Distribution of resistances to metals and antibiotics of staphylococcal strains in Japan.

Clinical isolates of 565 staphylococcal strains were studied for the resistance to four metals and eight antibiotics. Distribution patterns of their susceptibilities to Hg, As and Pb clearly revealed two peaks. But in the case of Cd resistance, there were three groups of Cd sensitivity. Frequencies of metal resistances were 36.6% to Hg, 95.6% to Cd, 48.8% to As and 91.9% to Pb. On the other hand, those of drug resistances were 87.3% to PC, 28.5% to SM, 33.5% to TC, 22.7% to CP, 23.9% to KM, 43.0% to EM, 38.8% to JM and 0% to GM. Most of tested cultures were metal-resistant (92.9%), moreover, these multiple-metal-resistant strains were also found to be multiple-drug-resistant. And about 10% of total isolates were metal-resistant and drug-senstitive strains, whereas the frequency of the metal-sensitive and drug-resistant strains was only 1.8%.


["Clumping factor"-reactions using staphylococci after their extraction with guanidiniumchloride (author's transl)].

Staphylococci of strain K 807 (ATCC: 31243) have much "clumping factor" (CF) on their surface. Extraction of the staphylococci with 6 M guanidinium chloride, removed all soluble substances, including coagulase, without reduction in CF-activity. The extracted staphylococci proved to be most suitable for the quantitative determination of fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products in a microtiter procedure (fig. 2). The CF-test with staphylococci of strain K 807 was more sensitive compared with the hitherto used strain Newman D2C (table 1). After staining with "Astrazonrot (BBL)" no loss of CF occurred. With the stained staphylococci the CF-reactions became more distinctly visible and gave sharp endpoints.


[Investigations of amino acid metabolism by thin layer chromatography for differentiation of Brucella (author's transl)].

The amino acid metabolism of 23 different Brucella strains was investigated for differentiation purposes. The results were evaluated by thin layer chromatography, after enzymatic incubation. The organisms (Tab. 1) were grown on Tryptose blood agar at 37 degree C for 24 or 48h. Two mg wet weight of bacteria in 0.2 ml PBS, 0.01 M, were incubated with 12.5 microng (0.025 ml) amino acid in  small tubes for 16h at 37 degree C, and centrifuged for 15 min at 7500 X g. For controls, bacterial suspensions were heated for 15 min at 100 degree C to destroy enzymatic activity, and also contrifuged for 15 min at 7500 X g. Usually 4 micronl of the supernatant fluids (6 micronl for L-asparagine, and 10 micronl for L-proline) were pipetted on the thin layer plate. The tests were run in n-butanol acetic acid water, 20:5:5, with a distance of 8 cm. Amino acids were stained with ninhydrine. The tests were repeated 3-5 times with identical results. Amino acid metabolism was indicated by different staining intesities (+ to ++) in comparison to control preparations. All species could be exactly differentiated from each other, with the exception of B. suis, biotype 2, and B canis, which could not be differentiated by their amino acid metabolism. Biotyps of the same species were mostly identical. The results of these investigations could be reproduced qualitatively as well as quantitatively. The method described is recommended for routine investigations.


The immune adherence phenomenon in experimental candidiasis.

The immune adherence reaction was shown in experimental candidiasis. This phenomenon has not been previously described for candidiasis, to the best of our knowledge. Forty-eight sera of guinea pigs inoculated with a single or several inoculations of live Candida albicans were tested at different time intervals after inoculation for anti C. albicans antibodies detectable by the immune adherence reaction. From the 14th day after inoculation, a positive immune adherence reaction was observed with titer and strength increasing as time passed after inoculation and as the number of inoculations increased. All the sera were tested parallely in agglutination and indirect mast cell degranulation tests. The significance of the data obtained is discussed.


[Temperature decolorization of the rhodopsin of bulls and Theragra chalcogramma fish].

It has been demonstrated that fish rhodopsin is less resistant to thermal treatment and it is more readily bleached as compared to bovine rhodopsin. At 18 degrees C, the stability of both rhodopsins decreased in the following sequence: fragments of the outer segments--digitonin extracts-triton X-100 extracts-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide extracts-At higher temperatures (47-56 degrees), this sequence was the following: fragments of the outer segments-digitonin extracts-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide extracts-triton X-100 extracts. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters (k, Ea, deltaH, delta S*, delta F*) of rhodopsin bleaching at high temperatures were calculated. It is suggested that at 18 degrees C rhodopsin bleaching includes two steps. Possible causes of idfferent stability of the investigated rhodopsins are discussed.


[Characteristics of the afferent activity of the cardiac nerves of Agrionemys horsfieldi turtles].

On the basis of changes in afferent impulsation emerging from the heart of the tortoise A. horsfieldi under various conditions of cardiac haemodynamics, it was shown that bursting activity of the superior cardiac nerves belongs to mechanoreceptors which are located in the ventricle and the adjacent arterial vessels. The discharge in these mechano-receptors coincides with ventricular systole. The second, predominant, type of afferentation is presented by irregular continued activity in both the superior and inferior vagal branches. The origin of this activity remains uncertain.


[Induced locomotion in the myriapod Julus sp].

Coordinated locomotor activity in the decapitated millipede Julus sp. was induced either by mechanical stimulation of the legs with the aid of a treadmile band, or by electrical stimulation of separate parts of the abdominal nervous cord. For the walking induced by mechanical stimulation of the legs, it was shown that: 1) after the "support phase", an additional phase of locomoter cycle, i. e. a "pause phase", is registered; 2) the relationships between kinematic parameters are similar to those recorded during normal walking of the intact millipede and correspond to walking at the lowest velocity. In the case of locomotion induced by electrical stimulation, a "start locomotion threshold" was observed: if stimulation level exceeds this threshold, forward walking is induced being the faster the stronger this stimulation. Besides, the second threshold phenomenon was found - a "threshold of the reversion of locomotion direction". When this threshold is exceeded, forward walking is replaced by backward one. The relationships between kinematic parameters of locomotion induced by electrical stimulation are also similar to corresponding relationships of normal spontaneous walking in the intact millipede, although in this case a "pause phase" is absent.


[Cholinoreception in the ambulacral legs of the starfish Asterias rubens].

Muscles of the ambulacral legs of the starfish A. rubens are sensitive to the effect of ACh, reacting to its injection by shortening of the contracture type. Amplitude of the contractile response is directly related to ACh concentration. The highest sensitivity was observed during complete stretching of the leg from the body of the starfish, threshold contractions being recorded in response to 1-10(-8) M. During incomplete stretching of the leg, the sensitivity was found to be lower. Carbocholine sensitivity is higher than acetylcholine one. Proserine increased ACh sensitivity; the increase was very significant (1, 000 times) provided the leg was completely stretched. Atropine and D-tubocurarine decreased muscle sensitivity to ACh, shifting dose effect curves to the right. The data obtained suggest that muscles of the ambulacral leg possess the system ACh-cholinoreceptor, its concentration being the highest at the base of the leg. Cholinoreception is not limited by M- and H-types only.


[Influence of the subesophageal ganglion on the electrical activity of neurons of the metathoracic ganglion of the cockroach Periplaneta americana].

Studies have been made of non-specific effect of suboesophageal gnaglion on excitability of the segmental centers in the cockroach P. americana. It was shown that the electrical stimulation of the ganglion increases the frequency of the spontaneous activity and decreases the threshold of the evoked reactions in neurons of the metathoracic ganglion. The level of activation depends on the intensity of stimulation. Application of GABA (0.1 M) to the suboesophageal ganglion decreases the frequency of the background activity in the segmental neurons, this effect being presumably due to activation of the inhibitory structures. The descending influences from the suboesophageal ganglion may spread to centers of the metathoracic ganglion along monosynaptic pathways.


[Neuronal spike responses to visual stimuli in the hyperstriatal region of the brains of Corvus corone crows].

Studies of impulse activity in 452 neurons of the hyperstriatal part of the forebrain in crows revealed visual projectional zone within Wulst. With deepening of microelectrode, the receptive fields shifted upward and increased in the diameter from 3--4 to 30--50 and even 90 degrees; the relative amount of directionally sensitive neurons with the preferred movement of the stimuli backward and upward increased. In rostral regions, neurons with the receptive fields in temporal areas of the visual field are located, whereas nasal areas are projected to caudal parts of the Wulst. Selectivity of neuronal reactions to changes in illumination, the size and the rate of movement of the stimuli, as well as neuronal sensitivity to repeated stimulation were demonstrated.


[Generation of electrical discharges by the European star-fish Uranoscopus scaber].

In experiments on determination of salinity preference in the starfish Asteras amurensis it has been shown that 90% of the animals detect the decrease of the salinity by 3.4% at 4--8 degrees C. This decrease was compensated by the addition of salt mixtures. Salinity preference was optimal if the added mixture included K2SO4. It is suggested that potassium ion plays key role in the avoidance reaction of the starfish to the decrease of the salinity.


[Turning over in the ophiuroid Amphipholis kochii].

The reaction of turning over in the ophiuroid A. kochii Lütken begins when the ambulacral legs are detached from the substrate. At the bottom, when aboral side of the animal touches the substrate, turning over begins with oral flexion of three arms. In water, turning over begins with aboral flexion of all the arms. The organism takes the shape of a ball, its center of gravity being shifted to the side of a disc which outer surface is formed by the oral part. As a result, when dropped into the water with its oral side upwards, the ophiuroid passively turns over due to the gravity force. Single arm isolated together with the adjacent part of the nervous ring is capable of turning over. After sectioning the nervous ring, coordinated activity of the arms during turning over is disturbed.


[Electrical activity of the hearts of Hypophthalmichtus molitrix fish during cooling and warming].

In cold-unadapted H. molitrix, studies have been made on the electrical activity of the heart during cooling from 28 to 0 degrees. Cooling of the fish results in the increase of the duration of all ECG components and the decrease in their amplitude. The spontaneous activity gradually disappears, first in sino-atrium zone, then in atrium-ventricular one. Sinus rhythm disappeared at the abdominal temperature 3 degrees. The decrease in the heart rate was followed by its complete block without any extrasystoles and fibrillation. Warming of the fish up to the initial temperature (28 degrees) resulted in the recovery of cardiac activity, first in the atrium-ventricular zone, then in sino-atrium one.


