[Features of the cerebral electrical activity of parents whose children suffer schizophrenia].

A study of the brain bioelectroactivity in 107 parents (62 mothers and 45 fathers) of schizophrenic children permitted to detect in the cortical rhythms of the parents an increased frequency of the encountered signs which are significantly more often seen in the EEG of schizophrenic patients. A quantitative distrubtion of such signs and their systemic combinations appeared to be different when comparing the EEG of fathers and mothers of the patients. The achieved data may be considered as supplementary proof supporting the concept of the role of hereditary factors in the etiologh of the disease.


[Comparative analysis of attack-like schizophrenia in light of remote catamnesis in old age].

On the basis of a comparative clinico-catamestic study of 193 patients with attack-like schizophrenia and a different degree of progressiveness the authors describe the most common traits in the development of the attack-like process. The report contains data related to different tendecines in the course of the disease, its age dynamics and some correlations between the degree of progressiveness and separate clinical parameters. It was established that the most expressed negative personality changes are formed in the initial periods of the disease and to a large extent determine the traits in the course of the disease.


[Pathogenesis of progressive forms of tick-borne encephalitis].

An analysis of the pathogenesis of progressive forms of tick-borne encephalitis based on observations of 109 patients revealed the existence of similar amounts of progressive forms in different endemic foci, as well as a dependence of such forms on the syndrome of the acute period. It was possible to demonstrate a transformation of progressive syndromes in dynamics. The outcome of syndromes in a progressive development are phenocopies of the known hereditary diseases of the nervous system. The clinical forms of progressive development are determined mainly by hereditary factors. Their appearance is due to an immune defect which facilitates the development of a persisting infection. Hopeful results are provided by specific and nonspecific vaccinotherapy.


[Effectiveness of the resorptive treatment of leptomeningitis (experimental study)].

An introduction into the major cistern of the cranial ground of sterile talc to 134 rabbits artificially created a model of leptomeningitis. The talc evoked proliferative reactions of fiber and cellular structures adjacent to the area of pia mater. Treatment by 1 or 2 sessions of lydase, pyrogenal, bijochinol, bijochinol in combination with radiation therapy led to a significant decrease of the fibroplastic changes in the pia mater and liquordynamic pyrogenal. Bijochinol therapy did not exert any special effect. The convened studies confirm the effectiveness of resorptive therapy, thus permitting to recommend this form of therapy for the treatment of patients with arachnoiditis (leptomeningitis).


[Serum antibodies to cytoplasmic antigens of the human brain in patients with multiple sclerosis and amyotropic lateral sclerosis].

In order to eliminate antibodies to water soluble proteins of the human brain which were preliminary divided into 10 fractions of DEAE-cellulose, the authors studied the serum of 30 patients with disseminated sclerosis and 30 patients with lateral amyotrophical sclerosis and determined their antithymic serum activity. The antibides were detected only to protein fractions 1,2 and 10. There was a tendency towards a more frequent detection of antibodies with an increase of the severity of the disease. It was not possible to determine antibodies with an increase of the severity of the disease. It was not possible to determine any correlation between the amount of antibodies and such clinical indices as the degree of severity, duration, form of the disorder, age and sex of the patients. The cytotoxic index of the patients was significantly higher than that in normals. The authors also found a correlation between the antibodies in the serum cytoplasmatic brain proteins and antithymic activity of the same sera.


[Experience with the use of cyclophosphamide in multiple sclerosis].

The effect of cyclophosphamid on the development of disseminated sclerosis was studied in 85 patients. For this purpose the authors used a special scale for the assessment of neurological expressions of the disease and the remote results of treatment. The effectiveness depended mainly on the degree of severity. Satisfactory results directly following treatment were attained in patients with light and middle degrees of disseminated sclerosis. A significant regress of pathological signs on behalf of the motor (28%), sensory (37%) spheres and cranial innervation (38%) was marked. The remote results (after 6--12 months) point to the absence of development of the process. The use of cyclophosphamides was accompanied by a drop in the level of gamma-globulins in the blood serum of patients with disseminated sclerosis.


[Changes in the nervous system in acute oral chlorophos poisoning (clinical and pathomorphologic findings)].

In 136 patients with acute peroral poisoning by chlorofos with a light, moderate and severe degree there were symptoms of muscarine-nicotinelike action in the early periods of intoxication. In the postintoxicational period polyneuritis and astheno-vegetative syndromes could develop. There were also pathomorphological changes in the different parts of the nervous system detected in autopsy cases and characterized by perivascular and parenchymatous swelling and changes of the nervous cells of the brain and spinal cord of the type of acute disturbances. In some of the nervous cells there was a lysis of the cellular body and nucleus.


[State of the nervous system following acute chlorophos poisoning].

The authors describe the clinical traits of myeloradiculopolyneuritis (2 cases) and encephalopolyneuritis (1 case) developing 2--3 weeks following acute poisoning by chlorofos. Along with a distinct toxic polyneuritic syndrome there were also signs of pathology in the spinal cord and brain, as well as in the internal organs in the forms of toxic hepatitis and nephritis. The report contains data indicating a protracted development of the pathology, its direct dependence upon the depth of intoxication and disordered consciousness in the acute period. The authors express the opinion that in the described pathology there may be autoallergic mechanisms in the formation of myeloradiculopolyneuritis and encephalopolyneuritis following poisoning by chlorofos.


[Clinical and echoencephalographic diagnosis of lesions of the frontal lobe in the acute period of severe cranio-cerebral injury].

An analysis of clinical and echoencephalographic studies in 100 patients permitted the author to detect a dependency between the clinical signs of frontal lobe lesions and the mechanisms of the inflicted trauma. A clarification of the character of the traumatic injury of the frontal lobe (contusion or contusion-crush) is very important inasmuch as it determines the medical tactics in relation to treatment. According to the data of the author, patients with contusions of the frontal lobes require conservative treatment, while in traumatical crushing of the frontal lobes surgical treatment may be frequently necessary.


[Use of a photoelectronic device for recording micromovements of the eyes in neurologic clinical practice].

A photoelectronic device was used to record micromovements of the eyes in 110 patients with disorders of the functions of the oculomotor apparatus (myasthenia, myopathia, malignant exophthalm, basal paralysis, nuclear paralysis, cerebral tumours). The number of spontaneous leaps, their direction, amplitude and the rate of reflex and spontaneous leaps were counted up; on the basis of this an assymetry coefficient which made it possible to qualitatively evaluate the degree of the oculomotor apparatus affection was calculated, this plays a significant part in neurological practice.


[Several indices of the functional state of the pituitary--adrenal cortex system in chronic alcoholism].

The adrenal cortex functional activity in males with alcoholsim of the 2nd stage (128 cases) in respect to the production of glucocorticoids and mineral-corticoids is decreased. The biosynthesis of androgens, as can be seen by the 17-KS urine excretion, is increased. Abstinence from alcohol during treatment with teturam in combination with neuroleptical drugs was accompanied by an increased elimination of glucocorticoids and a normalization of the metabolic indices of the main electrolytes. In all the examined cases of alcoholism with the 2nd stage irrespective of the duration of the disease there was an increased amount of androgens, possibly as a compensatory reaction to metabolic disturbances, due to chronic alcoholic intoxication.


[State of peripheral and cerebral circulation in patients with chronic alcoholism according to rheovasographic and rheoencephalographic findings].

The paper is related to some vegeto-vascular dysfunctions which were detected in chronic alcoholic patients. These disorders were expressed in a decrease of the repletion intensity of the cerebral vessels and fingers of the hands; an increased tone of the small arteries and arterioles, a drop of the elasticity of the rascular wall and an increase of the peripheral resistance. It was also possible to mark disturbances of the venous outflow. The author is of the opinion that there is a regional hypertension in the small arteries and arterioles.


[Clinical heterogeneity of consciousness disorders in the mussitational variant of delirium tremens].

A clinical study of 183 patients detected the absence of a syndromological uniformity in the mussitative variant of delirium tremens. The dynamical clinical picture of psychosis may include during one of the stages of its development a delirious-amentive syndrome, short-time amentive states and oniric experiences. The seen variants of disordered consciousness have a tendency to a transition to clouded forms which subsequentive lead to a significant drop of socio-labour capacity making such disorders prognostically extremely significant. An analysis of "lucid periods" in this contingent demonstrated their affinity to one of the mild forms of disordered consciousness.


[Significance of personality characteristics for the clinical picture and treatment of alcoholism].

The authors examined 118 patients with chronic alcoholism. Taking into consideration the typological personality traits all the patients were divided into 3 groups: cycloid (39 cases), asthenical (41 cases) and hystero-explosive (38 cases). Each group was characterized by distinct clinical traits of alcoholism in their separate symptoms, as well as in the development of the disease as a whole. The authors also distinguish differences in the treatment effectivity of all 3 groups.


[Basic principles and trends in the intensive therapy of severe forms of alcoholic delirium].

The paper presents therapeutical results of 105 patients with severe forms of alcoholic delirium who were treated by intensive therapeutical methods in a specialized department. The main trends of the intensive therapy were the following: discontinuation of psychomotor excitation and general hyperkinesia, the treatment of respiration disturbances and massive infusion therapy. As a result, in 87 patients of 105 the psychotic condition was ceasted 12--24 hours after the beginning of the treatment.


["Search strategy" in solving verbal logic problems by schizophrenic patients].

In a solution of logical tasks of a deductive character by normals and patients with paranoid schizophrenia, the latter find solutions in less than half of the cases. They attract a great amount of questions, the character of which are more concrete with an accent on "weak" signs rather than general. The patients do not display adequate plans in solving such tasks, the search of the semantic field is narrow. Assumingly there is a disorder of the structure and ierarchy of information kept in the brain.


[Basic patterns in the formation of sluggish schizophrenia according to epidemiologic findings].

