[Reflections on cholesteatoma].

Cholesteatoma, defined by Muller in 1830, has not benefited by any means to the same extent as other otological conditions from therapeutic progress. Its histological nature has been defined on information supplied by the electric microscope. It remains puzzling and the manner in which it invades the inner ear cavities imperfectly reproducing the epidermis remains very much a mystery. In spite of a certain ultra-structural unity, it would appear that there is not just one, but many cholesteatomas and if this protean condition is to be understood treated, a primary requisite is a nosological break-down which takes into account the topography of the lesions and their macroscopic appearance. From this attempt at a classification which groups together the most frequently encountered possibilities, operative indications which have to take into account several contradictory preoccupations can be arrived at. It is essential to: -- eradicate the lesions as thoroughly as possible; -- avoid damaging those structures of the middle ear which are still functional or which may be made serviceable again; -- leave open the possibility of surveillance of the cavities so as to detect relapses. These contradictory requisites can be reconciled in a great number of cases and justify the hope that a cure will go hand in hand with an appreciable gain in function. As examples, a few audiograms of patients operated on are included to show the sort of results that it is possible to obtain.


[Re-establishment of tracheal continuity by lowering the larynx after tracheal resection].

The authors describe a technique for re-establishing tracheal continuity after anastomotic  resection of the cervical and cervico-thoracic trachea. Simply lowering the larynx cervically without an associated thoracic phase enables termino-terminal anastomosis of the trachea to be carried out after resection of more than 5 cm. In this article, the technique and the results obtained in 8 cases of pure tracheal stenosis are described in detail.


[Recent developments in electrical tests applied to the study of facial paralysis].

We have already shown the spontaneous development over a period of time of idiopathic facial paralysis, in relation to the extent of the resulting disfigurement, by means of analytical clinical measurement representing the sum of 19 factors constituting the force of contraction, tonus, coordination and hemispasm. This spontaneous development takes place in 3 stages: --an initial period up to the 15th day; --an intermediate period during which there is clinically total facial paralysis; --a period of recuperation. The duration of this development in relation to the extent of sequelae enables a rough distinction to be made between: a) benign facial paralysis in which disfigurement is nil or very slight (1 to 6 p. 100), incomplete paralysis or complete paralysis in which recuperation starts about the 15th day at the earliest, or at about the 4th month at the latest; c) very serious facial paralysis with moderate (38 to 66 p. 100), or considerable (66 to 100 p. 100) disfigurement and in which recuperation starts at the end of the 3rd month at the earliest. The authors have attempted to indicate how effective very prompt quantitative electrical procedures are in helping to assess the seriousness of ultimate permanent disfigurement (see article).


[Pitfalls and dangers of hearing aids].

In a general study devoted to the dangers and disasters connected with hearing appliances for the deaf, the author reviews the minor disadvantages of hearing aids, the technical incidents, the complications affecting the external ear, stresses and accidents caused by labyrinthine intolerance and discusses the possible effect on cochlear reserve of the continual use of a prosthesis both in children and adults.


[Current prognosis for foreign bodies in the respiratory and digestive tracts? Report of 840 cases collected over a 5-year period (1969-1974)].

This is a resume of a survey involving 240 foreign bodies in the air passages and digestive tract over a period of five years. Those in the oesophagus were all except one removed by means of endoscopy and among the complications there were 22 strictures of the oesophagus and 8 abscesses, one of them fatal. All the foreign bodies in the air passages were removed by means of bronchoscopy without any accidents or complications. Endoscopy is therefore the main method while surgery remains the exception. New endoscopic techniques combined with antibiotics and electrolytic check-ups so essential in cases of tracheotomy, make present-day prognosis in cases of foreign body excellent.


[Injuries of the ossicle system].

On the basis of the observation of eight cases with traumatisms of the ossicular system, the authors discuss the mechanism of various forms of lesions, which may be primary represented by fractures and luxations or they may be secondary reactions following the traumatism leading to ankylosis the joins. There is underlined the frequency of the luxations of the stapes and the constant ankylosis of the footplate in these cases. The authors argue in favour of an early surgical procedure, the extent of the surgical intervention being conditioned by the lesional aspect.


[Surgical treatment of traumatic facial paralysis].

Facial paralysis caused by cranial traumatism often needs surgical treatment / 28 operations were carried out on a group of 47 paralysed patients. Direct lesion of the facial nerve was in fact common / 10 compressions or contusions, 4 sections. Associated kophosis was frequent (15 cases). Conductive deafness was not uncommon (11 cases). Transverse fractures (5 cases) and complicated fractures (4 cases), true to their reputation for seriousness, all needed surgery and span the four nerve sections observed. Surgery is often delayed due to extensive cranio-cerebral lesions requiring prolonged neuro-surgical nursing care / 16 patients were operated on between the 4th and 8th weeks, 9 patients after the 8th week. The operation was usually carried out through the mastoid. Posteiror lympanotomy enabled the bend and the second portion to be reached and later enabled the ossicular chain to be reconstructed. In two cases involving kophosis, the three portions of the nerve were tackled through the labyrinth. The choice depends on the audiometric, radiological and operative findings. Surgical indications depend on clinical, elecromyographic, audiometric and radiological results. A check was carried out by means of muscular tests in 23 out of 28 cases: --20 decompressions / 15 recuperations of more than 50 p. 100 of which 7 were above 75 p. 100; --3 grafts or sutures / 3 recuperations of 30 p. 100.


[Facial paralysis in children].

Facial paralyses in children may be grouped under headings displaying a certain amount of individuality. Chronologically, first to be described are neonatal facial paralyses. These are common and are nearly always cured within a few days. Some of these cases are due to the mastoid being crushed at birth with or without the use of forceps. The intra-osseous pathway of the facial nerve is then affected throughout its length. However, a cure is often spontaneous. When this desirable development does not take place within three months, the nerve should be freed by decompressive surgery. The special anatomy of the facial nerve in the new-born baby makes this a delicate operation. Later, in all stages of acute otitis, acute mastoiditis or chronic otitis, facial paralysis can be seen. Treatment depends on the stage reached by the otitis: paracentesis, mastoidectomy, various scraping procedures, and, of course, antibiotherapy. The other causes of facial paralysis in children are very much less common: a frigore or viral, traumatic, occur ring in the course of acute poliomyelitis, shingles or tumours of the middle ear. To these must be added exceptional causes such as vitamin D intoxication, idiopathic hypercalcaemia and certain haemopathies.


[Facial paralysis and tuberculous otitis. Significance of early neural decompression].

Facial paralyses associated with tuberculous otitis have consistently had a bad prognosis. This is bound up with delay in diagnosing the tuberculous nature of the lesions and with slow-acting medical treatment. The facial nerve must be decompressed immediately and not delayed until medical treatment has failed. This attitude is particularly necessary in two types of circumstances in which the tuberculous origin should be under suspicion as a matter of routine / firstly when facial paralysis appears in the secondary sequelae of ear surgery and, secondly, when facial paralysis is a complication in chronic otitis without cholesteatoma.


Detection of fetal QRS-complexes by external methods.

A new method is presented for detection of the QRS complexes and the fetal heart rate from the fetal magnetocardiogram and from the fetal electrocardiogram. In the method, the amplitude, the polarity and the shape of the QRS complex are tested. By using the described equipment it is possible to detect all consecutive heart beat intervals from a fetal electrocardiogram with less than 1% error in timing. When an external fetal electrocardiogram was used for testing, generally slightly over 10% of the QRS complexes were lost since they were simultaneous with the maternal complexes. In addition, complexes were also lost due to noise.


Fetal prognosis in obstetric hepatosis.

116 women with obstetric hepatosis gave birth in the years 1971-1972 at the First and Second Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Central Hospital, Helsinki. This accounts for a 1.1% incidence of all deliveries at this hospital. During most of these pregnancies fetal well-being was monitored by amnioscopy, by the oxytocin challenge test, by maternal urinary oestriol determinations and by estimating the fetal biparietal diameter weekly. In 38% of these pregnancies, signs of fetal distress were found, mainly an abnormal heart rate, or heart rate pattern, and/or meconium-stained amniotic fluid. These led to increased frequencies of induction of labour and of Caesarean sections performed because of asphyxia or imminent asphyxia as compared with a control group with similar age and parity distribution. There was an increase in the occurrence of twin pregnancies in the hepatosis series (7.6%). There were 4 intrauterine and altogether 8 perinatal losses of 125 infants born to hepatosis mothers. These observations suppport the opinion that there are increased risks for the fetus in pregnancies complicated by obstetric hepatosis. Amnioscopy and fetal heart rate recording during the delivery and oxytocin challenge test were found to be valuable in monitoring the fetal condition. The use of oestriol determinations, at least by employing the method in general clinical practice, was found to be of limited value in the predictive assessment of fetal distress in hepatosis. This might be due to impurities disturbing the determinations or to changed oestrogen metabolism in cholestasis.


The effect of systematic treatment of toxaemia of pregnancy upon fetal prognosis.

Systematic therapy for pre-eclampsia including diuretics was investigated in 604 patients in whom therapy was begun immediately the first symptoms appeared and continued until delivery. The control group consisted of 368 patients with toxemia from the two previous years who received no systematic therapy but who also underwent delivery at either the Turku City Maternity Hospital or the Women's Clinic of Turku University Central Hospital. Cases of pre-eclampsia gravis were significantly reduced (2.3 as compared with 7.3%). A significant difference was seen in the percentage of premature deliveries. In the experimental group this was 4.3% and in the control group 11.2%, (p less than 0.001). There was also a significant difference in the perinatal mortality, the values being 2.3 and 4.6%, respectively (p less than 0.05). The overal premature birth rate during these two periods remained unchanged, at 5.5 and 5.7%. The difference between the overall perinatal mortality rates was also slight (1.8 and 2.2%).


Disappearance of tracheobronchial fluid at birth in the lamb.

