DNA-directed RNA polymerase from HeLa cells. Isolation, characterization and cell-cycle distribution of three enzymes.

DNA-directed RNA polymerase was solubilized from total HeLa cells. Three distinct classes of the enzyme could be clearly differentiated by their sensitivity toward alpha-amanitin. While form A is completely resistant to high concentrations (133 mug/ml) of this toxin, enzyme B is highly sensitive and is completely inhibited by concentrations of 0.1 mug/ml. In contrast, RNA polymerase C shows an intermediate behaviour (50% inhibition at 30% mug/ml). Separation of the three individual enzymes was achieved by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose (to separate enzyme B from A and C) and DEAE-Sephadex (to separate polymerase A from C). All three RNA polymerases were subsequently purified by phosphocellulose chromatography followed by sedimentation through glycerol gradients. Analysis of the purified enzymes by gel electrophoresis under denaturating conditions showed that the A enzyme consists of five subunits with molecular weights of 185, 128, 65, 41 and 32 X 10(3). In contrast, polymerase B is composed of seven subunits in variable stoichiometry with molecular weights of 215, 175, 145, 123, 68, 43 and 31 X 10(3) respectively. The subunit structure of enzyme C is not entirely clear at present and remains to be established. In addition, RNA polymerase activities were solubilized from mitotic and middle-S phase cells in comparison to controls. With respect to amounts and/or activities of all three RNA polymerases A,B and C no significant differences were detectable between logarithmically growing, mitotic and middle-S phase cells.


A DNA-directed DNA polymerase from murine liver mitochondria.

A DNA-directed DNA polymerase has been isolated from murine liver mitochondria. The mitochondrial DNA polymerase is distinguishable from other DNA polymerases found in the nucleus and cytosol of murine cells by several enzymatic and physical properties. It is stimulated 5--6-fold by 0.15 M KCl, does not require a sulfhydryl reducing agent for activity, and is inhibited by ethidium bromide or ATP. The enzyme has a sedimentation coefficient of 8.8 S in the presence of up to 0.5 M KCl, a molecular weight of 150--170000, and utilizes natural templates in the following order of preference: activated DNA (100%), single stranded DNA (24%), and native DNA (5%).


Evidence for the presence in calf thymus of a peptidic factor controlling DNA transcription in vitro.

A thymic factor causes a strong inhibition of the DNA-directed RNA polymerase reaction in vitro. The active factor was isolated from aqueous ultrafiltered thymus extracts and purified by means of chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and then on Dowex 50 WX2. The purified thymic factor was characterized as a peptide of low molecular weight (less than 5000). The biological activity of the thymic factor cannot be attributed to the presence of a nuclease or of a histone fragment. The RNA synthesis is controlled by this factor by means of electrostatic interactions between the peptide compound and DNA. Inhibitory activity on RNA synthesis was absent from kidney extracts.


Detailed analysis of the ribosomal RNA synthesis in yeast.

In order to study the biosynthesis of ribosomal RNA in Saccharomyces carlsbergensis the labelling kinetics of the various precursor and mature rRNA species were determined using pulse-labelling of protoplasts with [5-3H] uridine at 15 degrees C. Label appears almost immediately in 37 S RNA, the precursor common to both 26 S and 17 S rRNA. Labelled 29 S and 18 S RNA, the immediate precursors of 26 S and 17 S rRNA respectively, were found to appear about 4 min and about 8 min after addition of the isotope respectively. These data indicate that the topography of the 37 S precursor RNA is: 5'-17 S -26 S-3'. The pool size of 29 S RNA is about twice as large as that of either 37 S or 18 S RNA, indicating that under the conditions used processing of 18 S to 17 S rRNA proceeds more rapidly than processing of 29 S to 26 S rRNA. The labelling kinetics of 5.8 S rRNA are in agreement with the existence of a 7 S precursor rRNA, the identity of which was previously established (Trapman, J., de Jonge, P. and Planta, R.J. (1975) FEBS Lett. 57, 26--30) and which, in turn, probably is derived from 29 S precursor rRNA. The labelling kinetics of 5 S rRNA suggest that 5 S RNA sequences, rather than also being part of the common 37 S precursor, are located on a separate primary transcription product. Whether this transcript still contains excess sequences remains to be determined. However, because of the rapid appearance of labelled 5 S RNA, such a precursor would have to be very short lived.


Modified nucleotide polymers as inhibitors of DNA polymerases.

We have compared the relative inhibitory activity of poly (A) with its analogues poly N6-isopentenyl adenylic acid (poly(i6 A)) and poly N6-benzyl adenylic acid (poly(bzl6A)), and of poly (U) with its analogue poly 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridylic acid (poly(dUfl)), against DNA polymerase, alpha, beta and gamma and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase from human cells and two oncorna virus DNA polymerases. Although poly (A) and its analogues were equally inhibitory against endogenous RNA-directed DNA polymerases of murine and feline leukemia viruses, the analogues in contrast to poly (A) were strongly inhibitory against all four cellular enzymes. Poly (dUfl), on the other hand, was up to 100-fold more potent than poly (U) against both viral and cellular enzymes. Since poly (U) at 100 mug/ml and poly (dUfl) at 1 mug/ml had no effect on terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase while inhibiting other enzymes by 80--100 per cent these polymers could be useful in the characterization and assay of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. In addition, the polymers such as poly (igA) and poly (bzl5A) which were strongly inhibitory to all cellular enzymes, could be useful in cancer chemotherapy if taken up preferentially by the malignant calls due to their high pinocytic activity. The results also demonstrate potential for large variation in inhibitory activity of polyribonucleotides as related to their chemical composition.


A kinetic and structural characterization of adenosine-5'-triphosphate: ribonucleic acid adenylyltransferase from Pseudomonas putida.

A catalytic and structural study of ATP:RNA adenylyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.19) from the particulate fraction of Pseudomonas putida was made. During the large-scale purification of this enzyme, designated adenylyltransferase B, a previously undetected ATP-incorporating activity, designated adenylyltransferase A, was observed. Adenylyltransferases A and B were indistinguishable catalytically; however, they differed in their chromatographic and sedimentation properties. Adenylyltransferases A and B were resolved by phosphocellulose, by poly (U)-Sepharose and by Bio-Gel P-100 chromatographies. Adenylytransferase A was determined to have a sedimentation coefficient (S020,w) of 9.3 S and B of 4.3 S. The molecular weight of adenylyltransferase A was estimated to be 185000 and that of adenylyltransferase B to be 50000-60000. Apparently, adenylyltransferase A was generated from adenylyltransferase B during the purification. The AMP incorporation catalyzed by adenylyltransferases A and B was inhibited by two derivatives of the antibiotic rifamycin, AF/013 (50% at 5 mug/ml) and AF/DNFI (50% at 10 mug/ml). The 5'-triphosphate derivative (3'-dATP) of the drug cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine/ was a competitive inhibitor with ATP for both adenylyltransferases. The Ki for 3'-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate was 6 - 10(-4)--10 - 10(-4) M, while the Km for ATP was 1 - 10(-4)--2 - 10(-4) M. Several other anaolgs of ATP, 2'-deoxyadenosine 5' triphosphate, 2'-O-methyl ATP, or the fluorescent 3-beta-D-ribofuranosylimidazo [2,1-i] purien 5'-triphosphate did not affect the activity of adenylyltransferase A or B. Poly(U) and poly(dT) were competitive inhibitors of the ribosomal RNA-primed polymerization reaction. The Ki for poly(U) or poly(dT), in terms of nucleotide phosphate, was 4 - 10-6)--10 - 10(-6) M for adenylyltransferases A and B, compared to 2 - 10(-4)--4 - 10(-4) M for the Km of ribosomal RNA. The inhibition was a result of the competition between the non-priming poly(U), or poly(dT), and ribosomal RNA for the primer binding site on the enzyme.


Inhibition of hemoglobin synthesis by pancreatic deoxyribonuclease in rabbit reticulocyte lysates.

A pancreatic deoxyribonuclease preparation, shown to be free of significant ribonuclease activity, inhibits hemoglobin synthesis in a rabbit reticulocytelysate. Preincubation with DNAase (15 min at 25 degrees C) is required to obtain a marked inhibitory effect (nearly 70%). It has been shown that DNAase does not significantly interfere with the elongation or termination steps of translation, but it seems to prevent reinitiation of globin polypeptide chains allowing polysome run-off. In particular, the formation of the 40S/met-tRNAmetf complex is greatly reduced in the DNAase-treated lysate. At the moment the mechanism by which DNAase inhibits initiation is not clear.


Effect of ricin on biosynthesis of myeloma protein (IgA) and general cellular proteins in MOPC-315 cells.

Ricin, a phyto-toxin from the seeds of Ricinus communis, preferentially inhibits synthesis of myeloma protein by MOPC-315 cells as compared to the synthesis of general proteins. In contrast, cycloheximide inhibited equally both myeloma protein synthesis as well as general protein synthesis. These results suggest that proteins synthesized near or on cell membranes are more sensitive to Ricin which binds to the acceptor molecule on the plasma membrane.


Evidence supporting a physiological role for the hemin-controlled translational repressor of globin synthesis in reticulocytes.

The synthesis of heme and globin in rabbit reticulocytes was compared at 35 and 25 degrees C. The lower temperature decreased heme synthesis significantly more than globin synthesis and resulted in a much greater accumulation of globin dimers. After 16 h of incubation in the absence of iron, globin synthesis in reticulocytes which were at 35 degrees C could not be stimulated by iron, whereas cells which were at 25 degrees C responded with nearly control levels of globin synthesis. Since the formation of the hemin-controlled translational repressor in reticulocyte lysates is also decreased much more than protein synthesis at reduced temperature the results provide evidence for a physiological role for the translational repressor in controlling globin synthesis in reticulocytes.


Further studies on the lens cell-free system. In vitro synthesis of the non-crystallin lens proteins.

