[Monitoring and delivery of the premature infant in breech presentation].

We explored 183 deliveries in breech presentation. The birthweights from this offsprings were 1941 +/- 418,1 g. 101 were primiparae. The perinatal mortality of the underweigth fetuses was 5 more higher when delivered vaginally in relation to delivery by caesarean section. These differences were statistically significant (p less than 0,05). In relation to multiparae 71,8% of the offsprings survived when delivered vaginally, in comparison to 79,2% offsprings from primiparae. The APGAR-scores (1 and 5 min. p. p.) less than or equal to 7 or greater than or equal to 8 showed no significant differences by the offsprings delivered vaginally or by caesarean section. The pHNA was higher in the group of children, delivered by means of caesarean section. The conclusions are discussed.


[Experimental contribution on the morphological study of normal and pathologic (diabetic) lung maturity in the Wistar rat. Comparison with the biochemical study].

This is a research on the pulmonary normal and pathological (Diabetes) of a Wistar's rat from a morphological point of view doing a comparative study with biochimic data or results. To do this we have sacrified by killing the different animals up to 15, 18 and 21 days of pregnancy and then we have removed or extripated the foetus lungs to do a study under the optic microscope by using the Hematoxilin-eosin together with the Fontana-Masson-techniques.


[Delivery-related humeral shaft fractures in the newborn infant].

On the basis of a case study the authors describe origin, therapy and healing process in new-born babies of humeral shaft fractures acquired at birth.


[Advances in the prevention and control of urologic complications of cervix cancer. 2. Bladder-function disorders].

By means of 386 comparative cystometries hypertensive reactions were recorded from the urinary bladder both following total and radical vaginal hysterectomy. Hypertension was most strongly pronounced over the first two weeks after operation and receded spontaneously during the third and fourth weeks. That increased intravesical pressure, therefore, was attributed primarily to the surgical trauma and its inevitably accompanying irritation of the bladder. Predominant parasympathetic denervation of the bladder by radical surgery was found to be relevant, first of all, during micturation. Reduced sense of emptying the bladder and sympathetically induced disturbances in the correlations between detrusor and the urethrovesical region favoured the formation of residual urine. Its early therapy, using cholinergics, is becoming increasingly problematic. Intensive control of infections and persistent continuation of catheterisation, until the autonomously functioning bladder has got adjusted to its changed conditions, so far remain to be the most dependable approaches to prophylaxis and therapy of micturation disorders following radical surgery. In severe cases more recent pharmacological and neurohistochemical findings regarding selective effectiveness of alpha-receptor blockers and beta-stimulators in neurogenic bladder may open new therapeutic ways.


[Significance of after care in asymptomatic pregnancy bacteriuria and pyelonephritis gravidarum].

In the period from 1974 to 1976 3465 deliveries were performed in the "Landesfrauenklinik". During pregnancies there were started 10,7% urological and nephrological complications with the asymptomatic bacteriuria were predominating at a rate of 6,1%. --Considering the high rate of chronic complications in all types of urinary tract infections, long-term dispensary care should be postulated.


[Isotope nephrographic studies during hormonal contraception using Depositon].

By means of isotope nephrograms of a total of 29 renally healthy women who had been taken for more than 1 year the drug Deposiston, the renal function is investigated. Checking is done by using the semiquantitative evaluation parameters according to Zum Winkel, Pabst and Hör and to own criteria. Our results show that the highly dosed application of estrogens does not induce significant changes of renal function in the isotope nephrogram.


[The clinical picture and pathology of benign tumors of the female urethra].

Benign neoplasia of urethra are of frequent by aged women. Epithelial tumours (polyps, papilloms) are distinguished from mesenchymal tumours (fibroms, myoms, angioms) histologically. Dislocations of the mucosa and real malignoms of the urethra are marked off from these. The authors report about the rarity of mesenchymal neoplasia and represent a case by which it comes to retention of urine because of a big leiomyoma. Diagnosis and therapy are described in detail.


Evaluation of S. aureus serotyping method.

This study describes the reproducibility of antigen detection in staphylococci, and the discriminating capacity of the serotyping method. The reproducibility of the antigen detection in staphylococci has been studied by multiple determination of the antigenic formula of 700 wild strains. The discriminating capacity of the serotyping method has been estimated on 415 strains selected to exclude strains from the same origin. Good reproducibility (over 80%) is obtained for the detection of 12 antigens; improvement of the method for the others is under way. The method is highly discriminative; only 1.4% of strains are not typable. 90.8% of strains can be classified in one of the 6 groups identified by a major antigen; groups A, D and E are the most important under our ecological conditions.


Propionicins, bacteriocins produced by Propionibacterium avidum.

One hundred strains of Propionibacterium acnes, granulosum and avidum were tested for susceptibility toward bacteriocins produced extracellularly by eight strains of Propionibacterium avidum. Some bacteriocin-producing strains were inhibitory for all strains tested. A name propionicins, is proposed for bacteriocins produced by P. avidum.


[Chemical and immunogenic properties of the capsular antigen of Staphylococcus aureus. III. Protective activity of capsular antigen in experiments on mice].

Experiments were conducted on 1500 albino mice; protective activity of 7 batches of S. aureus capsular antigen isolated from 5 strains was studied. The animals were immunized subcutaneously with different doses of the preparation (from 0.001 to 10000 microgram) once, twice, and thrice, and infected intraperitoneally with 6 encapsulated cultures. Capsular antigen proved to possess weak protective properties. The following regularities were revealed: 1) high antigen doses (over 5 microgram) increased mouse sensitivity to staphylococcus infection; 2) the greatest protective activity was shown by doses within 0.01-1 microgram; 3) there was no distinct "dose-effect" dependence; 4) single immunization was less effective than double and triple; 5) antigenic specificity of the capsular material was not connected with its protective properties.


[Identification and biological characteristics of strains of psychrophilic bacteria isolated from the diarrhea of polar research workers and from the water of Antarctic lakes].

Bacteria of Klebsiella genus and psychrophylic microbes affiliated by morphological and biochemical properties to Bac. psychrosaccharolyticus were isolated in bacteriological examination of diarrhea in 8 of 14 participants of the 12th Soviet Antarctic expedition. Psychrophylic bacteria isolated from the human intestinal contents possessed pathogenicity signs, i.e. these microbes liquefied gelatine, produced a cytotoxic action in the cells line Hep-2, and caused death of 50% chick embryos in infection with a dose of 5 X 10(8) bacteria.


[Mechanism of segregation of bacterial chromosomes following division of anaerobic clostridia].

Morphological events during division in Clostridium oedematiens, strains A-277 and A-79, were studied on ultrathin sections. The bacterial cells of the species under investigation containing numerous and various intracytoplasmic membranous structures were practically devoid of the "nuclear mesosomes" type structures. In these anaerobic Clostridia the segregation of bacterial chromosomes after the replication was effected by means of direct connections between the DNA filaments and the cytoplasmic membrane of the bacterial cell. These connections were multiple, up to 250 nm in length, possibly ensuring a proper mechanical strength needed for translocation of the chromosomes into the daughter cells. It is suggested that multiple contact zones between the cytoplasmic membrane and the DNA filaments of the bacterial chromosome arose after the triggering of their DNA replication.


[Viability and properties of cholera vibrios cultivated in mineral water].

Samples of mineral water from thermal spas of "Matsesta" health resorts were infected with cholera vibrio strains. In nonsterile mineral water diluted with distilled water 1 : 2, 1 : 4, and 1 : 8 and stored at 37 degrees C survival periods of cholera vibrio constituted 289 days for classic biotype, and 413 days for El Tor biotype. In boiled mineral water stored at 20-24 degrees C this period was 1429 days for both biotypes. Prolonged cultivation of cholera vibrios in mineral water had no effect on biochemical and serological properties, as well as on cholera phage and antibiotic sensitivity, but there occurred dissociation of the strains into S- and R-forms.


[1st stage of infectious allergy].

In administration of bacterial exotoxins (diphtheria, botulinic) to guinea pigs in doses of 1/100 Dlm at an interval of one hour there developed a typical sickness with the lethal outcome in the course of 2-3 days from the beginning of the exotoxin administration. Low bacterial exotoxin doses induced allergic reaction of the organism before the cell producing specific antibodies began to act in defence. Lymphatic system cells responded rapidly to the low doses of bacterial exotoxins, but the process of formation of cells producing antibodies failed to reach mature plasmocytes, and no antibodies formed. With increase of the interval between the administration of low bacterial exotoxin doses to 24 hours specific antibodies did form, but these antibodies failed to protect the animals which were in the state of infectious allergy. The first stage of infectious allergy induced by low bacterial doses was nonspecific. Animals which were in the state of infectious allergy to diphtheria exotoxin perished of low botulinic (exotoxin) doses, and vice versa.


[Antigenic properties of a preparation of total calf thymus histone].

Repeated intravenous injection of total histone of calf thymus preparation led to sensitization of experimental animals accompanied by formation of complement fixing antibodies. Sera examination by the complement fixation test demonstrated antigenicity of the total histone preparation protein components to decrease in the following order: nonhistone proteins admixture greater than histone fraction HI greater than mixture of histone fractions H3 : H2b : H2a (1 : 1 : 1). The presence in the total histone preparation of nonhistone protein admixture chiefly conditioned the immunogenic, and possibly, the allergenic activity of the preparation.


[Lymphocyte blast transformation and quantitative immunoglobulin A, G and M content in persons with different ABO system blood groups].

The authors studied the blast-cell transformation reaction in response lymphocytes to PHA and quantitative immunoglobulin A, G, and M content in 75 women and 70 men with different ABO blood groups. Four variants of the changes in the blast forms count at the period between the 3rd and the 5th cultivation days were revealed; in persons with blood group I(O) this occurred significantly more frequently by the type of moderate increase, and in persons with the blood group II(A)--by the type of insignificant increase. Immunoglobulin M content was significantly higher in persons with blood group II(A) than in those with blood group I(O).


[Neurologic features of cervical osteokhondrosis with pseudocardiac and cardiac pain syndromes].

