Cultural diversity in central America and Panama: its relationship to conservation and planning.

The most frequently overlooked aspect of conservation of natural resources and economic development is human cultural diversity. However, conservation and development of natural resources are basically human-oriented endeavors and all conservation and developmental efforts ought to start with a clear understanding of the varied needs of the people. In addition, cultural diversity is a natural resource that ought to be protected along with all the more commonly recognized resources of the ecosystems of which humans form an integral part. Cultural diversity in a large measure is an ecological phenomenon because such diversity includes variations in the ways different people perceive and utilize the environments in which they live. Thus, cultural diversity, in large measure, equates with ecological diversity. It has been well established that a high degree of ecological diversity (including taxonomic, niche, biogeochemical and other measures of diversity) is a necessary attribute of humid tropical ecosystems if such ecosystems are to remain viable over long periods of time. The current land-use trends in Central America and Panama are leading toward ever larger areas being devoted to monocultural use with sharply reduced ecological diversity that poses great dangers for the near and long terms. In addition, the resultant removal of people from rural areas results in growing social, economic and political problems, that are not being successfully met by developing nations. Not only is there a growing wastage of human resources, a weakening of the social structures, and an increasing and dangerous dependence upon monocultures oriented toward export markets, but the ecological diversity of the previous existing land-use systems are being lost. This kind of diversity is probably no less valuable to the ecological health of a nation's agriculture, forestry, and general resource utilization than is the genetic diversity of "primitive" crop plant varieties which biologists now recognize and increasingly seek to preserve as "modern" crop plant varieties become ever more simple genetically and hence ever more vulnerable to disease and other perturbations.


[Agricultural systems in the Central American isthmus].

The main agricultural systems in the Central American area for both local food consumption and export crops are monocultures, multiple cultures, associated cultures and their combinations. The efficiency of these systems depends on the utilization of the resources and technology available to the different strata of producers, and on the ecological conditions of the tropics. The need for more ecologically oriented research, with special emphasis on the small farmer and his economic and social status, is clearly evident.


[Pesticides in the tropical agricultural economy systems: Evaluation of present knowledge of the problem].

Man is an integral part of the ecosystem and any action of his against the environment has an effect against man himself. An Agro-ecosystem is a unit composed of the total complex of organisms in an area under cultivation, plus the totality of the physical environmental conditions and the modifications introduced by man, who manages the agro-ecosystem for his own benefit. The use of pesticides has been necessary for the agricultural development of some tropical areas. Unfortunately, the inadequate use of this input has caused many problems for himself. These include destruction of natural resources; intoxications; pesticide residues in water and foods; secondary pest outbreaks; increase in illnesses transmitted by certain arthropods; loss of foreign exchange; unemployment; malnutrition; disability; high infant mortality and poverty. A better use of agro-ecosystem management techniques can lead to a rational sustained utilization of land resources. Chemical pesticides can be considered as one of the factors in pest management, and not necessarily the only one available.


Soil conservation in Central America and Panama: current problems.

Soil conservation measures in Central America go back to the Maya civilization, in which terracing was employed. After the Spanish conquest, plowing, livestock raising, and the succession of social and political changes all contributed to accelerate erosion. Through the past few decades, awareness of the need for soil conservation has again increased; El Salvador and Costa Rica began efforts in that direction in 1943. For sometime, the use of machinery and chemical fertilizers has masked the loss of topsoil, but under recent increases in population pressures, soil conservation measures are gaining in importance. Important agents of erosion in the tropics are heavy seasonal rains at high elevations, alternating with long dry seasons; wind erosion; and landslides after saturation of the soil during prolonged rains. Modern machinery often hastens soil removal, as do also overgrazing, deforestation and vertical crop rows. Under the present energy crisis, human labor is becoming again a significant element in crop production, and soil conservation becomes thereby more feasible and more important.


Ecological aspects of water impoundment in the tropics.

Recognition of the potentially harmful effects of water development in the tropics had led to increasing efforts to assess the environmental impact of such projects prior to construction. Decisions regarding the development or non-development of water resources must be based on sound investigation of both the long-and short-term effects of reservoir construction and operation. The environmental effects of water impoundment vary greatly with the characteristics of the region as well as the type of reservoir to be constructed (area and depth of reservoir, ratio of water inflow to storage). Of major concern are the reduction of reservoir capacity as sediments accumulate behind the dam and the loss of these sediments to downstream agriculture and fisheries. The potential impact of altered flow regimes, siltation, reduction in beach formation and nutrient enrichment at the mouths of rivers, and the possibility of saltwater encroachment should receive careful stdy. A thorough description of the plants and animals to be affected by inundation should be made to determine the possible loss of rare or key organisms as well as the potential development of "nuisance species". Included in this survey should be a detailed study of existing fish and the potential for commercial fishery development in the proposed reservoir. Consideration should be given to vegetation removal in the reservoir basin prior to inundation, since decaying vegetation can result in deoxygenation, formation of hydrogen sulfide, possible development of suitable habitats for undesirable species and snagging of fish nets. Sanitation and land use practices as well as erosion in the watershed surrounding the reservoir must be controlled to prevent accelerated eutrophication caused by increased nutrient loading. Inundation in tropical areas can have serious sociological and human health implications including the increase of diseases, e.g., malaria, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, and dysentery, and the probable resettlement and alteration of land use practices. Census information and surveys concerning land use, housing and health standards and the social and economic structure of the community to be affected must be evaluated in order to anticipate and avoid potential problems. The archaeologic, historic, scenic and recreational value of the site to be inundated must also be considered. Studies of the EL Cajón site on the Sula River in Honduras and the Purari River Project in Papua, New Guinea, are utilized as examples in this report.


Incomplete ureteral duplication. Electromyographic and manometric investigation.

Studies were made peroperatively in a patient with incomplete ureteral duplication. Bipolar extracellular EMG-leads were taken from both pelvices, both ureteral segments and from the common ureter. Simultaneously pressure measurements were made in the pelvices. Function of the two pelvi-ureteral units were shown to be autonomous. Simultaneous action potentials and pressure waves were observed in each pelvis. Not every pelvic impulse was transmitted to the corresponding ureter, but when transmission did occur, the conduction rate was constant. Impulses from both ureteral branches were conducted distally to the common ureteral trunk, but impulses from the dilated segment had not the same quality (amplitude) as those from the non-dilated segment. Antiperistalsis was not observed. There was a measurable pressure difference between the two segments.


Peroperative irrigation of the vas deferens during vasectomy.

In 59 consecutive vasectomies for the purpose of sterilization, one-half, chosen by random numbers, received an irrigation of the vas deferens with 40 ml of sterile water on each side. Afterwards, the men sent in every fourth ejaculation, until two consecutive samples were without spermatozoa. The postoperative sperm samples were examined microscopically without knowing whether the man belonged to the treated group or the control group. The irrigation procedure did not shorten the time needed to reach azoospermia.


The collateral blood flow and hippuran clearance of the rabbit kidney after occlusion of the renal artery.

The collateral blood flow to the rabbit kidney was determined by two methods: (1) measurement of the venous flow after clamping of the renal artery and (2) Hippuran clearance of the clamped kidney. The collateral blood flow was found to be 0.012 ml/min/g kidney equivalent to 0.2% of the entire blood flow to the rabbit kidney. Compared with collateral blood flow in other mammals (as humans and dogs) with a collateral flow of 6.2% of the normal flow, the collateral blood flow in the rabbit is very modest. The cranial ureteric artery contributes more than 90% of the entire blood flow, while capsular perforants, important in other mammals, play no role in the supply of the rabbit kidney. Only 50% of the collateral blood flow passes the tubular system. Flow to the medulla calculated from Hippuran clearance was 35% greater than flow to the cortical part of the kidney. The subcapsular cortical tubuli were able to absorb Hippuran from the peritoneal fluid and surrounding tissues after the kidney was dissected free from its surroundings and all vessels severed. Absorption corresponded to an arbitrary serum flow of 0.0002 ml/min/g.


The uptake of hippuran in kidney slices employed as a viability test.

125J Hippuran uptake in slices from rabbit kidneys was measured in kidneys damaged by warm ischaemia alone as well as by warm ischaemia combined with 24 hours of cold ischaemia. The Hippuran uptake was calculated as the ratio between radioactivity in the slices and the activity in the incubation medium as a slice/medium ratio (S/M). S/M was unchanged after 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 1 hour of warm ischaemia, while in kidneys exposed to 2 hours of warm ischaemia a 15% decrease in S/M ratio compared with control values was noted. A 53% decrease was observed after 3 hours of warm ischaemia and 73% and 91% after 4 and 5 hours respectively. Twenty-four hours of cold ischaemia alone did not alter the Hippuran uptake, but prolonging this with 15 minutes of warm ischaemia precipitated a significant fall (25%) in S/M. This value remained constant during the first hour of warm ischaemia, but a fall of 64% was observed after 2 hours of warm and 24 hours of cold ischaemia. These findings were in agreement with experiments on kidneys damaged by arterial occlusion and recirculated. Two hours of warm ischaemia was the maximal damage the kidneys could endure and still regain normal function. After simple preservation methods with Collins solution for 24 hours, 1 additional hour of warm ischaemia was the maximal ischaemic damage the kidney was able to withstand. Hippuran uptake in kidney slices appears to be well correlated to the kidneys' ability to regain normal function after ischaemic damage.


Residual kidney function after unilateral nephrectomy. Pre- and postoperative estimation by renography and clearance measurements.

The residual kidney function was predicted from preoperative renography and determination of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in 57 patients undergoing unilateral nephrectomy for cancer, postrenal obstruction or renovascular hypertension. Postoperative GFR measurements were carried out 6-36 months after the operation. In eleven patients where the kidney removed had no function, no significant difference was found between pre- and postoperative GFR values. In 46 patients where the kidney removed had some function, the preoperative estimate was a little too high in only two patients. In this group, the postoperative GFR on an average amounted to 42% above the preoperatively predicted value. We conclude that the combination of 51Cr-EDTA clearance and renography is a reliable, non-invasive method for determination of the minimum residual kidney function before unilateral nephrectomy is carried out.


