Iris pigmentation and visual-geometric illusions.

Blur or degrading of the retinal image has been shown to be a factor in the formation of visual-geometric illusions where intersecting line elements are present. Light irises allow more scattered light within the eye, which results in more image degradation than found in dark-eyed subjects. Measurements on 755 observers show that illusion magnitude varies as a function of iris pigmentation for a configuration with intersecting line elements (Müller-Lyer illusion), but not for a configuration devoid of such features (Ebbinghaus illusion).


On reexamining Fortes' data: some implications of drawings made by children who have never drawn before.

Spontaneous drawings made by Tale subjects who had never drawn before, obtained by Fortes in the 1930s, are compared with those made by subjects coming from the same population who had learned to draw under Western influence. The disparity of styles of these drawings, it is argued, shows that it would be erroneous to suggest that a universal "grammar of drawing" can be derived by examination of drawings obtained from Western populations only. Such rare data from remote cultures offer therefore important safeguards against ethnocentricity in psychological theorising.


DDT moratorium in Arizona--agricultural residues after seven years.

The moratorium on agricultural use of DDT in Arizona that began in January 1969 proved very effective during the first 7 years of enforcement. Residues on green alfalfa declined significantly to a probable inherent level of 0.02 ppm wet weight. Soil residues of sigmaDDT-related degradation products declined significantly, averaging 23 percent; residues in desert soils declined 60 percent. The sigmaDDT half-life in irrigated soils was about 7 years; it decreased to 2.5 years in nonirrigated soils.


Mirex incorporation in estuarine animals, sediment, and water, Mississippi Gulf Coast--1972-74.

Analysis of mirex residues in estaurine animals, sediments, and waters collected from the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1972-74 showed the following ranges of concentrations: seston, 200-3000 ppb; molluscs, 36-500 ppb; fish, 0-259 ppb; sediment, 3-5ppb; and water, 0-0.01 ppb. These data indicate that mirex in aquatic environments is localized in animal tissues and bottom substrate and that only a negligible amount is incorporated in the water.


Organochlorine pesticide residues in Florida birds of prey, 1969-76.

Chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide residues, especially DDT and its metabolites, were determined in 71 individuals of 14 species of predatory birds obtained in Florida between 1969 and 1976. Of the 71 birds, 68 contained p,p'-DDE or another DDT metabolite; 34 contained dieldrin. DDE was found in 93 percent of the 57 adipose tissue samples, all the 9 brain samples, and 89 percent of the 62 uropygial gland samples. Of the 65 birds taken since 1972, 61 contained DDE in at least one of these three tissues. The annual average of sigmaDDT in adipose tissue and uropygial gland over the 6-year span was approximately 5 ppm wet weight. From 1973 to 1976, no significant increase or decrease in pesticide burdens was detected. Some birds had no DDE whereas others contained up to 76 ppm sigmaDDT. None of the data suggest that any of the birds of prey had died of DDT or DDT metabolite poisoning.


[Cellular immunity skin testing and sepis in intensive care patients : relationship between results and mortality (author's transl)].

In 182 critically ill patients, after admission delayed hyersensitivity skin testing have been systematically performed with 3 antigens (tuberculin, candidin, varidase). Mortality in anergic patients was 55% while it dropped to 19% when at least one response was positive. A highly significant relationship was found between anergy and mortality (p less than 10(-5)) whether death was related to sepsis (p less than 10(-4)) or not (p less than 0.02). In patients with major sepsis, anergy was more frequent (38%) than in non septic patients (21%) (p less than 0.01). In 69 patients skin testing with phytohemagglutinin was performed. Seven out of 8 unresponsive patients were anergic and 5 died. The results suggest that in critically ill patients cellular immunity skin testing may early select high risk patients exposed to septic complication. In these patients several important measures should be promptly taken including superinfections prevention, adapted nutritional intake and septic focus eradication.


[An indication for a permanent pacemaker : digitialis therapy for cardiac failure with disturbed atrioventricular conduction (author's transl)].

In twenty patients with advanced heart disease with severe cardiac failure and the presence of conduction disturbances before digitalis therapy, but in whom such disturbances were worsened or revealed by the treatment, it was necessary to insert a permanent pacemaker in order to make effective long term digitalisation possible without the risk of excessive bradycardia or pauses due to worsening of atrioventricular block. Six patients died within a period of 9 days to 34 months after insertion of the pacemaker, two were lost from sight, and the other 12 were followed-up regularly for an average period of 20 months, their condition remaining stationary and, in general, satisfactory.


[The treatment of relapsing polychondritis using sulfones. One case (author's transl)].

A case of relapsing polychondritis was successfully treated with a daily dose of 120 mg of diaminodiphenylsulfone. Clinical signs (fever, fatigue, conjunctivitis, chondritis and hoarseness of the voice) rapidly regressed and remain so 8 months later, despite a decrease in the dose. Biological parameters returned to normal (sedimentation rate, plasma perchlorosoluble seromucoids, urinary acid mucopolysaccharides), and histological and ultrastructural lesions of the auricular cartilage disappeared. The pathogenic role of a herpes infection at the beginning of the disease is discussed.


Platelet formation in Mediterranean macrothrombocytosis.

Platelet size distribution and survival parameters were studied in control subjects and ten subjects presenting Mediterranean macrothrombocytosis. The comparison showed that the latter group maintains a normal platelet circulating mass (thrombocytocrit) by combining normal platelet survival, increased splenic pooling and production of a reduced number of greatly enlarged cells. In addition to offering new insight into the megakaryocytic mechanisms that determine platelet size, the study of Mediterranean macrothrombocytosis indicates that platelet size distributions and survival parameters should be integrated in order to provide a meaningful picture of human platelet kinetics.


[Electra 600 d : results of a three year study (author's transl)].

Electra 600 D has been used in our laboratory for 3 years. The Quick's prothrombine time is the only test routinely performed with satisfactory results. The measure of activated partial thromboplastin time, the assays of factor II, factor V and complex VII + X are unsatisfactory, probably because of the type of the reagents which are used.


[Coagulometer H21: an automatic apparatus for coagulation study (author's transl)].

We describe and present a new automatic device to measure the clotting time of a plasma plus reagent mixture by recording the time of transformation : solution to gel. The apparatus is able to perform 50 tests without manual help. Indeed it automatically carries out:--the dispatching of the tested plasma,--the dispatching of the various reagents,--the recording of the clotting time of the sample,--the processing of the data through greater a printer. No contamination is allowed to occur since the tubing and the plates containing the sample are disposable. We obtain accuracy than with the manual method with a coefficient of variation below 3%.


[Assay of factors VIII and IX using an automatic system. Comparison of one- and two-stage techniques (author's transl)].

The assay of antihemophilic factors is the best test for the diagnosis of hemophilia. It is also necessary to control the products for the substitutive therapy and for monitoring the treatment. The assays may be carried out by a semi-automatic technique. The comparison between this technique and the manual techique in two stages shows that the values obtained in one stage are higher than those obtained in two stages. The automatic method in one stage is sufficiently reliable for estimating the hemophilic factors.


[Evaluation of an automatic clot-sensing instrument : Coag A Pet 200 (author's transl)].

The Coag A Pet 200 is an automatic clot-sensing instrument, with two channels; the variation in the optical density is detected by a photoelectric system. The results are sequentially printed out with the sample number. A critical evaluation of its performance in hospital use over 7 month, is reported. The series of tests thus automated consists of: one stage prothrombin-time, Owren test, activated partial thromboplastin time, analytical determinations of factors II, V, VII + X, VII, IX, XI, XII. The repeatibility is good: CV ranged between 0.5 to 1.5% or 2%, and a high degree of correlation with the standard manual techniques was found: R: 0.93 TO 0.99. This instrument was easy to master, use and maintain.


[Results of a one year study of Trombolab (author's transl)].

The Trombolab apparatus was purchased to measure thromboplastin time and recalcification clotting time automatically. For this last test, we have not been able to get satisfactory results. However, Thrombolab gives dependable and reproducible results for the thromboplastin time. Its use is easy and its maintenance simple.


[Trial of an automatic apparatus for coagulation : Auto-Fi Dade (author's transl)].

Auto-Fi Dade has been used for thromboplastin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen determination and a few determinations of factors V, VII + X, II and VIII. The results of the thromboplastin time, using Dade Tromboplastin or thromboplastins from two other commerical firms, show a coefficient of variation (CV) ranging from 1.11 to 3.43% for short times and 1.97 to 2.64% for longer times.


[Statistical study of results of Hemalog D (author's transl)].

The data which Hemalog D obtains from blood samples of non hematologic patients have been analyzed statistically and compared with those obtained from an eye count. As well as usual statistical techniques, i.e. correlation coefficient and paired t-test, a more sophisticated multidimensional method was used : the Factorial Analysis of Correspondences. We have analyzed two samples. For the first sample, that of "all-comers", the reproductibility of the results given by the machine was shown to be excellent, and always superior to that of the eye count. The machinen-technician agreement is reasonably good except for the monocytes and basophiles. The preceeding conclusions were found to be true for the second sample, i.e. "with discrepancies", and in addition, it was shown that an eye count on 400 elements gives a result closer to that of the machine than does a reading on 100 elements.


[Practical aspects of the routine hospital use of the Hemalog D (author's transl)].

Five months experience with the Hemalog D has enabled the authors to define the mode of integration of the apparatus into a central hematology laboratory of a hospital without a clinical hematology department. The incidence and importance of such factors as the alarms set off by the apparatus, the time-course of blood basophils in patients receiving heparin and the clinical picture in patients for whom the apparatus revealed a peroxidase deficiency are discussed.


[The system Hemalog D in paediatrics (author's transl)].

The Hemalog D was studied at the Childrens' Hospital to examine its performance in paediatrics. All the subjects studied were children with non-hematologic diseases; both venous and capillary blood samples were taken. The differential was performed in parallel by the Hemalog D and the technicians of the Hematology Laboratory. There was an excellent correlation between the two methods for neutrophils and lymphocytes, a good correlation for eosinophils and a weaker correlation for monocytes and basophils. No difficulties were encountered during the course of the study. It must be noted, however that capillary samples caused a Low Rate alarm to be registered.


