Aspects of body fluid dynam1cs of neonatal calf diarrhoea.

The results of balance studies upon 26 calves, most of which were diarrhoeic and some of which died, demonstrated that: (a) milk intake helped to maintain plasma volume but calves still died: (b) changes in haematocrit were related to milk intake but not to faecal output; (c) the kidney tended to compensate for excess faecal water output. but this function was dependent on the maintenance of adequate plasma volume and therefore on milk intake.


Changes in the width of epithelial cells in the healing excised cutaneous wound.

An account is given of the changes which take place in the width of epithelial cells over and around healing full-thickness excised skin wounds in the thoracic and metatarsal regions of the dog. Cellular hypertrophy extended for a distance of 4 mm into the surrounding epidermis. The widest basal cells occurred at the wound edge and close to the tip of the migrating epithelial sheet; thus they were found in regions where the rate of mitotic division was greatest. The width of the hypertrophic basal cells was 210 to 240 per cent greater than that of the normal basal cell. The maximum width of the spinosal cells was 17-9 mum which was 15 to 20 per cent wider than the underlying basal cells. The relatively large area covered by the enlarged migrating spinosal cells increased the rate at which the wound surface was covered with epithelium.


Some in vivo and in vitro properties of various fractions of Pimelea trichostachya.

Various fractions of alcoholic extract of Pimelea trichostachya were prepared and three of these were compared in terms of (a) ability to produce sustained contraction of spiral muscle of bovine pulmonary vein in vitro, (b) LD50 values in mice by intraperitoneal injection and (c) acute toxicity by intravenous injection into calves. Good agreement was observed between activity of the fractions in all three systems, thus providing further evidence for the role of pulmonary venous hypertension in the pathogenesis of at least part of the syndrome of Pimelea poisoning in the bovine. The most toxic of the fractions was shown by chronic intoxication of a calf to be capable of producing most of the features of the natural disease.


The applied pharmacology of azaperone in ponies.

The butyrophenone tranquilliser, azaperone, was administered intramuscularly to ponies in five series of experiments, using a dose level of 0-4 mg/kg once and 0-8 mg/kg four times. An excellent or good sedative effect was usually obtained with both dose levels, but the response was more consistent with the higher dose. The onset of sedation was apparent within 10 min of administration, the maximal effect usually occurring between 20 and 60 min while sedation was no longer apparent after 2 to 6 h. Body temperature was reduced in all animals for at least 2 h and respiratory rate was increased in some ponies but not in others. A mild tachycardia occurred in the first hour after administering azaperone (0-8 mg/kg) and arterial blood pressure was reduced for at least 4 h. The hypothesis that azaperone reduced blood pressure by blocking alpha-adrenoceptors, thereby decreasing vasomotor tone, was tested by measuring the ability of azaperone (0-8 mg/kg) to antagonise the action of standard intravenous doses of adrenaline (1-5 mug/kg) on blood pressure, Azaperone partially antagonised the pressor action of adrenaline and in comparative studies the phenothiazine tranquilliser, acepromazine (0-1 mg/kg), also exerted a similar blocking effect.


The pathogenesis of anaemia in Theileria annulata infection.

Calves infected by a field strain of Theileria annulata developed severe anaemia, which was accompanied by bilirubinaemia and the appearance of free serum autohaemagglutinin antibodies. Animals infected with an agamogenous strain (lacking erythrocytic forms) also became anaemic. Anisocytosis appeared in all infected animals but regenerative anaemic lesions were observed only in those which survived the infection. In this group of animals anaemia was accompanied by bilirubinaemia and the development of free serum auto-haemagglutinin. In calves premune to theileriosis splenectomy resulted in a recrudescence of erythrocytic forms but no fever. Only mild anaemia and bilirubinaemia occurred in this group of animals in spite of the high level of parasitism. Tests failed to show any production of free serum auto-haemagglutinin. It is postulated that, in T annulata infection, erythrocytic forms as well as schizonts contribute to the anaemia although the role played by schizonts is greater. The involvement of an auto-immune reaction is proposed.


Pathogenicity studies in poultry with an undefined serotype of Mycoplasma.

Pathogenicity trials in poultry are reported with an isolate of mycoplasma, designated 'W8', which is serologically unrelated to Mycoplasma gallisepticum, M synoviae or M meleagridis. W8 killed fowl and turkey embryos when injected into the yold sacs of embryonating eggs. Infection of one-day-old fowls, turkeys and pheasants by the air sac route caused marked growth depression and a high incidence of osteomyelitis of the vertebral column in all species. A large proportion of infected turkeys and a smaller proportion of infected pheasants also developed chondrodystrophic changes of the long bones similar to those of turkey syndrome '65. Infection did not cause mortality or macroscopic air sacculitis. No obvious pathological changes occurred in fowls following W8 infection by the air sac route at two weeks of age and only minimal changes when infection was given at one week. Infection did not appear to spread to in-contact controls. W8 was recovered most frequently and in greatest profusion from the air sacs, tracheas, kidneys and vertebral columns of fowls and turkeys following air sac infection at one day of age.


An in vitro study of the relative importance of bile and carbon dioxide in the activation of Fasciola gigantica metacercariae.

The relative importance of bile and atmospheric stimuli in activating metacercariae of Fasciola gigantica prior to excystment has been studied by omitting each in turn from the in vitro excystment medium, and by separating each from the period of incubation at 37 degrees C. The results indicate that bile is less important than carbon dioxide in triggering excystment, and may serve only to increase the permeability of the cyst wall to carbon dioxide. It is speculated that activation involves initiation of carbon dioxide fixation and anaerobic metabolism due to the high concentration of carbon dioxide and low redox potential prevalent in the gut.


Changes in the concentrations of urea, glucose and some mineral elements in the plasma of the ewe during induced parturition.

Four Finnish Landrace X Dorset Horn ewes were each given an intramuscular injection of 15 mg of dexamethazone on day 142 of gestation. Four ewes with the same fetal numbers were used as controls. Administration of the corticosteroid reduced the mean gestation length from 146-5 to 143-3 days and had no effect on the pre-lambing concentrations of Na, Cl, Ca P and Mg in the maternal plasma or on blood pH. There was a slight but significant (P less than 0-05) decrease in plasma K before lambing in the treated ewes. Plasma urea and glucose concentrations were not affected by treatment. There was a significant increase in the plasma concentration of glucose in both groups of ewes immediately after parturition.


Age resistance of cattle to the nodular worm Oesophagostomum radiatum.

Two groups of seven castrated male calves, aged three and 13 months respectively, which had been reared worm-free, were infected with 5000 larvae of Oesophagostomun radiatum. At autopsy six weeks later a mean of 403 +/- 398 adult worms were recovered from the older animals and a mean of 1174 +/- 484 from the younger. This significant difference (P less than 0-01) indicates that the resistance of cattle to initial infection with O radiatum increases with age.


[He washout from obstructed lung segments by collateral ventilation (author's transl)].

The time of He washout from totally obstructed segments in the intact dog lung is about twice that of non-obstructed segments. Within one breath the He is transferred from obstructed to non-obstructed to non-obstructed segments in relative great quantities, indicating that the transport of the gas occurs by collateral ventilation and not by diffusion. This is in good agreement with calculations about the He transfer through the alveolar wall by diffusion or by flow through the alveolar pores. It can be assumed that the transfer by collateral ventilation in obstructed segments is about 10(4) times greater than by diffusion through collateral channels.


Pulmonary arterial wedge and left atrial pressures and the site of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.

The pulmonary vascular response to breathing 5% oxygen in nitrogen was studied in anesthetized, artificially ventilated dogs. The pulmonary arterial (Pa), pulmonary arterial wedge (PW), left atrial (LAP) pressures and pulmonary blood flow (Q) were monitored. The pulmonary arterial catheter was wedged at the mid-lung level. At 10 min of hypoxia, Pa-PW pressure gradient increased while the PW-LAP gradient did not change significantly. The PW and LAP were significantly correlated during room air breathing (r=0.832) and during hypoxia (r=0.980). The calculated resistance from the pulmonary artery to the wedged catheter (Pa-Pa/Q) increased and the calculated resistance from the wedged catheter (Pa-Pw/Q) did not change significantly. These findings indicate that the mean LAP and PW pressures are not significantly different during severe hypoxia, and that the increase in pulmonary vascular resistance during hypoxia is due to constriction of the large precapillary vessels.


Effect of hemorrhagic shock on intrapulmonary right-to-left shunt (QS/QT) and dead space (VD/VT).

The effect of hemorrhagic shock on intrapulmonary right-to-left shunt and dead space ratio was investigated in spontaneously breathing dogs under barbiturate anesthesia. Intrapulmonary right-to-left shunt was reduced sufficiently to offset the marked increase in arteriovenous oxygen difference and PaO2 did not fall. Dead space ratio was increased markedly; therefore, in shock, sufficient CO2-elimination depends on severe hyperventilation. According to this empirical findings, a decrease in PaO2 in shock must not be interpreted as a consequence of the shock itself, but it implies an additional pulmonary pathology.


Cardiopulmonary changes during flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy.

Changes of pulse rate and arterial blood gases were measured before, during, and after fiberoptic bronchoscopy in eleven patients with resting arterial PO2 breathing room air of 75 mm Hg or greater. Tachycardia was greatest after anesthesia (mean change greater than 20 beats/min) and declined thereafter. Hypoxemia was progressive from the time of entrance of the bronchoscope into the respiratory tree and continued into the immediate postbronchoscopic period when the mean fall was about 16 mm Hg. Mild hyperventilation was noted under all conditions. Since progressive hypoxemia persists following removal of the instrument and does not occur during rigid bronchoscopy, direct irritation causing reflex bronchospasm and the effects of aspirated secretions, anesthetic or lavage must be considered as possible causes for the hypoxemia.


[Viscosity and density fluctuations of natural respiratory gases and of mixtures of helium, oxygen and nitrogen due to temperature and composition of the gas mixture (author's transl)].