Kidney function and compensatory growth of the kidney in living kidney donors.

Pre- and postoperative kidney size and kidney function were studied in 46 living kidney donors aged 20-74 years. Kidney size was measured by planimetry and by estimation of a renal index. Kidney function was assessed by endogenous creatinine clearance and serum creatinine. Planimetry was superior to the renal index for expressing changes in renal size. Compensatory renal hypertrophy took place in donors up to the age of 74, but the greatest changes in renal size were observed in donors of under 40. Total renal function decreased postoperatively to about 77% of the initial level; this change in renal function was inversely correlated with age, but in all subjects studied the function remained within normal limits.


Experience with one-stage bilateral nephrectomy.

Eight patients with uremia were treated by one-stage transperitoneal bilateral nephrectomy prior to transplantation. Four of the patients had refractory hypertension with high peripheral renin activity which was unresponsive to drug treatment and vigorous hemodialysis. All obtained a normal blood pressure after operation. Two patients were nephrectomised to combat chronic infection, whilst one of the two remaining patients suffered from huge polycystic kidneys and the other had suspected Goodpasture syndrome. There were no deaths and the only complications observed were one instance of hyperkalemia necessitating acute hemodialysis and one instance of prolonged ileus. Our indications for doing the operation prior to transplantation have been very restricted, but when the operation becomes necessary, it is a safe procedure.


Urolithiasis. A study of its frequency.

Considering the general impression of an increased number of patients with acute renal colic, the frequencies of roentgenologically verified ureteral and kidney calculi in a Swedish urban district have been studied for the periods 1953-55 and 1968-70. In a material of 986 outpatients (793 men and 193 women) we have proved an increase in incidence for upper urinary tract calculi in men from 2.2 to 3.3 0/00 (p less than 0.001) and in women from 0.5 to 0.8 0/00 (0.01 less than p less than 0.05). For the material as a whole, we have found a 50% increase (from 1.3 to 2.0 0/00; p less than 0.001) of acute urolithiasis between the periods studied. Some implications of the results in connection with primary hyperparathyroidism are discussed.


Bone mineral density in patients with urolithiasis. A preliminary report.

The bone mineral density (g/cm3) of the distal cancellous radius was determined in a consecutive series of 21 women and 54 men with urolithiasis with the Americium-241 gamma ray attenuation method. Bone mineral density was statistically significantly lower in both sexes compared with coeval healthy subjects. Further study is needed to examine the relationship between the bone mineral density and disturbances in calcium metabolism in patients with renal stone disease.


Multiple bilateral renal angiomyolipoma. Case report.

Multiple bilateral angiomyolipoma in patients without tuberous sclerosis is a rare benign tumour. A case history is presented, and the available literature reviewed against this background. Problems of diagnosis and therapy are discussed. In this type of tumour, any surgical intervention should be as conservative as possible. Patients without tuberous sclerosis, in whom multiple bilateral angiomyolipoma is diagnosed, should be followed-up neurologically for up to two years after diagnosis, with a view to possible development of tuberous sclerosis.


Renal angiomyolipoma (hamartoma). Profuse retroperitoneal hemorrhage caused by benign kidney tumour.

A case of renal angiomyolipoma in a 38-year-old female is reported. The chief symptoms were abdominal pain and hypovolemia caused by massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage. A brief survey is given of the pathology, symptomatology, and the diagnostic possibilities with special reference to the radiologic diagnosis.


Haemorrhage due to renal angiomatosis. Case report.

Severe haemorrhage after an uncomplicated pyelolithotomy in a young women was found to be caused by multiple, unilateral haemangiomas. The diagnosis was made at angiography prior to the subsequent nephrectomy.


Spontaneous rupture of the kidney.

Two cases of spontaneous rupture of the kidney have been presented where no underlying disease process could be identified. In one, evacuation and drainage of the haematoma alone affected a cure. It is suggested that operation is practically always necessary to solve the clinical problem. The proper treatment seems to be nephrectomy or evacuation and drainage of the haematoma.


Halving a horizontal segment: a study on hemisphere-damaged patients with cerebral focal lesions.

The aim of this study was to point out a hemisphere asymmetry in focal brain-damaged patients and a hand asymmetry in normals on halving binocularly a horizontal line. 50 left hemisphere and 53 right hemisphere patients (both subdivided by presence/absence of visual field defect) and 50 controls (divided by the hand they used to carry out the task) were employed. 4 differently long segments made up the test material and the error scores with respect to the geometric midpoint were worked out by means of parametric statistical procedures. It turned out that: (i) healthy subjects committed a mean leftward displacement, regardless of the hand they used. All the same, only the halving error committed by the right hand is significant keeping as reference the geometric midpoint of the segment; (ii) left and right hemisphere-damaged patients committed halving errors, that are opposite in direction, leftward for the former and rightward for the latter; (iii) the behaviour of right patients with visual field defects is the only to be significantly different from that of the corresponding controls. Our findings point to prevailing importance of the right hemisphere mainly of its posterior areas, in the halving task.


Semantic field in aphasia: an experimental investigation on comprehension of the relations of class and property.

A multiple choice test was devised in order to assess some aspects of the aphasic's semantic field; patient's task was to match a given picture with one out of three alternatives: one of them was linked by a class relationship, one was linked by a property relationship and the last was an unrelated item. Results clearly show that Broca's aphasics make their choice according to class criteria whereas Wernicke's and controls make their choice according to property criteria. Results are discussed in the light of Jakobson linguistic hypothesis which postulates that Broca's and Wernicke's aphasia are subdued by a contiguity and similarity disorder.


[Digital agnosia and lesions of the parietal lobe].

130 patients with focal brain damage have been submitted to non-verbal finger identification tasks. The results of this research can be summarized as follows: -when bilateral finger agnosia is studied with non-verbal tasks, no difference can be shown between right and left parietal lesions; -in left brain damaged patients the bilateral form of finger agnosia is generally due to large lesions involving the parietal lobe; -in right brain damaged patients the unilateral form of finger agnosia is almost always due to lesions centered on the parietal region.


Granulomatous mycoses of the central nervous system.

A clinical and pathological description of five cases of granulomatous mycoses of the C.N.S. is reported. Four had an intracranial and one a spinal localization. In all patients the clinical pattern was of tumoral type, while the disease evolution was favourable only in one case. From a histipatholic point of view the preliminary diagnosis was of granulomatous process. The fungi organisms were identified only by means of combined stain methods. Beside the pathogenetic problems the Authors outline some histological methods useful for diagnostic purposes when a culture procedure for fungi is lacking.


[Amnestic episodes in migraine. A contribution to the differential diagnosis of transient global amnesia (ictus amnésique)].

In comparison with 27 similar cases, sampled from literature, 4 observations of amnesic episodes in migraine are presented and discussed. These disturbances known as so-called "Migranedammerattacken" seem to be identical with transient global amnesia in all respects. In most of cases, they occur as migraine-precursors or - equivalents. Headache, vegetative und neurological symptoms are frequent but not necessary companions. It is proposed to look for migraine disposition in all cases of transient global amnesia. Perhaps, this approach might be of some use to understand their enigmatic pathogenesis.


[The "residual syndrome" in alcoholics after 5 years' abstinence].

Residual deficiency of brain performance in chronic alcoholics after a 5-year abstinency. Brain performance of a group of 43 chronic alcoholics abstinent since 5 years was tested. Some aspects of higher intellectual performance were found to be reduced as compared to a control population. The performance was also better than that of a group of chronic alcoholics abstinent for only one year. The residual deficiency of performance could be interpreted as a "functional psychosyndrome", resulting from chronic sensory deprivation on the base of the alcoholism.


[Contribution to the study of suicide prevention. Study of a group of 372 subjects from 28 to 35 years after attempted suicide].

The authors have treated the subsequent lives of 372 suicide attempters and have made a new follow-up study 28 to 35 years after the suicide attempt. They reveal a general excess deathrate in this sample of medical, surgical and psychiatric clinic patients, and a considerable excess deathrate by suicide as compared with the population as a whole. These two types of excess deathrate persist throughout the follow-up period. Conclusions on suicide prevention are drawn from the results. After describing the three main groups of dead, deceased by suicide, and living subjects, the authors compare those deceased by suicide with those deceased from other causes, and those deceased by suicide with subjects of the other two groups in search of possible group characteristics of potential predictive value. The results of this analysis are somewhat disappointing; discussion of the research leads to criticism of the contradictory results obtained by previous studies in this field. Analysis of subjects still alive at the close of the follow-up period shows that their psychopathological evolution is relatively favourable, with the exception of a group of patients identifiable by a set of distinctive negative factors.


[Paranoid-hallucinatory psychoses in acromegaly].

Paranoid halluzinatory psychoses associated with acromegaly occur rarely. This paper presents three own observations and at the same time gives a revue of cases reported in the literature. Based on these observations it is attempted to characterize structure and cause of these psychoses and to correlate the psychopathology with the development and severity of the somatic disease. The discussion of the psychopathology includes the problem of differentiation between somatic determined psychoses and endogenous disorders, i.e. schizophrenic and manic depressive illness. It also considers factors such as personality structure and situation of life.


Ventilatory and heart rate adjustments during submaximal and maximal exercise in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease.

Thirty-four patients with chronic obstructive lung disease were exercised stepwise up to maximal work load. V02 at maximal work load showed a slightly significant correlation to FEV1, while a closer association with VC as well as Ve and Vt was noted. In most patients Vt during maximal exercise was around 50% of VC, while no such limit was present when Vt was related to FEV1. These patterns were independent of the clinical type of obstructive lung disease. At 300 kpm/min (50 W) Vt/VC% as well as heart rate was negatively correlated to V02 max, but not to FEV1. No significant relationship was seen between V02 or Ve at this exercise level and V02 max, as well as FEV1. The ventilatory pattern during exercise seemed to reflect the patients' ventilatory strain more adequately than pre-exercise FEV1. The negative relationship between heart rate during moderate exercise and V02 max might further reflect this strain.