[Use of the LARC system in a laboratory specializing in hematology (author's transl)].

Two thousand consecutive white blood cell counts were simultaneously studied by the LARC system and the traditional manual method. This comparison enables the following four couclusions to be drawn.--The reproducibility of the LARC differential is superior to the traditional method;--The similarity between results obtained by the LARC and the manual method are good, as indicated by scatter-plots and calculated correlation coefficients;--The LARC system can be substituted for the traditional manual method, also for markedly pathologic samples, but in this case at the price of a slowing down of the through-put rate of the system;--The detection of abnormal white cell types is as good or better with the LARC system as compared with the manual method.


Utilization of the Corning LARC in a clinical laboratory.

The author reports the experience of the central laboratory of the Genesee Hospital with the Larc apparatus. This is a 427 bed hospital and the laboratory does 100 to 350 differential white counts daily. The reproducibility of the Larc differential, the correlation with the results obtained manually, and the utility of the Larc in the central laboratory are discussed.


[Practical experiences with the Hematrak (author's transl)].

This report is based on own practical experiences with the Hematrak during seven months of daily use in the hematologic routine in a general hospital. We describe briefly the operation of the instrument. The importance of the preparation of the slides is stressed. In this respect a device for automatic smear preparation is mentioned. To test the reliability of the instrument the differential counts of the instrument were compared with manual results and regression values calculated. The reproducibility was checked and calculated. The next point of interest was the number and kind of cells determined as "suspect" by the instrument. Finally we tested how pathologic cells were detected and determined by the instrument.


[A new parameter for chronic lymphocytic leukemia : determination of the large lymphocytes by means of Hemalog D (author's transl)].

The munber of large peripheral lymphoid cells and the ratio of these large unstained cells (LUC) to the total number of peripheral lymphocytes were determined by means of the Hemalog D in 57 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and in 100 controls. While the absolute number of LUC per mm3 is simply a reflection of peripheral lymphocytosis, the ratio LUC/total lymphocyte count was shown to correlate with clinical staging. In controls, this ratio ranged from 3.2% to 11.2%. In CLL is was less than 11.2% in 43 patients and less than 11.2% in 14 patients. This latter group corresponded statistically to patients with advanced disease in our clinical staging system (stages III and IV). An increase in the LUC/total lymphocyte ratio is therefore a statistical criterion of poor prognosis.


[The computerization of a central hematology and immunology laboratory (author's transl)].

The authors describe in this paper the considerations which led to the installation of a computer in an hematology laboratory. The different functions of the system are analyzed. Reception and identification of samples, codes for patients and analysis, print out of working lists, print out of results and monitoring of archives. A new system for differential counts is also described. Advantages of the system  are discussed.


[Data processing in the clinical laboratory (author's transl)].

We will study successively:--the flow of data and biological material into the laboratory and the constitution of the primary message with its attendant areas of possible error generation;--the organization of this data, storage techniques, and methods of information transfer;--common general principles of laboratory organization, constraints to organization inherent in the nature of a given laboratory, and the system of task priority according to the type of laboratory, cases seen and tests required;--perspectives in the development in the handling of results of laboratory tests and diagnostic determinations are briefly discussed.


Nucleotide sequence of the O gene and of the origin of replication in bacteriophage lambda DNA.

The nucleotide sequence of the O gene in bacteriophage lambda DNA is presented. According to two possible initiator codons, the primary structure of the O protein deduced from the DNA sequence consists of 278 or 299 amino acid residues. Structure and function of the O protein--one of the two phage initiator proteins for lambda DNA replication--are discussed in the light of a secondary structure model for the O protein. The central part of the O gene contains a cluster of symmetrical sequences extending over 160 base pairs. The point mutation of the cis-dominant replication mutant ti12 is located in this region.


A characterization of mRNA activites and their sequence complexities in Trypanosoma brucei: partial purification and properties of the VSSA mRNA.

Polyadenylated RNA isolated from a clone of Trypanosoma brucei was shown to direct the synthesis of a variety of polypeptides in a cell-free system. A predominant 58,000 dalton polypeptide was immunoprecipitated with antisera to the T. brucei variant specific surface antigen (VSSA). The mRNA that directed the synthesis of the VSSA was 2.0 kilobases (kb) long as measured by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 98% formamide. Complementary DNA was prepared with avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptase and the nucleotide sequence complexities of the total polysomal poly(A)+RNA and a gel purified VSSA mRNA were measured. 20% of the total cellular poly(A)+RNA contained abundant sequences with an apparent complexity of 9.6 kb; 42% of the purified VSSA mRNA contained abundant sequences with a complexity of 7.2 kb. Complementary DNA synthesized from gel purified VSSA mRNA was hybridized to total cellular poly(A)+RNA isolated from an unrelated T. brucei clone expressing a different variant antigen. A portion of the low complexity RNA sequence component was absent in the heterologous mRNA population but the same plateau of hybridization was achieved (93%). The abundance of some of the low complexity mRNAs appears to be T. brucei clone specific.


Demonstration of high molecular weight poly (adenosine diphosphate ribose).

An electrophoretic system was established that resolves poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose), enzymatically synthesized polymer from NAD+, by size difference of one residue on polyacrylamide gel. The existence of a polymer of at least 65 residues was demonstrated by band counting in this system. The polymer showed a heterogeneous size distribution on the electrophoregram, and the molecular weight of the largest polymer was deduced to be more than 4.5 X 10(5) daltons. The discrepancy between the size, estimated by electrophoresis, and the chain length, determined by the ratio of total radioactivity to that derived from the terminus, suggests that the polymer has a branched structure.


Dephosphorylation of histones H1 and H3 during the isolation of metaphase chromosomes.

Histones have been extracted from isolated metaphase chromosomes prepared by the method of Wray and Sutbblefield [Exp. Cell Res 59, 469-478 (1970)] and by a Nonidet P-40 detergent procedure based on the method of Wigler and Axel [Nucleic Acids Res. 3, 1463-1471 (1976)]. Analysis of the densitometer profiles of long polyacrylamide gels shows that the mitotic phosphorylations of histone H1 (H1M) and histone H3 are extensively depleted during chromosome isolation. These data indicate that CHO metaphase chromosomes prepared by standard methodologies do not represent in vivo chromosomes with respect to their histone phosphorylations; therefore, current chemical and structural studies of isolated metaphase chromosomes may require further clarification.


Determination of the endpoints of partial deletion mutants of the attachment site of bacteriophage lambda by DNA sequencing.

The deletion mutants b508 and b522 of bacteriophage lambda both end within the attachment site. The formation of such deletions is dependent upon the presence of intact integrase, and thus the deletion endpoints may be related to the normal crossover site in site-specific recombination. We have determined the DNA sequences of the attachment site regions of these deletions. Comparison of the sequences with lambda wildtype shows that both the deletions end within the central common homology region but at different positions. The consequences of these findings for current models of site-specific recombination are discussed.


Electron microscopic evidence for splicing of Moloney murine leukemia virus RNAs.

Poly (A) containing RNA extracted from Moloney murine leukemia virus infected mouse cells was hybridized with long single-stranded complementary DNA, prepared in detergent disrupted virions. Visualization of the hybrids in the electron microscope revealed among the structures, circles and circles with tails. Measurements performed on the circular molecules revealed two major species with circumferences corresponding to 3 and 8.2 kilobases. The latter structures had identical size to circles obtained after annealing of cDNA with the viral genome, 35S RNA. Circularization of a small viral RNA (3 kb) from infected cells in the RNA-cDNA hybrids is a direct evidence that like the 35S RNA it shares similar nucleotide sequences at both the 5' and 3' ends. The presence of 5' end sequences common to the two RNA species indicates the existence of a spliced viral RNA. Furthermore, based on the circularization of viral RNA in the hybrids, we suggest a new way to quantitate and determine the lengths of spliced RNA in retrovirus infected cells.


MspI, an isoschizomer of hpaII which cleaves both unmethylated and methylated hpaII sites.

The cleavage of DNA by restriction endonucleases HpaII and HapII is prevented by the presence of a 5-methyl group at the internal C residue of its recognition sequence CCGG. MspI, an isoschizomer of HpaII available from New England Biolabs, cleaves DNA irrespective of the presence of a methyl group at this position. This enzyme cleaves DNA from Haemophilus parainfluenzae and Haemophilus aphrophilus readily while HpaII and HapII cannot degrade these DNAs. Practically all HpaII sites in mammalian sperm DNA are also protected by methylation at the internal C position since HpaII and HapII barely cleave this DNA (average molecular weight 40 kb). MspI, however, cleaves the DNA to an average size of about 5 kb.


A model for the single stranded random coil form of polydeoxyadenylic acid from minimum energy conformations of the dimeric subunit.

The minimum energy conformations of dApdA have been examined for their suitability as buildings blocks of the single stranded coil form of polynucleotides. Calculations of the characteristic ratio C difference = less than ro greater than 2/n liter2 were made for a polymer generated from all the low energy conformers, as well as for selected combinations. A polymer composed of a conformer with omega', omega = t*,g+,(skewed) psi = t, C-(2)-endo type pucker, in combination with the 'B' form, has a C difference equal to that observed in coils of apurinic acid (6) when the fraction of 'B' form conformers is approximately 25% and approximately 91%. The t*,g+ conformer is the second lowest energy form in the C-(2)-endo puckering domain, following the 'B' form.


The distribution of DNA repair synthesis in chromatin and its rearrangement following damage with N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene.

The distribution of DNA repair synthesis in the chromatin of confluent human diploid fibroblasts damaged with N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene has been studied. Kinetic analysis of staphylococcal nuclease digestion data revealed that initially most of the repair synthesis occurred in nuclease sensitive regions of chromatin. Continuous labeling experiments and pulse chase experiments indicated that with time much of the 3H dThd initially incorporated into nuclease sensitive regions during repair appeared in nuclease resistant regions. Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to demonstrate that these resistant regions were core DNA. In agreement with previous findings [Smerdon, M.J. and Lieberman, M.W., (1978), Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, in press], studies of the time course of this rearrangement and of repair synthesis revealed similar time dependences and suggested a relationship between rates of repair synthesis and chromatin rearrangement.


