Role of circulatory congestion in the cardiorespiratory failure of obesity.

The role of circulatory congestion in the cardiorespiratory dysfunction of massive obesity was investigated in 18 patients. They were hypervolemic and had increased cardiac outputs proportionate to their weight. The average resting left ventricular filling pressure was within the upper limits of normal, but it increased to abnormally high levels with increased venous return of passive leg raising, and further during exercise. The elevations in pressure were associated with high resting central blood volumes which increased significantly with exertion. These findings are consistent with reduced distensibility of the central circulation in these congested patients. Weight reduction was accompanied by a decrease in central blood volumes and restoration of a normal left ventricular response in three of four patients and a return toward normal in one. The improvement in ventricular function with relief of edema and dyspnea. In 14 patients with normal or only minimal alveolar hypoventilation, there were no significant transpulmonary diastolic pressure gradients despite a marked increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressures. One patient, after regaining weight, subsequently had an abnormal gas exchange and an increased pulmonary vascular resistance. He and two others with severe alveolar hypoventilation demonstrated cor pulmonale on a background of left ventricular dysfunction and congestion of the circulation. Two other patients, the least obese of the group, had hypoventilation and cor pulmonale with normal left ventricular pressures. Hypervolemia and a hyperdynamic state are common features of the obese patients. High cardiac output is maintained despite marked circulatory congestion which may result in generalized anasarca and increased ventricular filling pressures. This clinical syndrome may be present in obese patients without intrinsic heart disease and may be reversible with weight reduction. The central circulatory congestion may contribute to the development of the alveolar hypoventilation syndrome in certain obese patients.


Clinical and physiologic studies of two siblings with prekallikrein (Fletcher factor) deficiency.

Two siblings with hereditary Fletcher factor (prekallikrein) deficiency were studied for alterations of fibrinolysis, platelet function, skin inflammatory responses, permeability factor (PF/dil) formation and leukocyte chemotaxis. In vivo stimulation of fibrinolytic activity was normal; the bleeding time and platelet functions (adhesivity, aggregation, release reaction) were also normal. Both immediate (wheal-flare reaction to histamine, bradykinin, prostaglandin E1, physical agents) and delayed sensitivity skin test reactions were within normal limits. Migration of subjects' leukocytes to attractants in skin windows and in Boyden-type chambers was the same as that of control leukocytes. Serum complement components were essentially normal. One subject's leukocytes showed normal tissue factor production on stimulation by endotoxin, although prekallikrein deficiency did impair the endotoxin-stimulated generation of serum procoagulant activity. PF/dil caused increased vessel permeability in human skin; in vitro generation of PF/dil required both the Hageman factor and prekallikrein. The Fletcher factor-deficient subjects responded in a normal manner to PF/dil. Based on the Fletcher factor-coagulation assay, the biologic half-disappearance time of prekallikrein (after the transfusion of normal plasma in one of the subjects) was estimated at 35 hours. Therefore, these studies suggest that severe prekallikrein (Fletcher factor) deficiency in man is not associated with any clinically significant impairment in hemostasis, fibrinolysis, inflammatory responses or leukocyte function.


Hereditary nephritis, deafness and abnormal thrombopoiesis. Study of a new kindred.

A fourth kindred displaying the triad of hereditary nephritis, deafness and thrombocytopenia with giant platelets is described. Renal involvement, a common cause of death amongst afflicted subjects, appears to have a better prognosis in the affected members of this family. Although the electron microscopic appearance of the megakaryocytes in the present case appears similar to that in previously reported cases, we suggest that the "giant" platelets may result from a degenerative process of megakaryocytes leading to nuclear regression and cytoplasmic fragmentation, rather than the usual blebbing process.


Pseudocholelithiasis in an elderly man with calcified hydatid cysts.

A 69 year old man with intrabiliary rupture of a calcified echinococcal cyst mimicking acute cholelithiasis is discussed. This case is of interest because the correct diagnosis was not recognized preoperatively despite the fact that certain aspects of the illness were classic features of this complication of hydatid disease. Although this is a common complication of hydatid disease, which is well recognized in other countries, only seven cases have been reported in the American literature. Treatment of our patient included successful use of a Roux-en-Y drainage procedure which, to the best of our knowledge, has not previously been employed in treating this disease.


Intravenous injection of talc-containing drugs intended for oral use. A cause of pulmonary granulomatosis and pulmonary hypertension.

Clinical and morphologic features are described in two patients known to have repeatedly injected intravenously talc-containing drugs intended for oral use. In one patient severe pulmonary hypertension developed; the talc granulomas in him were located predominantly within the pulmonary arteries. The second patient had normal pulmonary arterial pressures, and the talc granulomas in him were located predominantly in the pulmonary interstitium. Of 19 previously described patients with pulmonary talc granulomas, 12 had morphologic evidence of pulmonary hypertension (in three of severe degree); in each, talc granulomas were located predominantly within the pulmonary arteries. In those without signs of pulmonary hypertension, granulomas were located predominantly in the pulmonary interstitium. Why there are differences in the distribution of the talc granulomas is unclear. It is clear, however, as demonstrated by one of our patients, that severe pulmonary hypertension may be a consequence of intravenous injection of drugs intended for oral use.


Acute coagulopathy following infusion of prothrombin complex concentrate.

An acute coagulopathy developed in a 49 year old woman with severe liver disease after she received an infusion of prothrombin complex concentrate. The concentrate used in the infusion was subsequently studied by observing the effect of the concentrate on the partial thromboplastin times of various plasmas. The evidence suggests that activated coagulation factors, including activated factor X, were present in the concentrate, and probably played a role in initiating the acute change in the patient's coagulation status. Mechanisms whereby liver disease predisposes toward the development of such a coagulopathy are discussed. It would appear that prothrombin complex concentrates should be used in patients with liver disease only with utmost caution.


The liver in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu disease).

The livers of four patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia--including the original case of Osler--were examined at autopsy. Characteristic random focal fibrovascular lesions were found in all. The importance of recognizing the apparently common and seemingly benign hepatic involvement in this disease is emphasized in view of its possible confusion with more serious types of liver disease that may complicate the condition.


Angiotensin blockade: its clinical significance.

An understanding of the possible role of excessive angiotensin II activity in the pathogenesis of hypertension in every patient is therapeutically desirable, but it is frustrated by the lack of complete reliability of peripheral plasma measurements of renin activity. Observation of a clear-cut, supranormal decrease in blood pressure during the intravenous infusion of the angiotensin II antagonist, saralasin, has provided a far more reliable indication of the presence of an angiotensinogenic component in the hypertension. There is convincing evidence, however, that the presence of sodium-overload may prevent a decrease in blood pressure during saralasin infusion in persons known to have angiotensinogenic hypertension and that saralasin may cause a slight decrease in the blood pressure of normal subjects after natriuresis. For these reasons, it is important to study hypotensive responses to saralasin under standardized conditions after the administration of a potent diuretic and to compare the observations with those made on normal subjects under identical circumstances. This angiotensin antagonist may be used in the therapy of malignant or advanced hypertension and as an aid to therapeutic decisions in hypertensive patients who have known renal diseases, are taking oral contraceptives or have had severe trauma to the area of the kidneys. Side effects of saralasin are limited to excessive falls in blood pressure levels, mainly when vasodilators or ganglioplegic drugs are being taken at the time of the saralasin infusion, and excessive rises in blood pressure levels, especially in hypertensive subjects with "low renin" activity during high rates of saralasin infusion or after intravenous injections of large boluses. This safe and reliable drug is a valuable tool in the investigation and therapy of hypertension.


A precedence effect in the processing of verbal information.

When a brief sound is monitored in a sound-reverberating room, it is immediately followed by numerous echoes bounced off the walls and ceiling. Only the first sound to arrive at the ears appears to be used in its localization. This is generally referred to as the precedence effect. If the processing of verbal information is seen as a reverberating system (after Hebb) and rehearsal as the manifestation of the echoes, then an analogous precedence effect can be empirically demonstrated. Such an analogy not only helps explain previously uninterpretable data but also generates a very unique prediction that was confirmed by experimental data. The theoretical implications of the analogy are also discussed.


Usefulness and limitations of saralasin, a partial competitive agonist of angioten II, for evaluating the renin and sodium factors in hypertensive patients.

Saralasin was infused into 52 untreated hypertensive patients. Immediate, transient pressor responses occurred in 94 per cent followed by a more gradual sustained change in blood pressure reaching an apogee in about 20 minutes. Most (86 per cent) patients with high renin values had sustained depressor responses irrespective of sodium balance. In contrast, during a normal sodium intake, the drug produced a neutral (45 per cent) or mildly pressor (50 per cent) response in patients with normal renin and pressor responses in patients with low renin values. Sodium depletion abolished pressor responses and resulted in depressor responses in 64 per cent of the patients with normal renin values. The pretreatment angiotensin level appeared to determine direction and amplitude of the response to saralasin, since increases and decreases in diastolic pressure exhibited a highly significant relationship to the control renin lever (r = 0.80, p less than 0.001). Above a neutral range of control renin values, from 2 to 7 ng Al/ml/hour, depressor responses were the rule, and below it pressor responses were consistent. Sodium balance also appeared to determine the amplitude of the response. In a subset of patients with similar renin values (range 1.4 to 2.2 ngAl/ml/hour), the induced pressor responses correlated directly with the 24-hour sodium excretion (p less than 0.05). For all patients, the induced pressure change also was related to the rate of sodium excretion (r = 0.53, p less than 0.001). The data suggest that saralasin behaves as a partial competitive agonist of angiotensin II. For this reason, saralasin testing provided only a rough physiologic validation for renin profiling. Thus, depressor responses expose most patients with high renin values. Neutral responses occur in many patients with normal renin and intermediate renin values. But pressor responses occur in subjects with either low or normal renin levels and they may reflect sodium and volume excess associated with a partial or relative absence of renin. Accordingly, due to its partial agonism, saralasin testing under-estimates the renin factor. Hence, the drug cannot be used to identify or exclude renin involvement in the blood pressure in the large majority of hypertensive patients who do not exhibit depressor responses. For them an agent devoid of agonism is required. Moreover, prior sodium depletion as a device to increase the frequency of depressor responses to saralasin does not measure intrinsic renin dependency of the blood pressure but rather the reactivity of the system to sodium depletion.