The authors examined 100 patients in whom cervical osteochondrosis developed with pain in the heart, intercostal, sternum area, left hand, as well as radicle, pain, vegetative and reflectory-dystrophical disturbances. The differential diagnosis between pseudocardialgia and cardialgia, on the one hand, and stenocardia, on the other, is not always simple and is based on clinical data, x-ray and ECG examinations. The basis of the pathogenesis in pseudocardialgia is the irritation of posterior sensory radicles by osteophytes or disc protrusion. Cardialgia is an incarceration and excitation of sympathical nerves, leading to disturbances in the myocardial metabolism. A comprehensive conservative treatment may give a favourable effect in the majority of patients, while indications for surgical operations are very rare.


[Cerebellar infarct: clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment].

Cerebellar infarctions are a relatively rare disorder, the diagnosis of which even based on clinical, angiographical and ventriculographic studies is rather difficult. Of big service in such conditions are computer tomographies. In extensive isolated cerebellar infarctions with signs of developing occlusional hydrocephaly with brain stem compressions, there may be indications to surgical operations. The paper contains the literary review, where problems of diagnosis and treatment of cerebellar infarctions are considered. The paper also contains a description of one case where a surgical operation was performed with a good outcome.


[Cardiac changes in familial Friedreich's ataxia (clinico-morphologic study)].

In familial Friedreich's ataxia besides lesions of the nervous system there is also cardiac pathology, which frequently may be the reason of a lethal outcome. As a result of a clinico-morphological study of the heart of a deceased patient, it was demonstrated that the character of morphological changes points to severe dystrophical changes of the myocardium of the "idiopathical" cardiomyopathy type.


[Bite anomalies in familial Friedreich's ataxia].

Besides the spinal bone and foot deformations which are well known in Friedreich's disease, attention is drawn to deformations of the maxillodental system, the state of which was previously not studied. There was a pathology of bite in 16 of the 24 patients with Friedreich's familial ataxia. As a rule, these anomalies were combined with other bone deformations. In 2 families where several patients were examined there was a similar pathology of bite. A study of 24 patients and an examinations of a control group consisting of 151 individuals allows a conclusion that in Friedreich's disease pathology of bite is encountered almost as frequently as deformations of the spine and foot.


[Rheologic properties of the blood in stroke patients].

The rheological blood properties were studied by means of a graphical registration of platelet and erythrocyte agregation, as well as the rotational viscosimetry in 163 patients in the acute period of hemorrhagical, ischemic and complicated ischemic strokes. Changes in the rheological blood properties detected a dependence on the character of the stroke, age of the patients and duration of the disease. The types of rheological blood properties, related to the character of the stroke are described. The role of rheological blood properties examinations in the study of the pathogenesis in brain strokes and differentiated therapy is stressed.


[Concentration of depressor and pressor prostaglandins in the blood of patients with cerebral hypertensive crises].

The content of depressor and pressor prostaglandins in the blood plasma was examined by radioimmunology during different stages of hypertonic disease and in cerebral hypertensive crises. The achieved results were correlated with the data concerning the content of prostaglandins in normal individuals. These studies permitted to demonstrate certain changes in the level of pressor and depressor prostaglandins depending upon the stage of the hypertensive disease and crises states. In this respect the obtained facts allow to assume that prostaglandins play a certain role in the pathogenesis of different traits of the hypertensive disease.


[Paroxysmal attacks of dysarthria and ataxia in multiple sclerosis].

A description of 2 cases of disseminated sclerosis during exacerbations and paroxysms of dysarthria and ataxia in the clinical picture is given. These attacks are connected with processes of demyelinization and are differentiated with epilepsy. On the basis of neurophysiological studies the mechanisms of paroxysmal dysarthria and ataxia are discussed. The attacks were arrested under the influence of carbamazepine. The action of the drug is explained by its manifold properties.


[State of neuromediator systems during formation of the psychoorganic syndrome caused by hypertension].

The state of the neuromediator systems in the formation of a psychosomatic development was studied in 66 patients with different stages of the hypertensive disease. It was demonstrated that the phases of the psychoorganic syndrome frequently correlated with the stages of hypertensive disease and with the qualitative and quantitative transformation of neuromediators in the peripheral blood and that the reactions of the neuromediator systems to dosaged stress may be used to evaluate the stage of the psychoorganic syndrome.


[Activity of the sympatho-adrenal system in patients with hysterical psychopathy and psychasthenia].

The paper is concerned with studies of the sympathoadrenal system activity by the indices of urine excretion of catecholamine and dofa in patients with hysterical and psychasthenic psychopathy. The disorders inherent in each of the groups are demonstrated. The patients with hysterical psychopathy show an exhaustion of all links in the catecholamine metabolism, while the patients with psychasthenical psychopathy an exhaustion of the noradrenaline link. In attempting to explain the mechanisms of disturbed activity in the sympathoadrenal system in both groups the role of the functional state of nonspecific activizing brain systems was taken into consideration.


[Results of long-term catamnesis of neurotic and psychopathic states and assessment of the prognosis].

The results of long-term follow-up studies indicate the existence of significant differences in the outcome of neurotic and psychopathic states. The most unfavorable outcome was seen in patients with asthenic and unstable psychopathy. A classification of a "good" and "poor" outcome of the disease by means of a computer permitted to distinguish the most significant anamnestic and clinical signs indicating a possible unfavorable prognosis. In the most unfavorable variant of the disease (21% of 124 psychopathic patients) in asthenic, unstable, excitative and hysterical psychopathy there were states with prevalently neurotic and psychopathic symptomatology, nonspecific for any of the above-mentioned forms of psychopathy.


[Clinico-dynamic features of obsessive-phobic neurosis with onset during involution and old age].

A study of 46 patients with obsessional neurosis with an onset in the presenium and senium demonstrated significant modifications of the clinical picture and its development. The study also showed that changes in the clinical picture were due to age changes proper, involutional-climacteric and cerebrovascular factors. It is shown that with the age manifestations of obsessive-phobic neurosis become more incomplete, alleviated, stereotypical, with an increased tendency towards a nonprogressive development (attack-like or inert).


[Clinical picture and features of the course of protracted psychogenic asthenic disorders].

On the basis of a clinico-dynamical and paraclinical (mathematico-statistical, electrophysiological, experimental-psychological) study of 122 patients with the asthenical form of neurosis 2 main groups were distinguished: protracted asthenical neurosis and neurotical personality development. Different clinical varieties, common symptoms, typical for each form and the therapeutical-preventive measures are determined.


[Syndromokinesis of alcoholic psychoses (according to the results of a clinico-epidemiologic survey)].

A clinico-epidemiological study was made of 446 patients who suffered from alcoholic psychoses during 1946--1970. An analysis of the quantitative and qualitative modification of the syndromes, the regularities in their dynamics demonstrated that the transformation of the symptomatology to a large extent depend upon the type of development of the alcoholic psychoses. Transitory psychoses are more frequently replaced by psychopathy-like personality changes. In a remittent development, repeated psychoses are characterized, as a rule, by a delirium or hallucinosis. Following a delirium there are typical acute verbal hallucinosis. During relapses there is an increasing amount of atypical symptoms. In patients with mixed and especially a continuous development of the psychoses, the pathokinesis of syndromes proceeds on the level of profound psychopathological disorders. As a result there may be either schizoform and crude organic clinical pictures and eventually there is a deep organic symptomatology (pseudoparalysis), or against the background of crude alcoholic personality changes, after lucid periods, there may be acute psychotic conditions.


[Problem of sexual pathology in alcoholic delusions of jealousy].

The data on sex pathology in alcoholic delusions of jealousy with sado-masochist behaviour are reported. Such behaviour was seen when the patients tried to force their wives to "acknowledge" infidelity. A total amount of 196 patients were studied. Abnormal behaviour was characterized by moral and physical torture of their wives and selftorture. They were mostly expressed at late night hours and were connected with a peculiar satisfaction of the "tormenting voluptuosness" (Lemke-Rennert). There was also a sexual excitation with a dissociation between high necessities and a dropped possibilities in the sexual sphere against the background of lowered potency and other sexual disorders. Moreover, there was a high level of general excitation with a narrowing of consciousness, vegeto-vascular changes, which are described during ciotus and a satisfaction of sexual necessities by perversions. A visualization of images related to jealousy was observed, which lead to an increase of the affective shading in delusions.


[Physician-patient relations and their influence on the process of psychotherapy in neurotic patients].

Using specially elaborated experimental psychological methods the author studied conditions of formation of a psychotherapeutical contact between a doctor and a patient and its influence on optimum and affective psychotherapy of neuroses. A total of 100 psychotherapeutical diads (100 patients and 11 psychoptherapeutists) were studied. On the basis of the analysis of patients' aims two types of a standard of a doctor-psychotherapeutist according to emotional attitude to a patient were depicted: "co-suffering" and "emotionally neutral", and according to volitional qualities--"directive" and "nondirective". According to a role characteristic a doctor's standard was determined in two variants--an instructor and a partner. The patients' choice of an ideal doctor correlated with certain forms of neuroses. The analysis of the material allowed one to distinguish 3 main forms of a psychotherapeutical contact. The most affective in a psychotherapeutical relation were two forms of such a contact--"co-suffering partnersnip" and "co-suffering instruction".


[Early changes in the cerebral cortex in acute ischemia (light--electron microscopic study)].

Studies on the cortex of rats during different periods following ligation of the carotid arteries demonstrated an early appearance of ischemic changes, which were characterized by different states of the nervous cells, glial elements and capillaries. The largest group consisted of neurons of the deep cortical layers, which showed reactive states of the nucleus and nucleoli, as well as signs of chromatolysis in the cytoplasma. Less distributed form of pathology involved changes of the "dark" type, involving small stellite and pyramidal neurons of the upper cortical layer. Changes of the glial elements may be mainly considered as signs of oedema and partial melting. These changes demonstrate not only a different sensibility of neurons of the upper and lower cortical layers, but different mechanisms of the structural regulation in the cell metabolism, providing its optimal level and organization for each functional state.


[Brain histology of premature infants who have suffered hypoxia and sepsis].

Results of brain studies in 38 premature infants with severe peri- and postnatal pathology (intracranial labor trauma, asphyxia, sepsis) are presented. Clinico-morphological data detected that profound prematurity and consequently a profound immaturity of the brain, complicated by hypoxic damages during labor and early developing septic infections, lead to an expressed retardation and irreversible degenerative changes, especially in the brain structures which develop later. From the neurological point of view the most serious in relation to the prognosis are those children who are in a state of a stable inhibition of the CNS.


