Direct accessory optic projections to the vestibulo-cerebellum: a possible channel for oculomotor control systems.

The nucleus of the basal optic root (nBOR) receives direct retinal projections in all classes of vertebrates. This nucleus is also known as the medial terminal nucleus of the accessory optic tract, or as the nucleus extomamillaris. Following a series of HRP injections into the uvula and flocculonodular lobe of pigeons, both large and small cells of the nBOR were labelled bilaterally with the marker. No significant transport of HRP to nBOR was observed following injections of more rostral folia of the posterior or anterior lobes of the cerebellum. In view of the prominence of the tract from retina to nBOR and the presence of a monosynaptic pathway from nBOR directly to the vestibulo-cerebellum, we suggest this bisynaptic, "lemniscal", retino-cerebellar channel may be the substrate by which visual stimuli directly trigger oculomotor responses mediated by the vestibulo-cerebellum.


Contraception and sterilization in the United States, 1965-1975.

Although the pill remains the most popular method of contraception among young married women, sterilization is now the method of choice among couples married a decade or more, as well as among couples who have had all the children they want. Indeed, contraceptive and medical sterilizations combined now comprise the most frequent barrier to conception among all married couples of reproductive age. Three-quarters of couples using contraception now use the most effective methods, the pill, sterilization or the IUD, and the trend data suggest a continuing increase in the reliance on such methods.


The influence of physicians' attitudes on abortion performance, patient management and professional fees.

Although religion is the most powerful predictor of whether a doctor will perform any abortions, satisfaction with his or her patients and emotional reaction to the abortion procedure powerfully affect the physician's practice. Doctors who are most satisfied with their patients are less likely to ask unmarried teens for parental consent and to charge lower fees. Physicians who are severely disturbed over abortion perform terminations less frequently and more often ask spousal or parental consent--but charge lower fees and are more likely to accept Medicaid patients.


The effect of government policies on out-of-wedlock sex and pregnancy.

Neither the level of AFDC benefits nor the AFDC acceptance rate appear to serve as economic incentives to out-of-wedlock childbearing; nor does the availability of contraception and abortion seem to encourage teenagers to initiate sexual activity. However, the availability of subsidized family planning services does apparently lower pregnancy rates, especially among black teenagers; and the availability of abortion seems to reduce substantially the incidence of out-of-wedlock childbearing, especially among whites.


[Relationship between duration of expiration and depth of breathing in decerbrate cats].

In decerbrated cats, tidal volume (Vt) increased from apnoea to maximal values in result of rebreathing. With vagus nerves intact increment of Vt was accompanied by shortening of both inspiratory (Ti) and expiratory (Te) phases. Relationship Te vs.  Ti was mainly linear. Decrease of Te with progressing hyperpnoea was determined by impulses from lungs mechanoreceptors. After vagotomy Vt increase was accompanied by increment of Te. Bulbopontine respiratory mechanism reacted to chemical stimuli by increasing Te. The constant relationship between Ti and duration of the next expiration was disappeared.


[Responses of neurons of the supraolivary complex to amplitude-modulated signals].

46% out of 160 studied neurons synchronized their discharges according to the envelope of sinusoidal amplitude-modulated (AM) stimuli when modulating frequency was changed from 50/sec to 1200/sec. The areas of synchronization coincided with the excitatory areas for tonal stimuli. The synchronization was found to depend on intensity of stimulus, and for some units the upper threshods were revealed. The other parameters of AM-stimulus such as the coefficient of modulation and modulating frequency, also act on the synchronization.


[Spatial-temporal structure of the primary evoked activity of visual cortex neurons].

The unit activity displayed a mosiac position of the activated neuronal ensembles with asymmetrically inhibited adjacent areas development of primary response. The average distance between the centers of these ensembles, the latter's diameter being less than 240 mcm, was not more than 300 mcm. The centers displayed the most intensive activity of the neurons ranged in a column, with the shortest latency, the greatest synchronization, and the diffuse peripheral area which might be asymmetrical in respect to the center.


[Acid RNAase activity of lysosomes in different regions of rat brain during learning].

Establishment of a defence conditioned reflex in rats raised the level of total activity of acid RNAse (after treatment of the brain tissue with 0.1% Triton X-100) of lysosome-enriched fractions (LEF) in cerebral cortex and subcortical areas. This increase in the enzyme activity was higher in the Krushinsky-Molodkina rats than in Wistar those. The trained animals had a lower than control release of the acid RNAse from the brain cortex lysosomes under effect of the hiotone addition.


[Dissociation of the ino- and chronotropic response of isolated rat heart to noradrenaline in the presence of oxygen deficit, exposure to cyanide and 2,4-dinitrophenol].

Isolated hearts of rats responded to increasing doses of noradrenaline (NA) with progressing increase of the sistolic pressure in the left ventricle and with bradycardia. Tachyrhythmic response occurred only at high concentration of NA (5-10(-8)). During energy hunger induced by O2 deficit, cyanide, and 2,4-dinitrophenole the NA inotropic effect has reduced, but the relative stabilization of the heart integral response (Opil's index) was achieved due to activation of NA positive chronotropic effect. The character of NA effects under conditions of energy hunger does not depend on the initial level of endogenous NA. Even in the isolated heart at ATPh deficit a compensatory mechanism comes to action switching the NA regulating effect from the contractile process over to activation of pacemaker rhythmic activity.


[Contractile responses of subcutaneous vessels to drops in temperature].

In rabbits, application of ice-cold water to the ear lowers the skin temperature by 10.3 degrees C and, within 3-4 sec, the temperature in the subcutaneous vein by 4.3 degrees C. A stepwise cooling of isolated subcutaneous artery or vein causes their constriction, and warming dilates the vessels with maximal amplitude when the temperature is changed by 8-12 degrees C. Further cooling or warming diminishes the response. Optimal constrictory responses of subcutaneous vessels to a standard dose of norepinephrine were observed at 38-32 degrees C.


[Peripheral mechanisms of the responses of small intestine capacitance vessels to noradrenaline].

Noradrenalin was shown to elicit either constrictory or dilatory responses depending on the initial level of venous pressure (10-15 mm Hg or 0 and 25 mm Hg) in the capacitance vessels of the cat small intestine. Blockade of beta-adrenoreceptors with propranolol has no effect on the capacitance vessels responses. Blockade of alpha-adrenoreceptors with dihydroergotoxin makes noradrenaline to elicit dilatory responses only, their magnitude depending on the initial level of venous pressure: more obvious responses at 10-15 mm Hg, less obvious those - at 0 and 25 mm Hg.


[Formation of a mosaic of neuronal activity from microfoci of excitation in rat cerebral cortex].

Responses of several neurons from area 17 in the rat visual cortex to illumination with round spots of growing size were recorded. The size and shape of receptive fields of the neurons were determined. When the spot was placed into the central part of the receptive fields of neurons situated along one vertical run, distribution analysis of excited, inhibited, and non-responding neurons here showed that microlocus of excitation was being formed in the middle layers of the visual cortex. As the spot became larger, the neuronal ensemble "grew" up to a certain critical size, beyond which the microlocus of excitation divided, and the mosaic of neuronal ensembles began to form reaching maximal clear-cutness of diffuse illumination of the eye.


[Neurochemical mechanisms of morphine action on the function of neurons in the midbrain reticular formation].

The effect of microiontophoretically applied morphine and its interactions with the effect of microiontophoretic applications of either acetylcholine (ACh) or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were studied in single neurons of the midbrain RF in immobilized rats. Morphine altered the firing rate of the majority of neurons: 39% neurons were excited, 16%-inhibited. Morphine reduced or blocked reactions of most (67%) neurons to 5-HT but had no effect on their reactions to ACh (86% of neurons). The findings suggest that interaction between morphine and sezotoninergic structures of the brain plays a more important role in mechanism of morphine central action than the interaction between morphine and cholinergic systems.


[Monsynaptic influences from the reticular formation and muscle afferents following axotomy of motor neurons in rats].

Lumbar motoneurons were studied by means of intracellular recording in intact rats and after section of the appropriate ventral roots. In normal motoneurons monosynaptic EPSPs evoked by stimulation of the reticular formation and Ia group muscle afferents showed no difference in amplitude (3.92 +/- 0.17 mV and 3.86 +/- 0.19 mV), but revealed statistically significant difference in time-to-peak (0.71 +/- 0.05 msec and 0.83 +/- 0.06 msec). The membrane potential, the duration and the amplitude of the actionpotentials, and the generation of antidromic actionpotentials showed no difference between normal and axotomized motoneurons. The partial responses were not recorded in axotomized motoneurons. Monosynaptic reticulo-spinal and Ia EPSPs of axotomized motoneurons exhibited longer time-to-peak than those in normal motoneurons. Besides, Ia EPSPs were significantly reduced in amplitude. The changes of monosynaptic reticulo-spinal and Ia EPSPs cannot be explained exclusively by the alterations of the synapses located on the soma and proximal dendrites.


[Effects of electric stimulation of the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum on neuronal activity of the centrum medianum of the optic thalamus].

Electrical stimulation of the cerebellar dentate nucleus elicits in neurons of the center median responses with either constant or altering latencies. The constant latencies ranged from 2-3 to 8-12 msec. Responses with altering latencies were more numerous and had the latencies up to 20 msec. In both responses with early and late components were recorded as well. Dentate stimulations induced "periods of inhibition" in CM neurons with leading duration of 50-100 msec. Synchronization of the SM unit activity during low-frequency stimulation was also revealed, in many cases it was preceded by the "periods of inhibition". Activity of 49% of reactive neurons during 1, 7-12, and 70-100/sec stimulations was facilitated, 31% depressed, and 20% had a mixed type of responses: facilitation on one frequency and depression on another. Immediate cessation of the effects after termination of stimulations was observed in 34% of neurons, while tonic influences were manifest in 66%.


[RNA synthesis in giant mollusk neurons following generation of action potentials in response to direct stimulation].

With the aid of autoradiographic and microelectrode methods, it was shown in vitro that the H3-uridine incorporation in the giant neuron decreased during generation of AP. Relationship between the changes of RNA synthesis in the neuron and the number of APs generated by the cell was nonlinear. The same character of the changes in RNA synthesis was shown elsewhere during stimulation via the nerve and generation by neuron of antidromic and ortodromic APs. The data obtained can be regarded as the evidence corroborating regulation of RNA synthesis in the neuron by activity of electro- and chemoexcitable membrane of the cell.