For the estimation and correction of errors in the measurement of the respiratory flow with viscosity-affected respiratory flow receptors the viscosity of natural respiratory gases (N2, O2, CO2, H2O) and of the ternary system helium-oxygen-nitrogen, which is of importance in pulmonary function diagnosis, was determined. Corresponding density values were calculated. Allowance was made for such special features of spirometry as exchange of O2 for CO2 and water vapour saturation at 37 degrees C. The viscosity of the ternary system is shown in a graph. The formulae indicated have been simplified as far as this was compatible with the demands of accuracy. The fluctuations in density and viscosity of natural respiratory gases can be read directly from a table.


Antigen-induced airway obstruction and the influence of vagus blockade.

Respiratory hypersensitivity to Ascaris antigens is carried out on 9 dogs. The participation of vagus reflex on this respiratory distress is studied in 4 of these dogs. The dogs were exposed initially to Ascaris aerosol, then to egg albumin and NaCl aerosol for control, and once more to Ascaris aerosol after bilateral vagi blockade and lavage, respectively. The principal parameters studied were deltaPoes (mm Hg)/100 ml TV as a measurement of flow resistance in the airways, and respiratory rates (Poes=changes of oesphagus pressure; TV=tidal volume). All the animals presented a significant respiratory distress with Ascaris aerosol, which could be clearly avoided with the central bilateral blockade of nervus vagus.


Adrenergic mechanisms and the pulmonary vascular response to respiratory acidosis.

The role of sympathetic mechanisms in mediating the pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to respiratory acidosis was studied in intact dogs. Arterial oxygen tension and ventilation were maintained at resting levels and the response was studied during a constant level of alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockade. There were significant increases in the pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and pulmonary perfusion pressure and no change in pulmonary blood flow (Q) when the dogs breathed 5% CO2 for 10 min. The alpha-adrenergic blocking agent, phenoxybenzamine, did not significantly alter the pulmonary vascular response, while the beta-adrenergic blocking agent, propranolol, enhanced the response. Phenoxybenzamine significantly reduced the resting pulmonary perfusion pressure from control values, while propranolol did not alter it. Both propranolol and phenoxybenzamine produced comparable decreases in the resting Q from control  values. The resting PVR increased to a greater extent with propranolol than with phenoxybenzamine. These results indicate that adrenergic mechanisms do not play a role in mediating rise in PVR induced by respiratory acidosis. The finding that the pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to respiratory acidosis is enhanced during beta-adrenergic blockade suggests that vasoconstrictor alpha-receptors may be unmasked during beta-adrenergic blockade. Finally, the studies suggest that both alpha- and beta-receptors contribute to maintaining the resting PVR.


CO2 breathing of children.

In 20 co-operative paediatric patients without cardiopulmonary disease, 2 and 4% CO2 in air were given to breathe and the ventilatory response as well as end-tidal CO2 were recorded. A rise of ventilation concomitant with a rise in alveolar CO2 was seen in most cases. The amount of ventilatory response was less than that previously reported with tube rebreathing for any given rise in alveolar PCO2. It appears therefore, that in addition to the absolute level of PaCO2, the mode of presentation of the CO2 signal to chemosensitive areas also serves as an important determinant for the amount of the ventilatory response.


Chronic cough in young adults in relation to smoking habits, childhood environment and chest illness.

A survey of the respiratory symptoms and smoking habits of a population of 20-year-olds- followed since birth- was repeated when they reached the age of 25. The association of cough prevalence with current smoking habits and with lower respiratory tract illness in childhood found in the survey at age 20 was confirmed and in each instance appears to have increased in strength over the 5 years. At age 25, however, the prevalence of cough was associated at a statistically significant level with fathers' occupation; and this association with social class of origin could not be explained by persisting differences in social status based on the educational levels attained by early adult life. The association with exposure to air pollution in childhood, although more obvious than before, could be due to chance. The prevalence of cough increased between the ages of 20 and 25 among those who smoked throughout or who started to smoke during this period. It declined for those who never smoked and for those who were smoking at 20 but had given up by 25. The implications of these changing patterns of respiratory disease behaviour at a crucial stage between adolescence and adult life are briefly discussed.


Partitioning of the alveolar-arterial O2 pressure difference under normal, hypoxic and hyperoxic conditions.

The alveolar-arterial O2 pressure difference (AaDO2) is composed of three parts which depend on inhomogeneities of the ventilation-perfusion ratio (AaD(distr.) 1), on size and distribution of the diffusing capacity-perfusion ratio (AaD(distr.) 2), and on the effect of the shunt perfusion (AaD(sh)). These three parts can be calculated for normal, hypoxic and hyperoxic breathing conditions if the inhomogeneities of the function parameters and the size of the shunt perfusion are known. The calculation based on experimental data in 28 healthy subjects shows the following results: (1) Under hypoxic breathing conditions the AaD(distr.) 2 due to diffusion dominates. However, even at alveolar O2 pressures below 45 mm Hg the AaD(distr.) 1 must not be ignored. (2) Under normal breathing conditions AaD(distr.) 2 may be ignored and will under pathological conditions become relevant only if the diffusing capacity-perfusion ratio is below 3.10(-3) mm Hg(-1). (3) Under hyperoxic breathing conditions the AaD(sh) is predominant. However, even with the inhalation of pure oxygen, the AaD(distr.) 1 contributes 10% of the total AaDO2. (4) When evaluating the methods of measurement of the O2 diffusing capacity and of the shunt perfusion the inhomogeneities of ventilation, perfusion and diffusion must be considered.


Quantification of lung scintigrams.

A simple method of obtaining objective information consists in recording numerical information of the counts in each lung. Albumin macroaggregates labeled with 99Tc(m) and a gamma camera with a data processor were used.


Adrenergic compounds and the respiratory tract. A physiological and electron-microscopical study.

Studies were undertaken to determine the effect of several adrenergic compounds on ciliary activity and on the micromorphology of the goblet cells and mucous glands. All the substances tested, L-adrenaline, d-L-ephedrine, N-isopropyl-noradrenaline and 1-(4-amino-3, 5-dichlorphenyl)-2-tert-butyl-aminoethanol-HCl increased ciliary activity, but have markedly different effects on goblet cells, mucous glands and on the quality of the produced mucus.


Early diagnosis of interstitial fibrosis.

2 cases of interstitial fibrosis of the Hamman-Rich type are presented. The patients were symptomatic, but had normal X-rays. They were suspected of having interstitial infiltration by pulmonary function tests. Diagnosis was confirmed by lung biopsy. Pulmonary function tests, especially the study of elastic properties of the lung, can be of primary help in the diagnosis of pulmonary interstitial infiltration and fibrosis when the patient's X-ray is normal.


Normal and pathological respiratory sounds analyzed by means of a new phonopneumographic apparatus.

A technique and an original apparatus for recording and displaying the sound levels emitted by human lungs during respiratory movements are described. By means of it a graphic recording of chest acoustics can be obtained. An analysis of the phonopneumographic findings shows clear differences between normal pathological readings, both in the level of the sounds and in their frequency content. Evidence is given of cases in which the physician can directly recognize the presence of special diseases. Beside this, FPGraphic representations are also useful for retaining evidence of findings which cannot be recorded by other methods, and for checking the natural evolution of a disease or its response to clinical treatments.


Static and dynamic lung compliance in asthmatic symptom-free children.

The static lung compliance was studied in 27 symptom-free asthmatic children, 6-14 years old. The technique of so-called end-expiratory compliance measurement as well as that of the 'zero volume' in the balloon at barometric pressure, used in this study, have been previously discussed. The static lung compliance value is larger than the dynamic lung compliance value, this difference being larger in asthmatic than in healthy children. This difference is explained by higher static lung compliance values in asthmatic than in healthy children, whereas dynamic lung compliance values are only slightly lower in the group of asthmatic patients compared to healthy children. Static lung compliance per unit of lung volume (specific static lung compliance) is identical in both groups. Static recoil pressure at 80% of total lung capacity (TLC) is similar in asthmatic and healthy children. However, in symptom-free asthmatic children with hyperinflated lungs [functional residual capacity (FRC) higher than 25% of predicted value and FRC/TLC ratio higher than 0.45], static recoil pressure at 80% TLC is lower than the predicted value, this difference being not significant.


Effect of unilateral vagus blockade on antigen-induced airway obstruction.

Respiratory hypersensitivity and the effect of unilateral vagus blockade on the same, after the use of Ascaris extract aerosol, are studied in three boxer dogs with spontaneous reactivity to this aerosol. The dogs were exposed initially to Ascaris extract aerosol, and this exposure was repeated after unilateral vagus blockade and after its lavage. The principal parameters, deltaPoes (mm Hg)/100 ml TV, are given as a measurement of airway flow resistance and respiratory rates. The spontaneous respiratory distress observed in all the animals after exposure to the mentioned aerosol was avoided with unilateral blockade of the nervus vagus.


Some anamnestic and clinical parameters correlated to longterm pulmonary hypertension development in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease.

A statistical correlation between anamnestic and hemodynamic data was performed in 40 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease and pulmonary hypertension at rest. Cardiopulmonary hemodynamic performance was significantly correlated with some of the assessed parameters, especially duration of illness and symptoms generally related with airway obstruction as dyspnea, cough and sputum.


Thromboembolic disease.

In 52 patients with pulmonary embolism, the deep venous circulation of the lower extremities and the pulmonary arterial blood flow were studied with albumin macroaggregates labeled with technetium-99m. A gamma camera with a data processor was used for this study. At the beginning, the perfusion lung scintigrams were abnormal in all the patients, 42 of them also had abnormal phlebograms and in half of them the perfusion by lung scintigram became normal when the phlebograms were obtained. These findings establish the high incidence of deep thrombophebitis in the legs of the patients with pulmonary embolism and indicate that the leg is of the most important 'thrombi factory' and that the deep venous circulation of the extremities should be studied to determine the primary cause of the pulmonary embolism.


Sarcoid-like lesions in the lung by selective intrabronchial instillation of antigen in previously sensitized rabbits.

Sarcoid-like lesions were observed in the lung after selective intrabronchial instillation of antigen in previously sensitized rabbits. These lesions consisted of an early exudative phase, an intermediate phase of interstitial pneumonia and a late proliferative phase. Sarcoid-like granulomas, similar to granuloma, in human lung developed during the late phase.


Coagulation factors and fibrinogen in pleural effusions.