1. The lens cell-free system synthesizes in addition to the crystallins, polypeptides which co-electrophorese with lens plasma membrane protein components. 2. Isolated lens polysomes can be translated in a heterologous cell-free system. They code for both the crystallins and membrane-protein-like components. 3. If messengers isolated from these polysomes by affinity chromatography on oligo-(dT)-cellulose are added to a heterologous cell-free system, only lens proteins of lower molecular weight are synthesized. 4. Different ionic conditions are required for optimal translation of different lens messengers.


Evidence for the existence of a stable association between nascent DNA and the nuclear membrane of HeLa cells.

Nascent DNA-nuclear membrane complexes isolated from HeLa cells and solubilized in a sodium dodecyl sulfate-urea solution were examined by gel electrophoresis, column chromatography, isopycnic centrifugation, and by extraction with chloroform/methanol. Radioactivity attributable to [3H]DNA co-migrated with three protein peaks during electrophoresis. This radioactivity was eliminated by prior treatment with DNAase. In addition, all of the radioactivity attributable to nascent DNA eluted with a specific protein on Sepharose 4B columns. This DNA - protein complex banded at a density of 1.58 gm/cm3 in sucrose-CsCl gradients. Treatment with DNAase, phospholipase A and C, and dilute alkali disrupted the complex. Moreover, 93% of the radioactivity attributable to protein and 70% of that attributable to DNA could be extracted from the complex with a chloroform/methanol solution. The results suggest that nascent DNA may be in a stable association with a proteolipid moiety of the nuclear membrane.


Studies of electron migration in DNA in aqueous solution using intercalating dyes.

The reactions of the hydrated electron (e-aq) and of the hydroxyl radical (OH) with double-stranded DNA in aqueous solution at room temperature have been studied through the use of the intercalating dyes, proflavine and ethidium. These dyes react with e-aq with rate constants of (2.5 +/- 0.2) - 10(10) M-1 - s-1 and (3.0 +/- 0.3) - 10(10) M-1 - s-1, respectively; the rate constant for the reaction of OH with proflavine is (1.0 +/- 0.2) - 10(10) M-1 - s-1. When these molecules are bound within the DNA structure both the yields and the rate constants of reaction with e-aq are reduced in a manner entirely consistent with a simple competition between the DNA bases and restricted dye molecules reacting with a bimolecular rate constant of about 2 - 10(9) M-1 - s-1. No evidence of free electron migration in the DNA was obtained, and an upper limit of five base pairs for the range of such migration was derived. Reactions of the hydroxyl radical with DNA-bound proflavine also lead to a rate constant of about 2 - 10(9) M-1 - s-1. These rate constants are in good agreement with rate predictions (per base unit) for a diffusion-controlled reaction with the DNA structure.


III. The RNA component of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complexes isolated from mouse liver. Absence of amino acid accepting activity.

A method is described which permits the simultaneous isolation and separation of insoluble aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase protein - RNA complexes containing high specific synthetase activity, and soluble tRNA which retains 25% to 50% of its specific amino acid accepting activity. A possible amino acid accepting activity of the RNA part of the insoluble aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase protein - RNA complex was investigated by assaying the unchanged complex and the RNA obtained after dissociation from the protein part of the synthetase complex. No amino acid accepting activity was found.


The developmental biochemistry of cotton seed embryogenesis and germination. VI. Levels of cytosol and chloroplast aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases during cotyledon development.

The separation of isotransferring aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activities (amino acid: tRNA ligases, EC 6.1.1.x) for several amino acids extracted from tissues of embryonic and germinating cotton seeds was carried out by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Evidence was obrained that the separated activities represent discrete enzymes, and could be defined as cytosol or chloroplast enzymes by several criteria. The levels of the cytosol enzymes per cell were found to be constant in germinated and ungerminated cotyledons. Chloroplast enzymes were found to be present in immature embryonic cotyledons and in roots at constant levels relative to the cytosol enzymes, but found to increase markedly in germinating cotyledons. This increase takes place to the same extent in etiolated cotyledons as in greened cotyledons indicating that the chloroplast synthetase increase is analogous to the simultaneous increase in chloroplast tRNA and rRNA which also is not light dependent. The separated cytosol and chloroplast enzymes show varying degrees of specificity for isoaccepting tRNA species from homologous and heterologous sources.


Transport into erythrocytes and intestinal absorption of uric acid in hereditary renal hypouricemia.

Uric acid transport into the erythrocytes and uric acid absorption from the intestine in a subject with hereditary defective renal tubular uric acid reabsorption was found to be normal. The findings are discussed in relation to the variability of phenotype expression in other renal tubular transport disorders.


The effect of portacaval transposition on hepatic cytochrome P-450 in the rat.

The effects of portacaval anastomosis and portacaval transposition on colloidal radiogold fractional clearance and on hepatic cytochrome P-450 level were compared in the rat. Colloidal radiogold fractional clearance was significantly lower in rats with portacaval anastomosis (0.556 +/- 0.188 min-1 (mean +/- 1 SD)) than in sham-operated animals (0.842 +/- 0.151 min-1); hepatic cytochrome P-450 level was likewise lower in the former (0.60 +/- 0.14) nmol/mg of microsomal proteins) than in the latter (0.83 +/- 0.12 nmol/mg of microsomal proteins). Colloidal radiogold fractional clearance was not different in rats with portacaval transposition (0.808 +/- 0.201 min-1) and in sham-operated animals (0.798 +/- 0.064 min-1); hepatic cytochrome P-450 level was significantly lower in the former (0.55 +/- 0.07 nmol/mg of microsomal proteins) than in the latter (0.76 +/- 0.17 nmol/mg of microsomal proteins). If colloidal radiogold clearance is assumed to be an index of liver blood flow, these results suggest that portacaval anastomosis induces a decrease, and portocaval transposition produces no change, in liver blood flow. It is concluded that the decrease in hepatic cytochrome P-450 level in the rat with portacaval anastomosis is not merely the consequence of reduced blood flow, but rather results from deprivation of a substance or substances present in portal blood and contributing to maintenance of the cytochrome level.


Influence of phenobarbital on bile composition in epileptic patients.

The influence of phenobarbital on bile composition was studied in 13 patients with epilepsy, treated with the drug in doses ranging from 0.05 to 0.30 g per day during 4 months to 50 years. Fourteen normal subjects matched for age and sex acted as controls. Expressed as percent of total lipids, biliary cholesterol (9.2 +/- SD 2.7 in the controls, 9.0 +/- SD 2.5 in the treated patients), phospholipid (23.3 +/- SD 6.1 in the controls, 20.5 +/- SD 5.9 in the treated patients) and bile acid concentrations (67.5 +/- SD 8.1 in the controls, 70.4 +/- SD 7.4 in the treated patients) did not differ significantly in the two groups. When represented on triangular coordinates, bile from the treated patients was not separated from that of controls. These studies indicate that long-term phenobarbital administration in the doses used for the treatment of epilepsy does not modify biliary lipid composition and do not suggest that this drug may be useful in the treatment of cholesterol gallstones in man.


Inhibitory effect of medium sized molecules from patients with renal failure on lymphocyte stimulation by phytohemagglutinin.

Middle molecular weight molecules were separated from uremic sera by chromatography on Sephadex G25 fine and assayed on lymphocyte cultures stimulated by phytohemagglutinin. They were found to inhibit markedly the cell proliferation by this mitogen, and this inhibition was still noticeable when cells were incubated for only one hour with eluate, before the culture. These molecules, as well as methylguanidine, might play a part in the cell-mediated immunodeficiency secondary to renal failure.


Electro-optical studies on synthetic polyelectrolytes. I. Ultraviolet electric dichroism of poly-N-alkylvinylpyridinium bromides in aqueous solution.

The electric dichroism of aqueous solutions of poly-2- and 4-vinylpyridinium bromides has been measured in the 220 to 300 nm region. From the knowledge of the assignments of the absorption bands, the orientation of the pyridinium ring with respect to the macromolecular axis was determined for the poly-N-butyl-4-vinylpyridium bromide. An estimation of the birefringence contribution in the visible region originating from these ultraviolet dichroic bands revealed that the negative birefringence observed mainly arose from electronic transitions at shorter wavelengths.


Mechanism of the hexamer-dodecamer reaction of lobster hemocyanin.

The overall forward and reverse rate constants for the hexamer-dodecamer reaction of lobster hemocyanin have been determined in 0.1 ionic strength glycine buffers at pH 9.6, at free calcium ion levels from 0.0031 to 0.0053 molar, at 25 degrees C. Concentration-jump relaxation experiments in a stopped-flow apparatus were monitored by light scattered at 90 degrees. The reaction is pseudobimolecular, and the overall forward rate constant bears virtually all of the calcium ion concentration-dependence, while the overall reverse rate constant is truly unimolecular. Four calcium ions appear to participate in the reaction between two hexameric molecules, and appear to become an integral part of the structure of the dodecameric molecule under these conditions.


Pulse fluorometry of cyclo-(glycyl-L-tryptophyl).

The fluorescence of cyclo-(glycyl-L-tryptophyl) in trimethyl phosphate has been studied in a temperature range varying from room temperature to -85 degrees C. At room temperature, the fluorescence decay is the sum of two exponentials, the relative amplitude of which depends on the emission wavelength. This can be explained by the presence of the two following emitting molecular states: on one hand the unfolded state, the fluorescence decay time and the emission spectrum of which are close to these of skatole; on the other hand the folded state which has a shorter decay time and a blue-shifted spectrum. By lowering the temperature, the fluorescence spectrum shifts to the blue, while the skatole spectrum shifts to the red. This behavior corresponds to an increase of the folded conformation concentration in agreement with the NMR results. Furthermore the rate of exchange between the folded and the unfolded conformations decreases. Accordingly the wavelength dependence of the fluorescence decay lessens. There are two possible values of the conformational angle x2 differing by 180 degrees, which correspond to the folded state; due to the indole asymmetry, the interactions between the indole and diketopiperazine rings differ in these conformers. Consequently the fluorescence decay remains biexponential even at -85 degrees C.


Thermal membrane potential through charged membranes in electrolyte solutions.

