[Surgical treatment of distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysms (author's transl)].

Forty-five patients with aneurysms of the anterior cerebral artery distal to the anterior communicating artery were operated on by a direct approach method in the years 1960-1973. The incidence of aneurysms in this location was 4.8% of the total 1,000 aneurysms. It is of upmost importance in the treatment of aneurysms to insure the parent artery for the purpose of temporary occlusion. This makes it easier and safer to approach the aneurysmal neck and to handle possible premature aneurysmal rupture. From this technical standpoint, the aneurysms in this location were classified into two types, ascending and horizontal. Aneurysms of the pericallosal artery between the origin of the anterior communicating artery and the knee of the corpus callosum were designated as the aneurysms of the ascending portion, whereas the aneurysms of the pericallosal artery from the knee of the corpus callosum and beyond were designated as the aneurysms of the horizontal portion. Depending on the location of the aneurysm, craniotomy was performed at one of two different sites. For aneurysms of the ascending portion, bifrontal craniotomy was determined and applied as the safest approach. A small parasagittal craniotomy was determined to be sufficient for aneurysms of the horizontal portion. Although the total operative mortality was 4 of 45 cases (9.0%), no mortalities nor morbidities occurred in the last 12 cases since 1972, when the sites of craniotomies were differenciated.


[RI cisternography in the diagnosis of brain tumors (author's transl)].

Fifteen cases of brain tumors of supratentorial location were studied by RI cisternography; Cisternographical patterns of decreased or absent radioactivity were classified into five groups as follows: Pattern I: Sharply circumscribed and localized decrease in radioactivity; Pattern II:Ill-defined and focal decrease in radioactivity; Pattern III: Areal decrease in radioactivity involving one whole or two lobes; Pattern IV: Hemispherical decrease in radioactivity and Pattern V: Total decrease in radioactivity in the head. Each pattern appears to correspond well with topographical features of brain tumors and their related pathology, such as extracerebral tumors (pattern I), intracerebral but superficially located tumors (pattern II), extracerebral tumors with surrounding edema or large intracerebral tumors (pattern III), extracerebral or intracerebral tumors with increased intracranial pressure (pattern IV), and extremely increased intracranial pressure regardless the site of tumor (pattern V). In consideration of these patterns, RI cisternography would be a more useful supplementary method in diagnosis of brain tumors to detect the area involved, to differentiate an intracerebral from an extracerebral tumor, and to find a recurrence of the tumormfurthermore, it is helpful to know the therapeutical effects of surgery and radiotherapy. RI cisternography is a simple, relatively noninvasive method which can be used more widely.


[Clinical evaluation on glucocorticoid administration in neurosurgical patients (author's transl)].

Anterior pituitary function tests (ITT, TRH test and LH-RH test) were performed on 10 patients with intracranial lesions other than hypothalamo-pituitary tumors. These lesions were 8 brain tumors and 2 aneurysms. Relatively high doses of glucocorticoid were administered in pre- and post-operative period to all the cases. Preoperative study showed a slightly low response of GH and FSH in one case and a low TSH response in 2 cases. ACTH, LH and PRL were normal in all the cases. Postoperative study was performed about 10 days after ceasing of glucocorticoid. Postoperative data revealed that anterior pituitary function tests did not show any significant changes after surgeries in all the patients.


[Fibrinolytic activity of cerebrospinal fluid in subarachnoid hemorrhage (author's transl)].

This study was aimed to investigate the correlation between recurrent hemorrhage of ruptured intracranial aneurysm and local fibrinolytic activity of aneurysmal fibrin plug. The fibrinolytic activity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was investigated in 63 patients with various neurological diseases by means of modified fibrin plate method. No plasmin was elicited in normal CSF, however, it was confirmed that CSF contained an incomplete activator which became a complete activator inthe presence of streptokinase, and plasminogen was identified in the presence of urokinase. In 26 cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage, the fibrinolytic activity of CSF occurred in the patients within two weeks following hemorrhagic ictus. In almost cases, the fibrinolytic activity of CSF was not increased in the first three weeks after the onset of hemorrhage. This result agreed with the fact that rebleeding of intracranial aneurysm tended to occur within two weeks after the hemorrhage. Therefore, intensive antifibrinolytic therapy for two weeks after onset of hemorrhage is necessary in order to prevent recurrent hemorrhage of intracranial aneurysm, and its doses should be sufficient to inhibit local fibinolysis. It has been suggested that the local fibrinolysis after subarachnoid hemorrhage would be caused by activators released from damaged surrounding brain tissues. Furthermore, it is strongly suggested from the result of our in vitro experiments that coexistence of CSF and blood play an important role to increase local fibrinolysis.


[A case of multiple anomalies of cerebral vessels--fenestration of the middle cerebral artery aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery and arteriovenous malformation on the frontopolar region (author's transl)].

A case associated with multiple cerebral vascular anomalies, which consisted of fenestration of the middle cerebral artery, arteriovenous malformation and aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery, was reported. A 48 year-old male has been suffering from the left paralysis and mental disorder after the initial attack of subarachnoid hemorrhage, and the second attack resulted in the deterioration of the symptoms. He was admitted to our clinic on October 28, 1974. On neurological examination, mental disorders, such as disorientation, emotional incontinence, amnesia and acalculia, hemiplegia on the left and meningeal irritation signs were observed in admission period. Physical examination was negative. Cerebral angiographic findings were as follows: 1) Moderate vasospasm of the right internal carotid artery at the terminal segment, mild bowing of the anterior cerebral artery and stretching of the frontparietal opercular branches of the middle cerebral artery were observed. 2) Right frontpolar arteriovenous malformation fed by the frontobasal artery and the frontopolar artery, and drained via the aberrant cortical vein into the superior sagittal sinus. 3) Aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery was opacified by left carotid angiography. 4) An abnormal vessel derived from the terminal segment of the right internal carotid artery and terminated at the portion of the sphenoidal segment of the middle cerebral artery. Complete loop was formed between genuine middle cerebral artery and this abnormal artery. He was operated with dissecting microscope on November 11, 1974. The arteriovenous malformation at right frontopolar region was totally removed and aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery was clipped. According to the operative findings, the arachnoid membrane over the right frontopolar region was turbid and adhered to the adjacent tissues. On the contrary, no abnormal findings suggestive of previous subarachnoid hemorrhage were observed around the region of the anterior communicating artery aneurysm. These findings showed that subarachnoidal bleeding was caused by rupture of the arteriovenous malformation of right frontopolar region, but not by the aneurysm on the anterior communicating artery. The postoperative course was uneventful and during the hospitalization the patient starts on rehabilitation therapy. The authors discussed the genesis of fenestration of the middle cerebral artery and relation among these combined vascular anomalies. We inferred that fenestration of the middle cerebral artery arose from the in complete fusion of procursor vascular network in embryonic stage. Additionally, we emphasized that it was necessary to make a distinction between these two terms "fenestration" and "duplication".


[Cerebrovascular moyamoya disease associated with basilar aneurysm (author's transl)].

Two adult cases of cerebrovascular Moyamoya disease, associated with basilar aneurysm are reported. At the follow-up study of angiogram performed 14 months later in one case, the aneurysmal shadow was slightly larger than before. In the other case, craniotomy was performed and two aneurysms were confirmed to be the saccular aneurysms arising from the basilar head and superior cerebellar artery junction, respectively. From these facts, it is suggested that these aneurysms were not pseudo-aneurysms but sacuular aneurysms. As for the pseudo-aneurysm associated with cerebrovascular Moyamoya disease, we discussed in our previous report. It has been generally through that the mechanism of the occurence of symptoms in adult patient with cerebrovascular Moyamoya disease is due to rupture of abnormal vessels in the subarachnoid space. But from our experiences, it is suggested that there should be another mechanicsm, which begins with rupture of these basilar aneurysms. In addition to that, the growing mechanisms of basilar aneurysm associated with cerebrovascular Moyamoya disease is discussed.


[Extraneural metastases of malignant brain tumors through ventriculoperitoneal shunt--report of two autopsy cases and a review of the literature (author's transl)].

Internal drainage of cerebrospinal fluid utilizing a mechanical tube has been an increasingly common and effective procedure for the relief of non-communicating hydrocephalus with intracranial tumor. However, several cases have recently been reported in which extraneural metastases of the tumor were initiated through the shunt tube implanted. The purpose of this paper is to present two cases with malignant brain tumor metastasizing extraneurally through ventriculoperitoneal shunt, and to review the reported cases in the literature. Case 1 The patient, a 9-year-old boy, had been suffering from headache and vomiting for 3 months prior to admission to the Neurosurgical Clinic, Gumma University Hospital. On admission, he had choked discs and cerebellar dysfunction with a staggering gait. The clinical diagnosis was a 4th ventricle tumor. On November 29, 1971, a suboccipital craniectomy was performed. A medullary tumor in the 4th ventricle was partially removed, and ventriculoperitoneal shunt was also performed. Subsequently postoperative irradiation was given, and the symptoms were abated. Histological diagnosis was ependymoblastoma. Thirteen months later, he was again admitted because of visual disturbance, psychic change and pituitary hypofunction. Bilateral frontal craniotomy revealed a large mass over the midline of the anterior skull base, accompanied by numerous meningeal neoplastic deposits. The tumor was partially removed and histologically proven to be meningeal metastases of ependymoblastoma. Irradiation was again given and the symptoms improved. But the 4th ventricle tumor recurred 5 months after the 2nd operation, and then a massive intraperitoneal effusion appeared. Cytological examination revealed clusters of tumor cells in the ascites. The patient died on September 8, 1974, namely 22 months after the ventriculoperitoneal shunt was implanted. Postmortem examination showed a solid tumor in the 4th ventricle which was accompanied by diffuse meningeal dissemination, and metastases  were present throughout the peritoneal surface...


[A case of spontaneous 3rd ventriculostomy (author's transl)].