[Relationship between the early and late components of the somato-sympathetic reflex recorded in pre- and postganglionic sympathetic nerves].

In anesthetized cats, the somato-sympathetic reflex was recorded in T3 white ramus and in the lower cardiac nerve during stimulation of intercostal nerves of the T3 and T5 segments. The amplitude of the early response in the preganglionic nerve was considerably higher than the amplitude of the late response, while the reverse was true for the postganglionic nerve. After transection of the spinal cord in the C4-5 level, the late responses were observed both in the lower cardiac nerve and in T3 white ramus. The late response seems to be realisable by the spinal structures. Active role of sympathetic ganglion in transmission of impulses from the spinal cord to effectors, was noted.


[Mechanism of the regulatory influence of an effector cell on noradrenaline-H3 uptake by an adrenergic neuron].

In isolated organs of the white rat, activation of neuronal absorption of noradrenaline-H3 under action of alpha-adrenoblocking agent phentolamine (1-10(-6) M) was due to release of a humoral factor from the effector cell and its effect on the adrenergic neuron. Under influence of activating agent for alpha-adrenoreceptors mesatone (1-10(-5) M), formation and release of humoral factor inhibiting the neuronal absorption of noradrenaline-H3, occurrs. Formation of the humoral factors altering the intensity of amine absorption is associated with activation of the protein synthesis in effector cell and occurs on alteration of functional state (excitation and blockade) of postsynaptic adrenoreceptors. A possible way for the reverse transsynaptic control of neuronal absorption of noradrenaline via adrenoreceptors of effector cell, and the role of this regulatory mechanism in activity of adrenergic system, are discussed.


[Effect of proserine and eserine on synaptic potentials of the frog sartorius muscle].

Anticholinesterases proserine (2-10(-7)-2-10(-6) M) and eserine (2-10(-6)-2-10(-5) M) prolonged end-plate poteutials (e. p. p. s.) and miniature end-plate potentials (m. e. p. p. s.) and increased their amplitude; higher concentrations of these drugs first increased and then decreased the amplitude and duration. Thus, higher concentrations, in addition to anticholinesterase effect, exert also the inhibiting influence on postjunction membrane. These two effects are reversible when washing out the drugs. Neither proserine nor eserine affect the frequency of m. e. p. p. and the quantum content of e. p. p. No cholinssensitive effect of these drugs was observed.


[Utilization and restitution of energy sources during muscular activity under steady-state metabolic conditions].

During muscular activity at steady state of metabolism both the carbohydrate and the free fatty acids are utilized as energy sources. Kreatine phosphate expense, carbohydrate mobilization, and intensity of glycolysis during the same work are in positive correlation with the work intensity, while fatty acids mobilization is in negative correlation. Intensity of restoration of energy sources is in positive correlation with the intensity of work and the energy source expense, while being in negative correlation with steady state level of metabolism. In trained organism, both the steady state level of metabolism during muscular activity and intensity of restitution during recovery period are greater than in untrained organism.


[Hepatic lymph in sheep and bull calves].

Composition of the liver lymph was compared with composition of the blood plasma in the inflow, and outflow from the liver and with composition of fel. Nitrogen metabolites were studied in sheep and carbohydrate-lipid those--in cows. The lymph lacks in proteins and lipids as compared with the liver blood plasma, but its contents of albumins, urea, glutamine, glucose, ketonic bodies, threeglycerides, cholesterine, and saturated fatty acids are higher. The liver lymphatic flow is more intense in sheep than in cows. Its speed is by three times slower than the speed of fel flow, but the latter prevails in contents of the components except of the protein, free aminoacids, and enzymes.


[Afferent activity in the vagus and sympathetic pathways of the stomach following exposure of its wall to heat].

In alert dogs with electrodes implanted into the stomach branches of the vagus and n. splanchnicus, receptory formations able to respond to relatively fast temperature changes were found in the stomach wall. The most important feature of these thermosensitive structures involves their unadaptability. The fibers responsible for conduction of the thermal information form part of the sympathetic and parasympathetic and parasympathetic nerves. Two zones of high thermal sensitivity, cardica and pyloric those, were discovered.


[Thermoregulation in rats in a helium-oxygen environment].

Effects of 21% O2 + 79% He mixture at the normal pressure on temperature of different body areas, blood temperature, heat emission, heat production, and the muscle electrical activity were studied at ambient temperature 21-22 degrees C. Action of the mixture during 60 min increased the heat emission by 21%, heat production by 17%, muscle activity by 37%. In spite of this, the temperature decreased in hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, rectum, muscles, and under the skin, as well as the blood temperature in the aortic arch and in the v. cava anterior. The occurring increase in the heat production is insufficient for preventing the drop of the body temperature. The disturbance of thermoregulation in the helium-oxygen atmosphere seems to occur mainly because of the excessive increase in the heat emission.


Topical steroid depression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in psoriasis vulgaris.

Significant suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis has been found in patients hospitalized with psoriasis vulgaris and receiving topical fluorinated steroid therapy. Depression of thyroid function and involvement of autoimmune processes is also suggested by the data.


Retinoic acid-induced psoriasiform lesions in guinea pigs: antagonism by anti-psoriasis agents.

Application of retinoic acid (vitamins which microscopically and histochemically resemble those of psoriasis. In the present studies, the daily application of a 0.1% solution of retinoic acid to the dorsal ear surface of guinea pigs produced a progressive psoriasiform scaling which was apparent grossly and which could be quantitated. Triamcinolone acetonide, hydrocortisone and methotrexate, all known to be useful clinically in the treatment of psoriasis, were examined for their ability to antagonize the development of retinoic-acid-induced scaling. Systemic activity was observed with all three agents; topical activity was obtained with triamcinolone acetonide but not with methotrexate or several of its analogs. On the basis of activity profiles obtained with standard anti-psoriatic compounds, it is suggested that retinoic acid lesions may have utility in identifying the anti-psoriatic potential of new compounds.


Diseases sometimes associated with psoriasis. II. Alopecia areata.

Of 5,033 patients examined between 1968 and 1975, 407 were diagnosed as having psoriasis (Ps) and 23 alopecia areata (Aa). Five of the 23 patients with Aa had also Ps. One Aa patient having pitting of the nail only was not included in the Ps group. One further patient with Aa himself not affected with Ps had a sibling with Ps. It is suggested that there is an association between Ps and Aa and that the pitting of the nails described in Aa may be in reality an expression of Ps.


Nail changes as the first manifestation of the HLA-B27 inheritance. A case report.

A 6-year-old boy with nail changes compatible with those seen in Reiter's disease, and his father with chronic arthritis, recurrent anterior uveitis and amyloidosis, and a transplanted kidney are described. Both of them had HLA combination A2, B27 and neither had any of the antigens associated with psoriasis.


Acrogeria. A case report.

A case of acrogeria in a 12-year-old girl is reported. Acrogeria is a rare, nonhereditary, probably congenital disease of which the main characteristic is an atrophy of the skin giving it an aged appearance. The defect is localized to the dermis and subcutis, whereas, the epidermis seems not to be affected. The disease might be associated with other congenital malformations.


Quantitative thermographic assessment of inositol nicotinate therapy in Raynaud's phenomena.

The basal temperature of the hands has been measured by quantitative thermography in a group of normal controls and rheumatoid patients exhibiting Raynaud's phenomenon. The thermographic index for both the dorsum of the hand and the fingers was significantly lower in the patients with Raynaud's. Oral treatment with inositol nicotinate (Hexopal) was followed by an initial rise in the thermographic index in both areas. After the initial increase the temperature fell again but then rose after two months treatment. At nine months two subjects on continuous therapy had higher indices than the four who had discontinued therapy. It is suggested that long-term treatment with nicotinate acid derivatives may produce improvement in the peripheral circulation by a different mechanism than the transient effect detected by short-term studies.


Comparison of sotalol hydrochloride and methyldopa in essential hypertension.

In a non-blind randomized comparison of sotalol hydrochloride and methyldopa in essential hypertension, the two drugs were equivocal in effect in reaching a preset hypotensive aim, in the maximum decreases from the baseline and in the mean reductions per week from the baseline. Milligram for milligram, sotalol was about twice as potent as methyldopa. No volunteered side-effects were noted for methyldopa; 3/19 for sotalol.


Observations on the gastric mucosa of rheumatic patients before and after ibuprofen administration as studied by the pentagastrin test, endoscopy, and light and electron microscopy.

The initial results of a study set up to investigate the gastric mucosa in rheumatic patients receiving ibuprofen are described. The study involved seven male patients, aged between 17 to 70 years, suffering from various rheumatic diseases. All patients received a daily dose of 1200 mg of ibuprofen per os divided into three fractions and taken over periods of treatment ranging from one to six weeks. On the data obtained by the gastric secretion test, endoscopy, and specific histological and ultrastructure studies it is concluded that, in the cases investigated, ibuprofen could not be shown to be responsible for any significant modification of the gastric mucosa.


A comparison of a new slow release aspirin ("slow aspirin") with plain aspirin in the treatment of rheumatoid disease.

In a single centre double-blind crossover study in eighteen patients with established rheumatoid disease, a new slow release aspirin ("slow aspirin") was compared with plain aspirin with respect to patient tolerability and gastric mucosal damage as observed at gastroscopy. "Slow aspirin" was significantly better than plain aspirin with regard to gastroscopic findings. With "slow aspirin", the gastric mucosal appearances were definitely better in eight patients, worse in two, and eight showed no difference. There was a high incidence of gastric ulceration or erosions in the groups as a whole (39%) but few patients complained of dyspepsia. There was little difference in the ability of both plain and "slow aspirin" in controlling the patients' joint symptoms. Evidence has been provided to suggest that "slow aspirin" is less injurious to the gastric mucosa. In an attempt to reduce gastric mucosal damage due to prolonged aspirin treatment it is therefore concluded that "slow aspirin" merits consideration in the management of chronic rheumatoid disease.


Critical dosages for oral contraceptives.