Finding the relevant attribute of visual or auditory stimuli.

The stimuli in a simple attribute-identification task were geometric designs or their verbal descriptions. Presentation was visual or auditory, in a constant order or a mixed order that varied the serial position of the relevant dimension (the dimension providing the relevant attribute) on each trial. Constant-auditory problems whose relevant dimensions were first or last were solved better, while mixed-auditory problems were solved least well, and visual problems were solved best overall with no serial-position effects. However, the results of an experiment in which the stimuli were noun pairs suggest that visual presentation is advantageous only if it produces a nonverbal code from which subjects can recover attributes lost from their descriptions during rehearsal.


The effects of visible eye and head turn on the perception of being looked at.

When a model turns her head and looks directly at the lens of a camera, the perception of being looked at depends on which eye of the model is observed. The model's farther eye appears to be looking at the observer, while her nearer eye appears to be looking away in a direction opposite to her head turn. Photographs of two female models were viewed by 40 adult observers.


The extraction of information from visual persistence.

Seven-letter targets were flashed for 50 msec and followed by either a blank adapting field (persisting representation of the stimulus fully available) or a series of continuous cycles of target and mask until the cumulative duration of the target matched the estimated duration of visual persistence (stimulus physically present for same interval as representation). The reportability of information from the targets in the latter case was only 50% that in the former. The interpretation is that visual persistence is an active, continuously operating process rather than a passive neural copy of the stimulus.


Prospective and retrospective judgments of time as a function of amount of information processed.

The subjects, 120 college students, sorted cards for 42 sec with instructions to process 0, 1, or 2 bits of information per card (response uncertainty) and then were asked to make an absolute judgement of the interval's duration. Half of the subjects knew this judgement would be required before the interval (prospective paradigm); half did not (retrospective paradigm). Judged time was an inverse linear function of response uncertainty under the prospective paradigm, whereas no significant function was obtained under the retrospective paradigm.


The 'golden rectangle': some new data.

From two different series of dimensions were generated six ranges of nine rectangles each. Each range was presented to a different group of 15 men and 15 women, and a novel measure was used to assess aesthetic preference for each rectangle. The ratios between the lengths of the sides of the rectangles were the same in both series, but in one series the size of the rectangles covaried with the ratio between length and width, as in Godkewitsch's 1974 study, and in the other series the rectangles were of equal area. The subjects tended to prefer large to small rectangles in the former series and rectangles in the vicinity of the 'golden section' in the latter.


Cardiac innnervation in the prenatal stages of Anas poecilorhyncha.

Innervation of the heart has been observed in the progressive developmental stages of Anas poecilorhyncha ranging from 8 h to 14 days stages using silver impregnation technique of Ungewitter (1951). Vagal cardiac fibres reach the atrial wall on the fourth day. Migration of nerve cells and ganglia has been observed from the more anterior regions to the heart along the precaval veins. The adult pattern of the heart is first established at the 8 days stage while the traces of the endocardial cushions are still present. The atrioventricular valves show rich innervation. The subepicardial ganglia and simple myocardial plexuses appear in the 8 days stage and become well differentiated on the 10th day. The subendocardial plexuses are reported to be sensory for the testing of the properties of the blood while the myocardial plexuses seem to have motor control over the working muscles of the heart specially those of the atria where rich innervation is observed. Local reflex areas have been described.


Histomorphological study of adrenal gland in three ophidian species.

Adrenal gland is studied histologically in the common krait, the cobra and the viper. It is comprised largely of cortical tissue with medulla. Chromaffin tissue is spatially distributed on dorsal surface and in the intercortical area of the adrenal gland. Percentage of dorsal chromaffin is higher in the viper and cobra than that of the krait, while that of intercoritcal chromaffin is higher in the krait than that of others. Chromaffin cells are irregular, smaller with densely granulated cytoplasm and larger nuclei than those of interenal gland. Medullary cells are larger in the cobra than those of other snakes. Cytomorphological difference between the dorsal and intercortical chromaffin is marked only in the cobra. Occurrence of larger granules in the dorsal and smaller type in the intercortical chromaffin may be related with noradrenaline and adrenaline secretion respectively. Cortical percent is higher in the krait than that of other snakes. Adrenocortical zonation is found only in the common krait and cobra. Subcapsular zone shows regular cords with radial disposition of columner cells in contrast to the irregular orientation of polygonal cells noted in the central cortex. Differences observed in general morphology and histology of adrenal gland, are possibly due to species difference.


Variation in basal arteries of the brain in polecat (Mustela putorius putorius L.).

Observations carried out on 106 polecat brains showed that the system of basilar arteries of the brain is similar to those in other cornivorous species. The observed variation was manifested in a differentiation connections of the vessels, in occurence of some variations and in asymmetry. Some cases of such variations were hitherto observed only in some ruminants.


The effect of testosterone, progesterone and orchidectomy on the kidney of common ground squirrel, Funambulus pennanti.

Histological changes, caused by testosterone, progesterone and castration in the kidney of common ground squirrel, Funambulus pennanti have been described in this report. It is concluded that kidney is no doubt an endocrine receptor but behaves specifically to androgens as well as estrogens giving dis-similar results. The extent of toxicity has been measured with the help of histoenzymological reactions previously made. Prolonged administration of androgens and estrogens to patients in clinical practice is warned. It is a must firstly to determine the dose which is well tolerated by healthy subjects. These safe levels should not be exceeded under any circumstances.


[Indications for arteriography and determination of parathyroid hormone in staged venous samplings in primary hyperparathyroidism].

The information provided by parathyroid arterigraphy and staged venous sampling with parathormone estimation is essentially related to localisation and is of little diagnostic value. It is not justifiable on a routine basis before all operations. These techniques are particularly useful in patients with practically definite hyperparathyroidism and who have already undergone a negative exploratory operation or surgery with insufficient excision.


[Characteristics of psychiatric day care units: a tentative clarification].

For more than 20 years now, an important literature has informed us of the advantages and disadvantages of Day Units, but sometimes in a way which is not always impartial. In the same view the delimitation of the aspects of Day Units and the appreciation of their great field of application are sometimes not all that clear. These component units associated with the conservative outlook of health politic planners and the majority of psychiatrists are promoting factors for the use of psychiatric hospitalizations instead of the use of Day Units and Out-patient facilities on the whole. In this paper, we will start by outlining the frame of the "Day Unit", in its specificity in regard to full time hospitalizations and other modes of psychiatric assistance. We would like to point out the extreme diversity of Day Units according to the type of patients treated, the age, the aims of the institution, the connections with other psychiatric units, the modality of admission etc. Following this, we will try to show what the intrinsic characteristics of Day Units are, especially in comparing them to those of full time hospitalizations; treatment during the day, reduced costs, greater feeling of the outside world, greater automony of the patient, less accent on the fear of madness, less humiliation, reduced fear of psychiatric institutions. Using these intrinsic characteristics, we have tried to define the potential characteristics which are derived directly from the above, but which, to be fully developed, implicate a therapeutic option: better quality of team work, facility for the use of non-directive psychotherapies, prevalence of psycho-medical treatments and sociotherapeutic treatments over the administrative and bureaucratic orders. Finally, we point out that many characteristics of the Day Units, often called intrinsic or potential, issue from conjunctural factors such as the small size of the unit, the convenient geographical situation, the facility for utilization of new therapeutic technics etc. The development of the Day Unit movement was able to profit from the ongoing critic of the usual psychiatric hospital practices and experiences. We do hope that this paper will help to make clear the frame, the different way of application and particularly the characteristics of Day Units which deserve to be well known, well utilized, so that the different psychatric facilities will be able to profit from their use and through this, all those for whom we are asked to care for.


[Conceptual validation of a psychiatric syndrome classification].

The authors present the first results of an investigation concerning the conceptual validity of a phenomenological classification of psychiatric patients. Conceptual stereotypes for 8 syndromes, derived from applications of cluster analysis and related numerical taxonomy methods to BPRS symptom rating profiles, were obtained by 33 experienced French psychiatrists. Analysis of the profile data reveal that the names chosen to describe the empirical prototypes elicit 8 clearly differenciated syndromes and that the experts' understanding of the nomenclature is highly consistent. Problems concerning the relationship between two of the empirical prototypes and the corresponding conceptual stereotypes are discussed.


[I. A mirror to reflect].

To explain the specular permutation of the right and the left an adult subject has recourse continually to expression--image. An elementary optical study demonstrates that explanation leads to metamorphose the flat-mirror in a lentil. In fact the operation truth-fully realized by the mirror is an antero-posterior rotation of subject causing necessary but secondary a couple right left rotation. The unvariance of this behaviour and these false answers authorizes to represent the mirror like an operator motiving the subject's identity without we understand the utmost reason. A second memory will thy to give an explanation of that fact to start from a symbiosis between the breuero-freudian theories and the piagetian concept.


[Man and the spectacle. Notes on the psychologic reactions of the spectator].

The comprehension of the spectator's psychology is difficult because of the fact that one should first analyse what is peculiar to the spectacle's creator. Louis-Ferdinand Celine presents the advantage to be at the same time an ingenious litterary creator and a ballets' passionate spectator. The author's purpose consists in demonstrating that the writer's interest in ballets is determined by the fight against death's anxiety, which is present in his whole work. On the basis of the freudian notions of "Vorlust" and "Endlust" he comes to the conclusion that the "compensatories" phantasies which are composing the new reality proposed by the creator rejoin the spectator's desirs which vary nevertheless from one person to another.


[Psychiatric effects of cardiac surgery].

