Studies on small intestinal obstruction. V. Blood circulation in moderately distended small bowel.

Feline small-bowel circulation was studied during in vitro homologous perfusion of denervated intestine upon artificial distension to 20 mmHg for a 60-minute period. Delayed compliance was observed, and distension evoked contractile bowel activity; each bowel contraction was accompanied by a decrease in blood-flow rate, whereas bowel relaxations coincided with augmentations of flow. Artificial distension diminished blood flow, denoting a 50-60% increase of regional vascular resistance, and elicited variable capillary filtration coefficient (CFC) responses, on the average a 45-50% reduction of the perfused capillary surface area, but did not affect the oxygen consumption rate. After release of the distension, the enhancement of vascular resistence persisted and even increased, whereas CFC returned to control level. Control experiments involving homologous perfusion but no artificial distension also featured some resistence augmentation and CFC reduction. The effects of homologous perfusion  on bowel haemodynamics and viability are discussed; though the experimental procedure may occasion some degree of haemodynamic impariment, present observations and previous reports suggest that bowel viability is not significantly affected. It is concluded from the present study that a sustained and moderate distension of nonobstructed feline small bowel, perfused in vitro, involves no threat to the microcirculation or the viability of the bowel.


Studies on small intestinal obstruction. VI. Blood circulation in moderately distended small bowel after obstruction.

Feline small-bowel circulation was studied during in vitro homologous perfusion of denervated intestine after in vivo obstruction. The bowel specimens showed delayed compliance and, when compared with non-obstructed specimens, enhanced distensibility. Bowel specimens investigated during continuous distension had a normal regional vascular resistance and a normal capillary filtration coefficient (CFC) but a somewhat decreased oxygen utilization; artificial distension to 20 mmHg caused a resistance enhancement and a profound (80-90%) reduction of CFC but did not prevent oxygen consumption from attaining normal levels. An artificial distension occasions an augmentation of regional vascular resistance, whereas the distension caused by intestinal obstruction does not; the significance of this observation is discussed. Bowel specimens investigated after intra-operative decompression showed normal vascular resistance, normal CFC and normal oxygen consumption; artificial distension to 20 mmHg produced a resistance enhancement and a moderate (40-50%) reduction of CFC; oxygen consumption was not affected. Thus, an intra-operative decompression involves no augmentation of regional vascular resistance and seems to increase the ability of the capillary bed to withstand, with retained function, a renewed distension. After release of the distension, flow reduction and resistance enhancement persisted, whereas CFC returned to basal values in both groups of specimens; oxygen consumption remained on stable levels. It is emphasized that the persisting augmentation of resistance observed after decompression of the bowel is related to the in vitro situation, whereas in vivo intra-opertive decompression of obstructed bowel seems to involve no consequences of this kind. Some experiments featured fluid output to the gut lumen in the post-distension period; this observation is discussed. A normal rate of oxygen utilization accompanied the profound reduction of perfused capillary surface area noted in obstructed gut upon a moderate additional distension; possible mechanisms underlying this finding are discussed. It is concluded from the present study that a simple small-bowel obstruction, although not per se involving any serious threat to the bowel viability, renders the gut wall vulnerable to any further increment of distension or ischaemia. It is suggested that this is mainly the result of enhanced distensibility in the wall of the obstructed gut.


Experimental ischaemia of the small intestine. Effect of antibiotic and antithrombotic drugs on the mucosal exchange circulation.

Factors of decisive importance for the fate of the intestine following circulatory occlusion incluse the bacterial flora of the intestine, intravascular thrombosis peripheral to the level of occlusion, and the capacity of the collateral circulation. Standardized ischaemia of the small intestine was produced in the rat by ligation of a given number of mesentric end arcades. The passive absorption of radioiodide from a defined, central loop within the ischaemic intestinal segment-as an expression of the exchange circulation of the intestinal mucosa-was determined 14 days after induction of the ischaemia. Different forms of treatment were studied. In Sprague-Dawley rats the effect of heparin, oxitetracycline (OCD) and a combination of these two drugs was examined both concerning the survival of the animals and with regard to the available exchange circulation in the mucosa of the ischaemic intestinal segment. The survival frequency was increased in all treatment groups. The exchange circulation in the ischaemic segment was improved significantly by ODC-treatment and by treatment with heparin and ODC combined. Treatment with heparin alone gave no improvement of the mucosal circulation.


Early changes in the serum activity of ornithine carbamoyl transferase in patients operated on with a jejuno-ileal by-pass for extreme obesity.

In 13 patients operated on with jejuno-ileal shunting for extreme obesity the serum activity of ornithine-carbamoyl-transferase (S-OCT) was monitored. A rapid rise in the S-COT occurred and was observed at its peak between 2 and 8 hours after the operation. In 4 patients operated on for intestinal diseases much smaller rises in the S-OCT were noted. In a control group of 6 patients operated on for knee injuries, no changes of the S-OCT were noted after operation. The rise in the S-OCT is interpreted as a sign of liver cell damage of unknown cause in the patients with jejuno-ileal shunting.


Some somatic complications after small intestinal bypass operations for obesity. Possible factors of significance in the incidence.

The complications after intestinal bypass operations in 103 massively obese subjects were recorded postoperatively for a maximum of 5 years. The surgical procedures were jejuno-ileostomy, end-to-side (op. I) in 35, and end-to-end with ileocaecostomy (op. II) in 68 cases. Wound dehiscence was the cause of the sole early postoperative death. The early complications found were those commonly seen after abdominal surgery, namely wound infection (n=24), wound dehiscence (n=5), anastomotic leak (n=2), leg thrombosis (n=2). One of the latter 2 patients probably also had pulmonary embolism. In 6 cases early intestinal obstruction occurred; 3 of them required reoperation. The late complications were divided into unspecific and specific in relation to the surgically induced malabsorption. Their incidence was analysed in 80 subjects observed for longer than 1.5 years after the operation. Unspecific late complications consisted of intestinal obstruction in 5 cases and incidional hernias in 18 cases. Intussusception was not seen. There seemed to be no increase in the incidence of gallstone disease or gastroduodenal ulcer after the operation. Specific late complications were electrolyte disturbances (ED) in 13, signs of liver injury (LI) in 9, urinary-tract calculi (UTC) in 15, and immunopathy (IM) in 19 cases. The IM group had skin rashes, arthralgia, and fever. Besides these somatic complications, a number of specific pyschictric complications were also observed (not published). Three subjects died after the operation with signs of liver insufficiency. The following factors were found to be of importance in the occurence of the specific complications ED and LI: 1. The presence of preoperative abnormalities in serum-electrolyte concentration and pathological liver tests, mainly occuring in the heavies patients. 2. Most ED and LI occurred during the period of main weight loss, in general during the first postoperative year. ED and LI did not appear after body weight had stabilised. 3. The rate of weight loss: ED and LI occurred, with a few exceptions, in the subjects with a rate of weight loss higher than 0.0130 weight-index units per week during the period of constant weight loss (see article).


Aspects on appendiceal abscess in children with special reference to delayed appendectomy.

A series of 52 children with appendiceal abscess is presented. The general policy of treatment was initially conservative regime followed by delayed elective appendectomy. Ten patients had a recurrence before appendectomy was performed. In 2 patients, potentially malignant conditions were discovered at appendectomy. There were no significant postoperative complications. Delayed elective appendectomy is recommended after an interval of 4-6 weeks.


Volvulus of the right colon. A review of 30 cases with special reference to late results of various surgical procedures.

A series of 30 patients with volvulus of the right colon is reviewed. The patients were followed up 1-25 years after treatment, and the late results after various surgical procedures were assessed. There were no recurrences after hemicolectomy. Detorsion without caecoplexy showed the same late result as that found in patients treated conservatively. The late result of detorsion with caecopexy was intermediate between those achieved with hemicolectomy and detorsion without caecopexy.


Cystic adventitial degeneration of the popliteal artery. Report of a case.

A case of cystic adventitial degeneration of the popliteal artery is described. This is an unusual cause of intermittent claudication, but the diagnosis should be suspected in young persons, especially men, where the arteriogram shows a stenosis due to compression and arteriosclerotic changes are not demonstrable. A brief review of the literature on the condition, diagnosis, and treatment is given.


Enterolith obstruction of the ileum as a complication of jejunal diverticulitis. Report of a case.

A case of intestinal obstruction due to impaction of an enterolith in the distal ileum is reported. The patient had jejunal diverticulosis. One of the diverticula showed evidence of acute inflammation and another showed signs of fibrosis suggesting previous inflammation. Apparently the enterolith had been released from the acutely inflamed diverticulum. One of the diverticula contained a smaller enterolith. The impacted enterolith was removed by enterotomy and the smaller one milked into the intestine. Chemical analysis of the removed stone showed that it consisted of mainly cholic, desoxycholic and fatty acids.


The effects of chemical occlusion of vas deferens on the testicular function of dog: a preliminary study.

A new approach to rapid male sterilization was studies by giving a single injection of sclerosing chemical agents (10% silvernitrate, 3.6% Formaldehyde in ehanol, 5% potassium permagnate, 100% ethanol, and 3.6% Formaldehyde) directly into the vas deferens to determine whether blocking the vas has any adverse effects on the testicular function. 2 - Chemical occlusion of vas is quite effective in producing a block in the vas deferens of dogs. 3 - Ethanol injection in the vas deferens caused an atrophy of the testis. Extensive necrossis and exfoliation of the seminiferous elements were conspicuous. These changes increased in severity in 3.6% Formaldehyde in ethanol, 5% potassium permagnate, and 10% silver nitrate solution injected dogs. 4 - Decrease in the testicular contents of RNA, Protein and sialic acid, four weeks after vas occlusion were associated with degenerative changes of the spermatogenic elements. 5 - Testicular cholesterol and total lipids were increased following vas occlusion. 6 - Reduced sialic acid levels in the testis of vas occluded dogs indicates an inhibition of androgen production, which is further reflected in reduced leydig cell function. 7 - The role of vas deferens in determining the fate of a given testis is being discussed.