Sequence organization of the beta-globin mRNA precursor.

The sequence organization of the beta-globin mRNA precursor has been determined directly by analyzing the resistant fragments from the RNase A digestion of the precursor RNA-globin cDNA hybrid. Three fragments are obtained which proves that the beta-globin mRNA sequence in its precursor is split into three discontinuous segments. The two intervening sequences in the beta-globin gene are therefore transcribed and removed during mRNA maturation.


Polynucleotides. LVI. Synthesis and properties of poly(2-deoxy-2'-fluoroinosinic acid).

Poly (2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroinosinic acid) [ poly(If)] was synthesized by polymerization of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroinosine 5'-diphosphate catalyzed by Escherichia coli polynucleotide phosphorylase. Although the UV absorption properties of poly(If) closely resembled those of poly(I), thermal melting curves at Na+ concentrations of 0.15M and 0.75M suggested two ordered structures for poly(If) neutral form. CD psectra taken at 0.15M Na+ concentration showed rather larger amplitudes in both a peak at 273 nm and a trough at 246 nm, suggesting rather strong vertical stacking of bases. When complexed with poly(C), poly(If) forms a double-stranded complex, poly(If).poly(C) which has Tm's higher by 10-20 degrees than those of poly(If).poly(C) measured under the same conditions. The CD spectrum of this complex resembled that of poly(I).poly(C). The effect of the fluorine atom at the 2'-position on thermal stability of polynucleotides is discussed.


Inhibition of mammalian RNA polymerase by 5,6-dichlororibofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) and DRB triphosphate.

DRB triphosphate inhibits activity of isolated RNA polymerase B, and, to a lesser extent, that of polymerase A. The same holds true for transcription in isolated nuclei. It does not act as an initiation inhibitor. In all cases, high concentrations of DRB triphosphate are required. Cells do not phosphorylate DRB to a measurable extent. hn RNA resistant to DRB is initiated with both ATP and GTP in the presence of the drug. These experiments render the hypothesis unlikely that DRB triphosphate in the cell specifically interferes with the initiation reaction of polymerase B.


Distribution of 7-methylguanine and of replication sites in the different kinetic classes of DNA from rats treated with dimethylnitrosamine.

The distribution of 7-methylguanine in the families of repetitive and unique sequences of rat liver chromatin DNA has been studied using the technique of DNA-DNA reassociation. Rats were injected with di[14C]methylnitrosamine and chromatin DNA was prepared 3 h later. The distribution of 7-methylguanine was found to be random between these classes of DNA. We have also studied chromatin DNA from rats treated with unlabelled DMN plus [3H]thymidine in this way, in order to find if DMN affects DNA synthesis within any one kinetic class. Our results suggest that there is no difference in the extent of synthesis between these classes.


Protein dissociation from DNA in model systems and chromatin.

Salt induced dissociation of protamine, poly(L-lysine) and poly(L-arginine) from DNA was measured by relative light scattering at theta = 90 degrees and/or centrifugation. Dissociation of histones from DNA was studied using relative light scattering and intrinsic tyrosine fluorescence. Protamine was dissociated from DNA at 0.15 M MgCl2 (ionic strength mu = 0.45) or 0.53 M NaCl (mu = 0.53) based on light scattering data and at approximately 0.2 M MgCl2 (mu = 0.6) or 0.6 M NaCl based on centrifugation data. NaCl induced dissociation of poly(Lys) or poly(Arg) from natural DNAs measured by light scattering did not depend on the guanine plus cytosine content. To dissociate poly(Arg) from DNA higher ionic strength using NaCl, MgCl2, or CaCl2, similar ionic strength using NaClo4, and lower ionic strength using Na2SO4 was needed then to dissociated poly(Lys). Both the decrease in light scattering and the enhancement of tyrosine fluorescence of chromatin occurred between 0.5 and 1.5 M NaCl when histones were dissociated.


Differential susceptibilities of DNA polymerases-alpha and -beta to polyanions.

The effects of various polyanions including synthetic polynucleotides on DNApolymerases-alpha and -beta from blastulae of the sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus and HeLa cells were studied. Only DNA polymerase-alpha was inhibited by polyanions, such as polyvinyl sufate, dextran sulfate, heparin, poly(G), poly(I), poly(U) and poly(ADP-Rib). Of the various polynucleotides tested, poly(G) and poly(I) were the strongest inhibitors. Kinetic studies showed that the Ki value for poly(G) was 0.3 microgram/ml and that poly(G) had 20-fold higher affinity than activated DNA for the template-primer site of DNA polymerase-alpha. Poly(U) and poly(ADP-Rib) were also inhibitory, but they were one hundredth as inhibitory as poly(G) or poly(I). Poly(A), poly(C), poly(A).poly(U) AND POLY(I).poly(C) were not inhibitory to DNA polymerase-alpha. In contrast, DNA olymerase-beta was not affected at all by these polyanions under the same conditions.


On the use of pooled receiver operating characteristic curves in the evaluation of scintigrams.

The assessment of simulated scintigraphic pictures by means of curves based on binary decisions of individual observers called pooled ROC-curves or pooled L-ROC-curves is presented. The technique of creating the curve is described. The examples of various processing techniques and the findings of various groups of observers are compared and discussed. The images of two IAEA simulated phantoms were used to perform the evaluation. The results indicate that the pooled L-ROC-curves may serve as a measure of image quality.


Time-dependent characteristics of Sn-complexes for preparing 99mTc-labelled radiopharmaceuticals and their bioavailabilities--a review.

A review is made of some of the factors affecting bioavailability of diagnostic 99mTc-radiopharmaceuticals currently used in the practice of nuclear medicine.


Efficacy of brain scanning in epilepsy of late onset.

Brain scans of 513 patients with epilepsy of late onset were analysed with reference to the patient's age and sex and to the nature of convulsion. Only 17 of them showed an abnormal concentration of radionuclide indicating a space-occupying lesion in the brain. The findings of those patients who had positive brain scans were correlated with EEG findings. It was found that the incidence of epilepsy of late onset is almost 3 times higher in males than in females and that the age cannot be considered as a criterion for screening the patients for brain scan investigations as far as epilepsy of late onset is concerned. In our opinion, the incidence of 3.3% is not too low. A positive brain scan finding calls for further investigation and helps in deciding the management and further line of treatment of the patients. Moreover, a normal scan rules out the presence of a space-occupying lesion and helps as a screening procedure.


Iron-dextran enhancement of 67Ga-concentration in abscess relative to normal tissue.

Iron-dextran (Imferon) significantly increases the concentration of 67Ga in abscess relative to muscle, when given intravenously to abscess bearing rabbits 24 hr after intravenous, carrier-free 67Ga-citrate. This increase is achieved by accelerating the clearance of 67Ga from the blood.


Bronchial arteries in various stages of bronchogenic carcinoma.

The vascularization of growing and regressing bronchogenic carcinomas was analyzed by comparison of postmortem angiographic and histologic investigations of bronchial arteries in 20 autopsy lungs with bronchogenic carcinoma. Vascular findings in bronchial arteriograms range from correct orientation of proliferating vessels to convoluted patterns of vascular growth during the early phases of tumor growth. Later spotty or smudgy extravasation may be seen in necrotic tumor areas, and increased vascular anastomoses appear between the nutritive and functional pulmonary circulations. Characteristic findings in angiography may be correlated, to a certain extent, with size and histologic type of the tumors. Our findings emphasize the role of nutritive pulmonary vessels in the vascularization of bronchogenic carcinoma at different stages of its development.


Thiouracil-induced myocardial fibrosis.

Rabbits were fed with thiouracil for 8 months. Subsequently their hearts were examined electron microscopically as well as biochemically for collagen and hexosamine content. Chronic treatment with thiouracil induced an increase in interstitial connective tissue collagen and hexosamine without visible necrosis. As seen by electron microscopy, the increase in collagen content might have been caused by stimulation of the fibrocytes. Furthermore, the heart muscle cells showed deep indentations and bulges of the cell membrane and an enlargement of the T-system.


Effect on vitamin A on the development of galactosamine-induced hepatitis in rats.

In order to elucidate the role of lysosomes in experimental hepatitis caused by D-galactosamine in rats the activities of cathepsin A and D and acid carboxypeptidase were measured. Enzyme activities were assayed in liver homogenate, lysosomal supernatant fraction and lysosomal sediment fraction. Lysosomal enriched fractions were prepared according to De Duve. Vitamin A in high doses aggravates the morphological alterations observed in galactosamine treated rats. At the same time the labilization of lysosomes increases substantially. This effect was induced by doses of retinyl-palmitate that normally caused only an activation of Kupffer cells and no significant liberation of lysosomal peptidehydrolases. The activities of cathepsin A and D increased 2-fold in liver homogenate after combined treatment with galactosamine and vitamin A, whereas the activity of acid carboxypeptidase decreased markedly.


Managing infections in immunosuppressed patients.

Various infections are associated with depressed host defenses. Systemic antibiotic therapy is not useful prophylactically but should be instituted immediately in patients with known bacterial infections and in febrile patients with neutropenia. Meticulous patient care and attention to collection and evaluation of microbiologic data are the keys to early detection of infection. Nonbacterial opportunistic infections should be considered in patients with prolonged fever or fever and pulmonary infiltrates. Some ancillary measures, such as patient isolation and reconstitution of the immune system, may help in prevention or treatment of infections in immunosuppressed patients.


Toxic and allergic manifestations of antimicrobials.

All antimicrobial drugs may produce toxic and allergic reactions. Penicillins and cephalosporins cause the greatest number of allergic reactions and should not be used for treatment of minor infections in patients with a history of an adverse reaction. If no alternative antibiotic will suffice for treatment of a serious infection, skin testing is necessary. Two commonly used antimicrobials, clindamycin and isoniazid, can have potentially fatal toxic effects.


Prudent use of the aminoglycosides.

Kanamycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, and amikacin are potent aminoglycoside antibiotics useful in treatment of infections with aerobic Gram-negative bacilli. For many bacteria, no other effective agents exist. These antibiotics must be used prudently. Prescribing physicians have a responsibility to avoid unnecessary therapy with agents that have the potential of causing serious ototoxic and nephrotoxic effects and to avoid indiscriminate use that may encourage the emergence of resistant organisms. These medications are much too valuable to be rendered ineffective by unwise use.