The study is based on clinico-epidemiological data concerning sluggish schizophrenia revealed in 214 patients. Conclusions of the formation of a slowly progressive process are made by a retrospective clinical analysis of the disease from the initial period, to the ordinal transition of syndromes, up to the moment of the interview. The unification of the assessment of the present state was accomplished with the aid of a glossary of syndromes. Despite the clinical variants of sluggish schizophrenia the author established some general regularities in the development of the disease with 3 stages. In such forms of the process during the 2nd stage the clinical variability disappears and is substituted by monomorphity. The negative symptoms appear early during the first stage but during decades they may remain hidden by vividly expressed pseudoneurotic and psychopath-like syndromes.


[Effect of irradiation on the character of mental disorders observed in patients subjected to surgery on account of laryngeal neoplasms].

The paper deals with a description of mental disorders seen in patients who had been operated for larynx cancer and who were subsequently subjected to radiotherapy. It is shown that there is a certain dependence of the structure of psychopathological changes on the doses and duration or radiation (prior to and following the operation). The author stresses the fact that radiotherapy is one of the significant factors creating a pathologically changed basis and provoking the appearance of mental disorders.


[Mutagenic activity of luminal and pyrazidol].

The mutagenic activity of two psychotropic preparations luminal and pyrazidol was studied. It was shown that luminal is capable of indicing chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells of mice as well as dominant lethal mutations in postmeiotic stages of spermiogenesis. This allows one to consider it as genetically dangerous. Pyrazidol did not show any mutagenic activity in the studied test objects. These data must be taken into account when treating individuals who are still in the reproductive period of life.


[Antigenic composition of protein fractions of the human cerebral cortex extracted by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose].

In fractionating a phosphate protein extract from the human brain cortex on DEAE-cellulose 10 fractions of the basic acid proteins were received. Analyses of these fractions were conducted by the method of disc electrophoresis in polyacridamide gel with dodecylsulphate Na and a subsequent separate staining of the desitograms of proteins and glycoproteins, precipitation in agar gel, immunoelectrophoresis and autoimmunography with the use of labeled I125 antibodies to rabbit gamma-globulin. In the first 2 basic fractions there were brain specific antigens with electrophoretic mobility of the beta2--gamma globulin. In the first acid fraction--2 antigens: alpha1-globulin and alpha2-globulin of a glycoprotein nature. In subsequent acid fractions--one antigen with a mobility of alpha1-globulin. A study of the antigen activity of these fractions in a complement fixation test on cold with the serum of schizophrenic patients and disseminated sclerosis depicted differences in the activity of the basic and acid fractions.


[Clinical picture of cranio-cerebral trauma combined with trauma to the cervical region of the spine].

On the basis of 60 observations the peculiarites of clinical manifestations of skull-brain injuries combined with trauma of the cervical vertebrae are described. It is demonstrated that in such cases the syndrome of the cerebral lesion often plays the leading part, masking the symptoms of the spinal cord injury. The disorders in circulation in the vertebral-basilar system due to the compression of the vertebral artery canal by the dislodged fragments, its thrombosis, and irritation of the periarterial sympathetic plexus are of importance in the genesis of the developing syndrome in the rombencephalic portion of the brain. In the mechanism of vestibular disorders a certain place belongs, apart from the direct traumatization of the rombencephalic portion and circulation disorders in the vertebral-basilar system, to injuries of the vestibulospinal pathways. The autonomous-visceral pathology observed in cases of cervical injuries can be attributed to the direct effect of the trauma upon the segmental innervation appratus of the heart, diaphragm, thorax.


[Cerebral vascular changes in severe cranio-cerebral trauma according to angiographic findings].

Modern radiocontrast methods of examination of the vascular system permit to reveal both morphological and functional alterations in the vascular architectonics. Angiographic studies were undertaken in 49 patients with severe craniocerebral injuries. The analysis of the angiogrammes revealed distinct changes in the number, position, shape and lumen of the cerebral vassels depending on the injury focus or brain compression.


[Results of surgery for occlusion hydrocephalus of different etiology in children].

The immediate and late results of ventriculocysternostomy performed in children with occlusive hydrocephalus of an inflammatory (67), neoplastic (183) and parasitic (1) genesis are presented. The conducted analysis of the results has proved that the procedure dramatically improves the state of the patients. The mortality and long-term prognosis after the operation mainly depend on the severity of the underlying pathology. In occlusive hydrocephalus of an inflammatory genesis the operation usually results in recovery. In occlusive hydrocephalus due to a tumour the operation permits to prolong the patient's life for as much as over 5 years.


[Experience with the use of hyperbaric oxygenation in neurosurgical clinical practice].

Hyperbaric oxygenation proved an effective means of hypoxia control in the central nervous system of neurosurgical patients, which manifested itself mostly in a regression of the general cerebral and focal neurological symptoms. The most striking effect of hyperbaric ocygenation was received in cases of complications following cerebrovascular procedures. At the same time signs of normalization of the bioelectrical activity of the brain and of an elevated tonicity of the intracranial vessels were observed. The electrophysiological control of the functional state of the body helps to choose an optimum regimen and to avoid the possible side effects of oxygen toxicity under elevated pressure.


[Clinico-physiologic analysis of the effect of decompressing the cerebrospinal fluid system in children with hydrocephalus].

Changes in vascular tonicity and blood filling in the brain were studied in 26 children with occlusive hydrocephalus during ventricular punctures and following surgical elimination of the occlusion. The nature of the reactive changes in the tonicity and blood filling of the cerebral and peripheral vessels was found to be different in response to the draining of the CSF system depending on the level of thebrain lesion. Following ventricular punctures with CSF draining the majority of the examined demonstrated a normalization of their elevated tonicity of the cerebral vessels and a disappearance of hampered venous drainage. The dynamics of the vascular responses developing under the effect of dehydration agents is characterized by the maximum response 30-50 min following the administration of the drug and by a gradual restoration of the initial state some 2-2 1/2 hours later.


[Blood supply of intracranial meningiomas involving the cavernous sinus].

The normal topographic-anatomic interrelationships of the cavernous sinus and its structures were studied in 12 preparations of pathology-free brains removed from the skull en bloc with the meninges and the skull base bones. In 14 cases of fatal sphenoidal wings meningiomas of the medial and total variants the microsurgical anatomy of these tumorus was studied by polychromatic injection of cerebral and tumourous vessels with a subsequent macro-micro preparation. The peculiarites of the interrelationship between the tumour and the cavernous sinus with its structures and the major vesels, and the blood supply sources to the tumour were revealed. Contraindications for total exirpation of the tumours were precised, and the necessity of microsurgical technique was substantiated.


[Micromovements of the eyes in isolated pareses and paralyses of the abducens and oculomotor nerves].

Micromovements of the eye were studied in 18 patients with immobile point fixation, without a point, with an extreme eye abduction. A reduction of the number of involuntary saccades attributable to the paralyzed muscle, and increase in frequency and in the amplitude of the drift were revealed. The above changes in the micromotions of the eye correlate with the volume of the movement; the less the volume of the movement, the less the number of saccades and the larger the amplitude and the frequency of the drift. At the same time the characteristics of fast movements changed (involuntary jerks, reflex saccades and and saccades of the extreme position), the latter also correlating with the volume of the movements; along with the reduction of the volume of the movement the amplitude was decreasing as low as disappearing.


[Cranio-cerebral hypothermia in the treatment of patients with cranio-cerebral injuries].

Within a set of therapeutic measures the authors employed cranio-cerebral hypthermia with the aid of an air hypotherm in 56 patients with severe skull-brain trauma. The temperature of the convexital cortex was reduced in the majority of cases to 28-30 degrees C, the rectal temperature being preserved at 33-34 degrees C. It was found that craniocerebral hypothermia should be employed in skull-brain injury patients as soon as the presence of a space-occupying intracranial formation requiring a surgical intervention is excluded, or immediately thereafter. The reduction of cerebral metabolism during the colling can be indirectly demonstrated by EEG changes and evoked potentials recordings.


Regulation of ornithine decarboxylase and S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase in regenerating rat liver by various amines: Evidence for translational control.

The activity of ornithine decarboxylase in regenerating rat liver could be completely or partially inhibited in vivo by a single intraperitoneal injection of various amines. Un physiological, 1,3-diaminopropane depressed most effectively the activity of ornithine decarboxylase. It depressed also the activity of adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, which was not inhibited by other amines. The activity of tyrosine aminotransferase was invariably stimulated by injection of the amines. Cycloheximide caused a rapid decay of the activity of liver ornithine decarboxylase (half-life 15 min) and also a decay of the activity of adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (half-life 36 min). 1,3-Diaminopropane inhibited the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (half-life 13 min) and to lesser extent also the activity of adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (half-life 120 min). On the contrary, alpha-amanitin did not have any effect on the activity of the decarboxylases. These experiments are consistent with the view that diamines and spermidine might conceivably control the activity of ornithine decarboxylase in regenerating rat liver in vivo at steps beyond transcription. It is also possible that 1,3-diaminopropane similarly controls the activity of adenosylmethionine decarboxylase thus suggesting that the synthesis of ornithine and adenosylmethionine decarboxylases may be coordinatively regulated in liver.


The relationship between disposition and duration of action of congeneric series of steroidal neuromuscular blocking agents.

The renal and hepatic elimination and biotransformation, as well as the relation between disposition and duration of action of pancuronium and two of its analogues, dacuronium and ORG.6368, have been investigated in the cat. In pharmacokinetic studies, appreciable amounts of the latter two compounds were found in the urine, bile and liver 8 h after their intravenous administration. Various proportions of the injected dose of the respective drugs were metabolized. In another series of experiments it was shown that the early hepatic uptake (during the first 3 min after the injection) of ORG.6368 was significantly greater than that of dacuronium and pancuronium. The intensity and duration of action of the neuromuscular blocking effect of the three compounds were studied after intravenous and "close" intraarterial injection. On the basis of these pharmacokinetic and neuromuscular studies, it was concluded that the short duration of action of ORG.6368 is due primarily to its early hepatic uptake. The possibility cannot be excluded, however, that differences in the kinetics of the drug action of ORG.6368 and the other two compounds also contributed significantly to the differences seen in the duration of action of these compounds.


Transplacental passage of ketamine after intravenous administration.