Neurons selective for orientation and binocular disparity in the visual Wulst of the barn owl (Tyto alba).

The visual response properties of single neurons in the owl's visual Wulst suggest that this forebrain structure is an analog of the mammalian visual cortex. Features in common with the cat and the monkey visual cortex include a precise topographic organization, a high degree of binocular interaction, and selectivity for orientation, direction of movement, and binocular disparity of straight-line contours.


Multiplication of a human parasite (Leishmania donovani) in phagolysosomes of hamster macrophages in vitro.

Leishmania donovani, the etiological agent of human visceral leishmaniasis, was grown in hamster peritoneal macrophages in vitro. By electron microscopy, using a lysosomal marker, these parasitic protozoa were seen to multiply within host cell phagolysosomes. The survival mechanism of this intracellular parasite is based apparently upon resistance to macrophage lysosomal enzymic digestion.


Bioconcentration of xenobiotics in trout bile: a proposed monitoring aid for some waterborne chemicals.

A technique is proposed for the monitoring of certain xenobiotic pollutants in suspect aquatic enviornments by fish bile analysis. Bile removed from rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) exposed to nine different radioactive compounds in vivo contained concentrations of radioactivity greater than those in the surrounding water. Bile-to-water radioactivity ratios as high as 10,000: 1 were found after 24-hour exposures. The results of these experiments suggest that analysis of bile of wild or caged fish from a suspect site may be useful as a qualitative monitoring aid for certain types of xenobiotics in water.


(3H)morphine localization in myenteric plexus.

Preferential binding of 3H-labeled morphine to satellite cells, but not to large neurons in the myenteric plexus, is demonstrated autoradiographically. Microfluorometric spectra of the plexus show nerve fibers that contain norepinephrine and impinge on satellite cells. Cells containing serotonin occur occasionally on longitudinal muscle outside the myenteric plexus.


Recongition and sexual selection in Drosophila: classification, quantification, and identification.

Drosophila pseudoobscura females show a positive bias toward mating with males whose proportion in the population is low. They can perform this discrimination even when three strains of males are present. The olfactory recognition required for this discrimination entails a hierarchically ordered recognition system and a natural unit of olfactory strength.


Dufour's gland: source of sex pheromone in a hymenopterous parasitoid.

Females of Apanteles melanoscelus and Apanteles liparidis produce a sex pheromone in Dufour's gland of their reproductive system. Males of both species exhibit premating behavior when in contact with filter paper smears of the gland of their respective females.


Electric signals and schooling behavior in a weakly electric fish, Marcusenius cyprinoides L. (Mormyriformes).

Field recordings of electric organ discharges and catches of Marcusenius cyprinoides showed that these electric fish form groups and move about in schools. The role electric organ discharges in group cohesion was investigated by comparing interactions in groups of intact and operated, electrically silent fish. The absence of electric organ dischares reduced locomotor activity and resulted in the disappearance of two behaviors: parallel lineup and single file swimming. Electric signals are considered part of a schooling mechanism that aids the fish in maintaining group cohesion in their turbid enviornment and during migration at night.


Orientation anisotropy: incidence and magnitude in Caucasian and Chinese subjects.

Cutoff spatial frequencies for sine-wave gratings were measured at four orientations for 100 Caucasian and 24 Chinese subjects, all of whom were raised in carpentered enviornments. For the Caucasian subjects, average acuity for horizontal and vertical gratings was superior to that for obliques by about one-quarter of an octive. However, about 10 percent of subjects showed an anisotropy of about one-eight of an ovtave. The carpentered enviornment explanation of orientation anisotropy cannot, in its present form, account for the wide variety of response patterns obtained, nor the differences between Chinese and Caucasian subjects.


Chromosomal subunits in active genes have an altered conformation.

Ten percent digestion of isolated nuclei by pancreatic deoxyribonuclease I preferentially removes globin DNA sequences from nuclei obtained from chick red blood cells but not from nuclei obtained from fibroblasts, from brain, or from a population of red blood cell precursors. Moreover, the nontranscribed ovalbumin sequences in nuclei isolated from red blood cells and fibroblasts are retained after mild deoxyribonuclease I digestion. This suggests that active genes are preferentially digested by deoxyribonuclease I. In contrast, treatment of red cell nuclei with staphylococcal nuclease results in no preferential digestion of active globin genes. When the 11S monomers obtained after staphylococcal nuclease digestion of nuclei are then digested with deoxyribonuclease I, the active globin genes are again preferentially digested. The results indicate that active genes are probably associated with histones in a subunit conformation in which the associated DNA is particularly sensitive to digestion by deoxyribonuclease I.


Binding of (14C) parathion in soil: a reassessment of pesticide persistence.

A steady decrease of extractable [14C] parathion residues in soils over a 1-month incubation period was accompanied by an increase of unextractable, bound 14C-labeled residues, resulting finally in total recoveries of extracted plus bound residues of 80 to 87 percent of the applied radiocarbon. Soils containing bound residues were nontoxic to fruit flies. Binding of 14C-labeled residues was related to the activity of soil microorganisms; soil sterilization resulted in a reduction of binding by 58 to 84 percent. Under flooded (anaerobic) conditions, the binding of compounds labeled with 14C doubled, and parathion was reduced to aminoparathion. Reinoculation of sterilized flooded soil fully reinstated the binding capacity. [14C] Aminoparathion was preferentially bound to soil, since its binding within 2 hours was 30 times greater than that of [14C] parathion. Because of the existence of formerly "unseen," unextractable residues, the concept of "persistent" and "nonpersistent" pesticide residues might have to be reconsidered.


Cholesterogenesis: derepression in extrahepatic tissues with 4-aminopyrazolo (3,4-d) pyrimidine.

Administration of 4-aminopyrazolo [3,4-d] pyrimidine decreased serum cholesterol levels in the rat to less than 5 milligrams per deciliter. Coincident with this change, there was a 2.1 - to 16.0-fold increase in the rate of sterol synthesis in seven extrahepatic tissues. This suggests that cholesterol carried in serum lipoproteins plays a major role in regulating sterol synthesis in many extrahepatic tissues.


Calcium influx requirement for human neutrophil chemotaxis: inhibition by lanthanum chloride.

Calcium fluxes of human neutrophils measured in the presence of chemotactically active serum showed a marked stimulation of calcium-45 uptake from the media. Chemotactically inactive serum did not cause an influx of calcium. The magnitude of the calcium influx due to activated serum is sufficient to trigger contractile systems previously described in muscle cells. Lanthanum chloride inhibited the chemotactic response of human neutrophils to activated serum. Lanthanum in concentrations that suppressed chemotaxis also inhibited the calcium influx caused by activated serum. Lanthanum in concentrations that suppressed chemotaxis also inhibited the calcium influx caused by activated serum. The data support a direct role of calcium influx in chemotaxis of neutrophils.


Cytochrome P-450 induction by phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene in primary cultures of hepatocytes.

The characteristic hepatocellular changes resulting from phenobarbital administration in vivo, namely an increase in the levels of cytochrome P-450 and proliferation of membranes of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, have been demonstrated in primary cultures of nonreplicating hepatocytes on floating collagen membranes. Addition of methylcholanthrene to the medium resulted in an increase in cytochrome P-448 within 48 hours, whereas the phenobarbital induction of P-450 required 5 days. These results demonstrate that responses induced in adult liver cells in vivo by phenobarbital can be reporoduced in cultured hepatocytes, contrary to previous reports.


Acetylcholine hot spots: development on myotubes cultured from aneural limb buds.

The hypothesis that neural induction plays a role in the development of acetylcholine hot spots (high-sensitivity regions) was tested by electrophysiological mapping of the distribution of acetylcholine sensitivity of myotubes derived from aneural hindlimb buds of chick embryos. Hot spots were found. Therefore, hot spot development is not dependent on prior contact with nerve processes.


Black widow spider venom: effect of purified toxin on lipid bilayer membranes.

A purified toxin (the B5 fraction) from black widow spider venom added to the solution on one side of a lipid bilayer membrane interacts irreversibly with the membrane to produce a continuous, linear rise of membrane conductance with time. Conductances greater than 10(-4) reciprocal ohm per square centimeter can eventually be attained without any loss of membrane stability. Membranes treated with toxin are ideally selective for alkali cations over anions and are substantially permeable to calcium ion. These effects of the toxin result from the formation of permanent channels in the membrane of uniform conductance, 3.6 X 10(-10) reciprocal ohm (in 0.1 molar potassium chloride), that remain open almost all the time. Both the divalent cation permeability and the smaller conductances at low pH of toxin-treated membranes suggest that there is negative charge (possibly from carboxyl groups) associated with the channels. We discuss the possible relation of the action of this toxin on lipid bilayer membranes to its ability to stimulate massive transmitter release at the neuromuscular junction and to produce profound morphological changes on tissue cultured neurons.


Modulation of C3b hemolytic activity by a plasma protein distinct from C3b inactivator.

A human plasma protein binds to cell-bound C3b, the major cleavage product of the third component of complement. Consequent upon this binding, C3b no longer functions in either the classical or alternative pathways. This C3b inhibitory activity is a property of a protein previously designated beta 1H on the basis of its electrophoretic mobility.


Sialic acid: effect of removal on calcium exchangeability of cultured heart cells.

Specific removal of sialic acid from cultured heart cells with purified neuraminidase increases cellular calcium exchangeability. Potassium exchange is unaffected or slightly decreased. Sialic acid removal also permits lanthanum, normally restricted to the cellular surface, to enter the cells and displace more than 80 percent of cellular calcium. The results indicate a specific role of cellular surface components in the control of calcium exchangeability in the heart.


Cortisol stimulation of parathyroid hormone secretion by rat parathyroid glands in organ culture.

Addition of cortisol (10(-6) to 10(-8) M) and related glucocorticoid congeners to cultures of rat parathyroid glands stimulated dose-related increases in parathyroid hormone secretion; the addition of deoxycorticosterone or cortexolone was without effect. Cortexolone, however, inhibited the stimulatory activity of cortisol when both were added to the culture medium. This direct stimulatory effect of cortisol on parathyroid gland secretion may account in part for the increased concentration of parathyroid hormone in the serum of cortisol-treated animals.


