[Protein synthesis in loach embryos isolated from the yolk and cultivated in vitro].

Changes in protein synthesis in the loach (Misgurnus fossilis) blastoderms cultivated in vitro in the Holtfreter solution after their separation from the yolk at the early and late-blastula stages were assessed by biochemical and autoradiographic methods. The embryos incubated in vitro at the from blastula stage are characterized by the sharp activation of protein synthesis and the vegetal-animal gradient of protein synthesis, as well as in the control embryos; such embryos gastrulate and proceed to primary differentiation. On the contrary, in the embryos incubated from the early blastula stage the protein synthesis is inhibited and no regional differences in its intensity are noted; such embryos do not proceed to gastrulation. Possible causes of the protein synthesis activation in differentiating blastoderms and interrelationship between the character of protein synthesis and the ability of embryos for differentiation are discussed. The protein synthesis activation and the vegetal-animal gradient appearance are considered as a biochemical criterion of primary differentiation during gastrulation in fish embryos.


[Disorders in the formation of the hematologic status of mice following rat lymph node transplantation during the early postnatal period].

The cell composition of peripheral blood, bone marrow and spleen of CBA mice after the transplantation ca. 20.10(6) lymph node cells of a Wistar rat, sensitized against mouse liver antigens 10--15 days prior to the transplantation, during first 24 hrs after birth was studied. The runt disease developed in 100% recipients and was characterized by sharp disturbances of the formation of immuno- and hemopoietic systems. All runting animals suffered from aplastic anemia, leukopenia with predominance of hyperlobular neutrophils and histio-monocytes in the peripheral blood. The total number of cells in bone marrow decreased almost 15 times. The elimination of erythroid line was coupled with relative augmentation of undifferentiated myeloid and monocytoid cells. The cellular pool of spleen increased twice and more. The intensive proliferation of histio-monocytes and macrophages was accompanied by the destruction and depletion of lymphatic structures. A suggestion is put forward to the effect that the incorporation of "not-self" genetic information, such as non-syngeneic lymphocytes, during the early postnatal period may not only induced some genuine immunological effects, but inhibit the normal way of differentiation in proliferating cell systems due to the lack of their mutual adaptation as well.


[Role of the cell nucleus in the mechanism of the effect of auxin on Acetabularia mediterranea].

The effect of an auxin, naphthyl acetic acid (NAA), upon nuclear and anuclear fragments of adult Acetabularia cells was studied. In the darkness, NAA stimulated the release from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of informational agents programming the formation of caps and exerted no marked effect upon the anuclear fragments. NAA activated RNA synthesis and accelerated the decrease of its content in the nucleus. A suggestion is put forward to the effect that NAA influences the morphogenesis (cap regeneration) while strengthening the synthesis and passage from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of agents, apparently, of ribonucleic nature responsible for the formation of caps.


[Early activation of ribosomal RNA synthesis in axolotl embryos].

The incorporation of labeled precursors (3H- and 14C-uridine) into the fractions of salt-insoluble RNAs and or rRNA was studied in the axolotl embryos at different stages of early development (from the end of synchronous cleavage divisions until the end of gastrulation). RNA preparations isolated from the embryos at all stages studied contained incorporated radioactivity. The radioactivity of salt-insoluble RNAs markedly increased at the beginning of blastulation and continued to grow, but less steeply, at the subsequent developmental stages. The sedimentation analysis has shown that the label is incorporated into the precursors and mature molecules of rRNA, beginning at least from the blastulation.


Specific affinity fractionation of lymphocytes using glass or plastic bead columns.

This paper describes column fractionation techniques for separating different lymphocyte subpopulations. For this purpose columns can be coupled with antigen, specific antibodies to membrane determinants on lymphocytes, or immune complexes or aggregated immunoglobulins, which interact with Fc receptors.


Fractionation of immunocompetent cells with different physical properties.

This paper deals with recent developments in the fractionation of immunocompetent cells with different physical properties, using preparative free flow cell electrophoresis, fractionation of cells according to their size and density.


Purification, fractionation and assay of antibody-dependent lymphocytic effector cells (K cells) in human blood.

In this article we present methods for the purification and fractionation of human blood lymphocytes, which have been used in our laboratory to characterize antibody-dependent cytotoxic effector cells (K cells). The assay system consists of highly purified lymphocytes, 51Cr-labelled chicken erythrocytes (Ec) and IgG rabbit anti-Ec in high dilutions. Various ways of comparing K-cell potentials of different lymphocyte preparations in this system are discussed. When purified lymphocytes are partially depleted (60-85% depletion) of cells forming rosettes with sheep erythrocytes (E+ cells), the K-cell activity of the depleted fraction is increased, indicating the the majority of the E+ cells are inactive in this assay. Depletion of EAC-rosette-forming cells shows that most or all K cells have complement receptors. For depletion of B cells, the lymphocytes may be passed through glass bead columns, charg ed with F(ab')2 fragments of human IgG and F(ab')2 fragments of rabbit antibodies to the F(ab')2 part of human IgG. These columns give high yields of B-cell depleted fractions. These preparations are rich in E+ cells and contain approximately 80% of the Fc-receptor lymphocytes which form rosettes with bovine erythrocytes, coated with IgG antibodies. Their K-cell activity is unchanged or slightly elevated, indicating the mature B cells, i.e. SIg+ cells, have little or no K-cell activity. In contrast, passage of the lymphocytes through immune complex columns (ovalbumin/anti-ovalbumin) leads to approximately 70% depletion of Fc receptor-bearing cells, while most of the B cells (SIg+ cells) pass through the columns. The relative frequency of E+ cells in the passed fraction frequently shows a slight reduction. These preaparations have a very low K-cell activity, indicating that K cells are lymphocytes with Fc receptors of relatively strong avidity.


Isolation of lymphocytes, granulocytes and macrophages.

This paper presents the standard procedure for isolating lymphocytes and granulocytes from blood, using the Isopaque-Ficoll technique. A procedure for isolating granulocytes and macrophages from peritoneal fluid is also described.


The optical quality of the monochromatic retinal image as a function of focus.

Changes in retinal image quality with focus for an aberration-free eye with a 5-mm pupil are discussed in terms of both geometrical and physical optics. Further modulation transfer function curves illustrate the effect of spherical aberration. These theoretical results are compared with analogous experimental data obtained at different wavelengths with quasi-monochromatic illumination, using a double-pass photo-electric, scanning instrument. The comparison shows that the approximations of geometrical optics predict ocular performance quite well, provided that the errors of focus are reasonably large (greater than or equal to 0.5 DS for a 5-mm entrance pupil). Possible sources of error in the experimental measurements are indicated.


The specific blocking of humoral immune cytolysis mediated by anti-tumor antibodies degraded by lysosomal enzymes of tumor origin.

The IgG fraction from rabbit antisera against a mouse plasmacytoma (RaPCT-IgG) was incubated, under acidic conditions, with lysosomal extracts (LE)  derived from the corresponding tumors. The LE-treated IgG demonstrated a significant decrease in its complement-dependent cytotoxic potential when compared to RaPCT-IgG incubated without LE under the same conditions (control IgG). Ammonium sulfate (AS) precipitation of the control IgG and the LE-treated IgG preparations at 40% saturation of AS revealed that some of the IgG lost its precipitability at this AS concentration after LE treatment, but could be precipitated at 60% or 70% saturation. The LE-treated IgG and control IgG fractions that precipitated by 40% saturated AS showed similar gel filtration profiles. The LE-treated IgG fraction precipitating at 70% saturation of AS (but not at 40%) showed a different gel filtration profile. This fraction was separated into several subfractions, some with an apparent lower molecular weight. Some of these subfractions which still contained antigenic IgG lacked any expression of antigenic Fc, and were not cytotoxic to tumor cells. They could, however, rebind to tumor cells and block the complement-dependent cytotoxic activity of native RaPCT-IgG. Lysosomal enzymes of tumor origin seem, therefore, to convert cytotoxic anti-tumor antibodies into molecules devoid of Fc but still retaining their antigen binding activity. Such an activity, if occurring in vivo might enhance tumor growth.


The double-contrast enema: myths and misconceptions.

The role of the double-contrast enema (DCE) remains contraversial since no controlled comparison between the barium enema (BE) and the DCE has been performed. As a result of our experience with routine use of the DCE, we believe that it is the most sensitive technique for the detection of polypoid, annular, and inflammatory lesions in the colon. There are many commonly held myths and misconceptions regarding the DCE and these are discussed and refuted. The advantages of the DCE over the BE are discussed and illustrated.


Double-contrast examination of the esophagus.

A simple technique for double-contrast esophagography is described. The technique involves successive swallows of an excellent coating barium mixture and water to create the double contrast effect. Clinical and radiologic situations in which double contrast esophagography have proven helpful include: (a) the detection of small esophageal tumors; (b) delineation of the morphologic features of neoplastic and inflammatory disease; and (c) assessment of the total vertical extent of esophageal disease. Accurate and/or confident diagnosis is aided considerably with double-contrast esophagography.


The esophageal and small-bowel manifestations of progressive systemic sclerosis. A pathophysiologic explanation of the roentgenographic signs.

Goetz suggested progressive systemic sclerosis as replacement for sclerderma because of recognized systemic visceral involvement. Gastrointestinal manifestations are caused by atrophy and fibrous replacement of the submucosa and muscularis of the bowel. The clinical picture, roentenographic findings, pathology, and pathophysiology of this condition are discussed.


Gastric antral diaphragm.

Roentgenographic abnormalities in 3 patients with antral diaphragm are presented. Barium studies revealed the diaphragm as a persistent, circumferential defect in the distal antrum, often associated with peptic ulcers or gastric outlet obstruction. At endoscopy the central aperture does not change during peristalsis in contrast to the pylorus, which does. Since the lesion can be excised, its preoperative demonstration by barium studies and endoscopy is emphasized.


Clinical involvement of mesenteric and antimesenteric borders of small bowel loops. I. Normal pattern and relationships.

Anatomic features of the mesentery, as it contributes to the characteristic course and coiled nature of small bowel loops, are analyzed in detail. An understanding of the anatomic definition and relationships of the loops of small intestine permits roentgen identification of their mesenteric and antimesenteric borders. It is established that (a) the concave margin of a small bowel loop, facing toward the axis of the root of the mesentery, is the mesenteric border; and (b) the convex margin of a small bowel loop, facing away from the axis of the root of the mesentery, constitutes the antimesenteric border. The ability to distinguish between the mesenteric and antimesenteric borders of small bowel loops further refines the capabilities of radiologic diagnosis in a variety of intraabdominal disease processes.