The authors report three cases of psychotic complications of cardiac surgery. A review is made from literature and an inventory of psychological and organic factors implicated in this pathology. These complications are still frequent (up to 50% for Braceland, and 70% for Rabiner and al.). For Blacher there is an almost universal "psychosis" in by-pass surgery and frequent "hidden psychosis" (they are ignored and denied both by the staff and the patient). They are caused by the emotional stress, intensive care unit syndrome, or personal vulnerability. The symbolism of the heart and the personality of the cardiac patient are also in cause. Neurologic accidents, hypoxy, embolisms, are now less frequent. The collaboration of a psychiatrist with the cardiologic staff is mandatory. With this collaboration not only psychiatric complications but also somatic morbidity and mortality would be reduced.


[Reality approach in senile dementia. Fundamental methodologies of occupational therapy in psychogeriatrics].

Occupational therapy in psychogeriatrics has always been practiced empirically, aimed mainly at merely occupying patients. In the light of recent findings from the old age psychological research, a specific method should cope with certain forms of lost intellectual capacities. The purpose of this work is to define as accurately as possible the field of occupational therapy in psychogeriatrics. Three main concepts towards a systematic approach can be proposed: a) Those related to a careful observation of spontaneous activities dealing with the relationship between the patient and the world around him, and which lead to a classification of these activities. b) Concepts related to the most elementary level of intervention in occupational therapy termed as "objective relationship", in other words the construction of the external objective world as opposed to the world of phantasms or magical thought. c) Concepts, at a more sophisticated level, related to the instrumental aspects of traditional occupational therapy. An important distinction should thus be made between local and inclusive constituent parts of an activity.


[Instability of group FII plasmids in "Salmonella panama" (author's transl)].

Almost all Salmonella panama isolated in France only harbour R plasmids of incompatibility groups I1 (K Col Ib) and N (T). Reference R plasmids belonging to 11 incompatibility groups have been introduced into S. panama. All are stable after 50 generations except those of group FII. FII instability cannot be explained either by the presence of a group FII cryptic plasmid or by restriction enzymes in S. panama.


[Supplément No XIX to Kauffmann-White scheme (author's transl)].

In that supplement are given the characters of new Salmonella serotypes recognized in 1975 by WHO collaborating Centre for reference and research on Salmonella. Twenty-six belong to the sub-genus I, 10 to the sub-genus II, 9 to the sub-genus III and 1 to the sub-genus IV. A new H antigen phase 1(g,Z62) has been approved. Biochemical and antigenic variants of already known serotypes are described.


[Taxonomic study of enterobacteria belonging or related to the genus Enterobacter (author's transl)].

The classification of 175 strains related to the genus Enterobacter has been carried out by numerical procedure, with usual biochemical and nutritional characters as shown by the utilization of substrates tested as sole sources of carbon and energy. The taxonomic position of the strains is discussed in relation to the species E. cloacae, E. hafniae, E. aerogenes, E. agglomerans and Serratia liquefaciens. By the system of data analysis used (hierarchical agregation method) five principal classes can be defined. The individualization of new classes closely bound to the diverse origins of the strains examined (human, soil, aquatic).


[A new, sporulating, denitrifying, mesophilic bacterium: Bacillus azotoformans N. SP. (author's transl)].

The described bacterium was isolated by enrichment culture in peptone broth inoculated with garden soil, pasteurized and then put to incubate under N2O at 32 degrees. It is a Gram-negative rod, motile with peritrichous flagella, and producing oval spores without exosporium in swollen sporangia. However, cells have the thick walls, mesosomes and persistant septa characteristic of Gram-positive bacteria. It lacks fermentative activity, does not attack carbohydrates, has complex growth requirements, and will grow anaerobically only if one of the following electron acceptors is present: NO3, NO2, N2O, S4O6, and fumarate. Nitrate, nitrite, and nitrous oxide are denitrified with production of N2. The microorganism is mesophilic, gives a positive oxidase reaction, synthesizes a type of c cytochrome, and does not hydrolyse gelatin, starch nor "Tween 80". The following enzymes are present: nitrate reductase A, respiratory nitrite reductase, tetrathionate and fumarate reductases, L-glutamate dehydrogenase, and superoxide dismutase. The following enzymes are absent: thiosulfate reductase, urease, lecithinase, arginine dihydrolase, L-alanine dehydrogenase, phenylalanine desaminase, and catalase. The GC% of its DNA is 39. The bacterium described can be considered to be a new species. We propose the name Bacillus azotoformans n. sp.


[Isolation and characterization of two strains of Streptomyces able to metabolize natural polysaccharides including mannan (author's transl)].

Two strains of aerobic and mesophilic microorganisms were isolated from palm-tree plantation sand. They grew on insoluble polysaccharides: mannan, cellulose, chitin as only source of carbon. This lytic activity was used for the purification of the two strains. The morphology of the organisms and the presence of LL-diaminopimetic acid in their cell-wall are characteristic of the genus Streptomyces. Investigations lead to: 1) the characterization of their specific polysaccharidase activity toward insoluble and natural beta-and alpha-glycans (mannan, cellulose, chitin, pectine and starch) and the formation of soluble saccharides (mannobiose, cellobiose, beta-D-N-acetylglucosamine, galacturonic acid, and maltose); 2) the research for antagonist, or synergic, effect on pathogenic bacteria and certain phytopathogenic microorganisms; only in the case of these latter was a weak lytic activity exerted by the two Streptomyces isolates, but one of them was shown to stimulate Colletotrichum lindemuthianum and Phialophora cinerescens; 3) a study of antibiotic sensitivity; the two strains were sensitive to tetracycline and streptomycin, but they had native resistance to other aminosides (gentamicin, kanamycin), to erythromycin and to the beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillin and cephalosporin); they possessed a beta-lactamase bound to the cell membrane.


[Isolation and study of a new marine bacterium growing on hydrocarbons. I. Physiological study (author's transl)].

The bacterial strain L.16.1 isolated from coastal waters polluted by oil-waste, close to the genus Alcaligenes, utilizes preferentially alkanes with a carbon number greater than 9. Sugars and amino-acids cannot serve as carbon source to this bacterium. Cells grown on hydrocarbon the chain length of which ranges from C10 to C18 exhibit very high yield (98%) with a growth rate of 0.47. From our studies it appears that strain L.16.1 is strictly dependent on the presence of the Na+ ion and that this Na+ dependence can be seen at each level of the physiological activity. Alkane-grown cells show morphological features namely disc shaped cytoplasmic vesicles (6-8 per cell). Such vesicles are to be regarded as a consequence of the very high lipid content (twice the standard) which characterizes these cells. Additional lipids belong essentially to the nonsaponifiable fraction (20 times more in hexadecane grown cells); on the contrary, the phospholipid content at both qualitative and quantitative points of view does not depend on the nature of the growth substrate.


[Isolation and study of a new marine bacterium growing on hydrocarbons. II. Mechanism of lysis and viability (author's transl)].

The growth of the marine bacterium (L.16.1) is strictly dependent on the presence of well-defined NaCl concentrations (100 mM on alkanes and 75 mM on acetate, pyruvate or propionate) in the medium. L.16.1 cells undergo lysis on transfer from high to low ionic environment. This lytic phenomenon, which can be prevented by the presence of Na+ or divalent cations, appears to be due to the loss of Mg++ and Ca++ by the cells. Evidence for this hypothesis is provided by the assays of intracellular and extracellular Na+, K+, Mg++ and Ca++ concentrations. The maintenance of the cell integrity of the organism does not depend on the medium osmolarity, since osmotic compounds such as sucrose, glycerol or mannitol cannot prevent lysis. All of the ions which can maintain the cell integrity are not likewise able to keep viability; this has been found to be a function of Na+ concentration (70% survival after 24 hours in 400 mM NaCl, only 10% in 50 mM MgSO4).


[Isolation and study of a new marine bacterium growing on hydrocarbons. III. Oxidation of substrates and effects of detergents on the cells (author's transl)].

The oxidation of exogenous hexadecane by cells of strain L.16.1 is a function of intracellular and extracellular Na+ and K+ concentrations. The cells which lost their Na+ as a result of washing in the absence of sodium chloride oxidize hexadecane at a very low rate. Washings in the absence of Mg++ and Ca++ do not result in a similar decrease of the respiratory activity. The latter cannot be maintained--or restored after decrease--by the divalent cations which are active in preventing cytolysis (see the preceding paper). A possible explanation for this Na+ dependence could lie in a particular role played by Na+ inthe cytoplasmic membrane and in some function related to the oxidative activities of the cell membrane. From other studies carried out with ionic detergents it was observed that growth and respiratory activity are inhibited by very low concentrations of these compounds contrary to non ionic detergents which can serve as growth substrates and are oxidized like hexadecane or acetate. It is concluded that the bulk of our results could best be accounted by assuming that the membranes of halophilic bacteria are organized according to a specific organization scheme.


[The protective properties in mice of tonate virus and two strains of cabassou virus against neurovirulent everglades Venezuelan encephalitis virus (author's transl)].

Venezuelan encephalitis virus is a constant menace to man and to animals, particularly horses. Two as yet unreported strains have been isolated in French Guyana: Ca An 410d (Tonate) and Ca Ar 508 (Cabassou). They are not neurovirulent after peripheral inoculation into adult mice and guinea pigs. Cabassou is not pathogenic for adult mice after intracerebral inoculation. A third strain, Ca Ar 19007, is antigenically identical by complement-fixation with Cabassou, but appears to cross react with other strains, Tonate, when injected intra-peritoneally or sub-cutaneously, protects adult mice against intra-cerebral or intra-peritoneal challenge with Everglades virus. The Ca Ar 19007 isolate causes total protection against Everglades virus if injected intra-peritoneally, but only partial protection by the sub-cutaneous route. Cabassou, on the other hand, if injected intra-peritoneally will protect against intra-cerebral challenge with Everglades. Tonate and Ca Ar 19007 thus appear to be naturally occurring attenuated variants of the Venezuelan encephalitis virus complex, which can protect mice against intra-cerebral infection with neurovirulent strains.