[Neuropsychological analysis of disorders in the constructive activity of patients with arteriovenous aneurysms of temporal localization].

Disturbances of the constructive praxis were studied in 40 patients with arteriovenous aneurysms of the parietal lobes in the right and left hemispheres. Errors made by the patients engaged in tests on turning over figures were subjected to qualitative and quantitative analyses. It was demonstrated that disturbed constructive praxis is underlain by disordered spatial synthesis and defects of image perception. The former factor determines disturbances of constructive activity in lesions of both left and right hemispheres, whereas the latter one determines disturbances of constructive activity in patients with disfunctions of the right parietal lobe. In these patients the disorders are more pronounced and availability of a visual model does not help to compensate the defect.


[Rheologic properties of the blood and lipid metabolism in patients with hemorrhagic infarct of the brain].

The clinical development, changes of the rheological blood properties and lipid metabolism were analysed in 70 patients with acute and subacute hemorrhagical infarctions into the hemispheres. Two clinical types in the development of hemorrhagical brain infarctions are described. The rheological blood properties and lipid metabolism had certain differences in comparison to patients with hemispheric hemorrhagical and ischemic strokes. They were also changed depending upon the age and duration of the illness. The pathogenesis of the changes detected is substantiated and their significance for microhemocirculation in patients with hemorrhagical brain infarctions is discussed.


[Mirror reading and writing].

The case of a left handed patient, a woman 59 years old, who some days after the onset of a right hemiplegia with slight motoric and sensoric aphasic disorders, presented reverse (en miroir) reading and writing is described. Difficulties in the recognition of the right and left side could be revealed during the examination. No hemianopia was noted but an "unwillingness" to turn the eyes to the right side, without paresis, was noted. This could be, in relation with the disorder of the orientation in the space and the reanimation of primitive phasic functions, the basic mechanism that explains the above described symptom of reverse reading and writing.


[Generalized epileptic seizures in lesions of the mediobasal regions of the frontal lobe of the brain].

On the basis of long-term studies of epilepsy in 4972 patients who were admitted to the clinic with acute cerebral lesions, there were 23 cases, where the epileptical seizures were related to foci of an orbito-frontal localization. The verification of this localization was demonstrated in autopsies during EEG, echo- and pneumographical registrations. In a series of experimental studies it was established that there was a marked shortening of the time with a formation of the focal-cortical epileptical focus in a coagulation of the orbito-frontal cortex. These data permit to speak against the concept of epilepsy as a universal theory in the origination of generalized epileptical seizures.


[Relationship between disorders in the adequacy of perception in the cutaneous analyzer and variations in interhemispheric asymmetry of the brain].

The author describes and analyses the results of studying sensitivity of 300 normal young people chosen at random with different forms of interhemispheric brain asymmetry. A certain concentration of the phenomena of disturbed adequacy of perception was detected in cases with alleviated forms of functional differentiation in the brain hemisphere. The conclusion is made of the positive significance of interhemispheric asymmetry, responding by an optimally balanced pair activity of the hemispheres.


[Neuropsychological analysis of higher mental functions in acute leuko- and panencephalitis].

A neuropsychological analysis was used as one of the supplementary methods for diagnosing subacute leuko- and panencephalititdes in 42 patients. This method permitted to detect multifocal lesions, the fluctuation in the degree of marked defects, the secondary character of disturbed higher mental functions (due to defects in the organization of activity). Consideration of these data promotes, to a significant extent, the diagnosis of leuko- and panencephalitides differentiating them from brain tumors and leuko-dystrophy.


[Physiological and psychological basis for verbal errors].

The author believes that one of the main phenomena in the pathophysiology of the nervous system in the clinical picture of nervous and mental disorders is the desintegrative deviation in the motion of the  nervous process. This phenomenon is known in the clinical picture of aphasia as paraphasia, described by Kraepelin in schizophrenic thinking, as "slipping off", etc. The most general pathophysiological basis of this phenomenon may be found in the parabiosis of Vvedensky. Verbal errors of normals may be considered as a model for studying desintegrative deviation inasmuch as they appear in parobiotic conditions of norm. In this light the author analyzes some verbal errors taken from self-experience. An analysis of these errors demonstrates that in order to explain the mechanism of their occurrence, the principle of pavlov's ultraparadoxical phases, the mechanism of Jackson's "release from control" and the principle of Ukhtomskýs dominant can be used. Quite frequently speech errors of a mixed typed can be encountered, i. e. in an interference of these 3 principles.


[Psychopathologic structure of protracted endogenous depressions].

The psychopathological structure of protracted endogenous depressions was studied. An attempt was made to eliminate the main components of the depressive syndrome (variants of the depressive affect - anguish, anxiety, apathy, ideator and motor inhibition and "supplementary" symptoms). The results of the study demonstrated some general psychopathological regularities in the interrelationship of components of the depressive triade and some nozological differences. The assumption is made of the heterogenity in the mechanisms of "delayed" depressions. The most significant appeared to be such factors as the character of the main affect, the degree of intensity and concord of the triade elements and the existence of "supplementary" psychopathological phenomens.


[Morbid psychic anesthesia in the structure of depression].

On the basis of clinico-psychopathological observations in 167 patients, the structural-dynamic traits of morbid psychic anesthesia were studied in different forms of depressive conditions. The study detected some quantificational differences in morbid psychic anesthesia according to its volume (local, diffuse-partial and total), its actiality (unsufficiently actual, actual and acutely actual), structure (thymical, "reasoning", delusionlike), related to the depressive affect (parallelism with affect, relative parallelism, an absence of parallelism). The nozological and syndromological regularities in the appearance and development of this phenomenon are shown and the criteria of prognostical evaluations of depressive and depressively shaded states, including morbid psychic anesthesia, are outlined.


[Psychological features of treated phenylketonuric patients of preschool age].

Psychological features of 6 children with phenylketonuria were studied. The children were of 5--7 years of age and received special dietetic management. Regular studies of the "learning type" were used as a method of dynamic psychological examination. Despite the fact that the children were of different age and intellectual level, showing different behavior pattern and individual personality traits, all of them had some mental features in common. These features included peculiarities of the emotional-evolutional sphere, disturbed attention and working capacity, local spatial disorders and a weakly developed internal plan of action. These mental traits should be taken into consideration during pedagogical correction of defects in treated phenulketonuric children.


[Behavioral tactics of schizophrenic patients and psychopathic personalities in a probabilistic setting].

In experiments on structural disturbances of prognostication in psychopathic personalities and schizophrenic patients with psychopathlike disorders on the model of "probable prognosis" the study of 2 situations was attempted: the prognosis made by the examinee of changes in the environment and the prognosis in conditions of interaction with the "opponent". The studies demonstrated the influence of different tasks on the activity and varying degree of motivation on the tactics of behaviour in probable situations. The data obtained permit to evaluate in a new light the hypotheses of disturbed probable structures of the past experience. It is concluded that at least 3 determinants should be analyzed: tasks of activity, motivation and probable characteristics of events. New facts have been obtained, concerning the disturbed prognostication in psychopathic personalities under conditions of increased significance of signals.


[Role of drug poisoning in the suicidal acts of children and adolescents].

After a concise outline of the suicidal methods used in children and adolescents up to 16 years of age, the author notes the increasing significance of tablet intoxication. Among 109 young patients under treatment, 68% used tablets in excessive dozes. Having in view the drug and its nature (mainly its psychopharmacological traits), the therapy of parents with neurotic or vegetative disorders, certain practical conclusions can be made.


Interaction of metal ions with nucleic acids. Interaction of copper(II) with inosine and its derivatives.

1. The interaction of copper(II) with inosine, 2'-deoxyinosine, 1-methylinosine, 7-deazainosine, 6-methoxypurine riboside and IMP was examined. 2. Copper binds with the purine base of the nucleosides, and in IMP also with the phosphate group. Non interaction with ribose hydroxyl groups was observed. 3. In non-aqueous medium, the main site of copper binding is N-7 of inosine and 1-methylinosine, and additionally N-1 in 6-methoxypurine riboside. 4. In aqueous medium, coordination of copper with N-1 and N-7 of inosine and IMP is pH-dependent. 5. Formation of either a five-membered copper chelate with N-7 and oxygen at C-6, or a four-membered chelate of the type C(6)-O-Cu-N(1), is rather unlikely. 6. The crystalline copper-IMP complex [Cu(C10H11O8N4P).(H2O)] contains presumably two copper atoms coordinated in different manner. The phosphate group and N-7, but not the carbonyl oxygen, participate in the complex formation.


Protein synthesizing system from wheat germ: efficient translation of synthetic and natural messages.

Optimum conditions for translation of eukaryotic, prokaryotic and synthetic templates in wheat germ cell-free extract were determined. 1. Translation of eukaryotic message (BMV RNA and TMV RNA) was at optimum at the same concentrations of K+, Mg(2+), HEPES and spermine. In optimal conditions the efficiency of translation was high, for BMV RNA being equal to 220 pmoles and for TMV RNA, to 280 pmoles of leucine incorporated per 1 microgram of template. Prokaryotic template (Qbeta RNA) was translated under different ionic conditions. 2. Translation of synthetic template [poly(U)] was at optimum at fairly higher concentrations of K+ and Mg(2+) than those optimal for natural template translation. 3. Efficient translation of natural and synthetic templates depends on complete removal of inhibitors found in the wheat germ cell-free extract. Action of these inhibitors could be mimicked by adenine nucleotides.


Hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein in the seed coat of field bean.

1. The seed coats of field bean (Dolichos lablab var. lignosus) were found to contain bound hydroxyproline (0.26 g per 100 g dry weight) extractable in 30% with 5% trichloroacetic acid or in 90% with 10% potassium hydroxide. 2. The alkaline extract was fractionated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography into several hydroxyproline-containing fractions, composed of protein and carbohydrate in varying proportions. From the major fraction, a hydroxyproline-containing glycoprotein fraction was isolated by Sephadex G-200 chromatography. It gave a single band on agar-gel electrophoresis, and contained: protein (23.1%), arabinose (11.2%), galactose (13.4%), glucose (17.6%), mannose (22.6%) and uronic acids (11.3%). The content of hydroxyproline in the protein moiety was about 9%. Hydrolysis of the glycoprotein fraction with barium hydroxide yielded three components containing hydroxyproline and arabinose at the ratios of 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4.


