[Secondary drowning (author's transl)].

Clinical features, pathophysiology, pathology and therapy of secondary drowning are described. This is a little-known complication of drowning accidents which needs intensive therapy, since it is often lethal.


[Unilateral agenesis of the common femoral vein in a young boy with Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome (author's transl)].

A boy aged 4 years and 3 months with Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome showed a vein the thickness of a finger running suprapubicly. When he was standing it was filled tightly. Angiography showed agenesis of the right common femoral vein. Reflux from the right leg passed through this vein to the left common femoral vein. On the basis of the literature the place of these vascular dysplasias in the Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome is discussed. Diagnosis and treatment of such venous malformations are mentioned.


[Renal sarcoma in neonates (author's transl)].

Sarcoma of the kidney is rare. Report on a neonate aged 9 days with highly differentiated leiomyosarcoma of the right kidney. Diagnosis certain only histologically. nephroblastoma, renal carcinoma, neuroblastoma, thrombosis of renal vein, hydronephrosis or cystic kidneys.


[Cardiac arrhythmias in vector cardiograms in the "Leopard" syndrome (author's transl)].

Disturbances of Cardial conduction in the Leopard syndrome are described. In this syndrome disturbances of cardial conduction are better demonstrated and diagnosed in the VCG than in the ECG.


[Congenital chylous ascites. Case reports and review of 51 recorded cases (author's transl)].

A case of a nearly 3-year old girl with chylous ascites in neonatal period is reported. Repeated paracentesis were performed and the child was treated with a low fat diet. After time of 8 weeks ascites did not recur. It is purposed, that there was an abdominal lymphdysplasia. The 51 cases in the reviewed literature are analyzed in terms of symptoms, treatment, etiology and prognosis. It is suggested, that congenital chylous ascites should be treated conservative at first.


[Persisting ductus arteriosus botalli in a new-born with the hyaline membrane syndrome (author's transl)].

The case of a female premature (1410 g/46 cm) with severe respiratory distress syndrome is presented, which after initial improvement of the hyaline membrane disease developed the typical clinical findings of a persistent ductus arteriosus with severe congestive heart failure. As pharmacologic treatment failed to improve the condition, after a heart catheterisation the surgical ligation of the persistent ductus was necessary. The frequence of occurence, the symptomatology and the indication for surgical treatment of the persistent ductus arteriosus following respiratory distress syndrome in the premature infant are discussed.


[Unusual combination of absence of the left pulmonary artery and homolateral malformation of the kidney and ureter (author's transl)].

In an one year old asymptomatic girl with a slight levoposition of the heart on chest X-ray and mild right ventricular hypertrophy in the ECG further cardiological investigation disclosed several anomalies: Absence of the left pulmonary artery, collateral vessels to the left lung both from the abdominal aorta and from a left brachiocephalic trunc, hypoplasia of the left lung, right sided aortic arch. There was no malformation of the heart itself. This is supposed to be the first reported case, in which the aforementioned anomalies were associated with hypoplasia and hydronephrosis of the left kidney and stenosis of the ostium on the left ureter. Considering the normal and pathologic development of the human embryo it may be assumed, that there is no immediate relationship between the malformation of the left lung and its vessels on one hand and the defects of the left kidney and ureter on the other hand. The hypothesis is put forward, that the damage of the embryo occurred limited to one side during the period of teratogenetic determination common to both of the organ systems involved.


[Gallstones in childhood-special problems in diagnosis (author's transl)].

Several pediatric textbooks mention hemolytic anemia as the most frequent cause of cholelithiasis. However cholesterol containing concrements seem to be more frequent. In lack of jaundice the diagnosis of gallstones is difficult, especially, when appearing as uncharacteristic abdominal pain. In a case of a ten year old girl the basic diagnosis of cholelithiasis lasted two years. Wrong diagnoses (appendicitis, duodenal ulcer) associated diseases (carditis, complete heart block) and minor troubles (menarche, oxyuriasis, constipation) were responsible for this long period. Oral cholecystography brought on definitive diagnosis. Liberal indication of this investigation is recommended, especially in corpulent girls.


[Spheroplasts of Torulopsis candida yeasts and their oxidizing activity].

The paper describes the conditions in which the spheroplasts of the yeast Torulopsis candida IBFM-Y-127 with a high respiration rate can be isolated. The preliminary incubation of the cells with SH-reagents has to be carried out in a buffer without an osmotic stabilizer, and the incubation in a medium containing 0.6 M KCL, 0.1 M MgSO4, 0.1 MKH2PO4, pH 5.2. In these conditions the cells are incubated with the enzyme from Helix pomatia during 15 to 20 minutes, and the yield of the spheroplasts is 95 to 100 per cent. The spheroplasts oxidize various substrates (glucose, acetate, ethanol) at the same, or even higher, rate as the intact cells.


Some ecological correlates of perinatal mortality in a metropolis.

In a study of the geographical distribution of 22 population characteristics in metropolitan Sydney, perinatla mortality was found to coincide with adverse socioeconomic conditions, juvenile and adult crime, child neglect and high birth rate. The findings suggested that in areas with specific population characteristics there is a need for long-term and short-term preventive measures, both social and medical.


[Comparative study of the ultrastructural characteristics of Torulopsis candida yeasts grown on glucose and hexadecane].

Electron-microscopic examination of the ultrastructure of Torulopsis candida cells grown on glucose and hexadecane revealed a well-developed network of canals in the cell wall of yeasts grown on hexadecane. These canals appeared in the non-adapted cells at the initial hours of the cultivation and completed their formation at the end of the logarithmic phase. The investigation by the freeze-etching showed the exocytosis of "secretory granules" to take place at the periplasma of the cells, and the morphological relationship of the granules to the canals in the cell wall.


[NMR spin-echo study of the lyophilized biomass of Candida utilis yeasts at different growth stages].

Characteristics of the mobile water fraction isolated from some intracellular structures of freeze-dried cells of Candida utilis were studied as a function of the growth phase by the NMR spin-echo method. Part of the mobile water fraction in the log phase decreases down to ten percent of the biomass weight as compared with 2,5-4% in the stationary phase and in the beginning of the lag phases. Mobility of this water is invariable. A considerable decrease of the mobile water fraction is observed in the post-stationary phase too. A decrease of the mobile water fraction correlates with a decrease of the durability of C. utilis cells and is connected probably with some defects in the membrane structure of the cells and their incomplete development in the log phase of the growth.


Accessibility of the minor groove of DNA in chromatin to the binding of antibiotics netropsin and distamycin A.

The interaction of the antibiotics distamycin A, distamycin analogue and netropsin with chromatin of calf thymus has been studied by circular dichroism measurements and by gel filtration. The minor groove of DNA in chromatin is accessible by 83-89% to the binding of these antibiotics as compared with that of free DNA. The present results combined with our data on the methylation of chromatin with dimethylsulphate [3] strongly suggest that the minor groove of DNA in chromatin is not occupied by chromatin proteins.


[Allergentesting in children with asthma bronchiale (author's transl)].

The results of altogether 938 intradermal tests and 298 bronchial challenges with 14 allergens are presented. 67 non selected asthmatic children from 5 1/2 to 14 years of age were studied in symptom free period: 1.298 intradermal tests( 31.8% of all tests) were positive. Of these positive reactions 61.2% were positive to grasses; 55.2% to rye; 50.7% to wheat; 44.7% to house-dust, 40.3% to cat; 37.3% to horse; 19.4% to molds and 24.4% to feathers.--2. We performed the bronchial inhalation tests by the allergens, which had positive reactions in the skin (n = 298). 193 of these bronchial inhalation tests were negative (no obstruction of the bronchies), this is 2/3 of all intradermal tests with positive reactions.--3. 105 of the 298 bronchial inhalation tests were positive, that means an increased total lung resistance during inhalation of the allergen. These 105 positive reactions of the bronchies were shown in only 44 of the 67 children: in 23 children with positive intradermal reactions it was not possible to provoke a bronchus obstruction after inhalation of the corresponding allergens. Of the 44 children with bronchusobstruction during allergen inhalation 55% had a reaction to grasses; 43.2% to rye; 31.8% to horse; 31.8% to cat; 29.5% to wheat; 11.4% to house-dust and 6.8% to molds. No child reacted by bronchus-obstruction after inhalation of feathers.--4.13 of the 67 children showed a severe hyperirritability of the bronchies after inhalation of histamin: threshold below 1000 y/ml of histamin. In 9 children, the threshold for histamin was not diminished in comparison to healthy children.--The method fo the so-called controlled bronchial inhalation test is described and compared  to other methods. We did not observe any incidents. In 8 of 105 cases the provoked bronchus obstruction was not completely reversible after inhalation of a bronchodilator, but now severe clinical symptoms of bronchial obstruction remained evident. We observed "late" reaction in the following 8-24 hrs after inhalation of house-dust in more than 50% of the positive tests, after inhalation of the other allergens only in 2%. By bronchial inhalation tests we select of all allergens with a positive reaction in the skin only those, which provoke a bronchus obstruction. The hyposensitization is performed by these selected allergens only.


[Derepression of cellulase synthesis in Trichoderma lignorum during limitation of consumption of readily available carbon sources].

The synthesis of Cx-cellulase was de-repressed in Trichoderma lignorum growing on various easily metabolized carbon sources when their assimilation was limited. A reverse correlation has been established between the growth rate and the rate of the enzyme synthesis in the fungus.


Autoimmune neutropenia.

Serologic tests for antineutrophil antibodies were used to determine if autoantibodies cause neutropenia. The serums of five patients with idiopathic neutropeniaopsonized normal neutrophils, causing them to be ingested by rabbit macrophages or else to activate glucose oxidation rates of other normal neutrophils by at least twice the rate of controls. Some of the serums inhibited the ability of normal neutrophils to ingest by 62 to 56 per cent. At splenectomy in two of the patients splenic macrophages contained ingested neutrophils, suggesting that the opsonic activity of the serum demonstrated in vitro had pathogenetic importance. In two adults, and possibly in an infant, corticosteroids raised the neutrophil count, although antibody activity remained in the serum of the adults. The findings indicate that autoantibodies are the basis of some cases of idiopathic neutropenia, and that they act by promoting the clearance of neutrophils by mononuclear phagocytes.