Lesions associated with familial polyposis coli: studies of lesions of lesions of the stomach, duodenum, bones, and teeth.

The entire gastrointestinal tract and bones were examined systematically in 24 patients (10 pedigrees) in whom familial polyposis coli was diagnosed. Polypoid lesions were observed in the stomach in as high as 68.2% of the cases, and in the duodenum in 90%. Abnormalities were noted in the skeleton in 50% and in the mandible in 81.3%. The authors emphasize the possibility that familial polyposis coli is substantially the same entity as Gardner's Syndrome.


The Japanese-style double-contrast examination of the stomach.

Western radiologists are using the Japanese-style double-contrast examination of the stomach with increasing frequency. Extensive experience now indicates that the double-contrast technique greatly increases the accuracy of the radiologic examination of the stomach. Lesions characterized by small irregularities in the mucosal surface of the stomach, such as superficial carcinomas, small or shallow ulcers, gastric erosions, and ulcer scars, are particularly apt to be detected only by double-contrast technique. The double-contrast study also increases the detectability of lesions in the proximal stomach, where compression and palpation are difficult to apply effectively.


Abdominal desmoid masses in Gardner's syndrome.

Abdominal masses, "desmoid tumors,"  occur in approximately 4% of patients with Gardner's Syndrome, usually 1--3 years after total colectomy. Histologic sections usually resemble those of an infiltrating fibrous tumour, a desmoid lesion. The radiographic pattern may be similar to any diffuse abdominal retroperitoneal tumor, metastatic disease, lymphoma, or possibly retractile mesenteritis. The clinical setting usually differentiates these entities.


Colonic lymphangioma.

Eleven cases of colonic lymphangioma, including 3 that have not been reported previously, are reviewed. Radiologic analysis reveals that 9 presented as polypoidal mucosal lesions and only 2 had characteristic features at a submucosal lesion. A predominant occurence in females (70%) and during the sixth and seventh decades are noted.


Five-hour reinforcement cholecystography.

Pathologic diagnoses were reviewed in 115 patients in whom gallbladder disease was diagnosed radiogically based on nonopacification with the calcium ipodate rapid reinforcement technique. In all instances, the gallbladder was diseased. Therefore, the rapid reinforcement technique is valid and considerably reduces the time necessary to complete reinforcement cholecystography. Because the time required in only 5 h, increased convenience and decreased cost may be realized without compromising diagnostic accurracy.


Tomography of the gallbladder in oral cholecystography.

Tomography was used to supplement 327 oral cholecystograms in which the findings, including nonvisualized gallbladder, were inconclusive. In 136 cases, operative and tomographic findings were correlated. In 286 cases (87%), tomography provided conclusive diagnostic information. A diagnosis was possible in 108 of 111 cases in which the gallbladder had been visualized on conventional films and in 179 of 216 cases in which the gallbladder had not been visualized. Tomography of the gallbladder is an easily accomplished procedure that usually adds enough information to the inconclusive cholecystogram to permit accurate diagnosis and eliminate the need for reexamination.


Sulfatide cholecystosis.

Polypoid masses metachromatic sulfatides have been found at autopsy in the gallbladder of patients with metachromatic leucodystrophy. In a 10-year-old girl with this disease oral cholecystrography demonstrated a filling defect, which was felt to represent a polyp. In the proper clinical setting, sulfatide cholecystosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of polypoid lesions of the gallbladder.


I. Observations on the adenoma as precursor to ordinary large bowel carcinoma.

The very common hyperplastic polyp is not a neoplasm and is unrelated to either adenoma or carcinoma. Adenomas, which are only one-tenth as common, are true neoplasms. Depending on size, and probably related to a sessile mode of growth, in adenomas one may readily observe intramucosal carcinoma and/or early invasive cancer. Although microscopic examination has been performed on many thousands of minute mucosal lesions (e.g., 5 mm or less), "early" cancer, defined cancer, defined as intramucosal carcinoma with or without microinvasion, does not seem to occur unassociated with adenoma. The apparent nonexistence of small foci of intramucosal carcinoma, with or without microinvasion, in normal mucosa, and their frequency in adenomas, are two fundamental pathologic facts. They seem to disprove the proposition that cancer calls ordinarily arise de novo from the normal cells of the crypt of Lieberkühn without the interposition of a stage in the neoplastic process that we recognize as adenoma.


II. Malignant potential of gastric polyps.

The malignant potential of gastric polyps is correlated to their features. The vast majority can be divided into two types: hyperplastic polyp and ademona. Hyperplastic polyp is composed of well-differentiated glands and rarely becomes malignant. It is small, smooth-surfaced, often multiple, and randomly distributed. Adenoma is composed of dysplastic glands and often becomes malignant. The small adenoma is flat-surfaced and slightly raised. The large adenoma is papillary and broad-based. Adenoma is usually single and located in the antrum. In either case, a separate independent carcinoma may be present in the same stomach.


Clinical and roentgen features of the intestinal polyposis syndromes.

The intestinal polyposis syndromes represent a challenging diagnostic problem for the radiologist. These syndromes include: familial multiple polyposis, Gardner's, Peutz-Jeghers, Turcot's, Cronkhite-Canada and juvenile polyposis. The polyposis syndromes can usually be differentiated from one another on the basis of the clinical history, examination of the mucocutaneous tissues and roentgen findings. Numerous other conditions, however, may mimmic a polyposis syndrome, and must be considered in the differential diagnosis.


Tuberculous esophagitis.

Roentgenographic changes in a case of tuberculosis involving the esophagus were ulceration and narrowing of the esophagus, and sinus tracts to the mediastinum. Disseminated tuberculosis was discovered only at autopsy. The diagnosis of tuberculous esophagitis in a patient with no other demonstrable tuberculous lesions is difficult, as clinical and roentgenographic findings are not specific.


Intestinal tuberculosis.

Intestinal tuberculosis is a disease with protective clinical manifestations. The radiographic changes in the bowel are similarly varied but often highly suggestive if not characteristic. The key radiologic changes in the bowel, with emphasis on the ileocecal area, are described and the clinical and pathologic features are reviewed.


Postvagotomy unmasking of nontropical sprue.

Adult celiac disease which became clinically evident after exophagectomy and vagotomy is described. The diagnosis was suggested by small bowel roentgenography and confirmed by intestinal biopsy and response to a gluten-free diet. The possibility that vagotomy unmasks asymptomatic adult celiac disease is discussed.


Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis: a pathophysiologic explanation of the roentgenographic signs.

Pneumatosis intestinalis was first described by DuVernoi in 1730. The roentgenographic, gross, and microscopic apthologic changes are secondary to noncommunicating gas-filled cysts which occur either in submucosa or subserosa. The clinical findings, roentgenologic signs, and treatment are discussed. A differential diagnosis and pathophysiologic explanation for the changes are presented.


Factors interferring with the opacification of a normal gallbladder.

Various factors extrinsic to the biliary system are known to interfere with the contrast opacification of a normal gallbladder. Some of these factors are rather infrequent, but as group, they become significant. Unless ruled out, they may lead to the erroneous diagnosis of nonopacification because of a diseased condition, when the gallbladder is inreality normal.


The role of radionuclide imaging in disease of the alimentary tract.

The current status of radionuclide imaging studies of the liver, spleen, and pancreas is reviewed. Although current instrumentation and radiopharmaceuticals allow considerably better images than in the past, the overall accuracy of detecting liver metastases remains at 80%. The specificity of detecting hepatic space occupying disease has been enhanced by additional radionuclide studies which reveal the vascular and metabolic properties of the lesion.--The frequency of spleen imaging has increased since 99mTc-labeled colloids have been used. In most instances, it is obtained as a coincidental portion of the liver scintigraphic examination although it has significant primary indications such as in the elucidation of masses in or trauma to the left upper quadrant of the abdomen.--Selenium-75 selenomethionine pancreatic scintigraphy is best performed with serial Anger Camera images. Interfering hepatic activity is best removed by electronic subtraction techniques; if available. Careful attention to patient selection for the procedure is important. The mean true-positive and negative rates are 86% and 20%, respectively.


Computed tomography of the abdomen: initial experience.

Computed tomography has provided a new dimension in the roentgenologic evaluation of the abdomen. Normal structures not visible on conventional examinations are clearly identified. Abnormalities are recognized by their alterations in anatomic form or by their effect on tissue absorption values. Our early experience suggests that in the abdomen computed tomography will be most valuable in detecting lesions in those sites least accessible to conventional roentgenographic methods such as the liver, spleen, pancreas and retroperitoneum.


The arterial blood supply to the liver in cirrhosis.

Of 21 patients with cirrhosis of the liver 9 had collateral arterial flow to the liver from the superior mesenteric artery. The degree of collateral arterial flow in cirrhosis was related to the presence of centrifugal portal flow, the degree of bilirubinemia and the presence of a markedly enlarged spleen with increased splenic blood flow. Of 27 non-cirrhotic 6 had collateral arterial flow to the liver from the superior mesenteric artery. The greatest degree of collateral arterial flow was associated with celiac stenosis in 4/6 patients. One patient had pancreatitis and an explanation was not evident in one patient.


Gastrointestinal edema in cirrhotics. Radiographic manifestations and pathogenesis with emphasis on colonic involvement.

The radiologic manifestations of gastrointestinal edema observed as a complication of liver cirrhosis are described. We reviewed 22 consecutive patients with colonic and small bowel edema and present forms of intestinal involvement previously not reported. The pathophysiology of bowel edema is discussed and an attempt is made to correlate several factors. Our studies suggest that the production of intestinal edema is the result of a complex mechanism involving multiple factors on both sides of the capillary membrane. What appears crucial is not the absolute level of any disruptive force, but rather, the combination of several factors: 1. the ability of the lymphatic system to handle excessive flow; 2. the oncotic pressure; 3. the hydrostatic pressure and portal hypertension with or without venous collaterals. In this context, portal hypertension seems to play a dominant role since it correlates best with intestinal edema and explains its usual distribution.


Portal thrombosis: high incidence following splenectomy for portal hypertension.