The concentration of testosterone in serial samples  of peripheral venous plasma from infertile women.

The concentration of testosterone has been determined in daily samples of peripheral venous plasma throughout one complete menstrual cycle from each of 4 women with regular, but anovulatory cycles (Group 1) and 13 apparently normal, but infertile women (Group 2). The individual patterns and combined values have been compared with those obtained from 9 healthy volunteers (Group 3), who appeared to satisfy strict criteria for normal ovarian and uterine function. The menstrual cycles from subjects in groups 2 and 3 were subdivided retrospectively into follicular, periovulatory and luteal phases according to the day of the LH peak. The results show that the values for every subject in Group 1 tended to remain relatively costant and the overall concentration (32.3 +/- 10.4; ng/100ml; mean +/- SD) was significantly lower (P less than 0,05, student's "t" test) than the corresponding figure for Group 3 (41.6 +/- 11.8). The patterns of testosterone in Groups 2 and 3 were variable, but the overall concentrations in Group 2 during the periovulatory phase (53.7 +/- 12.7) was significantly higher (P less than 0.025) than the corresponding value (41.9 +/- 11.9) for Group 3. The findings are discussed.


Biochemical and histological changes in testes and epididymis of dog after vasectomy.

1. Changes in the histological structure and biochemical composition have been studied in the testes and epididymis of dog after unilateral and bilateral vasectomies. 2. Testes and epididymis weight did not change after 30 days of unilateral vasectomy. Whereas a significant decrease was observed after 60 and 120 days of unilateral and bilateral vasectomy. Tests and epididymis weights returned to normal after 180 days of bilateral vasectomy. 3. Histologically testes and epididymis were normal after 30 days of vasectomy. After 60 and 120 days of unilateral and bilateral vasectomy. Testes and generative changes. Seminiferous tubule and Leydig cell nuclear diameter reduced. Sixty to seventy percent tubules recover after 180 days of bilateral vasectomy. 4. Decrease in RNA, protein, sialic acid contents and increase in alkaline phosphatase activity, total lipids, cholesterol coincided with the absence of spermatozoa and atrophic changes in the testes. 5. The early degenerative changes were caused due to back pressure of testicular fluid (Vare et al, 1973).


Neurogenic control of muscle ribosomal protein synthesis.

In vitro protein synthesis of ribosomes extracted from leg muscles of 20 Sprague-Dawley rats denervated 3 and 14 days (high sciatic transections) and 10 control rats was studied. The concentration/mg protein of total ribosomes extracted from the 14-day denervated muscle showed a significant increase. Distribution of muscle polyribosomes on sucrose density gradients was normal in all cases. Noncollagen protein synthesis of the heavy polyribosomes from both early and late denervated muscles showed a significant decrease. SDS polyacrylamide gels suggested that this decrease affected the synthesis of heavy chains of myosin, while the light chains of myosin, actin and tropomyosin had normal structure and amounts. Collagen synthesis of heavy polyribosomes showed slight to moderate increase in only 50 per cent of the cases. Supplementation of ribosomes extracted from denervated muscles with normal muscle soluble enzymes increased their noncollagen synthesis by 66 per cent. This suggests that the neurogenic control of ribosomal protein synthesis is accomplished by hormonal trophic substances contained in the muscle soluble enzymes.


Whiplash: chronic organic brain syndrome without hydrocephalus ex vacuo.

Eleven patients who had sustained whiplash injuries to the neck were studied by pneumo-encephalography, by a variety of psychological tests, and by psychiatric evaluation with a view to assessing whether organic CNS changes might, in some cases, be a consequence of such injuries. Patients with traumatic encephalopathy, and age- and sex-matched groups of patients served as control groups. Pneumoencephalography showed normal findings in the whiplash group as a whole, the width of the ventricular system being significantly smaller than that of patients with traumatic encephalopathy. Psychological tests and psychiatric evaluation indicated that organic brain pathology was present in the whiplash patients, although to a lesser extent than in patients with traumatic encephalopathy.


Multiple sclerosis: relation to scrapie and slow infection; ageing and measles.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is shown to have no relation to scrapie and the evidence for a "slow infective" aetiology is very meagre. It is not related to an ageing process during which scrapie-like antigens make their appearance as they do in young animal with the disease. The emergence of scrapie-like antigens in ageing tissues is discussed. The increased sensitization of MS lymphocytes to scrapie, as opposed to normal brain (or spleen), is not characteristic of the disease, but occurs in other conditions with astroglial overgrowth. On the other hand, special lymphocyte sensitivity to inhibition by linoleic acid is limited to MS (and not shared by scrapie). The familial background of MS is briefly discussed, and an important line of study which might bring together classical genetic markers, HLA studies, and linoleic acid lymphocyte study is indicated. The role commonly ascribed to measles is critically reviewed. Measles may be of special importance in one (childhood-acquired) group of MS subjects, but there is no evidence of a special role in most cases. Raised antibodies to viruses other than measles have, however, been described. It is concluded that an immunological mechanism is still the most likely "final common path" by which MS lesions develop.


Pneumoencephalographic and clinical characteristics of diffuse cerebral atrophy.

The clinical features in 268 patients with diffuse cerebral atrophy of initially unknown origin have been analysed. Pneumoencephalography showed supratentorial ventricular atrophy in 87 per cent (cortical in 71 per cent), and brain stem and/or cerebellar atrophy in 17 per cent of the patients. Epileptic seizures, dizziness and clumsiness were the most frequent initial symptoms. Vibration in work, psychic impairment, gait difficulties, co-ordinative dysfunction, excessive use of alcohol, and arterial hypertension dominated the clinical picture. Serum cholesterol and triglycerides, and beta-globulins in the cerebrospinal fluid protein electrophoresis were normal. Diffuse cerebral atrophy without defined cause appears to affect all parts of the brain, with particular predilection for the frontotemporal area and the left side, and to have diffuse and unspecific clinical characteristics.


Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the central nervous system.

A case of primary rhabdomyosarcoma in the brain stem is described in an 8 year old girl. The clinical data showed a right side hemiplegia then a total paralysis of the left sixth cranial nerve and a paraplegia which became lethal in 3 months. The necrospy revealed a tumoral nodule in the left medulla oblongata and pons with diffuse subarachnoidal extension from the cranial nerves to the cauda equine roots. Histologically the tumor appeared to be polymorph with numerous rhabdomyoblasts which had a clear cross striation and which were sometimes less differentiated without any neuronal or glial elements. Perivascular tumoral cells and blood vessels were closely linked, the Virchow-Robin spaces were clearly involved. The electron microscopic study confirmed that the less differentiated cells were of a rhabdomyoblastic nature. A review of the litterature indicates that these malignant neoplasias are highly exceptional, and can be classified within the group of primary tumors of the neuraxis with muscular elements. The histogenetic origin of these tumors appears to be the ectomesenchyme of neural crests.


Obstetrics and perinatal medicine in Iceland 1881-1971, with a detailed report on deliveries in Iceland 1972-1974.

Chapter I describes the adoption of a new certificate of the outcome of pregnancy in Iceland and Iceland's participation in a feasibility study of the registration of pregnancies and their outcome in cooperation with WHO. New maternity and infant forms adopted in 1972 are described and their effect on antenatal control and the coordination of the registration of deliveries and their outcome explained. Chapter II offers a survey of population growth in Iceland since 1881. Data concerning birth-rate and death-rate from 1881-1971 are given, together with data on perinatal mortality. The perinatal mortality rate is shown year by year from 1951 to 1971 and maternal death from 1881-1970. There follows a description of the development of birth institutions in Iceland and the chapter is concluded by data on maternal age since the turn of the century. Chapter III shows processing of data for the years 1972-1974. Tables and diagrams demonstrate the distribution of deliveries in Iceland, the distribution of first births according to mothers age, the marital status of Icelandic mothers, the relation between marital status and the number of deliveries, years of mothers education, parity in Iceland, gestational length, the relation between the number of antenatal visits and perinatal mortality. Tables further demonstrate registered complications of pregnancy and delivery. The sex, weight and bodylength of newborns are discussed. Also tabulations of registered infant diagnoses. At the conclusion of the report, the advantages and disadvantages brought to light by the data processing and expected improvements and future processing are discussed.


[Evaluating the therapeutic effect of aerosol therapy in allergic rhinopathy].

The authors describe a simple technique of anterior rhinomanometry. This technique in combination with a allergen aerosol provocation represents a functional test of the nose. The advantage of the method is the fact that in allergic people the provocation reacts directly on the shock tissues, representing a sure and repeatable method of diagnosis.


[Resorption of depot cortisone after its submucosal injection in the nasal concha].

Injections of "depot" steroid preparations in the nasal mucosa are frequently used for allergic disorders. We felt it would be interesting to study the fate of these injections. Indeed, a microscopic section through the nasal concha shows a tremendous amount of large vessels and it seems possible that a quantity of the injection enters the general blood stream. The difficulties in obraining radioactive cortisone made us choose the red blood cell as a tracer. They have the same dimensions as the cortisone crystals used in the depot preparations, and are a much used tool in a department of nuclear medicine. Mostly they are marked with radioactive chromium. We modified the technique used for the determination of the blood volume by a dilution method. In this technique radioactive blood is injected and the dilution allows for calculation of the whole blood mass. We injected the radioactive blood into the nasal concha and we searched for these radioactive erythrocytes in the circulation. This gave us an idea of the total amount that escaped from the concha. Blood was taken from a patient and marked by the department of nuclear medicine; it was then injected in the concha in the way a depository cortisone preparation is injected, and after several moments blood was taken from an arm vein and the radioactivity measured. Relying upon a normal blood volume in our patient, we were able to calculate the amount that went into the circulation. As the chart shows, there is a very fast increase and after 15 minutes, practically everything was in the blood stream. Thus we conclude: 1. Intra-nasal injections of cortisone are no more useful than intra-muscular ones. 2. Some reactions after this intranasal injections could be explained by the enmasse embolisation of the crystal suspension.


[Exploration of eustachian tube permeability by salpingomanometry].

