Videotaping: the evaluation of stereotypic effects of antiparkinsonian agents.

Two experiments designed to assess the utility of a videotaping methodology in laboratory investigations of the stereotype effects of putative antiparkinsonian agents are presented. The technique minimizes experimental bias through the use of "blind" ratings and increases the rating accuracy through the use of within- and between-animals controls. Permanent videotape records allow training of raters to high efficiency, and direct comparisons of different rating scales under identical experimental conditions.


Effects of methomyl and ethanol on behavior in the Sprague-Dawley rat.

Emotional behavior and activity levels were studied following administration of ethanol and/or a carbamate pesticide, methomyl, to rats via a ground chow diet. Acetylcholinesterase levels were lowered following the experimental diets. The group having the greatest reduction in AChE, the methomyl group, showed less evidence for habituation in an open-field test. No differences relative to control subjects were noted on handling and muricide tests.


Effect of parenteral steroids on edema in replanted rat legs.

The experiments described demonstrate that parenteral steroid therapy will decrease the amount of postoperative edema in the replanted leg of a rat.


[E.E.G. recordings during the course of a rare disease: piroplasmosis (author's transl)].

Two E.E.G. recordings were made in a patient with human piroplasmosis (babesiosis). They showed signs of vigilance disturbances and generalized abnormalities, together with lateralization in the temporal region, on the right side in the first recording and on the left in the second one. These abnormal E.E.G. findings are reported, even though the clinical signs were not typical of babesiosis, as the biological diagnosis was certain (parasite definitely identified in the red blood cells, severe and progressive parasitic infestation), and it is impossible to evoke other aetiological elements. It is impossible to formulate a valid hypothesis, based on our present knowledge, to explain the mechanisms of this encephalic condition. We can only state the findings without prejudging its direct or indirect nature.


The orienting response: importance of instructions.

A lack of agreement exists among studies of electrodermal habituation in schizophrenia. One explanation for the intractable discrepancies observed concerns the likelihood that there exists intersubject variability in the significance patients attach to stimuli. This possibility is encouraged through the administration of vague and uninformative instructions. A more controlled and sensible procedure, which allows habituation to be measured with greater ecological validity, involves providing subjects with an absorbing alternative task on which to focus their attention after being specifically instructed to ignore the habituation stimulus to the best of their ability.


Sex differences in concordance rates for schizophrenia in twins.

In response to my discussion of sex differences in concordance rates for schizophrenia in twins, Lewine (1979) noted that male schizophrenics are hospitalized earlier than females. He questioned whether females had been followed through the risk period. To clarify, I calculated the age at followup of discordant twins in three studies. In Gottesman and Shields' (1972) study, the majority of both male and female co-twins were still under the age of 45. In contrast, all but a few of Kringlen's (1967a, 1967b, 1968) and Fischer's (1973) co-twins were 45 or over. Their findings support the conclusion that recent twin studies show no significant sex differences in concordance.


Assessment of adenoidal hyperplasia.

Adenoidal tissue recovered at surgery was weighed to see if it would correspond with clinical evidence of increased secretory otitis media and nasal blockage. It was observed that adenoidal enlargement was directly proportional to the severity of clinical signs and symptoms. This was also predicted by lateral roentgenogram of the nasopharynx.


Nematode parasites of rats in West Java, Indonesia.

From the Indonesian rats, namely Rattus rattus diardii, R. exulans, R. tiomanicus, R. niviventer, R. lepturus, R. bartelsii, R. cremoriventer, R. sabanus and Pithecheir melanurus, surveyed for nematode parasites, the following parasites were recovered: Angiostrongylus cantonensis, Capillaria hepatica, Cyclodontostomum purvisi, Hepatojarakus malayae, Rictularia tani, Mastophorus muris, Physaloptera sp. and Subulura andersoni. Of these, C. purvisi, H. malayae, Physaloptera, sp. and S. andersoni have so far not been reported from Indonesian rats.


Mutants of Arthroderma benhamiae.

The object of these studies was to isolate conditionally lethal mutants of Arthroderma benhamiae whose vegetative growth was temperature sensitive (ts). Three sorts of mutants were derived from nitrosoguanidine treatment of the microconidia of A. benhamiae: (i) ts "pleomorphic", (ii) ts "non-pleomorphic", and (iii) slow growers (sg) which were not temperature sensitive. The growth of wild type A. benhamiae, as measured by colony diameters, was 6 mm/day at 37 degrees C (chosen as non-permissive for screening mutants) and 5 mm/day at 25 degrees C (chosen as permissive for screening mutants). Growth of mutants of the first sort was virtually stopped at 37 degrees C but their growth at 25 degrees C was more rapid than that of wild type. The colony texture of these mutants was downy and their mycelium sterile. They failed to mate with parents of opposite mating type. These mutants were considered to be ts "pleomorphic". The second sort of mutants were ts "non-pleomorphic". Two isolates of this kind were recovered. They grew normally at 25 degrees C but their growth at 37 degrees C was reduced 50--70% of that of wild type. The nature of the temperature sensitive defect has not been identified. The third sort of mutant occurred very frequently. These isolates were slow growers (sg) regardless of temperature of incubation and their response to the respiratory inhibitors antimycin and salicyl hydroxamic acid suggested a defect in mitochondrial ribosome assembly and deficiencies in cytochromes not unlike those observed in the poky mutants of Neurospora. Two of the sg-mutants (sg 2 and sg3) produced abundant cleistothecia with asci and ascospores when back crossed to parents of opposite mating type. The sg 5 mutant produced cleistothecia but no ascospores. The ergosterol content of the sg 2 mutant was nearly the same as that of wild type while the ergosterol content of sg 3 was somewhat reduced and that of sg 5 was markedly reduced as compared to that of wild type. Thus the ergosterol content seems to play some role in sexual reproduction of A. benhamiae. The pattern of sensitivity to amphotericin B also reflected differences in the sterol content of the mutants, i.e., the two mutants with some alteration in their ergosterol content, sg 3 and sg 5 were more resistant to the antibiotic. During the course of these studies a number of variants were observed that produced different sorts and degrees of pigmentation of the reverse of their colonies. One stable variant of this kind gave rise to colonies with a red reverse when incubated at 37 degrees C and a yellow reverse when incubated at 25 degrees C. When plates were shifted from one temperature to another the next wave of growth was the color specified by the temperature.


Mycotic keratitis by Cladorrhinum.

Cladorrhinum spp (strain CBS 604.75) was isolated, for the first time, from a case of keratomycosis. The patient, a 12 year-old boy, showed a soft white yellowish mycotic excrescence with clear borders which had followed the introduction of a small piece of straw into the cornea. The direct examination of corneal scrapings revealed dark-brown filaments. He was successfully treated with miconazole.


[Variations in the body temperature of cows during oestrus (author's transl)].

The temperatures of twenty cows were recorded rectally from five days prior to the expected date of oestrus till after ovulation at 2.30, 7 and 12 a.m. and at 5 and 10 p.m. The cows were also examined for oestrus behaviour at these times. When the cows had stood to be mounted for the first time at one of the hours of observation, the ovaries were examined by palpation at the subsequent times to detect ovulation. The total number of cows in heat, in which marked oestrous behaviour was observed, was forty-one. In addition, there were eight cases of silent oestrus, i.e. though the animals did ovulate and usually showed an increase in temperature, they did not stand to be mounted. Variance analysis showed that de 'cow effect', the time of day, the stage of oestrus, the oestrus number and the interaction of the stage of oestrus and the time of day had a significant effect on the body temperature. In 86 per cent of the cases of oestrus (including those of 'silent oestrus'), there was a significant increase in body temperature. This proportion was much smaller, namely 55 per cent, when observations were made about milking time only (7 a.m. and 5 p.m.). The mean difference between the highest temperature during oestrus and the average reference temperature was 0.62 degrees C +/- 0.38 degrees C. Daily monitoring of the temperature was also found to be useful in checking the state of health of the dairy herd.


Transmitral resection of subpulmonary stenosis in transposition of the great arteries.

Adequate surgical relief of left ventricular outflow obstruction (LVOO) in transposition of the great arteries (TGA) with atrio-ventricular concordance and intact ventricular septum, may to a significant degree depend on the severity of the lesion and the anatomic location of the ventricular septum and the mitral valve. A new approach to resection of subpulmonary obstruction in TGA through the left atrium and the retracted mitral valve is described. In contrast to dynamic stenosis, transmitral resection of a fixed subpulmonary narrowing will usually lead to a significant decrease of LVOO in TGA, with good clinical results.


[Fresh autologus blood transfusion during open heart surgery (author's transl)].

Hemodynamic parameters were measured in 80 unselected patients prior to cardiopulmonary bypass for a variety of a operative procedures. Isovolemic blood withdrawel up to 24.7 ml/kg or 10 gms% and 30% hematocrit during sternotomy using ACD blood storage containers was carried out prior to bypass. Moderate hemodilution during bypass with postbypass autologous blood transfusion resulted in 60% of the study group not requiring homologous blood. The mean post-operative blood loss in this group was 245 ml. The remaining 40% received up to 1550 ml homologous blood with 820 ml mean post-operative blood loss. Omission or reduction of homologous blood requirement decreases the risk of shock lung, saves clotting factors and reduces strain on blood banking facilities.


On Dipetalonema viteae infection of Mastomys natalensis.

Experimental infections were carried out with the tissue-dwelling filaria Dipetalonema viteae using the argasid tick Ornithodorus moubata as the intermediate and the multimammate rat Mastomys natalensis (Strain GRA Giessen) as the final host. The optimum infective dose was found to be 50 third-stage larvae, which produced patent infections and the recovery rates of adult parasites were 47.6 and 26.4% of the inoculated larvae 140 and 189 days after infection, respectively. After an average prepatent period of 57 days, the microfilaraemia increased progressively and reached relatively low maximum values about 192 days after infection. These maximum values were followed by rapid decrease of microfilaraemia, but microfilariae were still detectable at 261 days post infection. Following the subcutaneous injection of infected animals with dexamethasone in single doses each of 1, 10 or 20 mg/kg body weight 30 minutes before blood puncture, a dose-dependent increase in the microfilarial counts in the circulating blood was observed, this reaching maximum values between 120 and 160 days after infection. Repeated administration of single doses of 10 mg/kg dexamethasone revealed an uniform but temporary increase in the microfilaraemia but this was not associated with any alterations in the reproductive organs of adult female parasites. No correlation could be found between the number of microfilariae in the circulating blood and the number of adult worms recovered from the subcutaneous connective tissue. At necropsy 300 days after infection living female parasites could not be found any more.