[Abiogenic photochemical synthesis of amino acids in an aqueous medium containing carbohydrates and nitrates].

Ultraviolet light (PRK-2) induces the formation of various amino acids (lysine, asparaginic, as well as traces of some other acids) in mannose, glucose and arabinose solutions containing various nitrates. K+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Fe3+ significantly sensitize the formation of amino acids. In the atmosphere of N2, synthesis of appreciable amounts of glutamic acid takes place, wherease in the atmosphere of O2 or CO2 the latter is produced only in traces. Photolysis of glucose and mannose in nitrate-free solutions in the atmosphere of N2 results in the formation of lysine and glutamic acid. The data obtained show that in pre-biologic conditions in the hydrosphere of Earth (possibly, of other planets as well), abiogenically formed organic substances, e. g. carbohydrates, unter the influence of UV irradiation could be transformed into amino acids. Nitrates present in the water milieu could serve as a source of nitrogen in the amino acids synthesis.


[Relationship between the surface properties of phosphoglycerides and the structure of the phosphorus part of the molecule].

Comparative studies have been made on surface properties of phospholipids with different chemical composition and different structure of the hydrophylic moiety of the molecule. Substitution of phosphoroyl oxygen by sulfur, as in diacetyl lecithins, makes thiolecithin molecules in monolayer more compact. In case of an analogous substitution of oxygen by sulfur in phosphodiglycerides, packing of molecules in a monolayer remains unaffected. It may be suggested that this fact is associated with different position of hydrophobic radicals in the compounds investigated. In contrast to classic neutral and phosphorus-containing phosphoglycerides, diolphospholipids form more condensed monolayers. It was shown that alpha- and beta-phosphatidic acids with the same composition exhibit identical surface activity. Incorporation of hydrophobic groups of aromatic type into synthetic phospholipid analogues increases surface activity, the effect being dependent on the location of these groups with the molecule.


[Carotenoids and marine mollusk resistance to environmental pollution].

Studies have been made on the relationship between total carotenoid content of marine molluscs and their resistance to the decrease of oxygen and the increase of various toxic substances in sea water. It was found that molluscs with high carotenoid content exhibit high resistance to sea pollution. Their population increase in number, in contrast to species with low carotenoid concentration in the body which show a decrease in their population in the polluted environment. Molluscs of the same species, e. g. the common mussel, increase their carotenoid content when inhabiting a polluted region of the sea. Under experimental conditions, it was shown that 6--8 hours after exposure of mussels to pollution, their carotenoid content increases two fold. Close correlation between the resistance of marine molluscs to sea pollution and carotenoid content of their body favours the idea suggesting the role of carotenoids in oxidative metabolism of animal cells and in the adaptation of these cells to hypoxic conditions.


[Free amino acids in the central nervous system of skates (Batomorpha)].

The distribution of free amino acids in strongly and weakly electric fishes (skates and rays) varies in relation to species, brain region and functional peculiarities. In comparison to the weakly electric fishes (Raja clavata and Myliobatis aquila) a number of brain regions of the strongly electric species (Torpedo marmorata and T. ocellata) show considerably higher concentrations of arginine, glycine and tyrosine, and lower concentrations of aspartic acid. The electric organ of the strongly electric fishes was characterized by the lack of tyrosine and glycine, by traces of GABA, and by considerably higher concentrations of alanine, serine, cysteine, and histidine than in the brain of the same species. The electromotor center Lobus electricus of the stronlgy electric fishes, in contrast to other brain regions, shows exceptionally high concentrations of tyrosine and alanine. In comparison to the mammalian brain, levels of brain alanine, glycine, cysteine and cystine are higher in the four fish species studied. The results are discussed in relation to the morphophysiological organization of the fish central nervous system and of the mechanisms of electrogenesis.


[Comparative study of the myoglobin of the reindeer Rangifer tarandus, the elk Alces alces and the deer Cervus elaphus xanthopygus].

Myoglobin preparations from muscles of A. alces, R. tarandus and C. elaphus xanthopygus were isolated by Sephadex gel filtration (G-75). Their Fe content was found to be equal to 0.303--0.308%, which corresponds to the molecular weight of 18, 000. It was shown that splitting of heme from the globin results in an increase of the area occupied by the molecule on the phase boarderline from 36-10(2) to 47-10(2) A2. By the peptide charts method of tryptic hydrolysates combined with the detection of separate amino acid residues in peptides, strong similarities in the primary structure of the myoglobins investigated were found. However, data were obtained which indicate species specificity of this respiratory protein in the animals studied.


[Cholinergic mechanisms in the central nervous system of the sipunculoid Physcosoma japonicum].

Acetylcholine (ACh) content of the central nervous system in the sipunculid P. japonicum was estimated by application of extracts from the nervous tissue to dental retractor of the sea urchin using ACh solutions with known concentration as a standard. It was shown that the nervous tissue contains 46 (from 41 to 51) microng of ACh (calculated as cation) per 1 g of wet material. In the presence of the nervous homogenate from Physcosoma, 880 micronM of ACh are hydrolyzed by 1 g of wet tissue per 1 hour. The content of ACh and the activity of cholinesterase are comparable with those in the brain of molluscs, arthropods and mammals. Anticholinesterase drugs (physostigmine and neostigmine) evoked spontaneous contractions of the proboscis retractor when applied to the nervous cord and enhanced the response of this muscle to electrical stimulation of this cord. Cholinolytics (arpenal and pentaphen) also caused spontaneous muscle contractions, but prevented the increase in muscular activity in response to electrical stimulation in presence of physotigmine. The data obtained suggest cholinergic nature of the transmission in the central nervous system of sipunculids.


[Immunoelectrophoretic study of serum proteins of swine embryos].

During embryonic development, antigenic spectrum of serum proteins from porcine foetuses gradually become more complex, the number of antigens increasing from 4 in 1-month embryos to 12--13 in mature foetuses. Immunoelectrophoretic analysis of the serum reveals prealbumin, alpha- and beta-globulins. It was shown that with respect to its immunological properties, procine fetuin is not presented by a true stage-specific protein, since together with ESA-glogulin it contains antigens which are identical to those in the blood serum of adult animals. Immunoelectrophoresis did not reveal gamma-globulins in embryonic serum. It is suggested that porcine foetuses may synthesize the main proteins of the blood serum; however, final formation of antigenic spectrum is accomplished in postembryonic period.


[Properties of C1. perfringens toxoids obtained from purified toxins].

The authors present the results of comparative study of the properties of experimental perfringens toxoids obtained from purified alpha-toxoids of different degrees of purity. Experimental toxoids proved to possess a greater immunogenicity than preparations obtained by detoxication of alpha-toxin under conditions of cultural fluid, the greater--the more the purity of alpha-toxin used for procuring the experimental toxoid. C1. perfringens alpha-toxin recovered as a result of two-stage alpha-toxin purification, including its primary concentration and fractionation on DEAE-cellulose under conditions of negative alpha-toxin sorption, changed during detoxication into toxoid whose immunogenicity exceeded that of manufactured preparations 3--4 fold. The toxoid was harmless and sorbed in a dose of 100 BU on 2--3 mg of aluminium hydroxide; stability of its antigenic properties and its yield was not less than those of manufactured toxoids. Perfringens toxoid prepared from highly purified alpha-toxoid was 10 times greater by immunogenicity than the manufactured preparation, and was sorbed on 1--2 mg of aluminium hydroxide.


[Effect of monoamines, heat shock and other factors on the binding of several neuropharmacologic preparations by sea urchin embryos].

Early embryos of the sea urchins Arbacia lixula and Paracentrotus lividus being subjected to an osmotic or heat shock (10 min at 70 degrees C or higher) do not longer bind cytotoxic pharmaca and do not affect the sensitivity of normal indicator embryos to these drugs. After exposure for 10 min at 40 degrees C, the binding of neuropharmaca by embryos is not affected, although their ability to protect indicator embryos from the action of these neuropharmaca is inhibited 4--5 times. Serotonin and adrenaline inhibit the binding of neuropharmaca by 10--20%, while meterazine, noveryl and an amphetamine derivative--IEM-567--inhibit it by 50--60%. Antimycin A, rotenone and mercuric chloride do not affect the binding of neuropharmaca by sea urchin embryos.


[Characteristics of bacteria of the genus Citrobacter, isolated from healthy children and children with different acute gastrointestinal diseases].

The authors examined 250 children suffering from various acute gastrointestinal diseases, and 100 healthy children. Positive cultures of bacteria belonging to the Citrobacter genus were obtained in 38% of the patients and in 20% of the healthy persons. There were revealed no cultural or biochemical differences between the strains isolated from the sick and healthy individuals. There were revealed no cultural or biochemical differences between the strains isolated from the sich and healthy persons. A total of 189 strains were identified serologically. Serological types 01, 03, 04, 08, 021, 022, the ones most frequently encountered in sick children, were absent or rarely found in the healthy. Sensitivity of the majority of the strians to the main antibiotics used in medical practice was weak; the strain isolated from the sick and healthy children failed to differ by the antibiotic sensitivity.


[Changes in the retino-tectal system of the turtle Testudo horsfieldi following enucleation].

Studies have been made on.morpho-functional changes in the optic nerve and midbrain tectum after enucleation of the tortoise T. horsfieldi. It was found that intensive degeneration of terminals which follows "dark" type (3--31/2 months after enucleation) corresponds to degeneration of myelinated fibers. Terminals degenerating accordingly to "light" type (2--3 months) presumably belong to unmyelinated fibers, which degenerate at this period in the nerve. Terminals which follow "vesicular" degeneration, survive up to 6--61/2 months, probably due to survival of some unmyelinated fibers in the nerve. During degeneration of the optic fibers, corresponding changes in amplitude-temporal parameters of the evoked potentials in the midbrain tectum were observed during electrical stimulation of the optic nerve. These changes include the increase of the interval between the stimulus and the peak of both components, as well as the decrease of the amplitude of the responses. These changes were originally observed 11/2--2 months after enucleation, becoming more evident at later stages; 6--61/2 months after enucleation, both components of the evoked potential disappeared almost simultaneously.