Measurements of the thermal membrane potential across cation and anion exchange membranes were carried out by using the same solution of various 1-1 electrolytes on both sides of the membrane. In all cases a good linear relationship was observed between the thermal membrane potential increment psi and the temperature difference increment T. The slope of the linear plot varied with the concentration of the electrolyte. The value of increment psi/increment T versus logarithmic activity of the electrolyte plot was linear with a slope of +/- R/F if the transport number of counterion was unity. The magnitude of increment psi/increment T was independent of coion species but dependent on counterions. These experimental results are in agreement with a theory presented previously. The thermal membrane potential caused by the direct effect of temperature differences and that by the indirect effect arising from the changes in ionic and water chemical potentials due to the temperature difference are separately discussed.


Kinetic control of three-species association reactions in gel chromatography.

The gel chromatographic patterns of a monomer-dimer-tetramer system under kinetic control have been studied by computer simulation. In no case do the derivative curves of the concentration profiles exhibit more than bimodality in these systems and in some cases are found to exist as a single, almost symmetric, peak. The monomer-dimer reaction affects the dimer-tetramer reaction only slightly and the same is true for the effect of the dimer-tetramer reaction on that of the monomer-dimer. All systems can be fit, to a first approximation, by an empirical formula which suggests any reaction with a first order half life within one and one half or two orders of the transport time will be under kinetic control.


Dissipative structures in two dimensions.

Some further results on dissipative structures for one- and, more particularly, for two-dimensional bounded systems are presented. A model chemical network involving reactions and diffusion is investigated. The influence of the boundary conditions (no fluxes or fixed concentrations), the geometrical shape of the limits (circular or rectangular) and the size of the system on the variety of possible patterns is demonstrated. A comparison of the numerical results with bifurcation theory is outlined. Finally, the problem of multiplicity of stable ordered solutions which turns out to increase sharply from one to two dimensions, is discussed.


Studies on Triton X-100 detergent micelles.

Triton X-100 micelle formation at 25 degrees C was studied by use of sedimentation equilibrium and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The apparent molecular weight of the major Triton X-100 micelle was found to be 81250, indicating a micelle number of 125. A micelle number of 121 was obtained with fluorescence titration experiments, which showed one molecule of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate binding per micelle with an apparent association constant of 0.9 x 10(5) M. The fluorescent titration experiments also indicated the presence of another TX-100 binding species of variable size.


The products of cellulose.

The recommendation of our panel was that the following were specific areas of promising research: 1) A more complete technology assessment in broad terms. 2) Additional fundamental studies on microbial conversion to methane. 3) Conversion of wood or crop residues to feed for ruminants by the simplest possible methods. 4) More complete characterization of the quality of syrups produced by enzymatic or acid hydrolysis. 5) Continued study of effective use of the lignin and hemicellulose by-products.


Ethanol fermentation and potential.

Ethyl alcohol is one of the United States and world's major chemicals. Beverage alcohol in the United States must be prepared from cereal grains or other natural products. The U.S. industrial alcohol market has remained relatively stable for several years at approximately 300 million gallons annually. Most of this has been produced synthetically from petroleum raw material (gas and oil). These raw materials are experiencing major price increases and are in short supply. The production of ethyl alcohol from cereal grains and cellulosic raw materials by fermentation is technically feasible and has been proven. Alcohol produced from all such materials is equal to synthetic alcohol in quality and performance. Competitive economics have controlled the basic raw materials used. The major potential new ethyl alcohol market is as a component of automobile fuels. A 10% alcohol-gasoline blend in the United States would annually require over 10 billion gallons of anhydrous alcohol. Use of alcohol for this purpose is technically feasible. However, alcohol has not been economically competitive to date.


Economical factors in the assessment of various cellulosic substances as chemical and energy resources.

Economic factors in the assessment of various cellulosic substances as chemical and energy resources are many and complex. No substrate nor conversion process can be singled out as significantly advantageous. Agricultural wastes appear to have the best volume and availability characteristics. If glucose is to be the end product, then it will probably have to compete with corn syrup. If SCP is to be the end product, then productivities of 2-4 g/liter-hr must be achieved and the protein demand be such that the product can sell for at least $225/ton. If alcohol is to be the end product, then an intermediate product stream of glucose and other sugars must be obtained for 1-3cent/lb of fermentable sugars.


[Effect of the limbic cortex on regional lymph and blood flow in dogs].

Electrical stimulation of the anterior limbic area of the cortex in dogs resulted in increase of the lymph flow from the intestinal lymph duct, in enlargement of the mesenteric lymph nodes, in a fall of arterial pressure in the cranial mesenteric artery, and in decrease of the blood-stream from the homonymous vein and in the tone of the mesenteric veins. Constriction of the mesenteric veins and increase in the intestinal lymph-stream are considered to be a compensatory reaction to restore the arterial pressure to the initial level.


[Change in the rhythm of the enzyme activity of the liver in white rats during the chronic action of vinylacetate].

Experiments were conducted on male albino rats for 5 months; the activity of the liver aspartic and alaninaminotransferases underwent cyclic synchronized variations. Chronic 24-hour inhalation of vinylacetate in a concentration of 2.4 mg/m3 caused a transformation of the rhythms of these variations with the preservation of synchronization in the changes of the activity of the enzymes under study. With a greater concentration of vinylacetate (13.2 and 68 mg/m3) inducing chronic intoxication, desynchronization of transaminase variations was seen in the liver. A posssibility of correlation analysis use for determining the extent of synchronization in the activity of the enzymatic systems for the purpose of estimation of the toxic effect of the poisons is discussed.


[Influence of parathyroid hormone and heparin on tooth development in mice homozygous for the microphthalmia mutation].

In mice, homozygous by microphthalmia (mi/mi) gene the disturbance of dental development was due to defects in dental pulp and to the absence of bone resorpion. Administration of heparin or parathyroid hormone stimulated dental eruption in mi/mi mice. Following combined action of heparin and parathyroid hormone the number of erupted teeth was practically the same as after the action of heparin alone. Possibly the level of heparin is insufficient, but secretion of parathyroid hormone is unimpaired in mi/mi mice.


[Role of mitochondrial swelling in the energetic effectiveness of intact myocardial cells (according to electron microscopy data)].

The myocardium of the left and the right cardiac ventricles was studied at various seasons on 20 rabbits. There was found a distinct seasonal dynamics of a number of quantitative indices of electronograms. In particular, there was found a relationship between the coefficients of energy efficacy of the mitochondria (integral value--calculated by multiplying the mitochondrial area by the number of mitochondrial cristae) and the mitochondrial area. With increase of the latter to 0,85 mc2 this relationship is positive and linear. With further swelling of the mitochondria this relationship disappears, however.


[State of the epiphysis during winter hibernation].

It was found that the pineal gland of active ground squirrels (Citellus erythrogenys) differed from this gland in rats by a more pronounced differentiation into cortical and medullary zones, by larger pineocytes with polymorphous nuclei and numerous pseudokariosomes. Hybernation was accompanied by reduced concentration of serotonin in the pineal gland, by the disappearance of differences between the cortical and the medullary zones and by a number of morphological signs of functional depression. The appearing changes were similar to those occurring in denervation of the pineal gland.


[Electron microscopic autoradiography of the adrenal cortex following administration of cholesterol-H3].

Distribution of labeled cholesterol-H3 and its metabolites in the adrenal cortex cells was investigated by electronmicroscopic autoradiography. The selective uptake of the labels by the mitochondria and lipid vacuoles was demonstrated.


[Objective non-contact method of study of the color of the human skin integument by use of a photoelectric colorimeter].

The authors describe a method of determination of the colour of the skin in man based on the use of contactless photoelectric colorimeter made especially for this purpose. The mean normal values of the indices of the skin colour of the anterior and the posterior surface of the arm in 45 men and 35 women of the Europeoid race under normal conditions are presented.


[Electrophysiological characteristics of the external eye muscles of frogs].

With the aid of a microelectrophysiological method data were obtained on the difference of the fibers of the inferior rectus muscle of a frog by the type of electrical activity. The greater part of the fibers displayed a continuous tonic activity in the form of polymorphous postsynaptic potentials. Individual fibers responded by a series of action potentials to depolarization created by the introduction of a microelectrode; such reaction was characteristic of the skeletal transitional fibers. The rest of the fibers were inactive, at least some of them with a high membrane potential could be referred to the phasic system.


[Changes in the protein composition of the synaptic structures of the brain of rats in tetanus intoxication].

As shown by the method of electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel, the number of proteins with low electrophoretic mobility proved to be increased in the triton extract fractions of synaptic structures isolated from spinal cord of rats with local tetanus; no changes in the protein spectrum were revealed in the dodecyl-sulphate extract. In vitro tetanus toxin stimulated the lysin-H3 incorporation into the total proteins of synaptosomes of rat brain cortex.


[Study of the evoked potentials to photic stimulation in man after deafferentiation of the visual cortex].

A study was made of evoked potentials (EP) in response to light stimulus in the occipital areas of the cortex in 28 patients with homonimous hemianopsia caused by focal affection of the optic system. EP asymmetry in the hemispheres was recorded only in case of complete homonimous hemianopsia. Reduction of response at the side of contralateral hemoanopsia was observed in affection of the optic tracts at the level of the optic cord and in case of spread of the pathological focus to the occipital lobe. In half of the cases of homonimous hemianopsia caused by affection of the optic radiation the responses were greater by amplitude at the side of the focus or were recorded only in the deafferentated occipital area.


[Various neurochemical mechanisms for the production of conditioned reflexes of various biologicals modalities at the level of the caudate nucleus].

Microinjection of noradrenaline in to the head of the caudate nucleus failed to influence the latent time of the conditioned reaction of avoidance and the muscle tone, but limited the motor activity and considerably increased the value and the latent time of the food-procuring reflex. Serotonin failed to influence the latent time of the conditioned defence reflex and did not alter the motor activity of rats; however, it shortened the latent period of the conditioned motor-food reflex and markedly stimulated the food-procuring reaction. Dopamine inhibited the conditioned food and defence reflex, but markedly stimulated the spontaneous motor activity of rats. The data obtained pointed to differences in the neurochemical mechanisms realizing the conditioned reflex reactions of different biological modality at the level of the caudate nucleus of rats.