This study was designed to measure how fast and at what concentrations ketamine would enter the foeto-placental circulation, when administered intravenously to 10 healthy mothers immediately before forceps delivery, which was indicated by a delayed second stage of labour. It is shown that ketamine very rapidly passes the placenta, and that ketamine levels in cord blood exceed the levels in the maternal venous blood as early as 1 min 37 s after the injection. The ketamine levels in cord blood reach a maximum in the period 1 min 37 s to 2 min 5 s after the injection. Later they show a tendency to decline. A short-lasting, marked elevation of blood pressure was produced by the ketamine anaesthesia. Two of the newborn showed low Apgar scores at 1 min. In one of them this was probably attributable to the anaesthesia.


Central venous cannulation: A radiological determination of catheter positions and immediate intrathoracic complications.

The incidence of immediate complications on inserting central venous catheters into 475 patients is reported. The catheter positions were verified by X-rays. Six different insertion routes were used. Central venous cannulation via the right internal jugular vein is recommended because of the high incidence of satisfactory catheter positions and the small number of puncture complications with this route.


Segmental epidural analgesia and urinary excretion of catecholamines during labour.

Urinary excretion of catecholamines was determined separately during the first stage of labour and during the period from the beginning of the second stage until 1/2 h after delivery in 16 healthy mothers, whose labours were induced at term. Seven mothers were given segmental epidural analgesia, at the height of TH10-12, to achieve complete pain relief during the first stages of labour. The remaining parturients served as controls. During the first stage of labour the urinary excretion rate of catecholamines was at the normal nongravid rest level in both groups. During the second stage, and 1/2 h after the delivery, the amount of urinary catecholamines increased significantly in both groups. The latter values corresponded to the amounts of catecholamines excreted during heavy physicial work.


Respiration, circulation and anaesthetic management in obesity. Investigation before and after jejunoileal bypass.

Some ventilatory and circulatory parameters were studied in 17 very obese patients before and after weight reduction following jejunoileal bypass. A low vital capacity and signs of impaired lung function with intrapulmonary shunting, increased alveolar-arterial Po2 difference and low Pao2 were found. Although the spirometric values improved significantly after weight reduction, the ventilatory disturbance persisted. A normal response to inhalation of CO2 was seen. The total blood volume was high and did not change after weight reduction. However, if calculated as blood volume per kg body weight, the values were lower than normal, and they increased as a consequence of weight reduction. Cardiac output was slightly lower than normal in relation to oxygen consumption. Total peripheral resistance was normal. Arterial blood pressure, which was in the high normal range preoperatively, decreased significantly after weight reduction. Total doses of intravenous anaesthetic agents and muscle relaxants were the same as for patients of normal weight. The importance of preoperative evaluation and of respiratory care of obese patients undergoing elective surgery is stressed.


General anaesthesia or lumbar epidural block for caesarean section? Effects on the foetal heart rate.

Caesarean section was performed in 10 patients under general anaesthesia and in 10 other patients under epidural block. The foetal heart rate was monitored continuously during anaesthesia and operation with a scalp electrode and a cardiotocograph. There was no major difference between the two anaesthetic techniques in their effect on the foetal heart rate. The most common finding was a reduction of the beat-to-beat variation. The operative time was longer in the epidural group than in the general anaesthesia group, due to a higher frequency of Pfannenstiel incisions and repeat caesarean sections in the epidural group. Clinically, all newborns seemed to be unaffected, with normal Apgar scores. Epidural block seems to be a good alternative to general anaesthesia for caesarean section, particularly when a long operative time is expected.


Comparison of electrocardiographic changes during microlaryngoscopy under halothane anaesthesia induced by althesin or thiopentone.

The incidences of electrocardiographic (ECG) changes during microlaryngoscopy under halothane anaesthesia were compared by using Althesin and thiopentone as induction agents. During the procedure the most common ECG change in both groups was junctional rhythm, which occurred in 37% of the patients in the Althesin group and in 29% of the patients in the thiopentone group. The next most common changes in the Althesin group were: ventricular ectopic beats (22%), ischaemic S-T segment depression (14%), and T wave flattening or inversion (14%); those in the thiopentone group were ventricular ectopic beats (18%) and rapidly ascending S-T segment depression (12%). As well as during the procedures, some ECG changes were registered in both groups during intubation. ECG changes disappeared without any special treatment after manipulation of the vocal cords or after intubation. There was no statistically significant difference in the total incidence of dysrhythmias between the Althesin and thiopentone groups, but the types of dysrhythmias were different in the two groups. There were more lower nodal rhythms, less serious ectopic beats and more ischaemic S-T segment depression in the Althesin group than in the thiopentone group. The results suggest that Althesin is useful and superior to thiopentone in patients with a tendency to develop serious ventricular ectopic beats, whereas in patients with heart and coronary arterial disease, Althesin is inferior to thiopentone and should be used with care.


Number of Purkinje cells and Bergmann astrocytes in rats with CCl4--induced liver disease.

The nuclei of Purkinje cells and Bergmann astrocytes were counted on sagittal sections from cerebellum and the length of stratum gangliosum was measured in rats with CCl4-induced liver disease, using an electronic image analyzer. After 8 weeks of CCl4-administration a reduction was found in the number of Purkinje cells, many of which showed homogenizating changes. Ten weeks after termination of the administration period the number of Purkinje cells was reduced by 12 percent. The number of Bergmann astrocytes remained significantly increased after 8 weeks of CCl4-administration (max. 20 per cent). The changes of Purkinje cell and Bergmann astrocyte density developed during the period of severe liver necrosis, whereas only minor changes were found in the ensuing period of liver "cirrhosis". In the perfusion fixed specimens, the Bergmann astrocyte nuclei increased in volume up to 65 per cent and immersion fixed brains showed typical Alzheimer type II nuclear changes. The impact of the increased plasma ammonia concentration on the astrocytes is discussed.


Thrombogenic intracranial vasculitis in tuberculous meningitis. A 20 year "post mortem" survey.

The pathological features of twenty-three cases of tuberculous meningitis, examined over a twenty year period are reported. Ten cases, diagnosed clinically, were treated; thirteen undiagnosed cases were not treated. Phlebitis was found in twenty-two and arteritis of varying degrees in twenty. Tuberculous thrombophebitis was observed in eight cases and haemorrhagic infarction was present in ten. One case showed thrombosis in the territory of the mid-cerebral artery with ipsilateral white infarction; four presented white infarctions which were attributed to end- or panarteritic changes. previous descriptions of intracranial tuberculous thrombosis are briefly reviewed. Possible consequences of this vasculitis are mentioned.


Glial and neuronal alteration in the corpus striatum or fats with CCl4--induced liver disease. A quantitative morphological study using an electronic image analyzer.

The density and size of astrocyte-, oligodendrocyte-and neurone nuclei in corpus striatum were determined in rats with CCl4-induced liver encephalopathy by means of an electronic image analyzer. After 8 weeks of CCl4-administration, the astrocyte number had nearly doubled, and astrocytes with increased nuclear size qppeared. After 20 weeks, a reduction (appr. 25 per cent) was found in the number of nerve cells and oligodendrocytes. The total number of glial cells, however, was unchanged during the experiment; this demonstrates the need of performing differential counts when evaluating gliosis. Probably, a part of the increase in the number of astrocytes was due to a transformation from precursor cells, usually classified as oligodendrocytes. The increased number and size of astrocyte nuclei are probably connected with an enhanced astrocyte metabolic capacity due to alterations in the ammonia and amino acid metabolism.


[Neurological complications of infectious mononucleosis (author's transl)].

The authors report three different and rare forms of neurological complication associated with infectious mononucleosis. The first two, which are faily unusual in their clinical signs, occurred during the course of two typical cases of mononucleosis, one in the form of progressively regressive myelitis and the other in that of amyotrophic paralysis of the shoulder. The third occurred in isolation, after an encephalitic attack combined with a state of epileptic mal, with no other accompanying infectious sign. On the basis of these three single cases, and recent data in the literature about the Epstein-Barr virus, the authors briefly recapitulate the neurological clinical forms of infectious monouncleosis and the means of serological diagnosis; they discuss the frequency and pathogeny of these complications and tentatively suggest certain similarities with other nervous disorders observed in the course of proliferative or dysglobulinaemic diseases.


Platelet aggregation and fibrinolytic activity in transient cerebral ischemia.

The present study was performed in 34 patients with transient cerebral ischemia, TCI. Twenty-four of the patients were examined angiographically. Atherosclerotic abnormalities were demonstrated in 13 and a total occlusion of the interior carotid artery was found in one patient. The angiograms were normal in 10 patients. One patient suffered from hyperlipoproteinemia, type IV, and one from diabetes mellitus. The platelet aggregation in vitro was increased significantly, as more patients than normal controls showed secondary aggregation with low ADP-concentration: less than or equal to 1 mumol (p less than 0.001). The fibrinolytic capacity was significantly reduced (p less than 0.01) but not particularly in the patients with increased tendency for platelet aggregation. No correlation found between changes in platelet aggregation, the fibrinolytic activity and the angiographic findings. The results described may favor the concept that a prophylactic use of drug excerting an antiaggregation effect on platelets might be useful in patients suffering from TCI.


[Stereoscopic perception. Probable intervention of pulvinar neurons in the cat (author's transl)].

With the aid of a programme of automatic analysis it has been possible to determine the visual fields of each eye in the case of binocular cells in the pulvinar, lateral-posterior and supageniculate nuclei. The visual properties determined by stimulation of one eye were often similar to those of the other eye. By an objective method of determination of the centre of activity of the receptive fields it was possible to measure disparities between large fields of neurons of these structures. These disparities are compatible with the intervention of these associative nuclei of the postero-lateral thalamus in the mechanisms in stereoscopic vision.


Postural reflexes in cranial muscles in man.

Using electromyographic recording techniques, tonic neck reflexes and tonic labyrinth reflexes have been analysed in cranial muscles of healthy man. The frontalis and orbicularis oculi (pars orbitalis) muscles are the site of positional reflexes of cervical origin, which are involved in the control of eyelid position during head movements. At a mandibular level, postural influences are set up in the masseter and digastric muscles upon ventral and dorsal flexion of the head. Their reciprocal character contrasts with the lack of evidence concerning reciprocal proprioceptive jaw reflexes. The genioglossal muscle is the site of an intense postural activity when the head is flexed dorsally. The latter influences appear related to the preservation of free air passage to the lungs.


