied using voltage clamp techniques. 2. External Ba2+ at a low concentration (10--100 micron) suppresses the inward K current; the extent of suppression, expressed as the ratio of currents with and without Ba2+, can be described by a conventional bimolecular adsorption isotherm, K/(K + [Ba2+]o), K being an apparent dissociation constant. 3. The dissociation constant, K, decreases as the membrane potential V becomes more negative and can be expressed by K(V) = K(0) exp (zmuFV/RT), where K(0) is the K at V = 0, z is the charge of the blocking ion, and mu is a parameter for the membrane potential dependence of Ba2+ blockage. The value of mu ranges between 0.64 and 0.68. 4. Upon a sudden change in membrane potential the change in the blocking effect of Ba2+ follows first order kinetics; the forward rate constant is membrane-potential-dependent whereas the backward constant is potential-independent. 5. The blocking effect of Ba2+ appears to be independent of the activation of K channels during anomalous rectification. 6. The blocking effect of Ba2+ depends on V alone, in contrast to the activation of the K channel during anomalous rectification which depends on V--VK. 7. In these respects, the effect of Ba2+ is equivalent to the introduction of inactivation into the anomalous rectification. 8. SI2+ and Ca2+ show small but observable blocking effects only at much higher concentrations (about 10--20 mM). 9. The inward K current is suppressed when the external pH is reduced below 6.0. The blocking effect of H+ shows no significant potential dependence. The concentration dependence suggests that three H+ ions simultaneously titrate the acidic groups of each channel (pK = 5.3--5.4). 10. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of molecular models of the potassium channel of anomalous rectification and possible mechanisms of K channel inactivation.


Effects of internal free calcium upon the sodium and calcium channels in the tunicate egg analysed by the internal perfusion technique.

1. The unfertilized egg of the tunicate, Halocynthia roretzi, was intracellularly perfused with various solutions. 2. The perfusion apparatus consisted of lower and upper compartments which were connected by a small glass funnel. A denuded egg cell without chorion was dropped into the funnel and brought into close contact with the glass wall of the funnel. The membrane of the egg faced to the lower compartment was ruptured by a slight difference of hydrostatic pressure and the inside of the egg was perfused with the internal solution flowing through the lower compartment. The current across the upper membrane was analysed by voltage-clamp technique. 3. The egg cell in contact with 400 mM-Na external solution and perfused intracellularly with 400 mM-Na for 30 min showed a relatively low Na reversal potential, +6 mV, in comparison with +60 mV in the intact egg in standard artificial sea water. The exchange efficiency was monitored by observing the shift of Na reversal potential during perfusion with high Na internal perfusate. 4. The internal perfusate containing F- ions stabilized the egg membrane and kept the excitability for 1--2 hr during the intracellular perfusion. With the internal F- perfusate the intracellular cationic content was changed to 400 mM-Na, K, Rb or Cs (external solution of 400 mM-Na) and permeability ratios of the egg Na channel were estimated as PNa:PK:PRb:PCs=1.0:0.14:0.05:0.04. The internal F- perfusate abolished Ca current which was consistently observed in the intact egg, while the internal Cl- perfusate kept both Na and Ca current as in the intact egg. However with the internal Cl- perfusate the egg cell could not be kept in good condition more than 20-30 min. 6. The effects of intracellular free Ca ions upon the egg Na and Ca channels were analysed by using Ca ion-buffered internal Cl- and high Na perfusate. The results showed that internal Ca ions above 10(-6) reduced the Ca current and enhanced the Na current at the same time. In the range between 10(-5) and 10(-4) M the Ca current became half of the control obtained with zero free Ca perfusate while the Na conductance at the zero current level doubled. The internal Ca ions above one mM seemed to abolish the Ca current and to reduce the Na current as well. The reciprocal effect of intracellular Ca ions upon the egg Na and Ca channels was demonstrated in the concentration range from 10(-6) to 10(-3) M.


Binding and immobilization of catecholamines by liposomes.

The polarization of the native fluorescence of dopamine and noradrenaline has been used to measure their binding and immobilization by liposomes suspended in aqueous buffers. Whereas both catecholamines are significantly immobilized by brain phosphatidyl serine and yeast phosphatidyl inositol, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl inositol from brain are ineffective. Dopamine is immobilized to a greater degree than noradrenaline. The dissociation constants determined from modified Scatchard plots of the polarization data are 1.7 X 10(-4) and 9.6 X 10(-5)M for dopamine with yeast phosphatidyl inositol and brain phosphatidyl serine, respectively. Apomorphine binds to a hydrophobic region of phosphatidyl serine liposomes with a KD value of 69 micrometer. It is suggested that a fraction of dopamine is complexed with membranous phosphatidyl serine in nerve terminals.


Free amino acid pool in the brain of mice homozygous for the gene "dilute lethal".

The neurologic mutant "dilute lethal" (dl) mice, which reveal several neurologic and biochemical disturbances similar to human phenylketonuria, were used to investigate some aspects of amino acid disorder. We have studied the free amino pool in the brain of "dl" mice and of their control littermates as well as phenylalanine and tyrosine levels in brain and liver as a function of age and after phenylalamine overload. The tyrosine level decreased in brain and liver of affected mice whereas the phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio increased as a function of age. The significantly higher phenylalanine level and phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio in the liver of 20-day-old "dl" mice suggest a lower liver phenylalanine hydroxylase activity. After phenylalanine overload, the impairment of phenylalanine metabolism is predominant in the brain of "dl" mice, suggesting a disturbance in phenylalanine hydroxylation. A decrease in the level of several amino acids occurs in the brains of "dl" mice without or after phenylalanine overload; these facts might correspond to a disturbance in the transfer of amino acids to the brain and may lead to impairment in protein synthesis.


Induction of endogenous guinea pig retrovirus by 5-bromodeoxyuridine: amplification of virus-specific RNA.

Treatment of normal guinea pig embryo cells with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) activates endogenous guinea pig retrovirus. In this report the effect of BUdR treatment upon the level of endogenous retroviral RNA in normal guinea pig embryo cells was determined by using hybridization of viral complementary DNA (cDNA) to cellular RNA. We found that 0.0075% (120 copies per cell) of total RNA of untreated cells was virus-specific, whereas 0.32% (5,120 copies per cell) of total cellular RNA obtained from cells 48 h after BUdR treatment was virus-specific. Thus, BUdR causes an approximately 40-fold amplification of virus-specific RNA after 48 h of treatment. Several lines of evidence favor the hypothesis that the amplification of virus-specific RNA observed after BUdR treatment involves enhancement of transcription rather than an alteration of post-transcriptional processing. At different times after BUdR treatment, similar increases in virus-specific RNA concentration occur in both nucleus and cytoplasm. After 48 h of BUdR treatment, nuclear virus-specific RNA increased 99-fold, from 29 copies per cell to 2,880 copies per cell, whereas cytoplasmic virus-specific RNA increased 47-fold from 85 copies per cell to 4,000 copies per cell. Decay rates of virus-specific RNA in the presence of actinomycin D were similar in the presence or absence of BUdR, indicating that BUdR does not stabilize virus-specific RNA. In BUdR-treated cells the t1/2 of virus-specific RNA was 170 min either in the continued presence of BUdR or after the removal of BUdR, and 150 min in untreated cells. The size distribution of nuclear virus-specific RNA sequences, after denaturation with dimethyl sulfoxide, was similar in untreated and BUdR-treated cells, suggesting similar nuclear processing of viral RNA in both untreated and BUdR-treated cells. The accumulation of nuclear precursors to 38S virus-specific RNA was not observed at steady-state levels in untreated or BUdR-treated cells. Similar species of virus-specific RNA (14S 24S, 38S, and 70S) were present in the total cellular RNA of untreated and BUdR-treated cells. Additionally, virus-specific RNA was present in purified polyribosomes of untreated cells. Finally, direct analysis of the amount of radiolabeled virus-specific RNA in nuclear RNA pulse-labeled for 30 min with [3H]uridine was performed by the method of Coffin et al. (J. Mol. Biol. 86:373-396, 1977) for quantitative determination of pulse-labeled virus-specific RNA. It was found that labeled virus-specific RNA comprised 0.0035 to 0.004% of the total pulse-labeled nuclear RNA of cells treated for 48 h with BUdR. This 50-fold increase in radiolabeled virus-specific RNA may full- account for the 40-fold increase in steady-state levels of virus-specific RNA observed after 48 h of BUdR treatment.


Noncytopathic mutants of Newcastle disease virus.

We have isolated a novel class of mutants of Newcastle disease virus which are less cytopathic than their virulent parent but are still capable of infectious virus production. Unlike wild-type virus, the mutants did not form plaques after 2 days of incubation; they did, however, make hemadsorbing spots. The mutants range in production of infectious virus from 10 to 200% of that of the wild type. They were less cytopathic in a single cycle of infection by light microscopy, loss of protein from the plate, and inhibition of total protein accumulation. All of the mutants exhibited extended mean embryo death times, a correlate of virulence in the adult animal.


The urothelium: a battleground for oncogenesis.

A discussion of the term urothelium and reasons for its general adoption are presented. The unique asymmetric unit membrane of the superficial cells is described and its function as a significant barrier against water, some electrolytes and so forth is reviewed. The urothelium bears the brunt of the attack by pollutants and various oncogens. The ongoing battle may be of long duration or recurrent. Many factors enter into the development of a tumor. In addition to actual carcinogens there are irritants, promoters, initiators, weak carcinogens and co-carcinogens. The attack is on the asymmetric unit membrane and the Golgi complex or other coding units. The specialized membrane is destroyed and, instead, a thinner, smooth, flexible membrane develops and overlying it a filamentous glycocalix. The mechanism for specialization by the urothelial cell has been destroyed by the oncogen. Cancer does not occur in unicellular organisms. The cells of all multicellular organisms specialize. The first step toward neoplasia in multicellular organisms is the destruction of specialized mechanisms or coding units of a group of specialized cells, the second step is stimulation by governors and the third is inadequate blood supply. The ultimate in the cancer cell of a multicellular organism, anaplasia, is the return to the unicellular stage.