Anemia of chronic disease.

Anemia is one of the consistent findings with inflammation. Whether the anemia is helpful or harmful in the general context of the illness is unclear. It may be recognized by demonstration of iron-deficient erythropoiesis due to an internal block in iron supply. Only when its severity is disproportionate to the severity of the inflammatory process does it merit extensive diagnostic workup. Ordinarily, no treatment of the anemia is indicated.


Megaloblastic anemia.

Most, but not all, megaloblastic anemia is produced by "ineffective erythropoiesis" in the bone marrow due to either folic acid or vitamin B12 deficiency. In folic acid deficiency the cause frequently is inadequate dietary intake, whereas vitamin B12 deficiency is almost always conditioned by some specific type of malabsorption. Anemia with oval macrocytes, few reticulocytes, moderate leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia is typical of both. Aplastic anemia, refractory anemias with cellular marrow, preleukemia, aleukemia, and erythroleukemia may have somewhat similar blood findings but are usually recognizable from bone marrow biopsy. Decreased levels of folate or vitamin B12 are the most reliable criteria of megaloblastic anemia. With these available in advance, therapy with the appropriate vitamin can be begun at once. If serum levels are unavailable or available only in retrospect, initial treatment, especially of severe anemia, should be with both vitamins. Differentiation between folate and vitamin B12 deficiency is important but impossible by blood and bone marrow morphology alone. Thus, if serum levels are unavailable, the distinction must be made, sometimes retrospectively, on the basis of other laboratory examinations, such as gastric analysis, small-bowel x-ray films, and the Schilling test.


Hemolytic anemia: a systematic approach to management.

The recognition, investigation, diagnosis, and treatment of hemolytic anemia are reviewed on the basis of a classification of the causes of hemolysis according to whether they are disorders of the membrane, hemoglobin, or metabolism of the erythrocyte; congenital or familial or acquired; and intrinsic or extrinsic.


Electrolyte studies. 1. Sodium and water.

Hyponatremia may be due to relative excess of water or to sodium (Na+) depletion or may be artifactual due to hyperlipemia or excess osmotically active solute in plasma. The cause can be determined from the history, hydration status, and results of simple ancillary tests, eg, osmolality determinations and estimations of urine Na+ concentration. Hypernatremia almost always means water lack. The cause can be determined by correlating clinical findings with urine osmolality test results.


Sudden death and acute myocardial infarction: clues to differences in pathophysiology.

Although both sudden death and acute myocardial infarction are almost always associated with long-standing obstructive coronary artery disease, both may originate in the myocardium. Spasm has been suggested as a factor contributing to sudden death. Not all persons dying of acute myocardial infarction have narrowed coronary arteries, nor do all persons with obstructed arteries die of heart disease. The first phase of acute myocardial infarction may well involve myocardial necrosis, followed by stasis and collapse of collateral circulation and occasionally by coronary occlusion.


Urography in children: when should it be done? 1. Infection.

Radiologic evaluation of urinary tract infection in children should include both excretory urography and voiding cystourethrography. Excretory urography is done to search for anomalies predisposing to infection and for signs of previous episodes of pyelonephritis or reflux and to serve as a baseline for future studies. Voiding cystourethrography is done to search for abnormalities in the natural barriers that protect the renal medulla from infection. If reflux is found to be present and sequential reflux studies are done, they should be performed by the radionuclide method to observe changes in degree or cessation.


Blood-loss anemia.

Effective management of blood-loss anemia depends on an understanding of the physiologic response to volume loss, the pattern of marrow response to acute depletion of red cell mass, and the controlling influence of iron supply. Each of these elements must be evaluated and incorporated into the plan of management.


Incidence of congestive cardiomyopathy.

In a stable population of 250 000, the diagnosis of congestive cardiomyopathy could be firmly established in fifty-nine cases during a period of 8 years. This gives an incidence of the disease of 3/100 000/year. If cases disclosed at post-mortem during the same period are included, the frequency of the disease will equal 5/100 000/year.


Diagnosis and natural history of congested (dilated) cardiomyopathies.

The diagnosis of primary dilated cardiomyopathy depends on the recognition of a dilated poorly contracting left ventricle with increased end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes in the absence of a detectable cause. The diagnosis is made only after exclusion both of structural heart disease and of known causes of secondary heart muscle disorder. The natural history is still largely unknown and is probably as variable as the likely causes. The left ventricular disorder does not cause symptoms until heart failure supervenes except for occasional patients who develop an early atrial or ventricular dysrhythmia, conduction defect, chest pain or murmur of mitral regurgitation. This period of latency may be short, prolonged or even permanent since it is unlikely that all cases progess to the point of failure. A few patients recover normal or near-normal cardiac function. The interplay between high blood pressure, hypertensive heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy is illustrated by patients who recover from heart failure to become hypertensive and vice versa and in current treatment with vasodilators and diuretics for patients at either end of the spectrum.


Prognosis and possible presymptomatic manifestations of congestive cardiomyopathy (COCM).

In order to find evidence of prognosis and of presymptomatic manifestation of congestive cardiomyopathy (COCM) in fifty-eight patients, the extent of morphological changes of endomyocardial catheter biopsy (EMCB), clinical and haemodynamic data were correlated to the clinical course. In addition, clinical, haemodynamic, angiographic, morphological and His-bundle electrographic studies were performed in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB), normal left ventricular end-diastolic volume, and normal coronary arteries (n = 43). Related to a 10-year mortality rate of 70% from the onset of symptoms, COCM is one of the most severe heart diseases. Endomyocardial catheter biopsy (EMCB) allowed clear prognostic separation in patients with COCM and seems to be of diagnostic value in patients with only slightly enlarged hearts and in patients with a short history of symptoms. The studies also revealed much evidence that at least some patients with LBBB, normal left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and normal coronary arteries exhibit an early stage of COCM. In these patients especially EMCB with severe changes of heart muscle cells and/or impaired left ventricular function may indicate subsequent COCM. So that there is now a new indication for performing EMCB.


Special investigations of COCM: endomyocardial biopsies (morphological analysis).

Endomyocardial tissue obtained from 237 patients clinically suspected of suffering from congestive cardiomyopathy, has been analysed histologically, histochemically and ultrastructurally. In 51% of patients, the suspected diagnosis was morphologically confirmed and in 24.5%, no pathological evidence of a dilated heart or other pathology was found. The results in these two groups were considered helpful. It is concluded that, even though the morphology of congestive cardiomyopathy in non-specific and the number of other pathology found is small, the continuation of investigation by bioptome is justified. Parameters such as prognosis and length of history can also be assessed. Furthermore, morphological analysis is essential to interpret accurately biochemical and other types of investigations that are being carried out on biopsy material.


Immunological results in myocardial diseases.

Immunological studies have shown new diagnostically important changes in alcoholic and viral myocarditis, as well as in congestive cardiomyopathy. Increased heart size correlated with the degree of congestive heart failure, as well as with negative immunofluorescence and an increased IgA concentration in the serum. These findings may serve as a diagnostic aid in patients with myocardial disease due to alcohol abuse. Viral heart disease is characterized by a variety of symptoms and nuclear antibodies (IgM) can be of help in the differential diagnosis. Heart muscle tissue of patients with congestive cardiomyopathy preferentially binds IgG and IgA. In addition to the other changes these findings are of diagnostic importance. It seems likely that results similar to those obtained for humoral antibodies in congestive cardiomyopathy will apply in the correlation of the haemodynamic status of the patients. The pathophysiological implication of these findings is not clear at present, but the evolution of congestive cardiomyopathy appears to be associated with binding of immunoglobulin to the myocardium, as well as with humoral antiheart antibodies.


[Protocol drafting of laparotomy in the diagnosis of the cause of fever of unknown origin].

Eighteen patients with fever of unknown origin in whom other diagnostic procedures had failed, underwent exploratory laparotomy with splenectomy, hepatic biopsies and biopsies of lymph nodes, muscle and bone, while bile, urine and intestinal content were cultured. In all patients, inspection and palpation of abdominal cavity doesn't give any diagnostic orientation. With histologic examination and cultures, precise diagnosis was made in 13 cases (72 per cent). Predominant diagnosis was Hodgkin's disease. One patient died with complications of surgery.


[Amylase/creatinine clearance in the differential diagnosis of acute pancreatitis].

In the Department of Gastroenterology of "El Centro Médico La Raza, I.M.S.S.", three groups of 20 patients were studied: group I with acute pancreatitis; group II with acute abdomen without pancreatic pathology, in both groups the diagnosis was demonstrated surgically or in necropsy; group III was formed by 20 normal voluntary persons, and served as control. A 4 per cent amilase/creatinine clearence index was considered as a high normal value. The diagnosis accuracy in group I was 90 per cent. In group II there was five false positive results, in 80 per cent of the cases the results of the amilase/creatinine clearence index was found within normal limits. The difference between group I and group III was significant (P less than 0.002). The difference between group I and group II was also significant (P less than 0.05). There was no significant difference between group II and group III. The amilase/creatinine clearence index has the advantage that it can be obtained with only one blood and urine samples taken simultaneously. We concluded that amilase/creatine clearence index is useful for the differential diagnosis in acute pancreatitis and that is probably due to an alteration in the tubular renal reabsorption.


[Type III hyperlipoproteinemia--diabetes mellitus and dysglobulinemia].

This paper reports the association of diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia type III and the relation between the dose of insulin and the serum level of triglycerides and cholesterol. The coexistence of hiperglobulinemia, Bence Jones proteinuria and a positive rheumatoid factor is also reported.


[Idiopathic cardiomyopathy of the congestive type. Report of a case].