Validity of the pre-operatory trans-scrotal venography of the internal spermatic vein in the presence of idiopathic varicocele.

The Authors refer their experiences regarding the use in the preoperatory phase of the trans-scrotal venography of the left internal spermatic vein in the presence of idiopathic varicocele. The use of such a method, described in detail, and the study of radiograms obtained allow to acquire important notions of varicocele. In this way, it is possible to select the proper surgical approach to be employed in the treatment of varicocele syndrome.


Effect of caffeine on sperm penetration rate into cervical mucus in-vitro.

A system for determination of sperm penetration into cervical mucus in a glass capillary tube is described. Repeated counts are made of the number of sperm at fixed horizontal distances from the semen reservoir. The yields indices for total numbers of spermatozoa entering the mucus per unit time and the rate migration of the sperm through the mucus. It was found that the rate of entry was sensitive to changes in motility such as those induced by caffeine, and differences in cervical mucus quality. The system allowed quantitation of these differences.


Polyamine levels in human semen of unfertile patients: effect of S-adenosylmethionine.

Polyamine content has been determined in the seminal plasma of unfertile men before and after S-adenosylmethionine treatment. Spermine and spermidine levels in azoospermic patients were found very low (80 and 24 microgram/ml) with respect to normospermic (1500 and 60 microgram/ml): S-adenosylmethionine treatment enhanced polyamine content (50-300%) in oligospermic patients. Furthermore, an increase of sperm count and motility has been observed in these patients.


Elastin fibers formation in the liver of carbon tetrachloride-treated rats.

Elastin fibers formation was previously found to be an important feature of advanced human liver cirrhosis. Now it has been shown that chronic carbon tetrachloride administration to rats can be used to simulate this condition experimentally. Elastin fibers are found in the septa of connective tissue surrounding parenchymal nodules. Elastin content in liver measured as hydroxyproline insoluble in 0.1 N NaOH is increased about 3 times after a 4 month carbon tetrachloride treatment.


Release of VIP, secretin and motilin after duodenal acidification in man.

Plasma VIP, secretin and motilin were measured in 9 volunteers following intraduodenal instillation of 50 ml of 0.1 mol/1 HCl over 3 minutes. VIP rose from 1.7 +/- 0.7 pmol/1 to a peak at 6 minutes of 6.6 +/- 0.9 pmol/1 and was still significantly elevated at 30 minutes. By comparison the elevation of secretin was more transitory rising from a basal value of 2.5 +/- 0.4 pmol/1 to a peak of 10 +/- 1.5 pmol/1 at 3 minutes and returning to baseline by 10 minutes. The rise of motilin, from a higher baseline, was intermediate in pattern, from 23 +/- 7 pmol/1 basally to a 4 minute peak of 40 +/- 10 pmol/1. Thus the elevation of VIP was the most longlasting, and while probably not of sufficient magnitude to stimulate pancreatic bicarbonate secretion via the circulation, could reflect a significant local role in regulating the response of the intestinal mucosa to acid.


Cystic "hamartomatous" epithelial polyps of the stomach.

Nine cases of cystic polyps were found among 15,000 routine gastroscopies. All but one of the subjects were women. The polyps were found only in the body of the stomach. They were less than 5 mm in size and in most cases multiple. Endoscopically they were verruca-like lesions and appeared to be loosely attached to the mucosal membrane. They consisted of mucosal cysts lined with normal but irregularly arranged epithelial cells of the body mucosa. No inflammatory reaction or metaplasia was seen in the polyps or outside them. These characteristics suggested the hamartomatous nature of these polyps.


The final diagnosis in patients with normal barium enema.

This investigation, based on 139 consecutive patients subjected to barium enema, represent an attempt to supplement general clinical experience with exact data on the diagnostic value of radiographic examination of the colon. About one half of the patients suffered from diseases outside the gastrointestinal tract, and it is suggested that further research is needed to explain the complaints in this large group of patients. The age and sex of patients referred for examination were of special significance. The diagnostic value of the symptomatology is analysed, but no symptoms permit a prediction of the outcome of the x-ray examination.


Effect of cimetidine on steroid experimental peptic ulcers.

Cimetidine, a H2-receptor inhibitor was able to prevent the development of gastric ulcers induced in rats by chronic administration of prednisolone and hydrocortisone associated to fasting. The results suggest that cimetidine may be used in patients under long term steroid treatment.


Case report: chenodeoxycholic acid therapy of intrahepatic radiolucent gallstones in a patient with Caroli's syndrome.

A 28-year-old man with intrahepatic cystic dilatations of the biliary tree (Caroli's syndrome) which contained multiple radiolucent gallstones was treated with 1 g of chenodeoxycholic acid per day. He had undergone cholecystectomy 4 years and surgical exploration of the common bile duct with papillotomy 2 years prior to chenodeoxycholic acid therapy. While no decrease in the number of stones could be detected by retrograde cholangiography 2 years after papillotomy, most of the stones had disappeared after 2 years of treatment with chenodeoxycholic acid.


Immunoglobulin classes of smooth muscle antibody in the course of acute hepatitis B: prognostic significance.

A prospective longitudinal study was performed in 48 patients with acute hepatitis B (AHB) of whom 38 were previously healthy (PH) and 10 drug addicted (DA). Smooth muscle antibody was present in 23/38 PH and in 8/10 DA patients for a median of 4 weeks; other autoantibodies were not found. In the PH patients SMA was of IgM class in 23/23 and 8/23 of the IgG class as well. In the 8 DA patients 2 had IgM-SMA only, 3 (IgM+IgG)-SMA and 3IgG-SMA only. IgG-SMA presence could not be related to the duration or titer height of SMA nor to the type of fluorescence patterns. In SMA-negative patients IgM-anti-HBc was cleared within 6 weeks and in IgM-SMA positive patients within 32 weeks (medians 4 and 5 weeks) after maximal S-GPT. IgM-anti-HBc persisted for years in 3/3 IgG-SMA positive and in 2/11 IgG-IgM positive patients. In the remaining 9 IgG-IgM SMA positive patients it disappeared within 15 (median 9) weeks after maximal S-GPT. All 34 patients without SMA or with IgM-SMA only recovered completely. The 3 patients with IgG-SMA and 2 of the 11 patients with IgG+IgM SMA developed chronicity. Determination of SMA and of its immunoglobulin classes, at maximal SGPT may in acute hepatitis B be of help in predicting the outcome of disease.


Ulcer punch: method and use in animal experiments for the production of standardized lesions and reproducible bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.

An ulcer punch is described, which can produce standardized lesions. The sum of the sectioned vessel diameters is constant and represents a normal distribution. As a result, reproducible bleeding is obtained.


A rapid and sensitive enzymatic-isotopic method for routine assay of histamine in blood, plasma and biopsy tissue: re-evaluation.

The enzymatic-isotopic method for determination of histamine has been reevaluated. Modifications, permitting routine analysis of the amine in blood, plasma and biopsy tissues of various origin have been described; this permits convenient application of the technique in various fields of clinical pharmacology, gastroenterology and immunology.


Haemolytic activity in gastric and duodenal juice.

Gastric juice was aspirated during upper endoscopy in 141 patients. In 48 patients duodenal juice was also aspirated. pH, bilirubin concentration, and haemolytic activity were measured in each sample. Patients with atrophic gastritis and subtotal gastrectomy (Billroth II) showed the highest concentrations of haemolytic activity and bilirubin in their gastric juice. Gastric juice of patients with gastric and duodenal ulcer, with gastric erosions, and with antral gastritis was not statistically different from the control group in which 22 of 32 persons had a positive haemolytic activity. The ratio of bilirubin and haemolytic activity concentration was significantly higher in duodenal than in gastric juice. The reason for this phenomenon remains unknown. It is concluded that for practical purposes bile staining more than haemolytic activity of gastric contents is a quite sensitive, though unspecific, sign of abnormal duodenogastric reflux.


Differences in the effects of secretin and glucagon on the blood circulation of unanesthetized rats.

Carbonized microspheres, 15 mu in diameter and labelled with 85Sr or 51Cr were injected into the left ventricle of unanesthetized male rats to investigate the changes induced by secretin and glucagon in the distribution of cardiac output to various organs including splanchnic organs. Secretin (0.5 U/100 g i.v.) significantly increased the cardiac output distribution to the stomach, small intestine and pancreas, while the percentage distribution of the cardiac output to the heart, lungs and kidneys was unchanged. On the other hand, glucagon (10 microgram/100 g i.v.) significantly increased the cardiac output distribution to the heart, lungs and kidneys, while the distribution to the major splanchnic organs remained unchanged with the exception of hepatic arterial perfusion which was significantly increased by glucagon.


Radioimmunoassay of secretin in acidified plasma.

Antibody was readily produced in a rabbit against synthetic porcine secretin coupled to BSA. The final dilution of the antiserum to bind 50% of 1 fmol 125I-labeled secretin was 1 : 150,000. The effective equilibrium constant (Keff) according to Scatchard was 3.4 X 10(11) l/mol, the average equilibrium constant (Ko) according to Sips 3.5 X 10(11) l/mol, and the index of heterogeneity (alpha) according to Sips 1,00. No cross reactivity was found for gastrin, glucagon and insulin. 125I-labeled synthetic porcine secretin was prepared by the Chloramine-T-method, and the label purified on a Sephadex G-15 column followed by a SP Sephadex C-25 column had a specific radioactivity of 1.150 muCi/nmol. The radioimmunoassay method described has a detection limit of 1.6 pmol/l with 95% confidence limit, a within assay precision of 9,6%, and a between assay precision of 12.8%. It allows detection of fasting plasma secretin in the low pmol/l range, and the rather sharp rise and fall in plasma secretin subsequent to a brief period of duodenal acidification. The problem involved in measuring plasma secretin have been overcome by acidification of the plasma, and by subtracting the "apparent" secretin concentration in corresponding secretin-free plasma prepared by incubation at 37 degrees C for 96 h for each subject.