We have reported a rare case of spontaneous 3rd ventriculostomy with spontaneous arrest of obstructive hydrocephalus. A 41 year old man, who had had an intermittent headache for about a year, was admitted to the department of neurosurgery Kitasato University with chief complaints of sudden onset of severe headache, vomiting and disturbance of consciousness. At the time of admission, 30 minutes after the onset of symptoms, the positive neurological findings were delirious state of consciousness, miotic pupils with sluggish reaction to light, mild hemiparesis on the left site and slight nucnal rigidity. He lapsed into coma after two hours, however he gradually relieved from these symptoms since the forth hospital day. Cerebrospinal fluid was bloody. Radiograms of the skull revealed decalcification of posterior clinoid process and postero-inferior displacement of pineal calcification. Brain scanning and vertebral angiography demonstrated tumor stain in the posterior portion of the 3rd ventricle. Dimer-X ventriculography revealed the obstruction of posterior portion of the 3rd ventricle and the leakage of Dimer-X through the floor of the 3rd ventricle into the intrasellar subarchnoid space. The patient died after about one year from the onset of symptoms. Any signs of increased intracranial pressure had not been noticed since the forth hospital day; At autopsy we confirmed the posterior portion of the 3rd ventricle was obstructed by tumor. In the floor of the 3rd ventricle there was a round opening which was patient and measured about 3 mm in diameter. Microscopic examination of the tumor showed an oligodendroglioma. Neoplastic cells partially infiltrated into the surface facing to the 3rd ventricle and slight gliosis was observed around the site of rupture. The surface along the subarachnoid space was lined with pia-aracnoid membrane except at the site of rupture. In the past literatures only 6 cases of spontaneous 3rd ventriculostomy have been reported. Three cases were observed spontaneous arrest of obstructive hydrocephalus. Our case is the first reported case of spontaneous 3rd ventriculostomy through the floor of the 3rd ventriculostomy through the floor of the 3rd ventricle. We suggested the pathogenesis of spontaneous 3rd ventriculostomy is a result of destruction at normally weak points of 3rd ventricle (ex. anterior, posterior wall and floor of 3rd ventricle), which has the reultant internal hydrocephalus caused by recurrent obstruction of C.S.F. pathway or long-standing obstructive hydrocephalus.


[Glossopharyngeal neuralgia associated with the right-bundle branch block and hypotension on sectioning a rootlet of the vagus nerve--case report (author's transl)].

A 74-year-old female who complained of severe attacks of pain in the throat and neck on the left side was first admitted to our hospital in 1971. Carbamazepine was effective at this time, and so she could be discharged. She was readmitted to the hospital in 1974 because of severe stabbing paroxysms of pain in the left throat, radiating into the auricular region as frequent as more than ten times a day. Paroxysms could not be alleviated by large doses of Carbamazepine, and side effects of the drug ensued. The pain could be easily elicited by talking, laughing, swallowing, pulling the left ear and pushing the left tragus. Block of the left 9th nerve with xylocaine produced complete relief of pain for 30 minutes to 1 hour; Plain skull X-rays and veretebral angiograms were normal. The patient was operated under general anesthesia in the sitting position. With the left suboccipital craniectomy, the left 9th nerve was cut without any change on ECG. Pulse rate, and blood pressure. Upon touching vagus nerve, the ventricular extrasystole and hypotension occurred. After the blood pressure restored to normal level and the extrasystole disappeared with administration of atropine and carnigen, the uppermost rootlet of the vagus nerve was cut. The blood pressure dropped abruptly again followed by the right bundle-branch block on ECG for approximately 20 minutes. Postoperatively, she was lethargic and had disorientation, delusion and disorientation. We attributed these symptoms to the hypoxia in operative procedure. The symptoms completely disappeared on the fifth postoperative day. The patient has been perfectly free from pain at the 15 month's follow-up without neurological or mental deficit except diminished gag reflex on the left side. We reported this our experienced case and discussed about the mechanism of the hypotension on sectioning a rootlet of the vagus nerve with literatures.


Gonadal malignancy and 46, XY karyotype in a true hermaphrodite.

A case of true hermaphroditism associated with gonadoblastoma and dysgerminoma is reported. The patient had a 46, XY karyotype. The possible significance of the Y chromosome in the development of gonadal tumors and the histogenetic problems of gonadoblastoma are also discussed.


Absence of placental transfer of l-triiodothyronine (T3) in the rat.

To detect placental transfer of L-triiodothyronine (T3) in pregnant rats, we injected 1 muCi [125I]T3 on the 16th, 18th, and 20th day of gestation. Three hours after the injection, which corresponds to the equilibrium time determined by a method of constant infusion, the pregnant rats and their fetuses were killed. The [125I]T3 was extracted from the serum or the homogenate by butanol extractions and alkaline washes. The transfer rate was calculated from the quantity of [125I]T3 in the serum of the fetuses after 3 hr and from the maternal metabolic clearance rate (8.19 +/- 0.45 ml/hr/100 g body weight; mean +/- SEM). At the 16th day of gestation, the placental transfer of T3 was 0.82 +/- 0.11% of the total maternal clearance rate/litter weight; it was 1.05 +/- 0.25% at the 18th day of gestation and 0.58 +/- 0.10% at the 20th day of gestation. There were no significant differences between these results. The maternal T3 concentration was 68.27 +/- 20.6 ng/100 ml and its production rate was 5.57 +/- 0.31 ng/hr/100 g; with these data we calculated a maternal-fetal T3 transfer of 46 +/- 6 pg/hr. Furthermore, there was no T3 transfer observed when the mother received 1.9 mug unlabeled T3, which led to a significant rise in maternal T3 concentration (68.27 +/- 20.6 ng to 102.23 +/- 7.41 ng/100 ml; P less than 0.01); there was no detectable T3 in the fetal serum. From these results we conclude that there is minimal or no placental transfer of T3 in the rat and that the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis of the fetus develops autonomously.


Organizing the properties of impossible figures.

The empirical study of impossible figures requires that independent variables be well-specified. This paper provides an aid for such a task by developing a classification system which partitions cornered torus figures into meaningful subsets. These can be used to identify both formal and psychological properties of known as well as unknown possible and impossible figures in much the same manner as with the periodic table of chemical elements. The classification is polytopic (for demensional) and is formally, not empirically, derived. Coherent three-dimensional and two-dimensional forms of the system are possible without loss of information.


Feeding-induced hypocalcaemia. Preliminary studies in sheep.

The effect of feeding on calcium metabolism was studied in sheep. When crushed oats or pelleted concentrate was added to the diet of hay-fed sheep, there was a profound decrease in serum calcium. Serum calcium fell in spite of an increased daily intake of calcium.


DNA replication in Physarum polycephalum: characterization of DNA replication products made in vivo in the presence of cycloheximide in strains sensitive and resistant to cycloheximide.

Synchronous plasmodia of cycloheximide-sensitive and cycloheximide-resistant strains of Physarum polycephalum were labelled with 3[H]-deoxyadenosine in pulse and pulse-chase experiments in presence and absence of cycloheximide. The replication products were studied with alkaline sucrose gradient sedimentation analysis. We show that the action of cycloheximide on DNA replication in Physarum is mediated through the ribosome, since the ribosomally located resistance also makes the plasmodial DNA replication refractile to the action of cycloheximide. Cycloheximide caused inhibition of three stages in DNA replication in the wild type: first, the formation of primary replication units ("Okazaki" size fragments), secondly, the ligation of primary units into secondary ("Replicon" size) units and thirdly, the ligation of secondary units into mature DNA.


Anorexic and behavioural effects of a new imidazo-isoindole derivative (mazindol) in comparison with d-amphetamine in the rat.

The effect of an imidazo-isoindole derivative (mazindol) upon motor and feeding activity and two different avoidance behaviours have been compared with those of d-amphetamine in rats. It was found that both drugs depress feeding activity in a dose-related manner and increase the motor activity of the animals. However, the ratio of the lowest motility-increasing dose and the lowest appetite suppressant dose is 0.5 for d-amphetamine and 2 for mazindol. Mazindol, like d-amphetamine, caused a stereotyped behaviour in rats when given in very high doses, but the range between the anorexic and the stereotyped behaviour dose is much higher for mazindol than for d-amphetamine. The shuttle-box avoidance behaviour suppressed by tetrabenazine is completely restored by d-amphetamine and partially by mazindol. Lever-pressing avoidance suppressed by tetrabenazine is restored by d-amphetamine while mazindol at the doses used is ineffective. It is concluded that mazindol could be an anorexic agent better suited than d-amphetamine for clinical use.


Neonatal hepatic calcification secondary to transplacental infection.

Transplacentally acquired infections which cause prenatal and neonatal hepatitis can cause hepatic calcification in the newborn. Three cases are reported in which congenital toxoplasmosis and herpes simplex viral infections were causes of neonatal hepatic calcification. Autopsies performed in 2 of the cases revealed extensive dystrophic hepatic calcifications.


[Biological value of a soy-corn-wheat based noodle (macaroni) supplemented with lysine (author's transl)].

The biological value of a soy-corn-wheat based noodle (macaroni) prepared by the General Food Corporation was studied. The protein level of the noodle was of 20.5g%. Thirty-six Albino rats were used in this experimental. The animals were divided into sex groups of six animals each. The experimental groups were fed: a) cooked macaroni without lysine; and b) macaroni supplemented with increasing levels of L-lysine HCL. The control group received commercial casein. The protein level of the experimental diets was of 10g%. At the end of the fourth week of the experiment some rats showed a slight difference in the growth curve, specially the animals fed macaroni without lysine. However, statistical analysis did not show a significant difference. The protein efficiency ratio (PER) of the experimental groups was similar to that of the control group, but when the lysine level of the diets increased there was a corresponding increase in the PER. No significant difference was noted too. These results suggest that lysine do not improve the biological value of the noodle.


Radioimmunoassay of the anti-hypertensive agent debrisoquin.

Antisera to debrisoquin, a widely used anti-hypertensive agent, have been obtained from rabbits following immunization with a conjugate of 4-[1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-yl)(imino)-methylamino] butanoic acid and bovine serum albumin. Employing tritium labelled debrisoquin as the radioligand for the antisera, a radioimmunoassay (RIA) was developed which allows for the specific determination of the drug directly in plasma. After logit transformation, a linear calibration line was obtained between 0.1 to 10 ng of unlabelled debrisoquin. The 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8-hydroxy derivatives of debrisoquion, known metabolites in man, showed less than 1.5% cross-reaction with the antisera. The specificity of the RIA was established when good agreement was obtained for the levels of debrisoquin in patients' plasma using the RIA and a specific GC/MS method. The simplicity of the RIA makes this method attractive for the routine clinical monitoring of the plasma levels and/or experimental protocols in which high sample throughput is required.