In order to appreciate the permeability of the Eustachian tube the authors measure the rhino-pharyngal pressure necessary to induce the opening of the tube. This opening is obtained by Valsalva method or by a deglutition associated to an overpressure. The measures are realized on divers, the majority of them never suffered before from any barotraumatic trouble. The modifications of pressure produced in the middle ear during the tubal opening are demonstrated by recording the correspondant variations of the tympano-ossicular compliance. By performing the Valsalva, we have better results than those obtained by actively clearing of the ears associated to a rhino-pharyngal overpressure. The method is of easy and quick apply. We consider as normal the levels of the forcing pressure ranging below 90 cm H2O.


[Diagnosis and treatment of a case of anterior adhesion of the vocal cords].

A case of synechia laryngis of the vocal cords is presented. Etiology and treatment of this pathological condition are reviewed. For the present case the synechia seems to have been caused by an acute recurring laryngitis. A teflon oval sectionned tube is placed in the anterior commissure and anchored through the prelaryngeal skin, until epithelisation has occurred. This method is compared with other similar techniques.


[Development of auditory threshold in the 1st weeks after stapes surgery. Study of 50 cases].

We have treated 50 cases of otosclerosis by transplatinary piston. We made a statistical study of the recuperation modalities concerning frequency and time. The highest hearing gain was obtained each time between 250 cps and 500 cps. The maximum hearing recuperation occurs usually, three weeks after the intervention for the lower and mid-frequencies, two months for the higher frequencies. Finally we have noticed that the intervention was helpful as well for the opposite ear as for the operated one.


[A case of a naso-sinus meningoencephalocele].

Beginning with a very vulgar symptomatology evoking with an adult, free from traumatic antecedents, a left ethmoido-maxillo-choanal polyp, the anatomo-pathologic survey of the lump, cutted out without incident, by the maxillary sinus (Caldwell-Luc), revealed the presence of zone of cerebral texture. The complaints of aqueous rhinorrhea increased and aggraved with diverse neuro-radiologic investigations enabled to state diagnostic of meningoencephalocele through ethmoidal left forepart osseous breach that was found and stopped up after by intracranial way. After this observation, the authors, looking at some generalities about meningoencephaloceles, insist on the frequency of the first manifestations generally from the first childhood, on the precious interest of the radiology in order to detect the osseous dehiscence and on the importance of neurosurgical exploration by intracranial mean before any endeavor of biopsy or of extraction of the lump by natural way. The originality of the reported case consist in the lack of symptomatology and in the late apparition of it, in the absence of septic meningitis complications after the extraction of the growth by low way (post-operative antibiotherapy), in the extention, unusual for the pharyngo-nasal kind of the cerebral hernia, into the maxillary sinus.


[Prospects of psychiatric research in Latin America].

The authors analyze the needs for research in Latin America and Assess the feasility of several implementations to meet the needs. A review is made of research work already completed or under ay, stressing the scarcity of full-time researchers, and part-time ones, the difficulties for establishing research teams and for creating the most suitable environmental conditions and training facilities. Lack of research planning is only aggrevating the general conditions, and impairing the performance of individual or group researchers, reducing their possibilities of integrating comprehensive programs. The financial aspects are similarly strained. Small participation of official agencies in financing pure of applied research, is at the roots...


[Psychodiagnosis as a therapeutic measure].

This paper attempts at filling a gap in books and articles dealing with psychologycal diagnosis techniques and methods of psychotherapy. The conditions most suitable for a correct handling of the steps prior and following psychologycal tests, are proposed. Any clinical situation involving investigation of symptoms, productive potential, and aiming at assessing levels of health or sickness, diagnosis or prognosis, is bound to give rise to increased anxiety, normal and pathologycal. We propose that previous to such an examination the patient should undergo some kind of preparation including brief information about types of tests to be used, and the working out of some of the patient's anxieties. As to the best way to handle the evaluation of those studies we agree with the criteruim that patients should receive information that should be offered through a dialogue and ajusted to the level of endurance or tolerance the patients involved are likely to possess. The paper includes a guideline for bringing back to the patient the information and several clinical examples of its use.


[A contribution to the formal discrimination between the concepts of science and ideology].

The focus of XXth. Century epistemological concern is the foundation of Social Sciencies, understood as "Sciences endowed with ambiguity" in a double meaning: the possibility of producing their own theoretical object, and the fluctuation between what is ontologically (scientifically) produced and the "ontically" given ideology. At closer range, the problem is to be set in terms of the relationship between Science and Ideology. In order to better understand the foundation of Social Sciences, two levels are to be analyzed: a) negative-critical: the given "ontical" Ideology is lead to crisis, thus paving the way to replacement by Scientific Theory; b) positive-constructive: the actual production of the formal object (ontologic) or, as it were, the transformation of objects made "opaque" by Ideology, into "transparent" ones. In other words, Ideology sets a frame, fencing in the production of concepts and becoming thus the main "epistemological obstacle", in the way of scientific production. Still other epistemological obstacles are slowing down or jeopardizing the construction of Social Sciences, such as: a) intellectualism, contending the entire explanation of phenomena is to be found within the theoretical discourse and its deductive development; and b) naturalism, asserting the same but in reference to its inductive discurse. Only by means of critical examination of epistemological obstacles, and by leading to crisis the "ontically" given Ideologies, the possibility of scientific production is open.


[Psychology as a science and as a profession in Colombia].

In Colombia, Psychology started associated with Medicine and Education. In a more strict sense, it begins with the founding of the Institute of Applied Psychology at the National University of Colombia, in 1948. This is one of the oldest training centers for Psychologists in Latin America, without interruption until today. The areas of outstanding professional interest are Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Social Psychology. The main research areas are the experimental analysis of behavior, and Social Psychology. There is a professional association the Colombia Federation of Psychology, that has defined the roles and fields of competence of Psychologists, and established the training requirements (5 years, including practical field work and experience and a thesis), to obtain a degree of Psychologist. All Faculties and Departments of Psychology in the country follow the same curricular and requirements model.


Form distortion in narrow beam rotation radiography.

The distortion of morphologic object elements, for distortion, at the exposure of a panoramic image has been determined mathematically and experimentally. As models the square, the circle, the rhomb, and the equilateral triangle were used. The general characteristics of the form distortion in narrow beam rotation radiography are analysed and described.


Soft tissue xeroradiography of the shoulder joint.

Soft tissue xeroradiography of the shoulder joint has been compared with a film technique arrived at previously. The xerox plates gave a lower radiation dose to the patient without loss of information. The film technique requires a tungsten target tube with an extra thin glass window (=0.5 mm Al), while the xerox technique may be used with standard tubes.


Cerebral distribution of contrast medium and paradoxical location of lesions of the blood-brain barrier in the rabbit.

Lesions to the blood-brain barrier have been investigated in rabbits following constant or intermittent injections of sodium metrizoate into the internal carotid artery at different injection rates. Under certain experimental conditions the lesion to the blood-brain barrier was predominantly located to the brain area supplied by the contralateral carotid artery or the vertebral arteries. It is shown by serial angiography that the application time was shorter within the vascular territory of the paradoxical lesion. The results may imply that a mixture of blood and contrast medium is more vulnerable to the blood-brain barrier than contrast medium alone.


Objective symmetry detector method for gammaencephalography. IV. Investigation of brain tumours.

Sixty-six cases with possible brain tumour were objectively classified as having normal or abnormal 99TcmO4 distribution in the skull recorded by the symmetry detector method for gammaencephalography. The diagnostic accuracy in 37 confirmed tumour cases was about 95 percent. Astrocytomas I-II were seperated from astrocytomas III-IV by the degree of abnormality, and meningiomas were seperated from astrocytomas by diverging time-dependent changes in the pathologic isotope accumulation. The high diagnostic accuracy was obtained in spite of low spatial resolution and simplicity of the method. The careful choice of evaluation parameters and the restriction of their normal variance were necessary and effective in optimizing the method.


Glass fragments and other particles contaminating contrast media.

Microscopy of filtrates made from contrast media of routinely opened glass ampoules substantiates previous assumptions that small fragments of glass may enter into the ampoule and the medium with considerable frequency. Such glass fragments may cause embolic lesions on intraarterial injections of the medium; the lesions, however, are histologically non-specific consisting of proliferation of intima and small granulomas associated with dilated nephrons in a ray-like arrangement. A significant amount of plastic particles may be added to injectable fluids on usage of disposable syringes.


Effects of vasopressin in experimental nephroangiography.

Nephroangiography was performed in 13 rabbits using eight-fold magnification with a 0.05 mm focus. After arginine vasopressin in doses of 0.01 to 1.0 IU the glomeruli were well demonstrated as well as the subcortial arteries and veins and the concentration of contrast medium in arteries and veins increased. At increasing doses of vasopressin the glomeruli were shut off to an increasing degree, beginning at the outer part of the cortex. At 1.0 IU only the juxtamedullary glomeruli functioned.


75Se-methionine uptake in the pancreas. An experimental investigation in mice.

Measurements of the uptake of 75Se-methionine in the abdominal visceral organs of mice indicate that amino acids (Aminosol) significantly increase the accumulation of the isotope in pancreas. Similarly, a beneficial effect if observed on the distribution of activity between pancreas and blood, while withdrawal of food adversely affects the uptake in the pancreas and gastro-intestinal tract.


Urothelial renal pelvic tumours in phenacetin abusers.

The appearances of renal pelvic tumours at urography and pyelography in 25 phenacetin abusers were correlated with the microscopy of operative specimens. Radiography was found to contribute to the preoperative assessment of malignancy grade.


Multidirectional tomography of the facial canal.

The course of the facial canal in the complicated structure of the temporal bone is best demonstrated by multidirectional (hypocycloid or spiral) tomography. A description of its normal anatomy is delivered, based on experiences from dissected temporal bone specimens, plastic moulds and tomograms. Detailed knowledge of the anatomy is required for distinction of defects and anomalies, particularly pre-operatively (fractures, reconstructive middle ear surgery). In malformation the pre-operative localization of the course of the facial canal is important, since its relation to the oval window and the posterior wall of the tympanic cavity is decisive for surgical procedures.


