Factors associated with changes in occupancy rates of California short-term hospitals: an analysis of statewide hospital discharge data.

Decline in per cent occupancy of California short-term hospitals between 1969 and 1972 was due principally to an increase in bed supply that exceeded population growth. A lesser contributory cause--decline in utilization--was due entirely to decreases in length-of-stay. Analysis of data from Statewide one-week discharge surveys, carried out in 1968 and 1970, indicates the decrease in average stay was largely centered in Medicare and Medi-Cal (Medicaid) pay classes. Admissions, however, did not decrease. These declines in stay predated the introduction of special increased restrictions on access to medical care into the Medi-Cal program in April 1970. Principal results of the study indicate that in California, government supervision of payment for hospital care has operated to reduce length-of-stay, but thus far does not seem to have affected admission rates. Insofar as these results may hold for other States, they seem to implay certain conditions that may be expected to occur with an extension of National Health insurance to the general population. Chief among these is a further depression of occupancy ratios if bed supply is held constant or increases relative to population. They also imply that further substantial reduction in hospital utilization under Medicare and Medicaid must be sought in admission rates rather than length-of-stay.


Patterns of births: implications for the incidence of elective induction.

This paper, using data for the State of Wisconsin on number of births by day of the week, presents indirect evidence for the widespread incidence of the practice of elective induction. It is found that substantially fewer births occur on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Controls for birth order, type of delivery, and time trend reinforce the possibility that elective inductions are responsible for the patterns found. Implications of the patterns found are discussed.


[Healing process of colonic anastomosis after contamination with Staphylococcus aureus (author's transl)].

In 30 rats the healing process of colonic anastomosis contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus was studied. At the same time on each animals a single- and double-layer anastomosis was performed. All sutures were infected during the surgical procedure with highly infectious S. aureus. The rats were sacrificed after 1, 2, 3, 4 days, and 2 1/2 weeks. Criteria for estimation were mainly visible abscess formations, leakage spots, bacteriologic and histologic examinations. After apparent inflammatory reactions were seen on the first postoperative days with a maximum on the 4th day, all sutures were completely healed and free of S. aureus after 2 1/2 weeks. As for the extent of infectious inflammation, the single-layer suture technique proved to be more resistant than the double layer.


Computer processing of audiological and vestibular data. II. A further note.

This paper provides an addendum to an earlier paper describing the development of a computer record system for patient data. The specific problems addressed pertain to the storage and retrieval of historical information, physical signs and diagnosis. Some preliminary comparisons of audiological and vestibular test results are given for groups of patients with diagnoses of acoustic neuroma, Ménière's disease, temporal bone fracture and vestibular neuronitis.


The efficacy of "conservative" medical regimens on the rate of hearing losses in Meniere's syndrome: a retrospective computerized statistical analysis.

The records of 47 patients with Ménière's syndrome were analyzed in a retrospective computerized study to determine the effect of different medical regimens on the long term course of hearing loss. Four treatment groups, including histamine (subcutaneous), other vasodilators (oral), vitamins, and untreated controls were examined. Results suggest that there was no statistically significant difference among the four groups in the rates or absolute level of hearing loss or SRT despite different therapeutic regimens. The ability of these agents to conserve hearing in patients with Ménière's syndrome remains unproven on the basis of clinical and laboratory evidence.


Isolation of Ethyl p-methoxycinnamate, the major antifungal principle of Curcumba zedoaria.

An antifungal principle of the dried rhizomes of Curcuma zedoaria was extracted with hot ethanol. By successive chromatography on neutral alumina and silica gel, three antibiotic compounds A, B, and C, all active against Trichophyton rubrum, Aspergillus niger and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, were obtained in chemically pure form. By uv, ir, pmr and ms analysis, the structure of the most abundant one of these compounds (C, 69.8%; H, 6,8%; and 0.23.4%) was assigned as ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC). The proposed structure was confirmed by synthesis and comparison of the chemical and biological properties of the natural and synthetic products. EPMC inhibits the growth of Trichophyton rubrum, Aspergillus niger, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Epidermophyton floccosum at a concentration less than 10 mug/ml; A.  fumigatus, Penicillium purpurogenum, Trignoposis variabilis, Microsporum gypseum, Sclerotium rolifsii, Geotricular candiade, Fusarium oxysporum and Helminthosporium oryzale at a concentration less than 25 mug/ml; and Candida krusei and T. mentagrophytes At a concentration less than 50 mug/ml. The spores of T. rubrum Lose viability or ability to germinate when wxposed to its ethanolic solution (30 mug/ml) for 2 hours.


Granulocyte transfusion therapy.

This paper summarizes the present state of knowledge in the field of granulocyte transfusion therapy and reviews the past literature. The various centrifugation and filtration methods for separation and collection of granulocytes are described and comparisons of their effectiveness are made. Clinical applications of granulocyte transfusions and the possible complications which may result are discussed. It is indicated that the role of granulocyte transfusion therapy will assume increasing importance in the future.


Perilymph fistula: a cause of auditory, vestibular, neurological and psychiatric disorder.

It is suggested that damage by mild trauma, viruses or bone disease to the otic capsule or to the membranes between the cochlea and the middle ear is common, and involved in many syndromes of obscure etiology. The clinical perilymph fistula (PF) syndrome can consist of any combination of the following: tinnitus, deafness, phonophobia, vertigo, ataxia, otalgia, facial palsy, headache, diplopia, blackouts, psychological distress. The following testable hypotheses are proposed: otitis media is due to perilymph in the middle ear, with secondary changes resulting from infection or inflammation: otosclerosis results from a slow leak in the presence of enzymes promoting bone growth: Meniere's syndrome follows reduced perilymph support for the endolymphatic system: Bell's palsy results from a perilymph provoked oedema in the bony facial nerve canal: PFs may be responsible for progressive rubella deafness, and for some cases of migraine, epilepsy, anxiety neurosis and hysteria: psychiatric sequelae of the PF syndrome predominate in the post-concussional syndrome and infantile autism: organisms can pass from the throat into the spinal fluid, causing meningitis or encephalitis. The tinnitus and vertigo are caused by random labyrinthine fluid movements, the headache and diplopia by reduced spinal fluid pressure.


A new constant infusion radioisotopic technique for the noninvasive determination of cardiac output.

A constant infusion radioisotopic method for the noninvasive determination of cardiac output is introduced and validated in a series of 22 patients by comparison with simultaneous dye dilution or Fick measurements. The new bedside radioisotopic technique utilizes peripheral venous infusion of indium-113m, detection by a single external probe, and analysis of the time-concentration curve by a specially designed, multivariate computer model. The technique is entirely atraumatic, requiring neither injection into the central circulation nor intra-arterial cannulation. The correlation coefficient was 0.72 (p less than 0.001) between the radioisotopic and standard methods for cardiac output determinations. In addition, results in five patients with valvular regurgitation or intracardiac shunts support the validity of the constant infusion radioisotopic technique in these clinical settings in which the standard dye dilution methods for determining cardiac output are invalid. The techniques is applicable in a variety of clinical conditions in which the invasive techniques for cardiac output measurement are either impractical or not available.


Tuberculosis in renal transplant patients.

Infection of two renal transplant recipients with tuberculosis is reported. Autopsy findings are available in one case. The frequency of tuberculosis in such cases, treatment problems and prevention are discussed.


Oral contraception and sexuality.

A search of the literature has been carried out to determined  how oral contraceptives affect sexuality in women. Some studies featured a high incidence of loss of libido. This could perhaps be attributed to preparations containing progestational compounds. However, no adequate double-blind trial has confirmed this observation. Some psychological and pharmacological aspects of contraceptions are discussed. More research is needed to ascertain why women often lose their sexual interest when taking oral contraceptives.


[The effect of a new broad-spectrum antibiotic in bronchopulmonar and urinary infections (author's transl)].

117 clinical patients with infections of the urinary tract (nequals 47) or the bronchopulmonar system (n equals 70) were treated with a Sulfamoxol-Trimethoprim-combination in low dosage for 11 days. The clinical and bacteriological results were good in more than 80 p.c. although the diseases were severe and chronic. Therefore it can be stated that Sulfamoxol-Trimethoprim is comparable to the broad-spectrum antibiotics with respect to the antibacterial efficacy. Side-effects did not occur.


Recognition of self and nonself, the crucial role of phagocytosis and lysosomal destruction of antigen.

Primitive animals possess the ability to take up foreign matter and degrade it intracellularly. It is unlikely that during the evolution of the immune apparatus this mode of dealing with the foreign material would be bypassed. It is suggested that phagocytosis and intracellular digestion of the antigen is the primary mode of defense, and that failing complete digestion of the antigen an antibody response occurs. Phagocytosis of the antigen is known to be a necessary step in the process of antibody formation. Following the uptake by macrophages, the antigen is concentrated within the lysosome and subjected to the action of hydrolytic enzymes. Lysosomes are also the sites of catabolism of body constituents, and are believed to contain enzymes necessary for complete digestion of self constituents. If the lysosomal enzymes can completely degrade the antigen, the latter's possible harmful effects would be destroyed. The organism then does not need to waste energy in the synthesis of specific antibody, the function of which now is redundant. If the lysosomal enzymes cannot hydrolyze the antigen completely, the hydrolysis-resistant fragment can be transferred to lymphocytes, where it can induce antibody synthesis. Thus, the ability of the host hydrolytic enzymes to degrade a substance completely constitutes the recognition of self and the inability to do so amounts to the recognition of nonself.


[Renal function under parenteral application of aescinat (author's transl)].

18 persons with unimpaired renal function were examined, if the parenteral application of aescinat was followed by disturbances of renal function. 10 of these persons got for 3 days 10 mg of sodium-aescinat per day administered intravenously. The other test persons got for 6 days 20 mg of aescinat administered. There was no alteration in any of these cases either of serum electrolytes, blood sugar, creatinine, urea, urine analysis, creatinine clearance or hippuran clearance. We come to the conclusion that there has to be a strict indication for the application of aescinat in patients with threatening or apparent renal failure and a cautious dosage on the other hand. Patients with unimpaired renal function can be treated in normal dosage without great danger of renal or other side effects with aescinat for avoiding oedema while passing renal calculi or after plastic surgery.