[Dynamics of contraction of the left and right ventricles of the heart (according to kinetocardiography data) in the development of renovascular hypertension in dogs of various ages].

Kinetocardiograms of the left and the right ventricles of the heart were recorded in puppies and adult dogs during development in them of experimental renovascular hypertension. Development of hypertension in adult dogs led to the shortening of ejection period, and in puppies--to its prolongation. The vector analysis of kinetocardiograms demonstrated in adult dogs the appearance of the syndrome of hypodynamics of the left ventricle replaced later by the syndrome of high diastolic pressure. In the puppies' left ventricle there appeared the phasic syndrome of high diastolic pressure replaced by the syndrome of stenosis of the exit tract. The phasic structure of the cycle of the right ventricle is characterized by the appearance of the syndrome of hyperdynamia detectable earlier in adult dogs.


[Erythropoietic function of the kidneys under conditions of abnormally high oxygen pressure].

Three to five hours after 5-hour exposure of rabbits to high oxygen pressure (2 ata) the erythropoietin proved to disappear from both the arterial and the venous blood plasma of the kidneys. At the same time the blood plasma from the renal vein began to suppress the mitotic activity of erythroblastic cells in the bone marrow culture. These data testify to the fact that under hyperbaric hyperoxia the kidneys secreted the inhibitor of erythropoiesis. No erythropoiesis inhibitor was revealed 24 hours after the hyperoxia.


[Serum and liver cholesterol in experimental fever].

A single intravenous injection to rabbits of pyrogenal (10 gamma/kg) or of Bac. mesentericus culture (3 milliard microbial cells in 1 ml/kg) led in 3 hours to a decrease in total blood serum cholesterol content (due to decrease of cholesterol esters) and to elevation in the liver of free cholesterol and cholesterol esters. Blood serum and liver cholesterol remained high in 24 hours, although the temperature was normal.


[Effect of reversible inhibitors on the thermal denaturation of cholinesterases].

The capacity of reversible inhibitors--galanthamine and tacrine--to protect the cholinesterase of rat and mouse brain from the thermal denaturation with the action of the temperature of 56 and 58 degrees C was revealed. The protective action was also noted when the reversible inhibitors decreased the activity of the enzyme. It appeared that with galanthamine the cholinesterase resistance to the thermal action was greater than with the action of tacrine.


[Intensity of respiration and the metabolism of phospholipids in isolated brain tissues of rats at various temperatures in the presence of KCN].

The intensity of oxygen consumption, as well as phospholipid metabolism of minced rat brain tissue were studied at different temperature of the incubation media (37 degrees, 32 degrees and 27 degrees C) without cyanide and in the media containing KCN (0.5 and 1.0 mM). As shown, both parameters depended directly upon the incubation temperature within the range of 27 degrees-37 degrees. KCN inhibited both processes, but depression of phospholipid metabolism was more expressed. These data suggest that under conditions of cyanide poisoning phospholipid metabolism depends both on the toxic effect of KCN directly and on the temperature, whose reduction reinforces this effect.


[Hypothalamic autostimulation in rats at low frequencies of stimulation on the basis of locomotion].

A study was made of the hypothalamic autostimulation of rats with the impulse stimulation frequency of from 30 to 7 cycles/sec. The animals' brain was stimulated in Skinner's chamber and on the basis of locomotion. The duration of a series of impulses established by the animal on the basis of locomotion grew with reduction of the frequency of stimulation impulses. The pauses between the series of impulses and the duration of the series were also prolonged with a voltage reduction. With the help of stimulation frequency of 7 cycles it was possible to choose such a current that the sum of the total duration of pauses lay within 0 divided by 10% of the total experimental time. The duration of individual pauses was less than 0.5 sec.


[Effect of neuroleptics of the phenothiazine series on the impulse activity and ultrastructure of the cortical neurons of rabbits].

Experiments on rabbits showed that chlorpromazine given in a dose of 5 mg/kg produced a disaggregation of polysomes, dilatation of the cysterns of the endoplasmic reticulum, hypertrophy of the Golgi apparatus and swelling of the mitochondria in the majority of the cortical neurons. To these ultrastructural changes corresponded the inhibition of the pulse activity of the nerve cells. In difference from chlorpromazine, trephthazine given in the same dose caused a thickening of the matrix of a part of the neurons, accompanied by an increase in the pulse activity of a group of the cortical cells (28%) under the effect of triphthazine. The established changes in the pulse activity and the ultrastructure of the neurons are regarded in association with the differences in the spectrum of the psychotropic activity of the two neuroleptics--phenothiazine derivatives.


[Effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid and phenibut on the central links of the vascular reflexes with chemo- and mechanoreceptors of the aorto-carotid zone].

Experiments were conducted on decerebrated cats. A depressive effect of gamma-aminobutyruc acid (GABA)--100--200 mg/kg and its phenyl derivative phenibut--20 mg/kg--on depressive reactions of the systemic arterial pressure and on the inhibition of spontaneous bioelectrical activity in the renal nerve occurring in stimulation of the mechanoreceptors of the carotid sinus and of the sinus and depressor nerve afferents (having a mechanoreceptor modality) was demonstrated. Pressor reactions of the systemic arterial pressure and evoked bioelectrical activity were enhanced in the renal nerve in stimulation of chemoreceptors of the carotid sinus following administration of the same GABA and phenibut doses. The data obtained are interpreted from the aspect of a deprimating action of GABA and phenibut in the area of the paramedian reticular nuclei of the medulla oblongata.


[Contraceptive activity of combinations of steroids and antiadrenergic preparations].

Experiments were conducted on mature female rats. Simultaneous administration through a tube for 14 days, daily, of mestranol (0.04 mg/kg) and megestrol acetate (0.8 mg/kg) gave no significant contraceptive effect, whereas the use of steroid preparations in the same doses in combination with antiadrenergic substances--dopegit (100 mg/kg) or pyrroxan (10 mg/kg) prevented pregnancy effectively.


[Study of the thymus as a source of humoral factors stimulating antibody formation].

A fraction stimulating antibody formation in neonatal animals was obtained in separation of the calf thymus extract (1A) prepared by the method of Goldstein et al. on a column with Sephadex G-25 (fine). Testing of the activity of analogous fractions of the extracts of calf tonsils, spleen, lymph nodes and the liver led to a supposition that the thymus was the only source of specific humoral factor stimulating antibody formation, which could accumulate in the peripheral lymphoid formations. Low activity of tonsillar extracts failed to confirm the hypothesis on the role played by the tonsils as the central immunity organ similar to the bursa Fabricii.


[Detection of tissue antigens in the blood of burn patients].

Immunochemical studies of the sera of patients with severe burns led to the conclusion that as soon as within the first two days following the trauma, tissue antigens sharing common components with those of the burned and normal skin were detected in the blood. The antigens in question were not detected in the sera of healthy sugjects, and were not identical with the C-reactive protein. A long-term circulation of these antigens, i.e. for 2 to 3 months after burning, was revealed.


[Circulation of antibodies to dispiral RNA and ribosomal RNA in patients with allergies, rheumatic disease, and rheumatic arthritis].

A study was made of the incidence of antibodies to bispiral synthetic polynucleotide (poly E, poly C). In patients with allergoses and in healthy persons antibodies to bispiral RNA were revealed in 14% of cases, in patients with rheumatism--in 40.9% and with rheumatoid arthritis--in 50% of cases. It is supposed that more frequent detection of antibodies to bispiral RNA in patients with rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis is associated with persistence of the RNA-containing viruses.


[Changes in the electric activity of the myocardial fibers of the guinea pig during local anaphylactic reactions under conditions of inactivation of "rapid" sodium channels].

Changes of electrical activity (intracellular records) of guinea pig heart auriculus were studied during experimental cardiac anaphylaxis (ovalbumine being used as an antigen). Fast Na channels of the myocardial fibers having been depressed by long-standing depolarization in K+-rich (20 mM) Tyrode solutions, only the low-amplitude slow responses to brief stimuli were recorded. Addition of ovalbumine (2.10(-4) g/ml), histamine (1.10(-4) g/ml) or adrenaline (5.10(-6) g/ml) to the K-rich solution led to increase of both the amplitude and the duration of the responses. These data supported the hypothesis on the principal role of slow Na--Ca channels in the mechanism of the changes in the electrical activity of the myocardial fibers during cardiac anaphylaxis.


[Autoradiographic determination of the parameters of the mitotic cycle of tumors of human testis in tissue culture].

By means of autoradiography with thymidine-H3 the authors studied the mitotic cycle of a primary culture of the human testicle tumours on the 16th day of growth. Prolonged incubation with the isotope was employed. The following parameters of the mitotic cycle for the whole cellular population were established: T-83.6 hours, G + M = 60.25 hours, S = 5.35 hours, G2 = 18.0 hours. A conclusion was drawn that it was possible to use the primary culture to determine the mitotic cycle of human tumours.


[Phenomenon of hypertrophy of the testes after amputation of the lower incisors in rats].

Repeated amputation of the lower incisors in rats carried out at the early postnatal on togenesis causes an enlargement of the salivary glands and hypertrophy of the testis with the phenomena of acceleration of their differentiation. Hypertrophy of the testes withthe mentioned action was much greater (76%) than in the case of unilateral castration at the same age. In adult animals repeated amputation of the lower incisors caused hypertrophy of the salivary glands, but failed to influence the hypertrophy of the testes.


Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia with ultrastructural features of type I and II.

The autopsy and electron microscopic findings in a pair of brothers with congenital dyserythropoietic anemia (CDA) are presented. In both patients autopsy revealed severe secondary hemochromatosis, including cirrhosis of the liver and fatal heart involvement. According to current ultrastructural criteria, a mixture of CDA type I (interchromatin bridges, wide euchromatin-cytoplasmic connections) and of type II (marginal cisternae, nuclear protrusions, multinuclearity, karyorrhexis) was found in erythroblasts of one patient. In the second patient electron microscopy of bone marrow stored in formalin for several years allowed the diagnosis of CDA with marginal cisternae in retrospect. These findings illustrate the usefulness of electron microscopy for the diagnosis of CDA in unsolved cases of chronic ineffective erythropoiesis, even from formalin fixed material. For subtyping CDA into type I and II, however, other than morphological parameters should be used for definition. In the clinical management splenectomy and a drastic phlebotomy programme have been found favourable.