Bronchography was performed in lambs before, during and after the first breath. Swallowing of the contrast medium containing tracheobronchial fluid was observed before the first breath. Intratracheal pressure changes ranging up to 20 mmHg were observed during respiratory movements which did not open the alveoli. The lamb did not start breathing as long as the snout was covered although there was a direct connection between the trachea and atmospheric air through a tracheostomy. When the snout was uncovered a lamb in good condition drew its first breath and the spreading of the contrast material into the peripheral parts of the lungs was almost explosive. The diameter of the tracheobronchial tree widened as a result of the initiation of respiration. It is suggested that both swallowing in the pharynx and absorption into the blood circulation below the larynx play an essential role in the disappearance of the tracheobronchial fluid. Intrauterine aspiration seems less probable in the light of these observations.


Changes of the neonatal head diameter during the first week of life.

Significant but slight decreases in the biparietal and bitemporal diameter were observed during the first week of life with different ultrasonic methods. The lowest value was reached after two days. Between two and six days a small increase was observed in the biparietal diameter, corresponding well with the rate of growth reported for the foetal head during the last weeks of pregnancy. Reasons for these changes cannot be clarified on the basis of the present study.


Diagnostic value of biopsies in villous papilloma of the colon and rectum.

The correlation between the histopathological diagnosis of biopsies from colorectal villous tumours and that of the excised tumour (in 16 cases of carcinoma only clinical diagnosis, autopsy or death certificate) was investigated. In the persent retrospective study 235 biopsies were taken from 134 tumours where the final diagnosis had been established. In the benign groups the grade of the biopsy was the same as that of the surgically excised tumour in about 50%. However, 25% of the biopsies with a benign diagnosis were in fact taken from carcinomas. Not even multiple biopsies exclude the presence of cancer in a villous papilloma. The tumour should be totally excised and histologically examined.


Roentgenological features in villous papilloma of the colon and rectum.

With good technique it is possible to detect small polyps in the large intestine with a barium enema examination. The radiological appearences and visibility of villous papillomas in 84 barium enema examinations from patients with both benign and malignant villous papillomas in the rectum, rectosigmoideal junction and the sigmoid loop were studied. In 75% of the examinations the tumour was visible. A specific radiological diagnosis of non invasive villous papilloma was made in 33% and the correct malignant diagnosis in 8/13 cases. There were both false positive and false negative diagnoses of malignancy. Patients with a villous papilloma should undergo barium enema study with double contrast technique of the whole large intestine. Benign looking tumours can always have islands of invasive carcinoma. But the criteria for malignancy are more reliable than the diagnostic signs for the villous papilloma.


Severe liver injury. Surgical treatment of eight consecutive cases.

A series of eight consecutive patients with severe liver injury is presented. Surgical treatment consisted of liver resection in four patients, one hepatic artery ligation and suture and drainage in three patients. Six patients survived. There were about three complications per patient, infection, and bile leakage being the most common. Of three patients who required hemodialysis for renal failure, only one survived. It is strongly recommended that an autotransfusion device should be ready to hand when a patient with severe liver injury is to be operated. In a case of massive bleeding from a lesion of the vena cava or major hepatic vein, autotransfusion could save the patient's life.


Diagnostic delay in cancer of the breast.

The occurence of delay in the diagnosis of breast cancer was investigated in 115 women with breast cancer. Earlier breast disease and earlier consultations for breast symptoms were thoroughly inquired about and analysed. The part of "diagnostic delay" referred to "doctor's delay" occurred in one fifth of the breast cancer patients but in one third of the patients under 50 years of age compared to one seventh of the patients over 50 years. The reasons for delay were: incomplete investigation of palpable or suspected breast tumour, non-representativeness of surgical biopsy or of slides taken for histopathological examination, underestimation of atypia at histopathological examination, unsatisfactory follow-up after biopsy of suspected tumour.


Intra-aortic ballon pumpimg in the treatment of myocardial failure complicating open-heart surgery.

Intra-aortic ballon pumping (IABP) was employed in five patients. Following elective open-heart surgery, they manifested severe cardiac failure which after maximal medical treatment would seemingly have ended fatally. Duration of the pumping was from 15 to 20 hours. Three patient survived. The use of IABP in the treatment of low-output failure after cardiopulmonary bypass is reviewed.


Blood alcohol levels in accident victims.

The purpose was to study the frequency and distribution of alcohol involvement in accident patients. Blood alcohol was determined gas chromatographically in 1012 accident patients. Alcohol was found to be present in 37% with the following distribution by blood alcohol concentrations (BAC): 0.1--0.5 g/litre 7%, 0.6--1.5 g/litre 13%, over 1.5 g/litre 16%. There were 702 males and 310 females. Alcohol was found in the blood in 43% of the males and in 24% of the females. In both sexes the age group 35--44 had the highest incidence. The rate of alcohol involvement increased with decreasing social status and was remarkably high (54%) among unskilled workers. High BACs were so prevalent that a causal relationship is most probable. Further studies on the causal relationship in nontraffic accidents are needed to be able to take sensible preventive measures among high risk groups.


Classification of medial fractures of the femoral neck.

In order to regularize the classification of medial fractures of the femoral neck a retrospective analysis was made of fractures in adult patients treated in the University Hospital in Turku and also in the Municipal Hospital in the same city between 1964 and 1971. There were 446 cases of medial fracture of the femoral neck, 75 of which occurred in male patients and 368 in female patients. Medial fractures of the femoral neck were classified according to the scheme laid down by Garden (8) and Pauwels (18) and in addition, the situation of the level of the fracture in the femoral neck was determined according the method proposed by Brown and Abrami (3). No correlation could be found between either the division made by Garden and that made by Pauwels or between the situation of the level of the fracture in the femoral neck and the degree of primary dislocation in the fracture. Following Garden's classification, dislocated (stage 3 or stage 4) fractures were more common among women than men. Pauwels' figures showed that there were relatively more unstable fractures (groups 3--4) among men than among women. Among women patients the situation of the level of the fracture was, on the average, more medial than among men. The healing of fractures was evaluated according to the calssifications of Garden and Pauwels. That of Garden proved to be much more logical and from the point of view of prognosis of recovery, more reliable. The present authors recommend the classification made by Garden in cases of medial fracture of the femoral neck.


Fractures of the arch of the lower cervical spine.

In a series of 285 cases of injuries of the lower cervical spine, fractures of the vertebral arch constituted 12.6%. 27 cases treated conservatively were analysed in view of their subtyping and clinical properties and with reference to the choice of treatment. Five different main subtypes of fractures of the vertebral arch of the lower cervical spine can be distinguished: 1) Bilateral fracture of lamina, without displacement of the vertebra or with subluxation. The assessment of potential instability is discussed, and criteria for its evaluation are presented; 2) Bilateral fracture of lamina combined with locked luxation, which is difficult to reduce by conservative means; 3) Detachment of the articular mass, which invariably causes instability, which, however, is usually relative because of the preserved posterior ligamentary complex. Conservative treatment is seldom able to produce a reduced position, but the only associated drawback is the theoretical possibility of continuous or intermittent compression of the injured spinal cord; 4) Bilateral pedicular fracture which is rare; 5) Combined fractures of the arch, which are highly unstable. The frequency of neurological complications necessitating skull traction is high in association with fractures of vertebral arches of the lower cervical spine. However, some bilateral fractures of lamina and detachments of the articular mass can be treated satisfactorily with an orthopaedic brace or a plaster collar. Indications for operative treatment are present in a few cases only, the main indication being early mobilizaiton.


Perforation of the anterior annulus fibrosus during operation for prolapsed disc.

The condition of the anterior portion of the prolapsed lumbar disc and the possible peroperative lesion of this structure was studied by peroperative discography. In 3 of 25 patients leakage of contrast medium anterior to the vertebral column occurred after evacuation of the nucleus pulposus. This finding may be taken as an intimation of structural weakness and vulnerability of the anterior part of the annulus fibrosus of the posteriorly herniated disc.


Gynaecologic surgery on elderly patients.

To evaluate the risks associated with gynaecologic operations on elderly patients (60 years or over) we performed this retrospective study of 573 operations. More than half the patients (53%) were operated on because of uterine prolapse. An abdominal operation was done in 33%, a vaginal approach in 59% and a combined abdominal and vaginal procedure in 9%. (he total amount of postoperative complications was 26% and higher after abdominal (36%) than vaginal operation (19%). Most complications were mild, e.g. fever (16%) and wound complications (4%). Five patients (0.87%) died within one month postoperatively, but only in two cases was death caused by postoperative complication itself, namely cardiac infarction and pulmonary embolism. It appears that our procedures based on co-operation between gynaecologist, internist and anaesthetist yield good results and that the chronologic age in itself is only seldom a contraindication to operative treatment.


The physical fitness of Finnish primigravidae.

A group of healthy primigravidae aged 20-26 years were examined two weeks before term in order to measure their physical performance. Two types of work tests with the bicycle ergometer were used, first a three-stage submaximal test and on the next day a voluntarily maximal test. The results between these two tests are in highly significant correlation. In the three-stage submaximal test the mean maximal oxygen uptake was found to be 39.9 +/- 8.3 (SD) ml/kg x min (range 25 to 65 ml/kg x min). The mean square root from the total work performed during the voluntarily maximal test was 93.6 +/- 10.9% compared with the reference value of healthy, nonpregnant women of the same average age and weight. The quotient last work load divided by the last heart rate was 102.9 +/- 17.8% from the reference value of the nonpregnant women. The mean percentage value of physical fitness calculated from the reference value is 98.1 +/- 12.8% compared with that of nonpregnant women. The maximal oxygen uptake found in the three-stage submaximal test is in highly significant correlation with prepregnancy weight. The results of the voluntarily maximal test do not correlate with the prepregnancy weight or the weight gain. In the three-stage submaximal test 6.1% of the mothers had a maximal oxygen uptake considered as low. In the voluntarily maximal test 5.9% of the mothers had a mean physical fitness below 80% of normal. Special attention of mothers with lowered physical fitness during pregnancy might be needed


Response of R wave amplitude to postural changes and to exercise. A study of healthy subjects and patients surviving acute myocardial infarction.