Stereospecific antibodies to methadone. I. Radioimmunoassay of d,l-methadone in human serum.

Anti-d,l-methadone antibodies were produced in rabbits immunized with d,l-methadol-hemisuccinate thyroglobulin conjugate. Using the antiserum, a radioimmunoasay (RIA) for determination of d,l-methadone in human serum has been developed and is described. Concentration of d,l-methadone of 1.4 pmol in a native serum sample (volume 0.1 ml or less) could be measured directly by RIA. The antibodies crossreact 100% with d,l-methadone, 50% with d-methadone, 50% with l-methadone and 100% with alpha-d-methadol. No crossreactivity was found with alpha 1-methadol, morphine, meperidine, dextropropoxyphene, 2-ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenyl-l-pyrroline and 2-ethylidene-l, 5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidene. High sensitivity and small sample requirements make this method suitable for future monitoring of patients on methadone maintenance and for studies where other procedures have lack of sensitivity.


Immunological events in the popliteal lymph node of sheep following injection of liver or killed Corynebacterium ovis into an afferent popliteal lymphatic duct.

Efferent popliteal lymph and blood were collected daily for three weeks from sheep following injection of live or killed Corynebacterium ovis organisms into an afferent lymphatic duct. The total lymphocyte  output, proportion of blast cells and class specificity of immunoglobulin-containing groups of animals and antibody titres and concentrations of  IgG1, IgG2, IMg and IgA were measured in both lymph and blood...


Plasma concentrations of steroid hormones in sows infected experimentally with Leptospira pomona or porcine enterovirus strain T1 in late gestation.

Plasma levels of progesterone, corticosteroids and oestrone were determined during the late stages of pregnancy in four sows experimentally infected with Leptospira pomona and in a group of three sows in which fetuses were inoculated in utero with a strain of porcine enterovirus. Only one of the seven infected sows farrowed at full term. All fetuses were dead and delivery was prolonged in litters infected with the virus. In the sows with leptospirosis almost all piglets were expelled dead or in a weak condition. The amounts of progesterone in plasma were within the normal range and showed a decrease shortly before abortion similar to that observed before parturition in normal animals. The elevation in plasma corticosteroids at normal parturtion was not seen at abortion. An irregular pattern with rising levels of plasma oestrone was found in most sows. Peak levels of oestrone were usually reached close to the time of delivery, but occured earlier in most sows which aborted well before term. In conclusion differences were noted between the endocrine patterns in normal parturition and in abortion caused by infectious agents in sows.


Copper toxicity in sheep: the effects of  repeated intravenous injections of copper sulphate.

Four Clun Forest, Suffolk cross sheep were given daily intravenous injections of copper sulphate. Three similar sheep acted as controls. The copper dosed sheep developed haemolysis and showed liver, kidney and brain damage similar to that seen in chronic copper poisoning. All animals survived for 30 days and two would have lived longer. Reticulocytes were produced after four days and  continued to be produced, sometimes in high number throughout the course of the experiment.


Garcia's disease. Cyclic thrombocytopenic purpura in a child and abnormal platelet counts in his family.

After a critical study, a splenectomy was performed in a 6-year-old boy with chronic thrombocytopenic purpura. Failure of surgery and immunosuppressive therapy prompted new investigations which led to the discovery of a cyclic thrombocytopenic purpura related to a periodic variation in maturity of megakaryocytes. The patient's platelets were morphologically and functionally normal and it was not possible to demonstrate neither immunological mechanism, nutritional deficiency, influence of the environment nor consumption or excessive destruction of platelets. Cyclic thrombocytopenia was detected in the father and also cyclic variations in platelet counts from normal values to  over 1,000 x 10(9)/1 in 4 of 9 siblings. In view of these findings. The abnormal condition in this family was named Garcia's disease.


Paradoxical effects of amphetamine on preweanling and postweanling rats.

In adult rats amphetamine acts as a strong behavioral stimulant leading to a marked increase in random, nondirected locomotor activity. In contrast we report that amphetamine administered to preweanling rats in the presence of an anesthetized adult rat produces no visible increase in motor activity. Instead, it appears to enhance the normal tendency of neonatal rats to approach and maintain contact with conspecifics. In postweanling rats amphetamine disrupts the tendency to aggregate and produces an increase in behavioral activity comparable to that seen in adult rats. These findings may constitute the basis for an animal model of minimal brain dysfunction hyperkinesis.


Inter- and intraspecies contamination of human breast tumor cell lines HBC and BrCa5 and other cell cultures.

It is shown that the two most recently reported cell lines derived from malignant human breast tissue, HBC and BrCa5 are, respectively, rat and HeLa cell contaminants. The incidence of inter- and intraspecies contamination among 279 cell cultures from 45 laboratories in an 18-month survey is also presented.


Inflammatory effects of endotoxin-like contaminants in commonly used protein preparations.

Protein preparations from commercial suppliers are contaminated with bacterial endotoxins. The continued use of these preparations indicates that many researchers are unaware of this, and they may attribute all observed effects to the proteins themselves. Intravitreous injection of bovine serum albumin has an initial inflammatory effect on the rabbit eye which occurs before an immune reaction to the antigen itself can develop. This direct inflammatory effect can be fully accounted for by endotoxin-like contaminants which are present in protein preparations obtained from commercial suppliers. A pharmaceutical (U.S. Pharmacopeia) serum albumin preparation contains no detectable endotoxin, and has no initial inflammatory effect on the eye. Since endotoxins, even in minute amounts, have a variety of effects, the use of such contaminated protein preparations in biological research can lead to erroneous conclusions and should, therefore, be avoided.


LAP negative and Ph1-positive hemorrhagic thrombocythemia.

Cytochemical and cytogenetic studies were carried out in 4 patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders. These corresponded only partially to the clinical and hematologic criteria for the diagnosis of hemorrhagic thrombocythemia (HT), yet with a low leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP) level and in the presence of the Ph1 positive 46, XX, mitoses. The authors discuss the significance of the presence of the Ph1 chromosome as well as the possibility of transition forms among chronic myeloproliferative disorders.


The effects of sacral denervation on bladder and urethral function.

Complete sacral denervation resulted in loss of anal sphincter, detrusor and urethral skeletal muscular activity, but resting urethral smooth muscular sphincter tone was unaffected. The Credé and Valsalva maneuvers in the patients studied did not produce voiding. Spinal anesthesia, however, resulted in a loss of urethral smooth muscular activity. These results affirm the importance of an intact sympathetic nerve supply in maintaining urinary continence.


Human fetal development between 90 and 170 days postmenses.

Linear measurements, total weights, and organ weights of 133 fresh human fetuses were obtained after therapeutic abortion between 90 and 170 days postmenses. Great apparent variation was observed in fetuses of given ages, especially in organ weights. There was no evidence of sex or parity differences.


The hypocalcemic activity of pancreatic tissue homogenate in the dog.

Glucagon and the pancreatic homogenate preparations to be tested for hypocalcemic effects were injected either intravenously or intraperitoneally in thyroparathyroid intact dogs and in dogs after thyroparathyroidectomy, respectively. Evidence has been presented that, in thyroparathyroid intact dogs, pancreatic tissue homogenate and the residue of such homogenate demonstrated a maximal hypocalcemic effect and that, in the thyroparathyroid intact dog, glucagon produced a hypocalcemic effect but did not produce a significant effect on dogs after acute thyroparathyroidectomy. On the other hand, the hypocalcemic effect of residue was equally effective both in dogs after thyroparathyroidectomy and in thyroparathyroid intact dogs; there was evidence that intravenous infusion of the residue resulted in a more rapid decrease in serum calcium levels compared with the intraperitoneal infusion after thyroparathyroidectomy of dogs being maintained four to five days with parathormone. Although final conclusions are not justifiable, the results suggest that a pancreatic factor other than glucagon has hypocalcemic effects and might explain the hypocalcemia observed during acute pancreatitis.


Comparison of the effects of retinol and retinoic acid on postimplantation rat embryos in vitro.

Rat embryos were explanted on day 8 or 9 of pregnancy and cultured for up to 48 hours in serum containing added retinol (vitamin A), retinoic acid (vitamin A acid), or absolute ethanol. They were examined morphologically and their protein content determined. Retinoic acid was more teratogenic and growth-retarding than retinol. Electron microscopy of embryos cultured for 30 minutes or one hour revealed that both forms of vitamin A brought about similar ultrastructural effects on the embryonic cells; however, the abnormally large intracellular lipid droplets observed in a previous study following exposure to retinol in vitro and retinyl palmitate in vivo were not observed in embryos exposed to retinoic acid. It is possible that the differential teratogenicity may be due to the inability of the embryonic cells to convert and store retinoic acid in a less teratogenic form.


An analysis of the age and size of 483 human embryos.

The crown-rump length of 483 fixed human embryos of Carnegie stages 6-23 was analyzed and median and predicted mean lengths were calculated. The results were compared with those of other series and confirmed that early human growth rates are different from those of macaques with which human embryo growth has previously been compared. The study indicated that it is possible to predict: 1. the median size of an embryo of given Streeter horizon or Carnegie stage; 2. the age of a fresh embryo, or one of undisputed Streeter staging, by comparison with mean figures of other authorities; and 3. the corrected age of an embryo of known length or known Streeter staging or both in terms of postovulation age. Since teratogens may reduce the embryonic growth rate this information is relevant in the analysis of teratogenic factors in human development.


Intra-H-2 recombination in H-2b/H-2t1 heterozygotes in the mouse I. Four cases of crossing over between the S And D regions.

An examination of 1009 backcross animals produced from H-2b/H-2t1 heterozygotes resulted in the detection of four cases of intra-H-2 recombination. Three of the recombinants received the K region from H-2b and the D region from the H-2t1 parenteral chromosome. The fourth recombinant received a K region from the H-2t1 parental chromosome and the D region from H-2b.  Ss typing revealed that crossing over occurred between the S and D regions of the H-2 complex in all four cases. Three of the four recombinants were developed into inbred strains and assigned the haplotype designations H-2i8, H-2i9 and H-2at1.