[Frequency of hemoglobin abnormalities and hemoglobinopathies in Mozambique peoples (comparison between leprosy and non-leprosy subjects].

In 588 bloodsamples of negride natives from Moçambique, preferably Chuabo and Macua, haemoglobin analyses were performed. In 21 cases an increase of Hb A2 was found, indicating the presence of heterozygous beta-thalassaemia, in one case the changes in Hb-analysis were typical for beta-delta-thalassaemia, 18 samples could be shown to contain Hb S, typical for the heterozygous sickle cell trait. Futhermore in 7 cases Hb A2' was found. In two bloodsamples haemoglobin variants were observed, which according to their electrophoretical mobility were assumed to represent Hb D in one case, and Hb G in the other. In the Chuabo population the frequency of the thalassaemia gene was found to be more than twice as high as in the Macua population. In non-lepers Hb S was observed with a remarkable higher incidence than in lepers.


[Chromosome studies in newborn infants following exchange transfusion using countersexual blood].

The chromosomes of 6 (5 females, 1 male) newborns have been examined before and after exchange transfusion. The highest percentage of donor lymphocytes has been found immediately after the exchange transfusion (9%, range 5 to 16%). The percentage of donor lymphocytes had decreased to 4% after 24 hours and to 1% after 3 weeks. There was no hint of a clastogenic effect of phototherapy and exchange transfusion.


A low dose-fractionation shceme for the radiotherapy of carcinoma of the bladder. Experimental background and preliminary results.

Experimental observations are described which form the basis of a low dose-fractionation scheme designed in an attempt to circumvent the problem presented for radiotherapy by the particular radioresistance of poorly oxygenated cells. In a preliminary investigation the scheme was tested in the treatment of carcinoma of the bladder. A total of 45 patients were included in the trial, randomized to be treated according to either of two fractionation schemes. Scheme I : 100 rad 3 times a day, 5 days a week, a total tumor dose of 8 400 rad, 2 weeks of rest in middle of the treatment period. Scheme II : 200 rad once a day, 5 days a week, a total tumor dose of 6 400 rad, 2 weeks of rest in the middle of the treatment period. The results suggest an improved therapeutic ratio with Scheme I in comparison to Scheme II.


[Cytological diagnosis and cytohistological correlations of malignant epithelial tumors of the rhinopharynx].

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma frequently has as its first manifestation cervical lymph node metastases before local symptoms appear. In the Instituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura del Tumori of Milan, routine nasopharyngeal cytology has been carried out on these patients. Positive cytology in 55 cases of undifferentiated carcinoma (83.6%) and positive cytology of biopsies was obtained in 87.3%. The combination of cytology and histology gave a yield of 98.2% positive cases. For squamous carcinomas positive cytology was less frequently obtained, the same as for malignant lymphomas. The cytology of undifferentiated carcinoma has such marked morphological characters that it is very easy to diagnose it in a very high percentage of cases. In the differential diagnosis cytologically it is necessary to bear in mind other neoplasias, in particular some of the malignant lymphomas.


[Cancers of the rhinopharynx in Tunisia. Epidemiological and anatomo-clinical aspects].

Three hundred and ninety eight cancers of the nasopharynx were collected in five years (1969-1973). They occupy the first place in E.N.T. sites of cancer. The majority (390 cases) were carcinomas. Its frequency in youth is conspicuous in this study (63 cases--16%--under the age of 19). The age and year adjusted incidence per 100,000 in relation to the world population is 7.5 for men and 3.3 for women. Clinically, lymph node enlargement was apparent in 2/3 of the cases. The relative frequency of paraneoplastic syndromes in the young is noteworthy. With regard to aetiology, a study of the viral and immunogenetic hypothesis is in train.


[Route of tumoral extension of cancers of the rhinopharynx. Anatomo-clinical study].

Seventy two cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were studied. The manner of spread varied with the primary site, 49 being lateral and 23 postero-superior. The clinical and radiological findings were correlated with the histological appearance on autopsy material derived from serial sections of the base of the skull.


[Epidemiology of cancer of the cavum].

While rare in most parts of the world, cancer of the nasopharynx is shown to be very common in Southern Chinese whether living in South China or elsewhere, is of intermediate level in a variety of Mongoloid populations such as Malays, Thais, Javanese and Vietnamese and the indigeneous peoples of Borneo, yet uncommon in North China and very rare in Japan. Moderate frequencies are seen in parts of the Maghreb, Malta, the Sudan and possibly East Africa. Occupational risk has not been demonstrated and case-control studies have generally been negative. Studies of migrants, notably Chinese of the US, have shown a diminution of mortality for the second and third generation, yet their risk still remains much higher than for white Americans. There is no convincing evidence of elevated risk among low-risk Caucasian populations living in South East Asia. The above findings, which have been held to indicate a genetic predisposition to an unknown environmental agent, are reviewed in the light of the recent discoveries of a characteristic HL-A profile in the high risk Cantonese. Several investigations of the HL-A profiles of groups of contrasting incidence are suggested as these may be of significance in relation to the postulated causal role of the Epstein-Barr virus for this neoplasm.


[Anatomo-pathology and attempt at classification of epitheliomas of the nasopharynx].

Lympho-epithelioma is a tumor of the nasopharynx and tonsillar region. From the first description of Regaud and Schmincke in 1921, the concept of this tumor changed in some ways and, up to now, the characteristic of lympho-epithelioma varied according to observers, resulting in a very confusing situation : some of pathologists consider lympho-epithelioma as a subtype of squamous cell carcinoma, others, as a true entity to be preserved; this last opinion is based upon epidemiologic and clinico-radiologic features sufficiently distinctive to justify separation into a tumor entity. The author suggests in this paper a new classification of nasopharynx carcinomas and emphazises diagnosis difficulties of lympho-epithelioma.


[Carcinoma of the nasopharynx (cavum) : clinical and developmental aspects].

Between 1959 and 1974, two hundred and ninety six carcinomas of the nasopharynx were seen at the Institut Gustave-Roussy, in adults. 78% were in man. The most frequently encountered were undifferentiated or poorly differentiated forms, 76% of cases. 38% only of the patients had their birthplace in France. On the first examination 36% of the cases had a T4 tumour, 50% had fixed cervical lymph nodes and 77% had distant metastases. 30% of the cases could not be treated following a protocol attempting complete cure. Since 1970 the Iridium method of irradiation is not used in T1 and T2 cases and all were treated by high voltage methods with eventual complementary surgical treatment for persistent nodes. The survival rate at 5 years is 30% for the whole group and 37% for the determinated group. Failures were encountered by local recurrence present in 58% of those dying of the disease and distant metastases were found in 37%. 20% of the patients died from distant metastases without local and regional lymph node recurrences. Unfavourable prognostic factors are initial involvement in bone and the differentiated histological type. It was noteworthy that associated multiple cancers were rare.


Cadmium deposition in canine heart and major arteries following intravascular administration of cadmium chloride.

The examination of ten arterial specimens from nine experimental dogs shows a generally persistent accumulation of cadmium in the blood vessels following acute cadmium exposure. Gel filtration analysis of the aorta revealed that this vascular cadmium is largely confined to the insoluble cellular compartment. The left and right ventricles of cadmium-treated dogs showed a cadmium deposition which significantly decreased over the five week period subsequent to exposure. Within all three time intervals, heart cadmium exceeded the level in any of the arteries examined. Control heart, renal and subclavian arteries, and ascending and thoracic aorta were all found to contain intrinsic cadmium. Of the arterial specimens examined, cadmium deposition was generally greatest in the renal arteries and lowest in the femoral and popliteal arteries.


Lead toxicity of bobwhite quail.

Five experiments were conducted involving both juvenile and adult Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) to study the toxicity of lead acetate, lead shot, powdered lead and antimony. Performance of juvenile birds receiving up to 1,500 p.p.m. of lead as lead acetate was not significantly influenced during the six-week experimental period. Feeding 3,000 p.p.m. lead as lead acetate was not significantly influenced during the six-week experimental period. Feeding 3,000 p.p.m. lead as lead acetate was associated with a significant depression of body weight and an increase in mortality. Feeding growing quail up to 2,000 p.p.m. lead from either lead acetate or powdered lead, 3 or 6% antimony (as % of shot dosage or 5 lead shot per week caused no significant effects upon either body weight or mortality. No significant trends were noted in body weight, feed intake, semen quality or organ weight of adult quail that received up to 1,500 p.p.m. lead from lead acetate. Dosing adult Bobwhite quail cocks with 10 or more lead shot per week caused a significant increase in nortality, and more than 90% of those dosed with 30 shot per week died by the end of four weeks.


Chelation in metal intoxication II: In vitro and in vivo effect of some compounds on brain, liver, and testis of rats treated with manganese sulphate.

Some structurally different compounds were examined for their ability to remove manganese as their chelates from brain, liver and testis and the sub-cellular fractions of brain and liver of manganese administered rats. An attempt was also made to corelate the removal of the metal with the recovery of altered activity of succinic dehydrogenase in these organs. While all the compounds were able to remove the metal significantly from in vivo brain, liver and testis, they could fully restore the enzyme activity only in brain. However, there was no significant improvement in the altered morphology of the tissues in eight days of treatment with the chelating agents.


Planning serials cancellations and cooperative collection development in the health sciences: methodology and background information.

In an era of steady-state budgets many research and academic libraries must cancel a significant number of current serials to maintain acquisitions of monographs. Thus paper reviews several techniques that have been used or that are of potential use in a rational selection of titles for cancellation. The context of the proposed methodology involves a network of libraries rather than an individual library. The methodology was tested with specific health sciences serial titles held by University of California libraries and resource libraries in NLM Region XI. As a test for the proposed methodology, background data were collected on 600 current foreign language serial titles included in SERLINE and held by at least one of the libraries in the networks of interest. Price, major secondary service coverage with productivity/impact factors, extent of holdings, and average number of recorded circulations per year in several of the libraries were recorded for each title. With the use of several different rules, estimates were made of the subscription savings that might be realized. It seems feasible to extend the same methodology to other groups of serial titles.