The authors report the incidence of portal thrombosis in their experience, of patients who have been operated on for splenectomy as treatment for portal hypertension with splenomegaly and hypersplenism without a portal systemic shunt. In 161 patients studied angiographically for portal hypertension due to cirrhosis, portal thrombosis was shown in 19 patients. Of these 19 patients 13 previously splenectomized. Only 6 were never operated upon.


Lymphangiectasia of the small intestine: description and pathophysiology of the roentgenographic signs.

Waldmann in 1961 redefined primary protein-losing gastroenteropathy and renamed the condition "lymphangiectasia". This abnormality, usually seen in infancy, is characterized by enlargement of folds and signs of hypersecretion in the small bowel. Enlargement of folds occurs secondary to edema of the valvulvae conniventes and lymphatic dilatation. Hypersecretion may be the result of rupture of dilated lymphatics or transudation of protein across an intact capillary epithelium. The clinical, roentgenographic, and pathologic findings are described. The pathophysiology of this condition is discussed.


Infiltrating carcinoma simulating achalasia.

Three cases of carcinoma infiltrating the esophagus and simulating achalasia are presented and the differential diagnostic problems discussed. The radiologic distinction between achalasia and carcinoma can be extremely difficult. Any rigidity, irregularity, nodularity, or ulceration of the distal-most esophagus or gastric fundus or symptoms of short duration in older patients should alert the  radiologist to the possibility of carcinoma. It is suggested that all patients with suspected achalasia undergo esophageal and gastric endoscopy with biopsy and esophageal manometry to confirm the diagnosis, expecially if pneumatic dilatation is contemplated.


Metastasis to the esophagus.

Tumor metastatic to the esophagus is a rare lesion. Two cases, primary in pancreas and rectum, are described. There are no distinguishing radiologic features.


Esophago-gastric invagination in patients with sliding hiatus hernia.

Intussusception of the distal esophagus into a reducible hiatus hernia is described in nine female and three male patients. The main radiographic feature is demonstration of a lobulated fundal mass of changeable size and configuration surrounding the narrowed distal esophageal segment. This pseudotumor is produced by inversion of the hiatus hernia into the stomach, and may be mistaken for a neoplasm. Disinvagination invariably occurs when maneuvers directed toward demonstration of a sliding hernia are utilized during upper gastrointestinal fluoroscopy. It is emphasized that esophago-gastric invagination frequently accounts for masses shown in the cardia of older women with intermittent dysphagia and crampy epigastric pain.


Unusual gastrointestinal features in a child with pernicious anemia.

Pernicious anemia in childhood is a rare disease. The radiologic demonstration of gastric mucosal atrophy led directly to this diagnosis in an 11-year-old girl. In addition, there was deformity of the pyloric antrum and superficial ulceration in the stomach and duodenum. Endoscopy and biopsy confirmed these findings.


Benign lymphoid hyperplasia of the duodenal bulb.

Four cases of benign lymphoid hyperplasia (BLH) of the duodenal bulb are reported. The roentgen findings of this entity are presented and the literature on BLH of the gastrointestinal tract is briefly reviewed.


Angiographic manifestions of regional enteritis.

Regional enteritis may be a protean disease, easily diagnosed when the common clinical presentation is noted. Occasionally, however, "atypical" features lead to the clinical suspicion of neoplastic disease. Four patients underwent angiographic evaluation in this clinical setting, all demonstrating similar changes in the mesenteric arteries. A serrated, "corkscrew" pattern was present and corresponded well to the perivascular fibrosis noted histologically. Recognition of this angiographic pattern may be important in differentiating neoplastic from inflammatory disease processes.


Idiopathic inferior mesenteric venous thrombosis demonstrated by angiography.

Idiopathic thrombosis of the inferior mesenteric vein, not associated with portal vein thrombosis, is an uncommonly diagnosed lesion. We are reporting a case of inferior mesenteric vein thrombosis diagnosed preoperatively by angiography. We believe this to be the first case in the literature of this particular lesion demonstrated conclusively by angiography before surgery.


Pneumoperitoneum and appendicitis.

Pneumoperitoneum was observed in five patients with acute perforative appendicitis (APA). In each case this radiographic observation led to an incorrect diagnosis. Free intraperitoneal gas is found in a small number of patients with APA and has no apparent effect on the course or prognosis of the disease.


Starch granulomatous peritonitis.

An unusual case of recurrent starch granulomatous peritonitis that presented as a long-standing paralytic ileus is described and the literature pertaining to this unusual entity is reviewed. The roentgenographic finding of severe prolonged paralytic ileus usually developing late in the post-operative period should suggest the possibility of this disease.


Practical application of diagnostic virus serology.

A number of virologists have suggested that current methods of virus serology are impractical and should be discontinued. An evaluation of the results in our laboratory showed positive confirmation in 1,571 of 6,599 suspected clinical cases or 23.6% including hundreds of cases which were still in the hospital or under the care of the physician. Further analysis of these 1,571 cases revealed that 75.9% had antibody titers in the acute specimen. These results suggest that optimal utilization is not being made of information currently available and that a practical service can be provided locally in most cases with existing techniques simply by more frequent sampling and testing of the patients' sera.


Microbial contamination of mist therapy units on six pediatric wards.

A study was conducted in six pediatric wards to investigated factors that influence microbial contamination of mist therapy units. Most samples from nebulizer reservoirs were positive for gram-negative bacilli which multiplied rapidly in distilled water and reached levels as high as 3.0 X 10(8) viable microorganisms per ml. High prevalence rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and coliform bacteria as well as high levels of gram-negative bacilli were found to be associated with infrequent and inadequate cleaning and disinfection of the nebulizing equipment. In one of the wards exhibiting high rates, a move to new quarters permitted the implementation of improved cleaning and maintenance procedures for mist therapy units. The result was a significant reduction of microbial contamination. This study reemphasizes the role of microbiological surveillance in assuring proper care of nebulizing equipment in the hospital.


Quantitative relationship between airborne viable and total particles.

The numbers of viable and total particles in a microbiological laboratory and in a class 100,000 clean room were examined for a predictable relationship to aid the monitoring of airborne microbial contamination. Six-stage Andersen samplers were used to enumerate viable particles and a modified Royco particle counter was used to enumerate total particles. Over 99% of the total particles present in both areas were less than 1 micron in size; however, only 1 in 10,000 of the particles this size were viable. At the other end of the particle size scale, it was found that less than 0.1% of the total particles were greater than 5.4 micron in size, but only 4.5% of these particles were viable. Viable particles make up only a very small portion of the total particles making any correlation undetectable. An analysis of the combined data from both areas using only total and viable particles over 5.4 micron showed a positive correlation. An analysis of the data from each area individually showed no correlation. Estimation of viable particulates from enumeration of total particulates in the large particle ranges may be possible only in areas where a high degree of environmental control is exercised.


A biological safety centrifuge.

The Washington State Public Health Laboratories has devised a metho to capture and remove aerosols produced during centrifugation. The method to adapt any centrifuge having an enclosed chamber with an air intake hole in the lid, and an exhaust hole in the bottom of the chamber, is discussed.


Overview of quantitation of intestinal helminth infections.

Some of the problems in comparing the incidence of helminthic infections at different time periods are discussed. The relation between egg counts and clinical infection is also discussed. True random sampling is essential if statistically valid data are to be collected.


Biology of soil-transmitted helminths: the massive infection.

Soil-transmitted helminth infections when light-to-moderate usually are well tolerated, but heavy-to massive infections invariably cause disease. A massive infection with Ascaris lumbricoides may cause intestinal obstruction, liver abscess, or some other condition requiring surgical treatment; more regularly, however, ascaris disease is a form of malnutrition. Trichuris trichiura causes diarrhea and dysentery and, at times, rectal prolapse. The hookworms, Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale, cause blood-loss from the intestine resulting in anemia. Necator infection is acquired percutaneously, and is more frequently massive than is that of Ancylostoma which may be acquired percutaneously or orally. Estimates of egg output in the feces, based on egg-counts by dilution, direct smear, or thick-film techniques, provide a reliable index of light, medium, or heavy infection. Acquisition of heavy infection with Ascaris and Trichuris depends on favorable qualities of the soil, and on the sorting action of rain which transports and concentrates the eggs of helminths in locations where survival and transmission are favored. The high frequency of heavy hookworm infection in southeastern United States and probably elsewhere may depend largely on the presence of feces-burying dung beetles. Human infection with soil-transmitted helminths of dogs and cats has become a serious public health problem attributable to the persistence of rural mores in the urban setting.


Performance evaluation of Wisconsin laboratories performing implied consent alcohol determinations.

Hospital, clinic, and public health laboratories are licensed to perform implied consent blood and urine alcohol determination. Methods include enzymatic, gas chromatographic, and distillation. The techniques of evaluation/certification are outlined. The performance exhibited no consistent bias toward high or low values. The distribution of participants' values, i.e. precision, indicated a 3% coefficient of variation performance. Laboratories showed an increase in quality of performance with time, especially after the initial 6 month period. Quality of results varied in the order: gas chromatographic, enzymatic, and distillation methods.


Laboratory screening of hemoglobinopathies.

A procedure for the laboratory screening of hemoglobinopathies is described. The procedure employs hemoglobin electrophoresis followed by solubility testing to confirm presence of sickling hemoglobins. All initial screening tests are carried out on whole blood specimens collected on filter paper. The use of filter paper facilitates collection and results in considerable saving in time and mailing cost. The results of the first year screening confirm the findings of earlier studies that blood specimens collected on filter paper are satisfactory for electrophoresis and solubility tests. All tests are relatively easy to perform using readily available commercial reagents. The procedure is particularly suitable for public health laboratories in carrying out hemoglobinopathy screening programs.


Biodegradable semipermeable microcapsules containing enzymes, hormones, vaccines, and other biologicals.

Semipermeable microcapsules were prepared using biodegradable material as the enclosing membranes. For instance, polylactic acid was used as membrane material to microencapsulate biologically active materials. Asparaginase microencapsulated within polylactic acids functions effectively in converting external asparagine into aspartic acid and ammonium. By variations in permeability characteristics, insulin microencapsulated within polylactic acid can be released at pre-adjusted rates. Thus, release rates of 50% in 5 hours, 50% in 20 hours, and 2.5% in 24 hours have been demonstrated. Drugs and vaccines have also been similarily microencapsulated. The advantage of the biodegradable microcapsules is the ability of the body to convert the injected polymer material to normal body metabolites (e.g., CO2 and H2O in the case of polylactic acid) after completion of its function.