Serum gastrin concentrations in healthy people of the various ABO blood groups.

The concentrations of gastrin were measured by the RIA method in the sera of 121 healthy Greek volunteers of both sexes and of different ABO blood groups, aged 20--70 years. The determinations took place in a fasting state in all the individuals and 10 min and 40 min after a test meal in 42 of them. No significant differences were found in the mean concentrations of gastrin in the fasting state and after the meal between the various ABO groups. There was an increase in the mean concentrations of gastrin in all the groups after the meal. Nevertheless, this was significant 40 min after the meal in the groups A and B whilst in the group O and in the groups A, B and AB considered together this significant increase had appeared already 10 min after the meal.


Inhibitory effect of glucagon, secretin and caerulein on gastric acid secretion stimulated by pentagastrin in patients with duodenal ulcer.

In 10 duodenal ulcer patients gastric acid secretion was stimulated by intravenous infusion of 1.5 microgram pentagastrin per kilogram hour. When acid secretion had reached a plateau, glucagon in a dose of 30 microgram per kilogram hour, secretin in a dose of 1 IU per kilogram hour or caerulein in a dose of 0.1 microgram per kilogram hour were infused into a separate vein for one hour during the intravenous infusion of pentagastrin. Using these doses, each drug produced about 30 per cent inhibition given separately. The highest degree of inhibition was obtained by the combination of glucagon and secretin. The inhibition reached the sum of the inhibitions after glucagon and secretin administered separately. Caerulein added to glucagon or secretin could slightly increase the inhibitory effect of these drugs given separately. Caerulein, however, failed to increase inhibition when glucagon and secretin were infused simultaneously.


EEG-changes during general anaesthesia with enflurane (Efrane) in comparison with ether.

The effects of enflurane (efrane) and ether on the cerebral functions were studied by EEG on two similar groups of adult patients. For basic comparison a depth of anaesthesia was chosen which permitted abdominal surgery without the need to administer muscular relaxants. At this level of anaesthesia the typical EEG-changes of paroxysmal type which have been described with enflurane were seen only occasionally. If, however, the depth of anaesthesia was further increased, such EEG-changes indicating increased cerebral excitability were seen more often under enflurane and also appeared under ether anaesthesia. No seizure activity was recorded.


Effect of respiratory physiotherapy on arterial oxygen tension.

The effect of deep breathing on arterial oxygen tension was investigated in 45 postoperative patients. Arterial oxygen tension was estimated by the transcutaneous oxygen tension method, which allows continuous non-invasive measurement of the arterial oxygen tension changes. Three deep breaths in 1 min, assisted by three respiratory therapy devices, were compared to a standard physiotherapy programme. A peak increase in arterial oxygen tension of 3--4.5 mmHg occurred after 1 min, and significantly increased values were seen for 2--4 min following deep breathing with the three respiratory devices. From the various physiotherapeutic procedures, verbally and manually assisted deep breathing gave a 7 mmHg PO2 peak and significantly increased values for 6 min. The sign mechanism is discussed in the light of the present knowledge of airway closure, which gives a satisfactory explanation of the short-lasting increase in oxygen tension.


Prolonged apnoea after suxamethonium: an analysis of the first 225 cases reported to the Danish Cholinesterase Research Unit.

During the last 4 years, 225 patients have been referred to the Danish Cholinesterase Research Unit following an episode of prolonged apnoea after suxamethonium. Fourteen patients (6.2%) were found to have a low serum cholinesterase activity due to an acquired deficiency (for instance, liver disease, chronic debilitating disease or carcinoma). One hundred and forty-eight patients (65.8%) had an inherited abnormal serum cholinesterase, and 105 of these patients (46.7%) were homozygous for the atypical enzyme (E1 Ea1). The mean period of apnoea in this latter group was 92 min (range: 25--240). Seventeen patients (7.6%) were heterozygous for the normal and the atypical enzyme (Eu1 Ea1), with a mean apnoea period of 25 min (range: 7--60 min). Twelve patients were found to be heterozygous for the atypical and the silent gene (E(a)1 E(s)1). The mean period of apnoea was 126 min (range: 45--210 min). Fourteen patients had other rare genotypes. The longest mean period of apnoea (170 min, range: 70--330) was found in patients homozygous for the silent gene (Es1 Es1). The silent gene and the fluoride-resistant gene were found in 8.9% and 2.7% of the patients, respectively. In 63 patients (28.1%) both the type and quantity of serum cholinesterase were normal. In 34 of these patients (15.2%), the prolonged apnoea was due to other causes; for example, suxamethonium overdose, hyperventilation and central as well as peripheral respiratory depression. However, in the other 29 patients (12.9%), the reason for the prolonged apnoea could not be established. The possibility therefore exists that these cases represent unknown genotypes.


Effects of enflurane on haemodynamics and oxygen uptake with special reference to the influence of surgical stress.

The influence on central haemodynamics of enflurane, in uniform anaesthetic concentration (1.5 MAC), was studied in 10 normocapnic patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery. The patients were studied awake, during anaesthesia prior to surgery, and during surgery. On institution of anaesthesia, cardiac output (QT) fell from 5.05 +/- 0.51 to 4.12 +/- 0.15 1/min and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) decreased from 2.36 +/- 0.22 to 1.93 +/- 0.18 kPa min. 1(-3). The arteriovenous oxygen content difference (AVD) did not change. On commencement of surgery, AVD diminished from 38.5 +/- 2.6 to 30.8 +/- 1.9 ml/min and QT rose to 5.82 +/- 0.46 1/min, while SVR remained unchanged. It is concluded that the fall in QT seen during enflurane anaesthesia is caused by a diminished tissue oxygen demand. It is also suggested that enflurane acts as an alpha-blocking agent.


Preoperative hemodynamic evaluation of patients submitted for major surgery.

Prior to major vascular surgery, hemodynamic studies were carried out in 63 patients by means of a flow-directed pulmonary artery balloon catheter. The results were correlated to electrocardiographic and roentgenologic findings, as well as to pertinent clinical information. Of 15 patients with either atrial fibrillation or both left ventricular hypertrophy and an increased cardiace volume, six had pulmonary pressures elevated above normal values; none of 14 patients with only one of the two signs (left ventricular hypertrophy or increased cardiac volume) had elevated pulmonary pressures. Also, the 34 patients with normal roentgenologic and electrocardiographic findings had normal hemodynamics, irrespective of a history of previous AMI, present angina or dyspnea on exertion. It is concluded that hemodynamic studies by means of a balloon-tipped catheter floating in the pulmonary artery are indicated before major surgery in patients with either atrial fibrillation or both electrocardiographic and roentgenologic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy. In such patients pulmonary pressures should be monitored during and after surgical operation.


Arrhythmias during halothane anesthesia. III. The influence of barbiturates.

The effect of barbiturates on cardiac rate and rhythm during halothane anesthesia without intubation was studied in a triple-blind, randomized trial with 28 patients. The test group was premedicated with pentobarbital and induced with thiopental, while the control group was anesthetized with halothane and nitrous oxide only. There was a significant preponderance of sinus-bradycardia and supraventricular disturbances in the control group. It is concluded that the use of barbiturates is advantageous because of their ability to suppress enhanced vagal tone.


Effects of antihypertensive medication on the cardiovascular response to ketamine in rats.

The effects of hydralazine, clonidine, propranolol and methyldopa medications on the cardiovascular response to ketamine anaesthesia were studied in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats. Except in propranolol- and methyldopa-treated animals, blood pressure was increased by ketamine in all groups. The heart rate was increased only in the normotensive control rats, whereas it was reduced in both the unmedicated and all of the medicated SH rats. Plasma renin activity under ketamine anaesthesia was markedly higher in normotensive control rats than in any of the SH groups. The pressor responses to dopamine and metaraminol were not altered by propranolol medication, but hydralazine suppressed these responses, while they were markedly intensified by clonidine and methyldopa treatment. Similarly, small additional doses of ketamine caused a pressor response only in clonidine- and methyldopa-treated animals, whereas in the other groups the response was depressive. The tolerance to haemorrhagic shock during ketamine anaesthesia was notably improved by hydralazine and methyldopa medication, but impaired by propranolol treatment. The results suggest that, with special reference to shock tolerance, hydralazine and methyldopa, and to a lesser extent also clonidine, have a favourable effect on the circulation under ketamine anaesthesia, whereas the action of beta-blockade may be harmful.


Effects on muscarinic receptors of various agents in reversal of neuro-muscular blockade: a study evaluating atropine, glycopyrron, neostigmine and pyridostigmine.

The effects were studied of various drug combinations, recommended for use in reversal of neuromuscular blockade, on heart rate and salivary secretions in 80 healthy patients anaesthetized with nitrous oxide-oxygen-halothane and relaxed with d-tubocurarine. The drug combinations were mixtures of atropine 1 mg--neostigmine 2.5 mg, atropine 1 mg--pyridostigmine 15 mg, glycopyrron 0.5 mg--neostigmine 2.5 mg, and glycopyrron 0.5 mg--pyridostigmine 15 mg, respectively. It was found that administration of the atropine-containing mixtures induced more pronounced initial increases and delayed decreases in heart rate than the mixtures containing glycopyrron. Pyridostigmine-containing mixtures elicited a somewhat more pronounced initial increase in heart rate than neostigmine-containing mixtures, but a less pronounced and delayed decrease in heart rate. Supraventricular arrhythmias occurred less frequently in the pyridostigmine groups than in the neostigmine groups. No such difference was found between the atropine and glycopyrron groups. Glycopyrron caused a more intense dryness of the mouth than atropine. A differential attitude towards the use of drugs for reversal of neuromuscular blockade, based on the cardiovascular state of the particular patient, might be recommendable.


Non-polluting dental analgesia.

Three anaesthetic circuits for use in nose-piece application of inhalation analgesia are described. An ejector flowmeter is used for the scavenging of overspill gas.


Cerebrovascular permeability to protein in the rat during nitrous oxide anaesthesia at various blood pressure levels.