31 pleural effusions from 27 patients with varied diseases were studied for specific coagulation factors and fibrinogen. In all fluids, exudates had a higher content of factors and fibrinogen than transudates. When pleural fluid to plasma total protein ratios were compared to specific coagulation factors a positive correlation existed for all. This was not true for fibrinogen. There was a poor correlation between the molecular weights of the specific factors and fibrinogen and their appearance in the pleural fluid. The concentration of factor XII in 35% and factor XI in 11% of pleural fluid exceeded their respective plasma concentration.


Role of the carotid chemoreceptors in the hyperpnea of exercise in the cat.

The role of the carotid chemoreceptors in the hyperpnea of exercise was investigated. The activity of the sinus nerve of the cat was monitored while the blood supply to the carotid body was controlled independently of the systemic circulation. By this technique, fluctuations in the arterial blood was gases during a short interval of exercise induced by electrical stimulation of hindlimb muscles were unable to affect the chemoreceptor activity. While minute ventilation increased by an average of 51%, chemoreceptor discharge was found to be unchanged in 12 experiments, 6 while perfusing with normoxic blood and 6 while perfusing with hypoxic blood. Thus, it must be concluded that alteration of carotid chemoreceptor sensitivity does not occur during artificially induced exercise in anesthetized cats. However, the difference in the time course of ventilation following the initiation of artificially induced exercise between cats and other species does not allow it to be ruled out in other species, including man. Indirect evidence is against such a role.


Fluctuations in alveolar CO2 and in base excess during the menstrual cycle.

End-tidal PCO2 and base excess were measured on 10 healthy females throughout a total of 16 menstrual cycles. A corresponding decrease was observed in both variables during the luteal phase of the cycle. The curve for PCO2 was essentially that reported by previous authors, the tension dropping from a mean value of 39.8 to 36.7, 10 days after ovulation. The parallel drop in BE lowered the variable from -0.5 to -2.6. The resulting arterial pH throughout the cycle was calculated to be between 7.38 and 7.40. Since no time lag could be observed between the change in PCO2 and that of base excess, the primary disturbance could be either a ventilatory or metabolic response to an increase in progesterone during the luteal phase. In either case, a considerable decrease in body CO2 stores must result from these changes.


Morphology of the bronchial tree in the dog.

Polyester resin casts were made of the bronchial trees from three adult dogs. The branches were ordered by the method of Strahler and the number of branches in each order counted. The length and diameter of each branch was measured and the mean dimensions of branches in each order calculated. When number, mean diameter and mean length of branches in each order are plotted semilogarithmically against order, linear relationships are found. From the data thus obtained a dimensional model of the dog's bronchial tree has been developed.


The effect of hypercapnia on respiratory characteristics and diving behaviour of freely diving seals.

Three trained young seals, one harp seal, Pagophilus groenlandicus, and two hooded seals, Cystophora cristata, have been used to study the effect of hypercapnia on respiratory characteristics and diving behaviour. The seals were allowed free movements within a circular pool, while diving and respiratory behaviour were recorded. During the experiments the alveolar CO2 tension was continually recorded. There was a significant decrease in duration of dives with increasing Paco2 for all animals. Ve increased significantly with increasing Paco2. This increase was caused by more frequent surfacing rather than by a higher respiratory frequency during the breathing periods. Tidal volume increased from 3 to 43% when inspired CO2 was increased from 0.03 to 9 vol%. The seals were all found to be less sensitive to CO2 than man. A decreased sensitivity to CO2 with age is suggested from the results.


Limiting role of stratification in alveolar exchange of oxygen.

On the basis of a simple lung model the limiting effects of stratification on tidal/alveolar transfer of O2 are calculated using values for diffusive conductance of distal airways previously obtained from analysis of wash-out kinetics of He and SF6. In particular it is shown that the alveolar-capillary transfer of O2 (neglected in a previous study) plays an important role in giving rise to stratificational gradients of O2 in distal airways. For 10 kg dogs breathing hypoxic mixtures the stratificational component of the alveolar-arterial Po2 difference is estimated at about 0.8 torr for resting conditions and at about 3.5 torr for medium level exercise.


Effect of negative abdominal pressure on regional lung volumes in supine dogs.

Using 133Xe we measured regional lung volumes from apex to base in supine dogs during the application of negative abdominal pressure (-50 cm H2O). Changes in rib cage shape were monitored with magnetometers. Negative abdominal pressure caused a decrease of 5% in the cross-sectional area of the upper rib cage and a decrease of 19% in the cross-sectional area of the lower rib cage. These changes were similar to those observed when the dog was tilted to the erect position. Over the 10 cm of lung examined, control measurements showed a mean apex-to-base gradient of 1.4% TLC/cm, apical regions being more expanded than basal. Negative abdominal pressure increased this gradient to a mean of 2.1% TLC/cm. This change was in qualitative agreement with measurements of costal pleural surface pressure made in similar experiments by others. However, the changes we observed tended to be smaller than those predicted on the basis of costal pleural surface pressure. Since regional volumes represented the average of the pressures operating on lung regions, it was suggested that during negative abdominal pressure this average differed from pressure measured at the costal surface.


Intrapulmonary CO2 receptors in the duck: IV. Discharge pattern of the population during a respiratory cycle.

We used single-unit vagal recordings to study the average discharge pattern during a respiratory cycle from 57 intrapulmonary CO2 receptors in 6 ducks artificially ventilated with a Starling pump. Peak discharge frequency occurred during inspiration in 51%, expiration in 19%, and both inspiration and expiration in 30% of the receptors. Average discharge frequency from all receptors was maximum at mid-inspiration, but frequency also increased slightly during early expiration. The results suggest that the brain receives a discharge pattern from the total population of intrapulmonary CO2 receptors which is phasic with respiration. Such a signal may control the rate and amplitude of breathing.


Pleural pressure with lobar obstruction in dogs.

The effects of acute lobar obstruction on pleural surface pressure in supine dogs were examined. The right lower lobes (RLL) were obstructed at FRC in some dogs while in others the left lung and RLL were both obstructed at FRC. At the end of the subsequent inspiration, costal surface pressure was less over the obstructed lobe than over the unobstructed right upper lobe. Alveolar pressure within the obstructed RLL decreased relative to tracheal pressure at end inspiration resulting in an inflating pressure being applied to the obstructed lobe. In most dogs elastic recoil increased at the lateral costal margin of the obstructed RLL implying the application of a deforming pressure to the obstructed lobes. The tendency to inflate and deform the obstructed RLL was greater during spontaneous breathing than during artificial ventilation.


A new technique for the determination of low CO2 concentrations in liquids.

A new method is described by which total CO2 concentration as low as 0.05 mM can be determined in 2 ml samples of liquid. The principle is based on the measurement of CO2 escape from the liquid into the gas phase following acidification and vigorous stirring of samples. This escape is recorded as pressure variations at constant volume and temperature by means of an electronic manometer connected to the reaction vessel. The precision, which depends on the amount of total CO2 present, ranges from 5 to 15 muM.


[2-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis of CSF proteins].

Two-dimensional electrophoresis isolates the various proteins in the CSF in peaks ; this a method which gives very reliable results ; the height of the peaks has a certain quantitative value, similar to that obtained with electro-immunodiffusion. The peaks visible in the CSF can be increased separately -- mainly the "alpha 2", "alpha 2 beta", the IgA and IgG peaks -- in another type of recording, the height and number of the peaks may be increased, indicating the presence in the CSF of normally absent protein originating in the serum. An increase in the "alpha 2" or "alpha 2 beta" peaks is not specific, but it is always indicative that the development of a neurological process is under way ; the increase of IgG and IgA retains its character of great specificity in evolutive inflammatory conditions. Multiple peaks indicate the passage of serum proteins into the CSF in oedematous and destructive processes, in expansive or compressive processes and in polyradiculoneuritis. This method with its well-codified technique, which may be carried out on an unconcentrated CSF without risk of denaturing the proteins, may be carried out routinely in clinical practice with human anti-serum immune serum or with more specific serum, anti CSF for example, which seems to give quite reliable results.


[Irradiation of the thyroid gland: changes in its function].

The authors have studied some usual parameters of the evaluation of the thyroid gland function, after secondary irradiation during tele-cobaltherapy treatment in 20 patients with larynx carcinoma. The parameters studied have been iodine uptake, Hamolsky index, T4, FT4 PB127I and cholesterol. The values, statistically treated, enable the conclusion that normal adult thyroid gland has a very low clinical and analytical radiosensibility.


[Review of the fluorometric determination of urinary estrogens].

The main methods for aisolation, purification and quantification of human urine estrogens are described. The authors also analyze the historical evolution of the methods for assessing estrogens in women's urine during the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy, particularly they stress the importance of the evolution in automatic methods.


The organ culture of adult human articular cartilage, from patients with osteoarthrosis.

Adult human articular cartilage has been maintained in organ culture for three days. The uptake of 35SO4 has been studied over a 48-hour period. The incorporation of 35SO4 was significantly increased in osteoarthrotic cartilage compared to normal cartilage from the same joints. The uronic acid content of the osteoarthrotic cartilage was significantly reduced which reflects the proteoglycan loss in the diseased tissue. The DNA content, which is an indirect measurement of the cell population, was not significantly different in the diseased and normal cartilage.


[Secretion of growth hormone in hyperthyroidism].

The authors studied growth hormone (GH) secretion in a group of adult controls and another group of hyperthyroid patients after stimulation with intravenous insulin-induced (0,1 IU/kg) hypoglycemia, aiming to clear out the problem of discrepancies in literature concerning GH secretion in hyperthyroidism. They concluded that in this syndrome, GH levels are significantly higher than those of controls. The GH releasing response is normal, though it could be expected to be decreased due to decreased pituitary GH contents as a result of permanent somatotrophic cell stimulation.


[Current study of Cushing's syndrome, apropos of 3 cases].

The authors describe three cases of Cushing' syndrome, due to nodular hyperplasia, simple hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma respectively, and the most useful approaches (dexamethasone, metopirona, insulinic hypoglycemia, cortisol rhythm, catheterism and assessment of urinary free cortisol) for diagnosis and etiology of Cushing's syndrome.


[Effect of a new hypoglycemic drug on the blood sugar in rats].