[Photoreceptors and visual pigments of Black Sea elasmobranchs].

The retina of rays Dasyatis pastinaca and Raja clavata, as well as the dogfish Squalus acanthias was studied by electron microscopy, light colour differentiation technique and by electrophysiological methods. The retina of D. pastinaca contains about one cone per four rods. Cone and rod outer segments exhibit the ultrastructure typical of those cells in higher vertebrates. After treatment by Hartwig's method [5], cone outer segments are stained by thiasine red, rod outer segments sorbed the water-blue dye. The retina possesses both the scotopic and photopic systems, the latter reveals colour vision. With the method based on the registration of the early receptor potential it has been shown that D. pastinaca has three visual pigments with the absorption maxima near 540, 502 and 476 nm. The retina of R. clavata and S. acanthias contains only rhodopsin with lambda max= =495--497 nm. Photoreceptors of these animals are typical rods. Literature data on the Cyclostomes and results obtained for Elasmobranchs indicate that the photopic vision is phylogenetically more ancient than the scotopic system.


[Early experience and the development of reflex mechanisms of behavior in rabbits and children].

Studies have been made on the possibility of influence of some external stimuli on the development of the inborn reflexes which maturate in postnatal life (knee jerk and plantar reflexes in infants, cleaning reflexes in rabbits). It was shown that external stimuli experienced by the organism in early ontogenesis may affect the development of immature inborn elements of behaviour. Repetitive evoking of the developing reflex increases the rate of formation of its definitive pattern. Elaboration of the conditioned reflex on the basis of such developing inborn one, on the contrary, leads to retardation of the latter. Early handling and repetitive placing the animal into experimental camera affect the development of total cleaning behaviour of rabbits.


[Functional connections between symmetrical segemental systems for controlling the claw muscles of the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus].

Studies have been made on functional connections between symmetric neuronal ensembles in the 1st thoracal ganglion realizing segmentary control of muscles in the claw dactylopodite. During moderate adequate stimulation of the receptive field, symmetric ensembles of efferent neurons operate independently from each other. Intensive stimulation of the receptive field results in the reflex dactylopodite abduction and in associated excitation of the symmetric contralateral group of corresponding neurons. Interaction of the symmetric ensembles is realized on both the segmentary and supersegmentary levels.


[Differential participation of midbrain structures regulating voice in chicks].

Vocal reactions in chicks are controlled by the same midbrain structures as those in adult hens, namely n. intercollicularis (ICO), n. mesencephalicus lateralis, pars dorsalis (MLD), n. isthmi, pars principalis magnocellularis (IMC), n. mesencephalicus lateralis ventralis (MLV), n. isthmi, pars principalis parvocellularis (IPC). The nuclei ICO, MLO, IPC, IMC control the duration and form of vocal messages, as well as frequency parameters of the spectrum--i.e. the specific components of bioacoustic signals. The reticular formation and MLV are responsible for the amplitude of vocal messages and the interval between the latter.


[Cholerogenicity of L-forms of cholera vibrios].

Dutta and Habbu's method was applied to comparative study of cholerogenic properties of the L-strains of cholera vibrios and their initial bacterial variants. In difference from the initial strains, L-forms of cholera vibrios possessed no cholerogenic properties. A possibility of reversion of the stable L-form of cholera vibrios into bacterial form in vivo was revealed. This reversion was accompanied by the restoration of the cholerogenic properties and the change of the biotype of the cholera vibrio.


[Ultrastructure of parasitic forms of the agent of coccidioidomycosis].

The authors studied the ultrastructure of the Coccidiodes immitis spherules in the sections of the abdominal cavity foci and pneumonic foci of Cricetus auratus W. and in albino mice infected intraperitoneally with a lethal dose of the mycelium fungus phase. It was found that the spherules of coccidiod fungus represented multinuclear cells with a well-organized protoplast included into a complicated supermembrane structure--the cell wall. Endospores (which copied the spherule structure in miniature) formed as a result of division of the cytoplasm by entire sections into polygonal segments with the subsequent separation of the latter. Due to the rupture of the cell wall of mature sporulating spherules the endospores are released into the surrounding tissue and are attacked there and phagocytized by polynuclears and macrophages. Phygocytosis of the fungi is mostly incomplete.


[Rate of formation of postvaccinal immunity to plague in animal experiments].

The authors present the results of experimental studies on guinea pigs of the dynamics of plague immunity formation after a single inhalation immunization of the animals with live plague vaccine. Plague immunity proved to develop as soon as 24 hours after the application of the preparation; by the 3rd day the resistance level was 68 times greater than the control one. Immunity reached the maximal intensity by the 20th day after the vaccination. The level of specific resistance decreased 1.6 by the 3rd month.


[Variants of congenital fusion of the cranio-vertebral portion of the osteoarticular apparatus, adjacent cervical segments and their pathogenetic significance].

The report contains some results of a clinicoroentgenological study of 1208 individuals where in 107 (8.8%) cases there was a fusion of the cranio-vertebral area and adjacent segments. This pathology was expressed in the form of concrescence in 66 cases (61.6%) and in the form of assimilation--in 41 cases (38.3%). The fusion was mainly in the form of concrescense in the segment C2--C3 (in 62 cases). Less frequent was a fusion of the atlant with the occipital bone in the form of assimilation, (in 27 cases), concrescense (in 4 cases), and significantly less frequent a fusion of the atlant with the axis (in 3 cases in the form of assimilation, in 1 case in the form of concrescence). A fusion of the fragments of the atlant arc and axis was seen in 3 cases, a fusion of the type of the Clippel--Feil syndrome in 8 examined individuals. Concrescence irrespective of localization rarely creates a pathological neurological situation. Assimilation on the contrary was quite frequently accompanied by severe neurological disturbances and led to stable working incapacity.


[Autonomic-vascular and visceral crises in patients with climacteric spondylopathy].

The paper deals with the results of observations over 62 patients (55 females and 7 males) from the age of 42-76 with climacteric spondilopathy. The following syndromes of the nervous system lesions were revealed: neuralgic syndrome, middle and lower thoracal radiculoneuritis, the syndrome of vegetative sympatoganglionitis, myelopathy. Special attetion was given to the specificity of the nervous system lesions in patients with climacteric spondilopathy which was characterized by a tendency to vegetative-visceral crises. The author recommends a scheme of a comprehensive treatment of patients with climacteric spondilopathy with vegetative-vascular and visceral crises. This treatment includes androgen-estrogen preparations, anabolic steroids, thyrocalcitonine and symptomatic treatment.


[Changes in the perineurium in experimental allergic polyneuritis].

The perineurium performs the role of a diffuse neurotissue barrier, protecting the nervous fibres from extra neuronal pathological processes. The changes in the cellular layers of the perineurium in experimental allergic polyneuritis appear secondarily and are directly connected with the severity and localization of the demyelinating process. As a result of a developing demyelinization in the foci of allergic inflammation there is an accumulation of biologically active substances which lead to disturbances of permeability and the intactness of cellular layers of the perineurium. In its turn this leads to the proliferation of a protein exudate from the endobeurium into its intracellular spaces. The dystrophic changes were in the form of large vacuoles, spaces, lacunes of an incorrect form filled with proteins and a large amount of lysosome-like bodies. The cell nuclei were subjected to pycnosis and perinuclear swelling. In the other 3-5 layers there were only processes of a reactive character: a swelling of the cytoplasma, an enlargement of the cysterns in the endoplasmatic reticulum, an increase of the amount of free ribosomes and pynocytic vesicles.


[Neurologic manifestations of ischemia of the lower extremities following vascular injury].

Disorders of magistral vessels are accompanied by disturbances of motor and sensorial functions which may be erroneously qualified as traumas of the nervous stems. Such mistakes may lead to a late restitution of the magistral vessels and consequently to a necrosis of the extremities or severe disorders of functions. These disorders are not always climineted after a late renewal of the magistral blood. In this relation a clarification of the diagnosis may exert a certain indluence on the selection of treatment, inasmuct as traumas of the magistral arteries urgen surgical treatment while as injury of the nerves are not in need of such special measures.


[Functional state of the spinal cord in syringomyelia and tuberculous spondylitis with spinal disorders].

In patients with syringomyelia and tuberculous spondilitis accompanied by spinal disturbances (which are in accordance with clinical data considered as models with prevalent signs of disintegration and irritation in the spinal cord) the authors studied separate parameters of the H-reflex and 2 functionally different muscles: m. gastrocnemium and m. soleus. It was possible to show certain differences in the parameters of the H-reflex between the two groups of patients and between the indices of the 2 studied motoneuron pools within each group. The report contains some ideas in relation to the possible causes of these phenomena.


[Functional rehabilitation of the upper extremity in children with sequelae of birth injuries to the brachial plexus using the method of adaptive bioregulation].

The authors report of their experience in the rehabilitation of active functions in the upper extremities of 22 children with sequelae of birth injuries of the shoulder plexi of the Erb type. In order to accelerate the reconstruction of the function of the transplanted trapezius muscle a method of adaptive bioregulations is suggested which permitted to quantify the doses of developed muscular tension and control the movements. The obtained results give ground to positively evaluate this method, based on the principle of external reverse connection in the rehabilitative period following an operation of myolavsanoplastics in children with spquelae of birth injuries of the shoulder joint of the Erb's type.


[State of the nervous systems and cerebral vessels in several forms of dwarfism].

The authors studied the state of the nervous system in 29 patients with hypophyseal and 25 patients with cerebral nanism. In was demonstrated that in cerebral nanism, unlike hypophyseal, there are signs of the nervous system lesions on different levels. A REG study of the state of cerebral vessels in 14 patients with hypophyseal and 17 patients with cerebral nanism demonstrated that in patients with hypophyseal nanism the vascular condition practically did not differ from normal children of the same age, while in cerebral nanism there was an irregularity of the rheographic waves, an increased cerebral-vascular tone and a significant intrahemispheric asymmetry of the pulse blood flow. These data may be used for differential diagnosis of hypophyseal and cerebral nanism.


[Clinical picture and diagnosis of leptomeningeal sarcomatosis].