Short and long term effects of methyl- and ethylnitrosourea (MNU & ENU) on the developing nervous system of the rat. II. Short term effects: concluding remarks on chemical neuro-oncogenesis.

The cytotoxic action of various single doses of MNU and ENU on developing neural and extraneural tissues was studied at different stages of development. Examination revealed lethal damage. (L.I.) and mitotic inhibition (M.I.), confined to proliferating cells only, and caused by the number of alkyl groups administered. In studying the duration of M.I. a difference was found in duration of the cell cycle arrest after MNU or ENU. The arrest lasted longer for MNU than for ENU, and the neural tissues turned out to be more sensitive than the extraneural ones. Moreover, among the reappearing mitotic figures abnormal ones were noticed frequently. After pulse-labeling with thymidine this arrest could be traced to take place in or before entering the S-phase. During the period of this arrest a low, but specific, activity was found that might point to the existence of repair-processes in vivo. Finally, we directly demonstrated alkylations in tissue-sections by the use of (14C-methyl)-MNU. High radioactivity was found with a random distribution over the various tissues, cell types and even cellular compartments. Therefore--in contrast with the cytotoxic effects--alkylation seems to occur in all cell types. In conclusion, it seems justified to consider the matrices of proliferating cells in the central nervous system as the target tissue-areas for the carcinogenic action of both MNU and ENU. Re-entrance of these damaged cells into their cycle prior to the elimination of altered bases from DNA might be of great importance for the problem of oncogenesis.


The prognosis of ischemic stroke in young adults.

The report provides prognostic information on 60 patients (aged 16 to 40 years) with ischemic stroke. Immediate mortality from stroke is low and long-term mortality is due to other causes than cerebrovascular disease. The recovery from neurological deficits is good except for patients with occlusions of the internal carotic artery or the proximal parts of the middle cerebral artery. Reinfarction is rare (about 0.5 per cent annually) and other late neurological complications do not seriously affect long-term prognosis. More than 80 per cent of the patients will be able to resume work on a full or part-time basis.


The effect of intraarterial administered aminophylline on cerebral hemodynamics in man.

The dose-effect relationship of intracarotid administered aminophylline on cerebral hemodynamics in man was investigated by means of an intraarterial 133Xenon injection method. A dose dependent vasoconstriction was clearly demonstrated. The maximum efficacy expressed as measured decreased in global cerebral blood flow was 21.9 per cent +/- 6.2 SD. Administration of as little as 1 mg aminophylline produced a measureable vasoconstriction.


Changes in cisternal fluid potassium concentration following cardiac arrest.

The purpose of this study was to measure the changes in potassium concentration in human cisternal cerebrospinal fluid following successful resuscitation after cardiac arrest. We also wished to examine whether or not changes in potassium concentration in the cisternal cerebrospinal fluid  could be correlated to the ability to regain normal cerebral function. 41 patients were studied, of whom 20 regained consciousness and 21 did not. In those who did not regain consciousness there was a significant increase in the potassium concentration found in samples obtained between 40 and 50 min, and between 50 and 60 min after cardiac arrest. The potassium concentration decreased to normal values during the following hours. Lumbar spinal fluid did not reflect the changes in cisternal fluid. The  results suggest that the potassium  concentration of cisternal cerebrospinal fluid, obtained soon after cardiac arrest, might give an indication of the degree of cerebral damage caused by cardiac arrest.


Brain infarction in young adults (with particular reference to pathogenesis).

Sixty-four young adults (aged 16 to 40 years) with ischemic stroke were analyzed in retrospect with regard to possible pathogenetic mechanisms. In older patients various predisposing factors emerge (arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia etc.) which are rare among younger age groups. In patients lacking predisposing causes the stroke incidence exhibits a seasonal variation. It is suggested that infection may be important for the development of ischemic stroke.


Electrophoretic study of the cerebrospinal fluid proteins of a patient with multiple sclerosis and recurrent meningitis (with rhinorrhea).

Case report on a 33 year old multiple sclerosis patient showing recurrent meningitis with an episode of rhinorrhea. The emphasis was put on the protein electrophoresis patterns.


Homocarnosinosis. 3. Spinal fluid amino acids in familial spastic paraplegia.

Increased concentration of CSF homocarnosine has recently been found in a family with spastic paraplegia. CSF homocarnosine was therefore determined in 13 patients from other families with familial spastic paraplegia. Also examined were seven patients from families where the constellation of symptoms and signs was more complex, but also comprised spastic paraplegia, and five patients with non-familial spastic paraplegia. No changes were found in homocarnosine level. In one patient with spastic familial paraplegia clear elevation of threonine in the CSF was found. The affected brother showed no such abnormality. CSF homocarnosine elevation is thus no common denominator in familial spastic paraplegia.


Endurance test as index of paresis in patients with multiple sclerosis.

This study has been performed to evaluate slight pareses in patients with multiple sclerosis by means of mechanical endurance experiments. The results are compared with manual grading of pareses in patients and with healthy controls. On average, concordance was found between manual and mechanical estimation but the method is not advantageous for clinical purposes.


Short and long term effects of methyl- and ethylnitrosourea (MNU & ENU) on the developing nervous system of the rat. I. Long term effects: the induction of (multiple) gliomas.

Single injections on ENU to WAG-rats were given in the perinatal period and repeated injections of MNU to adult WAG-rats. In the tables illustrating the various experiments, the occurrence of tumors is given for each animal; the tumors are classified according to their sites. For the brain tumors a subdivision is made between those macroscopically visible and those discovered only under microscopy. It is noteworthy that the ratio between neural and extraneural tumors in the perinatally exposed animals is rather constant (about 90 and 10 per cent, respectively). In the experiments on young adult rats neural tumors still predominate, but estraneural ones rise to about 40 per cent. The incidence of neural tumors is impressively high in perinatal induction experiments (greater than 95 per cent). Almost all CNS tumors showed the characteristics of oligodendrogliomas; highly differentiated in the smaller tumors and more anaplastic with regressive changes in the larger ones.


Neurofibrillary accumulation in the zebra (Equus burchelli).

Two young zebra siblings from consecutive pregnancies suffered from neurological disease, characterized by ventral deviation of the neck and tetraparesis which progressed to tetraplegia within a few weeks. On histological examination widespread neuronal degeneration was observed in the ventral horns of the spinal cord and in the lower brain stem. Ultrastructurally the neuronal degeneration was characterized by accumulation of neurofibrillary material resembling neurofilaments. The findings are compared to other diseases with neurofibrillary accumulation in man and animals.


Axon reaction in the red nucleus of the rat. Perikaryal volume changes and the time course of chromatolysis following cervical and thoracic lesions.

Two groups of 60 day old male Wistar Rats were subjected to right-sided rubro-spinal tractotomy at the fourth cervical and thirteenth thoracic vertebral levels respectively. Four animals in each group were sacrificed at each of the time intervals 1, 3, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 55 days. Counts of chromatolytic neurons from both groups of animals at time intervals ranging from 1-21 days established a time course for the chromatolytic response. Morphological observations showed a more severe central chromatolysis in the cervical group commencing at Day 3, and a much less severe central chromatolysis in the thoracic group starting at Day 4. By Day 21 the majority of the neurons of the cervical group were atrophic and by 55 days all were atrophic. The reaction following thoracic lesions was less intense and the maximum number of reacting neurons was observed at Day 7. Following this stage the neurons gradually returned to a normal morphological state which was complete by Day 55. Measurements of neuronal diameters from semi-thin Epon sections in the cervical group yielded statistically significant alterations in the perikaryal diameters of experimental neurons, demonstrating swelling at Days 1, 3 and 4 followed by shrinkage at Days 7, 14 and 21. The findings of this study suggest that the severity of the chromatolytic reaction in intrinsic neurons is intimately related to the distance of the lesion from the neuronal soma, while the time of onset of chromatolysis varies with lesion distance but is not directly proportional to it.


Primary actinomycoma of the third ventricle--the colloid cyst. A histochemical and ultrastructural study.

Primary actinomycoma of the third ventricle has been reported to be a very rare form of central nervous system actinomycosis. Others have demonstrated actinomycotic-like colonies in colloid cysts of the third ventricle. We have confirmed these structures (HLS) in five colloid cysts and have demonstrated by various histochemical stains that they consist of desoxyribose nucleic acid, base protein and phospholipid. Ultrastructurally, they consist of amorphous to granular electron dense material, probably deposited on a lamellar substructure. On the basis of the available information, we believe that the lesions, previously reported as primary actinomycomas, are actually colloid cysts containing degenerative HLS. The possible origin of the hyphal-like structures is discussed.


An attempt to detect cell surface antigens in cultured human brain tumors by mixed hemadsorption test. First report.

The mixed hemadsorption test using rabbit anti-human glioma serum was applied to investigate cell surface antigens of nervous tissue tumors, non-nervous tissue tumors, epithelial and mesenchymal cells. Gliomas, neurinomas, and fetal brain cells exhibited a strongly positive reaction. Meningiomas, a metastatic brain tumor originated from the lung and HeLa cells exhibited a moderately positive reaction. No positive reaction was detected in human skin or dural fibroblasts, or in kidney cells even at a high concentration of rabbit anti-human glioma serum.


Cellular uptake of exogenous horseradish peroxidase in mouse peripheral nerve.

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was given to adult normal mice either intravenously or locally around the sciatic nerve. After varying time intervals the animals were sacrificed and fixed by whole body perfusion. The sciatic nerve was sampled and the distribution of peroxidatic activity was studied by light and electron microscopy. After both types of HRP administration the tracer was rapidly taken up by epi- and endoneurial cells with the ultrastructural features of macrophages. When increasing doses of HRP were injected intravenously a diffuse endoneurial extravasation was observed 30 min after the injection. It is concluded that a passage of HRP takes place over some endoneurial vessels. The nature and significance of endoneurial macrophages are discussed.