An investigation was carried out into the effectiveness of Ovostat E, a low dosage oral contraceptive. One hundred women, aged between 17 and 39 years, participated in the trial; 47 women completed 12 treatment cycles and 42 of these completed all 24 treatment cycles. The following results were obtained by computer analysis: Reliability was 100% and the Pearl Index therefore = 0; Cycle Control; length: an obvious regulating effect; 85-3% was the average percentage of women with a cycle length of 26 to 30 days; withdrawal bleeding occurred in 94-6% of cycles; duration of withdrawal bleeding: no change in 26-0%; 1--2 days shorter in 51-7%; 1--2 days longer in 5-6%; intensity of withdrawal bleeding: no change in 61-9%; decreased in 29-3%; increased in 3-4%; irregular bleedings occurred in 4-6% of cycles. The most common complaints were nervousness, headache and nausea, the last two virtually disappearing after the 3rd treatment cycle. Of the 49 women who continued the investigation for the further eighteen months, 2 dropped out because of intolerance, 1 because of objections to the periodic check-ups and 1 for reasons unknown.


Pentazocine suppositories for post-operative pain: intramuscular pentazocine injections versus suppositories in a controlled trial in 588 patients.

A between-patient comparison of the analgesic effect of pentazocine 50 mg by suppository and 30--45 mg by intramuscular injection was made in 558 postoperative patients, 54% within 24 hours of operation. The suppositories proved acceptable overall, even though effectiveness was less at half an hour after administration (particularly in those patients with severe initial pain) and there was greater need for further analgesia at one hour. The cost of treatment with suppositories is less than with injections. After the suppositories there were half as many patients asleep at one hour than after injections, and fewer possible side-effects (7 compared to 24).


Mianserin hydrochloride (Org GB 94) in the treatment of obsessional states.

Nine patients with severe primary obsessional illness were treated with mianserin hydrochloride (Org GB 94), in a dose increasing to 20 mg three times daily, for 4 weeks. Six patients improved as assessed by a physician's global rating of improvement. The symptoms on a side-effects check list were less marked during treatment than they had been during the pre-treatment drug-free period.


Clinical pharmacology of amikacin sulphate: blood, urinary and tissue concentrations in the terminal stage of pregnancy.

Within a broad programme of research into the pharmacokinetics of various antimicrobials in gynaeco-obstetric patients, with a view of determining its concentrations in the different compartments and reproductive organs, we administered 7-5 mg/kg of amikacin sulphate to eleven women in the terminal stage of pregnancy one hour before collecting the specimens studies. The concentrations in the maternal blood and urine was similar to that obtained during the first weeks of gestation, and to that achieved outside pregnancy. The low determinations observed at the level of the foetal blood and urine and the anniotic fluid, as well as in the placenta and oviducts, is in our view due to the fact that the passage of this drug into the 'compartments' mentioned takes place slowly; this hypothesis is, however, subject to corroboration or refutation by further studies on this question. The concentration of this compound found was, nonetheless, bactericidal in all the parameters studied.


Relative binding affinity of androstane and C-19-nor-androstane-steroids for the estradiol-receptor in human myometrial and mammary cancer tissue.

The relative binding affinity of several androstane- and C-19-nor-androstane-compounds for the estradiol (E2)-receptor in human myometrial and mammary cancer tissue was studied. High speed cytosol was incubated with tritiated E2 alone as well as in the presence of increasing amounts of the compound to be tested. The highest affinity is found for steroids with two hydroxyl-groups at C-3 and C-17 in the beta-position and a double bond at C-4-5 or C-5-6. Saturation of the A-ring decreases the affinity: 5alpha-compounds have less affinity, 5-beta-compounds have less affinity; 5beta-compounds hardly any affinity. The presence of a hydroxyl-group in the 3alpha, 11beta or 16beta-position decreases the affinity, as dose a 3-oxo or 17-oxo-group. Removal of the C-19-methyl-group facilitates the binding. This data led to the concept that flatness of the A-ring in respect to the B-ring of the steroid molecule is a principal requirement for binding to the E2-receptor. The rank order of RBA is identical in myometrium and in mammary cancer tissue, indicating that estrogen-receptors are at least highly similar in both target tissues.


Embryonic development in house fly eggs fertilized with genetically deficient sperm.

In house flies, Musca domestica L., eggs fertilized with sperm that have chromosome deficiencies and duplications do not hatch, but develop to a stage where a fully differentiated, prehatch larva is formed. Fifteen different chromosome translocations involving most of the 10 arms of the 5 autosomes were studied by crossing male translocation heterozygotes to normal females. Egg hatch was reduced to 36-66% depending on the translocation used. Eggs that did not hatch after 24 hours were fixed, stained, and examined for stage of development. Several translocations involving the right arm of chromosome 4 indicate that the region closest to the centromere contains genes that affect the process of syngamy or early cleavage divisions, but do not reduce the ability of the sperm to compete for egg fertilization. Approximately 70% of the autosomal genes can be absent from sperm (not simultaneously but in different crosses) without inhibiting embryonic development.


Statistical studies on protein polymorphism in natural populations. I. Distribution of single locus heterozygosity.

Surveying the literature, the frequency distribution of single-locus heterozygosity among protein loci was examined in 95 vertebrate and 34 invertebrate species with the aim of testing the validity of the mutation-drift hypothesis. This distribution did not differ significantly from that expected under the mutation-drift hypothesis for any of the species examined when tested by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness-of-fit statistic. The agreement between the observed interlocus variance of heterozygosity and its theoretical expectation was also satisfactory. There was an indication that variation in the mutation rate among loci inflates the interlocus variance of heterozygosity. The variance of heterozygosity for a homologous locus among different species was also studied. This variance generally agreed with the theoretical value very well, though in some groups of Drosophila species there was a significant discrepancy. The observed relationship between average heterozygosity and the proportion of polymorphic loci was in good agreement with the theoretical relationship. It was concluded that, with respect to the pattern of distribution of heterozygosity, the majority of data on protein polymorphisms are consistent with the mutation-drift hypothesis. After examining alternative possible explanations involving selection, it was concluded that the present data cannot be explained adequately without considering a large effect of random genetic drift, whether there is selection or not.


Contribution to the knowledge of infectivity of Fasciola hepatica adolescariae after their passage through the digestive tract of white mice.

The study of infective elements of Fasciola hepatica which passed through the digestive tract of white mice revealed that those adolescariae (transitive adolescariae) (Table 1), which were not visibly damaged or possessed a more or less digested outer cyst wall, remained infective. The mice infected with transitive adolescariae harboured higher number of trematodes in the livers than those infected with infective elements which had not previously passed through the digestive tract of the definitive host.


Dynamics of circulating antibodies against Trichinella spiralis after application of anthelmintics.

Formation and dynamics of circulating antibodies were studied in mice experimentally inefected with T. spiralis and treated with mebendazole. Latex-fixation tube was used in the experiment. In the control group of untreated mice the antibodies were detected on the 21st day after infection. The antibody level reached the maximum on day 76 and low titres were found still on day 207 after infection. In mice treated with mebendazole in the intestinal phase of trichinellosis, the antibodies were detected 10 or 7 days earlier than in the control group. At this time the antibody level reached the maximum and then it decreased gradually until no antibodies were detected on days 66-76. This phenomenon correlated with postmortem examination and suggested that the formation and dynamics of circulating antibodies against T. spiralis are directly dependent on the effectiveness of the treatment.


The molluscicidal properties of some Bayluscide homologues.

The molluscicidal properties of 5-nitro- and 3-nitro2',4'-dichloro salicylanilides and their mixture 5.5 : 1 were investigated against the intermediate hosts of schistosomes Bulinus truncatus and Biomphalaria alexandrina. Unlike Bayluscide, the activity of the new mulluscicides is not affected by strong sun radiation or by acidic pH. Their activity is resistant to storage, river-bed mud and lower temperature.


Influence of microclimate on the life cycle of the common tick Ixodes ricinus (L.) in an open area in comparison with forest habitats.

Under conditions of the South-Moravian region of Pannonian climate (Valtice near Breclav), the life cycle of the common tick Ixodes ricinus (L.) was studied and a continous recording of main elements of microclimate (temperature and humidity) was carried out in an open grassy area. Simultaneously the process of hibernation was studied in four soil layers (surface, depths of 10, 20 and 30 cm). Observations were assessed by mathematiccal-statistical tests and compared with the results obtained by the same methods in the forest biotope (tipe of thermophilic  oak forest)and in the ecotone of forest margin (Daniel et al. 1976). The ticks are able to complete the developmental cycle also in the open grassy areas, where during the vegetation period the development proceeds more quickly than in the forest but with considerably higher losses. In the discussion the conclusions are compared with literary data from other parts of Czechoslovakia.


EGG output in the weights and states of engorgement of Amblyomma variegatum (Fabr.) and Boophilus annulatus (say): (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae).

The relationship between egg output and the weights and states of engorgement of two species of ixodid ticks Amblyomma variegtum (Fabr.) and Boophilus annulatus (Say) was studied, using over 3,000 female ticks of different sizes. Based on the average weights and numbers of eggs produced, guide indices are provided for the predictability of the oviposition potential in females of different weights. Linear correlation was noted between weights of the ticks and the weights and numbers of eggs they produced. The percentage by body weight of eggs produced by individual ticks did not however exceed 50 +/- 2%, irrespective of their states of engorgement. Arbitrary categorisation of the ticks on basis of their sizes ("states of engorgement") reflected on exponential increase in the rates of egg output.


Two more mosquito species proved as vectors of Tahyna virus in Czechoslovakia.

Two strains of Tahyna virus were isolated during mosquito virological testing in summer 1975 in the littoral zone of large fishponds in South Moravia. The first of them was isolated from Culex modestus mosquito, the other one from Aedes sticticus. Virus isolation from these species proved them to be vectors of Tahyna virus, as it was found already experimentally that Tahyăn virus multiplies in these mosquitoes. This virus was isolated from the two species for the first time in Central Europe and from Aedes sticticus for the first time in general.


[HL-A B 27 a criterion for Reiter's syndrome].