The management of testicular tumors in children.

Of 43 testicular tumors in children seen at the Children's Hospital Medical Center and Sidney Farber Cancer Institute 33 were malignant. These tumors occurred primarily in young children. Any solid scrotal mass in an infant must be considered malignant until proved otherwise. Primary emphasis is placed on the 20 cases of embryonal cell carcinoma. Of 9 patients who underwent only orchiectomy 5 have died, whereas all 11 patients who received combination therapy have survived. We recommend radical inguinal orchiectomy, extended unilateral retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy in repeated courses for 2 years. Radiotherapy is withheld if the lymphadenectomy is negative.


The normal caliber of the adult female urethra.  .

The mean urethral caliber of 250 women undergoing cystoscopy to stage cancer of the cervix was 22F, as measured by the bougie à boule. A study of correlations between normal urethral caliber and age, weight, height, gravidity and parity of patients revealed a significant correlation with weight only.


Conversion of schistosome cercariae to schistosomula in serum-supplemented media, and subsequent culture in vitro.

Both Schistosoma japonicum and S. mansoni cercariae, axenized by washing in NCTC 109, transformed to schistosomula when incubated directed in NCTC 109 containing 2--50% human or 50% rabbit serum at 37 degrees C. The resultant schistosomula were grown in vitro to adults which mated, although the females did not produce eggs. The cercaria-schistosomulum transformation took place at a slower rate in heat inactivated serum than in unheated serum.


[Use of the variation pulsimetry in the evaluation of diurnal dynamics of cardiac rhythm in patients with ischemic heart disease and functional disorders of the cardiovascular system].

The results of employing the method of variation pulsimetry and dynamic electrocardiography in 30 patients are discussed. Analysis of the circadian dynamics of the statistical characteristics of cardiac rhythm showed that the activity of the sympathetic part of the vegetative nervous system was higher in patients with ischemic heart disease than in those with functional disorders. Disbalance of neurohumoral control of cardiac rhythm in various types of arrhythmias was disclosed.


[Extracardiac regulation of cardiac rhythm in thyroid diseases].

Extracardiac control of the cardiac rhythm in various diseases of the thyroid gland depending on its functional activity was studied on the basis of mathematical and statistical indices of cardiac rhythm and excretion of adrenalin and noradrenaline in the urine. Considerable activation of central and inhibition of the autoregulation contour was revealed in thyrotoxicosis, with attendant simultaneous increase in circadian adrenalin and noradrenaline excretion. No marked changes in extracardiac control of cardiac thythm were noted in patients with cancer of the thyroid gland, chronic thyroiditis and euthyroid goiter with normal function of the thyroid gland.


[Characteristics of toxoplasmosis-induced myocarditis in experimental peroral infection].

In oral infection with cysts and oocysts of strain 131 Toxoplasma gondii, specific interstitial productive myocarditis with involvement of the endo- and pericardium developed in albino mice and guinea pigs in the acute stage of the process. Toxoplasmic myocarditis terminated in focal cardiosclerosis. The intensity of cardiac affection was higher in oral infection with toxoplasm oocysts than in infection with cysts than in infection with cysts. Unabating persistence of toxoplasms in the myocardium of the infected animals after subsidence of acute inflammatory phenomena was revealed (cysts in the myocardium).


[Diagnosis and treatment of autonomic-dysovarian myocardial dystrophy in patients with premenstrual and climacteric syndromes].

In the examination of 60 patients, analysis of electrocardiograms with application of nitroglycerin, potassium chloride and obsidan was of definite significance along with other clinical, laboratory, and instrumental methods of study including selective coronarography. The effectiveness of treatment depending on the patients' age, the duration of the disease, and the use of sex hormones is analysed. It is shown that the number of cases with stable clinical improvement and complete normalization of the electrocardiogram increases significantly when sex hormones are included in the schedule of combined therapy.


[Clinico-roentgenological diagnosis of aortic subvalvular stenosis].

On the basis of analysis of data on 36 patients with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, 2 groups of patients were distinguished. In patients of group 1 the outlines of the cardiac shadow resembled those of the aortic type, but there was a bulging in the cranial part of the left ventricle due to its hypertrophy, particularly manifest in the prestenotic part of its outflow tract. In patients of group 2 the shape of the cardiac shadow was characterized by the straightening out of the left outline, i.e. by the absence of signs caused by a sharp hypertrophy of the left ventricular myocardium.


[Clinical aspects and therapy of the posner-schlossmann-syndrom (author's transl)].

Difficulties in the early diagnosis of the Posner-Schlossmann syndrome can be avoided by looking for the following typical clinical signs: Very fine, unpigmented precipitates, which are often only signly present, and which are scattered over the entire cornea: bright white in incident light, translucent in reflected light, and in transmitted light dark in spots. Posterior synechiae are not present. Obvious differences in color or heterochromia are present in only 30-40% of the cases. In the remaining cases, there ist only a slight color difference or unilateral, diffusely trophic hypochromia of the iris, often only after several attacks. The chamber angle is and remains open during the attacks. There are similarities between glaucomatocyclitic crisis and heterochromic cyclitis: Unilaterality, the same specific precipitates, no synechiae, and practically the same percentage of color differences of the iris. Hypochromic dystrophy of the iris dependent on the magnitude and duration of the cyclitic process. In both cases, there is the same rate of physical changes, pointing to a congenital damage of the sympathetic nervous system (status dysraphicus Passow). Hence, the Posner-Schlossmann syndrome can be regarded as a special case of heterochromic cyclitis. Neither miotics nor mydriatics, nor operation during the crisis. Acetazolamide (Diamox) combined with local cortisone will stop the crisis.


[Investigation of the bile acid metabolism of children with subtotal atrophy of intestinal mucosa (author's transl)].

A secretin-pancreozymin test was conducted with 43 gastroenterologically healthy children and 12 patients with subtotal atrophy of intestinal mucosa. While the pancreas enzymes were normal, the patients with coeliac disease reacted to the injection of the peptide hormones by producing a larger volume of secretion than did the control group. Despite the increased secretion there was at the same time a significantly higher concentration of bile acids in the duodenal juice. Analysis of the bile acid distribution indicated no deviation from the norm. There was, however, a striking discrepancy between the bile acid and the bilirubin excretion in the children with subtotal atrophy, whose bilirubin secretion, compared to that of the control group, was greatly reduced.


[The fructose metabolism during the neonatal period and its relation to the concentration of bilirubin (author's transl)].

An enzymatic deficiency is the main reason of neonatal jaundice. It was the question, if there were other enzymatic restrictions of liver function in newborns. This investigation deals with the fructose metabolism in dependence of the concentration of bilirubin. No differences were found between unicteric and icteric newborns. Thus, one cannot suspect any diminution of the activity of the enzymes being necessary for fructose metabolism.


["Hepatoportal pneumatosis with pneumatosis intestinalis in the neonate" (author's transl)].

A fullterm newborn infant two weeks of age, suffering from congestive heart failure due to a large patent ductus arteriosus, deteriorated suddenly presenting with a paralytic ileus. Radiographically diffuse intestinal pneumatosis and gas in the portal vein system could be shown. A mechanical reason was excluded by laparotomy shortly after which the infang died. Out of blood Klebsiella pneumonia could be grown. A survey of the literature on the syndrome of pneumatosis intestinalis and gas embolization into the portal vein system in the neonatal age group disclosed 41 cases. Based on this material etiology radiological features, differential diagnosis, prognosis and treatment is discussed in detail.


[Acute anuria due to renal candidiasis in infants (author's transl)].

There are reports here on three cases of renal candidiasis in infancy which after predisposing factors suddenly led to a deterioration in the general state, to a considerable enlargement of the kidneys and to the occurrence of an anuria. The pecularities of the course as well as a conservative treatment success using 5 fluorcytosin are reported on. The pathogenesis of the illness is discussed.


[Normal values of LH and FSH excretion in the urine of children and juveniles by the luteonosticon and FSH-nosticon test (author's transl)].

The normal values of the LH and FSH excretion in 12-h-overnight-urine-samples were measured by the commercial technique for the estimation of LH (Luteonosticon) and FSH (FSH-nosticon). These methods were used to determine the hormone excretion of these hormones in healthy individuals, 94 boys (0-18 years) and 48 girls (0-16 years). Only one urine sample was assayed for each subject. There was a highly significant correlation between the plasma LH and FSH concentrations and the urinary content of the same hormones: for FSH, r = 0.8 and for LH, r = 0.6. The plasma concentrations were measured radioimmunologically immediately before the period of urine collection. Five girls with Turner's syndrome aged 12 to 17 years showed LH values (5.0-14.5 IU/12 h) at the upper end of or slightly above the normal range and pathologically high values (22.2-43.5 IU/12 h) for FSH.


[Refractometric measurement of total serum protein, comparison of refractometry and biuret test (author's transl)].

Study on the Refractometric Determination of Total Protein in Serum, Comparison of the Refractometric and Biuret Method. Total protein concentration in serum was determined by the aid of the Abbé-refractometer and the biuret method. Both methods showed a good precision and accuracy. The investigation was carried out in 241 sera with normal bilirubin (up to 1 mg/100 ml), cholesterol (up to 200 mg/100 ml) and urea (up to 23,0 mg/100 ml) concentration, in 43 sera with increased (10,6-26,6 mg/100 ml) bilirubin concentration, in 129 sera with increased (200-520 mg/100 ml) cholesterol concentration and in 43 sera with increased (23,0-155,3 mg/100 ml) urea concentration. The comparison of the refractometric values with the values obtained by the biuret method in the 241 sera with normal bilirubin, cholesterol and urea concentration (correlation coefficient = 0,971) showed a close correlation and in the 43 sera with increased bilirubin concentration (correlation coefficient = 0,958) an acceptable correlation. However no close correlations were observed in the 129 sera with increased cholesterol concentration and in the 43 sera with increased urea concentration. The correlation lines diverged proportional with the increase of cholesterol and urea concentration from the expected correlation lines.


