[Activity of kidney tissue enzymes in phenylhydrazine anemia and post-transfusion polycythemia].

The activity of hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphoric dehydrogenase, lactic dehydrogenase, succinic dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatases was determined in the rat kidney tissue with phenylhydrazine anemia and posttransfusion polycytemia. The blood supply of the cortical and medullary layers of the kidneys was studied at the same time. The purpose of this work was to ascertain possible connections between the changes in the activity of the enzymes under study with the renal erythropoietin producing function of the kidneys. The blood supply of the kidneys of rats with phenylhydrazine anemia was sharply decreased, but it was markedly elevated in case of posttransfusion polycytemia. There were no significant changes in the activity of the mentioned enzymes. These data suggest that the activity of the kidney enzymes is not a controlling factor in the renal erythropoietin production.


[Electrical activity of the hypothalamus during stress].

Chronic experiments were undertaken on rabbits to ascertain the multiunit activity of the anterior (AHA), medial (MHA), and lateral (LHA) hypothalamic areas during the immobilization stress. The immobilization excited the adrenocortical activity and changed the multiunit activity. The stress resulted in a decrease in the firing rate in most pools in the AHA and LHA, and an increase in the MHA.


[Tissue specific uncoupler of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation].

The influence of endogenous uncoupling agent from the rat liver on oxidative phosphorylation of the liver, kidney, heart, lungs, and brain mitochondria was studied; the tissue-specificity of its action was demonstrated. The selective action of the uncoupler on the mitochondrial membrane is more obviously expressed within the range of pH 6.9--6.3 approaching such of the hepatocyte cytoplasm. The tissue-specificity was independent of the original state of mitochondria and could be eliminated only by heat injury of the oxidative phosphorylation. The activity of the tissue-specific uncoupling factor failed to diminish when the ribosomes and microsomes were removed by centrifugation. Addition of bovine albumin to the incubation medium had no influence of the value of the tissue-specific uncoupling. Participation of the uncoupler in the intratissue proliferation control is discussed.


[Responses of different types of connective tissue to hormone administration].

The lysosomal glycosidase activity of the eye tissues (the sclera and cornea), the bone tissues and cartilage were studied. The intraperitoneal injection of tyrocalcitonine (TCT), deoxycorticosterone (DOCS), hydrocortisone (HC), and somatotropic hormone (STH) influenced both the activity of beta-galactosidase, beta-glucosidase, and hyaluronidase, the the functional state of thy lysosomal membranes of the connective tissues under investigation. GC and STH caused stabilization, whereas DOCS and large doses of TCT--a labilizing effect on the lysosomal membranes and tissues understudy. The absolute activity of the enzymes in the homogenates decreased after the HC and STH injection. DOCS produced an opposite effect.


[Esterase spectrum in the hepatocytes and Kupffer cells of regenerating liver].

The esterase spectra of hepatocytes and Kupffer's cells from the regenerating rat liver were studied following partial hepatectomy. The starch-gen electrophoresis method was used. The relative number of Kupffer's cells, per cent of phagocytising Kupffer's cells, as well as mitotic rate of hepatocytes were determined. Hepatocyte esterase spectra from the intact liver consisted of six, whereas that of Kupffer's cells--of five zones of the enzyme activity. A "simplification" of hepatocyte esterase spectra could be seen 2 1/2 hours after partial hepatectomy. Additional activity bands appeared in 9 hours; these could be identified for a period of up to 24 hours after the operation. The initiar esterase spectrum was regained within 48 hours. The same tendency was observed in Kupffer's cells, but no full restoration of the enzyme spectra was observed 72 hours after partial hepatectomy.


[Contractile function of the heart and its reactivity to noradrenaline in the process of the bodies adaptation to moderate altitudes].

In acute experiments on rats adapted for 4 weeks to the altitude of 2100 m it was found that at the early period of altitude adaptation the left ventricular systolic pressure and the maximal rates of pressure rise and fall considerably exceeded the values of control tests conducted in Moscow. Later on the parameters of the cardiac contractile function stabilized gradually. In 4 weeks the heart of adapted animals showed a greater increment of the contractility parameters in response to noradrenaline injection and a higher stability of the contractile function at very high heart rates.


[Nitrazepam metabolism in the intestines of white rats].

Nitrasepam is transformed to amino and acetamide derivatives in the rat intestine. Reduction of nitrasepam and its following acetylation in the duodenum and small intestine are catalyzed by the mucosal enzymes. In the cecum and the large intestine these processes are mediated through the action of the microbes and tissue enzymes, whereas in the rectum--through the microbes only.


[Limits of the phagocytizing capability of macrophages].

The capacity of macrophage peritoneal cells to ingest both different doses of the antigen (sheep red blood cells--SRBC) and the antigens differing in their physico-chemical properties (SRBC, rat red blood cells, typhoid vaccine) was studied. A manifold increase in the SRBC dose failed to influence the amount of the antigen ingestion in the course of a definite time period. When mice macrophage cells were obtained at short periods after the injection of red blood cells of different animal species, there was a decrease of the capacity of these cells to the red blood cells ingestion in vitro. Preincubation of macrophages in vivo or in vitro with all the antigens tested increased sharply their capacity to phagocytize the typhoid vaccine.


[Reflex mechanism for maintaining magnesium homeostasis].

Local stimulation of the liver with MgC12 solution in unanesthetized dogs evoked a reflex magnesiuretic response by changing the tubular processes in the kidneys. The presence of selectively magnesium-sensitive receptors in the liver is supposed. The information from these receptors was shown to spread along the vagus nerves.


[Mast cells and eosinophilic leukocytes during formation of mammary gland tumors in female rats irradiated with gamma-rays at 4 weeks of age].

Origination of the breast neoplasms was studied in female rats totally gamma-irradiated (a single dose of 200 r) at the age of four weeks. The first neoplasms were found in rats sacrificed 6 months after the exposure; control unexposed rats developed the breast neoplasms only by the 15th month since the beginning of the experiment. By histological criteria all these neoplasms were benign in both groups of animals. Most cell and eosinophilic leukocyte count in the mammary gland tissue showed quantitative changes in the eosinophilic leukocyte count, and a change of the mast cell reaction during the radiation blastomogenesis.


[Transplacental effect of benz(a)pyrene and pyrene].

The transplacental and direct effect of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) and pyrene on A and C57BL mice and their offspring was studied. BP proved to present blastomogenic danger for the offspring. In A mice offspring the greatest blastomogenic effect was expressed with the dose of 6 mg: lung tumours developed in 76.8% against 12.3% in the control (P less than 0,001). Tumours of the liver were revealed in the offspring of C57BL mice, chiefly in males. Their incidence with the dose of 12 mg of BP was 31.6% in males: and 9.1% in female; in the controls--1.2% in males, in the control females no tumours of the liver were observed. Noncarcinogenic analogue of BP--pyrene produced no blastomogenic effect.


[Autotransplantation of whole muscles in reptiles].

Whole gastrocnemius muscles were autotransplanted (replanted) to tortoises testudo horsfieldi, 300-500 g in weight. The grafts were examined 2 weeks to 6 months after the transplantation. In 5 to 6 months the replanted muscles were similar in colour and form to the intact symmetrical muscles, constituting 77% of the latter in weight. Regeneration in the grafts proceeded at a slower rate than in mammals. The separation of myoblasts from the degenerating muscle fibers was intensive during the first month and continued for up to 2 months after the transplantation. Differentiation of myogenic elements into cross-striated muscle fibers and graft vascularization were recorded. Most of the grafts were characterized by a muscle type of structure at the final stage of the experiment; however, the muscle fibers diameter varied greatly.


Transmission and scanning electron microscopy study on plasma cell leukemia.

The peripheral blood cells of a patient with acute plasma cell leukemia were examined with transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopes. The TEM features of the immature plasma cells comprised lobulated and irregulary shaped nuclei, with scanty heterochromating and bizarre nucleoli, parallel arrays of endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasmic fibrils and numerous polymorphic mitochondria. SEM examination of the cells showed long, thin irregular ruffles, or round blebs on the cell surface, with appearance different from this observed on other types of leukemia. A remarkable clinical and hematological remission was achieved with administration of melphalan and steroids.


Erythroid stem cells in Rauscher virusinfected mice.

Using the technique for erythroid colony formation in vitro, bone marrow and spleen cells from NMRI mice were studied after Rauscher virus (RLV) infection. There was a substantial decrease in CFUE concentrations during the first days after infection, this being more pronounced in the marrow than in the spleen. In the marrow values gradually return to and are maintained at control levels, while in the spleen a 40-50-fold increase is seen between days 8 and 18. In normal and RLV infected animals the same dose dependence of CFUE growth for erythropoietin was seen. For normal and RLV infected cells in the absence of erythropoietin there were only very few background colonies. In exhypoxic plethoric mice the increase in CFUE concentration seen in normal mice in the spleen, is delayed by 2-3 days.


Proliferation characteristics of erythroblasts in chronic renal failure.

Proliferation of bone marrow erythroblasts in patients with chronic renal disease was studied by combined application of cytophotometric measurement of the DNA content and 3H-TdR labeling in vitro. A striking decrease of 3H-TdR labeling was found in most of the cases. The proportion of diploid (G0 + G1) as well as of tetraploid unlabeled cells (G2) was increased. The data suggest a disturbed induction of DNA synthesis of resting cells as well as an arrest of cells in G2 being responsable for ineffective cell production in this disease.


Hematologic and immunologic studies in dogs given nitrogen mustard (hn3).