It is presented a clinical case and autopsy findings of a 72 years old male, with an illness of one month duration, which due to his symptoms was considered initially to have coronary heart disease with a myocardial infarction in evolution. During his hospitalization this picture was ruled out; however, the patient presented different cardiac arrhythmias, 3 episodes of cardiorespiratory arrest and finally refractory congestive heart failure. The patient died. Clinically the diagnosis of primary congestive cardiomyopathy was suspected, and later, correlated with the anatomopathological findings. The literature was reviewed upon the clinical and laboratory studies to reach the diagnosis; which clinically and anatomopathologically is made by exclusion. Due that we do not think very often about this entity, we consider useful the present communication.


[Rupture of hepatic adenoma and oral contraceptives].

We present one case of hepatic adenoma in a patient with a long history of oral contraceptive administration. Review of the literature in similar cases points to the possibility of a cause effect relationship between this type of drugs and liver adenomas.


[Disturbed glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus in the relatives of patients with the juvenile form of diabetes mellitus].

A total of 200 relatives of patients with a juvenile form of diabetes mellitus were examined. The standard oral glucose tolerance test (GTT) was used with a simultaneous determination (during the test) of immunoreactive insulin (IRI) level. GTT was found to be deranged in 39% of the patients investigated (doubtful results--in 24%, latent diabetes--in 8%, manifest diabetes--in 7%). The incidence of diabetes mellitus had a direct correlation with age and weight of the patients. During the GTT IRI was found to be high in 40.8% of the cases, and torpid type of the insulinemia curve was noted in 2% of the cases only.


[Prediabetes: its pathogenetic nature and diagnosis].

A total of 186 close relatives of diabetic patients were investigated in search of methods for prediabetes diagnosis in persons with predisposition to the disease. Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), immunoreactive insulin (IRI) content in response to glucose load, and the state of the cardiovascular system, primarily of microcirculation were investigated. Changes in the microcirculation system not infrequently preceded the development of pathological glucose tolerance test. Capillaroscopy, conjunctival biomicroscopy, rheovasography, cytochemical study of the blood cells, determination of muscular circulation, and, in individual cases, electron microscopy of the muscle bioptates, mucous membranes or the skin are referred to sensitive methods of investigation. Along with metabolic shifts in lipid metabolism, such changes were noted in 1/3 of the relatives with normal glucose tolerance tests.


[Growth hormone level dynamics in acromegaly in response to glucose load and measured bicycle ergometry].

The work is based on the materials of clinical examination of 67 patients with acromegaly. Study of the hypothalamo-hypophysial reaction in respect to the growth hormone secretion in patients with acromeglay revealed correlation between the clinical picture indicating the progress of the disease and pointing to the activity of the process according to the results of glucose load and dosaged veloergometry test. Dosaged physical exercise can be used to determine the activity of the process in patients with acromegaly accompanied by disturbances of the carbohydrate metabolism when glucose load was contraindicated.


[Reactivity of the sympathetic-adrenal system in juvenile thyrotoxicosis].

In examination of patients with thyrotoxicosis, aged from 14 to 24 years, there was revealed a reduction of the activity of the mediatory link of the sympathico-adrenal ssystem without any connection with age, the severity and duration of the disease, and also with the efficacy of drug therapy. The functional test with insulin in patients with thyrotoxicosis permitted to detect definite reserve possibilities of the adrenergic regulation intensified with increased duration of the disease and with advance of the patient's age, but not with increased severity of the disease. The insulin test offered a possibility of assessing the sympathico-adrenal system reactivity in cases of different degree of the disease compensation.


[Method of determining testosterone in the blood on a Tsvet-104 gas chromatograph with a constant recombination rate detector].

The author suggests a method of blood testosterone level determination on gas chromatograph "Tsvet-104" with a constant recombination rate detector, without any use of radioactive isotopes, testosterone derivatives. The method consists in thorough preliminary extraction of endogenous testosterone from the blood, its purification in thin layers on silicalgel, and conversion into a fluoroacetoderivative with a subsequent gaseochromatographic separation on chromatone N-AW-DMCS (60--80 mesh) with a low (5%) SE-30 phase content at high temeprature regimens of gas chromatograph "Tsvet-104" with a high resolving power of its selective detector.


[Mineralocorticoid function of the adrenal cortex and the renin--angiotensin system in Itsenko-Cushing's disease].

Mineralocorticoid function of the adrenal cortex and the activity of the renin-angiotensin system were studied in patients with Itsenko-Cushing's disease before (36 cases) and after (27 cases) the treatment with chloditan--an adrenocortical inhibitor. Minertalocorticoid function of the adrenal cortex was assessed by the blood immunoreactive aldosterone content, urinary 18-aldosterone-glucuronide excretion, and the rate of aldosterone secretion. Condition of the renin-angiotensin system was assesed by the blood renin activity. Aldosterone and renin concentration was studied by the radioimmunological method. There proved to be a reverse relationship between the blood aldosterone concentraiton and the severity of Itsenko-Cushing's disease. Elevation of the mineralocorticoid function of the adrenal cortex in Itsenko-Cushing's disease was due to activation of the renin angiotensin system. During clinical remission of the disease following a course of chloditan treatment the patient displayed an increased blood aldosterone level and a rise of its secretion. The minralocorticoid function of the adrenal cortex was intensified at the state of clinical remission because of an increased blood corticotropin concentration.


[Effect of castration and testosterone propionate on 3H-noradrenaline metabolism in different brain structures in male rats].

Experimental results demonstrated that castration in male rats led to the changes in catecholamine metabolism in various regions of the brian. In particular there is an acceleration of labeled noradrenalin- disappearance (3H-noradrenaline) from the limbic system of the hypothalamus formations. Testosterone propionate restored the initial level of 3H-noradrenaline in the mentioned structures of the brain. The data obtained indicated that adrenorecption of the rynecephalo-hypothalamic complex took part in the central regulation of the gonadotropic function of the hypophysis.


[Effect of prolonged administration of the adrenergic blockaders, fentolamin and obsidan, on the course of alloxan diabetes in rats].

Administration of phentholamine or obsidan to rats for 3 weeks sharply diminished the diabetogenic action of alloxan. The insular tissue of the pancreas became less affected, and the percentage of animals with signs of diabetes (polyuria, glucosuria, and hyperglycemia) decreased. Hyperglycemia (averaging 276 and 286 mg%) was revealed in the majority of the animals given alloxan and adrenoblockers. Phentholamine sharply suppressed the development of polyuria in rats with intact pancreas following water load, but obsidan produced no such effect. The mechanism of action of adrenoblockers used on polyuria and glucosuria in animals given alloxan is suggested on the basis of experiments with water load.


[UDPG pyrophosphorylase and phosphoglucomutase activity in the liver of rats with alloxan diabetes].

The UDPH-pyrophosphatase and phosphomurase activity was determined in the liver homogenates of rats with manifest alloxan diabetes. In comparison with control animals, there was a statistically significant reduction of UDPH-pyrophosphorylase and phosphoglucomutase activity (by 29 and 33%, respectively) in diabetic rats. Decreased activity of the mentioned enzymes in the liver of rats with alloxan diabetes pointed to their participation in reduction of glycogen synthesis in the liver occurring in this disease.


[State of the microcirculation in diabetes mellitus (based on conjunctival biomicroscopy data].

Conjunctival biomicroscopy was applied to the study of microcirculation in 30 healthy persons and in 112 patients suffering from diabetes mellitus before and after the treatment. Marked darangement of the end blood flow was expressed in the appearance of perivascular, vascular, and intravascular lesions, increasing with the progress of diabetes mellitus.  Adequate therapy gave positive results with the disappearance or reduction of perivascular lesions in the microcirculation, and also improvement of the rheological properties of the blood.


[Effect of central m- and n-cholinergic agents on ovarian compensatory hypertrophy in rats].

Stimulation of the n-cholinergic structures by nicotine or depression of m-cholinergic structures by metamizyl inhibited the compensatory ovarian hypertrophy (COH) induced by hemiovariectomy in rats. Stimulation of m-cholinergic structure by arecoline or depression of n-cholinergic structures by n-cholinolytic IEM-506 eliminated the suppression of COH induced by diethylstilbestrol-propionate. The mediatory role of the central-m-cholinergic systems in the mechanisms of COH and that of n-cholinergic systems in the estrogen-induced suppression of COH is suggested.


[Restoration of glucose utilization in alloxan diabetes by means of inhibiting fatty acid oxidation and gluconeogenesis].

Experiments on intact hungry rats showed hydrazine, gluconeongenesis inhibitor, to cause hypoglycemia; it failed to influence glucose utilization and oxidation, and sharply decreased oleate exidation. Hydrazine inhibition of fatty acids (oleate) oxidation and of gluconeogenesis led to practical normalization of blood glucose level, and also to the utilization and oxidation of glucose in alloxan diabetes. It is postulated that agents with an analogous action mechanism could prove to be effective antidiabetic agents.


[Dynamics of the changes in thyroid gland parenchyma on thyrocalcitonin administration].

Experiments were conducted on rats; a study was made of the effect of thyrocalcitonin (TCT) administration--5 Units a day--on thyroid gland. TCT administration during the first 5 days led to structural-functional reconstruction of the gland and activation of the synthesis and elimination of the iodine-containing hormones. Prolonged action of the iodine-containing hormones. Prolonged action of TCT (for 20 days) caused hypofunction of the gland, suppression of endogenous TCT production; it also intensified connective tissue proliferation, and destructive focal changes of the thyroid parenchyma.


[Changes in the functional state and ultrastructure of the cells of the zona glomerulosa of the rat adrenal cortex under prolonged immobilization stress].

Experiments were conducted on male rats aged from 45 to 50 days; during the development of the general adaptation syndrome distinct functional and ultrastructural shifts originated in the adrenal cortex glomerular zone at the early and end stages of the reaction pointing to the intensification of biosynthesis and of aldosterone secretion. At the early periods (immobilization for 30 min) increased adrenocorticosteroid activity was conditioned by factors influencing the early stages of steroidogenesis, chiefly by corticotropine. Aldosterone biosynthesis and secretion stimulation after 72 hours of immobilization was connected with the activation of the renin-angiotensin system, and, possibly, with factors influencing the end stages of steroidogenesis.


[Effect of hydrocortisone on the sodium and potassium content and distribution in rat hippocampus sections].