[The effect of lactation on the parasitism of rats by Strongyloides ratti (author's transl)].

In lactating females of many animal species infested by Nematoda, the self-cure is, if not suppressed, at least very distinctly delayed. It does not appear that an immunological deficiency is the cause of this. We show that this phenomenon also exists in lactating female rats with Strongyloides ratti parasites. In fact, for Strongyloides ratti, the maintenance of the worms is not the only notable modification determined by lactation; much more important is the decrease in the intensity of the parasitism. This aspect is not mentioned by writers who have only studied the different parasitic states in their final phase. Parallel to these alterations in the parasitism, the evolution of the corticosteronemy differs, from two points of view, from that described in infested virgin rats: --Suppression of the hypercorticosteronemy which normally appears 48 hours after infestation; --Attenuation of the hypocorticosteronemy which usually sets in from the tenth day of infestation. This opposition of lactation to the variations in the corticosteronemy induced by the worms is explained by the effect of lactation on the secretion of gluco-cortico-steroids, described under the term of "buffer effect of lactation". The decrease in the intensity of the parasitism may be explained by the fact that lactation, by preventing the hypercorticosteronemy normally caused by larval migration, permits the intervention of aspecific defences. As for the prolongation of the parasitism, it would seem to result on one hand, from a reduced solicitation of the means of defence owing to a smaller number of worms and, on another hand, from the slowing down of the hypocorticosteronemy through the buffer effect of lactation with all the consequences flowing from this at the level of the specific and aspecific defence reactions.


The genera Paranoplocephala Lühe 1910 and Anoplocephaloides Baer, 1923 (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae), with particular reference to species in rodents.

The present study redefines the systematic arrangement and taxonomic status of some anoplocephaline cestodes previously allocated among the genera Andrya Railliet, 1893. Paranoplacephala Lühe, 1910, and Aprostatandrya Kirshenblat, 1938. Comparisons indicated that Paranoplocephala omphalodes (Hermann, 1783), type species of Paranoplocephala, differs morphologically from its congeners, all of which conform to the diagnosis of the genus Anoplocephaloides Baer, 1923, hitherto considered a synonym of Paranoplocephala, and that it cannot be distinguished at the generic level from Aprostatandrya macrocephala (Douthitt, 1915), type of the genus Aprostatandrya. The distinction between Andrya and Aprostatandrya based on the presence or absence of a "prostate gland" does not exist, for neither the type species of Andrya, A; rhopalocephala (Riehm, 1881), nor A. cuniculi (Blanchard, 1891) possesses such an organ; rather, the structure of the external seminal vesicle in these cestodes does not differ fundamentally from that in P. omphalodes or in species of Aprostatandrya. Based on these findings, Aprostatandrya Kirshenbalt, 1938 is placed in synonymy with Paranoplocephala Lühe, 1910, and Anoplocephaloides Baer, 1923 is restored to contain all species other than P. omphalodes formerly allocated to the genus. Paranoplocephala. If the pattern of development of the uterus in A. rhopalocephala is found to be like that in P. omphalodes, Paranoplocephala Lühe, 1910 will in turn also become a synonym of Andrya Railliet, 1893. Three additional species of Anoplocephaloides are described, and the zoogeography of Anoplocephaloides spp. and their mammalian hosts is briefly discussed.


[Setaria species from water buffalo of Southeast Asia and from Caffer Buffalo of Africa: comparative study with Setaria spp. from cattle of the respective areas (author's transl)].

Setaria leichungwingi Chen, 1937 (stat. nov.), parasite of Bubalus bubalis in Asia is closely related to S. labiatopapillosa, but the peribuccal chitinous crown is different. Until now, specimens determined as S. labiatopapillosa in Africa pertain in fact to two species S. labiatopapillosa sensu stricto and a new species described here: S. nelsoni n.sp., characterised by  peribuccal crown's form (similated to that of S. leichungwingi) and by narrow host-sepcificity. It differs from S. leichungwingi by thick spiny extra-projections in higher percentage on peribuccal crown and by fewer spiny formations on the end of the female. A table gives the determination of the Setaria from Buffalo of the regions between India and East Europe with that from cattle. In the area, Setaria sp. from Bubalus is closely related to but different from S. labiatopapillosa.


[On Setaria spp; (Nematoda, , Filarioidea, Setariidae) from the peritoneal cavity of equine spp.: two new sub-species, Setaria equina theilerae from wild Zebra of Africa, and Setaria equina dafaallai from horse and donkey of southern Sahara area (author's transl)].

1) Setaria equina (Abildgaard, 1789) is from the Horse and Donkey of Eurasia (and of America and the coastal stripe of North Africa). 2) Setaria equina theilerae n.sub.sp. is from the Zebra of Africa. 3) Setaria equina defaallai n.sub. sp. is from the Horse and the Donkey of southern Sahara area of the Ethiopean Region of Africa, from the Nile valley till to the western coast. 4) Crossing between S. equina and S. e. theilerae may be possible, as their host spp. does with the resultant bastard offspring experimentally.


Long-term follow-up study of patients operated on for benign peptic ulcer.

200 consecutive patients operated on for gastric (GU) or duodenal (DU) ulcer in 1956 to 1957 were followed up until 1974. 25 of them died within five years of primary operation and were excluded to eliminate the possibility of coexisting ulcer and malignancy at the time of operation. Four patients could not be traced and 65 died within the follow-up period, but none of them of gastric carcinoma. 46 out of 106 living patients came for re-examination and gastroscopy was performed in 42 of them. The remaining 60 patients were examined by questionnaire. According to the Finnish Cancer Registry none of them had gastric carcinoma. The expected number of gastric carcinomas in the present series was calculated to be 2.3 and of all malignancies 13.6, but only one gastric carcinoma and 19 other malignancies were detected. The gastric carcinoma detected endoscopically and verified bioptically and cytologically was microscopically of anaplastic type. Most of the patients were in excellent general condition without gastric complaints. The present series reveals no clearcut causal relationship between gastric resection and late development of stump carcinoma.


Hiatal hernia repair.

128 patients operated on for hiatal hernia are reported. The follow-up study consisted of 102 patients, 16 with paraoesophageal and 86 with axial hiatal hernia. The mean follow-up time was 4 1/2 years, range 1-11 years. In our experience cineradiographic studies bring abnormalities to light more readily because this kind of study is repeatable compared with conventional techniques based on fluoroscopy. Four different methods of operation were used in this study. The recurrence rate was as follows: Nissen fundoplication 13%, both anterior 180 degrees fundoplication and Lortat-Jacobs procedure 38%, and Nissen fundoplication combined to vagotomy and pyloroplasty 54%. Postoperative complications occurred in 9%. There was no hospital mortality. The authors prefer the abdominal to the transthoracic approach because many patients had other intra-abdominal, surgically easily correctable condition. If the transthoracic operation is indicated, as in a very obese patient or in a patient with a secondary short oesophagus, intra-abdominal disease must have been excluded preoperatively. In the treatment of axial hiatal hernia the best operative method has not yet been agreed upon, but in our hands the Nissen fundoplication yielded the best results.


Effect of low-dose heparin on the phagocytic and catabolic function in the reticulo-endothelial system in man during surgery.

The effect of subcutaneous low-dose heparin prophylaxis on the phagocytic and catabolic functions of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) was studied in 10 patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy. The patients were divided into two groups; 5 patients receiving 5 000 units of heparin preoperatively and every 12 hours following the operation and 5 patients given saline at the corresponding time. Each patient served as his own control, when the RES function was tested twice with microaggregated human serum albumin labelled with 125I as a test substance. There was an enhanced phagocytic activity and a correspondingly raised catabolic activity of the RES in patients treated with heparin. The reasons for this are discussed. The results indicate that heparin in low doses has a favourable effect on the RES.


Lymphatic filling during knee arthrography.

Six cases of lymphatic filling during knee arthrography have been recorded in literature, all of which have had advanced rheumatoid arthritis. We report a case of lymph vessel filling from a popliteal cyst in a young male nonrheumatoid patient. It is concluded that abnormal synovial-lymphatic connection in the knee joint may occur also in other forms of synovial pathology and such a finding does not indicate rheumatoid inflammation.


Cystic adventitial disease--cause of intermittent claudication in male non-smokers. A case report.

A case of intermittent claudication in a middle-aged lifelong non-smoker caused by cystic adventitial disease is reported. Etiology, clinical and angiographic findings, modes of operative treatment, and other possible causes of calf claudication in young non-smokers are briefly discussed.


The effect of segmental epidural analgesia on maternal growth hormone, insulin, glucose and free fatty acids during labour.

The maternal plasma HGH, insulin, glucose and FFA levels were determined during the course of induced labours in 28 healthy mothers. Every second patient was given segmental epidural analgesia for pain relief during the first stage of labour (epidural) group). The others acted as a control group. HGH did not change significantly during the labour in either group. Insulin decreased during the first stage of labour in both groups. This decrease was more pronounced and statistically almost significant in the control group. Thereafter the insulin increased in both groups. Glucose levels did not change during the first stage, but at the moment of delivery they were significantly higher than the initial levels in both groups. FFA levels became raised in both groups during labour, reaching a peak at the moment of delivery. The results are discussed in relation to stress and effectiveness of pain relief during the first stage of labour.


Release of fibrinolytic activators from human ovarian tumours in organ culture.

Malignant human ovarian tumours possess coagulative and fibrinolytic properties, reflected in the occurrence of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) in the serum or ascitic fluid. The degradation of fibrin/fibrinogen into FDP is initiated by activators of fibrinolysis. Using a culture method permitting continuous measurement of fibrinolytic activators released, we investigated this release in organ culture of 27 various human ovarian tumours and 7 normal ovaries. The results showed that ovarian tumour explants released more fibrinolytic enzymes than explants from normal ovaries.


Uretero-vaginal fistula.