A sesquiterpenic lactone has been isolated from an extract of Artemisia cannariensis Lee by Clark's method and column chromatography. The hypoglycemic effects of the drug have been assayed in rats, as compared to different doses of insulin and a known sulphonylures drug. The subatance, which has been identified as vulgarine by professor Gonzalez, has highly significant hypoglycemic effects when administered orally or intravenously in relation to glycemia curves of rats previously injected with saline.


[Possible existence of retinal vascular disease in relatives of diabetic patients and its metabolic correlation].

The authors studied the possible presence of retinal vasculopathy in 31 patients with a diabetic father or mother. In 12 of them (38.7 per cent of the total number of patients) some degree of alteration in the glycemia curve and increased insulinemia were observed. Neither of these anomalies were related to sex of patients. Opthalmologic examination revealed diabetic retinopathy in 6.45 per cent of the patients, and the disease was only present in female patients. Among the 8 patients with diabetic glycemia curve (25.8 per cent of the total), only one (12.5 per cent of the diabetic patients, and 0.31 of the total) hand diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy was not observed in any of the 4 non-diabetic patients with glucose load intolerance. I phase diabetic retinopathy was found in one subject (0.31 per cent of the total) with normal glucose and insulin tolerance.


Ankylosing hyperostosis with cervical spinal cord compression.

This report describes a patient whose clinical and radiological features conform to those of ankylosing hyperostosis. Posterior bridging osteophytes were also apparent and these have not been previously described in ankylosing hyperostosis. We have considered alternative explanations for this finding and concluded that they were manifestations of the hyperostotic process. This unusual feature occurring in the presence of a comparatively narrow spinal canal resulted in cord compression and a spastic tetraparesis and we would therefore suggest that ankylosing hyperostosis may sometimes have serious neurological consequences.


HL-A 27-associated arthritis.

Seventy-one of 78 patients presenting to routine rheumatology clinics with seronegative arthritis were found to possess the histocompatibility antigen HL-A 27. Four principal components to their arthritis emerged, namely: spondylitis, sacroiliitis, peripheral polyarthritis, oligoarthritis (involvement of one or two large joints). It is suggested that each of these may be influenced by separate genetic determinants. The various combinations in which these occur warrant a unified nomenclature. A small subgroup of patients with HL-A 27-associated arthritis is described in whom the diseases may be especially benign.


[Effect of adrenalectomy and the administration of cortisol on plasma and liver cholesterol free and esterified in rats].

The effect of cortisol on the levels of free and sterified cholesterol in the livers of normal and adrenectomized rats has been studied. The results indicate that cortisol enhances those lipids in plasma and decreases their level in the liver.


Incidence of joint involvement in early rheumatoid arthritis.

The frequency of joint involvement is described in 102 patients seen within one year of onset of rheumatoid arthritis. The joints most commonly affected were metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal and wrists, followed by metatarsophalangeal and shoulders. The least commonly affected were the hips and spine. Temporomandibular and cervical spine involvement often occurred even in these early stages. Where there was unilateral involvement of corresponding joints there was a marked tendency for one side of the body to be more often affected. The arthritis was predominantly peripheral. There was a marked gradation of frequency in the small joints of the hands. The patients were followed prospectively for a mean 4.5 years and outcome assessed. An eventually more severe disease was associated with early writst and metatarsophalangeal joint involvement.


Gastric acid responses to graded i.v. infusion of pentagastrin and histalog in peptic ulcer patients before and after antrum-bulb resection.

Gastric acid responses to graded i.v. infusion of pentagastrin and Histalog were determined in peptic ulcer patients. Single-day multiple-dose tests were performed. The sensitivity to the humoral stimuli as determined by the calculated ED50's was not significantly different for duodenal ulcer patients with moderate (DUmod) or massive (DUmass) observed hypersecretion or for gastric ulcer (GU) patients: median ED50's of pentagastrin were 6.2, 6.6, and 13.1 mug/h in 18 DUmod, 22 DUmass and 7 GU patients respectively, and median ED50's of Histalog were 16.6, 25.3, and 17.1 mg/h in 14 DUmod, 10 DUmass and 6 GU patients respectively. Antrum-bulb resection significantly reduced basal acid secretion and maximal acid responses to the humoral stimuli (about 45% reduction) but did not significantly change the loss of gastric contents to the intestine or the sensitivity to the humoral stimuli (median ED50 of pentagastrin increased from 5.2 to 6.7 mug/h in 14 patients, and median ED50 of Histalog increased from 16.0 to 20.8 mg/h in 12 patients), suggesting that the intact antrum-bulb region of the ulcer patient is controlling the capacity to secrete acid, and indicating that antrum-bulb gastrin is an important trophic factor for the parietal cells in man.


The effect of long-term postoperative pentagastrin infusion on the maximal acid responses to pentagastrin in patients subjected to antrectomy.

Six duodenal ulcer patients subjected to antrectomy were given a continuous i.v. infusion of pentagastrin in a dose just below ED50 during 1 week in the immediate postoperative course. The peak acid output following stimulation with pentagastrin (PAOG) was determined preoperatively and 1 and 5 weeks postoperatively. PAOG was determined preoperatively and 1 week after antrectomy in a control group of 25 duodenal ulcer patients, and preoperatively and 5 weeks after antrectomy in another control group of 19 duodenal ulcer patients. One week post-antrectomy the PAOG was significantly less reduced (23%)  in the pentagastrin infusion group than in the control group (46%). The reductions of PAOG 5 weeks post-antrectomy were not significantly different in the pentagastrin infusion group and the control group. The results show that the dysfunction of the parietal cells, reflected in a decreased capacity to secrete acid following antrectomy, can be partly reversed by continuous administration of pentagastrin in the immediate postoperative course. The results are interpreted as suggesting that antral gastrin in man, besides its property to stimulate acid secretion, also has a trophic effect on the parietal cells in analogy with the postulated trophic effect of antral gastrin in rats.


Experimental regional enteritis in pigs.

Lymphatic obstruction is constantly present in regional enteritis, but its role in the pathogenesis is poorly understood. To clarify this the mesenterial lymphatics of the terminal ileum were obstructed in 21 pigs chosen for experiments because spontaneous ileitis is common in pigs. Long-lasting obstruction was produced by injecting formaline into regional lymph nodes. The growth of the pigs was retarded. Their ileum became reddish and oedematous with numerous intra-abdominal adhesions, and mucosal ulcerations. Eleven pigs developed fistulae; none had chylous ascites. Histologically the subserosa was infiltrated by round and giant cells giving an impression of granulomatous inflammation. Many lymphatics were thrombosed. The lymphoid tissue was hyperplastic. These changes became more prominent with extensive subserosal fibrosis after three weeks, when the oedema diminshed. Transmural inflammation with round cell aggregations was then the most typical feature. Purulent infection with crypt abcesses appeared near the fistulae. If the function of lymphatics is destroyed, transport of particles too big to enter blood vessels is inhibited. This produces chronic irritation and oedema with declining tissue nutrition and oxygenation, thus causing fibrosis. Moreover, the intestinal lumen is a source of infections, and the oedematous tissue is easily infected. This may lead to mucosal ulcerations and, progressively, to fistulae.


Carbohydrate metabolism in normal and diabetic rats following long-term oral trypsin inhibitor administration.

The effect of long-term oral trypsin inhibitor administration on blood glucose, plasma insulin, liver, and muscle glycogen and glucose utilization in vitro by peripheral tissues in normal and diabetic rats was studied. In normal rats the glycogen levels in liver and muscle were increased after 3 weeks of treatment. Glucose oxidation (14CO2-production) was augmented in muscle after 3 and 8 weeks and in liver after 3 weeks. An increased 14C-incorporation into glycogen from 14C-glucose and increased glycogen concentration after incubation were found in muscle after 3 weeks. In diabetic rats the basal blood glucose was decreased after 3 and 5 weeks of treatment, and the basal plasma insulin:blood glucose ratio increased after 5 weeks. The glycogen levels were increased after 3 and 5 weeks in liver. No effect on glucose oxidation (14CO2-production) in muscle was found. The 14C-incorporation into glycogen and the total glycogen content, however, was increased in muscle after both 3 and 5 weeks. Incubation of muscle tissue with serum from normal or diabetic rats treated with oral trypsin inhibitor for 3 and 5 weeks respectively had no apparent acute effects on the glucose metabolism. It is suggested that the observed action of oral trypsin inhibitors on glucose metabolism in peripheral tissues is mediated by one or more unknown gastrointestinal factor(s).


Congenital chloridorrhoea. A question of reversed brush border transport processes and varying junctional tightness.

The surprising results of intestinal perfusion studies in an 8-month-old child with congenital chloridorrhoea offered a unique opportunity not only to elucidate the underlying defect, but also to test the adequacy of proposed models for normal intestinal transport. In ileum Na, K and Cl as well as water were secreted and HCO3 absorbed. Lumen was 91 mV negative to blood. Only Cl was transported against both electrical and chemical gradients, but discrepancies between observed and predicted Na flux ratios suggested the presence of a Na-absorbing mechanism as well. Mucosa was impermeable to Cl from the lumen side. 2.5 mM glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDC) mediated Na and water absorption and abolished any transport of Cl. PD was -95 mV. In colon a similar pattern was observed and mucosa to serosa fluxes of Cl were abnormally low. Rectal PD was -116 mV. GCDC made the epithelium more absorptive in function, but contrary to ileum the effect was due to an increase of Na and Cl fluxes from mucosa to serosa. The patient was at that time in severe electrolyte imbalance. He was reinvestigated three months later when he was in a good clinical condition with normal serum electrolytes. Net transfer of electrolytes and water and bidirectional fluxes of Cl and K were unchanged while bidirectional Na fluxes had increased considerably and PD decreased to -18 mV. Rectal PD was -45 mV. In jejunum water and electrolyte transport were normal and PD -3 mV. It is tentatively concluded that the abnormal transport in ileum is due to an inversion of the brush border transport processes, which also satisfies the paradoxical effects of GCDC. Furthermore, Na and Cl seem to migrate through separate pathways. A varying degree of junctional tightness, which is almost completely cationic, may be responsible for the functional differences observed in resonse to improvement of the general electrolyte status.


Hepatic morphology and bile acid composition of bile and urine during chenodeoxycholic acid therapy for radiolucent gallstones.