[A case of Ehlers-Danlos-syndrome and its zinc therapy (author's transl)].

An 8-year-old boy presented a typical Ehlers-Danlos-syndrome. The light- and electromicroscopic findings of both skin- and muscle-biopsy cannot explain the symptoms. A deficiency of zinc and, resulting from this, a defective cohesiveness of collagenous and elastic fibres seems possible. After oral zinc treatment a significant therapeutic effect was seen.


[Systemic lupus erythematosus in twins (author's transl)].

A report is given of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in monozygotic twins. One sister developed coombs-positive haemolytic anaemia at the age of 11 years and suffered from five haemolytic crises over a period of 8 months. SLE could not be proven at that time, but following a 3-year symptom-free period, characteristic clinical and immunological evidence of SLE became manifest. The second sister developed classical SLE at the age of 15 years. Clinical, immunological, etiological and therapeutical aspects of SLE are being discussed.


[Neutropenia as side effect of azlocillin in an infant (author's transl)].

The authors report on a case of severe neutropenia in an infant treated with azlocillin. This case fits well into the series of wellknown reports on hematologic side effects of other semisynthetic penicillins, with regard to the onset of symptomatics, clinical side effects, and full reversibility.


[Extra-alveolar air in ventilated newborn infants (author's transl)].

Successive manifestations of acute air leak phenomenona are reported in a ventilated premature infant with aspiration of amniotic fluid. The increasingly reported incidence of pulmonary interstitial emphysema is emphasized. After its first occurrence there is a serious need for careful clinical and radiological observation because of the great risk of further complications.


Self-mutilation of the penis in C57BL/6N mice.

A major cause of male reproductive failure in a C57BL/6N mouse production colony is self-inflicted mutilation of the penis. The extent of the damage ranged from loss of the distal end to loss of the entire penis. From January 1974 to August 1976, 645 adult male mice with mutilated penis were removed from this colony--where the monthly census was 9500 mice, mated 1 male to 4 females using a continuous mating system. On necropsy, it was observed that the substance blocking the urethra in the penile stump resulted in urine retention, grossly distending the urinary bladder. Proteus mirabilis and other bacteria isolated from the urethral plugs were considered secondary invaders.


Stress, escapism and patterns of alcohol and drug use.

Stress-related misuse of alcohol or drugs appears to be impulsive and may reflect conflict, learned helplessness or an attempt to reduce cognitive dissonance.


The role of dietary protein in hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis.

Rabbits become hypercholesterolemic and develop atherosclerotic lesions when fed a cholesterol-free, semipurified diet. This provides a useful experimental model in which a moderate hypercholesterolemia can be maintained for long periods of time. The elevation of plasma cholesterol and development of atherosclerosis are dependent on the kind of protein in the diet and can be prevented by replacing casein with isolated soy protein. Feeding trials with enzymatic digests or mixtures of amino acids indicate that this difference is at least partly due to the differing amino acid composition of the two proteins. Rabbits on the soy protein diet showed higher rates of oxidation and turnover of cholesterol than those on the casein diet. Dietary protein has generally been considered to be of little significance in the etiology of atherosclerosis in humans, but evidence is accumulating which indicates that it can have a significant influence on human plasma cholesterol levels.


Gangliosides of cultured cells of a rat mammary carcinoma cell line.

Ganglioside content of rat mammary carcinoma-derived cells grown in layers in vitro was nearly as high as that of apical membrane-derived milk fat globule membrane and nearly four time higher than the content of normal, lactating mammary tissue on a protein basis. The major ganglioside of these carcinoma-derived cells was identified as GDla (sialic acid-Gal-GalNAc-sialic acid)-Gal-Glc-Cer. Relative to carcinoma-derived cells, rat mammary tissue and milk fat globule membrane had more complex ganglioside patterns but appeared to lack substantial quantities of GDla.


Effect of light quality on the photoinduction of carotenoid synthesis in Verticillim agaricinum.

The action spectrum of photoinduction of carotenoid biosynthesis in Verticillium agaricinum has a high peak in the near-UV region with very small peaks in the blue, yellow and red regions. This suggests that neither a flavoprotein nor a carotenoid could be the photoreceptor, but a new unknown pigment system. Sporulation however is not photoregulated and is unaffected by light in the near-UV region. So, mycochrome cannot be implicated in the sporulation of this fungus. Further, sporulation and carotenogenesis must be under separate regulatory control in this organism, but not necessarily so in other organisms.


[Effect of raised temperature on the developmental cycle of Candida utilis yeasts].

The effect of the submaximal temperature (41.5 degrees C) on growth was studied with a synchronous periodic yeast culture. If the cells were subjected to the action of elevated temperature at the beginning of the growth cycle, the formation of buds was not inhibited in contrast to the separation of nuclei between the daughter and parent cells. If the cells started their growth cycle at the optimal temperature of 32 degrees C and, after spending 0.6 of the cycle at this temperature, were subjected to a temperature of 41.5 degrees C, the separation of nuclei between the daughter and parent cells took place, but the cells were not entirely separated one from another.


[Bird-headed-dwarfism. A case report (author's transl)].

The case history and symptoms of a girl aged 12 months are reported suffering from bird-headed-dwarfism or Seckel-Syndrom: low birth weight in spite of prolonged pregnancy, typical "bird-headed-face", mikrocephaly, dwarfism, dystrophy, mental-motoric retardation.


The biosynthesis of glycolipids during the differentiation of the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum.

In the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum polysioprenylphosphomannosides are substrates for membrane bound mannosyltransferases; the isolated and purified isoprenyl derivatives transfer mannose to protein in vitro in presence of membrane fractions. The biosynthesis of the mannolipids as well as the biosynthesis of a glucose containing cerebroside, which becomes synthesized in an early stage of the cell development proceeds under control of the cell differentiation. The isolation procedure and the properties of the glycolipids are described, and their functions for the cellular development are discussed.


Induction of sister-chromatid exchanges in Chinese hamster ovary cells treated in vitro with non-K-region dihydrodiols of 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene.

Studies were carried out on the incidence of sister-chromatid exchanges induced in Chinese hamster ovary cells by in vitro treatment with the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene and with related K-region and non-K-region dihydrodiols. Appreciable increased in the incidence of sister-chromatid exchanges were apparent in cells treated with non-K-region dihydrodiols: the most active compounds were 3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxy-7-methylbenz[a]anthracene and 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene and the effects were dose-dependent. The parent hydrocarbons and the related K-region dihydrodiols induced some sister-chromatid exchanges but they were considerably less active than these two non-K-region diols. The results suggest that this system may usefully be applied to studies aimed at determining which dihydrodiols are important in the metabolic activation of the carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons. These and other results also infer that Chinese hamster ovary cells possess some intrinsic ability to metabolize such compounds in the absence of exogenous activation systems.


Dose-response relationship for X-ray induced dominant lethal mutations detected in mouse embryos in vitro.

X-Irradiated male mice sired offspring that expressed dominant lethal mutations during development in vitro. These mutations were expressed as arrest of the embryo either before or after blastocyst formation and were induced in germ cells irradiated as spermatids. When the dose-response data for the induced dominant lethal mutation rate were fit to a linear-quadratic model for dose-response curves, they were found to be compatible with mutation induction by both one-track and two-track processes, and the calculated interaction distance agreed well with those values found for radiation-induced translocations in Vicia faba and mouse spermatogonia. This correlation suggests that dominant lethal mutations in embryos and translocations in germ cells both result from similar radiation-induced chromosome damage.


Fibrocystic breast disease in oral-contraceptive users. A histopathological evaluation of epithelial atypia.

Epidemiological studies show a lower frequency of fibrocystic breast disease among long-term users of oral contraceptives than among women who have never used them. Fibrocystic disease may be a precursor of breast cancer; yet the incidence of breast cancer does not appear to differ between pill-takers and nontakers. To resolve this conflict, we examined the problem from a histologic standpoint in 205 premenopausal women, and found that this decreased frequency applied only to fibrocystic disease in which epithelial atypia was minimal or absent. In women with marked atypia there was no significant difference in frequency among long-term users as compared to women who have never used oral contraceptives. These findings suggest that a spectrum of cystic disease exists and that the long-term use of oral contraceptives protects against the forms of fibrocystic disease that are not firmly associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, but not against the premalignant forms.


A specific glycoprotein as the target site of adhesion blocking Fab in aggregating Dictyostelium cells.

During the acquisition of aggregation competence a new antigen appears on the surface of Dictyostelium cells. Univalent antibody fragments (Fab) against this antigen render the cells unable to form the specific type of cell adhesion which is characteristic of aggregating cells. This membrane constituent has been purified and identified as a concanavalin A-binding glycoprotein present at about 2 X 10(5) copies per cell.


Isolation of human nerve growth factor from placental tissue.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been isolated from human placental tissue. Using the chicken embryo dorsal root ganglia assay, we determined levels of NGF activity for the amnion, placental cotyledons, cord serum, fetal serum, and maternal serum. The highest levels of NGF activity were measured in placental cotyledons. After homogenization and centrifugation of the placental cotyledons, the supernatant was sequentially chromatographed, at neutral pH, on Sephadex G-100, DEAE-11, and Sephadex G-150. A high-molecular-weight protein fraction (approximately 150,000), which contained all the biological activity, was isolated in this fashion. Analytical isoelectric focusing of this fraction revealed a basic protein component (pI 9.5) of the high-molecular-weight species. Assays for NGF activity of all protein components separated by analytical isoelectric focusing showed that NGF activity was associated only with the basic protein component. Correspondingly, preparative isoelectric focusing of the high-molecular-weight species yielded a basic protein with very high biological activity (1-3 ng per biological unit) that was immunochemically active against rabbit IgG made against mouse beta-NGF.


