Determination of urethane in wines by gas-liquid chromatography and its confirmation by mass spectrometry.

A gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC)-mass spectral (MS) method for the determination and confirmation of urethane in wines has been developed. Analyses of domestic and imported wines indicated urethane to be present at levels ranging from 1 to 20 microng/L. Recoveries of urethane from wines fortified at 10 ppb (microng/L) ranged from 50 to 100% with an average value of 71%. GLC-MS was used to confirm the identity of urethane in wine extracts in which GLC indicated the presence of urethane.


Rapid spectrophotometric determination of ascorbic acid in citrus fruits.

A new spectrophotometric method has been developed for determining ascorbic acid in citrus fruits. The method is based on interaction between dimethoxydiquinone and ascorbic acid, followed by extraction with chloroform. The resulting chloroform solution gives a maximum absorption at 530 nm, a determination limit of 22.0 microng/ml, and a linear range from 22.0 to 97.5 microng/ml. The molar absorptivity of the chloroform solution was 1.62 x 10(3). The reaction was quantitative over the pH range from 3.0 to 7.0. Ascorbic acid in citrus fruits was successfully determined by this method. Comparison of results with those obtained by using the AOAC method showed excellent agreement; the average recovery for the analysis of orange, grapefruit, and lemon juices was 100 +/- 0.3%.


Gas-liquid chromatographic headspace technique for determination of vinyl chloride in corn oil and three food-simulating solvents.

A gas-liquid chromatographic headspace technique for the determination of vinyl chloride (VC) in corn oil, 50% ethanol, 3% acetic acid, and n-heptane is described. These food-simulating solvents and the corn oil are placed in septum-sealed bottles and heated to 90 degrees C, and aliquots of headspace vapor are injected into a gas-liquid chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector. VC may be quantitated at concentrations of 1 ppb  or less. This technique was used to measure the migration of VC into corn oil and 50% ethanol from 2 unplasticized polyvinyl chloride sheets containing 0.28 and 0.44 ppm residual monomer.


Mass spectral coding technique for identification of drugs and related compounds in reference compendia.

A modification of the spectral abbreviation technique originally described by Hites and Biemann is proposed for identifying compounds through a coding of mass spectral data. Data from 2 closely related compounds (trimethadione and paramethadione), acquired by using 3 instruments, are presented. The technique appears to overcome observed differences in low resolution spectra when the same compound is analyzed by electron impact on mass spectrometers differing in design, manufacturer, principle of ion separation,, and operator. A list of spectra coded by this technique could constitute a rapid manual system of reproducing mass spectral data, using the significant high mass ions of low abundance as well as the frequently more abundant lower mass ions. This system is compared with existing systems.


Spectroscopic and chromatographic identification of dimethylamphetamines.

The qualitative analysis of the 6 isomeric dimethylamphetamines (both methyl groups on the aromatic ring) is described. Their ultraviolet, mass, and proton magnetic resonance spectra are similar, but infrared spectra allow a positive identification to be made, and reference spectra are provided. Melting point and gas-liquid and thin layer chromatographic data are also presented.


Confirming heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide in food samples by gas-liquid chromatography of their photoderivates.

The food sample extract is cleaned up on a Florisil column and the 6% ethyl ether in petroleum ether cluate is subjected to repeated concentrations, using a micro-Snyder column, to expel volatile materials that absorb ultraviolet (UV) light. The sample and standard solutions of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide are placed in quartz cells and exposed to UV radiation in the dark. Characteristic photoderivatives of the respective pesticides which form in the sample extract are identified and measured by comparison with those formed in the irradiated standard solutions, using electron capture gas-liquid chromatography. Recoveries of the 2 pesticides from 13 products, fortified at levels from 0.01 to 0.3 ppm and determined after derivatization, ranged from 67 to 110%.


Aluminum oxide cleanup of feed grade fats for residues of dieldrin.

A method is described for the analysis of dieldrin in feed grade fats. Fat samples in petroleum ether are cleaned up by column chromatography on 10% deactivated aluminum oxide followed by Florisil and analyzed by electron capture gas chromatography. Fourteen laboratories tested the method for determining dieldrin in naturally contaminated feed grade fats. Recoveries averaged greater than 90% with a coefficient of variation of 13% (0.54 ppm +/- 0.07), indicating that the method is sufficiently reproducible to be used by different laboratories for detecting dieldrin in feed grade fats.


Ultraviolet determination of chlordimeform in cattle dipping baths and sprays.

A simple and reliable method has been developed for determining chlordimeform. A preliminary cleanup converts chlordimeform to its hydrochloride and removes ultraviolet-absorbing impurities. The aqueous acid phase containing chlordimeform. HCL is diluted and passed through a silica gel column. The column efflucent is used as the reference solution and a portion not eluted through silica gel is used as the sample solution in the spectrophotometer. The absorbance at 240 nm is measured, and chlordimeform concentration is determined from the calibration graph. The method applied to solutions of acaricides gives good results in the range of 0.02-0.06% w/v chlordimeform; higher concentrations may be determined by appropriate dilution.


Gas chromatographic determination of residual methylene chloride and trichloroethylene in decaffeinated instant and ground coffee with electrolytic conductivity and electron capture detection.

A method is described for the quantitative determination of residual methylene chloride (MC) and trichloroethylene (TCE) in decaffeinated instant and ground roasted coffees. The residual solvents were isolated by a closed system vacuum distillation technique with toluene as a carrier solvent, chromatographed on Chromosorb 102, detected by both electron capture and electrolytic conductivity detectors, and quantitated by comparison with an internal standard. Average recoveries of MC from instant and ground coffees spiked at 1, 10, and 25 ppm were 100.0 (88-113), 93.2 (92-95), and 97.7% (94-102%); and for TCE, 97.2 (92-101), 96.2 (95-99), and 96.5% (92-100%), respectively. The results from both detectors are compared. At lower attenuations, levels less than 1 ppm can be readily measured. The procedure developed was applied to domestic and imported coffee samples.


Aflatoxins in Egyptian foodstuffs.

Six samples each of wheat, corn, lentils, beans, fenugreek, peanuts, and cottonseed cake from various areas of Egypt were analyzed for aflatoxins both at the time of collection and after 12 months' storage. Aflatoxin was found at low levels (3 to 12 ppb total aflatoxins in 14 of 42 samples, as follows: 1 sample each of corn, lentils, and beans; 2 peanut samples; 3 fenugreek samples; and 6 cottonseed cake samples. None of the samples contained aflatoxins above 11.7 ppb.


Radiologic diagnosis of loosening and infection in hip prostheses.

Unexplained pain following prosthetic replacement of the hip should be evaluated by a review of serial plain radiographs, hip aspiration and arthrography. The distinction between infection and loosening cannot be established on plain films. The preoperative diagnosis of infection and/or loosening should be attempted by hip aspiration and arthrography. Neither of the latter studies is definitive but in combination they correlate well with the surgical findings.


Suprahepatic membranous obstruction of inferior vena cava.

A case of suprahepatic membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava is presented. A congenital anomaly of the Eustachian valve with superimposed thrombosis is the probable cause. The diagnosis is made by cavography.


[Direct image of hepatic lipoma].

The authors report an unusual case of hepatic lipoma the originality of which consists in the demonstration on the radiograph of a large translucid image in the hepatic area suggestive of a lipoma.


An aid to knee arthrography.

Towels, intravenous pyelogram compression device, and fluoroscopy with phototimed, small focal spot-filming allow for simple, virtually foolproof knee arthrograms in real time.


Dissecting aneurysm of the cavernous portion of the internal carotid artery.

A case of dissecting aneurysm involving the cavernous portion of the internal carotid artery, a site not previously described, is presented. The dissection was presumed due to arteriosclerosis and was complicated by a carotid-cavernous sinus fistula.


Chitinous fibrils in the lorica of the flagellate chrysophyte Poteriochromonas stipitata (syn. Ochromonas malhamensis).

Ordered microfibrils are formed on the membrane of the cytoplasmic tail of the alga Poteriochromonas after attachment to a substrate. The ultrastructure of native and extracted stalk fibrils was studied with electron microscope methods. In addition, the structural polysaccharide was characterized by hydrolyses, separation of the monomers by thin-layer chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography and amino acid analysis, and by X-ray diffraction. The alkali-resistant fibrils yielded mostly glucosamine upon extensive hydrolysis, and showed X-ray diffraction patterns similar to those of fugal chitin. It is concluded that the resistant core of the fibrils is chitinous.


Biosynthesis and axonal transport of rat neurohypophysial proteins and peptides.

35S-cysteine injected adjacent to the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the rat is rapidly incorporated into proteins. These 35S-cysteine-labeled proteins in the SON (1-24 h after injection) were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the distribution of radioactive proteins on the gels was analyzed. 1 h after injection, about 73% of the radioactivity appeared in two peaks (both about 20,000 mol wt). With time, these peaks (putative precursors of neurophysin) decreased, as a 12,000 mol wt peak (containing two distinct neurophysins) increased in radioactivity. Both the 20,000- and 12,000-mol wt proteins are transported into the axonal (median eminence) and nerve terminal (posterior pituitary) regions of the rat hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system. Conversion of the larger precursor protein to the smaller neurophysin appears to occur, in large part, intra-axonally during axonal transport. Six distinct 35S-cysteine-labeled peptides (less than 2500 mol wt), in addition to arginine vasopressin and oxytocin, are also synthesized in the SON and transported to the posterior pituitary where they are released together with labeled neurophysin by potassium depolarization in the presence of extracellular calcium. These data provide support for the hypothesis that the neurohypophysial peptides (vasopressin and oxytocin) and neurophysins are derived from the post-translational clevage of protein precursors synthesized in the SON, and that the conversion process can occur in the neurosecretory granule during axonal transport.


Ribosome processing in HeLa cells. Studies on structural aspects of precursor and mature ribosomes.

Mature ribosomes, their subunits, and their ribonucleoprotein precursors were extracted from HeLa cells and prepared for electron microscopy by a method based on adsorption of nucleic acid to a charged grid. Images so obtained revealed the presence of two types of ribonuclease-sensitive fibrils of consistent morphology. One of these types of fibril is present on the 80S and 55S nucleolar ribonucleoprotein precursors and the mature 60S subunit. The other type is restricted to the 80S precursor. The morphology of the fibrils and their distribution in the various preparations suggest identification with known secondary structural features of isolated pre-rRNA.