Six cases of uretero-vaginal fistula are presented. Five patients developed this complication after gynaecological surgery and one after Caesarian section. Constant urinary incontinence combined with normal voiding is typical of this lesion. Excretory urography revealed a stricture in the distal part of the ureter in 5 cases, while in one patient the urographic findings were normal. Accumulation of contrast medium in the vagina was seen on urography in 2 patients. Surgical correction is the treatment of choice, and all patients were successfully treated by resection of the distal part of the ureter with reimplantation of the ureter into the bladder.


Prolactin regulation in 14 cases of galactorrhea and hypogonadism with minimal modifications of the sella turcica (author's transl).

In this study we report 13 cases of amenorrhea-galactorrhea and one of a male patient complaining of gynecomastia, galactorrhea, sexual impotence and sterility with oligoasthénospermy. In these cases, the size of the sella turcica was normal but we found a localized depression of the bottom of the sella turcica; these modifications were situated at the antero-inferior part of the sella in 12 cases and posteriorly in the 2 others. Basal prolactin level was higher than normal values in 13 cases (12 female and 1 male patients): individual values varied between 45 and 367 ng/ml. Nycthermeral rhythm disappeared in the 9 cases studied. Administration of L-Dopa (500 mg orally) significantly suppressed the prolactin values in the 11 cases studied. Oral water loading (20 ml/kg) left prolactin values unchanged (10 cases). After oral glucose tolerance test (1 g/kg) no significant systematic variation occurred. The increase of prolactin values after stimulation by 200 microg. TRH IV as a bolus (4 cases) was not significant. We have found similar prolactin variations in cases of hyperprolactinemia with either normal pituitary fossa (7 cases) or macro-adenoma (6 cases).


[Production rate and mean plasma concentration of cortisol in hyperthyroidism (author's transl)].

The adrenocortical function was studied in 23 patients with hyperthyroidism. The half-life of tritiated cortisol was significantly shortened; metabolic clearance rate was about twice increased, and production rate of cortisol was significantly increased in hyperthyroidism. The mean plasma concentration was unmodified. After return to euthyroid state, all the values were normalized in 7 patients.


[Inadequate corpus luteum function in benign breast-diseases (author's transl)].

The amount of progesterone and estradiol secreted by human corpus luteum depends upon an adequate release of FSH and LH by pituitary gland during follicular phase and ovulation. In this paper, plasma determination of progesterone and estradiol were carried out in 109 women with benign breast disease during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. Results obtained were compared with those observed in 25 normal women studied in the same conditions. In women with benign breast disease, the curve of daily progesterone concentrations during luteal phase was lower than that of normal women. The progesterone peak at 5th day of luteal phase was only 8,1 +/- 3.8 ng/ml instead of 17.2 +/- 3.5 ng/ml in normal women. No significative difference was observed concerning plasma estradiol between patients and normal women. These results indicate that women with benign breast disease have an inadequate corpus luteum function which may be the result of disorder of ovulation. Pathophysiological implications resulting from this observation are discussed.


[Diffuse skin mastocytosis of nurslings. 3 clinical cases with bullous manifestations].

Three nurslings are described with diffuse mast cell disease characterized by blisters on widespread skin involvement. The skin changes may be associated with important generalized flares in relation with degranulating mast cell. The mastocytosis infiltrats seems localized to the skin. The skin lesions heal or regress slowly as in other mast cell disorders but long-term evolution remains very impredictable.


Effects of fenfluramine and cyproheptadine on growth hormone secretion.

The behaviour of GH, its biological behaviour and response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in obese and underweight patients, of ages varying from 10 to 39 years, was studied before and after treatment wie circadian course of the hormone following adminstration of either drug. Neither did pre-treatment with fenfluramine and cyproheptadine, No modification was noted in the circadian course of the hormaone following administration of either drug. Neither did pre-treatment with cyproheptadine modify the hormonal level in the stimulated test. It was, however, noted that pre-treatment with fenfluramine appears to influence the somatotropinic response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia, yet of  different significance in children and adults.


[Nail lesions in Bournville tuberous sclerosis in isolation or associated with Koenen tumors].

On the basis of three cases, the authors describe the main changes seen in the nails in Bourneville tuberose sclerosis, not only in fingers with a Koenen tumour but also in association with simple cuticular hyperkeratoses and in fingers with no apparent lesion of the matriceal region. They feel that the description of these ungual lesions should take its place alongside the major cutaneous signs of this disorder.


[Endocrinotropic actions of the benzamide sultopride (author's transl)].

The influence on the pituitary hypothalamic system of Sultopride are different of those of a chemically related compound, Sulpiride. In the mammary gland the development of the acini is associated with an increase of the connective tissue. The processus of secretion, lactogenesis is quiet not stimulated. The changes on the anterior lobe of the pituitary involve the carmino and eosinophilic cells. This modification seems to reflect a stimulation of the secretion of LT and an inhibition of the release of STH. In the juvenile rat, Sultopride determines an inhibition of the somatic growth.


[Pharmacokinetics of penicillins in the blood of dogs administered the combination preparation, ampiox, internally].

The pharmacokinetics of penicillins in the blood of dogs treated with ampiox, a combination of ampicillin and oxacillin at a ratio of 1 : 1 was studied. The drug was administered orally in single or repeated doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg. The maximum levels of ampicillin in the blood serum were observed 1 hour after a single administration of the drug. The therapeutic concentrations of the antibiotic were preserved for 6 hours, its value being depended on the dose used. The maximum concentration of oxacillin was detected 1 hour after the drug administration in various doses and it was preserved in the blood at the therapeutic levels for 3 hours. The dynamics of circulation of ampicillin and oxacillin administered separately did not differ from that established for the use of ampiox. The regularities of the pharmacokinetics of ampiox on its repeated use remained practically unchanged.


[Ultrastructural study of stimulation induced by sulpiride on prolactin and gonadotrope cells of hypophysis in male and female rats (author's transl)].

This study concerns the analysis of the ultrastructural modifications in the hypophysis induced after repeated administration over a period of one to five weeks of Sulpiride in male and female rats. The hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the prolactin cells, as well as the dilatation of the intercellular spaces are increased with duration of treatment. The prolactin cells present: a highly developped R.E.R., very rich in ribosomes, a hypertrophied Golgi area showing an active condensation in granules of the secreted material. A massive extrusion of mature and immature granules at the level of the plasmic membrane is observed throughout the treatment. The Sulpiride, therefore, induces a strong activation of the hormonal synthesis and release in the prolactin cells. The gonadotrope cells also show a strong stimulation and the same cytologic modifications that are found in the castrated animal. The thyreotrope and somatotrope cells do not appear affected by Sulpiride treatment. The possibility of a direct action by Sulpiride on the hypophysis is discussed.


[An electroencephalographic study of olfactory gonadic dysplasia (author's transl)].

The morphological functional and electrophysiologic findings of the report of olfactory gonadic dysplasia are reviews. The 11 cases are then presented with the analysis and interpretation of the EEG traces (17), as well as studies of olfactory activation of the EEF (6 subjects) and of afternoon sleep polygraphy (2 subjects). There is discussion of the possible sites of dysfunction in the mesencephalic-limbic structures which could be the source either directly or indirectly of the EEG modifications. Certain EEG abnormalities (interhemispheric asymmetry) alow the consideration that the pathogenetic mechanisms of the syndrome began during ontogenesis (in 5 of 11 subjects). Thereby suggesting that an electrophysiologic examination can be a valuable tool to pick up olfactory gonadic dysplasia early and to follow the hormonal treatment in the confirmed cases.


[Erythromycin penetration into the cerebrospinal fluid of patients].

Permeability of erythromycin through the barrier of blood-cerebrospinal fluid in neurosurgical patients after its oral administration in a dose of 300-500 mg and intravenous administration in a dose of 200 mg was studied. The erythromycin was determined after the antibiotic single administration at intervals of 40 minutes to 6 hours. A total of 31 observations were performed. Low penetration of erythromycin into the cerebrospinal fluid of the patients was shown. The administration route (oral or intravenous) practically had no effect on the antibiotic penetration level into the subarachnoidal spaces. The highest liquor levels were observed within the period of 3 to 6 hours after the drug administration. The maximum index of penetration from the blood into the cerebrospinal fluid was about 10 per cent. The erythromycin penetration increased in cases with inflammatory changes in the meninges.


Development of a radio-immuno-assay for oxytocin.

High affinity antibodies against oxytocin were produced by multiple intradermal injections. The antibodies do not cross react with lysine vasopressin. Reduction of the S-S link changes the immunoreactivity. The high affinity constant of the antibodies allows direct RIA of oxytocin in diluted plasma (1:5), with a sensitivity of at least 4 muU/ml. Preliminary results for oxytocin determination in human umbilical cord plasma range between 15 - 100 muU/ml.


[Toxicity and cumulative properties of carminomycin, rubomycin and adriamycin at different times of use].

LD50 of karminomycin, rubomycin and adriamycin were determined after their single administration or 3-, 5-, 10- and 15-fold administration once a day to 540 hybrid male mice F1(C57B1 X CBA). Comparison of the cumulative indices for these antibiotics showed that after injections they were close. After 5 injections the cumulative properties were more pronounced for adriamycin. After 10 or 15 injections the cumulative properties were less pronounced for karminomycin.


[Biosynthesis of 14C- and 35S-lincomycin using different sources for the label].

The sources of radioactive labels were chosen for biosynthesis of labeled lincomycin. The levels of the label incorporation into lincomycin were high with all the sources used when the lincomycin-producing organism was cultivated on the synthetic medium as compared to the complex medium. Incorporation of the label into lincomycin was most effective when I14C- or 214C-thyrosine was used as the precursors. These precursors were effective in both the complex and the synthetic media. In production of significant amounts of the labeled lincomycin I14C- or 214C-sodium propionate, I14C- or 142C-sodium acetate and 14C-protein hydrolysate may be used as the sources of the radioactive carbon. In production of 35S-lincomycin K235SO4 may be used as the source of the label. The optimal conditions for biosynthesis of 14C- and 35S-lincomycin were developed (concentration of some components of the medium, time of the label addition and others).