Rats anaesthetized with 70% nitrous oxide in oxygen have a high mean arterial pressure (MAP), usually in the range of 130-155 mmHg. It occasionally reaches higher levels, and when MAP exceeds 160 mmHg the cerebrovascular permeability may increase. In the present study all rats with MAP greater than 170 mmHg showed areas of protein leakage in the brain. When dealing with substances that normally do not pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB), this permeability increase may have important consequences. It is suggested that rats under nitrous oxide anaesthesia with MAP greater than 160 mmHg should not be included in studies in which an intact BBB is essential.


Influence of lung volume history on closing volume measurement during anaesthesia.

Airway closure measurements were made with the bolus technique on eight healthy subjects, who were in a supine position prior to and during anaesthesia. Measurements were made on an expiration following vital capacity (VC) and 30% VC. Closing volume (CV) was calculated prior to anaesthesia, and closing capacity (CC)--functional residual capacity (FRC) was estimated during anaesthesia. When measured from VC, CV was 703 +/- 20 ml (s.e. mean) and from 30% VC it was 440 +/- 51 ml (s.e. mean) (P less than 0.005) prior to anaesthesia. When measured from VC, CC--FRC was 370 +/- 34 ml (s.e. mean), and from 30% VC it was 343 +/- 37 (s.e. mean) (P greater than 0.05) during anaesthesia. It is concluded that volume history has little effect on CC measurement during anaesthesia and artificial ventilation, but a major influence on CC measurement in the conscious patient. Hence, it is suggested that CC, within the tidal range, is increased during anaesthesia.


Low consumption mass spectrometer inlet system for respiratory measurements.

The traditional mass spectrometer inlet systems adapted for measurement of gas partial pressure have a considerable gas consumption. This is a major drawback when they are used in closed respiratory systems. In the present paper, a membrane-covered inlet system with a very low gas consumption is described. We also report on the response time and relative sensitivity of the system to different gases.


Systemic reactions to tourniquet ischaemia.

In 15 patients, mean age 60 years, undergoing knee arthroplasty under lumbar epidural analgesia, changes in ECG, blood pressure, blood gases, serum potassium, acid-base status and serum creatine-phosphokinase were studied following release of a tourniquet applied for 70-135 min. During and after the ischaemia, the skin temperature of the leg operated on was monitored. Although dextran-70 was rapidly infused following tourniquet release, the blood pressure decreased significantly, due to a reduction in peripheral resistance. There were no signs of myocardial or pulmonary disturbances. Serum potassium in arterial blood increased significantly and reached a peak 3 min after tourniquet release. There was a tendency to metabolic acidosis, most pronounced after 3 min and caused by local lactate production. The skin temperature of the ischaemic leg fell progressively, which, combined with muscular relaxation, indicates a low metabolic rate. There was no evidence of local ischaemic muscular injury. It is concluded that the systemic changes after interruption of up to 2 h of tourniquet ischaemia are moderate and reversible, even in the elderly.


Cardiac function during induction and early anesthesia with methoxyflurane. An evaluation using systolic time intervals and pressure time indices.

In addition to the standard monitoring of heart rate and blood pressure, the Systolic Time Intervals were used to evaluate cardiac performance, and the Pressure Time Indices (tension time index = TTI; diastolic pressure time index = DPTI) were used to estimate myocardial oxygen balance. Twelve patients with known heart disease were studied during induction with thiopental, intubation, and early anesthesia with methoxyflurane. Cardiac performance diminished after thiopental; and during methoxyflurane it was reflected in increases in pre-ejection period (PEP) and the ratio PEP/LVET. Intubation resulted in a hyperactive state of the heart, as shown by maximal decreases in PEP and PEP/LVET. Myocardial oxygen balance--estimated from the supply/demand ratio (DPTI/TTI)--was impaired after thiopental. After intubation, DPTI/TTI decreased to its lowest value due to an excess of myocardial oxygen demand (TTI) over myocardial oxygen supply (DPTI), signifying a transitory underperfusion of the subendocardium. During methoxyflurane the oxygen balance was gradually restored towards control value. The Systolic Time Intervals and the Pressure Time Indices provided valuable information on cardiac function not available from standard monitoring alone.


Longitudinal spread of intraneurally injected local anesthetics. An experimental study of the initial neural distribution following intraneural injections.

Unexpected spinal anesthesia, occurring after peripheral nerve blocks close to the spine, may be caused by a centripetal spread of the local anesthetic along the injected nerve to the spinal cord. In order to analyze the pathway of such a spread, a radioactive local anesthetic mixed with a fluorescent dye was injected into difrerent compartments of the rabbit sciatic nerve, and the early distribution of these tracers was studied by scintillation counting and fluorescence microscopy. Epineurial (extrafascicular) injections were of low injection pressure (25-60 mmHg) (3.3-7.9 kPa) and limited spread, while endoneurial (intrafascicular) injections reached higher pressures (300-750 mmHg) (39.9-99.7 kPa) and caused a rapid spread over long distances within the fascicle. The sacral plexus seemed difficult to pass. However, 20% of endoneurial injections reached the spinal cord, where the injectate primarily spread in the thin subpial space. Our experimental findings suggest that intraneural injections of local anesthetics are responsible for the reported cases of unexpected spinal anesthesia due to inadvertent intrafascicular spread. Although intrafascicular injections are rarely made, we recommend that intraneural injections of local anesthetics or other solutions close to the spine should be avoided, as they may cause unexpected spinal anesthesia or lesion of the cord.


Untoward effects of ketamine combined with diazepam for supplementing conduction anaesthesia in young and middle-aged adults.

Fifty-six young and 29 middle-aged adults who were scheduled for lower abdominal, anorectal or extremity surgery under epidural, sacral or brachial plexus blockades received intravenous analgesic or anaesthetic doses of ketamine, combined with diazepam, immediately before the start of the operation. Forty-one patients received no supplementary drugs for the conduction anaesthesia and were divided into two groups of controls. On the day following the operation, all the patients were asked about their postanaesthetic reactions and their acceptance of the anaesthetic technique, and the nursing staff expressed their opinion on the amount of work and supervision needed during the post-operative care of the patients. Administration of ketamine 0.5 mg/kg with diazepam 0.15 mg/kg to young or middle-aged patients was not associated with more side-effects or a greater need for post-operative care and supervision than in the control groups. Administration of anaesthetic doses of ketamine 1.5 mg/kg and 3.0 mg/kg with 0.15 mg/kg and 0.3 mg/kg of diazepam, respectively, caused significantly (P less than 0.05) more post-operative anxiety and confusion, as well as a significantly greater need for post-operative care and supervision than in the control patients. It is concluded that, in young or middle-aged patients, supplementing conduction anaesthesia with ketamine 0.5 mg/kg plus diazepam 0.15 mg/kg is not associated with the untoward effects which can be expected after anaesthetic doses of 1.5 mg/kg (or more) of ketamine.


The combined effects of antihypertensive drugs and anaesthetics (halothane and ketamine) on the isolated heart.

The effects of three concentrations of halothane or ketamine were investigated on isolated rabbit hearts, which were perfused with hydralazine, clonidine, propranolol or methyldopa. In hearts not subjected to the influence of an anaesthetic, clonidine was the only drug stimulating myocardial function. In those perfused with halothane or ketamine alone, both anaesthetics exerted a negative chronotropic and inotropic action in a dose-related manner. Ketamine markedly increased the coronary flow. Clonidine distinctly reduced the myocardial depression caused by halothane or ketamine. Hydralazine had no marked effects with either of these anaesthetics, except that it sensitized the hearts to the arrhythmic action of a high concentration of halothane. Propranolol, when combined with halothane, aggravated myocardial depression and decreased coronary flow. With ketamine, propranolol caused no other harmful interactions, apart from inhibiting the increase in coronary flow caused by this anaesthetic. Methyldopa intensified the myocardial depression induced by halothane, but tended to diminish that caused by ketamine. The results suggest that clonidine has a stimulatory cardiac action when combined with either of these anaesthetics. Disadvantageous interactions may exist between methyldopa or propranolol and halothane.


Effect of chlorthiazide treatment on renin-aldosterone system during pregnancy.

Plasma renin activity and urinary excretions of aldosterone, sodium and potassium were studied before and during one week's chlorthiazide treatment in eight women with a slight peripheral oedema in the 31st week of pregnancy. Plasma renin activity and excretion of aldosterone increased clearly on the first day of treatment, but on the 7th day it was more than doubled in comparison with the level before the treatment. Diuresis and excretion of sodium increased promptly on the 1st day, but did not differ from the level found before the treatment on the 7th day. The high reserves of renin and aldosterone secretion found in this study may be regarded important in ensuring blood pressure, plasma volume and placental flow during pregnancy.


Seasonal birth pattern in Sweden in relation to birth order and maternal age.

The influence of both maternal age and parity on seasonal birth patterns in Sweden was studied, using the Swedish Medical Birth Register for 1973. The register contained reports of 109 342 pregnancies. A test for seasonality, using a squared sinus function and an analysis of variance, was performed for each age and parity group. Significant differences were shown for parity irrespective of age and age groups within parity groups. There was one exception: no influence of parity could be demonstrated in women more than 35 years of age. For the lowest and the highest age groups (all parities), there was no significant seasonality in birth rate tested by the squared sinus method. This was also true for parity 3 (age group 20--24) and parity 1 (age group 30--34). The other age groups and parity classes show a significant seasonality with a maximum of births in April and May.


Intrauterine supraventricular tachycardia.

Four cases of intra-uterine ectopic supraventricular tachycardia are described. In three there were none or only minor symptoms immediately after delivery and subsequently. The fourth baby having a congenital W-P-W-syndrome was born with severe hydrops fetalis and was asphyxiated. From these cases and from data reported in the literature it is concluded that intra-uterine heart failure is a significant risk when the fetal heart rate persistently exceeds 230 per minute. It is suggested that digoxin administered to the mother may be beneficial to the fetus in cases of intra-uterine ectopic tachycardia.


Comparison of oestriol in mother and fetus during labour and in the baby at birth.