Peripheral nerve injury and recovery after temporary ischemia.

Nerve (NCV) and motor (MNCV) conduction velocities of the rat sciatic nerve were examined between 1 and 90 days after ischemia for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6 h. The results were compared to light and electron microscopy of the nerve. Slight diminution in the MNCV was observed 1 day after 1-2 h ischemia, whereas 3-6 h ischemia resulted in a complete conduction block. Diminution in the NCV occurred first after ischemia for 2 h and a complete block was seen after 4 and 6 h ischemia. Reduced NCV and MNCV were seen between 4 and 18 days only in the animals subjected to ischemia of longer duration of 3-6 h. Both the NCV and MNCV were nearly normalized at the 90th day. Ischemia of 4 and 6 h resulted in denervation of some of the muscle fibers, seen as spontaneous fibrillation at the 4th and 18th day. Electron microscopy and histometric studies showed degeneration of myelinated fibers increasingly after longer durations of ischemia; ischemia for 2 h caused a degeneration of about 5%, 3 h of about 35%, 4 h about 45%, and 6 h about 75% of the fibers. Myelinated fibers of different sizes were equally damaged. In the teased fiber preparations normal and myelin sheaths undergoing Wallerian-like degeneration was seen. Regeneration occurred, but even at the 90th day there was a tendency of the myelin/axon ratio towards values less than control values.


Focal mucoid degeneration of peripheral nerve. Light- and electronmicroscopic observation in a sural nerve biopsy of a case of progressive neural muscular atrophy (Charcot-Marie-Tooth).

"Focal mucoid degeneration" was found in a N. suralis biopsy of a 8 year old child, diagnosed clinically and electrophysiologically as progressive muscular atrophy Charcot-Marie-Tooth.


Pallido-nigro-luysial atrophy associated with degeneration of the centrum medianum. A clinicopathologic and electron microscopic study.

A 66-year-old man (case 1) and a 71-year-old woman (case 2) showed systemic degeneration of the globus pallidus, substancia nigra, subthalamic nucleus, centrum medianum thalami and at times, superior colliculus in the midbrain. In the pallido-nigral system, neuronal loss was severe in both cases and an increase of pigment and granular spheroids was marked in case 2, less in case 1. Electron-microscopically, the spheroids consisted of aggregates of highly dense material, often membrane-bound, and varying amounts of groups of loosely packed filaments. Clinical symptoms were stereotyped and unique, showing severe akinesia, no rigidity in the limbs, no tremor but retropulsions, upward gaze palsy, dysarthria, dysphagia and later, nuchal stiffness. Nosological identification is discussed.


Pneumoperitoneum without clinical peritonitis due to bilateral pyosalpinx.

A case of pneumoperitoneum without clinical peritonitis due to bilateral pyosalpinx is presented. This clinical condition has in the literature been called "spontaneous or idiopathic pneumoperitoneum", and conservative treatment in such cases has been advocated. As shown in our case severe intraperitoneal pathology may exist, and we therefore advocate early explorative laparotomy in all patients with pneumoperitoneum without peritonitis.


Studies in cholestasis of pregnancy. VI. Fatty acid composition of glycero-phospholipids before and after delivery.

Eight pregnant women, complaining of generalized pruritus with lipoprotein-X (LP-X) in their serum and diagnosed as cases of cholestasis of pregnancy (CP)--were studied during pregnancy and after delivery. Ten women with uncomplicated normal pregnancy served as controls. LP-X, liver function tests and relative fatty acid composition of serum lecithin (determined by gas-liquid chromatography, GLC) were followed. The fatty acid composition in liver and serum lecithin is determined by the synthesis pathways of lecithin in the liver. The faster and quantitatively dominating cytidine-diphosphate diglyceride pathway, pathway I, causes the appearance of lecithin with palmitic acid (16:0) in 1-position and oleic (18:1) or linoleic (18:2) acid in 2-position, while pathway II, with methylation of phosphatidyl-ethanolamine (cephalin) preferentially cases the appearance of lecithin with stearic acid (18:0) in 1-position and arachidonic acid (20:4) in 2-position. Pathway I is enchanced by oestrogenic and pathway II by cholestatic influence. During pregnancy women with CP were characterized in their serum lecithin fatty acid composition by a high palmitic (16:0) and a high oleic (18:1) acid content, in agreement with earlier studies. After delivery, in women with prior CP a decrease in palmitic (16:0) and linoleic (18:2) acids and an increase in stearic (18:0) acid, was interpreted as decreased influence on the major lecithin synthesis pathway I and an enhancement of pathway II. In addition, after delivery in the lactating mother, serum lecithin fatty acid composition data revealed an essential fatty acid (EFA) "consumption." It was earlier shown, that women with previous CP (when studied 8--21 months after delivery) had as judged from their serum lecithin fatty acid composition, a "basic metabolic defect," expressing presumably as estrogen enhanced pathway II of liver lecithin synthesis. In the present study, soon after delivery (on day 4--8) women with prior CP showed, however, less pathway II influence than women with a prior normal pregnancy. This was interpreted as a presistence of the cholestatic influence on liver lecithin synthesis pathways at this short time after delivery. Serum lecithin fatty acid composition appears to be a sensitive variable for the evaluation of metabolic influences in the liver.


Ultrasonic assessment of fetal growth.

Consecutive ultrasonic measurement of fetal biparietal diameter (B.P.D.) and fetal chest area was carried out in 152 normal and 59 complicated pregnancies between 25 and 40 weeks of gestation. In normal pregnancy the mean fetal head area (B.P.D.2) varied from 45.0 cm2 at 25 weeks to 98.0 cm2 at 40 weeks. The mean chest area varied from 31.3 cm2 at 25 weeks to 94.3 cm2 at 41 weeks. A normal curve of the head-to-chest relation was constructed. In the group of complicated pregnancies, two types of fetal growth retardation could be recognized. The first type was characterized by a normal head-to-chest relationship (symmetric type), the second type was characterized by an abnormal head-to-chest relationship (asymmetric type; relatively large head area). During fetal growth acceleration head-to-chest-relationship was abnormal (relatively large chest area).


A radioimmunological method for oestrone. Plasma levels of non-conjugated oestrone during uncomplicated pregnancy.

A specific antiserum to oestrone has been used to develop a radioimmunoassay. No chromatographic separation step was included. A small amount of plasma (0.01--0.15 ml) was extracted once with diethyl ehter. The method was used to estimate plasma levels of non-conjugated oestrone in women during uncomplicated late pregnancy. The oestrone plasma concentrations showed a gradual increase from a mean of 4 ng/ml in the 22nd week to 11 ng/ml in the 41st week. Great individual variations were found. No systematic changes of unconjugated oestrone plasma concentrations were noticed during a 24-hour period in late pregnancy. Short term studies revealed that large and rapid fluctuations may appear in the levels of unconjugated oestrone during pregnancy.


Endometrial histology and circulating levels of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), estradiol, FSH and LH in women with MPA induced amenorrhoea compared with women with secondary amenorrhoea.

Circulating levels of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), estradiol, progesterone and gonadotropins were determined in 11 women on long-term treatment with depot-MPA (Depo-Provera DMPA) 150 mg i.m. every 12th week as a contraceptive. The women had amenorrhoea due to the treatment. Endometrial biopsy was performed one week after injection and at the end of the 12 week period. Blood samples were taken on the same occasions. The findings were compared with those in 12 untreated women having secondary amenorrhoea. MPA was still detectable in serum and the end of the 12 week period. Endometrial biopsies showed gestagenic effects in the second as well as in the first biopsy. No MPA was detectable in the untreated women with amenorrhoea, and no gestagenic effects could be demonstrated in their biopsies. The estradiol levels in the DMPA group were in the range of the early follicular phase of a normal menstrual cycle and showed a significant rise at the end of the 12 week period. On the last sampling occasion the estradiol levels did not differ from those in the untreated women with secondary amenorrhoea. The levels of progesterone and gonadotropins were in the range of the early follicular phase in both groups. These observations support that DMPA 150 mg i.m. every 12th week is a depotpreparation with prolonged effect, and inhibits ovulation and produces endometrial changes by means of biologically active serum concentrations throughout the 12 week period.


Ectopic pregnancies and the use of intrauterine device and low dose progestogen contraception.

In a series of 71 ectopic pregnancies ten were associated with the use of an intrauterine device (IUD) and three with the use of low dose progestogen contraception. For comparison a series of 800 legal abortions were studied and in 20 of these cases pregnancy originated while an IUD was in utero and in 13 during the use of low dose contraceptive pills. When using the above-mentioned contraceptive methods the possibilities of an ectopic pregnancy should be taken into consideration.


Value of external version in fetal malpresentation in combination with use of ultrasound.

During 1969--1974 six hundred and forty-nine external versions were attempted during the last trimester on 491 mothers with fetal malpresentation. The procedure was monitored with ultrasound in 1969--1974. Most of attempts (70.0%) were made during the 32nd-36th weeks. The final version rate after one or more attempt was 76.2%, being lower (67.0%) in nulliparous than parous women (84.6%). The incidence of breech presentation at birth decreased from 4.5 to 2.9% (p less than 0.001). The most serious complication was one premature labor but the infant survived. The perinatal mortality was 2.0% and, after excluding abnormal infants, 0.8%. The combination of external version and the use of ultrasound is a safe method which avoids hazardous vaginal breech delivery and is recommended in obstetric practice.


Effects of middle ear pressure on the inner ear.

It was demonstrated in experiments on normal subjects that moderate ambient pressure changes, creating overpressure in the middle ear, may induce a vestibular reaction. In other experiments on subjects suffering from acute attacks of Meniere's disease, relief of symptoms was achieved by means of ambient pressure changes of the same magnitude.


Tympanometry and acoustic impedance.

In recordings of the acoustic impedance of the middle ear (tympanometry) the change in air pressure in the ear canal will mostly influence the capacitive component of the acoustic impedance. By choosing a probe tone frequency close to the resonance frequency of the middle ear, characteristic tympanometric patterns can be demonstrated in certain middle ear lesions. The shapes of the curves are discussed in relation to the behaviour of the different components of the middle ear impedance.