A fatal brain injury caused by a needlefish.

A traumatic internal carotid-cavernous sinus fistula due to a penetrating injury caused by a needlefish is described.


The description of motor unit potentials in electromyography.

It has been suggested that the findings on needle electromyography should be described by abbreviations such as "SSAP" rather than "myopathic." The patterns of changes that may occur and their pathophysiologic basis make both of these terms unsuitable. Quantitative measurements are needed.


Division of the corpus callosum for uncontrollable epilepsy.

Cerebral commissurotomy, the "split-brain" procedure, has been employed for the control of intractable seizures, in conjunction with moderate doses of anticonvulsant drugs. The results have been encouraging in several small series. The use of microsurgical techniques and the restriction of surgery to one commissure, the corpus callosum, has reduced morbidity without apparent change in result. The eight patients in our first series who underwent the prescribed division of several forebrain commissures are compared to the four patients in our second series who underwent division of the corpus callosum alone. The technique of callosotomy is described.


Alteration of Purkinje cell activity from transfolial stimulation of the cerebellum in the cat.

The activity of single Purkinje cells and other single neural units was recorded extracellularly from the cerebellar cortex of anesthetized cats during surface cerebellar stimulation with parameters similar to those used in human beings with epilepsy. At a stimulation rate of 0.5 Hz, most Purkinje cells responded with a simple stimulus-locked suppression of activity, although some showed more complex sequences of suppression and activation. At a stimulus rate of 10 Hz, essentially all responsive Purkinje cells showed a suppression of activity. Most of the other units responded to stimulation in the same manner. These effects were observed immediately adjacent to the stimulating electrodes and as far away as 6.5 mm. Therefore, surface stimulation of the cerebellum with parameters equivalent to those used in epileptic patients suppresses rather than activates Purkinje cells. These findings do not support the hypothesis that Purkinje cell activation accounts for seizure suppression in epileptic patients.


Clinical and electroencephalographic changes in progressive uremic encephalopathy.

A study of nine patients, aged 23 to 67 years, showed a remarkable sequence of EEG findings in progressive uremic encephalopathy. The initial characteristics suggested a disorder of subcortical gray matter, followed by involvement of cortical gray matter and finally white matter. The same EEG findings tended to persist in the early stages of the disease and were present throughout the night and during dialysis. During dialysis, the EEG background and clinical picture between paroxysms sometimes showed deterioration. Seizures indicated a grave prognosis. Five of six patients with seizures died. In some patients, progressive uremic encephalopathy may develop without hemodialysis. Routine EEGs in dialysis units or in patients prior to admission can help uncover progressive uremic encephalopathy before the clinical emergence of this disorder.


Epidemiology of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

From 1969 through 1972, a nationwide search for cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is Israel revealed 89 patients. The average annual age-adjusted incidence was 0.75 per 10(5) persons. Overall incidence of the syndrome was similar in Jewish groups of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Arabs had a lower overall incidence than Jews (0.46 per 10(5) persons), perhaps attributable to fewer Arabs at risk in older age groups. Peaks of incidence occurred among individuals over 60 and under 4 years of age when all cases were combined. No clear seasonal or geographic clustering of GBS was evident in Israel during the 4 years of this study. The incidence of GBS in the present study agrees with previous population-based estimates.


Lergotrile in the treatment of parkinsonism.

Lergotrile mesylate, a direct-acting dopamine agonist, was administered for up to 10 months to 25 patients with Parkinson disease. Of six patients not receiving levodopa concurrently, five showed definite improvement in parkinsonian signs and symptoms. These results are the first clear indication that lergotrile is efficacious, independently of any interaction with levodopa, in the treatment of Parkinson disease. The drug was also effective in relieving some complications of long-term levodopa therapy. Lergotrile was more effective in alleviating on-off problems than in reversing loss of levodopa efficacy. Side effects of lergotrile included exacerbation of hallucinations, dyskinesias, hypotension, and alterations in liver function tests.


Autosomal dominant system degeneration in Portuguese families of the Azores Islands. A new genetic disorder involving cerebellar, pyramidal, extrapyramidal and spinal cord motor functions.

We studied 40 patients in 15 families from the Portuguese Azores Islands. Each family was affected by an autosomal dominant genetic disorder. Symptoms began between ages 20 and 50. Ataxia, ophthalmoplegia, pyramidal signs, dystonia, rigidity, and distal atrophy were the major clinical findings. Evidence suggested that this was a single genetic disease, with variable phenotypic expression. Machado disease, nigrospinodentatal degeneration with nuclear ophthalmoplegia, and autosomal dominant striatonigral degeneration may be variations of this same genetic disease.


Atypical neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis.

We describe the clinical, pathologic, and ultrastructural findings in a case of juvenile onset neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis without visual symptoms or retinal abnormalities. The histochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of the neuronal lipopigment were similar to those in typical cases of neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis. Atypical neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis may be distinguished histochemically, ultrastructurally, and clinically from another disorder called juvenile dystonic lipidosis, with which it has been confused.


Syncope in the adult Chiari anomaly.

A patient with an adult Chiari malformation had syncopal episodes induced by modest exertion. Low-amplitude slowing of the electroencephalogram occurred at the time of syncope, with no change in pulse rate, blood pressure, or arterial gases in attacks reproduced by exercise, compression of jugular veins or standardized Valsalva maneuver. The attacks were attributed to transient increases in intracranial pressure that caused dysfunction of the ascending reticular activating system.


Active transport of carnitine into skeletal muscle.

Skeletal muscle carnitine concentration exceeds plasma carnitine concentration. To determine whether this concentration gradient is maintained by active transport we studied rat soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles. Observations consistent with the existence of an active transport mechanism were that the soleus accumulated carnitine linearly for 3 hours of incubation to exceed a distribution ratio of 1; the temperature coefficient for carnitine accumulation between 33 degrees C and 43 degrees C was 2.0; anaerobic incubation reduced carnitine accumulation by 30 percent; and the rate of carnitine accumulation was saturated at high substrate concentrations and competitively inhibited by gamma-butyrobetaine. The Km for carnitine of the carnitine transport mechanism of the soleus muscle was 0.259 mM and of the extensor digitorum longus muscle, 0.585 mM. The greater affinity of the soleus transport mechanism may explain the difference in carnitine transport by red and white muscle in intact animals. A defect in active transport of carnitine may be involved in the pathogenesis of some human myopathies characterized by excessive lipid storage and in diphtheritic cardiomyopathy.


Recurrent Guillain-Barré syndrome following influenza vaccine.

Two patients recovered from an attack of Guillain-Barré syndrome and then had a second attack of this disease, with a shorter latent period, following monovalent influenza vaccination. These cases suggest that an attack of Guillain-Barré syndrome may result in greater risk of future episodes of the syndrome in conjunction with exposure to influenza or other vaccinations.


Supratentorial leptomeningeal hemangioblastoma.

A familial case of von Hippel-Lindau syndrome with a supratentorial leptomeningeal hemangioblastoma is reported. This is the first case in which the meningeal origin of a supratentorial hemangioblastoma has been histologically verified in von Hippel-Lindau syndrome.


The effect of levodopa, lergotrile, and bromocriptine on brain iron, manganese, and copper.

Chronic administration of a levodopa-carbidopa combination, bromocriptine, or lergotrile produced alterations of essential metal concentrations in the guinea pig caudate nucleus, frontal cortex, and cerebellar hemisphere. All long-term treatment regimens resulted in significantly increased concentrations of manganese in all brain areas, and these same regimens resulted in almost universally decreased copper concentrations. Since the long-term administration of these dopamine agonists in man results in extrapyramidal dysfunction, these observations suggest that alterations of trace metal concentrations in the brain may be related to the chronic toxicity of these dopamine agonists.


[Colonic segments as visceral substitutes in children].

The many ways in which segments of the colon can be used as visceral substitutes are described in the light of a personal series of neonates with multiple deformities, including atresia of the oesophagus and rectum, and atresia of the rectum coupled with agenesis of the vagina. At birth, colostomy at the right and extremity of the transverse colon is recommended (e.g. in cases of anorectal atresia, since this does not interrupt the vascular arcades required to give a good blood supply to the visceral reconstruction (as described) at a later date.


Barrier contraceptive practice and male infertility as related factors to breast cancer in married women. Preliminary results.

A case-control study was conducted in order to test the hypothesis that a reduced exposure to human seminal factors in the early reproductive life of women is a risk factor in breast cancer. The relative risk of exposure to the hypothetical semen-factor deficiency is 4.7 times greater for breast-cancer patients than for the controls. The risk of developing breast cancer within the same population in the U.S.A. is estimated as 5 times greater for women who use barrier methods (condom and other) than for women who use non-barrier contraceptive methods (diaphragm and other). The reduction of the incidence of breast cancer by eliminating the barrier contraceptive techniques would be not less than 50% in married women in the population.


The facial nerve coursing across the promontory with a persistent stapedial artery.

A case of congenital bilateral conductive deafness is described. Some years ago absence of the oval window was found in the left ear. Exploratory tympanotomy of the right ear revealed a large persistent stapedial artery while the facial nerve took its course from the geniculate ganglion straight down across the promontory anteriorly of the stapedial artery.


Spectral analysis of body sway.