Hematologic and immunosuppressive effects of single doses of nitrogen mustard (HN3) were evaluated in 20 dogs. HN3 caused profound depression of peripheral blood counts in all animals. Recovery of total white blood cell counts in dogs surviving the acute gastrointestinal toxicity of HN3 was complete by day 15. Recovery of platelet and lymphocyte counts to initial levels took a more prolonged course. Granulopoietic progenitor cells (CFU-C) in the bone marrow were assayed by an in vitro culture system. Concentrations of CFU-C were markedly decreased one day after HN3-treatment, but showed at near-lethal doses rapid restoration to normal values within 4 to 7 days. Cellular immune function of HN3-treated dogs was impaired for prolonged periods as indicated by the reduced capacity of canine lymphocytes to proliferate in vitro in response to stimulation with mitogens. Humoral immune function was similarly affected as determined by the depressed and delayed antibody formation against an intravenous challenge with sheep red blood cell. In conclusion, our results suggest a different effect of HN3 on lymphoid and myeloid precursor cells.


The use of RA 233 in the preparation of platelets, with the blood cell separator.

The intravenous administration of the inhibitor of platelet adhesiveness RA 233 to blood donors before and during cell separation did not increase the yield of platelets in the final concentrate.


Residues in common flicker and mountain bluebird eggs one year after a DDT application.

Common flicker (Colaptes auratus) and mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides) eggs were examined 1 year after DDT application and showed a marked difference. Residue levels in mountain bluebird eggs were approximately 10 times higher than in common flicker eggs (5.29 to 0.58 ppm wet weight). These differences can be explained by disparate dietary habits. The mean level in American kestrel (Falco sparverius) eggs collected in the spray area at the same time was 6.42 ppm wet weight.


Mercury levels in human maternal and neonatal blood, hair and milk.

Total mercury levels were determined with blood, hair and breast milk of mother-neonate pair sampled at the time of delivery. All of the thirty-four mothers are residents of Tokyo Metropolitan area. The maternal samples in general showed lower total mercury levels than those in the neonatal samples. A significant correlation was observed as regards the concentration of total mercury between the neonatal hair and maternal blood, and also neonatal hair and neonatal blood. But no correlation was noticeable on statistical basis between the other items of mother and her neonate.


Influence of DDT, DDVP and malathion on FSH, LH and testosterone serum levels and testosterone concentration in testis.

Groups of adult male rats were treated with DDT, DDVP or malathion orally for two or three weeks. Body weight and testis weight did not change. FSH and LH levels in serum also remained unchanged, whereas that of testosterone was decreased by DDT. This substance also diminished the concentration of testosterone in the testis. Therefore, the previously observed damage to spermatogenesis by DDT are assumed to be caused by a lack of androgens. Those following treatment with DDVP or malathion seem to be due to a direct cytotoxic effect.


Pentachlorophenol distribution in a fresh water ecosystem.

The results of this investigation have shown that PCP persisted in leaf litter and sediments for at least seventeen months following contamination. This persistence provides a potential for continuous contamination of the water column and biological magnification via detritus- and benthic-feeding organisms. An investigation of these factors is presently underway.


Alcohol and the fetus.

Current data clearly point to an association between chronic maternal alcoholism and serious morphological and developmental abnormalities in the fetus. When these abnormalities are severe the condition is recognizable as the fetal alcohol syndrome. However, this represents only the most severe end of a spectrum of abnormalities, some of which may be found in a proportion of infants exposed to lesser amounts of alcohol during pregnancy. Alcohol is an avoidable hazard for the fetus, but only through increased awareness by the medical community and improved education of the lay public may we hope to control this problem.


Vein grafts in microvascular surgery.

The judicious use of vein grafts will lessen the incidence of thrombosis in microvascular surgery and allow digits to be replanted without excessive shortening. In 38 vein grafts only 5 thromboses occurred.


Surgical treatment of cutis verticis gyrata: a report of 2 cases.

Two cases of cutis verticis gyrata underwent partial excision supplemented by relaxation incisions under the folds with satisfactory results. This method may well be useful in treating selected cases of the primary type as well as those of secondary type.


Effect of two hemicholiniums on the disposition and distribution of endogenous free choline in anaesthetized rabbits.

1 The effects of hemicholinium no. 3 (HC-3) and its p-terphenyl analogue (TPHC-3) on the disposition and distribution of free choline were studied in rabbits under pentobarbitone anaesthesia. Free choline was determined by bioassay. 2 The respiration of animals given 0.35 mumol/kg of HC-3 was hardly affected; however, 4 out of 6 rabbits given the same dose of TPHC-3 exhibited varying degrees of respiratory impairment. All animals that received 2 injections (1 h apart) of either HC-3 (1.4 mumol/kg) or TPHC-3 (0.7 mumol/kg) developed respiratory difficulty about 1 h after the second injection. 3 The respiratory distress was accompanied by a 2 to 15-fold rise in plasma choline concentration. This rise has been attributed to hypoxia. 4 In experiments in which choline has been infused it was observed that HC-3 could impair the animal's ability to dispose of exogenous choline. In control rabbits neither HC-3 nor TPHC-3 produced changes in plasma choline concentrations unless the respiration was depressed. 5 Either HC-3 or TPHC-3 (both at 0.35 mumol/kg) significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced the kidney choline concentration by 40% and 30% respectively; both hemicholiniums raised the lung choline concentration by about 35%. Only TPHC-3 caused a significant rise (40%) in liver choline. The choline concentrations in other tissues were unaffected by the hemicholiniums.


The effects of morphine on the accumulation of homovanillic and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acids in the choroid plexus of rats.

1 Choroid plexus obtained from the lateral ventricles of the rat actively accumulated homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). 2 Morphine 5 X 10(-6) M to 5 X 10(-4)M potentiated 5-HIAA accumulation but did not affect HVA accumulation. Levorphanol and dextorphan had little effect. 3 Naloxone at high concentrations inhibited both HVA and 5-HIAA accumulation. 4 Glutamic acid, glycine, and arginine also decreased 5-HIAA accumulation, but lysine, tryptophan, and aspartic acid had no effect. 5 Probenecid, naloxone, arginine, glycine, and tryptophan blocked the increase of 5-HIAA accumulation induced by morphine. 6 Acute or chronic morphine treatment did not increase the accumulation of 5-HIAA. 7 These results suggest that the increase of 5-HIAA or HVA in brain by morphine is not due to the inhibition of the elimination of these metabolites from the choroid plexus.


Some observations on the anorectic activity of prostaglandin F2alpha.

1 Intracerebroventricular injection of prostanglandin F2alpha (10-40 microgram) decreases food intake in a dose-dependent manner in rats trained to consume their daily total food intake in a 2 h period. 2 This anorexia is also observed in satiated rats, which had ad libitum access to food. 3 The anorectic activity of prostaglandin F2alpha is not modified by changes in the internal environment of the body after food intake, such as increased blood glucose and insulin levels and decreased fatty acid levels, or by the presence or absence of food in the stomach, as is evident from the anorectic activity of prostaglandin F2alpha in partially satiated rats. 4 The anorexia is not due to pain or irritative properties of prostaglandin F2alpha since induction of comparable pain with 3% acetic acid does not affect food intake in rats deprived of food for 22 hours. 5 Anorectic doses of prostaglandin F2alpha when injected intraperitoneally cause hypothermia. 6 The results suggest that the inhibitory activity of prostaglandin F2alpha on food intake is at both peripheral and central sites. 7 Prostaglandin F2alpha-induced anorexia is associated with the behavioural tranquilization that is seen after the ingestion of food.


Anorectic activity of prostaglandin precursors.

1 Intraperitoneal and intragastric (i.g.) administration of prostaglandin precursors arachidonic (2 mg, 15 mg/kg, i.p; 30 mg/kg i.g.), linolenic (100 mg/kg i.p.; 200 mg/kg, i.g.) and linoleic (15, 100 mg/kg, i.p.; 100 mg/kg, i.g.) acids to 22 h food-deprived rats inhibits food intake. 2 This anorexia is similar to that induced by prostaglandin F2alpha (1 mg/kg, i.p.). 3 At anorectic doses these fatty acids do not cause pyrexia, in fact arachidonic acid causes hypothermia. 4 Prior treatment with indomethacin (15 mg/kg) and paracetamol (50 mg/kg) specifically reverses the anorexia and the behavioural satiety induced by the three fatty acids, while not affecting prostaglandin F2alpha-induced suppression of food intake. 5 Results of the present experiments suggest that both physiological and pharmacological modification of appetite could be brought about through an effect on prostaglandin generating systems.


The effect of cloprostenol on human luteal steroid and prostaglandin secretion in vitro.

1 Human luteal tissue slices from days 18, 21 and 25 of the menstrual cycle were superfused in vitro with Medium 199 alone or containing cloprostenol (1 microgram/ml). Concentrations of progesterone, oestradiol-17beta and prostaglandins F2alpha and E2 were determined in the superfusate samples. 2 Secretion of steroids and prostaglandins was maintained at an approximately constant level throughout the experiments (21 h in one case) when the tissue was perfused with M199 alone. 3 Superfusion with cloprostenol (1 microgram/ml) resulted in an initial depression of progesterone and oestradiol-17beta but this was not maintained, levels returning to control values or showing an increase, while superfusion with cloprostenol continued. Cloprostenol is not therefore considered to be luteolytic at this dose and under these conditions for human luteal tissue in vitro. 4 Superfusion with cloprostenol (1 microgram/ml) also resulted in a large stimulation of secretion of endogenous prostaglandin F2 alpha following a short lag phase. This stimulation was possibly due to the initial depression of progesterone secretion. A short-lived stimulation of prostaglandin E2 secretion was also observed. 5 The significance of the increase in prostaglandin E2 secretion and the interrelationships between the various changes observed with cloprostenol are difficult to interpret.


Effects of atenolol on regional myocardial blood flow and ST segment elevation in the canine myocardium.