In 9 patients with radiolucent gallstones, percutanous liver biopsy was performed during treatment with chenodeoxycholic acid in a dose of 500 to 750 mg per day for 3-14 months. In 4 patients pretreatment specimens were available for comparison. No sign of hepatic cellular necrosis or bile duct proliferation was noticed in the biopsies. In 2 patients hepatic steatosis was reduced, and in one patient moderate portal tract inflammation decreased during therapy. Mean values of alkaline phosphatases, alanine aminotransferases, prothrombin, and serum lipids remained unchanged and did not exceed normal limits. In 5 patients the urinary bile acid profile was examined during therapy. Chenodeoxycholic acid constituted 27-50%, lithocholic acid 25-63%, and ursodeoxycholic acid 0-13% of total bile acids in urine. The renal excretion of total bile acids was estimated to be less than two mg per day in each patient. From 86 to 100 per cent of the bile acids in urine was sulfated.


Observations of increased levels of blood coagulation factors and other plasma proteins in cholestatic liver disease.

One group of 8 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and one group of 7 patients with common duct stone both had generally high levels of blood coagulation factors and a wide range of other plasma proteins. In contrast, one group of 6 patients with chronic active hepatitis generally had low levels of the same coagulation factors and plasma proteins. Analyses of factor II-VII-X, plasminogen, ceruloplasmin, beta1C/1A-globulin, IgG and IgM are especially helpful in the differentiation between primary biliary cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis. The data are interpreted as suggesting a generally increased synthesis of liver-produced proteins in cholestasis, although more specific factors may modify the degree of increase of the individual proteins.


Mucosal iron retention and plasma iron absorption in the duodenum and jejunum of dogs.

Two groups of non-anemic dogs, one with normal tissue iron stores and one with decreased tissue iron stores, underwent a surgical construction of two equal segments of duodenum and jejunum. A solution of 0.1 mg ferrous sulfate and 1 mg ascorbic acid was injected into the lumen of each segment. The solution for the duodenal segment contained 30 muc of iron59, for the jejunum segment 60 muc of iron55. The solutions were left in the segments for 2 1/2 hours before washout. On the 14th postoperative day, iron59 and iron55 radioactivity per ml/RBC was measured, and iron uptake by segments determined in two ways. Bone marrow, liver, and spleen were histologically assessed of iron stores. In dogs with normal iron stores, percent iron retained was slightly higher in jejunum that duodenum. In dogs with decreased iron stores percent retention was always higher in duodenum; in this group iron retained was about four times higher than in dogs with normal iron stores. This indicates that mucosal uptake of iron from lumen and mucosal transfer of iron from plasma vary inversely with body iron stores, but compared to mucosal uptake, mucosal transfer is more restricted to duodenum, more affected by body iron stores, more limited, and more crucial to regulation of iron absorption.


The disease activity of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

The disease activity in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease was studied. Parameters found to reflect the disease activity were given scores from 1 to 4. The score obtained by a patient compared with the maximum scores gives the percentage disease activity. The regressions between the percentage disease activity and the ESR in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease were r=0.68 (p less than 0.001) and r=0.48 (p less than 0.001), respectively. The different activity parameters have different time response curves explaining the occasional slight correlation. The percentage disease activity represents the mean activity of the different parameters at a given time. It is proposed to define slight, moderate, and severe ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease as percentage disease activity of less than 30, 30-70 and greater than 70 per cent, respectively.


Value of urinary simple phenol and indican determinations in the diagnosis of the stagnant loop syndrome.

The urinary excretion of phenol, p-cresol, and indican was determined in 7 patients with the stagnant loop syndrome, 26 patients with coeliac disease, chronic pancreatitis, and partial gastrectomy, and 18 control patients. The mean excretion of the compounds in the patients with the stagnant loop syndrome and in the control patients, respectively, was 77 and 2.3 mg/24 h of phenol (p less than 0.05), 164 and 39.5 mg/24 h of p-cresol (n.s.), and 369 and 41.5 mg/24 h of indican (p less than 0.01). When applied as diagnostic tests for the stagnant loop syndrome, the phenol excretion showed 2 false negative results, the p-cresol excretion 3 false negative and 2 false positive results, and the indican excretion 6 false positive results. The combined use of phenol and indican determinations eliminated the number of false positive results with the indican test, and was found most useful as screening procedure. Determination of phenol and indican in a 24-hour urine sample is likely to provide a simple method for selecting patients with signs of abnormal bacterial colonization in the small intestine for more detailed investigations.


The intestinal phase of gastric secretion. Response to liver extract infusion into the proximal jejunum of healthy human subjects.

A Levine tube was placed under radiological control in the stomach, and a thin polyethylene tube in the proximal jejunum of 6 healthy volunteers. The stomach and proximal part of jejunum were perfused for 2 hours with 1% acetylcholine, 20% meat extract (Bovril), and 15% liver extract (LE) alone and in combination with simultaneous infusion of different doses of exogenous pentagastrin intravenously. A significant increase in serum gastrin concentration was found with antral perfusion of LE only, whereas perfusion of the proximal jejunum did not change the basal level of the serum gastrin concentration. No change from control values was observed in gastric acid, and pepsin output on perfusing proximal jejunum with LE alone, or in combination with pentagastrin. Reflux to the stomach varied between 0-1.4%, as determined by addition of radioactive B12 to the perfusates. The experiments showed that gastrin was released from the antrum of the stomach by perfusion with 15 per cent LE, but not from the jejunum under the present experimental conditions. In the present experiments Bovril and acetylcholine perfusions did not cause significant responses from the antrum or from the proximal jejunum.


Newly synthesized hepatic cholesterol as precursor for cholesterol and bile acids in rat bile.

Adult, male rats were given simultaneously 3H-mevalonate and 14C-cholesterol on autologous lipoproteins intravenously in barbital anaesthesia. The specific radioactivities of sterols in bile, liver and serum were determined. Newly synthesized hepatic cholesterol was a better substrate for cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid than was cholesterol reaching the liver via plasma lipoproteins. The cholesterol secreted into bile was derived from a pool of liver cholesterol which was in close contact with newly synthesized cholesterol. Specific radioactivity of chenodeoxycholate in bile was higher than that of cholate in bile, both when newly made radioactive cholesterol and when radioactive cholesterol on plasma lipoproteins was the precursor for the labelled bile acids.


Surface charge of erythrocytes in paroxysmal nocturnal haemogloninuria.

The electrophoretic mobility of erythrocytes from 3 patients with PNH was measured by standard techniques. Erythrocyte mobility is a measure of the net negative surface charge of these cells. In each of the 3 patients studied in mobility was significantly increased over normal cells indicating that there is an increase in negative surface charge of PNH erythrocytes. Following the Ham's and sucrose lysis tests; surviving cells showed mean mobilities that were not statistically different from normal cells. This suggests that these cells with higher surface charge are vulnerable to complement lysis.


Erythrocytosis associated with multiple cutaneous leiomyomata: report of a case with demonstration of erythropoietic activity in the tumour.

A patient with leiomyomata of the skin and erythrocytosis is reported. After surgical removal of the larger skin tumours there was remission of the haematologic abnormalities and the erythrocytosis and the red cell mass decreased to normal levels. The raised serum erythropoietin levels were reduced but remained slightly elevated and less than those recorded prior to surgery. Tumour extracts contained significant erythropoietic activity. This seems to be the first documented case of erythrocytosis associated with skin leiomyomata.


Chronic haemolytic anaemia in two patients heterozygous for erythrocyte pyruvate kinase deficiency. Electrofocusing and immunological studies of erythrocyte and liver pyruvate kinase.

Two patients with mild chronic haemolytic anaemia, a mother and her son, were found to be heterozygous for erythrocyte pyruvate kinase deficiency. In the red blood cells the enzymatic activity was reduced by about 50% and the residual PK had normal kinetic properties, stability and electrofocusing pattern. The PK antigen concentration was also decreased by half, so that the ratio of the enzymatic activity to the immunological reactivity (i.e. the molecular specific activity) was normal. In the son's liver PK enzymatic activity was slightly reduced and, above all, an abnormal active form, more anodic than normal PK, was detected by electrofocusing. The propositus's liver PK was also slightly thermo-unstable. It is suggested that the patients were heterozygous for an unstable PK variant which is found in liver, nucleated tissue actively synthesizing proteins, but which disappeared from the erythrocytes because of its unstability.


Mechanism of calcium-induced reptilase clot retraction.

Calcium ions induce retraction of reptilase clots. This could also be induced by thrombin. Heparin inhibited the reptilase clot retraction induced either by thrombin or calcium, but did not influence the clot retraction induced by ADP. This indicated that the clot retraction induced by Ca2+ was mediated by an activation of the coagulation system with the formation of thrombin.


Fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) in urine and serum after prolonged heavy exercise.

The presence of FDP in the urine, known to be a sensitive indicator of various kidney disorders, was studied in 14 well-trained men participating in a 70-km cross-country ski race. None of the urine samples contained FDP on the day before the race. Immediately after the race, 4 samples contained FDP. High molecular weight FDP were found in 2 of them, whereas 2 others contained low molecular weight products only. 2 days after the race, 1 of these subjects still had FDP in the urine. In addition, 2 newly FDP positives were observed. Serum FDP were slightly elevated in 2 subjects before the race, and in another subject immediately after the race. The presence of urinary FDP did not correlate either with urinary albumin or uromucoid, or with serum FDP. A drop in plasma fibrinogen immediately after the race was noted in all subjects. It is suggested that the present observations may reflect a transient hyperproteolysis (coagulation and fibrinolysis) in the glomerular circulation, including fibrin formation and dissolution, associated with a transient damage of glomerular capillaries.


Red cell organic phosphates during administration of salicylates.

The effect of salicylates on erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was studied in vivo in 3 groups of healthy subjects receiving acetylsalicyclic acid (18 persons), sodium salicylate (5 persons) and salicylamide (7 persons) in therapeutic dosage. No effect was found on 2,3-DPG in any of the 3 groups. ATP was significantly decreased (p less than 0.05) when acetylsalicylic acid or sodium salicylate was given.


The effect of intravenous injection of purified human tissue thromboplastin in rats.