The frequency spectrum of the center of gravity in normal subjects while standing was recorded by using a platform-strain gauge system and a digital computer. Individual differences of the spectral patterns resulted in the classification of three types. Averaged divisional frequency of each type was calculated in the range below 1 Hz in which the main change between the values with eyes open and those with eyes closed appeared as the frequency shift.


A gamma camera method for quantitation of split renal function in children followed for vesicoureteric reflux.

A method for quantitative estimation of split renal function using a computerized gamma camera system is described. 42 children and adolescents with existing or preexisting vesicoureteric reflux and recurrent urinary tract infection were investigated. Total renal clearance of DTPA was calculated with a disappearance curve derived from the largest extrarenal area in the field of view of a gamma camera with diverging collimator. Split renal function was estimated with the slopes of second phase renograms. The plasma disappearance clearance of DTPA, calculated using one compartment model with two late blood samples, gave similar results with the clearance estimated from the body disappearance curves. The proportional planimetric renal parenchymal areas had good correlation with the split clearance estimated from renogram slopes. The method offers data on renal function and urinary tract dynamics which is very valuable in the follow-up of children with recurrent urinary tract infection and vesicoureteric reflux.


Structuring and articulation of Rorschach inkblots in relation to alcohol consumption: a co-twin control study.

20 male, alcohol-discordant twin pairs, aged 45 to 65 yr. were compared for ability to structure and articulate Rorschach inkblots. The Rorschach responses were evaluated by a new rating scale technique. Data were analyzed by means of one-sample t and multivariate Td2 tests. No relationship between alcohol consumption and tendency to articulate and structure could be established.


Periodic organisation of foldback sequences in Physarum polycephalum nuclear DNA.

Nuclear DNA from the slime mould Physarum polycephalum is shown to contain interspersed inverted repeat sequences, such that denatured fragments of DNA containing pairs of these sequences form intra-chain duplexes under appropriate conditions. The organisation and distribution of the nucleotide sequences responsible for the formation of foldback structures in Physarum DNA have been investigated using the electron microscope. The majority of foldback duplexes have sizes ranging up to 800 base pairs, and about 60-80% of DNA molecules 2.2 X 10(4) bases in length contain interspersed foldback elements. The size of individual foldback duplexes, and also the length of the intervening sequences which separate them, are non-random. The results can best be explained by a model in which separate foldback foci in Physarum DNA are spaced periodically at regular intervals. The regions containing foldback foci are thought to contain smaller, tandemly-arranged sequences of discrete sizes, in some cases related to other nucleotide sequences of a similar nature in the same locality in Physarum DNA.


Denaturation maps of DNA: experimental and theoretical maps of phiX174 DNA.

A formaldehyde denaturation map of the replicative form of phiX174 DNA is obtained. The RFI DNA was converted into a linear state by restriction endonuclease pst I which introduces into this DNA a single double-stranded break. The map has four clear-cut peaks. Their positions excellently correlate with the peak positions on the map of equilibrium denaturation theoretically obtained earlier from the known nucleotide sequence of phiX174 DNA. The sequence is also used for a calculation of the maps of smoothed AT-content. The maxima on these maps correlate well with the peaks on the denaturation maps. To reveal the causes of a good correlation between the experimental formaldehyde and theoretical equilibrium denaturation maps, the theoretical formaldehyde denaturation maps are calculated for different conditions (temperature, formaldehyde concentration) using the detailed theory of DNA interaction with formaldehyde developed earlier.


Characterization of chick liver chromatin and analysis of its in vitro transcription products.

Carefully controlled preparation of chromatin from purified chick liver nuclei yielded over 50% native chromatin as shown by the analysis of the nucleosome pattern after micrococcal nuclease digestion. The size of DNA in this chromatin as analyzed on alkaline sucrose gradients varied from 10S to 19S, the majority being 14S. All endogenous RNA polymerases were represented in the chromatin preparation although to different extents: RNA polymerase I was the most and RNA polymerase II the least abundant. Initiation studies showed that endogenous RNA polymerase II was capable of initiating RNA chains during 5 min. Saturation of chromatin with purified homologous RNA polymerase II increased initiation to 10 min. The addition of heparin caused the RNA transcribed to be larger in size and of increased yield. Chromatin transcription with added purified RNA polymerase II in the presence of heparin produced RNA as large as 32S. A chromatin preparation of this kind would therefore be suitable to transcribe any eukaryotic gene invitro provided additional homologous RNA polymerase II is used.Images


Rhinocerebral zygomycosis treated with amphotericin B.

Rhinocerebral zygomycosis is a rare, often fatal opportunistic fungal infection involving the cranial tissues. A diabetic patient with normal humoral and cellular immunity who was successfully treated with amphotericin B and surgery is reported.


Effect of dietary oil, cholesterol, and soysterols on the lipid concentration and fatty acid composition of egg yolk, liver and serum of laying hens.

Effect of dietary lipid factors (saturated and unsaturated oil, zoo and phytosterols) on the lipid concentration and fatty acid composition of egg yolk, liver and serum of the laying hen were studied. Single Comb White Leghorn laying hens, at 30 weeks of age, were fed two basal diets containing 8.0% hydrogenated coconut oil (HCO) or safflower oil (SFO), with or without supplemental cholesterol (1.0%), soysterols (2.0%) or combination of both. When HCO basal diet was fed, both liver weight and lipid content were significantly (P less than .01) increased as compared to hens fed the SFO diet. Cholesterol feeding increased total lipid content in liver and serum, whereas soysterol feeding reduce or diminish lipid accumulation caused by the cholesterol treatment. Both dietary cholesterol and soysterols alter the fatty acid composition of liver, serum and egg yolk lipids by increasing oleic acid and decreasing palmitic and/or stearic acids. These changes were significantly greater upon feeding cholesterol than soysterols. However, the simultaneous feeding of cholesterol with soysterols exerted the least effect on the fatty acid composition.


The effect of photoperiod on the deep body temperature of domestic turkeys and its relationship to the diurnal periodicity of Leucocytozoon smithi gametocytes in the peripheral blood of turkeys.

Eighteen turkeys naturally infected with Leucocytozoon smithi were separated into 3 groups of 6 each and were respectively exposed to conditions of natural, reversed, or continuous light. Turkey deep body temperature and peripheral gametocyte numbers of L. smithi in all three groups were determined every 2 hr over a 36-hr period. The peak period of both turkey body temperature and gametocyte numbers coincided with the midpoint of the light period for turkeys exposed to natural and reversed light conditions. The body temperature of turkeys exposed to continuous light remained relatively constant while L. smithi gametocytes exhibited asynchronous behavior.


Investigations of leg abnormalities in chicks consuming high tannin sorghum grain diets.

Studies were conducted into the etiology of leg abnormalities noted in chicks fed high tannin sorghum grain diets. These anomalies were characterized by a bowing of the legs with a swelling of the hock joints. The incidence of these leg problems was found to be markedly higher when the amino acids in the diet provided by soybean meal were replaced by crystalline amino acids. Supplemental vitamins and minerals had no alleviating effect on the leg problem. Bone mineralization was apparently not influenced by tannins as demonstrated by similar bone ash values for chicks fed high or low tannin sorghums. A possible alteration caused by tannin in the organic matrix of bone is discussed. High tannin sorghum depressed chick growth and feed conversion when compared with low tannin sorghum in both sorghum-soybean meal and sorghum-amino acid rations. This growth depression was overcome by supplementing the high tannin sorghum-soybean meal diet with .15% DL-methionine, but no growth response was observed from a similar supplementation of a high tannin sorghum-amino acid diet.


[Biosynthesis of amylolytic enzymes during continous cultivation of the yeast-like fungus Endomycopsis fibuliger 55-13].

Growth of the yeast-like fungus Endomycopsis fibuliger 55-13 during continous cultivation was studied. The microorganism produced amylolytic enzymes during flow cultivation. As a result of the three-stage cultivation the productivity increased two-fold and the time of cultivation decreased by 6 hrs as compared with periodic cultivation.


Effect of chronic administration and withdrawal of sodium barbitone on protein synthesis of rat brain.

After chronic administration of sodium barbitone to rats, a marked increase incorporation of [14C]-Leucine into isolated nerve endings was observed. Withdrawal of the drug resulted in a decreased incorporation with respect to values obtained with chronic ingesting animals. On the other hand chronic administration of the barbiturate produced a decreased incorporation in mitochondrial and microsomal fractions. These results are discussed in relation to the development of tolerance and abstinence syndrome to this drug.


[Biosynthesis and metabolism of aldosterone under conditions of neurogenic stress].

Adult male rats were subjected to neurogenic stress by crowding for 1 and 7 days. The following was studied; aldosterone-14C biosynthesis from progesterone-14-C in vitro in the adrenal gland homogenate, aldosterone-14S metabolism in vitro in the liver homogenate; also the endogenous content of this hormone in the peripheral blood and the adrenal glands was determined by the radioimmunological method. 24-hour stress caused a sharp increase of aldosterone biosynthesis and a marked increase of the content of this hormone in the adrenal glands, this being accompanied by increased aldosterone metabolism and its normal content in the peripheral blood. Crowding for 7 days led to normalization of aldosterone-14C biosynthesis, to a marked reduction of its metabolism, decrease of the adrenal gland weight, to some reduction of aldosterone content in the adrenal glands and a sharp fall of the concentration of this hormone in the blood. The data obtained permit a suggestion that there was an increased tissue aldosterone utilization in one-day, and particularly in seven-day neurogenic stress.


[Content of acid soluble nucleotides in the microscopic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum at different growth stages].

Variations in the content of acid soluble nucleotides at different growth stages of the producer of pectolytic enzymes-the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were measured. The initial growth stage was characterized by an increased content of adenyl nucleotides whose amount decreased by the 48th hour. In the 48-hour mycelium guanyl nucleoside mono- and diphosphates were the major components of the nucleotide pool. Throughout the entire cultivation cytidyl derivatives occurred in trace quantities.