The prevalence of 23 HLA antigens were examined in 21 patients with a typical Reiter's disease, 21 patients with incomplete Reiter's syndrome as well as 16 patients with non-gonococcal urethritis. HLA-B 27 antigen was found in 85,7% of patients with typical Reiter's disease as compared to 7,4% of 413 healthy controls. HLA-B 27 was also detectable in 57,1% of patients with clinical suspicion of Reiter's disease. No significant difference from the control frequencies of HLA specifities was found in patients with non-gonococcal urethritis. The association between HLA-B 27 and Reiter's syndrome is so marked that tissue typing is a valuable adjunct in the diagnosis of Reiter's syndrome.


[The clinical picture of lactate acidosis. 1 : Lactate metabolism].

The definition of lactate acidosis (lactic acidosis) is discussed. The metabolism of lactate and pyruvate are described. An increase in lactate concentration should be called lactic acidemia (lactate emia). This increase in lactate concentration can be caused either by an increased production (primarily by the so-called peripheral tissues) or by a decreased utilization (by the liver or by the kidneys). Therefore, various metabolic alterations can cause lactate acidosis.


[Protein composition of human saliva under rest and stimulation and its changes in salivary gland diseases].

In 153 probands the following parameters of normal parotid gland secretion were examined: flow-rate, total protein excretion, lysozyme, amylase, phosphatase, BAEE-esterase, immunglobulin A and trypsin-inhibitor. The results were compared with secretions of parotid glands with tumors (51 patients), sialadenitis (22 patients) and sialadenosis (12 patients). Thereby differential diagnosis in sialotumors was found possible. The mose important parameters are flow-rate, protein and immunglobulin A-concentrations, Moreover it is possible to differentiate in sialadenitis and sialadenosis: lysocym secretion gives besides flow--rate protein and immunglobulin A-concentration a good parameter in differentiating both pathological findings. Discelectrophoretic and immunoelectrophoretic separations supplement the differential diagnosis in sialotumors, sialadenitis and sialadenosis. The results are discussed.


[Nutrition metabolites in the anterior eye segments. Studies on model experiments and on man].

Glucose and fructose pathways of the cornea, the aqueous humour and the vitreous body were investigated under pathological conditions in the rabbit eye. There was a concentration gradient for glucose from blood via aqueous to corneal stroma and from corneal epithelium via corneal stroma to the aqueous. After experimental decrease of glucose by cyclodiathermy it is possible to increase glucose in corneal stroma by glucose or fructose infusions. Probably the sorbitol pathway plays a major role.


[Requirements on the production and testing of sera and vaccines].

After discussion of the legal basis for licencing and release of sera and vaccines the procedures practiced in Western Germany and in the USA are compared. The value of specified tests required in routine control for safety and efficacy of biological products is discussed. The best means to control biological products in the opinion of the author is a continuous quality control during the entire process of production.


[The medical situation in Bhutan with special consideration of mountaineering].

Several thousand mountaineers a year from Germany alone visit high mountains (4000 to 7000 m) in non-european countries. This number si steadily increasing and it seems necessary to familiarize oneself with the medical situation in these countries. Compared to other countries we saw that in Bhutan rescue is possible within a short time, because of the rather short distances between trekking routes and the Thimphu General Hospital. Medical staff in this hospital is very cooperative, for instance if a patient with severe joint injuries should be transferred to Europe for treatment with all possibilities of bone and joint surgery. Generally, however, we recommend to establish special rescue stations in various places with wireless equipment in order to get help as soon as possible in case of emergency and to avoid delayed rescue or transportation under poor conditions (horse back).


[Fracture of the vertebrae due to riding accidents].

Fractures of the vertebral column due to riding accidents are frequent. In most of the cases we observe compression fractures of a vertebral body without compression symptoms of the spinal cord. If fractures of the spine heal with a gibbus deformity degenerative changes of the vertebral joints with severe back pains may ensue. Therefore it seems necessary to treat fractures of the vertebral spine with immediate reposition (ventraler Durchhang) and following immobilisation with a plastic corset Lightcast, Hexcelite). Occasionally operative stabilisation is necessary, especially in fractures of the cervical spine.


[Injuries from hang gliding].

106 accidents in hang gliding during the years 1974--1977 are discussed. 25 pilots died, 19 of the flyers suffered severe brain damage and multiple fractures. Injuries associated with hang gliding are very often fractures of the lower extremities, of the spine and of the head. Severe burns were seen if flyers touch electric wires. Preventive safety measures consist in approved schools for flyers, better safety devices (shoes, helmet), official testing and approval of equipment; a modified parachute should be developed and used.


[Epicondylitis humeri (tennis elbow)].

Epicondylitis is mostly related to a tendinosis found in the region of the radial or ulnar epicondylus, where the common origin of the extensor or flexor muscles is anchored. Several causes are associated with the etiopatho-genesis, most important is mechanical stress. The working hand is involved in the majority of cases. The age of the patients ranges mainly from 40-60 years. In 90% of the cases conservative measures are successful; if surgical treatment is necessary we recommend a modified version of Hohmann's operation.


[Injuries of the capsular ligament of the ankle joint, so-called "ankle joint distorsion"].

The capsular and ligamentous lesion of the ankle is the most frequent injury and very common in sports. Still these injuries are frequently minimized and not treated properly. Late results are instability, subluxation and finally posttraumatic osteoarthritis. Anterio-lateral instability indicates lateral capsular-ligamentous lesions. Antero-lateral instability can be proved chinically by the anterior drawer-test and radiologically by a standardized stress x-ray in lateral position. The fresh lesion has to be treated by primary ligamentous suture or by plaster cast for 6 weeks. The treatment of chronic instability is secondary reconstruction. Severe osteoarthritis can be treated by an ankle replacement (endoprosthesis) or by arthrodesis.


Cholic acid binding to isolated rat liver plasma membranes.

Cholic acid binding to isolated rat liver plasma membranes was studied using a centrifugal filtration technique which allowed independent determination of free and membrane-bound cholic acid. Binding of cholic acid was very rapid and reversible. Scatchard analysis revealed at least three binding sites with high, medium and low affinity. The high affinity binding a) displayed saturability and isotope replacement, b) was not present in rat liver mitochondria and red blood cell ghosts and c) was temperature dependent. This binding has a very low capacity with a dissociation constant in the physiological range of plasma cholic acid concentration and has an affinity for other common bile acids. Cholic acid binding to the high affinity binding site was not inhibited by estrone, beta-estradiol or cholesterol. These results would suggest that the high affinity binding site represents a specific binding site for cholic acid and may also be specific for other common bile acids. This binding was not dependent on Na and was inhibited by bromosulfophthalein. Cholic acid binding to the high affinity site has some features in common with cholic acid uptake by isolated rat hepatocytes, and this would suggest that the high affinity binding site could be the postulated carrier for hepatic uptake of cholic acid.


Snake venoms. The amino-acid sequence of polypeptide DE-1 from Ophiophagus hannah (King cobra) venom.

A major polypeptide (DE-1) was purified from King cobra venom by ion-exchange chromatography on CM-cellulose and also DEAE-cellulose and by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50. DE-1 comprises 60 amino acid residues and is cross-linked by four intrachain disulphide bridges. The complete primary structure of the polypeptide has been elucidated. The properties of DE-1 were compared with those of the short neurotoxin and the cytotoxin groups and of the angusticeps types. The sequence and some of the invariant residues of DE-1 resemble the short neurotoxin group and to some degree also the cytotoxin group, but it is a nontoxic (LD50 greater than 250 microgram/g of mouse) polypeptide.


Isolation and partial characterization of a low molecular weight acid stable protease inhibitor from human bronchial secretion.

An acid stable protease inhibitor was isolated from human bronchial secretion. Two important stages of the purification procedure were affinity chromatography on trypsin bound to Affi-Gel 10 and ion-exchange chromatography on SP-Sephadex C-50. The isolated inhibitor appeared as a single band on analytical disc electrophoresis and eluted as a homogeneous protein peak on gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 corresponding to a molecular weight of about 10500. Amino acid analyses showed no tryptophan or histidine and as N-terminal amino acid tyrosine. No glucosamine or galactosamine was detected. The results of the analyses suggest that the purified inhibitor is identical to the low molecular weight trypsin-chymotrypsin inhibitor of human seminal plasma (HUSI-I).


[The sequence of a dimeric haemoglobin (component VIIB, Chironomus thummi thummi, Diptera) (author's transl)].

The primary structure of the symmetric dimeric haemoglobin from type alpha2 component CTT VIIB from the larvae of Chironomus thummi thummi is given. The sequence revealed the presence of at least two components differing in six positions. A comparison with human alpha-chains is discussed with respect to the primary structure, helices, and haem complex and haem contacts.


Risk for recombinants in pericentric inversions of the (p11 leads to q21) region of chromosome 18.

A child with female hypospadia complicated by bilateral hydronephrosis, hydroureter, and hydrocolpos was heterozygous for a pericentric inversion of chromosome 18, 46,XX,inv(18)(p11q21). The normal mother and her father had the same inversion. The abnormal phenotype of the girl could be due to undetectable recombination or to a position effect. She had a low level of the enzyme peptidase-A whose locus is on 18q, while her mother and grandfather had normal levels. The two other cases of familial inversions for chromosomes 18 in the literature both involve the same (p11 leads to q21) region. These three families give a tentative figure of at least 10% as the risk for a normal carrier of this pericentric inversion to have an affected offspring due to recombination.


Partial trisomy 14q due to familial t(14q-,11q+) translocation.

A malformed male newborn with partial trisomy for the distal part of the long arm chromosome 14 (14q23 leads to 14 qter) is described. This anomaly arose as a segregation product of a balanced t(14q-,11q+), translocation in the father.


47,XY,+der(11;22)(q23;q12) following balanced translocation t(11;22)(q23;q12)mat. Remarks on the problem of trisomy 22.

Report of a supernumerary extra chromosome der(11;22)(q23;q12) resulting from a balanced translocation in the mother. The propositus suffers from mental deficiency, deafness and extreme muscular weakness and exhibits cleft palate, a labial lymphangioma and an atrial septum defect. Since the features of partial trisomy 11q23 frequently associated with a translocation t(11q;22q) bear similarities with the cases of so called trisomy 22 one might conjecture that some of these observations are in fact products of translocations including partial 11q.