1 The effects of atenolol on regional myocardial blood flow (RMBF) and on ST segment elevation were studied both in normal and ischaemic regions of the myocardium in dogs. Some of the experiments were performed with cardiac pacing or after bilateral stellectomy. 2 In the absence of cardiac pacing, atenolol (1 mg/kg, i.v.) induced a marked reduction in heart rate and contractile force and a decrease in RMBF, which was of the same magnitude in normal and ischaemic areas. There was no modification in the endo/epi flow ratio. ST segment elevation in ischaemic areas was significantly reduced. 3 Bilateral stellectomy induced similar effects to those of atenolol. Atenolol after bilateral stellectomy exhibited no additional effects. 4 In dogs submitted to cardiac pacing, atenolol no longer decreased RMBF and ST segment elevation. 5 These results demonstrate that with atenolol, there is no correlation between bradycardia and the endo/epi flow ratio while there is one between bradycardia and reduction in ST segment elevation.


Reversal of prostaglandin E2 effect on adrenal catecholamine release after hypophysectomy.

Prostaglandin E2 induced increased catecholamine release in vitro from adrenals of hypophysectomized rats, while in adrenals of intact rats catecholamine release was suppressed by prostaglandin E2.


Mechanisms underlying gastric mucosal damage induced by indomethacin and bile-salts, and the actions of prostaglandins.

1 The mechanisms by which -he bile salt, sodium taurocholate, potentiates the formation of gastric mucosal erosions induced by indomethacin has been investigated in the rat. 2 Systemic administration of indomethacin lowered resting mucosal blood flow but had no effect on the acid back-diffusion across the mucosa. 3 Gastric perfusion of taurocholate in acid solution increased acid back-diffusion and lowered the potential differences. This was accompanied by an increase in mucosal blood flow, which may represent a protective mechanism in the mucosa. 4 Administration of indomethacin during acid-taurocholate perfusion reduced this elevated mucosal blood flow without any further change in acid back-diffusion. 5 The results suggest that although a decrease in mucosal blood flow or an increase in acid back-diffusion can lead to a low incidence of erosions, a combination of both produces extensive mucosal damage. 6 The (15S)-methyl analogue of prostaglandin E2 reduced erosion formation induced by indomethacin and acid-taurocholate administration. 7 It is suggested that this protective action of the prostaglandin analogue may be linked to changes in gastric mucosal permeability and in mucosal blood flow.


Experimenter bias against subliminal perception? Comments on a replication.

Criticizes three replications of experiments on subliminal perception for not being true replications. The lack of subliminal effects in the replications could very well be explained by a change from sensitive to insensitive instruments of measurement.


Experimenter bias against subliminal perception? A rejoinder.

The basis for Spence & Smith's (1977) critique of three replications of subliminal perception experiments is judged to be conjectural. The case that the replications were less sensitive to subliminal perception effects than the original experiments is evaluated and rebutted.


Self-rated imagery and vividness of task pictures in relation to visual memory.

Marks (1973) and Gur & Hilgard (1975) have reported success in predicting performance in visual-memory tasks from scores in a questionnaire of self-rated vividness of imagery, i.e. the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ; Marks, 1973). The results obtained were attributed to the use of the VVIQ and pictures with a high degree of vividness in the memory task. These findings were disconfirmed in two experiments in which the VVIQ was used and vivid pictures were presented in the memory tasks. Subjects were to judge whether pairs of similar, successively presented pictures were identical or not. The results indicated that subjects rated as 'good' imagers did not perform differently from those rated as 'poor' imagers. The influences of demand characteristics in the previous experiments and differences in experimental procedures were referred to as possible causes of the observed inconsistencies in results. It is also suggested that questionnaires of self-rated visual imagery are ineffective as predictors of performance, since they only cover a limited aspect of imagery.


A developmental study of the effects of instructions on visual shape judgements.

Previous developmental studies of visual shape judgements have failed to instruct subjects clearly as to the type of shape judgements required. Using the method of adjustment 180 subjects in five age groups, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 19 years, were instructed to judge either the real or projected shape of an elliptical standard slanted 39, 57 and 72 degrees from the fronto-parallel. No age changes were found in the tendency towards shape constancy. Objective shape judgements exhibited a significantly greater degree of constancy than projective judgements and there was no decline in constancy with increasing slant of the standard under objective instructions, in contrast to a marked decline under projective instructions. Female subjects consistently manifested a greater tendency towards shape constancy than males.


Evidence that focal processing involves a build-up of a visual object.

Subjects were required to make one of three judgements when presented with a tachistoscopically displayed letter, and the PEST procedure was used to obtain point estimates of the stimulus exposure time required to yield a 50 per cent (corrected for chance) level of accuracy. The judgements were ordered in terms of the information required, and on the assumption that pattern recognition involves the build-up of an appropriate visual object (Neisser, 1967), it was predicted that as the visual representation required to make a judgement increased in detail, the exposure time required would also increase. The results showed that stimulus exposure time increased as subjects located at one of four positions, classified as angular or circular, and identified a letter from the set F,T,O,Q. The type of information required to make these judgements, changed from the figure-ground discrimination needed for location, to the detailed level of representation needed for identification. Therefore, the results supported the prediction and were taken as evidence that pattern recognition involves the build-up of a visual object. The judgements location, classification, and identification were also made on a letter from the set F,f,Q,q, but in this case the classification judgement required subjects to name the letter independent of its case. The results showed that naming was just as difficult as identifying and this suggested that the level of representation required to name the letter was the same as that required to identify it.


The influence of secondary depth cues on the understanding by Nigerian schoolboys of spatial relationships in pictures.

The ability of 105 Nigerian schoolboys to interpret pictures three-dimensionally was studied as a function of changing the number of depth cues on moving from monochrome photographs incorporating the effects of shadow, through fully cued line drawings, to line drawings containing only elevation cues. The experiment also investigated the effects of different amounts of previous formal training in technical drawing on performance in these tasks. The results showed a significant increase in performance as the number of depth cues increased above that contained in the minimum cued line drawings. However, the difference between the effects of fully cued line drawings and the photographs was not significant. Neither the main nor interaction effects relating to levels of formal training in technical drawing were significant.


Effects of high intensity white noise on short-term memory for position in a list and sequence.

Seven experiments are described investigating the effect of high intensity white noise during the visual presentation of words on a number of short-term memory tasks. The findings were: 1. In a free recall task recall of items decreased at the highest intensity used (85 dB) compared with a quiet and a 75 dB condition. 2. In free recall, recall by category decreased and recall in the original sequence increased in the 75 dB compared with the other two conditions. 3. Recall of the position of words in the list increased as noise intensity increased, but only when the learning of position was incidental, not when it was intentional. It is inferred that the effect is due to direction of attention or change in the learning strategy. 4. Recall of the original sequence (as shown by the ability to give in response to a word from a list the word which had followed it in the original list) was superior in the 75 dB compared with the other two conditions, but only when recall of the second word was required, not when it had to be recognized among all the items from the original list. It is argued that this can be explained if noise intensity affects the strength of traces and hence the interconnexions established between them, on which retrieval depends. The results for position learning are compatible with the theories of Hockey & Hamilton (1970) or Dornic (1973), but the results for sequence learning cannot be explained by either of these theories. A final experiment confirmed a prediction from the above theory that when recalling the original sequence, omissions (recalling no word) will decrease and transpositions (giving the wrong word) will increase as noise level increases.


The structure of visual and kinaesthetic imagery: a free association study.

A free association technique was used to investigate the semantic structure of three forms of encoding: verbal, visual imagery, and kinaesthetic imagery. Kinaesthetic imagery involves imagined bodily identification with the stimuli (animal names) and is included because of its possible involvement in creativity, and in view of the importance of enactive representation in cognitive development. The analysis of evoked associations in terms of the propositional relations they bear to the stimuli, shows that the actor-action-object framework is particularly important in kinaesthetic imagery, and the whole-part structure in visual imagery. Verbal representation gives rise to various abstract and phonemically based association types. The relevance of these findings to creativity and to the concept of semantic memory is discussed.


Is the lemon test an index of arousal level?

On the basis of numerous studies, it was predicted that salivary output to lemon juice would increase in a noisy relative to a quiet environment. Following the accepted procedure (Corcoran, 1964) salivary output to lemon juice was measured under quiet conditions; then experimental subjects selected a level of noise 'just too loud for comfort' and the salivary index was reassessed. Controls were treated identically except that both measures were conducted in the quiet. It was found that salivation increased in noise, and the weight of saliva produced correlated with the level of noise chosen.


Tobacco smoking, personality and sex factors in auditory vigilance performance.

A total of 120 university students comprising equal groups of male and female non-smokers, smokers not smoking and smokers smoking; were compared for performance on a 60 min auditory vigilance task. Non-smokers consistently detected more signals throughout the test. A significant interaction showed that while non-smokers detected fewer signals as the test progressed, smokers increased their number of detections. There were no sex differences and no overall EPI differences in scores, although extraverted non-smokers gave significantly higher scores than introverted non-smokers with the converse being present for smokers. The results are discussed in relation to hippocampal functions and indicate that smoking should be taken into account in experiments involving sustained attention.


A psychophysiological study of paranoid hostility and defensiveness in maximum security hospital patients.

In this study male security hospital patients are compared against male students on L scores, and on the relationship between scores on Eysenck's P scale and an index of change in muscle tension on attending to perceptual discrimination tasks. In the student sample P score gave a significant positive correlation with the EMG index, while L scores were remarkably low. Results on the hospitalized population showed that the measure of increase in muscle tension was again very significantly correlated with P, but the correlation was negative. This switch is highly significant (P less than 0.0001). Also, with patients, a significant positive correlation occurred between L and the EMG index. The results are interpreted by reference to L scores, since the deviant population had significantly higher L scores than students (P less than 0.001). It is argued that many patients detained for an undefined period are highly defensive and fake socially good. It is proposed that those faking most may be the extreme paranoid and hostile types who, if they had nothing to lose by being honest, would normally endorse a large number of items on the P scale.


Tactual and name matching by blind children.