Angiography of the dilator response in extremity trauma.

The dilatation of major arteries following early after extensive soft tissue trauma was demonstrated angiographically not to be affected by pharmacologic or mechanical contractile stimuli. The proximal spread of the dilatation was not abolished by the division and a reanastomosis of the vessel before the trauma. These results suggest loss or impairment of the contractile ability of the major arteries following early after the trauma.


The early development of the lymphatic system in mouse embryos.

The early development of the lymphatic system was studied in embryos of an inbred strain of the laboratory mouse. During the first stage of its development the system is represented by a more or less regular series of small and blind-ending outgrowths of the major embryonic veins which develop in a cranio-caudalward direction from the jugular to the pelvic region. As a result of differences in growth rates of adjacent anatomical structures this series of early lymphatic primordia becomes subdivided into 4 singular primordia and 12 groups of primordia. After the constituents of each group of early primordia have fused, 16 isolated lymphatic plexuses (sacs) are formed of which 14 are in bilaterally symmetric and 2 are in a median line position: i.e. bilaterally: (1) the jugulo-axillary lymph sac situated lateral to the anterior cardinal vein and dorsal to the primitive ulnar vein and its major branch, the external mammary vein, (2) the paratracheal lymph plexus situated medial to the anterior cardinal vein, (3) the internal thoracic lymph plexus situated lateral to the thoracic part of the posterior cardinal vein, (4) the thoracic ducts situated medial to the thoracic part of the posterior cardinal vein, (5) the lumbar lymph plexus situated dorso-lateral to the abdominal part of the posterior cardinal vein, (6) the subcardinal lymph plexus and (7) the iliac lymph plexus situated ventro-lateral to the abdominal part of the posterior cardinal vein; and in the median line: (8) the subtracheal lymph plexus situated at the confluence of the pulmonary veins and (9) the mesenteric lymph plexus situated near the confluence of the splenic and the superior mesenteric veins. Except for some openings at the jugulo-subclavian confluence all connections with the veins disappear. From the primordia extensions grow out centrifugally. They invade the surrounding tissues and, in part, fuse with similar sprouts of adjacent primordia. In this way a continuous system of lymph truncs is formed that opens into the venous system at the jugulo-subclavian confluence.


The effects of experimental unilateral anotia on skull development in the chick embryo. II. Essentials of the development of the chondrocranium in normal embryos of 7-20 days of incubation.

In order to be able to describe adequately the developmental anomalies of the chondrocranium in unilateral anotia in the chick embryo, it seemed necessary to describe the essentials of the normal chondrocranial development. The following observations proved to be different from the available descriptions: 1. the occipital processes do not fuse with the ear capsules; 2. the tectum synoticum fuses only with the ear capsules; the occipital processes fuse later with the tectum synoticum by outgrowth to dorsal; 3. in the chick embryo there is no evidence for the existence of a tectum posterius; 4. the metotic fissure is in the cartilaginous stage of development not closed, but shifts laterally; 5. there is strong evidence that the pro-otic processes arise as independent structures which later fuse with the ear capsules. The results of the study of the development of the chondrocranium in the embryos in which experimentally unilateral anotia is produced, will be described in a following paper.


Management of the difficult patient with complex partial seizures.

Successful treatment of partial complex seizures (and the epilepsies in general) is a process of management over time and involves several factors. It starts with accurate and adequate diagnostic formulations. To this end the physician must be thoroughly familiar with the ictal manifestations of partial complex and other epilepsies as well as the clinical features of other transient but reversible episodes that might present difficulties in differential diagnosis. The diagnosis is based upon the history of a patient experiencing partial complex seizures, and the most important resource is a careful and detailed history of the ictal events and the circumstances under which they occur. Clinical observation and electrophysiologic monitoring of the patient during attacks, either spontaneous or induced, is the most powerful technique available in cases which present difficult diagnostic problems. In addition to recognition and proper classification of the seizures themselves, diagnosis and treatment of the cause of the seizures, particularly when it is an active disease, is of prime importance. Even after accurate diagnosis, the heterogenous nature of the population of patients with partial complex seizures is such that marked variation in response to treatment with antiepileptic drugs is to be anticipated. The use of these drugs must be individualized and based upon a thorough and working knowledge of their clinical pharmacology. The most frequent mistakes in our experience have been prescribing the drugs in too little doses or for too short a time. Less often the problem is overmedication. The best indicator of the effectiveness of the drugs is the clinical response of the individual patient, and in general each drug should be prescribed in increasing doses until either the seizures are controlled or unacceptable degrees of toxicity develop. The use of serum level determinations can be very helpful if not invaluable, particularly in identifying and understanding potential adverse effects of the drugs. Patient noncompliance in adhering to drug schedules is widespread, but usually can be detected by measuring serum levels. Even with the most efficient use of the drugs, however, some patients will be intractable, and elective surgical treatment should be considered. Finally, control of seizure occurrence alone is not necessarily adequate treatment, as many patients will have difficult psychosocial problems associated with their epilepsy. Treatment of such associated problems is necessary on its own merits, but occasionally can result in significant improvement in seizure control.


[Axillary plexus block with long-acting local anaesthetics (a comparative study of etidocaine and bupivacaine) (author's transl)].

Brachial and axillary plexus blockade was carried out on volunteers using a mixture of etidocaine 1% with adrenaline, and bupivacine 0,5% with adrenaline. Both drugs are long-acting local anaesthetics. No difference has been established with regard to duration of analgesia and motor nerve block. Blockade of sympathetic nerve fibres lasts significantly longer with bupivacaine than with etidocaine. With the latter motor blockade seems to be more strongly influenced and significantly outlasts sensory sympathetic nerve block. The results and findings of other authors are discussed, and whether the different behaviour of the 2 long acting local anaesthetics in this context implies a different affinity of the drugs to the different types of nerves.


[The respiratory effect of doxapram and pentazocine and their interaction (author's transl)].

A 2X2 factorially designed study has been done to determine the respiratory effects of pentazocine and doxapram in terms of the minute ventilation end-expiratory PCO2 response curve. Pentazocine 30 mg intramuscularly produced marked respiratory depression. Doxapram 60 mg intramuscularly produced significant respiratory stimulation. When this dose of doxapram was given in combination with 30 mg pentazocine it produced significant reduction in the amount of respiratory depression induced by the narcotic. The statistical analysis did not show that there was anything to suggest this effect was more than additive.


[First-aid measures in 939 fatally injured victims (author's transl)].

In a retrospective study first-aid measures taken in 939 individuals who had died from accidents and the means of transport were investigated. At the scene of accident, emergency medical technicians have been and will in future be the ones to take first measures (43%). Physicians (22%) and untrained persons (20%) alike have been found to attend to victims at about the same frequency. In 37% of the cases first-aid was administered in the form of conservative measures. Resuscitation, artificial respiration and infusions were instituted in only a few cases. 10% of the victims died at the site of the accident. Of 245 hospitalized individuals 15% had suffered shock, 9% were admitted for aspiration and 2% had died from excessive blood loss. In 80% of the cases both primary and secondary transport was by ambulance. In view of the above situation it is, therefore, urged that first-aid training of laymen be organized on a broad scale and that all possibilities of providing instruction be exploited. Emergency medical technicians should receive well-founded and goal-oriented training enabling them to master the outlined complications. Since adequate first-aid care from other physicians has not been available, there is a need to enlist increasingly the services of specially trained emergency ambulance physicians.


[Results in intensive care of older patients (author's transl)].

An increasing number of old on senile patients now submit to major surgery and intensive therapy for these patients is often indicated. The development in medicine has led to very good results being obtained in many of these cases. Patients this age-group may have pre-existing injuries, organ changes and restricted abilities to compensate, which means that when certain complications follow one must examine carefully the indication for continuing intensive therapy, in order to avoid needless and painful life-prolonging measures. Our own experiences with 54 patients are discussed.


[Retropharyngeal dissection, a rare complication of nasal intubation (author's transl)].

Three cases are described of retropharyngeal dissection as a complication of nasal intubation. In each case after introduction of the tube through the nose the tip failed to appear in the pharynx. Palpation revealed that the tube lay in the submucous plane.


A teaching and training device for resuscitation. The "AMBU-simulator" (author's transl).

The AMBU-Simulator represents a new designed manikin for teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It simulates rather realistically the anatomical and physiological conditions. Moreover it eliminates the danger of cross infection completely. Various indicators control the efficacy of CPR measures.


Neutralization of heparin after extracorporeal circulation.

In a two group-study of patients with and without postoperative haemorrhagic diathesis after ECC tests were undertaken to ascertain whether a postoperative haemorrhagic diathesis after neutralization of Heparin is due to the use of protamine-chloride or stet to a preoperative existing disturbance of the coagulation system. At the end of the ECC, a strongly marked fibrinolysis has been found to take place, together with an increased turnover of coagulation factors i.e. DIC. These results indicate that we are not concerned with a primary fibrinolysis, which would be characterized by plasminaemia, but rather with a reactive fibrinolysis. This coagulation disturbance was more marked in the group with postoperative haemorrhagic diathesis and it became even more pronounced after neutralization with protamine-chloride. From the results we obtained in our tests, the bleeding which occurs after the neutralization of heparin with protamine-chloride can be explained by increased DIC. We think a so-called "heparin-rebound-effect" is improbable as a cause of this postoperative bleeding complication. When there is DIC at the end of the by-pass time, one should avoid neutralizing the heparin and continue the heparin treatment for the same reason.


[Sodium- and water balance in the dog in the conscious state and under nitrous-oxide and barbiturate anesthesia (author's transl)].

By a suitable pattern of saline infusion we established an equilibrium between input and renal output of sodium and water in the conscious animal, which was maintained for six hours. During this period of equilibrium we found an increase in GFR, plasma volume and functional ECFV of about 30% each, the amount of intravascular protein and albumin being unchanged. Under nitrous-oxide and thiopentone anaesthesia renal sodium and water excretion was unchanged compared with values of conscious animals. However there was a striking decrease in plasma volume as well as in circulating protein and albumin by approximately 20%. Similarly functional ECFV (sulphate space) was found to be reduced under thiopentone anaesthesia. Retention of sodium about 12 hours after the end of anesthesia amounted to 7% of the quantities infused (about 50 mval per animal), whilst the applied water load had been completely excreted.