The progressive rise in pregnancy of oestriol values and their significance in assessing fetal viability is well known, although the exact function of this increase is not understood. In considering the problem it was thought that further information of oestriol levels in mother, fetus and newborn could prove of value. The mean cord plasma oestriol was lower in small-for-dates than in normal cases, but in both groups it was ten times higher than in the relative maternal peripheral veins. In pooled capillary fetal scalp samples the mean oestriol was slightly higher in normal compared with small-for-dates cases. The use of gas chromatography--mass spectrometry was investigated and shown to give an accurate measurement of plasma oestriol levels. The expense of this procedure may be offset by its ability to determine simultaneously the nature and amount of other steroids present.


Preoperative cervical microbial flora and post-abortion infection.

With the aim to find criteria for the prediction of the patients who are at risk of developing a post-abortion infection the pretreatment cervical microbial flora was compared between one series of patients who developed and another series of patients who did not develop such an infection. Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria as well as mycoplasma and fungi, were studied in 104 patients. The distribution of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria was similar in the 14 patients who later developed post-abortal infection and in uncomplicated cases. It is concluded that the cultivation of the cervical microbial flora cannot serve as a basis for the prediction of which patients will develop subsequent genital infections.


Recording of myometrial activity in the non-pregnant human uterus by a micro-transducer catheter.

A micro-transducer catheter was tested in vitro and in vivo for recording of myometrial activity in the non-pregnant human uterus and was also compared with conventional fluid-filled, open end catheters previously used for recording intra-uterine pressures. The micro-transducer catheter had a frequency response far above that of fluid-filled, open end catheters. It was easily introduced through the uterine cervix and was never obstructed. Provided that the sensory surface of the micro-transducer was kept from direct contact with the uterine wall by some special arrangement it gave recordings of the intra-uterine pressure, that were practically identical with those obtained by an open end catheter.


Changes in bone mineral content in women with natural menopause during treatment with female sex hormones.

The bone mineral content was determined in eleven women with a natural menopause by X-ray spectrophotometry during treatment with a combinations of estrogens and a gestagen. During a three-year follow-up period the hormone treated women significantly increased (P less than 0.05) their mineral content by 3% a year on average, as compared with a control group. Even in patients who had passed the menopause several years previously, the increase occurred and was particularly great during the first year of treatment.


Ultrastructural features in normal and hyperplastic postmenopausal endometrium.

Seven samples of postmenopausal endometrium were studied by electron microscopy. Four samples were diagnosed as adenomatous hyperplasia (2 of which were atypical) and 3 as normal postmenopausal endometrium. The most striking ultrastructural features of hyperplastic endometrium were: numerous nucleoli, deep nuclear membrane infoldings, increased nucleocytoplasmic ratio, prominent and enlarged RER closely associated with mitochondria and nuclear membrane, abundant free ribosomes and marked network microfilaments. In the case of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, the protruded intraglandular proliferating epithelial cells exhibited more atypical features than the epithelial cells of the glandular lining, suggesting a more advanced degree of anaplastic change. The characteristic features of the normal postmenopausal endometrium were: paucity and random distribution of the cytoplasmic organelles, the presence of large cytoplasmic vacuoles and short, blunt microvilli. Secretory vacuoles opening into the lumen of the gland were found in one case of cystic atrophy of a normal postmenopausal endometrium. Collagenization was found in the stroma of both groups, although predominantly in the normal postmenopausal endometrium. In 2 cases of adenomatous hyperplasia stromal cells with vacular cytoplasm were found. The significance of these findings, as related to their importance as precursor stages of endometrial cancer (in the cases of adenomatous and atypical adenomatous hyperplasia); as involutional manifestations (in the cases of normal postmenopausal endometrium); and as related to the absence of cyclic activity (in both groups) is briefly discussed.


The ethanol gelation test in pregnancy.

Coagulation studies in 55 healthy pregnant women indicated that in spite of high coagulation activity, a positive ethanol gelation test for fibrin in plasma is not a normal feature of pregnancy. The four case reports presented stress the value of the ethanol test in monitoring treatment of thromboembolic disease in pregnancy.


A pregnancy with a hydatidiform mole, thyreotoxicosis and live-born infant.

A 26-year-old woman, pregnant for the 3rd time, was admitted in the 2nd trimester with bleeding and slight signs of thyreotoxicosis. The free thyroxin, total thyroxin and TRH-test confirmed the diagnosis. The patient was delivered 8 weeks before term of a living boy of 1680 g. Immediately after the child, a 300 g normal placenta was born, followed by 650 g of molar tissue. Four weeks after birth and evacuation of the molar tissue, the patient was euthyreoid, with normal thyreoid parameters. It is presumed to have been a twin pregnancy, in which the part transformed to molar tissue has secreted a thyroid stimulating factor.


Myometrial activity and endometrial blood flow in an ectopic pregnancy.

Myometrial activity and endometrial blood flow were recorded in a patient with uterine haemorrhage and lower abdominal pain, who turned out to have a tubal pregnancy. The uterine contractions had an amplitude sometimes exceeding 400 mmHg and a duration up to 3.5 min. Thus, strong uterine contractions can appear during pregnancy without the presence of a gestational sac within the uterus. This is contrary to the assumption that processes in the foetal membranes initiate the sequence of events leading to abortion or labour.


The ciliary body and the iris in experimental uveitis in rabbits. A scanning electron microscopic study.

Acute anterior immunogenic uveitis of varying degree was induced in rabbits by the injection of human serum albumin into the vitreous body. After fixation and drying by the critical point method, the lens, the zonules, the vitreous and, in some specimens, coagulated exudate were removed by careful dissection. The surface of the ciliary body and the posterior surface of the iris were examined by scanning electron microscopy. In moderate uveitis, the ciliary body was covered by a thin layer of leucocytes enmeshed in fibrin strands. Scattered deposits of fibrin and a few leucocytes were also found in the iris. In severe uveitis, the processes of the ciliary body had nearly disappeared because of oedema and exudate, which also contained erythrocytes. The numerous leucocytes had marked excrescences formed by folds of the cell membrane. Fibrin seemed to play a role in the attachment of the leucocytes on the surface of the ciliary body.


Changes in anterior chamber depth and angle-recession, late complications to ocular contusion.

Of 46 patients consecutively admitted to hospital for ocular contusion with hyphaema in 1964 and 1965, 30 patients were followed-up somewhat more than 10 years later in order to assess late complications. Angle-recession was observed in 17 (57%), while none had developed glaucoma. An average increase in depth of the anterior chamber of 0.06 mm in the affected eye was observed; this differences is highly significant with P less than 0.005. However, as these changes are small in individual patients, measurement of the increase in anterior chamber depth can only be a supplement to gonioscopy.


A simple method for anterior segment photography of the eye with standard equipment.

A simple hand-held system for colour photography of the anterior eye structures using a standard camera and conventional incandescent slit lamp is presented for use by a general eye practitioner. No electronic flash is required. The anterior ocular pathology is well documented with the method.


Prognosis of glaucoma simplex and glaucoma capsulare. A comparative study.

To study the prognosis of capsular glaucoma (102 eyes) as compared to simplex glaucoma (58 eyes), a retrospective comparison of the functional status of these diseases when first diagnosed and five years afterwards was made. At the first examination the capsular glaucoma eyes were on average more seriously damaged. After five years this tendency was more marked with several amaurotic eyes, 17% as compared to 10% of the simplex glaucoma group. Severe visual field loss in the eyes with advanced glaucoma after five years was present in 48% of the capsular glaucoma group but only 19% of the simplex glaucoma group.


Altitudinal field defects and retinal nerve fibre degeneration in optic nerve lesions.

Altitudinal visual field defects in five cases with optic nerve lesions due to optic glioma, compression, and trauma are correlated to retinal nerve fibre degeneration, recorded with ophthalmoscopy and photography in red-free light. In one case the optic nerve was damaged at operation. Repeated fundus photography was used to record the evolution of descending optic atrophy. The results suggest that the findings in funduscopic examination of the retinal nerve fibre layer should be cautiously judged and the method cannot replace careful perimetry in cooperative patients.


Tumours of the orbit diagnosed by fine needle biopsy.

Fine needle aspiration biopsies were used for the diagnosis of orbital tumours. Examples of benign and malignant primary and metastatic orbital neoplasms, as well as inflammatory lesions diagnosed in this way are described. The method has proved of great value. This was specially true for processes located posteriorly in the orbit. The necessity for close cooperation between the ophthalmological and clinical cytological departments is emphasized.


Ampicillin penetration into the rabbit eye.

Distribution of intravenously injected ampicillin of 50 mg/kg was studied in the rabbit eye using radioactive tracer method. Antibiotic concentration regarded as therapeutic in the treatment of gram-negative organisms was obtained in all vascularized ocular structures. Intermediate values were measured from the cornea and aqueous humour. In the vitreous body and lens, ampicillin was unable to approach a concentration that would be effective against the common gram-negative organisms. The low ampicillin concentration in the vitreous body and lens was unchanged by systemically administered probenecid, which in other parts of the eye caused significantly higher ampicillin levels.


Persistent infections with "runde" virus in cell cultures and suckling mice.

A morphologically intact, persistently infected BHK 21/c13 cell culture was established by serial trypsinization and reseeding of cells infected with approximately one baby mouse LD50/cell. The extracellular virus infectivity dropped more than 3 log10 units from the 1st to the 4th passage, and was then unaltered up to passage 20. In 2-week-old mice but not in baby mice, a chronic disease with virus persistence up to 150 days was produced after intracerebral infection with moderate virus doses. The humoral immune response of the animals seemed to be adequate by the methods employed. Development of defective interfering virus particles was indicated by the von Magnus phenomenon in BHK 21/c13 cultures infected with serially passed, undiluted virus samples. Intracerebral infection of baby mice with such samples resulted in transient paresis and motion disturbances instead of the usually fatal encephalitis. Specific virus antigens but no infectious virus could be recovered from such animals.


Induction of leukochemotaxis by protein A of Staphylococcus aureus.

The mechanism of the leukochemotactic activity of staphylococcal protein A (pA) has been studied by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Protein A alone or mixed with heat-inactivated serum induced no migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, demonstrating that pA is not a cytotaxin, but a cytotaxigen. Protein A, activating both pathways of the C system, induced chemotaxis in a C4 deficient serum, but not in a C5 deficient serum. This shows that the chemotactic mediator elaborated is a split product of C5, i.e. C5a. The chemotactic activity of pA observed in the presence of normal sera (in vitro) and in wound chambers (in vivo) was exclusively caused by C activation via reaction with Fc.