[Influence of sucrose and many fats on carbohydrate metabolism and insulinemia by the rat (author's transl)].

Rats are fed during one month with normal diet or diet enriched with 25% of many fats. It is no change of the hyperglycemia curve with the addition of 25% sucrose to these diets but 1 degree by male on the normal diet or on the diet enriched with corn oil the insulin discharge is higher; it is no change with the diet enriched with beef fat or with M.C.T. 2 degrees by the female the insulin discharge is higher with all the diets.


[Quantitative determination of 7-phenoxyacetamidodesacetoxycephalosporanic acid].

7-Phenoxyacetamidodesacetoxycephalosporanic acid, an intermediate product in synthesis of cephalexin, was prepared by oxydation of phenoxymethylpenicillin into the respective sulphoxide and transformation of the latter. The UV-spectra of the reaction products were studied. A quantitative method is proposed for determination of 7-phenoxyacetamidodesacetoxycephalosporanic acid in the finished products based on estimation os the coefficient of specific extinction of the ethanol solutions at a wave length of 268 um in the UV-spectrum region in combination with semiquantitative estimation of the admixtures with the method of thin-layer chromatography.


[Study of the carbohydrate metabolic enzyme activity of Act. noursei].

Activity of aldolase and threosophosphate dehydrogenase, transketolase and phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in Act. noursei, strain 153 and its inactive mutant 149 was studied comparatively. The enzyme activity of the inactive mutant was investigated in the absence of the antibiotic production and under conditions of reduced biosynthesis of nystatin in this strain after addition of the fermentation broth filtrate of the inactive mutant 369 to the medium. The activity of the enzymes of the hexosomonophosphate metabolic pathway in the active strain 153 of Act. noursei was 2-4 times higher than that of the inactive mutant 149. The activity of the enzymes of the hexosomonophosphate metabolic pathways increased and reached the level of the enzyme of the active mutant. The high level of the enzyme activity of the hexosomonophosphate glycolysis pathway is probably one of the necessary conditions for nystatin production.


[Comparative antibiotic sensitivity of different species of staphylococci isolated from humans].

A total of 206 strains of various staphylococcal species isolated from various sources were studied with respect to their sensitivity to 18 antibiotics. The number of strains poly-resistant to the antibiotics was almost the same among Staph. aureus and Staph. epidermidis, i. e. 54.8 and 51.3 per cent respectively. The coagulase-negative and mannitol-negative variants of Staph. aureus and Staph. epidermidis possessing high biological activity (10-14 properties) were resistant to more antibiotics as compared to the low active strains.


[New producer of cephamycin C, Streptomyces filipinensis var. cephamycini var. nov].

An actinomycetes strain 3016 was isolated from a soil sample on a selective medium with actinomycin as a result of directed screening of organisms producing beta-lactam antibiotics. The culture fluid of the isolate contained an antibacterial anibiotic identical to cephamycin C. Description of the strain is presented. It is a representative of new variety of streptomyces filipinensis var. cephamycini var. nov. The results of the study of the chemical properties of antibiotic 3016 and its identification with cephamycin C are also presented.


[Effect of aeration conditions on the biosynthesis of carminomycin by an actinomadura carminata culture].

The effect of the aeration rate on biosynthesis of carminomycin by Actinomadura carminata and biochemical changes in the fermentation broth on the use of 3 complex media of different composition was studied. The carminomycin-producing organism can grow and produce the antibiotic within the ranges of the aeration changes from 0.98 to 18.56 mgO2/1-min. A decrease in the maximum rate of oxygen dissolution up to 0.98 mgO2/1-min resulted in some decrease in the activity level. Intensive aeration, i.e. 18.56 mgO2/1-min induced suppression of the antibiotic production by 25 per cent.


[Pleiotropic effect of the mutation of streptomycin resistance in Micromonospora purpurea var. violacea].

Variation of different features of populations of streptomycin-sensitive and streptomycin-resistant forms of M. purpurea var. violacea, an organism producing gentamicin was studied. The population of the initial streptomycin-sensitive culture was characterized by high homogeneity with respect to the cultural, morphological and some physiological properties. The variation of the features, such as the colony size, pigment formation, auxotrophic mutations, antibiotic production significantly increased in populations grown on media with streptomycin. Mutants differing from the initial strain by a complex of cultural, morphological and physiological features and in particular the antibiotic production were isolated from populations of the streptomycin-resistant variants.


[Antagonistic interrelationships between the staphylococci and Sarcina isolated from the upper respiratory tracts of virtually healthy persons].

The antagonistic activity of staphylococci isolated from the mucosa of the anterior parts of the nose of practically healthy persons was studied with respect to 102 strains of Sarcinia. Staphylococcus aureus had the most pronounced inhibitory effect on Sarcinia. No difference in the antagonistic activity of the staphylococci isolated from the carriers of the permanent and transitory types was found. However, Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the permanent carriers had a broader activity spectrum.


[Sensitivity of some Lactobacillus species of the subgenus Betabacterium to the action of bacteriocins from different species of Lactobacillus].

Sensitivity of 84 cultures of L. fermenti, 43 cultures of L. brevis, 13 cultures of L. buchneri and 2 cultures of L. cellobiosus to the effect of 39 types of bacteriocins produced by various species of lactobacilli was studied with the method of delayed antagonism. All the cultures of L. brevis, L. buchneri and L. cellobiosus and 65.5 per cent of the cultures of L. fermenti were sensitive to one or more such bacteriocins. The cultures of L. Fermenti, L. brevis, L. buchneri and L. cellobiosus were sensitive respectively to 37, 19, 16 and 9 types of the bacteriocins out of 39 types tested.


[Mechanism of the heterogeneity of a staphylococcal population with respect to methicillin resistance].

The study of the staphylococcal population heterogeneity with respect to methicillin resistance by 2 methods revealed different numbers of the resistant cells in the population. Thus, when the microbial suspension was plated on an agarized medium with methicillin (50 gamma/ml), only 0.0007--0.0005 per cent of the resistant cells were found. When the colonies were replicated from a medium without methicillin to a medium containing methicillin (50 gamma/ml), 84.3--97.3 per cent of the resistant microbial cells were found in the population of the same strains. The main mechanism in the heterogeneity of the staphylococcal population with respect to methicillin resistance was impairement of the phenotype manifestation of the antibiotic resistance under definite conditions.


[Pharmacokinetics of lincomycin in experimental animals].

When administered parentally, lincomycin satisfactorily penetrated into the organs and tissues of experimental animals. Pronounced tropism of the antibiotic in the bone tissue was observed which provided its recommendation for the treatment of osteomyelitis. The antibiotic was excreted with urine and bile.


[Experimental data on the penetration of gentamicin into the media of the eye].

Penetration of Soviet gentamicin into the humor of the anterior chamber and vitreous body of the eye with aseptic inflammation was studied after the antibiotic administration by various routed, i.e. instillations of 8 per cent antibiotic solution and 8 per cent antibiotic solution methylcellulose into the conjunctival sac, injections of 20 mg of gentamicin subconjunctivally and retrobulbarly, injections of gentamicin intramuscularly in doses of 0.6 mg/kg. The studies showed that gentamicin penetrated into the humor of the anterior chamber and vitreous body of the eye after all the administration routes mentioned above in concentrations sufficient for the antibiotic antimicrobial effect and persisted in the eye media for prolong periods of time (24--48 hours). The highest concentrations of the antibiotic in the tumor of the anterior chamber were achieved after its administration subconjunctivally or after instillation of its 8 per cent on methylcellulose, while in the vitreous body its highest concentrations were achieved after injections subconjunctively, retrobulbarly or intramuscularly. Instillations of gentamicin solution on methylcellulose provided higher and more persistant concentrations of the antibiotic in the humor as compared to instillations of its aqueous solutions. Retrobulbar injections of gentamicin had no advantages as compared to subconjunctival administration with respect to providing higher concentrations of the antibiotic in the eye media.


[State of phagocytic immunity in white mice treated with doxycycline and pentoxyl for experimental staphylococcal sepsis].

When albino mice with experimental staphylococcal sepsis were treated by doxycycline for 10 days, it was noted that the antibiotic had an inhibitory effect on the absorbing capacity of the peritoneal leucocytes with respect to Staph aureus. The decreased digesting capacity of the leucocytes was observed only during the first 5 days from the moment of infection and treatment. The combined use of doxycycline and pentoxyl stimulated the activity and intensity of phagocytosis. The activity values of completed phagocytosis did not change, while the coefficient of the phagocytosis completeness increased as compared to the same values in the animal group treated with doxycycline alone.


[Comparative study of the cardiotoxicity of the anthracycline antibiotics, carminomycin and adriamycin, in white mice].

The cardiotoxic effect of karminomycin and adriamycin administered intravenously for 5 times in equitoxic doses constituting equal portions of LD50 of the respective antibiotic on its single intravenous administration was studied on albino mice. Histological examination of the heart showed that almost identical damages of the myocardium occured after administration of karminomycin and adriamycin in doses of 0.45 of LD50 (1.5 mg/kg) and 0.3 of LD50 (6.3 mg/kg) respectively. The character of the damages due to the antibiotics was close, the most significant changes were observed when the animals were sacrificed 1 month after the last administration of the drug. The histological method is of value in estimation of the cardiotoxic effect of the drugs, using mice as the model suitable for the investigation. Adriamycin had more pronounced cumulative properties as compared to karminomycin: suppression of the weight gain in the mice and their death rate were higher with the use of adriamycin.


[Indices of bacterial contamination and natural resistance in wistar line laboratory rats].

Conventional laboratory rats of Wistar line are contaminated with bacterial flora. The predominating bacteria in the intestine were the rod-like forms, while in the mouth cavity and vagina predominated the coccal forms. The contamination level of the cavities and penetration of the contaminants into the internal organs depended on the state of the host natural resistance.


[Cytochemical and ultrastructural study of oocyte development of the crab Eriocheir sinensis. II. Oogenesis after removal of the eyestalk].