The hypothesis that letters can be matched on the basis of tactual physical features was tested in three experiments with blind Braille-reading children. Experiment I compared simultaneous matching of pairs of normal (S) and enlarged (E) format Braille letters. Under physical match instructions latencies for SS pairs were significantly faster than for other pairs, but matching EE pairs which compared two difficult letters under physical match instructions was no slower than matching SE or ES letters which compared one easy and one difficult letter under name match instructions. Experiment II showed that successive physical matching of SS and EE letters was significantly faster than name matching of ES and SE letters respectively. Experiment III tested successive matching with two types of altered format (X and Y) under instructions to judge whether pairs were the same letter. Latencies did not differ between XX and YY pairs, but each was significantly faster than either XY or YX pairs. The results were deemed to support the hypothesis.


In vivo and in vitro assessment of barium sulphate suspensions.

In vitro methods of testing the efficiency of barium sulphate suspensions in delineating mucosal detail using canine cadaveric stomachs have been described in the literature. In this study a comparison is made between in vitro and in vivo tests in the stomach and small intestine of dogs, using several brands of barium sulphate. The results indicate that there is considerable variation in the behavior of these suspensions between the in vitro and in vivo tests particularly in the stomach. It is our view that in vitro tests of this sort are of little value for assessing the relative advantages and disadvantages of these suspensions in demonstrating mucosal detail.


Double contrast preparations: an in vitro study of some antifoaming agents.

An apparatus is described for the study of foam formation in double contrast preparations in vitro. Antifoaming agents are shown to be of considerable benefit to the double contrast technique, silicone and silicone-free antifoamers being equally effective. Silicone antifoamers are preferred because of their wide clinical acceptability. Antifoamer formulation and concentration are found to be critical factors in determining efficacy of foam suppression, and may lead to erroneous results in the clinic.


An evaluation of transverse axial emission tomography of the brain in the clinical situation.

The Aberdeen section scanner provides, in addition to conventional views, a display of the distribution of radioactivity in a tomographic section of the brain. This paper examined the value of this additional information. Scans of lesions confirmed pathologically or radiologically, along with normal and doubtful cases, were examined after a careful randomization procedure. During the course of the study each set of conventional views was examined twice, once without and once with a tomographic section view. In two out of 29 cases (7%) the lesion was diagnosed only with the aid of the tomographic section scan. Improved accuracy of diagnosis with the tomographic section view was significant at the 1% level or better.


99Tcm-diphosphonate scanning as an aid to diagnosis of infection in total hip joint replacements.

Local infection following total hip joint replacement is often difficult to diagnose. Bone scanning with 99Tcm-diphosphonate has been used in an attempt to detect such infection by assessing uptake of 99Tcm in the hip. Posterior view dot scans of patients with total hip joint replacements were analysed quantitatively to determine the ratios of dots in regions around the acetabular, trochanteric and femoral parts of the prosthesis compared with normal bone. The scans were also assessed visually. Patients with definite evidence of infection showed higher uptake than control patients. The clearest distinction in uptake between the two groups was in the femoral shaft region. The data from these two groups of patients were used to propose diagnostic criteria for detecting abnormalities on scans. These criteria were applied to scans of a third test group of patients who had painful hips, but no definite evidence of infection. The numerical method of analysis is less subjective and may therefore be preferable as a means of providing evidence for or against a diagnosis of infection in patients with painful hip replacements.


Re-irradiation of rat tails to necrosis at six months after treatment with a "tolerance" dose of x rays or neutrons.

Rat tails were re-irradiated to necrosis levels at about six months after various fractionated treatments with 290 kV X rays or 14 MeV neutrons. The X ray dose required to produce necrosis in half of a group of tails (ND50), which had been heavily X-irradiated six months before, was 91+/-4% of the ND50 for aged controls. After prior neutron-irradiation, however, this value was 87+/-4% (neutrons in second treatment) or 75+/-5% (X rays in second course). The "effective" oxygenation of mouse tails at this time after X-irradiation was similar to that of controls; thus these percentage dose values indicate the remarkable tolerance of this organized tissue to a second course of X-irradiation, and the presence of more residual injury in neutron-irradiated tissues.


The tolerance of re-irradiation of heavily irradiated human skin.

The clinical course of a group of 15 female patients treated with X-ray therapy for radiation-induced hypopharyngeal tumours is reviewed. Neither acute nor late skin reactions exceeded those expected in similar radical treatments of patients not previously irradiated. One patient appeared to have been cured by the treatment and four achieved two years' palliation. It is suggested that the tolerance of skin to re-irradiation following a long period may approach normal.


The response of the rat tail to hyperthermia.

When the cartilage of the tail of a baby rat is exposed to temperatures between 41 degrees C and 46 degrees C either necrosis or a small degree of stunting in growth may occur. Isoeffect curves relating time and temperature for both these endpoints for normal and clamped tissue were found to be parallel, a doubling of heating time or an increase in temperature of 1 degree C having the same effect in all cases. Clamping sensitizes the tails by a factor of about three in heating time, equivalent to a temperature difference of 1.5 degrees C. Arrhenius plots show an inactivation energy of 140 kcal/mole. This is similar to that found by other workers using different endpoints, and supports the suggestion that protein denaturation is a critical target for direct heat damage.


The response of the rat tail to combined heat and x rays.

Moderate heat doses which, alone, cause no measurable response in the cartilage of the tail of the baby rat, may potentiate the effects of X-irradiation. The magnitude of the enhancement (the Thermal Enhancement Ratio, or TER) depends upon the heat dose in a similar way to that observed in other normal tissues. The thermal enhancement in the rat tail was also dependent on the dose of X rays, increasing with increasing dose. Potentiation was always greater when heat was applied before irradiation although the difference in TER between heating immediately before or after irradiation was less than 10%. Potentiation of X ray damage decreased steadily to zero as the heat and X-ray treatments were separated by increasing intervals of time. The loss of potentiation was more complete and more rapid when X rays were given before heating, but was also dependent on both the degree of heating and the dose of X rays.


A radioprotective effect of vitamin C observed in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Vitamin C at high concentrations was found to inhibit the growth of CHO clone A cells in culture. It had a radioprotective effect, giving a maximum increase in cell survival of a factor of seven under the experimental conditions used. The protective effect was mainly but not exclusively attributable to an increase in the Do, the maximum increase observed being the order of 1.4.


The "invisible" can top.

The hazard of ingestion of a beverage can top in a child is presented. These can tops are susprisingly low radio density and their presence can be overlooked on a conventional P.A. X ray of the chest. In such cases a lateral radiograph of the chest should be included in the routine investigation of the child.


The role of oxygen therapy in the healing of experimental skin wounds and colonic anastomosis.

A number of experimental studies have indicated that wound healing is adversely affected by hypoxia, and it has been suggested that healing can be improved by increasing inspired oxygen tensions. However, this hypothesis is based on observations on simulated wounds or tissue implants in experimental animals, and the clinical relevance of these observations is uncertain. The effects of oxygen therapy on the healing of skin wounds and colonic anastomoses were examined in rats. Sutured skin incisions and normal and ischaemic colonic anastomoses were studied in control animals breathing air and in test animals breathing 50 per cent oxygen. Wound healing was assessed by measurements of wound breaking strength, colonic bursting wall tension and wound collagen after 7 days' treatment with oxygen. There was no significant difference in the measurements in skin wounds or colonic anastomoses in test and control animals, and there was a similar incidence of anastomotic dehiscence in the ischaemic colon of test animals and controls. Oxygen therapy had no apparent effect on wound healing in this study, and it was concluded that further studies are required to determine whether or not there is a rational basis for the clinical use of oxygen therapy to help wound healing.


Ultrasound and amoebic liver abscess.

Eight of 12 patients referred to an ultrasound clinic were eventually found to have a liver abscess. All 8 abscesses were confirmed positively by ultrasonic examination. Using ultrasound, an amoebic abscess can be accurately located within the liver and the optimal site for needling suggested to the clinician. Ultrasound is an accurate, non-invasive, diagnostic aid in this condition.


The influence of penicillin on experimental wound contamination with staphylococci: studies with chromic catgut and monofilament nylon closure.

This study examines the ability of penicillin to eradicate or modify the pattern of infection in experimental wounds contaminated with Staphylococcus pyrogenes in the presence of chromic catgut or monofilament nylon suture. Penicillin therapy initiated within 4 days of the onset of infection was successful in eradicating infection when compared with untreated controls (P less than 0-01). Infection was modified but not eradicated in penicillin was administered from the seventh day. The response of infection to penicillin was identical in wounds containing monofilament nylon or chromic catgut over a 21-day period. Antibiotics given before wound drainage permitted healing of all chronically infected wounds even in the presence of monofilament nylon. When antibiotics were begun at the time of drainage, wound healing occurred in 50 per cent (P less than 0-01).


Protein turnover in patients before and after elective orthopaedic operations.

Whole body protein turnover was measured in 11 patients before and after elective orthopaedic operations be giving 15N-glycine orally every 4 hours for 32 hours. The patients were maintained throughout on a constant protein intake. In 2 control subjects a comparison was made between intermittent dosage and continuous infusion of 15N-glycine for the estimation of total protein turnover. With intermittent dosage the 15N abundance in urinary urea reached a constant level after about 24 hours. Rates of total protein synthesis and breakdown were calculated from the 15N abundance at the plateau level. After surgery there was a moderate increase in urinary N output. The apparent N balance (intake--urinary N) was -0-52 +/- 1-31 g/d (mean +/- s.d.) before operation and -7-51 +/- 4-5 g/d after operation. The rate of protein synthesis fell from 3-83 +/- 0-73 g kg-1 d-1 before operation to 2-94 +/- 0-83 g kg-1 d-1 after operation. This difference is statistically significant (0-05 greater than P greater than 0-01). There was no significant change in the rate of protein breakdown. The possibility remains that a block in protein synthesis, probably mainly in muscle, may be partly responsible for the so-called 'catabolic' loss of nitrogen after injury, but this has not been proved.


Quadruple chemotherapy for advanced malignant disease.