The effects of postural changes and bicycle ergometer exercise tests on R wave amplitude were studied in 10 sedentary and 21 physically active healthy men as well as in 158 male survivors of myocardial infarction. In the latter group recordings were made 6-8 weeks, 5 months and 12 months after the infarction, and also the effect of physical activity during the first post-infarction year on the R wave height responses was studied. At rest in the supine position the R wave amplitudes in the three groups studied were almost similar, but in the sitting position at rest and at the beginning of the exercise the R wave amplitudes were significantly higher in physically active healthy men than in sedentary healthy men or infarction patients. Physical training during the first post-infarction year induced only negligible changes in the R wave amplitude response to postural changes and exercise. The mechanisms which may underlie these different responses of R wave amplitude to postural changes and to exercise are discussed.


Ischaemic electrocardiographic changes in an athlete with normal coronary arteries.

During a maximal exercise test transient ischaemic electrocardiographic (ECG) changes developed in a young athlete who had entirely normal coronary arteries on angiography. Myocardial scintigraphy revealed a perfusion defect in the anterior wall of the left ventricle with a reduced washout of 133Xenon. A localized hypokinetic area coterminuos with the perfusion defect was disclosed by echoventriculography. This athlete, the first studied by selective coronary angiography and determination of regional myocardial perfusion, demonstrates that athletes are not protected from the recently highlighted syndrome of ischaemic heart disease with normal coronary arteries.


Levodopa and psoriasis.

Levodopa administered orally in doses of two to four grams daily for up to eight weeks had no apparent therapeutic effect on psoriatic lesions in eleven patients with severe nummular psoriasis.


Studies on the effect of 17alpha-ethinyl-6-estrene-5alpha, 7beta-diol on menstrual cycle and plasma and urinary hormones in normal women.

Pharmacological tests on rats and dogs showed that a novel steroid substance, ORG OI-65 (code name for 17alpha-ethinyl-6-estrene-5alpha, 7beta-diol) has both progestational and estrogenic properties. The effect of this substance on menstrual cycle was studied on 13 healthy fertile women, who received 2 mg of ORG OI-65 daily for 20 consecutive days from the 5th day of cycle. The following parameters were studied  during pretreatment and treatment cycles: bleeding pattern, plasma progesterone, urinary excretion of FSH, LH and estrone, vaginal cytology, cervical mucus, endometrium biopsy and basal body temperature. Treatment with ORG OI-65 did not change the bleeding pattern or inhibit ovulation: all 12 cases with ovulatory pretreatment cycles showed evidence of ovulation--timely or delayed--also during ORG OI-65 treatment. The vaginal cytology and cervical mucus remained almost unaffected by the treatment. No serious side-effects were found. The authors conclude that ORG OI-65 2 mg daily is not effective enough for oral contraception.


Changes induced by morphine administration in the hypothalmic neurosecretory system of the spotted owlet, Athene brama Temminick.

The effect of chronic administration of morphine, in gradually increasing doses, on the histology of the HNS of the spotted owlet was investigated. Administration of morphine in low doses (0.25-0.75 mg/day), for 9 days, induced marked depletion of NSM from all regions of the HNS, except the zona externa of the AME. Maximum depletion of NSM was noticed in the HNS of birds treated with morphine for 9 days. Beyond the 9th day, the HNS did not exhibit further depletion of its NSM. Administration of morphine in high doses (1.5-4 mg/day), for 18 days, did not cause depletion of NSM from the HNS. On the other hand there was noticeable increase of the NSM in the HNS over that of the controls. The histological changes in the HNS induced by low doses of morphine are comparable to the changes induced by hypertonic saline administration and are presumably indicative of augmented secretion of the ADH. The accumulation of NSM in the HNS of birds receiving high doses of morphine suggests a decrease in neurohypophysial activity. The results therefore indicate that the effect of morphine on the HNS of the spotted owlet is dose-dependent. The mechanism of action of morphine on the neurohypophysis is briefly discussed.


[Hormone reactions to physical exercise following altitude training (author's transl)].

A three weeks physical training program at medium altitude induces some fonctional metabolic and hormonal changes in the response to physical effort. These changes vary, depending on whether the effort occurs on the 3rd or 7th day following return to sea-level. In the former case one observes a decrease in the somatotrophic response whereas in the latter one observes a decrease both in the somatotrophic and glucocorticoide response as well as in the level of blood contained lactic acids. These changes could be related to an  improvement in the aerobic metabolism.


[Effects of artificial atmospheric ionization on thyroid gland in albino rat (author's transl)].

Artificial atmospheric ionization acts on rat thyroid gland, but results are depending on treatment polarity: After negative aero-ionization, thyroid gland shows signs of high activity (increased area of follicular epithelium, increased volume of epithelial cell nucleus, and resorption of follicular colloidal material). On the contrary, after positive aero-ionization, hypothyroidism symptoms may be observed, however these signs are less distinct and less homogeneous than signs of activity reported after negative treatment. The simultaneous modifications of serotonemia would be able to partially explain these results.


Hypothalamic stimulation of prolactin release in a freshwater catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis.

Hypothalamic extract has been found to contain certain factor(s) which triggers the release of prolactin from the pituitary gland. In assay recipients, hypothalamic extract injection was as effective as perphenazine-HCl treatment in triggering the release of prolactin from pituitary gland. Rise in prolactin concentration of serum and resultant decrease in pituitary prolactin level in response to hypothalamic extract administration suggests that hypothalamus in H. fossilis has prolactin releasing factor(s). This releasing effect of hypothalamus seems to be specific since cortical extract injections were ineffective in producing the similar response.


[The perforation organ of Thais lapillus L. (Gasteropodes, Prosobranches). Optical and electron microscopic study].

The histologic and cytologic structure of the boring organ of Thais lapillus has been studied with both light and electron microscopy. The organ evaginates from the foot and has a dome-like form. It has a spongy center which contain nerves, muscles and blood vessels, these originate in the foot and continue into the boring organ via a short stalk. The organ is invested externally by a continuous simple epithelium constituted of extremely elongated cells (150 to 300 mu). There are three radial zones from the basal to the apical aspect of the cells : basally the cells are overlapping, here are located the nuclei, the Golgi apparatus, the rough endoplasmic reticulum and secretory granules; organelles which in their character suggest a secretory function for these cells. In the middle zone cells are separated into "groups" by large spaces occupied by blood sinuses; at this level are located numerous elongated mitochondria with closely apposed, angulated cristae. In addition there are microtubules arranged parallel to the main cellular axis, whose role may be to facilitate rapid transit of secretory granules from the basal to the apical zone of the epithelium. In the apical zone the cells expand in tightly interdigitating folds, having a height of 2 mu, which are joined together by junctions of various types. This zone is the only junctional area between the epithelial cells of this expanding and contracting boring organ. A network of microfilaments which penetrates the cellular folds at this level, probably plays an important role in the invagination of the organ. Finally at the apex, the epithelial cells have a high "brush border" of long microvilli whose plasmalemma is coated internally by particulate subunits of 30 A. This peculiarity may be an other fact to support the hypothesis that hydrogen ions are emited by these cells, by the action of carbonic anhydrase located perhaps in these subunits.


[Period of sensitivity to androgens of the Wolff duct of the rat fetus].

The external and internal (lumen) diameter and the height of the epithelium of the Wolffian ducts of control rat fetuses were measured between 14 days 8 hrs and 21 days 8 hrs at the level of the gonad and in the genital folds. In males, at the level of the gonad, these ducts display a transitory increase in diameter and lumen at 16 days 8 hrs of fetal age. This increase, which is absent in females, occurs just before the development of the epididymides and might reflect the endocrine activity of the fetal testis. In the females, the first involutive changes appear at both levels at 17 days 8 hrs of age (decrease in diameter by reduction of the lumen and height of the epithelium). After injections of androgens to pregnant rats or directly into the fetuses in utero, the Wolffian ducts can be maintained in female fetuses only if submitted to androgens before and until 16 days 16 hrs. If the treatment starts once the involutive changes have appeared (17 days 8 hrs) inconstant persistence is obtained. The portions of ducts still present on day 18 cannot be maintained by androgens any more. Even if injected at 15 days 8 hrs, exogenous androgens do not hasten or anticipate the formation of Wolfian derivatives (epididymides and seminal vesicles) in males or in females.


The male genital tract and the nipples of male and female offspring of rats given the non-steroidal antiandrogens DIMP and Sch 13521, during pregnancy.

Male and female offspring of rats given antiandrogens, the steroidal BOMT or the non steroids DIMP or Sch 13521, daily during the last third of pregnancy were studied. Detailed examinations were made of the genital tract of male, and of the nipples of male and female offspring. A) Male offspring. 1) Genital tract of newborn and 31-91 day old males : Modifications of the development of accessory sexual tissues were found in all treatment groups. As indicated by the severity of deviations from normal (morphology and weight of sex accessories), the antiandrogenic effect of the preparations, in the doses given to the mother rats, increased from BOMT (50 or 75 mg/day) via Sch 13521 (30 mg/day) and DIMP (50 or 60 mg/day) to Sch 13521 (60 mg/day). 2) Nipples of 10-60 day old males : Whole mount preparations were made unilaterally of the row of 6 mammary glands with nipples. The number of intact and abnormal nipples, respectively, was recorded. The relation between intact and abnormal nipples served as indicator of the efficiency of the antiandrogenic substances studied. The result showed that the antiandrogenic effect increased from BOMT to Sch 13521, 60 mg, in the same order as that arrived at from studies of the genital tract. The combined results obtained from the male offspring indicated that the tissues of the genital region, the growth and differentiation of which was most readily impaired by antiandrogens, were the same as those known from other work to be stimulated most easily in female rat fetuses by testosterone. B) Female offspring. Nipples of 31-60 day old females were judged from whole mount preparations and recorded as in the males. The nipples of adult virginal females were examined macroscopically. The same procedure was applied to lactating females, but the results were controlled in consecutive lactational periods and at autopsy. The 3 groups of females showed uniformly that 1) offspring of rats given BOMT during pregnancy had many (about 50 per cent) malformed nipples and 2) the treatment of mother rats with DIMP or Sch 13521 did not influence the development of nipples in female offspring. The result was assumed to be due to an androgenic effect of the steroidal antiandrogen, BOMT, on the nipple anlage.


[Action of gonadotropins on androgen synthesis by embryonic testes of mouse and rat].