The study is based on the analysis of 10 cases of sarcomatosis of the brain and spinal pia mater. A progressive development of the disease, cachaxia, the existence of focal symptoms, radicle pain, xantochromia in the CSF, protein-cell dissociation and some other signs are characteristic of primary sarcomatosis of the pia mater. On the basis of clinical symptoms and CSF changes it is possible vitaly to perform a differential diagnosis with chronic infectious diseases and especially with tubercular meningitis and polyradiculomyelitis. Pathomorphological studies revealed tissue infiltration of the surrounding intracerebral vessels by tumors cells without proliferation into the dura mater and radicles of the spinal cord.


[Clinico-diagnostic features of hemorrhagic strokes in late toxemias of pregnancy].

The paper deals with clinical studies concerning 128 cases of hemorrhagic strokes which complicated the development of a pregnancy with late toxicosis (nephropathy, preeclampsia, eclampsia). The pathogenesis of cerebral hemorrhages is discussed in relation to disturbances of hemodynamics and the coagulative blood system and is confirmed by the data of mechanocardiography and indices of blood coagulation. The author gives a clinical description of different forms of the hemorrhagic syndrome (hemorrhage of the retina, into the subcutaneous fat, gastric, renal-vesicular, nasal uterine hemorrhages). The author also discusses correlations with cerebral hemorrhages. Their clinical and diagnostical significance are determined along with the use of coagulant therapy of such cases.


[Methodology of psychopathologic research at the present time].

The modern level in the development of psychological experiments in psychiatry is characterized by stages of the traditional problem of the representativeness of pathopsychological data and by new stages related to the development of the general theory of experiments (the planning and type of experiment, processing of data, classification and control of errors). That is why instead of a search of a one-to-one correlation between the data of pathopsychological experiments and nozological forms there enters into action not only a psychopathological, but a methodological analysis of complicated interrelations between the syndrome structure, the acquired knowledge and the structure of the process of investigation.


[Psychological study of the intellectual-personality characteristics of neurotic patients (according to findings from use of the experimental Vygotskii-Sakhorov method)].

The author describes some special traits in accomplishing the modified techniques for a formation of conceptions according to Vigotsky-Sakharov's test in patients with different forms of neuroses (neurasthenia, hysteria, psychasthenia). A study of conceptual thinking in such patients revealed a dissociation between the possibility of a practical mastering of the task and its verbalization on a conceptual level which is characteristic of hysteria.


[Personality changes in patients with periodic psychoses].

The author studied some personality changes in 35 patients with psychoses of periodical development (affective and schizoaffective psychoses), which are important for the rehabilitation period. It was demonstrated that following acute psychotic states there may be a significant distortion of the personality traits giving ground to qualify this state as "a defect", which in the opinion of the author is not justified. Adequate treatment to a large degree removes the personality changes. However, during the remission period there may be some irreversible changes of the personality. The author believes that in some cases there may be peculiar postpsychotic reactions and personality development.


[Premorbid personality of patients with adolescent seizure-like schizophrenia].

The premorbid personality, features of early ontogenesis and childhood crises periods were studied in 226 patients with attack-like forms of schizophrenia, manifesting itself in adolescence with florid psychotic attacks. The authors describe 8 types of the premorbid personality: 1) hyperthymic; 2) sthenic; 3) sensitive; 4) dissociated; 5) passive; schizoid; 6) explosive; 7) model and 8) deficitary personalities. A clinical analysis of the studied cases deomnstrated that the premorbid type of the patient, along with some other factor may be considered as one of the important indices when making a probability prognosis of the development of the disease.


[Clinical features of alcoholism in patients with the heboid form of schizophrenia].

By means of a clinical and follow-up method the author studied 74 patients with adolescent slowly progressive psychopath-like schizophrenia and prevalence of alcohol abuse in the clinical picture. It was established that in the period of the active development of the process in the framework of a protracted schizophrenic attack there are no signs of chronic alcoholism. Massive alcohol abuse is a symptom of the main psychopath-like state limited in time by the period of an attack and disappears with the outcome of the attack. In a relatively sluggish development of schizophrenia it would be justified to speak of co-existence of 2 diseases where schizophrenia is the main and it sharply modifies the picture of chronic alcoholism. These patients demonstrate a shorter period in the formation of chronic alcoholism and a distinct prevalence of its somatic signs over the mental.


[Schizophrenia with a favorable course and its significance in forensic psychiatry].

A clinico-catamnestical study of 357 schizophrenic patients revealed a necessity for a more careful approach in considering schizophrenic patients responsible. clinically justified such qualifications appeared only in 30.4% (mainly in recurrent schizophrenia and less frequently in attack-like-progressive). A sluggish schizophreinic process irrespective of its rate is a contraindication to acknowledge the patients responsible.


[Findings from a psychiatrist's screening of selected groups of the adult population in a number of regions of the USSR].

The paper is concerned with the results of a total study of representative sample groups of the population made by a psychiatrist. During such examinations 1872 individuals who demonstrated mental disorders were found. Only a part of them were previously registered in a psychoneurological dispensary. A comparison of the number of previously registered patients in the different groups of population made it possible to conclude that the detection of patients is associated with severity of the disease and with social activity of different groups of population.


[Pathogenesis of chronic alcohosim].

The paper is concerned with a study of the enzyme activity which reflects the functional state of the liver in 123 patients with chronic alcoholism (without clinical signs of disturbed liver function). The blood serum was studied for sorbitdehydrogenase, frutose-I-phosphataldolase, glutamino-asparagine and glutamine-alanine transamine. It was established that there is an increase in the activity of specific and nonspecific liver enzymes. This increase was in a direct correlation with the clinical expression and severity of the disease (withdrawal syndrome, delirious condition). It is being concluded that the indices of the level of enzyme activity may be used for the evaluation of the state of the patients and its change under the effect of treatment.


[Use of long-acting lithium carbonate--micalite--in the treatment of affective psychoses].

Micalite (microcapsulated lithium carbonate with a retarded action) was used for the treatment of manic states and the prevention of attacks of manic-depressive psychosis in 40 patients. The preparation was administered once daily. This provided the necessary concentration of lithium in the blood on a stable level. According to its therapeutical effectiveness and the frequency of side-effects micalite does not differ from other lithium preparations with a simgle daily administration of micalite there are much less distubrances in the treament regime.


The determination of tryptophan and tyrosine in native proteins on the basis of inner filter effect in spectrofluorimetry.

Determination of tryptophan content in proteins, or tyrosine in proteins not containing tryptophan, is described. The method was applied to five proteins containing from 2 to 8 tryptophan residues per molecule. It was found that the simultaneous presence of a large amount of tyrosine in the protein has no influence on the accuracy of tryptophan determination.


Substrate specificity of succinyl-CoA transferase from rat kidney mitochondria.

1. Succinyl-CoA: 3-oxoacid transferase (EC 2.8.3.5) from rat kidney mitochondria, purified about 200-fold, catalyses the CoA transfer from acetoacetyl-CoA to succinate, acetoacetate, maleate, glutarate and malonate; maleate proved to be a true substrate of the enzyme. 2. Double-reciprocal plots of the initial reaction rates against substrates concentrations arb best fitted by parallel  lines. Inhibition by each acid product of the reaction is competitive with respect to the acid acceptor of CoA. 3. CoA-transferase from rat kidney shows similar kinetics as, but different substrate specificity than, the enzyme from other sources.


Structure of acridines and their effect on RNA synthesis in vitro.

1. Ledakrin (C-283), a 1-nitro-9-aminopropylacridine derivative, inhibits RNA synthesis in vitro if the complex with DNA is formed in the presence of thiol. 2. Using several analogues of Ledakrin, it has been found that the 1-nitro group is essential for enhancement of the inhibition by thiol; the length of 9-aminoalkyl side chain also plays a role in the reaction between DNA and the dye. 3. It is suggested that the low inhibitory effect of Ledakrin in the absence of thiol compounds is due to a steric hindrance between neighbouring 1-nitro and 9-aminoalkyl groups. This hypothesis has been confirmed by assaying inhibition of RNA synthesis by several analogues of Ledakrin.


Appearance of poly(A)-rich RNA in germinating pea seeds.

1. The affinity chromatography on poly(U)-Sepharose 4B provided evidence for the absence of poly(A)-rich fragments in RNA from embryo axes of dry pea seeds, and for appearance of these fragments after 2 h of swelling. 2. The percentage of the poly(A)-rich RNA fraction remained unchanged in the initial phase of germination (up to 68 h). 3. The poly(A)-rich RNA fraction was found to promote protein synthesis in vitro more than did the poly(A)-poor fraction. 4. Ribonuclease A and T1-resistant fragments isolated from the poly(A)-rich RNA contain 70-80 nucleotides, 78% of which are adenine nucleotides. 5. It seems that polyadenylation of a part of mRNA preexisting in dry pea seeds precedes the initiation of protein biosynthesis.


DNA polymerase gamma of rabbit intestinal epithelial cells.

1. DNA-directed DNA polymerase gamma was isolated from epithelial cells of the rabbit small intestine, and characterized. 2. The molecular weight of the enzyme, determined by Sephadex G-200 filtration was 105 000 +/- 15%. 3. The enzyme showed preference for poly(A) replication on poly(A)-poly(dT) or poly(A)-oligo(dT) 12-18 templates, as compared with activated DNA. Poly(C)-oligo(dG)12-18 replication was not observed. 4. The Michaelis constants for dTTP in replication of activated DNA and poly(A)-oligo(dT)12-18 were 3.3 and 2.0 micron, respectively.


Compartmentation of the amino acid pool in Saccharomycopsis lipolytica.

1. The size of the free amino acid pool in S. lipolytica varies from 250 to 350 micronmoles/g dry wt., and it accounts for about 10% of the total amino acid content; 80-90% of free amino acids, including methionine, is compartmentized in vacuole. S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) occurs in equal proportions in vacuole and cytoplasm while aspartate and glutamate are mainly cytosolic. 2. The bulk of the methionine overproduced in the ethionine-resistant mutant Etr-13, and of the exogenous methionine derived from the methionine-enriched medium, is stored in vacuole. The amount and distribution of SAM is not affected. 3. Overloading with endogenous methionine results in a significant increase in the total cytosolic amino acid pool and is associated with the increased concentration of arginine, glutamine and lysin; on overloading with exogenous methionine, only lysine is elevated.