The effect produced by an eyestalk removal have been studied on Eriocheir females at different physiological stages. In juvenile and prepuberal crabs, the operation induces an important rise of the oocyte diameter. Only a few variations are observed in puberal females oocytes. Cytological changes are found at first at the nucleolar level. The granular area increases and the nucleolar vacuoles volume decreases. Then the granules (precursor material to endogenous yolk) disappear in the reticulum cisternae. At this time, the endogenous yolk seems essentially elaborated within yolk lobules. The envelope of these lobules is enhanced by ribosomes. In juvenile females (oocytes initially in previtellogenesis) exogenous yolk does not appear. Nevertheless in prepuberal females, following eyestalks deprivation, the oocytes, initially at the endogenous vitellogenesis stage, quickly reach the vitellogenesis second stage. In such oocytes, the microvilli development and pinocytose vesicles number are greater than normally. Cytochemical tests reactions do not demonstrate differences in the yolk material (endogenous and exogenous) nature from experimented oocytes and controls. In juvenile and prepuberal oocytes, the multivesicular bodies and lysosomes proliferation, the increase in glycogen and lipids amount express a metabolic disturbance resulting from an acceleration of growth processes. However in eyestalk-less prepuberal females no difference with the control oocytes was noticed.


[Ultrastructure of the proliferation of astrocytes and microglia].

Glial cell proliferation was studied during axonal reaction of hypoglossal nerve, and around stab wound in the brain cortex of the rat. The cytoplasm and chromosomes of astroglial mitoses were pale. Lipid droplets, few sparse dense bodies with heterogenous structure were present in the cytoplasm. The mitotic astrocytes had irregular outlines. The ultrastructure of "light microglial" cells was described; it was found that these cells divided and gave rise to microglial cells. The cytoplasm and the chromosomes of microglial mitoses were dense; the cytoplasm contained always groups of dense bodies and lipfuscine granules. The outlines of mitotic microglial cells were more regular.


[Contribution of somite cells to the development of posterior limb buds in mice].

1. The structural changes accompanying the early genesis of the mouse hindlimb bud have been studied in serial Epon thick sections at five successive somitic stages collected during the 10th developmental day. 2. As soon as the 14-somite stage, increased proliferative activities occurring in a limited area of the embryonic somatopleure close to the caudal end of the coelomic cavity point out the onset of limb morphogenesis. From its very beginning on, up to its ceasing at the 27-somite stage, the somatopleural proliferation is more active in the caudal part of the prospective limb territory and in the whole area, it appears stronger ventrally than dorsally. 3. Discrete structural changes occur during this period in the mesoderm interposed between the hindlimb bud territory and the overlying unsegmented sheet of somitic mesoderm, in relation with the genesis of the mesonephritic constituents and of the posterior cardinal vein. A detailed analysis of this area in serial sections reveals that the unsegmented somitic mesoderm does not provide any cell to the limb bud mesoderm. 4. As soon as the somitic mesoderm becomes organized into segmented somites, obvious histological changes located on the lateral aspect of the ventro-lateral somitic edge reveal that numerous undifferentiated somitic cells invade the proximal area of the limb bud mesoderm. Starting at the 27-somite stage in the first two metameres adjacent to the precordonal portion of the limb bud, this processus extends to the five somites of the limb territory at the 33-somite stage. In each metamere, the area of cell migration takes place near the caudal border of the somite and, from one somite to the other, the number of migrating cells increases in a cephalo-caudal direction. No sign of a similar cell migration was observed in the somites located cranially or caudally to the hindlimb bud. 5. The results are discussed in relation with the various experimental and descriptive evidences obtained in non-mammalian Vertebrates about the contribution of the somites to limb morphogenesis and about the factors involved in the onset of cell proliferation in the prospective limb mesoderm.


[Ultrastructural aspects of the migration of somite cells to the posterior limb buds of mice].

Migrating cells originating selectively in the ventral lateral edge of the somites adjacent to the mouse hindlimb bud have been studied in transverse sections by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Collected during the 10th and 11th gestational days, the embryos have been classified according to the number of metameres. As soon as the 28 somite stage, discrete cytological modifications occur in a limited caudal area of the ventro-lateral somitic edge. Loosing the typical epithelial arrangement characteristic of the dermatome cells, these ventral cells show large areas  of close contact between their plasma membrane and a superficial microfilamentous material accumulates in the contact areas. At the 33 somite stage, the same groups of cells elongate and form long cellular trails invading the proximal area of the limb bud mesoderm. The migrating cells become polarized along the migrating axis and they retain large and smooth intercellular contacts with each other. Very selective ultrastructural features of the migrating somitic cells can be interpreted in relation to their cinetic activity or to their early myogenic differentiation. In addition to their mutual superficial relationships, the migrating cells are characterized by the presence of numerous oriented microtubules, of a high number of active mitochondria, of an abundant granular endoplasmic reticulum and of an hypertrophied Golgi apparatus regularly located near the nucleus in the "trailing" edge of the cells. Several dense granules with a diameter of 8 nm are present in the mitochondrial matrix. The extensive Golgi apparatus is associated to numerous thick walled vesicles, which increase from 60 to 150 nm in diameter as they become closer and closer to the plasma membrane. These vesicles are absent in the mesodermal cells of somatopleural origin; their presence in the migrating somitic cells is probably related to an early myogenic differentiation. The observation made near the distal end of the somitic cellular trails suggests that the more distal somitic cells rapidly loose their ultrastructural particularities as soon as they are dispersed in the limb bud mesoderm; this aspect of the processus, however, requires the study of later developmental stages. Other observations made in the same material bring some precisions to the ecto-mesodermal relationships which are established in the apical area of the limb bud. Scanning electron microscopic observations of thick sections reveal that the outer mesodermal cells of this area send numerous filopodia which make contact with the basement membrane underlying the apical ectodermal ridge.


[The effect of boric acid on the development of chick embryos treated at an early stage: preliminary results].

10 mul of a 2% boric acid solution are injected in chick embryos at 28 hours of incubation. The nervous system is always affected in its anterior and middle region, with exencephaly and reduction in size of the neural tube. Microphtalmy is frequent. The posterior limbs can be likewise altered, leading sometimes to symelia. The histological study shows furthermore that the notochord is locally hypertrophic or missing, at the same level where the nervous system is altered.


Histoenzymology of the pineal gland: an optical and electron microscope study.

The activity of some dehydrogenases is investigated in the rat's pineal gland of normal or sympathectomized animals with optical and electron microscopy. Comparison is made between the concordances and, particularly, the differences observed with the two methods.


[Vaccines and anti-rubella immunity (author's transl)].

The teratogenic effect of maternal rubella virus infection upon the offspring is well established. The present article deals with the problem of susceptibility to rubella infection among women in prepubertal and postpubertal age. The sieropositivity values in female populations from different italian areas are reported. The different types of vaccines for rubella and the preparation techniques are reviewed, and the immunity either induced by natural virus infection or acquired through vaccination is discussed. The conclusion is drawn that it is useful to offer rubella vaccine to girls and that, as far as it is known at present, the vaccine RA 27/3 is the most reliable.


[On the presence of the antibodies against diphtheria and tetanus in a sample of population].

Tth  acquistion of serological techniques, as the HA-induced reaction, which can be employed on a large scale, its practical realization, the repeating of its results, has made easy the epidemiological serological research and the knowledge of the state of immunity of the population against diphtheria and tetanus. The Authors, supported by validity of the results achieved, at least in epidmiological field, wanted to estimate the presence and the title of the antidiphtheria and anti-tetanus antibodies in a sample of population living in our area, to know the factors of risk at different age. The results obtained have demonstrate as follows: in the group of the subjects ageing from 11 to 20, the 48,6% have been protective antibodies against the diphtheria and the 29,8% against the tetanus. Among the subjects, who have been surely vaccinated for 10 years at least with on or more doses of vaccine, the Authors have found a largest number of immune subjects; in the group of the subjects ageing from 21 to 30 the percentage of seropositive subjects is analogus to that one of the former group. In the male subjects, the Authors have found a higher percentage of immunity than in the female subjects, because the largest number of the former group had done their military service; the Authors have, also, observed that those subjects who are more than 31 years old, persent a decline in numbers and in percentage of those who have antibodies against diphtheria and tetanus. The Authors, on the basis of the achieved results, express their opinion about the epidemiological and of the immunity situation, and point out the deficiencies, which, in their opinion, still constant trickle of cases.


[Inquiring of the microorganisms of the tribe Mimeae in subjects with acute respiratory affections (author's transl)].

The incidence of the germs appartening to the tribe of Mimeae yolited during acute respiratory affections was studied. The isolement of M. polymorpha and of H. vaginicola results positive in the 15% of the subjects examined and particularly during acute laringo-tracheobronchitis and hyperpyretical bronchopneumonitis. The pathogen function expliqued by Mimeae during the affections of respiratory system is important over all in regard of annexed therapeutical problems.


[Syndrome of the "Lamblia intestinalis" (author's transl)].

The Authors related the physiopathologic remarks executed on subjects that are suffering from Lambia intestinalis. They have been chisen in a group of 226 individuals who had executed the coprologic test because of symptoms of gastroenteric apparatus. With the escort of this observation, the Authors have findings, as constant report, a typical enteritis, that reveals itself in periodical diarrhoea, alternated with constipation and often accompanied, in the children, with gastralgia, in the grown ups with duodenitis. The constancy of these reports and the therapeutical succes, whic the have been achieved in the most of the cases with antilambliasi, induce them to have reasonable motives to attribute to the Lamblia a definite pathogenus entity and to regard it an etiologic element of the above-mentioned unhelty courses.


Callosal transfer of impulses originating from superficial and deep nerves of the cat forelimb.