Testes from mouse and rat embryos were cultured in vitro in the presence of 14C-sodium acetate and luteinizing hormone or chorionic gonadotrophin. There is an increase in testosterone and androstenedione synthesis from sodium acetate under both treatments. Sensitivity to gonadotrophins exists already at a relatively early stage, when the testis, through testosterone secretion, is building up the genital tract. But the role of the hypophysis in normal androgen secretion will have to be proven.


[Histological and cytological study of neoblasts and fixed parenchymal cells in Dendrocoelum lacteum planarians deprived of their anterior region].

On amputating either at the root of the pharynx or between the mouth and the genital pore, the posterior parts which are thereby isolated do not regenerate. However they are capable of surviving for ever a year, without feeding. The wounded region is occupied by neoblasts which degenerate within a few days after an initial secretory activity. Their degeneration is of autophagic type. The abortive blastems disappear only slowly, because the degeneration of their neoblasts is partly compensated by the continual immigration of new regeneration cells which come from the posterior region. Several months after amputation, under the effect of prolonged starvation, neoblasts and fixed parenchymal cells begin to degenerate.


[Effects of cytochalasin B and colchicine on dental cytodifferentiation in vitro].

The effects of various concentrations of cytochalasin B and colchicine on the polarization of odontoblasts and ameloblasts of mouse tooth buds cultivated in vitro, were studies. It was shown that cytochalasin B, deside its action on the microfilaments, had important cytotoxic effects; dilatation of the odontoblast's processus, accumulation of secretory granules in the Golgi apparatus, dilatation of mitochondria, inhibition of polarization or depolarization of odontoblasts and ameloblasts. These modifications resulted chiefly from the lesion of microtubules which seem to play an important role in the polarization of the cells studies.


[Influence of nerve growth factor (NGF) on formation of synapses in newt embryonic neural tube].

Under the influence of the nerve growth factor (NGF) a general stimulation of the synthetic processes, especially protein synthesis, occurs in the neuroblasts. The morphological counterpart is an hypertrophy of the nucleoli and spiralization of nucleolonema, an increase of the number of ribosomes with the persistence of a specific organization for each stage of development, then the proliferation of the granular endoplasmic reticulum and the modification of the predominant shape of mitochondria, which becomes annular, their outer surface being largely increased. The nutrient stores are quickly exhausted, with an accelerated disintegration of yolk droplets. There is an obvious increase in the number of non-synaptic contacts (puncta adherentia) between processes of neuroblasts and neighbouring nervous structures, and also an acceleration of formation of typical synaptic zones, indicating that NGF stimulates the functional maturation of the nervous system.


A histoquantitative study of the effect of maternal hypervitaminosis A on the differentiation of the foetal mouse skin.

The skin of albino mouse foetuses aged 13, 15, 17, 19 and 21 days was studied histologically and quantitatively. The skin of foetuses aged 21 days after maternal hypervitaminosis A, was compared with that of 21 days controls. On the 13th day, the epidermis consisted of one layer of cuboidal cells. The stratum intermedium appeared on the 15th day, the stratum granulosum on the 19th day and the stratum corneum on the 21st day of intrauterine life. The quantitative study showed that although the epidermis increased more rapidly in thickness in the interval between the 13th and 17th day than in the subsequent 4 days, yet in the latter period differentiation of the stratum granulosum and corneum took place. On the other hand, the rate of proliferation of the epithelial cells concerned in the follicle formation was more rapid in the last two days of intrauterine life than in any previous prenatal stage. After maternal hypervitaminosis A, the whole thickness of the epidermis was reduced by 50% and the dermis showed an oedematous appearance. The hair follicle primordia showed a decreased volume.


[Effect of pregnancy and lactation on hair growth in mice (author's transl)].

The influence of pregnancy and suckling in mice on spontaneous, induced hair growth and on body weight was examined. 1. An inhibition of spontaneous and induced growth of hair some days before delivery was found. 2. The initiation of hair growth was found not to be wave-like as usually, but nearly simulatneously. 3. Inhibition and initiation of hair growth seem to be related to body weight. 4. The influences on hair growth in mice are compared with known effects of pregnancy on hair growth in women.


[Histology and cytology of tergal gland of Leucophaea maderea and its development during sexual maturation of the male].

The tergal gland of the adult male Leucophaea maderea is a tegumentary specialization of the second abdominal segment. This gland is involved in the conditioning of the female to mating. Several types of hypodermal cells may be recognized among which are numerous glandular cells full of gycoproteic granules. Each of these cells is provided with a axial tubular crypt through which passes a cuticular canal collecting the secretion products. All the canals open independently at the surface of the cuticle and the substance deposited there is a mixture of proteins and acid mucosubstances. Morphological differentiation is finished just after the moult, but functional differentiation starts with the histological and cytological restructuring of the epidermis, particularly the elaboration, growth and maturation of numerous granules in the glandular cells. This differentiation which occurs mainly during the first week of imaginal life is in synchronism with sexual maturation.


Sulfur dioxide and tracheobronchial clearance in man.

Tracheobronchial clearance was measured in nine healthy, nonsmoking adults. Technetium Tc 99m albumin aerosol (mass median diameter, 3 mu; geometric standard deviation, 1.6) was inhaled as a bolus under controlled conditions to achieve reproducible deposition in large airways. Each subject was studied in three seperate three-hour experiments: twice under control conditions and once exposed to 5 ppm sulfur dioxide (pollutant exposure after aerosol inhalation). Lung retention of activity was measured using a gamma camera interfaced to a data storage and retrieval system. The study showed that (1) Both deposition and clearance were highly reproducible in individuals in repeat control studies. (2) Acute exposure to 5 ppm sulfur dioxide had no significant effect (P greater than .05) on mucocillary clearance in resting healthy subjects, except perhaps for a small transient change (P=.05) after one hour. (3) Pulmonary function tests showed a decrease in maximal midexpiratory flow (P less than .01) but no other significant changes.


[Cutaneous calcinosis induced by topical calciphylaxis in rats. I. Ultrastructural aspcts].

Skin calcification induced by topical calciphylaxis was provoked by a subcutaneous injection of iron chloride in rats previously sensitized by D.H.T. and studied by electron microscope. The evolution of the calciphylatic response can be resumed as follows: -- early appearance of numberous granules in the mitochondria of the cells of the connective tissue; their inorganic nature was revealed by microincineration and it is highly probable that they are a reserve of mineral ions; -- between the 6 hr, and the 18 hr, stages the interfibrillar matrix contained rounded vesicular structures, enclosed by a triple mambrane, which must surely be of cellular origin; they progressively incorporated more and more mineral particles which confirm their primordial role in the initial phases of mineralization; -- from the 14 hr. stage onward, mineral rodlets composed of chains of little dots appeared in the intercellular matrix and then on the collagen fibrils, probably in contact with the mucopolysaccharides; -- starting at the 24 hr, stage, the mineralization progressed without a vesicular intermediary forming increasingly dense and widespread plaques; the presence of needles of homogenous aspect indicated the appearance of a crystalline mineral deposit; an intrafibrillar mineral deposit becomes visible later. These results are compared with those obtained previously in other studies of experimental or pathological calcinosis and of mineralization of skeletal tissues.


Oxygen and lung fibrosis.

Young adult rats were continuously exposed to environments containing 9% to 10%, 20% and 80% oxygen for 41 and 84 days. Animals exposed to both extreme oxygen concentrations demonstrated a noticeably slowed body growth, and the weight of the lungs was proportionally lower. Total amount and density of hydroxyproline in the lungs of both groups was markedly higher than in rats exposed to an ambient atmosphere. At both extreme oxygen concentrations, the content of lactate in the lung and total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were markedly higher, as was the activity of prolyl hydroxylase. The finding of enhanced peroxidizability of lipids in the lungs (examined by determination of malonaldehyde and change in the profile of fatty acids) indicates that both extreme oxygen concentrations represent an injury to lung constituents. We propose that under chronic exposure to low (9% to 10%) or high (80%) oxygen, the lung tissue was damaged (enhanced peroxidizability of lipids). It also developed inflammatory changes (increased lactate and LDH activity) that resulted in the enhancement of fibroplasia (increased activity of prolyl hydroxylase and collagen content). It is also possible that the content of tissue lactate in vivo situations may control the activity of prolyl hydroxylase.


[Experimental study of visual projection specificity in microphthalm and monophthalm embryos and adults of Gallus domesticus L].

Research was carried out into the visual projections of embryos and chickens of Gallus domesticus L. who had undergone early optic vesicle removal and into microphthalmy or monophthalmy with ipsilateral optic fibres resulting from such removal. The architectonics of primary visual centres (nuclei ectomamillaris, geniculatus lateralis, lateralis anterior superficialis synencephali, griseus tectalis and the tectum opticum superficiale) and of the isthmo-opticus nucleus were compared with the architectonics of the same centres in anophthalms. From this research it can be seen that:--1. Optic fibres coming from limited ocular formation in microphthalms can reach the ectomamillaris nucleus in most cases and sustain existence; they may reach the tectum opticum without playing a qualitatively discernable morphogenetic role and act upon the isthmo-opticus nucleus. For these microphthalms, the nuclei lateralis anterior, geniculatus lateralis, superficialis synencephali and griseus tectalis are comparable to those of anophthalms. 2. Ipsilateral optic fibers can develop and show the same specificity and morphogenetic function as the microphthalms' optic fibres. 3. After hatching, some anophthalms shows an isthmo-opticus nucleus with scores of neurons. In general, observations during this research have shown that the specificity of microphthalms' optic fibres and ipsilateral optic fibres remain strictly the same whatever the operation under consideration.


Smoking and respiratory illness in military recruits.

The effect of smoking on respiratory illness was investigated at a naval recruit camp. All recruits entering training during an 11-month period, beginning in February 1971, were included in the study. Questionnaires in regard to smoking habits were administered on arrival and during the last week of training. Facts of illness were obtained from each recruit's health record during the last week of training and abstracted onto electronic accounting machine (EAM) cards. Data on a sample of 1,100 men, who had complete records, were analyzed. Two thirds of the men were smokers on arrival. Heavy smokers had a longer history of smoking. The majority of recruits decreased smoking during training. Significantly more heavy smokers than light smokers or nonsmokers had symptoms of chronic respiratory involvement. No statistically significant increases in respiratory illness were observed in smokers.