Familial occurrence of testicular neoplasms (in cousins).

Testicular malignancies in closely related family members rarely occur. Only 18 cases have been reported in the literature. Our cases concern two families with testicular tumors occurring in cousins. This is the first such incidence reported. The need for a thorough checkup of other family members is reiterated.


Treatment of delayed onset of spontaneous voiding after surgery for incontinence.

A preliminary study on 40 female patients who had undergone colposuspension surgery was carried out using four drugs in an attempt to reduce the time taken to void spontaneously following surgery and to define the cause of delay. Oral diazepam given as night sedation, was found to be the most effective drug.


Pathology of experimental Histophilus ovis infection in sheep. II. Pregnant ewes.

Intravenous inoculation of Histophilus ovis to pregnant ewes at mid or late gestation resulted in acute bacterial endometritis, placentitis and foetal death. There were no lesions in the foetuses but H. ovis was recovered from the uteri of the ewes and the placentas. Oral or intravaginal administration had no effect.


[Inactivated saponin vaccine against salmonellal abortion in sheep].

An inactivated saponine vaccine is prepared from five highly immunogenic Salmonella abortus ovis strains, selected by means of a biological test on white rats. Saline was used as a diluent of the vaccine, with the addition of 30 per cent glycerine, 0.012 per cent saponine and 0.1 per cent propiolactone. The optimum immunization dose of 5 cm3 is injected singly subcutaneously behind the elbow, two and a half months after impregnation. The vaccine is applied on infected farms before the disease occurs. The cellular-humoral immunity, which forms 14 days after the injection, lasts 4--5 months and protects the sheep against salmonellosis abortion.


[Cardiovascular changes of the foetal circulation during deceleration in acute foetal hypoxia (author's transl)].

Acute foetal hypoxia trials were conducted in 11 foetuses of sheep. The following parameters were determined continuously besides heart rate, art. pO2, arterial and venous blood pressure: cardiac output, stroke volume and system resistance. Acute foetal hypoxia was produced in two ways: 1) Compression of the maternal vena cava The arterial blood pressure in the foetus is increased. This is reflected mainly by the systolic blood pressure. This increase is provoked by the increase in stroke volume (up to 100%). This increase in stroke volume is so great that the cardiac output is increased despite the onset of deceleration. The system resistance remains unchanged. 2) Maternal hypoxia In contrast to foetal hypoxia as described above, the increase of stroke volume is not so pronounced at the onset of deceleration, and the system resistance is increased. After termination of maternal hypoxia there is an abrupt change of system resistance back to the original value. Both types of foetal hypoxia will subsequently not differ significantly from each other.


[Antenatal estimation of fetal maturity by exfoliative cytology of amniotic fluid (author's transl)].

In 152 amniotic fluid samples, derived either from amniocentesis or amniotomy, smears have been performed for cytological investigation (staining after Harris-Shorr). The per cent amount of different cell-shapes has been determined. Polygonal, anucleate, transparent cells, representing desquameted fetal keratinocytes, are seen more frequently in late pregnancy and have been registered separately. These data have been compared to the postnatal determination of gestational age after Dubowitz et al, as well as Farr et al. This mode of investigation allows a safe and objective determination of maturity in the last weeks of pregnancy and thereby an exclusion of a presumed fetal prematurity. This method seems very useful in differential diagnosis between fetal hypotrophy and prematurity in the latter part of pregnancy.


An analysis on the specificity of the histochemical techniques already proposed to detect catalases and peroxidases.

The spot test carried on filter paper strips appears as a very suitable technique to investigate the reactivity of catalases, peroxidases, porphyrins (bilirubin and protoporphyrin), metalloporphyrins (haemoglobin, haemin, haematin, chlorophyll and cyanocobalamin), ferric and ferrous salts. By using this technique the specificity of the already proposed techniques admitted as appropriate to detect histochemically peroxidases and catalases was investigated. The results shown from the already proposed techniques to detect peroxidases only the alpha-naphthol reaction is somewhat specific for this enzyme, if the results were taken immediately. However, if the results were taken after 24 h, the reaction loose all specificity. The other techniques proposed to detect peroxidase are not specific, either concerning the discrimination between catalases and peroxidases activity or regarding the possibility to differenciate an enzymic from a catalytic activity provided by haemic iron containing compounds and sometimes by iron salts. Our histochemical technique already proposed as suitable to detect catalases seams to be specific, since peroxidases do not react positively. By replacing benzidine for some others hydrogen donors the peroxidases histochemical techniques remain not specific and are unable to discriminate this enzyme from catalases. Porphyrins (protoporphyrin and bilirubin), magnesium and cobalt containing metalloporhyrins (chlorophyll and cyanocobalamin) do not produce oxidation of any hydrogen donors used. Iron salts are also able to give positive results with some techniques already proposed as suitable for peroxidases and catalases detection.


[Surgical management of abscessing mastitis and of retromammary abscesses].

This paper analyses the frequency of abscess-forming mastitis and retromammary abscess in evaluating patients of 11712 births from 1972 to 1978. In 69 cases we found an abscess-forming mastitis and in 6 cases a retromammary abscess. In differential diagnosis there are discussed the clinical symptoms of both diseases. Whereas in the case of intramammary abscess a radial incision with contra-incision and drainage is made, the retromammary abscess indicates a curved incision according of the retromammary abscess are not so frequent but must be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory diseases of the mamma during puerperium.


[Monozygotic and dizygotic twins discordant with regard to manifest schizophrenia].

The author describes psychotic conditions of co-twins who were not seen by a psychiatrist before, in 12 MZ and 62DZ pairs, where the probands suffered from manifest schizophrenia. Among MZ, one half of the examined patients was classified as "mildly expressed schizophrenia" and the other as schizoid personality abnormalities. The probands of MZ pairs displayed the prevalence of slow progressive variants of schizophrenia within the framework of both continuous and attack-like forms. DZ co-twins of schizophrenic probands according to the psychotic state formed a range of transitions from mildly expressed schizophrenia through personality abnormalities to accentuated personalities and norm.


The role of chronogenetics and of gemellology in the prevention of genetic morbidity.

The prevention of hereditary diseases after birth is essentially based on the detection of these diseases at their preclinical level. This may be made possible through a careful pedigree examination and possible identification of a "genealogical alarm", as well as a detailed clinical examination of the subject and possible identification of preclinical signs of the pathogenesis, i.e., of a "clinical alarm". The respective roles of chronogenetics and of gemellology in this approach are reviewed.


Experimental neurosis and gastric secretion in dogs.

In four dogs (2 males and 2 females from one litter) with established gastric cannula gastric secretion was studied in control experiments and in induced experimental neurosis. Gastric secretion was stimulated by insulin. We monitored in individual 15 min. portions the amount of gastric juice, total HCl output, output of acid gastric proteinases, mucoproteins and some ions. The gastric juice was dialyzed and freeze dried. 50 mg of the lyophilisate was separated on Sephadex G 100. Macromolecular substances were fractionated into glycoproteins (peak I), acid gastric proteinases (peak II) and glycopeptides and polypeptides (peak III). The ratio of these individual macromolecular substances remainded constant in the same dog in all control experiments. However, there were significant differences between individual animals. Induction of experimental neurosis (by collision of the alimentary and avoidance reflex) gave rise to changes not only in the output of HCl and gastric proteinases, but also in the ratio of macromolecular substances. In the series of observed parameters these changes were of a different nature in males and females.


Effect of experimental neurosis on the secretion of acid gastric proteinases in dogs.

In experiments on dogs with gastric cannula we proved that the gastric juice, obtained after intravenous injection of insulin, contained after separation of DEAE Sephadex A-50 5--7 proteolytically active fractions. In four dogs of both sexes the ratio and number of individual fractions remained constant in control experiments. However, there were differences between the animals. After induction of experimental neurosis (by the collision of the alimentary and avoidance reflex) all animals showed the same marked changes in the chromatographic patterns of acid proteinases. There was a change not only in the ratio of two larger groups of proteolytically active fractions but also in the total number of all fractions. These changes persisted for 8--10 weeks after induction of experimental neurosis.


A follow-up study of infants with adverse reactions to cow's milk. I. Serum IgE, skin test reactions and RAST in relation to clinical course.

47 infants with cow's milk sensitivity were followed for a period varying between 6 months to 4 years (mean 28 months). The age at onset of symptoms varied between 14 days to 20 months. The clinical course was studied in relation to reaginic allergy by use of serum IgE, skin prick test and RAST. Infants with an immediate onset of symptoms from the gastrointestinal tract and the skin after cow's milk intake were discerned as a distinct entity having a high frequency of atopy in the family, positive skin tests and positive RASTs to milk (71%). Cases with delayed reactions to cow's milk seldom had a positive RAST or skin test. Most infants of both groups showed an increasing tolerance to milk. In RAST positive infants the RAST-titers increased significantly after onset of symptoms. After having reached a peak the titers subclined in several cases. The titers did not reflect the degree of milk sensitivity during the follow-up period. However, infants who developed high titers seemed to develop tolerance more slowly than infants with low titers.


Cow's milk allergy, incidence and pathogenetic role of early exposure to cow's milk formula.

A study was performed in infants under the age of 12 months born during 1974 and admitted to St. Göran's Children's Hospital with symptoms suggestive of cow's milk allergy (CMA). The aims of the study were to determine the role of early exposure to cow's milk formulas as a predisposing factor to CMA and to estimate the incidence of CMA in infancy. Twenty-five infants fulfilled the criteria for CMA. Available records were reviewed and a careful history was obtained from the mothers on two occasions. The patient group was compared with a control group. Sixteen of the 25 infants were exposed to cow's milk protein during their first week in the nursery for newborns, 6 were exposed before the end of the fourth week of life, and 3 infants were apparently not exposed. All infants were breast fed 3 to 26 weeks before re-exposure and occurrence of symptoms. Infants with CMA were given cow's milk formulas during their first 4 weeks of life significantly more often than infants in the control group (p less than 0.01). The incidence of CMA was approximately 1 : 200. The first 4 weeks after birth seem to be a particularly vulnerable period. Hence, in order to prevent CMA, infant formula should not be given--even occasionally--during this period.