Brain stem electric response audiometry (BSERA).

Brain stem electric responses, recorded with external electrodes on vertex and ear lobes, are excellent for audiometry of young children. The vertex-positive wave with latency of 6 to 9 msec resembles closely the action potential of the auditory nerve, with the same high-intensity short-latency component and low-intensity long-latency component. Thresholds are reliable with filtered clicks at 1 000 Hz and higher. Practical advantages and theoretical limitations are summarized.


Modern methods for measurement of basilar membrane displacements.

Basilar membrane displacements in response to sound at threshold intensities are in the fractional Angstrom range. Visual measurements, as used by Bekesy in his pioneering studies, are by definition limited to values above 10 000 A. The present paper discusses a number of modern techniques capable of taking measurements at lower Anstrom levels: One-point methods (capacitive probe, Mossbauer effect, laser interferometry, and optical heterodyne spectroscopy) and pattern-assessing methods (time-averaged and real-time holography). Advantages and disadvantages of these methods are being discussed.


Electrocochleography and cochlear pathology.

In experimentally damaged inner ears the structural alterations were correlated to electrocochleographic responses of the ear. Sectioning of the cochlear nerve with degeneration of the type I neurons but intact sensory cells results in normal cochlear microphonics but very weak and atypical nerve responses. By contrast, damage of the organ of Corti with retrograde degeneration abolished primarily the cochlear microphonics, whereas the compound VIII nerve action potential is barely affected when only the outer hair cells are gone and even a small number of surviving inner hair cells is still compatible with a relatively strong compound action potential of the cochlear nerve.


Evolution of CM, SP and AP during etacrynic acid intoxication in the guinea pig.

During etacrynic acid intoxication in the guinea pig, patterns of click-evoked compound electrocochleographic responses are similar to those observed in Menière and retro-cochlear human pathologies. Using high frequency tone bursts, SP, CM and AP were studied after intracardiac injection of etacrynic acid. The evolution of SP precedes that of CM and AP. Its change in polarity could be related to that reported for EP by Bosher et al. (1973). While during the recovery period SP overshoots (after 90 min), CM and AP increase more slowly (up to about 7 days) and in most cases AP amplitudes do not exceed 70-80% of their original value (25 days). N1, when present, keeps its classical pattern durint the entire evolution, whatever its amplitude and latency variations are. The early positive peak or negative shift observed in click-evoked human pathological electrocochleography can therefore be identified as SP. Thus this response is the indication of the presence of hair cells and of the impairment of the nerve fibre stimulation or response.


Oxygen reserve and autoregulation in the cochlea.

Endolymphatic O2-concentration was measured in the guinea pig cochlea with a microelectrode inserted through the zona pectinata of the basilar membrane and the cells of Claudius, so as not to interfere with the blood supply to the organ of Corti. The O2-level and the amplitude of the cochlear potentials were followed during hypoxia produced by lowering the pO2 of the inspired air. Persistence of a normal endolymphatic O2-level following the fall in arterial pO2 indicated an O2-reserve and au autoregulation of the cochlear circulation.


Intrathoracic injury to the motor nerve supply of the larynx.

A previously reported experimental study demonstrated that the intermediate (partly abducted) position of a paralysed vocal cord may be due to physiological inactivation, rather than paralysis, of the cricothyroid muscle. This inhibition was shown to be caused by interruption of vagal afferent impulses originating in pulmonary pressure receptors. The case reported here offered an unusual opportunity of studying this condition by serial section of a human larynx. A patient's left vocal cord was paralysed by cancer in the left pulmonary hilum and apex. There was aspiration and loss of voice. The larynx was obtained at autopsy and studied by serial sections. These showed that the P.C.A- muscle on the paralysed side was, in fact, completely atrophic and degenerated, as were the other intrinsic muscles but that the cricothyroid muscle was morphologically normal. Invasion of both the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the vagus at the thoracic inlet interrupts afferent impulses and inactivates the cricothyroid muscle, with resultant glottic incompetence.


Organ culture of the avian and mammalian otocyst.

A chemically defined medium supplemented with serum has proved suitable for the growth of the isolated embryonic otocyst of both avian and mammalian provenience. The results lend further support to the value of the technique and confirm the findings of previous authors. [A film was presented.]


[Olfactory disorders in hypogonadism].

On the basis of the study and particularly of the examination of the ofactive functions in three patients with hypogonadismus the relationship between the olfactive and the endocrine lesions is established. This syndrome, described by Kalmann and by De Morsier is not well known, but it deserves attention since it is indicative of pathologic changes in the region which lies between the hypothalamus and the hypophysis.


Pathophysiology of the paranasal sinuses.

The maxillary ostium is narrower when the subject is recumbent than when sitting. The oxygen content in the sinus is related to the patency of the ostium and to some extent to its size. A 90% gas exchange in the sinus normally requires only 5 minutes. The exchange is faster during nasal than during oral breathing. The mucosa of the maxillary sinus has a relatively high blood flow. Oxygen absorption by the mucosa is normally perfusion limited. A considerable part of the absorbed oxygen is utilized directly by the mucosa and not taken up by the blood flow.


A method for determining cortical auditory thresholds in guinea pigs.

A method for measuring evoked cortical potentials to acoustic stimuli through the intact dura mater of the guinea pig without computer averaging studied. After exposure of the dura overlying the auditory cortex on the left side, thresholds to acoustic stimuli presented to the right ear were determined with a double tipped silver electrode by visual detection on an oscilloscope. The thresholds obtained are compared with other methods of determining audibility levels in the guinea pig. With relatively simple instrumentation, this method provides rapid and accurate determination of the audibility curve.


Parasympathetic influence on the nasal mucosa.

The effect of graded parasympathetic nerve stimulation on the exchange and capacitance vessels of the nasal mucosa, as well as the secretory response, is reported. Possible postganglionic mediators of the vascular and secretory effects are discussed.


Macroscopic and ultrastructural findings in some diseases of the facial nerve.

The authors describe the findings observed in: 10 cases of Bell's palsy, 1 case of traumatic facial paralysis, 1 case of congenital facial paralysis, and 1 case of Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome. The chorda tympani nerve of these patients was studied, employing the electron microscope, comparing it with that of 5 patients having otosclerosis. Our ultrastructural findings appear to confirm that the chorda tympani nerve presents a similar degenerative behaviour in those diseases studied by us. The degenerative stages range from a lesser to greater degree in the following order: Bell's palsy, traumatic facial paralysis, congenital facial paralysis, Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome.


A new concept of vertex ERA and EEG analysis applying inverse filtering.

Evidence for a common anatomical and physiological substrate for the generation of the background EEG and the vertex-evoked response led to the hypothesis that the EEG can be interpreted as the output from a time varying filter driven by (a) a noise generator responsible for the background activity, and (b) a pulse generator creating the evoked response. The characteristics of the filter can be estimated by autoregression. The application of such a model results in considerable theoretical and practical improvements in the detection of evoked responses. Selected averaging on EEGs classified according to the filter characteristics shows improved S/N ratios and considerable diversity between classes. Investigations of an estimate of the input signal to the filter, derived by deconvolution, reveal a sound-evoked potential which is less variable than the response in the EEG. The study concludes that the proposed model and methods have a sufficient applicability and physiological relevance to support further developments.


Intra- and extracellular activities of ciliated cells. A model for functional studies.

The mucociliary activity of the mucosa of the respiratory tract is used as an experimental model for exposure studies regarding air pollution and pharmaca. It is possible to record the intracellular electrical activity simultaneously with the extracellular mechanical movements of cilia.


The innervation of the organ of Corti. A scanning electron microscopic study.

The innervation within the organ of Corti of guinea pigs, chinchillas and rabbits was studied in the scanning electron microscope. Specimens were fixed, dissected, critical point dried and coated with gold. Final dissection of the specimens was done in the dry state in the planes of the former fluid spaces. The courses of the efferent and afferent nerve fibres are described. The efferent fibres reach the outer hair cells by crossing the tunnel space, run between the outer pillars and divide several times in the space of Nuel. The afferent fibres cross the floor of the tunnel and turn basalwards in the outer spiral bundles where they run for at least 0.5-0.8 mm before connecting with the outer hair cells. Small nerve endings on every fifth to tenth outer hair cell disappear after cutting the efferent nerves, thus indicating their efferent nature.


Long-term effect on mother-infant behaviour of extra contact during the first hour post partum. I. First observations at 36 hours.

The immediate post partum period may be particularly important for the developing relationship between mother and infant; little is as yet known, however, of the long-term effects of hospital practice during this period. This study examines the effect of extra contact during the first hour following delivery. An extra skin to skin contact and suckling contact was given to 22 primiparous mothers and their infants. One control group of 20 primiparous mothers and infants and a second one of 20 multiparous mothers and infants was given routine care immediately after birth. All mothers and infants were healthy with normal pregnancies and deliveries. At 36 hours a first observation was made of maternal and infant behaviour during breast feeding in all three groups. At this stage primiparae with extra contact showed behaviour much more like the behaviour of multiparae with routine care. Infants of primiparae with routine care cried most frequently. The behaviour of mothers of boys differed more from group to group than did that of mothers of girls.


Freeze-fracture study of the cell junctions in the utricle and saccule.

The maculae sacculi and utriculi of the chinchilla vestibular labyrinth have been studied by freeze-fracture method. In the replicas extensive zonulae occludentes have been found between sensory and supporting cells at the endolymphatic surface. Gap junctions are located between the supporting cells. Some intramembranous specializations of the synaptic regions are described in both types of the sensory cells.


Long-term effect on mother-infant behaviour of extra contact during the first hour post partum. II. A follow-up at three months.

Primiparous mothers and their infants who had an extra 15-20 minutes' suckling and skin to skin contact during the first hour after delivery, behaved differently at 36 hours post partum compared with a control group without this extra contact. The present study is a 3-month follow-up of these mothers and infants by means of direct observation of mother-infant free play and a personal interview with the mothers. Mothers in the extra contact group spent more time kissing and looking en face at their infants; these infants smiled more often and cried less frequently. A greater proportion of the mothers with extra contact were still breast feeding at 3 months. The influence of extra contact on behaviour was more pronounced in boy-mother than in girl-mother pairs.