Sulfuric acid and streptococci clearance from respiratory tracts of mice.

The inhalation of 15 mg/cu m (3.2mu count median diameter) of H2SO4 aerosol for four hours after exposure to radioactive aerosol resulted in a reduction in the rate of clearance of nonviable streptococci from the lungs and noses of mice. A second exposure to H2SO4 lasting 90 minutes (15 mg/cu m, 3.2mu count median diameter) for four days prior to the radioactive aerosol resulted in a reduced rate of clearance of nonviable streptococci from the noses but not the lungs. Neither of these exposure regimens caused an alteration in the rate of reduction of viable streptococci from the lungs or noses. Inhalation of 1.5 mg/cu m of H2SO4 (0.6mu coung median diameter) for four daily 90-minute exposures prior to, or for four hours after exposure to Streptococcus caused no alteration in the normal rate of clearance of viable or nonviable streptococci from the noses or lungs.


Toxicology of high-fired beryllium oxide inhaled by rodents. II. Metabolism and early effects.

Several groups of male and female rats and hamsters were exposed by inhalation to an aerosol of BeO particles calcined at 1000 C. Initial alveolar depositions ranged from 12 mug to 160mug Be. The alveolar retention half-life for BeO was approximately six months. Only the pulmonary lymph nodes accumulated detectable amounts of translocated BeO. Early alterations were seen in the alveolar macrophages, which were subsequently converted to histiocytic cells that accumulated in subpleural and peribronchiolar granulomatous lesions within eight months after the exposure. The alveolar clearance of a test aerosol, radioactive plutonium dioxide (239PuO2), was decreased to 60% of the normal rate when the radioactive material was given at 1, 30, or 60 days after exposure to BeO. These results demonstrate the important function of the alveolar macrophage in Be-induced granulomatous disease, as well as the rapid impairment of alveolar macrophage function by phagocytized BeO.


Practical methods of reducing airborne contaminants in interior spaces.

Prediction of airborne concentrations of enviornmentally important contaminants is supported by field test data on tobacco smoke. The analysis discussed herein is completely general in nature, and the contaminants can be gases, vapors, liquid droplets, and solid particulates, including microorganisms and pollens. Several engineering controls can be applied to practical environnmental systems to reduce and control undesirable contaminants in normally occupied structures. The use of the method is an important research tool to more accurately quantify airborne contaminant levels in enviornmental medicine experiments with animals or human subjects. It is difficult and expensive to control inside environmental contaminant levels at values less than 20% to 25% of those occurring outside. The same is true for internally generated contaminants.


Distribution of thallium and lead in children's blood.

Mean whole blood concentrations for lead and thallium were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometric analysis for children residing in Newkark, NJ. Frequency distributions for the various concentration ranges for both metals were recorded. There is no noticeable correlation between the lead and thallium content of whole blood, which suggests that exposure to and/or absorption of these substances are different.


Growth and morphology of Asticcacaulis biprosthecum in defined media.

The growth and morphology of cells of Asticcacaulis biprosthecum were studied in defined media to determine the effects of various compounds on the growth rate and on the expression of morphological events of the life cycle. The length of prosthecae could not be controlled by varying the concentration of inorganic phosphate as has been shown for other caulobacters. In defined media, growth was inhibited during conditions favoring rapid metabolism, apparently due to an absolute requirement for cells to complete all stages of the life cycle before cell division could occur. The morphology of cells grown under these conditions was aberrant, i.e., cells appeared elongated and branched and few prosthecae or swarmer cells were produced. Growth of a related bacterium, Asticcacaulis strain S-3, was not inhibited by conditions favoring rapid metabolism. During rapid growth, cell division in this organism occurs in the swarmer stage and prosthecae are not produced. Cell division in S-3 is not obligately coupled to completion of all stages in the complex life cycle, and morphogenesis can be controlled by cultural conditions.


Microbial assimilation of alkyl nitro compounds and formation of nitrite.

66 representative strains of bacteria, yeasts and fungi were tested for their ability to grow in a semidefined medium containing 0.5% nitroethane as a nitrogen source. About half of them were found capable of growing in the medium. Hansenula beijerinckii, Candida utilis, and Penicillium chrysogenum were most active in assimilating nitroethane. 2-Nitropropane inhibited growth of most of the microorganisms tested in a medium containing 0.2% peptone and 0.2% glycerol. Hansenula mrakii was found to grow rapidly in the nitroethane-peptone medium after a lag phase. Nitrite was accumulated in the culture fluid after the phase of logarithmic multiplication, and increased with increase of the growth, followed by a decline after the maximum growth. The alkyl nitro compounds were oxidatively denitrified to form nitrite by the crude enzyme from Hansenula mrakii. Nitroethane was generally a poor substrate, but was the best inducer to produce the nitro compounds oxidizing enzyme. 2-Nitro-propane and nitroethane were enzymatically oxidized to nitrite, and acetone and acetaldehyde, respectively, which were isolated as 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones and identified. Nitrite formed was found to be reduced into ammonia by the intact cells and also the crude enzyme.


Origin and ultrastructure of intra-hyphal hyphae in Trichophyton terrestre and T. rubrum.

A cell observation chamber was designed to perform continuous photomicroscopic observations of hyphal anastomosis and the origin of intra-hyphal hyphae in Trichophyton terrestre and T. rubrum. These data were correlated with ultrastructural features of intra-hyphal hyphae. Hyphal fusions occurred commonly in either species of Trichophyton when incubated alone. In T. terrestre, empty phyphal segments adjoined by live units were invaded at the septa from both directions by new hyphal ingrowth. Continuous observations revealed that the intra-hyphal hyphae subsequently anastomosed via a lateral fusion peg. Similar intra-hyphal hyphae were shown in T. rubrum. Electron microscopic studies revealed ascomycetous septa in both conventional hyphae and intra-hyphal hyphae. For the latter, the cytoplasm and wall of the inner hypha were bounded by cytoplasmic organelles and another cell wall of the outer hypha.


Variability of the molecular size of extracellular amylase produced by intact cells and protoplasts of Bacillus caldolyticus.

One of the typical properties of the extracellular amylase produced by Bacillus caldolyticus is the tendency to disintegrate into subunits with a molecular weight (MW) of less than 10,000, when the enzyme is subjected to ultrafiltration. Disintegration is due to a loss of Ca-ions, leading to nonactive subunits. Activity can be fully restroed by addition of Ca-ions. Reactivation occurs also spontaneously if the low MW fraction is stored in glassware. Comparative ultrafiltration experiments with the subunit fraction with or without a supply of Ca revealed that in presence of this divalent cation  the subunits reaggregated to the active enzyme. The different distribution patterns obtained in absence or presence of Ca showed that reactivation is directly linked to the formation of a high MW form of the protein. Substitution of Ca by other divalent cations also led to reaggregation. These aggregates are, however, inactive. The enzyme was found to be formed intracellularly in its low MW form. Experiments with protoplasts revealed that these are capable to produce and release the amylase. When the production of the enzyme by protoplasts declined, full restoration could be achieved by a recovery treatment. Normally, the enzyme released by the protoplasts consisted of equal portions of the high, medium, and low MW form of the amylase. If the cells were, however, depleted as a result of continued incubations, the extruded enzyme consisted increasingly of the low MW form, which could finally represent more than 80%. This trend could be completely reversed by the supply of carbon and nitrogen sources during the recovery treatment, whereafter the enzyme consisted again of the intially observed equal amounts of the three MW forms. Vesicles prepared from the protoplasts were also found to release amylase, but on a lower level, and only for a very limited time, with no possibility to regain activity by a recovery treatment. Subunit formation was also observed during column chromatography, which could be counteracted by a sufficient supply with Ca-ions.


Oxidation of methanol, formaldehyde and formate by catalase purified from methanol-grown Hansenula polymorpha.

Catalase has been partially purified from cell-free extracts of methanol-grown Hansenula polymorpha and its peroxidative properties were studied. It was shown that the enzyme is capable of oxidizing methanol, formaldehyde and formate in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The physiological significance of these reactions in the transduction of energy from the oxidation of methanol in yeasts is discussed.


Control of composition and activity of the photosynthetic apparatus of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata grown in ammonium-limited continuous culture.

Rhodopseudomonas capsulata was grown either phototropically in the light or chemotrophically in the dark at oxygen tensions of 5 mm and 3 mm Hg in ammonium-limited continuous culture. During growth limitation bacteriochlorophyll content of cells and membranes varied dependent on growth rate drastically in chemotrophic cultures. Concomittantly, the ratio of membrane protein to total protein varied in the range of 30-41%. This dependence of membrane differentiation on growth rate was less evident in phototrophically grown cells. The incorporation of the bulk of bacteriochlorophyll was shown to be quantitatively correlated to the incorporation of 1-3 low molecular weight proteins with molecular weights in the range of 14 to less than 10 k daltons. Supported by similar findings of other authors it is proposed, that these proteins are to be attributed to the species of antenna bacteriochlorophyll and represent components of the photosynthetic apparatus. With decreasing growth rates the size of the photosynthetic unit with respect to the population of bacteriochlorophyll- and protein molecules was reduced subsequent to a reduction in the rate of incorporation of antenna-bacteriochlorophyll and the low molecular weight proteins, the reaction-center bacteriochlorophyll content of the membranes remaining constant. A parallel decrease in potential phosphorylating capacity was observed. It is concluded, that under these conditions,  primary photochemical reactions in the reaction center were not the rate-limiting step in photophosphorylation. The interaction of growth limitation by an anabolic precursor (NH+4) and control of membrane differentiation by light intensity or oxygen tension is discussed.


Characteration of RNA synthesized during germination of Blastocladia ramosa Zoospores.