[Sisomicin treatment of urinary tract infections (author's transl)].

In a study with 30 randomized patients the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and side effects of Sisomicin were determined. Half of the patients received one single intramuscular injection of 75 or 100mg (1.4 mg/kg) Sisomicin/day. The other cases were injected 50 or 75mg (1.9 or 2.1 mg/kg) b.i.d. The serum concentrations determined on the first and last days of treatment 1 hour after the application ranged between 4 and 5.3 mug/ml. After 6 hours the values decreased to 0.7-0.8 mug/ml. The elimination rate within 24 h amounted to 63-77%. Depending on the dosage group, the mean urinary concentrations/24 h amounted to 46-51 mug/ml or 63 to 92 mug/ml, respectively. The highest concentration measured during the first 8 hours amounted to 129 mug/ml after an administration of 1.4 mg/kg. In 18 of 29 cases a "cure" of urologic infections, most of which had been treated previously without success, could be achieved. Furthermore we observed 5 relapses, 3 failures and 3 reinfections, but no superinfection. The local and general tolerance of Sisomicin was good. 5 patients showed toxic reactions of the vestibular organ in the form of dizziness. In 1 case there was an excretion of granulated casts.


[Renal thrombohemolytic microangiopathy (author's transl)].

The clinical findings in three patients with renal thrombohemolytic microangiopathy are presented. The triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, disseminated intravascular coagulation and microangiopathic changes of the kidney leading to renal insufficiency is the characteristic feature of this disease. Beside the usual classification based on etiological factors (distinguishing between primary and symptomatic forms) a topographical classification (distinguishing between generalized forms and localized forms occuring in isolated organs) is suggested. The pathogenesis and therapy of this disorder are discussed.


[Significance of indirect hemagglutination test with polyvalent E. coli O antigens to diagnosis of pyelonephritis (author's transl)].

78% of 32 patients with acute E. coli pyelonephritis had significantly increased antibody titers to polyvalent E. coli antigens (PA). Only 14% of 42 patients with chronic E. coli pyelonephritis had increased antibody titers. 143 E. coli O groups were used in hemagglutination test distributed into 8 antigen pools. Antibody titers to common O groups were more elevated than those to uncommon O groups. The result showed that hemagglutination test with PA can be usefull for serologic diagnostic of acute pyelonephritis.


A controlled clinical trial of fluorouracil plus imidazole carboxamide dimethyl triazeno plus vincristine plus bis-chloroethyl nitrosourea plus radiotherapy in stomach cancer.

The aim of this study was to seek a better treatment for patients with inoperable or recurrent stomach cancer. Seventy patients were randomly allocated to receive courses of treatment with either A (5-Fluorouracil plus radiotherapy) or B (5-Fluorouracil plus Imidazole Carboxamide Dimethyl Triazeno plus Vincristine plus Bis-Chloroethyl Nitrosourea plus radiotherapy). Only 59 of these patients were evaluable. The median survival time of patients allocated to Group A was 220 days and Group B was 199 days. Seventeen of 31 patients in Group A and 10 of 28 patients in Group B had objectively documented remission. The median survival time of responders was 222 days for Group A and 410 for Group B. While it would appear that those patients who respond to the more intensive treatment do better, a larger percentage of patients responded to the simpler treatment regimen of 5-Fluorouracil plus radiotherapy.


Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in 171 children.

The initial features, response to therapy, complications, cause of death, and prognostic factors of 171 consecutive children with ANLL are described and compated to historical data for adults with ANLL and for children with ALL. Major differences between children and adults with ANLL include a higher frequency of CNS leukemia and a lower frequency of early deaths in the children. The most important differences between children with ANLL and ALL are the absence of a peak age of incidence in ANLL and the far better response to therapy in ALL. Among features present at 100,000/mm3 or above, and no palpable hepatomegaly had significantly longer survivals, while patients with platelet counts below 10,000/mm3 had significantly shorter survivals. The frequency and duration of remission were significantly better with three protocols used since 1968 than previously. However, even with these protocols, the results were far from satisfactory, with a complete remission frequency of 66%, a median duration of hematological remission of 6 months, and a median duration of survival of 10 months. The striking contrast of these results in childhood ANLL with current results in childhood ALL underscores the need for novel, imaginative therapeutic approaches for ANLL.


The use of oral BCG in the treatment or metastatic malignant melanoma.

This study assess the effects of oral BCG, as a single agent, on tumor progression and on cell-mediated immune function in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma. Thirty patients were studied including 22 with measurable metastatic lesions and 8 with no detectable disease, following treatment of metastases by surgery, radiotherapy, or 5-(3, 3-dimethyl-1 -triazeno)-imidazole-4-carboxamide (DTIC; DIC). Oral BCG was given in doses of 120--240 mg, 1--3 times per week for periods ranging from 9 to 80 weeks and to total doses of from 1.2 to 20.1 gm. Patients were assessed by direct measurements of tumor mass, PPD skin test and in vitro blastogenic responses to PPD PHA. Of the 22 patient with measureable disease, 19 showed tumor progression and none showed regression of any lesion. Of the 8 without apparent disease, 5 remained stable and 3 had tumor recurrence. Of the total group of 30 patients, 8 showed some increased sensitivity to skin testing with PPD. Of 19 tested, 3 showed an increased PPD response in vitro, while 3 showed a decreased response. Six of 20 tested showed an increased PHA response in vitro. Oral BCG alone was not effective as an antitumor agent in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma.


The line spread function and modulation transfer function of a computed tomographic scanner.

A simple method to measure the line spread function of computed tomographic scanners has been developed. The line spread function of the EMI-Scanner was measured and the MTF of the scanner was calculated. The reproducibility of the method indicated this technique could be utilized to compare the spatial resolution of various computed tomographic scanners.


Statistical limitations in x-ray reconstructive tomography.

Statistical fluctuations, or noise, in reconstructed tomograms are analyzed as a function of x-ray energy. The result is essentially constant for energies above 50 keV, assuming constant dose and spatial resolution, and is in close agreement with the actual performance of the EMI-Scanner (water-bag model). The noise is inversely proportional to the square of cell dimensions. For scanners without a water bag, the theoretical noise is approximately 30% less.


Cytological and genetic studies of the life cycle of Saccharomycopsis lipolytica.

In the alkane yeast Saccharomycopsis lipolytica (formerly: Candida lipolytica) the variability in the ascospore number is caused by the absence of a correlation between the meiotic divisions and spore wall formation. In four spored yeasts, after meiosis II, a spore wall is formed around each of the four nuclei produced by meiosis II. However, in the most frequently occurring two spored asci of S. lipolytica, the two nuclei are already enveloped by the spore wall after meiosis I due to a delay of meiosis II. This division takes place within the spore during the maturation of the ascus. In this case germination of the binucleate ascospore is not preceded by a mitosis. It follows that the cells of the new haploid clones are mononucleate. In the three spored asci, which occur rarely, only one nucleus is surrounded by a spore wall after meiosis I; the other nucleus undergoes meosis II before the onset of spore wall formation. The result is one bincleate and two mononucleate spores. In the one spored asci the two meiotic divisions occur within the young ascosphore, i.e. spore wall formation starts immediately after development of the ascus. These cytological observations were substantiated by genetic data, which in addition confirmed the prediction that binucleate spores may be heterokaryotic. This occurs when there is a postreduction of at least one of the genes by which the parents of the cross differ. This also explains the high frequency of prototrophs in the progeny of non-allelic auxotrophs since random spore isolates are made without distinguishing between mono- and binucleate spores. The possibility of analysing offspring of binucleate spores by tetrad analysis is discussed. These findings enable us to understand the life cycle of S. lipolytica in detail and we are now in a position to start concerted breeding for strain improvement especially with respect to single cell protein production.


The effects of "cell age" upon the lethal effects of physical and chemical mutagens in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Yeast cultures progressing from the exponential to the stationary phase of growth showed changes in cell sensitivity to physical agents such as UV light, heat shock at 52 degrees C and the chemical mutagens ethyl methane sulphonate, nitrous acid and mitomycin C. Exponential phree chemicals. The increased resistance of exponential phase cells to UV light was shown to be dependent upon the functional integrity of the RAD50 gene. Treatment of growing yeast cultures with radioactively labelled ethyl methane sulphonate indicated the preferential uptake of radioactivity during the sensitive exponential stage of growth. The results indicated that the differential uptake of the chemical mutagens was responsible for at least a fraction of the variations in cell sensitivity observed in yeast cultures at different phases of growth.


Inducible, error-free DNA Repair in tsl recA mutants of E. coli.

Host of cell reactivation and UV reactivation and  mutagenesis of UV-irradiated phage mu were measured in tsl recAplus and tsl recA host mutants. Host cell reactivation was slightly more efficient in the tsl recA strain. Phage was UV-reactivated in the tsl recA strain with about one-half the efficiency of that in the wild type strain, but there was no corresponding mutagenesis of phage. UV-reactivation was also slightly lower and mutagenesis several-fold lower than normal in the tsl recAplus strain. To account for these observations, we propose that there is an inducible, error-free pathway of DNA repair in E. coli that competes with error-prone repair for repair of phage lesions.


Conjugation deficient E. coli K12 F- mutants with heptose-less lipopolysaccharide.

Two F- mutants deficient in conjugation with F-type donors are isolated and characterized. Phenotypically, these mutants are similar; they have heptose-less lipopolysaccharide and lack some outer membrane protein. Genotypically, they are different. One mutant harbors a point mutation in the 70 to 74 min region, while the other is deleted for the chromosomal region 6.5 to 8.5 min. Comparison of the properties of the conjugation-deficient mutants described in this paper with other such mutants suggests that an outer membrane protein is the receptor for the f-pilus.