Nasal obstruction and cardiopulmonary system in children.

45 patients aged 6-18 years, with bilateral (17) and unilateral (28) obstruction of the nose, were analysed and divided into two groups in which nasal pressure ranged from 20 to above 60 mm H2O. The following examinations pertaining to pulmonary function were performed: partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) and carbon dioxide (PCO2), pulmonary ventilation at rest and under charge (VC, FEV1, MMF25-75, IGV, FRC, RV, TLC, Rt). The investigation of the heart functions included the pulse rate, BP, and ECG at rest and under charge. According to our findings, nasal obstruction in children has less influence on the lower respiratory tracts than contended in previous reports in the literature. In no single case have we found any alterations in the function of the cardiovascular system at rest or during charge.


Primary neural disorders in the deaf white cat cochlea.

Eleven white kittens were investigated from 2 days after birth up to an age of 4 months. After their hearing ability or deafness had been tested electrophysiologically, electron microscopic work was done at the level of the cochlea. Previous histological data indicated that the hereditary process of degeneration begins at the epithelial and sensory elements of the cochlea, and that the neural degeneration is only a secondary and very slow process. Results presented here indicate that, at least in some white cats, this assumption needs to be modified. Early failure in the myelination of the lamina spiralis fibres was noticed in most of the white kittens. Furthermore, two kittens (7 and 16 days old) presented a complete degeneration of the spiral ganglion neurons, and signs of anterograde degeneration of their fibres going to the organ of Corti. These primary neural defects indicate that hereditary hearing defects may directly affect both epithelio-sensory and neural structures.


The cochlear blood flow.

Cochlear blood flow in the guinea pig was investigated using Tracer Sephadex 15 microspheres labelled with radioactive nuclides. A reference organ technique was used for quantitative measurements of cardiac output and the blood flow in the cochlear soft tissue, CNS and kidney. In some experiments the blood flow was measured at two occasions, either with 57Coor with 58Co-labelled microspheres. The results, including the size of cochlear blood flow are presented and discussed.


Effects of growth hormone on protein metabolism. Acute changes in plasma amino acids in growth retarded patients with and without growth hormone deficiency.

39 patients with growth retardation were investigated: 21 (group H) were suffering from GH deficiency and 18 (group N) had no endocrine disease except for two adequately treated patients with mild hypothyroidism. Analysis of 15 plasma amino acid concentrations was carried out before and 1 and 2 hours after intravenous HGH injection at a dosage of 2 mg per m2. Except for one amino acid no significant difference between mean pre-treatment amino acid values was observed in the two groups of patients. In group H there was a highly significant decrease in plasma concentration of 14 amino acids already 1 hour after HGH injection and of all 15 amino acids after 2 hours. This response of plasma amino acids to HGH was less pronounced in group N. For 5 amino acids a moderate correlation was found in group H between acute metabolic response to HGH and growth response to long-term HGH treatment. Our results following HGH injection may reflect increased plasma amino acid transfer into cells due to HGH.


Estrogen treatment in tall girls.

36 tall girls aged 10.3 to 15.5 years were treated with ethinylestradiol (0.5 mg/day) and norethisterone (15 mg/day). To date treatment for seventeen girls has been completed. Before treatment their bone age ranged from 11.0 to 13.5 years and mean height prediction was 185.19 cm (181.40-193.00 cm). After about two years of treatment their final height averaged 178.96 cm (171.60-183.50 cm). Predicted height was reduced by an average of 6.23 cm. The reduction in final height was significantly greater when therapy was started before a bone age of 12 years. Thirteen girls, re-examined after discontinuation of therapy, all had regular menstrual bleeding within six months. There were no serious or irreversible side effects during the period of observation.


The delayed effects of ethacrynic acid on the stria vascularis of the guinea pig.

Guinea pigs were administered 40 mg ethacrynic acid per kg b.wt. and sacrificed at 30-48 minutes, 3-4 hours, 2 or 7 days post-drug. Cochlear potentials (EP and CP) were monitored before sacrifice. At 30-48 minutes, the potentials had decreased considerably, and a marked edema plus cytological changes were visible in the stria vascularis. The potentials had recovered to about 75% of their original value at 3-4 hours; some cell recovery was visible, but the edema was still present. Potentials recorded from the basal turn were normal at 2 and 7 days, although some strial cells showed deterioration.


Lead in umbilical cord blood correlated with the blood lead of the mother in areas with low, medium or high atmospheric pollution.

Lead concentrations in 541 samples of umbilical cord blood from different parts of Sweden were determined. The mean concentration was 7.6 mug lead/100 ml (=0.367 mumol/l). The blood lead values were also determined for 297 mothers and a mean value of 8.7 mug/100 ml (=0.420 mumol/l) was found. There was a significant correlation between the blood lead level of the mother and the infant as studied in 253 pairs. The slope of the regression line was 0.5 r (r=0.6). Significantly lower blood values for both mother and infant were found in areas with low pollution as estimated from the lead content in moss. No seasonal variation could be ascertained. Hematocrit versus lead concentration was also studied. A flameless atomic absorption method was used with a standard deviation of 0.9 mug lead/100 ml. The storage time and sample treatment were also studied.


Studies on the sensory hairs of receptor cells in the inner ear.

The crista ampullaris of the semicircular canal in the frog can be isolated and mounted in a chamber so that the sensory hairs can be observed under high magnification in interference-contrast. The cupula is removed and the sensory hairs can be manipulated and their mechanical properties investigated by a microprobe held in a micromanipulator. The hairs appear quite stiff and pivot around their base. When subjected to force they break as if they are brittle. All the cilia within a bundle move together as if joined to one another. Labelling for electron-microscopy with polycationic ferritin reveals that the membrane surrounding the cilia has a surface coat of negatively charged molecules. When the organ is incubated with polycationic ferritin before fixation the sensory hairs agglutinate. Fusion of the membrane surrounding individual sensory hairs also occurs.


Renal growth and function in patients nephrectomized in childhood.

Eight patients nephrectomized in childhood were studied with regard to growth and function of the remaining kidney. The age of the patients ranged between 8 1/2 and 31 years and the follow-up period was from 1 to 20 years. In most of the patients, repeated renal size determinations were made on postoperative urograms. Normal values for kidney size in childhood are also presented. The structural hypertrophy continued for at least three years after nephrectomy and was most pronounced in patients nephrectomized before three years of age. When more than three years had passed after nephrectomy the remaining kidney was 35-65% larger than normal. Healthy young adults and children with a previous history of urinary tract infection served as controls for function studies. The balance between glomerular and tubular function was well preserved in nephrectomized patients. The renal surface area showed the same relation to GFR and to reabsorption of bicarbonate in nephrectomized patients as in controls. It is therefore concluded that the increase in kidney function following unilateral nephrectomy is, at least in early life, primarily due to structural enlargement.


Insulin and glucagon response to arginine infusion in cystic fibrosis.

The glucagon and insulin responses to intravenous arginine were studied in 17 children with cystic fibrosis and in 9 control children. It was found that the overall secretion of insulin was diminished; however, four of the CF children did have a normal output. The glucagon responses did not parallel those of insulin. The glucagon output varied in the CF children--seven had normal, four excessively high and six low output. Three of the four children with extremely high output had more severe disease and were below the third centile on the weight chart. These four had a fasting hypoglycaemia and also a very low glucose and insulin response. We have confirmed diminished insulin secretion in cystic fibrosis, but diminished glucagon secretion was only noted when some insulin secretion was preserved. The high levels of glucagon seen in the most insulin deficient subjects may be derived from extrapancreatic sources, or may be associated with 'stress' reaction in these patients who also had most severe pulmonary involvement. The data would be consistent with diminished glucagon and insulin secretion from the pancreas but as the disease progresses an excessive secretion of extra pancreatic glucagon results.


Diminished limb blood flow in infants with transposition of the great vessels: An adaptation to chronic hypoxia?

Calf blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography using a mercury in rubber strain gauge in infants with transposition of the great vessels. (TGV), and in comparable infants free from cardiopulmonary disease. Resting calf blood flow in the infants with TGV was 3.6 +/- 0.8 ml/100 ml/min, while in the control group flow was 6.8 +/- 2.3 ml/100 ml/min, a highly significant difference. We postulate that newborns with TGV decrease their resting calf flow in response to chronic hypoxia.


Neonatal septic osteo-arthritis due to umbilical artery catheterisation.

Three cases of neonatal septic osteo-arthritis due to umbilical artery catheterisation are described. The clinical features were characteristic. A week after removal of the catheter a septic osteo-arthritis developed. The etiological agent in all three cases was Staphylococcus aureus, resistant to penicillin. The disease is probably caused by haematogenous spread of septic clots from thrombus formation on the catheter. Symptoms and signs were few and vague. It is suggested that septic osteo-arthritis due to umbilical catheterisation is more frequent than hitherto believed, and low-grade forms might remain undiagnosed.


The radial dysplasia/imperforate anus/vertebral anomalies syndrome (the VATER association): Developmental aspects and eye findings.

The developmental evaluations of four children of different age groups with radial dysplasia/imperforate anus/vertebral anomalies syndrome are presented. These show that although the gross motor behavior is significantly delayed, intelligence, language, and social development are within normal range. Therefore, the patients with this syndrome merit every effort toward rehabilitation. Three of the patients discussed have ophthalmological abnormalities, in addition to their major malformations. It may be that congenital eye defects are another component of this syndrome of morphogenesis.


Menarcheal age in girls with congenital dislocation of the hip.

The age at menarche was recorded in a series of girls with congenital dislocation of the hip and compared with a control sample drawn from the population at risk. The menarcheal age of the CDH patients was decreased by, on average, six months, the decrease being caused by the presence among the CDH girls of a few individuals with a very early menarche. These girls were heavier and taller than other CDH girls, who in their turn, are taller and heavier than other girls. The findings support the concept of CDH as a manifestation of some hormonal deviation, which also causes early physical maturation.