[Suppression of concomitant thrombosis in central venous catheters (infraclavicular route) by salicylates (author's transl)].

The antithrombogenetic effects of salicylates (Colfarit) were studied to determine whether thrombosis due to the catheter could be reduced. 50 patients with vena-cavacatheters (infraclavicular route) were examined by phlebography. 25 patients received no antithrombotic medications and served as the control group. In these cases 35% showed evidence of thrombus formation. The remaining 25 patients received salicylates. By this measure catheter-induced thrombosis was reduced by 67%.


Comparative study of the action of naloxone (Narcan) and nalorphine in man.

The comparative study of 2 narcotic antagonists, naloxone and nalorphine, was performed in healthy volunteers. The influence of these drugs on the respiratory and cicularoty systems and on the psychical state was compared. The study was carried out in a double-blind, cross-over manner. Increasing doses of naloxone and placebo or nalorphine and placebo, were administered intravenously. Naloxone, even in very high doses, caused no changes in cardivascular system, acid-base balance, sensitivity of respiratory centre to carbon dioxide and psychical state of volunteers. After the administration of nalorphine, even in very small doses, changes in psychical state in all examined subjects were observed. Nalorphine caused the significant change in the ventilatory response to CO2. Based on their results, the authors conclude that naloxone has no agonist or intrinsic narcotic activity, as opposed to nalorphine possessing strong narcotic action.


Studies on the effects of neuroleptanalgesics on certain parameters of coagulation and fibrinolysis.

The effects of droperidol and fentanyl on certain parameters of coagulation and fibrinolysis were studied. It was found that these drugs have no effect on the time of clot formation, fibrinogen level, platelet count and values of the thrombelastographic curve. The euglobulin lysis time was also not significantly changed following neuroleptanalgesia.


A method to assess the passage of diethyl ether and halothane across the placenta during anaesthesia for caesarean section.

A method was elaborated to assess the transplacental passage of inhalatory anaesthetic agents--diethyl ether and halothane during Caesarean section. The method is based on measurements of blood concentrations of these agents in material venous blood and in arterial and venous blood taken from the umbilical cord during the operation. Halothane and diethyl ether concentrations were determined by means of gas chromatography. The studies were carried out on 2 groups of 25 cases each. The obtained results indicate that diethyl ether passes in a higher degree across the placenta than halothane. The mean ratio of halothane concentrations in foetal venous blood to maternal venous blood determined in 25 cases was 0.664 and diethyl ether ratio was 0.988.


Effects of divided doses of neostigmine on the dynamics of decurarization.

In 37 patients the effect of neostigmine administered in divided doses (0.1 to 0.5 mg) on the dynamics of decurarization was studied by evaluating the tidal volume and respiratory rate. It was found that doses of neostigmine caused a continuous rise in tidal volume. Normalization of the tidal volume depended on the dose administered. The rate of decurarization depended also on the duration of the operation and the time of administration of the last d-tubocurarine dose. The proposed method of decurarization enables a safe reversal of d-tubocurarine effect to be obtained with a small dose of neostigmine.


Acupuncture applied as a method of analgesia for oral surgery with particular reference to dental operations.

The purpose of the first, experimental part of this work was an attempt to elaborate a simple method of analgesia by means of acupuncture for oral surgical procedures in out-patients. The experiments were carried out on 60 volunteers using various points and types of stimulation. Analgesia was obtained in 78.3% of cases but only in very small areas which could make possible procedures on premolar and molar teeth or in the vicinity of palatine tonsils. Stimulation with rectangular, alternating-current impulses applied through the needles was found to be most effective. The volunteers were divided into two groups--those in group I were told in advance what the procedure would be, these in group II were not. Similar results obtained in both groups would rule out the effects of suggestion or hypnosis as the mechanism of acupuncture. In the 2nd part of this work the method was applied in 10 patients undergoing dental surgery and sufficient analgesia was achieved in 7 cases. The unreliability of the method, the length of time necessary for induction of analgesia and the very small area of analgesia make this method unsuitable for widespread use in outpatient practice.


Influence of music on the minute oxygen consumption and basal metabolic rate.

The authors studied the effect of soothing and exciting music on the respiratory function in man, and particularly on minute oxygen consumption and basal metabolic rate. The investigations were carried out on 30 patients and the obtained results were subjected to statistical analysis. Soothing music decreased minute ventilation, minute oxygen consumption and basal metabolic rate, while exciting music slightly increased these parameters.


Side effects of inhalational anaesthetic agents in man in early stage following anaesthesia.

The purpose of this study was to assess the functional state of the liver as well as the acid-base and electrolyte equilibrium during the first 24-hours after operation. Tne kinds of inhalational anaesthesia were applied in 170 patients evaluating the usefulness of routine tests for observation of side effects of anaesthesia. Significant early changes were observed in liver function following halothane anaesthesia, particularly when the patients received other inhalational anaesthetics together with halothane. Determinations of the activity of aminotransferases, aldolase, diastase and bilirubin are useful in the evaluation of early side effects of agents used in general anaesthesia.


Effect of music on airway resistance in patients.

The authors studied the effect of music on airway resistance in man. The evaluation was carried out by analysing the corresponding segments of FEV1 curve and the inspiration/expiration ratio in 30 patients. No statistically significant changes in this resistance were observed. The only finding was the presence of individually varying reactions, which were, sometimes, quite evident.


The effect of ketamine in patients with refractory hiccup in the postoperative period. Preliminary report.

In 5 cases of refractory postoperative hiccup the authors observed a favourable effect of a single dose of ketamine administered intravenously. Earlier applied procedures and drugs failed to control hiccup or alleviated it for only a short time. In all cases the overfilling of the stomach was ruled out as a cause of hiccup by routine preliminary examination. The doses of ketamine used (0.5 mg/kg of body weight) caused no central nervous system disturbances in postoperative patients. In view of the small number of observed cases the authors regard this report as a preliminary communication and as an encouragement for further investigations on the usefulness of ketamine in the treatment of postoperative hiccup and also in treatment of hiccup in patients in other medical specialities.


Microgenia as a factor making endotracheal intubation impossible.

The authors report a case of microgenia which made endotracheal intubation impossible in a patient with pharyngeal stenosis. It is suggested that laryngological examination should precede the operation and when endotracheal intubation is impossible tracheostomy should be performed.


[Studies on the state of pneumatization of the sinus maxillaris].

A report on 2940 x-rayfilm observations to show the behaviour of the pneumatisation of the maxillar sinus is beeing given. The greatest extension is reached at the age of 19th to 30 and show deminishing tendenz at later ages. The maxillar sinus is significantly smaller in  the nonfemale than in the female. The left maxillar sinus is significantly larger than the right, just like in the feminie, however without statistical significance. 301 cleft proband show a significance smaller maxillar sinus in comparisation to normal persons.


Palatal epithelium of a monotreme and a marsupial.

The palatal epithelium of a monotreme, Tachyglossus aculeatus and a marsupial, Tarsipes spenserae were examined histologically and with the scanning electron microscope. Each animal possess keratinized palatal spines which although histologically similar, show significant differences in their external morphology. It is suggested that the spines in each case are highly differentiated filiform papillae which have developed as a compensatory mechanism of mastication, since both animals are in effect, edentulous. In the light of these findings and observations on the tongue of both animals, it is suggested that a degree of parallel evolution of the palate (as part of the masticatory apparatus) has occurred.


[Innervation of the kidney in Lacerta muralis (Laur)].

Study of the kidney innervation in the lizard (Lacerta muralis), using the silver impregnation technique, showed nerve terminals with the same contiguous relationship to the proximal and distal convoluted tubules and Bowman's capsule as in Mammals. Innervation of these segments may serve to regulate the contractile activity assigned to the capsule and tubule epithelial cells by various workers. Perimetral fibres were also noted on the so-called "sexual segment". Their target is probably the myoepithelial cells that surround this segment, though the possibility that they regulate its secretory activity cannot be excluded.


Some studies of the centrum tendineum of the diaphragm of camel (Camelus dromedarius).

Thirty eight centrum tendineum of camel from both sexes and of different ages, and fifteen diaphragms of camel fetuses of different CR length were used for the description of the morphological and micromorphological features of the centrum tendineum. The centrum tendineum was found to be formed from two sheets. The collagenous fibres in the abdominal sheet are radially arranged, while the thoracic sheet is formed from circularly arranged fibres superficially and radiating fibres deeply. Our study reveals the presence of a central node of cancellous bony tissue to which the fibrellar elements of the centrum tendineum are fixed and from which they radiate. The os diaphragmaticum and its cartilagenous primordium were described.


Some anatomical and histological studies on the arterial supply of the nasal cavity of the buffalo in Egypt (Bos bubalis L.).

The nasal cavity of the buffalo received its blood supply from the sphenopalatine and the external ethmoidal arteries; the former vessel chiefly supplied the respiratory portion of the nasal mucosa, while the latter was distributed to the olfactory region. The greater palatine artery supplied a palatonasal branch in the most extreme oral part of the nasal floor. The nasal vestibule received bronches from both the maxillary labial and infraorbital arteries. The arteries are of the muscular type and presented in addition ot the usual structure of their walls, thin-walled and thick-walled types. Stalked polsters are encountered in the branches of the arterial vessels having walls of the normal thickness. The appearance of the longitudinally arranged smooth muscle fibers found in the intime of some of the subepithelial small arteries and arterioles is suggestive of their epitheloid structure.


Functional morpho-histology of the alimentary canal of an Indian frewhwater major carp, Labeo rohita (Hamilton) during it's different life-history stages.