Slices of the rat hyppocampus (CA2 region) were incubated in blood plasma, and the content of Na and K in them, and also distribution of these elements in the extra- and intracellular space (by the inulin method) after hydrocortisone (HC) administration was investigated. Special morphological studies had shown that the first slices embraced the dense neuron cell bodies layer; the next slices (deeper ones) had much less neurons. A single dose of HC given 3 hours before the experiment in doses of 1 and 5 mg per 100 g of body weight caused a decrease of intracellular Na concentration and an increase of intracellular K in the first slices; the transmembrane distribution coefficient was elevated for both ions. After 7-day HC administrattion the changes described practically disappeared. The second slices (having only a few neuron cell bodies) showed no significant changes in the electorlyte composition in all the experiments conducted.


Short- and long-term effects of para-chloroamphetamine on ingestive behavior.

Para-chloroamphetamine (PCA) produces short-term decreases in eating and drinking. PCA also chronically decreases brain serotonin concentration following a single peripheral injection. The present investigation assessed short- and long-term effects of PCA on ingestive behavior and body weight in greater detail. Following an adaptation period, PCA, 0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg, were administered IP, to free feeding rats. A decrease in food and water consumption was observed during the 0--24 hr postinjection period. During the 24--48 hr period, water consumption was significantly increased compared to baseline. Food intakes during this same period returned to baseline levels. No long-term effects on ingestive behavior or body weight were seen during the following 30 days.


Brief communication.  Generalization of [DAla2]-enkephalinamide but not of substance P to the morphine cue.

Rats were trained to discriminate morphine (7.5 mg/kg, IP) from saline in a two bar positively reinforced lever pressing paradigm on a FR4 schedule. Morphine (IP) showed a naloxone reversible dose-related generalization to the training dose. [DAla2]-Methionine enkephalinamide (DAE) at 1 mg/kg and Substance P (SP) at 0.1 and 0.25 mg/kg showed vehicle appropriate responding after IP injection. DAE (5 mg/kg) disrupted responding completely; SP (0.5 and 0.1 mg/kg) disrupted responding in 50% of the rats. The disruption caused by IP injection of DAE was not naloxone reversible. Intraventricular injection of morphine (5 microgram/rat) and DAE (5 microgram/rat) produced generalization to the opiate cue. The effect of DAE was reversed by naloxone (1 mg/kg, SC). SP (500 and 750 ng/rat, IVT) produced saline-like responding; 1 microgram/rat disrupted responding completely. These data demonstrate that morphine and enkephalin, but not Substance P, share similar discriminative properties.


Brief communication. Inability of hexamethonium to block the discriminative stimulus (SD) property of nicotine.

Rats were trained to discriminate between levers on a white or black wall to obtain food reinforcement, using nicotine or saline administration as the discriminative stimulus (SD). When hexamethonium was administered, either peripherally or intraventricularly, before the nicotine injection these rats responded as though they had received nicotine alone. This indicates that nicotine receptors responsible for its SD property are not blocked by hexamethonium, or alternatively that it is necessary to block the peripheral and central actions simultaneously to completely eliminate the cueing effect of the nicotine injection.


Brief communication. Shock-elicited flight response in chickens as an index of morphine analgesia.

Morphine influence on a flight response elicited by wing shock was examined in 17-day-old chickens. The chickens received either morphine (30 mg/kg) or saline on two days and were tested for responsivity to wing shock 30 min after each injection. On a third day all chickens received saline injections and were tested again. Tests consisted of delivering wing shock at increasing intensity to determine the threshold of a species-typical flight response. Morphine significantly increased the flight response th reshold on the first test (analgesia), but not on the second test. Shock intensity values required to elicit the flight response in morphine and saline groups did not differ significantly on the third test when all birds received saline. In contrast to previous evidence, these results demonstrate morphine analgesia in chickens using a dose that approximates the analgesic dose range reported for other species.


Glucosamine incorporation into rat cerebrum: effect of adrenalectomy, corticosterone, exercise, and training.

Incorporation of D-[I-14C]glucosamine into various metabolic fractions was studied in an experiment designed to quantify the relative influence of physiological and behavioral factors. Different physiological states were established by sham operation (S), adrenalectomy (A), and adrenalectomy plus corticosterone replacement (H). Within each physiological condition the behavioral state was varied by swim-escape training (E), swimming exercise (X) or nonswimming controls (C). Adrenalectomy caused a generalized increase in label uptake by cerebral cortex and hippocampus, but precursor levels in the blood were elevated also, suggesting a systemic physiological effect. Behavioral state had no effect on overall uptake, but did influence the distribution of label between soluble and membrane-bound glycoproteins. These results indicate that D-[I-14C]glucosamine is an effective glycoprotein and ganglioside precursor in behavioral experiments, provided corrections for the influence of systemic physiological factors are made.


Effects of d-amphetamine on speaking in isolated humans.

The effects of oral d-amphetamine, 5--20 mg were studied in isolated humans who produced speech monologues during experimental sessions. Drug effects were studied under double-blind conditions by making repeated observations within each subject after placebo or active drug. In the first experiment, d-amphetamine 15 mg was studied in 4 isolated subjects who had received instructions that they should talk some of the time during experimental sessions. All subjects spoke more after active drug than after placebo. In the second experiment, d-amphetamine 5--20 mg was studied in 4 subjects who were instructed to talk, but who also earned points under a fixed interval 5 min schedule by speaking (i.e. by closure of a voice operated relay). Point delivery did not generally influence patterns of speech over time. Reliable drug produced increases in amount of talking were observed in 3 of 4 subjects. Adjective checklist self report scores indicating a stimulant drug effect were also sensitive to effects of d-amphetamine. Under controlled laboratory conditions, an increase in speaking is a reliable behavioral effect of d-amphetamine in isolated humans producing speech monologues.


Dopamine in the hypothalamus of the cat: pharmacological characterization and push-pull perfusion analysis of sites mediating hypothermia.

Within the rostral diencephalon of the cat, 113 sites were examined for their reactivity to 2.33--14.0 microgram dopamine (DA) or 2.33--14.0 microgram norepinephrine (NE) microinjected in a volume of 0.75 microliter. During each experiment, colonic temperature was monitored and additional physiological measures were recorded continuously. In contrast to CSF controls, an intrahypothalamic injection of either catecholamine at circumscribed sites evoked a dose-dependent fall in the cat's body temperature, with NE ordinarily evoking a more profound hypothermic response. The morphological sites of maximum sensitivity were localized in the anterior hypothalamic, preoptic region. At some but not all sites, a prior microinjection of 3.5--7.0 microgram phentolamine attenuated the magnitude of the DA-induced hypothermia and delayed its onset. Conversely, at all loci, the pretreatment by the injection of this alpha-adrenergic antagonist markedly reduced the absolute magnitude of the NE-induced fall in the cat's temperature. Similar pretreatment of a reactive hypothalamic locus with a beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agent, practolol (3.5 microgram), failed to alter the hypothermia following a microinjection of DA. Either of two DA receptor antagonists, haloperidol (0.04--7.0 microgram) or d-butaclamol (0.48--1.47 microgram), when given in a sufficient dose, effectively delayed the onset of the DA-hypothermia and reduced its absolute magnitude; however, the NE-induced decline in the cat's temperature was unaffected by DA receptor blockade. Endogenous stores of DA and/or NE in the cat's hypothalamus were radio-labeled with either 3H- or 14C-catecholamines or both, microinjected through the implanted guide tube into an identified amine-sensitive site. By using push-pull cannulae, the site was subsequently perfused for 5 min with artificial CSF at a rate of 25 microliter/min with samples collected at 15 min intervals. During either the third or fourth perfusion, the ambient temperature of the cat's chamber of 22--24 degrees C was elevated to 35--45 degrees C and maintained at this level for 15 or 30 min. This environmental warming evoked a release of either DA o; NE or both amines from certain circumscribed sites within the cat's rostral hypothalamus. Overall, these results provide pharmacological, physiological and anatomical evidence for a differential role of DA in the hypothalamic mechanism which mediates the heat loss processes.


Effects of caffeine on DRL performance in the mouse.

Mice were trained to stable and efficient DRL 18 sec performance utilizing a nose-poke as the operant. Caffeine, at doses less than 48 mg/kg, increased both response bursts (IRTs less than 3 sec) and longer IRTs, and shifted the IRT distribution towards shorter, nonreinforced IRTs. Auditory feedback for responses decreased the number of bursts emitted and produced performance more resistant to drug effects. These results are similar to those previously reported for caffeine on DRL in the rat, and for amphetamine on DRL in a variety of species.


Inhibition of estrogen-induced sexual receptivity of female hamsters: comparative effects of progesterone, dihydrotestosterone and an estrogen antagonist.

In the first experiment ovariectomized female hamsters were administered varying dosages of progesterone (P), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or CI-628 at the same time (concurrently) as estrogen (EB) or 48 hr after EB (sequentially). All groups also received 500 microgram P 4 hr before being tested for sexual receptivity. P was more effective in reducing receptivity when given sequentially with estrogen than when given concurrently. Thus, the inhibitory effect of P increased with an increased interval between EB and P treatment. More CI-628 than P was required to inhibit lordosis and unlike P, CI-628 was equally effective when given concurrently with EB as when given sequentially. DHT did not inhibit receptivity when given in either paradigm. In the second experiment ovariectomized hamsters were treated with varying dosages of DHT 12 hr before EB. An amount of DHT which had no effect in Experiment 1 significantly inhibited receptivity when given 12 hr before EB. The relative inhibitory effects of these three compounds were discussed in terms of the possible similarities and differences in their mechanisms of action for inhibiting lordosis.


On the mechanism of hyperglycemia and stimulation of growth hormone secretion by L-dopa.

The mechanism of hyperglycemia produced by L-dopa was studied in normal trained dogs with 3-3H-glucose infusion to measure rates of hepatic glucose output (production) and overall glucose uptake (utilization). Infusion of L-dopa (20 mg/kg/h) increased glucose production causing hyperglycemia. Despite the hyperglycemia plasma insulin did not increase nor did glucose uptake, indicating a relative inhibition of glucose utilization. These effects resemble those produced by epinephrine infusion. Pretreatment with a decarboxylase inhibitor, carbidopa, prevented the L-dopa effect to increase glucose production and no hyperglycemia occurred. Hyperglycemia was not prevented by pimozide, a dopamine receptor blocker, nor by propranolol but was prevented by phentolamine. L-Dopa also increased plasma growth hormone levels without affecting plasma cortisol. The effect on growth hormone was prevented by carbidopa and by phentolamine but not by pimozide; propranolol potentiated the rise in growth hormone. The data suggest that the L-dopa-induced hyperglycemia is due to a peripheral action, whereas stimulation of growth hormone secretion may be due to a central action of a L-dopa metabolite.