Pure gonadal dysgenesis (type XX). Report on a family with four affected sibs.

A family with four 46,XX siblings affected by the pure gonadal dysgenesis syndrome is described. Inheritance is by an autosomal recessive gene limited to the female sex.


Dispermic origin of a 69,XXY triploid.

Triploidy, 69XXY, was found in a newborn with multiple abnormalities. Conception had occurred shortly after the mother ceased taking an oral contraceptive. The infant carried a pair of 21s with giant satellites; of the parents, only the father carried a giant-satellited 21. This, together with the XXY constitution, suggested a dispermic origin of the triploidy.


Partial trisomy 8q in half-sisters with distinct dysmorphic patterns not similar to the trisomy 8 mosaicism syndrome.

Two cases of partial trisomy 8q are presented. Common clinical features included severe mental and physical retardation, a prominent and short forehead, widely set mongoloid eyes, broad, flat nose with short septum, short upper lip, misshapen ears, a funnel chest, hypertrichosis of the back, coxa valga, and short fingers with brachymesophalangy and clinodactyly of the little fingers. Moreover, Case 1 had a frontal meningocele and bilateral talipes equinovarus, and Case 2 had a ventricular septal defect. The chromosome aberration in the two girls arose from a maternal balanced translocation, t(8;18) (q2309;p113). Since the major clinical features of mosaic trisomy 8 are absent in the two girls and in other cases of partial trisomy, both for the distal segment of the long arm and for the short arm of chromosome 8, it is concluded that trisomy of the proximal part of the long arm of chromosome 8 causes most of the clinical findings of trisomy 8 mosaicism syndrome.


Sister chromatid exchanges in balanced translocation carriers and in patients with unbalanced karyotypes.

Sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) were studied in peripheral human leukocytes from 16 patients with balanced translocations or with unbalanced karyotypes, and from 4 controls. No difference was seen between these two groups of people in the mean number of SCEs per cell, or in the total number of SCEs observed for each pair of autosomes involved in the translocations studied. With this last number no difference from the expected number of SCEs, if one supposes that SCEs follow a random distribution, was seen.


Karyotyping of bone-marrow cells in hematologic diseases.

Cultures of bone-marrow cells incubated for 5 h at 4 degrees had cells in metaphase with elongated chromosomes which were easily Giemsa banded. Colcemid was not necessary for metaphase arrest at this temperature. This technique made possible routine karyotyping of patients with leukemia and other hematological diseases in which the detection of aberrations was otherwise difficult.


HLA-A, B, C gene and haplotype frequencies in Vienna. An analysis of family data.

The HLA-A, B, C haplotype frequencies determined through family investigations in 500 unrelated individuals of the Viennese population were calculated, as well as the gene frequencies of 37 HLA determinants and the linkage disequilibria between the three HLA SD loci (HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C). The existence of HLA-A, B, C superhaplotypes could be confirmed.


Human DNA replication: fiber autoradiographic analysis of diploid cells from normal adults and from Fanconi's anemia and ataxia telangiectasia.

Fiber autoradiograms prepared from radioactive DNA of diploid skin fibroblasts and lymphocytes from normal adult humans show patterns of replication of chromosomal DNA that are closely similar to those from other mammalian cells. The rate of replication fork movement is 0.64 micrometer/min and 0.42 micrometer/min for fibroblasts and lymphocytes respectively. In both types of cells, replication units show a median length of about 70 micrometer. Replication proceeds bidirectionally from a central origin in most units and adjacents units initiate synthesis synchronously. In skin fibroblasts from individuals with Fanconi's anemia or ataxia telangiectasia, the autoradiographic patterns of DNA replication are the same as in controls. This suggests that S phase DNA synthesis is normal in these disorders.


Recurrent abortion associated with a balanced 22;22 translocation, or isochromosome 22q in a monozygous twin.

A 45,XX,t(22;22)(p11;q11) or 45,XX,i(22q) chromosomal rearrangement was found in a woman with a history of recurrent abortion. A twin sister did not have the translocation even though marker studies indicate that the twins are probably monozygotic.


Ring chromosome 4 and Wolf syndrome.

A 5-day-old male child presenting some features of Wolf syndrome is studied. The analysis of his karyotype by usual techniques showed a ring chromosome of B group. This chromosome was presnt in most of the cells examined. By GTG banding it was identified as a No.4 chromosome, the karyotype being: 46,XY,r(4),(p15 leads to q35). The analysis was completed by familial cytogenetic and dermatoglyphic studies.


Short-arm deletion of an X chromosome (45,XO/46,XX p--).

A 31-year-old female patient with short stature, signs of gonadal dysgenesis, and slight Turner signs is described with a mosaic 45,XO/46,XX del (X) (qter leads to p11) determined with trypsin Giemsa-banding and C-staining. BUdR incorporation indicated the deleted X to be late replicating.


Familial t(X;2) (p223;q323) with partial trisomy 2q and male and female balanced carriers.

A familial t(X;2) (p223;q323) is responsible for partial trisomy 2q in the proposita, a 3-year-old girl with severe mental retardation and hypotrophia. It is present in the balanced state in the mother, two daughters, and one son. X-replication was studied after BUDR incroporation and acridine orange staining. The reproductive impairment of balanced X/autosome translocations is discussed.


Middle third femoral fractures treated with medullary nailing or AO compression plates.

Fifty-eight medullary nailings and 46 internal fixations with AO plates were performed on fractures of the middle third of the femur. The complication rate was 21-2%, infections accounting for 7-7% and implant failures for another 7-7%. Critical descriptions of the failures are given, 6 of 8 implant failures being biomechanical. Follow-up results were excellent or satisfactory in 95% of cases in both groups. At follow-up after 3 1/2 years, there was no difference in results between the two methods of treatment.


Compression-fusion of the first carpometacarpal joint (rizarthrodesis) in the treatment of disability arising from neglected Bennett's fracture: a new surgical technique.

A new method of trapeziometacarpal fusion is described. Its essential features are compression using a new device, rigid internal fixation with an AO small-fragment T-plate with or without cancellous bone grafting, no postoperative external fixation and early active movements.


The application of rigid internal fixation to the treatment of non-union and delayed union using the AO technique.

This paper describes our experience over a period of 10 years (1966-76) with fractures showing non-union and delayed union. All were treated by the AO technique. The source of our patients, the management of their fractures and the results are described. From this experience we have drawn conclusions on which future policy will be based.


Rigid fixation as a treatment for hypertrophic non-union.

A series of 17 cases of non-union in which the one common factor in treatment was rigid fixation, resulted in union.


Combined fractures of the femoral and tibial shafts in the same limb.

This paper reports a study of ipsilateral fractures of the femoral and tibial shafts in 21 patients treated according to a detailed plan including shock treatment, prophylaxis against fat embolism, soft-tissue and fracture treatment. Death due to hypovalaemic shock was eliminated and the incidence of fat emboliism (9-5%) reduced in comparison with an earlier series. The tibial fracture was stabilized by plaster or internal fixation as soon as conditions allowed. In most cases the femoral fracture was treated by medullary mailing. Results have improved compared with earlier series. All fractures healed within 15 months, and functional end results have been excellent in the majority of the surviving patients (89%).


'Straight lateral traction' in selected supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children.

A method of treating completely displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children by 'straight lateral traction', as originally used by John Dunlop, is recommended. The results in  26 children, selected because manipulation had failed to achieve reduction, is examined, and indicates that this treatment is satisfactory for some problem fractures, leading usually to good results in terms of resolution of complications and return of function. It also avoids the ugly deformities of the elbow which follow reliance on a single form of treatment for all supracondylar fractures. Failure of anatomical reduction by the appliance is shown to be in the plane of elbow movement, where normal physiological mechanisms correct the bone by remodelling. Where there is epiphyseal damage, deformities may occur with any form of treatment.


A clinical and stress radiographical follow-up investigation after Jones' operation for replacing the anterior cruciate ligament.

Measurements have been made on knee radiographs exposed during stress displacement by controlled hydraulic forces using a specially designed apparatus. This accurately records the amount of anterior and posterior tibial displacement (drawer sign) and the degree of medial and lateral collateral ligament laxity on radiographs. The findings in 25 patients have been analysed following the Jones' procedure for the repair of the anterior cruciate ligaments. The operative results were judged to be completely successful in 72% of patients and the value of stress radiographic measurements is discussed.


A comparison of the stability of proplast-coated and cemented Thompson prostheses in the treatment of subcapital femoral fractures.

Twenty randomly selected patients with displaced subcapital fractures of the femur, were treated with prosthetic replacement of the femoral head using a Thompson prosthesis of which the intramedullary portion was coated with Proplast. The results were compared with a control group of 20 similar patients in whom the standard Thompson prosthesis was used with acrylic cement. At follow-up, which ranged from 3 to 17 months, there was substantial X-ray evidence of prosthetic loosening in the Proplast series.


Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans endocarditis in a patient with a prosthetic aortic valve.

Bacterial endocarditis caused by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is a rare disease. A 48-year-old man who had a Starr-Edwards aortic valve prosthesis inserted in 1972 was admitted for evaluation of confusion, headaches, anorexia, weight loss, diarrhea and weakness. Six blood cultures yielded gram-negative organisms which were subsequently identified as A. actinomycetemcomitans. Treatment with ampicillin and gentamicin resulted in cure which has been maintained after an observation period of eleven months. This represents the second report of A. actinomycetemcomitans endocarditis in a patient with a prosthetic valve.


[A microbiological method for the rapid determination of antibiotic concentrations during therapy (author's transl)].

The assay described is an agar diffusion test using Bacillus stearothermophilus as test organism. Incubation is at 62 degrees C; results can be obtained rapidly within 2 to 3 hours. The test was developed for the determination of gentamicin concentrations in serum and other body fluids. Because of its high sensitivity the test strain is also suitable for the determination of other antibiotics. The test is designed primarily for the determination of concentrations in individual samples and thus for monitoring during therapy. The ease with which the test can be carried out is thus an important feature of it. On comparison with a standard method (agar diffusion test) using both serum samples from patients and samples with known gentamicin concentrations a highly significant correlation (r = 0.95) was seen between the two methods.