Cultivable mycobacteria in sphagnum vegetation of moors in South Sweden and coastal Norway.

Intact sphagnum vegetation from moors in south Sweden and coastal areas of west Norway contained cultivable mycobacteria in 32% and 30% of the specimens, respectively. This frequency of specimens is lower than the 50% previously found in the partly altered moors of northwestern Germany, but the Scandinavian moors contained a larger variety of species. On both intact and altered moors M. chelonei and M. sphagni sp. nov. were found, the latter a homologous group of 151 strains. In south Sweden the highest frequency was found in S. balticum, S. recurvum. S. tenellum and S. compactum & molle. (40-65%). In coastal Norway the highest frequency was found in S. rubellum (48%) which offers favourable conditions for the accumulation of solar energy due to the red brown colour in the upper parts. Combined with a high humidity in coastal Norway in summer, this may contribute to the growth of mesophilic mycobacteria. A significant affinity of M. chelonei to S. tenellum was stated.


The effect of experimental tubal obstruction on the middle ear. Preliminary report.

The rat was used as a model for studying the effect of tubal obstruction on the middle ear. Animals raised under conventional conditions, SPF- and germ-free animals were used. The predominant findings were: (1) Tubal occlusion causes an effusion of serous fluid into the middle ear cavity and promotes the pathological behaviour of pathogen and non-pathogen symbionts of the middle ear cavity. (2) The germ-free animal is an excellent model for studying the isolated effect of tubal obstruction without the interference of infectious disease. (3) The middle ear reacts towards tubal obstruction by a tendency to resorb and to organize the fluid by phagocytosis and fibrosis of the cavity. Transformation of the epithelium into mucus-producing cells was observed only in those animals which developed a middle ear infection after occlusion. (4) The final result shows a near-totally obliterated middle ear cavity resembling the atelectatic middle ear in humans.


Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: treatment with a combination of antiplatelet drugs.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare disease with a vary high mortality. Different modalities of therapy have been tried, but often with no effect. Recently, interest has focused on drugs interfering with platelet function, though few patients have received antiplatelet drugs as the only therapy. We describe a patient with TTP, who recovered completely on a combination therapy with dextran, aspirin and dipyridamole.


[The condition of the Eustachian tube and its influence on the middle ear].

Any functional disturbance in the auditory tube may be documented morphologically. We demonstrated in case of a block changes within the tubal mucosa and in the adjacent salivary glands. Complete obliteration of the lumen is a very rare instance caused only by severe trauma or as a possible result of heavy inflammatory damage to the mucosa. A lack of ventilation produces in the tympanic cleft a vacuum, followed by a typical effusion out of the altered mucosa. Anaerobic conditions favour hyper and metaplastic transformation of the epithelium. The clinical picture resembles the non-purulent, closed form of otitis, serous otitis media. The missing clearance makes the discharge within the tympanic cleft a great challenge to the mucosa. Granulation tissue proliferates, an enzyme production is initiated and phagocytes help to eliminate or to organize the middle ear content. The clinical picture corresponds to otitis media adhaesiva. If the auditory tube is blocked long enough, the healing result leads to the atelectatic tympanon caused by scare tissue, dystrophic calcification, fatty degeneration of granulation tissue, fibrocystic transformation of the mucosa. The ossicular chain, if not destroyed or interrupted, is fixed. A very dangerous condition is caused by retractionpockets within the ear drum membrane. They give rise to secondary acquired cholesteatoma. In the beginning of the whole process we see the nonfunctioning auditory tube, provoked by an infection. The development of the tubal tonsil and the perivascular aggregations of immunocompetent cells lead to the opinion, that the tube is an immunological not only a mechanical barrier against ascending infections. Favoured by antibiotic treatment the inflammation is localized by the body's own defence within the tympanic tube and causes the blockage, the loss of function, which influences heavily the middle ear and its lining.


Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and transmural myocardial infarction without significant atherosclerosis of the extramural coronary arteries.

Clinical and morphologic features of transmural myocardial infarction (associated with insignificant or absent atherosclerosis of the extramural coronary arteries) are described in seven patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Marked chronic congestive heart failure associated with supraventricular arrhythmias occurred in six of the seven patients, each of whom had no or mild left ventricular outflow tract obstruction under basal conditions. No patient had typical angina pectoris, and only one patient had clinically evident acute myocardial infarction. Infarction may have caused cardiac arrest in one other patient, but was "silent" in the remaining five patients. At necropsy, six of the seven patients had extensive myocardial scarring involving the ventricular septum, left ventricular free wall and one or both left ventricular papillary muscles; in four patients portions of the right ventricular wall were also scarred. Six patients had dilated ventricular cavities, including two who were known to have nondilated ventricular cavities earlier in their clinical course. It is concluded that transmural myocardial infarction in the absence of significant coronary atherosclerosis is a not uncommon finding (prevalence rate 15 percent) in a population of patients who had died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Although transmural infarction is possibly a secondary event, it more likely contributes causally to the clinical deterioration of some patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, leading to ventricular dilatation and progressive fatal cardiac failure.


The effect of oral zinc supplementation on plasma levels of vitamin A and retinol-binding protein in cystic fibrosis.

Oral zinc supplementation with 100 mg zinc sulfate over an 8-week period in 36 patients with cystic fibrosis and 17 siblings did not affect the vitamin A transport system, as evidenced by an absence of consistent and significant quantitative changes in plasma levels of vitamin A, retinol-binding protein, and zinc, nor did the exogenous zinc appear to stimulate growth or exert any clinical benefit to the cystic fibrosis patients. The lack of response to zinc supplementation might be explained by the fact that the group of cystic fibrosis subjects studied was fairly healthy in regard to clinical status and certain blood parameters, including zinc.


Congenital cystic malformation of the lung. A form of congenital bronchiolar ("adenomatoid") malformation.

Of 41 cases of cystic lungs in children, 21 were found by microscopy to be due to congenital cystic malformation. In most of the remainder, chronic inflammation and fibrosis precluded differentiation from postinflammatory pneumatocele. A few were intermediate between cystic malformation and congenital lobar emphysema. The cystic malformations were 17 surgical and four necropsy specimens, and two thirds of the patients were under 1 year old. The condition was unilobar, and the cysts were thin-walled, up to 8 cm in diameter, multiple or multilocular, and microscopically resembled proliferated, dilated bronchioles communicating with alveoli. There was a wide range of size, shape, and number of cysts, and no sharp demarcation from adenomatoid malformation in stillborn infants. Thus, bronchiolar malformations fall into two overlapping clinicopathologic groups: (1) adenomatoid malformation in edematous stillborn and premature infants with perdominantly solid lobes showing more epithelial proliferation and immature terminal airways and (2) cystic malformation in term infants and children with predominantly cystic lobes and interspresed mature alveoli.


Yersinia pseudotuberculosis septicemia.

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis septicemia and postdiarrheal hemolytic-uremia syndrome (HUS) developed in a 15-month-old boy after he ingested unpasteurized goat's milk. The epidemiology of this organism and the disease states caused by it are discussed with the suggestion that an association between it and some cases of the HUS might be found if sought.


Campylobacter fetus infection in human subjects: association with raw milk.

Within a three week period, four cases of Campylobacter fetus infection were identified in a hospital in Los Angeles County. Three of the four patients had drunk large quantities of an identical brand of commercially available certified raw milk. Campylobacter fetus subspecies jejuni was isolated from the blood of these three patients. The fourth patient, who did not drink raw milk, had Campylobacter fetus subspecies intestinalis isolated from his blood. A telephone survey comparing cases and controls for possible risk factors associated with Campylobacter fetus infection confirmed the association with raw milk (P = 0.003). In a serologic survey, evidence suggested that Campylobacter fetus infection was associated with raw milk consumption.


Reversed septal curvature. Association with primary pulmonary hypertension and Shone syndrome.

In the normal heart the interventricular septum is curved concave to the left and functions as a component of the left ventricular wall. We have studied the hearts of five patients at autopsy, after postmortem angiography and fixation in distention, in which the septum was concave to the right ventricle. These patients ranged in age from eight months to 25 years (average, 16 years); three had primary pulmonary hypertension, and two had coarctation of the aorta and congenital aortic stenosis. Catheterization studies in the latter two patients had demonstrated subaortic stenosis. At autopsy there was no evidence of asymmetric septal hypertrophy or of abnormal septal myocardial fiber disarray. The right ventricles were markedly hypertrophied. In each, the septal curvature was reversed leading to protrusion of septal muscle into the left ventricular outflow tract with marked narrowing of the outflow tract. Since the septal configuration is determined early in life, this abnormality of ventricular topography  may develop primarilary or it may develop in hearts subject to early as well as long-standing right ventricular overload.


Immune complexes in uveitis.

We determined the incidence of immune complex increases, the nature of immune complexes, and the correlation between the immune complex level and clinical uveitis status in patients with chronic iridocyclitis and chronic diffuse uveitis. Ten of 16 patients with chronic iridocyclitis had increased levels of immune complexes, and this correlated with disease activity. Immune complexes were detected in ten of 12 patients with chronic diffuse uveitis. These complexes have a molecular weight of approximately 2 X 10(6) daltons. The antibody component of immune complex is IgG; however; the antigenic component of the immune complexes is unclear.


Valvar subcoronary aortic stenosis in dogs.

A technique for producing valvar aortic stenosis is described. The noncoronary sinus of Valsalva is plicated externally at a level proximal to the origin of the coronary arteries. The major intraoperative problems are hemorrhage, acute left ventricular failure, and heart block, all of which can be avoided. The survival rate in 26 dogs was 54% and all the survivors remained active. Moderate left ventricular hypertrophy was produced.


[Genetic aspects of depressive illness (author's transl)].

Depressive syndromes are a group of heterogenous mental disorders. On the basis of genetic studies, one distinguishes between bipolar and unipolar depression. Hereditary transmission varies according to the type of depressive syndrome, and is still the subject of controversies. The place of schizoaffective syndromes remains unclear in the nosology of depression.


Cyproheptadine in the management of the galactorrhea-amenorrhea syndrome.