Platelet retention by albuminated glass and polystyrene beads.

Ex vivo platelet retention by albuminated glass and polystyrene beads has been evaluated as a function of flow rate, bead surface area, blood exposure time and albumin treatment. The stability of the albumin coatings as well as scanning electron microscopy of the various surfaces before and after blood exposure has also been included. Results indicate that platelet retention is sensitive to changes in the above parameters and that albumin pretreatment of different substrates can decrease platelet retention. This decrease is substrate dependent in that platelet retention is different for the albuminated glass and polystyrene substrates. Chemical analysis of the substrate materials by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as bulk chemical analysis is also reported.


The adhesion of thin carbon films to metallic substrates.

As part of the development of carbon-coated prosthetic devices, the adhesion of thin carbon films to metallic substrates has been studied. The bond strength of carbon films about 5000 A thick on Ti-6A1-4V and stainless steel was measured in a pull test and found to be greater than 4700 psi. Auger electron spectroscopy showed a reactive film/substrate interface. The ultimate bond strength was found to be dependent on the substrate and the deposition parameters.


Construction of a double-stranded deoxyribonucleotide sequence of 45 base pairs designed to code for S-peptide 2-14 of bovine ribonuclease A.

An artificial DNA duplex, each strand consisting of 45 monomers, is constructed from chemically synthesized deoxyriboöligonucleotides. The resulting bihelical polymer may code for a modified S-peptide of Ribonuclease A. This is the first synthetic duplex designed to code for a eukaryotic message.


Specific binding of the first enzyme for histidine biosynthesis to the DNA of histidine operon.

Studies were done to examine direct binding of the first enzyme of the histidine biosynthetic pathway (phosphoribosyltransferase) to 32P-labeled phi80dhis DNA and competition of this binding by unlabeled homologous DNA and by various preparations of unlabeled heterologous DNA, including that from a defective phi80 bacteriophage carrying the histidine operon with a deletion of part of its operator region. Our findings show that phosphoribosyltransferase binds specifically to site in or near the regulatory region of the histidine operon. The stability of the complex formed by interaction of the enzyme with the DNA was markedly decreased by the substrates of the enzyme and was slightly increased by the allosteric inhibitor, histidine. These findings are consistent with previous data that indicate that phosphoribosyltransferase plays a role in regulating expression of the histidine operon.


In vitro synthesis of large peptide molecules using glucosylated single-stranded bacteriophage T4D DNA template.

Denatured Bacteriophage T4D DNA is able to stimulate aminoacid incorporation into TCA-precipitable material in an in vitro protein synthesis system according to base DNA sequences. Newly synthesized polypeptides remain associated with ribosomes and have a molecular weight in range of 15,000 to 45,000 Daltons.


A new method of DNA denaturation mapping.

Described is a new method for DNA denaturation mapping utilizing glyoxal (ethanedial) to stabilize the denatured regions. The extent of glyoxal reaction can be easily and sensitively measured using an assay based on the intercalation of ethidium into duplex DNA. Thus denturation maps can be produced in a controlled way under a wide variety of conditions.


The spatial configuration of ordered polynucleotide chains. II. The poly(rA) helix.

Approximate details of the spatial configuration of the ordered single-stranded poly(rA) molecule in dilute solution have been obtained in a combined theoretical analysis of base stacking and chain flexibility. Only those regularly repeating structures which fulfill the criterion of conformational flexibility (based upon all available experimental and theoretical evidence of preferred bond rotations) and which also exhibit the right-handed base stacking pattern observed in nmr investigations of poly(rA) are deemed suitable single-stranded helices. In addition, the helical geometry of the stacked structures is required to be consistent with the experimentally observed dimensions of both completely ordered and partially ordered poly(rA) chains. Only a single category of poly(rA) helices (very similar in all conformational details to the individual chains of the poly(rA) double-stranded X-ray structure) is thus obtained. Other conformationally feasible polynucleotide helices characterized simply by a parallel and overlapping base stacking arrangement are also discussed.


Partial purification and characterization of two cytoplasmic DNA polymerases from ungerminated wheat.

Two DNA polymerases have been purified from the 105,000 x g supernatant of ungerminated wheat. The purification stages included: high speed centrifugation, salt fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, Sephadex G-150 filtration and phosphocellulose chromatography. Several properties of the two enzyme (called A and B according to the order of elution from the phosphocellulose column) have been studied. Enzyme A has a sedimentation coefficient of about 7 S, utilizes activated DNA and synthetic polydeoxynucleotides as well as poly rA-dT12, while B has a sedimentation coefficient of about 6.2 and uses only activated DNA and synthetic polydeoxynucleotides as templates. Other parameters like KCl effect, MnCl2 effect, optimum pH, etc. Allow us to distinguish clearly between both DNA polymerases.


Studies on bacteriophage fd DNA. III. Nucleotide sequence preceding the RNA start-site on a promoter-containing fragment.

A short DNA fragment containing a strong promoter was isolated from phage fd replicative form DNA with the use of restriction endonucleases, and the sequence of 110 nucleotides in the region preceding the RNA start-site was determined. The sequence was : (5') CGGTCTGGTTCGCTTTGAGGCTCGAATTAAAACGCGATATTTGAAGTCTTTCGGGCTTCCTCTTAATCTTTTTGATCGAATTCGCTTTGCTTCTGACTATAATAGACAGG (3').


Alterations of DNA-dependent DNA polymerase activities in the immature quail oviduct in response to estrogen stimulation.

Administration of diethylstilbestrol, an estrogen analogue, to immature female quails causes an increase of extractable DNA-dependent DNA polymerase activities from the oviduct. At least two forms of polymerases have been determined, a high molecular weight polymerase (210,000 daltons) and a low molecular weight polymerase (34,000 daltons) calculated from column chromatography Sephadex G-200. During the primary hormone stimulation the amount of extractable enzyme reaches a maximum on the fifth day after daily injections of the hormone. In the period of withdrawal the activities decrease and reach values similar to those determined in the unstimulated oviducts. During secondary stimulation the polymerase activities increase again the first day; subsequently the values decrease drastically. The alterations in enzyme activity correlate with the DNA synthesis in the oviduct, as measured by analytical determination of the DNA content.


The terminal sequences of Bombyx mori 18S ribosomal RNA.

The 5' and 3' terminal T1 oligonucleotides of 32p-labelled B. mori 18S ribosomal RNA were isolated by a two dimensional electrophoretic (diagonal) technique. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that the 3' terminal fragment, (G)AUCAUUAOH, is identical to that previously obtained from the 18S rRNA of several other eukaryotic species. The sequence of the B. mori 5' terminal fragment is pUCCUCG.


Comparison of nucleotide sequences in HeLa cell mRNA and hnRNA.

Nearest neighbour analysis of nucleotides in vertebrate DNA has revealed a marked deficiency in the frequency of occurrence of the sequence CpGp. By use of the fingerprinting technique of Sanger et al. (1965) to characterise the nucleotide sequences of HeLa cell hnRNA after T1 RNAase digestion, we have shown that this deficiency also occurs in hnRNA and that it appears to be a general transcript of DNA. This is also true of the hnRNA that contains poly(A). Whilst a deficiency of CpGp occurs also in poly(A) containing mRNA from HeLa cells the deficiency is less marked than in the case of total hnRNA, or poly(A) containing hnRNA. Another difference between mRNA and hnRNA lies in the level of occurrence of the sequence UpApGp. These results are discussed with reference to the possible relationship of hnRNA to mRNA.


Physico-chemical and biological study of excision-repair of UV--irradiated phiX174 RF DNA in vitro.

We have studied excision-repair of UV-irradiated phiX174 RFI DNA in vitro with UV-specific endonuclease from Micrococcus luteus (UV-endo), DNA polymerase I from Escherichia coli and DNA ligase from phage T4 infected E. coli. Excision-repair was measured a) by physico-chemical methods, i.e. by determination of the conversion of RF I DNA into RF II DNA by UV-endo and by the subsequent conversion of RF II DNA ligase, b) by biological methods i. e. by measuring the ability of the reaction product to form phages upon incubation with spheroplasts from the appropriate strains of E. coli. Using the first method, we have shown, that more than 90% of the pyrimidine dimers can be repaired in vitro; with the latter method we have shown, that the molecules which are repaired as defined by method a) have regained full biological activity. Exonuclease III was found to be not essential for excision-repair in vitro and also did not stimulate repair. From this result we conclude that UV-endo generates 3'OH endgroups, in agreement with results obtained by Hamilton et al. (1974). The usefulness of the method presented in this paper with regard to the study of excision-repair is discussed.


Low-angle neutron scattering from chromatin subunit particles.

Monomer chromatin particles containing 140 base pairs of DNA and eight histone molecules have been studied by neutron scattering. From measurements in various H2O/D2O mixtures, radii of gyration and the average scattering density of the particle were determined. The radius of gyration under conditions when scattering from the DNA dominates is 50A, and when scattering from the protein dominates, 30A. Consequently the core of the particle is largely occupied by the histones while the outer shell consists of DNA together with some of the histone.


Synthesis of substituted 5-fluoro-5,6-dihydropyrimidines.

The reaction of 5-substituted uracils with fluorine in acetic acid and other solvents and the following treatment with different alcohols yielded the corresponding 5-fluoro-5,6-substituted-5,6-dihydropyrimidines. Thymine gave 5-fluoro-5-methyl-6-alkoxy-5,6-dihydropyrimidines. 5-Halogeno uracils and 5-nitrol uracil were converted into 5-fluoro-5-halogeno-6-hydroxy-5,6-dihydropyramidines and the 5-nitroanalogue, respectively. The structures of the compounds were confirmed by mass spectrometry.


A facile synthesis of 5-(perfluoroalkyl)-pyrimidines.

In the paper a synthetic two stage procedure is described for the preparation of perfluoroalkylated derivatives of uracil and its nucleosides. Using copper bronze a perfluoroalkyl-copper-complex is formed from perfluoralkyl iodides in polar aprotic solvents, such as DMSO, and under inert conditions. The reaction of this complex with uracil, uridine and 2-deoxyuridine leads to the corresponding 5-substituted perfluoralkyl derivatives. It is shown by mass spectra that the substitution always takes place at the 5-position of the pyrimidine. The chemical and physical properties of the formed compounds are described.