Aromatase activity of isolated and recombined hamster granulosa cells and theca.

The major synthesis of estrogen by the follicle is postulated to require both theca and granulosa cells. Theca in this scheme provide androgens to the major aromatizing site in the follicle, and the granulosa cell. One aspect of this theory was tested here. We investigated the comparative ability of isolated granulosa and theca, alone and in recombination to aromatize androgen in vitro. We found that the granulosa aromatize [14C]substrate more efficiently than do theca, and compare with the recombined system in their ability to aromatize [14C]androgen. The data therefore substantiates one aspect of the theory regarding the nature of the synergism, i.e., that the granulosa cells, at least in vitro, are the major site of aromatization of the preovulatory follicle.


Comparison of cystometrograms and urethral profiles with gas and water media.

Twenty-five female patients were studied using both gas and water media for custometrograms and urethral profiles. The results showed that gas and water did not generate equivalent data in either cystometrograms or urethral profiles. The cystometrogram data showed a high correlation of data between gas and water, with gas values consistently lower than water values. Urethral profile data with gas were very difficult to interpret in terms of water-generated data, and correlations were tenuous at best.


Urethral injury: experimental study.

The present experiment was designed to study several challenging therapeutic questions that remain disputable or unanswered: (1) Whether urethral healing post-trauma is influenced by the use of an indwelling urethral stent as an adjunct to suprapubic diversion; (2) the incidence of urethral stricture formation after immediate or delayed urethral repair; (3) the incidence of urethral stricutre formation after partial or complete urethral disruption; and (4) further assessment of radiographic findings in urethral injury. Herein is described the final conclusions we found to be relevant to this experiment.


Postcoital-voiding insemination: technique for patients with retrograde ejaculation and infertility.

Three patients with infertility secondary to retrograde ejaculation demonstrated motile sperm in their urine after coitus. These patients were instructed to alkalinize their urine and void directly into the vagina after intercourse. The technique was called "postcoital-voiding insemination." Three pregnancies have resulted. The technique appears to be a good alternative to bladder catheterization and artificial insemination.


Rhabdomyosarcoma of spermatic cord.

A case of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the spermatic cord is presented and literature reviewed. The spread of this disease to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes and the improved results with retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy and radical orchiectomy are stressed.


[Possibilities and limitations of ultrasonic diagnosis in the prenatal recognition of abnormalities].

This paper explains the momentary situation of diseasediagnostic with ultrasonic (B-scan). Possibilities and limits of this methods are shown. Some rare symptoms fetal-disease are explained and we discuss the possibility, to recognize diseases of skeleton and central nervous system better than before.


Pardoxical cytotoxic effect of antisera used in diagnostic virology. Brief report.

Rabbit antisera prepared against adenovirus-infected or uninfected HEK cells showed a high degree of cytotoxicity towards HeLa and other human cell cultures, while antisera prepared against infected HeLa cells did not. The toxic activity was independent of complement; it could be removed by adsorption to HEK monolayers.


[Morphological alteration and desintegration of dane particles after exposure with "Gigasept". A first methological attempt for the evaluation of the virucidal efficacy of a chemical disinfectant against hepatitisvirus B ( author's transl)].

A test system based on morphological alterations and desintegration of hepatitis virus B (HBV) is presented for the approximative evaluation of the virucidal efficacy of a chemical disinfectant. Dane particles, supposed to be the infectious entity of HBV, were partially purified by a trap and a rate zonal ultracentrifugation from serum samples of a patient with chronic hepatitis undergoing an immune suppressive treatment because of leukemia. "Gigasept" on the basis of succine dialdehyd and formaldehyd served as disinfectant for this investigation. In one experiment partially purified Dane particles were exposed to the action of a 5% solution of "Gigasept" on electron microscopic grids. Morphological alterations resulting in derounding, break up of the outer membrane, spiral uncoiling as well as asymmetric enlargement of the space between the outer membrane and the core of the HBV was observed after 2 mins. After 15 mins, the HBV were diffusely stained with loss of the characteristic substructure and became polygonal. The decrease of the number of the particles was proportional to the length of the contact time with the disinfectant. In a second series  equal volumes of a 5% solution of "Gigasept" and of a HBV containing serum were in contact for 2 hours, with consecutive purification and morphological characterization of the HBV. The sedimentation of the HBs antigenicity differed from the control. A part of the Dane particles was diffusely stained and lost its substructure. Moreover empty particles in the range of the HBc antigen were found. Another part of Dane particles, however, was morphologically unchanged. The relation of intact and non intact particles could possibly serve as parameter for the HBV virucidy.-Thermo inactivation (3 mins, +98 degrees C) of the HBV in a serum was undertaken for comparison.


[Experiments on disinfection of vaccinia virus embedded in scabs and/or at the hand].

Vaccinia viruses embedded in rabbit dermal scabs were subjected to physical and chemical disinfection procedures. Scabs were suspended in vitro without saline or in physiological saline, and left for 1 hour at 70 to 90 degrees C. A complete inactivation was achived only in those scab samples which had been incubated at 90 degrees C for 1 hour and suspended in physiological saline. Scabs which had been placed in a disinfecting apparatus (Vacudes 4000) filled with mattrasses consistently proved to be free of infectious vaccinia viruses in each of the chosen programs. In addition scabs were subjected to disinfection by means of chemical disinfecting agents. The scabs had been placed in a chemical disinfecting suspension and left there for 90 minutes. Complete disinfection was obtained with glutaraldehyde 2%, formaldehyde 2%, Lysoformin 2% or 3%, phenol 5% and chloramine T 2%. Complete disinfection was likewise achieved after 3 hours treatment with some alchohols (ethylalcohol 80%, isopropylalcohol 7%, n-propylalcohol 60%), Amocid 5% and formaldehyde 1%.0.5% formaldehyde caused complete disinfection when applied for 6 hours. The only exception was a Quat which did not disinfect fully even after 18 hours application. Concerning the tests to disinfect the hands complete disinfection occurs when using chloramine T (1.5%) or isopropylalcohol (70%) in 2 to 5 minutes. Further tests were performed with scabs which were placed in sick rooms that were terminally disinfected with formaline vapor. It could be confirmed that the usual terminal disinfection with formaldehyde vapor was unable to completely disinfect the scabs. It is necessary to double the amount of formaldehyde (10 g formaldehyde per cubic metre of space) and prolong the period of treatment to 24 hours to achieve a greater degree of disinfection rate.


[Significance of an increase in the titer of agglutinins in the microagglutination test in leptospirosis].

The authors considered different views of investigators on the diagnostic antibody titre level in the microagglutination test (MAT) in leptospirosis of man and animals. Some of them took into consideration MAT in low titres (1:10-1:20), and others - in high only (1:400, 1:1000), which gave no possibility to assess the state of leptospirosis morbidity. The authors suggest that the assessment of the level of the titres in single and repeated studies should be approached differentially. In single examination 1:100 and over should be considered as a positive MAT titre for man, 1:200 and over - for cattle, 1:20 and over - for swine, and 1:20 and over for murine rodents. In repeated investigations any level of the titre in case of its dynamics should be taken into consideration.


[Sate of immunopathologic principles in patients whose schizophrenia commenced after childbirth].

On the basis of comprehensive immuno-biological studies of schizophrenia where the disease manifests itself after delivery, the authors come to the conclusion that a certain role is played in the development of the disease by immuno-allergic processes. Facts confirming this supposition are a detection of brain antigens and the expressiveness of sensitization even during the initial stage of the disease, a sufficiently high frequency of revealed automtibodies, their correlation with the quality to remissions. Besides these facts, the authors were able to distinguish individually different types of antibody formation in recurrent and attack-like-progressive forms of schizophrenia, a fall in the complement activity in the blood serum of patients as well as a certain connection between the indicis of organopecific immunity and the dynamics of the morbid process.


[Monozygotic and dizygotic twins concordant with regard to schizophrenia].

The paper deals with a clinical study of schizophrenia in 30 pairs of concordant twins among which 10 were monozygotic, 5 pairs of a doubtful zygoticy and 16 dizygotic. Concordance to manifest schizophrenia was found in 62.5% of monozygotic twins and 25.5% in dizygotic. Both in monozygotic and in dizygotic pairs a constant coinciding sign, except the nozological belonging, was only the form of development in schizophrenia. The level of postive and negative disorders, the frequency of attacks and duration of remissions differes in monozygotic pairs insignificantly, in dizygotic-somewhat more. However, even in dizygotic pairs the similarities prevail over differences. It was possible to distinguish correlations between the traits of premorbid personality and the severity of the subsequent disease.


Bilirubin displacing effect of stabilizers added to injectable preparations of human serum albumin.

Stabilizers added to preparations of human serum albumin before heat treatment were tested for bilirubin displacing effect, using the peroxidase method. It was found that N-acetyltryptophan and sodium caprylate displace bilirubin from its complex with human serum albumin in vitro. The quantitative findings were used for a rough estimate of the effect of these substances on the free bilirubin concentration in blood plasma, expected when stabilized albumin preparations are given intravenously for prevention of kernicterus. The calculated effect is a delay of the decrease of free bilirubin concentration, or even a temporary increase. Sodium mandelate displaces less strongly.


Antimicrobial factors in human milk.

Levels of immunoglobulins, lactoferrin and lysozyme were determined in milk samples obtained from well-nourished and under-nourished Indian women at different stages of lactation. The concentration of immunoglobulins and lactoferrin was higher in colostrum than in mature milk while the lysozyme levels showed a progressive increase with the period of lactation. There were no significant differences in the levels between the two groups of women. Administration of iron did not alter either the total or percentage saturation of lactoferrin in milk. These results indicate that antibacterial factors in milk are not influenced by the nutritional status of the mother and that iron supplementation does not interfere with the bacteriostatic function of lactoferrin.


Bacteriolytic activity of normal and pathological cerebrospinal fluid.