We evaluated long-term treatment with the antiserotonergic agent cyproheptadine in the management of the galactorrhea-amenorrhea syndrome. Fifteen women with a mean initial serum prolactin of 37 +/- 7 ng/mL received 16 to 24 mg of cyproheptadine daily; they had a significant decrease in prolactin concentration at 8 and at 16 weeks (P less than 0.01). Gonadotropin responses were variable, but no significant changes were recorded during treatment. Ten of the 15 women had menstrual bleeding while receiving cyproheptadine, seven had decreased galactorrhea, and two had cessation of galactorrhea. The side effects of treatment were transient drowsiness and weight gain. We conclude that long-term treatment of the galactorrhea-amenorrhea syndrome with cyproheptadine is effective in lowering serum prolactin in patients with mildly elevated or normal levels. Its effect on fertility remains to be ascertained.


[Special hormone-determined constitutional types in women from the anthropological viewpoint].

The question is examined, whether in females hormonal determined constitution types are present which would require a different dosage of the estrogen respectively gestagen portion in the compound of ovulation inhibitors. Various aspects of constitution biology as well as of hormone physiology connected with this question are discussed in detail. Provided that a coherence between the hormonal balance and the constitutional type would be present, ovulation inhibitors could be dosed for the estrogen respectively gestagen portion. However, until now such a coherence could not be proved convincingly.


Induction of colitis in hamsters by topical application of antibiotics.

Syrian hamsters are exquisitely sensitive to clindamycin; as little as 1 mg/kg of clindamycin given systemically causes a fatal colitis. Clindamycin and erythromycin were applied topically daily to the shaved backs of Syrian hamsters in a hydroalcoholic vehicle. A daily dose of 0.1 mg of clindamycin was lethal to more than half the hamsters and 1 mg to all the animals. The antibiotic-associated toxin from Clostridium difficile was present in their cecal material. Based on body surface areas and estimated usual volumes applied, the lethal dose in hamsters is not dissimilar to that given humans for acne. Oral tetracycline therapy protected the animals from clindamycin toxicity, but the animals died three days after stopping tetracycline if topical clindamycin applications were continued.


Differential motility of diploid rabbit spermatozoa.

When rabbit spermatozoa were suspended in a fluid column and incubated for a period of 2.5 hr, there was a change in the relative distribution of morphologically normal, abnormal, and dead spermatozoa. Live, morphologically normal spermatozoa were concentrated in the lower levels of the column, whereas dead and most morphologically abnormal spermatozoa were distributed throughout the upper levels. It appears that the motility of various types of morphologically abnormal rabbit spermatozoa is impaired. These observations strengthen the proposal that the cervix plays an essentially passive role in the selection of spermatozoa during sperm transport in mammals with vaginal insemination.


Morphology and fertility of guinea pig spermatozoa aged in vivo.

The morphology and fertility of spermatozoa from vasa deferentia of guinea pigs were observed following hemicastration or castration for approximately 40 days. The morphology of these aged sperm was studied from living and fixed preparations. Fertilizing ability was assayed by artificial insemination of estrous females and subsequent counting of embryos. Spermatozoa underwent morphological changes including dissociation of rouleaux, curving of tails, and loss of acrosomes; physiological changes included a decline in the number of sperm with progressive motility and increased numbers of immotile spermatozoa with time after the operations. The fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa was maintained for approximately 30 days in both groups. However, sperm from one of the hemicastrated males resulted in conception 36 days postoperation. The data suggest that the loss of motility and decline in fertilizing ability were the result of spermatozoa senescence rather than testicular androgen deficiency.


Acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Another cause for hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia in cirrhosis.

Severe hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia developed in a 56-year-old man with Laennec's cirrhosis. Rather than having one or more of the expected causes for these problems associated with cirrhosis, he proved to have acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Treatment with platelet antiaggregant drugs and exchange plasmapheresis was ineffective in controlling the disease. The presence of advanced liver disease may precipitate or complicate this unusual syndrome.


Enumeration of bacteria forming acetate from H2 and CO2 in anaerobic habitats.

A method has been worked out that allows the detection and isolation of bacteria fermenting molecular hydrogen and carbon dioxide to acetic acid. The ratio of methanogenic to acetogenic bacteria in sludge and lake sediment samples has been found to be approximately 100 to 1. Acetogenic bacteria could not be detected in rumen samples.


Effect of temporarily increased ionic strength and of urea on stability of DNA complexes with native and acetylated BPTI.

Hyperchromism of DNA-BPTI and DNA-acetylated BPTI complexes following dialysis/re-dialysis against solutions of increasing/decreasing concentrations of NaCl, urea or urea and NaCl, amounted to ca 50% of hyperchromism values obtained with free DNA or non-dialyzed complexes Stability of DNA-BPTI and DNA-acetylated BPTI complexes subjected to a temporary effect of NaCl, urea or urea and NaCl resembled stability of the complexes in the presence of Nacl or urea. The presence of all three geometrical DNA forms was detected in re-dialyzed DNA-BPTI and DNA-acetylated BPTI complexes. Possible mechanisms of interaction between BPTI and DNA are discussed.


Interaction of DNA with guanidylated BPTI.

It was shown that guanidylated BPTI complexed with DNA stablized the native structure of the latter. It was found that hyperchromism values of DNA-guanidylated BPTI complexes, dialyzed against increasing and redialized against decreasing concentrations of NaCl or urea, amount ot ca 50% of hyperchromism values of free DNA or nondialyzed complexes. All three geometric forms of DNA were detected in DNA-guanidylated BPTI complexes subjected to the transient action of NaCl or urea.


[Spur development in chick embryos].

Normal development of spurs and horny squamae have been studied in histological preparations obtained from the skin of tarsometatarsus in 8--16-day-old embryos. During the first, initial stage of development, by means of rearrangement of cellular matter and cell migration, three main parts of the spur are layed down -- the horny cover, the spur body and the fibrovascular cushion. For the second stage, vigorous growth of the spur germ at the expense of proliferative activity of its cells is characteristic. At the third stage (after hatching) in males, the spur body outgrows and the bony core is formed. Morphogenesis of the horny squama can be devided into two stages. At the initial stages by means of condensing cellular elements, squamous papilla and horny shell are layed down. The fibrovascular cushion is absent. The second stage is similar to the spur one and is characterized by growth of all the germ parts at the expense of cell proliferation. Comparing morphogeneses of the squama and the spur, it is possible to conclude that phylogenetic transformation of the squama into the spur is performed by two means (modi) of phyloembryogenesis: by means of adding new signs of development to the initial terminal stages of its morphogenesis.


Alterations of ocular motility in cerebellar pathology. An electro-oculographic study.

Saccadic as well as smooth pursuit movements were studied by means of electro-oculograms in a group of 14 patients affected by cerebellar diseases. Ten patients had cerebellar atrophies, and four had undergone surgery for cerebellar tumors. Loss of gain of the pursuit system and metric alteration of saccades were the most striking abnormalities observed. Dysmetria was shown to be related to the amplitude of the movement and to the sector of the perimeter within which the movement occurs (movements occurring in the more eccentric sector were more disturbed). A tendency to produce saccades slower than normal was noted in patients affected by olivopontocerebellar atrophy. The clinical and pathophysiological significance of this finding is discussed with particular reference to Wadia-Swaami hereditary ataxia.


Internal ophthalmoplegia after argon laser panretinal photocoagulation.

Internal ophthalmoplegia was found in eight eyes of four patients with juvenile-onset diabetes. All eight eyes had received argon laser panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Internal ophthalmoplegia was not found in any of the 14 eyes of seven patients with juvenile diabetes who had not had photocoagulation treatment. This group included one patient in whom internal ophthalmoplegia was present after treatment. Laser injury to the short ciliary nerves, as they course anteriorly on the inner surface of the sclera, is the probable cause of internal ophthalmoplegia in these patients. To my knowledge, this complication has not been reported previously, but it appears to be a common side effect of PRP.


Inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis in ovine ovarian follicles in vitro by human chorionic gonadotrophin.

Cholesterol biosynthesis from DL-[2-14C]mevalonic acid ([14C]MVA) was demonstrated in ovine ovarian follicles and isolated thecal tissues and granulosal cells incubated in vitro. Thecal tissues more readily synthesized cholesterol than did granulosal cells when incubated separately, but in the intact follicle the newly synthesized cholesterol distributed evenly between the two tissue layers, indicating that the theca could act as a supplementary source of cholesterol for the granulosal cells. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) added to the incubation medium was found to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis from [14C]MVA by intact follicles and isolated thecal tissues, but not granulosal cells. This hCG-induced inhibition was evident in whole follicles incubated for 12--48 h, but not at 3--6 h, and was demonstrated in thecal tissues incubated for 3 h. In all cases where inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis was observed, 14C label accumulated in a product characterized by thin layer and vapour phase chromatography as lanosterol, implying that the hCG block lies between lanosterol and cholesterol. Treatment of follicles with hCG also reduced the amount of 14C label incorporated into the cholesteryl ester fraction. These changes were accompanied by a corresponding reduction in the tissue content of cholesteryl ester, but there were no changes in the specific activities to indicate that newly synthesized cholesteryl ester was used selectively as a substrate for progestin biosynthesis.


Progesterone and corticosteroids in the initiation of lactation in the sow.

The concentration of lactose in the mammary secretion from individual glands of two sows increased significantly (P less than 0.01) between 0 and 24 h after parturition. In six sows studied during the perinatal period there was a negative correlation (r = -0.80; P less than 0.02) at parturition between the concentration of progesterone in the blood and the concentration of lactose in the mammary secretion. Furthermore, the increase in concentration of lactose in the mammary secretion after parturition was related to the timing of the decline of plasma progesterone to low levels. The results indicate that the initiation of lactation occurs within 24 h of parturition in most sows, and the results are consistent with the hypothesis that progesterone withdrawal acts as the 'trigger'. Neither the changes in corticosteroid binding globulin nor the changes in total corticosteroids were temporally related to the initiation of lactation. However, a circadian rhythm was observed for total corticosteroids in the blood of three out of nine lactating and pregnant sows, whereas no circadian rhythm was observed in progesterone of the four pregnant sows. The results are discussed in relation to the disease complex mastitis-metritis-agalactia.


Milk production of grazing dairy cattle after a single anthelmintic treatment.