Some physico-chemical properties of phallolysin obtained from Amanita phalloides.

The molecular weight of phallolysin, the toxic haemolysin from Amanita phalloides, was established by gel chromatography to be 30000 daltons. The isoelectric point (I.P.) was found in Ampholine pH 7-10 at 8.34. In Ampholine pH 7-9 the gel chromatographically homogeneous phallolysin was separated into phallolysin A (I.P. 8.06) and phallolysin B (I.P. 7.49). Sodium dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated a molecular weight of 33000 daltons for phallolysin A. Phallolysin was thermo- and acid-labile. It was relatively stable in alkaline solutions. 8 M urea as well as 0.1% sodium dodecylsulphate caused irreversible denaturation. On the other hand, phallolysin showed resistance to diverse proteases (pepsin, trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, subtilisin, pronase E, bromelin, proteinase K) and also alpha-amylase and pancreatin. Treatment with proteinase K did not change the molecular weight and the isoelectric points of phallolysin. Resistance to proteases was not due to inhibition of proteases by phallolysin.


New potential cytotoxic and antitumor substances I. In vitro effect of bikaverin and its derivatives on cells of certain tumors.

Bikaverin and its derivatives have been found to affect precursor utilization of nucleic acid and protein synthesis in the cells of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC). Mainly the uridine incorporation into EAC cells was inhibited. This is in agreement with the known concept that anthraquinones, to which bikaverin may also be assigned, intervene into RNA synthesis. The substances followed exerted a cytotoxic effect on in vitro proliferating cells of the three studied tumors. The ED50 values found for cells of these tumors were: EAC 0.5 mug/ml; leukemia L 5178 1.4 mug/ml; sarcoma 37 4.2 mug/ml.


Neurologic manifestations of intravascular coagulation in patients with cancer. A clinicopathologic analysis of 12 cases.

Among 1,459 autopsied patients with cancer, 12 had multifocal infarcts of the brain that appeared to be caused by intravascular coagulation. Most of these patients were women with leukemia or lymphoma, and all had a clinical course in which neurologic signs and symptoms were prominent. All had evidence of generalized brain disease (delirium and stupor or coma), and several also had focal brain disease (focal seizures, hemiparesis). All patients had laboratory evidence of coagulation abnormalities, although these were often not severe when neurologic symptoms began. Pathologically, there were multifocal hemorrhagic or ischemic infarcts in the distribution of several cerebral vessels, without a systemic source for cerebral emboli. Fibrin thrombi were identified in cerebral vessels and in vessels of several other organs. The clinical findings fit the pathologic picture, and in most instances the correct diagnosis might have been made earlier had it been considered.


The motor unit profile in two experimental chronic myopathies.

The motor unit profile of the rat soleus muscle has been studied in two types of experimentally induced chronic myopathy. Tetrabenazine administered for 6 weeks resulted in a moderate myopathy characterized by necrosis, regeneration, and hypertrophy of muscle fibers. This model was associated with a normal motor unit count. The twitch tension of the muscle remained normal, presumably because of hypertrophy of some of the soleus muscle fibers; however, tetanic tension was reduced. The twitch time to peak became very prolonged. Another myopathy, characterized only by regenerating muscle fibers, was produced 6 weeks after abdominal aortic ligation. In this model, the soleus motor unit count was also normal. Twitch and tetanic tensions were reduced, and the contraction time was prolonged. The findings are discussed in relation to the motor unit profile reported in human neuromuscular diseases.


Development of above normal language and intelligence 21 years after left hemispherectomy.

Neuropsychologic follow-up studies of a 5 1/2-year-old boy who had left hemispherectomy for seizures showed that he had developed superior language and intellectual abilities. These findings contrast with recent reports indicating that the plasticity of the nervous system may have been overrated and contradict reports of restricted development of language functions after left and of nonlanguage functions after right hemispherectomy for perinatal lateralized brain lesions. Following removal of the left hemisphere, including "the classical language zones," the right hemisphere and other intact residual structures may provide the necessary substrata for the development of above normal adult language and intellectual capacities.


Location of human pyramidal tract in the internal capsule: anatomic evidence.

A patient with a small infarct located posteriorly in the internal capsule had 9 years of weakness of the contralateral face, arm, and leg. At necropsy, it was found that degeneration of the corticospinal tract was almost complete in the midbrain and medullary pyramid. This case supports the increasing evidence that the human pyramidal tract is located in the third quarter of the posterior limb of the internal capsule.


A comparative study of myelin fractions from metachromatic and globoid leukodystrophies.

Myelin was isolated post mortem from brains of patients with metachromatic and globoid forms of leukodystrophy. In the leukodystrophies, isolates were obtained from central white matter and subcortical "U" fiber areas. Myelin also was obtained from age-matched human controls, and the method yielded light and heavy myelin fractions. In both disorders, the pathologic process affected the heavy isolates to a relatively greater degree. Comparative chemical analyses were made of the myelin isolates, and we concluded that a similar pathogenesis--the production of an unstable membrane in later stages of myelin formation--affects both disorders.


Nationwide survey of multiple sclerosis in Japan. Clinical analysis of 1,084 cases.

Between October 1972 and October 1973, the first nationwide survey of the multiple sclerosis group of diseases in Japan was performed by the Multiple Sclerosis Research Committee of Japan, supported by the Japan Ministry of Health and Welfare. Reports on 1,084 patients with the multiple sclerosis group were collected: 509 patients with multiple sclerosis, 82 with Devic's disease, 357 with "multiple sclerosis possible," and 136 with "other or unclassified demyelinating diseases." The natural history in the present nationwide series of multiple sclerosis patients showed considerable similarity to that of patients in Western countries, suggesting that multiple sclerosis in Japan is essentially the same as that in the Western countries. However, the previously reported special characteristics of Japanese multiple sclerosis patients, namely, a higher rate of visual impairment at onset, a higher rate of optic nerve involvement during the course of illness, and a higher rate of Devic's disease, were reconfirmed in the present series.


Effect of hypertonic solutions on the blood-brain barrier.

The effect of hypertonic urea and saline on the blood-brain barrier of the dog was quantitatively measured by the indicator diffusion technique. Urea appeared to stimulate glucose transport into the brain, while the diffusionary loss of fructose was enhanced. Hypertonic saline affected the diffusionary loss of the test sugars in a similar manner, but had no effect on glucose transport. The blood-brain barrier alterations were not reversible, but did decrease somewhat with time.


Linear nevus sebaceous syndrome associated with porencephaly and nonfunctioning major cerebral venous sinuses.

An infant with the linear nevus sebaceous syndrome also had new findings of porencephaly and nonfunctioning major cerebral venous sinuses. This infant is the first described with the syndrome to undergo angiographic study. Similar nonfunctioning major cerebral venous sinuses are seen in the Sturge-Weber syndrome. A leptomeningeal angioma recently was reported in a newborn with the linear nevus sebaceous syndrome. The central nervous system disturbances in this syndrome might be secondary to developmental vascular anomalies. Therefore, the linear nevus sebaceous syndrome exhibits important similarities to the Sturge-Weber variety of neurocutaneous syndrome.


Normalization of brain serotonin by L-tryptophan in levodopa-treated rats.

To test possible biochemical mechanisms by which L-tryptophan may reverse mental side effects of levodopa therapy in parkinsonism we administered levodopa, 250 mg per kilogram intraperitoneally, alone and with L-tryptophan, 500 mg per kilogram intraperitoneally, to rats pretreated with the peripheral dopa decarboxylase inhibitor, carbidopa (25 mg per kilogram). Rats were decapitated 0.5, 1, and 2 hours following amino acid injection and brain levels of amino acids, amines, and acid metabolites were determined. As expected, levodopa alone reduced tryptophan and serotonin and increased dopa and dopamine at the 1 and 2 hour intervals. Concurrent administration of L-tryptophan did not significantly alter the increased dopa and dopamine but did restore serotonin levels to within normal range at all time points. If similar events occur in parkinsonian patients, normalization of brain serotonin and not competitive reduction of brain dopa and dopamine may be the basis for the improvement in mental status.


Motor unit control in Parkinson's disease and the influence of levodopa.

Patients with Parkinson's disease are unable to adjust the firing rate of motor units that initiate contraction from zero to higher rates; the frequency modulation of motor units is not normal, but motor units recruit normally as effort is increased. Treatment with levodopa makes these motor units accessible to activation and frequency control. Elderly subjects also have difficulty in the activation of minimal contraction and in the maintenance of firing but to a significantly lesser degree than do parkinsonian patients. In this respect, the elderly patient and the parkinsonian patient are qualitatively similar.


Syringobulbia as a cause of laryngeal stridor in childhood.

A 10-year, 11-month-old boy who had had chronic stridor since birth died suddenly following the development of slowly progressive symptoms of respiratory obstruction due to vocal cord paralysis. Autopsy showed extensive bilateral syringobulbia, with the greatest involvement in the nuclei ambigui. Other brain-stem tracts and nuclei were only partially affected. These findings support the theory of the early developmental origin of syringobulbia.


Distinct subtypes of type I fibers of human skeletal muscle.

We have identified two distinct and consistent type I fiber subtypes in histochemically normal biopsies (vastus lateralis or biceps brachialis) from 12 healthy persons, both sexes, ages 15 to 42. The type I fibers were uniformly light with the regular ATPase (9.4) and uniformly dark with the acid-preincubated reverse ATPase reactions. However, the subtype IA fibers were stained darker than subtype IB fibers with the nicotinamide adenine nucleotide dehydrogenase-tetrazolium reductase, Oil red O, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-tetrazolium reductase, nonspecific esterase, succinic-tetrazolium reductase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-linked malic-tetrazolium reductase, and "nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-linked lactic-tetrazolium reductase," and stained lighter with the phosphorylase, periodic acid-Schiff for glycogen, and menadione-mediated alpha-glycerophosphate-tetrazolium reductase reactions. The IB fibers were not as light (or as dark, depending on the stain) as any of the type II fibers. In one pathologic case, all the "hypotrophic type I muscle fibers with central nuclei" were subtype IB. In case of chronic infantile spinal atrophy the muscle showed some type-grouping and marked type I fiber predominance--the great majority of type I fibers were subtype IB, among which were islands (subtype-groups) of IA fibers. Subtyping of type I fibers may be informative in evaluating the pathologic process of certain human neuromuscular diseases.