Histological and biochemical changes in the female genital tract of rats and mice after methallibure treatment.

Methallibure administration caused reduction of gonadal weights in female rats and mice indicative of suppression of pituitary gonadotrophins. In the ovaries of the methallibure treated females, there was a great atresia of the follicles and of the corpora lutea. Methalbure caused atrophic changes in the endometrial lining of the vagina. Uterine horns became thin after methallibure treatment. A significant decrease in protein, RNA and sialic acid concentration in uterus and vagina was observed following methallibure treatment. Uterus of treated animals showed decreased glycogen contents. Histological and biochemical changes in the female genital tract of rats and mice suggested that the drug caused antifertility effect due to its possible antiestrogenic action.


Restriction on the indications for metroplasty.

When a congenital uterine anomaly has been diagnosed, surgical correction of the malformed uterus is usually carried out. However, minor disturbances of glucose metabolism are easily overlooked in the presence of major congenital uterine malformation. In this paper we studied the obstetrical histories of 76 patients with congenital uterine anomalies. In the group with repeated pregnancy failure we found significantly more disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism than in the group with uneventful pregnancies (P less than 0.001). Treatment of any disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism greatly improves the fetal outcome. This suggests that such treatment is essential in the management of patients with a bad obstetrical history and may even make surgical correction unnecessary.


The use of cyclofenil in menopausal women.

On the basis of some reports, a double-blind experimental trial comparing the activity of cyclofenil, estradiol valerate and placebo in post-menopausal disturbances was carried out. 60 women among those attending the menopausal clinic and affected by climateric disorders have been treated. The objective criterium for the admission had been established on the basis of the value of plasma FSH (greater or equal to 800 ng/ml). Besides the gynecological examination (including objective and subjective examination, hormone dosage, endometrial biopsy) patients underwent psychological examination (individual interview and psychometric tests) before and after 28 days of therapy The statistical evaluation of the results obtained with the 3 drugs showed a statistically significant difference between the placebo and the active compounds: no significant difference between cyclofenil and estradiol valerate was observed.


[Age dependence of chromosomal findings].

Relations between aging and chromosomal aberrations are reviewed, comparing own results with those of other investigators. The increase of hypodiploidy in aging women described by Jacobs et al. 1961 could be confirmed by several authors, whereas the age dependence of the rate of hypodiploidy in men, seems to be uncertain. It can be assumed that the hypodiploidy in female cells is caused by loss of X-chromosomes. Primarily, with regard to the observation of Fitzgerald in 1975, that X-chromosomes with premature centromere division (an anomaly which seems to be associated with a high tendency to non-disjunction) could be found more frequent in old, rather than in young females. This result is confirmed by our own studies. In agreement with other investigators we were able to establish a significant difference between the rates of structural aberrations of two age groups of "normal" females: An age-dependent increase of structural aberrations in vivo, could be concluded from the fact that dicentric chromosomes were most frequent in 48-hour cultures of the old females. The high frequency of single chromatid breaks in 72-hour cultures in the same age group, led us to the assumption of an age-dependent chromosomal instability in relation to in vitro conditions. Since numerical and structural aberrations indicate mutagenic alterations, the reviewed cytogenetic results may be an important support for the mutation theories of aging.


[Behavior of pulmonary artery pressure in the egometric exercise test in chronic coronary disease].

Bicycle exercise stress tests of 39 patients with coronary heart disease are compared to those of 33 healthy persons. The difference in enddiastolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAEDP) of the patients compared to the healthy is low at rest (PAEDPhec healthy = 8.49 +/- 2.80, PAEDPCHD = 10.51 +/- 5.09, p = 0.05). Stress testing (50 Watts) brings significant differences of the average enddiastolic pressures (PAEDP healthy = 12.76 +/- 3.61, PAEDPCHD = 19.38 +/- 7.96, p = 0.001). More important than this (already well known difference) is the wide divergence of results within the group of patients with CHD. For this reason this type of investigation seems to be a good "screening method" regarding selection for coronary arteriography. The reason for the pathological rise of PAEDP can be found in a decrease of compliance due to ischaemia ("coronary factor"), or in exercise induced temporary heart failure ("myocardial factor"), or both.


[Exercise therapy in coronary disease. An overall practical model for long-term rehabilitation].

This report concerns a model for multifactorial rehabilitation after myocardial infarction (MI), with minimum requirements of personnel, space and equipment. Groups of patients are treated twice weekly, in a gymnasium of a school. Survivors of MI increased their exercise capacity from 77% to 93% of sex- and age adjusted normal within 3 to 6 months of therapy (mean values, P less than 0.001). A similar improvement was observed regardless of whether exercise training was started soon (less than 6 months) or late (greater than 12 months) after MI, indicating that exercise capacity increased with training, but was not dependent on time alone. The majority of 87 patients who answered a questionnaire, indicated that in their opinion a strictly organized program requiring a regular attendance was important for the rehabilitation and 89% thought that their participation had resulted in physical and psychological benefits. Two groups of survivors of MI were compared by use of the "Freiburger personality inventory" (FPI). Patients who were more physically impaired, showed a greater degree of a sort of psychosomatic disorder as indicated by the ratings of scale 1 of the FPI. The described program has proved successful, as it resulted in an increase of exercise capacity. This may have a favorable influence on a sort of psychosomatic disorder encountered in patients with healed MI. Beneficial physical and psychological effects were reported by the participants.


[Long-term ambulatory rehabilitation of patients with infarct. Clinical studies on patients during 1974 and 1975].

An out-patients long-term rehabilitation program is performed in myocardial infarction for 6 to 12 months. It comprises all kinds of rehabilitation and secondary prevention. The working capacity measured by exercise tests can be improved and stabilized (mean improvement: 20%). 75.8% of office employees and 58% of workers return to work. There was not positive influence on plasma cholesterol and triglyzeride level, to be noticed. Upon inquiry, one year after myocardial infarction, 85% of patients had stopped cigarette smoking.


[Rehabilitation after myocardial infarct. Assessment of result and possibilities for the prognosis of success].

Data of 253 patients with acute myocardial infarction (data collected from primary hospital, from the rehabilitation center-- R.C.-- and from a questionnaire dealing with the individual problems of the rehabilitation period; response rate 77%) were correlated in order to derive criteria for the estimation of the success of rehabilitation. It could be shown that the increase in physical performance and the clinical judgement in the R.C. are well paralleled by the further course of the rehabilitation period (return to work etc.). On the other hand it seemed difficult to predict rehabilitative results from the hospital data alone. It was only shown that the severity of the disease had a major influence upon rate of and interval, before return to work.


Studies on the binding of androgens to the cytosol proteins and nuclei of the rat seminal vesicle.

Mince of the seminal vesicles of rats castrated 5--6 days before the experiment was incubated at 37 degree C with 3H-testosterone. Ater 60 min incubation with 10 nM testosterone 73% of the label bound to cytosol proteins and 83% of the label attached to nuclei was in 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone while unbound steroids contained only 29% dihydrotestosterone. The amount of dihydrotestosterone bound to cytosol proteins and nuclei was 0.4 pmol/g tissue and 1 pmol/g tissue, respectively. On the basis of the nuclear binding of this steroid about 1900 binding sites per nucleus were calculated. Both cytosolic and nuclear binding sites were half saturated at about 1 nM testosterone concentration. Most of the binding to cytosol proteins occurred during the first 10 min, while the maximum binding to nuclei was attained after 40 min of incubation. Nuclei were found to bind considerable amounts of testosterone. Binding of testosterone to nuclei reached its maximum between 10--20 min of incubation and declined then to a comparatively low level during the ensuing 40--50 min. Various experimental results suggest that testosterone and dihydrotestosterone are accumulated in the nuclei by independent mechanisms.


Investigation of peptides containing half-cystine in pig pancreas amylase.

Sequence analysis of the carboxymethyl-cystein-containing tryptic peptides isolated after the total reduction and carboxymethylation of pig pancreas amylase has shown that the half-cystine-containing tryptic peptides of the isozymes have identical sequences. The fact that 10 tryptic peptides containing carboxymethyl-cystein could be isolated, supports the generally accepted view that pig pancreas amylase contains single polypeptide chain.


Study on the biological effect of fast neutrons 1. Effect of fast neutrons on germinability of barley seeds and on the chlorophyll content of the seedlings according to the dose used.

Barley seeds were irradiated in the active zone of the reactor at 500 watt, at favourable flux of fast neutrons in the dose interval of 823--2144 rad. Seeds after irradiation were "cooled" for 48 hours, then germinated, and the length of shoots of the seven days old seedings was measured. The value of the half lethal dose is 1130 rad, estimated from the growth curve. There is a well-defined relation of chlorophyll content (calculated for fresh weight unit) to the dose used. It was concluded from the phenotype of the leaves that the decrease of chlorophyll content was due first of all to the presence of chlorophyll-less cells and cell lines and not to the decrease of chlorophyll content of the individual cells. Irradiation yielded genetically defected cells.


Sodium and potassium content of cataractous human lenses.

The sodium and potassium content of human senile cataractous lenses was investigated by flame photometry. A parallelism was found between the severity of the senile cataractous disorder and the increase of sodium and decrease of potassium content of lenses. The changes in ion concentration were not entirely continuous; gaps were found for both cations in a certain concentration range. The involvement of lens proteins in maintaining the gradients for sodium and potassium is also discussed.


Effect of stretching on the water-binding of muscle.

Frog muscles stretched to a length about 1.2 times greater than the original one lost 19 per cent of their water content on the average when kept in normal Ringer solution at a temperature of 2 degrees C for 24 hours. In NaHCO3-free Ringer solution containing 1.5 x 10(-4) per cent lactic acid (pH 6.8) the water content increased by 6 per cent. The change in the weight of non-stretched control muscles taken from the opposite side was insignificant in normal Ringer solution. The increase of water content in Ringer solution containing lactic acid was 22 per cent on the average. The conclusion is drawn that muscle is not an osmotic sack of water-medium and muscle water is bound, a least in part, through swelling.


[Neurological complications in sickle cell disease (author's transl)].

The various neurological manifestations encountered in 40 zairians out of a total of 500 with homozygous (SS) Sickle cell disease were described. These included convulsions, vascular accidents, mental changes, increased intracranial pressure and meningism. The literature on the involvement of the nervous system in Sickle cell disease is briefly reviewed.