The bacteriolytic activity of 153 samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with various diseases was measured by determining the ability of the CSF to cause lysis of a suspension of killed cells of Micrococcus lysodeikticus. Normal CSF did not show significant bacteriolytic activity. A high activity was found in patients with bacterial meningitis (mainly meningococcal), only to some extent correlated with the protein and cell content of the CSF. Slight elevation of protein and cell content of CSF in patients with diseases other than bacterial meningitis was not accompanied by significant bacteriolytic activity. The CSF from a patient with lymfosarcoma, with as much as 2300 cells/mm3, thus was negative. Also the CSF from patients with serous (viral) meningitis was usually negative. Measurement of bacteriolytic activity in CSF may be of diagnostic importance in cases presenting slight elevation of cell number and protein. Further studies of the significance of the bacteriolytic response in meningitis caused by different microorganisms are warranted.


Cardiovascular control in the Milan strain of spontaneously hypertensive rat (MHS) at "rest" and during acute mental "stress".

The cardiovascular responses to acute mental "stress" were compared in the Milan strain of spontaneously hypertensive rats (MHS) and in normotensive control rats (NR). Blood pressure and heart rate were followed in pairs of awake MHS and NR, while defence reactions were provoked by alerting stimuli (noise, vibration). No differences were noted between the two groups in response to "stress" although resting heart rate in MHS was lower than in NR. Administration of atropine or propranolol to MHS and NR showed the MHS to have a higher resting vagal tone and lower sympathetic tone than the NR. Subsequent (at least two weeks later) hemodynamic investigation, under nembutal anesthesia, showed no difference in cardiac output between MHS and NR but a higher stroke volume, presumably related to the lower heart rate in MHS. Thus, total peripheral resistance was increased in MHS as was the ratio left ventricular weight/body weight, and in good proportion to the blood pressure rise. Thus MHS differ substantially in both their responses to "stress" and also hemodynamically from the Okamoto strain of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), being the so far most studied and best known model of essential hypertension in man. In MHS the hypertension is more of a systolic type and is of primarily renal origin. As such, MHS provide another model for investigating the polygenic nature of hypertension in man.


Noninvasive assessment of left ventricular function in chronic heart disease.

Externally recorded STI were compared with invasively determined EF in 10 normal subjects and 86 patients with various forms of chronic heart disease. From phono-, apex-, and electrocardiograms and carotid pulse tracings, recorded without rigidly controlled conditions (postabsorptive state, fixed time of day, exclusion of atrial fibrillation, and discontinuation of cardiac drugs), PEP, electromechanical interval, isovolumic contraction period, and LVET were measured and deltaPEP (deviation from predicted normal) and PEP/LVET were drived. EF was determined with biplane angiocardiographic methods. Patients were divided into groups based on pathophysiology and state of clinical compensation. The ability of STI to discriminate abnormal from normal function, as compared with EF, varied with each noninvasive parameter and with each physiologic group. On a group basis, the discriminatory ability of PEP was better than that of other noninvasive parameters studied, but did not always parallel that of EF. PEP also tended to correlate better with EF than the other noninvasive measurements. On an individual patient basis, however, the ability of even PEP to predict EF was poor. It is concluded that the usefulness of assessing left ventricle function in chronic heart disease by STI is limited.


Myocardial infarction and rupture of the heart: a macroscopic pathologic study.

From an anatomical point of view, the various elements which seem to individualize myocardial infarctions complicated by rupture are: a limited increase in the volume of the heart; a propensity for the rupture to follow the first infarction of a previously healthy cardiac muscle; a myocardial necrosis of sometimes small extension with clear limits and a destruction of the muscle so severe as to amount in two thirds of the cases to a variable parietal dissection; a lesser extension and diffusion of coronary stenosis; an ever-present and totally occlusive coronary thrombosis; an insignificant or absent substitutive circulation. Those strictly anatomical facts can be reason to extend the indications of a very early direct myocardial revascularization (almost a third of all cardiac ruptures occur within 24 hours) or to contemplate an infarctectomy after the eighth hour (the necroses are usually of a moderate size and well deliminated) if it appears possible to draw the "clinical profile" of those patients prone to cardiac rupture or to read the signs that may announce the likelihood of this dreadful complication.


Mediastinal teratoma masquerading as idiopathic enlargement of the right atrium.

A chest roentgenogram of an asymptomatic 22-year-old man revealed prominence of the right heart border characteristic of idiopathic dilatation of the right atrium. On further evaluation, a malignant teratoma was found. The importance of including teratoma and idiopathic enlargement of the right atrium in the differential diagnosis of abnormalities of the right heart border is discussed.


Echocardiographic spectrum of mitral valve motion in children with and without mitral valve prolapse: the nature of false positive diagnosis.

To examine problems in echocardiographic diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse, multiple crystal cross-sectional echocardiography and single crystal recordings derived from the multiple crystal array were used to study 45 clinically normal children aged 3 to 15 years (Group A), 26 children aged 2 to 10 years with known mitral valve prolapse (Group B), 12 children with a catheterization-proved large left to right shunt at the ventricular level (Group C) and 8 children with catheterization-proved left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (Group D). Children in Groups A and B were not studied hemodynamically. Children in Groups C and D had no evidence of mitral valve prolapse on angiography and were studied echocardiographically to determine the effect of changes in ventricular shape on the patterns of mitral valve motion. In the real time cross-sectional studies, normal patients demonstrated a spectrum of mitral valve motion in which the bodies of the anterior and posterior leaflets became slightly horizontal with systolic ejection. The mitral apparatus assumed a curvilinear funnel shape. Arching of the leaflets into a horizontal configuration was more striking in the presence of either left ventricular dilatation in left to right shunt or involvement of the anterior mitral anulus in subaortic stenosis (two patients) and was associated with false positive M mode tracings suggesting mitral valve prolapse. This latter configuration was easily differentiated from the superior motion of the body of the leaflets in true prolapse. Studies of single crystal M mode recordings derived form the cross-sectional array in known locations from six normal patients revealed M mode patterns of pseudoprolapse in tracings derived from the leaflet body and patterns of normal motion at the free edge. In contrast, superior-posterior prolapse visualized in cross-sectional studies in patients with the click-murmur syndrome was associated with abnormal M mode recordings from all parts of the leaflet, including the free edge, although the abnormalities were most striking in tracings derived from the leaflet body. The M mode echocardiographic findings of mitral valve prolapse in both normal patients and patients with the click-murmur syndrome were dependent upon transducer angulation and the portion of the valve examined. The critical differentiation of the spectrum of normal valve motion from prolapse requires careful evaluation of echoes from the free edge of the leaflet where the posterior and anterior leaflet echoes coapt in early systole.


The protein quality of instant blends for infants and children based on milk or cereals and milk.

The protein quality of industrially produced and home prepared milk or cereal-milk based foods for infants and children were evaluated by means of biological assays. The net protein utilization (NPU) values of human milk substitutes based on cow's milk varied between 75 and 78 and the NPU of a soy-based product was found to be 70. Cereal-milk based precooked gruel powders had NPU values of 69 to 77. Furthermore, a comparison between industrially processed products and their corresponding home prepared alternatives was made. Although the protein nutritional products, i.e., including the vitamine and mineral content, is more standardized due to supplementation. The NPU assays of some cereal-milk based porridge powders revealed a wide variations (28 to 69); the lowest NPU values reflect the influence of the processing technique. This illustrates the necessity of performing biological evaluations of processed foods.


Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in children: should corticosteroids be given?

Life-threatening hemorrhages occur in about 2% of children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), the majority during the first month of illness. The administration of corticosteroids to patients with ITP has been shown to improve platelet economy mainly through reduction of phagocytosis in the spleen. Since the risk of a short course of steroids in low dosage is small, it seems reasonable to administer them to patients with ITP during the period of greatest risk.


Childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura-(ITP) in children is generally a benign, self-limited process with spontaneous recovery occurring within a matter of days or weeks. Management remains somewhat controversial to date, however, and the controversy surrounding the use or nonuse of corticosteroids will no doubt continue until critical data become available. At present, there is little or no evidence to support the claim that steroids shorten the natural course of the disease. Furthermore, evidence that steroids lessen the risk of intracranial hemorrhage is conspicuously lacking. The authors no longer use steroids in ITP; however, if one does elect to use steroids, a selective approach based on an assessment of the severity of the bleeding tendency is recommended.


Detecting prescribing problems through drug usage review: a case study.

A retrospective drug usage review was performed on 1,033 randomly sampled prescription orders from the outpatient pharmacy of a hospital and clinic system. Prescription orders were screened in accordance with criteria based on daily dosage, length of therapy or quantity dispenced, diagnosis, and labeling. The results of the study point to a number of potential prescribing problems. In addition, the study demonstrates the feasibility of collecting and analyzing drug usage data on a retrospective basis.


Induction of labor in patients with missed abortion and fetal death in utero with protaglandin E2 suppositories.

Labor was successfully induced in 20 patients with a diagnosis of missed abortion or intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) by intravaginal administration of prostaglandin E2 suppositories. Fifteen patients delivered with the prostaglandin alone while a concomitant oxytocin infusion was employed to augment contractions in the other five patients. The mean induction-delivery time was 9.80 hours; nulliparous patients delivered in a mean time if 7.78 hours, parous patients in a mean time of 12.29 hours. The uterus appeared to be sensitive to the PGE2 stimulation in all patients and all were delivered completely without the need for surgical intervention. Fifty per cent of patients were delivered within 8 hours and 80 per cent by 12 hours. The side effects associated with prostaglandin administration--vomiting, diarrhea, and temperature elevation--were well tolerated and therapy did not have to be terminated in any patient. The administration of PGE2 vaginal suppositories offers an effective and safe technique for the induction of labor in patients with IUFD. Labor can be induced with PGE2 suppositories as soon as the diagnosis of IUFD is confirmed, which eliminates the need for waiting until spontaneous labor occurs.


Hepatic-portal nutrient infustion: effect on feeding in intact and vagotomized rabbits.