Spontaneous pneumoventriculogram following radiation of a pituitary adenoma.

Three years after radiation therapy for an intrasellar tumor, a 42-year-old housewife presented with headache, lethargy, and remarkable plain skull roentgenograms, in which dilated lateral and third ventricles were filled with air. Air apparently had entered the cranium through the sphenoid sinus and eroded sellar floor, extending directly through intrasellar remnants of the chromophobe adenoma and into the floor of the third ventricle. Frontal exploration showed an empty sella turcica and no residual tumor. She made an excellent recovery and has done well for 5 years after operative closure of the defect.


Continuous vertical pendular eye movements after brain-stem hemorrhage.

Electro-oculographic studies are reported in a 33-year-old man with bilateral horizontal gaze palsies and continuous pendular eye movements in the vertical plane secondary to hemorrhage from a pontine arteriovenous malformation. The effects of pharmacologic and physiologic stimuli on the movements are described.


[Surgery of pre-valvular aortic stenosis].

An anatomic and functional classification of the malformation and its associated faults is followed by an account of its physiopathological and clinical features, with particular reference to questions of diagnosis and the indications for surgery. Surgical management is explained and a personal series is presented. Finally, an account is given of the modern approach to treatment particulary in cases of muscular-type prevalvular stenosis of the aorta.


Plasma estrogen monitoring of ovulation induction.

Eight hMG-hCG therapy cycles in 6 anovulatory infertile patients are presented. Daily plasma estrogen monitoring during the therapy contributed to success in inducing ovulation in all 6, 3 of whom established pregnancies and delivered healthy babies. The duration of hMG therapy required varies among individuals. Duration and dosage can be determined on the basis of daily plasma estrogen levels. Administration hCG is recommended to trigger ovulation when these levels reach 300 to 600 pg/ml. Although success in ovulation induction and pregnancy is achievable, multiple ovulation and multiple pregnancy cannot be predicted or prevented.


Clinical implications of lactose-positive breast secretions in nonpuerperal females.

Inappropriate milk-like secretion from the breasts is not infrequently encountered in patients. Usually these secretions have been identified as milk on the basis of their characteristic appearance, and only rarely has their identity as milk been proven by appropriate analysis. Since milk is chemically defined as a lactose-containing mammary secretion, the presence of lactose in a breast secretion identifies it as milk irrespective of its appearance or the presence of other constituents. Lactose can be readily identified by thin-layer chromatographic methods, which despite their inherent speed and sensitivity have not been widely utilized. A method using commercially prepared cellulose layers and a sandwich developing apparatus is presented in detail. This method utilizes current advances in  chromatographic techniques and permits rapid and accurate identification of lactose in breast secretions. Such secretions from 10 nonpuerperal women were screened for the presence of lactose. The milk-like secretions from 8 contained varying amounts of lactose, which was not detectable in the secretions from the other 2. There was no correlation between the appearance of the secretion and the presence of lactose.


Mosaicism and lack of fluorescence of Y chromosome.

A patient with a female phenotype with XO/XY and possibly XYY mosaicism is presented. In all cells studied, there was no fluorescence of the Y chromosome. It appears that a tendency exists for an association of a defective Y chromosome with chromosomal mosaicism.


Viscous and inertial fractions of total perfusion energy dissipation in the coronary circulation of the in situ perfused dog heart.

The effects of changes in viscosity on pressure flow relations in the in situ perfused left circumflex coronary artery were studied in open chest dogs. Vascular reactivity was abolished by maximal pharmacological coronary dilatation. Blood and suspensions of red cells (hematocrit 8-14%) in dextran solutions were used as perfusates. Total perfusion energy dissipation, represented by perfusion pressure drop across the perfused vascular bed, can be separated into a viscous and an inertial fraction: P = Pvisc + Pinert. Perfusing the heart with approximately Newtonian fluids of different viscosities enabled us to compute the amount of the inertial fraction of total perfusion pressure dissipation. At constant viscosity, the inertial fraction increased with flow rate. However, the rise of the inertial fraction due to reduced viscosity at a constant perfusion pressure was much more pronounced. Variations of perfusion pressure and viscosity of the perfusates between 70 to 130 mm Hg and 1.2-3.2 cP, respectively, resulted in inertial perfusion pressure dissipation between 16 and 54%. This inertial pressure drop may become a noteworthy factor under conditions of low whole blood viscosity (e.g. anemia or therapeutical hemodilution.


Spontaneous tension oscillations in guinea-pig atrial trabeculae.

Spontaneous tension oscillations have been recorded from intact guinea-pig auricular trabeculae bathed in Na-poor and/or Ca-rich solutions. The frequency of these oscillations and that of after-contractions (oscillations following an electrically induced contraction) evoked under identical experimental conditions was the same (33 degrees C). The amplitude of the oscillations rose when the [Ca2+]0/[Na+]0(2)-ratio or the intracellular Na-concentration was increased. When the increase of the [Ca2+]0/[Na+]0(2)-ratio was relatively small, tension oscillations only occured after a period of electrical stimulation. The oscillation-frequency increased slightly in media containing 70 instead of 5.4 mM KCl. MnCl2 (3 mM) did not affect either the amplitude or the frequency of the oscillations. Caffeine (0.5-2.5 mM) decreased the amplitude and enhanced the frequency of the oscillations. After-contractions were diminished and, at higher concentrations, abolished. It is demonstrated that the membrane potential does not participate in the process causing the tension oscillations. An increased [Ca2+]i is a prerequisite for the occurrence of these oscillations. Characteristics of intracellular Ca-movement probably determine the amplitude and frequency of the spontaneous oscillations of tension.


The role of the lateral intercellular spaces in the control of ion permeation across the rabbit gall bladder.

Diffusion potentials and conducatance measurements were used to evaluate the changes in permeability of the rabbit gall bladder when the lateral spaces were 1) closed by the addition of sucrose to the mucosal fluid, and 2) dilated by the addition of sucrose to the serosal fluid. The results showed that when the lateral spaces were closed (less than 10 nm/ 1) there was a significant decrease in the conductance of the epithelium, and 2) the ion selectivity of the epithelium moved towards the free solution sequence. The conductance decreased from 31 to 13 mmhos/cm2, and the selectivety changed from Na(1) greater than Li(0.92) greater than Cs(0.85) to Cs(1.27) greater than Na(1) greater than Li(0.84). Neither dilation of the spaces to greater than 1.5 mum nor addition of sucrose to both sides of the gall bladder changed the conductance or the ion selectivity. These results are consistant with the hypothesis that in the gall bladder the major barrier to ion permeation across the epithelium lies in 1) the tight junctions, when the lateral spaces are dilated, 2) the lateral spaces when the spaces are collapsed, and 3) a combination of both the spaces and the junctions when the spaces are reduced much below 0.5 mum. Consequently the status of the lateral intercellular spaces has to be taken into account when assessing the mechanisms of ion permeation across low resistance epithelia.


Intrarenal distribution of albumin and immunoglobulin M in the non-diuretic-rat.

The intrarenal distribution of 125I-immunoglobulin M (125I-IgM) and 131I-albumin was studied in non-diuretic rats. Tracer equilibration times of 1, 10 and 60 min were used. In the 1 min series, in all renal zones (cortex, outer and inner medulla) the albumin volumes did not differ significantly from those of the much larger molecule, IgM. The 1 min values were found to be 9, 6, 17, and 24 mul per 100 mg tissue for whole kidney, cortex, outer and inner medulla, respectively. In the 10 and 60 min series the cortical albumin and IgM volumes did not differ significantly either, while in the medulla the albumin volumes slightly exceeded the IgM volumes. The 10 min values did not differ significantly from the corresponding 1 min values, except that in the cortex the albumin value was higher at 10 than at 1 min. All 60 min values were significantly higher than the corresponding 1 min values. In the medullary zones these differences can be explained for the most part as caused by accumulation of free radioiodide. In the cortex free radioiodide plays a minor role and the 60 min distribution volumes of both proteins (whether corrected for free radioiodide or not) exceed the 1 min volumes by some 50 per cent. The 1 min values can be taken to represent the intravascular compartment; the 60 min values include the extravascular compartment. In conclusion, the present study indicates that: 1. The extravascular pool of albumin constitutes only a minor fraction of the total intrarenal pool-in the cortex about one third. 2. The equilibration of tracer proteins (IgM or albumin) between plasma and the extravascular compartments of the kidney is a rather slow process; the results are compatible with a mean transit time of tracer albumin from plasma to lymph of 26.5 min, as found by others [19]. 3. Extravasation of IgM and albumin most likely takes place via large vescicles or "big leaks".


[Cerebral blood flow in rabbits during hypoperfusion of the brain. Flow distribution and methodological problems (author's transl)].

Brains of rabbits were perfused by arterial blood via the internal carotids after ligation of vertebral and external carotid arteries. The effect of the reduction of cerebral perfusion volume on cerebral blood flow was studied by recording the clearance of Krypton-85 from the brains. The clearance curves obtained by recording the gamma radiation of the Krypton-85 represented the sum of tissue clearances from the whole brain (about 10 g) and about 45 g of extracerebral tissue and so were not representative of cerebral or cortical bloow flow. Using external beta-counting the cortical blood flows calculated from the tissue-clearance curves reached mean values of 87 and 159 ml/100 g/min in perfusions with 12 and 18 ml/min respectively. But during reduced cerebral perfusion (2 ml/min) the clearance curves gave cortical blood flow values of 56 ml/100 g/min on the average and so exceeded the values calculated from the perfusion volume (2 ml/min) and the brain-weight (10 g) two to three times. It is concluded that regions of nonperfusion exceeding 50% of the cerebral tissue coexisted with adequately perfused areas. In hypoperfusion the cortical metabolic state was sufficiently correlated with the perfusion volume, but no correlation existed with the cortical blood flow calculated from the clearance curves.


Dynamics of canine pancreatic blood flow and of insulin secretion during an intravenous glucose load.