The results of treatment of 48 cases of advanced cancer by quadruple chemotherapy are reported. In only 4 patients was an objective remission obtained, although equivocal remissions were observed in 9 patients. This report is at variance with other recent reports. The reasons for the discrepancy are discussed, and while combination chemotherapy may prove more effective if used earlier in the natural history of malignant disease, in this series the technique does not appear to offer any greater chance of remission than chemotherapeutic agents used singly.


Diagnosis of a leiomyoma of the small intestine by selective angiography.

A case is reported in which a leiomyoma of the jejunum was diagnosed by mesenteric angiography after two negative barium meal examinations. The tumour was resected and recovery was uneventful.


Platelet function tests during major operation for gastro-intestinal carcinoma.

Platelet function tests were performed on 15 patients undergoing major operation preoperatively, during anaesthesia and 30 minutes and 3 hours after the beginning of operation. It was found that during anaesthesia platelet retention in a glass bead column and platelet aggregation were slightly reduced. During operation the bleeding time and the delay period of the collagen-induced aggregation were progressively prolonged, and the aggregation induced by ADP at a final concentration of 1 and 2 micrometer and by adrenaline was progressively reduced.


Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease: results after colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis.

Eighty-one patients who had had colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease of the colon from 1 to 13 years previously were interviewed and examined by a surgeon with whom they had had no previous contact. Sixty-four patients (79 per cent) had a satisfactory result. In 12 patients the operation had failed and an ileostomy had been established, and in a further 5 patients the result was considered unsatisfactory. Despite a high incidence of frequent loose stools and minor anorectal complications, most of the patients were satisfied with the result and would not contemplate the alternative of an ileostomy. No patient had developed rectal cancer. Provided that the rectum is examined regularly for pre-malignant or malignant change, colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis offer a satisfactory alternative to proctocolectomy and ileostomy for many patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.


Anal fistulas at St Mark's Hospital.

This paper presents the application of a classification of anal fistulas to an unselected consecutive series of 793 patients treated for this condition at St Mark's Hospital from 1968 to 1973 inclusive. The fistulas were divided into five categories on their anatomical relationships: superficial (16 per cent), intersphincteric (54 per cent), trans-sphincteric (21 per cent), suprasphincteric (3 per cent) and extrasphincteric (3 per cent), with the remaining cases multiple or unclassified (3 per cent). There was good correlation between the categories and presentation, physical signs and treatment of the fistulas. Two hundred and forty-nine patients had potentially difficult fistulas. Follow-up of these patients revealed healing of almost all the fistulas, but the functional results were less satisfactory (incontinence of loose stool in 17 per cent and of flatus in 25 per cent, soiling in 31 per cent).


The internal sphincter and anal fissure.

The activity of the internal anal sphincter in patients with fissure has been studied by measuring anal pressure and motility with a small balloon probe. The mean maximum anal pressure in 12 patients with fissure (116-8 +/- 21-8, s.d., cm H2O) was significantly higher than that in 40 control subjects (85-0 +/- 20-5 cm H2O; P less than 0-01). Ultra-slow pressure waves were present in 80 per cent of the patients and in 5 per cent of the controls. Both the high pressure of ultra-slow waves were due to abnormal activity of the internal sphincter. This could be corrected equally well by either dilatation or lateral subcutaneous sphincterotomy.


Intestinal changes after jejuno-ileal shunt in obesity: a report of 2 cases.

Two cases of end-to-end and end-to-side jejuno-ileal bypass for the treatment of obesity are reported in which both patients underwent reoperation 17 and 23 months later respectively. Macroscopic examination and measurements of length of the various segments of the small intestine have been performed twice in each patient: at the time of the bypass and at the second surgical procedure. In one patient a histological study of both the excluded and functioning small intestine was carried out at the time of each surgical procedure. The functioning intestine had increased in size while the excluded segment had become narrowed. The height of the villi had increased slightly in the functioning ileum and more so in the functioning jejunum compared with the preoperative measurements. In contrast, the height of the villi was moderately reduced in both the bypassed jejunal and ileal segments. These findings confirm the results of experimental studies in animals.


Parathyroidectomy: extent of resection and late results.

Opinion is divided as to the necessary extent of parathyroid resection in primary hyperparathyroidism. Some surgeons urge that subtotal parathyroidectomy be performed routinely, while others reserve subtotal resections for patients with parathyroid hyperplasia. In a review of 102 patients treated by parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism and subsequently followed up for an average of 6 years, there were 73 patients with parathyroid adenoma, 26 with hyperplasia and 3 with carcinoma. The adenoma was not found at the first operation in only 3 cases; in the other 70 after removal of the adenoma no further hypercalcaemia was observed during the follow-up period. Persistent or recurrent hypercalcaemia was a problem in 9 out of the 26 patients with primary hyperplasia who had inadequate resection at the first operation, and also in the 3 patients with carcinoma. Experience shows that peroperative biopsy with frozen section of all the parathyroids is useful in confirming their identity and can be a guide to the type of disease present and the appropriate extent of resection.


Resection of an unusually large goitre.

This paper reports the resection of a benign non-toxic goitre measuring 75 X 60 X 45 cm in a patient aged 48 who was unable to walk or sit because of the size of the goitre. The tumour proved to arise from the right half of the thyroid. A right-sided hemistrumectomy was performed under local anaesthesia with the patient prone. A temporary tracheostomy was established. The postoperative course was uneventful apart from slight necrosis of the  wound edge. The patient was discharged in good health on the twentieth postoperative day.


The mechanisms of traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta.

This paper reviews evidence and ideas on closed accidental rupture of the aorta, and refers to an analysis of 37 subjects in whom traumatic aortic ruptures were found at necropsy. The mechanisms of rupture of the ascending aorta and the proximal and distal parts of the descending aorta are discussed. Aortic rupture is one of the major causes of rapid death after traffic accidents, especially in occupants of motor vehicles. However, about 20 per cent of subjects survive for hours, days or longer after the accident, allowing time for surgical repair in some cases.


Aneurysms of the femoral artery.

Eight aneurysms of the femoral artery out of a total of 27 in 16 patients developed symptoms requiring surgery. The operation of choice was Dacron prosthetic replacement of the aneurysm with preservation of profunda femoris perfusion. The incidence of complications of aneurysms was 30 per cent. The asymptomatic aneurysms were untreated and did not cause the patients any inconvenience as observed at their follow-up. Hence, surgery is advocated only for patients who develop symptoms provided that adequate follow-up and community medicine facilities exist.


Retrograde jejunogastric intussusception: report of 2 cases.

Two clinical variants of jejunogastric intussusception are described. In one, self-reduction is the rule, whilst in the other strangulation occurs and emergency surgery is mandatory. A case illustrating each variant is presented and its diagnosis and treatment are discussed.


Carbohydrate tolerance with portal and systemic venous drainage of the pancreas.

Carbohydrate tolerance was studied in 8 dogs with pancreatic venous drainage to the hepatic portal vein and 6 dogs with pancreatic venous drainage to the systemic veins. While systemic venous drainage of the pancreas was associated with higher fasting plasma insulin and lower fasting plasma glucose levels, no significant differences in either glucose clearance or insulin response to glucose were detectable. Therefore, in the maintenance of plasma glucose homeostatis, administration of insulin into the portal vein offers no significant advantages over the easier systemic route.


Portal hypertension treated by left gastro-epiploic to left renal vein anastomosis: case report.

A case of portal hypertension is presented in which because of the presence of multiple thromboses of the main portal branches one of the usual portasystemic shunts could not be performed. An anastomosis between an enlarged left gastro-epiploc vein and the left renal vein was successfully carried out. Six months after surgery the patient was well and no further haemorrhage had occured.


Arterial hypoxia in acute pancreatitis.

Severe arterial hypoxia while breathing ambient air (Pao2 less than 60 mm Hg) was recorded in 38 (45 per cent) of a group of 84 patients with acute pancreatitis when arterial blood gas monitoring was performed during the first week of illness. This contrasted with an incidence of 19 per cent severe hypoxia in a heterogeneous group of 68 patients with acute abdominal pain admitted as surgical emergencies. Clinical evidence of respiratory embarrassment was rarely present in either the patients with acute pancreatitis or the other patients. Arterial hypoxia was related to the prognosis in both groups. It is recommended that all patients with acute pancreatitis have routine arterial blood gas monitoring performed during the first 5 days of illness. Furthermore, all older patients (over 60 years) and younger patients with moderate hypoxia (Pao2 less than 70 mm Hg) should be given supplementary humidified oxygen. An awareness of occult respiratory insufficiency in surgical emergency admissions, and especially in acute pancreatitis, is of importance.


The amylase creatinine clearance ratio in acute pancreatitis.

One hundred and twenty-two patients have been studied in order to evaluate the usefulness of the amylase creatinine clearance ratio (ACCR) as a simple diagnostic test for acute pancreatitis. Sixteen out of 17 patients with acute pancreatitis had significant elevations in ACCR; in only 10 of these 17 cases was the serum amylase greater than 1200iu/l. The mean ACCR was within the normal range in control patients, in patients with chronic gastro-intestinal disease and in patients with acute abdominal conditions excluding pancreatitis; however, the mean serum amylase was significantly greater in patients with acute abdominal conditions than in the control group (P less than 0-05). The ACCR remained significantly elevated in patients with acute pancreatitis for longer than either serum or urine amylase values. The findings of the study suggest that the amylase creatinine clearance ratio is a simple yet reliable diagnostic test which could be used when screening patients suspected of having acute pancreatitis.


Multiseptate hypoplastic gallbladder.

A case is presented of multiseptate hypoplastic gallbladder, which is an extremely rare combination of two congenital anomalies. The patient was diagnosed as having cholecystitis and was relieved of her symptoms following cholecystectomy, even though the specimen did not show evidence of inflammation or calculi. The significance of this is emphasized by reviewing the 5 authenticated cases of multiseptate gallbladder reported in the literature. Awareness of this condition should avoid misinterpretation of cholecystograms.


The medium term results after profundaplasty.