1. Experiments were performed in 18 chloralose-anaesthetized, curarized cats in order to study the callosal transfer of somatic information originated in exteroceptive and proprioceptive receptors. Several cutaneous and deep nerves of the forelimb were prepared and stimulated with graded intensities, so as to activate selectively afferent fibres pertaining to the different groups of Lloyd's classification. Simultaneous records were taken (and averaged on-line by means of a multichannel analyzer) from the distal end of a cut dorsal rootlet (C7-C8), from the cerebral cortex (SI, SII or area 3a, according to the experiment) and from the somesthetic callosal region (SCR). 2. The low-threshold afferent fibres (Group II) of cutaneous origin were found to have a wide projection to the SCR, with the maximal density in its middle portion. Some of the fastest corticocallosal impulses are relayed monosynaptically at cortical level. Plots of the amplitude of cortical and callosal responses as a function of stimulus strength showed that both central responses have the same threshold and exhibit a parallel, sharply-rising amplitude increase, thus suggesting that the cortico-callosal re-transmission system for afferent impulses of cutaneous origin is very powerful in nature. Impulses elicited in afferent fibres of higher threshold (Group III) do not enhance the cortical and callosal positive waves provoked by Group II afferent volleys. 3. Afferent fibres of deep origin were also found to send a wide projection to the SCR, although less substantial than that of cutaneous fibres. Stimulation of the deep radial nerve elicited mass responses in the whole SCR, provided the strength of stimuli was high enough to engage the Group II fibres. Only in the central portion of the SCR were small potentials recorded in response to pure Group I volleys of DRN. Experiments performed with selective stimulation of pure muscular branches of forelimb deep nerves as well as of articular and mixed (muscular and articular) branches gave evidence making it possible to ascertain the origin of deep afferent fibres projecting to the SCR. Stimulation of the forelimb muscular branches with strength provoking full activation of Group I afferent and additional engagement of those of Group II, did not provoke mass responses in the whole extent of the SCR. In order to obtain callosal potentials upon stimulation of pure muscular nerves, it was necessary to increase the stimulus strength at or above the threshold for Group III fibres. On the contrary, the same callosal foci unresponsive to Group I and II muscular afferent volleys exhibited clear-cut responses to stimulation of the lowest-threshold Group I and/or Group II afferents of articular and mixed nerves. From the results it might be inferred that only proprioceptive information originating from articular receptors and from extrafusal muscular afferents has access to the callosal interhemispheric transfer.


[Observations on the sensibility of many chemical antibodies on the blocks of the Mimeae isolated during the acute respiratory affections (author's transl)].

The AA. studied the sensibility of 7 stocks of Mimeae isolated from subjects with acute respiratory affections against numerous chemical antibodies. The observed that the examined stocks were sensibility resistent to usual antibiotic employed but with a great variability of antwort among the single stocks.


Somatotopic localization of the eye muscle afferents in the semilunar ganglion.

In the medial dorsolateral portion of the semilunar ganglion of curarized and anaesthetized lambs a cellular pool has been identified which contains the perikarya of the first-order neurons of the eye muscle proprioception. Responses to moderate manual stretch of individual eye muscles were recorded by means of tungsten microelectrodes, from single units of the ganglion. They were of the type induced by muscle spindle excitation. Such responses showed a somatotopic localization. The superior rectus and the superior oblique muscles were represented in the most dorsal layers of the ganglion, while the inferior rectus and the inferior oblique muscles projected on the most ventral portion of the pool. The medial and the lateral recti were represented in the medial and lateral parts and occasionally wedged themselves between the cells innervating the superior and the inferior muscles. Thus a somatotopic arrangement of the eye muscle proprioception has been demonstrated for the first time in the semilunar ganglion.


[Biology of the "Salmonella wien" (author's transl)].

The Authors after a theoric introduction in regard to the taxonomic position, the history and the epidemiology of the Salmonella wien, explain the biologic characteristic of the bacterium according to results of their experiments.


Crossed inhibition as revealed by cross-correlogram between bilateral homonymous motor unit spikes in man.

Neuromuscular unit (NMU) spikes activated during the tonic vibration reflex (TVR) in man were studied by means of the cross-correlogram test. Those NMUs which preferredly fired at some definite interval with good correlation with vibration were called "locked" spikes. The amount above zero correlation level seen in the cross-correlogram was expressed as ipsilateral "excitatory frequency", Ef. TVR contraction of the ipsilateral quadriceps femoris muscle was stimulated by voluntary contraction of the contralateral quadriceps femoris. I. Cross-correlogram test of the contralateral voluntary NMU spikes with ipsilateral vibration revealed "contralateral inhibitory modulation". Such inhibitory modulation was observed in 24% of the contralateral NMUs during voluntary tracking contraction with visual feed-back and in 22% of NMUs during blind simulated contraction without visual feed-back. The "subtracted" amount, i.e., contralateral inhibitory modulation, was also expressed as the contralateral "inhibitory frequency", If, which was calculated from the indentations of the cross-correlogram. 2. When varied vibratory frequency was applied to the muscle both Ef and If attained their maximum value around an "optimal frequency" of vibration, i.e., 80-95 HZ. 3. The ratio Ef/If was proposed as the reciprocal co-activation ratio which was fairly independent of the change of vibratory frequency. An average value of Ef/If ratio was calculated at 2.2 +/- 0.9 from 19 experiments.


[Antibody response in humans to A/New Jersey/76 influenza vaccine (author's transl)].

74 adults 25 to 50 years old have been immunized with a sigle dose of three different influenza vaccines, namely: 1. Bivalent A and B (A/Victoria/75 600 IU; B/Hong Kong/73 300 IU); 2. Monovalent A/New Jersey/76 400 IU, and 3. Trivalent (A/Victoria/75 300 IU; B/Hong Kong/73 300 IU; A/New Jersey/76 300 IU). Reactions were insignificant or trivial. One month later antibody content was measured in the blood and satisfactory reponses were observed in bivalent and monovalent vaccines treated groups. Less satisfactory reponse was observed in the trivalent vaccine group, probably according to the lesser antigenic content in A/Victoria and A/New Jersey strains.


[Erythromycin: serum and urine levels following rectal administration (author's transl)].

The serum and urine levels obtained form administration of Erythromycin are generally good and the antibiotic is absorbed in a similar way; this happens also for the other ways of administration. We have noticed a variability in the absorption of antibiotic as the different components present in the suppositories administered.


[Observations of reactions after smallpox vaccination (author's transl)].

The Author has practised the vaccination against smallpox in two groups of children; one with dried-vaccine, the other with calf-vaccine. He describes the reactions after smallpox vaccination.


[A simplified micromethod for the measurement of leukocyte chemotaxis (author's transl)].

A new in vitro micromethod for the assessment of chemotaxis, based on the measurement of glass-adhering phagocyte migration through a cellulose membrane filter in a standard tissue culture chamber, is described. This technically simple method, which requires only small volumes of whole blood and produces reliable results, may be of promising clinical usefulness for the study of the several disease states related to abnormalities of chemotaxis.


Tonic inhibition of dorsal pontine neurons during the postural atonia produced by an anticholinesterase in the decerebrate cat.

1. Experiments performed in precollicular decerebrate cats indicate that neurons located in the caudal part of the locus coeruleus and locus subcoeruleus as well as in the surrounding reticular formation were greatly depressed during the cataplectic episodes induced by i.v. injection of 0.1 mg/kg of eserine sulphate. 2. These units actually showed a slow regular firing rate when the rigidity was present. Moreover their firing rate greatly decreased during the episodes of postural atonia produced by the anticholinesterase. In some instances a complete abolition of firing occurred during these episodes. The depression of unit discharge anticipated the onset of postural atonia and lasted throughout the episodes. 3. Some of the neurons described above responded with steady changes in their discharge rate to natural stimulation of macular labyrinthine receptors during postural rigidity. However, the response of these neurons to lateral tilts was suppressed during the episodes of postural atonia induced by the anticholinesterase, This and other arguments suggested that these units were tonically inhibited during the induced cataplectic episodes. 4. The time course of the rate deceleration shown by these neurons during transition from postural rigidity to muscular atonia represents a mirror image of the rate acceleration which affects most of the pontine reticular neurons located in the gigantocellular tegmental field (FTG) during the induced cataplectic episodes. These reciprocal rate relations suggest that a functional interaction exists between the two cell groups. In particular it is postulated that the pontine FTG neurons are self-excitatory and excitatory to the locus coeruleus neurons, while the last neurons may be self-inhibitory and inhibitory to FTG neurons. These findings can be related to previous observations showing that neurons located in the region of locus coeruleus undergo a rate deceleration during desynchronized sleep which mimics the time course of firing to the pontine reticular neurons. 5. In conclusion it appears that the decerebrate rigidity is present in so far as the cholinergic reticular neurons, which trigger the bulbospinal inhibitory system, are tonically inhibited by neurons located in the monoaminergic structures of the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum. On the other hand the suppression of the decerebrate rigidity ,which occurs during the cholinergically induced cataplectic episodes results from activation of the cholinergic reticular neurons, which escape tonic inhibition from monoaminergic structures.


Relations of single semicircular canals to the pontine reticular formation.

The effects of afferent vestibular impulses on single pontine reticular formation units and on a small filament of the IIIrd cranial nerve were recorded with tungsten microelectrodes in 40 curarized guinea pigs. Single-shock and repetitive electrical stimulations were applied by means of stimulating electrodes inserted bilaterally into the perilymphatic space of single ampullae of the anterior and lateral semicircular canals. The reticular unitary response consisted mainly in excitation of the resting discharge rate: most units showed vestibular convergence being affected by separate stimulation of the single four ampullae. the reticular evoked field and unitary potentials accounted for latency values ranging from 0.3 to 2.5 msec. As for the early latencies they can be interpreted as responses mediated by direct vestibulo-reticular fibres. A delimited vestibular projection field in the parameidan pontine reticular formation was not identified.


[The anti-tetanus serumprophylaxis (author's transl)].

The antitoxin titre against tetanus toxin has been evaluated in wounded subjects before and 24 after anti-tetanus serumprophylaxis by passive haemagglutination. Treatment with digested heterologous antiserum (3000-6000 I.U.) or with human hyperimmune immunoglobulins does not modify preexisting antitoxin titre. Serum negative subjects remain as such.