Blood flow through the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery of anaesthetized dogs increases immediately after an i.v. glucose load and parallels to glycemia, but not to insulin output. Flow of superior mesenteric, and femoral arteries as well as of portal vein are also enhanced after rapid i.v. injections of glucose or mannitol. Extent and duration of all flow increases are dose-dependent and strongly related to the alterations of arterial plasma osmolality (maximum increase 24 mosmoles/kg). Heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, and hematocrit remain unchanged after the first test minute. There is a considerable decrease of peripheral vascular resistance in the circulatory regions investigated. Flow through aorta ascendens is augmented for a short time. Possible mechanisms of vasodilatation are reflexes produced by osmoreceptors and/or local effects of osmolality on the tonus of vascular muscle. Within the physiological range pancreatic perfusion does not determine the amount of insulin released.


Retrograde enhancement of memory by mild flurothyl treatment in the chick.

Strong flurothyl treatment (1.7% v/v for 8 min) produces retrograde amnesia in chicks when administered as long as 24 hr after one-trial avoidance training with a strongly aversive stimulus. Mild flurothyl treatment (0.2% v/v for 8 min) produced retrograde enhancement when administered as long as 16 min after similar training with a moderately aversive stimulus. The moderate training followed by mild flurothyl treatment enhanced 24-hr retention to the level found after strong training alone. Enhanced retention persisted for at least 72 hr; nonspecific performance effects faded within 48 hr. The predominant dose-dependent and time-dependent enhancement effect of mild flurothyl treatment is interpreted as improved memory consolidation.


Effects of age and food deprivation on the development of muricidal behavior in rats.

The induction of muricidal behavior in the rat, under various experimental conditions, was studied in order to determine whether mouse killing is a form of predatory aggression that is closely related to feeding behavior. Rats of various ages were socially isolated and subjected to various degrees of food deprivation to determine whether the same laws that govern feeding also govern muricidal behavior. The age of the rat at the beginning of the study (8, 12 or 18 weeks of age) did not appear to significantly affect the induction of muricide by food deprivation. Chronic food deprivation caused non-killer rats to kill mice. In addition, the severity of the food deprivation influenced the induction of mouse killing such that the greater the degree of deprivation, the greater the number of rats that became killers. The effects of food deprivation on the induction of mouse killing were reversed by giving the rats access to food ad lib. Since many of the laws that govern feeding also appear to be the laws which govern mouse killing, the two behaviors may be highly inter-related.


Temporal effects of castration on emotionality and shock-induced aggression in adult male rats.

Alterations in shock-induced aggressive behavior, general emotional reactivity and flinch thresholds in 61 and 82 day old male rats were analyzed at either 3 or 6 weeks following castration. Castrated animals were significantly less aggressive than sham-operated controls at the 6 week but not the 3 week interval. These findings could not be attributed to changes in flinch threshold as neither treatment nor time affected this measure. With regard to emotionality, castrated animals were significantly more reactive than the control animals at the 3 week but not 6 week interval. The data are interpreted as indicating that castration altered shock-induced aggression by preventing a maturational increase in such behavior. These behavioral alterations are compared to previously reported time-dependent changes in brain monoaminergic dynamics following gonadectomy. The conclusions support the concept of a necessary balance between catecholaminergic and serotonergic systems with regard to affective behavior.


Changes of sodium appetite during the estrous cycle of sheep.

The relative preference for sodium solutions and water was observed during a succession of estrous cycles in housed sheep. The luteal phase of the cycle was associated with statistically significant rises of sodium preference compared with the 6 days following estrus. These reflected changes in the intake both of sodium and water. The similar pattern with both bicarbonate and chloride suggests that it is the acceptability of the sodium which changes. The results are discussed in relation to sodium appetite and electrolyte homeostasis. The possible significance of any similar changes during the menstrual cycle is considered.


Some characteristics of verbal behaviour in presenile dementia.

Two experiments concerned with the statistical characteristics of speech in presenile dementia are described. Apart from a lowered rate of production of words under certain conditions no speech abnormalities were detected on the variables examined.


Chlordiazepoxide (librium)-induced changes in intraspecific attack and selected non-agonistic behaviors in male Siamese fighting fish.

Two experiments were undertaken to determine the effects of chlordiazepoxide on intraspecific attack behavior and selected non-aggressive behaviors in male Siamese fighting fish. In Exp. 1, pairs of fish fought while immersed in either 15 mug/ml or 30 mug/ml of chlordiazepoxide, or plain water. The drug groups showed significantly less attack (e.g., biting, jawlocking) than the control group, without noticeable behavioral toxicity. Also, in the drug groups alone, some variants of the copulatory clasp, seen in normal mating, occurred in many pairs. In Exp. 2, individual fish were isolated in one of the same doses or plain water for a period equivalent to that of Exp. 1. These doses produced no changes in measures of arousal, locomotion, and feeding behavior, as compared to the control condition. The drug-related appearance of the intermale mating-like behavior is discussed in terms of a theoretical formulation postulating a mutually inhibitory relationship between sex and aggression in fish.


Effects of scopolamine and alpha-methylparatyrosine upon predatory attack in cats.

The effects of scopolamine were compared with the effects of alpha-methylparatyrosine methyl ester (AMPT) upon several aspects of electrically elicited predatory attack in cats. Thresholds of current necessary to elicit predation increased under both drugs. Furthermore, specific deficits developed in suprathreshold predatory patterns for both drugs compared with nondrug baselines. Scopolamine suppressed all aspects of attack, while AMPT suppressed approach of the attack object while leaving reflexive biting intact.


Behavioural supersensitivity to apomorphine following cerebral dopaminergic denervation by 6-hydroxydopamine.

Intraventricular injections of 6-hydroxydopamine that induce a marked and long lasting depletion of cerebral dopamine as well as noradrenaline, greatly enhanced the stimulation of locomotor activity of mice produced by the injection of apomorphine. Dose-response relationships indicated that the maximal response to apomorphine was greatly increased but that there was no apparent change in the ED50 from the response in vehicle-treated mice. 6-Hydroxydopamine treated mice were also considerably less susceptible to the cataleptic activity of pimozide and it is suggested that cerebral dopaminergic denervation may result in an increased number of available post-synaptic dopamine receptors.


The effects of chronic cannabis treatment upon brain 5-hydroxytryptamine, plasma corticosterone and aggressive behavior in female rats with different hormonal status.

Ovariectomized rats, chronically treated with cannabis extract or control solution, were given different hormonal treatments. Results indicated that both cannabis-treated and estrogen-treated animals were more aggressive than controls. Furthermore, aggressiveness was virtually abolished when cannabis-treated females were made sexually receptive by estrogen and progesterone treatments. After 25 days of cannabis or control solution treatment, all subjects were sacrificed. The levels and turnover rate of brain 5-HT and peripheral plasma corticosterone were then assayed. Data indicated both a significant inverse relationship between plasma corticosterone and whole brain levels of 5-HT(r = -0.742 to -0.985) for all groups and a significant positive relationship between aggressive behavior and plasma corticosterone (r = +0.675 to +0.946) in all groups that were fighting prior to decapitation. Results are tentatively explained, suggesting that the variability of the female response to stress during the different phases of the estrus cycle, permitted them to perform differently after chronic cannabis treatment. 5-HT is apparently involved, either directly in its effects on aggressive behavior or indirectly through the pituitary-adrenocortical axis activation.


Effect of isolation induced aggression in mice on serum creatine kinase.

It is known that the serum creatine kinase increases as a result of different conditions and that isolation in male mice induces aggressive behaviour after regrouping. The levels of serum creatine kinase were studied in isolated and in regrouped male albino mice. A considerable increase of creatine kinase was found in regrouped male mice fighting for different hours. Further studies are needed to prove whether these results are due to isolation, aggression or motor activity.


Does chronic morphine treatment induce a supersensitivity of dopamine receptors in rat brain?

These experiments were carried out to investigate whether chronic morphine treatment increases the sensitivity of dopamine receptors in rat brain. This was studied by considering apomorphine effectiveness in a) inducing stereotyped behaviour and b) decreasing the dopamine turnover in the striata. Acute morphine treatment slightly reduced stereotyped behaviour induced by L-Dopa and by apomorphine. In morphine-withdrawn rats, apomorphine was no more effective than saline in inducing stereotypies (sniffing, licking, gnawing). However, the ability of apomorphine to lower striatal dopamine turnover was increased in morphine-withdrawn rats. Despite these latter observations, chronic morphine treatment probably did not induce a supersensitivity of dopamine receptors in rat brain.


Methadone dependence in the rat.

Physical dependence on methadone was induced in rats by an initial "forced drinking" procedure and subsequently by i.p. administration of the drug. In a subsequent Experimental Phase of the study the physical dependence of one group was sustained by a "methadone maintenance" treatment, while two other groups were withdrawn from the drug, one gradually and one abruptly. When relapse trials were carried out during a Readdiction Phase it was found that the maintained group voluntarily consumed significantly greater amounts of methadone than did the two withdrawal groups. These groups did not differ between themselves but did in turn ingest significantly more methadone than a control group with no prior exposure to the drug. The characteristic loss of body weight reliably found during withdrawal from morphine was not demonstrated. This may have been due to the unexpected weight loss which occurred during the last stage of the initial Addiction Phase. The dependent variables of amount of methadone solution and the percentage of fluid consumed as methadone solution correlated highly. However the amount of methadone solution ingested was a better indicator of addiction liability as it was not influenced by fluctuations in the amount of water consumed by the animals.


Dopaminergic drugs antagonize the psychotomimetic effects of partial-agonist analgesics.

The psychotomimetic actions of the partial-agonist analgesic drugs cyclazocine and levallophan have been demonstrated using a quantitative behavioural test in young rats which measures lateral head movements and pivoting on the hind paws. This drug induced behaviour is antagonized by low doses of the dopaminergic agonists apomorphine and piribedil, the dopamine releasing drug amphetamine, the dopamine reuptake blocking agent benztropine and by large doses of the dopamine precursor L-Dopa. Naloxone antagonize the behaviour, but only at one hundred times the analgesic antagonist dose. These results show that dopaminergic systems are implicated in the mechanism of action of partial-agonist induced psychotomimetic side effects.


Paradoxical absence of aggression during naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal.

Aggression, which is normally seen during withdrawal from narcotics, could not be produced in morphine-dependent rats by the administration of naloxone at doses which causes other signs of withdrawal. Apomorphine injected instead of naloxone was capable of producing aggression, without other withdrawal signs. Naturally occurring aggression (72-hr withdrawal) was enhanced by apomorphine and unaffected by naloxone.