The synthesis of RNA was studied during the synchronous germination of Blastocladia ramosa zoospores. Comparison of RNA synthesis during germination of B. ramosa and Blastocladiella emersonii zoospores revealed that B. ramosa has a longer lag time before RNA synthesis is initiated and, in addition, the rate of RNA synthesis is ten-fold lower in B. ramosa. Zoospores of B. ramosa were shown to contain pre-formed messenger RNA but this messenger RNA directs only a portion of the protein synthesis which occurs during early germination. The conclusion that the remainder of the protein synthetic activity of the germinating spores is due to new message synthesis was supported by demonstrating that the timing of the initation of protein synthesis on new messages correlates with the time RNA synthesis is initiated. New message synthesis was also demonstrated by the incorporation of label into RNA which contains a poly (A) fragment. Synthesis of all classes of RNA including ribosomal, messenger, and transfer RNA was shown to be initiated at the same time. The implications of this observation are discussed.


[Fermentative degradation of 2-14C-mannose with Leuconostoc mesenteroides (author's transl)].

Mannose-2-14C has been fermented by Leuconostoc mesenteroides, CO2 ethanol and D-lactic acid were formed in a molar ratio of 1:1:1. A small amount of acetic acid was found as by-product. It could easily be isolated from the main products of the fermentation and it did not disturb further degradation procedures. The methyl-C-atom of ethanol, which was derived from C-2 of the mannose, had nearly the same specific radioactivity as mannose-2-14C. All other C-atoms of the degradation products were only very slightly labeled. Their content of radioactivity was in any case lower than 3% of the specific radioactivity of the degraded mannose. This procedure is applicable for the degradation of 14C-labeled mannose.


[Frequency of birth defects. Study of a maternity hospital in Paris].

A retrospective study of 20,591 live born babies and still birth was made in order to estimate the incidence of congenital malformations total and by type diagnosed at birth. The total incidence is 1,74 p. 100. The sex ratio, the mean birth rank and parental ages were computed for the different types of malformation and in the control group. The birth weight was low in case of severe malformation. It was found that malformations were associated with significantly raised abortions and still birth rates among previous pregnancies.


[Congenital adrenal hypoplasia of cytomegalic type. Recessive, sex-linked form. Apropos of 3 cases].

Three personal cases, and the cases of literature of congenital adrenal hypoplasia with cytomegaly allow an histological definition. Clinical and biological findings are described. In 2 cases, a diffused hypertrophy of the cells responsible for corticotrope or melanotrope secretion was discovered; it confirmed the peripheral adrenal origin of the condition, as well as high plasmatic level of ACTH, in the third case. Sex-bound cytomegalic adrenal hypoplasia is differenciated from other cortico-adrenal insufficiencies with cytomegaly.


[Thymic and parathyroid agenesia (DiGeorge's syndrome). Apropos of a case with abnormal vena caval return].

A child with a complete absence of thymus and parathyroids (Di George's syndrome) associated with a cardiac malformation (truncus arteriosus and abnormal caval venous return) is described ; the child died at the age of 1 month. An exchange-transfusion, performed at 4 days of age induced a mild graft versus host reaction which could only be recognized histologically and distorted the results of immunological tests. On this occasion, the main clinical, anatomical and immunological features of the Di George's syndrome are reviewed. They suggest a possible relationship between the severity of the cardiac malformation and the more or less complete character of the dysgenesia of the thymus and the parathyroids.


[Trisomy 8 in mosaicism].

Case report of a 6 year old girl without clear dysmorphism or mental deficiency. Chromosome studies, performed on blood lymphocytes, showed trisomy 8 in 80 % of the cells. This case is discussed with regards to a short literature analysis.


[Selective malabsorption of vitamin B 12 (Imerslund's disease) and its treatment. Apropos of 2 cases].

Two cases of Imerslund's disease are reported, with special reference to the treatment with vitamin B 12. Data suggest that mean corpuscular volume and urinary excretion of methylmalonic acid are the most sensitive parameters to follow the effect of the treatment and predict the relapse.


[Study of the pathogenic mechanism of hypocalcemia in primary hypomagnesemia. Demonstration of a blockage of the mechanism of release of parathyroid hormone].

Parathyroid function and peripheral responsiveness to parathyroid hormone were studied during magnesium dependent hypocalcemia in a 5 years old boy with primary hypomagnesemia. The bone system and the kidneys were responsive to exogenous bovine parathyroid extracts as demonstrated by the normalisation of the calcemia and the increase of urinary cyclic AMP, phosphorus and hydroxyproline. Low levels of serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone gave also clear indication of impaired parathyroid function. By contrast intravenous injection of magnesium sulfate induced an instantaneous and very sharp increase of serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone as shown by levels well above the normal range one minute after the injection ; this was followed by a regular decrease of hormonal levels reaching the normal range one hour later. This finding clearly demonstrates that severe magnesium depletion induces impaired parathyroid hormone release in man.


[Renal cystadenoma in children. Apropos of 5 cases].

The multilocular renal cystadenoma is a benign, rather uncommon tumor occurring in childhood (one case for 40 Wilms tumors). The clinical pathological study of five cases and the review of cases published in the literature show that this tumor, like all cystadenomata, is constituted by isolated cysts lined with cubic epithelium and inserted into each other. These cysts are included into mature mesenchymatous tissue. The renal cystadenoma appears as a large, regular, spheric mass, sharply demarcated from the pelvic cavities and renal parenchyma. Its volume is the main clinical sign. Occasionally, angiographic and echographic investigations may provide additional useful data. In some cases, the renal cystadenoma may be difficult to distinguish from a well differenciated cystic nephroblastoma. The differential features are emphasized and discussed. The renal cystadenoma must be regarded as a hamartoma developed from some metanephrogenic blastematous areas excluded from the normal embryogenetic process. The term of renal cystadenoma emphasizes the neoplastic nature and the macroscopic appearance of this tumor and must be preferred to designate this lesion.


[Cat eye syndrome with pituitary dwarfism and normal mental development].

In the so-called "cat-eye" syndrome are associated the following malformations: coloboma iridis, anal atresia, pre-auricular fistullae with an extra 47th chromosome of the G group type. About twenty cases have already been reported. Some are familial cases and some have the complete phenotype but without the extra chromosome. Even if the structure of the material of this element is doubtful, its responsability in the phenotype is likely. This case is reported since the patient has pituitary dwarfism and normal intelligence.


[Hemodynamic consequences of umbilical arterial catheterization. Photoplethysmographic study].

The hemodynamic consequences of umbilical arterial infusions in newborns can be registered by photoplethysmography. Thirty-nine children were observed according to the same protocol: it was possible to recognize, on the side of the infusion, without other clinical symptoms, very early but after different times: - in 3 cases, the supression of arteriolar oscillations, back to normal after 24 hours in one case, and after several weeks in 2 cases; - in 2 cases, a transitory increase of arteriolar oscillations; - in 7 cases, an elective decrease of the arteriolar systolic pressure, with unchanged diastolic pressure. In 4/7 cases, it became normal in less than 3 days; - in 3 cases, a decrease in arteriolar systolic and diastolic pressures, during 2 days.


Freeze-etching images of rabbit thyroid glands.

Freeze-etching images of the rabbit thyroid were described. The outline of the structure of the follicular epithelial cell in freeze-etching techniques is consistent with that in ultrathin sections. The subapical junctional complex consists of tight and gap junctions. According to the number of strands (5-16) indicating the tight junction and the depth of the tight junction (0.3-1.1 mum), this is classified into the "very tight" form of CLAUDE and GOODENOUGH(1973). The number of intramembranous particles per mum2 on the A-face of the lateral as well as the apical plasma membrane is far larger than that on the B-face. The limiting membrane of the reabsorbed colloid droplet shows also a similar pattern to that of the plasma membrane. The capillary endothelial cells show numerous fenestations whose population density is about 20/mum2 on the endothelial surface except in the parajunctional zone.


An electron microscope study on permeability in cerebral venules in the rats with hypertensive encephalopathy.

Hypertensive encephalopathy was induced in the rat by clipping one renal artery and contralateral nephrectomy. The possible changes of vascular permeability of the cerebral blood capillaries and venules were investigated by using ferritin as a tracer. The uninephrectomized rats served as controls. In controls, ferritin was never seen in the basement membranes, within plasmalemmal vesicles on the basal surface of the endothelium, or in endothelial cell junctions of cerebral capillaries and venules up to 180 min after the injection. In venules of the brain in rats with hypertensive encephalopathy, a number of ferritin particles appeared in the basement membrane in 60 min after the injection. Many plasmalemmal vesicles in the endothelial cells of venules were labeled with ferritin. However, ferritin particles were never found in the endothelial cell junctions. The results suggested that leakage of macromolecules, such as serum proteins, occurred in venules mainly by increased vesicular transport.


Fine structure of the basal-granulated cells in human fetal duodenum.

Fine structure of the duodenal mucosa in ten human fetuses 4 to 7 months old was studied by light and electron microscopy using Epon-embedded specimens. Cells containing membrane-bound granules were found both in the connective tissue and in the epithelia and identified to be basal-granulated cells, since they essentially corresponded in their cytoplasmic fine structures to the named cells in the adult. However, their relation to nerves and epithelial elements revealed some primitive features. In the 4 month fetus, the basal-granulated cells were seen in the lamina propria forming clusters which were often in contact with the basal part of the epithelium. In the 5 month fetus, occurrence of clustered basal-granulated cells in the connective tissue was among other epithelial cells, gaining an apical process which reached the lumen. The basal-granulated cells in the lamina propria were frequently surrounded by a Schwann-like cell. Profiles of unmyelinated nerve fibers were ample in the space between the Schwann-like cell and the basal-granulated cell. An phi-shaped invagination of the basal plasma membrane encompassing granular material was often found in the D type basal-granulated cells in the 7 month fetus. This suggests that the secretion of at least some of the basal-granulated cells starts in the prenatal period by emiocytosis.


Studies on preparation technique of human erythrocytes for clinical scanning electron microscopy.

Various methods of preparation were tested and modified in order to establish a proper method of preparing normal and pathological human erythrocytes for scanning electron microscopy. Morphological changes after various preparation techniques, such as echinocytosis, spherocytosis, elliptocytosis and knizocytosis were studied and evaluated statistically. The best method, so far obtained to preserve 99% of normal erythrocytes as biconcave discocytes, was that of venous blood without anticoagulants or acid-citrate-dextrose, washed with physiological saline at 37 degrees C, fixed in 0.75% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.3 (318 mosmol), postfixed in 1% osmium tetroxide, dehydrated with graded ethanol and amyl acetate, dried with critical point drying method, and coated with carbon and gold.