Effect of the anorectic drug, phenylpropanolamine, on blood glucose in rats.

Phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride (PPA) is a widely used decongestant and anorectic drug. The present study investigated the hypoglycemic effects of intraperitoneal PPA on rats to test the possibility that it might derive some of its anorectic properties through effects on glucostatic mechanisms. PPA tended to lower blood glucose levels in normal rats; the glycemia reducing effect was larger and statistically significant in rats made hyperglycemic by prior treatment with streptozocin to cause diabetes. This is the first evidence that PPA migh possibly reduce feeding by increasing blood sugar utilization.


Dietary cholesterol-induced enhancement of hepatic biotransformation rate in male rats.

Male rats were fed a cholesterol-free diet for 5 weeks, followed by a 2% cholesterol diet for 4 weeks. Another group of rats was continuously fed a cholesterol-free diet. A third group was fed standard pelllets during the whole experiment. Hepatic microsomal protein and cholesterol contents and drug-metabolizing enzyme activities were measured. The cholesterol-rich diet increased microsomal protein content and this increase disappeared after trypsin digestion of microsomal membranes. Microsomal cholesterol content was enhanced three-fold by cholesterol feeding. Cytochrome P-450 concentration, NADPH cytochrome c reductase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities showed only minor changes following cholesterol feeding. The p-nitroanisole O-demethylase and ethoxycoumarin deethylase activities were doubled by cholesterol in comparison to cholesterol-free diet. Trypsin digestion activated the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzyme eight- to ten-fold on a protein basis. Trypsin treatment increased the cholesterol activation of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase when compared to the activity in native microsomes. The data suggest that dietary cholesterol regulates the cholesterol content of microsomal membranes. The activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes are also altered, possibly due to the compositional changes of the membranes.


Evaluation of antiulcer activity of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the Shay rat test.

delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) inhibited ulcer formation in the pylorus-ligated rat (Shay rat test). However, this antiulcer activity of THC was substantially less than for the anticholinergic substance tridihexethyl chloride both in terms of degree of activity and potency. In addition, the results of the present study suggested different mechanism(s) of action for the antiulcer effects of these substances.


Carcinogenic benzo(a)pyrene metabolites bound to DNA: metabolic formation by human cultured lymphocytes and by human liver microsomes.

Sonicates of human cultured lymphocytes metabolize (benzo(a)pyrene to at least two intermediates that bind covalently to deproteinized DNA in vitro. The major peak represents the 4,5-oxide bound to nucleoside(s). No correlation is found between 'aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity' (or its inducibility) and benzo(a)pyrene metabolites generated by human lymphocytes and bound to DNA in vitro. Human liver microsomes produce in vitro at least six such reactive intermediates which, bound to deproteinized DNA nucleosides, are separable by chromatography. The major peak represents the 7,8-diol-9,10-epoxides bound to nucleoside(s): this highly reactive intermediate is believed to be one of the ultimate carcinogenic forms of benzo(a)pyrene.


Accommodation related to the action of ethanol on frog sciatic nerve.

Index of accommodation of 32 frog sciatic nerves was studied with exponentially rising currents. Ethanol was mixed with normal Ringer's solution at the following concentrations: 42, 85, 171, and 513 mM. We found a significant increase in the accommodation index. The results were attributed to the sodium conductance change and to a drop in membrane potential elicited by ethanol. The loss of the breakdown in the nerve accommodation curve was interpreted as the ethanol acting mainly on the thinner nerve fibres rather than on the large fibres.


Correlations between cannabis-induced psychopathology and EEG before and after drug ingestion.

The study investigates EEG characteristics in relation to psychopathology. Tetrahydro-Cannabinol (THC) was taken orally by 12 volunteers. The EEG was recorded continuously, and THC-induced psychopathology was assessed by pre- and post-experiment questionnaires. Subjects had to signal THC experiences. EEG measurements (distribution means of frequency bands derived from EEG frequency analysis) before and after THC were correlated with THC induced psychopathology. High correlations were found before THC ingestion, and after THC during periods without experiences. Thus, the pre-drug EEG indicates predisposition to THC induced body image disturbances and euphoria, and the drug-influenced EEG in periods without experiences indicates the tendency to drug-induced experiences. The predicting EEG parameters were different for THC induced visual experiences and for body image disturbances.


[Lithium balance in healthy volunteers].

Lithium sulphate in a sustained-release preparation was given to three healthy volunteers during 10 days. The following results were obtained: 1. The daily requirement needed for maintenance of an efficient lithium serum level from 0.7 to 0.8 mmol/l amounts to 30 mval. A steady state level of the serum lithium concentration was achieved after 4 to 5 days. 2. The mean value of lithium clearance amounts to 26.8 ml/min. 3. Approx. 98% of the ingested lithium could be recovered from the urine. 4. 6 days after drug withdrawal the lithium concentration in serum and urine was determined as 0. This result shows that the study of lithium balance can rely on renal excretion excluding other pathways. It is discussed that the simultaneous ingestion of psychortropic drugs and sodium chloride may influence the elimination rate of lithium.


Photon absorptiometry of soft tissue and fluid content: the method and its precision and accuracy.

Dichromatic absorptiometry (DA) is a new, non-invasive method for determining soft tissue (STC) and fluid content (FC), and their changes. The technique uses linear transmission scans made across the limbs with a congruent 125I and 241Am dual-photon source and a NaI(TI)--PMT detector. Patient measurements could be made at the bedside with the mobile system. Factors affecting the precision and accuracy were evaluated theoretically and experimentally. Repositioning and subject motion were the greatest sources of variation and limited the precision to 2--3% in normals and 3--7% in patients; instrumental variation was 0.5%. The accuracy was 4% for typical (p10%) fluid changes observed in vivo. The ease, simplicity and small errors of the technique suggest its utility in monitoring the time course and degree of fluid changes in patients.


RF magnetic field penetration, phase shift and power dissipation in biological tissue: implications for NMR imaging.

The magnetic field penetration, phase shift and power deposition in planar and cylindrical models of biological tissue exposed to a sinusoidal time-dependent magnetic field have been investigated theoretically over the frequency range 1 to 100 MHz. The results are based on measurements of the relative permittivity and resistivity dispersions of a variety of freshly excised rat tissue at 37 and 25 degrees C, and are analysed in terms of their implications for human body nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging. The results indicate that at NMR operating frequencies much greater than about 30 MHz, magnetic field amplitude and phase variations experienced by the nuclei may cause serious distortions in an image of a human torso. The maximum power deposition envisaged during an NMR imaging experiment on a human torso is likely to be comparable to existing long-term safe exposure levels, and will depend ultimately on the imaging technique and NMR frequency employed.


Transverse section imaging of mean clearance time.

Transverse sections representing the magnitude of clearance rates or the mean transit time of radionuclide flow through known volumes of interest are computed from angular projections. First the integrated counts for all time intervals at each projection bin for each angle are computed. These modified projection sums are convolved with a filter and backprojected to form an integrated event image. A second image is formed by backprojected the sum over time of the projected values for each angle weighted time. The ratio of the second image to the first image gives a mean clearance time image with high signal to noise and accuracy after thresholding to remove noise in zero-flow regions. The algorithm is verified by computer simulations and has a major benefit in the savings of computational time by a factor of 10 for anticipated clinical studies of brain and kidney blood flow and lung ventilation and perfusion.


A comparison of optimum detector spatial resolution in nuclear imaging based on statistical theory and on observer performance.

An expression for the expected image of a spherical tumour in a uniform background was derived in terms of background thickness and concentration of radioactivity, the tumour size, depth and uptake ratio, the gamma-ray energy and the detector response function. Three models of human observer performance for tumour detection were developed from different signal-to-noise ratio measures based on the statistical theory of detection. The optimum detector spatial resolution predicted by each model was then compared to that obtained from an observer performance study in which the subjects viewed computer-simulated scintigrams. The predictions from two of these models seem to be consistent with the results of the observer performance study. Model II involves a comparison of the counts integrated over the tumour region with the counts integrated over a background region of the same area. Model III compares the count density estimates of signal-plus-background and background obtained from application of non-uniform weighting functions to the image data.


Error propagation in quantitative biplane cineroentgenography.

The propagation of errors in quantitative biplane cineroentgenography was investigated to see which variables were the most critical. The analysis was carried out both for the propagation of root-mean-square errors and for errors as derived by a Taylor expansion of the reconstruction equations. The reconstruction is most sensitive to the measured values of the coordinates, as opposed to the parameters of the physical system. It was found that decreasing the error in one parameter to zero does not significantly affect the accuracy of the reconstruction; it is more efficient to reduce the errors for all of the parameters simultaneously.


Design of a three-dimensional positron camera for nuclear medicine.

A positron camera is proposed for nuclear medical imaging of radionuclide distributions in a series of isolated planes. This three-dimensional localisation is achieved through analysis of four time signals, whose differences directly measure the position (x, y, z) of individual positron annihilation events. A tetrahedronal symmetry is exploited, with two skewed plastic scintillator bars spanning a large sensitive volume. Phototubes on each end of both bars generate fast timing pulses uniquely determining the decay position through a time-of-flight technique. The mathematical properties of the transformation from the observed quantities to the spatial distribution of the radionuclide are investigated. A discussion of the efficiency of the system and the effects of Compton scattering in tissue is given. A one-dimensional pilot study encourages the development of the prototype three-dimensional positron camera.


Assessment of airborne radon daughter concentrations in dwellings in Great Britain.