Learning disorders. Some medical aspects.

The first skills are motor ones and these depend on perceptual development and the organisation of movement. If development is deviant the child will be clumsy. The clinical picture is considered, and the effects this may have in the school situation. Disorders of language development may be secondary to other factors such as deafness or brain injury, or may be a specific disability. The various grades of the latter are described. Both perceptual and language disorders can underlie reading retardation and the analysis of a particular child's difficulties is stressed. The etiology of these conditions is discussed with particular reference to the failure of integration. Intracerebral connections may not form, be destroyed, or not be used. The role of the Doctor is an important one, and this includes not only diagnosis and assessment but also helping the child in the home and school, especially when emotional and behaviour complications occur. The doctor must also act as a questioner and co-ordinator.


A case of focal dermal hypoplasia (Goltz syndrome) with some new aspects.

A case of Focal Dermal Hypoplasia (Goltz syndrome), diagnosed at birth, is reported. Some findings not formerly described (hemimelia, schizis of the palatum molle and the absence of one umbilical artery) are reported. Normal findings in chromosome studies with banding techniques are discussed.


Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy.

The present case report brings to attention an unusual form of massive benign lymphadenopathy which can stimulate malignant lymphoma. The disease occurs mainly in children and is characterized by a protracted course with painless enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes, fever, leucocytosis, mild anaemia, raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hypergammaglobulinaemia. The diagnosis is confirmed by a quite distinct microscopic picture of the involved lymph nodes. SHML is considered to be an unusual response to an infection in an individual with abnormal host defence, though this is not confirmed by the investigations undertaken in the presented case.


Observations on the ultrastructure of the late sporoblasts and the initiation of sporozoite formation in Eimeria brunetti.

The ultrastructure of the late sporoblast and the initiation of sporozite formation in E. brunetti was examined in oocysts which had been allowed to sporulate for 24 hours at 27 degrees C. The late sporoblast was ellipsoidal in shape and possessed two nuclei, and with associated Golgi bodies, situated at either end of the organism. Its cytoplasm contained numerous polysaccharide granules, electron translucentral region of the plaques. Sporozoite formation was similar to the initiation of merozoite formation in the schizont. Endodyogeny did not appear to be involved in the process of sporozoite formation.t vacuoles, dense bodies, mitochondria, and some strands of rough endoplasmic reticulum. The sporoblast, at this stage, was enclosed by two unit membranes. Sporozoite formation was initiated by the appearance of a dense plaque at either end of the organism in the vicinity of a nucleus, adjacent to the limiting membrane of the sporoblast. A conoid was present in the central region of the plaques Sporozoite formation was similar to the initiation of merozoite formation in the schizont. Endodyogeny did not appear to be involved in the process of sporozoite formation.


Relationship of Neisseria elongata subsp. Glycolytica to other members of the family Neisseriaceae.

Neisseria elongata subsp. glycolytica strain 6171/75 is closely similar to the type strain of N. elongata, M2, as regards DNA base composition, fatty acid content and electrophoretic mobility of two glutamate dehydrogenases, one of which showed a reaction of identity with the corresponding enzyme from M2 in double immunodiffusion in agar. The strain showed genetic homologies with strain M2 in genetic transformation at a level suggesting species identity, and with N. meningitidis at a lower level. No affinity to Moraxella species or "false neisseriae" was demonstrated, with the exception of a production of a few transformants in the 6171/75 recipient by DNA from Kingella kingae. The strain showed the same pattern of associated variation of colony type, fimbriation and competence in transformation as that found in other Neisseria and Moraxella species. After continuous subcultivation for some time some clones of the strain appeared to have lost the ability to produce acid from glucose.


Ultrastructural studies on the endogenous development of Eimeria brunetti. II. Microgametogony and the microgamete.

The ultrastructural changes of Eimeria brunetti which occur during microgametogony in the small intestine of the domestic fowl are described. The development of the trophozoite into the microgametocyte  was accompanied by cytoplasmic growth and nuclear division. The developing microgametocytes could be differentiated from developing schizonts because of ultrastructural differences in both cytoplasm and nuclei. The surface area of the microgametocyte was increased by deep invaginations of the limiting membrane. At this developmental stage, the nuclei were situated adjacent to this membrane and protrusions which developed, initiated microgamete formation. Two centrioles were positioned between each nucleus and the limiting membrane and were transformed into the basal bodies of the flagella. The flagella grew out from the basal bodies which then entered the protrusions. A mitochondrion and the dense chromatin-containing portion of the nucleus also entered each protrusion. The microgametes matured while they were attached to the residual cytoplasm of the microgametocyte; they were finally budded off into the parasitophorous vacuole. The microgamete consists of an elongated nucleus which overlaps a mitochondrion towards the arterior of the cell. At this end, a dense plaque (perforatorium) is found together with the 2 basal bodies and their attached flagella. 5 microtubules were apparent and ran longitudinally from the basal body region. In cross section they were arranged in a row of 4 with 1 diagonally opposite; only 2 of these microtubules extended to the posterior tip of the microgamete.


Ultrastructural studies on the endogenous development of eimeria brunetti. III. Macrogametogony and the macrogamete.

The ultrastructural changes occurring during macrogametogony in Eimeria brunetti were studied in tissue from the small intestine of infected young domestic fowls. As the macrogametocyte developed, an increase in the volume of the cytoplasm and the nucleus occurred. At this early stage of development the organism was limited by a single unit membrane which possessed a number of micropores. The organism was situated in a parasitophorous vacuole which contained intra-vacuolar folds and intra-vacuolar tubules. The wall forming bodies of type II (WFB II) started to appear before the wall forming bodies of Type I (WFB I). The WFB I developed in the cytoplasmic matric whereas the WFB II were formed within the cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum apparently in association with Golgi bodies. The mature WFB I were homogeneous, limited by a unit membrane, and larger than WFB II which had no limiting membrane but remained surrounded by a membrane of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Polysaccharide granules were formed in the cytoplasm between strands of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. During maturation the WFB I & II and the polysaccharide granules increased in size and number, and as this occurred a number of electron translucent vacuoles were ejected from the surface of the macrogametocyte. The mature macrogamete possessed a large nucleus with a nucleolus, a number of multi-membranous vacuoles, mitochondria, and canaliculi. The WFB I & II were located at the cell periphery and the polysaccharide granules further towards the interior of the organism. The organism was limited by a unit membrane but during macrogametogony a homogeneous layer had developed which extensively coated the macrog...


Experimental toxoplasmosis in mice and rabbits. Virulence and cyst formation of Toxoplasma gondii.

Avirulent Toxoplasma gondii were made virulent by passages in mice, and then attenuated by storage. In contrast to the avirulent parasites, attenuated organisms did not appear to form cysts in mice and rabbits, although parasites could be isolated from such animals as long as three months after their inoculation. Rabbits infected with parasites of attenuated virulence had high antibody levels, and survived challenge with virulent Toxoplasma gondii. Cysts were not detected in the brains of such rabbits following this second infection. By following the generation of Toxoplasma gondii in mouse peritoneal cavities, it was found that attenuated parasites resembled avirulent more than virulent organisms. Although the effect of attenuation was mainly on the parental generation of parasites, some genetic effect seemed to be involved as well.


Granulocyte function in bacterial infections in man.

The reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dye and the phagocytic and bactericidal activities of neutrophil granulocytes from 141 patients with bacterial infections and 141 controls have been examined and related to granulocyte morphology. In 115 patients (82 per cent), the NBT reduction capacity was higher than in any control. Vacuolization of the cytoplasm and/or toxic granulation of the neutrophils were demonstrated more often in patients with high than low NBT reduction capacity. In 49 patients (35 per cent), the bactericidal activity of the neutrophils was lower than in any control. Thirty-eight patients (78 per cent) with impaired bactericidal activity had 25 per cent or more peripheral juvenile neutrophils as compared with only 12 (13 per cent) out of 92 patients with normal activity. Vacuolization of the cytoplasm and/or toxic granulation of the neutrophils were demonstrated in 28 patients (57 per cent) in whom the granulocyte function was reduced and in 26 patients (28 per cent) in whom function was normal. Within wide limits, the NBT reduction capacity increased with diminishing bactericidal activity of the neutrophils. Eighteen patients died of infection; 12 had reduced bactericidal activity. Defects in neutrophil granulocyte function caused by bacterial infection may contribute to a fatal outcome of the disease.


In vitro effects of rubella virus, strain RA 27/3, on human lymphocytes. I. Viral inhibition of mitogen stimulation in relation to Rubella Haemagglutination inhibition antibodies.

The inhibiting effect of rubella virus on lymphocyte stimulation in vitro was studied, using purified virus of the attenuated strain RA 27/3. Addition of the virus to human lymphocytes from twenty healthy blood donors before stimulation with leuco-agglutinin (LA), a component of phytohaemagglutinin, caused a considerable inhibition of the LA response in some experiments, whereas in other experiments the inhibition was slight or non-existent. If further analysed, the results showed a correlation between the degree of inhibition and the immunity of the lymphocyte donor against rubella, as measured by haemagglutination inhibition (HI). Thus the LA-response was significantly more depressed in a group of lymphocyte donors with HI-titres ranging from 20 to 160 than in another group with HI-titre less than 5. Possible explanations of the virus-induced inhibition of the LA response and possible connection between this phenomenon and the immune response against rubella are discussed.


Isotope-labelled alpha-amino-isobutyric acid as an indicator in cytotoxicity tests.

The effect of rabbit antisera on the uptake and release of alpha-amino-isobutyric acid (AIBA) in LS- and P-388 cells was investigated. In the presence of homologous antiserum and complement, the uptake of AIBA was inhibited. In the absence of complement, no effect of antiserum was seen. Using prelabelled cells, the efflux of AIBA was greatly accelerated in the presence of antiserum and complement. The AIBA-uptake method was compared with the trypan blue exclusion test and the 51Cr release technique. The AIBA-uptake method was more sensitive in quantitative cytotoxic studies.