[Glucocorticoid and androgenic functions of the adrenal cortex and the state of the sympathetic-adrenal system in thyrotoxicosis with primary organic disease of the central nervous system].

In patients with thyrotoxicosis combined with primary affection of the central nervous system (CNS)-encephalitis, diencephalitis-there was revealed, like in common thyrotoxicosis, an increased production by the adrenal cortex of hydrocortisone, its intensified transformation and inactivation, reduced production of 17-ketosteroid chiefly due to the fall of dehydroepiandrosterone content, an increased urinary excretion of adrenaline and a decreased-of noradrenaline. The use of functional test with the ACTH administration demonstrated organic affection of the CNS to sharply aggravate the weakening and even the exhaustion of the functional reserves of the glomerular and the reticular zones of the adrenal cortex developing during thyrotoxicosis, and also the reserve possibilities of the sympathico-adrenal system. Direction of the changes in the 24-hour excretion of 17-OCS and corticosteriods was the same in the majority of cases. The latter can point to the presence of functional association between the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal cortex systems and adrenergic regulation in these patients.


Effects of ethyl alcohol on forced consumption of an acclimated saline solution.

Forced consumption of a 1.7% sodium chloride solution was determined in 3 groups of male hooded rats, 4 in each group, over a period of 115 days. A control group received 1.7% NaCl for the duration of the experiment. An ethyl alcohol experimental group received gradually increasing concentrations of ethyl alcohol, 0.5 to 6.0%, in the 1.7% NaCl drinking fluid for 30 days. For the next 25 days 6% ethanol was mixed with the 1.7% sodium chloride solution. A second experimental group was treated similarly except that varying concentrations of citric acid were added to the saline drinking fluid in place of the ethyl alcohol. At the end of the 55 day period, the ethyl alcohol and citric acid were removed from the drinking fluid of both groups. Dramatic and copious amounts of drinking occurred only in the group which had previously drunk the ethyl alcohol. Since excessive drinking of the 1.7% sodium chloride solution did not occur in the other experimental group when the citric acid was removed, the copious drinking can be attributed specifically to the prolonged ingestion and withdrawal of the ethyl alcohol. Possible significance to an animal model for alcoholism is discussed.


Blood alcohol level and caloric intake in the gravid rat as a function of diurnal period, trimester, and vehicle.

Blood ethanol levels, caloric intake and weight gain were monitored over the 21-day gestational period in the gravid Sprague-Dawley rat as a function of the administration of ethanol in either a liquid diet (Ensure) or an aqueous saccharin solution. The mean daily percentage of ethanol consumed (38% vs 31%), and g/Kg of ethanol consumed (11.9 vs 9.7 g/Kg) were higher for the liquid diet group than the aqueous solution group. Ethanol consumption varied by the trimester in the Ensure but not in the saccharin solution rats. Proportional maternal weight gain, live litter size, and live litter weight did not vary as a function of the method of ethanol administration. Both groups exhibited significant diurnal periodicity in ethanol consumption, and the greatest caloric intake during the second trimester. The implications of these results for ethanol administration in gravid rats is discussed.


Selective antagonism of isolation-induced aggression in mice by diazepam following chronic administration.

Benzodiazepines are non-selective (i.e., they only inhibit aggression at doses producing concurrent neuromuscular impairment) antagonists of isolation-induced aggression in mice following acute administration. However, in the present study diazepam was shown to be a selective antagonist of fighting in isolated mice following chronic administration for 5 days. When administered chronically, selective tolerance rapidly developed to the general CNS depression produced by diazepam whereas the antifighting activity was not diminished and, in fact, tended to be enhanced following multiple drug administrations. Thus, the antagonism of fighting in isolated mice by diazepam does not appear to be due solely to general CNS depressant properties.


Glutamic acid and ethanol dependence.

Glutamate diethyl ester, a specific glutamate antagonist, attenuated the seizures and decreases in behavioral activity that were observed in mice during withdrawal. Prior to withdrawal, ethanol-dependent animals were supersensitive to kainic acid, a potent glutamate agonist, but they were not supersensitive to the convulsant drug pentylenetetrazol. These findings suggest that supersensitivity to glutamate develops during ethanol dependence, and that this phenomenon contributes to the signs of ethanol withdrawl.


Mescaline produces pathological aggression in rats regardless of age or strain.

Several measures of aggressive behavior were investigated in three ages (40-50, 90-110, and 180-200 days old) and in three strains (Sprague-Dawley, Wistar, and Long-Evans) of rats before and following the administration of mescaline hydrochloride in a shock-elicited aggression situation. The measures included the number of fights, duration of fighting, latency of fighting, number of bites inflicted, and a composite index of pathological aggression. During predrug baseline testing it was found that older rats, regardess of strain, engaged in more frequent fights that were longer in duration and more intense than younger animals. When the animals were tested with mescaline, they engaged in significantly more fights, biting, and pathological aggression than during baseline testing regardless of their age of strain. These results suggest that mescaline-induced pathological aggression in rats is a robust phenomenon.


Abatement of stimulus perseveration following repeated d-amphetamine treatment: absence of behaviorally augmented tolerance.

Acute administration of d-amphetamine results in animals perseverating between two compartments when placed in a free running Y-maze exploratory situation. Experiment 1 indicated that perseverative behavior was attenuated by making the arms of the maze distinctively different. Experiments 2 and 3 demonstrated that repeated amphetamine treatment reduced arms of the maze distinctively different. Exeriment 2 and 3 demonstrated that repeated amphetamine treatment reduced stimulus perseveration. Drug-induced locomotor activity and stereotypy were not affected by chronic drug administration. The course of the tolerance effect was not altered by pairing the repeated drug experience with Y-maze exposure. It was concluded that although stimulus factors are involved in the perseverative response, conditioning factors are not of primary relevance in determining the tolerance. It was also suggested that the mechanisms which subserve stimulus perseveration are different from those which mediate locomotor activity and stereotypy.


Inhibition of fighting in isolated mice following repeated administration of lithium chloride.

Lithium was found to be a selective (i.e., it antagonized aggression at doses that did not produce concurrent neuromuscular impairment) antagonist of isolation-induced aggressive behavior in mice following repeated (subacute) administration for five days. Acute (single dose) administration of lithium failed to inhibit aggression. At atiaggressive doses, lithium did not produce ataxia as measured by the inclined-screen or rotarod procedures. The mechanism of this action is discussed in terms of a possible influence on serotonergic mechanisms.


A simple method for the estimation of amygdalin in the urine.

A procedure for the estimation of D- and D,L-amygdalin in urine is described. Amygdalin is hydrolyzed by beta-glucosidase and base to benzaldehyde, glucose and cyanide. Benzaldehyde is extracted with methylene chloride and the ultraviolet (UV) absorbence determined at 243 nm. The response of human urine "spiked" with amygdalin was linear between 10 and 75 microgram/ml. Mice administered 100 mg/kg of amygdalin intravenously or orally excreted about 70 and 20% of the administered dose, respectively, over 96 hours. In each instance more than 96% of excreted drug equivalents were obtained within the first 24 hours.


Immunochemical studies of 5-bromodeoxyuridine.

Specific antibodies for BrdUrd and IdUrd have been produced and characterized by immunochemical studies. Studies as determined by hapten-inhibition showed a cross reactivity of less than 0.001% to thymidine, and no cross reactivity to bromodeoxycytidine, uridine or methyl cytosine. The equilibrium constant determination for anti-BrdU and IdUrd was 4.2 x 10(8)M-1. Unfractionated antiserum, produced under the conditions herein described, can be employed for the specific cytological detection of DNA replication.


Factors regulating tapeworm populations: dispersion patterns of Taenia hydatigena eggs on pasture.

Two grazing trials using 'sentinel' lambs were undertaken to measure changes in the availability of eggs within 30 metres of deposition by dogs infected with Taenia hydatigena. In the first trial the experimental pasture was divided into nine equal plots; in the second trial, each of the nine plots was divided into sub-plots. In each trial, infected dogs were placed on the pasture for 10 days. Lambs were then grazed for 10 days immediately, 36 days and 56 days after the dogs had been removed. Changes in the dispersion pattern of the eggs over time and space were assessed by examination of the lambs for cysts at autopsy. In both trials, eggs spread radially within the grazing zone within 10 days, but 36 days after the removal of the dogs, their availability to the lambs was markedly reduced. In the first trial at five weeks, the height of grass (between 3 cm and 15 cm) did not modify egg availability. In both trials, despite differences in rainfall affecting the growth of grass and associated factors similar egg losses occurred.


Morphological alterations in hippocampus after long-term alcohol consumption in mice.

Golgi methods were used to examine the hippocampus of laboratory mice that received alcohol-containing or control diets for 4 months followed by a 2-month alcohol-free period. Long-term alcohol consumption resulted in a significant loss of dendritic spines on hippocampal pyramidal cells and dentate granule cells. This study provides evidence that long-term alcohol consumption, in the absence of malnutrition, produces morphological damage to the central nervous system.


Three women with 45,X/46,XX mosaic and multiple spontaneous abortions.

One hundred couples in whom the females had experienced multiple spontaneous abortions were studied. In this series three women with 45, X/46,XX were observed. The paper discusses the significance of this observation pointing out to the fact that these women run an increased risk of abortion of giving birth to babies with Turner's syndrome.


Subarachnoid hemorrhage due to intraspinal tumors.

Five cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage arising from an intraspinal tumor are presented, Three of these were ependymomas in the region of the cauda equina. One was a neurofibroma at L1. The fifth was a hemangioblastoma in the upper lumbar region. The literature dealing with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to intraspinal lesions is reviewed. The majority of cases of spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage are due to arteriovenous malformations, but 50 cases in which the bleeding developed from a neoplasm have been reported.