As a background for the development and testing of phospholipase C in the therapy of post-traumatic and post-surgical intravascular coagulation, highly purified tissue thromboplastin was injected i.v. into rats. The levels of factor V, VII, VIII and blood platelets and the activity of the intrinsic coagulation pathway in general (the cephalin test) were followed. Histological examination of pulmonary, kidney and liver tissue was carried. The dose-response was highly dependent on the injection rate. A marked activation of factor VII and a fall in the activities of factors V and VIII as well as in thrombocyte counts were observed. Very few or no thrombi were seen beyond the pulmonary circulation. The main changes (fibrin-containing thrombi and platelet aggregates) were observed in the lungs during the first 15 min after injection. Atter 15 min virtually no thrombi or platelet aggregates could be detected. The effect of tissue thromboplastin was counteracted by large doses of antithrombin III.


Toxicological problems with the REDY system.

Dialysate from the REDY dialysis system was examined for toxic elements, special attention being paid to the content of zirconium and aluminium. Also investigated was the concentration of formaldehyde in the rinsing fluid of three consecutive washings. The amount of zirconium and aluminium found in the dialysate was negligible. The concentration of formaldehyde was alarmingly high after two consecutive washings, a considerable amount (less than 50 mg) still remaining after three washings. It is recommended that at least three consecutive washings be performed, and that, if possible, formaldehyde be substituted by another antiseptic. Of special interest was the finding of a very high concentration of boron in the dialysate. It is suggested that this metal, which is a potentially toxic substance, may emanate from the patient. It is concluded that use of the REDY system carries no obvious toxicological risk.


On acid-base problems in REDY dialysis.

The acid-base status of dialysate and blood during REDY dialysis has been studied. A very low pH (6,90) has been found in the venous blood. However, the predialytic acidosis of the patients is corrected, which is attributed to the acetate supply during dialysis. It is pointed out that the implications of the low venous blood pH are still inadequately investigated.


Clinical experience with the REDY dialysis system.

363 dialysis runs with the REDY sorbent dialysis system have been carried out in 3 patients with acute uraemia, and 14 with chronic uraemia, during a period of 19 months. Nine of the patients with chronic uraemia received from 15 to 87 dialyses, and 6 patients were treated at home. It is concluded that both clinical, biochemical, and rehabilitational results are comparable to those obtained by treatment with conventional techniques. Technical problems have been few and surmountable.


On the absorption capacity of the REDY cartridge.

The absorption capacity of the REDY cartridge was investigated exclusively by in vitro experiments. The maximum absorption capacity for urea, phosphate, creatinine, and urinc acid, was found to be respectively 55 g, more than 4 g (phosphorus), 10 g, and more than 7,5 g. The maximum absorption rates of the same substances were found to be 600-800 mg/min., more than 33 mg/min., more than 170 mg/min., and 13 mg/min. respectively. The ability of the cartridge to absorb urea was found to be practically unaffected by 2 mmol of copper and 7 mmol of zinc, and to be unaffected by supraphysiological concentrations of lithium. The amount of exchangeable cations was determined for three cartridges, and found to be 6100, 3800, and 7200 mmol. The cation exchanger was found to act as a buffer, giving the whole cartridge a buffering capacity of 0,6 mol. Of the layers of cation exchanger, anion exchanger, and activated charcoal, only the latter was found to be able to bind urea.


Flexor tendon synovectomy of the hand in rheumatoid arthritis. A follow-up study of 201 operated hands.

A follow-up study of 201 flexor tendon synovectomies of the hand in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is presented. The operations were performed from 1/2-49 years after onset of the disease, and the patients were between 16 and 76 years of age. The follow-up study is based on questionnaires and, in addition, 78% of the patients also had a physical re-examination. The follow-up time spanned 12-78 months. Nearly 70% of the operated hands were subjectively improved; the others were unchanged or worse. The poor results were often caused by progression of arthritis in finger joints. Recurrence of the tenosynovitis was observed in about 37% of the hands, but in very few to such an extent that reoperation has been necessary.


Soft tissue radiography of the hands in the rheumatoid arthritis.

25 cases of rheumatoid arthritis were investigated radiologically and clinically over a period of 3 months, using soft tissue radiograms of the hands and Lansbury's Activity Index. The soft tissue radiography technique was a new combination using molybdenum target mammographic equipment and immersion of the hands in a 2.5 cm layer of 1:1 ethanol-water solution, in order to reduce the uneven darkening of films. Periarticular oedema and progression of erosive and soft tissue changes were observed in clinically active cases. High scores for joint swelling and erosions were also registered in some clinically inactive cases. Determination of the rapid progression of erosive and soft tissue changes and the determination of periarticular hyperaemic oedema using special radiographic methods appear to be of some value in assessing the activity of rheumatoid arthritis.


The value of individual joints for radiologic assessment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Twenty-seven bilateral joints of 28 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were radiographed and divided into six grades of severity by means of standard reference films. The results indicated that the four lateral metatarsophalangeal joints and the wrists are the most valuable joints for the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis as they show the strongest correlation of involvement with duration, the highest slope value, and the lowest standard deviation of involvement. It was concluded that many currently used methods of radiologic assessment could be improved by evaluating proper radiologic changes in joints representative of rheumatoid arthritis. The need for a new generally accepted classification of severity of rheumatoid arthritis is evident from this paper.


Morphological changes in liver biopsies from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Oxphenisatin is known to induce liver damage and is suspected to cause or perpetuate chronic liver disease. In order to evaluate the hepatotoxic effect of long-term therapy with oxyphenisatin 26 consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis were investigated for the presence of liver disease. In all cases, liver biopsy, biochemical liver function tests and determination of Hepatitis-B antigen were performed. Ten patients showed no pathological changes in the liver biopsy and a further 2 had only non-specific changes. Seven patients had fatty liver, 5 passive congestion, one haemosiderosis and only one had cirrhosis of the liver. No correlation was found between the activity of rheumatoid arthritis, and duration of the disease, the drug therapy given, and the liver damage.


Changes in muscle fibre size and physical performance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis after short-term physical training.

Ten patients with rheumatoid arthritis of moderate severity were given 6 weeks' intense physical training. During the investigation period the patients improved their physical performance capacity as well as their rate of perceived exertion. There was an increase in the muscle fibre size, of type I and type II, most pronounced in the latter fibre group. No 'flare-up' of the arthritis could be seen during the training period. Comments are made as to which patients might benefit by a short-term physical training.


Sarcoidosis with thyroid involvement, polymyalgia rheumatica and breast carcinoma. A case report.

Polymyalgia rheumatica developed in a 71-year-old patient within 2 years of the onset of acute sarcoidosis with biopsy-verified involvement of the thyroid, and concomitant autoimmune thyroiditis with hyperthyroid symptoms. Three years after the onset of muscle symptoms a non-metastasizing breast carcinoma was discovered and treated surgically. Neither the long interval between the onset of polymyalgia rheumatica and the discovery of the breast tumour, nor the good response of muscle symptoms to a one-year maintenance treatment with corticosteroids, was consistent with a paraneoplastic mechanism of the polymyalgia rheumatica syndrome. It was therefore hypothesized that the various disorders suffered by this patient might be related to a partly age-dependent depression of T-lymphocyte function, leading to an altered immunological reactivity to which the various clinical manifestations could be attributed. Such a hypothesis is supported by recent reports showing that in old people and in ageing experimental animals, a decrease in T-lymphocyte function and in the number of circulating T-cells occurs concomitantly with an increase in the incidence of a variety of neoplasms and autoimmune disorders.


Oral antipyretic therapy.

The capacity of ibuprofen to reduce fever in children was compared with that of aspirin, paracetamol, aminophenazone and indomethacin. The series of cases studied consisted of 79 patients in the age range 3 months to 13 years and with a rectal temperature above 38.5 degrees C. Temperatures were recorded at 15 and 30 minutes, and 1,2,4 and 6 hours after challenge with the drug. The antipyretic effect of ibuprofen with a dose of 6 mg/kg was optimal and twice that of aspirin or paracetamol and similar to that of aminophenazone. The antipyretic effect of indomethacin was about 12 times that of ibuprofen. This ratio is almost the same as what is said to occur between the antirheumatic effects between these drugs. Ibuprofen with a dose of 6 mg/kg would thus appear to be a useful antipyretic drug when both antipyretic and antirheumatic effects are needed.


The immediate effects of intra-articular injections of osmic acid.

One hundred mg of osmic acid (with corticosteroid and lidocaine) was injected for therapeutic purposes into the knee in 10 patients suffering from various types of recalcitrant synovitis (mostly rheumatoid arthritis). The effects of this injection were followed by examination of synovial fluid, blood, and urine of these patients, collected at various intervals after intra-articular injection. As a control, a group of 3 patients (5 knees) received corticosteroid and lidocaine intra-articularly, and another group (6 patients, 7 knees) was injected with lidocaine only, both with the same total volume as the first group. Blood and urine examinations revealed essentially no effects of osmic acid, whereas in synovial fluid a strong inflammatory reaction was observed up to the second day after the injection, though the effusion soon disappeared. In a group treated with lidocaine + corticosteroid, a mild, early inflammatory reaction was noted, while lidocaine alone produced only a dilution effect, and the exudate remained relatively longer. Thus, the early local inflammatory reaction due to osmic acid is an expression of the necessary drastic effect of this beneficial therapeutic agent.


Peripheral arterial insufficiency, effect of physical training on walking tolerance, calf blood flow, and blood flow resistance.

Twenty-three patients with intermittent claudication were submitted to physical training during 4-6 months. Eleven other patients with intermittent claudication served as a control group and were given placebo tablets during the same period. The aim of the investigation was to study the influence of physical training on the blood flow conditions in the calf. The effect of treatment on walking tolerance, on calf blood flow, blood flow resistance, and systolic blood pressure graident between the systemic circulation and the vascular bed in the calf was studied. Half a year after the end of the treatment period the patients were reexamined. The walking tolerance increased in both groups but more in the trained group. The increase in walking tolerance even in the control group was caused by the fact that the control group began to train to some extent. In neither group the maximal calf blood flow changed significantly compared with the pretreatment values. The maximal blood flow showed an increasing trend in the training group after a period fo 4 months compared with the control goupr (2p greater than 0.10). The blood flow resistance at maximal dilatation did not change significantly as compared with the initial values in any of the groups, but there was a significant difference (2p greater than 0.05) between the two groups with a decrease in the training group after 4 months. The changes in maximal calf blood flow and the changes in blood flow resistance at maximal dilatation were not related to the changes in walking tolerance. Half a year after the treatment period the walking tolerance had not decreased and there was no difference between the two groups. The maximal calf blood flow, the blood flow resistance, and the systolic pressure gradient were unchanged in comparison with the pretreatment values and there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. The small changes in blood flow conditions observed after physical training cannot be the only factor explaining the well known improvement in walking tolerance. However, training may cause a redistribution of the blood flow in the working muscle.