Nucleotides. VI. Syntheses and spectral properties of some deazaadenylyl-deazaadenosines (dinucleoside monophosphates with unusual CD-spectrum) and closely related dinucleoside monophosphates.

Nine dinucleoside phosphates containing 1-deaza-(1A) and 3-deazaadenosine (3A) were prepared. Hypochromicity and CD spectra of these dimers were determined. It was found that varying degrees of base-stacking are operative with these oligonucleotides and their CD spectra fall into three classes. The first class CD spectra which are more or less similar in profile to those of adenylyl-(3'-5')-adenosine includes the CD spectra of 1A2'p5'A, 1A3'p5A, 3A2'p5'A and 3A3'p5'A. The second class includes the CD spectra of A2'p5'1A and A3'p5'1A whose characteristic is that the positive Cotton band appears in the range of 280-310 nm. The third type CD spectra has the characteristics that the negative Cotton band appears in the longer wavelength region and th CD spectra are similar in profile to those of L-adenylyl-(3'-5')-L-adenosine which has the "left-handed helical" conformation. The CD spectra of A2'p5'3A, A3'p5'3A and 3A3'p5'A belong to this class. Another salient observation emerging from the CD-determination is that 3A3'p5'3A has the spectrum quite different from that of poly 3-deazaadenylic acid.


Isolation of mouse reticulocyte globin messenger ribonucleoprotein by affinity chromatography using oligo(T)-cellulose.

Mouse globin messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) has been isolated from reticulocyte polysomes by affinity chromatography to oligo(T)-cellulose, using a procedure modified from that of Lindberg and Sundquist. The messenger RNA and protein moieties fo the mRNP are indistinguishable from those isolated by less rapid techniques, such as zonal ultracentrifugation.


Effect of RNA synthesis on the binding of 3H-cortisol to nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles from rat liver carrying DNA-like RNA in vivo.

3H-cortisol was found to associate with rat liver nuclear 30S ribonucleoprotein particles carrying D-RNA in vivo. No interaction was detectable when RNA synthesis was inhibited by alpha-amanitine. The association appears to be specifically for RNP carrying RNA synthesized after the administration of cortisol to adrenalectomized rats. The DNA/protein/RNA ratio of rat liver nuclei was not effected by alpha-amanitine under our conditions. However, the drug caused a 5-10 fold decrease in nuclear uptake of cortisol. The results are discussed in relation to a supposed transfer of cortisol-receptor complexes from the chromatin template to the nascent RNA chains.


Mechanism of the mutagenic action of hydroxylamine. IX. The UV-induced cleavage of the N-O bond in N4-hydroxy-and N4-methoxycytidine and N6-methoxyadenosine.

The principal UV-induced (lambda = 2546nm) reaction of N4-hydroxy- and N4methoxycytidines and N6-methoxyadenosine in neutral aqueous solutions is cleavage of the exocyclic N-O bond with the respective formation of cytidine and adenosine. Quantum yields are 2.8x10(-3) and 2.2x10(-3) M/E for the first two compounds and 9.1x10(-3) M/E for N6-methoxyadenosine.


The preparation and properties of 4-thiouridine containing 2'-5' and 3'-5' dinucleoside monophosphates.

2'-5' and 3'-5' dinucleoside monophosphates containing 4-thiouridine were prepared by the thiolation of the cytosine containing compounds and purified by chromatography on a DEAE-Sephadex column. The chromatographic and optical properties of the isomers are compared.


Metrizamide density gradients of sea urchin chromatin: fractions rich and poor in nascent DNA.

A crude, lightly sheared chromatin preparation obtained from a mixture of [methyl-3H] thymidine pulse and [2-14C] thymidine long-labeled sea urchin embryos (swimming blastulae), was centrifuged in metrizamide to form an isopycnic gradient. The buoyant density of the 3H pulse labeled chromatin was slightly higher than that of the 14C labeled bulk chromatin. The 3H/14C ratios in the higher and lower density regions of the overlapping radioactivity peaks, indicated the presence of fractions rich and poor in nascent DNA in these two density regions. After 15 min chase, the difference disappeared, indicating that the chromatin fractions with nascent DNA have a half-life shorter than 15 min.


A modified procedure for the preparation of di- and triribonucleotides from pancreatic ribonuclease digest of RNA.

A novel procedure for the separation of oligonucleotides from pancreatic RNase-digest of RNA is described. The method involves a group-separation of uracil-containing and of cytosine-containing nucleotides on Dowex 50W. The obtained groups are further separated on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 by a linear gradient of NH4HCO3.


Spontaneous conversions to aldosterone.

Corticosterone (B) and a less polar form or derivative of 18-hydroxycorticosterone obtained by dissolving the mother-steroid in 0.01 N HCl, (L), were assayed as precursors to aldosterone in: 1) samples only containing buffer (C); 2) samples containing buffer and boiled adrenal tissue (phi); 3) samples containing surviving quartered rat adrenals (G). The yields of aldosterone from B were the following: 1.24% in sample (C); 0.21% in sample pHI; and 5.03% in sample (G). The yields of aldosterone from L were the following: 2.66 % in sample (C); 2.30% in sample (phi) ; and 2.47% in sample (G). A factor inhibiting the conversion of B, but not of L, to aldosterone was present in samples containing boiled tissue.


Incorporation of sialyl groups into a brain unidentified compound with lipophilic properties.

Lactosylceramide (I), galactosylceramide (II) and lipids extracted from rat brain with methanol (III) were assayed as AcNeu acceptors from CMP-[3H] AcNeu. Rat brain microsomes in 3.2% Triton CF54 or the 100 000 g supernatant of these microsomes were used as enzyme source. For quantification of reaction  products two methods were used: a) precipitation with a TCA-PTA reagent followed by extraction of the precipitate with C:M (2:1) ; b) extraction with C:M (2:1) and partition by Folch's method without salt; radioactivity was measured in the washed lower phase. No incorporation into II was detected. Using method a), incorporation into I and III was obtained. It was also found that 35% of the activity toward I and 65% of that toward III was solubilized. Using method b) of quantification, radioactivity was found in the lower phase when III was the acceptor. The product of sialylation of III was soluble in ether. Run in a column of Sephadex LH20 was eluted with chloroform in the same fraction in which a proteolipid fraction was eluted. The possibilities that the compound is either a proteolipid protein or a glycopeptide containing sialic acid are discussed.


Possible mechanism of photophosphorylation in Rhodopseudomonas viridis.

Photophosphorylation in the presence of (32P) inorganic phosphate (Pi) and ADP or Pi and (beta 32P) -ADP was carried out in membranes of Rhodopseudomonas viridis. When Pi and (32P)-ADP were used, 32Pi and (32P)-ATP were detected by ion exchange chromatography and the specific activity of the (beta 32P)-ADP recovered was substantially diminished. Moreover, when the (32P)-ATP was analyzed, the radioactivity was equally distributed between its beta and gamma position. When 32Pi and ADP were used instead, most of the radioactivity was found as (32P)-ATP although consistently (beta-32P)-ADP was detected. When the (32P)-ATP was analyzed, 90% of the label was found in its gamma phosphate and the remaining in its beta position. These results cannot be explained as a direct addition of phosphate to ADP as being the sole mechanism of photophosphorylation, and we propose that this pattern of labeling may be explained by a transphosphorylation reaction between one bound and one free ADP.


Transfer of glucose-1-phosphate from UDP-glucose to lipid acceptors in plants.

Particulated preparations from pea seedlings formed lipid-linked glucose from UDP (14C)-glucose and endogenous acceptors at 0 C. The product has been identified as a polyprenyl pyrophosphate-glucose based on the following results: a) the glucolipid is labile to mild acid hydrolysis; b) when chromatographed in alkaline solvents, glucose-1,2-cyclic phosphate is obtained; c) the pattern elution of a DEAE-cellulose column fits in well with a pyrophosphate derivative; d) exogenous polyprenyl phosphate stimulated the incorporation of glucose into lipids; e) when incubated with (beta-32P)-UDP-glucose, radioactivity is incorporated into lipids; f) the reaction is reversed by 5 mM UMP. It is suggested that the glucolipid is an intermediate in glycan biosynthesis.


Studies on cow liver porphobilinogen deaminase.

Further properties of cow liver deaminase are reported. Highly purified deaminase migrated as a single badn on starch and polycrylamide gels electrophoresis. Molecular weight determinations by means of gel filtration on calibrated columns of Sephadex G-100, Sepharose 4 B and B 10-Gel P-100, gave values of 40 000 +/- 4 000. Data obtained suggest that cow liver deaminase exists as a single polypeptide chain. Heating partially purified preparations of deminase resulted in an enhancement of activity. Added cosynthetase to these fractions increased the percentage of uroporphyrinogen III formed but also diminished total uroporphyrinogens synthesis. The action of several compounds added to the system was studied. Thiol reagents and divalent metals as Hg 2+ , Pb2+, (d2+ and Zn2+ inhibited deaminase, indicating the presence of thiol groups essential for activity, probably involved in the cyclization step. Certain concentrations of sodium, potassium and magnesium salts enhanced activity. Several chelators tested were without effect on the deminase. Some dicarboxylic acids and 2-methoxy-5-nitrotropone inhibited the enzyme.


Endocrine function of the testis in streptozotocin diabetic rats.

The effects of experimental induced diabetes on the production, metabolism and transport of androgens in the rat testis were examined. Streptozotocin diabetes diminishes the serum and testicular levels of testosterone and increases the enzymic activity that converts testosterone to 5 alpha reduced metabolites, in the seminiferous tubules. The concentration of the androgen binding protein (ABP) in caput epididymis was also reduced in diabetic animals. Although the changes observed could be attributed to differences in gonadotropin production, these phenomena appear to be related to insulin deficiency, since the testes from diabetic rats treated for two weeks with insulin were capable to restore the parameters studied at levels comparable to that observed in normal animals. These data indicate that the testicular function may be regulated by the action of insulin.


Tetrapyrroles as substrates and inhibitors of porphyrinogen carboxy - lyase from rat liver.