Radiographic diagnostic evaluation and surgical treatment of multiple cerebellar, brain stem, and spinal cord hemangioblastomas.

Multiple hemangioblastomas of the central nervous system present a greater challenge in their diagnosis and treatment than do single hemangioblastomas of the cerebellar hemisphere. Improved radiographic techniques of tomographic vertebral angiography and computed axial tomography (CT) are of considerable value in the diagnosis of multiple cerebellar, brain stem, and spinal cord hemangioblastomas. Microsurgical techniques now allow for total operative removal of many of these lesions. A case report is presented to emphasize the radiographic diagnostic evaluation as well as the microsurgical technique for removal of multiple central nervous system hemangioblastomas.


Ultrastructure and mechanical activity expressed by striated muscle in culture.

Newly devised assay procedures for quantitating the mechanical capabilities of striated muscle fibers grown in cell culture have permitted the correlation of cytological features with the ability to respond mechanically to electrical and chemical stimuli during development. By developmental timing and by physiological characteristics, three distinct mechanical activities can be distinguished: : TWITCH, contracture and wave propagation (escalation). Parallel electron microscopy studies suggest that contracture and escalation require significantly greater internal membrane development than twitch. The assay procedures have revealed that fibers developed in culture from genetically dystrophic chick muscle cells display a heightened electrical threshold for a twich response, but are otherwise similar to normal fibers. Cultured chick fibers, whether of leg or breast origin, exhibit similar ultrastructural and mechanical properties; yet these are different from those of in vivo adult muscle and may represent the avian striated muscle archetype expressed in the absence of innervation. Primary or cell line cultures of rat muscle produce far fewer mechanically active fibers than do avian cell cultures. The influence of culture conditions and cell source, whether avian or mammalian, on the extent of differentiation expressed in culture is so great that our understanding of studies on cultured muscle fibers would benefit from some characterization of both morphological and contractile properties of the fibers being used.


The fine structure of granules in eosinophil leucocytes from aquatic and terrestrial birds.

The ultrastructure of eosinophil granules from various aquatic and terrestrial birds has been described. Granules of three basic types were found. The first had a crystalline internum and was found only in the order Anseriformes, which included the black-necked screamer, ducks, geese and swans. The crystals occurred in three morphological forms. The second and least common granule examined contained a non-crystalline internum which was either homogeneous or composed of microfilaments or microtubules. The largest and most common group of birds had a homogenous granule with no internum shown. Homogeneous granules occurred less frequently than did those with interna.


Renal and hepatic nucleic acid metabolism in neonates: relation to experimental duration, chlorphentermine dose as well as subsequent withdrawal.

Daily oral administration of either 20, 40 or 60 mg/kg chlorphentermine for 7 days significantly increased liver and kidney DNA levels, which were not elevated further even after a 3 week treatment period. Although cessation of drug administration for 3 weeks resulted in a return of hepatic DNA levels to control values, a rise in renal DNA was still observed after this withdrawal period. Whereas 20 mg/kg chlorphentermine for 7 days failed to markedly alter the incorporation of thymidine into kidney and liver DNA, significant enhancement was noted in neonates receiving 40 or 60 mg/kg drug and quantitatively greater incorporation occurred when the agent was given for 21 days. While a signficant augmentation in nucleic acids synthesis was seen 1 week after animals were removed from 40 or 60 mg/kg anorectic, a restoration to control levels occurred after a 3 week abstinence period. Treatment with 20 mg/kg for 1 week followed by withdrawal resulted in a significant rise in the incorporation of thymidine into renal and hepatic DNA. In contrast, drug administration for 3 weeks followed by 21 days abstinence resulted in a return to control levels in the incorporation of thymidine into kidney and liver DNA, except for renal tissue removed from 20 mg/kg. Our data demonstrate that the chlorphentermine-induced alterations in renal and hepatic DNA metabolism are dose-dependent, related to duration of exposure as well as reversible.


Radiographic findings in children surveyed for enuresis.

Over a one-year period 216 children had a radiographic survey of their urinary tracts performed for the evaluation of enuresis with many of these having a precedent history of urinary infection as well. Significant urinary tract abnormalities were found in 27 per cent of the children. Clinical correlation was obtained in 135 of these children with 19.3 per cent requiring surgery. The groups of children with a history of diurnal enuresis or urinary infection were quite different from the group with nocturnal enuresis alone. These differences are discussed.


Tuberculous prostatitis.

A study of 5 patients with tuberculosis prostatitis revealed that (1) there is a greater chance of striking a noncaseating granuloma than a caseating lesion by needle biospy when both are present; (2) the absence of caseation on biopsy does not necessarily rule out tuberculosis; and (3) special stains may be negative for tuberculosis because of the small size of the tissue sample. Thus, if the clinical suspicion of tuberculous prostatitis is high and if noncaseating lesions are found, a second biopsy specimen should be taken for culture only.


Effect of baclofen and dantrolene on bladder stimulator-induced detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia in dogs.

The effect of baclofen (Lioresal) and dantrolene (Dantrium) on bladder stimulation-induced detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia was studied in normal and chronic T-10 paraplegic dogs. Dantrolene, which depresses skeletal muscle contractility, had little effect on electrically evoked contractions of the urethral sphincter in dogs. Baclofen, which acts centrally by potentiating presynaptic inhibition, depressed the pudendal to pudendal nerve reflex and decreased urethral resistance during bladder stimulation.


Fatal complication of intravesical formalin during control of intractable hemorrhage from radiation cystitis.

Fatal acute tubular necrosis occurred in 1 patient in whom intravesical formalin was used to control massive persistent hemorrhage from radiation cystitis. A suggestion is made to monitor blood formic acid levels and institute prompt dialysis whenever these exceed 80 mg. per 100 ml. to avert such a catastrophe. Intravenous sodium bicarbonate appears to be indicated prophylactically in combating the associated metabolic acidosis due to absorbed formic acid.


[Supraclavicular metastases of stomach cancer].

To precisely determine the process spread in gastric cancer, in 90 patients left prescalene biopsy was performed simultaneously with the operative procedure on the stomach. In 20% of the patients the histological examination of serial sections showed gastric cancer metastases in non-enlarged supraclavicular lymph nodes. In vast majority of the observations a supraclavicular metastasis diagnosed only histologically was a manifestation of the tumor process spread. In these patients only explorative laparotomy or palliative resection was performed, followed by lethal issue (but one case) in the early postoperative period. The rationale of incuding prescalene biopsy in the scheme of examination for gastric cancer is discussed.


[Isolted spermatic cord tuberculoma (author's transl)].

A case is reported of the postoperative recognition of an isolated tuberculoma of the left pampiniform plexus. This is only the seventh recorded case of an isolated spermatic cord tuberculoma. The findings are interpreted on the basis of the histological report. This case is discussed within the framework of urogenital tuberculosis as an entity according to reports in the literature.


Quantification of turkey immunoglobulins IgA, IgM and IgG in serum and secretions.

The immunoglobulins IgA, IgM and IgG of the turkey were quantitated in individual serum samples as well as in pooled sera. The variability of Ig levels in normal, healthy birds was quite high: IgA: mean value 0.633 mg/ml (4.0 -x - 2.5 -x); IgM: mean value 4.37 mg/ml (0.5 -x - 1.4 -x) and IgG: mean value 8.92 mg/ml (0.6 -x - 1.7 -x). Immunoglobulin levels in egg-yolk, egg-white, bile and some intraocular tissues were quantitated as well. An interesting finding was, that the forementioned variability was by far not so high with respect to IgG levels in 20 egg-yolk samples: mean value 5.1 mg/ml (0.86 x- - 1.17 -x). Though IgG  and IgM could be detected in pooled turkey bile, IgA predominated in this secretion. In aqueous humor, iris tissue and vitreous body only IgG could be detected.


[Bioptic liver changes in brucellosis (author's transl)].

Histomorphological changes of the liver are demonstrated in 120 biopsy samples of 104 patients with clinically and serologically proven Bang's disease. A granulomatous hepatitis was found in 1/3 of the patients in addition to a non-specific mobilisation of the active mesenchyma and a reactive hepatitis of changing intensity. The nodules are not looking like tuberculous granulomas, but consist of a disseminated accumulation of small lympho-histiocytic cells. Furthermore, the relatively high percentage of steatosis of the parenchyma (50%), lipofuscinosis (40%), and circumscribed hepatocellular siderosis (26%) can be considered as important lesions of parenchymal cells.


[Animal experiment studies on the neurohumoral control of female puberty. 2. Studies on the influence of amygdala and of the hippocampus on sex maturation].

Immature female rats were bilaterally lesioned in the rostral or caudal part of the mediocortical amygdala (MCA) or in the ventral hippocampus (VHPC) at 21 days of age. In a second experiment, simultaneous lesioning of the MCA or VHPC and the medial preoptic area or hypothalamic ventromedial-arcuate region was performed in 21-day-old rats. Finally, discrete lesions were placed into the anterior or posterior parts of the medial (MAN) or cortical amygdaloid nuclei ath 21, 26 or 32 days of age. The effects of the different treatments on the onset of puberty were evaluated by recording the age at vaginal opening and first ovulation, the body weight on the day of vaginal opening, and the subsequent ovarian or vaginal cyclicity. The following conclusions may be drawn from the findings obtained: 1. At three weeks of age, the MCA exerts a gonadotropininhibiting function that is localized in the anterior part of the MAN. This activity is not demonstrable in older females. 2. The MAN, particularly its posterior part, may play an important role in the prepuberal maturation of the maturation of the neurohormonal ovulatory mechanisms that takes place in female rats during the fourth week of life. 3. The VHPC may be involved in the control of female sexual development mainly by its growth-stimulating activity. The results suggest an essential role of the subcortical limbic system in female sexual maturation and offer an explanation of contradictory findings on the gonadotrophin-controlling function of the MCA before puberty.