Basal lamina of embryonic salivary epithelia. Production by the epithelium and role in maintaining lobular morphology.

The role of the basal lamina in maintaining the normal morphology of mouse embryo submandibular epithelia was assessed by examining its production as well as the cellular and organ culture changes associated with its removal and replacement. The lamina was removed from epithelia isolated free of mesenchyme by brief treatment with testicular hyaluronidase in the absence of calcium. The treatment causes rounding-up of the cells, loss of cellular cohesion, appearance of microvilli, and changes in the organization of cytoskeletal structures. The lamina is not removed and the cellular alterations do not occur in the absence of hyaluronidase in calcium-free medium or when both enzyme and calcium are present, possibly because digestion of chondroitin sulfate, a component of the lamina, is inhibited by calcium. Within 2 h after treatment, in the absence of mesenchyme or biological substrata, the epithelia deposits a new lamina, which is identical by several criteria to the preexisting lamina, and reverses the cellular alterations. Epithelia treated with hyaluronidase lose lobular morphology during culture with mesenchyme. Delaying culture with mesenchyme, to allow restoration of the lamina and of normal cellular architecture, prevents the loss of lobular morphology. The results indicate that the basal lamina imposes morphologic stability on the epithelium, while the mesenchyme apparently affects processes involved in changes in morphology, possibly by selective degradation of the basal lamina.


Enzyme-selective detector systems for high-pressure liquid chromatography.

This paper describes the performance of absorbance and fluorescence detectors in two configurations of post-column reactors for selectively detecting and quantitating isonenzymes eluted form a high-pressure liquid chromatography column. Superb resolution of the isoenzymes of lactic dehydrogenase is illustrated by the use of new ion-exchange materials.


Epoxide-diol metabolic pathway of cytenamide in the rat.

Cytenamide administered intraperitoneally to rats is biotransformed to cytenamide-10,11-epoxide and 10,11-dihydro-10,11-dihydroxycytenamide. These metabolites were separated by chromatographic methods and their structures elucidated by mass spectrometry. The structure of the epoxide was confirmed by direct comparison with an authentic sample. The formation of a chemical artifact, cytenamide-syn-11-hydroxylactone, in the urine was observed. The formation of these metabolites in vitro was demonstrated by incubation of cytenamide with rat liver microsomes.


Simultaneous determination of cis-trans isomeric retinals by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of geometric isomers of retinal in a mixture has been developed. The method can be applied to problems such as determination of optimal conditions for the preparation of a particular isomer, or the investigation of novel photoproducts from retinal. Aprotic solvent effects on cis-trans isomerization are discussed.


Preparation of trimethylsilyl derivatives of thiamphenicol.

The silylation of thiamphenicol has been investigated. Treatment of thiamphenicol with hexamethyldisilazane or N-trimethylsilylimidazole, either alone or in the presence of trimethylchlorosilane, in acetonitrile or pyridine yields the bis(trimethylsily) (TMS) ether derivative. These procedures, however, cause to some extent the formation of 1-(p-methylsulphonylphenyl)-2-monochloroacetamido-1,3-propanediol. Silylation with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide gives, depending on the solvent used, the mono-, bis- and tris-TMS derivatives.


Gas chromatographic determination of some chlorothyl phthalimide compounds.

The use of small-bore glass columns packed with low liquid-phase-loaded insert supports has provided the capability for the separation and quantitative determination of a series of chloroethyl phthalimides. Compounds such as N-(2-chlorovinyl) and N-(1,2-DICHLOROETHYL) PHTHALIMIDE HAVE BEEN MEASURED WITH A RELATIVE STANDARD DEVIATION OF NO MORE THAN 1.4%. The N-(1-chloroethyl) phthalimide compound is not stable even in thisinert system, but it can be stabilized by the room temperature preparation of the N-(1-ethoxyethyl) phthalimide derivative. Methods of standards preparation, calibration, and analysis of N-(1,2-dichloroethyl) phthalimide reaction mixtures are presented.


Combined gas-liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of pemoline in biological samples.

A description is given of a gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) method for the detection and determination of pemoline in biological samples. On treatment with hydrochloric acid, pemoline is converted into 5-phenyl-2,4-dioxooxazolidine, an acidic compound, which can be easily extracted with dichloromethane and determined by GLC. A combined GLC-mass spectrometric method is described.


Gas chromatographic determination of sulphur compounds in town gas.

The gas chromatographic (GC) determination of the sulphur compounds in town gas (in the Nagoya area) was studied by using a flame-photometric detector (FPD) and the cold-trap method with liquid oxygen. The column packings used were 25% TCEP on Shimalite (AW, DMCS), 25% TCP on Shimalite (AW, DMCS), 10% PPE on Shimalite TPA, Porapak Q and silica gel. The major components identified were carbonyl sulphide, hydrogen sulphide, carbon disulphide, thiophene and tetrahydrothiophene (THT). The identities of thiophene and THT were also confirmed by GC combined with the use of a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The average concentrations and standard deviations of thiophene and THT were 8.8 +/- 1.8and 124 +/- 35 ng per 0.051, respectively. The latter value corresponds to 0.7 ppm, which is relatively high for the concentration of an odorant.


Simple ureas derived from diisocyanates and their liquid chromatography on a 5-cm column.

Aliphatic and aromatic diisocyanates were converted to ureas by a chromophoric derivatizing reagent. The ureas were isolated in the pure form characterized by various methods including nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. A chromatographic analytical separation of the urea test solutions was established. The method was used to demonstrate the derivatization of the isocyanates and direct determination of the produced ureas from the reaction mixture.


[Identification of eleven urea herbicides by thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography. I. Application to natural waters (author's transl)].

By the combined use of two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography (with an electron capture detector), the authors succeeded in separating and identifying eleven urea herbicides at levels of up to 4 ppb. The method has been applied to natural surface waters.


Serum somatomedin activity depressed after glucagon administration in man.

The variations in serum somatomedin (SM) activity were compared in 14 subjects after glucagon injection (1 mg im), and in 10 controls. A significant decrease in SM activity was observed 30 and 60 min after glucagon (p less than 0.01 to less than 0.001) whereas no significant change was noted in the controls. Analysis of the dose-response curves suggests that this decrease reflects depressed SM concentration. No correlation was found between the variations of growth hormone (GH), cortisol, or fatty acids and those of SM activity. The maximum variations in glycemia, insulin and SM activity occured during the same time interval. These results suggest that glucagon may play some role in the regulation of circulating SM.


Stimulatory effects of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid on growth hormone and prolactin release in humans.

A dose of 2.5 g of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) was administered intravenously to 6 healthy male volunteers. A significant increase in plasma GH was observed at 30, 45, 60 and 90 min after injection. The plasma prolactin level increased significantly at 45 and 60 min after GHB injection. These responses were not found after the saline vehicle injection in the same subjects. It is conceivable that GHB could modify the release of serotonin from the nerve terminals and then stimulate the release of GH and prolactin.


Glycosylated hemoglobins and long-term blood glucose control in diabetes mellitus.

The glycosylated minor hemoglobin components Hb A1a+b and HbA1c are elevated in insulin-dependent juvenile diabetic patients, 3.2+/-0.7 (+/-1 SD) and 10.0+/-1.9% of total hemoglobin respectively, versus 2.1+/-0.4 and 4.9+/-0.7% in a normal non-diabetic control population. Total glycosylated hemoglobin components, Hb A1a+b+c, correlated with the degree of diabetic blood glucose regulation as measured by antecedent 24-h urinary glucose excretion determined in 220 diabetic patients immediately before, 1, 2, and 3 months prior to the HB A1a+b+c measurement. This assay for long-term blood glucose regulation was utilized to determine the effect of hyperglycemia on plasma cholesterol levels in 112 diabetic patients. Hb A1a+b+c levels correlated with plasma cholesterol levels, suggesting that long-term hyperglycemia is associated with hypercholesterolemia. It is suggested that glycosylated hemoglobin measurement is a good index of long-term blood glucose levels in diabetic patients.


The concentration of angiotensins I and II in blood from the pulmonary artery and left ventricle of man.

The concentrations of angiotensin I (AI) and II (AII) were determined by radioimmunoassay in blood from the main pulmonary artery (MPA) and left ventricule (LV) of ten subjects with rheumatic valvular heart disease. The levels of AI were consistently higher in MPA plasma (21.8+/-2.4 pmol/1) than in LV plasma (14.7+/-2.0 pmol/1), paired t, P less than 0.001. The levels of AII were consistently lower in MPA plasma (21.8+/-4.7 pmol/1) than in LV plasma (33.8+/-7.2 pmol/1), paired t, P less than 0.001. The AII antiserum cross-reacted with three metabolites of the hormone, [des-Asp1]angiotensin II, [des-(Asp1, Arg2)angiotensin II [des-(Asp1, Arg2 Val,3]angiotensin II. To characterize the nature of circulating AII immunoreactive material, paper chromatography was used to separate AII from its immunoreactive metabolites. The results showed that 84-100% of the AII immunoreactive material from both MPA and LV plasma chromatographed with the mobility of authentic angiotensin II. The mean pulmonary conversion of endogenous AI was 33+/-4.8% and the net extraction of AII by peripheral tissues was 33+/-4.1%.


Studies on human sexual development. V. Concentrations of testosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and progesterone in human amniotic fluid throughout gestation.

Concentrations of unconjugated testosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (170HP) and progesterone were measured by radioimmunoassay in amniotic fluid (AF) specimens from normal pregnancies of 9-40 weeks gestation. In two-thirds of samples from pregnancies with male fetuses. AF testosterone exceeded the upper limit found in female samples, with minimal overlap in the 12-18 week period of gestation. Although AF testosterone levels associated with male and female fetuses were both significantly lower toward term, the sex-difference persisted. Between 9-19 weeks gestation, fetal sex was also found to influence AF 170HP, a steroid thought to be predominantly of placental and fetal adrenal origin; in this case, female levels exceeded male. Awareness of the influence of sex and gestation upon AF concentrations of these steroids is an important prerequisite for their application to the prenatal diagnosis of endocrine disease (e.g., congenital adrenal hyperplasia). There was no sex difference in AF progesterone concentrations at 12-18 weeks gestation. The median progesterone concentration at 34-40 weeks was higher with female fetuses, but this difference may be related to a difference in gestational age between  AF samples obtained from male and female fetuses.