Monoamine changes in the brain of cats during slow-wave sleep.

We have found that the metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine increases in the hippocampus and that the metabolism of dopamine decreases in the striatum and thalamus during slow-wave sleep, and we suggest that these changes are related to this stage of sleep. We have also found that the concentration of dopamine increases in the hippocampus during slow-wave sleep, and suggest that this may be related to the subsequent appearance of paradoxical sleep. These data raise new questions on the hippocampal role in the sleep-wakefulness cycle.


Pattern regulation in epimorphic fields.

We have described a formal model for pattern regulation in epimorphic fields in which positional information is specified in terms of polar coordinates in two dimensions. We propose that cells within epimorphic fields behave according to two simple rules, the shortest intercalation rule and the complete circle rule, for both of which there is direct experimental evidence. It is possible to understand a large number of different behaviors of epimorphic fields as a straight-forward consequence of these two rules, and the model therefore provides a context in which to view many of the results of experimental embryology. Although we have confined our discussion to cockroach legs, the imaginal disks of Drosophila, and regenerating and developing amphibian limbs, the fact that the model can explain regulative behavior in such evolutionarily diverse animals suggests that it may have general applicability to epimorphic fields. The predictions which the model makes should make it possible to assess its applicability to other developing systems, and to investigate the cellular mechanisms involved.


[Biochemical basis of aging].

1. Biological ageing means change of structure and function with the beginning of the autonomy of a human being up to the death of the individual. 2. Already early in the first third of life begin changes caused by ageing, which in concurrence with developmental processes increasingly predominate. 3. Thus the total biological functional capacity of an organism decreases, which we called "vitability". 4. Ageing processes do not only occur on post-mitotic cells, but also on intermitotic cells regular changes caused by ageing are to be established.


[Methodological problems in the determination of biological age].

It is reported on a new method of the establishment of the biological age. The test battery designed comprises 12 parameters, from which a so-called biological index can be calculated which on its part serves as basis for the establishment of biological age. The realisability of the methods is demonstrated by examinations carried out on 340 healthy persons. The method developed for the geriatric practice is regarded as supplementation of the general medical examination and for the clarification of certain, above all gerontologically orientated questions.


[Aging and resorption].

The enteral absorption in dependence of age has been tested by D-xylose. From the additional investigation of the D-xylose reaction in the blood plasma one can detect statistically ascertained age relation in comparison between young and old healthy test persons. Though in old age the absorption process is retarded a sufficient absorption at a longer time at diminished speed of passage of the ingesta in old age.


[Problems of food absorption with reference to age and obesity].

In 1,000 obese persons and 250 persons with normal weight detailed nutrition anamneses concerning the average daily intake of calories, carbohydrates, protein, fats, cholesterol, saturated and repeatedly unsaturated fatty acids were made. Obese persons took less food than persons with normal weight--findings which are to be explained by the different habits of eating in the dynamic (the hyperalimentation takes place above all here) and in the static phase of obesity. There were no age tendencies in women, whereas in men, beginning with the 4th decade of life, all the nutrients were taken in a smaller quantity than in adolescence.


[Sexual behavior in higher age].

Apart from other factors the sexual behaviour of man and woman depends also on age. Like other physiological conditions the sexual function underlies changes according to age, representing themselves in slowed down sexual  reaction, diminished intensity of orgasm and ejaculation as well as decreased libido. In general the sexual activity of both sexes is diminishing after the 50th year of life, simultaneously showing that the sexual function in man more easily becomes disturbed--not so in woman.


[The care of the senior citizen from a social-hygienic viewpoint].

From the point of view of social hygiene is shown, in what way social conditions are given and sued in the GDR to take influence on the state of health up to old age. As main factors of work dwelling and social or cultural care are considered. Resuming his treatise the author confirms that not yet all sources are used to solve the problems regarded. References to law-materials and other principles are given to support physicians in treating and guiding older people and to enable authorities not belonging to health service to fulfill the adequate tasks.


[The securing of adequate working possibilities for the older worker as a specific work-hygienic task].

It is an important problem for all institutions of work-safety and Public Health in enterprises to secure an adequate shaping of labour for elderly workers by means of work-studies and deducing staffs. The peculiar attitude in adaptation by aged people makes necessary to take into consideration specific formative principles as are here described and proved. With the help of a model is shown in which way work-studies on places of employment of aged women are used for rationalisation.


[The relations between aging and disease].

In a survey concerning the relations between ageing and disease the peculiarities of a nosology referred to old age are discussed. From the point of view of clinical gerontology the compilation contains problems of the determination of the normal value, the demarcation of orthological and pathological changes caused by ageing, of the morbidity, the symptomatology and the therapy. The paper sketches the modern state of knowledge and refers to the continuation of clinical gerontology, the special task of which should last not least consist of the formation of a diagnostic and therapeutic standard adequate to age.


[The human life cycle from a theoretical viewpoint].

In the view of theoretical considerations the human course of life is regarded as a generalized motion. It is made an attempt to define terms, such as chronological age, biological age and ageing. In the model of ageing irreversible alterations affecting the organism are described by a complex variable, called vitality, which represents the state of systems. The rate of vitality dV/dt and the biomorphosis of systems are equivalent terms.


[Growth and aging of connective tissue].

The organs and organ systems of neonates usually show a differently advanced development of connective tissue. This must be considered when determining the change caused by ageing in specific connective tissue structures, especially if it is desired to establish relations between structure, function and time. In those organs which assume important functions during or immediately after birth the connective tissue components are more highly developed than in those which, after birth, are not subject to full functional strains. This particular phenomenon has been demonstrated by specific examples.


[Morphological age changes of the heart and blood vessels--contribution to the asynchronous aging of human organs and tissues].

The weight of the heart increases in men and women very rapidly up to the 20th year and after this time grows slowly up to the 90th year. Only after the 90th year there is a decrease of the heart weight. Thickness and length of the heart muscle cells are changing analogous. The capillaries likewise multiply during the first and second decade very quickly and do not diminish in advanced age. We do not find a "withered condition of the top" of the capillary tree and a thickening of the basement membrane. Lipofuscin already appears in heart muscle cells of 7-year-old children; its amount raises continuously. The interstitial connective tissue increases only during the first decade of life. In advanced age a part of the collagenous fibres degenerates. The fibrous framework of the cardiac valves is developing to a solid and stable organ during the first and second decade. After the 50th year the collagenous and elastic fibres show symptoms of degeneration. The different ageing of the blood vessels is demonstrated by the arteries of the iris.


[Pathogenicity of K. ozaenae for mice and chick embryos].

The authors tested the virulence of K. ozaenae--its old museum strains, the freshly isolated ones and those passaged on meat-peptone agar; experiments were carried out on mice and chick embryos. To mice the culture was administered intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, intranasally, and to embryos--into the allantoic cavity and on the chorioallantoic membrane. Irrespective of the method of administration, the freshly isolated strains were highly virulent both for mice and for chick embryos. The virulence of such strains decreased in the process of passaging on the nutrient medium. Old museum strains were of low virulence for albino mice and avirulent for chick embryos. In comparing the virulent and avirulent strains there were found no differences in the antigenic structure and toxicity of the Boiven complex, cytoplasm, membrane, capsular polysaccharide or whole virulent and avirulent bacteria killed by heating.


[Epidemiological evaluation of the effectiveness of the obligatory isolation of whooping cough patients in schools].

Analysis of observations carried out under practical conditions (165 patients with pertussis from 48 foci) and the results of controlled epidemiological trial on the discontinuance of compulsory isolation of pertussis patients at schools (12 classes, 402 children) showed that isolation of the patients failed to stop the spread of infection in the focus. This was attributed to incomplete detection of the patients and their late isolation in conditions of wide incidence of mild forms and formes frustes of pertussis. When patients suffering from pertussis were left at school, there occurred no increase in the spread of the infection in the focus, in duration or severity of the disease and no increase of the period of discharge of the causative agent. However, the number of days of the patient's absence from school was greatly reduced. Taking into consideration the absence of an attack-like cough in patients with formes frustes, short duration and preponderance of the attacks at night in patients with a mild form of pertussis, no disturbances in the general condition of the child, and also no indications to the treatment, schoolchildren should be isolated by clinical indications only (pyrexia, marked catarrhal phenomena, frequent attack-like cough, complications, concomitant diseases); they can be admitted to school as soon as the mentioned signs subsided irrespective of the time lapse from the onset of the disease.


[Insecticidal properties of sumitrin].

The study of insecticidal properties of sumitrin demonstrated that in contact action it was a highly effective insecticide; in topical application LD50 for domestic flies, bedbugs and cockroaches was 0.47, 1.25 and 3.26 mug/g, respectively. Sumitrin possessed high action selectivity for insects and low toxicity for warm-blooded animals (LD50 for albino mice greater than 7500 mg/kg). In the form of aerosols sumitrin and its mixtures with DDVF were less active than compositions on the neopinamine base.


[Study of the epidemiology of Far East scarlatiniform fever in the Maritime Territory. II. Contamination of environmental objects by the pseudotuberculosis microbe in foci of scarlatiniform fever].

External environment of vegetable storehouses and catering establishements in the foci of far-eastern scarlatina-like in the Primorsk territory was found to be considerably contaminated with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Epidemiological role of vegetable storehouses in the preservation of pseudotuberculosis microbe in the foci was demonstrated. In one case Y. pseudotuberculosis was isolated from soil.


[Electron microscopic study of the kinetics of smallpox vaccine interaction with alveolar macrophages when administered intratracheally].

Electron microscopy was applied to the study of the dynamics of endocytosis of smallpox vaccine by alveolar macrophages in intratracheal immunization of guinea pigs; 5 to 15 minutes after administration of smallpox vaccine the viruses were absorbed on the macrophage surface, penetrated into the cells by invagination and vesiculation. A possibility of adaption of smallpox virus in the alveolar macrophages 12 hours after the vaccination was confirmed documentally.