Immunological reactions after measles vaccination.

Evaluation of immunological reactions after vaccination with attenuated measles virus wasbased on determination of the level of hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) and neutralizing (N) antibodies, their location in basic groups of immunoglobulins, and the degree of blastic transformation induced by phaseolin. The picture of lymphocyte chromosomes of the peripheral blood was also investigated. HI and N antibodies were detected not earlier than on the 14th day after vaccination, reaching a peak on the 30th day. Sera were fractioned on Sephadex G-200 gel or centrifuged in sucrose-density gradient. On the 14th day activity of antibodies was located mainly in IgM fractions, and in a later period mainly in IgG and partly in IgA and IgM. Decrease in blastic transformation was found on the 7th day after vaccination, when HI and N antibodies were not detectable. Further decrease in transformation was observed on the 14th day after vaccination. Mitotic indexes increase significantly only on the 30th day after vaccination. For the whole period of observation there were no changes in the number and structure of chromosomes.


Anti-Gm and anti-Inv antibodies in sera of children with some infectious diseases.

Sera of 137 children aged 3 months to 13 years with various infectious diseases were examined for anti-Gm and ante child with mumps, and anti-Gm (4) antibodies in one with infectious mononucleosis.


Frequency and heredity of ADA types in the Polish population.

Phenotypes of the ADA system were determined in a population sample of n = 208. Two ADA phenotypes were encountered: ADA 1-1 with a frequency of 0-82, and ADA 2-1 with a frequency of 0-18. Gene frequencies were: ADA1 = 0-911 and ADA2 = 0-089. Distribution of phenotypes in 9 families with 28 children and in 93 mother-child pairs was consistent with the hypothesis of heredity of the ADA group system.


Blastic transformation of lymphocytes in in vitro cultures during immunosuppressive therapy in patients with glomerulonephritis.

Blastic transformation of peripheral blood lymphocytes following stimulation with phytohemagglutinin during immunosuppressive therapy (prednisone 2 mg/kg body weight, indomethacin 2--3-5 mg/kg, azathioprine 2--4 mg/kg, cyclophosphamide 1-5--3 mg/kg per day) was studied in 59 patients with various morpholigic forms of chronic glomerulonephritis and in 7 with lupus erythematosus nephritis. No uniformly regular influence of immunosuppressive therapy in the doses employed in glomerulonephritis on blastic transformation in in vitro cultures was noted. The specific drug administered was not decisive for the character of the change in reactivity of lymphocytes (increase or decrease in blastic transformation). The interesting observation was made that efficacy of treatment was high in patients with lowest initial values of blastic transformation and its greatest increase during therapy. Apparently, disorders of cellular immunity assessed on the basis of blastic transformation of lymphocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin are not a decisive prognostic factor in glomerulonephritis. The results are discussed from the aspect of a possible influence of immunosuppressive therapy on restoration of the physiological proportion of T and B lymphocytes in peripheral blood.


Pharmacological studies on 1-nitro-9-alkyl acridine derivatives. I. Acute and subchronic action.

Preclinical pharmacologic studies of two further acridine derivatives, 1-nitro-9-(diethylaminopropylamino)-acridine (C-410) and 1-nitro-9-(diethylaminoethylamino)-acridine (C-516) are reported. Both compounds are characterized by high toxicity, especially when injected intravenously, poor absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, and local irritant action. Local irritation can be partly alleviated by using phosphate buffer of pH 7.0 as solvent. Both preparations caused hemodynamic changes (hypotension) due to stimulation of the parasympathetic system (in cats), and higher doses showed direct action on the myocardium. Both preparations acted directly on smooth muscles, predominantly spastically (blood vessels, intestines in vivo and in vitro), and spasmolytically only on the smooth muscle of the urinary bladder in cats. Compound C-410 is deprived of a central component, and compound C-516 in most tests exhibited sedative properties. Despite moderate impairment of spermato- and spermiogenesis, neither of the compounds depressed reproductivity of the animals and no teratogenic action was observed.


Pharmacological studies on 1-nitro-9-alkyl acridine derivatives. II. Chronic action.

Encouraging results of preclinical pharmacologic analysis prompted the following study on the chronic action of 1-nitro-9-(diethylaminopropylamino)-acridine (compound C-410) and 1-nitro-9-(diethylaminoethylamino)-acridine (compound C-516). Neither compound had an appreciable effect on quantitative regeneration of peripheral formed blood elements. Liver and kidney function tests were not significantly affectd. Histopathologic studies showed involutive changes in the lymphatic tissues and slight degenerative lesions in parenchymal organs and nuclei. However, these changes were not severe enough to cause functional disturbances or to impair reproductivity.


Birthrates of schizophrenics following relatively warm versus relatively cool summers.

Schizophrenics have consistently been found to be born with unusually high frequency in the early months of the calendar year. A previous study found significantly more schizophrenics to be born following warmer as contrasted with cooler summers, thus suggesting that summer temperature or a correlate of summer temperature may be an effective factor in the season of birth schizophrenia relationship. The current study re-tested the warmer vs. cooler summer finding, using both a local sample (N = 301) and a nationwide sample of Swedish schizophrenics (N = 13,440), each sample showing increased frequency of births in the early months of the year. In order to localize the possible effects of temperature to a more specific gestational period, the schizophrenics in each sample were further divided into sub-groups based upon which trimester of gestation likely occurred during the summer prior to the birth. The 71 years (1876-1946) during which the patients were born rank-ordered by mean summer temperature at representative geographical locations, and the rank-orders of years were divided into temperature quartiles. The rates of births for the total patient groups and the trimester sub-groups among both samples showed no positive linear or systematic relationship to temperature during the previous summer. Even the warmest among the 71 years were not followed by increased rates of births of schizophrenics. The results of the study did not corroborate the earlier finding.


[Seasonal differences in the frequency of suicise in youth and old age (author's transl)].

The number of suicides by young and old people is not constant during the course of the year and differs for the two age groups. In Germany young people commit suicide more often during autumn and winter; old people, on the other hand, are more likely to commit suicide in spring and summer. The difference between the two groups has been statistically proved with 99.7%.


[Neuropsychological investigations on short-time effects of biperiden (Akineton) in Parkinson's Disease (author's transl)].

In 10 parkinsonian patients the short-time effects of biperiden after slow, intravenous application were investigated in comparison with a placebo group. Immediately after infusion the patients, who were examined at fixed intervals using standardized tests of psychomotor function, mood, and affect, showed a marked impairment os psychomotor function and reaction time, which in time did not exceed the placebo effects. Simultaneously there could be demonstrated an increasing affective stimulation with an acceleration of operating time and improvement of mood. These findings demonstrate- analogously to the intravenous application of L-Dopa-a psychotropic effect independent of the eventual antiakinetic properties of biperiden. The frequency of exogenous psychotic reactions in patients with marked psychoorganic alteration restricts the applicability of anticholinergic drugs in the treatment of an akinetic crisis.


[Pathogenetic and therapeutic aspects of subacute sclerosing encephalitis (author's transl)].

This paper reports the case of a 20-year-old patient with subacute sclerosing leukoencephalitis who in spite of the severe illness was delivered of a healthy child be caesarean section. This child grew normally and showed no signs of disease of the CNS. The patient herself was treated immunsuppressively and the illness then reached a stationary state. The pathogenesis of subacute sclerosing leukoencephalitis, similarities  of laboratory findings to multiple sclerosis, and problems of treatment are discussed.


[Late schizophrenia (author's transl)].

The designation "late schizophrenia" is used with reference to M. Bleuler. Of 502 cases of schizophrenia admitted to the mental hospital of the university of Bonn from 1945-1959 and later catamnestically examined, 14% were taken ill after age 40. Including the deceased, the percentage increases to 17.1 (110 of 644 cases). The onset of disturbance could be ascertained with 50% occurring equally between age 40-44 and age 45-59. Late schizophrenia became manifest after age 50 in 24. 3% and in 3.1% after age 60. The average period of observation was 17.8 years, and 20.7 years including prodromes. In 42.8% prodromes and/or signs in advance could be traced. Females predominated (64.3%). Syntonic personalities were markedly more frequent (49.3%), psychopathic primary personalities less frequent than in other schizophrenias in the first half of life. With regard to premorbid intelligence or hereditability no differences could be found. Psychic-reactive actuation (31.9%) was not significantly more frequent than in the group as a whole (25%). Not even by social factors (social class of parental family, bachelorhood rate, childlessness, and late marriage) could late schizophrenia be reliably distinguished from other schizophrenias. The quota of initially dominating paranoid-hallucinatory (55.4%) and paranoid syndromes (23.2%) is markedly higher than in schizophrenia of the first half of life, depressive moods (47.1%) and coenaesthesias (64.3%) less frequent. The final prognosis is - especially for women - more favorable, the rate of full remissions amounting 30%; 35% showed remissions to slight pure residual symptoms. All types of schizophrenic courses also occur in late schizophrenia; monophasic types are significantly more frequent, the two most prognostically unfavorable types are significantly rarer than in the group as a whole. The rate of social reintegration is with 64.3% higher and that of permanent hospitalization 10% lower than in the group as a whole. In view of the identity of late schizophrenia with all other schizophrenias, the same principles have to be applied to therapy and rehabilitation.


[Speech behavior of schizophrenics. Assay of an experimental point of departure (author's transl)].

Schizophrenic subjects and a control group of healthy subjects were tested with the following three language tasks: (1) to complete interruptions in a text, (2) to compose sentences from a sample of words written on cards and (3) to associate word cards to certain concepts. Besides the correct words, so-called irrelevant words were given as distracting stimuli. The inferior performance of the acute paranoid hallucinating subjects is interpreted in the sense of disturbance of cognitive selective functions. It is assumed that the central nervous inhibition of irrelevant stimuli fails to work successfully in certain groups of schizophrenics.


[Presynaptic dendrites and dendro-dendritic synapses in the superior tubercles of the rat quadrigeminum].