Automatic and manual indexing performance in a small file of medical literature.

A test of the performance of an automatic indexing procedure based on the processing of the full text of medical journal articles shows results comparable to those achieved using Excerpta Medica and MEDLARS manual indexing. A file of nineteen documents was partitioned by sixteen questions, for each of which two search strategies in each indexing language were formulated. The results were compared to ideal answers chosen by a fourth-year medical student who read the entire file and posed the questions.


The status of women in the administration of health science libraries.

Results of a survey of large health science libraries in the United States demonstrate that the relative position of men and women in administration is comparable to that prevalent in other types of libraries. Medical school and the largest libraries are the most likely to be administered by men. The percentage of women who are directors of large biomedical libraries has declined radically since 1950. The statistics presented here will serve as a base for assessing future change.


Medical school libraries in the United States and Canada built between 1961 and 1971.

Twenty-four medical school libraries in the United States and Canada built between 1961 and 1971 were surveyed by means of questionnaires and visits. Results indicated that half of these libraries will have reached maximum functional capacity approximately six years after they moved into their new quarters. Space for technical processing is generally much less than required. Special features and examples of effective planning are described, and problems in arrangement, traffic patterns for people and materials, and the lack of logical expansion space are discussed. Comparisons are made with a similar survey of twenty medical school libraries made in 1961.


[Thr prognostic value of chronic cough, sputum and spirometry assessed by 10-year mortality among 1487 working men (author's transl].

The aim of the present study is to find out whether or not the diagnosis of chronic bronchitis at an early stage of the disease makes it possible to forecast an excess of mortality within 10 years, among 1487 men examined in 1960/61 while they were at work and aged at the time between 30 and 59 years. After having shown the prognostic value of chronic phlegm and spirographic measurements (VC, FEV1.0, FEV1.0/VC), we tried to state precisely their prognostic value by controlling the tobacco consumption and the socio-occupational class, which are bound to them and are themselves prognostic. FEV 1.0 is the most discriminant variable; its reduction is prognostic as young as 35. Survival-rates decrease regularly with the reduction of FEV1.0; this prognostic role seems to remain in all sociooccupational classes and for smokers as well as for non-smokers; it is more evident for the men who had chronic phlegm than in those who did not have such a symptom. It has been impossible to draw clear conclusions about the prognostic value of phlegm on these points because of interaction existing between phlegm and age.


A temporary decrease in the ventilatory function of an urban population during an acute increase in air pollution.

During a short period of increased air pollution in a polluted area in the Netherlands, a majority of the inhabitants showed a lower VC and FEV1 value than during a period of extremely low pollution. This may be due to a temporary decrease in the ventilatory function in response to a temporary increase in air pollution. Persons who showed the greatest "decrease" in the VC and/or FEV1 had a slightly higher prevalence of chronic non-specific lung disease (CNSLD) than did those who had a slight or no decrease in VC and FEV1. The studies will be continued in order to determine whether the groups will show different repiratory disease patterns in the future. In studies on long-term effects of exposure to air pollution, one must consider the possibility that short-term effects may influence the results of the lung function measurements. It is always important, therefore, to include a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms in such studies, since it is unlikely that short periods of air pollution influence the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms.


The incidence of schizophrenia and severe psychological disorders in patients 10 years after cosmetic rhinoplasty.

Body image disturbance may be an early sign of schizophrenia. The significance of this and dysmorphophobia with relation to patients seeking cosmetic rhinoplasty is discussed. Results of a follow-up of patients 10 years after cosmetic surgery to see whether they developed schizophrenia or serious psychological disorder are presented. The literature, significance of the findings and the clinical implications are all discussed.


[Transient variations of alveolar gas composition during haemodynamic disturbances (author's transl)].

Passive changes in the posture induce haemodynamic disturbances, and especially a decrease of the cardiac output. This in the steady state does not involve any modification of the alveolar gas. There are however transient variations of PAO2 and PACO2, studied in this work at constant states of ventilation and metabolism. The haemodynamic disturbances are produced by a tip-up seat, actuated by a sinusoidal motion to different velocities and a constant amplitude (90 degrees). The frequency response is analyzed according to servosystems theories. The results show that there are causes of non-linearity in PAO2 and PACO2 variations, more complex for PAO2, and that the amplitude of the variations is two to three times greater for PAO2 than for PACO2. The observed transient phenomena are essentially interpreted as resulting from the differences in dynamic behavior between cardiac output on the one hand, variations in the arterio-venous gradient on the other; this effect is more pronounced for PAO2 variations. From a practical point of view, the great amplitude of transient PAO2 variations (as much as 11 mmHg) could, under certain conditions, allow, by the single continuous recording of PO2 to the mouth, to demonstrate and define the time of the arrival of an haemodynamic disturbance in patients with assisted ventilation.


An areolar approach to reduction mammaplasty.

The authors present a new technique for selected cases of reduction mammaplasty and correction of ptosis, based solely on a aureolar approach. The skin is undermined, the glandular contents reduced if required and a mastopexy carried out. The excess skin is not removed but adapts itself to the new size and shape of the gland.


35 eggs per day in the treatment of severe burns.

A regime involving the dietary management of 8 severely burned patients has been described, the main feature of this diet being the high egg intake. The eggs were given in a variety of forms without any untoward effects and without any distaste being developed. No pathological levels of serum lipoproteins or cholesterol were attained. Serum proteins from an initial low level reached normal values within a relatively short time. It is felt that a high egg diet is a valuable and safe addition in the management of severely burned patients.


An experimental evaluation of microvenous grafts.

Vein grafts into I mm vessels were performed with a high success rate, using autografts in rabbits. Failure in most instances was thought to be due to technical errors at operation. The length of the grafts did not alter the patency rate.


Two sisters with unoperated bilateral cleft lip and palate, age 6 and 4 years.

Two sisters with unoperated bilateral cleft lip and palate, aged 5 years 8 months and 3 years II months, are described. The degree of premaxillary protrusion in both was similar to that in unoperated infants. On the other hand, children operated in infancy showed less midfacial protrusion than the sisters following repair of their lips at a later age suggesting that the repaired lip has a long-acting effect in restricting growth of the premaxillary-vomerine complex. Later, forwards growth of the mandible and elongation of the face also serve to minimise the convexity due to the projecting premaxilla.


Repair of a pharyngo-cutaneous fistula.

A method for closure of a midline pharyngo-cutaneous fistula by providing lining from an epidermal island on a cervical skin flap and outer cover from a split skin graft has been described. It can be useful in selected cases.


An anomalous flexor digitorum sublinis to index finger with absent lumbrical.

A case is presented in which one tendon of the flexor digitorum sublimis was partly replaced by muscle in the palm and there was absence of the associated lumbrical.


Sebaceous cyst extraction through mini-incisions.

A method for removing sebaceous cysts through a mini-incision using 5 per cent phenol is described. It is recommended for selected cases where it is important to leave the minimal surgical scar.


A long-term follow-up of hypospadias patients.

A review of 60 patients aged 17 years or older, who underwent surgery to hypospadias in childhood, is presented and some impressions and conclusions drawn. Points discussed include psychological effects, micturition, sexual function, fertility, the effects of repeated operations, age of straightening, the site and size of the meatus, and dilatation of the reconstructed urethra. It is suggested that most emphasis should be given to the final result in the adult when hypospadias surgery is being assessed.


Metastatic basal cell carcinoma with squamous appearances in the naevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.

A patient with the naevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome developed a secondary carcinomatous deposit in the pelvis. Persisting tumour in the skull and the secondary deposit in the pelvis contained areas of squamous differentiation. This confirms that the appearances of baso-squamous (or transitional or metatypical-cell) carcinoma can develop from typical basal cell carcinoma which had not been subjected to radiotherapy or to more than one surgical excision.


The contribution of intensive coronary care.

Coronary care units are expensive consumers of scarce resources, and it is unfortunate that there has been little attempt to evaluate their achievements: even simple data relating outcome to age, duration of stay, and severity are not available. Indirect evidence is presented from the Hospital In-patient Enquiry and the national mortality reports for England and Wales. Over the period in which intensive care facilities have become widespread the hospital admission rates have risen steeply but numbers of hospital deaths have been stable. A part of this decline in case fatality has probably resulted from therapeutic advance, but most is probably due to the admission of larger numbers of milder cases.


Relationship between month of birth and month of death in the elderly.

A special analysis of mortality data for England and Wales fof 1972 has been used to examine the relationship between month of birth and month of death. For persons 75 and over in eight subgroups (by sex and marital status) there was a consistent trend in deaths with an excess in the birth month and the following three months. This excess was of the order of only 1% of all deaths in the year but statistically significant for each subgroup. The method of analysis was adjusted for the nonsynchronous monthly variation in births and deaths, but a systematic error in recording the month of birth could not be excluded. A wide range of studies on the relationship between stress, morbidity, and mortality are briefly reviewed; it is suggested that in the elderly a birthday may in some subtle way influence the general morale of an individual. Further studies have been planned to test whether 'birthday stress' is a realistic explanation, or if a number of other hypotheses need to be invoked.


Self-poisoning and self-injury in the Oxford area. Epidemiological aspects 1969-73.

A prospective study of self-poisoning and self-injury in the Oxford area for 1972-73 and a retrospective study for 1969 has shown the following: (a) The number of admissions to a general hospital following self-poisoning and self-injury has increased by approximately 45% in 3 1/2 years. The increase is more marked in women than in men. (b) When compared with a previous study the incidence in Oxford city has quadrupled in ten years. (c) A total of 74% of men and 67% of women, aged 16 years and over, harming themselves in this way are under the age of 35 years. The repetitiveness is increasing and the proportion of those repeating the attempt was 10% within three months, and 15% within six months. (d) The rates are exceptionally high for teenage wives and single, widowed, and divorced women aged between 24-35 years. Single men show exceptionally high rates in the 35-45 year age group. (e) With the exception of married women aged between 25 and 34 years and women over 60, the rates were higher in urban than in rural areas. (f) In men the rates were higher among personal service workers, semi-skilled manual and unskilled manual workers. In women the rates were highest among non-manual, ancillary to professional (especially nurses), and semi-skilled manual workers. Male students had rates much lower than those of their age group, while female students had rates about the same as their age group. The lowest rates were among professional and 'own account' workers.