Zinc content of human cancellous bone.

The zinc content of cancellous bone from the iliac crest was determined by the X-ray fluorescence technique in an autopsy series of 28 women and 66 men. The bone-zinc content was statistically related to age, but there was a large variation. It reached a maximum value in the fifth decade and thereafter decreased with age in both sexes. Men with a chronic disease had a lower zinc content than those who had died suddenly. There was a significant correlation between the zinc content and the bone strength in women (p less than 0.01) and in men (p less than 0.05). Zinc is thought to play a part in osteoporosis.


[Occurrence of triphasic waves in two cases of thyrotoxic crisis (author's transl)].

An electroencephalogram taken on two patients suffering from a thyrotoxic crisis, showed the presence of typical triphasic waves. This pattern was first described in 1950 by Foley et al., who believed that it occurred specifically in patients with hepatic encephalopathy. Since then, however, it has been shown that triphasic waves can be identified in other (e.g. renal) metabolic brain diseases and, less commonly, in a variety of either organic or functional cerebral disorders.


Muscle blood flow after amputation with special reference to the influence of the amputation level. Assessed by 133 xenon and histamine. An animal experiment.

Amputation on rabbits was found to change the muscle blood flow (MBF) in the limb subjected to surgery as well as in the contralateral extremity, depending on the technique used for amputation and the level at which it was carried out. Amputation was immediately followed by a reduction in MBF in the stump. After amputation of the crus and knee disarticulation, the flow was normalized a few days later and exceeded the preoperative mean flow. After amputation of the femur such an increase in flow was not seen, but when osseous plugging of the medullary cavity was applied, the MBF in the stump was intensified even after amputation of the femur.


The arterial angioarchitecture of cerebral infarctions.

The arterial angioarchitecture of twenty post mortem brains, containing thirty infarctions, was examined by means of the translucidation technique after filling the arterial system with a colloïdal barium sulphate solution. Although the large as well as the small arteries and arterioles were filled to a variable degree in the infarcted areas, the angioarchitecture was generally severely affected. Their differences were compared in red and white softenings and in cases of thrombosis, embolism, hemodynamic disturbances and compression of arteries. Also the influence of arterial hypertension and of the age and the location of the infarction was determined.


Reimplantation of a traumatically expelled tibial diaphysis.

The successful reimplantation and healing of a traumatically expelled tibial diaphysis in a 16-year-old boy is presented. Radionuclide scintimetry with 87mSr and 85Sr during the following months showed a pronounced diaphyseal activity corresponding to abundant periosteal bone formation around the dead cortical bone, increased activities over the fractures and the growth plates. Microscopical investigation after tetracycline labelling about 1 year after the accident showed a pronounced osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity in the superficial part of the cortex of the reimplanted bone. The endosteal part consisted of necrotic bone and was only to a small extent replaced by new bone. The uncomplicated healing process observed in this case can be attributed to the youth of the patient, the absence of infection and, most important of all, the preservation of the periosteum and its blood supply.


Fractures of the neck of the talus.

One hundred and twenty-three patients with fracture of the neck of the talus were followed up over an average of 22 months. Ffity-four fractures were undisplaced, 53 associated with subtaler dislocation, and 16 associated with dislocation of the talus in both ankle joint and subtalar joint. Of the total 123 patients, 21% (26/123) developed avascular necrosis, 31% (38/123) developed talo-crural and 47% (58/123) subtalar osteoarthrosis. Fifteen per cent (18/123) of the fractures united with considerable deformity, and four per cent (5/123) exhibited non-union of the neck. Out of 63 patients with isolated fracture of the neck of the talus, 65% (41/63) reported moderate or severe complaints, and 52% (33/63) complained of functional disability often resulting in a change to lighter work. Even among the 54 undisplaced cases there were unexpected numbers of late sequelae, such as osteoarthrosis, subjective complaints and disablement.


Post-traumatic sinus tarsi syndrome. An anatomical and radiological study.

Four cases of sinus tarsi syndrome are presented. They were studied by means of arthrography of the posterior subtalar joint and histological examination of sinus tarsi soft tissue. The obliteration of synovial recesses on posterior subtalar joint arthrography can be explained by synovial hyperplasia and by cicatricial remodelling of ligament tissue.


Superior mesenteric artery syndrome complicating treatment with balanced traction. A case report.

A brief review of the superior mesenteric artery syndrome is given. A case is reported which occurred after 9 weeks of treatment of a fractured femur by continuous traction with balanced suspension. The condition was successfully treated by conservative measures including a plaster hip spica allowing frequent changes of position. The importance of early diagnosis and prompt treatment is emphasized.


Ultrastructure of prolapsed disc.

Prolapsed tissue and removed interspace contents were obtained during hemilaminectomy for disc prolapse. The ultrastructure of the tissue was studied. Division of the material into annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus proved to be inaccurate. Chondrocytes were always the predominant cell type and could be classified into normal, cloning and necrotized types. Matrix vesicles were found in relation to the haloes of chondrocytes and seemed to be products of disintegrated chondrocytes. Findings of crystals in the vesicles were rare. The intercellular substance showed degraded collagen fibrils, which could be seen in spindle shaped cells as well. A dense amorphous material interpersed with collagen fibrils seemed to be a glycoprotein. A few elastic fibres were found, but without any evidence of severe degeneration. These findings represent changes occuring in cells and in the intercellular substance.


Posterior versus lateral approach for hip arthroplasty.

In a study of two groups of 100 patients each, with a similar composition (age, sex and indications for surgery), operations for total hip arthroplasty took half as long and the blood loss was clearly less when using the posterior route in one group compared with Charnley's conventional approach in the other group. These are important considerations for elderly patients with a high operative risk. Radiologic assessments showed that with the posterior approach there was a wider variation in the location of the cup in the frontal plane. However, this has not caused any inconvenience during the short observation period to date. No comparison has been made of the functional results over an extended period.


Serum electrophoretic pattern in osteoarticular tuberculosis.

A serum electrophoretic study was carried out in 37 established osteoarticular tuberculosis cases. The result of this study has been analysed according to severity and chronicity and also after treatment, including certain streptomycin-resistant cases. It has been observed that there was a decrease in albumin and an increase in Alpha2 and gamma-globulin fractions of serum protein as the disease became more advanced and chronic in nature. The administration of known antitubercular drugs reverses this phenomenon. The resistant cases revealed an increase in gamma-globulin fraction at almost the same level as observed in the untreated cases.


The use of bone cement as an adjunct to internal fixation of supracondylar fractures of osteoporotic femurs.

Bone cement was used as an adjunct to internal fixation of 14 supracondylar femoral fractures. The fractures were stabilized with ASIF plates. In all these fractures severe osteoporosis made a stable fixation impossible without the use of bone cement. The average age of the patients was 75 years. Eight of the patients had previously been operated on because of fractures of the same extremity and three suffered from disabling diseases. Twelve fractures healed without complications, despite early mobilization. One fracture needed additional external fixation before it healed and one lead to non-union. No infections were seen. It is concluded that use of bone cement as an adjunct to the internal fixation of supracondylar fractures secures a stable fixation of even the most severe osteoporotic femora, and this aids healing in most cases of such fractures. The method is recommended in selected cases of elderly patients.


Osteosynthesis of medial fractures of the femoral neck by sliding nail-plate fixation.

Sliding-nail-plate osteosynthesis of displaced medial fractures of the femoral neck was carried out in 65 consecutive cases. The appliance presented here differs from other sliding-nail plates as it has no fixed angle between the nail and the plate. Immediate postoperative weight-bearing was permitted. The average follow-up period was 2.2 years. Union of the fractures was seen in 74% and avascular necrosis in 21%. Complications were few, which we attribute to the early mobilization of the patients.


Quantitative histologic analyses of articular cartilage and subchondral bone from osteoarthritic and normal human hips.

Twelve femoral heads (two normal, four after fracture and six osteo-arthritic) were obtained at surgery or autopsy. Circumferential slices were obtained and five separate areas were analyzed in each for ash content; histological-histochemical grading of the severity of the cartilage changes; and quantitative morphometric analyses to establish the percentage of trabecular area, osteoblastic area and osteoclastic area. Analyses were performed to compare weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing areas of the femoral heads and to determine correlations between the bony and cartilaginous alterations. The data obtained showed wide variations in all parameters in the osteoarthritic specimens but consistently more marked cartilage and bony changes in the weight-bearing areas. Bone structures and metabolic parameters were distinctly increased for the osteoarthrities, differing significantly from both normal and fracture control groups. The bony change correlated directly with the severity of the cartilage lesions, as determined by the histological-histochemical grade.


Early and late results of Brackett's operation for pseudarthrosis of the neck of the femur in infantile coxa vara. A review of 30 operations.

The early and late results of 30 Brackett operations for pseudarthrosis of the neck of the femur are reviewed. The cause of the pseudarthrosis in 28 hips was congenital or infantile coxa vara. The patients' ages at the time of the operation ranged from 2 to 43 years. The early results were good. Only three out of a total of 30 cases failed to unite; 27 hips became stable. Necrosis of the femoral head occurred in six hips. Late results, on average 13 years after the operation, differed greatly from the early results. The majority of the hips were stable but only three completely painless. All but four were affected by secondary osteoarthritis which in six cases was slight.


The effect of fenestration on intraosseous drainage in osteoarthritis of the hip.

Eight patients with osteoarthritis of the hip, rest pain and intraosseous hypertension of the proximal femur obtained ameliorated rest pain and reduced intraosseous hypertension 3 months after a fenestration operation in the region of the greater trochanter. They were investigated with intraosseous phlebography of the proximal femur. Six patients showed delayed intraosseous drainage and 7 had altered patterns of drainage before the operation. Three months after the operation the phlebograms showed an even more prolonged drainage time. However, this difference was not of a statistically significant magnitude. Drainage patterns remained mainly unchanged.


Knee instability and tibial osteotomy. A clinical study.