Comparison of serum calcitonin levels after a 1-minute calcium injection and after pentagastrin injection in the diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma.

A 1-min calcium injection was compared with a pentagastrin injection as provocative measures in stimulating calcitonin secretion in 4 patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma. In all cases the calcium injection resulted in a greater rise in serum calcitonin concentration. The patients tolerated the calcium injection well. However, two patients experienced substernal pressure and dyspnea following the pentagastrin injection. It is concluded that a 1-min calcium injection is a safe, rapid and effective procedure in the diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma.


The binding of a synthetic progestin, R5020 to transcortin and serum albumin.

R5020 (17,21-dimethyl-19-nor-4,9-pregnadiene-3,20-dione), a synthetic progestin, was tested for its binding to purified human transcortin, albumin and human serum. Scatchard analysis showed that R5020 bound relatively weakly to transcortin (Kass = 8 X 10(6)M-1); in 20% human serum or albumin greater than 90% was bound with low Kass and an indeterminate number of binding sites.


Anaerobic vibrio-like organisms cultured from blood: Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and Succinivibrio species.

Two unusual anaerobic vibrio-like organisms were recovered from blood cultures of two patients. One isolate was identified as Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. It appeared to be the cause of a 24-h episode of fever, chills, and profuse perspiration. This is apparently the first documented report of human infection due to this organism. The second isolate was a Succinivibrio species. It has rarely been described as a cause of bacteremia. The clinical significance of the organism remains unclear.


Bacteriological variation among Bordetella bronchiseptica isolates from dogs and other species.

Bacteriological properties of 50 isolates of Bordetella bronchiseptica were compared. Phase variation, which involved colonial morphology and its associated characters of hemagglutination, hemolysis, acriflavine agglutination; crystal violet staining, flagellation, and fimbriation, occurred among these isolates. Organisms representing the three observed morphotypes did not have different growth rates, nor were any differences in their bacteriological characteristics observed after repeated subculture on agar. There were also variations in antimicrobial drug susceptibility, especially to sulfonamide-trimethoprim, and in nitrate reduction. The relationships among these variable parameters were not apparent. None of the observed variations could be attributed to differences in the species of origin.


Diagnostic antigens and antisera in tablet form.

Diagnostic antigen suspensions and antisera can be prepared in tablet form with no loss in potency.


Limits to conceptual rule-learing by schizophrenic patients.

Two studies of conceptual rule-learning by 36 hospitalized psychiatric patients revealed that (a) while all were clinically diagnosed as schizophrenic, they differed widely in their ability to discover abstract rules; (b) the Whitaker Index of Schizophrenic Thinking (WIST) strongly predicted the patients' ability to learn and to apply a conceptual rule; and (c) regardless of severity of conceptual impairment, the patients were unaffected by modest levels of externally generated irrelevant information as presented through the modality of vision. Deficits in abstractive ability, when they exist, are believed to be due to a schizophrenic patient's inability to prevent task-irrelevant information that originates in long-term memory from spilling into and despoiling the operations of working memory.


Psychosocial correlates of obesity control.

Biosocial and behavioral data on 287 obese females (168 of whom belonged to 9 successful groups and 119 of whom belonged to 8 unsuccessful groups) were collected by means of the Rating of Self Status (ROSS) scale to determine the distinguishing characteristics of (a) successful vs. unsuccessful groups; and (b) successful vs. unsuccessful individuals regardless of their group membership. Factor analysis of ROSS data identified 24 separate variables. Multi-variate analysis of variance (MANOVA) that compared successful with unsuccessful groups resulted in differences that were not significant (p = .30). Subsequent MANOVA that contrasted remediably and irremediably obese persons, regardless of their group membership, yielded highly significant (p less than .001) overall results and significant differences (ps ranged from .10 to .001) on 10 of the 24 ROSS factors.


Paired-associate learning of affective words in chronic schizophrenics.

This study investigated the acquisition of affective and neutral words in a paired-associate list by chronic schizophrenics and normals. Ten paired associates in which stimulus terms were nonsense syllables and response terms were words (five affective and five neutral) were learned by 30 chronic schizophrenics (15 male, 15 female) and 30 normals (15 male, 15 female) according to an anticipation procedure. The schizophrenics learned significantly fewer affective words than neutral words, while normals learned an equal number of affective and neutral words. This effect, however, progressively diminished throughout trials for the schizophrenics such that no differences were observed in the final trial for the two types of response words. These results are discussed in terms of habituation of an anxiety response evoked by the affective words.


Prior time uncertainty reduction of foreperiod duration under two different levels of event uncertainty in process and reactive schizophrenia.

Process and reactive schizophrenic Ss judged stimulus durations of .50 and .55 seconds. Stimulus was 1, 3 or 5 dark dots and was preceded by variable foreperiod duration of 1, 3 or 5 seconds. Judgment of stimulus duration was found to be a monotonically increasing function of foreperiod duration. When pitch of the auditory warning signal was correlated with foreperiod duration so that it functioned as prior time information, such monotonic function was eliminated for process schizophrenics only when the numerosity of dots was constant from trial to trial. The effect of prior time information that concerned foreperiod duration was negligible for both process and reactive schizophrenics when the numerosity of dots was variable from trial to trial. Uniqueness of process schizophrenia was shown to be associated with prior time uncertainty reduction of foreperiod duration in the context of minimal event uncertainty of stimulus.


The 16 PF and CPI: a comparison.

This study assessed the cross-inventory generalizability of personality characterizations for Cattell's 16 PF and Gough's CPI. The univariate and multivariate relationships of these scales to their measures of impression management and general aptitude also were explored. Although many PF and CPI content scales and highly similar descriptions, all were found to have poor and inconsistent cross-inventory convergences. The 16 PF and CPI correlates of the desirability scales were found to be similar and consistent with prior research, although the number and magnitude of those for some CPI scales seemed somewhat inappropriate (as were some between the CPI and general aptitude). The relationships of the desirability scales to the content scales of each inventory were found to be heavily dependent upon rotation after factor analysis. It was concluded that the high degree of scale dissimilarity between the 16 PF and CPI must caution against clinical and research generalization across these two inventories. In addition, further investigation of these current impression management scales seems worth pursuing because they appeared to represent the most consistent characteristics measured.


Modification and factorial analysis of the Leyton Obsessional Inventory.

The Leyton Obsessional Inventory was modified into a paper-and-pencil form to facilitate its group administration. Factor analysis was carried out on the modified version replies of 173 college students. The factors obtained were compared to those extracted by Cooper and Kelleher (1973) for the original inventory. Similarities and differences in factors were attributed to cultural factors and differences in the sample populations. The treatment implication of obtaining multiple symptom factors in future studies with obsessional patients was stressed.


Development of a state measure of obsessive compulsive behavior.

The Reaction Inventory-Interference was developed to identify obsessional thoughts and compulsive acts, which interfere with an individual's daily activities. The 50 items in the inventory were administered to 172 Ss. On the basis of item test correlations, 40 items were retained for subsequent analyses. The estimate of internal consistency for the 40 item inventory was .95. The correlation between the 40-item inventory and the "symptom" score on the Leyton Obsessional Inventory was .66. Factor analysis of the 40-item inventory yielded nine factors.


The structure of the Wechsler Memory Scale: a replication.

The Wechsler Memory Scale was administered to 112 patients who had been referred to a clinical psychologist for investigations of cognitive functioning with regard to possible or actual organic pathology of the brain. The aim was to replicate the factor structure of this test found in a previous study. The three-factor structure found in the previous study was replicated very closely, and it also was determined that only a total Digit Span score was needed, as little unique information was provided by the Digits Forwards and Digits Backwards scores. It also was found that the visual reproduction subtest had a significant verbal component.


The validity of two clinical tests of visual-motor perception.

The study investigated the relative efficiency of the Bender and MPD as assessors of achievement-related errors in visual-motor perception. Clinical experience with these two tests suggests that beyond first grade the MPD is more sensitive than the Bender for purposes of measuring deficits in visual-motor perception that interfere with effective classroom learning. The sample was composed of 153 third-grade children from two upper-middle-class elementary schools in a surburban school system in central Ohio. For three of the four achievement criteria, the results were clearly congruent with the hypothesis stated above. That is, SpCD errors from the MPD not only showed significantly higher negative rs with the criteria (reading vocabulary, reading comprehension, and mathematics computation) than Koppitz errors from the Bender, but also accounted for a much higher proportion of the variance in these criteria. Thus, the findings suggest that psychologists engaged in the assessment of older children seriously should consider adding the MPD to their assessment battery.


Attraction to psychotherapy: influences of therapist status and therapist-patient age similarity.

Therapist-patient age similarity and therapist status were examined in relation to interpersonal attraction in the psychotherapy dyad. Psychiatric inpatients who comprised three age groupings were assigned randomly to one of four audiovisual treatments that depicted a dyadic psychotherapy situation (N = 60). For each treatment, therapist age and status were differentially presented on color slides with the same accompanying audiotape. Results indicated that age similarity was significantly (p less than .05) more relevant for the younger patients, whereas therapist status had greater significance for older patients. There were several significant interactions that concerned therapist-patient age similarity and therapist status effects on psychotherapeutic attraction. These results suggest that therapist-patient matching on age and/or therapist status should be considered carefully as a potential influence on therapeutic outcome.


Seeking admission to a veterans hospital: impression management.

Psychiatric and medical patients can present a self-image consistent with their personal goals of early discharge or of lengthy hospitalization. Impression management to gain hospitalization may be a different process. A 2 X 2 X 2 ANACOVA tested whether type of problem (medical or psychiatric), first or multiple admission, or path of least resistance had any effect on impression management to gain hospitalization. Results were generally negative. The only significant variable was chronological age. Older patients endorsed more items flattering the hospital. These results were independent of degree of illness as judged by the patients and by physicians.


Maintaining a sense of contact with the patient during therapist absences.