The medium term results of 112 profundaplasties for lower limb ischaemia are reviewed for periods of up to 9 years after operation. Death from cardiovascular causes was found to be more common than subsequent amputation. Though immediate relief from symptoms was not so dramatic as after a femoropopliteal graft, the longer term results showed a much lower late amputation rate. The only resonable operation for failure of a previous femoropopliteal graft appears to be a profundaplasty.


Treatment of critical ischaemia of the lower limb by venous arterialization : an interim report.

A method to revascularize the critically ischaemic lower limb by arterialization of the dorsal venous arch of the foot via the long saphenous vein is described. Satisfactory procedures were achieved in 5 of 6 patients for whom standard arterial reconstructions were not possible and who would otherwise have required amputation. Of these, 2 failed in the early postoperative period and amputation was performed. Two others failed after 1 year and 18 months respectively but amputation was not required. One patient died 8 months after operation with a functioning arterialized vein and pain-free limb. In the 5 patients with successfully revascularized limbs rest pain was relieved, and incisions, ischaemic ulcers and gangrene healed, showing that effective nutrition of the lower limb was achieved by delivering arterial blood through the venous system. Complications were minor and easily controlled. Although as a result of the procedure amputation was avoided in 3 out of 6 patients, the place of the method in the treatment of critical ischaemia of the lower limb remains dubious. Further investigation and modification of the method are planned.


Prosthetic replacement of a long segment of vein in the treatment of a lower limb injury.

A patient who sustained exceptionally severe damage to the main blood vessels and to the collateral circulation of his left lower limb is reported. The femoropopliteal vein was replaced by a Dacron prosthesis which remained patent for 6 weeks until an adequate collateral circulation was established.


Agenesis of the vermiform appendix in a thalidomide child.

A case of congenital absence of the appendix occurring in a child with severe thalidomide deformities is described. The literature on agenesis of the appendix is reviewed. The frequency and significance of internal abnormalities in thalidomide children are discussed.


Carcinoma of the large bowel presenting as a subcutaneous abscess of the thigh : a report of 4 cases.

Four cases of carcinoma of the distal large bowel are described in which the presenting feature was a subcutaneous abscess of the lateral aspect of the thigh. The high morbidity and mortality of this presentation are discussed and the literature is reviewed.


Prostatectomy : its safety in an Australian teaching hospital.

A comparison of the results of prostatectomy in the same hospital after a 15-year interval has shown that there has been a significant reduction in the mortality (2-3 per cent versus 6-7 per cent). However, on reviewing the results of prostatectomy over the past 30 years it is evident that in spite of improved pre- and postoperative care the mortality and morbidity for high risk patients have remained constant. If the safety for this operation is to improve, it would seem that more care in patient selection is necessary and that other means of achieving urinary drainage will need consideration and evaluation in elderly men with significant cardiovascular and respiratory disease.


Herniation through the foramen of Morgagni in children.

Eight cases of herniation through the foramen of Morgagni are described. They fell into two distinct groups presenting either as neonatal respiratory distress or as an incidental findings in older children. Diagnosis is essentially radiological, stressing the importance of a lateral film. Surgical repair is advocated. the abdominal approach being perferred. Pneumopericardium is a rare but severe complication.


Secretagogue-produced duodenal ulcers in the rat.

Duodenal ulcers were produced in rats by the subcutaneous infusion for 6-48 hours of two gastric secretagogues in combination: pentagastrin (2 or 4 microgram kg-1 min-1) and carbachol (0-4 or 0-8 microgram kg-1 min-1). With increasing duration of infusion and higher doses there were increases in the incidence, severity, number and perforation rate of duodenal ulcers, their caudad distribution and mortality from peritonitis. This method of producing duodenal ulcers may sufficiently resemble the clinical situation to provide a model for the study of anti-ulcer drugs and the natural history of duodenal ulcers.


Penetrating airgun injuries of the head.

Five cases of intracranial airgun injuries are presented. The accepted principles of treatment of a compound depressed fracture of the skull are easily overlooked in these patients because of the rarity of the injury and the apparent well-being of the patient, who is usually fully conscious with only a small scalp laceration.


Small bowel ischaemia and infarction in young women taking oral contraceptives and progestational agents.

Case histories of three young women who suffered small bowel infarction associated with oral contraceptives and progestational agents are presented. Two infarctions were due to superior mesenteric artery thrombosis and one to superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. All of these patients were of blood group A and smokers, factors which are known to predispose to vascular thrombosis. A study was made of 18 additional cases reported in the literature. It was found that many of these cases presented with a history of symptoms of 2 weeks of more and at operation some of the cases appeared to be reversible. One case was reported where apparent reversion of the process of vascular thrombosis occurred after cessation of the oral contraceptive.


Foam elastomer dressing in the management of open granulating wounds: experience with 250 patients.

Our experience in the use of a silicone foam elastomer in the dressing of granulating wounds is described in a series of 250 patients. Among the types of wound treated were a pilonidal sinus, abdominal, perianal and perineal wounds, bed sores and diabetic gangrene of the foot. The technique has marked advantages over conventional packing of wounds in relation to patient comfort and saving of nursing time in hospital, and can eliminate the need for district nursing care in the domiciliary situation. Details of preparation, application and surgical management are given.


Iatrogenic injury to the phrenic nerve nerve in infants and young children.

Five cases of iatrogenic phrenic nerve injury in infants are presented. The difficulties of diagnosis and treatment are outlined and reference made to the possible sites of injury. The necessity for early recognition of the injury, and its prompt relief if indicated, are stressed.


Effects of structural configuration of prosthetic aortic valves upon coronary blood flow.

This study was performed in order to determine the effects of the structural configuration of prosthetic aortic valves upon coronary blood flow. A pulse-duplicating system was utilized to which a rigid model of the root of the aorta and the left artery were attached. A stented normal human valve, stented porcine valve, pivoting disc valve, tilting disc value and a caged ball valve were tested at stimulated resting conditions. The results showed that the pulse configuration and proportions of coronary flow that were systolic and diastolic changed with various valves. There was no significant reduction of the mean simulated coronary flow with the porcine valve or disc valves. Coronary flow was augmented with the caged ball valve. These differences were interpreted as being due to several fluid dynamic phenomena. These were piston effects, inertia of reversed blood flow, torque and the effects resulting from the unique pressure distribution on each valve.


A case of multiple trauma following a motor cycle accident.

This paper reports a fractured femur, jejunal laceration and a torn aorta in a young man who appeared reasonably well on admission to hospital. The diagnostic problems and treatment of this case are discussed.


Surgical management of hyperhidrosis.

Sixty-five patients with severe disabling hyperhidrosis were subjected to operation. Eighty-nine sympathectomies and 42 axillary skin excisions were performed to abolish sweating. Almost 90% of these patients were extremely satisfied with the outcome of surgery which resulted in a change for the better in their social and working lives. When conservative therapy fails, we recommend these procedures, which often alleviate this most distressing symptom.


In vitro studies of gallstone dissolution using bile salt solutions and heparinized saline.

A controlled in vitro study of gallstone dissolution has been carried out using a model designed to simulate the in vivo situation in the bile ducts. Sodium taurocholate, sodium cholate, heparinized saline and physiological saline were infused for 10 days over 81 stones from 32 patients and changes in weight and structure were recorded. The bile salt solutions caused weight loss in 81-5 and 85-7 per cent respectively of the stones treated, but the two saline solutions caused weight gains in 74-5 and 88 per cent respectively. Fragmentation occurred in 18-5% of stones treated with sodium taurocholate, in 25% of those treated with sodium cholate and in 11-8 per cent of those treated with heparinized saline. Small stones lost a lower absolute amount of weight than large stones but this represented a greater proportion of their initial weight. These investigations confirm the advantages of a dynamic in vitro model to study gallstone dissolution. Bile salt solutions infused into the bile ducts may clear retained stones by causing reduction in stone weight or fragmentation or both, but heparinized saline appears to be unsuitable for gallstone dissolution. Larger stones may require longer periods of infusion.


Nipple retraction in duct ectasia.

Thirty patients with nipple retraction associated with duct ectasia have been studied to determine the clinical features of this condition. This association is a common one and the similarity of these nipple changes to those produced by cancer is emphasized. While clinical evaluation of the nipple changes may give an indication of the diagnosis, it is by no means absolute and mammography is advocated in all cases. Combined clinical and mammographic assessment will allow confident differentiation of the two causes in many cases, and a policy for management of nipple retraction is presented.


Congenital oesophagobronchial fistula in the adult.

A case of congenital oesophagobronchial fistula presenting in adult life without the more usual accompanying pulmonary infection is presented. The clinical, radiographic, morbid anatomical and histological features of this lesion are discussed.


Volvulus of the sigmoid colon.

The clinical presentation and treatment of 31 consecutive patients with sigmoid volvulus are reviewed. Nearly half of these patients had a history of mental illness and one-third of all patients were chronically constipated. The main clinical features of abdominal pain and gross abdominal distension had been present for an average of 8 days before presentation of the patient to hospital. The clinical diagnosis of sigmoid volvulus was not difficult but the presence of non-viable bowel was more difficult to establish. A silent abdomen was the most valuable indication of the presence of gangrenous bowel. Conservative measures, including sigmoidoscopy and therapeutic barium enema, successfully reduced the volvulus in half of the cases so treated. In those patients undergoing surgery the procedure associated with the lowest mortality was sigmoid resection with end-to-end anastomosis. The overall mortality was 35%.


The clinical significance of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis: a report of 5 cases.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis is an uncommon condition characterized by the presence of gas within the wall of the bowel. In most cases the clinical course is benign and may well be self-limiting, while in others the appearance of pneumatosis may indicate the presence of bowel ischaemia and necessitate emergency laparotomy. This paper describes 5 cases which demonstrate some of the difficulties in diagnosis and management and the improvement which can result from clinical awareness of the condition.


Villous adenoma causing acute appendicitis.