Energy expenditure during walking in patients recovering from fractures of the leg.

The oxygen consumption during walking has been studied in 13 patients recovering from fractures of the  leg and in 8 control subjects. Oxygen consumption of  normal subjects when walking at velocities of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m sec-1 was 8.0, 9.8 and 13.6 ml kg-1 min-1 respectively. For subjects walking on crutches with the leg encased in a Plaster of Paris cast, the oxygen consumption at these velocities was 12.0, 17.5 and 25.3 ml kg-1 min-1 respectively. The energy cost of walking was reduced when the cast was removed, when the crutches were replaced by sticks and when all aides were discarded. When all aids had been discarded the energy expenditure was normal at 0.5 and 1.0 m sec-1 but was still significantly higher at faster velocities.


Stabilization of spine fracture in paraplegic patients using a plaster cradle.

A plaster cradle for vertebral fracture stabilization in paraplegic patients is described. Thirteen consecutively referred patients have been treated. The advantages of the cradle are that it allows early mobilization in the vertical plane, early ambulation in a convertible wheel-chair in the ward and out-doors and that the nursing staff are subject to less strain during turning sessions than they would be if methods involving lifting were used. Use of the plaster cradle has not given rise to any complications in the form of pressure sores or increased neurological symptoms. The fracture healing is similar to that observed when other methods of stabilization are used.


Sudden death and factors related to long-term prognosis following acute myocardial infarction.

Factors related to a 6-year prognosis after acute myocardial infarction were studied in a series of 158 men. The prognostic power of clinical and electrocardiographic variables recorded soon after infarction and in connection with exercise test were analysed by stepwise multiple discriminant analysis. The best predictor of poor prognosis was pathological P terminal force. The discriminatory power of the same pattern of variables had weakened slightly when this 6-year analysis was compared with earlier made 2- and 4-year analyses. The prognosis was correctly predicted in 86, 80 and 74% of cases in 2-, 4- and 6-year analyses, respectively. Sudden death was most usual in the last trimester during the 6-year follow-up period. Paradoxical cardiac pulsation, T wave negativity after exercise, earlier resuscitation, sedentary life before infarction and occurrence of ectopic beats during exercise were of discriminatory value in relation to sudden death.


Measures of association of some air pollutants, natural ionizing radiation and cigarette smoking with mortality rates.

Two methods are employed to estimate the association the association of hydrocarbons, sulfur compounds, nitrogen compounds, natural ionizing radiation, and cigarette smoking with some age stratified and disease specific United States mortality rates for white males. The first method is based on a ridge regression technique and the second on a sign constrained least squares analysis. The measure of association between these environmental factors and mortality are quantified as elasticities; i.e., the indicated percentage change in the average mortality rate corresponding to a 1% change in the average level of environmental factor. Elasticities are estimated for age specific and disease specific mortality rates, and these values are then aggregated and compared to estimates corresponding to total mortality rates. Overall, consistent results are obtained using the above methods for sulfur compounds and cigarette smoking. Many of these results differ considerably from corresponding results obtained from the ordinary least squares regression analysis, highlighting the need for applying the appropriate estimation methods. In addition to the variables already specified, these analyses take into consideration the following groups of explanatory variables: Climate--Precipitation, January temperature, July temperature, humidity, and solar radiation. Socioeconomic--Age, education, sound housing, population per household, population density, % non-white, % white-collar, income, and city size.


Hexachlorobutadiene residues in aquatic fauna from surface water fed by the river rhine.

Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) was identified as a component of the residue mixture of chlorinated hydrocarbons in fish from inland waters fed by the Rhine, particularly in the Ketelmeer. The residue level in fish is related to the fat content; no bioaccumulation in the food chain to higher trophic levels was observed. HCBD concentrations in the water of the Ketelmeer appeared to be three orders of magnitude lower than those found in aquatic animals.


Calcium content of river water, trace element concentrations in toenails, and blood pressure in village populations in New Guinea.

Several studies carried out on industrialized population groups have revealed the presence of an inverse relationship between hardness of drinking water and certain cardiovascular parameters, e.g., death rates, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, etc. In the present paper an attempt was made to see whether such an association also exists in primitive population groups who drink untreated water collected directly from rivers. Blood pressure was measured in persons living in villages along the banks of the Wogupmeri river in New Guinea. The water was analyzed for calcium content. Trace element concentrations were also determined in toenails from the same subjects to see whether a correlation existed. Calcium content of river water decreases as the river flows downstream, while blood pressure of the villagers living along this river increases. The trace element analysis of toenails revealed strong correlations between aluminium and vanadium. The concentrations of these two elements decrease with age. This association is present in both sexes, in adults and in children. A similarly strong correlation also exists between these two elements in staple food. The results of the present investigation tend to confirm the findings of other studies indicating an apparently beneficial effect of relatively hard water on cardiovascular parameters. The concentration of aluminium and vanadium in toenails show interesting trends, the biological meaning of which, if any, is still unknown.


Mussels (mytilus sp.) as an indicator of lead pollution.

The lead contents of two species of mussels (Mytilus californianus and M. edulis) collected along the Pacific coast from Piedras Blancas, California to Punta Banda, Baja California were determined by isotope dilution method. The whole soft parts of the mussels, on a dry weight basis, contained from 0.27 to 42 ppm of lead, which can be related to their local habitats. The gill tissues of the mussels showed the highest lead concentration.


Trace element concentrations in higher fungi.

The concentrations of ten trace elements, As. Br, Cd, Cu, Hg I, Mn, Se, Zn and V, have been determined in up to 27 species of higher fungi from several sites in Slovenia, Yugoslavia. Analyses were based on destructive neutron activation techniques. Data are presented and compared with the concentrations found in soils. Previously values were non-existent or scanty for these elements, so that the data represent typical levels for basidiomycetes. In addition to confirming high levels of mercury in many species, the survey also found that cadmium is accumulated to a surprising extent by most fungi, the average value being 5 ppm. Among other accumulations found was bromine by the genus Amanita, and selenium by the edible Boletus. Correlation analysis between all pairs of trace elements gave values for r of from 0.75 to 0.43 for 7 pairs (Cu and Hg, 0.75; Se and As, 0.69). As well as these features of biochemical interest, the values found and the pattern of accumulation suggest potential uses of fungi in environmental studies.


Time-resolved spectroscopy of hemoglobin and its complexes with subpicosecond optical pulses.

Subpicosecond optical pulses have been used to study the photolysis of hemoglobin conplexes. Photodissociation of carboxyhemoglobin is found to occur in less than 0.5 picosecond. In hemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin a nondissociative excited state recovery in 2.5 picoseconds is observed.


Drinking water and cancer mortality in Louisiana.

Multivariant regression analysis indicates a statistically significant relation between cancer mortality rates in Louisiana and drinking water obtained from the Missippi River. This is true for total cancer, cancer of the urinary organs, and cancer of the gastrointestinal tract.


Cross-linking of DNA in situ as a probe for chromatin structure.

The photochemical cross-linking of DNA in situ in chromatin is blocked over short intervals. Electron microscopy of DNA cross-linked in chromatin reveals the lengths of protected regions and provides a map of their sites along the DNA. Protected regions occur most frequently in tandem and have a basic length of 160 to 200 base pairs.


Karyotype conservation and difference in DNA amount in anguilloid fishes.

The two Pacific anguilloid sishes Anguilla japonica and Astroconger myriaster, belonging to the different families, appear to have identical chromosome numbers (2n = 38) and karyotypes, including one pair of conspicuous heteromorphic chromosomes in females. Cytophotometric measurements, however, indicate a considerable difference in DNA content between the two species.


(+)-alpha-(N-1-phenethyl) urea stereospecifically inhibits Ca2+ - but not ADP-stimulated mitochondrial respiration.

The (+) isomer of alpha-(N-1-phenethyl) urea is a moderately potent inhibitor of Ca2+ -stimulated mitochondrial respiration of 45Ca2+ uptake (50 percent inhibition at 0.18 mM) while having no effect on adenosine diphosphate-stimulated respiration; the (-) isomer is without effect up to 4 mM. beta-Phenethylurea does not inhibit with either stimulus. The data support the involvement of a Ca2+ -specific protein in energized mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake.


Thermal polyamino acids: synthesis at less than 100 degrees C.

Thermally prepared polyamino acids, regarded as models for prebiotic protein, typically have been synthesized at 120 degrees to 200 degrees C. In this study, three different sets of amino acid mixtures were found to yield material of relatively high molecular weight (molecular sieving and diffusion techniques) when heated for up to 81 days at 85 degrees, 75 degrees, and 65 degrees C. These  temperatures, which today are generated by radiation from the sun in some terrestrial locales, probably were more common on the prebiotic earth than those above the boiling point of water. The results thus suggest that prebiotic polyamino acids may have been relatively common and widespread.


Isolations of a cartilage factor that inhibits tumor neovascularization.

A cartilage fraction isolated by guanidine extraction and purified by affinity chromatography inhibits tumor-induced vascular proliferation and consequently restricts tumor growth. This fraction contains several different proteins; the major one has a molecular weight of about 16,000. The fraction strongly inhibits protease activity.


Vasopressin and oxytocin are depleted from rat hypothalamic nuclei after oral hypertonic saline.

Vasopressin and oxytocin were measured by radioimmunoassay in rat posterior pituitary and microdissected hypothalamic areas after 3 and 10 days of oral 2 percent sodium chloride in place of drinking water. There was a significant decrease in concentration of both hormones in posterior pituitary and in specific areas of the hypothalamus. Supraoptic, paraventricular, and arcuate hypothalamic nuclei and the retrochiasmatic area had decreased concentration of one or both hormones following hypertonic saline, while hormone concentration in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and median eminence was unaffected.