[Use of the thrombocyte aggregation test for detecting immune complexes circulating in the serum of cholera patients].

It was shown that the blood sera of patients suffering from cholera and of persons who had sustained the disease contained specific antibodies in titres below the diagnostic level (according to the indirect hemagglutination test) caused platelet aggregation, most pronounced during the first week of the infectious process. In the presence of a specific cholera antigen the phenomenon of platelet aggregation was considerably enhanced; the indices reached the maximum when the experiment was conducted with the blood sera of those who had sustained the disease.


[Effect of antipurine antibodies on the immunodepressive activity of 6-mercaptopurine].

In repeated injections of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) covalently bound with protein (6-MP-P) antibodies binding 6-MP appeared in rabbits. In such animals free 6-MP produced a lesser immunodepressive and toxic action. Injection to mice immunized with sheep erythrocytes (SE) of rabbit serum containing antibodies against 6-MP not only failed to lead to reduction of the immunodepressive action of this cytostatic, but, on the contrary, intensified the inhibition of antibody formation to the SE. Injection to mice of 6-MP bound with rabbit antiserum in vitro also enhanced its immunodepressive activity. Evidently own antibodies neutralized 6-MP, whereas foreign ones, serving as an antigen, apparently caused its accumulation in the macrophagal lymphocytic complex.


[Inhibitor participation in the regulation of serum RNAse activity in the formation of immunity against influenza].

It was shown that parenteral administration of lead ions caused in the blood serum of albino mice a significant decrease in the amount of the bound RNA-ase 1 inhibitor and a simultaneous increase in the activity of this enzyme. Consequently, this inhibitor served as a regulator of the serum RNA-ase 1 activity. A considerable increase in the amount of the bound and free RNA-ase 1 inhibitor was noted in the serum in the process of triple immunization of persons with live influenza vaccine; this was accompanied by a significant reduction of the free RNA-ase 1 activity. This indicated that along with other mechanisms the inhibitor apparently participated in the processes of formation of immunity against influenza.


[Comparative evaluation of the sensitivity to Mycoplasma pneumoniae of organ cultures of the trachea and lungs of certain animals].

A possibility was shown of cultivation of M. pneumoniae in the organ cultures of the trachea and the lungs of a pig embryo. 5-7-day guinea pigs, and 3-5-day chicks. The lung and tracheal explants of chicks possessed the greatest sensitivity to M. pneumoniae. M. pneumoniae strains were isolated from the nasopharyngeal smears and washings from the bronchi obtained in bronchoscopy of patients suffering from chronic pneumonia, with the use of organ culture of chick trachea. Explains of chick trachea could serve as a medium for the isolation of M. pneumoniae from the patients.


[Identification of serological group 0128:K67 Escherichia].

The authors present the results of studies of etiology of acute group intestinal diseases in neonates from whom escherichia of serological group 0128ac:K67 possessing the following characteristics were isolated: of the same (with the H12 antigen) serological and enzymatic type (nonfermenting sucrose and raffinose, fermenting dulcit and sorbit the first 24 hours, and slowly fermenting ramnose). All the cultures isolated were resistant to the majority of antibiotics used at present, and were only weakly sensitive to erythromycin. Difficulties (agglutination of live cultures with production sera in the absence of low agglutinability of heated cultures) in serological typing of the cultures were due to different partial O-antigen composition of the cultures isolated and of the production strain used in the preparation of commercial sera of the given serological group (0128ab:K67). Because circulation of escherichia of serological 0128ac variant was revealed in the USSR there occurred a necessity of their identification in practical laboratories; for this purpose organization of industrial production of the corresponding serum is necessary.


[Molecular parameters of the sensitization of tannined erythrocytes with human IgG].

A study was made of the molecular binding parameters during the sensitization of human IgG with tannin-treated sheep erythrocytes, depending on the concentration of the reacting components. The total amount of IgG molecules stably bound by all erythrocytes increased with the elevation of erythrocyte and IgG concentration. About 1.7 million IgG molecules were stably fixed on one erythrocyte under conditions providing the maximum binding. However, the level of hemosensitization approaching the maximum was provided by binding 400,000--600,000 IgG molecules by one erythrocyte. Apparently the level of specific IgG sensitization was determined not only by the amount of protein molecules stably bound by one erythrocyte, but also by the character of space position of the IgG molecules on the erythrocyte surface.


[Polyvalent diagnostic cholera phage].

A polyvalent diagnostic bacteriophage for rapid identification (in 6-10 hours) of cholera vibrio of both biotypes has been constructed of virulent E1 Tor phages and recommended for laboratory practice. Polyvalent diagnostic bacteriophage is strictly specific, inactive against the nonagglutinating vibrios, microbes of enteric group and those closely affiliated.


[Study of the fractional makeup of diagnostic nutrient media for isolating Vibrio cholerae].

A study was made of the fractional composition of peptones used for preparation of solid nutrient media. It was shown that the best growth of the vibrio on these media was obtained with the use of highly split peptones. Examination of fractional composition of peptone by gel-filtration and fractionation with various precipitants is recommended for rational working out of nutrient media for cultivation of cholera vibrio.


Purification of alkaline phosphatase of the halotolerant yeast Debaryomyces hansenii.

Alkaline phosphatase (orthophosphoric monoester phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.1) of the halotolerant yeast Debaryomyces hansenii was purified by a procedure involving cell disruption, DNAase treatment, ethanol precipitation, gel filtration, chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex, and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The specific activity was increased 1250-fold as compared to the activity of cell free extract. The total recovery was 30%. Various modifications of the growth conditions had slight or no effect on the yield of enzyme.


Quantification of vestibular dysrhythmia.

Quantification of dysrhythmia in a nystagmus response has hitherto not been seriously attempted, possibly because the nystagmus response does not easily lend itself to description in mathematical or physical terms. Ideally the nystagmus response consists of a sequence of triangles. Each such triangle is determined by four qualities, i.e. the velocities and the durations of the fast and slow components. Thus, without serious loss of information it is possible to represent a nystagmus reaction by four sequences of values, one for each of the four above mentioned qualities. From each such sequence we have extracted relevant information and presented it in graphical form. It may be assumed that each of the four nystagmus qualitiees reflects the activity within separate 'neuronal systems'. Each of these four systems is then informed upon by three parameters for each nystagmus quality, i.e. by its mean, by its variation coefficient and by its sequential variation coefficient. It is claimed that these three diagrams contain nystagmus information not earlier considered.


Endonasal venular permeability in rats exposed to the cold.

Sixteen rats were killed 22 hrs after being injected with a dose of 4 mCi(198)Au mixed with 16 mg of inert colloidal gold/100g body wt. The anterior nasal mucosa of the septum and turbinates in 10 rats which were injected and kept in a temperature of 5-7 degrees C showed mean radioactive counts 2-3 times higher than those recorded in the same areas in 6 control rats kept in ordinary room temperature (22 degrees C). In all sixteen rats the highest counts were obtained in the RES organs, namely the liver, spleen, adrenals and the bone marrow, in descending order. Other tissues revealed no significant radioactivity except for minor counts in the lungs and kidneys. The importance of these findings regarding the localisation of granulomatous diseases and vasculitis in the nose is discussed.


[Postnatal growth of nasal septum].

Up to now little is known about the anatomy and histology and especially about the germinative zones of the growing nasal septum. We totally removed 18 septa of children between 0 and 10 years immediately after death. After photographical documentation these septa were studied histologically and microadiographically. It was found that at birth the connection between the cartilaginous septum and vomer only consists of a small and very loose layer of connective tissues. During the first year of life several ossification areas appear between vomer and cartilage in the dorsal part of the septum. An enchondral ossification zone at the rostrum sphenoidale was regularly seen in the neonatal septum, but disappears soon after birth. The development of the perpendicular plate starts from multiple ossification centersregularlytobefoundinthedorso-cranialpartoftheneonatalseptum. The perpendicular plate is the fastest growing part of the septum and even in the tenth year of life still shows an enchondral ossification zone around its border. The shape and the size ofthe septum changes most during the first six years; subsequently septal growth slows down markedly. As the enchondral ossification zone resembles an epiphysis cartilage, it is assumed thatlesions in this area may lead to growth disturbances of the inner and outer nose. It is therefore emphasized that, rgarding rhinoplasty in children, this ossification zone should be preserved by the surgeon.


Cervical thymic cysts.

A review of cervical thymus cysts and a case report are presented. This benign lesion was, as in most cases previously reported, situated laterally on the neck, deep to the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and thus simulating a common branchial cyst preoperative.y. But unlike the latter most cases of cervical thymus cysts are recognised during childhood. They are believed to develop in remmants of thymic tissue which have failed to descend from the third branchial pouch into the mediastinum in the 6th to 8th week of embryonic life.


A new method for strengthening palatal closure defects of the hard palate.

Closure of minor defects in the hard palate can be done with local flaps. There is often a risk of perforation of the reconstructed area. In the case reported this complication was obvious due to a large, thin, flap-covered area. In strengthening the reconstruction fascia lata and Surgicel was used. The postoperative result was excellent and the rehabilitation of the patient was without complications.


Holographic vibration analysis of the ossicular chain.

The mechanics of movement of the ossicular chain has been investigated on human temporal bone preparations by means of time average holography. The malleus and incus moved like a lever around an axis, which position was somewhat dependent upon frequency. Simulation of contraction of the muscles of the middle ear gave as result a change in the pattern of movement of the ossicular chain. The position of the rotatory axis was changed, and the amplitudes of vibration were reduced. This should be a protecting mechanism.


Radioimmunoassay of IgE in middle ear effusions.