The prevalence of nematode infections in lactating dairy cattle was determined by faecal egg counts and cultures from over 350 cows selected at random from twelve herds. The mean egg count was 3 eggs per gram (epg) and 43% of the cows sampled were passing detectable concentrations of eggs (greater than 6 eggs) in their faeces. In June 1976 171 cows in 10 herds were treated with 7.5 mg/kg fenbendazole and their milk production compared over the following 2 months with that of 164 untreated cows in the same herds. Anthelmintic treatment had no significant influence on milk production in any of the herds. The contrasting results of this study and recent studies in the United States of America are discussed.


Dermatophilosis of sheep association with dipping and effects on production.

In a trial to ascertain the effect of dipping on dermatophilosis and production in Merino sheep it was found that sheep which had been dipped had more lesions and produced less wool than undipped sheep. Sheep dipped in water or water plus diazinon had more mortalities associated with dermatophilosis than sheep dipped in arsenic or not dipped. The arsenic appeared to aid healing. There were more mortalities in the sheep dipped in water or water plus diazinon one day after shearing than those dipped 10 days after shearing.


Effects of brief exposure of domestic fowl to very intense acceleration fields.

Since biological responses to high sustained Gz (HSGz) are determined largely by field intensity and duration of exposure, a series of experiments was arranged to emphasize the effects of field intensity. Male Rhode Island Red chickens were given a single standard exposure of 1 min to a field, which increased from 5-18 +Gz for the series. Acceleration-induced changes were observed in heart rate during and after the treatment, and in lymphocyte frequency and body mass maintenance subsequently. Generally, there was an increasing bradycardia and lymphopenia, which was proportional to field strength. Above 13 G, normal growth and even the maintenance of a pre-treatment body mass were impaired.


Development capacity of artemia cysts and lettuce seeds flown in Cosmos 936 and directly exposed to cosmic rays.

Developmental capacity of Artemia cysts and chromosomal aberration frequency in lettuce seeds, flown aboard Cosmos 936 have been investigated. Biological objects were located inside or outside the spacecraft. Lettuce seeds were stuck on plastic plates and sandwiched in cellulose sheets in order to discriminate the objects hit by the cosmic heavy ions from the ones not hit. The absorbed dose inside the spacecraft was about 650 mrad. Biological objects were located at different levels in the "outside" container; absorbed doses were 1.5 rad for lettuce seeds and 30 rad for Artemia cysts. There was no change in hatch-ability of Artemia cysts located inside or outside the spacecraft when eggs were tested 2-4 months after recovery, but a marked decrease was observed in eggs 9 months after the space flight. Survival of larvae and adults was normal in "inside" eggs, but decreased in "outside" eggs. Space flight also resulted in a higher frequency of single chromosomal aberrations in cells developed from "inside and outside", hit and non-hit seeds. This highest percentage of multiple chromosomal aberrations occurred in seeds hit by the heavy ions.


Molecular and tissue-specific heterogeneity in HPRT deficiency.

In several patients with different degrees of HPRT deficiencies, residual activities have been determined in both lysed and intact erythrocytes. No close correlation could be found between the degree of HPRT deficiency and the severity of the clinical expression. Unless HPRT activity in both intact and lysed erythrocytes was below detection level, the residual activity in intact red blood cells was higher than in lysates. Tissue-specific heterogeneity was illustrated with a patient suffering from X-linked gout. Lysates from erythrocytes, leukocytes, and cultured fibroblasts showed 1%, 8%, and 100% of normal HPRT activity, respectively. Characterization of the erythrocyte and fibroblast HPRT from this patient showed no kinetic abnormalities. However, there was a decreased heat stability. It is concluded that for a better understanding of the pathophysiology in HPRT deficiency studies on nucleated cells from the different tissues are needed.


N-terminal sequences of uteroglobin and its precursor.

Translation of uteroglobin mRNA in wheat-germ extract has yielded a precursor protein (pre-uteroglobin) containing an N-terminal extension of 21 amino acid residues. The sequence of this extension and that of the 50 N-terminal amino acid residues of uteroglobin have been determined.


Distinction between progestin- and glucocorticoid-binding sites in mammary glands. Apparent lack of cytoplasmic progesterone receptors in lactating mammary glands.

The cytosol fraction of the lactating mammary glands of mice does not appear to contain detectable amounts of progesterone receptors. Mixing experiments indicate that the absence of receptors is not due to interference by other factors in the cytosol. However, in the cytosol of mammary glands, there is specific binding or progestins to certain low-affinity sites which have characteristics of specific glucocorticoid-binding sites.


[Interaction of an anti-arrhythmic drug (bunaftine) with cardiac myosin].

The interaction of Bunaphtine with cardiac myosin has been investigated by means the method of differential spectra. The results demonstrate the existence of a qualitative variation of the spectrum, which indicates an effective interaction drug-protein.


[Influence of hydrocortisone on the response to noradrenaline of segments of isolated coronary arteries in the presence of a beta-adrenergic blocking agent].

The effect of hydrocortisone on the noradrenaline-induces contraction, after propranolol, was studied in vitro. Contraction of response to noradrenaline were increased by hydrocortisone. We suggest that the hydrocortisone influence depends on inhibition of catecol-O-metiltransferase (COMT).


[Influence of 6-methylprednisolone on responses of isolated coronary arteries to adrenaline].

The effect of 6-Methylprednisolone on the adrenaline-induced relaxation was studied in vitro. Relaxation of response to adrenaline increased by 6-Methylprednisolone. We suggest that the 6-Methylprednisolone influence influence depends on inhibition of Catecol-O-methyl transferase (COMT).


[Influence of dexamethasone on the responses of isolated coronary arteries to adrenaline].

The effect of Dexamethasone on the adrenaline-induced relaxation was studied in vitro. Relaxation of response to adrenaline increased by Dexamethasone. We suggest that the Dexamethasone influence depends on inhibition of Catecol-O-methyl transferase (COMT).


Changes in gonadotrophin and ovarian hormone levels during the estrous cycle of black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus).

Daily blood samples over a fifteen day period were obtained from two adult female black-tailed deer and circulating levels of progesterone, estrogens, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin were measured by radioimmunoassay. LH levels showed an apogee at the time when there was observed estrous behaviour. The length of the estrous cycle appeared to be 7 days. Progesterone levels peaked just subsequent to the LH peak. High estrogen levels coincided with high progesterone and prolactin levels. FSH reached maximum levels prior to peak estrogen levels. LH and FSH levels reached maxima on different days. There were two steroid peaks between the LH apogees.


Steady-state kinetic study of action of ribonuclease A, involving a conformational change between 30 and 40 degrees C.

The steady-state kinetics of the reaction of ribonuclease A with cyclic cytidine 2',3'-phosphate as substrate are investigated as a function of temperature at pH 5 and ionic strength 0.1 M. The results suggest, but cannot prove, that a conformational change near 32 degrees C is involved in the rate-limiting step of the reaction mechanism. This conformational change is proposed to be the same one that was observed in studies of the free enzyme and of enzyme-inhibitor complexes near the same temperature.


Cell adhesion and acquisition of detergent resistance by the cytoskeleton of cultured chick fibroblasts.

About 30% of the proteins of adherent cultured chick embryo fibroblasts are not solubilized by the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100 and remain firmly attached to the substratum. The insoluble residue contains a considerable part of the cell's cytoskeleton and its major constituents are large external transformation-sensitive (LETS) protein, the heavy chain of myosin, a 52,000 molecular weight protein and actin. Kinetic studies reveal that cytoskeleton insolubility in Triton is acquired either concurrently with cell adhesion or very closely with it. Neither cell adhesion nor binding of the Triton cytoskeleton to the substratum require de novo synthesis of protein. In the attempt to assess the role of LETS protein in cytoskeleton attachment, we find that trypsin-detached cells rapidly acquire Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton although their LETS protein content is about 15--20% of its level in long-term cultures. Removal of the great majority of LETS molecules of adherent cultures by either urea or trypsin treatment does not affect the relative amount or composition of the anchored cytoskeletal proteins. Also, LETS protein of cultures exposed to cycloheximide for extended periods of time, is reduced to 10% of its maximum amount without much affecting the attachment and composition of the cytoskeleton. It is deduced that the great majority of LETS protein is not required for the attachment of the Triton cytoskeleton to the substratum.


Diminished cerebroside-sulfotransferase activity in the Jimpy mouse mutant due to altered lipid composition in microsomal membranes.

The mouse mutant Jimpy shows a deficient myelination. In the microsomes of the Jimpy brain, the cerebroside-sulfotransferase (EC 2.8.2.11) activity is low. The cerebroside-sulfotransferase activity of Jimpy microsomes could be normalised by delipidating the microsomes with cold acetone and adding to them acetone-extracted lipids from normal microsomes. The lipids extracted from Jimpy membranes did not influence the cerebroside-sulfotransferase activity of neither normal nor Jimpy microsomes. The same results were obtained if artificial cholesterol-phospholipid mixtures in ratios corresponding to the ones found in normal and Jimpy membranes were used for recombination experiments. Therefore the diminished enzyme activities in Jimpy microsomes may be related to the lower cholesterol-phospholipid ratio found in the microsomal membranes of the Jimpy mutant.


Modulation of membrane structure by Ca2+ and dibucaine as detected by 31P NMR.

The polymorphic phase behaviour of model membrane systems consisting of 20 mol% bovine brain phosphatidylserine and 80 mol% egg yolk phosphatidylethanolamine has been examined employing 31P NMR techniques. It is shown that the addition of Ca2+ to such systems can trigger isothermal bilayer to hexagonal (HII) phase transitions, and that such effects can be reversed by the subsequent incorporation of the local anaesthetic dibucaine. These results are discussed in terms of a recent model for membrane fusion (Cullis, P.R. and Hope, M.J. (1978) Nature 271, 672--674) and mechanisms of anaesthesia.


Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from soybean nodule cytosol. Evidence for isoenzymes and kinetics of the most active component.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (orthophosphate:oxaloacetate carboxylase (phosphorylating), EC 4.1.1.31) from plant cells of soybean nodules was studied to assess its role in providing carbon skeletons for aspartate and asparagine synthesis. The enzyme was purified 119-fold by (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and DEAE-cellulose, BioGel A-1.5m, and hydroxyapatite chromatography. Five activity bands were resolved with discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A small quantity of enzyme from the most active band was separated from the others by preparative electrophoresis. The apparent Michaelis constants of this enzyme for phosphoenolpyruvate and HCO3- were 9.4.10(-2) and 4.1.10(-1) mM, respectively. A series of metabolite tested at 1 mM had no significant effect on enzyme activity. These experiments indicate that the major factors directly controlling phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity in vivo are phosphoenolpypyruvate and HCO3- concentrations.


The nature and origin of common phobic fears.

By means of a twin study an attempt was made to throw light upon the aetiology and nosology of phobic fears. Factor analyses revealed five factors, namely separation fears, animal fears, mutilation fears, social fears and nature fears. The study demonstrated that, apart from separation fears, genetic factors play a part in the strength as well as content of phobic fears. Environmental factors, affecting the development of dependence, reserve and neurotic traits generally, seemed also to be of some importance. It was further demonstrated that phobic fears were related to emotional and social adjustment and this was true to an even greater extent for separation fears.


Amphetamine-induced circling behavior in rats: effects of unilateral microinjections of GABA and GABA-related drugs into substantia nigra.

In these experiments, the GABA control upon dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons has been investigated using circling behavior in the rat. Chronically cannulated rats were given D-amphetamine (2 mg/kg i.p.) 45 min before unilateral microinjection (0.2 microliter/2 min) into the substantia nigra (SN) of GABA, muscimol, chlordiazepoxide (CDP) or bicuculline. Circling behavior was continuously recorded for 165 min using an automated rotometer. (1) Non-microinjected control rats exhibit a 'spontaneous' circling behavior after amphetamine. (2) When applied to the SN contralateral to the preferential side of the 'spontaneous' rotations, saline enhances contraversive circling; GABA (5 X 10(-5)M), CDP (5 X 10(-5)M) and muscimol (5 x 10(-7)M, 5 X 10(-8)M) counteract this effect and induce (except CDP) light ipsiversive rotations; GABA (10(-2)M) and muscimol (5 x 10(-5)M) further enhance contraversive turning. (3) When applied to the SN ipsilateral to the preferential side of the 'spontaneous' rotations, saline has no marked effect on the ipsiversive circling behavior but induces weak contraversive turning; GABA (5 X 10(-5)M), CDP (5 X 10(-5)M) and muscimol (5 x 10(-8)M) enhance the ipsiversive rotations; GABA (10(-2)M) and muscimol (5 x 10(-5)M) transiently decrease the ipsiversive circling; bicuculline (5 x 10(-5)M) induces a vigorous contraversive turning associated with a transient inhibition of the ipsiversive rotations. These results suggest that the activity of the nigral neurons is presumably stimulated by the microinjection itself, by bicuculline and, to a lesser extent, by high concentrations of GABA and muscimol, and inhibited by low concentrations of GABA, muscimol and CDP. These findings could further support the hypotheses of a GABAergic inhibitory control upon DA nigrostriatal pathways and of a GABA-like activity of CDP.


Cytoplasmic progestin-receptors in guinea pig brain: characteristics and relationship to the induction of sexual behavior.

The synthetic progestin, R 5020, was used to measure cytoplasmic progestin receptors in the brain and pituitary gland of ovariectomized guinea pigs. Progestin receptors with a dissociation constant of 0.1--0.3 nM were measured by gel filtration in all brain regions studied, pituitary gland and the uterus. The receptor is progestin-specific; biologically potent progestins compete well against [3H]R 5020 for binding, but androgens, glucocorticoids and estrogens do not. The concentration of the cytoplasmic progestin receptor in hypothalamus-preoptic area-septum and midbrain is decreased in vivo by behaviorally effective doses of progesterone. In the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, preoptic area-septum and midbrain, but not other brain regions, the concentration of progestin receptors increases after estradiol benzoate-priming. The increase in the concentration of cytoplasmic progestin receptors in hypothalamus-preoptic area-septum is dependent on the dose of estradiol benzoate injected. After a single injection of a dose of estradiol benzoate routinely used to facilitate the display of sexual receptivity (1.6 microgram estradiol benzoate/animal), the latency to an increase and subsequent decrease in cytoplasmic progestin receptors in the hypothalamus-preoptic area-septum correlates well with the previously reported time course for progesterone's facilitation of sexual receptivity after estradiol benzoate injection. The experiments are consistent with the notion that brain progestin receptors mediate at least some of the behavioral effects of progesterone.


Heparin-associated thrombocytopenia: low frequency in 104 patients treated with heparin of intestinal mucosal origin.

A prospective study of 104 patients receiving heparin obtained from porcine intestinal mucosa for 4 or more days was conducted to determine the frequency of associated significant thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 100 x 10(9)/I on 2 consecutive days). No episodes of significant thrombocytopenia were identified in the 13 patients receiving heparin by continuous intravenous infusion for a mean of 8.0 days or in the 38 patients receiving heparin subcutaneously for a mean of 9.9 days. In 1 of the 26 patients receiving heparin as intermittent intravenous boluses for a mean of 8.2 days significant thrombocytopenia developed; this patient had laboratory evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation. In none of the 17 patients receiving uninterrupted heparin therapy for 4 or more days by more than one route of administration but for less than 4 days by any single route did significant heparin-associated thrombocytopenia develop. Of the 104 patients 13 had one or more platelet counts of less than 150 x 10(9)/I, but in most it was not possible to definitely relate the thrombocytopenia to the heparin therapy. Platelets in normal platelet-rich plasma did not aggregate when heparin and serum from patients with thrombocytopenia were added. The frequency of heparin-associated thrombocytopenia noted in this study was considerably lower than that reported previously.


Malignant hemangioendothelioma (angiosarcoma) of the salivary gland: an ultrastructural study.

A case of malignant hemangioendothelioma (angiosarcoma) of the submaxillary salivary gland is reported and its microscopic and ultrastructural features are described and compared to previous reports of angiosarcoma arising in other locations. These tumors may often contain areas of solid sheets of cells without vascular characteristics and may be confused with poorly differentiated carcinoma or other sarcomas. The ultrastructural features of angiosarcoma are compared to other poorly differentiated tumors. It is concluded that the ultrastructural features of angiosarcoma are distinctive and aid in the diagnosis of this neoplasm.


Food additives (natural and synthetic).

Food additives can be divided into the following categories: intentional, unintentional, contaminants, and those resulting from food processing procedures. Representative food additives from each category are discussed, with special attention being paid to the status of those suspected or proven to be toxic to humans. In addition, certain chemical components of food and methods for testing food additives are considered. Areas requiring additional testing include saccharin, cooking procedures, especially charcoal broiling, and hydrozines in mushrooms. The more recent developments in test procedures, including in vitro test methods, the transplacental exposure route, the use of maximal tolerated dose, and the initiation--promotion sequence, are evaluated.


Modes of alcohol administration appropriate for the study of the role of alcohol in carcinogenesis.

The route of alcohol administration used in the experimental study of the role of alcohol in carcinogenesis should mimic the human condition: the p.o. route should, therefore, have major attention. This route appears in concord with epidemiological evidence of alcohol involvement in cancers of the upper digestive tract. The relative advantages of schedule-induced polydipsia, an alcohol solution as the sole fluid source, and an alcohol-containing fluid diet are assessed, as well as the intake of alcohol via the respired air. These routes allow a wide range of daily alcohol doses to be ingested, the largest resulting in continuous intoxication and the development of physical dependence. The equivocal resulta from various already published typical experiments are discussed, indicating the necessity of using a variety of appropriate dosages, dosage routes, and dosage forms in appropriate controls, as well as indicating the necessity of investigating the role of concentration and kind of alcoholic beverage in a variety of strains and species in both sexes and at various ages.


Animal models in cancer research which could be useful in studies of the effect of alcohol on cellular immunity.

Alcohol appears to exert a depressive effect on host immunity. Animal models useful in studying immune responsiveness in cancer research are discussed, which could be of value in studying the effect of alcoholism. Allogeneic tumor grafts are poorly rejected in immunosuppressed mice. Of the four major cellular elements of the immune system, the macrophage appears to have a critical role in immune surveillance. Several conditions occur which abrogate or restrict the tumoricidal activity of macrophages. Stress induced by physical restraint results in depressed macrophage activation. The tumoricidal activation induced in macrophages by interferon was markedly depressed in the presence of the corticosteroids, hydrocortisone, prednisone, and dexamethasone. In addition, prostaglandins (PGE1 and PGE2) also were found to decrease interferon activation of macrophages. Since immune deficiency is a trait of alcoholism and cancer, animal models with defined, measurable, immunological parameters would be useful in studying the effect of alcohol on cellular immunity.


Immunochemical properties of phosphatidyl cholesterol and its homologue.

1,2-Dipalmitoyl-rac-glycerol-3-phosphoryl-3'-cholesterol (PCH) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-rac-glycerol-3-phosphoryl-20'-(3-hydroxy norpregn-5-ene) (PET) were combined with poly-L-lysine to form a PCH-poly-L-lysine complex and a PET-poly-L-lysine complex, respectively. These complexes were subcutaneously injected into rabbit foot pad with Freund's complete adjuvant. PCH antiserum showed specificites against the phosphatidyl group, the cholesterol moiety and the side chain of cholesterol. PET antiserum contained the specific antibodies against the phosphatidyl group, the cholesterol moiety and the OH-group at the C3 position of the cholesterol molecule.


Aortoventriculoplasty for tunnel subaortic stenosis and other obstructions of the left ventricular outflow tract. Clinical and hemodynamic results.

A new therapeutic concept of enlarging the outflow tracts of both ventricles with a patch and inserting an aortic prosthesis has been developed for the treatment of tunnel subaortic stenosis. This operation has been applied clinically since June 1974 on several types of obstruction in the outflow tract of the left ventricle. Twenty-one operations have been performed on 20 patients under the age of 18 years, with an overall mortality of 24% and no late deaths. Seven patients developed complete right bundle branch block or left anterior hemiblock or both as a result of this operation; transient atrioventricular block and complete left bundle branch block occurred in one patient each. In no case, however, did rhythm disturbances contribute to death. In one patient, the septal incision injured a septal coronary artery, with fatal result. Fourteen patients had catheterization studies postoperatively. Although previous conventional surgery had been unsuccessful, aortoventriculoplasty (AoVPI) reduced the mean gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract significantly (p less than or equal to 0.01), from 94.7 +/- 25.5 mm Hg to 14.4 +/- 17.2 mm Hg, leaving the end-diastolic pressure practically unchanged. No significant defect remained in the patch-covered septal incision. Thus, we consider AoVPI to be the operation of choice for tunnel subaortic stenosis, for valvular aortic stenosis with a narrow annulus and in cases where an artificial aortic valve has become too small because of the patient's growth.