The problems that therapist absences cause patients are discussed, and methods to handle such absences are illustrated by case examples. It is pointed out that breaks in appointments may be stressful for both patient and therapist, but they also can be viewed as an integral part of therapy. The creative use of task assignments during absences furthers treatment goals. Often positive results accrue as patients learn to deal with separation and discover that they can function independently of the therapist.


Effects of antidepressive program on verbal behavior.

At time of admission 50 hospitalized male patients assigned to one of two groups judged as depressed and nondepressed completed one form of the Depression Adjective Check List (DACL). Depressed patients were placed in a highly specific treatment regime: Antidepressive program (adp), which required display of assertive behavior for termination of treatment. After removal from the program ADP patients received an alternate form of the DACL, and 2 weeks postadmission all patients completed a third form of testing. Significant decrease in number of dysphoric mood items selected posttreatment was found for the ADP group as compared with nondepressed patients. Lower depression scores were obtained after ADP across the period studied. Length of time in ADP was related negatively to initial depression scores. Results are interpreted in terms of reinforcement contingencies that sustain depressive verbal behavior.


Changing negative attributions to mental patients by means of demythologizing seminars.

As compared with a group of matched controls, psychiatric clients exposed to demythologizing seminars made significant and positive changes in the qualities that they attributed to the mental patient. Implications of this study for further research were discussed.


Some personality characteristics of soldiers exposed to extreme war stress: a follow-up study of post-hospital adjustment.

A group of 17 Israeli soldier psychiatric casualties of the Yom Kippur war were readministered the MMPI and intensively interviewed a year after they had been discharged from a psychiatric ward. A comparison between the hospitalization and post-hospitalization MMPI profiles yielded no significant difference on any of the scales. Thus, the degree of emotional distress experienced by these veterans continues to be extraordinarily high and is characterized by extreme depression, anxiety and extensive physical complaints. The interview reports are completely consistent with the MMPI data. These data emphasize the prolonged effect of combat stress and highlight the special problems that these men face in re-entering their social community.


Group embedded figures test performance in different instrumental behavior styles.

Group Embedded Figure Test (GEFT) performance of male psychiatric clinic outpatients differed significantly between persons with active and those with passive styles of instrumental behavior as measured by the Millon-Illinois Self Report Inventory. Actives were able to identify the simple figure within a complex ground significantly better than passives and thus demonstrated an independence from field not found in passives.


Assessment of cognitive recovery in alcoholics by use of the trail-making test.

Cognitive recovery among male alcoholics and controls was investigated with the Trail-Making Test as an index of cognitive impairment. The test was administered twice to all Ss with an interval of approximately 1 year between testings. A reported measures analysis of variance showed that the controls performed significantly better than the alcoholics at both administrations, although the alcoholics did improve between the pre-and posttests. Reported drinking episodes that occurred between the pre-and posttests appeared to have no effect on cognitive recovery in the alcoholic group when relapsed and abstinent subgroups were compared.


A comparison between volunteer drug-abusers and non-drug-abusers on measures of social skills.

This study assessed specific behavior patterns of volunteering "had" drug-abusers in comparison to non-drug-abusers on self-report and behavioral measures of social skills. It was hypothesized that the individual's behavior is affected both by his group affiliation and by the immediate situational variables. Twelve drug-abusers and 12 university students were asked to interact with trained role-players in simulated social situations geared to elicit assertiveness and heterosexual dating behaviors. Task requirements as well as environmental social consequences (role-player's responses) were manipulated. Contingent on the situation type, both groups demonstrated basically the same level of social efficiency on verbal measures, but showed different performances on nonverbal measures. Preferential social interaction responses were found to be affected by the varied environmental feedback. The relevance of an "interactionist" approach to research on drug abuse and some crucial methodological factors are discussed.


Warfarin elimination and responsiveness in patients with renal dysfunction.

Plasma warfarin half-life was estimated in four patients with renal dysfunction and five normal control subjects. Hypoprothrombinemic responsiveness to a single oral dose of warfarin (0.75 mg/kg) was also evaluated for both groups. The mean warfarin half-life of 29.9+/-5.0 (S.E.M.) hours for renal patients was significantly shorter than the 44.8+/-6.0 hours half-life for normal controls (P less than 0.05). Additionally, a positive correlation was found between warfarin half-life and creatinine clearance. Pharmacologic responsiveness to warfarin was comparable for both groups. It therefore appears that patients with renal dysfunction do not possess an increased susceptibility, either pharmacokinetic or pharmacologic, to the hypoprothrombinemic effect of warfarin.


Physical and behavioral aspects of sexual maturation in male golden hamsters.

Male golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were examined from 3 to 9 wk of age for morphological, physiological, and behavioral indices of sexual maturation. Although each of the eight variables selected for measurement displayed a unique developmental profile, a principal-components analysis of these variables resulted in the extraction of two principal components, one tentatively labeled physical and gross behavioral maturation (accounting for 66% of the total variance) and the other designated perfection of mounting orientation (accounting for an additional 12% of the variance). This result indicates that puberty in the male hamster is best viewed as two independent processes, rather than as a unitary process, or as an arbitrary term applied to a variety of unrelated developmental phenomena. Advantages of using multi-variate composite scores and selected univariate measurements are discussed; as are methods of comparing developmental changes in different variables. A second experiment confirmed an unexpectedly early onset of androgen secretion and an unusual pattern of body weight gain.


Grooming behavior in cats with pontile lesions and cats with tectal lesions.

Because an abnormal grooming behavior that is mediated by the superior colliculi is elicited from cats with pontile lesions, an ablation study of these structures was conducted to specify quantitatively the changes in grooming behavior. Cats that underwent the surgical procedure except for the lesion and cats with lesions of the auditory and visual cortices served as control groups. Time-lapse motion pictures of the cats in their home cages were taken, and statistical analyses of the grooming behavior shown on the films indicated that cats with pontile lesions and cats with tectal lesions spent less time grooming, had shorter grooming bouts, and failed to exhibit the normal temporal pattern of grooming behaviors. Other studies revealed that cats with pontile or tectal lesions were deficient in removing tapes stuck on their fur. A sensory-loss hypothesis appeared to account for some of the changes, but a deficit in endogenous control of the grooming behaviors also was indicated. The literature on grooming behavior related to peripheral versus endogenous control was reviewed, and the role of the superior colliculi as a higher order integrative center for complex behaviors is emphasized.


Development of obesity in diabetic mice pair-fed with lean siblings.

The role of hyperphagia -n the obesity of the diabetic mouse, C57BL/6J db/db, was investigated. Ingestion patterns and the amount of food for diabetic mice were controlled by yoking their food intake to that of nonobese siblings obtaining their food by bar pressing. Over a period of 6 wk, young (initial ages were 28 days) pair-fed diabetic mice accumulated 42% more body weight and approximately five times more extractable carcass lipid than did their siblings. Weight gain and absolute levels of carcass fat were reduced in food-restricted siabetic mice compared with dbs on unrestricted food intake. However, carcass fat as percentage of wet carcass weight was virtually identical in the restricted and unrestricted dbs (47.6% vs. 49.6%). From these results it is concluded that the heightened adiposity of the diabetic mouse does not require hyperphagia for its expression and thus represents a metabolic obesity.


Orogastric determinants of drinking in rats: interaction between absorptive and peripheral controls.

Water intake of water-deprived rats, drinking with absorption prevented by pyloric occlusion, was compared with that of rats drinking normally. Drinking without absorption, under the control of only orogastric factors, was not graded in response to varied deprivation (Experiment 1). Orogastric controls effectively inhibited intake after absorbed water, but not isotonic saline, preloads (Experiment 2). The extent of orogastric inhibition was directly related to absorbed preload volume (Experiment 3). With large absorbed water preloads (9 ml), intakes with and without absorption were equal. Normal function of orogastric controls may thus be based on their interaction with absorption, which progressively enhances peripheral inhibition of drinking.


Obesity, dieting, and the expression of "obese" characteristics.

Obese,normal, and underweight college-age subjects were divided into sub-groups of dieters and nondieters. Consumption following a preload was found to vary as a function of dieting, not obesity, with dieters exhibiting the "obese" response (absence of caloric compensation) irrespective of weight classification. Similarly, elevated levels of free fatty acids, normally found in the obese, were associated with dieting rather than obesity per se. Implications of these findings for current theories of obesity are discussed.


Mechanism and reconstruction of pes cavus.

Many important factors are involved in the surgical treatment of pes cavus. Among these factors are the location of the deformity--frontal, sagittal, or transverse planes--and whether there is an associated muscle weakness. Biomechanical analysis will help to determine whether the cavus foot is rigid or nonrigid and how it functions. Neurologic and radiologic tests must also be used to determine the type of operative procedure required for correction of the deformity.


The pivotal metatarsal osteotomy: a modification of the metatarsal metaphyseal osteotomy.

The presence of cancellous bone determines the choice of location for osteotomies in the metatarsals. The head and base have good cancellous bone, whereas the shaft has cortical bone and a medullary canal which make it a poor choice of osteotomy site. Many practitioners are now using a transverse metaphyseal osteotomy; however, the authors choose the pivotal metaphyseal osteotomy as the procedure of choice using a 10- or 12-mm Pivotal Osteotomy Blade attached to an oscillating power source.


Alternate method of reducing metatarsus primus adductus angle.

Dr. Evins suggests a relatively simple technique to reduce the metatarsus primus adductus angle associated with hallux abducto valgus. It is used in conjunction with other bunionectomies--often with the modified McBride bunionectomy or the Reverdin osteotomy--with satisfactory results and often makes the Logroscino double osteotomy unnecessary.


Interfacing national health insurance and income maintenance: why health and welfare reform go together.

The current debate on national health insurance has not given sufficient attention to the impact of various proposals upon income maintenance programs. Health and welfare benefits are difficult to coordinate and frequently work at cross purposes. Health care benefits are one of several in-kind forms of income that can affect the economic behavior and well-being of welfare recipients. As an in-kind form of income, subsidized health insurance for low income persons can undermine the objectives of public assistance, particularly the willingness to work, by making some individuals worse off when income rises. Five national health insurance proposals are analyzed to determine how each will interface with cash transfer programs. Most of these proposals perpetuate many of the benefit coordination problems that now exist with the Medicaid program. The article concludes by delineating some of the difficult policy decisions that must be made if health and welfare reforms are to be meaningful.