Effects of elevation of strain-ploidy on transmission and recombination of mitochondrial drug resistance genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In order to study the effects of strainploidy on the transmission and recombination of the mitochondrial genes C, E and O conferring the resistance to chloramphenicol, erythromycin and oligomycin, respectively, haploids were crossed to diploids and the results of genetic analysis were compared with those from haploid X haploid crosses. All haploid X haploid crosses showed an increased transmission of diploid derived alleles, relative to haploid derived ones, but the pattern of increase differed between homosexual and heterosexual crosses. In omega-haploid X omega-diploid homosexual crosses, the increase was of roughly equal magnitude at the C, E and O LOCI: there was a polar co-transmission of the diploid derived alleles. In omega plus haploid by omega-diploid heterosexual crosses, on the contrary, a differential increase was observed at the different loci, the magnitude being the smallest at the C locus and the largest at the O locus. As a result, there was a preferential transmission in favor of the haploid derived C alleles and of the diploid derived O alleles. A near equal transmission from both parents was observed for the E alleles. A decrease and an increase in the recombination frequency were noticed in the above haploid by diploid homosexual and heterosexual crosses, respectively. The above phenomena were ascribed to different dosages of mitochrondrial genomes from parents. Experimental data were well accorded with the theoretical expectation which were obtained on the assumptions that diploids contain twice as many mitochondrial genomes as haploids, and that random pairings and recombination would occur among mitochrondrial genomes from parents. The elevation of strain-ploidy did not affect the recombination polarity which is under the control of the omega gene. It was theoretically predicted that a preferential transmission in favor of diploid derived alleles at all the C, E and O loci would be seen in omega-haploid x omega plus diploid heterosexual crosses as well as in omega plus haploid x omega plus diploid homosexual crosses, but that the magnitude of the polar transmission would vary depending upon the loci in the former crosses, while it would be the same at all the loci in the latter ones. The recombination frequency was predicted to decrease in both of these crosses.


Role of the bacterial and phage recombination systems and of DNA replication in genetic recombination of UV-irradiated phage Lambda.

In this paper are studied in E. coli K12 the influence of the bacterial Rec and phage mu Red recombination systems on the rescue of the O plus gene from the prophage by a superinfecting O minus phage, UV irradiated or not. In the absence of UV irradiation the Red system produces more recombinants than does the Rec system, and its action requires DNA replication. The presence of UV lesions in the mu DNA facilitates the action of the Rec system, which is more efficient in this instance than the Red system and can act in the absence of DNA replication. In all cases, there is a cooperation between the two generalized recombination systems.


DNA Degradation and reduced recombination following UV irradiation during meiosis in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).

Irradiation of meiotic yeast cells with moderate doses of ultraviolet irradiation (1,600 erg/mm2) leads to the arrest of premeiotic DNA synthesis, massive (5-40%) DNA degradation, and a 40-50% loss of cell viability. In contrast, such doses of UV irradiation had a minor effect on viability (15-20% loss) of logarithmically growing cells, and no comparable DNA degradation was observed in irradiated synchronized vegetative cells. Meiotic recombination is also affected by UV irradiation. When administered at a stage comparable to meiotic prophase, low doses of irradiation result in a reduction in recombination frequency without significantly affecting cell viability.


Electron microscopy of analysis of circular repetitive mitochondrial DNA molecules from genetically characterized rho- mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

1. We have studied mtDNA purified from nine p- petite mutants in which most of the wild type sequence has been deleted but the genetic markers conferring resistance to erythromycin of oligomycin or paromomycin have been retained. 2. All mtDNA contained numerous circular molecules. The size distribution of the circles conformed to a multimeric series which was characteristic for each mutant. We conclude that any one region of the wild type mtDNA molecule, when maintained in a p- clone, while other regions are deleted, can give rise to a multimeric series of circles. 3. In tandem straight repetitive mtDNAs the circles contain odd and even number of unit sequence repeats. In palindrome repetitive mtDNAs the circles contain mostly even number of unit sequence repeats. Thus, one straight or two inverted repeats constitute the monomeric unit of circularization. 4. We found that the frequency distribution of circles follows on a number basis a simple rule: frequency of numeric circles = 1/n frequency of monomeric circles, for n = 2, 3 and 4. Thus, on a mass basis each class represents the same fraction of total mtDNA and the mitochondrial genome has the same probability to constitute one monomeric circle or to be a part of n-meric circle. We interpret this finding that in vivo all molecules are circular. 5. Four mutants displayed a single multimeric series of circles ranging from 0.3 mum to 2.4 mum monomer circle length. Five mutants displayed multiple different multimeric series. In the latter case, the longest unit sequence repeat length was equal to the sum of the two shorter unit sequence repeat lengths. Sorting out, recombination and internal deletions of circular repetitive p- mtDNA molecules are discussed.


Rifampicin-induced protein synthesis: A pre-requisite for increased expression of the beta beta' operon in Escherichia coli.

In a rifS/rifR heterodiploid strain of E. coli, a 4 minute pulse of rifampicin can induce a prolonged (greater than 60 min) increase in the rate of synthesis of the RNA polymerase subunits, beta and beta'. The application of a constraint on the fidelity of protein synthesis during, but not after, the rifampicin pulse partially arrests the development of this capacity for subunit synthesis. I discuss the implications of these findings in relation to the control of the BB' operon in E. coli.


Effect of caffeine on the rho- -induction with ethidium bromide in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

It is shown that caffeine antagonizes petite-induction with ethidium bromide under non-growth conditions when administered during or after mutagenic treatment. Caffeine itself is shown to be a petite-inducing agent when cells are grown in liquid glucose-complete-medium in the presence of the drug. A possible mode of action of caffeine in the ethidium bromide induced petite-mutagenesis is discussed.


Differential effects of nalidixate on the cell growth of respiratory competent strains and cytoplasmic petite mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Sodium nalidixate inhibited the cell growth and division of several respiratory competent strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A number of cytoplasmic petite strains (both spontaneous and induced by ethidium bromide) were shown to be more resistant to sodium nalidixate than the wild-type strains from which they were derived. There was considerable variation in sensitivity of different petites derived from the same wild-type. Usually petite strains which were induced by ethidium bromide were more resistant than spontaneously arising petites. The susceptibility of a wild-type strain to nalidixate was found to be least when the mitochondrial respiratory system was maximally repressed. It was also noted that sodium nalidixate (100 mug/ml) induced petite mutants.


Mapping of mitochondrial genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Populations and pedigree analysis of retention or loss of four genetic markers in Rho-cells.

1. Retention or loss of mitochondrial markers CR321, OR1, PR454, TR (gene loci RIB1, OLI1, PAR1, TSM1 respectively has been analysed in a large number of ethidium bromide induced primary rho-clones. Retention of one or more of the four markers with a single clone was observed frequently, only 20 to 25% of clones were found to be (TOCOOOPO). Primary clones retaining two or more of the four markers were found to be mixed, i.e. the primary rho- cell contained a heterogeneous population of variously deleted mitDNA molecules which segregated into different cell lines in the corresponding primary clone. 2. A representative sample of the population of ethidium bromide induced rho- mutants has been analysed by a first subcloning performed after some 30 cell generations of vegetative multiplication in the abscence of the drug. At this level the heterogeneous population of mitDNA molecules, generated by the mutagenic treatment in the primary cell, has been sorted out. The cells forming secondary clones are thus essentially homoplasmic. In contrast to primary clones, genotypes of secondary clones therefore could be determined unambiguously, and the frequency of cell types can be regarded as a faithful representation of the frequency of mitDNA molecules. Retention of markers was low, in less than 2% of secondary clones one or several markers have been found. This observation has been interpreted as indicating that induction of rho-mutants by ethidium bromide is accompanied by deletion of very large sequences of mitDNA in a very large fraction of mitDNA molecules. 3. Five individual rho-clones retaining the four markers TRCRORPR have been isolated and analysed for spontaneous deletion of one or several of these markers during successive subclonings (pedigree analysis). High genetic stability (98-99.5% per cell generation) has been observed in these clones. 4. A method has been developed allowing an unambiguous determination of the order of the four markers on a circular map. It is based on the concomitant loss of two markers and retention of the other two markers (double loss/double retention analysis). The results of four out of five pedigrees of individual rho-clones analysed (spontaneous deletion) and the results of the analysis of populations of secondary rho-clones (ethidium bromide induced deletion) were in full agreement and the order of genes has been determined as being P-T-C-O-P. In the fifth pedigree results suggest an inversion of the T and C markers. 5. Relative distances between pairs of markers have been derived from the frequencies of separation of markers by deletion and were found to be C-T less than C-O less than T-O less than T-P less than C-P less than O-P. Linkage of the four markers could be established, and distances calculated are additive. 6. The general relevance of this approach of mapping by deletion and the methods used for the determination of order and distances of mitochondrial genes has been discussed. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)


Cytoplasmic inheritance of antimycin A resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Three antimycin resistant mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are characterized genetically. The mutations have been shown to be cytoplasmically inherited by four criteria. The phenotype persists in diploids formed by a cross with a pO strain of yeast of the opposite mating type. Diploids heterozygous for the antimycin marker, however, show segregation of the resistance and sensitivity during mitosis. Tetrad analysis indicates a non-Mendelian segregation (4:0 and 0:4) of the mutations. The antimycin marker can be eliminated by ethidium bromide treatment under conditions that should have deleted all of the mitochondrial DNA.


Effect of tra mutations on F factor-specified immunity to lethal zygosis.

Hfr, F+, and F-prime cells are, unlike F- cells, insensitive to an excess of Hfr donor cells, indicating that there is an F factor mediated immunity to lethal zygosis (I1z). Results with Flac episomes carrying traJ, traS or various polar mutations in the tra region indicate that this immunity is independent of surface exclusion, of traJ control, and of all known genes within the tra operon. However, analysis of a series of strains with deletions in the F factor, extending from the right into the tra region, suggests that a gene for immunity to lethal zygosis is located within the tra region. We therefore conclude that I1z is genetically complex, and present a hypothesis to account for these results.


Initial trp operon sequence in Escherichia coli is transcribed without coupling to translation.