Effects of d- and l-amphetamine on habituation and sensitization of the acoustic startle response in rats.

In a series of 3 experiments the effects of 2, 4, 8, or 16 mg/kg d-amphetamine and 4, 8, 16, or 32 mg/kg l-amphetamine on acoustic startle amplitude in the rat were investigated. d-Amphetamine was 4--5 times as potent as l-amphetamine in augmenting startle amplitude. Startle potentiation was associated with vigorous stereotypies but the resultant cage movement could not account for the change in startle. Pretreatment with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (100 mg/kg, 1 hr before) had only a slight depressant effect on startle but essentially eliminated augmentation of startle by either d-amphetamine (8 mg/kg) or l-amphetamine (32 mg/kg). d-Amphetamine did not have a direct effect on startle but instead enhanced sensitization produced by the startle stimuli without altering sensitization produced by background white noise or habituation. The results suggest that startle sensitization is enhanced by increased availability of catecholamines and, by virtue of the different potencies of the d- and l-isomers, that dopamine and norepinephrine may affect startle differently.


[Influence of the administration of psychopharmacological compounds on the take up time of an alimentary material in the hamster and a study of the associated behaviour (author's transl)].

The take up time of a standardized alimentary material is a simple component of hamster hoarding behaviour. This value was modified by administrations of the following compounds: diazepam, chlorpromazine, meprobamate, apomorphine, d-amphetamine, piribedil, fenfluramine, sulpiride, imipramine, phenobarbital, clonidine and morphine. The change consisted of a varying increase in the take up time, dependent upon the substance and dosage. High doses of chlorpromazine, apomorphine and fenfluramine inhibited the take up. A behavioural study connected with alimentary take up was included in the experiment. Some behavioural modifications (increase or decrease in motor activity, myorelaxation, stereotyped exploration, reciprocating movements) demonstrated differences between the studied compounds related to their pharmacological properties. The immediate consumption of food, without take up and hoarding behaviour, observed with meprobamate treatment, was an interesting and unexpected change in hamster behaviour. The measurement of the take up time and analysis of behavioural modifications may be useful in comparing and preliminary screening of new psychopharmacological compounds.


Detection of the nueroleptic properties of clozapine, sulpiride and thioridazine.

The cataleptic and antistereotypic abilities of clozapine, sulpiride and thioridazine were determined in the rat and compared with the responses of typical neuroleptic agents, haloperidol, fluphenazine and pimozide. Haloperidol and fluphenazine caused a dose-dependent cataleptic state which attained maximum intensity: the effects of pimozide were also dose-dependent but, although the catalepsy was marked, maximum intensity was not attained. In contrast, thioridazine, clozapine and sulpiride each caused a very weak, but definite, cataleptic response although a dose-dependency could not be demonstrated. Pretreatment of animals with alpha-methylparatyrosine was shown to significantly potentiate the cataleptic actions of haloperidol, fluphenazine, pimozide, thioridazine and sulpiride but failed to modify the action of clozapine, Threshold cataleptic doses of all agents markedly synergised in the production of catalepsy with threshold doses of the cholinergic drug RS86. Similarly, all "neuroleptic" agents tested were shown to reduce the intensity of the stereotyped behaviour induced by amphetamine, apomorphine and nomifensine in a dose-dependent manner but only haloperidol, fluphenazine and pimozide were shown to be capable of 100% inhibition. The antistereotypic abilities of haloperidol, fluphenazine and pimozide were most marked against amphetamine, but this was not a consistent observation for thioridazine, clozapine and sulpiride. Threshold, or even subthreshold, doses of both the typical and atypical neuroleptic agents combined with threshold doses of RS86 markedly synergised in the antagonism of the stereotypic actions of amphetamine, apomorphine and nomifensine.


Dose and time dependent luteotropic and luteolytic action of prostaglandin F2alpha in the luteinized rabbit ovary.

The mechanism of stimulatory and inhibitory action of PGF2alpha on ovarian steroidogenesis both under in vitro and in vivo conditions has been studied in the pseudopregnant rabbits. Short term incubation of the ovaries with PGF2alpha (2.82 times 10(-5)M) resulted in an increased synthesis of progesterone and 20alpha-OH P. The addition of PGF2alpha in the medium and further incubation of the ovaries obtained from rabbits that had been constantly infused with PGF2alpha (0.5 mug/min.) for two hours resulted in increased synthesis of these progestins. The ratio of progesterone to 20alpha -OH P was also enhanced under these conditions and thus supported the luteotropic action of small doses of PGF2 under short term incubations. However, as the amount of PGF2alpha infused was increased to 5 mug/min., the addition of PGF2alpha under in vitro conditions strikingly decreased the production of these progestins. The ratio decreased the production of these progestins. The ratio of progesterone to 20alpha -OH P was also decreased and thus was indicative of luteolytic action of higher doses of PGF2alpha. High doses of PGF2alpha (5.64 times 10(-4)M) failed to cause any significant change in the progestin synthesis under short term incubation. These results thus suggest that the luteotropic and luteolytic action of PGF2alpha in the luteinized rabbit ovary is dose and time dependent.


The relationship between a mother's menstrual status and her response to illness in her child.

From over 1500 women who brought children to the Los Angeles County--U.S.C. Pediatric Outpatient Department during a 1 month period, 140 were randomly selected and interviewed to determine whether a woman's menstrual status (her position within the menstrual cycle) affects the way she responds to illness in her child. The study found that paramenstrual women (those who were about to have or who were having their period) were more apt to bring their children to the Pediatric OPD than women between periods (intermenstrual women). Children brought in by paramenstrual women were considered to be less sick, to be suffering from different types of illnesses, and to have been sick for a shorter period of time than children brought in by intermenstrual women. The study presents evidence suggesting that paramenstrual and intermenstrual women have different motivations for bringing their children to the doctor.


Steroid-independent effect of gonadotropins on prostaglandin synthesis in rat Graafian follicles in vitro.

The content of prostaglandins of the E-group (PGE) or F-group (PGF) was determined by radioimmunoassay in rat ovaries and in homogenates of cultured Graafian follicles. Intraperitoneal administration of luteinizing hormone (NIH-LH-S18; 10 mug/rat) at 9.00 h on any day of the estrous cycle caused an increase in ovarian PGE content within 5 h. The response was greatest on the day of proestrus (940% rise), i.e. when the ovary contains large follicles, and least at metestrus (80%). Follicles explanted from proestrous rats before the preovulatory gonadotropin surge responded to addition of LH (1-5 mug/ml) to the culture medium with a 10 to 30-fold increase in PGE and a 5-fold increase in PGF accumulation over a 5-h-period. Follicle stimulating hormone (NIH-FSH-S9; 10 mug/ml) caused a similar rise in follicular PGE accumulation, even after treatment of the FSH preparation with excess of an antiserum to the beta-subunit of LH. Stimulation of follicular PG accumulation was unimpaired during suppression of progesterone and estrogen synthesis by aminoglutethimide. It is concluded that these steroids play no part in the mediation of the LH-effect on follicular prostaglandin formation.


Marijuana: heart rate and EEG response.

The present experiment examines changes in heart rate (HR) and EEG under different doses of marijuana and delta9THC. The design differs from earlier investigation in that (1) the subjects (Ss) were kept constantly alert by being involved in problem-solving tasks; (2) HR and EEG recordings were analyzed by time-locked evoked averaging techniques; and (3) the presentation of each problem task was under computer control and depended on the Ss' return to base-line level of physiological functioning. EEG and ?HR patterns were shown to be significantly related to dose levels and to the different tasks being performed. In addition, the results suggest that marijuana interferes very little with cognitive functions except for impairing short-term memory at all dose levels of marijuana. The procedure described for the measurement of Ss' HR and EEG changes while they are alert as they respond to various perceptual stimuli, and for the analyses of these changes, offers a particularly powerful technique for looking at subtle drug treatment effects not only of marijuana but also of other drugs.


The effect of chronic conflict on the blood pressure of rats with a genetic susceptibility to experimental hypertension.

Rats with a genetic susceptibility to experimental hypertension were exposed daily for 13 weeks to a conflict situation that resulted in food deprivation and the application of electric shock. Other subjects were either food deprived, shocked, both food deprived and shocked but without conflict, or not experimentally manipulated (control). Despite weekly fluctuations, a pattern emerged wherein subjects exposed to conflict usually exhibited the highest systolic blood pressures followed in order by subjects exposed to food deprivation and shock without conflict, rats food deprived, rats exposed to shock, and control subjects. Following this 13 week period, some of the rats in each group were allowed a 13 week stress-free-recovery period while the rest of the subjects were treated as before. During the recovery period most subjects' blood pressure returned to control levels. However, there was some indication in a few rats that elevations could persist for extended periods after the aversive treatment had been terminated. There is probably a genetic component involved in the reaction to stress that promotes the development of hypertension, just as there is to other hypertensinogenic stimuli.


Epidermal growth factor: identification of a new hormone in human urine.

Epidermal growth factor is a polypeptide hormone that was previously identified only in mice. It causes proliferation and keratinization of epidermal tissues. An immune affinity column extraction technique was used to purify partially a substance from human urine which was similar to the mouse hormone in both its biological activity and immunoreactivity.


Transmission of the nucleic acid-induced character, caudal fin, to the offspring in goldfish.

The carp's egg-mRNA and DNA induced, single-tail-finned goldfish were used for mating. The offspring developed double, single and modified single tail fin. The combined frequency of the single and modified single tail fin formation in the mRNA-and DNA-injected series were 39.6% and 38.3% respectively. The corresponding frequency of the control series was 3.8%. These results show that the exogenous mRNA and DNA have altered the tail fin formation not only in the goldfish developed from the injected eggs but also in their offspring.


Hospital morbidity in the Fiji islands with special reference to the saccharine disease.

The concept of the excessive consumption of carbohydrates as a cause of many diseases of civilisation has previously been proposed under the name of the 'saccharine disease'. A review of the hospital morbidity figures for these diseases in a divisional hospital in the Fiji Islands is presented. The hospital serves a population comprised of Indians and Fijians, suggesting comparison with the province of Natal, South Africa. Indians have a higher incidence of diabetes melitus, myocardial infarction, duodenal ulcer, acute appendicitis, gallstones, renal stones and eclampsia. Their diets differ mainly in the higher consumption of refined fibre-depleted carbohydrates, and it is suggested that the association is compatible with the concept of the "saccharine disease".