A study of breast cancer in Irish women.

In a study of 100 women with breast cancer and 200 unaffected women the epidemiological characteristic of breast cancer most commonly described--namely, an excess of nonparous women among cases when compared with controls, was not observed. It is suggested that two factors, a dearth of first births born to mothers under 20 years of age and an unusually high proportion of first births when aged 30 years or more, are responsible for this finding. No association was found between breast cancer and socioeconomic status, marital status, age at marriage, age at first pregnancy, parity, or age at menarche. Significant associations with breast cancer included age at natural menopause, hysterectomy, and breast trauma. These findings are discussed.


School meals and the nutrition of schoolchildren.

The contribution of school meals to the nutrition of 778 primary and secondary schoolchildren attending schools in Kent was assessed using information collected during a survey made in 1968-70 which included a weighed diet record, a socioeconomic questionnaire, and a medical examination. Younger children, those from larger families, those without fathers, and those whose mothers worked were more likely to take school meals. Significantly more children from lower social classes and without fathers received them free. School meals made an important contribution to the nutrition of schoolchildren. Children who took them had higher weekday lunchtime nutrient intake during term-time. Children in lower social classes, larger families, and without fathers who took school meals obtained a higher proportion of their weekday intake of nutrients from lunchtime than other children. This applied in particular to nutrients important for growth. School meals consumed by children in the study broadly met the standard set by the Department of Education and Science. The mean energy and protein content of school meals consumed in the study was slightly lower and the mean fat content higher than the standard set for the meal. The mean sugar content was about one-third higher than the suggested amount of sugar to be included in a school meal. There was no evidence that children who took school meals were taller, heavier, had greater skinfold thickness, or were more likely to be assessed as obese than other children.


The role of driver demerit points and age in the prediction of motor vehicle collisions.

The records of drivers, selected from the file of licensed drivers in Ontario, were reviewed to study the relationship between demerit points, other driver characteristics, and the frequency or risk of future collisions and traffic convictions. A stratified sample of 500-600 drivers from each of five levels of demerit points was selected. Low-point drivers differed significantly from high-point drivers in age, sex, and class of licence; estimates of risk of collision or conviction in each demerit point group had to take account of these differences. Discriminant analysis was used to identify drivers likely to be involved in collisions or to be given traffic convictions, and to identify accidents involving injury or fatality. Of the traits considered (demerit points, age, sex, class of licence, history of previous accidents), demerit points represented the only variable of importance in predicting future collision involvement. Since it is the only one of these variables which can be altered by driver behaviour it offers an opportunity to prevent accidents.


Statistical analysis of individually matched case-control studies in epidemiology: factor under study a discrete variable taking multiple values.

It is now well established in case-control studies with individual matching that the statistical analysis must take the fact of individual matching into account. The problems of so doing have been thoroughly dealt with for the situation of the factor of interest being a two-level factor (all-or-none response) and with one or more matched controls per patient. These results are extended in this paper to the situation where the factor can assume multiple levels in studies where each patient is matched with a single control.


Value systems and delinquency: parental and generational discrepancies in value systems for delinquent and non-delinquent boys.

A sample of 82 delinquent boys in two institutions and a matched sample of 82 nondelinquent boys from three secondary schools ranked values from the Rokeach Value Survey in their order of importance for self, mother and father. Order of rankings was counter-balanced. Results indicated that the sets of rankings (value systems) were more discrepant between boys and their parents and between the parents themselves in the delinquent sample than in the non-delinquent sample, but only in regard to the set of terminal values. Marked differences in the relative importance of particular values occurred between the two groups both in relation to rankings for self and for parents, and (for both groups) between the boys and their parents (generational) and between mother and father (parental). Favourability towards father correlated positively with degree of value similarity between sons and fathers but only for the terminal values.


Reward allocation between high and low test anxious boys.

Dyads composed of same and opposite type test anxious boys (TASC) were constituted and one randomly determined member in each pair passed an arithmetic test which made toys available for play. Results indicated that (a) high test anxious passing and failing children preferred an equal allocation solution; (b) allocation based on productivity was most acceptable among the pairs of low test anxious children; (c) low test anxious failers rated favourable allocations more acceptable than equalitarian and unfavourable ones when their partner was a high test anxious passer. The findings are discussed in terms of differences between high and low test anxious boys in their response to evaluation.


Personality and value orientations in early adolescence.

An analysis of the Psychoticism, Extraversion, Neuroticism and Lie scores of 674 13-year-old pupils in comprehensive schools revealed that they held specific relationships to six value orientations: Family Loyalty, Intolerance, Complacency, Passivity, Cynicism and Educational Primacy. These relationships are seen as pointing to an area which, by systematic investigation, would permit the psychology of personality and the sociology of values to be more closely integrated. The existence of three basic 'life orientations', 'Asocial', 'Unsocial' and 'Hypersocial', is suggested.


Some effects of anxiety and cognitive style upon pursuit rotor learning.

The present study sought to investigate the interrelationships between anxiety level and cognitive style upon pursuit rotor learning under conditions of relatively massed practice. The empirical specifications of anxiety were chosen so as to render the study comparable to previous investigations executed within the general framework of Spence's (1956, 1958) developments of Hull's (1943) notions concerning the relationship to drive level and learning task performance. The results were also related to Eysenck's (1956, 1964, 1965) elaborations of Hullian theory as related to motor learning phenomena. The cognitive style variable was assessed by a single measuring instrument, the Stroop Test. The variables tapped by this instrument were expressed within the framework of neo-Hullian theory, and predictions made from an expanded version of the theory. Subjects were constituted into four groups: Cognitive High-anxiety, Cognitive Low-anxiety, Perceptual-motor High-anxiety, and Perceptual-motor Low-anxiety. When the pursuit rotor task was administered, Perceptual-motor subjects excelled, as expected, as compared to Cognitive subjects. High-anxious Perceptual-motor subjects exhibited greater amounts of reminiscence than did Low-anxious Perceptual-motor subjects; unexpectedly, the reverse effect obtained within the Cognitive group, with the Low-anxious subjects showing more reminiscence. It is suggested that conditioned inhibitory effects might have appeared differentially within the groups.


Reversing the process of thought disorder: a serial validation experiment.

Previous personal construct theory studies of thought disorder suggest that it can be viewed as a state of grossly loosened construing (a weak and unstable network of links between ideas) and that it can fairly be measured by grid method. Later studies in the series indicated that it is people not things which bewilder the thought-disordered patient--it is his role as a 'psychologist' that is specifically damaged. The serial invalidation hypothesis argued that thought disorder is the long-term consequence of a repeated failure to predict accurately the behaviour of others and self, resulting in the disintegration of any organized, personal 'theory' about relationships. The present experiment attempt to reverse the process of thought disorder by first identifying whatever weak, remaining system of expectations the thought-disordered patient manifests and then fulfilling these expectations. Such a process of serial validation might lead to a strengthening of the 'theory' which generated these expectations--a tightening of the construct system. Experimental and control group were closely studied over a two-year period. Results-while tending in the predicted direction--yield a not proven verdict though they leave the argument viable and the experiment worth modified replication.


The accuracy and correlates of psychiatric patients' self-assessment of their work behaviour.

A preliminary study demonstrated that psychiatric patients' evaluation of their work behaviour was unrelated to assessments made by experienced supervisors. Patients involved in clerical work were shown to be more accurate in self-assessment than patients in the manual assembly section of a rehabilitation unit; clerical patients underestimated, and manual patients overestimated their performance. These findings were confirmed in a second study, which also identified some of the differences between the 'clerical' and 'manual' groups, and showed that underestimation was associated with higher intelligence, a general tendency to admit to undesirable behaviours, and a relatively long period of contact with psychiatric services. Neuroticism was also related to underestimation, and schizophrenic patients overestimated their performance. Work satisfaction was found to be unrelated to work performance.


Recognition memory in dementia.

The experiment was designed to look at the effects of two parameters on the recognition memory of dementing subjects. These were a forced-choice compared with a free format; and verbal compared with pictorial material. For the entire sample, neither of the comparisons gave significant differences; when those subjects with the best recognition scores were considered separately, the forced-choice condition  was found to give significantly better scores; but there was still no significant tendency in favour of the pictorial material.


Thermography in breast carcinoma: results of a blind reading trial.

This paper presents the results of a blind reading trial of thermographic detection of breast cancer. Thermograms from women with no known breast disease, those with benign disease and those with carcinoma have been analysed using a previously described method for examination and assessment. Each record was read blind by three observers and the resulting scores compared for the three groups of women. It was found that, using the scoring system devised, 69 per cent of carcinomas gave scores in the range considered to indicate a high risk of breast disease but that 33 per cent of the scores for the normals also fell into this range. No differentiation between benign and malignant groups could be achieved. A significant number of the carcinomas were also found to show few detectable signs on thermography, resulting in an appreciable false negative rate.


Echography in the diagnosis and management of retinal detachment.

Sixty patients presenting with retinal detachment have been examined using a Nuclear Enterprises Diasonograph 4102; 25 with no identifiable cause (primary), the remainder due to causes such as vitreous haemorrhage, trauma, inflammatory eye disease, aphakia and neoplasm. In the diagnosis and management of retinal detachment echography has a definite but limited application, particularly in patients who have cloudy or opaque media and in whom detachment secondary to a malignant melanoma is suspected. In patients with trauma or vitreous haemorrhage important therapeutic considerations depend upon a precise knowledge of the structure of the globe and complicating features such as vitreous fibrosis or retinal detachment. In such patients the value of echo amplitude measurements in combination with B-scan echography is described. In primary retinal detachment because of vitreous haziness, the extent, size and degree of displacement of the retinal detachment may be more precisely demonstrated echographically than by conventional ophthalmoscopy, facilitating surgical management.


Villous adenoma of the large bowel; benign and malignant.