The transcription of the "leader" region (Bronson et al., 1973) of the trp operon in Escherichia coli was studied in normal mutants which delete most of the operator-distal region of the operon [a deletion strain (trp OAEG) retaining only about one third of the "leader" region and two deletion strains (trpOAE14 and trpOAE2) retaining the whole "leader" region and an initial portion of the trpE], as well as in a strain with an intact trp operon, but with a temperature-sensitive lesion in ribosomal protein factor EFTs (strain HAK88). In these deletion mutants, mRNA molecules corresponding to the "leader" region were detected as most of the trp-specific mRNA. Less inhibition of transcription, of the promoter-proximal portion of the trp "leader" region than that of more distal genes of the operon, was found in chloramphenicol-treated cells of strain trpOAE14. It was also observed that transcription of the initial one third portion of the "leader" region was not repressed by tryptophan in strains trpOAE6 and trp OAE14. A similar effect of a translation block on transcription of the distal part of the "leader" region was observed with strain HAK88 at the nonpermissive temperature. In sedimentation analysis of polyribosomes containing the trp mRNA molecules from the deletion mutants, trp mRNA from strain trpOAE14 was found in monosomes and small polyribosomes, whereas the majority of the trp mRNA from strain trpOAE6 was found joined to a single ribosome or ribosomal subunit. These results suggest that ribosomes bind in vivo to a site(s) located in the middle of the "leader" mRNA sequence, and that the initial transcription of the trp operon does not require any connection to functional translational machinery, while continuation of RNA synthesis beyond a first ribosome binding site seems indispensably coupled to ribosome function.


Control of cI gene expression in bacteriophage lambda imm434, studied in an immunity/trp fusion made in vitro.

The trp genes of a lambda imm434 trp-transducing phage have been fused to the immunity region by deletion, in vitro, of the DNA between two targets for the restriction enzyme R.EcoRI. The resulting phage has been used to study the control of expression of the cI gene in vivo. The constitutive rate of expression of the cI gene is between 2 and 5% of the maximally stimulated rate. The products of the cII and cIII genes enhance expression of cI on infection of a sensitive host. The requirement for the cII product is more stringent than that for the cIII protein. The phage 434 repressor present in a 434-immune cell stimulates the rate of cI expression from a superinfecting homoimmune phage about fifteen-fold. This result strongly suggests that repressor stimulates its own synthesis by a direct effect on transcription of the cI gene.


The construction in vitro of transducing derivatives of phage lambda.

Methods are described for the construction of plaque-forming, transducing derivatives of phage lambda, using appropirate receptor genomes and fragments of DNA generated by the restriction enzymes endo R.EcoRI and endo R.HindIII. The general properties of the transducing derivatives are described and discussed. Plaque-forming phages carrying the E. coli trp, his, cysB, thyA, supD, supE, sup F, hsd, tna and lig genes have been isolated.


Insertion sequence IS2 near the gene for prophage lambda excision.

In this study we characterize a variant of the lambdacI857S7 prophage, designated lambdabi2cI857S7, which carries a DNA insertion. The insertion sequence is IS2, and it resides in the antipolar orientation II just upstream from the gene for prophage excision (xis) at 61.6%lambda. This bi2 insertion mutant could prove valuable for studies on possible recombination functions of IS2 DNA and of its effect on the lambda integration and excision functions.


N-terminal sequence of phage lambda repressor.

Lambda repressor was purified from an E. coli strain which produces 150 times more lambda repressor than a single lysogen. The sequence of the fifty N-terminal residues was determined by automated Edman degradation. It contains 43% of all arginine and lysine residues of the chain and constitutes according to the genetic data of Oppenheim et al. (1975) a substantial part of the operator-DNA-binding site of the repressor.


A lethal mutation which affects the maturation of ribosomes.

A temperature sensitive mutant of Escherichia coli which fails to recover from prolonged carbon starvation, was found to be irreversibly killed by exposure to a nonpermissive temperature (43 degrees C), with a half-life of about half an hour. This bacteriocidal effect of the temperature could be reversed by a number of antibiotics which block protein synthesis but not by blocking DNA synthesis. At the nonpermissive temperature, RNA and the protein synthetic capacities decrease before the DNA synthetic capacity is decreased. Analysis of ribosomal proteins and methylation of them did not reveal any consistent differences between the parental and mutant strains. Analysis of the ribosomal RNA revealed that it is being synthesized in similar amounts as in the parental strain at the nonpermissive temperature, however, after chase its level is decreased. Moreover, the 17S precursor RNA is slow to mature to 16S rRNA in the mutant strain at the nonpermissive temperature. Thus, these studies suggest that the mutation studied here affects a late maturation step in the synthesis of the rRNA. Therefore the gene is designated rimH (for ribosomal modification). All the properties bestowee on the mutant strain are caused by a single pleiotropic mutation which maps at min 14 of the E. coli map. Three point transduction crosses suggest the order rimH, leuS, RNA, LIP. This gene maps outside the two known clusters for ribosomal structural genes.


Genetics of borrelidin resistant mutants of Saccharomyces cerivisiae and properties of their threonyl-tRNA-synthetase.

Twenty-two borrelidin resistant mutants of Saccharomyces cerivisiae were isolated, studied genetically and their threonyl-tRNA-synthetase was investigated. The borrelidin resistant mutants are classified into four groups. In the first group borrelidin resistance is coupled to the gene HOM3 coding for aspartokinase, in the second group to the gene LEU1. The borrelidin resistance in group three and four is not coupled to anyone of the genetic markers tested. Borrelidin resistance exhibited dominant behavior in all mutants except in the mutant of group 4. The properties of the ThrRS of the mutants of group one, two and four was found to be like the ones of the wild types. However the mutants of group three exhibit a structurally altered ThrRS, which is no longer inhibited by borrelidin.


Effect of glucose starvation on the expression of transferred tsx genes in Escherichia coli K12 zygotes.

Escherichia coli K12 Hfr H Tsxs Strs and F- Pro- Tsxr His- Arg- Strr bacteria were conjugated in the absence of arginine with or without glucose. The efficiency of conjugation, measured by the frequency of Pro+ and His+ recombinants was not affected. Arginine starvation alone did not affect the tsxs gene expression which occurred in all the zygotes which had received the gene. In contrast, argine and glucose starvation allows tsxs expression only in those zygotes in which the donor gene had been integrated in the genome. As the glucose starvation brings on a destabilization of the messenger RNA synthesized by the F- cells in absence of arginine, the results can be interpreted as follows: the transferred tsxs genes are transitorily expressed in all the zygotes at the unintegrated state. After this transient period, only thsoe genes integrated in the chromosomes of the zygotes continue to be expressed.


Phenotypic instability in a tif-1 Mutant of Escherichia coli. I. Impairment in ribosomal function.

The mutant T44(lambda) of Escherichia coli K12, grown in the presence of adenine, develops an increased tolerance to streptomycin. In cultures grown on streptomycin, the ts character (tif) may temporarily be suppressed but, on further transfer, both the temperature-sensitive phenotype and streptomycin tolerance disappear. In a cell-free system, the relative efficiency of translation of MS2 and poly U messenger RNAs was, respectively, 75 and 50% lower in extracts from cultures grown at 37 degrees with adenine than in extracts from 30 degrees cultures. Similar results were obtained when adenine was added in vitro to an extract from a culture grown at 37 degrees in the absence of adenine, using MS2 RNA as messenger. Moreover, the 37 degrees extracts showed a much lower misincorporation of isoleucine into polyphenylalanine in the poly U system. In addition, the Mg++ concentration required for optimal translational acitvity was higher for the 37 degrees than for the 30 degrees extracts. Extracts from a culture grown in L medium at 37 degrees or from a tif-/F'tif+ merodiploid grown at 37 degrees with adenine behaved similarly to that from the 30 degrees culture when poly U was used as messenger RNA. It is suggested that the tif+ gene product may play a regulatory role in ribosomal function and the pleiotropic nature of the tif-1 mutation could be due to impairment of translational activity augmented by elevated temperature or by adenine.


Phenotypic instability in a tif-1 mutant of Escherichia coli. II. Recessiveness of the tif-1 mutation.

Merodiploids of the type tif-1/F'tif+, constructed in E. coli K12 strain T44(lambda), show that the tif-1 mutation is recessive with respect to induction of phage lambda and thermolability. An additional manifestation of tif-1 expression is increased tolerance to low levels of streptomycin (SM) and chloramphenicol (CM) and this, too, is abolished in the merodiploids.


Regional replication of the bacterial chromosome induced by derepression of prophage lambda. II. Direction and origin.

We have demonstrated previously by DNA-DNA hybridization that induction of lambda phage with wild type O and P genes results in an increase of bacterial DNA in the chromosomal region adjacent to the left of the prophage; is a segment between gal and attlambda (gal DNA) (Imae and Fukasawa, 1970). Evidence is presented in this report that such an increase of bacterial DNA is also seen in the region to the right of the prophage; a segment between bio and attlambda (bio DNA). We postulate therefore that the bidirectional replication of lambda DNA extends beyond the prophage and copies the neighboring host DNA until the prophage is excised. The model is verified by making use of excision-defective lambda phages. The synthesis of gal DNA (or bio DNA) slows down to a halt within 40 min after the induction in the normal lysogens. The results are attributed to the prophage excision: (1) In lysogens for lambdaint, synthesis of the bacterial DNA continues for longer times. (2) The synthesis of the bacterial DNA slows down to a halt in lysogens for lambdaxis or lambdab2 as in the control. However lambda DNA synthesis also slows down in parallel so that the amount of the bacterial DNA relative to that of lambda DNA synthesized by a given time stays constant from 20 min to 80 min. During that time the relative amount of the bacterial DNA rapidly decreases in the normal lysogen.


Effect of chloramphenicol and the recB gene product on DNA metabolism in Escherichia coli K12 strains defective in DNA ligase.

We have examined DNA strand breakage, DNA degradation, and the rate of DNA synthesis in lig and lig-recB strains of Escherichia coli K12 incubated in the presence and absence of 3 mug/ml chloramphenicol. Substantial DNA strand breakage and DNA degradation is observed in the lig strain upon growth at 40 degrees C; however, such strand breakage and DNA degradation is not observed in th lig-recB strainl Incubation of the lig strain at 40 degrees C in the presence of 3 mug/ml chloramphenicol reduces the amount of DNA strand breakage and DNA degradation to the level observed in the lig-recB strain. Together, these results demonstrate that exonuclease V (the recBC gene product) is responsible for the increased DNA degradation associated with DNA ligase deficiency.


Regulatory mutants of dihydrofolate reductase in Escherichia coli K12.