The ecology of keratinophilic fungi at different depths of soil.

The influence of depth and humus content of soil, on the presence of keratinophilic fungi in 4 layers (1-10 cm, 11-25 cm, 26-40 cm, 41-55 cm) of carbonate meadow, chernozem carbonate meadow and carbonate alluvial soils was studied. Different keratinophilic fungi were found not only in individual soils but also in different layers of the same soil. The greatest number and quantity occurred in soil with highest humus content. These fungi were present in greatest amount in the superficial layers (1-10 cm and 11-25 cm) of all soils investigated.


Teratogenic effects of chlorambucil on in vivo and in vitro organogenesis in mice.

Pregnant ICR/DUB mice were each given a single oral injection of chlorambucil (14.2 or 20 mg/kg) on the 10th, 11th, 12th, or 13th day of gestation (plug day = 1st day). Fetuses examined on the 18th day were decreased in weight and had tail, cranial, and limb defects. They type and frequency of malformations differed according to the dosage and day of treatment. Limb defects resulted from treatment on the 11th or 12th days of gestation and tail defects from treatment on all days. Control limb buds from 12th day embryos cultured for 6 days in serum-supplemented BGJ medium containing 0.5-2 mug/ml chlorambucil were retarded in development and had cartilage abnormalities. The extent of the deformities was dose related. Limb buds were also taken from embryos 24 h after in vivo exposure to teratogenic doses of chlorambucil and cultured in control medium. After 6 days in culture these limbs also had growth impairment and cartilage abnormalities. The defects in limbs exposed in vitro were similar to those in limbs exposed in vivo.


Mastitis; a survey on the inter-dependence of the quarters of a cow.

This survey shows the dependence of the diagnosis "non-specific mastitis" on the method and interpretation of laboratory examination. Failures in bacteriological diagnosis will often lead to quarters being incorrectly diagnosed as being affected by "non-specific mastitis". The main aim of this survey was to study the interdependence of the quarters of cows with regard to laboratory results on mastitis. This survey shows that the criteria "high cell number" and "bacteriologically positive" in quarters have no random distribution. The number of cows with nil or four quarters positive is significantly higher than with a random distribution. Genetical difference in susceptibility could be the cause of the phenomenon. But this survey shows that non-genetical factors as age and difference between herds in level of mastitis are largely involved. It seems impossible in a field survey to estimate the genetical share in the high coincidence of the mastitis criteria within cows. In mathematical statistical analysis of the results in quarter-samples, with the aim to compare two groups of cows, the number of elements to compare is the number of cows and not the number of quarters. Because of the coincidence of mastitis symptoms in individual cows, the possibility for statistical evaluation of quarter results is restricted.


Oestrus synchronization and fertility in heifers treated with prostaglandin F2alpha.

Oestrus was synchronized with prostaglandin F2alpha in Tham salt buffer (25 mg. and 12.5 mg.) injected intramuscularly on two consecutive days in 41 Dutch Friesian heifers. Thirty-five animals (85,3%) showed heat within 2-5 days of the start of treatment. Degree of synchronization was low if PGF 2alpha was injected before D5. Conception rate was low (31,4%) in the synchronized oestrus, but was normal (58%) at the post-synchronized oestrus. Based on observation for oestrus and rectal palpation of ovaries at 8 hourly intervals, oestrus occurred over a period of 62,1 +/- 3,0 hours and ovulation occurred 29,8 +/- 1,4 hours after the onset of oestrus. The average time from first treatment to ovulation was 93,0 +/- 18,8 hours. The length of the synchronized oestrus was significantly longer (P less than 0,05) than the pretreatment oestrus.


The influence of oestradiol benzoate and progesterone on the secretory activity of the epithelium of the ampulla tubae in ovariectomized ewes: an electron microscopical study.

The influence of oestradiol benzoate (ODB) and progesterone on the ultrastructural organization of secretory and ciliated cells of the ovine oviduct was studied in ovariectomized animals. In untreated control animals, the absence of any influence of ovarian steroids resulted in a low cuboidal epithelium with a quiescent ultrastructural appearance. A loss of cilia has not been clearly established. The first sign of an oestrogenic influence, such as an increasing number of ribosomes and RER profiles can be observed 24 hours after a single injection of 75 mcg ODB, but immature granules do not appear in the cells until the third day after treatment. In normal cycling ewes, however, immature granules and release can be observed on D-O (first day of heat) and on D-1, i.e., 1-2 days after the peak level of oestradiol-17 beta. Some possible explanations for this difference in time are discussed. On the fourth and fifth day after ODB treatment, a similar ultrastructural organization of the secretory cells has developed as on D-2 and D-3 of the oestrous cycle. A combined treatment of ODB and progesterone resulted in a distinctly lesser secretory activity than with ODB only. An extended ODB treatment, consisting of three daily injections of 8.25 mcg ODB during 5-9 successive days, did not prevent release, The probability that a declining  oestrogen level serves as the trigger for the onset thereof, must be excluded. It is concluded, that progesterone is probably not involved in creating the optimal environment in the ampullae tubae, which seems to be essential to a satisfactory completion of processes like survival of the gametes, fertilization and early embryonic development. Progesterone might be able to shorten the response of the epithelium to oestrogen, so that the optimal intratubal environmental conditions are attained at the proper time after ovulation.


The Onchocerca volvulus transmission potentials and associated patterns of onchocerciasis at four Cameroon Sudan-savanna villages.

The intensity of O. volvulus infection, and the prevalence of certain eye lesions and of blindness, are compared in 4 hyperendemic Cameroon Sudan-savanna villages. The pattern of the disease is related to the annual transmission potentials to which the communities were exposed, and the results are compared with those obtained previously in forest villages. The prevalence and intensity of O. volvulus infections in S. damnosun were more closely related to the prevalence of positive skin snip than to the mean concentrations of microfilariae in the skin. Owing to the differential dispersal of nulliparous and parous flies in savanna, the annual transmission potentials were related more closely to the numbers of parous flies than to the total fly population. Factors governing the exposure of persons to infective flies are discussed. Seasonal transmission, which was usually light, did not lead to severe onchocerciasis; the more perennial the transmission the heavier was its degree, and the more prevalent were eye lesions and blindness. Annual transmission potentials of about 500, 1750, 1800+ and 2900 were associated with an increase in the mean intensity of infection and in the prevalence of eye lesions, while the onchocerciasis blindness rate in persons over 20 years old rose from nil to 3.3, 9.2 and 10 per cent respectively. Annual transmission potentials of 4400 and 19000 were recorded on the banks of S. damnosum breeding rivers in the area, but no villages were sited at such places and it is probable that no community could survive under such conditions. The bearing of these findings on the anticipated effects of S. damnosum control operations in savanna is discussed.


[Observations on the behaviour of coxiella burneti in the argasid tick ornithodoros moubata (author's transl)].

Based on a long-term study of many years, a report is given on the behaviour of Coxiella burneti in the argasid tick, Ornithodoros moubata. Recent observations were made on ticks infected on mice and subsequently maintained separately. Particular emphasis was placed upon the localization of the ricksettsiae in certain organs of the ticks, its excretion -also with regard to routes of transmission - and transovarial passage. C. burneti invade primarily the gut epithelial cells of the tick and these cells remain infested with the causative agent throughout the entire life of the vector. After a certain infection period, other organs of the tick may become also infected. Thus, infection of the coxal organ, of salivary glands, rectal ampullae and ovaries has been confirmed through the presence of the rickettsiae in the coxal fluid, saliva and excreta or through transovarial passage of the agent with the saliva during feeding transmission to a new host takes place. Infection of the various organs of the tick and excretion or passage of the agent is not necessarily the rule, but may be even considered as an exception. This is especially the case for transovarial passage. On the other side, the multiplication of rickettsiae in the tick can be so intensive that the haemolymph and all internal organs become flooded with the organisms. These observations have been made in moribund and dead ticks. One of the most remarkable results was that the behaviour of C. burneti in its tick host varied considerably not only within the same series of experiments but more frequently in one and the same individual tick as well. Thus, e.g. excretion of the agent - with the saliva or coxal fluid - could be interrupted and resumed again later on. Evidently, these variations indicate a shift in the host-parasite interrelationship in which the multiplication of the rickettsiae is greatly enhanced by a decrease in the host's immune response, whereas an increase in its defence reaction will cause suppression of multiplication. It is not known, however, if the relevant impulse is primarily given by the tick or the rickettsial organism. The behaviour of C. burneti in O. moubata which does not follow a definite pattern coincides well with the high adaptability and variability characterizing this microorganism in other aspects as well.


[Effect of actinomycin D on RNA synthesis in a stationary culture of Chinese hamster cells stimulated to proliferate].

The study of the effects of actinomycin D on stationary cultures of Chinese hamster cells and those stimulated by medium changing has revealed that RNA synthesis is more sensitive in the latter, the difference in the first place being attributed to the rate of labeled uridine incorporation into cell nucleoli. There is no significant difference in H3-actinomycin D uptake between stationary and stimulated cells, but the latter incorporate more labeled actinomycin D into their nuclei. A pronounced variation in sensitivity to actinomycin D is observed during the prereplicative period of stimulated cells. The first part of this period is more sensitive, which may be due to the necessity for stimulated cells to synthesize a great number of ribosomes to enter the mitotic cycle and to proceed through it.


[Inhibition by actinomycin D of ribosomal RNA synthesis in the presynthesis period of the mitotic cycle of Chinese hamster cell cultures].

Using radioautographic technique actinomycin D at a concentration of 0.08 mug/ml was shown to inhibit selectively ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis in monolayer cultures of Chinese hamster cells. The treatment with actinomycin D of cells synchronized by mitotic selection in the beginning of the G1 period causes a delay in the onset of DNA synthesis. However, a similar treatment in the late G1 period does not prevent cells from entering the S-period. The same effect has been produced by 9 mug/ml lucanthone, another inhibitor of rRNA synthesis. The experiments demonstrate a pronounced difference in cell reaction to the depression of rRNA synthesis in early and late G1 period. The data imply that the formation of rRNA, essential for the initiation of DNA synthesis, is accomplished in the first half of the G1 period, while part of rRNA has been already formed in the previous cycle.