Fifty-six sample pairs of middle ear effusions and sera obtained from patients with otitis media with effusion were investigated for The IgE antibody activity against mites, using radioallergosorbent test (RAST) which was recently developed as an in vitro allergy test. The IgE concentrations were also determined by radioimmunosorbent test (RIST). Results showed that the IgE antibody activity against this allergen was found in 5 middle ear effusions and 3 sera. Four of 5 patients with the positive RAST test had nasal allergy or signs suggesting allergy. Theree were two middle ear effusions which seemed to be an allergic fluid. However, findings in the present study do not suggest that middle ear effusions result from the direct allergic reaction induced by mites in the mucous membrane lining the middle ear cavity.


Efferent nerve fibers associated with the outermost supporting cells of the organ of Corti in the guinea pig.

In whold-mount preparations of the organ of Corti nerve fibers are sometimes seen peripheral to the third-row outer hair cells where they appear to wander among the Hensen cells. These fibers were studied in the guinea pig by both light and electron microscopy. In the upper second, third and fourth cochlear turns nerve fibers were seen between and on the peripheral side of the third-row Deiters cells as well as in the floor of the outer tunnel space. They were not found in the intercellular spaces between the Hensen cells. These nerve fibers are continuous with the spiral efferent fibers beneath the outer hair cells. Also their ultrastructural and histochemical characteristics indicate that they are efferent neural elements. This identification was confirmed by the finding that they degenerate following interruption of the olivo-cochlear bundle in the brain stem.


Hair cell loss as a function of age in the normal cochlea of the guinea pig.

The surface specimen technique was used to study both spiral organs of 28 normal guinea pigs of four age groups: less than 24 hours, 6 weeks, 3 months and 1 year. Damaged hair cells were recorded for the whole of each spiral organ on cochleograms. The mean percentage number of outer hair cells damaged per age group was found to increase as a power function of age. In the animals aged less than 24 hours the mean percentage of damaged outer hair cells was 0.45%; in the 6-week animals, 1.85%; in the 3-month animals, 3.19%; and in the 1-year animals, 6.82%. At all ages outer hair cell loss was maximal in the third row, and towards the apex of the cochlea. Inner hair cell loss was very slight, with a maximum of 9 damaged inner hair cells per cochlea.


Intercellular junctions in the organ of Corti as revealed by freeze fracturing.

The junctions between the cells of the organ of Corti have been investigated with the freeze-fracture method in the chinchilla inner ear. Numerous gap junctions have been found among all the supporting cells, particularly at the level of their basal part. This means that the supporting cells have their cytoplasm electrotonically and metabolically coupled. Gap junctions were not observed between supporting and sensory cells nor between sensory cells and nerve endings. At this level the transmission should be chemically mediated.


Histo-physiological relationships in the deaf white cat auditory system.

An investigation is underway in deaf white cats in order to clear up some problems about the timing of cochlear degeneration, the relationships between physiological and histological findings, and the consequential state of central auditory pathways. The first results reported here show that degeneration of sensory structures was much more advanced than physiological results lead us to believe. The possibility of direct fibre stimulation is discussed. Although degeneration of nervous structures was delayed compared with sensory ones, some early abnormalities in myelination were found. In the adult, completely deaf for years, the electrical stimulation of cochlear nuclei evoked normal-looking field responses at the cortical level. Thus some degree of auditory pathway functional integrity appeared even long after they were disconnected from receptors.


The cytochochleogram in atoxyl-treated guinea pigs.

The earliest atoxyl induced changes in the cochlea appeared in the upper and medial parts of the 4th coil, whence the changes spread progressively downwards towards the round window, the extent of the changes depending on the amount of atoxyl administered and the duration of the treatment. The inner hair cells were more resistant to the effects of atoxyl than the outer hair cells which were affected first. The sensory cells in the 2nd and 3rd rows appeared more sensitive than the outer hair cells in the first row.


Neural damage in the guinea pig cochlea after noise exposure. A light microscopic study.

Neural damage produced by exposure to 8 kHz octave-band noise was studied by light microscopy in guinea pigs. Abnormal nerve endings were found beneath both inner and outer hair cells within 24 hours after exposure at either 118 or 120 dB SPL. In areas where the organ of Corti was destroyed degeneration of myelinated nerve fibers was seen immediately after 24-hour exposures. Nerve degeneration secondary to hair cell loss was observed. However, degeneration of myelinated fibers occurred in some cases without significant hair cell loss. At survival times as long as two months nerve fibers coursing near capillaries were still present in extensively damaged areas. In three animals nerve fibers which had apparently regenerated into regions where the  sensory epithelium was destroyed were found distal to the habenula perforata. Evdence of regenerative activity was also noted in the osseous spiral lamina.


[New animal experiments on aerobic and anareobic inner ear metabolism].

The inner-ear function is bound up with a permanent oxygen supply. The evidence of it are the patterns of the LDH subunits in inner-ear of eight species. The inner-ear energy turnover of glycolysis post-mortem was demonstrated at those species possessing glycogen storages. The MP2 are alterated by perfusion of glucose or iodoacetic acid. During oxygen respiration the MP are not decreased by iodoacetic acid.


The role of cholinergic excitation in the formation of histamine within the rat gastric mucosa.

In the absence of the antrum, central vagal excitation and distension of the stomach accelerated the rate of formation of gastric mucosal histamine. The effect of vagus stimulation was abolished by truncal vagotomy or atropine whereas that of distension by atropine. After truncal vagotomy, distension was still effective in accelerating the formation of the amine. Furthermore, mucosal histamine formation in the fasting state was reduced by truncal vagotomy and atropine injection.


Effect of physical training on LDH activity and LDH isozyme pattern in human skeletal muscle.

Total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and LDH isozyme pattern were studied in muscle biopsies obtained from m. vastus lateralis after 1) "aerobic" training performed as interval and extreme distance running, respectively (3 subjects); and 2) "anaerobic" training for two months, carried out as repeated maximal bursts of approximately 1 min running (6 subjects). After the "anaerobic training" no changes in LDH properties could be detected, although running performance improved. The extreme distance running resulted in a decrease in total LDH activity and an increase in relative activity of the heart specific isozymes. A relationship was also shown between the relative activity of these isozymes and the training distance covered. The relatively more aerobic prevailing during distance running as compared to "anaerobic training" were proposed to decrease muscle specific subunits and/or increase synthesis of heart specific subunits in both muscle fiber types. This suggestion was supported by isozyme analysis of lyophilized and dissected single muscle fibres.


Effects of respiratory alkalosis and acidosis on myocardial excitation.

In anesthetized dogs electrocardiogram and monophasic action potentials (MAPs) were recorded from the right atrium and the right ventricle by intracardiac suction electrode technique. The animals were subjected, by means of ventilation with CO2 and hyperventilation, to periods of respiratory acidosis and respiratory alkalosis, respectively. Pronounced respiratory acidosis induced an increased sympathetic activity followed by a decrease in heart rate and prolongation of the A-V conduction time whereas the shape and duration of the atrial and ventricular MAPs remained unaltered. Arterial hypoxia in combination with pronounced respiratory acidosis did not influence the MAP durations. Respiratory alkalosis resulted in an increased sympathetic influence on the heart activity whereas the shape and duration of the atrial and the ventricular MAPs remained unaffected. During pronounced hyperventilation with increasing central venous pressure an increased parasympathetic influence on the heart activity with decrease in the heart rate, prolongation of the A-V conduction time and shortening of the atrial MAP duration was recorded.


Effect of sympathetic nerve stimulation on net transvascular movement of fluid in canine adipose tissue.

Net transvascular movement of fluid has been studied in the isolated, autoperfused subcutaneous adipose tissue of the dog, during and after sympathetic nerve stimulation (1-15 Hz) and during infusion of 50% glucose i.a. Net fluid movement was calculated as the difference between change in tissue volume and change in blood volume. Tissue volume was measured by plethysmography and blood volume by external monitoring of circulating 131I-albumin. No net fluid movement of statistical significance was found during or after nerve stimulation except during the first minute of stimulation at 15 Hz when a small net absorption (p less than 0.05) was obtained. In contrast, infusion of glucose at 25-75 mOsm/kg H2O produced a dose-dependent net absorption lasting several minutes, amounting maximally to 0.30 ml x min-1 x 100 g-1. The absence of prolonged net absorption in subcutaneous adipose tissue during nerve stimulation as well as the absence of net filtration after stimulation may be explained by an essentially unaltered mean hydrostatic capillary pressure. The results indicate that adipose tissue does not contribute to the fluid homeostasis of the body via sympathetic resetting of the pre-postcapillary resistance ratio. Thus, mobilisation of fluid from the interstitial space in adipose tissue into the blood does not seem to occur by nerve activity.


Excitability changes of the inspiratory "off-switch" mechanism tested by electrical stimulation in nucleus parabrachialis in the cat.

The time course of the excitability of the inspiratory "off-switch" mechanism with and without phasic vagal stretch receptor feedback has been studied in cats under light pentobarbitone anesthesia by electrical stimulation in the rostral pons using brief tetanic stimulation (300 Hz for 0.2 s). The threshold strength required just to elicit inspiratory "off-switch" was high early in inspiration and fell steeply with time. The threshold curves were steeper with than without phasic vagal feedback, and the difference reflects the phasic vagal contribution to the excitability of the inspiratory "off-switch" the absence of phasic vagal vagal feedback the time course of this threshold curve usually corresponded closely to that of the "integrated" phrenic activity at all PCO2 levels and body temperatures tested indicating that the "integrated" phrenic activity can be used as an index of the centrally generated inspiratory activity. In response to a rise in PCO2 both the rate of change of excitability of the inspiratory "off-switch" mechanism and its initial threshold level was increased. Changes in body temperature caused no change in the initial threshold but produced marked changes in the rate of rise of the "off-switch" excitability; Following an "augmented breath" the inspiratory "off-switch" threshold was markedly reduced


Effect of the H2-receptor antagonist metiamide on carbachol- and histamine-induced gastric acid secretion in the Atlantic cod,Gadus morhua.

Gastric acid secretion was measured in swimming codfish surgically equipped with a catheter draining the stomach. Intramuscular injection of histamine (15.6 mug/kg-h) or carbachol (5 mug/kg-h) stimulated the secretion of acid, carbachol in addition caused a marked decrease in drinking rate of the fishes. Administration of 10 mumol/kg-h metiamide completely prevented the acid secretion induced by both drugs. The carbachol effect on the drinking rate, interpreted to mirror contraction of the stomach following stimulation of muscarinic receptors, was not affected by metiamide.