Trimethoprim inhibits dihydrofolate reductase. Mutations conferring trimethorpim-resistance on E coli K12 result in either an altered reductase with decreased affinity for the drug, or in 2-30 fold higher levels of the enzyme. Studies of the latter class of mutants indicate that dihydrofolate reductase is regulatdd by a diffusible molecule, and is probably under negative control. The regulatrory mutants, some of which are temperature-sensitive, act cis.


The relation of the genes envA and ftsA in Escherichia coli.

The sequence of three genes involved in cell division in E. coli has been determined to be ftsA-envA-azi by three-point transduction experiments. An ftsA envA double mutant strain forms filaments at the restrictive temperature of 42 degrees C, and not chains, but, like the chain forming envA parent strain, is hypersensitive to rifampicin.


Conformational peculiarities of tRNAMetf from E. coli as revealed by fluorescent methods.

Conformational transitions in several individual tRNAs (tRNAMetf, tRNAPhe from E. coli, tRNAVal1, tRNASer, tRNAPhe from yeast) have been studied under various environmental conditions. The binding isotherms studies for dyes-tRNA complexes exhibited similarities in conformational states of all tRNAs investigated at low ionic strength (0.01 M NaCl). By contrast, at high ionic strength (0.4 M NaCl or 2 X 10(-4) M Mg2+) a marked difference is found in structural features of tRNAMetf as compared with other tRNAs used. The tRNAMetf is the only tRNA species that does not reveal the strong type of complexes with ethidium bromide, acriflavine and acridine orange.


[Several structural aspects of the interaction of yeast hexokinase with insulin].

It has been noted that due to formation of the complex with insuline light and hear resistance of hexokinase from baker's yeast rises. Variation of luminescence parameters shows structural modification of enzyme upon complex formation. On the basis of comparison the photoinactivation data and hexokinase photolysis conclusion has been drawn that the tryptophanyl residues are not directly involved in the enzyme active site, although play an important role in supporting the specific structure.


[Intramolecular mobility of pepsin].

By modifying four tyrosine residues in pepsin a derivative (aminopepsin) is obtained which is capable to conjugate with a fluorescent label DNS-Cl without loss of the catalytic activity. Rotational relaxation times of native pepsin and dansylated aminopepsin (DAP) are measured by a fluoresence polarization method. The values obtained are shown to be lower than those calculated for arigid pepsin globule. Possible sources of the obtained difference are discussed. A reversible or covalent blocking of pepsin or DAP active centres by specific inhibitors leads to an increase in rotational relaxation time values for these proteins reaching the magnitude which is very close to that calculated for a model of rigid pepsin. Brownian relaxation of pepsin and DAP reduced by beta-mercaptoethanol and of pepsinogen and some fragments of pepsine macromolecule in aqueous solutions is invigated as well. The results are intepreted as representing an intramolecular mobility or segmental flexibility of pepsin and DAP. With the use of the obtained and X-ray data a segmental model of dynamic pepsin structure is suggested. On the basis of this model some conclusions are drawn concerning a localization of a polypeptide which is split off from the N-terminus of pepsinogen during its activation. A possible role of segmental flexibility in the catalytic action of pepsin is considered.


[Catabolyte repression of Escherichia coli K12 mutants with defects in different systems of glucose transport].

The phenomenon of glucose catabolite repression was studied in E. coli mutants inable to transport this carbohydrate. The pts 1, H mutant P34 was much less sensitive to the repressive effect of glucose on beta-galactosidase synthesis than the parent type. The 1103 mutant devoid of enzyme 1 of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS) behaves in the same way as P34 mutant after addition of glucose to casamino acid mineral medium. However, in minimal medium with succinate as the sole source of carbon, cells of the 1103 mutant show enhanced sensibility to transient glucose repression. The effect of hypersensibility disappears when the lac I mutation leading to constitutive the beta-galactosidase synthesis is introduced in 1103 mutant. It is shown that the enhanced sensibility of beta-galactosidase synthesis to glucose transient repression in 1103 mutant is an effect of the aburpt decrease in its growth rate in the presence of succinate and most probably this decrease leads to "inducer exclusion" of the lac operon. It is also shown that if one introduces the P34 mutation in strain JD3 devoid of one of the enzymes II for glucose (and due to this resistant to glucose catabolite respression) then the level of resistance in double mutant does not increase in spite of considerable supression of 14C glucose accumulation. In connection with this the role is discussed of separate components of the E. coli K 12 glucose transport system in realization of the phenomenon of catabolite repression.


[Chromosome structure, histones and gene activity in Drosophila].

The problem to be reviewed in this study concerns the mechanism of regulation of gene activity relied on the structural changes of the chromatin. The role of histones in the regulation of transcription is discussed on the basis of the results obtained by the authors and literature data. In particular, the results are presented of the investigations of decrease of the histone amount in the cell nucleus using the deficiency of histone structural genes. This leads both to the increase of the X-chromosome template activity and the inhibition of variegated position effect. The latter is also inhibited by feeding of larvae with T2-DNA. It is supposed that the chromatin structure is a mechanism of epigenetic changes and the gene inactivation due to the position effect inherited in cell lineages in an example of such epigenetic changes.


Industrial mutagens and potential mutagens I. Halogenated aliphatic derivatives.

The halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons represent one of the most important categories of industrial chemicals from a consideration of volume, use categories, environmental and toxicological considerations and hence most importantly, potential population risk. The major halocarbons reviewed, primarily in terms of their occurrence, utility, stability, distribution, and levels of exposure as well as their metabolism, carcinogenicity and mutagenicity included: vinylchloride, vinylidene chloride, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, ethylene dichloride, ethylene dibromide, chloroprene, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, fluorocarbons (trichlorofluoromethane and dichlorodifluoromethane), epichlorohydrin, halohydrins (2-chloro- and 2-bromoethanol) and haloethers (bis(chloromethyl); chloromethyl'-methyl; bis(2-chloroethyl)-and bis(2-chloroisopropyl)ether. In many instances, data were not available to assess world production, populations at risk and degrees of exposure. With the exception of vinylchloride, vinylidene chloride, epichlorohydrin and 2-halo ethanols, there is an acknowledged paucity of definitive mutagenicity data concerning the majority of halogenated hydrocarbons. Their ubiquitous distribution, and in a number of cases, their carcinogenicity both in man and animals, dictates the urgent need to more exhaustively investigate their potential mutagenicity.


A recombination-dependent replicating instability in Salmonella typhimurium.

The aromatic amino acid-requiring mutant of Salmonella typhimurium aroD321 has a stable requirement for phenylalanine and tyrosine but is highly unstable in its requirement for tryptophan. Tryptophan requiring cells derived from this strain are themselves unstable and revert back to a requirement for only phenylalanine and tyrosine. This instability is cotransducible with the aroD region and is totally dependent on the presence of a rec+ gene in the cell. These observations are interpreted in terms of a gene duplicating and excising mechanism which is itself dependent upon the normal (rec+) recombinational ability of the cell.


[Influence of proteins bound to single-stranded DNA on RNA and poly(A) synthesis. II. Protein--product of T4 phage gene 32].

It has been shown that the protein product of T4 bacteriophage gene 32 (protein 32) completely prevents RNA and poly(A) synthesis on the denatured DNA as a template at the protein/DNA ratio about 13:1. Under the same conditions protein 32 has no effect on these syntheses on the native DNA and inhibit poly(A) synthesis with oligo(dT)9 and oligo(dT)12 as a template, preventing binding of enzyme with oligonucleotide. It is possible that the unwinded regions of double-stranded DNA within transcription complexes are too small to allow cooperative binding of protein 32 or are unavailable for this protein. We suppose that the protein 32 and other "unwinding" protein plays not only "protective" and "structural" roles but also participates in the regulation of template activity of single-stranded DNA regions in the replicative forks.


[Inhibiting effect of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine and its structural analogs on the process of enzymatic methylation of tRNA].

The action of S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (S-Ado-Hcy), its four structural analogues S-Ino-Hcy, S-Guo-Hcy, S-Urd-Hcy, S-Cyd-Hcy and the five corresponding sulfoxides on tRNA methylases has been investigated. The data obtained in the study of overall incorporation of 14CH3-groups into an unfractioned tRNA preparation suggested that both the affinity of the inhibitors tested for various methylases and the type of inhibition were different. The experiments performed with unfractioned tRNA preparation permit to get an idea of the average inhibitory potency of each of the compounds. The study of their action on individual tRNA methylases by means of fractionation of minor components produced demonstrated that the affinity of the inhibitors tested for various methylases was really different. Thus, S-Ado-Hcy, S-Ino-Hcy and S-Urd-Hcy practically do not inhibit m1A methylase but have the highest affinity for m5C methylase. In an experiment with tRNAPhe which is a substrate for a single, namely m5C methylase, the type of inhibition of this methylase by S-Cyd-Hcy was revealed; it was found to be non-competitive with respect to S-Ado-Met, and the S-Cyd-Hcy concentration reducing the methylation by 50 percent was 1.2-10(-4) M.


Mutagenicity and toxicity of amitrole. III. Microbial tests.

Amitrole (3-amino-1,2,4-triazole) inhibits bacterial growth both in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium at a concentration of 0.5% in minimal medium. Repression of growth already occurs at a concentration of 0.1% of amitrole in this medium. In complete medium the bacteria tolerate concentrations of amitrole as high as 1.7-2.4% before growth ceases. Mutagenicity was tested by differential growth comparisons on E. coli strains W 3110 thy pol A1, defective in DNA polymerase I, and its revertant pol A+. Known mutagens (MMS, NTG, mitomycin C) were used as positive controls. Analogous negative results were also obtained in a revertant test when several trp mutant strains of Salmonella were used.


Mutagenesis by 9,10-anthraquinone derivatives and related compounds in Salmonella typhimurium.