Electron probe x-ray microanalysis of small granulated cells in rat sympathetic ganglia after sequential aldehyde and dichromate treatment.

Rat adrenal medulla and celiac-mesenteric sympathetic ganglia were fixed by a glutaraldehyde/formaldehyde-potassium dichromate-osmium treatment sequence and plastic-embedded. Fine sections were examined by electron probe x-ray microanalysis. Comparable peaks for chromium (Kalpha = 5.4 keV) were obtained from cytoplasmic fields containing membrane-bounded inclusion granules in both adrenomedullary noradrenaline cells and a type (type II) of sympathetic small granulated cell whose inclusion granules closely resemble those of the adrenomedullary noradrenaline cell. Chromium was not detected in granules within adrenomedullary adrenaline cells nor in two other sympathetic small granualted cell types. In no material was chromium detected in agranular cytoplasmic or nuclear fields. Since chromium binds to the Schiff monobase formed by glutaraldehyde and noradrenaline during fixation, we infer that noradrenaline is present in the granules of the type II sympathetic small granulated cell, as well as in adrenomedullary noradrenaline cells.


An electron stain for elastic fibers using orcein.

Orcein was found to be useful as an electron-opaque stain for elastic fibers in epoxy-sections. Ultra-thin sections of aorta were treated with elastica stain containing 0.1-0.3% orcein and counterstained in uranyl acetate and lead citrate. Elastic fibers were densely and specifically demonstrated in the stroma and near smooth muscle cells. The result of orcein staining has a comparable appearance under both light and electron microscopes.


Neutropenia induced by systemic infusion of chemotactic factors.

Autologous plasma, when exposed to complement-activating agents that generate leukotactic activity, induces transient neutropenia after infusion into rabbits. Trypsinized human C5 as well as the chemotactic fragment isolated from zymosan-activated human serum also induces transient neutropenia in rabbits, as do chemotactically active synthetic tripeptides. In each instance the neutropenia-inducing activity parallels the chemotactic activity. Thus, neutropenia-inducing activity and chemotactic activity seem to be related physiologic responses of neutrophils. In vivo margination and/or agglutination of leukocytes may underlie this phenomenon of neutropenia.


Effect of concanavalin A on the classical complement pathway.

Lysis of sheep erythrocytes (E) sensitized with anti-Forssman antiserum (EA) is inhibited by the action of concanavalin A (Con A) on whole guinea pig complement (GPC). The degree of inhibition observed for a given quantity of GPC was dependent on the Con A concentration. Specifically, Con A inhibits the activity of the early acting complement components C1 and C2 in the fluid phase, but has no significant effect on lysis once these components are bound to EA. Results of tmax experiments performed in the presence or absence of Con A showed that inhibition of C2 activity results from a direct interaction between Con A and C2 and not from a decreased number of effective EAC14 sites. Furthermore, since Con A pretreated or untreated EAC14 cells had the same tmax value, Con A and C2 apparently do not compete for the same binding site on the indicator cells. The lectin has no observable effect on either fluid phase or cell-bound C4 activity. Under similar conditions, wheat germ or soy bean agglutinin, leucoagglutinin or pokeweed mitogen did not inhibit hemolysis.


Further studies on the identification of the subcomponents of the first component of complement after affinity chromatography of human serum on IgG-sepharose.

Affinity chromatography of serum on IgG covalently linked to Sepharose results in the retention of the proteins of the first component of complement (C1). A fraction called pool II is eluted from this column with 0.025 M EDTA and has previously been shown to contain C1s and a novel protein believed to be part of the C1 complex and called C1t. C1r has now been located in pool II and these three proteins were purified by DEAE cellulose chromatography. C1r and C1s were recovered in the proenzyme form and their identity was established by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis before and after reduction and alkylation, and on the basis of their esterolytic activities toward different substrates. The properties of C1r from pool II are contrasted with those of the protein recovered from the pool III eluate of the affinity column and previously thought to be C1r.


Inherited polymorphism of guinea pig factor B and C4: evidence for genetic linkage between the C4 and Bf loci.

An inherited structural polymorphism of the guinea pig complement protein C4 and of factor B of the alternative pathway was demonstrated by use of high voltage agarose electrophoresis combined with a subsequent immunofixation technique. No polymorphism of guinea pig C3 could be shown. Three common allelic genes were proven to code for C4-S, C4-S1, and C4-F, respectively. Two common allelic genes are responsible for the Bf-F and Bf-S phenotype expression. A strong linkage disequilibrium between both C4 and Bf was demonstrated.


Mechanisms of humoral cytotoxicity testing: the role of rabbit serum, xenoantibody, and human IgM.

The reproducibility and sensitivity of a humoral microcytotoxicity assay which detects anti-astrocytoma antibodies depends on a consistent, effective complement preparation. Rabbit serum mixed 1/1 with human cord serum proved to be an ideal preparation with full complementarity and low nonspecific cytotoxicity. Human cord serum provided consistent small amounts of human IgM and did not contribute additional complement activity. The inhibition of xenoantibody by human IgM is the critical mechanism which determines the efficacy of the complement. Human IgM in a final concentration of 10 mg/dl in the rabbit serum produced a preparation with 10 to 15% nonspecific cytotoxicity against astrocytoma target cells. This residual nonspecific cytotoxicity serves a catalytic function and is necessary for the detection of weak specific antibodies.


Binding of dexamethasone by the subcellular fractions of mouse epidermis and dermis.

The binding of the potent anticarcinogenic agent, dexamethasone, to mouse epidermal and dermal subcellular fractions was investigated. When applied to mouse skin, 3H-labeled dexamethasone remained associated, after extensive dialysis, with epidermal and dermal cytosol, microsomes, microsomes, mitochondria, and chromatin. The specific activity of dexamethasone binding to these fractions was from 2 to 5 times as high in the epidermis as in the dermis. Epidermal chromatin had the highest specific activity fo binding. Dexamethasone was not associated with the cytosol protein receptor which was previously found to specifically bind tumor promoters and polycyclic hydrocarbon carcinogens.


Phenothiazine phototoxicity: an experimental study on chlorpromazine and its metabolites.

Chlorpromazine (CPZ) metabolites were studied for their phototoxic potency with the mouse tail technique. The demethylated metabolites were more phototoxic potency with the mouse tail technique. The demethylated metabolites were more phototoxic than CPZ, while CPZ-sulfoxide, 7-hydroxy-CPZ, and 2-chlorphenothiazine were less phototoxic. The phototoxicity of CPZ and desmethyl-CPZ preexposed to UVA was lost, while that of CPZ-sulfoxide was retained. By thin-layer chromatography, CPZ-sulfoxide and promazine were identified as photoproducts of CPZ; the sulfoxide was fairly stable to radiation.


Formation of secretory and circulating antibodies after immunization with live and inactivated influenza virus vaccines.

The formation of secretory and circulating antibodies in volunteer teenagers and adults immunized intranasally with live and inactivated influenza virus vaccines has been studied. The antibody response to the vaccine was directly dependent upon the amount of virus contained in the inoculum. The live vaccine was more effective than the inactivated vaccine in stimulating the production of secretory antibodies. Antibody levels in serum before immunization did not affect the production of secretory and circulatory antibodies. However, production of both of these antibodies was observed to be inversely correlated with the initial level of secretory antibodies. Secretory antibodies were shown to have a wider spectrum of activity against type A influenza viruses than circulating antibodies. Antibody titers in nasal secretions were correlated with the concentration of IgA in total protein but could not be correlated with concentrations of IgG.


Effect of a protein-sparing diet and brief fast on nitrogen metabolism in mildly obese subjects.

Five young, mildly obese females consumed a formula diet providing total calories at 1.2 X basal energy expenditure and egg white protein, 1.5 gm./kg. ideal body weight (IBW), for 1 week (period 1). During period 2, lasting 3 weeks, a protein-sparing modified fast (PSMF) consisted of similar amounts of egg white without nonprotein calories followed by a 1-week total fast (period 3). In the final period (4), a PSMF with the use of meat protein, 1.5 gm./kg. IBW, alone was given for 1 week. Nitrogen balance (Nbal) measurements were made in all periods, and periods 2, 3, and 4 were compared with period 1. No significant difference existed between period 1 and period 2, although Nbal improved weekly during period 2. Nitrogen excretion in period 3 was similar to that found after 3 weeks of total fasting and was significantly negative, whereas positive balances occurred in period 4 with both periods being significantly different from period 1. Thus nitrogen equilibrium in the PSMF can be achieved with the use of protein free from fat, confirming earlier experience with meat protein. The metabolic adaption which occurs during toal fasting and results in reduced nitrogen loss develops in the course of PSMF. After a deficit in lean body mass is produced, net protein anabolism can be achieved by a PSMF despite insufficinet dietary energy.


Physiologic and biologic behavior of autologous canine 131L-fibrinogen labeled by a chloramine-T method.

Autologous canine 131I-fibrinogen labeled by a chloramine-T method was examined to determine whether the fibrinogen had been altered by the iodination procedure as suggested by other investigators. Before and after radioiodination, clottability of the fibrinogen was always equal to or greater than 89 percent. Gel chromatography studies revealed that labeled fibrinogen behaved as unlabeled fibrinogen and no high molecular weight material was found. Gamma camera scintigraphy reflected the chromatography results, as iodinated material did not appear in the liver or spleen until 48 to 72 hours. The slow-moving component of the whole blood clearance curves, respresenting undenatured fibrinogen, had a mean half-life of 61.4 +/- 5.1 hours (+/- S.E.M.) and comprised 51.5 +/- 7.5 percent of the initial activity. Similarly, a mean falf-life of 53.4 +/- 2.0 hours and 59.6 +/- 7.7 percent initial activity wwere attributed to fibrinogen according to the plasma clearance curves as determined by trichloracetic acid precipitation. The results clearly demonstrated that chloramine-T iodination of fibrinogen can yield an excellent product, biologically and chemically, which is free from macroaggregates.


A simple radioimmunological method for the determination or renal renin activity in the rat.