[Structure and histone composition of chromatin in Physarum polycephalum].

In Physarum polycephalum several degrees of organisation of deoxyribonucleoprotein fibres were found. The complexes of histones and the DNA duplex seem to "be packed" at first into a 100 A fibre and then into a 200 A fibre of DNP. In Ph. polycephalum the electrophoretic mobilities of histone fractions 4 and 6 are comparable to that of fractions f3/f2b and f2a1 of calf thymus, resp. Histone fractions 3 and 5 move a bit faster than fractions f1 and f2a2, resp. Thus, the myxomycete P. polycephalum is similar to higher eukaryotes as concerns the ultrastructure of chromatin and electrophoretic properties of histones.


Incidence of prostatic carcinoma in the elderly.

Published reports vary greatly in their estimation of the incidence of prostatic carcinoma. To obtain statistically valid data on the occurrence of this entity in the elderly, serial sections of the entire prostate obtained at 57 consecutive autopsies in males eighty years of age and over were analyzed. The incidence of prostatic carcinoma in this group was 66.7 per cent. The stage and grade of lesions are noted, and a correlation between specimen weight and incidence of malignancy is confirmed. Apparently disparate reports are analyzed.


Perinatal torsion of spermatic cord.

A case of torsion of the testis in the newborn is presented. A review of the literature indicates that this condition tends to occur in babies weighing over 3,000 Gm., born of primigravida; the involved testicle is usually nontender, and frequently there is adhesion of the skin to the mass. Controversies in regard to methods of treatment are discussed.


[Long-term results and planning of therapy of seminal tumors of the testis].

The paper retrospectively reviews the modalities and the long-term results of treatment of 200 consecutive patients with pure seminoma and of 125 patients with testicular carcinomas admitted to the Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori of Milan from 1929 to Jan 1973. Radical orchiectomy with high ligation of the spermatic cord at the internal inguinal ring was performed in all previously untreated patients. Those who had had a scrotal operation performed elsewhere were radically reoperated upon. Lymphography and cobalt 60 telecurietherapy were introduced in 1960 and new treatment plans were employed for the irradiation of the deep lymphnodes. Since 1968 all operable carcinomas have undergone bilateral retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy and since 1964 all patients with advanced disease have been treated with chemotherapy (single agent or combination). Survival rates were calculated by the actuarial method. The new treatment modalities proved to be significantly superior to the old ones. In pure seminoma a 92% cure rate was obtained in NO patients after prophylactic irradiation of retroperitoneal nodes (2,500-3,000 rad in 3 weeks). In NI-3 patients the cure rate was as high as 75% after radical irradiation of retroperitoneal nodes (3,500-4,000 rad in 4 weeks) as well as prophylactic irradiation of mediastinum and both supraclavicular fossae. Extended radical radiotherapy (combined with chemotherapy in some patients) cured 2/6 N4 and 3/8 M1 patients. According to the old modalities of treatment, figures were respectively 72% in NO cases, 40% in N1-3 and 0% in N4 and M1 patients. In carcinomas, the cure rate after retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy was 91% in N--patients and 47% in N+ cases. In N+ patients post-operative radiation was also performed (4,000-5,000 rad in 5 weeks). After radiotherapy alone (without lymphadenectomy) the rates were 62% in NO and 28% in N1-2 patients. In primary inoperable patients (N3-4 and M1) chemotherapy, with or without radiation, significantly prolonged the survival rate. It is concluded that radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for pure seminoma and in N4 and M1 cases a full course of chemotherapy must be combined with extensive irradiation. Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy is mandatory in all operable cases of testicular carcinoma while adjuvant chemotherapy may further improve the prognosis in N+ cases. For inoperable carcinomas chemotherapy (plus radiotherapy) is the treatment of choice. The new multiple drug regimens are providing encouraging results.


Leiomyoma of vesicovaginal septum causing urinary retention.

A case of leiomyoma of the vesicovaginal septum causing acute urinary retention and an unusual radiographic filling defect in the flood of the bladder is presented. This is a rare lesion which can be the source of confusion. It has similar microscopic appearance to lesions which the patient had previously in the esophagus and stomach, left labia, and the uterus. Microscopically, all of the tumors were benign.


[Sudden death due to lung tumor embolism of an angioplastic sarcoma of the inferior vena cava].

Report on a sudden death from natural cause by embolism due to a pulmonary tumour in a 20-year-old girl. Starting point of the angiospastic sarcoma was the lower third of the inferior vena cava. It is referred to the extreme rarity of such tumours as well as to problems of nomenclature and diagnostics.


[Abortive myxovirus infection of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. Analysis of virus-specific structures in the ascitic fluid].

In the course of classical fowl plague virus reproduction in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells both hemagglutinins and S-antigen accumulate and titers of the infectious activity increase. However virus reproduction does not terminate in formation of virus, and subviral structures are found in the liquid fraction of the infected cells. Analysis of these structures has shown them to have a sedimentation coefficient of 350-370S and buovant density 1.29 g/ml. The rapidly sedimenting structure has complement-fixing hemagglutinating activity but bow infectivity.


[Temperature-sensitive mutants of Japanese encephalitis virus, isolated from chronically infected cultures of suckling mouse brain cells].

Reproduction of Japanese encephalitis virus isolated at various passage levels from chronically infected GMS-1-K33 cell cultures was maximum in chick embryo fibroblast cultures at a temperature of 28 degrees C. A temperature of 42 degrees C was found to be nonpermissive for the majority of variants and restrictive for the 20th passage virus. Some decline in titers was also observed at 37 degrees C. The ts mutants derived from the population of the persisting virus had lower pathogenicity for laboratory animals, were sensitive to RNA-ase and resistant to 4 M urea. The data obtained by us and other authors suggest that appearance and selection of ts mutants in persistent infection in cell cultures in a regular phenomenon playing a significant role both in establishment and maintenance of persistently infected systems.


Syndrome of mental retardation, seizures, hypotonic cerebral palsy and megalocorneae, recessively inherited.

A previously apparently undescribed "syndrome" is reported in which megalocornea and iris anomalies are accompanied by minor facial and skeletal anomalies, severe mental retardation, hypotonia, and seizures. The condition was found in 3 siblings of one family and in 4 sporadic cases; it is thought to be recessively inherited.


A description and inventory of the displays of the Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa.

Wild maccoa ducks were observed and filmed in the south-western Cape, South Africa, and individually marked captive ducks were closely studied over several years.  The displays of the maccoa duck are described.  Accounts are given of the incidence of the displays and the sequences in which they occur.  Comments are offered on the taxonomic significance of particular displays.


Spatial associations and social interactions in a "solitary" ungulate: the bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus (Pallas).

The bushbuck population in a study area of 0.7 km2 in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda, was observed between June 22 and July 30, 1971.  The animals (4 male male, 10 female female, 4 immat.) were individually recognizable.  Observations consisted of census sightings and longitudinal observations; during the latter location, neighbours, social encounters and other behaviour of focal animals were recorded continuously.  71% of the census sightings were of single animals.  Hardly any aggression was observed, nor did the bushbuck actively avoid oneanother.  The definition of the term "solitary" and possible advantages of a dispersed social system for the bushbuck are discussed.


A comparative field study of the social behavior and related ecology of reef fishes of the family Chaetodontidae1)2).

20 Species of Chaetodontidae were observed in the field for a total of about 150 hrs at Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands, at Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef, and at Johnson Island.  During observations the diver either stayed in one place for 30 min, swam transects or followed individual fish.  Social groupings of the different species, their intra- and interspecific agonistic interactions and their feeding are described.  The frequent occurrence of Chaetodontidae in pairs and the relatively low observed level of agonistic encounters are discussed.


[Colony defence of Asian honey bees].

Colony Defence in Asian Honey Bees.  1. In Ais cerana, Apis dorsata and Apis florea a defence behaviour (Körperschütteln) can be released by the approach of flying insects.  Films of Apis cerana colonies exhibiting this behaviour were made and anaylysed.  2. Körperschütteln "could not be released by various mechanical and chemical" stimuli.  Only the movement of a dark object before light background was effective in releasing this behaviour.  3. The optimal angular velocity of the dark object when moved on a moving disk was between 80 degrees to 250 degrees per sec.  The optimal size for stimulation was between 5 degrees and 12 degrees (visual angle).  4. The stimulatory effect was not greatly influenced by the shape of the dark object.  5. Continued stimulation over a 90 min period resulted in 80% reduction in the number of responding bees.  6. The colony's ability to discriminate between returning forager bees and other flying insects is discussed.


The variability of innate darkness preference in mice: an evaluation of Ungar's design.

This study attempted to elucidate the controversy surrounding the experiments of Ungar examining the effects of scotophobin on dark preference in mice. The behavior of 45 noninjected mice in the type of maze described by Ungar was examined. Seven subsequent tests were conducted for dark box time (DBT) and motor activity. In general, the results indicated that DBT in all subpopulations of mice selected according to different criteria on the preference test fluctuated during the course of experimentation. Further, on the basis of the present data, the problem of summation effects from combined probabilities in the series of independent comparisons was readily apparent, so that the probability of obtaining significant differences between groups was increased as the results of Ungar's data analysis. A strong relationship between motor activity and DBT was also obtained, suggesting that other, nonspecific factors may influence motor activity and shorten the elevation of DBT.


Benign cystic tumours of the cerebellum.

In a series of 4.915 surgically treated intracranial tumours and other space-occupying lesions, excluding those due to trauma, the two main groups of benign cerebellar tumours were found to be the astrocytomas (172) and the cystic haemangioblastomas (35). Cerebellar astrocytomas represented 3.5% of all the brain tumour material and 8% of the total number of gliomas. The clinical features are reviewed, and the necessity for surgical and histological verification of the posterior fossa tumours of childhood and youth is emphasized. Preoperative positive contrast ventriculography was usually performed followed by temporal ventricular drainage or ventriculo-peritoneal shunting. Cystic astrocytomas predominated. Radical removal of the solid part of these should be carried out. Total post-operative case mortality varied between 16 and 22% but has become lower in recent years. Good late results varied between 40 and 70%. Angioblastomas of the cerebellum are usually benign tumours, with a cystic component in 70% or more. Usually they represent the most important part of the so-called Lindau complex with possible associated angiomatosis of the retina (von Hippel-Lindau disease) and, more rarely, visceral lesions or haemangioblastomas of the spinal cord. Cystic cerebellar angioblastomas represented 0.7% of all brain tumours. The proportion of male patients was double that of females and the age peak appeared between 30 and 40 years. An increase of red blood cells above five million per mm3 appeared in 9% of our cases. The value of vertebral angiography is emphasized. After emptying the cyst careful removal of the nodule gives a good late result in more than 70% of patients. However, recurrences have been noted in the literature in about 14% of patients due to the frequency of multiple tumour nodules in the posterior fossa (10% in some vertebral angiographic series). Finally, a most careful clinical and radiological search for other lesions in the rest of the body is imperative in these patients.