The types of dendro-dendritic synapses and their participation in the synaptic, organization of superficial layers of the quadrigeminum superior tubercles were studied electron microscopically. In addition to simple forms of dendro-dentritic synapses the reciprocal dendro-dendritic synapses were revealed. Presynaptic dendrites formed the synaptic fields and glomerules of the superficial grey layer. The terminals of optical, cortical fibres from the visual cortex and other types of terminals terminated on presynaptic dendrites.


[Formation and interrelationship of the activity of several dehydrogenases during rat development].

The specific and general enzymic activity of some dehydrogenases of the liver, kidneys, heart, thymus and spleen was studied on rats in early postnatal period. Some regularities of the development of enzymes under study were established: ergontic correlations of the "maturing" enzymic organ systems and the coordination of the enzymic status of organs and the lymphocytes circulating in the blood. It may be supposed that the lymphocyte is a carrier of information about formation of metabolic processes of the developing organism. The mechanisms of appearance of coordination of the enzymic activity are discussed.


[X-ray anatomy of the abdominal aorta and its branches according to angiographic findings in living subjects].

1. In the direct aortogram the shade of the abdominal aorta is projected into the left half of the vertebrum bodies from Th - 12 to L - 4. 2. The length of the abdominal aorta changes with age from 172,1 mm (in the age up to 40 years) to 203,7 mm (in 71-75 years) independent of the sex and is equal to 177,1-2,8 mm (sigma=21,8 mm). 3. The caliber of the abdominal aorta becomes narrower in the caudal direction, being most narrow between levels Th - 12, L - 1, and L - 2. Independent of the sex, the aorta caliber increases with age at the level of all lumbar vertebra. The difference in the caliber between cranial and caudal parts of the aorta increases with age from 6,7 mm (in the age of 40) up to 11,7 mm (in the age of 60-70). Mean values of the caliber at the level Th - 11 are equal to 26,9-0,8 mm (sigma=5,33 mm) and at the level L - 4 are equal to 18,9-0,3 mm (sigma = 2,9 mm). 4. The course of the abdominal aorta is directed downwards and to the middle. With age the aorta makes an arc-shaped bend to the left first at the level Th - 12, then L - 1, and in senile age at the level L - 2. 5. Independent of age and sex of examined persons the skeletotopical zones of orifices of the main visceral and paramural arteries were established which can significantly facilitate their selective angiography.


[Intraosseous veins of the maxilla in the newborn].

The intraosseous veins of the maxilla in newborns grow larger with enlargement of the bone and become disposed in three mutually perpendicular planes. The venous plexus of the alveolar process is large. V. v. vallares are thin and interlace forming a network. The veins of interdental septum are well pronounced. The thick venous network of the periosteum and the mucous membrane of the nasal surface of the palatine process includes the vessels transversal and longitudinal to the nasal septum. The venous loops of the incisor part are of triangular, pentagonal and polygonal shape. The veins of the palatine process are connected with 3-4 large vessels falling into the vessels of the tear duct. The transversal and oblique veins of the oral surface of the palatine process are connected with large vessels disposed in parallel to the medial structure of the hard palate. The venous network of the incisor part of the bone is restricted by densified small arc-shaped plexuses. Two-three largest veins lie sagittally and, connected by arc-shaped anastomoses, are tributaries of the vessels of the palate bone, soft palate and pharynx.


[The sterologic method of determining the surface area of the mammalian neocortex].

A method for calculation of the square surface area of the cerebral cortex is proposed which represents a combination of the method of averaged reconstruction after a continuous series of histological sections and the stereological method of determination of the length of any curve disposed on the surface. A comparative analysis of the proposed method with curvometrical and stereological (after Hennig's formula) method used earlier for this purpose is made taking as an example the calculation of the neocortex square surface area of some mammals. The results of calculation of the surface by the proposed method were found to coincide with curvometrical data within the range of 5% while the data obtained by stereological method of determination of the absolute square surface area differ from curvometrical data by more than 22%. The proposed method is very convenient and allows considerable acceleration in obtaining results.


[The properties required of bioceramics for artificial joints (author's transl)].

Tests of hip joint simulator proove the outstanding friction--and wear-behaviour of high density high purity allumina ceramics, being well known for many years from the field of engineering. According to a comparison of the characteristical physical properties of these special oxide ceramics with the requirements of materials for artificial joints, it is to be expected that wear components being made of high density alumina ceramics will show a very good behaviour in long time runs. This paper will also discuss the problems of body compatability breifly, which have been solved so far already.


[Electromyographic examinations of the gluteal and adductor muscles after arthrodesis of the hip (author's transl)].

A report is offered in the present work concerning electromyographic tests of the gluteal and adductor muscles in 10 patients suffering from hip arthrodesis, who have experienced stiffening of the hip from 3 to 12 years. Here it has been shown that even years consequent to a completed hip stiffening operation on the monarticular muscles of the hip joint a degree of innervation is to be demonstrated both in standing as well as in going that corresponds to the normal. The electromyographic test of the homolateral monoarticular muscles of the hip-joint is a very good aid for the indication situation regarding a remobilisation operation after hip arthrodesis, while what has been asserted as a result of this concerning the standing leg question is only to be considered with reservation, allowing a definite statement to this problem only in particular cases.


[Primary osteoma of the patella: a case report (author's transl)].

1. The literature concerning tumours of the patella is briefly reviewed. 2. A case of primary osteoma of the patella is reported. 3. Though a malignant tumour was excluded by roentgenology, age of the patient and localisation, a firm diagnosis could not be made before excision and histological examination of the enucleated tumour. 4. Some considerations concerning the origin of osteomas from the pathological point of view have been made.


[Acute occlusion of the iliac arteries after replacement of a total hip (author's transl)].

Two cases of acute occlusion of the external iliac arteries were observed following operative replacement of total hip protheses. They were treated by clot removal. The cause for the acute arterial obstruction presumably are tears of the intima with subsequent thrombosis as well as mobilisation of arteriosclerotic intima-plaques, initiated by traction on the femoral and external iliac arteries which are adherent to their cicatrized perivascular tissues.


The neurological risk of Harrington procedures (author's transl).

250 corrective operations using the Harrington implants have been performed. 160 served as a basis for the evaluation of the neurological risks, particulary the risks of spinal cord lesions. The intra- and postoperative damage has been analyzed. The results and therapeutic conclusions are recorded.


[Two-stage reposition and fixation of spondyloptosis with Harrington instrumentation and anterior intercorporal spondylodesis (author's transl)].

On the basis of 3 cases of true spondyloptosis, a two-step operation for repositioning and stabilisation using Harrington's instrumentation with anterior intercorporeal spine fusion is recommended. The first operation involves repositioning with the help of Harrington's rod through a dorsal approach. Approximately 2 weeks later, the distraction is increased by tightening the rod again. Reposition is then completed through an anterior transabdominal approach and an intercorporeal lumbar sacral fusion performed.


[Bending and rotational stresses of osteosyntheses on the humerus and forearm in early mobilisation (author's transl)].

Bending and torsion strain are calculated in biomechanical analysis. They allow to be used as reliable standard whether or not a definite kind of osteosynthesis is stable or will have to be denied as unstable.


[Distribution of the isoenzym lactatdehydrogenase in human cartilage (author's transl)].

The analysis of the lactatdehydrogenase (LDH)-isoenzym patterns in normal human cartilage will be of valuable help in the interpretation of enzymological data in cases of pathological joint changes. It may allow conclusions about the situation of the metabolism in a joint according to the particular circumstances. As so far no representative investigations into normal human cartilage have become known, the attempt has been made in this paper to evaluate the LDH-isoenzym pattern in normal cartilage. The result indicates that in normal human joint cartilage the LDH-5 dominates with an average of 75.3%, whereas the LDH-4 (21.7%) and the LDH-3 (3.2%) are considerably lower. Thus the result fits well into the joint cartilage data which have been published so far.


[Stenosis of the spinal canal after spondylodesis (iatrogenic stenosis of the spinal canal) (author's transl)].

Authors experience based on 15 cases of iatrogenic stenosis of spinal canal in thoracic and lumbar region. The stenosis was the sequelae of spondylodesis made for spinal tuberculosis, spondylolisthesis traumatic and idiopathic, spinal fractures and assimilation faults. The onset of signs of stenosis appeared from 1 to 7 years after the first operation. The treatment was operative in 8 cases, conservative in 7. The first gave the best results. Observation time was up to 14 years after the second operation.


Phytohaemagglutinin-induced lymphocyte transformation and histologic findings in patients with chronic aggressive hepatitis before and during immunosuppressive therapy.

In vitro lymphocyte transformation (14C-thymidine incorporation rate following stimulation by PHA) was studied in 19 patients with histologically proven chronic aggressive hepatitis. In the majority of the cases measurements were performed prior to and during a combined (azathioprine/corticosteroid) immunosuppressive therapy. In comparison to normal controls, the majority of the patients showed a significantly reduced lymphocyte transformation before the treatment started. During the immunosuppressive therapy there was a normalization of PHA-responsiveness in most of the patients, or an improvement, at least. Bioptic control seems to be the most reliable parameter to prove a therapeutic effect, since the histologic criteria for a decrease of the inflammatory activity were the last to occur. After transient cessation of the therapy, in 4 out of 6 cases a decrease of lymphocytic PHA-responsiveness was developed again, paralleled by histologic activation of the process where biopsy could be performed. This observation favours a long-term therapy for at least several years.


Podocytes of rat kidneys with nephrotoxic serum nephritis. A combined transmission and scanning electron microscopic study.

Rats with a nephrotoxic serum nephritis reveal changes of proteinuria and content of serum proteins as well as serum cholesterol in the direction of a nephrotic syndrome as is seen after Daunomycin. Nevertheless, the morphological findings with TEM and especially with SEM are quite different. A striking feature of the nephritis is the rather good preservation of cell processes through all the time of experiment in spite of the elevated proteinuria. Moreover, podocytes with furrowed or ribbed surfaces originate and are most numerous when the signs of inflammation are most pronounced. These furrowed podocytes are interpreted as representing a special reactive, perhaps mobilized form. With SEM it is evident that the glomeruli are altered focally and segmentally in the nephrotoxic serum nephritis.