1. The alimentary canal of the fry of L. rohita (Hamilton) is of the carnivorous type in nature and disposition with a low relative length of the gut (R. L. G.). 2. End-buds are present. The buccopharyngeal region has a simple epithelial surface. Mucous cells are small and few throughout the length of the alimentary canal. The presence of these structures in association with a zooplankton feeding habit indicate that the fries are primarily sightfeeders and carnivorous. 3. With increase in age and body-length, the food and feeding habits of the fish undergo changes and accordingly the fingerlings and adults become herbivorous. The value of the R. L. G. steadily increases and the alimentary canal gradually develops into the typically herbivorous type. 4. Tast buds by now become completely developed and have lamina propria, sustentacular cells, neuroepithelial cells, gustatory pores and gustatory canals. 5. Taste buds are abundant in the lip, buccopharynx and anterior oesophagus. The buccopharyngeal region is also provided with distinct villi. Mucous cells are abundant and large being present throughout the alimentary canal. 6. The frequency, length, breadth and distribution of the mucous cells and taste buds are significantly different in marked contrast with those of the fry thus indicating that the fingerlings and adults depend primarily on their gustatory organs for feeding. The fingerlings and adults therefore, are herbivorous and tast feeders.


Anatomical studies on the optic chiasma in the Indian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

The optic chiasma of the buffalo was a transversely oval body, averaging 9.0 +/- 0.89 X 12.3 +/- 0.48 X 5.0 +/- 0.48 mm. Its shape was like a letter "X". This was located 2--3 mm cranial to the pituitary. Following unilateral enucleation, the degenerating myelinated fibres were noted throughout the optic chiasma, and in both the optic tracts. The degeneration in the contralateral optic tract was more dense. By enumerating the degenerating fibres in the remnant optic nerve, in the ipsilateral and contralateral optic tracts it was noted that 57.34% of the optic nerve fibres crossed over and only 12.29% of the fibres remained uncrossed.


Ultrastructure of the basal cell and the acinar capsule of rat ventral prostate.

The rat ventral prostate was fixed by perfusion and studied with the light and the electron microscope. In the light microscopy, few solitary basal cells appeared between the secretory epithelial cells and the capsule. In the electron microscopy, the basal cells lay among the secretory epithelial cells and on the acinar basal lamina, and their fine structural features were different from those of the ordinary secretory epithelial cells and rather resembled those of an undifferentiated secretory epithelial cells. Further the basal cells were characterized by the presence of the numerous pinocytotic vesicles and of the solitary cilia. The pinocytotic vesicles were also encountered in the capsular smooth muscle cells in the capillary endothelial cells which were located between the secretory epithelial cells and the acinar capsule. The amount of the cytoplasmic filaments in the basal cells was considerably smaller than in the myoepithelial cells.


Experimental studies on the effects of aluminum on pregnancy and fetal development.

The effects of aluminum on pregnancy and fetal development were investigated. Aluminum in the form of aluminum chloride was administered intraperitoneally to pregnant rats at different dose-levels and at different stages of gestation. A high incidence of maternal death followed treatment with high dose-levels of the substance. Maternal weight gain during the entire gestational period was less in treated animals, compared to controls. In many cases, maternal liver was severely damaged as a result of the treatment. The offspring of mothers treated with aluminum chloride showed significant growth retardation as well as skeletal defects. In addition the incidence of fetal deaths and resorption was significantly increased.


The distribution of argyrophile and argentaffin cells in the small intestine of rabbits.

The distribution of argentaffin and argyrophile cells has been studied in the small intestine of six rabbits. The conclusions are as follows: 1. The density of argentaffin and argyrophile cells is variable over the length of the small intestine. 2. Both types of cells are most numerous in the duodenum. 3. The overall pattern of distribution reveals a sharp fall in the density of these cells in the proximal one third, or so, of the small intestine. Thereafter, the curve of distribution is almost flat for argentaffin cells while there is a very gradual fall in the density of argyrophile cells. 4. The curve of distribution of both argentaffin and argyrophile cells show the presence of a number of waves of rising and falling density. 5. There are considerable species variations in the distribution of argyrophile and argentaffin cells.


Anatomical studies on the optic tract (tractus opticus) of the Indian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

The optic tract of the buffalo was found to begin from the posterolateral angle of the chiasma, from where it extended laterally for about 8 mm. Each tract was round in its initial portion, but was flattened subsequently. In its course to the corpus geniculatum laterale (CGL), it swept round the homolateral cerebral peduncle. The tract fibres entered the CGL chiefly on its ventrolateral aspect. The optic fibres appeared to enter the CGL as individual fibres. The fibres in the optic tract were mostly myelinated. There were 253823 +/- 27534-254800 +/- 29232 myelinated fibres in it. There was no fascicular arrangement of these fibres. The calibre of the myelinated fibres in the optic tract varied from 1-12 microns. A fibre diameter analysis revealed an unimodal distribution of these fibres with a peak at 2 microns. Thinner fibres predominated in the peripheral portion of the optic tract. In the central portion, fibres of larger diameter were seen in greater numbers.


[Scanning electron microscopic description of the surface of the cavum leptomeningeum].

1. After fixation with formalin or gluteraldehyd and OSO4 the cavum leptomeningeum of pig and cow has been investigated. The obtained specimen were dried in critical-point-method. 2. The results were quite congruente to the literature when we magnified the specimen with slight magnification. The trabeculas and membranes go to the Arachnoidea in a diverging way. Moreover we have found the following phenomena: 3. The mesothelium of the cavum leptomeningeum possesses microvilli and pored gaps. 4. The fragility of the mesothelium and the danger of producing artefacts in preparation has been observed.


The fine structure of the intestinal epithelium of Tilapia grahami.

The ultrastructure of the intestinal epithelium is described in Tilapia grahami. The intestine is divisible into cranial, middle and caudal portions. The cranial intestine is involved in water anp ion transport as well as in lipid absorption. The caudal intestine is important in protein digestion and adsorption. There is likely to be some functional overlap in the intermediate middle intestine.


A note on the quantitative anatomical study of the trachea in the Indian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

A quantitative study of the trachea in buffalo has been made. The trachea is found to be about 37.9 +/- 1.8 cm long. It weighs 219.8 +/- 34.08 gm and its capacity is 188.4 +/- 29.3 ml. Its length, weight and capacity appear to be significantly interrelated. The bronchus principalis dexter is found to be diverging at 23.5 degrees +/- 4.6 degrees angle, whereas the bronchus principalis sinister at 34.1 degrees +/- 8.4 degrees. Apart from the first tracheal ring, the trachea has the greatest outer transverse, outer vertical, inner transverse and inner vertical diameters from the fifth to the twentieth tracheal rings. Thereafter, these diameters gradually decrease upto the last tracheal ring, which has the shortest corresponding diameters. The vertical diameter is greater than the transverse diameter throughout the length of the trachea.


Isoimmune anti-A blood group reagents in pigs.

Immunization or reimmunization of A-negative pigs with red blood cells (RBC) from A-positive donors yielded anti-A antibodies reacting in high titres with phenotype A(Ac) RBC and, in some cases, in low dilutions, with phenotype Aw(Ap) RBC also. An attempt to raise the anti-A level by immunization with saliva which contained A substance was likewise successful. Repeated immunization of A-negative recipients with the RBC of A-positive donors (compatible in all other factors), with the aid of adjuvant, is recommended as the best way of obtaining Aw typing reagents.


Adenosine deaminase in the pig: tissue-specific patterns and expression of the silent ADA0 allele in nucleated cells.

By means of polyacrylamide gel and cellulose acetate enzymo-electrophoresis, the authors have studied tissue-specific isozymes of adenosine deaminase in the pig; these have been correlated to the erythrocytic ABO-like polymorphism. The enzyme product of the ADA0 gene was detected in nucleated cells; the absence of the ADA0 gene product in erythrocytes was tentatively accounted for by an increased in vivo lability.


Transferrin polymorphism in Herdwick sheep.

The transferrin system in Herdwick sheep, bred at Compton, was investigated with special reference to the susceptibility of the flock to experimentally produced scrapie. No significant correlations were observed between susceptibility and transferrin phenotypes.


Note on a third allele in the erythrocytic NP system of cattle.

A bull ('Mercure') with an erythrocytic NP (nucleoside phosphorylase), phenotype showing a slightly higher anodal mobility has been found. His progeny data generally support the hypothesis of a third F allele in addition to the more common S and the L alleles, resulting in an ABO-like system.


Erythrocyte oxidized glutathione in Australian Merino sheep.

The concentration of GSSG was determined in the erythrocytes of Merino sheep. These sheep were grouped according to erythrocyte potassium type, haemoglobin type, and GSH type. It was found that haemoglobin and potassium type were not correlated with GSSG concentration; however, GSSG concentration was found to be significantly correlated with GSH concentration. This relationship may explain previously reported differences in ATPase activity and may reflect further metabolic differences in the erythrocytes of GSH-high and GSH-low type Merino sheep.


Population differences of aspartate aminotransferase and peptidase in the bay mussel Mytilus edulis.

This investigation has demonstrated considerable heterogeneity among populations and some heterogeneity within populations in the distribution of alleles at two variant loci of Mytilus edulis. Although the causes of this variation remain obscure, some speculations have been made on the basis of available data. A cline for aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) alleles has been observed on the Pacific Coast. An immigration model has been proposed to explain the atypical ecological and genetic characteristics of large mussels found on Amchitka Island, Alaska. Marked differences were found in the distribution of peptidase alleles among collections from Southern California, the North Pacific Ocean, and New Jersey. Deviations from random distribution of phenotypes observed in comparisons made between large and small mussels from the New Jersey collection may reflect selection operating on these loci in this population.


A column chromatography fractionation of the hydroxyproline-containing urinary peptides with continuous automatic detection.

Dialyzable and non-dialyzable urinary hydroxyproline-containing peptides are chromatographed respectively on QAE-Sephadex and on phosphocellulose. They are detected and quantitated by continuous hydrolysis in 3.3 N NaOH followed by oxidation by chloramine T and colorimetry with p-dimethylamino-benzaldehyde. The patterns of dialyzable urinary hypropeptides do not show significant qualitative differences between normal subjects and patients suffering from Paget's bone disease or cancer metastases of bone. The patterns of non-dialyzable urinary hypropeptides, show more variability in the case of normal subjects and differ more largely in the case of Paget's disease of bone.