Ninety 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ) derivatives and related anthracene derivatives were screened for mutagenicity with five Salmonella typhimurium tester strains with and without mammalian microsomal activation. About 35% of the compounds tested are considered to be mutagenic. Three patterns of mutagenesis were apparent. (1)Direct frameshift mutagenesis by certain AQ compounds bearing free hydroxyl groups. The most potent were anthragallol (1,2,3-trihydroxy-AQ), purpurin (1,2,4-trihydroxy-AQ) and anthraufin (1,5-dihydroxy-AQ). Some hydroxy-AQ compounds exhibited activation by mammalian microsomal preparations, particularly at lower concentrations, and the majority of mutagenic hydroxy-AQs appeared to revert strain TA1537 (his 3076) specifically.(2)Frameshift mutagenesis by certain AQ compounds with primary amino and, in a few cases, with secondary amino groups. Mammalian microsomes invariably potentiated frameshift mutagenesis, and activity with strain TA100 (sensitive to base pair substitution) is seen in a few cases, e.g. 1,2-diamino-AQ. (3)AQ compounds with one or more nitro groups. These derivatives exhibit the least specificity with regard to tester strain reverted and to microsomal activation. All seven nitro-AQ's tested were mutagenic. In those compounds with mixed "mutagenic" functional groups, the type of mutagenesis observed is usually N02 greater than 0H greater than NH2. AQs bearing halogens, sulfonate or alkyl groups were non-mutagenic, as were AQs substituted solely with secondary amines.


Mutagenicity and purative carcinogenicity tests of several polycyclic aromatic compounds associated with impurities of the insecticide methoxychlor.

Several polycyclic hydrocarbons, 3,6-dimethoxy-9,10-bis(p-methoxyphenyl)-phenathrene, tetrakis(p-methoxyphenylyethylene and 3,6,11,14-tetramethoxydibenzo(g,p)chrysene, which are associated as impurities in commerical samples of the insecticide methoxychlor, have been tested in the Ames mutagenicity test with strains of Salmonella thyphimurium, TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 1538, and TA 98. Activation by liver microsomes induced with either phenobarbitol or Aroclor was examined. The only active compound was 3,6,11,14-tetramethoxydibenzo(g,p)chrysene, mutagenic (0.39 revertants/nmol) tostrain TA 98.


Mutagenic actions of chlorocholine chloride.

Chlorocholine chloride, at concentrations of 0.2 to 0.5 M (3.2 to 7.9%) between pH 5 and 8, showed no significant mutagenic effect whereas at the same concentrations at pH 9 it caused mutations, in a valine-sensitive strain of E. coli K12. Treatment of E. coli B with chlorocholine chloride at 0.5 M and pH 9 resulted in auxotrophic and regulatory deficient (valine-sensitive) mutants. The mutagenic effects of chlorocholine chloride were compared with the effects caused by the food additive NaHSO3.


Infantile diarrhea produced by heat-stable enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Between December, 1974, and August 1975, intestinal illness occurred in 55 of 205 infants admitted to the special-care nurseries of a large children's hospital. Escherichia coli serotype 078:K80:H12, which produced a heat-stable enterotoxin, was isolated from 18 of 25 symptomatic infants as compared with 14 of 55 asymptomatic infants (P less than 0.001). Colistin administered prophylactically to 24 culture-negative asymptomatic infants did not prevent colonization in 10, whereas colonization did occur in 22 of 56 not receiving colistin (P = 1.0). This outbreak provides laboratory and epidemiologic evidence that heat-stable enterotoxigenic Esch. coli is pathogenic in human beings and produces infantile diarrhea.


[Porcine pepsin on some chemical and microbiological indices of cheeses produced with its participation].

The authors report data about the contents of non-protein nitrogen, bound and soluble nitrogen, free amino acids, monocarbonyl compounds and volatile fatty acids as well as about the sum of dinitrophenylhydrazine derivatives of carbonyl compounds and about the microflora. The greatest differences between experimental and control cheeses (produced with rennin) in the contents of the above-mentioned constituents were observed within the first 30 days. On day 60 of experimentation, these differences had smoothed down. It is concluded that a I:I mixture of porcine pepsin and rennin may be used for the production of small medium hard cheeses without impairing their quality of nutritive value.


[Safe use of microcrystalline cellulose in low-calorie foods].

The problems arising in using microcrystalline cellulose in the food industry are outlined. Like starch granules, microcrystalline cellulose is also persorbed by the human and animal organism. As long as the problem persists whether persorption is a normal, everyday process or a process which is detrimental in the long run, the statement that the use of greater amounts of microcrystalline cellulose for foods and pharmaceutical products is absolutely safe should be carefully examined.


[Two stages in the digestion of proteins by pepsin].

Studies on a monosubstrate system (pepsin - substrate) yielded values which characterize pepsin digestion as a multi-stage process. During the first stage, pepsin hydrolyzes the most accessible parts of the protein molecule, i.e., those portions of the peptide chains which are situated on the surface of the globule. During the stage of apparent cessation of the reaction, very few peptide bonds are hydrolyzed which are essential for the formation of the tertiary structure. After hydrolysis of these bonds, the inner parts of the globule become accessible, the hydrolysis of which proceeds more slowly.


Effect of nisin in saturated brine and storage on the quality of dried bolti fish (Tilapia nilotica).

Bolti fish which had been eviscerated and brined in a saturated brine containing 0.5 mg nisin/g of fish for 10, 15 and 20 min, were divided into two parts, one for dehydration and the second for sun-drying. The dried products were packed in polyethylene bags and stored at room temperature for 3 months. The quality attributes were estimated during processing and monthly during storage. Total volatile bases showed a certain increase after salting, drying and throughout storage periods; thiobarbituric acid value gave the same trend, total microbial load showed a slight increase during storage, but coliform bacteria were not present after salting.


Long term results of stereotaxic surgery for infantile dystonia and dyskinesia.

Our experience is based on a series of 25 patients suffering from infantile dyskinesias and dystonias who underwent stereotaxic surgery of basal ganglia. We first note the immediate good results (77%) obtained by thalamo-sub-thalamotomy. Concerning dyskinesia this type of surgery enjoys in an opinion a place of choice. Secondly we have been able to estimate secondary deterioration on long term results in patients examined 2 to 15 years post-operatively. In contrast to various results reported in the literature good long term results are not superior to 50%. Some deterioration is noted in patients operated on for choreo-athetosis over the age of 20. A pallido-subthalamic lesion is efficient at the beginning of the disease course since it improves motor performance and thereby helps possibilities of intellectual acquirement. Bilateral lesions have after improved I.Q. Effects of this treatment specially on spasticity must be discussed among other types of surgery.


[Value of the use of a stereotaxic framework in the selective thermocoagulation of Gasser's ganglion].

Impressed by some inconvenients of the presently used method of ocagulation of the gasserian ganglion, authors bring forth the arguments that have led them to modify the "freehand" technique by making use of Rosomoff's cordotomy framework that fastens electrode and patients's head.


[Extra-intracranial anastomosis technic].

This is a report about the author's surgical experiences with extra-intracranial anastomosis. Special attention is drawn to various technical measures for avoiding postoperative complications. It seems very important to leave around the temporal superficial artery a mantle of connective tissue to preserve the vascular supply of the vessel wall and to facilitate safe manipulation of the artery. Further more the report deals with the bloodflow direction in the temporal superficial artery in relation to the middle cerebral artery- the flow should be directed to the trunk of the middle cerebral artery in order to effect an optimal perfusion of the supplying area of the middle cerebral artery. Approx. 8 to 10 mm should hold the incision in both arteries, end of temporal superficial and side of middle cerebral, to attain a wide opened junction between both arteries and to prevent obstruction. Attention is called to the risk of skin necrosis when using both, frontal and parietal branches of the temporal superficial artery. High value is set on covering the bone and dura deficiency with muscle lobe to prevent spreading and fistula of cerebral spinal fluid.


Induction of LH surges by continuous infusion of LH-RH1.

Preovulatory LH surges were measured in cannulated proestrous rats. Such LH peaks were also obtained by infusing pentobarbital-blocked animals with LH-RH for periods of up to 20 h; this suggested that the pituitary LH stores were exhausted. However, the total amount of LH secreted appeared more or less determined by the LH-RH dose, indicating that the size of the releasable LH pool is not fixed.


Potentiation of lordosis behavior by intrahypothalamic infusion of synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone.

Saline and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LRH) were infused into the medial preoptic area (MPOA), arcuate nucleus (ARC), lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and the cerebral cortex (CC), and the effects on sexual behavior were studied in estrone- (E-) primed ovariectomized (OVX) female rats. Each cannulated, OVX female known to be sexually active was primed with E in doses too low to initiate consistent mating behavior. LRH infusion in either the MPOA or ARC faciliated sexual behavior as measured by the lordosis-to-mount (L/M) ratio; LRH infusion in the LHA or CC, as well as saline infusion in all neural sites, was ineffective in initiating comparable behavior patterns. The results concur with findings utilizing systemic LRH injections and support the notion that LRH may act directly on neural tissue to potentiate lordosis behavior in the female rat.


The effects of pentobarbital and ether anesthesia on hypothalamic LH-RH in the rat.

The effects of ether and pentobarbital anesthesia on hypothalamic and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) LH-RH content were studied in male rats. Ether elevated hypothalamic LH-RH 30 min after a 3-min exposure; pentobarbital (30 mg/kgital (30mg/kg) caused no change. The ether-induced increase in LH-RH content was not affected by pretreatment with pentobarbital; however, the increase was abolished in animals subjected to hypothalamic deafferentation. Changes in CSF LH-RH generally paralleled the hypothalamic changes; ether, for example, elicited a significant rise. These results demonstrate the complex hypothalamo-pituitary-CSF interactions which occur in response to general anesthetics.


A three year double blind investigation of the effects of lithium carbonate on serum protein-bound iodine in manic depressive patients.

In a controlled investigation of the long-term effect of lithium on protein-bound iodine (PBI), 17 manic-depressive patients were placed on lithium for 6 months then shifted on a double blind basis to lithium (8 patients) and placebo (9 patients), and followed for a maximum of 3 years. Serum PBIs and lithium levels were evaluated initially and every 3 months thereafter. The placebo group showed no significant change in PBI during the first 6 months while still on lithium. At 9- and 12-month evaluations, a rise in serum PBI was noted. Seven placebo patients with data available displayed a mean 6-month PBI of 6.26 +/- 0.67 mug% and at 9 months 7.07 +/- 0.63 mug% (p less than 0.02). Available data for 7 placebo patients at 6 and 12 months show means of 6.30 +/- 0.66 and 7.06 +/- 0.56 mug%, respectively (p less than 0.10). Patients on lithium during the entire study had a PBI of 6.95 +/- 0.81 mug% at 6 months, which dropped to 5.76 +/- 0.36 mug% (p less than 0.05) after an average of 810 days of treatment. The placebo group showed no statistically significant change in PBI.