A RIA method for the measurement of RRA is described, based upon the incubation of two dilutions of kidney extract with a fixed amount of EDTA-anticoagulated anephric rat plasma. The RIA of the generated angiotensin I is carried out with the commercially available NEN Kit. Recovery  of angiotensin I added to the incubation mixture was 98 percent. There were 113 kidneys with a wide range of renin activity (52 to 1,274 ng. angiotensinl/mg. of kidney per hour) assayed. The within-assay coefficient of variation was uniform throughout the range, equalling 4.4 percent. The between-assay variance was practically identical with the within-assay variance. The confidence interval to the mean RRA level of one pair of readings was 5.4 percent of this mean.


Simple micro-assay methods for enzymes of purine metabolism.

Xanthine oxidase, guanase, 5'-nucleotidase, and adenosine deaminase in human epidermis were demonstrated and accurately assayed with about 20 microng. of tissue by the new micro-assay methods which rely on the isolation of isotopically labeled end products from the substrates by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate membranes. These assay methods are rapid, reliable, and sensitive and are highly suitable for studies of small amount of human tissue. Theses methods for the separation of purine derivatives with cellulose acetate membrane will also permit the assays of purine nucleoside phosphorylase and nucleoside kinase.


Hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase activity in hamsters on a lithogenic diet.

The activity of hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme for liver cholesterol biosynthesis, has been determined in young hamsters given a diet known to produce cholesterol gallstones in this species and compared to the activity found in chow-fed hamsters. None of the hamsters fed the lithogenic diet for 15 days or less developed gallstones but 74 percent of those on the diet for 26 to 49 days had cholesterol gallstones. None of the chow-fed animals developed gallstones. The mean HMG CoA reductase activity of hamsters on the lithogenic diet at 4 to 6 hours after the onset of the dark period was 20 times greater than in hamsters in the fasting state and 12 times that of fed hamsters on the chow diet. These greatly elevated enzyme activities were found as early as 2 to 15 days on the lighogenic diet and thus long before the gallstones appeared. The percentage of the bile acid pool represented by chenodeoxycholic acid was significantly higher, and that cholic acid correspondingly lower on the gallstone-inducing diet. This shift in bile acid composition may have contributed to gallstone formation. No significant accumulation of cholesterol was noted in liver or carcass. Increased synthesis of cholesterol induced by the greatly stimulated enzyme activity in hamsters on the lithogenic diet could account for the increased secretion of cholesterol in bile noted by others with subsequent supersaturation of gallbladder bile with respect to cholesterol, and then gallstone formation.


Effects of volume expansion and parathyroid hormone on total renal blood flow and its intracortical distribution.

Clearance and renal blood flow studies were performed during hydropenia, 2.5 and 10 percent steady-state saline expansion, and acute administration of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in chronically thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) dogs and during hydropenia and 10 percent expansion in intact dogs. Renal cortical blood flow distribution was measured with radioactive microspheres In TPTX dogs, 2.5 percent expansion increased sodium excretion but did not alter total or intracortical blood flow. With 10 percent expansion, sodium excretion and juxtamedullary (zone 4) blood flow increased in both TPTX and intact dogs. There was no correlation between the changes in sodium excretion and zone 4 fractional blood flow in either group. Although the acute administration of PTH to TPTX dogs did not alter total or intracortical blood flow, control period hemodynamic data revealed an inner shift of flow in TPTX as compated to intact dogs.These results indicate that (1)  massive (10 percent), but not mild (2.5 percent), volume expansion produces an inner shift of cortical blood flow; (2) this shift does not correlate with sodium excretion, nor is it influenced by thyroparathyroidectomy: and (3) PTH does not acutely alter renal blood flow distribution, but its chronic absence is associated with a shift of flow to the inner cortex.


Effect of pharmacologic doses of vasopressin on sodium reabsorption in the rat kidney.

Administration of pharmacologic doses of vasopressin (50 mU./min./kg.) to the rat resulted in significant increases in both the urinary excretion of sodium (0.02 +/- 0.02 to 6.24 +/- 0.76 micronEq/min.) and the urine flow rate (4.5 +/- 0.5 to 30.5 +/- 6.0 micronl/min). Simultaneous free-flow micropuncture studies demonstrated a decrease in end-proximal TF/Pinulin ratios from 2.82 +/- 0.15 to 1.90 +/- 0.90 (p less than 0.01), indicating decreased water reabsorption in this portion of the nephron. To reduce the influence of the pressor effect of these doses of vasopressin on the kidney, the aorta was constricted proximal to the renal arteries and this resulted in a decrease in urinary sodium excretion to 2.87 +/- 0.57 micronEq/min. and in urine flow rates to 16.6 +/- 3.6 micronl/min. compared with animals given vasopressin alone. End-proximal TF/Pinulin ratio was 2.01 +/- 0.15, a value not significantly different than that in animals given vasopressin alone, suggesting a continued proximal inhibitory effect of vasopressin. It is concluded that pharmacologic doses of vasopressin inhibit sodium reabsorption in the proximal convoluted tubule as well as in distal portions of the nephron. The magnitude of sodium excretion observed is a function both of vasopressin inhibition of sodium reabsorption and the pressor effect of vasopressin.


Improved ECG monitoring during cardiac catheterization using radiotransparent electrodes and chest leads.

Improved electrocardiographic monitoring during cardiac catheterization and angiography is achieved when precordial leads can be used and base line wander and muscle artifact are eliminated or reduced. This can be realized with the use of radiotransparent gold electrodes applied to the chest in C1 and C6 locations. Radiotransparency of the electrodes enables them to be situated on the chest wall throughout the diagnostic procedures without interfering with the radiographic image. The electrical stability of gold helps to eliminate base line drift; the precordial location is less subject to movement and muscle artifact and less restricting for the patient. The electrodes are made from gold film vacuum-deposited on 2 mil mylar with a copper wire five-thousandths of an inch in diameter mounted between two layers of plastic tape. The benefits of this arrangement have been observed in a series of ten patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.


High fidelity ECG in the diagnosis of occult coronary artery disease: a study of patients with normal conventional ECG.

High fidelity (HF) electrocardiography (ECGY) was performed on four groups of patients with a normal resting electrocardiogram (ECG). Two groups (A and B) consisted of normal subjects over or under the age of 40, while the other two groups of patients (C and D) underwent coronary arteriography because of chest pain. HR ECG components within the initial portion of the QRS complex were significantly more common among patients with advanced coronary disease. The difference between the normal groups and the group with documented coronary artery disease (CAD) became more significant when the number of leads showing the HF ECG components was counted. Precordial leads were more sensitive in predicting the presence or absence of CAD than limb leads. HF ECG components in the terminal portion of the QRS complex did not differentiate between normals and patients with coronary artery disease, unless the number of leads showing these HF ECG components was considered. It seems that abnormal HF ECG components can point to minor areas of fibrosis caused by coronary artery disease even if the resting conventional ECG is normal.


Analysis of discrepancies between VCG and ECG interpretation of anterior wall myocardial infarction.

In 247 cases in which an old anterior myocardial infarction (MI) was suspected and in which SVEC III-lead system vectorcardiograms (VCGs) and matching conventional 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) were available, records were analyzed to investigate the diagnostic agreement or discrepancy between the two techniques. The frequency of agreement (155 cases) exceeded the frequency of disagreement (92 cases), but the frequency of disagreement even with lumped subgroups was high. Eighty percent of this disagreement was between positive VCG and negative ECG diagnostic consensus. The positive MI group by ECG diagnosis showed smaller R waves and larger S waves and larger S waves in leads V2 and V3 and smaller R/S ratios in leads V2 and V4 than the negative MI groupe by ECG, while small R waves or QS patterns and large S waves in just lead V1 were the only positive finding in the positive MI group by VCG. The important VCG characteristic for positive MI diagnosis was abnormal posterior deviation of the initial QRS vectors. The high incidence of discrepancies shown by positive VCG and negative ECG diagnoses resulted from the fact that, in spite of the presence of a fairly well developed R wave in precordial leads, the initial QRS vectors were displaced posteriorly. In 8 of 18 cases classified into negative VCG and positive ECG diagnostic group, poor R wave progression did not necessarily result in the posterior displacement of the initial QRS vectors. In contrast to the difficulties in applying ECG criteria for anterior MI (variability of QRS patterns in precordial leads), an orthogenal VCG (representing the phasic changes in the depolarization process) seems to clarify the equivocal situation in the ECG diagnosis of MI.


Bi-morphic atrial flutter.

A case of atrial flutter whose classic "saw-tooth" morphology, resistant to full doses of digoxin and quinidine, was changed to an unusual form by low energy direct current shock is presented. The atrial and ventricular rates remained identical in spite of the different F wave pattern before and after attempted cardioversions. 0.5 mg digoxin was given after cardioversion failed and the patient reverted to normal sinus rhythm. This case strengthens the theory of rapidly discharging atrial focus as a mechanism of atrial flutter and the case for a change in intra-atrial conductions as cause for change in atrial electrograms.


Alternation of retrograde conduction times.

A patient with idionodal rhythm with alternation of retrograde conduction times is described. The idionodal escape rhythm is associated with alternating slow and relatively fast retrograde conduction times to the atria. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are discussed.


Steroid production by isolated rabbit ovarian follicles: effects of luteinizing hormone from mating to implantation.

Follicles were isolated from rabbits before and after mating and the effects of LH on steroidogenesis were studied using an incubation technique. Before mating testosterone was the major steroid produced in response to LH. Mating or administration of ovine LH in vivo caused the follicles to produce mainly progesterone and these follicles were refractory to LH in vitro. Up to 72 h after mating, LH would stimulate follicles to produce progesterone. At 96 h after mating, the testosterone response to LH was again manifest. These results suggest that the responsiveness of rabbit follicles to LH is dependent on the endocrine status of the animal when the ovaries were removed.


Circadian rhythm of pineal uptake  of 32P in domestic fowl.

The uptake of radioactive phosphorus by the pineal gland in White Leghorn cockerels (Gallus domesticus) showed a diurnal variation with maxima in the light phase and minima in the dark phase of the light: dark cycle. Constant light caused the rhythm to disappear while constant dark had no effect other than lowering the amplitude of the variations. These data indicate that the rhythm in pineal uptake of 32P is circadian.


Biosynthetic events of hydrid regeneration. II. Patterns and profiles of RNA synthesis during distal morphogenesis.