Heart rate in spiders: influence of body size and foraging energetics.

Resting heart rates in 18 species of spiders as determined by a cool laser transillumination technique range from 9 to 125 beats per minute. Cardiac frequencies obtained in this fashion may readily serve as a measure of standard rates of metabolism. A spider's resting heart rate is a function of body size and of foraging energetics.


Mevalonate metabolism: role of kidneys.

More than one-half of the amount of mevalonate that is metabolized by pathways not leading to sterols is accounted for by the action of the kidneys. Conversion of mevalonate in vivo to squalene and sterols in the kidneys is confined almost entirely to the proximal and distal convoluted tubules in the cortex. More sterol than squalene is synthesized from mevalonate not only in the liver but also in the kidney.


Radioimmunoassay for colchicine in plasma and urine.

A radioimmunoassay for the measurement of colchicine (in quantities as small as 0.05 nanogram) in plasma and urine was developed with the use of an antibody from immunized rabbits. After the intravenous injection of 2 milligrams of colchicine in seven subjects, the calculated zero-time concentration in the plasma was 2.9 +/- 1.5 micrograms per deciliter, and the mean half-time in the plasma was 58 +/- 20 minutes. Declining, but measurable, amounts of colchicine could be detected in urine up to day 9 after the drug was administered.


Fever: effect of drug-induced antipyresis on survival.

To determine whether the prevention of fever affects the survival of an animal infected with pathogenic bacteria, lizards (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) were infected with live Aeromonas hydrophila and received varying doses of sodium salicylate, an antipyretic drug. Twelve lizards received identical injections of bacteria along with a nontoxic dose of sodium salicylate; five animals increased their mean body temperature at least 0.6 degrees C and survived the week, whereas seven did not develop a fever and died within 3 days. These data indicate that in these lizards the prevention of fever by use of an antipyretic drug such as sodium salicylate increases the mortality rate from bacterial infection.


Clonal origin of inherited medullary thyroid carcinoma and pheochromocytoma.

A black female with inherited medullary thyroid carcinoma and pheochromocytoma was a mosaic for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase types A and B in normal tissues (blood, thyroid, and adrenal gland); both the medullary carcinoma and pheochromocytoma tissue showed a B pattern only. This finding suggests a single clone origin for each of the tumors. Other inherited tumors similarly studied in man have appeared to be multiclonal in origin.


Morphine analgesic tolerance: its situation specificity supports a Pavlovian conditioning model.

Rats were made tolerant to morphine in either of two environments and then assessed for morphine-induced alteration of pain sensitivity in both environments. Analgesic tolerance was displayed when rats were tested in that environment in which they previously received morphine, but not in the alternative environment. The results indicate than an association between environmental cues and the systemic effects of morphine is crucial to tolerance development.


Polyploid amphibians: three more diploid-tetraploid cryptic species of frogs.

The nominal African species Pyxicephalus delalandii and Dicroglossus occipitalis have diploid and tetraploid populations. There are also cryptic tetraploid and diploid species similar to Bufo kerinyagae. These represent the first bisexual polyploid "species" so far encountered in the major frog families Ranidae and Bufonidae. The contention that polyploidy is a widespread and important evolutionary phenomenon in anuran amphibians is supported.


Functional development of prefrontal cortex in rats continues into adolescence.

Bilateral removal of the sulcal prefrontal cortex in rats at 60 days of age and older results in aphagia and adipsia, but removal of this area before 60 days of age does not affect food or water regulation. Apparently the development of the role of this neocortical region in feeding and drinking continues well beyond the time of weaning in the rat.


Nuclear ghosts: a nonmembranous structural component of mammalian cell nuclei.

Electron micrographs of positively stained preparations of nonmembranous ghosts prepared from HeLa cell nuclei have revealed the presence of an array consisting of rodlike and annular structures interconnected by strands sensitive to deoxyribonuclease. This array is believed to be responsible for the spherical shape of nuclei that are free of membrane. In addition, a configurational change in this array may be associated with the cyclic dissolution and reformation of the nuclear envelope that accompanies mitosis in mammalian cells.


Interkingdom fusion between human (HeLa) cells and tobacco hybrid (GGLL) protoplasts.

The fusion of human HeLa cells with tobacco protoplasts has been accomplished with the use of polyethylene glycol. The sequence from heterocellular adherence to heterokaryon formation has been followed with light microscopy and confirmed by autoradiographs of heterokaryons containing unlabeled tobacco nuclei and tritium-labeled HeLa nuclei. The HeLa nucleus retained its integrity in the tobacco cytoplasm up to 6 days after fusion.


Postmating female odor in Heliconius butterflies: a male-contributed antiaphrodisiac?

Genetic crosses between races of Heliconius erato that differ in the odor of female abdominal glands show that the odor originates in the male and is transferred to the female at mating. Behavioral observations strongly suggest that the odor is an antiaphrodisiac that helps to enforce monogamy among females.


Suckling in newborn rats: eliminated by nipple lavage, reinstated by pup saliva.

Chemical lavage of the nipples of anesthetized maternal rats virtually eliminated suckling by their 4- to 5-day-old pups. Normal suckling was immediately reinstated, however, by painting a vacuum distillate of the wash or of pup saliva onto the nipples. Thus, a substance necessary to direct and release suckling, possibly rat pup saliva, appears to coat the nipple surface.


Sex and the single hemisphere: specialization of the right hemisphere for spatial processing.

Specialization of the right hemisphere for spatial processing was studied in 200 normal boys and girls between 6 and 13 years of age. Boys performed in a manner consistent with right hemisphere specialization as early as the age of 6. Girls showed evidence of bilateral representation until the age of 13. The results suggest a sexual dimorphism in the neural organization underlying cognition during a major period of childhood. The results, which have implications for reading instruction, are discussed in terms of a possible sex difference in neural plasticity during development and the clinical consequences of such a difference.


Immunology of prostatic carcinoma-an overview.

The possibility of altering the course of prostatic cancer by immunologic means requires a clear understanding of the host-tumor relationship in this disease. Available data suggest that prostatic tumors contain both prostate-specific and tumor-specific antigens, although evidence on the latter is still debatable. Patients with prostatic cancer often show nonspecific depression of their cell-mediated immunocompetence, as do patients with many other forms of cancer. The question of whether prostatic cancers are immunogenic; that is, whether they elicit a specific immunologic response, remains unanswered.


Hereditary spherocytosis: a study of splenectomized persons.

Sixty-one persons splenectomized for hereditary spherocytosis have been studied and compared to 36 nonsplenectomized clinically affected and to 77 nonaffected family members. Serum IgM levels were reduced by 25% and IgD levels were nearly doubled in the splenectomized group. No fatal bacterial infection was identified by history covering a total of 800 postsplenectomy years. Platelet counts remained elevated for many years after removal of the spleen, as did the number of leukocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes. Heinz bodies were seen in 3% of red cells after splenectomy. Though within the range of "normal," reticulocyte levels and serum bilirubin levels were satistically higher in the splenectomized group than in the nonaffected persons. Hemoglobin levels were higher in splenectomized affected persons than in matched controls of the same sex and maturity.


Hepatic adenoma: a possible complication of oral contraceptive therapy.

Three cases of hepatic adenoma occurred in women, two of whom were taking oral contraceptive medication. The clinical and pathologic data from these and previously reported cases are reviewed. The possible causal relationship between the development of hepatic adenomas and the use of oral contraceptives is explored.


Impact of intensive newborn care on neonatal mortality in a community hospital.

Development of a Perinatal Center delivering Level 3 intensive care in a community hospital is described. The inborn neonatal mortality at the hospital in which the Center is located, as well as that of the 13 surrounding counties, has diminished more rapidly than the state neonatal mortality. This has coincided with an almost constant delivery rate, increased proportion of staff patients, relatively constant rate of low birth weight, and declining total perinatal mortality. Our experience suggests that appropriately trained and motivated people, not equipment or geographic location, represent the key factor in the development of such a center.


Colposcopic management of abnormal cervical cytology during pregnancy.

A total of 104 pregnant patients with abnormal cervical cells were referred to the Dysplasia Clinic for evaluation and management by colposcopy. Seventy-one pregnant patients presenting with basal cell atypia on cytologic examination had colposcopically directed biopsy revealing 8.45% severe dysplasia and 1.41% carcinoma in situ. Cytologic study in 31 pregnant patients with basal cell dysplasia revealed severe dysplasia in 29% and carcinoma in situ in 12.9% of the colposcopic biopsies. Cervical cytology revealed carcinoma in situ in two patients. Directed biopsy in both cases revealed carcinoma in situ with one case of questionable microinvasion. Colposcopically observed normal and abnormal physiologic findings and the pregnant cervix, complications after conization during pregnancy, and the impact of colposcopy in the management of the cytologically abnormal cervix during pregnancy are discussed.


Associated systemic factors in cerebrovascular ischemia.

Systemic disorders (eg, cardiac, hematologic) are commonly recognized as predisposing and sometimes actual precipitating events in cerebral ischemia. From available studies, the incidence of precipitation is not clear. To determine this, we undertook a comprehensive investigation of all patients with ischemic brain disease for a one-year period. Results reveal that brain ischemia is more commonly precipitated by systemic illness than usually supposed, particularly transient ischemic attacks of the vertebrobasilar circulation and completed infarcts in the carotid distribution. Cardiac disorders outnumber all other precipitating events. As they are more amenable to therapy than atherosclerosis, a diligent search for such precipitating events is warranted in patients with ischemic symptoms.


Transient ischemic attacks not produced by extracranial vascular disease: a plea for complete and early angiographic investigation.

Six patients with classical transient ischemic attacks that were not directly related to extracranial carotid disease are presented. These cases were selected to include a variety of pathologic conditions: one case each of brain tumor, arteriovenous malformation, chronic subdural hematoma, cervical spondylosis, and two cases of giant intracranial aneurysms. These case histories are significant because they illustrate that without complete angiographic investigation, tragic results could have and did occur in some cases. Transient ischemic attacks should be considered as a symptom of various possible pathologic conditions, and a careful search for the cause must be pursued aggressively.