[Cancer hazards in females with uterine myoma].

1. Women with uterine fibroids do not have an higher cancer risk than women without fibroids. 2. The carcinome of the breast is the most frequent cancer under autopsy cases with uterine fibroids. The carcinoma of the endometrium and of the pancreas are slightly increases, but tumours of other organs are less frequent. 3. The risk of sarcomatous degeneration of uterine fibroids is with 0,6% about fifty more less frequent then the risk of develope another cancer. 4. Hysterectomy does not diminuish the cancer risk of patients with uterine fibroids: Instead of the (not more possibles) cancers of the genital systems there develope tumours in other organs. 5. Under autopsy cases with uterins fibroids the trend to hypertonia, to adipositas, to myocardical infarction and to embollsm of the lung are slightly increased9


The hepatic role in carcinogenesis and its early detection--the vinyl chloride model.

The liver's role in vinyl chloride toxicity and carcinogenicity is providing a better understanding of the chemical carcinogenesis mechanism. A variety of both malignant and benign hepatic tumors has been demonstrated with prolonged exposure to vinyl chloride. The multi-system involvment of this carcinogen and toxin has provided a model for the study of chemical carcinogenesis common to both man and animal. Clinical studies have shown the usefulness of biochemical, radioisotopic, and radiological studies in the detection of toxic and carcinogenic lesions. Animal studies have demonstrated the biochemical metabolism by the liver of vinyl chloride-produced intermediates which are mutagenic in bacterial systems and may be the ultimate carcinogens. Hepatic subcellular enzyme studies prove preliminary evidence of cellular adaptation and increased detoxification. Disruption of this oxidization and detoxification balance may be the key to the malignant transformation of cells. A working hypothesis is presented which may explain the metabolism of vinyl chloride into mutagenic intermediates by the liver cell and the development of malignant transformation by extra hepatic sinusoidal lining cells, lung cells, and brain tissue.


[Studies of nucleic acid metabolism in cultured chick embryo cells infected with Mycoplasma gallisepticum].

M. gallisepticum infection of cultured chick embryo cells led to a sharp reduction the rate of 3H-thymidine and 3H-uridine incorporation into DNA and RNA cells, and almost completely suppressed the transposition of uridine label from the nucleus into the cytoplasm, this pointing to the inhibition of escape of RNA synthesized de novo into the infected cells cytoplasm. As suggested, weak labeling of the cytoplasm after prolonged (about several hours) incubation of cultured cells with labeled urine could indicate infection of cell cultures with the mycoplasmae.


[Emotional stress during conditioned reflex transformation of heterogeneous instrumental reflexes].

The factors leading to pronounced emotional stress accompanied by changes in electrical activity of hippocampus were studied in four dogs during elaboration of conditioned switching-over of heterogeneous instrumental reflexes. Objectively recorded signs of emotional stress were observed in two cases: when the animal was not accurate enough in discerning defensive and alimentary situations and throughout the improvement of instrumental defensive reflex. Pronouncement of hippocampal theta-rhythm increased at those stages of switching-over elaboration where the probability of successful avoiding pain stimulation was relatively low. The data obtained permit the conclussion that theta-rhythm is the correlate of the degree of the emotional stress and not only a manifestation of general arousal reaction depending on the level of sensory input.


[Morphologic changes in the sensomotor cortex in experimental neurosis].

Disturbances of higher nervous activity (experimental neurosis) are attended with morphological changes of blood circulation in the sensorimotor area of the cerebral cortex, corresponding to distonic vascular disorders, as well as with hypoxic and neuroglial changes. Observed changes in the nervous tissue also reflect adaptive and defensive mechanisms of the brain (in rabbits).


Ultrastructural studies on blood-brain barrier dysfunction around cerebral stab wounds, aggravated by acute ethanol intoxication.

Ethanol-intoxicated and non-intoxicated albino rats subjected to cerebral stab wounds were injected with Evans blue-labelled albumin (EBA) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) 24 hours after the injury. The tracers were injected 30 and 2 minutes before perfusion fixation with glutaraldehyde and then prepared for light microscopy and electron microscopy. There was prominent leakage of peroxidase through chains of pinocytotic vesicles and transendothelial channels from blood, through the endothelial cells, into the brain. There was no difference in the way of peroxidase leakage through the endothelial cells between ethanol-intoxicated and control rats, but the area containing leaking blood vessels was greater in intoxicated rats. Furthermore, the number of trans-endothelial channels, vesicles and caveolae per unit length of capillaries and venules was increased in ethanol-intoxicated rats. Injured neurons with a diffuse distribution of peroxidase in their cytoplasm were observed within a greater area around the stab wound in ethanol-intoxicated than in control rats.


Postencephalitic porencephaly, hydranencephaly or polymicrogyria. A review.

Twenty necropsy cases of the association of fetal encephalitis with porencephaly, hydranencephaly or polymicrogyria were reviewed including 5 from the authors' material. The latter include a basket brain, a porencephalic necrosis of recent date and a polymicrogyria in the formative state. The supratentorial lesions are often associated with cerebellar cortical dysplasias. The pathogenetic interdependence of encephalitis and hemispheric defects or malformation is discussed. Examples are given in which the infection appears to be secondary to a pre-existent hemispheric lesion. For others the hemispheric lesions appear to be secondary to encephalitis. In these the encephalitis may produce secondary lesions by a variety of pathogenetic mechanisms.


Determination of pancreatic elastase with new chromogenic substrates-p-nitroanilides of N-acyltripeptides.

Mal-, Suc- and Glt-(Ala)3-NAp were prepared as new substances for determining pancreatic elastase. The kinetic constants show them to be more satisfactory than the previously described Ac-(Ala)3-NAp. The mean elastase output values after pancreozymin and secretin stimulation of the exocrine pancreas were significantly higher in the control subjects than in patients in whom other secretion values were altered. In agar electrophoresis, hog pancreatic elastase (Merck) formed a single cathodal fraction. One cathodal and one anodal fraction were found in human duodenal contents. Serum, plasma, alpha1-antitrypsin and alpha2-macroglobulin inhibit pancreatic elastase. Elastase-alpha1-antitrypsin complexes are enzymatically inactive, whereas the enzymatic activity of elastic-alpha2-macroglobulin complexes is partly preserved. Both types of complexes are stable and are not dissociated to a major extent in the presence of an excess amount of the other inhibitor.


The effect of a fish diet on serum lipids in healthy human subjects.

A cross-over study was done with 19 male and 23 female volunteers living in a monastery and a convent, respectively. The effect of a fat gish (mackerel) diet on the blood serum lipid composition was studied. As the normal diet of these volunteers was of the lacto-ovo-vegetarian type, a control diet in which the fish was replaced by full-fat cheese was used. Subjects consuming the fish diet had a daily uptake of polyunsaturated acids of the omega3 family of about 8 g; comparable amounts of linoleic acid were ingested with both diets. Both diets were consumed for a period of 3 weeks. Serum cholesterol was slightly but significantly (7.5%) lower and serum triglycerides considerably lower (35%) on the fish diet, whereas high density lipoprotein cholesterol increased slightly. Lipoprotein analysis showed a strong very low density lipoprotein decrease by the fish diet while, in the men, both low and high density lipoproteins increased. The fatty acid composition of serum lipids showed considerable differences; C20:5omega3 increased in all fractions and C22:6omega3 was found in the triglycerides and the phospholipids, but not in the sterol esters. These increases occurred chiefly at the expense of C18:1omega9 and, in particular, C18:2omega6, which indicates a replacement of omega6 by omega3 acids. Long-chain monoenoic acids which are abundant in the mackerel were not detected in any serum lipid fraction.


Hypocholesterolemic effect of substituting soybean protein for animal protein in the diet of healthy young women.

The effect of dietary protein on the level of plasma cholesterol in young, healthy, normolipidemic women was investigated in two separate studies by feeding either a conventional diet containing mixed protein, or a plant protein diet in which the animal protein of the first diet was replaced by soy protein meat analogues and soy milk. The diets were similar with respect to carbohydrate, fat and sterol composition. The first study, lasting 73 days and involving six subjects, gave an indication that plasma cholesterol levels were lower on the plant protein diet. The second study, which incorporated a number of improvements based on experience, lasted 78 days and used a cross-over design involving two groups of five subjects each. In this study, the mean plasma cholesterol level was found to be significantly lower on the plant protein diet.


Unstable dicentric iso(Yq) chromosome in a pseudohermaphrodite.

An infant with ambiguous genitalia, uterus, tubes, and bilaterally undescended testes was found to have an unstable dicentric Yq chromosome, and 45,X/46,X,dic i(Yq)/47,X,i(Yq) i(Yq) mosaicism in lymphocytes and fibroblasts. A few other minor cell lines were found in peripheral blood lymphocytes. These findings indicate a high degree of mitotic instability in the centromere of the dicentric i(Yq) chromosome in this patient.


Chemotherapy of human choriocarcinoma transplanted to nude mice.

Two human choriocarcinomas serially transplanted to athymic nude mice (BALB/c, nu/nu) were treated with intraperitoneal injections of methotrexate (MTX), actinomycin D (ACTD), and vinblastine (VLB) with doses per injection slightly smaller than LD10 in mice. Both ACTD and VLB significantly suppressed the growth of one tumor strain (SCH) but MTX did not. The growth of another tumor strain (CC-1) was not inhibited by either ACTD or VLB. In strain SCH, plasma HCG of tumor-bearing animals increased approximately in parallel with the growth of tumors in control and MTX-, ACTD-, and VLB-treated groups but the suppression of the hormone release was more marked in the ACTD-treated group. The results indicate that these two transplantable human tumors are useful models for the study of choriocarcinoma, particularly for therapeutic experiments.