Hepatic-portal infusions of isotonic glucose did not influence food intake in free-feeding rabbits. In contrast, several other macronutrients and some of their metabolites, infused via the same route, cause anorexia followed by prolonged hypophagia. Its duration was generally decreased when the same infusions were performed during the nocturnal period. Vagotomy did not significantly alter the food intake responses to hepatic-portal infusions of either glucose or the other experimental substances. The results of related experiments have demonstrated that prolonged anorexia was not a consequence of the fast infusion rate or the generalized behavioral mallaise. However, when the infusions of most anorexigenic substances were followed by intraperitoneal administration of insulin, the duration of anorexia was shortened and food consumption was elevated. The results provided indirect evidence for the vagally mediated regulatory contribution of the previously studied neural and humoral intestinal mechanisms which are bypassed by infusing nutrient loads directly into the hepatic-portal circulation.


Copper metabolism in pregnant and pospartum rat and pups.

A detailed study was made of copper metabolism in rats during and after pregnancy and in the fetuses and pups up to the age of 6 wk. Maternal ceruloplasmin levels increase only briefly at the beginning of the third (and last) week of pregnancy. They then decrease to normal levels at term and decrease markedly in the early postpartum period. Bilary excretion of copper and 67Cu almost stops at term and remains decreased for 2 wk. In spite of this, there is no increase in hepatic copper levels. Except for a 1- to 2-day period shortly after delivery, maternal rats have a positive copper balance if lacteal elimination of copper is ignored. Levels of copper in milk drop at about the fourth day postpartum. Fetal hepatic copper levels are already above adult levels, but the concentration almost doubles during the first week after birth; it decreases to adult levels by 6 wk of age. Ceruloplasmin levels, which are found to be very low in the pups at birth, increase sharply in the first 24 h and quickly achieve adult levels. Large quantitative differences also occur between the pups and adults in concentrations of copper in the brain and kidney. Qualitative differences, measured with 67Cu, are most notable when the neonatal liver is compared with the adult liver.


Lack of observed association between armadillo contact and leprosy in humans.

In 1971 it was discovered that the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) could be infected in the laboratory with Mycobacterium leprae, and would manifest disease similar to the lepromatous form of leprosy in man. In 1975 several wild armadillos captured in Louisiana were found to have a disease identical to the M. laprae infection in laboratory animals. To determine if there is a significant association between contact with armadillos and presence of leprosy in humans, the armadillo contact of persons with indigenous leprosy in Louisiana was compared to the contact of matched controls. No difference in the nature or frequency of contact was found. If this infection of wild armadillos is of recent onset, an association with human leprosy in enzootic areas may not be detectable for several years.


Biochemical characterization of some additional mycelial cultures of basidiomycetes.

Twenty-six biochemical tests were used to study cultures of basidiomycetes isolated from roots of fruit-trees and other plants. The results enabled isolates to be placed into one of sixteen groups. Three of these groups were identified as Collybia drucei, Corticium utriculicum and Heteroporus biennis by matching their biochemical reactions with those of isolates from fruiting bodies of these fungi. This suggests that the other groups might also correspond to species. The three named fungi are indigenous, the first two not having been recorded elsewhere. Thus, root infections by these fungi may have originated from the indigenous fungal flora. Isolates of C. utriculicum and Stereum purpureum which were indistinguishable in culture were also separated using biochemical tests.


The fungal flora of loganberries in relation to storage and spoilage.

Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp., Aureobasidium pullulans, Mucor mucedo, Phoma state of Didymella applanata, Cryptococcus laurentii var. laurentii, C. albidus var. albidus, Candida sake and Sporobolomyces roseus were consistently present on freshly harvested loganberries. Botrytis cinerea was the main spoilage organism with Mucor mucedo of minor importance. The importance of benomyl-resistant strains of B. cinerea is discussed.


Resistance to anaplasmosis after elimination of latent Anaplasma marginale infections.

Ten 30-month-old cattle (group 2) were inoculated with Anaplasma marginale 6 months after the latent A marginale infection was eliminated by oral chlortetracycline therapy. In addition, 4 cattle (group 1) with no record of infection and 4 cattle (group 3) of equivalent age previously vaccinated with a killed antigen were similarly inoculated. Moderate to severe clinical signs of acute anaplasmosis occurred in the group 1 (previously uninfected) cattle, whereas only 1 of the chlortetracycline-treated cattle (group 2) and none of the vaccinated cattle (group 3) had clinical evidence of disease.


Low levels of chlortetracycline for anaplasmosis.

Latent infections of anaplasmosis were eliminated from 10 adult cows by feeding 1.1 mg of chlortetracycline/kg of body weight for 120 days in a ration. Elimination of latent infection was confirmed by a negative reaction to the complement-fixation test for anaplasmosis at 180 days after medication ended and the failure to transmit anaplasmosis on subinoculations of blood from medicated to susceptible animals at 28 days and 180 days after treatment.


Estrus, ovulation, and serum progesterone, estradiol, and LH concentrations in mares after an increased photoperiod during winter.

On December 11, 1974, 15 seasonally anestrous mares were assigned at random to 1 of 3 experimental groups: outdoor-control, indoor-control, or indoor light-treated (a 16-hour photo-period). This experiment was terminated on April 21, 1975. The five mares in the indoor light-treated group ovulated 59.0+/-6.9 days later, which was 74 days earlier (P less than 0.01) than 2 of the 5 outdoor-controls (the other 3 ovulated after April 21 during a subsequent experiment) and 50 days earlier (P less than 0.05) than the indoor-controls. Durations of the 1st estrus for the 3 groups of mares were 13.3+/-3.6, 8.4+/-2.0, and 6.0+/-1.0 days for the indoor light-treated, indoor-control, and outdoor-control groups, respectively. The indoor light-treated mares averaged 4.2 estrous cycles before April 21, the indoor-control mares averaged 1.4 estrous cycles, and 2 of 5 outdoor-control mares ovulated 1 time during the experiment. The peripheral blood luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, and progesterone concentrations were minimal during winter anestrous. The hormone changes normally associated with estrous cycle activity in mares--maximal estradiol and luteinizing hormone concentrations near ovulation and maximal progesterone concentration during diestrus--were observed in all mares beginning at the 1st estrus. Hair loss was observed earlier in the light-treated mares, than in either of the other groups. In conclusion, a 16-hour photo-period initiated in early December for anestrous brood mares caused endocrinologically normal estrous cycles to begin within 2 months. This may allow breeding and foaling considerably earlier than normally expected.


Plasma renin activity during controlled hemorrhage in the dog.

Purebred 1-year-old Beagles were made hypotensive by controlled hemorrhage (3 ml/kg-1/min-1). Femoral artery blood samples were collected every 5 minutes during controlled hemorrhage, until the blood pressure decreased to 30+/-5 mm Hg. Samples were then collected every 10 minutes for 40 minutes. Blood was not reinfused during the procedure. Carotid blood pressure, electrocardiogram lead II, and respiration rate were recorded. The results of the radioimmunoassay for renin activity indicated that arterial plasma renin activity formed a bimodal activity curve. Plasma renin activity did not reach any plateau, and it continued to increase throughout the experiment. Decreasing blood pressure and heart rate statistically showed a relationship with plasma renin activity (P less than 0.001). There was no interaction between pressure and heart rate; both were strong and independent. Female dogs had a higher plasma renin activity than did male dogs (P less than 0.001) throughout the experimental period. Plasma renin activity remained above resting activity throughout the development of hemorrhagic shock.


Congenital anomalies of the umbilicus.

Knowledge of the embryonic developments of the umbilicus and its contents assists the physician in correctly assessing the various anomalies found in this area. Although some will require specialized facilities and care, the majority of these anomalies can be corrected by simple operative means.


[Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in children (author's transl)].

Based on their experience of 6 cases of idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy among 1800 hemodynamic studies, the authors discuss some features of this entity, and print out the phonomecanocardiographic datz leading to the suspicion of the diagnosis, and the angiocardiographic findings which confirm it. Some speculation is made on the probable congenital and hereditary etiology of the disease, and finally, the main therapeutic measure are considered.


Argon laser treatment in supine position.

When using an argon laser photocoagulator it is often advantageous and sometimes indispensable to treat the patient in a supine position. Stabilization of the laser beam requires the use of a microscope equipped with a beam manipulator (joystick) that maintains the orientation of the laser beam wherever it is placed, without the operator having to hold the joystick. A low-vacuum contact lens or a three-mirror lens, and a microscope suspended from a floor stand are used. The patient is placed in the supine position on a stretcher of adjustable height with his head in a foam rubber conformer. Local anesthesia may not be necessary, but if indicated, the patient should not be treated in an upright position. A lid block is rarely required. General anesthesia is used with patients who cannot cooperate. There are 4 main indications for treatment in the supine position: (1) cases in which great accuracy is needed, such as treatment near the macula; (2) all cases in which retrobulbar anesthesia is necessary, with or without a lid block; (3) cases in which the patient is unable to cooperate; and (4) cases that require prolonged photocoagulation.


[Characteristics of fucidin biosynthesis by a Fusidium coccineum 257 A strain].

The physiological features of Fusidium coccineum, strain 257 A,  an organism producing fusidin were studied. It was found that increased concentrations of the carbon sources in the medium stimulated production of fusidin, while an increase in the content of various forms of nitrogen differently affected the level of the antibiotic viosynthesis: high concentrations of the amino acid-peptide form of nitrogen of corn-steep liquor decreased, while the protein form of nitrogen was associated with consumption of the significant part of carbon in the medium for formation of the fungus mycelium. Therefore, the concentration of the easily mobilizing forms of nitrogen may be considered as a regulator of the growth process of F. coccineum 257 A and production of fusidin by it.


The morbidity and mortality of splenectomy in childhood.

One hundred and eighty-two patients undergoing splenectomy in infancy and childhood were followed for periods of 2 to 15 years. Serious infections occurred in 11 patients (6%) with death in 6 (3.3%). In 10 patients the infection was sepsis, and in all but one patient the infection occurred within 2 years of splenectomy. Among children over 2 years of age the risk of infection was still appreciable except when the spleen was removed incidentally or for traumatic rupture. Splenectomy for thalassemia and portal hypertension resulted in an increased risk of serious infections when compared with removal of the spleen for hereditary spherocytosis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, trauma, or for technical reasons in the course of another operation. Post-splenectomy infections tended to follow a characteristic pattern. The infecting organism was predominantly pneumococcus, the course was fulminating and the mortality high.