Acute appendicitis is the most common of surgical emergencies. However, it is very unusual to find a benign neoplastic lesion causing appendicitis. Adenomas of the caecum or the appendix are rare and very few cases of these associated with appendicular inflammation have been described. This report presents a case of acute appendicitis with perforation resulting from obstruction by an adenoma. The management of the condition is discussed.


Function of the anal sphincters following colo-anal anastomosis.

Developments in sphincter-saving operations for carcinoma of the rectum have led to renewed interest in the function of the pelvic floor muscles and the anal sphincters. Twelve patients with a colo-anal anastomosis have been investigated physiologically with reference to sphincter function. It has been shown that the rectum is not essential for the appreciation of impending evacuation, nor for the sphincter inhibitory reflexes, which in this study were elicited by balloon distension above the anastomosis.


The use of a silicone gel prosthesis in the treatment of post-prostatectomy incontinence.

Eighty-three patients with post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence were treated by silicone gel prostheses implanted over the bulbous urethra. The prosthesis provides continence by passively increasing the urethral resistance. Successful results were achieved in 72% of patients. The mechanism of post-prostatectomy incontinence and the development of anti-incontinence surgery is briefly reviewed.


Lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in 1604 men and women in working populations in north-west London.

Serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in men and women vary with age, and so-called "normal" limits should take account of this. Serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and phospholipid concentrations were measured in 1027 men and 577 women in five working populations in north-west London, and lipoprotein electrophoresis and quantitative analyses of lipoprotein concentrations were also performed. In men the best fit between serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids, on the one hand, and age, on the other, was given by a curvilinear relationship expressed as a quadratic regression. In women the best fit was given by a linear regression. White men had higher serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations than Black men, and these differences were reflected in the distributions of the lipoproteins. There were no differences between values in White and Black women. Young women on oral contraceptives had lipid concentrations similar to those of older women not on these preparations. These data suggest that the adoption of concentrations of serum cholesterol (275-300 mg/100 ml (7-1-7-8 mmol/l) and triglycerides (175-200 mg/100 ml (2-0--2-3 mmol/l) recommended by a recent report on the prevention of coronary disease as limits above which special attention should be given to the management of hyperlipidaemia could result in as few as 2% of younger men or as many as 31% of older men being selected for treatment.


Typhoid catatonia responsive to ECT.

Twelve patients with typhoid fever presented with a catatonic syndrome that persisted after other signs of the fever had disappeared. The syndrome was distinct from the delirium seen in typhoid fever and did not have the characteristics of an affective or schizophrenic illness. Electric convulsion therapy produced rapid and lasting improvement.


Methods used by general practitioners in developmental screening of preschool children.

A study of the methods used by 20 general practitioners to perform developmental screening examinations of preschool children showed that routine physical examination was adequately performed but at the expense of additional tests of child development. A total of 348 children were examined by either a doctor (144 cases) or a health visitor (90), or both (114). The degree of participation by health visitors suggests that developmental screening need not necessarily be the sole responsibility of doctors, and health visitors should have training opportunities as they have an important contribution to make in this area of child care. Some omissions in testing hearing, vision, and language were clearly due to conflicting demands on the general practitioners' time, but some tests were not performed because the doctors doubted their value. Nevertheless, too many children still enter school with hearing, visual, and speech handicaps that could have been easily identified. If preventive medicine is to become an increasing component of general practice, the methods used by doctors and health visitors must be scrutinised before attempting to evaluate the outcome of large-scale screening programmes.


Use of hair dyes by patients with breast cancer: a case-control study.

The recent finding that many permanent and semipermanent hair dyes are strongly mutagenic in a laboratory test, together with the fact that single female hair-dressers had higher than expected death rates from breast-cancer in 1959-63, prompted a study into the use of hair dyes by patients with breast cancer and by matched controls. There was no difference between the patients and their controls in their use of hair dyes. There were also no significant differences between the two groups when the analysis was confinedto women who had used dyes over four years and over nine years before diagnosis. The only significant findings were a higher proportion of past or present smokers among women aged over 50 who used hair dyes and an association between hair dyes use and age at first pregnancy. Further epidemiological studies are clearly needed in view of the mutagenicity found in the Ames test, and the fact th & several human carcinogens are also mutagenic according to this test.


Lumbar epidural analgesia in labour: a 24-hour service provided by obstetricians.

Of 309 consecutive cases of epidural analgesia provided by obstetricians, 250 set up by junior obstetric staff. Midwives managed the epidural analgesia and gave the top-up doses as part of their traditional role in providing pain relief in labour. This practice was thought to be influential in producing a high sponn epidural analgesic service can safely be provided by obstetricians in a small maternity hospital.


An isolation unit in a district general hospital.

The working of a 19-bed isolation unit in a general hospital was studied from August 1975 to July 1976. A few patients received the highest degree of isolation, but infections in all categories were contained and patients at risk in the same unit were protected from infection.


Pneumoconiosis and chronic bronchitis.

Data from a major long-term epidemiological survey in the British coalmining industry were examined to determine whether bronchitis offered any protective action against the development of pneumoconiosis. No evidence of such an effect was found.


Prevalence of severe growth hormone deficiency.

Four hundred and forty-nine short children, who were all over 2-5 standard deviations below the mean height for age, were identified by screening the heights of 48 221 6- to 9-year-old children in three Scottish cities. Most were screened for growth hormone deficiency (GHD). The prevalence of severe GHD in this sample may have been as high as 1 in 4018, much higher than reported. The findings suggest that present referral patterns may account for the delayed or missed diagnosis of the condition in girls or children with less severe short stature.


Treatment of liposclerosis of the leg by fibrinolytic enhancement: a preliminary report.

Fourteen patients with longstanding lipodermatosclerosis of their lower legs, secondary to venous disease in 11, were treated for three months with stanozolol, a drug that enhances fibrinolytic activity. No other treatment was given and no change made in existing treatment. All the patients improved. Two were cured in three months, three were able to stop treatment in the next three to 11 months, and the other nine continued to improve. Fibrinolytic enhancement, with stanozolol, seems to be a worthwhile addition to the treatment of venous liposclerosis and deserves further study.


Amaurosis fugax and carotid artery disease: indications for angiography.

A prospective study of 80 patients presenting with amaurosis fugax was performed in an attempt to relate clinical features to angiographic findings in the internal carotid artery. Carotid bruit, transient cerebral ischaemic attacks, hypertension, and claudication were associated with a high prevalence of angiographic abnormality. Every patient who showed all these features had an operable lesion, as did 88% of those who had three features. In patients over 50 years of age carotid stenosis and atheromatous ulceration were occasionally found in the absence of bruit and transient cerebral ischaemia, but only one patient aged under 50 had an operable lesion and no associated features. Clinical features were therefore valuable in predicting the outcome of angiography, but it seems prudent to restrict angiography to patients aged over 50, who are most likely to benefit from surgery on the carotid artery.


Nocturnal femoral fracture and continuing widespread use of barbiturate hypnotics.

A survey of 390 patients aged over 65 with fractured femurs showed that nearly all the fractures that had been caused by nocturnal falls had occurred among the many patients who were still taking barbiturate hypnotics. Barbiturates were also strongly associated with a history of frequent falls. Barbiturates are still prescribed surprisingly often for the elderly. An analysis of 1622 elderly patients referred to a geriatric clinic in Nottingham showed that 41% were taking barbiturates in 1973. By 1976 this fugure had actually increased to 51%, despite the substantial campaign against barbiturate prescribing. This campaign thus appears to have made little or no impact on prescriptions for the elderly in at least one large town. The dangers of barbiturates may well need constant reemphasis.


Effect of calcitonin treatment on deafness due to Paget's disease of bone.

Seventeen patients with Paget's disease of the skull and deafness were followed for nine to 18 months. Patients who received calcitonin treatment showed less deterioration in hearing than untreated patients. Calcitonin treatment may retard the progression of deafness in Paget's disease, and further studies are indicated.


Acceptability of an oral contraceptive that reduces the frequency of menstruation: the tri-cycle pill regimen.

The frequency of menstruation was reduced to once every three months in 196 women by the continuous administration of the oral contraceptive pill, Minilyn, for 84 days (tri-cycle regimen). No pregnancies occurred. One hundred and sixty-one women (82%) welcomed the reduction in the number of periods with the associated freedom from menstrual and premenstrual symptoms, and many found the tri-cycle regimen easier to follow. Weight gain of more than 2 kg, irregular cycle control, especially in the first three months, breast tenderness, and headaches were the main side effects. Menstrual loss was unchanged or reduced in all but seven women. The doctors and nurses on the clinic staff were less enthusiastic about this regimen than the volunteers themselves.


Primary immunisation and febrile convulsions in Oxford 1972-5.

A three-year study of febrile convulsions in Oxford with comprehensive notification from general practice and hospitals showed a 3% risk for all children of suffering at least one febrile convulsion by the age of 5 years. Children were most at risk between 6 and 27 months, and febrile convulsions were most likely to be prolonged in children aged 9-15 months. The association between febrile convulsions and primary immunisations in the preceding 28 days was compared in case and control children, matched for age and sex. Results suggested that such association was a chance relationship with age. If association was direct, the febrile convulsion rates per 1000 immunisation doses were estimated as follows: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus--0-09 per 1000; poliomyelitis--0-6 per 1000; and measles--0-9 per 1000. Hence if any of these vaccines had a secific causal relationship with febrile convulsions, these rates would probably have been much higher.


Family similarities in the age at coronary death in familial hypercholesterolaemia.

In a combined Norwegian and British study of the age at death from coronary heart disease of heterozygotes for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) the correlation coefficients within families for 43 sib pairs was 0-70 and for 14 first cousin pairs 0-61. There was no significant correlation between the age at death and serum cholesterol concentration in either series. The intrafamilial correlations suggest that information about the age at death from coronary heart disease in heterozygotes within families may have some prognostic value and may also be interpreted as evidence for genetic heterogeneity in FH.


Management of intractable hiccup.