[Use of leukocytes labelled with 99m Technetium sulfide colloids for the detection of experimental aseptic inflammatory foci].

The authors propose a technique of labelling of leukocytes based on the phagocytic power of these cells with regard to sulphide particles in the colloidal state labelled with 90mmTc. These labelled leukocytes maintain their normal function and can be detected in the inflammatory foci created in experimental animals in the form of an abscess. Satisfactory results were thus obtained by scintiscanning after auto and allo-transfusion of labelled leukocytes. The role of hyperemia in the results obtained is eliminated by comparative study using non-diffusible vascular tracers. The type of vector, tracer and marker, the innocuity of the method suggest that it may be used in human clinical medicine for the early diagnosis of certain inflammatory foci.


[Separation and assay of the MB isoenzyme of serum creatine phosphokinase. Results apropos of 152 cases].

MB iso-enzyme of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) was estimated after chromatography. The technique used, Mercer's technique, was simple and rapid. It required 1 ml of serum. The study carried out in 152 subjects showed that CPK was increased (N less than 90 mU/ml). In the group of 104 patients with myocardial infarction (average CPK levels = 829 mU/ml +/- 516), the MB iso-enzyme was found in the serum in significant levels (average level of the MB fraction = 10.9% +/- 5.4). On the other hand, in the control group of 44 patients with various diseases, (CPK = 672 mU/ml +/- 531) the MB iso-enzyme remained low (0.35% +/- 0.44). In two subjects with myocardial infarction, no MB fraction was found. On the other hand, in two patients who died, one from necrotic, prostatic adenocarcinoma, the other from necrotic epidermoid lung cancer, the MB iso-enzyme was significantly increased. The test proposed here, which is applicable in a routine laboratory, seems the most specific of all laboratory examinations available to the clinician for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction.


[Hypoglycemia caused by anterior pituitary insufficiency associated with pulmonary fibrosis. Apropos of a case].

The authors report the case of a young man with dissociated anterior pituitary insufficiency affecting somatotropic and corticotropic functions, presenting as hypoglycaemia as a result of the deficiencies mentioned, primary hypothyroidism and, in addition, pulmonary fibrosis of uncertain aetiology, pulmonary biopsy not having been carried out. The aetiology of this double pulmonary and endocrine involvement is presumably the same. Sarcoidosis seems unlikely, whilst histiocytosis X with pulmonary, anterior pituitary and/or hypothalamic and thyroid involvement is much more probable.


[Partial deficiency of cell-mediated immunity in a child with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Intercurrent meningeal and pulmonary cryptococcosis].

The authors report a new case of partial immune deficiency of cellular immunity, associated with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis in a 12 Years-old boy. The disease began very early during the first few weeks of life, with thrush in the mouth. This candidiasis then evolved intermittently and was still present. Numerous cutaneous, pulmonary and ear infections occured throughout this child's life. This morbid association led to a search for an immune deficiency. Humoral immunity was normal. Abnormalities of cellular immunity were as follows: apart from candidine skin anergy, there was a deficiency in the factor which inhibits leukocyte migration, secretion of a factor favouring this migration (MEF). It was also noted the presence of the patient's serum, of a factor inhibiting lymphocyte transformation in the presence of candidine. In spite of treatment with intravenous route, amphotericin B, followed by transfer factor, the oral candidiasis persisted together with the skin anergy to candidine. On the other hand, the serum inhibitory factor disappeared. Pulmonary cryptococcosis probably favoured by corticosteroid treatment, developed on this background of immune deficiency; as usual it spread to the meninges. Treatment associating intraveinous amphotericin B and 5 fluorocytosine oral and later intravenous, total duration 6 months, grave a recovery maintained on a 8 months follow up.


[Infectious endocarditis in a neurosurgical unit].

Clinico-pathological study of 15 cases of cerebral complications of bacterial endocarditis referred to a neurosurgical unit for suspected cerebral abcess. In all cases but one, cerebral symptoms appeared with the cardiac condition undiagnosed, and complete diagnosis was made only at autopsy. Cerebral lesions consisted mainly in focal softening due to embolisms, generally multiple, with in about half the cases histological manifestations of bacterial seeding, without any abcess such as could be amenable to neurosurgical treatment. Surgical treatment of mycotic aneurysms was unsuccessful, due mainly to their multiplicity.


[Coagulation factors during the development of common viral hepatitis].

The authors have analysed the development of various coagulation factors in 104 cases of common virus hepatitis in young adults. Total plasma coagulability, the prothrombin complex, factors VIII and IX, fibrination and fibrinolysis were followed up during this evolution and compared, using the usual statistical methods, with the results of the same investigations carried out on 100 healthy subjects belonging to the same age-group and on 31 patients suffering from cirrhosis of the liver. Statistical methods showed up the slightest disturbances of any significance which would have been overlooked if individual results only had been examined. As it was, there was total plasma hypercoagulability which was at its maximum at the onset of development but which persisted until the 7th week. It was mainly connected with an abnormality at the second stage of fibrination, that is : polymerisation of the fibrin monomers. The results obtained do not allow a conclusion to be drawn as to whether there exists an antipolymerase or dysfibrinogenaemia. Later research dealing specifically with the chemical structure of fibrinogen in hepatitis should provide further information. In practice, assessment of total plasma coagulability, using cephalinkaolin time, and analysis of fibrination by thrombin time are of definite value on account of their sensitivity.


[Nutrition and taxonomy of "enterobacteriaceae" and related bacteria. II. General results and classification (author's transl)].

A study of 186 strains belonging to eleven genera of the family Enterobacteriaceae and to three genera of the family Vibrionaceae has been carried out in order to determine their "versatility" towards 146 organic substrates tested as sole source of carbon and energy. Glucose was the only substrate used by all the strains; gluconate and glycerol were used by respectively 184 and 185 strains; 55 substrates were used by no one strains. The 90 substrates which were used by a fraction of the strains have served to establish a numerical classification of our strains, exclusively relied on these nutritional characters. In using the distinctness coefficient, it was possible to cut the dendrogram into 32 "classes" which may be clustered into 7 "groups" or 2 "sets": the obtained taxa are approximatively similar to the ones which are actually described on the basis of morphological and biochemical characters. The studied strains use 32.7 +/- 11.1 substrates on an average: the "eutrophic Klebsielleae group", which is the most versatile, uses 49.5 substrates on an average, and the "Shigella group", the lease versatile one, only uses 16.5 substrates on an average. The strains of the set 1 (100 strains) use 39.0 substrates on an average: all they belong to the family Enterobacteriaceae. The strains of the set 2 (86 strains) use 25.8 substrates on an average: they belong either to the family of Vibrionaceae, either to any little versatile genus of Enterobacteriaceae, namely Shigella, Proteus and Edwardsiella. The taxonomic inferences of this classification, exclusively established by means of the nutritional characters, are discussed.


[Nutrition and taxonomy of "enterobacteriaceae" and related bacteria. III. Nutritional characters and differentiation of the taxonomic groups (author's transl)].

A batch of 186 strains belonging to the families Enterobacteriaceae or Vibrionaceae has been studied by determination, for each strain, of the "versatility" towards 146 organic substrates tested as sole source of carbon and energy. This study allowed to work out a classification of these strains into the 32 classes which have been previously described. In the present paper the nutritional characters of these classes are reported. On the basis of these characters, the 32 classes may be regrouped into 7 groups, namely: (1.1) "Escherichia-Salmonella-Citrobacter", (1.2) "dystrophic Klebsielleae", (1.3) "eutrophic Klebsielleae", (2.1) "Shigella", (2.2) "Proteus", (2.3) "Aeromonas-Vibrio", (2.4) "Edwardsiella tarda-Aeromonas salmonicida-Plesiomonas shigelloides". Only 4 strains (about 2 percent) happened misclassified in this study where the taxa were assembled exclusively by means of nutritional characters. The number and the type of the substrates which can be used in each group are reported, as well as the nutritional characters which are possibly useful to differential diagnosis. The taxonomic considerations which may be deduced from this study are discussed.


Ultrastructural and electron cytochemical studies of Entomophthora coronata.

Aspects of the fine structure as well as electron cytochemical localization studies of certain hydrolytic enzymes were examined by electron microscopy of ultrathin sections of the vegatative hyphae and conidia of the phycomycetous fungus, Entomophthora coronata. This entomogenous fungal organism is of interest since it has been increasingly implicated as the etiologic agent of phycomycosis of man and animals. On thin section, hyphal cells were frequently observed with septa while the cytoplasm was multinucleate. The conidium was bound by a multilayered cell wall. The cytoplasm of ungerminated conidia characteristically contained large numbers of a class of cytoplasmic organelle found in loose aggregates with lipid storage bodies. Similar organelles were observed in the cytoplasm of hyphal cells from 7-day old cultures. This round to oval to slightly reniform structure was bound by a single limiting membrane and composed of an electron dense, slightly granular matrix without evidence of crystalloid formation. The limiting membrane of the lipid storage bodies was observed to be intimately associated with that of one or more of these microbody-like organelles. This intimate association of the two cytoplasmic organelles suggests that the microbody-like organelle may be involved in some manner with lipid metabolism during the life cycle of the fungus. Cautious interpretations of electron cytochemical localization studies suggested that lipase, nonspecific esterase, and possibly aryl sulfatase were associated with the microbody-like organelles. Neither peroxidatic nor acid phosphatase activity could be demonstrated with these organelles of the conidial cytoplasm.


[Experimental pathogenicity of "Yersinia enterocolitica" for athymic nude mice (author's transl)].