Porphyrinogen carboxy-lyase is an enzyme of the haem pathway which catalyses the stepwise decarboxylation of porphyrinogens with different number of carboxyl groups. This enzyme has a low substrate specificity since at least eighteen porphyrinogens were proved to be decarboxylated by the enzyme. In order to clarify this complex process of decarboxylation, studies were carried out using a purified enzyme preparation from rat liver. We studied the behavior of the enzyme in the presence of uroporphyrinogens I, II, III, and IV. The effect of different porphyrins, porphyrinogens and haemin on uroprophyrinogen decarboxylation was also studied to see the influence of nature and position of the side chains of pyrroles as well as the oxidation state in the tetrapyrrolic ring. The liver enzyme decarboxylates the four isomers or uroporphyrinogen. The relative accumulation of intermediates porphyrinogens formed was different from that of isomer III. Uroporphyrinogen IV is an efficient substrate for the porphyrinogen carboxyl-lyase since it was decarboxylated at higher rate than the normal uroporphyrinogen III. The elimination of a carboxyl group of an acetic acid residue located between an acetic and a propionic acid side chain appears to be easier than the one corresponding to an acetic between two propionics or between a methyl and a propionic acid residue. The presence of vicinal propionic side chains in the position 6 and 7 of the reduced porphyrin ring is an important, but not essential requirement for the binding of the enzyme to porphyrinogen. It was found that coproporphyrinogen III inhibits markedly uroporphyrinogen decarboxylation and that haemin also has inhibitory effect on this reaction. The results of the inhibitory studies suggest one or both of the propionic acid residues located in positions 2 and 4 as important factors in the tetrapyrrole enzyme binding. Some other evidence would indicate that possibly the propionic acid side chain at the position 4 may be particularly important. The reduced state of the tetrapyrrolic ring is essential for the decarboxylation process: thus would allow the side chains to adopt a steric disposition facilitating its binding to the enzyme.


The relationship between the red cell forms and surface area during thyroxine induced metamorphosis in Rana cyanophlyctis.

A study of the effect of exogenous thyroxine on the red cell form and surface area during Rana cyanophyctis metamorphosis is made. Haemoglobin presents changes in its affinity for O2 with age. A loss of 35 per cent in the mean surface is recorded on the eleventh day after thyroxine treatment. The early appearance of adult erythrocytes, compared with control is due to a change in the time scale of metamorphosis.


[Essential fatty acids and their transformations in the animals (author's transl)].

The research of essential fatty acids biochemistry in Argentina was initiated approximately twenty years ago. These investigations together with the outstanding findings obtained in other countries proved the existence of different types of reactions. The essential fatty acids, linolenic and alpha linolenic, are converted by desaturation and elongation reactions in higher homologs building families of fatty acids. These reactions are regulated by dietary components, hormones, temperature and products of reaction. Retroconversion reactions transform the higher homologs, especially of 22 carbons back again to lower homologs avoiding beta oxidation. They are incorporated in the lipids to build the lipoproteic membranes increasing their fluidity. Specific acids are converted to prostaglandins that function as specific hormones.


Histological lesion and testosterone biosynthesis impairment in testes from autoimmune rabbits.

The aim of the present report is to study comparatively the biosynthesis of testosterone in normal and autoimmune rabbit testes, with different degrees of histological lesion, by in vitro double tracer incubation experiments. For this purpose (3H)-pregnenolone and (14C)-progesterone were used as precursors in the presence of testicular homogenates from both groups of animals. In the autoimmune animals, an impairment in the biotransformation of the precursors leading to a lesser synthesis of testosterone was demonstrated. An accumulation of dehydroepiandrosterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone and androstenedione was frequently found. It was also shown that the metabolic impairment seemed to be produced at an earlier stage than the histological modifications. On the other hand, a correlation between the degree of testicular damage and the intensity of metabolic impairment could not be demonstrated conclusively.


A simple method for measuring 125I by liquid scintillation counting.

Scintillation solutions containing surface active substances, soluble in Toluene, could be used for efficient counting of 125I. The use of Triton X-114 in the proportion 30% v/v with a Toluene-2,5-Diphenyloxazole basic scintillation solution, provides a method for the measurement of liquid and solid samples with 50% efficiency and aqueous sample capacity up to 25%.


Clinical and catamnestical data of intracranial hypertension of uncertain origin in childhood.

In 9 cases out of 400 children with intracranial hypertension no obvious patomechanism was discovered, though in 6 cases inflammatory diseases were found in the case history. The etiology of this interesting type of intracranial hypertension is still unsolved, even the unity of the our 9 cases is unproven. All cases improved following the administered therapy. We can confirm that no relapse occured, the patients were observed regularly.


Growth of the skull in babies with intracranial hypertension.

There are unknown all laws which determine the growth of the skull in the case of a hydrocephalic syndrom. Many factors depend certainly on the pathomechanism of the proper hydrocephalus. There is individual difference. Particularly is very uneasy to explain the definitive type of the skull after the treatment of the hydrocephalic syndrom.


Ballooning posterior leaflet syndrome: syncope and sudden death.

Two of four patients with ballooning posterior leaflet syndrome died suddenly and the remaining two developed a near-fatal arrhythmia. These four patients demonstrate the potentially fatal nature of the ballooning posterior leaflet syndrome.


Effect of exercise alone on the weight of obese women.

Eleven obese women progressively increased periods of walking each day for one year or longer while no dietary restriction was imposed. No weight loss occurred until walking exceeded 30 minutes daily. Generally, weight loss paralleled length of time spent walking. When a certain amount of walking was maintained and weight stabilized at a lower level, more weight loss occurred when walking was increased. Weight loss was slow and proceeded at a rate much less than anticipated if no compensatory increase in food intake had occurred. A marked decrease in skinfold thickness over the upper part of the arm occurred, suggesting that loss of fat accounted for most, if not all, of the weight loss.


Amebic colitis mistaken for inflammatory bowel disease.

In ten patients, amebic colitis was mistakenly diagnosed as ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease of the colon because of the similarity of history, physical examination, and routine laboratory studies as well as findings on proctoscopic and barium enema examination. Multiple stool examinations failed to demonstrate ova or trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica. Routine examinations of stools for ova and parasites are inadequate and even a meticulous search for amebas in fresh stool, in scrapings from bowel ulcer, or in biopsy material may give negative results. The indirect hemagglutination test was shown to be a reliable diagnostic test in the evaluation of these cases. Because corticosteroid treatment of patients with amebic colitis may lead to undesirable complications the indirect hemagglutination test results should be obtained in patients in whom such diagnostic confusion is likely.


Remediable defects in Crohn disease: a prospective study of 63 patients.

To identify potentially remediable abnormalities in Crohn disease, 63 patients had evaluations performed for anemia, electrolyte deficiencies, defects of carbohydrate, fat, nitrogen, and vitamin B12 absorption, and jejunal bacterial overgrowth. Ninety percent of the group had two or more potentially correctable defects. More than 50% had anemia associated with iron or folate deficiency of vitamin B12 malabsorption; 33% had low levels of serum sodium, potassium, calcium, or magnesium either singly or in combination; 22% had lactose intolerance, fat malabsorption was persent in 31%; 75% had evidence of disturbed protein metabolism; and bacterial overgrowth of the upper part of the small bowel was identified in 30% of 47 patients.


An unusual outbreak of brucellosis.

A Brucella melitensis infection involved three persons. The infections were acquired by contact with a culture suspension that had been spilled during a laboratory exercise. One of the patients had only indirect contact with the spilled culture, probably contact with contaminated fomites. Another of the patients developed a clinical remission before treatment with antibiotics and relapsed after six months. This patient also had a positive bone marrow culture when blood cultures were negative. The type of antibody response persisting in the sera of convalescents was studied by treating the sera with mercaptoethanol and rabbit antihuman IgM sera. In the patient who relapsed, IgG antibody predominated, whereas IgM persisted for over two years in the patient without relapsing disease.


Single-dose metyrapone test: review of a four-year experience.

Subnormal plasma 11-deoxycortisol (compound S) responses to metyrapone were found in patients with adrenal insufficiency or with Cushing syndrome caused by adrenal tumors and in those receiving long-term glucocorticoid or diphenylhydantoin sodium therapy. High normal or exaggerated responses were seen in women receiving oral contraceptives, patients with Cushing syndrome caused by adrenal hyperplasia, and those with untreated hypothyroidism. Diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia, congestive failure, and obesity also were associated with exaggerated responses. Subnormal plasma S responses were observed in 15 patients who responded normally to a repeat test or to the standard metyrapone test. The abnormal response resulted from insufficient metyrapone, administration at the wrong time, or delay in obtaining the blood sample. The single-dose metyrapone test may be the procedure of choice in screening for adrenal insufficiency.


Serum folate and vitamin B12 levels in hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients.

We measured the levels of serum folate and vitamin B12 in newly discovered hypothyroid (n =56) and hyperthyroid (n =47) patients and in age- and sex-matched control subjects (n =103). Except for one patient with latent pernicious anemia, serum folate and vitamin B12 levels did not differ greatly in our patients and in our control subjects. Another patient was receiving monthly injections of cyanocobalamin for previously diagnosed pernicious anemia. We conclude that abnormalities of thyroid function per se did not alter serum folate or vitamin B12 levels in our patients.


Clinical presentation of infection in granulocytopenic patients.

Inability to accurately diagnose infection in granulocytopenic patients is a major cause for morbidity and mortality, and prompted this study of 344 infections (pharyngitis, skin infection, pneumonia, anorectal infection, and urinary tract infection) in a select group of cancer patients. Strikingly similar alterations in clinical presentation were found for all infections that developed in profoundly granulocytopenic patients. Physical findings of exudate, fluctuation, ulceration or fissure, local heat, swelling, and regional adenopathy were all less prevalent in the granulocytopenic patient, while fever was much more common. Only erythema and local pain or tenderness were present in practically all patients regardless of site of infection or level of granulocyte count. A better understanding of how granulocytopenia affects the presentation of infection should lead to earlier and more accurate diagnosis and potentially to more successful therapy.


Guanidine in type B botulism.

On two occasions, guanidine produced clinical and electrophysiological improvement in a 54-year-old man with botulism, type B. However, guanidine was ineffective for autonomic dysfunction. There were no intolerable side effects. Our experience showed that guanidine is also effective in botulism, type B, as adjunctive therapy.


A study of geniculate unit activity during cryogenic blockade of the primary visual cortex in the cat.