Twenty-one gonarthrosis patients were preoperatively assessed according to a newly developed orthoradiographic technique ("three-point measurement") and followed up for 2-3 years postoperatively using this technique. The medio-lateral instability of the knee joints was not influenced by the operation. The varus/valgus deviation was under-corrected, on average, but the deviation did not increase significantly with time after the operation. Judging from this pilot study the three-point measurement technique supplies relevant information and it is now being used in a prospective study on high tibial osteotomy in gonarthrosis.


Arthroplasty of the knee in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

147 cases of arthroplasty of the knee were reviewed. Three types of prostheses were used, viz., St. Georg, Geomedic and hinge (Shier and Guépar). Pain was the most common indication for the operation which produced complete or almost complete relief in 90% of the cases. In half of the joints with a mobility of less than 80 degrees preoperatively, the range of movement was increased to more than 80 degrees by the operation. Lack of extension, deformity and instability could be largely corrected. Two cases of deep infection were observed, both in patients treated with a hinge prosthesis. In one of them the complication led to amputation above the knee and in the other to arthrodesis.


Total radiation dosage from X-ray examinations in rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic skeletal diseases. A study of two cases.

Young patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic diseases of the skeleton are increasingly being operated on with replacement of major joints. The great number of associated X-ray examinations performed on these patients has caused some anxiety amongst orthopaedic surgeons. Two patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis have been studied. An attempt was made to calculate the total radiation dose to bone marrow and gonads. For lack of recommendations for the maximum permissible radiation dose to patients, the dose calculated has been compared with the maximum permissible dose of radiation workers, and with the dose limit for non-occupational irradiation of individuals. The yearly absorbed dose in these two patients is much lower than the maximum permissible dose of radiation workers and only slightly higher than the dose limit for non-occupational exposure of individuals.


Papain-induced changes in the knee joints of adult rabbits.

Rapidly progressing joint disease can be produced in the rabbit by intra-articular injection of concentrated papain. With the use of radioactive thymidine it is possible to demonstrate that the cartilage cells recover their ability to divide by mitosis at the same time as degenerative changes appear in the cartilage. Clusters of chondrocytes arise by mitosis of chondrocytes and not by a floating together of cartilage cells.


Porous ceramics as a bone substitute in the medial condyle of the tibia. An experimental study in sheep. Long-term observations.

A recent 3-month implantation study indicated that a new porous ceramic material might be suitable as a bone substitute in regions exposed mainly to compressive forces. The porous ceramics were implanted into the medial condyle of the tibia of sheep. In the present study the implants were left for 10 months in three animals, and 12 months in two. In the two animals with 12 months' observation, the plate which had been used to stabilize the implant was removed at 10 months. The implants and the adjacent bone tissue were studied macroscopically, radiographically and by microradiography and transmitted light microscopy. All the implants were bound to the adjacent bone by ingrowth of bony tissue. The depth of the bony invasion was slightly greater than that observed at 3 months, being maximally 3-4 mm. Some signs of ossification were still seen within the pores. The bony bridges between the implants and the surrounding bone were particularly well developed in regions of maximal stress. This was interpreted as a sign of active adaption of the bone formation to the actual stress to which the shearing surfaces were exposed. It is concluded that the properties of the porous ceramic implants justify a clinical trial in man.


Pain relieving effect of scalenotomy.

A follow-up was made of 37 patients treated by section of the anterior scalenus muscle. They complained of pain and/or paraesthesia in the upper extremities and tenderness over the muscle. All experienced relief of pain after injection of a local anaesthetic into the anterior scalenus muscle. Twenty-five patients were markedly improved. Patients with neurological signs seem to have a better result than those without (P = 0.06).


Lateral dislocation of the elbow.

A rare case of a pure lateral dislocation of the elbow joint is presented. Attempts at closed reduction were unsuccessful. At operation the anconeus muscle was found to be interposed between the articular surfaces of the joint preventing reduction.


Compression neuritis of the ulnar nerve treated with simple decompression.

The purpose of this investigation was to test the hypothesis submitted by Osborne (1957), which proposed that the symptoms of compression ulnar neuritis, in most cases, result from compression on the ulnar nerve at the proximal border of the aponeurosis of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle. Thirty-two simple decompression operations were performed on 31 patients, diagnosed as suffering from compression neuritis of the ulnar nerve. They were subsequently examined over a period of 5 years. Relief from symptoms was achieved in 28 cases, whilst four patients derived no improvement from the operation. Three of the four unsuccessful cases were judged to have been incorrectly diagnosed and were not suffering from compression of the ulnar nerve in the elbow. A second operation was required in two patients, in one a second decompression and in the other anteposition. No surgical or post-surgical complications occurred.


Operative treatment of ulnar nerve neuropathy in the elbow region. A clinical and electrophysiological study.

Thirty-three patients with ulnar nerve neuropathy due to a lesion in the ulnar groove were operated upon during a 5-year period. All the patients were analyzed preoperatively. One-third of the patients had a history of alcohol abuse. Twenty-five of the patients were subjected to anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve. The results after transposition have been compiled according to etiology, duration, age and alcohol abuse. All seven patients with only subjective symptoms improved; 11 out of 18 (61 per cent) with motor and/or sensory loss also improved but only six (33 per cent) recovered completely. Overall, 21 patients (84 per cent) were improved by the operation. In 11 of the transposition cases the ulnar nerve was examined electrophysiologically before and after operation and an improvement of the motor conduction velocity within the elbow segment of the nerve was found in 10 cases.


Bladder function after hemipelvectomy.

Bladder function was studied in seven patients, 5 to 90 months after hemipelvectomy. The urological investigation comprised i.v. urography, micturition-cysto-urethrography, cystoscopy, cystometry and urodynamic investigations in terms of simultaneous flow and pressure measurements. Hemipelvectomy was found not to give rise to disturbances in micturition.


Limitation of abduction of hips in the newborn. Is it a clinical sign or a phenocopy of congenital hip dislocation?

Until recently the possibility of a connection between maternal thyroid disorders and congenital hip pathology in the newborn has not been given any attention. However, from this study it is evident that there is a close relationship between maternal thyroid disorders and limitation of abduction of the hips in the newborn. The histological findings are suggestive of a neonatal thyrotoxic myopathy or periodic paralysis which might give rise to an error in muscle balance around the hips. The high proportion of affected children without a family history of congenital hip dislocation suggests that genetic factors have in the past been overemphasized.


Arthroscopy in acute injuries of the knee joint.

Arthroscopy was performed during the acute phase of injury in 84 knees (79 patients). A satisfactory view of the joint was obtained in all cases, and no complications occurred. About two-thirds of the patients had injuries associated with violent rotation-abduction. In about one-third of the patients operation could be avoided. In cases with haemarthrosis, serious ligament injury was present in nearly 50 per cent. Complete arthroscopy was associated with few diagnostic errors. Clinical examination often led to uncertain or incorrect diagnosis even when performed under anaesthesia by experienced surgeons. In contrast, arthroscopy led to rapid diagnosis and treatment, thus shortening the period of disability. We recommend arthroscopy in acute knee injuries, but the examination must be performed by an experienced arthroscopist.


Total hip replacement by the Brunswik prosthesis. A preliminary report of 189 operations.

The results of 189 Brunswik total hip replacements, performed at the Orthopaedic Hospital of the Invalid Foundation, Helsinki, Finland, and followed up for 2-3 years, are presented. According to the modified system of Merle D'Aubigne & Postel excellent results were achieved in 11.1 per cent (21/189), good in 56.6 per cent (107/189) and fair in 27.5 per cent (52/189). The failure rate was 4.8 per cent (9/189) and consisted of four deep infections, four cases of aseptic loosening and one case of allergic loosening. Local complications occurred after primary operations in 7.5 per cent (12/159) and after revision operations in 26.7 per cent (8/30) and the difference was statistically significant (P less than 0.01). Among the complications, deep infections were encountered in 2.6 per cent (5/189), aseptic loosenings in 2.1 per cent (4/189). Other local complications were: ectopic ossification in 1.6 per cent (3/189), nerve injuries in 1.6 per cent (3/189), dislocations in 1.1 per cent (2/189), and peroperative fractures in 1.1 per cent (2/189). General complications were observed in 8.9 per cent (17/189). Thromboembolic complications were only seen in 2.6 per cent (5/189). A possible explanation for this low figure was the early ambulation of the patients on the first postoperative day. No deaths related to the operation occurred.


Tibial shaft fractures. A comparison of conservative treatment and internal fixation with conventional plates or AO compression plates.

Out of a series of 207 consecutive fractures of the tibial shaft, 102 were treated conservatively, 64 fractures were treated by AO compression plate osteosynthesis and 41 by internal fixation using Eggers or Lane plates. The choice of method was independent of the extent of soft tissue damage. A follow-up examination of 199 fractures, with a mean observation time of 3.4 years, revealed residual malalignment in 21 per cent of conservatively treated cases and in 8 per cent after conventional plate fixation, while the AO method resulted in anatomical restoration of the axis of the tibia in all cases. However, removal of the compression plates was followed by re-fractures, early and late, in 11 per cent. Implant failure occurred in 5 per cent of both types of plate fixation, and 3 per cent of the conservatively treated cases redislocated. Infection developed in 5 per cent of closed fractures and in 11 per cent of open fractures treated by operative means. Of the conservatively treated cases, only 3 per cent of the open fractures developed infection. The risk of infection following acute internal fixation is thus four times greater than with conservative treatment. AO compression plate fixation shortened the time of fracture healing considerably. The rate of non-union after conservative treatment was 6 per cent in closed and 21 per cent in open fractures. Similarly in conventional plate fixation there was non-union in 8 and 24 per cent, respectively. Non-union was not encountered after AO compression plate osteosynthesis. It is concluded that AO plate osteosynthesis is justified in the treatment of open tibial shaft fractures and also useful in closed fractures when conservative treatment does not lead to stable reduction with a good alignment.


Cord blood porphyrins. A quantitative assay in newborn infants.

A quantitative assay of free erythrocyte porphyrins was done in umbilical cord blood of 30 newborn babies by a spectrophotometric method. The mean value of free erythrocyte protoporphyrin in umbilical cord blood was found to be 74.58 microng/100 ml packed erythrocytes and that of free erythrocyte coproporphyrin to be 0.77 microng/100 ml packed erythrocytes with a standard deviation of +/-29.99 and +/-1.48 respectively. Relationship between free erythrocyte protoporphyrin and free erythrocyte comproporphyrin and their correlations with birth weight and sex of the newborn baby were found to be statistically significant.