Influence of altered CSF solute composition on parotid salivary secretion in goats.

Infusions of hypertonic NaCl solution into the CSF of the lateral cerebral ventricle of the goat caused a marked reduction in parotid salivary flow concomitant with a rise in salivary [Na+]. Corresponding infusions of iso- or hypertonic glucose and glycerol solutions affected salivary secretion in the opposite direction. The possibility is discussed that a periventricular sodium-sensitive mechanism, which is of importance in the central control of fluid balance, also may participate in the regulation of parotid secretion in the goat. This interpretation of the results is to some extent obscured by the observation of a high incidence of intermittent rumination during the intraventricular infusions of glucose and glycerol solution.


K+ transport in isolated rat liver cells stimulated by glucagon and insulin in vitro.

Unidirectional K+ fluxes were measured in suspensions of isolated rat liver parenchymal cells incubated with 42K+ in vitro. By tracer exchange analysis fluxes in both directions were estimated to 8-9 10(-12) mol/cm2. Glucagon in concentrations above 2 x 10(-8) M increased both influx and efflux to 160% of control values. Insulin increased influx by 12-14%, whereas efflux was apparently unaffected. Using an extracellular marker 51Cr EDTA, intracellular level of some ions was estimated in isolated liver cells: K+ = 172 mmol/kg water, Na+ = 25 mmol/kg water, Cl = 53 mmol/kg water. Cellular water content: 60%. Incubation with insulin for 1 h increased the intracellular concentration of K+ 1.7 mmol/kg water. The results indicate that glucoagon increased primarily the K+-permeability of the cell membrane, while insulin stimulates active K+ transport into the cell.


Active transport of 3H-bretylium in the rat vas deferens in vitro.

The uptake and efflux of 3H-bretylium in slices of the rat vas deferens were examined. The uptake of bretylium was temperature, Na+ and Cl- dependent, sensitive to 6-hydroxydopamine but insensitive to reserpine. The uptake was inhibited by desipramine, (+)-amphetamine, imipramine methiodide and cocaine, whereas the local anaesthetics millicaine and lidocaine were poor inhibitors. The spontaneous efflux was very slow at 0 degrees C and slow at 37 degrees. Desipramine accelerated the efflux probably by inhibiting the re-uptake of bretylium. (+)-Amphetamine, low external Na+, high external K+ and ouabain caused a pronounced increase in the efflux at 37 degrees C but was almost without effect at 0 degrees C. The efflux evoked by (+)-amphetamine, low Na+ and ouabain was inhibited by desipramine, imipramine methiodide and cocaine, whereas millicaine and lidocaine had very poor effects. The increase of bretylium efflux by hypertonic K+ was only slightly inhibited by desipramine and partially antagonized by omission of Ca2+ in the medium. The results obtained indicate that bretylium was taken up in noradrenergic neurones by the noradrenaline transport mechanism and that the efflux of bretylium produced by (+)-amphetamine, low external Na+, low external Cl- and by ouabain occurred by the same transport mechanism as the uptake but now working in the outward direction whereas the efflux induced by high K+ seemed to occur mainly with another mechanism.


Hemodynamic consequences of resistance vessel rarification and of changes in smooth muscle sensitivity.

Alterations in resistance vessel design in form of an increased wall/lumen ratio appears to markedly influence the resistance control in primary hypertension (Folkow et al. 1973). The raised resistance has also been suggested to be a consequence of a rarification of resistence vessels or/and to an increased vascular smooth muscle sensitivity. Thus two series paired experiments were performed on matched normotensive rats, utilizing the responses of their hindquarter vascular beds during constant flow perfusion. In the first series, the precapillary resistance vessels section was first "rarified" by graded microplugging, thereby raising resistance at maximal dilatation about 50 per cent. Then the vascular responses to noradrenaline were studied to characterize the dose-response or "resistance curves". In the second series the vascular smooth muscle sensitivity to noradrenaline of one of the hindquarters was changed by infusion of phentolamine. The resistance responses were then recorded and the ensuing "resistance curves" compared. --These changes of resistance vascular architecture and vascular smooth muscle sensitivity, respectively, led to mutually different characters of the "resistance curves". Both of these differ, however, in virtually all important respects from those curves characterizing vascular beds of spontaneously or renal hypertensive rats.


Renal cortical blood redistribution after bumetanide related to heterogenicity of cortical prostaglandin metabolism in dogs.

Bumetanide is shown to increase renal blood flow and to augment the proportion of the cortical blood flow to middle cortex. This redistribution still takes place even when renal blood flow is maintained constant by renal artery clamping. Indomethacin pretreatment inhibits the increase of renal blood flow as well as the cortical blood redistribution. In vitro examinations of canine kidney tissue slices suggest that outer cortex and papillar are sites of prostaglandin synthesis. No differences in prostaglandin E degradation are observed within the cortex. This suggests a relative autonomy for prostaglandins in the outer cortex, whilst inner cortical areas are dependent on medullary/papillary prostaglandin E supply. The renal hemodynamic effect of bumetanide is therefore thought to be a result of a stimulation of mainly medullary/papillary prostaglandin synthesis.


Heart rate and blood pressure responses during sexual activity in normal males.

In order to properly advise cardiac patients in the regulation of their sexual activity, more basic physiologic information is needed concerning the cardiovascular effects of sexual intercourse. This study examined the effects of the male's position during sexual intercourse on heart rate and blood pressure responses. Eight men, 24 to 40 years of age, were studied in the privacy of the bedroom during sexual activity with their wives. The ECG was monitored continuously by portable tape recorder and the arm blood pressure (BP) was measured intermittently with an automatically inflated cuff and ultrasonic detector device controlled by the subject. A total of 35 episodes of sexual intercourse were monitored; 16 were with the male-on-top (MOT) and 19 were in the male-on-bottom (MOB) position. The mean maximal heart rate (HR) for MOT at orgasm was 114 compared to 117 in the MOB position, representing 61 per cent of predicted maximal HR for men in the 20 to 29 age group. Mean BP at orgasm in the MOT was 163/81 and 161/77 in the MOB position. The differences in mean HR, BP, and pressure rate product (PRP) were not statistically significant with regard to position at rest intromission, orgasm, or during the recovery period. This study indicates no difference in the heart rate and BP responses of the male during sexual intercourse in two different positions. There is, therefore, no physiologic basis for advising cardiac patients to utilize the MOB position during sexual intercourse.


Effects of treadmill exercise on the timing of the heart and arterial sounds, and the slope of the brachial arterial pulse wave.

An indirect, noninvasive method of sphygmorecording was used to study the effect of exercise on a number of cardiac parameters, including heart rate, blood pressure, the timing of the heart and Korotkoff arterial sounds, and the slope (dP/DT) of the brachial arterial pressure wave. The QKd interval is a sensitive and reliable indicator of the cardiovascular response to exercise stress, and can be used to follow the rate of return to basal levels. Changes in the QKd can occur even in the presence of fixed heart rate. These studies provide a baseline for analysis of patients with cardiovascular disease.


Observations on the A2 England influenza epidemic: a clinicopathological study.

A clinicopathological study of the 1972-1973 A2 England influenza epidemic is presented. In fatal cases early necrosis of myofibrils was present in those patients who died within 24 hours of the onset of the influenza symptoms. At 5 days gross changes were present. These were largely resolved by the eighteenth day of illness. In 42 patients treated at home, transient ECG changes were found in 18 cases. These included ST-segment deviation, T-wave inversion, flattening of the T wave, sinus bradycardia, sinus tachycardia, nodal rhythm, and atrial fibrillation. Permanent changes were observed in one patient and in an additional patient admitted to hospital with permanent A-V block.


P wave terminal force and persisting ST elevations in chronic ischemic heart disease. Prediciton of left ventricular motility and diastolic pressure.

In 80 male patients with coronary heart disease P terminal force in V (V Ptf) was correlated with left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and the findings by left ventricular angiography (ejection fraction (EF) and signs of aneurysm). The correlation between V Ptf and LVEDP was statistically significant (r= - 0.56, n= 80, p less than 0.001). Abnormal V Ptf ( less than -0.03 mm. second) used to detect LVEDP greater than 12 mm. Hg gave sensitivity 59 per cent (22 of 37) and specificity 88 per cent (5 of 43 false positive). The mean V Ptf in 26 patients with aneurysm and/or EF Less than 50 per cent (dyskinesia group) was -0.058 mm. second in contrast to -0.021 in patients with EF greater than 50 per cent (p less than 0.001). Abnormal V Ptf was a more sensitive parameter in separating the dyskinesia group from the others than abnormal ST elevations (sensitivity 73 vs. 54 per cent, respectively); but less specific (83 vs. 98 per cent). In this respect the specificity of V Ptf increases inversely proportionally to the V Ptf value. Both of these electrocardiographic parameters may be useful in the primary selection of patients suited for surgical treatment of coronary heart disease.


The natural history of small atrial septal defects; long-term follow-up with serial heart catheterizations.

Thirty-nine patients with a small ASD of the secundum type were followed clinically for 5 to 21 years (mean 11.6 years); no evidence of deterioration was found. In 26 of these cases recatheterization was carried out with a mean follow-up period of 9.8 years. No significant changes were found in most patients; in four patients, however, the left-to-right shunt had increased significantly. Our recommendations are that we will continue to advise surgery in patients with large ASD's, whereas we still do not recommend surgery in patients with small ASD's; the latter patients should be followed for longer periods to ensure that no deterioration occurs. The decision as to whether an ASD should be regarded as large or small in our opinion not only should be based on a chosen limit of pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio, but clinical factors such as diastolic flow murmurs, ECG changes, the heart size, and the pulmonary vascular markings should also be taken into consideration.


Antiarrhythmic activity of potassium canrenoate in man.