In cats under nembutal or chloralose anesthesia, unilateral temporary cryogenic blockades of the primary visual cortex were performed and their influence on unitary responses to restricted light spots was tested in the ipsilateral geniculate nucleus. No significant effect could thus be observed, at variance with previous positive results obtained by our group in structures like superior colliculus and pulvinar complex using the same experimental procedure.


Autoradiographic tracing of the cerebellar projections from the lateral reticular nucleus in the cat.

The autoradiographic technique was used for tracing the efferent fibers from the lateral reticular nucleus (LRN) in cats. The terminal fields lie within the granular layer of both the ipsi- and the contralateral cerebellar cortex. The projections are symmetrical, but more pronounced on the ipsilateral side. The main portion of LRN projects to lobuli I--V, to the rostral part of lobulus VI, the most caudal part of lobulus VII, to lobulus VIII, as well as to lobulus simplex, the medial parts of the lobulus ansiformis and to the lobulus paramedianus. Medio-laterally arranged bands of dense mossy fiber terminations, directed rostro-caudally, lend support to an organized projection of the lateral reticulocerebellar fibers and further evidence for a division of the cerebellar cortex into longitudinal zones (Voogd et al., 1967, 1969). Evidence for a cerebellar re-representation of the LRN spinal segmental arrangement is not obvious, although it can not be excluded. The fibers to the contralateral side seem to mainly follow the course of the olivo-cerebellar fibers, crossing at brain stem levels. Following the general criteria for the identification of a terminal field, few, if any, fibers can be traced to the cerebellar nuclei and to regions outside the cerebellum.


Cats raised in a one-directional world: effects on receptive fields in visual cortex and superior colliculus.

Cats were reared in a visual environment in which irregularly-shaped patches of luminescent paint moved constantly leftward. The distribution of preferred directions and orientations of cortical neurons in these cats was examined. Most cortical neurons encountered had leftward components in their preferred directions, and although no anisotropy of orientation was present in the rearing environment, most cortical neurons responded optimally to stimuli oriented at or near vertical. Variations in the strength of the induced bias of direction and orientation were noted among the different subclasses of cortical neurons. Preferred velocities of cortical neurons did not appear matched to the velocity of stimuli in the rearing environment. The ocular dominance distribution among cortical neurons in the unidirectional cats was skewed toward the contralateral eye relative to normal cats. The distribution of preferred directions in collicular neurons was largely unaltered by the rearing procedures employed. As in normal cats, units in the left colliculus more frequently responded best to rightward stimulus movement while those in the right colliculus preferred leftward movement. The ocular dominance distribution among collicular units was somewhat skewed toward the contralateral eye.


Pyramidal tract control over cutaneous and kinesthetic sensory transmission in the cat thalamus.

In the thalamic ventrobasal complex (VB) of the cat, effects of electrical stimulation of the pyramidal tract (PT) upon activities of 112 relay cells and 18 internuncial cells were examined. Single PT shocks to the cerebral peduncle elicited short-latency discharges in 31 relay cells (mean latency, 1.4 +/- 0.5 msec). When weak PT stimuli were employed as conditioning shocks, facilitatory effects upon responses to medial lemniscal (ML) stimulation were observed. It was revealed that VB relay cells were excited monosynaptically via collaterals of the fast PT fibers. Among 31 PT-excited cells 22 were fired by movements of joints (joint-movement units) and they made up 88% of all the joint-movement units. A majority of the relay cells responding to stimulation of hairs (hair units) did not receive excitatory effects from PT, except some special ones which represented long hairs at the distal or proximal end of the forearm-forepaw. In 44 relay cells repetitive PT shocks suppressed both evoked responses to ML stimulation and spontaneous discharges for 70--100 msec. Of these, 34 were hair units. The PT-induced inhibition in the hair units increased as their receptive fields shifted from the trunk towards the digits. Some intracellular recordings showed that the PT-induced inhibition was due to IPSPs generated disynaptically. Among 18 interneurons presumed to be inhibitory 10 responded with short latencies to PT stimulation. These were mostly the interneurons which presumably subserve the recurrent collateral inhibition in VB.


Ontogenesis of receptive field characteristics in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the rabbit.

The responses of rabbit dorsal lateral geniculate neurons to light or optic nerve shock were tested for 415 units in 43 rabbit pups 2--20 days of age. Units were driven by optic nerve shock at the youngest ages tested, but could not be driven by light until postnatal day six. Examples of each of the three prominent categories of receptive fields found in the adult were first observed at 8 days of age. Cells with receptive field properties not characteristic of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the adult were encountered until 17 days of age. The percentage of neurons with uniform and motion sensitive receptive fields approached adult levels soon after eye opening (11--12 days) but the percentage of cells with concentric receptive fields showed a steady increase throughout the neonatal period studied. The relevance of our data to the development of the visual response in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus and striate cortex is discussed.


Somatosensory evoked potentials and magnitude of perception.

With step indentations of the index finger tip in randomized order, via a mechanostimulator, the tactile receptors of human skin were adequately stimulated. Recording the EEG over the contralateral and ipsilateral cortex, the evoked potentials and their 95% confidence limits were analysed. Simultaneously the psychophysical magnitude estimations were analysed. 1. The perceptual estimations were linearly related to step amplitude. 2. The early components of the E.P. show no obvious correlation to stimulus amplitude. 3. The later components (with peak latencies of 120 msec or more) show a monotone, non-linear rising function with respect to stimulus amplitude. 4. The early waves of the evoked potentials up to about 120 msec are well localized over the contralateral postcentral hand area while the late components resemble the alpha rhythm in wave length and distribution over both hemispheres. The possible role of alpha-synchronisation in the later components is discussed.


[The basis of diagnostic and therapeutic decisions (author's transl)].

The recent logical and psychological results of the theories of probability, utility and decision are valid also for medicine. Their principles and methods are briefly described. The review deals with the special conditions for their application in medicine. Diagnostic methods are derived from the principles of exclusion and pattern recognition. Concerning treatment the importance of the so called therapeutic index as a quotient of possible benefit and injury is stressed. From these elements decision rules are developed for the usual clinical situations.


[Renal calcium excretion in primary hyperparathyroidism and idiopathic hypercalciuria (author's transl)].

The tubular reabsorption of calcium is increased in primary hyperparathyroidism as compared to control subjects and patients with resorptive hypercalciuria. The mean percentage of filtered calcium being reabsorbed by the renal tubules is decreased in primary hyperparathyroidism and hypercalciuria. This might point towards a maximal tubular transport capacity being exceeded in some cases of primary hyperparathyroidism whereas a relative hypoparathyroidism with decreased stimulation of tubular calcium reabsorption might be involved in hypercalciuria.


[DNA-dependent RNA polymerases in human leukocytes. II different specific activities of the polymerases A and B in acute and chronic leukemia and their prognostic relevance (author's transl)].

Specific Activities of DNA-dependent RNA polymerases A and B have been determined in nuclei from leukocytes in acute and chronic leukemia. Enzyme activities, dependent on exogenous DNA template, were determined in homogenates of nuclei from isolated mononuclear cells or from isolated granulocytes. Activities of polymerases A and B have been found significantly elevated in homogenates of nuclei from mononuclear cells in acute myelocytic leukemia, while they were found subnormal in corresponding cell fractions from chronic myelocytic leukemia and chronic lymphatic leukemia. During cytostatic treatment polymerase activities were approaching normal values. The prognostic relevance of these data for the course of human leukemia is discussed.


[Vitamin B6-deficiency and -substitution in chronic uremia (author's transl)].

In patients with chronic renal failure on potatoe-egg-diet (0.4 g protein/kg body weight) an alimentary vitamin B6-deficiency occurs, which can be overcome by 20 mg vitamin B6/day. Chronic hemodialysis causes a vitamin B6 loss which amounts to a quantity similar to the daily urinary excretion in normal persons. No hints for an inhibition of the synthesis of pyridoxal phosphate could be found.


[The effect of natural and synthetic secretin on insulin secretion (author's transl)].

The effect of natural secretin (G.I.H.) and synthetic secretin (Wünsch) on the secretion of insulin was investigated. Natural as well as synthetic secretin causes a short uniphasic release of insulin without influence on the concentration of glucose in the serum. Since the insulin releasing effect on synthetic secretin was demonstrated, it is clear, that the release of insulin by preparations of natural secretin mentioned in medical literature is not due to contamination by other peptides.


[Spurious thrombocytopenia caused by granulocyte platelet rosettes (platelet satellitism) (author's transl)].

Extraordinary platelet adherence to polymorphonuclear leukocytes was seen in EDTA anticoagulated blood smears of two patients. From the same blood samples platelets were greatly reduced in number. Platelet satellitism (granulocyte platelet rosettes) is a rare phenomenon in vitro, only seen in EDTA anticoagulated blood, and the platelets surrounded polymorphonuclear leukocytes only. Phagocytosis of platelets was also observed. The cause of platelet satellitism is unknown. Capillary blood should be investigated in order to prevent a false thrombocytopenia.


[Differentiation of cytoplasmatic, mitochondrial and lysosomal enzymes by fractional extraction of rat liver].

Enzymes of extramitochondrial, mitochondrial and lysosomal origin were differentiated by the method of fractional tissue extraction from rat liver. It could be confirmed that soluble enzymes of the extramitochondrial (cytoplasmatic) compartment (glycerine aldehydphosphate-dehydrogenase, argininosuccinate lyase) and soluble enzymes of the mitochondrial matrix can be differentiated easily according to their different intracellular localisation. Additionally, our results emphasize that soluble enzymes of both compartements and marker-enzymes of the lysosomal cell space which are known to be structurally-bound, can be differentiated too. However, the method failed to establish significant differences between enzymes located in the submitochondrial compartment (adenylatekinase, monaminooxidase and succinic-dehydrogenase) and lysosomal enzymes (cathepsin-D and N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase).


[The red blood cell aggregation in men with coronary risk factors].

1. The in vitro test for red blood cell aggregation has been improved, the coefficient of variation was decreased to 14.2%. 2. By the improved method the earlier findings were confirmed with high statistical significance that heavy smokers have a significantly higher red blood cell aggregation value in comparison with nonsmokers. 3. It could be shown that other coronary risk factors, especially hypercholesterolaemia, increase the aggregation value too. 4. The aggregation of red blood cells increases in the presence of several coronary risk factors in the same patient to higher values than expected from the addition of the aggregations caused by single risk factors.