[Indications for the monitoring of aminoglycoside serum concentrations in internal medicine (author's transl)].

Numerous factors in the human body can influence and cause variations in the pharmacokinetics of aminoglycoside antibiotics. As a result of these observations it has been demanded that all treatments with aminoglycosides be monitored. This would only appear to be justified for a limited number of indications, however, which involve very high dosages, long-term therapy and impaired renal function. The advantages of monitoring treatment are demonstrated in a patient with endocarditis.


[Indications for the determination of plasma concentrations of aminoglycosides (author's transl)].

Provided a well-equipped laboratory and a properly trained staff are available, plasma concentrations of aminoglycosides should be determined in cases of severe impairment of renal function, changes in the body fluid content (oedema, dehydration), and anemia. In the absence of the above-mentioned facilities, the half-life should be estimated on the basis of creatinine clearance, and the plasma concentration calculated accordingly. Close clinical supervision of patients receiving aminoglycosides is however the most important aspect of treatment.


[Enzymatic assays of aminoglycoside antibiotics (author's transl)].

Adenylylating or acetylating enzymes, which are produced by grampositive and gramnegative bacteria resistant to aminoglycoside antibiotics, are useful tools in determining concentrations of aminoglycosides in patients' body fluids. Due to their accuracy, stability, versatility, fastness and inexpensiveness, enzymatic assays are the tests of choice for the routine determination of aminoglycoside concentrations.


Influenza immunization: serologic and clinical responses in military units.

Two inactivated influenza-virus vaccines were tested and compared in three army training units in Israel. The serological responses to the vaccines and the side-effects were assessed. The vaccines contained the influenza strains which were prevalent in 1974: A2/Port Chalmers/1/73 and B/Hong Kong/8/73. One of the vaccines also contained A2/England/42/72. Both vaccines caused a more than three-fold rise in geometric mean titers against influenza A strains, and about a twofold rise in geometric mean titers against influenza B/Hong Kong/5/73. Approximately 75%-80% of the vaccinees acquired protective hemagglutination-inhibition antibody titers against influenza A strains, while less than 30% acquired protective titers against B strains. In general, there were no significant differences between the serological responses to the two vaccines. More than 50% of the vaccinees experienced at least one systemic side-effect (50.3% with one vaccine and 61.0% with the other). The average number of side-effects per person was between 1.78 and 2.11. However, these side-effects were generally of short duration and caused minimal disability. On the whole, the two vaccines did not differ significantly with regard to the side-effects they caused.


[Brill's Disease in Eastern Slovakia (author's transl)].

A report is presented on the epidemiological, clinical and serological findings obtained in 37 patients in the southern part of Eastern Slovakia who were diagnosed as having Brill's disease. All patients presented with a recurrence of classical louse-borne typhus; in no case did the disease occur for the first time. It is recommended that all patients with a febrile illness of uncertain aetiology be subjected to a routine serological examination for louse-borne typhus in epidemic areas. Careful supervision is necessary since if such late recurrences are not detected they can result in a renewed spread of the disease in an environment where lice prevail. This was demonstrated in one of the patients in this study.


Murine typhus and spotted fever in Israel in the seventies.

One hundred and eleven cases of rickettsial disease-100 cases of murine typhus and 11 cases spotted fever--seen over a four year period at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center are reviewed. The clinical picture of murine typhus (caused by Rickettsia mooseri and transmitted by Xenopsylla cheopis) could not be distinguished from that of spotted fever (caused by a Rickettsia similar to Rickettsia conori and transmitted by Rhipicephalus). Some quite severe cases of murine typhus and some relatively mild cases of spotted fever were seen.


[Experimental studies on the renal tolerance of cefuroxime (author's transl)].

The potential renal tolerance of cefuroxime was investigated in 80 female albino Wistar rats and compared with that of cephacetrile. The drugs were administered i.m. in different dosages (1000, 2000, 3000 and 5000 mg/kg/day; dosage interval: 12 h) over a period of five days. The excretion of tubular cells and urinary malic dehydrogenase was assessed before, during and after administration of the antibiotics. In addition, the concentration of serum urea was analysed and the renal histology was examined. The following toxic threshold doses were estimated: cefuroxime 5000 mg/kg/day, cephacetrile 3000 mg/kg/day. In comparison with other cephalosporines cefuroxime belongs to those antibiotics with which a high degree of renal tolerance is demonstrated.


Total body wash-out in patients with fulminant hepatitis.

Two patients with fulminant hepatic necrosis and in stage IV coma were treated with a rapid infusion of refrigerated buffered albumin electrolyte solution combined with simultaneous total body wash-out in order to remove the circulating neurotoxins and to provide additional time for liver regeneration. Both patients awoke from the coma following treatment. One patient recovered completely, the other died on the second day as a result of massive gastro-intestinal bleeding. The clinical value and the technical problems of the procedure are investigated.


Pharmacokinetic aspects of digoxin in patients with terminal renal failure. II. On hemodialysis.

Pharmacokinetics of digoxin was studied in 9 patients during hemodialysis. All patients were treated with a short-dialysis schedule, using Gambro Lundia Major dialysers for 5 patients and Gambro Lundia Nova dialysers for 4 patients. Clearances of the dialysers and half-lives were calculated from plasma digoxin levels in blood samples taken simultaneously from arterial and venous blood lines during hemodialysis. The mean clearances of the Major and Nova were 28.3 and 21.8 ml/min respectively. During hemodialysis the mean plasma half-life was 13.8 hours with the Major and 19.1 hours with the Nova. The mean net lowering effect of hemodialysis on the plasma concentration decay line was 9.5 and 6.5% for the Major and Nova respectively. Post-dialysis plasma concentration data suggest that the rate at which digoxin returns to plasma from body tissues is the rate-controlling factor in the elimination of digoxin by the artificial kidney.


Studies covering combined treatments with xipamide. Results of a long-term antihypertensive treatment.

The antihypertensive active of Xipamide was tested in 23 patients. Xipamide was given in combination with clonidine hydrochloride. The diuretic produced additional reductions in the recumbent blood pressure in 15 patients, and the orthostatic pressure in 19 patients. The antihypertensive action corresponds to those of established diuretics. The same responses were obtained in essential and secondary hypertension. A disadvantage associated with long-term treatment is that of hypokalaemia, which occurs at a dose level of 80 mg Xipamide (double the therapeutic dose). We accordingly recommend a dose of 40 mg, and, as a precaution, regular electrolyte checks. The levels of other side-effects-interference in carbohydrate, lipid, and uric acid metabolism and the rise in blood urea nitrogen are the same as for other diuretics.


Effects of sotalol in twenty patients with cardiac arrhythmias.

Sotalol was given intravenously at doses of 20 to 60 mg to 20 selected patients with various cardiac arrhythmias. Ten of these patients subsequently received oral sotalol at doses of 80 to 160 mg twice a day. The drug was beneficial in 2 out of 2 patients with sinus tachycardia and in 4 out of 7 patients with other supraventricular tachycardias. The drug was particularly effective in lidocaineresistant ventricular arrhythmias since it was effective in 9 out of 11 patients. The blood pressure of the 4 patients who were hypertensive was significantly lowered while that of the normotensive patients was not affected. Three patients who suffered from severe myocardial disease developed sinus bradycardia, which was life-threatening in 2 of them.


Pharmacokinetic comparison of the one-point method with other methods in predicting steady state drug concentrations in multiple dosing.

Using blood level-time profiles of five different drugs, the maximum and minimum drug concentrations,c'max and c'min, were determined according to four different methods. It was demonstrated that the one-point method results in an acceptable estimate allowing prediction of steady state concentrations and adjustment of dose regimen based on one single blood level concentration determined during the later part of the first dosing interval, and utilizing literature on the biological half-life and the time to reach the peak. In case of renal impairment a correction can be made after determination of serum creatinine in the one blood sample taken.


The bio-availability of beta-acetyldigoxine (Novodigal) alone and combined with oxyfedrine (Ildamen-Novodigal).

The bio-availability of various galenic preparations of beta-acetyldigoxine was tested in six healthy probands after a single oral dose (1 mg). The availability parameters were calculated from the areas under the plasma concentration curves and from the cumulative urinal excretion. There was no significant difference between the bio-availabilities of Novodigal (beta-acetyledigoxine tablets), Ildamen-Novodigal (beta-acetyldigoxine and oxyfedrine) and an alcoholic solution of beta-acetyldigoxine. Correlation calculations showed that the determination of the plasma concentration courses up to six hours after substance application are most favourite in regard to judging the absorption processes of digoxine preparations. For the assessment of the bio-availability, the methods of comparing the areas under the blood level curves of 0 to 6 hrs and of comparing the cumulative urinal excretion over a period of 24 hrs were of equal validity.


S-carboxymethylcysteine sulfone: instability to acid hydrolysis and unreactivity with N-terminal reagents.

An examination of the properties and reactivity of S-carboxymethylcysteine sulfone indicated that, unlike S-carboxymethylcysteine, the sulfone is not stable under acid hydrolysis conditions and decomposes to yield alanine. Unlike S-carboxymethylcysteine, the sulfone is resistant to N-derivatization by the dansyl reagent or by phenylisothiocyanate. Efforts were made to determine if spontaneous cyclization of the sulfone to the corresponding thiazane (lactam) accounts for lack of reactivity. These included i.r. spectroscopy, natural abundance 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, but yielded equivocal results concerning the existence of the cyclic form in solution. Solubility behavior of the sulfone after lyophilization from strongly acid solutions was consistent with conversion of the open chain form to the cyclic form on addition of water.


Kinetic and conformational studies on some partially synthetic ribonuclease S' analogues modified in position 8.