The efficacy of potassium canrenoate in suppressing frequent ventricular premature depolarizations and ventricular bigeminal and trigeminal rhythms thought to be due to digitalis overdose was studied in seven men and five women (average age, 54.5 years). A mean dose of 525 mg. (1.31 mEq.) of potassium canrenoate administered intravenously effectively suppressed the ventricular rhythm disturbances in eight of the 12 patients for from several minutes to 4 hours. The mean serum digoxin level determined in seven patients was greater than 2.3 ng. per milliliter. The ability of potassium canrenoate to counteract digitalis intoxication suggests that the molecule of canrenoate is unique in the clinical setting since it shows both diuretic and antiarrhythmic properties.


Effects of hypercapnea and of hypercapnea in combination with hypoxia on midbrain-induced cardiac dysrhythmias.

Stimulation of the midbrain during acute combined arterial hypoxia and hypercapnea produces serious cardiac dysrhythmias which are not evoked when stimulation is elicited either with normal arterial blood gas tensions or with isolated mild hypercapnea. The cardiac dysrhythmias are mediated by both enhanced sympathetic and parasympathetic efferent discharge. The results support the concept that increased autonomic activity in combination with acute arterial hypoxia and hypercapnea contribute significantly to the exhibition of serious cardiac rhythm disturbances. Acute hypoxia appears to be the major determinant of such dysrhythmias.


Real-time observation of cardiac movement and structures in congenital and acquired heart diseases employing high-speed ultrasonocardiotomography.

Echocardiography has proved useful for cardiac diagnosis during the past several years; however, the conventional one-dimensional ultrasound pulse echo method cannot easily visualize the anatomical relationships of the various cardiac structures. To overcome the limitation, the authors attempted a real-time observation of cardiac structures and introduced high-speed ultrasonocardiotomography with a Sonolayergraph Model SSL-51H (Toshiba) having a logarithmic amplifier. Thirty sector images are produced per second by a mechanically operated, single flat or 75 mm. focus transducer measuring 10 mm. in diameter.  The angle of a sector image composed of about 120 scanning lines is arbitrarily changeable from null to 65 degrees. The fast succession of images produced enables clear observation of the movement of cardiac structures in real time. Study of 230 patients by means of the proposed system suggests that it is advantageous as a quick method to provide two-dimensional echocardiograms for cardiac diagnosis and assessment, especially in noninvasive diagnosis.


Localization by autoradiography of tritiated isoproterenol in "infarct-like" lesions of rat myocardium.

A number of physiopathogenic mechanisms have been outlined to explain the "infarct-like" lesions produced by isoproterenol (ISP) in the hearts of various animals: Excess of oxygen consumption and inotropic effect, coronary vasoconstriction, deleterious action on glucose and lipid metabolism, direct cardiotoxic effect, platelet aggregation in the small cardiac vessels and formation of microclots, excessive mobilization of fatty acids, fluid and electrolytic imbalances, loss of high-energy intracellular coupling, and inadequate activation of the "calcium pump." For this reason, localization of the tritiated ISP in the normal myocardial fibers and in the induced lesions was studied. The first control group (G-1), consisted of 40 Wistar rats, weighing from 180 to 200 grams; they were injected intraperitoneally with ISP sulfate (10 mg. per kilogram) and were killed under ether anesthesia after periods of 5, 30, and 120 minutes, and 12 and 24 hours. A similar group (G-2) was injected intraperitoneally with an equal dose of ISP plus 5 muCi of tritiated ISP sulfate (3H). In this group animals were killed at the same periods as above. In rats treated with ISP-3H an abundant amount of the labeled drug was observed on the sarcolemma surface and a smaller quantity was noted inside the myocardial fibers. This observation was noted in the autoradiographs obtained 5 minutes after the injection and persisted in all subsequent observation times. In those animals which were killed 5 and 30 minutes after injection, the deposit was noted in "grooves" along the edge of the sarcolemma, strongly suggesting a primary action on the cellular membrane. These findings and the peculiar topography suggest that (1) myocardial necrosis induced by ISP is probably due to an increased activation of the "calcium pump"; the early presence of contracture bands and the positivity of the ischemia test further emphasize this statement; (2) the ISP effect is rapid; (3) the morphologic alterations are similar to those recently described as "coagulation myocytolysis" and present in human infarctions or following sudden death.


Conduction disturbances of the bundle branches produced by lesions in the nonbranching portion of His bundle.

The present experiments were conducted on isolated dog hearts to demonstrate that conduction disturbances can be induced in the bundle branches by transection of about 50 per cent of the cross-sectional area of the His bundle on the right or left side. The His bundle, the posterior and anterior divisions of left bundle, and the right bundle were exposed by careful dissection, and microelectrode techniques were used to record action potentials from the three bundle branches. Pacing stimuli were applied to the nonbranching portion of His bundle proximal and then distal to the site of transection to study the effect of such lesions on impulse conduction to the bundle branches. It was demonstrated that conduction to the bundle branches was not affected by such lesions in the His bundle at pacing rates slower than 100 per minute; however, conduction disturbances were rate-dependent and manifested at faster pacing rates. In nine out of all 16 experiments, partial or complete block occurred in all three bundle branches regardless of the side of the lesion. In the remaining seven experiments, they were observed in the bundle branch on the same side as the lesion. It was assumed that conduction disturbances of the bilateral bundle branches resulted from decremental conduction in the uncut portion of His at the level of lesion, and those of the ipsilateral branch from the functional failure of transverse crossover connections between the longitudinal His bundle fibers. The results indicate that localized lesions in the nonbranching portion of His bundle can indeed produce the pattern of bundle branch block under certain conditions.


Phentolamine.

The clinical uses of phentolamine have widened since its introduction as an anti-hypertensive agent. The vasodilating action of the drug as well as its postive inotropic effects have led to its use in treating congestive heart failure. Recently, phentolamine has been use by several groups to improve left ventricular function in acute myocardial infarction. There appears to be great promise for the use of phentolamine in this clinical setting. The drug given intravenously or orally can suppress ventricular premature beats and supraventricular premature beats. However, the experience of phentolamine as an antiarrhythmic agent is still limited. Similarly, the relief of angina pectoris by phentolamine requires confirmation by additional clinical studies. Phentolamine can be used as a provocative test in idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis. Since it does not produce cardiac arrhythmias, it may be safer than isoproterenol. The comparative effectiveness of phentolamine and isoproterenol in diagnosing I.H.S.S. is unknown. Phentolamine has been advocated for several years as a beneficial agent for the treatment of shock. The experience is still limited to a few groups who have reported favorable results. Phentolamine has been used as a bronchodilator and a pulmonary artery dilator. The preliminary reports appear favorable. However, continused investigation is warranted. A sensitive measurement of the blood levels of phentolamine is not available. When this is accomplished, further insight into the metabolism of this drug will be forthcoming.


Adrenal medullary disease in multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 2: pheochromocytoma and its precursors.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 2 (MEN-type 2), designates the syndrome of medullary thyroid carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, and occasional parathyroid hyperplasia. The thyroid carcinoma, which is usually bilateral and multicentric, is preceded by multifocal C-cell hyperplasia. The adrenal gland manifests pheochromocytoma, which is frequently bilateral and multicentric, and may be malignant. To test the hypothesis that diffuse adrenal medullary hyperplasia is a precursor of pheochromocytoma in this syndrome, we studied the adrenal glands of 19 patients who had MEN-type 2. The findings in the adrenal medulla in these 19 patients were: synchronous bilateral pheochromocytoma in 9 (metastatic in 3); asynchronous bilateral pheochromocytoma in 1 (metastatic); unilateral pheochromocytoma with contralateral diffuse and nodular hyperplasia in 2; unilateral pheochromocytoma with contralateral diffuse hyperplasia in 2; unilateral pheochromocytoma in 1; bilateral nodular hyperplasia in 1; bilateral diffuse hyperplasia in 1; and no abnormality in 2. This spectrum of adrenal medullary pathology suggests that diffuse and nodular medullary hyperplasia are precursors of pheochromocytoma in MEN-type 2.


A regional quality control program in microbiology. I. Administrative aspects.

Conventional proficiency testing programs in microbiology using recognizable materials yield limited information. To assess overall laboratory competence in the handling of routine clinical material, other methods are needed. This report describes the use of "blind," simulated clinical specimens in a regional quality control program. Details of the administration, including technics, costs, logistics, and limitations, are presented.


A column chromatographic method for the combined analysis of creatine kinase-MB (CPK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase 1,2 (LDH 1,2) isoenzymes.

A column chromatographic method for the simultaneous single-eluate isolation of CPK-MB and LDH 1,2 has been evaluated. The method is rapid in that the entire isolation is completed in less than an hour and subsequent analysis can be performed using presently available spectrophotometric methods and reagents without the need for electrophoresis equipment. In addition, since the isoenzymes are directly isolated, quantitation of enzymatic activity can be performed with precision. This technic permits detection of CPK-MB and LDH 1,2 in samples with normal values of total CPK and LDH utilizing a routine laboratory spectrophotometer. The sensitivities for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction are 95% for LDH 1,2 and 100% for CPK-MB. The specificities for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction are 86% for LDH 1,2 and 96% for CPK-MB.


A study of the nature of "hairy" cells, with emphasis on enzymatic markers.

Studies of peripheral blood, bone marrow, and spleen cells from three patients with hairy-cell leukemia were performed. Two of the three patients had well-organized cytoplasmic, ribosome-lamellar inclusions in their leukemic cells. Blast transformation and 3H-thymidine incorporation of lymphocytes seemed to fall within normal ranges when the findings were related to the absolute numbers of lymphocytes. The enzymatic markers demonstrated in hairy cells-strong acid phosphatase activity in endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes, marked alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase reaction, and weak beta-glucuronidase activity-as well as their phagocytosis of latex particles, indicate a common origin with monocytes or histiocytes. No decisive results were obtained by immunofluorescence. Evaluation of the significance of the formation by hairy cells of mouse erythrocyte rosettes, as well as the presence of the typical hair-like projections, may require additional knowledge concerning the membrane of these cells.