The surgeon, genetics, and cancer control: the Cancer Family Syndrome.

A family manifesting the Cancer Family Syndrome has been evaluated extensively from the medical and genetic standpoint. Findings of excess occurrence of carcinoma of the colon and endometrium, multiple primary cancer, early age of onset, and autosomal dominant mode of genetic transmission mandate a program of increased surveillance and cancer education. Prophylactic surgical implications are provided for certain of these enormously high cancer risk patients.


Sleep apnea syndrome due to upper airway obstruction: a review of 25 cases.

A sleep apnea syndrome due to upper airway obstruction was diagnosed in 25 adult men (25 to 65 years of age) using nocturnal polygraphic monitoring. Excessive daytime somnolence, hypnagogic hallucinations, and automatic behavior, personality changes with abnormal behavioral outbursts, impotence, morning headaches, abnormal motor activity during sleep, nocturnal enuresis, and high blood pressure should suggest this diagnosis when any of the symptoms are associated with loud snoring. Respiratory monitoring during sleep and nocturnal cardiovascular evaluation bring prognostic information and indications for therapy. Three types of therapeutic trials, namely, diet, medications with or without diet, and surgery have been performed. Only surgery has been beneficial in these cases.


High output heart failure associated with pulmonary edema complicating hydatidiform mole.

Detailed hemodynamic, metabolic and blood volume studies were performed in a patient with hydatidiform mole who developed pulmonary edema associated with a high cardiac output. Several factors including hyperthyroidism, hypervolemia, and the molar state probably contributed to the left ventricular failure in this patient. results of these studies suggest that patients with hydatidiform mole and pulmonary edema need correction of the hypervolemia as well as removal of the molar tissue.


Evaluation of a screening interview for Briquet syndrome (hysteria) by the study of medically ill women.

A screening interview for Briquet syndrome consisting of 14 symptom questions was administered to a group of 50 medically ill women. No patient was found eligible for a diagnosis of Briquet syndrome, a frequency less than the estimated general population prevalence of 1% to 2%. When symptoms explainable by known organic disorder were considered positive, 14% of patients became eligible for the diagnosis. We consider this a low enough rate to allow screening by lay interviewers. A frequency distribution of symptoms comparing the medically ill women and a group of psychiatric clinic women with Briquet syndrome shows that the Briquet group had both more symptoms and distinctive patterns of symptoms.


[Isobutylidene-di-urea as a new NPN source for ruminants. 2. Metabolism of 14C-15N-isobutylidene-di-urea in sheep].

2 male sheep (weighing 45 kg and 44 kg) were fitted with a ruminal fistula and a jugular vein catheter and received isobutylidendi-urea for a 42-day period of adjustment. The diet contained 25% starch, 23.8% glucose, 29.0% cellulose, 10.0% straw, 1.7% sunflower seed oil, 4.3% isobutylidendi-urea, 5.6% minerals and vitamins. Each animal received 60 g of isobutylidendi-urea in daily amounts of 1.4 kg of the ration-4.4% of the total dietary N came from the straw. At the begin of the trial each sheep received 30 g of 14C15N isobutylidendi-urea (C1-siobutyl labelling) administered as a suspension. The animals were then placedin respiration cages. The peak of specific 14C activity in the expired air (including ruminal gas) was observed 2 hrs after the beginning of the trial. 18--30 hrs after the beginning of the trial the highest level of 15N incorporation into the TCE (trichloroacetic acid) soluble fraction of the ruminal fluid was noted resulting from the reflow of urea via the rumeno-hepatic circulatory system in the rumen. A high concentration of 15N was shown to be present, for prolonged period, in the TCE soluble fraction of the ruminal fluid (up to the 30 hr of experiment). The 15N concentration in the blood plasma (TCE soluble portion) was found to increase reaching a peak value 23 hrs after administration of the isotope. The highest level of 14C activity in this fraction appeared 1 hr after isotope  administration. The 15N incorporation into the protein fraction of blood plasma reached a constant high level between the 29th and 47th hr of experiment. The highest 15N concentrations in urine were noted after 1 day. 3.5% of the administered dose of 14C activity and 23% of the supplied amount of N were excreted in the urine. 20% of the total amount of 15N excreted in the urine could be detected as 14C isobutyl residues. An excess of between 0.05 and 0.17 atom% of the isotopes were found in muscular tissue and in different organs of the sheep when these were slaughtered on the 7th day of experiment (liver: 0.17%, kidneys: 0.14%, muscle: 0.05%, heart: 0.08%). The results obtained in the present trial clearly indicate that ruminants are able to utilize nitrogen from isobutyldi-urea.


Memory enhancement after physostigmine treatment in the amnesic syndrome.

Central anticholinergic agents (eg, scopolamine) are known to produce transient memory deficits in human and animal subjects. Damage to the limbic system frequently results from herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) and produces a memory deficit. If this deficit is due to limbic cholinergic pathway destruction, it might improve with central cholinergic agonists (eg, physostigmine). In a doubleblind study over a three-week period, we compared memory performance on three days after 0.8-mg subcutaneous physostigmine therapy (three sessions) to baseline performance and that obtained in three randomly interspersed control sessions. Serial assessment of memory by the Selective Reminding Test showed reproducible enhancement of long-term storage and retrieval with physostigmine treatment. Performance after control injections did not exceed baseline levels. Our findings encourage the hypothesis that cholinergic mechanisms subserve memory and that their pharmacological potentiation might favorable influence some amnesic conditions.


Recurrent traumatic hyphema. A sequel of injury to the Schlemm canal.

A patient with recurrent hyphema following blunt trauma to the left eye was found to have an angle recession with a laceration of the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm canal. Active bleeding from the Schlemm canal proved to be the cause of the recurrent hyphema. Repeated trials of bed rest and bilateral eye patching provided only temporary control of the bleeding. Cessation of the active bleeding and subsequent resolution of the hyphema was achieved following argon laser photocoagulation to the traumatized portion of the Schlemm canal. While hyphema is a common manifestation of blunt ocular trauma, visible rupture of the Schlemm canal is most unusual. This paper describes the gonioscopic findings of a rupture of the Schlemm canal in a patient who had a traumatic hyphema and recurrent bleeding.


Mortality experience of workers exposed to vinyl chloride monomer in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride in Great Britain.

Identification particulars were obtained for over 7000 men who were at some time between 1940 and 1974 exposed to vinyl chloride monomer in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride. Approximately 99% of these men have been traced and their mortality experience studied. The overall standardised mortality ratio, 75-4, shows a significant reduction compared with the national rates. Four cases of liver cancer were found. Two of these have been confirmed by a panel of liver pathologists as angiosarcoma and two as not angiosarcoma. There is no evidence to support the hypothesis that cancers other than those of the liver are associated with exposure to vinyl chloride monomer. The two cases of angiosarcoma were found in men who had been exposed to high concentrations of the monomer although the second man died only eight years after first exposure. The industry in Great Britain has expanded considerably since the second world war with over 50% of men having entered with the last decade. Conclusions drawn about the effect of vinyl chloride monomer on the mortality experience of men in this industry must consequently be tempered by the reservation that the full impact may not yet be in evidence.


Occupational formalin asthma.

Hypersensitivity to formalin used to sterilise artificial kidney machines was shown by inhalation provocation tests to be responsible for attacks of wheezing accompanied by productive cough in two members of the nursing staff of a haemodialysis unit. Three further members of the staff of 28 who were continually exposed to this substance occupationally had developed similar recurrent but less frequent episodes since joining the unit. Two underwent inhalation provocation tests with formalin which did not reproduce these symptoms. Single episodes of these symptoms had been noted by three additional staff members so that altogether eight (29%) had experienced attacks described as bronchitic since becoming exposed to formalin. We suggest that, while exposure to formalin did not seem to be directly responsible in all cases, it might have increased susceptibility to other provoking agents or induced a hyper-reactive responsiveness of the airways. The responses observed in the two nurses after inhalation provocation tests with fromalin were predominantly of airways obstruction. Wheezing began between two and three hours after exposure, and peak expiratory flow rates fell maximally by approximately 50%. Reactions persisted for 10 hours to 10 days depending on the exposure dose. A productive cough was a prominent feature. The sputum appeared to be mucopurulent, but culture produced a scanty growth of Haemophilus influenzae only, together with upper respiratory tract commensals. The cellular content was not homogeneous, neutrophil leucocytes and eosinophil leucocoytes variably dominating. Variable responses of neutrophil and eosinophil leucocytes were also seen in the peripheral blood.


Utilization of dietary energy for maintenance, milk production and lipogenesis by lactating crossbred cows during their midstage of lactation.

1. Twenty-four energy and nitrogen balances were determined using twenty-four crossbred cows (Brown Swiss X Sahiwal) during their midstage of lactation. Energy balances were estimated by subtracting milk energy and heat production from the metabolizable energy (ME) intake. Heat production was estimated by indirect calorimetry, by collection and analysis of respiratory gases. The cows were given amounts corresponding to 90, 110 and 130% of the ME and 90 and 110% of the digestible crude protein (DCP) standards of the (US) National Research Council (1966). 2. Energy requirements were estimated by partitioning the ME intake for maintenance, milk production and energy gain or loss by multiple regression of energy balance values. Heat production (and thus energy balance) was corrected for excess N intake. 3. Energy requirements for maintenance were 585-18, 580-17 and 574-41 kJ ME/kg body-weight0.75 per d for cows in negative balance, cows in positive balance and for all cows, respectively. 4. The efficiency of utilization of ME for milk production was 68-52, 65-48 and 66-12% respectively, for cows in negative balance, for cows in positive balance and all cows. Energy required per kg fat-corrected milk production was 4-580, 4-791 and 4-746 MJ ME for the respective groups of cows. 5. The efficiency of utilization of ME for tissue gain was 67-67 and 64-86% for cows in positive balance and for all cows respectively.


[Velocity of glomerular filtration in intrauterine malnutrition. Effects of hematocrit].