The radiological appearances on double contrast barium enema examination of 14 cases of villous adenoma are described and illustrated. Problems of diagnosis and detection of malignancy are discussed. It is concluded that in the majority of cases a confident radiological assessment of benignancy or malignancy cannot be made. The importance of villous adenoma as a pre-cancerous condition and the high incidence of associated large bowel carcinoma are emphasized.


The extent of the inferior border of the thymus: a report of two cases in infants.

Two cases of air insufflation of the mediastinum are reported to define the extent of previously unreported prolongation of the right thymic lobe occasionally seen in the normal infant chest radiograph.


An interactive data preparation procedure for three-dimensional interstitial and intracavitary dose calculation programs.

A computer system has been developed to assist in preparing data for interstitial and intracavitary calculations. This approach used graphic and interactive techniques, and removes all the format problems which led to errors in data preparation. The program reconstructs the implant and rotates it about X, Y and Z axes to allow close examination of the positions of the radiation sources. The site of the dose calculation can be selected by positioning a frame representing the calculation plane in the reconstructed implant. The output of the program is the three-dimensional data of the source and plane co-ordinates, together with the co-ordinates to define the area on the plane where the calculation is to be performed.


Radioisotope measurements of regional lung function in bronchogenic carcinoma.

Five out of 300 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma referred for pre-operative radioisotope imaging showed perfusion losses markedly in excess of regional ventilation impairment, a finding previously reported as being typical for pulmonary thrombeembolism.


Clinical radiobiology of low dose-rate radiotherapy.

Investigative irradiations of human skin have shown that the total dose required to obtain a dry desquamation does not increase with the duration of the irradiation as rapidly as it would be expected from the kinetics of repair of the sublethal injuries. This suggests that an additional mechanism, probably accumulation of the cells in a sensitive phase, occurs during a continuous irradiation with dose-rate higher than 150 rads/hour. This effect seems to vanish at smaller dose-rates.


A new design policy for protective barriers in departments of x-ray diagnosis.

In order to calculate the thicknesses of protective barriers requried in departments of radiodiagnosis for walls, floors, ceilings, protective screens, etc., it is necessary to make an assessment of work load and occupancy factor in each direction. In order to ensure that barriers are safe, it is customary to assume that all the radiological procedures are carried out at the greatest kVp value used in the room in question, and to look up the necessary thicknesses from prepared tables. In fact, only a small fraction of work load is carried out at the highest kilovoltage, and also it is found that a considerable fraction of the total work load is directed downwards. A computer program has been written to use data available from comprehensive analyses of work load broken down into suitable kVp intervals. As the cost of providing the necessary protective barriers can be anything from a few hundred pounds to several thousand pounds, the use of exact values for work load separated into kVp ranges for each direction can lead to substantial savings in cost amounting to hundreds of pounds per room whilst still satisfying the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Protection of Persons against Ionizing Radiations arising from Medical and Dental Use (HMSO, 1972). Departmental surveys were carried out to establish the distribution of work load in kVp and direction, and also to ascertain dosage levels to the staff and within existing rooms. The results show that in practice the doses are such that the reduced barriers found by the method described would be entirely satisfactory.


Technical note. Evaluation of a new screen/film combination.

The Trimax system offers film/screen combinations which reduce the X-ray exposure by factors of about 4. This is achieved without deterioration in image quality.


Multiple lower lumbar spondylolyses.

A case is reported in which there was bilateral spondylolysis involving LV3, LV4 and LV5. It is thought that the condition is due to postural stress in a patient having a predisposing genetic weakness of the pars interarticularis.


In vitro studies of subcalyceal upper urinary tract muscle in multicalyceal kidneys.

Isolated preparations of porcine renal pelvis and ureter were investigated by an isometric technique. The majority of pelvis muscle preparations exhibited spontaneous activity as did those taken from the upper two-thirds of the ureter, whilst lower-third ureteral specimens remained inactive. By the use of some autonomic drug agonists and antagonists the presence of alpha-adrenoceptors and muscarinic receptors was demonstrated at all sites. Evidence of beta-adrenoceptor activity was noted in pelvis muscle and also in preparations from the upper two-thirds of the ureter. Results of electrical stimulation experiments with similar preparations were shown to be against the concept of any effective innervation of these receptor sites. These findings are compared with earlier studies on the calyx of the same animal, and are discussed in relation to the possibility of the calyx acting as a primary pacemaker site for the upper urinary tract in animals with multicalyceal kidneys.


Conservative management of renal tuberculosis.

The conservative management of 60 patients suffering from renal tuberculosis is reported. Following chemotherapy, bacteriological conversion to negative was obtained in all patients. 2 patients (3-3%) relapsed due to failure to take adequate treatment. Evidence of ureteric obstruction was obtained in 30 patients (50%)--23 at the time of diagnosis, 6 during treatment and 1 at the time of relapse. Following corticosteroid treatment relief of obstruction was obtained in 72%. Nephrectomy was carried out in 4 patients (6-7%) but in only 1 of these was the operation carried out for reasons which we now consider valid.


The diagnosis of renal pseudotumours.

The radiological features of 13 cases of renal pseudotumour due to infolding of the columns of Bertin are presented. 5 of these patients (38%) had partial duplication of the renal pelvis. Pseudotumours show as space-occupying lesions at urography. At angiography they show a clearly defined nephrogram but no abnormal vessels, no pooling of contrast medium and no early venous filling. Radio-isotope scans on 4 cases of pseudotumour showed uptake at the site of the pseudotumour in contrast to cysts and carcinomas which are known to show diminished uptake.


Hypernephroma with polycythaemia: a postoperative complication.

A case of acute renal failure following radical nephrectomy for hypernephroma in a 72-year-old man is presented. It is postulated that this was a direct result of vascular weakness from preoperation treatment of the overdistended vessels by repeated venepuncture over too short a period, with resultant loss of vascular tone.


Trans-uretero-ureterostomy: British experience.

158 replies to a questionnaire suggest that many British surgeons remain wary of using trans-uretero-ureterostomy, fearing to risk the opposite ureter and kidney or preferring to use a Boari flap or other operation. 141 (27 personal and 114 reported) cases are surveyed. 56 simple Y-anastomoses performed by 27 surgeons gave very good results, with only 4 exceptions due to wrong indications or techniques. Complications were rare. No damage to any opposite ureter or kidney by the procedure was reported. 10 operations enabling a solitary kidney to drain via the opposite spare ureter were all successful. We recommended that during nephrectomy any spare healthy ureter should be preserved so that, if necessary, it can be used to drain the opposite kidney.


Antireflux ureterocystostomy at the vertex of the bladder.

This is the first report on the technique and the results of an antireflux ureterocystostomy in the vault of the bladder. During the last 3 years, a total of 106 antireflux ureterocystostomies at the vertex of the urinary bladder has been performed. In 93 cases without another preceding antireflux operation, only 2 (2-1%) recurrent refluxes were found, whereas in 13 cases where an antireflux operation had been performed previously, 4 cases of recurrent reflux were seen, making a 30% rate of operative failure in this particular group. In all other cases the end result was excellent; the urine has become negative on culture and the dilatation of the ureter has subsided.


Ureteric obstruction due to urine prolapse.

2 cases of ureteric obstruction due to uterine prolapse are reported, one of whom was uraemic. Both were cured by repair of the prolapse.


The effect of chlorhexidine irrigation of the bladder in the rat.

Rats' bladders were irrigated with aqueous solutions of chlorhexidine digluconate 1 : 5,000 or 1 : 10,000 for varying periods up to 48 hours. Histologic examination of the bladders showed severe erosive cystitis in a high percentage of cases. It is concluded that chlorhexidine cannot be recommended for prolonged irrigation of the bladder or for instillation during the intermittent catheterisation where chlorhexidine has repeated and prolonged contact with bladder mucosa.


Urinary infection and prostatectomy.

The incidence of urinary infection before and after operation for benign prostatic hypertrophy has been reviewed in 140 patients. Repeated screening for bacteriuria was used throughout the hospital admission. Infection was present in 24% before operation and there was a significant correlation between the incidence of infection and the duration of preoperative catheterisation. Postoperative infection developed in 31% and there was no relation between this incidence and the type of prostatectomy; specific antibacterial therapy was significantly more effective in eradicating urinary infection acquired after operation than before. At the time of discharge from the ward, 10% had infected urine, but only 3% of patients had persistent infection at follow-up 6 weeks after operation.


The structure and innervation of smooth muscle in the wall of the bladder neck and proximal urethra.

Neurohistochemical and electron microscopic techniques have been employed to compare the structure and autonomic innervation of the bladder detrusor with that of the bladder neck and urethra in male and female cats, rats and guinea-pigs. In all specimens the structure and arrangement of smooth muscle in the detrusor was different from that in the bladder neck and proximal urethra. In male specimens this circular smooth muscle extended into the proximal urethra as far as the entrance of the ejaculatory ducts. A similar muscle coat was less well developed in the female but could be identified along the length of the urethra. Differences in the distribution of autonomic nerves have also been demonstrated. Presumptive cholinergic nerves were frequently encountered amongst the smooth muscle cells of the detrusor whilst noradrenergic nerves were relatively sparse. In contrast, muscle in the bladder neck and urethra was richly innervated by both types of autonomic nerve. In the male these findings are considered to provide support for the concept of a sphincteric mechanism which prevents retrograde ejaculation. In both sexes the possible functional role of the autonomic innervation of the bladder neck and proximal urethra during micturition has also been discussed.


Role of uroflowmetry in the assessment of lower urinary tract obstruction in adult males.

A group of 173 prostatic patients were submitted to a prospective study to determine the respective value of symptoms, uroflowmetry, endoscopic and radiological findings in the assessment of the degree of urinary obstruction. Uroflowmetry proved to bring objective evidence of the degree of obstruction with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Maximum urinary flow appears to be more accurate than other flow parameters in the determination of lower urinary tract obstruction.


Measurement of the volume of residual urine using 131I-hippuran and the gamma camera.

A modification of the method of determining the volume of residual urine in the bladder using 131I-Hippuran and the gamma camera is described. The method was applied to 26 patients with either normal or impaired renal function and proved to be both reliable and accurate.