Contrast enhancement by arterial perfusion during computerized tomography.

Contrast enhancement of computerized tomography is usually performed by means of intravenous injection of iodinated contrast materials. The authors have utilized a technique of direct arterial infusion of iodinated contrast material supplying intracranial arteries during computerized axial tomography. A representative case is presented with comparison scans which were obtained without contrast enhancement and with conventional intravenous infusion of contrast. Marked improvement of the enhancement was clearly demonstrated in this case, with abnormalities readily defined that were not seen with the conventional intravenous enhancement procedure.


Congenital spondylolysis of cervical vertebrae with spondylolisthesis anf frontal narrowing of the spinal canal. Report  of two cases.

Two cases of cervical spondylolisthesis, due to a congenital defect in the pars interarticularis of C6, associated with spina bifida and elongation of the contralateral pars interarticularis, are reported. Tomography showed an abnormal direction of the articular facets of C6 and demonstrated a narrow frontal diameter of the cervical spinal canal at the level of the malformation. Gas myelography showed a slight compression of the cord. Unlike previously reported cases the patients had neurological findings which, in one case at least, were certainly referable to the spinal cord.


Cranial computerized tomography in the diagnosis of brain disorders in infants and children.

Cranial computerized tomography (CCT) has opened new dimensions in the diagnosis of neuropediatric disorders. The results of this new method are comparable to gross neuropathology. Thereby it is often possible to avoid further invasive neuroradiological investigations. This is especially true of pneumoencephalography which, according to the present state of CCT, is no longer indicated. Optimal diagnostic results can be achieved only if the patients is cooperative and does not move his head during the scanning procedure. Therefore in infants general anaesthesia is necessary. Sedation alone has proved to be not sufficient. The numerous new findings gained by CCT cover nearly all types of intracranial lesions. First of all the direct visualization of brain tumours in their relations to the surrounding structures, the surprising findings in inflammatory diseases of the brain, and the impressive demonstration of brain anomalies make CCT superior to all conventional neuroradiological investigations. Only for planning a surgical intervention and in vascular disorders angiography remains irreplacable.


Comparative costs  to the Medicare program of seven prepaid group practices and controls.

This research was conducted in order to compare costs to the Medicare program for providing health care service to old people enrolled in two forms of health delivery organization: open market and prepaid group practice (pgp). Two data sources were employed: cost data provided by the Social Security Administration for seven prepaid group practices in five SMSAs and northern California and interviews conducted with administrators of the prepaid  groups to determine: organizational sponsorship, incentive structure, pattern of selectivity of patients, and resource availability. Major findings are: (1) Enrollees in prepaid groups incur higher physician costs. This includes services provided by practitioners in and outside the plans. (2) Overall, prepaid groups demonstrate savings to the Medicare program in provider-initiated services- in hospital care and extended care facility services, but not in home health care. (3) Reduced spending in the hospital component does not imply reduction in the extended care facility or home service. (4) Outpatient costs in the hospital are generally higher in the open market modes, probably because this mode of care is viewed as an alternative to physician visits. (5) The greatest cost savings to the Medicare program are demonstrated by groups which are relatively small, yet hospital-based.


Ammonia and uric acid formation after rapid intravenous fructose administration to healthy subjects and patients with compensated cirrhosis of the liver.

To seven healthy volunteers, 12 and 24 g i.v. fructose were administered in the form of 20% solution at a rate of 4 g/min. After both doses, during the 10th min after the completed intravenous administration, a statistically significant increase of serum ammonia and serum uric acid occurred. After 24 g, the rise of the uric acid level remains significant during the 40th min after administration, while ammonia values return to the basal level. Increments of ammonia and uric acid are higher after a larger fructose dose. Under the same set-up and at the same rate, 24 g fructose were administered to eight patients with compensated cirrhosis of the liver. The rise of uric acid was practically the same as in healthy subjects similar to the rise of the ammonia level during the 10th min after administration. 40 min after administration, however, the ammonia level in cirrhotic patients remained significantly raised, as compared with the initial level.


Development of digestive and absorptive function in the human fetus.

In the mature human newborn infant, only pancreatic alpha-amylase shows a very low but highly inducible activity. Other digestive enzymes, although not yet at adult levels, increase rapidly with age. Intestinal absorptive functions develop already during early and mid-pregnancy and are mostly at adult levels in the newborn infant. Fat absorption is usually low in the premature infant and increases rapidly during the first month.


Renal biopsy: a review from experience.

A review of the use of percutaneous renal biopsy is presented, based on 12 years of personal experience. The place of biopsy today, and its role in diagnostic and investigative nephrology is discussed.


High circulating levels of glucagon and gastrin in anephric subjects.

Six nephrectomised patients undergoing chronic haemo-dialysis and six patients who have had renal transplantation were studied in comparison with a control group of healthy subjects. Their glucose, insulin, glucagon and gastrin levels were measured during a 50g oral glucose tolerance test which, in the dialysis group, was carried out just prior to a dialysis period. In this group fasting blood samples were obtained also on the morning immediately following dialysis. Glucagon levels were high in the dialysis group and gastrin levels were raised in both the dialysis and transplant groups. These abnormalities may be related to some of the clinical features of renal failure.


Irregular antibodies causing hemolytic disease of the newborn.

The known antigens associated with hemolytic disease of the newborn along with the degree of severity of the disease caused by each antigen are presented in Table 13. The genotype frequencies for the major blood groups have been presented in the text. It is hoped that this information will help the clinician in managing sensitization to irregular antibodies and in predicting the likelihood of future affected siblings. Proper periodic screening of the antenatal patient for irregular antibodies can alert the physician to a potential problem with hemolytic disease and alert the laboratory so that time is available to find acceptable donors. One should always remember that autologous blood transfusion can be used if time is available to obtain the blood. When the antenatal patient with an irregular antibody presents, the husband should be tested for the presence of the antigen. If present, the physician should determine the severity of the disease that can be caused by this antibody and manage the patient appropriately. It is hoped that with good antenatal care, the morbidity and mortality of hemolytic disease of the newborn can be diminished.


Embryological pigment epithelial dystrophies.

The embryological pigment epithelial dystrophies may be due, although rather rarely, to chemical factors, such as antibiotics and thalidomide, to ionizing radiation and to infectious factors, syphilis or viral infections, such as mumps, measles, varicella, or cytomegalovirus. The most frequent and the most typical dystrophy is, nevertheless, the rubella epitheliopathy with its widespread scattered black pigment deposits, found predominantly in the posterior pole, and its unaffected visual functions. The macular dystrophy associated with deaf-mutism is also often due to a maternal rubella infection.


Computer data processing in the examination of retinal vessels in essential hypertension and atherosclerosis.

The mean retinal venoarterial width ratio in 100 healthy subjects was measured with a PZO stereoscopic microscope equipped with a calibrated ocular and with an automatic digital image transformer coupled with an ODRA 1204 computer. The mean value was estimated as equal to 1.21 with an SD of 0.071. The same study was performed in 75 atherosclerotic patients and 75 patients with essential hypertension. In the first group the mean retinal venoarterial width ratio amounted to 1.51 (SD 0.054), while in the second one it was equal to 1.53 (SD 0.079).


[Compensatory hypertrophy of the kidney. I. - Search for the existence of a renal inhibitory substance (author's transl)].

In view of the theory of autoregulation of cell multiplication in a growth organ, we attempted to inhibit renal tubular cell hyperplasia in the remaining kidney 48 hours after controlateral nephrectomy. To do this we drew up a method of measurement of hyperplasia by measuring the rate of uptake of tritiated thymidine in the organ undergoing compensatory growth. We then injected renal cytosol. Whereas the rate of uptake of tritiated thymidine doubles in the growing kidney compared with control animals, the intravenous administration of renal cytosol reduces the renal uptake of the tracer to its basal level. We correlated this observation with the microscopic count of mitotic figures, and noted the existence of parallel fluctuations. Our results seem to support the initial working hypothesis but they do not exclude the possibility of a more complex regulatory mechanism in which serum stimulant factors may also play a role.


[Compensatory renal hypertrophy. II. - Search for a serum stimulant factor (author's transl)].

In order to demonstrate in the uninephrectomised rat possible circulating serum factors which might induce an increase in the rate of synthesis of DNA in the remaining kidney, we injected intravenously to 125 g rats serum from similar rats uninephrectomised 24 to 48 hours previously. The injections preceded the administration of tritiated thymidine by 13 hours (1.5 ml), 5 hours (1 ml), or 2 hours (1 ml) depending on each group. The parameter studied was the radioactivity of the acid-insoluble fraction of 100 mg of kidney. We observed in uninephrectomised animals receiving no injection of serum that the rate of uptake of the tracer in the remaining kidney doubles 48 hours after nephrectomy but this uptake by the kidneys of unoperated rats is not modified by the injection of serum from similar rats whether uninephrectomised or not. Furthermore the addition of serum from uninephrectomised rats to slices of normal kidney under incubation does not modify the rate of synthesis of DNA. All these results are not in favour of a serum factor regulating compensatory renal hypertrophy.


[Gamasid ticks from voles in the Tatar Republic].

Gamasid mites from voles and their nests were studied in the Volga-Kama state reserve. 28 species of gamasid mites are reported. The parasitic species Hypoaspis heselhausi Oudms., Haemolaelaps glasgowi (Ewing) and Laelaps hilaris Koch are most abundant. Data are given on the seasonal variations in the number of parasite and free-living species.


Laboratoire d'Hygi'ene de la Facult'e de M'edecine de Lyon Universit'e Claude-Bernard, Domaine Rockefeller, 8, avenue Rockefeller, 69373 Lyon Cedex 2 France.

The objective of this study was to investigate the false-positive reactions in the Kline, FTA200 and FTA-ABS tests in acute disseminated lupus erythematosus, polyarthritis and controls. Though the false-positive Kline tests are frequent in autoimmune diseases, false-positive FTA200 when made on non lyophilised treponema are uncommon. On the other hand, when lyophilised treponema are used as substrate for the immunofluorescence, false-positive FTA200 and FTA-ABS are more common in the patients with autoimmune diseases than in controls. The false-positives had two patterns of fluorescence "beaded" or "homogeneous". The present investigation suggests that the false-positive reactions of the beaded type are due to the presence of anti-DNA antibodies in the sera.