With the technique of single inulin injection, the speed of glomerular filtration (GFR) was evaluated in 16 healthy newborns and in 29 in-utero malnourished infants. The GFR was of 30.22 +/- 10.23 ml/min/1.73 m2 for healthy infants and of 41.86 +/- 17.63 for malnourished cases (p greater than 0.05). When full term infants were compared with pre-term, no difference was shown (p greater than 0.05) either in the healthy group as in the malnourished. The most important finding was that malnourished infants with hematocrit greater than or equal to 60, showed decrease in GFR as compared with those whose hematocrits were less than or equal to 58; likewise, the correlation coefficient of the hematocrit with GFR was inverse and significant (p less than 0.001).


Responses to postruminal infusions of graded levels of casein in lactating goats.

1. A study was made in goats of the response in terms of milk production, nitrogen utilization, plasma amino acids and amino acid uptake by the mammary gland, to postruminal infusion of casein. Goats in early lactation, housed in metabolism cages, were fed on 2-5 kg basal ration/d (containing 111 g crude protein (N X 6-25)/kg) and were given, by infusion into the abomasum, 0, 15, 30 or 45 g casein/d. 2. Milk production increased from 2-41 kg/d on the basal ration to 2-52, 2-80 and 2-94 kg/d in response to infusions of 15, 30 and 45 g casein/d respectively. Milk composition was unaffected except for milk fat, which was slightly decreased during infusions of the higher levels of casein. 3. The goats were found to be in positive N balance on the basal ration. Milk N output increased with casein infusion; the increase was equvalent to a miximum of 49% of the infused N. 4. The concentration of glucose in arterial blood plasma was decreased at the highest level of casein infusion but that of plasma urea N was unaffected by treatments. 5. Casein infusions increased the concentrations of total indispensable amino acids and the ratio, indispensable: dispensable amino acids in arterial plasma. Arterial concentrations and mammary extractions of most indispensable amino acis were increased, but only a few increases were statistically significant (Pless than 0-05); 6. Comparison of individual indispensable amino acids absorbed from the intestine with output in milk indicated that methionine was probably the first limiting amino acid. 7. The results of the experiment were compared to those of similar experiments with cows that have been reported by other workers. The possible ways in which the infused casein may have caused the responses were discussed. However, no firm conclusions regarding the mechanism involved could be drawn from the results of the present study.


[Premature rupture of the membranes. Analysis of neonatal infection].

The study included 65 pregnant women with PRM and of 23 (control group) without PRM or infection. Out of the products from PRM, infection appeared in 13.2% and from the control group in 4.2% (p less than 0.001). No differences were found among frequency of infection and the various periods of latency of PRM, nor with the route from which the product was obtained. The overall mortality was 5.8% for the group studied and cero for the control group (p greater than 0.05) and was shown to be more related with prematurity than with the latent period of PRM. With these experiences, the prophylactic use of antibiotics is not justified in the newborn from mother with PRM.


A comparative study of the nutritional and physiological significance of raw and heated soya beans in chicks and goslings.

1. The comparative effects of raw soya beans on food intake, growth, digestive organ weight, and enzyme activities in goslings and chicks were studied, 2. Goslings were more affected than chicks by the ingestion of a raw soya-bean diet (RSD) in the following ways: reduction in food intake and growth rate; increase in relative weight of the digestive organs; reduction in specific activities of lipase (EC3.1.1.3), amylase (EC3,2.1.1) and chymotrypsin (EC3.4.4.5) in the pancreas (not affected in chicks); greater inhibition of trypsin (EC 3.4.4.5) in the pancreas (not affectd in chicks); greater inhibition of trypsin (EC3.4.4.4.), chymotrypsin and amylase in the inteatinal contents of goslings than of chicks. 3. Addition of methionine to the RSD improved food intake and growth rate more in goslings than in chiks. 4. The interrelationships between enzyme activities, food passage rate, nutrient absorption and food intake regulation are discussed.


Diversity of sequences of polyadenylated cytoplasmic RNA from rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii) testis and liver.

We have compared the sequence complexity and diversity of polyadenylated cytoplasmic RNA derived from two differentiated trout tissues: liver and testis. The kinetics of hybridization of polyadenylated RNA from each of these tissues with complementary DNA synthesized by reverse transcriptase revealed three abundance classes for liver RNA, the first comprising 4 sequences, the second 120, and the third, 20 000; in contrast, testis RNA showed only two abundance classes containing 6 and 6100 different RNA sequences, respectively and of average length 6 x 10(5) daltons. The extent of overlapping among those two RNA populations was further studied by performing heterologous annealing reactions between cDNA and a vast excess of mRNA. Liver mRNA was complementary to 80% of the testis cDNA. Conversely, testis mRNA reacted with only 25% of the liver cDNA. Experiments with fractionated cDNA probes indicated that the unshared sequences belonged mainly to the less frequent, most complex, class of mRNAs.


Effect of oxidation of methionine residues in chicken ovoinhibitor on its inhibitory activities against trypsin, chymotrypsin, and elastase.

Oxidation of methionine residues of chicken ovoinhibitor with N-chlorosuccinimide resulted in a selective loss of its inhibitory activities. While trypsin inhibiting activity was not affected at all, half of the chymotrypsin-inhibiting activity and all of the elastase inhibiting activity were lost. Electrophoretic and affinity chromatography studies indicated that the 50% loss of the chymotrypsin-inhibiting activity resulted from the inactivation of one of its two chymotrypsin-inhibiting sites rather than from a decrease in the binding constants of both sites. Oxidation of ovoinhibitor-chymotrypsin and ovoinhibitor-elastase complexes with excess of N-chlorosuccinimide indicated that the complex formation in each case protected the site that binds the enzyme which participated in the complex, but did not protect the site that binds the other enzyme. Quantitative estimation of the number of oxidized methionine residues in the ovoinhibitor isolated from the complexes has shown that in each complex about one methionine residue was protected from oxidation. Nitrophenyl-sulfenylation of the single tryptophan residue of ovoinhibitor did not affect its inhibitory activities at all.


Covalent structure of collagen: amino acid sequence of cyanogen bromide peptides from the amino-terminal segment of type III collagen of human liver.

Human liver type III collagen was prepared by limited pepsin digestion, differential salt precipitation, and carboxymethylcellulose chromatography. Cyanogen bromide digestion of purified type III collagen chains yielded nine distinct peptides. Three peptides, alpha1(III)-CB3, alpha1(III)-CB7, and alpha1(III)-CB6, were isolated by carboxymethylcellulose chromatography and Sephadex G-50 SF gel filtration. Automated Edman degradation together with selective hydroxylamine cleavage and chymotrypsin and trypsin digestion enabled determination of their complete amino acid sequence. Compared with type I collagen, the data show tentative homology of alpha1(III)-CB3 with alpha1(I)-CB1, alpha1(I)-CB2, and alpha1(I)-CB4; alpha1(III)-CB7 with alpha1(I)-CB5; and alpha1(III)-CB6 with the amino-terminal portion of alpha1(I)-CB8. Close interspecies homology was found between the sequences presented here with 90 residues of alpha1(III)-CB3 and 26 of alpha1(III)-CB8 of calf aorta. The present study establishes the amino acid sequence of 229 residues near the amino terminus or nearly one-quarter of the type III collagen chains. The disaccharide, Glc-Gal, was convalently bound to hydroxylysine at a position corresponding to the same location in the alpha1(I) chain.


Photochemical functionality of rhodopsin-phospholipid recombinant membranes.

Purified rhodopsin was incorporated into phospholipid bilayers to give recombinant membranes. The photochemical functionality in these systems was examined by low-temperature spectroscopy and by kinetic spectrophotometry. Changes in the absorption spectra of glycerol-water mixtures of rhodopsin-egg phosphatidylcholine and rhodopsin-asolectin recombinants were monitored after the sample was cooled to -196 degrees C, presented with light of wavelength greater than 440 nm, and then warmed gradually to room temperature. Absorption characteristics indicative of the spectral intermediates prelumirhodopsin, lumirhodopsin, metarhodopsin I, and metarhodopsin II were observed. The kinetics of the metarhodopsin I -o metarhodopsin II transition in these recombinants was studied by flash photolytic observation of the decay of meta I and the formation of meta II. Recombinants prepared from unsaturated phospholipids, e.g., asolectin, egg phosphatidylcholine, egg phosphatidylethanolamine, and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine, showed first-order kinetics for the transition with rates comparable to that of rod outer segment membranes. Recombinants prepared from saturated phosphatidylcholines have a retarded rate of conversion from meta I to meta II and are considered to be nonfunctional. The photochemical functionality of rhodopsin-phospholipid recombinants is dependent upon the presence of phospholipid unsaturation and the fluidity of the phospholipid hydrocarbon chains, and is independent of the polar head group of the phospholipid.


Specificity of the phosphatidylcholine exchange protein from bovine liver.

The phosphatidylcholine exchange protein from bovine liver stimulates the specific transfer of phosphatidylcholine (PC) from rat liver microsomes to mitochondria or phospholipid vesicles (Wirtz, K.W.A., Kamp, H.H., and van Deenen, L.L.M. (1972), Biochim. Biophys. Acta 274, 606). In the present study, it has been established which components of the PC molecule are essential to the specific interaction with the protein. Radiochemically labeled analogues of PC have been synthesized with modifications in the polar and apolar moiety, and their transfer was measured between donor and acceptor vesicles. Relative to 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (egg yolk PC), transfer is inhibited or abolished when (a) the distance between phosphorus and nitrogen is decreased or increased and (b) a methyl group on the quaternary nitrogen is removed or substituted by an ethyl or propyl group. Transfer is much less affected when (a) the ester bonds are replaced by ether or carbon-carbon bonds, (b) the PC molecule contains two saturated fatty acids, and (c) the D stereoisomer is used. It is concluded that the protein has a binding site which interacts specifically with the phosphorylcholine head group and which cannot accommodate substantial configurational changes. Interaction with the apolar moiety of PC is less specific. However, lyso-PC is not transferred, suggesting that two hydrocarbon chains are required to stabilize the exchange protein-phospholipid complex. Interaction of [14C]PC-labeled exchange protein with vesicles of different phospholipid compositon has been analyzed by measuring the release of [14C]PC into these vesicles. Vesicles of egg PC or dimethylphosphatidylethanolamine function as acceptors, in contrast to vesicles of sphingomyelin or phosphatidylethanolamine.