[Community psychiatry. Definition and various types].

In recent years, community mental health programs have been developed throughout the world. Basic training in clinical psychiatry is considered the best background for community work, if motivation and training are adequate to transfer basic goals from the individual or the family to a population group. At present there are many concepts in the field, but no uniformity in terminology, and this results in different uses of such concepts in particular aspects of therapy, practice or research. Considered within the field of public health, community psychiatry has, as its main goals, primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.


[Semiology and clinical aspects of gerontopsychiatric dementia].

The need for a multidisciplinary study of the psychiatrical diseases of the elderly is postulated. That is: physical, psychiatrical, neuropsychological, psychological and social. The use of an adequate semiological study, including neuropsychological and neurological aspects not only leads to the diagnosis of dementia but also allows the physician to determine which nervous and mental functions are not disintegrated and which may be of use in establishing human relations and autonomous independent activity in the elderly patient. Ten patients over 60 years of age were chosen from three different institutions. Each one received a complete standardized gerontopsychiatrical clinical study. All activities, including creative ones were put under observation in order to evaluate just how much elderly patients use the best of their possibilities. Even in the most adequate institutions and with patients who were not deeply incapacitated physically and mentally it was found that their activities and interpersonal relationship were limitated and reduced. The conclusion is that these findings may be explained by the physical diseases, the frequent psychotic and depressive symptoms plus the isolation of the institution within the community.


[Childhood psychoses. Classification and clinical picture].

The classification of childhood psychoses formulated by the "Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry" (G.A.P.) is reviewed. Infantile psychoses are divided into three groups: A) Psychoses in infancy and early childhood. B) Psychoses in late childhood. C) Psychoses in the adolescence. The second part of this paper describes the different clinical pictures of infantile psychoses, including case histories.


[Psychodynamic theory of childhood psychoses].

A review of the different concepts of childhood psychoses is made. Margaret Mahler's observations of normal and psychotic children concerning their relationship with their mothers during their first years of life are reviewed. Through the discussion of the concepts that Mahler has reached, understanding the dynamics of growth and their alterations, we obtain a clear understanding of the defects in psychological functions observed in the psychoses, including early infantile autism (Kanner) and symbiotic psychosis (Mahler). A correlation of events occurring at different levels of growth: object relations, cognitive growth, psychosexual development, growth of anxiety, etc., is attempted.


[Psychoanalytical understanding of childhood psychoses].

This short paper, placed in the symposium on child psychiatry within the Congress, is concerned with the psychoanalytic points of view which support the theory of treatment of children with autistic phenomena. After a brief description of the clinical of an autistic three-year boy with mutism, a theoretical point of view is elaborated through a concise revision of the contributions of various classical authors; focusing mainly on M. Mahler and the symbiotic and separation-individuation processes, M. Klein and the schizo-paranoid mechanisms, and finally the technique of treatment based on the transference-countertransference phenomena in the analytic situation.


[Clinical diagnosis of childhood psychoses].

I have tried to summarize the different points of view in regard to clinical diagnosis of child psychosis. The main purpose is to reach a more universal agreement to base a diagnosis that allows us not only to facilitate an early diagnosis but also its treatment and above all better bases for research. Infantile psychosis varies at different levels of growth, according to age, however it is considered that psychosis in children is basically a disturbance in ego-functions. This is clearly evident in the thinking process, in affect, perception, motility, language, individualization, disturbance of object relations, and lost of contact with reality. The basic points for the diagnosis of child psychosis proposed by the "Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry" and initially studied by the English working party headed by Goldberg and col. are discussed: disturbances of their interpersonal relationships, indifference or preoccupation with inanimate objects, lack or failure in speech development, alteration in sensorial perception, bizarre or stereotyped behavior, resistance to change routines or change of environment, poor personal identification, crises of anger or panic which are not predictable and finally an uneven intellectual development.


[Childhood psychoses and the family].

This paper reviews 328 child psychiatric case histories over a period of 3 years; 19 were classified as psychoses. Five cases presented frank clinical symptomatology and 14 were detected by psychological testing. Individual and family therapy were used. The most important findings were the following: 1. Immature parents, with a dominant mother figure and a weak father figure. 2. Lack of a good father-child relationship. 3. Poor communication among family members. 4. Parents' rejection of their responsability in managing the psychotic child.


[Treatment and prognosis of childhood psychoses].

Over the years, a wide range of treatment efforts have been made with these patients in a variety of clinical settings. Review of the data indicates that, in general, a probing, interpretative approach has led to increased anxiety, aggravation of symptoms and deterioration of adaptation. A practical, forthright, supportive approach with parents along with ego-supportive therapy for the patient that includes special education and appropriate recreational and work activities has been most effective. In those cases in which withdrawal into mutism and only sensuous play has occured by the age of 5 years response to treatment has been minimal. Periodic separation from the family is often indicated for both, patient and family.


[Epidemiological study of psychiatric disorders under a social security system (Institute of Social Security and Services for Government Workers)].

The present study, fourth in the national literature about general psychiatric epidemiology, refers the experience of a social security system through the study of a sample obtained in a year of work of an important neurologic and psychiatric clinic of this system, studying relevant characteristics of 1 054 subjects in a total 7 102 acute and chronic psychiatric patients, showing a prevalence of 180 per 100 000 habitants. We found 36 different psychiatric disorders, most of them psychoneurotic in ambulatory patients and psychotic forms in hospitalized. The last ones made the 0.022% of the total sample. The biggest frecuency is made by young adults with moderate predominance of females than males. The sample is formed near the 10% by patients of 26 states of Mexican Republic. The period of major frecuency are the months of vacations of government workers, most of them of Public Education Secretary (Secretaría de Educación Pública). We comment some epidemiological articles of Mexican medical literature concerning psychiatric disorders and some socioeconomic and cultural characteristics of mental pathology in our country.


[Sex chromatin in a population of patients of 2 psychiatric hospitals].

The purposes of the present study were, first, to determine the proportion of hospitalized psychiatric patients with sex chromatin aberrations and, second, to map the frequency of cells containing Barr bodies as a function of the age of patient. Of the 531 male patients studied, 0.7 per cent contained one or more Barr bodies; 0.5 per cent of the 587 female patients analyzed gave evidence of sex chromatin anomalies. No correlation could be demonstrated between the frequency of cells with Barr bodies and the age of the patients.


[Evaluation of penfluridol in hospitalized chronic psychotic patients].

Thirty female patients were studied while taking penfluridol, continuous neuroleptic antipsychotic medication given orally. These patients were hospitalized making observation and control adequate in 73.3% of the cases. Colateral effects that we observed were minimum and variable in nearly all the patients, and many of these effects are of little significance as they are observed with other neuroleptics.


[Photic epilepsy].

Fourteen cases of patients with photoconvulsive response during intermitent luminous stimulation (eleven women and three men) are reviewed. The frequency of the photoconvulsive response was higher between 10 and 20 years of age (eleven cases). Most of the patients (twelve) presented some form of epilepsy and only two had psychomotor retardation without epilepsy. Comment is made on differences published by other authors and possible explanations of such differences are proposed.


[Psychopharmological research with EMD 16-923 in patients with different degrees of anxiety].

Sixty patients, ages 15 to 59, mostly neurotics, were used to study the effect of mepiprazol on the anxiety syndrome. The drug was compared to oxacepam. The results with mepiprazol were considered acceptable with no important collateral effects.


[Various norms for measuring depression].

Through comparison of five groups of normals, psychiatric and non-psychiatric patients, we considered the usefulness of the Self-Rating Depression Scale of W. W. K. Zung in our country, and need for assessing depression. Our results allow discrimination of depression as a symptom, syndrome and other depressive disturbance, and shows indices for various diagnostic categories.


[Responsible parenthood and attitude to procreation].

A study of what responsible parenthood means for 137 university female students and 142 working class women was made. Using a modification of the semantic differential measuring scale, 10 questions were made to explore if responsible parenthood means personal development of children or family planning. Through factor analysis it was seen that for both groups the concept basically means to understand children better and to give them a better education. A minor percentage of university women answered about family planning. This work was due to help the Mexican Government Education Campaign to decrease birth rate in the country. Ways to improve this campaign are suggested taking as a base the results of this study.


[Drug therapy profile of viloxazine. Open clinical trial with 34 patients].

In an open study with viloxazine in 34 patients we obtained nine excellent results, twelve improvements, eight patients worsened, and five maintained a status quo. The most frequent side effects were gastrointestinal, in particular nausea and vomiting. There was no drug interference with neuroleptics and anxiolitics used simultaneously in the treatment of the patients studied. From this study we can ascertain the existence of three therapeutic dimensions of viloxazine: anxiolytic, energizing, and antidepressive. Doses of 50 to 150 mg., of 150 to 250 or 300 mg., and up to dosages of 400 mg. per diem respectively produce and in that order, the above-mentioned effects.


[Towards effective treatment in child psychiatry].

The author suggests that psychoanalytic theory, developmental theories and family dynamics theories are insufficient to allow for a comprehensive treatment of children. Adding elements of Systems Theory, he proposes that in every case, individual, familial and ecological factors be devised to solve problems in each area. He illustrates the approach with the clinical report of a successfully treated case of vitiligo.


[Paroxysmal epileptic headache].

Epileptic paroxystic headache consists of an episode of pain that starts suddenly, in a varying area that is usually the same for the same patient, of medium to high intensity, lasting from a few seconds to minutes and, rarely, hours; the episode subsides spontaneously and tends to recur. This was found in 32 of 125 patients studied by the author. Average age of onset was 11 years, with 80% of cases presenting it in the first or second decade of life. Once diagnosed, the condition was present a maximum of 41 years and a minimum of one month, with an average of six years. Headache lasted from 30 seconds to 4 hours; in 62% of cases it was 15 minutes or less. Pain was severe in 24 patients and moderate in 8. Epileptic paroxystic headache can be the only epileptic symptom (31%) or be associated with other ictal manifestations, independently (56.2%) or simultaneously (12.5%). EEG studies showed focalization in temporal lobe (56%), in the midbrain (12.5%) or in other areas. Treatment with hydantoine, primidone and methylsuccimide gave excellent results. Differential diagnosis with other paroxystic headaches is noted.