Amongst the 4,500 strains of our collection of Yersinia enterocolitica usually non-pathogenic for laboratory animals, 5 or 6 strains appeared to be naturally pathogenic for mice. Using these strains and non-pathogenic strains representing more than 90 per cent of human isolates in the world (biotype 4, serotype 0:3, phagocyte VIII; biotype 2, serotype 0:9, phagotype X3), the pathogenicity for cyclophosphamid treated mice and athymic Nude mice has been tested. Highly pathogenic strains killed conventional as well as cyclophosphamid treated mice. Non-pathogenic strains for conventional mice did not show any pathogenicity for cyclophosphamid treated mice (strain IP161 excepted) but killed 30 athymic Nude mice inoculated with 5 x 10(8) and 5 x 10(5) organisms by the oral or intraperitoneal routes. Nude mice infected intragastrically or intraperitoneally showed signs of enteritis and bronchopneumonia followed by a septicemia. Abscesses were found in the liver, the spleen and the ileal wall. The infection of Nude mice with Y. enterocolitica resembles naturally acquired human infection where 2/3 of the cases are enteritis among under 4-year-old children and where septicemia occurs among immunologically deficient adults. The role of T-lymphocytes and of immune functions in Y. enterocolitica infection is discussed through our model.


[Experimental herpetic infection in rabbits combined with immunodepression (author's transl)].

The immunologic response to herpesvirus infection have been studied in rabbits receiving azathioprine before, after or simultaneously with the infection. The part of humoral depression in the complications following human kidney graft and the meaning of the viral antibodies rises in these patients are discussed.


[Grouping of streptococci by means of antibodies adsorbed to staphylococcal "protein A" (author's transl)].

The method described by Krinvall, using antibodies adsorbed to "Protein-A" containing staphylococci, can be applied for the serological grouping of A, B, C, F and G streptococci. The results are improved by replacing the whole trypsinized cells, as reported by Christensen et al., by an enzymatic extract of the polysaccharide. The reaction is easy, specific, rapid and cheap.


[Comparison of long-term carcinologic results between radical and conservative cervical surgery].

The aim of this research was to compare isolated ganglionic development in patients treated surgically for cancer of the larynx. This research included the cases of 232 patients operated on for laryngeal cancer and who underwent either total laryngectomy with or without conservation of the cricoid, or supra-glottal laryngectomy, or sub-glottal pharyngectomy. For the treatment of the ganglionic areas, there are six possibilities: --cobalt used in isolation; --uni- or bi-lateral cellulo-adenectomy; --uni- or bi-lateral curettage (a month apart); --curettage on one side, cellulo-adenectomy on the other. The results obtained were particularly significant as far as the N0 and regrouped N1 were concerned. The rate of ganglionic recurrence was 25 p. 100 for the N0 treated with cobalt and 6,5 p. 100 when surgery was carried out (cellulo-adenectomy or curettage). Also, curettage seems in N + cases to give better results : 26 p. 100 recurrence in cases of cellulo-adenectomy for N0-N1 and 4 p. 100 only in cases of curettage. These results appear to justify on the spot histological examination followed by curettage in N + cases.


[Physiological assessment of the rehabilitation of total deafness by the implantation of multiple intracochlear electrodes].

Cochelar implantation can only be entertained incases of complete endocochlear deafness and if the nerve fibres which transmit the auditory message to the cerebral centres are relatively unaffected. The electrodes should also be placed so as to follow roughly the spatial arrangement of the cochlear organ: each band of the speech area should have an electrode. It is however clear that a single electrode cannot offer selectivity as far as this spatial arrangement is concerned. The authors therefore decided to use 7 or 8 intra-cochlear electrodes. These were insulated from each other so as not to interfere with selective stimulation of the different groups of fibres.


[Nasopharyngeal fibroma. Significance of super-selective angiography and embolization].

The authors describe a case of naso-pharyngeal fibroma which they treated, in order to prevent per-operative haemorrhage, by means of embolisation of the arterial pedicles. The result was very satisfactory, the operation being practically bloodless. They stress the advantages of angiography for obtaining information about these tumours. And, thinking ahead on the subject of embolisation, they weigh up the risk of haemorrhage due to surgery (which remains considerable whatever methods have been used hitherto) against the possible risk of embolism which appears to be negligible if it is carried out by a radiologist who is expert in this method.


[Translaryngeal microsurgical arytenoidectomy].

The authors describe a microsurgical procedure for translaryngeal arytenoidectomy in bilateral vocal cord paralysis and relate their clinical experience. They consider this approach as very valuable in as much as a rather minimal surgical procedure will create a good airway while conserving a satisfactory vocal function.


[Functional laryngectomy using a technic of subperichondrial laryngeal curettage].

A new technique of functional laryngectomy using sub-perichondral curettage of some or all of the soft parts of the larynx is described. This method has an embryological and anatomical basis. It is supported by a score of cases which have had a satisfactory outcome, all the patients operated on having been decannulated. Histopathological research was continued with a view to confirming the function of the perichondrium and the cartilage as a barrier to neoplastic invasion.


[Scanning electron microscopy of the vestibular surface of the stapes in otospongiosis].

The authors, going on with their investigations of the otospongiotic micro-foci by means of scanning electron microscopy method, state their discoveries concerning the micro-foci of the footplates vestibular side, left aside too often up to now. On this vestibular side of the footplate, they have managed to find much more numerous pathological alterations than usually admitted. There are three types of lesions: 1. Strongly cellular micro-foci, most of them composed of histiocytes. 2. Fibrous micro-foci, containing numerous fibroblasts and looking like otospongiotic micro-foci of osteoid lamellae overhanging the tympanic side of the footplate and grasping it in the way of a lobster-claw. 3. A small number of scattered microlesions, having no relation with the two previous types, and seeming due to numerous initial otospongiotic micro-foci originated from one or several cells with altered metabolism on the footplate' side itself. The localization of these micro-foci of the footplate's vestibular side is extremely interesting for the knowledge of the otospongiotic disease, because they are in direct contact with the vestibule. They can thus spread their hydrolytic enzymes into the labyrinthine fluids as well as the otospongiotic micro-foci of the lateral wall which have been described by the authors in numerous papers.


[Severe emergency epistaxis].

Selective ligature of the nutrient vessels of the nasal mucosa is an effective method of controlling massive epistaxis. Careful identification of the site of the haemorrhage is essential. One cause of immediate failure was an error in indication and another, lack of precision in locating a vascular tumour. With a short stay in hospital (the average is a week) we have achieved complete control over almost every very serious case of epistaxis we have been called upon to treat. Surgical sequelae have been minimal. In particular we found no mucosal vasomotor disorders such as those described in some operations involving the back of the pterygo-maxillary fossa.


[Histo-topographic variations of pharyngolaryngeal cancer].

The authors carried out comparative research into the topography and the histopathological nature of pharyngo-laryngeal cancers in Zaire and in countries in other continents. They found that in all countries, cancers of the larynx seem mainly located on the vocal cords, but that pharyngeal cancers, and more especially those in rhino-pharyngeal sites which are seen more often in Asiatic than in European countries, occur very frequently in Zaire. From the histopathological point of view, they show that contrary to the high frequency of differentiated spinocellular epitheliomas often described in European countries, most pharyngo-laryngeal cancers which they observed were usually undifferentiated epitheliomas.


[The problem of hearing in the case of surgical cavities. New perspectives: the hidden hearing aid].

In numerous chronic osteitic and diffuse cholesteatomatous chronic otitis, the surgeon is obliged to form a Transmeatal partial or radical cavity usually with considerable mastoidectomy.


[The facial nerve sensitivity test. Significance and limitation].

This Test which is a renewal of the work of Duchenne de Boulogne (1872) gives an evaluation of the prognosis of a Facial palsy 72 hours after its beginning. It is specially interesting in traumatic cases for it gives the ground for urgent operation or reoperation.


[Electrodiagnosis of peripheral facial paralysis. Significance of stimulation tests--detection].

Electroneurography at present constitutes an indispensable method for the investigation of peripheral facial paralysis. It should be carried out at an early stage, in the form of three successive examinations at 3 day intervals. If decompression is necessary, it should theoretically be carried out during the first 15 days, before destruction of nerves, which is a feature of sequelae, can take place. Electroneuronography appears to be, for this purpose, on a par with histology. The authors urge that patients suffering from from facial paralysis should be referred to O.-R.-L. departments right from the start and not when all other methods of treatment have been tried, often with reprehensible empiricism, and found unsuccessful.


[Medical treatment of so-called frozen face paralysis].

Medical treatment for a frigore facial paralysis should be instituted promptly, within 48 hours of the appearance of symptoms. Principally, to reduce oedema or oedematous neuropathy (which is what Bell's palsy is), treatment should include:--corticoids, --vaso-dilators. --1 p. 100 xylocaine infiltrations (superficial temporal artery, stylomastoid foramen, where chin branches cross the facial pedicle), --kinesitherapy. Results can be judged by the seventh day. In case of failure, surgery has to be resorted to.


[Remote prognosis in esthesioneuromas (apropos of 11 cases)].

Research was carried out into a group of 11 patients with tumours of the olfactory placode or aesthesioneuromas observed and treated by the authors (10 of them unpublished cases). The authors recall the histological characteristics which, theoretically, distinguish aesthesioneuroepithelioma from aesthesioneurocytoma and aesthesioneuroblastoma and the risk of mistaken interpretation due to confusion with other types of tumour. The following conclusions emerged from this research : 1) Aesthesioneuroma is indisputably a radiosensitive tumour as has been proved by the long-term cures obtained either by irradiation alone or by irradiation after incomplete surgery. 2) However it is exceptional for diagnosis to be made merely by intranasal biopsy. In all doubtful cases, surgical investigation is necessary. This requires a broad para-latero nasal approach route which is the only one affording accurate anatomical localisation of the lesions and complete ablation of the tumour including, where necessary, removal of the lamina cribrosa.


[Minimum neurolysis in so-called frozen face paralysis].

The simplest method of dealing with a frigore facial paralysis surgically seems to be by a minima neurolysis using a speculum and tackling it through the ear-drum as in otiospongiosis. In this manner, the Eustachian tube is exposed between the deep surface of the incus and the tendon of the musculus stapedius. Results were consistently good in 26 cases. The quality of recovery depends more on the duration of the paralysis than on operative technique.