Physical health of 7-year-old children. An epidemiological study of school entrants and a comparison with their preschool health.

At 7 years of age, all 649 7-year-old children in a school district underwent a physical examination, a vision screening and an auditory screening. 210 of the children were previously examined in an extensive health control at 4 years of age. The purpose of the present study was to describe the children's health situation and to evaluate the special health control performed at 4 years of age. In 15% of the children, functionally important health problems were found. Visual defects were most common, comprising 7.5%, then came physical health problems such as motor disturbances, obesity, bacteriuria in 6.5%, and hearing defects in 1%. About half of the important health problems were previously known. Children who had passed the special health control at 4 years of age had fewer newly detected important health problems and more previously known ones than other children, which means that many children with above all visual defects but also motor disturbances, bacteriuria and testis retention, were detected and treated earlier than would have happened without the special control at 4 years. It is concluded that the "ordinary" preschool Child Health Services did fulfill their purpose to detect handicapping disorders in an acceptable way; by the introduction of the special health control at 4 years of age, this function was further improved.


Physical mass examinations in the school health service.

At 7 years of age, all 649 children in a school district underwent a physical examination, a vision screening and an auditory screening. The purpose of the present study was to analyse the value of the routine physical examination within the school health services. In 15% of the children functionally important health problems were found. Visual defects were most common, comprising 7.5%, then came physical health problems such as motor disturbances, obesity, bacteriuria in 6.5%, and hearing defects in 1%. About half of the important health problems were previously known. Most disorders of importance were detected by the nurse's screening examination and rather few by the doctor's physical examination. It seems advisable to introduce screening procedures in the hands of nurses also for the physical examination. The role of the school physician in the general health surveillance would then be mainly to control and verify specific observations or suspicions of disease or handicap noted by the school nurse. His time and attention could instead be directed towards important tasks, which are now often neglected, e.g. health education, and care of sick and handicapped children in the school setting.


Excessive hepatic glycogen storage in glucosephosphate isomerase deficiency.

Excessive amounts of glycogen were found in liver and erythrocytes of a patient suffering from generalized glucosephosphate isomerase deficiency. A low carbohydrate diet, frequent meals and avoidance of peak carbohydrate challenges resulted in a significant decrease of liver volume without affecting the haematological condition. The possible mechanism of these findings are discussed.


Sisomicin treatment of serious neonatal infections. A clinical and pharmacokinetic study.

23 infants, 20 of which had verified or clinically highly suspected serious infections in the neonatal period, were treated with a new antibiotic aminoglycoside, sisomicin, i.m. in doses from 2.8 to 6.6 mg/kg/24 h. Clinical cure was obtained in 18 of 20 caes, and marked improvement in one case. Adverse effects were only observed in two infants with tenderness at the injection sites. Serum concentrations and half-life estimations showed that the concentrations were similar to those obtained for gentamicin, and that half-life was independent of postnatal age, but highly correlated to the gestational age and to body weight. Consideration should therefore be given to the prolonged half-life of the drug in immature and low birth weight infants.


Congenital rickets. Study of the evolution of secondary hyperparathyroidism.

A case of congenital rickets of nutritional origin is described in a light-for-date premature infant (gestational age 34 weeks, birthweight 1 100 g). X-rays of the long bones showed spread, frayed and cupped metaphyses at birth and at the age of 16 days. Serum calcium was 8.2 mg/100 ml, phosphorus 3.4 mg/100 ml and alkaline phosphatase (A.P):323 IU/ml (N less than or equal to 200) at the age of 3 days. Very high level of serum immunoreactive parathroid hormone (iPTH) was found at the age of 16 days=295 micronlEq/ml (N less than or equal to 50). Evidence of maternal vitamin D deficiency was demostrated by low plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-CC):1.0 ng/ml (N:13.2+/-4.2) soon after delivery; it was found to be normal (10.2 ng/ml) six months later. Ca infusion (15 mg/kg/3 h) resulted in a marked fall of serum iPTH (280 to 84 micronlEq/ml). Administration of vitamin D2 (2400 IU/day for 10 days) induced some healing of the metaphyses; A. P. remained elevated (400 IU/ml); plasma 25-OH-CC was normal 10.2 ng/ml and serum iPTH was 115 micronlEq/ml. When 25-OH-CC was given orally for ten days (15 microng/day), plasma 25-OH-CC rose to 64.5 ng/ml with a minor change of serum iPTH (94 micronlEq/ml); X-rays of the bones showed osteoporosis. These results suggest a reduced convertion of 25-OH-CC into 1-25-(OH)2-CC.


Effect of maternal parity and infant sex upon the haematological values of cord blood.

Coulter Counter (Model S) analysis of 400 cord blood samples are presented, together with differential white cell counts for 249 of these. The mean values for haemoglobin and red cell count are somewhat higher than previous values determined by manual methods, while those for haematocrit and mean cell volume are slightly lower. An unexpected finding was that the red cell count, haemoglobin concentration, and haematocrit, are significantly higher in male than in female infants. A parity effect was also demonstrated: infants of both sexes born as second or subsequent births had lower values for total white cell count, haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit, than first-born infants.


On indications for treatment of the hyperphenylalaninemic neonate.

Of 488 006 neonates tested by Guthrie screening 58 showed values above 2.5 mg/100 ml. Thirty-two showed values between 2.5 mg/100 ml and 15 mg/100 ml. Eighteen of these infants appeared to have phenylketonuria (PKU) and fourteen to have persistent hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA). Neither the initial Guthrie test-value nor the confirmatory test were able to differentiate between these two conditions. Consequently a phenylalanine restricted diet is started in any child with serumphenylalanine values exceeding 10 mh/100 ml (605 micronmol/l). The data show that the course of the dietary tolerance of phenylalanine and a 24-hour phenylalanine load test will differentiate infants with PKU from those with HPA.


Severe mental retardation in a Swedish county. I. Epidemiology, gestational age, birth weight and associated CNS handicaps in children born 1959--70.

In a unselected series of children born in 1959--70 with severe mental retardation (MR)---defined as IQ less than 50---in a Swedish county, the incidence, prevalence, gestational length, birth weight and associated CNS handicaps were analysed. The cumulative incidence at 1-16 years of age was calculated at 3.3% and the prevalence at 11-16 years at 2.8%. These figures were lower than in most other previous studies. In the great majority of cases the pathogenesis was of prenatal origin. The mean gestational lengths and birth weights were decreased compared with those of an average Swedish population. Severe MR affected large and small for date babies more often than could be expected. On the other hand, babies, with a low birth weight, appropriate for gestational age, and with an uncomplicated history, were found not to run a special risk of severe MR. Among the 122 children, 42% had one or more associated CNS handicaps---epilepsy (30%) and cerebral palsy (18%) being the most common.


Complete heart block in a young child presumably due to mycoplasma pneumoniae myocarditis.

The case is described of an 18 months old boy with sudden onset complete heart block, heralded by Stokes-Adams attacks. General signs of viral illness preceded and accompanied the syndrome; this, along with angiographic evidence of poorly contracting left ventricle, led to the diagnosis of non bacterial myocarditis. Serologic tests disclosed a significant rise in antibodies against mycoplasma pneumoniae (1/16 to 1/128). The His-bundle electrogram showed a block above the His-bundle, but fairly widespread damage to the conduction system is suspected. The complete heart block proved to be permanent and a fixed rate pacemaker had to be implanted.


Effects of strychnine and picrotoxin on the activity of laryngeal and phrenic motoneurons during stimulation of vagus nerve. Acta Physiol. Pol., 1977, 28 (1): 1-11. In paralyzed cats the activity of "single fibres" in the recurrent laryngeal nerve and phrenic nerve was recorded. The afferent part of the vagus nerve was stimulated electrically at a frequency of 200 Hz, the duration of one impulse was 1 msec and voltage values used were 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 V. Stimulation was carried out in paralyzed animals and then after intravenous administration of strychnine 0.3 mg/kg and picrotoxin 1.0 mg/kg. Administration of the drugs was sufficient to induce in both nerves appearance of additional impulses of varying amplitude. Stimulation after administration of strychnine and picrotoxin caused partial inhibition of the activity of both nerves (less significant than before administration of drugs). The authors believe that the mechanisms of presynaptic and postsynaptic inhibition participate in the activity of nervous pathways conveying the inhibitory effect of the vagus nerve to the laryngeal and phrenic motor neurons.


Spontaneous synthesis of acetylcholine in the rat brain after beta adrenergic receptor blockade. Acta Physiol. Pol., 1977, 28 (1): 31-38. The purpose of this work was to determine the effects of propranolol, oxprenolol and practolol on acetylcholine synthesis in the cerebral cortex and brain stem of rats in vitro and in vivo. Propranolol and oxprenolol inhibited acetylcholine synthesis in slices of cerebral cortex and brain stem in vitro but not in vivo. Practolol reduced the synthesis of acetylcholine in cortical neurons but was without effect on acetylcholine synthesis in brain stem neurons. The authors suppose that the inhibition of acetylcholine synthesis in vitro by the beta-adrenergic blocking agents used in this experiment was due to disturbances either in glycolysis or in the transport of sodium, potassium and calcium ions across cell membranes.


The effect of propranolol-administration on the electroencephalogram in the rabbit. Acta Physiol. Pol., 1977, 28 (1): 45-50. The influence of propranolol on EEG of the rabbits, with electrodes chronically implanted into different brain structures, was studied. Propranolol in the doses of 1, 2 and 3 mg/kg was injected intravenously. The bioelectrical brain activity of the rabbits was measured several times after the drug injection. In the next period of experiments propranolol (2 mg/kg i.v.) was administered every day for 10 days. Moreover the influence of the same doses of this drug on ECG and arterial pressure was studied. It was found that propranolol-administration changes the bioelectrical activity of the brain. Such phenomenon as, voltage increase, irregular and slower rhythm, an increase in slow activity and spikes, fast activity was perceived. The changes in EEG were particularly well pronounced in subcortical structures. The described effects of propranolol do not depend on the influence of this drug on the circulatory system.