[Hypertensive arteriopathy: aortic histo-metabolic changes during postnatal ontogenesis in spontaneous hypertensive rats (Okamoto-Aoki strain) (author's transl)].

27 aortic histoenzymatic activities and 6 aortic macromolecular substances were comparatively studied in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar rats (3, 5, 13 and 16 month-old). The earlier aortic changes (3rd month) were only histoenzymatic: 5 Nase and LDH were increased in the entire aorta: some oxido-reductases increase near the intima. These early minor changes might represent some of the factors of the functional disturbance of the arterial smooth muscle cell. At the stage of stable hypertension (5th-13th month) two lesion patterns were seen: 1) metabolic: increase of the histoenzymatic activities involved in lipolysis, GAG anabolism, glycolysis, cell respiration, energizing metabolism and nucleotides-esterolysis. 2) Structural: cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia, interstitial fibrosis. The stimulus of the metabolic changes seems to be dual: 1) the hypertensive factor acting upon smooth muscle cells and/or vasa vasorum. 2) The intraarterial pressure increasing endothelial crossing and stimulating myocyte contraction. The structural change is more probably the reaction to elevated pressure; it has led to diffuse medial thickening providing a balance between hypertension and arterial wall stress. On the 16th month, the cell reaction developed in two ways: 1) increase of metabolic and morphogenetic activation of some cells. 2) irreversible degeneration in some other cell groups (media necrosis, cicatricial fibrosis, decrease of oxidoreductases and lipolytic activities, increase of lysosomal enzymes). Aortic lesions during spontaneous hypertension were less dramatic and occurred later than after experimental hypertension. Some of the observed histometabolic changes might lead to maintenance and worsening of hypertension.


Heterosaccharides derived from structural glycoproteins of the skin of two isogenic mouse (Mus musculus) strains C3H/He and C57BL/6.

1) Glycopeptides were prepared by pronase digestion of the urea extract of dermis of two isogenic mouse strains C3H/He and C57BL/6. 2) The major glycopeptide fractions from both strains contain, glucosamine, galactose, mannose, fucose and sialic acid. 3) The sugar composition, the behaviour on gel filtration and yields of the glycopeptides with identical electrophoretic mobilities, isolated from the two strains, were identical.


[Radioimmunoassays. Their application in toxicology (author's transl)].

The assays of toxic substances are often tedious and sometimes very difficult, due to the necessity of extraction from the biological fluids. This technical problem is avoided by radio-immuno-assay (RIA), and for this reason this methodology is increasing very rapidly in Toxicology. The authors review these RIA used presently in the field of toxic drugs and environmental polluants.


[A new method for rapid determination of blood L-lactate using an enzymatic lactate sensor (author's transl)].

We determined the lactate concentration in 112 samples of arterial blood, simultaneously by two-different technic: 1) The usual enzymatic technic (plasmatic and intracellular lactates). 2) A new technic using an enzymatic lactate sensor ("lactate analyzer 5400") which measures the plasmatic lactates only. The data obtained with the two technics were very similar (r = 0,982). The small volume of blood used and the handiness and rapidity of the new procedure are to be noted.


[Bumetanide, a new diuretic active during chronic renal failure (author's transl)].

Bumetanide is a new diuretic, which acts in the ascending limb of Henle's loop. The use of very high doses (5 to 40 mg/24 h) in 32 patients with advanced chronic renal insufficiency gave a clear diuretic effect in half the patients with a creatinine clearance of less than 3 ml/min and in 2/3 of the cases with a creatinine clearance between 3 and 10 ml/min. The efficacy of high doses of bumetanide, as well as their good tolerance shows an action of this new diuretic similar to that of furosemide.


Nosocomial transmission of group B streptococci.

Group B streptococci are an important cause of infant septicemia and meningitis. A prospective study of group B streptococcal colonization in a 300-bed community hospital disclosed rates of 29% of 297 third-trimester women, 37% of 242 newborn infants, and 45% of 22 hospital personnel. Colonized parturients were more frequently black and anemic on admission for delivery. Infant colonization was statistically associated with a positive maternal genital culture, low birthweight, and prematurity. Nosocomial transmission of group B streptococci was strongly suggested by observations that 41% of colonized infants were born to culture-negative women and such infants became colonized later in their hospital stay than did colonized infants born to colonized women. Furthermore, hospital personnel working in the labor-delivery and nursery areas had a significantly higher prevalence of the organism than did personnel from other areas. Clearly, more information is needed about the epidemiology of group B streptococcal disease before appropriate and rational control measures can be recommended.


Immunologic reconstitution in severe combined immunodeficiency following transplantation with parental bone marrow.

A 9-month-old girl with severe combined immunodeficiency was transplanted with BM cells from her father. The child had complete restoration of cell-mediated immune functions. Humoral immune functions remain absent nine months after transplant. Child and father were HL-A identical and their lymphocytes were nonreactive in mixed lymphocyte culture. The parents of the child were first cousins and shared an HL-A haplotype. In countries like Lebanon, where there is a high incidence of first-cousin marriages (15%) and where villages are relatively isolated, the search for histocompatible graft donors should extend beyond the siblings to other members of the family.


Use of the Beery Visual-Motor Integration Test with partially sighted students.

The purpose of this research was to determine the difference in performance of partially sighted and sighted students on the Beery Visual-Motor Integration Test. Since this test is only standardized on sighted students, there are no norms for partially sighted students. 60 partially sighted students, ranging in age from 6 to 18 yr., were tested on Beery's Visual-Motor Integration Test. These students did not achieve as well as Beery's norms indicate his sighted population did. The average age of the partially sighted students was 3 yr., 8 mo. below that of Beery's seeing students. Partially sighted students had greater difficulty with certain test items than Beery's normal subjects. A special test which would rank geometric forms by development stages seems needed for partially seeing students.


Sport-related attitudes and the-Philosophies of Human Nature Scale.

The revised Philosophies of Human Nature scale was presented to 94 females and 94 males to develop normative data. There were no significant sex differences in the norms. A questionnaire about sports was presented at the same time to determine relationships between the two scales. Females who claimed frequent sports participation were less likely to have an internal locus of control and were less likely to believe that human beings are complex than females who claimed infrequent participation. A comparison of those who like and dislike sports gave no significant difference for either sex on the sub-scales of Philosophies of Human Nature. The findings are consistent with previous research which generally shows little or no effect of interest or participation in sports on personality traits.


Field-dependence and facial expressions.

Facially expressive and nonexpressive subjects (40 undergraduate women) were compared on a measure of field-dependence--independence. Expressives were significantly more field-independent than non-expressives. It was suggested that both social development and the situational context play important roles in determining the effects of perceptual style on nonverbal behavior.


Bibliography: supplement to Piaget's theory and exceptional children, 1963-1973.

A 59-item supplement to the bibliography which appeared in Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1975, 41, 225-261.


Reaction times and Digit Symbol Test scores of girls identified as daydreamers by their teachers.

Reaction times and Digit Symbol scores of 14 9-yr.-old girls identified as "daydreamers" by their teachers were compared with those of 14 9-yr.-old girls not so identified. Daydreamers tended to have longer mean reaction times under all test conditions but the differences were small. The daydreamers completed significantly less of the Digit Symbol test than did the non daydreamers and also recalled significantly fewer symbols. The daydreamers had significantly larger variances for three of the four measures of outcome of the Digit Symbol test. These data support the hypothesis that girls identified as daydreamers on a questionnaire completed by their teachers did less well on certain tests of attention than girls not so identified.


Personality dimensions measured by projective techniques: a formulation based on structural analysis.

It is suggested that a better understanding and more effective use of projective techniques can be achieved by viewing each test in terms of the depth of personality assessed and its unique amalgamation of emotional and intellectual aspects of personality. With these considerations in mind, a refurbished definition of a projective test is presented and implications for the phenomenon of projection are discussed.


Field dependence in visually and nonvisually involved learning disabled children.

39 visually and nonvisually perceptually impaired 8- to 11-yr.-old boys with learning disabilities were compared with a control group of 35 "normal" learners on the Rod-and-frame and Children's Embedded-figures Tests. Previous findings of greater field dependence of learning disabled children are confounded because the experimental tasks involved visual perception. In our study the 27 "visuals" were more field-dependent than either the 12 "nonvisuals" or the controls. The latter groups did not differ significantly from one another, which may in part be a function of the small sample of nonvisual children identified. Alternative explanations, e.g., the visual nature of the field-dependence measures and the lack of reading difficulty of the nonvisual group, are considered. For the visually disabled Ss only Vocabulary scores, suggesting that among such children those with higher verbal intelligence may be more field-independent.


Copulatory behavior of pine voles (Microtus pinetorum).

7 male and 6 female pine voles, Microtus pinetorum, were observed in a total of 26 tests of copulatory behavior. They displayed a pattern with no lock intravaginal thrusting, ejaculation possible on a single insertion, and multiple ejaculations. The first ejaculatory series required approximately 5 min, with a mean of five intromissions and 36 thrusts. Post-ejaculatory intervals following the first series averaged 16 min. and increased in successive series.


Cytochalasin B: evidence for a membrane-directed action in B-cells from rat pancreatic islets.

In the presence of cytochalasin B (CCB) concentrations from 50 to 200 mug/ml there is a dose-dependant inhibition of insulin release from isolated rat pancreatic islets. Inhibition is unspecific with respect to glucose, leucine, tolbutamide or theophylline and is reversible. Production of 14CO2 from uniformly labeled D-glucose is decreased. Islets pretreated with an high (200 mug/ml) or low (10 mug/ml) CCB dose release more insulin in response to a subsequent glucose or leucine stimulus in a CCB free medium compared with controls. The data are compatible with a membrane-directed action of CCB.


An examination of the xenon clearance method.

A definition of cortical and juxta-medullary regions is suggested based on a grouping of nephrons of common flow characteristics. A possible error is suggested in the xenon clearance method of measuring the regional flows. Experiments to test the source of error and its magnitude are described. It is concluded that while the error is present its effect on conventional component analysis is small.