Perinatal narcotic addiction in mice: sensitization to morphine stimulation.

The injection of morphine sulfate into baby mice twice daily for 5 days increased their running reaponse to morphine when they were tested as adults. If treatment was completed before the mice were )5 days old there was no effect. Sensitization to morphine running was longer-lasting than either analgesic tolerance or tolerance to morphine running may be a form of denervation hypersensitivity that has several features in common with noise-induced sensitization to audiogenic seizures.


Morphine administration to pregnant rabbits: effect on fetal growth and lung development.

Morphine was injected subcutaneously in doses of 2.5 to 10 mg/kg every 6 hours into pregnant rabbits from early pregnancy until delivery by hysterotomy on the 27th, 28th or 29th day. Pregnant control animals received 0.9% NaC1 injections. Abortions occurred in 34% of the morphine-treated does as a doserelated effect and in 6.5% of the controls. In preserved pregnancies the prevalence of intrauterine death was identical in both samples. Fetuses of treated animals weighed significantly less than those of the controls.However, the normally present effect of intrauterine position on fetal growth was not altered in fetuses of treated animals, so that growth-retarded as well as normal fetuses weighed more when located in the ovarium rather than the cervical portion of the uterus. The fetal lungs were inflated to 35 cm H2O and the remaining air at a deflation pressure of 10 cm H2O (V10) was determined as a measure of lung stability. There were no differences in this indicator of fetal lung maturity between fetuses of treated and control animals. It was found that the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio in the amniotic fluid of rabbits does not correlate with lung maturity; there were no differences between fetuses of treated and control animals. Morphine, when administered to pregnant rabbits does not accelerate fetal lung development. Therefore, the observed reduction in the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome in infants of heroin-addicted women has no direct equivalent in this animal model.


Sound production by Simochromis diagramma (Günther) (Pisces, Cichlidae).

Two types of sounds produced by the cichlid fish Simochromis diagramma, are recorded and analysed. A br-r-r sound, with a main frequency of 200 Hz and a chewing sound with a main frequency of 6,000-10,000 Hz are produced during threatening; the former sound can also be heard during quivering. No sound was recorded with fighting or anxious fishes.


On the diurnal rhythm of activity of Meriones unguiculatus (Milne-Edwards, 1867).

The diurnal rhythm of activity of Meriones unguiculatus (Milne-Edwards, 1867) is examined under natural and artificial light. The activity of 2 animals in captivity was registered actographically. Meriones unguiculatus seems to be more active during the night than during the day and showsed activity in the forenoon was registered.


On the diurnal rhythm of activity of Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linne, 1758).

The diurnal rhythm of activity of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linné, 1758)) is examined under artificial and natural circumstances. Two male rabbits were examined actographically in special registration cages in artificial and natural light. A population of rabbits was observed in nature and its rhythm of activity investigated by different methods: counting the animals and marking their burrows. The rabbit shows a diurnal rhythm of activity with a main maximum just after sunset and a secondary maximum at sunrise. With artificial light the rabbit has a different rhythm than with natural light. The importance of the choice of the parameter of activity is shown, as is the fact that a change of the actual timegiver brings about greater changes than its absence.


Contribution to the ethology of Simochromis diagramma (Günther) (Pisces, Cichlidae).

The behaviour of Simochromis diagramma, a cichlid fish of Lake Tanganyika, is studied. Seven colour patterns were distinguished, corresponding to well-defined behaviour displays or moods. A description of the aggressive behaviour is given for threatening, fighting and feigned attacking. Two forms of aggression inhibiting displays are described. Further, we payed attention to sexual behaviour, parental care and the behaviour of the yound. Simochromis diagramma is a maternal mouth breeder.


Pulmonary arterial oxygen saturation during treadmill exercise. A discriminative index of functional class.

Six patients in functional class II and 11 in functional class III underwent graded treadmill exercise, with severe fatigue as their limiting symptom. During exercise, none of the patients developed chest pain, or significant arrhythmia. Our data suggest that at a treadmill workload of 2 mph and 7 per cent slope, with an oxygen consumption four times that at rest, measurement of the pulmonary arterial oxygen saturation permits clear separation of functional class II from functional class III. Although there was a significant difference in the heart rate response, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, and percentage change in pulmonary arterial end-diastolic pressure, considerable overlap occurred. The use of pulmonary arterial oxygen saturation may prove to be of value in instances in which the functional cardiac status is not reasonably clear from the clinical interview or routine exercise testing. It requires less than maximal effort on the part of the patient, and provides an objective end point to distinguish between two important groups of patients.


Vitamin A transport in human fetal blood.

The average concentration of retinol in the serum of 20 newborn Thai infants was 23.1 +/- 6.0 mug/100 ml, with a range of 14.3-36.6 mug/100 ml, about 60% that found in a group of healthy Thai women (39.8 mug/100 ml). Retinol containing components in pooled fetal serum and in adult serum were purified by chromatography first on DEAE cellulose and then twice on Sephadex G-100 columns. Over 90% of the retinol in fetal serum was associated with a complex between retinol binding protein and prealbumin. By several criteria fetal and adult retinol binding protein appear to be identical.


Localization of human gene loci using spontaneous chromosome rearrangements in human-Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrids.

Analysis of human-Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrids with spontaneously derived chromosome structural changes has provided data for the regional and subregional localization of gene loci which have previously been assigned to human chromosomes 2, 12, and X. Correlation of the expression of human gene loci with the human chromosome complements present in somatic cell hybrids indicates that the cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase (MDH1) locus is in the 2p23yields2pter region, and red cell acid phosphatase (AcP1) is at or adjacent to 2p23. The cytoplasmic isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1) locus is at or adjacent to 2q11, peptidase B (Pep B) is at or adjacent to 12q21, lactate dehydrogenase B (LDH B) is in the 12q21yiedls12pter region, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is in the Xq24yieldsXqter region, and the gene loci for phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), alpha-galactosidase (alpha-gal), and hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (GPRT) are in the Xp21yieldsXq24 region.


A syndrome of recurrent intrauterine adhesions.

Traumatic intrauterine adhesions are known to be reversible. In some cases, following lysis of adhesions we find residual adhesions on hysterography. We have studied 11 cases in whom new adhesion formation, of different type and location have recurred following curettage for lysis of adhesions or in subsequent pregnancy. In each case there were between two and five different forms of intrauterine adhesions during the course of study. In all 11 cases hypomenorrhea was a prominent symptom. On premestrual curettage a scanty amount of endometrium was removed. Their obstetric history was characterized by sterility (four cases) and repeated early abortions, spontaneous or missed. Treatment consisted of repeated curettage and placement of an IUD. Four patients who subsequently become pregnant carried pregnancy to term or near term. Intrauterine adhesions may be considered as a localized manifestation of more generalized process of endometrial fibrosis. This may explain this syndrome of recurrent intrauterine adhesions and the paradoxical phenomenon of limited adhesions being associated with amenorrhea and hypomenorrhea.


Clinical fetal monitoring. VII. The evaluation and significance of intrapartum baseline FHR variability.

The clinical usage of intrapartum fetal monitoring has increased dramatically in the past few years. Understanding of the pathophysiologic significance of FHR patterns has been further elucidated, but quantitation and prediction on an individual basis at times present a practical clinical dilemma. Baseline FHR variability was evaluated in order to see if it provided additional commentary on fetal status. The presence of FHR variability appears to be a favorable commentary regarding both fetal and newborn status. A clinical method of apprasing FHR is presented and the significance of FHR variability suggested.


Iridocyclitis associated with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

In a study of 45 patients, those with monarticular and pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and with antinuclear antibodies, were likely also to have chronic, persistent iridocyclitis. In cases where iridocyclitis was present, topical mydriatics were used to prevent formation of posterior synechiae. Topical corticosteroids were used but discontinued if the uveitis failed to respond. Despite the generally poor prognosis for the vision of these patients, surgery for complicated cataract was often successful.


Nictitating membrane in trisomy 18 syndrome.

A 2,290-g infant boy born after a 43-week gestation had the classic, somatic, and dermatoglyphic findings of trisomy 18 (Edwards) syndrome. The diagnosis was established cytogenetically. A bilateral nictitating membrane was present. In contrast to those in lower species this membrane was established horizontally and moved cephalad for closure. Thus, the membrane occasionally coverd the conjunctiva and cornea completely, giving the impression of corneal clouding. Postmortem studies were not permitted.


Adaptation to fasting in baboon. II. Regulation of lipolysis early and late in fasting.

Regulation of lipolysis by the sympathetic nervous system, basal insulin, and glucagon was studied in fasted baboons. Beta-Adrenergic mechanisms were evaluated by blockade with propranolol after 24, 40, and 65 h of fasting. Inhibition of lipolysis decreased with increasing duration of fasting. Insulin concentrations were markedly reduced by propranolol at all stages of fasting, whereas glucose and glucagon concentrations were unchanged. The roles of insulin and glucagon were evaluated by a 2-h infusion of somatostatin after 18 and 65 h of fasting. At both times, insulin and glucagon concentrations were markedly reduced. At 18 h of fasting but not at 65 h, lipolysis doubled. At both times the plasma glucose concentration fell 15-30%. At 18 h, preventing the decrease in glucose with glucose infusion prevented the increase in lipolysis. These data suggest that a beta-adrenergic mechanism is largely responsible for regulation of lipolysis early in fasting and that insulin, glucagon, and beta-adrenergic mechanisms play no major part in the maintenance of the accelerated lipolysis later in fasting.