The pattern of RNA synthesis during the first 48 h of distal regeneration in Hydra oligactis has been investigated. In addition the RNA synthetic profiles during selected time periods have been studied. RNA synthesis was found to increase five-fold during the first 3 h of regeneration and remained high throughout the rest of the 48 h period. An additional increase was observed 27-30 h following subhypostomal excision, immediately preceding the appearance of the first tentacle pair. The RNA synthetic level then returned to that found at 3 h of regeneration. This pattern was similar to that reported previously for DNA synthesis. Profiles of radioactively labeled RNA remained constant during most of the times studied, showing the presence of newly synthesized 28S, 18S, 5S, and 4S RNA. During two time periods, 28-32 h and 36-40, a novel 8S RNA species was observed. The occurrence of this species coincided with times of increased overall RNA synthesis and immediately preceded tentacle elaboration.


The pattern of cell division during growth of the blastema of regenerating newt forelimbs.

Pulse and continuous labelling with tritiated thymidine are used for a quantitative study of cell division rates in regeneration blastemas. Proliferation is initially uniform; later a proximo-distal gradient develops in the mesenchyme, with the highest labelling index at the tip, where practically all cells are shown to be dividing. In the ectoderm there appear to be two growth bands, one close to the stump and the other close to the tip. The results are consistent with the progress zone theory, and agree well with the numerical estimates of growth rates used in our previously reported simulation.


The effect of synchronous and asynchronous egg transfer on foetal weight in mice selected for large and small body size.

The weight difference between large, small and unselected strains of mice were maintained when blastocysts of each genotype were transferred to unselected control recipients, suggesting that foetal genotype was an important factor in determining prenatal body size. The asynchronous transfer of large, small and unselected embryos resulted in a highly significant (P less than 0-001) elevation of foetal weight compared with synchronously transferred groups, genetically small mice attaining a foetal weight greater than the normal large strain. This result suggested that foetal genotype did not limit the capacity of each strain for prenatal growth. It is postulated that foetal genotype exercises its control over embryonic growth by affecting the state of embryonic development at implantation.


The location and mechanism of hyperosmotic fluid secretion in the rectum of the saline-water mosquito larvae Aedes taeniorhynchus.

1. Ligation between the anterior and posterior segments of the rectum in vitro was used to demonstrate that the posterior rectum is the site of hyperosmotic secretion to the lumen side. Observations were consistent with a reabsorptive function for the anterior rectum. These results support predictions from ultrastructural studies of these two segments. 2. The initial potential of the rectal lumen, relative to the haemocoel side, was of opposite polarity in the anterior (-10 mV) and posterior (+ 10 mV) segments and these values decreased to -2 and +6 mV respectively in ligated recta which had secreted for 2 h. 3. A comparison of these potential difference measurements with concentration differences developed across the rectal epithelium under the same experimental conditions indicates that Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Cl- are all actively transported by the posterior segment to the lumen side. 4. The influence of different haemolymph concentrations of Na+, K+, and Cl- on the potential differences across the basal cell border and across the whole  rectal epithelium are reported. Based on this and previous data, we propose a model for the organization of transport processes within the single celltype present in the posterior rectal epithelium.


Correlation of the startle reflex and Mauthner cell auditory responses in unrestrained goldfish.

Stainless-steel electrodes were implanted near the left or right. Mauthner cells (M-cells) of goldfish to determine if these cells can initiate the startle reflex evoked by a brief sinusoidal sound stimulus. Recordings of the M-cell extracellular spike were obtained for the duration of 10 experiments. Fish with chronic implants were allowed to free-swim and exposed to at least 10 consecutive sound stimuli consisting of 2 cycles of 200 Hz. Seventy-three startle responses were analysed. In 34 cases the implanted M-cell electrode was contralateral to the contracting musculature, and in each of these cases, a M-cell spike preceded the EMG response by 1-1-2-1 ms. In the reamining 39 cases the electrode was ipsilateral to the active musculature, and the M-cell only fired in one of these trails. There were no startle responses and no M-cell firings in an additional 52 tests. Since the M-cell activates contralateral motoneurones, the results indicate it is responsible for initiation of the startle reflex.


A circadian rhythm in the locomotive behaviour of the giant garden slug Limax maximus.

The locomotor activity of the garden slug Limax maximus was examined for components of circadian rhythmicity. Behavioural (running wheel) studies clearly demonstrated that the activity satisfies the principal criteria of circadian rhythmicity. In constant darkness at a constant temperature, the locomotor activity freeran with a period of about 24 h (range 23-6-24-6 h). The rhythm was also expressed in constant light with a period for individual slugs that tended to be shorter in LL than in DD. The period of the rhythm was temperature compensated (11-5-21-5 degrees C) with a Q10 approximately equal to 1-00. The locomotor rhythm could be entrained to 24 h LD cycles such that the circadian activity peak occurred during the dark. The phase angle between the onset of activity and lights-off was not fixed, but was a function of the photoperiod of the entraining light cycle.


The effect of external salinity on drinking rate and rectal secretion in the larvae of the saline-water mosquito Aedes taeniorhynchus.

1. The drinking rate of the saline-water mosquito larva Aedes taeniorhyncus (100 nl.mg-1.h-1) is unaffected by the salinity of the external medium, but is directly  proportional to the surface area of the animal. 2. Haemolymph Na+, Mg2+, K+, Cl-, SO42- and osmotic concentrations were measured in larvae adapted to 10%, 100% and 200% seawater and were found to be regulated within a narrow range. 3. With the exception of potassium, ionic concentrations in rectal secretion were found to increase with increasing concentrations of the sea water in which larvae were reared. 4. The osmotic concentration of rectal secretion was unaffected by changes in haemolymph osmotic concentration but did rise when sodium or chloride concentrations of the haemolymph were increased. High levels of these ions also stimulated the rate of fluid secretion. 5. Transport of chloride and sodium by the rectum exhibits the kinetics of allosteric rather than classical enzymes.


Molecular  similarities between the Qa-2 alloantigen and other gene products of the 17th chromosome of the mouse.

The alloantigen Qa-2, whose gene is located on the 17th chromosome between H-2D and Tla, is identified as a molecule of 43,000 daltons which is associated with beta 2-microglobulin. Qa-2 comprises approximately 0.15% of the iodinateable cell surface protein of lymph node cells. Sequential precipitations demonstrated that Qa-2 is distinct from H-2D and H-2K molecules.


Estrogen binding by leukocytes during phagocytosis,.

Estradiol binds covalently to normal leukocytes during phagocytosis. The binding involves three cell types, neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes and at least two reaction mechanisms, one involving the peroxidase of neutrophils and monocytes (myeloperoxidase [MPO]) and possibly the eosinophil peroxidase, and the second involving catalase. Binding is markedly reduced when leukocytes from patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), severe leukocytic glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, and familial lipochrome histiocytosis are employed and two populations of neutrophils, one which binds estradiol and one which does not, can be demonstrated in the blood of a CGD carrier. Leukocytes from patients with hereditary MPO deficiency also bind estradiol poorly although the defect is not as severe as in CGD. These findings are discussed in relation to the inactivation of estrogens during infection and the possible role of estrogens in neutrophil function.


Hapten-specific delayed hypersensitivity to epsilon-2,4-dinitrophenyl-L-lysine-Ficoll in guinea pigs immunized with 2,4-dinitrophenyl-keyhole limpet hemocyanin.

After active immunization with 2,4-dinitrophenyl-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (DNP-KLH), 2,4-dinitropheynl-L-lysine (DNPL)-Ficoll may elicit indurated, erythematous skin reactions lasting 24-72 h. Histological sections of these reactions, examined by microscope techniques, showed they contained polymorphonuclear leukocytes and perivascularly situated lymphocytes and macrophages, but had very few basophils. Consequently, the reaction was interpreted as having an immediate component and a component typical of delayed hypersensitivity; this indicated that the delayed reaction could be specific for the DNP hapten. Although this delayed type of skin reaction was not transferred to recipients with anti-DNP-KLH serum, one pool of that serum did sensitize guinea pigs so that they could respond with a different skin reaction after challenge with DNPL-Ficoll. This reaction was soft, pale pink, and lasted for 24 h. Histologically, it contained only a few polymorphonuclear leukocytes. It differed from the delayed reaction in actively immunized animals in that it lacked induration, and was devoid of lymphocytes and macrophages.


Antigen-induced locomotor responses in lymphocytes.

The effect of protein antigens on the locomotion of lymphocytes from the lymph nodes draining the site of antigenic challenge in immunized mice, and from the same nodes in control mice, was studied in filters using a checkerboard assay in which the absolute concentration and the concentration gradient of attractant was varied in a series of chambers. Serum albumin (HSA or BSA) was chemokinetic for unimmunized lymphocytes inasmuch as the distance migrated into filters by cells in its presence varied with the absolute concentration of albumin, but not with the concentration gradient, indicating an influence of the serum albumin on the rate but not on the direction of locomotion. Ovalbumin and nonalbumin proteins did not show this effect. Using the same assay, the migration of primed lymphocytes in the presence of the priming antigen was shown to be influenced by the antigen gradient in a way that suggested a positive chemotactic response of the lymphocytes to antigen. This response was only shown clearly when the cells were in a chemokinetic medium containing serum albumin.


Production of the second component of complement by human monocytes: stimulation by antigen-activated lymphocytes or lymphokines.

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured in the presence of antigen produced hemolytically active second complement component earlier and in larger amounts than did control cultures of the same cells without antigen. The increased amount of C2 in culture supernates came primarily from the adherent cell population and was due to increased synthesis as demonstrated by inhibition with 10(-4) M cycloheximide. Purified adherent monocytes produced more C2 when exposed to lymphokine-rich supernates from antigen-stimulated lymphocytes than when exposed to control supernates from unstimulated lymphocyte cultures. The increased synthesis of C2, which appeared to be mediated by a lymphokine, was partially inhibited specifically by 0.025 M alpha-L(-) fucose, a sugar which has previously been shown in inhibit the response of macrophages to migration inhibitory factor.


Association and dissociation of aggregated IgG from rat peritoneal macrophages.