Syntheses are described of two S-peptide analogues where the arginyl residue in position 10 has been replaced by ornithine and the phenylalanine in position 8 has been substituted by the unnatural amino acids cyclohexylalanine or p-fluorophenylalanine. In order to regenerate the arginyl residue, which is present in position 10 in the natural sequence, the S-peptide analogues beloning to the [Orn10]-series are transformed into the corresponding guanidinated derivatives by treatment with O-methylisourea. 1epsilon, 7epsilon, 10delta triguan-[Cha8, Orn10]-, 1epsilon, 7epsilon, 10delta-triguan-[pF-Phe8, Orn10]- and 1epsilon, 7epsilon, 10delta-triguan-[Tyr8, Orn10]-S-peptides were prepared. The ability to bind to and activate the S-protein of the synthetic S-peptide analogues, before and after guanidination, was tested by exploring their capacity to generate ribonuclease activity using RNA and C greater than p as substrates. The affinity of the different peptides for the S-protein in the absence of substrate was evaluated by difference spectroscopy.


Comparison of proteins from thermophilic and nonthermophilic sources in terms of structural parameters inferred from amino acid composition.

The amino acid composition of 14 different proteins from thermophilic bacteria were compiled along with the amino acid compositions of 56 corresponding proteins from nonthermophilic sources. A comparison was made between proteins serving the same catalytic function, and significant differences in composition were noted for those proteins from thermophilic bacteria. However, no consistent pattern was evident and the differences were often small. The two data pools were treated as two distinct classes and a thermophilic versus non-thermophilic comparison of amino acid composition was made using the Student's t-test. Significant differences in composition were found for Asx (sum of Asp and Asn, if known), Ser, and Arg. Both classes of data have similar standard deviations for the mean of any single amino acid, suggesting a similar tolerance of variation in the two classes of proteins. This would argue against the hypothesis that thermophiles exhibit a greater frequency of errors in protein synthesis. The amino acid compositions were used to calculate structural parameters (% helix, % beta, % turn, hydrophobicity, and melting temperatures) for the two classes of proteins. Of these, only the predicted % beta content was significantly lower for proteins of thermophilic origin. No differences in hydrophobicity or predicted melting temperature were observed for the two classes of proteins. This study supports the hypothesis that while small differences may occur in the amino acid composition of thermophilic proteins, they are quite varied and often are very subtle.


Theoretical studies on beta-lactam antibiotics. I. Conformational similarity of penicillins and cephalosporins to X-D-alanyl-D-alanine and correlation of their structure with activity.

The substrate analogue hypothesis proposed for the mechanism of the action of penicillins and cephalosporins is examined by stereochemical criteria. These beta-lactam antibiotics assume conformation similar to X-D-alanyl-D-alanine due to the presence of the lactam ring; this disagrees with the assumption made by Tipper & Strominger that L and D amino acid residues take similar conformation. The model proposed in this study for the activity of these antibiotics differs considerably from the earlier models, mainly in phi2 rotational angle which determines the conformation of the aminoacyl group. The inactivity of C6 or C7 epimers and the effect of various substitutions at 6alpha or 7alpha and C2 positions of penicillins and cephalosporins on the biological activity are explained.


In vitro effects of flavin adenine dinucleotide and dexamethasone phosphate on high molecular weight phosphate compounds in the rat lens.

In order to clarify the pathogenesis of steroid cataracts as one of the side effects from the administration of dexamethasone phosphate (DX), investigations were conducted into the in vitro effects of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and DX on the macromolecular phosphate compounds separated from the lens supernatant using Sephadex G-50. The author found that phosphate turnover in the macromolecular phosphate compounds was reduced by DX, however, the loss was partially prevented by the addition of FAD. These macromolecular phosphate compounds were identified as nucleic acids, mostly RNA and a small amount of protein. Therefore, the author employed an experiment using the incorporation of tritiated uridine and thymidine into this macromolecular phosphate compounds. The incroporation of uridine-3H into RNA and thymidine-3H into DNA was inhibited by the addition of DX, however, this loss of turnover rate was partially prevented in RNA by the simultaneous administration of FAD, whereas no change was found in the DNA fraction treated with FAD. These results suggest that there is a close relationhip between FAD and the turnover of macromolecular phosphate compounds in the lens and that FAD, as a new physiological role, has an ability to reactivate the depressed turnover of RNA resulting from a DX administration. The possible role of nucleic acid turnover on the pathogenesis of steroid cataracts was discussed with relationship to adrenal dysfunction leading to a phosphorylation insufficiency caused by DX.


Effect of ascorbic acid on plasma cholesterol in humans in a long-term experiment.

During the period of a low vitamin C intake (approximately equal to 20 mg per day) ascorbic acid in a dose of 2 x 500 mg per day was administered to 82 men and women aged 50-75 years. A correlation of plasma cholesterol levels determined before and after a three months' administration of ascorbic acid showed the effect of vitamin C to be dependent on the starting concentration of plasma cholesterol: the higher the initial cholesterolemia, the greater the hypocholesterolemic effect of ascorbic acid. On restricting the experimental group to subjects with an initial cholesterolemia above 230 mg%, the effect of the same dose of ascorbic acid on cholesterolemia was followed in three-month periods for a further 9 months. In all these time intervals, ascorbic acid was found significantly to depress cholesterolemia and its effects persisted 6 weeks after termination of the experiment. The administration of 2 x 500 mg ascorbic acid daily during one year resulted in an abrupt increase of ascorbemia and a marked accumulation of ascorbic acid in the leucocytes. Six weeks following interruption of ascorbic acid intake, vitamin C concentration in the leucocytes significantly declined but still continued to be twice higher than in the control receiving no ascorbic acid supplement.


Phagocytosis of alpha-tocopheryl nicotinate by the reticuloendothelial system: a microautoradiographic study.

The cellular distribution of labelled alpha-tocopheryl nicotinate after intravenous administration to normal rats was examined by light microscopic autoradiography. The compound was found to have accumulated in cells of the reticuloendothelial system.


Carnitine effect on heart steatosis induced in rats by rapeseed oil.

Myocardial triglyceride levels in rats fed a high erucic acid rapeseed oil diet for three days were five times higher than in controls. The incorporation of erucic acid and, to a lower extent, some unsaturated fatty acids was increased, as well as total cholesterol content, compared to controls. The presence of 5% carnitine in the diet partially prevented these effects. It is assumed that carnitine may be a rate limiting factor in the myocardial catabolism of unsaturated fatty acids and particularly erucic acid, when these substance are ingested in supraoptimal amount.


Dietary treatment of malnutrition. Balance-sheets of the main nutrients. Part II.

Results of a balance study of nitrogen, fat, electrolytes and trace-elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn) with 3 1/i to 9 years old malnourished children in the Kwilu region (Zaïre) are given. The main components of the diets were fish, lactose free milk, caseinate, partial hydrolasate of albumin, fermented corn and soya (Soy-Ogi), medium-chain triglycerides, rice and the local foods manioc, peanuts and caterpillars. The lactose free milk and the Soy-Ogi were well tolerated since we found only a small quantity of non absorbed sugar in the faeces. Our results show that in children who have secondary intestinal malabsorption the use of a partial hydrolysate of lactalbumin and the medium-chain triglycerides is recommended and the substitution of the manioc by rice also. Caseinate gave satisfactory results in adult-malnutrition. We found a good retention of nitrogen, fat and phosphorus. For the latter an addition was necessary. The potassium balance was also positive, a content of 5 meq/kg body weight in the food gave a sufficient retention time. The sodium chloride content of the diet must be moderate because of the oedemas (2 meq/kg body weight). The determination of the vitamin content in the diet and their urinary excretion gave some indication of the balance of these nutrients. Children who had intestinal troubles showed only a slight positive or negative balance of calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese, since we found a high faecel excretion for these elements. These rather unsatisfactory results emphasis the necessity of first curing any intestinal aliments.


Effects of high intake of vitamin C by the guinea pigs in pregnancy and lactation on the tissue levels of the vitamin in their offspring.

1. Though the growth-rate of the guinea pigs of both the groups - control and experimental were almost same, the gain in body weight in the offspring of experimental group animals were observed to be less when they were fed 1, 2 and 3 mg ascorbic acid per 100 g body weight per day. 2. Ascorbic acid content in the tissues of the offspring maintained on 1, 2 and 3 mg ascorbic acid belonging to the experimental group were low. 3. The rate of growth and the tissue content of ascorbic acid were found to be normal in the same group of animals when they were supplemented with 4 mg ascorbic acid per 100 g body weight daily.


An evaluation of a program for teaching clinic patients the rationale of their peptic ulcer regimen.

This study examined the effectiveness of a program for teaching complex medical concepts, the rationale of antacid therapy, to clinic patients with peptic ulcer. Those who already knew the rationale were excluded, and the remaining patients were divided into three groups: I. taught the rationale, II. taught other materials, III. untaught control. Teaching proved effective when: (1) basic concepts were identified and taught, (2) important misconceptions were eliminated, and (3) patient's attention was maintained and their progress monitored with the Socratic method. The key facts were acquired by 85 per cent of the patients within four sessions. However, application of the learned concepts in solving new problems varied with the intelligence of the patient. Certain misconceptions could not be eliminated by the teaching.


Pilot study of discussion groups of "worried well" patients in an ambulatory care setting.

Two pilot discussion groups were conducted for patients who met selected criteria indicating they were worried well patients (not requiring conventional medical care services). The objective of the groups was to explore and demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing an educational approach conducted by paraprofessional personnel, under physician supervision, for helping to meet the needs of such patients, thereby reducing utilization of more expensive physician resources. The findings indicated that 50 percent of the patients reduced the number of visits to the physician, and 60 percent perceived the experience as helpful.


[Homograft tympanic membrane and ossicular chain (author's transl)].

Ten years study of the use of homografts in reconstructive surgery of the ear have enabled the author to achieve excellent results, from both a functional as well as anatomical standpoint. At present, restoration of auditory function is almost always possible. The viability of homografts of the tympanic membrane, the annulus, tendons, ligaments and periosteum seems to pose no problem but revitalisation of the ossicles is less certain. A description is given of the different methods used for the removal of transplant material, its fixation, selection and conservation.


[Surgical correction of the severed larynx, associated with severe swallowing disturbances (author's transl)].

After complete separation of the larynx from its cranial suspensions, the larynx is displaced caudally and the base of the tongue cranially. This produces an enlargement of the distance between the larynx and the base of the tongue, which can be demonstrated radiographically. Severe dysphagia is the result which may produce complete inability to swallow. Surgical management of this condition consists of mobilization of the laryngotracheal complex and its attachment to the hyoid bone by sutures. Successful results in two cases are described.