A patient who developed hiccups after laparotomy was treated with numerous drugs with limited success. A left phrenic nerve crush was eventually successful. A review of published work showed that the drugs most likely to succeed were chlorpromazine and metoclopramide, and that phrenic nerve injection and crush should be considered if these failed.


An adolescent ward.

A ward has been set up for adolescents, who, being neither children nor adults, have special needs. It provides a pleasant and enthusiastic atmosphere that allows the patients to mix together socially alties is important, but not more than 20% should be long-stay patients. Those needing intensive care or specialised investigations and those likely to be a disruptive influence are excluded. No serious sexual problems have been encountered.


A case of Ebola virus infection.

In November 1976 an investigator at the Microbiological Research Establishment accidentally inoculated himself while processing material from patients in Africa who had been suffering from a haemorrhagic fever of unknown cause. He developed an illness closely resembling Marburg disease, and a virus was isolated from his blood that resembled Marburg virus but was distinct serologically. The course of the illness was mild and may have been modified by treatment with human interferon and convalescent serum. Convalescence was protracted; there was evidence of bone-marrow depression and virus was excreted in low titre for some weeks. Recovery was complete. Infection was contained by barrier-nursing techniques using a negative-pressure plastic isolator and infection did not spread to attendant staff or to the community.


Negative-pressure plastic isolator for patients with dangerous infections.

A negative-pressure plastic isolator is effective for dealing with patients suffering from dangerous infections. So far it has been used to treat seven patients suspected of having infections due to Lassa, Marburg, or Ebola viruses. One patient spent 32 days in the isolator. The isolator was proved comfortable and acceptable to patients, and it gives the nursing and medical attendants a high degree of protection. All routine nursing and medical procedures can be carried out with minimal interference by the physical barrier, though it is not practicable to undertake artificial respiration or haemodialysis.


Ten-minute abortions.

A service performing very early abortions in a district general hospital uses menstrual aspiration, which enables abortion to be carried out early, easily, safely, and simply. Menstrual aspiration avoids interference with routine gynaecological work and permits an operator to widen his criteria for accepting patients for termination. From September 1975 to April 1977 123 cases were referred and 104 aspirations were performed. Termination of pregnancy failed in only two cases, through inexperience, and infection occurred in only one case. Menstrual aspiration should be performed within 10-18 days of missing a period.


Membrane associated particles of the presynaptic active zone in rat spinal cord. A morphometric analysis.

The distribution of membrane-associated particles in the presynaptic membrane was investigated in the spinal cord of unanesthetized and anesthetized rats by freeze etching electron microscopy. Both 'external' face (EF) and 'protoplasmic' face (PF) were examined. Particles were classified according to size in two categories: small particles (diameter 5.0-8.7 nm) and large particles (diameter 8.7-13.7 nm). The presynaptic region was subdivided into an active and a surrounding zone, depending on specific ultrastructural criteria. The density of large particles in the PF was found to be significantly higher in the active as compared with the surrounding zone in both unanesthetized and anesthetized rats. Thus, the presence of large particles represents an important feature of the active zone. Considerably more large particles were found in the waking than in the barbiturized state. This difference is paralleled by a vast increase of vesicle attachment sites in the presynaptic membrane of unanesthetized animals reported by Streit et al. and confirmed in the present study. It is suggested that the two phenomena could be interrelated and that the large particles may represent calcium channels and thus provide the morphological substrate for the mechanism of excitation-secretion coupling.


Projections from the inferior olive to the cerebellar nuclei in the cat demonstrated by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase.

The method of intracerebral injections of horseradish peroxidase has been applied to demonstrate a projection from the inferior olivary nucleus to the intracerebellar nuclei in the cat. Cells labeled by the transported enzyme can be observed in different regions of the olive according to the localization of the injection. The caudal half of the medial and dorsal accessory subdivisions, the dorsal cap and nucleus beta project to the fastigial nucleus. In the rostral half of the olive, the accessory subdivisions of that nucleus and the dorsomedial cell column send fibers to the interposed nuclei while the principal olive and the ventrolateral outgrowth are connected with the dentate nucleus. It is likely that these fibers are collaterals of the climbing fibers.


Quantitative cytochemistry of RNA in axotomized feline rubral neurons.

One-sided lateral funiculotomy at the C-2 segment induced axon reaction in the contralateral red nucleus of adult cats. Two to 60 days postoperatively the animals were sacrificed and the mesencephalon was fixed in ethanol-acetic acid, 3:1. Ten micrometer paraffin sections including both red nuclei were stained for RNA with azure B after incubation in DNAse. Cytophotometric measurements of RNA content of neurons from the caudal 600-1000 micrometer of each red nucleus were made with a Zeiss Cytoscan system using an automatic scanning stage. In contrast to the heightened RNA synthesis that has been reported for axotomized peripheral (extrinsic) neurons, the axotomized central (intrinsic) neurons of the red nucleus showed no evidence of accumulation of cytoplasmic or nucleolar RNA. Rather depletion of cellular RNA occurred. Further indication of the regressive nature of rubral axon reaction derived from morphometric measurements that showed cytoplasmic, nuclear and nucleolar atrophy of the neurons of the red nucleus contralateral to operation with the exception of a possible transient cytoplasmic enlargement 9 days postoperatively. From the cytophotometric and morphometric data here reported we are led to suggest that the frequently observed failure of axonal repair in mammalian CNS results from the innately regressive nature of the axon reaction of many mammalian central neurons.


Electrically induced release of [3H]dopamine from slices obtained from different rat brain cortex regions. Evidence for a widespread dopaminergic innervation of the neocortex.

Slices obtained from the deeper layers of the rat dorsal frontal, parietal and occipital brain cortex were incubated in vitro with 6.25 X 10-7 M [3H]dopamine (DA), and subsequently superfused and electrically stimulated, while held on quick transfer electrodes, and changes in the efflux of 3H and of the individual amines measured. The separation of the amines, with quantitative recoveries, was performed by chromatography on cation-exchange resins eluted sequentially with water, 1 N HCL AND 6 M urea i 1 N HCl. When no drugs were used, the prestimulation efflux was entirely formed by deaminated metabolites, while following stimulation there was an increase in the efflux of deaminated metabolites, and considerable amounts of [3H]-noradrenaline (NA) now appeared. No DA was present in the pre- or poststimulation medium. Similar results were obtained in all the regions studied. When the slices were incubated with 10-5 M desmethylimipramine (DMI), 10-4 Mnialamide and 10-4 M tropolone, before and during incubation with [3H]DA, it was observed that, prior to stimulation, the efflux was composed of deaminated metabolites, DA and 3-methoxytyramine (MTA), and following the electrical stimulus there was an increased release of DA, NA and deaminated compounds (in order of decreasing release), while no change in that of MTA was evident. The stimulus-induced release of DA was greatest from frontal slices, intermediate from parietal, and lowest from occipital ones. DMI-resistant uptake of [3H]DA also diminished when passing from frontal to occipital. These findings are interpreted as due to the presence of dopaminergic axon terminals in all the regions studied, but with a density that diminishes in a rostrocaudal direction.


Influence of cations on the electrical activity of neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells.

Electrical excitability is one of the various neuronal properties of neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells. At a Ca2+ concentration of 1.8 mM the action potential is inhibited by tetrodotoxin, suggesting that the inward current is carried by Na+ ions. In contrast, at a Ca2+ concentration of 20-36 mM and even in the absence of Na+, spikes (sometimes repetitive) with strong hyperpolarizing afterpotential occur, which are no longer affected by tetrodotoxin. They are, however, blocked by antagonists of Ca2+ like La3+, Co2+, Mn2+, and the synthetic compounds D-600 and BAY a-1040. This seems to indicate that at high concentrations of Ca2+, the inward current of the action potential is essentially carried by Ca2+. Sr2+, but not Mg2+ can effectively substitute for Ca2+. It slows down the time course of the action potential. Ba2+ depolarizes the membrane gradually. If Ca2+ is also present, Ba2+ causes a reduced depolarization and spontaneous action potentials with no hyperpolarizing after-potential are observed.


Spontaneous and reflex activity of paraventricular nucleus units in cycling and lactating rats.

Extracellular recording of paraventricular neurones after electrical stimulation of the neurohypophysis reveals three cell types: type I cells, invaded by an antidromic action potential; type II cells, whose evoked response is orthodromic; and type III cells, which do not respond to stimulation. During the oestrous cycle of the rat, type I  cells are the only ones in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) whose spontaneous activity (expressed in number of action potentials per second) varies. It is significantly higher during lactation (3.6 "/- 0.6) and pro-oestrus (3.4 "/- 0.5) than during oestrus (2.0 +/- 0.5), metoestrus (1.2 +/- 0.3) and dioestrus (1.5 +/- 0.4). There are significantly more phasic units during prooestrus. The mean spontaneous firing rate of type II and III  cells, remain unchanged. The reflex activity of those neurones was studied. Vaginal dilatation, which evokes a release of oxytocin31, increases the activity of a small percentage of type I cells, but there are no differences in this response at different stages of the cycle and lactation. Silent and phasic type I units are never activated. Only the evoked activity of type III cells is affected by the endocrine state. These results are discussed in the light of the known or hypothetical roles of these different cells.


[Aversive and appetitive effects induced by mesencephalic and hypothalamic stimulation (author's transl)].

Approach and escape latencies induced by hypothalamic or central grey stimulation were measured in the rat by means of a shuttle-box technique. In order to compare the effects obtained at various brain sites, the maximal value of the escape latency/approach latency ratio was determined within a given range of stimulation intensities. The ratio was shown to have high values at sites located in the ventral part of the central grey (in or near the dorsal raphe nucleus) or in the lateral hypothalamus. It was equal to zero for most of the sites located in the dorsal part of the central grey, as the rate regularly interrupted the stimulation without initiating it again. Intermediate values were obtained at sites located in the medial hypothalamus and in the dorsal pontine tegmentum.