Stable aggregated IgG (A-IgG) of various sizes, having high biological activity, were incubated at 4 degree C with adhering peritoneal macrophages from normal rats and the kinetics of A-IgG binding to the cell surface were studied. Equilibrium constants were high (2.8-11.7 X 10(8) M-1) and varied as a function of aggregate size. The maximum number of A-IgG bound per cell varied from 230,000 for A-IgG9 to 90,000 for A-IgG74. Binding was 50% inhibited by near physiological concentrations of monomeric IgC. These data suggest that A-IgG are bound at multiple sites by attachment of Fc frgments to Fc receptors present on the macrophage surface with larger A-IgG being more avidly bound. Dissociation was slower for larger A-IgG while no clear trend was seen relating associating rates and aggregate size. Thus, differences in the avidity of binding of A-IgG are due primarily to slower dissociation of larger A-IgG. Dissociationissociation of A-IgG was slower from cells exposed initially to higher doses of A-IgG and dissociation did not follow simple first order kinetics. Thus, the avidity of binding appears to be heterogeneous in a population of similar sized A-IgG. As expected, association was dose-dependent, more rapid than dissociation, and followed pseudo first order kinetics. Based on all of the above data, it is proposed that binding of A-IgG proceeds in two steps. First, A-IgG are loosely bound to perhaps a single Fc receptor. Then, depending upon the availability and mobility of Fc receptors, additional Fc fragments are attached and the A-IgG becomes more firmly attached. Thus binding is slow, but once attached A-IgG are avidly held.


Prostaglandin production by rheumatoid synovial cells: stimulation by a factor from human mononuclear Cells.

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (lymphocyte-monocyte) in culture release a solube factor which can stimulate, up to 200-fold, production of prostaglandin E2 by isolated, adherent, rheumatoid synovial cells. Production of the factor by the mononuclear cells is enhanced by phytohemagglutinin. This factor is similar in apparent mol vt (10,000-20,000) to that which also stimulates collagenase production by the same cells.


Generation of natural killer cells: an autonomous function of the bone marrow.

Generation of natural killer (NK) cells in spleens from radiation chimeras produced between pairs of histocompatible 'high' and 'low' NK-reactive mouse strains has been investigated. Spleen cells of high-reactive recipients reconstituted with bone marrow from low-reactive mice were found to be low reactive. Conversely, spleen cells of low mice grafted with bone marrow or fetal liver cells from high donors were high reactive. Similarly, the age-related changes of NK activity were shown to be expressed at the bone marrow precursor cell level. These results indicate that the generation of natural killer cells is an inborn and autonomous function of the bone marrow and does not depend on the genotype or other influences of the host environment.


[Investigation of a new method for the determination of glucose, using the Greiner Selective Analyzer II (GSA II) (author's transl)].

The hexokinase method and a method using glucose dehydrogenase are compared. In general, the two methods show good agreement. The samples were not deproteinized and were obtained from fasting patients of the medical, surgical, rheumatological and hemodialysis clinics. The possible influence of anticoagulants, preservatives and hemoglobin on the determination of glucose with glucose dehydrogenase was checked; there was no evidence of interference. Among the carbohydrates which were tested, only 2-deoxyglucose gave a positive reaction. In addition, this is a reliable and cheap method. The multiplication factor for the photometric analysis remains stable for seven days with a linearity between 0.55 and 44.4 mmol/1 glucose.


Quantitative determination of creatine kinase isoenzyme catalytic concentrations in serum using immunological methods.

For the determination of creatine kinase isoenzyme catalytic concentrations in serum two methods based on immunological reactions are presented: One method uses inhibiting antibodies, which selectively block the activity of creatine kinase M subunits ("Inhibition Test"). This test is used for routine measurements of creatine kinase MB catalytic concentration; Another method uses precipitating antibodies, which allows a quantitative differentiation of creatine kinase isoenzymes MM, MB and BB ("Precipitation Test"). This test is used as a control for the Inhibition Test for the possible presence of creatine kinase BB activities in doubtful cases. Procedures, specificity, correlation and application of these methods are discussed.


The effects of hydrocortisone and bacterial lipopolysaccharide on the anti-erythrocyte response in the spleens of adult Triturus viridescens.

The effects of hydrocortisone (HC) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) have been tested separately and in combination, on the antigen-binding response of splenocytes of the newt. Triturus viridescens immunized with horse erythrocytes (HRBC). The timing of the presentation of each was made relative to when challenge with either low (0.0025%) or high (25%) doses of the immunogen (HRBC) was effected. Our results showed inhibition of both low and high dose responses by HC and additionally suggested that the helper-cell population of the newt is HC-sensitive. LPS given four days prior to antigen challenge initiated the generation of antigen-binding cells which enhanced the low, but not the high dose response. The use of LPS in conjunction with HC provided suggestive evidence that those LPS stimulated cells which had enhanced the low immunogen dose antigen-binding cell response were HC-resistant. Thus LPS may stimulate a non-helper cell population in the newt which is HC-resistant. The use of these two immunologic probes has provided supportive evidence on the heterogeneity of the lymphoid population of the newt, Triturus viridescens.


Progesterone-induced DNA polymerase activity in full-grown oocytes of Xenopus laevis (1).

DNA polymerase activity increases in full-grown oocytes of Xenopus laevis during in vitro progesterone-induced maturation. This increase is inhibited by cycloheximide. The presence of the oocyte's nucleus (germinal vesicle) seems essential for the induction of this increase: in previously enucleated oocytes, the level of DNA polymerase activity does not change during progesterone treatment. Furthermore, a new form of DNA polymerase is detectable by DEAE chromatography in in vitro matured oocytes.


Rifampicin-resistant mutant supporting bacteriophage growth on stationary phase Achromobacter cells.

A rifampicin-resistant Achromobacter mutant with an altered RNA polymerase was isolated. The mutant supports phage alpha3a growth in both log and stationary phase cells. Phage growth on stationary phase cells is sensitive to aeration and growth only occurs at oxygen concentrations of less than 5-2 p.p.m. The rifampicin-resistant mutant is similar to the spontaneous mutant strain 14 reported by Woods (1976) in that both mutants support stationary-phase phage growth under micro-aerophilic conditions. The isolation of the rifampicin-resistant mutant with an altered RNA polymerase suggests that the phenomenon of stationary phase phage growth could be due to a change in the template specificity of the Achromobacter RNA polymerase. Plaque morphology mutants which grow on log and/or stationary phase cells of the Achromobacter wild type, strain 14 and rifampicin-resistant strains are also described.


Neurofilamentous changes in goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) brain in relation to environmental temperature.

The presence of neurofilaments in the synaptic boutons in the brains of goldfish maintained at 5 degrees C for 177 days or more is reported. Neurofilaments are not found in boutons of control fish kept at 15degreesC. It is suggested that the neurofilaments may be equated with neurofibrillary rings seen by light microscopy. Neurofilaments have been implicated in axoplasmic transport and, therefore, irregularities in the occurrence or appearance of these filaments may reflect alterations in their functions. The unusual occurrence of neurofilaments in the boutons of cold temperature goldfish may be an expression of early degenerative changes or may represent a modification of axoplasmic transport. The suitability of goldfish as a model for the study of the functional effects of neurofibrillary/neurofilamentous accumulations is discussed.


An in vitro study of the susceptibility of cells from a meningioma of human origin for measles virus.

A cell culture from a meningioma of human origin was found permissive for the Edmonston strain of measles virus. Virus was isolated from the supernatant of infected cell sheet as soon as 48 hr post-inoculation. Cytopathic effect, observed by light microscopy, exhibited syncitia plus intracytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusions. Electron microscopy enabled viral nucleocapsids to be observed first in the cytoplasm and secondly within the nucleus of infected cells.


Differential radiosensitivity of mouse embryonic neurons and glia in cell culture.

The responses of neurons and glial cells to ultraviolet and gamma-radiation were studied in cell cultures of embryonic mouse brains. A decrease in the ratio of glia to neurons occurred after both forms of irradiation. [3H]thymidine labelling followed by autoradiography revealed that all glia were capable of replication wereas 70% of neurons were non-replicating under the conditions of the study. Ultraviolet radiation caused a decrease in the proportion of replicating neurons but did not affect the proportion of replicating glia, whereas gamma-radiation caused a decrease in DNA replication in both cell types. Levels of ultraviolet radiation-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis were lower in neurons than in glia. It is concluded that sensitivity to both ionizing and ultraviolet radiation of neurons and glial cells in embryonic brain cultures is determined primarily by the capacity for and state of DNA replication. Neurons which have already reached the stage of ternimal differentiation are more resistant than replicating neurons of glial cells.


Transsphenoidal decompression of the optic nerve and chiasm. Visual results in 62 patients.

A review of recent experience with transsphenoidal for lesion in and about the sella turcica establishes the value of this approach for the management of patients which visual loss. The lesions encountered consisted of pituitary adenoma in 45 cases, craniopharyngioma in 10 cases, and miscellaneous tumours involving the sella in the remaining seven cases. Sixty of the 62 patients in this series had quantitative determination of preoperative and postoperative visual status; after surgery, vision was improved in 81%, unchanged in 11%, and worse in 5%. Two patients (3%) died during the immediate postoperative period before their visual status could be evaluated.


The mechanism of spinal cord cavitation following spinal cord transection. Part 3: Delayed grafting with and without spinal cord retransection.

Cavitation adjacent to transection of spinal cords can be successfully eliminated by a second operation 1 week after the initial spinal cord transection. The second operation consists of removal of the necrotic spinal cord tissue, thus producing a gap. Segments of autogenous sciatic nerve are inserted into the gap between the spinal cord stumps. If the spinal cord is injured by retransection at the second operation, cavitation again occurs in the spinal cord stumps resulting in separation of the nerve grafts from the spinal cord. The results of the present experiments support the concept that lysosomal spinal cord autotomy, which causes spinal cord cavitation, is a self-limiting process and that once the spinal cord has completed the autotomy, the process will not occur again unless the spinal cord is agiain traumatized.


Traumatic aneurysm of peripheral cerebral arteries. Report of two cases.

The authors describe two cases of traumatic aneurysm of peripheral cerebral arteries. Surgical treatment as soon as possible after the diagnosis has been made is advised to avoid the high risk of delayed hemorrhage.


Spontaneous disappearance of a cerebral arteriovenous malformation in infancy. Case report.

The authors report a case of the disappearance of an arteriovenous malformation in infancy, demostrated by follow-up angiography performed 7 months after the original angiograms. Some possible mechansims whereby a cerebral arteriovenous anomaly is thrombosed are discussed.