Calculations of the activity concentration of RaA (218Po) in the air within living rooms and in the outside air were made at 87 dwellings in England and Scotland. From these measurements together with a determination of the ventilation rate existing in the room at the time of the measurements, the rate at which 222Rn is emanating from room surfaces into room air in pCil-1 h-1, can be calculated. For the dwellings studied the mean emanation rate is 0.54 pCil-1 h-1 and on the basis of a mean ventilation rate of one room change per hour throughout the year and assuming an occupancy factor of 0.8 the population exposure rate for the population of Great Britain to the short-lived daughters of 222Rn is estimated to be 0.15 Working Level Months per year.


The influence of thyroid geometry on the response of LiF and CaSO4 thermoluminescent discs to 131I and 125I irradiation.

Recent work has demonstrated that LiF and CaSO4 thermoluminescent discs may be used to monitor the effective half-life of radioiodine in the thyroid in man. To provide a firm basis for this work, the radiation field presented by model thyroids to thermoluminescent discs on the surface of a neck phantom has been examined in detail. The influence of thyroid mass, depth and lobe separation, factors which in practice are highly variable, has also been determined. The results demonstrate that the method is sufficiently sensitive to measure less than 0.5 muCi of 131I or 125I in the human thyroid, and that effective half-life determinations should not be influenced by minor positioning errors which may be encountered when placing thermoluminescent discs on the neck surface.


A thermoluminescent fast-neutron dosemeter based on pellets of CaSO4: Dy mixed with sulphur.

The fast neutron activation reaction 32S(n, p) 32P in CaSO4: Dy has been used in the measurements of fast neutron dose by employing a post-irradiation TL accumulation method. In order to increase the efficiency of the method CaSO4: Dy powder was mixed with sulphur powder in various proportions from which pellets weighing each were made. After neutron irradiation these pellets were each burnt in an aluminium planchette and the phosphor residue with 32P beta activity on it was allowed to undergo self-irradiation for TL accumulation. The fast neutron efficiency of the system employing 10 pellets of 0.1% CaSO4: Dy was found to be about 100 times that of bare CaSO4: Dy powder.


The distribution and clearance of inhaled UO2 particles on the first bifurcation and trachea of rats.

The distribution of inhaled UO2 particles is described in the upper respiratory tract of rats up to 14 d after inhalation. Delayed neutron analysis was used to determine accurately nanogram quantities of UO2 present in excised tissues. The mass of UO2 in the extrapulmonary bronchi and first bifurcation decreased more slowly over 0--8 d after inhalation than the corresponding mass on the trachea. Between 8 and 14 d neither amount altered significantly. Small but significant quantities of UO2 deposited on the trachea during inhalation, remained until at least 14 d after inhalation.


Calculated responses to a thermal neutron beam for hamster and HeLa cells containing boron-10 at different concentrations.

Hamster and HeLa cells containing boron-10 at different concentrations were irradiated by a thermal neutron beam from a reactor. The survival curves were calculated according to the Katz and Sharma theory of track structure for heavy charged particles. The thickness of cell specimens irradiated was taken to be 0.02 cm to enable the first collision dose to be used. The boron-10 concentrations were 0, 2,5, 10, 20, 40 and 60 microgram per g of tissue. For comparison with the experiments of Davis et al. the effect of fast neutorns was taken into account. Values for relative biological effectiveness (RBE) are given for different boron-10 concentrations and various surviving fractions. Isosurvival dose curves are defined and drawn which show the relation between neutron fluences and absorbed dose for different boron-10 concentrations. The RBE values increase with decreasing dose and change only slightly with increasing boron-10 concentration for an equal surviving fraction. Some differences were found between the calculated results for HeLa cells in the thin layer and the experimental data for the cells in a monolayer. The results of the calculations are discussed.


Reliability of goniometric measurements.

This study determined the intratester and intertester variability and reliability of goniometric measurements taken by four physical therapists on upper and lower extremity motions of normal male subjects. The same subjects were measured once weekly for four weeks by testers with varied experience in goniometry. Data were analyzed by analyses of variance with repeated measures. Intratester variation for all measurements was less than intertester variation. Further, intertester variation was less for the three upper extremity motions than for those of the lower extremity. These findings indicate the necessity for using the same tester when effects of treatment are evaluated. When the same tester measures the same movement, increases in joint motion of at least three to four degrees determine improvement for either the upper or lower extremity. When more than one tester, however, measures the same movement, increases in joint motion should exceed five degrees for the upper extremity and six degrees for the lower extremity to determine improvement.


[On the problems of the so-called implosives (author's transl)].

After a short chronology of the investigation, the author discusses the nature of the implosives and the problems resulting from their complexity and ambiguity. One of the main problems is that of the production of voice; the most satisfactory solution is offered by the 'active voice' suggested by HUSSON. From certain phenomena it can be seen that the articulation is based upon the more or less modified movements of the second phase of the act of deglutition; wherein certain reflex-conditioned interdependencies play an important part. As a result, there is not merely one phonemic constituent to be called 'implosion', but two or three different ones, depending on the points of departure of articulation. 'Implosion' is one of the most ancient and archaic manners of articulation.


A before and after for tonogenesis.

The development of tone in Panjabi from the loss of certain consonants has often been cited as an instance of the consonantal origins of a tonal system. Acoustic data demonstrating the correlation between Panjabi tones and Hindi consonants are presented. Panjabi high tone matches a higher fundamental frequency on a Hindi vowel preceding a breathy voiced consonant. Panjabi low tone matches a lower fundamental frequency on a Hindi vowel following a breathy voiced consonant. It is interesting that the data exhibit the spread of the consonantal effect throughout the entire word.


[A paraneoplastic syndrome with symptoms of Harada's disease].

As a contribution to the question of participation of the central nervous system in paraneoplastic syndromes an unusual case of hypernephrotic carcinoma with heavy immunopathological disturbances and clinical symptoms like Harada's syndrome is reported. The development of the 63 years old patient's disease, the clinical, haematological, CSF-, biochemical and other laboratory as well as neuroradiological and electrophysiological findings are discussed in detail. Immunosuppressive treatment after nephrectomy repeatedly led to a distinct improvement.


[Phenytoin intoxication and serum level].

The symptomatology of phenytoin intoxication was observed in 8.4% of 225 adult patients and in 9.5% of 74 children, with symptoms of cerebellar affection being noted in the majority of cases. Phenytoin concentrations were found to lie between 14.4 and 77.7 microgram/ml. Interindividual differences as to the toxic limit were quite considerable: One third of the patients showing values higher than 20 microgram/ml were free of striking clinical symptoms, and one patient tolerated a serum concentration in excess of 30 microgram/ml. On the other hand, the intraindividual toxic limit did not show any major variations: The clinical symptomatology of a patient correlated with his phenytoin serum concentration. After phenytoin withdrawal, the serum concentration dropped exponentially. The half-life periods of elimination were found to be between 72 and 122 hours.


Interpersonal relationships-in quest of a science.

Interpersonal relationships pose problems additional to those arising from social behaviour. If there is to be a science of interpersonal relationships, it must rest on a firm descriptive base. It is suggested that the following categories of dimensions are likely to prove useful: the content of the interactions within the relationship; their diversity; their qualities; their relative frequency and patterning; the nature of their reciprocity v. complementarity; and the intimacy, interpersonal congruency and commitment between the participants. A science of relationships will also require principles concerned with their dynamice. Three likely categories are those concerned with social constraints, with learning, and with positive and negative feedback. Principles concerned with learning will require an adequate categorization of the resources used in interpersonal interactions. The specification of these principles depends on the adequacy of the descriptive base.


Definitions of schizophrenia: concordance and prediction of outcome.

The study reports a comparison of 10 definitions of schizophrenia (Feighner's, Taylor's, Schneider's, Longfeldt's, Spitzer's, Carpenter's, Astrachan's, 2 from Forrest & Hay and Catego) in respect of their reliability, concordance and prediction of outcome. Some (including Feighner's) proved too strict, and others (including Schneider's) were weak predictors of clinical and social state. Four definitions (Spitzer's, Langfeldt's, Carpenter's and Catego) emerged as relatively effective and these also had a somewhat more satisfactory mutual concordance.


Behavioural syndromes identified by cluster analysis in a sample of 100 severely and profoundly retarded adults.

Very little is known about psychiatric disorders in severely and profoundly retarded adults. We have investigated these disorders by systematically recording and collecting data about the behaviour of 100 severely and profoundly retarded hospitalized adults and subjecting the data thus derived to cluster analysis. Eight clusters were isolated. The clinical psychiatric significance of these clusters is discussed and their relationship to cause retardation, duration of stay in hospital and visiting is considered. A diagnostic framework for psychiatric disorder in severely and profoundly retarded adults is put forward and some possible treatment approaches are suggested.


Have the Samaritans lowered the suicide rate? A controlled study.

Suicide rates in towns with a Samaritan branch were compared with rates in matched control towns without a branch. Four methods of choosing controls are described, all of which have advantages over those used by Bagley (1968). No statistically significant differences between Samaritan and control towns were found. The scientific case for the effectiveness of the Samaritans in reducing the suicide rate is therefore seriously weakened.


Suicide rates in Lusaka, Zambia: preliminary observations.

The records of all suicides and of all open verdicts in Lusaka (Zambia) over a 5-year period (1967-71) were studied. The following suicide rates (per 100 000 of the population per annum) were found: 7.4 for all races; 11.3 for men of all races; 3.0 for women of all races; 6.9 for all African residents; 11.2 for African males; 2.2 for African females; 12.8 for all Africans above the age of 14 years; 20.9 for all European residents; 20.7 for all European males; 21.0 for all European females. The male:female ratio among Africans was 5:1. There was a tendency for the suicide rate among Africans to rise with age. Differences in suicide rates between African and European residents were found not to be statistically significant. Though hanging was by far the most commonly used method of suicide by Africans, Europeans and 'doubtful suicides' among Africans preferred other methods to a statistically significant degree. It is suggested that the role of other methods in African suicides may well have been underestimated in the past. No definite seasonal variation in suicide rates was found. Domestic quarrels, mental illness and physical diseases would appear to be some of the important precipitating factors of suicide in Lusaka. It is also suggested that the question of whether or not suicide is rare in Africans cannot be answered until such time as when reliable figures are available in Africa.