[Experiences with the management of acute esophageal burns (author's transl)].

Corrosive burns of the esophagus are still relatively frequently encountered by the clinician. In cases of mild or moderately severe burns, accepted management involves the use of corticosteroids and antibiotics. However, controversy exists in such therapy for the severe burns. The present author's experience with these injuries over a 16 year period indicates that both steroids and antibiotics are necessary in all patients and that esophageal strictures can be prevented with corticosteroids without any side effects from the drug.


[Results of the SISI test and Békésy audiometry in pseudohypacusis (author's transl)].

The terminology of pseudohypacusis is used for the syndrome of gaps between possible audiometric response and performance in testing. No etiology in psychological terms is defined for pseudohypacusis, although monetary compensation has been considered as a possible factor. SISI ratings of 0% in most instances (ranging to a maximum of 25%) have been observed. Békésy-audiometry produced Types I, II, IV and V tracings as well as unclassified curves, although the type V tracing is most commonly found. Results of fixed frequency Békésy-audiometry have also shown a shift of curves for continuous and interrupted tones (called "Type VI"). In some cases Type V and Type VI tracings were found in the same ears. The causes and psychoacoustic phenomenon involved remain unexplained.


[The differential diagnosis of cochlear, retrocochlear and central hearing disorders, and the limitations of conventional audiometry (author's transl)].

A review is made of the difficulties of audiometric diagnosis resulting from inadequate anatomical, physiological and pathological knowledge of the auditory system and from discrepancies in audiometric technique. Even with a broad battery of tests there is in 20-40% of cases an inconsistent audiometric pattern, which differs from the expected and typical cochlear eighth nerve, brain stem and cortical responses. These are demonstrated in presbyacusis, Meniere's disease, acoustic tumours, brainstem disorders and temporal lobe disease.


[Long-term results of fractured nasal bones in adults. Clinical and roentgenographic examinations (author's transl)].

In 100 adults the effect of treatment of nasal fractures was followed up after 14 to 65 months. In 30% of 53 patients with closed reduction of the nose long-term results as to shape and function of the nose were not satisfying. Nasal obstruction deformity slowly developed several months after treatment mainly because of untreated septal fractures and green-stick fractures of the nasal bones. After open reduction and septal reconstruction only 1 of 17 patients had a poor result. By roentgenographic examinations three types of fracturelines could be distinguished: osseous (40), fibrous (37), and mixed transformations (23). In all types there was found a solid nasal pyramid. The osseous transformation of the fracture-line was promoted by reduction of the fracture within the first posttraumatic days, by a small distance of the fractured ends and if the injury was not too violent.


Rat model of acute heatstroke mortality.

A total of 252 untrained, unacclimatized, and unanesthetized laboratory rats weighing between 485 and 545 g were fasted and either run to exhaustion at 5, 20, 23, or 26 degrees C or were restrained and heated at an ambient temperature of 41.5 degrees C. The incidence of mortality associated with a wide range of work-induced hyperthermias was compared to the lethality of equivalent heat loads in the absence of physical effort. The severity of hyperthermia was calculated in degree-minutes above a base-line core temperature of 40.4 degrees C. The LD25's of run-exhausted versus restrained-heated rats were 16.8 and 30.1 deg-min, respectively. Survivors had a faster cooling rate than fatalities, but run-exhausted survivors had a slower cooling rate than restrained-heating survivors. Results indicate that 1) both the incidence of mortality and the survival time can be predicted from the severity of core heating, 2) work-related factors contribute to an increased rate of heatstroke death at low thermal loads, and 3) retrospectively, both heat-sensitive and heat-resistant groups were identified.


Relationship of lung recoil to lung volume and maximum expiratory flow in normal children.

Thirty-one normal children, aged 6--18 yr, were studied by measurements of static lung volumes, static expiratory pressure-volume (PV) curves, and maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves. A theoretical standard volume was used to compare children of differing size and this showed that total lung capacity (TLC) is also a valid standard volume. The shape of the PV curve was found to change so that static elastic recoil at a fixed proportion of TLC was higher in older than in younger children. This was also true of static recoil at functional residual capacity (FRC) and an associated increase in the ratio of FRC to TLC was interpreted as evidence for increase in outward recoil of the chest wall during childhood. Since static recoil at "closing capacity" (CC) remained constant, a decrease in the ratio of CC to TLC was quantitatively explained by the PV shift during childhood. Although maximum expiratory flow at various lung volumes increased in constant proportion to TLC, "upstream conductance" decreased relative to TLC. It was concluded that maturation of the respiratory system is disproportionate in several features during childhood and that these disproportions are likely to be even more prominent during infancy and early childhood.


Cardiac function and exercise training in conscious dogs.

Exercise training (T) was accomplished in 21 mongrel dogs. The animals were instrumented to measure ascending aortic flow, left ventricular pressure, and left atrial pressure. They were allowed to recover for 4 wk following surgery before accomplishing a standardized submaximal test (SMT). The exercise program alternated daily between sprint and endurance training. During T, the animals were tested while lying quietly on a laboratory table as well as during the SMT. In six animals, ventricular function curves (VFC) were obtained by rapid volume loading at similar time intervals as the SMT. Heart rate increased during the SMT but was found to be reduced in the T animals by an average of 20 beats/min. The maximum derivative of left ventricular pressure (P) increased during the SMT in T animals by an average of 2,200 Torr/s above the untrained animals. The VFC was lower in T animals than untrained animals because of a reduction in heart rate response. Results indicate a reflex adaptation of the nervous system with training to improve cardiac function.


Assessment of maximal aerobic power in specifically trained athletes.

Maximal aerobic power of 37 athletes (14 females and ten male cross-country skiers, eight male rowers and five male cyclists) was determined during uphill running on the treadmill and during maximal performance of their specific sport activity. For the skiers a significantly (P less than 0.005) higher VO2max was found during uphill skiing than during running, the differences being 2.9 and 3.1% for the females and males, respectively. The rowers and cyclists obtained a difference of 4.2 and 5.6%, respectively (P less than 0.01). The largest individual differences between the two test procedures were 12.2, 5.4, 14.3, and 7.9% for female and male cross-country skiers, rowers, and cyclists, respectively. It is concluded that in evaluation of maximal aerobic power of atheletes, it becomes important to select a work situation which allows optimal use of the specifically trained muscle fibres. This means that the test preferably should be identical with the subjects' specific sport activity, under the assumption that a reasonably large muscle mass is engaged during the performance.


Hematologic changes after two exposures to 6.7 ATA air at three-day intervals.

Hematologic parameters were studied in human subjects exposed to various diving regimens. A series of exposures in a dry chamber to a simulated depth of 188 ft of seawater gauge (fswg), 6.7 ATA, utilizing compressed air, were carried out according to standard Navy diving tables. The subjects were serially followed for a control period prior to diving and subsequently for up to 1 wk. Little significant change occurred except for alterations in some platelet factors. In another series of experiments, the single excursion was followed by a second dive to 188 fswg 3 days later, again with appropriate hematologic monitoring. A pronounced eosinopenia and increased clotting times were observed soon after reaching the surface. Platelet depletion associated with increased clumping and elevated megathrombocyte levels persisted long after the second excursion. A latent hemodilution also developed 3--5 after the second dive. These findings clearly demonstrate that repeated hyperbaric exposures produce additive effects and further suggest that no diving procedure is completely innocuous.


Effect of pentobarbital sodium on respiratory control in newborn rabbits.

Using the airway occlusion pressure technique, control of breathing was studied in unanesthetized and anesthetized newborn rabbits breathing various gas mixtures under steady-state conditions. Independent of the gas mixture breathed, barbiturate anesthesia resulted in a reduction of ventilation. This was not due to a change in inspiratory drive since for each gas mixture breathed the pressure generated by the inspiratory muscles 0.3 s after the onset of the occluded inspiration (P0.3) remained virtually unchanged, nor could this be attributed to changes in respiratory mechanics as indicated by the fact that the relation between P0.3 and V0.3 (the volume generated 0.3 s after onset of the immediately preceding unoccluded inspiration) did not change. On the other hand, during anesthesia inspiratory time was slightly shortened as a result of a change in both central (bulbopontine) and peripheral (volume-related vagal reflex) modulation, while expiratory duration was markedly prolonged. This disproportionate increase in expiratory duration with respect to inspiratory duration was responsible for most of the depression of ventilation found in the newborn rabbits during barbiturate anesthesia.


Effects of growth, diving history, and high altitude on blood oxygen capacity in harbor seals.

Blood volume and body composition measurements were carried out on diving and nondiving harbor seals, Phoca vitulina. There were small, statistically significant differences in several red blood cell parameters between diving and nondiving seals, but the effect was superimposed on uniformly large blood volumes ranging from 11 to 12% of body weight found in all the animals. It is suggested that the large blood oxygen transport and storage capacity is not so much a direct result of the apneic diving experience, but an expression of phylogenetic control. The development of blood volume during early growth was closely related to the increase in lean body mass. In spite of the inherently large blood volume, this marine mammal when exposed to high altitude for 85 days at an elevation of 3.1 km above sea level appeared to exhibit typical mammalian erythropoietic and ventilatory responses to long-term, mild hypoxia. Thus, it probably cannot be considered to be preacclimatized to high altitude.


Difference between the He bolus and N2 technique for measuring closing volume.

We measured closing volume in sixteen healthy subjects simultaneously and separately with a bolus of He (using a rapid catharaometer) and with the N2 technique. In another group of 35 active workers (some with airway obstruction), closing volume was measured separately with those two methods. In both groups the He closing volume was significantly higher than the N2 closing volume. We attribute this difference to a less marked vertical N2 concentration gradient, leading to a less clearly defined separation between phase III and IV and resulting in an underestimation of the N2 closing volume. Indeed, increasing the N2 gradient in the lung, by inspiring O2 from a higher than residual volume level, increased the N2 closing volume which became comparable to the He closing volume. We also found, for both He and N2 tracings, a significant between-observers difference in reading of the closing volume. However, the difference in reading of ts difference in reading of the closing volume. However, the difference was less important for He closing volumes. We conclude that the bolus method improves the resolution of closing volume and decreases the interobserver variability.