Increased mitral-aortic separation in discrete subaortic stenosis.

We recently speculated that mitral-aortic separation (MAS) might be increased in discrete subaortic stenosis (DSS). We have examined this hypothesis in 22 heart specimens in which the subaortic obstruction originated on the muscular ventricular septum below the right aortic sinus, either as a discrete band, an accumulation of several bands or a diffuse ridge, and extended posteriorly into the MAS or anterior leaflet of the mitral valve or both, with a variable relationship to the aortic cusps and sinuses. No specimen had ventricular septal defect, supravalvular aortic stenosis or other features of Shone syndrome. The mean MAS was nearly twice that of 80 normal specimens (4.9 vs 2.5 mm), the range of MAS was increased from normal (0.11 vs 0.7 mm) and the mean diameter of the aortic annulus was decreased compared with the normal specimens, data that will be of interest to echo- and angiocardiographers in the clinical description of DSS, and to the surgeon who must resect these lesions.


XY gonadal dysgenesis associated with hGH and gonadotrophin deficiencies.

A girl of remarkably short stature, referred for investigation with the diagnosis of gonadal dysgenesis and the finding of a male karyotype, proved to be deficient in growth hormone and gonadotrophin secretion, and was treated with growth and sex hormones. It was concluded that this case demonstrates an apparently casual coincidence of pituitary insufficiency with XY gonadal dysgenesis, evidently the first to be reported.


A study of possible heterogeneity in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

One possible explanation for the apparently high birth incidence of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a lethal X-linked disorder, is genetic heterogeneity. As a first step in possibly demonstrating genetic heterogeneity, affected boys were sub-divided into those with and without severe mental handicap. In those with severe mental handicap, ages at onset and of becoming confined to a wheelchair were later, the fall in SCK level with age was less marked, and the urinary excretion of certain aminoacids was greater than in affected boys with normal intelligence. Though the number of subjects investigated was relatively small (15 in each group) and further studies are therefore needed, the results suggest that DMD may not be a single disease entity.


Multiple birth risk factors and the distribution of handedness.

In this study, we attempted to maximize the likelihood of replicating Bakan's (1971, 1977a) observations that left-handedness was more probable in college students who were the progeny of "high-risk" births. To do this, the relationships between handedness and a combination of factors known to be associated with birth risk were computed. The observed relationships proved to be trivial and thus the validity of Bakan's hypothesis was questionned.


Ligandinuria: an indication of tubular cell necrosis.

Ligandinuria is a useful index of acute tubular injury. Ligandin probably enters the urine at the time of initial necrosis and should be looked for soon after the toxic or ischemic event. Periodic examination of perfusates for this substance might yield useful information about techniques for storage of cadaver kidneys.


Electron microscope study of Cryptostroma corticale.

An ultrastructural study of Cryptostroma corticale has been carried out with scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The usual features in fungi, as well as features characteristic of the family, were shown. It was noted that lomasomes and myelin-type structures were demonstrated by the two fixatives used. Their significance is discussed.


[Basic data in the application of a new intensity distribution in laser treatment of the upper digestive tract].

A new pattern of intensity distribution of laser beam, in the shape of a "topfkuchen" was found to be satisfactory in avoiding perforation when applied to the gastrointestinal tract. Basic data of the optical and thermophysical properties of the different layers in the stomach of pigs were obtained. Using our distribution pattern of intensity we could see a uniform, superficial zone of coagulation. There were no perforations even after the intact mucosa of the stomach was irradiated by 175 Watts for 2 seconds.


The grasshopper X chromosome. I. States of condensation and the nuclear envelope at G1, S and G2 of premeiotic interphase and at early meiotic prophase.

The sub-stages of spermatocyte interphase (G1, S and G2) have been identified in the grasshopper Brachystola magna using E.M. autoradiography and serial thin sectioning techniques. The X chromosome occupies a nuclear envelope bound compartment separate from an autosome compartment during G1 and S. At G2 the X compartment is resolved by coalescence of the membranes enveloping the X chromosome and autosome compartments.--At G1 and S, the compartmentalized X chromatin is laced with nuclear membrane material. This X chromatin associated membrane decreases in amount as the cell passes through G2 and enters early meiotic prophase. There are at least 2 and possibly 3 states of condensation of the heterochromatic X during premeiotic interphase and early meiotic prophase correlated with the presence or absence of membrane material associated with the chromatin.--The X chromatin replicates asynchronously with autosomal euchromatin and synchronously with autosomal heterochromatin associated with nucleoli. The X chromatin replication appears to be associated with the nuclear membrane.--The observations indicate that the nuclear membrane is involved with X chromosome condensation and may be implicated in asynchronous X chromosome replication as well.


The grasshopper X chromosome. II. Negative heteropycnosis, transcription activities and compartmentation during spermatogonial stages.

The X chromosome can be identified with the light microscope throughout all stages of the gonial cell cycle (including interphase) in the grasshopper Brachystola magna. At gonial mitotic stages the X chromosome gives the appearance of being undercondensed or negatively heteropycnotic. At interphase the X projects out from the body of the nucleus.--Examination with the electron microscope reveals that the X is compartmentalized at least two gonial cell cycles prior to the entry of the cells into meiotic prophase. The membrane layers that envelope the X chromatin at interphase remain associated with the X chromosome throughout gonial mitotic stages providing the ultrastructural basis for the apparent negative heteropycnosis observed with the light microscope.--The X chromosome is inactive in RNA synthesis during gonial mitotic stages but is hyperactive in RNA synthesis when compared to autosomes at gonial interphase.--X-chromosome condensation which reaches its maximum at premieotic interphase is initiated at or prior to the pre-pentultimate gonial division.


Effects of sex steroid hormones on arginine vasopressin in intact and castrated male and female rats.

In the present study we have examined the effects of androgens and estrogens on circulating arginine vasopressin (AVP). Adult male Wistar rats had serum AVP levels of 0.4 microU/ml. Two weeks after bilateral castration, AVP rose to 2.6 microU/ml, but daily testosterone administration (100 microgram/100 g BW) to the castrate males prevented the AVP increase (0.8 microU/ml). During a normal estrous cycle, adult female Wistar rats had AVP values of 0.6 microU/ml during diestrus, 4.6 microU/ml on the morning of proestrus, 1.3 microU/ml on the afternoon or proestrus, and 1.5 microU/ml on the day of estrus. These changes in AVP paralleled the presumed changes in serum estradiol. Two weeks after bilateral ovariectomy of the adult female rats, AVP was 1.4 microU/ml but daily estradiol injections (100 microgram/100 g BW) to the castrate females produced a rise of serum AVP to 5.0 microU/ml. The results suggest an androgen inhibition and an estrogen stimulation of serum AVP levels.


Pineal melatonin concentrations in the Syrian hamster.

Pineal melatonin concentrations exhibited a marked diurnal rhythmicity in gold hamsters maintained in a light-dark cycle of 15 h of light and 10 h of darkness. When tissue was collected at 3-h intervals throughout a 24-h period, daytime levels of 95--232 pg/pineal gland rose to concentrations of 760--1335 pg/pineal gland (P greater than 0.001 vs. all other values) at 0400 h, 8 h after the onset of darkness. When tissue was collected sequentially during the dark phase, pineal melatonin concentrations remained significantly elevated from 0200--0500 h (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.001 vs. daytime values, respectively). Superior cervical ganglionectomy abolished the rhythm of pineal melatonin concentrations, and the concentrations were maintained at 60--105 pg/pineal gland throughout a 24-hr period.


Testicular aromatization in immature rats: localization and stimulation after gonadotropin administration in vivo.

Aromatization was measured in testicular microsomal preparations obtained from rats treated 3--4 days with FSH, hCG, or vehicle, hCG, but not FSH, was found consistently to stimulate testicular aromatase activity at least 10-fold. As a marker for FSH action, epididymal androgen-binding protein was assayed and found to be 3 times higher in FSH-treated rats than in either hCG or control rats. hCG, but not FSH or vehicle, stimulated serum testosterone levels more than 100-fold. In all groups, aromatase activity in the microsomal fraction was at least 6 times higher than that found in the mitochondrial fraction. In experiments in which testicular compartments were separated, microsomal preparations from interstitial tissue of hCG-treated rats had 5--7 times more aromatase activity than microsomes from seminiferous tubules and 2--3 times more activity than microsomes from whole testes. It is concluded the hCG administered in vivo can stimulate testicular aromatase activity in immature rats, and the increase in activity is localized in the interstitial tissue.


Estrogen inhibition of dopamine release into hypophysial portal blood.

The hypothesis that 17 beta-estradiol suppresses dopamine secretion into hypophysial portal blood was tested. Portal plasma concentrations of dopamine were significantly lower in proestrous rats (1.0 +/- 0.1 ng/ml; mean +/- SE) than in estrous rats (1.9 +/- 0.38 ng/ml). To deplete the animal of endogenous steroid hormones, proestrous rats were adrenalectomized (Adx) and ovariectomized (Ovx). Twenty-four hours later, hypophysial portal blood was collected for 60 min, and the plasma from this blood was analyzed for dopamine. Arterial plasma from these rats was assayed for 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone. The concentrations of dopamine in the portal plasma of sham-operated rats and bilaterally Adx-Ovx rats were similar to those in estrous animals. The concentration of dopamine in portal plasma of Adx-Ovs rats injected 24 h earlier with 50 micrograms 17 beta-estradiol was 1.0 +/- 0.31 ng/ml, which was comparable to that in proestrous animals but less than that in the estrous rats. The concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol in arterial plasma were as follows: 24 +/- 8.3 pg/ml in proestrous rats, 40 +/- 2.9 pg/ml in estrous rats, 10 +/- 1.3 pg/ml in Adx-ovx rats, and 96 +/- 17.3 pg/ml in Adx-Ovx rats injected with 50 micrograms 17 beta-estradiol. Twenty-four hours after injection of 25 micrograms 17beta-extradiol into Adx-Ovx rats, the plasma 17beta-estradiol levels were 51 +/- 7.4 pg/ml, and the dopamine concentrations in portal plasma were 1.9 +/- 0.57 ng/ml. It is concluded that an acute effect of 17 beta-estradiol is suppression of hypothalamic secretion of dopamine into hypophysial portal blood.


Follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone independently increase the production of androgen-binding protein by Sertoli cells in culture.

Dose-response curves were obtained for the production of androgen-binding protein (ABP) by Sertoli cells prepared from testes of 20-day-old rats and treated in culture with either FSH or testosterone (T). FSH stimulated ABP production by up to 3.5 times control levels. For NIH-FSH-S11, the ED50 was 3 ng/ml, and for highly purified ovine FSH, the ED50 was 0.066 ng/ml. Addition of T produced a stimulation of up to 3 times control levels; half-maximal response was obtained at a dose of 4 nM. The presence of small numbers of contaminating Leydig cells in some preparations resulted in production of endogenous T, especially when high doses of NIH-FSH, which contains some LH, were employed. A modified preparation method involving exposure of the cells to distilled water reduced the endogenous T production to low levels. In cultures of cells prepared in this way, addition of the antiandrogen cyproterone acetate at a concentration high enough to reduce fractional occupancy of androgen receptors by endogenous T to 0.014 or less had no effect on the stimulation by FSH of ABP production in the cultures. In contrast, cyproterone acetate inhibited stimulation by T of ABP production. We conclude that FSH and T act independently on Sertoli cells from immature rats to increase the secretion of ABP.


Serum prolactin concentrations during hormonally induced pseudopregnancy in the rat.

Treatment of 5-day cyclic rats with 10 or 100 microgram estradiol benzoate on the day of estrus induced a luteal phase in all animals studied. On the other hand, an injection with 1 microgram estradiol benzoate given on the same day failed to induce pseudopregnancy. When 10 mg progesterone were injected on the day of estrus, about 50% of the rats became pseudopregnant, whereas most of the remaining rats had a 6-day cycle. The injection of 10 or 100 microgram estradiol benzoate or 10 mg progesterone induced a period of increased PRL secretion which lasted for 2--4 days, followed by twice daily surges of PRL at the end of the dark and light periods, respectively. It is argued that pseudopregnancy induction by estradiol benzoate or progesterone is primarily a result of the induction of a period of increased PRL secretion. In this way, progesterone secretion by the recently formed corpora lutea is induced, and the elevated levels of progesterone in turn generate diurnal surges of PRL.


Endoscopic management of acute gastric anisakiasis.

Early endoscopy was performed in six cases of acute gastric anisakiasis. Immediately after detecting the larva of anisakis, the larval body was extracted together with its surrounding mucosa by a biopsy forceps. With the removal of the larva, severe colic pain subsided rapidly. Two cases in our series were identified as the stage IV larvae of the anisakis, type I. It was presumed that the stage III larva had exuviated in the human stomach. It is emphasized that endoscopic extraction of larva is the most effective procedure in dealing with acute gastric anisakiasis.


Toxicological studies of shale oils, some of their components, and commercial products.

Estonian shale oil contains about 25--30% phenols, and their action determines the toxicity of shale oils. The clinical symptoms of intoxication are rather similar, regardless of route of administration. Due to neurotropic action, the coordination of movements is impaired, and clonic and tetanic convulsions, paresis and paralysis of extremities, and narcosis are observed. In subacute and chronic toxicity tests, dysfunction of the central nervous system was found. In long-term (4--6 month) experiments, changes in liver and kidney function were found. Shale oil has gonadotropic activity and causes changes in the sexual cycle as well as diminution of the number of primordial folicles in the ovaries or a decrease in the quantity of normal spermatogonia in testicular germinal epithelium. Shale oils produce local irritation of skin and mucous membranes. Shale oil can induce sensitization of the organism after repeated administration. The results of acute intoxication tests have proved that volatile and nonvolatile phenol fractions, isomeric dimethylphenols, and 5-methylresorcinol, must be characterized as moderately toxic substances; the LD50 ranges from 501 to 1500 mg/kg. The clinical symptoms of acute toxication are similar for all studied phenols (restlessness, unsteadiness, clonic tremor, paresis and paralysis of extremities, and death). In spite of the moderate toxicity of phenols in acute experiments, repeated administration of small doses can cause different changes in the nervous system and internal organs of experimental animals. For all the phenols studied, the maximum allowable concentration in water was limited by their effect on the organoleptic properties of water. The nonactive dose for warm-blooded animals is from 100 to 3000 times the threshold limit value of phenols on the basis of their organoleptic properties. The effect of commercial products of oil shale industry is generally determined by the toxicity of the main components: water-soluble oil shale phenols.


Levels of benzo(a)pyrene in oil shale industry wastes, some bodies of water in the Estonian S.S.R. and in water organisms.

Data on the content of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) in oil shale industry wastewater, the effectiveness of various effluent treatment processes (evaporation, extraction with butyl acetate, trickling filters, aeration tanks) in reducing the level of BP in oil shale wastewater, the level of BP in various bodies of water of Estonia, and in fish and other water organisms are reviewed. The quantitative determination of BP in concentrated diethyl ether extracts of water samples was carried out by ultraviolet and spectroluminescence procedures by use of the quasi-linear spectra at -196 degrees C in solid paraffins. It has been found that oil shale industry wastewater contains large amounts of BP. The most efficient purification process for removing the BP in oil shale industry phenol water is extraction with butyl acetate. The level of BP in the rivers of the oil shale industry area is comparatively higher than in other bodies of water of the Republic. The concentration of BP in the lakes of the Estonian S.S.R. is on the whole insignificant. Even the maximum concentration found in our lakes is as a rule less than the safety limit for BP in bodies of water (0.005 microgram/l). During water is treated at the waterworks. The effectiveness of the water treatment in reducing the level of BP varies from 11 to 88%. Filtration was found to be the most effective treatment. About 20 samples of fish from nine bodies of water in Estonia have been analyzed for content of BP. The average content of BP in the muscular tissue of various species of fish is as a rule less than 1 microgram/kg. There is no significant difference in the concentration of BP in sea and freshwater fish. There is no important difference in the content of BP in the organs of various fish. Fat fish contain more BP than lean ones. The weight (age) of fish does not influence the content of BP in the muscular tissue of fish.


The effect of glycosaminoglycans on the in vitro fibril formation of collagen type I and type III.

The effect of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) on the in vitro collagen fibril formation of type I and type III collagen extracted from rat skin was studied by measuring the optical absorbancy change of collagen-GAG solution during the fibrillary precipitation and following the electronmicroscopic structure of collagen fibrils. The main difference between type I and type III collagen was found in the kinetic of fibrillary precipitation mainly during the logarithmic growth ("log") period of fibril formation. Chondroitin sulphate-A (CSA) shortened this phase and affected especially type III collagen which has a longer "log" period. No difference was found in the electronmicroscopic structure of collagen fibrils. The supposed biological significance of the results is briefly discussed.


Effects of ovariectomy on the oxidative metabolism of the central nervous system and adrenal glands in female hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).

We have studied the influence of ovariectomy on the oxidative activity of hypophysis, hypothalamus, posterior cortex, septal area, amygdala and adrenal glands, in female hamsters, because their neuroendocrine behavior seems to differ from that of rats. Our results show a decreasing the O2 uptake in the hypothalamus and adrenal glands and an increase in the rest of the structures.


Activation with (+/-)N-n-propyl-nor-apomorphine (NPA) of the male rat copulatory behavior.

I.p. (+/-)N-n-propyl-nor-apomorphine HCl (NPA) influences copulatory behavior of vigorous adult male rats in the same ways as apomorphine, i.e., it reduces the latency to ejaculation as well as mount and intromission frequency. Furthermore, NPA administered to impotent male rats restores normal mating behavior in some of them.


Are there two types of postpill anovulation?

Anovulation, indicated by requiring treatment with clomiphene or gonadotropins to conceive, was studied in a cohort of 16,583 women interviewed postpartum. There were 2,853 former oral contraceptive users, and 2.2% of them reported anovulation, compared with 2.7% of controls. Among primigravidas, the rates were 4.2% and 4.4% in pill users and controls, respectively. A statistically significant excess of anovulation was reported by former pill users who had been underweight in relation to their height at the time of conception. Independently of pill use, the condition tended to be associated with obesity. Data from this and previous studies suggest that there may be two distinct entities of postpill anovulation: the first, identical with spontaneous secondary anovulation; the second, occurring in slender women who have used oral contraceptives. These findings need confirmation from prospective studies using standard diagnostic criteria.


Spermagglutinating antibodies and beta-spermagglutinins in sera from infertile and fertile women.

Sera from five groups of women were investigated by the tray agglutination technique for the presence of spermagglutinins: (1) 326 women from infertile couples, (2) 51 women in early pregnancy, (3) 65 women in advanced pregnancy, (4) 41 oral contraceptive users, and (5) 109 presumably fertile, nonpregnant women. By absorbing spermagglutinating sera with a cell-free eluate from spermatozoa, agglutination disappeared when due to a high-molecular weight compound with beta-mobility in preparative zone electrophoresis (denoted beta-spermagglutinin), whereas activity due to sperm antibodies was unchanged. Spermagglutinating sera occurred with comparable frequency among women from infertile couples, women in advanced pregnancy, and oral contraceptive users. The absorption study revealed agglutinating antibodies in a significantly higher frequency and in higher titers among women of infertile couples than among fertile women, in whom beta-spermagglutinins were found almost exclusively. These results demonstrate the importance of discriminating between sperm antibodies and beta-spermagglutinins in studies of sperm antibodies as a cause of infertility in women.


Successful treatment of insulin lipoatrophy. A case report.

Widespread subcutaneous lipoatrophy developed in a nineteen year old female diabetic using subcutaneous bovine NPH insulin. Neither rotation of the injection site nor injection of the same insulin into the atrophic areas affected the lesions. Replacement of the bovine insulin by a porcine preparation given by deep intramuscular injection into the center of the atrophic areas resulted in disappearance of the lesions within a short time.