Measles virus polypeptides in purified virions and in infected cells.

A wild-type measles virus was radiolabeled during growth in VERO cells and purified by two successive potassium tartrate gradient centrifugations. The virion polypeptide composition was determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis employing two different buffer systems. Six virus-specific polypeptides were consistently detected. The largest (L) had a molecular weight (MW) of greater than 150,000. The second largest polypeptide, G (MW 79,000), was the only glycoprotein found. The proteins designated polypeptide 2 (MW 66 to 70,000) and nucleocapsid protein or NP (MW 61,000) were phosphorylated. The remaining virus-coded proteins were polypeptide 5 (MW 40,000) and the matrix or M protein (MW 37,000). Measles virions also contained a polypeptide (MW 42,000) thought to be actin due to co-migration with this component of uninfected cells. Analysis of in vitro 3H-acetic anhydride radiolabeled virions confirmed the presence of these seven polypeptides. Acetic anhydride also labeled a protein designated polypeptide 4 (MW 53,000) which was not consistently radiolabeled in vivo, as well as several other minor proteins believed to be cellular in origin. Synthesis of the six virus-specific structural polypeptides was detected in lysates of infected cells by SDS-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis. Virus specificity of polypeptide 4 could not be confirmed due to the similar MW of several cellular polypeptides. Two non-virion, but virus-specified polypeptides, of MW 38,000 and 18,000 were also detected. Synthesis of the virus structural proteins was in the same proportions as the polypeptides found in virions except for under production of polypeptide G and over production of polypeptide 2.


Determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA): comparison of two different assays.

A comparison was made of CEA determination by the CEA-RIAKIT and our slightly modified CEA-Roche assays. The normal levels (mean + 2 SD) found in 63 blood donors were 2.3 microgram/1 and 3.3 microgram/1, respectively. The inter-assay reproducibility was similar in the range below 15 microgram/1, with variations from 0.3 microgram/1 (1 SD, less than 5 microgram/1) to 1.4 microgram/1 (1 SD, 10--15 microgram/1). Both methods measured CEA concentrations down to 1 microgram/1. The ability of the two assays to discriminate between positive and negative values in patients with urogenital and gastrointestinal cancer was similar. The response to recurrences of colorectal carcinoma was also similar, and the CEA fluctuation was parallel after surgery. The CEA-Roche assay generally showed good correlation between measured and theoretical values at both low and high levels. Under our test conditions, the disparity between indirect and direct values was 14 microgram/1 +/- 8 (n = 4) in the range 18--32 microgram/1, and this must be taken into consideration in interpreting the CEA-Roche test. The CEA-RIAKIT measured too low values as compared to both the CEA-Roche and the theoretical values. The discrepancy increased with increasing CEA values, and the ability to distinguish between high CEA concentrations (greater than 15 microgram/1) was poor. The explanation seems to be that the anti-CEA sera used in this assay show a lower affinity for plasma CEA than for tumour-extracted CEA. Immunochemical differences between sample CEA and CEA used for calibration of the standard curves must be considered in evaluation of CEA assays.


Neutralizing antibodies against human leukocyte, lymphoblastoid and fibroblast interferons elicited by immunization with human leukocyte interferon.

Guinea pigs, rabbits, and sheep were immunized with partially purified human leukocyte interferon. The antisera were tested for their neutralizing activities against human leukocyte, lymphoblastoid (Namalva) and fibroblast interferons. Rabbits and sheep developed high levels of neutralizing antibodies against all three interferons. The ratios of the neutralizing activities of leukocyte/lymphoblastoid interferons varied from 1 to 25 and those of leukocyte/fibroblast interferons from 2 to 500. The ratios increased with prolonged immunization. The guinea pigs developed relatively low levels of anti-leukocyte and anti-lymphoblastoid antibodies and as a rule failed to produce detectable neutralizing activity against fibroblast interferon. One sheep was given a booster injection of fibroblast interferon after preimmunization with leukocyte interferon. The booster injection stimulated a rise in antibody levels, not only for fibroblast interferon, but also for leukocyte and lymphoblastoid interferons. The antigenic relationships between leukocyte, lymphoblastoid and fibroblast interferons are discussed.


Intestinal secretion of sulphanilic acid by the isolated mucosa of guinea pig jejunum.

Tissue uptake and transepithelial permeation of 35S-sulphanilic acid were studied in the isolated guinea pig jejunal mucosa. Methoxy-3H-inulin added simultaneously served as a marker for the extracellular space and permeability of paracellular shunt pathways in the preparation. The uptake of sulphanilic acid from the blood side exceeded that from the luminal side 4--7 fold. The permeation of the acid was strongly correlated to the permeation of inulin. At 5 micrometer and 2.5 mM sulphanilic acid under aerobic conditions, the regression lines for the permeation from lumen to blood pass almost through the origin, while the regression lines for the permeation from blood to lumen intersect the ordinate at a positive Y-value. In anaerobiosis, at 25 mM sulphanilic acid, or with addition of p-toluene sulphonic acid only one regression line is obtained for the permeation in both directions. It is concluded that besides a permeation of sulphanilic acid across inulinpermeable shunt pathways an active transport system exists, which transfers the acid from the blood to the luminal side. This system is saturable, depends on aerobic energy and exhibits mutual inhibition by a structurally related compound. The results are comparable to those previously obtained with cardiac glycosides and quaternary ammonium compounds, in the same preparation. Thus, the intestinal mucosa is able to secrete the same classes of compounds which are secreted by the liver and the kidney.


In vivo reversibility of the jejunal glucose and cation transport alteration caused by intraluminal surfactants in the rat.

Tied jejunal loops in anaesthetized rats were under standardized conditions pre-exposed for 30 min. with Tyrode solution containing surfactants. 5, 20 or 150 min. after wash out of bulk surfactant, the loops were re-instilled with Tyrode containing glucose at 5--15 mmol/l. Net glucose, sodium and potassium transport were studied for 15 min. by changes in intraluminal amounts, and compared with results obtained in control rats. The surfactants (mmol/l) tested were the anionics dioctylsulphosuccinate (5.6) and dodecylsulphate (8.5--17), the cationics cetrimonium bromide (2.1--4.1) and benzalkonium chloride (2.1), the nonionics Triton X100 (0.25%) and Lubrol WX (0.25--0.5%) plus cholic acid (4.9) and desoxycholic acid (1.3--2.5). In most cases, the glucose transport was normal or fairly normal after 150 min., most of the restoration taking place shortly after surfactant removal. However, Lubrol in particular caused more irreversible effects. Generally, the changes in net cation transport tended to be less easily reversible than the alteration in glucose transport. In so far as a normal or near to normal glucose transport is unlikely to occur unless both functional and structural integrity of the epithelium is preserved, the results indicate that in most cases there is but insignificant epithelial damage under the experimental conditions. Since, furthermore, these surfactants can interact with glucose transport in the same technique even at lower concentration and shorter incubation time than used here, it is concluded that the interaction of surfactants with intestinal transport is not neccessarily linked to gross histo-pathological changes.


Percutaneous toxicity of hexachlorobutadiene.

Rabbits have been epicutaneously exposed to pure hexachlorobutadiene (0.25; 0.50; 0.75 and 1.00 ml/kg) during 8 hrs. This solvent was completely absorbed; some animals died within 24 hrs and others a few days later. The LD50 is 0.72 ml/kg (Bliss' method). Hexachlorobutadiene induced in situ cutaneous necrosis and its absorption induced systemic damage (fatty liver degeneration and epithelial necrotizing nephritis). These lesions are reversible. The present results confirm the toxicological profile of this solvent, previously established by the intraperitoneal and oral routes: hexachlorobutadiene is the most nephrotoxic aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbon.


Autoradiographic studies of 3H-estramustine in the rat ventral prostate.

The alkylating agent 3H-estramustine was administered to castrated male rats and found to accumulate in the epithelium of the ventral prostate 5 and 20 min. following intravenous administration, as judged from autoradiography. Four hrs. after intravenous injection of this isotope, the radioactivity was recovered in the secretion of the prostatic lobuli. A preferential accumulation of radioactivity in prostatic secretion was also observed 2 hrs. after intramuscular administration of 3H-estramustine to intact or castrated rats. In contrast, 3H-oestradiol and 3H-testosterone, which were also taken up by the ventral prostatic epithelium, were not recovered in prostatic secretion. The present results indicate that 3H-estramustine is secreted from the prostatic cells into the lumina of the prostatic lobuli. It is speculated that a recently detected estramustine-binding protein in rat ventral prostate may be involved in this process and that the present finding may be of relevance in the understanding of the mechanism of action of the chemotherapeutic agent Estracyt (estramustine phosphate) used in the treatment of advanced prostatic carcinoma.


The uptake of 6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline and its effect on 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake and release in blood platelets.

The uptake of 6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (6-MeOTHBC, 5-methoxytryptoline) by rabbit blood platelets was studied by using 3H-labelled compound. A high rate active uptake (Km 6.6 micron), which was inhibited by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and cinnanserine, and a slow rate uptake, not inhibited by 5-HT were observed. The intracellular distribution of 3H-6-MeOTHBC in platelets clearly differed from that of 14C-5-HT. 6-MeOTHBC also competitively inhibited the high-rate active (but not the slow passive) uptake of 14C-5-HT, being more active than 5-HT itself. The spontaneous release of the newly taken-up 14C-5-HT from platelets was increased only with high concentrations of 6-MeOTHBC.


Pharmacokinetics and locomotor activity increasing effect of ephedrine in mice.

Ephedrine has stimulating effects on the CNS which have been shown as increased locomotor activity, for example. No studies on the relationship between this pharmacological effect and blood levels of the drug have been reported. In the present study this question was investigated in mice after intravenous and oral administration of ephedrine. It was concluded that after intravenous injection of ephedrine the blood concentration data fitted best with the two-compartment open model but after oral administration of the drug with the one-compartment model. The locomotor activity stimulating effect of the drug did not have a linear relationship to the drug levels in the central or in the tissue compartment. This suggests that the mechanism of the locomotor activity increasing effect of ephedrine is indirect.